Chapter 5

Iroha stood in his yellow kimono -signature colour of his master- with neat low bun on his head at the porch. "It is him. It is definitely him. I saw him myself," he loudly shouted while pointing at Yuuki. No. It can't be.

Yuuki slowly turned his head towards the voice in astonishment and saw Iroha, Mother and Yagura looking at him with various emotions.

"Stupid boy! Do you know that that kimono was worth more than your measly life?!" Mother shouted at him and raised her cain like she couldn't wait to strike him down herself.

Iroha bit his lip and looked away once their eyes met each other. At this moment Yuuki was sure — he was lying. He looked guilty and scared, his fists clenching and unclenching— his usual tattletale of lying. Yuuki couldn't breathe.

Then he redirected his gaze and looked at his only saving straw. For Kamuro their 'elder brother or sister' were everything. They were their teachers, masters whom they serve, their patrons who financially supported them, and the most important one – they were their parents.

To Kamuro they were their everything.

"Twenty strikes. And we would talk later how to settle this debt." Yagura stood on the side of the building and coldly looked at him. Yuuki felt his heart shatter. Ah, of course. Yagura was that type of a person.

With how gentle he was towards him he almost forgot that Yagura was, first of all, a master of Shogi. He viewed everyone – himself included- as a piece, a pawn. "I am disappointed in you, Yuuki." This sentence really shouldn't have hurt him as much as did. Yuuki tried to keep his screams down when strikes kept landing on his back. The strength was measured, the blows wouldn't torn his skin, but create bruises upon bruises on his body making it lasting experience.

Okiya was a highly competitive place, schemes like that were common among them. The only competition Yagura had was Mitsuru-san among all other male courtesans. Nichiro was rank lower than him. After hearing that he got himself a big client, Yagura had collaborated with Nichiro to ruin his new kimono that was specifically made for the preferences of the client.

In the end if everything went according to his plan - Yagura would have kept Mitsuru in check, cut down future competitor-Iroha for Yuuki, find out how much Yuuki was willing to do for him, pissed off Nichiro and even if the things went south - he wouldn't have garnered any loses.

Even the current outcome couldn't be called unsatisfactory to him.

Yuuki didn't want to return to his room after that. Which was why he now sat under a tree, letting the bark dig painfully into his back as the breeze brought the scent of grass and summer, vision blinded by his own tears. He let his fingers run through the dirt and leaves before bringing dizi up to his lips to play. The song was particularly mournful. Letting his mind wander as his fingers went through the motions without any thought.

It was stupid of him. While Iroha didn't hesitate to betray him – he wavered. Didn't he know what kind of place Red Light district was?

But somehow what upset him the most was Yagura. Logically he knew that this whole ordeal organised by Yagura would have been beneficial for him in the end. Emotionally he - couldn't accept it.

After two years the memories of his family slowly faded away – it became something disjointed. Fractured. Shattered. The salt on his skin and the tip of his tongue, the easy smiles and crude speech, the laughter and the fishy smell that won't ever go away, the storms and the constant chill accompanying it. His cousin who came with him -he couldn't remember her name, and how utterly deplorable that was- didn't visit him even once though she knew his whereabouts. Yuuki didn't know where she ended up at and no matter how much he searched - he couldn't find even a wisp of her tail.

Suddenly the sun was gone, and the shadow covered his form. Yuuki looked up and saw Nichiro with smug expression on his face. What did he want now? Everyone in Okiya knew that Nichiro was jealous of Yagura, every time they passed each other Nichiro would throw snide comments at him. He came all this way sashaying his hips just to rub everything in his face?

"Don't take it to heart, little Kamuro-chan. I was just paying back Yagura for what he did to me when we were young." He didn't ask?

"You could say your situation right now is pretty similar to what happened between the two of us back then. Only it was so much worse, because it happened right before my debut. Yagura must be really pissed off about his favourite toy being screwed over," he said with glee. He must've have kept it inside for quite some time…

The piece of paper was dropped onto his lap. Nichiro looked at him expectantly trying to hurry him up. The letter written by his cousin year ago informed him of his familly passing.

