[Fic] A Geisha's love story
Title: A Geisha’s love story
Author: queen_kat_tun
Pairing: Akame (main)
Rating: PG to NC-17 (coming chapters)
Genre: Romance, Angst, Fluff
Beta: kaykm
Summary: They were trained to tease, to entice men with only their looks, their physical beauty. But what happens when a geisha suddenly loses control of his emotions and allows himself to give in to that strong desire to love and be loved?
A/N: Because I owe jamie_spotty and kawaiikame an update? (^_^)v and please bear with the pace of the story… :)
~*~
Chapter 5
Kazuya walked slowly beside his senior, keeping his head low as they walked while Ikuta greeted the men that passed their way. There were so many of them and Kazuya was silently wondering if Ikuta-san had serviced those men before. To him, the men all looked dignified.
"You have to have the right connections if you want to be well-known, Kazuya." Ikuta-san had told him when they had moved past those random strangers. "They are the ones who will bid for you if they find you interesting enough. The higher the bid, the better."
Kazuya wondered if he would ever be ready to serve those men. He sighed inside his head and tried to shrug off the feelings of anxiety and fear. The thought of him being with strangers proved to be unsettling.
He was still lost in his thoughts when Kazuya suddenly heard Ikuta-san laugh gaily, his voice soft and gentle as he talked. Kazuya looked up to see who Ikuta-san was talking with. He was met with men who were obviously flirting with Ikuta-san and Kazuya was amazed at how subtle and polite Ikuta-san refused them. The smile on Ikuta-san's face never faded nor did it falter. Kazuya could see that the smile Ikuta-san wore was genuine and his eyes danced in obvious bliss.
Kazuya shifted his gaze to the two men. The taller of the two wore a simple, black kimono and a lacquered zori on his feet. He was handsome and his body was well-built. He looked like he was a mixture of two races. Other than that, he was a typical male, Kazuya thought. The younger of the two, Kazuya assumed, looked...mischievous. He has auburn-colored hair, the smile on his face spelled everything except innocent. He wore a blue kimono and like the other, a pair of zori kept his feet protected.
"It has been a while since I last saw you, Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama." Toma greeted the two. The men chuckled after they'd said the same thing to Toma.
"You've been hiding." Kusano teased the geisha in front of him.
"I am not, Kusano-sama." Toma managed to say and laughed slightly. "Oh, forgive me. I have yet to introduce my companion to you." he continued. Shirota and Kusano looked to Toma's right side as Toma spoke.
"Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama, this is my younger brother, Kazuya." Kazuya heard Ikuta-san introduce him. Kazuya looked up and gave the men a small smile. "I am sure you have heard of Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama, haven't you, Kazuya?"
"Yes. I have heard about them already, Ikuta-san." Kazuya answered politely, gave the two men standing in front of them a chance to see his face and hear his voice.
"He's a pretty boy." the man with blondish locks and gentle, hazel-brown eyes said. Kazuya turned to him and saw how the man studied his profile. A smile had formed on the man's lips and Kazuya didn't like how it felt. It was a relief that the man found him attractive enough to be stared upon, but in a way, it also felt wrong.
"He is, Shirota-sama." Toma said. "He is popular with his age group. The okiya has trained him well, if I may say. He had received lessons from the best mentors."
"I am sure of that." the man said and gave a small smile. "The fact that he stays in the Kitagawa okiya is enough proof that he is one of the best. But I am curious; would you tell me the reason why you're out of the okiya? I have heard from credible sources that you no longer work in the trade, Toma."
Toma smiled a little at the man with Hispanic features. Of course he'd remember him. "If you must know, Shirota-sama, it is the time for his mizuage. As his senior, I have the responsibility of showing Kazuya around Akasaka and let him meet people who are willing to take good care of him." a smile was painted on his lips as he saw the knowing look that had registered on the man's face. Shirota-san is a known physicist around their area while Kusano-san is a son of a well-known army man and the two would be perfect candidates for Kazuya's mizuage.
