A Piece of the Ocean

Kiku examined the small imported pearl bracelet in the cushioned box. He wondered if it would be enough of a gift. He rubbed his thumb along the smooth, milky white exterior. They seemed real and the seller had insisted they were genuine. Kiku knew little about pearls, having grown up in a landlocked village, and so he had to trust the tanned merchant's incessant bargaining.

The okiya once again greeted his vision, poised majestically over the hill. A few had speculated why a relatively small town, colloquially called a village, needed such a magnificent structure. Not that anyone complained. But the town lay between two other important cities and so passing strangers might want to stay for a little while and enjoy the pride that marinated the village.

Despite Kiku's desire to venture as a samurai to the city, to fight there and find a master there, he still loved his birthplace—even though his blood stemmed from elsewhere. Kiku entered the okiya.

An aged mistress greeted him. "Looking for Noriko?" She asked, looking at the gift in his small hands.

"Yes mistress."

"You do know she has a patron as of now."

"Yes mistress. I was looking to discuss something with her for polite conversation."

The mistress did not seem to believe him. Her eyes, half hidden by heavy wrinkles, followed him as he slipped his geta off and entered the winding hallways. Noriko was a childhood friend and the mistress knew this. She was certain she had a sixth sense when detecting romance. She was usually false but her pride was unbreakable.

Noriko's room was by far the largest and nicest. Kiku entered and she stood up from her armoire, tucking an ornament into her hair. She had just finished applied her thick white make up and dabbing her bottom lip with cherry-red rouge. Kiku held out the gift for her with a slight bow.

She took it and thanked him, taking it out. She gasped. "Why, I'd think you wanted to be my patron with such a lovely gift." She said. She slipped the pearls on to her wrist and showed it off, thanking Kiku again. She allowed the soft underside of her forearm to appear. Kiku took no interest.

Instead of placing the necklace on her armoire, next to dozens of jade jewelry and various other gifts men had brought her, she kept it on her wrist. She knew it was not a future patron's offering, but rather a simple expression of fondness. She knew Kiku's secret.

"Come, sit." Noriko said, gesturing for a servant to bring in tea.

Her kimono barely touched the floor as she glided gracefully towards the low table. She waited until Kiku took his seat before kneeling down. As she sat she patted down the folded of her obi, where another delicate ornament was pinned. Kiku had trouble visualizing her extravagant kimono if this was her daytime one. A crane was painted on the shoulder, dipping its beak into the river that ran along her breast.

"What brings you here, Kiku?" She asked. None of the false cheerfulness grazed her voice. She was acting calmly around him with a slightly serious smirk.

"I wanted to ask about some things regarding fate." He said.

"And you come to me?"

"You geisha are a superstitious bunch. I'm certain you know some things to help me."

Noriko nodded sagely. Someone shuffled in the hallway. She looked towards it. Miho stood in the doorway, her eyes anywhere but at Kiku. "Ah, Noriko-san, I wanted to know if I was invited to the party tonight."

"You are. But why did you interrupt me now? That was very rude of you." Noriko said sternly, her eyes hardening. Like smooth water turning into ice.

Miho faltered. She apologized, bowing low, and left.

"I'm starting to think she has a liking to you." Noriko said, her smile appearing once more.

Kiku frowned. "She wouldn't love half a man."

"A girl's heart, especially one as young as hers, is undeterred by such things." Noriko said. "Remember, her virginity is being offered in a few months. I doubt such things are required in her love. She will get enough of it soon. Maybe then you can become her husband when she retires."

Kiku did not respond at first. Then, he sighed lowly. "No, I doubt I will live that long, Noriko."

"That reminds me of your purpose. What did you mean to ask?"

"Do I have any water in my spirit?" Kiku asked.

Noriko leaned closer, examining Kiku's eyes. She stayed that way for some time. Her lips parted in thought. Kiku tried to hold her gaze. "They said that I trust too easily."

The servant entered and placed the tea before them. Noriko leaned back. She graciously poured Kiku tea first and then added some to her cup. She set the teapot down, still silent. She downed nearly half her tea in a delicate manner before she spoke again.

"Your spirit is hard to determine, Kiku. It is strange. Most men I know are easy to read, unless they are malicious. But otherwise they are straightforward with what they want and what they need. You, however, have wood and water in your spirit. The color of your eyes, the hard black, indicates that you are rigid. I know that to be true in your morals. But the softness of your face and your docile voice suggests that your heart is filled with water."

"I see." Kiku said, taking a sip at the bitter tea. He held it in his palms, allowing his hands to warm up. "But what can I do with myself? What can I do to protect those I love and what I honor?"

"I am a geisha not a fortune teller." Noriko said softly.

"But you are also my friend." Kiku retorted. "And I trust you."

The twangs of a shamisen rang out through the halls. Miho, or perhaps another training geisha, was practicing a slow, sad song. Kiku and Noriko listened for some time, allowing their silence to become pensive and wet with emotion.

"I think you should go before my patron arrives." Noriko said without looking at him.

Kiku nodded and stood. He thanked Noriko for the tea.

"Come by again, Kiku. You rarely visit me."

"I rarely see you around." Kiku said, hoping for an answer. He didn't receive one.

He bade her farewell and walked down the halls. He passed Miho holding her shamisen, plucking its strings as she tried to remember a song she was taught the day before. Kiku bade her farewell.

At the front door the patron, Eiji's father, had arrived. Kiku greeted him politely.

Eiji's father was a portly figure, well accustomed to business and not that much towards anything strange or out of the norm. Yet he gave Kiku a kindly nod. He hung up his western suit jacket on the rack and followed the house's mistress. Noriko would be waiting for him in her room.

"I don't like him." Miho whispered.

Kiku turned to her, frowning slightly. "Why not, Mi-chan?" he asked, using a familiar pet name. He had known her since she had first been sold to the okiya. Noriko had taken a liking to the innocent, honest girl at once.

Miho shook her head then, even more quietly, added; "He hurts Noriko. He hurts her more than any other man she had before. I don't like it."

Kiku did not know what to do with the new information. He stared at the man's wake. Eiji rarely spoke of his father, but that was mostly out of courtesy. Now, Kiku began to doubt his first impression.

"Can't you do anything?" Miho ask, looking at him. Her eyes were overwhelmed with trust and sincerity.

But Kiku was no god. He could not save everyone and if he dared raise his fist or blade at the influential man, he could lose all of his dignity and he could, worst of all, hurt Eiji. He began to tell Miho that he couldn't, that doing so could hurt more than heal. Something stopped him. Instead, he smiled.

"I will try, Mi-chan."

"Thank you."