A/N: Something new this time, if you enjoyed reading this feel free to leave a review, it would be much appreciated!
The air on the surface was much more pure and fresh as opposed to the air in the underground city of Yoshiwara. The weather was even more dynamic and varied, from rain to sunshine and snow at given times. But in Yoshiwara, the sun and the moon were the only elements of nature that were present.
And it was the only ones needed.
It brought hope to their citizens, gave them a chance to see light within the land of eternal night. The roof remained open even if none of them knew how to live above the city. Night was all the courtesans ever knew, but to see daylight was a symbol of their freedom, and it was more than enough to keep them happy. To know that there was something that would brighten up their day in a city for adventurous and entertainment-deprived men who were looking for an enjoyable time and part ways with their cash.
Whenever the rain did come, the roof remained open, never to be closed again unless in dire circumstances, a constant reminder of the control and lack of freedom the courtesans lived and grew up in. One person made use of their freedom to leave the city, if only for short times and for a very specific reason. To pay tribute to her fallen master.
Even with her scars that lined her forehead and the side of her left cheek, she was still considered a beautiful woman by her peers, collectively known as the Moon of Yoshiwara for her distinctive long blonde hair and how it shone in the moonlight. The scars also meant that she was more than willing to discard her femininity to protect her home city and confront any who dared to incite unrest. As the leader of the city's paramilitary force it was her duty.
The day she picked to visit the graveyard in Kabukichou to tend to her master's grave was somewhat unfortunate though. The heavy rain was never ending up on the surface as it lightly pounded against her lilac coloured umbrella, and the sky was a perpetual grey, with the odd rumble of thunder booming over the light patters of rain. She bought food with her, a few buns in a small plate as offerings for the dead.
A few kind words of reassurance and small talk were given to the gravestone. A common thing to do when communicating with the dead. To remind them that they are still fondly remembered by the living. She remarked at how things had been in Yoshiwara, the peacefulness of it all and how the city had been since their change of leadership, but lamented how she wished her master was around to see the change. It wasn't until she set down her plate in front of the headstone that she heard a faint exhale seemingly emanating from it.
She took a step back, alarmed by the sound. She didn't come alone. She always came prepared no matter what weather, kunais hidden in her kimono and sleeves, a pair of tanto sheathed on her sash and another, longer tanto concealed in her umbrella shaft for rainy days. She gripped the end of her umbrella rod, ready to draw her concealed weapon if need be. Several seconds passed as the rain continued to pour down. Nothing seemed to change as the breaths continued to come, this time punctuated with a few weak coughs.
Her suspicion began to subside as nothing moved. The hold on the umbrella loosened slightly, but not enough to relax her guard. She slowly peeked her head behind the headstone, finding herself quite amused by what she saw behind it. A man with silver, damp hair hanging over his eyes and his grey, damaged clothes completely drenched in rain, his back slumped behind her master's headstone. Aside from looking completely soaked, he also looked pale and unmoving, like a living corpse. He didn't look that much older than herself, but he seemed rather good looking too, despite his decrepit appearance. The rain that blanketed his head was halted by the intervention of the umbrella as it pattered on it instead of his head.
"Ya know ya gonna get cold if ya keep sitting there right?" She asked with a faint smile. No response. She tilted her head in slight amusement. She knew he wasn't dead, but he was barely alive. "Ya gonna catch a cold if ya sit there any longer."
She crouched down to his level to get a better look at his face. "Ya no ordinary person to be sitting behind a gravestone ya know?"
The man just about reared his head to look at her, giving her the chance to move his hair out of the way. She was looking at a wounded beast. Dark, bordaux eyes gazing into her own bright, purple amethyst eyes. They looked weary, but alive. Intense, but soft. Yet there was an air of sadness and guilt behind them, like he was ready to fulfil a death wish.
"Hey, ya ok?" She asked in a softer, more sympathetic voice, placing her palm on his cheek.
"...Can I have whatever's on that plate?" He finally said. She scoffed at the notion. To think she managed to get him to speak up and the first thing he says is asking for food.
