I followed Suzu's directions and reached a small village called Marahito. It took me four hours to get here. I never walked so far for so long in my whole entire life. My legs were sore from all the walking, my arms were itchy from all the bugs, my hair...

My hair was all over the place!

Ofcourse...

The village was located near the sea. It looked like the place was filled with mostly fishermen. There were a few houses scattered around, people noticed almost immediatly that I was a foreigner.

A young man told me that if I wanted temporary housing, I should go to the pleasure quarters and work there.

I kind of had an idea what that meant..

Pleasure quarters was just a place where you can hook up with prostitutes.

But i would only stay there for a while. And I wouldnt sell my body or anything, i'd just ask If I could work as a maid or something..

Its not like I had any other choice! I cant risk Kazama and Kaede finding me.

"Hi there!" A young woman wearing a sheer beige kimono greeted me when I reached the place. Her lips were painted a bright red color, and her long black hair was tied into a long braid down her back.

"Hello, uh my name is Coco, and Im looking for work"

"Are you a virgin?"

"No, not that type of work! Like you know as a maid or something..?"

The woman looked at me like I was crazy, then turned around and said ,"Hmm..I'll have to ask my boss, wait here"

Within a couple of minutes she returned with a woman that looked to be in her fifties.

She was wearing a plain navy blue kimono, and her face was heavily coated with thick makeup.

I personally thought she looked like a clown.

"So I hear you wanna stay with us" She spoke, I didnt know what she had in her mouth, but she was munching on it pretty loudily.

"Yes" I replied, "Only for a few days.."

"And you expect me to let you stay here for free?"

"Uh..I said I would work!"

"As a maid? Ha! You could make more money as a pleasure woman"

"You mean a prostitute"

The two women glared at me.

"What? Isnt a pleasure woman, and a prostitute the same thing?"

"No matter what you call us" The old woman snarled, "We live happy lives!"

I didnt mean it as an insult...

"Uh-I would rather work as a maid"

"Shh! Let her continue!" The younger man snapped.

"We make plenty of money" The old woman smiled as she began to circle around me, like a volutre circling around its meal.

"So we dont have to suffer like others,

"Men shower us with compliments and praises,

"So we arent desperate for a single relationship, with a single man

"And we dont worry about what society thinks of us

"Because in the end, whos living their life to the fullest?"

I was speechless.

"The question is..what was your name again?"

"Coco" I mumbled.

"Yes, the question is Coco, why not?"

"Why not?" I repeated.

"Yes. Why not be a pleasure woman?"

"Why cant we be happy? Why cant we give happiness to the men that come here? Why do our neighbors call us names and shun us?"...I really didnt know what to say.

"Why not?"

"You people can call us prostitute or pleasure woman, or a whore for all I care!

Just mind your own business, and let us live our own lives, and we'll let you live yours"