Post by Tiago James Squalor on Oct 3, 2011 10:28:12 GMT -5
Chapter Three
When Violet, Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice looked up as they exited 667 Dark Avenue, they saw the rising smoke and the flames that dominated part of the penthouse. It was very distant, sixty-six stories up in the sky, but it was vivid. Removing herself and her siblings from anyone’s view, Violet entered a nearby alley and she opened her suitcase. She did not know what one of the 667er’s had put in there, and she did not know that anyone would put it there in the first place. But everything was there. The bag with the sugarbowl. The fire flower – now completely dry – The mysterious first letter urging them travel to the Fulfillment’s Factory. The documents they had gathered, all there. There was something new, though. A white envelope, with a gold E initial on it’s seal. Violet opened it and removed a message from it’s inside.
Baudelaires,
Go to Yoshiwara at once. You can walk a few blocks in the opposite direction from 667 Dark Avenue, towards the East. You’ll find a cable car ready to take you to Yoshiwara. Do not react to the cable car conductor. Do not talk to him. This is of vital importance. He will conduct you safely to Yoshiwara, without picking up other passengers. Once there, head for the House of Red Leaves. You’ll know it when you see it. We do wish things were different and that you could stay with us. We hope to meet you again.
Emma Squalor
Sherry Ann
Dante
Hermes
Sherry Ann
Dante
Hermes
The message was cryptic enough to puzzle the Baudelaires but not so much that hey would remain in the dark alley. They grabbed each other’s hands and tried to pass unoticed through the gathering crowd of neighbors all eager to see the penthouse fire. No one took notice of them. Four siblings in kimonos in a crowd of people wearing kimonos. Nothing out of the ordinary. Soon, the Baudelaires saw a purple cable car in front of a stop sign, around the corner. Saying nothing, they climbed up and sat still on the benches. They could not see the cable car conductor, but Violet saw a purple scarf abandoned in one of the benches. ‘Look.’ She said. Klaus eyed the scarf. ‘The stranger at Boggly Garden…’ He muttered. ‘And the bus driver that left us at 667 Dark Avenue.’ Violet replied in agreement. They knew it was the same person. Most men don’t wear scarves, but some do. The bus driver wore a purple scarf and he was definetely male, but his eyes were concealed by glasses as black as the night.
They sure made a strange picture, the four Baudelaire siblings, wearing their kimonos, with a bit of soot and ash here and there. The cable car transported them from the dark surrounding of 667 Dark Avenue, and slowly, their path was brightned by neon signs in japanese characters and lanterns. Many people walking the streets, busy, wearing kimonos. It was as if the cable car had transported them to Japan, but had not left the country. When the cable car stopped, Violet, Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice climbed out of it, and found themselves in the busy streets of Yoshiwara. Buildings of a more modern persuasion contrasted with examples of traditional japanese architecture. Paper lanterns with kanji – a word which here means ‘japanese symbols that are unintelligible to the westerners but very appealing aesthetically’ – contrasted with bright neon signs and electric lights. Most of the people were also asian. The Baudelaire had never been to that part of town for some mysterious reason which they would soon find out, and were equally as astonished as they were eager to explore Yoshiwara and learn whatever they could – not only about the R mystery, but also about Japanese culture and customs. As it has happened many times before, the Baudelaires had no idea what they were getting themselves into. They just knew they had to go on. For their friends, and for themselves.
There were so many people out in the street – including young people with strange clothes that did not obbey the dress code – girls with frilly dresses of all colors, girls with heavily decorated outfits and too much accessories, boys with hair died orange and wearing longcots full of kanji and riding motorcycles, business men with suitcases. It was a very diverse crowd, and remarkable at that. Walking around Yoshiwara made the Baudelaires feel foreign in their own country. There, a bit of Japan had transported itself into their city. The Baudelaires were in awe – a word which here means amazed and impressed.
After walking a few blocks of several small businesses – restaurants, pubs, karaoke and pachinko parlors, as well as a few buildings that had red lanterns hanging out from their entrances and some intimidating men told them not to enter in a very emphatic japanese – the Baudelaires saw it. The largest building in Yoshiwara was also a traditional example of Japanese architecture. The red light it cast into the night sky reminded them of Casanova Casino – another reason they normally should not have gone in it’s direction. The trees that were outside the House of Red Leaves were covered in leaves of a bloody red, and the wood was painted in a bright shade of red, as well. It was a menacing, foreboding building, and anyone who was informed of Yoshiwara’s true history would know to stay away from it. However, just as the Baudelaires were almost giving up on their quest, a young girl wearing a red kimono walked out of the building. She was as a bit shorter than Violet, but taller than Klaus, and her hair was black. She was, or at least, looked japanese. She took notice of the Baudelaires, made a curious expression, and then waved at them repeatedly. The whole thing reminded the Baudelaires of their first encounter with Cindry Fulfillment – how she waved at them at the train station in Paltryville in the same energetic fashion. Sharing a momentous nostalgia, they went ahead, and in the girl’s direction.
