Team Geisha

Team Geisha

Chapter 01


Tenten hissed between her teeth as the slight muscles danced under the brush she was using. Applying the make-up to Neji was worse than doing his hair had been and it was taking almost as long.

“Stop twitching, Neji. I know you have more self control than that.”

Neji glared over his shoulder at her, but refrained from commenting. On his decidedly feminine face, it was like being glared at by Hinata, which was even more wrong than it sounded.

She dipped the brush and applied more white paint to his neck, meticulously creating the traditional ‘w’ shape, accenting the erogenous zone that supposedly lay at the nape of the neck.

Using Konoha funds, they had managed to procure six kimono – three each was better than none, but still not as good as five; the very best Geisha were known to never wear the same kimono twice – and enough make-up to keep them going for at least three weeks. Luckily, they had also been able to find the hair decorations needed to complete the disguises.

They had found it would be easier to simply complete Neji’s disguise physically – he had been having enough trouble maintaining the female henge as it was, maintaining the make-up and hair as well, would probably have been disastrous.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t perform the jutsu – he could do that incredibly well, probably better than Naruto himself – it was that he had a very masculine view of himself, and spending time in a female body was not doing anything for his mood, which meant the henge tended to shift if he was concentrating on such details as make-up as well as body shape.

Tenten mused that it was probably the same reason Naruto’s henge’s were always naked – aside from the fact that he was also a pervert. She also mused on the thought that at least Lee simply couldn’t do this – his henge would probably have scared the hell out of them. Lee was even more masculine than Neji, however well he had coached the Hyuuga into the right shape. For a fleeting moment, a heavily muscled, bowl-cut adorned, nude female Lee made its way into her mind. She blinked the image away, hurriedly.

Tenten sat back on her heels, putting aside the brush. First layer finished! Thankfully, this next step wasn’t as hard. She picked up the small sponge and began to gently take away any excess moisture, carefully blending the foundation as she went.

“Is this going to take much longer?”

Lee laughed from his position by the window, “You must be patient, Neji-kun! In a Geisha, patience is a virtue, and should be honed to considerable skill.”

Tenten glanced at the third member of their team. Lee looked weird. He was exhibiting all his usual Youthfulness, Exuberance and Jollity, but in his formal kimono, with his eyebrows plucked and his hair styled up in a traditional folded knot, he really didn’t look himself. It was more than a little disturbing.

“I am simply unaccustomed to being in this body. And being painted is not something I have ever been required to do before. It is unsettling.”

Tenten finished sponging his back and continued over his shoulders, to his upper chest, throat and face. Once done, she put the sponge aside and kneeled delicately in front of him, ignoring the tightly wrapped breasts that really brought home how truly female Neji now was. The application of the finishing touches was going to be a bit finicky. To stop her team mate from moving too much, she gently held his chin between thumb and forefinger.

Tenten could feel Lee watching them as she worked; from the outside, this process was fascinating.

“Try not to move, please.” She picked up a brush and painted in his eyebrows and eyes, the kohl stark against the white ‘mask.’ As a Maiko, Neji was having the full make up applied. Once the black was done, she picked up another brush and applied the slight touches of red to his eyes.

For a moment, she sat back to view her handiwork. Lee came over to join her, kneeling to one side, folding the traditional kimono under himself as he did. Neji scowled slightly, ruining the effect.

“You make a truly beautiful Geisha, Neji-kun!” Lee said, in far more subdued tones than he normally used.

Tenten smiled as Neji turned his nose up at his team mates, “It’s not quite done yet. Pass me the bowl, Lee.”

Lee did so and she carefully applied the red stick, melting just enough, before adding the final ingredient – crystallized sugar – and picking up the brush again. She painted carefully on Neji’s lower lip – only partially covering it, in traditional Maiko fashion.

She was done! She sat back again, twirling the brush absently in her fingers, as she was want to do with senbon when she was nervous, “What do you think, Lee? Will he pass?”

Neji blinked at her and then looked at Lee.

For a long moment, Lee scrutinized their team mate, eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he did so. Eventually, he frowned in the typical decided expression, “Yes! Neji makes a beautiful Geisha; he will surely pass with great aplomb!”

Neji simply sighed resignedly, but Tenten beamed, it had been a long time since her Geisha training at the academy in Konoha, so knowing that she still had the skills was quite pleasing.

“Now for the kimonos! We have to look perfect for tonight. I’ve chosen out the two best of the collection. It’s going to take a while to put them on, but if we all help, there should be enough time to practice walking in the damn things.”

Poor Neji had to wear okobo with his flamboyant kimono, and she knew from experience that they were not the easiest things to walk in.

* * * *
To attend the party that night, Tenten had gone out alone to ‘acquire’ an invite. This had meant dressing as a servant and stealing one from the host family.

Luckily, the invites did not have names, but were only general and they were handed to all members of the new Yakuza branch. In fact, the branch was so new, that some of the current members had yet even to meet each other, which made it all the more easy for the infiltration.

The plan was simple. Attend the party; ingratiate themselves with the host family; stay for as long as possible. Hopefully, they would be able to stay with the family for at least two weeks, but they planned on three.

Over the past two weeks, Tenten had schooled Neji in the art of being a Geisha, while Lee had schooled him in how to act female (which was surprising to the both of them, though useful, due to Tenten’s decidedly tomboy attitude; in fact, she had taken note of some of the lessons herself.)

Neji had also schooled Lee in the fine art of being an heir to a fortune. Tenten mentally called it his ‘snobbery lessons’. Surprisingly, Lee had picked up the lessons quickly and had taken to practicing in the town. It helped to establish a presence as well as build his confidence.

