I just started working on Chapter 2. Should be ready by June, and if it's ready earlier, then I will make sure to announce that. Apologies for the delay, but my life is still very crazy.
When a new day begins, the memory of the moon gets erased by the blazing rays of the sun.
Chapter 1: You will be introduced to the main character, Reader (y/n), and her household. I chose the specific and familiar format of (y/n) to retain the feeling of the story being specifically written for each one of you. It makes it more fun, especially in the smutty bits.
Warnings: mentions of sex (Yes, there will be some heavy-weight smut in future chapters. I promise.)
MASTERLIST
Soft footsteps followed the path of the long and narrow corridor, snaking its way from the service quarters and through the main building. The space was lit only by the warm light seeping through the paper-lined walls of the adjacent rooms, thus contributing to the already sleepy atmosphere of the evening. A young maid was carrying a stack of steaming warm fresh towels, occasionally bringing them closer to her face to inhale the smell of fresh linen. Her cheeks were blushed from the hot vapour, and her expression was calm and indifferent.
The first chambers on her journey were the quarters of the Master of the household. This was the largest part of the manor and the most guarded one. She stopped right outside of the shoji door, and the thin wall letting sound diffuse toward her. High-pitched moaning, deep masculine grunts, and a rhythmic pounding sound were all that could be heard.
The master of the house was already balls deep into his nightly distractions. The young maid shook her head and rolled her eyes, the blush on her cheeks gaining a more crimson hue as the sounds reaching her senses brought out a clear vision in her mind’s eye.
Suddenly, she was shuffled on her way by a nearby guard. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows in silent disapproval of the audible actions, only to get an amused smirk in response and a whisper:
‘Sweetheart, it will be my turn once I’m off my shift. A couple of hookers in the Red Light District are already waiting for this.’ He continued his words by pointing to his loins and his smile widened.
‘You are such a pig, Akio.’ She giggled a little as apart from his filthy sex life, he was a decent person.
‘Have fun listening to the inspiration.’ She nodded to the shoji door.
He made a conspiratory head gesture adding a wink, and waved his hand as she resumed her walk.
After a few minutes, she finally reached her destination. A room at the very end of the mansion, the quarters of the oldest daughter in the household, y/n. This secluded part of the building was immersed in peaceful silence, interrupted only by wind steadily picking up in strength outside.
The maid slid the shoji door open slowly and carefully and entered the room, closing the door behind her with just as much care. She shuffled quietly to the far end of the room and placed the stack of towels onto a small side table. She then walked up to the woman kneeling in front of a mirror.
‘Lady y/n let me help you’
The hairbrush changed hands seamlessly and now it was the maid's skilled hands that were running the bristles through a smooth and shiny length of ebony.
‘Thank you, Miho’
You turned around to look at Miho and smiled.
‘You are blushing, my dear. Was my father at it again?’
Miho nodded her head in response while you sighed deeply, shaking your head.
‘Who was it tonight? And please do not tell me it was that imbecile girl Shoko.’
The maid did not say anything, but her facial expression was enough to tell the story.
‘For the grace of gods, he is such a smart man, a scholar almost and that is who he spends time with. I am disgusted, to be honest with you. What hope do I have to find a decent man? They all seem to only be interested in one thing when interacting with us females.’
‘Well…in Master’s defense, there is nothing wrong with wanting to pillow.’ Miho almost stopped herself from saying this knowing you would most likely snap at her, but you were not in the mood for lecturing anyone tonight.
‘No, there is nothing wrong with that. You are right. I just wish he spent more time with Mother in that way, that is all. As soon as she began growing older, he turned his attention to the younger concubines. That is what annoys me.’
‘That’s the way of the world, Lady y/n.’
You thought for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with the maid’s last remark.
‘I for one do not wish for that to happen to me when I grow older. I’d rather commit seppuku than watch my husband lose interest in me.’
The maid remained silent in response, methodically brushing your hair. Her common sense prevented her from comforting you. There was no comfort to give when tradition ruled over emotions, holding women captive to their fate.
Tomorrow, you were to meet a suitor. The oldest son of a warrior clan. You were not an easy woman to marry off, despite your good looks. You were deemed difficult, and obstinate even after a whole range of suitors lost interest after interacting with you and your opinionated mouth. Hence, your father’s last hopes of getting rid of you now lay in the marriage deal he was attempting to broker.
As if capable of reading your mind, Miho spoke softly, her voice blending gently with the warming crackling of fire.
‘My lady, do you think young Tsugikuni-sama is handsome? I heard stories about him and they sounded promising.’
You shrugged and sighed: ‘Well then, someone like that will have good access to women. They would probably perform their duties without payment or reward.’
Once again silence followed. The wind outside had picked up and its sorrowful howling penetrated the thin paper of the house walls. The courtyard gate was slamming repeatedly and whips of rain hit the tiled roof.
‘The demons are out hunting again. I would not want to be in the woods on a night like this.’
‘Miho, do you really believe that superstitious nonsense? There are no demons. At least I do not believe there are.’
‘My lady, I don’t know, but the other day, when I was fetching some fruit, I overheard the villagers talk about people being murdered in the middle of the night. The way the bodies were massacred indicated that it was not the work of a human but rather an animal or something worse, supernatural.’
‘These simpletons believe what they want to believe, my dear Miho. There is most likely a murderer amongst them that their relatives are trying to protect by concocting outlandish stories. ‘
‘The corpses had parts missing, they were, well, eaten, my Lady. And yes, I understand that there are humans that involve themselves in cannibalism, but this? I am not sure what to think. I do choose to go with the villagers’ version.’
‘Miho, your beliefs are your own and I will not try to change your views. I just think that it is always wise to stay rational and objective in the face of the unknown. Don’t you think?’
‘Yes, I agree with the last bit, my Lady. And, if I may, that could be applied to our commitments to men. Don’t you think, my Lady? Because it is a large unknown in who we meet and who they are as a person. My Lady…please give this new suitor a chance. Do not scare them off as you usually do.’
She almost bit her tongue at her impertinence, but she could not hold that all inside. Awaiting a scolding, she knelt completely still.
‘I know, Miho. I know. I will try. Thank you.’
You looked at the maid and a sad smile was all you could give her.
‘You may go now. I need to get some sleep now. It will be a big day.’
The maid bowed and left almost as quietly as she arrived, leaving you to the night ahead.
After she left, you finished off the last of your evening beauty routine and headed off to your futon. But sleep was hard to capture and you laid there listening to the rain and wind battering the outer walls of the courtyard and the roof over you. In foul weather, you were extra grateful for the safety of your vast and well-built family home. All the world’s evil felt far away and not real.
When you at last fell into slumber, your sleep was not a calm one. You were visited by dreams haunted by samurai demons, monsters with several eyes and arms, creatures breathing fire and ice, and bloody corpses left in their trail. The most vivid and memorable one was that of a young male, with long flowy hair and a bloodred katana standing on the background of a purple crescent moon. He had six eyes and everything around him was purple.
But as deep sleep took over, all the monsters vanished leaving you to recover and rest, for tomorrow was to be the day that changed the course of your life, even if you yourself were not yet aware of that.
Tagging: @doumadono @muzansfangs @crescentmoontsuki @horror4themasses @starsinthesworld
Divider by @cafekitsune Artwork from Pinterest
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