Blue eyes scanned the pages of her book carefully. Amy was very intelligent. She loved reading and retained information well. The blue haired girl was quick to study. She glanced up at the clock, it was 2AM. The girls should be home soon. Girls who weren't booked were to stay up and wait for other geishas to return. They were to help them undress and get to bed.

Hotaru was dozing off, tired of waiting. She was supposed to learn by helping Serena. The intellectual geisha smiled softly at the young girl. This child had so much to learn. Amy woke her, expecting her friends to come shortly.

Just as she predicted, an exhausted Serena, Lita, and Ray came back. The three women were dreading this process but ready to undress. "How was it, sister?" Hotaru asked. Her violet eyes expressed hope.

Serena stood, allowing the younger girl to unwrap her heavy obi. "Long, full of boring old men." The blonde complained. Her client was a bore. Serena didn't understand what he was going on about.

Ray laughed. Ray was always booked, she was the most tired one there. She never had a night off. Being the most graceful care at a price. "It could've been worse," She mimicked Serena, letting Amy help unwrap her.

Lita agreed. "It's our job to make it fun, not theirs. They usually have more of a reaction to us. This group was just old." Older people were apart of the job. They paid well and respected the profession. They grew up in the era of the geisha. They knew what geisha actually did.

Serena lifted her arms as Hotaru expertly and carefully helped peel layers off. Folding them gently, the young girl placed them on the floor. Hotaru quickly grabbed make up remover, doing Serena's neck. Serena did her face as best as she could.

"Where's Mina?" Ray asked nonchalantly. She was constantly looking for the blonde, concerned for the closest person she had to family.

Amy perked up, "She's on a date. But if Mama asks, she's sleeping."

"She's gonna get caught," Lita disapproved. She didn't want Mina to get into any trouble. The girls all developed a serious nature about looking after each other. Any serious wrong move could land any one of them homeless. The world was cruel.

Serena sighed dreamily, "I think it's wonderful. She found someone that makes her happy..." she looked through a window. She watched the moon intently. "That's important." She truly believed that. Mina was a romantic at heart. Risking it all for love sounded just like her.

Amy disagreed fundamentally with Serena. She thought shelter was more important than a man. The blue haired geisha was not accustomed to thinking with her heart. She was entirely too smart to get caught in some kind of scandal in the house. She knew better than to piss off the right person. The woman bit her lip instead of responding, she knew better than to start meaningless arguments. Amy rarely voiced her opinions on those kinds of matters.

"What happens if she gets caught?" Hotaru's curiosity got the best of her. She had yet to be punished or learned what happens. She was fairly obedient and doing well in her training. Mama liked her very much, she didn't understand the rules of the subject.

Ray frowned. "Don't worry about it, because you will not follow those footsteps. Those luxuries are not for women like us." Ray used an icy tone, she wanted the girl to learn young. This lifestyle didn't exactly make love a priority. It was rare in the field. As much slack as they got for being prostitutes, they were the most disciplined women. They only slept with people at their own discretion and usually not for money... and that was if they had time and energy. Working all night and sleeping a couple hours each day wasn't sexy. They had to be up early to complete chores and prepare for their days. Also, they had clients in the day time sometimes. Sleep was more precious than sex in this field. What Mina had been doing was rare.

Hotaru hadn't completely given up on the subject but knew it was time to drop it. She couldn't anger and elder geisha.

The girls one by one finished and decided to plop into their respective beds. Hotaru got to share her room with Serena now that they were matched.

The morning quickly came and the five women were up and preparing themselves for their day. Mina had no sleep that night, the blonde was very tired but happy. She shared her experiences with her fellow geishas. Kunzite was a romantic at heart. He was planning on visiting another tea house with his friends as a reason to see Mina again.

Lita set off with Serena to get their hair done. Hotaru follows the women, taking notes of their conversation. "Have you ever been in love?" Lita wanted to know. She had been surprised that Serena supported Mina's tirade.

Serena blushed slightly due to the personal question. "I know what it is. But no, not like Mina."

Lita was amused by the conversation, glad that Serena was finally opening up some. "My first boyfriend from middle school was my first love. He was a real jerk," Lita explained. The women giggled.

Mina was exhausted, she was having a difficult time in today's dance lesson. She was usually the best dancer, but the lack of sleep was getting to her. The blonde took a moment to breathe. Her body was aching from being tired. The geisha was planning on seeing him again tonight.

Kunzite arranged an appointment with Mina through Mama, this time she didn't have to lie about her whereabouts. Mama only allowed believing he was infatuated enough to become her sponsor and give money to the house. Mina went with it.

Being in the house had changed since meeting this doctor. Mina knew it was quick, however she couldn't deny the attraction. She continued dancing for her elders and Mama, trying to prove her grace. Mama didn't keep girls that couldn't preform well. She wasn't allowed to stop dancing until Mama was pleased or picking on someone else.

