AN: I'm alive! And yes I've finally reached and gone over the 300th mark! Wohoo! Anyways, sorry for the late updates, I've been pretty busy with school work and all. Not to mention that my mom had just gotten out of the hopital a couple of days ago. Also, I would've posted this yesterday but there's seem to be a bug in my account. When I tried to upload, my documents would have missing paragraphs so I had to copy and paste the remaining ones. I have already sent an email to the FF admin so hopefully they'll be able to fix this problem soon.
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Undercover Geisha
Chapter Eight: Cast of the New and Old
"I'm sorry Oka-sama but this is a misunderstanding, you see I…"
A casual wave of Reiko's hand dismissed Kaoru's explanations and the older woman stared at her with a distrustful glaze in her eyes. "There is nothing more to ponder upon Mizumi-san."
She continued. "And as soon as I can think of a proper punishment for you, you are not to entertain the guests and work instead in managing the household."
Kaoru angrily pushed back her chair and stood up in one swift move. Ignoring the harsh gasp of disapproval coming from the head of the Sakura Petals, she replied. "But that's not fair! I haven't done such a thing. I am innocent. I—"
"That's enough Mizumi. You are dismissed." interrupted Reiko, her voice unwavering and firm. She gave another wave of her hand to Kaoru, dismissing her presence in the room.
Kaoru resisted the urge to grit her teeth in frustration.
Kaoru paused and closed her eyes in an attempt to smother her bristling temper. After taking a few silent breaths, she continued.
"If you are not willing to listen to what I have to say then so be it Oka-sama. However…"
Kaoru opened her eyes and cast the older woman a cold glare. "However I will not do such a thing as pay for something that I haven't done."
Her glare deepened and Yamaguto Reiko involuntarily squirmed under the scrutiny. Whether Kaoru noticed this or not, she didn't mention it out loud.
"Remember this Yamaguto-san; I am not one to let herself be pulled along the strings like a puppet. I can just find some other teahouse that will be extremely grateful to have me in their residence. You do not own me, Yamaguto-san."
Standing up to her full height with her spine straight and shoulders rolled back, Kaoru lifted her chin up high and turned towards the door. Her last words continued to hover in the silent office as the dark-haired woman excused herself out.
X-x-X-x-X
"Mister! Mister! Could you hand back our ball please?"
Ojita Sukenami glanced up from the round orange ball that nearly hit his face to the eyes of a skinny young boy who looked to be about ten years old.
Ojita took note of the several other younger girls and boys waiting behind the first boy and answered.
"Sure." He smiled, emphasizing the dimple under his right cheek. "Here, catch!"
Ojita threw the ball at them and watched with amusement as the boy easily caught it. The boy flashed him a grin which Ojita returned before he ran back to his friends.
A sad wistful smile replaced his grin as Ojita continued to watch the playing children. His childhood hadn't been like what most would have with his memory gap and growing up in an orphanage. Even when his adoptive parents took him in, he was never allowed to play with the other children.
"Play with us Ojita!" A young girl in ragged clothes shouted. Behind her was a small group of three boys and another girl. All wearing clothes that looked overly-washed and patched.
An eight-year-old Ojita grinned at the few friends he had and was in the process of taking off his stiff jacket when a familiar hand grasped his shoulder.
"Come along Ojita. You have school to go to." His father's deep booming voice resonated and halted the young Ojita.
Ojita glanced up at his father, saw the stern serious look in his face, and sighed. "Of course Father."
Turning to his friends, Ojita answered. "Sorry guys but I have to be somewhere else." What he had to say further was caught off as his father took him by the wing of his shoulders and steered him away from the group of children.
"See you later then Ojita!" The same girl from earlier called out as Ojita and his father walked away from them.
Ojita craned his neck to take one last look at his friends and saw the sadness in their eyes.
"Ojita, from now on, I don't want you to hang around with such ruffians." His father's voice broke Ojita from his thoughts.
"Yes Father."
And that was the last time Ojita ever got to see his friends again.
"Uncle Oji, what are we doing here again?" Takeshi's shy voice broke Ojita from his reminisce.
