Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Full Summary
Kaoru flees from Japan-- from Kenshin-- and goes to America where she is forced to become a prostitute. Six years later she is sent to Tokyo with a man who has rented her to be his escort. KK! Will she meet Kenshin and the others again, and what will they do when they find out what she is. What is the reason for her running away?
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.
--Robert Frost
Cherry Blossom Dream
A Lifetime Ago
The chill was always upon her, hovering ever so slightly above her bosom; it was a dread, a fantasy. Was she real? Or was it all fake? Never had she known such coldness as this back in cherry blossom Japan. Was it her choice to leave? The memory was from so long ago she could no longer decipher its poignancy...evolved into a dream. Were people supposed to remember their dreams?
She was here now in the shadows of buildings made of steel and iron cast structures that would never let her escape. The chill had gone from her years ago and had now returned with such a force that she could barely breathe. She was use to being unable to breathe. She drowned everyday in sexual acts that were so viciously afflicted on her. From the ornate calendar that hung on her far wall it told her not six years had passed since the day she had last seen a white cherry blossom; all she saw now was black flowers.
Keep them blooming,
Keep them blooming.
Never to be shriveled, and not to be drowned.
See what masterpiece I created for you, my master.
I am your work of art; my life is thanks to you.
Through the night, I became a woman
Worn and torn, blood of virgin endings
Shall I be a lady molded to perfection.
Keep them blooming,
Keep them blooming.
Never to be shriveled, and not to be drowned.
Keep us blooming.
A song one old prostitute sang often came into tune. Nothing but dark could swallow up the light; ugliness to devour beauty; the shadow to consume her. But then she could still see the sea as far away as it was; was she ready for it? In Japan she use to marvel at the sea in the city she had dwelled by. Many a time she use to stroll down the warm sun bathed docks that smelt of sweat, salt, and fish, but those were just memories. Dreams really. All that she smelled now was the decay of wilting flowers, forced passion, and earned sweat. Was she ever to escape from her prison that she had so willingly gotten into?
She was hurt so deeply that she thought nothing would ever equal its magnitude; maybe that's why she left the cherry blossom country, but soon she found that she was terribly wrong; nothing but a naïve girl's sorrow. They had stolen her pureness; throw it into the thrash as soon as she had come from the stinking vessel onto a new sea side city named San Francisco. She came without knowing anything; the language, the culture, a naive girl. Oh, but now she knew everything about the hateful world run by the male. She had learned and learned well. She sometimes dreamed of that girl who the cherry blossom city of Tokyo once called the Rose of the Sword. She was no rose, just thorns.
There came a hard knock at her door, so hard that it shook the walls. She answered and the door opened. The light was bright only letting her make out a shadow of a figure--it no longer mattered what they looked like. Holding out her arms he came to her, his flesh upon hers, and her tempting whispers upon his ears.
"What is your desire?"
The words came out so easily soft now. His body pounded on hers, but her mind was always else where, back in a dojo where she had taught her forgotten art of swords play. The fights, the moments of laughter, the moments of dread, the moments of fear, and the moments of love in all shapes were all in the past.
Six years past, and still she drowned.
It was noontide. Her shift would be coming along soon. The men would start pouring in around the late afternoon and continue until a little after dusk, and she would be numb with exhaust and indifference long before then.
"Kaoru," A girl her age giggled drinking her warm milk.
People called her Star; Kaoru knew her as Roma. She was pale, just the way the costumers liked, blued and blond with tiny freckles that gave her an air of innocence just as a farmer's daughter would. People here always said looks could be deceiving--they were right. "Master informed me to remind you that he would like to converse with you after your meal."
The girl's eyes practically glowed with some lower fire. Roma, or Star, was one of the nine girls who lived amongst each other in the famous brothel house in which Kaoru was the most popular attraction. Her foreign looks pleased most men, especially since they heard of her from as far away as London; her talents in bed were amazing, as one man said to her face once. She was a favorite among men, and cost the most to have for at least forty five minutes; men were such pigs.
Kaoru nodded, she did not wish to speak to the girl.
At one time had she dreamed herself an extrovert, a violent girl when harassed, or disrespected? Had at one point did she dream herself to be pure, fighting spirit? Looking around quietly at all the girls that silently at their food, she pushed out her chair and walked out of the room into a brightly furnished hall of wood with red carpets, iron lamps, and shuttered windows. Reflecting on her first encounter with Master she was glad she ceased to shudder; his touch no longer affected her. No ones touch did.
