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It was, in truth, the head guard of the teahouse Kuronushi!
Kazuha no longer had the time to feel flustered; his mind was brimming with questions, so many that he knew not which to voice first. His brows furrowed, a faint displeasure stirring at having been so thoroughly toyed with.
“Are you truly Lord Kuronushi?”
“Mm.”
“Why did you not tell me from the very beginning?”
“That night, you merely asked whether I was a guest. I answered that I was not.” His tone was calm, untroubled, while Kazuha clenched the fabric of his kimono until it wrinkled, his heart long since in disarray.
“And when you said I was indebted to you...what did you mean by that?”
The head guard of the Red Lantern House let out a quiet breath and answered simply, “The cloak.”
At those words, Kazuha fell silent. The memory of that night at the hot spring resurfaced at once, burning his cheeks and ears crimson. He had been so mortified that he completely forgot to return the fur cloak to its rightful owner—never had he thought Kuronushi would use it to hold sway over him.
The courtesan could only lower his gaze in shame, silently reproaching the man before him as cunning and sly. Yet he forced himself to whisper, “My apologies,” before mustering the courage to ask the question that weighed most heavily on his heart.
“Why did you… purchase me?”
“Because I am pleased by your body. I desire to lie with you. You are a courtesan...why must you ask of such a thing? Or is it that you have never once entertained a guest?”
Those words struck Kazuha like a blade to the heart.
In that very instant, the organ in his chest throbbed violently...not out of bashfulness, but out of fear that his secret might be exposed. Concealing his true self from outsiders was, to Kazuha, more vital than anything. Thus he blurted a lie without a second thought.
“I have!”
While Kazuha burned with panic as though consumed by fire, Kuronushi’ s face remained composed serene as ice, betraying no hint of what lay within.
“Then show me your experience.”
Kazuha could not tell whether it was his imagination, but the words seemed to carry a note of challenge.
His slender frame, clad in a koi-embroidered kimono, stiffened. He swallowed hard, lips painted with rouge pressing into a thin line. Slowly, he moved closer, lowering himself beside Kuronushi. With awkward hands, he lifted a fine flask of sake, poured it into a silver cup, and raised it to the head guard’ s lips.
“Allow... allow me to serve you liquor, my lord...”.
The special guest of the teahouse cast an unreadable glance at the young courtesan. Within those sapphire eyes reflected the pale-faced youth who was raising a cup of liquor to serve him with care.
Kuronushi lifted one hand to grasp the smaller one, pressing the cup that Kazuha held closer to his lips until the youth could feel the hot breath brushing against his skin, and then he tilted his head back to drink the fine liquor down, all while his rough hand remained joined with the other’s.
Startled by the sudden grasp, Kazuha flinched violently, causing the liquor brimming in the cup to spill over his slender hand. The young guard did not let such a fine drink go to waste; he extended his tongue and slowly licked the droplets clinging to the white fingers, one by one.
The crimson kimono sleeve was pushed up to the elbow. Kuronushi lapped up every drop that had spilled, tracing from fingertip to wrist, then down the fair forearm. The damp, warm touch of his tongue made the courtesan’ s body stiffen, while shame rose at the wet sounds that rang out as the other drank the amber liquid from his skin.
Kuronushi held his wrist tightly. Kazuha could not resist, not even in thought; the only response he could give to such an act was a soft moan in his throat.
While the warrior guard was absorbed in licking the liquor from Kazuha’ s arm, another hand wandered to touch the slender back through the fabric, sliding further to squeeze his rounded hips with mischief. With the hand that remained free, Kuronushi groped the courtesan’ s body with restless lust. When he had kneaded the curve of his hips to satisfaction, he slid down to his plump rear, kneading it roughly until the youth’ s face flushed red and his breath faltered.
He did not give Kazuha a chance to gather himself. No sooner had he caressed the youth’ s body than Kuronushi drew the slim waist onto one of his thighs.
The space between Kazuha’ s legs now pressed tightly against the guard’ s strong thigh. He did not dare move even slightly, for if he did, it would inevitably turn into grinding himself against Kuronushi’ s leg.
“Pour me another cup,” Kuronushi ordered. “This time, do not spill. If you spill, you must take care of it.”
“My lord Kuronushi, you have me sitting like this, I cannot—”
“Pour.”
Kazuha had no choice but to turn and pour another cup, though he still straddled the man’ s lap, leaving his body to be fondled at will by the guard’ s two hands acts no different from those of a ruffian.
The former young master struggled greatly to steady his breath, but now it was harder than ever. The brazen touches of Kuronushi set his heart pounding, heat surging through his body until he could hardly remain still.
“My lord Kuronushi... the liquor,” he whispered.
This time the courtesan was more cautious, no longer filling the cup to the brim. Yet the other seemed unwilling to cooperate, yanking the small hand toward himself and downing the drink while deliberately letting it spill down the corner of his lips.
“Did I not just tell you not to spill?”
...It was plain that my lord let it spill on purpose.
“My apologies, I was careless...”
“Take care of it.”
The smaller one glanced about in panic, but finding no cloth to wipe the liquor from Kuronushi’ s lips, he resolved to use his kimono sleeve instead. Yet just as he raised it, the dark-haired man’ s cold voice cut in.
“I did not tell you to wipe with cloth.”
“Then... what would you have me do?”
“Just now, I showed you the method.”
Just moments ago... Kuronushi had dealt with the wine dripping down his fingers by drawing it back into his mouth with his tongue.
