The Midnight Butterfly by Shannon
Part Six
Kaoru sat in the middle of the room with his legs crossed breathing in the scent; it was ink and citrus and something he couldn’t place. ‘Baishunfu’, ‘Kizumono’, harsh words written in bold strokes, large and small combinations, no ink on the floor, nothing spilled, no trace that anyone was here except for the Hokan. That’s where he got sloppy, Kaoru thought. And that’s where I’ll find him. “Ano, Kaoru-san,” Kyo announced himself in the doorway. “Ah, Kyo-sama,” Kaoru sighed. “Come have a seat and talk with me for a moment.” Kyo nodded and walked over to the seated samurai. “Tell me the basics of life in an okiya,” Kaoru said after Kyo had situated himself. “Well, the okiya head buys a boy, or more popularly nowadays a girl, and spends money on training and everything the child needs to be a successful Geisha. Essentially the okiya head is the parent to all the Hokan and Geisha of his house.” Kaoru nodded. “Is there a ceremony for a Hokan to Geisha?” “Yes,” Kyo said. “That is the Mizuage. When the virginity of said Hokan is bid upon by people outside the house and the head chooses who wins based on many factors.” “Can the head of house take the virginity of his own Hokan, and can he bid on Mizuage outside his house?” “It is looked down upon when an okiya head performs the ‘mizu’ on one of his own, but it’s not unknown in this district; mostly that happens when no suitable bidder is found and time is drawing to a close. As for the second question, yes okiya head may bid for other houses Hokan; mostly this is done in an attempt to lure a particular Hokan to the other house after he is Geisha.” Kaoru nodded. “What do you mean by ‘time is drawing to a close’?” Kaoru asked scratching his chin. “The Mizuage is usually carried out before the Hokan is twenty two and before the full moon of their birth month. For instance my Hokan Miyavi is twenty one, twenty two this month and the full moon is a day from now. His ceremony was to be performed tomorrow evening…” “Who was chosen for him?” “That’s a problem,” Kyo said folding his hands in his lap. “The one I chose for him is one of the main people I suspect in the crime against Reita.” “I see,” Kaoru said. “Which brings me to my next set of questions; who do you think did this?” Kaoru asked. “The first three I suspect, though I hate to even think it, are Die, Yoshiki and Hizumi. All were bidders for Miyavi’s Mizuage. The other two on my list would be Hakuei, who is a sometimes trouble maker in my teahouse and recently had an issue with Aoi another of my Hokan, and Toshiya who is very new to this district.” “Yoshiki, who has his hands in nearly every business in these parts; Die the son of a wealthy business man who plans on leaving that business to his son soon, and the ‘puppet master’ Hizumi?” Kaoru asked ticking off on his fingers. “Yes,” Kyo sighed. “I hate to think it was Yoshiki, he’s a very trusted friend and the winner of Shinya’s mizuage… Yoshiki offered earlier this evening to look for Reita. I haven’t seen him since.” “I love your natural progression,” Kaoru laughed. “My next question was for you to describe the night to me in detail.” “I made my decision about the mizuage early in the day, after speaking with my Geisha Shinya, and then we woke the rest of the house and got them ready for the night. Yoshiki arrived and took Shinya and Aoi to the ‘Mayonaka’ while I was consoling Miyavi about who I had chosen and getting him emotionally ready. Then I gathered Reita and Miyavi and we made our way to my teahouse. Reita seemed exceedingly close to me all evening but I took it as his reaction to a conversation we’d had the previous night.” Kaoru held up his hand. “What was the conversation pertaining to?” “Reita had been upset with me for moving him from his previous room and was not being very polite, for his sake I told him about what happens to Hokan who lose their virginity outside Mizuage…” Kyo rubbed a hand across his face and massaged his temples. “They’re sent to the prostitution district?” Kaoru asked. Kyo just nodded. “Is there any way to save him from that fate given the circumstances?” Kaoru asked. “The only way to get around this is absolute secrecy; otherwise no one would bid for him, even out of pity, it still stains the name of the bidder, or I’ll have to wait for the last minute and do it myself,” Kyo’s jaw clenched. “When I get my hands on whoever did this…” “Now now, lets not confess to intent to kill,” Kaoru smiled placing a hand on Kyo’s shoulder. “Please continue, ‘Reita seemed closer’.” “He was a little clingy, but I wasn’t bothered I love all my Hokan. No face stood out to me this evening, I saw Yoshiki further down the tables with