by Zane
Aiko smiled as she handed the face paint to Takumi. She gently put each of her hands on a shoulder and guided her to the dressing table.
“I will put it on for you. Calm yourself, you are the best apprentice geisha here.”
Takumi was often praised by those she spent time with and was used to it.
“It is harder on you, Takumi, since you do not live with your mentor geisha. The owner of this teahouse is not a geisha. You have no one to learn from day in and day out. I heard Madam say that she was surprised at how well you are progressing.”
Takumi relaxed as her friend spoke to her. The circular motion of fingertips on her cheeks and neck was calming as well. Takumi stretched her head back and relaxed as the stress left her body. Aiko was right. She was doing everything she was supposed to do, everything she could do.
Aiko covered Takumi’s full lips with red lipstick and drew black accents around her eyes and eyebrows. Aiko also put a touch of red around the eyes. It was unusual for Aiko to be helping with the preparations to go out, but the madam had a teahouse to run and Takumi’s mentor geisha lived elsewhere. She preferred it this way. Aiko was good at what she did and seemed to be getting better every day.
Looking in the mirror confirmed Takumi’s thoughts. Aiko took pride in her work. Aiko started rubbing the white paste on Takumi’s chest. It felt so good. Little Aiko always knew what Takumi needed. The paste was made even with several strokes of a bamboo brush. The soft bristles heightened Takumi’s senses and caused her breasts to tighten. Her nipples poked out and enlarged. Aiko could see everything since Takumi was not yet dressed. Aiko whisked the brush over the engorged nipples. Takumi gasped.
Aiko rolled back the bench that Takumi was sitting on and looked into her eyes. “Do not move. Your makeup will mess up. We won’t have time to repair it, Takumi.”
“Of course I won’t move. I’ll just rest my eyes for a few moments until it is time to dress. Please come back in about fifteen minutes.”
Takumi let her eyes close and her mind drifted away. She heard the door close softly as Aiko departed.
Takumi’s mind rolled back to the day she had told her mother she was a lesbian. She still had the same wants and desires. Staying here had not changed that. If anything, it had enhanced her needs and wishes.
Her mother didn’t know that she’d never actually been with another female. She wanted it so badly. She dreamed of being held in another woman’s arms. She dreamed of kissing and touching and loving. It was ironic that she was here being trained as a geisha for men.
She saw more of the female form here than she ever would have back home. Alas, she had no hope of finding fulfillment here. These women were looking for a danna, someone to support them. Takumi was looking for no such thing.
Thinking of all of the female forms she had been privy to got Takumi excited. Her head tilted back slightly as she cupped her breasts in her hands and pushed them together. Her index fingers stretched out to twirl around her nipples. All of the blood in her body rushed into the tan mounds of flesh between her fingers. Her breasts felt heavy as she manipulated them. She loved grinding them together. She wanted so badly to take her nipple into her mouth and suck it hard. She loved flicking her small nipples with the tip of her tongue until they grew stiff. Her makeup made that task impossible.
Her fingertips ran down, beneath her breasts, to her hips. She drew circles with her palms around her stomach and belly button. She sucked on one finger, then circled her belly button once again.
Her thumbs flipped up, as she bent forward, to brush her nipples. Bending her hands back the other way, she traveled slowly over the flesh of her hips and the tops of her thighs. Mmmmmm, every nerve ending in her body was alert. Her thighs parted slightly and she ran her fingernails up and down her knees.
Soft moans escaped her lips. Her right hand cupped her curly, dark mound. The moisture beneath her palm only excited her more. Her pinkie finger and thumb entered her flesh at the same time. Her thumb was circling her clit as her pinkie darted in and out of her tunnel.
Too excited to slow down, Takumi made a rod with her four fingers and dipped them straight into her. Clear, slick dampness enclosed each of her fingers. She dipped up the succulence and lapped at it with her tongue. Oh, how she wished it were the wetness of another girl.