Kazuha swallowed hard. He could not fathom how the man could maintain such composure even in a situation like this but Kazuha himself had no choice.
The duty of a courtesan... was to indulge his guest to the fullest.
The young courtesan shut his eyes, bracing himself as he leaned closer to Kuronushi. The man’ s fragrance strange and alluring, tinged with a primal masculine rawness sent Kazuha’ s heart quivering so violently that he dared not breathe too deeply.
He slowly extended the tip of his reddened tongue, brushing it lightly against the corner of Kuronushi’ s lips, like a kitten nuzzling its master. Kazuha had never drunk liquor before; a single drop of it was enough to twist his face in bitterness, and throughout the act of ‘wiping’ the amber liquor away, he let slip faint, muffled moans from his throat.
At some point, his hands had found their way to rest upon the broad shoulders before him perhaps while he was absorbed in lapping up every last trace of liquor from Kuronushi’ s cheek. Yet in this perilous posture, it only seemed as though Kazuha was clinging to him, coaxing and enticing all the more.
When he had swallowed down the bitter alcohol to the last, the young man slowly drew back. A thin, glistening strand of saliva stretched between his tongue and Kuronushi’ s lips dangerously suggestive.
But before Kazuha could so much as catch his breath after finishing his task, Kuronushi seized his delicate face and pressed his mouth firmly against his own.
“Mnph...ahh!”
Caught off guard, Kazuha let out an involuntary sound of protest.
The acrid taste of liquor was passed on to the youth by way of a wet tongue. Kuronushi’ s hand gripped the nape of his neck, pushing the heated muscle past his lips to sweep through the moist cavern with a bold, domineering force like a ravenous bee feasting upon the finest nectar. Yet the act was gluttonous, harsh, and overwhelming, leaving the tender blossom bruised and coaxing unsteady moans from between his lips.
Kazuha’ s heart pounded thunderously, as though the heavens and earth were collapsing. His nose was filled with the mingled scents of intoxicating musk and the brine of saliva. Tongue and teeth clashed fiercely, filling the air with shamelessly wet sounds. Neither could rein in their breathing any longer.
Kuronushi’ s kiss was wild, greedy, merciless driving the inexperienced youth to the brink, until his vision spun and he nearly collapsed into the iron embrace that held him tight.
As Kazuha’ s lungs burned for want of air, he tapped lightly against the broad chest before him, a signal to break off the battle. Reluctant but yielding, Kuronushi pulled away, leaving only strands of saliva clinging between swollen lips.
“Hahh... hnnh...”
Kazuha gasped for air, sobbing softly as he did, though the more he breathed, the more breathless he became. Tears brimmed in his reddened eyes, and his ears rang with the pounding of his heart, like drums beaten mercilessly nearby.
Though he relented from the youth’ s lips, Kuronushi did not withdraw. Instead he buried his face in the pale curve of Kazuha’ s neck, planting harsh kisses interspersed with biting marks of possession. Then came a curt remark.
“Inexperienced.”
With that, he boldly loosened the maroon obi from Kazuha’ s waist and impatiently spread apart the red kimono. Beneath, the youth’ s skin gleamed fine and smooth as polished jade, stirring the head guard’ s hand to seize the slender hips in a hard grip.
“You told me you had entertained guests before... was that a lie?”
The young man’ s figure was strikingly alluring, his body slick and glistening with the fragrant oil applied all over. From his slender, graceful neck down to the shapely collarbones, and further down to his firm chest, two rosy pink nipples stood prominently in the center, teasingly.
Kuronushi was nearly unable to suppress the urge to overwhelm this small body.
…And seeing the pair of beautiful eyes, innocent and brimming with tears, he felt an even stronger desire to possess it utterly.
“I-I am not… Ah! I am not lying… ugh!”
Originally, Kazuha intended to deny that accusation completely, yet when wet lips covered his firm chest, nipping and teasing it with wanton desire, his words came out mingled with uncontrollable, breathless moans.
“Ah… ah, ugh…”
As Kuronushi flicked his tongue rapidly over the sweet little peaks, Kazuha arched his chest with delight, inadvertently pressing his hips against Kuronushi’ s thigh.
The young lord could never have imagined that someone so composed and calm as Kuronushi could commit such licentious acts. Seeing him bite and suck at his nipples so lustfully, Kazuha shivered and threw back his head, letting out a loud moan. His small hands reached up to grip the dark blue hair, tugging in release of his own desire without restraint.
Even as his lips busied themselves sucking and licking the sweet peaks like a thirsty infant, Kuronushi’ s hands were far from idle, kneading the youth’ s lower body until his pale flesh flushed with crimson. Then, feeling the arousal pressing against him, Kuronushi teased it with his hand. Clear fluid spilled out, smearing his rough palm, while Kazuha let out soft, bashful moans that were endearingly helpless.
Seeing his companion’ s body respond so faithfully, Kuronushi’ s desire to torment him grew even stronger.
“Ah… hng… ugh… Kur…onushi… there… ah…”
Kazuha cried out, clinging tightly to his important guest. Having never experienced such overwhelming sensations before, as Kuronushi stroked the sensitive part of his body, the young lord quickly reached climax, releasing onto Kuronushi’ s hand.
The dragon patterned yukata that Kuronushi was wearing was now stained with the cloudy fluid that Kazuha had released in a small pool. The man therefore did not wear it any longer, hastily pulling off the fine garment as if it were worthless and cumbersome, revealing the large, rigid member standing firm with veins bulging around it, fully exposed to Kazuha’ s view.
