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 Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:22 pm
Hearing herself be introduced, Atsuko straightened up, smiling up at the woman with badly hidden admiration. With all the Shirabyoshi she saw around, you would think that she would have gotten over her awe, but no. She always felt lucky when she managed to run into someone who earned what she was aspiring to be.
"Hello," She replied with a small grin, giving another little bow, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." When she looked up again, she paused, glancing from Reizei, to Shinju, and then back. "Sorry for suddenly barging in on your conversation like that. I finished my chores early, and with all this free time..."
She trailed off, sighing and puffing out her cheeks. "There's nothing to do. I thought I could pass the time in the garden, and well..." She motioned around her, "Here I am."
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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:18 pm
Reizei nodded once again to Shinju, looking quite pleased with the shirabyoshi. It was always good to have talent in his court as well as women who would surely uphold the reputation of the court. If he could have observed every shirabyoshi, he would have. Still, there were many of the women and it could take eons to do such a thing. It was an impossibility, but it was nice to appreciate the shirabyoshi he did see every once in a while.
The man gazed in amusement to Atsuko, noting her admiration of the woman before her. He found it adorable, to say the least, although he objected slightly to his adopted younger sister becoming a shirabyoshi. It was so much work when he could take perfectly good care of the girl! Really, it would have been preferable if she could just accept his utter support instead of pursuing this, but he could understand that it was a dream of hers, especially now with her expression. As someone who would be sure to cave to Atsuko's every desire, Reizei understood that he couldn't force her away from this.
"Atsuko-chan should always come to see me when she has free time!" Reizei replied brightly, reaching down to pet the young maid's hair in a loving little manner. "I'm sure Shinju-san does not mind, either." The emperor added, nodding to the shirabyoshi yet again in awknowledgment. It felt nice to flaunt Atsuko around, he'd noticed.
"I am shocked that you do have free time though, Imouto-chan. You have a long road ahead of you before you can be anything like Shinju-san." Reizei smiled indulgently, using Shinju as the shining example of a shirabyoshi for his adopted sibling. This would be good encouragement, right? It was certainly better to accept Atsuko's wishes than to argue with her over them. He didn't want her to go beastly on him for his difference in philosophy.
His gaze returned to Shinju as he continued to absently pat at Atsuko's head. "She insists on becoming a shirabyoshi." He explained as if Atsuko were a little child who didn't know any better than to have enormous dreams.
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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:34 pm
 Shinju regarded the Atsuko, "Pleasure to meet you, too." She smiled with a gentle ease about her face and listened to the emperor talking to and about his little sister. It was nice to see someone care for a young girl as much as he was showing. "Of course I don't mind," Shinju replied, taking a small bow. She didn't want to be rude, and she wouldn't be anyways. Her heart had much love for this place and those that are in it.
When Reizei mentioned that Atsuko wants to become a Shirabyoshi, Shinju couldn't help but smile. She knew the committment that it took for her to reach this most important level in her life, and she couldn't be happier with the fact that she made it this far. Shinju also felt a slight blush form on her cheeks with all the praise and encouragment the emperor had been giving her. She felt honored that Atsuko wanted to become what she achieved. "Really?" Her gazed turned to the young maid. "It's quite an honor, Atsuko-chan, to become a Shirabyoshi. You have to practice long and hard to become what we are." She nodded her head in remembering her training and a maid and student. "You'll be very happy with the results, I'm sure."
Then she turned to Reizei and smiled. "I'm sure you'll be very proud of her as well, your majesty." Shinju felt confident in her words. She was very proud of her achievements in being a Shirabyoshi. She knew no other life and didn't want to know any other. This life was perfect for her and it suited her well...despite her being a hot-head sometimes, but what woman isn't?
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:04 pm
She tore her gaze away from the Shirabyoshi, turning her attention onto the emperor. "But onii-sama, I'm always worried that you're busy when I feel like visiting you, and Mikado-san..." She trailed off, making a face. She wasn't even going to finish what Mikado thought of her, or vice versa. "He's bound to hear about today too." She added, glancing around at the attendants.
She perked up, attentive when Shinju spoke, before a grin spread across her face. "Yes, I'll do my best! I'll be sure to work as hard as I can." She beamed, nodding her head with determination, "I'm sure that there will be a lot of obstacles that I'll have to jump - and stumble - over along the way, but..." She gave a little shrug, seeming more like an eager puppy right now rather than her usual, somewhat closed off self.
Turning back to Reizei, she frowned thoughtfully at his words. "Yes, that's true..." She hesitated, "Perhaps I should go back and ask for more chores, or see if there's anything I can help with." Atsuko chewed on her bottom lip. She would have to change back into her dirty clothing if she wanted to work on more chores, though. There was no reason for her to get both sets of clothes dirty.
Her cheeks colored a little bit, and she smiled up at Shinju. "That's only if I manage to become a Shirabyoshi," She pointed out quietly, "I'm only a maid right now. I have a long path ahead of me, which will be filled with many problems and dilemmas, I'm sure."
