Yoshiwara Chapter 34
“Do you feel any pain?” Nakamaru asked as he took the bandages off and touched the skin around Taiga’s eyes.
“Mostly around the left eye it feels a bit weird through the swollen part,” Taiga explained.
Everyone had gathered in the room the next morning after Taiga had allowed them to come. He couldn’t promise that he wouldn’t get a mental breakdown if he was announced blind, but he didn’t want to shut his friends out he had learnt that it wasn’t fair.
Kamenashi, Taisuke and Nakamaru were sitting on his right, while Juri was sitting on his left holding his hand.
The other boys were sitting more towards the end of the bed, looking at everything in silence, just Shime had decided to take some more rest instead of joining and Taiga knew the other one just wanted to be polite as he obviously felt still more like an outside than one of Taiga’s close friends.
“The cut is still quite deep on the left side so be careful with moving as well,” Nakamaru explained. “So for now let’s check your right eye.”
Taiga felt how something was put over his left eye and he felt nauseous all of a sudden, but Juri immediately squeezed his hand.
“No matter what happens we are here for you!”
Taiga squeezed his hand in reply and finally dared to slowly open his right eye. Just opening it was a huge effort for him as the cut still hurt just through that small movement and the part around his eyes was pretty swollen. Tears filled his eye immediately and he had to shut it again.
“Does it hurt?” Nakamaru asked in a hurry and used a small cotton tool to wipe the tears away.
“It’s unpleasant and stings a bit,” Taiga said before he tried again. Silence filled the room as Taiga tried several times until he could keep his eye open a bit longer and then he squeezed Juri’s hand with even more force.
“What is it?” Juri asked worried on which Taiga turned his head a bit and flashed a bright smile.
“What’s that worried look for?”
“Of course I am worried, you- wait...what?”
“He can see, oh my god he can see!” Reo shouted through the room and pulled Shota in a hug because he was sitting right next to him and he couldn’t actually hug Taiga at the moment.
Taiga let out a small chuckle on seeing his friend’s reaction and the others also flashed him a supportive smile. Just one person wasn’t smiling and Taiga pulled Juri’s hand up to his face to drop a small kiss on its back.
“Idiot why are you crying now? Everyone else is smiling!” Taiga teased Juri as he saw how the boy tried to fight his tears, but couldn’t.
“I am relieved that’s all,” the boy hurried to say before he wiped the tears away and tried to flash a smile.
“Okay Taiga, let’s go to your left eye,” Nakamaru said as he was sure that his right eye was okay. He changed the eye cover to the right eye and told him to open his left eye.
First Taiga felt like he couldn’t open his eye at all, because of the swelling and it hurt a lot when he tried to open it, making his tears flow over nonstop. After several tries he felt already exhausted, but finally his tears seemed to have stopped, nevertheless the swelling was a problem.
With a sigh he relaxed and fell a bit back on the pillow, trying to look at the ceiling with his covered eye to help the left eye to get a fix point if he was able to open it.
“I fear through the swelling I won’t be able to open it for now,” Taiga said after another felt failure. Silence followed his statement. “What is it?” Taiga asked a bit worried on which Juri squeezed his hand a bit too tight this time, making Taiga’s nausea hitting him even more.
“Taiga, your eye is open,” Nakamaru let out in a calm yet slightly worried tone.
Not being able to believe the doctor’s words Taiga lifted one hand carefully to his face, trying to feel between all the swollen and cut parts. With a gasp he pulled his hand back and before he could even put more pressure onto Juri’s hand the boy had reacted already and had pulled his hand up, covering it with both of his hands.
“It’s okay. It’s not the end of the world,” Juri soothed him immediately.
“Not to forget that it looks kind of cool,” Reo was heard before he yelped after Kochi or maybe Shota had definitely hit him.
“Could you give me a mirror?” Taiga asked as he removed the eye cover from his right eye and Nakamaru reached in his equipment box while Juri and Taisuke helped Taiga sit up.
“Here you go,” Nakamaru said as he handed him a small hand mirror.
Taiga didn’t even know what he had expected, but he couldn’t hold back a gasp when he saw his own face and Juri was right next to him, rubbing his back soothingly.
“Don’t worry the cut will faint after about two to three months. It will never disappear completely, but the swelling will disappear soon too.”
