𝟎𝟒𝟒 - 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒!
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CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS!
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"𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬...?"
♫♪.ılılıll|̲̅̅●̲̅̅|̲̅̅=̲̅̅|̲̅̅●̲̅̅|llılılı.♫♪
"Eh..." The house master stared at the trio, her eyes narrowing as she did so.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, or rather, Zenko, Sumiko, and Inoko, stood there awkwardly. "These three are... certainly quite homey girls, aren't they?" Her voice wavered slightly as she forced a chuckle, thinking that the "ladies" weren't very cute. She glanced nervously at her husband, who sat stiffly beside her.
[Name] stood next to Tengen, arms crossed as she watched the couple's reaction proudly, knowing that despite the house chaperone's words, their disguises had worked flawlessly.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were convincingly decked out in their finest kimonos, their makeup expertly applied. Zenitsu even blushed and batted his eyes (even though he wanted to die on the inside), earning a soft groan from Inosuke, who was starting to get hot from his silken robes.
The husband cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Erm... I don't think we can--"
"Isn't there any way you can reconsider?" Tengen's voice was smooth and persuasive, his words dripping with confidence. "Under your training, Madam, I'm sure these diamonds in the rough will shine in no time."
The wife hesitated, her gaze flicking from the trio back to Tengen, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red.
"I'm sorry, but..." the husband stammered, clearly faltering under the pressure. He shot a glance at his wife, only to freeze when he noticed her blatantly admiring Tengen.
Her expression had completely changed, and she was now practically swooning at the sight of him. The man did a double take, appalled at the adoration on her face.
"Well..." The woman's smile grew as she bit her lip, eyes tracing every inch of Tengen's figure. "I suppose taking in one wouldn't be a problem." Her voice had gone from hesitant to eager, and she practically beamed up at Tengen.
Tengen didn't miss a beat, flashing his own dazzling smile as he bowed his head slightly, "Then please take one. I apologize for imposing on you, Madam." His voice further cemented the woman's infatuation.
[Name] glanced up at Tengen, trying not to roll her eyes. Even though he was dressed more casually than usual, with his long, white hair cascading over his shoulders and his bangs lightly brushing across his forehead, he still managed to exude his flashy allure.
She had helped him remove the paint from around his left eye earlier, allowing his handsome features to shine through. His magenta and pink striped yukata hung loosely around his broad shoulders, the black obi wrapped snugly around his waist.
The front of the outfit parted slightly, exposing just enough of his chiseled chest to make a statement, but it was subtle enough to maintain some resemblance of modesty.
Men and their stupid chests.
[Name] couldn't deny the effectiveness of Tengen's approach. He knew how to play his cards, and the house master's starry-eyed gaze was proof that it worked every time.
"I think we'll take the one in the middle! She looks very obedient!" The woman beamed, her smile so wide it was like she was trying to impress Tengen, though he didn't bat an eye.
Tanjiro straightened his back, a determined gleam in his eyes. "I promise to work as hard as I can!" He exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, his nerves barely concealed under his cheerful tone.
As they waved goodbye to Tanjiro, the four of them resumed their march down the street, the clacking of their geta sandals echoing in the air.
[Name] carefully tiptoed around the puddles; meanwhile, Tengen's sharp gaze never left Zenitsu and Inosuke, his brow furrowed with deepening annoyance.
"You two are hopeless. I can barely give you away!" he spat, his voice dripping with exasperation. His eyes flicked over Zenitsu's sulking form and Inosuke, who looked like he'd rather die than wear his disguise for another minute.
Zenitsu groaned, already sick of Tengen. "It's not our fault! You try wearing this outfit and see how you like it!" he snapped, his voice cracking as his frustration increased.
"Hey, cut them some slack, Uzui-san," [Name] said with a grin, "They're boys dressed up as girls." She shot them all a playful wink though she couldn't hide the hint of sympathy.
Zenitsu shot her a side-eye, "I thought you'd be able to make us look amazing," he muttered, barely loud enough for her to hear. "You're flawless at applying makeup, so what's the excuse?"
[Name] froze mid-step, her hand still hovering near her hair. That little jab hit harder than she'd thought. She let out a hmph.
Tengen looked between the two, a little surprised at how good Zenitsu's English sounded.
He must have been practicing with [Name] for a long time.
"Hey!" Inosuke yelled, his voice cutting through the marketplace as he pointed at the growing crowd. "A bunch of people are swarming around!"
