The rain cascaded down on me. My eyes were swollen. He approached with an umbrella, holding it over my head. When we're young, we tend to believe. We believe in love, in kindness, in feelings. And I believed in him. I believed as one believes in a God or a promise. He protected me from the rain and took me home.
I loved him as one loves for the first time.
Madara was on my bed, sitting. I glanced out the window; the rain was lessening, but showed no signs of letting up anytime soon. The thunder was still cutting through the sky in bright rumbles. I sat up and watched him. He always seemed to be on high guard, suspicious. All the Shinobi I knew were like that, always ready for attack and defense. It must have been natural for them. I imagine they were like that by nature.
— Did you get wet? Do you want to dry off?
— No.
He was impassive, standing before me. All I saw was an insurmountable wall. No smile, no laughter, no flirting, nothing. He was just... a wall. A wall full of thorns.
— Are you always like this?
— Like what?
— So serious.
He blinked a few times, as if he had heard something unexpected.
— I have no reason to smile at you.
— Am I that unbearable?
— Unbearable...
— If you want to know, I find you unbearable too. — I took off my wooden sandals. He watched me, his eyes fixed on my every movement, burning my skin.
— I never said I find you unbearable.
— Well, you don't need to say it, it's quite obvious.
We fell into the polite silence of the room. His stubborn attitude bordered on insolence. And even in the face of my disdain, he remained motionless, unwavering. Perhaps I was too rude.
— You're a strange and annoying woman.
— And you're a strange and annoying man.
We exchanged a decidedly unfriendly look. I put my hands on my hips.
— Why am I strange?
— You're so arrogant. You should try to smile once in a while, a little happiness never killed anyone.
— And who are you to talk about happiness? — He retorted with a furrowed brow and determined eyes. — Are you happy by any chance?
— I am! I'm very happy! As you can see, I smile!
— Smiling isn't synonymous with happiness. Even the most beautiful smile hides pain. — Madara crossed his arms. I realized that this posture of his was standard. Perhaps it was a tic to disguise his irritation. — And you certainly aren't happy.
— And why do you assume that?
— Look at yourself, and tell me.
I remained silent. I wasn't happy at all, especially lately. But I didn't want to admit it. I was very convinced.
— Why am I a strange woman?
— You're always on the defensive and live the life of a courtesan with acceptance. Most women would give anything to get out of here.
I pouted.
— I've wanted to leave here before. But I've been in this house for fourteen years.— I clenched my hands on my arms. I was tired.
Suddenly the door opened; it was Mrs. Miyagi. She glanced at Madara, and something clicked in her mind.
— Do you have a client? Excuse me.
—I'm not a client,— Uchiha insisted. Miyagi nodded, waved her hand in a "go attend to him" gesture, and closed the door. Yeah, he wasn't a client, and I wasn't attending to him, but Mrs. Miyagi didn't care. A bigwig from the government in my room meant money. Except, obviously, he wasn't paying for anything. I took a deep breath. I noticed his face was flushed, like a rosy cheek. I ended up laughing.
— What are you laughing at?
— At your face. You're pink.
— As if that's funny. You're kind of clueless, aren't you?
— And you're rude.
He snorted. That guy... I sat down in the vanity chair, crossing my legs and staring at him. What a nuisance... at least he returned my disdain. I just think that Shinobi was a bit too rigid. Outside, the rain continued to roar with a powerful thud and flashes of light tore across the sky. Someone knocked on the door. Mrs. Miyagi again?
— Come in.
It was Yoko. She was with the baby.
— Oh, sorry, are you with a client?
— No. He's not a client. — I picked up the baby.
-—Take care of my baby. I have a client now.
She left and closed the door behind her. The baby was a little restless. He'd gotten better from the flu, at least. I sat him on my lap. Madara stared with a grumpy face.
— What's wrong?
— How many babies are here?
— Right now, just this one. But there are more children, five years old and up.
He was quiet, but seemed less authoritarian. Something had changed. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. The man looked at the baby in my lap and then at my face.
— Do you have children?"
— No. I just take care of the children at the brothel.
The Uchiha remained silent, but I couldn't help but notice how suddenly tense he became.
— That's the reality for prostitutes,— I said, preventing the baby from moving too much. — Men father children and disappear into the world. And those who choose not to abort raise their children like this.
Madara seemed to overcome his own tension. He looked at the baby, who was making a "tuc tuc tuc" sound with the pacifier, complaining with small moans and babbling.
— You can go back to your mommy later— I tried to calm him, using a sweet voice that I thought sounded more maternal. The baby's eyes were closing. It seems to have worked...and I hadn't even noticed, but that Uchiha had been staring at me the whole time. — What is it now?
— See if it isn't exactly as I said.— He paused briefly. — You're always on the defensive.
— I'm not always on the defensive.— It seemed like he was looking for reasons to argue. — I just get annoyed when people stare at me too much.
— What would 'staring too much' be?
— What you do.— I pointed, trying not to raise my voice and wake the baby.
— And what do I do?
— Stare at me.
Cynical. That jerk... I hadn't immediately noticed the sarcasm in his voice. What a difficult guy. I muttered under my breath, trying not to let him get into my head.
— Understood.
— If you understand, stop staring at me.
And he did the complete opposite: he stared at me with the same pitch-black eyes that had been investigating me since we met. As if he were looking for something in me.
— Stop staring at me!
— You really are strange.
Strange. I chuckled without finding it funny.
— If I'm strange for not liking being stared at, then I must be the strangest woman in the world!
— What an exaggeration, woman.
I pointed a finger at him.
— Don't even try that!
It was as if he were trying to get under my skin. Maybe the way he provoked me was intentional. I don't know. I had the impression that he wanted to drive me crazy on purpose. But there was a certain gentleness to him now, for a man who, just two seconds ago, was scrutinizing me and serious as if he were about to enter a battlefield. That was already progress.
The baby was sleeping soundly. I was careful not to make any sudden movements and wake him unintentionally, keeping him in my lap. It was getting late, and I started to feel a little anxious.
— Madara.— His name tasted weird in my mouth. It felt like I was reciting a curse. — Can you hold the baby while I take a look outside?
— Okay.— He stretched out his arms and I stood up. Very carefully I placed the child in his arms, which he held as if it were porcelain. At least he was careful. I went to the window to see how the rain was outside, and the storm was easing.
— It seems the rain is calming down.— I looked at him, seeing that the baby had woken up and was, at the moment, pulling at one of his long black locks with his little hands. I started to laugh. — Look! He likes your hair!
He looked at the boy in his lap and huffed.
— If the rain is already calming down, I think I can go home now.
— Just wait a little longer until it stops completely.
I opened my arms so he could give me back the baby and sat on the bed. I was feeling tired, with no desire to work. I thought about asking him to stay and spend the night with me, so I could avoid attending to clients, but I decided not to bother him with that, however tempting the idea was. I almost uttered the words, but I restrained myself, focusing on gently rocking the boy. I had no motherly instincts, nothing, but sometimes I wondered... what if I were a mother? What a funny thought. Yeah, right. I stroked his head, trying to keep him calm and sleeping as long as possible, although he did stir once or twice, waking up to the sound of thunder. I took the opportunity to play when he woke up again, hiding my face and making faces. He laughed. Madara, on the other hand, just watched in silence.
