"Don't think bout that," Ju San said out loud to herself, pushing the memory of her brother's brutal demise out of her head.
She realized that she had been meaninglessly wandered through the streets. What am I doing this for anyway, she asked herself. Then she remembered: Master Naki. The man she would never have a chance with. Ju San knew Eto and Naki were sleeping together. It would make her stomach twist, when they would come downstairs in the morning, covered in the scents of the night before. Furthermore, Ju San often worked far into the night. When cleaning, she could sometimes hear the moans, gasps, and whimpers that came from her Master's room. And it wasn't fair. Why did Eto get to make him whimper like that? She obviously did not love him. Of course, Ju San was happy that her Master was enjoying himself. However, she also felt that she could give him just as much pleasure. But he was the master. And she was the lowly servant. A small sigh escaped her.
She thought about Naki's eyes. She loved them, and it broke her heart to see them when they were full of tears. She loved the eye shadow that he would smear on his eyelids. She loved his slicked back blond hair, and the one piece that sometimes refused to stay in place and would hand in his eyes. She loved his adorable black robe, and his dignified white suit. She loved the two earrings he wore in his left ear. She loved the way he carried himself, and she found his mispronunciation of words adorable. She just loved… him. His power and authority awed her.
However, she loved him when he was not powerful; when he was not authoritative. When he was a simple servant like herself. She remembered when he had short hair that hung in his eyes. She thought of his simple white t-shirt, and his baggy black pants. However, for all the time she had known the man, he had always had his eyelids darkened by eyeshadow.
How old was he now? Thirty? Ju San frowned. She was twenty-four. He had been eighteen when they met, meaning she would have been twelve or thirteen. They had known each other for twelve years now. And Ju San's love for the man had only grown. She smiled a bit, recalling how they met…
"There's a new servant," Ju Roku whispered to Ju San.
Ju San looked up at the thirteen year old boy who was scrubbing the floor of the entrance hallway with her. Shichi's black hair hung in his golden eyes. He had a small smile on his slender face, and he wore the rags all male servants did at Yamori's mansion.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Ju San asked, dipping her sponge in the soapy water that was in the bucket that was placed between the servants.
"Rumor says it's an eighteen year old guy," Ju Roku said. "Apparently, he challenged Master Yamori."
"Challenged him?" Ju San gasped. "What was he thinking?"
"I dunno," the black haired boy said.
"What's his name?"
"Don't know."
The day went by normal for Ju San. Many chores, as usual. It wasn't until sunset that Master Yamori had all the servants gather at the base of the staircase. The large ghoul was smiling cruelly down at everyone.
Ju San despised that man. She hated his ugly suit, his slicked back hair, and his cruel face. In Ju San's twelve year old self's opinion, he was the ugliest man that had ever lived. On the other hand, standing on his left on the staircase, was the most perfect human being that Ju San had ever laid eyes upon.
He was smiling shyly. He had blood red eyes and eyelids darkened with dark gray eyeshadow. Some of the makeup was smeared around his eyes, like he had been crying. He had an overall handsome face, with a sharp jawline. His blond hair awkwardly hung in his face, and Ju San thought it was adorable. He wore a stained white t-shirt that was a size or two to big, and baggy black pants with no shoes.
"This is Naki," Yamori said gruffly. "He's a new servant. He will sleep in bunk fourteen."
Ju San's heart sped up. That was right next to hers. Yamori turned and walked up the staircase, leaving Naki with the servants.
"That's odd," Ju Roku muttered. "Master Yamori didn't give him a number."
Ju San agreed with her friend; that was strange. She worked in the kitchen that night, packaging meat. She thought about the newcomer. Naki. Meaning to cry or lament. She thought it was adorable.
"Hey Ju Nana," Ju San said to the fourteen year old servant that was working beside her. "What do you think of the new servant?"
"Naki? He seems a bit odd."
"Like, do you think he's cute?"
Ju Nana shot the younger servant an odd look. "I mean, I guess. Do you?"
"Yeah," Ju San said, blushing. "Really cute."
"You're to young to be thinkin' like that," Ju Nana said, not looking up from her work.
