Hana
The moment I stepped into Tokito House, I felt the shift in the air. The lingering scent of perfume, the distant laughter of courtesans entertaining guests, the soft melodies of a shamisen being plucked somewhere beyond the hall. Humans—weak, fleeting, and oblivious—surrounded me.
Alexander-sama entrusted me with this mission. I will not fail him.
I lowered my head slightly, keeping my expression serene as I followed the house owner. He was an older man, his eyes gleaming with greed as he led me through the halls. "You're lucky, girl. You landed in the best house in Yoshiwara," he boasted. "Behave well, and you'll be among the top in no time."
I nodded, feigning submission. "I understand, master."
He chuckled, pleased. "Good girl. Your room is here." He slid open a door, revealing a modest yet well-decorated chamber. "Settle in. You'll start working tonight."
Once he left, I closed the door and took a deep breath. The artifact Alex had given me ensured my disguise remained flawless, but that wasn't enough. I had to act human. To be human.
That meant mimicking them—laughing when they laughed, moving as they moved. But my true purpose was clear: gather information.
Makio, one of the missing kunoichi, had been stationed here. If she disappeared, that meant the demon's influence had reached this place.
I sat by the small mirror, adjusting my kimono, ensuring I blended in. Then, I listened. I let the whispers of the housemaids and courtesans fill my ears, catching murmurs of strange occurrences, of many courtesans having "vanished" without a trace.
Now, I only needed to trace her final steps.
For Alexander-sama, I would see this mission to completion.
•••
Mei
The Kyogoku House smelled of sake and sweat, the air thick with the scent of burning incense. Unlike Hana, I was placed in a house where women were not just courtesans—they were performers.
The house owner, a sharp-eyed woman, observed me like a merchant assessing a product. "You don't talk much, do you?"
"I only speak when necessary, mistress," I answered smoothly.
She smirked. "Good. Too many girls here chatter like birds. You'll do well." She gestured to the hall. "You'll serve drinks tonight. No entertaining men yet—let's see if you're worth keeping first."
I bowed, accepting the command.
As soon as I was alone, I scanned my surroundings. My mission was clear—find any trace of the woman called Suma. She had been stationed here, and now she was gone.
I moved gracefully through the hall, balancing trays of sake cups, subtly observing everything. The way the courtesans interacted, the way the guests whispered, the way some servants averted their eyes when certain topics arose.
Then, I heard it.
A conversation between two courtesans.
"Did you hear about that new girl? The one who asked too many questions?"
"No one's seen her since. I told her before not to annoy Oiran Warabihime. Now look what happened to her."
Warabihime, huh? Seems like I need to investigate her.
I made a mental note to find out more about her. If Suma had angered this Warabihime and then disappeared, it was likely not a coincidence.
Just as I was about to continue down the hall, a loud crash broke through the usual sounds of the house.
I turned my head toward the source of the noise and saw a small child standing frozen in the doorway of an elegant room. A shattered glass lay at her feet, liquid pooling around the fragments. Her hands trembled, and her eyes widened in terror.
That room—
It was Warabihime's.
This is an opportunity.
I knew better than to let emotions distract me, but I also knew how to seize an opening when it presented itself. Normally, I wouldn't involve myself in minor incidents, but if I could use this to get a closer look inside the room, it was worth the effort.
However, there was another issue to consider—the child.
Human children were fragile. They reacted differently than adults, often ruled by fear and uncertainty. If I approached her too suddenly, she might panic and draw unwanted attention. If I appeared too cold, she might shut down completely.
I took a breath, remembering the teachings of Alexander-sama. To blend in, I had to act human.
I crouched down slightly, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. I softened my expression, loosening the stiffness in my posture.
"It's alright," I said gently, keeping my voice quiet and steady. "No one's angry yet."
The girl flinched but didn't run. That was a good sign.
She looked no older than six, her tiny hands clenched in front of her as though she were bracing for punishment.
I took a step closer, still keeping my tone even. "That was an accident, wasn't it?"
Her lips quivered, and she gave a small nod.
"What's your name?" I asked.
She hesitated before whispering, "Yui…"
I nodded. "Yui-chan, if we clean this up quickly, no one will have to know. Can you help me?"
Her wide eyes blinked up at me. "R-Really?"
"Really," I assured her. "But we have to be fast, okay?"
She nodded again, and I guided her out of the way before kneeling beside the broken glass. While I appeared focused on cleaning, my true attention was elsewhere—on the room behind her.
I only needed a quick glance.
The interior was lavish, as expected of an oiran of Warabihime's status. But beyond the elegance, something was off.
In the far corner of the room, a small chest sat slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of deep red silk. Strange. A courtesan's belongings would be neatly arranged, not carelessly left out.
More importantly, the air inside the room felt different. Stale. Almost suffocating.
Like something unnatural lingered there.
I needed more time to investigate.
But before I could think of a way to stall, a sharp voice rang out from the hallway.
"What's going on here?"
Yui stiffened beside me, her face draining of color.
I looked up and met the cold, piercing gaze of Warabihime herself.
~~~
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