Hanafurirou book 1 - Kimi mo Shiranai Jaren no Tame ni, chapter 3

"New Years, huh..." Fuki murmured as he looked up at the at the "Happy New Year" sign placed at the entrance.

It was Fuki's second New Years since he had come to Hanafurirou. He had served as a shinzou during the past year, and now he was fast approaching an appropriate age for his debut. His uniform had changed from the cherry blossom colored cotton to a crimson silk furisode (1).

Sometime around his next birthday, the owner would choose someone for his debut. Of course, it wouldn't matter what he thought about the matter.

"Eh, once you get used to it, it's not really all that bad," Kichou had said. "After all, everyone has sex. It's not very good for you if you come every single time, but there are some customers who treat you really well. Though there are some bad customers too..."

Fuki tried to think of it that way too. After all, it wasn't like he could run away.

Just as it was the day Fuki came to the brothel, the owner's room had red walls. He hadn't been to the room since that day. Just standing there made his legs shake as he remembered how his body had been inspected from head to toe that day.

"It's still a bit too soon, but I have decided on your partner for your debut," said the owner.

Though he had expected something like that, Fuki felt as if someone were squeezing his heart.

"It will take place after the flower viewing banquet. Your partner will be Yamafuji-sama."

The moment he heard that, Fuki felt the blood drain from his face. The owner may or may not have noticed the change. Still, he continued.

"Because Shirayuri was taken in by a different man during this past year, Yamafuji-sama has requested that you be his next partner. This is good news for you. Yamafuji-sama is generous with his money. Be sure to work hard so that he takes you as a najimi and continues to care for you for a good long time."

Even as he shrank back from the owner's glare, Fuki somehow managed to gather his courage. He gripped at the fabric of his kimono around his knee area.

"...Ummm..." He just couldn't come up with anything to say to convince the owner.

Yamafuji was a fairly high level customer when compared to the other men who frequented the brothel. Not only was he not stingy, but he was young and good looking. In fact, Fuki wasn't quite sure what it was about Yamafuji that bothered him so much. Just that there was something he didn't like about the man.

It might be because Shirayuri looked so exhausted when Yamafuji had been at Hanafurirou. Or maybe it was because the voices that leaked out from Shirayuri's room just seemed too wanton.

"Maybe it's because I just don't want to start making the same noises that Shirayuri did."

"As a matter of fact, there was another man who put forth a bid for you," the owner said to Fuki, who had fallen silent in search of words.

"However, Yamafuji-sama was willing to pay the highest fee. Besides, he is a member of the police force... Even though the anti-prostitution laws have been abolished and the red light districts have become legal again, there are always secrets to be found in this business. Of course, this establishment has support from outside, but I would rather avoid any problems with the police."

There wasn't anything else he could do. All he could do is take his leave, like he was running away.

A short while after that, the brothel became lively and festive with preparations for the flower banquet they held each year during cherry blossom season.

The day of the banquet, all of the most important patrons were invited to the huge gardens of Hanafurirou, and together with the keisei and kamuro, they had a flower viewing (2). As usual, the iroko had to entertain customers during the banquet, but aside from that, it was a relaxed event. Not only did they not have to take anyone to bed that night, but they got paid for it anyway, so for the iroko who weren't quite as popular, it was a day to look forward to.

The entire brothel was excited, but Fuki was not in the mood to be excited at all.

But there was no way that would ever happen, and before he knew it, the day of the banquet had come.

"Maybe I could hang myself from that branch," Fuki thought as he stood under the tiny, falling petals and stared up at the cherry blossoms. He had only intended the thought as a cruel joke, but now that he had thought it, it actually seemed like a good idea. If he did that, would rumors of a ghost at Hanafurirou start going around? Even so, it was just too hard to work up the courage to hang himself right there.

"...Why me?" Fuki asked Yamafuji. Fuki had on a scarlet furisode, his obi was high on his waist and tied in front, and his hair, now grown out, was tied back. He was offering a drink to Yamafuji, who was seated on a stool with a scarlet cushion that had been placed under the trees.

"Even though Shirayuri-san has left, there are plenty of others who are prettier than I am."

"You caught my eye," Yamafuji said. "It's not that I was looking for a replacement because Shirayuri left. It's true that the timing worked out perfectly, but even if it hadn't, I would have wanted to be your first. I told you that before, remember? You fit my type perfectly."

"I couldn't..." Fuki started to say, only to have his arm grabbed suddenly. "Wah...!!"

The sake bottle in his hand fell to the ground as Yamafuji lifted Fuki up into his lap.

Yamafuji was right. After all, Fuki had no chance of running away from him anymore. Even if he did get Yamafuji to let go of his hand right now, what would he get out of it?

"How unsightly." At that moment, a man's voice called out from right behind them. "You're ruining the cherry blossoms."

It couldn't be. He kept thinking about nothing but Ouichirou, and now random men's voices were starting to sound like him. Besides, there was no way Ouichirou could be there.

Even though he told himself that it just wasn't possible, he couldn't help but hope. Maybe, if he really was there...

Hesitantly, Fuki raised his head, and at that moment he thought his heart might stop.

He had on a blue suit so dark it almost looked black and was holding the jacket in his hand. He had a bit of a tan, and it seemed like he had grown up all of a sudden in the two years they had been apart... and he was even more attractive than he had been before. His eyes were sharper than before, and it looked like he had grown his hair out a little. That same hair swayed a little in the breeze.

When he remembered the position he was in at the moment, Fuki leapt from Yamafuji's lap, startled. This time Yamafuji let him go without a protest. Perhaps it was because someone else had come.

Yamafuji turned around to look at Ouichirou and slowly rose to his feet. Then he spoke, prompting Ouichirou to identify himself. "Excuse me...?"

"My name is Ikami. I work in finance." Ouichirou offered a business card, which Yamafuji took and looked over.

Hearing that, Fuki shrank a little. Just what was Ouichirou infamous for? And just a little bit before that, Ouichirou had said he worked in finance. ...If that was the case, what had happened to school? Wasn't he going to school?

"My name is Yamafuji. ...Do you two know each other?" Yamafuji handed Ouichirou a business card and then turned to look at Fuki.

Yamafuji sighed, seemingly deliberately. "Very well then. I'll take my leave. Besides, there's no need to rush things."

Fuki stood still, staring at Ouichirou. It felt reminiscent, and he wanted to run right over to Ouichirou, but he couldn't. Ouichirou's eyes were just too cold as he stared back at him. With Ouichirou looking at him like that, Fuki couldn't help but be embarrassed at the fact that he was wearing the uniform of someone from a brothel.

"Um..." Fuki said, as if trying to stop Ouichirou, who seemed about to leave at any moment. As he did that, he realized that it was just the same as before, and it saddened him. Fuki had always been desperately trying to stop Ouichirou from leaving.

"...... Well, I didn't come to buy a night with you." His words were obviously a sarcastic response to Fuki's comment to him from before. It made Fuki's heart hurt.

Fuki had wanted to see Ouichirou the entire time, but Ouichirou didn't feel the same. He still hadn't forgiven Fuki for betraying him after they ran away together.

"Entertainment?" Fuki said, choking back the painful feelings that welled up. "...You mentioned earlier that you were working in finance. What's with that...? What about school? And what is "infamous" supposed to mean?"

Those words dug deep into Fuki's chest. His reply got stuck in his throat and just wouldn't come out. ...None of his business. True, that.

"Wha...!?" The blatant insult stunned Fuki. He never expected Ouichirou to say something like that. "W-what do you mean by that...!?"

Yamafuji had forced him to sit in his lap. Fuki had asked him to let him go, but he hadn't listened. Ouichirou should have been able to tell that by looking at them.

