Chapter 3

The moans were heard through the walls as Yuuki passed the corridor where rooms of lower ranking courtesans situated. "Mm-n. Yes-no, don't, stop, ngh-n you can't, don't-oh." Not a muscle twitched on his face, he was already used to such situations.

Okiya was complex of the buildings, Yagura – the highest-ranking male courtesan- wouldn't even step in the building of lower ranked ones, that's why Yuuki was the one who had to go there, because apparently Yagura preferred snacks from their kitchen rather than his own.

It has already been half a year since he came to Okiya. It has already been six months since the last time he saw Haruka.

After three months of studying at the school affiliated with 'Red Blossom', he was chosen as Yagura's Kamuro. The calligraphy, dance, Shogi and Go, poetry, musical instruments and dance. Of course, one person couldn't possibly master all disciplines, but all of them should be learned to the passable level and some mastered to perfection, if he ever wanted to be at the top of the ladder. How could you entertain someone if you had no skills?

All Kamuro were dressed into the colours of their 'older brother or sister' whom they served - in Yuuki's case it was beautiful Persian green that made his eyes pop out even more.

While he attended the school his other duties as Kamuro were to run errands for his elder brother —attend to him when he was with clients, deliver gifts, bring snacks, help get ready, to be hands and eyes of his 'elder brother', learn from how he interacts with his clients as one day he will be in his place. And the most important one — to lie through his teeth about how much Yagura likes this person or that person when the clients ask him about that.

"Oh- my. You are too big, Shin-sama. I really can't! – nmg-oh!" Yuuki rolled his eyes with the plate of snacks in his hands, that was too fake.

Kamuro served only high-ranking courtesans who sold their skills rather than bodies. Their bodies were untouched for a very long time and their first night was sold to the highest bidder, Yuuki was glad that Yagura had only two clients he was intimate with, who come every other three months or so.

As they lived in the Hidden Leaf Village their clientele was mostly nobles, wealthy merchants and shinobi.Yuuki was most fascinated by shinobi. As the country boy tales that he heard about them were very exaggerated. Some portrayed them as scary bogeyman, some as gods from the myths.

In reality they seemed like normal people most of the time, which disappointed him quite a bit at first. Until one of the shinobi almost killed other Kamuro who made sudden gesture near him. And the rows after rows of nonessential rules in Okiya suddenly started making more sense.

Yuuki knocked on the door and waited. After couple of minutes unhurried 'Come in' was heard through the walls.

"Ahh. Finally, my arms were about to fall off," Yuuki grumbled as he put tea set on the low table near Yagura.

"Shikaku-san! It is nice to see you again."

Yagura and Nara Shikaku were playing Shogi in Yagura's personal rooms. Yagura wasn't the best at dancing and painting, but he was highly intelligent man who never lost a game before he met Shikaku. At the end of their first meeting, they had a tie, and unsurprisingly he became one of the two clients his 'elder brother' became intimate with.

"Yuuki… have you grown?" Shikaku lazily scanned his body. "By two whole centimetres!" He boasted.

Usually after one entered Okiya their name would be changed as to symbolise the start of new life, but Yagura allowed him to keep his own, for that he was very grateful.

After watching them play at turtles' pace and make subtle flirting remarks that went over his head. He stared dazedly at the board not understanding a thing even after Yagura tried to teach him million times.

His older brother was the only one who drank tea, as shinobi had weird thing about consuming unidentified substances. "Yuuki, you stare so intently at the board. Have you finally started understanding the game?" Yagura teased him.

Yuuki who was paying no attention to them whatsoever came back to his senses once he heard his name. When answer is unclear— just agree with everything. "Yes, of course."

"Oh? Then would you like to help me make a next move?" Shikaku asked him with a smirk on his face.

Yuuki sat down very carefully and unhurriedly near Shikaku and stared at the board. Two people in their twenties were having fun teasing a child. "Today is the day you lose, nii-san." Yuuki didn't know the rules, didn't know how every piece moved, but he knew that the purpose of the game was – to capture the King.

Yuuki took the King from Shikaku's side and stretched his hand across the board towards Yagura's King piece, then he took both of them in his hands and placed them outside of the board. Shikaku and Yagura stared in silence at his move.

"If anyone ever asked you, who taught you how to play Shogi— don't ever mention my name, say Shikaku did it," Yagura said massaging the space between his eyebrows. "That's not how pieces move. There are rules for a reason." Shikaku was shaking with the laughter.

Yuuki's cheeks became hot. "Nothing is bound by the rules in reality. You don't need to defeat the whole army to win. You can't just think outside of the box, nii-san." Yuuki didn't want to admit he was wrong.

