The week flew by as a second. Too fast for Yukiko to be fully prepared for meeting the Asakura brothers again, but still there was no time left for her to rethink everything, especially of going there...the blonde had to go.
Aya and Yukiko helped one another to prepare for the evening. Aya dressed up in golden colored kimono, with flower ornament all over it, her face was dyed in usual white and her hair was done into tako shimanda and adored by golden comb with little peafowl feathers. Yukiko, on the other hand, picked up a red and light violet kimono, with long sleeves and flower imprints all over it. The blonde done her hair into uiwata and, as usually, as well dyed her body with white powder. When the sun hid behind western horrizon, two geishas stepped out of their house and climbed into the vechile, heading to the other side of the town.
When they climbed out, Aya stopped Yukiko at the entrance and said:
„Yukiko, I know you don't feel comfortable with Asakuras, but, please..."
„Don't destroy my life" Yukiko ended for her „I know, onee-san. I'll do my best" Aya sighed.
„You have to do more than best this time" she said „show them all you have, Yukiko. Everything you have best inside of you must be shown tonight. It is very important"
„Because of the royal court?"
„Yes. This chance comes only once in a lifetime. Do not miss it"
Two beauties entered the room, which was already filled with people, who gathered as usually to spend an evening in Asakura's mansion. Few geishas were already sitting by the tables, few entertaining men...but the couple didn't join neither: they were invited by the mistress herself, which meant that they were supposed to sit by her and her husband's table. The two found the older couple already sitting there and waiting.
„We're sorry for forcing you to wait" Aya said, bowing respectally to the couple.
„No need to worry. We were just about to have some tea" Keiko said, showing to the teapot. Mikihisa, Keiko's husband, was a man with scars on his face, neck and chest, which was visible from devided black gyoto hakama. He greeted Aya and Yukiko with respect, obviously informed about their importance of today's evening.
„May we do the formal things first, Aya-san?" Keiko asked.
„Of course" Aya agreed „what bussiness do you have, Keiko-san?"
„As you well know, the royal court excepts young geishas to its own house from time to time, but lately, I, as a person responsable for this matter, had some difficulties in finding a trully tallented geisha to do her tasks properly and fullfill every wish of a customer. But a night week ago made my decision to invite Yukiko to live and work for royal house of geishas" Aya threw a quick look on her apprentice and gave her word to answer. The blonde looked to Keiko's eyes for a while, thinking quickly and then said:
„I'd be glad to serve you, mistress" she bowed to Keiko „yet, my own house, I still belong to, will have dificulties without me" the blonde raised her head and rammed her onyx eyes into Keiko. The older woman smiled gently.
„Yes, of course I understand, Yukiko-san. That's why, I'll take your house under my support and will provide it with whatever means necesarry"
„Then" Yukiko bowed again „you can call me your servant, mistress"
„You won't be servant, Yukiko-san" Keiko smiled „you'll be treated with a great respect"
And so, this way, I entered the royal court and saw its beauty, its wealth and...its emptiness. I often thought how Keiko Asakura, being so intelligent and refined wouldn't loose her patience with all those people around, who'd always annoy with their stupidity and obvious dependancy on money and material.
„I think you made an excelent choice tonight, Keiko" Mikihisa said, looking to Yukiko with cold eyes of a warrior „she's trully amazing"
„Thank you, master" Yukiko bowed.
„If we settled it then" Keiko said „may I ask you to sing for us, Yukiko" the blonde nodded and stood up, walking to the change room, where geishas would usually prepare for their show. Aya followed her and entered the room right after Yukiko. The woman's eyes were smiling and obviously full of happiness.
„You're the most succesful geisha ever, Yukiko" Aya said. The blonde nodded.
„Yes. And for everything I must thank to you" Yukiko was about to bow respectfully as usual, but Aya stoped her with a touch of hand on shoulder and hugged her apprentice tightly.
„Do not forget anything I tought you, Yukiko...or should I say...Anna" the blonde gasped, hearing this name again. It was a while since she heard it from other person, not to mention Aya „your name means grace...and you are the grace of this world. Do not loose it" Aya whispered and backed away, leaving Yukiko standing there in shock.
As the show began, Yukiko's clear and calm voice flew through the room, enchanting everyone and everything. She sang about pure white winter and gently falling snowflakces, bringing a glimpse of romance and happiness to everyone's heart. When the song was over, a loud claps flew back to Yukiko, showing the most wanted respect for a geisha as a singer: she was excepted.
The blonde just walked back to Aya and Keiko with Mikihisa, when a certain voice stopped her.
„As always, you're the most beautiful and wanted, Yukiko-san" this made the blonde to turn around and face the person she last wanted to meet.
„You, Hao-san, have a habitat to show up in the wrong time, at the wrong place" Yukiko spat out, ramming her all-piercing gaze to his chocolate barrels. Hao only scoffed.
„And yet, you're singing such a learic song and you're so cold...guess nothing can bring your ice down"
„You know what?" Yukiko threw another hatefull look, feeling how anger rises inside „you just might be right. So, if you don't want to get into trouble, I suggest you stay away from me"
„That's going to be a little harder than you think" Hao smiled shrewdly „I heard you've been excepted to royal geisha house. This means you will be seeing me a little too often" Yukiko hardly held her punch. For gods' sake, not even Yoh made her so angry.
