"REMEMBER when we first met?", yua asked chisaki.

times like these were precious. there were very little times that chisaki would come to the tea house alone, and be able to spend his time with yua.

being a daimyo meant many paperworks and tasks. especially working for shigaraki, a literal man child, who chisaki believes shouldn't have inherited the throne.

and being the most popular geisha also meant that yua had other guests to attend to. just because chisaki was her danna didn't meant that she didn't have other customers to serve.

thus, time was precious.

"when we first met??" chisaki pondered through his memories. he did remember, but he wanted her to tell him.

chisaki's head was once again on yua's lap. his hair being combed by her like usual. except this time, he willingly held one of yua's hands.

their fingers intertwined.

chisaki would never admit it, but yua's hands were soft. they were the softest hands he's ever held. it was always relaxing when he held her hand. it was like nothing was bothering him.

yua smiled, looking down at chisaki, who was staring right back at her. she sighed and looked up.

"we were 12...", yua began.

-♖-

"kai, this is yua. and yua, this is my adopted son, chisaki kai", the previous daimyo introduced.

yua politely bowed, although it wasn't exactly perfect, as she was still a geiko in training. a maiko, if you will.

"hm". chisaki wasn't particularly interested, as he found other things more worthwhile.

"please, follow us this way", yua's okā-san said as she gestured for the old daimyo and the young lord to follow.

the old daimyo nodded as he was guided into a room. chisaki sat beside his adoptive father, waiting for what's going to happen next.

"today my disciple will be performing. she's still quite new, but experience builds confidence, right?"

the old daimyo nodded. "let's see then".

"yes sir. please welcome maiko yua!", okā-san announces. though she was a geiko, she liked watching her little ones grow, especially yua. yua was her proudest disciple.

yua bowed as she wobbly walked in, taking out her fan. she breathed in and out, focusing on herself.

beginning her dance, her eyes tried not to go towards the audience. she didn't want to psyche herself out and fail in front of the customers.

once she got it over and done with, she bowed, excusing herself. she usually would've stayed with her mentor and her customers, but today, she had something else in mind.

yua was a bright girl. she knew today was the night of a full moon. and she wanted nothing more than to observe the bright circle against the dark sky.

so going to the tea house's back garden, yua walked to her favorite spot. she always loved practicing dancing under the moon.

at night time, the temperature was cooler. the breeze picked up all of her worries and took it away. yua felt a heavy burden lift off of her.

"the double cherry trees, which grew
at nara in past days...". yua took out her fan and waved it up in the air, rehearsing her dance from earlier.

"now beautify this palace, and their blossoms all ablaze—"

"perfume the royal ways", a voice finished, making yua immediately turn around.

"chisaki-sama", yua said, immediately bowing at his presence.

"continue", chisaki commanded. his vague request made yua confused.

"the dance", he said.

yua looked at chisaki's slightly annoyed expression. she didn't understand why a 12 year-old was so demanding. but nevertheless, she heeded to his request.

sighing, yua started singing. it was a childish song, but a song that held many memories. since 6, she's been playing this game with the other maikos.

"ka-go-me ka-go-me. ka-go-no-na ka-no-to-ri-ha. i-tsu i-tsu de ya-ru", yua continued singing and dancing, having fun.

chisaki watched as the girl twirled under the moonlight. the more he watched, the more entranced he became.

the song repeated as yua kept waving her arms around. at one point, she fanned herself and ended the dance by kneeling on the ground.

the fan covered half of her face, revealing only her eyes. the spark in her brown coffee eyes glimmered under the radiant moon.

at that moment, chisaki was interested. it was like he was out under a spell. he was slowly being lured into yua's trap.

chisaki clapped, making yua smile. she bowed once again and walked over to chisaki.

"not bad", chisaki complimented.

yua lightly chuckled. "thank you, chisaki-sama". she then excused herself, leaving chisaki in the garden all alone.

at that point, it was decided. she would be a valuable piece by his side. and he was going to make sure of it.

-♖-

"quite the impression you made on me", chisaki said, looking up at yua. she was now caressing chisaki's face, still holding one of his hands.

"I must say, I've never met a more formidable 12 year-old", yua teased, laughing.

chisaki furrowed his brows. he took his free hand and traced the side of yua's face, making her cease her laugh.

"and I've never met a more charming—"

"overhaul", a voice called out from the other side of the door. chisaki glared at whoever was behind the door, internally scowling.

chisaki sat up, sighing. he put his bird mask back on, standing up. offering a hand to yua, she stood up beside him, smiling.

"thank you for coming. we hope to see you next time chisaki-sama". yua bowed and walked chisaki to the door. before she could open it, chisaki stopped her hand.

"kai".

"we'll be awaiting you next arrival, kai".

chisaki looked at the girl dead in the eye, making her sigh and give him a small smile.

"I'll be expecting your arrival next time. kai".

chisaki nodded and opened the door himself, leaving.

"until next time then, yua".

╭─────────────────╮
価値がある
╰─────────────────╯