Peach

Sayuri woke up alone like so many mornings. Half asleep, she had the sensation of peach in her mouth and a soft body sliding against her own. Hands were stroking through her hair and kisses were pressed on her nape. But when she finally opened her eyes, no one was there. She went through her daily routine, washed herself, had breakfast and fed her son. It was routine, which saved her, when the loneliness was the worst. This afternoon she was meeting Mameha in the tea house and she was looking forward to it, even when it was sad to see how fast she aged. But most Geisha do. At least she could live from the rooms she rents. That's more than most of them had.

Sayuri was always content to see her friend and talk to her.

"Sayuri." Mameha greeted her warmly. "How are you and your son?"

"We are both well. And you?"

"Quite well too, although I had a bit of trouble with a tenant, but let's not talk about that. Have you got a message from the chairman about when he comes back from Europe?

"Yes, he will come in two weeks."

"You miss him, hm? I know that feeling."

"It's difficult to sit at home all day and wait. At least as a Geisha I had to do something. I feel so caged sometimes."

"I can imagine. It feels good being a Geisha; at least you have to amuse other men in the meantime."

"Yes, that´s a comfort." Sayuri forced herself to smile.

Later on the way home, she passed a fruit shop and the smell of peaches reminded her of being feed with that fruit and quick kisses, which had made her feel, in the beginning, like the rabbit before the snake, but later had made her feel at least wanted. It helped her to survive the Okiya, Mamiha`s training, the years as Meiko and Geisha, the attention of unwanted man, the war, the new beginning after it. How could she have survived without these stolen caresses?

Mariko had been the cause for her getting up every morning.

Whoever had known that Mariko was Hatsumomo´s real name had long forgotten. And there were only two other persons who knew that the moody and malicious Geisha had a softer side as well.

When she came home, she first made her way to the letter-box to see if a new letter had arrived. There was a telegram from the chairsman telling her about the journey and how much he missed her. She missed him too. But she couldn't resist opening the little box of sandalwood where she kept Mariko´s letters.

Suddenly she was overwhelmed by the memories of their time together. It had been the night after the mizuage. She and Mameha had won, but nevertheless Hatsumomo had come to her, knowing exactly how dirty and used she felt after having sex with the Doctor.

"Hello Chiyo-chan," she had whispered and slipped under her blancket, warming her cold body, "you know, there can be more between women than just kissing."

So the horrible night had turned into something entirely different. And it was a memory which fed her longing so much.

At first she had been passive, feeling Mariko's fingers and lips caressing her body from head to toe, finding all the sensitive places, Dr. Krebs hadn't even searched.

She had trembled when the clever tongue had found her way into her most sensitive areas. The feeling was so incrediple that she had the sensation of flying. She had to bit her lip to not tell the whole Okiya that she reached her peak.

But it was fun to play the active part too, guided by such a good teacher. To make the proud Hatsumomo squirm and moan, urging her on: "Yes—there Chiyo! Don´t stop!"

Sayuri came back to the present and closed the little box where she had put all of Hatsumomo´s letters from America and looked back to the telegramm of the chairsman. Oh, she loved him and it was true: every step Sayuri had made had been to reach him. But Chiyo belonged from head to toe to Hatsumomo.