Honey Flava

She grabbed the girls by the hair and dragged them back inside screaming. After they were dragged through the house, they were locked in separate closets with no light. “You won’t be released until tomorrow. Mr. Nagumo has agreed to become your danna, Takumi.

“I’ll have one of the girls pack your things. He wants you to live with him. I’ve already called your mother and explained what a golden opportunity this is—she was thrilled for you.” Loud, heavy footsteps could be heard as Madam Oy walked away.

“Aiko, can you hear me?”

“Yes, I can hear you. Why wouldn’t you listen to me, Takumi? Now you’ll be moving to Tokyo with the old pervert and I’m destined to reside in this horrible house, loveless, for the rest of my days. You should have listened to me.”

“I’m so sorry, Aiko. You’re right of course. I had no way of knowing this time would be different than all of the last times.”

“You had every way of knowing—you had me.”

“I promise I’ll listen to you from now on. Aiko? Please, talk to me.”

All of Takumi’s pleading was met with silence. Aiko might as well be on the other side of the earth. Takumi had torn down her lover’s trust. She’d painted her pussy to look like a kitty, what was she thinking?

I wasn’t thinking, that’s the problem. I haven’t had to think for myself, ever. My mother thought for me at home. Madam Oy thinks for me here. If I get shipped off to Tokyo, Mr. Pervert will do all of my thinking for me I’m sure. It’s time I figured out what I want and go after it.

“I love you, Aiko. I love the way your hair smells after you’ve walked in the rain. I love the way you smile when I bring you sweets from the kitchen. I love the tenderness you show when you help me prepare for a night out in the teahouse. How hard that must have been for you each time. I’d never thought of it before. You never complained, not even once. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Not here, not in an okiya. I want to get a small hut and live with you by the ocean. I want to make love to you on the sand as the sun sets on the horizon.”

Her grand statement was met with quiet.

“We were meant to be together. You know it as well as I do. We’re soul mates, you and I. You’re the only reason fate saw fit to send me to this terrible place. Say something. Say you hate me. Say you never want to touch me, laugh with me, or walk hand in hand again. I can’t stand the stillness, Aiko. Please…”

The closet in which Takumi had been placed opened up. Mr. Nagumo stood before her, hand stretched out. “Come with me, my child. I have a driver waiting. Your things are already in my trunk.”

Takumi withdrew from his touch and scooted back into the recess of the wooden corner. “I won’t go with you. I don’t even like men!”

A strange look came into the old man’s eyes. “You have never been with a man?”

“No, and I don’t plan to be either. I lick pussy. I kiss soft, full lips. I won’t be of any use to you.”

“Hmm, Madam Oy was being truthful then. I had my doubts. You were such a slut tease during the fan dance. I’ll teach you what happens when young girls show their bodies to men.”

Takumi prayed as she’d never prayed before. Please, God, don’t let this happen. I’m a good person. I love Aiko. Don’t take me away from her.

God didn’t seem to be listening. An old, wrinkled arm extended into the opening and grabbed her. He didn’t even slow down to get a good grip. He pulled her all the way to the front door, then threw her outside on the ground. A tall, stocky man dressed all in black picked her up and carried her to the vehicle.

“Let me down. Aikooooooooo!” Takumi beat her fists against the burly giant, but it had no effect. The driver threw her into the backseat and locked all the doors. Mr. Nagumo slid onto the leather seat from the opposite door.

“Wave good-bye, little one. Your time here is done.”

Takumi shifted as close to the back window as she could. All of it was fading away with distance. She kept watching, waiting for something that never came. Finally she sat on the seat keeping the distance between her and Mr. Nagumo as wide as humanly possible. Her arms crossed and her knees pulled up to her chest. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but it was the best she could do to fend him off for the moment.

7

AT SOME POINT TAKUMI fell asleep. She awoke with a film of dried tears on her cheeks. “Open your eyes, child. We’re here.”

A large home stood before them on a hill. The driver took a dirt drive up to the main entrance. Two servants were standing by the front door ready to greet this monster of a man home. The giant came around to open the door. She become conscious of the fact that her new danna had tons of money.

Mr. Nagumo took hold of her wrist and pulled her out of the car on his side. “You will smile when you meet my servants.” It was a command, not a request.

It was all Takumi could do to walk without tripping. She didn’t even attempt to fake a smile. One servant was a man and one was a woman. It made sense that Mr. Nagumo handed her off to the woman. “Please show her to the guest room. Stay with her at all times. Do not let her out of the house for any reason. She’s been ill and I want to make sure she acclimates her system before she goes running off. I’m sure you understand.”

“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.”

Mae had been in Mr. Nagumo’s employ for several years. She knew he was a dirty old man. He’d practically raped her one night in the kitchen. Luckily she’d grown too old for his tastes. Her arm draped around Takumi’s shoulders as she guided her to the third-floor guest room.

“What’s your name, child?”