It's so quiet.
Shinobu returned to the Butterfly Mansion after completing her mission. By rights, Tanjirou and the others should have been back, but she didn't expect the Butterfly Mansion to be so peaceful today.
Did they go out on another mission?
As soon as she entered the Butterfly Mansion, she met three little girls. The girls greeted Shinobu in clear, crisp voices.
"Lady Shinobu, welcome back!" x3
"I'm back~" Shinobu replied with a smile. She returned to her room to freshen up, then knelt at a small round table and brewed herself a cup of floral tea. After such a long period of hard work, a cup of floral tea was just what she needed.
As she inhaled the fragrant floral and fruity scent of the tea, her weary mind relaxed considerably. She elegantly took a sip, then heard a knock at the door and gently set down her teacup.
"Please come in."
"Master, you're back."
"Kanao~" Seeing it was her, Shinobu smiled gently and poured her a cup of tea, softly asking about her recent situation.
"How have you been lately?"
Kanao meticulously took the teacup, responding in an unruffled tone, "I'm still following the methods Master taught me."
"I don't worry about Kanao at all in that regard~"
"I was asking about things in your life."
"Life?" Kanao repeated, puzzled.
Kanao and Yoizumi really have similar personalities. What would it be like if they were together?
Just thinking about it feels so cute~
Shinobu's eyes curved into crescent moons, her beautiful violet gaze fixed on Kanao's eyes, which had slowly regained their luster since Tanjirou and the others arrived at the Butterfly Mansion.
"Tanjirou and the others are your age. Have you been interacting with them more often?"
Hearing Tanjirou's name, Kanao unconsciously curled her fingers slightly, and a faint blush appeared on her otherwise expressionless face.
Her eyes widened slightly. Kanao has changed too~
That's good.
In a good mood, she drank her floral tea and casually asked, "Did Tanjirou and the others go on another mission?"
Kanao, having collected herself, softly said, "The day before yesterday, the Sound Hashira came. He wanted to take Kanzaki Aoi and Saho, but Mr. Yoizumi stopped him."
"Uzui Tengen?"
To be honest, Shinobu's impression of him wasn't great. He had said such offensive things to her before! A man with three wives!
Now he actually barged into the Butterfly Mansion, trying to forcibly abduct her Kanzaki Aoi and Saho!
Shinobu decided she wouldn't give him a good look next time.
However, he is a Hashira after all. Was it such an urgent mission that he didn't even have time to inform her?
Shinobu suddenly felt a little worried.
"Did Uzui Tengen say where he went?"
"Red-light district," Kanao replied.
?
It sounded like she heard something unbelievable. She must have misheard.
"Sorry, I didn't hear clearly. Where was it?"
"Red-light district."
Kanao raised her voice slightly.
She raised an eyebrow and took a deep breath, then drank more floral tea, trying to calm down. The teacup in her hand landed on the table with a bit too much force, making a crisp sound.
She didn't know if it was her imagination, but Kanao felt that her Master seemed angry.
It really was that kind of place!
What was Uzui Tengen trying to do by taking Yoizumi there?!
Tanjirou and the others are still so young!
That man would absolutely do something shameless!
Shinobu tried her best to suppress her emotions, her tone no different from usual, "Kanao, I'm a little tired. I want to rest."
"Understood," Kanao bowed slightly to her Master and slowly exited the room.
Time to go practice again.
As Kanao walked down the corridor, she met Kanzaki Aoi. Kanzaki Aoi was holding the Butterfly Mansion's shopping list, which needed Lady Shinobu's review. After Kanao confirmed that Lady Shinobu was in her room, Kanzaki Aoi bid her farewell.
She knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.
"That's strange. Didn't Kanao say Lady Shinobu was just here?"
Except for Lady Shinobu's laboratory, Kanzaki Aoi could freely enter most rooms. Pushing the door open, she only saw the still-steaming tea on the small round table.
"She's not here..."
..."Madam! I've finished all my work! Is there anything else you need?" Tanzi's overly energetic and lively demeanor made the madam of the Tokito House a little overwhelmed. This child was quick-handed and worked with vigor, which was good.
She was just a bit troublesome.
The tea she had just set down was quickly replaced with tea at a suitable temperature. Facing those bright, sparkling eyes, the madam racked her brain before remembering some sundries that needed moving. After giving instructions and waiting for Tanzi to leave, the madam breathed a sigh of relief.
Carrying two paper boxes taller than herself, she walked into the storage room and carefully set them down. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she turned around and met those deep violet eyes. Tanjirou was startled, clutching his chest. It took him a while to speak, surprised, "Miss... Miss Shinobu?! What are you doing here?"
Shinobu smiled gently, her voice carrying a hint of seduction, "Tanjirou, what kind of outfit is this? Can you tell me?"
"It's for a mission. We're infiltrating here."
Infiltrating, which means Yoizumi is here too, then.
Her forced smile made Tanjirou tremble with fear. Miss Shinobu like this was a little scary.
"Where's Yoizumi?"
"Yoizumi-nii? Yoizumi-nii is currently in the oiran's room... Miss... Miss Shinobu?"
Oiran?
At this, Shinobu's smile vanished without a trace. Her face darkened. He was actually in an oiran's room!
Tanjirou swallowed. He heard her usually gentle voice now chillingly grim, "Where?"
"The third room from the left on the second floor."
Only after the Shinobu in front of him disappeared did Tanjirou dare to take a breath of fresh air. Such oppressive presence. Miss Shinobu is indeed a Hashira, but why is she here?
Does she have a mission too?
To avoid being seen, Shinobu found the room Tanjirou had mentioned through the window. Before she could even open it, the window was suddenly pushed open. Shinobu tried to dodge, but her hand was grasped, and she heard that familiar voice calling her.
"Shinobu."
Looking up, a golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty looked at her gently. Shinobu was stunned, then tentatively called out, "Yoizumi?"
"It's me."
Even after sitting inside the room, Shinobu still couldn't quite believe it. The cool beauty in front of her was actually Yoizumi?!
"Is it strange?" Yoizumi asked.
Not strange at all. On the contrary, Shinobu thought it suited him very well.
"Why are you dressed like this?"
"Uzui said it was necessary for the mission."
----Short Skit----
If Yoizumi hadn't entered the Tokito House in women's clothing:
Geisha: Hello, sir, may I ask your name?
Yoizumi: ...
Geisha: Come on, loosen up a bit when you're out having fun. Have some sake~
Yoizumi chose to distance himself and hold his breath.
The geisha was a little annoyed. If it weren't for such a handsome man being so rare, she wouldn't be so eager.
It seems I'll have to use my trump card!
She fluttered her eyelashes, raised a hand to press against her crimson lips, picked up a new lipstick, and spoke seductively, "Would the guest like to taste my lipstick?"
Yoizumi sighed. She talked too much. He raised his hand, took the woman's lipstick, and popped it into his mouth.
Yoizumi: Not tasty Õ_Õ
Geisha (flustered): Guest, you can't eat that! Spit it out quickly!
Yoizumi: -_-
First, she told him to eat it, then she said he couldn't eat it. What exactly did she want?
----------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 new chapters on Patreon!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead, feel free to check it out.
Your support truly means a lot to me!
patreon.com/Kazenova223
Thank you so much for being here!
And if you're having fun with the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone for me!