My Heaven

-Guardian of Flower House-

By Michael James

Part 1

You owe 3 gold coins

In fire territory,

at flower house...

“Would you like more wine, sir?” He smiled saying he would love more wine. But before that, he wanted her to play the music again. “Of course.” She took her instrument and started to play. He was mesmerized by her song and he poured his own wine.

“I would like to pay for the full services now.” She told him that he was needing 3 gold coins. “For you, I would pay 4 gold coins.” She smiled as she laid on the bed not taking a single moment to drop performance. After they had done the deed, she told him he still had 23 minutes. “Hold me sweet woman, I want to feel your warmth.

Aino was a geisha in one of the most renowned brothels, in fire territory. She was the gal that most men wanted to be with. She was booked for weeeks in advance and did her job well. This client of hers offered to buy her contract, but she refused.

“Thank you for coming, I hope to see you again.” He left very satisfied and he was her last client for the night. She went to the baths to get cleaned up. What she found was a very young geisha crying in the hot water. “Maemi what's wrong?” She turned her face to Aino and had a huge black eye. With a cut ear. “What the hell happened!?”

“He came back.” Aino got in the water and held her close as she cried. After dinner that night, Aino left the brothel to find this man. She left the red light district and went to a bar with dangerous men. She knew this guy would there.

“Yeah that little kid needs to learn her place. Telling me not to be so rough. Please, she's a whore, its in the job description.” He shouted while being drunk. His associates looked towards the entrance. Like all the men there, they went death silent. “Oh look its Flower Houses little guard dog. Its nice of you to give us entertainment.”

Aino looked around the bar. There were close to 40 men, who were all brutes and all of them were scared. She had a katana in her hand, like a samurai.

“Fella's this guy abused a friend of mine who is to young to be working in my field. I don't want any trouble and I don't want to wreck your bar. Please be kind enough to throw him into the street for me.” The accused guy laughed as if they would do that. A group pulled out their weapons and pointed them at his friends. Two of them grabbed each shoulder and threw him out of the bar. She walked past the two men and offered them a discount for one visit.

“Have you idiots lost your minds!?” Aino walked up to him and told him, that this was the last straw. “You think I'm going to be afraid of a whore playing with a sword?” She moved her blade super fast and cut his head off. Followed by his body burning to ash.

The next morning...

Maemi was sleeping in Aino's bed. Feeling safe being near her. The manager walked in to the sleeping quarters in frustration. Aino told him he was sure she had another hour to sleep.

“You normally would, but you killed someone last night and we need to talk. Maemi, you do not sleep here. You are a slave not a contract!” Aino got up asking him to cut her a break. “Aino, you may be far more dangerous than me, but this is my house!” Maemi got up and went to the slave quarters. Boss? “You went and killed a criminal last night didn't you?” He asked in a high tone.

“He damaged your merchandise, if nothing else.” He looked at her and brought up the fact she used to be a soldier. Yes, she had a warrior spirit and everything. But she was a courtesan now. “Seto, I am defending my home, and I will not turn a blind eye to torture. Now for another matter, about my request regarding Maemi?”

“You honestly want to buy her from me, just to have sleep in your room?” No that wasn't the only reason. “If you want to buy her contract off me. Only to have her work as a courtesan by all means.” She reached in between her breasts and pulled out a bag of gold. “Very well, now please stop killing abusive clients.”

Part 2

Hostile Wind

Into the evening...

“Would you like a drink sir?” He wanted to know how much Maemi was? “I'm 10 silver.” He looked at her eyes and asked if he had seen her before? “I don't know, you look familiar.”

Just then,

bursting into the flower house...

“Hey, we want to party. We want all of your girls to serve us. Believe me money ain't an issue.” The guy shouting like an idiot was a diplomats son of wind kitsune. He always asked for outrageous things and trashed the place with his friends.

“Maemi, go in the back and lock the door” Aino told her. The gentleman she was serving understood the fear. She made it halfway out of the room before the son stopped her. “Master she isn't working tonight.” He shouted at Aino, well now she was. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the floor.

“Come little whore, I'll bet you got something for me.” Aino didn't hurt any of the men. She watched Maemi be abused, and Aino was abused herself. When the evening was over. The place was a sty and the women were bruised in all kinds of places. When it came time to pay. He gave the house master half of what was owed. “Your house was disappointing, if you you want full pay. Then make your women work harder.”

After they left...

“Tilly will you help me?” Aino stayed with the clean up crew as the younger girls went to bathe and wash up. Aino had a cut on her breast and black eye. She did her job and held her temper together. Tilly asked Aino what she was going to do about this? The owner walked in, telling them Aino wasn't liable for revenge, or was she? She stood up, and all the girls looked to her. “I will handle it...”

Into the early morning,

at the most expensive hotel...

“And where do you think you are going.” The head of the guys security was watching his master toy with a girl. But then he drew his katana. “Grove, what's going on?”