Yoko's baby was so cute. He laughed happily every time I made a funny sound or face. Children are as innocent as flowers. They have their own language and are untouchable. They are pure. I felt content with the children, and perhaps they felt good with me. I asked the man not to forget the umbrella when he left, without saying much. The rain had already stopped, so it was fine.
I attended to a Hyuuga that night. It was rare to see a man from that clan in the brothel. I heard they preferred...women of the same blood? It was just rumors, but those men were truly strange.
My name is Luculia, like the flower. And like flowers, I blossomed very early.
When I met him, he was kind and warm. It was love at first sight, according to him. And that was fine. I was a prostitute, however, and he was an aristocrat. I don't want to remember which clan he was from, but his eyes told lies beyond what could be seen.
Maybe...maybe...always full of maybes. I cried.
My father, my mother, my clan. And him. The accumulated pain has taken root. I saw the face of misery before me and barely noticed that its face resembled mine.
I am wretched by nature. I applied red lipstick and my mouth became the color of flesh. I wore wooden sandals and my kimono. I lived the life of a prostitute as one lives with dignity. At the festival celebrating the inauguration of Konohagakure, I put on my best makeup and went to see the fireworks. I waited for him, but he never came.
Sometimes I attended to women. They were always more lovely. It was less oppressive. When a client came to see me, she commented on the murders in the brothels. I said we were very afraid. She was a Shinobi, she said she would protect me from the murderer. I disguised a smile with my swan feather fan.
Until then, we only had two dead whores. But I knew that maniac wouldn't stop there. We were forbidden from going out at night, and during the day, we had to go out in groups. Mito and I went to the town hall again, but as always, nothing worked out. I asked her when her father was going to buy her back, and she said she didn't know. To save her the trouble, I told her to stay in my room. I put on my nightgown and my feather boa. I was trying to teach Uzumaki the art of seduction, even though deep down I was afraid she would have to work.
Actually, I took care of all the girls at the brothel. I was afraid they would have to work, attend to clients, get beaten. I taught the younger ones how to defend themselves. All the girls came to me when they needed to vent. I offered them my lap and listened attentively to their cries and complaints.
— I'll be back— he said as he walked away. —And I'll get you out of here.
I nodded a hurried yes. He suddenly approached and pulled me into a hug. With my face buried in his chest, I began to pay attention to his heartbeat. The way his chest rose and fell slowly. Everything worked to calm me down.
— Takeshi.
The aristocrat kissed the top of my head. He stepped back to cup my face in his hands.
— I promise you.
— Pinky promise?— I stretched out my finger. He intertwined his pinky with mine. I smiled.
It was Konohagakure's birthday party. The inauguration festival. I got the children ready and put on decent clothes. Took the night off to take them to the festival. I was already expecting to see Hashirama, so I prepared for the occasion. I took Mito along to help me with the little ones. The streets were packed...men and women everywhere, children running around...made sure the children didn't get out of sight. There were soldiers providing security on the streets. Everything seemed to be in order. Mito was taking the children to the stalls. We were buying food for them. I kept an eye on the surroundings, trying to find the Hokage. He had to be free; it's impossible that he would be busy on Konoha's anniversary.
— Mommy! Mommy, dango! — Little Hana started calling me. The children had a habit of calling me mom. She pointed to a dango stall and started begging: — I want some! Please!
I looked in my wallet. Well, I could still buy some. I took her to the stall and bought some. She was so happy she clapped. I smiled. Children are so cute. Mito and I wandered the streets with the little ones. I held Yoko's baby in my lap. He was having fun pulling my hair. Uzumaki was also trying to find the Hokage, but that darn Hashirama was nowhere to be seen, much less Tobirama. Dan was running around, asking to go to every stall possible. I had to calm him down.
— Look, Mom, a frog!— He showed his hand; a little frog was sitting in his palm. I asked him to return the creature to the bushes. My feet were starting to ache. The redhead started playing with the children, racing them. It was a way to burn off their energy and distract them from the food stalls.
No sign of the Hokage, nor of his damned brother. Dan and Hana were tired from running so much. Little Yuka played with the insects when we sat down. I massaged my sore foot.
— Mom, I'm thirsty.— Hana tugged at the sleeve of my kimono. I asked Mito to go buy water. What a tiring day... glanced at familiar faces, clients of the brothel who were with their wives and children. How funny... I could ruin their lives if I wanted, but I chose to be professional. After all, most of those men had very strange kinks. I pressed the sore spot on my foot, massaging the sole forcefully. It hurt.
— What's wrong, Mom?— Dan looked at my foot curiously, and the children began to crowd around. There were four in total, including the baby.
— My foot hurts. It's nothing serious.
— Mommy, I want more dango.
I rested a hand on Hana's head.
— Sorry, dear, I don't have any more money.
— But Mommy, I want mochi.— Yuka pouted. I felt my heart break. I didn't have much money left. I thought about asking Mito for help. When she returned with the water, asked if she had enough money to feed the children. She said only a little. I saved money by earning money from customers, but I hadn't brought much for the festival. I decided to pool what I had with Uzumaki, and that's how we bought dango and mochi. All to see them happy.
The fireworks exploded in the sky in a myriad of constellations, outshining the stars. The free games were fun. Mito took the children to use the bathroom, and I stayed with the baby, waiting. It was a less populated part of the street. I leaned against the wall while I waited, playfully making faces at the baby. And suddenly, I was approached by a shinobi. He asked for directions, inquired where the bathrooms were, and I pointed in the right direction, but he attacked me. He stuck a kunai into the wall next to my head. I was in shock, barely dodging.
— What is this?! Have you gone mad?!
— Die, bitch!
He brought the kunai to his mouth and expelled something onto it that enhanced it. Oh, damn... was it a jutsu?! I ran away, desperate, the baby crying from the sudden movement. I ran until the air left my lungs, bumping into someone. I didn't see who it was; it could have been a clone or something of that madman. My senses were on edge, my heart racing, and I was in a panic. I tried to run again, but that person grabbed me. They were saying something. I was so panicked I could barely hear what it was.
— Let go of me! Let go, damn it!
— Calm down, woman!— I looked. It was Madara. My legs went weak and I fell to the ground, my arms tightly wrapped around the baby, who was crying inconsolably. I tried to calm him, desperately catching my breath. Madara looked down at me. — What happened? You were running like crazy.
— A guy attacked me,— I managed to say, choking on the words. My chest ached with a pounding heartbeat. I was breathless. The Uchiha helped me to my feet.
— What did he look like?
I tried to remember. Dark eyes...his hair, was it brown or black? I started breathing deeply, rocking the baby who wouldn't stop crying.
— Uh...he was tall, had dark hair and dark eyes." I don't know if his hair was brown or black. — But damn it... I barely remembered that madman's face, and the baby was still crying. — He had a scar on his face... on his chin, I think. But I don't remember the shape.
— He looks like the police sketch. — He looked at the child in my arms, and then raised his eyes to my face. — What did he do?
I focused on calming the baby, so I asked Madara to wait a minute. When the baby calmed down, I spoke again.
- He asked for directions. He asked where the bathroom was. Then I pointed and he stuck a kunai in the wall right next to me. And he... he put the kunai near his mouth and expelled something... that made the kunai more enhanced, I can't explain it, it seems like it increased in size or something.
— A vacuum blade? So he uses wind style...
Blade of what? I was dumbfounded. Shinobi talk, I've already left so I don't get a headache.
— I ran away. That's it. I don't know if he followed me or how he didn't catch me. But tonight is the perfect night for a murder. The streets are packed.
