The Midnight Butterfly by Shannon
Part Five
“Reita!” Kyo screamed, jumping up from the table, scalding tea splashed from his overturned cup. “Kyo?” The Hokan asked staring at their okiya head in fear. “Something’s wrong! Reita… he’s being hurt,” Kyo said running to the door of the Mayonaka Butterfly. “Kyo? Where are you going?” Shinya yelled after him. “I have to go to the okiya, I have to find Reita!” Kyo didn’t bother with an umbrella as he ran into the pouring rain. “I’m going with him!” Shinya yelled. “We have to go too,” Miyavi said casting a worried look at Aoi. “What about the teahouse? You still have to announce to the winner. Miyavi!” Aoi yelled as Miyavi ran from the teahouse chasing after Shinya and Kyo.
Kyo smashed through the gate that led to his house, he slipped against the wet rocks that led to the door and slammed against it groaning as he fell to his knees next to the wet zori and geta. Kyo stood up and walked slowly into the house. A teapot was screaming in protest to the steam leaving it. Entering the kitchen Kyo took the water from the fire and placed the pot on the floor. “Kyo!” Shinya called as he stumbled in from the rain. “The fire’s going… he’s here,” Kyo mumbled and started towards Reita’s room. He poked his head in the door and saw that a blanket had been pulled from the closet. Kyo walked silently over and bent down picking it up. “It’s wet,” Kyo said to Shinya and Miyavi who stood breathless in the doorway. Kyo hugged the towel to his chest and stepped past his Hokan. “What’s that smell?” Miyavi asked as he caught a whiff of a sickly sweet fragrance in the air. Kyo took in a shuddering breath and followed the smell; it led him to the mizuage staircase. “Why would he go down there?” Shinya asked as Kyo started a slow descent, one shaking foot after another. Kyo’s heart was clinging to his chest and his lungs had refused their task. A lantern barely flickered from the room below. Oxygen starved eyes began to leak salt tears down Kyo’s cheeks as he reached the final stair and braced himself. He fell against the doorframe with a sharp intake of breath and closed his eyes as real tears started in his eyes. “Kyo!” Miyavi yelled and pushed past Shinya to help Kyo to his feet. Kyo shoved Miyavi away with a look of pained hatred, “stay away,” he said in a dangerously low voice. Miyavi turned to run back up the stairs with his own tears starting but Shinya caught him. “Don’t! Do not take that personally! He’s trying to keep you safe, stay with me Miyavi,” Shinya whispered holding Miyavi firmly to him, he backed against the wall. Kyo stood up and took slow steps into the desecrated room. Reita was in the middle of the room curled into a ball, he was unconscious. Kyo checked the corners of the room; whoever had done this was gone. “It’s ok; just don’t touch him,” Kyo called out to the waiting Hokan. Shinya brought Miyavi tentatively into the room and surveyed the area. “Kyo the walls! ‘Baishunfu’…” “That means ‘whore’ right?” Miyavi asked. Shinya nodded to him swallowing. “‘Kizumono’?” Miyavi asked. “Defected person; or a rude way to say non-virgin,” Shinya said putting his hand to his mouth. “Oh god not Reita,” Miyavi whimpered hugging to Shinya. “Shinya please take him upstairs, and get the police, and doctor… hayaku.” Kyo said in a terse voice. “Come on Miyavi, Reita will be fine.” Kyo wiped tears from his eyes and kneeled over Reita’s curled body. His face was bloody and still bleeding in places, his kimono had been slashed from his back, and his obi was re-tied with the bow at the front, the mark of a prostitute. Kyo’s breath shuddered from him as new tears formed in his eyes. Reita’s hands were still tied cruelly behind his back and even in the dim light from the fading lantern Kyo could see the bruises forming on the small man’s wrists. Kyo lifted the shredded kimono and saw blood trailing from Reita’s backside down his thighs. Pain slammed through Kyo’s heart as it broke at the sight of his beautiful Hokan so cruelly tortured. Kyo put a trembling hand to Reita’s shoulder. Reita startled awake and scrambled from the hand that touched him. “Stay away!” His scratched voice yelled. “Reita,” Kyo whispered. “Kyo!” Reita whimpered and his body began to shake as he silently cried. “I’m here Reita…” Kyo said and edged toward the broken man before him. Kyo took a sharp knife from the front of his kimono and moved to cut Reita free. Reita flailed and scrambled away from Kyo again. “Stay away from me, haven’t you done enough!” Reita yelled trembling. “Reita… Reita it’s me, Kyo.” Reita opened his swollen eyes further. “Kyo! It is you, I