The Midnight Butterfly by Shannon
Part Four
“A performance! A performance!” Came loud yells from the audience. “Shinya, Shinya, Shinya!” Came more chanting. Shinya looked to the head of the table. Kyo looked back with raised brow. Shinya shook his head invisibly and Kyo stood up from his seat. A hush fell over the crowd and one last “Shinya” was heard as the room fell suddenly dead. “My Hokan and Geisha, are enjoying a much deserved night off, I regretfully must refuse you all their service this evening; but as always they are available other nights and if you seek their company contact the Imomushi Okiya.” Kyo surveyed the crowd and seeing the displeased looks continued. “If another house permits we may watch the performance of a different Geisha this evening.” “If the house permits,” came a lone voice from the middle of the hall. “I would perform for you.” “The house permits, step forward,” Kyo called. The ‘living legend’ rose from his place and made his way to the center of the hall behind him. Reaching into his kimono front he pulled out an unnoticed puppet and pulled his hand gingerly inside. The audience applauded as the ‘master’ pulled a black scarf over his head and ‘disappeared’ from view The puppet was a Geisha of bright colors and smooth features, she moved with calm grace and a sweet voice sang softly from her open mouth; as she danced her hands and fan seemed to be the dead leaves breaking from the trees and heading to protect and feed the new grass beneath them into the next year. She pulled to a close with her weeping plainly visible though she covered her face with her hands. A standing ovation brought a proud smile to the cloth covered face. Kyo lifted his voice above the sounds of the assembly and announced that more fun and games awaited outside the teahouse, that everyone be protected in their travels this night and a fondest wishing of return visits. Kyo moved to the doors of the exit, Reita close behind him. Miyavi walked past them and waited at the entrance of the teahouse to wave a final farewell to the company. “That was truly beautiful Kyo!” Reita said clinging to Kyo’s arm. “And let’s hope the rest of the night is too!” Kyo smiled as the first wave of merrymakers made their way to him.
“Still think you have a chance Die?” Toshiya joked as they made their way to the back of the line to thank Kyo. “If you don’t mind, I am really worried about this ok? It’s my first try, what if I didn’t bet high enough? What if Kyo doesn’t like me?” Die said tugging his kimono again. “Die would you relax? And stop messing with that you’re screwing it up again!” “Where’s Hakuei?” Die asked as Toshiya fixed his kimono with a quick jerk. “I didn’t know he left… How rude!” Die turned to Toshiya suddenly. “I can’t do this Toshiya,” he said grabbing his friend’s shoulders. “You find out for me if I won and come tell me later,” Die tried to push past Toshiya and leave through the other doors. Toshiya sighed and stretched out his arm holding Die fast around his middle. Rolling his eyes with a smile he said, “You know I can’t do that, besides he’s probably not going to tell you right there at the door anyway, you think he wants the whole hanamachi knowing whom he chose?” “You’re right,” Die swallowed. “I’m so nervous…what if he’s choosing based on what we say to him as we leave?” “Why? Most likely he’s made his decision already,” Toshiya took a few steps forward as the line to Kyo slowly dwindled before them. “I remember my mother would get orders for kimono weeks before mizuage ceremonies. So they must make other decisions likewise, no?” “I suppose… it’s still nerve wracking,” Die said wringing his hands and chewing his lips. “Die,” Toshiya said grabbing his hands and catching his eye. “You’d better compose yourself, we’re three people away. Don’t chew your lip, keep your hands still and take deep breaths. He’s not going to hurt you; just be polite.”
