That's right. In truth, they were not even human. They were swords that had manifested to guard the flow of history. 3 weeks ago, an unfortunate incident had happened to a group that was sent out. They never came back.
Worried, their master had summoned them. Ichigo Hitofuri, Yagen Toushirou, Nagasone Koutetsu, Kousetsu Samonji and Izuminokami Kanesada, they were sent out to trace back their missing comrades. Imagine their surprise when they discovered that the Honnou-ji temple never existed here, but instead, was a teahouse in the red light district.
Their comrades, Heshikiri Hasebe is now a Yarite of the household, Souza Samonji and Hachisuka are now courtesans and Fudou Yukimitsu, Sayo Samonji are mere attendants. None of them seem to have memories of their actual identities. It was bizarre. It was as if time had distorted and changed them entirely.
What had happened to cause such a huge distortion?!
"Ichi-nii!" The sword's thoughts were interrupted by his brother. There was a commotion right outside of their inn and they all rushed to the door, shocked at the sight.
The sun had only just set but the street was still crowded with people. Someone was cutting through the crowd towards them, dressed in an elaborate gown and followed by at least four others. Two of them were beautifully dressed while the remaining two wore simpler clothes, though it was still beautiful in comparison to the grubby outfit the people in the streets were wearing. A few men accompanied them, presumably their bodyguards, their swords brandished upon their waist.
"A Kagema?" Someone in the streets whispered "An Oiran Kagema…!"
"An Oiran parade!" Another called.
Kagema...male prostitute...Hachisuka!
Nagasone's brow furrowed. Is that why Hachisuka asked where they were staying?! Looking out, he saw that they were drawing nearer. "Souza...Sayo…!" Kousetsu and Yagen quickly noticed the other two behind the Oiran. "Fudou too," Kanesada pointed out.
They were frozen with shock when the procession halted in front of them, Hachisuka lowering himself in an elegant bow. His clothes sparkled with a golden hue but it looked so heavy on his thin figure. Behind him, the two Chusan, One of them Souza bowed as well, lowering their head carefully.
"An invitation to the Honnou-ji Temple teahouse," Ichigo read out the scroll that was given to him by Fudou. They look at each other, a little confused. Hachisuka raised his head, his face heavily decorated in layers of makeup. It was a little strange to see him like that.
"I'm here to repay my debt from this morning," the courtesan spoke softly, hiding his lips under a hand fan. "Will you not accept?"
They look at each other, unsure. It would be bad to reject such an invitation…
The house was already bursting with activity by the time they arrived. While the procession had attracted a crowd to gather, even the other courtesans could not tear off their prying eyes from the lattice as they welcomed the group of people brought in by the Oiran.
"There he goes again, doing his own thing," One commented, the envious tone in her voice obvious.
Two men greeted them at the front, one being the Yarite Heshikiri Hasebe. He bowed low, when they entered the genkan, inviting them in. The teenager beside him bowed as well, his face a strange radiance.
"Mori Ranmaru…" Yagen whispered under his breath, recognizing the man immediately. The others heard him, glancing at each other in light of the information.
They were brought to a large hall, with Heshikiri Hasebe and Mori Ranmaru attending to them. The Oiran and his entourage followed as well, carefully seating themselves down.
"We would like to thank you for saving Yuri today," Ranmaru commented when they were all seated properly. They bowed again, Hasebe and the rest followed suit "Please allow our house's top Oiran and Chusans to serve you,"
Yagen turn, eyeing the other two behind Hachisuka. Souza's head was lowered but he too was stealing glances at them. "Isn't an Oiran's escorts usually a Shinzo?" Kousetsu asked, glancing at the group of courtesan attendants.
"We decided that a Chusan would be better to serve you tonight as gratitude," Hasebe explained "Gracia is an excellent companion while Tori is our high ranked Chusan, I would like to add that Tori had personally requested for this, in thanks for saving someone so close to him," They turn to the courtesan with pastel pink hair. His face was still lowered. "The other two kamuro is Sayo and Fudou. Fudou is my own personal assistant and I am sure if you need anything, they would serve you well too."
"So Fudou was working under Mori Ranmaru all this time…" Ichigo muttered under his breath so that no one could hear him. "We...can't afford something so luxurious as this," He started but was interrupted by Ranmaru quickly. "You need not worry about that tonight, please, just enjoy yourself." And with that, Ranmaru and Hasebe excused themselves, leaving their guests and their courtesans in the room.