Aoi and Shinya, and I took note of my other two bidders and who they were with. Die was with Hakuei and Toshiya. Die and Hakuei are regulars at the teahouse have been since they were young teens. Die used to be in love with Shinya, probably still is; he sent me a letter once, on one of his drunken nights that stated he loved Shinya and would not live without him so I had better take the proper steps to allowing that. I sent the letter to his father and never heard another word. Night before last Hakuei caused some trouble with Aoi; seems the two grew up together and were in love before Aoi’s mother sold him to me. As for Toshiya, I must say his face seems familiar, I truly can’t place it though, I’ve been thinking about it all night; he’s a very nice boy, very polite. Hizumi sat alone and nearing the end of the dinner the assembly started calling for a performance from my Geisha; I refused them and asked if any other would like to perform and he stood taking the opportunity. He wore all black and covered his face with a cloth, which I thought was unusual for a ‘puppet master’ usually the head of the troupe won’t cover his face. After his performance everyone lined up to bow to me and say thanks, as is normal at formal occasions. Miyavi went to the front door to say the final farewell and Reita and I stood at the door to the dining hall. I noticed Reita hugged closer to me as Toshiya and Die neared us, and Hakuei wasn’t with them, in fact Hakuei never came to me. After everyone had gone on to the bridge park I had Reita do a little checklist for me of where all my Hokan were and whom they were with. We noticed Aoi was not accounted for except in the case of a serving girl thinking she saw him. Reita offered to go out and make sure of where he was and I allowed him to go, thinking back I shouldn’t have, but what’s done is done. It started to rain out, and I started to get the feeling that something wasn’t right. Yoshiki came back to the teahouse with Shinya and Aoi, saying the rain was too much and they had found Aoi with Hakuei and collected him for me. So now I was missing Reita and my feeling got worse, so Yoshiki agreed to go out and find him, he seemed pretty confident that he would. My Hokan tried to get me to relax and have some tea, but the rain got worse and so did my feeling until I heard a scream in my head that sounded like Reita’s voice and so I ran here following my feelings and found Reita, then I called for you and the doctor.” Kyo finished with a shuddered sigh. “Thank you for your time,” Kaoru said placing a hand on Kyo’s shoulder again. “I would like to speak to Reita, but I won’t do that until tomorrow given his current state, you should all get some sleep, I’ll set a watch outside your okiya to make sure it’s safe tonight,” “Please don’t,” Kyo said shaking his head. “I have to keep this a secret!” “I understand, the men I’ll send out will go unnoticed I promise you,” Kaoru said catching Kyo’s eyes and looking sternly into them. “When I took over for Heath-san I brought my own men with me and I’d trust them with my life, no one will see them.” Kyo had no choice but to trust the honest and stern eyes staring into his. “I believe you Samurai,” Kyo said with a timid nod. “Get some sleep; we’ll see each other again in the morning.” Kaoru stood up and resituated his swords. Kyo stood and bowed, “Arigato gozaimasu.” Kaoru nodded and made his way up the stairs with Kyo close behind him. “Ano, can we clean the basement room?” Kyo asked. “I’d prefer not, not until I can place that smell.” Kyo bowed and waved Kaoru out the door and into the night.
Kyo stood outside Reita’s room listening to the Hokan cleaning and talking to Reita. Kyo wrapped his arms around himself and sighed. The doctor stepped out of Reita’s room with a small laugh, “You’ve got quite a clutch of Hokan in there Kyo-sama.” “Arigato,” Kyo said with a half smile. Tetsuji grabbed Kyo’s arm and pulled him to the front door. “Reita will be fine I’ve given Shinya a topical agent that you’re to rub onto his abused parts. His nose, I’m afraid will never look the same, it’s permanently damaged.” Kyo took in a long breath of air, and closed his eyes. “Thank you doctor,” he said after a moment. Tetsuji bowed, “I’m glad I could be of assistance; about the papers you wanted me to sign, I asked Shinya about them and he wrote some quick rules for me which I signed, you look them over and if more is needed I’ll gladly come back.” “I’m sure it will be fine, thank you again,” Kyo bowed and opened the door. “Be safe,” Tetsuji said and wandered away into the night. Kyo caught just a glimpse of a moving shadow outside the gate, Kaoru’s men are quick; he thought as he closed the door.