Ojita glanced down at his young nephew and couldn't help but smile at the healthy rosy flush the remnants of baby fat made on Takeshi's cheeks.
"Well, we're going to the post office and perhaps buy a little something for Mizumi-san since she's been very nice to you." He answered.
Takeshi's eyes flashed merrily as he grinned. "Yeah, Mizumi-nee-chan is great! Are we going to visit her today?"
"It's possible. But you have to help me pick out a gift first."
"Yeah!"
X-x-X-x-X
"Ah! What perfect weather to set sail. Yep! Mother Nature is surely smiling at us right now." Nadashiro's voice broke Kenshin from his musings.
Kenshin, who was staring blankly at the cloudless late morning sky, glanced at the older man standing at his right. Kenshin blinked, he hadn't heard him approach.
"Nadashiro-san?"
Nadashiro nod his head at something in front of him. "Have you ever seen such a beautiful blue-green color? I tell you, scenery such as this just warms my heart and makes me glad to be alive."
Kenshin shifted his gaze to the scene before him. Indeed the sea had never looked so peaceful and majestic with the sun's light casting a golden sheen on the water's surface.
However, that is not what was occupying his mind.
"But that isn't what has you so preoccupied, is it?" Nadashiro voiced out Kenshin's thoughts.
Kenshin sharply turned his head to look at Nadashiro. The older man was still gazing at the sea and hence never noticed the surprised look on the ex-assassin's face.
"And if my instincts are still sharp, your purpose for heading to Yokohoma is not just about the rumors. There's something else, isn't there?"
Nadashiro finally craned his neck to stare at Kenshin in the eyes as he continued. "Or should I say someone else?"
Noting the look on Kenshin's face, Nadashiro gave a dry chuckle and turned back to look once more at the sea.
"I may be old Himura but I'm not blind." He added. "She must be a very special woman to have someone like you caring for her."
Kenshin's surprised look was replaced by a sad smile. He turned to face the sea, his deep violet eyes curtained by the wild bangs of his red hair as the sea breeze swayed the unruly locks.
"Yes. She is indeed. More than this unworthy one deserves." The tender expression that crossed Kenshin's face as he said the words didn't go unnoticed by the samurai-turned-sailor.
Nadashiro offered no reply. Instead both Tokugawa veterans contented themselves to gaze at the sea. For a while, no exchange of words was spoken as each was lost in his own memories of the past.
X-x-X-x-X
A frown marred Ojita's features as he stared at the crispy white envelope the post man had handed him. Turning it over, Ojita was not surprised that it had no return address.
'What did they want now?' He thought.
A tug on the sleeve of his suit jacket cut short his musings and Ojita glanced down at his young nephew.
"Are you okay Uncle Oji? Is it bad news?" Takeshi asked with child-like curiosity.
Ojita mustered up a smile and ruffled his nephew's brown locks. His smile widened when he saw Takeshi pushed his hand away and tried to fix his hair while pouting at him at the same time.
"Uncle Oji! You know that I don't like it when you do that!" Takeshi huffed. "It messes up my style."
Ojita raised an ebon eyebrow at this. "You're five years old. What would you know about style?"
Takeshi puffed out his chest. "Well Mizumi-nee-chan thinks that I'm cute."
This time, Ojita raised both of his eyebrows. "Oh, does she?"
Takeshi nodded his head vigorously. "Yeah!"
"Perhaps she had something in her eye at the time and couldn't see very well." Ojita said teasingly.
Takeshi's face turned red. "Uncle Oji!"
Ojita let out a hearty chuckle. "Speaking of Mizumi-san, why don't we find our gift for her now?" He asked, pocketing the letter in his vest.
Takeshi grinned. "Yeah, let's go then Uncle Oji!"
The five-year-old grabbed Ojita's free hand and dragged him out of the post office.
"Whoa there! Slow down Takeshi or you'll make us fall." Ojita stated but let his nephew continue to pull him along.
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of apprehensive eyes spied on the two as they made their way to the vendor stalls.
"Ojita's becoming lenient. I should notify the boss about this." The figure mumbled before stepped back in the shadows.
