I do not own sailor moon.

Mama took pleasure in this morning's breakfast meal. 5 girls day awaiting for her word. She usually spoke about numbers and business in the morning. The girls would be told about areas they should improve in.

"Ray," Mama began, "You've done well. Go to Luna to get a new kimono, something delicate." Mama always started with Ray. She liked saving the worst for last.

Ray nodded, taking a sip of her morning tea. The raven-haired woman never cared for these things. She barely paid the old woman any mind. Ray was counting figures in her head, and day. Soon, she promised herself every morning.

Mama looked into blue eyes. "Serena, you have done well with Hotaru. We will do the bonding ceremony. Both of you will get new kimonos. You'll take little Hotaru with you to all your events from then on."

Hotaru sent a thankful look to her older sister. Serena smiled back at the girl and thanked Mama. She was never on the good news side of their morning meetings. The silvery blonde was finally getting into the good graces of the old woman. Serena also liked spending her time with Hotaru, it gave her something to talk about. The other girls were pleasantly surprised Serena was spoken to after Ray.

Mama frowned, "Lita." Her tone shifted, more icy. Everyone braces themselves for her insults. "You're 25 now. Your numbers are good but you look your age. I need you to go take care of it. Men like young pretty girls. You'll see a doctor about this."

The brunette was the oldest geisha there, she frowned but agreed to Mama's ridiculous demands. She couldn't help that her age showed. She was still every bit as beautiful. The other girls sent her apologetic faces. Everyone knew after the beauty faded, their time as a geisha would as well. They wouldn't be as profitable. The game depended on their genetics.

The thing about being a geisha was that you started training young. It was an art. Once they paid off their debts, they could freely leave. Unfortunately, none of them had anywhere else to go, family, stability, or any skills to make money. The five were stuck here until they could come up with another option. Lita wanted to leave the lifestyle, but she had no one to lean on. She feared having nothing.

Mama looked at the other resident blonde. "Mina, you're lacking in numbers. I need you to work harder. Your food is not free. You have to be making a profit." Mama casted a special look of disappointment. "There is no reason you shouldn't be making money. You're very pretty." The old woman rolled her eyes. "You cannot be lazy in this field.

The blonde wasn't listening. She couldn't stop thinking about a certain man. Mina didn't care for this anymore. She more and more wanted to break free. She needed to get her affairs in order. Mama was correct, the more money she made, the sooner she could get out on her own.

All the girls turned towards Amy. she was the weak link this morning. Mama sneered at the quiet girl. "You have yet to pay your debt, and I do not see you working as hard as the other girls. If you do not pull the numbers you will never repay me." Mama stood, angrily. Her tone shifted dark. "Why are you not working or getting booked? Are you seeing a man?"

The blue haired girl froze. She wasn't confrontational by any means. She wasn't the geisha seeking male companionship. All the girls averted their eyes. No one wanted to watch Amy get ridiculed. "No." She answered, fear apparent in her shaky voice. To the girls who hadn't paid their debts, Mama was cruel. She would punish them. It wasn't their money they were playing with, or was hers. Mama viewed each geisha as an investment. They were expensive to hire but expensive to train. Mama put them through training to make the money back and then some. She charged them rent, food, water, their clothing, and everything. The ones that managed to pay their debts were simply now paying their living expenses and a fee Mama placed. As long as they were living under her roof, they paid her.

"You're going to get back thrown in class if you don't bring me 10 grand by the end of the week. And you will be punished." Mama threatened. The classes only added to their debt. It was a mechanism to keep them there longer. Each girl was startled. Amy had to make twice than the average amount this week.

Ray looked at the girl with panicked eyes. Lita was in shock. That number was too high for any of of them. Even Ray brought about 8 grand a week. And she usually earned the most. Amy kept her head bowed. She wouldn't allow the others to see her tears. Mama stood from the table, displeased.

"Hotaru when all the girls are done, clean this mess." The old woman stood and left.

