The Descendant

"Ah," she replied, not truly understanding, but more than capable of sounding interested and intelligent, "so how many students do you have under you just now?"

At this, a heavy sadness settled over the samurai's happy eyes. "At present I have no students; only Jin and myself, and he is no longer truly a pupil."

Wei Lin cursed herself for a fool. "Please, accept my apologies, my lord. I never meant to..."

"No, my dear girl, it is I who should apologize. I am an old man and find myself indulging in fits of maudlin narcissism. And really, what has that ever accomplished, I ask you."

She laughed, clear and bright as a crystal bell and the samurai's answering smile was genuine. They sat and talked more, long into the night. Wei Lin was surprised to discover that not only did she enjoy this man's company and his mind, she wanted very much to share her own life stories. She told him much, if not every bit about her mother; of how she had been pulled from village to village by her mother's wanderlust. Of how, at the age of seven years, she was sold to her house in hopes of one day becoming a Geisha, of her housemother and her onee-san and, finally, to coming to her final dance trial where he had first seen her.

"And your mother," Miyamoto finally asked, "she was Japanese?"

Wei Lin could not help but bow her head in shame. "Yes, my lord, she was. However, to answer your next question, my father was a sailor on a Spanish trade ship. I never met him, never knew his name." They sat in silence for a time as Wei Lin sorted through the emotions that flew up inside of her whenever she spoke of her mother. Finally, she was able to say, "I get my looks from my father, apparently."

"Perhaps," Miyamoto answered, "However, I can tell it was your mother's skills and gifts that you display. As for the rest, well, I can only assume that your father was a rather handsome man."

Wei Lin glanced rapidly up to Lord Miyamoto's handsome, smiling face and wondered for the first time what it might feel like to kiss those lips. That night, as she was led to her chamber where she would sleep, she settled herself on the floor with her head on the ceremonial block that would be her pillow for the night. As she had practiced before, the trainee closed her eyes and focused on keeping herself perfectly still as she slept so that, when she awoke to her new life, she would look as perfect as she did just now. From the corner of her eye, Wei Lin could see through the rice paper walls the silhouette of Miyamoto Sensei as he knelt upon the floor and prepared for his evening's meditations. With a contented smile, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to dream.

7.

Wei Lin dreamed. She knew this because she had had this dream before. She was young, all too young, and wandering in the dark of night through the small hovel she shared with her mother. Before her was a screen, patched together and used to allow some semblance of privacy. She was reaching out her hand, tentatively, fearfully. It was the noises she was hearing; that is what made her feel this dread tightening in her chest. She looked to her diminutive hand, wondering why it continued to float before her, as if reaching out for all eternity toward the dark screen with the sewn together tapestry, reaching toward the sounds, those sounds that filled her with the greatest fear she would ever know.

Wei Lin awoke with a start. She had been attempting to reach her hand out, but could not with the bindings tying her down onto some unknown, hard surface. There was an occasional thudding that reverberated through the surface and her bones and, once she was fully alert, Wei Lin realized that, at some point in the night, she had been moved, taken down from the hook and placed on the stone wheel that was originally used for the grinding of wheat or grain or rice. The pounding came from the hammers that continued to trip down against the stone. Somewhere along the history of this old structure, the stone had been stilled from its continual revolution under the punishing hammers.

How long had they tortured her, how long had they beat at her body? Had she finally passed out from the pain and the trauma? Why was she still alive? She had not given them what they wanted, she realized. She had not given them her Sensei. Pride filled her but only for a moment. She would need to take this brief respite to prepare. She would need a plan. No sooner had this thought dawned on her, but she heard the sound of soft footsteps off to her left.

"Who is there?" she asked tentatively. She would need to continue to play the frightened doe. If she was to gain an advantage over her attackers, she would need to keep them thinking she was only what she appeared to be, only a lowly geisha; not what her sensei had made her. "Please, who is there? Will you not help me?"

Wei Lin shuddered as a cool sensation spread across the burning ruin of her back. She could clearly differentiate each lash, each open wound as the cool tingle of a balm was spread thickly across her.

"You are healing me? I don't understand. You did this to me and now you are healing me?" So they could continue to work on her without risk of her dying with their answers still on her lips, she rationalized. "Please, won't you talk to me?"

