Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Tokyo Geisha ❯ Tokyo Geisha ( Chapter 1 )

Alright, first of all I would like to say that Rurouni Kenshin doesn't belong to me. Second of all, I'd like to reveal that the inspiration for this story came from Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden. If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do—it's a wonderful tale.

 

The first time I had lain my eyes upon him, I was but 14—still an apprentice, or more accurately still a novice. It had just turned evening and my older sister, the great geisha Yuki Sakuyaro had taken me to my first debut, a small party for Aku Tanaka, one of Kyoto's finest sword makers upon his completion of one of his greatest master pieces, a sakaboto. I had heard rumors that at that very party he would be bestowing the sword to a dear friend who had saved his life during the wars as a gift.

 

As we entered, I heard several greeting of hello to my sister. This was expected, just as I had expected to be ignored until introduced, and even still after that. However, the feel of eyes burning into the crown of my head startled me, and it took all of my will (which is said to be much too strong) to keep my eyes upon my lap or the ground. We went around the table, Yuki teasing each guest before mentioning, “oh Yaru-san” or “If you please Ido-sama” or “You flatter me Suno-san” and other such headings, before “allow me to introduce my new little sister.” And each time for me was the same, I would repeat, “My name is Sayuki, I beg your indulgence”. Usually the men would either nod or seem to not hear. The name seemed foreign on my lips, after all, it was only that morning that it had been bestowed upon me. There had been so many different choices, “Yukira, Yukimoro, Mayuki”, all of which I would have preferred, but the fortune teller was adamant that Sayuki was the most suiting and would bring the okiya the most fortune.

 

Now, you may be wondering why just that day I had taken a new name. I wasn't always called Sayuki you see. In fact, my former name didn't even posses the base yuki. But as Sakuyaro's apprentice, it was only fitting that I honor her by taking her name into my own. I used to be called Kaoru, Kaoru Kamiya. Had I known at the time that I would never be called that name again until many many years later, I might have saved the name plaque that once held my name in my fathers dojo. Now, I was simply Sayuki—the geisha to be. Every girl who is to be trained as a geisha takes on a new name as a geisha under the binding ceremony. In this ceremony, the soon to be apprentice and the older geisha who is undertaking the task to train her are registered. The two from then on honor the other with titles, “older sister” or “little sister”. It may seem strange, but in truth, for most geisha those who ran your life in the okiya and the geisha who took you as an apprentice would probably be the closest thing to a family they could ever have. For this reason, the head of an okiya was often called mother or granny.

 

I also suppose you are wondering how I came to be a geisha. You see, my father was enlisted in the army during the revolution. Of course, one can not easily defy the government, not when one has a small child to feed cloth. I was but 8 years of age at the time. When the news that my father had passed away, I didn't know what to do. Everyday I prayed before the small tablets that severed as a miniature epitaphs for my ancestors, praying that my father had found peace. It was a few week after I had received the news when I heard a knocking at the gate. It turned out to be some officials. With nothing in my hands but a spare kimono or two, my bokken, and the tablets, I was led away from the home I had always known. That was the first time I had ventured out of our town—it would also prove to be the last time I saw my family's dojo for quite some time.

 

I was told that I could return to the dojo when I turned 18, but in the mean time I needed a place to stay. Of course, no one would adopt a strong-willed young girl such as I. Especially not during the midst of war. I found myself in Kyoto, led to a small okiya run by a strict old women, with only one other geisha in that okiya. It was a hard change for me. My father had always allowed me to do as I willed, to practice the art of swords with him, to play and dare I say it, act as a tomboy. This sort of behavior is not tolerated at the okiya. It was not fitting for a lady. I soon learned that I would either have to control myself or pretend as best I could to be docile, or risk a harsh punishment. The beating I received on my few slip ups were always a strong reminder to always keep my façade up, no matter who it was that I spoke to. There was another little girl there, perhaps a year or so older--Kaede. Perhaps if circumstances were different, if the both of us had not been so thrust cruelly into the world, had not grown in the same okiya to fight vainly for the endearment of Granny's affection, had that single geisha, Nori, in our okiya been kind hearted to allow us the time—we might have been friends.

 

In any case, I shall detail you on the reasons of the fall out between Kaede and myself on another time. For now, let us return to the subject of HIM. As I was saying, Yuki and myself made our way around the table, having started at the host's side, and revolving around until we reached the last person on Aku's other side. It seemed strange to me that Yuki did not exclaim a greeting towards this last person, rather softly offered another cup of sake. This sudden change in my sister was so curios that again I had to force myself to not raise my head. Instead, I allowed my eyes to wander somewhat, taking in the color of his kimono—pink (he would later claim it to be magenta). My gaze made its way up until it reached his chin. I dared to go no further, for it is terribly rude for one to stare directly into eyes of a man. There was a moment of silence between the three of us, until once again, I felt that piercing gaze at me. I knew instantly that this man that had so demurred Yuki so was the one to possess such a paralyzing glance. At his observation, Yuki quietly murmured, “This is Sayuki, Himura-san—my new little sister.” Per usual, bowed so low, my forehead brushed the ground. “I be—“

