Blue irises locked onto brown ones, blushes forming on soft cheeks. Eli's mouth hung open, as Umi tried her best to keep hers clamped shut. Mouths didn't move, yet, the gaze they shared said so much more than words ever could. Umi's wooden geta took a step closer to the girl, mouth open and hand extended before her future husband had interrupted her.
"Hello, Honoka-san, Eli-chan." Cotaro spoke cautiously, bowing his head, red irises staring at Umi and wondering what was going on with his fiancée. Umi quickly corrected herself, bowing with a barely audible 'hello'. Honoka and Eli quickly bowed, not returning to eye level until the future Emperor and Empress did.
"Hello, Umi-hime, Cotaro-san." Honoka spoke frantically, heart beating out of her chest. She also used the very informal 'hime' to describe the princess and 'san' because even though she may have been taught well, she could still speak like an immature peasant-classed child when caught off guard. "W-what brings you around here?" Honoka stuttered, yet quickly regained her composure.
"We are here to… help you, Honoka-san, and—"
"Eli… my name is Eli." The young maiko spoke, lonely eyes staring into the princesses, who shared the same pain.
"Nice to meet you, Eli-san." Umi bowed again, trying to hide the blush that had formed on her cheeks. Honoka stared at the two with a ginger eyebrow quirked, crystalline irises focusing on the two females before her. Why were they staring at each other so intently?
"Umi-Hime, Cotaro-san, what do you mean by 'help us'?" Honoka spoke cautiously, moving over where she ever so slightly blocked Eli. If there was any chance that the shame Honoka and Eli carried with them everyday could somehow be erased—she would have to jump on it. Honoka was a cheerful go-getter, yet, due to the events of her past she could turn if needed.
"Oh, yes." Umi made eye contact with the geisha, clearing her throat. "… I wanted to help… you both. Cotaro-san had told me about how neither of you… has enough money to get anywhere or pay off your debts… I believe it is unfair…" The future empress looked toward her fiancé, who was obviously uncomfortable with what Umi was doing. Geisha were not a woman's cup of tea, they were for men. They performed and pleasured men in a way that was different from any common prostitute. Women who were not geisha did not look favorably on them, believing that they were indeed common prostitutes. The future empress being interested and wanting to help a disgraced geisha was absurd, yet he went along with it—how could he take over the kingdom with his soon-to-be wife unhappy with him already? Cotaro forced out a smile and a nod, eyes widening once another figure came to the door.
"You won't be doing anything with Honoka and Eli without me, Hime-sama." Long burgundy hair blew in the wind as a tall, lanky body appeared beside the geisha and maiko. Umi stared at the woman, eyes widened by her beauty. A pipe rested on the woman's right hand, lips pressing against the end a few times, and smoke filling the air. Coughing, Umi bowed along with Cotaro, causing this obviously confident woman to bow as well. "I am Toudou Erena, Mother of this okiya. Any business with Honoka and Eli is directed towards me, Hime-sama." Geta turning, Erena's turquoise irises peering back at the future emperor and empress of Japan. "… Please, follow me." Umi glanced at Cotaro, who seemed even more uncomfortable than before. Sighing, she straightened her posture and walked inside the okiya, the others following.
Inside the okiya was a decent sized chabudai with three zabuton set up around it; three cups and a small pot of tea sat in the center of the chabudai. Erena maneuvered over to one of the zabuton, sitting and beginning to pour tea in each of the cups. Umi and Cotaro sat side-by-side as Honoka and Eli moved far away from the others.
"Now, what would the future rulers of Japan want with my little Honoka and Eli? You must be aware what shame Honoka has brought to this okiya." Erena finally began, exhaling smoke from her pipe. Umi set down her tea, gulping down her anxiety as she composed an answer.
"I believe the shame Honoka-san had brought to this okiya… is buried in the past. The scorn Honoka-san has faced has affected a young… erm… maiko to still be bound to this okiya—to you. I believe that…well…" Umi's voice trailed off, amber irises scanning the perimeter of the okiya. What was she doing? She was meddling in affairs where she didn't belong. Cotaro didn't want to be here, and quite frankly neither did her. She opened her mouth to let out a simple 'never mind', but that was interrupted once she saw Eli. All Umi wanted her whole life was this maiko, she wanted to get to know her, go shopping in the town with her, and just grow old with her. Umi didn't know this girl, but she did know that she was in love, ever since she was a child. Shaking her head, Umi turned her attention towards the 'Mother.' "… I believe there is more shame on you for allowing past mistakes to plague your okiya."
"U-Umi-san?!" Cotaro yelped, brows knit as he stared at his fiancée. What was she doing?! Was she trying to embarrass them and insult one of the most famous former geisha's in all of Japan? Erena's eyes widened, gritting her teeth. She did not take criticism of her okiya lightly, but she knew she had to keep her mouth shut—this was the future empress. Turquoise irises shifted over towards Cotaro, expression shifting from annoyance to satisfaction. Cotaro looked at the mother nervously, gulping and beginning to sweat from anxiety. Erena knew Cotaro and Maki's… relationship, knowing that they have done things that could ruin Maki's reputation as a geisha. She also knew Cotaro and Maki's plan to steal the throne from the Sonoda's; Maki wasn't exactly very private about their plans. Smirking slightly, Erena place her pipe in her mouth and smoking it.