"Hm?" An elderly vendor glanced at the empty alleyway behind him.
"That's strange. I could've sworn that I heard somebody talking." He shook his head in dismay. "Old age must be getting to me."
X-x-X-x-X
"Mizumi-san! Mizumi-san!"
The door to her room slide opened and Kaoru looked up from the book she was reading to find Yuri with Kiara behind her.
Noticing that the two were panting, Kaoru waited for them to catch their breaths before she gestured for them to explain.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Mizumi-san! We heard about everything from the cook." Yuri finally responded.
Kaoru merely raised an eyebrow as confusion clouded her face until realization hit her.
Seeing the look Kaoru gave her, Yuri nodded her head in understanding.
Kaoru frowned. "And I suppose Tomao-san's bloating with pleasure at my expense, isn't she?"
Both maids exchanged glances with each other before they both looked at Kaoru and nodded their confirmation.
Kaoru sighed heavily. She bookmarked the page of her book before placing it down. Massaging her temples, she asked. "Does anyone else know about it?"
From behind Yuri, Kiara nodded her head yes.
"Everyone in the okiya knows Mizumi-san, even the servants working solely at the teahouse and Sakura-san, Okiko-san, and Azami-san too."
Kaoru stopped her massage, her throbbing migraine forgotten as she glanced up at the two servants with slightly wide eyes.
"They know as well?" Kaoru repeated.
Yuri and Kiara nodded their heads. "Yes, Mizumi-san." Kiara clarified.
Swearing a few curses she picked up from Sano, Kaoru ignored the maids' gasps of shock at her words and got up from her seat. She hurriedly tied her loose hair up in a simple bun as she made her way towards the door.
Motioning for the other two girls to move aside, Kaoru opted for her more comfortable gabi sandals and slipped them on.
"Where are you going Mizumi-san?" Yuri asked the slightly older woman.
Closing the door behind her, Kaoru spared them a look. The expression on her face was etched in a mixture of anger, disbelief and slight amusement.
"To the gathering hall, breakfast had finished a long time ago so it's most likely that Sakura, Okiko and Azami will be there along with Tomao-san. I have to go there and do some damage control."
Without waiting for a reply, Kaoru turned and started down the path towards her destination.
X-x-X-x-X
"Both parties have received the message, milord."
A deep chuckle resonated and echoed in the walls of the dark illuminated room.
"Excellent. Proceed as planned, Shura."
From her kneeling position on the floor, Shura bowed her head as a sign of compliance, the bangs of her green hair covering her red-brown eyes.
"As you wish, Makoto-sama."
X-x-X-x-X
Presently, a large commotion was going on onboard. A semi-large crowd had started to gather on a particular spot on deck, forming a huge circle around something that, guiding from the sounds of jeers and hooting coming from the men, they seem to like watching.
"Come on Yahiko-chan!" Misao's voice resonated amidst the cheers from the crew. Her emerald-colored eyes gleamed with cheerful anticipation as she positioned her body into a defense stance.
"You have to train if you don't want to go soft." She added. A smirk plastered on her lips as she glanced at Yahiko to see his reaction.
The fourteen year old was red in the face. "Don't call me Little, Weasel!" He spit out in anger.
The amusement in Misao's eyes changed into anger and her grip on her kunai tightened. "I am not a Weasel! You'll pay for that Yahiko-chan!"
Yahiko smirked and got into the basic Kamiya Kasshin stance. Feet apart with the knees slightly bent and bokken held vertically in front of him with his arms in a slanting position so that the tip of the wooden sword was at eye-level, He called out.
"Prepare to eat dust Weasel!"
In a split second, both parties lunged at each other. The crowd continued to cheer as the fight progressed, growing louder as Misao had succeeded in elbowing Yahiko in a sensitive part of his abdomen.
From the sidelines, Sano leant against a pole. A smirk on his face and his trademark fish bone sticking out of the corner of his mouth. Besides him, Aoshi pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to cease his growing migraine. Kenshin had momentarily returned to his rurouni side and was 'Oro!'-ing while Nadashiro merely gave a throaty laugh.