"First thing ya say after getting ya to open up and the first thing that comes outta ya mouth is begging for food. Fucking brilliant huh?" She smirked. "Ya gonna have to ask my master about that. If he allows ya to eat it that is."
She seemed mildly amused as she watched his hand reach around to drag the plate closer, drawing enough strength to lift up a bun and bring it to his mouth for a bite. And then another. And another. Her amused expression remained until he emptied the plate of its contents.
"Well? Did he say yes?" She asked.
"What do you think lady?" He weakly replied in a sarcastic tone. She couldn't help but have a little ounce of pity in her smile.
"I take it ya don't give a shit about customs when ya on death's door?" She coldly asked, leaving the umbrella by his side as it hung over him to protect him from the rain. He merely let out a weak scoff, like he was mocking the idea of caring about such things, prompting a slight sigh from the lady.
"Ya just asking for trouble if ya don't ask them, ya know that?" She said casually, taking out a pipe from her kimono and lighting it with a match to take a quick puff of smoke.
"The dead don't talk back." He replied, his voice sounding a little more stronger than before. "So I made a promise with him instead."
She lifted an eyebrow, interested in what he had to say as she breathed out more smoke. "And what's that?"
"To protect you from whatever may come your way, no matter who or what it is."
She could only sigh at the rather ambitious declaration. "That's a hell of a promise you made. Don't make a promise if ya know ya can't keep it." She warned sternly.
Why the hell am I being tied to something that's nearly impossible to uphold? By a man on his deathbed no less?
"You think I don't know that...?!" He exclaimed much more loudly, almost seeming insulted and pained by the suggestion. He was staring at her with more vigour in his eyes, more fire that she hadn't seen until now.
Her expression became more neutral and apologetic. He looked like he knew what it was like to make a promise. One that was too painful to hold onto or let go.
"My bad. I shouldn't have said that..." She sighed. "Ya sure picked a strange person to protect. Ya don't even know my name yet."
He gazed at her more softly, this time with a weak smile. "Don't care, as long as I can hold up my end of the bargain with your master."
It was the lady's turn to smile as she took the pipe out to blow some smoke. She couldn't quite believe how insistent he was in his words. And yet, he looked genuine.
"Ya samurai? Aren't ya?" She questioned curiously. "Is that why ya making such a big deal out of this?"
"Who knows? Samurai or not, I'm a dead man anyways. But at least let me do this one more thing." He cryptically requested.
She gave him a long, thoughtful look, scanning his near lifeless body and face before coming to a decision.
"Ya gotta be the craziest bastard I've seen so far. I didn't ask for this, but I guess I can use the extra help. Besides, I'm not leaving a dying man to...well die." She sighed in resignation, offering a hand to him. He took it, but didn't stand up, or rather, he couldn't stand up.
She clicked her tongue in light annoyance. "First ya take the food meant for Shishou without his permission, then ya make a one sided pact about protecting me which I didn't even ask for, and now ya want me to carry ya? Some guardian ya are..." She remarked sassily, tipping the pipe upside down and gently tapping her pipe on her hand to remove the tobacco before depositing it in her kimono.
"Whatever..." he whispered under his breath, picking up the umbrella that stayed over his head as she turned around.
"Hop on, I'll take ya to our place." She beckoned, which he graciously accepted as he wrapped his arms around her neck, careful not to accidentally hit her with the umbrella as he did so whilst she lifted him onto her back. In return, he limply hovered her umbrella over their heads, enough to keep the rain out.
"'Our' place?"
"Yeah, me and a close friend of mine. Well, she's more like an older sister to me."
"This is definitely something you do everyday isn't it...?" The silver haired man sarcastically asked in a weary voice.
"Oh yeah, totally. Completely normal for me to see a man sitting behind a gravestone every time I come up here." She wittily replied as she slowly moved forwards, carrying his weight like a sack of potatoes. "What were ya doing there anyway?"
He didn't answer, though she already had her impressions.
"Alright. Don't have to speak if ya don't want to." She casually remarked.
"...You remind me of someone." He said. The statement was enough to amuse her for a little small talk.
"In what way?" She simply replied, unsure whether to interpret it as an insult or compliment.
"Just someone I know. Someone I looked up to. Heh...takes me back..." He ambiguously revealed.
