Chapter Text
*10 years ago*
It was a small, modest house, located somewhere in a wide open area surrounded by trees in a large forest. It was late autumn, and the landscape was cloudy and orange from the dry leaves of the surrounding trees, which would soon be covered in snow. But this wasn't an aesthetic scenario where one played in a pile of dry leaves, but rather a scenario where those same leaves were painted red... Fresh, pure red. Innocent red.
She wondered if ever in her short years had she been surrounded by love, but when she saw that man walk through the door, she knew the answer was no. She knew it. He was nothing but a blemish that traumatized her, an open wound whose blood still drip. And she was only ten years old. But growing up early was her only option, even though it wasn't healthy at all.
And he would stagger in, bottle in hand, eyes wide, searching for his wife. The girl ran to her room, closed the door, and hid under the bed, trembling as she covered her mouth with her small hand and tried not to make a sound. There were lucky days, days when he didn't come into her room and look for her to stain her face red, but when it was a bad day, she knew she would bleed.
Just like her mother.
Her loving mother, who, even covered in bruises and blood, would whisper, "It's okay... Mommy is here," and then hug her for hours. Never letting go, telling her a thousand times that she loved her and was proud of her and that she would grow into a beautiful, strong woman. And that her heart was filled with love to give, and that one day there would be someone who would see her and want that love. Someone who would love and care for her, not someone who wanted to make her suffer and cry.
But after that autumn afternoon, that heart shattered, and that love grew cold. And just when she thought her life couldn't get any worse, that's when everything fell down...
The girl was arriving home after picking some vegetables and herbs her mother had asked her to, bringing them in a basket. She opened the front door and, as soon as she saw the scene before her, the straw basket fell, and all the things she carried scattered across the floor in the hallway.
She was in shock, her eyes wide, her hands trembling, and her breathing becoming ragged. She quickly hugged her mother's body, crying, begging her to get up and wake up, but nothing, not a single sigh, not a last "I love you so much." There was... nothing.
Nothing.
She screamed and cried, scared, not knowing what to do, not being able to ask for help, not knowing if any of this was real.
"Why? Why her? What had she done so wrong that that man had done this to her? Why were there cuts on her abdomen? Why was her face bloody? Why?"
Hours passed, in fact, the afternoon and night passed and she was still there hugging her mother, lying dead on the floor, her blood staining her little girl's clothes. She couldn't let go of her; it was as if she couldn't forget the feeling of holding her, the only thing that kept her alive.
The clouds covered the sky that morning, and now she was outside with her mother in her arms, sitting on the ground, running her little fingers over her forehead and cheek, kissing her forehead and smiling, but that quickly brought tears. Just as the sky wept over them at that moment.
She couldn't believe she had lost the only person she had left, didn't want to believe she had to mourn so young, that she had to see her mother buried like they did in when people died. She didn't have the courage; her mother's face was so beautiful, it didn't match the earth, the hard, dry earth that made calluses on people's hands. She didn't care if it rained, even though her mother always told her to wear a coat to avoid getting sick. But she could no longer say or do anything.
The girl cried and cried, feeling the tears rolling down her face and falling onto her mother's face. She looked up at the sky with tired, narrowed eyes and wondered...
"Will I be alone? Will I die the same way she did?"
And at that moment, a loud thunder echoed in the dark sky above her, sending a shiver down her spine. She wasn't afraid, but felt something deep inside her. And when she looked to the side, she saw a man with a tengo mask and blue kimono. He was carrying a sword and was staring at her through the mask. She was scared inside, not knowing who he was, but at the same time, it was as if she knew she would be saved that day. That this man would be a hope for her.
A light at the end of the tunnel.
And then the man approached slowly, so as not to scared the girl, and crouched down beside her, removing his mask so she could see his eyes and trust him more. She saw tears in his gentle eyes; he was crying at seeing a girl having to carry her mother's body in her hands.
The scene was cold and cruel, and the man's heart sank with agony. He had seen a lot, but because he was so sensitive, he ended up crying beneath his mask. Few had seen his face, and even at such a young age, she realized he wasn't a bad man like her father or the ones who hurt people.