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:40 am
Reizei smiled at Shinju's agreeable nature, relieved that the woman seemed perfectly willing to accept the situation at hand. Many women of the court would have disapproved horribly and had a hard time showing it, but he could tell that with this shirabyoshi that was not the case. It was apparent that she wished well upon his adopted younger sister, which warmed him considerably to her. Sincerity was such a virtue.
He listened to what the woman had to say with the traces of a smile remaining on his face, although he looked plunged into thought. It was hard to imagine that the little girl before him would become one of these mysterious women who danced with a sword. He nodded absently at Shinju's last statement; of course he'd be proud of Atsuko when she finally reached that point, but it was a hard thing to imagine or come to terms to. He selfishly wanted to keep the girl as his younger sister and control all aspects of her life, even if he knew this was not an option.
"Well, it's always okay to check." Reizei was jolted out of his reverie by Atsuko's speech. Mikado would be so pleased that he was becoming effective. "Mikado-san will be Mikado-san. There's nothing we can do about that! You've just got to get past him." The emperor sighed, absently rubbing the edge of his sleeve - heavy decorative silk brocade - between two fingers, smiling thinly in encouragement to Atsuko as the girl described her dreams although it seemed like much too much work to the man.
"Shouldn't you keep your freedom as long as you can?" He added with another small trace of a teasing smile. They always did seem to work Atsuko like a slave, and he was tempted to pull a few strings, but he was well aware that he'd be shunned by the complicated young girl if she ever found out and that because of this Mikado would be only too willing to tell her every juicy detail of the emperor's intervention in her life. Still, he'd figure out other ways to help her, as it was oddly enjoyable to be concerned about someone's welfare in this manner.
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:48 pm
Shinju smiled as the young maid appreciated the words that she spoke. In the past, Shinju never thought that she was good at giving advice, but it seemed like she did a good job this time. She was pleased with the result. "It'll be something you'll be very pleased with in the end, Atsuko-chan." She smiled to show her approval of her words.
Shinju listened to the two conversate, then looked off toward the performance hall, where she would have to go to practice once more today before she would turn in for the night. She looked back over to the adoptive brother and sister, wondering what would happen in Atsuko-chan's future, and if she would be by her side later on in a performance.
Shinju didn't want to be rude, but she had to speak up. "Pardon me, your majesty, but I have to go to the performance hall now to practice my sword dancing." Her smile was everything that showed her commitment in her job, her way of life. She bowed to Reizei and Atsuko-chan before she started her way back up the path toward the performance hall.
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:39 pm
******** The slow hum of a tune buzzed through the air as Soya lightly brushed the flowers as she walked. Words broke out for the tune as she carried out song in her voice, "Donguri korokoro dunburiko, O-ike ni hamatte saa taiben. " Turning her direction to walk the other way, she hurried her walking towards the pond. "Dojou ga detekite konnichi wa. " she sang as she bent down to poke her finger inside the small pond near the center. "Botcha isshou ni asobimashou.
Pulling her finger out, Soya returned to humming the tune again. She was quite bored and had no one to talk to. She had hoped some fish would come to the surface to play or that the young flowers would open so they could listen. However, none seemed to want her company. Sighing heavily, Soya wished heavily for something to happen. Maybe if she was lucky, a spirit of the court would visit her. One had come before, but didn't keep her company very long.
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:46 pm
Akemi had grown bored indoors, reading a favorite of hers, and so had decided to take a walk outside where the weather seemed bright and pleasant. Before she left, the Shirabyoshi remembered to put on some robes she wouldn't mind getting ruined, recalling the one time she had worn her favorite ones outdoors and wound up taking a surprise bath in the koi pond. Once again the woman was unable to resist the pull of curiosity and tranquility and so she made her way to the very same pond once more. Her curiosity was only piqued when she heard the sound of a youthful voice humming.
A small smile touched her lips as she watched the young girl play near the pond, continuing to hum as if she had few cares in the world. Finally, after a small time of watching, the woman was unable to resist and took a seat on a nearby rock before speaking up to the youth.
"Why is it you hum to yourself and sigh as if you are disappointed in the day?" She paused and smiled, "It is a beautiful day outside, hardly one to be sad about!"
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:46 am
Bouncing up from the female voice directed towards her, a small smile blossomed itself on the young girl's face. She turned around and stood there, a little stunned. It was a Shirabyoshi! She had made contact with another before. However, the one she had been graced with the the presence before seemed annoyed with her. She remembered her having an annoyed tone with her, not such a gentle one like the one offered. Turning her gaze towards the woman, Soya nodded her head with a smile still plastered upon her face.
"I am quite lonely..." Soya replied, not stuttering as she realized she had just pulled a rude gesture. She should have greeted her superior first, but she it had been quite a while since someone addressed her so warmly. "I had not had anyone to talk to since the cicadas stopped singing. I am quite saddened since no one has wanted my company..."