That was at least one relief for him, because he couldn’t recognize his own face at the moment. When he dared to take a closer look at his left eye he realized that there was no need to ask Nakamaru if there was a chance of it healing eventually. It had turned completely grey in the middle, a slight cut visible at the side which had obviously destroyed the lens.
“Are you okay?” Hokuto dared to ask this time as Taiga kept staring at his own reflexion.
Slowly Taiga took the mirror down and looked back at his friends before he flashed a faint smile.
“Well at least Reo is right, it looks kind of cool, doesn’t it?”
“Look, told you!” Reo laughed on which Kochi and Shota both hit him on the back of his head, making him pout.
“I will take a look later once more, for now please be careful not to infect the cut and if you feel like your right eye gets tired make sure to give it enough rest, it’s been just a week it will need more time to heal completely.”
Taiga thanked the doctor for all his help and he left with Kamenashi and Taisuke.
“Are you really okay?” Kochi asked this time as he and the others spread more around the bed.
“As long as I don’t mess up my right eye as well I should be fine, shouldn’t I?”
It was the weird heavy atmosphere which made it hard for Taiga to keep joking around.
“I am sorry guys. I know this is all my fault.”
Taiga lifted his hand as most of them wanted to protest immediately.
“I don’t mean the injury! I mean your gloomy faces! I was extremely egoistic after we came back and I worried all of you a lot through pushing you away, so it’s just natural that you worry now when I try to joke it off, but please trust me I am really okay! I am more than happy that I get the chance to see again at all! It doesn’t matter if it’s both eyes or just one!”
“I am relieved to hear that,” Kentaro finally interfered as well and smiled back at his kohai.
“I guess a few of us will need some more time, but then we can all finally head back to work.”
“Right, about that….” Kochi started, but it wasn’t just Taiga who looked curious at him and also Hokuto who seemed to be the only one who knew what was going on. “There is something we have to talk to you about.”
***
“Such a damn beautiful house, but such beaten up boys, I fear you won’t succeed with that strategy.”
“Shut it Myuto or you will join those beaten up boys,” Reo mocked him as Myuto and Hikaru showed up in front of their new house.
The whole district was still rebuilding and while Myuto’s house had been luckily undamaged the streets around Kamaneashi’s house had been completely destroyed by the fire. Their new location though was even more central and on the biggest street right next to the river, resulting with their windows of the private rooms being right at the river to most of the boys’ liking. The house itself was also bigger than the first one, but still with two floors as the rules didn’t allow more floors in the Yoshiwara district.
“You need any help?” Hikaru asked and took the table Ryota and Shota were carrying towards the building and they kept staring after him in disbelief as he carried it inside all by himself as if it wasn’t heavy at all.
“Taiga would you mind bringing these inside the kimono room?” Reo asked as he was talking nonstop with Myuto instead of bringing all the stuff inside.
“Sure, no problem,” Taiga replied and he lifted up the kimono they had brought over from Nakamaru’s house. “Are these the last ones?”
“Yes the others are inside already,” Reo replied before he suddenly hit Myuto on the head. “Would you stop staring at him like that?”
Taiga hadn’t even noticed and he didn’t feel angry at all even as Myuto apologized. He had gotten used to the weird glances he got here and there, not to forget that Hokuto looked even worse at the moment, but the younger one didn’t hide. He openly laughed with everyone, kept clinging to Kochi a bit too much now that the boy had his memories back and just enjoyed life as much as he could, so why should Taiga ruin that mood?
“Don’t worry about it, I will still get more customers than you,” Taiga replied with a wink on which Reo burst out laughing as Myuto started pouting.
Taiga found Hiromitsu and Taisuke setting up the window sills as he stepped inside and Shime and Fu were helping Kochi bringing futons inside the guest rooms. Hokuto was heard upstairs, shouting something at Fuma who was about to come downstairs, but turned around to help Hokuto with whatever he was setting up. Kentaro was still not allowed to move much so he had no other choice, but sit around and let the others do the work, but with Fuma helping out as well it was definitely easier for him to sit still.
With a light smile Taiga walked down the corridor to the room for the kimono, feeling a bit nostalgic as the red color vanished and was replaced with the usual brown wood after the next sliding door. At least that part was the same as in their old house, making it look a bit familiar. The room was quite spacious and had windows towards the river so that it was even brighter than the last one. All of their personal belongings had ended up in this room for now as well, because Kamenashi hadn’t decided the rooms for the boys yet, just his personal room had been decided already.