More ointment was lathered on her, but still no sound came. It was then that Wei Lin realized what was missing from the room; Sake. Sake was the one who always spoke, the one who ordered his compatriot to whip her time and again. And the other, what was it Sake called him again?

"Toth," she whispered, and the hands on her back stalled in response. "That's what the other one called you, correct?" Again, no answer, just the continuing motion of the smoothing hands. "Master Toth, I don't know why you're doing this? I really can't help you. I simply don't know where Miyamoto Kojiro is now. He is still a patron to me, it is true, but I haven't spoken nor have I received any money from him in over a year." The large man's hand was taken from her back and she could barely make out the faint sound of him walking away from her. She couldn't leave things this way, not if she were to find some way to escape. "Please, Master Toth, if there's anything you can tell me about Miyamoto Sensei, I would be eternally grateful. I haven't heard from him in so long and I'm not even certain if he's alive or dead. Please, I just want to know if he's alive, out there somewhere. Please? I beg of you."

Wei Lin could not help but jump as the heavy hand returned to her, this time gently placed atop her head. This Toth was powerful, but agile and stealthy as well, and, it seemed, capable of gentility. Toth's hand stroked through her dark hair almost lovingly. "You are a good man, Master Toth, I can tell. You are not like the other one..."

As if on cue; the pair froze as they simultaneously heard the light patter of feet outside the door. Before Wei Lin could react, Toth's gentle hand locked tightly on hair, gripping hard enough to instantly bring tears to her eyes. As she opened her mouth to cry out, the cloth knot was once again shoved between her teeth. With her own heart pounding in her ears, she barely made out the steady pace of Sake as he approached them.

"Any problems with her?" Again the silent Toth's response was lost to Wei Lin. "Good. Why don't you go take a break and I'll watch her for a while."

This time the geico could distinctively make out the heavy footfalls of the larger ninja as he moved himself toward the door and exited the mill, leaving her alone with Sake. She felt him more than heard him walk down the length of the slab she had been laid out on, could practically feel him leering down at her exposed flesh. Wei Lin managed to flinch just as Sake's hand impacted her right buttock with a heavy slap. She turned her head away from him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her reaction even through her blindfold and gag.

"Oh, don't worry, fancy whore," the ninja scoffed as he rested his hand fully upon her ass and began to squeeze and stroke her there, "I won't do anything to you just now. After all, you need to rest before we begin our questioning again."

With another none-too-gentle squeeze, her tormentor left her side, chuckling menacingly as he walked to the far end of the structure. Wei Lin fought to control her breathing and pulse as she settled back into herself. Within moments, she was allowing herself to rest again and hopefully to dream dreams of happier times.

8.

The young maiko awoke just after dawn, with the exterior light shining through her chamber's single window. She raised herself up from the tatami floor and began to prepare herself for whatever her life would bring her this day. Just as Wei Lin had finished putting on the kimono she found lying just inside the door and tying her hair up into place, the door slid open to admit Lee Jin. The young samurai looked genuinely pleased to see her and she had to admit that she was gladdened by his presence as well, even if neither of them spoke these feeling's aloud. They shared a light breakfast together wherein Lee Jin informed her that Miyamoto Sensei would not be joining them until well after lunch. However, he continued by telling her that his sempei would like to see her dance again. Jin would get her whatever devices or supplies she would need. She put together a small list of the belongings she required from her house and the young samurai left her.

When Miyamoto returned, it was to find Lee Jin playing a samisen in the far corner of the dojo's main chamber. Wei Lin herself, with elaborate makeup and wearing an ornate kimono, was folded almost in half in the middle of the floor. With a snap, her fans flew open as if they were simply extensions of her hands and the dancer unfolded herself and rose. When she moved, it was with beauty, grace and full intention. All other things vanished from her mind until all that was left were the moves and how they made her feel to perform them. Then, somewhere in the midst of her movements, she caught a glance of Miyamoto. She spied something in his face, some intensity she did not truly understand. Her body continued its practiced motions, but she constantly found her gaze returning to find him, to ponder that look. Suddenly, as if outside of her own control, her dance ended and she was left bowing down, her arms gesturing toward Miyamoto, supplicant, offering. She remained in this posture until the samurai stood before her, offering a hand to help her rise.

