"You wanna hear about me? About what I think?" Konabe started off shocked
at the request from Syaoran. She was excited by the fact that someone
wanted to listen to her for a change, but then some doubt started to set
into her mind and she questioned, "Why?"
"What do you mean, why?"
"Sorry, I'm so used to hearing people telling me to stop dreaming. It's rare to have someone to talk to about anything, but I guess that's why you're here - company and all. I've never really had to accompany someone before you and from living in a house full of girls and females, I had never really thought about what types of things there were to talk about at an actual dinner meeting. But me? Sorry, it still seems weird to me that you want to know. Oh god, now I'm rambling on and on."
"Calm down" Syaoran motioned toward her, placing his hand on her arm to get her attention after she had turned away slightly to hide her embarrassment.
As soon as she felt the gentle gesture, she looked towards him to be greeted by a welcoming smile. Even though he hadn't said much, his eyes were asking her to continue as he waited to hear about her.
She gave in to her doubts, "What would you like to know?"
"Well, where do I start? Let me think. how did you become a geisha?"
"I'm not actually a geisha yet, I'm still training. You can't actually become a geisha until at least sixteen. I've been training for years though so shouldn't have to wait long after my sixteenth birthday. Normally, I wouldn't even be allowed out on the house floor serving, let alone accompanying, but you were a special case."
His smile widened, "how so?"
"Your guardians of course. They asked for someone closer to your age and made arrangements."
Slightly disappointed by this answer, Syaoran changed the subject. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Oh, that, well. I'm not to sure how I ended up at the tea house really. Other girls have arrived for different reasons - their parents didn't have enough money to support them so sold them to the tea house, some were orphans, and a rare few came from choice. I know I've been here since I was about two. Once I questioned Kima about my family but she just asked if knowing would cause more pain. So, here I am."
"Don't you ever wonder about your family? Who they are? Where they might be?" His smile had gone and he was now more sympathetically as he looked at Konabe.
"I do dream about them." Her voice trembled as emotions started to escalate and her head hung low as she started to speak.
"There are to reoccurring dreams I have, one is about them. At least, I think it's them. it's about some sort of family.
~~*~~
[Flashback]
The small house stood alone and was hidden slightly behind a grove of trees, decorated with spots of ivy that climbed towards the windows. The surrounding area had also been keep tidy and cared for, with fire wood piled neatly to the side of the house and an arch of wisteria shadowing the door.
Everything gave off the sense of a loving home and pleasant family. It felt like at any moment, laughter would be heard from a playing child while the smell of sweet home cooking would be rising from the kitchen stove before a caring mother voice would ring out calling the family to dinner. Even though it was far from expensive but was rich in many other attributes.
However, no noise was heard and no aroma stimulated the senses. The rooms were dimly lit and shadows danced on the walls from the flickering of candlelight. It still looked homely and inviting at this point, but instead of being able to enter, two people stepped outside.
Then the atmosphere changed. The gentle breeze got stronger, becoming a rainy wind that disturbed the clothes and hair of the couple. The whole scene started to drain of colour and the expressions of distress became clear.
The woman was pale faced and half hidden behind the handkerchief she held to her cheek, leaving on her watery, swollen red eyes in view.
The man was trying to hide his grief as he comforted his wife by holding her close, but it was his eyes also that betrayed him. They seemed glazed over but behind them the agony was clear. It had become a picture of sadness and loss.
~~*~~
"I doubt it really is any kind of memory as I was two when I arrived at the tea house and I have no recollection of that. Maybe it's just a hope, that somewhere I do have a family. people that were sad to loose me. Also. hoping that they did loose me for a perfectly good reason and not given me up on a whim. What am I talking about? Who would give up a child on a whim?"
"It's alright." Syaoran had turned his chair to face her full on some time earlier and now took both her hands in his own. "I'm sorry to cause you such pain. If I had known I never would've asked."
He could tell that Konabe was on the verge of crying, letting it all out and telling him more but suddenly she blinked a few times, cleared her throat and sat up straight. "It was my fault. I never should have let my emotions overrule me like that. It won't happen again."