Fuki just couldn't come up with a response to that. He definitely would have been able to get away if he had yelled and made a fuss. But he hadn't wanted to call attention to himself. Instead, he had softly asked to be let down.

"You've really made progress at turning into a whore. Is there anyone you won't flirt with?"

"It's not like that...!!" Fuki yelled, even as Ouichirou stared at him with a cold expression of disgust.

"Liar," Ouichirou said coolly. "I bet the reason you left two years ago was because you weren't satisfied with just me and wanted to screw a bunch of different men."

His raised hand met Ouichirou's cheek with a loud smack. At that moment, the tears he had been holding back started flowing freely.

He would rather have Ouichirou think Yamafuji was getting special treatment than have him think him a slut who would do that for any man.

He had never stopped wanting to see Ouichirou. But now that they had been reunited, all Ouichirou had to give him was cold looks of disgust and cruel words.

That thought sent Fuki into an abyss of despair. ...But even so, he couldn't help but think that it was better than never getting to see Ouichirou ever again.

Even though Fuki had thought that meant he wouldn't be coming back, he had another unexpected reunion with him after just a few days. When he arrived at the room where Kichou would be having a shokai, the customer turned out to be Ouichirou.

The fact that Ouichirou was having a shokai with Kichou meant that he had bought a night with Kichou... that he would become Kichou's customer. And eventually he would sleep with Kichou.

Maybe when he first realized that he might never see Ouichirou again, he had been secretly hoping that Ouichirou would come buy a night with him, just as he had said. But even though Ouichirou had come to Hanafurirou, he had come for a different person.

Even after Karin pushed him into the room and to his seat, he just didn't feel like talking. It was hard enough to even look at him or pour him drinks. He could barely handle sitting next to him.

A keisei was not allowed to talk or even smile at a shokai. Just as tradition said, Kichou sat at the head of the table looking fully composed. The geisha were there as usual, but the banquet stayed calm.

After being urged by Karin to go to Ouichirou, who stood waiting to wash his hands, Fuki stood reluctantly.

In the corner of the hallway surrounding the courtyard, Fuki scooped water from a stone washbasin and poured it over Ouichirou's hands. All the while he stayed silent. It wasn't that he didn't talk, but more that he couldn't talk.

"...Does it bug you?" Ouichirou finally asked, as if tired of waiting for Fuki to say something.

Fuki's breath caught in his throat. Just hearing Ouichirou's voice was enough to make his heart tremble. As if he had realized that, Ouichirou continued. "Isn't it a little late to be getting jealous?"

Fuki looked up at Ouichirou. He had a point. But still, he didn't have to be so mean about it.

"Why...? Why did you have to come here!? If you wanted to buy a man so much, you could have gone somewhere else...!! Why did it have to be here...?"

He didn't understand why Ouichirou was going to sleep with a different guy right in front of him. Did he really hate Fuki that much?

Suddenly, Ouichirou reached out to Fuki. He snaked his arm around him and pulled him in for a tight embrace.

Ouichirou held Fuki, who tried to run, so tight he thought he might break and pressed his lips hard against Fuki's. He sucked at Fuki's mouth and twined their tongues together.

Fuki tried to push Ouichirou away, but he just couldn't gather the strength into his hands. And as he pushed, Ouichirou just held him tighter.

The sweet tingle in his head made his thoughts scatter, so much that he didn't quite realize when Ouichirou's lips left his. But when he realized that Ouichirou was peering down at his face from a very close distance, he backed away with a gasp.

Blushing, Fuki took the dipper, still in his hand, and scooped out more water, only to splash it on Ouichirou. Just once wasn't enough, so he repeated the action.

Just for a moment... it was like they had gone back to their childhood. It was fun, they had forgotten everything that had happened, but just for that instant.

As the night went on, Ouichirou disappeared into Kichou's room, and the screens closed behind him.

That sight burned itself into Fuki's eyelids and wouldn't go away, no matter what.

Going to bed during a shokai was nothing but a formality, and there would be no actual sexual activity. But it was only a matter of time until that changed.

If it had to be like this, Fuki would have rather never seen Ouichirou again. He would have rather not known, even if that meant that somewhere far away Ouichirou was sleeping with someone else.

Despite that, he had been overjoyed when he first saw Ouichirou under the cherry trees.

In the corner of the large room where he slept, Fuki buried himself under his futon and muffled the sobs that just wouldn't stop.

Ouichirou took off his jacket and approached the futon that had been laid out on the tatami.

Kichou had stripped down to just a single crimson nagajuban (4) and was sprawled out on top of the futon, his chin resting on his hands. The white skin peeking out from his collar was quite captivating.

It was also custom for the keisei to only stay in bed for about two or three minutes before leaving during the shokai. Ouichirou had intended to somehow keep Kichou there and have a talk with him. Having Kichou start up the conversation was more than he could have asked for.

"It was pretty obvious, seeing how you were acting earlier. No matter how you look at it, it wasn't normal. Besides, I saw you during the flower banquet... You were glaring at Yamafuji-san the entire time."

Knowing that someone had seen him doing that made Ouichirou feel awkward, and he buried his head in his hands.

When he found Fuki sitting under the falling cherry blossoms, he had been fascinated. It was the first time he had seen Fuki in two years. He seemed to have an air of grief and looked even more downcast than before. He looked more mature, and his black hair stood out against the crimson furisode.

Seeing him like that, wearing the brothel's uniform with the collar pulled back, exposing his nape, Ouichirou had thought him beautiful. It had made him want to grab him right then and there.

"...If we run away like this, how are we gonna make a living?" Fuki had said, two years earlier when they parted. "I've never been poor, and I'd rather sell my body than have to live like that. It's not that big of a deal, really... sex... Everyone does it, and maybe some rich guy will come along and take me in."

Ouichirou hadn't wanted any other man to lay a hand on Fuki. Of course, he had also wanted to save Fuki from the hard life that he was sure to face. That was why he had let go of his pride and begged Fuki to run away with him.

"...If it bugs you that much, finish school and get rich. You're a hundred years too early to even think about running away with me right now...!"

"I bet you he's crying right now. Since you're here with me, like this..." Kichou propped himself up and peered up at Ouichirou.

Was that really the case? Was Fuki really crying at that moment? Was he jealous of Kichou being with him?

"You know... I actually really like Hotaru. He's like a little brother to me, since I've been looking after him since he was a kamuro. ...So..." Kichou scowled at Ouichirou.

"...No way do I want to be used in this little jealousy game you're playing. Got it?"

That day, Fuki spent his afternoon in the bath, and three others helped him scrub himself from head to toe. They put a furisode over his crimson nagajuban, did his hair, and helped with all his other preparations.

From that day on, Fuki would no longer be assigned to Kichou's room, and he would have to take customers as a full-fledged adult.

He sat on the futon that had been set up in his new room on the second floor and waited for Yamafuji.

He told himself that everyone else was doing it too... that everything would be fine.

He had learned about sex between men in the two years he had been at Hanafurirou. His fright and displeasure at the idea hadn't gone away, but he knew that if he went about it the right way, it wouldn't be that bad.

And surely if Ouichirou were his partner, he wouldn't be thinking things like this. Still, Ouichirou had gone and slept with a different person.

It was probably because of that that he was able to wait there without running away.

"Your cheeks are so soft..." Yamafuji said as he stretched his hand out to Fuki's face. His thumb brushed against Fuki's cheek, and his palm slid down his neck.

Fuki froze, not quite sure that he was joking about wringing his neck. Yamafuji, a joyful expression on his face, laughed softly.

"Your arms and legs... your entire body is still so thin and adorable. I would have taken you when you were still a kamuro if I could have. But your master would have none of that..."

He wanted to say yes, but since there was no way he could ever say that, he hung his head and stared down at the futon.

