Located in the bustling red light district of Yoshiwara, a brothel known as the "Guren" stands as a prominent establishment, attracting visitors from near and far.  Its doors open to a world of desires and fantasies, offering a temporary respite from the monotony of daily routines. As night falls, the lights of the establishment glow invitingly, casting a seductive aura over the district.

A smug cloud of smoke blew from cherry red lips as the giggling sounds of cheerful laughter from a group of beautifully dressed women filled the crisp midnight air. Each one cladded in a beautiful kimono as they all laughed and chatted amongst themselves under the bright lights of the brothel.

You hesitantly approached the group and all giggling suddenly stopped as several judgemental eyes glanced your way.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little parasite!" Came the mocking words of Sayomei Takahashi, the most popular and high-ranking Orian at the Guren.

You felt a wave of embarrassment wash over you as you stood there, unsure of how to respond to the cruel taunts. The other girls snickered and whispered amongst themselves, making you feel even more out of place.

"My, don't you look like shit...as always!" She mocked, causing the other girls behind her to laugh.

Her harsh words stung like a sharp needle, piercing through your already fragile self-esteem. As you tried to shrink into yourself, the laughter of the girls echoed in your ears, amplifying your sense of isolation and vulnerability. Ashamed, you looked down at your feet. They ached since the straps of your sandals broke off, thus you had to walk around barefoot.

"Anyways, did you managed to get the wine Lady Yamamoto asked for, hm?" Sayomei asked you.

"N-no, the owner─I mean, the store was closed." You half-lied, your voice barely above a whisper.

To recap, you had been sent on an errand by your mistress\boss, Lady Chiyo Yamamoto─the owner of the Guren, to purchase some wine from the local liquor store. However, when you'd got there, the owner was intoxicated and had made a pass at you. You tried to restrain the man, but he'd manage to somehow overpowered you and then tried to rape you! Fear set in as you realized that you were no match for the drunken man.

So, you had no choice but to kick him where the sun don't shine and runaway, thus he gave chase to you.

You recalled the sound of his angry shouts, spurring you to run faster. Lady Yamamoto's words echoed in your mind, urging you to be quick and return with the wine, but you had been far too afraid to go back.

'Oh wow, you're beautiful.'

Your face heated up and your heart fluttered as you recalled your encounter with the mysterious, tall, and handsome stranger with white hair and a bejeweled headband. His words are still fresh in your mind.

"Oh, for fucks sake, (Name), can't you do anything right? Seriously, you're so incompetent. It's no wonder you're a parasite!" Sayomei said, releasing an exaggerated sigh.

"Yeah, parasite!" Said a girl in a pink kimono standing beside her, Kazumi Uehara.

"So useless!" Said another girl in a purple kimono, Echiko Ochida.

You wined and hid your embarrassed face behind your long (h/c) hair; it was the only thing you'd tend to do to isolate yourself from their harsh words. However, you gasped when your bangs were pulled aside, revealing your face as you glanced back at Sayomei.

With her long black hair styled in a ofuku, decorated with kanzashi and wicked green eyes, she glared at you, a mocking smirk playing on her red lips. Indeed, she reminded you a horrible demon.

Slowly, Sayomei took a long drag from her cigarette and blew the yucky smoke in your face, causing you to cough as the heavy smell of nicotine filled your nose and burned your eyes, making them water.

"Listen, (Name)-chan, why don't you do us all a favor and go crawl under a rock? And while you're at it, get a haircut; you look like a dirty mop!" She said before pulling away from you.

You gritted your teeth, your body shaking in rage as you resisted to urge to lash out at her.

"On second thought, I think it suits you!" Sayomei laughs as she turns to head back inside, the others quickly following after her, also laughing and leaving you alone and feeling humiliated.

Once they were gone, you gently began stroking your long hair, a coping habit you picked up whenever you felt upset or distressed, as many twisted and gruesome images of Sayomei chocking on her own blood flashed through your mind.

Eventually, tears fell from your eyes as you subsequently followed in after them.

