This ended up being much longer than a drabble. But I felt it needed to be done. I never indulged much in Rangiku's past and this is my version of it. I find it fitting for her, especially the issues she will deal with as she grows up.
I am glad some of you like the first chapter. I hope this one doesnt discourage you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Kubo Tite does.
Warnings: Some mature elements and angst.
Read and Review
~Run~
"She is so pretty isn't she?"
"Yes, I've never seen hair so golden like hers, and eyes so blue you think you were looking at jewels"
She heard their comments and it made her hide inside the large home at once. The smell of sweat and other foul things never bothered her for she was born into that world, and she was afraid that she would eventually become it.
"Girl, come here. Been lookin' for you. Come here and clean up this mess!" a low growl erupted from a stout man's mouth. His appearance was ghastly but his commands could not be ignored. She ran at once towards his direction and entered the room he directed to her in.
She looked inside and the sight of a naked woman obviously under the effects of potent drugs sprawled on the bed with sheets and clothes tossed everywhere. There was so much dirty things that she wished not to touch but modesty was a virtue that she never acquired.
Reaching a pail of cold water she dipped a sponge in and gently washed the woman. Ridding the fine sheen of sweet and dirt off of her, she stirred languorously as the cool sponge brought relief to her overused flesh.
"Wake up Ayaka, you must wake up. The boss wont like it if your still like this" her gentle plea reached the womans ears and her heavy eyes fluttered open to meet hers.
"Beautiful Rangiku...oh I am so tired. Tell him to send me another tomorrow" she was obviously not analyzing the situation she was in. She had no free will to command over her position.
"You know you cant say no...you have to go back out and be presentable" she shook here but her body remained numb and listless.
Feeling a slight panic she sped out and reached a nearby room unaware that there were already someone occupying it. As she was about to open the curtain she heard the harsh grunts of a man, and the slick slapping sounds of flesh smacking against flesh, she immediately stood still.
After an eternity passed by she finally heard the sounds of shuffling clothes and soon the curtain slid open and a tall man walked out without passing a second glance at the girl. Peering inside she saw a slender woman washing herself, her long cascading tresses flashed golden under the sun.
"Mama, come quick. Ayaka is ill again she will not rise. I am afraid the boss will beat her again. You must help mama" she went to gather her mother's clothes and helped her tie her sash. The woman nodded at once and collected her money, hiding it into a small coin purse.
The woman swiftly entered the previous room and began flushing the spent woman gently with the cool water from the pail. Rangiku watched back as her mother brought life back into the woman, after a couple of minutes she managed to bring the woman up and helped her into her robe.
"Thank you Kikuye..." she staggered to say the next phrase but found it difficult to put sentences in order. The older woman patiently helped her walk back to the front, the young child following behind.
Going back outside there was a small line of men waiting for the women to arrange themselves accordingly. She saw several men eye her with a gleam that made her flesh crawl, her mother seeing this hid her from view.
"Rangiku go back inside, my love" she kissed her on her cheek and her daughter obediently went back in and hid herself in her cubby hole. Small handmade dolls littered around her and she picked one up and started to pat it softly gently humming a small tune as she blocked out the world of sin from the outside unaware of the brusque man staring at her hungrily from behind.
The women all gathered around a large table, Rangiku slid between two young women and began to pick out her food. Her mother came soon and gently motioned the women over to make room for both her and her daughter, dinner was always an hour to look forward to for it was the only time of day that all the women could stop and rest while casually exchanging gossip. In this cathouse it was easy to remember everyones names since everyone was named after a flower, she was told that her name was the most noble and pure.
"Kikuye, I need to speak to you" the familiar raspy voice bellowed from the heavy set man as he grumbled at the woman.
Rangiku clung to her mother but her soft reassuring hand clamped over hers as she slid away elegantly the deafening silence of the other women made her steps towards the man even more slower. As she dissappered into the darkness thats when the chatter of voices commence anew.
"Did you see, I managed to snag a shinigami today. Said he was from the 6th division" a woman prided among the others, obviously proud in having to have slept with an affluent type of client.
"Sure I seen that man before and he aint no shinigami, Hinata. He probably stole that uniform and just told you some silly lies" the woman in front of her snickered causing the other women to laugh.
"At least I wasnt stuck doing dogs like you, Kaede" the smart remark caused the other woman to huff in annoyance. The other woman howled in laughter and started drinking a sour drink that they called Sake, Rangiku did not like it because it usually caused all the women to behave erratically or fall into a stupor that was difficult to get out of. She was glad her mother never consumed that toxic beverage.
"Ne, Rangiku you grown up to be so lovely. Dont grow up too quick though because you might end up like us" one woman chortled carelessly making the other women throw daggers in her direction.
"Watch you tongue Fukiko, you know she is too young to understand those things and besides Kikuye will never allow it. She is after all earning the most so she has more favor over certain decisions" the woman beside Rangiku said in a serious tone.
"Thats not what I heard. I heard the old man say that the best mistake he's done is let Kikuye keep Rangiku and not flush her out like the other pregnancies" A loud gasp was followed after the scandalous piece of information was revealed.
"Kikuye is just lucky that she didnt show until it was finally too late to do anything about it. Those big breasts of hers is what took the attention off her belly, I think" everyone stood dead silent until one woman sucked her teeth.
"Your just spiteful because you baby had to be flushed out, you know while you live under this roof you can never have a child so you are saying these horrible things in front Rangiku. Try saying those words in front of Kikuye..." the woman cried out. Rangiku immediately put her hands over her ears, not wanting to hear the screaming match that would ensue.
