Act 7: Red Hot Lady Lights
Momohime woke up early in the morning, before the Edo entrance gates were opened or before the samurai night guardsman switched shifts with the dusk guards.
She then walked out of the living quarters and proceeded to the second floor of the female indoor bathhouse.
Momohime began to slowly take off her white kimono and dip into the warm steamy water that felt wonderful on her smooth skin.
Ahhhh, this feels like heaven. Momohime thought as the crystal clear water surrounded her body. She then began to rub and scrub her jet-black hair with an herbal shampoo she bought yesterday with Kisuke.
It seems like my very own personal indoor bath, reserved for me, just how I like it; no annoying ninja or teasing Kitsune bothering me while I'm relaxing in peace and quiet.
After a few minutes passed, Momohime finally got out of the bath, shaking the water droplets as she wiggled her hips from side to side. Then grabbed her fluffy white towel, and rubbed it alongside her thick soft butt cheeks.
Afterward, she covered her private parts as the towel absorbed the water on her skinny body. She then shook the water off her loose curly hair left and right a little, throwing droplets of water through the air as she waited to dry off her moistened skin.
As the rays of sunlight cracked through the curtained window and glinted on her beautiful body, as she gently moved her towel alongside her wet naked figure and finally dried off and got dressed, into her iconic pink kimono, socks, sandals, and ached her pink flower and hair ornament back on her hair.
The room was a little damp, by the time she opened the door, which was fine.
She wants to be warm on a breezy day, especially during the last week of February. Momohime later went down to the inn on the first floor bartending area to order her breakfast and maybe have a short conversation with the bartender/owner Kairu.
"So what shall the lady, like for breakfast huh?" Kairu said, awaiting her order.
"I shall have the steamed white rice with a side order of two red bean-mochi and a cup of mecha please."
"Your order will be here in a few minutes. By the way where is your little ninja friend? Is he still having a hangover because he was drunk last night?"
"Yes sir, but don't worry I left the bucket right near Kisuke, in case he suddenly throws up."
"If he messes up my floor, you two are paying extra okay," Kairu said in a stern tone.
"Yes sir," Momohime said as she bowed her head as a sign of respect. "And speak of the devil, your food is here, please enjoy."
"Thank you very much." Momohime began to grab her chopsticks and ate piece by piece of the warm tiny rice and a few bites out of her red bean mochi. "This is so delicious, my compliments to the chief."
"No problem, I'm happy to satisfy each and every one of my customers." The chief said in the background. While Momohime was taking a sip of water from her wooden cup.
"Uhh, Momohime you have a little bit of rice and red bean on your face," Kairu said to Momohime after she drank her water.
"Oh dear, do you have something, so I can wipe my face off please," Momohime said, feeling a little embarrassed for making such a small mess on her face.
I must have been really hungry, especially after sewing Kisuke's woven hat back together and adding in camellia, orchids, and sakura flowers.
He is gonna be so angry when he sees it, Momohime thought as he laughed in her inner consciousness.
"Yeah, we got a well out back you could use to wash your face off okay," Kairu said as he pointed his thumb in the direction. "Thank you," Momohime said as she walked over to the backyard where the well resided for the public is so inadequate for a princess such as me to present me.
Even if I am using a fake name and pretending to be an innocent vagabond while hiding my true origin. I still hold my family with honor and pride.
Momohime thought while looking at the water that reflected her messy face. She began to splash the clear water on her face, getting rid of the leftover food off her face until she heard a strange sound of grass being stomped on the ground.
"Who there?" I could've sworn I heard someone just now, Momohime thought as she wiped away water droplets on her face.
But before she could see the surroundings behind her, several hands grabbed her and put her down on the ground. With one eye open, she glimpsed at the assaulters that ambushed her without warning.
Those were the same thugs, Kisuke defeated yesterday, what do they want with me!?
Momohime left brain: Uhh...I think my lips and face just smudged on the dirt. And I just washed my face, moments ago damn it!
