I don't own sailor moon.
"He is delicious." Mina grinned ear to ear. She couldn't shut up about the silver haired man she met a week ago. If ever there was a reason to get out of this business... it would be cause she married him. Mina was very in love with him already. He was so masculine, it made her feel so excited all the time. Mina looked at herself in the mirror, brushing her lock golden locks.
"Are you going to sneak off to see him?" Amy questioned. She blue haired woman powdered her face, getting ready for tonight's project.
"I'll need an alibi, to hide from mama." Mina sighed. Mama was their house mother. She controlled the business, trained each girl, raised them, and paid the bills. What mama said was law or the girls would be kicked out. Mama was kind to the girls, but extremely strict on what she allowed and didn't allow.
"I can help with that," Ray said nonchalantly, applying mascara. The raven haired goddess was very sneaky. She earned the most money out of the girls. She had the most traditional look of them all. Being Mama's favorite had perks. As long as ray brought in the money, she was untouchable.
"I'm in your debt." Mina noted to herself. Geisha rarely took on boyfriends or had much personal time. They were constantly perfecting their craft. Ray simply winked. The two girls were close, being trained at the same time.
"Word is that Serena is getting a little sister." Lita mentioned. Lita wanted confirmation. She was putting on her favorite pair of earrings.
"Why?" Amy wondered. Serena was a new geisha herself. She wasn't the best yet. She was still extremely nervous. Amy joined the house before Serena did and watched Serena get trained. She was very good, but had stage fright.
"Mama says it'll be good for her." Ray answered and confirmed the rumor. "Says she needs to open up to someone."
The girls all agreed with it. "She's been here for awhile, and we still don't know much about her." Mina concurred. "Poor thing, something bad had to have happened."
"We're all worried." Lita interjected. She felt bad for the blonde. The girl hadn't opened up much. She seemed lonely. Lita had been there the longest, she'd seen girls come and go. Serena was capable however her spirit seemed crushed.
"Maybe she's not meant for this." Amy sighed. The training was so difficult only those who made it through could do this job. It was hard to see a girl go through the trouble and not do well.
Ray sneered, "No one in this room is. We're just lucky we have each other." The violet eyed girl's eyes casted down. This wasn't exactly her first choice of a job. She set down her eyelash curler and huffed out of the room.
Lita could relate. She chose this path due to being orphaned and lonely. Ray was here for similar circumstances. They were all there out of loneliness.
Mama paced around the petite blonde, she knew this was a positive idea. Serena needed to love someone to open up. The blonde was quiet and broken inside. Mama saw strength in her silence.
"You'll take Hotaru with you everywhere you go." Mama's word was law. Serena bowed. Receiving a younger sister was an honor. The blonde was pleased. She was to run errands all day. It would be a good day for her.
Her younger sister walked in, the raven haired girl bowed in respect to her older sister. Serena was happy to train young Hotaru. She looked a lot like Ray, meaning she would most likely do well.
The two girls left their home and walked to the stream-stress. Serena needed more kimonos because she was starting to be booked more. The blonde wore a simple black robe and left her long silver curls down. Hotaru also dressed simply.
Geishas were expected to be beautiful and graceful at all times. Serena preferred her natural beauty. She allowed people to see her face without make up and with her hair down. She liked dressing simple to get through town quickly. Hotaru made note.
"You're here!" Luna gleamed with excitement. Luna worked hard with the geisha house, fitting every girl who has ever been apart of it. Luna was a second mother to all the girls. The woman was always dressed messily as she was constantly moving and stitching patterns around. Luna's hair was a dark grey and her eyes were a lovely red. Her daughter usually ran around her shop and her husband sometimes popped inside.
"How are you Luna?" Serena smiled. Luna was her favorite person here. Serena loved visiting her. Luna helped design the kimonos as well as measuring the girls.
"Wonderful. Is this your little sister?" Luna referred to the younger girl.
Serena nodded. "Yes. This is Hotaru. She'll be studying under me."
"Lovely." Luna was impressed. Serena was very good at her art. However, the girl was depressed and only felt like displaying her talent in conformity. She didn't like meeting new people. She distrusted them. "How is everything going?"
Serena took off all but one light, white robe. She got in position to be measured.
Hotaru averted her eyes to give her sister privacy. The robe was so thin, Serena was practically naked. She wanted to give her respect to her.
"You've lost weight." Luna noted.
"I didn't realize."
The door suddenly opened and inside came a familiar man. Serena stood mortified as she recognized the face of a certain cardio surgeon.
