Catya POV:
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My eyes were so wide. People were walking all over the place. Shops set up with merchants yelling.
"What is this place?!" I say to Renkotsu with a big smile.
He looked down at me and smiled back.
"This is the City of Criminals. This is a safe haven for murderers, prostitutes, and all kinds of crooks. But this place does have its own set of rules."
Really?"
"Yes. They're quite simple and easy to remember. Rule #1: no use of weapons, any issue is to be resolved with your fists. Rule #2: any destruction done to this city must be paid for with either money or your life. And rule #3: never attracted the attention of the empire or any lords to this location or face execution."
Just as he finished explaining the rules a fight between two men broke out.
"What the fuck did you say you ugly piece of shit?!" One man yelled.
"I said you can suck my dick if you think I'm paying for cheap sake and burnt food!" The other man yelled.
With fists flying both men seemed to just be beating each other senseless.
One of the men punched the other in the face and he fell back.
I look up as I was engulfed in a shadow. As soon as I looked up the man was about to fall back on me.
My arms automatically went into defense yet the man never fell on me. I open my eyes to see Ginkotsu throw the man to the other man he was fighting with, knocking both out.
"Thank you Ginkotsu." I say smiling at him.
I couldn't tell if he was smiling but he just grunted and shook his head slightly. I smiled again with a light giggle.
Bankotsu was walking ahead with Jakotsu and Suikotsu.
I stayed by Ginkotsu. I enjoyed his company. He was nice to me, he didn't talk much but the little talks we've had were quite pleasant.
"Bankotsu!" A young woman squealed.
My eyes widened.
A girl maybe a few years older than me was running towards us.
She was so pretty!
My face lit up.
'Another girl! I'm a girl and she's a girl, maybe we could be friends too!'
I was so excited to see another person like me. This girl had long black hair that flowed down to her hips with a red flower on her head.
Her eyes were a a vibrant pink color. Sharp yet mesmerizing.
She wore a colorful kimono that slouched off her shoulders showing her collar bone and cleavage. Her pretty kimono was held together with a simple black obi. She also had a yellow haori draped over her arms.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was so full of life, so pretty and with such a happy smile I bet she must be kind too!
My cheeks had a light blush to them. The only people I've ever interacted with was the band of seven.
When I saw other people on the way here they were usually killed almost immediately. I didn't mind it though, my collection grows bigger with each person.
I held my small bag. It was growing bigger with the eyes I've taken from those who were dumb enough to raise swords to them. I smiled as I tied it back to my waist.
"Hey Mayu!" Bankotsu said as he waved to her.
I guess I was a little overly excited cause I grabbed Jakotsu arm and hugged it.
"Jakotsu that's another person! A girl like me!" I whisper to him.
He didn't seem all too happy to see her.
"That's just Mayu."
"Is she nice? She smiles like she must be!" I say with a big grin.
"Ughh... she's more of a-"
"Who the fuck is that?"
I jumped and looked at Mayu. Her hands were on her hips and her sweet face went sour as she looked me up and down.
"Why is she wearing your haori?" She said as her eyes narrowed at me.
I started to get nervous under her intense stare. I gripped Jakotsu's arm tighter.
Than Bankotsu places his hand on my head and pulled me to him. I clutched my hands to my chest.
"This is Catya! We found her while on the road. She's an odd one but I enjoy her company" He said to her.
I looked up at him.
We both grinned at each other.
Mayu grabbed Bankotsu's arm and pulled him towards her.
"Bankotsu, my darling! I've really missed you! Come to the tavern, we can have drinks in my room." She said with a sly smile.
Without a second thought he wrapped an arm around her, he glanced at me.
"Jakotsu, keep an eye on Catya. I don't want her wondering around aimlessly."
"Yes big brother."
With that Bankotsu and Mayu disappeared in the crowd.
"C'mon Catya!" Jakotsu yelled over his shoulder.
I happily skipped over to him.
"Where to now?"
"How about a little shopping?" He said with a mischievous smile holding a sack filled with coins.
We walked to the market area. It was so amazing! Different shops were set up down a long road. It ranged from shoes to kimonos to food.
"Let's try on some clothes!"
We were having such fun! Jakotsu bought me a white kosode with red flowers all over it. When I put it on though, turns out it was a lot bigger than expected and I was a lot smaller than I thought.
"Do you have one in a smaller size? The same pattern too! And don't lie cause I'll snap your neck." Jakotsu said to the female shopkeeper.
She soon returned with a kosode with the same pattern and color.
"This is our largest children's size." She said.
I slipped off the other kosode to try on the children's one.
"Huh?!"
I was in a state of shock.
Shock than despair.
"I'm so tiny! I'm not a child yet here I am fitting perfecting in child clothes!" I cry out.
Jakotsu, the cold hearted, couldn't stop laughing.
"That's so cute!"
He grabbed me and hugged me extremely tight.
"We'll take it. Along with this."
Jakotsu handed the lady a butterfly hairpin.
"I think I would like to wear this out." I say with a smile.
I take one step, and bam! I stepped on my new outfit and fell.
"I think you're too used to your legs being all over the place." He says with a sigh.
"And it was so cute on you too." And with that final statement he took out his sword and cut the bottom part of my outfit so my legs were free.
"Oh wow thank you Jakotsu! This feels much better!" I say as I take a big step.
"Are you hungry?" Jakotsu asked.
"I could eat."
"Let's go to the tavern. Everyone should probably be there by now."
I smile.
"Lead the way!"
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Bankotsu POV:
"Well I can sure tell you've missed me." I said with a smirk.
