I do not own Ranma ½ or any characters part or parcel of that great work, nor lay claim to any of the incredible ideas expressed by Rumiko Takahashi, or Viz video. This is just a labor of love from one fan to the rest.
Like Fallen Leaves, the Willow Weeps. A Ying, Yang, Yakuza story (Y3)
Chapter 7: A bird takes wing in the House of the Lillies.
The bath and the after bath pampering and preparation regiment, as Qiang Pu put it, was educational, to say the least. The two girls accpeted Kaida without hesitation or comment, seeming to already take her continued presence for granted.
Kaida wished she could be so certain.
Kaida was learning more about the little world that was the Teahouse. Rei was a full time resident of the Teahouse, but Qiang Pu on the other hand it turned out was a bit more complicated.
Qiang Pu stayed at the Teahouse when her parents were out of the country, as they were now. She also stayed from time to time, when her studies warranted it. The more Kaida found out about Qiang Pu, the more questions she had. Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming at the moment.
At the same time, she sort of kind of wanted to know more about the strange girl.
The people here were a collection of mysteries, and boring, trans Kaida was going to thrust herself into their world.
There were several ways to become a part of the Teahouse. You could be invited by Konatsu or one of the other senior Geisha. You could apply to join the house, usually that is what established Geisha did. Or, you could ask one of the Geisha to take you in as an apprentice. That is the route that Kaida was going to take.
And that is what brought Kaida to be where she was now, as she knelt before the Scarred Lily with her head down. She stayed where she was, as she waited for an answer to the question she had asked. She wasn't used to the kimono she wore, even if it fitted her perfectly.
"Why do you want to enter our house, little one?" Tachi asked from where she sat, her sword at her side and her fan in front of her.
Kaida swallowed, then tried to calm her nerves before she answered. "This...this One wants to learn… to learn who I...who this One is, and can be." She said hesitantly, as she tried to follow the proper forms and manners, ways that still seemed so very foreign to her.
Tachi looked at her sternly and shook her head. "This One wishes to know why you want to enter our house. Not to hear you recite the proper forms, but why you, Kaida, wish to enter our House. It will be a challenge, and you may very...No, you certainly will lose who you are now."
Kaida bobbed her head nervously and dared to look up, meeting the eye of the person she respected and admired. "I...I am okay with that, Tachi. I've never really fit in anywhere. I've never had a place that I feel like I belong, that… that I can call home. I feel like I might belong here, that here I may find a place that I can call home. I've already given up all that I was, to try to find who I am supposed to be. Why should I be afraid to do it again, if I can find who I am? I want to be like you. Strong, sure…. Comfortable in my own skin. I'm no fighter, but… I want to learn to become a great geisha, as you are. I want to dance and sing, I want to learn to play instruments and write beautifully. I want to be more than some nameless, faceless street walker." She blushed and bowed her head, hiding her embarrassment.
"Oh, Kaida, you are so much more already. You are a wonderful, caring, loving young girl. One who sells herself far too short. This One would consider herself lucky to have a student such as you. There is one other we must persuade, though. We must ask the Mother of the House for her permission. Oh, and there is one last thing, a tradition in this House "
Kaida gave Tachi a confused look as the Scarred Lilly rose gracefully, as she left her sword on the tatami and stood before the younger girl holding her fan before she lifted Kaida's chin gently with the tip of her fan, the soft smile on her face so contrary to what people normally see on her.
"From this day forth, you shall be known at Kotori, spelled with the kanji for "little" and "bird", my little one. Rise, Kotori, and let us seek the permission and guidance of the Mother of our House." Tachi said before Kaida, now known as Kotori rose and engulfed the Scarred Lilly in a warm, gentle hug, which left the older geisha flummoxed for a moment, before she gently returned the embrace.
"This One thinks that she must get used to such acts of affection, hrm?". Tachi teasingly commented, a mock despairing look on her face.
Kotori blushed and nodded as she hugged tighter. "Can I stay like this for just a little longer?". She said in a small, quiet voice.
"Just a bit, my little one." Tachi answered gently.
Who found more comfort in the embrace, none could say. But, for each of them they knew that they had found something precious, and they each hoped that Konatsu would allow it to continue.
Later that day, Tachi and Kotori, who had her face painted and hair styled appropriately, sat before Konatsu as they asked her permission.
"Mother, we have One who would enter our House. She seeks entrance into the Flower and Willow world. She has asked this One to take her under wing and teach her our ways, to help her become one of us." Tachi intoned softly as she bowed her head.
Kotori swallowed nervously as she knelt before Mother Konatsu, her head bowed to the floor. "Mother, please allow this One to enter your House, to learn from the One named Tachi, and to become her student. I want to cast aside my previous life and be born anew into your House. Let this One who was once Kaida become Kotori. Let her learn to become a worthy member of your House."
Konatsu sat in stately silence as she regarded the newest supplicant. She had long feared that Tachi would never find a student, never find someone she could take in, much less become a surrogate mother to.
She regarded Kaida, now known as Kotori long and hard, seeking any artifice or subterfuge. She knew already there was none to be found, but she had to be sure. This young girl asked to be part of their House, and perhaps one day she, too, would journey to Jusenkyo and wash away her past in the cursed and blessed waters.
No, she almost certainly would.
Konatsu didn't show any sign of the internal discussion she had, her face impassive as it usually was. She regarded the young aspirant with an almost detached look. "If you enter our House, you shall never again walk the streets. One of us does not sell herself so lightly or cheaply as that. We expect much from those that reside in our home."
