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Of Silk And Lace

Cap'n Coree

Chapter Four: A Bat With Butterfly Wings

Cruel fates drive women to such lows as selling themselves. Hunger, despair, need. Jin meditated over just what could have happened to Fuu to turn her into the women she is today as she threw herself over the disgusting blob of flesh seated at the head of the table with so much gusto one could assume that she was as fond of him as she was of that Take fellow.

Jin was well acquainted with this type of man. Big time gangsters who took over entire towns using muscle. The stench of this man could choke a horse, and in the cramped basement beneath his gambling house it was hard to escape. Jin couldn't believe Fuu could get that close to him without vomiting.

"OHHH Kiyo. You get more and more beautiful every time I see you!" The ogre crooned, cradling Fuu like a doll in his arms.

"Shinji don't be such a liar! You never come to visit me anymore." Shinji's eye brows knitted together to form one large roll of hair.

"Well Kiyo, you know how I prefer the young girls?" The rest of the men at the table laughed, all well aware of Shinji's odd preference.

"Are you calling me old?" Fuu pouted, "Anymore insults and I'll think you don't like me at all Shinji!"

"Well, Little Kiyo, you seem all grown up to me, why, your almost a Mother!" Shinji said, then reached up to cup Fuu's breast in his hands, "But I have to say- you do have a better figure then most Mothers." Jin had to seize his hand before it drew his sword nearly automatically, causing several odd glances to stray his way.

"And just what's his problem eh, jealous?" Shinji said, bouncing Fuu's bosom in his hand.

"Oh him," Fuu laughed, holding her hand over her mouth, "He's the bodyguard Mother hired for me. He's supposedly very adept but a little.." She paused as if she were thinking of a good word to describe it.. "Slow…?" Shinji nodded and looked over at Jin with something between pity and disgust.

That one should regard him in such a way..

Fuu was watching Jin, something close to horror and shame fleeting across her face, breaking the mask if only for a moment. 'Please Jin,' her eyes plead, 'this is my life now. This is how I live.' Honestly, this intimate look into Fuu's life was almost too much for Jin. He whished he had fled the night before, instead of choosing to linger.

There was nothing left for him here.

He had someone to find.

Someone who would let herself be rescued.

The small talk, and grotesque flirting went on for what seemed hours before Fuu finally got down to business.

"So, my darling Shinji, can we expect you and you're fellows to still protect us at our lovely home? And even visit us sometimes?"

"Well, there's nothing on earth that could keep my men off your doorstep short of death itself, but lately.."

"Yes?" She asked, suddenly removing herself from the enormous mans arms.

"There is such a shortage of men lately, my little Kiyo. It's awfully hard to spare them protecting some whorehouse.."

"Some whorehouse- SOME WHOREHOUSE! Who do you men turn to when your wives scorn you? Who would take you to bed? Honestly, if something were to happen to us-" Fuu lectured, poking a finger in one of the many rolls occupying Shinji's body.

"Well, perhaps some arrangements can be made if certain favors are done, there is a girl, a young one named Mame I believe?" Fuu swallowed hard and looked from Shinji to Jin, then to Shinji again. For a moment, Jin thought Fuu was going to tell him to kill the bastard, but instead she gave Shinji a long, meaningful look.

"A good Mother never involves her charges in this kind of business deal," Fuu said, which was an out right lie. What was a Mother's trade but the selling of flesh? She knew Shinji's tendencies, and she was not about to pass poor Mame to the devil himself. No, even though she knew it had happened before, Fuu couldn't bring herself to do it.

"I have a loft upstairs…"

Fuu rose gracefully, avoiding Jin's eyes. "Shall I escort you there?" Shinji heaved himself onto his beefy legs and waddled after Fuu, and as they ascended the stairs, Jin stood calmly and followed.

'I should leave.' Jin thought, 'I should leave now, and let Fuu do what ..Fuu does. I have no place in her world.' But Jin heard the door sliding shut up the stairs over the shouts and the clanging die at the tables, as if fate was taunting him, and he found his legs moving in the opposite direction of the exit.

He moved through the fog of smoke covering the room, and began to climb the stairs. His hand rested on the door as he tried to reason with himself. He shouldn't be doing this. He shouldn't be..

"I'm sorry, Jin, but this is the only way I can take care of myself."

"And even if I left now, I'd never have my honor back." She was right. Now that he had seen… It had been in front of his face the whole time but he couldn't look it in the eye, and if he opened this door he'd have to confront it. There was no going back from this life. Not for a proud girl like Fuu. She had made up her mind.

