And what have I learned on this grand journey so far? Bandit killing? And now entertaining whores and 'courtesans' which were whores... But only served high-class clients and were more entertainers/companions then sex workers.
"Akari, how long have you been learning by the great hands of Master Jiraiya." Hua Tersu asked gently as she softly plucked the strings of her zither and I held in any irritation at having to be friendly with the carriers of god knows how many STD's.
But then again... Jiraiya did mention how that shit didn't exist for the most part due to the gods happily wiping it out with minor blessings every few years to say nothing of ninja and chakra-based healing being able to deal with it as well.
And Hua Tersu was a courtesan of great report 'supposedly' With her having been called to play her Zither for the Land of Fire's Daimyo three times in the past year as her fame grew. "I have been his... Apprentice? For all of a day, today in fact. We dealt with some bandits and then continued our rush here." I said as I took a small sip of wine a lesser courtesan had brought me.
Said lesser courtesan was Xi Mei who was clearly trying to earn favor with me as Jiraiya was the owner of this top-quality establishment that catered to visiting nobles, the local nobles, and rarely powerful merchant clan heads.
Hua gave a soft hum that cut through the sounds of her playing of the zither and I gave a start before my lips thinned as I roiled my chakra around to break the genjutsu that covered my mind that got transmitted through the zither.
"You didn't use chakra to use that genjutsu." I noted as I noticed that the genjutsu was actually messing with my sense of taste and vision, as the tea I had been given was actually wine. And what a trick that was. Have people freely drinking 'tea' when instead it would be high-proof booze that would make them even less resistant to being plied for coin or secrets.
Xi Mei giggled and said softly into my ear. "Hmm, it was Master Jiraiya's orders so don't blame the little courtesan's. We are to give you the full experience of our trades."
Hua gave a slight hum before she herself said quietly as a servant girl brought in another jug of wine before quickly leaving. "The Zither sharpens and hides the chakra behind the sounds waves instead of riding atop or in front of it. So to your own mind, its like a massage to your ear as the chakra is carried in on like soft waves of the sea."
'And yet another reminder that Chakra is a far more available thing in this world, not held almost exclusively by ninja's and samurai like in canon.' I mused to myself before I shrugged and said with a wry smile. "So, tell me stories of this capital city of Akahono, any sordid tales of love and betrayal in the noble court I should know of?"
The courtesans giggled together with Xi Mei carefully going behind the laid-back seat I was in and began massaging my shoulders as Hua Tersu strummed her Zither in thought before saying slowly.
"Sordid tales of nobles depraved tastes are... Tasteless to share in such a happy atmosphere. How about I share the tale of Azula of the burning flame?" She spoke and I raised an eyebrow at that as I recognized the name as one of the two princesses that the Fire Daimyo had with his harem.
While the rest of his much more numerous sons were noted as being more partial to statesmen activities, or warlike in becoming generals and following the path of the Samurai.
"There is a princess within the royal palace, equally fierce and beautiful. With hair as black as coal and a heart burning with the passion of the sun itself." Hua spoke with a soft almost singing voice as she strummed her zither.
"She burns youkai and the worst evils of the world with her great blue flames that our great goddess Amaterasu blessed her with. Her desire for justice, and expansion of the Land of Fire is noted and beloved by the Emperor and the temples for her clear blessing by the lands goddess."
"Yet within her burning heart, lies an ever desiring fuel for more things to burn. As the goddess's blessing was not free, her mind and heart is restless. Always challenging what is her current station and wanting more for herself."
Xi Mei's hands became a tab bit stronger on my shoulders with Hua taking a moment to play her zither as she took a moment to catch her breath.
Then the courtesan behind me leaned in and whispered carefully. "Be wary my lord, Lady Azula is prideful, cunning, cruel, and suspicious of all. She believes all that do not bow down to the Fire Daiymo's line should be burned alive at the stake."
Hua then started singing more about the other members of the royal family though notably not about the Daiymo himself but after a few minutes the door was thrown in with Jiraiya's loud voice booming out.
"I hope you are decent. As we are leaving right now haha!" He laughed clearly a bit drunk and as I looked over I saw how his face was covered in small lipstick stains making my face twitch at the sight. As the lipstick stains went under his clothes past his neckline.
I felt Xie giggle against me as she gave me a slight smooch on the cheek undoubtatly leaving a clear mark of the rouge red lipstick she wore on her lips as Jiraiya cackled and said.
"Come oonnn! I got a good lead on something for my adorable little apprentice to do for a favor to a noble. And... It gives me time to spend time with that noble who is a lonely widow haha." He cackled making me wonder if Jiraiya was even a more shameless pervert when he was buzzed.
But, still I followed the Toad Sage out of the whorehouse and as we got down a couple streets he turned down into an alleyway and I raised an eyebrow as his skin seemingly glistened with moisture before Jiraiya shook himself like a fucking dog with splotches of makeup and other... Fluids flew off him and spattered into a thin wall of wood I summoned in front of myself.
"Bah! Akari you need to lose that pesky little virginity you have there. You are even more susceptible to Youkai and heart breaking seduction specialists." Jiraiya had the fucking gall to scold me.
My kitsune ears and tail twitched under their illusions as I looked at the perverted hack and I said flatly. "I am not losing my fucking virginity inside of a whorehouse pervy sage. I may not have some wonderful fantasy of doing the deed like some pampered noble lady but I would like some class at least."
After I threw aside the wooden board I was welcomed to the sight of Jiraiya pouting as he looked at me heartbroken. "Akari..." He started off with a hushed voice. "I am honestly offended. I lost my virginity at that whorehouse. Which is why I bought it! Some of my fondest memories in fact." He finished with a smile and his voiced filled with nostalgia.
And without a fucking moment of hesitation I sniped him right in the heart as I said flatly. "That's probably why you don't have a real relationship at your ripe old age pervy sage... God knows how many little bastards you may have though."
The toad sage visibly recoiled and shivered at my cutting remark with him whimpering. "Gods have mercy... It's like he has the cruelty of Kushina and Mito at the same time. Is it the curse of those with a fox inside of them or being one themselves that their words are so cruel?"
I just face palmed as I groaned with despair at how hopeless my teacher was. "Come on Jiraiya... Don't you have a job for me to do so you can nail a widow. Let's just get the show on the road." I said with exasperation making him perk up and grin stupidly at the thought of nailing said widow.