Reita was watching the okiya dignitaries paying their respects to Kyo as they passed him on their way into the night’s celebrations; each bowed and paid compliments on the food, the beauty of the teahouse and offered hopes that his Geisha and Hokan continue to be plenty successful throughout their respective careers. A certain few made it a point to compliment Reita, how beautiful and still so young he was. Reita blushed and gratefully whispered “Iie heta desu.” Reita moved a little closer to Kyo as he noticed Die and his new friend Toshiya making their way down the line. Toshiya seemed to be trying to reassure Die as he held him in place and tugged at the edges of his kimono. Kyo felt a slight change in Reita’s demeanor and looked briefly down the line; the shock of red that greeted his view told all. Kyo pushed against Reita and catching the young man’s eye winked. “Kyo-sama, this night has been splendid! Thank you so much for inviting me,” the old chief of police called as he made his way to shake Kyo’s hand. Kyo smiled, “I’m so glad you could make it. It has been a pleasure to do so many years of business with you Heath-san. How’s your replacement?” “He’s from outside the hanamachi, but he knows a lot and seems promising, we thought about it for a long time. I’m sure he’ll be fine here,” Heath said a big smile covering his face. “Do come to talk before you leave altogether?” Kyo asked. “Of course! I’ll be in touch,” Heath said and bowed to Kyo before making his way out of the teahouse. “Kyo-sama.” “Ah, Die-san. Did you enjoy yourself tonight?” Kyo asked smiling. “I, I did okiya head. Thank you for allowing my stay in your teahouse,” Die stammered and bowed. “And you? Toshiya right?” “That’s right Kyo-sama,” Toshiya said stepping forward into a deep bow. “The evening was just as beautiful as your Hokan,” Toshiya said smiling at Reita. Reita blushed and smiling moved just slightly more into Kyo. “Well I’ll be seeing you both again tonight I’m sure, please have a pleasant evening and you’re always welcome back,” Kyo said bowing; to him Toshiya seemed very familiar but he couldn’t place where. “Arigato gozaimasu,” Die and Toshiya said together and made their way out.
“And that’s the last of them,” Kyo said to Reita as they watched the stragglers from the dinner leaving the teahouse. “Shinya left with Yoshiki and a serving girl told me she saw Aoi with them, but I didn’t see that myself,” Reita said marking the sheet Kyo had given him. “Miyavi’s at the front door with the gateman saying final farewells to everyone; and I’m with you.” “All accounted for,” Kyo said. “We should probably find Yoshiki and double check that Aoi’s with them.” “I’ll go,” Reita offered. “Ok, everyone made their way to the bridge park from here, so that’s where they’ll be. I’ll stay here and get Miyavi ready so we can tell the winner.” Reita hugged Kyo, “Thank you for letting me be a Hokan of your house.” “You’re welcome; now go find Aoi for me.” Reita quickly planted a kiss on Kyo’s cheek and hurried out of the Mayonaka Butterfly, with a few butterflies of his own floating in his stomach. Passing by Miyavi as he walked out the door Reita giggled and blew him a kiss making his way down the stairs off the front entrance. Reita was so happy that he was out to find his Aoi that he almost missed the muffled moans coming from behind a bush in the Mayonaka’s courtyard. Reita smiled and tiptoed over trying to find out who the merrymakers were. They were well hidden but as Reita edged closer he made out the pattern on the kimono; his expression changed profoundly and it dropped even further when he saw Aoi’s flushed face and heard a pleasured moan. Reita fell back from the bush as his heart stopped; when it decided to beat again it thumped painfully against his chest and Reita let out a tiny whimper. He felt the first of many raindrops fall on his head as he staggered aimlessly into the road and started a quick yet stumbling trek as far from the Mayonaka as he could manage.