"No I'm not!" Ju San protested.
"You're twelve."
"I'm almost thirteen," the doe eyed servant mumbled.
"And's eighteen," Ju Nana reminded Ju San.
"Whatever," Ju San muttered, done with this conversation.
That night, Ju San lay in bed. The large hand was almost to the twelve on the clock, meaning it was almost time for lights out. She looked at the rows of cots in the long room. It looked like what Ju San imagined an infirmary would look like. All of the cots were occupied, minus the one next to Ju San.
However, it wasn't empty for long. Naki quietly came in the door, and he shyly walked to his bunk. He was wearing baggy gray sweatpants and no shirt. Ju San felt herself blush a little at the sight of his well toned body.
He climbed into his bunk and curled up under the thin sheets.
"Lights out!"
The lights flicked off, and it became silent. Moonlight filtered in through the singular window, illuminating both Ju San and Naki. As much as the doe eyes servant yearned to talk to the new servant, she knew talking after lights out was forbidden. With nothing else to do, she was soon asleep.
Ju San awoke to someone lightly shaking her. She groaned and looked at the clock. It was hard to see in the dark, but she was able to make out it was almost three in the morning. She rolled over to see who had woken her, and she was surprised to see red eyes staring at her.
"Naki?" she mumbled. "What are you doing up?"
"Can't sleep," he said, eyes wide awake.
"We're not supposed to talk past lights out," Ju San said.
"Can we talk anyway?" he asked, curling his knees up to his body.
"Sure, I guess," Ju San said, feeling butterflies flying around in her stomach.
"How long have you worked for Boss Yamori?" he asked.
"All my life," Ju San said sadly. "And it's Master Yamori, not Boss. Just trying to make sure you don't get in trouble."
"He told me to call him Boss," Naki said, frowning.
"Oh," Ju San said. "That's odd. He gives us numbers."
"What's your name?"
"Ju San."
"Name, not number."
"My name is my number."
"Oh," Naki said. "Well, hi Ju San."
"Hi," Ju San said. Silently thanked god for the darkness; she didn't want Naki to see how much she was blushing.
"Do you have a family?" Naki asked.
"No," Ju San said tears welling in her eyes. "Never knew my parents. I had twin brother though."
"Where is your brother?"
"He died."
"I'm sorry," Naki said, tears welling in his eyes. The unshed tears glistened in the moonlight.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm sorry," Naki said, wiping his eyes. "I do that a lot. My brother's friends hated me cause of it."
"You have a brother too?"
"He died," Naki said, tears now flowing. "H—his name was Takeo. He died when I was five. My dad died before I was born, and my mom died having me."
"I'm sorry Naki," Ju San said, reaching out and touching his hand. He cried harder and took her small hand in his.
"My brother was killed by doves, and before he died, he told his friends they had to take care of me. They didn't do good job. They kept me in warehouse and hit me. Ran away when I was twelve."
"Sometimes I want to run away," Ju San said, holding tight on the older teenager's large hand.
Naki looked at her, shocked. "Why would you want to run away from Boss Yamori?"
Ju San returned Naki's shocked expression. "Why would you not?"
"Boss is amazing!" Naki said. "He's so powerful."
Ju San released Naki's hand and rolled onto her back. "He killed my brother," she said softly.
Naki was quiet at first. Ju San did not turn her head to look at the man until she heard his weeping.
"I'm sorry," he whimpered.
"It's okay," Ju San said, forcing a smile.
"H—how did he kill him?"
"He ate him."
Ju San left it at that; she did not want to describe the horrible things that had actually happened.
"I'm sorry," Naki said, tears flowing harder.
"It's okay I said," Ju San said, placing her hand back in his. "Don't cry over it."
"Okay, Ju San," he said, wiping his tears away.
"What kagune do you have?" Ju San asked out of curiosity.
"It comes out my shoulder. It's like a heavy sword."
"That's called a koukaku," Ju San explained. "I'm a rinkaku."
Naki stared at her blankly.
"It's like tentacles. It comes out of my waist."
"Tentacles?"
"Have you ever seen an octopus?"
Naki nodded. "At the market."
"Well, like octopus legs."
