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 8: The dance of life is about learning new steps.
Kotori, as she was now known, was getting ready for her first supper as a member of the House. As the newest apprentice, it was up to her to take part in the actual service tonight. She would get to sit and eat once all the rest of the residents of the House were taken care of, and be expected to be ready at all times to take care of the needs of the others. She understood this on a technical level, but she was not sure she was ready for the practical extent of this. Yes, it was an important lesson, one that would serve her well in the House, she knew that. It didn't make her any less nervous.
She would be serving alongside the other shikomi of the house, some of them the young daughters of members of the House, and others who had been taken in. The youngest was seven, and the oldest of those that were here already was fifteen, and preparing to move into the next stage of her training. It was an interesting mix of modern and traditional in the House. All the shikomi attended school, even though there were some of them who were homeschooled in the House itself. Mostly, those whose mothers were what they called the Blooming Lilies.
Kotori still was uncertain of the difference between the Blooming Lilies of the House and the other geisha. She could tell there was one, but what exactly set them apart was still unclear. Some, like Mother Konatsu, Tachi and Michi had an obvious set of skills that were not quite what you would expect from a geisha. Koda, who she had not met but heard mentioned often, seemed to be more of a traditional geisha, while also serving in some sort of managerial role. There were others, like the dark-skinned and mysterious Amaya who was a quiet presence in the House.
She hoped that one day she would understand a bit more about the place she now called home. For now though it was more important to follow the lead of the more experienced shikomi and not to bring shame to Tachi, who had brought her into the House.
The one odd thing about this was the fact that Qiang Pu was helping out with the preparations as well. A fact that, if she was being honest with herself, left the trans girl a bit flustered. It wasn't that she was attracted to women, not normally at least. It was more the personality of Qiang Pu drew people in, regardless of who or what you were.
"Qiang Pu, ummm… Why, exactly, are you helping us out? N..not that I'm complaining or anything.." Kotori said as she nervously fiddled with a lock of her hair.
Qiang Pu laughed as she grinned at her shy friend "I help out pretty often. It's good training, and I have a kind of odd status at the House." She explained.
"Odd? How so? Aren't you one of the Maiko here?" Kotori asked, a bit confused.
"No, I'm not. And before you ask, I'm not a Geisha or Shikomi either. I study here, sometimes live here, but I'm not a part of the House. It's an odd situation, yeah, but it's worked for the last five years, so…" Qiang Pu said as she rubbed the back of her head.
Kotori nodded slowly as she laid out the tea. "I think I understand? So, you're that annoying relative that just never leaves." She said with as straight of a face as possible as Qiang Pu started to nod, then slapped her on the shoulder "Hey! That wasn't very nice!"
"This One does not know what our honored guest could mean by that." Kotori said using her most blank expression.
Qiang Pu started to giggle, until a reproachful look from one of the geisha overseeing the preparations silenced her. Qiang Pu bowed deeply in apology, then looked at Kotori with narrowed eyes. "How did you manage that?"
Kotori blushed as she made sure everything was just like she had been shown "I spent years pretending that I was the perfect, normal son. I'm not bad at putting on an act."
Qiang Pu got a serious look on her face. "Don't pretend. You need to learn how to make that who and what you are. Each of the Geisha here is who she is. You will understand in time." Qiang Pu said and nodded.
Kotori gave her a confused look as she finished assembling her tray.
"Okay, what are the things that you respect about Tachi?" Qiang Pu asked as she finished her preparation as well.
Kotori got that particular look in her eyes as she smiled softly "How honest she is, how she is so comfortable in her own skin. How she is just so… Her."
"And that is why you need to make that who you are, if you want to follow in her footsteps. Tachi is Tachi, always. How she acts, how she talks, who she is. That is the real Tachi. Don't parrot her, be yourself but embrace this life as much or as little as you want, just always be true to yourself." Qiang Pu said as she delivered one of those potent smiles of hers, leaving a blushing and flustered wreck of a Kotori in her wake as she swept into the main room.
Kotori took a long, calming breath before she gathered her tray and followed in Qiang Pu's wake, while watching how the other Shikomi moved, how they carried themselves and talked even.
She needed to learn what kind of Geisha she wanted to be, how she would fit into this flower and Willow world that she found herself in now.
Perhaps it was time to talk to Tachi?
Tachi smiled serenely as she watched her Shikomi, Kotori, serving the meal. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her little bird. It had only been a day since she had formally entered the House, and she had already started to fit in.
She had to admit, she hadn't known what she had been missing. Now she understood better the bond that Michi and Rei shared. Even though Rei would never become one of the Blooming Lilies of the House, she could see how that bond could shape both people. She could feel her stern features softening as they were drawn into a smile. Perhaps this was what bliss felt like?
