Word count: 1116
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Journal entry
"So you said you can play the Koto correct?" the madam asked me, to which I nodded and was given one to play.
"Demonstrate your skill then." the madam smiled.
I hesitantly nodded, beginning to play one of the songs my mother taught me.
With each string I pluck I think of my family, they're waiting for me to someday come back, I'll hopefully have time to send a letter or two during this mission, each note brings me a sense of familiarity as I play, I close my eyes and let my hands gracefully run across the koto, imagining anything but being in a place like this. I heard many families who were in debt would sell their daughters off to brothels just like this.
That women from my dreams was one of them. I feel her hands make sure my placement is right, I slowly open them to see her. She doesn't look directly at me, she just guides my hands, I haven't played the koto in quite a bit. As she guides my hands the song brings a peaceful yet, somewhat sad air to it.
Slowly the song stops, I look back up, instead of seeing the woman I see the madam, her husband, and a few other girls looking at me, shocked, their aura having that familiar light yellow color I had learned to be the feeling being deeply moved, touched even. Tanjiro looking at me with a grin and the color that matched admiration surrounding him, mixing slightly with the other girls' auras.
I do a small bow and smile at them. "Was.. Was that what you were looking for mada-" I mumble, to which the madam celebrates with her husband.
"I'm gonna have the greatest Geisha in this entire district!" the madam celebrated, holding my hand and shaking her husbands shoulder with her other hand.
"Um... What's a Geisha..?" I asked quietly, the madam and the other girls smiled brightly and almost dragged me away to another room, Tanjiro looking extremely confused as he left my line of sight.
Once in the room I was immediately given a nicer kimono, the girls giggling and taking out makeup, discussing what sort of 'look' I should have.
"So dear, I'll explain everything for you. First the ranks, at the bottom there's technically Geisha, they're all about music and the arts which is why they're under normal yujyo since they don't have relations with their customers, Geisha are still very popular for rich men who just want entertainment and nothing else. Then there's oiran, they're the most popular, the most beautiful of the house." the madam explained.
"Now then, you're definitely gonna have to have a much better outfit to attract customers." she smiled, leaving the room as the girls started bombarding me with questions.
"What's your name?"
"Where are you from?"
"You're so pretty!"
"Who was that guy with you?"
I just stuttered a bit, a bit overwhelmed with all the questions, to which they eventually stopped.
"Oh we'll just ask that Sumiko girl!" one added
"Let's start with the makeup!" another said, grabbing a brush and starting using white makeup for my face, once done another girl grabbed my chin and added red eyeshadow to the corner of my eyes.
The first girl started styling my hair held out a box of hairpins "you can borrow some of my hairpins till you can get some of your own, chose whichever one you like!" she smiled, to which the woman from my dreams appeared again, sitting beside the girl.
I always hate the fact I have to pretend I don't see or hear her, people would say I'm insane if I said I'm seeing my ancestors and they talk to me. "You're wearing a lot of red, don't choose any of the silver ones, it won't match." she advised, so I simply grabbed a pair of gold hairpins with red, flower like ornaments at the ends, one having a small coi fish hanging on a small gold chain at the end. (if your bald or have short hair ignore this part-)
Finally they finished and paraded me out the door of the room and around the house, the girls, the madam and Tanjiro giggling and smiled before the little girls lead me to the oiran.
"Oiran Koinatsu! Look Look! This girls gonna be a Geisha! We did her makeup and everything!" one said happily
"Wow, very good work girls." The oiran I now knew as Koinatsu smiled, inspecting me. I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous as she inspects my makeup, my clothes, everything about me.
I do a small bow and she does a small head nod, "well, you know I'm Oiran Koinatsu, you are?" she smiles.
"I'm Y/n..." I mumble
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, I hope you do wonderfully as a Geisha." she bowed again before walking off to her room, Tanjiro carrying several boxes of gifts up the like stairs.
"I'm sure you're tired by now. Go ahead and rest in your room upstairs" the madam smiled, to which I quickly went to my room and took off the makeup, getting back into my demon slayer tctuniform and sitting on the rooftop.
I hear a very quiet thump beside me and suddenly I turn to see Uzui.
"Please don't tell me you got in trouble or something L/n." he muttered
"What? Not at all, I'm pretty sure I made a good impression, the madam is saying I'll be a good Geisha.. I just kinda decided to sit up here for fresh air." I replied, Uzui sighing in relief, sitting next to me.
"I could faintly hear your music through the crowd. You still play well." he paused, "your choice in friends is certainly questionable though." he said blankly.
"I know, just get to know them a bit. You'll warm up to 'em." I replied.
"Can't promise that." he said, a small moment of silence happening between us.
"You're doing great for such a higo rank mission. Even if something goes down I'm sure you can handle it, if not, I'll be there." he sighed heavily, "now get back in there before anyone notices you're up here." he said as he stood up, patting my shoulder and disappearing.
I nod and go back into my room,
dressed into my sleep wear, then going to bed.
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