Chapter Three: The Party
Tsukushi could not believe that he was sitting right there. She continued staring at him and barely registered everything else.
The master of the teahouse immediately hissed, "Serve the guests."
Tsukushi said, "Oops. Off course." She proceeded to pour the wine.
"Not a very good geisha is she?" a young man with curly hair sneered at her.
"Please excuse her, Tsukasa. Tsukushi is my younger sister. She is making her debut today as a maiko," Shizuka smiled.
"Well..all right. If we weren't such good friends Shizuka, I would have been offended," Tsukasa said in a bored voice.
Tsukushi was annoyed that this rude man was the one she was supposed to entertain the whole night. She resisted the urge to pour the wine over his head while pouring it into his glass and gave him a strained smile instead. And why was he staring like that at her?!!
Shizuka introduced the F4 to her. "Tsukasa Domyouji, Akira Mimasaka, Soujirou Nishikado and... Rui Hanazawa."
So that was what the intials on the handkerchief stood for. Well at least she knew his name. He looked even more handsome than she recalled, although she had to admit that all 4 of them were exceptionally good looking, even the curly haired pig. She was disappointed that Rui did not seem to recognise her.
"Well, what is she standing there for? Do something." Tsukasa scowled.
"What a bad-tempered fellow," Tsukushi seethed inwardly. She felt like socking him in the face. Whoever came up with the idea that geishas were required to conceal their true feelings obviously had not met Tsukasa Domyouji!
"Go easy on her Tsukasa. You're always so difficult," Akira shook his head. "Why don't you and Shizuka do a little dance for us first?" he suggested.
Tsukushi felt relieved. The less she had to interact with that curly-headed pig the better. After an accompanist was called in the room, the two of them started a dance called, 'The Seasons in Kyoto.' As they danced rhythmically to the music, Tsukushi's gaze wandered to Rui again. With a jolt, she realised that his soulful eyes never left Shizuka, not once. It was than that she comprehended Rui's affections were reserved for her Older Sister. She felt her heart pang at this realisation.
When the dance ended, she was forced to go back to Tsukasa and engage in conversation with him. Tsukushi was very knowledgeable about current events, contemporary literature and the arts but she felt akward talking to him about these matters. Instead she proceeded to pour him more wine.
"Stop pouring me wine. I didn't ask for it!" Tsukasa snapped.
Tsukushi answered promptly, "I would be a poor geisha to let a glass go un- filled."
Tsukasa was speechless and started staring at her again. Tsukushi squirmed under his gaze, "Why does he have to be so good looking?" She felt herself blush and was thankful that her thick make-up concealed it.
Finally Tsukasa looked away and attempted to start a conversation with her.
"So where are you from?" he said while sipping his wine.
"From the okiya."
"No. I mean where were you born?" Tsukasa said exasperatedly.
"Oh. Right here in Kyoto. What about you?"
"I was born in Tokyo but I had to move here with my family as a lot of our business are based here. The Domyoujis are one of the richest families here, you know," Tsukasa bragged.
"I know. And you have the attitude to match too," Tsukushi said sweetly. She was ready to use her wit to get into a verbal match with him. It would be a challenge to insult him without appearing to.
To her disappointment, Soujirou proposed a game of Tosenknyo, at that point, ending their conversation. The game involved throwing a paper- dancing fan at a weighted target to knock it over. It was difficult game but geishas were trained in such games. Tsukushi was especially good at it as she had often practised the game whenever she wanted to vent her anger at something. The perfect target tonight was Tsukasa and imagining that the target was him, she threw the paper fan with all her might.
It was no surprise that she turned out to be one of the best players but to her astonishment, Tsukasa was as well. Both had a competitive streak and soon it came down to a final throw to determine the winner. Tsukasa had gone first and had made a very good throw. If Tsukushi could not match up to it, she would lose the game. Aiming the paper fan at the target, she saw that Tsukasa was standing very near to it. Too near. Tsukushi threw the fan and it landed at the back of Tsukasa's head.
"Ouch! You stupid woman! Don't you have eyes?!" Tsukasa rubbed the back of his head and glared at her.
"I'm sorry. It was an accident. Let me apologize to you. I guess this means you win the game," Tsukushi bowed while laughing inwardly. She could not help the small smile escaping from her.
Soujirou and Akira did not hide their mirth and was soon laughing hard. Even Rui smiled and said, "She got you there."
Shizuka tried to soothe Tsukasa who was growing redder by the minute, "Stop laughing!" he fumed.
Tsukushi was trying to smother her giggles, which were threatening to escape from her. Tsukasa looked so comical as he sat there rubbing his head. He looked like a little lost puppy.