It took a while of getting used to before they were comfortable with their presence. Hachisuka had joked that he only did something so elaborate to see the face his rescuers would wear, but Souza did not realize that one of their comrades was the strange boy staring at him in the lattice that night.
While Nagasone was quick to enjoy the sake poured by Hachisuka, Ichigo silently ate, watching and studying their actions.
"You were the one who gave Sayo the jar of Konpeito?" Souza asked as he arranged the flowers in a vase. Kousetsu sat with him, Yagen by his side. "He mentioned it to me just now." Kousetsu shifted, glancing at the boy sitting at the corner of the room with Fudou on standby.
"He looked like he wanted it very much," Kousetsu replied, watching the courtesan's work. "I apologize if I did something out of line."
"No, not really," Souza smiled, cutting a stalk down to size. "Sayo is my little brother, and for that I should thank you for treating him."
"Isn't it strange that your little brother is working in a place like this with you?" Yagen blurted out, then stopped when he realized what he had said.
Souza froze too, turning up to the boy.
"I…keep him as close as I can to protect him." Souza's face distorted slightly, as if recalling a painful memory "I...do not wish this upon him as well."
The two glanced at each other as Souza returned to his work.
They could hear Kanesada and Nagasone's cheer behind them. Kanesada is usually a hopeless drunk and Yagen was hoping that Ichi-nii will keep him in control.
"I'm sorry," Yagen apologized "I shouldn't have asked that.
Souza eyed him momentarily but returned back to his work, not breaking his concentration. "It's alright, I am just a mere courtesan."
I am just a mere caged bird.
Souza had always hung those words around his mouth back in the citadel. So...even with his distorted memories, those words couldn't be erased…?
"You're not though," Yagen muttered.
Clip.
Souza's clippers went as he trimmed another flower, putting it carefully in the vase. His face was lowered but it was obvious he was ignoring Yagen's words. "Sou...Tori-san." Yagen started. There was obvious irritation in his voice.
Souza looks up, uneven eyes questioning Yagen. Yagen could feel Kousetsu's hand on his shoulder as if calming him down.
But Yagen could bear it no longer. They have been here in this distorted time for at least a week. They have not progressed as much as they had today. And being here, in front of Souza…!
"You...really don't remember anything, do you?" He muttered a sad look hung on his face.
Kanesada was already far gone. He had a reputation of not being able to hold his liquor well.
"That bruise around your neck," Nagasone asked. Even under all that makeup, the blue colour is impossible to hide. "Who gave it to you?"
Ichigo eyed him carefully, knowing that Nagasone had quite a temper when provoked. Hachisuka's fingers brushed his neck, remembering the fading bruise "It's not really your business, though are you jealous?" He grinned. "Yuri-san," Gracia warned lowly and Hachisuka paused a bit.
"Apologies, our Oiran have quite a tongue, though many seem to enjoy it…" The female courtesan apologized. Nagasone chuckled in response. "Don't worry, I too, am use to such speech," Hachisuka raised a brow at him, he was a tad bit curious.
"I have a brother too, talks like you, looks like you," Nagasone commented "We could never really get along well,"
"And why is that?" Gracia asked, pouring into his cup.
"He's...proud, but he has all the right to be," The uchi tried to search for the right words, all the while eyeing Hachisuka. "Meanwhile, I am a mere...shadow of him."
Hachisuka didn't say anything.
Suddenly, a commotion stirred from the other end of the room. Yagen had pushed the flower vase that Souza was working on away, letting it tumble on the floor as he sat in front of Yagen, gesturing to his chest. "I'm Yagen, Yagen Toushirou, do you really not remember me?!"
"Shit." Nagasone muttered, getting up. Kousetsu was already trying hard to calm the tantou down. Souza however, was unmoved.
"I...I don't recall meeting you, sir." Souza replied as calm as he could.
"Bullshit!" Yagen clenched his teeth taking hold of the courtesan's shoulder. With one rough tug of his hand, the left side of his garment came undone, revealing the courtesan's chest...with a mark carved into it.
On the 19th day of the fifth month of Eiroku three through the killing of Yoshimoto this sword came into the possession of Oda Owari-no-kami Nobunaga
It's there. It's right there. Souza's mark from the demon lord Oda Nobunaga. Yagen look up from the mark and at Souza's face. The courtesan looked back in slight horror, although he had barely moved. "Souza...Samonji…." Yagen muttered.