The Midnight Butterfly

by Shannon

Part Three

            Kyo sat in his small office, sifting through paperwork and sipping tea as the first rays of the sun made creeping feeling gestures over the horizon; a slight cloud cover made their search more difficult. Kyo leaned over to study the three sheets in front of him.

            Die: Son of a powerful business man, soon to be named head of said business; frequenter of the ‘Mayonaka’.

            Yoshiki: Owns a little bit of every company outside the hanamachi in a five mile radius; powerful patron of many successful Geisha, in talks for patronage of Shinya.

            Hizumi: Youngest ‘living legend’ bunraku puppet master; hanamachi regular.

            Kyo tapped his fingers on his desk and sighed.

            “Ohayo gozaimasu,” Shinya said as he pushed his way into Kyo’s office.

            “Morning,” Kyo said re-stacking his papers.

            “Have you made a decision for Miyavi’s mizuage yet?” Shinya asked taking a seat in front of Kyo’s desk.

            “Well I know who the highest bidder is, but I’m not sure that’s who I should choose.” Kyo rose up on his knees and poured a cup of tea for Shinya.

            “You’re so graceful at that Kyo; I can tell you were born of a Geisha.”

            “My mother,” Kyo smiled. “The first onna Geisha.”

            “You’ve never told me much of your past,” Shinya tried to lead Kyo on.

            “There’s not much in it that you have to know, maybe someday I’ll sit and talk with you but I have things to plan for just now.”

            “Will you announce the mizuage decision at the akimatsuri dinner tonight?” Shinya asked taking a sip of tea.

            “Yes, but in private and I’m telling Miyavi first.” Kyo looked at Shinya. “I learned that lesson already with you.”

            “I was very angry at you.”

            “You hid it well, but not well enough,” Kyo laughed.

            “Could I make a comment on what I think about Miyavi’s ceremony?” Shinya asked.

            “That’s fine.”

            “I don’t think you should go with Yoshiki, as he bought mine; in my eyes it wouldn’t be right to choose him yet again, outsiders might get the impression of favorite’s games; for this same reason I’d advise against Die, as he’s known far and wide to frequent the ‘Mayonaka’, which leaves the decision clear.” Shinya finished taking another sip of tea and avoiding Kyo’s eyes.

            “You have a really keen business sense you know?” Kyo asked as he spread out the papers once more. “I had already decided against Yoshiki, and I think he only requested to show his influence still holds. I’m still at a toss between the businessman and the puppet master; both are prestigious in reputation, and to be quite honest their bids are the same. I don’t play favorites, at the same time it would be best to promote those who have at least been to the ‘Mayonaka’; to my knowledge puppet master Hizumi has not stepped foot inside once, only hearing about the mizuage through friends and Miyavi’s reputation; which of course is good business for Miyavi, I suspect he’ll have many visitors as his own Hokan Geisha.”

            “I can see your point,” Shinya said. “I didn’t think that Hizumi would be your choice.”

            “Is there some kind of personal reasoning behind why you don’t want Die?” Kyo asked raising a suspicious eyebrow.

            “He’s always so rowdy in the teahouse, I just don’t think we should reward that kind of behavior,” Shinya said. “Plus he gets really vulgar after awhile especially when he’s with Hakuei.”

            “Thank you for the input Shinya, I’ll take that into account,” Kyo said standing up. “Could you do me the favor of making sure all the little sleepy-heads around here are waking up?”

            “Of course,” Shinya said bowing and making his way out into the okiya.

            Kyo sat back behind his desk and sighed as he stacked the papers a final time leaving one out.

            “It’s going to rain tonight,” Aoi said to Reita tapping his folded fan against his thigh, as he sat in the common area waiting for the rest of the house to emerge.

            “Anyone home?” Yoshiki asked removing his shoes and stepping into the okiya proper.

            “Oh Yoshiki,” Aoi said standing and bowing.

            “Irasshaimase,” Reita said with a bow. “I’ll get Shinya,” he ran up the stairs in search of his ‘older sister’.

            “Ogenki desu ka, Aoi?” Yoshiki asked

            “Hai, okagesamade Yoshiki-san.”

            “That’s good, anything you’re looking forward to?”

