Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For months now the same Samurai has been popping in and out of the brothel I work at. He’s tall with these narrow blue eyes. It was as if he saw right through me. He would always request me, and lately it’s been more and more, for “company” he says. He never has slept with me and always pays for his hours. It was odd yet tonight was like every other night.

“You waste your money being here, Samurai.” I say pouring the tea into their respective cups, “You must have some sort of friend.”

He laughed and adjusted the tie around his black hair. Staring at me through the rim of those orange lensed glasses. His kimono top hangs open loosely to show the bandaged bindings along his chest. My eyes drag over the scars I can barely see, envisioning what the warrior may look like beneath that blue. He catches me eyeing him, snapping his long fingers right in my face.

“Aye, I don’t pay you to stare, do I?”
“No..no you actually pay me for sex, but we’ve yet to discuss that.”
He snorts using his middle-most fingers to gently push his glasses up his face, “Funny.”

Wrapping his hand around the cup he brings it to his lips. I watch as they part slowly and wrap around the brim. And now I’m imagining what it would like to kiss such a striking man. I sip the tea from my own cup as I practically drool over him. I’ve never had a client make me break that vow I took, the vow to find any man who ventures into this place a pig. So why has he caught my eye, he has me so enthralled. Those blue eyes…staring me down.

“And as for your comment, friends are severely overrated. Plus aren’t you lucky I choose you every time?” His eyes close when he takes a small sip, questioning the motives behind my words, “I pay good don’t I?’
“But you get nothing out of simply drinking tea with me.”
“And what do I get out of having sex with you?”
“Satisfaction?” It’s a simple answer, he would feel fulfilled.

But he just laughs, making my cheeks heat up beneath my pale makeup. His laugh is hearty and rich as he leans back on his elbows against the tatami.

“You think you can satisfy me, little girl?” He rolls his eyes, pulling off his glasses and setting them on the table.
“It is my job, of course I can.” But I can’t help feeling a tad insulted by his insinuation.

How dare he question my abilities? I was a perfectly capable woman, not to mention this man didn’t seem much older than me. But he suddenly stands, tilting his head with a smirk. Taking long strides closer to me, I act unafraid after all this was what he paid me for…yeah. He sat beside me so suddenly I tried to scoot away, yet his hand captured my waist holding me in place.

“Running away? I thought you could satisfy me…” His fingers tickle their way up my side, reaching for the sash of my yukata, “So you’re all talk then?”

He’s serious? I thought this was purely a bluff. All the months he'd been seeing me there had not been an ounce of physical attraction between us. Was it purely my challenge he found so intriguing? It couldn’t be.

“You’re bluffing Samurai.”
He tilts his head sideways giving me this half grin, “Bluffing? Me? Never dear.”

His breath scrapes against my ear, the warmth trickling down my neck as I feel his hand trail up my spine. He traced the curve of my back as my teeth sunk into my bottom lip. The tension palpable, you could practically cut it with the marvelous sword of his. Taking his free hand he grabbed my jaw, nails pressing to my skin. Slowly he tilted my gaze to meet his, those blue eyes. Like pools of freezing water covered in ice, I could find myself drowning in them. My body would sink to the very bottom never to be found again. I would drown in him, drown in the pleasures he had to offer. His head lowered its tilted angle brushing his lips against mine. He spoke slowly as if I was a child trying to decipher a grown up's words.

“Still think I’m bluffing brat?” His voice taunts me with its cold words.
Letting out a half scoff I pinch his stomach and watch his face twist, “Absolutely Samurai.”

He pouts slightly, his face saying it all. He hadn’t expected me to say that, he expected my knees to buckle and bend by his charms. I swear if I was a lesser woman they would but- my vow holds true.

“How unsuspecting, I thought that would work for sure.” He said pulling away and reaching for his cup.
“A lesser woman surely would have caved.” I joked and sipped my cup.