Carefully Taiga put the last kimono into the shelf before he started looking through the belongings of the boys until he sat back with a sigh.
“Looking for something?”
Taiga turned to find Aran standing in the open door. He had already announced that he would check up on the members of the house from time to time to make sure that everything was fine, but even though he had definitely better things to do Taiga was grateful for his help.
“Just something I hoped had been rescued from the flames, but if these are all of our belongings then I fear it didn’t make it out,” Taiga replied a bit down.
“So I guess it’s not replaceable?”
“At least not the feeling connected to it, but I guess it will be somehow possible to get replaced,” Taiga said with a faint smile, not wanting the younger one to worry for him.
Aran moved inside the room and crouched down next to him as he took a closer look at him before he changed the topic.
“How are your eyes?”
Taiga lifted his hand to his left eye which was now finally not swollen anymore, but the cut was still extremely visible.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore, but I fear it will still take some time to get used to the new circumstances.”
“You will manage, I am sure of it,” Aran said supportively.
“So when are you taking Shime back to his clan?” Taiga asked.
“He said he wants to help out until you open the house, and then he wants to leave.”
Taiga nodded on hearing that and he was really grateful for the help, but he could also imagine how impatient the boy must be to be able to finally go back home.
“And Kochi and Hokuto?” Taiga asked a bit hesitantly this time and Aran could see how hard it was for him to actually say good-bye.
“They didn’t decide yet. I offered them to escort them at any time, but until now they haven’t given me a date.”
Hokuto and Kochi had announced that they would go back to Hokuto’s clan together now that they didn’t have to run away anymore and of course all of them understood their decision, but it was still weird to say good-bye to them after they had just found out the truth. Kamenashi had also given his okay as Hokuto wasn’t actually a boy who got sold to Yoshiwara, but had entered under critical circumstances.
“Here you are, I was looking for you,” Juri was heard out of a sudden, making both boys turn towards him.
“You need help with something?” Taiga asked and got up immediately, followed by Aran who excused himself for now.
“Not exactly help,” Juri replied with a teasing smile on which Taiga lifted an eyebrow at him. “Kamenashi wants us to gather, he is going to announce our rooms.”
Well that made Taiga smile as well and they hurried back to the front part of the house where everyone was gathered in a kind of meeting room which they got new in this house and it was really practical to have a space they could all enter together.
“Ok so is everyone here?” Kamenashi asked and Taiga slid the door shut for now, feeling a bit sorry as he realized that Hikaru, Shime and the others were still working around the house even though they were all taking a break.
Taiga sat down between Reo and Juri, the three of them exchanging a knowing look as they had all seen the private rooms already and that was what made them all giggle a bit in the back while Kamenashi told the younger ones their rooms already. They were in group rooms like before with three to four people, but the boys had realized that there were way more rooms than they needed for now.
“Taisuke, Kentaro, you get the rooms on the end of the south and west corridor, please decide yourself which one you choose.
“Definitely the one where those noisy idiots don’t have their room,” Taisuke said as he looked over his shoulder towards Taiga and the others. Reo just stretched his tongue out on his look on which Juri hit him on the back of the head, resulting in him biting accidently on his own tongue. Reo’s whining and Juri’s apology made everyone turn around at them.
“Look, told you they were noisy,” Taisuke said towards Kentaro who just laughed it off.
“Don’t worry I had my room on their corridor before, I can deal with them again.”
“Taiga, Juri, Reo about your rooms,” Kamenashi started on which the boys fell immediately silent. Ryota and Shota had gotten a room together already which they seemed pretty happy about and now it was just the three of them left. “I can offer you three private rooms, but I leave the decision to you. They are all big enough to get shared as well.”
Taiga and Juri exchanged an excited look on hearing that, but then Taiga’s look darkened a bit as he realized that they would leave Reo out with Hokuto gone, but then there was a cheering noise next to them and Reo threw his arms in the air.
“Finally I don’t have to get kicked in the back from Juri anymore,” Reo chirped with a bright smile. “Feel free to do whatever you want with the other two rooms, but one is mine!”
Taiga could read the lie in the boy’s eyes immediately, but he couldn’t be more grateful for the boy’s offer and he voiced out a silent thank you towards him on which the boy’s smile changed to something softer.
“Then this matter is taken care of as well, then back to work the opening will be held in three days,” Kamenashi announced while most of the boys left the room already. “Taiga would you come here for a moment?”
