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The walled courtyard felt closed in
today, and she was still not used to
it, even though it had been six years
now since he had first brought her
here. She shifted uncomfortably in
the heat, and felt the back of her
head being smacked by the heavy
ornate fan. "You are not paying
attention. Again."
She kept her eyes low, and tried
to apologize, tugging at the dark
ornate wig she wore, murmuring
softly. "I am sorry...I am still not
used to...to ...this," and she gestured
to the smooth wooden object in her
hand.
There was a ripple of laughter
among the other women, but when
her teacher looked over sharply,
they, too, averted their eyes. Her
teacher's voice was gentle as she
adjusted the kimono on the girl's
slender shoulders, shrugging gently.
"It is but another art to be learnt,
one you will become adept to, if
you practise. Otherwise, how else
do you plan to keep your...danna...
happy?"
The girl felt a deep blush rise up
and flood her shoulders beneath the
heavy kimonos she wore. The white
powdered makeup that adorned her
face covered up the blush there, but
she felt it all the same.
A Cupid's bow of crimson was
slashed across her mouth, and dark
streaks of kohl pulled at the corners
of her eyes. From a distance, she
blended in and looked like any oth-
er Oiran, but back in her Master's
apartments, she wasn't.
Still, it was a request her Master
had made when he first brought her
here, that part of his posting to Edo
would be the teaching of his slave
in the way of the Oiran, which was
reluctantly agreed to, providing,
when in their company, she was
one of them.
It meant she had to get up early,
before he left for work, and to his
amusement as he watched, ap-
ply the heavy make up, plus wear
the elaborate wig with the high
headress in it, and lastly, the two
kimonos, one on top of the other,
the one beneath plain, and the one
on top, brilliant shades of green
and scarlet with the panels heavily
embroidered.
After carefully drinking a small cup
of tea, and delicately nibbling on a
rice cake, careful not to disturb her
make up, she was then ready for
the lessons of the day. Her Master
The Jade Flute
A story of the Oiran
By Mouth {JT}