 

I was cut off before I could finish with a gruff voice, “beg my indulgence.” It was curt, almost mocking. Some of the men around us who had heard let out a roar of laughter, the other geisha in the room giggle slightly, some enjoying the small ridicule, others sympathetic. I was so startled my head had shot up involuntarily. As soon as I had glanced up, my eyes met the most extraordinary pair of eyes I had ever seen. Amber, a violet tint seeming to be fighting with this dominate color, forcing its way back into his eyes. I watched for several moments, fascinated as his eyes blazed, the violet still engaging it battle. It wasn't until Yuki gave me a sharp nudge that I realized my folly. It felt as if all the blood in my body had rushed to my face. I though my ears might steam. Immediately I dropped my gaze, bowing over and over again and pleading his forgiveness for my impertinence. Upon the 5th bow, I was determined to receive either reprime or forgiveness, and so, I stay bowed. It wasn't until I heard a soft laughter that I rose somewhat, face flushing more red than it had been the moment before.

 

The sound was perhaps the most beautiful thing I had heard since the news of my father's death. To find that I might still make someone happy or at least amuse them gave me a new purpose. To this day, his laughter still causes my heart to skip. From that time foreword, I pledged to work as hard as I might to be one of the best geisha in Kyoto had perhaps climb as close as I might to this amber-eyed man who brought this light into my world. It wasn't until later that day, as we left the teahouse did Yuki revealed to me the reason for the change in persona around this Himura-san. Just as he had that weakening affect upon me, he seemed to see through every one of Yuki's defenses, guises, charms into her very center of her soul where his gaze would, as she put it “melt the very heart that she thought long dead.” She was enchanted. I was crushed. To hear that my teacher fancied the man was perhaps the most painful thing I had felt since I realized I was completely alone in the world. For you see, Yuki had been the one to take me under her wing when no one else would, to show me kindness in a world of beautiful and treacherous women. This is perhaps when I learned that while there is plenty good in the world, good things, beautiful things, both of which can often times be the most painful of them all.

 

And thus, I was condemned to watch—to tease—to entertain. And yet, strangely, I no longer felt as alone and cold as I once had. Even when it was announced that Himura had proposed himself as Yuki's danna, I was content to have his presence there, even if it was Yuki who he always called upon- claimed. For no one would ever call upon a mere apprentice… I would stand by for years, always by his side or the side of one near to him. I remained unknown to me for many years, until he had left to wander (he had left for Tokyo--it was only then that Yuki told me), that the very man I had longed for had often been found (unbeknownst to me) stealing glimpses or even staring at the apprentice of the beautiful geisha he had been danna to.

 

At the time, I wasn't sure whether I should have been angry or relieved. This bit of information had been enough to cause a rift between myself and Yuki. I was 18 at the time. Naïve, a geisha but of 2 years. It was weeks before I could forgive Yuki, forgive myself. Her withholding of that information was perhaps the kindest thing she could have done for me. For I had seen the pain Yuki had undergone at his leaving, though I could never really say if it were as great or more great than my own, for she was closer to him than I. I had seen the longing, the hurt. I recognized then that it was merciful of her to spare me—I was foolish. A geisha can never fall in love. And despite knowing this, I longed to be a geisha of Tokyo, if only to be with him for a few moments more.

 

 

 

Danna- Contrary to what many people believe, geisha don't sleep with just anybody, a geisha who does can ruin her reputation and even her okiya. They are paid to entertain, their very title meaning “artisans”. They sleep with few people, those who they do have to become their danna. These people have to pay for this special privilege, and the geisha only has one danna at a time. The danna will pay for the time spent with the geisha, just like everyone else must at a party, plus he buys her expensive gifts (kimono, scrolls, jewelry, ect…) He also pays for her housing, food, medical expenses, schooling, dance lessons/performances, and anything that involves her training. Basically, he pays for her to be his mistress, although she still entertains at tea houses and other parties. He simply gets an “extra privilege.”

 

Now, I wasn't really sure what to do with this story. I couldn't stop myself from writing it, but now that I've reached this point, I don't know whether I should leave it as a one-shot or continue on. I know what I want to do should I make this a multi-chapter story, but at the same time I wouldn't mind leaving it as it is, as I have the tendency, as readers of my other stories might have noticed, to leave my works unfinished. So, as I'm rather apathetic about it, I'm allowing you all to vote. Leave it, or continue?

 

Well, there you have it. I might also point out that you shouldn't quote me on anything I claimed about the geisha. Everything I wrote about them was picked up from Memoirs of a Geisha. Although, I tried to make sure everything was accurate, if it's not, please be sure to tell me.

 

Falke-ness