Madara remained silent. He touched the baby's head, who was now calmer, babbling.
— I understand. — And he sighed. He took a thorough look around and made sure no one was following me. My body was still trembling after that attack. I was scared. Very scared. — Are you feeling better?
I sat on a nearby bench. Passersby were going back and forth.
— Yes. I am. Thank you.
What a horrible situation. Trembling, I placed the baby in my lap. He was moving. I pressed him against my chest.
— You're going to hurt him.— Madara took the baby from my arms, sat beside me, and placed a hand on my back, moving it up and down as I caught my breath. My heart began to return to normal, beating rhythmically little by little. I felt my hands tingling. I closed my eyes to focus on regaining my calm. And, gradually, returned to normal. My body stopped trembling, my heart slowed, my blood warmed. Everything was alright.
— Thank you.
He searched my eyes for certainty. His silence was comforting. I stretched out my arms, waiting for him to return the baby.
— I need to find Mito.— I stood up. Madara followed me. I thought he would go another way, but the Uchiha started to follow me.
— Why are you following me?
— You were just attacked.— He stopped walking. Unless you don't want my company.
— Okay.— I thanked the heavens that the man had decided to keep me company. The incident with the crazy guy had really scared me. We walked to the bathrooms, but Mito wasn't there. We went around, looking for any sign of her, bumping into Mito and the little ones near the barbecue stalls.
— Thank God!— She raised her hands and then hugged me. — What happened? You disappeared. She glanced at Madara. — Madara?
— Luculia was attacked by a Shinobi, — he answered before I had a chance to speak.
— A Shinobi? What do you mean?
— A clown who tried to stab me with a kunai.
— How awful.
Yes. A horror. And apparently it was the same maniac who was killing the prostitutes. I felt anxious, my hands were sweaty. Uzumaki took a deep breath.
— And the baby? Was he hurt?"
—No.
The fireworks roared, exploding in the dark night sky. The chrome of colors forming constellations and fading. We were going back to the brothel, especially after that heinous incident.
— Is Hashirama aware of what's happening? The prostitute killer?
Madara thought for a moment.
— Yes. He's aware. We're investigating.— He made way for us to pass. I thanked him.
— I need to talk to Hashirama— Mito said.
— Lately everyone wants to talk to him, but the hard part is getting him on his free time.
I sighed. He accompanied us back to the brothel.
— Thank you.— I tucked my hair behind my ears. The baby was with Yoko, and the children had gone to sleep. — Do I owe you one?
— It is my job to ensure the safety of the citizens,— Madara retorted, leaving no room for argument. I nodded.
— Thank you anyway. It was kind of you to help me.
“Flesh-colored lips that opened and closed, searching for words. He would never return. Just look, Luculia, you have been abandoned again.”
I have this recurring nightmare. It's always a sharp pain that starts in my chest and ends in my stomach. It makes me want to vomit.
Mito was taking a bath. She had her period and stained her clothes. I lent her one of my robes; it was a sinful red color. I got ready for the day. What a disaster… she had cramps, and I was trying to free her up. I tried to make sure she didn't have to work. Poor Mito…
Smoking my pipe, I was in the lobby watching the girls going back and forth. Threw the ashes in the ashtray and continued smoking. I was pondering, elaborating a scheme in my mind. Mito would be my bridge to Hashirama, that is, if his brother didn't get in the way, which I think is very unlikely. A man showed up at the brothel with no intention of choosing a woman to spend time with. I thought he wanted to see the performances, dances, and music, so I told him to come back at night, but he said he was only interested in painting. He asked to paint me, and I let him. It was rare to see a man who didn't want to enjoy our nighttime company. While the girls who worked the day shift served them. Our brothel operated as follows: the princesses only worked at night, dancing, playing music, and offering bed services. In the morning, the lower-class girls offered their services. To access the princesses, it was necessary to buy a special ticket. Like an entrance ticket.
I went to the city hall alone since Mito wasn't feeling well. I expected to see at least Tobirama, but there was no sign of that white hair. No sign of Hashirama either. I went to the Uchiha district. The suspicious and intimidating looks directed at me made one thing very clear: I wasn't welcome there. E
Walked until I found the clan headquarters. Knocked on the door and someone answered. It was Izuna. When I saw him, I felt relieved, but more than that, safe.
—Izuna. Is your brother here?
—It's about Hashirama, right?"— I nodded briefly. He sighed. — Hashirama has been inaccessible these past few days. Even my brother hasn't been able to talk to him properly.
— Damn, I need to get in touch with him.
I bit my lower lip, and just then Madara appeared. He looked at me and seemed to regret arriving.
— If it's about Hashirama, I'll have you know, he's not available.
— You still haven't spoken to him?
— Understand that this takes time. — He asserted, arms crossed and a rigid posture. —And to speak to Hashirama, you need to do it when Tobirama isn't around. Hashirama is easily manipulated when it comes to his brother.
— So?
— So you need to stop tormenting me.
— Rude.
— There's a fine line between honesty and rudeness, and apparently you don't know how to distinguish between them.
I sighed. What a difficult guy to deal with… Izuna gave me a reassuring smile. He guided me outside.
— Look, Luculia, I understand you.— He offered me a gentle look. — But my brother doesn't have much he can do.
— He told me he would speak to Hashirama.
— This takes time. I understand you're desperate, but try to have a little patience, okay?
Patience. Of course, I needed to be patient. When my brothel was at risk of going bankrupt. When the children still didn't have access to education. Patience. It almost seemed ironic. I left there as defeated as I had entered. Kicking stones the whole way. What a farce…that Madara wasn't helping at all either. I decided to go to the city hall and sit there in front waiting for Hashirama to appear. Eventually, I could see his silhouette. Thank God!
— First! First, I need to talk to you!
He looked at me with a brusque movement of his neck.
— Hi!
I took a deep breath.
— About the relocation…and about the children from the brothel…and Mito…
— Mito? What about her?
— She was sold to the brothel. The Lotus House, where I work.— I paused briefly.— Can we talk about these three problems?
— Get this crazy woman out of here.— Not again…that Tobirama must be tracking his brother. He always showed up at the most inconvenient times possible. — I was only lenient with you that one time. If you show up here again, I'll make sure you get arrested.
— What's your problem?
The First Hokage intervened, stepping between the two of us. I stood there frozen. I had a feeling that this Tobirama was planning something, but I had no way to prove it. I mean, sure, he was manipulating Hashirama, but what else was he doing? We spent a whole minute exchanging silent barbs.
— Hashirama.— I began.— Wouldn't you like to spend a night with one of our girls? — Maybe he could be convinced. The Second Hokage wanted to chime in, but Hashirama, his face blood-red, stiffened. He shook his head nervously. — Are you sure?
— What's your problem, you crazy woman? You're offering yourself to the Hokage like it's a good contract.
— We just don't want to be relocated and lose everything we have.
— I'll improve the situation for you then.— I had already braced myself for the atrocity that would come out of that disgusting mouth. — Until the end of the year. You have until the end of the year to prepare for the relocation. How about that? Is it better for you now?
Hashirama was still caught up in his own nervousness, but he looked at his brother with a slow movement of his face.
— We're going to reform the district.— He gestured. — District Nine will be the new Red District.— He thought to himself. — Until the end of the year? Plenty of time. Is that better for you? Do you think you can be relocated more safely this way?
— No? No, first! We can't be relocated!
