The 12th Fatui Harbinger

Ayato

*Warning* Angst, PTSD, triggers ahead.

A cloaked figure arrived at the gates of the Okiya.

"We're closed out for a private reservation tonight." The guards at the front rumbled.

Ayato paused. He had received notice from the Okiya that she would be away, leaving for her homeland to pay her final respects to her father who passed away in Snezhnaya. And with the upcoming Irodori festival at the time, he simply hadn't had the time to go see her. He didn't need Aoki's letter to know that she had returned to Inazuma. Men around him started slipping out early---to get a glimpse of her at the Okiya, or some private event she was booked for. His little flower on the highest peak. Yet, he didn't want to cause a scene. Despite Geisha being entertainers and major contributors to Inazuma's culture, he didn't want his... relationship with her to become common knowledge.

As he momentarily thought of ways to respond, a voice rang out. "How dare you? Let him in instantly!!" A shrill voice answered.

It was Madam Aoki. She hit the guard with the back of her fan and bowed her head as she gestured the way in. She waited until they were away from the front gate to speak. "Why Ayato-sama, I trust you are here to visit the flower on the highest peak?"

He took off his hood, nodding.

Aoki gave him a fake smile as she looked toward him. "Why, I hope you'll find it within your magnanimity to forgive the inconvenience, my lord. Yuria should be wrapping up entertaining customers in the main banquet hall. They only paid for a performance, so she should be done."

Ayato walked through the compound with Aoki, ignoring her as she tried to sell him on the Okiya's other flowers. He could hear the sounds of men drinking and having fun into the night. There were many half naked women around trying to pick up customers. He paid them no heed as he walked down the corridor with all the side rooms.

His ears perked as he heard a man's voice. "Why my lady, I hope you won't mind if each of us removes an article of clothing?" the voice said sarcastically. His words were shortly followed by the sound of fabric ripping and a muffled scream. He stopped mid-step and Aoki looked at him.

"My liege, please pay that flower no heed. She's just doing her duty. Your flower should be this way." She gestured as she tried to lead him away.

The scream sounded awfully... familiar.

He ran back toward the room when he heard another voice shout that the woman in there wasn't breathing. Ayato kicked down the door with his foot, and the flimsy paper door flew away, busted down the middle.

Ayato paled at the sight of his little flower bound by ropes and gagged, with tears streaming down her face as she struggled to breathe. His feet ran toward her at once, catching her in his arms before she lost consciousness.

Aoki gasped. It was her best moneymaker-- who was bound to threaten to quit after this. The piles of mora Yuria brought to the Okiya flashed before her eyes, and Aoki glared daggers into the well-built man who was clearly leading the assault. "General. You only deposited enough for this flower's performance." She tsked as she called for guards.

Ayato took off his cloak, covering Yuria's bruised body from prying eyes. "General Tachibana---" He calmly hissed. "The Yashiro Commission specifically safeguards those who lead Inazuma's humanities and the arts. The flower on the highest peak is a proud symbol of Inazuma's cultural heritage. Moreover, you know that Geisha are prohibited from prostitution to honor those contributions. How dare you attempt to defile her work and achievements by trespassing our dominion and defiling her body?" He snapped as he tried to control his temper. It was no use. He knew there was absolutely no benefit to having his relationship with Yuria out in the open, but he couldn't help it. Fire and fury coursed throughout his veins at the sight of his flower.