"Are you thinking... about the man we encountered under the cherry blossoms?" Yamafuji asked suddenly.

"Ahh... you're that infamous..."Yamafuji had said something like that during the flower banquet as well.

"At first he made a killing on the stock markets... Though... it's quite difficult to make a lot of money on stocks without having a fair amount of capital nowadays. Rumor has it he's been blackmailing people and that he might have someone providing him with insider information. ...And what's more, his original funds were from an illegal loan... I hear he'll do anything to get more money. Also, he's been arrested before."

"Arrested!?" That gave Fuki a horrible shock. Ouichirou had been arrested... He just couldn't believe it.

"He got off because they couldn't come up with enough evidence to keep him. It seems he has plenty of supporters, so it's rather difficult to get a hold of him. The police... have been trying to get him for a while now."

The police - including this man - were after Ouichirou. They were trying to catch him and send him to jail. If that happened...

"...But this is such an unromantic topic for a night such as this," Yamafuji said, effectively ending the conversation. Fuki wanted to hear more and was about to ask something, but he wasn't sure what to ask.

Fuki had been told to do whatever the customer asked him to do. If Yamafuji wanted to end the conversation, Fuki had no choice but to go along with it.

He quietly lay down on the futon. His head was spinning as he tried to stop thinking about what he had just heard about Ouichirou. ...Even though Ouichirou's father had once been a yakuza, that didn't mean that Ouichirou was going to do bad things himself. He was smart, really smart, and he had gotten into a good school. ...But he had been arrested? Why...!?

If things had really turned out as Yamafuji said, then what had been the use of Fuki trying to think of him and his future when he decided not to elope with him?

Slowly, Fuki bent his knees and planted his feet flat on the futon. It was embarrassing how the front of his kimono gaped open

As was customary, he had no underwear on underneath the kimono. He wondered just how much Yamafuji could see from where he was sitting.

Fighting against feelings of shame and disgust, Fuki spread his legs as far apart as he could. But Yamafuji didn't seem to think that was enough, and he pressed Fuki even further.

When he thought about what was to come after that, there was no sense in hesitating. But he just couldn't move his hands. Pulling up his kimono would be exposing himself to Yamafuji.

He turned his head away, grabbed the cloth of his nagajuban just above his thighs, and started to pull it up. As he did so, Yamafuji peered down at him with eyes like a snake's. It made him want to cry.

"It's so adorable," Yamafuji said, and Fuki felt his face grow warm. "It's so young looking, and such a wonderful color. That's the way it should be. ...Though it would have been even better were you still a child.

Yamafuji noticed that. As he lightly rubbed Fuki's member, he watched closely to see his reaction. But Fuki was too busy fighting back disgust to feel any sort of pleasure.

"You don't like this?" Yamafuji asked. "You do it by yourself, don't you? How do you go about it? Why don't you show me...?"

Fuki squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. No way could he do something like that.

"...Pervert...!" he yelled inside his head. And his disgust for Yamafuji just kept getting stronger and stronger.

Fuki knew that it was a threat - that Yamafuji would hurt him on purpose if he didn't answer.

"...I'm... a maiden..." Fuki said, afraid of what would happen if he dared to disobey.

He was male, so he couldn't be a maiden. But he supposed that word could be used to mean that he had never been done before. Still, he didn't understand what made Yamafuji so happy about making him say it.

Then, again, the finger pressed up against him. The tip slid in just a little. But just that was enough to make Fuki feel a dry pain and a great deal of discomfort.

"...I guess I can do that. The way you talk is still very lacking, but this is only the first time, after all." Right after saying that, he sat up and finally removed his finger.

He was forced to lie face down, and then his hands were bound behind his back. He had been worried that things might end up like this since they started. It was a thick and coarse rope, and as it bit into his skin, he let out a faint groan.

He thought that Yamafuji would then start preparing him, but he didn't use the lube that Hanafurirou had provided. Instead, he took out a lighter. Apparently it wasn't just a lighter. Rather, the bottom flipped open, and something could be placed inside.

"This is something that Shirayuri loved. ...You see, I quite enjoy watching boys writhe in pleasure, like women." As he spoke, he scooped up some of the white powder in the packet and used his finger to rub it into Fuki's inner walls.

"Forgive me..." Somewhere in the corner of Fuki's fogged mind, he realized that this had been the source of the lewd gasps and moans that had come from Shirayuri's room whenever Yamafuji came.

"Ah, ahh, aaahh..." The drug dissolved and turned to a slippery goo. He continued to moan as Yamafuji's wet fingers churned inside of him. "Ah, ah, no, ohhh..."

"No. D-don't... stop...!" He couldn't stop the words from slipping out. His insides were throbbing, and he thought that if Yamafuji stopped right then, he might die.

A distinctly obscene-sounding squelching sound reached his ears. But at this point, that served only to flame the fire that had been lit within him.

"If you keep squeezing so tightly... I won't be able to put in any more fingers. ...You want it deeper, don't you?"

He wasn't quite sure what was going on anymore. He wasn't even sure what was happening to his body. He just wanted to come so badly he could hardly stand it. He wanted to rub himself, but when he tried to free his hands from the bindings, they wouldn't even budge.

"That won't do." Yamafuji said, smiling. "You didn't want to show me how you touch yourself, remember?"

"He's cruel..." he thought, but that was as much clear thought as he could manage.

The fingers plunged in deeper and wriggled around, and Fuki's back arched. He had no clue how many fingers were inside him anymore. But those fingers moved inside of him, stretching him and preparing him.

"Haah... More... Harder... D-deeper...!" He wiggled his hips, not really aware of the words coming out of his mouth.

"For a virgin, you're quite the little slut, aren't you? You're even begging for something thicker."

"You wouldn't be able to handle my cock just yet. It's still too tight. You're a virgin, so I need to stretch you thoroughly."

Even after being told that, he couldn't quite get it. And he didn't want to say it. But at that point, his mind was so muddled that all he could think of was feeling more and coming.

Yamafuji leaned over to place his lips against Fuki's ear and whispered something obscene.

"No...!" Fuki shrieked. It was like all of sudden something was missing from inside of him. It ached so badly he could hardly stand it.

Yamafuji mercilessly pressed him to repeat himself. This time Fuki managed to get the overly direct words out without stumbling.

Yamafuji swallowed. "You did quite well considering it's only your first time. ...Well then... I'll give you something nice."

Fuki felt something cool and hard being pressed up against his hot, soft hole. And then after just a little push... it slipped inside.

Fuki had no idea what it was. It was far thicker than a finger, and it had ridges. Those ridges rubbed against his inner walls.

"I absolutely adore seeing you take this in so deeply... Seeing it pumping in and out of you. And seeing how pink you are inside..."

The words slipped out of his mouth without the slightest hesitation. He didn't even know what he was saying. It was like his mind was somewhere far, far away.

Fuki was unconscious for quite a while. When he came to, he could hear the voices of the night watch in the distance.

Slowly, things started to come back to him. He had been having his debut, and Yamafuji had done what he wanted with his body. ...He had used some strange drug.

When he remembered that, goose bumps sprang up all over his body. It seemed the drug had worn off already, but his body felt oddly lethargic. It felt all sticky and gross between his legs and up his ass. And his nether regions felt feverish, like there was still something left down there.

When he reflexively looked in the direction of the voice, Yamafuji tilted his sake cup toward him.

Even though Yamafuji was offering him a drink, Fuki wasn't in the mood to drink at all. He shook his head and backed up. Yamafuji smiled.

"...But this is just the beginning of our night." Then he set down his cup and approached Fuki.

Fuki shook his head again without thinking. Still sitting, he scooted backward across the futon. He couldn't stand the thought of Yamafuji touching him, and that was all that he could think about.

