Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Of Legendary Creatures and Mystical Beasts ❯ The Sad Lady in White ( Chapter 6 )

Of Legendary Creatures and Mystical Beasts

By Firuze Khanume (firuzekhanume@Hotpop.com)

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, bla, bla, bla...

Notice: Be warned. It will include violence, some use of profane language, and some extent of explicit sexual content. So keep on reading at your own risk.

I would love to hear your comments and suggestions

A few words: I'm really glad you are enjoying the research. I think researching is a key part of writing. Imagination should be founded soundly on real events and places if you are writing about these.

Besides, it is good to really understand the other culture's POV about things, and not only know the facts. I hope my notes can be of some help for that (a little drop in the ocean you should be diving into…)

A ESPECIAL ULTRA BIG HUG to MIR, who is bearing the difficult task of giving my thoughts a coherent meaning… (Remember to visit Tales from the Meiji Era site! http://ellone-loire/tfme/)

And I also want to give a ULTRA ULTRA ESPECIAL BIG HUG to GUADALUPE.ANGELICA LANGARICA SÁNCHEZ who has drawn a MAGNIFICENT picture of Asiyah

You can see her beautiful work at

http://www.mediaminer.org/fanart/src.php?sort=dateD&s =MISC&srcht=srcae&srch=piyo_piya@hotmail.com&show=Show%2FSearch

Then she also made a WONDERFUL drawing/fan art of Asiyah and Enishi, which you can visit at http://www.mediaminer.org/fanart/view.php?id=35666

(They will be soon included on my site)

Last but not least I want to express my gratitude to my eternal reviewers : specially Anna-neko, Hana Himura, Bao Blossom

(Though she is reading the Spanish version…) and Mara. To the new ones: Thanks to give this experiment a try.

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Chapter 6

The Sad Lady in White

The melancholy of her forced exile had begun to take its toll on her

soul.

She had spent hours remembering her friends, her favorite places, the golden skies of her home, the singing glass flowers, and all those many wonders of her lost world that can't be compared with their pale counterparts in human realm...

Fortunately, upon moving to Shanghai, her deep loneliness had begun to fade.

At least she had found somebody there who didn't avoid her company... although it was he who was the very reason for her exile.

<'In fact I am being very unfair toward him. I was the one who triggered this. I made the decision, and nobody forced it down my throat...'>

Business had been the excuse to make the move. In fact she didn't need the work or any kind of protection from anybody. But to avoid further suspicions about the origins of her money, she decided to make use of her magical abilities and turn herself into a respectable jeweler.

She could turn anything into gold and stones as well as into virtually anything she could think of.

Due to her gender, it was less suspicious to be engaged in some activity that justified her revenues rather than to just let money flow freely. Such a policy would undoubtedly lead to unwanted comments about her morals and raised fingers at her, and although she still had her share of those, it would have been worse.

She had to admit, thought, that having Enishi around had made things run more smoothly. Nobody asked, nobody bothered, or nobody harassed her in any way -- and especially, nobody dared to upset her.

Even the 'payments' demanded traditionally for "security" and other 'favors' weren't required anymore all of a sudden, and she could see the hand of her… friend behind all that.

Friend

A strange, disturbing word that one could hardly relate to the man she was thinking of.

But... yes. She could call him that.

Friend.

At least for the moment.

And he was that, in some odd sort of way.

Friendship was certainly an odd way to qualify the strange relationship they shared, which was complex beyond explanation.

In any case she was not alone anymore. And that was something to be grateful enough for...

Last but not least, she had found something upon which to focus her troubled and depressed mind.

He had suggested almost casually to her that she could help him with social meetings, which was the aspect of his business that annoyed him the most.

That was Wu's job usually, but after the latest developments, including Enishi's feeling about his involvement in the failed attempt against his life on the desert, Wu Heishin was running out of sympathy and trust from his boss.

Besides, Enishi suspected that Wu had been making deals behind his back, so he decided to take a more active role in that aspect of his job.

But Enishi wasn't a man made for social subtleties or the complex arrangements behind public events. He thus chose to leave those details in Asiyah's capable hands.

Although they were generally simple business lunches or even briefer encounters than that, from time to time business required something more elaborate.