thought I was dreaming.” “Let me free your wrists, I will not hurt you!” Reita nodded. Kyo moved behind the young man and slit the tethers. Reita moaned as his arms moved from their sore position. Reita looked at Kyo and started to cry. He bowed his head to the ground and said “I was too weak; I now am no longer worthy of your house…” Kyo put his hand on Reita’s head. “Stop please. You can’t worry about that! You are always worthy of my house!” Kyo said lifting Reita by his shoulders. Reita looked into Kyo’s eyes and saw the tears even as Kyo tried to blink them away. Kyo pulled Reita to his chest and cradled the young man. “You did nothing wrong! This is not your fault! No matter what happens you are always wanted and needed in the Imomushi okiya, do not doubt that!” Reita cried freely in Kyo’s arms. “I tried to fight him off, I just couldn’t.” “You did fine Reita, just fine,” Kyo said keeping his voice steady and calm for the sake of his Hokan. “Don’t leave me Kyo! Not ever!” Reita screamed clutching Kyo with all his strength. “Reita, I’m not going anywhere! Neither are you!” Kyo said firmly with all his emotion a live feed trying to destroy any doubt with his tone. Reita felt an enormous amount of pain beginning to take over his senses and he clung to Kyo, his only bit of reality, his solid ground. He moaned into Kyo’s chest. “I know it hurts Itoshii, the doctor is on his way,” Kyo said and placed a gentle kiss atop Reita’s head.
Miyavi sat on the staircase listening to the conversation. Shinya had left to get the doctor and police and Miyavi was afraid to be alone. He felt his first taste of envy as Kyo seemed to pledge himself to Reita. Why Reita? Maybe I’m selfish, but I love Kyo, he should be saying these things to me… “Hello? Anyone here?” Aoi called entering the okiya. Miyavi rose from his position on the stairs and ran to greet Aoi. “Miyavi, is everything alright?” Aoi asked seeing the worry on his friends face. “Kyo found Reita, they’re downstairs.” “What the hell was Reita doing down there?” Aoi asked. “I think he was taken there against his will, he’s been beaten very badly.” “Kami-sama…” Aoi said taking a seat in the main hallway. “It’s scary isn’t it Aoi?” Miyavi asked. “It’s scary to think it might have been one of us. Where were you tonight? Kyo sent Reita out to look for you.” “Miyavi you’re not thinking of blaming this on me are you?” Aoi asked a little angry. “Why would I do that? Why are you getting so defensive? Just what happened between you and Hakuei tonight?” Miyavi asked with a raised eyebrow. “Miyavi why are you doing this to me?” Aoi asked. “I’m sorry Aoi; I don’t know what’s wrong with me…” Miyavi said taking a seat next to Aoi. “Yes you do; tell me what it is, so I can help you.” Miyavi sighed. “I’m in love with Kyo; I have been for a long time. He’s down there comforting Reita and I’m really jealous of the closeness he’s showing, he’s never done that with me.” “Miyavi,” Aoi looked at him in shock. “I don’t believe I have EVER heard a more selfish statement, and I never expected to hear that from you!” Aoi shook his head. “Reita needs Kyo’s closeness right now; Kyo’s his surrogate mother for heaven’s sake, what is wrong with you?” Miyavi gave Aoi a hurt look and pulled his knees to his chest. “I’m sorry Miyavi that was rude of me to say. It’s ok to have jealous feelings, there’s nothing wrong with that, just know that right now and probably for awhile Kyo is going to be giving Reita all he has, maybe you could put yourself in positions to talk to Kyo and help him get new energy after he’s been with Reita?” Aoi suggested putting a hand on Miyavi’s shoulder. There was a knock at the door and Aoi rose to answer it. Aoi’s gaze lifted a little to take in the height of the man at the door as he waved and said, “Konban wa, I’m Tetsuji the night doctor, may I come in?” Aoi was entranced with the young and gorgeous doctor, who looked so serious; he swallowed and opened the door further. “Arigato,” Tetsuji said. “Can you tell me where the patient is?” “This way,” Aoi said and led the doctor to the staircase trying to keep his knees strong as they threatened to give out on him. Miyavi stared and rose as Aoi led the tall handsome man down the stairs; he followed them. “Kyo-sama, the doctor is here,” Aoi said at mid-staircase. “Send him in and go back upstairs Aoi,” Kyo called. “Dozo,” Aoi said and pointed with his hand to the doorway at the end of the stairs. Tetsuji smiled and nodded his head as he continued down the stairs. “What gods sent him?” Miyavi asked staring after the doctor. Aoi laughed and pulled Miyavi back up the stairs.
