The owner led me to a private room and sat in front of me after opening a cupboard containing all the expenses made for Yuki, her original debt, the money she made the pleasure house win... All the accounting that was representing Yuki's eighteen years of servitude.
« I'm not going to ask you if Yuki is willing to come with you... » she sighed. « I think we both know the answer to that question. So let's skip these preliminaries. Just give me a minute to review everything. »
« Can't you just give me a price ? » i asked, confused.
I had no experience into this kind of thing but i thought that it would have been easier. I wanted to take her away from this place as soon as possible. I knew how much she despised it and now that i was able to help, i wanted to grant her deepest wish and return the favor for everything she ever did for me. She had been here when i needed her, years ago, she pushed me to confess to Chizuru and even now, she was still supporting me when i needed her most and respecting my faithfulness.
« I could if you asked for someone else... People come every week, sometimes even days, asking for the price of Wakako or Shizuka... Even Kimigiku sometimes... But never would I have expected someone to ask for Yuki... »
She overlooked at me, looking at my simple black kimono, my scarf and my messy hair. I could see in her eyes that she was trying to estimate my wealth and how much i could pay. I had no doubt that if i hadn't been a loyal customer that had already proven countless times that i could actually afford an oiran, i wouldn't even be in this room. I waited for her inspection to be over and she plunged her eyes back into the papers before lifting her eyes and announcing me the price. It seemed particularly high, even for an oiran, and i understood quite easily that she was trying to see how high i could get and was ready to bargain. I didn't like the idea to haggle with a human life but i decided to play her little game anyway.
« This sounds overpriced. » i just said, firmly.
« What did you expect ? We are a very fine institution and our girls are well educated, beautiful, smart, docile... This is the price for excellence. »
« Docile ? » i chuckled and she furrowed her brows « I would have agreed to this price for a Tayuu but I was under the impression that Yuki was a troublemaker here. You probably look forward to get rid of that burden and as you said yourself, you do not get a lot of offers. Moreover, if i'm not mistaken, she's the cheapest here and i highly doubt that her value covers efficiently the cost of the expenses on her account. »
She frowned and i knew i scored a point. Yuki shouldn't have been a very good investment for the Hanamado. I had decipher it quite easily from her low position and her taste for insolence. Negociations continued several minutes and i was able to buy Yuki for half the Shogunate Bounty. In no time, i had an official title of property for Hanamado Yuki.
« She doesn't have a surname ? » i asked, perplexed.
« The Hanamado is her family. She was officially bought and got the name of the establishment. I have no record of her previous name and i'm not sure she remembers it anyway. If it doesn't suit you, you can fill a form to officially give her your name if you want. »
I nodded and signed the paper but instead of writing my name as Yuki's owner, i wrote hers, giving back to her all her freedom and rights. The owner didn't seem happy with it and she didn't hide it.
« You should have put your name to grant yourself her obedience. She's trouble, that one. » she frowned, signing the paper as well.
I took back the paper and stood up, bowing to her.
« I have no use for her obedience. » i said, exiting the office.
« Wait ! » she called « she's with clients right now, you can't just barge in the room and take her ! »
« I'll wait outside. » i said to reassure her and she didn't try to stop me, feeling the authority filling my voice.
I sat on a bench covered in silk fabric in a corridor where all the private rooms were lined up. I had no idea which one was Yuki's since she was changing often, taking the one available. I crossed my arms and waited patiently. I didn't have my swords, that i left in the entrance like every time, therefore they weren't in the way and i was able to sit comfortably. From the corridor, i could hear a bit all the conversations in every room but the were all mixed up so I couldn't recognize Yuki's voice it it. I was also seeing the incense outside the room, indicating how much the client had left for the guards and the owner. The same incence stick was in each room for the oiran and the client to manage their time efficiently. The negotiations with the owner took some time so i was pretty confident that Yuki would be released soon.
I wasn't mistaken and when one of the shoji opened, Yuki stepped out followed by two men i knew but was surprised to see here. They were two members of my unit as a Guardian and pretty hostile towards me. They saw me at the same time Yuki did and i saw her hide a vial, scared.
« Saito-han ! » she squealed and the two members of my unit fled without hesitation like the cowards they were.
I didn't say anything. I didn't need to. She knew already that i figured out what was in the vial. They probably knew I already came today and weren't expecting to have me back here so soon.
« Saito-han... » she started.
« Poison, Yuki ? » i cut her in an emotionless voice « to be sure my next tea would have been my last ? »
« You don't understand... » she said, trying to justify herself « They told me that they would set me free if i did as they said. I... I'm not even sure i would have done it... »
« You really believed these low-ranked ronin could ever buy you ? » i continued on the same tone « they would never have done it, Yuki. »
Her eyes were looking at the carpet like a little girl being scolded. I came closer to her and put the paper against her chest. She grabbed it and i plunged my icy gaze into her chestnut wide eyes already full of tears.
« I did. » i simply said and i dropped the paper and walked away.
I heard her gasp in my back when she realized what she was holding and I heard her call my name a few time but I didn't turn around. She betrayed me. I took my swords and got back to the Guardians headquarters. When i arrived, i took the head of the two members of my unit who dared conspire against me. They didn't even get the right to seppuku, i beheaded them to be sure that their honor stayed tain.
Ito didn't ask for any explanation. I was in my right. He just stood on a balcony and watched, a foxy smile on his lips.