— I'm sorry, but I have an unavoidable meeting soon. I'll talk to you later, okay? Thank you for trusting me.
My jaw almost dropped to the floor. It can't be…it had to be a joke…I wanted to slap myself to see if I was dreaming. It's incredible how a single problem was branching out. It seemed to be getting worse every day. What a terrible result of my efforts! I certainly wasn't expecting this.
Impossible.
Hashirama disappeared through the doors of the city hall and all I could do was…watch. When Tobirama left, I had to avoid looking, or I would end up causing another scene.
That night I had horrible dreams. When I fell asleep, I dreamt that I and clones of myself were tearing the skin off Hashirama's face. And at some point, this dream turned into a plot about my brothel being demolished and the children being abandoned to God's mercy. I woke up in a cold sweat, unable to move. A dark figure by the door approached me, revealing itself to be Tobirama. But he was deformed and cadaverous. I tried to scream, but I couldn't. He was missing an eye and was limping. The putrid smell invaded my nostrils. I tried to scream again, but no sound came out of my throat. He climbed on top of me, with grasshopper hands and legs.
When I finally managed to get out of that awful state, I realized I was feeling sick. Madame came to see me and saw that I had a fever. I must have caught the flu from that baby. I started coughing.
Mito was already feeling better, so I asked her to go to the town hall to collect from Madara for me. My body was feverish and weak. Didn't want to eat anything in the morning. When Mito returned, she brought Izuna with her.
— Heard you're sick.— I sat down. He had brought some fruit. I thanked him and ate a banana. I almost vomited because I hadn't eaten anything afterward. I was sneezing and coughing. He checked my temperature. I still had a fever. Madam gave me a break. The girls came to spy on Izuna in my room.
— Thank you. — I said after a good minute. He smiled. — Has your brother spoken to Hashirama yet?
— No. Not yet.
Damn it. I cursed Hashirama's existence again. And that Madara… just thinking about him made my body burn with anger. Seriously… he watched me, every subtle movement perceived by his onyx eyes. That Madara…
— Why doesn't Tobirama let Mito speak to the First Hokage?
— I don't know exactly. It seems they had a disagreement. — He shrugged, then scratched the back of his neck. — And Tobirama is resentful.
You can say that again!
Suddenly, they started screaming. The girls ran out of their rooms, frantic and desperate clients rushed through the corridors. I thought there was a fire or something. The last time I heard such terrified screams was when one of the prostitutes drank poison and killed herself. I used what little strength I had to stand up. Izuna supported my weight with one hand on my lower back. We went downstairs, women crowded together and anxious clients were in a circle in front of one of the rooms. The other two princesses were pale, and Mito was squeezing through the crowd. I made my way through and saw. I saw blood, a body lying on the floor. It was a woman face down. Izuna and two other men (half-naked) entered the room. Madame turned the woman over. She had a deep cut in her throat, still dripping warm blood. Her eyes were wide open, as if they were about to pop out. One eye was swollen. I stood there, speechless. A murder. What a mess…as if the relocation and inaccessibility of education for the children wasn't enough, now we had a maniac on the loose. I approached the corpse, holding the cold face of the dead girl. It seemed she had been beaten before she died. I wondered what kind of sick client would do something like this.
— Who was the man she attended to?
— He was a man with black hair…dark eyes…he gave a name, Tomoe.
Tomoe? Like in the Sharingan? Those commas that look like a mitsudomoe. But Tomoe wasn't such an uncommon name. I inspected the deceased's body.
— This is work for the police— Izuna said. He bent down and took a look at the woman. There were other military there, who, despite being half-naked, were still military. The case was reported to the criminal investigation department. Her name was Nojiko. She was buried at 2 PM on a Tuesday. Maybe if she hadn't been a prostitute she would have had a longer life. Maybe if she hadn't been a prostitute people would have felt more compassion. Because nobody went to her funeral except her coworkers. The case caused a stir in the brothels, but in the ninja world…in the civilian world, she was just scum who died. I was still sick, there were men indignant because I wasn't working. Madam gave them a good slap and told them to get lost. When the police came to the brothel to investigate, we spied from the corners. I hid with Mito to spy on them. They were examining the crime scene. That Madara guy was there. I sneezed and had to hide so I wouldn't get caught red-handed. Damn flu.
Then a man came to see me. Kabuki, a customer. He was a former advisor. He offered Madam so much money that she immediately told me to get ready.
— I heard you're quite ill.— He sat on the bed, held my hand, and smiled.
— Yes. And one of the girls died. I'm triply ill.
Kabuki nodded in agreement. I would ask him to appeal to the Council to prevent the relocation, but I knew his type. Nobody wanted to tarnish their reputation by getting involved with prostitutes. Not to mention he was married. He thought I didn't see the shiny wedding ring on his ring finger. When he flirted with me, when he brought me gifts, that ring shone under the lamplight. It was like a reminder of what he was doing. He was a very lecherous 60-year-old man.
The next day I woke up feeling a little better. I was still coughing and sneezing, but the fever had passed.
I couldn't get the image of that dead girl out of my mind. I was mentally overwhelmed by the memory of that pale face and the blood. The police were investigating. I found out that Madara was the commander of the internal military force, and this Tobirama guy was the commander of the special, external, and extreme military force. A military parliament was created so that Madara could command it. To me, it made no difference. I was going to pester whoever it was until I got the result I wanted. No matter how.
Izuna came to visit me again later. I asked him if he wasn't afraid of being caught in the act and scandalized as a man who gets involved with that kind of woman. He said everything was fine. I believed him and let it go. Learned that a new clan was moving to the Leaf Village. The Inuzuka. We received some men from the clan, and I was already feeling better when I went back to work. It was a married man who said he was tired of his wife. He asked for my services in bed. He said I was a witch because he had fallen in love with me. These men… I laughed and pretended to believe him. He then said he would come back to see me.
Nojiko's killer was still at large. My brothel was still going to be relocated. The children still weren't going to school. Three problems that haunted me. The maniac claimed another victim in a brothel less known than the Lotus House. For God's sake…every day that passed was a new coin in the bet of “how much worse can the situation get?” All the prostitutes were scared, we barely went out on the street, fearing being attacked by a madman. The children were also locked in the brothel. We tried not to worry too much, but the fear was palpable. I swallowed hard as I left for the city hall. I asked to see Hashirama, but all I got was: he's very busy at the moment. Every time! When this man would be free was a mystery. I left with nothing resolved, again. I was tired of this. Tired of nothing working out. My feet were aching. I went back to the brothel and sat down. Uzumaki was in my room putting on makeup.
— Mito, can you massage my feet, please?
She grabbed some massage oil and sat on the floor. I stretched my legs, massaging my temples.
— Stressed?
— Too much. — I sighed. — Why is it so difficult?
— Yeah, I understand. — She pressed my soles with her thumbs, making circular motions, using her palms to press and massage. Her fingers working to bring relief to the most painful parts, which I pretended not to feel. — It'll work eventually.
— It has to. — I pressed the bridge of my nose. How I hated it. Nothing was going according to what I wanted. How big this problem was… it felt like hell on Earth. Outside, the snow was giving way to the sun and the approaching summer. In the summer, we used to have even more clients because the workers had a greater flow, men came from other countries to work. When Mito finished the massage, I thanked her and went to bed. I buried my face in the pillow and pressed it against my face. Maybe if I died these problems would cease to exist. But what a selfish and cowardly thought! Immediately, I reprimanded myself. She closed the window and lay down. My bed had plenty of space; I lay down beside her and we watched the ceiling. A spider was weaving its web in the corner. She pointed, started laughing, and recounted a childhood memory. I told her about when I was younger and afraid of spiders. We fell silent because she fell asleep.
