It had been almost two weeks after your encounter with Gyutaro and each time nightfall would come your heart ached to see him again. You of course, had gotten into trouble with your father after you came back home, not only from arriving by yourself but for your slap towards Kei. The boy had pretended to be hurt, shocked even by your actions. Lying through his pristine white teeth, he had explained to your parents how him and Wei were looking worriedly for you and after scolding you when they found you, that you lashed out at them. Your father however, didn't believe them, but his frustration lingered more of the fact that you came alone at dark. He was worried you could have gotten kidnapped or worse, eaten by the demons lurking at night. He didn't want to imagine losing you like how he lost your mother.

Your step mother on the other hand, was furious, she had demanded that you stayed indoors and helped the maids as punishment. This was fine, since you already liked staying indoors and helping Hanako and the other maids. It also allowed you to reminisce of a certain raven hair man you met, Gyutaro. You blush at the memory of him absently smiling when you remarked on one particular Oiran that has been rumoured to be the most beautiful in the entire city and how you wish you could see her. His smile was always small but for some reason held a large sense of joy and pride. You really wanted to see more of it.

-(N/a)?

-Yes father? I've finished cleaning the common room and kitchen, I was just ready to have a early night in.

Your father smiles and pets your head. He seemed to be a bit exhausted these last few days, but he kept reassuring you that it was nothing. You hoped it was, it was noted that Mei was demanding, even the maids were beyond exhausted by her antics, you were lucky enough to be able to avoid her and the twins the last couple of days.

- Go on little fawn get some rest, tomorrow you will be relieved from all this.

You gave a small sigh, you were kind of happy spending time with the maids, if that meant you could avoid the new family members and not feel forced to act, then you were more than delighted but of course, anything sweet had to end.

- Thank you father...I'll see you tomorrow. Maybe we can have tea by the shoji viewing the garden...I miss that.

Your dad smiles lovingly in return and nods his head, his ponytail swaying gently behind him.

- I would like that very much so dear. Now, please sleep, tomorrow is a new day.

He gently kisses the top of your head and you squeeze his shoulder. You were lucky to have such a kind father and for that you would always appreciate your time with him, even if it meant to sacrifice your alone time with Mei, Kei and Wei.

As you enter your room, you can't help yourself but look outside the open shoji, the city lights could be seen from the distance, perhaps maybe tonight? You have been contemplating on sneaking out so you could properly thank Gyutaro. Each passing night the longing became unbearable and tonight, you would finally cave in. You waited for the lights to be turned off as you sneakily left your home, you wore a simple yukata, you didn't want to stand out, a lonely noble woman in the streets would definitely cause unwanted attention, all for the wrong reasons. Especially from lonely men who craved at sundown.

You smile gingerly, almost giggling like a little girl as you quickly ran to town, you were going to see him again.

Gyutaro was spaced out staring at the thousands of roofs, the red lanterns made the stars shine the same shade. Red, her lips and kimono were also the same colour. Wait, there he goes again. He was thinking about the young woman, Gyutaro had tried many times to push the memory of you aside, but you always found a way to slip back. But the thought of you was never intrusive, if anything, it was welcoming, but Gyutaro was still too prideful to ever admit that. Caving in, he would indulge his thoughts of you, but just for tonight. His mind plays the scene on the way your eyes shined against these same red lanterns and how small you were beside him. So fragile yet fiery. He chuckles remembering the slap you gave to one of your siblings, you definitely had the fire inside of you. Almost like a mother scolding her child, a mother he never had nor knew, but happy to have presented itself as you.

He would never admit it, but Gyutaro would find himself going back at the same spot where you two last saw each other, each time secretly hoping to see your familiar frame waving back at him. Yet it had been two weeks since he last saw you, he often thought that maybe you came from another town, but he secretly wished that wasn't the case. From on top of the roof he looked at the same spot, slowly sighing, thinking none other but you.

You...

Wait.

It was you!

His kanji eyes lit up, there you were. Wearing a dark purple yukata, which was a big contrast to your red kimono and in your small hands there seems to be a bento of some sorts. Your own fawn like eyes were scanning the area. Surely, she wasn't looking for him? Right?

He swiftly jumps down into the empty alley and changes into his human form, he hesitates for a second. What if she is meeting someone else? There goes the tightness in his chest. What if she had someone already? But...wait! Why does it it matter!? She is nothing to him...

He peeks his head ever so slightly, you were so close but so far from his own nervous reach. Breathing in he repeats the same words to reassure him.

She meant nothing.