"You're right, Hime-sama." She spoke softly, exhaling smoke and quickly putting the pipe back in her mouth. "It is more shameful on me to punish someone who was not involved with Honoka's actions…yet, Honoka's actions are too shameful for me to ignore. Also, Eli is not of full Japanese decent—not everyone would want a pale-faced geisha to serve them." She spoke bluntly, exhaling smoke into the air. "…But, depending on how much you want to help, I could maybe try to erase the shame, and look past Eli's pale face." Erena teased, smirking at the princess. Umi huffed, standing up and knitting her brows, startling everyone in the room.
"I-I will sponsor them until Eli-san can get a danna and lose her mizuage, and then you can rightfully chose someone to inherit this okiya!" Umi blurted, reaching toward her neck and pulling off a large amulet, throwing it down on the chabudai. "This should be able to cover the debt Eli-san owes you, if not you may request more money at the palace. I will be back tomorrow for Eli and Honoka-san." Bowing, Umi turned to leave with Cotaro bowing apologetically, following his fiancée out. Erena was shocked, shaking her head and picking up an amulet that was worth more than the okiya itself. What did Umi want with a failed geisha and an abandoned maiko? Erena turned her attention to Eli, who scrambled up, running out to meet the princess.
"H-Hime-sama! Hime-sama!" Eli called out, running in front of the other, holding onto her hands. "Thank you, hime-sama… you are going to save me, hime-sama—thank you." Eli went to her knees, bowing in front of the future emperor and empress. Umi blushed, forgetting Cotaro was there and knelt down to the one she truly loved.
"D-don't thank me, Eli-san! I want… to help…" Umi lifted up the others head, smiling warmly. She wanted so badly just to kiss the maiko, but knew it was morally wrong. She would have to support from afar, married to someone she did not love. But, this was no time to fall into despair about a love that would never continue, this was the time to relish in this sweet moment they were sharing together; a moment soon stolen by another geisha.
"Eli! Get up! You do not make a Sonoda kneel to you!" A condescending voice called out, a small hand grabbing and forcing the pale-faced female to her feet. Looking up, Umi realized that this was indeed Maki, with her maiko Nozomi standing beside her. Standing up, Umi reassured the red-headed geisha that it alright. Maki grimaced at the princess, yet bowed once she saw Cotaro giving her the death stare. Nozomi bowed with her honorable sister, Maki; hiding the pain in her heart upon seeing Umi and Eli together. This hurt, it hurt more than Nozomi could possibly imagine. She wanted to just grab Eli by the hand and run off, yet she loved Eli too much to hurt her. She wanted to make her happy—even if that meant not being the one that Eli wanted.
"Hime-cchi, are you sponsoring Honoka and Eli-cchi?" Nozomi choked back her tears, smiling behind the white painted mask that coated her face. Nozomi asked a question that she knew would break her, yet she had to know; she had to face the inevitable pain.
"A-ah… yes, Cotaro-san and I are sponsoring Honoka and Eli-san." Umi nodded, looking back at her fiancé who was staring intently at Maki. Maki shot an icy glare at her secret lover, who had gulped and rushed to Umi's side.
"Umi-san, we should get going…" Cotaro suggested, gesturing for the two to head back to the palace. Sighing, Umi nodded and bowed to all of the women, taking one last look at her love before taking off. The future emperor and empress left, leaving the geisha and maiko to rush back inside to the okiya.
From afar, a busty, pale-faced, blonde woman crossed her arms, watching the events unfold with the princess and the geisha. Smirking, she let out a dry laugh, linking arms with the woman who stood beside her. The woman had long dark brown hair tied into a bun, a painted white face with red lips, and a silk kimono. The woman blushed, piercing turquoise eyes meeting the blond haired woman's golden ones.
"Oh, Dia, it seems as if our precious Hime-sama has fallen in love with a struggling maiko." Kissing the top of Dia's head, the woman turned her attention towards the two royalties leaving. "Just like me~"
"M-Mari!" Dia blurted, hitting Mari's shoulder and puffing her cheeks. "W-we can't be so public!" Mari giggled, flicking her secret lover's forehead.
"Its joke~!" Mari teased; getting the exact reaction she wanted from Dia. Straightening her posture, the pale-faced woman turned her head slightly, golden irises staring at the black twin buns poking from behind some shrubbery.
"Maybe you should also get a geisha, Nico-chan. You'll need one to secure your brother's place in the kingdom." Mari spoke coolly, narrowing her eyes at the other Yazawa. Nico blushed, running away from the two in order to keep her pride. Dia looked at her lover, holding the pale woman's dainty hand.
"Mari… we should help them… they'll face—" Mari turned around, embracing Dia and planting a kiss on her red lips.
"I'll take care of it, Dia. They'll need allies."
Note: Okay, finally got to some UmiEli action! It wasn't much, but it sparked future events! I also introduced A-Rise and Aqours girls! DiaMari is my fave Aqours ship so far, and I wanted to include them. In case anyone doesn't now, in the Love Live Sunshine anime, Mari is portrayed as coming from a wealthy family, so I kinda wanted to enable that into this story.
I hope you all enjoyed this; here is a small glossary for some terms used:
Mizuage: Coming of age ceremony for maiko to become a geisha; in Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, they portray a mizuage ceremony as people bidding on a maiko's virginity
Danna: Geisha's sponsor of sorts
Chabudai: Low rising table
Zabuton: Seating for low-rising tables
I hope you all enjoy, please review!