Terms:
Erhu: a classical Chinese instrument
Guzhen: a classical Chinese instrument
Yatou: a nickname in the meaning of young girls, it could be meant for a loving nickname or can be used maliciously, depending on who is using it and when it is used
Huang Di: the pingyin spelling of both The emperor and the named called between princes by the older one to the younger
Huang Xiong: name called by younger prince to the older brother
Bingzi: pancake-ish thingie, flat and thin, usually with salt and fried
Jingchen: The capital of the country, where emperor lives with the grand palace
Backgrounds:
Ceramics: most Chinese ceramics are white with blue or black prints, in the old times expensive ones can cost a lot, and even now the good ones cost up to millions
The ways it worked back then was everyone would be very polite and tried to be in good relations with anyone with a high position in government or is very rich. The prince talks with wise words that would always really imply with things, as they will threaten in a gentlemen manner(messed up, aint it now). The dialogues later on not in this chapter will be very different, I'm going to try hard to fix it so it is the way they really speak back then, though translation can only go so far..
* * * means change of person perspective in this chapter
You watch the woman as she chews one her fingernail, which were painted bright red. She made the sound tsk over and over again, and the other room turned quiet too. You gulped a little, now that the sound of Erhu and Guzhen was gone, it was complete utter silence.
"Damn... I should have known those damned yatou can't resist the Uchias..." She cursed very quietly, or tried to be. You kind of feel bad because the people included in the phrase of "damned yatou" she probably meant Sakura jiejie too. But you can't possibly argue with her, not unless you want your head twisted off, which you're sure she can do and will do.
"Huang Di, that was uncalled for, really." Another male's voice was raised, this time the tone was in more of lenience and calm, while the childish voice a moment ago sounded aggrivated. The sound of the person's voice was a delight to the ears, smooth and low and rather gentle, you marked in your head that whoever the person is speaking must be very nice. The lady on the other hand did not seem very happy to hear the voice. You felt sorry for the fingernail she's bitting, must be in severe pain. Yet her hand was still making you dangling in midair. Your eyes remain on the ground. Suddenly her hand loosens, and you drop to the floor mercilessly. You yelped when your butt hit the ground, it's probably bruised now. But you're not going to sob over it, not at all. You been through worse pain then this. There was a time when a lady was chasing you with a knife because you stole some bingzi for you haven't ate for couple days. You know she probably didn't meant it, or maybe she did, but the knife's blade sliced across the skin of your stomach. You weren't hurt badly, but you were bleeding, and the mark on your stomach now proves the existence of that women's knife. At that time you were running was when Iruka-niang took you home too. You protest by pouting and staring up at the woman, she looked at you and started speaking loudly.
"You majesties, I am very apologetic such disturbance was caused during your precious time visiting at my brothel. It will not happen again, and I will make sure all the girls that caused it be punished." Her voice was very different now from the tone she used before, it's mystery to you how she can change it to well. She punctuated that last part, and gave a glare to you. You gulped. "I sincerely hope it did not affect your mood."
"Sadly it already had." The childish voice rose again, annoyed and not very accepting to the that sounded very sincere and humble to your ear, that is if you don't see the stone face of the woman, who's veins is popping on her face now. "Tsunade, I came here because it is the heard to be the very best of Jingcheng, or to say of the four main countries. Your service is horrid, do you think a simple apology can erase it?"
"Huang Di, it's probably just some girls wanting to see you..." The nice voice came up again, except interrupted by the person he called Huang Di.
"Itachi Huang Xiong, they probably came to see you too, and if she can't even keep her girls collected in front of her most important guests, I see this place as pure dung." He was rather nasty and sarcastic, which made you dislike that guy even more. You remember now his voice is Sasuke, and the other nice person's voice -- Itachi -- was certainly a whole lot more likable. And this woman's name, very pretty woman's name, was un-matchingly Tsunade. Though it didn't fit her appearance, you sure think it matches her inner personality! (Tsunade in Chinese kanji means metal hand)
"One can let go one mistake, Sasuke Huang Di." Itachi sighed, perhaps, you think, out of the impatience of his younger brother's immature rudeness.
"Not if she doesn't apologize herself to person to us, and bring the brat that's with her right now." It was a command, more likely. You realize in your head the brat would be you, and personally begins to hate the young prince of this country.
"There's no other person there."
"Yes there is. The one who screamed." Sasuke said impatiently to his brother's ways of trying conciliate. "And we will see how that goes, if she can't even control another girl that's with her right now."
Now you're really mad. A girl? You're not a girl. You don't look one, at least you don't think you do. Sometimes Iruka-niang would pinch your cheek after you take your shower and say how beautiful you're, sometimes Choji and Kiba says you look like one, but that's all a joke. What right does that stupid prince have to call you a girl, when his stupid eyelashes are so curly and long and his skin is pale as those expensive ceramics in the store?! You don't like this guy, not at all. Stupid prince. Stupid rich spoiled prince. You look to Tsunade, you call her that in your head now, you see she isn't very happy at all either. Her eyebrows raised even further, you looked to her biting your lips.
"Thank you so much, your majesties for giving me the chance. I will enter by the front door, it will be in a moment--"
"No, you can go through the door here." Sasuke coldly interrupted again, and you can see now even if Iruka-niang always called you a little slow that she's trying to get you out of this, but it's not working. "And better yet to bring your companion, or I'm not sure if this brothel will be open again."