“Kyo-sama?” Tetsuji asked bowing at the door. “Hai, this is Reita,” Kyo said giving Reita a little squeeze. “As you can see, he was attacked. Have you been in this kind of situation before doctor?” “I know my profession; I have never worked on a Geisha for more than a cold however,” Tetsuji said kneeling down next to the two. “This requires secrecy; you will sign papers stating that you will never speak of what happened here or anything you see.” “Of course I will! May I assess the situation now?” Tetsuji asked moving a hand towards Reita. Kyo nodded and put Reita’s hand into the doctors’. “Kyo don’t leave me.” Reita protested. “I’m right here, I’m not leaving he’s just going to check you now.” Tetsuji smiled and put a gentle and cool hand to Reita’s forehead. “Tell me about your most happy memory?” Tetsuji asked as he leaned closer looking at Reita’s battered nose. Reita blushed but given the state of his face it went unnoticed. “My fondest memory…” He said as he tried to think of an answer for the gorgeous man in front of him. Tetsuji brought his fingers gently to Reita’s face. “This will hurt,” he said. Reita clenched his jaw and held Kyo’s hand tightly as the doctor pressed his fingers onto Reita’s swollen nose. Tears pushed from his eyes and he whimpered. “His nose is broken, I have to set it,” Tetsuji said looking at Kyo. “Brace yourself darling,” he said to Reita with a half smile as he grabbed hold of the boy’s face and tilted it back.
Aoi and Miyavi were deep in conversation about the very handsome doctor when they heard a loud and pain filled scream rip from the basement room. “Ok he may be pretty, but I don’t ever want him to make me scream like that!” Miyavi said. “I don’t know,” Aoi said. “In the right context that could be just what you want him to do,” Aoi gave Miyavi a wicked grin. “Hentai!” Miyavi laughed slapping Aoi’s leg. Shinya opened the front door and waved his hand to Aoi and Miyavi. Aoi and Miyavi rose from where they were sitting and hurried to the door; Miyavi leaned his head around to try and see who was there and Aoi elbowed him with a smile. A relatively tall man stepped into the entranceway. Two swords jutted from his right hip, a stark angle to his straight body. As he lowered his umbrella a shock of bright purple hair, styled in a high and spiked ponytail greeted their eyes. His brows were pulled together just slightly and intensely serious eyes looked at each of them in turn. His chiseled cheek bones brought their eyes almost unwillingly to his full bottom lip. “Niikura, Kaoru,” he said with a slight bow. Miyavi and Aoi bowed low to the samurai and turned to follow as Shinya led him into the okiya. “Right this way please,” Shinya said allowing Kaoru down the stairs first. Shinya looked at Aoi and Miyavi and held his hand up to them shaking his head. Kaoru stepped down the stairs taking in his surroundings and trying to place the smell. The room that greeted his eyes at the end of the stairs was in utter disarray. The futon in the middle of the room had been slashed and there were trace amounts of blood. Deep black kanji were smeared all over every inch of wall. Kaoru’s gaze switched to the three men huddled in the corner on the floor. “Niikura, Kaoru,” he said offering a deep bow to the short blonde that was rising to meet him. “I’m Kyo, head of this house. You are the new chief of police I take it?” The short man queried. “I am; I took over for Heath-san just today.” Kaoru shifted his eyes to the other blonde and the doctor looking him over. “That would be Reita, my Hokan. He was attacked and raped,” Kyo said bowing his head. “Do you have any guesses as to who might have done this?” Kaoru asked in a low voice. “I have some thoughts; best not discussed here.” Kyo looked to Reita. “Can you take him to his room so that I may search this area?” “Of course,” Kyo started to move away but Kaoru grabbed his arm. “Don’t let him change out of those clothes till I come upstairs to look at him.” Kyo bowed and nodded; back stepping to Tetsuji Kyo tapped his shoulder. “Can we move Reita upstairs to his room?” “Yes of course,” Tetsuji stood up. “Reita, I’m going to pick you up and take you to your room, is that ok?” “Hai,” Reita mumbled. Tetsuji lifted Reita into his arms; holding him very gently he took him from the room and up the stairs. Aoi and Miyavi bowed to the doctor trying to get a look at Reita as Shinya led the way to the boy’s room. Tetsuji placed Reita softly onto his futon and continued checking his body. “What’s your name?” Tetsuji asked looking over his shoulder. “Oh, I’m Shinya,” Shinya answered. “Could you do me a favor and ask the samurai if I can clean up Reita’s face of blood?” “Ok, I’ll be right back.”
