Authoress' Notes: First of all: I AM SO SORRY!!!!!!! This took an absolutely ridiculous amount time to put out. Now my excuses/explanations:
1. Midterms
2. Various presentations
3. Website – almost finished
4. Changed departments at work – Jewelry girl now! :-D I love the shinny things!!!
5. Brother crashed his truck – He's okay, thank goodness, but he spent time in the hospital and that wasn't easy on this big-sister's nerves.
So anyways I was insanely busy with all of that and I didn't have much time to write. Now also, I was very unhappy with the start of this piece, it took a lot of cheap cuts and scenes in the first two parts and this one is much more up to par, with my regiment of quality. Also, I am on the fav lists of 30 people?!?! Where did you all come from? Wow, you all are like so cool! Thanks guys!!!
Anyways. I hope you enjoy this and I am so sorry about the wait. Love you guys!!!
*Smiles* - T.A.
"Oh I beg your pardon, I though you were no more than a companion, but apparently you are in love with Kagome. My this is awkward."
- Miroku from "Mystical Hand of the Amorous Monk, Miroku"
Cost Part Three:
Miroku was always in trouble with women one-way or another: he was either running from them or getting rejected by them or getting beaten by them. But throughout all his troubles with woman there was a common factor: he had done something. Now, it could be that he had simply entered a room or he could have possibly touched somewhere inappropriate, but it was his doing. Action and reaction; it was simple law of this plane.
Of course the situation at hand was not his fault; he had not done anything, but he was still going to be killed for it just the same. Sango was going to come unglued any moment and smash his skull in with that damn weapon of hers. Regardless of his slow learning curve, he did not enjoy being hit upside the head with a giant boomerang.
He didn't know how to react; in fact, he could feel his mouth still hanging open from shock. Vaguely, he was aware that Inuyasha had just been 'sat' and that Kagome had a clamp on Shippou's mouth. He blinked and swallowed as his brain began to reengage.
" A hanyou?" Eto asked slightly nervous.
" Oh, don't worry I've got him under control." Kagome replied quickly, keeping a foot on Inuyasha's shoulder.
The hanyou in question was muttering every curse word he knew directly into the ground.
" My aren't you an interesting one." Eto informed Kagome.
" Oh, I'm a…I'm from the far south." Kagome sputtered.
" That would certainly explain you clothes." Amarante concluded. " Could you possibly introduce yourself and your friends?"
" Of course. I'm Kagome, this is Shippou and that's Inuyasha." Kagome paused and looked at Miroku and Sango.
Miroku felt every pair of look at him. He simply could not take advantage of Sango, like this, it would be an insult to her family honor. He couldn't lie to save his ass. Maybe he could explain that Amarante was mistaken and that she meant, Kagome, surely she would help him, if he phrased it correctly. He drew a deep breath.
However, before he could speak, he felt an arm thread its way around his. He looked down at Sango's soft smile as she addressed Amarante and Eto.
" I am Sango. I'm honored to meet you both." She bowed politely keeping her right arm still looped through his left.
" Sango. What a lovely name." Eto bowed deeply to Sango in show of respected, before smiling approvingly. " Miroku-sama, you certainly have exceptional taste."
Sango blushed deeply at the compliment and turned partway into Miroku to hide her face. " You are too kind, Eto-sama."
" No wonder you haven't been back to Kyoto." Eto laughed. " We will have to throw a banquet in your honor."
Miroku was still attempting to speak, but it wasn't working.
Amarante touched Eto's arm and politely gave opened an avenue of escape for the group. " Eto-sama, I do hate to cut our meeting short, but I need to attend to my cousin and his friends they are tired from all their traveling."
" Of course, of course Amarante-san. Will I being seeing you tonight or will you be attending to your cousin all night?"
" I haven't seen Miroku-san in so very long, I feel that it would be very rude to abandon him his first night back in Kyoto."
" Very well than, I will see you some other time. It was a pleasure meeting you all."
