Now that I was a married man, I never thought I would have felt the need to get back in a pleasure house one day and yet, here I was. It was far from the luxury I was accustomed to, though. The girl in front of me wasn't an oiran.
"Aren't you going to lie down ? » she asked me.
« No. » i answered.
Even with the heavy makeup on her face, trying to make her look older, I could see that she was nothing but a kid. Her kimono was opened and I could see her in all her nakedness underneath. She wasn't even fully formed yet... It was making me uncomfortable. She came closer and I looked down on her while she put her little hands on my hips.
« How old are you ? » i asked.
« Nine. » she answered with a shrug, putting her hands on my obi and starting to untie it « You wanna stand while I blow you ? »
« No. » i answered again, taking her hands in mine so that she would stop stripping me.
I crouched in front of her to plunge my gaze in hers. She had blue eyes, a bit like mines, probably inherited from her father. But the heart-shaped face... the ebony hair... the little nose... These were definitely Yuki's.
« What ? You wanna kiss ? » she said again, annoyance peaking from her voice.
« No, Haruhi. » i said finally « i want to speak to you. »
She danced on her feet, nervous, uneasy, avoiding my gaze.
« I don't suit you ? » she asked « you want someone else ? »
« No. » i sighed « I came for you today but I don't need anything from you. »
« I don't understand... » she said, confused. « Is this a trick ? If I don't do my job, they'll beat me, you know... »
She was looking everywhere, scared, and I wondered if she was often beaten.
« Haruhi. I knew your mother, alright ? » i said « I'm here because of it so... Could you... close that kimono and just sit down and talk with me ? »
« I suppose... » she said, suspicious.
« If that makes you feel any better, I paid for one hour and I'll tell them you... blew me... alright ? » i blushed, not accustomed to say that sort of word.
« Okay... » she said, finally closing her kimono.
She sat on the tatami and I joined her.
« So, what about my mother ? » she said abruptly.
« Your mother... » i started then stopped. What about her mother, exactly ? That was a damn good question... I decided to say whatever could come to my mind. « Your mother was someone I used to know. A friend. She never wanted you to end up where you are now. »
« She still sold me. » she said harshly.
« That's not the truth. » i corrected.
« What do you know ? » she asked, crossing her arms.
« Your mother was an oiran. Do you know what that is ? » she shook her head to deny « Well... It's a woman very beautiful and very educated who entertains men and sometimes offers sexual favors. »
« So she was a whore like me, then ? »
I escaped a small laugh before answering.
« Knowing her, she would probably have answered yes to that question but it's a bit more complicated than that... Anyway, she was my friend and I am responsible for her death... I've been looking for you, Haruhi. Because she missed you and she didn't wanted this life for you. »
« Well, congratulations for finding me once she's dead. » she said on the defensive.
I sighed again. That kid surely had some temper... And a lack of manners.
« Listen. I'm not going to waste my time, and yours » i said a bit harsher than I wished I had « I'm here to make you an offer. »
« What kind of offer ? » she asked, squirting her eyes in suspicion.
« Your mother is dead by my fault. Which means I am now bound to you. » i explained calmly « I can offer you freedom, a roof, a name, an education and a future, if you are willing to take it. »
« And I'll have to fuck you. » she said with a smirk.
« No. » I sighed « you won't have to... be intimate... with anyone. In fact, people will be forbidden to touch you, until you have an appropriate age to marry or get physical. »
« Then it's free ? » she asked again « that sounds fishy... »
« It is not. » i said in my toneless voice « You will have to work like any other member of the family. And you will have to behave accordingly. »
She stayed silent, thinking about what I just said to her. I could see how doubtful she was about my offer.
« There is no trick. » i said « To be honest...Your mother always dreamt about being something else. She was strong and full of life and if you have half of her qualities, then i think you deserve to have the choice she never had. »
« What exactly will I have to do to work ? » she asked again.
« You'll have chores. Cooking, laundry, cleaning... But you won't do them alone. Everyone has chores in the headquarters. You will have the chance to have an education, learn how to read and write and if you want, you could also learn how to fight. »
« Fight ? Shit ! For real ? » she repeated, excitement sparkling in her gaze.
« If you respect the rules, I will allow you. » I said with a smile.