"Yagura is quite a control freak. That girl – Haruto or whatever her name was-" Haruka. Her name was Haruka. He suddenly remembered. "She constantly kept coming to Okiya, but Yagura blocked her at the entrance and hid away all news from you."

Yuuki zoned out his incensed chatter. He felt tired. He probably should feel more about the death of his family members, about Yagura but-

He was tired.

"You know… maybe it is for the best. Didn't you hear what happened to the last Kamuro of Yagura. Poor girl came to this place vertically but left horizontally. Some say that the brat was fathered by him, and he got rid of the stain by himself," he laughed like he found it laughable. Yagura was too cautious for something like that to happen. "Others say she couldn't bear the impossible standards Yagura subjected her to and decided to fling herself from the roof." There was maniac glee in his eyes.

After receiving zero reaction from him, Nichiro finally left. His condition was getting worse – the fever was frying his brain, he wanted to fall asleep, but the pain originated from his back kept him awake.

In front of him he saw the hem of Yagura's kimono. He felt the refreshingly cold touch of the hand on his forehead, the next moment Yuuki was in the air and then tightly held in someone's embrace. "Idiot," he heard Yagura's gentle voice before he passed out.

The next time he woke up his wounds were bandaged, his body cleaned, his heart empty. He stared absentmindedly at the expensive healing salve on his bedside table.

Yuuki knocked at the door and after receiving receiving permission he walked into reception room with tray in his hands. Sometimes Yagura would take on students and teach them some of his skills. Sometimes they were young adults who wanted to know more about bedroom matters. Sometimes - like right now - they were relatively young children at the age of twelve. Shinobi.

While the older shinobi who visited Okiya could hide their peculiarities and uniqueness, the younger ones weren't as successful- always too fast, their footsteps too silent but voices too loud, too twitchy and tense.

He set up the tea set with practiced ease and was ready to leave. "Stay."

Yuuki lifted his gaze away from the floor and sent a brief glance towards Yagura. "Come here." Inwardly sighing he did as he was told.

There were five other people in the room – children: three girls and two boys. All of them seemed older than him. The boys tried to act more composed but constant fidgeting gave their nervousness away.

The girls were red faced and kept not very subtly peeking at Yagura. He could understand that- he was exactly the same the first time he met him. Yagura had a natural disposition to make others feel that it was their privilege to take even a glance at him. His every gesture captivating, his every breath enchanting, his every glance bewitching.

Yuuki felt five pairs of eyes fixed on his body. It was so clear it was their first time at the brothel. "Yes, Yagura-sama." Yuuki knew it didn't make sense to be snappish with someone who held his future in his hands. He wasn't sulking- he wasn't…

After that incident his relationship with Yagura became rather strained, they were in cold of sorts. He felt guilty, angry, ashamed and so much more. He broke Yagura's trust, but what about his trust? He still didn't have enough guts to ask him about his cousin, he didn't want to hear the answer. What if he really did it? Then what he would do? What could he even do?

"Today our guests will be learning the art of tea ceremony. Yuuki-chan will be the one to demonstrate it." Yagura knew how to hold his grudges. Yuuki bit his lip in frustration. It was punishment. His back already hurt from a mere thought of it, he would be straining his already pained bac for hours. Not to say anything about arms and torso.

If only he was always that mean to him. The constant switch between his sweet and angry side was making him confused. He just knew once he returned to his rooms in the evening there will be hot tea with snacks and single white orchid on a tray waiting for him as an apology.

The five of them looked at him in doubt. "Now… shall we begin?" Yagura gracefully hid his expression behind the fan.

The sky had turned completely dark. The sunlight was gradually disappearing from the horizon, leaving the western sky a gloomy ash-gray shade. The evening star was hung up on a tree branch and the wind began to pick up, spreading the feeling of coolness.

Yuuki hid himself on the roof of one of the buildings in Okiya that no one ever visited because the view of the Village was nicely speaking quite subpar, but it was fine for him - the night sky looked beautiful anywhere. He didn't want to see what Yagura sent him this time, he just wanted to cool down a bit and be one with nature or something.

