Chapter Eight - Of Ladies and Concubines [Part One]
"That is incorrect. Put it down and begin again." "But I—" "Again, miko." With a barely contained groan of pure frustration, Kagome obediently set the decanter of tea back on its tray, returned her hand to her lap, and then took a deep breath and tried to remember what Chiyoko-sama had been endeavoring to teach her for the past hour. Carefully, holding the sleeve of her kimono back, she reached forward and closed her fingers around the handle of the decanter, being sure to keep her wrist delicately arched despite the ache that shot along the back of her hand as a result. Slowly, oh so painstakingly slowly, she pulled the decanter toward herself, released her sleeve, and used her now free hand to support the weight of the full carafe as she poured a small amount of tea into the cup nearest her. Pausing only to be sure that she didn't drip anything onto the table, she then rose carefully onto her knees, leaned over, and— "Incorrect." —Lady Chiyoko's voice broke her concentration, shattering it like a stone through glass. She jumped back, and then squeaked as the jerky movement caused hot tea to splash onto her hand. Groaning and settling into a seated position, Kagome ignored the demoness seated across from her, choosing instead to wipe the burning liquid from her now reddened skin. "How clumsy," the lady murmured as she finished, voice as blank as the eyes Kagome looked up into. "Well I'm sorry for being imperfect," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring. The lady took the acidic expression and multiplied it a hundredfold, layering her voice with sniffy contempt. "As well you should be, ningen." A sharp breath hissed through Kagome's teeth, and suddenly, the complaints she'd been forcing down into her belly all morning surged up into her throat and burst out of her lips, fed by frustration and backed by white-hot anger. "You aren't without fault," she spat, the words sour on her tongue. "I don't see why you can't compliment me on what I do right instead of berating me for what I do wrong!" "You shall not be praised for mediocrity," Chiyoko responded coolly, golden eyes sharpening. Kagome uncrossed her arms and clenched her fists in her lap, teeth grinding angrily in her mouth. "I don't want to be praised for mediocrity," she shot back, "but I don't want to be constantly criticized either!" "Hnn." The rhythmic click of a fan opening and closing filled the momentary silence, and then Chiyoko lifted her chin and gazed down her nose. "No matter," she murmured, tucking the fan into her obi and reaching to pick up the decanter in a single, deft movement. The voluminous sleeve of her butterfly embroidered kimono pooled in her lap as she poured her tea, and she gazed over the rim of her cup after lifting it to her lips, expression unreadable. "Your time for instruction has passed. Leave me." If anything, the curt dismissal only exacerbated Kagome's ire, and making no move to hide it, she gritted her teeth, bowed stiffly, and then stood and stalked to the door, stopping only when the lady spoke again, the deceptively demur hum of her voice easily crossing the space between them. "You may be angry with me now, but you will thank me later." Kagome chose not to answer, and left the building with annoyance bubbling in her veins. Her stomach was hot, suppressed anger sending minute tremors up and down her spine. Fingers clenching sporadically, and mind occupied by self-righteously angry thoughts—didn't anyone around this gods-forsaken compound understand the positive aspects of a compliment?—she didn't notice the figure approaching her until she bumped into them. Startled for the second time in less than ten minutes, Kagome gasped loudly, stumbling back and looking up as she caught her footing again. She came face to face—or face to bosom, as it were—with Aoi, and the cool amusement in the panther youkai's eyes made her blink. She suddenly felt self-conscious; she hoped she hadn't been talking to herself. Shifting on her feet, Kagome fumbled for something to say, but before she could work up a proper topic of conversation, Aoi spoke, voice thick and smoky, like scented incense. "You are upset." It was a statement, and Kagome nodded. Dark eyes, which Kagome realized were ringed with deep burgundy, flicked over her shoulder, observing the path from which she'd come. "You have been with Chiyoko-sama," she said, tone implying an understanding that momentarily soothed Kagome's tempestuous anger. "I yelled at her," she confessed quietly, ducking her head. She ventured a glance up at the silence that answered her statement, and was slightly shocked at the surprise written across Aoi's exotic features. Large eyes minutely larger and full lips parted slightly, the panther shook her head, tendrils of wavy auburn tresses spilling out of the messy bun at the nape of her neck. Her mouth closed, and then quirked at the corners in a small smile. "Well, you are brave, that much is certain," she murmured lightly. Kagome sighed, turning to continue her walk at Aoi's urging. "Either that or just incredibly stupid." Aoi hummed, and the sound, though she spoke no words to accompany it, conveyed her disagreement with the statement. Kagome allowed her mind to wander as they walked, thoughts turning back to the way Chiyoko-sama had looked down on her. 'She acted like I asked for help,' she thought in annoyance, 'when she was the one who demanded that I come to her!' The polite side of her, the side that had been oddly silent during her argument with the lady, gently chided her angry thoughts. 