The blond ghoul's eyes widened. "So it has little suckers on it?"
"Well, no."
"Oh."
Ju San yawned.
"Are you tired?" Naki asked.
"Yeah," Ju San said.
"Will you show me how things work here tomorrow?" Naki asked.
"Yeah," Ju San said, closing her eyes. She smiled a bit, and a warm blush spread across her face.
"Goodnight, Ju San," Naki murmured, also closing his eyes.
"Goodnight, Naki."
And they fell asleep hand in hand.
The next day, as promised, Ju San showed Naki the ropes of the mansion. He learned with enthusiasm. Ju San discovered that her new friend was illiterate and had received no schooling, and she offered to show him words if he wanted. He had happily accepted.
Naki cried a lot, but Ju San really didn't mind. In fact, she made it a habit to carry a packet of tissues for him. When he cried, Ju San would hug him and dry his tears. Months went by like that. However, when Yamori during the day, he would sometimes bring Naki with him. For Ju San, those were the longest days.
However, even with Yamori's approval and shaky alliance, the blond ghoul didn't let his beloved boss take away any time he spent with the younger servant. When Naki would arrive back from wherever he had gone with Yamori, he would instantly seek out Ju San and would greet her with a warm hug. Each night, he would wake her up at some crazy hour, and they would have a private, and usually deep, conversation. The doe eyed servant felt as if she could talk the to the older ghoul about anything.
Soon, it was Ju San's birthday. Much to her disappointment, her birthday was on of the days Naki was away with Yamori. She didn't get much work done that day, she just lounged around in self pity.
"Why are you so grumpy?" Ju Roku asked as they dusted the dining room.
"Just am," Ju San said.
"It's your birthday," the black haired servant said. "You should be smiling."
"I guess."
"You're just not smiling cause Naki's gone today."
Ju San responded by rolling her eyes.
"Am I right?"
"Whatever."
"Ju San," Ju Roku said. "It's not a good idea to be close with Naki."
"Why?" Ju San asked, dusted the top of a picture frame.
"Well, he's kinda more than just a servant. He's like Yamori's helper."
"So?"
"So, it isn't good to be close to someone who's close to Yamori. Naki could be dangerous."
"Naki would never hurt me," Ju San said defensively. "We're already close anyway."
"That's what scares me," Ju Roku said, frowning. "Besides, he's what? Six years older than you?"
"We're just friends," Ju San said. "So age doesn't matter. I'm friends with a lot of other older servants."
"Not like the way you're friends with Naki," Ju Roku pointed out. "And I see the way you look at him. Now I mean that might not be a problem now, but in the future…"
"In the future we would be older, so age doesn't matter as much," Ju San said, scowling at the golden eyed boy next to her.
"I'm just trying to warn you," Ju Roku sighed. "This probably won't end well for you."
"Whatever."
Naki arrived back at the mansion just as Ju San was finishing dusting. He burst into the dining hall, smiling.
"Ju San!" he said gleefully.
"Naki!" she said. She went to hug him, but he put a hand out from where they were clasped behind him, preventing her from embracing him.
"Not yet!" he said, a grin on his face. "I got you something!"
"Got me something?" Ju San asked, eyes widening.
"It's your birthday!" Naki exclaimed.
He pulled his hand from behind his back. Ju San let out a squeal when she saw what he was holding. It was a flower crown, made of tiny plastic pink and white flowers. It was beautiful, and Ju San gingerly took it from her friend's hand.
"It's beautiful," Ju San breathed, holding the crown. It was the only gift she had ever received from anyone. She looked up at Naki, who was smiling.
"Do you like it?"
"Naki, I love it! Thank you so much!" Ju San paused. "How'd you get it?"
"I bought it. I did an job for Yamori, so he gave me some money."
Ju San stared at the older ghoul. "You spent your money… On me?"
Naki smiled and nodded. "I was gonna get you one with real flowers, but I didn't want them to die. This one you can keep forever."
"Thank you so much!" Ju San said, eyes wet with tears of joy. She hugged him tight. "Can you hold it for a second?"