Absolutely noth-

Your eyes meet.

Gyutaro is stunned once again, her smile resurfaces on her small face and she waves happily. Almost like a song, her lips call out his name and he is pulled towards her. Even the small fact that she still held his name on her sweet tongue made the demon blush.

-Gyutaro! I am so happy to see you again! I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to find you.

Gyutaro shifts nervously, he was on the spot and the foreign feeling of embarrassment was not subsiding, the red made way to his cheeks, but deep down he was glad you found him once again.

He shakes his head and kisses his teeth.

- So what ya want?!

The young woman giggles and shows the bento carefully wrapped hanging from her hand.

- I wanted to properly thank you for helping me find my brothers, even though they were extremely rude. Shall we find a spot to sit down and eat?

While you looked for a spot, Gyutaro couldn't help himself and gave a small smile, she was such a sweet lady indeed. Perhaps fate was taunting him once again and she would turn against him like everyone else, but was it wrong to follow her small frame sitting by the bench? Was it wrong for him to want to sit beside the young woman and spend time with her?

She unwraps the bento and lifts the lid, the food looked delicious, if Gyutaro was still alive he would have been drooling excessively by now, but he hasn't longed for human food for centuries, yet he indulges her. A small onigiri lands on his rough palm, it looked amazing.

-I made these for you, I hope it is within your taste, if not there are different types so, please feel free to enjoy them.

Gyutaro swallows, slowly biting into it. It was...delicious indeed, he looks back at the young woman, her smile matched the moon, so full and delighted. With a grunt of approval, he eats the rest of the treat. The two slowly began to chat, first of small things, like what they did for the day and so on, then the topic changed to where the young woman came from. She explained how she has always lived in Yoshiwara and how her family also came from the same district. With Each sentence Gyutaro would nod and listen, he began to note small details from the young woman sitting next to him. On how her hands moved when she talked, to how she would look at the scene whilst describing her background, almost as if she was imagining it right in front of her.

And how every now and then she would tuck her hair behind her ear, looking back at him with a smile. The same smile that wrapped him in both confusion and admiration, but it was her eyes that sealed it all. Her eyes...they seem to know how to gently pierce through him but he didn't mind it, it was so familiar somehow, it's as if they already knew each other.

- What about you Gyutaro? Have you always lived in Yoshiwara?

-...All my life, yea.

- Tell me, what do you like about it?

Gyutaro scrunches his face and begins to think. All of the toxic memories resided here, there was no beauty, except...

-I like it when you can see the red lanterns stretch at night...Even at the darkest corners, they always somehow line up towards the sky.

Your gaze gently follows Gyutaro's finger that was pointing at the endless sea of red lanterns, they indeed seem to stretch onto the night sky.

-So beautiful...

Gyutaro pauses and looks back at you. Your gaze was glued at the very same mentioned red lanterns and the soft expression on your face made him shift in his seat. The red danced on your irises like watercolours, it beckoned him to want to move closer.

Gyutaro, you will get hurt.

You sigh and look straight at him.

She will hurt you.

You slowly come closer to him, eyes fixated on his own irises.

She is pretending.

- Wow...

Gyutaro flinches, what is she doing?!

-Gyutaro your eyes...what a beautiful shade of blue.

Gyutaro's mouth hungs open. Did he just receive a compliment? Ahhh the gods were really joking with him now. He abruptly averts his gaze.

- You know that shit ain't true!

The young woman gently calls his name, Gyutaro hesitantly turns his face towards her again. There was sadness in her eyes and once again she unknowingly plucks at his heart strings.

- Why would I lie Gyutaro? You do have beautiful eyes. Blue...just like the sea, just like the sky...

She smiles again at the man, noticing how he hard was blushing, failing miserably to cover it. Gyutaro begins scratching his neck, a habit of his whenever he got nervous, irrirated or in this case, embarrassed. Shit.

- Well, I have to go now, but I do hope to see you again.

She gets up and bows to the tall man, their eyes lock once again and she prepares to go back home.

-Wait!

Gyutaro grabs you by the hand, you gasp frame turning around.

-...Y-y-...Your n-name?

My name? You let out a small chuckle and slowly state.

- ( . N . / . A . )

-(N/a)...

You nod again and gently wave as you walk away, Gyutaro slowly waves back.

And unbeknownst to the both of you, the red strings appears, connecting you two, from one finger to the other.

She was definitely going to kill you.