"So, it is that time again then..." the shorter of the two men said. He whistled as his eyes roamed over Kazuya's figure. "Sweet~" he sang and Kazuya felt the need to hide his face when he felt his cheeks go warm.
"Yes. Indeed, it is that time again. If you are interested, we will be at the Komoriya teahouse. Kazuya will have his first performance tonight and we still have to establish his name in our trade."
Shirota turned to Kazuya. "Would you like to see us there, Kazuya?" he asked nicely.
Kazuya felt his back stiffen. Was he really ready for this? He knew that this was inevitable but then again, would he be able to do what he was trained to?
"Ka-zu-ya~"
Kazuya didn't even have to look up to see the person who sang his name. It was the shorter of the two, the man known as the son of a Japanese general.
"Yes. It would be an honor to have you, Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama, as a part of my audience." Kazuya said softly even though his heart was beating fast.
"Then we shall see you later." Shirota told the man who would soon be a geisha. "When will the bidding for his mizuage be held?" the question was directed to the senior geisha.
"The day after the blossom viewing, Shirota-sama." Toma answered and saw Shirota nod. Toma knew Shirota was interested. "We shall get going now, Shirota-sama."
"Oh, sorry about that." Shirota chuckled. "I guess we'll meet again, Kazuya."
"Yes, Shirota-sama." The maiko gave a bow of respect.
---
It was already sunset when Kazuya and Ikuta-san reached the Komoriya teahouse.
The Komoriya teahouse was known for being the most expensive teahouse around Akasaka. Men usually gathered in this particular teahouse since the geishas here were very much talented and they were well entertained with each and every performance.
Kazuya was in awe when they reached the teahouse. Its entrance was so elegant that he doubted if he should be allowed to step foot inside the place. The walls beyond the little curtain that hung in the doorway were a soft, golden hue trimmed in dark wood. A path made of cobblestones led to a huge vase that held different blooms available during this time of the year. The coldness of the winter was replaced by the fresh mornings of spring and the flowers were vivid in color. Near the vase, a spacious entryway opened to one side, with a floor of coarsely-polished granite.
"Do you like the place?"
Kazuya almost jumped when Ikuta-san's voice startled him. He was admiring the place and he'd actually forgotten about his companion.
"Kazuya, are you alright?" Toma asked when the younger didn't reply.
"Y-yes, Ikuta-san." Kazuya stuttered. "This place is exquisitely lovely."
"I'm glad you liked it. Shall we proceed to the main hall?"
"Yes, Ikuta-san."
The moment Kazuya stepped into the entryway, the door before him rolled open. A young, tall boy was kneeling on the floor. The boy gazed up at him and Ikuta-san, watching them with curious eyes.
"It's nice to see you again, Junnosuke." Kazuya heard Ikuta-san say. Kazuya looked down and saw the boy smile in an instant.
"I didn't recognize you, Ikuta-san!"
Toma laughed a little. "Yes, it has been a while since I went out of the okiya. By the way, this man here," he pointed at Kazuya, "is my younger brother. I believe Johnny-sama has made arrangements for the both of us tonight."
"Yes, yes! I have received Johnny-san's letter. We have reserved the main hall for you." Junnosuke said, not moving away from where he was.
"Junno, why are you blocking our visitors’ way?" a manly voice suddenly echoed in the area.
Kazuya shifted his gaze from the kneeling boy to the man who now stood on his right side. The man had dark tresses that curled at the ends. He looked rough, manly, and strong. He actually looked like he belonged to a yakuza group. The man must have taken a bath since Kazuya can still smell the strong scent of his aftershave. He wore a dark-blue kimono minus the intricate designs his and Ikuta-san’s had.
"But Koki-"
Junnosuke's whining didn't reach its end since Toma decided to interrupt. "Tanaka-sama, it's nice to see you again." Toma greeted.
Kazuya saw the man frown a little before he checked to see who was behind Kazuya.
"Toma!" Koki exclaimed, his eyes shone with happiness. He bypassed Kazuya and gave Toma a friendly hug. "You still look beautiful even after all these years."