Naki took the flower crown, and Ju San pulled out the pins, letting her hair out of the bun she was wearing. Her long hair swept down past her shoulder blades. She took the crown from the blond ghoul and placed it on her head. It slipped down a little.
"It's kinda big," Naki said, adjusting it on his head so it would not slip as much. "Only had one size."
"It's beautiful," Ju San said, hugging her friend once again.
Another few months passed. Naki's hair had grown longer, and Ju San often teased him about the hair that was constantly falling in his eyes. They took to a bench on the courtyard that they would sit on when they had finished their work for a day. They would sit together at dusk, and would talk happily of all sorts of things. Naki would tell Ju San of his experiences in the city, and Ju San would teach Naki new words. The young servant girl would use a stick to draw kanji symbols in the dirt below the bench. Naki forgot most of them, but she enjoyed the time spent nevertheless. Yamori still did not feed his servants well. The exception was Naki. The blond servant got food when he wanted, and he would often split his meal with Ju San.
It all seemed perfect, or as perfect things could get, for Ju San. Until one day. Ju San sat on the bench, waiting for Naki. She looked at the dusky sky with wide brown eyes, and she smiled. Five minutes later, Naki sat himself down next to her. His eyes were wide; he was obviously excited about something.
"Ju San!" he said. "Guess what!"
"What?" she said, looking at her friend who was practically shaking with excitement.
"Yamori gave me one of the guest bedrooms!" he explained. "I don't have to sleep in the servant place!"
"That's good," Ju San said, heart sinking.
Naki frowned. "You look sad."
"It's just, I'm going to miss you waking me up at night to talk. I won't really see you anymore," Ju San said. She was using all the strength she had not to cry. Her stomach churned, and she felt as if she would vomit.
"No!" Naki said. "Don't be silly. I will meet you here every night. And I will still you like normal during the day."
"Oh, okay!" Ju San said, a flood of relief washing over her. "Wait, you mean sneak out at night?"
Naki nodded. "Around three."
"How? The servant's door locks from the outside at night, and only the overseer has the key. And the window only opens from the outside."
"I thought bout that," Naki said, smiling. "See, I'm moving to that room."
Naki pointed at a room on the opposite side of the courtyard. It was on the upper level and had a balcony. The balcony had a vine covered white trellis leaning against it.
"Yeah?"
"Well, I can climb down the plant ladder at night," he said, eyes gleaming.
"It's called a trellis. And how will I get out?"
"Servant place is on first floor!" he said, grinning. "I will open the window and you can climb out!"
Ju San stared at Naki. It was an idea that she was surprised to hear come out of his mouth; for Naki was not all that, well, educated.
"That's a great idea!" Ju San said, smiling.
Naki nodded, and soon, the two went inside and parted ways. That night, Ju San slept soundly in her cot. A slight tapping on the window roused the light sleeper. She smiled a bit when she saw Naki looking in. She crept over to the glass, and Naki quietly opened the filthy window.
Ju San scrambled out the window and into the courtyard. The two servants walked over to their favorite bench and sat down. Ju San yawned and leaned on her friend.
"I'm tired," she said.
"That's cause it's late," Naki informed her.
"Really now," Ju San said, managing a small chuckle.
"Yes," he said. "Guess what."
"What?"
"Yamori asked me to join Aogiri."
Ju San's head shot up from where it was resting on Naki's arm. "Are you gonna?"
"Told him I wasn't ready yet," Naki said.
"Okay," Ju San said, returning to her position leaning on her friend's arm.
"Does that make you happy?" Naki asked.
Ju San was silent for a moment. "Yes."
"Good."
Naki and Ju San continued to meet like that every night. Naki eventually just left the window unlocked so that he didn't have to unlock it each time. However, the blond ghoul's trips into the city with Yamori became more and more common. Sometimes, he would be one for two or three days at a time. Even when he was gone, Ju San would sit out on the bench to watch the sunset if she could, and then sneak out to sit in the courtyard at night. Though he was busy often, Naki would see Ju San whenever he got the chance. He still greeted her with a hug and a smile.