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As you walked down the opulent corridors of the brothel towards Lady Yamamoto's study, your mind was preoccupied with thoughts of what you were going to say to her. You knew she was anticipating you to bring her wine, but how were you going to broach the subject of the altercation with the shopkeeper?

The soft sounds of your footsteps reverberated through the hallway, heightening your anxiety as you approached your destination. Once you reached the shoji doors, you knocked before announcing your presence..

"L-Lady Yamamoto.. It's me, (Name)! I have returned!" You said.

"You may enter!" You heard a gravelly female voice replied.

Sliding the doors open, you'd entered and was met with the sight of a fat middle-age woman with black hair styled in a sokuhatsu sitting at her desk. Her face was caked in thick white make-up with purple eyeliner and slathered-on red lipstick.

"Well, don't just stand there, girl! Come in!" She urged, taking a drag from her quellazaire.

You gulped but did as told and shyly made your way over towards her as brown eyes examined you intensely and immediately noticed something amiss.

"Where's my wine?" She asks, watching how you shivered in apprehension.

"WELL?!"

"I'm sorry, please forgive me, Lady Yamamoto!" You quickly bowed your head in dogeza. "I-I did as you requested, but the shopkeeper was drunk and tried to force himself upon me! I tried to reason with him, but he'd attacked me, and so I had no choice but to run away." You explained.

A flashback to a pair of beautiful flamboyant  fuchsia-colored eyes briefly appeared in your mind. Ironically, you decide not to tell her about the tall white-haired stranger who'd saved your life.

You're instantly snapped out of your thoughts by the sound of Lady Yamamoto's cackling laughter.

"Furururu, please (Name)...do you honestly expect me to believe that a man would seriously hit on you? I hardly doubt that any man or woman would ever make a move on you, even if they're drunk." The lard of a woman laughed.

"If he was drunk, then why didn't you just steal the wine?" She added.

"I wasn't thinking... I was too busy trying to─"

"Excuses, excuses, excuses! That's all I ever hear from you, (Name)! You should be grateful I don't just throw you out on the streets!" The older woman exclaimed before taking another drag of her cigarette.

"B-but─"

"Enough! This is your third and final strike. I've gotten onto you about screwing up long enough. I think it's about time I make your job even more... exciting." Lady Yamamoto smirks and your eyes widen.

"N-no, please Lady Yamamoto, y-you promised I get the week off! I'll do better next time! Please!" You begged.

"Hold your tongue! I hate it when you beg! I swear, you can be so annoying! Sometimes, I wish you could be more like Sayomei-chan and the others."

You felt your blood boil at the mention of Sayomei's name and that remark as you slowly glanced to see a long tama (hair stick) with a sharp tip lying on the desk.

Twisted thoughts of grabbing it and stabbing the fat woman in the neck with it crossed your mind.

"Now let's see. There are four rooms. I want you to clean them! And be sure to wash the bed sheets and fluff the pillows. You will also wash and press the girls' kimonos. And, ah yes, Sayomei's kimono needs mending, so have it ready by tomorrow night." The older woman grinned at you wickedly.

"Well, did you get all that?"

You glared daggers at her from behind your curtain of hair as you tried to calm yourself. The room felt suffocating, with the silence hanging heavily in the air. Your mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions ─ frustration, hurt, and a simmering anger that threatened to boil over.

You knew that losing your temper would only make things worse, so you took a deep breath and tried to focus on staying calm.

"Y-yes." You replied, despite the anger simmering just below the surface.

"And you really should cut your hair, dear! You look like a dirty mop...then again, it surely suits you!" Lady Yamamoto says, mimicking the same words Sayomei said to you as she chuckled darkly.

Evidently, you felt tears swell in your eyes as she dismissed you. Without a word, you quickly stormed out of the room.

You were in hell—abused, humiliated, and forced to become a servant here! And yet, through it all, you still prayed to whatever deity was out there that you could one day leave and be free.

But for now, you'll just have bare living the life of a parasite.

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Notes: Guren means "crimson-colored lotus."