And such an occasion was fast approaching. He would receive some very special customers from Japan, and Enishi had a very unusual interest in them.

She was working hard for that upcoming event which kept her in the house for many hours each day, so many in fact that he had equipped a room so that it served her as her own office. In fact he had ordered that she had a bedroom always ready for her in the estate, with everything he could imagine she could wish for -- from very expensive dresses (which she never wore) to the latest perfumes from Europe.

Since she accepted his invitation to relocate her residence to Shanghai, he was trying to convince her to move into his house, which she politely refused.

It was not the time or the opportunity to fall into a deeper relationship yet, and that would be the inevitable outcome if she remained with him and lived under the same roof.

She would willfully comply… in due time…

She shook her head, trying to put aside the nostalgic thoughts, and she returned her attention to the new task at hand.

Hard work was a good remedy against sad memories...

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'It was the perfect deal', he thought as his eyes settled on the youth working bowed over a large pile of papers under the trees of his garden, enfolded in that red fog that her long curls were - whose shine and movement alone mesmerized him.

She didn't ask or put her nose into his affairs, she spoke several western languages (a very useful talent), and most importantly, she had an eye for details and thus was the perfect hostess.

He especially appreciated her masterful grace in disappearing at precisely the right moment without complaints or the natural feminine impulse of interfering in matters relating to power and money.

Also, he had tested her cunning a few times by requesting her advice on smaller issues, and he found himself very satisfied at her intelligent opinions.

Last but not least, there it was the interesting fact of her subtle but clear interest in him, that class of interest that guaranteed the loyalty of a woman toward a man. It was only a matter of time before the consummation of something more… significant.

The time that Heishin had a swift and permanent retirement had arrived.

He had never planned it this way.

He needed somebody who was skilled and talented enough with planning and details. He was a man of action, not one made for small talk or tea parties. That had been the reason behind his tolerance toward Heishin throughout all those years. He had hated the guy at first glance, as he was nothing but a worm, and a cowardly one at that, but it had been convenient to have him by his side - at least till recent developments. He had been a loyal and efficient second-in-command until his latest trip to Japan....

Enishi thought he had assured the loyalty of the little, greedy dog by promising to hand him his entire organization once he was finished with his personal affairs in Japan. This was in return for his full, unquestioning support.

It had seemed to be enough to maintain his partner's fidelity until few months ago, but after the fateful trip to Japan to negotiate with their future guests and to study the ground for the extension of their operational range toward the islands, Heishin's attitude had undergone a drastic change.

Wu Heishin was a fool if he believed that his boss would not notice these details.

And Enishi would have fulfilled their pact in due time.

He really had no interest in maintaining his position at the top of the illegal traffic of weapons in Shanghai. He truly hated the corrupt city with all the vile, disgusting foreigners, and he hated what he was being forced to do to accomplish his goal. He only continued because of that goal. The syndicate, Wu, the money - everything was only tools in his hands to reach it.

Once he concluded the whole thing, he would disappear.

He could even begin a true life of his own, with plans and projects for himself.

Because the demons who haunted him would be no longer there.

Perhaps…

Perhaps…

Just perhaps…

But, then maybe, he could join his sister, and be no longer alone…

As long as his sister smiled at him, everything would be well.

And Tomoe was smiling at him, leaning against the rail of his balcony, in the opposite spot across from him, her purple shawl over her shoulders.

He returned the smile.

Suddenly, Tomoe's eyes left his, and she turned her face toward the garden.

Towards the place where Asiyah was sitting.

His smile was frozen on his lips when he saw the eyes of both women fixed intently in each other's, as if they were aware of the presence of the other's.

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It was not the first time that she had seen the sad lady dressed in white. But it was the first one they had acknowledged their mutual presences.

She had not been able to discover her name among the servants or with Heishin despite all her attempts, so she found she only could call her that way: the Lady in White.

Every time she inquired about her, all they gave to her were funny looks, and they always replied that Enishi had never received into the house a woman like the one that she described to them, not to mention with the regularity she claimed to have seen her there.