I was 17 when I was sold to the brothel. My father looked at me while I cried. That look…guilt? Disgust? Anger? I don't know. I'll never know.
“Dad! Please!”
And the doors closed. I screamed and struggled. Trapped in a room until I calmed down. My body trembled with cold. They gave me food and drink.
Perhaps life is a cluster of pains. Wounds that expand and throb. It hurts. It hurts too much.
Peonies are like people. They are shy and introverted. The crimson red color resembles an embarrassed face. They withdraw into themselves, and are, in short, shyness in its purest form. I received a peony from a client. I dried it and kept it in a small box. When my clients gave me flowers, I liked to tell them their meaning. Forget-me-nots, daisies, camellias. Flowers were a special language.
I took black roses to Nojiko's grave. I hoped she would like them. We had never talked so much. I kept thinking about who would be next. Maybe me. Maybe Junko, Akira, or even Mito. I felt my body tremble. It started to rain. I had barely recovered from the flu, so I ran. I hid under the porch of a shop. It was so cold. I got completely soaked at the end, returning to the brothel with a sore throat. After taking medicine and a good bath, I went to meet a man. Another married man. What has been happening lately?
Izuna came to see me. He was happy that I had recovered. He invited me to have lunch at his house. I accepted. I got ready quickly and did my makeup. Left at 11:00. I went to meet him at his house in the Uchiha district. Those eyes on me were so…hostile. They seemed to want me to evaporate. I knocked on the door and waited for someone to open it. Ah, him…he had kind and polite eyes. He invited me in, and I did. Inside the house, there was an island in the kitchen, with a counter positioned at one end. I sat at the table and waited for the food to be served. He said he had cooked everything himself. I chewed while listening attentively.
— It's very good. You have a knack for this, Izuna.
— Thank you.— He smiled, his face the color of a chrysanthemum. Perhaps he wasn't very used to compliments? I didn't want to sound intrusive. I gave him a gentle smile. — I made plenty of food; my brother already ate some.
His brother. That Madara… I finished swallowing.
— So… — he began. — Why do you live in a brothel?"
— Because I'm a whore.— I answered bluntly, but perhaps he wanted a more elaborate answer. I cleared my throat. — It's because I was sold to the brothel. And before you ask, I've never had any involvement with the ninja world, only with ninja clients, but I don't know anything about jutsus and that sort of thing.
He seemed to think.
— Seriously? You don't know anything?
— I was just a civilian before becoming a prostitute.
— I understand.— Izuna swallowed, looked at me as if reluctant, then said:— Don't you want to leave the brothel?
What a damn question to ask. I didn't want to leave the brothel because I had already given up on life. I didn't expect anything from it. And I was certainly sexually satisfied with my clients. Maybe if I were like Mito I would say yes, I wanted to leave the brothel. But I wasn't Mito, and I had already been at the Lotus House for 14 years. It wasn't that easy. We talked a little more, and suddenly he got up, said he was going to the bathroom. I waited, drinking water and eating slowly. Until his brother appeared.
— You.
— Yes, me.— I answered him.— Have…
— Have I spoken to Hashirama yet? No, but I heard the relocation deadline has been extended. Until the end of the year, right?
— Exactly.
His gaze. It seemed like a mixture of distrust and scrutiny. Perhaps he was worried about his brother's reputation for bringing a tramp into his house. Judging by his clothes, he looked like he was about to leave.
— Are you going to the town hall?
— I wonder why my brother likes you so much.
Izuna… he liked me? Of course, Luculia, you idiot. If he didn't like you, he wouldn't have invited you to lunch at his house. I scolded myself and nodded yes.
— I also wonder why he likes me.
He stood there watching me. I was afraid to make any movement, however small, and that would give him reason to kick me out. I finished eating.
— Izuna has a huge heart. He reminds me a little of an idiot I know.
— An idiot?
— Hashirama.— He crossed his arms. He looked at me as if I were being interrogated. I turned around.
— If Hashirama is an idiot with a huge heart, then he should rethink the relocation and make schooling available for the children from the brothel, shouldn't he?
— The children are discriminated against by schools denying them enrollment, right?—I nodded, and Madara continued: — Hashirama will definitely solve this problem.
— Tobirama said they can be enrolled in preparatory academies, but we don't want them to become ninjas. We want to ensure they have a respectable future.
Madara snorted.
— Tobirama has no say in this. Hashirama is the Hokage.— I felt relieved. Okay, at least he was listening to me.
— They extended the renovations, but they didn't solve any of the problems. And now we have a maniac on the loose in the district. We're terrified.
— I understand.— The man shifted, leaning against the wall behind me. —Anyone would be outraged in your situation.
I nodded. At that moment, Izuna returned. He sat at the table. He saw that I had finished eating and asked if I wanted more. I said no and thanked him. Madara just watched, but he seemed more relaxed with his brother nearby. That intimidating and rigid aura seemed softened. I avoided looking at him, but I felt his eyes burning my skin.
— Don't you want to eat more?— Izuna offered, but Madara said no. The way he spoke to his brother was also different. He seemed more…gentle? Although he was unbearable, his calmer demeanor around the family somewhat eased our animosity. He left after a few minutes.
— What about the investigations into the women's murders?
— We're still investigating.— He took a sip of water. — You better protect yourself.
I showed him the kunai I carried hidden in my breasts. Under my tongue, a blade. I was prepared, and it's no wonder the maniac hasn't killed me yet.
— Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?
— No. I do everything to prioritize my life.— It seemed a little foolish of me, but my reality demanded commitment. I couldn't falter. —I'm a street woman, I need to be one hundred percent prepared.
He nodded. He seemed to understand, but was still reluctant.
— I can handle a lunatic or two. Don't worry about me. I've been beaten up in the brothel, I know how to defend myself.
— I should teach you some jutsu. Chakra control. Something so you can defend yourself against a shinobi.
I stayed quiet. He was being kind, but I didn't know how to accept kindness normally. I thought he wanted something from me.
— Alright. Thank you, but I'm fine, Izuna.
He sighed, looking at me as if he were worried. Men are usually kind to a woman when they desire her, but Izuna…there was no desire in his eyes, nor in the way he spoke. He was…kind. Kind for no reason. Without expecting anything in return. I didn't reject his kindness, I tried to accept it, to cultivate the fruits of that concern. I let my body try to get used to a boy genuinely concerned about me. We talked, chatting here and there, until I had to leave. I said goodbye to him with the feeling that I had been stripped bare. I went back to the brothel, to get ready for the night. Mito came to my room, she knocked on the door before sticking her head through the crack.
— Where were you?
— In the Uchiha district.
— Doing what, huh?
— Did you get to work?
She shook her head no.
— I made up that I was feeling unwell and Madam gave me a day off. I refuse to work. — At some point you're going to have to work. — I said, putting the pin in my hair.
— When you got here, did you start working right away?
— I don't like to talk about it.
“Dad! Please!”
“He turned and left. Mrs. Miyagi took me to the room, locked me in until I calmed down, then brought me food and drink. My first client was a lonely man from the Hatake clan. He gave me a hairbrush as a gift. He said he didn't want much, just wanted to feel alive. So I served him.