He hitched up the hem of his blue kimono and awkwardly broke into a half-run, half-stumble toward the crowd. The fabric bunched around his legs, slowing him down, but he didn't care.
Zenitsu and Tengen, who had been lagging behind, quickly followed suit. As they pushed their way through the crowd, the source of the spectacle became apparent.
There, at the center of it all, stood Koinatsu, radiant and composed despite the people who encircled her. She was surrounded by two young children, no older than ten, and several men and women dressed in formal clothing, their faces etched with seriousness. They served as her escorts.
Koinatsu herself was the picture of elegance. Her susohiki kimono (a long trailing skirt) was a deep purple with white polka dots, the color of the fabric shimmering under the lanterns. Draped over her shoulders was a peach-colored haori with delicate golden clouds that looked like it floated near the hem.
Beneath it all, a yellow juban peeked out, the vibrant color contrasting beautifully against the darker hues, with the hem just below her ankles. Every inch of her was super elegant, from the golden kanzashi hair pins in her hair to the gentle smile despite the eyes on her.
"Oh, it's an oiran parade," Tengen explained, his voice startled [Name] as she hadn't realized how close he had gotten. He stood beside her, arms crossed, "That's Koinatsu Oiran of the Tokito House," he continued, his voice carrying over the music, "The highest-ranking courtesan. She's on her way to meet a client. Flashy, isn't it?"
[Name] couldn't help but raise her phone, capturing the moment in perfect detail. She zoomed in on Koinatsu and snapped several photos, quickly adding them to her favorites.
She'd definitely need to make a stop by the Tokito House later to meet her. And maybe see if she could meet up with Tanjiro too.
"WIFE!" Zenitsu's scream pierced the air, jolting [Name] from her thoughts. The yellow-haired man was practically vibrating with rage as he darted up to Tengen, grabbing the Sound Hashira by the collar, "Is that knockout your wife?! And you've got three? Are they all as beautiful as her?!"
Tengen's eyebrow twitched, and without missing a beat, he slammed his fist into Zenitsu's face, sending him sprawling backward onto the cobblestone street. "She's not my wife, dammit!"
Meanwhile, Inosuke had crouched low, his head tilted as he studied Koinatsu from a distance. His eyes followed her every move, his head nodding slightly as if in thought.
"She walks so slow," he muttered, "She'd get killed in an instant in the mountains." He absentmindedly dug into his ear with a pinky finger, then flicked the earwax away without a second thought, not noticing that it landed on a girl's dress, causing her to let out a horrified gasp.
A woman with the widest eyes loomed over Inosuke, her shadow casting an ominous presence over him as she bent down, grasping him by the arm with ease like someone used to handling unruly children.
Without a word, she swiftly dragged him up. Before Inosuke could fully register what was happening, she bounded across the road right over to Tengen.
"I'll be taking this girl to my house," she said curtly, glancing at Tengen. It wasn't a request, it was a statement. "Is that alright?"
Tengen raised an eyebrow at her abruptness. His eyes took in the woman, her posture, her confidence, her unblinking, owl-like gaze. She didn't flinch under his scrutiny. "So, you're...?"
"The Ogimoto House chaperone," she replied flatly. She didn't bother elaborating like the mention of her position was enough to explain everything.
"Ah," Tengen exhaled, clapping his hands together, "If she's caught the eye of the Ogimoto House, then I couldn't be more thankful. But what type of luck is this?" He flashed a grin.
The woman waved her hand dismissively, "I have an eye for these things," she said, her voice full of pride and a little self-satisfaction. She grabbed Inosuke's hand with the same nonchalance she had before and began leading him away.
"Take care, Inoko!" [Name] called out as she and Tengen waved them off, though only one of them seemed to find humor in the situation.
Zenitsu clutched onto [Name] as if his life depended on it, his eyes wide with terror, "Shit! I'm the only one left! What do I do?!"
[Name] glanced down at him, her eyes softening with amusement as she patted his head gently, "It's okay," she said in a soothing tone, "I'll just tell them you're my younger sister, and I'll be in the Kyogoku House with you. How does that sound?"
She flashed him a sweet smile, and Zenitsu, obviously, responded with a nosebleed so bad he had to pinch his nostrils to stem the flow, his cheeks flushed a deep red.
Tengen, standing off to the side, watched the interaction with a straight face, but inside, irritation bubbled beneath the surface. His eyes narrowed slightly as he observed how easily Zenitsu had gotten [Name's] attention through his whining and complaining.
It grated on him more than he'd like to admit. He crossed his arms, exhaling through his nose in a quiet huff. Why did that man always manage to pull that off?