The Lady in White was really beautiful. Delicate and elegant, although she always appeared dressed in the same way every occasion she had spotted her in Enishi's company. She had never found her alone; she was always close by his side. She had noticed that he had spoke to her during the first occasion she saw them together, and although it was a brief glance, since she didn't want to invade their intimacy; the women seemed to reply to him only with an icy smile and the saddest eyes that she had ever seen.

She had always stayed within the limits of delicate diplomacy, and she had never inquired about the visits of any females to the house. Those happened mostly at night, and were managed in a circumspect and subtle way.

Things were absolutely different with that woman though.

That fact aroused her curiosity and made her really eager to know who she was. The fact that nobody wanted to speak of her, as if she didn't exist at all only stimulated her interest all the more.

Anyway, the only one that could give her answers was Enishi. And definitively, she wouldn't ask him.

Except if she was willing to comply and first answer the questions that he was trying to get from her, that is...

As she had told him during their meeting at the British Consul's reception, both had their secrets, secrets they didn't want to discuss yet.

If one them pressed the other into revealing them, it was inevitable that the other would demand the same thing.

They were not ready to shift the delicate balance of their intricate relationship yet.

In due time, they would arrive at that point.

But undoubtedly it was not the moment for that to happen yet.

She sighed.

She would definitively no longer be able to focus on her work for what was left of the afternoon.

She didn't care too much. She had three more weeks for doing the task before her.

She closed the folder containing her papers, put up her hair into a tight bun, and set the dupatta in place.

Lastly, she took the list of tasks for the maids, and she went to the interior of the house to give it to the steward.

She set her eyes in the balcony again. There was no longer anybody there. It was time for her return to her home.

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As she had every time that she'd know he was busy, she left him a brief farewell note.

But this time he was not busy at all.

He had really wanted her to have dinner with him.

He was sure he would even have been able to convince her to stay the night afterwards. After all, it would be too late in the night for her to return to the Settlement.

He had wanted her company.

He had wanted to ask her...

An ominous feeling, as if something was about to happen, could be smelled in the air.

So afterwards, he called one of his employees, the one in charge of his 'private affairs', and he made the pertinent arrangements.

It was not what he really wanted; he wanted company, not sex, that night.

But it should have to be enough.

For some odd reason, he didn't want to spend the night alone.

And then, he retired to his room, to wait.

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She was awakened by an icy touch on her cheek that startled her.

Within her room, illuminated only for the light of the moon, was the Lady in White.

"W-what...? How...? When…?"

"That is not important right now. I know that you care about Enishi and why. Now, you should go with him. His life is in danger. They will try to kill him during the few next minutes."

"Why didn't you warned him when you were there today at the house? I... I will never make it there in time...."

"I know what you are... and what you are capable of. Use your magic. You are the only one who can help him now. The house is surrounded, to guarantee that he cannot break free even if he is able to defeat those inside it. There is a passageway that leads into the basement. It was constructed for smuggling when the former owner built the house; it leads to the road across the forest. Use it, and you both will be safe. Now hurry up, you must go!"

"How do you know I can use magic?"

"This is not the time!"

That was definitively strange. She shook her head, thinking that perhaps it was a dream. But the other woman remained where she stood...

'Well, anyway there is no chance she could do any harm to me…' she thought.

"I hope for your own safety that you are right, because if something strange is going on..." she growled under her breath menacingly.

She opened a magic portal and stepped into Enishi's room.

She felt her face blushing, becoming as red as her hair.

There she was, dressed only in a light nightgown looking at he who was naked to his waist, kissing a young girl, who was in the same situation.

She turned, looking toward the wall, and she cleared her throat.

She knew that it was not necessary, because he had become aware of her presence in the place automatically.

And he was not being happy about it.

'Bad idea to enter his room without knocking first...'

"What - are- you- doing - here?" He punctuated each word, the evident displeasure in his voice made clear in his deep growl, while he shortened the distance between them with a dangerously rapid pace.

"I..."

"Look at me when I am asking you something!" He took her by her shoulders lifting her in the air until they were face to face

His companion walked quickly toward the bed. Before Asiyah could articulate any word, she saw in horror a shimmering blade coming down toward Enishi's back. He seemed so pissed off with her that she knew he would not notice it until it was too late. She then did the only thing that she was capable of without using her magic: she swiftly crossed her hands just in time to catch the blow. She felt fire across her palms, but her attempt stopped the blow long enough to allow Enishi to react.

