Chapter Three: Arigato
She smiled and bowed towards the young chestnut haired boy, "Arigato". Looking at the envelope he had just handed her, Konabe was amazed by the intricate design of cedar trees embossed in gold leaf. Embedding in the picture, lay two letters spelling out his family name: 'Li'.
Twenty minutes later, alone in her room, she slid her finger under the back of the envelope as to not damage it in any way before she peered inside. Sliding the notes out, she felt kind of guilty for taking money for being friendly, even though she had been taught that it was normal.
"It's only a tip," she told herself. "He didn't have to if he didn't want to. Then again, if he hadn't then maybe it would have meant he didn't enjoy my company! So I should be glad he did." As she thought aloud she spread out the notes in her hand to find.
"FIFTY THOUSAND YEN!"
As soon as she recovered from the room, she ran to the next room in search of her "big-sister", Kima. The tall slim girl sat elegantly on the edge of her bed, combing her long hair after it had been up all day.
"Konabe! Tell me then, how was it? What did. wait a minute, why are you so pale?" Lost for words, the younger of the two held out her hands to reveal the money she had received. "Whoa! You got yourself a good one there."
"How can you not be more disturbed by this? It's far too much. I've never heard of anyone getting this much, not that I know what a normal tip is but still, it can't be this much. What if it was an accident? Should I return it?" "Calm down. I must admit that it is a lot, especially for your first time accompanying someone, but it has been know." Now finished with the comb, Kima rose calmly and walked over to her mirror, perching lightly on the stool in front of it.
"But, what if he expects something. well, something more?" In the reflection of the mirror, Kima could see a pair of emerald eyes watering up with nervousness which was unusual for Konabe. Ever since she had been living in the teahouse with the other girls she had always been the lively spirit, permanently singing and dancing, and most of all, her eyes always shone with an inner happiness that no one could touch. Moving over on the stool slightly, Kima patted the space next to her, encouraging Konabe to join her. As the young girl sat, the other girl faced her, admiring her innocence in the situation.
"Don't worry," Kima said as she swept a piece of Konabe's stray hair behind the girl's ear. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Most the time these rich guys have more money than sense. They throw it around like there's no tomorrow. The money is yours, spend it as you wish."
"Are you sure? How could they give that much money away? It can't be right?"
Kima just smiled at this. "Don't believe the horror stories you hear, like from Naru and Ammy, they exaggerate some much to scare the apprentices. It's true that sometimes a customer may give more, expecting something, but it's very rare. Even if they did, all you have to do is say no. Normally, at most, they are just trying to become your Oniisan."
"Oniisan? Like Hideki is to you?"
"That's right, Hideki is my Oniisan. All it means is that he's my financial support and gives me money for clothes and luxuries while I accompany him when he comes to the tea house." Standing up, Kima ushered Konabe to do the same and they headed towards the door.
"Get some sleep now. If you get up early, I'll go into town with you before your lessons." Konabe thanked Kima with a hug before returning to her room.
Note: Sorry to anyone that doesn't like me calling her Danna, "Oniisan". I know it means big brother but from what I read about Geisha's, they sometimes refer to them as Oniisan as they are looking after the Geisha. They pay for expenses but they are not their pimps as Geisha's are not prostitutes. If it's wrong, sorry.
She smiled and bowed towards the young chestnut haired boy, "Arigato". Looking at the envelope he had just handed her, Konabe was amazed by the intricate design of cedar trees embossed in gold leaf. Embedding in the picture, lay two letters spelling out his family name: 'Li'.
Twenty minutes later, alone in her room, she slid her finger under the back of the envelope as to not damage it in any way before she peered inside. Sliding the notes out, she felt kind of guilty for taking money for being friendly, even though she had been taught that it was normal.
"It's only a tip," she told herself. "He didn't have to if he didn't want to. Then again, if he hadn't then maybe it would have meant he didn't enjoy my company! So I should be glad he did." As she thought aloud she spread out the notes in her hand to find.
"FIFTY THOUSAND YEN!"
As soon as she recovered from the room, she ran to the next room in search of her "big-sister", Kima. The tall slim girl sat elegantly on the edge of her bed, combing her long hair after it had been up all day.
"Konabe! Tell me then, how was it? What did. wait a minute, why are you so pale?" Lost for words, the younger of the two held out her hands to reveal the money she had received. "Whoa! You got yourself a good one there."
"How can you not be more disturbed by this? It's far too much. I've never heard of anyone getting this much, not that I know what a normal tip is but still, it can't be this much. What if it was an accident? Should I return it?" "Calm down. I must admit that it is a lot, especially for your first time accompanying someone, but it has been know." Now finished with the comb, Kima rose calmly and walked over to her mirror, perching lightly on the stool in front of it.
"But, what if he expects something. well, something more?" In the reflection of the mirror, Kima could see a pair of emerald eyes watering up with nervousness which was unusual for Konabe. Ever since she had been living in the teahouse with the other girls she had always been the lively spirit, permanently singing and dancing, and most of all, her eyes always shone with an inner happiness that no one could touch. Moving over on the stool slightly, Kima patted the space next to her, encouraging Konabe to join her. As the young girl sat, the other girl faced her, admiring her innocence in the situation.
"Don't worry," Kima said as she swept a piece of Konabe's stray hair behind the girl's ear. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Most the time these rich guys have more money than sense. They throw it around like there's no tomorrow. The money is yours, spend it as you wish."
"Are you sure? How could they give that much money away? It can't be right?"
Kima just smiled at this. "Don't believe the horror stories you hear, like from Naru and Ammy, they exaggerate some much to scare the apprentices. It's true that sometimes a customer may give more, expecting something, but it's very rare. Even if they did, all you have to do is say no. Normally, at most, they are just trying to become your Oniisan."
"Oniisan? Like Hideki is to you?"
"That's right, Hideki is my Oniisan. All it means is that he's my financial support and gives me money for clothes and luxuries while I accompany him when he comes to the tea house." Standing up, Kima ushered Konabe to do the same and they headed towards the door.
"Get some sleep now. If you get up early, I'll go into town with you before your lessons." Konabe thanked Kima with a hug before returning to her room.
Note: Sorry to anyone that doesn't like me calling her Danna, "Oniisan". I know it means big brother but from what I read about Geisha's, they sometimes refer to them as Oniisan as they are looking after the Geisha. They pay for expenses but they are not their pimps as Geisha's are not prostitutes. If it's wrong, sorry.