The men's shouts grew almost deafening as Yahiko returned the favor by whacking Misao on the head with his bokken.
X-x-X-x-X
"Tomao-san, can we speak to you in private?"
Tomao stopped and turned to see a fuming Azami with a blank-looked Sakura and a frowning Okiko beside her. Tomao raised an eyebrow at them and said.
"Do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here."
"Actually, we do mind." Azami was quick to reply. Shifting her gaze to the black-haired geisha sitting across from Tomao, she added. "Sorry Akito but I have something important to discuss with Tomao here."
Akito gave a small smile. Her indigo eyes shined with masked relief as she told them. "It's alright Azami-san. I was just telling Tomao here that I need to go to the market anyway."
Tomao snapped her head back to Akito but the other girl merely gave her an apologetic smile before she excused herself and stood up.
Glaring at Akito's back, Tomao watched as the geisha walked out of the room. Akito's quick pace didn't go unnoticed to the remaining occupants. Tomao sighed as the doors to the hall closed behind Akito before she shifted her glare to the other three women, particularly at Azami.
A frown marred her pretty features, showing that she wasn't pleased, as Tomao said in a cold voice. "Well then, what's so important that you have to rudely interrupt my conversation with Akito and drive her away?"
Taking the seat Akito had vacated, Azami sat down while Okiko and Sakura took the two chairs at the sides of both women.
Azami's coal black stared with Tomao's light blue, both owners content with glaring at each other. Finally, Okiko got sick of the silence and spoke up.
"We heard that Mizumi has been suspended from her geisha duties. Did you know?" Okiko's voice was dull and unpresumptuous.
The woman questioned raised up an eyebrow and, although she kept her face expressionless, Azami could've sworn that she saw smugness glazing Tomao's blue eyes for a moment before it disappeared.
"Yes I've heard of it. Who hasn't?" Tomao shook her head in dismay. "Poor Mizumi, I pity her."
Azami was grateful for the long sleeves of her sky blue kimono. Tomao wouldn't see her wringing her hands, wishing desperately that it had the brunette's delicate neck in their grip.
"Have you ever wondered why she was suspended?" Okiko continued to ask, her face revealing no signs of her thoughts.
Tomao shrugged her shoulders. "Not really. But it must have been something extremely disrespectful for Yamaguto-sama to punish her." She responded coolly.
Azami wanted to shout out that Mizumi wasn't that kind of person and that she knew deep in her gut that Tomao had something to do with it. However, she couldn't prove it yet.
"Well we had a little talk with Oka-sama and we found out the reason for Mizumi's suspension." It was Azami who spoke this time.
-flashback-
Azami pounded on the door to Yamaguto's office, causing the door to vibrate slightly against the force of her fists.
"Oka-sama, we need to speak with you. It's very important." Azami shouted to the dark-polished oak door in front of her. A frowning Okiko and a teary-eyed Sakura stood behind the black-haired female. In between them was a young dark-haired maid who had a frightened look on her face.
Azami pressed her ear against the door, waiting for Yamaguto to answered. After a while and still no reply, Azami got angry and impatient.
"Oka-sama, I'm going to enter okay?" Azami called out one last time before she twisted the doorknob opened and went in with Okiko and Sakura following up her rear, both girls grabbing the maid by the arms and leading her inside with them.
Yamaguto Reiko had jolted from her seat when she heard the doorknob clicked. She threw the group a disapproving glare.
"What are you all doing here? You should be getting ready for the customers coming this afternoon." She told them.
Okiko cleared her throat. "We had something we want to speak with you, Oka-sama. It concerns Mizumi and her suspension from her duties. A suspension which we think you unjustly imposed on her and…"
Okiko gently shoved the young maid in front so that Yamaguto could see her properly.
"…Something that you've failed to mentioned to us until this young, brave girl told us just now."
"But we know that what she had told us wasn't the whole story and we wanted to know everything." Azami started.
"So we came to you, Oka-sama." Sakura finished.
After a few minutes of silence, Yamaguto sighed and motioned to the vacant seats in front of her desk.
"Very well. Have a seat and I'll tell you then."