"Hmph, ya sound like an old man when ya put it like that. And ya not that much older than me." She remarked.
"Just shut up and keep walking lady..."
It took quite some time to return to Yoshiwara holding what can only be described as deadweight, but she eventually returned home without much trouble. Just as well as the man the Moon of Yoshiwara was carrying on her back was already in dire straits, only just about able to hold the umbrella to protect them from the rain. By the time she arrived at the tea shop where she resided, he had almost dropped it.
"I'm home!" She politely shouted as she walked up the stairs above the shop. A beautiful dark haired woman in a wheelchair came out of one of the rooms as she heard it. She was certainly a little older than the woman with blonde hair, but not by much. It was easy for him to tell that she was someone most men would easily fall for with just a simple glance.
"Welcome back Tsukuyo-oh my...what happened?" She asked, slightly baffled by who she was carrying on her back. "Was there any trouble?"
"Not really, except for this idiot here. Thought it would be nice of him to make a one sided agreement with Shishou to protect me, and the first thing he does is ask me for a lift." Tsukuyo quipped, setting him down on a nearby futon and slipping off her wooden geta.
"Naturally. He's in no condition to walk at the moment." The lady said worryingly.
"Can ya look after him Hinowa? I need to go back out on patrol." She hurriedly said as she slipped on a pair of fishnets and leather boots, much to Hinowa's surprise.
"But you just came back Tsukuyo..." Hinowa said in disbelief.
"I know. Yoshiwara has to be protected at all costs." She replied bluntly, turning her back to Hinowa as she prepared to leave the room.
"Alright...be careful." She sighed with a hint of concern. She knew that there was no point stopping her friend from leaving once her mind was set on something.
"I'll be fine Hinowa, ya worry too much." Tsukuyo drawlingly said.
Tsukuyo slid the shoji door shut and the clicking of her heels quietened down as she got further away.
"Oh, you forgot your umbrella!" Hinowa shouted to no avail. She couldn't help but sigh once more as she looked down at the silver haired man. "Honestly...she can be quite a handful sometimes."
"Is she always like that?" He mumbled wearily, turning his head slightly to look up at Hinowa.
"I'm afraid so. She's been spending a lot of time out on patrol as of late. Ever since Yoshiwara was liberated from Hosen's control a few years back, she promised to spend a little more time away from it. She makes me worry too much. It's not good for her health to come back late every time." She sadly lamented.
"She's stubborn." He bluntly said.
"Hehe, that's an understatement." Hinowa chuckled in mutual agreement as she wheeled herself over to the door, sliding it open. "Seita? Can you fetch a hot hand towel and a big towel and bring it here please?"
"Ok Mom!" Shouted a youthful voice. Sure enough, a few light footsteps made their way into the room before stopping outside the door. A young boy in a green kimono with short, straight sandy hair holding a pair of towels, one small and one larger one.
"What's he doing here?" He impulsively said out of curiosity.
"No need to act so rudely Seita. Tsukuyo found this man while she was up on the surface. He needed help." Hinowa politely explained to him, directing her son to sit the man up and wrap the larger towel around his body before lying him back down and placing the hot flannel on the man's forehead. Hinowa directed him out of the room, sliding the door shut again.
"Your kid looks nothing like you." The silver haired man pointed out abruptly. Surprisingly, Hinowa did not react to his rather rude statement, simply giving him a faint smile.
"You're right about that actually. And he doesn't have a father either. I took him in at his behest. I wasn't so sure if it was the right thing to do since I'm not actually his mother. His real mother...died after childbirth. Here in Yoshiwara. But...as long as he can have a peaceful life, it's enough for me." She admitted calmly.
He simply hummed, almost in admiration and respect for Hinowa. "Sometimes blood runs thicker than water, but sometimes family doesn't have to come from blood. I can respect that. Especially in a red light district here."
"Please, it's not that special, it's the only thing I can do for Seita." Hinowa simply waved it off with her smile still, downplaying her significance. He managed a weak chuckle at her humbleness.
