Dreaming of You

Dreaming of You

A Chapter by House Of Dreams
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The story behind Mayoko, the Fox. It's a short chapter, but it tells enough.

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They were making, yet again, great headway. They ran three fourths of the way from Araki’s Temple in the mountains to the beginning of Masao’s land in the plateaus. Now, with night falling, bored and a little tired, they were stopping off in a little village just within the boundaries of Masao’s kingdom, a little place called, “The Hoedown”. It looked like an inn.

“What kind of name is that?” Mayoko, Unaki and Kesaru all stood outside of the inn looking at the sign over the door.

“Who knows? Who cares? I just want to catch a few z’s and get out of here in the morning.” Unaki spoke as she walked across the threshold, into the inn. Mayoko and Kesaru followed behind her.

“Ah!” The shriek came loudly from the back of the room. Almost immediately, a little short woman popped up directly in their faces. “Customers!” She stepped back. “Come, come! What can I do for you tonight?” She seemed overly happy, something none of them liked.

“We need a room for the night?” Mayoko, already the shortest of the three, was at least a full head, or more, taller than this woman.

“A room?” Her face twisted as she looked at them. “My dears, do you know where you are?” She stepped from behind the desk to circle the three of them, looking closely at their faces and bodies.

“Isn’t this an inn?”

“An inn? Why of course not! This is a brothel! Did you not read the sign outside?”

“A brothel?” Kesaru looked at Mayoko and Unaki. They each looked around at the place. It didn’t look like a brothel. Where were all the loose women and the guys that chased them?

“Yes, I know. You see, this used to be a hotel, but the owner sold out and I turned it into a brothel. The girls only appear when I go get them.” She stopped and looked at them sheepishly. “I take it, you’re not interested?”

“No. We’re just looking for a place to spend the night.” Kesaru answered using what little voice she could find. Interested indeed, what did she take them for?

“Oh, well…” the woman looked them over once more, “There is Old Edgar’s place down the street. It’s a bid white building with the paint chipping. You can’t miss it. The sign out front says ‘Bartholomew’; that was his uncle. Tell him Addie sent you. I’m sure he’ll give you a room.” And just like that, she left. They stared after her before too taking their leave.

Addie had spoken truth when she said that you couldn’t miss Bartholomew, Old Edgar’s place. It truly was old, and the paint was peeling, but what Addie failed to mention was that, although it looked like crap on the outside, the inside was designed like a palace.

“Hello Ladies. Welcome to Bartholomew” A gangly old man of about sixty or more greeted them as they walked up to the desk he stood behind. “How may I be of service tonight?”

Kesaru nudged Mayoko forward. Even if what Addie said didn’t work, Mayoko’s sweet innocence should.

“Sir, Miss Addie said that you might have some rooms open?” She left it a question so that he would have to answer truthfully. If he said no, then he’d be calling Addie a liar, but if he said yes, then that meant that Addie was an honest woman who could be trusted.

“So Old Addie sent you, huh?” His eyes, a strange color of aquamarine, had hazed over to a dreamy state as he said her name. It was then that Kesaru realized why Addie had been hesitant about sending them here. The man was obviously head over heels in love with her, and she the same with him. She’d been sizing them up to see if they were competition. But wait? She’d sent them over. Did that mean that she thought they weren’t competition worthy, or that they were just too young for a guy Edgar’s age?

Not bothering to contemplate, Kesaru sank back to reality. Edgar had given them three separate rooms for the mere price of fifty dollars. Wow! Love definitely had its perks around here. She smiled as he ushered them to their rooms. Mayoko’s room was across from hers, and Unaki’s was beside Mayoko’s.

Walking into her room, she shut out the world, laid on the bed, and as soon as her head touched the pillow, was out like a light.

 

 

“Sister, I’m scared. Why can’t we go home?”

