𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕣'𝕤 𝕡𝕖𝕥 // Tengen Uzui x reader (+18)

Chapter 48 | Spring

The weeks melt into each other. Soonish a carpet of snow covers every life. The world falls into a deep slumber and switches into survival mode. Nonetheless the streets beneath you are still filled with music every night.
Even sooner the snow melts and flowers begin to bloom everywhere, reminding you of a friend. On top of that humans begin to fill the streets. They act like awoken rats beginning to look for food in every house. Their feet on the moist ground sound nearly the same.
You lock yourself in your room as soon as the laughter in the opposite house begins to ring in your ears. There's nothing interesting in your room for anybody and you're not either. The opposite house has the good wares. And the temple at the end of the street has the best one.
Not long to go until lavender will bedeck your balcony. You lean on it and look down - let the sun warm your head. In the corner of your eye you can see a shadow rushing away. Nevertheless you know what it was. A muscle mouse. Since you came here they lurk everywhere around the village. Lurking is too mean honestly. Most of the residents really appreciate their help. You wonder what's wrong with them that all they wanna do is carry around things. It's become common to see the most random stuff getting carried through the village by one or two muscle mice. At first you tried to scare them away but they were too persistent. And they are not disturbing you. If you don't actually seek one they don't ever cross your way. You have no proof if they are reporting to Tengen-san or if they are here voluntarily. Both seems fucked up.

You tilt your head and watch the woman on the balcony of the opposite house. As painfully red as your own house.
She smokes a cigarette in a chair while resting her bare feet on the balcony railing. Her kimono doesn't match this picture at all but you know how exhausted that woman is. Her clients really are annoying as fuck. Gross men that ask humiliating things from her. She is too desperate to not take their money tho. Maybe she even likes it.

Your eyes meet and she respectfully nods at you. You give her a simple smile that doesn't reach your eyes. Everyone knows you're not working for Aoki-san. Nonetheless they accept and respect you. Or rather the katanas always warming your back.
Your gaze drifts to the street again as black feathers suddenly take your vision.

"Oh my god, don't jump scare me!", you shriek at Tori.

The raven doesn't understand you but rustles with her feathers.

"Oooyakata-sama needs your opinion", she reports.

You still don't know at what point she flies to Oyakata-sama or how she knows when he wants something from her - from you. Tori is a riddle you'll never solve.

"How urgent is it?", you ask.

Tori's claws clink on the wooden balcony railing.

"Toriiii don't know", she answers.

It's not urgent then. You're too lazy to travel to Oyakata-sama now anyways. You've got better things to do. Next week seems fitting but he can wait for another week as well.
You didn't forgive him. He tried to console you by monthly sending you money ever since you had the fight but you never accepted it.

Who are you to accept money in exchange for a life?

"Y/n, are you there?", a female voice shouts from the inside.

You sigh and turn around. The carpet on your floor swallows the sound of your footsteps. You open the small door made of dark wood. A woman around the age of Oyakata-sama waits behind it. Without her makeup and fancy cloth she looks like an innocent housewife.

"What's the matter?", you want to know.

She looks big in this small hallway that connects dozens of rooms.

"Are you leaving any time soon?", she asks with a voice that sounds like the bells of heaven.

"The day after tomorrow I have to work", you reply wryly.

It's not that you dislike her...you just consider her too nosey.

"Alright but please remember that the Oiran will have a meeting in five days. You're expected to be there", the woman reminds you.

"Sure."

Be there is a nice description for standing guard the whole night. It's become one of your most time consuming jobs but it's way better than the alternative. Prostitution isn't an opportunity for you as long as you're not on death's doorstep.
Aoki-san of course doesn't pay you for it.

Aoki-san gently smiles at you then turns around and walks down the hallway. It's astonishing how such a tender figure can be so greedy.

You close the door and step back. Tori is still sitting on the balcony railing taking care of her feathers. Your gaze drifts to your nightstand - a certain hair clip is hidden in it and screams for mercy every night - and the letter on top of it. It's neatly folded even though its content is so wicked.

Aoki-san gave it to you months ago. You don't officially live here which is why there's no name of yours in this village anywhere. Still Shinazugawa-san was able to find out where you lived and sent you the letter.

You expected everything but an explanation. An explanation for why he dislikes you so much. An explanation for why he called you a slut and treated you like one.
It's obvious.
He wrote that he never trusted you. Not only because of your past with that demon you helped but also due to the surroundings you grew up in. He is convinced that a girl being surrounded by prostitutes mustn't know loyalty. Couldn't know about it. He said that he always had a bad feeling of you staying with one of his best friends.
He knew about your relationship of course.
He saw it coming which is why he wanted to prevent you and Tengen-san from enjoying each other's company.
He must have been frustrated when witnessing that his plans hadn't worked out.
He also wrote that in the end he just hoped that you would prove yourself worthy of Tengen-san but you miserably failed. Hence he wants you to know that you're the most disgusting and disappointing creature in this universe and that it's only fair for you to be back in Yoshiwara. To be back together with the women that don't know loyalty and trust.
His last sentence was that he feels sorry for Tengen-san to ever meet you.

You wanted to burn the letter instantaneously but decided not to. There's no actual message in the letter or you didn't figure it out yet. Somehow you can't convince yourself to burn it. Not even dare to touch it.

You sprawl in your bed and the weight of your weapons pulls you into the mattress. Then you remember that you wanted to go to another village to fulfill your job.