The Kamado siblings gets settle in and prepare for things they never thought they expect.
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To Guest - Ahhh! tysm! really hope you continue to stay!
Warning! Chapter will include explicit body descriptions for a minor! Body Insecurities as well!
The ride to Yoshiwara, Tokyo took about two days in total. They arrived bright and early in the morning and Ryoichi woke up the duo as soon as they were close. Tanjirou's cold came down and while he isn't coughing or feeling weak and dizzy, he would sneeze a couple times. Nezuko looks out the window from his side to see the entrance of the place. The place seemed to be busy quite this easy with people sweeping, cleaning, running errands, rushing to get things done in general.
"The Yoshiwara Red Light District. This is the night district where lust and charms of men and women swirl in a storm of love and hate." Ryoichi explains. "The prostitutes living here were either sold out due to loans or lives in poverty. In exchange, they are guaranteed the necessities of life. If a girl can make her way up as a prostitute, they could potentially become part of a wealthy household by getting bought out. The most prominent among them all are "The Oiran". They are special women who was acquired everything you can have: Beauty, Education and Performance. These women are the type of people that you just can't meet with. Ever."
Nezuko turns to Tanjirou and they both exchange a look at another. Tanjirou gave a weak smile to his sister until he took a better look at her face expression and took in her scent. She smelt like fear and looked like something was on her mind. He didn't want to push her into saying it, so hoping he got it right, he turns to Ryoichi and asked for her
"How does one get to become an oiran? You say nobody can meet up to their level, but how do they even get to the position they're in now?"
The man clicks his tongue and rubs his wrist as the cart came to a stop. "Like I said before, an oiran has education, beauty and performance. If you want the specifics about it, you have to be educated in the following at the young age. Chadō which is a Japanese tea ceremony, Ikebana that is flower arranging and calligraphy. For performance, Oirans also has to learn to play the Koto, Shakuhachi, Tsuzumi which is hand drumming, Shamisen and Kokyū. As for beauty, that's pretty self-explanatory."
Nezuko took a small breath out and thanked her brother mentally. She knew how to write in calligraphy, but that was all about it. She knew her beauty was either on par or more with the women here. Especially with how many boys in her town would flirt with her or told her their feelings to her. She still was young so she still had a chance to achieve such a goal. Part of her wants to be able to do such a thing, but another part of her didn't want to risk doing so just yet, so she'd stayed silent about the whole thing altogether.
Ryoichi opens the door and held it still then shout a "Get out" as nice as he possible could. Nezuko slides to the end before stepping out the vehicle and walking forward a couple steps. She looks at the buildings and people rushing to get things done. She also could hear their cruelty and kindness. It was a little bit overwhelming for her as she never been to a neighbor this big and full before.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she turns around to where her brother was approaching behind her with a smile. His hair was down to his back unlike hers that was tied to her usual bun hairstyle. She wanted to cling onto him more than anything, for him to hold her close and try to protect her from the people around, but she was too stubborn right now to tell him. So she took a deep breath and walk forward with her chest held high. Tanjirou took his steps behind her, leaving the guys having to go behind them both. Daisuke felt one of his veins pop from his forehead and hegira she the girl by her bun, pulling her down to the ground with a thud "Hey you little bitch! Where the hell do you think you're going?!"
Tanjirou turns to the tall man to where his hands turns into fist. He tries to resist everything in his being from punching the every-loving daylights out of Daisuke. "You move when I fucking tell you to!" He spews in her face and then throwing her to the ground, making her groan in pain and grabbed some people's attention for only a couple seconds.
"Daisuke, stop hurting the girl! She's too valuable to afford and injuries" one of the guys from before shouted out, running towards the three people. Tanjirou in all of this grabs his sister and helps her stand up before he'd stood in front of her with hatred in his eyes. "Don't you ever lay YOUR disgusting hands on my little sister again or I swear I'll headbutt you across the sea." He threatens. Before the large men could do anything to the boy, Ryoichi interferes at the right time.
"Kamado-san, Kamado-kun, follow me to the district. Ill try to find somebody will come around and try to buy you both off. It'll be easy for you missy, but not so much your brother. So let's get going." The man adjusts his shirt before walking inside the town, making his coworkers follow behind.
