The Need for Love

Komako is not yet licensed as a geisha when she first meets Shimamura but she apparently performs the duties of a geisha even then. She seems to recognize from the very earliest meetings with Shimamura that she could become more deeply involved with him than would be wise. Despite that, she spends as much time as possible with Shimamura and is sorely disappointed when he fails to return on a specific date as he promised. Before long, Shimamura says he realizes Komako is in love with him though there is nothing to be done about it. For her part, Komako is torn about this love. She sometimes becomes perverse, saying she wants him to leave then begging him to stay. She seems to want to protect herself from further hurt but also wants to hold on to what she has for as long as possible...