His hand touched a pillow, which he grabbed and threw at Yamafuji. Then he scrambled to his feet, toppling a clothes rack and turning over a table in the process.

Then he took advantage of Yamafuji's momentary indisposition and ran out of the room.

He knew that he would be in big trouble if he ran away. But he just couldn't stand to let Yamafuji touch him anymore, so he didn't really care what they did to him. He didn't think he would be able to get away, but he would rather fall in a ditch and die than go back.

"...Oh, but..." If only he could talk to Ouichirou one last time before the end. Or even just see him. But no matter where he went, that would never happen, and he knew that.

On unsteady legs, he dashed through the hallway full of gasps and moans and headed down the stairs.

Before he knew it, there were people chasing him. His body was still weak from the effects of that drug, and it didn't take long for them to catch up with him.

One man caught the edge of his sleeve, and the sleeve ripped. Fuki left the man behind with the sleeve in his hand and headed through the back door into the garden.

He slipped between the trees in the garden and hid. His body felt heavy, like lead. Panting, he fell to his knees. Then, as he clung to a tree trunk and looked over at the building, a gasp escaped his mouth.

Ouichirou was standing outside of Kichou's room. He may have known about Fuki's debut; he may not have. But still, he was seeing Kichou while Yamafuji had his way with Fuki.

Kichou came out from the room behind him and pulled on his sleeve. Ouichirou went back inside, and the window closed behind him. Fuki felt like he had been abandoned.

"Stupid Ouichirou... You traitor...!!" Fuki crumpled and pounded on the ground several times. Tears welled up and just wouldn't stop coming, causing his vision to grow hazy.

"Found him...!" one of his followers called, bringing him back to reality with a jolt.

He tried to run again, but he just couldn't get his legs to move. One of the men following him caught him arm and climbed on top of him to hold him down as he fell to the ground.

Slowly, the tips of a pair of shoes encroached on Fuki's field of vision. When he lifted his head ever so slightly, he saw that the owner was standing there. He could see the barely restrained anger simmering just behind his cool expression. The moonlight lit his face up all too well.

The thought hadn't really crossed his mind. He knew that he would never make it past the great gate. He just couldn't bear it any longer. He would have rather died, and he had been planning on jumping in ditch surrounding Yoshiwara and killing himself.

After that, Fuki found himself thrown into a jail cell in the corner of the building.

Trying to run away from a brothel was one of the worst possible crimes. There was no way he was going to get off easy.

While in there, Fuki was punished for three days and three nights. The whole time he wore only a single nagajuban, even though it was still only springtime.

They bound his hands behind his back, tied him to a rope hanging from the ceiling, and beat him repeatedly with a bamboo switch. When he lost consciousness, they dumped cold water on him and held his head in a bucket of water until he was just about to suffocate. It felt as if the pain would never end.

When they were finally done punishing him, they tied him up and gagged him, so he couldn't bite his tongue, and then threw him on the floor just like that.

Even though he was only half conscious of the world around him, he strained to sit up as best he could so he could keep looking through the one tiny window in the cell.

From that window, he could see the people coming to visit Hanafurirou. One time he even saw Ouichirou. He was going to see Kichou. That, combined with his other two times, meant that he had already become Kichou's najimi. Even though it hurt to try, Fuki just couldn't bring himself to stop looking out the window.

He wished he could just die already. But there was no way they would let that happen, not to one of their precious "goods" who had yet to repay the large sum of money they had paid to buy him in the first place.

A week after they threw him into the cell, they finally dragged him back out. They washed him off, dressed him in clothes similar to what he had been wearing the night he tried to escape, and then returned him to his room.

Fuki just sat there on top of the crimson futon, dejected and lacking the willpower to do much of anything. After all, they would surely be watching his every move to make sure he didn't run away again.

He could tell that a man had entered the room. Slowly, that man walked around the bed to come in front of Fuki. And then he kneeled.

He shouldn't have been there. Yamafuji was supposed to be there, and Ouichirou was supposed to be in Kichou's room.

He just couldn't understand what was going on, and it threw his thoughts into chaos.

"Even if you did, it's not like you have the right to say anything about it anymore. Now anyone with the money to pay for you can fuck you... right, Hotaru?"

That made Fuki's chest twinge. Ouichirou was right. He had no right to say anything. But even so...

"I know. But..." Fuki took a deep breath and then opened his mouth to speak again, his voice coming out soft and almost trembling. "You're Kichou's customer, aren't you!? So why...?"

He had seen Ouichirou coming to Hanafurirou while he was locked up. Combined with the other times, that meant he should have already become Kichou's najimi.

But even if that hadn't been a rule of the brothel, Fuki couldn't stand the thought of sharing Ouichirou with Kichou... or with anyone else for that matter.

Ouichirou asked him if that wasn't what he had wanted all along, and Fuki shook his head emphatically. Yeah, he had wanted Ouichirou to buy time with him. That was the truth.

Fuki shook his head, but Ouichirou pulled him close, almost as if he wasn't listening.

Of course, he really did prefer Ouichirou to Yamafuji, or anyone else. There was no way he would not want him. If it meant he could have Ouichirou as his first man, it made it worth it to try and run away, no matter how badly they punished him. But...

"But you're Kichou-san's customer!? Why would they let you buy me!? I said let go...!"

Ouichirou wrapped his arms around Fuki and hugged him tight to his chest. Fuki twisted around. "Stop it... Doesn't doing this make you feel even a little sorry for him?"

"Why...!? Aren't you his najimi now? Or do you honestly expect me to believe he turned you down!?"

In the two years since he had come to the brothel, most of which was spent attending Kichou, he had almost never seen Kichou turn down a customer. And he just couldn't imagine it happening with a good looking, wealthy young man like Ouichirou.

"Who knows? Maybe I just didn't cut it in bed," Ouichirou replied. "Because of that, I decided to do a favor for an old friend and buy a night with you. Aren't you glad to have a customer?"

"......" Fuki raised his hand without thinking. But when he brought it down toward Ouichirou's cheek, Ouichirou caught it before it could hit. He then pulled Fuki in to hug him to his chest again.

"Let go...!!" The fact that Ouichirou had turned to him after being turned down by Kichou pissed him off. "No, dumbass, let go...!"

Pounding on Ouichirou's chest, Fuki struggled for real. He tried to push him over and run away. But no matter how hard he pounded, Ouichirou didn't budge an inch. And then he pulled Fuki closer with almost frightening strength.

Then he captured Fuki's lips with his own. Shivers ran down Fuki's spin as Ouichirou twined his tongue around his own. The hot, passionate kiss made him feel like he was going to melt.

At some point, the hands that had been trying to knock Ouichirou over switched to gripping his shirt.

Ouichirou pushed Fuki down onto the futon and moved over him. He grabbed Fuki's wrist and laid kisses on the inside of his bare arm. Slowly, he moved his mouth up Fuki's arm, kissing a trail to his armpit, and then up to his neck.

"Nnn..." A faint groan leaked out of Fuki as Ouichirou sucked on his neck. "No... Ohhh."

The obi of his furisode made a distinct rustling sound as Ouichirou pulled it away from him. Then a hand slid under the kimono and loosened his clothing.

Ouichirou had started sucking on one of his nipples. He sucked on the nub, swirled his tongue around it, and then bit down.

"Ah..." Fuki let out an involuntary gasp as the twinge that ran through his body. He had never imagined that that part of his body could be that sensitive. Sure, he had been told of it, but he hadn't really understood how.

"Aaahh... aaahnn..." The moans coming out of his mouth were almost embarrassing.

Then Fuki realized that Ouichirou didn't know. He hadn't been told how Fuki ran away in the middle of his debut.

"And that you had to take some time off because of it. ...Where did he hurt you?"

