War and beauty
This story is set in 1936 in Kyoto.
Brief introduction of character, age and occupation
Tamaki-28 , The heir of Suou electrical company.
Kyouya- 28, Third son of Nippon Telephone Company
Haruhi- 17 Apprentice Geisha (Name before becoming a 'youngster sister' : Chiro)
Renge- 17 Apprentice Geisha (Name before becoming a 'youngster' sister : Peach)
Hikaru & Kaoru- 25 Sons of the most famous kimono-makers in Kyoto.
Mitzukuni- 26, a sekitori; upper-ranked sumo wrestler
Takashi- 27 Master of Morinozuka Shinobi-ryu ninja sect. Haruhi's childhood friend, before she was sold to an okiya in Kyoto.
B-list characters like Mrs Ranka as 'Mother' of the Okiya. And Tamaki's dad as the chairman of Suou electrical company.
I don't own Ouran or the characters!!!
Prologue
The air in the courtyard carried the scent of a new day and the plants were misty with dew. Chiro pulled her thin cotton yukata tighter around herself as the morning chill blew in. Her legs were getting numb, from both being in a kneeling position with pressure pressed to her lower legs and the cold she had to endure for over eight hours. At twelve, her body was brimming with youthful ability and she should be able to withstand the elements of the cold. Her drenched clothes were already dried; and she was highly relived. This punishment was understandable, although she was peeved that she had to take the blame for Peach's mistake. Peach had ruined the kimono of another geisha by dropping a large stab of wet ink, and the blue cordial wave prints were instantly transformed into a series of furious tsunamis. It was true that Chiro had knocked into her and it was an accident. But the accidental shove occurred two minutes before Peach dropped the ink stab. In the end, the cost of the kimono was added to Chiro's already mounting debt. When she began working as a geisha, she would have to pay the okiya back for it. And also for everything else, her doctor's fees, medicine, meals- even though it only consisted of plum, some mountain vegetable and rice, geisha lessons and for the amount it cost her to come to Kyoto.
She could hear Peach snoring, her tiny button upturned to the celing and the ruffle of her yukata as she tossed around under the thin blankets of her futon. Chiro breathed in the grassy fragrance of the tatami mats, the sweet stirring February air, and her thoughts wandering to the little blooms of sakura that would be tiny flakes of snow upon their branches in time to come. What a pity, she mulled, that something so pretty and exquisite would be gone so soon. The trees in Kyoto, and the whole of Japan would be in full bloom, and the labyrinth of narrow alleys would be swarming with people, the foreigners in smart dark suits, walking pieces of art- dainty geishas and peasants in their roughly made yukatas of simple colors, stopping to admire daffodils, white petal lilies and Japanese quince blossoming in flower box teeming the sidewalks.
I wonder if Mother in heaven has the privilege of enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature, she thought. They say that heaven is a place of flowing honey, vast green land and rainbows all year round. She vaguely replayed one of her moments with her mother a few years ago. Them, tottering single-filed by old stone houses to the park and releasing lanterns to the sky during Mid-autumn festival. Writing blessings and wishes on a handmade lantern were a custom Japanese people practised during that event. It floated up after a douse of oil for fuel. Her mother's wish had been a prayer for Chiro to find happiness. Despite the sharp edge of memories that stabbed Chiro just below her rib-cage, she still loved spring best, just as her mother did- the doorway with gleamed with new possibilities each morning.
"Chiro!" Mrs Toyo called from the second level of the okiya. She banged her cane on the glazed wooden floor sharply, causing a mushroom cloud of saw dust to rain down.
On the jagged rock ground of the courtyard, Chiro pulled herself up with much difficulty. "Coming Mdm!" she replied. Her knees were of a tender red color and she massaged life into her legs. She even almost stumbled on the narrow stairway up.
"You took so long," Mrs Toyo grumbled. "I'm suffocating here."
Even though Mrs Toyo was a cross old lady, Chiro has always had a pang of affection for her, and respect as well. She wanted her to be cared for as splendidly as possible. She smiled and moved across the room to slide open the shoji windows, emitting a cool breeze from the east. It filled the room with a sudden breath of promise. Mrs Toyo cleared her throat, but said nothing.
Instead, Chiro spoke as her eyes wandered all over the sleepy town ahead, her hands tracing over the unfinished wood of the window pane. "I see a day of no regrets."
And suddenly, something inconsolable touched the tender inner depths of Mrs Toyo's heart. She rubbed her pale cool cheeks . She was sure that Chiro would be one of the greatest geisha in Kyoto under the wing of an experienced older sister with substantial star quality. Her way with words amazed her from time to time. She nodded slightly. "Chiro, remember every day of your life, you must be sure what you are fighting for."
