InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Yours ❯ Omen ( Chapter 2 )

Forever Yours

By Gothic - Tinkerbell

The encounter I had had with that man was short, and I never even learned his name, but throughout the night it was all I could think about. I lied to myself, and pretended it wasn't that important. I didn't tell any one what had happened and I kept it to myself, trying desperately to think of anything but the glimmer in his golden eyes, and the tenderness in his smile.

Luckily I did not dream of him, but what I did dream left me unsettled and restless.

I died in the dream. No. I was killed.

In the dream I sat alone, in a dark, cold room, and I was chained to the wall like a prisoner. I felt sick and tired - the kind of exhaustion that grasps hold of your soul when you've lost the will to live was within me. I seemed to sit in that cell for years, never raising my eyes from the damp ground.

But then some one entered the room. I think it was a man of some sorts, but I really couldn't tell. Whoever it was, consisted only of a silhouette, I saw nothing of their face, just their vague outline.

This silhouette entered my cell, and then stood staring at me for a while. It seemed to be thinking very hard about something, trying to make a decision, though I don't pretend to know what. After the long uncomfortable silence, the silhouette began walking towards me, their footsteps clacking against the stone floor, the cold sound ringing in my ears.

Once they finally stood before me, I weakly raised my head and was met with cruel eyes. These eyes had no recognizable color or shape - they were just hateful, staring down at me with disgust and shame. Whoever this was hated me much, and was ashamed of me even more.

They spoke, but I could not hear what they said. It is not that they spoke softly or mumbled, words did not even leave their lips - they only moved their mouth in slow hateful phonetics.

Then raising their hand, they held aloft a mighty sword, and with one swoop I was slain. I was cut down, and lay dead in my own blood. But before I awoke, startled and covered in my own sweat, ominous words plaid in my ears, but what their meaning was I had no idea.

"She died of a broken heart..."

When I woke near dawn, I had no want or intention of going back to sleep.

Thus I lay motionless, staring out the high window of my bedroom (which I had to share with two other girls), and basking in the accenting rays of dawn. I did not want to get up - it was too peaceful here. I tried to empty my mind and meditate, but again my thoughts were plagued with the cold words of my dream. "She died of a broken heart". Like a wind circling in my mind, it was all I heard. "She died of a broken heart." Why should I die? Who could possibly break my heart?

Not content with hearing those words again and again, I reluctantly rose from my bed. It was small, the blankets thin, and the futon weak, but it was heaven to me.

Without waking the two sleeping girls in my room, I wrapped my plain, blue kimono loosely around me and left the chamber -not really knowing where I was going. I walked down the candlelit hallway, quietly passing the screens to all the other girls' rooms.

At the end of the hall is a large cedar door, and passed that, one could either go left to the main lobby where men waited before they chose a companion, or right and come to many more different rooms and different hallways. I did not want to be caught being up before I was suppose to, so I avoided the lobby and headed down the right corridor.

Somehow I ended up near the kitchen, so I decided I might as well eat something. Passing the door that lead to the grand dinning room that was only used at dinner or for parties, I snuck in through the back door.

In the steaming room I found exactly whom I expected. Standing over a boiling pot of ramen and preparing the rest of the whores and madams breakfasts was Natsumi.

Natsumi was an older woman who had been a concubine to a human lord in the northern lands. She cooked for him and satisfied his 'other' needs, and when he grew tired of her she was thrown to the streets. She had become to old for prostitution and eventually found her way here, where the madams let her stay as the main cook. She was a kind woman and sometimes the only person I could talk too.

I greeted her from behind. "Good morning Natsumi-chan." She turned from the steaming pot and faced me slightly startled, whipping her hands on her apron.

"Hai. Good morning Mai-chan." She looked at me with a curious tint to her eyes. "What are you doing up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep." I spoke through a smile.

Natsumi ran her fingers through her slick, gray hair that was tightly pulled into a bun on top her head. "I can understand that, but a girl your age needs her beauty sleep. You wouldn't want to lose that pretty face of yours."

I raised my eyebrow at her comment - she was like the grandmother I never had. "I am not a little girl anymore. You flatter me. But when I can not sleep I can not sleep." Natsumi nodded her head.

"Natsumi-chan?"

"Hai?" The old woman crossed her arms at her chest.

"The reason I came here, other than to see you, was…well I…" Natsumi smiled and answered me before I could get out my question.

"Sit down girl and I'll make you something to eat." I smiled at her and gave her a hug.

"Domo Arigatou Natsumi-chan."

I sat down on a stool by the back door, chatting with Natsumi as I waited for my breakfast to be made. After the normal gossip about the girls, and whom the madams were going to get rid of next, Natsumi turned away from the steamed rice and vegetables she was making and asked me an unexpected question.

"Isn't your birthday coming up soon Mai?" I was silent for a moment, thinking it over in my own head.

