"PLEASE welcome, geisha yua!!", okā-san announced.

claps were heard as all eyes were on the incoming geisha. yua smiled. she wore a black kimono with many leafy patterns. tied back with a red and gold obi, she took out her wooden fan and bowed.

chisaki, kurono, irinaka, and the 8 precepts of death silently watched the geisha prepare for her dance.

yua elegantly kneeled on the floor, waiting for the music to start. the shamisen player strummed the three-stringed instrument, letting yua know that she can start.

yua waved her hand around, slowly standing up. twirling around in her tight kimono, she covered her face with the wooden fan.

her red lips lifted up into a smile, yet one would not be able to tell, as they could only see her eyes.

yua's eyes.

they were of a normal coffee brown. yet they held such confidence, such certainty. and no matter how reserved the kimono was, yua had a seductive and charming aura.

ending her dance, claps were heard once again. yua bowed and sat beside chisaki and kurono.

chisaki kai was a well-known daimyo. he led many samurais and owned plenty of land. he was one of the most important daimyos, but was right under shigaraki tomura, the shogun.

"welcome back, chisaki-sama". yua poured sake into his cup, then proceeding to pour some into kurono's and irinaka's.

a maiko was pouring for the 8 precepts of death, minus one. sakaki had his own bottles of sake, as he was a major alcoholic.

"how've you been, yua?", kurono asked. he watched as the girl smiled.

"I've been quite well. we have a new person coming in soon, and I'll be training him to become a proper geisha", yua answered. "and you?"

"him?" irinaka raised a brow. he didn't know men could be geishas too.

"indeed. I heard he was abandoned, and since he's quite small and skinny, okā-san decided to give him a chance".

chisaki lifted up his cup, taking off his mask and downing the sake. once he was finished with the drink, he hastily put his masks back on.

"rough day?", yua asked.

chisaki glanced at the girl beside him. she knew of their goal, their ambition. and she supported it. whether it be because she truly believed so, or because she like chisaki, she supported the cause.

she supported him.

"leave", chisaki vaguely commanded.

all of the 8 precepts of death, irinaka, kurono, and even the maiko got up to leave. leaving only yua with chisaki.

yua was used to it. she enjoyed spending her alone time with chisaki, despite him not knowing.

chisaki took off his bird mask, leaving him with his normal black surgical mask. yua smiled, she appreciated chisaki's trust.

there were rarely anyone that got to see chisaki without his bird mask, much less his face.

yua patted her lap, to which chisaki laid down on. he closed his eyes and sighed.

usually geishas would be more reserved, and not as intimate with their customers. but since chisaki was her danna, she was allowed to give him special treatment.

yua combed through chisaki's brown hair, relaxing his head. he then turned his face towards the ceiling. opening his eyes, chisaki's golden hues looked at yua.

"I need you to take care of my child", chisaki said.

yua momentarily stopped combing through chisaki's hair. she didn't know he had a child. or maybe a wife.

but then again, it wasn't unusual for men to visit the tea house even if they did have a spouse.

"she's not my biological child. just my adopted daughter", chisaki said, as if sensing yua's uneasiness.

"hm~ how old is she?"

"6. her name is eri", chisaki answered. "I need you to teach her how to be the next best geisha".

"so my disciple, after I'm gone", yua lightly chuckled. she always found it funny how one day, she was going to be old and ugly.

and by then, no one would gaze at her lovingly anymore. she might as well pass her legacy onto a new person. a young, growing child.

"don't talk like that", chisaki scowled. he hated when yua talked about leaving. he liked having her here. maybe because he knew that whenever he needed her, she'd always be here waiting to greet him with a smile.

"my apologies, chisaki-sama".

"I thought I told you to call me kai when we're alone".

"right. my apologies then, kai".

"so, will you take on the task?", chisaki asked.

"of course. your wish is my command", yua joked. although at times, she really meant it.

"what do you want in return?"

"must I always want something in return?", yua teased, running her slim fingers down to chisaki's face. usually, chisaki would've slapped that person's hand away, but he knew yua's hands were clean, and pure.

"any new kimonos or hair accessories you want?"

yua thought for a moment. she had many kimonos and hair accessories, as chisaki always brought her many gifts.

"perhaps a ring?"

"hm. what about a new parasol?"

"sure", yua answered. she continued to gently caress chisaki's face, letting him lie in comfort and fall asleep in peace.

it didn't matter how long he slept, as he'd always be able to pay the price after his long stay.

once chisaki's breathing steadied, yua smiled. she leaned down, but then stopped herself. she sat back up as she internally sighed.

she was a professional geisha. and when she had on her makeup, she was a perfect doll with no emotions or flaws.

'keep it together, yua'.

╭─────────────────╮
価値がある
╰─────────────────╯