"Thank you, Koki-kun." Toma reverted back to his casual way of addressing the man. "The teahouse has improved a lot."
"Ah, the teahouse." Koki smiled. "Yes, indeed. The owner wanted some things to change around here."
"The changes you've made are good." Toma said, nodding his approval. "By the way, Koki-kun, this is my younger brother, Kazuya. He will be holding performances here in the Komoriya teahouse."
Koki eyed the apprentice geisha. He was beautiful, if he must say. Without the thick cover of make-up, the young man's face was perfect, like a doll's, and as smooth and delicate-looking as a piece of china. Kazuya's eyes were gentle and they spoke of innocence. The thin, pinkish lips he possessed would make men long to kiss him.
"Welcome to the Komoriya teahouse, Kazuya." he managed to say and gave the young maiko a big grin.
"Thank you, uh..." Kazuya fidgeted when he couldn't remember what the man's name was.
"It's Tanaka Koki. You can call me Koki if you want. We can be friends if you want to." the older chuckled.
"Thank you, Tanaka-sama." Kazuya repeated, embarrassed. He knew his cheeks were red, he could feel it.
"I like him, Toma!" Koki almost squealed in glee. "Can I have him? Please?" Koki begged with a puppy-eyed look, his hands clasped together as if he was praying.
Kazuya wanted to hide behind the huge vase while Toma laughed.
---
It was already fifteen minutes past 7 in the evening. Kazuya took a deep breath as he opened the lacquered case of his shamisen. He would be playing tonight and Ikuta-san would be there to watch and assist him. He shouldn't worry too much and yet, despite that knowledge, he couldn't find it in himself not to.
His fingers traced the shamisen's body then its strings. Ikuta-san had taught him well and he really shouldn't make a fool out of himself. He wouldn't want to embarrass Ikuta-san.
"Are you not feeling well?"
Kazuya turned his head towards his left and saw his mentor smiling at him. His senior really looked pretty in his purple kimono that had orange-colored carps all over.
"I'm just a little nervous, Ikuta-kun."
"Don't be, Kazuya." Toma patted the younger's left shoulder. "I believe in you and I am sure you'd be able to win their attention." he reassured. Kazuya was an outstanding maiko. He'd seen, observed, and watched Kazuya inside the okiya and at the Inoue Dance School. Kazuya had it in him to become one of the best geishas in this town of Akasaka.
"My patron..." Kazuya started.
"Hmm...? What about him?"
"It is a known fact that the one who bids the highest for my mizuage should no longer have any relationship with me once he's served me." Kazuya paused a little, "What if I fall in love with him?"
Toma was taken aback with the question the younger presented to him. Love is something they couldn't have. It was forbidden for people who were in their trade. It was the same reason why he was suspended from being a geisha.
Nobody knew about it; his suspension. No one else knew except him and Johnny-sama. Because of love, he had failed in being a geisha. There were doubts, what ifs, desires, and longing. There was this nagging feeling of wanting to preserve himself for only one man. It was difficult enough to serve different men and it's a hundred times harder to work as a geisha when one longed for only one man to touch him and make love with.
Toma had been careless. He was so in-love and he basked in that wonderful feeling. He loved this man who was younger than him, with eyes dark as coal and tanned skin. He was gentle and loving and he made him feel cherished. Everything between them was perfect.
The fantasy disappeared when Johnny-sama received a complaint from Matsumoto-san. He had told Johnny-sama that Toma failed with his duties as a geisha and at some point had resisted to be touched. Matsumoto-san was a very important client. He was a lawyer and he helped the okiya and the people inside it to keep a respectable image. The complaint reached Johnny-sama's relative and Mary-san had punished Toma for acting like a prude. She had told Toma to serve Matsumoto-san for a week free of charge and to stop seeing that young man Toma loved or else, Mary-san would do something drastic to keep the young man away. Toma did what was needed to be done despite the hurt and the pain that he would cause his young lover. Once he had paid for his mistakes, Toma worked as a shamisen instructor and was lectured about the things he should and should not do. To Toma's defense, all geishas were vulnerable to that thing called love. All of them.
