Chapter 1

Chapter one

 What is it like to spend an evening with a geisha? I recently got to do this. A Japanese friend of mine from Tokyo organised an evening with a couple of geishas in a private tea house, of which he was the owner.

 My plane had just landed in Haneda airport about two hours ago, taking the long flight all the way from Miami to Tokyo, Japan. I was due for a business meeting tomorrow but the stress of my long weary flight caused me to step out of my hotel for some sight seeing and adventure. It was my second visit in Japan. The first time I came here, my stay was shortened and urgent. In twenty-two hours, I was back on the plane for Miami. Despite that, I made a new friend. I had a knack for making friends especially when I'm in a foreign country. I considered it wise, having someone you could trust when staying over in a country that's new to you. Aside sight-seeing and the language barrier uplifting, that foreign friend could be at a great advantage. For one, you wouldn't get cheated by strangers or robbed. 

 A dark Mercedes-Maybach S-Class stood  waiting for me outside the exclusive hotel I was lodged in as I came down the steps. The immaculately dressed valet stood beside my car with the keys. 

 I took the keys from him and tipped him. There's one thing I love about Japan. They do know a lot about accuracy and order. I've enjoyed their parking service. It's nice. I shot my ride into the highway, admiring the beautiful bright lights from Tokyo's tallest skyscrapers and advertisement screens everywhere. I love Tokyo. In my opinion, it's just about one of the most beautiful places in the world. It's nightlife reminds me of Miami, except better. 

 Finally, I arrived at Haruto's Chashitsu. A Chashitsu is a Japanese architectural space designed to be used for tea ceremony gatherings and this Chashitsu was owned by my dear good friend, Haruto. Aside the teas, Haruto's Chashitsu also has an onsen. 

 An onsen is a natural hot spring bath, and thanks to its plentiful volcanic activity Japan has lots of them. Onsen water is geothermally heated beneath the ground and rises to the surface bubbling hot. This is technically, my favorite part of Haruto's Chashitsu. 

 Haruto stood waiting for me as I pulled up at the entrance of his Chashitsu. He was all smiles, wearing a beautiful red kimono designed with dragon patterns. One look at Haruto and you immediately get the idea of a rich potbellied businessman. He was a good-natured jolly man and successful too. He also has many wives. 

 Stepping out of my car, I handed the key over to a servant boy who came up to me  and walked towards Haruto. 

 " Nice seeing you again, Mr Langdon," Haruto bowed slightly, beaming with a bright smile that threatened to split his fat face. " I've been expecting you."

 I bowed my head slightly and took his hand in a firm handshake. " It's been a while, Haruto."

 " How long has it been?" Haruto asked, searching me over with his eyes at my expensive wrist watch and Italian shoes. 

 " Eight months," I answered. " You know I didn't last long on my first visit."

 " Of course, I remembered," Haruto released my hand. " But we've been keeping in touch with each other, haven't we? Welcome back to Japan, Mr Langdon."

 From behind him, I saw two women approaching us. They were his servants. They stood before me and offered to take my coat.

 " I'm having a tea party with some businessmen, Mr Langdon," Haruto led me away down the pavement towards a number of rooms. " I'm so glad you sent a message you were coming. It's my pleasure to treat you to a wonderful evening. Consider it a token of my gratitude."

 I had helped Haruto won a watertight deal with my company, four months after my first visit in Japan. If I wasn't involved, he would've lost the deal. A deal that was worth ten million yens. 

 " Oh come on, Haruto," I followed him to a room. " You don't have to. I only came here to while away some time at the onsen. I'll pay for every services I received tonight."

 " This would be your room for tonight," Haruto said instead as if he didn't hear what I just said. " There's a kimono arranged specially for you on the bed. You can change into that and join for the tea party after your visit from the onsen."

 Before I could say anything, he bowed and left. Haruto was like me. He was a man of few words despite his friendliness. 

 Minutes later, my body was immersed in the bubbling heat of the onsen. This was the only stuff I can never get back home at Miami. It's one of a kind. I was the only one in the onsen, practically naked. For the first time since I landed in Japan, I felt stressed free and light headed. When I returned back to my room, another kimono was waiting neatly for me on the bed. 

 A Japanese tea ceremony is about tea only on its surface. From the positioning of guests to the cleaning of the tools to the scooping of the loose-leaf tea, everything has significance. I was provided with  slippers as soon as I arrived at the tea room. Shoes aren't allowed in the tea room. 