            “Just hoping Shinya will accept me as his next apprentice,” Aoi said taking his seat again.

            Yoshiki moved to sit next to him. “You’re sure he will aren’t you?”

            “Well pretty sure, but there have been some things that I’ve done to Shinya when I was really young that caused some embarrassment.” Aoi said opening his fan and hiding his face behind it.

            “Konban wa gozaimasu,” Shinya called as me made his way down the stairs.

            “Konban wa Shinya, you’re very gorgeous tonight,” Yoshiki said standing and offering his hand as Shinya descended the final stair.

            “Arigato, I just threw it together as usual,” Shinya said smoothing out his obviously new kimono.

            Aoi rolled his eyes.

            “Well are you ready then Hokan?”

            “Hai,” Aoi said standing and moving next to Yoshiki.

            “Of course, Yo-chan,” Shinya blushed and took Yoshiki’s offered arm. Yoshiki held his free arm for Aoi and clasping the two Geisha to him they made their way out into the night and to the already rowdy Mayonaka Butterfly.

            “I can’t believe we can hear them from here,” Aoi said in disbelief hugging closer to Yoshiki.

            “Well it is one of the biggest nights for the teahouse,” Shinya said poking Aoi’s back around Yoshiki.

            Aoi stuck out the tiniest bit of his tongue as they continued walking.

            “How do I look?” Die asked straightening his crisp black kimono.

            “Like a God,” Hakuei said with a laugh.

            “I’m trying to be serious.”

            “For once in your life?” Toshiya asked stepping in behind Die. “You’ve got this too tight not enough slack,” Toshiya said as he tugged at Die, straightening him.

            “Thanks Totchi,” Die said smiling at his friend. “Say how do you know so much about kimono?”

            “My mother and father owned a shop, we’d been selling to the top houses in the hanamachi for years until,” he fell short.

            “Until what?” Hakuei asked straightening his own kimono in the full sized mirror.

            “Oh nothing, business went bad was all,” Toshiya said with a smile. “Are we ready to go?”

            “Yup let’s get out there and show ‘em how it’s done,” Hakuei said wrapping an arm around each of his friends and guiding them out into the fading light.

            “I’m not ready!” Miyavi cried into Kyo’s ear as they sat on the floor a tangle of arms.

            “You are ready; you want to be a full fledged Geisha don’t you?” Kyo asked rubbing Miyavi’s back and shoulders.

            “Yes but… I don’t even know him, Kyo-sama; can’t you just do it?” Miyavi asked nuzzling into Kyo’s neck.

            Kyo smiled at the boy-not-yet-a-man in his arms. “I can’t itoshii hito, I can make you a promise instead.”

            “What’s that Kyo?”

            “That I’ll be right there outside the room guiding you in and waiting for you when you come out.” Kyo said pushing Miyavi back so he could dry his tears.

            “Kyo-sama?”

            “Hai Miyavi?” Kyo asked.

            “I… I.”

            “Miyavi please don’t,” Kyo pleaded, knowing what was a hare slip away from dropping from his mouth.

            “I have to tell you, I’ve been meaning to for a very long time. I love you.” Miyavi said blushing and burying his face in Kyo’s chest.

            Kyo closed his eyes and bit his lip; his hands resting on Miyavi’s shoulders began to shake.

            “Kyo what’s wrong?” Miyavi asked looking up in concern.

            Kyo brought his middle finger and thumb to the bridge of his nose and pushed down. “Just a little headache, I’ll be fine.”

            “Kyo? Miyavi?” Reita asked squeezing into Kyo’s room. “Are you two alright?”

            “We’re fine Reita come on in,” Kyo said waving Reita over. “Miyavi’s just struggling with his mizuage is all.”

            “Are you ok?” Reita asked falling to his knees next to Miyavi; noticing his tear streaked face.

            “I’ll be fine,” Miyavi offered wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

            Reita hugged him close and whispered, “I know how you feel not being able to be with the one you love for such an intimate coming-of-age.”

            “Arigato, Reita,” Miyavi said kissing the blondes cheek.

            “We’d better get going,” Kyo said less than enthused.