Tanjirou turns to Nezuko and undo her bun, letting it fall to her butt. She turns red lightly and leans into her brother's hand that would cup her cheek softly. "Don't get so mad Nii-san, this isn't your battle to fight.." she whispers to him carefully. Tanjirou shakes his head and kisses her forehead gently and hugs her close to himself. "I will never let my baby sister suffer alone. Your battles are my own and we're face them together.."
"B-But-" Before Nezuko had the chance to rebuttal, Ryoichi calls out to them again.
"Hey, we don't got all day! Talk and walk!" He shouted. The duo turns to him only for a split second and then turns their attention to each other and starts walking in like they were told. They walked side to side, not stopping or slowing down their paces for a second as Nezuko continues to share her concerns in a whisper
"I don't need my big brother to always fight my battles...I don't want to have you see me suffer or be suffering yourself when the situation has absolutely nothing to do with you!" She yells in her whisper tone. Tanjirou rolls his eyes at her remark, not seeming to care.
"So? You're my little sister and I made a promise to myself and our parents that'll protect my siblings." He replies, moving a hand to hers and holding it tightly. The sister didn't return the hand holding at first, biting back the inner anger she had from her brother's protective nature.
When she slightly calms herself down, she held his hand back with a slightly more stronger hold. She turns her head to stare at the people they were passing and huffs out a "Fine, whatever."
Tanjirou took that and just looks around with his eyes. It was a beautiful and clean town so far in his eyes, the scent of cleanliness, water, grilled meat and fish, cooked rice and dandelion flowers. Women and men were rushing forward to the center of the town, bags on their backs or shoulders. He tilts his head in confusion, but only continued to walk forward.
The black-haired female eyed the passing women's kimonos and couldn't help but to feel a small sort of sadness in her heart. She loved her kimono, she really did! It was the only one she'd owned sure, but it was beautiful and fitted nice on her. But she'd seen many others and wanted to wear them for herself. The different patterns of floral colors and designs made her heart jump for joy. She loved the colors pink, white, red and sometimes green, so anytime she seen the fabric in those colors, she would stare down at them. Just now, she saw a women with a pink-and-green daisy-themed kimono with a red obi. Seeing her wear it made her smile in sadness.
Her family couldn't afford a lot of nice things, she knows that all to well. She was offered a new kimono on numerous occasions when Tanjirou caught her sewing hers in their one-shared bedroom.
'You're fixing your kimono again?' He sounded of distress and sadness. 'That's it, I'm buying you a new one.' He declared. She had turnt around and waved a hand at him in a negative response. 'No, No, It's fine really! Besides its not important! I rather use the money to feed our brothers and sister!'
"Don't worry Nezuko, I'll use the money I've earn to buy you another kimono. Just you wait." Tanjirou suddenly staid out loud to the both of them, snapping her out of her thoughts. She looks up at him and shook her head "No..No it's okay-"
"Look, we're here Nezuko..!" He interrupts, pointing to the open Plaza where shops, markets, houses and people surrounded the town within each corner, each building, and each shop.
Nezuko eyes glistens a little in joy and amazement at all the different shops for food. She only been eating rice balls the whole trip, and while it was good and nice, she wanted to switch up for a change. Though, it seems like that is going to have to wait.
"Nezuko and Tanjirou! This way! People of the Tokito House...you both are expected there!"
When Ryoichi called them both out, they pulled their full attention on him and walked to where he stood, two people that was an older man and woman. Seeming as how the woman was clinging onto the man, they seem to be married. Nezuko couldn't help, but to feel a tad bit worried of who they could turn out to be. Nonetheless, she walks forward with her brother until they were standing right across from the pair. Ryoichi nods and turns to the sibling duo with a hand gesturing in the couple's direction.
"This is Seiichi and Kin Tokito. This is your mistress and her husband of the house you'll be staying at. Treat them with the upmost respect."
Nezuko lets go of Tanjirou's hand and they both bowed their heads with a smile "Very nice to meet you. Please take care of us from now on."
Seiichi, the mistress, smiles and head pats the two. Her husband just stands there with a neutral look on his face.
"Oh it'll be our pleasure to have you two with us. Please follow us back to the house and we will get you settled in." She announces kindly.
"Yes ma'am!" They said in unison.
