Efflorescence

Chapter Seven: Fight Sarcasm With Sarcasm

by Autumn Win-Dow

(AoGA House Cup. Words: 500)

Her sudden change in character astonished him, but he did well in hiding it. However, he was even more shocked when her attitude reverted back instantly to the sweet, positive manner of the regular geisha.

"Shall we continue?" She calmly suggested, signalling to the direction where the cobbled path continued.

Kurike couldn't force him to move on - it was her duty to serve him, in the end.

However, Natsume remained unmovable. Instead, he crossed his arms and kept his eyes on the flowing pond, where the water continued to flow through the bamboo pipe - thus causing it to make a 'clonk' sound every time it filled to the brim.

The sound was simple, yet effective in calming someone down.

Kurike noticed the observant expression in his eyes immediately. "You don't seem like the type of person to appreciate nature." She blurted out, unthinkingly.

"I'm not. I'm just trying to calm down after a maiko told me to watch myself," Natsume replied sarcastically.

Kurike struggled to maintain her own composure. "Are you feeling upset from my words? I apologise."

Despite acting genuine, Natsume knew all too well that she had decided to fight sarcasm with sarcasm.

"No, it's alright. I'm just stunned that a maiko treated me with such rudeness. In fact, it's something which I've never experienced before." He had never heard himself sound so optimistic before - perhaps, it was because he was irritated all the same.

Kurike immediately decided to change the topic, feeling tense. "Have you treated any other maiko in the same disrespectful way as you treated me?"

"Nope." Natsume immediately answered, as he pulled out a cigar from his pocket and held it to his lips, sending Kurike a knowing look.

Preventing herself from sighing in exasperation, she accepted the lighter which he offered her, and after stepping closer to him, begrudgingly lit the end of his cigar.

She had expected him to do something displeasing to her after she handed him back the lighter, and she immediately took a step back.

Maybe I'm being too cautious, Kurike told herself, I mean, what benefit would he get from doing something like that?

Natsume exhaled the smoke from his mouth leisurely, before turning to her with a raised eyebrow.

"I know you have some sort of connection to my father, so you don't have to bother in hiding it. I know exactly why you're a maiko, as well."

Kurike's breath hitched as he finished his statement. She wondered if he had talked to his father about any 'trouble students' who attended his school in the past, and somehow - through means which she herself wouldn't be able to imagine affording - he found out her true identity.

She forced herself to remain composed as she forced out her question. "Why am I a maiko, then?"

He drew his cigar away from his charred lips, before a small smirk appeared on his face as he answered, "You're paying off a debt, of course. Why else?"

He caught her off guard.

A/N: I've been told that my terminology was slightly incorrect. I had a feeling about that, since all I did was scour the 'Geisha' wikipedia page. Apparently, an okiya is the residence of a geisha, but the actual terminology for the place where geisha entertain customers is called an ochaya. I'm sorry for this flaw. :)