Chapter Two: Him
Tsukushi fingered the handkerchief gently and looked at it wistfully. Not a day went by that she did not think about the enigmatic stranger. Whenever she could, she sneaked out of the okiya to the same spot that she had met him, hoping to catch another glimpse of him. There was something about him that drew him to her. She felt a special connection with him, as if he was the only one who could provide her with all the answers.
"Tsukuhi?" one of the maids interrupted her thoughts.
Sighing she turned around, "What is it?"
"Shizuka would like to see you in her room," the servant bowed and left her room.
If it were anyone else, Tsukushi would have been annoyed at the interruption. But Shizuka was different, she was her onesan, or assigned Older Sister. Shizuka acted as a mentor to her and would guide her through every aspect of the geisha profession. Tsukushi admired everything about Shizuka who was a willowy, graceful beauty with a good heart.
Tsukushi remembered how miserable she was during her first few days in the okiya, when she still refused to acknowledge that her parents were cruel enough to condemn her to such a fate. The older girls had taken turns to bully her and order her about. One of them, Asai had even kicked her. Tsukushi had been lying on the floor crying until Shizuka came to her rescue and helped her to wash up.
In those days before Yuki came, Shizuka had been her source of support. She told Tsukushi that no matter what, she had to stand up for herself as the okiya was a vicious place where the competition to be the best was merciless. Tsukushi had taken her advice and from them on, she never allowed herself to be bullied again.
Despite everything however, Shizuka never confided in her about her personal problems or her feelings. Tsukushi did not know anything about Shizuka's family and whenever the topic came out, it was always neatly sidestepped.
When Tsukushi reached the room, she saw that Shizuka was already waiting for her.
"Come Tsukushi. I have something to tell you," she gestured.
Tsukushi went in and looked at Shizuka expectantly.
"It is time for you to make your debut. There is a dinner party at the Eitoku teahouse, which will be your 'home' teahouse from now on. You will be required to attend this party. As your Older Sister, I would accompany you and introduce you to all the important people that can help your career. Don't worry Tsukushi, you have been doing a great job so far. You'll charm all the people there!" Shizuka took her hand and smiled.
"Whatever," Tsukushi gave a resigned sigh. So the day she had been dreading had finally arrived. It was time to put theory into practice. At least Shizuka would be with her. She just hoped that the people she was expected to entertain would not be repulsive. Even though she had years of training, she knew one thing that she could not control was her temper.
Tsukushi went back to her room and waited for her dresser to help her get ready for the party. Most geisha dressers were men and they were the only men allowed in the inner departments of the okiya. Being a dresser was a highly skilled profession and they were critical to a geisha's success.
"Good afternoon," a young man entered the room and gave me a shy smile. "From now on, I will be your dresser. My name is Kazuya,"
Tsuskushi immediately took to the young man that was to be her dresser. She had a feeling that Kazuya would be one of her good friends in time to come. Indeed many dressers end up as a confidante to the geishas and someone to turn to for brotherly advice.
With Kazuya's help, Tskushi was soon dressed in a kimono complete with wooden sandals. She then proceeded with to make-up her face and neck along with other last minute preparations. Soon she was ready. Shizuka was waiting for her along with some of the other people in the okiya.
Yuki gaped at her and was speechless, "Wow! Tsukushi looks so beautiful." Sakurako piped in, "Nice. But I think Shizuka is much more beautiful."
As Tsukushi made her way out of the okiya with Shizuka, they were applauded with words of congratulations and praise. Tsukushi felt embarrassed by all the attention.
While walking to the Eitoku teahouse, Shizuka turned to her and said, "The people you will be entertaining today are four very distinguished young man known as the F4 who are heirs to their father's vast business empire. They are among the richest people in Japan and you might find them difficult to deal with."
Tsukushi groaned inwardly. It was just her luck that she would be assigned to entertain such customers on her debut.
Shizuka continued, "But Tsukushi, you must remember that it is a geisha's job to find something likeable about their customers. After all, they have paid for your company. The fundamental challenge of our profession is to conceal one's personal feelings under a veneer of gentility. No matter what, you have to make them feel good. Can you do that for me?"
Tsukushi looked at Shizuka and nodded silently. It was the least she could do for her Older Sister who had done so much for her. Tsukushi knew that she had to bear with it so that she would not bring shame upon Shizuka. Soon they reached the teahouse. The master of the teahouse greeted us and addressed me directly, "Tsukushi, is it? I have heard about you. Tonight you will specially entertain Tsukasa Domyouji."
At the mention of that name, Shizuka stiffened slightly. But she regained her composure and laughed confidently, "I am sure that our Tsukushi will be able to handle him!"
As it was customary for the most junior geisha to enter the room first, Tsukushi opened the door, carried in the sake (rice wine) bottle and bowed to the guests. When she saw whom she was expected to entertain, she nearly dropped the bottle. For right before her very eyes, was the enigma she had been searching for all this while.