Before either of them knew it, Naki was twenty and Ju San was fourteen. Work had only gotten harder as Ju San had gotten older, and Naki and Yamori's trips had only gotten longer. One day, on a regular routine afternoon, Naki came into the living room looking a bit different.
"Ju San!" he called out.
The doe eyed servant was cleaning ash out of a massive fireplace. At the sound of her friend's voice, she smiled. Naki had been gone for four days, and Ju San had been especially lonely this time. She turned around, and her smile turned to confusion when she saw him.
Naki's shaggy, long blond hair was now nicely combed and parted into three sections. His bangs were gone. Two black earrings now decorated his left ear. However, he still wore servants clothes.
"Naki?"
"What do you think?" he asked.
Ju San was shocked at his change in appearance, but not in a bad way. He looked neater, and more like a gentleman.
"You look handsome," Ju San blurted out before she could stop herself. She blushed at the words that had escaped her mouth. Of course, she had always considered Naki handsome, but she had never said anything.
"Really?" Naki asked, face brightening even more. "Thank you!"
He walked over and hugged the other servant, getting ash all over himself. He didn't seem to mind.
Despite being gone often, Naki tried his best to make up for it. Whenever he went on a trip, he always made sure to bring back a flower for his friend. Ju San loved the flowers he gave her.
Al little less than a year passed, and one night, Naki and Ju San were sitting out on their bench, and Ju San was trying to show Naki how to write his name.
"This is how you write my name," she said, using a stick to draw the kanji in the mud below.
"It's to dark," Naki whined. "I can't see what you're doing."
"I'm sorry."
"Use this," Naki said, handing her a pocket knife. "Write on the bench."
"Where'd you—."
"Yamori gave it to me," Naki said, cutting the younger ghoul off.
Ju San took the knife from Naki and began to carve her name into the marble bench.
"See the cross I made?" she said as she carved. "And then the second character is just three lines that are laying on their sides."
"I'm going to write mine," Naki said, taking his knife back. "How do I start again?"
"The curve."
"Oh yeah," Naki said, and he carved a curve that sloped to right and then up. "Then I draw a line in the middle of that, right?"
"Right."
"Then for the next character," speaking out his actions as he carved. "I draw an up and down line. And the two laying down lines across it."
"Yes."
Naki finished carved and put the knife back in his pants pocket. He smiled contently as how he had written his name. It was sloppy, but it was a start.
"Good job," Ju San said, smiling.
Naki was silent. Ju San looked at him, but he just continued staring at the bench.
"Naki, what is it?"
No response.
"Naki?"
"We carved our names together," he said, finally speaking.
Ju San looked at their names. She hadn't even thought about that. "So we did."
Even though it was dark, Ju San could have sworn she saw a smile on his face.
"Ju San," he said, bringing his face uncomfortably close to hers. "I—I have to tell you something."
"Yes?" Ju San's heart was pounding.
"I joined Aogiri."
Ju San's heart twisted and her stomach flopped. Tears welled in her eyes and her hands began to shake.
"Wh—what does that mean?" Ju San asked, voice choked.
"Shhh, don't cry," Naki said, wiping her eyes. "I'll still live here. I just won't be a servant anymore."
"Wh—what am I supposed to do?" Ju San said, crying harder.
"The same," Naki said, pulling her close. "I don't want anything to change. I really don't. I want to stay with you."
"Then why are you leaving?" Ju San said through tears.
"I'm not leaving," Naki said, wiping more of her tears. "But don't you wanna be more than a servant?"
"Ye—yeah," Ju San sniffled.
"Well this is my chance. And maybe I can get Boss Yamori to make you not a servant."
"I'm gonna miss you," Ju San said, burying her head into his chest and wetting his shirt with her tears.
"I'll be here with you," Naki said. "You're fifteen now. You're strong."
Ju San clung to his shirt and sobbed. Naki cupped her face in his hands and brought her tearstained face close to his. "Be strong for me," he said, lightly planting a kiss on the tip of her nose.
"Okay," Ju San said. "I'll be strong. For you."
Naki smiled, and then his expression turned forlorn. He ghosted his fingers over their names they had carved into the bench. Tears welled in his eyes, and a small smile flickered across his face. He stood up and began to walk across the courtyard. He was a few yards away, and then he turned and looked back at the girl on the bench.