As time went by, you and Gyutaro would meet every so often. Each time the two of you would either stroll the busy streets or even sit at the bench and just talk. Every time the two of you would spend time together, the more of Gyutaro's walls would crumble. At first your gentle touches were foreign and scary to him, but he grew accustomed to your own mannerism, he was touch starved after all and he could tell that in a way, so were you. Slowly he would start to gently hold your hand in crowded places or put his arm around your shoulders whenever you showed him something. He then would get the habit of gently tucking the strand of hair behind your ear every time you spoke and your small hands would learn to hold his when you listened to him, caressing his palm whenever he got shy.

First the meetings would be short lived, but more and more they would last for long nights, Gyutaro even insisted on walking you home to make sure you were safe, but he just wanted to spend more time with you. You didn't mind, you felt the same way.

After a month, the two of you grew close, each one bouncing from one other. Laughs were now common and who knew you had a bit of a prankster side to you, you were simply perfect. His perfect (n/a).

Town was buzzing as it was preparing for its winter festival, spring would soon arrive. Your family were also getting ready for the festival, a beautiful white, gold and red kimono hung in your room. You had nervously asked Gyutaro to go and attend with you the festival, as your date. His answer was riddled with stutters and him nervously scratching his neck, but you didn't care, you just remember feeling your chest explode from happiness when he said yes. You were going with him.

As you happily squeal and spin around your room, your father catches you in your glee antics.

-Someone is happy, is it the festival?

You let out a small gasp and turn back around to your father, heavily embarrassed.

-Ah sorry father, it's just...I'm just excited to go with my friend...

-Ahhh, friend I see...and who is this friend? Is he nice?

You clap your hands together, grinning like a silly drunk.

- His name is Gyutaro and he also has lived all his life in Yoshiwara, he has beautiful blue ey-

Wait, how did your father know it was a he?!

You nervously look at your father expecting him to now not let you go, but instead he looked at you melancholically.

-You are now a young lady...I remember feeling that excited when I was going to meet your mother...to think that I would be on the opposite side and see my daughter excited for her own date...

You smile gently at your father and give him a hug. He was using his crutches again, you were worried he was getting ill but Mei insisted that she would take care of him, she would never let you bring his food, nor take too much of his time. If anything, your hug was of longing for your father, you missed him.

- Now tell me miss (n/a), what will you do with your hair?

Your father poses flamboyantly as little stars twinkle around him, you laugh and begin to ponder. It had to be perfect, it was your first date with Gyutaro after all.

With a cheeky grin, you dramatically bow to your father.

-Oh dear Father, would you do the honour of preparing my hair and make up?

Your father nods while laughing and begins to prepare everything. He was a notorious figure in the Oiran society, but not in the way many initially thought. He was a master in formal hairstyles and even did their makeup on very special occasions. More and more, famous Oirans would ask for his services and that's how he eventually met your mother. He admitted a while back, that he fell in love with her the moment she smiled at him after he had done her hair and makeup. Now, here he was doing your own hair and makeup for your very first date.

As he brushes your hair into one of his famous styled buns, you can't help but smile gingerly at your father. His little girl was ready to be in the arms of someone else, if only Suzume could be here to see how much you have grown. Maybe she would help you with yoyr kimono and give you some advice or two. The two of you would giggle and wave at him to come say goodbye at the door, then Suzume would lay her head on his shoulder and look back with her blue eyes, giving him her signature smile.

Her voice would call out for him, one last time...

Anata...

-Father, how do I look?

He blinks and gasps, you looked stunning. The best work he had ever done and he was proud.

-Beautiful as ever my little fawn.

The maids and your father, who was holding your mothers picture, are at your entrance bidding you goodbye, Hanako quickly gives you a charm bracelet for protection and whispers in your ear.

-If any sleeze hits on you, you tell Hanako and I will dispose of him.

Her violet eyes send daggers to the imaginary man and you laugh, nodding your head.

You bow to your father and mother, you kiss her portrait and hug your father.

-See you father, wish me luck mother.

You wave goodbye and made your way to the man you were dying to see all day.

Gyutaro was nervous, he had asked Daki if she could get him a nice yukata for the festival, but it came with a price, a barrage of questions of course.

-Oniiiii-chan who are you meeting? Is she pretty? Prettier than me? Is she nice? If not I'll kill her.

Gyutaro endured and simply nodded, he just needed to try to look his best tonight, for you.

He was pacing back and forth waiting for you, in his hands there was a setsuka hairpin, the piece of jewellery twirled around his long fingers, he was indeed mortified. His nerves jumped even more when he heard you call his name.