Chapter 1: Refined sugar.
When spring comes,
This world once more
Calls to me –
In what other world
Could I see such blossoms?
--- -- Fujiwara no Shunzei
Five years later. Year 1936
The sound of tea cups clinking against teeth made a high-pitched wane as men in small groups surrounded by Geishas donned in brightly colored hand painted kimonos of superior silk sipped tea and sake, enjoying the entertainment with courtesy of the ladies.
The small party clapped politely once the geisha had finished her piece on her cello. She bowed to her waist, her fingers gracing the top of her knees. Her music had provided a soothing balm for the entire room.
"Ayame, what piece is that? It was certainly wondrous; the way you played. I do remember hearing a similar tune in a store in England." The soon-to-be chairman of Suou Electric lamented as he leaned back in a lazy way.
The geisha resumed her position beside him, while her assistant kept her cello, laughed; her voice was like wind-chimes, twinkly, high and sweet. "It's Bach's First Cello Suite, Master Suou. I played it because it makes me realize why I play."
"And why, may I ask? It's rare that a geisha play an English instrument." He raked a hand through his crown of golden hair and glanced up with smoldering eyes.
Tamaki could sense her blushing as she lifted a sleeve with large arm hole to cover a set of perfect pearly teeth. He smiled, girls could never resist his charm.
"It makes Katsumi feel like she's taking the first lovely breath of air."
"Yes, I understand. Your notes themselves move in and out of me like breath."
Across the table, the third son of Nippon telecoms cocked an eyebrow up. Tamaki and his wayward Casanova ways were getting more intense. His eyes narrowed in scrutiny as he studied him for the umpteenth time. It was such a torment that someone like Tamaki could be a chairman. He wasn't even a qualified as a suitable candidate.
Kyoya lit his pipe as the tatami door Ichiriki teahouse slid open like a clockwork and closed again. In stepped in a beautiful petite lady, accompanied by her equally ravishing older sister.
"Ah, Mariko." Drawled Kyoya.
Katsumi pouted when Tamaki diverted his attention to Mariko and the geisha next to her. He asked "Who is that cupcake next to you?"
Mariko placed a hand on Haruhi's arm and announced "This is my new younger sister, Haruhi. Please be generous."
"My name is Haruhi, and I'm a novice geisha." She bowed. When Mariko removed her hand, she felt a jolt of panic rush through her. She wanted to feel Mariko's reassurance by her. The two gentlemen in front of her looked haughty; it would take a great deal of effort to bemuse them. She could feel their eyes boring into her as they eyed her up and down.
"So Mariko, this is the new adopted younger sister you've told us about last week."
Haruhi stiffened, so Mariko had been telling stories about her. She just hoped that Mariko hadn't praised her so much. She was certain she couldn't meet her expectations.
"Yes, be nice to her would you? Haruhi, this is Master Ootori and that is Master Suou."
"You meant the benevolent Master Suou." Tamaki grinned like a child. "You know I treat my ladies with extra care." He said for extra effect.
"Oh, Master Suou you are such a tease!" Mariko rolled her eyes dramatically.
Haruhi took her place beside Master Ootori. As elegant as possible, she poured tea for him. One hand grasping the curved handle and the other on top of the pot, pressing the lid down. Before that, she remembered Mariko's words "You have a lovely arm and beautiful skin. You should make sure every man in the room sees it. Have you wondered why our kimono sleeves are so big?" And her arm had risen to a small angle so that the sleeve of her kimono with patterns of white cranes slid back to expose her milky skin. She could feel Master Ootori's eyes trailing down her arm as she did it. She smelt his talcum powder as she leaned closer to him.
To her horror, the teapot was empty. In Haruhi's haste, she sent a help signal to Mariko with flashing eyes.
Luckily, Mariko caught her eyes and gave a nervous giggle with the tip of her fingers pressed delicately to her mouth. "Look, Haruhi is so determined that I'm sure she could get the last drop of tea out if she tried harder."
The rest of them chuckled heartily. Haruhi turned a dark shade of red, while trying to compose herself. She was glad for the eerie yellowish glow which masked her expression. In an attempt to restore the jolly moment, Haruhi spoke out in her best Kyoto accent. "Would you let me play for you?"
Go ahead, Kyoya nodded in a casual way. Haruhi moved to the front of the room, careful that she was not dragging her feet. The long ends of her kimono were swishing on the floor. Her each step was like a dance. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, she started playing the shamisen. Her smooth fingers plucked every note with gentle jerks. The rhythmic movement of her body together with the traditional instrument was alluring. All was silent except for the melancholic tune which sent chills down Kyoya's back. It reminded him of the tranquility of the rushing creek at dawn.