It was the one thing the okiya had failed to teach.
"Kazuya, what you've said is true. A patron for your mizuage should no longer have any relationship with you once the deed is done. The money you'll receive will be used for establishing your name in our trade. You are not that vulnerable," Toma said. "and do me a favor."
"What is it, Ikuta-san?"
"Never fall in love with your patron or to whomever else for that matter." he said, eyes looking straight to Kazuya's. "Don't ever fall in love." Toma emphasized before he turned on his heels and left the young man behind.
Unaware, Kazuya gripped the shamisen's handle tightly.
---
The soft sound of the shamisen being played echoed in the hall. Kazuya was seated in the front, he was kneeling and the wooden instrument was placed elegantly on his lap. He strummed the strings with a plectrum and concentrated on playing the instrument with all his heart.
Toma watched the men seated around the long table. He and Kazuya were the only ones who sat on their legs while the men assumed the Indian-styled seating. Sake was served to each one of them after they'd drunk tea and ate. Kazuya managed to serve the tea very well, his hands did not even shake as he poured the liquid to those little cups.
Kazuya's audience was all dignified men. As expected, Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama arrived on time. It was no surprise to Toma that they came with the okiya's tsutsumi mentor, Nishikido Ryo who brought along with him his student and partner, Ueda Tatsuya. Shirota-sama told him that two of their friends would arrive soon. On the other side of the table sat random men who were business tycoons, army men, and some were government officials.
Halfway through the music, the door slid open and revealed two men. Toma shifted his eyes towards the newcomers. An unexpected shiver ran down his spine when he saw the brunette-haired male who also met his gaze. Those eyes as dark as coal seemed to pierce through his very being. Toma refused the urge to stand and run away from the place, from that man who stood by the entrance of the hall.
Time did him good, Toma couldn't help but to think as he kept his eyes on one of the newcomers.
"Pi, would you please move? I want to sit and watch the one playing the music." Jin whined lowly to his friend's ear. He frowned when Pi refused to move.
"Pi!" Jin groaned a bit loudly and it made Kazuya stop playing the instrument he held in his hands.
The men seated around the table watched the newcomers with curious eyes. Shirota, Kusano, and Nishikido smirked when they realized why one of their friends refused to budge.
Nishikido moved to his right and patted the vacant space on his left. "Hey, Pi. I've reserved a special seat for you. Come here and let's drink." he said with a teasing voice. Tatsuya refused the urge to roll his eyes as he poured sake on his danna's cup, followed by Shirota's and Kusano's.
As if in a dream, Yamashita walked slowly towards where his friends were seated. He settled himself on the floor and Jin followed suit. The older sat next to Toma who now sat between him and Yamashita.
"It's nice to see you again, Akanishi-sama," Toma managed to say in a calm voice, "and you too, Yamashita-sama." he reached for the bottle of sake and poured some into the cups in front of Akanishi and Yamashita. He managed to calm his nerves and proceeded to do what he should, refusing to let his memories of him and Yamashita resurface in his mind.
Akanishi took his cup and drank the liquid in one go. He greeted his friends before he turned his gaze to the man in front. The shiny, gold in color kimono got his attention. It looked expensive. The fingers that held the plectrum and strings in place looked delicate and the man's nails were well-manicured. He looked up to see the man's face to see if this geisha was worth his time.
It was when their eyes met that Jin felt an unwanted thrill and pleasurable kind of shiver shook his body.
Those brown, gentle eyes that screamed of innocence, that thin, pinkish lips that drove him wild inside his dreams...Jin knew he was that person. In an instant, a memory of him and a maiko talking on a bridge flashed inside his head. It was this man. It had to be this man.
"I'm bidding for him." Jin said firmly while Kazuya felt his heart skip a beat.