The young man’ s heart raced violently, his face flushed deep red. Just looking at the erect shaft between the guardian’ s legs, numerous lewd thoughts immediately sprang to mind.
If Kuronushi were to enter him, would it make his lower abdomen swell?
Could his body handle something so large? …
Merely thinking of it sent shivers of sensation racing through his lower belly.
“How many guests have you served before?”
Suddenly, Kuronushi asked unexpectedly, using both hands to lift Kazuha’ s slender waist and position him so that the vivid opening was aligned with his own masculine part.
The chief guardian ran the large shaft lightly along the entrance, teasing, while the tip brushed against the tight channel, causing Kazuha, positioned kneeling, to startle, instinctively digging his nails into Kuronushi’ s shoulder.
“Ugh… I’ ve… served some…”
“Then shall I let you take the lead this time?”
“…”
Kazuha pressed his lips together hesitantly. Having already told lies to the man before him, he had no choice but to continue through to the end. Although he had never engaged in such acts before, he had some theoretical knowledge; if he followed what he had read and heard previously, he might manage to complete the act successfully.
The young courtesan reached for the jar of fragrant oil nearby, coating his fingers with the slippery liquid and spreading it around the still-tight entrance. Yet, as he guided his oiled finger inside, a wave of pain ran through his body, bringing tears to his eyes.
“Ah… ugh…” Even though the pain made tears stream down, Kazuha did not give up, stubbornly attempting to insert another finger.
Smack!
Kuronushi’ s hand came down sharply on his rounded buttocks, squeezing them firmly so that flesh spilled slightly between his fingers, and spoke in a deep, displeased voice.
“That part of yours is used often, isn’ t it? Why is it so closed… I do not have much patience, Kazuha. Hurry up.”
“Hng… Lord Kuronushi…”
“What?”
“I-I’ m sorry… I can’ t do it… hng…”
“Huh?,” Kuronushi raised an eyebrow. “If something is difficult, then do as you did when serving the guest before me.”
“…I’ m sorry… hng… I lied to you… I have never served a guest before…”
“…”
Kazuha lowered his face in guilt, tears streaming down continuously. Yet the man in front of him behaved shamelessly, laughing coldly at the sight of the young courtesan’ s tear-streaked cheeks, before lifting Kazuha’ s body onto the long table.
The sake cups, bowls, and snacks were knocked aside, falling to the floor. The high-quality sake jar rolled and came to rest against the wall, but Kuronushi paid no attention, as there was still delicious food on the table waiting for him to taste.
The cunning man buried his nose into the fragrant scent of the white neck with lust, hearing the quiet cries of the one being taken advantage of.
Kuronushi had known the true identity of the male courtesan from the beginning. He was the head guard of the teahouse, having come here to return the assassin seeking Kazuha’ s life to his home. Once he had dealt with the lowly thug trying to kill the innocent, the man could not resist taking a small benefit from Kazuha for himself.
“How bold of you, Kazuha… How shall I punish a liar like you?”
Kazuha, pressed against the table, moaned softly. “I’ ve done wrong… Ah… Lord Kuronushi.”
Kuronushi reached for the jar of oil, supporting Kazuha’ s round hips and lifting them slightly so that the reddened opening was clearly visible. Kazuha had already inserted his own finger to open the way, and now the virgin passage widened slightly, though still not enough to accommodate something larger.
The wet, slippery channel that was not fully closed moved, drawing in air rhythmically. Seeing this, Kuronushi’ s desire flared, and he could not resist lowering his head to lash his tongue over it roughly once, then slowly inserted the oil-coated finger, gently pushing to widen the small door.
“Ah! Lord Kuronushi… Hng… there…”
Seeing Kazuha’ s hips suspended in the air, Kuronushi realized he had just found the sensitive spot inside the young man. He thrust the finger in forcefully several times, alternating with twisting and probing throughout the heated cavity.
Each time he touched the point of desire, the slender body tensed and jerked violently, clenching around his finger and moaning shamelessly, responding faithfully to the sensations.
Kuronushi gradually inserted additional fingers, one by one, enduring as much as possible despite the sharp pain spreading through his member. Soon, the passage opened fully, engulfing the long fingers to the base.
“Ah… Kazuha, do you need me this much?”
“Ugh, ah… Lord Kuronushi…”
Suddenly, Kazuha’ s previously blank mind was filled with lewd images from the Kama Sutra that the older courtesan brother had shown him months ago. On that day, he had been dragged by Lord Aino to study the manual together. Kazuha remembered being too embarrassed to continue reading, unable to look directly at the depictions of sexual acts, even though they were only illustrations.
…He never expected that the faint images from memory would appear so vividly at this moment.
All the techniques to arouse a man’ s desire flashed clearly in his mind. Kazuha drew in a deep breath and decided to act on what he had learned, pushing Kuronushi’ s rough fingers away from his lower body to reveal the bright red opening, now shamefully exposed. Then he spread his cheeks slightly with two fingers and spoke sweetly.
“Lord Kuronushi… I want you.”
Finally, Kuronushi’ s patience reached its limit. He thrust his large member into the wet opening mercilessly, making the young courtesan cry out loudly, hands clenched tightly and twisted.
“Ah! L-Lord Kuronushi… p-please be gentle… Ahh!”
A sharp, intense ache gathered in Kazuha’ s lower abdomen, tears streaming endlessly from his garnet colored eyes, immediately soaking his face.
“You’ re quite the temptress… Kazuha, who taught you to do this?”