"Kikuye is being told of this right now! Why would I be jealous if her daughter will end up a whore like all of us! You see it, you all see it. Her body is getting curvier, her breasts are growing. She even started her monthly courses!" Rangiku decided she couldnt take any more and ran out of the dining area and went to go find her mother hoping she could dispel the lies.
She came close until she heard the loud sobs of her mother in their room.
"You cant do this, she is only a child. I beg of you please spare her" the pitiful sob wretched from her throat but the man came closer to her booming his authority.
"Silence, I will have none of it. It is time, I have men willing to pay me handsomely for the girl's virginity and she will no longer be just a useless mouth to feed" his harsh manner scared the young girl to the core.
"She is not useless, you know she is special. She has powers you can see it, she worth more than this" her cry landed on deaf ears.
"She is worth more with her legs spread and her back on a bed!" he snapped causing the woman to stifle another sob.
"Please, if its money I will work double. Just dont sell her, she is just a-" a harsh slap from the man's cruel hand stopped her plea instantly. Rangiku flinched as soon as she heard the sound.
"Money? You dont even have the money to pay me back that damn midwife I got you when you gave birth to her like a sow!"
When her voice seemed to lose its momentum did he continue.
"Next week she will be put outside and the highest bidder will have her. And thats the end of it" He went forward to leave, Rangiku quickly went to hide as he slid the curtain back and stomped out into his room.
Going in quickly she went to collect the broken woman. She tried not to cry as her mother held her tight and sobbed into her clothes. Their appetites long gone they crawled into bed and Rangiku waited patiently as her mother stopped crying.
Warm hands woven tight around her, Rangiku's head laid on her mothers heavy bosom, her heart beating fast.
"Dont cry Mama it will be alright..." she went to touch her mother's long golden tresses, slightly envious in wishing she could possess such beautiful waves. Her mother wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead. She whispered in her ear how special she was and how she would allow no one to harm her.
"Let us sleep now, Rangiku. Tomorrow before the sun rises we will run away, I wont let anyone touch you" it was the final words she said until Rangiku's world enveloped in the blanket of sleep.
At the first signs of dawn Kikuye gently nudged her daughter awake and Rangiku remembering the events of the night before quickly stood up in alarm.
"Get ready, put on some clean clothes" Rangiku nodded her head and went to put on a clean robe but soon her mother disapproved of the color and made her wear another one that was pale green and plain. She wondered why her mother would want her to wear such a drab garment.
"The less noticible you would look my love, now here is a coin purse. Inside is enough money for you to escape and live far far away from here" Rangiku did not like the words that she just heard. Her eyebrows clenched together.
"What do you mean Mama, I thought you said you were going to come with me?"
"I cant my dear, it will be too dangerous if we both would leave. They will never stop looking for us, at least with you they will let it go but if I were to run away with you they will hunt us down and our fate will be worse" Her mother could not stop the river of tears that was soon flowing from the girl's sky blue eyes.
"Dont cry, it will be alright. This is the most I can do for you Rangiku, I wish I could've done more but fate has not given me the opportunity to do more. I am sorry I failed you as a mother" Soon she couldnt hold back her own tears and they joined her daughters.
"Mama you didnt fail me, please come with me. I cant go without you"
Her mother shook her head furiously, her hands went to grab her slender wrist and she guided her to the window for it was easy enough to crawl through.
"You must go, and dont turn back. Run as far to the other districts as you can, the money should last you a little while so keep it safe" the woman spoke rapidly as she helped push her daughter through the frame. The girl whimpered as she didnt want to leave her mother.
"Mama please dont make me go...I am scared" she was afraid and once her feet touched the ground below she went back to clutch her mothers hands.
"Rangiku, go and run. Remember dont trust anyone, If you must hide, hide alone. Stay away from everyone especially men" The words sunk deep into the girls mind as she remembered the last words that came out.
"Where am I to go?" she looked out and noticed few people buzzing about and her mother knew if they would see her they could catch her. She soon let go.
"Far away, Im sorry Rangiku but this the only thing I can do" It broke her heart to have to leave and shut the windows, her daughter ran up and began to bang loudly on the frame crying for her mother to open. She was so afraid and alone, the idea of leaving her only comfort terrified her.
"Hey look its a little girl, looks like she is running away. Go tell the boss" at the sound of those words it made her blood freeze. Instinct took over and she sped out into the fields, remembering the words of never looking back.
She never ran so quick in her life, her heart was beating hard like a drum as it pumped the blood into her legs, adrenaline kicking in giving a speed she never knew she possessed. When she reached a forest she didnt stop, afraid that the men would still run after her.
"Keep running, dont turn back" she told herself. She jumped over reeds and thicket and she lost her sandals along the process but she didnt stop for a moment.
"Keep running, hide alone..." her lungs began to burn with exhaustion but she didnt pause. Time seemed to move still.
"Keep running, trust no one..." Rangiku's body began to slow down as she began to feel faint and dizzy. Overwhelmed with all of the events she spun in circles in the heavy grass. Her world began to darken but she couldnt stop moving her feet.
"Dont stop, dont trust no one" she chanted in slow breaths.
"Especially...the men" her feet couldnt go on anymore and she finally collapsed on herself. Losing consciousness before her cheek touched the moist dirt.
"Keep running away..."
Next chapter will have their fated meeting. Enjoy