Yoshiwara

by Eve Kaan

  My eyes are filling with tears. Of course, she didn't want to make love to me when she's obviously having fun with them - apparently every day. I was in anticipation, and hardly could wait for our encounter, but she doesn't care. My hopes were that she would have wanted to see me as well. After all, I came just to see her...

  'Uta, stop!!!' She ordered in a high tone, now standing in the corridor, behind my back. My body refuses obedience, I would turn around, but I'm paralyzed.

  'Respected lady I didn't want to interrupt you. They sent me to you. I just came for the kimono.'

  'Your arrival was expected, I told Madam to send you to me. We need to talk - I have a job for you.' My tears have to be held in. It's necessary to stay composed - I don't want to be seen so miserable. Of course, it's about some job, she will sell me again to someone, surely. I lived in illusions - Utano was right. She is the Respected lady.

  'I'll be waiting for you in my quarters, Uta.' I heard her turning and walking away. Well, I need to stay strong - I am Uta now.

  After a few moments, I went to the room where we ate breakfast previously. She's sitting only in yukata, and those two, I don't even know what to call them, are also dressed inappropriately - standing right beside me at the door. 'Uta, allow me to introduce you to my two cousins I've been telling you about. These are Gina and Nori. I believe you remember them from the ceremony? They were disguised as debutants - because of client checking...' Ohh, they are her cousins?!! And they are the same girls I saw with her back then. I found myself in a temptation to instantly run away due to the shame I felt.

  'N-nice to meet you, I am Uta.' I made introductions with Gina and Nori, and they immediately glanced at me all over. Checking my figure - in measuring manner. Gina turned to Rin with mischievous smile posted on her lips, 'Excuse us, we have to dress and make ourselves ready for the arrival of girls we are expecting.' Rin and I stayed alone. I felt my posture being awkward, almost as if in nervous demeanor.

  'Your kimono will arrive soon. I thought you would come past noon. Accept my apologies for the condition you found me in. It was hot in the carriage - otherwise, I wouldn't use these pools here, but I had to refresh – the heat was unbearable.' Rin spoke with a warm smile, offering me a seat at the table. She mentioned the job on the corridor, I don't want to be sold.

  'Respected lady, it wasn't intended, in fact, I wasn't planning to come so early, but later on, I have some other obligations. You mentioned... on the corridor - it was an inopportune moment - that job...' I was all nervous. Fortunately, she cut me off before I became bewildered.

  'Yes I mentioned the job, but first, I would like to know how you are feeling - I mean, about the injured cheek? I see the swelling is gone, but some strange redness is still present...' She asked with a worried expression. Oh, It's not that I overdid with my make up, is it... how embarrassing. She will think that I have no taste. Maybe she's asking me this just because of my work, and how will she be able to sell me with that cheek.

  'I'm fine, my swelling has completely dwindled.' I said all in a melancholy state like holding something on my chest, which can't get out of my body. I feel crushed.

  'Uta, did something happen to you? You are very quiet.' She was talking while approaching me from the other side of the table. Then she sat down beside me and stared at my face with concern. I will be sold, now I'm sure of it. That's why she approached me. To check the tone of my cheek. I don't have the strength to look at her, and a wave of heat came to my eyes. I can't allow tears to myself, that would be so embarrassing. She doesn't have the same feelings as me - otherwise, she wouldn't do that to me...

  'Is it because of your Mother? You can tell me, Uta. Did she accuse you of not earning her enough golden coins? We sent her a generous sum for everything you've suffered.' The theme started with Mother and my earnings. I knew it! In fact, I don't care what is going to be with me. And the realization that she has no need to be the woman who will hold me in her own arms hearts deeply. The only choice left for me is to hear her plans so I can leave to release every tear, I'm holding in right now, out of my body.

  My voice began to tremble. 'Everything is alright. Tell me please what kind of job you have? Did you find a lady to whom I will be sold?'

  'Uta, it's about the meeting of Yoshiwara's owners, a business night. We are discussing important issues of further business and collaboration. Our part of Yoshiwara takes five girls to the event, this is a common practice. And for the circumstances of your situation, it seems convenient for you to be there with us.' This confused me completely - leaving me speechless. It's not only that she wants to sell me... am I this desperate, so she would give me to anybody, even if my bidder is a man.