Kuronushi spoke in a hoarse voice as his lower body drove his heated member fully into him, then thrust his hips forcefully, driving in and out with strength. Seeing the slender young man’ s eyes roll back, mouth open in moans, forgetting to wipe the drool at the corners, the pleasure beyond the throbbing sensation at his core spread throughout Kuronushi’ s body.
“Ah! Ugh! E- everything is… in the Kama Sutra… of… ah… the teahouse… Hng!”
“Kama Sutra, huh? Hmph, so you have an interest in such matters after all.”
Though Kazuha wanted to deny it, he had no strength left. The overwhelming pleasure from the repeated strikes to his sensitive spots left him only able to groan hoarsely until his voice was hoarse.
Kuronushi moved his hips violently, transmitting his wildness to the young lord until his body trembled.
The teahouse head guard bent down and pressed a deep kiss on the neck, marked with red, lustfully. One hand gripped the white thigh firmly, while the other circled the erect pink nubs. Below, he continued thrusting hard, making the beautiful young man writhe in ecstasy, hips trembling with desire, while instinctively clenching around Kuronushi’ s member uncontrollably.
“L...Lord Kuronushi!..Ahh.”
“Mm… ah, good… very good, Kazuha, hold me like that… ah..”
“Ah, d-do you like it?”
“Do I still need to be asked?” Kuronushi pushed deeper, feeling the wet walls clench his tip tightly. “Kazuha, do you know, sometimes I really think you’ re pretending to be innocent?”
Tears streamed down Kazuha’ s face from the overwhelming pleasure. His small hands tried to push against Kuronushi’ s tensed abdomen, hoping to slow him down, but instincts were hard to control, and all efforts were in vain. The man did not ease up, instead thrusting into the narrow passage aggressively like a wild beast.
The obscene sound of flesh hitting flesh from below echoed through the room, mingling with heavy breathing, moans, and growls calling each other’s names.
Throughout Kazuha’ s life, he had been seen with many kinds of gazes—admiration, affection, respect, contempt, and disgust, as if he were filth. But the burning gaze from Kuronushi’ s sapphire eyes looking straight at him now was something he had never experienced before.
“Ugh! Ah! T-too strong… please spare me!”
Kuronushi seemed indifferent to the plea, continuing to thrust into the wet passage without restraint. Lowering his gaze to the red passage, greedily swallowing his member, his wild instincts flared, forcing him to gasp lightly.
“What I’ m doing must feel almost unbearable, right? That’ s why you’ re moaning with such desire.”
Kazuha’ s mind went blank, answering with a trembling, provocative voice.
“Ah! S-so good… Hng, I’ ll… I’ ll die… ugh.”
The large member continued to drive into him relentlessly, occasionally withdrawing only to thrust again with a rough growl. Each entry was forceful, as if the man before him didn’ t know gentleness. Kazuha’ s sensitive spots were crushed, sending shivers of ecstasy that felt almost unbearable.
Before he knew it, the young courtesan raised his arms around Kuronushi’ s strong neck and opened his legs, receiving the onslaught passionately. Kuronushi seemed greatly satisfied with this. The teahouse head guard then increased the force, seeing the man beneath him rolling his eyes, ruby-colored eyes nearly half closed, swollen lips smeared with clear fluid, crying out in ultimate pleasure.
“Ah… mm! Lord Kuronushi… ugh, ah!”
“You tempt me so well, Kazuha, I want to make love to you all night.”
“I-I didn’ t… I’ m not teasing you… ah… ugh!”
“Ah… yet you seem to enjoy it greatly.”
Kuronushi bit his lip, lifting a hand to sweep aside the dark hair covering his face, then tilted his head back, growling in pleasure, feeling the tight clenching from the young courtesan’ s soft inner walls. He thrust his heated member forcefully into the snug passage without stopping, sending waves of pleasure up to Kazuha’ s scalp.
“Ugh! L-Lord Kuronushi… I’ m going… ah!”
Finally, Kazuha reached the peak of ecstasy. His slender waist lifted, suspended by Kuronushi’ s thick hands. His erect member twitched, releasing semen a few times, the wet passage clinging even tighter to the member, yet Kuronushi continued thrusting, even as Kazuha squeezed him forcefully.
Kuronushi was also nearing climax, the intense desire at his core about to burst. He thrust fully in, gripping the young man’ s thighs, leaving clear finger marks, and groaned hoarsely in his throat.
“Mm! Kazuha… let me release inside you.”
“Ah.h… Lord Kuronushi…”
A large amount of semen from Kuronushi’ s member overflowed into Kazuha’ s body. Kuronushi released so much that Kazuha felt tight and full, and no matter how much he wanted to relax his lower body, the overwhelming pleasure inside made him only able to clench around Kuronushi’s organ.
Kuronushi placed his large hand on Kazuha’ s lower abdomen and asked, “Do you want me to empty all of it inside you?”
“Ah… I-I can’ t control that…”
“Intentionally tempting me?”
“Hng… no…”
Kuronushi said nothing, but looked at him with burning, fiery eyes, as if to say, ‘If you were a woman, by now you’ d already be carrying my child.’
Before Kazuha could even feel embarrassed, the man in front of him lifted him off the table, carrying his now completely soiled naked body and laid him down on the futon.
Amid Kazuha’ s confusion, Kuronushi leaned down and whispered softly by his ear.
“Even though I bought you for the night, let’ s not waste any more time.”
With that, his damp lips pressed against the same place again.
