Note: This story isn't historically accurate. The author made great use of historical license in writing it. The inaccuracy is designed to add to the dramatic aspects of the plot. The Huns' invasions and the first Japanese incursion into Chinese territory are at least two centuries apart. The military apparatuses used in the story are out of their respective Eras, as well. That being said, the cultural aspects of Chinese society were extensively studied and are, mostly, accurate, though. Enjoy the reading!

Flower of China

By Kath Klein

Translated by Yoruki Hiiragizawa

Chapter VIII

Sakura was, once again, absorbed in her readings at the Imperial Library. She had found an interesting book about the Frankish Military Campaigns that – despite being a hard reading in a foreign language which made the use of a wordbook necessary – was giving her an interesting perspective at Western war tactics.

'You're studying again, Kinomoto.'

Startled, she jerked her head up, locating the source of the sceptical voice that had interrupted her. General Li came to sit beside her, resting his feet on the table. His movements were sluggish and imprecise. He was clearly tired, judging by the way he slouched in his seat and yawned.

She shrugged with the hint of a smile on her lips. 'I found an interesting book.'

'You're practically living in this Library. No one ever taught you that there are other pleasures in life?'

'What are you talking about, Sir?' She frowned, sitting up in her chair.

'Well, why read about the West, when we can talk to westerners?' He motioned to the book in front of her.

Sakura understood even less.

Xiao Lang laughed at the boy's innocence but thought that he was also like that when at Touya's age.

'There's a French girl at Feng Shan's establishment,' he explained with a wolfish smile that reminded Sakura of their first encounter at Quang Dan's brothel, in Shanghai.

Sakura felt goosebumps at thinking about that occurrence. Sometimes, as Touya, it was easy to forget that he had been the only man to touch her bare skin.

She stood abruptly, her chair screeching as it was shoved back across the floor. 'If you will excuse me, Sir, working the security detail at Prince Yue's wedding was gruelling, and I'm tired'

Xiao Lang stretched his back, closing his eyes. 'Yes, making sure that Nobles and dignitaries remain safe during a three-day event can be physically wearing and damned hard work.'

Sakura shook her head, her brow creasing as she leant in toward the General. 'With all due respect, Sir,' she said, keeping her voice low, 'Prince Yue is an idiot for insisting on holding such a pompous ceremony in times of War. The Huns have halted their advance for the moment, but it's just a matter of time until they retake the offensive.' She clenched her jaw. 'Putting not only his life, but His Majesty's in danger like that was pedantic and childish.'

'You're right. It was exhausting to be vigilant all that time,' Xiao Lang opened his eyes, a trace of a smile played across his lips. 'But we were able to avoid a tragedy. You did a great job at identifying the threat so quickly. You have eyes like a damned hawk!'

Sakura averted her eyes. She couldn't say exactly why, but her gut told her that the man captured with a blowpipe and poisoned darts hadn't actually been a Hun spy. In her experience - and everything she had read on the Huns' offensive - pointed to them being more likely to use a direct strike than to try a stealthy approach. Even the attempted attack through the mountains was somewhat straightforward.

They had used torture to get the truth out of the prisoner. Remembering the sights and sounds put a lump in her throat and stomach. It had been her first practical lesson on torture techniques and it was certain to haunt her for a long time.

Xiao Lang sat up straight, swinging his feet off the table and giving her a lecherous smirk. 'Well, I say we have reason to celebrate yet another feat of yours.'

'There's nothing to be celebrated…' Sakura rolled her eyes, then returned to her previous excuse. 'And I said I'm tired.'

The General frowned at the kid's reaction. 'Am I right in assuming that you've never been with a woman, boy?'

Sakura gritted her teeth and tried not to let her displeasure show. 'Respectfully, Sir, this doesn't concern you.'

The man let out an amused laugh. 'Don't tell me that you're afraid of women?'

'I'm not afraid of women! I just don't think of them like… that…' she stuttered, trying to control herself. If she lost her cool, she risked losing everything. "The General is not a complete fool," she thought to herself.

'Kid…' Xiao Lang shook his head, his words dripping condescension. 'There are two kinds of women: those who are whores and can satisfy a man in bed; and those who are frigid and only serve to give us children. Concubines or Breeders, you see?'

Sakura went slack-jawed for a couple of seconds, trying to process what he had just said. 'So, what you're saying is that they're just hollow bodies?'