The girls waited for the woman to be as far as possible before freaking out. "We will help you." Serena broke the silence. She rushed to Amy's side, allowing the girl to sob on her shoulder. Amy was pretty and every bit as talented. She was simply shy, a required taste. She had a mind of her own, and men didn't always like it. Amy was probably the smartest girl there. To be put down in front of everyone was humiliating.

"We'll all have to take you out with us." Mina huffed. They'd have to force her to. Usually they were requested by one name. The girl who was chosen brought out one or two more girls for the party. It was always done by choice, other than the selected girl.

"I have a party everyday this week," Ray offered.

"I'll let you into my higher paying clients." Lita also extended her hand.

Serena held Amy tightly. "I'll talk to Luna, we can get you all dolled up and have a new kimono so you can knock their socks off." The blue haired girl continued to cry.

"What happens if she fails?" Hotaru questioned.

All the women looked at the girl with looks of horror.

Ray laughed, cynical as ever. She was the best and had seen many girls fail as a geisha. "Girls who don't make it in this business don't survive." The purple eyed girl looked down. "They get thrown out into the streets with only debt to their name. They resort to prostitution because the only skill we are taught is how to please." Ray stood. "Amy will not fail. We won't let that happen to her."

Mina agreed. "If we don't get that money, she will basically be on the streets with nothing." The blonde girl knew the feeling too well. "This is paradise compared to that. Hotaru, you must never fail. You cannot let your friends fail either if you can help it."

Lita sighed. "As long as I've been here, the only way we survive is if we help each other. We can't lose Amy. Once you start working, you'll understand. We are all we have." Her green eyes glazed over. This was the only family she had ever known. In some messed up way, they all knew that. They all were put into this life and had to stick it out together.

The girls rushed, wasting absolutely no time. They knew how precious it was. Serena took Amy and Hotaru with her to see Luna. She was hoping she could appeal to Luna for her friend. Luna loved Serena.

Lita began calling her highest paying clients, informing them of a pretty blue haired girl. Ray quickly ran upstairs, and began cleaning, doing hers and the other's chores. They all knew Amy wouldn't survive in the streets. Mina would have to tell Kunzite, maybe he could help them. On top of their own weekly contribution, they now had to help Amy.

"What if we see that man again?" Hotaru questioned. Her violet eyes shun with excitement. She could tell her big sister fancied the dark haired man from the last time they visited Luna. Her sister didn't say much, but Serena's face was easy to read. Hotaru was starting to gain a deeper understanding of her.

"What man?" Amy questioned. The three women walked side to side, marching with pride. The stares of men on the street didn't phase them. They were used to the attention.

"You don't want to know," Serena smiled. She flushed at the thought of him. He had been so close but so far away. The blonde never allowed a man to see her so exposed. Serena was only nineteen. She hadn't had much experience with men, other than working for them. Her romantic and sexual endeavors hadn't started. She just hadn't met a man that got her interests yet.

Amy wasn't stupid, she saw the spark in her friend's eyes. She saw it in Mina's too. Serena liked the guy. Amy wasn't as innocent as the blonde. She could tell when someone wasn't thinking about work. The blue haired girl was 20 and very much ahead of her years. She knew more than the older girls.

Their ages had nothing to do with their lives. Lita was 25, the eldest, but she wasn't the smartest there. She led with her experiences. Ray and Mina were 22, both great at being geishas. But they didn't have Amy's brains. They didn't have her conversational skills or understand the meaning of what their clients spoke about. Serena was young, the freshest geisha at 19 years old. She hadn't had the experiences or seen what Amy had. Serena couldn't handle her numbers or business.

Hotaru was only 13. Most of the girls had started their work around that age. Lita spent more than half her life doing this. The younger girl didn't truly have an understanding as to what this job entailed. Amy came later than most of them. She was rushed into her training.

The women walked into Luna's shop. As usual, the seamstress was happy to see Serena. She agreed to help Amy at a discount, only because of her love of Serena. As they went off to design a new kimono, Amy pictured her life.

