Masako's liberation

[Masako]

Masako is nervous today, her father will be at the 1st ozashiki she must attend tonight. He sent word by way of her oneesan that she is to do that racy sensuous Tayuu dance again tonight. He has a special gentleman with him that she is to submit her will to.

So later at the ozashiki, Lord Reyasu has her dance, following that he introduces Master Tenumini to her.
To her horror she sees in his eyes her father has promised this man his daughter’s virginity

Masako suddenly and seriously tells her father, “Father, I am a Maiko of the Gion District, I will not give myself away to this man, I no longer care what you do to me, I refuse.”

Before her father can react, Masako starts to raise, only to be jerked back down and right there in front of every one slapped terribly hard.

Then from nowhere okami-san Penowani, who owns the tea house is there. Puts her hand on Lord Reyasu’s arm as she tells him, “Huro Reyasu you have stepped way over the line, You do not own this tea house or my okiya where Masako lives. You are banned from here until I get a letter from the Geisha registrar re-instating you, now leave.

“Masako here my dear come with me…please every one the excitement is over, please resume, geisha dance for your customers.”

In another room sweet mistress Penowani wipes Masako’s eyes, as she tells her, “I am going to see if I can find that very good friend of yours Teruko to be with you, I do not want you out entertaining tonight. I will see to it you both are credited for tonight.

Masako, you do know Lord Reyasu cannot harm you, Huro may be oyabun in the yakuza but they do not control Gion…you poor child, he has exploited you far too long. How very brave of you to stand against him but you alone could stop what he was doing to you.”

Masako has been crying terribly since that happened, partly in fear of her father’s wrath against not just her but her mother.
But after months of hearing the other girls call her such terrible names she had to stop him from what was about to happen tonight.

This is not the 1930s when a young Maiko’s virginity was sold to the highest bidder or any one else.

But what will become of her now, and her tears flow even faster.

[Teruha]

Teruha arrived, still in her full maiko regailia. "Sakura-chan, what is the matter? I was sent a message to come here to see you."

[Masako]

Masako wasn’t crying so much now, but her eyes were all red, and she answers her friend, “Oh, Teruko-san, he did it…my father promised me to a man. I am not ready, I told him so, he hit me, hard…mama-san came to my rescue, but my sweet friend you need not spoil your evening because of me…I will be alright,”

Then bursting out sobbing again, Masako drops her head down as she says, “HE HIT ME, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!!!,” Then mumbling, “He’ll never control me again…I do not care if I have to work in a factory, I will never do his bidding again.

Then in an almost silly voice, “Not that I will not tease the men, but never give them more…honest Teruko-san you need not stay, please go, enjoy yourself, I am going to the okiya and sleep. Hopefully.”

[Teruha]

"I've already cancelled this hour's appointment, so I'll walk you home. I don't think you should be alone right now:"

[Masako]

As the girls walk to the okiya, Masako tells Teruko, “At least from now on whatever I do in the way of flirting, and/or teasing customers will be my idea. I am not going to play it so close to disaster either. Teruko do you think mama-san is right, and father cannot harm my future? He is so scary.”

[Teruha]

"He can try, by spreading false rumors among his friends. I understand he is quite influential. One can only hope that yakuza are not a large percentage of your clientele."

[Masako]

“So I hear tomorrow will probably tell me how upset he really is. He will be at the Emperor’s birthday party. I would rather he talk to me, rather then ignore me. I must get a good nights rest, now especially. And thank you Teruko-san, for being such a good friend during this.”

[Teruha]

"Walking you home is the least I can do. I'll see you tomorrow on the bus."

[Masako]

Once they arrive Masako goes to bed, having enough excitement for today

[Teruha]

Teruha returned to work, though she wasn't out till the wee hours. Her okaasan had arranged things so that she could get to sleep early. It wouldn't do for Teruha to be yawning in front of the Imperial family!

[Masako]

The next morning was a whirlwind for the girls, but strangely Masako was beyond being nervous, more frightened then nervous.

How much pull does her father have with the emperor, how mad is he really, will he indeed cause her to lose some of her patrons, thereby causing her income to drop, which will cause her house, and the tea houses she uses to lose income too.

Possibly she should have just gone along with whatever…

Soon enough the girls are on the bus and on their way to the imperial palace.