'She's only trying to help you; she said so herself.' 'That's true,' she admitted, feeling the coil of frustration in her belly loosen and dissolve as she remembered the lady's words before her lesson had begun. "I will be teaching you the delicate art of ladyship," she'd said quietly, eyes glowing dimly in the early morning light. "It is likely that you will hate me before I'm finished with you, but this is for your own good. Do not forget that." Sighing as the last bit of ire melted out of her system, Kagome lifted her face to the afternoon sun and absorbed its warmth, only realizing that Aoi was looking at her when she opened her eyes. A heat that had nothing to do with the sunlight flooded her cheeks, and she became aware, in a corner of her mind, that the demoness had spoken and, if the raised brow was of any indication, she expected a response so whatever she'd said. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" "I asked," the youkai stated calmly, "if you would like music lessons until Kotono is ready for you." Kagome tilted her head to one side. "Are you sure you want to teach me?" Aoi shrugged, shoulders lifting and falling in a delicate motion. "I suppose you can be tolerated," she responded mildly, and the lack of intensity in her voice made Kagome smile. She followed the panther to her own building, and settled in the receiving room, where black tatami and cream colored cushions suited Aoi's exotic looks perfectly. She waited a moment, and then stared in awe as the demoness walked to a corner and pulled a beautiful, gleaming koto to the floor. Settling behind it, she motioned for Kagome to come closer, and, nearly entranced by the sleek instrument, the miko breathed, "It's beautiful." Aoi smiled. "Before I came to be my lord's second, I danced and played in a kabuki troupe, and when I left, my lord demanded that I bring this with me." "Did you like kabuki?" Kagome asked, interested. At Aoi's nod, she ventured further, hoping that she wasn't crossing any lines. "Did you want to leave?" A slightly pained purse of the youkai's lips made Kagome wish she hadn't asked, but before she could take back the question, Aoi responded, eyes gazing almost longingly at the koto in front of her. "No." The word was quiet, and the ones that followed it sounded as though they came from a hollow part of Aoi's body; there was emptiness infused into each syllable. "But I had to follow Kotono-sama." She remained silent for a moment more, and then she glanced up, and Kagome's curiosity withered under the light in her eyes; a forbidding glint that stalled her questions and shoved them deep into her heart, where the darkness swallowed them whole. Wisely, she nodded, but even as Aoi's face returned to its usual expression of calm indifference and she began to explain the workings of the koto, Kagome wondered: what was the panther's secret? And why would she have to follow Kotono? She guessed that her questions would probably go unanswered for quite some time. Kotono came for her early in the evening, and though she hadn't come any closer to figuring out the mystery of Aoi's previous life—because there was mystery, she could tell by the look in the demoness' eyes—she bowed to the dragoness standing in the doorway, catching her gaze with a smile. "You enjoyed your lesson?" Kotono asked as they left the building. Kagome smiled. "Yes." She fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, and then carefully worded the question dancing on her tongue. "Do you…do you think that I could spend the afternoons learning how to play the koto?" Kotono remained silent, and she hastily added, "I asked Aoi, and she said that I would have to check with you first, but—" "You may do as you wish," Kotono interrupted gently, slanting a sidelong glance at her. "But you must make room for your miko training in a few days' time." "Miko training?" With a nod, Kotono ushered her into their building. "I found a priestess willing to help you," she said, padding down the hall to Kagome's room on silent feet. "But it will take her quite some time to arrive." "Who is she?" Kagome asked, watching as Kotono shifted through the contents of her wardrobe. "Her name is Hashimoto Suzume," she responded, head almost encased in the large structure. "She helped my elder brother some time ago." "You have a brother?" "Mhm." The demoness paused as she found what she was looking for, pulling a heavy looking silk coat from the wardrobe and displaying it with a flourish. The deep blue silk was covered in silver embroidery depicting a full moon surrounded by wispy clouds, a large, demonic dog stretched out in a run along the bottom. "He is the Lord of the North now," Kotono continued, draping the coat over one arm, "and there was a violent disagreement between him and a rogue youkai faction a few years ago. She was called to help settle the dispute." Kagome ahh-ed in understanding, and then followed Kotono out of the room and down the hall to her own quarters, where she pulled a black silk coat from her own wardrobe, hers embroidered with gold reeds and a shimmering silver river along the hem. Holding it carefully in the crook of one elbow, she held out the other, and Kagome slipped her arms into the wide, belled sleeves and adjusted the heavy silk until it settled comfortably against her shoulders. Kotono copied her motion, and then led her from the building and through the compound, and it was only when they neared the front gates that Kagome finally realized what was happening; they were leaving the grounds. She slowed to a stop, fingers fumbling with the sleeves