He sent the attacker flying across the room with a single blow. The girl fell to the floor, unconscious.

"I believe I arrived just on time... Ah... Well this is all the loyalty that money can buy…" she said looking at the fallen body of the young courtesan.

"How did you know...?" he thought he heard the sting of jealousy in her words, but this was not the place, nor the time to inquire further.

"Your friend warned me... I will tell you everything as soon as we leave here. Somebody wants you dead, and the house is a huge trap. But I know how we can get to a safer place."

"This will hurt you..." he was examining her hands, the blade still deeply buried in them.

"Have I any other options?"

She tried hiding the pain behind a smile, but it disappeared when he removed the dagger from her palms.

'Damn… this awful weak human body…I hate it!'

"I'm sorry. I tried to pull out it as carefully as possible... can you move them?" He apologize at the sight of tears running down her face and the little trail of blood left by her teeth on her lower lip due the hard biting she gave herself to avoid screaming.

She tried to move her fingers, which responded painfully her orders.

"This is a good sign ... there is no permanent damage done..." He left her side, taking a gun from his commode, and he unsheathed his sword.

"It's time to take our leave, before they attack the house."

"None of you will come out of this room alive."

The woman that had attacked Enishi had recovered consciousness, and now she wielded a gun. Behind her, the drawer of a desk was open. It was apparent that somebody had placed the weapon there, to solve any possible eventuality.

"Bastard... you have a damn strong punch... but not that strong..." The girl rubbed her head with a pained expression "and I know it is as far as you can go due that obsession of yours that prevents you to harm young women... I am sorry for you... Your soft heart has sealed your own fate and that of your friend as well... Have a good time in Hell... It's a pity I couldn't enjoy you before killing you. I've heard…things… Well, never mind."

"Who sent you?"

"Somebody who got tired of waiting... Do you have something to tell to the one that from now on you can consider your former partner?" said the girl aiming at Enishi's head.

"Perhaps Enishi cannot harm you, little bitch... But believe me dear, I can..." Asiyah interrupted the youth. She had stood up and from on one of her bleeding hands a small fireball started to glow, until it became a great flame shining with wild ferocity.

The woman never knew what hit her. She was dumbfounded when her clothes began to catch fire, and despite her attempts to suffocate it, the fire engulfed her entire body on the spot, turning her in a crying living torch before Enishi could even react.

"I think we should leave right now." his eyes went from her hands to the girl dying on the floor.

The look in Enishi's eyes was a blend of shock, confusion and certain relief. And it certainly also indicated to her that she clearly could not avoid giving the long-delayed answers he sought as soon as they were safe.

The attack to the hall had already begun. Enishi led the way in a storm of sword blows and gunshots up to where Asiyah had indicated. She was behind him, fasten to his body. They found the passageway just in the place the Lady in White had indicated, and once there, they locked the entrance so that nobody could follow them and started the sprint to safe place.

Asiyah noticed that her feet began to drag as if they were made of bricks. Her breathing had became ragged when they were halfway the passageway, but she thought the run was taking its toll on her or even to the shock of the pain caused by her injuries.

But she knew that something wasn't right when they reached the forest. She fell to the grass, and she could no longer get up.

"Poison..." Enishi said, touching her forehead. Even through the cold she felt she knew, she was burning with fever. He put her over his shoulder without further formalities, and he hastened his pace. "Hold on. If you don't survive, I swear that you will regret it. I owe my life to you twice, and I don't like to leave pending debts. Besides, you have yet to answer a very long list of questions."

Asiyah chuckled lightly, just before falling into a deep black abyss.

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Glossary

Dupatta: Large shawl of light cloth (silk or gauze habitually, but thick cloth as wool can be used too) wore by Hindu and Pakistani women loose over the head. It is worn with matching clothes called shalwar-kamisse, consisting of baggy pants, and a sort of dress ion top of the pants that falls to the calves. These three pieces are usually very showy and elegant, and the Hindu and Muslims women of high and high middle classes in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan use them, in contrast to

the burqa (or purdah) traditional of the Muslim women wives of clergymen (of Sunni rite, Shia women wears chador, which leaves the face exposed), peasants and of low class.

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