Ryoichi stood up tall and steps aside with Daisuke stomping down on the ground impatiently.
"Two months, Kamado. Two. Fucking. Months." He snarled, turning on his heel and walking away. Ryoichi follows shortly behind them. That left the four of them to stand there for only a mere ten seconds.
"Okay, okay. Shall we go now?" The older man declares, folding his arms across his chest.
"Yes sir." Nezuko replies back.
With the other two in agreement, they all made their way to the opposite side from where the siblings duo came in from. Maybe things wouldn't be too bad?
Back in the wooden home up on the snowy mountains two days before, Kie Kamado woken up by the harsh shaking from her youngest daughter. She rubbed her eyes and sits up slowly, letting out a "What's wrong Hana-" the little girl immediately interrupted her with a tight embrace and her tears flowing out of her eyes "I'm so sorry Mommy! I should of done a better job!"
Her suddenly outburst caused the rest of her siblings and her father. The poor mother was more awake now and held her daughter in her arms tightly, a hand rubbing her back to soothe her.
"Shhhh its okay...what happened dear?" She asked softly. Soon another voice came up that brought her to concern "Mom, there's a letter by Nee-Chan's futon..!" Shigeru told the black-haired women. Tanjurou, whose futon was next to his eldest daughter's, took it from the boy's hand and opens it and begun reading, having everybody's attention.
"To my beautiful parents and my loving siblings,
I am so sorry that I am not able to tell you this in person, but I am scared that you'll think less of me. Thought it makes no sense since I am saying this in a letter. Last night, I made the chose to sell my body in order to help pay off Tomoni's debt. I couldn't stand there and watch her be harassed, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I am so sorry Mom that I kept this from you last night. I didn't mean to make you upset, even now. Hanako, my baby sister, I wish you never heard anything that was said or witness what you did.
Please forgive your dumb big sister and take care of your brothers and daddy for me. Speaking of him, your medicine is in the bathroom cabinet. I gotten what I could and if you need more, Hanako will be willing to help you get some more. Also, you guys are probably wondering where's Tanjirou right? He came with me, He told me that he'll protect me from harm and keep watch of me while I'm doing what I am doing. Again, I am sorry to leave you all alone like this when we already don't have a lot. I'll return one day and bring back lots and lots of souvenirs and goodies! Just wait a little while okay?
Love Always,
Nezuko Kamado"
At the end of his reading, the man slowly puts down the letter on his lap as his eyes his wife, her eyes filling with tears. She now understood why her youngest daughter was in her arms now and hugs her tighter than before. Takeo, who was the one still laying down when the letter was read, covers himself with his blanket quickly. Rokuta took noticed and gently lays down on top of his brother silently sobs "S-S-So...we wont ever see Nii-chan and Nee-chan again?" He sobs out. The male parents lets out a heavy sigh and shakes his head in disagreement.
"Don't think that, of course we'll see them again...its only for two months. Besides, when they come back, we have to welcome them with the biggest hugs and kisses they ever gotten." Tanjurou then gently grabs the small baby and held him in his arms as bet as his body would let him
"Your brother and sister are carrying a big burden on their shoulders right now...but they're doing this for us, for our neighbors in town. We have to believe in them okay?" He tried to encourage, earning a hiccup and a nod right after "O-Okay.."
Tanjurou smiles and rubs his youngest cheeks gently with his thumb. His eyes them went towards his wife was still showing signs of distress. Because of this, he put the baby's head on his chest and gave his wife a serious look
"Kie." He calls.
The woman looks up to her husband and sniffles to get herself together. "Y-Yeah?"
"You too...lets believe that Nezuko and Tanjirou will be okay for now. We raised smart and loving children, I'm sure they'll make it through."
"But w-what if they don't d-dear-"
"They will. We just need to believe in them. They are our children Kie. We knew we couldn't protect them forever."
Tanjurou spoke in a calming tone despite how much pain he was both physically and mentally. He'd do anything and I mean anything to get his daughter and son back, but he had to have trust in them first before he could do anything. If something went terribly wrong, they would find a way to contact them no matter what.
The man turns to his youngest son that he was holding and rubs his head "For now, lets get ready for breakfast and pray for their safety. Takeo, can you cut the vegetables this time?" He turns to his second son with his smile on his face.
