She draws her knife and stabs him in the back. The injury is not lethal, the wound is not deep. He falls on the ground, stunned, and turns back. She's upon him, ready for the second attack.~~

Orihime wakes herself from a deep sleep with a blood chilling scream.

"Was that a dream, or a nightmare?." She thought to herself as she slid the covers over her body.

Life was always a nightmare for Orihime. She witnessed her parents' murder when she was a child. Her brother went to war and never returned. Everyday, suicidal thoughts ran through her head. Death would kill the pain and loneliness, so she thought.

She lay there, staring at the ceiling. Contemplating making breakfast or feeling sorry for herself, she chose the later and silently cried herself back to sleep.

"Get up!"

Orihime slowly opened her eyes to see a very angry Momo standing above her. It took her a moment to realize what was going on.

"You are pathetic. Since I had to make breakfast, here" Momo dumped three days worth of kitchen scraps on her. "You get to feed the pigs."

Life in an okiya was different than what the people on the outside thought. It was a prison. She would cook for the geisha, clean up after them, on top of doing the chores meant for Momo. It may be beautiful on the outside, but inside it was a living hell.

Spectacular teahouses and theaters, narrow back alleys, elaborate temples, and artists' streets, these were not what Orihime was accustom to. Her village was a poor farming community in Northern Japan. Kyoto was foreign to her. It had been six years since she was brought to the okiya in Kyoto. Six years of torment from the older geisha. Torment from Momo and the house mother.

Her geisha training began four years ago. Orihime never had a real education, and as they say, "Geisha must speak eloquently." or "Geisha must learn to read and write properly." She was not accustom to that.

Shikomi, that's what they call girls who are fresh arrivals to the okiya. Their duties were to the house. Cleaning, cooking, waiting for the geisha to come home from engagements or parties. There were times where Orihime would be up till two or three am waiting. This was also the time where Orihime began her schooling.

The second stage of geisha training is called minarai. The girls who have reached this stage were generally taken off the housecleaning duties. Orihime was at that stage, but Momo, being an apprentice geisha, took advantage of Orihime's kind heart and continued to make her perform the duties of a shikomi. The minarai were able to attend parties and wear more intricate kimono.

Orihime desperately wanted to be an apprentice geisha, or maiko. She would have more privileges being a maiko. Leaving the confines of the okiya more often, and alone. Getting the respect of the house mother, respect from the senior geisha, and more respect from Momo.

After feeding the pigs, tending to the garden, and washing the pile of dirty laundry, Orihime began scrubbing down the cobble stone pathway from the street to the front door. The hustle and bustle of the wagons going by did not help. Dirty water from the streets would splash on the newly cleaned stones. Orihime, frustrated by that, tossed the scrub brush, hitting the leg of a visitor. Her eyes looked up to see the most famous geisha ever to live in Kyoto.

"Matsumoto-san." Orihime fell to the ground, "Forgive my rudeness, Matsumoto-san."

"What is your name, shikomi?"

"I am a minarai named Orihime, Matsumoto-san."

A commotion from the street, caused Matsumoto to turn. A dark figure approached her and Orihime from a rickshaw parked by the entrance.

"Matsumoto, beautiful as always."

"Aizen! You dare show your face in Kyoto. Gin.."

His laugh was just as Orihime remembered. He deprived her of everything. He burnt her village, killed her parents and stole her freedom. Nothing in this world could change the past, but his death would start the healing process for her future.

"Gin and his army of samurai will never stop me." He looked at Orihime, "Is Momo home?"

Orihime fought the urge to grab his sword and seek revenge for her family. She gave him an angry look, "Yes."

Matsumoto's blood began to boil through her veins. The thought of that man in Kyoto gave her an unsettling feeling. Is war slowly approaching? Are the samurai able to stop him? Those were the questions running through her head. She looked back down at Orihime, who was hiding her face from view.

"Is mother available?"

Orihime did not look up, "Yes."

Orihime was still in tears when Aizen and Momo left the confines of the okiya. The pair paid no attention to Orihime as she continued her chores. Momo stopped before climbing onto the rickshaw.

"Someday Orihime, a handsome man like Aizen-sama will come and collect you."

The laughs from Aizen and Momo continued down the street and around the corner. Orihime stopped what she was doing and looked into the darkening sky.

"Why am I not as pretty as Momo? Will I ever become a geisha?"

The stars were out, the sky clear as far as the eye could see. Matsumoto and mother were exiting the doorway, carrying a few bags. Orihime quickly returned to her work.

"Orihime, you are to go with Matsumoto. You are her maiko now."

The day Orihime has waited six years for has finally arrived. The day she would be one step closer to geisha status. The day someone would come and claim her as their maiko. The happiest of tears ran down her face like little streams.

"Make us proud, Orihime. Now, go before I change my mind."

Orihime quickly collected her bags from mother. A final bow and thanks she offered to mother before Orihime walked out of the front gate and into a new life as a maiko.

Author Notes:

This may be a finished chapter story, but I feel it needs some tweeking. I haven't done a chapter story, like a real one in over 6 years. Do not hold back. If there is anything you feel should or should not be added, please let me know. I thrive off your comments, as they only make me a better writer.

Thank you for your constant supportI appreciate it. You guys are the best!