Hasebe was tending to the front table when that customer walked in. It was barely a day since Hachisuka's escape and business has got on as usual, even though it's been made known that the high-class Oiran is no longer in the house. He was busy going through some scrolls when a front door attendant approached him, telling him about the customer.
The mentioned client was standing at the genkan and looking straight at him. Hasebe got up and greeted him, realizing that he was one of the members of the group that had saved Hachisuka previously.
The client, a boy barely half his height and sporting western clothes must be pretty bold to come here alone wearing that. "Do you need a room for one?" Hasebe asked, putting aside his thoughts.
"I'm here to see a chusan...Tori," He replied, dark eyes eyeing the yarite "I saw that he is no longer available, but I thought to try."
Hasebe's eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry, that Chusan is no longer available at the moment, would you be interested at someone else, we have tons of kagemas and Yujo as well…"
"What did you all do to him?" The boy asked, his tone sharp. He didn't even falter.
Hasebe's brow twitched. Does the boy know…?
"Chusan Tori is sick and needs rest," Hasebe reasoned. But the boy was persistent. "I'm not here to sleep with him, I just want to see him, no matter how sick he is." He pulled out a pouch of money, enough to purchase an Oiran for at least two nights. That startled Hasebe a little. Why is the boy going to such lengths…?!
"Let him in," A deeper voice echoed into the hall. Hasebe turns to notice Oda Nobunaga walking towards them. He had been around the teahouse lately thanks to the fiasco Yuri had caused. "Prepare Tori for him, is he not our customer?"
"But, master-" Hasebe started but was cut off when Nobunaga threw him a glare. "He had already allowed a high ranking courtesan to escape, I suppose there should be no qualms for him to work his load too?" The Lord demanded and Hasebe cold only slumps in defeat. Who is he to go against his master?
The boy at the door had definitely overheard their conversation. He was fuming and Hasebe caught his hand balled into a visible fist. He wouldn't be surprised if the boy was to jump at Nobunaga right there, right now.
Whispering to an attendant to run along to get Souza ready, Hasebe ushered him away from the Genkan and led him to a room near to Souza's quarters, trying his best to reduce as much strain as he could on the courtesan.
Yagen knew something was off when he scouted the place that night. There was no sign of Souza and an announcement outside had told him that he was out of commission. This was weird to him as Hachisuka's escape shouldn't have affected Souza...unless…
The money he had on him was probably all of the pocket money that the master back at the citadel gave them. They had spent little as Kousetsu and Ichigo would purchase fresh food to cook at the inn for them. He didn't care if they were left without a dime if this is the only way to see him…
When the door opened to reveal Souza, he was fully dressed in a lavish pink robe that had the embroidery of birds flying free in a sunset sky. His obi was patterned beautifully and his make up was thick as if to hide something...
He bowed low at the door and tried to move over to him after closing the door. But his stride looks painful as if he was struggling to even breathe.
Souza didn't notice him until he sat opposite him and raised his head. Yagen could see the visible twitch in his face when he recognized him.
"You're back here." The courtesan muttered.
Yagen looked painfully at him. His voice was hoarse and his lips looked chapped under the lipstick he was wearing. Even with the thick makeup, one could still see the bruises on his cheek.
"What happened to you?" He asked.
"How is…" Souza asked instead but didn't dare continue in case of people listening. Yagen immediately understood. So his doubts were true.
Yagen only looked at him, his eyes meeting his and gave a slight nod as if to tell him that Hachisuka was alright. Souza visibly mouthed a sigh of relief and reached for the sake bottle that was on the table to serve but Yagen seized his wrist, pulling back his sleeve. Souza struggled but was too late to hide the rope burn around his arm.
The sword frowned and glance back at the courtesan, pulling out a towel from his pocket. "I paid a hefty sum for our service tonight." he muttered, "Wipe your face and take off your clothes."
Souza was surprised that he didn't mention anything about the wounds on him but he did as he was told, turning away from the client and wiping the makeup off his face, revealing the purple bruises from the guard's rough handling.
Pulling off his layers of clothes, the scarring from the whipping down his back and rope burns on his wrist was impossible to hide. There were bruises all over his pale skin and Yagen could only swallow the pain he felt at the sight of it.
"You would even take a prostitute with a broken body?" Souza asked, still turned away from the man. "...lie down," Yagen commanded and Souza had no reason to object. Behind the screen, beds had already been laid out as per usual and he carefully lowered himself on the sheets, but Yagen called from behind the screen "Face down, please."
Souza paused for a moment, wondering what he was planning. But he did so anyway. He was paid for this after all...even if the money will never reach him.
He heard him approaching and he closed his eyes, anticipating when suddenly, he felt something cool against his back on the whip wounds. He jerked up, startled but Yagen only pushed him down, telling him to stay still. The boy was applying medicinal salve on his wounds and it gave so much relieve compared to the ointment given by the house.
"You should take care of these properly," Yagen muttered as he worked, pushing away the courtesan's hair as he gently rubbed the ointment on the injured skin. "It might not be bleeding but if you don't take care of it, you will still scar."
Souza didn't say anything and allowed him to do as he wished. Whatever Yagen was using on him felt soothing and even the smell of it was making him calm down. "I'm sorry...that this happened to you." Yagen finally muttered, "I swear I will get you out of here, Souza."
Hearing this, Souza pushed himself up, staring blankly at the boy. "I don't get it." he started "How do you know my name? You...seem familiar...but I don't know you."
Yagen looked conflicted, pained even. He didn't know what to reply and was searching for words when Souza sat up, turning away from him. "Anyway, I can't leave." He started "I appreciate the thought, but I can't just...leave this place."
"Is it because of Sayo?" Yagen asked, glancing at the man. Souza turns slightly before he hesitantly nods. "They are going to make him serve as well...I am a terrible brother, I couldn't even protect my little brother….I tried to shield him...but in the end, I prove to be useless...a mere prostitute who sells his body for favors...trapped in this place like a trophy to hold and enjoy…"
"You're not!" Yagen shouted, pulling him towards him. It's this topic that always shook him. "You're far more than that. You're a bird that has spread its wings, why can't you see that!"
They both fell into silence for a moment, Souza turning his gaze away. "I am a bird spreading its wings in a very large cage." He replied coldly.
Yagen lost himself, the dismay of not being able to help him, the pain of hearing those words from his lips and to watch how far the sword he once knew so well had fallen to this depth of despair, he couldn't help it. He pushed him down onto the bed, the soft sheets cushioning the impact. Souza winced a bit from the pain on his back but Yagen was right on top of him, holding him down.
Souza shut his eyes. They are all the same, all those people who sought after his body, exchanging gold for pleasure, paying to purchase what's left of his pride. Yagen had leaned in and he could feel the boy's breath on his neck, his skin. His press on his wrist was strong, but he was careful not to hurt him. It has been a while since Souza had a client that was gentle like he was caressing a treasure that he was precious to him.