Well! I updated quick this time! Work has been slow the last three days.
Hope you all enjoy and REVIEW. PLEASE. I'm replying to all I get on this chapter. :)
Assuming you have an account and I can respond to you!
I think you guys will like this one.
An introduction to a new, yet Rumiko world character. ;) I think you'll like who I've chosen to be the theater director.
From now on the pace of the story will be a little more sporadic.
It won't go day by day. Days, weeks, and months may pass, but I will always let you know in someway the time lapses.
But now for more drama.
Enjoy!
Chapter 18: The Mizuage
-2 Months Later-
"When you flick, make sure it's fluid. Not rigid…," Kikyou instructed the struggling Maiko as they spent their fourth hour of the day working on the audition's routine. Rin shivered every time she thought about it. Five days was all that she had left until she was to perform before the director, the single most powerful man in the Geisha district.
"Rigidity is stressful and cold," Kikyou explained her criticisms, "Adding fluidity even to the most abrupt movements calms the viewer. As a Geisha, that is your goal with every client. Remember this."
"Yes, Kikyou-sensei," Rin huffed with frustration at her imperfections and began the routine from start once more.
Smiling, her teacher reassured her, "Rin, you have the greatest talent I have ever seen. But just because you are great doesn't mean you should ever stop improving. I will never stop criticizing you, just like a swordsman will never cease to sharpen his sword."
Rin grinned ear to ear as her countenance brightened, "Thank you, Kikyou-sensei… You know, I'm glad you are my instructor now. I'll admit, I was a bit worried after learning about your past connections to Kodachi…"
Kikyou chuckled, "Oh, that. Well I suppose that would be a bit troubling for someone caught in the middle of it all. Though I would have thought entertaining the eldest son of InuTaishou would have kept you too busy to allow those types of mild insecurities to fester."
Blushing a little, Rin spoke out again, "Yeah, the entertainment sessions have lessened a bit recently, however. But I feel rather comfortable around the dog demons now, surprisingly. I think Sesshoumaru-sama has become more tolerable of me too. Either that or he's still faking it."
Kikyou smirked, looking away, "Are you not faking it too, Rin?"
Rin hesitated in her movements for only a brief moment. The past couple of months had unintentionally led to a blossoming relationship between instructor and student. Enough so that Rin had grown out of her suspicion for Kikyou being responsible for Kodachi's break-in. And also comfortable enough in sharing with Kikyou the details of her Maiko arrangement with the dog demons. However, those same months had led to another unintentional development…
Rin had begun questioning her true regard for the cold-hearted Sesshoumaru. While she felt no romantic regard for him whatsoever, she did find him pleasant to look at, and pleasant to imagine. However, the reality of his race, disposition, and personality prevented her from desiring him any further than that. He was a cold-demon that could barely stand to talk to her. Definitely not companionship material. And she would know by now for she had questioned and re-questioned herself on the matter incessantly before deciding to finally let it go.
But one thing was for certain. Since dealing with the dog demons, Rin had grown out of her constant fear of the opposite sex and race. While it was still present in the corners of her mind, the continual contact with Sesshoumaru throughout their cooperation had inadvertently granted her solace. With anyone else, Rin would have called the dog lord a friend by this point. But because of his unkind nature and derogatory dealings, she could hardly refer to their relationship as something that familiar.
"Well, I mean…," Rin began, trying to find the right words to answer Kikyou's loaded question.
Smirking, the well-established woman allowed no time for Rin to finish, "This hasn't developed into an unrequited affair now, has it?"
Rin's head turned slowly to face her mentor. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.
"Wh- what?! Of course not! I mean, I can now tolerate Sesshoumaru-sama's insensitive nature, but I could never desire it!" Rin sputtered, becoming defensive, "What girl would settle for such poor treatment?"
Now Kikyou full on laughed behind a raised hand, "Ha, funny, I remember thinking that same thing."
"Huh?" Rin blinked.
"I remember thinking that way with my last courter," Kikyou divulged, "You start out believing that there would be no way in hell because of how brash they are… how closed off they are… but then, one day, it sneaks up on you."
In no away amused by the correlation her sensei was trying to draw, Rin remained curious as to the outcome of this rare confiding occasion.
"What sneaks up on you?" Rin asked, her curiosity peaking.
"Hmph," Kikyou chuckled in reminisce, "One day you just realize that all those things that made you turn away are the very things that made you come back."
Turning her head to the side, Rin tested, "Kikyou-sensei, with all due respect, how can being treated poorly make anyone willingly come back?"
"There is only one thing that causes the heart and mind to act so foolishly…," Kikyou professed before meeting Rin's gaze, "And that is Love."
Rin's eyes narrowed as she stated quietly, "I could not love someone like him. I can barely stand the idea of liking him…"
"I see," Kikyou smiled warmly as a knock on the studio door resounded, "Oh, that must be him. Stand neatly, Rin."
Gulping, Rin placed both of her hands finely in front of her waist, cupping one over the other in a traditional Geisha stance. For a moment she had forgotten that Kikyou had invited the theater director to their studio for the introductory meeting. According to her sensei, every interaction with the director was a test; an interview. Every impression that she gathered from him was crucial to a successful audition. Accomplishments such as these were influenced by many aspects of a woman, not just her dance.
"You may enter," Kikyou raised her voice slightly.
The sliding doors of the studio room were quickly drawn by two servants in green, official, attire; kneeling before the feet of a well-dressed, tan-skinned man. Amazingly, his hair was longer than Rin's, and more finely kept and braided than what she could ever manage with her own. He smirked as he laid anticipating, sapphire blue eyes upon her.
