"Ow...." you whispered, peeling potatoes with the largest knife.

"My goodness! Quit being so thoughtless! You could get hurt with that!"

"All right...."

"I swear....why do I even bother?!" cried the lady of the house.

You finished your potato peeling and stood up. It was spring, so the cherry blossoms were falling. Like snow from the previous winter. Like leaves from the previous fall. Like pollen from the previous summer.

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes at your poetic mood. It was your parent's fault. Being a maiko meant a girl must be graceful enough to come up with such words.

The make up was heavy. Your neck ached from the box kept to protect your hair. Let's not forget your father was English so you looked like a European. All the other girls hated you.

Because, TECHNICALLY, you were better than them.

You weren't one to gloat. You never gloated. Being a maiko didn't come NATURALLY, like it should have. You were just good a copying your senior. It took hours to learn how to get the right smile.

In real conversation, you'd die from embarassment, never a good sign.

'The entertainment business.... Life's rough....'

Just think, the only people who knew your name, had given you up to become beautiful. To become something your mother never could be.

To become a Geisha.

~~~~~~

You rolled under the covers of your futon and groaned at the noise of the other girls squealing. You pulled the blanket over your head.

"No way! A god is coming to visit the party!"

"That's what the mother told me!" said another.

"Which one?!"

"A minor one-"

"That doesn't matter, does it~? A god is always strong and handsome and beautiful!"

"And they're always so mature and noble~!"

"I can't wait for the party!"

The chatter grew more excessive as the week progressed. Then, the end of the week came. You were dressed by the attendants, with your best robes. Your hair pinned up and the makeup painted on the nape of your neck. You were showing a lot of skin for a maiko, what was the mother up to now?

When you arrived at the party with your senior, you were immediately escorted to a private room. You sat, legs tucked under you, eyes downcast. You saw two cups and a bottle of sake. Your room was empty. You felt strange.

Something was happening.

Suddenly, the door opened. You looked up only with your eyes, just like you were taught.

A man with tied up midnight blue hair and flaming blue eyes sat across from you. His robe matched his hair, and with him was a sword.

'A samurai....?'

"Hello," you said, curtly.

"Pour."

Ah pouring.... Not your best skill. You breathed in softly so he wouldn't notice. You reached out and held the clay bottle perfectly on its side. You slowly raised the bottle away from the cup and tilted the neck up.

You grabbed the cup carefully and set it towards him. You poured yourself a cup and took a sip.

"You look foreign."

"I am," you said making sure your posture was correct before looking out the window.

"The cherry blossoms. They're falling," he said.

You felt giddiness grip your heart. You said softly, "Cherry blossoms are like their former, the snow...."

"And snow like its former, the leaves of fall,"he said, his eyes looked bored, but you saw a spark of amusement behind their dull shine.

"And the falling leaves like their former, the pollen...."

"The cycle continues," he said, drinking the sake.

He sat up and leaned forward, "What is your name?"

You bowed your head, "I have no name. The women of the okiya refer to me as 'Mettako.'"

"Why?"

You raised your eyes to meet his, "Because they say I'm rash.... reckless...."

"You seem perfectly fine with that."

You did not smile, "Because I'm aware of it myself."

"They told me you are the best maiko."

"That doesn't mean I'm the best person."

He let out a "hm" of laughter.

You then said, "Why are you here?"

"This okiya pays for me to bless its events. I am it's Patron God."

You felt a sudden sense of danger. The Patron God of your okiya was Yato the God of Calamity. You kept the expression in check.

You reached into your sleeve and pulled and old, beaten deck of cards.

"While you are here, would you mind me reading your fortune?"

"A child's game?"

"Children's games are the best ways to experience true fortunes."

You spread the cards out, face down, "Pick three."

He chose one and flipped it over.

Queen of Clubs.

"A woman.... Dangerous, but affectionate.... Very stubborn and willfull...."

He chose another.

King of Hearts.

"A man.... Powerful and blinded by love...."

He chose another.

Ace of Spades.

"War.... Slaughter.... Hate...."

You looked into his eyes, "You may interpret those cards as you wish.... However, you chose them, and you must take responsibility for the consequences that will happen because of them."

"So serious," he said amused. "A maiko who doesn't smile....Quite a Geisha you'll make...."

You bowed, and remained bowing until he stood up.

"What is your name, Mettako?"

You looked up at him, "Tell me yours, and I shall speak mine."

He smiled, "Yato."

You smiled, and put a flirtatious finger against your lips, "I'll tell you but it's a secret~"

He seemed intrigued by your sudden personality change.

"My name is ________."

He took your hand and said into your palm, "Such a beautiful name...."

He let go of your hand and said while he left, "I expect great things from you.... ___________...."

"And I you," you said, smiling.

