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The manor was bustling around at the news of a new hunter arriving. Michiko in particular was going back and forth with preparations, drinks and foods in ornamental trays. She knows she wasn’t supposed to go through all this effort, but being a former Geisha had ingrained this mindset in her. Old habits die hard, or so the quote goes.
“I heard they were French,” Joseph commented lightly, sipping his tea. He was one of those who hid their excitement when meeting a new person in the manor. Although now, it was a little bit harder for him to contain it, if the slight bouncing of his leg was an indication. Maybe knowing that he could somehow relate to this new hunter, even just through nationality, made him excited, not that Michiko would judge him for it.
“There’s rumors the new hunter is an aristocrat. From a very noble family,” Jack hummed. “Quite interesting actually.”
French royalty? Well, it wasn’t certainly the worst Michiko went through. After all, there were two eldritch gods living with them in the manor. Although Hastur was kind, kind enough that he remembered her when they met again in the manor, although he just called her as “that girl whose corpse was thrown into my home” and Michiko only took slight offense before being well acquainted with him. And he also likes cooking for everyone and he was nice to talk to, if you would take the time to understand a bit of gurgling that is. Then Yidhra, well, Yidhra was quite scary to be frank, even for Michiko. It’s probably the way she’s grinning from ear to ear, a smile showing way too much teeth, almost predatory and ready to devour. Or it’s probably how she treats her “followers” as nothing but dirt, making them like slaves who only deserve filth. The fact they were once human still makes Michiko shudder.
“What do you think of this hunter Michiko?” Xie Bi'an stood next to her, shocking the geisha.
She just shrugged. Some of her training involved not to be too vocal of her opinion, and she didn’t know much, or anything, about the hunter. “I can not judge them as of yet, after all, we have not met. I just do hope whoever they are would be… a nice person.”
“Well, let’s just hope. After all, it could just be like taking care of another Joseph.” The White Guard joked and the geisha couldn’t help but giggle.
It was time for them to get ready for the new hunter’s arrival. Michiko stood at the front of the crowd, partly because of her personal duty as a geisha. She discarded her usual black kimono to a white one that was fashioned with feathers, resembling a manchurian crane. She would don different kimonos every time greetings are to happen.
The atmosphere buzzed in anticipation as it neared 4 o’clock. As the minute hand struck 12, a knock could be heard from the door. Just in time.
Xie Bi’an and Joseph opened the door and silence washed over them as the new hunter stepped in. If there was a word that could describe how the geisha felt, it was smitten, and she was sure everyone in the room was too. Because Michiko swore she has never, ever, seen someone so beautiful. The woman’s pale blue skin and white hair done in curls suited her, complementing the red dress she was wearing. What Michiko noticed the most was the stitches on her neck and she couldn’t help but wonder where and how she got them. Meeting her eyes was like staring at an abyss, mysterious and dangerous yet so alluring.
Then the huntress smiled and that shook the geisha out of her stupor. "Uh- uhm-" she walked forward and bowed, hoping to shake the nervousness and awkwardness away. "Welcome to the manor!" She berated herself for saying that way too quickly then straightened her posture, forcing herself to stare at the huntress in the eyes as heat was prominent on her cheeks. She hopes her make-up could hide it.
"Thank you dear." The huntress just grinned playfully, amusement on her features as she studied the geisha.
"I hope we didn't make you uncomfortable with all the staring."
The new comer just chuckled, making her heart mysteriously flutter. "Oh don't worry. I'm used to all the gawking. Sometimes a lady needs a bit of attention don't you think? Especially from a beautiful woman like you."
Michiko was now sure her blush could be seen through her make-up. “The game calls me Geisha but my name is Michiko,” She winced as she stammered through. So much for first impressions.
“Ah, what an adorable name.” The huntress covered her mouth as she was reduced to a coughing fit. “Sorry about that. Please, excuse me.” She said in between coughs. The Geisha strode beside her and rubbed her back, hoping to ease it away. After a few moments, the coughs ceased and the woman smiled. “I apologize. It seems like I’m not used to my head only being held by stitches.”
A few seconds later, the other hunters and some survivors started greeting the new arrival. Michiko noticed that a few of the males would try giving her a good first impression, especially Joseph who wasn’t even trying to hide his enthusiasm anymore as they both conversed in what Michiko assumes as French.