"You should be proud. To raise a kid that you have no relation to, but he treats you like his own mother. There's a lot of kids like him who would do anything for someone who'd raise them, blood or not. I know I certainly did." He casually said with a weak smile, which piqued Hinowa's interest with a sudden surprised blink.
"You were an orphan?"
He didn't answer, instead staring at the bright lights of the ceiling as if he just wanted to end the conversation.
Several minutes went by without a word uttered. Hinowa slipped out of the room for a short time and returned with Seita as well as a tray of tea and a small cup, asking the latter to set it down next to him, and to also help her down too. With a little effort, Seita managed to accomplish both tasks as Hinowa knelt down next to their guest.
"You don't like to talk much do you? Or you don't like talking with people who work in hostess clubs and the like?" She noticed, examining his stoic face as she poured the tea into a small cup, leaning over to pour the cup into his mouth. While it was only a small quantity, the hot tea warmed him to his toes.
"The only experience I've had of hostess clubs was a lady picking between me and one of my friends. Naturally, she picked the other one, but he was such a bore that she gave up on him in the end. He kept giving this evil stare too. He thinks of himself so highly but he has to look up to talk to someone every time." He rambled on, recollecting his rather amusing memories. It pleased Hinowa to see him break his stoicism and become more upbeat and jovial, even if it was for a short time.
"So yeah, I'm not that big of a fan of hostess clubs. Not my thing. Too loud for relaxation." He finished, coughing a few times before Hinowa poured some more tea for him.
"Hehe, you can't form your opinion on them based on one experience." Hinowa softly tittered, amused what he had to say. "But everyone has their own opinions on what we courtesans do."
"She isn't though, is she? Going out until dark patrolling the streets for crime. That scar too...she's not like the others is she?" He suddenly asked, which made Hinowa's smile fade a little bit as he changed the subject.
"Tsukuyo is technically the same as us. But she hates the idea of it, which I can't blame her for. We were all sold and brought to Yoshiwara since childhood. It's all we know about. Even after the roof opened up, most of us have remained here because it would be nearly impossible to adapt to life above the surface. Like placing an animal out of its living zone in a place where it has no chance of survival. So we make do with the conditions we reside in. We have our different ways of living. She chose to forsake her femininity for our protection. And I...simply lived every day with a smile on my face so that the women knew that their world hadn't ended." She explained.
"So you fought for your freedom in different ways. Rattling the cage until it busts open." He summarised, to which Hinowa nodded her head. He struggled to sit up, only able to do so with Hinowa's help as he slowly lifted the cup of tea and drew it close to his mouth for a sip.
"Isn't it odd though? Scarring your own face to renounce your femininity, but having such long hair. Isn't that a sign of femininity too?" He pointed out, seeing some irony in the idea of Tsukuyo giving up her femininity.
"Hair is a common trait on all of us. I'm sure you've seen it yourself. Men with long hair. Tsukuyo's way of doing that was to defend Yoshiwara, to serve it in her own way rather than the conventional method. But I do agree she might need it shortened soon, it can be a little difficult to manage..." She politely rebuffed. He managed a faint huff in response.
"Sounds like she has one hell of a burden..." He mumbled with a hint of respect, taking another sip of tea that Hinowa poured for him.
"Indeed...leading the Hyakka day and night is a difficult job. It's why I keep telling her to come home early for rest, but she never listens." She chuckled, much to his mild surprise.
"Hyakka?"
"They're the group that helps protect Yoshiwara. A police of sorts." She noted.
"Oh...right. I'm guessing I gotta help her out with that to lighten her burden a little bit." He theorised.
"Mmhm. I imagine you'll have to help her quite a bit, she's never been the type to open herself about herself to other people except for me." Hinowa hummed with a smile, pouring more tea for her guest to drink, much to his dismay.
"Oh great...you gonna play matchmaker with me and her or something? As if I could ever get close to her." He sighed in annoyance.
"Hehe, no no, I just want her to socialise a little more, that's all." She answered with a smile. He stared at her with a slight grumble, unable to see through her near impenetrable poker face.
"Oh, I realised it was rude of me to not introduce myself, please forgive me. My name is Hinowa. May I ask who you are?" She perked up.
After another quick sip he placed the cup on the tray. "Sakata Gintoki."