The soft white glow of the recessed lighting barely illuminated the chamber, save for the brilliant reflection from the solid silver bathtub. Syun’s eyes stung from the intensity of the reflected light, so she closed them and slowly slipped her head beneath the gently rippling water. As the warm liquid slipped above her ears, the only sound she could perceive was the slight gurgle from a trickling stream slowly filling her bath. For several moments, nothing else existed to her.
She inhaled deeply through her nose as the pure water crested over her eyelids; its comforting temperature soothed away any remaining anxiety within her. Without releasing her breath, her buoyancy lifted her torso to the surface, and Syun’s breasts poked through the rippling surface. Her nipples hardened at the temperature difference, and the sensation was demanding enough that she slowly exhaled to let her body sink back into the water’s welcoming warmth.
He is not like the others...
He must love you.
Syun meditated on that thought again, as she had done consistently for the past several months, for it brought her the most security in her terrible predicament. Still, in the mellowing embrace of her bath, doubts crept into her mind.
What if he does not?
Syun squinted away the lingering doubt and furrowed her brow, causing the gentle waters to stir a bit.
No! He loves me. Nai-Ko loves me.
Tears began welling up in her eyes, but even in the relative sanctity of the concubine’s bath chamber, Syun would not allow them to flow. Instead, she slipped her hands from the water and gently massaged her submerged eyes until the tears subsided. Once they were gone, she inhaled again and lifted her head from beneath her liquid solace.
Syun slowly opened her eyes, but only enough to allow them to adjust to the reflected light. When they could see again, she directed them toward the foot of her bath and spied her fellow courtesan, Genji, standing attentively.
Syun nodded to the younger girl, who responded by retrieving a golden vial from a shelf. With grace and poise, Genji slipped back the sleeve of her silk gown, dabbed the bottle against her own delicate hand, and drew out a small dollop of a milky liquid. Then, like an automaton, she returned the vial to its shelf and presented the cleanser to Syun. Following her part of the routine, Syun raised her foot from the water and pointed her immaculate toes toward her attendant. Genji knelt at the foot of the tub and let her free hand slip beneath Syun’s ankle, lifting it up and massaging the fluid into a soapy lather.
Syun studied Genji’s features as she raised her other foot to the girl; without a word, Genji took it and repeated the process. Her silken black hair was clasped into a bun, and her milky white skin shone through the crimson gown with an almost iridescent glow. As Genji’s methodical hands continued their deft massage, Syun felt as if she was looking at her reflection.
She has nothing - no one - and no hope, Syun concluded.
She watched Genji with pity, for at least she had some hope through Nai-Ko’s love. That was the only difference between them, though as far as the Nai clan was concerned, there was no difference. She knew that concubines like Genji and herself were nothing more than property; their only value was reproductive. The thought stung Syun, and the voice of doubt slipped into her mind again.
What if he does not love you?
Syun thrashed lightly in the bath, and immediately Genji ceased her actions. She raised her almond eyes to Syun’s with a curious look.
“Syun?”
“No,” said Syun apologetically, “you did nothing wrong, Genji.”
Genji’s curiosity only appeared to increase, and Syun felt that she should explain, but the subject was a difficult one.
“You think about him?” Genji asked unprompted before continuing to scrub Syun’s already impeccable foot.
Syun knew that Genji was aware of her arrangement with Nai-Ko, but she was careful not to reveal the true nature of their relationship. Even though Genji was the closest thing that she had to a friend, Syun knew the girl’s motivations. Genji - at the moment so delicately washing her feet - would leap at any opportunity to escape her gilded prison, even if it meant sacrificing those closest to her. Syun knew this, because she would do the very same.
“No,” replied Syun, dipping her hair back into the water. “I think only of the moment, for anything more is ... irresponsible. You know that.”
“Yes. I do.” Genji replied with an audible emphasis.
Genji finished her treatment of Syun’s feet and, like a thousand times before, she rose back to her attendant position. After a brief pause, she paced around to the other side of the bath chamber, positioning herself directly above Syun’s head. Syun responded by sitting up in the silver tub, and the sloshing of the disturbed water reflected upon the dark walls with a lustrous haze. She pulled her knees into her body, tucked her chin between them, and, as expected, she felt Genji’s soft hands begin to caress her neck. Genji’s fingertips then drifted from Syun’s neck to her scalp with the dexterity of experience.
Although they were comparatively cold, Genji’s delicate hands were quite relaxing as they went about their work. Syun closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift into her fantasy life with Nai-Ko.
Within her dream, she saw herself walking side by side, hand in hand with Nai-Ko through the darkened central corridor of the Nai clan headquarters. Syun’s breast swelled with confidence, and she felt no fear as she passed the other stoic-faced clan members and their concubines. For a moment, Syun glimpsed Genji standing behind an older man, her head bowed in respect - and jealousy.
Ahead, the hallway widened into a misty-fogged atrium; the only sound was their footsteps echoing across the precision-cut marbled floor. As she and Nai-Ko crossed the threshold, the bulk of the Nai clan filed in quietly behind them, witnesses to their love.
