VLV
VLV
VLV
Rosetta looked at the email he sent her.
He wanted her to file, type, and fax like always, but at the bottom there was a new section labelled 'Research' only for Leon's eyes. She picked up the phone and waited for her cousin to answer.
"Rosetta."
"Why am I researching geisha?"
He sighed over the phone. "Personal reasons."
"...Are you looking for one?"
"I have a persnickety one already," he muttered.
"What?"
"Just give me an overview by the end of today."
He hung up. She looked at the phone with a frown.
"Alrighty then..."
VLV
Sakura calmly poured the tea as Oswald-san stood by the window.
The rain slid down the darkened glass like liquid amber, the coloring attributed to the streetlights reflecting on it. His hands were clasped behind his back as he looked outside. Sakura sipped from her cup. His character was unnaturally quiet tonight. She wasn't completely sure what to expect from him.
He thought over what Rosetta found.
In general, geisha were basically upper class entertainers that trained for years in music, poetry, and dancing. Sometimes they did flirt, but it was not seen as coarse. They also were known to be great listeners. So he could see how comparing her to a mere prostitute a couple of days ago had been an insult. But they were also known to have been bought for pleasure quarters, thereby prohibiting them from selling sex outside of the quarters. Which would suggest that there was sex involved if they had to be forbidden from selling to the outside.
In short, there were different type of geisha. Which type Sakura was, he wasn't completely certain. Nor could he be sure he had enough information, let alone how accurate it was. He wondered yet again if the research only made him more confused.
"I cannot continue this."
She paused in drinking. He didn't say 'pause' so she took it he was still in character. He sighed, his stiff shoulders drooping slightly. He did not turn around yet. She wondered if she should get up and go to him.
"I have not been completely honest with you."
"About what, Oswald-san?" She softened her voice to a gentle inquiry. "You actually did not like my curry tonight?" she lightly teased. "That would be a great sin."
"I did have a lover once."
"Mm. I knew you could not have been alone all your life." She patted the cushion next to her. "Have some tea."
He turned around. "Thinking about her today...it made me realize something." He looked straight at her, some heat coming into his eyes. "I crave for that sort of connection again."
She stared at him unblinkingly and then put her cup on the table.
"Kitties."
"What?"
She put a hand to her forehead. "Pause, I mean." She made a 'T' with her hands in a visual 'time out.' "I think you're rushing your character's development."
"I'm rushing?" He crossed his arms. "This is our fourth session."
"Look, I think the lover thing is ok, but not the rest of it."
He gave her a flat look. "I don't criticize your character's lack of interest."
"Well she's a professional doing her job. You can't expect her to be falling at his feet. I mean come on, Oswald-san is still cold. If they got together now, it'll be like screwing a statue."
He stepped up to her. "I'm very warm blooded," he huskily murmured.
"...Kami Leon. Don't look at me like that."
He cradled the back of her head, slanting his mouth over hers. She fisted his robe with a mewl, pulling him closer before shoving against him. Her lips ripped away from his so suddenly he had to blink a few times to understand what was happening.
"Where are you going?"
"We're done for today."
"No, we are not." He fast walked and got in front of her. "We haven't even done 15 minutes."
"Fine," she sighed. "But fix your lines."
"How far am I backtracking?"
"I'll let you decide." She sat back down on the cushion, picking up her tea. "Ready when you are."
"Unpause." He stood back by the window. He stared out through the glass. "Sakura."
"Oswald-san?"
"Does your profession allow you to love?"
"Pause. Seriously?"
He sighed out loud. "This isn't easy for me."
"You think it is for me?" She shook her head. "Do you know how many times I've wanted to rip that robe off of your arrogant ass? But I haven't because I'm staying in character."
"So Sakura is attracted to Oswald-san."
She cleared her throat. "Ignore what I just said."
"But I know it now."
"Fine! Let's move on!"
"Unpause." He stood in front of the window, thinking about what to ask. He immediately scratched that. Oswald-san doesn't ask anyone for anything. "Sakura."
She sipped from her tea cup. "Yes?"
"I have heard you do fan dances."
She blinked at that. She had done fan dances in high school. When did he learn that? He turned around. She gathered herself and dipped her head in acknowledgment.
"I do excellent fan dances."
He assessed her contemplatively. She had said Sakura wanted to disrobe his 'arrogant ass' several times. His eyes glimmered with intent but his face stayed stoic. He walked over to the pile of plush pillows and sat down.
"I'll be the judge of that."
Her hand clenched the edge of her kimono sleeve. Her eyes sparked in indignation, but also arousal before smoothly standing up. He hadn't noticed that before, having been too taken up by her appearance to see the little signs of her emotions. She wanted to take him arrogant and mighty, not open and vulnerable. He tilted his chin haughtily. She pulled out her fans from a thin box. When she saw his haughty demeanor, she flicked them open with a sharp motion. She had music ready on her phone for when they would need it.
The lone flute played as she poised herself, now fully armed.
He sat back as she began. Her steps were measured and dainty, her fingers smooth as she flipped the fans open and closed, throwing them into the air and then twirling around. Her long sleeves spun around her form. She caught the fans, inching her way closer to him. He watched as she rotated the fans in front of her face, her eyes lowered in a demur action, but then she looked up at him, her eyes warm with feeling. He understood then, what exactly she was looking for.
His flower wanted a battle of pleasurable dominance.
The song ended. She stayed posed with her fans open for a moment and then relaxed. Usually people clapped after her performances. He stayed leaning back against the cushions, his face emotionless though his eyes were more lidded than normal.
"Was it to your satisfaction?" she murmured.
"I require another demonstration." He folded his hands onto his chest. "Something more lively."
Her fingers lightly pressed her phone as she played another song. Some stringed instrument quivered in the air. Low drums started to beat. She opened her fans again as she got onto her knees. Her long sleeves lightly brushed the carpet as she lowered her body parallel to the floor and then back up again. His head subconsciously tilted as her back arched and lowered to the ground again. When she felt her heels against her back, she straightened up. His head abruptly followed her, not having realized it had moved.
She got back on her feet, one tanned leg coming out from the kimono at a time. He looked again at the mysterious ruffled layer that peeked out from underneath the cream and pink layers. It reminded him a little of the can can dancers. His eyes narrowed at that. So what time period were they in?
She suddenly threw a fan upwards. It arched towards him. She caught it right in front of his face. His eyes widened a little at the bold move. He followed the fan as fluttered in front of her face. Seeing her coy smile, he realized the time period wasn't all that important. It was what they wanted it to be.
The song ended. She was poised with her back arched as much as she could while standing with her fans fluttering in place. He could hear her breath as her lips were slightly parted to take in air. That one had required more exertion. She was going out of her way to try to impress him. He slowly clapped. She straightened up as she looked at him.
"Satisfied?"
He stood up to stand within an inch of her. "Beyond satisfied." His head lowered a little, making her eyes widen. "I wish to be your only patron."
"Oswald-san, I don't know what to say."
"You can accept." He fingered a lock that had loosened from her elaborate bun. "For only the best is worthy of my time."
"...You flatter me." She stepped away from him to allow her room to bow. "But I cannot accept."
"Is there another offer?"
"There is."
"I will outbid it." He stepped up to her. "You will want for nothing, I assure you."
"Oswald-san...where will I stay?"
"Wherever you wish."
She quirked a brow and then lowered it back down. "You have no stable home, legionaire."
"You are correct," he lightly smirked. "I own a couple of homes."
"Any in Japan?"
"I am in the process of acquiring one."
She nodded her head. "When you bring the deed to that home, we may revisit this."
VLV
VLV
VLV