Juri stopped as well, but Taiga shook his head with a brief smile. “Don’t worry, I will come in a minute, okay?”
Somehow he didn’t feel worried at all, because he had become quite good in reading the owner’s mood and it didn’t seem like he wanted to scold him. When they were left alone Taiga walked up to the man who was standing now, waiting for him.
“Let me see your face,” Kamenashi said and stretched out his arms on which Taiga stepped a bit closer so that he could touch the cut on his face.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” Taiga assured him, but Kamenashi’s look remained kind of sceptic, which made Taiga feel a bit uncomfortable out of a sudden. “Is it too bad after all?”
“What? No not at all, sorry I didn’t want to make you feel bad about it,” Kamenashi apologized which was also rare for the owner. With a sigh Kamenashi pulled his hands back, but there was obviously still something else he wanted to say, so Taiga kept waiting.
“You came here like a lot of the other boys already scarred from your previous life experiences, but this-” Kamenashi halted as he took another look at the boy’s face. “It’s the first time I had to be hold responsible for a boy in my care getting hurt this badly and I am really sorry for not being able to protect you.”
Now Taiga was left completely speechless, but it didn’t take long before he formed a thankful smile. “You came to my rescue that is already more than I could have asked for. No one ever cared for me in my life until now, I’ve to admit I need to get used to the feeling that I can rely on people.”
It was indeed a weird feeling, but hadn’t he learned over the past months that every member of the house was actually caring more for him than he had thought at first? Taisuke’s wall had finally collapsed at some point and even Shota and Ryota had started forming bonds with them all and as scary and strict Kamenashi was if necessary he was always there for them and seeing how broken he felt through not having been able to protect Taiga this time showed how much he actually treasured all the boys.
“I hope you will rely on us from now on as well even though this might not be the place you had imagined to spend such a long time at.”
“With the right people around I think it is a quite enjoyable place though,” Taiga replied honestly with a brighter smile this time and Kamenashi seemed happy about hearing that.
***
“You found a good spot already as I see?” Hokuto asked with a lopsided smile as he walked inside Juri’s and Taiga’s room. Taiga had opened the window and was looking down at the river while holding one of Hokuto’s books in his hands.
When the other one approached him he wanted to get up from the windowsill, but Hokuto signaled him to remain seated. It was weird seeing Hokuto in a Hakama and Haori instead of his usual work clothes, but there was no need to wear them anymore.
“Are you by any chance hiding?”
“Why would I?” Taiga asked, not even convincing himself with that question.
“Well, all the others are wishing us all the best for the whole day already and while you were almost crying when Shime left after we reopened the house you didn’t even come out of the room at all today.”
“Well, I am still not allowed to work and I don’t feel like walking around town until my wound didn’t get at least a bit better.”
When Hokuto suddenly snatched the book out of his hands and hit him with it on the head Taiga let out a whine, rubbing his head.
“Idiot, why are you even trying? You are a bad liar and we all know it. Is it so hard to say good-bye to us?”
It was indeed, but Taiga didn’t have to voice that out. With Shime it had been hard enough and he had just known the boy for a few days, but he owed the boy his life in a way so seeing him leaving was making him retreat to his room, especially when Kochi and Hokuto announced just two days later that they were leaving as well now that the house was reopened again and things were going smoothly.
“I am just not sure what to tell you,” Taiga said honestly this time. “I am really happy for both of you, because you deserve this happy ending and I wish you all the best from now on, but...I can’t deny that I will miss you, both of you. You helped me through so much here in Yoshiwara even though you had so many secrets and problems to fight on your own.”
“Then after you and the others have come to both our rescue I think we can call it even now?” Hokuto said with a smile. Taiga tried to reply with a smile himself, but it just didn’t end up as bright as he wanted it.
“Here, don’t forget this,” Taiga said as he held the book out to him, but Hokuto shook his head and pushed it back.
“Keep it, you need to practice your reading more and that book is a pretty good start to do so.”
“Thank you,” Taiga replied with a still bitter look and when Hokuto let out a sigh he feared he’d get scolded for behaving so ridiculous, but to his surprise he got pulled into a hug.
“No one said we won’t ever come back you know? Our province is a few days travel away so it won’t be often, but I promise you that we won’t forget about all of you!”