Shocked and saddened slightly by her sudden lack of feelings, Syaoran wanted to explain that it was ok to cry and that it was ok to talk about things like this. things that were so important to her. Then, if she did not want others to hear her speak or see her cry, he would hold her close. protecting her from painful memories; out of sight of others who may judge her show of emotions; and mostly, let her know he was there for her.
However, he too had codes of conduct that he would not cross and found it improper to even be thinking about taking this girl into his arms. This is why he understood her sudden readjustment of character.
Not everything about Konabe had changed. Although he knew she was still sad inside where the memories kept replaying themselves over and over in her head, Konabe's sweet smile still showed him that she hadn't shut herself off from him completely.
"How about you?" She questioned after a few moments of silence. "May I ask why someone so young should be at a meeting here?"
Syaoran explained his life to Konabe. Not in the same detailed way that she talked about things, but more bluntly and to the point. He explained how his family was very important in china - they handled a lot of trade and finances, travelled to meet with clients, owned property which they lend out to workers and protected a lot of the surrounding areas from whatever may arise.
Syaoran went on to talk about how he was the heir to being the clan leader and had to start learning from a young age about the business as well as spend most his life training in battle skills and different types of martial arts. He couldn't understand why this would be of any interest to her but answered any questions Konabe had as fully as he could to please her.
Konabe listened attentively. Absorbing all the information he was feeding her and storing it in her mind. His life sounded amazing to her. Just the fact that he lived with his family was a fantasy in itself, so she enquired after as much as she could get out of him.
One of the Elders respectfully, but formally, bowed towards to the tall slender woman that stood in front of him. Even though her expression was stern as ever, those around her knew that she returned their amount of respect and was grateful for the updates on her only son's progression.
"As always, he's learning fast. If anything, his knowledge of the business is already up to the level of most of ours. We only need to update him on recent up-comings, but even that he's normally already picked up on himself.
Socially, his behaviour towards the Elders shows a high standard of respect and admiration. We have also observed his interaction with the young trainee geisha that we allocated to him."
~~*~~
[Flashback]
From the other end of the table, most of the Elders eyes were locked onto the scene opposite them. Konabe was listening intensively as the two faced each other and Syaoran described his family, including his long deceased father, strict mother and four over excitable sisters.
It had been a while since they had seen the young heir even near anyone his own age except for his cousin. Two of his cousins, one girl his age and one boy a few years older, had moved into the Li family mansion a couple of years earlier. They were the closest people Syaoran had to his age group as his sisters were a lot older, but Meilin was hard work to say the least, with her overpowering personality and possessive behaviour. Syaoran had learnt to brush her off with half hearted excuses so that he could escape her lectures on how he needs to find a wife and open up more to others.
The other cousin, Eriol, could best be described as Syaoran's only friend. The rest of his life, Syaoran had only ever been around adults, especially ones with so many regulations and formalities that he spent his time living up to their rules.
But now. it seemed like they were looking upon a totally different person. His barriers were down - well, as much as they could be for Syaoran - and the couple were laughing amongst each other as they shared their tales.
"I suppose he's needed someone that he can talk to."
"It was the same for Eriol at this age. I mean, he is nearly sixteen."
"But she isn't."
"I don't think he would let us change her now, and she is the best trainee as we asked for one his age."
"She's definitely seems obedient."
"Also a high spirited young girl. That's defiantly what he needs after training all day. That smile would cheer up any rainy day."
"She defiantly is beautiful. And he seems more relaxed than I've ever seen him."
"It's settled then?"
The Elders all nodded with approval.
"I will talk to Yelan when we return. Then, if his mother agrees, I'll settle things with the 'House Mother'."
~~*~~
Konabe had been hanging onto every word that Syaoran had said over the past hour. They had covered all topics on his family and his training. He was now describing his home and every detail of the garden that Konabe was so impatient to hear about.