"Hai, it is. I had completely forgot." Natsumi smiled at me.

"Well what would a girl like you want for her birthday, I feel as your close friend I am obligated to get you a gift." I blushed slightly - no one ever made a fuss about me.

"Oh Natsumi-chan you don't have to get me a gift." Natsumi turned from the stove, a plate of rice and vegetables in her hand. Carrying the plate in one hand and the other stubbornly placed on her hip, Natsumi placed the dish on the counter before me.

"Who ever said I 'have' to? Mai dear, I want to." I looked at the food with tempted eyes, the aroma was delicious and I took my chopsticks in hand. I timidly looked at Natsumi.

"But you said…" Natsumi patted my back before returning to the stove.

"Never mind what I said." She laughed while she spoke. "I'm and aging lady, I need to make jokes." She peeked once more over her shoulder at me, wearing a big toothy grin, and I gave her a look of gratitude.

We sat in silence together for a while, as she stirred miscellaneous pots and I gorged on the hearty food.

When Natsumi brought me a pot of fresh boiled green tea, I wiped my lips clean with a cloth towel and poured myself a cup. I then thought to ask a question. Natsumi got around the compound a lot, and she talked to many people, she might be able to help me find some answers.

"Natsumi?" She again looked at me over her shoulder.

"I..I" Natsumi wiped her hands on her apron and turned to face me.

"What it is?"

"I was wondering if you had heard any news of a demon lord coming tonight?" Natsumi pondered for a moment, and then scratching the side of her head came to stand next to me.

"No. I'm sorry but I haven't heard anything." She noticed my frown of disappointment.

"Why do you ask?" I took a sip of my tea.

"Oh nothing. I just heard a rumor, that's all."

My eyes returned downcast to my half eaten food, and Natsumi tapped my shoulder to retrieve my attention.

"Tell me what you heard." She smiled wryly, "It might remind me of something I have forgotten." I took another sip of tea, and then licked my lips anxiously before speaking.

"Well, last night at the hot spring Yui was talking…" Natsumi interrupted me.

"You see, maybe it isn't true. That Yui is always making up stories for attention…I never liked that girl. Did you know that in all my years of serving here she never once said thank you. And further more…"

"Natsumi!" She stopped mid sentence and looked at me questioningly.

"May I finish."

"Oh of course Mai. I apologize."

"That's okay."

"Go on."

"Well Yui said that she had slept with a demon lord's advisor or companion…something like that." Natsumi snorted in disbelief at my comment. I stopped and looked at her.

"She said that and you believe her." I felt slightly foolish, but went on talking.

"Well not at first, and I still don't really, but I listened to what she had to say because I was curious." Natsumi crossed her arms and continued listening.

"Anyways, she said that the man she had been with had told her that the demon Lord of the Western Lands was coming to our brothel compound and was going to chose a new concubine for his use."

"Why would a Lord like himself come to a small place like this on the edge of town, so far south?"

"I really don't know. His last mistress was said to have been killed by his only son, and maybe he has been searching for a woman he likes all over the land. But for whatever reason he has come here, and supposing Yui wasn't lying, and he 'is' here, I have to do anything I can to be chosen."

Natsumi gave me an unsure look, her lips scrunched into a frown. "I don't know about this Mai. This lord's last woman got killed by his son, and he probably has a full demon wife. You don't want to get involved in that kind of a situation."

"But you don't understand Natsumi," my eye were sad and pleading. "You wanted to know what I desired for my birthday? Well it's to get out of here. I have been trapped in the walls of this compound for too long. I don't care if he has a full demon bitch wife, I don't care if he has a maniac of a son, and it wouldn't even matter to me if he beat me the second I entered his home. I just need to get out. I need to escape from the Yume Yokubou brothel."

Natsumi tried to comfort me with her hand on my shoulder. "There are other ways."

"No. Not for a girl like me. I am not pure and innocent enough to be married, what man would want me? In fact I do not whish to be married, just so I can end up with some farmer, who I break my back for every day in the field, and spread my legs for every night in bed. There is nothing for me in this town or any town." I sighed heavily and took another drawn out sip of my tea.

I looked at Natsumi with pitiful eyes. "I have been here since I was twelve years old. I lost my virginity at thirteen, when they thought I was ready for the 'real' work and not sweeping the floors." My voice became somber as I recalled unpleasant nights long past.

"I remember my first night as one of the girls. I was scared, helpless and unsure what was going to happen to me. Some of the older girls played with me like I was a doll, dressed me up in a pretty pink Kimono with white flowers painted on the silk. They giggled while they fixed my hair, brushing it till it shone in the candle light and sprayed it with perfume so I reeked with the scent of jasmine and green tea. After they had painted my face with makeup, so my lips were a shiny red and my eyes outlined with dark black ink, they all gather around me to lead me to the lobby. They all seemed so excited for me and told me how wonderful it was that I was finally one of them, and how great it would all be -but I was still scared."