'Beautiful bodies! An ugly woman is worthless.'

Sakura clenched her fists, trying to mask the sudden quiver of rage and fear that ran up her spine at the memory of his weight over hers in that blasted bedroom, of his hands and lips exploring her body, uninvited. "So this is what he thinks of women." She offered him a tight-lipped smile. 'Women are children of the gods just like men, Sir! They have two arms, two legs, a heart and a head…'

"A brighter head than many men, even," she thought.

He pressed his lips together, looking at his pupil with suspicion. 'So what are you saying? Do you think they should have the same rights as us?'

'And why not, Sir?' She clasped her arms behind her body with her head held high.

'Simply because the gods gave them tits while giving us brains.' His tone told her that this was something she ought to know already.

Sakura was speechless, wondering how could a smart, educated man like him be so unspeakably hollow? She was very tempted to strangle him.

'Let's think…' Xiao Lang seemed completely unfazed by her aghast reaction, his words still casual and matter-of-fact. 'A woman your age, for example, could only take care of a house, raise children and open her legs to her husband without complaining.'

'That's because these things are all a woman my age is allowed to learn, Sir.' If he wanted to use that skewed rationality to convert her, he'd have something coming.

'And what good would it be for her to learn about… artillery or arithmetics? A woman's only task is to run a house.'

'An educated woman could help her husband to provide for the house.'

'Oh, certainly! Maybe they should go out to work…' he pitched his voice higher. 'I bet they would make excellent soldiers! What a notion!' He rolled his eyes, his tone becoming more mocking. 'Don't you know, Captain, that a woman can't even hold a sword!'

Sakura would love to throw on his face that, yes, a woman could hold a sword, and learn arithmetics, and strategy, and engineering; and could become a good soldier who saved the Emperor's life. That a woman was capable enough to even be promoted to Captain and order a bunch of men around. Instead, she was left with a bitter taste in her mouth, biting back every single word she wished to say to him, but couldn't. It was fortunate that her time as a soldier had taught her some self-control.

'Let's go, Kinomoto!' the General stood up, marching to the building's entrance.

'Where are we...'

'Let's meet some of the women you're so keen on defending.'

'But I already told you…' she spluttered.

He halted in his tracks and turned to glare at her. 'That's an order!'

And, at those words, Sakura had no choice but to follow him.

Sakura stood beside Li in front of a solid, ornamented door framed by red lanterns and sighed in exasperation. 'I don't like this place,' she told the man, turning to face him.

'Kinomoto! Don't be such a brat,' he scolded, clapping her on the shoulder

Sakura took a deep breath, fighting not to panic as she wondered how to get out of this situation. 'I don't want to go in there…'

'Don't be shy, kid.' He opened the door and motioned for the Captain to follow him. 'It's about time you became a man.'

Reluctantly, Sakura stepped inside. She was instantly assailed by a pungent and exotic smell which she recognised as burning incense. The trick was almost enough to disguise the odour of liquor from the ambience. She immediately noticed that the place was a lot more luxurious and elegant than the whorehouse she had been sold to. The walls were covered in burgundy silk with elaborate brilliant patterns and the lanterns hanging from the ceiling actually illuminated the room.

Sakura blinked at the sight of the women in tasteful silk hanfus. It was nothing like the revealing clothes Quang's girls wore back in Shanghai, no exposed legs or bosoms.

'Many of the girls here are foreigners,' Xiao Lang confided in a low whisper. 'I'll introduce you to Miss Daidouji. She lived in the West for several years, in France I believe. She has a lovely accent.'

Sakura found it impossible to speak with her stomach performing more acrobatic manoeuvres than the troupe of tumblers that performed at the Prince's wedding. She walked after the General watching as some of the women served the men a lot of drinks and even some food all the while practically sitting on the patron's laps. Out of the corner of her eyes, Sakura caught some hurried movement and turned just to see one of the "girls" step out of the room with a client.

The General stopped short, causing Sakura to thump into his back. She took a moment to gather her bearings, her heart racing.

'My, my! What an honour to receive the newest General of the Empire,' said a soft and delicate voice ahead of them. 'I will admit I've been expecting you for some time, General Li…'

Sakura stretched her neck to take a glimpse from over the man's shoulder and saw a beautiful and graceful woman practically floating their way. Her long black hair cascaded across her shoulders, her pale complexion serving to highlight her unusual purplish-blue eyes. Sakura couldn't help but stare; she'd never seen anyone like this woman before.

