Raion had spent the morning sitting near the Shinto Shrine at the edge of His village. He often spent time there alone, contemplating, enjoying the quiet breeze and in season the fragrance of cherry blossom from the beautiful orchard that formed a perfect background to the sanctuary. Today He felt particularly blessed. His spirit had been low, an emptiness had formed and taken hold of Him and would not be moved by any means. No matter how He meditated or pondered the truths of life He was not able to lift the blackness. Then wonder of wonders a small group of boys, undoubtedly playing truant from school had started to fly a magnificent Edo Kite. The decoration was a picture depicting a very beautiful geisha painted in the Ukiyo-e style, brightly colored in reds, yellows and greens. Raion watched as the boys expertly maneuvered the fragile creation in the light winds and was captivated by the dancing form of the geisha as she hung in the sky above Him.
It had been three days since the incident of the kite and Raion had been busy making preparations. Day one He had given up to consideration and design, always the first necessity, the second to construction and testing to ensure that everything was as full proof as theoretically possible. Today was the climax to His thoughts and labors and He waited impatiently for Sakuras arrival. She would be exactly on time of course. Precisely at eleven He would see her outline through the paper door as she knelt and silently slid the screen open to enter. Today she would be wearing a red kimono. She was aware of His liking for that hue and made it a habit to wear a particular favorite of His every Wednesday. She had become as much a creature of habit as He, perhaps finding the feeding of His pleasures as necessary as He found the nourishment.
Sakura waited patiently at the gate. She was always early, normally at least thirty minutes but would not allow even her presence to disturb Him for a moment before her allotted time. She had been training with Him for almost three months but still found it hard to judge if He was happy with her or just patient. From the first time they had met He had shown her great respect, far more respect than she either deserved or desired. Often at night she would lay and hope that tomorrow would be the day He finally used her as violently as she craved but each day He would take just a bite at the peach she offered to the very stone. The last two days had been unsettling, she had become used to their routine, she would generally spend the first few hours working on some floral arrangement or perhaps a little calligraphy and He would sit and read or write whilst occasionally taking time to praise or gently criticize her efforts. The afternoons would invariably bring some degree of shibari and she would finally feel the hands upon her skin she so desired. These last two days He had left her for long periods and she had begun to wonder if He was slowly allowing a distance to come between them.
Today being Wednesday Sakura had intended to wear the plain red kimono she knew He liked so much with a salmon pink obi and simply covered by a floral patterned happi. Her decision to change was one taken from feminine guile and a risk she had thought long and hard about. The kimono she had chosen was indeed red, but far more formal than any for normal wear. The sleeves were staggeringly long, almost reaching the ground and the pattern of peony on the lower half of the costume intricate and bright. The yellow obi she had chosen was the finest she possessed and her mother had clucked at her disapprovingly as she passed through the general living area on her way out. Kneeling at the doorway she could feel His eyes inspecting her through the translucent paper covering and slid the doorway open not quite knowing what to expect.
Raion nodded His approval as she entered. The girl had obviously made an unusual effort today, presumably for His benefit and He felt obliged and pleased to show appreciation. Actually it was not hard, she looked quite wonderful, but Good manners would not allow for any but the mildest praise. He was pleased, very pleased, her choices fitted auspiciously with His own dream and again the image of the geisha dancing in the spring sunshine above His head settled His very being. She settled at the work table, sitting seiza with the small comfort of a stool to allow her to remain in a poised form for as long as was necessary. The items He had chosen for her to utilize were simple but esthetically pleasing, pebbles from the stream, some moss and a selection of sprigs of budding Oyama Magnolia. The dish was plain but beautifully glazed in the imperfect form He so admired.
"Today I will introduce you to a new form. I will understand if you find the experience a little frightening at first but please be assured you will be perfectly safe under My hands."
Sakura placed the cutting she was in the process of trimming upon the table and listened attentively.
"We are going to My private garden at the back of the house. You have not been there before, in fact very few ever get enjoy it. I hope you will find the experience enlightening. Please follow Me."