Warning:

Violence

Smut in the last chapter.

Kidnapping

Prostitution mentioned

You were a prostitute and a damn good one even though you didn't want to be. You worked in one of the many brothels in the town. You were a beautiful girl, but you weren't just pretty, though. You were smart and very charming. It was hard for anyone to take you seriously. You were book smart, and you knew how to survive on your bit. You couldn't leave.

You had things to do that didn't involve sleeping around with men for money. You were watching people as they passed by not to pickpocket but to see the possibility of victims. The victim pool was too big, and you were trying to narrow it down. The guy running the village wasn't good, and you felt like something was up with him. You knew something was wrong but didn't know what. You were investigating and needed to find out what was happening to some of the girls that all of a sudden started to up and leave.

You sighed as you were waiting for a customer outside. When you saw a guy down the road that stuck out like a sour thumb here. His hair was red and yellow, and his eyes burned with hope and life, whichever yours lacked. You went inside and grabbed some hair dye you used on older prostitutes then went outside quickly. Men were looking at him, and you knew that meant trouble, so you quickly grabbed the guy. You dragged him into the alleyway and heard men coming.

"Can I -" he paused as you started making out with him.

You pushed him against the wall, then got your hands in the dye. You went through his hair and pushed him harder against the wall. You stopped for a second to while the dye off on your dress, then took off his cloak and tossed it behind some boxes. You put one of his hands on your ass and another one on your waist. Your hands were on his face. You put your knee in between his legs, then took his sword and hid it with his cloak, hoping the guys after him would leave him alone. You started to unbutton his shirt when you heard wolf-whistling you stopped.

Rengoku was shocked and had your lipstick on his lips. His face was red, and he couldn't believe you did that to him. He was used to being attacked by demons but not dragged to an ally and then stripped. He didn't know what kind of attack this was, but he was confused if he liked it or not and was confused about what just happened.

"Well, well, well, getting some action I see," a man said as you pulled away.

"I'm working, Chuck!" You growled.

"Sorry, you wouldn't happen to have seen a guy with crazy hair, would you?" He asked as Rengoku was going to say something, but he was shocked by what you did to him he was for once speechless.

"No, why?" You asked.

"He has a sword, though it would be easy to lift it off of him," he said.

"This is not what It looks like. She just called me here, and I don't know her," he said in a moment of clarity.

"It's fine. You don't have to lie. She's very popular around here," he said as Rengoku looked at you confused.

"Stealing from potential clients isn't nice. Plus, if they want to spend money in this town, you should leave them alone now if you excuse me," you said as you made your kimono loose.

"I have to finish him off. He paid me good," you said as you started kissing him again and started taking off his belt.

"Okay.... see you around, I guess," he said as you yanked his belt off. Once he was gone, you sighed in relief.

"Do you have any idea what you just did? This place isn't good for people like you. Leave while you still can," you said as you gave him his belt back and then grabbed his cloak and sword.

"What?" He asked as you grabbed the hair dye and left the alleyway.

"This place is full of thieves, people like me, and criminals. There are good people here too, but in this part, there are not. You will thank me later. Oh, and don't wash your hair until you leave," you said as you went back to the building you worked at.

He didn't know what to say, but he watched you leave bewildered at what just happened. His crow landed on his shoulder, and the poor thing saw the whole thing go down, and it was horrified by your actions.

"Seriously?" You asked as he saw you come out of the brothel.

You went back over to him and started to rub off the lipstick that was on his face.

"Don't just stare at me. Go somewhere!" You said as he nearly tripped trying to get away from you. His face was a bit red, making you confused.

"Damn it! You have never been with a girl before, have you?" You asked.

"No," he said.

"Well, that explains everything. Cute crow," you said.

"Thanks," he said as he stood there still awkward.

"Sorry that I kissed you. Do you need a place to stay or something? Don't worry, I have no interest in sleeping with you," you said as he paused.

"I'm just passing through," he said.

"Okay, well see you around," you said as you left him again, but this time, a guy grabbed you from behind.

