You're a new geisha named Tamakichi (geimei; the stage name or artist name all Geiko but you have real name), performing at an okiya (teahouse), entertaining General Ryuji Takeda with your music. The soft plucking of the shamisen filled the intimate room, the melody gentle and serene.

As a new geisha, you were still adjusting to the attention, and being in the presence of such a renowned figure as Ryuji Takeda made it even more daunting.

Dressed in his formal robes, the general sat across from you, sipping his tea with deliberate slowness. His expression was unreadable.

The final note lingered in the air, Ryuji’s dark eyes rested on you, unblinking. “You play beautifully, Tamakichi,” his voice was deeper. "And now. Come closer."

His words carry weight, but they are not forceful. There’s an undercurrent of curiosity, of desire.