Eyes of Silver

Gazing into space

They will be the ones

To make you fall from grace

Eyes of Silver

Take you from your land

They will be the ones

To make you far from grand

Eyes of Silver

Careful of their plight

They will be the ones

To make you surely fight

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The stitching needle rapidly moved through the fabric, over and over, almost fearing that if she would stop the movement, the droning of the machine which she had gotten used to would stop, leaving her in silence. Deianera's eyes stared at the project before her with deep concentration, and from the movement of the needle combined with the only light being from the sewing machine, made her vision start to blur from strain.

Dreams that haunted her were growing evermore intense. Yet, she couldn't remember their intricate details - just the emotions they'd elicit; waking up scared, lonely, or with a feeling of great anxiety.

Her eyes drifted to the walls of her room. The gold paint with red trimmings had been inspiration for the same colored frock she was creating. An elegant gown she would probably never use. At least not in this lifetime. An even deeper question would be as to why she was creating it in the first place, and also at this late hour. Still she sewed, driven by a force inside her as it clawed to escape her.

-----------------

Meanwhile, outside her window floated a man with questionable intentions. What was even more bizarre, that this was the eighth story of the building. He watched his prey, Deianera, as she continued her work, while the man with silver eyes continued to peer, as it seemed, into her very soul. It was only when he looked under him and let out a small gasp, did Deianera look towards the direction of her open window. Nothing. He had lowered his body quickly out of sight to wait for her to get back to work. She yawned, and continued to stitch.

The silver eyed man however, now took his attention away from Deianera and stared at the ground below. How was it that this creature had found him? Well, it had been a couple of years.

They say that once the wheel of fate starts moving, the only thing powerful enough to stop it is ironically, the smallest of wrenches. This creature below him, entering the apartment complex, has at last shown herself to pose as this wrench. Cringing, he flew away. His mind already formulating a new plan, this stalker wouldn't be bested by the small pig that might have already made it's way to the lobby.

-----------------

"Dear. We really must be going. As in NOW!"

Deianera scrambled to get the formal kimono together. Her specialty was western fashion. The "obi" of the East was somewhat out of her league. Tonight: another dinner party. Even now, Abigail was determined to merge her two most favorite things: Alcohol and Business. Deianera was told that they would be again visiting the local ochaya or teahouse. She had already spent an hour trying to get the look together.

"I frankly don't understand why I have to go to these things. I don't drink or have any interest in your work. This isn't fair and I can't even get this damn thing on!"

Deianera threw the long sash across the room. Her mother gasped and chuckled.

"You're going. I am sick of you sitting in here like a wild banshee woman sewing away! It's not normal."

"Normal?" The young girl's eyes rolled in what looked like a complete circle.

The gin in Abigail's system already was boiling. She lashed out at her daughter, ripping the kimono from the girl. Deianera heard herself scream but didn't know quite what had happened. That is, till she found herself in her undergarments. She stared at her mother with scared eyes. Abigail turned her back to her daughter.

"Change into something more normal for you then. We're out in 5 minutes."

-----------------

Although she hated to admit it, Deianera loved the ochayas. The Japanese teahouses were a sight to see! It was like falling into the realm of Japanese old-style culture. Abigail was already chatting and flirting with other chairman of big name companies. Sake was poured by the lovely Geisha. It was very chic. That's where she met Purinsesu Narabanaki. Although, as Deianera later learned, wasn't her real name. The Geisha had once been very popular in this area of Japan. Now however, they were actually less than 50.

Their kimono were to die for. Deianera was instantly inspired for new designs fashioned under this new medium. Suddenly she felt almost peasant-like among this crowd. Everyone was dressed in either kimonos or Italian business suits and there she sat, wearing a blue-stitched, burgundy linen, long-sleeved shirt with a black suede leather mini skirt, and her ebony knee-high boots. Excusing herself with a small bow, Deianera headed outside. That's where she met a young Geisha.

Lavished in a beauitful red-silk kimono, she had brown sienna eyes framed by dark, thick lashes. Her hair and eyebrows were the color of a raven's wing. Her hair, pulled up in an elaborate hairstyle held together by what seemed to be a tortoise shell. She had high cheekbones and small, pouty lips. She was sitting out in the garden, admiring the moon it seemed. Her white face paint reflected in the moonlight to make her seem ghostly in appearance. She turned to Deianera, a small smile spreading across her half-painted lips.

"It's lovely isn't it?"

"The moon?"

"Hai. It's light draws me to it. I use to hear rumors of a deity living on the moon when I was a child. Do you think there's a deity on the moon?"

"I don't think so. I don't believe in deities. Actually, those who do are fooling themselves."

"My, what a wonderfully brazen girl you are."