„Whatever you say, Hao-san" the blonde shot back and walked away, disappearing in the crowd. Hao watched her fade away, smiling mischevously.
The evening passed and the time came for everyone to leave. It appeared that Keiko wanted Yukiko to take her new living space immediatelly and so, after a goodbye to Aya, Yukiko and Keiko sat in the vechile and moved towards the countryside, where a huge complex of palace taken place. Yukiko saw such a big house for a first time, not to mention all erroneous corridors and gardens. Keiko showed Yukiko to her room, which once again surprised the blonde: it was very spacious, with big dubble bed, marvelous ornamented screens, few musical instruments, dressing-table, huge, refined bathroom and terrace with entrance to the traditional garden, with many pools and onsen deeper in it.
Yukiko turned to Keiko and bowed.
„I may not deserve such comfort, mistress" Keiko only raised her hand and said:
„You deserve the best, Yukiko. I can see that. And please, call me Keiko. I believe you have enough formality in your life"
„As you wish, Keiko" Yukiko bowed „and thnak you for everything" the older woman nodded slowly and by saying goodnight, left Yukiko to get used to her new space.
But still, the first thing that the blonde done was to enter the terrace. She lifted her head to the sky, which was cloudy, but still a half wane managed to shine through the heavy clouds. The air was stuffy, like before rain, and it was mixed whit a light smell of sakura blooms. The night was unbelievably silent and calm...and this calmness passed to Yukiko, until...
„Enjoying the night?" a familiar voice sound from Yukiko's right. The woman turned her head quickly and saw Hao, standing by a formed bush. The blonde sighed and turned back to the moon, which was already hidding behind balck cloud.
„I don't rememeber calling you here, Asakura" she said. Hao closed to her and looked from down below, seeing what he never saw before: this moonlight made her look even more beautiful.
„Are you satisfied with your new room?" he asked.
„It's a little too big for me, but I'll get through it" she said coldly „after all, it's not for you to worry about such things" Hao didn't answer, didn't shoot back: he was just looking to this enchanting woman, whose skin, now washed and left without powder and now only lit up by yellowish light, coming from inside made an impression of a woman, made of honey...and Hao could barely resist her: only a fact that she wouldn't allow him to even take a closer step held him from just...taking her.
The couple stood like this for about half and hour, Yukiko watching the sky and Hao watching her. The heavy rain started to fall suddenly, turning Hao's robes and hair into wet towels.
„Mind if I use that roof of yous?" he asked, standing in the rain. Yukiko only looked to him with gloating look.
„Yes, I mind. No one invited you here anyway" she turned back to the sky. Hao, however, stayed persistent and slowly walked to her. Now, the brunette man was standing in front of the blonde, looking up to her face. Yukiko lowered her head and said harshly:
„I hope I don't need to repeat that I don't want you here" Hao smiled mishcevously.
„You just might going to need it" he then grabbed her waist gently and stepped onto wooden floor of terrace, lifting Yukiko to the air and slowly carrying her inside.
„What in a whole world are you doing?" the blonde asked, looking sharply to his eyes.
„Going out of the garden. Wasn't this what you wanted?" Hao answered, stepping behind the screen. Only then he let go of Yukiko and said with his usual smirking smile „help me" he asked in a whisper.
„What?!" Yukiko snapped at him. She didn't like him being so close, she didn't like to feel his wet body next to her...it somehow meant danger to her.
„Help me to change" Hao repeated himself, gently playing with the golden hair's lock of Yukiko „just pretend that I'm your customer, that's all" he stroke his palm down Yukiko's arm and took her hand, placing a kiss to her palm. Yukiko felt lost for a moment.
„You're crazy, Asakura" she said.
„Maybe, I'm crazy for you" he smiled tenderly...the smile only he had. The blonde looked to his warm, chocolate eyes and gently removed some wet strands of hair from his face. Then she slowly untied his fine silk balck yukata, feeling how soaked it was from heavy rain. Yukiko removed his clothes and walked behind him, taking a warmed white towel, made of softest cotton possible. She slowly and gently stroke it through his body, removing every drop of water. Then she stroke her fingers through Hao's long chocolate hair and brushed them, feeling how easy it was to do it. Then she took a simple white dressing robe and put it on Hao's strong shoulders. The man turned around and touched Yukiko's cheek, looking to her eyes with gratitute and obvious pleasure.
„You're so gentle and graceful" he whispered, stepping closer to her „I felt like being in heaven" Yukiko raised her onyx eyes and put her hand on his wrist, which was near to her.
„This is my job, Asakura" she said codlly, but silently „you can't forget that"
„And yet I'd like to" Hao said, no standing inches away from her – Yukiko could feel the hotness of his body coming to her „to tell the truth, I could do anything for a single kiss of mystery like you" the blonde travelled down with her gaze through his body, feeling how her own begins to shake. She imperceptibly flicked few strands of hair behind her ear and after this movement, she placed her hand on Hao's shoulder, moving closer to him.
„Only one?" she asked silently.
„Just one" Hao answere, making a mental note: this one and many others. Yukiko tiptoed a little and placed her rosy lips on Hao's and they sunk into harmonious and passionate kiss. Hao carressed her body, which was covered by red silk, exploring every inch of it. Yukiko sunk her hands into Hao's hair and deepened the kiss, now almost moaning from pleasure... All of this wasn't right, she knew it, but that night Yukiko was gone and Anna done things for her...