The girl was dressed in an ordinary kimono of a dark red. It was nothing special, even compared to Violet’s slightly singed but intricate kimono. She was not as pretty as Violet, at least not in the same manner. Her features were small and delicate like that of a doll. Seeing her up close, Violet noticed the girl was carrying a bucket of water. ‘Are you the ones the mistress told me to look out for?’ The girl asked. Her accent was thick, as if she was not very comfortable speaking english. ‘Yes.’ Was the Baudelaires’ reply. ‘Good. Come inside. I take care of you now.’ The girl said. She opened the door. ‘Quickly, before anyone sees you.’ She uttered. The Baudelaires did as she said and found themselves in a remarkable japanese garden. ‘This way.’ The girl said, walking with silent steps across the garden towards the enormous building. Red lanternes hung from the roof and all over the place with japanese characters painted in black ink. They could see silhouettes of people through the paper screens of the walls, and hear laughter and music. The girl opened a sliding door and the Baudelaires went inside the House of Red Leaves.
They were in a long hallway, either sides with the same quadriculated paper-and-wood screen walls and doors, and the screens were decorated not only in rich paintings but in silhouettes also. The sound of laughter, talk and music was also louder. ‘Follow me. Don’t touch nothing!’ She said with her thick accent. The Baudelaires obliged, and soon the girl stopped and opened a door to a room without silhouettes. ‘In here.’ She said. The Baudelaires went in and found themselves in a plain room without much decoration. There were two boys inside. ‘Who are they, Kiyoha?’ The older boy said. He had black hair, and was a little shorter than Klaus. The other boy was barely a toddler, of Beatrice’s age. The infant had a funny cape with animal ears on his head. The Baudelaires noticed their wrists were covered in bandages. The girl’s were, too.
‘They are like us.’ The girl named Kiyoha said in response. ‘Who are you? Who is your mistress?’ Violet asked. ‘We are of the Higurashi family. We are from Japan, as you can see.’ The girl said. ‘I am Kiyoha, and these are my brothers, Ren, and Daisuke.’
‘I’m Violet Baudelaire.’ Violet said. ‘I’m Klaus, and these are our younger sisters, Sunny and Beatrice.’ After the introductions, Kiyoha invited the Baudelaires to sit on the tatami – a word which here means ‘the padding covering the rooms in traditional japanese houses’ – and they did so. ‘What brough you here all the way from Japan?’ Violet asked. ‘An earthquake. Tsunami. Jishin no Teppoo.’ Kiyoha said. ‘What did she say?’ Sunny asked Klaus. Klaus did not know much japanese, as it was too hard for him to learn yet. He did know a few words like kimono, sushi, sashimi, arigato, and tsunami, which here means ‘an enormous tidal wave cause by an earthquake’.
‘We live in our family castle. Until the ground starked to shake. Jishin.’ Kiyoha said grimly. ‘Our parents put us in safe place, but the tsunami destroyed the castle.’ Kiyoha said. ‘Jishin no Teppoo.’ Ren repeated. ‘We investigate, but we only learned that two strangers were seen near or castle. They had it.’ Kiyoha said. ‘It? What is it?’ Violet asked. Before Kiyoha could tell them, the door suddenly slid open. Standing in the opening, a woman wearing a black kimono amiled. Her dark hair was tied up, in an intricate hairdo. She was also japanese, or so was the natural conclusion. ‘Irashaimase, Baudelaires.’ Violet recognized the voice. ‘So it is you!’ Violet stood up. ‘Hai. I am R. Well, that’s how most people know me. However, if you do want to know my true name, I will tell you. I am Reiko Yazawa. Heiress of the Yazawa clan, and manager of the House of Red Leaves.’ Kiyoha, Ren and Daisuke bowed before Reiko. It was customary in Japan to bow before your elders and superiors out of respect. However, the Higurashi siblings did not bow out of respect. They bowed out of fear.
‘You should be very wary of your steps in this House, Baudelaires.’ Reiko entered the room, closing the door behind her. ‘An old acquaintance of yours is also staying here.’ Reiko circled around the Baudelaires. The Higurashi siblings quivered, bowing on the floor. Reiko was not a very tall or menacing woman, yet something about her struck fear down to the Higurashi siblings’ cores. ‘You should know it. I have no interest in her affairs, or in yours. I am not on her side, nor am I in yours.’ She continued. The Higurashis quivered again. ‘Why did you bring us here then?’ Violet dared to ask. Reiko was delighted. ‘Oh, but I had to take a look at the infamous Baudelaire orphans! I had to see the orphans that make her skin crawl.’ Reiko laughed, taking her long kimono sleeve and putting it in front of her mouth. ‘For all they say about you, it’s quite a letdown, I have to say. But don’t worry, I just happen to have very high standards.’ Reiko’s eyes then went from the Baudelaires to the quivering Higurashis down on the floor. ‘Kiyoha. Ren. Daisuke. Go find something to do. I will take these orphans to my quarters and introduce them to my family.’ The Higurashis stood up and left the room, looking down the whole time. They didn’t dare look at Reiko. ‘I took those poor things in, you know. They’re orphans, just like you. Just…more recent.’ Reiko then floated out of the room – her walk was so delicate and graceful, it was almost as if she was floating - and smiling at the Baudelaires. ‘Come meet the rest of the Yazawas, Baudelaires.’ And Violet, Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice followed Reiko Yazawa out of the room.