Hello! Sorry for the late updates- school is almost ending and I've been busy. Thank you for everyone who's viewed my story so far!
I, Yukimura Chizuru, had been sold to an okiya in the bustling city of Kyoto.
I was still horrified when Itou handed me over to a strict-faced woman who wore a kimono the shade of copper and an obi the color of light green.
As the Itou left and drove away in the car, she pulled me rather roughly from where I stood and led me into the okiya, pushing me forward with the back of her hand before slamming the door shut.
She bent down and cupped my cheek, examining my face with her sharp eyes.
The lady was beautiful, but looked too angry for anyone to notice at a first glance.
"Yukimura Chizuru...indeed, you are one of the lovelier ones, but we have a few already. You're going to have to do more than enough to impress me, girl." The voice that came out of her red lips was elegant, but frightening. I nodded, doing my best to stop the tears from falling.
Seemingly satisfied, she released her hold on me and was about to leave the room, when the door to the left side of the wall slid open, revealing a very lovely girl.
I was struck odd because of how similar she and I looked. Except, I could never be as beautiful as her...her lips, painted red, were curved in a calm smile and her eyes were wide and focused on me as if I was a jewel.
"The new arrival! You really did get her for me, Okaa-San!" The lady called 'Okaa-San' looked scornfully at the girl before going into the courtyard entrance.
She scurried to my side, mouth open in a joyful circle as she turned her head one side to the other, looking at me from every angle. Why did she find me so fascinating? I was only the daughter of a doctor, plain and simple.
"You're Chizuru, aren't you? It's been so long! I am Kaoru, your twin sister." She smiled like an angel, eyes with the demure of a goddess.
My...sister? I felt my mouth opening and closing in rapid movements, as I stared at the floor.
"I-"
"But don't worry! We'll get along, won't we? Dear sister, as long as you don't get in my way, I'll always look after you!" She took my hand in hers, still smiling.
It was the only time I could see Kaoru as a kind person.
Later that evening, I met another girl, who Okaa-San seemed to like the most. Maybe I shouldn't say 'like', because she still spoke angrily, but her face was softer and less creased.
Her name was Kosuzu, and I felt much more at peace around her than Kaoru. Kosuzu was much more quieter, and much less haughty than Kaoru acted. Her movements were much more genuine and her smile was smaller, more softer. Like a gentle flower.
Kaoru watched her with disdain as she politely introduced herself. I had the feeling that Kosuzu was her bitter rival, or something of the sort. Her words were filled with hate and her eyes of flaming rage whenever Kosuzu spoke directly to her, and the other girl would keep her eye contact away and spoke as quickly as possible.
"See that? That's how I treat people who get in my way." Kaoru whispered to me before following Kosuzu down the hall. I bit my lip. I couldn't imagine how else Kaoru could treat Kosuzu.
Okaa-San assigned me chores as well. It started out simple, like washing the sandals or cleaning the plates.
The next morning, Kosuzu told me that Okaa-San had left early on business, and that I was to buy some groceries in town.
"Kaoru is busy going to the hairdresser...she ruined her hair while sleeping last night." Her voice was quiet and gentle, her lower lip quivering.
"I'm sorry for how she treats you. It must be awful." I said.
"Please don't trouble yourself over it. Or else she might harm you as well." The look in her eyes was sad as she gave me one last smile before going away.
_
The marketplace was crowded, and people dressed in both western and kimono bustled wherever they went.
The side of the path walk which had less people on it was the entrance of an alley. There I made my way through the crowd to catch my breath. My hand clutched around the purse which held the money and the list, with the other holding the bag of the vegetables I already bought.
"Little girl, are you lost?"
"If you come with us, we'll give you a ride home!" I shook, and forced myself to turn.
There, in the back of the alleyway, were two men, both fat and intoxicated, as one had an empty bottle of sake in his hand.
"A-ah-I was-"
"No need to explain." One slowly began to walk in his druken stupor towards where I stood, a sly smile appearing on his ugly face.
"Please, don't-!" I shrieked, hoping that by chance someone could hear me through the clamor of the crowd. It was too late, as his hand had caught my arm.
"Leave her alone, thugs!" A boyish voice broke the sound of my shaky breath and the man's drunken noises.
Looking to the left, I saw a boy in a plain, forest green kimono with tousled, russet hair marching towards us.
"Whaddaya want, punk?" The other man stepped in between us.
"What's with you, taking advantage of people who don't do anything wrong? Don't you have any common sense?" The boy yelled, sky blue eyes flashing with anger.
"If there's anyone here without common sense, it's you, kid!" He grabbed him by the collar. I shut my eyes, fearful for the boy's life, when-
"Heh. Your mother never told you not to hurt kids, huh?"
"Wha-" The other man screamed, and fell to the stone ground in a thud.
"Why, you little-" The man who held my hand started towards the boy, who was grinning and cracking his knuckles.
"You wanna go, old man?" He flashed a white smile as he swung his fist against the man's chest, sending him flying against the wall of the alley.
"Agh...don't think...this is over-GAH!" Slumped against the wall, the boy kicked him in the stomach multiple times until the man's head fell down, unconscious.
"Heh, that's what they get." My unlikely savior smiled victoriously before looking back at me.
"Sorry about that. They're just lousy punks who get drunk and all of that."
"Um...thank you." I bowed clumsily. I didn't know much of the boys back home, so I never really spoke to one.
"It's no problem...uh..."
"Chizuru. Please call me Chizuru." The boy ran a hand through his messy hair, a tint of red appearing on his sun-kissed cheeks.
"Alright, Chizuru...I'm Heisuke."
Heisuke was the son of a local vegetable merchant. He said that things were 'getting boring', so he left the store and looked around for something fun to do, which eventually brought him to the alley.
"What's a girl doing out here alone, anyway?" He asked, after swallowing a piece of the dango bought at a sweets stall.
"I was sent to do errands..." My dango had been finished. It felt like forever since I had sweets.
"Well, whoever sent you should've at least let someone come with you! You don't look like you know your way around here...no offense."
"Ah, no. Everyone there is busy, and they've been taking care of me, so this is the least I could do." We crossed a street as soon as the remaining clouds of dust from the car disappeared.
"Still..." The side of his mouth folded, his gaze on the stick of dango deep in thought. Was he really worried about me that much?
"It's my first time here in the market...I knew I shouldn't have been reckless..."
"You're right, it's really stuffed here with people, and you don't know what people are gonna do. Say, next time you come, go to that vegetable store right across from that fabrics dealer; that's my father's." He jabbed his pointer finger at a store, but drew it back after he caught sight of the multitude of people crowded around it.
"Ha! Business looks like it's going well." He chuckled. Out of nowhere, I felt my back being pushed forward.
"Oh-!" Heisuke caught me in a stroke of good luck before my face collided with the dirt ground.
"You ok?" I took his hand.
"Yes, thank you, again." He snickered.
"Sheesh, are all girls always getting themselves hurt or something?" I made a face of mock surprise.
"Why, that's a terrible thing to say!" A moment of silence came in between us.
Then, the two of us couldn't keep our faces as we broke into laughter.
For my second day in a new place, starting a new life, I didn't think awful of it at all.
Thank you for reading! Please review!