Thanks to: Gothic and Soul, Babygurl154, Kishofwings, Sachi Gosetsuke, -Kyona-, Seya492

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Endless Love

By: Elie

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Chapter 2:

I'm in Love with a Geisha


I lost it…sixteen years ago…and I knew it wasn't coming back. Maybe you were wondering what "it" I was talking about. Well, it was happiness.

But I wouldn't let angst take over me. I had a bright future up ahead, and I couldn't bury myself over these petty worries. I made it, though…but then again, everything crumbled. All because I was in love with a geisha…and I couldn't stop myself.

"Hey Ishiro, wait up! Don't leave me in here!" Raiker's voice sounded terrified inside the comfort room, and I silently chuckled. "Ishiro, are you out there?"

I could see the small fog of my breath, and tilting my head against the door, I breathed exasperatedly. "Just calm down and pee. Don't waste your time getting scared. You're a soldier, man!"

All of a sudden, the door behind me opened, and I tumbled a bit. "What was that for?"

"I couldn't do it," Raiker sighed, "It won't come out when I feel like this. And I think that cubicle is haunted."

"Do you really think so?" My eyebrows hoisted.

"I can hear voices," he whispered nervously.

Okay…he could be a bit weird sometimes. Well, really weird. I meant…weirder than Taka.

"Ishiro, Raiker, why are you guys here?" Yes, saved by Taka.

Raiker was still shuddering behind me, and I rolled my eyes. "Forget about it…so, you going?"

Taka nodded. "I was looking for you two and found you…err, here," he began to look around quietly.

Man, what was up with these guys? There were no ghosts in this place and –

Damn bastards.

I panicked when I sawtheir figures running away from me, "Guys, wait up!"

"Six bottles of Sake please," Raiker grinned, "And serve it later after the meal," he winked at the waiter…who happened to be a girl. Haha…it didn't look funny.

Alright…I was getting a tad bit hungry. Okay, I was STARVING and I honestly wanted to keep my eyes closed so I wouldn't have to look at my two, tasty looking friends.

"Are you okay?" I bet Raiker heard my stomach grumbling. What a shame…

"I know, I know…we're all hungry," Taka mumbled, and I hated the glint in his eyes, "But oh my Raiker, you look good today…"

"Don't even think about it." Raiker muttered.

Swallowing my own saliva, just to survive, I instantly thought of a topic. "By the way guys, have you –" unfortunately, I trailed off when I heard laughter from the other side of the room.

"Yeah…we know what you're thinking, pal. Wanna check it out?" Taka asked.

I gulped…because I hardly could deny it. "Well…sort of,"

"Then let's do it!" Raiker exclaimed, and I thought it was so stupid of him to act so giddy out of the blue.

Anyway, I was dragged and pushed toward the paper screen first. And thank god it didn't tear. Becasue if it did, I'm gonna kill these two.

"Open it," Taka whispered.

"Quiet, you guys," I muttered. So, discreetly, I slid the door open…and saw her.

The scene was so envious. Two geishas, particularly Asuka and Miharu, were invitingly serving some old geezers. Damn, they could get a wife.

She was calmly lightingsome old man's tobacco, and I could see her eyes frowning at her own movements. Come on, who would love to entertain a stranger five times your age?

But then it struck me.

She was a geisha…this was her job after all. And I couldn't do anything about it.

I just peeped there with my two friends groping at my back, watching her. Tonight she wore a white kimono patterned with crimson butterflies…hmm, to think about it, my sister loved butterflies…especially red ones.

"Ishiro, close it back," I heard Raiker whisper ratherhastily.

But I refused to go back to my senses. I was being mesmerized again…and being captured by everything about her just felt great.

When I noticed her face slowly fading away, I snapped back to reality and realized that Taka had already closed the door. I couldn't help but frown.

"You'll be sorry if you get caught." Taka eventually laughed, "I mean, we'll be sorry!"

"Dinner's here!" Raiker said happily, "Let's dig in!"

Suddenly, my mind was telling me that I wasn't hungry anymore, so I obeyed it, crawling back to the door. "You guys go ahead and eat. I'll catch up later."

And when my fingers were about to trail to that screen, it abruptly opened. I didn't know what to do…I could've been labeled as a pervert.

Asuka stared down at me, her eyes showing a wide variety of questions. Man, was I so glad thatI didn't blush. It would be too girly and it might scare her.

We stared at each other for a moment, I for instance, didn't know what to do or say. But I was enjoying this.

"Ishiro?" Then, she looked away...maybe she turned red? Haha…I hoped.

"Thanks for walking with me," I said, keeping my hands to my sides just to avoid them from drifting somewhere else.

"No, I should thank you. I never walk freely like this before,"

My feet stopped all of a sudden, and then I turned to Asuka who calmly followed me.

"You mean you don't tour the city on your own or something?" I really didn't understand what she said, "Are geisha's like that?"

But she just smiled at me…and automatically, I smiled too.

"We can't decide on everything, you know. It's like…" she trailed off when she saw something interesting over the small bridge in front of us.

I groaned and followed. I wanted to know "why"... "It's like what?" I asked.

"Look Hwoarang, it's a carp!"

My eyes widened and with a hand, I swiftly pulled her by the waist from the rails while my other hand clamped her mouth.

"Shh…don't say my real name," I whispered, "If someone hears, maybe –"

I felt her hands on my mine and slowly, she lifted it down. "I'm sorry, Ishiro."

"I'm sorry, too." I immediately stepped back from her. It felt so wrong touching her…especially her lips.

"We geishas aren't supposed to own our lives and live freely like normal people. It's…confusing. I'm only a maiko, so I still don't understand that much." Asuka said shyly, and I knew she only said that to divert the topic.

Maybe, or just maybe, she wanted to know why I couldn't let her call me Hwoarang. "Hey, you want to know why name's Ishiro?"

Haha…her eyes beamed at me. I couldn't believe she was interested. Well, of course she was! She was the first and probably the only person to know.

"I'm Korean, and you know my real name…I was…adopted. Yeah, that's right. And they changed my name to Ishiro so that I wouldn't get killed," I held my breath, "Actually, it's a long, complicated story…you'll know everything about me eventually. Well, if you're interested."

Asuka smirked at me, and then she placed her hands back on the rails and sighed. "At least your life's full of adventure…you're a soldier, I'm a geisha. I'm boring inside, except when I get paid."

"You talk funny," I said, trying to ignore my drifting, drifting hand…and when I later noticed, it was on top of hers.

It was surprising that she didn't pull her hands away and screamed that I was a pervert or anything as I expected. Instead, I felt her lean down and place her chin on top of my hand. And when I knew it was cold, she made me feel warm.

And maybe my intuitions were right…I liked her after all.

TBC

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I thought this story was going to rock, but then again, I was dreaming…13 reviews only? Ugh. Anyways, I get a lot of hits, but only a few beautiful people reviewed. And don't put this story up on your favorites if you're not even reviewing.

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