• 1-Truth Comes on Stage
• 2-Truth Recovered
• 3-Truth Emerging
• 4-Truth Triumphs
• 5-Truth For Eternity

Squinting hazily up at the sun, the hung-over samurai wondered when that day would come... when he would find freedom... when he would find himself... It seemed to mock him - the cheerful, brightness of the summer afternoon. The rays beat down on his head as he trudged along the road with his Lord's servants - and his head throbbed even harder.

Curse the sun. Curse Lord Yasume... curse the alcohol that had called to me last night....

Blessed darkness, he needed. Blessed darkness, unconsciousness... anything that would rid him of the pounding that threatened to split his skull open - blessed ignorance...

He stopped abruptly, bumping into one of the servants. The large calvacade had pulled to a stop. Lord Yasume's choleric bawl was already filtering out of the litter as he roughly gave his sullen younger brother instructions about the deposition of the servants. Then, inevitably, a finger swung in the samurai's direction and beckoned.

"Hide-zou," the Lord growled. "Get your drunk ass over here!!!"

"Yes, yes, my Lord," mumbled Hide-zou, stepping up to the litter's door. "What is your command?" He stumbled over the words, wishing that his Lord, the sun, his head and everything noisy on this earth were consigned to the hells.

"Hmph... you reek..."

Hide-zou gritted his teeth.

"We were unable to find proper facilities last time, my Lord."

It's so hard, he thought. ...must... be... respectful...

It's so hard to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. And the bitterness... Where's sake when you NEED it...

"If you remember..." the rather grubby samurai sighed. "Your Lordship had barely enough as it is. It is only right that you get the first draw..."

"True, true... but this fine place will have more than enough for us... But... Hide-zou... You remember what we talked about last night?"

Hide-zou struggled to keep his face impassive.

Like hell he remembered... it was imprinted on his soul at the moment...

Yes... sake... he thought numbly. Just what I need.

"I do, my Lord."

"Any... ANY... more ARGUMENTS on your part will result... in something... unfavorable for you, do you hear, my fine samurai?"

"Yes, my. Lord."

The hung-over samurai nodded, hoping that the eyes of the retainers around him would shift off his back - hoping his Lord was satisfied with his momentary acquiescence... Hoping that the place that they had arrived at - truely had baths...

"Well... then... younger brother Hoshi, my fine samurai... let's enjoy ourselves... with the sweet delights of..."

The paunchy Lord's voice was infused with dreamy excitement, as he motioned to the large building in front of them.

"The sweet delights of..." prompted Hoshi.

"The... Five.... Roses..." squinted Hide-zou, trying to make out the ornate words over the lintel of the outer wall's gate.

"Within are veritable delights few could ever dream of..."

"Ahhh..." Hoshi nodded slowly, still trying to process the phrase 'sweet delights'.

"I can dream alot," ventured Hide-zou, carefully as his Lord stepped out of the litter and trailed into the courtyard, followed by his retinue.

Looking left and right - at the spacious front garden, with the artistically placed trees and the carefully cut grass... At the tasteful bamboos grouped around the artificial pond, full of koi.. Hide-zou's wide eyes could barely take it in - and like his Lord's eyes, he couldn't help but focus on gleam of gold through the trees. It moved - and slowly emerging from behind a shrub lounged a slight, short young man garbed in expensive gold and red cloth. His hair was the colour of the sun to the weary samurai's eyes - and his quiet pensive face, with wide-set eyes, seemed as delicate as glass...

Refined as a delicate vase or some such trinket... but at a high price, I think... thought Hide-zou morosely. Above all price I would think - a face like that... Hair like that... some lordling's son, I should think... Or a bastard of some sort...

Glancing at his employer out of the corner of his eye, Hide-zou's lips twitched.

Of course... he'd be attracted to something like that...

But he couldn't help but shiver. The young lordling would be easy prey for the rapacious Lord Yasume. How many times had he seen the paunchy noble go after young boys and girls alike... This one would be no different.

Still... It's a shame. Anybody with eyes in his head can see this young man is different from the rest. No courtesan holds himself like that...

Hide-zou stepped forward, mentally nudging his blatantly ogling employer forward.

Move, idiot. Move, you big fat lunk...

Already several men and women had opened the front doors in preperation of Lord Yasume's entrance. Tall, well-dressed women and men with heavy makeup and carefully styled hair, clothing intricately wound - colorful as birds of paradise in ancient legends. Hide-zou grimaced as his Lord took his time entering the foyer. The young beauty in the garden had disappeared around the corner of the building - no doubt into one of the many baths boasted about at the front entrance. Still, he could see why Lord Yasume had been so adamant about the brothel's quality.

Even in the foyer, Hide-zou could see quality in the panelled walls, the ornately embroideded rugs, the stylistic paintings, in the jewelry and the heavy scent of expensive perfume. Somewhere, someone was plucking a mournful song on a koto...