"You have cherry blossoms!?!" Konabe exclaimed excitedly before quickly composing herself. "That's what my family named me after." Syaoran's expression changed to confusion while he thought about what she had just said.
"Doesn't Konabe mean flower tea?"
"Well, yes. but that's not my real name. Geisha's get given a separate name once they start training. I'm actually Sakura."
"Why can't you keep your old name?"
"It signifies a change in your life and lifestyle. I could only change it back if I left the geisha way of life."
"Oh. ok then. So, Sakura, can I still call you that?"
Hearing someone call her by that name, send shivers down her spine. Even though she had grown used to Konabe, the name Sakura felt more fitting. familiar in a way. "Sure" she answered, before leaning in to whisper, "just don't let anyone else hear you calling me that."
Syaoran looked around as he heard the sound of chairs scrapping against the wooden floor. Regretfully, he followed suit and stood like the Elders were doing.
"I guess we're leaving now." He reached into his jacket pocket and started to hand over another elaborately decorated envelope. A small delicate hand reached up and stopped him.
"Please, don't give me so much. Your last tip was more than enough."
"Don't worry Sakura," Syaoran reassured her. "I want to give it to you. Just to show I enjoy your company, especially after long business meetings."
She smiled at his compliment and took the envelope as he offered it to her again. "I'll only spend it on necessities though. No luxuries, I promise."
"Why not? I'm giving it to you to do whatever you want with it. What you spend it on is your business now." He held his hands around hers with the envelope in the middle so that she could not offer it back. "Please, just keep it. I want to show you that I appreciate your time. Plus I also want you to be able to get anything you want and also anything you need."
Giving in, she took the tip and bowed courteously. "Arigato" she thanked him. "You're beginning to seem like my Oniisan"
"Your brother?"
"No, that's not what I meant. it's more like a nickname. We use it to mean a regular customer that supports us, as their tips pay for our provisions."
"I guess I am then."
Author's Note: From now on, I'm going to refer to Konabe in the narrative as Sakura as they are one and the same person. Syaoran will also refer to her this way but most of the other characters will still call her Konabe. I hope this doesn't make it too confusing, but you most probably would have expected this change.
"What do you mean, why?"
"Sorry, I'm so used to hearing people telling me to stop dreaming. It's rare to have someone to talk to about anything, but I guess that's why you're here - company and all. I've never really had to accompany someone before you and from living in a house full of girls and females, I had never really thought about what types of things there were to talk about at an actual dinner meeting. But me? Sorry, it still seems weird to me that you want to know. Oh god, now I'm rambling on and on."
"Calm down" Syaoran motioned toward her, placing his hand on her arm to get her attention after she had turned away slightly to hide her embarrassment.
As soon as she felt the gentle gesture, she looked towards him to be greeted by a welcoming smile. Even though he hadn't said much, his eyes were asking her to continue as he waited to hear about her.
She gave in to her doubts, "What would you like to know?"
"Well, where do I start? Let me think. how did you become a geisha?"
"I'm not actually a geisha yet, I'm still training. You can't actually become a geisha until at least sixteen. I've been training for years though so shouldn't have to wait long after my sixteenth birthday. Normally, I wouldn't even be allowed out on the house floor serving, let alone accompanying, but you were a special case."
His smile widened, "how so?"
"Your guardians of course. They asked for someone closer to your age and made arrangements."
Slightly disappointed by this answer, Syaoran changed the subject. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Oh, that, well. I'm not to sure how I ended up at the tea house really. Other girls have arrived for different reasons - their parents didn't have enough money to support them so sold them to the tea house, some were orphans, and a rare few came from choice. I know I've been here since I was about two. Once I questioned Kima about my family but she just asked if knowing would cause more pain. So, here I am."
"Don't you ever wonder about your family? Who they are? Where they might be?" His smile had gone and he was now more sympathetically as he looked at Konabe.
"I do dream about them." Her voice trembled as emotions started to escalate and her head hung low as she started to speak.
"There are to reoccurring dreams I have, one is about them. At least, I think it's them. it's about some sort of family.