Shinya stepped out of the kitchen as Kyo was coming back from the door. “Are you ok Kyo?” Kyo sighed, “I will be, thanks for asking, and for writing up the papers for the doctor.” “I didn’t know how long you’d be with the samurai so I wanted Tetsuji-san to be able to go if he had to,” Shinya bowed. “A, yokatta. Sasuga, Shinya-kun,” Kyo said taking Shinya’s hand. “I have some news.” “Oh?” “I will be performing the mizuage ceremony on Miyavi tomorrow.” Shinya stared at Kyo, “That means Die is a suspect?” “Just a preliminary one,” Kyo said. “Kyo, you have to be kidding! Die? He’d NEVER do that, especially not to an Imomushi. Kyo please!” “Shinya, calm down,” Kyo said holding Shinya’s face in his hands; Kyo worried at his temperature but realized what the problem was. “You love Die…” Shinya’s breath caught in his throat. “That’s absolutely wonderful Shinya,” Kyo said excitedly. Shinya was taken aback, “It is?” “I never told you this but Die’s loved you since he was a kid. I’m sorry I never told you I just didn’t want it to affect your training.” “Die what?” Shinya asked. “I still have a copy of the letter he wrote me, I’ll give it to you tomorrow; he’s infatuated with you, always has been. Didn’t you ever wonder why he always wanted you to entertain him in the teahouse?” Shinya felt tears welling in his eyes. “Oh Shinya,” Kyo said pulling his Geisha to him. “I thought you knew! I’m sorry; I should have told you sooner. Don’t cry itoshii, it’s ok. I had to mention him as a suspect because he bid on Miyavi.” “That’s just the point Kyo,” Shinya sobbed into his shoulder. “He bid for Miyavi, and you, were going to let him win.” “Shin-chan,” Kyo said kissing his head. “Die bid for your Mizuage, but it was way too low, as his father wouldn’t help him pay for it. I had to choose Yoshiki, I’m so sorry.” Kyo pulled away from Shinya with tears in his eyes. “It’s just another way I’ve screwed up; I can’t keep your heart from breaking and I can’t keep my Hokan safe from the dangers out in this damn world.” Shinya sighed and pulled Kyo to him. “Hush Kyo,” he whispered. “I don’t blame you; you did what you had to do, I don’t regret the past. You also can’t blame yourself for Reita, he’s resilient he’s going to bounce right back from this, you’ll see.” Kyo pulled himself closer to Shinya, “It should never have happened to him, right after I promised that I would always protect him.” “Kyo, you can’t predict the future!” Shinya said brushing Kyo’s hair with his fingers. “You’re too stressed and tired right now to talk about this,” Shinya placed a kiss into Kyo’s mass of blonde hair. “Let’s go into Reita’s room and be with everyone else?” Kyo nodded brushing tears from his eyes.
