Athor: Nami-chan.

Pairing :main DateSana also some MitsuYuki, IeMitsu and maybe KojuSasu

Edited and corected by : cftcft9090

Sengoku Basara is not mine !

Oiran

Prologue

Sitting as usual on the steps in the courtyard of the palace, like every day, the child was waiting. Neither the cold breeze rushing through his beautiful but undone clothes, nor the man who now stood before him, a scowl on his face, couldn't move him from his position.

The child was not a mere peasant if one were to judge by the good quality of the simple red kimono he was wearing. Of course he was wearing it wrongly and his obi belt was poorly tied, but it was often the case when children were disorderly, it was normal for his age considering he shouldn't be older then ten or twelve years old. He had a rather beautiful face, slightly round with big hazel and very expressive eyes, although now they weren't expressing anything but disregard. His long hair was a bit dirty, but the ponytail resting on his small shoulder seemed silky and free of knots. The locks on his head, on the other hand, were cut shorter and seemingly untamable.

After a few minutes of what might be termed as a glancing contest, the man finally asked the question that had tugged him since he had seen this little figure situated on the steps.

"What are you doing here kid? Don't you know that it is dangerous to hang out in a deserted place; there might be robbers or thieves." he said, forgetting to mention that it was the same idea that he had when he decided to visit the remains of the palace.

But the gruff air around the man – his square jaw featuring a two-day-old beard, his mid-long hair, thick and unruly, had been loosely tied at the man's nape, his second-hand kimono was tattered and even had some holes – couldn't actually hide his true intentions. This man, the little boy thought, either had come to ask for work, because he still had an old sword hanging from his belt, or was a thief. Yet he had that air of profound kindness rooted in his brown eyes, an air that prevented the boy from being afraid of him.

The child did not move nor change expression when he deigned to speak in front of the stranger who came to disrupt his patient waiting.

"And what about you? What is your reason for coming here? If you came to steal something, you should know that the servants took everything that was of value with them when they left. If you came looking for work, Father can't see you because he and my brother are not yet back from the battlefield." In front of the accusing voice, the man flinched and let out a sort of grunt, displeased to have been caught red-handed by a child, and also that there was nothing of value left. Before he could add anything to his defense, the boy replied, "They have gone to war alongside our lord Takeda Shingen." he clarified with a hint of pride in his voice.

Arching a skeptical eyebrow because he didn't really grasp the whole situation, the amateur thief leaned up to the boy, scratching his chin with soiled nails.

"Errh, I thought I was at the residence of the Sanada clan, I am wrong?" The man asked, taking several minutes of latency for the boy to tilt his head to the side to question the thief before he eventually noticed the six-coin necklace the boy wore around his neck. This necklace was the pride and symbol of the proud Sanada clan. "Oh, right, I didn't realized you were a member of the clan." the man couldn't help but give him a smile, feeling foolish for himself.

The boy seemed to brighten up. "I am Sanada Genjiro Yukimura, second son of Sanada Masayuki!" he introduced himself after rising to bow politely, raising his voice to be heard clearly.

This time the two bushy eyebrows of the man stood up. This kid was not just a member of the clan, he was the son and heir, the son of the clan head... but then what to think about the rumors of complete abandonment of this place that had led him to come to see if he couldn't pick up a few items left behind? Was he fooled? In no way an important child could be left behind, right? And yet everyone in town said that was what remained of the Sanada, having survived the last battle that had been directed by the lord Takeda Shingen of Kai. It was impossible that the whole town was fooling him...

He was abruptly brought out from his thoughts by an insistent taping sound on the stone steps. The boy was pouting now, arms crossed over his chest, he tapped his foot to return the wanderer attention to him. Seeing that the man just stared stupidly at him not understanding why he was angry, Yukimura was forced to tell him of his annoyance.

"I told you my name. Common courtesy would be that now you tell me yours."