Late that night, on the soft futon, two bodies continued to entwine, embracing and writhing passionately for the remainder of the night. One body was strong and muscular, the other delicate and worth protecting. Yet no matter how cute and delicate Kazuha was, Kuronushi still ruthlessly extracted pleasure from him without restraint.
The next morning, Kazuha woke up with aching throughout his body, especially from the hips down, burning as if they were about to shatter into pieces.
Something warm and heavy was lying across him. At first, Kazuha thought it was a blanket, but thinking it over, he realized no blanket in the world could be this heavy. When he rubbed and looked closer, he discovered it was one of Kuronushi’ s strong, muscular arms.
Kuronushi slept with his eyes closed beside him, completely naked, without a single piece of clothing covering him.
…Come to think of it, late at night, the air in the red lantern tower could get very cold. Yet even though Kazuha had slept without anything on, he hadn’ t felt any chill at all. Perhaps it was because of the warmth from Kuronushi’ s body hugging him all night. Besides, the activities they did before falling asleep weren’ t exactly light; both had sweated so much that the futon was damp.
The young lord bent down to inspect his body, finding not only hickeys, hand marks, and bite marks but also a mixture of whitish fluids, dried and smeared across his stomach and between his legs, indistinguishable as to whose was whose.
Kazuha’s breath caught, and he quickly turned his face away in embarrassment. Yet, moving even slightly had the effect of waking the person beside him.
Long, curled eyelashes fluttered as Kuronushi lifted his arm off Kazuha’ s bare body, shifting slightly and making low, lazy sounds from his throat.
Suddenly, Kazuha didn’ t know what to do, wanting to bury his face into something to hide his flushed cheeks, but there was nothing around him to do so.
Except Kuronushi’ s broad chest…
No… he could never do that!
Before Kazuha could think further, the teahouse guard slowly turned over, then shifted to lie on his side, resting his face on one hand, while the other arm returned to wrap around Kazuha’ s waist as before. He seemed groggy as if not fully awake, yet still murmured softly.
“Good morning.”
“…”
Kuronushi’ s sleepy voice was low and hoarse in a way Kazuha had never heard before, making his face flush and heart race immediately.
“Good morning, Lord Kuronushi.”
Kuronushi rubbed his eyes sleepily. “Since you’ re awake, go take a bath.”
“Huh? And you?”
“I’ ll bathe with you.”
The special guest bathing room for someone like Kuronushi was on the top floor of the teahouse, so they didn’ t have to go down to the lower floors.
Kuronushi offered to help Kazuha wash himself, including removing the sticky fluids remaining in his body. At first, Kazuha didn’ t trust him much, since he had been completely at Kuronushi’ s mercy the night before. But seeing Kuronushi sincerely helping him clean his lower body without taking advantage, the young man felt guilty for ever doubting him.
Even though Kuronushi’ s gaze during their bath… seemed as if he wanted to devour him again…?
After cleaning up, Kuronushi returned to change clothes in his room, while Kazuha hurried downstairs to retrieve his animal-hide cloak from his own room to return it to its owner. Then he returned to Kuronushi on the top floor of the teahouse.
When he opened the door, the young lord saw Kuronushi dressed fully in his warrior guard attire, holding his two long, slim swords, only missing the black cloak, which Kazuha now held. Even so, he looked magnificent and noble, almost making the newcomer fall into a whirlpool of desire.
“Lord Kuronushi,” Kazuha approached, extending the cloak. “I’ ve brought your cloak back. I apologize for returning it late.”
“Put it on me.”
Since Kuronushi was taller than Kazuha, the smaller man had to stand on tiptoe to drape the black cloak over his shoulders. Once Kazuha finished, he stepped back and stood quietly beside Kuronushi, preparing to see him off from the teahouse.
…Once Kuronushi stepped over the threshold, their overnight relationship would end.
Kazuha’ s heart twitched, feeling a weight in his chest that was neither sorrow nor sadness, but certainly not pleasant.
Just as the turmoil built in his mind, Kuronushi leaned in and gently pressed his lips to Kazuha’s soft ones.
“Lord Kuronushi…” Kazuha’ s eyes widened in shock, his little face burning. But he soon realized it was probably the customary farewell between a guest and a courtesan, so his small heart sank again.
“Farewell, Kazuha.”
For some reason, the single word “farewell” made his chest feel heavy, almost to the point of tears.
“I’ m off to work now.”
“Wait, Lord…”
…Will he come back?
Kazuha hesitated to speak, feeling he had no right to ask such a question to this man. The right of a passing flower he had only enjoyed for one night was gone.
“Hmm?”
…Better not to speak, then.
“Nothing…”
Seeing Kazuha’ s reluctance, Kuronushi didn’ t press further. He nodded, murmuring softly, then bent down to place a small kiss on both of Kazuha’ s flushed cheeks.
Finally, his feet stepped over the threshold, yet he didn’ t forget to say the last sentence before leaving.
“I will come back, Kazuha.”
“You’ re not wrong. Soon I’ ll be able to leave this place.”
“Redeem yourself? Can a man’ s words be trusted?”
“Men outside are usually like this. Their words are fickle and unreliable. Haven’ t you seen those courtesans who believed the sweet talk of such men? They wait and wait until they die, and still no one comes to redeem them.”
“I’ m merely warning you to be cautious. Have you forgotten what we, the courtesans, have been taught for generations? Do not fall in love with a client. Do not trust anyone’ s words. People, when infatuated, can spew the sweetest lies.”
“I will come back, Kazuha.”