After the Kimonos had been purchased, Tenten had shown Neji how and where to hide various weapons and then how to fight wearing the constricting outfit. They were going to use the ‘body-guard’ angle from the outset, to reinforce the heir to a fortune story and to cover the fact that Neji had very noticeable eyes, which no amount of henge-ing had been able to cover.

As the appointed hour drew nearer, Tenten’s thoughts fell almost exclusively to her two team mates – in a fair world, Neji would have been playing the superior heir to a fortune and Lee the Geisha, but Lee’s inability to perform any chakra based Jutsu had prevented it from the outset. She just hoped things went as well as planned.

* * * *

The party was huge. As she had expected. There were a fair few Geisha around and Tenten made a mental note of which Geisha was with whom. So far, Lee was doing an admirable job, playing the young heir, throwing his weight around in a jovial sort of way. Neji, too, was faring alright. Tenten knew it was obvious to the real Geisha that he – she – was Maiko, as her gaze was not quite right, her stances not perfect. But it didn’t bother her and hopefully Neji wouldn’t notice the glances.

Lee made his way further into the room, Tenten and Neji following closely, demurely, behind him. He made a beeline for one of the less important members of the host family, to set the plan in motion. Tenten was glad for the tabi they were wearing – while the party was ostensibly being held inside, there were no carpets on the polished wooden floors, and she was sure her feet would have frozen by the end of the night if they had been forced to go barefoot.

All the guests were standing in small groups, talking reservedly, being served by or speaking with various Geisha. The women moved around the room in quiet bubbles of dignity that outclassed even some of the rich daughters, swanning around in their overly extravagant kimonos mixed with modern make up and jewellery. High heels clacked on the polished floors, false laughter echoed against the high ceilings.

Lee’s story that his Geisha were also highly trained body-guards garnered him a few looks, ranging from impressed to scoffing. Tenten watched as he simply allowed a carefully schooled smirk to cross his lips. It was disconcerting to see such an expression on her friend. In the ten years she’d known him, that was the first time she had seen him look so… arrogant.

Before long, the guests were politely ushered to the larger inner room for the meal and entertainment. Being a new face, Lee was positioned fairly close to the Host family, for ease of communication – gossip was a highly coveted commodity amongst the idle rich. Lee, while not yet completely trusted, could at least bring news and tales of neighbouring settlements to amuse the Hosts.

Tenten and Neji took their places behind him against the wall, close enough to protect him if need be, but not so close as to interfere with the House hold Geisha who worked their way around the guests, pouring drinks and offering smiles or conversation. Tenten watched the proceeding meal in an almost bored fashion – it was the typical fair of the rich family. Extravagant meals, good music, played by highly trained Geisha – soon, she knew, there would be a dance.

She watched in silence as Lee entertained the Host and his sycophantic entourage, probably with slightly altered tales of Konoha and its occupants. According to their disguise, they came from a small town on the outlying regions of the Village Hidden in Leaf – being in the Country of Grass, meant there were few likely to be able to contradict them.

She glanced to the right to carefully observe the other waiting Geisha – five were seated behind various Yakuza members, all perfectly poised and dignified, keeping their silence until they were needed again. A glance to her left revealed a handful more Geisha and Neji in what appeared to be a mild meditative trance. She blinked slowly to prevent rolling her eyes and brought her gaze back to Lee and his newly made friends. At least there was that, Lee had an amazing ability to make friends, in whatever persona he was adopting.

Movement to her right caught her attention and her body tensed. But it was only one of the Geisha moving gracefully to her feet. She relaxed by degrees as the petite woman moved out of the room and disappeared.

“I do not believe you!”

Tenten and Neji moved instantly and purely by instinct, blocking the katana that was aimed at Lee’s throat. The metal squealed against the Kunai they both held, but did not – and could not – move closer to Lee’s unprotected flesh.

The whole room was silent, watching the tableau in shock. The young nobleman sitting perfectly still, moving not a single muscle, as his Geisha protected him in stern silence, not a hair out of place, elegant to the last second.

Lee smiled serenely at the large man, closing his eyes. “If you truly do not believe me, My Lord, please, simply ask something that only someone from the area could answer. My Geisha are highly trained, as you can see, and will not allow harm to befall me.”

The Lord slowly removed his Katana, re-sheathing it and standing back. A deep frown marred his masculine features, “The story about your Geisha is at least true. Tell me then, how is Tatsuya?”

Tenten and Neji relaxed, replacing their Kunai, but stood directly behind Lee, rather than taking their places at the wall. Lee nodded, smiling still.

“Unfortunately, Tatsuya died more than five years ago, My Lord. As I am sure you must know.”

Luckily, Lee had a remarkably good memory and had memorised the information provided on the small village that was his ‘home.’ Tenten forced back the relieved sigh that wanted to be voiced.

The Lord grinned at Lee, nodding slightly, “Tell me then, how did he die? To someone of your ‘heritage’, you should be privy to the knowledge.”

Lee opened his eyes and a look of deep hatred settled onto his features, a look Tenten wished she never had to see on her friend.

“My Lord, these are not matters to be spoken of in such company…” The Lord glared at him, “But if you so insist. Tatsuya was murdered in his bed, by a Shinobi masquerading as Geisha.”

Lee stood abruptly. “Are you satisfied? Has my answer pleased you?”

Stiffly, the Lord nodded and returned to his seat. For a moment, Lee stared around the room. He then bowed deeply to the Host, “I am sorry for disrupting your evening, Lord. Please accept my humblest apologies.”

“Of course, of course! This is highly entertaining, no apologies needed, young man. Please, take your seat.”

Lee nodded over his shoulder and Tenten, Neji following closely, re-seated herself against the wall. That had been far too close. But at least now the company, and the Host, seemed intent on enjoying Lee’s company.

Hopefully, the masquerade would work.

T.B.C.