She was fifteen when she came to the geisha house, older than most girls when they started. The past five years hadn't been easy for her. The blue haired beauty was always picked on her entire life. She had always been intelligent, and far more advanced than her peers. Amy's father had never been in the picture. She had a single mom that worked as hard as possible to provide.

At thirteen Amy had met a boy she thought she could love. The blue haired girl ran away from home, infatuated with her first boyfriend. He was the only one that understood her at the time. She craved the love her father never gave her. The only time she had ever listened to her heart instead of her brain got her into trouble. The geisha realized that living was expensive. Her boyfriend had a job that didn't cover the bills. She worked part time, also attending school. Amy thought it was worth it, being with him.

At 15, she was a full blown adult. Her mother disowned her. She didn't care as long as she had her boyfriend. One day, it changed. He said he didn't love her anymore. Amy couldn't understand it. The two needed each other to survive. He started bringing men home and drinking. The blue haired girl girl stayed throughout it until one of his drunk friends took her. The friend had locked her in the bedroom she shared with her boyfriend.

She couldn't move. She couldn't fight. Amy was frozen. She didn't feel her own body as this intoxicated man ravaged her. Her eyes blinked and her chest heaved but she was not alive. The feeling of him pounding inside her was nothing compared to the fact that the only man she had ever loved knew and didn't stop it. When he finished raping her, she was called a whore.

Amy packed her backpack with food and wondered the streets, broken and alone. After two weeks or so spent wondering she noticed a beautiful woman. The blue eyed girl looked into crystal violet ones. Amy watched as her raven haired was braided beautifully. Her make up covered her true identity but she walked with such grace. Beside her was a beautiful blonde girl, the same age. Both were dressed in silk. The dark haired girl was being directed to sing for crowds. The blonde waited for her turn. Amy had never seen maiko before. She could tell they were too young to be full fledged geisha. She learned they were only two years older than her. Both pretty in their own way, Amy was attracted to their look. Amy later learned they their names were Ray and Mina.

She was introduced to Mama. And the rest was history. Amy hadn't thought about leaving. Her training was rushed, but she was fed. She hated men, but she was beautiful like the maiko she encountered that day. Serena reminded her of Mina sometimes. Her blue eyes shared Mina's hopeful twinkle.

Lita huffed, helping Ray and Mina out with their home. They conducted the most efficient and high paying schedule for Amy. Each girl would take her out at least once with their highest paying costumers. Mina was the best at make up, so she decided to teach Amy and help her out in that department. Lita would help he communicate and be confident. Lita was the best at holding conversations. Ray wanted to teach her how to swindle money without directly asking for it.

Each girl hoped it would work.

When Amy returned with Serena and Hotaru, she was already tired. Lita gave her some caffeine. "Eat lots of fruits for sugar. And caffeine will help you keep energized. Never eat anything heavy or you will look fat before meeting the client." Lita advised her. Amy thanked her for the coffee.

Hotaru set out of preparing their light meals. Tonight Mina had a high baller. She decided to bring Amy and Serena. Serena and her were complimentary and could coach her. Mina also knew Serena and her looked alike. It would help Amy stand out from the three. The visual effect would bring her money. The two blondes began their long process of getting ready.

Ray was going to her own party, always booked, she invited Lita to come with her. All five women needed to be ready. It was a two hour process. Hotaru returned with food and tea. Each girl ate quickly. The trainee was to help them. Serena never liked all her hair to be up. Hotaru watched as Serena found different hairstyles for her mane. She was the only one that didn't follow this tradition of putting her hair up. Tonight Mina decided to copy Serena. Both girls wore their plainer kimonos. They both left their hair down, and garnished it with a big red bow. They did their make up very similarly as well. Next to each other the blondes looked like twins, only Serena was slightly shorter and smaller. Also, Serena's hair was lighter and longer.

Once the blondes had finished they attended to Amy. Serena worked on her hair as Mina did her make up. Hotaru watched Ray. Ray took her time with everything. Her silky hair was brushed and placed high on her head. She allowed Sakura blossoms to decorate her hair. She chose a soft pink kimono for tonight. Ray quietly and preciously did her makeup. Making sure her best features stood out. The geisha gracefully transformed.