~~*~~
[Flashback]
The small house stood alone and was hidden slightly behind a grove of trees, decorated with spots of ivy that climbed towards the windows. The surrounding area had also been keep tidy and cared for, with fire wood piled neatly to the side of the house and an arch of wisteria shadowing the door.
Everything gave off the sense of a loving home and pleasant family. It felt like at any moment, laughter would be heard from a playing child while the smell of sweet home cooking would be rising from the kitchen stove before a caring mother voice would ring out calling the family to dinner. Even though it was far from expensive but was rich in many other attributes.
However, no noise was heard and no aroma stimulated the senses. The rooms were dimly lit and shadows danced on the walls from the flickering of candlelight. It still looked homely and inviting at this point, but instead of being able to enter, two people stepped outside.
Then the atmosphere changed. The gentle breeze got stronger, becoming a rainy wind that disturbed the clothes and hair of the couple. The whole scene started to drain of colour and the expressions of distress became clear.
The woman was pale faced and half hidden behind the handkerchief she held to her cheek, leaving on her watery, swollen red eyes in view.
The man was trying to hide his grief as he comforted his wife by holding her close, but it was his eyes also that betrayed him. They seemed glazed over but behind them the agony was clear. It had become a picture of sadness and loss.
~~*~~
"I doubt it really is any kind of memory as I was two when I arrived at the tea house and I have no recollection of that. Maybe it's just a hope, that somewhere I do have a family. people that were sad to loose me. Also. hoping that they did loose me for a perfectly good reason and not given me up on a whim. What am I talking about? Who would give up a child on a whim?"
"It's alright." Syaoran had turned his chair to face her full on some time earlier and now took both her hands in his own. "I'm sorry to cause you such pain. If I had known I never would've asked."
He could tell that Konabe was on the verge of crying, letting it all out and telling him more but suddenly she blinked a few times, cleared her throat and sat up straight. "It was my fault. I never should have let my emotions overrule me like that. It won't happen again."
Shocked and saddened slightly by her sudden lack of feelings, Syaoran wanted to explain that it was ok to cry and that it was ok to talk about things like this. things that were so important to her. Then, if she did not want others to hear her speak or see her cry, he would hold her close. protecting her from painful memories; out of sight of others who may judge her show of emotions; and mostly, let her know he was there for her.
However, he too had codes of conduct that he would not cross and found it improper to even be thinking about taking this girl into his arms. This is why he understood her sudden readjustment of character.
Not everything about Konabe had changed. Although he knew she was still sad inside where the memories kept replaying themselves over and over in her head, Konabe's sweet smile still showed him that she hadn't shut herself off from him completely.
"How about you?" She questioned after a few moments of silence. "May I ask why someone so young should be at a meeting here?"
Syaoran explained his life to Konabe. Not in the same detailed way that she talked about things, but more bluntly and to the point. He explained how his family was very important in china - they handled a lot of trade and finances, travelled to meet with clients, owned property which they lend out to workers and protected a lot of the surrounding areas from whatever may arise.
Syaoran went on to talk about how he was the heir to being the clan leader and had to start learning from a young age about the business as well as spend most his life training in battle skills and different types of martial arts. He couldn't understand why this would be of any interest to her but answered any questions Konabe had as fully as he could to please her.
Konabe listened attentively. Absorbing all the information he was feeding her and storing it in her mind. His life sounded amazing to her. Just the fact that he lived with his family was a fantasy in itself, so she enquired after as much as she could get out of him.
One of the Elders respectfully, but formally, bowed towards to the tall slender woman that stood in front of him. Even though her expression was stern as ever, those around her knew that she returned their amount of respect and was grateful for the updates on her only son's progression.
"As always, he's learning fast. If anything, his knowledge of the business is already up to the level of most of ours. We only need to update him on recent up-comings, but even that he's normally already picked up on himself.
Socially, his behaviour towards the Elders shows a high standard of respect and admiration. We have also observed his interaction with the young trainee geisha that we allocated to him."
