good job! THis sounds really good are you thinking of writing more? please do! I really like you'r writing style the details are rich and very despcriptive (well thats a bit redundant but anyway) it is really good! Please write more! ^_^

Hmm... interesting story! Me like,update soon! Oh yeah, congrats on your ACT. ^_^x

Yay! A new story from Kaze-chan! ^^ I must tell you that I LOVE the title! It's what got me so interested in reading it, and now I definitely want to read more. I've never read a Kaen-centered fic before, but you've sparked my interest. I'll be waiting for more installments! (Oh yeah, and congrats on your ACT score!)

sounds like a reicarnation to me. ^_^ Kaen is Soi's name, right? GAH! *smacks self on forehead* enough with the analyzing! ^^;;;;;; I like ur fic so far! It's sounds interesting!

Just one question, tho. What's a geisha? AAHH!! *ducks mallet of obvious* Well, in theory I know what one is, but I've had to figure it out mostly by context, so I don't know the accurate definition... ^^;;;;;;;;

~Sanomi

Aha! You started it! ^^ I can't really say much due to time constraint, but it's got a nice beginning, albeit short. I hope the next chapter comes out soon. I'm backing you up, remember? *grabs Mighty Spear Of Doom and thwacks away depressing thoughts from Kaze-chan's mind*

-Sano

Ooooh, cool story idea! ^_^ I love how you incorperated geishas to it all -- ever read "Memoirs (sp?) of a Geisha"? Great book, really -- this story makes me wanna read it again. ^__^ I am DEFINATELY looking forward to more of it. ^^ Oh, and congrats on the 34~! *hugs* I'm so proud of you!

*^-^* Very interesting. Please continue. *big happy grin*

Geisha huhh???? I'm excited for this story--not many people write about Soi...frankly, I'd love to, but she intimidates me...but you're good at that, ne? Expanding on neglected chars...like Subaruuuuuuuu ^_^ will keep looking out for this wine-colored giesha bit! ^_~

Wow! Congrats on your ACT's. Hope I can do that well on my SAT's this spring!

Anyway, fic sounds very interesting. Ever since I read "Memiors of a Geisha" over the summer I've been fascintated by them. And Kaen as a geisha? Well, I can see it! Doesn't she seem a bit old though. Don't geisha usually start thier lessons at a very young age? You make it sound like she's 14 or 15 or so. I could be wrong, so don't worry. I can't wait to find out if they accept her or not!!! This is definetly going on the favorites list!! ^_^

Ohhh, I like how it's coming! Please update again soon!!

*grins happily* Thank you very much for this prologue. I'm quite honored to have "rambled" with you (it was much fun!) and I expect we'll be doing more of that in the future. *stops talking all proper and glomps Kaze-chan* Arigatou!!!!!!

I really really like this story so far. I'm not a big Soi fan, but I do think she's an incredible character in the hands of talented writers, of which, my dear Kaze-chan, you are evident of. I'm very excited to see how Kaen deals with this new life and how she, in turn, will affect those that enter her life. Can't wait for more!!! Oh, and congrats on the ACT. I got a 30 as my highest, so I have utmost respect for your score. Keep reaching for the stars, Kaze-chan!!!!

I am intrigued - this is definately very different from anything else I've read of yours so far. You set the most vivid scenes! However, perhaps this chapter was a bit too brief? (And perhaps I'm just wishing there was more to read! ^_^) Still, it's well done. Just enough to pique my curiosity and make me itch for more. (At least it's not a cliffhanger...) I was also very glad to see the Word Bank. I've seen various complaints voiced about mixing languages, and that's a good way to reduce them, I think.

And congrats on your ACT's! (Those are noooo fun!) Laters, and happy writing!

Hey, there, Kaze-chan!

First of all, congratulations on the ACTs - that's a VERY impressive score!! Great things await you in your future!

Secondly, this is a very intriguing beginning to what promises to be a fascinating story. I just thought I'd put my two cents in about a couple of things. The term Geisha was traditionally used for a woman whose career consisted of entertaining men (and sometimes women). In the last few centuries, the highly skilled geishas very seldom acted as prostitutes. They were valued for their abilities as singers, musicians, storytellers and poets, and some for their witty conversation and gentle flirtation skills. The "down-and-dirty" fell to less-skilled courtesans who did not qualify to be geishas. So training to be a geisha was not a dishonorable career.

Now,I don't know how this worked in more recent times in Japan, especially at the end of the Vietnam War, the time period in which you have set your story. I just know that my mom would get highly offended if we girls ever implied that a geisha was synonymous with prostitute.

The other thing I would offer - and I hope that I don't offend you - is a little bit of grammar criticism. Perhaps I'm just so used to "Market" or "Plots", and most likely you are VERY busy, but this falls a little short of your usually very high standards. The biggest problem is very long, run-on sentences in the first two paragraphs (kinda like what I write!!! - -;;) e.g. A striped cat reclined in the doorway, absentmindedly twitching his tail tip back and forth as it peered down the graveled walkway that twisted for a short way between the miniature Japanese maples to the gate in the six-foot-high stone wall surrounding the elegant, well-manicured property, his eyes uncaringly narrowed. Whew! I lost my breath reading that. Very descriptive - but could be just as descriptive in two sentences.

Now, I invite you to hit me over the head if I'm going too far with constructive criticism - and God knows, you could get your revenge on any one of my fics!! Plenty of material there to criticize!! But the last thing I'd like to mention (I love ya, ya know!!) are some of the adjectives used to describe Kaen's conflicted feelings and attitudes about what she is about to do. First of all, this sentence: She repeatedly chased away the twinges of worry and set her chin in a determined position that inspired confidence and shouted independence, but sooner or later would lose this self-possession in a moment of abject staring. Okay, abject - wrong adjective. Means servile, debased, degraded or spiritless - I think you mean longing or yearning or even blank. Next - "sooner or later" implies future tense, when I think you want present tense to keep consistent with the first part of the sentence. A better term may be "every now and again." See - beta reading services offered courtesy of the review page! ^ ~

However, I find no problem with your usual excellent dialogue at the end of the story. Very nice descriptions, also succinct!

Hope I didn't make you mad - looking forward to more!

Love,

Roku-oneechan

Wah!!! Why does Kaen-chan want to be a Geisha? She was a prostitute and suffered enough!! But on a japan documentry, they said Geishas no longer sell their bodies.....NO MATTER WHAT!!! Let her end up with Ayuru-chan, onegai.

Hmm... this is gonna be interesting!! Yeah~ I really took notice when there's anything on Soi!! Why? Basically, it's because i think she's a really interesting character! And in some way...a little sad, for her life.
OMG...she wants to be a geisha?! That's real sad... considering her age... 'schoolgirl' ne? Write more! ^^