Of Silk And Lace
cap'n coree
Chapter 3: How Close is Close Enough?
To say Fuu was furious would be an understatement. When she found out the new arrangement, it looked as if she couldn't decide whether to rip her own hair out, or Jin's, so she satisfied herself by doing a little of each, completley tearing loose most of Jin's hair from his pony tail, and frazzling her own loose knot.
"MOTHER HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?" she fumed. Mother looked quite confused by the whole mess.
"Kiyo- do you not want to be my heir-"
"NO! ITS-ITS THIS MAN!" she howled. "HOW CAN YOU LET HIM BE MY BODYGUARD?"
"Has he done anything to you?" Mother asked calmly. Fuu pouted, unable to explain any prior events to Mother. Jin had to admit that he was much more use to Fuu now. She was dressed in a cotton robe, her hair tied back in a tight pony tail so she might apply her daily makeup without it hanging in the way. All the glamour was removed to reveal a loud, moody young woman. No ethereal goddess here.
"I just don't like him is all. He's creepy, he doesn't talk, doesn't smile-" Fuu rambled on, sitting infront of the mirror. She began to spread powder over her face, tossing dreadful looks Jin's way every now and then.
"Well, you don't have to like him." Mother said, "You don't even have to acknowlage his presence, but I am announcing my intentions soon- in three days exactly, and within those three days you have to go out and meet some wealthy patrons-"
"I've already met the wealthy patrons. I'd say I know them rather well, thank you."
"As a whore perhaps, but soon you're going to be head of the house and they have to respect and know you as such."
"Well, they're not going to like that."
"I don't want you fooling around or flirting with them anymore, you're above that now. However," Mother continued, ignoring Fuu's snide remarks, "you'll also be meeting some of the local yakuza. Important men whose friendships I've built over the years with certian favors. They're protection and investment in this house is absolutley nessicary. Those men, Kiyo, you are to do anything to gain their admiration."
Jin stood in the corner, trying to ignore all the lewd undertones of the conversation playing itself out before them. He thought it would be better if he avoided saying anything at all.Fuu knew how to handle Mother better than he, and vice versa. He should just let these women go at it. But the suggestions Mother was giving Fuu were causing Jin's stomach to do flip-flops. Fuu pal around with dirty gangsters?
"Now, you," Mother said, turning on Jin, "when Fuu sees those men, you're not to stop them from taking a grab or a feel here and there-" Jin fought the urge to drive his sword through his belly just thinking of watching men paw Fuu- "But the others, well, let them know there will be none of that, you understand?" Jin gave a stiff nod and Fuu scowled.
"Honestly, Mother, why not use one of the old boys?"
"Because they'll be too busy here, you know that." Fuu sighed, tossing her head from side to side as she examined the job she was doing on her face. It was like watching a catterpillar turn into a butterfly- observing Fuu put on her makeup.
"Well, fine, I suppose he'll do, as long as he doesn't bother me too much." Fuu consented, but Jin knew that it was far from over.
"Thats a good girl, Kiyo. Now, tonight you have two engagements. One is with your former client, Take. The other is with the second most powerful yakuza in town, Shinji, a rather hard man to deal with. But remember what I told you. Both of you." She bowed and walked out of the room, pausing briefly in the hall.
"Well-"
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to leave?"
"Hn?"
"I SAID GET OUT!" The door slid open suddenly as Jin ducked a sandal aimed for his head. He slid the door closed quickly, and sighed as another random flying object hit the door.
Mother walked away, content. Kiyo, decidedly, would make a fine Mother. Not only did she have heart- but she had the will and backbone it would take to run this place. Mother was assured in her choice. 'Its too bad..' Mother thought sadly, as she tottered off down the hall, 'that I won't be around to see it.'
Mother had taken to washing her own sheets so no one would see the blood...
---------
Fuu stepped out several hours later. Almost the whole day had passed, Jin was sitting outside the whorehouse only to be brought meals by the same girl from the night before. Her hate-filled, yet curious glances were not lost on Jin. When Fuu finally exited the tea house she was once again Kiyo. Calm, collected and beautiful. She walked right past Jin, pretending not to notice him, and immediatley he jumped to his feet to follow.
For sometime Jin shadowed Fuu as she walked up the road away from the whore house into the rich part of town. Jin thought she might ignore him forever, when suddenly she spun on her heel to face him. Jin, suprised by her sudden stop, nearly ran into her.
"So, you didn't come to find me then? It was all a lie."
"What are you talking about?"
"Mother hired you beforehand didn't she? Thats why you came. It wasn't to find me."
"Fuu, that isn't how it happened. Your Mother offered me the job after the room."
Fuu shot him one last dirty look before spinning back around and ignoring him once more. Jin didn't know how to deal with women, so he elected to let it be.