That first night when he had claimed her white blossoming flower he smiled demonically and she knew then she was in the clutches of a devil. She had clawed, kicked, and fought to get away, but with the sedative they had given her she was limp, and the vision of that night never left her. His laugh, his lusty eyes, and his final smile always would chase and follow her, death would offer no solace. Never would she be rid of him.
Coming to the Californian oaken door, she lowered her head and knocked softly.
"Come." A powerful voice rose within. She went inside and looked at her destroyer's face once again. Many times she had seen his face, in the dark and in the light, and no matter how devilish he was his perfectly structured features, and light hair made him look like an angel of God.
"Ah, Kaoru, my foreign money." His long sculpted fingers entwined each other as he leaned on them mouthing her nick name. She smiled out of duty, and because it pleased him. Smiling was so easy to fake after practice and many whippings; she learned her place.
"How do you do?" Her soft voice uttered. It was never good to raise a voice to Master. He sat back.
"Come closer my little foreign money maker." She came closer as much as he pleased. Smiling he got up took her hair in his hand and violently kissed her, pulling her hair back roughly as he did so. After a few moments he let go and stood in front of her.
"No wonder you're my best escort, I'm glad it was I who had you first," And, as an after thought, added, "It would help if you smiled more." When Master suggested something it was an order, so Kaoru gave him her most brilliant smile, but it never reached her eyes. His remarks never bothered her anymore; it was the air she breathed.
He went behind his desk again and sat.
"Kaoru do you remember William Harold?" Kaoru searched her memory; they were all the same after a while. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry." He looked upset but said nothing.
"No matter." He waved. "It seems though he wants your companionship for a trip he is taking." Kaoru's eyes widened. Master was going to let her go, but he never let any man take his escorts out of the brothel. The man was planning; she could see it in his eyes. It was not her place to question his deeds, her only concern was to follow them without fail, and she was perfect at that.
"This is very big for me, Kaoru. He is spending a lot of money towards you, money I want."
"What does he do?" Was her quiet inquiry; she knew there was more yet Master was never one to reveal his plans.
He looked at her as if she were stupid slowly answering, "He is a diplomat." .
Where was she going to go, she thought to herself. Nothing scarred her anymore. It didn't matter how this William would use her, or treat her, she has seen it all before. Master continued. "He needs your companionship for about three months while he is in Japan," He smiled, "I hope you still know your native tongue, dear Kaoru, I have already sent for Joseph to pack your things. You are leaving tonight."
He continued on, telling her details about the trip, but she no longer heard. She was going back. Back to Japan. She felt no joy, only despair. Hadn't she wanted to go to Japan again? Did she want to take the chance to accidentally meet her old friends? Would they know her? She had changed so much that maybe--hopefully-- they wouldn't know her. All she knew was one thing, she wanted to escape, but to someplace other than Japan which too had hurt her in her final days.
The stage coach was packed and ready when Kaoru looked down from her window onto the now quite San Francisco street. She looked at the clock hanging on the wall, its fine hands reading eleven o' five at night. Master was outside talking to Mr. Harold, she could recognize his form anywhere, herself being well accustomed to him in the night hours.
A knock came at her door. She called out so they could come in.
"Kaoru," A nervous voice reached beyond her cold depth. She turned and looked at her only friend in six years, Antonio, the Mexican worker who kept up the brothel. He was the only man which she held no wicked thoughts for, in truth, Kaoru never thought of Antonio as a man...he was something different.
"I just wanted to come say goodbye, and give you this."
In his worn hand he held out a brown book, a Bible. Kaoru looked at the aging man who was like a grandfather to her. "Antonio..."
"No take it, Kaoru; it will give you hope." He coaxed on pleadingly into her eyes.
She sighed, "Antonio you know I don't believe in your western god or any god as a matter a fact." She explained as she took it.
"That doesn't mean He doesn't believe in you, Kaoru." She looked at him skeptically. "Promise me, Kaoru that you will read it and listen for His voice. Please try to have faith in a better future."
"I already like my life." She lied.
"Promise," He pleaded again. She gave up. "Alright, old man, I promise." He smiled and left her with a short goodbye. She again looked at the window.