"Goodnight, Ju San," he said, echoing his self the first night they had talked.
"Goodnight Naki," Ju San choked out.
Ju San returned to the servants quarters. She did not sleep that night.
The next day during morning routine, a assembly alarm rang out through the mansion. Ju San and the other servants rushed to the bottom of the steps. Yamori stood a few steps above them. When everyone was silent, he spoke.
"You have a new master. I am not going anywhere, but now you will serve him as well."
Hushed whispers went through the crowd, but Yamori's cold gaze soon silenced everyone.
"Some of you may already know him."
Ju San heard footsteps coming down the hall on the upper level. A man appeared on the staircase, and he elegantly walked down the steps to join Yamori.
He was a young man, and he was tall and attractive. He had paralyzing, hooded red eyes. On his eyelids, there was a neat coat of black eyeshadow. He had two black earrings in his left ear. His blond hair was about an inch above shoulder length and was combed neatly into three sections. He was scowling, but he carried himself in an elegant manor. He wore a stiff, navy blue dress shirt and a white blazer and slacks. He wore a cologne that smelled like what Ju San figured heaven smelled like. Dress shoes adorned his feet that clomped down the stairs, each step echoing throughout the mansion.
"Naki," Yamori said. "Or as you'll refer to him as, Master Naki."
He gazed over the crowd, eyes emotionless. Ju San stared at the man. Her heart was racing in her chest. Naki was her master now? Her heart was twisted, and she thought she might throw up right then and there. She broke into a sweat, and her entire body shook.
"I expect you to treat him as you would treat me," Yamori continued. "He is an Aogiri member like myself and is to be respected. You are excused."
Ju San pushed past everybody and locked herself in the bathroom. She vomited into the toilet. The acid burned her throat, and the choked sobs she let out weren't helping any. Ju San spent her day sobbing and throwing up in the bathroom.
That night, Ju San snuck out to the bench. She waited for Naki, tracing her fingers over the names carved in the bench. She waited long into the night for the blond ghoul. He never came.
The next morning. Ju San brewed coffee. She brought the steaming cup of liquid to the dining room. Yamori was absent, and Ju San recalled that he had something to take care of that we would be away for. However, Naki sat by his lonesome at the table.
Ju San carried the coffee over and set it down in front of him.
"Your coffee, Naki."
"Master Naki," he corrected, not touching the coffee or looking at the servant.
"Naki…"
At this, he looked up at who was addressing him. His emotionless gaze did not falter. His voice was monotone and calm. "Yes?"
"Yo—you didn't come last night," Ju San stuttered.
A flood of emotions rushed into Naki's red eyes; breaking the stoic demeanor he had demonstrated since he was released from his bonds as a servant.
"I'll come tonight," he said in a hushed voice, glancing around to make sure they were alone. "I need to talk to you."
Ju San nodded curtly and hurried out of the room, Naki's words making a pit in her stomach that would last all day. That night, Ju San arrived at the bench early. She fiddled with her hands, feeling anxious. After what seemed like forever, a man in a white suit climbed down the trellis and walked across the courtyard.
Naki did not sit down on the bench beside her. "Ju San," he said. His tone was empty and emotionless.
"Naki."
"Look," he said. "I am now part of Aogiri. I am Yamori's right hand man. I am, well, your master. And you, you're a servant."
Ju San stared at her old friend. She could feel a pressure building in her chest. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he said. "We can't be friends. Not now. And we can't be friends in the future—," his gaze flickered to the names carved on the bench. "Or anything more than that."
Ju San stared at Naki is disbelief. Her heart had snapped in two.
"Y—you," Ju San stuttered. "You promised—."
"Please," Naki said, cutting her off. There were tears in his eyes.
Ju San became silent. They gazed each other, unblinking. Finally, Naki turned and made his way back across the courtyard and ascended his trellis for the last time. Ju San cried on the bench until dawn, and she snuck back inside.