Hakuei had his hand firmly in place stroking the hardness he’d found between Aoi’s legs. Aoi leaned against him and bit into his neck emitting heated moans. Hakuei was about to drop to his knees when Aoi stopped and suddenly became serious. “Did you hear that?” Aoi asked fear creeping into him. “Hear what?” Hakuei asked snuggling into Aoi’s neck. “Stop,” Aoi protested pushing Hakuei back. “I thought I just heard someone out there.” Hakuei stopped; listening for a moment nothing came to his ears but the blood pounding through his veins. “Aoi,” he whispered into the younger man’s ear. “There’s no one out there and even if there were, no one can see us in here.” Hakuei flicked his tongue around Aoi’s ear. Aoi purred into the night as his Hakuei dropped to his knees and pushed his legs apart. Taking Aoi’s length into his hand Hakuei worked Aoi hard again then slipped him into his saliva slicked mouth. Aoi grabbed chunks of Hakuei’s hair and pulled into the warm heaven. Hakuei bit down gently and felt Aoi’s legs spasm around him. He sucked against the resistance of Aoi’s naked flesh and swirled his tongue around the gloriously sensitive tip. Aoi couldn’t stop his moans as Hakuei forced him deeper into his ecstasy. Hakuei kneaded his fingers into Aoi’s thighs as he felt the engorged flesh within his mouth tighten. Aoi screamed out as his ejaculate filled the bliss that sheathed him. “I always wondered what you tasted like,” Hakuei purred into Aoi’s ear as he held the near limp man close. “Now I want to know what you feel like.” Hakuei said grabbing hold of Aoi’s well-rounded backside. “No you can’t,” Aoi pleaded his eyes growing wide. “I have to be sold; my mizuage, please Hakuei you can’t!” “Who would ever know?” “Kyo-sama would! I would! Please if you love me you won’t!” Tears started in Aoi’s eyes. “Aoi, calm down,” Hakuei said seeing his pain. “I won’t hurt you I promise. If you can’t let me have you that’s fine, I’ll just bid for you; or better yet I’ll take you away from this place, you can live with me away from all this.” “Hakuei! You’re saying too much.” Aoi said burying his face in his loves shoulder. “Won’t you come with me?” “Just wait, you’re throwing this at me too fast, I need time, please.” “Ok; you’re right I’m sorry, I just got excited.” Hakuei pulled Aoi’s face to his and gave him a sweetly tender kiss. The rain was making its way through the bush to spatter against them. “We’d better get proper cover,” Hakuei smiled and pulled Aoi with him as he made his way back to the teahouse. “Matte, we can’t go in there. Kyo’s in there. Let’s just brave the rain and stay out tonight?” Aoi asked. “Ok,” Hakuei smiled. “Let’s walk through the trees and talk about memories; I’m so happy to be with you again, I really have missed you.”
Reita didn’t bother hiding from the now pouring rain as he wandered around the streets. He didn’t know where he was, he was getting cold, but everything seemed frozen to him now; time, space, love and most of all his heart; it hadn’t found a proper rhythm since he’d been witness to the ecstasy in the bushes. He staggered lonely through the deserted streets whispering to him self about how stupid he’d been, for loving Aoi; the beauty that could never return his love, his repulsive love.
“It’s really starting to pour Kyo,” Miyavi said listening to the rain pounding the roof of the teahouse. “Yeah, I hope everyone is safe out there.” Kyo was pacing the floor of his office where he and Miyavi had been talking about the mizuage. Miyavi stood up and put his hands on Kyo’s shoulders effectively stopping him. “Is something the matter?” “No I’m fine; I just have some things on my mind is all.” Kyo tried to shrug Miyavi off but Miyavi just pulled him into a hug. “You can talk to me if you want Kyo, I’m here for you if you need me, or want me,” Miyavi said running a hand down the smooth passage of Kyo’s neck stopping at his interclavicles. “Miyavi,” Kyo whispered. Miyavi brushed his lips across Kyo’s and the older man shook in his grasp. Miyavi brought his face in close, noses touching and flicked his tongue against Kyo’s full lips. Kyo’s lips parted as his breath caught and Miyavi pressed closer to take advantage but Kyo pushed away from him. “Please don’t,” Kyo whispered as he leaned against a chair his back to Miyavi. “Kyo-sama?” came a familiar voice from the hallway. “What is it Shinya?” Kyo called trying to hide the emotion in his voice. The door to the room slid open and Shinya slipped inside. “Are you ok?” Shinya asked seeing Kyo’s back turned and his hand clenching the chair for support. “I’m fine; I just have a strange feeling… I can’t put my finger on it,” Kyo replied scratching his cheek. “I’m here with Aoi; Yoshiki and I found him walking in the rain with Hakuei and thought it best to break that up, it’s really pouring out there. I think we should stay here till it let’s up a little outside,” Shinya said with a small pout. “Where’s Reita?” Kyo asked stepping towards Shinya. “I sent him out to find Aoi, make sure he was with you and Yoshiki. Did you see him pass you by at all?” “No I didn’t see him.” Kyo pushed past Shinya and left him and Miyavi in his office as he made his way down the stairs. On the main floor he ran into Aoi and Yoshiki. “Have either of you seen Reita?” “No,” Yoshiki said staring at Kyo. “He’s not here?” Aoi asked. “No and I’m starting to worry… it’s really wet out there, I need to make sure he’s ok and not stuck in it; or myriad worse things,” Kyo pondered chewing his lip. “Where could he be?” Kyo asked himself. “Let me go look for him,” Yoshiki said. “He probably just got stuck under a bridge or somewhere out of the rain, maybe he went back to the okiya. I’ll find him; you stay here and look out for these Hokan.” Shinya and Miyavi had made their way down to them and Shinya ran to the door grabbing an umbrella. “Here Yoshiki, take this; please be careful, the wind is picking up, the storm is getting worse.” “I’ll be fine; you four stay here and be warm I’m sure I’ll bring him back safe,” Yoshiki said with a smile and made his way out to the front door. “Ganbatte, Yoshiki-san!” Aoi and Miyavi called after him.
