Ageha sat, leaning at against the back of the building, digging her fingers into the rough sand. Her face now emotionless and rather cold as she stared down at her drawing. It was a picture of a small sakura blossum. Why was she suddenly thinking about Cherry-sama? Did... She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. What had she done to the poor Hanami-san? She probably hated her now... Her brows furrowing, Ageha kicked the drawing with her foot, her sandal breaking in the process. She scowled at the wooden contraption, more angry at herself than anything else. She couldn't remember what she'd done and the only thing that came to mind was Cherry-sama. Ageha closed her eyes and leaned her head back, suddenly very, very tired. She let out another long sigh, thinking about Cherry-sama. --- [b]Quite a few years ago[/b] [b]"C-Cherry-sama!"[/b] Young Ageha yelled to the woman in front of her. She was kneeling on the wooden floor of the brothel, Cherry-sama kneeling down right in front of her. In front of Cherry-sama, sat an old man, too drunk to even realize what was going on. [i]"I'm going to have to ask you to leave, sir."[/i] Cherry-sama told the man calmly. All Ageha could manage was to cower behind the woman's clothes. The man couldn't even hear her, Ageha could barely make out the man's words and then suddenly she heard a thunk. Looking up she saw Cherry-sama hunched over the man, her wooden sandel in her hand, now broken. [i]"Well, that wasn't suppose to happen..."[/i] She mumbled before turning to Ageha. [i]"Are you okay, Darling?"[/i] She asked, her hands already at Ageha's cheeks. [b]"I'm fine, Cherry-sama, really. T-Thank you... You... didn't have to do that, you know."[/b] Ageha replied, a little more than shaky. She'd only met Cherry-sama a few months before but the woman had already been a god send to the poor child. The red headed woman had been there for Ageha from day one. She was quite a few years Ageha's senior, Ageha being only 14 at the time. Ageha never really knew Cherry-sama's age anyway. The woman was rather secretive save for her gossiping. [i]"None sense, come, let's go get you washed up."[/i] The red headed woman replied, her voice booming and proud. She smiled down at the young Ageha and took her hand, guiding her to the baths. Ageha chuckled but did as the woman asked. She was her mentor, after all. Slowly, they undressed and Cherry-sama led them into the bath. [i]"Ageha, you're so adorable. I'm so sorry you have to endure all of this."[/i] She told Ageha, her voice soft and quiet. Ageha could tell the woman was threatened with tears. Ageha in her nakedness, hugged Cherry-sama, smiling. [b]"It's okay Cherry-sama. As long as I have you to protect me, I'll be fine."[/b] She replied. --- [b]Present Day[/b] Slowly, Ageha opened her eyes, the memory almost painful now. Maybe it was best she wasn't around Hanami-san, the black haired woman brought back too many memories of Cherry-sama for Ageha to bare. Not to mention Noriaki. Though, Noriaki had less subtly than Cherry-sama and Cherry-sama was more than faithful. Noriaki didn't seem as such. At least not for Ageha. Ageha was fiercely jealous, something she never really tried to hide. If she loved someone and they loved her back, she expected them to be hers completely. That was how love was right? She sighed. What did she know about love? Her ideas were more than skewed and twisted. She was probably no worse than the men that visited brothels. It'd been so long since she'd felt the warmth of another's touch. It'd been so long since Cherry-sama had left her. So long... She shook her head slightly and gave her cheeks a small smack. [i]Get yourself together, Ageha. You have a job to do.[/i] She told herself. With that, she was on her feet and headed back to the restaurant, a new determination in her eyes. Well, until she saw Hanami-san. She took in a deep breath and approached her. [b]"Sorry for running out on you. I'm... going back in to watch Mizuki-dono. She doesn't... need to be alone."[/b] She told the woman, bowing as she by-passed her. She walked into the restaurant without a sound and sat down next to Mizuki-dono, her eyes emotionless and cold as she once against stared down at the table. She could still feel a buzz from the sake but she was a bit sobered up now. She took a piece of bread and placed it in her mouth, chewing quietly.