/!\ EXPLICIT LANGUAGE /!\
As expected, the planet where the pirates had landed was desolated, if not dead.
The dark clouds and crashing thunders recalled to Kagura her homeland; Rakuyou.
-So? What are we looking for 'Captain'?
-Survivors of the last war, explained Kamui. If you find some, just kill them~
-What if they're kids or women? She inquired.
He frowned at her.
-Act in accordance with your Captain's rules. Will you, 'Vice-Captain'?
Her eyes rolled.
-Aye, aye~
Kamui was rather the lax type about rules or etiquette and preferred to let these boring things to Abuto.
However, he had always made crystal clear that any kid or woman to be found within an expedition was to be brought to him prior doing anything.
He had as a motto to never ever kill a kid, even if that one was an attempt on his life. Also, unless they were trained fighters, no one was allowed to kill a woman as they could later give birth to children. Men, on the other hand... no matter if they were strong or weak, soldiers or civilians, rich or poor; they were all meant to die, was it by his hands or not.
The old Yato had often pondered to himself if, somehow, these 'rules' were the reflection of the young Captain's past...
He, too, could have been killed by the Harusame when he was a kid and wanted to join... But Housen had let him live, allowing him among his men and now, the little boy had grown into a strong and powerful leader -thank God, his sadistic little sister always obeyed beck and call to him because that girl was really creepy when she was smelling blood!
Still... was Kamui sparing women because of his deceased mother? Or because of his beloved sister? Had he not the slightest ounce of compassion towards men because of his unworthy father?
That, contrariwise, was a total mystery...
Kagura's unit found a small group of women, mainly homeless widows with nothing left to lose. As he watched his sister coming back, Kamui noticed her hands still dripping with blood.
-You still have some left, he announced while gesturing her right cheek.
Wiping it with the back of her hand, she only stained her pale skin even more. He shook his head and gently wiped her face with his cloak.
-There~
Being a pirate didn't necessarily mean being a murderer, but it had to be at least profitable. With a quick glance, he examined Kagura's hostages. Most were frail women shaking in fear, the rest was whining with their eyes either empty or full of despair, but all of them were docile with no sign of strength, wrath or revolt.
He let out a small sigh of disappointment.
-Abuto! Take them abroad; we'll sell them to Housen.
Kagura's eyes widened at the name.
-We're going to make a stop at Yoshiwara, clarified the Captain.
She swallowed.
-Y-You mean…
-Yes, he cut. We're going on Earth.
The girl's face suddenly enlightened.
"Mommy's Blue Planet…!"
Considering that Harusame were part of a not-very-welcome kind of people -added to the possibility of an upcoming uproar at the sight of a full army of Yatos- Kamui had only brought Kagura and Abuto with him to avoid unnecessary problems. Sure, he loved to fight, but he wasn't purposely looking for troubles.
The earth had these famous samurais whom he died to test the strength, but if he wanted to meet interesting ones, he first needed to learn where to find these legendary warriors.
Housen welcomed the trio into his palace and the trade went well. He got fresh meat for his little business and the siblings got money for their own one.
-You two have grown a lot since the last time I saw you, stated the old Housen. You may stay as long as you wish within this city of mine! I'll have a suite prepared for each one of you.
-That's very generous of you, Boss Housen, cheered Kamui.
-By the way, what happened to that father of yours?
His cheerful smile didn't waver, but Kagura knew it was a very sensitive subject.
-I don't have the faintest idea, but I'd gladly kill him if he isn't already rotting somewhere into space~
Housen laughed loudly, enjoying the usual brashness of the redhead.
-Why wouldn't you go enjoying yourself with women? He proposed.
At these words, Kagura rose from her zabuton and moved behind her brother to encircle his neck with her arms.
-Sorry gramps, but Kamui is mine alone~
Abuto face palmed at the sister boldness. Well, he should have expected something like this to happen...
On the other hand, Housen studied with a certain interest the girl pressing her breast against the still smiling young Captain.
-Kagura… it's rude toward our host~ Kindly lectured Kamui.
-Don't mind it, cut the old one, it's good to see that you two are still… in very good terms…
Even if he was now secluded in Yoshiwara, Housen had often heard about the siblings.
For sure, since their youngest age, theses two unusually strong Yatos had brought certain fame upon them. The whole Amanto crime syndicate -including the so wary Elders- had quickly acknowledged their efficiency, though the fact they were also a couple was only known among the 7th 'Yato-only' division of the Harusame.
Many other organizations had often heard rumors about the destructive duo being 'really close' and the wanton brocon* behavior of the girl wasn't helping in that matter, but to be honest, none of them cared. They weren't really hiding or anything and what kept their relationship still secret was the infamous madness and blood thirst of the sister when one was crazy enough to speak ill of them...