"Thank you," he whispered, his mouth close to her ear, causing her blood to race. Then, just as smoothly, her hand still resting in his, the samurai took one, clean step back. "Lee Jin," he called out to his kohei without taking his eyes off of Wei Lin, "you may leave us. Thank you for your pains."

"Hei, Sensei." And, just like that, Lee Jin removed himself from the room.

Wei Lin was unable to fathom how she could possibly remain standing with her heart pounding and her breath threatening to leave her with every exhalation. Yet, somehow, when Miyamoto made to lead her out of the dojo onto the splendid veranda, she managed to follow. She could not help but think that the sensei's quiet strength must somehow be feeding into her. If that were true, she reasoned, she truly enjoyed the sensation. It left her feeling warm and comforted, as if she had been traveling all of the years of her life and had, at long last, found her way home. The air was cool, but warming as the winter months promised to give way to spring. Wei Lin felt electricity surge over her skin, causing pleasurable sensations to ripple throughout her being. She breathed deep the night air and, turning to face the elder, wonderful man in her presence, prepared for destiny to show its hand.

"That was truly splendid, Wei Lin." The samurai's voice was soft, but full of a depth whose hidden meaning filled the young girl with elation. "You do me great honor standing in your presence and allowing me to observe your skills."

Wei Lin, feeling every bit the young, inexperienced girl, felt herself swoon under his praise. "Thank you, my lord, but it is you who do me great honor. My humble skills are always at your service." Wei Lin allowed herself to look up and meet the samurai's eye, hoping that he understood every intention in her words. And, at that moment, alone with only this man and the night, Wei Lin realized just how much of herself she wanted to give to him.

"Arigato, little flower," he said finally, resting his hand on her arm and sending a horde of butterflies loose in her belly. "I'm glad you feel that way. There is something I have been meaning to ask of you, something that I should not, I know, but I find that I can no longer stop myself."

"What is it, my lord? Oh, sir, believe me, you have only to ask and I will do whatever I can to please you, to return your every kindness." Wei Lin's mind was swimming in a sea of possibility and, she was ecstatic to discover that whatever she imagined in that instant he might ask of her, she would give him. It was then she realized just how much in so short a time, she had come to love the samurai.

"You should be careful what you offer before you know all of the facts, Wei Lin."

"Oh, my lord, do not think me some foolish girl. I have learned much in my teachings and..."

The samurai silenced her with a soft hand to her left cheek. Wei Lin found herself nearly cooing at the gesture. "I would never think you anything other than what you are, child. I only mean that you should carefully consider what I offer you for there are great dangers in it."

Dangers? All noise in the girl's mind silenced at the word. The samurai answered the question in her eyes.

"Yes, Wei Lin. What I offer you is the chance to learn. I wish to teach you the way of Kenjutsu; the way of the sword. If you would learn what I have to teach, there is a great possibility of danger in it for you. No woman has ever been taught Kenjutsu; it is against tradition and the law for me to teach it to you. But I have seen your skill and I believe you have it within you to become the greatest student that I have ever had; greater even than Lee Jin or myself."

"Oh, I see." Wei Lin allowed herself to step back and turn away from Miyamoto to stare out into the forest and night. Within her, she could feel the fantasy she had so recently began to build falter and collapse all about her. She fought hard to keep the tears that threatened to run from doing so. "I do not understand, my lord. If teaching a woman to fight is outlawed, why would you even take the risk?"

"Because, as I have said, Wei Lin, you have a gift that I believe I may temper further with this new art form. I have other reasons, but they shall remain mine for now. You need to be aware that it is not only you who face the risk here. If it were discovered what we undertake here, I would be forced to kill myself for such an affront to our society. That is, if the Emperor is feeling kind and my family name still had any value."

Wei Lin spun back to the samurai, shock standing out in her bright eyes. "You would risk not only your life, but your reputation for this? I do not know that I can allow you to risk that, just for the sake of teaching me to use a sword."