  'But the clients there are men!?' I said distraughtly.

  'Uta,' she laughed, 'it is not that kind of event. Girls just entertain the guests with their arts, without any physical contact.' She got up and lited a cigarette at the window. 'Mother will be paid for your job, not much, but it's still something. I don't know anything about the tips.' Oh, what a relief. For a moment I thought... Well, it's better for me just not to think anymore.

  'Thank you for the opportunity. Mother will be satisfied.' Finally, I relaxed the facial muscles, showing a small smile.

  'Event is in three days, and by then, you should practice choreographies with other girls. It is our practice for the girls to stay in the Great House during their preparations, they must focus solely on the job.' She made a step toward the window and then turned around, which caused her leg to get out of the robe for a moment - enough for me to see her bare skin. Her leg is long with elongated muscles, on which the silk glided along the smooth surface. I felt pleasure overtaking my senses. She exhaled the smoke, completely relaxed, and continued with speaking. 'It's a mistake on my part for not telling you earlier about this. The other girls are coming right now, but you said you have some duties today.' Then the percussion sound was heard from the corridor and window where she stood. 'That must be the girls,' she commented the sound, 'beginning with the preparations. It would be good if you could come back with your things tonight.' How could I lie, nothing is waiting for my attention back home. Now I will only be able to come back tonight, instead of spending the whole day here. 'I will send a carriage for you right after dinner if that suits you?' I couldn't concentrate on the words as I should. Her naked skin spurred the images in my mind. Haze scene of her in the pool. It has to stop. I'm really inappropriate. Well, now I'm trying to make other thoughts come in my head to chase these erotic ones out. I don't understand why any girl agrees to such an arrangement. This is actually a big loss of gold for each of Yoshiwara's houses. Maybe they are young debutants who don't have intimacy with the clients anyways. Although, I have never been invited to such an event. Despite my diverted attention, in the background was still the episode from the pool. This is a chance to be near her for three days. I have to disguise my emerging smile that starts to shine on my face, and be careful not to show too much happiness - it would leave her thinking that I'm overreacting over just some minor event.

  'Of course it suites me, I'll be ready - waiting.' I spoke a sentence quickly and with much excitement. Trying to hide delight behind a restrained smile.

  Madam appeared at the door with kimono from the tailor's parlour.

  'My kimono.' I said all delighted.

  'Do you want to try it? Looks like a new one, they've done a good job. No rip can be recognized.' She tossed her cigarette with the same look she had that evening. Her yukata obi loosened just enough to show a little bit of her chest area. I caught myself gazing in trans at her almost uncovered intimate part. Her strained breasts are visible through the fabric that is partially covering them. Now the image of her body in the pool, when I found her almost naked, was becoming very clear in my mind. I couldn't stop the incoming scenes from under that robe in the familiarity of what I have seen before. Round, firm breasts with slippery drops of water on the skin. 'Here you go.' She bent down to give me my kimono, but then
I could almost see it all, which caused my whole body to awake. I squeezed the kimono and quickly averted my eyes. Oh, I never felt so vulgar with anyone before.

  ✽✽✽

  Rin

  'It's excellent, thank you. Of course, I want to try it.' Uta said while spreading the kimono through her fingers. Her gaze was enthralled in the fabric until a lock of her hair detached from the rest of neatly tied bun and slipped onto her neck. I didn't know that such a thing could be this sensual. While leading her to the room next door which contains some paravanes for changing, the music became very loud, so instead of talking, I directed her to one of them at the bottom of the room with my hand. In an attempt to step out, I turned to her direction one more time. She stood laterally behind the wooden panels and already started to strip - I noticed through the gap between the two wooden frames. The sound of flute joined the percussion. Kimono slid down from her shoulders revealing what I had already seen. Human lust is so strange. Even though my memory of the shape of her breasts is alive, I still couldn't stop watching. I'm yearning to go behind and press my lips to the soft part of her which I'm already feeling in my mind. Quietly I closed the door, treating her that way is just wrong - stalking her while heat is overwhelming me...