Another delving between her legs produced enough liquid to smear all over her nipples and in the valley between her breasts. She thought again of how she wanted to suck the drying mustiness from her skin. Takumi pulled her legs back and pointed her feet into the air.
She opened her eyes, for the first time, to gaze at herself in the mirror. Watching her image only made her that much more excited. She fixed her eyes upon the mirror…and saw Aiko, standing right behind her.
Her mouth fell open and she gaped at Aiko.
Before she could speak, Aiko rubbed the tops of her shoulders and reassured her in a soothing voice, “You are so beautiful, Takumi. Let me lick your luscious juices from your nipples. Let me dart my tongue deeply into your most inner parts. Let me make love to you. I wish to be your first.”
Takumi was astounded. She was also tense from the inevitable syrupy release that was soon to come. Her eyes rose up and looked into her friend’s eyes.
“Please, I would like that.”
Aiko removed the straps on her dress and it fell to the floor. She rubbed her own breasts together as Takumi watched in the mirror. Aiko bent her head forward and took her nipple into her delicate mouth.
Takumi ran the palm of her hand back and forth between her damp center and her own bursting breasts. Aiko was lighter-skinned than her, which made her nipples a creamy pink. Oh, how Takumi wished to taste those nipples between the folds of her tongue.
Aiko leisurely sucked her own nipple as she came around to stand in front of Takumi, who was still seated.
“Remember, Takumi, you cannot move, your makeup will be ruined.”
Aiko sat across Takumi’s knees and settled her mouth in front of the ashy, brown nipple. Takumi couldn’t believe what was happening. Her very first sexual experience was going to be with a woman whom she already cared about. Nothing could be more perfect.
Aiko’s teeth scraped just slightly across the tan flesh of Takumi’s right breast as she pulled a nipple into her mouth. Takumi clenched her pelvic muscles and felt a tingling ripple engulf her entire body. She reached for Aiko, but her hands were moved away.
“Takumi, you must remember your makeup.”
Aiko gently took Takumi’s hands and clasped them together beneath the bench as she pushed her into a horizontal position. She reached for a black, silk kimono belt and tied it firmly around Takumi’s hands.
“Now you shall not be tempted to ruin all of my hard work.”
Takumi felt more alive and aroused somehow knowing that she had no control whatsoever. She closed her eyes and delighted in the feel of the long, moist muscle making its way down past her ribs and into her belly button.
“Please, Aiko, let me feel your tongue between my legs. Lap at my juices and then kiss me.”
Her lover did not disappoint her. Her tongue stood out straighter and harder than any penis ever could have. It dove into the center of her being and caused her whole body to gasp as she rose up off the bench. Takumi knew that if her hands hadn’t been tied, holding her body to the bench, she would be on the ceiling at this very moment.
Takumi’s hips swayed to the rhythm of her lover’s lips. She felt her backside being pinched as every liquid in her entire body gushed out between her thighs. Stars, lightning, fireworks, nuclear explosions…nothing could describe the moment when she experienced her first real orgasm. It was nothing like when she masturbated; oh, God, it was so much more!
Just as she started to settle down, Aiko used her fingers to press Takumi’s lower lips together. One of her left fingers poked in toward Takumi’s clit as her right palm massaged her soft, curly mound. The sensation was so intense that her breath stayed inside her body
for at least a minute.
Aiko bit softly into Takumi’s inner thigh. Her rubbing became more rapid. The friction built higher and higher. The final release was an explosion of mountainous proportions. Takumi came three more times before Aiko untied her. Takumi couldn’t imagine a man ever making her feel this mixture of romance and lust combined.
4
IT WAS TIME TO dress and Takumi had only one hour to finish and make her way to Chika’s okiya. Aiko assisted her by putting a colorful orange kimono on her sated body. The seamstress had embroidered it with green, yellow, and brown leaves. Fall was coming to an end and this kimono was a perfect way to symbolize that.
Takumi placed the styled, black wig on her head that Madam had bought for her. On the way out the door she stepped into her flat-soled sandals and went on her way.