The samurai stepped to her and placed his hands tightly on both of the girl's shoulders, staring so deeply into her eyes so that she could not look away. "Wei Lin, as I have said, there are many reasons why I choose to do this, and I may tell you of them in the course of our time together. However, suffice it to say that, right now, there is nothing more in this world that I can ask of you; nothing more I could ever want for myself than to undertake this journey with you. Of course, you must understand that we can tell no one else about this. Lee Jin will be made aware as he will assist me in your training, but no one else can know. I will not only be asking you to risk your life, but to do everything in your power to hide our reasons for coming together." Miyamoto released Wei Lin's shoulders, but the maiko could still feel the heat of his touch upon her, even through her kimono. "Now that you know the full extent of what you will have to sacrifice," he added, "I will completely understand if you refuse to undertake this. Also, of course, I will still remain as you danna. I would be honored to do so."

Wei Lin pondered his request, turning back away from him. The truth she faced was that she could not truly think of anything other than his eyes and the need she saw standing out in them. Even removed from her line of sight, she still felt their heat and unconsciously allowed her hands to run up the outside of her arms to feel where his hands had so recently touched.

"Very well, Sensei. How will we begin?"

Miyamoto ordered his house servants to bring a fine dinner to the dojo for them both and, over their steaming bowls, they made their plans. Wei Lin would have to spend a minimum of 3 days a week at the dojo. They had agreed that early morning hours would be best so as to not keep her from her other house duties. Wei Lin made certain to inform her sensei that having her spending so much time with him in the secluded dojo would cause enough of a scandal as everyone who knew would assume they had become lovers. The samurai laughed at the assignation and assured Wei Lin that there was no one in his life who would care. When he asked after her own reputation, the maiko gave her own assurances that being considered the concubine of a powerful samurai could only assist her status. She was grateful for the heavy makeup that she still wore for it hid her blushing cheeks.

They talked for hours, making schedules and, finally, small talk until Miyamoto gave Wei Lin the option of remaining again as his guest for the night. Upon seeing her hesitation, he amended to arrange for her to be escorted back to her house should she choose to go. Wei Lin giggled rather girlishly, cursing herself in her mind for feeling so young and foolish around the sensei, then explained that she would need to return eventually, if only for a proper bath. Miyamoto reminded her that he had a fully functioning bathing facility here at the dojo and, feeling her heart begin to race again, Wei Lin acquiesced to stay; if only for another night. The maiko bathed away all traces of makeup and pretense, wrapped herself in the simple kimono, taking time to lovingly examine the wren symbol of the school she had joined, and prepared herself for bed. This time, as she settled to sleep, she turned to view the returned silhouette of Miyamoto in meditation. He sat in profile and she could make out the heavy brow, the slight upward turn of his nose, the flow of his mustache and the slight pout of his mouth. His body was so straight, his posture as perfect as if he were a statue and she fantasized on the muscles that would make up such a perfect, still form.

As she continued watching for even the slightest bit of movement, Wei Lin's mind brought her images of Miyamoto rising, crossing out of the room, and appearing at her doorway, wordlessly joining her on the floor. Their kisses would be passionate as each fed from the other's mutual need. Still his shadow remained constant, yet her nipples began to grow hard as his phantom lips encircled them; his tongue flickering playfully causing them to tingle blissfully. Without removing her eyes from his form, Wei Lin reached beneath the folds of her dressing gown and caressed her breasts. They were large, much larger than any other Japanese girl she had ever seen. When she was young, her mother forced her to strap them too tightly to her torso to try to be more like everyone else. It wasn't until her training under her onee-san that anyone had ever expressed appreciation for her breasts. She couldn't help but wonder if the larger size and the nearly excruciatingly sensitive nipples were a rarity. If so, she truly felt sorry for all other women. Her hands continued to stroke and tweak at one nipple then the other. She finally looked away when the pleasure awakened the fire between her legs. She gasped as quietly as she could and allowed her right hand to trail down her abdomen, parting her nightclothes as it passed. Tentatively, as if she had never touched herself before, her fingers flickered over her engorged clit, sending a flow of liquid past her parted lips as ripples of sweet pleasure coursed through her. She focused on her clit, on her pleasure, and as her passion soared higher and higher her eyes sought out his shadow again. Tears in her eyes met the reflected candlelight and caused his form to ripple subtly, but more than enough for her mind to paint a picture of his rhythmic thrusting into her. With that dear image locked in her mind and his cool shadow settling over her heart, Wei Lin released, biting her lower lip to keep from crying out.