While Zenitsu was soaking in [Name's] affection, Tengen had been dropping hints all night to the woman, hoping to at least pique her interest or spark some form of acknowledgment. But she hadn't batted an eye at his usual charm or wit, not even once.
He sighed deeply, letting his shoulders slump just a fraction before regaining his composure. There was no point dwelling on it now. There were more important things to deal with.
But it still pissed him off.
.
.
【＄＄＄】
[Name] sat back quietly, watching an annoyed Zenitsu strum the shamisen while the women nearby gossiped, their whispers and laughter swirling in the air and making the man more mad. His jaw clenched, and his hands gripped the bachi pick so hard his knuckles turned white.
Every note he played carried a crackling edge, the strings vibrating under his fingers as if they too could feel his growing irritation. The veins on his forehead pulsed, threatening to burst, and the sound of the shamisen grew more aggressive.
Zenitsu's playing began to catch the attention of the others around him. A few women paused in their gossip, eyes widening at the speed and intensity of his fingers across the strings.
"Oh my, that girl can really play the shamisen!" One woman in a dark purple kimono gasped, her eyes widening in surprise at the 'girl's' talent.
Another woman, dressed in a pale pink robe, leaned forward, nodding eagerly, "She's also talented! I heard she has a natural gift; being able to pick up the shamisen or koto after hearing it just once! Remarkable, isn't it?"
But not all the comments were flattering. A third woman, lounging lazily with a fan, cast a glance at [Name], her lips curling into a sly smile. "Such a shame, though," she murmured, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "She may have a talent for music, but next to her sister, well, she's not the best looking, is she?"
[Name] did a hair flip and straightened her posture as she acknowledged the other women's compliments, "Um, thank you," she said, ignoring the rude jab. "I appreciate it."
The women responded with nods and praise, and one in particular could hardly contain herself, "You're too modest! With looks like yours, I'm sure you'll make even Warabihime Oiran jealous!"
The woman in the purple kimono gasped audibly, her hand shooting up to cover her mouth, "Hush!" She hissed, eyes darting around nervously. "Don't mention Warabihime Oiran in that way, or you'll be the next one to disappear!"
Her voice dropped to a whisper, and the others quickly followed suit, their faces pale. [Name] leaned in slightly, trying to catch the rest of the whispers, but the gossip had shifted back to Zenitsu and his relentless shamisen playing.
"A-Anyway, I'm surprised they let her in here at all. I guess they felt bad about tearing her away from her sister," commented a woman in a striped kimono, her lips curling slightly as she glanced at the others.
A second voice chimed in, a younger woman with flushed cheeks, enjoying the gossip, "Well, I hear the man who brought her in was drop-dead gorgeous." Her blush deepened, and she clasped her hands together dreamily.
"Oh my, was he really?" Another woman gasped, eyes widening in interest.
"I wish I could've been there to see him," Sighed another, lamenting her bad luck at missing out on eye candy, "You could just feel the... tension in the air when he walked in, I bet."
"And that old hag chaperoning them was absolutely smitten, too!" The striped-kimono woman added, giggling into her sleeve. "It was embarrassing, really. She couldn't stop staring at him!"
A soft chuckle interrupted the rising wave of voices. It came from behind them, where a woman stood, her presence more solid than the others.
She wore a deep blue kimono, so dark it was nearly black, dotted with white spots like stars scattered across a night sky. Her brown eyes gleamed with amusement as she watched the group, taking a slow drag from the slender pipe in her hand.
"You know what?" She began, her voice low and smooth, "I can already tell... that girl is going to rise to the top." The others fell silent, turning toward her.
The woman exhaled a thin stream of smoke, her lips falling into a knowing smile. "The urge to get back at the man who left her behind... it's practically burning in her. I can sense it. A woman like that? She's got backbone."
She tapped her pipe gently, sending a few ashes spiraling to the ground. "She'll stop at nothing to prove herself."
"Ah, I see," One of the women murmured, her earlier giddiness fading into thoughtfulness.
"That makes sense..." Another echoed, nodding slowly.
The woman with the starry kimono chuckled quietly to herself, and she took another drag of her pipe before introducing herself to [Name], her voice calm but commanding. "My name is Tsukino Ai. Now, enough with the gossip, it's time to get to work. Follow me, and I'll show you your tasks."
Damn it. [Name] had almost forgotten that she wasn't here to gossip or stand around like she was important. She had only just started, and being low-ranking meant she was stuck with all the chores.