That was a promise which finally made Taiga relax a bit and he dared to hug the other one back, finally forming a smile. “We will always wait for your visit then!”
“Mostly around the left eye it feels a bit weird through the swollen part,” Taiga explained.
Everyone had gathered in the room the next morning after Taiga had allowed them to come. He couldn’t promise that he wouldn’t get a mental breakdown if he was announced blind, but he didn’t want to shut his friends out he had learnt that it wasn’t fair.
Kamenashi, Taisuke and Nakamaru were sitting on his right, while Juri was sitting on his left holding his hand.
The other boys were sitting more towards the end of the bed, looking at everything in silence, just Shime had decided to take some more rest instead of joining and Taiga knew the other one just wanted to be polite as he obviously felt still more like an outside than one of Taiga’s close friends.
“The cut is still quite deep on the left side so be careful with moving as well,” Nakamaru explained. “So for now let’s check your right eye.”
Taiga felt how something was put over his left eye and he felt nauseous all of a sudden, but Juri immediately squeezed his hand.
“No matter what happens we are here for you!”
Taiga squeezed his hand in reply and finally dared to slowly open his right eye. Just opening it was a huge effort for him as the cut still hurt just through that small movement and the part around his eyes was pretty swollen. Tears filled his eye immediately and he had to shut it again.
“Does it hurt?” Nakamaru asked in a hurry and used a small cotton tool to wipe the tears away.
“It’s unpleasant and stings a bit,” Taiga said before he tried again. Silence filled the room as Taiga tried several times until he could keep his eye open a bit longer and then he squeezed Juri’s hand with even more force.
“What is it?” Juri asked worried on which Taiga turned his head a bit and flashed a bright smile.
“What’s that worried look for?”
“Of course I am worried, you- wait...what?”
“He can see, oh my god he can see!” Reo shouted through the room and pulled Shota in a hug because he was sitting right next to him and he couldn’t actually hug Taiga at the moment.
Taiga let out a small chuckle on seeing his friend’s reaction and the others also flashed him a supportive smile. Just one person wasn’t smiling and Taiga pulled Juri’s hand up to his face to drop a small kiss on its back.
“Idiot why are you crying now? Everyone else is smiling!” Taiga teased Juri as he saw how the boy tried to fight his tears, but couldn’t.
“I am relieved that’s all,” the boy hurried to say before he wiped the tears away and tried to flash a smile.
“Okay Taiga, let’s go to your left eye,” Nakamaru said as he was sure that his right eye was okay. He changed the eye cover to the right eye and told him to open his left eye.
First Taiga felt like he couldn’t open his eye at all, because of the swelling and it hurt a lot when he tried to open it, making his tears flow over nonstop. After several tries he felt already exhausted, but finally his tears seemed to have stopped, nevertheless the swelling was a problem.
With a sigh he relaxed and fell a bit back on the pillow, trying to look at the ceiling with his covered eye to help the left eye to get a fix point if he was able to open it.
“I fear through the swelling I won’t be able to open it for now,” Taiga said after another felt failure. Silence followed his statement. “What is it?” Taiga asked a bit worried on which Juri squeezed his hand a bit too tight this time, making Taiga’s nausea hitting him even more.
“Taiga, your eye is open,” Nakamaru let out in a calm yet slightly worried tone.
Not being able to believe the doctor’s words Taiga lifted one hand carefully to his face, trying to feel between all the swollen and cut parts. With a gasp he pulled his hand back and before he could even put more pressure onto Juri’s hand the boy had reacted already and had pulled his hand up, covering it with both of his hands.
“It’s okay. It’s not the end of the world,” Juri soothed him immediately.
“Not to forget that it looks kind of cool,” Reo was heard before he yelped after Kochi or maybe Shota had definitely hit him.
“Could you give me a mirror?” Taiga asked as he removed the eye cover from his right eye and Nakamaru reached in his equipment box while Juri and Taisuke helped Taiga sit up.
“Here you go,” Nakamaru said as he handed him a small hand mirror.
Taiga didn’t even know what he had expected, but he couldn’t hold back a gasp when he saw his own face and Juri was right next to him, rubbing his back soothingly.
“Don’t worry the cut will faint after about two to three months. It will never disappear completely, but the swelling will disappear soon too.”
That was at least one relief for him, because he couldn’t recognize his own face at the moment. When he dared to take a closer look at his left eye he realized that there was no need to ask Nakamaru if there was a chance of it healing eventually. It had turned completely grey in the middle, a slight cut visible at the side which had obviously destroyed the lens.