That was when Fuki realized that that was the story they using to explain what had been done to him while he was locked up. Way back when they could have gotten away with such things, but nowadays society wouldn't look so kindly on them for locking up and beating an iroko who ran away from his debut.

Fuki went bright red at being asked about something that hadn't happened. Ouichirou had it all wrong. Yamafuji had drugged him and done some bad things to him, but he hadn't actually injured him. Any injuries on his body were from the punishment. But the punishments at an establishment like Hanafurirou were not so severe that they would permanently damage their goods.

"...Ahhhh...!" Fuki let out a scream as Ouichirou took out his frustration on his nipple by biting it.

Ouichirou lapped persistently at Fuki's nipple, which stiffened. When he nipped at it, Fuki couldn't stop his hips from twitching. He tweaked Fuki's other nipple with his fingers, and between the two Fuki grew more and more aroused.

It felt so good that Fuki couldn't summon up the strength to push Ouichirou away.

He had always hated his friend's gasps and moans that he heard leaking out from the shared rooms. A big part of the reason he hated Yamafuji was because when he came, Shirayuri had always sounded even more obscene than usual. It made sex seem dirty.

Though he did feel extremely embarrassed to be as turned on as he was, he wasn't miserable. It was different from how it had been with Yamafuji, and it was all because he was with Ouichirou.

Ouichirou was doing these things to him. The person he had loved since he was a little kid was touching him. Was going to fuck him. ...It didn't seem real.

"...It feels so good." He couldn't help but think that, no matter how much thoughts of Kichou shadowed his heart. And that annoyed him more than anything.

He stripped off Fuki's nagajuban. Then he looked Fuki, now bare, over from head to toe. As if trying to make sure the skin was still intact, he licked from Fuki's neck and down his side.

"Here?" he asked, having found the faint traces left by the bamboo switch on Fuki's back. Those hadn't been from Yamafuji, though, but from his punishment.

Fuki would never cover for Yamafuji. But he didn't say that. He figured it wouldn't hurt to let Ouichirou stay mistaken.

When Fuki turned his head away and refused to talk, Ouichirou grabbed his wrists roughly. Just then, he noticed that there were marks there as well. On top of the marks from being bound by Yamafuji were those from being tied to the rope hanging from the ceiling.

Ouichirou made a tsking noise. As he continued to inspect every last bit of Fuki's body, he found several other marks left from his punishment. It embarrassed Fuki so much he felt like crying.

Ouichirou pushed a hand under one of Fuki's knees and lifted up his leg. Fuki reflexively tried to close his legs, but couldn't. Then Ouichirou ran his tongue down Fuki's inner thigh.

"Aaahhh..." A thrill of pleasure pierced through his brain at the feeling of that tongue. He gripped at the futon so hard he thought he might rip the sheets.

"...didn't... do that..." Fuki said between gasps. "He just rubbed... But it didn't... feel good..."

"Liar." It was the truth, but Ouichirou rejected it immediately. Then he took Fuki's member and started stroking it.

Just as Ouichirou said, Fuki's erection was dripping. Just having Ouichirou's hand wrapped around it was enough to get him going.

"No..." That was the one thing he didn't want Ouichirou to be mistaken about. "This... is 'cause... you're doing it..."

He was turned on because Ouichirou was touching him. Having someone else touch him didn't make him feel this good. It didn't make him get so wet.

But Ouichirou said, "...I see. So these are the wiles of a whore. Looks like you've mastered them already."

All of a sudden, his erection was engulfed in a wet heat, and he let out a great moan. He realized Ouichirou had taken him in his mouth. Though he had practiced doing it himself, it was the first time someone had done it to him.

And it was Ouichirou doing it, so it was him between Ouichirou's lips just then. Though it was unbearably embarrassing, his hips tingled and his vision went blank. Just thinking about it was enough to make him come.

Ouichirou rolled his tongue around as if he were sucking on a hard candy, and then sucked hard.

"Ahh, aaah, aahhh...!" Fuki felt something snap behind his eyes. "Ah, no, I'm coming...!"

At this rate, he would end up coming in Ouichirou's mouth. Even though he wanted to hold back, he just couldn't.

"Aaahhhh..." Fuki's back arched, and he released his desire. He had never imagined that coming could feel so good.

Breathing heavily, he fell back to the futon. But it seemed Ouichirou had no intention of letting him rest. He lifted Fuki's leg even higher and leaned in to peer at the now revealed pucker.

Ignoring him, Ouichirou pressed a finger against the hole. As his finger brushed against the dry walls, they gripped it tightly. Even so, Ouichirou didn't stop touching him.

"He fucked you here, didn't he?" Ouichirou asked softly. "How did he do it? Did he use his fingers to stretch you, or did he...?"

Yamafuji hadn't fucked him. At least, he was pretty sure he hadn't. Because of the drugs, his memories were a bit fuzzy toward the end, but he was still pretty sure.

"...But this is just the beginning of our night." That was what Yamafuji had said when he came to.

Fuki wanted to tell Ouichirou that, but he couldn't because Kichou came to mind when he tried.

Even though Kichou had dumped him, Ouichirou had still slept with him. But only Fuki had kept his body "clean" while waiting for him. ...He couldn't stand the thought of Ouichirou thinking that about him. So he just couldn't say it.

Then he grabbed Fuki's butt cheeks, spread them, and stuck his tongue in the area between them.

"No...!" Fuki reflexively tried to push him away, but Ouichirou wouldn't lift his head. A ticklish ache worked its way up his spine. "Ah... Not there..."

No matter how much he scrubbed at his body, he just couldn't help but think of that place as dirty. And licking it was just...

He couldn't believe what was happening, and it embarrassed him so much he wanted to die. Was Ouichirou really okay doing this? Didn't he think it was disgusting?

"Nnn..." Even so, it felt incredible. Just having the tongue spread him open and caress his inner walls was enough to bring tears to his eyes. It was completely different from when the drugs were forcing him to feel good.

Ouichirou was persistent. The feeling of his tongue thrusting in and out made his groin tingle. Lascivious moans poured out of him incessantly.

Ouichirou would call him a slut again. He had to stay in control of his voice. ...But he just couldn't.

"No." He couldn't let himself come for a second time before Ouichirou. He had to be strong. But even as he thought that, he exploded.

He had just come from being licked back there. That was a frightening shock to him.

Ouichirou peered down at him. He had come just from being stimulated back there. Having Ouichirou see his face just after that was embarrassing beyond belief. But when he tried to hide his face in his hands, Ouichirou caught them and pulled them away.

Ouichirou maneuvered his hips between Fuki's still open legs, and something warm brushed up against his inner thighs.

His thoughts still fuzzy from his previous release, Fuki felt an urge to touch Ouichirou's face. He wanted to make sure with his own hands. Make sure Ouichirou was really there.

He could feel Ouichirou pressing up against him. It was incredibly hot, enough to make him pull back. He and Ouichirou were going to be joined together. This hot member was going to be inside of him.

"It's going to hurt." He had heard that the first time hurt, no matter how much you loosened up ahead of time. "But I think it's better that way."

He wrapped his arms around Ouichirou and clung tightly to him. Then, even though he was still frightened, he spread his legs wide, and he felt the tip press into him.

The pressure was even greater than he had imagined. It was completely different from the toy Yamafuji had used on him. This was hot, and huge, and painful. But it was Ouichirou.

Even as breathy moans poured out of him, he tried to welcome Ouichirou in. He wanted to be connected. And as he did so, Ouichirou pushed forward without remorse.

He enjoyed the feeling of Ouichirou running up against his inner walls. He was starting to feel something more than just the pain. As Ouichirou moved within him, he felt thrills of pleasure run up his spine.

Ouichirou thrust in even farther, like he was trying to bend Fuki in half. He thrust in again and again, though Fuki was far from accustomed to the feeling yet.