"You should expect the unexpected. Didn't you say so, Shikaku-san?"

"Well, yes. But the game and reality are two different things."

"Aren't you playing this game because it is useful for real situations?" He asked with confusion.

Before they could answer. "If this game is useless for real situations, then you…- you play it just for fun? So, this game is as useful as the Hopscotch game I played at the playground? Why do I need to learn this boring game instead of Hopscotch at school then?" Yagura had already started clutching his heart, his serene elegance was nowhere to be seen.

"The children's logic is really fascinating," Shikaku mused.

"Go copy the book of conduct three times."

"But! -"

"Four times!"

Yuuki ran away as fast as the wind.

The young male with beautiful blonde hair past his knees walked along the corridor making a show of sashaying his hips. "Iroha, hold this for a second," he threw the folded fan carelessly at his own Kamuro— the heavy object with metallic handle almost knocked the small body of a child down.

Yuuki inwardly grimaced. Not him again. People in Okiya even gave the man a funny honorific 'The Great Unstable One' – of course, all of that happened in private, which translated as 'behind his back'.

Okiya has a tradition to give official names to courtesans on the day of their debut. Usually, it depended on their uniqueness, their specialty— of Luminous Deportment, of Virtuous Beauty, of Graceful Ceremony and so on. This man's official name was 'Nichiro of Cultivated Brilliance', which made his nickname ten times funnier.

Without any prejudice and jealous tongues Nichiro was actually highly cultured man, master of Go and sword dance. Yuuki heard he even wrote a book about the significance of some policy implemented by Second Hokage and its impact on future generations or something like that, and the copy was posted at Konohagakure's Central Library. Still, even with the title that highly praised his intelligence he was one step lower than Yagura, who reached the pinnacle of ranks in Okiya.

The reason why he got such a great reputation amongst the residents of Okiya was because he was extremely short tempered, narcissistic and petty. Oh boy… did he know how to hold grudges.

Yuuki was carrying the gifts from Mother's office to Yagura. Every single time the old hag would personally inspect the goods 'for security reasons' and take a part of it for herself. Still, even with the 'mandatory fee' Yuuki could hardly see behind the pile in his hands.

There was no one else in corridor except the three of them. The small boy felt the danger and toddled away with his tiny feet as fast as he could. The older man who treated everyone as fair game tripped Yuuki up. His arms automatically stretched forward trying to keep the small mountain in his hands in the exact same position. The fall made the wind get knocked out of him as he landed on his front — his knees, elbows and ribs receiving the biggest impact. Yuuki mentally called him with all curses he learned from fishermen and sailors.

The next second a small delicately crafted box that was on the top of the treasure heap tilted down and fell. Yuuki watched in despair how it kept approaching its doom in slow motion. It was a small, clean sound, like the snapping of a flower's stem. Yuuki felt that it wasn't porcelain that shattered but his heart. Over and over again Yuuki heard this sound repeating itself like never ending loop in his head.

"Oh my, how can you be so clumsy. Let me help you-" Nichiro even lowered his esteem self to kneel on the ground together with him, "here-" Nichiro carefully put the box in his hands once again. Couldn't he at least pretend not to look so smug? "Do be careful next time, okay?" Sure. Nichiro didn't even have to ask. Next time as soon as he saw the corner of his clothes, he would run away from him.

Iroha -his only friend in Okiya- stood awkwardly behind his master, the heavy fan rested in his hands tilting his body to the side from uneven distribution of weight. The six-year-old with bright orange hair send him apologetic glances behind Nichiro's back. You could do only so much with master like that…

Logically Yuuki knew it wasn't attack on him but on Yagura, still his lower lip dangerously wobbled as if he was about to cry. "T-thank you for your h-help, Nichiro-san. I will be going th-" before he could finish the sentence, he saw Yagura coming with slow graceful steps towards them, his lavender hair braided into intricate cord.

'Yagura of Complete Countenance'— only four people in the whole Okiya carried such a prestigious title— two males and two females. Even though it signified 'Completeness', 'Perfection'— obviously no person could be perfect. They were chosen like two sides of the coin— keeping the balance in Okiya as they kept one another in check. Yagura was Master of more 'scholarly Arts' like poetry, calligraphy, painting, Shogi and Go. While the other — Nintsu-… or was Mitsu? Mitsu-something-something was good at dance, several musical instruments, singing and so on and so forth.

"Yuuki, what took you so long?" Yagura didn't seem like he noticed Nichiro at all. "I apologise for my tardiness." Yuuki lowered his head as tears gathered in his eyes.

"Yagura-" Nichiro's face looked like he had eaten a lemon, "-san. Lovely morning today, isn't it?"