“Because we can’t. They’re looking for us there. Look Daisuke, I know the past year has been tough, but I have to ask you to do me a favor okay?” Daisuke nodded. “No matter what happens, I want you to be brave. You’re the only male in our family now and that makes you very special. Do you know why?” He shook his head. “It means that you are now head of the family. You can tell everyone what to do.”

“Even you?” He asked in the voice little kids always used when they were trying really hard not to cry.

“Yeah even me, but not until you’re at least a little older, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good.” She squeezed his hand. “Come on let’s go.” They ran out into the street.

“Halt!” Lights exploded around them, temporarily blinding them.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t The Fox. I knew I’d catch you sooner or later.” The Fox looked up into the face of Supreme Lord Kiyomori Sakamoto. She wrapped her arms more furiously around Daisuke. “And who is this?” Sakamoto reached out to touch the boy in her arms, but she quickly spun around and away. The guns of a thousand or more soldiers all aimed at her, ready to protect their leader.

“You can stop resisting me Fox. Your friends, Phoenix and Dragon have already been caught. I’m quite sure they’re dead by now.” The Fox was shaking her head as Sakamoto approached. He reached out, and she went to defend. A bullet caught her in the right shoulder, knocking her to the ground. Sakamoto scooped Daisuke up and held him by his arms so that they were eye to eye. “And who is this?” He looked from Daisuke to the Fox. “Your child?”

She only hesitated for a mere second. Maybe, if he thought Daisuke was her son, he’d leave him alone. It had been known that sometimes the enemy took in his dead enemy’s child and raised him as his own, to smite the name of the parent.

“Yes.” She was back on her feet.

“How sweet.” Sakamoto threw Daisuke to the ground beside her. Crying, he latched on to her. Sakamoto walked over to one of the men and grabbed his gun. He aimed it at her. She closed her eyes, her hand falling to Daisuke’s head. She heard Sakamoto laugh and then the gun blast…but she never felt it. Her eyes opened slowly. The gun was smoking, and yet, she wasn’t dead.

“You missed.” She whispered it in shock and confusion. Sakamoto smiled.

“No. I didn’t.” Following his eyes, hers fell upon Daisuke. He’d slumped against her leg. She pushed him away quickly and he fell to the ground like a log. A reddish-brown stain formed from the back of his head and his once joyful turquoise eyes stared up at her.

“No.” It was a whisper as she fell to her knees. She was shaking. She touched him neck and there was no pulse. “Daisuke. Daisuke!” She screamed her sorrow for the world to hear.

 

 

Mayoko came awake with his name upon her lips. She looked around the darkened bedroom, tears running down her eyes. A dream, it had been all just a dream.

The door to her room burst open, with swords and scimitars drawn, Kesaru and Unaki rushed in. Quickly, their eyes swept the room, falling upon a distressed looking Mayoko sitting up in bed, tears falling from her eyes. They put their weapons away.

“Daisuke?” Kesaru came straight forward. Mayoko didn’t speak, she just nodded. Unaki went over to her to sit at the foot of the bed.

“Do you want to go to Sakamoto first and come back for Masao?” Unaki stared at her.

“No.” Mayoko’s head came up. Defiance and anger were visibly illustrated in her eyes.

“We will finish here and then go on to Sakamoto’s. I need to have a semi-clear head when I face him.”

“Yeah, you do.”

“I know, but before that, I have a favor to ask you.” Mayoko looked to the questioning eyes of both her sisters. “No matter what method I choose to kill him, you won’t interfere?” Kesaru and Unaki nodded. “Thanks. Okay, well, let’s go get something to eat.” They all smiled at one another before walking out the door.



© 2010 House Of Dreams


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Added on March 13, 2010
Last Updated on March 13, 2010


Author

House Of Dreams
House Of Dreams

VA & NC, VA



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My name is Shaunta` (shawn-tay). I live between NC and VA. I am moving to NC soon, so that is a big step in life. Well, not really. See, I'm moving, back, to NC. I lived there for 3 yrs before I was .. more..

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Jrek City Jrek City

A Chapter by House Of Dreams