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:57 am
The Shirabyoshi couldn't help but give an amused smile at the way the young girl bounced and smiled, clearly normally a chipper spirit, or at the way she seemed stunned by the fact the older woman had stopped to talk to her. Akemi's smile only grew when the young lady forgot the proper introductions and instead went straight to the source of her problem. Given that the girl was young, Akemi merely smiled before settling herself down on a rock near to the pond, carefully arranging her robes to avoid getting too much dirt or water on them. Once properly seated, the Shirabyoshi returned her attention to the younger girl, folding her hands neatly in her lap as she listened to the girl's problem.
With the reason for the youth's presence here, it did not surprise Akemi much that the young girl was not finding many to talk or play with. Slightly, the woman's head tilted, "Perhaps, little one, you have not been looking in the right places?" She paused only slightly before continuing again, in a warm and kind tone of voice, "Many are the people who would want your company, but not when your company would take time away from your lessons to become a Shirabyoshi." Akemi smiled to show she meant this not in a harsh way, but as a gentle reminder, before tilting her head to one side again, "Have you not found any others your age to talk to, or play with?" Those would be the best people for the young girl to be around, after all...
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:16 pm
Soya batted her lashed eyes as she heard her superior speak. The Shirabyoshi was truly right. Most of the other higher-ups did pass every so often to question her on how her studying was. She would always answer the same way that it was fine and that they hard nothing to worry about if they were to offer her help. In truth, the maid had been skipping her studies lately, looking for the company of another. She had never taken her studies seriously, even though she should have if she wanted to reach her dream of becoming a Shirabyoshi herself. Letting a small sigh whisper passed her lips, the young maid took a step closer towards the older woman. "I have not found anyone..." she said, a lonesome tone muttering its way through her voice.
"All the other maids are busy cleaning, all the students are busy studying and all the Shirabyoshi are busy performing. I seem to be the only one without having something to do." Pausing for a bit, Soya watched the other. Her kimono was stunning. Soya did not want to release her jealousy but the feeling welled up inside her. Her simple purple clothing clothing did not seem to satisfy her. The maid wanted something else, though she did not come out and say so. "I wish I could have someone to play with, so I came out to the garden. However, not even the garden wants to play with me." Pointing towards the closed buds, Soya frowned. "The flowers want to rest." Pointing towards the pond, Soya's frown deepened. "The fish want to swim. But where does that leave me? I do not want to waste away like the last leaf upon the tree, left all alone while my friends are upon the ground enjoying their own company..."
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:18 am
Miu quietly stepped though the before sunrise mist, bare feet damp from dew. She had a calm to her that didn't mirror her current amusement. She'd been having difficulty sleeping, and it was so difficult to amuse herself in mornings. She'd taken to visiting these gardens. Pretending to herself she was a captive maiden escaping. Then once she'd had a small laugh to herself she settled to attempting to think of verses before people woke and disturbed her.
After selecting a drooping and attractive tree, the young noblewoman settled herself with her mind and eyes darting around, searching for birds and other inspiration a moment before closing. Humming softly as her mind worked over prose.
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:24 pm
Shizuka walked gracefully through the gardens in full regalia, her maroon lips pursed as she softly hummed a tune, paying close attention to each note. She had a hand place delicately before her as she walked, lightly plucking imaginary strings as if to emulate playing the biwa, a four-stringed instrument.
The beauty of the gardens made it the perfect place to personally practice, although this situation was more out of her desire to enjoy herself. She supposed she even went back to her duties in times of leisure, but that was the signed of a skilled shirabyoshi. She let loose a sigh as the song ended, folding her hands in front of her as she continued to walk the paths of the garden, searching for any form of company she could locate.
Her eyes soon fell upon the noblewoman seated beneath the tree and the dancer slowly approached. "Good morning." She greeted, offering Miu a small smile although she barely recognized the woman.
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:14 pm
The girl blinked slowly up at the other woman with dazed wonder for a moment. She'd been so lost in thought and mostly focused on a lovely bird preening in a branch she'd been completely thrown off by seeing another human. She tilted her head and regained active thought and smiled politely. Nodding in greeting to the preformer and feeling a bit overwhelmed.
By the time Miu could manage to gather words she felt silly for taking her time to respond and whispered a soft, "Hello." Looking away shyly and frowning at herself before trying to recenter herself and be more outgoing.
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:47 am
Shizuka noted Miu's dazed manner and smiled absently; such simple things such as relaxing to the point of nearly leaving the world were beyond the shirabyoshi, but she didn't mind. It made sense that she'd been taught to value work over daydreaming, but this noblewoman had no restraint when it came to daydreams. It was perfectly admissible, if not acceptable for her to exit the world of reality every once in a while.
The shirabyoshi blinked at Miu's seemingly shy demeanor before recovering quickly. "I am Shizuka-gozen." She replied formally. Perhaps this noblewoman could serve as good company, after all, Shizuka rarely got the chance to speak to noblewomen. They were naturally enemies; shirabyoshi were not prostitutes, but many noblewomen considered them as such.
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