Lesson 4: Don't interrupt a serious conversation!

[HARU]

The two of them sat in a room while being served sake. Ren could tell the younger girl was nervous but happy. Her hands were shaking as she poured Ren sake, she calmed down when Ren drank her sake and poured her some in return.

"R-Ren… what are you doing here?" Haru whispered, it wasn't on purpose but she was so nervous. Why was she here? She didn't want to get her hopes up because every time she did, they would be shot down. Yoshiwara is not a place for hopefuls.

"I've come to get you. I know what your grandfather did and I've been searching for you ever since." Ren explained. She noticed Haru's eyes darting at the door and Ren put her hand on her shoulder hoping to reinsure her.

"No one is outside."

"Ren… is that man alive? Is my… grandfather still alive?" Haru asked, her hands gripping on her kimono. She thought back to her grandfather, a man who she thought she could trust. They lived a modest and poor life but she was happy and she thought he was too but one day she came home, only to be kidnapped. She cried out for him, for Ren, for anyone to rescue her but no one came. Instead she found herself shoved in the back of a truck with other women, all tied up with tears running down their face. Her grandfather had sold her for money so he could retire and live a good life, she later found that out.

The black haired woman moved her hand from her shoulder to hold Haru's hand. It was still shaking slightly and much too cold. The young 18 year old girl wished she could feel Ren's hands but it was gloved and that wasn't unusual.

"No. You don't have to worry about him anymore."

Haru gasped, "Did you…"

Ren didn't turn away, instead she looked into Haru's green eyes and nodded. She didn't have to say anything and Haru knew what she meant. There was no remorse, nothing but flickers of anger that threatened to rise up if the subject wasn't changed. The younger girl sprung onto Ren, wrapping her arms around her neck. She wanted to stop the tears but she couldn't and soon, the older woman's shirt had patches of tears. She felt her hands soothingly rub her back and even through all the layers of clothes she could fell Ren radiate heat. That was something that Haru noticed about Ren, her body temperature was much higher than normal. She had once tried to question her about it but she brushed it off stating it was a birth defect. But it was comforting, the heat warmed her cold body.

She felt Ren's warm breath against her ear as she whispered, "Haru, I've come to take you away from here."

Haru felt her face flush, "N-No! You can't!"

"Why not?"

"No one escapes Yoshiwara," Haru muttered, "If someone escapes and it is not the Hyakka who finds you then they will slice anyone down."

Haru who was still in Ren's arms shivered at the thought but that only made Ren hold her tighter, "Then I'll kill them all."

"Ren, I know you are strong but you can't defeat them!"

Haru thought back to when she saw Ren work, it was many years ago. She had finally convinced the woman to live with them, she loved her grandfather but she would like some company. The older woman had gone to work in the fields which was rare, working in the fields was tough, back breaking work. Men and women alike could not last longer than a week but Ren was there for years. She lifted things so easily like it was effortless, she'd swing it on her shoulder and walk a mile to drop it off. Haru had seen her carry bags and bags of rice and walk to the houses to make the deliveries on foot when the wheelbarrow broke. But this kind of strength alone couldn't defeat those who hunted down runaway prostitutes.

"You have only seen a percentage of my skills Haru," Ren whispered, Haru couldn't see her but she felt her body tense, "Perhaps when you see what I can do you will be scared… you'll be too disgusted to see my face but I will get you out of here. It is the least I can do after all you have done for me."

"Ren…"

Suddenly Haru was pushed away from Ren, she landed on the floor, "Wh-What the-?"

Haru's eyes noticed the two kunais on the floor and it was suddenly came upon her that she was no longer alone. Two masked women stood in the room, each with dangerously sharp kunais in their hands. Ren took out her sword, holding it defensively across her body while her other hand blocking Haru's body.

"You won't be taking her away."

"The Hyakka!"

Someone must have alerted them of suspicious activity, the women of the Hyakka were not to be taken lightly. They were trained to be dangerous, Haru had seen their work. They moved as a pack and attacked as ferociously as wolves, they protected the women of Yoshiwara and now they were here to kill Ren. No, Ren could not die but despite thinking that Haru could do nothing but shake. She feared for her friend, "You have to run Ren… We're outnumbered… you have to go!"

But Ren was still, still crouched in a defensive position. She let out a small smile and turned around to face the younger girl, "I won't go without you. I've searched this for so long, I won't let you suffer anymore."

Ren turned back to face the two women who stood there, looking at each other and then back at the girl. She reached over to finish the sake that Haru had poured for her, "Unless you ladies want to die, you best be on your way. If it is a fight you want, it is a fight you'll get."

The two masked women jumped towards Ren and Haru let out a scream that was quickly extinguished. In a swift movement Ren had rushed forward, grabbing the women's face in each of her gloved hands she slammed them into the wall, completely destroying it. The walls crumbled, only leaving a gaping hole in the wall. The two Hyakka women were rendered unconscious, sharp kunais slipping from their hands as blood flowed down their face.

"R-Ren…"

The older woman strode towards Haru and picked her up, it was as if the heavy kimono was weightless and the brown haired girl was swung on the shoulders of her friend.

"Let's go. It's already been 3 hours and I'm late."

"W-What are you talking about? How did…"

Haru had never seen Ren move like that before. It was scary, her speed and strength shook her to the bone. But it wasn't just her speed and abnormally large strength that began to scare her, no, it was the look in her eyes. Something she had never seen before.

Thirst. Anger. Rage.

Haru began to think that the woman she thought she knew back then, was not the woman in front of her now.

A/N: Lesson 4 updated! I hope any readers like it so please leave a review, even if it is a 'guest' review. Is this story even okay? should I continue? :/ Having doubts...