-end flashback-
Her eyebrow still raised, Tomao said coolly. "But what has that to do with me?"
Okiko raised up her own eyebrow. "You don't seem concerned about it, are you Tomao-san?"
Tomao daintily shrugged. "It's none of my business."
Azami's dark eyes flashed. "But it is Tomao-san." She cut in.
"You were the one who spilled the tea at the party but you went and blamed it on Mizumi." Okiko accused.
This time, the flash of smugness on Tomao's eyes lingered longer, making it more obvious. "So what if I did? You have no proof that I did it anyways or did you forget that I'm the teahouse's most favored geisha? If Yamaguto-sama did believe you, she still wouldn't throw me out if she wants to keep her business up and running."
"We can have Sukenami-san testify on Mizumi-san's behalf. Surely, Oka-sama would believe him." Sakura spoke up for the first time since they entered the hall.
All three geishas glanced at the green-eyed girl in surprise, making Sakura blush underneath their gaze. Tomao was throwing her a dirty look while both Azami and Okiko sported surprised faces.
Okiko was the first to snap out of it and she shifted her gaze to Tomao. Her chocolate eyes gleamed apprehensively.
"What do you have to say now Tomao? You've heard Sakura. There's no way Yamaguto-sama would choose you over a long-time regular like Sukenami-san. Give up and confess the truth to Yamaguto-sama already Tomao. You'll still have the chance to save face if you do it now."
Azami merely smirked in triumphant as Okiko had already said everything.
A tint of fear clouded Tomao's eyes before it was replaced with confidence and the brunette openly gave a smug smirk. "He could but I know Sukenami-san won't tell on me to Yamaguto-sama. I served and entertained Sukenami-san for far longer than the rest of you. He would be devastated if he had me banned and thrown out of here."
Okiko gave an uncharacteristic smirk in response. "I wouldn't bet on that, Tomao-san. Sukenami-san seemed pretty smitten with Mizumi-san and as the Westerners would say…"
"..You're old news woman!" Azami continued. The smirk on her lips growing wider.
Fear and uncertainty gleamed in Tomao's light blue eyes but was soon replaced by rage as she suddenly leapt to her feet.
Both Azami and Okiko stood up as well, meeting Tomao's dark glare. Sakura, meanwhile, remained on her seat. She stared helplessly as the scene continued to play before her. In her mind, she thanked Kami-sama that the other geishas weren't present inside the hall with them.
"Face the facts Tomao. Sukenami-san doesn't want to be around you anymore. Now, I gather he much more prefers Mizumi's company as to yours. I think he wouldn't be too pleased if he knows what you did to her. He'll probably have you kicked out of here faster than you can blink." Azami taunted. Her lips twisted into a smirk as she said so.
Tomao's face blotched red as she shouted. "How dare you say that to me! You insolent, disrespecting bitch!" Tomao had completely lost her temper and she raised a hand up in the air at a certain angle.
Sakura leapt up to her feet and sprinted in between them, shouting all the while. "Stop it right now! All of you! I—…"
A loud smack echoed throughout the hall. A shocked Sakura held a hand up to her right side cheek which had turned an angry red from Tomao's slap as she stared at the other brunette with wide green eyes.
Okiko had gasped and Azami would've dropped her jaw if she hadn't heard the doors of the gathering hall slam opened as a new occupant entered.
Kaoru had entered the hall just in time to see Tomao slap Sakura on the face.
X-x-X-x-X
It was nearing noon and Sukenami Ojita still had to find a gift for Mizumi.
"How about this Uncle Oji?" Ojita heard Takeshi's voice call out and the young man turned to where his nephew was at.
A smile widened at his lips when he finally saw the object Takeshi held out to him.
"It's perfect, Takeshi. Mizumi-san will love that I'm sure." He told the boy.
Takeshi's face flushed as his favorite uncle praised him.
X-x-X-x-X
Sapphire eyes glared as their owner stared at the scene in front of her. Everyone had shifted their gazes to Kaoru for a moment, shocked at the girl's unexpected arrival.
"What's going on here?" Kaoru asked, her voice calm but strong.
