Kondo soon turned right as instructed and proceeded down an alley until they reached a very tall and narrow building, which was four stories high. He seemed to recognize the symbol on the cloth hanging at the entrance, which Yuki read to say, “Ueda.”

They entered within to find a dimly lit entry room, with a pair of foxes standing guard.

“I wish to speak with Mr. Ueda. I have a new servant for House Ishihara,” Kondo explained, and one of the foxes nodded and proceeded into the room behind her. After a few minutes, the fox returned and beckoned them to follow. Both entered a room made for entertaining guests, for though it was not very bright, there was at least tatami flooring and painted images of an idyllic garden on the moveable walls. In the center of the room was a low wooden table surrounded by several silk pillows which were to be used as chairs. Atop the table was a large bottle of sake, several books, tomes, ledgers, and a bag that was filled with money.

At the far end of the table, and facing them, sat a man who could only best be described as a mountain in his own right. He was so enormous, that his girth took up two, perhaps three pillows. He was dressed in a bright blue and gold striped kimono which could barely fit around him, so that it left his soft chest mostly exposed. His face was thick like a brick of mochi, and it was so fat that his eyes appeared to be closed, even though Yuki knew he was looking directly at them. His hair was slicked back and tied at the top, in the fashionable style of the day. He appeared neither old nor young, and though he was so strikingly grotesque, there was an air of importance to him. He held a small cup of sake, but his hands were so large and fingers so thick that it seemed as if he were drinking from a thimble.

“Come, sit, sit,” the man gestured, his low, garbled voice filling the room. He took a sip from the tiny cup and put it down.

Kondo bowed and sat, and Yuki mimicked him, fearful of this giant man. “Is this my new master?” she thought, beginning to panic.

“I believe that this business has already been prearranged, Mr. Ueda,” Kondo said after he had settled in across the table.

“Oh, has it now?” the man quipped, as his neck rolls quivered slightly. “Please state your name and the nature of this business then.”

“I am Kondo from the Shin-Shadowhand,” he explained quietly. “My master and your master have already come to an agreement.”

“Ah!” the big man said, his eyebrows lifting in surprise. “So, you’re the one! Well, I should have known with all that black you’re wearing. You know, black used to be my color in the ring, but that was ages ago.” He smiled upon that nostalgic reflection.

“Mr. Ueda used to be a grand champion sumo wrestler,” Kondo explained, turning towards Yuki.

“That’s right, that’s right, three times!” the man assented.

“He was finally forcibly retired because of a controversial move he used in the ring.” There was a hint of warning in Kondo’s voice that Yuki picked up on.

“Such things are bound to happen in the heat of battle, and that’s what wrestling is – a battle!”

Yuki’s heart was already racing, but now she was flush. Kondo, however, did not seem impressed. “Anyways, this is the girl that was agreed upon. Her name is...”

“No need! No need!” said Ueda, waving a hand. “It does not matter what her name is now. She will get a new one, and that is all that matters to us.”

Yuki’s heart sank even lower. “A new name?”

Kondo paused for a moment, almost waiting for Ueda to continue. When he did not, he spoke again. “It is my understanding that she will be kept safe.”

Udea grinned. “Safe indeed! This district is probably the safest place there is, and that is saying much considering you are within perhaps the most dangerous city on the Islands. The foxes keep a good watch on things, and well, most people keep in line because they don’t want their privileges revoked. She should have no problems unless she brings them on herself.” With that, he turned his round face towards Yuki. She could see him staring at her, inspecting her, judging her.

“My master assured me she would not be touched,” Kondo continued. “In any way.”

With that the huge man eased his bulk forward, resting an elbow on the table. “Well, I’m afraid that might be a problem. You do know what we do here Mr...”

“Kondo,” he said, reminding him.

“Mr. Kondo,” Udea repeated. “We have one business here, only one.”

“What does he mean?” Yuki thought. She saw the tea houses and theaters outside. Surely those were businesses too.

“I understand,” her captor replied, his features sharpening. “Yet this is not an ordinary case.”

“There are no special cases here,” Udea barked back, a frown resting on his face. “And those are the Lady’s own words, not mine. Now, it’s my job to initiate the newcomers. So, unless she has any special talents, she will go through the same system as the others.”

Kondo looked over at Yuki and his face was strange. It was the same look of pity, mingled with desperation.

“Talents?”

“Well, you know, anything we could use around here. Musicians are especially rare.”

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“I can play the shamisen,” Yuki said, speaking up.

The giant’s head turned towards her once again.

“She can play?” Ueda asked, his question directed at Kondo.

“Of course she can,” he said emphatically. Yuki did not understand why now, of all times, he was acting so protective of her.

With this Ueda leaned back. It appeared to be an awkward thing for him to do. But he also plucked up a tome from the table and then flipped through it rapidly.

“Hem,” he said, his brow furrowing as he read. “You might be in luck. The Lady became displeased with one of the musicians recently and had her removed. On top of being the lead recruiter, I am also in charge of the girls in this house.”

“Which means?” Kondo asked, his voice sounding hopeful.

“Which means I have room for her with the musicians. Now it doesn’t mean she won’t be offered up like the others. It just means that for now, we’ll have her focus on her craft. Once she can perform and becomes desirable, I’m sure she’ll take the bath like the rest.”

This final phrase, ‘bath’ seemed to displease Kondo, but he forced himself to remain neutral.

“Very well,” her captor said. “I will return at some point to make sure she is still being taken care of.”

“That’s fine,” the big man said, shutting the book with a thump. “But if you ever want more than that you’ll have to pay like the rest. She belongs to us now.”

