Don't be fooled...all is not well... Oh, and a shameless plug! Tomihatsu's house is the first house that I actually created from the ground up and fully furnished myself. I can't believe how beautiful it turned out. Maybe I'll just post some random pics of it later.
------------------------------------
Over the next months, I decided to fight some of my demons and go meet Tomihatsu. It wouldn't be an easy thing for me to do, and I understood that she probably didn't want to meet with me. I was surprised when she invited me to have lunch at her house.
The place was huge, and I couldn't believe that she lived there. She showed me to the living room where we sat down to have tea. One of her children served us. Everything was so traditional. I felt so out of place.
"Thank you Hatsumomo."
The two nodded at each other before Hatsumomo left. Tomihatsu served tea, then waited for me to begin.
"I guess I wanted to bridge the gap between us"
She smiled sweetly, her painted lips curled.
"Over the years I've entertained the the hope that maybe you would. Forgive me if I seemed cold earlier. It was not my intention to make you angry."
"Well, You could have fooled me."
"I admit," she laughed, "that it wasn't my intention to make you feel welcome, either."
We were silent a while, and I took in my urroundings. The place was beautiful. Somehow, it seemed so much more expensive, so much nicer than my house.
"Funny," Tomihatsu began, "how we can do the same thing--entertain--and yet occuby two completely different worlds."
I nodded, and we lapsed into another slince. We sipped our tea as a cool breeze came in through the back door. Everything seemed so authentic. Tomihatsu must have been reading my thoughts.
"My husband decided that I needed the most expensive things. He loved to buy me Kimono. They were some of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen. In fact, when you called me, I decided to give you a gift. As a peace offereing, and to help you understand my world."
This was my sister, beautifu geisha, generous and charming.
"You were bethrothed?"
"Yes, to a wealthy lawyer. It was the best match, according to mother. She knew he would be able to take care of me. Mameha, please bring the package for your aunt."
A slender thing in a beautiful kimono appeared at the door.
"Yes mama."
She closed the door behind her, only to appear later with a small package. She placed it in front of me, bowed and backed away.
Tomihatsu smiled and gestured for me to open the box. I opened it and was shocked. It was a fine silk kimono. I couldn't believe that such a thing was meant for me.
"I don't wear it much anymore. If you want, I can help you put it on."
I could only nod. Being dressed in such a fine garment made me feel...elegent.
It was a differend feeling from wearing Dior or Versace. I guess, dressed as a geisha, I began to understand the power of the robe. It made you feel completely different. Timeless, almost. I knew I'd never feel that way again.
Tomihatsu even did my hair and makeup. So, for ten minutes, I was a real geisha. No one would have really known the difference between the two of us. Tomihatsu smiled at me.
"This is what mother loved. This is the world that I love, that my daughters will come to love as well."
I nodded as she began to help me undress. Maybe I wouldn't be a part of the world my sister was, but not I could better understand it. I hugged my sister, thankful for the opportunity.
"You didn't have to do this."
"Yes, I did. I think I've been waiting for this for my entire adult life. I was hoping that you'd come back one day. Mother said to give you time, that even if you didn't forgive her, you wouldn't punish me."
"Tomi, I'm going to have my second child and...and I want you to be there. I want you to be a part of my life again."
"Of course, Kokoro. I would love to be a part of your life, if you would let me."
I nodded as we sat down again at the table in the living room.
"My husband is opening a new teahouse next week, and I'll be entertaining there. I would love it if you could come with me. You could wear the kimono."
"Of course. If I can, I'll make it."
When I got back home, I felt so much better about everything. I guess I'm starting to be mature, and making things right with my life. Ayato and I have avoided a major conflict for now, but I don't think this is the end for us. There were still a lot of issues that we both needed to work out.
Ayato was really happy to be ahinv a child, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
When I got back, he told Dionus and I that we all needed a change. We decided to move. Kimora had moved in with Takeshi when she cound out that she was having triplets. They have a beautiful ranch-style house. Even so, our house had begun to feel crowded. Ayato was right in thinking it was time to move. Dionus was a little unhappy, but I knew he'd get over it.
As I began to show, I got more nervous. Kimora and I had been playing local spots. We still, inexplicably, drew large crowds. We'd been out of the scene for quite some time, but we still had some diehard fans. Ayato made sure that there was no smoke so as not to endanger his baby. Unfortunately, he became more and more possesive. I don't know if it was me or my hormones raging, but his protectiveness was really beginning to bother me.
"Well, they want to furnish the house."
"Look, Ayato, I really don't care. Vera Wang, Chanel, Gucci, what does it matter?"
"Geez, Ko, do you have to be so bitch?"
"I'm pregnant, and I'm
hot."
Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Dionus yelling that it was winter and I shouldn't be hot. What does he know anyway? I know Ayato sure did hope I'd hurry up and give birth. He wasn't the only one.
Dionus begged ayato to wait until the baby was born before we moved. He made many executive decisions (furniture, paint, wood or marble) on my behalf. He was such a dear. Whenever Kimora brought the kids to visit, she'd banish me to the basement after a while. She knew, and hoped, that this would blow over quickly. Ayato and I didn't really see too much of each other during my pregnancy. That was ok though, because I don't think we'd still be together if we did.