The Geisha was ushered to the side, although not too far into the crowd, as it would still be easy for her to assist the other huntress in a moment’s notice.
“I saw how you looked at her and acted around her, Michiko. Does the Geisha have a little infatuation?” Xie Bi’an commented and her earlier embarrassment resurfaced.
“Oh shut up, I do not.” She mentally called herself a liar. “And besides, everyone in the room was too.”
“But dear, I have never seen you that way. Albeit, I haven’t seen you around your husband yet, but still…”
Well he wasn’t exactly wrong, Michiko was usually composed even through the pressure, outside of matches that is. But there was something about this new hunter that made her fumble and become a blushing mess. Then made her heart skip in a way that it resembled how it would beat for her husband but it was also different, too different.
The woman in red clapped her hands twice, not that she needed it when everyone’s attention was on her. “Well then, I think it’s time for all of you to know my name. I have many, one of them being 'Madame Déficit' and it seems that I have garnered another one by stepping in this manor. I would be called 'Bloody Queen' in matches,” Michiko can’t help but think that the moniker fits the huntress, “but for simplicity’s sake, please, call me Mary.”
“Mary,” she repeated, nodding as she liked how it rolled off her tongue and slipped out of her lips.
“But Michiko darling, you can just call me mon amour.”
If the geisha wasn’t intent on coming up for a reply, she wouldn’t have missed the smirk on Mary’s face and the questioning look on Joseph’s. “But wouldn’t it be rude? We have only just met and jumping to personal nicknames is somehow informal.”
“It’s alright dear. I do plan for us to be well acquainted, even becoming friends. So it’s alright, call me mon amour.”
“Well if you do insist, mon amour.” She saw Joseph snicker behind Mary’s back and she raised an eyebrow. He just waved the hand that wasn’t covering his mouth. His action confused her. Maybe calling Mary that was a mistake?
“Ma chérie, do not mind him. Now, may you accompany me and show me around?”
The geisha nodded. “Yes of course, I would love to, mon amour.”
“Very well, then, shall we?”
They spent the rest of the night together, conversing and just enjoying each other's company.
She hasn't been this happy ever since that incident.
It has been two weeks ever since Mary came into the manor. That's two weeks of Michiko calling her mon amour and Joseph laughing about it.
And the geisha was slightly fed up and also curious. So today, she decided to confront him about it.
Mary was currently playing a match and usually Michiko would watch them, admiring how good Mary was at knocking survivors down (and also complimenting the ex-queen's gracefulness in her mind) but now, she was on her way to corner the Photographer.
Joseph was walking down an empty hallway when Michiko spotted him. She called out his name and he turned to her. "Bonjour madame. You are calling me, correct?"
The Geisha nodded, "Yes. I apologise I didn't do any accommodation since I figured this would just be quick."
"Well then, what is it?"
"Why are you laughing when I call Mary 'mon amour'?"
And again, he slipped out the noise that made Michiko embarrassed. "Do you not know what it means?"
"I'm not French."
Joseph chuckled again and it started to grate her nerves. Her Prajna form broke through and she dashed at him, pinning him against the wall, the blade of her fan against his neck.
"Now now, calm down Michiko. You wouldn't want her to see you like this." He looked behind her, a grin on his face.
"I didn't think you'd have it in you to get mad, ma chérie."
She froze as she heard that elegant yet teasing voice. The geisha backed away and faced Mary, Prajna form disappearing as she covered her face with a fan.
"Mary! How was your last match?"
"It went pretty well. I didn't expect a win in all honesty."
Joseph's voice cut off their conversation. "Well then, I must get going. Au revoir ladies." He began to walk away from them. "Oh, and for your information Michiko, mon amour means 'my love' in French."
Michiko gaped as she watched his retreating figure, his laughter echoing through the hall.
"Well there he goes snitching on me." The amusement in Mary's voice made her embarrassed more than irritated.
"You- you tricked me."
"It's just a harmless joke darling. I had to find some form of entertainment and you're just too adorable."
The geisha's cheeks heat up as she pouted. "Don't do that ever again."
The royal just laughed, "No promises."
Michiko was sure now, she has never met someone as charming as Mary.