He was the most unbelievable Hatake I'd ever met. The son of a bitch was purebred. That Hatake had gut. He was lonely, but a fighter. I had no pity for any of my clients, and the problem was always deeper. I learned to be streetwise.
And after that. An Akimichi. We were summoned to a party. I lived my life seducing men, and I was only 17 years old.
I went to buy sanitary pads. The girls at the brothel needed them.
— Great.— I grumbled as the first drops of rain began to fall. I was under the porch of a candy store. It wasn't long before the rain intensified, and the sounds of thunder… things were looking bad for me. I hugged my own arms, trying to protect myself from the cold. My teeth were chattering.
— What are you doing there?
Madara. Great. I looked at him with half-closed eyes. I couldn't see well from afar.
— Madara? In the rain?
— Of course not.— He was holding an umbrella. Oh, yes. I looked at the umbrella and then at him consecutively.— Why are you here?
— I went out to buy sanitary pads and ended up getting caught in this downpour— I complained. He approached, looking at me scrutinizingly. Seriously, that guy hated me. Not that I liked him or anything.
— I understand.
We stared at each other in silence. I could swear he was mentally judging me. That intimidating, rigid aura returned. Very different from the other day, when we were with Izuna. What an unbearable guy…
— Can you accompany me to the brothel?
He didn't react immediately.
— Are you afraid of the killer? Or would you just like company?
— You have an umbrella. I have nothing. You're a military, I'm a prostitute, and there's a man killing prostitutes. Don't you think I have enough reason to want your company?
— Apparently you lack manners too.
— There's a fine line between honesty and rudeness, and it seems you can't tell the difference. — Man… it was too good to get revenge on him. To retaliate with his own rudeness.
— Clever.
— I learned on the streets.
Madara held the umbrella slightly to the side.
— Let's go.
I stepped out from under the porch and into the umbrella. It was large, giving us both room, but our arms were pressed together. I was freezing, my red kimono was thin.
— Are you grinding your teeth?
— No, I'm not.
— You know I can hear you grinding your teeth, don't you?
— I'm not grinding my teeth.
— Stop lying and admit you're cold.
I looked at him with a thousand-yard stare. This man…
— I already said I'm not grinding my teeth.
— Then freeze to death.
I rolled my eyes. What an unbearable guy…and judging by the way he grumbled under his breath, the irritation was mutual. Good to know we felt the same way.
— Are you going to talk to Hashirama?
— Maybe.
— What do you mean maybe?
— If you admit you're cold, I'll talk to him today.
I clenched my hands on the sleeves of my kimono.
— I'm cold.
— Great.
Silence. I stopped walking. He noticed I had stopped and stopped too, without lowering his umbrella.
— Is that all? Aren't you going to give me your jacket or something?
— You want my jacket?" I crossed my arms and walked away in the rain.— Luculia.
— I don't want it anymore. Forget it.
That guy drove me crazy with anger. Eventually he caught up with me and I was under the umbrella again.
— Don't blame me if you catch a cold again.
— So Izuna told you.— I rubbed my hands on my wet arms.
— He talks about you a lot— Madara commented casually, but soon his tone became more serious. — He likes you quite a bit. I don’t understand why, but my brother tends to get attached to people. He has… a big heart.
Izuna. He was like a son to me. A sweet and gentle boy. He seemed so different from his brother, although I didn’t know him well enough to say. Madara sighed, gave me the umbrella, and took off his jacket, placing it on my shoulders. I pressed it against my wet body. When we arrived at the brothel, I invited him inside.
— Stay here until the rain stops.— I hung up the jacket and went to dry off and change. Madara stood near the door, watching me silently.— You can sit down.
— I’ll be going now.
— Please stay.— Grabbed his wrist. He stopped, looked at my face before his gaze fell to my hands. I let go and took a step back. —Stay.— He decided to sit down. I lowered the curtains and hung my clothes out to dry. Opened the door and saw some girls peeking in. I told them to go find something to do.
— How long have you been working here?
— Fourteen years.— I sat down at the dressing table.
— That's quite a long time. No wonder you're desperate about the relocation.
— Yeah.
We were silent. I don't really know why I asked him to stay, but I knew it was for some reason from my subconscious. Maybe I wanted to feel safer having a policeman nearby, a Shinobi. Maybe I just wanted company. I don't really know.
— When the rain stops, you can leave. I don't want you to catch a cold, Izuna will be worried.
— So you're worried about Izuna?
— Yes. After all, we're friends.
Friends. The word sounded foreign coming from me, but I liked it. Izuna was my friend. Yes, a friend. Or rather, my son. My adopted son.
—Friends— Madara repeated. — Understood."
— And how's the investigation going?
— We have a composite sketch.— And he immediately fell silent. —Why do you want to know?
—Because I'm also a potential victim.— I undid my bun.
— I understand.— The man took a deep breath. — As far as we can tell, the criminal appears to be a Shinobi.
— That's wonderful. It had to be a shinobi,
— I grumbled.— Good thing I'm armed.
— I hope you know that ordinary weapons don't work against shinobi.— I sighed, what a pain. Not being a ninja and knowing nothing about the ninja world was a real pain in the neck sometimes.
We couldn't lose our home. I thought the worst was yet to come and we should organize against the government. The brothel would have a pause for that. Me and the girls, including the children, got ready and went to protest in front of the city hall. The security guards were fed up. We expected someone to come out soon, but it took a while for some big shot to show up. And look, if that wasn't bad enough, who showed up but Tobirama? I knew it was going to be complicated. He wrinkled his nose when he saw us, made a face of…disgust? Anger? It was hard to say exactly. But the fact is: he wasn't happy at all with our presence.
—No to relocation!— Junko shouted when Tobirama came towards us.— Everyone against relocation!
—Go back to the red ward.— He crossed his arms. The children looked at him with wide eyes.— And about the children, they can attend the preparatory academies.
Preparatory academies? I already knew. At some point, our children would be seen as potential weapons. The translation of what he said was: your children will become ninjas and die in our wars because they're worthless.
— What about the schools?
Tobirama took a deep breath. He cleared his throat before saying, “Don't worry about it,” but I didn't want to give in.
— The children will go to the academy but not to school?
They were denying them the basics. I couldn't stand by. So much negligence… Junko instinctively puffed out her chest; it was one of her tics when she got angry. The man looked at her disdainfully, and she pointed a finger at him.
— I've dealt with several Senju; I'll expose your clan. I'll tell everyone what the Senju did. How about that?
— Go ahead. — What a huge son of a bitch, with all due respect to my colleagues.
— Great.
— Great.
The tension between the two was mutual, heavy, filled with rivalry and total enmity. Man… I wanted to attack him with insults, but I let it go. He was a jerk by nature. Were all the Senju like that? Or maybe we were just unlucky with that man. He went back inside the building and we stayed there, protesting. My body trembled with cold when it was already late. We went back to the brothel.
Dear diary, we, the whores, are condemned to misery. The children don't go to school and are now destined for cruel fates in the ninja world. Oh, what I wouldn't give for them to have a normal life… they're not to blame for being born this way.
What a life. I went to take a bath, Akira and Junko joined me. The water was nice and warm, I never wanted to get out.
— I can't believe the children will have to go to the academy.
— Yeah, that's absurd!
I rubbed the wet cloth on my arms.
—Those government guys must have a pea instead of a brain. Even that desperate client of yours is smarter than them.
