Chapter 27: Silver Soul (Cosmic Arc)

Now, it should be nighttime, shouldn’t it? Take Okakura gazed up at the ceiling, reflecting. After she had knocked down that repulsive old woman yesterday, the maids had thrown her into the dark room, bound her, and denied her both food and water. But she’d endured stretches of two or three days without food during the days of purging foreigners; compared to that, she could bear this.

Black masks, black streets, strange men… Just thinking about all she’d encountered made Take’s head ache. Could she really save Coco and Nini? As she pondered how to rescue them and escape, the maids and the black-masked men entered. They wrapped her tightly in a quilt and hung her up; one of the masked men produced a stick as thick as a grown man’s arm and lashed it hard against her. This method, though it left no marks, was still quite painful. Take bit her lower lip tightly, enduring, as the old woman she’d knocked over yesterday appeared.

Arms folded, the old woman watched Take being beaten with cold indifference. “Listen here. Since you’ve come to this place, you must obey. Only obedient girls get to live well.” She walked over and pinched Take’s face. “You’ve got a pretty face. If you learn to please the guests and do as I say, it won’t be hard for you to become the star of the house.”

“But if you don’t listen, I’ll have no choice but to beat you to death.”

Listening to the old woman’s monologue, Take wanted nothing more than to spit in her face. With her strength, she could easily break free from the quilt and flatten all these black-masked men. But she bore it—for the sake of finding her friends.

Seeing Take silent, the old woman assumed she had learned her lesson and was now frightened. She ordered the black-masked men to let her down. No sooner had Take touched the ground than the maids dragged her away.

“All right, clean her up and then bring her to me,” the old woman ordered before leaving.

Take was taken off to be bathed and perfumed again. Honestly, she would have preferred some food before the bath. When she was finally clean, the maids brought her before the old woman, who sat before a table heaped with delicacies. Take couldn’t help but feel a sudden warmth toward her—was the old woman going to let her eat?

“Come here, I’m going to teach you how to serve guests at dinner.”

“Idiot, it’s not for you to eat—it’s for you to feed the guests!”

“Eh?” Take looked up from her mouthful of food, puzzled.

“All right, pour the wine.”

Pour the wine? Take spotted a bottle of red wine on the table and poured it into a goblet, then promptly took a swig herself.

“I didn’t tell you to drink it yourself, you imbecile! Pour it for me!”

“Oh, you want some? You should have said so.” Take grabbed the bottle and tipped it straight to the old woman’s lips. “It’s good wine, granny, have some more.”

The old woman pushed her hand away, choking and furious. “Who pours wine like that? Are you trying to kill the guest?”

“Stop eating and listen to me for once!”

“Okay~”

“Now, serve me some food. Be gentle. Not too much, not too little. When you bring it over, smile and feed it to me.”

Take glanced at the table, picked up a white dumpling, and held it to the old woman’s mouth.

“Wait—what sort of smile is that? It’s revolting!”

“Heh heh.” Take squinted, her mouth stretching wide and her jaw jutting out—her and Gintoki’s signature deadpan grin.

...

“Boss, that new girl is impossible to teach. Can’t I be spared this duty?”

A handsome man seated on the sofa gave the tearful old woman a cold look. After a long silence, he set down his cigarette and asked, “Mama, has she done anything wrong?”

“No, Boss. She does whatever she’s told, and is obedient enough. But somehow, everything she does turns out a mess. I simply can’t teach her.” The old woman prostrated herself, wiping tears, the very picture of wretchedness.

“Mama.”

“Hmm?” She looked up at the sound of his voice, and was met by his chilling gaze.

“I’ve told you before, I expect all my orders to be carried out to the letter, no exceptions. Do you understand?”

“Yes…yes, I understand…”

“Good. Then get back to it. If she doesn’t learn, beat her until she does.”

“Yes, Boss. I’ll get right to it.” Trembling, the old woman rose and retreated quietly.

The days that followed weren’t so bad for Take. Each day she learned so-called arts of pleasing guests, and was treated to fine food and drink. It was quite comfortable. But she still hadn’t found Coco and Nini, and that gnawed at her.

The only people she saw were maids, black-masked men, and the old woman. Even the two girls who’d been captured with her had disappeared. The place was enormous, filled with surveillance and black-masked guards; she had no way to sneak around and investigate.

Was she going to be kept here until she was forced to serve men? The thought made her shudder. Now she understood what this establishment expected of her. The old woman had even taken her to witness a live demonstration of “fairies at war” a few days ago. Honestly, the idea of doing that sort of thing with a stranger…

Impossible. Damn you, Sorachi!