Before he could say anything, you head-butted him, then punched him in the face. He fell to the ground, and you rolled your eyes.

"Men," you muttered.

"You know I never got your name," he said.

"My name isn't important," you said as you started dragging the guy into the ally.

"Here," he said as he picked him up for you and set him down in the ally.

"I can do things myself," you stated.

"Just thought I could help you after what you did for me," he said.

"Saving you or kissing you?" You asked.

"Saving," he said.

"Y/n, it's nice to meet you," you said.

"Rengoku, Kyōjurō Rengoku," he said.

"Okay, I got to go back to work, so," you said.

"See you later," he said as he took his stuff and left.

He turned to look at you as you went back to the place you worked, and he didn't know what to do with himself. It was like you put a spell on him. He got a hotel to stay in for a night, but as he was writing a letter about this place to a friend, he stopped.

He knew it was late at night, and you were probably with someone, but it was like he was drawn to you for some reason. He decided to go to the brothel, and something smelled good. It was too good to resist, so he went in and saw a bunch of men there. He walked around until he followed the smell of you, cooking.

"You cook too?" He asked, scaring you.

"You aren't supposed to be back here, and why are you here?" You asked.

"Change of plans," he said.

"So what brings you here? Please don't tell me you want to sleep with me," you said as you gave him some food you cooked up.

"This is the best thing I ever had," he said as you looked at him oddly.

"It's my grandmother's recipe," you said as you started to make more bowls for other people.

"I have some questions for you mostly about demons," he said as you chuckled.

"A Samurai asking about demons, okay. Is it the spiritual demons you are asking about or real-life demons? There are a lot of people who hold spiritual demons. Some men around here are demons like the one you helped me drag to the ally," you said.

"No real demons, the ones that eat people," he said.

"So I'm a demon then? You know how many men I have eaten?" You asked with a smirk.

"You can walk in sunlight, so that's impossible," he said.

"You and I are talking about two different things, aren't we?" You chuckled.

"I guess so," he smiled as you laughed at him.

"Okay, so here, why don't we play a game of Go? If you win, I will tell you all that I know, which isn't much. If I win, you stay with me for the night. Don't worry, I won't sleep with you," you said.

"Why, you will have to go to bed sometime," he smiled sweetly, making you confused.

"I'm a prostitute. I meant I won't try to have sex with you," you said.

"Oh, I appreciate that. I must tell you I'm very good at Go," he said as you went to your room with him.

"Y/n! You have someone asking for you," the head Master said as you hooked your arm in Rengoku's.

"I'm sorry, I'm very busy," you said as you took him up to your room.

You got out the board game and started to play with him and talked about other things that surprised him. You liked sumo wrestling and like he did. You also talked about medical herbs and got out several books that you read. You also played a shamisen. You cooked for him, and he made you laugh harder than you ever had.

"I lost?" He asked, confused.

"Looks like it, I thought you said you were good at the game," you chuckled.

"I am," he said.

"I guess I'm better," you said with a smile.

"Want anything?" You asked as you got some tea.

"No, thank you," he said.

"I bet you have slayed several demons in your day with how strong you look," you said with a slight smirk.

"I have yes," he said, "over fifty of them."

"I better not be one of them," you smiled.

"Ah, two different things again," he smiled.

"Yes, now you're catching on. Since you are leaving soon maybe you can write to me. I haven't had this much fun in ages," you said.

"I could yes when I have time to," he said.

"I would like that," you said, "want another game?"

"Yes!" He said you played Go all night and talked till morning.

When you walked him down and talked about wrestling until you got to the front of the brothel.

"Bye," you said as you kissed his cheek.

"Bye!" he said as he waved.

"Don't forget to write to me!" You said as he waved goodbye.

"Too bad he's like other men," you said sadly as a crow landed on your shoulder with a letter in its beak.

You opened it and smiled as you looked at where Rengoku went off to.

I won't forget, I promise. I asked for a second crow to keep communicating.

- Kyōjurō Rengoku

"He's so silly. You are a cute bird," you smiled.