I stopped for a moment to sip my tea.

"It was not like I did not know about sex, I was just unsure of the details of the arrangement. When I was finally brought to the lobby, there was a man waiting for me. He looked about twenty-five, with suntanned skin and slim, black eyes. He was a simple farmer who had harvested a good crop that year and wanted to go out and spend some of his extra earnings on a 'good time'. He seemed about as nervous as I was, and looked at me questioningly when I was brought out. He spoke to the madam at my side.

'Is this my girl?' he said, as if he was confused by the whole thing. The woman nodded and I looked up at her for guidance. The man took a step towards me, eyeing me like a fish in the market place.

'But she is so young. Beautiful, but young' I blushed slightly, and the madam spoke to the farmer.

'She is a young woman, but a woman no less. And by the offer you gave us, she is all 'you' can afford.' The man sighed and nodded his head. Then as he walked towards me, gave the fee to the pimp, and was led, by some of the girls who had dressed me, to a lounging room. I followed close behind, sneaking peeks at the farmer when ever I knew he wasn't looking. He was somewhat handsome, but it was very clear that he worked the fields and saw to much sun.

The man and myself were left alone in a small, dim lit chamber, with a bed and couch. This man had a wife and a couple children, but he knew what he was doing about as much as I did. It was not a pleasant night, and I don't think the farmer was happy to find that I was a virgin. I will never forget that night; the look in his eyes that graced my naked form, the way he touched my vulnerable body, and the way I screamed as he thrust into me."

I stopped a moment and looked up at Natsumi who was listening intently.

"I will never forget that night, but I can't even remember his name."

My eyes flooded slightly, and I quickly wiped away the moisture from my cheek. Natsumi came to my side and embraced me in her arms. I did not cry, but my vision became blurred with all the salty tears. Natsumi rubbed my back and pressed me against her small, huddled form. Then with a kiss on the top of my head, she pulled away to look at me. Her hands still held tight to my shoulders, and I was reluctant to look into her eyes.

"It's okay Mai. God burdens everyone with something, just be glad that's all you got." I didn't believe or agree with her, but I didn't say anything.

Within a couple more sips of tea, and some quiet sniffling, I had calmed down, but still sat silently.

Natsumi was almost done with the breakfasts, and she motioned to my mostly empty plate.

"Would you like more? There are some leftovers."

"Hai." I nodded my head.

After Natsumi had filled my plate again, someone came bursting through the door. Natsumi turned to face the door in complete surprise.

"Roko!"

A young boy stood in the doorway panting. His name was Roko and he was Natsumi's only son, who she had brought with her from the Lords palace. The Northern Lord had disowned the boy, and Roko had never met his own father. The madams gave him work to do outside and around the village in exchange for room and board, and he was the only man who was let beyond the lobby, lounges, or grand dinning hall.

"What are you doing here Roko, you scared me half to death." The boy's was leaning on his knees, and still panting heavily - he must have run all the way from the market. His dusty brown hair fell on to his face messily, and his even deeper brown eyes held something very important. Roko took a deep breath and stood up straight, brushing his hair from his face.

"Good morning to you too mother…And hello Mai, your looking beautiful this morning." He smiled at me.

Natsumi crossed her arms and frowned at the boy. "What is it Roko, you can flirt with Mai later." I smiled at the boy as he developed a blush in his cheeks. He was only fourteen years old, but always very charming. I think this characteristic was from growing up surrounded by beautiful ladies - though he always told me I was the most exquisite inside and out. He really knew how to flatter a girl, and even though he was probably lying, I still liked it.

"I came to tell you mother that Madam Misaki is coming to inspect the kitchen, and I thought you should be warned."

"How thoughtful of you Roko. Now get the hell out of here so I can clean up. You had better leave too Mai, we wouldn't want you to get into trouble. You can take your breakfast with you."

Roko took a couple steps toward us. "I'll escort you to the gardens, it's beautiful out." He offered his hand to me, and I would have accepted except for Natsumi.

"NO! You have work to do." With a sigh Roko retracted his hand.

"Well I hope to see you soon Mai." He then left the kitchen.

Natsumi motioned to the back door that lead to the gardens.

"Come on, come on, we don't have all day." I rose and took my plate and cup.

Before I exited the kitchen to the brilliant, sun lit, gardens, I turned to Natsumi.

"Thank you Natsumi, you've always been there for me."

"Don't mention it Mai. Your worth it." Then with a smile Natsumi gently shoved me out the door.

I wander for a while and was left alone with my thoughts.

A/N: There you have it, didn't get much further in the plot line but gave a lot of background. Please read and review, and if it gets the same kind of response the last chap got I might put out chapter three a lot quicker.