Odawara
Three days had past and Kiriko just arrived in the City of Odawara. Well I hope this day goes better then the others. In the past three days, Kiriko got caught in a sudden spring rain storms, slipped in the mud while she was practicing swordsmanship, and the worse thing of all was she smelled like fish from all the fishing she had done. Basically, she was in dire need of a hot bath. She walked a little deeper into the city. I only have a little money left, she thought, maybe there's some place cheap around-
"Hey you! Girl with the fishing rod!"
Kiriko looked around. She saw an old man waving his hands frantically trying to get her attention.
Kiriko pointed to herself, "Who me?" She walked towards the old man.
"NO the other three hundred girls walking around her with fishing rod. OF COURSE YOU! Do you want a job?" He was a scruffy old man with a long white beard and mustache. He was shorter then Kiriko and he had crazy light blue eyes.
"Or-," Kiriko stopped herself. She was about to say her daddy's famous line. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"You aren't to bright are you? I'm offering you a job. I'm very busy today and I need an extra young girl in here to service these hungry men. Do you want the job?"
Kiriko thought about if for a second. "Well I am running out of money and I could use a hot bath-"
"Yes you could and you'll be working for tips….Well, do you want the JOB?" The old man said very impatiently tapping his foot.
Kiriko blushed at his first comment; "Okay, I'll take the job."
"Good…oh one more thing. Do you have a kimono or something? Cause you won't get many tips from men wearing a gi and hakama." The old man said looking her up and down.
"Oh no I….wait a minute…yes I do have a kimono." Kiriko forgot all about the kimono her mother made.
"Well come on, I've got a full house in here." The old man led Kiriko into the Odawara Tavern.
"By the way, my name is Mr. Tsai. If any of these goons mess with you in a way you don't like, just come to me. What's your name?"
"Kiriko Hi-"
"The only last name I need to know around here is mine. Kiriko will do just fine. There is the bathhouse. I'll send one of my girls in to help you if you need it. Now hurry and wash up these men are very impatient." Mr. Tsai pointed her to the bathhouse and hurried back into the main room.
To Kiriko's surprise it wasn't just an ordinary bathhouse but looked more like a Hot Springs. This is beautiful, she thought. Kiriko pulled out her kimono and placed it to the side. Took off her clothes and eased herself in to the steamy hot water. Oh this feels sooo good. I could lay in here forever. She sat back and let her skin soak in the heat. Kiriko sat like this for a few minutes, until….
"Excuse me."
Kiriko nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned around to face a petite girl around her age. The girl had shiny blonde hair pulled up into bun, dazzling jade eyes and her face was done up in beautiful makeup.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you." The girl giggled in a sweet soft voice that reminded Kiriko of Mrs. Tsubame. "My name is Ayana. Mr. Tsai sent me in here to help you. I know the water feels good but we need you out here right away."
Kiriko blushed, "I'm sorry. I was just finishing up. By the way, my name is Kiriko."
"Nice to meet you Kiriko. I'll be right by the door if you need my help."
"Thank You."
Ayana left the bathhouse and Kiriko quickly finished her bath. I hope this isn't to wrinkle, she worried as she put on the kimono. Kiriko was having a little trouble with the obi so she decided to ask Ayana for help.
After Kiriko got dressed, Ayana assisted with her hair and makeup. Once everything was done, Ayana took a step back from Kiriko to get a better look at her.
"Wow Kiriko. You look beautiful."
Kiriko smiled and blushed, "No I don't. You're just saying that."
Ayana looked at her slightly surprised, "You're not like the other girls here. They're all very conceited and they don't have anything on you. Come with me. I'll show you how you look."
Kiriko followed Ayana into a back room. Ayana went to a coat closet and slid the door open. Inside there was a full-length mirror.
"Now, look for yourself." Ayana smiled and pushed Kiriko in front of the mirror.
Kiriko's mouth dropped open. The kimono was incredible. The top hung off her shoulders revealing her long swan-like neck. It was whitish pink from the top gradually became darker as her eyes scanned down the kimono. At the bottom, the pink had turned a dark wine-coloured red the same as her hair. There were small pink and red butterflies trimmed in gold all around the sleeves and bottom of the kimono and one large butterfly for the obi in the back. Ayana had taken Kiriko's hair down and French braided it with pink and red ribbons. As Ayana was helping Kiriko, she didn't think Kiriko needed makeup. However, Mr. Tsai wanted all the girls to wear makeup, so she gave her a little eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara to enhance Kiriko's gorgeous Japanese eyes and just a little pink lipstick. As a final touch, Ayana gave Kiriko a small dab of her White Plum perfume. I really DO look pretty. Kiriko smiled and twirled around in the mirror. Then she gave Ayana a big hug.
"Thank you, thank you so much for helping me."
Ayana blushed, "See I told you. Now let's get going before that old man has a heart attack."
In the main dinning room, men were screaming and demanding for service.
"Where is that girl?" Mr. Tsai asked no one in particular. He was scrabbling around apologizing to all the men for the slow service. Just as he was about to scream with frustration, Kiriko and Ayana walked into the main room. All at once, the men became very quiet as they looked at the new girl that just entered.
"Who is that?" One guy whispered to his friend.
"I don't know but I want her to serve our table." The other guy smiled and eyed Kiriko up and down.
Kiriko had never been so nervous or scared in her life. I'm use to feeding hungry loud guys before, she started fidgeting, but usually they're my family and friends.
"Don't be nervous, Kiriko. You'll be all right. I explained every thing you have to do and you understood, right?"
Kiriko nodded her head but she still looked nervous.