Her head was resting on my chest. Our legs tangled with a thin blanket lazily draped on us. Our clothes thrown everywhere. Mayu was a wild one that's for sure.
She giggle.
"I always miss you when you leave."
I yawned.
"How's everything been?"
"It's been good. Business is doing well. I've become Madam's number three right behind Aname."
"So how much are you worth to paying customers?"
"1500 yen"
"Good thing you don't charge me. I'd end up flat broke."
I say as I roll back over her.
An hour later after we finish and clean up, we head down to the tavern part of the brothel.
Mayu belong to the most sought after brothel.
The ladies of the dark.
At the top of the food chain was Madam Hiyori, next was Aname. Aname was in control when Madam wasn't around. Aname used to be my go to but since Mayu came around she's became my new go to.
Just as we came down Jakotsu was arriving with Catya.
The second she popped out from behind him we locked eyes.
My heart skipped a beat.
'What the fuck?'
I shook my head at the weird and annoying feeling.
"Why did you bring that girl here? She's odd looking and look at her clothes! Showing her legs like that, how unlady like!" Mayu sneered.
I glared at her.
She had always been a judge mental bitch, most of the time I either laugh it off or joke with her. But hearing her make comments about Catya..that just angered me.
"Oh? She's wearing something different." I say as I look her up and down.
She was wearing white kosode with red flowers all over it, the bottom part was cut short revealing her legs. It came up to a perfect length too. A tease almost, only skin showing was the tops of her thighs.
She had cleaned up nicely.
When we had first met her, her hair was two long dirty twists, dirt and scratches covered her face, the white kimono she was wearing covered in blood and soaking wet.
"Bankotsu come sit!" Jakotsu yelled.
I turn to Mayu.
"Get me a bottle. I feel like getting drunk."
I walk over to the booth everyone is sitting at. I plop down on the bench next to Catya and rest my arm behind her.
"So new clothes huh?" I say to her.
She looked up at me and smiled.
"Yes, yes! Jakotsu bought this for me." She says while taking a big bite out of a really small pork bun. Just as she did her face and eyes lit up.
"Oh my goodness! What is this amazing cloud of meat and dough!"
"That's a pork bun." I say.
Damn she was cute.
"Hey you!" I yelled to one of the waitresses.
"Bring two pork buns!" I yell out.
The waitress quickly brings over the pork buns.
I snatch them from her.
"Here you are Catya. That was a pretty small pork bun. You need to get some more meat on your bones anyways or people will think I starve you." I say nonchalant.
"Oh I wouldn't want people think negative about you. I'll be happy to eat all the pork buns!" She said with a giggle.
I chuckled with her.
Just as I handed the buns to Catya, Mayu brought a big bottle of sake.
"Here you are gentlemen! Enjoy!" She says as she walks away running my long braid through her fingers.
I smirked. She was always a more dominant woman. She was irresistible and she knew it. Though she has other clients she has to please, she seemed to not get enough of me. She was proud to be my number one choice and with that alone was able to intimidate everyone but Madam and Aname.
I looked down at Catya. The whole time I was with Mayu I couldn't stop thinking of when she tripped and fell earlier.
As I kept watching her from the corner of my eye she moved slightly but slightly enough to open the from of her outfit a little giving me a view of her cleavage and a little more.
After we killed that big bottle of sake we decided to go to bed. Since Catya's never drank before she was by far the drunkest. Her head rested on my arm and she mumbled nonsense.
"Where will she sleep tonight?" Suikotsu asked.
"I can always sleep with you Sui-kuuuun" Catya mumbled out as she laid her head on the table.
The thought of Catya sleeping with anyone angered me.
"What do you think big brother? Would you like me to take her off your hands?" He says with a straight face.
"No. I'll have her stay with me."
"What about Mayu?"
"What about her? It's not like I'm her man and she's my woman. Just a really good fuck." I say to him.
"Yes big brother. Well goodnight than." He says as he turns and walks away.
I take one last chug of the remainder of the sake. I pick up Catya bridal style. She instinctively wraps her arms around my neck and presses her forehead against my cheek.
Our fame has quite an interesting quirk. The madam of this brothel wanted to band of seven to destroy her old village in exchange for a place to live when we come back to town.
Women were giggling and talking amongst themselves as I passed by to my room.
Once inside I closed the door and put Catya down on her feet.
"I feel dizzy." She says as she loses her balance.
I caught her as soon as she fell. My arms were wrapped around her waist.
"It feels weird."
I look down at her and she meets my gaze.
"What do you mean?"
"Like I have lots of butterflies trapped in my stomach." She stood on her tippy toes and pushed her face against my neck.
"You smell nice. Nicer than anyone I've ever smelled."
I guide her to my bed.
"Lay down here." I say.
She obeys instantly and crawls onto the bed.
"Will you be staying?" She says with a small blush.
"Yeah."
I take off my armor, haori and shoes. With just my pants I lay down next to Catya.
Without even thinking I pulled her close to me. As soon as I did she wrapped her arms around my waist, tangled her legs with mine and rested her head on my chest.
With one arm behind my head and the other resting comfortably on Catya hips as she slept I couldn't help but notice how perfectly she fit in my arms.
I was never one to emotionally attach my self to women or anyone in that matter but Catya. She was something different.
I shook my head.
'No, she's just another fuck. Once I'm done with her than I'll give her back to the people she's running from.' I think to myself. The thought didn't feel right though. Absolutely I wanted to fuck her till she couldn't walk but in the back of my mind it didn't feel right giving her up like that.
She trusts us. I don't know why but she does. Am I willing to betray her trust?
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