That morning was the first morning that Kazuha had no energy or desire to cook at all. His concentration while slicing daikon radish was completely gone, almost cutting his own finger several times, prompting the senior courtesans who were helping in the kitchen that day to warn him repeatedly out of concern.
In the young man’ s ears, the voices of his two close senior brothers and Lord Kuronushi echoed over and over again. Kazuha sighed again and again, fully understanding how difficult it was to let go.
He was indeed a soft hearted person…
But, to be honest, it was somewhat understandable that Kazuha was soft-hearted, considering he had lived a hidden life, enduring humiliation for at least five years. So when someone treated him like this, his broken heart felt revived, ready to give itself fully to the one who nourished it.
No… that wasn’ t an excuse. It was clear that both Aino Oiran and Shimizu had always treated him well caring for him like a younger brother, protecting him from bullying countless times. Yet why had he never felt a fluttering in his heart for them?
Aino Oiran and Shimizu had heard from the madam that a special guest had bought him the night before. The two young courtesans inquired after Kazuha’ s health out of concern but did not dare ask more out of respect for their half brother. Just seeing his condition that morning, they knew immediately that Kazuha had broken the most important rule of being a courtesan ...do not fall in love with a client.
“Do you think I should tell him?”
“Are you crazy? He’ s upset what would telling him do but make it worse?”
“Upset? Worse? You’ re speaking as if Lord Kuronushi had already decided to abandon Kazuha. That’ s basically cursing him.”
“I didn’ t mean that. What nonsense are you interpreting?”
“Anyway, you should be prepared. You know the young noble who said he would redeem you, right?”
“You’ re… tsk! What a foul mouth!”
Even though the senior brothers tried to discuss quietly, Kazuha still heard every word clearly. Soon after, Shimizu and Aino Oiran started arguing again.
Three days later, Kuronushi returned to the red lantern tower as promised.
After the madam informed him that Kuronushi was waiting in the same special guest room, Kazuha hurried to take a bath and dress, overjoyed as if receiving the best news of his life, even though his lower body still ached. Then he rushed to the room where Kuronushi waited, his heart leaping.
Kuronushi was still sitting with his back to the table, just as he had the first night he bought Kazuha. His two long swords lay crossed nearby. Kazuha wore the same orange-red koi patterned kimono as before. The difference was that this time, he no longer hesitated to slide the door open. On the contrary, he opened it quickly, brimming with joy, and walked in to greet the head teahouse guard who was pouring sake into a cup.
“Lord Kuronushi.”
“Hm,” the man responded, taking a sip of sake. “Come closer.”
Kazuha obediently followed his order, walking slowly to sit beside Kuronushi. He picked up small roasted beans from a plate and fed them to him. Kuronushi took them into his mouth while his hand reached for Kazuha’ s slender waist, pulling him closer.
“I’ ve missed you so much,” Kuronushi said, burying his handsome face in Kazuha’ s white neck, pressing his nose against the smooth skin and taking a deep breath, then speaking in a coaxing voice, “I’ m so tired today.”
Kazuha didn’ t know how to respond, embarrassed by Kuronushi’ s actions, and only asked, “Have you worked hard?”
“I do it all for you.”
“Huh? What did you say? I didn’ t hear clearly.”
“...May I hug and kiss you to cheer you up?”
Without waiting for permission, the head teahouse guard gently guided Kazuha’ s face toward his and pressed his damp lips to his, collecting sweetness from Kazuha’ s pink lips. The young courtesan tried to kiss back awkwardly, looking adorable, prompting Kuronushi to press harder.
“Ah… L-Lord Kuronushi, do you… want to do it?” Kazuha asked, their mouths still entangled.
“Hm, what do you think?”
“Why are you asking me… ah!” Before finishing, Kazuha moaned involuntarily as Kuronushi’ s hand reached to squeeze his round buttocks. This time it wasn’ t from desire but from lingering soreness from their rough union three days ago.
“Does it hurt?”
“Ah… uh-huh.” The small man’ s eyes teared from the pain, yet he continued, trying to please the man beside him, “But only a little. If you want to…”
“You’ re hurt, how can I do it?”
“You bought me for this, didn’ t you?”
Kuronushi still insisted, “I don’ t want to force you. Tonight we can just sleep holding each other.”
“But…”
“You’ re stubborn. Why force yourself for me?” Kuronushi’ s voice was stern, making Kazuha’ s face fall. The small man in the red kimono shifted slightly away, unsure if he was sulking.
The older man sighed deeply, then gave another order, “Come here, I’ ll apply medicine.”
Thus, Kazuha had to lie face down on Kuronushi’ s lap while the other applied slippery liquid medicine around his bright red intimate area. Each touch made the young lord wince in pain, biting his lip to keep from crying out.
Kazuha was both hurt and embarrassed, yet couldn’ t move as Kuronushi held his hips firmly. He would only be allowed off the lap once the medicine was finished.
After treating the young man’ s lower body, Kuronushi asked Kazuha to sit quietly while he rested his head on a soft pillow a small reward for the previous service.
When the moon rose higher, they lay together on the futon, two bodies entwined closely, giving each other warmth while fully clothed. Kuronushi asked Kazuha to tell him a story to lull him to sleep, reasoning that Kazuha’ s voice was sweet and pleasant, making everything he said delightful.
Kazuha’ s heart felt even softer than the first night they had slept together. He selfishly wished to stop time, to remain in Kuronushi’ s arms for as long as possible, not wanting him to leave.
…He didn’ t want him to leave in the morning, leaving him at the red lantern tower with no guarantee of whether he would return… or if he would return at all.
Was this love, or just infatuation?
