I love this fanfic. I am so strange. I love my own work. This is my favorite to work on so far. Thank you for all your lovely reviews. While I am walking other people's dogs (this economy sucks) I am thinking of Nobu and Sayuri. My aim is to make Sayuri into a better person because of her relationship with Nobu. Thank you everyone.
After I had wiped my face clean, I tied sleeping my robe tightly in front of me and made my way back into the bedroom. I glanced behind my shoulder to make sure no maid was hovering before I made my way past the door.
Nobu was standing now, beside the window. He was fully dressed in the western style business suit he wore to the dinner party and holding his drink in his one hand. The dark color of the cloth made his face seem all the more aggressive. He was like a caged tiger and I was to be privy to his black stripes.
When he raised his face to look at me, I felt a cold shiver run through my body. It took everything that I had to stand my ground and not leave.
I had done nothing wrong.
He left the drink in his hand on the window sill. It clapped violently against the wood.
Taking my shoulders, he gave me a sort of half-shake. I thought for a moment that he would strike me.
He opened his mouth to speak, but then he gave a snarl and slammed it shut. He shoved me away from him. I recovered my balance quickly, saying nothing. Walking to where he had put his glass, he took it and threw it at the wall. I flinched.
The sharp smell of scotch blossomed in the air.
"Nobu," I said at last. My voice was thin and whispery. He looked at me, and in that look there was so much anguish. It was almost despair.
Then his eyes were shuttered. Emotionless. Looking straight ahead, he left the room.
I glanced at the spattered scotch and the glass fragments on the ground. I thought about calling for the maid but then decided against it. She could clean it up in the morning.
Tomorrow I was going back to Gion.
…...
It rained on the ride back to Gion. Nobu was silent. I did not dare make any conversation. He hid behind a mound of paper work and several Japanese Newspapers.
For my part, I looked outside and counted the passing trees.
When that got tedious, I counted the rain drops on the car window.
We kept our distance and our silence all the way to Gion.
He got out at the business section and instructed the driver to take me back to my Okiya. He did not look my way when he exited the car. As soon as he could, he turned his back to us and headed away to his office.
There is something to be said for a man that never looks back.
I did not hear from him for many days.
When he did contact me, it was through his secretary, who informed me of a engagement that Iwamura Electric was hosting at the Ichiriki. Nobu had requested my presence. It was to be held several days away.
I thought of writing a short note, but I did not know what to say. There was nothing to be said.
After all, I had done nothing wrong.
Things went on as before. Nobu made his generous payments towards my upkeep to the Okiya. I entertained at a vast rate. Mother was overjoyed at the income that was coming in. Hatsumomo was angry at the clipped remarks Mother made to her about the disparity between the money that she and Pumpkin made compared to the small fortune that I was bringing in. All she heard in the Okiya was praises of my success.
I was given preferential treatment because of this. Even though I was the daughter of the Okiya, after becoming Nobu's Mistress, my value skyrocketed. I ate what I wanted and when I wanted. The maid's answered my calls and demands first. I had first choice when selecting Kimono.
Pumpkin gave me sour looks, and I would often find Hatsumomo staring at me at odd times, as though she were trying to discern a new weakness in me so she could exploit it to her use.
I would have been concerned about the backlash that was going to ensue from the pair, but I was too busy entertaining and thinking of Nobu.
I took my worries to Mameha, who reassured me to give him some time. To approach Nobu uninvited would only incite more wrath.
"He was quite upset when Pumpkin made those remarks," Mameha fluttered her hands gracefully to show her consternation. We were sitting in her apartment, during the early hours of the morning,the only free time that we shared."Nobu is a possessive man, Sayuri. While the Baron appreciates that many men admire me and covet me, Nobu does not like it when others take note of his possessions."
"I am but a geisha, Mameha, hardly a thing to be had."
"To many men that is a prize and thus a possession," she said. She cast her eyes downward and then upward. "You are his possession, Sayuri. You are his. Do not ever think that you belong to just yourself anymore."
She sighed.
"Remember who and what we are at all times. We did not enter this life to be at leisure for ourselves."