“Are you okay?” Hokuto dared to ask this time as Taiga kept staring at his own reflexion.
Slowly Taiga took the mirror down and looked back at his friends before he flashed a faint smile.
“Well at least Reo is right, it looks kind of cool, doesn’t it?”
“Look, told you!” Reo laughed on which Kochi and Shota both hit him on the back of his head, making him pout.
“I will take a look later once more, for now please be careful not to infect the cut and if you feel like your right eye gets tired make sure to give it enough rest, it’s been just a week it will need more time to heal completely.”
Taiga thanked the doctor for all his help and he left with Kamenashi and Taisuke.
“Are you really okay?” Kochi asked this time as he and the others spread more around the bed.
“As long as I don’t mess up my right eye as well I should be fine, shouldn’t I?”
It was the weird heavy atmosphere which made it hard for Taiga to keep joking around.
“I am sorry guys. I know this is all my fault.”
Taiga lifted his hand as most of them wanted to protest immediately.
“I don’t mean the injury! I mean your gloomy faces! I was extremely egoistic after we came back and I worried all of you a lot through pushing you away, so it’s just natural that you worry now when I try to joke it off, but please trust me I am really okay! I am more than happy that I get the chance to see again at all! It doesn’t matter if it’s both eyes or just one!”
“I am relieved to hear that,” Kentaro finally interfered as well and smiled back at his kohai.
“I guess a few of us will need some more time, but then we can all finally head back to work.”
“Right, about that….” Kochi started, but it wasn’t just Taiga who looked curious at him and also Hokuto who seemed to be the only one who knew what was going on. “There is something we have to talk to you about.”
***
“Such a damn beautiful house, but such beaten up boys, I fear you won’t succeed with that strategy.”
“Shut it Myuto or you will join those beaten up boys,” Reo mocked him as Myuto and Hikaru showed up in front of their new house.
The whole district was still rebuilding and while Myuto’s house had been luckily undamaged the streets around Kamaneashi’s house had been completely destroyed by the fire. Their new location though was even more central and on the biggest street right next to the river, resulting with their windows of the private rooms being right at the river to most of the boys’ liking. The house itself was also bigger than the first one, but still with two floors as the rules didn’t allow more floors in the Yoshiwara district.
“You need any help?” Hikaru asked and took the table Ryota and Shota were carrying towards the building and they kept staring after him in disbelief as he carried it inside all by himself as if it wasn’t heavy at all.
“Taiga would you mind bringing these inside the kimono room?” Reo asked as he was talking nonstop with Myuto instead of bringing all the stuff inside.
“Sure, no problem,” Taiga replied and he lifted up the kimono they had brought over from Nakamaru’s house. “Are these the last ones?”
“Yes the others are inside already,” Reo replied before he suddenly hit Myuto on the head. “Would you stop staring at him like that?”
Taiga hadn’t even noticed and he didn’t feel angry at all even as Myuto apologized. He had gotten used to the weird glances he got here and there, not to forget that Hokuto looked even worse at the moment, but the younger one didn’t hide. He openly laughed with everyone, kept clinging to Kochi a bit too much now that the boy had his memories back and just enjoyed life as much as he could, so why should Taiga ruin that mood?
“Don’t worry about it, I will still get more customers than you,” Taiga replied with a wink on which Reo burst out laughing as Myuto started pouting.
Taiga found Hiromitsu and Taisuke setting up the window sills as he stepped inside and Shime and Fu were helping Kochi bringing futons inside the guest rooms. Hokuto was heard upstairs, shouting something at Fuma who was about to come downstairs, but turned around to help Hokuto with whatever he was setting up. Kentaro was still not allowed to move much so he had no other choice, but sit around and let the others do the work, but with Fuma helping out as well it was definitely easier for him to sit still.
With a light smile Taiga walked down the corridor to the room for the kimono, feeling a bit nostalgic as the red color vanished and was replaced with the usual brown wood after the next sliding door. At least that part was the same as in their old house, making it look a bit familiar. The room was quite spacious and had windows towards the river so that it was even brighter than the last one. All of their personal belongings had ended up in this room for now as well, because Kamenashi hadn’t decided the rooms for the boys yet, just his personal room had been decided already.