Kondo’s face went slightly red, and his eyes flashed rage. “She is nothing to me. I am only completing a mission.”

“Oh, ho ho!” Udea laughed. “A mission, eh? I’ll never understand you fastidious types. Always so hard, always trying to maintain this wall of self-discipline! It’s all a lie, I say. Everyone has desires, and if you do not indulge them once and a while, well...”

“Self-discipline is meant to combat self-destruction,” Kondo shot back sharply, his eyes covering Ueda’s massive frame. He then stood and looked at Yuki one last time. “You got your wish. I am leaving you now. Goodbye.” With that, he bowed and exited the room.

Once he was gone, Yuki shrank under Ueda’s eyeless stare. A fox returned to the room once Kondo had left.

“Call for Misasa-chan,” Udea commanded, and the fox quickly disappeared into the room behind her boss.

For several moments, the big man studied her. “Did you know?” he said, licking his bottom lip and leaning forward. “I used to initiate all the girls right here in this room. I thought it was a good thing, for then the terror of the first night was already over. No one ever thanked me for it, but I believe it was a valuable lesson.”

Yuki was frozen, but she felt the impulse to get up and run rising within her. She now fully realized what this place was, what their business was, and what this man was saying.

Ueda smiled and reclined back once again. “But these days it has become quite bothersome. A pity, eh?”

She did not know what to say as she was so terrified. Just then the door slid open once again, and a young woman entered.

“Ah, Misasa-chan!” he said, “One of my favorites! This here is a new talent we have just acquired. I’d like you to take her under your wing. It sounds like she can play the shamisen as well. Get her situated in your family.”

The young woman stepped forward. She looked to be around Yuki’s age but had a youthful, elfin face. She was dressed in a simple kimono but was well put together, with hints of red powder on her cheeks, and she wore pink rouge on her lips. Her hair was tied back into an ordinary tight ponytail, but it was thick and luscious. It seemed to shine in the dim light of the room. Her face was slightly rounded, and this perhaps was the only unattractive thing about her. She was short but dainty. She bowed towards Ueda who dwarfed her petite frame. It was a practiced, well-balanced bow.

“My lord, I am still quite young, only an imouto myself. You honor me by giving me an apprentice of my own.”

“Remember it!” he commanded with a crude grin. “And come visit me whenever you are feeling generous.”

She bowed once again and then turned back to face Yukiana. “It is nice to meet you. My name is Misasa. Please, follow me.” Her voice was clear and controlled. It contained just the right tones of formality mixed with a friendliness that it pulled Yuki from her cushion. Anything had to be better than sitting across from this bloated man, she thought.

They passed out of the room just as Ueda took another sip from his tiny cup, and then moved into a long corridor followed by a tight, winding stairwell. The fox that escorted them stopped at the bottom and let them ascend by themselves. When they were two floors up, Misasa began to speak.

“Welcome to Ishihara,” she said, glancing over at Yuki who was in a state of bewilderment. “What is your name?”

Yuki paused, causing Misasa to stop. “He said that my real name cannot be used here.”

“That is true, but it is important to never forget where you come from,” Misasa said. “Now say it out loud. Come on.”

“Yukiana,” she said. “My name is Yukiana.”

Misasa smiled. “That is a beautiful name. Never forget it. Every night before you go to bed, it is important to remember your real name. In this place, it is easy to get lost. It is called the City of Dreams for a good reason. Let your true name anchor you to the truth.”

“What truth?” Yuki asked.

“The truth that none of us really belong here,” Misasa said, almost in a whisper. She then turned and began to climb once again. After another story, they came to a long corridor and proceeded down it. There were rooms on each side, all of them filled with young women. Some were putting on makeup, others were knitting, and some were exercising. Yet each room was full. At the end of the corridor, they came to the last room and took one step inside. It was a medium-sized wood-floored room with a dozen folded futons along the far walls. Here the women were all holding or playing various instruments, but they paused to get a look at the newcomer.

“Hello everyone. This is Yukiana. From now on she will be my Eye.”

Misasa had Yuki introduce herself to the group, and each smiled cordially at her, before returning to their practice.

“This is our sleeping quarters,” Misasa explained, stepping out and shutting the door so they could talk over the music. “You are fortunate, for this entire house is reserved for musicians. Most initiates begin by learning the ways of pleasure. It is the core of what we do, I suppose.” Yuki could sense the hint of despondency in her voice.

“Did you start like that?” Yuki asked.

Misasa nodded. “I was brought here by my father when I was about twelve years old. I was from a poor fishing family, and my brothers all died in the war. As he was getting older, he could not work like he used to, and he and my mother needed money to survive. So, he decided to take me to Ishihara and sold me for a competitive price. I have not seen my family since, but I hope that the money helped them live a good life.”

In hearing this Yuki slowly dropped to her knees and began to weep. The story itself was a tragedy, but what was worse was the cold candor in which she told it. Misasa also knelt and put a hand on Yuki’s shoulder.

“It is good to cry,” she said softly. “I am surprised you were able to last this long. You must be extraordinarily strong. But this place is not so bad. You will soon get used to it. Here women have real power, that which is not seen anywhere else on the Islands. And, if you work hard, who knows, perhaps you can become a high-ranking courtesan. I started in the pleasure houses, but I worked hard with the shamisen and practiced every day. Soon enough, I was out of the pleasure houses and started training among the musicians. You are already here! Have hope in that at least.”

Yuki was able to regain control for a moment. “It’s different,” she said in between convulsing sobs, “I was taken from my father and brought here. He did not want to sell me! I am not supposed to be here!”

“Like I said,” Misasa said tenderly, wrapping Yuki in her soft arms. “None of us are.”