Nerves tore at my insides, threatening to bring up my breakfast. I was already painted up, wearing the cherry blossom design, with a few slight modifications. The paint was now all gone, but I looked the best I possibly could.“Good luck,” Mhairi whispered as Edward escorted me out to Yaru's car. I didn't reply, unable to. I was going to need more than luck.Yaru sat waiting, his eyes meeting mine.“Take me to Kioshi,” I said before he could ask and I could change my mind.“Kioshi? Are you sure?”“Yes,” I replied, not sure at all. But it was the best plan I could think of. And I'd been up most of the night going over alternatives and possible ways it could go wrong. It was my best shot.“He's going to be the hardest to convince of your innocence in all this,” Yaru replied.“I know. And so does everyone else.”“Big gamble. Do you think you can lie that well?”“I did last night, didn't I?”“Yes, my dear. Far better than I'd have ever expected, I must confess.”I didn't reply, agreeing wi
“Speak, Courtesan. Say what it is you've come to say so I may go back to my work. But do not expect me to believe your honeyed lies.”I exhaled, unable to look at him.“I was awake all night, planning, repeating what I wanted, what I needed to say. All the other courtesans, Daniel, the guards, staff, even Yaru, depend on me somehow fixing all this. The debt on my head is so large that if I don't, they'll all be sold, laid off or tainted.”I glanced up at him, but his face hadn't changed.“Knowing they all need me, I thought I was prepared to say whatever would fix this. To utter whatever lies were required.”He folded his arms, letting out an almost satisfied hmmph at my admission.“But I cannot lie to you. In truth, I never intended to claim virginity when I was resurrected. The initial decision was taken out of my hands. But this one has not been. The claim I had a husband is true. And we were intimate.” I paused as I felt the first tear fall, fighting to keep my voice steady while I
My feet ached as I slumped down in Daniel's office. For three days straight I'd done nothing but sit in each of the three major locations I'd been regularly visiting and retell my story again, and again. Many had come to talk over how I could have had a husband yet not consummated my marriage. Time and time again I told a tragic tale, Yaru helping me stay just consistent enough to keep it believable, while not telling it perfectly the same every time.Daniel had barely spoken to me since hearing my confession, but he sat opposite me now, studying me.“You're exhausted. But Yaru tells me you've done a good job at undoing the damage.”“I've quelled the rumours. They won't go any further, but not everyone's opinion is restored. And some are still avoiding me.”“You'll have to keep trying, then. You'll need six at your unveiling.”“I know.”Silence fell between us.“How are the others faring? Has their average pay been hit hard by all this?”“They're struggling, but only outside of the Jap
Groaning, I pushed the bed covers back. Mhairi stood nearby, having just given me a shake.“Time to get up,” she said, not looking much happier to be awake. I fought back my true reaction as I spotted Yaru near the door. If he was here we must have both slept later than we ought.By the time I was on my feet and Mhairi and I were selecting our outfits for the day, he had come all the way into the room. Missing nothing, he took in the present from James.“Oh, this is a useful gift, considering the circumstances,” Yaru said, holding up the chains and cuffs. “Bring them, but don't put them on yet.”“So, neon design today then,” I replied, knowing the bondage wear would look very out of place with the Japanese design.Yaru nodded as he handed me the gift. We both ignored the fact he'd seen and read the card. No part of me felt like I needed to point out that another resurrected had proven useful as an ally. My mentor didn't miss this sort of thing. He'd have realised.I was inside the car
Yaru politely coughed before stepping forward.“I know you're very good at what you do, and I hate to rush an expert, but Auralia has other engagements to get to as soon as possible. Perhaps we should move on to somewhere where you can begin?”Rick didn't reply, merely looking at Yaru as if he was a fly on his dessert.“I don't think we should rush, Yaru,” I replied. “I'm sure the colonel won't take longer than necessary.”I tried to give him a small smile, to show I was going to defer to his judgement. Anything that might get him to relax. The corners of his mouth twitched up, but he still didn't move.“My dojo is this way. You may come with me and try to learn something. Yaru, I must insist you wait here.”“But—” Yaru moved forward again, but Rick quickly raised an arm, cutting my mentor off.“Edward will accompany her if you must have someone as her chaperone, but otherwise I will have no one else in my dojo while I train the courtesan.”Yaru bowed his assent to the demands, but I c
I tried not to lose the delicious dinner I'd eaten as Yaru handed me the small neon collar and the chains that attached it to two cuffs.“My contact informs me Keaton is there currently. If you stand any chance of winning him back, we'll need to seize the moment.” Yaru hadn't said anything new or unreasonable. It was true, I needed to pick my moments carefully. But I still didn't like the idea of putting on the bondage wear.Pushing my fear aside, I lifted the collar into place. Yaru clipped it shut before I could change my mind. It could feel it all the way around my neck, but James had picked a good size and it wasn't too tight. Not long later I was wearing the cuffs as well, the tinkling of chains evident every time I moved. Yaru gave me the key to unlock them, which I tucked inside my clutch bag, zipping it up safely.You've just got to get his attention. Show him you're submissive, but confident. He liked that before. The pep talk helped calm my nerves and reduce the shaking as I
I reluctantly got out of bed to face another day. The ups and downs of the last week or so were finally getting to me, along with the worry that I wouldn't have enough people at my unveiling. So far I had four who'd said they'd come. Tomichii, James, Keaton and Aiden. Of course, I still had to officially invite them, but it was only four. Yaru had made it clear I needed six.And I wasn't the only one who was showing signs of tiredness. Mhairi was slower than before, yawning more than once while we got ready together. We spoke little, barely dressed by the time Yaru and Edward came to fetch me.“Where are we going today?” I asked. Yaru held up several plain white envelopes.“It's time to begin giving these out.” He handed them to Mhairi, who tucked them in a case and clutched it to herself. I raised my eyebrows.“A courtesan doesn't do the inviting herself, but has a second. It's considered an honour to be a veiled's second. She represents the courtesan's desires and is meant to help gu
My next destination was the club, but I sat in Yaru's car on the way as he presented me with a box.“Put this on,” he said. “And hurry. You've not got long.”I opened it up to discover a new outfit, a dress that hugged the figure and covered up a significant portion of my painted body. At first I wondered if it would look wrong with the design I was wearing, the blossom not my usual attire for the club, but the dress was almost pure white, almost accentuating the paint that could still be seen. I didn't doubt that the lights of the club would show it up all the more on me. It was designed for me to stand out. I also wondered if the colour was symbolic in another way. After all, I was inviting people to my unveiling. I was meant to be considered pure.Mhairi helped me into it, something not easy while the car moved and whizzed along with all the other traffic. I had barely recovered and sat back down when we arrived. It was time to find Keaton.I strode out ever so slightly ahead of my