To the promised planet

Chapter6: To the red-light district

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Yoshiwara Pleasure District is known to be the hell for women and the heaven for men, although it was no longer a sunless underground city, the courtesan who lived there were still living their lives as before.

Soyo walked down a high stair leading her into the city. This was the first time she came by herself. The ways and stairs seemed confusing for her, but not for the Yato man.

"Look like you know the way here very well."

Kamui still carried an umbrella over his shoulder. "I've been here just once."

The sound from the flirtatious ladies called along the way. Some of them even followed them. "Hey boss, don't want to have fun with me for a night?" Of course, they were all around the princess, but the only person they're interested in was only the young Yato walking beside her. "My lord is so handsome and young. Are you not interested in having fun with me?"

When he was stubbornly pursued, Kamui smiled in response to the surrounding ladies, "Sorry sis, I didn't come to have fun with you today."

Hearing that, the princess made a puzzled face. "Don't you want to go hang out with them?" If not coming to enjoy a night with ladies, why would he waste his time coming all the way here?

"No, they are boring."

"You're not going to follow me all day, are you?" Soyo narrowed her eyes. "You should go because I am meeting someone."

Kamui laughed lightly. He looked at the princess who turned left and right, looking for the direction in confusion. "The person you're looking for is probably there," he pointed at the tall building.

"How do you know who I'm looking for? I haven't told you anything."

What kind of business for a person like Princess had in such place? Except for coming to have a conversation with someone who is like the leader of this town. "The Sun of Yoshiwara, isn't it?"

"Sun?" Kamui's word made her even more puzzled.

"Forget that, she's not the sun, just a woman no different from a dustcloth ." Soyo frowned at the words. Kamui continued, "Her name probably is…"

"Hinowa," a third-person voice called causing them both to turn around. "Calling me a dustcloth, isn't that a bit harsh?" With a big smile and bright eyes, she's none other than the well-known Hinowa.


"Nice to meet you. I heard some of your stories through Tsukuyo-san. Never thought of having a chance to meet you. It was like meeting a real celebrity."

The place where Hinowa lived was not the tall building that Hosen used to live in as Kamui expected. She lives in a small building with a grocery store downstairs. And now all three were sitting on the floor of the second floor.

"I should be the one saying that. I've seen the princess through TV shows a lot...You're much prettier than on screen, Princess."

Soyo put down the teacup and laughed softly. "I think no one can be prettier than Tayū[1] of Yoshiwara."

The two of them keeps flattering each other until Hinowa said something that made the smile on Soyo's face faded. "Oh, that's just the past. I can't even walk now. It wouldn't be wrong to say that I'm no different from a dustcloth." Hinowa glanced at Kamui, who was eating snacks she served. Seems like he's eating the princess' portion as well.

Soyo turned to Kamui with an angry smile, but Kamui blinked, not knowing anything. "Ah, sorry, do you want to eat?" He held up the last piece of snack in his hand. Seeing that, Soyo sighed a long breath. And seeing that the princess wasn't complaining, Kamui stuffed the last piece into his mouth happily.

Hinowa laughed, but it's not funny for Soyo at all. "You don't have to make a sad face, princess. I don't feel sorry. Not a bit ." Hinowa smiled.

But Soyo doubted that smile. "You can't walk around on your own. How could you still smile like that?" It seemed even more suffering than she who once had to live in a prison called a castle.

"Because my soul is not in chains so wherever I am, I can be free." Hinowa's blue eyes steadily looked deeply into the princess' eyes. "And for you who still have two legs that can walk around, please don't let anything chain you down."

Hinowa didn't specify what the sentence was about. But deep in the princess' heart, she knew its meaning. Her inability to leave Edo was not because of her concern for the country alone. In fact, she just couldn't stop thinking about her brother. The growing loneliness in her heart became like a prison that held her.

She looked at those steady eyes. Even it was the first time she met Hinowa, she felt relieved. This is probably why this person is called the sun of Yoshiwara.

The door was sliding open. Turning around, she saw a woman with a notch on her face, "Oh, Tsukuyo, just came in. You have a guest."

"Hime-sama?" Tsukuyo blinked. Why would a noble person come to a place like this?

Soyo told the whole incident, causing Tsukuyo to frown. "I've never heard about that before, but yes, Hitoshibashima's people are causing chaos. But we, Hyakka can handle it. There might be some out of sight, but Hime-sama doesn't have to worry about it. It won't happen again."

"Tsukuyo-san, I didn't come here to criticize. I'm just worried."