========= Scene Change ==========

Every dark alley has its beautiful women, for they are the tools by which men earn their living. These women display their most enticing charms, luring men’s gazes and trading their bodies for money.

The Black Street—Krotta’s shadowy avenue—was such a gathering place for beautiful women.

At night, a group of bandaged oddities entered the street, attracting hushed whispers wherever they passed.

“It’s the Night Rabbits…”

“Seventh Division’s here.”

“The Night Rabbits have arrived.”

“Shinsengumi people…”

At the front strode a slightly short man in a black cheongsam. Amidst the bandages on his head, a tuft of orange-red hair bobbed as he walked.

The man surveyed the women around him, shook his head, and began to unwind the bandages. His looks drew many women’s eyes.

Actually, not a man—a youth. He had the Night Rabbit’s signature porcelain skin, orange-red hair, and blue eyes that curved into a perpetual squint. His lips always seemed to smile. He looked like a charming, delicate boy, but he was in fact the new leader of the Seventh Division: Kamui.

Behind him, another man was also unwrapping his bandages, revealing a rugged, weathered face. Take would surely have recognized him: Abuto, rumored lover of Tetanah.

Abuto cast a lazy glance around and saw nothing but women fawning over Kamui. He sighed. Women were always fooled by Kamui’s pretty shell, never realizing that beneath it lay a bottomless pit and a monster rolled into one.

The gluttonous monster spoke, his voice clear and bright with youthful vigor. “Abuto, so many planets are filled with beautiful women and good drink—why did the Night King insist on building his paradise on Earth?”

“No idea. How could a small fry like me guess what big shots are thinking?” Abuto replied languidly.

“Oh? I think you’re quite talented at that sort of thing, Abuto. Otherwise, why would the Night King trust you so much?” Kamui grinned.

“Captain, are you jealous your master divided his affection with an outsider? Relax, the old man still prefers handsome young men.”

“But he likes beautiful women too.”

Looking at the boy who always wore a smile and seemed easygoing, Abuto felt a headache coming on. Since following Kamui, he felt like he’d aged even faster than under Hosen. The new captain was a warmonger, stronger than him, and had no appreciation for the troubles of his subordinates. Abuto was always cleaning up his messes. He’d decided he never wanted children—just dealing with this brat was more than enough.

“Abuto, you come here to play often, right? Any recommendations for a good place?”

“Captain, I’m busy. How would I have time to hang around places like this?”

“Really?” The tuft atop Kamui’s head wobbled.

“Let’s go to the Blackshade Gang’s place. I hear they’ve got a fresh batch of beauties.”

“Is the food good?”

“Not bad.”

“Let’s go, then.”

Honestly, you care more about the food than the women, don’t you! Abuto muttered inwardly.

Inside, Take was surrounded by a flock of maids. They dressed her in an off-shoulder black cocktail dress, curled her long hair into waves, and fussed over her face for ages. When she finally stood before the mirror, she was momentarily dazed.

The reflection reminded her of her mother—just as beautiful, with jet-black hair and cherry-red lips, a delicate pale face. The only difference was in the eyes: Okakura Tamaki’s gaze was always gentle, soft with light, while Take’s eyes burned fierce and bright.

“Listen up. Tonight’s guests are very important. Don’t mess this up. You know what will happen if you do—hmph.”

The old woman appeared again. Take now knew her name: Sophia, though everyone here called her “Mama.”

“I understand,” Take replied. She had no intention of ever calling this old crone “Mama.”

Once she was ready, the maids led her out. She walked at the rear, heels clicking. The towering stilettos added ten centimeters to her height, making her figure slender and graceful. However, she’d twisted her ankle more than once because of them—she simply couldn’t understand why humans invented such torturous things for women.

The maids led her deeper into the building, into an area she’d never seen before. The further they went, the more lavish and refined the décor became. The chandelier bathed the marble floors in shimmering light; apart from the soft footfalls, not a sound could be heard. Take discreetly studied her surroundings, catching faint noises from behind many closed doors.

Since childhood, she’d noticed her senses—hearing, sight, smell—were much keener than most. The rooms were well soundproofed, yet she could still pick up faint traces of activity.

There were women’s voices, men’s voices, the clink of bottles, music.

Just as she was straining to listen, their procession halted. From other corridors, more groups arrived. Take glanced over—and froze.

In the group opposite, she saw Coco!