The three of us laughed. I continued:
—And we're going to have to be relocated on the 30th, but I doubt they'll help us with the process.
—They won't help. We'll have to manage on our own.—Junko used her cloth to wipe herself, and Akira pouted as she thought.
—He didn't even react when you threatened to expose the Senju clan.—We looked at her. I sighed, Junko rolled her eyes and then let out a breath, defeated.
—Right? But we have to appeal. We can't be relocated. Losing our territory, our clients, and District Nine is too far from the schools.
—Yeah, not to mention they're not even allowing the children to study, only to train to become ninjas. That's cruel to them.
—You can say that again, Ju.
—These are the horrors of a tramp's life," I said. We fell silent.
When my bath was over, I went to bed. I was waiting for the clients to arrive, but the rest of the day was free. I decided to go to sleep. Woke up the next day and took the children to try to enroll them in school. Again, nothing. “We have no vacancies.” We were about to cross the street when I spotted an acquaintance. Izuna.
— Izuna?— He looked at me, his eyes wide and his cheeks rosy. — Are you feeling better?
I saw that he was still bandaged; it must have been three or four days since I took care of him. He smiled shyly.
— Are they your children?
— No. They are my colleagues' children.— I looked at the little ones.— Say hi.
Their clustered little voices came out like a wave of lively, yet restrained, sound frequency. Izuna waved.
— Are you getting better?
— Yes. Thank you for that day.— Izuna bowed. I just smiled at him. The boy still seemed a little shaken. Suddenly, I had a brilliant idea. The parliament is entirely military. It seemed like a good plan to me.
— Your brother is in the military, right?"
— Yes.
— Is he close to Hashirama?
He immediately nodded yes and said:
— Yes. Very close. They founded Konoha together.
Ah, yes. Then it was even more favorable for me.
— Do you think you can convince him to schedule a meeting with Hashirama for me?
— What?
(...)
I got ready to leave. The city hall was my destination. I took a deep breath and stepped into the room, expecting to see that wretched Hashirama. But what I found inside was the complete opposite. That Madara guy was there, alone.
—Good morning.— I paused.— is Hashirama arriving soon?
—Hashirama isn't coming.— He crossed his arms. He looked me up and down.— He's busy.
— And he sent you instead?
—Yes.
I can't believe it. I was stunned, but I didn't want to show it.
—But I need to talk to him.
— I'll pass on the message.
Unbelievable. It had to be a joke.
— Only he can solve my problem.
— Only him?
I was quiet.
— I can solve your problem.
— Oh, really? Then solve it.
Silence. Madara sighed and I said nothing. How annoying. I was furious that my plan had been sabotaged by Hashirama himself. Unlucky, wretched man. Seriously, I need to save my brothel! Doesn't anyone understand this?! What about the children?! For God's sake!
— Konoha is undergoing renovations; if you have any complaints, you have to go to the city hall's ombudsman.
— Didn't you say you could solve my problem?
We remained silent. On one hand, he seemed unfazed, cold, but on the other, a tension was building between us. I sighed, trying to maintain a professional demeanor in the face of the obstacles. What I really wanted was to cut my wrists in front of Hashirama. Maybe then he would care about the red-light district and, again, the children of my colleagues. How infuriating…
— I can try to fit you into Hashirama's schedule. But I'm warning you beforehand, he doesn't have time.
— Whatever, as long as he solves my problems.
— It's about the relocation, isn't it?
— And the schools. The children from the brothel need to study, and the brothel can't be relocated. We've been working there for years. Tobirama said the children will be able to go to the ninja academy, but what about school?
Maybe I was getting a little too hasty, but I couldn't help my indignation. Madara stared at me without reacting; I even thought he hadn't heard me, but then he spoke:
— I understand your indignation, Luculia.— He remembered my name.— But I can't do anything. Hashirama is the one in charge of the project. I can try to fit you into his schedule, but again, I can't guarantee you'll be able to talk to him.
— I hope you resolve this soon. Or I'll take drastic measures.
—. Was that a threat?
I didn't say anything, standing up.
— Tell Hashirama I need to talk to him urgently. It's an emergency.
I was going to use all my contacts, everything I could. Madam was preparing us for the relocation. But I didn't want to give in. I didn't want to succumb to conformity. I had clients from the criminal underworld, government clients, clients from all walks of life. Couldn't some of them help me? Would I have to resort to desperate measures? I returned to the red-light district, defeated. The girls looked at me expectantly. I told them I still hadn't managed to resolve anything. I went to help take care of the children. Yoko's one-year-old baby was crying.
Diary, will Yoko's baby be able to go to school when he grows up? I wonder if we'll ever have a third of the dignity that normal people have.
That miserable Hashirama…and his grumpy brother, a cold and cruel man. Was smoking and someone knocked on the door. It was Junko. She said they were going to protest again the next day. But we always had to go back to the brothel at night. If only the clients would protest…but obviously, nobody would want to tarnish their reputation by publicly associating with prostitutes.
The next day started off badly. A pipe in the brothel burst and Yoko's baby was sick. Akira went looking for a doctor and I got ready to go to the city hall. We wouldn't be able to protest because we were packed with clients. I went alone and found Madara leaving the building.
— Hey!— I ran up to him. When he saw me, he seemed to regret leaving.— Did you talk to Hashirama?
— No. Not yet.— How disappointing…I sighed. Looks like it wasn't my lucky day.
— Can you give me an estimated date or something?
— I'll talk to him when I can.— Damn it. Unbelievable. Konohagakure is truly a cursed country. I crossed my arms and stared at him for too long. — Anything else?
— I really need you to talk to Hashirama. The brothel is all we have, and the children need school.
He nodded. I didn't feel safe at all. Became suspicious. He wasn't going to talk to Hashirama, was he?
— If not for us women, then for the children. Don't you think they deserve a decent future?
— I already said I'll talk to Hashirama.
— Well, tell him that if my problems aren't solved, I'll cut out my tongue, wrap it up with a ribbon, and leave it as a gift in his office.
He stared at me silently, but seemed taken aback. I decided to give in. I tried to trust him, even if only a little. That man… he was as impassive as a wall. It was like banging my head against a wall. He wasn't worse than Tobirama only because he was still human enough to listen to me. I muttered under my breath as I walked away. When I arrived at the brothel, Yoko's baby was sleeping. I went to my room to get ready. Then a client arrived, a military man, an ex-ANBU. I asked him if he could handle the problems, but he said he was just an employee. I thought about contacting my underworld clients, but I didn't want to risk it right now. Everything seemed to conspire against me. I wondered what I had done so wrong.
I'm a fucked-up woman. Miserable and sad. The world is my enemy, apparently. It's not enough to be a whore, I'm also forced to live in misery. I don't accept this. I really don't. I'm going to make all these walls fall. My brothel WILL remain open and the children WILL go to school, even if I have to die for it. Those guys won't have peace while I'm alive!
The clients used to call me a mermaid and a sorceress because I was good at seducing and getting money from them, but when that man left, I cried like a condemned woman because I couldn't solve any of the problems in sight. My makeup smudged. I stopped crying and went to do something with my life.