Tsukuyo lightly nodded. She was still standing at the door with her arms crossed. When there was nothing else to talk about, Hinowa spoke up. "It's rare for the princess to come to a place like this. Tsukuyo, why don't you escort the princess for a walk?"

"You sure? I think-"

"That sounds fun," Soyo said excitedly.

Tsukuyo hesitated a bit before answering, "Okay, you want to know how Yoshiwara is anyway. It would be easier to explain by letting you experience it by yourself." Soyo got up ready to go out, causing Tsukuyo to smile and continued. "But you may not be able to have the service from our ladies. Let's go to the cabaret bar instead."

Soyo nodded, smiling in response before realizing that she had forgotten something. "Ah! I almost forgot Kamui-san." Soyo turned to Kamui, and Tsukuyo had just noticed the man who didn't join the conversation. "Hmm… that face is very familiar," Tsukuyo muttered as she dug into her memories. She narrowed her eyes at the two who were discussing thoughtfully.

'You can go back.'

'I've just arrived and I told you that I would be your bodyguard.'

'But I have refused that.'

'If you don't let me, I'll kill you then.

'T...That doesn't make sense at all.'

This person's face was very familiar as if she had seen it once a long time ago. When… when…?!! "Princess!" When Tsukuyo recognized the orange-haired man, she exclaimed loudly and took out kunais. "That man is dangerous! quickly back away from him now!"

Hinowa drew a dark kimono. "Calm down, Tsukuyo. He's not doing anything."

"Have you forgotten who he is! He's from Harusame and used to interfere when the Night king Hosen died!"

"Yes, and I'm actually the second Night king," Kamui replied with a smile. He stood up and put his arm on the princess' small shoulder. "I don't want to fight either because you and that silver-haired samurai could have strong children."

"What…What are you say-!"

"Tsukuyo," Hiniwa said with a deeper voice, causing the name's owner to reluctantly keep her Kunai back.

"What've you done here?" Soyo whispered. Judging from Tsukuyo's expression, it seemed that this Yato probably wouldn't have caused a small matter. But Kamui just shrugged. He didn't do anything. He's only been here to watch Hosen's battle with the flickering lights.

"Kamui-san, it's heavy," Soyo protested as he kept his heavy arm on her shoulder.

"Sorry." Kamui raised his arm and thought that this woman was really weak. He hadn't done anything and this girl acted as if her body was going to break. "So can we go now?" If there's something free to eat and why not?

Soyo sighed. She really couldn't shake off this guy.


It's a pretty good-looking bar. She was seated in the middle with service girls sitting next to each other. Tsukuyo sat on the left. Kamui sat on the right side. He poured liquor into the glass and drank it without waiting for the girls beside him to pour it.

"Would you like to try a drink, Hime-sama?" Tsukuyo offered as the girl sitting next to Soyo poured a glass of liquor in front of her.

"I've never drunk alcohol before." Even she said that, she had already grabbed the glass in her hands.

"Don't worry, even if you're drunk, I'll take care of you."

Soyo grabbed the glass with both hands. She looked at it hesitantly before looking up to ask again. "What about you? Won't you drink?"

"I'd rather not drink," the Hyakka thought of when she was drunk. When she woke up again, everything was always a mess.

So Soyo held up the glass bit by bit until it ran out and put it down on the table with a blank look. It tasted bitter, but she didn't hate it.

"Oh, seem like you're a heavyweight." Tsukuyo propped her arms against the cushion and was surprised that even after that the princess had drunk two and a half bottles, she showed no signs of drunkenness. "That should be enough for drinking. As you see, Yoshiwara's still peaceful, so don't worry-"

Clank!!

"Hwaaah!!!"

The sound of broken glass and cries caused everyone to turn to look. "How dare you serve me a cheap booze!" The man dressed in samurai pointed the broken bottle in his hand at the waitress who was sitting on the floor. "If you don't bring a better liquor. I can't guarantee where the thing in my hand will hit next!"

Tsukuyo got up and turned back to Soyo. "Don't worry, Hime-sama. Tsukuyo, this Hyakka Chief will…?"

Where has she gone? Right now, at the table, there were only service girls and the Yato man who was eating snacks.

"Who are you? And How dare you order me!"

"I told you to apologize to her right now."

It caused Tsukuyo to immediately turn to the table at the scene of the incident. The samurai raised his hand holding the breaking glass bottle. "Hime-sama, quickly dodge!!!"

Soyo's ears perked up, "What? Dodge the walking ants?!" She jumped and flipped as her knee hit the samurai's face so hard that he lay his back on the table. Kamui, who looked at her from a distance, gave a surprised expression as he put the appetizer into his mouth like he was eating popcorn while watching a movie and thought 'Looks like that brat is stronger than I thought.'