---
Chapter 6
A/N: It has been a while since I have updated this fic…the bunnies refused to feed my imagination so I’m really sorry m(_ _)m but please do feel free to inspire me through your comments :)
Author: queen_kat_tun
Pairing: Akame (main)
Rating: PG to NC-17 (coming chapters)
Genre: Romance, Angst, Fluff
Beta: kaykm
Summary: They were trained to tease, to entice men with only their looks, their physical beauty. But what happens when a geisha suddenly loses control of his emotions and allows himself to give in to that strong desire to love and be loved?
A/N: Because I owe jamie_spotty and kawaiikame an update? (^_^)v and please bear with the pace of the story… :)
~*~
Chapter 5
Kazuya walked slowly beside his senior, keeping his head low as they walked while Ikuta greeted the men that passed their way. There were so many of them and Kazuya was silently wondering if Ikuta-san had serviced those men before. To him, the men all looked dignified.
"You have to have the right connections if you want to be well-known, Kazuya." Ikuta-san had told him when they had moved past those random strangers. "They are the ones who will bid for you if they find you interesting enough. The higher the bid, the better."
Kazuya wondered if he would ever be ready to serve those men. He sighed inside his head and tried to shrug off the feelings of anxiety and fear. The thought of him being with strangers proved to be unsettling.
He was still lost in his thoughts when Kazuya suddenly heard Ikuta-san laugh gaily, his voice soft and gentle as he talked. Kazuya looked up to see who Ikuta-san was talking with. He was met with men who were obviously flirting with Ikuta-san and Kazuya was amazed at how subtle and polite Ikuta-san refused them. The smile on Ikuta-san's face never faded nor did it falter. Kazuya could see that the smile Ikuta-san wore was genuine and his eyes danced in obvious bliss.
Kazuya shifted his gaze to the two men. The taller of the two wore a simple, black kimono and a lacquered zori on his feet. He was handsome and his body was well-built. He looked like he was a mixture of two races. Other than that, he was a typical male, Kazuya thought. The younger of the two, Kazuya assumed, looked...mischievous. He has auburn-colored hair, the smile on his face spelled everything except innocent. He wore a blue kimono and like the other, a pair of zori kept his feet protected.
"It has been a while since I last saw you, Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama." Toma greeted the two. The men chuckled after they'd said the same thing to Toma.
"You've been hiding." Kusano teased the geisha in front of him.
"I am not, Kusano-sama." Toma managed to say and laughed slightly. "Oh, forgive me. I have yet to introduce my companion to you." he continued. Shirota and Kusano looked to Toma's right side as Toma spoke.
"Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama, this is my younger brother, Kazuya." Kazuya heard Ikuta-san introduce him. Kazuya looked up and gave the men a small smile. "I am sure you have heard of Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama, haven't you, Kazuya?"
"Yes. I have heard about them already, Ikuta-san." Kazuya answered politely, gave the two men standing in front of them a chance to see his face and hear his voice.
"He's a pretty boy." the man with blondish locks and gentle, hazel-brown eyes said. Kazuya turned to him and saw how the man studied his profile. A smile had formed on the man's lips and Kazuya didn't like how it felt. It was a relief that the man found him attractive enough to be stared upon, but in a way, it also felt wrong.
"He is, Shirota-sama." Toma said. "He is popular with his age group. The okiya has trained him well, if I may say. He had received lessons from the best mentors."
"I am sure of that." the man said and gave a small smile. "The fact that he stays in the Kitagawa okiya is enough proof that he is one of the best. But I am curious; would you tell me the reason why you're out of the okiya? I have heard from credible sources that you no longer work in the trade, Toma."
Toma smiled a little at the man with Hispanic features. Of course he'd remember him. "If you must know, Shirota-sama, it is the time for his mizuage. As his senior, I have the responsibility of showing Kazuya around Akasaka and let him meet people who are willing to take good care of him." a smile was painted on his lips as he saw the knowing look that had registered on the man's face. Shirota-san is a known physicist around their area while Kusano-san is a son of a well-known army man and the two would be perfect candidates for Kazuya's mizuage.
