The Midnight Butterfly by Shannon
Part Nine
Toshiya wandered happily through the streets, making his way back to Die’s house. He smiled as he tried to think up possibilities of what Shinya’s message meant. Note: Kyo’s a jerk! Shinya: I totally agree! Toshiya giggled as he walked. “OI!” Someone called. “Matte, you’re Toshiya right?” Toshiya looked up, “Yeah, is something wrong?” Toshiya eyed the double swords hanging idly from the samurai. “I’m not sure that you’ll remember this, but I used to come into your parents’ kimono shop all the time, picking up things for my master. I’m Karyu, I’m here in the hanamachi with Kaoru the new chief of police,” the young man smiled. “I’m sorry,” Toshiya said his face falling. “I don’t know who you are, or what you’re talking about. You shouldn’t bother people you don’t know in the streets.” Toshiya started walking away. Karyu blinked, then followed Toshiya. “Matte, what are you saying? I used to talk to you out back while waiting for my order.” “You must be mistaken, I don’t remember you at all.” Toshiya started jogging away. “What happened to the business?” Karyu called not giving up his chase. “What happened to your sister?” Toshiya stopped dead. “Don’t bring up my sister again!” Toshiya yelled whirling on the following samurai. “You’re not worthy to walk the ground she once has, as for my business it’s none of your concern.” “I knew you remembered,” Karyu called as Toshiya ran away from him.
Kaoru sat in his office making neat little notes about the case; he sat further back into his chair and yawned openly. Karyu walked in and bowed to Kaoru before digging through some papers in a file book. “What are you doing?” Kaoru asked. “I ran into someone I knew here, but he tried to ignore me and deny knowing me, I’m looking for his file.” Kaoru stood up and walked over to Karyu, “Who was it?” “Just someone who worked in a kimono shop, I used to have to go to for our master.” Kaoru took a deep breath and said, “Well I was going to help you but…” Kaoru took another deep breath clenching his brows together. “What’s that smell Karyu?” “What smell?” Karyu asked looking at Kaoru. “The smell in your kimono.” “Oh that’s the vinegar they used to set the dye, I learned that from all the time spent talking to this guy and his sister. It should be in your kimono too, unless it’s old or a light color.” Kaoru smelled his sleeve and sure enough vinegar, Why couldn’t I place it before? Kaoru asked himself. “Did they use anything else in their dye?” “Um, orange juice, they used citric acid to compel the dye to cloth, you have to in animal protein such as silk. Other kimono shops would use a nasty smelling acid, but the “Seika Hara Kimono” makers chose oranges as kind of a trademark.” Karyu pulled a paper and handed it to Kaoru. “Where was this friend of yours headed?” Kaoru asked.
Die and Yoshiki stood in Die’s room waiting for Toshiya. “Do you think he’ll have good news?” Die asked. “I don’t think so, if Kyo was planning on letting one of us do it he’d have sent word already, even if he had to come in person.” Yoshiki said. “So it was someone else that won.” Die said. “Most likely,” Yoshiki sighed. “Why were you so interested in Miyavi’s mizuage?” “I was just trying to prove to my father that I could do it on my own,” Die smiled. “Hey do you know what that black dye is, that’s staining Toshiya’s fingers?” Yoshiki asked. “Toshiya told me he’s always wanted to reopen his parents’ shop so he’s been working on a new dye formula.” “Oh, that’s interesting. Where was the shop located?” “I don’t know, he’s never told me.”
Shinya was remembering his earlier talk with Toshiya and trying to picture the look on Die’s face when he heard his message. Shinya was trying to memorize all the details of Toshiya so he could remember the day he sent word to Die of his mutual love. The way Toshiya smiled and accepted the task, his near black kimono, tied perfectly and the interesting smell he had with him and his hands as he waved… His hands… Shinya lifted Reita off his lap and ran up the stairs. “Shinya?” Aoi called.
Toshiya sighed and made his way up the stairs to Die’s house, a worried look grasped his features as he opened the door and let him self in. Toshiya placed a fake smile over his worry and knocked on Die’s door. Yoshiki opened the door and smiled, “You’re back.” He moved letting Toshiya in. “What’s the news?” Die asked. “Shinya told me that Kyo is performing the mizu himself,” Toshiya sighed. “Nobody won.” Die leaned back with a long sigh. The three turned hearing a knock at the front door.