Momohime right brain: Who gives a fuck about our pretty little face, these guys are probably gonna rape us or cut our body parts for all we know!
"What are you gonna do to me? let me go!"
Instantly, a white cloth was thrown over her mouth and pulled tightly, while she gagged and squirmed around the floor, trying her best to call for help.
Until she was banged on the head by a wooden club, before her version began to blackout she let one of her own hair ornaments fall off by shaking her head.
Momohime then murmured, "Kisuke; please…save me." The agony was severe but short. Momohime's eyelids began to twitch before she finally passed out. Afterward, the men threw her into a large enough straw basket that will fit a young woman.
And then carried her out of the area as if nothing happened. When she awakened, Momohime found herself in a wooden cage. With a couple of other women surrounding her.
"What the heck is going on!? You guys with the slave trade or something?" Momohime angrily questioned the thugs who pushed her into their prison.
"You're in a brothel, inside the New Yoshiwara pleasure district outside of Edo." The thug answered and continued. "We're gonna make money off your lovely body, after the little stunt your boyfriend just pulled on us yesterday."
"You gotta be joking? You're making me suffer, all because my bodyguard beat you and your thugs!"
"Yes, that's right."
"Looks like we got ourselves a clever courtesan, isn't that right boys."
"Hahahaha, I can't wait to have her tomorrow night." One of the thugs said, trying to strike fear into the young lady, but with no prevail.
"Just you wait, Kisuke is gonna find me and you'll regret ever being born!"
"Yeah, yeah whatever you say, prostitute, now put on this damn five-layer kimono and hair ornament. Then start entertaining your new patrons by serving us some sake, mochi buns, hahahahaha."
Kisuke was still lying on his warm, soft, and fluffy white futon still sleeping, blinded by his outside surroundings. Until the afternoon sunlight began to shine on his face, waking up the young ninja instantly.
Ahhhh, damn it…this hangover hurt my aching head so badly. It felt like that time that Yamabushi restored all my memories back after using Buddhist charms to battle against me a month ago.
I smell like shit right now, so I better go take a bath and find myself some breakfast. Then figure out where the heck Momohime wandered off to this time.
Kisuke walks out of the rented room and proceeds forward on birchwood planks that lead to the second-floor male indoor bath.
Where he removed his ninja attire and pulled down his white silk cloth fundoshi, having his dick completely exposed. As he began to step into the heated water.
"Ahhhhhhhh. Just what I need."
Kisuke then poured the warm water on his back and face, while applying soap to his underarms. Getting rid of sweat and body odor.
While taking a few moments to relax in the pleasant water surrounding him. Five minutes passed and Kisuke began climbing out of the bath and grabbed his towel as he began to wrap it around his exposed chest and cover it down to his waistline.
Later Kisuke exited the indoor bathhouse area and proceeded downstairs to enter the first-floor bartending area for his afternoon meal. Then ask Kairu where is Mina aka Momohime.
"So sleeping beauty has finally awakened. You sure were drunk last night kid, but at least you didn't trash my inn by picking a fight as you did with those samurai bodyguards, that try to execute my brother on the city streets."
It's a good thing I didn't cause collateral damage to the inn. Momohime would have a bad mood if we were kicked out of an inn for half price, Kisuke thought, feeling quite glad he didn't cause too much trouble yesterday.
"Yeah I'm glad too, but anyway I would like to order one bowl of kitsune udon and a cup of Kyobancha please."
"Your order will be here soon."
Hey, Kairu have you seen Mina anywhere? Because I haven't seen her this afternoon.
"I told her to wash her face by the well in the back of the yard. After she was done with her meal. She hasn't come back to the inn since."
"That's weird, maybe she left behind a note in our room or something?"
"Probably went to the Edo shopping distraction to buy some trinkets and accessories. You know how women love pretty clothes and shiny gemstones."