Carefully Taiga put the last kimono into the shelf before he started looking through the belongings of the boys until he sat back with a sigh.
“Looking for something?”
Taiga turned to find Aran standing in the open door. He had already announced that he would check up on the members of the house from time to time to make sure that everything was fine, but even though he had definitely better things to do Taiga was grateful for his help.
“Just something I hoped had been rescued from the flames, but if these are all of our belongings then I fear it didn’t make it out,” Taiga replied a bit down.
“So I guess it’s not replaceable?”
“At least not the feeling connected to it, but I guess it will be somehow possible to get replaced,” Taiga said with a faint smile, not wanting the younger one to worry for him.
Aran moved inside the room and crouched down next to him as he took a closer look at him before he changed the topic.
“How are your eyes?”
Taiga lifted his hand to his left eye which was now finally not swollen anymore, but the cut was still extremely visible.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore, but I fear it will still take some time to get used to the new circumstances.”
“You will manage, I am sure of it,” Aran said supportively.
“So when are you taking Shime back to his clan?” Taiga asked.
“He said he wants to help out until you open the house, and then he wants to leave.”
Taiga nodded on hearing that and he was really grateful for the help, but he could also imagine how impatient the boy must be to be able to finally go back home.
“And Kochi and Hokuto?” Taiga asked a bit hesitantly this time and Aran could see how hard it was for him to actually say good-bye.
“They didn’t decide yet. I offered them to escort them at any time, but until now they haven’t given me a date.”
Hokuto and Kochi had announced that they would go back to Hokuto’s clan together now that they didn’t have to run away anymore and of course all of them understood their decision, but it was still weird to say good-bye to them after they had just found out the truth. Kamenashi had also given his okay as Hokuto wasn’t actually a boy who got sold to Yoshiwara, but had entered under critical circumstances.
“Here you are, I was looking for you,” Juri was heard out of a sudden, making both boys turn towards him.
“You need help with something?” Taiga asked and got up immediately, followed by Aran who excused himself for now.
“Not exactly help,” Juri replied with a teasing smile on which Taiga lifted an eyebrow at him. “Kamenashi wants us to gather, he is going to announce our rooms.”
Well that made Taiga smile as well and they hurried back to the front part of the house where everyone was gathered in a kind of meeting room which they got new in this house and it was really practical to have a space they could all enter together.
“Ok so is everyone here?” Kamenashi asked and Taiga slid the door shut for now, feeling a bit sorry as he realized that Hikaru, Shime and the others were still working around the house even though they were all taking a break.
Taiga sat down between Reo and Juri, the three of them exchanging a knowing look as they had all seen the private rooms already and that was what made them all giggle a bit in the back while Kamenashi told the younger ones their rooms already. They were in group rooms like before with three to four people, but the boys had realized that there were way more rooms than they needed for now.
“Taisuke, Kentaro, you get the rooms on the end of the south and west corridor, please decide yourself which one you choose.
“Definitely the one where those noisy idiots don’t have their room,” Taisuke said as he looked over his shoulder towards Taiga and the others. Reo just stretched his tongue out on his look on which Juri hit him on the back of the head, resulting in him biting accidently on his own tongue. Reo’s whining and Juri’s apology made everyone turn around at them.
“Look, told you they were noisy,” Taisuke said towards Kentaro who just laughed it off.
“Don’t worry I had my room on their corridor before, I can deal with them again.”
“Taiga, Juri, Reo about your rooms,” Kamenashi started on which the boys fell immediately silent. Ryota and Shota had gotten a room together already which they seemed pretty happy about and now it was just the three of them left. “I can offer you three private rooms, but I leave the decision to you. They are all big enough to get shared as well.”
Taiga and Juri exchanged an excited look on hearing that, but then Taiga’s look darkened a bit as he realized that they would leave Reo out with Hokuto gone, but then there was a cheering noise next to them and Reo threw his arms in the air.
“Finally I don’t have to get kicked in the back from Juri anymore,” Reo chirped with a bright smile. “Feel free to do whatever you want with the other two rooms, but one is mine!”
Taiga could read the lie in the boy’s eyes immediately, but he couldn’t be more grateful for the boy’s offer and he voiced out a silent thank you towards him on which the boy’s smile changed to something softer.
“Then this matter is taken care of as well, then back to work the opening will be held in three days,” Kamenashi announced while most of the boys left the room already. “Taiga would you come here for a moment?”
