"Yomi! Yooooooomiiiiiiiiii!" Sobaba waited impatiently for her granddaughter.
Yomi walked into the room laying a tray a pot of tea and sweetmeats on the small table her grandmother reclined next to. While pouring the tea she asked "yes grandmother is their something you would like?"
Sobaba cupped Yomi's face in her wrinkled hands, "Only for my granddaughter to sit and have tea with me." Smiling Yomi knelt by her grandmother and handed her a cup of tea. Sobaba watched her and sighed, concerned Yomi looked up.
"Is something wrong? Is this not the type of tea you wanted?"
The old Geisha chuckled, patting Yomi's hands. "No, no dear, I was just thinking about how much you look like your mother."
Yomi hung her head, "I miss her so much, I know it's been a year but sometimes I forget she's dead. I'll start wondering things like, what party she'll go to tonight, or if her Danna will visit soon, small things like that."
Sobaba took a long sip of her tea, sinking back into her couch she said, "I miss Ayame too, sometimes I find myself heading upstairs to pick out her outfit for tonight." She picked up a sweet and popped it into her mouth chewing thoughtfully, "Besides, your Mother's old Danna Fudo, may pay us a visit sooner than you think." She cackled to herself, which turned into coughing.
Yomi looked up in surprise, "Why would he visit us though? Since Mother's death all his ties to our Okiya have been cut."
Wiping her mouth Sobaba said, "Well he might want to make a new tie, your only months away from you mizu-age you know."
Part of being a Geisha was acting, and Yomi had been born to one of the most famous Geisha in Japan. So while she feigned excitement and delight at the prospect of such a dignified man being her mizu-age patron, inside Yomi's insides were churning. Mizuage was where a Maiko or apprentice Geisha slept with a man for the first time. After this ceremony, the Geisha could do more than just serve tea and chat with men, providing the price was right.
Although Yomi knew she would go through mizu-age like every other Maiko, she would never be pulled down by a string of one-night partners. Most likely Fudo would request her, and in turn become Yomi's Danna.
Lost in thought, it was a moment before she realized that Sobaba had gotten up and was waiting for her to do the same. Yomi quietly followed her up the stairs to the room where the Okiya kept their collection of Kimonos. Sobaba stretched to reach a package that was on the top shelf. She handed it to Yomi, who carefully peeled back its rice paper packaging and gasped. Inside was a beautiful silver blue and lavender kimono. Sobaba lifted the heavy robe out its packaging and held it up to Yomi's face. She nodded and looked pleased with herself, "Yes this will be perfect for your mizu-age, and your mother wore it for her ceremony. Come; try it on so we can alter it if we need to." Ten minutes later Sobaba led Yomi over to a mirror.
As Yomi studied herself a lump began to swell in her throat. 'I really do look like her' she thought to herself. There was a reason Ayame had been so famous, for the same reason Yomi would most likely be famous also. Though they both had a truly classic beauty, a family trait was what set them apart from the rest. Instead of having traditional dark brown eyes, Ayame eyes had been a pale shade of jade, just like Sobaba's. Yomi carried on the family tradition, but her eyes had a deeper rich jewel tone, that was more intensely defined than her mothers. Ayame had always laughed when Yomi became upset about people staring at her. "It's your eyes daughter!" she'd say, "They know you can see so much more than the rest of us, that's why they stare." People still stared at Yomi, mostly because she looked so much like Ayame.
Sobaba turned Yomi, "you know," she murmured, "this doesn't need altering at all! It fits you just perfectly. What luck for you to b the same size as your mother! Now when the Okiya is passed on to you, you won't need to spend any money altering."
"And does our darling little Aikoyomi plan on taking over the Okiya anytime soon?" The cold voice cut through Yomi, and she shivered. Plastering a Noh smile on her face, she turned to face her Aunt Hyakuhei.
"Auntie, I thought you had left for the night! What a surprise to see you home so early. Did you enjoy your evening?"
Her Aunt's cold green eyes narrowed, "I did until I came home to find you two sneaking around. Why do you have that Kimono on?" She snapped, "That's property of the Okiya!"
Sobaba hurriedly cut in, "Oh Hyakuhei-san we have the most wonderful news! Ayame's Danna has expressed a great interest in being Yomi's mizu-age patron! We were just trying on outfits to see which would be most appropriate for the ceremony before-hand." Sobaba wrung her hand anxiously waiting for Hyakuhei's response.
A soft smile spread across Hyakuhei's lovely face, "yes for the ceremony, it certainly won't be needed later that night." Her hands fluttered toward Yomi with a look of almost motherly concern, "oh but my little Yomi, you do know what happens during a mizu-age don't you? Fudo first will-"
Sobaba cut Hyakuhei off with a nervous laugh, "oh Yomi has been well informed as to what she must do that night. Anyway we will put the Kimono back for now. Will you be heading out to any other parties tonight? It is quite early and it would benefit you to take Yomi to the Kichiriki teahouse, I called ahead and Fudo is sure to be there tonight. It would be wise for him to see Yomi."
Hyakuhei wrinkled her perfect tiny nose, and then smiled sweetly. "Oh yes, I would be delighted to take little Yomi. Granted she must wear one of her mother's kimonos, it will give Fudo a little reminder."
Sobaba nodded enthusiastically, while Yomi's heart throbbed with dread. She knew this was one party she would not enjoy.
Later that night Yomi poured tea while keeping the pained expression off her face. Hyakuhei had picked out a ridiculous Kimono and obi, which made Yomi feel young and childish. To bad this is exactly what Fudo liked, and exactly what Hyakuhei planned for. While Yomi was preparing the next guest, she felt Hyakuhei get up. Startled she looked up only to find that she had been joined, by Fudo. He smiled at Yomi as she backed up and gave him the formal bow that his position demanded. "My goodness Inochie Aikoyomi Namiko, you look just like Ayame! How long has it been since I've seen you last?"
Yomi ducked her head; it has been almost two years since my mothers' death, which was the last time I remember Fudo-san gracing us with his presence."
Fudo rubbed his hands together, "good, very good, and how old are you Yomi?"
Yomi continued pouring tea, knowing where this conversation was leading. "I am not yet seventeen Fudo-san."
Fudo's grin spread wider, "ah so you are quite young, but may I ask, your grandmother did mention to me that you will soon be ready to partake in your mizu-age ceremony. I have expressed my great interest to her of being your mizu-age Patron; of course you know that this was my position with your mother." Yomi inclined her head to indicate that she had heard him. She continued to busy herself with the tea when she felt a clammy hand grab her wrist. "What's the matter Yomi? You aren't very excited." His grip tightened, "you know I will definitely be your Patron, why not give me a little glimpse here?" At this he began to rub the underside of Yomi's arm, pushing up the sleeve of her Kimono up well past her elbow.
Before he could go any farther Yomi drew her arm back quietly. Rising she said, "If you truly desire to become my mizu-age Patron, then you would not want to spoil you appetite by seeing too much."
As she turned away Fudo grabbed her wrist and dragged Yomi down. His mouth right next to here ear he whispered hoarsely, "You would do well to remember, little Yomi, I am a powerful man. I could choose to end you career and make your life hell if I wished." Yomi shuddered as he traced the outline of her ear with his tongue.
Sliding on her knees Yomi bowed saying meekly, "forgive me Fudo-san, I have another engagement at the Toshita tea house." And with that Yomi rushed home to sob into her pillow