Unimportant author comment: This is a semi-historical fanfic of a geisha's life. Centering on Izaya as a geisha.
Mind you, geishas are not originally prostitutes- they are traditional art performer.
Within the 18th century, when geisha first emerge, the very first geishas were actually men. I haven't seen how these male geisha actually looks like – whether they truly dress up as a woman or not.
But in this fic, let's picture Izaya the way it's comfortable for you to imagine, thus, to preserve his original character design. xD
Envisioning of a pretty Izaya with hair ornaments and beautiful kimono would be encouraged.
But a drag queen Izaya is not. xDD/shot
A further reading of Geisha on Wikipedia is encouraged.
Disclaimer : if durarara is mine, it would be rated 18+ for hardcore yaoi. so yeah~
A familiar playful smirk painted on his lips, and a pair of crimson orbs glimmers mischievously.
"oh finally. The day has come for me to meet my money bag."
An older woman clad in pale green kimono who sits beside him could only glare and sigh in annoyance.
"Izaya. Watch your mouth. A role of financial supporter would be very useful for your career, so please refrain from addressing your danna with such an impolite manner."
" What are you so worried about? ..ne, Namie onee-san?"
" Izaya, you may be a prodigy of this okiya, and everybody here knows that you were such a talented maiko.
But you are now considered as a fully fledge geisha. I can't continue to be your onee-san, because a mentor won't be needed anymore once you reach this age.
So..please behave, even without me."
" it's okay, I understand all that, onee-san."
[Izaya's POV]
Okay, was that all too confusing for a beginning? Well then, let me tell you more of things in detail.
I had never actually known of my background, since I don't know where my family went- neither I have memory of my earlier childhood.
So I was a very poor orphan back then, and I lived on the street around Kyoto.
Basically, I lived my life just like a stray cat.
One day, I was just lurking around the alleyway; not expecting anything special to happen. -Or if anything special were to happen, I could not expect more than a kind passerby who might give me some money or free meals.
But it seems like it's not my fate to spend the rest of my life as a stray cat.
Because at that day, I met a very nice old lady, and she was mesmerized by my beauty – or so she said.
Well, I can't deny that either, since people around me has found my red eyes very interesting, while others had been calling me a pretty boy for my feature.
Though appearance can fool you most of the time. I used to fight a lot, and even though I was small, no gangs on the street dare to mess with me.
Long story short, the old lady gave me a very interesting offer.
Turn out that she's an owner of a high class okiya ; a geisha house at the area of Gion Kobu, and she offers to take me in as a maiko/geisha apprentice there.
I didn't really have a choice back then, and it sounded like a very benefit-able deal for me.
I could keep living as a future-less and homeless stray cat on the street, or, taking this chance and live a prestigious and comfortable life as a high-class geisha.
So, on that day; at the age of 13, I sealed my fate.
Not long after I was taken in, I began my first formal training as minarai; which means, I have to try to learn my lessons by watching how the senior geishas do their works.
To do so, I decided to follow a senior geisha whom I called Namie onee-san.
Namie has never been a patient and caring mentor to me, yet I find it interesting to always tag along to her because of her easily annoyed personality.
Yup, I find it amusing to toy around with other's emotion. So bugging Namie has becoming my daily habit.
After I went through rigorous training for years and years, I manage to prove myself to the people around me that I'm not just a random guy picked up from the street- as I manage to obtain acknowledgement even from the senior geishas; that I'm a truly talented one.
I become a well-known prodigy from this okiya.
Now I'm 21 year old, and I've reached the age when a mentor is no longer needed.
I've passed the coming of age ceremony called Mizuage, and now, as an established and fully fledge geisha, it's time for me to take a danna or a patron.
A danna is of course an art appreciator, a contributor to the continuation of this geisha business.
They usually are very wealthy since their role is to be a financial support of a geisha.
And today, is the day that I will meet my danna for the very first time.
[End of Izaya's POV]
Izaya yawns ungracefully just to emphasis his boredom of the long waiting.
"so..who was this person again?"
impatience is apparent on the raven haired male.
" the first son of Heiwajima family- which means that this danna of yours is a successor of his family's business.
The late himself was a successful merchant who goes back and forth from Japan to England, and that's how he got himself a wife from England."
"interesting. So my danna won't be another old geezer but filthy-rich unmarried young man of a mix breed. Can't wait to meet him. "
" mix breed? " Namie raised an eyebrow in confusion.
" ah, you said it yourself didn't you? His dad is a Japanese while his mom is from England. "
"ah." Now that it clicked to Namie's mind, her face turns into an annoyed expression. She was about to go and give Izaya another lecture about manner, just to be cut by Izaya's deep and mischievous chuckle.
"…Well then, let's see. He'd better be a hot guy."
And to this statement, Namie could only sigh and ignore him.
Izaya the stray cat may has been long trained to the point that he's befitting a life of the aristocrats. Yet, deep down inside, this guy is one hell of a cunning un-tame-able cat.
That's all for the first chapter~! :D
Oh, as an additional explanation- for those who didn't get it, I've been addressing Iza as a 'cat'. But that's just a metaphor or some sort, quite the same with calling Iza 'the raven'.
In this fic he's a perfectly normal human being.
Other than that, I know Iza's background story is too short, but that's all will be explained even more in detail in the flasbacks on the up coming chapters.
Tradition explanation : Mizuage is a geisha's coming of age ceremony; usually held when the geisha apprentice called Maiko reach the age around 20.
Back then there's a practice where a geisha was also deflowered by her patron/danna after the Mizuage, but the practice was soon banned.
So in this fic – yes, Iza is still a virgin. * wink wink * ;)
And geishas of Gion Kobu is of the highest ranked; nowadays, they usually serve for influential political people or damn wealthy businessmen.
Please..review? ;w;
Might not continue if no one reads. I'm so noob at writing after all../shot