Note: Hello! Okay so, I wrote this story inspired by my favourite period in Japanese history: The Edo period. I am not an expert in Japanese history, so pardon me for my mistakes. I also was inspired by Caged Bird by FurFurKanga, please make sure to check it out!

This is also inspired by Memoirs of a Geisha, a lovely movie/book. If you want the basic info/source on the geisha info that I am using then feel free to skim this: wiki/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha_(film)

The girls training to be geishas in this story will go by their seiyuu's names until renamed as their actual character names. Example: in this story Maki's birth name was 'Pile' before the events of the story and then changed to 'Maki' once becoming a geisha by the person who had trained her.

This is an UmiEli centered story, along with other ships making some appearances. This is rated M due to sexual situations, cursing, prostitution, and implied rape; please do not read if you cannot handle said situations mentioned. (None of which will be too graphic, and will be tagged as such in the beginning of the chapter that includes such subjects)

I hope you enjoy!

"You will never be anything." Echoed throughout the room, violet irises staring into sky blue ones as a soft yet firm hand gripped onto the others face. "You are nothing more than a pale-faced farm girl with no actual talent. You will never be a geisha." These words cut into the other like a knife, causing her to gulp with a pained expression. Tears were begging to be released, but she refused to let them show.

"Did you ever actually think that you could beat me in getting Yazawa-san's attention? How dare you, pale-face." 'Pale face' was the main insult Yoshino had received for the majority of her life. Yoshino had blood of the pale-faced Russians, yet she mainly was Japanese. Since this Eurasian blood ran in her veins, Yoshino was not accepted in the small fishing village she once lived in; and in order to make money for her sick grandmother, her parents had sold the 9 year old off to an Okiya—the home of a geisha. Yoshino looked the red haired girl in the eye, fighting back the tears as she nodded; lips pursed together. The violet-eyed girl could see the tears, letting out a sick smile. "Oooooh~? You wanna cry~?" Laying a hard smack on Yoshino's face, the sound of the other's heart breaking was all that could be heard. Soft lips moved close to the other's ear, letting out a soft, yet hard: "You must stay away from Yazawa-san and my way—or I'll destroy you." Throwing the girl on the ground, Maki left the room, sliding the door and closing it. Yoshino lay on the floor, tears streaming from her beautiful blue eyes.

On the other side of the door, another 9 year old girl had listened to the whole ordeal, heart breaking in the process. Long dark purple hair draped over her shoulders, emerald irises staring at a beaten up tarot card. Her eyes softened, tears pricking at the corners as she watched one of those tears fall on her card. The card read: the Ace of Cups, a card that represented new, happy, fun, strong, fulfilling love. Yet, the green eyed girl, Aina, knew that this card was not for her. This card was for her love, Yoshino. This card had nothing to do with Aina, and she knew this was the start of a painful journey for her as she would watch her love find someone else—someone not her.

"It will be okay, Yo-chan… you will be happy…" Aina spoke inaudibly, hugging her knees as she cried along with the other in the next room.

"Umi-chaaaan!" A high pitched voice called out, knocking into a blue haired girl. Umi sighed yet allowed her-self to be pushed slightly, continuing to walk with the other girl. "I'm sooo excited for the matsuri, nya!" Umi remained silent but let out a soft smile, shaking her head in response as she peeked behind to see her friend and even her own servant trailing behind them. Umi's was a girl with long grayish-brown hair, who was sold off to the Sonoda family when she was only 3 years old; she was renamed 'Kotori' once sold to the imperial family, and became Umi's first friend. Kotori tailored all of Umi's yukatas, kimonos, etc. and always was there to be a friend to the future empress. Umi was the daughter of the Emperor of Japan, and at birth was put under immense pressure that she will once be an empress. Yet, Umi was a female—her male role was to find a male to succeed her father. Umi had a sister, yet she had run away due to the pressure put on by the royal family—and was never seen or heard from again. All Umi really had was Kotori, and her other royal friend- Rin from the Hoshizora clan. Rin was not a part of the Imperial family, yet she was from one of the most famous samurai clans in Japan. Rin and Umi met when the Hoshizora's became the Sonoda's most trusted allies—supplying them with protection as the Sonoda's gave them with goods and a more royal ranking.

Trailing behind Rin and next to Kotori was Rin's servant—Hanayo. Hanayo was a very shy girl, who just appeared at the Hoshizora's one night with no trace of her actual family when she was only 5 years old. Instead of shooing the girl away or killing her on the spot, they took her in to be a servant to the family, yet little Rin begged her father, the Daimyo, allowed for the newly renamed Hanayo to be his precious daughter's personal servant. Rin and Hanayo were best friends, and Rin always took care of Hanayo even though she was nothing more than a mere servant—just as Umi was with Kotori. Kotori and Hanayo also became close due to all of the encounters Umi and Rin had at the imperial palace. All of the girls were around the same age; Umi and Kotori were 8 while Hanayo and Rin were 7 years old.

"Kayo-chin! Koto-chaaaAAAN!" Rin called out, waving her hand so the two servants to catch up with the upper-class girls. The two girls at first blushed and shook their heads no, but soon peeked from side to side to make sure no other Hoshizora or Sonoda's were around before sheepishly catching up to them.

"Rin-san, are we heading back to the imperial palace?" Kotori finally piped up, amber irises glancing at the orange haired girl. "We should get back, Umi-san and I need to—"

"You're both so boring!" Rin pouted, putting her hands on her hips. Sighing with slight annoyance, the Hoshizora nodded. "Fine, Kayo-chin and I have to make rice for the dinner anyway, nya!" She perked up a bit, locking arms with the shy servant. Hanayo blushed and nodded, letting out a soft smile.

The gaggle of girls began to walk home, yet Umi stopped in her tracks. Her amber irises landed upon a pale girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing on a bridge and throwing sakura petals in the water running beneath it. Melancholic blue irises stared at the water rushing by as the pink flower petals that were once in her hand float off into the distance. Sighing, the Eurasian girl looked up, crystalline blue orbs locking onto the others' light brown ones. The two girls stared at each other in awe, captivated by each other's beauty and well… themselves. The stare broke once a loud 'Yo-chaaaan!' was heard in the distance. Shaking her head, Yoshino ran off to her beloved friend, Aina. Umi wanted to chase after the girl, but she was called out by Kotori. Sighing, the empress in training caught up to her friends—image of the blonde haired girl permanently imprinted in her memory. In that moment, Umi made a small wish that one day, she hoped to meet that girl again—little did she know that the other had the same wish herself.

Note: Whew! First chapter finally done! It took me like a long time to write this due to immense writers block amongst other things. As stated above, I am not an expert on Japanese history or the ancient social class system. I tried my best; I really hope everyone enjoys my story. I know the main question is: "Where are Honoka and Nico?" Well don't worry! They will make an appearance! Also, I'm thinking of maybe adding in the Sunshine Aqours girls but maybe not idk.

My source for the Tarot card info: tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-cups/

Please leave a review omg even if its constructive criticism!

See y'all in the next chapter~~~~~~!