Juri stopped as well, but Taiga shook his head with a brief smile. “Don’t worry, I will come in a minute, okay?”
Somehow he didn’t feel worried at all, because he had become quite good in reading the owner’s mood and it didn’t seem like he wanted to scold him. When they were left alone Taiga walked up to the man who was standing now, waiting for him.
“Let me see your face,” Kamenashi said and stretched out his arms on which Taiga stepped a bit closer so that he could touch the cut on his face.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” Taiga assured him, but Kamenashi’s look remained kind of sceptic, which made Taiga feel a bit uncomfortable out of a sudden. “Is it too bad after all?”
“What? No not at all, sorry I didn’t want to make you feel bad about it,” Kamenashi apologized which was also rare for the owner. With a sigh Kamenashi pulled his hands back, but there was obviously still something else he wanted to say, so Taiga kept waiting.
“You came here like a lot of the other boys already scarred from your previous life experiences, but this-” Kamenashi halted as he took another look at the boy’s face. “It’s the first time I had to be hold responsible for a boy in my care getting hurt this badly and I am really sorry for not being able to protect you.”
Now Taiga was left completely speechless, but it didn’t take long before he formed a thankful smile. “You came to my rescue that is already more than I could have asked for. No one ever cared for me in my life until now, I’ve to admit I need to get used to the feeling that I can rely on people.”
It was indeed a weird feeling, but hadn’t he learned over the past months that every member of the house was actually caring more for him than he had thought at first? Taisuke’s wall had finally collapsed at some point and even Shota and Ryota had started forming bonds with them all and as scary and strict Kamenashi was if necessary he was always there for them and seeing how broken he felt through not having been able to protect Taiga this time showed how much he actually treasured all the boys.
“I hope you will rely on us from now on as well even though this might not be the place you had imagined to spend such a long time at.”
“With the right people around I think it is a quite enjoyable place though,” Taiga replied honestly with a brighter smile this time and Kamenashi seemed happy about hearing that.
***
“You found a good spot already as I see?” Hokuto asked with a lopsided smile as he walked inside Juri’s and Taiga’s room. Taiga had opened the window and was looking down at the river while holding one of Hokuto’s books in his hands.
When the other one approached him he wanted to get up from the windowsill, but Hokuto signaled him to remain seated. It was weird seeing Hokuto in a Hakama and Haori instead of his usual work clothes, but there was no need to wear them anymore.
“Are you by any chance hiding?”
“Why would I?” Taiga asked, not even convincing himself with that question.
“Well, all the others are wishing us all the best for the whole day already and while you were almost crying when Shime left after we reopened the house you didn’t even come out of the room at all today.”
“Well, I am still not allowed to work and I don’t feel like walking around town until my wound didn’t get at least a bit better.”
When Hokuto suddenly snatched the book out of his hands and hit him with it on the head Taiga let out a whine, rubbing his head.
“Idiot, why are you even trying? You are a bad liar and we all know it. Is it so hard to say good-bye to us?”
It was indeed, but Taiga didn’t have to voice that out. With Shime it had been hard enough and he had just known the boy for a few days, but he owed the boy his life in a way so seeing him leaving was making him retreat to his room, especially when Kochi and Hokuto announced just two days later that they were leaving as well now that the house was reopened again and things were going smoothly.
“I am just not sure what to tell you,” Taiga said honestly this time. “I am really happy for both of you, because you deserve this happy ending and I wish you all the best from now on, but...I can’t deny that I will miss you, both of you. You helped me through so much here in Yoshiwara even though you had so many secrets and problems to fight on your own.”
“Then after you and the others have come to both our rescue I think we can call it even now?” Hokuto said with a smile. Taiga tried to reply with a smile himself, but it just didn’t end up as bright as he wanted it.
“Here, don’t forget this,” Taiga said as he held the book out to him, but Hokuto shook his head and pushed it back.
“Keep it, you need to practice your reading more and that book is a pretty good start to do so.”
“Thank you,” Taiga replied with a still bitter look and when Hokuto let out a sigh he feared he’d get scolded for behaving so ridiculous, but to his surprise he got pulled into a hug.
“No one said we won’t ever come back you know? Our province is a few days travel away so it won’t be often, but I promise you that we won’t forget about all of you!”
That was a promise which finally made Taiga relax a bit and he dared to hug the other one back, finally forming a smile. “We will always wait for your visit then!”