The room launched into another round of applause. Haruhi beamed and bowed low. "I played Whispers in the wind, by Naga Teruomi." She spoke in a smooth sibilant whisper that her speech was clear and her word, disarmingly friendly.
"That was the most beautiful tone I've heard in months!" exclaimed Tamaki, his face crinkling into a smile. (Katsumi shot an irked look at Haruhi for stealing the limelight.) He patted the space next to him. "C-com…"
"Haruhi, I need you to light my pipe for me." interrupted Kyoya in an annoyingly buoyant fashion and held his empty pipe out.
"Yes, Master Kyoya." And she made her way to his side.
Their eyes met. Haruhi quickly looked away, she was uncomfortable, Master Suou had been staring at her since she entered the room. His handsomeness was so blinding that she was sure couldn't take another risk in looking squarely.
Tamaki shifted his position on the silk tatami mat as he munched on another piece of kasutera, a thin-loaf-sized sweet sponge cake, made out of simple ingredients sugar, eggs and cake flour. It was one of his favourite Japanese cakes. The eggs were well-beaten, the sugar grains used were white and tiny, not those rough brown grainy ones, and it was baked to perfection, he noted.
The Suou heir lowered his teacup soundlessly to the table, with his pinky finger in contact with the top first and spoke softly, thoughtfully. "There are many ways to build a nation."
At once, Haruhi lifted her head and said eagerly, "Haruhi agrees too. For starters, the scholars should …" Then she turned red with nervousness, wishing that she didn't make so much as a squeak. Normally the geisha's job was to entertain the clients by making small talk, play children games and dance. Mariko said that men liked these sort of things. Haruhi begged to differ though. She bowed her head in apology. Little girls should not be seen and heard.
The men looked at her in amazement.
"What you mean is that there is a leakage in the education system that should be corrected?" Kyoya completed her sentence for her.
"Yes, something along that line." She answered.
"What an interesting view."
"Well, one for all, and all for one." Tamaki concluded dreamily. It wasn't a time to say that, nor was it even relevant to their topic, but he felt that he had to say it out.
"Haruhi also wonders about the wonders of inventions. Like how the spinning motion of bicycle tires would take people from one place to another."
The sleeve of her kimono brushed Kyoya's arm, as she poured tea from a fresh pot and he blushed. Haruhi must have felt that she was too close to him; she could feel his breath getting sharper on her naked arm and his body heat emitting sparks that seemed to diffuse into her. She shifted her position.
Mariko laughed a high and girlish laugh "Looks like Master Ootori has a new admirer."
Haruhi glanced uncertainly at Kyoya who was sipping his tea indifferently. His coolness as a cucumber was like a puzzle, a challenge she hoped to complete. She could hear footsteps and the light chatter rising from the corridors. The floorboards vibrated slightly.
"I'm sorry but Haruhi and I have to leave now. We have another engagement by the Gofu river." Mariko rose, and Haruhi followed her cue. They both bowed deeply in good-bye before they left.
Tamaki's eyes never left the novice geisha. "She's a cute creature." He declared, pointing Haruhi out.
"Uh-huh." Replied Kyoya with a care-less grunt.
Soon, the doors slid open smoothly again and a few geisha with their pale painted faces entered the room.
"How's the weather?" Kyoya took a deep puff on his pipe. He exhaled and a few rings left his mouth to join the wisps from his teacup.
"It's good, Master Ootori." Answered the fairly plump geisha with a perfect oval face and arched cresant eyebrows next to him.
And that was all.
A/N:
I have always been intrigued with ancient Japanese and Chinese culture, hence I wrote this. It's rated M because of Haruhi's mizuge. Every novice geisha has an older sister till she is a full geisha; that is to guild her along her path and teach her well. Apparently, there are 3 stages –novice, apprentice and full-fledge geisha. And they are given new names once they are promoted to novice geisha. Chiro is the name of the girl from "Spirited away" right?
A mizuge is the first night a geisha spends with a man. Some men pay a high fee to be first with a geisha.
Naga Teruomi is a famous young musician from Tokyo conservatory of Music!
I plan to include Mori hani and the twin soon, if I do continue… I know nothing happened here yet… I happen to be obsessed with ninjas, so I'll include them too, though ninja clans died in the late 18th century.
Yes, 1936 is a period in the horrid Great Depression.
Do you like it? Does it suit your tastes? Hope to hear a shout-out from you!