"What a pretty girl," a middle aged drunk man slurred. "How 'bout I pay for a little time with you? What's your rate?"

Blue eyes looked at the man with disgust before shifting to look at the other woman in the room. Anzu watched her mentor almost unnoticeably shrug her shoulders at the look her littler sister was giving her. Anko had already instructed her on what to do if a situation, such as this, presented itself. There were actually two methods to get someone to stop hitting on you, but the first was more practical. A verbal attack usually shuts a pig up.

Anzu let out a very childish giggle. "You flatter me, Kuzuomoto-san. But an intelligent man, such as yourself, should know that I could never do something so scandalous."

Naruto took out her fan, using it to slyly block the frown that was starting to form on her mouth. She never would get used to doing this.

"That's okay, cutie," the man known as Kuzuomoto winked. "I won't tell a soul about mysession with you."

Naruto scowled, glad that her fan blocked her face. This man still had the nerve to hit on her. Well, she would just have to be more direct with him.

"Kuzuomoto-san seems very determined, but I must refuse," Anzu's voice was soft, but laced with annoyance.

Anko watched her little sister reject Kuzuomoto out of the corner of her eye, as she sipped her sake and held he attention of the man next to her. She felt sympathy for the other girl because Anzu was often presented with these offers at least once a week. But nothing could be done about it, men where just attracted to her. Anzu's good looks were a blessing and a curse that she would just have to live with.

"Aw, c'mon cutie," Kuzuomoto persisted shifting closer to the girl he was failing to convince. "Just one time. Is it a crime to want to create a memory with a beautiful girl?"

Naruto wanted to snort at this pig's lame line. "No, there is no such crime, Kuzuomoto-san. But my answer has not changed." Anzu stared into the man's eyes, playfulness and innocence gone from her blue orbs. "If you wish to make such a memory, I advise you to search for a woman who wears her obi tied in the front(1)."

Kuzuomoto's face became red form anger and embarrassment. "Why you--"

"I'm sorry everyone," Anko interrupted, drawing the attention to her, "but Anzu-san and I must leave. We have another prior engagement that we must attend. Thank you for a wonderful time."

Anko stood and Anzu mimicked her movements, bowing to everyone before exiting the room. The two walked in silence out of the teahouse where they were supposed to be still entertaining. Once outside, and a fare distance away from the teahouse, Anko turned around and gave her apprentice an exasperated sigh.

"I'm sorry for speaking boldly to that pig, Anko-nee-san," Naruto explained, while whining. "But he kept hitting on me."

Anko continued walking, headed for another teahouse, that hopefully needed more geisha. "I know, Brat. But there was another way you could have handled it."

"I don't like that method. It seems risky."

"It is, but so is upsetting someone; it gets around. Next time, just convince him to drink so much sake that he passes out."

"What if he gets grabby when he's drunk?" Naruto asked. This was the main reason why she preferred to talk to the perverts first. Alcohol made people bold

"Then hit his hand with your fan and offer him more sake," Anko answered. She began to pick up her pace once they were in sight of a new teahouse.

Naruto sighed. This was her life: Running around to different teahouses to flirt with vulgar men. Attending parties that were held by past clients that had taken a liking to her. Having horny men make passes at her because she was beautiful in their eyes. If she could have escaped, she would have.

"Hurry up, we need to make up the money we lost because we couldn't stay at that last party."

"Hai."

Hailing a rickshaw, while trying to hold up an intoxicated Anko, was a challenge for Naruto, but it wasn't something new. Anko often passed out after drinking with random men. She could hold her liquor well, but sometimes she would have a little too much to drink and Anzu would have to take charge. Currently, Anzu was dragging her big sister up the stair, towards her room.

"I hate you Anko-nee-san," Naruto grumbled, trying to get the older woman over the last step. She dragged Anko into he room and lightly nudged her cheek with her foot. "Drink less sake next time, would you. You're not exactly light."

Anko moaned and tugged at the hem of Naruto's kimono. "Water."