It looked like they were done as William handed a bundle over to Master. She saw them shake hands followed by Master's whistle. She moaned, the knock would soon come. She counted down thirty seconds: three, two, one...
There was a sudden banging at her door. She smiled graphically, opening the door without even looking at the Master's burly henchman as her lavish European dress feathered along his shins. She had long ago gotten use to these mysterious dresses made of yards upon yards of fabric and still made a girl feel naked, but this dress for all its flaws was beautiful to Kaoru. Master, though cruel, was kind in the fact that he spoiled his girls with expensive clothes and trinkets; things to fit a high class escort.
Her raven winged hair laid across her shoulders, as long as it had always been, and her azure eyes danced momentarily along the halls that had been her home and prison for six long years, and she knew she wouldn't miss anything. She finally reached the wrap around porch and was greeted by Master's smile and William's roaming eyes.
"Kaoru I'm sure you remember Mr. Harold." His eyes told another story; a story that told her exactly what to say and how to act.
She smiled beautifully like an angel. "Oh, how could I ever forget such a dashing man such as Mr. Harold?" Kaoru exclaimed sensually rushing over and putting her arms around the tall, tasteful man.
He looked to be near his earlier forties with deep brown eyes, graying hair, and a long face that was cleanly shaven. The man laughed at Master. "You may leave us now, Derek. I can handle this beauty from here." Master laughed with him sending one last piercing glance towards Kaoru who smiled back. Once he was gone Mr. Harold touched her shoulder.
"Beautiful, are you ready to go?" He asked her as if it were her choice when she was already bought and paid for. She wanted to ask him how much he paid for her services, but she held silent with a fake smile to her lips.
"I would go anywhere with you." Kaoru flirtatiously batted her eyes. He smiled touching her hair.
"I can hardly believe a woman of your standards will be escorting me to Japan. You were indeed a hard bargain; Derek didn't want to let you go." He conversed with her as they entered the carriage and started towards the bay where their vessel awaited. She just smiled and leaned against him.
"You are from Japan, naturally am I correct, my dear?" Kaoru nodded and spoke.
"It was my home country."
Be nice to him. Start a conversation and always, always ask about him; men love that. The words of Sally rang through her head. Sally was the Keeper of the Escorts; the one who taught them everything they would need to know. She was constantly in her head telling her men were nothing but dogs, and teaching her love was never real. Love to Sally, and eventually to Kaoru, was nothing but sugar coated favors.
"Yes we are due for Tokyo, and while I am at meetings, I'm giving you the free time to enjoy the city." He spoke highly knowing that he owned her every action.
"I grew up in Tokyo." Kaoru said clasping her hands in mock excitement which he took for reality. "Oh how much I will enjoy seeing it again."
He touched her check and she voluntary leaned into it. "How easily you are please dear." He smiled. "Since you grew up there I think I will let you roam the city by yourself."
She looked surprised. She couldn't speak. Did he actually trust her to go without an escort, she smiled. "Of course, dear, you will have to cheek in every hour or two."
"I'm blessed to go with a man like you." Kaoru said excitedly. It was all an endless play, having her always be the main character; she didn't mind it so much anymore, it was like breathing.
His laughed reached the top of the carriage. "I trust that you won't run away."
Kaoru looked hurt, "Now, good Mr. Harold, why would I ever run away from a man such as yourself? You're simply dashing."
"Please, call me William." He asked touching her cheek bringing her in for a long kiss. His lips were lukewarm and firm as he traveled down her neck pushing her against the carriage wall. Kaoru moaned. It was so easy to fake them into thinking they allowed her pleasure. Again she became numb just letting him lead. He wanted her, she could feel his excitement. He pushed her even further until he finally stopped.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm going to have you tonight, you can be sure of that."
She smiled and said, "I will grant your every wish." He moaned turning away from her trying to calm himself down, and she continued to look at him becoming very aware of the fact that the ship ride would be far longer then she had imagined.
A/N: Okay, so what do you think about it so far. I kind of got this prostitute idea from a book I read called, "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. I did not copy the whole idea, just the prostitute part and some other little tid-bits. Don't worry they will reached Tokyo by next chapter and maybe--I don't know yet--maybe the RK cast will be there.
Please Read and Review. Thanks.
CrypticMaidenRK