Okiko opened her mouth to explain but Azami cut her off by suddenly giving an enraged yell as she leapt at an unexpected Tomao, shoving Sakura to the side as she did so.
"You damn bitch! I'm going to scar your smug little face!" Azami promised, her hand rose in a claw-like manner.
Tomao let out a yelp and clasped her hands to her face as she couldn't get away fast enough even if she'd tried. She waited for the contact…and waited. When nothing happened, Tomao cautiously let down her hands and opened her eyes which widened at the sight before her.
Kaoru had moved like the hounds of Purgatory were chasing after her. She had ran just in time to wedge herself between Azami and Tomao and caught Azami's wrist, firmly holding it up at a level away from anyone's face. The action caused Azami to cry out as she lost her balance and would have fallen if Kaoru hadn't caught her by the waist with her free arm. Kaoru's whisper of 'sorry' was heard by everyone as she locked the shocked Azami in place, preventing the other girl from attempting another strike.
Tomao's momentary relief was shortened as Kaoru turned her focus on the brunette. Tomao involuntarily gave a shiver as she looked into Kaoru's eyes. They were a burning inferno of forged sapphire.
"Get out of my sight Tomao-san." The bite of steel in Kaoru's voice left no word for a protest.
Still, Tomao stubbornly defied Kaoru and reached out a hand to touch the dark-haired woman. A frown marred her pretty face as Tomao voiced out.
"I don't want to. Besides, that woman–" At this, she pointed to the furious Azami. "–had the nerve to try to hurt me. Do you really think that I would let her get away with it?"
Kaoru cocked an eyebrow. For a moment, she was quiet. Then she gave a mirthless chuckle. "To be honest Tomao-san, I don't care. The only reason why I stopped Azami was for her own sake, not yours. God knows I'm very much tempted to let her do away with you but that'll only worsen this situation."
After getting a quick promise from a reluctant Azami that she'll behave, Kaoru helped the other woman to her feet and let go. Kaoru didn't say anything else as she walked up to Sakura and inspected the cheek where Tomao had slapped her.
"Does it hurt?" Kaoru asked softly as she gently touched the other brunette's cheek. Sakura flinched as Kaoru's fingers made contact with her skin but responded. "No."
Kaoru nodded her head wordlessly. "You may need to put some ice on it to keep it from swelling. Although you'll have a slight bruise for a couple of hours." She advised Sakura.
Heaving a sigh, Kaoru turned her attention to the others. She crossed her arms and gave them a disapproving look.
"Even though I appreciate your support," She said to Azami, Okiko and Sakura, giving them a small smile in which they responded with one of their own. "I don't want all of you to get involved as this is a matter between me and Tomao-san."
Turning her gaze towards Tomao, Kaoru's frown reappeared. "What you did was unfair and low Tomao." Her frown shaped to a smirk as she continued. "But then again, I wouldn't expect less from someone who ties her obi up front." (1)
Tomao let out a horrified gasp before she glared at a blanked-face Kaoru. Behind her, Kaoru could hear someone who she presumed was Azami trying unsuccessfully to hold her snicker.
Tomao snapped her mouth shut and straightened her spine so much that her chest puffed out, making her look like a ruffled hen with her tan kimono in Kaoru's opinion and judging from the continued snickering, Kaoru wasn't the only one who thought so too.
"Well, I've never!" Tomao huffed, her mind couldn't think of anything else to retort. A quick flick of her wrist snapped her fan open and Tomao bumped harshly her raised elbow on Kaoru's side as she walked past her.
Moments later, a hard slam of the door echoed in the hall. Tomao had left the room.
X-x-X-x-X
The late afternoon sun was starting to lose it's harsh glare as night began to take over the day.
"Captain, we have received orders from the Boss. We are to take down the first ship heading for Yokohoma today."
A gust of sea wind blew the young man's long jet black hair as he turned to face the messenger. One amber eye peered at the older man in front of him, the other hidden by the black patch that covered his right eye.
"Every well then, tell the rest of the crew to ready the cannon and rile themselves up for a fight."
"Captain!" Another voice from up above interrupted the young man. "Trader ship ahead at starboard side! Should we move in for an attack?"
