"Ladies? Your attention please! LADIES!"
"Yes, Boss-sama?" Several of the girls fluttered their eyelashes coyly as if it could never have been them who were talking, because that would just be rude. And of course, being such pleasant and respectable young ladies they would never even think of chatting amongst themselves when someone was trying to speak. It was the sort of behaviour that got you far in this business.
"I have several announcements to make." The girls settled down, squashing onto one half of the lounge's large circular sofa. They looked up at him expectantly, him standing smart as ever in his black suit whilst the girls lounged in jeans and baby tees. Miki leant over the banister next to him and smiled. He cleared his throat. "Ahem. Well as I'm sure at least some of you will be aware, due to certain circumstances; Sakura will no longer be working here. However, if you keep an eye out, I'm sure it won't be long before she springs up in some of the other local clubs.
"This, among other things, means we definitely have free space for an entertainer, so there will be interviews being held in the near future. Posters will be put up around the building and some ads in the newspaper, but if you know of anyone who you feel could fit the bill and make a suitable employee here, please let them know, and I'm sure I can arrange for them to have an interview. The usual criteria: female, dance skills, confidence, etc will be listed on the advertisement posters.
"As for the actual interviews themselves, I will want your input. Recent events have lead me to the conclusion that employee interaction is very important, so you will all get a chance to talk to prospective entertainers. I will let you know dates and times later on. Any questions?" Akina raised her hand. "Yes, Naoto-san?"
"Um, is it true that you had to take Miki to the hospital? Only there was an ambulance and I heard something about it but I haven't seen her until now, and we're just worried, is all."
"Well." The Boss paused, reached over and took Miki's hand. "There are two parts to that story, and they make up two more of the announcements that I have gathered you here for. I'll let Miki explain the first part."
"Thank you, Boss-sama. Well girls, I've been working as a dancer here for just over two years, as I'm sure a lot of you will know. They've been two of the most enjoyable years of my life. But due to a couple of recent and unexpected changes in my life, I have decided that I can't dance anymore, for the time being at least."
There were murmurs of shock and disapproval. Miki had always been popular.
"But, before you get all celebratory, I shan't be leaving Not Kabuki. Far from it. Instead, I feel I would be more effective working within the management and organisation of this place. So I'll be helping the organisation of stage getup, dance routines, and y'know, any personal issues that come up. Although I will miss aspects of the whole performance thing, at least it means no early morning work out sessions before dancing!"
The crowd giggled, and the Boss started to talk again.
"And finally, Miki and I have an announcement to make together." The two of them, the perfect odd couple, smiled shyly at one another. "Well, there's really no other way to say this. Miki is expecting. We're having a baby."
The entire entrance hall was filled with a synchronised "Awww!" from every girl within earshot. Miki smiled and braced herself as the flock of young women trampled their way upstairs. The Boss stood back and watched as she was enveloped by the mass of chattering and excited squealing.
"-when's it due?"
"- never would have guessed-"
"-girl or boy?"
"-how CUTE!"
"-names, have you thought of names?"
The couple, separated by the excited forms of the performers, exchanged a glance that said 'Eek, I'll see you later'. The Boss smiled and exited, leaving Miki with a dazed look on her face and a hundred questions to answer.
*
It had been two days since she got back from the hospital, and Shinju was feeling up for a little wander about town. She was out of milk anyway, and so she had decided to shakily make her way down to the corner mini-mart for some necessities.
Her walk was not very fast, she still had to be careful that she did not bust any of her stitching. But it got more and more confident day by day. Shinju could practically feel the femininity radiating from her pores. Today she was doing the slobby girl look - in jeans and an old tee shirt, she had very little makeup on and her hair looked a mess. But, she thought, all girls had to go through the embarrassing 'just went thought a hedge backwards' experience in their lives, she might as well start early and then get over it.
So with her head held high, she walked (with her hips, only men and kinetically challenged women walked with their shoulders) all the way down the street, round the corner, crossed the road and walked into the shop. She hadn't been in here in ages, choosing mainly to shop practical at the supermarket with Toshiya. But she hadn't really left the house until now and there were necessities such as milk and raspberry jam to be obtained.
Shinju walked through the automatic doors and grabbed one of the battered plastic baskets from the pile. She glanced absent-mindedly at the shelves, swinging the basket and wondering if there was anything else she needed. She found the milk and got a carton of full skimmed. A couple of guys browsing through the magazine rack smiled at her goofily, and she smiled back shyly, warmed by their attention. Shinju found some antiseptic spray in the cosmetics section and threw it in the basket. Now all she needed to do was find the jam and she could go home and lie down.
Die could not believe they were out of Salem Lights. How could they be out? He needed nicotine and he needed it now!
"Look just take a peek back in storage would you, see if there's any just hanging back there? Please?" the shop assistant nodded grimly and went to look in the storage cupboard. Die shoved his hands moodily into his pockets and with sullen boredom surveyed the shop. They seemed to stock more or less everything here, except his favourite cigarettes. Typical. There was a reason he never shopped in Mie anymore, and this was it. Then a certain silhouette caught his eye. It was familiar but different. However, the tee shirt screamed only one name.
"Shinya?" The auburn haired individual didn't turn away from the shelf they were looking at. He tried again, tapping them on the shoulder. "Shinya?"
Shinju turned round and stifled a gasp. What the hell was Die doing here? She cursed her decision to come out of the house looking so dreadful. However, this was her new life and she was going to act accordingly.
"Hello?" She smiled helpfully. "Do we know each other?" Die raised an eyebrow. Something had changed. Something fundamental. He started again.
"Shinya-"
"Shinju."
"What?"