~~~~~~

"Mettako! Get up! The mother wants to speak to you!"

You sat up and got dressed. You walked down the hall softly to the mother's room. She sat, waiting for you. You sat across from her.

"Last night, you were alone with Yato, the God of Calamity."

You nodded, "Yes."

"He donated this to the okiya," she pushed a sack towards you. You peered in and saw golden coins. PILES of golden coins.

"He said to give this to you."

She held out a wrapped package. You took it and unwrapped it. Inside, was a knife. On the blade, the words "Calamity" were enscribed on the metal.

You sheathed the knife and said, "Was there anything else you wanted to tell me?"

"He's coming back, next month. You'll be in his room again. You will entertain him."

~~~~~~

"How are things __________?"

"What things?" you asked, pouring his drink.

"Things. Life, the girls, the mother."

"Life is life, not a thing."

"Life is an ideal situation for the dead, nothing more."

"You speak as if you hold a grudge against life...." you said.

"I don't have a grudge against life."

"Good, neither do I."

"Life is overrated, don't you think?"

"Is it?"

"I can see both realms, _________. I've killed many people," he said. His flaming eyes flickered, "And I can tell you, the only life I care about is yours."

You blushed, however your make up hid your pink face. You said softly, "Your infatuation with me is flattering."

"Infatuation..... What a mild word...."

He moved behind you, placing a hand on your waist and taking your hand into his. Her then whispered, "Obsession.... You are not my infatuation ___________.... but you are my obsession.... My life...."

You looked away, "You say that as if you care about humans. Why should a god care for a maiko?"

"Because this god loves you ___________."

~~~~~~

"My mizuage?" you asked, shocked.

The mother looked away, "You are old enough now."

"Is this because of Yato?"

She did not say anything.

You put your hands on the ground and bowed until you were just inches from the floor. You then said, "I am leaving the okiya then."

"You can't!" cried the mother. She grabbed your wrist, "Before you and Yato met, the okiya had a year left! You and the other girls would be on the street! You will do this for the okiya!"

You teared up and ripped your arm from her, "I'd rather be a maiko forever than lose my virginity to Yato!"

"Everyone but you would love to be in your position!"

"No one but me knows what he's like!"

~~~~~~

In the end, you sat in front of the fire. Your virginity sold for more money than you'd ever make. You looked at your cup. The nice chef filled your tea with something to make you forget the night.

Make you forget everything.

You went to put the cup to your lips when Yato slapped it from you hand. It hit the ground. His eyes were filled with anger.

"Why?"

You looked away, "I can't...."

He grabbed your hair, "What is it? Why do you not love me?"

You then said, with a rush of courage, "Because. You can't get everything you want Yato. You claim you're a god but you're just a child."

~~~~~~

I put my arms around her head. I hugged her numb body. Her breathing was light, her skin softly radiant.

I grabbed a dagger from beside me. I placed it against her neck and sliced it open.

I watched as she died in front of me. I waited. I watched and waited for her soul. I wanted all of her.

They were wrong about her. _________ was careful. __________ wasn't reckless.

She wasn't the reckless Geisha they said she was.