Both the captain and his ship mate glanced at the direction the man from above was pointing at. Indeed, an unknown ship was making it's way towards them for Yokohoma.
But not while he's around, the young man thought.
"Gather the crew and ready the cannon. It looks like we got ourselves a big one this time." The young captain bellowed.
Shouts of cheers erupted on the deck as every member hurried to follow their captain's orders.
Smirking, the young man focused his gaze on the incoming ship. His hand was poised on the hilt of his sword, the ends of his blood red bandana cascading behind him.
X-x-X-x-X
Meanwhile, a phone rang in a particular house. After a series of continuous rings, a gloved hand picked up the receiver.
"Yes? Who is this?" asked the butler, the phone's hearing piece pressed against his ear.
For a while, the gray-haired servant listened to the voice from the other end, occasionally nodding his head and murmuring "Yes" as he did so.
Soon, the servant hanged up the phone and turned to face the head maid of the dwelling. "Kindly write down the message that Sir Sukenami requests for an audience with Lord Makoto this evening."
X-x-X-x-X
Sukenami growled as he slammed the phone down, not caring if he had damaged the semi-fragile machine with his manhandling.
A deep frown etched on his face, Sukenami got to his feet and grabbed his suit jacket and put it on as he walked out of his study.
He needed something to take his mind off of his frustrations but he couldn't go to the Sakura Petals yet.
He didn't want to have Mizumi see this side of his personality. He didn't want her afraid of him.
He will just have to give her present to her some other time.
X-x-X-x-X
The loud squawks belonging to a flock of seagulls disrupted the comfortable silence between Kenshin and Nadashiro. Both glanced up at the darkening sky and saw that the birds were in disarray as if they were hurrying to hide from something that frightened them.
The reason was soon apparent as suddenly a trail of black smoke appeared in the distance. As it got closer, they saw that it was another ship except it had a flag with the international sign of…
"Pirates ahead Captain!" Kiro's voice bellowed throughout the deck.
"Shift courses and ready your weapons!" Nadashiro shouted as his men hurried to follow his orders.
Tossing Kenshin a glance, his eyes were a harsh grey as he said.
"Brace yourself Himura. This could get ugly."
Kenshin didn't need to be told twice. The swordsman clenched the hilt of his sakabatou as he stared at the incoming ship with swirling golden eyes.
It seems that his reunion with Kaoru will take a while longer than he had hoped for.
X-x-X-x-X
Lord Makoto twirled the wine glass in an almost obvious state of boredom. Yet, Tokito knew from years of being in his company that the handsome man was thinking deeply.
Makoto closed his eyes for a moment, as if gathering up his thoughts, before he opened them and cast his lime green gaze in Tokito's direction.
"You better not be lying to me Kirei-san." His smooth voice sending frightening yet delightful shivers up the slightly older woman's spine.
Tokito gave her most charismatic smile that had beguiled hundreds of men in her prime and continued to do so even after she had retired.
Yet, however much she tried, Tokito couldn't hold the attention of the younger man sitting before her for longer than a moment. Today, however, she had managed to obtain it but not for the reasons that she would have want.
"You know that I never lie to you, Nicholas." She replied, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at the man. "And call me Tokito."
Makoto smirked and leaned back on his chair. The locks of his blonde hair framing his angular face as he did so, giving him a more youthful appearance than the thirty year old he truly is.
His lime green gaze settled on her face, pondering to see if she was lying to him or not. Tokito unconsciously fidgeted at his scorching stare and let out an unknowingly relieved sigh when he finally turned his gaze away.
"Alright then Kirei-san, I will trust your word. However, if I find out that you're lying to me, I promise you that you will not like the consequences."
Tokito smiled mischievously. "My sources are very reliable Nicholas. I wouldn't tell you this if I wasn't sure that it's true."
Makoto sighed heavily and drank the last of his wine. "Very well then. You may leave."
"As you wish Nicholas." Tokito smiled and got up to her feet, taking extra care to prevent the folds of her brilliant green kimono from crumpling.
"Oh and one more thing, Kirei-san."