Having it rub against him so much hurt, and the wild thrusts cause his hips to tingle. It was like he could feel himself getting wetter the more Ouichirou held him.

Fuki's vision went white again as his newly energized erection brushed against his stomach.

"...Nnn, nnngh, no..." Fuki was about to come again, so he tried to stop Ouichirou. It would just be too embarrassing for that to happen during his first time. Ouichirou would call him a slut again.

Fuki came again, as if the first times hadn't been enough. He could hardly believe that he could become like this himself.

Even so, Ouichirou didn't tone back his movement even slightly. Even as Fuki's seed spurted out, he continued to thrust.

The sensory overload made Fuki's mind go blank. The continued stimulation of his prostate as he came made it start to feel like the sensations would never end.

He was not longer sure what was going on with his own body. All he was sure of was the feeling of Ouichirou buried deep within him. ...And a bit of wonder at just how deep inside he was.

"Ahh... So big..." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he knew he was talking. "No more..."

It felt too good, and he was afraid he was going to come yet again. He tried to clear his thoughts by shaking his head, and he could hear the soft sound of his hair brushing against his ears. But it didn't help at all.

His legs were pushed up high, bending him nearly in half, as Ouichirou thrust into him over and over again. And then he could feel Ouichirou burst somewhere deep inside of him.

The feeling of Ouichirou's seed flowing out inside of him was too much for him, and it enough to make him come again. Even as that happened, Ouichirou's release continued. It filled him up until he couldn't hold anymore, but still it came.

"...You can take it," Ouichirou murmured, in spite of Fuki's distress that seemed almost unbearable.

When it finally came to an end, Ouichirou slumped down on top of Fuki without pulling out. His weight was oddly reassuring.

When Fuki cracked open his eyes, he could see a the white glow of light coming from the shoji door leading out to the garden through the tears that still blurred his vision.

The other iroko were starting to see off their customers. He could hear the faint noises of screens sliding open and shut. ...And the faint murmurs asking them to come back.

"...'Come again,' huh..." He wanted to say it to Ouichirou. "...But would it be okay...? ...To ask him to come back...?"

It was part of his job, so there shouldn't be any problems. But that would probably make Ouichirou think him a slut again. It would be just the same as the scorn Ouichirou had felt for him when he asked him to come buy a night with him two years earlier.

He knew it couldn't happen. As soon as daybreak came, Ouichirou would leave. He knew that, but still...

Even if Ouichirou were to hurt him and scorn him, it would still be hard to let go.

At some point Fuki had fallen asleep, and when he opened his eyes, Ouichirou was there. He had woken up first and put on one of the yukatas laid out for use by the customers, and he was now sitting there watching Fuki sleep.

It had been a long time since Fuki last saw Ouichirou in a kimono. The casual way of wearing one suited him well, making him look even more manly and attractive.

The moment he realized Ouichirou had been watching him sleep, a wave of embarrassment washed over him, and he reflexively buried his head under the futon. Then he cautiously peeked out.

He couldn't help but think that maybe he was just imagining Ouichirou. Sure, he was a failure as an iroko for not seeing his customer off. But still, it was far beyond the time at which customers usually left.

The customer was the one who decided when to leave. An iroko could neither force him to stay, nor drive him away.

But more than anything, he was glad Ouichirou was still there. He probably would have cried had Ouichirou disappeared while he was still sleeping. He couldn't even imagine how much he would have regretted it.

"Still, staying over..." They referred to a customer remaining at the brothel into the morning as "staying over."

Hanafurirou was expensive enough as it was. Fuki could only imagine how much Ouichirou had paid for the last night. But now what was he doing about work? Didn't he have to go home?

But when he asked about it, Ouichirou's response was just, "Don't worry about it. I'll go home when I feel like it." Those words made Fuki shake, and he became too frightened to ask anything else.

It was a sort of feeling as if he had poked a stick in the bushes, and now he was scared a snake might come out. He had automatically assumed that Ouichirou was single, but he suddenly realized that he might be married, or even just dating someone. He didn't want to say anything that might make Ouichirou remember that.

He had the feeling that a single word could shatter whatever they had between them just now.

When he tried to escape from the futon, Ouichirou would pull him back, and do it again. And even when he pushed it that far, Fuki seemed to be unable to not respond.

He felt sorry for him whenever it seemed to be too much for him. Still, that just made him want to do it even more.

He grabbed Fuki's limp legs and spread them wide. Fuki looked tired, but that only made him appear even more inviting.

Fuki's ass, which had still been wrapped around Ouichirou's member until just now, had loosened up slightly and was red and swollen. He was looking to make sure it hadn't torn... though that was just an excuse. Really, he just wanted to look at it.

Fuki seemed uncomfortable with his gaze and looked like he wanted to close his legs, but Ouichirou wouldn't let him. Instead, he pushed them open even wider and peered even closer.

"Does having me look turn you on?" His teasing words caused the pucker to twitch.

Fuki had been taught the pleasure that could come from that place over and over again. And now that the one who had caused that pleasure was looking at him, it seemed he just couldn't stay calm.

As Ouichirou used his fingers to stretch it, it started to get wet. The thought that it was his own fluids that were flowing back out of Fuki just now was unbearably exciting for Ouichirou.

But apparently it was equally unbearable for Fuki. His entire body had turned a shade of pink.

Fuki looked enchanting in the moonlight streaming in through the open window. His pale, almost translucent skin, contrasted beautifully with the crimson futon, the crimson kimono, and his black hair.

"...You've gotta be kidding... I can't..." Fuki snapped, as if telling him to cut it out.

He didn't learn it anywhere specific. It was just one of the bits of knowledge he had picked up to prepare for things should he ever get a chance to sleep with Fuki.

He didn't answer, though, and that seemed to give Fuki the wrong idea. Maybe he assumed that he had learned it from Kichou. Whatever the reason, he looked adorable when he was pouting.

Ouichirou wriggled his fingers around, and this caused Fuki to shove him away. Though he had been letting Ouichirou do as he pleased, now he pushed himself upright.

But Ouichirou caught his legs and pulled him back. He bent Fuki's legs back and moved his body between them. Then he reached into the drawer of the low table and pulled out the bottle of lube that had been stored in there.

"I really should be using this." He took the thick liquid and poured some on his hard shaft. He did so deliberately, as if putting on a show, and Fuki looked away, his face bright red. After he spread it around a little, he grabbed Fuki's thighs and lifted his lower half up in the air.

Fuki's kimono fell back to reveal the blindingly white skin of his thighs. Ouichirou then proceeded to bury himself in the hole hidden between those thighs.

Apparently this time there was pleasure for him from the beginning. Between the fluids that remained inside of him and the lube, the passage was smooth enough that his body didn't fight Ouichirou at all.

"...It already feels good, doesn't it?" For some reason, that annoyed him, and his voice wavered just a bit. "Even though I haven't moved yet."

Fuki's passage was starting to twitch, even though he had only been entered so far. Seemingly embarrassed by this, Fuki tried to control himself, but he failed.

Fuki's inner passages were clutching at the intruder. With his legs spread wide open and his lower half up on Ouichirou's knees, that seemed to be all he could do. Most likely his hips were throbbing. Looking for something to help him, his hands scrabbled across the futon before gripping at the sheets so hard it looked like he might rip them apart.

Not only was he still full of Ouichirou's seed from before, but this time Ouichirou had used lube as well. It just made the wet squelching noises seem that much more lewd.

Now all he had to do was buy Fuki back and make him his own. That would finally wash away his embarrassment from two years ago. But...

Ouichirou stayed in Fuki's room the next day, and the day after that. He paid outrageous fees to do so. And he kept a tight hold on Fuki the entire time.