  It didn't take her long to get changed, I heard her as she was returning to my quarters.

  She was all nervous when she came so early today. I wonder if I'm causing her state as a person or as Yoshiwaras owner? That's not all of what I'm wondering about. She had a restraint reaction when I told her about the dance. No one can be restrained when they find out what kind of event they will be participating in. For of the invitation to such a night, each house from which the girl comes prepares a little feast before sending her off, it's a great honor - I'm just not sure Uta knows that. How could she when she's still young. Obviously no night lady was ever invited from her home - otherwise, she would be shaken out of joy as any other girl. Thinking of our conversation I remembered her trembling voice when she first asked about the job. Maybe she has trauma from that old crone, or she doesn't want to be sold to a woman for whom her heart doesn't beat, despite the golden coins. I was tempted to ask her, but I mustn't make a mistake, it has to be subtly questioned one day. Although I could barely restrain myself not to kiss her, it made me want to keep her in cluelessness just so I could enjoy that cute expression some more when she asked about men all in distress. I did find that really irresistible as much as her appearance right now in front of me wearing that marvelous kimono.

  ✽✽✽

  Uta

  'This kimono suits you wonderfully!' Rin smoked at the window again. I'm grateful. Indeed it was patched without objection. 'Certainly, you must go, you said you have a duty to attend to.' With a cigarette in her hand, she escorted me to the door. I stepped over the threshold when I felt the touch on my shoulder. 'Uta.' She gently said. I turned to her and glanced in the direction of her eyes which were directed to my lips. 'Please kiss me,' I thought. 'You forgot the kimono you took off.' I stepped back into the room again to fetch it while she waited patiently, but the energy between us... that tension – it isn't all just my imagination, that's impossible. I decided to give her more time to realize my inner wishes, so my approaching dragged in slow movements. 'Close the door and come to me,' I whispered in my mind, but instead, she only presented me with a smile. I found myself standing on the other side of her ajar left doors in a blink of an eye.

  I got back home in fervour.

  Hanna was in the lobby, so I greeted her in passing and hurriedly climbed the stairs. 'Where are you going in such hurry, Uta?' She yelled after me. Kaoru hasn't returned yet, and I don't see Utano and Mother anywhere. This is the perfect opportunity to return that borrowed kimono. It was all done in a few moments.

  I came back downstairs, Hana was absent, being on some client's estate for some time now and we didn't see each other for days, 'Hana! How was it? You were there for so long that we began to miss you.' She took me to the garden porch so we could have our tea there, and in the meantime she already began her story, answering on my previous questions, 'Oh Uta, well, it was all right - I guess. I received a great tip, but I earned it as well. Now I need at least a week's long rest,' now she was talking from the kitchen through an opened doors, 'the husband of our client has been absent for ten days. Some trader, maybe it's rice or spices - I'm not sure.' The boiling water from the kitchen can be heard. 'It was... you wouldn't believe it, a feast from dusk till down - night work included of course. Eight of us that were invited were felling from our feet of tiredness. So many different women passed through there -' she paused in search of the right words, '...well, probably almost all the clients that are visiting our part of Yoshiwara went through that house. I can't believe that someone as wealthy as her can be such a cheapskate. She invited only eight of us when there was work for twenty girls at least - on the other hand, a positive side to this kind of treatment is that we earned a lot more than either of us usually would, but none of the tips come from her, can you believe it, not a single coin.' Hana approached me with the tea.

  'All sorts of women are out there.' I'm trying to keep up with our conversation, although my thoughts are constantly drifting to Rin.

  She continued, 'Oh, wait until you hear about the food, I can't even think of it - you wouldn't believe... Listen to this Uta. She forbade us to eat sushi. Allegedly there wouldn't be enough left for her guests. What, are we that fat or something, so we would eat all of her sushi. What a cheapskate!' Hana stood next to me, enthralled in her story 'She didn't even change our bedding. Disgusting! I mean, I don't really mind it all that much, they all used me in that bed anyway, but what about her friends - she could change the sheets so they wouldn't have to sleep in each other's juices. I don't understand, Uta. So much gold and luxury, and then that malediction...' She sipped some of her tea. 'Look at this Kaoru's lady friend, she is certainly less wealthy from the one I'm talking about, yet she still lavishes Kaoru with expensive gifts - and I don't even have to start about the decency difference.'