And that's how things were. After a couple days of complete despair, Ju San decided on a new goal in life— to make her beloved Naki happy. Hell, she thought. He's suffered enough. His entire family died, and he was abused. He was a servant for years. This is his big break. He deserves it. He doesn't need a lowly servant like me getting in the way.
And that was it. Servant Ju San served Master Naki the best she could. And every day, Ju San told herself she was happy like this. But each night, she would make her way to a bench in the courtyard in the moonlight. And she would cry.
Time flew by, and Ju San was now seventeen. Master Naki was twenty three. He was often away on trips, and Ju San missed the warm hugs she had once received upon his return. Naki was still very attractive, with his suits and fancy colognes and neatly combed hair. But Ju San missed Naki, the ragged servant.
One day, Naki left like always. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Ju San mentally bid him goodbye, silently watching him leave the mansion. He did not return for a week. Ju San just assumed he was on a long trip and carried on with usual work.
It was when he was gone for two weeks did she know something was wrong. The other servants picked up on it too. After two and a half weeks, Yamori called an assembly.
He stood on the steps, scowling down on the servants.
"As you probably noticed, Naki hasn't been around," he said, shifting uncomfortably. "Well, that's because he was captured. By doves. He was not killed, but instead, locked up in Cochlea. It's a ghoul prison. He has as long as the CCG finds him valuable. After that, he will be exterminated."
Ju San stood frozen. "No," she murmured. "No, no, no."
Yamori dismissed the servants, and Ju San spent another day vomiting and crying in the bathroom.
The next five months were utter hell for Ju San. She sunk into a state of depression. She either felt completely emotionless or an intense sadness she had never encountered before; not even after her brother died. She simply did not care anymore. Ju San ate almost none of the scraps of meat she found, and her weight plummeted. She felt the urge to do nothing but sleep all day, but when it came time for lights out, she could not sleep. Ju San spent her nights crying on the bench in the courtyard. She could not focus on her duties, and she isolated herself from the other servants.
"You're seventeen for christ's sake," she told herself. "Get it together."
But as much as she wanted to, she couldn't. One day, Yamori left on a trip. It was business as usual. Heikinotoko, the overseer, was in charge of the mansion.
Three days later, Ju San was scrubbing tiles in the entry hall at three in the morning. Now, it was long past lights out. However, Master Yamori had informed her he wanted it done, and she couldn't leave it half complete.
It was storming outside; the type of storm nobody should be out in. That's why the sudden knock on the door surprised Ju San. She frowned and stood up, brushing herself off. It couldn't be Yamori; he had the keys.
Ju San slowly opened the door. A flash of lightening illuminated the figure standing in the doorway.
He was thin and ragged looking, and was wearing prison clothes. His body was bruised, and his hair was long and unruly. His eyes were desperate and sad, and tears streamed down his face.
"My Ju San," he said, practically collapsing on the young servant. She managed to catch the man, and she laid him out on the floor for she could not carry his weight.
"Sir?" she asked the man. "Sir, are you alright?"
"My Ju San," he said, choking on the words. "Have you been eating?"
Even though his appearance was ragged and messy, Ju San would recognize that voice anywhere.
"Master Naki!" Ju San gasped.
"It's just—," he coughed. "Just Naki tonight, my love."
Ju San's brain was working overtime. Naki was alive? Where was Yamori? Did he just call her 'his love'?
"You're alive," tears of joy flooded to the servant's eyes.
"Boss Yamori," he choked out. "Is dead."
Tears rushed down Naki's face, and his wails filled the mansion.
"Sssshhhhh," Ju San said, trying to hush the blond ghoul's cries.
"Ju San," he choked out. "It was awful. So lonely."
"It's going to be okay," Ju San paused, and then unknowingly quoted the man she was now cradling in her arms like a baby. "You're strong."
"I—I wanna go to my room," he said, sobbing.
"Can you walk?" Ju San asked, propping his head up better.
"Yes," Naki said, tears streaming harder.
Ju San helped the man up and then helped him up the stairs. He leaned on her and they walked down the hallway.
"Boss Yamori," Naki sniffled. "Ju San, I missed you."
"I missed you too," Ju San said, deciding to to get emotional just yet.
She brought the man to his bedroom and laid him out on the bed. She huffed and wiped the sweat off her brow.
