Helpless, Hiraku hopped through the halls of Daimyo Aisika’s palace, flanked by her personal kunoichi guard, Guiying. He was periodically encouraged to keep moving forward by Guiying smacking his rear with the bottom of her naginata, until finally they arrived in the gardens, where she wasted no time tying the ringtail to one of the trees. “Look, friend.” She spoke, rather cheerfully. “I got in trouble with Waikada-sama too, but she was really nice about it and now I even work for her! I’m certain you can work out a deal with her if you’re… hey, stop struggling! I just told you, you need to behave for…”
As if on cue, the devious daimyo herself walked up to the pair. “Well, Guiying, is our troublemaker behaving himself?” “W-wakaida-sama!” The red-clad ninja hastily bowed. “His ropes are secure, but he won’t stop mumbling about it…” Aisika simply smiled, and produced several sashes from her robe. “A small matter I shall take care of immediately~” One by one she bound the cloths over Hiraku’s face: the first covered his lower face, the second just his mouth, followed by two layered to cover his muzzle again before finishing with a last scarf binding his mouth, leaving the young would-be explorer in complete silence.
“Now that I have your attention, let me explain your situation to you. As much as I still wish to fund your expedition, I cannot overlook your breaking of a Wakaida clan heirloom that itself was worth a fair bit of coin… if you were to pay for it yourself you would be left destitute for the rest of your life.” The feline feudal lady spoke sternly, before allowing a smile to form on her lips. “But I am charmed by your boldness. As such, here is my offer. Over the next year you shall work for me, and I will consider your debt forgiven. Make it two years, and I will even make good on my promise to fund your expedition~” Aisika then lifted her captive’s head, whose protests were rendered mute by his thorough gag, with the tip of her fan to meet her gaze. “Yes… you will make an excellent concubine~” Hiraku eyes widened and he tried to plead for his freedom, which naturally fell on deaf ears.
“I will leave you here to think my offer over, I expect you to have an answer before sunset. I might even ungag you to give it~”
Art by :iconBaahn: Featuring my OC's Aisika Wakaida, Hiraku Oka and Guiying
