* You guys are so sweet! I did a dramatic quitting. Came in and threw down my dog walking schedule and binder and said "I quit!" The owners weren't there, just the nerdy looking guy at the front desk who gives me sympathetic looks each time I come in. He said "Okay?" I think I scared him.
At the end of the long night, I went back to my Okiya. The maid was waiting up for me. I asked her for some tea and crackers to be sent up to my room. The girl scurried off to the kitchen.
I listened carefully to the sounds of the house before I went up to my room. I thought I could hear the sound of Hatsumomo's snoring. It gave me a slightly better feeling to know that my engagements kept me out longer than her and Pumpkin.
When the maid came with my tea, she helped me out of my kimono. After taking off my make-up,I slipped into a sleeping robe and laid down onto my futon. She carefully folded up the kimono and left the room. The tea was steaming on the table but I ignored it, along with the plate of crackers. I was too keyed up to eat. Instead I focused on the tiredness of my limbs.
Mameha was right when she said it was a flattery of sorts that Nobu would turn away money over me. It gave me a funny feeling thinking that he had done such a thing.
Gruff, cold, hard, Nobu Tashikazu had turned down a most profitable business deal over a woman.
I thought back to the skinny, naked little girl that I had been in Yoroido. Tanaka had been right when he said that I was not the most beautiful woman in Gion. I did not believe myself to be so. And yet, through my association with Nobu-san, I felt as though I was the most desirable woman in the world.
Despite the unpleasant meeting with Ayeka, I felt elated remembering Hideo's words about Nobu turning down Tanaka's offer. Even though Nobu had shunned my company after the incident at his country estate, I felt somehow vindicated. Mameha was right. He still wanted me.
I smiled against my hand and then fell asleep.
…...
The next morning, a currier came with a message from Hideo's assistant and a small bouquet of flowers. I was pleasantly surprised that he had thought of me. The message was a polite reminder of next week's sumo match. It was in no way a romantic gesture. I imagined that Mameha was receiving a similar note that morning.
After looking over my engagements for the day, I realized that today was the day of Iwamura's company banquet. Like the night before, I took special care in selecting my Kimono. I decided on a deep purple with a dragon design. My obi was a bright red with a peony pattern. I slipped a scented cedar fan into my purse, along with my lipstick and a mirror.
When I reached the Ichiriki, I realized that I was early. The thought of seeing Nobu had made me apprehensive of being late. I planned on spending the extra time sitting in the maid's room .As I was taking of my shoes in the hallway, I looked up and almost stumbled over the Chairman.
"Chairman! My goodness!" I exclaimed, doing my best not to stumble over him.
"Excuse, me, Sayuri-san" he said, offering me his hand to steady me.
"I didn't realize I was early," I offered, embarrassed to be seen here so early. I let go of his hand quickly.
"I came here early to find some time to rest," the Chairman said, smiling. "I often find these things tedious and tiresome. Of course not when you and Mameha-san are here."
"Of course!"
I bowed to him, and we looked at each, each not knowing what to say or to do.
"Would the Chairman like for me to find the maid? I'm sure you must be thirsty."
"No, no, I am quite fine."
"Please let me escort you to the banquet room Chairman," I said, bowing again. He motioned for me to lead the way.
After asking a maid, I found the assigned room. I opened the door for the Chairman and ushered him in.
"Are you sure you do not want anything to drink, Chairman? I assure you it is no trouble."
"No, no, Sayuri. Please sit. I am sure you have been busy all day rushing to engagements."
"Such is the life of a geisha," I said pleasantly, taking a seat across from him.
"So tell me, have you spoken to Nobu, Sayuri?"
"I have not. My Danna is a busy man." The Chairman nodded.
"Too busy for his own good," the Chairman said. My eyebrows rose.
"I have sometimes tried to caution Nobu-san to rest but he is...stubborn. I have never known a more hard working man."
"Nobu-san is quite devoted" the Chairman said.