 Haruto ushered me in as my host. Once inside a tea room, there are a few additional rules that apply. I guess it's all centered on culture. I entered the room on my knees, avoiding stepping on the center of the mats. Instead of using my palms, I used my closed fists when touching the mats, (for hygiene).

 It was then I saw Haruto's guests. They were all good businessmen. I recognized one of them. He was an advocate for a steel refinery in New York. The other guy owns a perfume brand in Paris, France. I knew that because I use his perfumes. The other two were Japanese. I don't know who they were. The guests welcomed me warmly and we exchanged pleasantries. 

 Four of us businessmen sat round a table chatting and drinking sake. It was the way businessmen love to be treated. Our host served us well with traditional tea, good meals and entertainment. 

 But the best entertainment was when the geishas appeared. Each man had a geisha each. They make pleasant conversation. My Japanese isn’t very good, but I managed to maintain a simple conversation with the women around. 

 Their job is basically to make you feel good. So all your jokes are hilarious, all your stories are fascinating, they think you’re just such an amazing person. They are very skilled at what they do - you know it’s fake, but it doesn’t feel artificial. They are in turns fawning, flirty, teasing - whatever they think is going to make you feel good.

 As I watched good-naturedly, this young geisha came up to me. She was my geisha assigned to take care of me. 

 Now it is true to say that not every geisha is traditionally beautiful. These geisha work much harder to get on the top of their art. But this geisha, she was something out of a fairy tale. You can tell a lot about this geisha just by looking at her.

 Instead of a regular kimono, she wore a geisha kimono that exposes her neckline. In Japanese culture, this is considered the most sensual part of a woman. Her kimono is very long, colourful and intricately adorned with beautifully hand-painted designs. Her collar is red, and her obi (darari obi) is long and wide.

 She wore high wooden shoes to keep her kimono from dragging on the ground. Learning to walk in this outfit without falling over is an integral part of her training and she does it in a way that makes it look as if she was floating on clouds. 

 Her white makeup was painted with the uttermost care on her small oval face. Her eyebrows are concealed and redrawn with pink eyeshadow that seemed applied to the corner of her eyes and jet black eyeliner which finished the look. She had red lipstick applied to her lower lip. This shows that she is an apprentice.

 But it didn't matter to me. In my eyes, she was a wonder. I was most envious of her hair which was very long, silky and shaped into the elaborate hairstyles of a maiko.

 We took a break while they did a traditional dance and played their instruments. I couldn't take my eyes off her. There was something in the way she danced and played her instrument that set my heart racing and when she looked at me, her lips curved into a seductive smile. Her eyes evoked with desire and cravings and fire. 

 Her eyes intrigued me greatly. They were green. I learnt green eyes were very rare in the planet. I've met one or two but this was my first time meeting a female with green eyes. She looked so beautiful and attractive, drawing me in like a magnet and nails. 

 For a long time, I watched my geisha, studying her movements, listening deeply to her voice and the way she played her musical instruments. 

 The night ended in that note but I couldn't get my mind off my geisha. I realized I wanted her. I've had numerous affairs but they were only for a night and the next morning, each party goes their seperate ways. I intended I was going to sleep with this geisha. 

 But I was disappointed. 

 " Geishas aren't prostitutes, Langdon," Haruto smiled when I whispered I would like my geisha to spend the night with me. " But I can make an arrangement for you. There's a friend I know who runs a brothel. He'll send his finest girls."

 But I wasn't interested in those other girls. I wanted my geisha. " What's her name?" I inquired. 

 " Sakura," he answered, leading me back to my room. " She's one of the geishas, Working for me."

 " She's beautiful," I said, trying not to make my voice sound disappointed. 

 " Would you be staying over? I can call the brothel..."

 I cut him off instantly. " Never mind. I'll head back to the hotel. I need a lot of rest. Thank you for having me, Haruto."

 I bowed and made for my room. It took me fifteen minutes to change back into my clothes. Another five minutes, spent talking to Haruto and finally heading inside my car. It was raining cat and dogs but that wasn't going to stop me from leaving for my hotel. 

 As I drove out of the gates of Haruto's Chashitsu, my headlights caught a young boy walking in the rain with an umbrella over his head by the roadside outside the gates. I slowed down inorder not to splash the puddle waters on him. As the Maybach crotched passed him, he waved at me, thumbing a ride. 

 He wore a school bag but what caught me off guard were his eyes. 

 They were green coloured.