“Shinya, he looks awful,” Aoi said close to Shinya when he left the room. Miyavi huddled in, listening. “Of course he looks bad now, but he’ll be fine.” “What happened to his kimono?” Aoi asked. “His obi bow was in front,’ Miyavi said. “Would you two stop gossiping,” Shinya exclaimed. “Aoi get some warm water in a bowl and Miyavi go out into the backyard into the kimono stores and get a soft rag so that we can clean Reita up without hurting him too much.” “Ok, sorry Shinya.” Shinya descended the staircase and watched the samurai and Kyo from the doorway.
Kaoru walked the scene from the doorway along the walls; his breathing was even as he concentrated on the scent in the room. “What is it?” Kaoru asked the Geisha in the doorway not stopping his walk. Kyo turned to look at Shinya as he stepped over to him. “The doctor would like to know if he can clean Reita’s face,” Shinya said. “I need to look him over first,” Kaoru said shaking his head and walking to Shinya and Kyo. “I can do that now then come back to finish this.” Shinya bowed and led the way up the staircase with Kyo close behind him and the samurai in the rear. Kaoru traced his fingers along the wall as he climbed the stairs.
Reita stared as the samurai made his way over to him. The purple haired man took hold of his hands and pulled Reita to his feet. The doctor started to protest but Kaoru flashed him a glance and he bowed away. “Hello Reita, I’m Kaoru,” he said as he inspected Reita’s wrists and turned him around gently. “I’m not going to hurt you, I’m just looking ok?” he asked as he slid his hands under the shredded kimono and lifted up the pieces. Reita squirmed and started to shiver as the man’s fingers traced gently across his back. Kaoru stared at the dried blood between Reita’s legs and said, “Ok thank you that’s all I need.” As the samurai made his way back downstairs Kyo closed the door to Reita’s room locking out the curious Hokan in the doorway. “But Kyo,” Miyavi called. “We have warm water and a soft cloth for Reita.” “I’ll let you in in a moment,” Kyo called back. Making his way to Reita’s closet Kyo pulled out a thickly warm kimono and handed it to the doctor who stood next to Reita. “Ok Rei-chan, let’s get you out of this mess.” Kyo stood in front of Reita and set his nimble fingers to work untying the obi, he’d done this so many times it was like second nature and soon the thick silk fell to the floor in a heap. Kyo traced his hands up Reita’s chest and brushed the two halves of kimono from his trembling shoulders. Kyo stood for a moment doing his own inspection of his now naked Hokan. Reita blushed again as he saw Kyo staring down at him. Kyo had seen him naked before of course but Reita was confusedly shy as he looked at his surrogate mother. The doctor stepped in behind Reita and helped him shrug the new warm kimono on. Kyo stepped closer to Reita and folded in the sides of the kimono and tied the sash for him. Kyo nodded with a smile and turned to let the other Hokan into the room. Kyo caught Shinya’s arm as he passed. “Look after him, don’t let anyone question him, I’m going to talk to the samurai.”
*** Things are calming down but will life go back to normal as the investigation starts? Who-done-it? Will loves be consummated? All this and more to be answered in later parts.
Oh yeah, the doctor is my shameless plug of the J-actor Tamayama Tetsuji, whom I think is best known for his work as ‘Mitsuru’ in the J-horror “Pray” (Kaoru: It’s about time I made my entrance I must say! S: oh hush you :p)
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