Taken aback by this situation and absolutely not having expected to find such an obstacle on his trip, the man was a little skeptical about what to do. Well, nothing neglected to show that he indeed had a minimum education.

"Oh, you can call me Genkai..." he said, scratching his head. He was reluctant to leave without looking back, something in this story was wrong.

Yukimura settled back on the steps. "So Genkai-dono, are you a samurai or a thief?" he asked, pointing to the sword at the man belt with a nod of his chin, glad to finally have some kind of conversation.

Genkai didn't answer because his brain, which was slightly disturbed until then, heard the boy's question and had finally registered the first words that the boy had told him. "You're all alone here? They're all gone?"

Yukimura appeared to be slightly annoyed again. "You weren't listening? I said that my father and older brother are at war, the servants left after some time... Father will probably punish them for having forgotten me." he added, eyes shifting to his feet. "And you still haven't answered my question!" he ended, quickly finding a new smile.

Now that was a shame. What a story! This little boy had simply been left behind and no one seemed bothered by how he would end up; no one had even bothered to tell him that the last battle that occurred had been a real slaughter...

Genkai could understand that though, it's just that he didn't want to be the one to tell this adorable looking boy that his entire family was decimated serving a Lord that he may have never met before... But what could he do about it? He couldn't leave this kid alone here, right? He may be a thief, but he wasn't a murderer! And who knows, the one who would come after him may not be as nice or the boy could die of hunger before that someone passed by.

While he was pondering all this, Yukimura's belly began to growl in hunger in a terribly embarrassing way.

The little brown covered his belly, his cheeks burning while he tried to justify himself. Genkai stopped him, holding out his hand and speaking before thinking.

"You must be really hungry. Come on, let's get you something to eat." Poor boy, how long had it been since he was left on his own in this big and empty place?

Yukimura visibly hesitated, first advancing his hand to take Genkai's before he ended up holding it back protectively against his chest. "I can't... Father will return and—" No, he promised he would behave and so far he had waited the return of his family members without flinching, even when it was cold or when it rained.

"Look, it was him who sent me to seek you. We need to go to him, okay?" and that was all it took to make the boy move the fastest before nightfall.

Yukimura eyes lit up – so gullible – taking the adult hand. "Really? What are we waiting for then?" Finally, at last, Yukimura had just begun to believe that something had happened to his father. He was more than happy; he missed them all so much!

Well, yes, one thing at a time. For now, Genkai was thinking only of way to ensure that the child had a decent meal.

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

When he saw Yukimura swallow greedily yet try to keep some semblance of order – which fell to his rank – while he devoured all the yakitori he could pay for, Genkai noticed the fullness of his own stupidity. It was a fact that no one was looking for the boy; he feared being punished for kidnapping, but that was not the issue now. Seeing his almost empty purse after the buy only reminded him too well of the true issue. Genkai was poor.

He was one of those low-ranking samurai who had lost his master during the war and now roamed the roads in search of a new one. But who wants a samurai unable to prevent the death of his master? If there was someone, he was far from having found him. He needed money to live and his meager theft and scams were only enough to feed himself.

He could never keep a young nobleman, nor could provide a decent life for his own son.

"Genkai-dono, where is Father waiting for me? Is it far from here?" asked the boy.

It was the first time that Yukimura ate that kind of skewer. Starting a conversation might help him to know more about the man his father had designed to find him while also hiding the embarrassment he felt towards his own attitude that he himself thought was unseemly. Earlier, he had been convinced that the other was a thief and didn't care. Now that he had confirmation that this one was a swordsman, he had to remain dignified.

The thief winced; he had completely forgotten this detail. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he began to think as hard as possible. No way he could throw Yukimura to any lord because he had no real evidence that he was indeed the true Sanada heir. With his past as a rogue nobody would surely take his word. No way that he would simply abandon the boy again, he couldn't live with himself after and that—granted it wasn't very glorious already...

"You are very strange." Yukimura chuckled. "You always look lost in your thoughts. Father always said that is the characteristic of the poets." Yukimura had never understood anything about poetry.