Naruto groaned and stormed out of the room. She came back a few minutes later with a cup of water and some herbs, that would help neutralize the headache she was going to have tomorrow. Tsunade, the okiya owner, knew a lot about medicines, which allowed her to save a lot of money on doctor visits.

"Thanks, Naruto," Anko mumbled, sitting up to take the herbs and drink the water.

Naruto smiled and went to untie the knot on Anko's obi for her. "You always call me by my original name when you're semi drunk. Why?"

Anko shrugged and began undressing herself. Naruto handed her some sleeping robes and turned around. She could hear Anko shuffling as she dressed herself and soon felt a tugging on her own obi.

"It's your name," Anko replied softly. She seemed a little far away as she spoke. "And I miss the old days when you were naïve and clumsy. You seemed more…I don't know…light hearted." Naruto felt touched that Anko cared to notice things about her. "But I guess even back when we first met you weren't really happy. You never wanted to live like this, huh?"

Anzu stiffened. "I need to get ready for bed, Anko-nee-san. Good night." She tried to leave as quickly as possible without revealing how she was feeling.

"Wait Naruto, I have something important to discuss with you." Anko could she how uncomfortable she was making the blonde feel, so she decided against her original plan. "But we can talk in the morning. Good night."

The blonde let out a sigh of relief once she was out the door. She headed for her own room, where she could rest and not think about what Anko wanted to talk about.

Sasuke was scowling. He had just gotten home form another wonderful outing with his father. This time Fugaku had actually succeeded in winning a drinking contest without passing out. Currently, he was celebrating his win--quite loudly--with his wife. This made Sasuke shudder. He was disgusted by that man whenever he was affiliated with women.

Women. Another thing that made Sasuke shudder; well some did. The geisha he had talked with tonight seemed to have never heard of personal space before. Every time she'd lean over to refill his drink, she'd press her breasts against his arm. All night her hand kept wandering to his inner thigh, which he would always push away before glaring her. And then, after about the tenth time he had physically rejected her, the woman had the nerve to whisper in his ear about leaving the party together and finding a room.

That almost made him explode at her, but was distracted when his father loudly declared that he had won the party's drinking contest. Joy for him. Sasuke took advantage of the situation and began talking with the geisha on his other side. Luckily, Fugaku spotted the geisha Sasuke was trying to ignore and called her over to flirt.

"Dirty old man," Sasuke muttered to no one as he lay in bed, trying to block out the noise coming from his parents' room.

Sasuke roller over, trying to get comfortable, but failed miserably. He was restless; too many things were plaguing his mind. It had been a week since he had found Naruto and now he couldn't stop worrying about her: Was she alright? Where exactly was she; in which okiya? Were there men like his father, that would grope women under the table, talking to her? How did she react? Would she refuse or encourage them? Had she ever thrown herself at random a man, like that geisha tonight had done to him?

Sasuke imagined Naruto flirting shamelessly with some faceless man, while he was in the room, ignored by the couple as if he weren't there. One of her arms was locked with his, while her other was under the table, positioned and moving as if she were rubbing his crotch. Her face flushed and she giggled at something he had whispered in her ear.

Naruto turned her head towards his, while he leaned down to meet her in a sloppy, open mouth kiss. Sasuke could see their tongues intertwining, could hear Naruto moaning for this man. He was pushing her towards the floor and soon was completely on top of her. His hand was inside her kimono, fondling her breasts and making her moan even louder.

Sasuke wanted to destroy this man. How dare he touch Naruto like that. How could Naruto let that man do such things to her? Did she not love him anymore? Had she ever…?

"No," Sasuke breathed, now sitting up in bed.

He was panting heavily and holding his blanket in a vice grip. He tried to calm himself, but he couldn't rid his mind of those vivid images. What would he do when the day came where Naruto had to give herself to a man? What could he do? Nothing.

Sasuke lied back down. "It wasn't real. It didn't happened…yet."