It seemed ages before they reached their destination. The road couldn't be short enough for Jin, who was forced to watch the retreating back of his formally endeared friend. Perhaps he should give up on her. She has changed so much, not only physically, but on the inside as well.
It sickened Jin to watch her hips as they swayed from side to side as she walked. Where did they come from? Surely, Fuu had not walked like this before. She didn't nag like before, now she lashed out viciously. She was like a caged animal. Jin pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ignore the nagging fact that Fuu may no longer be Fuu.
The house was rather large, but not as lavish as some of the others in this area. Jin noted that this man was not the richest man and pondered for a moment why the Mother sent Fuu here first. Fuu knocked lightly and a hearty voice answered.
"Who is it?"
"It's Kiyo, Take!" Suddenly there was the pitter patter of feet and a young man slid open the door.
"Oh, Kiyo! Lovely Kiyo, I had no clue you made house calls!"
"Silly, I'm afraid that I'm not here on a house call. Mother sent me." At the mention of the Mother, the young man darkened.
"Oh, that old harpy. Well, has she finally considered my offer?"
"No, I'm afraid not, my dear Take. She has sent me to announce-"
"Wait, come in, we should be sitting and sipping tea, not shouting our buisness out in the street." Fuu nodded, and stepped into the house, and Jin grabbed the door before Take could close it on him. Jin did not like this boy. He seemed young and spoiled. He was handsome, or must have been to Fuu. He had very subtle, cheery features, and chin length black hair. His eyes were round and hazel, and seemed to change hues in different lights. Fuu liked him. It was obvious. He hadn't seen her smile like that-
Well, the point is Jin didn't like him. It had nothing to do with Fuu's affection towards him-
Take sat down at a small table after setting out an extra cup of tea. It seemed, like Fuu, he was going to ignore Jin as well.
"So," Take said, looking at Fuu over the rim of his glass as he sipped his tea, "tell me now why you came here, Kiyo."
"Mother has sent me to announce that I will now be her succesor." Fuu said.
"Oh, I'm very happy for you." he said, but his expression said otherwise.
"This means I will nol onger be taking on clients."
"Hmm."
"Not even you, Take." Take finally set his tea down, as if he could no longer avoid the truth now that she had stated it so clearly.
"I always knew this would happen." he sighed. "You know, I tried to buy you from Mother. Several times. I offered her unbelievable sums, you know. It would have taken me years to pay it off. But I wanted to save you. I knew that she intended to make you her heir."
"I'm very sorry."
"I intended to marry you." Fuu shifted slightly, before crawling over to Take. His lip quivered slightly as he looked down at her. "You're just too beautiful, Kiyo. I don't want to see you rot. God dammit, I won't let you!" He slammed his fist down on the table and Jin's hand automatically leapt to his sword.
"I'll be fine, Take. I'll be set for life." Fuu put a hand on his shoulder, "I can recommend one of my sisters perhaps?"
"NO!" Take shouted, his eyes welling, "No. It's you. Can't you see that I-" Fuu wrapped her arms around Take, pulling him into her, so his head rested on her shoulder, and he began to sob. Jin tried to control his urge to stick his sword through him right then and there. He knew Mother told him there was to be no contact between them, but this wasn't the contact she was referring to, surely.
"I have to leave you."
"I know." he whimpered, and for a moment Jin felt sorry for him. Fuu stood, and without looking at Jin or the whimpering mess on the ground, she left.
Jin knew why Mother sent Fuu here first. Take was obviously in love with her, and Fuu obviously felt something for him as well. He was a dangerous threat to Mothers plans, and she intended on killing it then and there. Jin stood up and followed Fuu out, giving her distance.
Her pace was slower now. It was getting dark out, but Jin could see her hips no longer swayed so... her back was no longer so stiff.
"I.." Fuu mumbled, "I wish Take could have bought me.." Jin stopped, and Fuu followed suit. She turned towards him. "I wish he could have freed me, and taught me how to love.. Life could have been different.." Jin could just make out the faint track of tears in her make up as she turned around again, and a monster rose in his chest. He desired nothing more then to run back to the house and kill the sobbing fool then and there. But no, Fuu was right to want that. He was a sweet young man who cared for her like Jin himself had never been able to.
'I wish..' Jin thought 'that I had never been such a fool.'
-----------------------------------------
Yay! Sorry for such the delay. I finally passed my driving test and got the Champloo game. I have a blister on my thumb from playing too much. I'd like to thank my new beta Muggle405! Whee! i got a beta!
No more mistakes like me accidently putting Mugen's name when I mean Jin or my fav. from Hero For Hire:
Fuu had grown on Fuu, like an unwanted appendage, or a boil.
Ah durrrrr I's be dumb sometimes.