Across the chamber, through the mist, Syun saw several pairs of glowing red eyes appear, but she did not feel intimidated in any way. Instead, she smiled and turned to Nai-Ko, and he calmly met her gaze. His own eyes shone with a softened red accent, and the angles of his chin, brow, and nose framed his perfectly groomed face. With visible confidence, he opened his mouth to speak.
“Nai-Ko?”
The voice of the clan leader, Nai-Zhou, echoed through the mist and interrupted Nai-Ko. Dutifully, his son nodded and began walking through the haze toward his father. He did not release her hand until the last moment, but when their fingers drifted apart, he suddenly stopped and turned back to Syun.
His eyes flashed powerfully red now, and defiantly, he spoke to her.
“I love you, Syun.”
Syun opened her mouth to reply, but instantly, Nai-Ko disappeared into the mist.
A trickle of water drained down over her face, and Syun suddenly opened her eyes. The glinting light of her bath chamber replaced the cloudy darkness of her dream; behind her, she heard Genji scooping more water from the tub. The water fell comfortably through Syun’s hair - warming her bare shoulders and rinsing away the soap with the last vestiges of her redeeming fantasy.
Genji again stepped to the side of the silver bathtub and retrieved a white silk towel from a shelf. Syun arched her back to let the last few rivulets of water trickle over her body, and then she slowly lifted herself from the bath. She turned her back to Genji, extended her arms, and allowed the towel to be draped around her. Syun took the caressing towel across her bosom and stepped gracefully from the warm bathtub to the stone-cold marble pedestal it rested upon. Genji appeared at her side with a second white towel draped over the sleeve of her red gown, waiting patiently for Syun to dry her body. When Syun had finished, she slipped the damp towel from her body, handed it to Genji, and took the fresh one in exchange. Fighting off the impersonal cold of the room, Syun wrapped the larger towel around her body and stepped to the edge of the chamber. Genji then retrieved a green silk robe from a post on the wall, and Syun held out her arms to the girl. Genji gently guided the sleeves of the robe over Syun’s arms, lifted her flowing black hair over the collar, and fastened the robe behind her neck.
Syun looked Genji in the eye, and the younger attendant offered a cursory inspection. When she was finished, Genji nodded, and the pair exited the bath chamber together through an oversized stone archway. As they passed through, Syun placed her hand upon an electronic sensor upon the wall, and within moments, a solid stainless steel door hummed down from the ceiling, completely sealing the archway against the floor with a hiss. Shortly, on the other side of the door, Syun heard their human servants scurrying in to clean the bath chamber. Once the chamber was prepared, she and Genji would return with their roles reversed.
The waiting seemed interminable to Syun, and she felt that she needed to speak to Genji to pass the time.
What should I say?
Syun looked at the younger concubine standing patiently, her face trained to remain emotionless, save for when in the throes of supposed pleasure. Instead of saying anything, she reached out and took Genji’s hand in a comforting gesture.
Genji looked to withdraw her hand, but, after a moment, she interlocked her fingers with Syun’s.
“Thank you,” Syun cooed. “I know that you are nervous, but do not be afraid. This will all be over soon.”
“I am not nervous,” chided Genji, though her tone spoke otherwise, “for I am certain that Nai-Chen will be pleased with me. You are the one who should be nervous.” Genji’s grip tightened on Syun’s hand, almost in a threatening manner.
“What do you expect?” she continued. “That he will love you? That he will choose you over his family? You are delusional, Syun, and you must accept that, or you endanger us all.”
Genji’s cold words shocked Syun, and she immediately wrenched her hand free. She shot an accusing glance at Genji, but the girl’s countenance remained defiantly unchanged.
How dare she! Syun thought as she studied the young concubine, sensing betrayal. She felt the urge to chastise Genji, but it would amount to nothing, so she held her tongue.
“I expect nothing,” she instead replied coldly, repressing her true feelings once more.
“Good,” said Genji. “Then you will not be disappointed.”
Syun’s emotions began to boil, though deep down she knew from where Genji’s words originated. Concubines had no hope. Genji had nothing, for Nai-Chen, despite his potential to become a member of the Neplusultra, was nothing like his older brother Nai-Ko. Still, the implication struck a chord, and once more caused her doubts to stir.
What if he does not?
Her thought was interrupted by the clattering sounds of the cleaning crew quickly finishing their work in the bath chamber. She listened as they gathered their materials and hastily exited. At the sound of the closing chamber doors, Genji placed her hand upon the sensor, and the stainless steel door hissed once more. As it lifted up, the lights in the chamber dimmed to a more comfortable state, and Syun could see that the room appeared completely sanitized. Genji disrobed and hung her pristine garment on the post by the door. She strode to the bath and slowly immersed herself in the freshly cleaned and refilled tub.
Syun followed by habit, but the vision of the Genji’s naked form in the water, combined with the still-stinging effects of the girl’s words, caused her to pause. As Genji dipped her flowing hair into the water, her eyes flicked over to Syun and then to the foot of the bath where Syun was expected to be standing.
Syun just smiled and pivoted on her heel. She strode out of the room as she heard Genji’s words echo in the chamber behind her.
“Where are you going?” the girl demanded. “Bathe me!”
Syun just held her smile as she kept on walking toward her private dressing chamber to prepare for her upcoming meeting with Nai-Ko.
“Bathe yourself...” she replied coolly.