You were waving happily, your kimono was glowing due to the festival lights and he swears that he was staring at an angel.

God...you looked so beautiful, no one could even compare at that moment, his eyes only saw you. Your smile and your laughter as you greet him, how did he get so lucky? He shyly presents you the hair pin and with a surprised gasp you gently ask him if he could pin it on your bun. With a familiar softness he often presented to you, he pins it on your smooth locks. You step back and twirl for him, his smile never faltering stretching his hand to you, which you happily accept.

The two of you laughed and checked all the vendors, all the sweets seem to glisten from all of the different lights. The two of you would indulge each one, each sharing the sweets you'd purchased. You'd would also play the festival games, you were impressed by his speed and accuracy, so when it came to catch the goldfish you wanted to showcase your own skills. While Gyutaro crouched beside you, you took a deep breath, focused eyes watch the fishes every move and swiftly you manage to catch, not one but two goldfish at once. Gyutaro's eyes sparkle in amazement and he claps cheering you on.

-Good job (n/a), that was so cool!

You blush, chuckling at his compliment taking your new friends with you. One for you and Gyutaro.

-I'll name mine Ume.

Gyutaro smiles fondly, Ume, his sisters name, how you came up with the same name was beyond his comprehension, but it felt like destiny that you out of everyone would pick it.

-What about you Gyu? What will you call yours?

Gyutaro stares at the fish and begins to ponder, finger on his chin.

-Hmmm...I'll call it (n/a).

You laugh and gently nudge him.

-But Gyu...that's my name!

-Even more reason to pick it!

He laughs with you and the two of you begin to walk to a more secluded place to see the fireworks. People would stare at you, making comments on why you were holding hands with someone as disgusting as him, but you ignored their remarks and glared back scaring them away.

Gyutaro would notice this and smile even wider holding you closer. The two of you sat down on the placed piece of fabric on the grass and prepare to see the fireworks.

-Ahhh! I'm so excited Gyu! I wonder what colours will be in the show this time.

Gyutaro chuckles, tucking the familiar strand of hair behind your ear.

The fireworks begin to shoot up to the sky, a wry of colours explode in the crimson night and the crowds ohhs and aahhhs echoed through the town. It was a magnificent sight, as each firework would explode your hand would tighten around Gyutaro's, eagerly pointing at each fountain of colours.

Gyutaro's eyes would follow your finger, he was enjoying himself. How long was it when he last enjoyed a festival? His childhood memories take him back to one time, where him and Daki hid away from the crowd stealing their food and munching on it inside a bush, the fireworks had started and Daki squealed excitedly calling to Gyutaro to watch it with her. That was the last time they saw anything beautiful coming out from the district that shunned them.

He hated all of them, all of them were scum and all of them deserved to die. All of them...

Then he felt your hand on his cheek slowly guiding him to a blue firework exploding in the sky.

- Look Gyu...like your eyes...

There she goes again, bringing him out of the toxic feeling that was his past, nothing stained him anymore not when her hand treated him like a human being, a human being worthy of love and affection.

Gyutaro slowly looks back at you, you smile at him and stare back, but something was different. His half lidded eyes pulled you in and you felt your cheeks getting warm, the lights of the fireworks would illuminate temporarily his face, it all felt magical. His birthmark was resembling the night sky and the colours that were jumping of his eyes made Gyutaro seem ethereal.

-How beautiful you are Gyu...you definitely match these fireworks...

He gently cups your cheek in his palm and comes closer to you. His breath could be felt on your painted lips, the proximity of your eyes made your lashes brush against his. The blue drowned you and you were ready to dive in.

-I love you...(n/a)

With that he seals the kiss, his soft lips burn against yours, your small hands grasp his yukata and you allow him to drink you. Gyutaro's mind is filled with his own fireworks and it almost eludes him to think he had died and gone to heaven. No, this was his own heaven and you were his angel. His only angel. No one else's, just his.

Gyutaro's tongue shyly brushes against your lower lip and you gasp, this allowed him to explore your mouth, soft gentle tongues swirls playing in both of your mouths. You deepen the kiss, you just wanted to taste more of him, the cravings that you felt during your time with him have finally left you undone. My, what sin it was to be wrapped around his strong arms and held by his soft tongue and lips.

The two of you kiss for a long time, not caring much for time really, but oxygen was needed so the two break free from the kiss. Both your lips were wet, you giggle hugging Gyutaro and he embraces you, laughing with you in sheer happiness.

You both wish as the final firework went off in the sky, that this would last forever.