When Fuki tried to leave the futon, Ouichirou pulled him back to lie under his body. And when Ouichirou started caressing him again, no matter how tired he felt, he couldn't help but react.

It felt like since the two of them had reunited, he had seen several sides of Ouichirou that he had never known about before. He had never imagined Ouichirou to be the kind of guy who had this much sex before.

At a place like a brothel, of course he had seen countless horny men, but he had thought at least Ouichirou was different. Sure, he had a sort of manly sexy air to him, but he had always assumed that came from his stoicism, nothing else. After all, he was the guy Fuki had assumed would not welcome being invited to a love hotel two years earlier when they ran off.

But strangely, none of it bothered him. Rather, he was glad Ouichirou wanted him. Even though it was intense, almost painful at times, it felt wonderful when Ouichirou fucked him.

If this was not up to Kichou's standards, what sort of sex must he normally have with his customers?

"Come to think of it, he teased the Princess for having no skills before too, didn't he?"

After being locked up without anything to eat, Fuki was overjoyed at this. When Ouichirou told him he could have whatever he liked, he ordered nothing but expensive things, on purpose. Even so, Ouichirou didn't seem to mind in the least.

He wondered how many years it had been since the last time they had sat down and eaten together. Just eating with Ouichirou was enough to fill his heart with warm, fuzzy feelings.

"If I had stayed with him back then..." he thought. If they had kept running, maybe they would now be living together, just like this. They'd be living in some cheap run-down apartment, working odd jobs, eating together every day, loving each other... Maybe they would have been able to avoid the yakuza and live in peace...

"...You know... that time when we ran off together..." he said, after remembering something during dinner one night.

It had taken all of his courage just to talk about the past. They hadn't mentioned it at all the entire time, like it had never really happened.

"That bag you brought back from the convenience store. ...It was full of things I liked, right? I was really happy you remembered."

"Oh..." Ouichirou smiled suddenly. It almost looked like a slightly self-mocking smile. It probably pained him to be reminded about it, especially since Fuki, the one who had ruined it all in the first place, was the one bringing it up.

His harsh words hurt Fuki. Maybe he really shouldn't have brought up the subject.

"But I remember the things you liked too...!" Fuki blurted out after seeing the cold look on Ouichirou's face. He hadn't just made his choices for dinner based on the price. Shrimp, ham, etc... Everything he had ordered was something he remembered Ouichirou liking.

"...Is that so?" Ouichirou gulped down his wine. "Is that another of your "wiles"?"

"No...! It's not something I learned here...! It's stuff I remember from before...!"

"......" Fuki couldn't think of anything else to say in response to Ouichirou's cold words.

Ouichirou finished his meal in silence and lay back on the futon. Fuki continued to eat without saying anything else, looking like a whipped puppy.

Ouichirou started to spread open his legs yet again. Fuki pushed back at his chest.

"Let me... rest some more..." Fuki protested. They had gone at it right before eating. Ouichirou hadn't listened to him when he complained that a kamuro would be bringing in their meal.

"Break you? You love it." Fuki had been serious, but Ouichirou didn't seem to believe him. "Kichou wouldn't be whining about something like this."

"...How many times have you done it with him...!?" Fuki asked, Ouichirou's words biting into his chest. It couldn't have been that many times; it just wasn't physically possible.

Ouichirou started to pull up the edge of Fuki's kimono as he talked. Tears welling up in his eyes, Fuki pushed himself into a sitting position.

"You aren't really in a position to say that, now are you? You just started doing this, remember?"

If Fuki had been a wildly popular keisei, he would have been able to get away with something like this. But for a newbie like himself, he had no right to turn away a customer.

"...Then how about I give you a blow job instead!? You don't have a problem with that... do you?"

Just saying it was embarrassing enough. "I've never actually done it, but I'm sure I'll be pretty good."

He was about to say "by Kichou," but then he bit back his words. He didn't know exactly how many times they had slept together, but surely Kichou had done that for Ouichirou as well.

Fuki stopped himself just before denying it. Maybe Ouichirou would be jealousy if he let him think that.

Fuki had Ouichirou sit on the veranda just outside of the room. He then positioned himself between Ouichirou's legs, spread open his yukata, and pulled out his member.

He had had it inside of him countless times already, but this was the first time he had held it in his hands. Until now Ouichirou had done whatever he wanted to Fuki's body and hadn't let Fuki do anything.

There was something about seeing Ouichirou's member up close that made Fuki's heart pound. It was refreshing, like he was holding Ouichirou's very life in his hands. It was probably just to be able to hold him like this that he had offered to do this in the first place.

When he brushed the tip with his tongue, as if in greeting, it twitched, and he felt it stiffen.

It was big enough that he didn't think he'd be able to take it all in his mouth. Big enough to frighten him when he thought of all the times it had been inside of him.

Supporting it with his hand, he ran his tongue up the shaft. He placed his mouth on the side, almost as if he were going to blow on a flute, and sucked gently, moving up from the base to the tip. Then he flicked his tongue against the spot where the head joined the shaft, happy to feel it growing even harder.

He wrapped his mouth around the head and teased at the slit with his tongue. Then he took it in as far as he could.

It was hard, like it was actually made of bone. And it was long, and thick. Taking it all the way in was even more difficult than he had imagined.

The thought that Kichou had done this for Ouichirou as well made him desperate not to lose. Of course, Kichou had been at it longer, so it was probably impossible no matter how hard he tried.

A hard, but springy, mass pressed against the inside of his cheek. Trying to ignore that, he shook his head and wrapped his tongue around it as tight as he could.

It was like the models he had practiced on, but at the same time it was completely different. The real thing was hot, and the more he did to it, the larger it grew. And as it pressed into the back of his throat, he felt a shiver run down his spine. It made his hips tremble almost as if it was inside of him down there.

Bitter liquid started to ooze out from the tip. He sucked at it, deliberately making as much noise as he could.

But Fuki didn't pull back. Ouichirou tsked softly and tried to push his head away.

The hot flesh in his mouth pulsed, and then Ouichirou's seed started to rush out. It filled his mouth and ran down his throat, causing him to choke violently. He had learned how to give the blow job, but not how to swallow the result.

Fuki hadn't quite gotten over the shock yet, and he couldn't make sense of Ouichirou's words. But his body was unbearably hot.

As Fuki stared up at him, dumbfounded, Ouichirou wrapped his arms around his waist and brought him close to his body. He pulled him into his lap and spread his legs, seating Fuki firmly between them. Then he pulled open Fuki's kimono.

"You're this excited... just from sucking me off?" He stroked Fuki's trembling erection lightly.

Ouichirou ignored Fuki's protests and grabbed his hips, lifting him up. Then he plunged in.

"Ahhh..." Ouichirou slid in without any resistance, causing Fuki's back to arch as a rush of pleasure ran up his spine. "Ahh... aaahh..."

Ouichirou started to move, and Fuki started to moan, completely forgetting where they were. He couldn't stop himself. It felt like Ouichirou was seated even deeper within him than usual, probably because of his own weight.

He could almost picture the member inside of him, mostly because he had finally gotten a good look at it. It was Ouichirou's member, inside of him, plunging into his depths.

Ouichirou thrust up. He licked at, nipped at, and sucked on Fuki's ear, and then moved his lips downward to his neck. The crimson kimono slid down, revealing a shoulder.

Over Ouichirou's shoulders, he could see the great gate in the distance. Eventually Ouichirou would return to the world beyond that gate. But the longer he stayed, the harder it would be when he finally left.

Even as he could feel Ouichirou deep inside him, he couldn't help but think that eventually he would have to do these same things with other men. He'd have to take them in as well.

He clung to Ouichirou's body as tightly as he could. He didn't want to let go. He didn't even mind being just a substituted for another iroko, if it meant he could stay.

