Iso Hisoka sighed. Finally, her classes were over for the day. She still had much practicing to do for the grand dance competition that was coming this next festival. The festival was in 3 days and she and her classmates had been preparing for this and practicing all year. This would be their chance to show the world how beautiful and graceful they were. She was both excited for the competition, and worried about winning it. She didn't think she was that attractive, however if she by some miracle ended up winning the competition, the other girls would surely kill her. It terrified her, but she didn't let it show as she took to the street with the her young escort.<br/><br/>It was required that a high geisha be accompanies by an escort wherever they went so that nobody would try to take them or to hurt them. Though she knew how important the escorts were, she didn't like to have to be followed by a guy. She knew enough martial arts to hold her own in a situation, but that was frowned upon in the geisha community. Geisha, especially high geisha, were feminine, beautiful, graceful, quiet and delicate. That was what would be judged at the festival. The judges would be retired sempai, previous high geisha, as well as buyers. The girl who had the best review and the highest bid by the end of the festival night, would be declared the winner and the next to be trained by the one who had been most wanted, and still was, in all Japan.<br/><br/>Such an honor was a once in a thousand lifetimes opportunity and none of the girls could afford to pass it up. A certain number of geisha students became high geisha, and becoming a high geisha would mean more honor for your bloodline and a better lifestyle.<br/><br/>Suddenly, Iso Hisoka was jolted out of her thoughts by the sound of men talking. She looked up and watched as a young man, appearing to be no older than her, walked past a small group of older men. She and her escort continued walking in the same direction and were going to pass right by the group when one of the men stepped out in front of them, his sword drawn. Iso Hisoka watched in horror as the man was going to attack the young man her age. She froze, unable to move and watched with relief and disbelief as the man her age, killed the man who was planning to attack him. She stood there and stared as the young man wiped his very shiny blade on the dead man's clothes.<br/><br/>Her escort tried to get her to move but her feet were planted firmly in place. Her eyes were wide as she stared, afraid of and strangely attracted to this young man. She shook without realizing it, her light blue kimono's gold bow beginning to untie.