Kaoru stood outside Die’s house with Karyu who was holding his side and trying to catch his breath, they had run all the way. Yoshiki opened the front door, “Good evening Kaoru-san, what can I help you with?” “Is Toshiya Hara here?” Kaoru asked keeping his voice steady. Yoshiki opened the door and led the two Samurai to Die’s room. Toshiya’s head hung as he saw Karyu and an older Samurai enter the room. Kaoru scrutinized Toshiya as he backed slowly away. “I regret this but I must take your friend Toshiya down to my station for some questioning.” Kaoru moved and put a hand on Toshiya’s shoulder giving a firm squeeze. Kaoru tried to move Toshiya but he stood still. “I have to deliver a message, I promised I would,” Toshiya yelled. Kaoru waited. “Die,” Toshiya said. “Shinya says he finally read your letter and it’s mutual.” Die’s breath caught. “We have to go now Hara-san,” Kaoru said and tried to pull him again. Toshiya threw Kaoru’s hand from his shoulder. “I don’t need you to lead me, I’m perfectly capable of following you.” Die moved to Toshiya, “What the hell is going on?” “You’ll find out as soon as we do,” Kaoru said.
Shinya knocked loudly on Kyo’s door, “Kyo!” He yelled. Kyo opened the door and looked at Shinya. “What’s wrong?” “It was Toshiya!” Shinya yelled. “Wait what?” Kyo asked. “It was Toshiya, get dressed we have to go tell Kaoru.” “Wait, how do you know this?” Kyo asked. “I just do! Hayaku, damn it!” Shinya yelled.
“So you admit to the crime?” Kaoru asked. Toshiya looked down at his feet, “I admit to it yes, but some of it I didn’t mean to happen.” “What was that?” “I wasn’t planning on the Hokan being there, I was originally just trying to scare him but my desire for revenge toiled within my soul.” Toshiya bit his lip. “Revenge? I guess that brings me to my next question of why?” Kaoru asked. “I couldn’t stand his success anymore, when he’s caused us so much grief, I had to do something to bring him down.” “Who are you bringing down?” Kaoru asked. “Kyo,” Toshiya muttered. “My sister was bought by his mother and being trained as a Geisha, when he came along a ruined her career by stripping her of her most valuable asset. After that she was sent to the ‘whore’ district and her shame fell to our family and we eventually had to sell out our business because no one would buy our kimono anymore. My sister spoke to me once before she killed herself; she said she had no idea that one little want would ruin the lives of the whole family. I assured her it wasn’t her fault, but she shrugged me off, the next day she threw herself in the river with a large rock tied to her ankle. I vowed I would see or cause the ruin of the man that had ruined us.” “So you entered the okiya at night with the intent to deface the honor of the business?” Kaoru asked trying to catch Toshiya’s eye but the man only looked down. “I was defacing the mizu room that I know Kyo had because he’s a paranoid…” Toshiya’s jaw clenched. “Calm down,” Kaoru said. “Just tell me your side of the story.” “I was after the room then I was going to deface the outside, but the Hokan showed up and I thought I would just retie his obi in the front and write on him, but as he struggled I got mad, and decided to deface him in the ultimate payback for what Kyo had done to me.” Toshiya finally lifted his gaze to Kaoru’s eyes; he lifted his chin proudly. “I’m not proud of what I’ve done and I wish I hadn’t hurt Reita, he’s such a sweet person it hurt me to hurt him. I had to release my anger, I had to do something.” Tears formed in Toshiya’s proud eyes.
Shinya and Kyo stood outside the police office with Karyu barring the way inside. “I’m afraid Kaoru is questioning someone right now, I can’t let you in.” “What’s going on?” Die called running up the street, Yoshiki not far behind him. “Kaoru is in meeting with someone, I can’t let anyone in right now,” Karyu said his hand resting on the hilt of his wakizashi. Die caught Shinya’s eye and stared at him for a while. Shinya swallowed and bowed, “Die-san.” Die walked up to him ignoring Kyo and grabbed Shinya’s hands. Shinya smiled and looked into Die’s eyes a rosy blush perfecting its tone on his cheeks. Die leaned in and placed a gently nervous kiss on Shinya’s lips. Shinya melted into the long awaited meeting and sent his hands around Die’s neck and into the soft red hair. Kyo smiled and walked over to Yoshiki. “It’s about time,” Yoshiki smiled. “I can’t believe that he lasted that long,” Kyo laughed. “Do you know who Kaoru has in questioning?” “He came to Die’s house and collected Toshiya Hara.” “Hara?” Kyo asked wide eyed. “Yes of ‘Seika Hara Kimono’,” Yoshiki looked at Kyo. “What’s wrong?” “I wondered why he looked so familiar, Yoshiki his sister was the maiko by the training name of Kyoko, my mother has a thing for the word ‘Kyo’,” Kyo smiled. “It makes perfect sense now; Toshiya came after me because he thinks it’s my fault.” Kyo moved to where Karyu was standing. “You have to let me in,” Kyo said to him. “I have to talk to Kaoru.” Karyu popped his sword up in its sheath, “I have orders to keep everyone out of this office who tries to enter. I will give you the warning that I will use my sword if I have to.” “KAORU!” Kyo yelled. “Kaoru you have to let me in I have to talk to Toshiya.”