of her coat. "Erm…Kotono?" The youkai stilled, glanced over her shoulder, and gave a reassuring smile. "Ah, I forgot," she murmured, her tone slightly amused. "We are going to speak with the tayū in town; she and I have tea every now and then, and I thought that you might like to accompany me." Kagome's stomach erupted in butterflies, but she nodded and stepped up to the demoness' side once more, which earned her a soft smile. "What about my lessons?" Kotono waved an elegant hand. "You shall learn what you will when you are ready," she responded, her tone somewhat cryptic. Kagome chose not to ask what the dragoness meant, shoving her questions to the back of her mind and standing to the side as the sentries at the gate began to open the large wooden doors. A light commotion erupted behind her, and she turned, shocked to see the Western Lord approaching at an unhurried pace. 'Gods, he's beautiful.' And he was. Long, lean body clothed in a set of white hakama and a black haori, Lord Sesshomaru looked like a warrior kami descended, silver hair dancing in a slight breeze and swords strapped securely at his hip. As he neared, Kagome realized she was staring; with a blush, she averted her gaze and bowed deeply. "Sesshomaru-sama." He gave her a slow once over when she rose, the amber of his eyes highlighted with the deep blue of the darkening sky. "Miko," he rumbled, "you will wear these." Kagome felt her eyebrow shoot upward at his commanding tone, and as she vaguely registered Seiji sliding up to stand beside Kotono, Sesshomaru produced a set of ivory chopsticks, studded with sapphires shaped like a crescent moons along their length. He moved slightly, the motion obviously asking for permission to place the ornaments into her hair. She licked her lips, and, not entirely too sure that she had a choice otherwise, Kagome tucked her chin and allowed the gorgeous inu to place the chopsticks, his movements quick and sure. Once they were secure, Sesshomaru stepped back, eyes bright in the dim light. Kagome stared until Kotono clapped her hands and drew attention to herself, and then she blushed and ducked her head. "Let us be off, then," the demoness stated, clasping her hands in front of her and turning to walk through the gate. Kagome quickly followed, and the glance Kotono shot over her shoulder was reassuring. The path from the gates to the outskirts of town was a short one, so Kagome forced the question in her throat up through her lips, embarrassed at her ignorance. "Kotono, we're going to the p-pleasure house, aren't we?" she asked, stumbling over the awkwardness that clogged her throat. "Yes," the dragoness responded, glancing at her from the corner of her eye. "Will there...will there be..." She couldn't find it in her to finish, and Kotono slowed to a stop, turning to her with a calm expression. "Will there be men there?" Kagome nodded, and Kotono tilted her head to one side. "If I said there there would be, will you want to go back inside?" Kagome pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. 'Will I?' she wondered, staring down at her feet. 'I can't be embarrassed about this kind of stuff forever...I am a concubine, after all.' She sighed, looked up, and shook her head. Kotono smiled.
:..:..:..:..:
"She is the twelfth?" The incredulity in Inoue Fuyu's voice made Kotono smile, and she nodded as they watched Kagome, surrounded by both human and youkai prostitutes, gaze around the room, eyes a little wide. "She is." "But she's...human! And a miko at that!" Kotono hummed, sipping her tea as Kagome's eyes widened, almost comically, at the increasingly loud sounds coming from down the hall. The yūjo surrounding her giggled. "Yes, but..." She trailed off, fighting back a laugh as Kagome, who had been immediately sought after and pulled from her side by the yūjo upon entering the building, frantically shook her head at the male patron who stumbled from the hall, loudly declaring that he would be proud to show her a good time. "Pick one of the other girls, Kaito!" Fuyu called, earning herself a grateful look from the miko. "But?" she prompted, turning large violet eyes to Kotono's face. Kotono shrugged. "She's the one." Now it was Fuyu's turn to widen her eyes. "You...you can't be serious," she whispered, turning to stare at the little human, who was settling more comfortably on her cushion across the room, drawn into conversation. "I would not lie about this," Kotono stated, as serious as she could be. "But, Kotono...she's human!" "I am well aware of her race, Inoue," Kotono murmured, glancing sharply at the minx. "It does not matter." Fuyu sighed. "You're positive?" Kotono allowed the question to hang in the air for quite some time, contenting herself with observing Kagome as she chatted, now comfortable, with the women surrounding her. "I have Seen it with my own eyes," she murmured at last, looking back to the tayū in time to catch the slightly disbelieving stare the woman was leveling at Kagome. "Well," Fuyu said with a sigh, "if you've Seen it, then I guess I have to believe it." Kotono grinned. "Good, because I plan on using your girls to help me teach her." A dark brow rose, and Fuyu's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'll be glad to help in any way I can." "I knew I could count on you." The rest of their tea meeting passed in companionable silence.
Author's Note: Next chapter coming soon!
p.s. - yūjo translates as "women of pleasure", and tayū (according to what I could get from Wiki) is the highest rank of oiran, or courtesan. Thanks for reading (please review) and I hope you enjoyed!
~Aubrey
