In Great Land, there is a special kind of artist: the maiko and geisha. Their work providing entertainment for guests and clients during parties, tea ceremonies and even during festivals. They are skilled in the arts of dancing, singing, playing musical instruments, conversation and sometimes, they even take part on plays and theatre.

Maiko and geisha are frequently confused with yuujo - "women of pleasure": from low ranking prostitutes to high ranking courtesans such as tayuu - but unlike those, they do not engage in sexual activity with their clients, save for the single time when they go through the transition from maiko to geisha.

The life of a geisha or maiko is very difficult and extremely demanding. Most girls are taken to a geisha house still as little children, mostly as a form of paying owed money to someone else. When a geisha contracts with a house, a payment is usually made to a broker. It is up to the geisha to repay this debt, which quickly grows as the need for expensive lessons, instruments and kimono meant ever growing expenses. They were very much like indentured servants vulnerable to exploitation by both their houses and their clients.

They live and work in a world of complex etiquette and rules, kimonos and a social maze of customers, dana (patrons), kabuki actors and pretenders.

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Art, Nae and the world of Blade Under Mask belong to me

Featuring Kayin as a client! Kayin belongs to WanderingPariah (I don't know how to put icons here :I )

• As much as I take inspiration from and base my work on real Japanese culture and geisha world, this story is not meant to be 100% accurate. Some cultural aspects are modified or removed to the fit the story, characters and the world better. Do NOT take this as a reliable source of information, as it is made with entertainment purposes only. If you need to research or want to learn more about Japanese culture or geisha world, please look for real informative sources, such as books. If you have any question, feel free to ask me, I'll answer if I can.