"Kanna-san. You look sad..." Sweet, ever-cheerful Mio noticed how listless I was one winter afternoon. I smiled at her, but even a month after having my heart broken, I still felt down.
The first snow had just fallen that afternoon, creating the perfect winter illusion. It would last only briefly. Usually, within a matter of hours, the snow in Kyoto melted away, leaving the streets wet. The geisha who worked that night would have to be careful—the roads would be slippery.
"You're not practicing this afternoon. Aren't you performing in the dance recital?"
"I've already practiced. There was supposed to be extra practice after lunch, but Teacher Yosuka is sick, so we were sent home to rest."
"Oh, I see... I might have the day off today. Maybe our guests are hibernating for the winter." I laughed. Our schedules really were a little more relaxed during winter.
"You know, Auntie has been going to Ichiriki teahouse an awful lot these past few days."
"Oh? Why?"
"I have no idea. Official meetings like this usually have something to do with paying for a danna or someone getting married, but I haven't heard about anyone getting married."
"Oh, someone got a danna. Auntie must be thrilled. I wonder who the lucky one is."
"I'm curious too, but I haven't found anyone here saying she's going to get a danna. You hardly ever hear about dannas these days. Not even Yui..."
"How strange..."
"Could it be you?" Mio asked me. I laughed.
"No. You know most of my clients are corporations. I don't have anyone pursuing me personally right now. If someone did approach me, the entire okiya would know... Gossip spreads fast in Gion."
"I don't know. Auntie hasn't said anything. It's so strange." I saw Auntie return a little later. She went straight upstairs.
"Kanna, come with me to Ichiriki teahouse tonight. Mr. Yamada wants to speak with you there. You don't have a guest request today, do you?"
"No, Auntie. Mr. Yamada? Is there another advertising arrangement?"
"Just come with me." She was grinning now, and Mio and I immediately wondered why she looked so happy.
"No, just come with me... You'll find out later. You really are a bringer of good fortune. Ah, I'm going to the salon for a little while. Today is such a wonderful day. Remember, wear your best kimono tonight, but do your makeup in your usual modern style...." She laughed and walked away in front of us.
"What's really going on?" I looked at Mio.
"I don't know, but it definitely has something to do with you." I was starting to feel uneasy. What was this really about?
"Maybe you're getting a danna."
"A danna would need my consent. Auntie can't force me into it otherwise. That would violate the law. I told you, I don't have anyone asking for that kind of relationship right now."
"Maybe there's someone you don't know about, and he has something to do with Mr. Yamada?"
He had something to do with Mr. Yamada?! Who?! It couldn't be... Hisao's father, could it? How was that possible? Hisao's father only needed my services for corporate events. He had never spoken to me about anything personal. He was a gentleman.
Hisao?! There was no way he thought a geisha could put him to sleep. He also knew I didn't like him. I had refused to date him.
"Oh my God, thinking about this is giving me a headache." What was going on with Yamada?
"You'll find out tonight." Mio laughed as she watched me drive myself crazy.
I would find out tonight.
I knelt on the tatami at Ichiriki teahouse, located in the heart of Gion on Shijo street. The teahouse was three hundred years old and hosted premium ozashiki, geisha parties that only clients known to the Suguira family could attend.
This place served only business clients and politicians. It was an exclusive environment accessible only to a select group of patrons who had come many times and were known to the teahouse's proprietress. They continued to uphold the rule of Ichigen-san Okotowari, which meant, "No new customers."
Auntie had my hair styled in the way a maiko wore hers. But my makeup was light—I was wearing nothing more than ordinary foundation. I strongly suspected this had something to do with Hisao, though I had no idea what was happening. He was still keeping his mouth shut.
"What are we actually going to do here, Auntie?"
"Mr. Yamada wants to ask you for a favor."
"Ask me for a favor?"
"You'll find out soon. It isn't difficult, and the pay is very good." My heart began beating erratically. The sound of a sliding door opening startled me as several people entered.
Madam Siguira herself was there, along with Mr. Yamada, Hisao, and a man I didn't recognize. Auntie and I bowed to them.
"Kanna-san, it's good to see you again." Mr. Yamada smiled at me. "I'm sorry to summon you like this, but this time, I want to ask you for a personal favor."
"Mr. Yamada, what kind of favor could I possibly do for you?" Was this about Hisao?! What had he done this time? Had he bought another champagne tower, forcing me to go slap Aoki Roppongi again?!
"You see, Hisao will soon be entering the family's core business. But I absolutely hate... champagne towers. And I need someone who can accompany him and make sure that doesn't happen again."
What did that mean? My ears perked up.
"Mr. Hiroda is the family attorney. He'll explain it to you." Mr. Yamada handed the conversation over to him.
"Mr. Yamada has agreed to pay a 'champagne tower' to Kanna-san's okiya. Twenty-five percent will belong to Miss Kanna, while the rest will be allocated as the cost of the arrangement for her role as Mr. Hisao's companion at official and unofficial events. Miss Kanna will also be paid eight full hours' worth of her earnings whenever she accompanies Mr. Hisao outside Tokyo." My eyes widened. Champagne tower! A personal companion assistant!
"This duty includes accompanying him when there are company guests and on business trips. Miss Kanna is only required to accompany him and ensure that Aoki Roppongi is not involved in her assignments. There are no other duties under this agreement besides accompanying him. Miss Kanna will report to Mr. Yato Yamada and must ensure that her information is accurate. If Mr. Yamada discovers any false or misleading information, Kanna-san's okiya must repay the champagne tower in full." The attorney paused before continuing.
"Kanna-san, forgive me for speaking so bluntly, but I want to make sure you understand. This is not a transaction requiring you to sleep with Mr. Hisao. Your only duty is to accompany him. You are free to refuse any improper request from Mr. Hisao and report to Mr. Yamada that you did not see Aoki Roppongi during your assignment. If he goes there, you must report it to Mr. Yamada." I looked at Hisao, who sat there in silence. It seemed he had no choice.
"In other words, Kanna-san works for me, not for Hisao," Mr. Yamada added clearly.
"Mr. Yamada, what if your grandson intends to get rid of me?" Mr. Yamada burst out laughing at my blunt question. I had heard frightening things about the Yamada family. They seemed to be involved with the yakuza.
"Report it to me. I'll remove him from the family's line of succession with my own hands. He has accepted this arrangement. Kanna-san, I believe you've heard about that champagne tower. I built my family and my company through sweat and blood, through war and countless ups and downs, and I despise that term... To me, the artists of Gion who work and study traditional Japanese arts so hard to uphold this country's tourism image are a million times more admirable than those women. I am asking you personally to accept this assignment." He bowed to me. Oh my God. How could I let this old man bow to me? I bowed back.
"Mr. Yamada, you're leaving me no choice."
"Then Miss Kanna accepts the assignment."
"I accept it." Mr. Yamada smiled and laughed.
"You never disappoint me, Kanna-san. Thank you for being willing to help." Her grandfather then turned to Hisao. "Hisao, Kanna is your colleague. If she says a single bad word about you, or if you do anything improper to her and she reports it to me, you'll learn your lesson."
"I understand." Hisao had no choice, just as I couldn't refuse this request.
Why did he have to drag me into this mess?