vessel(discontinued)

feminine

After all the jumbling, they came to a conclusion. They were to dress as women to infiltrate the Red Light District.

This proven fairly easy for Inosuke and Yoriichi, except Inosuke could not talk on any circumstance due to his voice.

Yoriichi was naturally somewhat slim and had a small waist, so he looked very convincing. He also could change his demeanor and posture at any time, and he had long hair anyway. 

Strapped with a kimono, he looked just like a knowledgable, fair lady.

On the contrary, Zenitsu was looking disastrous. His yellow hair didn't fit with his lipstick-smudged lips and his cheeks were painted red.

Either way, even with one beat up looking girl, they had to complete the mission.

Tengen had his hair down and wore a handsome robe. He would make up for whatever little looks Zenitsu had.

And like this, they were prepared and ready.

Tengen lead them around town, going for the most suspicious houses. 

Yoriichi observed the way men walked into those stores. It was disgusting.

Were the women here paid to be prostitutes?

They walked up to a old woman perched on a yard next to a old man. Behind them was one of the most large house in the whole district. The Tokito house.

Tengen swaggered up to the pair.

"Hello, m'lady, would you care for any of these girls? I sell them cheaper than most!"

The elderly woman's eyes were stuck on one person. Yoriichi.

"We'll take her, please! What a beauty she is!" A red tint could be found on her face and she quickly handed the money and half-strangled Yoriichi getting him into the house.

He looked back. Zenitsu was looking depressed. Inosuke was looking lonely. Oh, why did he have to go first?

"You are the most beautiful girl I've seen ever, even in my prime! I am the head mistress, I take suitable girls in the Tokito house. Getting such a girl, at such a low price!" The head mistress had grabbed Yoriichi's arm and was pulling him down corridors.

"Somehow, even that fire shaped scar you have compliments your skin! I'm going to make you Tokito's next Oiran!!"

They finally reached a room and the head mistress called another woman in. She also marveled at his beauty and told the head mistress she would take good care of him.

"That's right you do!" The head mistress cheerfully skipped out the room.

The woman had taken good care of him. She ignored his forehead mark, how he was so quiet, and how well he fights. Yoriichi was reminded of someone...

That someone who was in a box.

Nezuko had come out occasionally and sat next to Yoriichi, but most of the time she spent asleep in her box. To avoid detection, she wasn't to come out until night.

The head mistress had tried to convince Yoriichi to let men in his room many times. He refused every single time. If they saw what was under that feminine clothing... (they would probably like men for the rest of their life, though Yoriichi didn't realize this yet).

Yoriichi wasn't useless— he was also trying to find traces of demons. However, nothing was found in the house. But only in the house.

There was an air hole in the floor which trapped many humans. Yoriichi guessed Suma, Tengen's wife, was also trapped there. But he couldn't make any movement without telling the mission team what he was wanting to do. At the moment, all were too busy to reach one place at the same time.

After a few days, they met at one spot. Yoriichi arrived first, then Inosuke. Inosuke was jumping.

"THE DEMON'S AT MY HOUSE!! CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THIS?" He made a odd hand gesture.

"Well-"

"COME TO MY HOUSE, THE DEMON WAS IN HIS WIFE'S ROOM!!"

As Inosuke bickered at him, Tengen had arrived.

"Zenitsu won't be coming."

All voices paused.

"Why?"

Tengen was expressionless.

"I lost all ways of contact to him. And as I said, he won't come."

"Your ranks are way too low for this mission. Turn back. Go."

Tengen stood up.

"No."

He turned around, staring.

"My rank is Kinoto now."

Tengen narrowed his eyes and disappeared.

Now Inosuke was staring too.

"Inosuke, listen."

Inosuke furrowed his brows.

"What?"

"I believe Zenitsu, and all Uzui-san's wives are alive. They are all trapped in this air hole under the ground. It is some distance between Zenitsu's house, but that just makes it better for the demon."

"Is that right? Well," Inosuke flashed a grin. "I'll agree with you."

It was the day to leave Tokito house.

Yoriichi walked to the Oiran's room.

"Koinatsu-san."

She was in the middle of putting make up on. She paused, then put her makeup brush down.

"I will leave the Tokito house. I'm sorry for coming and going, but this is for the better. Please give this money to the master for the roof over my head." Yoriichi passed her a packet that was filled with money.

"Sumi-chan... the clothes you are wearing..."

Yoriichi bowed his head.

"I am actually a male."

Koinatsu's face flushed pink.

"I am going to save everyone who disappeared, so excuse my abnormal behaviors."

"I'll be at ease, then." She regained her wit and smiled gently.

"You see, I'm leaving the district tomorrow. There's someone out there who'd really take me as their wife. I can't be happier."

Yoriichi smiled back.

"That's why I couldn't help but worry for those that I will leave behind. It's really comforting to see you have plans to solve this, Sumi-chan."

"Don't worry, Koinatsu-san, after this everything will be fine. I hope you live a long life with your soon to be husband. I wish you every happiness."

Yoriichi bowed his head one last time.

He turned to leave the room. But rather than walking down the corridor, he stood right next to the door.

He heard it. 

The demon.