"Why are you so persistent?"

"What'd you mean?" Tengen tilts his head innocently.

"About making me your fourth wife?" You couldn't help but ask.

At this, Tengen smiles, "simple. It's because I want you♡." he says in a matter of factly.

Your cheeks burned at that statement as you started caressing your long (h/c) hair, shyly.

"A-are you sure? I mean.. I'm not sure I'd make a great wife. Especially, to a man like you.." You blushed, sharing at the hard wooden floor.

Tengen smirks, "can you cook?" He asks outta the blue.

"Eh?!" You snapped your gaze back to him.

"Can you cook?" He repeated.

"Uh..a little bit. I-I know how to make rice and beef stew." You tell him.

"Do you have love in your heart?" He ask.

You blinked, finding his questions odd. But, you still answered regardless.

"Of course I do! What kind of idiotic question is that?" You pouted cutely.

"Heh~ works for me!♡" Tengen grins in delight, "you'll make a wonderful fourth wife!"

You tried not to get carried away by his flattery. It was good knowing you had made enough of a great impression for him to want you, of all people, as a wife.

Tengen, himself, is a bit of an enigma. But you have admittedly appreciated the fact that he was indeed aesthetically pleasing.

Breathtaking even!

"But...." He started, "I can't guarantee I'm husband material. Despite being so handsome, flamboyant, great, and─"

"And big-headed.. (¬､¬)" You say, nonchalantly.

"Err...t-that too. But that's beside the point! What I mean is I'm no perfect man." He says.

"Of course you're not! No man in the world is perfect. There's no such thing as a perfect human being." You tell him.

For a brief moment, Tengen thought of a certain flame-haired male, who's name rhymes with "Rangaku."

If there's such a perfect man, it would definitely be him and Tengen couldn't even compare himself to the flame pillar, let alone compete with him as he quickly shook his head.

"Then, how would you describe a perfect man?" Tengen asked you.

You stared at the floor, at loss on how to reply. Disoriented, you only shrugged.

"I don't know.. Good looking, smart, worksout, kind, loving, loyal, and able to hold a woman... Etc."

Tengen couldn't help but laugh, "Bwahaha~ that's asking a lot, my sweet peach."

Sweet Peach? (ಠヮಠ')

"C'mere." He suddenly motioned you to come closer, which you didn't hesitate to do.

Once you where close enough, he pulls you towards him via wrapping his strong arms around your waist.

Those enchanting eyes shimmering like pink gems as he gazes fondly at you.

"I know what you're thinking.. I already have three wonderful wives, so why should I bother with you?"

It was as if he was indeed reading your mind! Married men seeking out your kind weren't uncommon, but never had they'd been so frank about it; unless it was an act to degrade women of your status.

"Why bother? I'm just a simple maid working in a dirty brothel." You say, wrapping your arms around his waist also.

"And that's why you're different! I can tell you're not like the others." He chuckles, "and I refuse to let such a beautiful flower like you waddle in such filth."

His words caused your heart to skip a beat. Never had anyone spoke to you in such a way. Over the moon as you were, you'd failed to notice Tengen leaning in closer until warm lips brushed against yours.

"Besides, I'd always preferred even numbers over odds," he whispers.

"Hm? What's that supposed to mean?" You furrowed your brows in slight confusion.

"Me having four wives instead of three would be more flamboyant in its own right." He says.

"Which is why I'm making it my life's mission to court you until you've made your decision to come with me!" He added with a wink and a dashing smile.

"As I said once before, I won't force you or try and hurry you along. Take as long as you like to think things over." He says and you couldn't help but marvel at him for being so content and patient with you as you found yourself stabilising yourself against his hard, muscular chest whilst feeling him slyly trail his hands towards your ass again.

You do nothing to stop him for you were (unbelievably) beginning to like the feeling of his hands on you.

"Until then," he soon leans down and playfully licks the shell of your ear, "keep all this warm for me."

You turned your face away from him in a futile attempt to hide the blush that was creeping up along your face, while also praying that he couldn't hear the absolute havoc he was wreaking on your heart rate.

"I-I will, Tengen-sama." You replied and decided to changed the subject, before his sensual touching leads to something lewd.

"Uh.. will you be staying the night once you've come back?"

"Dunno, if my job doesn't require any assignments, then perhaps we'll see?"

"Oh."

Damn, you really wanted him to stay longer.

"Hm...? You're disappointed?" Tengen asked as if sensing your displeasure.

"Uh, well...since you want to court me, then I really want us to spend more time together. Y'know? Like take time to know each other personally, and... see where our relationship goes?" You say and noticed him giving you a loving, smug look.

"You're so cute, (Name)-chan♡" he smirks, "we should spend more time together, but I have something else in mind."

You gulped slightly, not entirely sure where he's getting at? "Like what...?"

Tengen's grin only widened, "l like to take you out on a proper date!"

"I-I don't know, Tengen-sama." You say, while biting the inside of your cheek.