With a grumble, the boy rolls his way out of the bedding and stands up. "Yeah, sure thing."
Shigeru follows behind Takeo yelling out "I'll make the miso soup!"
The parents laughs lightly and watch their boys go to the kitchen as Kie still held a Hanako. The women pulls away from her youngest daughter "Hana, why don't you take Rokuta and set the table okay?"
Sniffling her last tears, the little girl mutters out a "O-Okay.." That's when the two pulled away completely and Hanako walks to her father, who was hold out Rokuta. The four-year-old child makes grabby hands towards his sister and was picked up immediately to set off to the kitchen.
Back in the Red-Light District, Nezuko and Tanjirou made it back to the Tokito Household, where they were immediately greeted by the maids and other girls of the household. While the maids were mostly friendly, at least up close, the other girls scoff and gave snotty looks towards them, especially to Nezuko.
When dismissed, Tanjirou was told to help out the maids with sweeping the floor while Nezuko was lead to her room.
"You're allowed to decorated however you like, but use your own money to get it." The husband told her with his arms still folded. He turns on his heel and closes the door behind him to give the girl her space.
Finally, being by herself, Nezuko sits down in a chair so she could relax for as long as she could. She looks around her empty room, her thoughts scattering around like bees in a hive. In the span of two months, she has to make up over seven-hundred thousand dollars. While she was told that girls get paid well if they give a great service, it didn't help make her feel better about this situation. She never taken time out to acknowledge what her body really looks like until now.
She was shorter than average height for girls, a few pounds underweight from not eating enough food in a day, her hair was longer than most girls when it was let down, her body was mostly slim except her thighs, and her face held delicacy. Was this what men wanted to see in their girls?
The girl stands up to her feet and walks out of her room, down the hall to the bathroom while passing by a few maids in the process. She closes the door behind herself and locks it, presses a hand to her chest before moving it to her back and undo the orange and green thread around her waist and then her obi. The clothing items fell on the ground with the quietest thud and her kimono slid off her shoulders. She opens the fabric to observe her semi-exposed skin. No scars, bruises, or birthmarks of any kind to make her really stand out on her upper torso. She worn a simple white bra to cover her average size breast and white panties. A hand went over to her stomach with gentle fingers she rubs it softly before moving it down to her legs. She turns to the side and moves her kimono out the way to look at her stretch marks on her legs.
"Mom, what are these lines on my thighs?" The girl recalls in her mind. Her mother tilted her head confused until Nezuko pulled up her kimono to show her what she'd meant. Kie could only smile at her eldest daughter at the time before forcefully pulling down the fabric slowly. She had this face like she'd anticipated that this was going to happen.
"Those are stretch marks sweetie. Usually if you get these, your body grows too fast for your skin to catch up, so it tears it a little. Do you not like them?"
Nezuko frowns and sat down next to the women with sadden eyes, feeling a little bit upset and scared by her marks on her body. "No, it looks like I've been ripped open and the wound never healed." Kie sighs hearing so, wrapping her arms around her daughter and pulls her close. It caught the young teenager back then off guard before she hugged back and tried to keep her tears bare minimal.
"My baby girl, these marks are what makes you unique. When you get old enough to where you have children, it might happen again. Maybe with your breast as well. Nonetheless, no matter where it is at, your scars, your marks, all of it is beautiful. Don't let yourself or anybody else tell you otherwise. Whoever you love, man or women, will accept all of you..please remember that my darling child."
Bring it back to the present day as the memories faded, she smiles and redressed herself with her kimono. "I am beautiful...no matter whom tells me different." She whispers to herself. The teen bends down to grabs her obi, but had to stand straight back up when a knock became on the door.
"Y-Yes?"
"It's me Nezuko, the Mistress would like to meet you as soon as humanly possible." Tanjirou's voice brought a little relief to her mind, going back down to grab her threads
"I'll be right out..!" She called through the wooden door. She quickly ties the threads around her body before unlocking and opening the bathroom door to see her big brother. He gave a her nervous smile and points down the hall behind him.
"She's the last door on your right." He instructed to which the sister nods her head and walks down the hall, standing up completely straight. Tanjirou watches her walked away momentarily, finding it within himself to smile weakly before going back to work to sweeping the floors.
'Hopefully everything is okay..' he told himself mentally