"Yeah that is true, but we both agreed to save our Ryo until we reached Central Shinano. Maybe I could find some clues by the backyard, once I find that note in the rent room."
"Before you go about your business to find your girlfriend. You might want to pay your bill for the lunch you requested earlier."
"Yes, of course, once you hand over my food and I'm finished eating. Then I promise to give you my money."
"By the way, Mina is not my girlfriend. She is my friend, okay."
"That's not what I heard when you were drunk last night," Kairu replied, unconvinced by Kisuke's annoyed tone to clarify his relationship with Mina.
That kid is in denial or just really dense on the concept of love, Kairu thought as he shakes his head left to right, disgusted by Kisuke hiding his true feelings.
"Whatever, wasn't that bad last night, right?" Kisuke said he was a little worried about what happened when he was drunk.
Oh great Kumi, I hope I didn't say or do anything stupid with Momohime. She will probably kill me, the moment she looks at me.
"Hey kid, that's all you're gonna hear from me. It's up to your woman to decide your reward or penalty." Kairu said with a grin on his face as he continued.
"I think the cook is done making your food now, enjoy the meal."
"I'll eat as fast as I can. Shouldn't leave on her own in the big city. People can easily take advantage of her." Kisuke responded while slurping his noodles and soup. I'd never get tired of eating this, Kisuke thought while he was taking a bite out of his tofu and took a sip of his tea. While Kairu was serving other customers.
"That really hit the spot, thank you for the food," Kisuke informed Kairu as he placed the money on the bar stand and went back to the rented room, where he found a note written by Momohime on the nightstand, next to an item wrapped with small sheets of paper.
It said. "Dear Kisuke, due to your unpleasant and embarrassing performance in the bar last night I decided to punish you for the entire afternoon."
"How exactly will I do that, you're wondering? Well, as you may know, the samurai law enforcement is hunting you down because you embarrassed their strongest swordsmen and the daimyo himself too."
"So I guess you'll wear your dirty old woven hat to hide your face as usual. When bounty hunters, outlaws, and samurai want to arrest or kill you."
"So I took the decency of repairing and decorating your woven hat, good as new. Placing a couple of camellia, orchids, and sakura flowers inside your woven hat, when you wear it outside in front of the public."
-Love Princess Momohime
-P.S "If you think about staying indoors all day long, trying to escape your punishment. I'll give you an even more devastating penalty for embarrassing me like that in front of everyone at the bar table."
"I won't say how much pain or suffering. Because it's too unspeakable to say or write on paper."
"Okay then, she was really pissed off, when I was fooling around last night. Now I'm going to be the laughing stock of Edo if I wear this ridiculous thing!"
But at least she repaired the dents and scrapes on the top part of the straw sedge hat, so the public won't look at me with an odd face.
Besides, I don't really have a choice at the moment. Kisuke sighed as he put on the woven hat decorated with colorful flowers and left the Moonlit Spirit Inn to search for his friend.
I should start looking for clues in the backyard of the well. These footprints look weird; seems like someone was desperately struggling away from these people.
But who are they and why would they do this? Hey, are these Momohime hair flower ornaments? She would never leave this behind, especially on the dirty floors.
She is definitely in serious danger, but the question is who are the scumbags that kidnapped her? Maybe I should ask questions from the citizens around this street if they saw anything strange happening in the morning.
Wearing this girly style of woven hat in front of the public has to be the most embarrassing thing I have ever done in my entire life. But it will be worth it to save her.
"Excuse me sir, but have you seen anything strange come out of that backyard in the morning?"
"Well, I did see these two thugs carrying a huge straw basket, in a big hurry for some reason."
"Do you have any ideas where they went exactly?"
"Well, it's kinda hard to talk if my mouth is full."
"This is an emergency my friend could be in danger!"
"Hey, money talks kid, if you don't have any. I suggest you beat it, I gotta sweep these dead leaves off my porch." Well, I can't just waste the rest of my money. It's for our trip to Central Shinano.