Tengen furrowed his brows, "what'd you mean? Don't you ever get time off?" He questioned.

"I do, but.." you started, "...it's very scarce. Lady Yamamoto only gives me days off when I do my job right. She can be extremely generous when she wills it, however, due my past mishaps, I'm not entirely sure when my next off day is."

'Ughh~ that fucking slave driver,' Tengen thought bitterly as he grimaced.

It was obvious that greedy woman was the main source of your misery. No doubt, she kept you here like a cage bird.

"Then, how's about we have the date here?" He suggests.

"Here?"

"Yeah, instead of watching me display my power and wealth, I'll treat you to something."

His statement made your heart sore; he's actually willing to spend his hard earned money on you instead of himself?

Is that even a possibility?

You blushed when Tengen kisses your forehead. His display of affection was insatiable!

"...Don't think about it. Just accept it." He says, "I don't mind. Whatever this place has to offer, you name it and I'll treat you, deal?"

"O-ok," You nodded.

"Great! And then perhaps we could do more? Much, much more... and you do realise you only have yourself to blame, right?" He teased.

His hands were suddenly lifting up the hem of your kimono and you gasped when they trailed up your thighs, and palmed your cheeks through your panties.

"Tengen-sama!" You yelped as his hands started kneading and massaging your ass, which reduces you to a quivering wreck on the spot.

Your knees were growing weak and you felt like collapsing.

No, you couldn't let him gain the upper hand...who knows what else he would do if you were to succumb so easily to him? However, a playfully slap to your derriere from his devilish hand made you unwittingly release a moan.

Tengen's eyes immediately widen at this!

"Well look at that? My kitten is a masochist."

"Oh my god..." You managed to croak out, face flushing with embarrassment, "T-Tengen... this feels─"

"Feels like what, (Name)-chan?" His whispers huskily into your ear.

"Wrong." You finally answered as you feel he rub your now presumably redden ass cheek.

"But if you dislike it...why aren't you telling me to stop?" He smirks like a sly fox.

You honestly didn't know what to say?

Perhaps, you really are a masochist?

You snapped out of it when he does it again, planting his hand back down onto your ass.

*Smack!*

"Hah~!♡" You felt your whole body tense.

"Stop it, Tengen-sama!" You buried your face in his chest, feeling both excitement and embarrassment wreck through you.

"Ah, sorry." He half-apologized, "I couldn't help myself."

But you could practically feel the smirk on his lips that indicates that he's not sorry.

"Hmm, perhaps when I become a najimi (regular customer) here, you can call me daddy?"

"W-what?!" You exclaimed in disbelief, arousal prickling along your skin at the sensation of his hot breath tickling your ear.

Tengen only laughs at your shocked reaction, founding it absolutely entertaining to tease you.

"T-Tengen-sama, you shouldn't say such things like that!" You pout.

"Why? I think it's a great idea.♡" He grins.

"Tengen-sama, please!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop." His stops and removed his hands from your behind.

"But seriously though, I'm looking forward to treating you and will continue to await your decision. Until then, I bid you farewell, my lovely Kejōrō.♡"

With that, he captures your lips once more, kissing you softly.

After pulling away, he gives you one last look, before exiting the room, leaving you beetroot, flustered, and yearning for more.

────────

"I'm most certainly hope your time here at the Guren went well, Mr. Uzui?" Lady Yamamoto asked.

The smoke from her pipe curled out of her nose this time, making her appear dragon-like.

Tengen nods, "I had a wonderful time Madam!"

"Really?" She blinks in disbelief, "you're telling me you actually had fun with (Name)-chan?"

Not telling her all what had transferred between (Name) and him, Tengen grins, "in a matter of fact, I did! And I'll be coming back again to pay good money for her service." He says.

"Ah, so you wish to become a Onajimi here at the Guren, then?"

"Hai!" He nods, "and I require nothing but (Name)'s services."

Despite being astonished by this, Lady Yamamoto smiles nonetheless, "hmm, very well, hope to see you again soon. You're always welcome back here, especially if you bring money." She says.

When all was said and done, Tengen bowed and kindly took his leave─silently wishing his lovely (Name)-chan a blessed night.

Several minutes later after Tengen had left; Lady Yamamoto had called for you.

You took some time to compose yourself, before entering her office.

"It would've seem you gave Mr. Uzui his money's worth, (Name)-chan. I'm impressed you didn't screw things up." She says.

You took it as some form of praise as Lady Yamamoto then handed you a red envelope with a golden wax seal embedded with the Guren's symbol.

Upon opening it, your eyes immediately widen, seeing that it had a wad of money!

"Considered it as your reward." Your boss says.

You were speechless as you continued to glance up at her in shock.

She's actually giving you money?! Seems so unlike her, but you sure as hell weren't about to start complaining.

"There's plenty more where that came from. Keep up the good work and I just might increase your pay even more." Lady Yamamoto says.

You couldn't help but beam at this, before bowing, "thank you, Lady Yamamoto! I will."

With that, you were dismissed.