wiping crumbs from my chin. “You must be careful not to get dirty
before your lesson or Ueda-san will be upset at being made to wait
while you wash.”
I smiled up at my father, knowing that he was only teasing.
It was then that I noticed a beautiful geisha walking toward
us. She was stunningly attractive; beyond any geisha I had seen
before. Her hair was a deep black that shone like polished onyx. Her
almond-shaped dark eyes were breathtakingly set at the perfect angle.
The kimono she wore was of a deep blue, a silver dragon and gold
tiger, stitched with exquisite care, were capering from along the hem
all the way to her slender hip. The jade combs and dangling sakura
blossoms in her hair were a magnificent accent to her beauty. I
stopped and stared as she floated closer, unable to imagine anyone
more dazzling. She looked up briefly then turned her head toward the
river, only to stop and slowly turn her eyes back to look at my father.
“Akito-sama?” the geisha asked in surprise. As she
walked toward us, she looked from father to me and stopped, bowing
to us. The geisha stood upright again, but now she had a strange look
in her eyes. When I looked at her more closely, it seemed as if I had
met her before, but I could not recall ever being introduced to her.
“Kozue-san? How are you this fine day?” my father asked
her graciously, bowing as was custom.
“I am well. I did not mean to stop you on your travels with
this pretty young lady. I will perhaps speak with you another time.”
She moved to continue on her way.
My father raised his hand to halt her, “There is no need
Kozue-san. I can surely spare a few minutes to speak with an old
friend.” Father glanced down at me for a moment, looked up at the
sky and then back at the geisha before us. “Kozue-san, this is my
daughter Ayaka. Ayaka-chan, this is an old friend of mine, Kozue.”
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