Bows were exchanged at the older lord departed from their company.
Miroku finally found his missing voice as he whispered to Sango, " Why did you say that?"
" I know how much family honor is worth." The taijiya smirked, " Besides, it seemed that you were speechless for once. I only meant to help."
" You did little one, in more ways than you can possibly know." Amarante smiled devilishly, " Eto-sama's niece looks more like a man than a woman and that's who was about to be thrown at Miroku."
Now Miroku found his missing volume. " What were you thinking?!?"
Amarante narrowed her eyebrows, " Hush. Don't forget we are in public."
" Um… Hello!! Can I get up now!?!?" Inuyasha complained loudly.
" Oops. Sorry." Kagome quickly moved her foot and let go of Shippou's mouth.
" Kagome, what's going on? Miroku and Sango…"
Kagome clamped her hand back over his mouth and shushed him again. " I'll explain later, okay?"
Shippou nodded and Kagome removed her hand. The kitsune instantly complained, " You guys always tell me that, but you never do."
" That's 'cause you're an annoying little runt." Inuyasha thunked Shippou on the head.
" Ow! Kagome!" Shippou hollered.
Amarante's eyebrows went up than down, before she sighed deeply. " Come with me. You can rest at my okiya(1) and get something to eat."
" Oh boy, food!"
***
The trip to the okiya was uneventful; Amarante made sure of it by way of her hurried expression. People noticed Amarante, she was one of the most well-known and well-liked Geisha in all of Kyoto. Despite the fact that her training had begun unbelievably late in her life, she was such a fast study that in three years she went from complete novice to full Geisha. Part of what aided her was the fact that she was an accomplished Jamisen(2) player before moving to Kyoto and she could already read. Her mother had played the Jamisen her entire life and the instrument had been past down in her family. Amarante had more contacts then the normal Geisha and she planned to keep it that way. Her mizuage(3) paid off her debts to her original okiya and her first danna(4) secured her independence, though he was killed shortly after that. Her second danna had helped her raise enough funds to buy an okiya of her own, but that was only five years ago. She doubted Miroku even knew that the okiya they were traveling to was hers by ownership.
Part of what aided Amarante's overwhelming success was her older 'sister' Ran. Geisha incorporated the name of their older sister into their new name by either syllable or meaning. Ran's name meant 'water-lily' and Amarante, who at the time was still known as Michiko, had many options to consider for her new name. Seeing as her first name had been practically taken from her by Michi, her younger sister, Amarante had seen no reason to be modest with her new name. Amarante meant 'flower that never fades' and as precocious as it was to take such a boastful name, she hadn't cared. Amarante would live up to her name and would make sure it that would never be forgotten. Ran wasn't the most beautiful Geisha in Kyoto, but she was smart and between her and her natural older sister, Nori, it hadn't taken Amarante any time to learn the in's and out's of life in the big city.
Unlike most Geisha, who were as shy as they appeared, Amarante took initiative, while still at least appearing proper. She wasn't a fool and her apprentice was going to secure her a more profitable house without adding more Geisha. As it stood at the moment she had two full Geisha in her okiya and Amaya, the little apprentice, who was simply breathtaking in every manner imaginable. Of course she also had two servant girls and an old woman cook under her roof that she not only had to feed, not also pay to keep them happy. But all three of them were worth what she spent on them, they could all perform many tasks that most servants wouldn't have a clue how attempt let alone complete.
The okiya looked clean from the front, the walk-way was swept and the flowerbeds had already been attended to that afternoon. Sen must have finished her indoor-chores early, so she could sit in the sun. She looked back and smiled to her guests. " Welcome to my okiya. Please forgive any mess, I wasn't expecting guests."
She opened the door and walked into the foyer depositing her okobo(5) in the hands of Nami, the older child-servant of the house. " Make sure these are polished and cleaned before tomorrow afternoon."
" Yes, Lady Amarante."
