For several weeks, Nobu-san and I lived in a sort of half-way world. We continued to treat each other as before. Perhaps Nobu was a little more forgiving in his speech towards me. Perhaps I was a tad more polite.
Several times I had caught him watching me out of the corner of his eyes. His gifts, as usual were lavish and important. On the Lunar New Year he had presented me with a sapphire kimono broach in the shape of a delicate butterfly.
I had combed the stores of Kyoto searching for an equally valuable gift for Nobu, but I could think of nothing that he did not already have. Finally I settled on some men's cologne. Selfishly, I had picked out something that I would enjoy smelling. It was a lemon scent with a hint of lavender. I bought it immediately but then later worried that the lavender would make it seem too feminine.
When I presented it to him, I murmured my gratitude for his generosity and that I hoped this scent would not offend him as I had little experience in picking men's cologne.
I remember he took the bottle and thanked me politely. He did not smell it but put it away in his bag. I never saw it again, but the next time I saw him, I smelled a lemony scent and knew that he had used it. Whenever I chanced to see him, I continued to note it's presence.
It was unusual, but what else could be expected?
He had shown me what he had shown no other woman.
I would not call it love per se. I had nothing to compare it by. My feelings for the Chairman were an obsession. A laughable fantasy constructed by a child. I was not sure if they were love. I was not even sure they were real
Now it seemed that the tables of fate had turned and I had obsession of another kind on my hands. Only this time it was coming from Nobu..
I sat at the Okiya dinning table with these thoughts drumming through my head. In front of me was a bowl half filled with rice. Mother had ordered the cook to buy a chicken. There was also a bowl of clear chicken brother and plate of chicken next to the bowl. More and more Mother had been buying meat and fowl, saying with the war coming it might be years before we could taste these things again. My income and Nobu's generous upkeep had made this possible.
The War was a growing concern in everyone's mind, even in Gion. I found the tea house regulars being replaced with Generals and newly trained soldiers. Once, a decree from the Emperor had come to Gion, requesting that twelve geisha go to Tokyo to entertain a group of soldiers known as the Kamikaze.
Mother wouldn't hear of me going at the time because I was entertaining a whole slew businessmen men and Mother claimed that they gave better tips and gifts than the nobility.
So I continued to entertain at a fast rate, thinking of Nobu and the impending storm cloud that seemed to hovering all over Japan. As of yet, we had not noticed any shortages in Gion, but Mother was convinced it was to be only a matter of time.
I wondered to myself how Nobu's patronage was going to fare.
As I picked up my chopsticks, Pumpkin stumbled in the room.
Her hair was in disarray and she appeared to be quite drunk.
"Sayuri-san" she mumbled, giving me a half smile. I set down my bowl as waves of alcohol invaded my breathing space. I held up my sleeve.
"Goodness Pumpkin, what wine vat has Hatsumomo dumped you in!"
"We were entertaining the General Tatori until dawn!" Pumpkin said, reaching for my bowl of rice and grabbing the plate of chicken. She ate hungrily for several moments.
I took a cup of tea and watched her. She seemed to want to say something. Her mouth moved meaningfully as she chewed the chicken and then drank down the broth..
She was the kind of drunk that demanded conversation. Her eyes were clearly focused on me even if her body wavered slightly in her place.
"You know I despise you, Sayuri-san, I really do!"
I said nothing but continued to sip my tea. You may wonder at reticence but secretly I was wondering if Pumpkin was going to divulge any secrets of Hatsumomo's in her drunken stupor
Pumpkin took a deep gulping breath and pushed the bowl of broth away from her. She seemed angry at my calm.
"You think you are so perfect! Sitting there as the daughter of the Okiya! You think you are untouchable with your precious older sister and your wealthy Donna. But I know better...in fact all of Gion will know too!"
"And what is it that they will know?"
Pumpkin smiled and I felt my bones ache. The smile was hauntingly reminiscent of Hatsumomo's.
"They will know that your Donna prefers another."
I shrugged.
"No, no Sayuri. It's true." Here Pumpkin giggled.
"She is carrying the child of your one armed Donna! At last Hatsumomo will have something of yours. And so will I!"
I threw my cup on the floor and the tea spilled staining the mats.
"You lie!" I said, breathing hard.
"It's the absolute truth. Hatsumomo is going to talk to Mother. She needs her to petition Tashikazu's for funds."
"It never happened!" I insisted. "Nobu-san wouldn't even glance at you if you ran into you on the street. You are nothing to him!"
"Perhaps," Pumpkin admitted, still smiling her twisted smile, "But everyone knows how beautiful Hatsumomo is, even if she is older than you. Your Donna is like any other man when he is drunk. I heard he whispered your name as he..."
I rose up and struck Pumpkin. My nails drew a thin line of blood on her cheek. She screeched.
Immediately Auntie came into the room.
"What is going on?"
Pumpkin took a few halting steps in her Kimono and then fell to the floor retching. I pushed past Auntie who had tried to lift Pumpkin but failed.
My heart pounding in my chest, I made my way up to Mother's room where I knew Hatsumomo would be waiting.