"So, it is that time again then..." the shorter of the two men said. He whistled as his eyes roamed over Kazuya's figure. "Sweet~" he sang and Kazuya felt the need to hide his face when he felt his cheeks go warm.
"Yes. Indeed, it is that time again. If you are interested, we will be at the Komoriya teahouse. Kazuya will have his first performance tonight and we still have to establish his name in our trade."
Shirota turned to Kazuya. "Would you like to see us there, Kazuya?" he asked nicely.
Kazuya felt his back stiffen. Was he really ready for this? He knew that this was inevitable but then again, would he be able to do what he was trained to?
"Ka-zu-ya~"
Kazuya didn't even have to look up to see the person who sang his name. It was the shorter of the two, the man known as the son of a Japanese general.
"Yes. It would be an honor to have you, Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama, as a part of my audience." Kazuya said softly even though his heart was beating fast.
"Then we shall see you later." Shirota told the man who would soon be a geisha. "When will the bidding for his mizuage be held?" the question was directed to the senior geisha.
"The day after the blossom viewing, Shirota-sama." Toma answered and saw Shirota nod. Toma knew Shirota was interested. "We shall get going now, Shirota-sama."
"Oh, sorry about that." Shirota chuckled. "I guess we'll meet again, Kazuya."
"Yes, Shirota-sama." The maiko gave a bow of respect.
---
It was already sunset when Kazuya and Ikuta-san reached the Komoriya teahouse.
The Komoriya teahouse was known for being the most expensive teahouse around Akasaka. Men usually gathered in this particular teahouse since the geishas here were very much talented and they were well entertained with each and every performance.
Kazuya was in awe when they reached the teahouse. Its entrance was so elegant that he doubted if he should be allowed to step foot inside the place. The walls beyond the little curtain that hung in the doorway were a soft, golden hue trimmed in dark wood. A path made of cobblestones led to a huge vase that held different blooms available during this time of the year. The coldness of the winter was replaced by the fresh mornings of spring and the flowers were vivid in color. Near the vase, a spacious entryway opened to one side, with a floor of coarsely-polished granite.
"Do you like the place?"
Kazuya almost jumped when Ikuta-san's voice startled him. He was admiring the place and he'd actually forgotten about his companion.
"Kazuya, are you alright?" Toma asked when the younger didn't reply.
"Y-yes, Ikuta-san." Kazuya stuttered. "This place is exquisitely lovely."
"I'm glad you liked it. Shall we proceed to the main hall?"
"Yes, Ikuta-san."
The moment Kazuya stepped into the entryway, the door before him rolled open. A young, tall boy was kneeling on the floor. The boy gazed up at him and Ikuta-san, watching them with curious eyes.
"It's nice to see you again, Junnosuke." Kazuya heard Ikuta-san say. Kazuya looked down and saw the boy smile in an instant.
"I didn't recognize you, Ikuta-san!"
Toma laughed a little. "Yes, it has been a while since I went out of the okiya. By the way, this man here," he pointed at Kazuya, "is my younger brother. I believe Johnny-sama has made arrangements for the both of us tonight."
"Yes, yes! I have received Johnny-san's letter. We have reserved the main hall for you." Junnosuke said, not moving away from where he was.
"Junno, why are you blocking our visitors’ way?" a manly voice suddenly echoed in the area.
Kazuya shifted his gaze from the kneeling boy to the man who now stood on his right side. The man had dark tresses that curled at the ends. He looked rough, manly, and strong. He actually looked like he belonged to a yakuza group. The man must have taken a bath since Kazuya can still smell the strong scent of his aftershave. He wore a dark-blue kimono minus the intricate designs his and Ikuta-san’s had.
"But Koki-"
Junnosuke's whining didn't reach its end since Toma decided to interrupt. "Tanaka-sama, it's nice to see you again." Toma greeted.
Kazuya saw the man frown a little before he checked to see who was behind Kazuya.
"Toma!" Koki exclaimed, his eyes shone with happiness. He bypassed Kazuya and gave Toma a friendly hug. "You still look beautiful even after all these years."
