Perhaps, She Does

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"Are you not ashamed that Shinmachi lost a client because of you?" A group of courtesans ranging from early to mid-twenties approached her when she was alone in the garden and hanging the freshly washed blankets and sheets. She looked down and hugged the dried sheets as the group was trying to bully her.

"I'm just following the rules." She whispered and one of them pushed her, making her fall on the ground. She bit her lips lightly and stood up. As much as she wanted to defend herself, she is afraid that the owners of Shinmachi will kick her out and leave her homeless in the streets.

"And you're answering me back now. You have no rights!" The woman said angrily and she knelt on the ground to ask forgiveness. Unfortunately, Makoto and Gia were not there since they went to the warehouse to get some supplies.

"Please forgive me. I will not do anything bad anymore." She started crying silently with her head down on the ground and the group also started kicking her on the back. She covered her head with her hands but one of them grabbed it and stepped on it, making her cry even more in pain.

The group only stopped when they felt satisfied. They immediately retreated and went back inside before someone could see them. Fuyu looked at herself and her white yukata imprinted with sakura became dirty because of the group. She picked up the sheets as she ignored how painful and swollen her hands were. She went back inside and changed her yukata with a clean one.

Night came and the young samurai went there to see her. Her hands were trembling when she poured tea in his cup and he was sharp enough to notice it. He gently held her hands and she winced in pain. He furrowed his brows as he was the one who put the tea pot down on the table. She immediately hid her hands and apologized for how she reacted. He knew that she was hiding something, so he moved closer to her to see what happened to her hands.

"Who did this to you?" He asked and she reasoned out that she was just being careless in carrying things while doing some household chores. He didn't believe it, of course. Though he made it look like he believed her.

"Can you get me anything that we can eat?" He asked and she nodded her head while smiling softly. When she left to get fruits, he went out quickly to talk to Makoto. The younger one asked what he could help and then, he closed the doors first before opening his mouth.

She went back to the room and found no one. She sat once again and waited for her master to arrive since she thought that he only went to the washroom. After some minutes, he finally arrived back and she smiled at him. She got curious since his smile was a little different that time. Little did she know, he asked Makoto to investigate who were the people bullying her when they were not around.

Meanwhile, the real owner of the Shinmachi was in his favorite room. He was having a cup of tea with his favorite courtesan. She thought that she would only entertain him with such talking but he was expecting more. When they finished the tea, he asked her if she had more things to do. She shook her head and smiled gently before placing down her empty cup. He urged her to move closer and she found herself sitting on top of him.

Her yukata slid off from her shoulders and her exposed chest was being fondled by her master. His hand traveled down and guided her hips on how to move it fast. Her moans were stuck in her throat as she gripped tightly on his shoulders. She let out a deep breath while sweating heavily. She didn't disappoint him when it comes to his sexual needs. It was always like that and it was the reason why she became his favorite courtesan. Thus, she knows that he has a partner outside Shinmachi.

"Riku-dono.." She moaned softly while trying to delay her orgasm since he asked her to do so. He placed both of his hands on her waist and he helped her move her body faster. She trembled when she suddenly felt his warm fluids filling her up. She released her orgasm as well.

"My Princess is doing great." He whispered against her skin and he started leaving kisses on her exposed neck. She slowly stopped from moving and accepted his kisses. He carried her to the futon and laid her down there before taking her body once again.

She felt like crying. She knows that he has a wife and yet, they are doing the deed. It is a forbidden love. He promised her love but how would she believe his promises when he can't even leave his wife for her. After that, she told Makoto that she would no longer accept his father as one of her guests. The younger one understood this immediately but at the same time, he doesn't know if he should tell her that his real mother left them already.

Going back, the young samurai watched her fall asleep on the futon. He asked her to sleep early as he noticed that she was a little tired despite only serving him a cup of tea. He learned that she did the laundry earlier and she was also the one who picked the flowers from the garden. He looked at the bouquets she arranged for every room and even at the hallways. It was already dark and cold yet they are still blooming as if it had enough sunlight.

"Are you falling in love with our winter?" Makoto asked when he went out of the room. He didn't answer his question and instead, he asked for strips of cloth he could use for the cuts on Fuyu's fingers. The younger one gave him a teasing smile before complying to his request.

"It is my first time to see a winter that blooms like a white rose." He said while covering her cuts with the strips of cloth. Makoto felt amused that his friend is finally in love but he wanted to remind him that if he would marry Fuyu, some people might not accept her like the way they accept her.

"A flower blooms beautifully when being taken care of." The younger one said before leaving the two alone in the room. He stopped for a while and started thinking. Indeed, Makoto is right. When he started taking care of her, she became more and more beautiful.

"I wish you're only setting your eyes upon me, my warm winter." He mumbled before leaving a kiss on her forehead. She slowly opened her eyes, feeling a little hazy as she was still half-asleep. She smiled softly while looking at him and then, she closed her eyes once again, drifting back to her dreamland.

He let out a soft chuckle and decided to join her. He made sure that she would be kept warm in his arms while they were under the blankets. She unconsciously moved closer to him and he let her rest her head against his chest. He could see how comfortable she was while sleeping beside him. He thought that he would be able to smile everyday if he could see her face the moment he opened his eyes during the morning.