Geisha (Shinobi Saga) by Sessha Batto Page B

plain. This one is more suitable for a maiko.” The subdued charcoal on black was replaced by a more typical flowered scarlet. “That's better. It's a shame about your hair. The contrast with your skin would be exquisite if we dyed it. Ah well, it isn't up to me to make money off of you. Now, about your name. The maiko of this okiya take flower names.”
    “Kakutasu,” Zenshiro laughingly suggested. “She's very prickly.”
    “Cactus?” The okasan shook her head. “No, lust is not an appropriate meaning for a maiko's name.”
    “It is for this one.” Yoshi shot the smug guard a withering look.
    “That is none of my concern and something I'd rather not know about.” The okasan turned her attentions back to the shadow wolf. “You don't talk much,” she noted. “Perhaps, amarylis for shyness. Your new name will be Amaririsu.”
    “Great,” Yoshi muttered. “A lovely womanly name to match my new look.”
    “Here's a schedule of your classes,” the okasan continued. “You can read, can't you?”
    “Of course I can read, I'm a genius.” Yoshi bit his tongue moments t oo late, afraid he might have given his deception away. While his appearance might pass as womanly, his voice was deeper and huskier than a girl's should be. The look the okasan directed his way made it clear she disapproved of his disrespectful outburst, but held no trace of anger, and he was grateful not to feel the need to disguise his voice.
    “In any event, you'll start in the morning. Take the rest of today to get settled in. I'll have some more kimono sent to your address. As long as you are studying with us you must always be properly attired. I assume you have a maid?”
    “Our Lord has provided one,” Zenshiro quickly assured her. “He is quite eager for Ama-chan to have the best of everything.”
    “Are you telling me she's spoiled? I don't have time to waste on a pampered brat.”
    “Spoiled and willful,” the guard whispered conspiratorially. “Feel free to beat her as required. My master is disappointed with her progress under his lenient hand, it's why he sent her here for a proper education.”
    “I am not spoiled,” the shadow wolf insisted. “You can't expect me to be pleased about being forced from my home and shackled to a man fifty years my senior. Certainly I can't be the first dissatisfied person to pass through these doors.”
    “It's the twentieth century, my girls choose this life,” the okasan insisted. “It's a calling to be proud of. They work very hard and devote years to their training.”
    “I'm sure all your girls are paragons of virtue and hard work.” The smirk threatened to split Zenshiro's face. “Like I said, Ama-chan is a willful thing, always insisting she deserves better than everyone else.”
     
    ***
     
    The walk back to the apartment was never-ending, at least, from Yoshi's point of view. His feet and legs ached from the awkward heels. As soon as the key clicked in the lock he pushed past his guard, kicking the geta towards the genkan as he frantically pulled the pins from his hair.
    “What on earth are you doing?” The shadow wolf ignored the question and continued to divest himself of the womanly trappings, shaking his hair loose to hang down his back while he fumbled with the elaborate knot on his obi.
    “Stop that.” Yoshi could only blink stupidly at the tiny woman who was determinedly redoing his obi. “It is not seemly for you to behave this way. A geisha is always calm and graceful.” She finished adjusting his clothes and began to tug his hair back into the painful knot.
    “Who the hell are you?” The shadow wolf managed to wrench himself free from her surprisingly strong grasp.
    “I am your maid, my Lady. The Mochizuki no Shuhan hired me to look after you.”
    “Oh, hell no.” Yoshi rounded on his chuckling guard. “You get this straightened out. I'm going to bathe … alone,” he added when the maid tried to follow him.
    “Ama-chan is very shy,” Zenshiro