When the peonies bloom.

Late Autumn Part 1

"Oi." She yelled as her arms swooped in.

Thankfully both of them weren't heavy enough at their age. She dragged them both screaming and kicking by the back of their collar and pulled them to their feet.

"That's enough. You two finished fighting yet?" She yelled.

The two girls seethed at each other, ready to pounce if it wasn't for Tomo's iron grip on their bony little shoulders.

"Look at yourselves! Aunty might beat you both next for fighting like this. Let's get a move on!" Tomo scolded and pulled on Aimi's arm. "You better get changed and wash your clothes quickly."

"Let go of me!" Aimi tossed and twisted against Tomo's iron like grip.

Tomo tried to calm herself down again. She knew yelling at children never went down well.

"You can tell me all about her when we get inside. Alright?" 

-

Hyosaku found indescribable sharp pain in her pelvic area. Her head hurt as much as her heart raced with worry about what it might be. In recent days, using the bathroom often caused a burning sensation when urinating. She also noticed an abnormal habit had developed, the urge to pee all so frequently, yet little fluid would pass each time. It puzzled the great courtesan but she was too scared to tell anyone. She tried to dissuade her lovers from inserting their penises into her after painful encounters made her yelp, embarrassing them for the remainder of the night for both in the process. When her lover wished to console her, she tried to play it down as an accident whilst absolutely feeling the burning and pain inside. The memory made itself vividly clear, that sense of desperation, how she wished dawn again in an instant. That taste of an awkward night that followed never left Hyosaku's mind.

Strangely, the magic all cure pill that the doctor had given on his last visit was touted to her as a wellness pill illness wasn't working either. It had always kept her coughs and sneezes away but maybe this was a punishment or curse from an unsatisfied client.

Or worse, had she enraged some unknown spirit entity? Would this become worse? What was going to happen next? Would she become disfigured by ugly red itchy rashes all over her body? Her mind was so fraught with anxiety it made her feel dizzy and physically sick. The only way to deal with it in Hyosaku's mind was to lay her head in her hands on the low table and wait for it to end all like a dream. She had not noticed her bodyguard enter the room. For all she knew, Tomo could have spoken and it would have been deaf to her ears.

Hyosaku did not stir until Tomo rested the back of hand on hers.

"You're not well at all are you?" Tomo said in a matter of fact manner, much like a doctor making initial judgements of their patient.

Hyosaku instantly shot up, her back straightened like a tired student pretending they didn't fall asleep at their desk.

"I'm fine."

Hyosaku melted a little at the sight of Tomo's raised eyebrows. Their sharp curve was enough to cut through her momentary illusion.

Tomo noticed how clammy and sleep deprived her mistress looked. Concern rolled around in the pit of her stomach.

"Tell me, what has been happening."

"I-I can't. I've got to get ready-" Hyosaku winced as she tried to get up.

"Ready to do what, get sicker?"

"As I told you, I am fine." Hyosaku insisted. It irked her that she also felt a bit dizzy when she was on her feet.