Hakuouki: Beautiful Scars

3: Let's Be Friends

"Oi, you three!" Sanosuke called out to the small children. He found it strangely odd for three kids to be lurking in a red-light district. Even more so that they were the same children he helped out recently. Coincidence much? Who knows. He was just glad he saved those three innocent children from trouble again.

The three tense in fear and slowly turn around to the man. They gave teary eyed looks at him and bursted to tears when they saw him. Surprised, the man stuttered defensively, "W-whoa there! I didn't mean to scare you guys." The children continue to cry as he squats down to their level and pat their heads gently.

Perhaps the troublemakers were relieved that the man was not a bad person, but the samurai who had saved them a week ago. The three weepers wipe their tears with their arms and look up at the red-haired man.

"Don't scare us like that!" Ashitaka bursted.

Sanosuke only laughed apologetically, "Sorry. I saw you three running by the side of Shimabara, so I chased after you." He crossed his arms, "About that... you three shouldn't be in a place like this. This place is only for grownups."

Yuuto rubbed his eye, "W-we know. Chiyo tells us not to go out at night..."

"Chiyo? That's your sister, right? Where is she?"

The kids point to Shimabara next to them. "Working in there. That's where we live," Rika adds. Sanosuke glances at the rowdy building. Rays of seductive lights peeked out from the windows as laughter of men and shrill giggles of women coexisted.

Ashitaka suddenly questions cautiously, "If you're here, then you are a customer right?" He tells Sanosuke, "Then that means... you're just like them aren't you?" Ashitaka clenches his fist. When her brother says this, Rika remembers to keep her guard up. She backs away behind Ashitaka and pulls Yuuto with her. Ashitaka did his best to intimidate him with a glare, but his clumsiness took it away. They look up at Sanosuke with expressions of fear, doubt, and uncertainty.

"Let's go," Ashitaka insists. They take Mamoru, the stray dog along in their arms. They quickly leave without a word and disappear into the shadows. The samurai straighten his posture and watches them carefully.

When the children get inside their room, Rika tells her companions, "That samurai... should we tell Chiyo that he's a bad man?" She brushes Mamoru's fur as he lays quietly on her lap.

"No. If we do then Chiyo will lecture us for being caught." Ashitaka points out.

"But... is he really a bad man?"

Yuuta looks down, "I-I don't know, but he did save you that one time Ashitaka..."

"Did you guys forget what Chiyo said? People who come to this place are bad, and Chiyo is forced to work here." Seeing that Ashitaka had a point, the children dismissed the encounter and agreed to pretend nothing ever happened.

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Sanosuke felt he had grown immune to prejudice since he was part of the Shinsengumi, but to have children instead of common folk judge him... was something he wasn't accustomed to. Children were very naive and innocent. They never had to think about the hardships of life, but these kids are different. They were so careful about him. He wasn't sure what to say at that moment. 'Just like the others?' He chuckled at the thought. What did he meant by that? Sanosuke rose up to his feet quietly.