If I draw my blades, he just calls the police and I'll never be able to save Momohime.
"Okay fine, but it better be top-of-the-line information, old man," Kisuke informed, as he handed out 7 mon.
"Now start talking."
"I saw those two guys heading towards New Yoshiwara pleasure district. They're more than likely heading towards a brothel or something."
"Thanks."
"By the way, kid you're not gonna get any ladies or booty with a cute straw hat like that?" The old man replied while laughing at Kisuke's distinguished appearance.
"Keep laughing and you'll tempt me to draw my blades and last I checked, peasants, are supposed to be seen and not heard. While showing some respect to warriors like the samurai and ninjas."
"My apologies, I misjudged for age and stature." The old man then bowed his head, as a sign of forgiveness. "Your apology is accepted, besides I can't waste my time talking to you, there is a good friend who needs my help and I'm gonna need a plan in order to save her."
"Well good luck kid, you're gonna need it."
Kisuke began running through the busy crowded streets of Musashi. Where few people laughed at his cute straw hat design.
While others thought the kid lost a bet or was dared by friends to embarrass himself. If I'm going to save Momohime I'm gonna need a distraction and a backup plan just in case. "Hey, pedaler do you have any smoke bombs for sale."
"Yeah sure, that will be 10 mon."
"Here you go."
"Pleasure of doing business."
Now I just have to find Momohime in the New Yoshiwara district. She is most likely housed in a brothel, so I'll take a little peek through some of the surrounding buildings on the first floor to find her.
If that's not possible I'll sneak on the rooftops to locate her at night. Kisuke started browsing through brothel after brothel, where some of the businesses were displaying young and old women in wooden cages within their establishment. In order to attract attention.
"Wait is that Momohime!? Why on earth is she squinting her face and eyes like that?" Kisuke said to his own thoughts, feeling a little confused by her actions until he finally understood her true intentions.
"Now I get it, she is making her face look ugly on purpose, so she won't get laid, pretty clever."
Either way, that trick won't last for long and it's not like I can save her in broad daylight, they will recognize my face and they will probably kill both of us if I attempt to save Momohime. And even if I managed to escape, I'll be chased by the police.
For now, I'll wait until sunset or the evening hours to save her. But if she gets picked by a male or female I'll do everything in my power to save you Momohime, I promise.
It has already been a whole day and I can't stand a single moment of this crazy place! There is no freedom, hope, or fulfillment.
Just the satisfaction of pleasing these pervy men. As her eyes adjusted and looked around, at some of the prostitutes trying to attract men, while others looked away, feeling nothing but pain and misery within their eyes and body language.
My face is starting to hurt, every second. It's agonizing and it will definitely ruin my beautiful face and cheekbones.
"What the fuck are doing lady?" Said the old courtesan woman. Wearing a lavish four-layer kimono with a beautiful ocean theme with salmon swimming.
"Can't you tell, instead of attracting clients, I'm scaring them away, if I don't get any clients, the owner will fire me and I can leave this disgusting place."
"That is not how it works, around here kid. If you don't get any customers. You won't be able to leave by paying off your debt."
"Plus they'll just train you on how to act like a proper courtesan." The old courtesan replied. "Escape is impossible, this is our faith and destiny."
"I refuse to believe that! You're the only person who gets to choose how to live your life. If you truly hate the way you live, then fight back until the very end."
"Easier said than done."
"Then you're just giving up on yourself."
"I already did twenty-five years ago. Trust me you'll change your ideals once you stay here as much as I did."
"I won't let that happen!"
"Wow, this cat-house skirt has the perfect face." Said the bolded old man with glasses and some tooth loss.
"Say what!?" Momohime shouted with a surprised facial expression.
"You're the type of sexy lady, I have been looking for." The old man said as he pointed at Momohime.
"I want you to look at me like that and tell me I'm a very bad boy." The old man said as he tacked her and pinned her against the futon, gently stroking his hand across her face and down the side of her smooth neck, where his lips quickly smooched her nape.