Amarante looked back and narrowed her eyes at Inuyasha's bare feet. " You." She pointed at the hanyou, " don't come another step further; you either." She added to Shippou as the other's removed their shoes. " Sen, come here immediately."
The tiny twelve-year-old appeared from almost nowhere and bowed quickly.
" I need you fetch a bucket of water and clean towels. I want their feet washed before they come into my okiya."
Sen nodded and raced off to find what she needed.
" Your okiya? As in you own it?" Miroku questioned.
" Ah good, you're speaking again. I've never heard you so quiet in your life. And yes mine, I've owned it for almost five years now."
" That's impossible, you would have been 26 summers."
" I know; I can count."
" Were you adopted into the house as a daughter?"
Amarante looked annoyed. " No. I'm just very popular."
Sen re-appeared and knelt next to Inuyasha, motioning for him to put his feet into the bucket.
Inuyasha looked very miffed about the whole situation.
" Come on, just do it, it isn't that bad." Kagome encouraged.
" You're only doin' this 'cause I'm hanyou ain't you?" He questioned the geisha.
" No. Hanyou's are becoming quite popular here in Kyoto." She answered as Sen grabbed Inuyasha's ankle.
" Hey, watch it." He snapped at the child, who ducked away quickly.
" Sen, he won't strike you. Wash his feet." Amarante assured her with a small bit of patience.
" What did you mean about hanyou's becoming popular here?" Miroku questioned.
" Just what I said. Lord's in the area have begun hiring them to be bodyguards."
" Why?" Inuyasha who was drying off his own feet, grumbled, " Ain't hanyou's just dumb half-breeds."
" No, they're stronger than humans, but easier to control than demon's. As such, you can't find better protection." Amarante smoothed part of her hair as she answered with a yawn. " Oh and you had better keep close watch on that kitsune of yours."
" Why?" Kagome asked as she gathered Shippou up protectively. " Is he in some kind of danger here?"
" Only if he caught alone. It's becoming increasingly popular for Lord's to keep kitsune's in their homes to entertain their children. I won't deal with any Lord, who keeps one."
" That's very noble of you." Sango offered.
Miroku interjected before Amarante could react, " No it isn't. She's simply watching her back. If the kitsunes free themselves, she doesn't want to have any scent of a house on her that imprisoned any of them."
" Very good. You know me well."
" I know what our family's like. Speaking of, you've doomed me, you know. I have to go see Nori now and I have to bring Sango, my wife, with me." Miroku ran his hand through his hair.
" I have to deal with her everyday, I don't see why you can't handle her for a few hours."
" You so not deal with her everyday."
" It's often enough." Amarante snapped her fingers and Nami re-appeared in an instant.
" Yes, Lady Amarante?"
" Tell Rai that we have guests and I would like a nice meal prepared for them. And you and Sen should fetch some tea, after you prepare rooms for our guests. Unless, you'd prefer to be Nori's company for the night, Miroku."
Miroku glared at Amarante, " No, I wouldn't want to unconvinced her with my presence."
" Of course not." Amarante's wicked smile returned in full-force. " But you still have to go see her."
" Are you sure?"
" Yes. I am." Amarante turned her attention to Sango, who was looking at the painting on the wall. " It's pretty isn't it?"
" Beautiful, I've never seen a mountain that high." Sango responded.
" Neither have I. That painting came from very far north, it was a gift." She touched Sango's chin and titled the younger woman's head to get a better look at her features. " You have a certain beauty to you, but those clothes will not suit you to meet with Nori, especially if her lord is present. Do you have anything nicer to wear?"
" Yes. I do." Sango pushed Amarante's hand away kindly, but with some force.
Amarante gripped her hand, " Hands of a warrior, you're good with a sword and something else, something heavy."
" Ya think it might be the giant boomerang on her back?!?" Inuyasha snorted mockingly.
Amarante was unfazed by his outburst. " If you can wield that, than you're stronger than many men I've entertained." She snapped her finger's again. " Sen, show Sango to a room that she can change in, and help her if she needs it."