Toshiya recoiled at the sound of the voice that called Kaoru. “Karyu!” Kaoru yelled. “Let Kyo in; only Kyo.” Toshiya looked incredulously into Kaoru’s eyes. Kaoru stood up as Kyo entered the room. Kyo sat down next to Toshiya. “Toshiya,” Kyo said grabbing his hand. “Don’t touch me!” Toshiya yelled and tried to pull his hand from Kyo’s Kyo held onto Toshiya’s hand not letting him go. “You have to hear me out and you have to feel that I’m telling you the truth,” Kyo squeezed Toshiya’s hand and Toshiya looked into his eyes. Toshiya stared at Kyo and tried to push all his pent up hate through his hands and into Kyo; but Kyo just smiled at him and held his hands sitting still. Toshiya felt himself calming even though he wanted to stay angry. “Toshiya,” Kyo said after awhile. “I have to tell you, I loved your sister dearly, I loved her as a sister initially but as I got to know her my feelings grew,” Kyo squeezed Toshiya’s hand gently. “She didn’t want to be a Geisha, she hated the teahouses and the training, she told me this many times and tried to get me to help her but I didn’t know how; then she learned about the mizuage in her classes and she figured that’s how she could save herself from her unwanted fate. She asked me if I would do it for her, I told her no, but she wouldn’t stop asking, then she threatened to go out and find a stranger to do it, and I couldn’t let her do that so I agreed to help her. She wanted to tell you before we did it so that you could know that she’d be coming home soon but my mother wouldn’t let her out. So I had sex with her and she went and told my mother what we had done and she’d also told some of her friends in her classes, so there was only one thing my mother could do to save the face of the okiya. When your sister and I made our plan we had no idea that you would end up as a whore if you lost your virginity. I visited her often for a while till my mother found out and banned me from seeing her and even then I’d sneak out to her, I had to protect her in anyway possible from the horrible fate I had caused her.” Kyo was crying and his grip on Toshiya’s hands had gone lax. Toshiya was shaking with silent sobs as his own tears poured down his cheeks. “I had no idea, I was too set in my thoughts to even listen to her, and she tried to tell me that it wasn’t just your idea but I couldn’t believe her. All this time I’ve been holding a grudge against only you…” Toshiya moved his hands so that he was holding Kyo’s and he squeezed them. “When I found out from Yoshiki what had happened to your family’s business I went to tell her, she was so upset, she asked me to find a way to set up a meeting between you two. So I used my mothers reputation to get her out of her district for a night and I took her to you, I waited in the dark for her to be done and then I took her back, she cried the whole way and all I could do was hold her and tell her it was ok; but it wasn’t she took her life the next day. I was at her funeral but then I saw you and figured you wouldn’t want me anywhere near so I hid and ran from your presence.” Kyo stared at the ground and tried to blink away his tears. Toshiya slipped his hand under Kyo’s chin and pulled his face up, “You were the one that got her out to see me?” Kyo nodded. “Arigato,” Toshiya smiled. “I was so happy that I at least got to see her one last time before she died, even if it was bittersweet. I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to you, I see now that you were the only one that really cared for her in her new home, I can’t thank you enough for that too, I was so worried about her and angry that I couldn’t protect her, I’m glad she had someone,” Toshiya said crying again, he pulled his hand from Kyo’s face and covered his eyes. “Your okiya,” Toshiya said from behind his hand. “Your Hokan, I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to you and him.” Toshiya paused for a moment and Kaoru chose to ask. “So where do we go from here?” Toshiya bowed his head and looked into Kaoru’s eyes, “I have disgraced my self so much more now than before that I feel it’s my right to commit seppuku.” “No!” Kyo exclaimed. “Toshiya,” Kaoru sighed. “You have no need to do that, you’re not Samurai and even if you were that is such an old fashioned movement; don’t you think it’s time to catch up to the change that’s going on around us?” “What else can I do?” Toshiya asked. “Well,” Kaoru said. “My master used to send offending officers to work camps.” “One moment,” Kyo said and went to the door; when he came back he brought Yoshiki in with him. “Yoshiki,” Kyo said. “Toshiya is very shamed by what he’s done and wants to commit seppuku.” “Toshiya,” Yoshiki said. “That’s too harsh a punishment. You have such a talent with dye’s and kimono I would be more than willing to put you to work as head of one of my companies. You’re an excellent man and I’d really enjoy working with you.” Toshiya smiled weakly. Kaoru looked at Yoshiki, “I think,” he said. “That Toshiya should work outside of the hanamachi though, the stress of meeting people he once knew and knowing he’s so close to Geisha might not be right for him.” “Of course,” Yoshiki said. “If you wouldn’t mind moving I can set you up in a nearby district, that way you can still be near Die and Hakuei.” “Why are you being so nice to me?” Toshiya asked. “Because we understand you and want to lift the burden of your shame,” Kyo smiled.
+ Do you notice loose ends? You know what that means… Epilogue!
Kaoru: Damn I’m good! S: Because of me! Kyo: *puts on scholar hat, holding up finger* As they say behind every great man is a woman.
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