Tsukuyo didn't wait, throwing kunai to another samurai who intended to attack the princess. Unfortunately, he dodged and splashed a glass of liquor to Tsukuyo's face. "Don't bother me!!"

"…Hic."

"Huh?" The samurai frowned. He looked at Hyakka, whose face suddenly turned red.

"Hey...if anyone touches this person," Tsukuyo warned before grabbing the collar of the man who splashed alcohol on her face and threw him to the ground. "You all will die in my hand!!!"

Boom!!

"No one has touched her and you already killed him, right?! Right?!" The first samurai glanced at his friend before continuing. "We are Hitotsubashi's samurai. If you dare to fight against us like this, prepare your head to be chop-"

"Huh? A… Another ant?!" Soyo jumped onto the table. Her feet stomped on the samurai's stomach and before the man under her feet could say anything, kunais from Tsukuyo were thrown and thrust into his hands and in the middle of his head. The blood spurted everywhere.

"Didn't...hic...I told you not to touch her?" Tsukuyo said as she hiccuped. Even so, the murderous aura emanating from her was more apparent than anything.

"Agh!! Who touched who exactly! You ugly sadists. You definitely are going to die!!"

Soyo was still standing on the samurai on the table with a blank expression, not noticing that there was another samurai who was sitting quietly at first. Now he decided to draw out his sword, ready to slash the girl who stood straight from behind. "Playtime is over." The tip of the sword slashed down to her nape.

Everything happened so fast. The sight Soyo saw in front of her was hazy, and he suddenly felt the wind hitting her face and neck. The black hair was slightly cut off. She raised her head slowly. And even she didn't focus on everything to make it clear, that unique orange hair made her know who the person in front of her was.

"That's more than enough," Kamui said in his usual cheerful tone. The sword that was supposed to cut the skin on the princess' neck was broken into two pieces, causing the owner of that sword to stumble. "Because I can't guarantee whose neck will be chopped off first."

She seems to be drunk. Now, it seemed as if ants were walking everywhere and every sound that she heard was distorted. But no matter what Kamui said just now, she only knew that she has to forbid him, "…don't…kill."

Kamui was stunned, not because of the words but because the girl suddenly leaned forward. Her height combined with the table's made her face lied on his shoulder perfectly. "Hey princess," he called without moving the slightest.

Tsukuyo, who was still drunk, dragged the three samurais together and kick and punch and kick. If other Hyakka didn't come to lock their chief, those three would have been dead.

Seeing that the problem was solved, Kamui pushed the body of the person who was leaning on him. "Don't even think of puking at me like in the drama, because I'll kill you instead of them." Her face wasn't as red as a drunk in the slightest. He grabbed her small wrist and dragged her out of the bar.

Time flew faster than expected as it was evening and the fresh air seemed to make the ants that Soyo saw disappeared. "Where are we going?" Soyo asked as Kamui still didn't let go of her hand. She just ran after him in hurry.

"Your house," Kamui replied. He doesn't seem like a bodyguard anymore. Now he's more like a babysitter.

Soyo pouted and pulled you back, "No, I don't want to go to the restaurant, I'm not hungry."

Kamui sighed. "I know you're drunk, but how could you ears mishear like that?" He turned around and lowered his head so close that his cheek was almost touching hers. "Your-House."

The small distance made the girl's heart race uncontrollably. Her ears were clearly red, but Kamui only thought it was because of the booze.

Soyo lowered her head and noticed that his hands were bleeding. "You're bleeding."

Kamui raised his palm and looked at it. The blood seeped out from the bandage on his hand. "Might be that time when I broke the sword." A sword is like the spirit of a samurai, but those people were too weak to even call themselves samurai. Now it made him think of policeman-san and the silver-haired samurai. It would be fun to see those two again.

The shock seemed to bring Soyo's hearing back to normal. She looked at Kamui, who was trying to carelessly bandage his hand, and frowned. It was the unclean cloth that had been wrapped around his arms all day. She decided to take out a handkerchief in her kimono and pulled his blood-stained hand to her.

Kamui just watched her blankly while she's tying the handkerchief to his palm then asked, "I haven't seen policeman-san and silver-haired samurai at all."

Soyo tied the last knot tightly. Kamui's hand twitched slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Gin-san and Okita-san are not here. They are on an important mission."

He clenched his hand in and out, looking at the pale pink cloth stained with blood, "Is that so?" What a pity…

"...Kagura-chan too."

Kamui smiled and replied, "I didn't even ask about that name."

"Even so, you should want to know, shouldn't you?"

