Well, hello everyone! No, unfortunately I have not completed my book but I needed to make my rounds because I was getting too bored with it. So I thought I would start on this baby again. :) Sorry to have kept you waiting. As you know I'm about halfway into my book and so I will just be doing that on the side as well without going on hiatus any time soon.

Please enjoy this next short chapter!

Chapter 21: Guilt


"B-but Onee-san, why must the Incitements be delivered tonight?!" Rin asked breathlessly as she quickly threw on the last requirement to her luxurious wardrobe. A pair of tall, jade-enclosed sandals, encrusted with real gold, finely molded in the shape of butterfly wings, that had been lent to her by gracious Izayoi-sama. This was only one extravagance of many that graced Rin's flesh on this evening, for Geisha must look their absolute best when delivering the Mizuage Incitements. The waves of her beauty should be so lovely and intense, so enticingly elegant, so amorously sweet, that it causes all males who have the privilege to look upon such a rarity to act boldly and impulsively in their desires to ravish it.

To taint it.

Rin scowled as her thoughts became saturated with such realities, all while resting her feet snugly into sandals that were worth three times the debt on her head.

"It is necessary," Izayoi-sama's soft voice elicited visible hot breaths as she stepped out into the chill of the early winter night. She turned her head towards her mentee, "The longer that your prospects have to ponder both your worth, and their competition, the greater amount they will bid."

Rin caught up but trailed just two feet behind Izayoi-sama as a sign of respect, "How do you suppose that, Onee-san?"

Izayoi smirked, "Just because you are a beautiful woman, Rin, does not mean that you can't think sensibly."

Rin's face dropped. She was flattered from the compliment, but also slightly embarrassed from neglecting to use her head before asking the question.

"Why don't you tell me why that is, Onee-chan," Izayoi teased as the two neared their first stop on the deliveries. Miroku's clinic.

The budding Maiko thought hard for but a brief moment before she gathered her wits enough to speak, "I suppose… That it's because the longer that a man goes without something he desires, the more likely he is to do all he can to attain it...? Maybe even foolishly so?"

Izayoi dipped her head in accordance with a satisfied smile, "Mmm, while we must care for and indulge our clients, our top priority is making money for Kodachi. The extra income that Geisha make goes towards better meals, amenities, and care for our fellow Geisha, Maiko, and servants."

Rin listened intently, beginning to understand.

"Because it is our superior services that draw in our clients, it is our servicers that must be compensated," Izayoi continued while slowing her pace, "The fact that you and your fellow servants were able to eat both fish and rice, rather than just rice and miso over the past few years, is attributed to InuTaishou's generous bid as my Danna, and his continued sponsorship throughout our sessions."

The Maiko's eyes widened with understanding as both her and Izayoi stepped up onto the lantern lit porch of the clinic.

"So the dog demons are the sole reason for why I was able to live without hunger?" Rin thought as she began to see everything that she had found so grotesque just moments ago in a new light, "As a matter of fact, have I ever really even given thought as to where I might be if Kodachi hadn't been the house to purchase me…?"

Her chest tightened out of newfound guilt. Deeply, she inhaled, and forced herself to think of everything that was taken from her. To calm her indecisive spirit, she thought of Kohaku. Instantly, her indecisiveness fled from her.

Izayoi turned one last time to Rin, her soft smile piercing the young woman's soul along with her painful words, "You are part of something bigger than yourself when you are a Geisha at Kodachi. What you earn is more than just a paid debt. You also earn the humility and respect of those whom rely on you for their meals."

Rin gave her mentor a reluctant side glance. For the first time she realized that it was because of both the dog demons and Izayoi that she was able to live and be fed for this long after being auctioned. She pondered this so much, in fact, that she was unable to notice the blatant hypocrisy that Izayoi decided to finally call out, herself.

"However, I suppose I'm not one to talk," Izayoi sighed.

Rin tilted her head a bit, but after a moment she understood the meaning.

"I know that I will be pursuing my own selfish desires soon. That I will be abandoning the others, Kodachi, and… you," Izayoi looked to the ground, crestfallen, with tears skillfully held back, "…I'll be taking away the most profitable client for my own happiness."

Wracked by guilt, Rin couldn't bring herself to say anything to help rectify her mentor's feelings. Instead, she simply placed a gentle, comforting hand upon Izayoi's back. To the detriment of her heart, Rin realized that she would be doing the same thing as Izayoi-sama… only sooner.

"That's why…," Izayoi confessed, "I really hope that you can change Sesshoumaru-sama…,"

The Maiko's heart skipped a dreadful beat, knowing full well where this was going. Even so, her cheeks ignited at the mention of his name.

"I… really do hope that when I'm gone, you can take my place in solidifying the relationship between the dog demons and-."

"Please… Onee-san…," Rin vaguely begged, looking away from the Geisha. A long and harsh silence grew between them.

Rin didn't have it in her heart to withstand any more guilt, and she knew full well that if she were to run away with Kohaku three days from now, that Izayoi would have no one to help ease her own conscience on the day of her escape.

If they both left, how feasible would it be for Kodachi to continue making enough to feed and house the servants?

And how could she, Rin, not consider such things? Given that she had been one just months ago…

Izayoi somehow managed to clear any trace of emotion from her face and whispered sincerely, pulling Rin from her spiraling thoughts, "Forgive me. Please forgive me. It is unfair for me to lay such burdens upon you."

"…No," Rin admitted sullenly, "You have paid your dues to Kodachi… To me as well. You deserve to let those burdens go,"

She gulped in her pause, "How dare I think it unfair when you were the one suffering so that I could be fed back then…"

For the first time since having even heard the name "Kodachi," Rin reevaluated her decision to run away.

Somehow sensing the weight upon the Maiko's heart, Izayoi reached out her hand and caressed her whitened cheek, "…You are a beautiful woman, Rin. No matter what you have gone through, or may go through, please remember that."

Forcing a smile, Rin replied, "Thank you Onee-san."

And as they rang for the shaman, waiting for him to greet them so that they may bestow an Incitement, Rin's heart hardened from the emotional turmoil.

The moment of weakness and vulnerability had passed. If she had to commit a crime against anyone, it most definitely wouldn't be… it couldn't be

…against Kohaku.

No matter how hard it would be to continue facing Izayoi-sama and the others, it would be even harder to recognize that what she had always wanted to give to Kohaku, would have to be taken by someone else first.

She couldn't do that to him. Not after everything they had been through.

She just needed to not feel. Not for the servants, Geisha, Izayoi, or even Sesshoumaru. No attachments for three more days….

This was her only chance.


So... It looks like Rin is definitely going to run away. But what surprises await? We all know what Kohaku is up to... but what about the bids? How will Sesshoumaru react when he receives his incitement? Next chapter will tell!

Love you guys, thanks for remaining faithful!