He extended a hand, and she instinctively flinched, and he hesitated. She was afraid he would hit her like that man did, but her fear disappeared when she felt his hand caressing her head gently. She opened her eyes wide, realizing that his touch felt like her mother's soft hands, and then she cried. The man reached his other hand for the kimono the girl's mother was wearing and slowly pulled her away from her arms. The girl looked at him with tearful, tired eyes, and he looked at her.
"I have nothing left." She whimpered, and the man held her little hand
"From today... You will have everything." He promised, and she cried
And seeing her in tears, he hugged her close, giving her comfort. Giving her a sense of protection as he ran a hand through her hair, looking at the woman lying on the ground.
"Don't worry about her... I'll take her to a safe place where no one can harm her. I'll give her a home and comfort. I'll do everything in my power to ensure she lives for years and years." He said in his mind. "Now, please, rest in peace."
And after the girl calmed down, he stood up with her in his arms and carried her away. The girl tried to look back, but the man pressed her head against his chest so she wouldn't have to see that brutal scene again.
That day marked Y/n's life forever, but that suffering made her who she is. It was difficult at first, but when Urokodaki brought her to his house, a huge house also isolated and surrounded by tall trees, a house that looked more like a traditional Japanese castle, and trained her, she molded her personality to his teachings, and through it, she grew greatly.
She learned everything about his the things he teach her on training and his business. She now worked not only as his bodyguard but also to take his place when he was away from home. All the kakushis obeyed her when he wasn't around; she always made sure everything was in order at home and that business remained stable. And he was always impressed by her good work.
She hardened over the years, becoming more serious and astute; she was no longer a whiny, fearful child. She had let go of that, and now that she had a stable life, she no longer needed to fear anything.
She was free.
~~~
She was sitting on the fence of a long bridge that crossed a river in the vast garden surrounding her master's mansion. She looked at the landscape before her and took a deep breath as she recalled once again that terrifying scene from her past. Her expression immediately changed to something more serious and downcast. It had been ten years but sometimes it felt like a recent event.
Her thoughts were scattered when one of the kaksuhis approached her.
"Miss Y/n?" He called her, and she looked at him
"What is it?"
"I came to inform you that Mr. Urokodaki wants to talk with you."
"Now?"
"When you can."
"Okay... I'll come over then." She got up and made her way back home
She walked down the hallway until she spotted the door of his office and slid the sliding doors open, drawing his attention back to her.
"Did you send for me, Mr. Urokodaki?"
"Yes, come in."
She closed the doors behind her and approached the table, bowing before sitting.
"You know you don't need such courtesy, don't you?" He gave her a small smile
"I make a point of showing the utmost respect in your presence."
"I know."
"And what do you need me to do?"
"As you know, business is going good so far. In fact, Master Ubuyashiki called me today to inform me that he was even sending a partner here so we could work together for a year." He informed her, and she raised her eyebrows
"Really?"
"Yes, and that's also why I called you here. The person who's coming here is also a longtime friend who also worked for Ubuyashiki for a long time, just as his entire lineage has served him."
"I see, it must be an honor. And who is he? Do I know him?"
"No, and by the way, there are actually two people coming. His son will also come with him. Their names are Shinjuro Rengoku and Kyojuro Rengoku."
"And who's who?" She frowned
"Shinjuro is the father; he and the son work together. They're distinct in personality, but in appearance, they're practically the same person. Be careful not to mistake one with the other."
"You can trust me." She nodded
"They'll be arriving in the late afternoon, and I need you to meet them at the gates and bring them to me."
"They've never been here?"
"Not here, but we used to provide services at another address until one day we had to abandon them due to rivals, as you already know. But since this place is still unknown for them, I need you to guide them around."
"Alright, then."
"You'll be notified as soon as they arrive, so do your best."
"Of course, I always do." She smiled confidently."Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
"I think that's all. Regarding dinner, tell the maid that there will be two more people at the table today and that we're going to make something very special and substantial. That's all for the rest."
"I'll let her know then. Now if you excuse me." She got up and bowed, but he just shrugged
~~~
Y/n then went to find the waitress and tell her about dinner, then went for a walk in the garden since there was still some time left.