The two of us sat side by side, more as equals than as a customer and server. It was as if he saw me in a brighter light after denying his advances. Not that I minded he was a break from the pigs who threaded in and out. So if he was who I must spend my time with I don’t see me minding much. After all, he's stimulating for conversations and he keeps me on my toes. There’s an allure to him, an allure where I find myself craving to know more. Don’t get me wrong I hated what I was doing, being paid to be a mere object to these men but at least with him I felt- seen.

“How did you know I wasn’t going to touch you?” He said not even looking my way.
I didn’t, it was pure chance it happened to be a bluff. I had no clue whether he was going to take me there on the floor.
“Lucky guess?” Shrugging and reaching for the tea pot when he raised his glass, “You don’t seem like the type.
“The type?” He said while I watched the green liquid pour from the spout of the pot.
“Many types of men reside within these walls. Sons, husbands, fiancé's, politicians, you get the idea. They come in all shapes and sizes, all types. Some are kind to you, they take their time and don’t cross the line. But those are few and far between.”
“And the other?”

I swallowed, not wanting to describe the part of my job that pained me so much. I see it so often, I’ve even been on the bad end of a customer. The fists and the choke holds, it hurts less if you give in.

“Well, there’s the drunk men, the pushy ones, and the worst are- the angry ones.” The tea is piping hot and it burns my throat when it goes down, “They take it out on you.
“Take what out?”
“Anything.”

His face goes sour as he returns his attention to his cup, head hung lower than normal. His hat is sitting where he once was and my attention moves up to his bun. It’s full and lengthy, he must have rather long hair for it to wrap that way.

“On a lighter note…how long is your hair? I keep seeing you in that bun every time you stop by. It must be pretty long to wrap that way.”
“It’s a decent length, surely not as beautiful as the women hear. Those hairstyles must take ages.”
“Like you wouldn't believe darling.”

His cheeks turn a tinge of pink as he laughs under his breath. I watch as he swirls the cup and glances at me from a side. Smirk plastered over his face once more.

“Don’t be surprised if one day I truly do desire your service.”
“Well if you do, I’ll be happy to serve you.”
“Good girl.” He whispers and shivers run down my spine.

He’s just joking, right? He wouldn’t actually need me, he’s said it himself, this is for companionship. Yeah, he’s just…teasing.

Chapter Text

As I’m cleaning the brothel lobby my name rings in the check in. Grumbling and setting down the feather duster I carry myself to the lobby. Feeling my breath quicken as I got myself ready for whatever man I was being sent off with. Only to see him, it has been a few weeks so I had assumed he left for the next village. But no, here he was.

“Your favorite is back, take him to your room.” The Keeper waved me over, she’s a shorter lady with a face full of wrinkles.

He grinned at me, bowing his head as I joined his side. Snaking my arms around him as we walked in sync. Footstep after footstep, the beat of my heart felt like the whole world could hear it. I don’t think I can handle another ambush to my heart.

“Sorry for my sudden disappearance.”
“Why would that upset me? I made it clear I think your visits are pointless.”
His shoulders shrug when he scoffs, “And yet here I am.”
“For what reason I have no idea.”

Pushing open the door to the rented room he scans around. The same tea kettle and warmer waiting by the same old center table. There’s a bed in the corner and a heater across from it. Not to mention the balcony with the view of the mountains. Our brothel was so appealing it made men forget they had wives back at home. Forget their daughters who may someday be….me. Little girls with properly tied hair, fitted yukatas, and family dinners. What I wouldn’t kill to be that little girl again. But I had to grow up. Had to face the world and I used the one thing I was taught as a little one. Use your body. If the world only sees you as a beautiful face, then use it to get where you want.

“I come for you.”
For me? Of course he does, all clients come “for me”. But they don’t know me, they don’t know the woman down hunkered in my mind. They don’t understand the length of my womanhood.
“Of course, that makes complete sense.”

His fingers wander up my side as he looks down at my face, reading the internal disdain. My body felt tingly, goosebumps spreading across my skin. His head leaned down to whisper in my ear, breath warm and spreading across my neck.