Michi glanced aside at her long-time friend and companion Tachi and shivered a bit. That smile on the Scarred Lillie's face… Who was she thinking about killing? They must have done something truly awful to earn that particular look. She silently prayed for them. May the Kami have mercy on these misbegotten souls.
Later that same day, Kotori and Tachi were going about their new routine, with Tachi teaching her new student one of the formal dances she was well known for. The fact that she had two other hangers-on amused her, as she watched over Rei and Qiang Pu. She had also noticed the two other girls seemed to be scheming something. She figured she could let it be for now, and if they got in over their heads she would step in then.
While Tachi was, for no better term, doting on her fledgling, the two other girls in question were indeed scheming.
"So, I think I might have an idea who took Kotori's yukata." Qiang Pu said in a conspiratorial manner to Rei.
Rei perked up at that, looking aside at Qiang Pu. "Do tell? I'd be interested in knowing, and curious how you found out."
Qiang Pu grinned "I happen to have an old friend from middle school who happens to have a surprisingly diverse and odd knowledge base. She happened to know what gang recently started to work in that area, so I was thinking of dropping by and making a very polite request."
"I'm interested, but won't we get in trouble?" Rei said hesitantly.
"As I see it, we can't just let someone get away with treating a new member of the House in such a manner, it would set the wrong precedent." Qiang Pu said reasonably.
"So, who is this old friend of yours, and how have I not met her before?" Rei probed.
"Well, you see… A lot might have happened when we were in school together, and I'm not exactly her parents favorite person." Qiang Pu said softly.
"Oh… I see.". Rei said quietly. "Then we had best make good use of this information, hrm?"
Qiang Pu nodded as her mood bounced back. "Especially before my parents come home."
"Really? It's been a while since Nabiki and Ranma have been by. Were they in China again?" Rei inquired.
"Yep, and they have Chiko with them, of course. It's a big part of the reason I stay here when they are out of the country, they seem to think I will get in less trouble.." Qiang Pu said.
"Yes, it's much better to hang out in a den of iniquity with a bunch of highly paid Geisha, bodyguards and assassins after all." Rei said quietly.
"Just make sure you don't tell Kotori, we don't want to scare her off. Tachi would be devastated." Qiang Pu remarked quietly.
Rei nodded as she met the eye of Tachi and blushed before she looked away.
Tachi narrowed her eye, sure that the other two girls were up to something. Perhaps having one of the other ladies keep an eye on the two of them would be prudent.
She turned her attention back to her apprentice as she corrected Kotori's form slightly, happy with the innate talent and grace that her young student had shown so far.
Tachi smiled as she watched her first student and her current one, sure that things would get interesting soon enough, and just in time for Ranma and Nabiki to return.
Those two always brought about interesting changes Tachi thought, as she rubbed the stub of her arm before she corrected Kotori's form again.
This was going to be enjoyable.
After supper, Rei and Qiang Pu found themselves in a highly questionable part of town, dressed in their kimonos and wearing their makeup. They were planning on asking politely for the return of Kotori's yukata. Failing that, Qiang Pu was prepared to ask a bit more aggressively.
Rei hoped that the goons were open to being reasonable. She had a good idea of what Qiang Pu was capable of and wasn't worried about either of them. She just didn't want to cause a problem or make a mess.
After all, they were here to do this the polite way. For now, she would just follow Qiang Pu's lead, and trust that her friend knew what she was doing.
Of course, where they had stopped on the way raised some questions she might have to look into. Why, exactly, they had stopped at a very shady looking occult and fortune telling place was something she didn't really understand.
Especially since it seemed the goons had taken notice of them.
"Hey, whatcha doin' here. This ain't no place fer ya, unless yer sellin' somethin' me an' tha boys might want." A particularly ugly goon said past crooked, broken teeth. Sloppy tattoos covered his arms, cheap imitations of proper tattoos at best.
Qiang Pu was less than impressed. Her father and even her mom had much more impressive ink, as did Tachi and a few others. Not to mention most of the regulars at the Teahouse. But, they were doing this the polite way.
"This One is called Qiang Pu, and she would like to see your boss. Something that was not yours was accidentally taken, and this One has come to ask for it to be returned, please." Qiang Pu said politely, as she bowed respectfully.
Things were done a certain way at the Teahouse, form and ritual were important, after all.
Most knew this, and respected the unwritten rules of conduct.
That said, there were a number of rude idiots out there….
"How 'bout we party a bit, then you can see tha' boss." The crooked toothed goon drawled out as he reached towards Qiang Pu.
This drew a soft, resigned sigh from Qiang Pu.
Some people just were not polite, after all.