Comfort Women

TW: rape

A celebration of some sort for the Japanese soldiers was very much needed.

Chaos surrounded the forest; dancing figures of drunken men, rowdy comrades picking fights with one another and the sounds of moaning women. Sensitive sounds like metal mugs clashing rang throughout the thick and dense forest where the soldiers would site in the meantime like nomads. Everyone was on their feet, busy celebrating the success of the invasion of the Korean Peninsula.

"HEEP HEEP!"

"HOORAY!"

"HEEP HEEP!"

"HOORAY!" Everyone shouted in unison.

"PRAISE THE EMPEROR AND ONLY THE EMPEROR!" Chanted the commander as he continues to swing his mug around like a fool. His face was turning as red as a tomato. Every time he swallowed a big gulp of the beer, he would let out a disgusting burp that would stink the back of his throat and the surrounding atmosphere. Now, wouldn’t it be unfortunate for one to breath in that kind of toxic gas instead of oxygen?

Unequivocally, it is unfortunate, especially for Keiji, the only sober soldier in the forest. Keiji abruptly stormed off after his general did just that. Since the first day of his recruitment, Keiji was taught to never ran away from his general and comrades alike but to make that very moment exceptional was reasonable. The man was molesting poor Keiji, hooking one arm around Keiji’s left shoulder while the other aroused his belt for ‘support’. The only thing Keiji could pray for is a gas mask and a higher rank status just so he could have a reason to beat him up in front of everyone. Well, he could, because everyone is out drinking as if it was their last. But that isn’t something Keiji would do. He never liked to resort to such violence despite the irony of him being a Japanese soldier who had just invaded the beaches of south of Korea.

With that, Keiji continued walking, bringing himself to wherever his legs would. Eventually, Keiji halted at the front of the forests’ huts. Keiji’s face crumbled when he remembered how his higher-ups lied to him regarding the use of the huts. Unbeknownst, a rape festival lit up for the night. Nothing but horrifying and chilling moans of women, specifically Korean women, pierced his innocent ears. As much as Keiji want to escape from his platoon and the safe zone just so he can find a proper place to rest, he knew that would get him in hot water.

After three weeks of marching and swimming, all Keiji would want is to simply sleep. His white socks that are hidden in the high cut carbon black boots were turning soggy. The skin on the heel of his feet were peeling. His shoulder and the ball of his feet, too, deserved a good rest. Nothing else mattered at that instance for the simple-minded soldier.

And so, Keiji dragged himself into the corridors. Although he told himself to never look over his right shoulder, his ears never listened. He doesn’t need to know what the situation looks like because the shrieking cries were enough to tell him so. Keiji bit his lower lip while his insides cringed. He wasn’t certain whether there would even be an empty room for him to rest peacefully without any tug-o-war games disturbing him next door. Deep down, he knew that such act is unforgiveable, that is why he never participated in any of those games. His hopes were about to die for the night until he saw several men came out of one of the rooms with their genitals feeling the breeze of the already tense air. Keiji initially felt hopeful that the room would be vacant but after he saw their ungodly penis flopping in between their thighs. Moreover, what made it more sickening to think of was that he recognized one of the men to be his commander, Commander Osamu. He didn’t mean to imagine such stomach-churning thoughts of his commander involving himself in an orgy but he did.

“Oh, Keiji! My timid young lad, how ‘re ‘ya?! I hope you had fun outside with General Ichikawa!” Commander Osamu said, patting Keiji’s back with his sticky hand that smell like male essence.

Keiji froze, unsure what to answer. Commander Osamu assumed that his stiffness was Keiji’s way of saying yes. So, he stuck with that assumption and recommended him to try out one of the women he had just used. The drunker commander slurred, “Well, fuck her all you want Keiji. You never know when we’ll be fucking such a slut again ‘ya know? Fuck her like how I did, in every hole, even her mouth. She’ll amaze you with her talent that’s ‘fer sure!”

Keiji pulled back his neck away from his commander’s hot breath that made him yearn for God to send down an angel or two to slap the man far away from him. Keiji simply complied to whatever Commander Osamu ramble just so he won’t strike a nerve on another higher-up. Before Keiji could bow to his higher-up’s goodnight, Commander Osamu and the other soldiers preached, “All praise the emperor for this holy night!”

“Unholy night, you meant,” Keiji whispered softly under his tongue before proceeding into the dark vacant room.

