lil_squirter
The Nerd Empress
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2006
- Posts
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The House of Falling Blossoms
Chapter One: Tea and meetings.
The hanamachi was small, for towns without the draw and appeal of larger cities there was no need for a large flower town. The hanamachi sat near the center of the city, cobbled streets wound around the tall ramshackle buildings, each with it's central courtyard and small well manicured garden. There was not an excessive number of okyia, small but well appointed, the training houses ran the gamut of the latest in the fashion and trends of the 1920's to the more traditional and elegant establishments. The House of Falling Blossoms was the latter, as steeped in the age old tradition of Geisha as the walls were in lacquer.
Only two true Geisha resided in the house, four younger girls still aspired to the status one day. One of the Miako was a small girl, coltish legs still maturing with the shape of womanly curve. She had matured slowly but not unkindly, her face held the roundness of innocence while her form had begun to bloom as her Geisha and Miako sisters around her.
The young girl was Sakura, the cheery blossom, ever as delicate and fleeting as her namesake. She had been renamed once she became Miako, a symbol of her old life, her family and all she knew being left behind in the study of the Geisha arts. Sakura was a quick study, often peering through the slatted walls of the okyia to watch the others train or entertain for tea. Most social settings were done outside the okyia but for simple tea and to introduce the patrons to the new Geisha and Miako monthly teas were held at the House.
Sakura studied diligently, from gesture to gesture to learn the intricate dances and fan motions expected in the show that was Geisha. Truly they were artists, trained and groomed to be the finest social company any man could wish at his side. For the right price a lovely skilled artisan would be your attentive companion for as long as the incense burned.
This was the life she aspired to, Sakura, the Cherry Blossom. Akane swatted her hand lightly and snapped Sakura's wandering attention back to the table set before her. The House Mistress was not tolerant of the younger girls day dreams, she had only a head for teaching and promoting her girls. Her anger was the same brilliant red as her lips, as so her name which meant the same shade.
"Pay attention, this is to be your day to serve tea and I will not have the House disgraced by mistakes."
Once more Akane displayed the proper technique for picking up the pot and pouring the tea, each step, each motion a carefully crafted play. Every move of wrist and tilt of head a choreographed show for those attending the tea. Geisha were to move as grace incarnate, there was no such thing as a graceful error. Sakura nodded with a repeated dip of her head to Akane and mimicked her motions, slowly, porcelain fingers reached for and lifted the kettle. Fingers of her free hand pinned her sleeve to her wrist while she stretched to pour. Only hints and suggestions of skin were to be shown, more then that was not allowed. Cup to cup with a bowed head for each she poured the tea around the table and back. Dainty fingers set the pot down and she returned to rest her backside on her heels.
Akane watched the progress with an eagles eye, the girl was learning, rarely having to be corrected more then once before she grasped things. She might never be the most skilled Geisha, but she was bright and witty and hard working, she would do well over time. Akane hoped she would do well soon, as she would surely need to start making social rounds very shortly. Then her true training would begin, it would not be long before the little cherry blossom was Geisha.