𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐀

" 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐧 "

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙣

The Okiya was a large structure, accommodated with many rooms for all the young girls who resided there, hand designed by the Emperor himself, it was located in the heart of Kyoto surrounded by cherry blossom trees and blocked by a river away from prying eyes, Kiyoshi often found herself wandering the halls aimlessly getting lost in its interior design

The girl sighed softly as she slowly walked the halls once more, after a performance she would greet the lords as well as samurai who returned from war

Through out the main rooms, each of the Maiko and geisha would entertain their guests before leading them into private rooms serving them tea

Times like this reminded her of her debut, her first steps as a performer, the performance which created her place in the world of entertainers 

The snow dance, it was her favourite, contrasting her warm persona which resembled the first spring, it was the first dance her mother Temari had taught her, when the Maiko would leave the stage, Kiyoshi would enter

Every time she appeared on the stage, she could still imagine the faces of the stunned audience who watched her every move, their gazes trained on her body as she commanded the stage her very presence creating a life of its own

Her long hair sprawled over her shoulders, the loose yet extravagant white kimono wrapped around her body as it trailed behind her, her feet adorned with large black heavy geta.As the lights dimmed, the Maiko gracefully left the stage, the crowd anticipating the next dance

The curtains were pulled back, the distant sound of a flute humming through the room and the soft base of the drums, Kiyoshi was the epitome of perfection

Kiyoshi walked slowly, sliding her feet gently as her eyes scanned the crowd, lightly moving her grey umbrella as the snow began to fall, all eyes on her form as even the slightest movements caused them to awe, her arm raised slowly as if she had called for someone, the soft strum as snow landed in her hair

the sound of drums picking up, the chimes and strums louder and more defined as her feet touched the cold floor, Every step, every move, she no longer needed to think but to feel the music as she discarded the long top layer, throwing a way the umbrella, she fell from her shoes twirling around the black geta, she felt the chill of the snow, the pain and suffering orchestrated in her eyes

The disarray and confusion, as if she was being pulled around every corner of the stage. Until it had come to a still, her body falling to the floor before the strums returned, Kiyoshi reviving as she arched her back, red light illuminating her form