"Indeed," I murmured. "And does Nobu know this? That I am not at leisure to be at the beck and call of just one man? Even if such a man understands that I am his?"
"He will, if he has to keep you," Mameha said wisely. "Or, you will learn to hide this fact from him."
"Tonight we entertaining a minor royalty from one of the Samurai Houses" I said. I wanted to change the subject. I felt a sort of hopelessness where Nobu was concerned. My job was entertaining people, and life had to go on, whether he forgave me or not.
"The Baron is not in town. If he were, no doubt he would be expected to go" Mameha mused.
"I had never dreamed of meeting a Baron, let alone someone from one of the Samurai Families" I said.
"Yes, we'll do not let it go to your head. They are like any other person. They like flattery and easy conversation."
"What are you wearing?"
Mameha smiled.
"Something to outshine Hatsumomo, if she were there," Mameha said mischievously. "And you, are you going to shine like a star the night you wore that stunning Kimono Nobu gifted you?"
"I have not thought of it, " I admitted. "I think to wear that robe without Nobu present would be in bad taste."
Mameha made a face.
"It was meant to be worn, Sayuri. It is a symbol of his generosity and his ability as a Danna to provide those things for you. You should wear it tonight."
"It is pretty," I said. "Alright. Thank you Mameha. I will see you tonight."
"Very well" Mameha, said, getting up and ushering to me the door. "Don't forget to look your best. You reflect not only your Okiya but Nobu. And take my word for it, Sayuri, Nobu is a man that you should reflect proudly and well. He is a good man, underneath his gruff exterior. He will forgive you in time."
"Yes," I said, bowing briefly.
…...
That night, I took extra care with my appearance. I bathed and put on my finest perfume , a western one from Paris. Earlier that day, I had made an appointment with the hairdresser to ensure that my hair was not wilted and damaged looking for tonight. My new up style was firm and fresh.
Looking over the collection of Kimonos we had in the Okiya, I knew none could rival the robe that Nobu had given me. I had Auntie sew my collar onto the under robe for the Kimono that Nobu gave me. She exclaimed over the beauty of the Kimono. When she heard that it was a gift from Nobu Toshikazu, she nodded her head.
"An excellent gift," she said. "A geisha could not have asked for a better Danna." She ran a finger over the embroidered hem. "Even Hatsumomo in her hey-day never received such a robe as this."
"He is a generous man," I said. Auntie nodded, her old face thoughtful.
"Be sure that you do not do anything that would endanger the generosity that he is giving you. That was Hatsumomo's problem. She chased away her Danna by her foolish demands and whims. Insolent girl."
"Yes, Auntie."
"You are a good girl, well on her way to becoming the best geisha in Gion," Auntie said, giving me a small pat on my shoulder. "With Toshikazu's patronage behind you, you will go far."
"Yes, Auntie." I took my Kimono from her hands and went to my room to get ready.
When Mr. Bekku dressed me, I stood before my mirror and gazed at the robe.
The color suited me uncommonly well. The color of the sea, a blue green grey color. I thought of the shore line I used to know so well in Yoroido. Shaky and unpredictable. The ocean was an appropriate euphemism for my relationship with Nobu.
Nobu had put much thought into this.
Opening up my jewelry case, I took out the red comb and the peach ring. I put the comb near the base of my bun. I slipped the ring onto my finger.
…...
The party was to be held at the Ichiriki. The Ichiriki was always an appropriate venue to host a more serious type of gathering.
I met Mameha in the hallway.
She was resplendent in a crimson robe with arched leaves and a blossom pattern. Her obi was a white with plum colored threads making a sort of swirling design. As usual, she was the picture of beautiful perfection. The deep red of the Kimono reminded me of blood. It was strangely sensual on Mameha, who always exhibited decorum and grace.
"You look lovely tonight, Mameha-san" I gushed. Mameha smiled.
"As do you. Come, I heard that one of the guests will do a short sword exhibition."
"Really?"