            Kyo entered his teahouse with each of his Hokan securely in his arms. A loud round of applause greeted them as they entered the main dining hall. Kyo surveyed the faces that greeted him; some he was quite fond of, others heads of rival houses and last but not least the fresh faces. He gave a kind smile as he made his way to the head of the table and seated himself on the cushion. Reita and Miyavi bowed gracefully both flicking out their fans as the sat on either side of Kyo.

            “There he is,” Die whispered to Toshiya.

            “Who?” Toshiya asked as Die pulled him from his own little world.

            “There, that tall dark haired beauty next to the okiya head.”

            “Oh you mean Miyavi?” Toshiya asked straining to see the head of the table. “That’s who you bid for?”

            “Yeah that’s him, gorgeous ne?” Die said his face slowly rising in color to match the shock of red locks hanging in his eyes.

            “He’s pretty yeah; he seemed to like me when we were entertained by them.”

            “Shut up or I’ll take you outside and shut you up!”

            “Testy… Jeez Die I was just commenting.”

            “Both of you shut up!” Hakuei yelled over the now uproarious crowd. His glance was further down the table, nearly across from them and definitely in eyeshot.

            Aoi tried to avoid the glance that he felt hitting him, he knew who it was and was trying to prolong the moment. He glanced up at Reita’s smiling face as the blonde shared in a joke with Kyo and Miyavi.

            “Quite a full house,” Yoshiki commented in a raised tone.

            “I wouldn’t expect any less from the most famed teahouse in the hanamachi,” Shinya said into Yoshiki’s ear from behind his fan.

             The first wave of food was spread neatly over the long tables and a small blessing whispered by each individual as if all were in midnight mass. Slowly each tray of specially arranged foods was dissected by serving spoons and chopsticks. A splash of sake brought a new wave of animated conversation from the patrons and diners.

            Reita searched down the tables for Aoi hoping to spend even a split second contact with his love; finding the eyes he was searching for he smiled and winked but Aoi turned his head away. Must not have seen me, Reita thought as he divulged back into Kyo and Miyavi’s conversation.

            “Who’s the pretty blonde on the other side of the okiya head?” Toshiya whispered into Die’s ear.

            “Don’t you remember Reita? You remembered Miyavi.” Die asked.

            “Is he favored or something by Kyo?” Toshiya pondered at Die.

            “I guess, Kyo always hand picks his Hokan and who they spend time with, but I don’t know maybe he does like Reita more than others.” Die shrugged and pulled some more food into his mouth.

            “Aren’t you drinking tonight Die?” Toshiya asked.

            “Nope, I’m trying to be presentable this evening.”

            “Nor you Hakuei?” Toshiya asked a little louder so Hakuei could hear him.

            Hakuei was in oblivion staring at something apparently only he could see.

            “Oi, Haku?” Toshiya tried again; seeing it was no use he followed Hakuei’s eyes to the purple streaked head of Aoi. Ah young love rekindled Toshiya thought and laughed to him self.

            “So tell me Shinya?” Yoshiki said wrapping a lazy arm around the bishonen. “Who did Kyo choose?”

            “Oh he chose… Wait a second you! You’re not coaxing it out of me that easily!”

            “I have other ways,” Yoshiki said in Shinya’s ear flicking his tongue out at the folded casing of the orifice.

            Shinya shivered and fell slightly into Yoshiki. “Ah… That won’t work!” Shinya said pulling away from him.

            “What about you Aoi?” Yoshiki said switching his focus to the other Hokan at his side. Yoshiki put a hand under Aoi’s chin and lifted up staring into the boys’ eyes he asked, “Whom did Kyo choose darling?”

            “I don’t know,” Aoi said blushing and pulling away from the grasp, he felt a burgeoning pressure in his nether regions and squirmed.

            Shinya flashed dagger eyes at Yoshiki as he turned back around.

            Hakuei watched as the older man between Aoi and Shinya started to tease the two of them.

            Toshiya was watching Hakuei closely and saw his fists clench on the table the wood beneath threatening to groan. “Hakuei,” Toshiya said reaching behind Die and tapping his other friends’ back.

            Hakuei jumped then leaned back to look at Toshiya.

            “Calm Down!” Toshiya mouthed.

Owari

This section is had to cut up because there is so much going on, so I thought this would be a good place so as not to get too long in parts ^-^

Hope you’re enjoying

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