With a sigh, she waved goodbye to Zenitsu, who gave her an awkward but friendly nod in return, before falling in line behind Ai.
The hallway they entered was dimly lit, the walls closing in as they moved deeper into the building. It felt colder, too, like the shadows carried a chill. Ai didn't look back, her steps steady like she was used to the darkness.
[Name] followed, already dreading the endless piles of dishes and laundry waiting for her at the end of the hallway.
"Welcome to the bottom of the food chain," Ai called over her shoulder with a smirk, her voice carrying a trace of humor beneath its sharpness. "Better get used to it, you'll be spending a lot of time here."
Ai left without another word, her starry kimono vanishing into the shadows of the hallway, leaving [Name] alone in the quiet hall.
With a sigh, she slid open the door and was immediately greeted by the sight of a towering pile of clean clothing.
But there was just one problem.
[Name] had literally no idea how to fold traditional Japanese clothes.
Kimonos, yukatas, and all the layers they came with... it was like staring at a puzzle without knowing how to solve it. She squinted at the pile, picking up a piece, holding it up, and frowning.
"How in the world...?" she muttered to herself, tempted to throw the whole thing into a disheveled pile and call it a day.
But no, she couldn't get away with that.
"Oh well," She sighed, shrugging. She folded it as best as she could - well, more like bundled it up into something that barely resembled a rectangle.
After a few minutes of struggling with the fabrics, her frustration began to bubble up. It felt like the clothes were mocking her with their pristine, immovable folds. She needed a distraction.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her downloaded music. The silence in the room was too heavy; she needed something to lighten the mood.
Jazz! That's what she needed. She found a smooth, laid-back track and hit play. The soft, soothing sounds of saxophones and gentle rhythms filled the room, making the task of folding a little more bearable.
Time went by, and [Name] began to get the hang of it (or at least she thought). The music made it easier, though she still wasn't sure whether she was folding the garments correctly. But as long as they didn't look like a crumpled mess, she considered it a win. She hummed along with the music, absentmindedly hanging up a kimono, smoothing out the fabric before reaching for another piece.
And then she froze.
A sudden, cold chill swept over her, running down her spine like icy fingers. The jazz music that had filled the air now seemed distant and muffled. Her hands, still gripping the kimono, trembled slightly. She hadn't felt this sensation in a long time - a prickling, almost predatory feeling creeping into her mind.
Daki.
Her breath hitched in her throat as her heart pounded in her chest.
Panic surged through her veins as her instincts screamed at her to move. She nearly dropped the kimono as her head began to pound like a drum was echoing in her skull.
Without thinking, she fumbled for her phone, her fingers trembling as she paused the music. [Name] darted over to the window, her pulse quickening with each second. She could feel Daki's presence growing stronger.
She flung the window open with a loud crack, the frame shuddering in protest. She didn't care. There was no time. She leaped through the window, landing on the roof outside just as the door behind her swung open.
She crouched low on the roof, her body tense as if she were ready to spring into action at any moment. Her chest heaved as she tried to steady her breathing, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst.
Sweat poured down her face, her nerves all over the place. The cool night air brushed against her skin, making her shiver.
[Name] flopped back onto the roof, staring up at the night sky, her mind spinning as she processed what had just happened. She had been this close to being caught by Daki.
Even without seeing her, [Name] could feel the danger that had stalked her in the air. If she had stayed even a second longer in that room...
She shuddered at the thought, trying to shake off the lingering terror. Her nerves were still on edge, every sound making her flinch. But after a few minutes, the adrenaline began to fade, leaving only exhaustion in its place.
Slowly, [Name] sat up, her legs wobbly. She had to get out of here, find somewhere safe, away from Daki's reach.
Her gaze shifted to the neighboring Tokito House. She stood up, her steps hurried as she began to walk along the rooftop, the soles of her feet barely making a sound against the tiles. There was no time to waste.
She had to move quickly.
.
.
【＄＄＄】
< 𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐎 𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 >
- Tengen had wanted [Name] to stay with him, but was upset when she refused.
- People had noticed [Name] take a picture of Koinatsu and were annoyed
- Daki had smelled a human, which compelled her to open the door
- [Name] took a pretty obi from a kimono when she was folding clothes.
- Zenitsu hoped that playing the shamisen impressed [Name] in some way
--
{ I HAVE RETURNED I WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOU GUYS! }
{ I've just been really busy :( but it's died down so expect regular updates again! }
{ also wtf is this poll shi wattpad been doing }
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