The Entertainment District; famous for its Kabuki theatre performances, tea-shops, bars, and beautiful Geishas and Oirans.

A place of pleasure, luxury, and merriment, with only brothels, tea houses, pretty lights aligning the streets as it attracted people from all over Tokyo.

People from nobles to merchants would flock to the area to indulge themselves in the entertainment services to temporarily escape their day-to-day life.

For as long as you can remember, your world has been seen through the grille of the harimise and for hours, you would sit there watching aimlessly as people pass by whilst listening to Sayomei and the others chat amongst themselves─while some smoked from their quellazaires.

The same old scenery; the temple up north; the colorful vibrancy of kimonos and yukatas; and the bridge that led southwards. Yoshiwara is always the same hustle and bustle of the lively streets. A day of ethereal beauty and scandalous deceit; a night of lust and hushed promises.

For some, it as a place of flamboyant romantic culture, a setting for ukiyo-e prints, kabuki, traditional music, and fashion. And a place where procurers (zegen) brought the daughters of poor households to be sexually exploited.

But for you, it's a beautiful hell that brings yet another lonely night of a hopeless broken dream.

You sighed deeply, since you weren't actually looking forward to this night anyways─already knowing that by the end of it, you'll be the last one in harimise whilst everyone will already be enjoying themselves.

You weren't attractive enough to catch the eye of a wanderer (due to your long hair), which is why you didn't bother spending what little money you'd earned to buy pretty kimonos or make-up. So tonight, you'd settled with something causal in the form of a simple (f/c) kimono made of cotton, while the rest wore the finest of silk, satin, and lace.

Once upon a time, you dreamt to be someone who blooms like a lotus from the mud and to find someone to love you unconditionally. But it seems fate herself steals your freedom and locks you in a cage like a trapped nightingale.

Each bleak night as you look wistfully beyond the lights of the red light district, seeing the moon and stars sparkle, despite your torment, almost as if they're mocking you for being unable to shine as they do.

Well at least it's a lovely night outside; a warm crisp spring night with the moon high in the sky. It was enough to lighten your mood slightly.

You could only wait patiently for midnight to approach so that you could return to your room and once again, stare at your dull reflection in the polished mirror and into the never-changing image as bitterness bleeds into your heart.

Your complexion becomes paler and paler due to staying inside the thick walls of the Guren and doing everyday chores. The spark in your eyes becomes dimmer and dimmer with dull indifference.

A tired yawn escapes you, already you were beginning to grow bored and tired. Figures, since you didn't get to take a nap because you had to sow Sayomei's stupid kimono, which had a ripped hole the size of your arm.

Likely caused by men trying to tear the fabric off of her in order to get to the goodies that laid underneath.

The damn pigs.

"Sir, won't you please purchase me?" You heard a woman ask, followed by more uproarious complimentary as the congregation moved in closer.

"So dreamy!"

"Hey there, handsome♡"

"Oh Sir, pick me."

Curious to know who it is their talking to, you lifted your head and averted your gaze towards the bars of the harimise only to almost choked on air as you glanced to see familiar flamboyant fuscia eyes staring right at you.

You wanted to wait this one out and see how long it took you to get over him, but the more you kept thinking about him, the worse it was getting. And the more you tried to stop thinking about him, it was a vicious cycle that left a dull ache in your head, that you have to live with for a while.

This had to be some of dream!

You thought he had been teasing when he'd said he wanted to see you again? Surely, this had to be just some illusion brought on by your own fantasizing and foolish mind?

He couldn't possibly have been serious...Right?!

Well apparently so, and you wondered if he was out every single night in Yoshiwara, putting in this much effort to woo a girl?

He looked so different that you were sure the man looking at you, wasn't even him.

His purple yukata contrasts vividly against the dazzling lights of the pleasure district, and the faint pink that dusts his blushing cheeks gently warms your heart.

He wasn't wearing his bejeweled headband or the golden bracelets. Instead, long silver locks hung free and at his neck.

He's gorgeous, you think, as he leans in towards you, with the only thing separating you two was the steel bars of this birdcage. Your eyes meet his, no doubt he knew your eyes were the size of dinner plates behind your bangs as you heard him laugh softly.

Tonight he was looking at you, as if you were the only dish on tonight's menu. A look that told you that he was indeed serious about what he'd said to you at the ruins, and it had your soul leaving your body as he winked at you.

You immediately broke eye contact and glanced down at your lap, your long (h/c) hair covering your entire being─hiding the deep blush of your face and shielding you from his ever intense stare.

The faint smell of lavender and the sweetness of vanilla clouded your senses as the seconds became as fruitful as hours. You can feel Tengen's beautiful stare still lingering on you, until eventually you felt his person move.

"Yes, I would like to purchase the girl with the long (h/c) hair?" You heard him say.

Oh boy.

Tonight, you weren't sure you'd survive.