“I come for your services, don’t catch an attitude with me now.”
“If you don’t like it by all means you can leave.” I flipped stove on to warm the pot of tea.

He flips our cups, one on each side of the table as always. His gaze falls back on my face, blue eyes carving out my features. Scanning the outline slowly as he runs his fingers along the brim of the cup.

“May I ask you a rather personal question?” He inquires as I fill his cup, right to the brim.
“Depends on the nature.”
“It’s an intimate question.”

I hope that tea burns going down, I knew he’d be just another man.

“Go on.” My knees fold as I sit on the plush red pillow, nails clicking at the clay cup.
“You’ve seen your fair share of men, not that there’s anything wrong with that.” He gestures and waves his hand, “Have any ever left you satisfied?”

Oh. Oh? What an odd question. But of course not. No man has ever left me fulfilled, it is always about them sadly. So whatever real love feels like is irrelevant because I do not know of it.

“Men don’t satisfy me.” I say blankly and a smile spread across his face, brow upturning as he took a long slow sip.
“And women?”

That makes me choke, the warm tea catching my throat as I cough. His eyes widen and my face flushes, I’ve never thought of women. I’ve never had a woman come in and ask for my services. Yes I’ve seen women, but none have ever fancied me.

“I am…not sure. I’ve yet to have a woman seek my comfort.”
“Couldn’t hurt to try.” He shrugs, leaning back on his elbows against the floor, “Women are quite talented after all.”

I didn’t take him for one of those men, so he is like all the other pigs who venture through here. He didn’t peg me for the type to see us as disposable creatures but I guess he is just another man. Why do I think any man who walks these walls is a good person? Any man who throws his life into the arms of a woman like me is a fool.

“I. See.”
He can sense my tone shift as he sits up, placing his tea cup on the table and shaking his head, “No, no you have me all wrong.”
“I never said anything.”
“Your face said all I needed to hear, trust me I am not one of those types.” He stares at me as I grimace, “Women are sacred, they are untouched.”
“Untouched or unmatched, there is a vast difference, samurai.”

Laughing I watch as he stands, oh here we go again. He rounds the table and I have no time to think before my wrists are in his hand. Pinned above my head by only one hand, quite impressive. He stares down at me as his hips straddle mine, what a turn of events.

“I guess unmatched because I’m clearly touching you.” He jokes which allows him to see the fact that I see no humor in this.
“Pinning me is not touching me, in the sense we are talking about obviously.”
“Would you like me too?” Why is he asking?

He has me right where he wants me so why would he ask? Most would have had me stripped by now but he’s just watching, waiting for me to speak. He’s a curious man that much is for sure. I can’t decide whether I hate him or I’m mesmerized by him.

“You’re…asking?”
“Yes? Is that crazy of me?” He looked confused, his free hand trailing down my neck towards my collarbone, “You reserve the right to deny me.”
“This feels like a trap.”
“How so?”
“Like if I truly deny you will you listen? Or just advance at your own desires.” Scoffing I can feel this strange flutter in my stomach at the way he looks at me.
“It’s a simple question sweetheart..” He whispers and leans down, lips grazing mine like a phantom’s touch, “Do you want me to touch you?”

My breath hitches as I tilt my head, there’s something here. Something real and weird. So something really fucking weird. He licks his lip, the tip of his tongue barely tracing my lower one as we sit in a comfortable silence. Heavy breaths attempting to mingle yet the inch of space between keeps them from becoming one. But I can’t, I’ve got a duty to myself, a vow.

“No.”
“No? And here I thought you liked me.” He speaks lips moving against mine with every word, “Guess I was wrong.”
“I don’t like any man.”
“So you say..” He slides off of me giving me room to breathe as I stare at the ceiling, “You want a hand?”

He extends those well kept hands towards me and I’m set ablaze, my mind racing to every disgusting thought imaginable. Yet I take his hand and feel the heat spread through my skin.

“Thank you…”
“For?” He tucks a strand of my fallen hair behind my ear.
“Giving me a choice.”