"It is indeed lovely morning. But I must say— I am surprised to see you up so early." Aren't you a pig who sleeps till noon?

The air of smugness around Nichiro was unmistakable. "I am meeting my publisher today. I am pleased to say that I just finished my second book. That's why my sleep schedule has been irregular as of late." Here I am making accomplishments. What's that to you —what I do with my life, hhh?

Yagura asked with curiosity, "history book again?" Nichiro gave an affirmative answer with a nod of his head. "It hasn't even been that long since the last one. I could only be in awe of your hardworking attitude. I know that it must be such a valuable endeavour for you-" Poor ghost like you hurried for that pittance of money that much, ha?!

Yagura took his hands gently in his. Nichiro gave a full body shudder. "-but please, do take care of your health. I have noticed that, you have been looking quiet pale these couple of days." Translation—you look like shit.

Nichiro gave a fake smile and practically ripped his hands out of Yagura's hold, secretly wiping them away on his kimono behind his back. "How could you think like that, Yagura-san? History is subject I deeply enjoy. I could only hope to make some small contribution to the Village with this insignificant life of mine. My health would be such a trivial price to pay." You vulgar bastard with dirty thoughts. I only think about benefits of the Village. I dare you say anything, cha! See how fast your head would fly off your shoulders.

Yuuki and Iroha were standing to the side, their heads like rubber balls flying around from one side to another. They might not understand everything they said, but by the stifling atmosphere they could sense the tension between them. Yagura usually avoided Nichiro or simply ignored. Why did he decide to confront him today?

"Ahhh… you are- really…" Yagura sighed and shook his head with helpless expression. "I should have expected that asking you to stop -even for second- from working with your favourite history- would be akin to torture. Still, it pains my heart when you wave away my sincere concern like that." You ungrateful peace of shit.

"We had been friends with each other for… —almost two decades now. I suppose I should've known better. After all, you… are someone who incorporates tradition—" Yagura not very subtly glanced at Nichiro's kimono. "— in every corner of your life." As usual wearing old and outdated rags, aren't you?

Yagura took part of the gifts from Yuuki and transferred it into his own hands. Rare piece of silk from Sunagakure accidentally fell on the floor, exactly the one Nichiro wanted so badly that he ran around the Village like a headless chicken in search for it.

The vein on Nichiro's forehead pulsed. "Haha. You know me. I think it has been a while since we last talked heart to heart. What have you been up to, Yagura-san? I am afraid I was too busy with my book and haven't heard any news regarding you. I only heard that someone managed to attract one of the sons of the Fire Daimyo, it wouldn't be you?" Nichiro asked knowing full well that Yagura had nothing going on. You good for nothing bastard, do you even have anything to brag about?

Yagura gracefully flipped his braid from one shoulder to another and twirled his finger around the ends of his hair. "No, it is Minami-chan. I am afraid I had too little time for new endeavours— I only have so much time to fulfil the old obligations. You know… the usual— meetings with old clients and meeting with new ones." Before Yagura could rub the salt in Nichiro's wound —as one of his long-term clients pretty much abandoned him for that bitch 'Mitsuru of Complete Countenance' — they were interrupted by servants hurrying around them and listening in their conversation. No doubt their every word would be talked about all over Okiya. Those bored people really had nothing better to do.

"How about we meet up later? I received some good alcohol from Land of Stone couple of days ago… It would be a pity not to open it." Yagura asked him.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure."

On his way back Yuuki walked along the corridor with drooping shoulders, his eyes trailing the intricate details of the floorboards. Passing servants were sending subtle glances towards them. He didn't know how to tell Yagura about porcelain teacups that he dropped — he overhead Yagura's conversation with Shikaku; it should have been a gift from him.

"Yuuki." Yagura said in calm, levelled tone —it wasn't particularly loud or aggressive, still it contained the sharp edge of authority in it. Automatically Yuuki's body stiffened.

"Raise your head. Chin up- shoulders down." Yagura looked at him from behind the shoulder. "Don't show your weakness to anyone."

Yuuki took a deep breath and toddled after Yagura like a lost duckling behind his mommy duck.

As soon as they entered the room Yagura hastily put away the gifts at his table and started checking Yuuki's body for injuries— his knees, chin and elbows were scrapped. The older man lifted pint sized child effortlessly in the air and then set him on the edge of his bed, while kneeling beside his form himself.

"Yagura-nii, the cups-" Yuuki felt the sting — his cheeks were pinched. "Is it time now to worry about something like that? Look at your blooded knees.," Yagura sternly admonished him.