Kotori blushed in embarrassment as she nodded. "I know..that my past brings dishonor."
Konatsu shook her head, as she smiled. "You bring us no dishonor. We have in our house those who entertain our guests with delights of the flesh as well. We serve all who come here, but that said we are geisha and oiran. Even those who perform the more carnal acts are skilled in dance and the other arts of the geisha. While you are here, you shall only perform at the behest of the House for guests. But we do not expect you to give of your flesh, unless that is truly what you wish. You will leave behind your past, once you formally enter our House."
Kotori swallowed and nodded her head, as she fought the urge to fidget with the fine cloth of the kimono she wore. "I understand, Mother. I will do my best to be worthy of the House."
Konatsu nodded as she looked at Tachi, the two sharing a long look while Kotori remained as still as she could. After a time, Konatsu smiled and nodded as she rose gracefully and paced silently to stand before Kotori. "Rise, Kotori, and join our House. This One welcomes you into my house and home, and bids you take your place at the side of the one who has accepted you as her student. You will join our House as a Shikomi, the earliest stage of training. Learn well the ways of our House and of the Geisha, and this One thinks you will be joining our ranks fully before long."
Kotori looked up with joyful, grateful eyes before she stood as gracefully as she could and stepped delicately backwards to stand next to Tachi before bowing deeply to Konatsu, doing her best to remember what she was told to do just a short time ago.
"Remember, this House is built on secrets, ones that can not be shared with the outer world. This is an act of trust, from the residents of the House to you. From this day forth, you shall be tested, and when found worthy you will be entrusted with some of the secrets of this House. In time, you may even be entrusted with our greatest secrets, and allowed to fully join the ranks of the ones that have come before you. Fly, little bird, and find your wings." Konatsu said as she bowed gracefully, then let the two leave her presence.
Tachi and Kotori make their way from the presence of the Mother of the House, Tachi a serene mask of perfection while Kotori is a roiling mass of conflicting emotions. She was worried that she would not be equal to the task laid before her, but she hoped that she could make Tachi happy, that she could see that pride in the eyes of the one that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of.
Once they were back into the common halls of the House, they found a pair waiting eagerly for their return. Rei was the image of the calm, implacable geisha, her immaculate kimono and face paint the picture of what one would expect of a geisha. Qiang Pu, on the other hand, was barely containing her energy, her bright blue eyes expectant as she looked at the pair with a question clearly present on the tip of her lips.
"Sooo…." Qiang Pu asked as she finally gave in to her nervous energy.
Tachi shook her head, a smile hidden behind the fan she snapped out dramatically. "It is the pleasure of this One to present Kotori, Shikomi of the Teahouse and apprentice to Tachi. Welcome this new One, and show her the ways of the House."
Rei bowed her head nobly in greeting, as she put her training to good use in containing her excitement. Qiang Pu, being the close outsider she was, could show a bit less constraint as she bowed formally, holding it for a brief time before the newly dubbed Kotori found herself on the receiving end of an Amazon glomp, the respectful air that Qiang Pu carefully maintained cast aside for now in exuberant glee.
"I am so proud of you, Kotori, is it now?" Qiang Pu asked as she held her friend out at arms length, looking her over. At the shy nod from the blushing girl, Qiang Pu smiled broadly and hugged her again, drawing an even more awkward reaction from the trans girl.
Kotori swallowed nervously, as she glanced at Tachi before she tried to speak formally while being glomped, again. "T...This One thanks you, Qiang Pu, for your congratulations. This One is unworthy of your praise, but she shall do her best to bring honor to the House."
At the look on Qiang Pu's face Rei breaks into a fit of giggles, one that she barely conceals behind her own fan. "It's begun already, Qiang Pu. Our little Kotori will be a proper geisha before you know it." She said with obvious mirth.
Qiang Pu held her pout for all of ten seconds or so, before she gave Tachi an almost pleading look.
Tachi shook her head and sighed. "Yes, you can steal this One's little bird for now. Mind you, you shall have to return her in one piece before supper, so that this One can show her what she needs to do since she will be serving tonight."
Qiang Pu grinned and nodded as she grabbed the hand of the suddenly even more embarrassed and blushing Kotori before starting to drag her off, remembering at the last moment to stop and wait for a giggling Rei who had the good grace to bow respectfully to the older geisha before hurrying off after the other two.
Tachi sighed, and glanced to the side to see a smirking Konatsu watching the odd trio heading deeper into the environs of the House. Tachi bowed respectfully to the Mother of the House. "This One thanks you, for allowing Kotori to join us."
"This One thinks that the One known as Tachi has chosen well. Kotori shall be a good addition to the House, and will bring much honor to all those that dwell within." Konatsu said with a trace of pride in her voice.
"This One worries that Qiang Pu shall soon add another broken heart to her long list of accidental victims, though." Tachi said with a gentle shake of her head.
"This One thinks that perhaps Qiang Pu might have finally bitten off more than she can chew, and that it will be a good lesson for all three of them." Konatsu said in her usual mysterious tone of voice.
Tachi is hardly surprised when she glanced to the side and found the Mother of the House absent once more. With a soft sigh, she walked towards her quarters. There was much to do before supper that night, and she had to see about making arrangements for her young ward to stay in the House. For now, it should be fine for Kotori to share her room. Not that it benefitted Tachi, to have her little bird close by.
Perhaps this is what Koda felt, the first time she held her daughter?
If so, then Tachi could grow content basking in this light.