Yuuki searched for the place where he could put his bum on. There was so much clatter and dirt. Maybe it was the reason no one came here instead?

Suddenly he heard the bang of the door. Someone was coming in his direction. Yuuki held his breath and scooted further back into the shadows — from this angle he could see and hear them fairly well.

Yuuki wanted to close his eyes as soon as he saw the sight of them. Two figures of woman and man intervened with each other. They were loudly kissing and panting.

Squelch.

Yuuki took a deep breath afraid he would throw up. They were leaning on the wall near the only entrance, he couldn't leave unnoticed – he could only wait until they go away.

Those secret rendezvous weren't allowed. The rules of Okiya were absolute, you could scheme in secret about minor things, but crossing some lines could cost you your life. All of them – servants, Kamuro, Maiko, Geisha were property of Okiya. While they might be the residents of Konohagakure, it didn't mean they had the same level of protection as other civilians. Honestly why would anyone care how one of the courtesans was dealt with after breaking the rules?

"Shin, ah- be careful with my -mnn-ng stomach. You almost bumped into it," the woman said while panting. "Shhh! What if someone overhears us again…?"

As soon as he heard her voice Yuuki whipped his head in their direction in shock. It was Minami. Was she crazy?

She was one of the rising Maiko, soon to become Geisha after her debut. Yuuki saw Mother whistling and smiling in happiness because the fifth son of Fire Daimyo gave astronomical amount of money and gifts to receive her first night. When he saw the man parting her skirts, he immediately turned his head away. Thump-thump. Rhythmic wet sounds resonated on the roof. After last grunt they were finally finished.

The handsome man in his thirties kneeled before Minami and kissed her round stomach. "Mimi, you will have to wait a bit more with baobao." He looked tenderly at her belly. "Soon we will be able to run away. I am sorry I am not capable enough man to buy you out in open manner." "Don't be…" They whispered sweet words of love to each other.

Yuuki felt terrified. Okiya was unfair towards courtesans, but women in general were subjected to even stricter rules. There were two lines you couldn't cross in Okiya — try to run away and give birth to a child. Yo-ou just couldn't do it. He felt like ripping his hair out. Their clients were shinobi and nobles. They have lineages, kekkei genkai and whatnot. You just can't do it! All of them would be done for!

After the one in capital 'Red Blossom' was the most prestigious Okiya. Mother treasured spotless reputation more than their lives, more than her own life! And that old hag wanted to live for centuries. There were hundreds of ways and substances to prevent and get rid of the pregnancy. But— her belly was too big! He had no idea how she was able to hide it all this time. She would be either killed, get mutilated until she was unrecognisable and then thrown on the streets, serve with her body as low ranked prostitute until she would pay off her debts. Obviously in all these scenarios the baby would get killed too — no matter who the father of the child was.

He needed to wait for them to leave and then tell Yagura about it. "Hmm? Is there something in the shadows?" Suddenly the man started walking in his direction.

The man lifted the cloth that hang between some scrapes and looked around. "Haha, there was nothing." "Don't scare me like that!"

Yuuki hid inside one of the boxes as soon as the man started walking towards him. He curled up in inhuman position that was only possible due to his size. His heart beat fast in his chest as he heard them leaving. He waited good five minutes before he crawled out of it. He needed to run, to leave this place. That was too dangerous.

After opening the door in a rush, he unexpectedly collided with someone. "Shin, I am telling you- my comb should be here… we checked all other places. You shouldn't have been so rough," Minami complained.

The blow to his head was sudden. The blood and tears were clouding his eyes. Everything buzzed. His vision was swimming. With a kick to his ribs, he was sent flying for two meters. He couldn't breathe. Was breathing always that difficult?

"I knew there was a rat hiding here." The man looked menacing, not a shinobi but he killed people already. There was no hesitation in his actions.

Minami almost screamed from the shock and started loudly crying, fat tears streaming down her face. Maybe she would…?

"Sorry, brat. Nothing personal, right?" she uttered emotionlessly while looking at him with cold eyes. "Don't dawdle. Get rid of him quickly, Shi-kun," she said with ruthless glint in her eyes.

Why?