The smile and the look that Yukimura was showed finished him. This kid... it was rare to see one this cute and well mannered, plus he most definitely had the charisma of a noble family; his mother had to be a real beauty. And it gave an idea Genkai. He knew the perfect place where such beauty was appreciated, and if his idea worked out, Yukimura wouldn't have to worry about having a roof over his head and be well fed as well as he wouldn't have to worry about money and would finally be able to nurse his own child.

A bitter smile appeared on Genkai face when his decision finalized in his mind. "A poet, you say? I am far from deserving the honor of such a title." He went to the abandoned palace in hope of earning a few coins in finding something to sell; he never could have anticipated that it would be a person... "Your father isn't very far away. He waits for you in the next town. We need to find a place to sleep for the night and we'll go tomorrow morning first thing." The more he thought about it, the more it seemed the only practical solution. He didn't deserve the smiles that the boy granted him.

That night he found no sleep because of a stupid yet economical idea that pushed him to spend the night in the abandoned Sanada palace. The place was gloomy and empty; he could have sworn that the ancestors of Yukimura who lived in this palace knew what he was going to do and came biting at his remaining self-esteem.

Oooooooooooooooooo

During the two-day trip that followed, Yukimura asked no further questions nor complained once, not even when he was hungry or when his feet were suffering from walking for too long. He preferred not to seek Genkai's attention, as he seemed more and more anxious as the hours of travel accumulated. The boy often wondered how he could help the man feel better when he didn't even know the cause of his anxiety.

Yukimura had several times tried to start a conversation, talking with pleasure about his big brother and the military exploits of his father. At first, Genkai smiled a little, seemingly appeased, and had sometimes answered to the boy's incessant chatter with an anecdote or story that had heard during his travels. This was finally something pleasant.

As for the man, every step hurt him, every word out of Yukimura mouth reminded him that he was a selfish and cold hearted, and every moment reminded him that it was his own mistake from the moment he had taken Yukimura out of the Sanada's. It was too late now; he couldn't go back. That why he finally shattered when Yukimura talked about his dreams for the future: his desire to become a war hero like his father, entering the service of a great lord, for he was already practicing hard.

He had yelled at him to keep him quiet and had almost hit Yukimura. The boy – more shocked than scared – didn't speak to him unless it was necessary after that, even in spite of the fact that Genkai apologized and had offered to carry the boy on his back for part of the trip.

Yukimura had refused and continued to say nothing, accelerating his formally creeping pace. If this barbarian didn't want his help, he wouldn't insist: Father had always told him to answer idiots with silence.

The walls of the fortifications of the city appeared on the horizon of the second afternoon walk. Yukimura didn't really notice when Genkai took his hand in order to not lose him, for he was amazed. It was the first time he saw a big city: so many people, so many different houses, so many smells of spices, food and sounds, so many things he didn't know existed until then. All of this was a completely new world. A world he had dreamed of discovering whole, a world that called to the very heart of his young soul!

Yukimura couldn't restrain an exclamation of admiration when he saw over all other roofs (thatched and tiled) the imposing tower of the castle owned by the local lord. How many clans, soldiers, men and women could stay in that castle? His own home seemed modest beside it. Genkai let him lag behind a few moments before gently pulling him by the arm, showing his first smile since their argument, albeit very faint.

"Come on, let's not waste time. We're almost there." he said. Don't let me give you hope longer echoed in his mind.

The liveliness invigorated Yukimura. He trotted willingly beside Genkai, keeping his small hand in his big one. Ignoring the looks passers threw at them, they headed straight to a big, long street that ended with a large wooden door, left open for now. Through it, he could see buildings painted in bright, flashy colors. A high wall separated the whole neighborhood from the rest of the city surrounding it. Was this where his father was waiting for him? Yukimura found the place very foreign.

Two men stood at the door, guards without a doubt. They both were dressed in the same faded blue kimono and were busy laughing and joking with a woman more beautiful than Yukimura had ever seen (he was sure she'd be no competition against his mother, as people tended to say she was beyond beautiful, but he had no real memory of her). She wore a large multi-layered kimono, its fabrics having patterns of dragons and ibis. Her lips had been painted a pure red and her face had so much makeup that Yukimura couldn't really distinguish the color of her eyes. Her black hair was tied in a large bun adorned with many sparkling jewels. She grabbed the arm of one of the men as they passed through the door.

"Ah, Genkai, it's been a long time since we've seen you here!" suddenly exclaimed one of the guard, pulling Yukimura out of his contemplation.

He glanced up at Genkai who didn't even stop to answer, merely letting out a "hmpf" without even a glance back. He tightened his hand on Yukimura to keep him walking— the boy knew the man was rude, but this... this was a new level.

The guard seemed to want to argue, but the woman whispered something in his ear which made him start to laugh and giggle. Yukimura soon forgot this and focused on his discovery of the rare street.

The gaudy colored walls had brands and names more exotic than the ones outside, the names preceded by the words 'teahouse'. Most had their curtains were closed and he wondered who would feel welcome in a home with bars in the large windows that overlooked the street. There sometimes were large red paper lanterns hanging from one side of the street to the other. It may have been a long time since he knew what day it was, but Yukimura was certain that there was no festival this time of year. This time he wasn't as amazed by the scene in front of him, his face displaying his lack of wonder. In fact, he didn't like this place at all and all the questionable-looking men that crossed by only reinforced his negative opinion.

Genkai stopped his hasty march in front of a teahouse that was more discreet than the rest, sandwiched between two larger ones. The purple cloth on the front fluttered slightly in the wind as Genkai stood there, hesitating to enter. He squeezed Yukimura hand in his. This time it was indeed the point of no return. He lifted the front and stepped inside with Yukimura behind him.

At first, he couldn't clearly see the lobby. All Yukimura could see was a wooden desk next to the door, a vase and an inkpot with a record resting on top. A record of what, Yukimura was too small to see. Genkai then pushed him inside; the lobby was huge with a staircase leading to the first floor. On the wall opposite there was a door probably leading to the receptions rooms, within it a few wooden benches and a basic décor. But what caught Yukimura's attention the most was at the back of the room: a Japanese garden with double door overlooking it provided the place with plenty of light, he could hear water flowing and birds singing.

"It will not be long."

Genkai made him sit on a bench and while Yukimura watched the garden, holding his urgent desire to go running in. Genkai went to the counter and pulled a string that rang a bell. Very soon after, an old man no taller than Yukimura came out from behind a door hidden by a curtain behind the counter. First, he frowned at the sight of Yukimura, but then smiled behind his white mustache after seeing Genkai.

"Genkai my friend, it's been a long time. What brings you here? How are your wife and son?"

Hearing this, Yukimura turned his attention back to the two individuals. He didn't know that Genkai was married! His astonishment showed in his eyes, waiting instructions from the adults. Genkai looked at Yukimura for some time as if he was struggling internally, so that the old man eventually followed his gaze and watched child too.

He needed a bath after two days of travel and a very keen eye was required to see what lie underneath. Yet the old man understood what truly brought Genkai into his establishment; he knew a good deal when he saw one and there was no way he would let this one go.

"What a cute and well-behaved child. Wanna talk about it in the back room?" he said to Genkai.

"I think so, too. Yukimura, stay here, alright?" Genkai said, going behind the counter.

The little one nodded. The old man commented in a voice damaged by years: "Yukimura…what an adorable name." before disappearing behind the counter as well.

Yukimura waited patiently, he had to gotten used to that after all. Who knew how long it might be until the two were to actually go and make his father known of his arrival. He lost himself in the peaceful water runoff, tired by the journey; he was about to fall asleep.

This was why he was startled so much that he almost jumped from his seat when the rustle of fabric Genkai made when came out of the back room awoke him. He hadn't expected the man to go straight toward the door, leaving without even sparing him a glance, a heavy looking bag in hand. It was only to shake hands with the old man that he turned.

"Thanks again, and see you soon. You'll see he'll make more than one blush when he grows up."

"Oh, I believe it. He might already please some even without training, I'm sure of it."

Genkai slightly scowled at that, but turned to leave nonetheless. Yukimura really didn't understand anything of their conversation.

"Genkai-dono! Father, when will he come?" Yukimura shouted, troubled by the situation.

Genkai froze and his shoulders stiffened. He could very well turn around and go without turning back, leaving the old man to deal with the rest, but now he knew he owed at least that to Yukimura. He should stop there with his lies and selfishness; the boy should know the truth. And then if he hated him for that... it was better for him.

With a heavy step, Genkai came back to crouch down at the child height. "Listen to me Yukimura. I lied, and your father will not – nor anyone else – will come and get you." Yukimura took a step back and Genkai grabbed his shoulder to make him look in his eyes "They all died and left you behind. Your servants were idiotic enough to do nothing about you. I found you an utility, you'll be safe here."

"You're lying!" Yukimura suddenly shouted trying to escape from the man grasp.

Genkai shook him slightly to return his attention to him. "For the first time since I found you, I say the truth, you must see that." He pointed to the bag in his hand, making a metallic noise when he shook it. "You may not be aware where we are, but you must understand that I sold you. You'll do whatever the old man says now. You belong to him." he straightened up and released the little boy who was too stunned to respond. "If you don't, the punishment could be worse …"

Yukimura shook his head. That wasn't true, it couldn't be happening. After all the road they had traveled together, sharing meals, camps, a few laughs, he had trusted him ... how could this man have lied to him for so long?

"You... you..." shaking with sobs he didn't even have the strength to shed real tears. And when Genkai was preparing once again to cross the door. "I hate you, you're a monster! I'll kill you! I hate you! I hate you! How could you do this..." he ran after him as best he could, hammering over the man back with his small fists still repeating. "I hate you...!"

"As you please. Maybe with that attitude, you'll be out of here faster. Come and kill me. Don't despair. Who knows, maybe someone will get out of here before that... maybe even I'll come back for you." His only consolation was that he now could afford to save his own boy from disease, and he will give him everything he could never offer to Yukimura ... and he promised himself he would do anything for his last words to not be lies too.

And when Genkai disappeared, Yukimura fell to his knees. He was exhausted and wept openly. He didn't cry when his relatives had gone to war, he didn't cry when the last servant left without a word ...

The old man put his hands on each of his shoulders. "Come, come, samurai do not cry. You will scare the customers away." Yukimura turned to him, glare full of murder and hate toward the old man who met him viciously with his almost blind left eye: the man who bought innocent children. "We will make you the most requested and famous Oiran that this city has ever known, you'll see."

Oooooooooooooooo

At night, the area completely changed face and the bright lights prevented him to distinguish the starlight, the laughters, the women of little virtue and drunk and noisy men he watched from his window; he had been there long accustomed to them. He too had become part of the night world.

As long as he could, through the window of his room, see that crescent moon smiling at him, as long as his dreams of freedom weren't extinguished, as long he wasn't extinguished, Yukimura kept hope. One day he'll behold this star away from this walls. One day he'll restore the glory of the name of Sanada clan.

The door of his room slid open, he didn't turned to greet the newcomer, knowing full well what was coming next.

"Yuki, your customer is waiting." said the accustomed voice of Yukimura's follower.

Then with a sigh, the handsome young man that Yukimura had became rose after a final goodbye to his friend, the moon. He opened the edges of his scarlet kimono, revealing his finely muscled torso. Every evening was like the precedent since he had been sold.

"Let's not keep him waiting."

TBC

So...I'm dead tired but happy. What about this story, do you like it ?