The Many Masks of a Geisha

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Now that Brigantia was out of the way, Fumiko could finish her job. As much as she loathed her punishment she wouldn't quit it all together just because of the hanyou. Lord Ainu was easy enough to handle, if only because he wasn't very interested. She knew exactly why but was forced to accept it for the time being.

On elegant wedged sandals she met Ryuu in one of the halls and bowed sweetly. "Will you be leaving soon, Lord Ryuu?" she asked, seeming to be out of polite necessity but more to satisfy her own curiosity.

[Naraku]

Ryuu remain in the hall when looking about to make sure all was fine with the auras around him. As if doing an extra security check before leaving from his lack of trust in such things. On his way down the hall now and towards the exit the dragon stops when seeing the panda step out and lightly nods towards her to meet with her bow. “Yes, I think it is time that I take my leave. Such peace talks are truly not made for such as I. I do believe I will start sending Kurai to such things in my steed.”

He lightly then turns and looks towards the panda as he slightly smiles to her as she was now before him. His hand lightly reaches down into a pocket where he pulls out a flower that he got earlier and holds it up to his mid level before offering it to the panda.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Surprised by the gesture, Fumiko blinked at the offering before accepting it, her fingers lingering on his own before taking it completely in her hands. She bowed again in thanks, bringing the flower to her face to hide the smile as she looked up at him. "You sure went through a lot of trouble for something you are not made for, my Lord." she commented slyly, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him.

[Naraku]

He knew she was being coy with him which only smirked at her. “It would seem so. Though the outcome work out well.” He lightly added before shaking his head some. Besides if I did not come then I would not of manage to come across one such as yourself.” He added in before nodding to her once more before stepping to the side for her to go on if she had work to be done as he was partly sure he wore his welcome out long ago.

He adds slightly before letting her leave. “I will let you be on your way, though if your ever in the North you could always see if I am there.” he lightly chuckles a bit at the statement.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

What a compliment! It wasn't very original but it made all the difference when it came from someone with such high status and power. It even made her blush as she shyly kept her eyes on the flower kept in her hands. Oh, but he was dismissing her already? Unphased, but highly insulted she bowed lightly. "I will keep that in mind. Please, allow me to walk you out."

[Naraku]

He lightly holds his hand up as if to halt her there. "Do you not have other duties. Do not get me wrong.. I enjoy your company but I do not wish to be any more of a bother to you then i sure I have been." He said such though his voice seem still partly dark and deep. He looks away a bit with a light sigh escaping from him.

"Besides it is not right of me to try and take up the time of a lady." He added to his previous statement partly holding her much higher then her own station, though he just stood there and was expecting her to just return back to her duties before he went out on his own.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Oh how noble! Her sarcastic thought made her facial expression turn slightly cold. Twirling the flower between nimble fingers she stepped forward and past him, where he was stuck watching her back. "I would not still be here if you were a bother, my Lord." she stated, before gesturing toward him with her hand. "I will walk with you, come on." she beckoned him forward.

[Naraku]

He lightly chuckles a bit from her eagerness. “If you insist.” He steps forward and begins walking on behind the demon. Though because of her his attention to those else within the castle was quickly forgotten and he no longer spent time following the auras that he would normally be able to sense.

“I must ask...” He thought for a bit when following after her. “Why is it, one such as yourself chose to serve?” He ask as it was a familiar question that he even asked Birdie earlier that day. His red eyes seem to now gaze over the panda while he understood being below someone in charge but a life of servitude still lost him. He partly understood of paying a life dept that birdie gave but this demon before him could not be as fragile as a half breed so his confusion remain.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Oh? Such a question. She smiled slyly to herself before sighing in dismay. She brought a hand to her cheek, seemingly in distress. "Alas, I would rather have a better life for myself and a future husband, but I must serve in order to survive." she sighed again, lowering her head and slowing in steps as she spoke. "I have no other place to go, not enough money to my own name."

[Naraku]

Ryuu pauses a moment while his mind scan over such. Such things still was hard to comprehend a demon having to live such a way. Did she possibly challenge Sesshomaru's rule.. and her punishment was into servitude. He could actually see such from Sesshomaru though had more doubt such was true of her. Maybe a weak demon who never learn to fight and defend. Clearly there was many within the world as he often sees such always running in fear of some petty beast.

He lightly sighs some before his hand reaches out towards her, gripping at the panda's wrist. He pulls a bit quickly to swing her around to face him once again as his red eyes peer back down into her own in a sort of glare. “Then maybe it is time for you to step out from such a place to find what it is you seek. If you truly are ready then you may travel with me.”

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Surprised, she look up into his eyes and her face twisted into despair as she quickly shook her head. "Oh, no, I couldn't. I am not a demon for travel. I have no money to survive on my own. I'm not a hunter, I'm nothing but an entertainer. I wish I didn't have to work, but I must if I wish for a roof over my head and food to eat every night." She had to push harder, he seemed not get her dismay or what it was that she truly seeked. She wanted luxury, money, and no worries in the world with beautiful kimonos and servants at her feet instead of the other way around. All of that came down to money...which Ryuu had a lot of.

[Naraku]

He raises his brow some while staring back to her getting mix messages from the panda as he lightly spoke back to her. “If you are nothing but an entertainer, then should you not enjoy your work...? Besides I find such things every night upon my travels. I have it hard to believe you would have hard with such trivial matters.” He adds partly making it seem that such an approach was not the way to go with him. Though his hand begins to lightly loosen and release her hand.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

She was starting to catch onto what he was saying. Every night on his travels? At first she had assumed he was like Lord Sesshoumaru who would leave the castle for long periods of time. But was Ryuu constantly traveling, never settling down? He had even refused to sleep in doors and had camped out in front of the western fortress! Tears formed in her eyes at the hope he had given her and had quickly shot down. He wanted an entertainer, but she didn't want to move from one boss to another boss. Including one where she would constantly be on the go. Disappointed, she took her hand back and rubbed her wrist. "You can not help me with what I seek, it seems."

She smiled sadly, shaking her head as she bowed. "E-Excuse me." She bowed quickly, asking to be dismissed as she tried to walk away.

[Naraku]

He steps back from her as the turn of her reactions only further confused the dragon. “I am sorry, but I do not understand. But you speak that you wish to be free of having to serve, and when I offer a life for you to be free from such you are hurt by my suggestion.. It seems that maybe I am being left out of what it is you are wanting as of now.” He stares back to her a bit more stern while his hand reaches to lightly tap a claw upon the hilt of his sword as he was now doing his best to study the confusing panda.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

He was starting to irritate her. Yes, she wanted to be free of having to serve. But that's not what he was trying to give her. "You're suggestion was for me to travel with you. I wish to be free of servitude and hardships. What kind of life is there to hunt down food, to constantly wander and find shelter? To sleep outside in the wilderness?" She sighed, rubbing her face with her hand. "I don't have the skills to survive like that." She was nothing but an entertainer. Entertainers didn't skin and cook their food. They didn't make fires and build shelters in the rain. Couldn't he see how she dressed that she couldn't live that way.

"Do I look like someone that would want a life in the wild?" she glared at him, gesturing at her fancy clothes and assorted hairstyle. Tears of frustration formed as she tried to breath deeply. He had given her hope, to give her a way out. But it wasn't a way out!! Living in servitude as she was was still better than living just to survive.