~~*~~
[Flashback]
From the other end of the table, most of the Elders eyes were locked onto the scene opposite them. Konabe was listening intensively as the two faced each other and Syaoran described his family, including his long deceased father, strict mother and four over excitable sisters.
It had been a while since they had seen the young heir even near anyone his own age except for his cousin. Two of his cousins, one girl his age and one boy a few years older, had moved into the Li family mansion a couple of years earlier. They were the closest people Syaoran had to his age group as his sisters were a lot older, but Meilin was hard work to say the least, with her overpowering personality and possessive behaviour. Syaoran had learnt to brush her off with half hearted excuses so that he could escape her lectures on how he needs to find a wife and open up more to others.
The other cousin, Eriol, could best be described as Syaoran's only friend. The rest of his life, Syaoran had only ever been around adults, especially ones with so many regulations and formalities that he spent his time living up to their rules.
But now. it seemed like they were looking upon a totally different person. His barriers were down - well, as much as they could be for Syaoran - and the couple were laughing amongst each other as they shared their tales.
"I suppose he's needed someone that he can talk to."
"It was the same for Eriol at this age. I mean, he is nearly sixteen."
"But she isn't."
"I don't think he would let us change her now, and she is the best trainee as we asked for one his age."
"She's definitely seems obedient."
"Also a high spirited young girl. That's defiantly what he needs after training all day. That smile would cheer up any rainy day."
"She defiantly is beautiful. And he seems more relaxed than I've ever seen him."
"It's settled then?"
The Elders all nodded with approval.
"I will talk to Yelan when we return. Then, if his mother agrees, I'll settle things with the 'House Mother'."
~~*~~
Konabe had been hanging onto every word that Syaoran had said over the past hour. They had covered all topics on his family and his training. He was now describing his home and every detail of the garden that Konabe was so impatient to hear about.
"You have cherry blossoms!?!" Konabe exclaimed excitedly before quickly composing herself. "That's what my family named me after." Syaoran's expression changed to confusion while he thought about what she had just said.
"Doesn't Konabe mean flower tea?"
"Well, yes. but that's not my real name. Geisha's get given a separate name once they start training. I'm actually Sakura."
"Why can't you keep your old name?"
"It signifies a change in your life and lifestyle. I could only change it back if I left the geisha way of life."
"Oh. ok then. So, Sakura, can I still call you that?"
Hearing someone call her by that name, send shivers down her spine. Even though she had grown used to Konabe, the name Sakura felt more fitting. familiar in a way. "Sure" she answered, before leaning in to whisper, "just don't let anyone else hear you calling me that."
Syaoran looked around as he heard the sound of chairs scrapping against the wooden floor. Regretfully, he followed suit and stood like the Elders were doing.
"I guess we're leaving now." He reached into his jacket pocket and started to hand over another elaborately decorated envelope. A small delicate hand reached up and stopped him.
"Please, don't give me so much. Your last tip was more than enough."
"Don't worry Sakura," Syaoran reassured her. "I want to give it to you. Just to show I enjoy your company, especially after long business meetings."
She smiled at his compliment and took the envelope as he offered it to her again. "I'll only spend it on necessities though. No luxuries, I promise."
"Why not? I'm giving it to you to do whatever you want with it. What you spend it on is your business now." He held his hands around hers with the envelope in the middle so that she could not offer it back. "Please, just keep it. I want to show you that I appreciate your time. Plus I also want you to be able to get anything you want and also anything you need."
Giving in, she took the tip and bowed courteously. "Arigato" she thanked him. "You're beginning to seem like my Oniisan"
"Your brother?"
"No, that's not what I meant. it's more like a nickname. We use it to mean a regular customer that supports us, as their tips pay for our provisions."
"I guess I am then."
Author's Note: From now on, I'm going to refer to Konabe in the narrative as Sakura as they are one and the same person. Syaoran will also refer to her this way but most of the other characters will still call her Konabe. I hope this doesn't make it too confusing, but you most probably would have expected this change.