'Ah, you're as gorgeous as ever, Miss Daidouji.' The grin on Xiao Lang's face was hungry, his eyes undressing Daidouji as he took in her figure. Sakura was astounded by the other woman's composure, the ease that she displayed in the face of obvious lust.

'Oh, you…' Daidouji laughed as though she hadn't a care in the world. 'I see that you're still your usual flirt.' The concubine unaffectedly stepped into the General's personal space and held out her hand with the palm facing down.

Sakura widened her eyes at seeing the General bow toward the offered hand to kiss it, the gesture going on long enough to make her squirm uncomfortably.

'I brought a friend to meet you. He's interested in all things from the west,' Xiao Lang tugged at Sakura's arm, dragging her forward.

The concubine stared at the young officer beside Li. 'He doesn't look like your son, General.'

Li rested a hand on Sakura's shoulder. 'This is Captain Kinomoto. I hope you will take good care of him.' Despite herself, Sakura flushed to hear the pride in Li's voice.

'Captain? Pray, so young, and already a Captain?' Daidouji cried, mystified.

Sakura shrunk her shoulders upon the many curious looks she received at the woman's outburst.

'He saved our Emperor's life,' the General said, puffing his chest out.

'Long live the Emperor!' hailed a drunk client.

Daidouji showed them to a round table at a corner of the noisy saloon and called for drinks to be served before moving away to attend to some other matter.

Sakura waited until the General had settled himself before doing the same. She sat with her back to the wall and a perfect view of the whole room. She took notice of two other concubines who immediately moved to tend to the table, for all intents and purposes, throwing themselves into the General's arms.

Sakura kept her eyes on the room, just nursing her cup without actually drinking from it, as she tried to ignore the giggling attendants pouring drink after drink in the General's cup.

'You know, Kinomoto, there are some beautiful women here. You should savour it!' Xiao Lang laughed at the young Captain's jitters, gulping down his drink. 'My first time was a servant in my father's house. By the gods! But she was an ugly lady!' He shook his head, shuddering at the memory.

'I can't even imagine…' Sakura muttered, looking away from him with a scowl, feeling uncomfortable at the fact that he had pulled one of the concubines onto his lap. 'Especially when you seem to have any woman you desire.'

She waited for the snappy comeback from the General. When it didn't come, Sakura chanced to look back at him and found the man staring into space while distractedly rubbing his head.

Xiao Lang then pulled himself away from the woman on his knees and grabbed his drink, downing it in a single gulp.

'Not all… there was this… this one girl,' he mumbled, supporting his head on his hand.

Sakura narrowed her eyes, wondering how many glasses he'd had, to be already slurring like that.

'This girl I met in Shanghai was beautiful, Kinomoto. Really beautiful…'

Sakura widened her eyes, finally paying attention to what he was saying. She felt her mouth go dry and her heart race.

'She had the most beautiful eyes, so green and shiny, they looked like emeralds.' He ran his hand through his hair and then asked for another drink.

Silence fell on the table for a few heartbeats.

'She had green eyes, you said?' Daidouji, who had come back at some point, asked. 'It's rare to see that eye colour in China.' She turned to look at Sakura, who looked down.

He shook his head as if to get rid of the girl's image. 'She either became a whore or died in the streets. Damn! She cost me 300 coins and all I got from it was an injury to the head.' He washed down another glass, as if trying to get rid of a sour taste in his mouth, and slammed his fists against the table. 'I'll give you a piece of advice, kid,' he pointed at Sakura, leaning forward. 'Never bid at a virgin's auction, no matter how beautiful she might be…'

Sakura looked at him with a creased brow, watching him stand up.

'If that girl hadn't been so headstrong, I'd've done something that I'd regret for the rest of my life. Something cowardly and sickening.' He narrowed his gaze as he stared at the Captain. 'A real man don't ever force himself on an unwilling woman. Never!'

He was dead serious. Sakura felt herself gasping for breath and clenched her hands, clasping the legs of her pants till her knuckles turned white. She looked away, unable to hold the man's intent gaze and simply nodded, agreeing with his statement. She knew that if she tried to speak, it would come out in a trembling, faltering voice.

