The stars in the sky's gleamed like something I've never seen. It was a cold night but the fire kept us warm. Mitsu looked at me in the light of the fire, I could feel her eyes traveling on my body covered in faded scars from the years of battles. She almost wanted to touch them and ask how I got each one but she waged we'd be there all night.
"Am I that interesting?" I said breaking out her focus, my comment made her cheeks flush.
"No, it's just...Your scars. I'm just curious to know of what you've accomplished." Mitsu asked honestly.
"I'm afraid I'll bore you with my stories, are you that intrigued?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I always hear about you Soldiers, your heroic stories are nowhere near boring. People view you as a savior." Nene said entering the room with Megome shadowing her; she held a shamisen tightly to her chest.
I assumed the boy came back safely.
"A savior? That's a bit extreme." I turned my attention back to the older geisha answering the question asked before. "I am Just a man serving my country."
"That's very brave." Mitsu said with a smile. I watched her as she sat next to her older sister at the dresser, helping her with her makeup.
Megome sat beside the fire practicing her instrument.
Obasan came soon after, accompanied by the little boy who carried a bucket of hot water.
While Nene was rinsing out her brushes, she glanced several times at my reflection in the mirror. "I know what you're thinking." She finally said to me "You're thinking you've never seen such a beauty in any land you've ever visited."
I couldn't help but laugh, the woman was so full of herself. "Actually I did" I replied amused "Lady Anne, she's an English woman I met during my visit there."
Nene snorted "heh I bet she's not as graceful as me."
"I'll have you know," said Obasan, "that some people find English women quite a rare piece of art."
"Some people like the smell of rotting fish," said Nene irritated.
And with that, she ordered us to leave the room so she could change into her under robe.
Obasan and I stepped out onto the landing, where a man stood waiting near the full length mirror. I learned during my first day in the Fuku, that he was a dresser, which is to say that he came here every day to help Nene put on her elaborate kimono.
The robe Nene would wear that evening was hanging on a stand near the mirror. Obasan stood smoothing it until Nene came out wearing an under robe in a lovely rust color, with a pattern of deep yellow leaves.
What happened next made very little sense to me at the time, because the complicated costume of kimono is confusing to people who aren't accustomed to it. But the way it's worn makes perfect sense if it's explained properly...I suppose.
I wouldn't know. I lived in my own world of swords and armor.
All that preparation was for Nene's get together with an old business man Fuku has dealt with for many years. The party, as she explained to me along the way, was to be given by the man who knew all the important geisha in nearly every geisha district in Japan. He wasn't very pleased when Nene introduced me as her friend, I shouldn't have expected him to say much, my only responsibility was to be alert and sure the girls were safe.
I tried my best to keep up with the laughs and clap of hands whenever the girls danced or preformed, but it was too much for me when the clock hit past midnight. I excused myself out of the room, a maid knelt and slid open the door as I stepped outside taking in the fresh air.
I could see from the corner of my eye that a small figure was standing to my right; lips blue from the cold, Yuu-chan blew several hot breaths into his shaking hands.
I felt my stomach ache for him, having to wait outside while the girls enjoyed themselves in the warmth of the room. It didn't take a genius to figure out he was a servant, but if the fuku house had any shred of humanity they wouldn't let a child out in the cold dressed in one layer of clothing and bare limbs.
"May I join you?" I approached him with a friendly smile, but his face remained unchanged.
I took it as a 'yes'.
"It's pretty cold in here." I tried again. "Don't you just wish for the summer to come already?"
I looked at his hallow eyes and there was a pause as long and clear as day, so silent that I could not hear the crowd behind the door.
The sound of pond reed swaying in the wind brushed over my ears. I tried to relax but he kept staring at me, making me so uncomfortable that I wished I stayed inside.
"Ok-ay" I turned to sit on the roka (wooden floored passage) when I saw him easing slightly, his eyes drifting to something I held with my right hand.
"You like my sword?" Yuu averted his blue pupils shyly, realizing that he had lost himself in my scabbard. Honestly? It made me laugh.
"Want to take a closer look?"
He took a few steps forward and I knew I had his attention, so I grabbed the tsuka (handle) with my right hand directly below the tsuba (round guard at the end of the grip) and placed the pommel into the palm of my left hand then wrapped it around and turned vertical so the swords pommel would be halfway into my closed hand.
The boy watched me without even flinching once, I grinned "How brave you are." I said "I have never met someone, let alone a child, stand before me as fearlessly as you. There is determination in your gaze," I straightened before him, nimbly putting the sword back down to its scabbard. "I see it."