Ayana smiled and gave her a quick squeeze, "Then you should be just fine. I have to go to my tables. Mr. Tsai-"
"Where have you been? This place is a mad house. Ayana get to your tables. Kiriko come with me." Mr. Tsai interrupted.
Ayana gave Kiriko one last reassuring smile and hurried off to her station. Mr. Tsai grabbed Kiriko's arm and pulled her in the other direction.
"Okay Kiriko, you look great. Now go over there and serve those tables. Here's the tray. The water, tea, and sake are on that cart in your station. You'll do just fine. Now go!"
Mr. Tsai put the tray in Kiriko's hands and pushed her in the direction of her station.
Kiriko stumbled but managed to keep her balance. As she walked towards her tables, she happened to look up and saw a figure in the dark corner on the other side of the room. For some strange reason she couldn't take her eyes away from that direction but quickly dismissed it when she got her table. The guys at her station started to smile brightly while the other men that weren't in her station grumbled and cursed that they didn't have the new girl.
There were three guys sitting at the first table Kiriko approached. They smiled at her and she smiled back.
One whispered to the other two, "I think I'm in love." They all snickered.
"Hello," Kiriko bowed, "my name is Kiriko and I will be your server today."
"Hello Kiriko." They all said in unison.
She placed a bowl in front of each of them and began to serve the food.
"I see you're new here. I've never seen you around before. Do you live around here?" One of the men asked.
"No, I don't live in Odawara. I'm just passing through." Kiriko answered politely.
"Well maybe after work we can show you around. How does that sound?" The other guy asked trying to put all his charm into the question.
Kiriko smiled, "I thank you but I really won't be in Odawara that long to enjoy the sites. But thank you for offering."
She finished pouring their sake and moved on to the next table.
Across the room in the dark corner, a pair of chestnut red eyes watched Kiriko closely.
"Would you like more to drink, handsome?"
He looked up to see Sataki, one of the other girls that worked there, smiling sweetly at him.
"No, I'm good. Thanks Sataki." He answered in his deep sensual voice.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" Sataki blushed and batted her thick eyelashes.
The stranger looked back across the room at Kiriko, "Yeah, what's her name?" He pointed.
Sataki smile immediately turned into a frown. She didn't see Kiriko come in. Sataki glared at Kiriko but quickly recover her smile and answered the stranger sweetly. "I don't know she must have started here today. I didn't meet her yet."
The strange grinned. He could hear the jealousy in Sataki's voice even though she tried to cover it up. "Oh…okay. Well I better get going. Thanks Sataki." He got up and placed the money for his meal on the table then he handed Sataki a large tip.
Her smile became genuine again and she bowed, "Thank you. You are always welcomed here. Come again."
The stranger smiled and walked out the door.
The long day was finally coming to a close. Kiriko was so tired but didn't show it. All the men were very polite to her and all of them asked her pretty much the same question. Could they show her around town? She gave them all the same answer. As they were closing up, Ayana came by Kiriko's station to see how she was doing.
"So, how was your first day?" Ayana inquired as she helped Kiriko clean off the tables.
"I think it went pretty well. I'm so glad it's over though. They kept asking me all these questions." Kiriko said with annoyance in her voice.
"Yeah they did that to me when I first started working here. Did they give you the 'can I show you around town' line?" Ayana asked mocking the men.
Kiriko burst out laughing and nodded. They both started to laugh, as they were cleaning.
"So did you get a lot of tips?" Ayana picked up a stack of bowls.
Kiriko did the same, "Yes! I mean they were giving me so much money. I actually tried to give some back."
"Girl, are you crazy! You better take that money." They both started laughing again.
"That's just beginners luck."
Kiriko and Ayana turned to face the speaker. It was Sataki. She was looking Kiriko up and down then she just started glaring at her.
"Oh…Hi…Sataki. This is Kiriko. Kiriko this is Sataki, Mr. Tsai daughter."
Kiriko put the bowls down and bowed to her, "Oh it's nice to me-"
"I don't really care who you are. You just stay out of my way, new girl." Sataki walked by Kiriko and purposely banged into to her shoulder causing Kiriko to knock over the bowls.
"Your so clumsy, new girl. Your gonna have to pay my daddy back for those." Sataki started laughing and went into the back room.
"What's her problem?" Kiriko started picking up the broken bowls.
"She's just a nasty spoiled bitch that always wants her way. Sataki's jealous cause she's usually the one to get the big tips during the day. She thinks she's the prettiest amongst the girls. I agreed until you came, Kiriko." Ayana smiled at Kiriko and she started to blush.
"Thanks Ayana but I don't know why she feels so threatened I'm only here for today."
Ayana gasped, " I thought you were here permanently."
"No I only agreed to help out Mr. Tsai for today and I-"
"What happened here!" Mr. Tsai yelled once he saw the mess on the floor.
"I'm sorry Mr. Tsai I was clumsy. Please let me pay you for them." Kiriko bowed and offered him the money.
"No, no it's all right Kiriko. They were old anyway. How did you do today?" Mr. Tsai helped them pick up the remainder of the bowl pieces.
"I believe I did very well. Thank you for offing me this job. Now I have enough money for my journey to Kyoto."
"You're not leaving tonight are you!" Worry rising in Mr. Tsai voice.
"Actually, I was planing on-"
Mr. Tsai dropped to his knees and begged her. "Noooo, please stay one more day. Tomorrow is our busiest day. We'll need your help again. You were very popular and you brought in a lot of business. Please Kiriko. One more day."
Kiriko face turned bright red, "OK, OK I'll stay just get up off the floor!" Ayana started giggling madly. That was the same way Mr. Tsai got her to keep working there. They helped him off the floor and continued with the cleaning.