"My name is Terachi Shinju. And I've just started my life here in Kyoto, so I'm not sure that we would be properly acquainted. Would you care to introduce yourself?"
"Wha-" Die stopped. The change clicked. Shinya would have had the operation by now. He would now be a she. He took a deep breath and said the first thing that came to mind. " Er� I'm Andou Daisuke, but my friends call me Die. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise, I'm sure." Shinju smiled and pushed a chunk of fringe out of her eyes. Now that he looked at her, the transformation was obvious. She took a pot of jam from the shelf and dropped it into her basket. "Just came in to pick up some essentials. What are you here for?"
"Oh, just some cigarettes." Shinju made a face and Die rolled his eyes. "Hey everyone has their flaws! I'm just waiting for the guy to get my-"
"Uh sir?" The sales assistant had returned. At the sudden call in her direction, Shinju was afraid she had been spotted. She turned too quickly to see what was going on and a white bolt of pain shot from her crotch up her abdomen. Shinju whimpered loudly, dropping her basket and clutching at her stomach with one hand and the shelf with her other.
"Ah! What's wrong?" Die flustered and tried to help support her, holding her nervously round the shoulders as if unsure of how to behave.
"N- nothing." Shinju righted herself, standing straight on shaking legs. "I'm just out of hospital, you see, I'm supposed to go easy on the stitches. I-I'll be fine. Thank you." She smiled weakly and picked up her basket.
"Sir, I found you some Salems."
"Good." Die retorted. "Didn't I tell you that you had some? Now ring that up on the till along with the er- the er lady's things." Shinju shot him a look.
"What?"
Die flushed and buried his hand into his hair uncomfortably.
"Well I heard- I mean I- you lost- Um. I just thought, if you've just moved here, then you might need a bit of a helping hand, is all." He waited for Shinju to make some comment - to throw it back in his face.
"Oh. Well� if- if you want, I guess..." Shyly and rather clumsily, Shinju handed her basket to the cashier. Die paid in silence and they walked out of the shop together.
"So." Die started "How are things since you- since you started here?" He was fearful that he would say something stupid, something offensive, just by habit.
Shinju smiled. She appreciated Die's attempts at communication.
"Good. I feel so much more� I don't know - me, so much more at home, now that I'm- here. Although I'm still on the hunt for a job. Good jobs are hard to find, you know."
"Yeah, I guess�" Shinju stepped and a pang of pain hit her again. She tried hard to stifle any visual weakness but Die noticed something and stopped. He reached out and touched her arm. The man he loved may now be gone forever as far as he knew - but there was this girl here, and she needed some help and Die knew he could provide that.
"Look Shin�ju, would you like me to walk you home? I mean - you sound like you could do with a friend, having just� arrived and all, and well, if you'd let me, I think I'd quite like to be your friend. I mean if you don't want to, that�s fine, I can understand that you wouldn't want me anywhere near you because of what's happened in the past, and that maybe you'd just prefer to be left alone, then okay. I'm sorry, and I would like to start again as friends." Die stopped, feeling a little breathless. He then realised that he'd blurted and clamped his mouth shut.
Shinju smiled and Die's heart leapt.
"I� I would like that. Good friends are hard to come by. Although� although you should know, I'm not perfect. People have mistaken me for perfect in the past and� well they felt pretty hurt when they found out that I'm not." It seemed to give a strange sort of closure, talking about the events of the past as if they happened to different people. As if the problems could be explained without it becoming personal. "I would never want to hurt you." Die nodded in understanding. This all seemed to have happened so long ago.
Almost in synchronisation they both started moving, slowly, in the general direction of Shinju's apartment. Nothing really had to be said about it.
*
"SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNN!"
"Yes, Totchi?"
"Tell me you love me?"
"Uh, why, have you stolen my hair clips again? My lip gloss?"
Toshiya make a mock gasp down the phone.
"Never! �Well yeah actually, now that you mention it, I had to try something out and its not like you were using them. And yeah. BUT that's not the reason I called. I called because I know how to make you happy!"
"Does it involve illegal substances? Because if it does, I'm up for it."
"Don't be silly, I mean job wise. I have found the perfect place for you. AND they're hiring."
"Really? Where? I told you Toshiya, no brothels."
"You know all that oestrogen has made you quite the pessimistic young lady! No� you see, that bitch that was hassling Miki got the boot, and now Miki's stepped back from entertainment work due to the baby. SO, Not Kabuki is hiring. How about that? Could there be a more perfect place for you to work? Good pay and no prostitution!"
"Yes but� they only hire-" Shinju stopped. Then it clicked. "Oh. Oh I see. What you mean."
"Yeah Miki called me, she said you weren't picking up or something, I don't know. Said that she'll be on the judge panel, although so will most of the other girls. They'll give you a look over, talk to you a bit, see if they like you. But what's not to like? You could ace your way into that place, and take it by storm."
"Well I don't know�"
"Look, just try out at least? You have to find a job sooner or later, and the pay there is nice! I mean you could definitely afford to keep your apartment, if not upgrade to a better one! Wouldn't that be great!"
"Yeah, I guess it would."
"So yeah, this Saturday, at Not Kabuki, just get to the lounge, and they'll direct you from there. I'll come with you if you want, y'know for moral support and the likes?"
"Okay. I'll do it."
"Good. I'll pick you up, yeah? Wear your day clothes and bring something dancey to change into."
"Sure. Now I hate to leave you but I really must get back to the joys of dilation."
"Shit Shin, thanks for that."
"Any time, Toshiya, any time. Bye honey."
"Bye!"
Shinya put down the phone and smiled excitedly. Then she panicked and went to rummage frantically through her wardrobe. What was she going to wear?
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