Her movements were carefully executed, knowing the better she danced the less she'd have to. Mina wasn't Mama's favorite, but her physique brought in clients. The girl was beautiful. Her long blonde hair was healthy and shiny. Her eyes were the color of the ocean and it contrasted on her golden skin. Mina had the body of a goddess, men lusted after her. Her hips were big, her stomach was flat, and her breast were well endowed. Mama knew Mina's strengths lied in her beauty. Her skills had only to be mediocre to subpar.

Mina lost herself thinking about her new found love. Kunzite cared for her, he took an interest in her lifestyle. The two laughed together. She couldn't wait to see his smile again. She only missed him in their time apart. She wondered if his work was going well or if he felt as lonely as she did.

After a dozen times, Mama relented. The blonde bowed and proceeded to get her chores done before nightfall. She would have to be quick to have enough time to get ready. Thankfully, Amy agreed to help her. They were polar opposites, but felt as though they needed each other. All the geishas did to some level.

After going through the tedious hassle of getting ready, the blonde felt nervous. She couldn't get caught fornicating with a man. She decided to wear a kimono the color of the sky tonight. She would pretend to leave like the other girls only to have him pick her up a couple of blocks down.

Kunzite was always happy to see his geisha. He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her lips, the kind of kiss that was habitual. "I've missed you," he confessed. His light blue eyes were earnest. The pair drove off to his home, one he shared with Darien. It was a huge house, probably too big for two doctors. They had no pets and it was extraordinarily clean. She was always impressed by its stature. It was very nice.

Mina was fond of his roommate. Darien was kind and lighthearted. He always tried to make sure she felt normal. She found him to be a little bit socially awkward but good. Darien was nerdy and to himself. Mina followed Kunzite to his bedroom after a quick greeting. She felt comfortable there.

Darien usually snuck away when she was there. He liked to give them privacy. The couple appreciated it.

Kunzite expertly untied her obi, this making her free to move normally. The blonde let her hair fall, and took off all her geisha make up. Mama would be asleep by the time she returned, and none of the girls would ever tell her the truth. Mina left her last barely there robe on.

"You've never looked more beautiful," her lover ogled. She blushed at his words. She was always told to wear make up and have her hair done at all times. He was slowly undoing her years of training as a geisha. She was finally embracing her natural beauty. Maybe she was learning to love herself.

His room was painted white. He was very simple. There were a couple CD's on his bookshelf. But mostly he had medical magazines and textbooks on them. The man didn't have any photos connecting him to the room. His bed was huge with black cotton covers. The tv was turned off, along with his gaming systems. Kunzite was cleanly, and his room was simple. It was opposite to her over the top tastes.

She sat on his bed, attempting to find her perfect spot. "Come," She beckoned for him. He did as told, like a puppy. "Hold me." She requested. The two laid down, and he held her tightly. She grabbed for the dark comforter, covering both of them.

Mina closed her eyes. She had to take in the moment. She felt safe in his arms. It was a warm feeling. She thought about her life and troubles. How did she get to this point? Mina wasn't like Ray. Ray had a father, whether she admitted it or not. Ray had a grandfather. Ray chose to get into this lifestyle. Ray thought this was the escape.

The blonde has been born to parents who could give her nothing. The tiny studio apartment her father was always late on rent for was almost empty. She never had more than one pair of shoes. She vividly remembered her mother and father. Her father had been a stallion of a man once, probably before she was born. He was beat up by the world. Her mother was blonde and pretty. She had always been subordinate and quiet. Her mother never intervened on her father's word.

They loved her at a time. Her mom had gotten pregnant again when Mina was 10. The family was dirt poor. They barely made it eating off the fast food dollar menus. She could remember never having enough food. And the memories of sleeping to avoid dealing with hunger haunted her.

Her father did it as an act of desperation. He took her to Mama. He had heard that geishas were hard to find and made a lot of money. He had waited till she was the ripe age to be taken. The one thing her parents had given her was her charming looks. Mama was astonished by her beauty even as a little girl, she had promise. Mina didn't want to go. Mama had promised to take care of her. As long as she trained, she'd have a roof over her head and a full belly. At the time, her parents felt it was the better option for their only daughter. The geisha house could give her things they couldn't. Her father had given Mina to the geisha home in exchange for Mama clearing their family's debt.

She never saw her kid brother again. She never saw her parents again. They gave up on her. Mina would try to forget them, but she knew they had loved her at one point. She knew this warmth she felt with Kunzite. Mina never had anything to hold onto but the memory of their love. It reminded her of being young. She had been starving and holding on to her mother. Mina had never forgiven them for leaving her.

Kunzite didn't know her story or pain. He saw her beauty and her smile. She never wanted him to know what happened to her. The blonde turned around to face him. She smiled at him. Mina hadn't felt safe since the day she left her mother's arms.

"I'm falling in love with you." She breathes out. The woman grinned widely. "Don't let me down." Her tone was sweet, but she meant her words. She couldn't handle more heartbreak.

Kunzite kissed her. "You're crazy if you think I would ever leave you woman." The brain surgeon meant it. He wanted her. He hadn't felt that way towards any woman. He vowed to protect her. He wanted to take her out of her situation. But he knew she wasn't ready to depend on him.

Mina hoped he meant it.