It's like... the old times... long gone... long gone... the samurai sighed, watching the maids bear his Lord off to his room. He watched the other disappear to the lower quarters, before following the rest up to the suite. Like the other times at the inns they stayed at between Tokyo and the backwater province they'd left, Hide-zou's mattress lay in the parlour - a good place - more comfortable than the lower quarters. Lord Yasume liked his guards close, and Hide-zou didn't protest.

If I was as disliked as him, the swordsman thought bitterly. I'd be worried for my life as well. And yet, here he is, gallivanting around the countryside, raping and pillaging and taking what he wants... with no conscience at all... I pity the young man here who is hired by him...

Lord Yasume was already relaxing in state, ordering around the few servants who had the privilage to follow him upstairs. Hide-zou avoided his eyes, stayed near the door to the balcony and tried to look watchful. His headache had subsided - but watching his employer was just as bad as having a hangover - the aristocrat was already raising a fuss about the bedding...

And haggling over the price of the prositutes for the night...

Hide-zou's lips thinned as he watched the older man berate his younger brother for his stupidity about choosing a bedroom down the hallway instead of sharing the floor with the rest.

A miser AND greedy...

What did I do to deserve this... Hide-zou sighed.

You know why, another voice said annoyingly in head. You got drunk. You got robbed... you're penniless and you need money... so... suck it up, idiot...

I didn't deserve an employer like this.

He's paying you money -

Hmph... don't get me started...

"So they're doing a show later on tonight," smiled Lord Yasume. "And other than that idiot from up north, there's no other daimyo in town - which means alot for us..."

Hide-zou and Hoshi tried to look agreeable and failed.

"You... you mean..." grumbled Hide-zou to himself.

"Eh?"

"Nothing, my Lord," sighed the samurai. "I'll just... uh.... get going and let you enjoy yourself... in... privacy..."

"Remember," Lord Yasume gave the samurai a look, leaned forward and caught the thin man's chin firmly between his two meaty fingers. "If you dishonor my name, or think that running from me will change your fate... think again... understand?"

Hide-zou nodded.

"Of course, my Lord," he gritted out. "I wouldn't ever think of abandoning your side now..."

Even though you have used me again and again...
Even though your hand is iron and your way is brutal...

Hide-zou's chin was let go, forcefully - and with that, the samurai fled unceremoniously.

-

Lord Akita stirred languidly in the stuffy room, raising himself languidly on his elbow to look past the bed curtains at the tall, slight figure standing in the doorway. The dark-haired beauty lowered himself gracefully to his knees, watching the gardens of The Five Roses from the privacy of the canopied balcony. The aristocrat's eyes wandered lovingly over the pale shoulders which emerged from a dark blue kimono just barely pulled over the prostitute.

"Such a racket," he drawled lazily.

"It's... a Lord... I believe..." answered a soft voice after a moment.

"Hmm... what's he look like?"

"Tall... very..." There was a slight hesitation. "Imposing... and..."

"Go on," prompted the old daimyo.

"Fat... I guess... He's like... a mountain... and looks to be very rich... He's yelling at some poor samurai..." The dark head bent, huddling further in the kimono. "He is a regular... every year... I had... forgotten... I guess..." The man sighed. "Time goes by so fast... sometimes... when you do not watch it..."

"Lord Yasume, the brute," sniffed Lord Akita. "I mean... I know a lord has to act one - but Lord Yasume redefines the word 'animal'."

"Hmmm..." The answer was noncomittal.

"You've serviced him before."

The prostitute's shoulders straightened. A sigh drifted into the windless air and hung there in between the two men. Then after a while...

"Yes. Yes..."

"And tonight?"

"It depends on you, my Lord," replied the pale one, rising to join his customer. His long black hair drifted over Akita's chest, as rose red lips rested on one nipple than the other. "On my Lord's desires..."

"Indeed... Asagi... Indeed..." Lord Akito pushed Asagi down onto the pillows, his long bony hands drifting over the edges of the kimono, pulling away the silk to reveal the smooth skin of his newest, most precious toy.

-

Life in a cage, Hide-zou thought philosophically as he downed his first cup of sake, is like walking blind... you can never see the good things in life...

Half an hour later, the bodyguard had decided on another universal truth.

Drinkin' 4 sake boddles makesh one'sh vishun blurry... and life seemsh betterrrr. Sooo... sake besht life...

Wha' more can a man want... Well....

The drunk squinted at the door uncertainly.

It would be nish - nice to fin' - find - the door.... Door... Door... No... Not that one...

Banging from wall to the other, Hide-zou managed to reach the far end of the hallway - to the familiar door of his Lord's rooms. Pushing the sliding doors aside roughly, he was greeted by a darkened parlour. Grunting his way in, trying to find his way through the dark with his rather unsteady vision. The room layout was simple. His lord's bedroom, he knew, lay on the other side of the parlour - with access to a great view overlooking the gardens of The Five Roses. But unexpectedly, there was only a dim light - and when he banged the door open - instead of being greeted with the sight of his Lord savoring a courtesan -

Instead of the oaf, there a black-haired beauty sprawled before him, hands spread on the floor, as the man braced himself - his knuckles white as the long fingers dug into the matting. Above him, sagged an older gentleman, obviously just recovering from a moment of pleasure.