The little girl nodded and held out her hand to Sango.
Though she was unimpressed with Amarante's half-compliment the taijiya smiled at Sen, then called to Kagome. " Kagome, could you help me perhaps?"
" Sure." Kagome set Shippou on the floor with the admonishment, " Be good."
Inuyasha laughed out loud before Kagome looked up at him.
" You too." She warned ignoring his protests and followed behind Sango.
" Can she speak?" Miroku asked suddenly.
" Sen?" Amarante asked before continuing without waiting for the answer. " No, the poor thing. I assumed she was faking it, so I stomped on her foot the second day she was here and all that came out was air. I felt awful for putting her through that without necessity."
" Why the hell would she fake not being able to talk?!?"
The Geisha explained carefully. " Many girls that are Geisha or servants in okiyas are not in Kyoto of their own accord. Many are kidnapped from their home villages and are sold to okiya owners."
" And you're a part of it." Miroku shook his head.
" Don't preach at me. They'd only be sold elsewhere, if I hadn't bought them." She waved her hand dismissively. " The girls are told to be perfect or else. The girls think 'or else' means they'll be sent home, so many fake a limp or don't speak. Of course, what happens to these girls is much worse than the life of servant. I assumed Sen, was faking her affliction, so I tested it."
" Poor child. You must have terrified her. 'Though, I suppose that's no worse than worse than the other girls are going through." Miroku sympathized.
Amarante's eyes snapped open wide as if something had bit her. " You." She pointed at Miroku accusingly, " Don't touch my girls. No wait, I'll rephrase that. The two full-Geisha that live here are fine, but if you get within five feet of Amaya, I'll kill you with my bare hands."
Miroku arched his eyebrow, " Why?"
" Because she's only an apprentice."
" And has a high bidder war raging over her head." Miroku assumed.
Amarante clapped for him. " Very good, you're correct."
" So what's on the table?"
" My, my aren't we forward?"
" Just curious." Miroku smirked and looked up as a door slid open, revealing Sango and Kagome. Sango was wearing the deep green kimono that Michi had given to her and her hair was loose; it made her look like a noble's wife.
Amarante examined Sango's appearance and brushed her finger's over one of the ornate flowers of the kimono. " This is Michi's work, I'd recognize it anywhere. The fabric isn't great, but the style is beautiful. She'd make a fortune if she's only move here."
" She hates the city." Miroku stated.
" Of course, my sister the matron priestess." Amarante yawned before regarding Sango again. " You'll have to wear a pair of my okobo. Otherwise you'd ruin the bottom of that kimono."
Sango looked down at the floor unsure about the idea wearing shoes she was likely to break her ankles in. " I've never worn shoes like that."
" Nonsense, you're a taijiya, you must possess some grace or you'd be dead."
" She's very graceful." Miroku interjected.
" I'm sure." Amarante moved to clap her hands when Sen appeared with a pair of okobo. " Thank you, Sen. You read my mind."
The little girl smiled and handed over the shoes.
Amarante set them in front of Sango, " Step into them." At Sango's hesitance she narrowed her eyes, " They won't kill you. I wear them almost everyday. Here, give me your hands."
Sango reluctantly let Amarante help her balance as she stepped into the wobbly shoes. She released Amarante's hands and took a very shaky step forward, before nearly losing balance.
Amarante gripped Sango's forearms and kept the younger girl on her feet. She sighed heavily and motioned to her cousin, " Miroku, come over here."
" She can't walk in them. She can barely stand." He argued, despite the fact that he complied with her wishes.
" She'll be fine." Amarante jerked Miroku closer to Sango and linked their arms. "If you lean on him like this, and use him to support you; you should be fine."
" Amarante." Miroku ground his teeth together.
" What?" She questioned with thinning patience, before regarding them seriously. "One, her leaning on you like that makes this ruse, slightly more believable. Two…" She trailed off and looked both of them, suddenly smiling widely. " Two, you look very good together."