The more he thought, the more his heart ached, feeling his affection for Kuronushi deepening beyond return. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip around Kuronushi’ s arm, who seemed to sense it and lightly hugged back.
The next morning, Kazuha prepared to see Kuronushi off after bathing and dressing, just like before.
They kissed goodbye at the door, yet before Kuronushi left, Kazuha mustered the courage to ask the question he had no right to..
“You… will you come back again?”
Kuronushi froze, turning around to look at him with eyes that betrayed no clue as to what he was feeling.
After a moment of silence, the man gave a faint smile.
“Come back.”
“When?”
Kazuha’ s heart swelled with hope. Even though there was nothing to guarantee that he would truly return, the young lord chose to believe in his words for now.
Yet the answer made his heart drop.
“I don’ t know.”
“…Why?”
“This mission of mine isn’ t easy. I cannot say when it will be completed.”
Hearing that, Kazuha felt like crying immediately. He blurted out a selfish question without thinking.
“Then can’ t you just not do it?”
Kuronushi replied almost instantly, “No.”
His voice was firm and decisive, clearly showing how important and serious this matter was to him. Seeing this, Kazuha gave in, nodding with a heavy heart. Kuronushi then came closer, lifted his chin slightly, and pressed a light kiss to his lips.
“I will come back. Wait for me.”
“.....Mm”
With that, Kuronushi turned and walked away.
Kazuha lived at the teahouse with the hope that Kuronushi would return soon.
During the first week, he waited with a heart full of hope, looking for good news from the madam every day. Yet nothing changed—no one bought him, no one visited at night.
During the second week, Kazuha’ s nervous excitement eased somewhat. He could focus more on his kitchen work and talk naturally with those around him, which relieved Aino Oiran and Shimizu, who believed that their cheerful younger half-brother was returning.
The third week… still no sign of the one he awaited.
Sadness and many questions began to flood Kazuha’ s heart. Yet he still chose to believe Kuronushi’ s words and waited on with hope, even though nothing guaranteed that this waiting wouldn’ t be in vain.
The fourth week, Lord Aino was finally to be free.
The young noble, a regular client of the male Oiran, came to redeem Lord Aino. Kazuha was very happy that the man kept his word and actually took his brother away after a full month. However, Lord Aino requested to remain for a little longer; the reason was unknown.
The fifth week…
Young Lord Kaedehara had been waiting for Kuronushi for five weeks, yet still there was no news from the madam.
This time, Kazuha could no longer fully trust that Kuronushi would return for him. Yet a small sliver of hope remained, just in case Kuronushi truly broke his promise, something Kazuha never wished for.
That day, the sky was overcast, threatening rain. Kazuha was chopping a large radish in the kitchen as usual when suddenly Aino Oiran appeared… no, it wasn’ t Oiran anymore. Lord Aino walked straight to him with a sorrowful expression and said,
“Kazuha-kun, I will soon have to leave this place. I cannot stay any longer.”
Kazuha raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Isn’ t that fine? Why do you look so sad?”
“Because I won’ t be with you anymore.”
With that, he leaned forward and hugged Kazuha tightly, the scent of fine perfume filling his nose.
“… I wish you the best,” the younger one said with a trembling voice, tightening his embrace in return. The former male Oiran patted his head gently and continued.
“Good child, you can cry like a child. Leaving here is not like dying. Once you’ re outside, you must come visit me often, understand?”
“Huh?” Kazuha raised his eyebrow again. “Lord Aino, what are you talking about? Aren’ t you supposed to come visit me? How can I go see you if I am here?”
This time Aino Oiran frowned, confusion clear in his eyes. The two ended up equally perplexed.
“Eh, Kazuha-kun, didn’ t the madam tell you about it…”
“About what?”
“That Lord Kuronushi is leaving the city tomorrow.”
“…Lord Kuronushi?”
…leaving the city… tomorrow? …
In that moment, Kazuha’ s heart plummeted. His mind went blank, his scalp and hands tingling so much that he dropped the knife on the cutting board with a loud clatter.
His eyes burned as he asked, hardly able to believe it, “What did you say…”
The handsome man looked embarrassed, clearly unsure if he had said something wrong, which caused the younger brother to look so distressed. Still, the man let out a dry laugh and patted Kazuha’ s head a few more times.
“Kazuha, you…”
Kazuha’ s ears rang for a moment, unable to hear the rest. He simply nodded lightly and turned back to chopping vegetables without saying anything. Aino Oiran also did not know what to say, so he merely said goodbye and left quietly.
After Lord Aino departed, the tears that Kazuha had tried to hold back poured down his face.
…In the end, he had broken his promise.
…In the end, a flower by the roadside like me was not important enough for him to care.
…One month plus one week, and all the trust I gave him, was all for nothing. In the end, a man’ s words are fickle and deceitful, not worthy of trust.
Now he realized how foolish and naive he had been.
The sun had set long ago, yet Kazuha sat with a drifting mind, lost in the room. After some time, the middle-aged madam came to knock on the door to inform him that Kuronushi was waiting at the top floor of the teahouse. Her expression was a strange mixture of sadness and joy. She hugged him tightly once, then urged him to prepare and dress to receive the special guest.
Although Kazuha was still slightly confused, he obediently went to bathe and dress, preparing to see the man who was his first love one last time...
Seeing Kuronushi’ s broad back under the black yukata embroidered with dragons, Kazuha’ s small heart ached sharply, wanting to cry again. Yet he tried to hold back his tears with all his might. He did not want Kuronushi to see him weak, even if the man was leaving.