But Jin just had to know. He slid the door open, and forced himself to look at what was before him-

Fuu's kimono was parted, and Shinji had her by the hair, pulling her head back to grant himself access to her neck. He was biting it viciously, and it appeared as if he were trying to swallow her whole. Fuu's face was a mixture of extreme pain, fear, and shock as she saw Jin standing in the doorway.

"Jin-" she cried out, and Shinji looked up from his meal, a swelling red mark left on Fuu's neck oozing what appeared to be blood. Jin's hand leapt to his sword, drawing it without his command, and before he knew what was happening he was charging, then standing over the dead body oozing from a wound in the belly, Jin's sword buried in it to the hilt.

"JIN!" Fuu shrieked, throwing herself upon him, her fists beating upon his chest as she cried. "You idiot. Do you know what you've done? You've messed everything up! You bastard." She was sobbing now, and Jin raised a hand to touch the wound on her throat, wiping away some of the blood blossoming there. He stared at in disbelief, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger to feel its texture.

"Fuu-" he whispered, but Fuu was pushing him away, screaming. "YOU CAN'T, JIN! You can't save me from what I am." She was crouching over Shinji's body, wailing. Jin heard the beat of feet on the stairs.

"GET OUT."

"Fuu.."

"JUST LEAVE!" She screamed, and Jin left. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, pausing only to retrieve his sword, and escaped out of the window, leaving Fuu weeping over her former assailants body.

As he made his way out of town, he didn't look back.

"Mother," Fuu sighed as she entered the home, her hands covered in Shinji's blood. "I-"

"I have already heard, Kiyo." Mother said, then motioned for her to sit down. Fuu sat across from her, not daring to look her in the eye.

"I would like to apologize, Mother."

"Oh, come off it, I know it isn't you who killed Shinji. It was me who hired him, not you. I should have listened when you objected. You lied rather well."

"Mother-"

"It's alright, Kiyo. I know there was something between you two from before, and I don't want to know. I just should have listened." Mother sighed, then coughed, "Anyhow, this doesn't ruin our chances. Shinji's successor bought the slow story, and he is very loyal to this house. Infact, I'd say that fellow did us a favor. Now all our new girls won't get ruined.. And look what he did to your neck." Mother tsk'd, touching the sore.

"Honestly, he was such a cruel, dirty man."

"Yes," Fuu agreed, looking off in the distance, "where did he go?"

"Shinji? Are you getting religious on me?" Mother said, weary. She lost her best girls this way.

"No, the bodyguard."

"He was seen leaving town a little while ago."

"I see, it is for the best." Fuu mumbled, "May I go to bed?"

"Why, of course, you do have a rather long day ahead of you I fear." Mother said.

"Goodnight, Mother."

"Goodnight, Kiyo." Fuu stood, and started to leave the table.

"Fuu." Mother said, causing her to freeze. "That is what he called you isn't it? Such a pretty name. I wish I could have known you, Fuu."

"Mother…' Fuu mumbled, turning away. "I will see you in the morning."

"See you in the morning." Mother replied weakly. When Fuu reached her room she slammed the door to block out the hacking sounds echoing from the floor below.

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"Mo-Mo-MOTHER IS DEAD!" One of the younger girls screamed, clutching her face in her hands.

Fuu was woken by someone shaking her.

"Madame Kiyo." Someone called, Fuu opened her eyes to see one of the older girls face hovering over her own.

"What? What is it? An appointment already?"

"No, it's Mother- er- she died."

"Mother? Dead?"

"That makes you Mother right?" The girl realized, then she realized she had just awoken the new Mother with quite a rude shaking. "I am sorry to wake you, but I had too.."

"It's alright, take me to her." Fuu said and was led down the hall to the downstairs. Mother's fraile form as bent over the table Fuu had left her at. Her hand was still curled around the tea cup, and a puddle of blood was oozing onto the table.

"Cercy." Fuu called, summoning one of the older male bodyguards mostly used for household chores. "I want you to get a priest and tell my engagements for the next few days that I will have to cancel. The house is closing down for three days, to prepare for Mother's funeral."

Cercy noddd, and took off without question, and it finally sunk in that she was now in charge.

She was now in charge of the most successful whore house in Kyoto…

She was no in charge of peddling flesh.

What would Jin think of that? She touched her hand to the still tender sore on her neck and ordered one of the young girls to go fetch some makeup, not wanting the priest to see it when he came in.

In all honesty she wanted it covered up because every time she saw it, she saw Jin's face the moment he saw her with Shinji. The priest knew what she was. Everyone did. But Jin hadn't believed it..

Not until that moment..

And it ached.

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AN: wheee free time! Woot. I'll probably be updating often