"Thank you, Koki-kun." Toma reverted back to his casual way of addressing the man. "The teahouse has improved a lot."
"Ah, the teahouse." Koki smiled. "Yes, indeed. The owner wanted some things to change around here."
"The changes you've made are good." Toma said, nodding his approval. "By the way, Koki-kun, this is my younger brother, Kazuya. He will be holding performances here in the Komoriya teahouse."
Koki eyed the apprentice geisha. He was beautiful, if he must say. Without the thick cover of make-up, the young man's face was perfect, like a doll's, and as smooth and delicate-looking as a piece of china. Kazuya's eyes were gentle and they spoke of innocence. The thin, pinkish lips he possessed would make men long to kiss him.
"Welcome to the Komoriya teahouse, Kazuya." he managed to say and gave the young maiko a big grin.
"Thank you, uh..." Kazuya fidgeted when he couldn't remember what the man's name was.
"It's Tanaka Koki. You can call me Koki if you want. We can be friends if you want to." the older chuckled.
"Thank you, Tanaka-sama." Kazuya repeated, embarrassed. He knew his cheeks were red, he could feel it.
"I like him, Toma!" Koki almost squealed in glee. "Can I have him? Please?" Koki begged with a puppy-eyed look, his hands clasped together as if he was praying.
Kazuya wanted to hide behind the huge vase while Toma laughed.
---
It was already fifteen minutes past 7 in the evening. Kazuya took a deep breath as he opened the lacquered case of his shamisen. He would be playing tonight and Ikuta-san would be there to watch and assist him. He shouldn't worry too much and yet, despite that knowledge, he couldn't find it in himself not to.
His fingers traced the shamisen's body then its strings. Ikuta-san had taught him well and he really shouldn't make a fool out of himself. He wouldn't want to embarrass Ikuta-san.
"Are you not feeling well?"
Kazuya turned his head towards his left and saw his mentor smiling at him. His senior really looked pretty in his purple kimono that had orange-colored carps all over.
"I'm just a little nervous, Ikuta-kun."
"Don't be, Kazuya." Toma patted the younger's left shoulder. "I believe in you and I am sure you'd be able to win their attention." he reassured. Kazuya was an outstanding maiko. He'd seen, observed, and watched Kazuya inside the okiya and at the Inoue Dance School. Kazuya had it in him to become one of the best geishas in this town of Akasaka.
"My patron..." Kazuya started.
"Hmm...? What about him?"
"It is a known fact that the one who bids the highest for my mizuage should no longer have any relationship with me once he's served me." Kazuya paused a little, "What if I fall in love with him?"
Toma was taken aback with the question the younger presented to him. Love is something they couldn't have. It was forbidden for people who were in their trade. It was the same reason why he was suspended from being a geisha.
Nobody knew about it; his suspension. No one else knew except him and Johnny-sama. Because of love, he had failed in being a geisha. There were doubts, what ifs, desires, and longing. There was this nagging feeling of wanting to preserve himself for only one man. It was difficult enough to serve different men and it's a hundred times harder to work as a geisha when one longed for only one man to touch him and make love with.
Toma had been careless. He was so in-love and he basked in that wonderful feeling. He loved this man who was younger than him, with eyes dark as coal and tanned skin. He was gentle and loving and he made him feel cherished. Everything between them was perfect.
The fantasy disappeared when Johnny-sama received a complaint from Matsumoto-san. He had told Johnny-sama that Toma failed with his duties as a geisha and at some point had resisted to be touched. Matsumoto-san was a very important client. He was a lawyer and he helped the okiya and the people inside it to keep a respectable image. The complaint reached Johnny-sama's relative and Mary-san had punished Toma for acting like a prude. She had told Toma to serve Matsumoto-san for a week free of charge and to stop seeing that young man Toma loved or else, Mary-san would do something drastic to keep the young man away. Toma did what was needed to be done despite the hurt and the pain that he would cause his young lover. Once he had paid for his mistakes, Toma worked as a shamisen instructor and was lectured about the things he should and should not do. To Toma's defense, all geishas were vulnerable to that thing called love. All of them.