Inuyasha snorted; Kagome giggled and clapped her hand over her mouth; Shippou wiggled his ears; Sango jumped away from Miroku and nearly fell again; and Miroku gagged for a moment, before catching Sango's arm.
Miroku narrowed his eyes as Amarante, " When did you become a match-maker?"
" I was only making an observation, you don't have to get angry." Amarante examined her nails and brushed imaginary dust from her kimono. " You should go see Nori, now; get it over with. I'll take care of your friends."
" I'm sure you will." Miroku half muttered under his breath, while practically dragging Sango with him. " We will not be gone long." He promised as the two disappeared out the door.
Amarante rolled her eyes, than turned to the others, " Well shall we sit down and have some tea and something to eat?"
" Yum! Food!" Shippou exclaimed.
Amarante smiled at him.
" Why doesn't he want to see Nori?" Kagome dared to ask.
" Oh, they hate each other."
***
" Angel, what are you playing with now?" Michi laughed as she walked up behind her daughter.
Tanaya gripped whatever it was tightly in her hands than placed them firmly behind her back. " Nothing."
" I see. But what are you hiding behind your back?"
" Nothing." Tanaya rocked on her heels and kept her eyes away from her mother's.
" Tanaya." Michi's voice became a little stern.
" It's a present for me though." Tanaya bit her lip.
" Angel, I don't want to take it, just look at it." Michi assured her daughter.
Tanaya held up the rose-colored stone for her mother to examine. " It was a present."
" I see that." Michi turned the stone over in her daughter's hand, noting that the child's name had been carved into it. 'It must have been a kitsune. They love leaving little presents for children. It would also explain the burnt scroll; they love to play with spell-scrolls.'
" Can I keep it? I'm gonna use it to protect me from the stealer." Tanaya questioned her pensive mother.
Michi sighed and knelt in front of her daughter. " Are you still seeing that stealer?"
" Yes, it wants my soul."
Michi brushed the hair away from Tanaya's face. " Angel, I know you're seeing a stealer, but I don't think its really here."
" But Momma…" Tanaya protested.
" Tanaya, I know you can see it, but let me tell you a little secret about our family."
" Okay."
" Okay. When your Miko and I were growing up we saw things like stealers too."
" You did?"
Michi smiled reassuringly. " Yes, but do you know what they were?"
Tanaya shook her head not understanding where her mother was going with this.
" They were visions and those vision were happening but not where we were. So, I know the stealer seems very scary, but it can't hurt you, because it isn't really there."
" Oh." Tanaya looked thoughtful. " So I don't have to worry about it."
" No, you don't." Michi smiled at her child.
" Thank you, Momma. I love you." Tanaya launched herself at her mother clinging to her neck.
" I love you too, Angel." Michi kissed the top of Tanaya's head and held her for a moment longer, almost as if she was afraid to let go.
By the way this information comes from Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, an excellent book, which you all should read. The only problem is that the book is set around WWII and so some of the information is bound to be different. I feel I took creative license within the bounds of the culture; if I have something terribly miss-portrayed please, please tell me.
1 Okiya – These are the homes of Geisha or in-training Geisha – run by a woman considered the 'mother' of the house, who often picks one Geisha to pass the house to.
2 Jamisen – Which is the original word, it now is normally referred to as a Shamisen. This instrument, a type of lute, is commonly played by Geisha and is normally accompanied by a Biwa – which I discovered that Miroku played, but do you know how many illustrated musical instrument books I had to go through to figure that out???
3 Mizuage – A woman's first sexual encounter – for a Geisha it is proceeded by a biding war and they are no longer apprentice after this
4 Danna – Man who supports a Geisha. He buys her things and she pays him a lot of extra attention. The word itself carries the type of affection that a wife would show her husband.
5 Okobo – Platform shoes – they have one main strap between the toes, are lacquered and have two 'heels' to raise the shoe.
