- = To Be =-

Part Four

Chisuzu sighed, fanning herself. Her cheeks were red for several reasons, not only because the temperature that day had risen. It had been several weeks since her encounter with the strange young man, yet already she was wishing he would return.

"Okay, that is the millionth sigh I've heard today," Ryo said, fanning himself as well. His yukata was hitched up with his legs apart. "If you're not going to tell me why, I'm going to steal your pills."

She turned sharply to glare at him. "Ew, no," she said. "I don't want to be knocked up by some gross pervert."

His eyes narrowed. "You know what, I'll bet it was that stranger," he said. Many people who came to the brothel weren't one-time customers. "That tall, hot, fuckin' sexy man with the dark hair. Dark silent eyes. Yup, him."

Her response was to stare at him.

"Hey, if I had him as a customer, you sure as hell know I wouldn't be holding anything back," he said, hands held up defensively. "So, was he as great in bed as he looks?"

Letting out another sigh—this time in frustration—she said, "I wouldn't know, but could you please not talk about it in such a vulgar fashion?"

His jaw dropped. "How do you not know?" he asked, squinting his eyes in confusion. "You were the one with him. Or did he ditch you for a serving girl?"

She smacked his arm. "He is not a pedophile! And…we didn't do anything. Apparently he didn't come to have sex," she said, mumbling the last part.

This time his mouth remained open long enough for him to start to drool. "He just wanted a sleeping companion?" he asked, wiping his mouth. He looked bewildered.

She shrugged. "I guess," she said. "He wasn't much of a talker."

He frowned. "Well…that's cool," he said. "Kinda weird, but whatever floats his boat. Heh. I'd like to float his boat if you know what I—"

He was interrupted by a punch to the face.


The room was dimly lit, but the large outline from Madame was still recognizable. Smoke from incense wafted around, mingling with that from her cigarette. She always had the room like this, even though they all knew—and despised—her face.

"Chisuzu," she said, her voice hoarse and thick. "I need you to do me a favor."

"Yes, Madame," she said, her head bowed in respect.

"You and Ryoichi will go collect a few things for me," she said. There was no surprise there; she did that often enough. Not with Ryo, specifically, but plenty of times with other people. "While you are doing so, you will stop by a few places and suggest some things. Advertise. Sales have gone up simply from you walking around, yes, but it could be much more popular."

"Yes, Madame," she said.

"Ryoichi has a double today, starting at four, and you have a one hour plus a full night, so you had better come back on time," the woman said and lifted up a paper. It was the list on where to go.

"Yes, Madame," she said, rising from her position on the ground. She took the list and walked out of the room.


Being paired with Ryo created an even bigger stir among the crowd. He had an extremely good face and his hair color was of a rare shade. Together, they shared an umbrella, their outfits complimenting the other's. It was obvious as to why Madame had wanted them to go out together. While their looks were contrasting to each other's—her dark ones alongside his brighter ones—they looked very compatible.

"So, first things first," he said, looking at the list. "Ugh, more pills." There was a reason why he didn't go out very often on shopping expeditions: he never kept up the appearance of somebody important or aloof.

"The pharmacy," Chisuzu said, staring in front of her.

He grinned, twirling his fan. It was shut, but it would occasionally open slightly when he tossed it in the air. "I'm glad to be out of that place," he said. "Too stuffy. It smells too much like perfume and sex that—"

"Ryo," she said loud, but dangerously.

He paused before recognition spread across his face. "Chisuzu!" he exclaimed dramatically, pulling her closer and catching her by surprise. Many people turned to look. "Why don't we run away together, just you and I?" he asked, giving her—what would look like—a deeply loving stare. It was obvious in his eyes that he was just saying whatever came to mind. "We could find work, rent a cheap apartment, get married, anything to make you happy!"

Her eyes narrowed.

"I swear, I would be the best family you ever had!" he exclaimed, his voice too sugar-coated to be real, but they were starting to gather a crowd. "And I'll make you the happiest woman in the world! Marry me and we'll have, uh, many beautiful children! We'll make it, don't you worry!"

She could feel her eye wanting to twitch, but her face was frozen in disbelief.

An elderly man with a toothy smile clapped. "You tell 'er!" he said.

"Yeah!" someone else exclaimed.

Soon, they were calling for a kiss. Something the two of them had done plenty of times, just not with each other. There was hardly a reason to: his sexuality was reason enough not to.

His honey-colored eyes looked up at the crowd, the corners creased in silent laughter. They then turned to hers. Nobody but her saw the way he wagged his eyebrows, signaling that it was all in good humor.

She could have slapped him, but that was something one didn't do in public, especially with this much attention.

And so he leaned in to kiss her without any resistance.

He smelled like jasmine and rosemary, with a small hint of something else. Her first thought was of the trees, but she hadn't smelled those in ages, so she couldn't be sure.

It was close-mouthed, obviously, to go along with his sugar-sweet act, but he actually cupped her face, making it deeper than she thought it would be, and making it feel like she was kissing back.

They got several cat-calls and whistles.

He pulled away dramatically. "Anyway, my dear, we must be off!" he exclaimed, pulling her with him. "So much to do and so little time to do it in!" He gave her a suggestive look, which got him a few snickers.

He was dead. He was so dead.

As soon as they were around the corner, Ryo burst out laughing.

"If we don't finish this shopping soon, I am marching straight back and demanding Momoko accompanies me," she growled, pulling him towards her. She quickly searched the folds of his hakama for the list, eventually finding it tucked in his obi.

"No need to be hasty, my dear," he said, still laughing.

She started walking towards the pharmacy. "Never again will I go out shopping with you," she said. "Never again."

He pouted playfully. "Aw, but you're the only one Madame likes to put me with," he said. "I've gone out with several other people, but apparently that was no good."

Chisuzu sighed. "That's because of how you act," she said, but didn't stop walking. "You talk in crude terms and openly joke about ridiculous things. When in public, there are things you should and should not do."

He stared at her for a good long while, his hands behind his head. "Where were you before you came here?" he asked, the question sounding simple. His tone, however, was somber.

She jerked her head to glare at him. "And why should I tell you that?" she asked. "It's the number one thing any of us will hardly talk about with each other, you know that."

Ryo sighed, looking up at the sky. "Unspoken rule, I know," he said, giving the clouds a wistful expression. "I just think that we should make light of our situation. No need to stand on formalities, presentation, or manners. That just makes it even more suffocating."

Chisuzu gave him a thoughtful glance. Ryo was Ryo, a man that was hardly serious. It was a terrible feeling, knowing that if his fun were to be taken away, he would merely be a shadow, like everyone else. He was always meant to be bright and colorful. Vibrant. Not a shade of something human.

He was never meant to be locked away like this.


Personally, I have a blast writing Ryo.

Hope you liked it :)

Jen