A/N: this might be under Hakuouki's tag but this is based on my own imagination fantasy and some historical events.

do enjoy this setting.

Chapter 1

In Shimabara, Kyoto I lived and worked as an apprentice oiran(pleasure woman). At the age of seven I was sold to the Pleasure House to feed my family. As a little girl, I wasn't that valuable to my father ever since my mother died of illness. He could have thought that selling me off to the Pleasure House was a great plan as long as I had a bowl of rice to eat. Still, my father didn't say anything on that day. Thus, ten years had passed.

Oiran were all marked with ankle accessories full of little bells so that we could be identified if we escaped. Some of us had tried it but were brought back to the pleasure house and were punished heavily. I had thought of fleeing but there was no way to remove the bells. If only I had a different fate.

OwO/

Keio second year, Shimabara was as busy as any other day but there was something happening around the town. Raids. People who helped Chosu[1] clan or Tosa clan were all captured by Shinsengumi[2] to be interrogated or tortured until information was given. Even if civilians thought that Shinsengumi was a group of murderers, to Shimabara, men of Shinsengumi were nothing more than customers. They visited quite often these days. Once in a blue moon they would get drunk and stayed until daylight.

One day, I was serving food and drinks to a group of people who seemed to be men of Chosu. I must applaud them for their bravery to step into a lion's lair. They probably didn't plan to speak out any of their identities and plans but sweet sake seemed to be tempting their tongues.

In the next room sat a man named Yamaguchi Jiro. He only asked for sake[3] and after that he asked to be left alone. He was a regular customer who usually came alone; sometimes with a group. Despite the name, he was actually Saito Hajime, captain of third unit in Shinsengumi. However, it was not pleasure women's privilege to leak it out after all, the fight between Bakufu(government) and Tobakufu(anti-government) had nothing to do with Shimabara.

"Excuse me, more sake please." A voice called out from the end of the hallway to me as I was the only one in the hallway. The one who called was Yamaguchi Jiro whose face was red. Was he drunk or not was unknown.

"Coming soon, sir!" I replied. I immediately walked my way to get a bottle of sake and returned to the guest. Sliding the door open, I excused myself into the room.

His eyes are closed? Is he…sleeping? Uhm? What is that string? Crawling near, I reached my hand towards an odd string of white. Pulling it, I realized it lead to…the guest's feet. H-his loincloth is…loose?! Why?! How?! Anyway, I need not care for—

Abruptly, Saito Hajime stood up; returned from the sake trip to reality. Noticing me, he turned his gaze at me who was on four.

Eh?! He's awake? At this timing? Still holding onto the string, I felt my blood gushed up to my face and turned red. Someone let me die. I prayed. I was very certain no one couldn't withstand this kind of embarrassment. If I had to bear such discomfort, I would rather die. Curiosity kills the cat, alright…

To make sure I didn't anger or annoy him, I glanced at him and found out he wasn't there anymore. Huh? W-where— sudden scream rang loud. It came from next room. I walked stealthily to peek outside.

"R-run! It's Shinsengumi!"

Ah, they got away. Wait, where's mister Yamaguchi? D-don't tell me…he got away too? B-but…what about his loincloth?! With mouth agape I stared at empty hallway still with the string of loincloth in my hand. What am I supposed to do? How in the hell will I face Saito Hajime the next time he visits?!

That night, I decided to wash his loincloth and kept it until he came again. No, I had no idea how to return it. I supposed I should wait until he spoke of it.

[1] Chosu Clan one of the clans which supported the return of sovereignty to the Emperor(Tosa Clan, Satsuma Clan, etc). They were anti-shogunate.

[2] Shinsengumi was a military organization formed under the sponsor of Aizu Clan to protect the town of Kyoto. Most of them consist of men of low caste (farmers, merchants, etc). Contrast to the Anti-Shogunate, Shinsengumi was pro-shogunate.

[3] Alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.