You almost choked on the air you took in, while Tsunade's short eyebrows traveled even further up her forehead. That was a threat from the prince right there. If her brothel is closed, she won't have business anymore and all the girls would be homeless, including Sakura jiejie. You feel horrible. Yet surprisingly she gestured you to leave, push you towards the door. You looked to her with fear, she didn't seem to care or mind. You remember Iruka-niang will be waiting for you at the market. You stood up quietly as you can, and walked to the door fast yet tip-toe. You don't dare to make any noise then your breathing, and Tsunade crack open the door to the main room while you start to going down the stairways.
You walk and you walk and you run, run fast as you can. You can still hear them talking, and then you heard something broke, and women's shrills. It run up your back and gave you the chills, you look back to the room now filled with light. Your heart at your throat, you can hear yelling. You stopped. Mere seconds were passing.
You turned around. You didn't know what you were doing, but you can't leave Tsunade like this, that's not a man. She might be hurt because of you, that stupid prince might even kill her. You run up stairs again, feeling ignorant for doing this. But you were always hot headed, and as Iruka-niang said, kind-hearted.
The light sprinkled thorough the whole stairway and the little room and soon you were in it too. Your foot hit the room's floor, and you got a glimpse of everything in the grand room --
Sakura jiejie crying on the floor, beautiful women covering their mouths in shock, a man and a boy breathtakingly beautiful and the boy's hand is bleeding, the red liquid dripping down against the ceramic colored skin, and Tsunade's warm ember eyes, shocked that you came back, she mouthed one word.
Go.
You know it will be okay now, so you run, run as fast as you did in your life ---
"Wait!"
The voice was familiar but you had no time to identify, to think, to use your brain properly other then running. It seems the moments were stretched out, the seconds passes with such long, hard to breath time --
Your wrist was grabbed, the skin of the other person's hand was cold as ice, with some warm liquids dripping. You felt the force of the hand, strong and pulling you back. You looked back to see the young prince's dark black eyes, the stare was chilling. You gasped and tried to get away, you screamed let go, you don't how the boy can move so fast to grab you. Everything was moving fast and blurred --
* * *
He never wanted to come to a damned brothel anyways. Women were troublesome things, greedy, yet their body was soft and desirable. Other than that he seen no point to go some perfume filled place called "Faeries Landing." He was the prince of this emperor, any woman he wants, he can have, despite his young age. Itachi was never really interested in any himself, but always bought him along, as if seeing some spiteful women was going to make him smile. Women, to him, was not an unsolvable enigma. It perhaps was because he was a prince, the environment he grew up in was full luxury and splendid sights. Anyone would try to win the favor of the princes, so much that he can now at the age of 9 even see through what is behind those smiling masks, and be indeed disgusted with it.
The cushioned chair the soft bed, the music played by the women and the fine wine. Every one of them was like was like this, except this brothel, he must admit, was grand. The women there had been more tasteful then the other cheapskates. At least they knew how to play an instrument well, and the sense of grace and elegance, though any women in prostitution would be counted more as mundane. He was not quite enjoying himself, but it was alright.
Until the noise started in the other room, that is. The small whispers, he decided to ignore. The fighting that came on louder then, he can go along. Then the screams of young girls and people running down the stairs stomping, Tsunade the owner's voice shrill at this stupid girl that can't even be smart enough to run, he does not hinder.
Enough, he thought.
He gave Tsunade a hard time, because he wants to, and because he can. There was no sympathy other then his brother's words, which he decided to thrash. The girl in the other room, the one that did not run away, was who he wanted to see and cause pain to. An inferior girl who does not know her place. He has no reason to do it, but he just do.
Tsunade came out through the small door, in a light green gown sewed with detail patterns that presented her body in a seductive way, as any owner of brothel would. She looked presentable, and bowed instantly she came in. He knew she was prideful woman, as any other owner would have been begging on their knees at this point.
There was no girl trailing behind her, he rose his eyebrows high. Has she dare not to obey a command from the prince?
"Where is that foolish inferior?"
"I do not think I can understand what your majesty is asking for." Her head was low.
"I asked." His voice was raising. "Where is that foolish inferior that had scream earlier?"
"I'm afraid there was no one there other than me, your majesty."
"Nonsense!" Wrath was in his emotions now, and the wine he held poured over. Itachi sighed and shook his head in disapproval.
And then the front door to this room opened, or more accurately crashed. A girl fell into the room on the woman next to him holding the wine bottle. The woman shrilled in surprise and the wine glass broke on to his hand, which started to bleed instantly. The girl that fell had cherry blossoms hair and jade greens eyes now in great fear. His temper was rising, fast. What manners does people in this brothel have?!
"Sasuke!" Itachi finally spoke for the longest time, pale now that he is bleeding. He shook his head indicating that he is fine, while all the women scream at the sight of blood, even Tsunade, who was called the woman scared of nothing, turned green and backed away. He stood up, he was going to leave this noisy dung --
And then it happened.
A figure appeared from the dark hallway, a small figure. The person seemed to be running, breathing heavily. He saw him, or her, then. He saw the glittering sunshine came down in that person's hair, the color of the sky shone in the person's eyes, the sky out of the palace's walls.
The child turned aways and run. He had the desire, the desire to let the child stay. So he will do so, and chased him and have him.
His hand grabbed the child's wrist, and he felt the warmth.
Let me have something to hold on to.
It was fate to be meet this day.
Messy, this chapter turned out worse then I wanted it to... But the whole story is really easy to write, kind of just flows along with it. I guess it's easier to describe a setting I am so familiar to.
Is anyone reading this out there? D: