Disclaimer: I obviously own nothing

A/N: This was supposed to be part of the drabbles, but then I soon realized that this story might span to several chapters. Of course I kinda gave up on writing Clouds Breaking due to some writer's block, and this one actually has some similar elements except Shinpachi is the courtesan this time that is almost like the clouds, except its crepuscular rays this time. And the plot revolves a lot more around Housen in relation to Shinpachi.

It will contain Kamushin. And characters may be OOC.

AU: Ken Shimura made a debt with a different type of Amanto who will do what needs to be done to get its money back. Thus Shinpachi is sold to Yoshiwara in order for the dojo debts to be paid.

._._._.

Chapter 1

Shinpachi at the tender age of eight looked up at Hinowa whose eyes remained determined and lively despite the injustice that surrounded her.

"Oi!" One of the lead courtesans called out to him. He looked away to follow her to one of the many hotels that filled the city of pleasure. From there he was in charge of cleaning the aftermath of what happened. After cleaning the many rooms, he was to make deliveries to many courtesans who needed their hair care and such to remain ready for their customers. He was then allowed a short lunch before heading to the bathhouse where he cleaned the place with the other few workers. After that, he was to pick up litter and sweep the roads. He was then allowed to go back to his station where he had dinner with the other workers before bathing and then sleeping.

Everyday was filled with work that tired many, but Shinpachi endured without complaint. He didn't mind such dirty work since it kept his miseries at bay. He did not want to think about how his father had allowed debts to grow for the sake of a dojo that had no place in a non-samurai world. Ken Shimura made the mistake of taking a loan from an amanto who wasn't going to allow him to delay his payments any further. The only way his father could be cured of all debts was if he sold his children. Ken pleaded for them not to, and the amanto did reconsider so it could sadistically force the father to choose one of them to be sold.

And thus, Shinpachi was chosen. The amanto had sold him here, and after a week of showing his worth to such a place, he was sold at a high enough price to pay off the debt. Shinpachi only hoped that his sister was well, and that his father was not incapable of protecting her from being sold off somewhere else so the amanto could profit off of her, too. Those sort of thoughts kept him up at night, which left him working harder in order to pass out the moment he lied on the floor.

After three months of showing his dedication to his work, he was promoted to work within the kitchens to learn how to cook. Shinpachi already had experience from learning from his mother before she ran away over a year ago. His mother was smart to know staying with his father would only end in tragedy, and that she was not capable of surviving with her children. Shinpachi wished he had the wisdom to run away, but instead had taken over cooking and taking care of the chores for his family while they were more concerned about the run of the dojo.

Shinpachi resentfully remembered how his father complained about his home skills when Otae as the female should've been taught them. And Shinpachi in turn would snap that if he had paid proper attention to his family, this switch of roles wouldn't have happened. Otae would then punch him for his rudeness, and his father would just let go of the argument since he was tired and stressed. The boy sighed at such tiresome memories. Only a few ever were happy and many vividly involved Hajime-nii, but he's...

He shook away the emotions and focused on making a delicious meal. His mentor watched over him with strict eyes that did make him a bit nervous, but he took deep breaths to remain focus. When the mentor would criticize him, he simply nodded his head, and corrected his actions. This wasn't a place for tears. He already cried silently enough on his pillow. He worked at the kitchens for two months and his skills were well advanced with all the different mentors he had. He in fact had fun taking up the challenges he faced to please them, and felt deep satisfaction by their praises and rewards.

After proving to be adept in the kitchen, he was given a rotary schedule from cleaning to cooking and then taking lessons to be groomed into a male prostitute. Very few males were ever sold to Yoshiwara to become part of the prostitution chain, but there were buyers who dabbled into the curiosity. Since those types of buys came rarely, the male prostitutes were mostly put into manual work.

Shinpachi had his lead courtesan changed into one of the veteran male courtesans who he was to live with now.

The veteran greeted himself with a smooth tenor voice that complimented his beauty of long silky black hair tied up in a half updo bun, round expressive obsidian eyes, wide and thin yet luscious pink lips on pale white skin, and thin yet sensual body. "Hello, Shinpachi. My name is Nobuyuki. From this day forward, I will be your instructor."

The two were sitting at one of the rooms where Shinpachi was welcomed with tea, "It's nice to meet you, Nobuyuki-san." He gave him a smile, "I look forward to learning under you." The boy didn't flinched from having his chin grabbed and his face inspected. As it was turned side to side, Shinpachi could see in the man's eyes that they were dead just like everyone's else.

Even as the man smiled, his eyes were merely filled with resignation and pity. "You will definitely grow into a pretty boy, though you won't necessarily stand out among your peers. We'll have to see what talents you can do besides house chores in order to entertain your guests."

"Is it different from how the women entertain them?" The boy inquired as his face was let go.

"Not at all. While the ways of the women are seen natural and feminine, we will be seen as odd and boyish."

"I can see that. I can't imagine seeing a man dance the way the women do to be appealing."

That blunt innocent statement made the man laugh. "True unless we give off the illusion that we are women. There is so much to teach you before you are ready to take on the task at thirteen."

Shinpachi saw that age as faraway as the next country, yet could feel himself leaping through the sky without control to such an age. He knew what was to come, not in great detail, but he knew he was going to step a line not many men cross.

"Are you frightened?" Nobuyuki inquired.

"Uhm..." Shinpachi was at first frightened and confused when he was told what he was to become, but having lived in Yoshiwara for almost half a year, he still felt a faint sense of fear but mostly his own sense of resignation like the others. "Not really. I only have to do it rarely, and it'll hurt and be scary, but its only for a night. And then I can just go back to cleaning."

"Do you really like cleaning?"

"It's relaxing. I can't help but worry about what else stupid things my father is doing that might hurt my sister. Then again my sister stupidly follows his words, not thinking about how it only hurts the people around you. Choosing to sacrifice everything, even the people you're supposed to protect for the sake of your stupid pride."

The courtesan smirked slightly by that comment, taking a sip of his tea to lower his lips. "Hostility towards parents are nothing new here in Yoshiwara. My parents sold me in order to settle their own debts. We're all flowers here in Yoshiwara who are groomed until we are used up and left to be eaten by the earth." Shinpachi hated to be reminded that if he did not do his job well after the age of thirteen, his only punishment was death. He blocked out that thought to remain present in this tense meeting. Nobuyuki seemed to be aware, and pushed for the tensity to continue. "Usually I would tell the boys I meet that the sooner they accept their fate, the sooner they can adapt to this new lifestyle underground otherwise they were to face Lord Housen's wrath, but it looks like you're a smart one."

Shinpachi didn't take that as a compliment, yet it gave him an opportunity to speak his thoughts, "There's a saying that sons take after their father's negative attributes, but that saying is completely false. I don't plan to ever be a fool who'll fight a useless fight, but that doesn't mean I won't fight. This place can go ahead and try to tear me apart, but I won't falter." Shinpachi pictured Hinowa in his mind. The strength and kindness in her eyes was the type of person Shinpachi wanted to be. He looked forward with a fire in his eyes as his rage for his father, his pride for his humanity, and his inspiration from Hinowa filled him with a sense of survival.

Nobuyuki was surprised to see such light from the little boy's eyes, and thought it was a pity such innocent strength would be crushed. However, he did make one interesting notice.

After their first meeting, Nobuyuki gave him a summary of how he was to learn and what he was to do as he aged. The first lessons were dancing, music, and speech. He was to speak with eloquence and diction, so his customers would be enchanted. If his customers wanted him to dance like a woman, he was to dance with the grace and sensuality of one. As for singing, his tone-deaf disability was a monstrosity that irked the ears of his mentors. Shinpachi was put under strenuous lessons to singing sweetly with an air of false innocence.

Shinpachi worked diligently to become the beautiful courtesan that they wanted him to mature into. When he would mess up, he would apologize fervently. If he succeeded, he would take the compliments with humility. And when the lessons intensified, he took the pain head on.

THWACK!

Shinpachi felt the harsh blow of the bamboo stick by Nobuyuki. It was a familiar feeling that his body learned to numbed the pain signals to his brain a bit. Another hit clashed somewhere new but even if the pain blasted inside his brain like cannon balls hitting a defenseless ship, he boarded up the water and the screams that dared to try to leave his body. He knew that these beatings could be harsher, but Nobuyuki couldn't leave a scar on him. And Shinpachi knew he shouldn't feel weak with every blow. If anything, his body was fortifying, becoming stronger, and he found comfort in that.

These blows to his body was another part of the veteran's lessons. Shinpachi was to mentally prepare for the harsh cruelty of customers that may hurt him at any moment. Of course, Shinpachi was to be saved since even if Yoshiwara was a place of dirty business, Housen did not condone the sexual satisfaction of beating the courtesans. Plus any man who dared to buy or assault Shinpachi at his current age was executed since those below the age of thirteen were safe from such predators. Shinpachi felt a relief in those rules, and in a way thought a bit better of Housen who may have created a cage, but kept that cage well maintained at least.

SNAP!

The stick snapped and its sharp edges cut him. The beatings stopped and Shinpachi was given aid and compliments for his endurance. Shinpachi didn't say anything, knowing but ignoring fully well that Nobuyuki seemed to enjoy hurting him. He didn't want to feel trapped under the tutelage of a monster, so instead looking up at Hinowa who must've endured even more after what he heard had happened months prior to him being sold in Yoshiwara.

Such thoughts made him think about what date it should be in the upper world, and what season should be taking place. If he were to lose track of that, he would simply listen to the mouths that spoke of the holidays that were still celebrated, and Shinpachi felt his heart falter a little when Christmas was spoken on men's lips as they walked away with their 'gifts'. He came to the realization that losing count of the days had left him clueless that he was nine-years-old now, but such a thing was pointless. He was to be labeled nine on the New Years.

Shinpachi simply took a deep breath and moved on just as Hinowa did in her situation. She was still brilliant, so so would he. He walked with a straight back and eyes forward, burning with determination, yet the fire simmered down into kindness when a courtesan accidentally fell down.

Nobuyuki watched him from a balcony with his obsidian eyes piercing him. Shinpachi felt that pierce and looked for the source of it, but Nobuyuki removed himself to return to his guest who blew his smoke in circles before speaking with a raspy voice, "You look at that boy like a black sun, Kumori. You haven't even given him a new name for his new life yet."

"There's no need to name a wilting child."

"Wilting? If anything, that boy is flourishing. Unless you mean..." The man grinned beneath his conical hat.

The courtesan glared at him hotly with a thin lined frown. "With the likes of Jiraia running the Hyakka here, and Housen remaining cozy in his palace, it seemed impossible to kill the bastard. But that child who holds the resemblance of Hinowa in not beauty but spirit is the key to getting close to him and succeeding our mission."

"You mean he's a sun?"

"No. Unlike Hinowa who shines above everyone, that boy only gives a glimmer of that light. He does have the strength and kindness, but it's partly trained and still weak compared to Hinowa's natural nature. No. That boy is a cloud that hides the sun and forms a storm that lays waste to the unnecessary. Housen without a doubt will be interested in that rare glimmer, and that stupid boy will lead him to his demise."

The man chuckled, throwing a small sack on the table that slightly opened to reveal a gray dust. "Just like ya wanted. A yato's weakness other than the sun: dusts from the planet that has multiple suns. When a yato fights on a planet like that, they have to wear their own gas mask since ingesting such a thing can poison them. These are soaked to the core like a plant with too much chlorophyll so sucks the sun dry. Our lab rats were able to find a way to add it into the food to not make it noticeable."

"Good." Nobuyuki swallowed the bag. His obsidian eyes turning gold, and the bottom corner of his throat revealing a black sun tattoo. "Our clan will receive vengeance after what Housen had obliterated our own division to create his own to become part of the harusame. A few of us were fortunate to escape, and follow him here, gaining followers for our cause. So many of them had failed to execute the man, but this boy, with his eyes blinded, will kill this man."

._._._.

Shinpachi felt nervous entering the palace with one of the guards. Having completed a year of working in Yoshiwara, he was expected to move into the palace to be further trained in the art of prostitution. Though this time he was to be somewhat familiar with Lord Housen through his harem and by these biannual testings. Shinpachi was also told that the most beautiful and talented of the female children were selected to become part of his harem at the appropriate age of twenty after having served other men before him. And if the female were to show skill or passion for battle, she was to become a personal guard in the Hyakka which doubled as his harem. Since he wasn't female, he had no reason to worry over being selected in his harem, but he still had to try his best to impress the King.

The boy tried to calm his heart. He dearly hoped that him becoming part of the harem wouldn't happen. He was sure Housen knew he was male, but that fact also made him nervous since Housen might test his masculinity to see if he had been broken, and then whether Shinpachi disproved this notion or not, he was to be mocked either way.

He told himself that it was best to get used to something cruel like that to happen to him. This whole year had been rough on him due to harsh working environment where he was not only abused by his mentors, but also given the pitying and judging gossip of the courtesans who envied his leniency from prostitute work, and that came with the mockery of the female children since they saw him as a freak for sleeping with men. He felt his soul become weary and faltering, but he remained vigilante.

He held his breath when he was lead to a line of other children who had been sold around the same time as Shinpachi and completed their one year. Shinpachi had seen almost a hundred children sold around the same time as him, but then a little over half had remained. Those who did not may have died by the lack of natural sunlight, or sold away due to being deemed unfit.

The children then entered the room to be lined up before Housen and his harem who surrounded the place as either warriors or courtesans. Shinpachi stared at the old yet fearsome old man with bushy brows and receding grey hairline. Housen's eyes stared back at the children just as many of the mentors had looked at them. As Nobuyuki had told him, they were merely flowers in this world. So in that case, Shinpachi stood ideally as one that grew sublimely in the dark.

Housen noticed Shinpachi's presence, and remembered that a boy was among them. A boy who had been said to not look anything special but had surprisingly accepted his role as a male prostitute for men with ease. He had been working exceptionally hard with refinement and politeness in both his manual labor and lessons. However, the most interesting part of him was his eyes. He remembered Nobuyuki telling him that he had the eyes of a quiet storm.

The old Lord smirked at the sight of him. He wanted to see that quiet storm. He made no greeting or announcements. Merely ordered for his prostitutes to get ready so the children may display the quality of their training. Each child was to step forward and greet Housen with utmost politeness with a bow and a smile. They would then either dance or sing or display any form of entertainment. If they proved to be decent, Housen would nod meaning that they've been accepted to the palace. If not, they were to be returned back to the city for further training for another year. If they were to fail a second time, then they were to be resold to the black market.

Many of the girls had shown to be able to get the technical down, but still appeared confused or dispirited by the event.

Shinpachi went last, and before bowing down, he gave Housen a kind smile. The yato was taken aback for a second when he thought he saw Hinowa's spirit. The boy bowed down, greeting him with a sweet voice that he had practiced until it sounded natural. Nobuyuki happily began the music for the boy to dance. Shinpachi danced with effort glimmering in his eyes and his movements proving to be deft and agile. At the end of his performance, he received an applause. He bowed with a thank you to everyone, but he looked to Housen with a modest smile that spoke with deep appreciation for the Master.

All the women became surprised to see such a strange child. Housen was speechless, yet he soon came to his senses when he took a good look at the boy. Unlike Hinowa who held the nature of beauty, kindness, and strength like the sun at this boy's age, this boy only held a quarter of that. Better yet, this boy was not a sun. If anything he was simply crepuscular rays, clouds who only allowed a glimmer of the sun behind them.

Housen felt his interest rise despite this disappointment since such a child hadn't been before him in the past. He gave a nod, and Shinpachi gave a bow before being escorted to where the other accepted girls were. They were taken to their room, although Shinpachi was given a different smaller room since he was male after all. Housen then had everyone leave except for Nobuyuki.

"Nobuyuki, have you given the boy a name yet?"

The veteran replied with light pride contrasted with his dark eyes, "Not yet. I still haven't thought of a name that would fit that strange child. I told you that his eyes were like a quiet storm, yet at times a light would peek through them. If he were to be female, he would've made a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko so a flowery name would've been perfect."

"A flower, eh? And yet unlike the other flowers who strain for sunlight, he seems to still retain some from the outside. Have you been going easy on him?"

"Not at all. He is berated and disciplined like all the other children. I may even say worse since he is male so his life depended more on his manual skills instead of his buyers. I along with the other male courtesans here remember growing up being resented and humiliated for being bought here. The boy is even aware of the violent type of customers he will have in the future. I had him whipped and beaten without scarring to get a taste of it almost every night, and he seemed to break a little but then shrugged it off after a good cry alone." Nobuyuki tried to hide the satisfaction in his voice.

Housen smirked at how tough the boy seemed to really be after all. "I have watched many parents sell their own daughters before their own sons unless they were desperate like your parents were, Nobuyuki. Yet this boy was chosen to be sold over his own sister. I thought he was worthless, but to come to me, the man who bought him, with no resistance nor rage within him, he is definitely a strange boy..."

._._._.

Shinpachi looked out of the balcony, knowing where Hinowa was sitting once again to show her brilliance. He sat down as she would, and stared out to the city with a deep intake of breath.

"Slacking off the job I see."

The boy jumped, nearly wetting himself at the sound of Lord Housen's voice. He turned around to see the man himself standing at the entrance. He quickly bowed, "I'M SORRY! I WAS DONE WITH CHORES, SO THE COURTESANS TOLD ME TO DO AS I LIKE WITHIN THE AREA! I DIDN'T MEAN TO SLACK OFF! I'M SORRY!"

House couldn't help the quirk of his lips at the youthful energy, "Quite a hearty voice you have there. I heard that you took quite the beating nightly and yet you woke up the next day, working with a limp or a broken arm."

Shinpachi rose his head, hearing that quiet question. "It's expected of me to face such beatings if I were to meet those type of costumers. I did feel hatred and rage because it hurt so much, but after a good cry, I just moved on. If I lose to myself, then it's over for me."

"Over for you?" Housen approached the boy closer.

Shinpachi nodded with all seriousness of a nine-year-old child. "Please excuse my boldness, but this place that is a hell for women but a pleasure to men has become a battleground for me as a forsaken son. I fight out of spite for the father who had allowed his pride to overlook the suffering of his family. The man who allowed his weaknesses to let those who wanted to harm us do as they wished! To have such a man look over my sister, I am filled with dread everyday! But looking at her," Shinpachi got up and turned to the balcony to grab hold of the rails. "Lady Hinowa's brilliance helps me remain strong! I know I am weak. I know I cannot escape from this cage, but I will not allow it to determine what I see through its bars or keep me as I am! I will fight myself so I won't lose to anyone! My father most of all! And if by any chance my sister can hear about me by some sort of miracle, she will know I am standing on my two feet."

Housen was intrigued by such hostile yet benevolent motivations by such a child. It made him think of Kamui who sought strength externally, yet this child sought strength internally. The man also realized that this child was no Hinowa nor will he ever be. Clouds were to forever remain before the sun, only allowing a glimmer to shine through before a storm was to erupt.

"Hakumeikousen." The word slipped out of the man's mouth. Shinpachi turned to him in confusion. Housen took another look at the child, and thought it sounded right and with not much new happening to entertain him, he declared, "Since it looks like Nobuyuki can't make a name for you, I will give you two. To the public, your name with be Haku Mei."

Shinpachi sweat dropped a bit by that. Though it could be translated into twilight, it could also mean evil fate by a slight intonation difference.

"But behind closed doors with me to pour my sake, I will refer to you as Kousen. No longer will you be called by your former name, so it's best to forget your father, your sister and your old life. No one will come looking for you here where male children are rarely ever kept." The man turned to leave, yet the boy spoke, "It doesn't hurt to keep hope. It doesn't hurt to play a fool when your heart is in the right place, and for all those miracles I hope for, I want to be ready."

Housen stopped and then in a flash, blood splattered on Shinpachi. The boy went blank for a second before he felt his heart race and his breathing heavy. He looked down to the source of the blood to see a dead courtesan on the ground. He screamed. When his shock began to wane, he looked up at the man who glared darkly at him.

"Having such hopes is useless in my domain. Your old life died when you were sold here, and thus you were reborn into my tool. Everything you once were will be forgotten, or perhaps I should have my people destroy it all to make sure of that."

"You didn't have to kill her to make that point!" Shinpachi couldn't help crying out. "Beat the hope out of me if you wish, but don't involve others in this!" Shinpachi looked down at the sliced woman. He had already seen both men and women skewered, sliced and assaulted before him on the streets. It didn't bother him to kneel down to help straighten the woman and close her eyes in peace. As he did, he noticed something but kept his mouth shut about it. He then looked up at Housen in defiance, "You think that doing something like this or making such threats will throw away my hope? I've been living here for a year haven't I. Death is practically the only freedom here so all you did for this poor woman was an act of kindness."

"Then should I extend you and your family the same courtesy?"

Shinpachi's eyes softened to fear and resignation. He faced Housen properly on his knees to give a low bow. "I am sorry. I spoke out of turn. I promise to never speak of foolish hopes or miracles before you again. Please spare my family's life."

"And yours?"

"I belong to you. I don't have a say in that."

"...Then stand."

Shinpachi got on his feet.

And then jumped over the rails of the balcony and onto the rooftop. He ran towards the string of the lanterns, but Housen landed before him. Shinpachi slipped between the man's legs only for his ankle to be taken. He was held up to the king, but he continued to struggle. He kept wiggling his leg as he punched the man's face. He was immediately thrown through the roof and into a storage of futons. The boy was still conscious yet felt a burning aching sensation prominently on his back that spread throughout his body. His head was spared from the impact, yet he was still left in shock.

Housen's voice broke through his panic. "It looks like fate favors your life tonight." Shinpachi concentrated his sight on the amanto smiling menacingly above him "It looks like Nobuyuki didn't teach you thoroughly enough to fear me."

Shinpachi felt a sense of fear for his teacher, so he quickly as he could with his strained lungs told the man with all honesty, "It isn't his fault or anyone's fault. I was thoroughly taught to fear you above everything. And I didn't lie. The fate of my life belongs to you. You can choose whether I live or die, when to test my spirit till it breaks, or break my body so I may become dependent. But when you do choose, I will struggle." Shinpachi sadly smiled teasingly, "Because where's the fun in just staying still."

Housen stared at this strange child again. Despite the cruelty he had shown, the boy was not shaken. He had adapted well to Yoshiwara, accepting its cruelty, its deaths and Housen himself with his humanity still intact.

"And I will forget my old life." Shinpachi surprisingly said. "I knew I should, but it's difficult to remove this apprehension I feel, so I use hope like a fool in order to cover it up. I apologize for acting out of bounds with you. It was unprofessional and I promise to do better."

The Lord felt unsatisfied by such submissive attitude from the child, yet he did note that it didn't sound like he was completely surrendering himself. Merely placating the situation in his favor. He admitted to the boy, "You are strange. You hold hostile feelings towards your father yet apprehension and love for your sister who is like your father. You hold resignation yet determination towards Yoshiwara, and kindness yet attitude towards me."

Shinpachi bluntly answered like the child he was, "It's like I said. If I lose to this, I lose to myself, and then it's over for me because what can a person who lost their way be able to protect? Before coming here, an older brother I loved the most in the world died. My mother who I respected and learned from abandoned me. My father who I can still find it in me to love threw me away like trash. The death of my older brother I loved was an accident, but I felt for the first time a weakness I despised, and I saw it in my parents who were supposed to protect their children. As for my sister, she may be becoming her father, but she isn't our father. She is my sister who I can stand equal to if I become stronger. Strong enough to protect her and everyone else I may come to cherish."

Housen chuckled, "So a little brother who despite getting the shorter end of the stick still loves those who abandoned him, threw him away. A prostitute-in-training who despite being hated in this town of mine, still reaches his hand out to those in need and protects them. A weak useless trash who despite knowing I could kill him, fights even if he will only remain trash in the end." Shinpachi fainted from exhaustion. Housen amusingly added, "You will never become someone as beautiful and strong as Hinowa, the sun that I thirst to crush in my fists. But it'd be a shame if you die here. I will leave you and your family to live, and see what will come of you, Kousen."

._._._.

A/N: Gawd, it's difficult to write younger Shinpachi and old bastard pervert Housen. Like I imagine that Shinpachi would survive the harsh lifestyles of Yoshiwara with the inspiring help of Hinowa just as Shinpachi did with Otsuu-chan. And I have this crack idea of making Housen like an important parental figure for Shinpachi, and Shinpachi's is treated with more freedom yet less mercy with Housen due to being male. It's a really CRACKED up idea, but I really wanted to write it between other drabble chapters!