"Yes."
"Sayuri-san, I hope you know that Nobu-san is sometimes hard to understand..."
"Yes?"
"Underneath, he is like any other man."
I looked at the Chairman openly. With my eyes, I quickly traced the lines of his face and remembered how I had found all the features in his good humored face so attractive. His eyes spoke openly of kindness, and indeed he was a kind man. I would never forget the time he comforted me when I was a child by the Shirakawa stream. Even then, as an inexperienced child, I could see the open generosity and kindness in his eyes.
Nobu's face was a disfigured land of scars and angry burns. It took me years to discover Nobu's inherent goodness, but once found, I knew that it surpassed most people's ordinary goodness.
"I find Nobu-san to be exceptional in many ways, " I said, recalling the many times times he had exclaimed that he was not like any other man. "Forgive me Chairman, but I do not understand why you have persisted in telling me this."
"I have known you for quite some time, Sayuri-san," the Chairman said. " But I have known Nobu even longer. Our company is doing extremely well in these troubling times. I do not know how much you know of the approaching war..." he paused and gave me a look. I nodded.
"It is stressful for our company. As you know, we had a pending deal with Tanaka Corporations, but it fell through...for personal reasons."
I kept my face stoic and expressionless.
"I am not blaming you, Sayuri, but I believe it was because of you that swayed Nobu's decision to reject Tanaka's offer."
"I assure you Chairman, I have no influence on what Nobu-san does in his professional dealings. I am but a geisha."
"A geisha that Nobu Toshikazu is enamored with," the Chairman said with a small smile.
"I do not speak for Nobu-san's feelings," I said firmly.
"His actions towards you speak for him," the Chairman said. "Once again Sayuri I am not blaming you. I know too well what it is like to be enchanted by someone as beautiful as you."
"Please, Chairman, I am unworthy of such praises" I said, my voice recalling Mameha's easy flirting tone. The playfulness of my reply worked and our conversation returned to the easy banter of the weather and small harmless gossip that was occurring in Gion.
I kept the Chairman entertained for nearly half an hour before the other Geisha arrived and then the guests. Another geisha took my place beside the Chairman and I was free to walk the room.
I kept glancing around, searching for Nobu. I circled the room twice before at last I found him.
As our eyes met, I had the same feeling that I was the only thing in the room that he was aware of. It was as if I was a fire that he could only see.
His eyes burned into me.
I walked towards him.
"Nobu-san," I murmured. He motioned for me to pour him sake.
"You look well, Nobu-san," I said. He made a grunting sound and drank his sake.
"The other night, " I began, "I ran into a geisha who said that you were with Pumpkin and her older sister, Hatsumomo."
"Jealous?" he sneered.
"And what if I am?" I asked him calmly. Nobu looked at me.
"It would serve you right," he said. His eyes looked me over, taking in my kimono and obi and then finally the red comb that had become a permanent fixture in my hair.
"Do you really believe that?" I asked.
"I do," he said, his dark gaze trained on my face. I blushed.
"Why must you be so cruel to me?" I asked him in a pleasant tone, conscious of the guests around us.
"Because you have been cruel to me first!" Nobu growled. "You have been unfair to me first, Sayuri! With that fool Tanaka."
"You do not know what happened," I told him in a low whisper.
"I do not have to know," he snarled, "Like a dog, he came to a board meeting and bragged of kissing you!"
"I did not welcome his advances," I told him. Nobu's nostrils flared. He studied his drink angrily.
"I am a different man since becoming your Danna," he said. " I have done and said things I have never done before." I said nothing.
"But I have not changed in one respect and that is that I do not stand idle while others try to take what is rightfully mine."
"Nothing was taken" I said softly. I looked at Nobu and made him meet my eyes. "Nothing was taken," I repeated."Please do not be cruel to me any longer, Nobu-san. I cannot bear it."
"Do not toy with me, Sayuri-san," he warned, his expression still dark.
"I would never do that," I told him.