And judging by the nail marks in the courtesan's back... Hide-zou managed to think before fleeing the scene. It must have been one hell of a ride...

It's a shame, Hide-zou, that little annoying voice said to him. You can't afford a smart piece like that... Did you see the skin... and the hair... Top class that was...

Damn right, he agreed.

Damn...

-

There was an awkward silence. Made more awkward by the wet sound of the old man pulling out of Asagi, leaving the courtesan weak-kneed on the floor. The sake-smelling samurai had retreated quickly, with only a tipsy bow and a red face. Asagi blushed to think of sight he must have made...

Pulling his kimono around him, he wondered if Lord Akita was done with him for the night. It certainly did seem to be the case, judging by the snoring sound issuing from the older man's mouth.

Falling asleep so soon afterwards... Asagi mused for a moment, then shrugged. I've seen odder post-coital reactions...

Gathering the rest of his clothes, the courtesan left the room, looking left than right - nobody was in the hall. Slipping out, he decided to chance another of the Lord's rooms.

How long has it been since we've had so many august guests, he mused thoughtfully, as he made his way noiselessly down the hallway, trying not to disturb the rest of the residence. Not for some time... surely...

Loud voice filtered from a room ahead of him. Somewhere, a piece of furniture banged... a door ahead rattled open and a young noble stomped out.

"Listen, brother - this is a foolishness you are going to regret!!! I've warned you - again and again... and I'm not the only one... Hi-"

Someone cut him off, and the tall wiry young brother of Lord Yasume spat.

"He might be three sheets to the wind, but that doesn't mean he's stupid! When the time comes - you'll regret it - and I'll be the one to say I told you so!!!"

Asagi drew to the side of the hallway, and stilled in the dark hallway, watching the moonlight fall over the twisted face of Lord Hoshi. He sighed...

So the Lords are arguing then... Not good for us... But... Asagi remembered the young Lord that had arrived earlier in the morning that day. There was that other one...

The silent courtesan watched as the young brother disappeared down the hallway swearing. Then, after a moment, Lord Yasume lumbered out. Asagi wondered if he was going to go after the brother or not. For the prostitutes of The Five Roses, the goings on of the court were important - they meant alliances and money - and also disruption and crime. Knowing this... Asagi could see that something was brewing - but he continued on in silence, torn.

Lord Yasume... Lord Hoshi... Lord Akita... and Lord...

Lord...

-

The young blonde-haired Lord Ruiza heaved another deep sigh as he stared out of the crack in the paneled and painted door of the brothel.

The Five Roses...

His half-brother had told him of the delectable delights of The Five Roses before sending Ruiza off to consider his future. His future... Ruiza's future...

Or rather, Ruiza thought bitterly. The lack of it...

The brutal word still hung in his mind - like a looming thunderstorm on the horizon, threatening one's picnic party. Or the sound of a sword unsheathed before battle...

Marriage.

There. He had thought it.

"Marriage," he whispered to himself softly.

There. He had said it.

Not that it was a big suprise. Ruiza had watched his older half-brother, still angry about the issue of lineage, look through the papers and come up empty handed. Ruiza was the Lord... and his older half-brother, who had poured his life into the land - was nothing...

Nothing...

The blonde sighed, putting his head down on his knees.

He was nothing now too. Reduced to nothing but a title, a name he abhorred. If he and Karu could switch places - he would have... but life was like that... There was nothing he could do. Running was nigh well impossible. The friendship was gone now - nothing but an ugly wound lay in between Karu and him...

He sighed again.

So here he was, mourning his independence - alone - in a brothel, while his brother sadistically drew up papers for his imprisonment with an ugly old woman.

This is so pathetic... he thought. I should be downstairs enjoying a girl... or whoever... I should order someone in... I should be out on the balcony at least, enjoying the moon...

But the sound of lovemaking in the garden was repulsive to him, reminding him even more than ever of his upcoming nuptial duties to his wife...

He felt like vomiting...

Drunk... he thought vaguely, sitting up straighter. I need... to get drunk and get laid... Now...

There was a bump in the dark -

The young Lord turned.

"Who's there?" He asked softly.

Perhaps someone has come after all...

A large shadow loomed over him, tall and menacing - a hand reached down, fingering his hair. Instinctively, Ruiza edged away, opening his mouth to sharply question the courtesan - when another hand reached down, covered his mouth, smothering him with sweat and flesh. Turned his head away and down, muscle forced him down. His efforts to resist were easily stopped by a knee pinning him down in the back as his kimono tore under rough hands. Among the sounds of merriment, the koto, the clinking of drinks, cries for help went unheard -

Nevertheless... night has no hold on this world - and although hungover samurai such as Hide-zou curse the bright rays of morning...

It is a philosophical premise that, with the sun, truth comes to light that all might see and understand the darkness of a man's soul... and follies therein.

-

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