Yoshimoto! He is dead. The man is dead.
He turn around, picking up his brother as fast as he could. He had to get away from here and run.
He let out a piercing cry when they pulled on his hair, causing him to stumble.
"This man is too beautiful to be called a man, no?"
"He will serve in the house."
There's no way…!
It's your brother or your life.
Souza snapped out of his memories and back to the room where Yagen was still holding on to his robes. Behind him, the two attendants were already on their feet, ready to call for help if need be.
"Master….please refrain from treating our courtesans too roughly…" Gracia was the one who spoke, although her voice was soft as if pleading. The air in the room had grown heavy and cold and even Kanesada appeared to look cautiously at Yagen.
"Yagen, I think it's time you head back home," Ichigo eyed the tantou. Yagen removed his hand, noticing the bruise that he had left on Souza's shoulders. He was so pale and skinny that it was always easy to leave marks on his body. He gritted his teeth and left, running out of the room in a haste.
"That...was a mood killer…" Kanesada muttered, getting up as well. "I'll follow him back and make sure he's okay," The sword waddled a little bit unsteadily on his feet, excusing himself out.
"I'm sorry," Souza muttered, his head lowered as he directed the question to Hachisuka. "May I excuse myself too?" He asked. Hachisuka and Gracia exchanged glances before agreeing to let the Chusan leave. He got up and bow to the rest of the guest, straightening his clothes back on his shoulders properly. Sayo got up and followed him out too, holding on to his furisode with worry.
The door slid shut, throwing the room into a deafening silence.
"Apologies for that…" Ichigo muttered, turning from Kousetsu to Hachisuka. "Yagen….has have been a little unstable."
Hachisuka drew a breath, turning to Gracia and Fudou, instructing them to place more orders of food for their guests. When they had left, Hachisuka straightened himself, turning to his guests.
"That boy, has he been to Okehazama?" He asked. It may be rude of him, but then again, Hachisuka had never really kept to the conduct of how an Oiran should be. Besides, the guests this time had an air of difference around them. It was obvious they were not here to enjoy a night of pleasure, even if they were invited initially. "He knows Tori's real name."
Kousetsu quietly turns to him, a frown appearing on his brow. "What happened in Okehazama?" He asked. He knows full well that the place was where Souza….the sword Souza's previous master met his end. Souza was taken away and treated as a trophy, kept in a cage from then. Passed from hand to hand and never used in battle, it was Souza's greatest lament.
Surely, that too has been twisted in this time.
"Tori arrived the same time as I did to this house," He replied, recalling back the incident 3 years ago. "He was...in terrible shape actually. They must've done something to him."
"He had nightmares every night and it took him a while before he could take in a customer." Hachisuka continued "He and I served under the same Oiran so we became quite close…"
"What happened to him before that?" Nagasone asked.
"He never said much, but I knew that he was taken from Okehazama and forced to work here by the owner," Hachisuka continued, straightening himself "They use his little brother against him a lot, that if he doesn't work properly, they would put Sayo out instead."
Almost immediately, they heard the sound of something cracking. Kousetsu had clenched his fist so hard that the Chawan in his hand had smashed into pieces.
Blood seeped out of the cuts in his palm but his face remained unchanged. Though many could see the anger that radiated from him…
"The owner, is he Oda Nobunaga?" Kousetsu asked.
It was disgusting. They had his way with him. Everything hurts. Bruises, cuts, he had limbs but they felt disconnected. How many of them had sullied him?
Hold him down. One said.
His head raised, feeling something hot approaching him. What now? What more can they torment him with?
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
No. No, get that thing away!
He couldn't fight the branding pole. His energy was already long gone and there was barely any need to hold him down.
He felt the heat, but it was only followed with a searing pain. He screams, but his voice was hoarse and his lips chipped. No sound would come up, there was nothing left of him.
Nii-sama.
Nii-sama.
"Nii-sama!"
