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"I am very sorry to hear about the fate of your honored mother." Umou replies. "Does news of your father ever reach you?" Covertly, the maid has pulled the cloth that she'd been working with from out of her sleeve. She began scrubbing the already-polished stones in the garden as she watched Luna work with her brushes, enthralled in the grace of the other girls' movements.

((12))

Umou, sensing a delicate subject, remains silent while doing her cleaning. After awhile, she realizes that she has scrubbed all of the pathways in the garden. Even though she wishes to view Luna painting, her need to feel useful compells her not to pretend that she is doing further cleaning when none needs to be done. She rises from her kneeling spot and dusts off her hands on her already-not-too-clean robes. Pausing before she heads inside to do some more sweeping, she asks Luna "I beg your pardon for asking, but am I guessing correctly by your dress that you're a maiko, on the path of becoming a geisha? I know I should know these things but I'm still learning," she says, apologetically.

((Yay! One of my lucky numbers, 13!))

"My humble thanks!" Umou, grateful for the break, kneels on the ground to watch the painting continue. "I hope I am not being too forward in saying this, but I believe that any geisha that has sense in these matters would show her wisdom well by choosing you as a Little Sister. It is obvious that when you become a geisha, your customers will be many." As a lover of words, Umou is careful to stress the 'when' in the sentence.

((14))

Umou cranes her head, watching as the flowers are being painted. She had grown concerned for Luna's situation, but the other young woman's calming voice had helped to put her at ease.

Having a tendency to daydream, especially after working hard, Umou allows herself to watch the stream that runs through the okiya garden, and the beautiful lillies that float on its surface.

((OOC: In terms of the guild rules, must there be an older sister before a person can become a geisha?)) ((15))

((Yes))

Luna smiled at Reijin. "You look beautiful among the Sakura petals." She worked suprisingly quickly getting the kimono colors started and the skin tones. after she got the basic layout Reijin could relax and no longer have to hold the pose. "I paint depending on my mood and you are very beautiful Reijin-chan it makes me happy to paint you." She touched the delicate colors of her silk kimono and using a fanned out brush moved to do the hair strokes in rich color.

Feeling sleepy at the end of the day, Umou set about doing any of the chores required of her as a maid. She swept, cleaned and polished whatever areas that she could find. Not quite knowing where the maid's quarters were, she returned to the garden and found a shady corner, where she knelt and went quickly to sleep, a handy trick she'd learned to while living on the streets.

((16))

Umou heard a quiet voice, calling from the entrance, saying "Hello?" She scrambled awake and hurried into the house and found another girl in the kitchen, making tea. Still unsure of ranks and who was whom, she greeted the other young woman with a deep bow. "Welcome to the Mizunoyuri Okiya! This humble person's name is Umou. May I have the honor of serving your tea?"

((17))

Kaori hummed softly as she clenaed the kitchin. there was not much to do just the tea pot she had used and the cup. She quickly whiped everthing down and moved to the hall way. there must be somethign eles she could do. She searched down the hallways for a broom closte of sorts.

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