Tsukushi fingered the handkerchief gently and looked at it wistfully. Not a day went by that she did not think about the enigmatic stranger. Whenever she could, she sneaked out of the okiya to the same spot that she had met him, hoping to catch another glimpse of him. There was something about him that drew him to her. She felt a special connection with him, as if he was the only one who could provide her with all the answers.
"Tsukuhi?" one of the maids interrupted her thoughts.
Sighing she turned around, "What is it?"
"Shizuka would like to see you in her room," the servant bowed and left her room.
If it were anyone else, Tsukushi would have been annoyed at the interruption. But Shizuka was different, she was her onesan, or assigned Older Sister. Shizuka acted as a mentor to her and would guide her through every aspect of the geisha profession. Tsukushi admired everything about Shizuka who was a willowy, graceful beauty with a good heart.
Tsukushi remembered how miserable she was during her first few days in the okiya, when she still refused to acknowledge that her parents were cruel enough to condemn her to such a fate. The older girls had taken turns to bully her and order her about. One of them, Asai had even kicked her. Tsukushi had been lying on the floor crying until Shizuka came to her rescue and helped her to wash up.
In those days before Yuki came, Shizuka had been her source of support. She told Tsukushi that no matter what, she had to stand up for herself as the okiya was a vicious place where the competition to be the best was merciless. Tsukushi had taken her advice and from them on, she never allowed herself to be bullied again.
Despite everything however, Shizuka never confided in her about her personal problems or her feelings. Tsukushi did not know anything about Shizuka's family and whenever the topic came out, it was always neatly sidestepped.
When Tsukushi reached the room, she saw that Shizuka was already waiting for her.
"Come Tsukushi. I have something to tell you," she gestured.
Tsukushi went in and looked at Shizuka expectantly.
"It is time for you to make your debut. There is a dinner party at the Eitoku teahouse, which will be your 'home' teahouse from now on. You will be required to attend this party. As your Older Sister, I would accompany you and introduce you to all the important people that can help your career. Don't worry Tsukushi, you have been doing a great job so far. You'll charm all the people there!" Shizuka took her hand and smiled.
"Whatever," Tsukushi gave a resigned sigh. So the day she had been dreading had finally arrived. It was time to put theory into practice. At least Shizuka would be with her. She just hoped that the people she was expected to entertain would not be repulsive. Even though she had years of training, she knew one thing that she could not control was her temper.
Tsukushi went back to her room and waited for her dresser to help her get ready for the party. Most geisha dressers were men and they were the only men allowed in the inner departments of the okiya. Being a dresser was a highly skilled profession and they were critical to a geisha's success.
"Good afternoon," a young man entered the room and gave me a shy smile. "From now on, I will be your dresser. My name is Kazuya,"
Tsuskushi immediately took to the young man that was to be her dresser. She had a feeling that Kazuya would be one of her good friends in time to come. Indeed many dressers end up as a confidante to the geishas and someone to turn to for brotherly advice.
With Kazuya's help, Tskushi was soon dressed in a kimono complete with wooden sandals. She then proceeded with to make-up her face and neck along with other last minute preparations. Soon she was ready. Shizuka was waiting for her along with some of the other people in the okiya.
Yuki gaped at her and was speechless, "Wow! Tsukushi looks so beautiful." Sakurako piped in, "Nice. But I think Shizuka is much more beautiful."
As Tsukushi made her way out of the okiya with Shizuka, they were applauded with words of congratulations and praise. Tsukushi felt embarrassed by all the attention.
While walking to the Eitoku teahouse, Shizuka turned to her and said, "The people you will be entertaining today are four very distinguished young man known as the F4 who are heirs to their father's vast business empire. They are among the richest people in Japan and you might find them difficult to deal with."
Tsukushi groaned inwardly. It was just her luck that she would be assigned to entertain such customers on her debut.
Shizuka continued, "But Tsukushi, you must remember that it is a geisha's job to find something likeable about their customers. After all, they have paid for your company. The fundamental challenge of our profession is to conceal one's personal feelings under a veneer of gentility. No matter what, you have to make them feel good. Can you do that for me?"
Tsukushi looked at Shizuka and nodded silently. It was the least she could do for her Older Sister who had done so much for her. Tsukushi knew that she had to bear with it so that she would not bring shame upon Shizuka. Soon they reached the teahouse. The master of the teahouse greeted us and addressed me directly, "Tsukushi, is it? I have heard about you. Tonight you will specially entertain Tsukasa Domyouji."
At the mention of that name, Shizuka stiffened slightly. But she regained her composure and laughed confidently, "I am sure that our Tsukushi will be able to handle him!"
As it was customary for the most junior geisha to enter the room first, Tsukushi opened the door, carried in the sake (rice wine) bottle and bowed to the guests. When she saw whom she was expected to entertain, she nearly dropped the bottle. For right before her very eyes, was the enigma she had been searching for all this while.