Whoo, chapter 2!

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Maiko: Apprentice Geisha.

Sensei: Teacher

The months passed peacefully enough. I sent Marth to the Geisha school with the other girls. He was often mocked and disrespected by them; but he never once raised a hand in defense. Instead he just smiled kindly, always smiling.

But I wasn't such a fool that I couldn't see the pain behind that smile.

"Okaa-san?" Marth grunted as he raked the wet laundry against the cleaning board.

"What is it, Marth?" The woman was smoking, again, clicking her nails against the wood of her pipe as she was apt to do. Marth had noticed that she did this whenever she was counting money; and he could always tell if it had been a good week or not by how quickly she went through her pipe weed.

Today had been a very good day. She was a good hour into counting, and she still was on her first smoke.

"When will I become a Maiko?" Marth stopped his actions momentarily to look his mother in the eyes. She never lied to him if he was looking her in the eyes.

For a moment she was silent, "When you finish school, just like everyone else, Marth. Now get back to work."

"But Chutsu says that I'll never be allowed to become a Maiko, because I'm different than the others."

Okaa-san sighed, pulling her pipe from her red lips with an annoyed expression, "Is Chutsu your Okaa-san?"

"Well, no. But-"

"Then why are you listening to what she says? Now get back to work; that laundry won't wash itself."

"Yes, Okaa-san."

That wasn't the only time he showed his concern about becoming a Maiko. The truth was, even though Marth was just as, if not more, fair and beautiful than all the other girls, he struggled heavily in learning the Geisha way. His dances were like falling rocks instead of a flowing river; his music heavy as lead rather than light as air…

"No!"

Marth hissed, pulling back as yet another whap of the bamboo stick left a mark on the back of his hands.

"That's wrong wrong wrong! Try it again!" The sensei tapped her stick against her palm as she watched Marth. The youth sighed, taking a breath and moving his fingers elegantly along the stringed instrument. The music flowed into the room. "One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four…" Marth repeated in his head. "One, two three,fo-"

"NO!" Whap! "Foolish boy, you'll never get it at that rate. Try again!"

The months turned to years; and as Marth watched his classmates move on and become Maiko, and then even Geisha, he was left behind. It came to the point where we all thought he would never become a Geisha. Then…

"Marth." Saiyuu opened the screen door, tossing in something.

Marth caught it in his hands. "Nee-san?... But this is-"

"Yes, yes. Put it on. And all the make-up too. Okaa-san will show you how."

"I know how!" He beamed, "I've been watching when you put yours on. But… Onee-san, what is this for?"

Saiyuu straightened the collar of her kimono. "Tonight you will accompany me to see my Danna. As a Maiko."

Marth's jaw dropped, "But I haven't graduate-"

"Okaa-san pulled you out of that school. Now get dressed, we leave in a half-an-hour."

Minutes before he was to leave with Saiyuu, he barged into my room…

"Okaa-san, I don't understand. Why am I to become a Maiko if I haven't finis-"

"That school is useless, they obviously were failing at teaching you what you need; so I pulled you out. You will learn the last of your lessons from Saiyuu. Do exactly as she says."

"Yes, but Okaa-san-"

"Must you always question things, Marth?" The woman snapped in annoyance. "If you are ready, then go wait at the door for Saiyuu."

"Yes, Okaa-san."