It was late afternoon when her phone rang, and she answered, receiving the information that the men would already be at the gates, ready to enter. The sound of heels on the stone floor made both man's eyes turned to her. Kyojuro, who was standing next to his father, lowered his sunglasses to get a better look at the woman approaching them, and how beautiful she was.
The black dress that reached just above the knees, the thin stockings, the heels, her face, her loose hair fluttering as she walked. She looked...so majestic.
Something in him stirred in her presence, but he quickly dismissed it when she opened the gates and greeted them with a handshake.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Y/n. I'm the one who was tasked with taking you two to Mr. Urokodaki, who is waiting in his office." She said
"And why didn't he come in person?" The older man asked
"He was absent for the past few hours and only arrived now. And as I said, he gave me orders to guide you to him."
"Well then, how about we follow the lady, Dad?" Kyojuro asked, smiling at her and then glancing at his father, trying to ease some of the tension
"Let's go then. I didn't come all this way to waste my time at the gates." He grumbled, and she bow before turned, and they followed her inside
The two men followed right behind her, and while Shinjuro scanned the path ahead and to the sides, his son's eyes were fixed on the woman in front of them, leading them to the other man.
The way her hips moved with each step, her steady gaze, her posture—it was all stirring in him, and he never fell in love with someone at first sight.
She glanced back as if she'd sensed his eyes, and he quickly looked away. She noticed and simply focused on the path ahead.
~~~
They were already inside the house when she was now walking down the hallway, and when they reached the doors, she opened them for the men to enter the office.
"Here are gentlemen, sir." She announced, and Urokodaki smiled at her and went to greet them
"Oh, look if it isn't my old friend! You still look in shape!" Urokodaki greeted his old friend with a handshake an then his son
Kyojuro gave him a handshake before met the woman's eyes again, and she looked at him a little shyly, looking away right after.
"And you too, despite the white hair, you still seem very active in business."
"I think even if I wanted to put this all aside, I would probably end up back in the first hour. I just like my job too much." The man smiled. "Come sit here." He gestured to both chairs in front of his desk
The two men sat down, and he sat down shortly after, facing them both.
"Mr. Urokodaki, if you don't mind, I still had other things to see to. May I leave?" Y/n asked
"Sure, feel free." He nodded, and she left
Kyojuro turned his head to look at her as she left and saw the perfect opportunity to be alone with her for a moment.
"Mr. Urokodaki, I apologize, but can you tell me where the bathroom is?" Kyojuro asked, and his father looked at him, frowning
"Why didn't you go right away?"
"I didn't know where it was?"
"You could have asked the woman who accompanied us."
"Don't worry, it's the second door on your left." The older man pointed, and the young man nodded
"Thank you, I'll be right back."
Kyojuro left the office and spotted the woman in the back. He went to her, who turned around when she felt him approach.
"Do you need anything?" She asked
"I... Well, can I ask you a question?"
"What?" She frowned, not understanding what the man wanted from her
"Do you work here all the time?"
"And what do you have to do with this?"
"It's just...curiosity." He smiled, and she looked him up and down
"I actually live here and also work alongside Urokodaki. I don't usually leave unless he asks me for favors. Anything else?" She took a step toward him, closing the distance and seeing him widen his eyes a little
"I don't think so, but..."
"But what?" She cut him off, and he looked at her
"Well, I guess...I have nothing else to ask."
"That's what I thought." She turned and walked away, leaving him speechless
He never thought she would be like that. He thought maybe it was his approach to her, but little did he know that it wasn't about him, but about something deeper that shaped her.
He then sighed and returned to the office after his "bathroom trip."
Y/n entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor with a thoughtful expression.
That man just now, he was so... handsome and manly and... he was like a ray of sunshine.
A ray of sunshine that seemed to have cracked the ice that had frozen her heart since that day.
His golden and red eyes, staring at her and making her nervous, his hair framing his gentle, perfect face, his virile body, muscles that creased his white shirt, and the smile that made her melt.
"No, Y/n, control yourself, don't let yourself get carried away by this. Don't let yourself get carried away."
But... at the same time, it was as if she wanted him so badly, and not just physically. She wanted him whole, she wanted him all for herself. He seemed so different from other men, not that she had ever had anyone before, but he would certainly stand out in a crowd.
She sighed and wondered just one thing. "Who was that man who appeared to warm your heart?"