Another day in Konohagakure. We were a few weeks away from summer. I could hardly wait for all that snow to melt and the sun to shine on the Hidden Leaf Village again. Madam tried to fix the pipe, only making the situation worse, not to mention that the lobby wall had water damage. It had to be a joke… the baby woke up and started crying a lot because he had a fever. Yoko had to work and I offered to take care of him. The doctor had come to the brothel to check on the baby; apparently, he had the flu. I took him to the hospital at dusk. The doctor gave him medication. I had to get back before nightfall, since I only worked at night. I was so worried about that baby that I didn't even see the hours passing. When I returned to the cabaret, I had a client to attend to.
Because of the pipe, there was water leaking in the lobby. I told the boss that she should stop trying to fix the pipe herself. We called a plumber. It was difficult to get a plumber because they were all reluctant to come work in a brothel, but we managed to find one. It was already late. I was exhausted.
I never wanted to get involved in the Shinobi world. Ninjas are so strange…cold. Whenever I attended to one, they talked about things I didn't understand. Jutsus, seals…I wasn't the most knowledgeable person in that area, but I listened attentively. The following morning, the brothel was in an uproar. Here it comes…I thought it was because a client had refused to pay, as had happened before, but there was a skinny redhead in the lobby struggling.
—I refuse! Let me go!
Mrs. Miyagi was trying to calm her down. I peeked down the stairs and decided to go down to investigate.
—What's going on here?
—Luculia, thank God!— Akira came towards me with hurried steps.— This girl is making a scene and nobody can calm her down.
Junko was holding a glass of water. I approached cautiously.
—Let me go! I'm leaving!
I had never seen that face before. I always remembered each of my colleagues and even their children, but that woman…
— Who are you?
— Mito Uzumaki.— She answered. — And I'm leaving.
Another Uzumaki? That clan had a reputation for selling women to brothels. I tried to calm her down. I asked her to explain what happened.
— I was caught secretly dating.— Oh, yes. Conservatism was a topic in the clans, especially the Uzumaki, which was quite traditional. I gave her space to calm down and gestured for Junko to hand me the glass of water.— So my father sold me.
I handed her the glass. She hesitated, but eventually accepted. It took her a while to calm down, and when she did, I offered to take care of her. I fixed her hair and comforted her. There wasn't much else I could do. She said she was leaving the brothel because she knew Hashirama. My attention was immediately captivated. Mito commented that she had been sold to the brothel because of her "vulgarity," which was haunting the clan. She said her stay would be temporary, as it was the punishment her father had inflicted on her.
— Do you know Hashirama?
— Yes. We're childhood friends.
I sat down beside her. Surely some bad things happen for a good reason.
— Do you think you can talk to him?
— I think that's impossible. — She sighed. — I haven't spoken to him in months. His brother doesn't like me very much, so he always sabotages my contact.
Tobirama. That mangy dog. If only he didn't exist… I let her sleep in my room while I got ready for the night. Poor Mito…
Life doesn't go easy on you. I looked at the children and envied their purity. If only I were also innocent like a child… the world could be lighter. I taught Mito the art of seduction. With my swan feather fan, I hid my mouth to disguise a smile. How to behave, how to survive. I taught her the language of the fan. And at the end of the night, I went to attend to the men who came to watch the prostitutes' dances. In the windows, the girls waved handkerchiefs and panties. They called men and women to the brothel. I was thinking about how to use Mito to get to Hashirama. It seemed difficult, especially with Tobirama in the way. She was upset that her father had sold her, temporarily, to the brothel. I understood that feeling well. Told her about when I was sold. My family claimed dishonor. Because I didn't want to get married or have children, and they needed money. I knew well what it was like to be sold and rejected by one's own clan.
Although I could sympathize with Uzumaki's pain, I also wanted to use her to get to Hashirama. Which, of course, wouldn't happen so quickly. I asked her to go with me to the city hall. I went to bother Madara, but he wasn't there. Found his younger brother instead. Asked if Hashirama was busy; he said yes. Mito asked him to go question him and make an exception for an old friend. He said that Hashirama wasn't at the city hall at the moment.
What a pain...
Izuna was human like few others. He listened to me. He was one of the only ones who listened to me. I said I wouldn't leave until Hashirama showed up. Mito stayed there with me, both of us with our arms crossed, waiting. That Madara guy showed up.
— You again. — I commented as he approached. — Have you spoken to Hashirama yet?
— When I have time, yes.
— And what time would that be?
— His time. Hashirama is very busy. Mito? What are you…
— Bring Hashirama here. — He stood still. I wanted to lunge forward and pull his hair. — Tell Hashirama to find a way to get me out of the brothel.
— What are you doing in the brothel? — He frowned.
— My father sold me. He said it's temporary.
Seriously… he blinked a few times as if he couldn't believe what he heard.
— Bring Hashirama here. — She said again. Madara shook his head.
— I can't, he's busy.
— Always busy. When will he listen to the voice of the people? — I decided to intervene. — For God's sake, Madara, find a way to get him here!
— Calm down, woman.
— I won't! I need to talk to him about important things! Is he running away from me?!
— Calm down! — He restored order. He spoke in such a firm and authoritative voice that I immediately fell silent, but I didn't want to give in.
— I'm only leaving when Hashirama shows up!
Mito agreed with a "me too." I remained motionless. Madara took a deep breath.
— Then you'll wait until next year. Hashirama can't come now.
Right behind him, a figure appeared. Tall, striking eyes. Tobirama.
— Hey! Second Hokage, I need to talk to someone!
— Go back to the brothel, woman. — He said disdainfully. Madara's gaze shifted between the two of us. — Don't make a scene in front of the city hall. And you, Mito? What are you doing here with this…woman?
— My father sold me to the brothel. You would know this if you let me speak to Hashirama.
He puffed out his chest, like a bird full of pride.
— It's a shame. I'll speak to Hashirama as soon as possible.
—Seriously, Tobirama! I want to speak to him directly! — she ordered. Judging by the way she spoke, the three of them were quite close.
— I wouldn't be making all this fuss if you just solved the problem with my brothel!
— The village is under renovation.— The platinum-haired man looked down at me with disdain. With disgust. — We will guarantee the citizens their respective places.
— In the gutter, Tobirama?— I argued. And with a shout continued,— We're going to be thrown into the gutter, that's what! And what about the children?! Tell me, when are you going to take care of that?! Never, Tobirama?!
— Stop shouting, you crazy woman!
—She wouldn't be yelling if you all just solved these problems!— Uzumaki protested, their voices growing louder.
— How rude…stop yelling. What a scandal! — Madara said with an irritated snort.
— I want to get out of the brothel! This isn't fair to me!
What a mess. Mito kept shouting and giving orders that Tobirama ignored.
— I swear to God, Tobirama, you'll see my tongue on your desk! I'll rip my tongue out, Tobirama!— I yelled, the guards grabbing me and pulling me away.
— Arrest her for contempt.
Mito was desperate. I was taken to Konoha prison, to a temporary cell. I must have spent a few hours there when Izuna came to release me. He said he managed to convince his brother to go easy on me. Tobirama had a natural hatred for the Uchiha, but they were military men. Since I was arrested by the military, Izuna's plan succeeded. He apologized to me. He said he was ashamed of the Second Hokage's actions.
—He despises us.
— Yes. But don't worry. He's like that with everyone.
I muttered under my breath.
— Thank your brother for me.
Mito was waiting for me outside. We went back to the pleasure district together. Mrs. Miyagi greeted me with slaps.
— Are you crazy?!
News spread quickly throughout the Leaf Village. Mito explained everything to the girls. I went to isolate myself in my room, frustrated. That damned Madara…and Tobirama? Everything was conspiring against me.