Deianera paused. She was being rude..again. Red tinted her cheeks and this Geisha must have seen it for she giggled. Straightening out her kimono, the geisha arose from the stone bench she had been sitting on. This gave Deianera a better look at her kimono's design. The primary color was red but at the bottom a beautiful sunset pattern was illustrated. Deianera tried not to look so obvious in her admiration.

"Ah, don't worry. Us Geisha are known to be superstitious. How old are you?"

"17 years old. My name's Deianera by the way."

"Deianera, 17 years old and doesn't believe in deities. My name is Purinsesu of the Narabanaki Okiya. It's nice to meet you."

"Okiya? Is that any different than the Japanese Tea Houses, the Ochaya?"

"Very much so. An okiya is a place where a Geisha lives. With other Geisha as a matter of fact. You're obviously English, although you're name doesn't sound English to me."

"That's because it's Greek."

"Ah. How wonderfully exotic! I want you to do me a favor, would you?"

"A favor? We just met."

Purinsesu laughed at this. Again, red tinted Deianera's cheeks. Deianera thought a moment, looking at the hopeful expression on Purinsesu's face. Her face reminded Deianera of the white Japanese Noh masks. Although the Noh mask's features were frozen, she could see the glint of hope in Purinsesu's light brown eyes. Deianera sighed and responded.

"Yes, I'll do you a favor, I suppose."

"Arigato. Please, don't call me Purinsesu. Call me by the name I was born with."

"The name you were born with?"

Deianera let a look of confusion grace her emotions. What could the Geisha possibly mean? Maybe "Purinsesu" was actually a stage name of some sort. This was both very common and expected from any entertainer. Purinsesu nodded and smiled.

"Hai. The name I was born with. 18 years ago my birth mother named me Tori. My name is Tori. Tori Kioko."

"I don't understand."

"Yes, I believe you wouldn't. When a Geisha is adopted by her Okiya, her name changes. I was given the name Purinsesu by my adopted mother. It's a romanticized version of the English word 'Princess' I believe. I even lost my last name, Kioko, so you see, please call me by the name I was born with. I don't want to lose that part of me anymore."

Deianera felt a sudden empathy for this young woman. She too had lost something from her past. Yet with her it was her very name and with Deianera it was her father. Surprising teardrops escaped her eyes to which she promptly wiped away and made it as if it was nothing. Tori sighed and smiled at her.

"Don't be sad for me."

"I'm not. I just uh..forgot to blink."

"Oni no me nimo namida"

Tori giggled.

"You too have lost something precious to you. Maybe together, we can try to amend what was lost with something new?"

Deianera felt herself smile and attempted the Japanese language:

"Hai. Maybe."

"Here, this is the number where you can reach me at. I am not as busy as I should be these days. Let's spend some time together in the future."

With that said, Tori placed a small white card in Deianera's hand and bowed before going back inside to the Ochaya. Deianera stayed outside a couple of minutes more, staring up into the darkened sky. She continued to do this till the Mistress of the Ochaya came outside looking for her. The woman looked annoyed and already Deianera knew her mother was probably making a scene in her drunken stupidity.

"Miss. You're mother is ready to leave. She has asked for you."

"Yes."

Grasping Tori's calling card she looked at the moon one final time. This had turned out to be a pleasant encounter. Maybe this would turn out to be her first friend since coming to Japan. Maybe she would call her tomorrow afternoon. For now though, she had a drunk to take care of.

-----------------

It was all so routine, Deianera barely saw the strangeness in it. Making sure her mother was changed and passed out somewhere other than the floor was becoming a very interesting habit indeed. Deianera herself didn't even step inside her room till much later into the night. She looked at the alarm clock on her night stand. 4:30am. She groaned. Changing into her pajamas, Deianera laid on her bed. With her eyes finally going into a REM state, she decided to let herself drift into sleep. That's when she heard it.

"Excuse me."

Deianera's heart elevated in pulse. Her eyes shot open and she sat upright in her bed. Again, it came out of the darkness of her room.

"Excuse me."

Deianera tried to scream but the cry was stuck in her throat.

"My name is Melanippe. Don't be frightened."

Then, from the darkness, a small piglet appeared just under her window; surrounded in moonlight. It had a strange "N" symbol on it's head and a golden locket around it's neck. Melanippe's eyes were a beautiful jade green, much like Deianera's own eyes. Her skin or coat rather was a soft white with big black spots on it. Deianera however couldn't believe her eyes.

"This is impossible! Pigs don't talk. I must be dreaming. I have to be dreaming."

"You're not dreaming, Dee-dee! I'm here to tell you something very important."

"What can be so important that a talking pig has to tell me!"

Deianera, yet again, almost screamed when the piglet moved towards her and now somehow jumped onto the bed. It was surprisinly heavy as she felt it move atop her legs. Deianera was frozen in fear. Melanippe didn't stop till she was inches away from Deianera's face.

"I'm here to tell you who you really are."