The rest of the night passed by in good humour. Indeed the F4 were very entertaining people. Well, F2 minus Tsukasa who kept glowering at her and the quiet Rui. Tsukushi enjoyed their company although she still felt sadness whenever she glanced at Rui who seemed to warm up to only Shizuka. When the party ended, she felt a strange mixture of emotions rising up within her.
As they were walking back to the okiya, Tsukushi turned to Shizuka and remarked casually, "You seem to know Hanazawa Rui quite well."
"I've known Rui for quite sometime now. I met him at my debut party too." And that was all Shizuka said about the matter.
"Tsukushi, I was not very happy about how you behaved with Tsukasa just now. I know that you dislike him but I must warn you not to allow your emotions get the better of you again. It would only spell trouble. The Domyouji family, let's just say that they are very influential and I do not want anything to happen to you," Shizuka said.
Tsukushi pondered about this quietly, "I'm sorry Shizuka. I just could not control myself. You know that I don't have the temperament required to do this job well. That's why I'm aware that I will never be a top geisha, not that I care anyway."
Shizuka took her hand and squeezed it, "That's a pity. You have both the beauty and talent. Give youself a chance, ok? And give Tsukasa a chance too, he's not that bad once you get to know him. You might even like him"
Tsukushi snorted at that but she nodded and they made their way back in silence.
It had been a few days since that dinner party but Tsukushi still could not forget it. She had been to other parties since than, but none matched the liveliness and vibrancy of the one at her debut. She constantly thought of Rui, and quite annoyingly Tsukasa as well.
Tsukushi shook her head and decided to carry out her errand, which was to collect another kimono for Shizuka. She was grateful to step out of the okiya, which was stifling her. As she walked along the streets of Gion again, she breathed in the fresh air.
"Hey," A voice interrupted her.
She spun around and her eyes grew wide at the side of Hanazawa Rui standing behind her.
"You're the one at the party right? Shizuka's younger sister?" Rui asked.
Tsukushi stuttered, "Yes.. I'm Tsukushi Makino. You met me at that party."
"Good. I didn't get to talk to you much than. Will you take a walk with me?" he said.
Tsukushi could only nod mutely and the two of them started walking, side by side.
Author's Note: Some aspects of a geisha's life have been simplified so that readers won't be too confused and bogged down by details. I've tried to make it as authentic as possible though. Please review ok? Thanks! A hint of coming chapters: since this fic is set in the 1940s, you should know what is coming.. yes World War Two! A sad fate awaits some characters later on, and who they are depend on whether you feel this story should be R/T or T/T.
Tsukushi could not believe that he was sitting right there. She continued staring at him and barely registered everything else.
The master of the teahouse immediately hissed, "Serve the guests."
Tsukushi said, "Oops. Off course." She proceeded to pour the wine.
"Not a very good geisha is she?" a young man with curly hair sneered at her.
"Please excuse her, Tsukasa. Tsukushi is my younger sister. She is making her debut today as a maiko," Shizuka smiled.
"Well..all right. If we weren't such good friends Shizuka, I would have been offended," Tsukasa said in a bored voice.
Tsukushi was annoyed that this rude man was the one she was supposed to entertain the whole night. She resisted the urge to pour the wine over his head while pouring it into his glass and gave him a strained smile instead. And why was he staring like that at her?!!
Shizuka introduced the F4 to her. "Tsukasa Domyouji, Akira Mimasaka, Soujirou Nishikado and... Rui Hanazawa."
So that was what the intials on the handkerchief stood for. Well at least she knew his name. He looked even more handsome than she recalled, although she had to admit that all 4 of them were exceptionally good looking, even the curly haired pig. She was disappointed that Rui did not seem to recognise her.
"Well, what is she standing there for? Do something." Tsukasa scowled.
"What a bad-tempered fellow," Tsukushi seethed inwardly. She felt like socking him in the face. Whoever came up with the idea that geishas were required to conceal their true feelings obviously had not met Tsukasa Domyouji!
"Go easy on her Tsukasa. You're always so difficult," Akira shook his head. "Why don't you and Shizuka do a little dance for us first?" he suggested.
Tsukushi felt relieved. The less she had to interact with that curly-headed pig the better. After an accompanist was called in the room, the two of them started a dance called, 'The Seasons in Kyoto.' As they danced rhythmically to the music, Tsukushi's gaze wandered to Rui again. With a jolt, she realised that his soulful eyes never left Shizuka, not once. It was than that she comprehended Rui's affections were reserved for her Older Sister. She felt her heart pang at this realisation.
When the dance ended, she was forced to go back to Tsukasa and engage in conversation with him. Tsukushi was very knowledgeable about current events, contemporary literature and the arts but she felt akward talking to him about these matters. Instead she proceeded to pour him more wine.
"Stop pouring me wine. I didn't ask for it!" Tsukasa snapped.
Tsukushi answered promptly, "I would be a poor geisha to let a glass go un- filled."
