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"Welcome Yukiko-chan," Tora greeted with a smile, remembering how she felt her first time as a maiko. Tora was still thinking of a story she could tell.

"Wel....big liar is our game?"
Miharu grinned and poured drinks for everone, giving Shagatsu-san's to him first, and then passing the rest out in order of rank. It seemed like the thing to do, at least so Miharu thought. She sat down again and cleared her throat,

"I do believe I have thought of a story. Or rather, a lie and a truth."

She paused, took a sip of sake and continued into her story,

"Once upon a time, (as all good stories begin), there was a beautiful eta girl who worked in a morgue in a town by the sea. Her hands were as soft as silk from the embalming fluids, her hair long and thick, and her skin as pale as the first snow. She was a great beauty, as you can tell from my description, but her sin was to be born of an untouchable caste. SO, anyway, fast forward a couple of years until the girl reaches maidenhood. There is a death in a great samurai family in the town, and of course, the body comes to the best funeral parlor in the area. She embalms the man and brings the body back to the house, where she happens to see the son of the man she just embalmed. It was love at first sight, though they had to be discreet about it. Even so, eventually the affair was found out, and the pair was sent to be exiled in a distant town. They setttled in the largest house there, and lived, not-so-happily ever after, as the rumors sprend and the village people shunned the couple and their new daugther. The daugther grew up an outcast in the village, learning to read and enjoy her music practice, instead of friends. Eventually, the family started to lose money and the girl had to be sent away, to a city on the other side of the world, or so it seemed. Then, the holocaust was complete when the angry kami distroyed the home in a great earthquake, killing all inside. And that is the end of one tale and the beginning of another."

"Whew thats a tough one! That girl sounds pretty.... But I dont think embalming fluid makes your skin soft... does it?" Shagatsu asked in confusion.

"I'm not sure, Shagatsu-san," Tora smiled. She had no idea what went on in those horrible rooms. She didn't much like death- for some odd reason she associated it with filth and disease. Maybe because everyone she knew who'd died, died with a horrible disease. Her Aunt died from TB and a cousin from measles, and many others.

"Okay, now that you're all interested, I'll tell the second one."

Miharu settled herself down into the cushion,

"Once upon another time, the daugther of the Eta and the Samurai had reached a marriageable age, and was courted by many suitors who did not know her heritage. One became particularly important to the girl, and she pleaded with her family to arrange the marriage. They relented, for the family he came from had made the largest offer for her. They were to be married in the fall. All was peaceful. Except, the suitor had another girl who had wanted him. She decided to ruin the whole thing by exposing the girl's parentage, or lack thereof. She found the boy and told him, which sadly, changed his mind. The marriage was called off. And the girl was sent away, for no one would marry a girl like her."

She finished and waited for guesses

'I'm not sure which one, I cannot decide.' Yokome said.