Note – because the chapters alternate between Mikasa's and Levi's perspective, the plot overlaps slightly between chapters.
Chapter 1 (Mikasa)
The teahouse was unusually busy, packed up with people. Women and men of varying age, wealth and size were there, all chattering away to one another. Peering through the screen door that obscured her in a little side room, Mikasa's eyes widened at the sheer number of people. Snatches of conversations drifted into her ears as she gazed into the warm room where the patrons of the teahouse were waiting. Some of them, from what she could hear, were talking about her. She was going to perform for them all tonight, for her debut as a maiko – a geisha in training. And although she was excited to perform, nerves prickled her stomach. What if she made a mis-step? Or dropped her fan? Or forgot the steps entirely and succumbed to stage fright?
The humiliation would be endless. Not only for herself, but for her okiya, and for her elder sister who'd taught her. There was no way she could allow it. It would be a disgrace to her memory.
No. She told herself. I will make Akiko proud today. I will give a perfect performance.
She took a deep breath, in through her nose and out through her mouth. It helped a little, although she knew deep down that the nervousness would only stop clawing at her insides when the performance was over and she was safely back in her dressing room again, freshening up before she set off for her next engagement. She looked at the clock. It was almost time for her to to out and perform. Sighing softly, she picked up her fan from the little table next to her travel-size make up box. A gift from Akiko. She opened and closed the fan several times, just to make sure it wasn't stiff or difficult to open. Satisfied, she stood slowly and smoothed down the front of her kimono, resisting the urge to wipe the sweat from her hands on it. The kimono wasn't hers, after all, but owned by the okiya she worked for. And Mother would be furious with her if she dirtied her beautiful and expensive kimono with sweat of all things. Instead, Mikasa shook her hands to dry them off, though it had little effect.
She waited patiently for the clock to tick down. Five minutes until her dance. She performed one last check of her hair, make up and kimono in the mirror provided for her. Relieved that everything looked perfect, she went back to waiting. It wasn't long before the proprietor of the teahouse was announcing her, telling everyone to welcome a new maiko who would be performing for them all tonight. The proprietor was a kindly man who'd known her for many years. He was growing old now, but he still refused to retire. He did his best to extol her beauty and talent to the crowd, and she made a mental note to thank him later. The old man was her friend, after all.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our new maiko, Hanachiyo!" he concluded, "Please show her your appreciation."
Upon hearing her stage name, and the applause that followed, Mikasa swallowed hard. Forcing her nervousness down into the pit of her stomach. She kept a firm grip on her fan, and keeping her head down she took small dainty steps to the front of the room to the area that had been cleared for her to perform. She moved slowly, delicately, as if she were floating through the room. Ignoring all who looked upon her. She kept her eyes down as she walked, not wanting to see anyone's face for fear of becoming distracted. Her kimono rustled quietly behind her, and she attracted everyone's gaze. When she reached the stage area, she stopped and turned to face her audience. Mikasa's breath caught. There were so many people! All of whom were staring at her. Waiting and watching her expectantly. Her stomach twisted.
She breathed in deeply through her nose to calm herself. Okay, she told herself, it's just like dancing at the school for the teacher. Closing her eyes for a moment, she let out a breath, not realising she'd been holding it. She recalled her sister's advice, to pick one person in the crowd and focus on only them throughout the performance. She scanned the crowd, looking for that person to focus on while she danced. Akiko had told her that will make performing for a crowd less intimidating.
Mikasa followed that advice and kept her eyes on a young man around her age, sitting at the back. He had black hair that was cut short with an undercut at the back. He had strong features and dark eyes, and though he was small in stature compared to his companion beside him, he sat tall and straight in his military uniform. She kept her eyes trained on his handsome face as she lifted a shaking hand up and shifted into position ready to begin the dance. With her eyes fixed on the handsome man, the rest of the world faded away. There was just him and her.
Forget everyone else. She told herself. Just perform for him.
With a quick nod to the shamisen player sitting off to the side by the wall, the music began to play. And with her eyes locked with her young man's dark ones across the warm room, she took one last deep calming breath, flicked open her fan, and began the dance.