  I have to show interest in this conversation, 'Yes, yes, Kaoru has luck. She hopes to fell under a matronage.'

  Hana laughed. 'Oh, what matronage?! At least, that's her claim - after what happened today... Kaoru left in tears.'

  Now I was really interested. 'Kaoru was home? What happened?'

  She lowered her cup and took a deep breath. 'Well, that lady of her's brought them here with the carriage to pick up some kimono she had ordered especially for Kaoru so she could take her out on lunch in it.

  'Which kimono?'

  She shrugged her shoulders. 'I don't know, I guess some in dark red colour. She searched everywhere, but the kimono just vanished. In the end, she wore some other one and said that her lady would think that she sold it.'

  It's the kimono I wore. Poor Kaoru what did I do to her. 'I feel sorry for Kaoru.' With all my honesty I said.

  Hana shook her head in disapproval. 'Come on Uta, as if you don't know her. She's always exaggerating. Well, her lady will certainly not give up because of one meaningless kimono, that is if she really plans to become her matron.' I've made a real mess, but hopefully, everything will be fine with Kaoru - it's just some kimono, that wouldn't ruin her chances for sure. Hana looked at me. 'Come on Uta, don't pity her so much. It wasn't the only kimono she had bought her - actually, I think she made it all up, it's even possible that she didn't buy that kimono at all. Kaoru was just irritable, and she likes to show off as always.'

  This may even be true. Kaoru has tendencies to make a drama out of nothing, not to mention the propensity for false stories.

  'And Uta, listen to this, when we were leaving, she told us that we were great and that she will call us again.' I was confused for a moment until a realization struck me - she was back to her client. 'If you ask me, she could call till the end of time, but I wouldn't go there in a million annual cycles. I'm not some alley girl.' My attention was almost lost, Rin is waiting for me. Maybe she'll wear a
revealing yukata - I laughed sweetly. 'You're laughing at me Uta, you'll see how it is. Although, am I talking to a woman now? How was it, I want all the details? My ears are yours.'

  Indeed, she settled herself in a pose to listen carefully. 'I'm not a woman yet.'

  Her eyes filled with sadness. 'I'm sorry Uta.'

  'There is no reason for pity. I'm fine with the situation. It's not my fault, and certainly not my decision.'

  'That's right. It's not your decision. It will come.'

  I sighted making an impression like it bothered me and changed the subject. 'Where are Utano and Mother?' I have to tell them about the Great House somehow, and not be suspicious about it when I supposedly went to tailors parlour this morning.'

  'They mentioned some gold, and then went to Mother's room - still are there. They may be talking about the price at which Mother purchases shunga supplies. You know that Utano is spending time with some client who makes them.' Hana stood up. 'I'm going to rest. My body is exhausted.'

  She left me alone. So what are Utano and Mother doing so long? Utano needs to help me with packing, and borrow me a few kimonos from her collection.

  I'll go get them.

  Mother's room is the only one ton the ground floor. More precisely at the far end of the lobby, behind the kitchen and the reception room. When I raised my hand to knock on her door, I heard an extremely gentle voice. 'Utano, you are beautiful like a spring spell.' I lowered my hand without interrupting them. Whose voice is that? I don't quite know why I gave up on my previous intention. Suddenly the door cracked open, and Utano stood there. A shock was written all over her face when she saw me, in the background I could only see the Mother, and the rest of her room is empty.

  That was Mother's voice.

  Utano composed immediately then started with a joke. 'You already come back from the tailor's - so soon. It took you longer than the ceremony in all of its duration.' She is teasing me now. 'I guessed you met with Sayuri and had tea with her or something. You wanted to show off a little bit in your newly repaired kimono - I was exactly the same at your age.' She's acting like this whole situation is normal. Mother never spoke to anybody like it was the case with my sister.