It was the one thing the okiya had failed to teach.
"Kazuya, what you've said is true. A patron for your mizuage should no longer have any relationship with you once the deed is done. The money you'll receive will be used for establishing your name in our trade. You are not that vulnerable," Toma said. "and do me a favor."
"What is it, Ikuta-san?"
"Never fall in love with your patron or to whomever else for that matter." he said, eyes looking straight to Kazuya's. "Don't ever fall in love." Toma emphasized before he turned on his heels and left the young man behind.
Unaware, Kazuya gripped the shamisen's handle tightly.
---
The soft sound of the shamisen being played echoed in the hall. Kazuya was seated in the front, he was kneeling and the wooden instrument was placed elegantly on his lap. He strummed the strings with a plectrum and concentrated on playing the instrument with all his heart.
Toma watched the men seated around the long table. He and Kazuya were the only ones who sat on their legs while the men assumed the Indian-styled seating. Sake was served to each one of them after they'd drunk tea and ate. Kazuya managed to serve the tea very well, his hands did not even shake as he poured the liquid to those little cups.
Kazuya's audience was all dignified men. As expected, Shirota-sama and Kusano-sama arrived on time. It was no surprise to Toma that they came with the okiya's tsutsumi mentor, Nishikido Ryo who brought along with him his student and partner, Ueda Tatsuya. Shirota-sama told him that two of their friends would arrive soon. On the other side of the table sat random men who were business tycoons, army men, and some were government officials.
Halfway through the music, the door slid open and revealed two men. Toma shifted his eyes towards the newcomers. An unexpected shiver ran down his spine when he saw the brunette-haired male who also met his gaze. Those eyes as dark as coal seemed to pierce through his very being. Toma refused the urge to stand and run away from the place, from that man who stood by the entrance of the hall.
Time did him good, Toma couldn't help but to think as he kept his eyes on one of the newcomers.
"Pi, would you please move? I want to sit and watch the one playing the music." Jin whined lowly to his friend's ear. He frowned when Pi refused to move.
"Pi!" Jin groaned a bit loudly and it made Kazuya stop playing the instrument he held in his hands.
The men seated around the table watched the newcomers with curious eyes. Shirota, Kusano, and Nishikido smirked when they realized why one of their friends refused to budge.
Nishikido moved to his right and patted the vacant space on his left. "Hey, Pi. I've reserved a special seat for you. Come here and let's drink." he said with a teasing voice. Tatsuya refused the urge to roll his eyes as he poured sake on his danna's cup, followed by Shirota's and Kusano's.
As if in a dream, Yamashita walked slowly towards where his friends were seated. He settled himself on the floor and Jin followed suit. The older sat next to Toma who now sat between him and Yamashita.
"It's nice to see you again, Akanishi-sama," Toma managed to say in a calm voice, "and you too, Yamashita-sama." he reached for the bottle of sake and poured some into the cups in front of Akanishi and Yamashita. He managed to calm his nerves and proceeded to do what he should, refusing to let his memories of him and Yamashita resurface in his mind.
Akanishi took his cup and drank the liquid in one go. He greeted his friends before he turned his gaze to the man in front. The shiny, gold in color kimono got his attention. It looked expensive. The fingers that held the plectrum and strings in place looked delicate and the man's nails were well-manicured. He looked up to see the man's face to see if this geisha was worth his time.
It was when their eyes met that Jin felt an unwanted thrill and pleasurable kind of shiver shook his body.
Those brown, gentle eyes that screamed of innocence, that thin, pinkish lips that drove him wild inside his dreams...Jin knew he was that person. In an instant, a memory of him and a maiko talking on a bridge flashed inside his head. It was this man. It had to be this man.
"I'm bidding for him." Jin said firmly while Kazuya felt his heart skip a beat.
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Chapter 6
A/N: It has been a while since I have updated this fic…the bunnies refused to feed my imagination so I’m really sorry m(_ _)m but please do feel free to inspire me through your comments :)