Ouichirou had called his name. Not Hotaru, but Fuki, and that filled him with joy.

"Love you, Ouichirou..." Before he knew what was happening, the words slipped out of his mouth.

The moment Fuki felt Ouichirou pulsing deep inside of him, it sent him over the edge as well.

After seeing Ouichirou to his bath in one morning, Fuki headed for the bath he usually used. When he returned, he found Ouichirou in the futon, asleep. He sat next to the futon and peered down at Ouichirou.

"We really don't have to do it so much." Ouichirou was still insisting on sex almost 24/7.

After realizing that, for the moment, he had nothing to do, Fuki took a small silver object from a drawer in the low table. It was an ear pick. Then, even as he realized that this might make him angry, he lifted Ouichirou's head and placed it in his lap.

He had tried to be as gentle as he could, but apparently Ouichirou had woken up anyway.

Fuki thought Ouichirou would protest, but he didn't try to get up. So he continued.

"...It's strange," was Ouichirou's response. "You always used to order me around, and now you're cleaning my ears."

That hadn't been what he meant to do. He had just wanted to spend time with Ouichirou. He'd wanted to get along with him. That was all.

He would have done it in a heartbeat if that would have made Ouichirou happy. He would have done it every day.

"Don't get carried away," Fuki said, flicking Ouichirou's forehead. But he secretly planned on doing it anyway. "Time for the other side."

Fuki had Ouichirou turn over so he could do his other ear, but Ouichirou pressed his face against Fuki's stomach instead. He wrapped his arms around Fuki and hugged him tight, which made Fuki's heart skip a beat. They had already spent so much time in each other's arms, but Fuki just couldn't get used to it.

"...Hey," Fuki said, since the topic of the past had already been brought up. He wasn't sure if Ouichirou would know anything, but if he did, he wanted to know. He had planned on asking for a while, but he could never find the right moment. "Do you know what's going on with Nagatsuma?"

Ouichirou, his head still half buried in Fuki's lap, squeezed his eyes shut, and Fuki could swear he saw his eyebrows twitch in response to his question.

"I don't get any news from outside in here. Is the ryokan doing all right? Do you know how Dad and Nii-san are doing? ...I know they're both still around, but..."

The brothel would at least tell an iroko if one of their relatives died. The fact that he hadn't heard anything meant that they were both still alive.

"...Ouichirou?" He bent down to peer at Ouichirou when no response came back. Finally, Ouichirou opened his eyes and replied, his voice soft.

He had half expected something like that, but even so, the news came as a shock to Fuki.

The fact that Nagatsuma had been sold meant that Fuki being sold to a brothel was all for nothing. The money they'd gotten for Fuki had been completely useless.

Tears welled up in Fuki's eyes, and his breath caught in his chest. Ouichirou was right; he should never have sold himself. Especially not when it would just end up like this anyway. ...But back then he didn't have any other choice.

"Fuki..." Ouichirou pushed himself up and looked up at Fuki. He had an oddly worried expression on his face.

"Don't worry about it... Apparently some of your relatives got together the funds."

Fuki was surprised they had done that, considering how much money his family already owed them. But at least this way his father wouldn't end up dying for lack of treatment. That much was a relief.

"In jail... for fraud..." Fuki muttered, astonished. He had always thought of his brother as a bit of a lowlife, but he had never thought he would sink that far.

"...It's not that bad, really. If they had left him alone, who knows what he would have done next? And he could have sent you somewhere much worse. He can't do anything else while he's in jail. And even if he gets on someone's bad side, they can't kill him there..."

Ouichirou was right about everything. His brother would keep doing horrible things as long as he was running around free. With him locked up, they wouldn't have to worry about that. And they wouldn't have to worry about him getting himself killed either.

He should never have trusted his brother to revive the ryokan. Even so, he had hoped. Even though he had threatened into agreeing to be sold, he had kept telling himself his brother would eventually breathe life back into Nagatsuma.

But now it could never be. He had been sold for no reason, and Nagatsuma was no more. Even when his time in the brothel was up, he had no home to return to. It was gone forever.

"...Fuki." Ouichirou brushed his hand against Fuki's cheek. Then he took his hand and pulled him close.

As Fuki fell against Ouichirou's chest, it was like a dam had burst inside of him. He started to sob while Ouichirou held him in his arms and gently stroked his back.

Late that night, Ouichirou got a call on his cell phone. The sound of him talking in a soft voice woke Fuki, and when he peered out into the hallway to see what was going on, he saw him talking on the phone.

Ouichirou had gotten a few calls before, but this time it seemed different. Every now and then, Fuki caught wind of words like police and confiscation.

"He's a bad man, you know..." Fuki remembered Yamafuji's words from earlier. "I hear he'll do anything to get more money. And he's been arrested before."

What could have happened? Suddenly Fuki found himself overrun with a horrible uneasiness. What if Ouichirou just up and left after this? Or even worse, what if something bad had happened at work, and he never came back?

Ouichirou ended his call and returned to the room. Then he undid his obi, shed his yukata, and started putting his normal clothing back on.

"Ouichirou..." Fuki called out softly, causing Ouichirou to turn to face him. "Where are you going...!?"

"But you're leaving...!?" Fuki ran over to Ouichirou and clung to him. "No, don't go...!"

He had been a little too forceful, and it sent the two of them tumbling to the floor. He had asked him not to go, but he really knew that Ouichirou couldn't stay forever.

"I can't do that." Ouichirou took a deep breath and rose to his feet, still holding Fuki in his arms. "I'm not leaving forever. I'll be back tonight."

Ouichirou broke into a huge smile. "Hmmm? You're being surprisingly honest. Is this another of your wiles?"

He knew Ouichirou would have to leave eventually. And when that time came, he had planned on asking him to come back. But even so...

"I'll see you tonight," he said lightly, kissing Fuki on the cheek. Then he started to leave.

"T-this is part of my job too, after all..." he mumbled when Ouichirou turned to him with a surprised look on his face. "Didn't Kichou-san see you out?"

A popular keisei like Kichou probably wouldn't need to do that on the first time. Though Fuki seemed to remember him leaving every morning to see customers off back when he was Kichou's attendant.

And thus, Fuki accompanied Ouichirou to the great gate to see him off, though it was still before dawn. It was their fifth day together, and the parting was unbearably difficult.

It was still too early for the other courtesans and iroko to be out seeing off their own customers, so the streets were empty. The great gate was still closed, and the guards were still up in their lookout.

"This is how these things are supposed to go..." Fuki shot back, his face beet red.

Then Ouichirou took of his jacket and placed it around Fuki's shoulders. "But won't you be cold...?"

"I'll be getting in a cab once I get out of here. Besides, you look like you'll be even colder." He threw a glance at Fuki, who had hurried out of the building in just his nagajuban. Then he pat Fuki's head gently. "You be careful too, okay?"

"It's not that far. I'll be fine." Fuki started to feel even more embarrassed, and he began to fidget with the jacket.

Smiling, Ouichirou opened the small door in the side of the gate and stepped through.

"Will he really be back tonight?" Fuki thought, worried, while he watched Ouichirou's figure disappear around the bend of Emonzaka.

Once he turned left from Naka no Machi into a cramped alleyway, he could see the lights of the building. It was a reassuring sight.

"......!" He tried to scream, but his assailant pressed a smelly cloth to his mouth, and the world went black around him.

notes

1. A style of formal kimono with long, trailing sleeves worn by unmarried women. See this wikipedia page for a little more info and a picture.

2. For those who aren't familiar with hanami (flower viewing), it's when groups of people get together to look at the cherry blossoms... and party.

3. A traditional Japanese stringed instrument with 13 strings.

4. A nagajuban is a sort of "under kimono" similar in style to the kimono, but worn underneath to protect the actual kimono.