"Darien," she breathed out. Her face turning extremely red.
The doctor stopped in his tracks. His eyes couldn't help but appreciate the geisha's figure. He thought he'd never see her again. "Serena..." his mouth dropped. "I'm sorry." The doctor turned around I'm embarrassment.
"You know each other?" Luna questioned.
Serena cleared her throat. "Yes, recently." She didn't want to say how, or what happened. Spending time with him was a nightmare. She couldn't be more embarrassed.
"I'll come back." Darien headed towards the door.
"We're actually just finishing up," Luna smiled. She could sense something about the two. She couldn't put her finger on it.
Serena tried to gain her composure back. "Hotaru, why don't you help me get dressed?" The young girl wasted no time, helping the older woman.
"What do I owe the visit for, Doctor?" Luna mused.
Darien kept his back towards the women. "Just wondering if your husband was here."
Luna already knew he would say that. She explained her husband had left with their daughter earlier.
Serena finished up her business and said her goodbyes. The blonde was quick to get out of there.
Ray was a fox. She fooled Mama into thinking Mina and her had to go to the doctor. It technically wasn't a lie. The two women were going to see doctors.
They both put effort into looking extra beautiful.
"Maybe he will take me out of this lifestyle," Mina hoped. She didn't enjoy her job. She was never smart or extremely gifted. She was pretty and knew she had to exploit her beauty.
Ray sighed, "The likelihood is low. Maybe we'll gain sponsors to support us." Ray wasn't a dreamer. She knew the world was cold.
The two women enjoyed the taxi drive, allowing their feet to rest from high shoes. "He could love you." Mina attempted to reason. Mina wanted to believe in love. She dreamt of an everlasting love. That's all she ever wanted.
Ray shifted to a dark place in her brain. She thought of her life. It lacked hope. After her mother died, she had been neglected and abandoned by her father. She ran away. She had no one else and no where to go. She found the artistry when Mama fed her. Mama said she was beautiful and could use men like her father.
Ray dreamed of freedom. She dreamed about her father never finding her. She thought about her future. She was afraid. Ray worked hard to stop thinking about it. Her father had let her down. Ray didn't believe in love. She knew the world was cold. She was broken. Mina took Ray's hand. The blonde knew her best friend was broken. "Thank you for letting me see him," she said earnestly. Mina knew it was a difficult thing to lie to Mama.
Ray smiled, "Maybe Kunzite will love you, and take you away from here." Ray didn't believe It herself, but she wanted to for Mina's sake. Mina wanted so much more. They arrived at their destination. Mina and Ray got out of the car, and walked together. They'd meet at that same spot later.
The blonde had been asked one favor in exchange for her date. Ray was not going to stick around and asked for privacy. Mina knew better than to ask where she was going. She had her own theory, but she kept it reserved. The duo parted ways.
Kunzite was surprisingly cheerful to see her. He wore a suit and tie, and seemed to be over the moon. "You look wonderful." He complimented her. This was the first time he saw her real face. She left the white paste and lipstick at home. Her hair was left loose, and framed her face. Mina was all woman, the embodiment of beauty.
"So do you," She giggled. She enjoyed herself with this man. The geisha was rarely smitten, but this man haunted her. She felt a connection and needed to see it through. He wasn't some client to her.
They decided to have a nice early dinner together. He chose a small but private restaurant to take her.
Ray kept watching her back, paranoia sneaking in her stomach. She didn't want anyone to know her secret. Anytime she had the chance she wanted to make extra money. She was saving it for the day she left the house. No respectable geisha slept with men for money. Ray used a different skill of hers.
Her grandfather had taught her to be a priestess. She found a temple where she could pray, tell fortunes, and heal people. It didn't make much but it was something. This money wasn't going through Mama. She wasn't being told how to spend her earnings.
The geisha had paid her training off years ago. She didn't have anywhere else to go, so continued to work. Mama claimed her earnings as housing expenses, and used the rest to pay for Ray's kimonos and make up. Ray realized she had to get out of this life, but needed to gain Mama's favor. Ray was planning on running away when she saved up enough. Ray wasn't going to wait for a man to save her.
The classical beauty did not trust men. Without her mother there, her father was abusive to her. At the mere age of twelve the ra haired woman escaped. Ray was a survivalist. She knew better than to wait on a man to save her. Ray was hurt enough times. She became a geisha to escape beatings. At the tender age of twelve she feared her father. She left without a plan and was only given a chance by Mama because of her classical looks.
Ray learned. This time she'd have a plan. She would save herself. She knew how to survive.