Naruto stared at the large lake sparkling in the noon sun in front of her. She and Anko had been scheduled to attend a garden party, along with a few other geisha, that was being thrown by a past client. All she was supposed to do was walk around the large garden and make small talk with the guests, which she didn't exactly feel like doing.

She preferred to just take in the scenery around her. Lush, green grass covered the ground except for the stone walkways, that seemed to lead everywhere. Bushes, flowers, and trees were beautifully placed around the garden, making it seem as if it were a tamed forest. The garden was probably 8 acres wide and even bordered a lake filled with colorful koi fish. There was a sturdy, wooden bridge that lead all the way across the lake to the owner's rather large house.

Naruto couldn't exactly remember the face of the man whose party she was attending, but apparently she had met him, and even his sons, a few times. Usually she would be more curious as to where she was and who she was working for, but her talk Anko earlier this morning was still lingering in her head. But in fact, after listening to what Anko had to say, she should have been making more of an effort to be active at the party. Oh well…

Naruto was so lost in her thoughts she didn't even notice someone that had come over to her until that person spoke, "Shouldn't you be enjoying the party, Anzu-san."

She was slightly startled, but it went unnoticed by her companion. She turned to look at who was addressing her and more unpleasant memories of her talk with Anko arose. She could only hope that how uncomfortable she was feeling was not evident to the person before her.

"Gaara-san, I am enjoying the party," Anzu replied, trying to be friendly. "Appreciating the location of the party is just as important as enjoying the idle small talk that occurs amongst the guests."

Gaara nodded at her statement. Then held out his arm to her and asked, "Then, would you like to take a walk and appreciate the scenery, while making idle small talk with me?"

"I'd love to," Anzu answered automatically, took Gaara's arm and walked with him down the stone path.

Every once in a while, she would take a short glanced at him. Subakuno Gaara was a pale skinned, red haired boy of fifteen. He had blue-green eyes that were rimmed by deep, black circles. Her wore a black hakama and a red kimono. And Naruto noticed as they walked that she only came up to his nose.

Even though she seemed to be completely focused on Gaara, Naruto couldn't get rid of this sickly feeling in the pit of her stomach. She assumed it was caused by Anko's words combined with being so close to someone that wasn't Sasuke. She was scared.

"Anzu-san," Gaara started, snapping Naruto out of her thoughts, "would you like to head towards the dining area now? Lunch is about to be served."

"That would be nice," Anzu smiled.

"You wished to speak with me, Anko-nee-san?" Anzu stood in front of the closed door of her big sister's room.

Anko ushered her to sit on the floor next to her vanity whilst she did her makeup in the mirror.

"Brat, do you know what a Mizuage is?" Naruto shook her head. "Do you know what sex is?"

Blue eyes glared at Anko in annoyance. "How could I not know what that is? All those men keep asking me for that?

Anko chuckled, "But do you actually know what happens during sex?" Naruto thought for a minute, then shook her head. "Well a man puts his penis…you know what that is right?" Nod. "Well he puts that in the hole between your legs."

"Ew, why?"

Anko shrugged, "Men like it."

"Okay then…which hole?"

"The one closet to where you urinate from. Anymore questions before I continue?" Naruto shook her head. "Well, a man usually likes it when he is the first person that has sex with you. That's what a Mizuage is; your first time. So, what men do is they bid large amounts of money to buy a geisha's Mizuage." Naruto's eyes widened at this statement.

"Anzu, what I want you do is make yourself as charming as possible to every man you speak with from now on. Especially Subakuno-san, he seems to have taken a liking to you. This way when it comes time for the men to bid on your Mizuage, it will sell for a high price."

Ah! Another chapter finished. I think I should start making an outline for my chapters, that way writing will take less time and it'll be more organized…Nah! Organization isn't my style. Well if you liked please review. And thank you to all the people who have already reviewed.

1) in the past, having the obi tied in the front was a sign of prostitution. I don't know if that's still true today.