Returning to Reality

'U ̄ n...(Ugh...)'

Chouko was the first of the couple to wake up. While her dream had mostly been pleasant, she was lefted with questions.

Where were they? While she couldn't think of any places here in Japan that grew stalks of corn, there had to be a town across sea. Even then, why were she and Naomi overseas in the first place. Geisha's as a whole were something found only in Japan.

Secondly, why were they in that mystery place? Sure, they were in a tea house in an unknown place. What purpose could they serve in such a foreign place? Some sort of cultural enrichment? A gift from Japan. Or perhaps something else. Maybe even the start of a cultural transformation for the town?

Right now, there was no answer she could find. So her attention turned to Naomi. Stirring about quite a bit, her grip around Chouko was quite tight.

'Naomi, nanikaokashī? (Naomi, something wrong?)'

Naomi roused from her slumber, focusing in on her girlfriend for the moment.

'Watashi wa akumu o daite ita (I had a nightmare.)'

Chouko shifted her body about, just enough to be facing Naomi now.

'Dō shita? (What happened?)'

Naomi took a deep breath. Part of her wished to keep it within. How would Chouko react? They had just met after all. Sure, they were both kind of pushing this whole romance thing possibly a bit too fast.

'Mai iko ni naru mae ni jibun o mimashita. (I saw myself before I became a maiko.)'

Chouko did a double take. While she could sort of remember the time before she was thrust into the role of a fledgling maiko, she wasn't entirely sure how long Naomi had been one. Perhaps it was connected to the thing she remembered. No, that couldn't be. So she took a deep breath and let her focus hang onto Naomi.

'Watashi wa gūzen soko ni imashita ka? (Was I there by chance?)'

Naomi's face went crimson, gaze looking away. A nod followed.

'Anata wa watashi o tasukete kuremashita (You helped me through).'

The couple broke away, fimding Asuka right on them. She was already dressed in a black kimono, but her hair needed to be redone.

'Asa. (Morning.)'

Both maiko nodded, getting led over to a closet. Almost by instinct, Naomi and Chouko stripped out of their kimonos and obi's. Pulling it open, they pull out a different red kimono with white patterning. As for the obi's, Chouko had chosen a red one. While Naomi went for a more pink one.

After, Asuka led the couple down the hall.