Housen hadn't heard it officially from their mouths, but there was no need for it; he could easily read the meaning behind every little move of the girl.
Too bad she was obsessed with her brother because he would have been more than happy to make that doll-face of hers scream like a whore... Yato women were rare, beautiful ones like her extremely rare.
But worse than that, her brother was no one else than Kamui himself. If not for that deep feeling of insecurity that the redhead was secretly giving to the old man, he would have been long dead by now as he was the only obstacle for him to get his wicked hands on the girl.
Kamui was chatting with Abuto, explaining that he and Kagura would stay longer in Yoshiwara in order to 'keep good trading relations with Housen' and that he could go back to the ship if he wanted to.
When the young man turned to check on his sister, the girl had mysteriously disappeared from his sight.
He sighed, knowing she might certainly end up by making a fuss somewhere...
Kagura didn't wait for his brother to go strolling in the streets, beautifully lightened by the warm colors of the red-light district. As she was enjoying to take a look at the different kinds of shops around her, two men suddenly called to her.
-Hi there, baby~! What would you say about playing with us?
Kagura's death glare quickly vanished behind a cheerful smile. She really didn't like men who lacked respect to her, but perhaps she could have some fun with those two?
-Let me think about it…
Playfully tapping her forefinger against her lips, she found her answer.
-Okay~! But in exchange… I want your hearts~ she whispered with a crooked smile.
Thinking she was talking about their love, the poor men easily agreed, rejoicing at the girl's naivety.
When she led them into a dark and quiet back alley, the pleasure to rip their hearts out from their chest was stolen before her very eyes.
A strong gust of wind brushed her hair away and in the blink of an eye, their heads had just been crushed like mere eggs against the nearest wall.
Her eyes widened in awe at the fresh blood splashed all over the place and the warm flesh falling to the ground in splatters.
-Yare yare~ I can't let you alone even for a minute, can I?
She looked away, slightly pouting.
-You took all the fun! She complained. It's not fair, big bro~
-Really~? And here I thought I was saving you from troubles, he shrugged.
She snorted.
-More like you were just jealous, she stressed with a smirk.
He frowned.
-Let's get out of here… It stinks of trash!
As they walked back to the streets, Kagura was clinging to Kamui's arm, happy of his blatant jealousy –albeit he would never admit as bluntly as her that he was rather the possessive type- while she enjoyed her free time alone with her brother.
They had to pass many brothels before to reach once again the shopping area.
Suddenly, a bold –and evidently reckless- prostitute threw herself on Kamui's other arm.
-You're such a cutie~ wouldn't you like to play with me instead~? She purred.
Unfortunately, Kamui had no time to reply as the poor woman's gaze was already empty.
-Oopsie~! Crooned Kagura, her hand over her mouth. There was some dirt on your kimono, but I took it away for you~
Smiling innocently, she threw over her shoulder the so-called 'dirt' and the woman's grip on his arm became limp while her lifeless body fell to the floor. The others prostitutes screamed in fear when the bloody organ rolled at their feet.
Kamui's eyebrows rose as he turned to look at his sister.
-Who's jealous, now~?
-What are you saying? She retorted. There really was dirt!
"...in her rotten heart, that is~"
He sighed.
-Yeah, yeah~
They resumed their walk as if it was nothing and Kamui casually held her hand, clutching his fingers with hers and avoiding at the same time that his sister wipes 'dirt' from every prostitute winking at him.
Strolling peacefully like two birds in love, Kagura suddenly stopped.
-What's this? …a toy shop? In Yoshiwara…?
-That's unusual, he admitted.
-Let's take a look, then!
Pulled in by their linked hands, he followed her into the shop.
Looking around him, he assumed that it was just the kind of 'Toy Shop' one could expect to find in a red-light district...
Kagura blinked at the stalls.
-Plastic dicks?
-As if I'd need fakes when I have the real thing, he mumbled, conceited.
-Oh! Look, Kamui! This one is moving!
-Let's go out, okay?
-Whyyyy~? She whined. It looks so funny!
Eyeing something behind him, her eyes widened.
-WOW! That one is… huge!
Kamui threw a quick glance over his shoulder and snorted with disdain. Looking back at his sister's wonderment, he tilted his head to whisper in her ear.
-Are you that much depraved that you'd even want such a toy~?
His breath sent shivers down to her lower body.
-You're the only thing that I want… she avowed, her eyes focused on his lips.
-Heeeh~ nothing else…? He teased.
-A souvenir… buy me a souvenir… she pleaded.
Softly kissing the back of her hand, he confessed with eyes full of genuine love.
-Anything that you want, I'll give it to you…
Then, he released her hand and slightly backed away, a wide and ironical smile on his face.
-…but not from this shop~
*Brocon = Brother complex