“Don’t,” I took her hands, making her jump, and took a moment to straighten her dress out again, patting the dirt away before smiling up at her and curling some of her silky hair behind her ear, “You’re worth more than this, little one. The only reason you approached me was because you were desperate for money, yes?” she looked away, but I could tell I was right, so I reached into my shirt and pulled out a small coin purse, counting what I had in it before tying it closed and setting it in her hand, closing her fingers over it.

“I’ll give you this on one condition,” I said, and she nodded, her eyes wide, “Never think you have to lower yourself into prostitution, little one. Learn to sew. I’m sure you can make beautiful silks. Take this money, buy food, a few bolts of fabric, make something and sell it in the streets. You’ll be alright.”

She nodded her head again furiously, and I took a few extra coins from the purse, placing them into her other hand, “These are for you,” I said, “Save them and hide them, use them to get your fabric, alright? I look forward to seeing your work.”

“Yes, sir!” she agreed, hugging the bag to her chest and beaming, spinning on her bare feet and scrambling back over to where the woman was standing.

With her gone, I stood back up, brushing the dirt from my knees before moving forward. It was painful to see such young children willing to put their bodies on a chopping block just to eat, it wasn’t right. Did my father know about this? If he did, why wasn’t he doing anything to help?

My eye was immediately drawn to one of the brothels. It wasn’t like the others, it was quite pleasing to look at, professional in a way, with a sign posted out front and a large fence surrounding the backyard. It was three stories high and nestled just at the start of a large outcrop of trees that seemed to travel back several yards before hitting a low mountain range, like a forest at the crest of a hill.

Somehow, I was drawn to it, easing around the perimeter until I was weaving through the trees that led to the hills. I walked so far that the music from the town faded out into a dull hum, overpowered by the delicate sound of trickling water. I followed the noise until I came to a small lake at the foot of the hills where a little waterfall filled it with fresh and clear water that was covered by lovely white petals.

It wasn’t the water that had me hiding behind a tree, speechless. It was the figure standing waist deep in said water. She was stunning, her skin unblemished and like porcelain, her hair like the blackest ink pouring over fresh paper, so long it fell over her shoulders and down her back, covering her chest and pooling onto the surface of the water.

I couldn’t see well from where I was standing, so I wasn’t certain what her face looked like, but the way she moved and raked her fingers through her long hair had my breath hitching, especially when she ducked her head underneath the chill of the water, coming up just a moment later and pushing her black hair away from her face so it cascaded down her back and left her slim torso bare for my eyes.

The water droplets fell down her pale skin, fragile white petals caught in the inky black of her hair, and her face clear for me to see, the gorgeous curve of her neck, the slope of her nose, the delicate features, and the closed eyes, drops of crystal water hanging from thick lashes.

My eyes ate up her appearance, stopping at her chest, where my breath hitched and I nearly gasped in shock. There was nothing, no breasts, and I took a double take to make sure I was seeing correctly. This beautiful creature bathing naked in the forest, the moonlight reflecting off their wet skin like an ethereal glow, was a boy. He looked so young, he couldn’t have been eighteen!

I took a wrong step as I leaned further out from behind the tree, a twig snapping under my foot, and I dodged back behind the trunk before the boy could see me. The water splashed a little as he turned to face where I was hiding, and I peered out from around the trunk to see his open eyes, my throat closing in utter surprise at their color.

They were like melted gold, shimmering in curiosity as he looked over the area where the noise had come from, his arms covering his chest self-consciously. When he calmed down he lowered his arms, turning, and wading back towards the edge of the pool of water where a robe was hanging. I tried to look away when he stood from the water, but I couldn’t.

I was entranced with him, his slender form, each curve on his body, even the anatomy between his legs that would have had any other straight man gagging. I couldn’t help it. He was beautiful, and so shameless with his nudity, likely because he was certain he was alone, shrugging the robe onto his shoulders and tying the sash before pulling the hair from the clothes and letting it hang loosely at his back.

I followed him when he started to walk back through the trees, startled when he reached a yard that had fences on all sides but the very back. There was a small shack with only three walls and a small porch, and as I ducked behind another tree, I was devastated to see him settle onto a Japanese futon located just under the roof, pulling a comb from under the mattress and using it to untangle his hair, his golden eyes faraway and misty like he was close to tears.

I wanted to reveal myself, introduce myself, I wanted to know his name and hear his voice, I wanted to feel the silk of his robes and the long strands of hair between my fingers, but I stayed rooted to my spot, nails digging at the bark of the trunk as I watched him lay down and pull a thin sheet over his body.

Something wasn’t right about it. The only time someone slept in such a sad little home was if they were a servant, or worse. Who would ever outcast such a beautiful being? He must be so cold with his hair still wet and such a thin sheet covering him. I wanted to do something.

For a moment, I simply took in calming breaths before lifting my eyes, feeling shock stop my heart when I recognized the three-story building that rose just behind the small shack. The brothel. That meant this boy was…. A prostitute? A whore? No, that was wrong, he was too beautiful to be handed out like an everyday snack. Although, if he was one of the workers here… then maybe I had a chance to meet him.

All I needed was money and an alias.

“Where have you been?!” Renshu demanded the moment he saw me back at the main street, surrounded once again by music and loud bargaining.

“Walking,” I said when Renshu grabbed my arm, pulling me over to where Sen and Guiren were standing, “I’m sorry.”

“Mother is going to be so upset if she learns you wandered off like that,” Sen warned, and I rolled my eyes at the way he shook a finger at me in mock disappointment.

“Then don’t tell her,” I offered, and he sniggered as Guiren rubbed his temples.

“Let’s just return home,” he decided, “It’s late.”

“Yea,” I agreed, looking over my shoulder towards the brothel, “I’m tired.”