I walked quietly until I reached the Himawari teahouse. I hadn't been bothered by anyone even if i had no guards with me. I guess my eyes were pretty dissuasives. I had my brand new tanto hidden in the large silver obi and even if nobody could see it, they probably felt in their guts that coming near me would be a death wish. An assassin always had a special aura if he wanted to show it. And i wanted. I was so angry with the okiya master that i was nearly thirsty for blood.
I entered the place. It was a very nice tea house. The walls were painted in blue and yellow with cranes pattern, it almost looked like a palace. The subdued light gave to the room a peaceful athmosphere and i could hear the delicates notes of a shamisen playing in the background. I noticed Chizuru and Toudou with a Geiko entertaining some clients and i saw that the boy noticed me too. He was mouth agape, an almost stupid look on his face and i nodded. He excused himself to come near me.
« Sai... »
« Saiko. » i cut him, it wasn't a good idea to tell my name aloud here.
« Right. Saiko, what on earth are you doing here ?! » he whispered with a very angry voice.
« I'm working. » i replied politely.
« Don't play dumb with me ! » he yelled while still whispering. Quite a performance, if you ask me. « What are you really doing here ?! You're gonna blow everything ! »
« Could you get the name of the man who offered money for Ch... Yukimura ? » i asked, ignoring his question.
« Yeah... it's Yoshikawa-san. A pervert, if you ask me. He's nearly bald, about fifty years old and very affluent. He's like the « specialist » of mizuage around Kyoto. Only interested in very young women... » he said with embarrassment.
I looked around but saw no one corresponding to that description.
« He's not there yet. » explained Toudou.
I nodded and reported my attention on other men in the room. As i moved toward them to entertain them, i said to the maiko « Alright. Notify me with a nod if you see him. And do not tell Yukimura or anyone else, including Hijikata-san, that you saw me tonight. »
« Sai..ko, what are you planning to do ?! » he asked
But i was already gone. I sat with the men with a generous but still chaste smile.
« Hello gentlemen, may i entertain you tonight ? » i said with my best female voice. It wasn't easy, my natural one was very deep and i hadn't practiced in a while but they seemed to buy it and my work as a geiko started.
The movements and attitudes came back quite naturally. You're either a talented spy or you're not. And i was one. I performed a tea ceremony without hesitating once and then did some conversation. I was glad they didn't ask me to dance to the shamisen. I would have done it of course, bit i wasn't really comfortable with my dancing abilities. My eyes were often getting back to Toudou and Chizuru. The woman hadn't lie. Chizuru was indeed a fast learner and she had all the grace and restraint suitable from a Geiko. Seeing her like this made me want to go at their table to be entertained by her but i couldn't. And i didn't wanted her to know that i was there. For the moment, she hadn't recognized me and i intended it to stay this way. I wouldn't like her to think that maybe i was here to spy on her. What could i say ? « oh hi Chizuru, don't mind me. I'm just here to protect your virginity. » Yeah, no. I'm not sure this would be a good idea.
A sign from Toudou made me change the target of my gaze. Yoshikawa-san had arrived. I nodded and excuse myself to the gentlemen who were with me to get to Yoshikawa's table. As Toudou told me, he was about fifty years old and nearly bald on the top of his head. His face was round with slanting eyes, nearly slits. And they were aiming at Chizuru. I felt my blood boil but i didn't show it. I sat at his table with a seductive grin and tried to feign interest via my gaze.
« May i join you ? » i asked with my most langid voice.
He statled and turned to me. I hadn't been very silent but he was looking at Chizuru with so much intensity that he hadn't heard me coming close. His gaze looked at me, up and down as if he was already stripping me in his mind. Pervert. Ok now, blue eyes... Its time to do your job.
I blinked slowly, trying to get the best of my azur eyes but it didn't seem to have any effect on him. It was a little vexatious. I mean, my makeup and hair were perfect. If i had been a woman, i would have been pretty pissed by his attitude. He ignored me superbly and reported his attention on Chizuru, undressing her with his eyes.
« Ah... Yoshikawa-han... » i said in a shy voice full of disappointment « am i not pretty enough for you ? »
Again, he statled as if he had forgotten my very existence. He looked at me again, up and down, and replied with a deep voice full of disdain.
« You're too old. »
« That's not very nice... How old do you think i am ? » i said with a small shy smile.
« I don't know, twenty-five or something. »
« Oh... but i'm only nineteen... » i said with my eyes on the ground as if i had been hurt in my honor.
His attention came to me again and i hoped nineteen was young enough for him.
« Still too old. »
That one was a tough nut to crack. I had to change strategy.
« If you say so... » i said, still smiling. « I'm not here on my account anyway but for something a bit more important. » as he wasn't replying, i continued « mizuage. »
I finally got his full attention. « Are you talking about Chiyoko ?! » he asked and I could feel the lust in his voice. Disgusting.
« No, Yoshikawa-san. I'm talking about my personal maiko. She's like a little sister to me... Someone bought her mizuage but it is told in the okiyas that you are the best at this task... » i saw a kind of proudness in his eyes and i knew i was winning « i don't want her to get hurt so i would prefer you to take care of her if you agree. »
« If she's already been sold, i don't want her. » he said with disdain.
« Oh but that's the reason i came. My okiya has decided but she's still virgin. You would do us a favor if you could take care of her before the ceremony... This way, we would be sure that she had been with the best for her actual first time. I have only but one request, do not mention it to my okiya... It has to be a secret between my maiko, you and me... » i bowed in servitude.
« Is your maiko here ? » he asked, his eyes wandering in the tea house.
« I told her to wait outside, Yoshikawa-san... We would like you to do it tonight so i came to ask you if you could honor her... You know how scary it can be for a young girl... She's only fourteen. »
His eyes lit with interest when he heard the age of my supposed maiko and he was nearly shaking in anticipation.
« All right, lead me to her. »
« Your wish are my command, Yoshikawa-san » i bowed again. « This way. »
I exited the tea shop with Yoshikawa-san behind me and lead him to an alley.
« So, where's your maiko ? » he asked, looking everywhere with eagerness.
I turned to him and unsheathed my tanto that was hidden in my obi and put it against his throat. His eyes widen in surprise and disbelief and i pressed the blade on his neck, making the crimson liquid pour a little.
« You will back off of your offer for Chiyoko's mizuage. » i told him with my normal voice, deep and toneless but still threatening.
« But... »
« There's no but. If you do not back off, i'll know it. And i'll come to be sure that you never defile a girl again. » i said harshly.
He nodded and i lowered my blade a little. Then, in a quick movement, i cut off his right ear. He screamed in pain but i put my hand on his mouth to muffle him.
« Just a reminder that i am not making any pleasantries. You touch her and i'm coming back for what hangs between your legs. » i said as i passed the blade slowly on his crotch.
He nodded again, unable to detach his eyes from mine and i sheathed back my tanto.
« Good. » i said before walking away, still in my Geiko outfit. He put both his hands on his wound and looked on the ground at his ear and stayed there, still not understanding what had happened to him.
I walked a while until i reached the Kamo river. I took all my clothes off and bathed to get rid of the oil in my hair and makeup on my face before going back to Shimabara. I needed to give back what Yuki lent me as soon as possible. And i could use a drink.