"Why should I want to know?"

"Because Kagura-chan is your family?"

"Family…hah. Sounds like a weak word." Kamui sneered.

"What do you mean weak-"

"Like you, princess" Kamui tried to change the topic to her. "You are too weak. You couldn't even protect your one important person because of that word."

Those words made Soyo felt like her heart was squeezed. It was the word she never wants to hear, saying that she couldn't protect Aniue-sama.

"Both you and the Shogun are too weak and almost unusable."

"Don't talk about Aniue-sama like that! He's not weak at all!!" she shouted. She didn't care what he said about her, but not for Aniue-sama. He's not weak…not at all.

"Weaklings always say that."

Soyo clenched her fist. Her gaze fixed on the man in front of her before roaring, releasing her anger, "Weak, weak, weak! Said as if you're strong!"

"I'm stronger than you for sure," he sneered.

Soyo shook her head lightly. The unwavering brown eyes met his gaze, "No, you are not strong at all."

Kamui twitched and Soyo continued, "Yes, I am too weak to protect Aniue-sama, but what about you…" she continued, "What can you even protect?"

"Now, shut up. I'm tired of listening to the words of a weakling like you," he warned. If this woman had gone any further, he wouldn't have let go.

"Accept it, you're just as weak as me," said the girl fearlessly. It was as if she had forgotten that the other person was a Yato warrior who could kill her at any moment.

How absurd. Dare to compare him to her? "Hey, if you don't shut up, I'll kill you."

She should have kept her mouth shut now. But it must be the restraint she had all along and the booze that made her unable to calm herself.

Soyo trembled. "I have no one left." She keeps looking at those chill blue eyes. "But you still have Kagura-chan."

"I have nothing to do with that child anymore."

"I don't know what problems you're having, but isn't Kagura-chan your sister?"

"Listen, princess. Even so, it's not your busi-"

"Kagura-chan is my best friend."

"…"

"Just by looking into her eyes, I already know how she feels."

Kamui remained silent, waiting for her to finish talking.

"She's sad." Yes, she always knew. Although Kagura had never opened up to talk about her brother, she had said that she'd lost her mother, and Soyo knew that the sadness in Kagura's eyes wasn't just about that. "Deep down, she's sad."

And Soyo doesn't want her most important friend to be sad. But frankly, she really just wants to go back and change her past mistakes. She should have spent more time with Aniue-same. She should have said what she wanted to say while he's still able to listen. She should appreciate every moment…while Aniue-sama is still alive.

But sadly, the past cannot be reversed. And she had to make this sibling know that truth before it was too late.

Kamui felt something turbulent in his chest and became even more turbulent when he saw clear water flowing from the girl's eyes in front of him.

She doesn't know why she would cry in front of this man. Maybe it was because of the alcohol, or maybe it was because she had been holding back all this time so that no one could see her pain. And crying in front of a person who is now not a friend or an enemy is not embarrassing at all.

Kamui stared at her teary face expressionlessly.

"At least try talking to her." Soyo didn't shift her gaze away from the blue eyes, reflection red lantern of Yoshiwara. "I don't want anyone else to feel like me. It's suffering"

Kamui didn't know what to do. At first, He felt angry, agitated, and then sympathized…? There's no way he could be sympathetic to others. No, probably not, it's just annoying.

Should he comfort her? or just answer the words she wanted to hear so she can stop blabbing nonsense. He can't do much with the drunken words anyway.

"What are you doing?"

"Huh?" Kamui blinked, back to reality. Not knowing his right mind, now his fingers were touching Soyo's tear-stained cheeks. "Ah… well, I stole your handkerchief so..." He immediately withdrew his hand.

Soyo also hurriedly used her kimono sleeve to wipe away tears. She really shouldn't be crying. It's probably because of the liquor… She won't even think about touching it again.

"What I said just now-"

"I'll try then," Kamui replied simply. Even he didn't intend to do just like he said.

"Huh?" Soyo looked puzzled. Did she mishear again?

Kamui sighed. He didn't want to say that word twice. "I have to go somewhere else. You can go back by yourself, right?" he said, looking at Shinobi, who was guarding the princess on the roof. His own master was almost dead, but he just kept being afraid that others could know the princess's identity or else it might be the princess' order herself.

Soyo just nodded lightly. And when the young Yato disappeared, she's still standing there, touching her hot cheek.

She really shouldn't drink...

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[1] Tayū the highest-ranking Oiran, not engaging in sex work at all.

A/N : I got mishearing idea from the episode that Soyo play hitting watermelon game. I think she's the type that doesn't show drunk condition through her face so it turned to be mishearing instead.