« What are the rules ? » she asked, her suspicion back.
Can you stop being so distrustful ? Can't you see the chance I'm offering you ?
« Well, do the chores, show respect » i listed, lifting one finger at a time « not being intimate with anyone... I am serious. » i added when she chuckled « and no cursing. »
« That sounds like a good deal. » she eventually said. « You're a samurai ?! »
« I am. » i nodded.
« And... You'll give me your name ? » she asked again.
« I will officially adopt you. » i nodded again.
« Will I have to call you father ? » she chuckled as if it was the most hilarious joke she ever heard.
I frowned. I never thought about that but I was... what... twenty three ? Nearly twenty four ? Too young to be comfortable with the idea of having a ten year old kid calling me « father » even if I knew it was the case for most of my peers.
« No. » i said « I am not your father and I will never pretend to be but you will still have to show me obedience as suitable with an older family member. »
« Then... Older brother ? » she asked with a foxy smile.
That smile... That was Yuki's smile drawn on her face. I smiled shyly, feeling the tips of my ears becoming red.
« If you want it, I'll allow you. » i said « but if you prefer, you can just adress to me by my name. »
« And what is your name ? » she asked.
« Saito Hajime. » i bowed.
« Fuck me ! You're Shinsengumi ! » she yelled.
« I think I said no cursing. » i said with icy eyes but she wasn't paying attention to me, laughing. « And I don't get what is so funny. »
« Nothing... » she chuckled « But... Shinsengumi aren't supposed to be kind of bullies ? Why would you help a whore ? »
« We are no bullies and you will see it if you choose to follow me » i said but I wasn't even mad. Our reputation of Mibu Wolves was persistent « Now, I told you my offer. Take it or leave it. »
She calmed herself and seemed to think very seriously about my offer. I stayed silent, letting her make her own decision. She had all the cards in hand now, it was her call to play them.
« I will be Saito Haruhi ? » she eventually asked.
« Ha. » i nodded.
« And I'll live with the Shinsengumi ? »
« Ha. »
« And I'll learn how to fight. »
That wasn't a question and so, I kept my mouth shut, waiting. She stayed mute a while and then a foxy smile drew on her face.
« Come on, Hajime-niichan ! Let's get out of here ! » she laughed just like her mother used to.
« Hajime will be enough, thank you. » i said, returning her smile. « But you are right. Time to leave this awful place. »
I stood up and opened the shoji and we stepped out together. The head of the house came to greet me off and put his hand on Haruhi's shoulder, in a disgusting paternalistic attitude.
« She brought you satisfaction ? » he asked with a smirk.
« Ha. » i answered « in fact, I'd like to buy her. »
He laughed and tightened his grip on Haruhi's shoulder.
« That satisfied, huh ? Good job, doll. » he added, looking at Haruhi « Unfortunately, she's not for sale. She's popular, here. I tamed her myself. »
I saw Haruhi's gaze fall on the ground along with all her hopes but I just smiled and got the rest of the Shogunate Bounty out of my sleeve. After the wedding, there wasn't much left but it still was more money that he could have ever dreamed of for a low-ranked defiled child prostitute.
« I believe we can come to an arrangement. » i said with a smile as his eyes widden in greed.
A few minutes later, i stepped out with empty pockets and the certificate as Haruhi's owner. I put my name this time, not because I wanted her to belong to me, but because she was nine and it would make the adoption easier. I turned around and saw her hesitate. She looked at me, the ground, the pleasure house and took a deep breath before joining me.
« When I'll know how to fight » she asked me, looking at the pleasure house « will I be allowed to come back to kill him and burn that fucking place down ? »
I didn't answer. I had no idea what she had been through during the nine first years of her life and I just hoped the next ones will make her forget. I took her hand and guided her towards the Bakufu administration to adopt her. When we got out, i lifted my eyes and stared at the stars already filing the sky on this December late afternoon.
Don't worry mama fox. Your little cub is in good hands now. The wolf pack is taking her in.
A snowflake fell on my face and I took it as an answer.
Author note : Introducing Haruhi ! I knew she was going to be in this story even before the beginning of part 2. I hope you'll like her ! Have you seen it coming ? Tell me what you think about her.