"Amaya. Amaya? Amaya!" I'm not Amaya, I refuse to answer. "JAK!"
"Yes Mistress Ryo?" I acknowledge my so-called boss with a tilt of the head, hating every second of her presence.
"You need to learn to respond to your play name. The clientele will only know you as Amaya," she explains, fanning herself, her upturned nose catching the breeze. Her kohl shadowed eyes roll back as she pouted red, painted lips. "Our ancestors would turn in their graves if they heard drunken perverts yelling out their surnames."
"Oh Madam, crumbled bones without gravestones are not the things that you hide from," I scoff as I pick up the set of towels I was cleaning before graced with my mistress's presence. Feeling her eyes on me, I leave the room and turn down the hall to the entertainer's quarters. Passing the kitchen, I smell the soup and fresh bread. For having such disastrous dormitories, our kitchen is the finest in the town. But, of course, for being the only tavern tripling as a diner and brothel, it has to be impressive.
"Amaya sweet," our head maid calls as I pass by her room.
"Yes ma'am?"
"Jasmine and Nami are both out of the picture for the night, please do tell Miss Ryo." I stop in my tracks. If the two regulars are out, who is going to fill their spots? "Sorry sweet." I nod to her apology, dragging my feet as I put away the towels and trudge to my room. The soup in the kitchen no longer smelled appetizing: the thought of food made me cringe. I crash onto my cot, dragging my childhood blanket over my shoulders. The only thing I have of my youth: my old worn blanket. I sigh deeply, staring out the barred window, watching the rise of the grinning moon. Three months I've been under thing dreadful roof. I'm surprised I got off the hook for so long. Jasmine and Nami are the closest I've ever been to having sisters; when I first arrived here, they shared food, clothes, stories, smiles. Both had been here for a year before I arrived. Jasmine, in her buxom foxy glory, was drafted into the brothel business immediately. Nami followed a few weeks later. Her late developing mixed with forceful men stunned her feminine growth, though she is the second most demanded in the house.
"Jakjak," a hushed voice calls. I turn toward the door to see Nami, pale-faced with her thin cat tail between her knees. I motion her in, and as I sit up, Jasmine closes the door. "We're so sorry honey."
"Mimi, Jazz, it's alright. I stayed out of the brothel a lot longer than I thought I would," I reassure, but the knots in my stomach pull taut. Jasmine pulls me close, her flushed cheeks hot on my left ear as she squeezes me close. Nami rubs my back, empathy deep in her gaze, matching Jasmine's.
"Jakjak, Jazz and I are only going to be out for a few, you only have to do it this once, I swear. No sister of mine is going to be pulled into this life," Nami chokes out as she tears up.
"No, you two get your own, I won't take it. You've been here for almost a year and a half, that's just too long," I retort as I pat her cheek. Jasmine starts to cough and I led them back to their room, getting them a glass of water and a bucket before I bid them good night. With a deep sigh I walk to Sakura, the doll-up-er.
"Amaya, wha'r you do'n h'r?" her sweet voice mutters as she puts her red hair up in a messy bun. Her floppy bunny ears dangle below her hair, framing her face.
"I'm filling in for Jasmine or Nami," I explain with a heavy sigh.
"Oh joy! I've wanted to play with that long mane of yours!" she shrieks as she runs over to me, pulling me behind a room divider on the other side of the room. "Take those maid rags off Amaya; I need to see you without them before I can dress you up pretty-like." I blink, and hesitantly undress before the eager Sakura. She always was so optimistic. Her light skin had cracks along her eyes and her smile which was always there. I would think after ten years, her spirit would have been broken. She is one hell of a trooper.
"Snap out of it Amaya, I need you present when I dress you," Sakura urges as her hands run over my body with a tape measure. She studies my subtle curves and asks me to turn so she could see my profile. "Oh Amaya, if only I had a butt like yours," she compliments as she spins on her heel, walking towards the closest. I twist to try and see my butt, but my eyes land on the deep scar on my hip. I sneer and tear my eyes from it, a frown deepening itself on my lips.
"You don't like it Amaya?" a soft murmur asks. I look at Sakura's dejected face, a short kimono with flower petals designed into it in her hands. "I thought the purple petals and light blue base would bring out your pretty gold eyes…"
"Oh it wasn't you Sakura, just remembered a bad memory," I assure as I take the silk cloth in my hand, holding it to my small frame. The hem brushes my upper thigh and my eyes widen at the length, or lack thereof. Suddenly my panties didn't seem to cover enough of me.
"Oh Amaya, don't sweat something as silly as the shortness, now slip into it so I can play with your hair!" she smiles again and pats my butt as she walks over to the mirror beside the divider. I carefully slip the silk over my skin, the cool fabric summoning bumps along my exposed thighs. Sakura claps with satisfaction as I come and sit in front of her. I close my eyes as she applies kohl and rogue before playing with my long hair. What feels like an hour passes before I hear the click of the hairbrush against the vanity top.
"All done dear, take a look at your transformed self!" she squeals, happy with herself. Bright, black rimmed eyes open and look over a familiar face. Soft strokes of pink cover my cheek bones and pale lips are filled in with raspberry red. My hair is pulled to the side in a high pony tail, teased and feathered to give it volume. The black, white and gray streaks cascade over my shoulder and onto my left breast. I grin brightly.
"Wow, Sakura, this is…so pretty," I gasp out, surprised of my looks. I'm used to the plain face that would normally stare back at me, not…this.
"I know. I would love to be the lucky bastard you get to serve tonight." My heart dropped. Everything now seemed not as pretty, and Sakura realized what she said, her eyes apologizing. I give her a soft smile and she kisses my cheek before I get up and leave to go see Miss Ryo.