Welcome to my tea house! I am your humble servant and you may call me Maiko. It is not my real name, but a title that means "Apprentice," and are we not all apprentices at life?

It is said that it took many seasons to train a legendary geisha, and that she could be invaluable to any aspiring emperor, not only for her grace and charm, but also as diplomat, spy, and, if needs be, assassin. Or so it is said, but, then, many things are said.

Suffice it that I know much on which to speak, and have many talents that will please. My garden holds that which heals and that which harms, and what is destined remains in your hands. Choose carefully. The Tokugawa Dynasty did rule Japan, and those such as I may have had a role in this. Or so it is said, but, then, many things are said.