Without further ado, Keiji closed the door behind him and began undressing himself starting with his dirty boots and socks. He took off his navy green coloured uniform, revealing a white singlet underneath it. Before Keiji could properly tip off his helmet, a tiny feminine voice stopped him in his tracks. Instead of turning around, Keiji let the latter make a move first.

<At least let me wear back my gown officer...> The woman spoke in a very soft yet so broken. For a second, Keiji literally forgot that he’s in a foreign land when he heard her spoke her native language.

Keiji assumed that the woman was still a girl due to her young sounding voice. He still refused to move as he didn’t want to scare the girl any further. Although Keiji did not understood a single word, he chose to reply, “Okay.”

The girl politely bowed behind him in the dark room before she started making a ruckus. Keiji didn’t want to think anything inappropriate of the girl that he didn’t even saw in the first place. He just knew her voice is enough to prove that there is another living human being in the room, occupying it way before he did. The unimaginable rape fest that occurred before Keiji’s arrival oddly kept him conscious when the girl called him. Keiji let her voice ring in his ears while he slowly picked up his clothes. As much as Keiji wanted to leave the room in peace, the girl beat him to it. Her hand extended to grab his arm from behind, lightly yanking it to signal him to sit down or perhaps, to complete his undressing process.

“No. Sorry. I’ll pass-“

<Can we finish this as fast as we can? I'm too tired officer. Please give me a chance to rest tonight. I don't want to have sex anymore. I just want to sleep.> The girl told Keiji. Her eyes pooled around the bottom of her eyelids as she spoke. She rushed her words so fast that even Keiji could not pick up what she was whining about but Keiji understood the fear in her voice.

Finally, Keiji made a move, turning his head first followed by the rest of his body to sit down next to her. He scooted her aside nicely before replying, “Alright.”

Keiji tried to feel his surrounding in the dark, waving his hand around left and right, back and forth. He was trying to see if he could grab anything like a blanket or something to keep the girl warm. As his hand felt a certain texture of what it seemed to be a thick winter duvet, he pulled it closer before handing it to the little girl who was still shivering in fear and cold.

“For you.” He said.

<Huh?>

With the language barrier in the way, Keiji was forced to break down his words in simpler terms. He softened his tone and said, “Night. Very cold. You’re a little girl. Take it.”

The girl shook her head. Her scrawny figure crawled towards Keiji. Every step she took, Keiji could hear the bones of her knees thumping on the hard wooden floor. Her cold petite hands wrapped around Keiji’s calloused ones, begging him in a peculiar way to have sex with her. Her malnourished build towered above Keiji’s body, making him even more uncomfortable. It was as if the fate of that moment determined her future.

<No. We have to or else the others will hit me. Torture me. Kill me. Please, take my offer just this once and- and-> She stopped after Keiji cut her off.

“Night time must sleep. I don’t want to have uh...sex...” Keiji said awkwardly with his eyes diverging else where.

<Huh?>

Keiji then tried to use some words and phrases that she had used, hoping it sounded the way he would speak in his own mother tongue, <No sex. Sleep.>

<Oh. But, why?> The girl spoke in hesitation.

Keiji chose to stay silent for a short while as if that is what he’s best at. Alternatively, he lightly pushed his hand to get her to move away from him. Keiji proceeded to grab the same fluffy blanket that he had handed her earlier and wrapped her body. Finally, when the words arrived in his head, he concluded, “Older sister.”

The girl hummed in a questionable tone. Right away, Keiji picked that up and tried to explain in terms of action. Firstly, Keiji said the word ‘sister’ in Japanese and pointed at the girl. He then tried to elaborate his explanation by raising his hand to her height and moved a little higher to emphasize on the word ‘older’.

“Older s-sister.” The girl murmured.

Keiji nodded his head, correctly her pronunciation and understanding.

The girl misinterpreted Keiji’s guidance as a question. She wondered whether was he asking about her elder sister or herself, so, she asked, <My older sister?>

“Huh? No, mine,” Keiji shook his head to disapprove her point. He placed his hand on his chest and said, “My sister.”

<Oh. Understand.> The tiny girl said, forming an ‘O’ with her pale puckered lips.

Before Keiji could let the both the girl and himself have a proper rest, he asked, “Name?”

<Kim Sooyoung. You?> She pointed at Keiji whilst snuggling under the soft fabric.

“Keiji Hirabayashi. Goodnight, Sooyoung,” He smiled, ruffling her unkempt hair.