Lita came to their room ready to go. All the girls have final words of advice to Amy before leaving. Hotaru decided to nap until they'd return. They promised they'd be back late.

Amy was nervous. Mina's clients had money. But they were pigs. Mina was charming her client as usual. She had introduced Amy to his business partner. Serena tended to other guest.

"Your kimono is pretty," The man complimented her. She smiled brightly just as Serena told her to. She hated conversations like this. However, she knew it had to be done.

She whispered in the man's ear ever so sweetly. "It's one of my favorites." Mina taught her that. She was never to imply sex. She was to use her sexuality to tease them. Mina said to always keep the conversation about something other than sex while being sexy. Lita mentioned always talking about the art.

He had goosebumps. He cleared his throat attempting to keep his composure. The blue haired girl was driving him crazy. "What kind of kimonos do you like?" He asked earnestly.

Ray said never to directly ask for anything but to hint softly. Ray perfected the art of making a man think he was in charge. "Silk, soft, light," Amy slowly said each word. She pretended to huff, and touched his leg softly, as if this were a huge problem to her. "My favorite are blue."

The business man hung on to every word. His grey eyes scanned her face. He called over to his assistant, whispering something to him. Amy pretended to be interested in the atmosphere rather than what he whispered.

Before the girls knew it, the party was dying and it was five in the morning. They bid everyone farewells are walked out together. Serena kept hiccuping. Geisha were never allowed to eat with clients but if they were asked to drink they didn't say no. Somehow, Serena got drunk. She couldn't stop giggling.

"You did very well." Serena told Amy. "The plan worked."

Mina kept walking, exhausted from working. "The business man... he has connections. He is giving you an allowance of one grand every week in exchange for seeing him once a week." Mina explained. "It'll be in mama's hands by tomorrow."

"9 thousand more to go." Amy sighed.

"We have time." Serena reminded her. The blonde suddenly slipped, and fell.

"Serena?" She heard a male voice. The girls all looked behind them to see Darien. He wore scrubs and seemed disoriented. They could see his bags and tell he was tired. He most likely just got off work. Amy grinned at the handsome doctor.

Serena stayed on the floor hiccuping. "Darien!" Mina covered for her fellow blonde. "How are you?"

"Just got off," he bent down, to help the small woman up. She was giggling more than usual. "You're drunk." He chastised the woman in his arms.

"We just got out of a party," Mina explained. She could see the way Darien was looking at her friend. He was concerned for her.

Amy realized then this was the man Serena was goo goo for. The blue haired girl coughed sending Mina a face. "She drank a lot. Do you think she's hurt?" Amy faked concerned over Serena falling. Mina's eyes widened and it clicked.

"Yeah, Dare, she fell pretty hard. I don't want to take her to the house like this." Mina played innocently.

He could see why. She was tiny and teamed of alcohol. "I could take care of her." He offered.

Mina would never allow any of them to go with a man. But she knew Darien well enough and trusted him. "Can you take her tonight, please? I'll have to cover for her with Amy." She gave him big blue puppy dog eyes. She could tell he wanted to spend time with her anyways.

"Alright, when should I have her back?" He asked.

"One." Amy quickly responded. She'd take care of Serena's chores for her and Hotaru would love to help. "She'll probably be too sick." She explained her answer.

Darien relented. The girls took off, and Darien wrapped an arm around the clumsy girl. Serena hiccuped, "you're everywhere."

He couldn't help but smile. "So are you."

The blonde stuck her tongue out at him in a childlike manner. "You don't even know me," she laughed, swaying slightly.

He helped her out, attempting to get her to walk straight. "Why do you walk places if you're some fancy doctor?" Serena questioned him.

Darien chuckled, "I live four blocks away from the hospital, I like the walk."

"That's so much walking in these shoes!" She complained.