"Oh, Kikyou-san! You didn't tell me she was such a pretty young thing!" The wealthy young director complimented overtly.
Rin blushed lightly. The man before her was really quite charming.
"Hmph. Don't get her hopes up so soon, now. Everyone knows you're a harsh critic," Kikyou teased.
The man laughed before placing an arm across his waist and bowing only slightly.
"How about an introduction, Kikyou-san? Don't make this awkward for me," he jested.
"Of course. Rin, this is Bankotsu-sama of the National Entertainment Board, as well as the owner and operator of Okanamachi Theater. The greatest in the region."
As Kikyou pronounced the last syllable of the introduction, Rin bowed, nearly horizontal to her waist with her arms straight at her side.
"It is a pleasure, Director. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu," the adolescent produced flawlessly with raised and controlled annunciations. Though she didn't know it, she was quite charming herself.
"Bankotsu-sama, this is young Rin, a new apprentice Maiko of both Kodachi and myself," Kikyou returned her attention to the director.
Bankotsu smiled up at the still-bowed Rin, "Likewise, it is an honor."
Rin rose upright to once again indulge herself with his charm. His almond-shaped eyes seemed to be analyzing her on a very serious and professional scale. They wandered from the creases in the toes of her socks to the stray threads of her kimono sleeves.
"Indeed. I do see potential. At least in looks alone," he gave her a smoldering and kind grin before looking to Kikyou, "Unfortunately, I haven't the time to gather evidence for that first impression. I have a fairly tight schedule today."
"Oh, what a shame. You will be pleasantly surprised at the audition then, I can assure you," Kikyou replied politely.
"I look forward to it," Bankotsu threw another small look over his shoulder to Rin as he offered his farewell, "Take care ladies."
Rin and Kikyou both bowed their respects as the director took his leave. The two servants, who had remained kneeled up until this time, closed the doors upon his passing to follow him diligently down the hallway.
As soon as the footsteps had subsided, Kikyou turned quickly to Rin.
"Luck is on our side…," Kikyou whispered with bits of excitement, leaving Rin to cock her head slightly, "Otherwise it would be far too soon, but seeing him look at you that way… Well, I think it is time to gather your mizuage incitements*."
"My what? I've heard that word before. What is a mizuage, Kikyou-sensei?" Rin asked innocently.
The Geisha trainer looked taken aback, though only slight expression changes gave that away. After the slight reluctance, Kikyou's eyes fell sympathetically as she questioned, "I suppose I didn't consider this. You didn't grow up in this industry did you?"
Rin shook her head, now a bit scared of the answer that awaited her.
"I suppose with maintaining character and respect, it wouldn't be talked about often within the Okiya, but you are better to be told now," Kikyou sighed before conceding, "Rin, in order for a Geisha to properly pay off her debt and receive the means for her expensive kimonos and hair pieces, she must sell her purity, that is, her virginity, at the crossover period between Maiko and Geisha."
Doe-brown eyes slowly widened and darkened beneath the weight of perished expectations.
"Eventually, you will come to have a Danna… A patron that will claim all rights to your body, but in return, they will give you everything you should ever want or need throughout your career as a Geisha."
Rin slowly lowered herself to her knees. Her hands clamped each other, shaking, as fears that had been silenced for the last two months began to reveal themselves to her once more.
Kikyou only looked down upon her sadly.
"I know the feeling, Rin. But it is one that must be overcome. This is the only way for you to live a life free of struggle. Sacrifice is a constant necessity in this world... You need to remember that."
Despite the words coming from her instructor's mouth, Rin's head could only comprehend dizziness and nausea. Because of a single sentence, the world of the Geisha, by how she had come to know it, crashed and shattered at her feet. The beauty of dance, of song, of clean entertainment. The beauty of becoming an untouchable work of art…
It was all a scheme. The true worth of any woman in the entertainment district, whether prostitute or Geisha…
…was her chastity.
Along with her eventual and forced relinquishing of it.
Tears lined the eyes of the young Maiko as Kikyou expertly ignored them, instructing, "Take a night to grow accustomed to the idea, and then return here tomorrow with your make-up intact. We will need to discuss terms with your housemothers and come to a unanimous conclusion of who your bidders will be. Past that, we will need to offer the incitements to them prior to the audition."
Rin took that statement as an allowance to sob. And so she did.
Kikyou placed a single hand on her back before stating, "Rin, you must understand why I am doing this… Only Maiko in the debut productions, even if only supporting roles, are the only ones that can sell their mizuage each season. Giving the incitement to Bankotsu-sama prior to the audition will only strengthen his will to give you the lead role."
"How are you so sure?!" Rin snapped angrily, gathering another pitied look from her sensei.
"Because… That man clearly wants you in his bed. And I bet you he isn't the only one."
Rin cringed at the bluntness of her words, but took them for what they were. Kikyou didn't become the greatest trainer in the district by coddling her girls.
"But I assure you, Rin… once all of this is finished, your life will be much, much easier."
*Mizuage Incitements - I made the word up but I took the concept from the Memoirs of a Geisha movie. It is the little gift that a Maiko gives to a potential mizuage bidder to show them that she is ready to start taking bids for her viriginity.
Oh no! What a terrible world she lives in. :/ Sesshoumaru returns to the picture next chapter!
And let's not forget the Sango Kohaku Naraku mess. What is going on with that scheme?!
Will Sesshoumaru get a place in the bidding war?
It's all to come! Review please :)
