Yaru chuckled, drawing my attention back to my comrades.
“Is this normal?” I asked, deciding to be honest. This time Tomichii expressed his mirth, nodding.
“Auralia was frozen before expressing our sexuality became normal and part of everyday life,” Yaru said, speaking past me.
“Ah. That explains the surprise. I’m sorry. I hope I’ve not made you uncomfortable. I assumed that your attire was an expression of your comfort with your new profession.”
“She does seem to have adapted quicker than most.”
“It’s always a relief when they do.”
I tried not to gape at the way I was being discussed, or my circumstances. I felt my fists clench and I knew I was glaring. How dare they? How dare any of them play with the lives of women like this?
“Tomichii!” a woman called, swaying over to us and breaking the moment. She wore very little, a thin covering of organza leaving little to the imagination. “We haven’t seen you here in a while.”
She took the arm on his other side, not waiting for him to offer it.
“I’ve been very busy with our latest product,” he replied, smiling at her. I noticed his eyes didn’t light up in quite the same way they had earlier.
“And who is your new little friend?” she said, her gaze homing in on me. There was no obvious hardness to her tone, but her stare said everything her words hadn’t. I wasn’t welcome here, especially not on Tomichii’s arm. I wanted to vent my anger, to say something catty, but my brain drew a blank.
“This is Auralia, and it’s her first day, so play nice, Katrina.”
Tomichii gently removed his arm from her grasp.
“I’ll come find you when I’m done showing her around.”
This seemed to mollify her. She nodded, gave me another brief look and sauntered back where she’d come from.
It was only as she walked away that I realised that I now had the attention of many in the room, male and female alike. I tried not to quake. Surely it was just the usual reaction to a new person? I hoped so, anyway.
“How much has Yaru told you of your new profession?” Tomichii asked, pulling my focus back to him, his voice gentle enough most would not have heard him. I tried to think, but I still felt frozen.
“Not enough,” Yaru replied for me. “There is only so much time, and Daniel was eager for Auralia to begin her new life.”
“Then, if you’ll permit me, I’ll do what I can to fill you in on our customs and attitudes.”
“I’d appreciate that.” I gave him a genuine smile. Perhaps more information would help me feel less out of my depth.
“This wall,” he said, pointing towards the left one as he walked me closer, “features our more private areas. See these scanners here? A courtesan marks herself as attending, and any men who wish to may join her.”
I nodded, seeing several names on various screens. Curtains covered doorways at regular intervals, each with its own screen and name. If the curtain was open, the screen was blank.
Beneath each name was a high two-figure number. I asked what they meant.
“It’s the current price each courtesan is commanding from the men inside to join with them in pleasure.”
I raised my eyebrows. You mean how much they’re paying per fuck.
I kept my mouth shut over my thoughts, trying not to show my disgust or the way my pulse sped up at the news. Yaru and Daniel had both painted this as a far more exotic and less sleazy profession, but everything in this room and everything I’d heard since I’d walked into the building was telling me otherwise. It was just an accepted part of their culture, but it was still women selling their bodies to the highest bidder.
While I held onto Tomichii’s arm, feeling a little green at the thought of being in one of the curtained areas, a courtesan came walking past, greeted by several men. She paused by one of the open curtains, glanced at the three men who’d got up, two detaching themselves from other groups, and then sauntered inside.
Before my eyes, the three men followed her, also scanning their wrists as they ducked the curtain.
I blinked, shocked, as two more men arrived through the main doors and also joined her. Five men? And two of them seeming to arrive especially to join in.
“On slower nights, or when trying to find new regular companions, a courtesan might use one of these rooms. It allows men who wouldn’t otherwise book a meeting to get to know a new potential and see if their needs are compatible.”
I nodded.
Still sounds like women selling themselves to me.
“Most of the rest of the room here is free for any courtesans and companions to socialise as they see fit,” Tomichii continued, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort and disgust. “But I have a small area for dancing and some creative pursuits as well. Some of the regular courtesans here feel akin to Geisha from the Japan of old.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“It is a personal favourite of mine. Katrina is wonderful at calligraphy.”
“I understand she had a hand in the design on your newest product,” Yaru said, engaging Tomichii in more idle conversation for the first time since the tour had begun.
“Yes. I did not want to see her talent go to waste. Not all men appreciate it when a courtesan is devoted to such beautiful pursuits.”
“Sadly, not all men are created equal,” a booming man’s voice said from behind us. As one, we all turned. A tall, graceful man stood only a few feet away, a broad grin on his face. Immediately he looked me over, before his eyes flicked to Yaru, and then rested on Tomichii. “Not every man has what it takes to keep a courtesan happy. Or to show her adequate appreciation.”
Tomichii acknowledged the words with a bow, and Yaru did the same. I fought off a frown. Yaru didn’t look pleased, and even Tomichii had lost the twinkling light in his eyes. Neither of them appeared to like this newcomer.
“You must be Auralia,” he said, turning to me and reaching out for my loose hand.
“Yes?” I replied, making it clear I was curious as to how he knew. He kissed the back of my hand before relinquishing it again.
“I am an old friend of Daniel’s. I must say, he has a good eye.” Once more, I was visibly appraised. My skin broke out in goose bumps, forcing me to fight back a shiver.
“Stuart!” Yet another woman appeared, the gesture mutual as she entwined her fingers with his and cozied up beside him.
“Anastasia. I hoped to find you here.”
I blinked. This was the woman I’d heard talk of. Daniel thought very little of her.