Tsukasa was speechless and started staring at her again. Tsukushi squirmed under his gaze, "Why does he have to be so good looking?" She felt herself blush and was thankful that her thick make-up concealed it.
Finally Tsukasa looked away and attempted to start a conversation with her.
"So where are you from?" he said while sipping his wine.
"From the okiya."
"No. I mean where were you born?" Tsukasa said exasperatedly.
"Oh. Right here in Kyoto. What about you?"
"I was born in Tokyo but I had to move here with my family as a lot of our business are based here. The Domyoujis are one of the richest families here, you know," Tsukasa bragged.
"I know. And you have the attitude to match too," Tsukushi said sweetly. She was ready to use her wit to get into a verbal match with him. It would be a challenge to insult him without appearing to.
To her disappointment, Soujirou proposed a game of Tosenknyo, at that point, ending their conversation. The game involved throwing a paper- dancing fan at a weighted target to knock it over. It was difficult game but geishas were trained in such games. Tsukushi was especially good at it as she had often practised the game whenever she wanted to vent her anger at something. The perfect target tonight was Tsukasa and imagining that the target was him, she threw the paper fan with all her might.
It was no surprise that she turned out to be one of the best players but to her astonishment, Tsukasa was as well. Both had a competitive streak and soon it came down to a final throw to determine the winner. Tsukasa had gone first and had made a very good throw. If Tsukushi could not match up to it, she would lose the game. Aiming the paper fan at the target, she saw that Tsukasa was standing very near to it. Too near. Tsukushi threw the fan and it landed at the back of Tsukasa's head.
"Ouch! You stupid woman! Don't you have eyes?!" Tsukasa rubbed the back of his head and glared at her.
"I'm sorry. It was an accident. Let me apologize to you. I guess this means you win the game," Tsukushi bowed while laughing inwardly. She could not help the small smile escaping from her.
Soujirou and Akira did not hide their mirth and was soon laughing hard. Even Rui smiled and said, "She got you there."
Shizuka tried to soothe Tsukasa who was growing redder by the minute, "Stop laughing!" he fumed.
Tsukushi was trying to smother her giggles, which were threatening to escape from her. Tsukasa looked so comical as he sat there rubbing his head. He looked like a little lost puppy.
The rest of the night passed by in good humour. Indeed the F4 were very entertaining people. Well, F2 minus Tsukasa who kept glowering at her and the quiet Rui. Tsukushi enjoyed their company although she still felt sadness whenever she glanced at Rui who seemed to warm up to only Shizuka. When the party ended, she felt a strange mixture of emotions rising up within her.
As they were walking back to the okiya, Tsukushi turned to Shizuka and remarked casually, "You seem to know Hanazawa Rui quite well."
"I've known Rui for quite sometime now. I met him at my debut party too." And that was all Shizuka said about the matter.
"Tsukushi, I was not very happy about how you behaved with Tsukasa just now. I know that you dislike him but I must warn you not to allow your emotions get the better of you again. It would only spell trouble. The Domyouji family, let's just say that they are very influential and I do not want anything to happen to you," Shizuka said.
Tsukushi pondered about this quietly, "I'm sorry Shizuka. I just could not control myself. You know that I don't have the temperament required to do this job well. That's why I'm aware that I will never be a top geisha, not that I care anyway."
Shizuka took her hand and squeezed it, "That's a pity. You have both the beauty and talent. Give youself a chance, ok? And give Tsukasa a chance too, he's not that bad once you get to know him. You might even like him"
Tsukushi snorted at that but she nodded and they made their way back in silence.
It had been a few days since that dinner party but Tsukushi still could not forget it. She had been to other parties since than, but none matched the liveliness and vibrancy of the one at her debut. She constantly thought of Rui, and quite annoyingly Tsukasa as well.
Tsukushi shook her head and decided to carry out her errand, which was to collect another kimono for Shizuka. She was grateful to step out of the okiya, which was stifling her. As she walked along the streets of Gion again, she breathed in the fresh air.
"Hey," A voice interrupted her.
She spun around and her eyes grew wide at the side of Hanazawa Rui standing behind her.
"You're the one at the party right? Shizuka's younger sister?" Rui asked.
Tsukushi stuttered, "Yes.. I'm Tsukushi Makino. You met me at that party."
"Good. I didn't get to talk to you much than. Will you take a walk with me?" he said.
Tsukushi could only nod mutely and the two of them started walking, side by side.
Author's Note: Some aspects of a geisha's life have been simplified so that readers won't be too confused and bogged down by details. I've tried to make it as authentic as possible though. Please review ok? Thanks! A hint of coming chapters: since this fic is set in the 1940s, you should know what is coming.. yes World War Two! A sad fate awaits some characters later on, and who they are depend on whether you feel this story should be R/T or T/T.