The voice cut into his memories and he jumped a little, focusing on Sayo's face. He had stripped down to his final piece of clothing so that he was almost naked, letting it hang off his shoulder. The branding on his chest reflected into the mirror to remind him the horror he had been through. That no matter how much gold he had, he can never escape this place. He belonged here in this cage that will never open.
The room was dark, none of the candles lit, but his forehead was beaded with cold sweat. He drew in short breaths, the feeling of those people touching him, having their way with him raw in his mind.
Sayo was looking at him quietly, a hand on him as if to comfort his brother. "Nii-sama…" Sayo muttered, biting down his lower lip with worry. Souza calm himself down, looking up at his brother. He didn't even notice the tears that clouded his eyes. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry." He muttered, pulling his brother into this arms to hug him. "I'll protect you, I swear." His whispers could be heard over his heavy breathing. Sayo tucked his head into his brother's shoulders too, feeling his warmth and his fear.
They sat like that for awhile, Souza's heartbeat steadying as he finally started calming down. There was nothing but moonlight and the busy noise of the streets outside to accompany them but this was ok. For a moment, he felt as if he was safe, back in Okehazama, tending the store that was owned by his master, Yoritomo. An apprentice that maintains swords, caring for his little brother….
"Tori?" Someone called from outside. Souza froze, feeling his heart quickening again. "It's Ranmaru,"
Why is Ranmaru here?
"Can you come back another time, Ranmaru-sama?" Souza replied, straightening himself up. Sayo had also turn his attention to the door as well.
But Ranmaru was persistent. "What happened, why are you in your room at this time, I thought you were serving the special guests?"
"I'm fine...I'll be back out soon." Souza answered back, gathering his clothes and wiping off his sweat. Turning to the mirror, he saw that his makeup was already ruined.
"I don't think you have that luxury." Another voice called from the door. It was harsher, deeper and more stern. Souza froze. He remembered that voice well. It had haunted his dreams many times.
"Nobunaga-sama…" Souza whispered. That man rarely return to the teahouse. Even though he was the owner, he had left it in the care of Ranmaru and Hasebe. Souza could feel his blood run cold.
"Get out there in the next minute or I'll drag you out by your hair." Nobunaga warned.
"Yes, master," Souza replied, defeated.
He heard Nobunaga's footsteps faded off with Ranmaru's and he gathered his things to get ready. Picking up his things numbly, feeling his being breaking into pieces with nothing left to his existence.
"Is your friend alright?" Hachisuka asked, looking out the open Shoji. They had moved into a room and Nagasone had just entered. "He's fine, he can take care of himself, besides, Ichigo is with him." Nagasone eyed the futon laid out in the room, complete with screens around the place and a dimly lit lamp.
Hachisuka move to remove his clothes but Nagasone immediately jumped on him, pulling his clothes shut.
Hachisuka looks up at him with confusion. "Do you not favor my body?" He asked jeeringly.
"Trust me, it's not that." Nagasone replied, "If we continue this, you will regret your whole life."
"What do you mean?" Hachisuka asked, raising a brow.
Nagasone backed off, his hand running through his hair. "I am a courtesan, I have already gone beyond regret." He narrowed his eyes, glaring at him "This is probably the only way I know how to return a favor."
"It's really not that Ha-I mean, Yuri." Nagasone frowned, turning to the Shoji. He shifted awkwardly rubbing the nape of his neck, nervous. "I don't expect for the favor to be returned so you really don't have to." He turn to Hachisuka "Besides, you've already repaid me enough, I drank more than I am usually allowed and the food was really good too. That is enough to repay me."
The courtesan eyed him with suspicion, then finally got up. "Fine then." He replied sarcastically, walking out of the futon and toward the door. "It's not like you're going to pay me either so I'm not going to waste my energy seducing you."
Nagasone looks painfully at the sword, at his brother. How could he even sleep with him?
Hachisuka would not even forgive himself for attempting to do something like this when he remembers.
"Yuri," Nagasone called the courtesan back just as he was about to leave. "Do you want to leave this place?"
Hachisuka turns to him, startled at the question.