Miyavi sat behind Reita braiding his hair as Aoi was holding his hands and placing gentle kisses on them. “Are you tired Reita?” Shinya asked as he and Kyo entered the room. “Yes,” he nodded covering a yawn with his hand. “Alright then everyone off to their own rooms let’s let Reita sleep,” Kyo said rubbing his hands together. No one moved; Miyavi bit his lip. “You could all stay…” Reita said softly. “Of course we’ll stay,” Miyavi said hugging his back. “If Reita wishes,” Kyo smiled. “Everyone get ready for bed then bring your futons and beddings down here, we’ll keep Reita warm.” Shinya put his hand on Kyo’s shoulder and smiled as he walked out to wash his face. While everyone gathered their things Kyo sat down next to Reita and put his hand on the young man’s cheek. Reita blushed and touched Kyo’s hand. Kyo leaned in and gave Reita a light kiss on his forehead. Reita caught Kyo’s face in his hands and looked into his eyes. “Kyo-sama?” Miyavi called down the stairs. “Yes?” “Would you like me to bring your things down too?” “That would be nice of you,” Kyo called not looking away from Reita’s eyes as he held his face. Reita moved his face closer to Kyo’s; so close he could feel his own breath bouncing back onto his face. Kyo just looked into his eyes unblinking. Reita thought about kissing the face before his, but got scared and fell into a hug instead. “Kyo?” Reita whispered. Kyo kissed his cheek in response. “Will you lay next to me tonight?” Reita asked and was glad Kyo couldn’t see his face as it burned with blood rush. “What about Aoi?” Kyo asked. Reita shook his head against Kyo’s shoulder and pulled away from him hearing feet stepping down the stairs. Kyo looked into his eyes and saw the tears he was trying to blink away. Kyo didn’t understand but he nodded to his Hokan. Miyavi tripped and fell into the room onto the futons he was carrying. “Umph!” He groaned and giggled when he looked up at Kyo and Reita. “Clumsy tonight, I must be tired,” he said getting up and brushing his kimono. Miyavi handed Kyo his futon and moved to the top of Reita’s with his own. “I’m going to set up at the head of everyone if that’s ok,” Miyavi said and began spreading out his things. Reita laughed and started helping Miyavi. Kyo smiled and unrolled his futon right next to Reita’s. Shinya came in next and unrolled behind Reita’s. Reita was getting excited at having all his friends and loves around him. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” he giggled sitting down gingerly on his bedding. “Are you ok?” Kyo asked seeing Reita wince. “I’m fine,” Reita smiled. Aoi came in holding his things to his chest. “Where do you want me Reita?” Aoi asked softly. Reita shrugged with a pout. “Come up here with me Aoi?” Miyavi asked. Aoi smiled and walked to where Miyavi was at the top of the room. “Spread yours out here next to mine, they’ll overlap a little but I don’t mind,” Miyavi said as he stood and helped Aoi set his things up. Kyo wondered at the estranged feelings between Reita and Aoi and planned to ask about it in the morning. “Minna-san, oyasumi nasai. We can all sleep as long as we want we’ve got the day off tomorrow.” “Because of the mizuage?” Aoi asked. “Yes we all have to bring Miyavi into the next faze of his life,” Kyo said smiling at Miyavi. Everyone curled into their covers getting warm. Shinya curled closer to Reita and wrapped his arm around his middle. Aoi leaned up and rested his head on Miyavi’s chest, drawing little patterns with his fingers on the front of his kimono. Miyavi wrapped his arm around Aoi and pulled him closer; he grabbed the hand Aoi was tracing on him with and kissed the fingertips softly. Kyo felt hands grab the front of his kimono and pull him closer, he opened his eyes and smiled at Reita; kissing his forehead again Kyo wrapped his blanket around he and Reita, then held Reita’s hands in his own to his chest and allowed himself the closeness. Miyavi let his hand fall from Aoi’s and began sending his fingers through Reita’s hair, he smiled and switched to Kyo as he heard soft snores coming from the okiya head. When he was sure everyone was asleep Reita leaned in and gave Kyo a small kiss on his slightly parted lips.