“Master go into the next room. An assassin is nearby and I think she means you harm.” He didn't argue, leaving the woman he ran to the next room and locked the door. “Aino, it has been to long.” She jumped onto the 3rd story deck from the tree.

“Grove, it has been far to long. I would have expected you to serve a higher class charge.” He stood between her and the other rooms door. Telling her this client paid enough. “I thought you had more integrity than this.” He did, but he needed a job and this was the highest bidder. Now was it possible to talk her out of this? “No.”

“Draw your blade.” She took her katana out and the both locked eyes. “Begin!” They slammed swords together and hit with great force. Aino jumped back and then forward. Hitting his blade twice. Grove bit his lip hard and put his finger in his mouth. Followed by rubbing his blood on sword and made it more powerful. “I don't mean to sound cheap, but could we do this on the roofs?”

Aino jumped back to the tree and up on the roof. She saw authorities coming their way on the streets. She waited for Grove to rear his head. When he did, his shirt was off exposing scars over scars. He thanked her for her consideration.

“Lets do this.” A spiral of fire surrounded her blade. Grove ran at her and when their blades hit, a shock wave occurred. Each and ever time they hit. Blasts of fire and wind echoed far. Thankfully, the roof was holding no damage. Grove attacked her on the offensive not giving her a chance to strike back. When he got her to the roofs edge. He kicked her in the stomach and she back flipped to another roof.

“My turn.” When he landed on the same roof, she glowed with fire. The idiot client saw them from his window. He shouted at Grove that his pay was cut in half for the night. Aino cooled herself off. She knew this fight was over. “I hope you don't mind me bloodying up the guy now?” Grove sheathed his sword.

“What the hell are you doing servant, kill her!?”

“I wouldn't mind at all, you putting him in his place.” Grove jumped off the roof and into the crowd. Aino looked right at the guy in his window. She ran and jumped right through it. Only to be met by authorities. At first the guy thought they were here to help him.

“You both are under arrest.” Aino laid her weapon on the floor. Then the father walked in. The son shouted at his father to put this officer in his place. He looked at Aino and saw her black eye.

Part 3

Another job

“This is for you” he told her throwing a bag of diamonds to her feet. “I have already visited all 3 brothels. I'm hoping you will be satisfied with my son going to prison.” He screamed at his father wanting an explanation! “Lady June, refuses to acknowledge me. Unless you are arrested. You bring nothing but shame to my house. Officers take my son into custody. Leave the woman be.”

“Father, hey father, you cant do this to me... NO, I WILL NOT GO!” They put him in irons and carried him off. The father told Aino goodnight and left the room. She picked up her weapon and jumped back to the roof to make her way home.

At Flower House,

upon her arrival...

“How did it go, Aino?” She looked at her boss saying it took an interesting turn. “How's that?” After explaining the whole story. Her boss felt accomplished knowing that little shi... wasn't ever coming back. “Here, you earned Maemi's contract.” He handed her coin back to her. Aino didn't try to talk him out of it. She took her money and went to rest. Maemi was asleep next to her bed when she came in the room. The women slept soundly and were ready for work in the morning.

That afternoon...

“Aino, you got a client.”

“Hello sir, how may I... Grove. What are you doing here?” He told her this was a brothel and he was a customer. She wanted to deck him, but this was a brothel. “Shall I serve you tea sir, or perhaps you would like some music?”

“I would like to talk.” He told her as he set a bag of gold on the table. She told him of course, she would massage his shoulders while they talked. “No that wont be necessary... oh wait, oh... just a little higher.” She worked his shoulders and then his back. Making the experience high quality, even if he was an enemy.

“What can I do for you master?” He was hoping she would work with him. “On what master?” He had been getting offers all the time for work. But the best paying job was what he left last night. “Not interested.” He wished her to let him finish. “Of course master.”

“There is a killer of women wandering the streets. I have reason to believe he is with Red Branch.” Aino moved in front of him to look him in the eye. Telling him to continue. “I would be willing to split my bounty 50/50.” She told him to let her think about it. She dropped her robes asking him to lay down. “Do I have enough for this?” He needed to stop talking and enjoy himself.

That evening...

“Aino, you have another request by name...” She walked into the room and saw another wind kitsune. This one she had never seen before. But he paid up for her.

“Shall I start you off with a drink?”

“No, I'm not here for pleasure. I came to speak with you on behalf of my client.” She informed him she was a call girl, not a mercenary. “Please sit.” As she sat on the cushion he asked “who have you told?” About what? “Last night, who have you told about it?” The bodyguard was the only one she knew that would talk. “Very well, this is for you.” He handed her a slab of pure gold. It was the size of a candy bar, but still worth a great deal. “I advise you to put last night out of your mind.” He stood up and walked out of the room.

In the city,

behind a bar...

“I'm curious, what were you idiots planning to do once you killed me?” They begged Grove to show mercy. “Ha! You tried to kill me a moment ago, why would I be merciful?”

“Here you are” Aino said coming around the building. Grove killed the last of the guys, asking what she wanted? “I'm in, lets find this Red Branch guy...”