"Ju San, my love."
There it was again. The servant's heart lurched.
"I want a bath," he said. "I'm so dirty. I hate these prison clothes, I want them off."
"Yes Master Naki," Ju San said, hurrying to the bathroom to start a bath. As she began to walk away, the man caught her by her wrist,
He looked up at her with the saddest eyes Ju San had ever seen. "It's Naki. Just for tonight. Tonight it's just Naki. Tonight you are not a servant."
Ju San stared at Naki, unsure how to respond. He loosened his grip, and Ju San walked into the bathroom attached to his room and flicked on the lights. She drew a bath of hot water, and returned to the bedside to inform him that she had done as he had wished.
"Help me," he said, tugging at his shirt.
Ju San swallowed hard and helped Naki out of his prison shirt. He then tugged at his pants a couple times, and then looked at Ju San with pleading eyes. Ju San, feeling awkward, helped her longtime friend out of his pants and underwear.
Now, if Naki had been laid out on a bed naked in front of her in any other circumstance, Ju San would've felt a whole different slur of emotions. But here, in this minute, she felt completely calm. All she could feel was relief that her beloved Naki was alive.
She helped Naki over to the bathtub, which he climbed in, legs shaking. He let out a sigh as he sunk into the warm water. Ju San noticed his entire body was bruised, and she couldn't help but wonder what had happened in the prison.
"I'll give you some privacy," Ju San said, turning to leave the room.
Once again, Naki caught her wrist. "Please stay with me," he said quietly,
Ju San sat down beside the tub, and Naki leaned his head on hers. His red eyes were open wide, and tears streamed from them.
"Ju San, I missed you."
"I missed you too," Ju San said, taking his hand in hers as they had many years before. Tears dribbled down her face.
"Not just in prison," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"When I'm 'master Naki'," he said softly. "I don't miss the servant life. But I miss you. I miss our bench."
"It's still there," Ju San said, voice low and sleepy. "Names are still carved in it."
"I miss that bench," he said, tears still flowing.
"Me too."
"You know why I did it, right?" Naki asked, squeezing the servant's hand.
"Did what?"
"Became 'Master Naki'."
"You wanted out of the servant life. It was your big break."
Naki nodded. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
"Sorry, Ju San. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," she said.
The two stayed hand in hand with Naki in the bath and Ju San sitting on the tile until the water got cold.
"I wanna get out," he said quietly.
Ju San helped him out of the tub, and helped dry him off. The awkwardness she had felt before was no longer present.
"I wanna go to bed," he said, yawning.
Ju San guided him to the bed and then helped him into a pair of black sweats. She made sure he was comfortable under the blankets, and sat down on the bed.
"Stay," he mumbled.
Ju San curled up under the covers with him, and he pulled her close. Naki stopped wiggling when their bodies were perfectly interlocked.
"Ju San?"
"Yes?"
"Do you forgive me?"
"Yes Naki. I forgive you."
"Are you tired?"
Ju San paused. The words of the first night they had spoken were fresh in her memory. She smiled a bit. "Yeah."
Naki silent for a moment. "Will you show me how things work around here tomorrow?"
Ju San's heart lurched. "Yeah."
"Goodnight, Ju San," he said, burying his nose against her.
"Goodnight Naki."
The next morning, Ju San awoke and Naki was gone from the bed.
Naki reverted back to 'Master Naki', and he took full control of the mansion. He treated Ju San well enough, but he never once acknowledged the events of the night he had returned. He was the master. She was the servant.
Ju San collapsed in sobs in a side alleyway of Tokyo. "Stop remembering!" she screamed, not caring if anyone heard her. "It's master now! Things wont't ever be the same again! Just find those goddamn children, put that smile on his face!"
She lay on the ground, her body shuddering with sobs.
"Are you okay?"
Ju San looked up to see who had expressed concern for her. A young child stood over her. She had pale skin, and long white hair with bangs. Her green eyes were wide, round, and curious."
"Y—yeah," Ju San said, getting to her feet, embarrassed a child had seen her like this.
"I'm Hitomi," the girl said. "Who are you?"