Committing her face to memory, I tried to covertly study her. She had high cheek bones and a delicate nose, her face so symmetrical I wondered if she had been born that way or modified through surgery. Her straight blond hair cascaded around her shoulders, accentuating the contour of her collar bones and breasts. Bracelets made of small chains tinkled as she moved, and her clothes covered little, but somehow still looked modest, simple and elegant.
“I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see you. You know I love our time together.”
Not saying any more or even acknowledging our existence any further, the pair wandered off, heading for a small door I now noticed in the far corner.
“I think we should be going now,” Yaru said. “Thank you, Tomichii.”
“So soon?” he replied, sounding almost pained.
“I am afraid so. I promised to introduce Auralia to an old friend of mine, and I do not want us to be late.”
“Then I hope you consider me a friend enough to bring Auralia back again tomorrow.”
“I’d love that,” I replied, before Yaru could voice his answer. Tomichii chuckled and Yaru merely smiled. “Would that be okay?”
My addition seemed to soothe any ruffled emotions, earning me a nod of approval.
“I shall look forward to more of your company, Auralia,” Tomichii said, letting go of my arm and bowing. I returned the gesture.
“And I, yours.” My words were genuine as Yaru started to turn away, his eyes making it clear I was meant to follow.
I might not have liked the new things I had learnt about being a courtesan, but it was clear I had little choice. And in the meantime Tomichii had been a perfect gentleman, something I could easily encourage to be a part of my life.
It was a start.
***
After an entirely silent car journey I stood in another foyer. I couldn’t tell if Yaru was happy with how things had progressed that afternoon. And I wasn’t sure how I felt anymore. I didn’t even think I wanted to feel. I wanted to be back in the safe cocoon of a body that couldn’t move. Where no one expected anything of me.
“Yaru. You didn’t tell me you had another new courtesan under your guidance,” a man said, sauntering over. “When you asked where I’d be I thought you were just coming to say hello. Maybe ask for a favour.”
“No, no favour. This is Auralia. She’s a sweetheart, and I couldn’t refuse Daniel once I’d met her.”
The man came over and stopped right in front of me. Taking my hands in his, he looked me over. Unlike some of the others, he appeared more fatherly, his eyes coming back to my face and lingering there the longest, searching my eyes.
“The first day being introduced is a shocker, isn’t it?” he asked eventually. I found myself nodding, my shoulders sagging a little, almost relieved at the caring tone he used.
“Well, come sit in David’s diner. We’ll get you a decent lunch and you can take a moment to gather yourself again.”
“Thank you,” I said, letting him sweep me along into the room ahead. It was kitted out just like American diners of old, but a bit darker, with a long bar at one end of the room. Just like in the social room Tomichii had taken me to, courtesans mingled with other men, but no one was doing anything quite so exotic as before. The most anyone was doing was kissing and copping feels, tucked away in booths, hidden from prying eyes.
“Come, you can rest up in here. Yaru will show you how to order, no doubt. Meal’s on me today, my dear. Just stick around until my shift is done and I’ll come find you.”
“I nodded, feeling my eyes prickle with the threat of tears. His kindness and manner felt so normal after so much strange new future.”
“Thank you,” I said again to Yaru as we slipped into a smaller booth out of the way near the back of the restaurant.
Yaru merely smiled and tapped at a small picture on the corner of the table. The wooden look faded away and then writing appeared, showing the menu to both of us. My mouth fell open, earning me a chuckle.
“I must confess, I do so love bringing my thawed charges here. You all react the same way. Society may have changed for the worse in some ways, but technology continues to make our lives easier.”
I grinned, not surprised that it was the sort of thing he took amusement in. The interface was intuitive, my order placed not long after.
“That didn’t take you long,” Yaru said, still trying to choose something.”
“You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to eat a cheese burger,” I replied.
“Ooo, about two hundred years, perhaps?”
This time I laughed. He was right, even if that hadn’t been what I’d meant. By the time they’d frozen me they had been feeding me through tubes, my food mushed on spoons long before even that.
“Well, then, I’d best not keep you waiting much longer.” Yaru tapped a few times, completing his own order, and then he sat back.
The food arrived in less than five minutes, the same man as earlier bringing them.
“There you go. Get stuck into that,” he said as he put the plate down in front of me.
I groaned in delight as I took the first bite, the taste exploding in my mouth.
“That good, huh?”
“Better,” I replied when I’d chewed and swallowed. He threw his head back and laughed.
“You can come back anytime then, my dear. A man always likes to have his cooking appreciated.”
With that, he walked away again.
While I ate I took the time to study the room, noticing he seemed to be running the restaurant almost single-handedly, only one other person taking the dirty plates away again.
Once I’d finished I noticed Yaru was taking his time, eating more delicately and evidently enjoying his food as much as I did mine, even if I’d wolfed it down.
“What did you think of Tomichii?” he asked when I put my cutlery down for the last time.
“I liked him, I think.”
“Good. We’ll go back tomorrow. I want you to grow more comfortable with such public displays of courtship.”
I nodded, not sure how to respond to that. The atmosphere had made me uncomfortable, but I was curious about Kioshi. I wanted to understand why he reacted the way he had to having me there when everyone else seemed to be comfortable with what I was.
“Most importantly, Tomichii seemed to like you. Watch out for Katrina, though. She’s more than a little possessive of him.”
“I could tell that. I’ve heard Anastasia is worse, though.”
“Perhaps. If she’s crossed. The men are aware she can be a… handful, however. They put up with it less. Katrina is more subtle when she wants to be.”
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