"You gotta be joking!?" Momohime responded, feeling completely and utterly disgusted by the old man's compliment and displeased by the way he was touching her body in such a way.
Oh great kami, he left his drool on my elegant neck! Momohime thought as she shivered by the vile terror he just displayed.
"Yeah baby, just like that." He said with a voluptuous look on his face, as his fingers untied the light green obi belt around her waist.
Then he pulled down her pink yukata, then revealed her pure white robe with the chest area opened.
Showing her B-cup breasts to him as he began to rub his hard rough hand on her nipples.
He showed no patience or mercy for the young lady innocent. He was ready to do the deed, while Momohime struggled and looked around for any means of escape from this pervert man.
His right hand reached between her thigh to grab my butt. Then he threw her to the other side of the room, preparing his member to strike her core.
If I don't act soon, he'll take my virginity! There has to be something I could do to knock him out with while he is distracted; maybe that vase will work?
Knowing that this was Momohime's only chance, she crouched her body and lunged, but she felt herself being pulled back down by the old man.
But she wouldn't give up; she kept on lunging to get to that vase, her only hope to escape from this senile old man's clutches. Her three fingers hooked onto the handle of the vase and she used all her might to strike the old man's head as she said out loud.
"Stop touching me!"
The old man released her while he was unconscious. His head began to bleed out a little on the futon bed, while Momohime huffed and puffed air feeling tired after lifting that heavy vase with one hand.
"Never lay your hand on a princess!" Momohime shouted with anger. Until suddenly she heard someone appear out of the window.
"Let Mina-chan go you scumbag or you'll feel the string of my demon blade," Kisuke said, almost ready to pull out his Muramasa sword to deal out a swift death until he saw Momohime naked with a knock-out old man, while he continued to bleed out scarlet red blood.
"Momohime are you okay!? Did he touch you anywhere or take your virginity away!? Just say the word and I promise he'll regret the day he was born." Kisuke said, with a worried facial expression and furious tone in his voice.
"First turn around, while I put on my kimono, and please no peeking!" Momohime shouted, having no control over her emotions, after the sexual trauma she was forced to suffer.
While she continued to dress and adjust her light green obi belt and her pink kimono skirt and sleeves. Doing her best to present herself like a proper princess in front of the young ninja, despite everything she just went through.
I have to put on a brave face for myself and Kisuke. So he causes a damn massacre on all these despicable men who own this brothel.
"That's the last thing on my mind Momohime, I'm more concerned about your safety."
Why would I think about her precious body figure, when she almost got molested a moment ago? That makes no sense; she should least know that I have some decency and self-control, Kisuke thought.
"I understand, I'm just physically and emotionally exhausted right now after fighting for my whole life and future moments ago," Momohime said she was really stressed out by the experience.
"Yeah I know, I saw a little bit of the scene that just transpired. If only I was fast enough to save you in your time of need. Some bodyguard I turn out to be huh." Kisuke replied feeling quite guilty. This is all my fault, maybe if I had been a better bodyguard I could've been one to save her. But I was being too cautious and careful, Kisuke thought.
"I know you did everything in your power to try and save me."
"But it wasn't enough. You saved yourself while I was on the sidelines running on the rooftops trying to reach you in time."
"Well, my trusted bodyguard won't always be here to save me. Sometimes I'll have to stand on my own two feet and defend myself when you're not here. I can't be a helpless doll-like princess forever Kisuke."
"Yeah, your right; anyway are you done putting your clothes back on?" Kisuke said awkwardly while fidgeting his hands and patiently waiting for the princess. With his knees on the floor, in the traditional Japanese culture.
"Yes I'm all good, you can turn around now Kisuke." She seems unharmed from head to toe. Hey wait for a second, is that a hickey and saliva on her neck!?
"Momohime did this asshole kiss you on the n-neck earlier!?"