"What is it?" Tokito craned her neck towards Makoto.
"Don't call me Nicholas. Only she can call me that." Makoto answered, his gaze on the now-empty glass of wine he held in his hand, as if admiring it's expensive crystalline design.
X-x-X-x-X
"What will you do now Mizumi-san?" Kiara asked Kaoru as she helped the young woman get dressed in a sophisticated green gem kimono with bronze leaf designs that matched well with the light brown under robe.
Yuri was the one tying the ends of Kaoru's golden green obi. Giving the last knot one hard pull, Yuri smiled as the obi continued to remain in place.
"That should do it." Yuri nodded her head.
Kaoru studied herself in the full-length mirror. She turned slightly to the left and to the right before she was finally satisfied with how she looked. The green and amber yellow jeweled-sticks pinning her gossamer-black hair gleamed in the light of the late afternoon sun.
"Thank you Kiara, Yuri." Kaoru said, a smile adorned on her painted lips as craned her powdered neck to look at the two maids.
Kiara blushed while Yuri tried her best to look unaffected. Both were taken back at the sapphire-eyed woman's loveliness.
Mizumi, or rather Kaoru, was beautiful indeed without the makeup but today, she seemed almost ethereal with her white powdered face and kohl-lined sapphire eyes that were accentuated with the red paint of her pouty and kissable lips.
"To answer your question, Kiara. There's nothing else I can do that will solve my current problem. But, now, at least I have the knowledge that Reiko-sama is already in doubt of Tomao's accusations since she gave me the task of greeting the guests for the rest of the day rather than having me mop up the kitchen."
Kaoru imagined herself getting down on her knees and scrubbing the floor while still in her kimono and laughed softly at the picture she would have made.
Kiara and Yuri exchanged confused and worried glances. They feared that today's events had somehow made their charge start to lose her mind.
X-x-X-x-X
Sukenami glanced out the window of his carriage just as the sky began to turn an orange color, indicating that the sun had started to set. He was both glad and a bit irritated that Lord Makoto had requested to postpone the meeting for another time.
Turning his gaze to the wrapped present he cradled in his lap, Sukenami's eyes softened a bit as a smile worked it's way up to his lips.
At least he would get to see Mizumi tonight.
To be continued
Sapphire: Finally I'm done! Whew! Would you guys believe that this chapter has been writing for the past two months and I've only just finished the last part? I was to busy with projects and the like. (Sighs) But at least I've finished neh?
Anyways, as you may know, the plot twists are just getting started. Hohoho! (smirks) What do you think of my new characters? Bet you're wondering who some of them are and what relation do they have in the story, am I right? Also, Shura seems to have returned but what role does she play? Hmm…Well you'll just have to find out. Hohohoh!
On a side note, I've noticed that I've been neglecting poor Kenny which just won't do. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. So next chapter's probably will focus more on the rest of the Kenshingumi and not just Kaoru.
Another note, don't you think Nicholas is just so hot? If you still can't imagine him, imagine Nakago from Fushigi Yuugi except with shorter hair and lime green eyes. (drools). And the 'captain'…well I don't have a name yet for him but I will next chapter.
All in all, I'm very much satisfied with this chapter. My only consolation is that I don't know how to make Kaoru get back at Tomao…Hmm…Any suggestions people?
Daemon: Well you can always have Kaoru push her off a steep cliff overlooking the ocean.
Sapphire: (thinks deeply) Nah, too bloodthirsty for me.
Daemon: (rolls eyes) What's so bloodthirsty about that? Kaoru pushes, Tomao falls down and cracks her skull and gets her flesh eaten by sharks and her bones eaten by algae and planktons at the bottom of the sea.
Sapphire: (sweatdrops) Oh…Okay? Remind me not to let you watch those National Geographic shows with me.
Note:
(1) An obi tied at the front usually indicates that the woman is a prostitute so it's pretty much an insult to a geisha as there's a difference between the two. Do I make myself clear?
Well, I have to go now. Tune in for the next installment of "Undercover Geisha". Rock On! Oh, and if you could press the purple button below and review, I would very much appreciate your insights. (smiles)