The moment Kuronushi saw him, he smiled with delight. He did not let Kazuha kneel and bow formally any longer, but instead pulled the younger man to sit beside him, then claimed a big kiss on his white cheek.
“I’ ve missed you so much.”
“…”
The young courtesan said nothing. He simply picked up a cup of amber-colored sake, poured it into a silver cup, and handed it to him. Kuronushi took it without objection, still seemingly unaware of Kazuha’ s dull mood.
“Kazuha, what’ s wrong? Why don’ t you say a word to me?”
The head teahouse guard asked, brushing his nose along the white temple and pressing a soft kiss with longing and passion. But this time Kazuha no longer felt enchanted by it.
“…”
“Kazuha?”
“…What should I say to you?”
When he spoke, he could no longer hide the quiver in his voice. Seeing this, Kuronushi immediately knew something was wrong and hurried to ask him, his own heart equally troubled.
“Kazuha, what’ s wrong? If there’ s something, tell me… Or has someone hurt you? Tell me, I’ ll deal with them for you.”
The small man pressed his lips tightly, gathering courage, then spoke, “It’ s useless…”
“Useless? What is useless?” Kuronushi frowned. “Are you angry with me?”
“I am not angry at you, nor do I have the right to be. I have no right to feel anything for you. Whatever I say is useless. Tomorrow you’ ll return to the capital. Whatever I say will only make me look foolish and naive, not worthy of your concern.”
“Kazuha, you…”
At this moment, Kazuha could no longer hold back his tears. He gave a bitter smile and spoke, choked with emotion, while tears streamed down his face.
“…From the very first day I saw you, I didn’ t know what was happening to me. When I got close to you, feelings that shouldn’ t have arisen did arise… I know I shouldn’ t have expected anything from you, but… feelings aren’ t something that can really be controlled… I’ m sorry. Please don’ t pay attention to the nonsense words of a lowly courtesan like me. In five years, ten years, when you are married with a wife and children, you will probably have forgotten about my existence.” He spoke at length. What he had intended to keep hidden, he now revealed completely.
Kazuha hiccuped and sobbed, raising his small hand to wipe tears from his cheeks, then continued in a trembling voice.
“If that day… if I had gone to bathe in the hot spring a little earlier, if I hadn’ t met you, we would now be strangers. The relationship of that single night would never have happened, and I wouldn’ t have had to violate the most important rule of being a courtesan… Hic...but I’ m not blaming you…”
“…”
Kuronushi, upon hearing this, was silent. His sapphire eyes were filled with a mixture of emotions. He remained quiet for so long that Kazuha thought he would soon leave… but that did not happen.
Suddenly, Kuronushi lifted Kazuha’ s chin gently with one hand, and with the other, wiped away the warm tears on Kazuha’s cheeks.
The gesture was filled with tenderness and great care, leaving Kazuha speechless, only feeling his broken heart begin to beat faster once again.
“Lord Kuronushi…”
“I’ m sorry. It’ s my fault for not telling you about this earlier, making you suffer for nearly a month. It was my fault, Kazuha… I’ m sorry.”
Of course, Kazuha did not understand what he was referring to, nor why he suddenly apologized. The matter he had kept hidden all along also left Kazuha at a loss for words.
But soon, Kuronushi clarified.
The head guard of the teahouse reached into his shirt and brought out an object that shimmered in the light for Kazuha to see.
It was a long, silver hairpin engraved with flowers, with delicate floral tassels dangling from its tip. Even at a glance, one could tell it was surely very expensive.
Kuronushi gathered Kazuha’ s soft hair with both hands, twisted it into a small bun, and gently inserted the beautiful ornament.
Kazuha’s eyes widened in astonishment, his mind beginning to piece everything together, though he still did not dare to allow himself to hope.
“Lord…”
Before he could finish, Kuronushi pulled him into a tight embrace.
“This is a hairpin from the Raiden family, passed down through generations. My mother had me keep it to give to my future wife.”
“…”
“Kazuha, this is something I didn’ t tell you: you have actually been free from this place since the night we slept together.”
Kazuha’s heart raced. Tears he had held back threatened to flow again, but this time, it was not from sorrow… it was from overwhelming joy.
He finally understood what Lord Aino and the madam had meant.
“You mean…”
“I have redeemed you. From now on, you are free. No one outside will seek to harm you again,” Kuronushi said gently. “I will protect you with my own hands. From now on, you have nothing to worry about. Start a new life with me.”
Kazuha immediately sobbed, clutching Kuronushi’ s strong body tightly.
“Lord Kuronushi… Hic, I don’ t know how to repay you. I am so grateful to you…”
“I’ m sorry for not telling you the truth from the start. Everything I did was for your safety. I knew who you truly were, that you were sent here to deal with those scoundrels who sought your life. And the month I was away was to handle the remaining villains. From now on, no one will be able to hurt you again. And if they try, they will have to get past me first.”
His voice was gentle yet resolute, causing Kazuha to cry as though a dam had broken. Feelings of love, gratitude, joy, and guilt swelled in his chest, too overwhelming to express in words. He could only call out Kuronushi’ s name in a trembling voice, burying his face against Kuronushi’ s broad chest.
Kuronushi pressed a gentle kiss to Kazuha’ s forehead.
“Tomorrow we will leave this town together. Once we reach the capital, you will marry me, Kaedehara Kazuha.”
The younger man nodded without hesitation, speaking firmly as well.
“Yes, Lord Kuronushi.”
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END