In silence, Sakura watched as the General stood up and pulled one of the serving girls flushed against him. 'Enjoy it, Kinomoto!' He waved at her, taking off with his chosen company for the night.

Sakura scowled, pressing her lips together and massaged her temples. She closed her eyes, not knowing what to do with his surprising statement. She had always assumed that he felt no regrets about trying to have his way with her. It had been somewhat confusing for her to get to know the man as well as she had. His treatment of her at Quang's brothel had let her feeling like she had an obligation to hate him, but she was seeing the good in him, slipping through the cracks in his carefully constructed walls. Whenever he made her laugh with a joke, or they just shared a companionable moment, she felt guilty for letting him lift her spirits. Blind hatred was easy. As in so many other areas of her life, Xiao Lang was making things very difficult.

'Is everything alright, Captain?' Daidouji inquired with an arched brow.

Sakura shook her head, the noise in the saloon creeping under her skin and making the world spin. 'I… I need to… I need to take a leak,' she stood up, ready to leave the brothel and go back to the barracks.

The concubine got immediately to her feet. 'Of course. Come with me and I'll take you to the restroom.' She took Sakura's hand, giving her no chance to escape.

Sakura was guided across the room and up a flight of stairs, into a luxuriant bedroom. She turned to look at the raven-haired woman who had let go of her hand. 'Where are we?'

'In my room. I thought you'd prefer if we had more privacy,' she explained, closing the door behind her. 'Judging by what the General said, this is your first time, isn't it? Don't worry, I'll teach you everything.'

Sakura couldn't help thinking about how unfair it seemed that a woman as delicate as Miss Daidouji - with such a beautiful and kind smile - found herself trapped in that kind of life. Much to Sakura's surprise, however, the concubine prowled toward her, with an alluring look in her eyes that seemed completely at odds on the petite woman.

'You have such beautiful eyes,' Daidouji hummed, in a singsong voice, caressing the soldier's face. 'And such delicate features. You certainly will become a handsome man,' she slowly moved her hands down the Captain's jaw and neck.

Sakura backed away, her heart in her throat, with her arms out and her palms forward. 'L-lo-look, Miss Daidouji,' she stammered. 'You're a very beautiful and interesting lady, but I… I don't… I can't sleep with you.'

The concubine just seemed to find that reaction endearing and reached out, trying to hold the strewn hands. 'I already said that you don't need to worry. The first time is always…'

'I said no!' Sakura pulled her hands away, spinning around and stumbling toward the door.

Daidouji threw herself against the door, stopping Sakura from opening it.

'What kind of man are you?' she shrieked, grabbing the Captain's wrist and pulling it forward. 'Or is it that I'm not pretty enough for you?'

'It's not like that!' Sakura freed herself from the woman's grip and looked around the room, wondering how the hell she had gotten herself into this position yet again.

'Don't play the virtuous, Captain Kinomoto!' Daidouji clasped the boy's shoulders, making him turn to face her. 'Unless… unless you don't like women.'

Sakura raised an eyebrow. 'What did you say?'

'Well, there are men who prefer other men.'

Sakura tilted her head with a creased brow, wondering how that worked. Then she shook her head. She didn't have time to think about that now.

The concubine smirked with a daring, knowing look in her bluish eyes. 'For what other reason would you reject me, then?'

'Well, because…' Sakura ran her hands through her short hair, then she crossed her arms, closing her eyes and trying to calm down enough to come up with a reason that didn't involve telling the truth.

'You don't need to be afraid,' Sakura widened her eyes at hearing the soft voice talking into her ear. She whirled, taking a step back without taking her eyes away from Daidouji.

With practised movements, the concubine let loose the sash at her waist and undid the collar of her hanfu, letting the cloth slip from her shoulders to the ground.

Sakura felt her cheeks burning and stepped back, hugging the wall behind her. She covered her face with her hands, avoiding to look at the naked woman in front of her.

Daidouji went to the young Captain and delicately took his hands, pulling them away from his face so that he would look at her. 'Come…'

'I've already told you that I won't,' Sakura said under her breath and stepped to the side, extricating herself from the concubine's hands.

'Damn you, boy!' the woman cursed, getting her clothes from the floor to cover her nudity. 'What's wrong with you? Know that I'll tell every officer that lies down with me that you're a…'

'I'm a woman...' Sakura blurted out, making the concubine freeze and stare at her with wide eyes.

To be continued.

Edited on: November 28th, 2019.