For the next twenty minutes Yuuki felt like he was a doll being tossed around under Yagura's ministration. "You don't need to tell me; I can make an educated guess of what happened. Tsk. That snake like bastard— only knows how to target children." Yuuki didn't have the right to comment on someone of higher status like Nichiro.

"I hope Iroha is okay…ouch!" Yuuki winced from the pain almost kicking Yagura in the face as he disinfected the scrapes on his knees. "Hold still. Iroha… is that little friend of yours?"

"Yes. He serves as Nichiro's Kamuro." Yagura furrowed his brows. "The one with orange hair we just met?"

"Yep. Iroha is so nice. When I just came here, he was the one who explained most of the stuff about Okiya- where to go, what you can and can't do. He even helped me with some chores at first."

Yagura had a pensive look on his face. "Does he also go to school with you?" Yuuki became excited talking about his first friend. "Yes, we go attend the same lessons except art of musical instruments. Iro-chan prefers Zither and he— is also super s-smart and nice, and he already knows how to cook, and he taught me how to do a flower crown and he is just so smart and..." Yuuki continued bragging about his friend his words fired faster than a machine gun, his eyes shining with excitement.

Yagura let his chatter go in one ear and out the other. "You know when I was your age, I also had a friend just like that— here in Okiya," Yagura started disinfecting the area around his elbows.

Yuuki got restless and almost elbowed Yagura in the face. "Who is it?! Who is it?! Do I know them? Yagura-nii tell me! Tell me!"

Yagura threw his head back —just in time to escape the blow. "Do you want hit me or something? Hold still."

Yuuki wilted at his answer— his lower lip thrust forward in a pout. It was rare for Yagura to share anything personal about himself. "You do know him. It was Nichiro."

"Ha? But you totally don't get along with each other. How come you are friends?"

Yagura huffed continuing gently dabbling an alcohol filled cotton ball onto his shin."Well, we are not friends anymore. Anyway, what I wanted to tell is that — life in Okiya is unpredictable." Yagura got up from his crouching position and tussled Yuuki's hair. "You can be friends with your little - what was his name again- but don't trust him too much and don't blabber your secrets, okay?"

Yuuki scrunched his nose and pouted his lips in displeasure. "Iroha is trust- thrust-…" he forgot how to say the word, "-thrustwordly."

"Trustworthy." Yagura corrected him and looked through the window in a daze— like he was recalling some memories.

Finally, Yuuki's injures were cleaned and safely tucked under the protective layer of the bandages. While Yagura was returning the cotton balls and medicine back to their places, he gentle murmured to himself. "Is that so?"

In the middle of the night someone crawled onto his bed. "Yuuki, are you sleeping right now?" Iroha whisper shouted.

"Well, I am not sleeping now." Yuuki huddled and allowed Iroha to dive in under his blanket. The comfortable silence of the night stretched between them. "Are you -…okay?" Iroha tentatively asked him.

Yuuki let out a sigh. "I am fine— just some scrapes and bruises. Nothing serious happened."

Iroha shuffled from nervousness. "No, I am talking about that box… Did your master punish you? Did he hit you or anything?"

"Hmm? No. Of course not! Yuuki isn't that sort of a person! I think he forgot about it altogether actually." Iroha breathed sigh of relief, "It is good then."

Yuuki hesitated for a moment but still brought up the topic. "Your master seemed a bit… - forceful. Did he ever—khm, do anything to you?"

"No!" Iroha shouted so loudly that the sound echoed in the room and Yuuki flinched hitting his head against the wall.

Iroha put both of his hands on his mouth a bit embarrassed at his outburst. "Actually, Nichiro-nii is super nice in private." Iroha fidgeted on the bed. "I think something happened between him and your master. That's why he is like that."

Everyone in Okiya knew that Nichiro wasn't the most pleasant person, but Iroha wouldn't lie to him, so it must be true. "Still, I am sorry about what happened today."

"It is fine. It is not like you could do anything about it." In truth Yuuki was a bit upset with him at first, but after Iroha apologised, he had forgiven him. "You are not mad at me?" Iroha asked. "I am not."

"Really really?"

"Yes, really really."

"Really really really?"

Yuuki let out long suffering sigh. "I don't think you could do anything for me to stay mad at you— you are too nice for it. As long as you apologise, we are cool."

"Really?" Iroha giggled.

"Do you not know any other words?" Yuuki huffed and hit him with a pillow. "Stay over?" "Sure."

Two boys huddled together on one small bed. The moment Yuuki was about to enter the realm of dreams he heard a loud shout right in his ear. "I brought you some medicine, you need to apply-"

Yuuki kicked him out of his bed. "You know what —I changed my mind!"

Iroha shyly scratched his nose as Yuuki shut the door right in his face.

And he said Nichiro was forceful…