She stepped hurriedly knowing that Chika would be waiting. Chika had once been a singsong girl in Shanghai. Takumi hoped to hear one day about how she had come to be a geisha. The rumor was that her sponsor’s wife ordered her out of town and gave her a substantial amount of money to go. Chika was revered by most patrons. She was booked up for months in advance and was a regular at Madam’s teahouse. Takumi knew that Madam owed a great deal to Chika. Her weekly appearances at the teahouse meant more money.
As Takumi suspected, Chika was waiting by the door.
“Hurry, Takumi, we don’t have much time.”
They actually had several hours, but it would take most of that time to prepare Chika’s makeup, hair, and dress. Chika never wore wigs like some of the other girls. She always had her own hair braided before entertaining. It was getting harder and harder to find a hairdresser who was qualified and did not mind traveling to the okiya.
Takumi did none of the actual preparations for Chika; she didn’t know the ways well enough. Chika demanded that she be there, beginning to end, regardless. Takumi sat in a corner as Chika was getting her hair braided.
The feel of Aiko’s hands on Takumi’s waist had been breathtaking. The mouth that had suckled Takumi’s nipple was soft and gentle. The tongue that entered her hole had been magnificent. The way Aiko held on to her clit with her teeth was unbearably erotic. The orgasm that exploded from Takumi had been volatile.
Takumi couldn’t stop thinking of her time with Aiko. It had been way too short. She was looking forward to more private time with her new lover.
The snap of Chika’s fingers brought Takumi back to reality. She brought a hand mirror, as requested, and glided back over to the corner. The next few hours were spent dancing with Chika, pouring tea, and smiling at unsuspecting patrons. None of them knew who she was inside. None of them knew what she wanted.
She made it through the endless entertaining only because she was so well trained. She could flip the sleeve of her kimono to show her wrist without batting an eye. She could dance and play instruments while she dreamed of lying with Aiko once more.
At the end of the evening Chika asked where her mind had been, but Takumi just smiled and feigned exhaustion. Chika sent her home to rest and went inside to retire. Takumi knew that Chika was not merely being nice; she was meeting a friend down by the water. Takumi wished her luck and happiness. She thought everyone should have someone to love.
Madam offered to help Takumi undress, but Aiko appeared and Madam went off to chat with a patron. Takumi, with the assistance of Aiko, undressed slowly and carefully. Aiko folded the kimono and placed the wig and sandals where they went.
Takumi understood that they had the entire evening ahead of them, but what about tomorrow? What about next week? Next month? Aiko shushed her questioning look by putting her finger upon Takumi’s lips and lightly kissing her cheek.
“I love you, Takumi. I always have and I always will.”
Looking into Aiko’s eyes gave Takumi strength. She knew for certain that Aiko did love her. Takumi loved her also. They’d started out as friends and now they were lovers. She was so glad that Aiko had made the first move.
“Come with me, my love. I want to show you something.”
The two girls slipped out of the okiya in nightclothes.
“What if we’re caught, Aiko? Surely Madam will beat the both of us.”
“We aren’t going far. Hold my hand and stay close to me.”
They only snuck past a few houses before Aiko stood still. She looked all around her, then tiptoed toward an old building. Many years ago it had been some sort of religious building.
“This is it. Remember, don’t let go of my hand.”
She led Takumi up the stone steps and opened the old wooden doors that squeaked from nonuse.
“We’ll stay here tonight.”
“Stay? Here? We can’t. Madam will kill us when she finds out we left the okiya. We have to get back. My mother will kill me. I can’t dishonor her.”
“Trust me.”
It was hard but Takumi agreed to trust her friend and lover.
“We have to shut and latch these doors.”
The two girls huddled together and fell asleep on a rough, splintered bench close to the main entrance.
5
THE SUN HAD NOT come up when Takumi awoke. “Aiko, we slept too long. We must hurry and get home before Madam wakes up. Please, Aiko, hurry.”
“Takumi, there’s no need to rush. Unlatch the wooden doors and pull them open.”