"Uhh…well you see Kisuke, I can explain," Momohime replied, while her words stuttered a little. Because of the young ninja's sudden outrage. It's like he has the intention to kill all the thugs and the people who own the brothel.
"Well else did he do to you!"
"All I'm gonna say is that he touched places where no one ever should and that's all you need to know."
"So did he violate you?"
"You heard what I said! But if you must know, his manhood never reached my womanhood okay; so can we please stop talking about what happened? It was a very unpleasant experience for me and I do not wish to speak of it anymore."
"Very well Momohime, you need time to get over this horrible ordeal."
"Oh, Kisuke."
Instantly two bodyguard thugs sided opened the doors to see where that loud noise was coming from. "Sir we heard yelling and screaming is everything okay, huh!?"
"What the fuck is this kid doing here."
"Hey, you didn't order a room here, get out of here!?"
Then they both looked at their knock-out customer and finally put all the pieces together. "Poor little boy thinks he could save his girlfriend, how adorable. The boss will enjoy questioning the both of you inside his torture basement." He said with an evil grin on his, doing his best to scare the children.
"Seize them both, before they escape."
"How are they gonna leave this place? These brats are practically helpless."
"That's what you think dumbass!" Kisuke responded, as he instantly threw his smoke bomb, causing a huge white smokescreen.
It was hard for the keen eye to see through. Afterward, he grabbed the princess and carried her bridal style as he jumped out of the window and ran on the rooftops.
"I won't let them take you from me again Momohime," Kisuke murmured while running from the very same thugs who captured her in the first place.
Eventually, they both reached the black alley of Musashi: Nihonzutsumi Ward, New Yoshiwara.
"Okay, I think we're safe now Kisuke; you can let go now."
"Oh right, sorry about shocking you back there Momohime, I had to keep the element of surprise, it's my ninja way, you understand."
"Of course, I learned to get used to your style of protecting me from danger and getting drunk most of the time," Momohime said nonchalantly, feeling more adjusted to Kisuke's tactics, abilities, and personality.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry about the weird stuff I said yesterday in the Moonlit Spirit Inn. I'll do better to change my drinking habits, I promise."
"Because the last thing I want is you almost getting sexually assaulted again by an ugly old man," Kisuke replied, feeling quite disappointed in himself and the way he handled the situation and how he caused all these issues in the beginning.
"Hey, it's not entirely your fault, besides it, all worked out in the end, despite the unsavory moments that I will never speak to you or anyone in that matter."
"You really think so?"
"If I know one important thing about you Kisuke. Is that you make foolish mistakes sometimes, but you always come back to face the consequences of your actions and rewrite your failures in order to move forward in the future."
Just like how you wore that silly woven hat to regain my trust once again, Momohime thought, while laughing a little at Kisuke's appearance.
"Well, most of my intentions are morally good once in a while." Kisuke smiled
"Yeah with a pinch of foul-mouthed in the mix. But don't worry, just heed my wise words and you'll be a better man in no time." Momohime said jokingly.
"Your wish is my command, Lady Momohime," Kisuke said sarcastically as he kneeled.
Later, after a moment of silence, Kisuke immediately walked toward Momohime and hugged her compassionately, burying his face into Momohime's scruff and she noticed that little tears dropped in his eyes as his arms trembled for a short moment.
Momohime decided that her words of kindness and gratitude would be useless in this situation. So she stroked his jet-black hair in a swaying motion, with a smile on her face.
You and me both could use a hug right about now, huh Kisuke? Momohime thought while letting this moment last every minute.
"I promise to be a better ninja, that both you and your sister can be proud of."
"I know you will, my brave ninja."
I'm really sorry fans, that I took a whole month to finish this chapter, a lot of personal stuff happened during these past few weeks. But I'm back and ready to continue this incredible story for the rest of July.
Thank you all for following, sharing, and reviewing my fanfiction story and patiently waiting this summer. I promise there will be more chapters in the near future, so be prepared fans.