Um, so, at this point in the story, I started to make stuff up about geisha and houkan. Please don't take it too seriously. It's just a fantasy offshoot done for plot. Don't take anything I say for fact and please use this as simply a means of entertainment.

This chapter is dedicated to IlluminatedShadow, who made me feel as though this fanfic was worth continuing, Kakashi-sensei, who helped me find terms and names time and time again, and Kassie, for supporting me. Thank you all.

Early the next morning, Shizune-san woke us and sent Sasuke to work. She took me into the servant's kitchen and scrubbed me clean of the dirt and dust that had caked itself to my arms and legs, trying to wash away the primitive life I had lead. I could not have known it back then, but the life I was walking into would be even harder than being a fisherman's son. I would carry a longing for the salty sea air and the sound of the tide lulling me to sleep for the rest of my life.

Tsunade-sama came in to check on us as Shizune-san was dressing me in a worker's kimono. She took the obi from Shizune-san and bound it tightly around my waist. I heard a light grinding noise and knew she was biting down on her pipe, perhaps in thoughtfulness.

"You are not a fisherman's son anymore," she reminded me, giving the obi an extra tug for good measure. "You belong to this okiya. Obey me, serve this okiya, and perhaps some good will come out of this. Now go. Sasuke is waiting for your help."

"Roka!" a vaguely sullen voice called, but he seemed in better spirits than last night. I saw Sasuke standing at the door, waving for me. I quickly joined him.

"Come, I want to show you something before we get to work," he whispered to me. He almost sounded friendly. He took my hand and pulled me upstairs, opposite of the way of our attic. We stopped outside a set of shoji doors that were not fully closed. The room was illuminated from within, candle light flickering quietly against the washi paper. Sasuke gestured for me to look in. Hesitantly, I did.

I drew in a sharp breath, eyes widening.

Within, someone was combing his hair with even, precise strokes, peering at himself in the mirror. He was stunning. It was a sight that burned itself into my memory. His hands were the first thing I noticed, my gaze drawn to them because they were in motion. They were large and powerful, yet his long fingers and precisely painted nails gave them an elegant and soft quality. His chest, half bared by his open kimono that had slid down his shoulders, looked as though it had been chiseled out of the finest jade, making even the slight rise and fall of his breaths hypnotic. His skin looked soft, but the amber candle light made his body seem as though he was made of gold. He was like a god to me. I at once understood the way Sasuke spoke of him. His face was another matter entirely. His eyes were like Sasuke's - red, but not hollow. His held a glimmer of hope, which only made him more beautiful. There were dark lines trailing diagonally downwards from the corners of his eyes, making him seem world-weary and worn. His lips, though thin, shimmered as though they were made of the softest silk. Even I had wanted to touch them, back then.

I took a step backward, intending to slip away, the moment too perfect to ruin. The floor beneath my feet creaked. I held my breath as Itachi's reflection stared straight into mine, his captivating red eyes widening. He whirled around.

"Sasuke! What have I said about spying on me?" he demanded, standing to move for the door. Sasuke scrambled back. I stood where I was, too transfixed in fascinated terror to move. Even the dark anger on Itachi's features accented his beauty.

He towered before me, glaring down, lips drawn in a thin line.

"You must be the new arrival," he commented softly, kneeling in one fluid gesture to make himself my height. "What's your name?"

"R-roka," I stammered. I released the breath I was holding with my answer, and, when I went to refill my lungs, I detected the spicy scent of cinnamon.

"Roka..." he repeated before reaching out to ruffle my hair, "Pleased to meet you. I'm sure Sasuke-chan over there has talked your poor ears off about me already, but I'm Itachi. I keep telling him to just come in, but he still gawks in from the doorway like I'm some sort of attraction." He laughed then, a deep, rumbling laugh that was sweet and warm.

"Well, I won't keep you any longer. Please work hard," he concluded, motioning for Sasuke to join us. Hesitantly, Sasuke staggered over. Itachi tapped him between his eyebrows with his finger and smiled. "No more spying, Sasuke-chan, or I might not take you as my otouto when that time rolls around." Sasuke blushed, smiling sheepishly as he rubbed his forehead. It was the first time I ever saw him smile. It was also one of the last.

"Sasuke," I whispered as we left Itachi to do our morning chores, "Why does he have those lines under his eyes?" Sasuke sighed and shook his head.

"Remember what I said? He became a geisha at thirteen with his mizuage's auction. The lines were make him look older, because thirteen is a bit young, and he kept drawing them in afterwards," he informed in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Oh," I answered, startled, "What's a mizuage?" Sasuke sighed again and waved me off. When it was obvious he had no more to say on the subject, I changed it to a matter more pressing in my mind.

"Sasuke, when do we get to go outside?"

"Not any time soon," he answered as he handed me a wooden bucket and a sponge.

"What? Then how am I supposed to find my brother?"

"What, are you going to go check every okiya in Tanzaku city? Don't be ridiculous. Do you have any idea how many of them there are?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. He sighed at the puzzled expression on my face.

"Come here."

He turned his own bucket upside down and stood on it to reach a nearby window, pulling it open. He then stepped down and gestured for me to get on.

"Look."