“Kaoru-sama,” someone called knocking on Kaoru’s door. “What is it?” Kaoru yelled groggily. “We found someone outside the Imomushi; he refused to leave so we brought him to you for questioning.” Kaoru was awake now. Standing up from his warm bed he rubbed his face and grabbed his swords while opening the door. “Who is it?” Kaoru asked blinking into the light of a lantern that one of his men was holding. “I’m not sure… His face is muddy as are his clothes.” “Muddy?” Kaoru asked walking to the small office. Kaoru entered his office and looked at the man that sat in the chair before his desk. From behind Kaoru could see the mud caked to his shoes and the bottom of his kimono; as he walked to sit behind his desk Kaoru realized who it was. “Yoshiki-san?” Kaoru asked the mud faced man. “Yes it is me, Yoshiki. Can you release me now please? What is the meaning of all this?” Yoshiki asked looking very angry. “I’m sorry Yoshiki, but I’ll have to ask you some questions before I can let you go.” Kaoru said with an apologetic smile. “Get on with it then!” Yoshiki said tapping his fingers on the desk. “May I ask as to your current state?” “I was out looking for a friend when I came across some of the Bunraku puppeteers taking a load from where they were going to perform back home; as the rain had caused nearly everyone to seek better shelter there was no need for them to play. They had caught one of the wheels of their cart in the mud and it was sinking, so I helped them to dig it out. They insisted that I go with them to their home so they could repay me, I said there was no need, but they kept insisting and one woman even tried to drag me along so I surrendered and went with them. When we reached their place they introduced me to Hizumi their ‘puppet master’, it seemed he had run home with the most precious puppets as soon as it started raining. He brought me into one of his back rooms where he was already entertaining Heath-san, who I learned is a big fan of Bunraku. Hizumi’s serving people were very generous and I stayed for a cup of sake before continuing on back to the Imomushi okiya so I could check in on my previous business when these men apprehended me and brought me here.” “What was your business in the Imomushi okiya at such a late hour?” Kaoru asked. “Kyo-sama, the head, sent me to search for one of his Hokan who was out in the rain. I was going there to see if they had found him, and perhaps if they would let me wash my face.” “Did you have any contact with a man by the name of Hakuei this evening?” “Yes I saw him with an Imomushi Hokan, Aoi, when it had just started raining and Shinya, who I was with at the time and myself, collected Aoi from him and I told Hakuei he should be heading home. Then I dropped Aoi and Shinya off and agreed to search for the other Hokan, Reita… What has happened?” Yoshiki asked. “It seems the Hokan in question, Reita, was attacked inside the okiya earlier tonight, he was beaten about the face quite badly but doing fine when I saw him.” Yoshiki fell back into his chair a hand covering his mouth as his eyes grew wider. “Was anyone else harmed?” “No, but a room was destroyed.” “I had no idea… This is terrible.” Yoshiki sat still in shock. Kaoru nodded his head and leaned back in his chair. “May I ask two more questions? And then you may leave.” “Yes?” “What can you tell me about the three friends Die, Hakuei and Toshiya?” “I’ve known Die for quite awhile now; his father would give me advice from time to time on business. Die’s a very nice boy, the heart of a child, he’s sweetly innocent, I think is a good way to describe him. He’s a very intelligent boy too, head of his class and all. Hakuei I’ve also known, but not as long as Die, he moved here from a small village quite a while back. He says he wants to be in business and that’s why he came here but I think there are other reasons behind it. Toshiya I regretfully don’t know at all really. He is a recent arrival in town as far as I know also with a mind for business. The few conversations I’ve had with him have been nothing but politeness from him.” “Thank you,” Kaoru smiled. “The second is; what is your relationship with Kyo-sama?” “I’ve known Kyo since he was a very little kid. My father used to bring me into the teahouses and to be entertained by Geisha when I was a boy, our favorite was Kyo’s mother, the first female Geisha. My father and his mother used to let me go play with Kyo while they talked and drank during the o-hana; until it was time for Kyo to be trained as a Geisha. I remember about the time Kyo started his training, his mother who was then the head of the Imomushi, bought a girl and planned to train her; she made it through some of her lessons but she didn’t want to be a Geisha, she wanted to go back home, she got Kyo to help her with that in this little scheme they had worked out between them. Kyo came to talk to me after helping her, he told me he loved her and wished she’d just stay with him, but their plan went sour and after the Imomushi sold her away Kyo’s mother passed on from heart problems. Kyo was incepted as the head of the Imomushi before he was a Geisha and he vowed never to perform as a Hokan again. From that point on we’ve kept our friendship, I consider him a son and a brother.” “I see,” Kaoru said. “Thank you for your time, you may take your leave. I can’t let you go to the Imomushi okiya this evening though, you will have to wait till the morning.” “Ok,” Yoshiki said standing up. “I’m glad I could answer your questions Samurai.” Yoshiki bowed and may his way out of the office. Kaoru shook his head and made some notes.
Owari Three suspects, building love… What will happen? Keep reading ^-^
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