Why did he have to die? He didn't do anything wrong. They were the ones who broke the rules, the ones who got caught, the ones who were wrong.

The man gripped him by the collar and brought closer to the edge of the roof. Three story-building. Yuuki couldn't breathe, he couldn't even think about anything except how painful everything felt. In the last ditch attempt he gathered his feeble strength and kicked the man in the jaw. "This stupid…" Yuuki was dropped on the ground. It didn't make his situation better — he couldn't move.

In anger man stomped with his foot on his chest, the sickening sound of cracked bones made Minami flinch. Yuuki threw up blood on the front of his kimono— absentmindedly he noticed how black looked his blood during the night. Breathe. Once again, he was suffocating and drowning in black, the black dripped down his throat, shutting behind the door with any possible of him surviving. Just breathe. The black dripped from his eyes, ears and his very skin. He needed to breathe to be alive.

Pity his failing lungs didn't agree with him. He didn't know it was possible to get tired of suffocating.

All this time the pair looked uncomfortably at him, their bodies inching away like they were witnessing something particularly disgusting. Even veteran shinobi couldn't kill children with ease, couldn't see them wringing horribly in agony and pain. "Just throw him down already! Can't you see he is suffering? Or do you fucking like watching this shit?" She hysterically screamed at him. The people in Okiya might pretend they are elegant and refined but at the end of the day, they were nothing more but disgusting bottom-feeders.

"Then you fucking do it!" The man shouted at her. Their love must the one that would never break. Minami looked at him in shock and started crying like a toddler. "I am sorry, I am sorry." The man hugged her trembling body trying to console her. Yuuki really felt like a third wheel with all his -trying not to die- gasping and gurgling with blood.

The man clenched his jaw -the face contorted with fear- and approached his body, grabbing his ankle he dragged Yuuki with his back towards the edge. Then spark happened.

Chakra was a form of life energy that could be found anywhere— in the grass you step on, in animals that pass you by, and in humans. Every person had chakra flowing in them — not every person could manipulate it. It was simply either given or not. Even in shinobi clans were those types of people.

The first time you use chakra is called spark — the short burst of highly concentrated chakra, usually caused by bouts of intense emotions. Not every person who could manipulate chakra had a first spark moment, but every person who had spark could use chakra.

Yuuki lying on his back looked at the man who was going to kill him. In those eyes- the ones that watched his unmoving body he saw only fear and disgust. The poor guy probably never experienced something so bloody. The man would wake in the middle of the night from the nightmares in the future, but then Minami would hug and console him saying that 'everything is in the past' while gently patting his back.

Yuuki looked at him with such terrifying eyes the man flinched. The anger was all consuming, his face was contorted with rage, eyes narrowed in slits as he watched him coming closer to him. It looked eerie on the face of a child.

Then something ridiculous happened— the blob of water -no more than one cup- hit the face of the man. In bewilderment the man tried to get away from the danger forgetting that there was nothing behind him. Survival instincts. Human instincts.

It was so ridiculous. So anticlimactic. One minute he was in Yuuki's field of vision the next he disappeared.

Yuuki heard the scream of the man and then loud thud. The only thought that he had at that moment was 'Nothing personal, right?'

Usually, the inner part of Okiya was off the limits for all guests and patrons. Unless there was a concern for the safety of the Village no one would want to visit these places.

The next second a very tall man in a weird half opened getup appeared on the roof. The man was reeking of the booze and had multiple lips stains all over his neck and face, but his eyes were too sharp, too clear.

Minami waking up from her stupor plopped on the ground. Second later more shinobi appeared on the rooftop, all of them verging degrees of undressed. Yuuki saw that first man coming closer to him. He had weird red markings under his eyes, his hair shone brilliant white reflecting the moonlight. Not black at all— he was sick of black. How pretty.

"Hang in there, kid." He carefully took him into his embrace trying to move him as little as possible and jump onto the next roof.

Yuuki fell into blissful darkness.

There never was a creature who could outwit the death, but-

-there was a human who carried the part of his soul into his next life.

Once plunged into the darkness -with life flowing through his veins- the shattered pieces became one, became whole.

With a gasp Yuuki opened his eyes.