Darien was amused with her. She was usually refined when he saw her. It was like she took off the geisha mask. He rolled his eyes. Stopping her, Darien whisked her up in his arms, carrying her the 3 blocks left. To his surprise, she didn't protest. She actually had begun falling asleep in his arms.

When they arrived, his roommate was no where in sight. Darien took the sleeping girl to his own bedroom. He set her down on his bed, and tried to creep out.

"Wait," she whispered so softly he could barely hear her. She got up and motioned to her obi. It wasn't good to sleep in a kimono. He nodded and helped her, surprised how heavy the material was. She shed a couple layers off, leaving one remaining robe. It was similar to the one he had seen her in.

"Don't be coy," She hiccuped, "you know what I look like." She stood up wobbly. He helped her take off the white paint from her face. Serena lazily took all the pins out of her hair and let it all fall. He took in the sight of her. She was beautiful. The geisha smiled at him as a thank you. She then hiccuped again. "Do you like me?" She asked him.

Darien blushed profusely. "What do you think?" He wasn't good at this kind of thing, especially with someone who was a professional at entertaining people. She was entertaining without even trying.

She turned to him and giggled. "You like me a lot." Her eyes were wild with amusement. Darien found her the prettiest when she let herself go. Serena came into his arms and hugged him. The embrace was warm. "You smell good." She noted.

He couldn't help but laugh at her words. Drunk Serena was adorable. She was clumsy. She was too honest. She was lazy. She was everything a geisha wasn't. She was here tonight as herself.

The blonde woman pulled away with a pit in her stomach. It burned her. She bit her lip, and decided now or never. Summoning all her bravery, she untied the front of her robe, allowing the silk to fall.

Blue eyes widened, Darien was stupidly surprised. Serena stood there in all her naked glory. Her blonde hair framed her face and body. She looked every bit like the goddess she was.

The blonde looked straight into his eyes. She threw herself at him. Attacking his lips as if her life depended on it, she lost her fingers in his dark hair. Darien lost his shock and kissed her back as hungrily. Her lips were soft as he had imagined. He picked her up, wrapping her long legs around his waist. The doctor secretly loved the way she felt against him. She tasted sweet. He hadn't been with a woman in a very long time. He couldn't deny the attraction to this one.

He placed her on the bed. Serena broke the kiss, pulling her own shirt off. Darien took this moment to drop his pants and boxers. Serena continued kissing him. He pulled away from the kiss. He couldn't take anymore. He wanted her. And he needed to be with her. However he knew she was drunk.

"We can't," he got off her. He wouldn't let himself take advantage of her. Serena huffed. She touched her now swollen lips. The blonde crawled over to the man she harbored feelings for.

She hiccuped, and touched his shoulder. "Don't leave me." He turned to see her blue watery eyes. He looked into them with worry. In this moment she looked so young. He realized he didn't even know how old she was.

"Serena how old are you?"

The blonde didn't want to answer. She already knew he wouldn't like it. Their age gap was big. "Old enough." She crossed her arms. He thought it made her look more childish.

His eyes were full of concern. "Tell me."

She sighed. "Nineteen."

Darien felt like a horrible person. At 19 he was a college student. The man was thirty. He was a full eleven years older than her. He was definitely taking advantage of her. He couldn't help but hate himself for letting it get as far as it did.

"What happened to you? Why are you doing this? You're so young." He frowned. He demanded answers. He didn't understand why anyone would choose that profession. He knew she could do more if she wanted.

Serena's lip quivered. He could see her fighting back her own tears. "I can't." She let out. The blonde looked down. "We can't talk about that." She firmly stated. He was surprised how dark she had turned. She refused to tell him anything about herself. He wondered how bad was it.

"Okay." He let up. He knew better than to push it. He had seen rape victims with those eyes. He had seen beat women with those eyes. He had seen very hurt people with her expression. Her refusal to speak on it opened his own eyes.

The two sat in silence before Serena kissed him softly. "Let's go to bed please." With those eyes, he couldn't say no. Darien turned off the lights and laid down, only to have Serena cuddle up to him.