"Yes, he is the one of the people who the party is for. A noble from the Samurai House. His brother is Suzuki Hideo, an old friend of mine. Be sure to impress him, he has quite a reputation for Geisha."
We entered the room, bowing and making our greetings to the host. After we had circled the table, Mameha stopped in front of a man dressed in a black kimono.
We both bowed.
"Hideo-san, please allow me to introduce my younger sister, Nitta Sayuri."
"It is an honor to meet you," I said bowing again.
"I am honored that two of the most beautiful geisha are here tonight in my company," Hideo said pleasantly. "Sit. Pour me tea, Mameha-san. I have been aching to see your white arm in front of me for many months."
"Such flattery," Mameha teased back, reaching for the tea pot. She swept her sleeve out of the way and poured a cup for Hideo.
"One cannot help it, especially when they are in your presence Mameha," Hideo said. He drank from his cup.
"Where is the Baron?"
"In Tokyo," Mameha said.
"Ah, I see. I had expected to see him here tonight."
"It is most unfortunate," Mameha agreed.
"Hideo-san, are you going to do the sword exhibition?" I ventured.
He turned to me, and I could see that he was not an unattractive man. He appeared to be the same age as Nobu-san.
"Me? No, it will be up to young Atchiko over there. He is the one sitting next to the Geisha in the yellow Kimono. I am getting too old to be doing such things."
"Hideo-san, old? Never!" Mameha exclaimed.
"It's true, Mameha. I relinquish more and more of my duties to my younger brother Atchiko. Except for the meetings with the Emperor, I have very little to do anymore."
"You must come to Gion more often then," Mameha advised. "Sayuri and I are excellent sources of diversion."
Hideo smiled. "I have no doubt of that. Mameha, ask the maid for a beer and some sake. I am growing weary of tea."
"Certainly," Mameha said. She waved down the maid, who also brought over some bowls of pickles and snacks. Hideo studied me.
"Your eyes are especially pretty, Sayuri-san."
"Thank you, Hideo-san," I said.
"Mameha has her Baron, do you have a Danna, Sayuri-san?" I blushed.
"I do."
"Is he here tonight?" Hideo asked, looking around.
"I believe that he is working" I replied.
"Sayuri's Danna is the President of Iwamura Electric," Mameha supplied helpfully.
Hideo's face lit up.
"Your Danna is Nobu Toshikazu?" I nodded my assent. Hideo laughed and rubbed his hands together.
"I thought he did not like Geisha? Well, well! This is a surprise."
"I am quite honored that Nobu-san has chosen to become my Danna," I said.
"No doubt of it. Nobu-san is a fine man. Very successful I hear. Even if it weren't for his successful business ventures, women have been after him for years."
Mameha did not hide her confusion.
"I have known Nobu Toshikazu for many years. Undoubtedly he is a fine man, but I did not realize he was in demand."
"Oh yes," Hideo said, reaching for his glass, "You see, he does not like to talk about it, but his mother is a niece to the Emperor."
Mameha and I looked at each other in surprise.
"I had no idea," Mameha breathed.
"Like I said, he does not like to talk about it," Hideo shrugged. "Whenever I see him, he is crass and surly as ever. Titles do not matter to him, nor royal connections. Once women learn of these things, they become impossible to shake, so Nobu has become deathly silent about his family."
"It is like him," I said. "Nobu is quite modest."
"He is an intriguing man" Hideo said. "Everything he does is noteworthy and exceptional. Even the offer he turned down from Tanaka Corporations..."
"What?" Mameha and I both said.
"Yes," Hideo said, clearly enjoying telling us something that we did not know. "It made front lines in the business papers. You geisha, all you ever read is Kabuki magazines!"
"I had no idea, did you Sayuri?" Mameha asked me. I shook my head.
"Some say he was foolish for turning down a ten million dollar contract," Hideo smiled leisurely, "But if I know Nobu, no doubt he has a secret business motive. No doubt he is waiting to drive up the asking price."
"So much money," Mameha murmured, turning to look at me.
"Do not worry. Nobu Toshikazu has had a head for business since he was walking. He will get them to double the price."
I could only nod.