Reita was beginning to get the shivers as he plundered along. The rain pelted against him in harshly cold sheets as the wind blew it on its whim. A chill snaked up Reita’s spine and he huddled into him self. He looked at the streets around him, he was near the okiya. I should go home, I’ll catch a cold and that would make Kyo-sama angry with me; he’s the only one who really cares for me, deeper than just friends. I don’t want to make him hate me too. Reita thought to himself as he shifted his weight and began to stumble towards the okiya. Reita fell against the gate that opened into the okiya courtyard, and it gladly opened itself for him. He stumbled along the stone walkway to the okiya proper. The wind in its might had slammed open the door and water leaked in spraying the zori and geta that waited for feet at the entrance. Reita quickly closed the door behind him and wandered into the house. Everything was dark and quiet as the staff members all had the day off and were no doubt having fun somewhere else. Reita found the way to his room and dropped by his closet pulling out a thin blanket and began drying himself with its rough texture. Strands of his sopping hair were in his face and he scooted over to his mirror and gently started to unravel it. It’s getting too long, he thought as it tumbled wetly down his back past his shoulder blades. He grabbed its length in his blanket and squeezed out the excess water. Finding his comb near his mirror he started combing out the mass from the ends of the strands to the roots. Standing up he made his way to the kitchen and got a small fire crackling happily. Pouring dried tealeaves into a black pot he stopped to ponder how the water always brought out the best in tea; they were fragile remnants of the beautiful plants they once came from but the heat of the water brought them back to life, the essence of beauty in a cup that you in turn take unto yourself. That’s how love is, he thought, like the hot water it brings you back to life, but is it really worth it if you don’t have a life of your own from the beginning. Even a mother’s love is like this; it can only take you so far, you have to make the beauty in yourself otherwise you’re just the essence of it. Reita found himself yearning for a hot bath, or a tender embrace. He walked over to the inside water stores and poured some of it into his teapot; setting it over the fire he made his way back into the okiya’s main rooms. Reita started as he saw a light coming from the lower floor; the room in the basement that was used only for the mizuage; no one was allowed into that room unless they were part of the ceremony. Reita figured it was Miyavi or Kyo and began silently descending the forbidden staircase. Something in Reita’s heart warned him that this was not right; the smells accosting his nostrils were strange, a citrus and spice not unlike tamarind but yet completely different; on top of that smell lay wet ink. Reita found he was holding his breath and he swallowed hard as he continued down. The light was coming from a lantern; it flickered and jolted as a shadow moved about around it. Reita stiffened against the wall of the stairway and put his hand over his mouth. He tried to lean down and look into the room from where he was but he was still too high on the stairs. He saw the shadow move again across the light of the lantern, the flicking shadows seemed to reach for Reita as he stepped down the final stairs and looked into the room. Reita had never been down here but he was sure it wasn’t supposed to look like this. The futon on the floor lay in shreds and bits of fluff fluttered about looking like snow. There were painted kanji on the walls; all over the walls, some large some small but all the same context ‘baishunfu’ and ‘kizumono.’ Reita wanting a better look stepped into the room and was in awe of the massacre of such a sacred space. It happened so fast Reita had no chance to react. Something hard and strong hit against his shoulders and he fell face first to the ground. Reita heard a crack and felt an intense pain shoot through his face upon impact. He could taste blood in his mouth as his hands were clasped behind his back and tied with a rough cord. His brain slowly came to realize what was happening and Reita began a violent struggle against his attacker. “Shhh,” Reita heard hissed into his ear as he was lifted to his feet and brought smashing against a painted wall. Pain seared across his nose and he felt a trickle of blood. Reita tried to buck backwards against his captor but he was being held too tightly against the wall. Reita could feel unwanted tears sliding down his cheeks. “What are you going to do?” Reita screamed. “Nothing to you darling, this isn’t about you.” The voice sounded deep but it was hissed and impossible to make out. The scent of citrus and his own blood filled his nasal passages and a tinge of fear made his heart thunder against his chest. Reita felt his obi being untied behind him and he cried out and thrust back into the man holding him. The man behind him stumbled back and Reita turned trying to see who it was. The figure was dressed in solid black and had a black hood covering his face. “If you don’t know who I am, you won’t find out,” the voice hissed as he slammed Reita against the wall again. The faceless man continued to untie the obi. Reita crying tired to struggle but the man grabbed his tied hands and lifted them up so Reita had no choice but to lean against the wall or have his shoulders dislocated. Reita could feel the wet paint smearing to his face as his obi was dropped to the floor; his kimono fell open and he did his best to cover his naked front. The attacker dropped him to the floor and Reita crawled into the corner, his eyes wide open in fear. The covered man before him took quick steps and dropped to his haunches inches from Reita’s face. Reita loosed a quick scream and tried to move away. The man produced a small knife from his belt and held it to Reita’s neck. Reita tried to keep his breath normal but panic was confusing his system; his breath was ragged and tears blurred his eyes. The man before him hissed a “Shh” again and pulled Reita’s legs so that he was lying on his back, all the while holding the knife to his throat. He trailed the knife down Reita’s chest. Reita squirmed beneath him and turned his face to the side not wanting to watch the sickeningly slow movements. The knife trailed into his pubic hair and Reita screamed and stared wide eyed at the shielded man before him as he traced the blade up the shaft of tender flesh that had slightly hardened. The man rolled Reita swiftly onto his stomach and straddled his thighs. He brought the knife to the back of Reita’s neck and began to slice through the kimono. Reita could hear the tearing cloth and every now and then feel the blade graze his skin. He laid completely still, fear for his life flooded into him but he took deep breaths trying to calm him self. There has to be a way out of this, now think! The man skipped over Reita’s tied hands and continued cutting the kimono from his back. The knife reached Reita’s lower back and the man pulled the rest of the kimono up shredding it while keeping the knife in place. The knife was removed and Reita felt the man moving above him, now’s your chance, Reita thought and shoved up against the man; he yelped and rolled off Reita and Reita stood up and made a run for the stairs leading away from this place. An arm hooked around his middle and he was dragged kicking and screaming back from the door and freedom. The man turned him around and sent a fist into his already abused face. Reita screamed as the world went black for a moment and he fell to his knees; the pain was becoming too much for him, he could feel his grip on reality shifting. “Stop fighting me! You can’t win!” A hissed yell silenced the room as Reita was flipped onto his stomach once again. Reita felt his legs being spread and he struggled to keep them closed. Kyo-sama, tasukete! “Tasukete!” Reita screamed as he was thrust into and mercilessly torn. The pain exceeded his traumatized brain’s capacity and he passed into a somehow comforting blackness.
*** That was the hardest thing I have ever had to write, I was in tears right along with Reita T-T Please all you Reita fans don’t hate me for that *begs on hands and knees* This scene has been the center piece of my story all along I’ve been working my way to it. Anyway enough prattle, on to part five and finally Kaoru! (Kaoru: Can you guess who I am? S: hehe)
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