There was one short moment of dread, but Takumi had no choice but to obey. She’d put all of her faith in her dear friend and didn’t want to lose that special feeling.
Her entire body struggled against the doors. She didn’t remember their being so strong and sturdy the night before. By the time they were fully open and latched to the inside walls, the sun had risen.
“What…what is that? I don’t understand, Aiko. I see the clouds with the beautiful sunshine sending rays around the edges. That’s all I see. Where are the streets and the okiyas that litter every space of our town?”
Aiko smiled. “This is our special place, Takumi. My grandmother told me stories about this magical building when I was little. I wasn’t sure until this very moment that the legends were true.”
“What legends? I’m so confused.”
“The legend of love, Takumi. It is said that any two people who stop over here to sleep will wake up to a fantasyland. It only works if the couple are truly in love. We can stay here as long as we like. Time means nothing here. If we played with one another for ten years and went back, it would still be the same night that we left. In fact, mere minutes would have passed.”
“You mean it’s up to us? How long we live and love…we have control over it all?”
“Yes, love, that’s it exactly. Who would have thought something like this existed in modern-day Japan?”
“Not me, but I love it, and most especially—I love you.”
The two women pressed their lips together. The kiss was soft at first but soon became much more demanding.
They dreamed separately but the events were the same, the two of them together, forever—a future where they lived and breathed the fragrance of a lover.
The women fell asleep and woke to an orange and pink sunrise.
“Time to get back, Takumi. We both have commitments today.”
“If I had my druthers, we’d stay here forever and never return.”
“Takumi? Where is that girl? Takumi? Aiko, please go find Takumi. She has a visitor she needs to prepare for.”
“Yes, Madam. Should I tell her who is calling?”
“I’ve set up an appointment with a prospective danna. Tell her she has about three hours, so she should start getting ready now. You help her.”
“On my way, Madam.”
Aiko hurried down the hall as fast as she could without getting yelled at. Takumi was practicing her fan dance outside when she found her.
“Takumi, we have to get you ready for a client. We must hurry. It sounds like he may be an impatient man. Madam usually gives us all morning to prepare you, but she says you only hav
e three hours and…and…”
The words that had previously fallen from Aiko’s mouth had turned to tears. Wracking sobs erupted from her chest, and soon Aiko was in such a state that Takumi was worried. “Aiko, what’s wrong? I’ll be ready, don’t worry. You’re an amazing makeup artist. There’s no better in all of Japan.”
“It’s, it’s not that, Takumi. Madam Oy has advertised you as a full-fledged geisha. There is a prospective danna on his way now. He is coming all the way from Tokyo. I heard one of the other girls talking about him. He’s very old and likes young girl geishas.” Aiko continued weeping into her hands.
“I’ve been out with prospective dannas before, Aiko. I always manage to turn them away from me. Why would this man be any different?”
“I can’t explain it, Takumi. I have a feeling that both of our lives are about to change, and not for the better. Go away with me. We can go to the old building and stay. I don’t want you going out with this particular man. Please, Takumi.”
Takumi pondered the insane request. It puzzled her that Aiko would ask such a thing of her. “I’d like for you to help me prepare, Aiko.”
“I won’t do it, Takumi. Find someone else to whore you up for the pleasure of the old goat—I refuse.”
Takumi watched, flabbergasted, as Aiko ran down the hall and out the side door of the okiya.
Sendai was the only girl in the whole okiya who wasn’t busy, so Takumi had her assist with preparations. She had to put her makeup on, fix her hair, and try to knot the kimono with literally no help. There was no way she’d be ready in three hours.
Takumi had Sendai hand her the lotions and powders she needed to get started. It didn’t help that both girls needed glasses and didn’t wear them. Geishas were thought to be the epitome of the perfect Japanese female. How would that translate into eyeglasses?
The lotion that should have gone on her legs got rubbed all over her face. The powder that should have set her cream makeup went all over the floor when Sendai sneezed. Takumi’s hair was down, the kimono had a spot on it, and her lips appeared to be twice their normal size. She obviously didn’t know how to outline and fill in.