I climbed up and peered out the window, gasping at the sight of almost uniform rooftops spanning as far as I could see. My heart crumbled. How was I ever supposed to find Kimimaro in all of that?

Sasuke nudged me down and closed the window, sighing heavily.

"Take my advice," he muttered, "and forget all about your life before you came here. It's better that way."

It sounded as though he spoke from experience, but I could not forget Kimimaro so easily. He had protected me ever since I was small, after all. Who was I to abandon him?

Weeks passed. I continued to work at the Uchiha okiya, scrubbing floors and preparing meals. I slept next to Sasuke in the cold attic, curling against him for warmth. The time was hard and passed slowly. My body grew thin and pale as my spirit withered, confined to the okiya day after day. Finally, one dreary afternoon, as I was putting away some of Itachi's kimono while listening to the soft patter of rain outside, Shizune-san came to me, smiling.

"Roka-chan!" she called out, motioning for me to come down, "Roka-chan, Tsunade-sama has decided! You and Sasuke-chan are servants no longer! Starting tomorrow, you are going to school! You are both going to become geisha!"

Early the next morning, Sasuke was dragging me out the front door. I only had one shoe on and I was shouting for him to slow down so that I could slip on the other, but his face was determined. He had a strange expression on that day, something between a smile and a grimace and a glare. I could understand, though. He was happy to be going to school, finally, but worried about his own abilities, pressured to succeed for Itachi's sake, and determined not to fail. I, on the other hand, was simply distracted. Sasuke caught my eyes wandering as he walked and he gave my hand a painful tug.

"Don't you dare ruin this for both of us, Roka," he hissed, "You can look for your brother some other time." Reluctantly, I allowed him to lead me to the school.

"There are two paths for we houkan," Sasuke informed me as we continued down the busy streets. "Either we can take the path of a male geisha and dress as they do and entertain as they do, or we can become true houkan, like Itachi. Basically, you can choose to embrace the feminine side of our profession, or the masculine side. Better start thinking about it now. Your classes are going to reflect it."

"What are you going to be?" I asked quietly, though I had a good idea already.

"A houkan, of course," he snorted softly, "I'll have to if I want to be Itachi's otouto."

"I think... I think I am more suited to be a geisha," I decided after a pause. I did not think I was suited for embracing masculinity. When I thought of the gentle hands of my fisherman father and the fair features of my beautiful brother - I knew I was definitely better suited for geisha work. Sasuke nodded.

"Thought as much. Here we are," he nodded at a grand building. I could hear distant, lulling music.. Once within, we hung plaques bearing our names on the sign-in wall. I lingered, scanning the names already there. Sasuke sighed impatiently and jerked me away.

"Look for your brother's name later!" he hissed, "We're late!" He pushed me down a hall where the scent of jasmine and tea intensified and the music playing grew louder.

"Go that way until you find the dance class! Just follow the other kids from there!" he instructed, "I have to go this way!" He disappeared down a separate corridor. I did as I was told.

My days after we filled with learning to dance as though I were a feather upon the wind, to pour tea as though I was born to do only that. I learned to glide upon my feet when walking. I was taught how to stand and how to sit. I began shimasen lessons as well as lessons in literature and poetry. Meanwhile, Sasuke would come back to the okiya with bruises from kendo, mind filled with rules for go and shogi. He learned history and tactics, to match the wit of any noble man. We both learned how to dress ourselves elegantly in kimono, though I was made to look softer and more feminine while he more masculine.

It was in the midst of our lessons that Itachi began to act strangely, until one day Sasuke came to me in the middle of our chores.

"Roka!" he whispered, "Come here!"

Surprised, I dropped my work and hurried over, peering at him expectantly.

"Itachi's been bringing home someone," he muttered into my ear. I almost detected jealousy in his tone. "To his room, late at night after Okaasan has passed out drunk. And sometimes-"

"Sasuke."

Itachi's voice shocked us both into silence.

"You shouldn't spy and you shouldn't gossip," he commented coldly. I looked into his eyes and saw the first traces of emptiness.

"Get back to work."

We both scrambled back to our chores. We never spoke of Itachi's liaisons with each other again.

I was passing Itachi's room later that day, on my way to bed after dusting. He must have caught my reflection in his mirror, for he stopped me.

"Roka," he summoned. I froze, not knowing what to do. All of the kindness that Itachi had shown to me the day after my arrival had evaporated these past few days.

"Y-yes, Itachi-san?" I asked meekly, "Is there anything you need?"

"Your brother came by a few days ago," his tone suggested that my brother had stopped by at a very inopportune time.

"Kimimaro?" I demanded, eyes widening. All of my fears fled in my desperation.

"Was I wrong to send him away?" his voice was light and mocking. I fell to my knees, scrambling to his side. I knelt low, forehead touching the tatami mat. My eyes burned with tears that were not quite yet there.

"Please, Itachi-san! Where is my brother staying? Please let me know!" I begged, unafraid of any punishment or anything Itachi would ask of me in return.

"I could," he began, slowly, thoughtfully, "...but you must swear yourself to me." I nodded at once. There was no hesitation, no worry in my mind that this might become a mistake I would live to regret.

"Then prove yourself to me and I will tell you where your brother is," he smiled. I pressed myself against the floor.

"Anything, Itachi-san, please!"

"We'll see."