A/N: I would like to thank pharitse, Dragi, fantasi88, and F-Horn19 for reviewing the chapter, those who put this story as their favorite and on story alert, and those that are reading this story! You guys made my day! This chapter was going to be longer, then I realized that it was TOO long for me to sit down and type it out in one night (lazy syndrome caught up with me…) so I apologize if this seems too short, but the next chapter will make up for that! ;) The warning(s) are the same as in the first chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: See first chapter.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Chapter 2: The Unexpected Trick

This club went against everything I thought a strip club was supposed to be like. I was expecting there to be the smell of alcohol and sex with low light settings and blaring music for the strippers to do their thing to. Obviously, this wasn't the case. There was no smell of sex and alcohol. The lights were at a low setting, but you could barely hear any music being played. There was also a large group of people standing around a stage that you would find in an opera house. It was like they were waiting for something to begin. Completely confused, I began to search around for someone that would have an idea of what was going on. Not too far away from where I was standing, there were two girls that were behind a bar. One looked like a cowgirl and the other one looked dressed for church. I couldn't help but raise a brow at that. What the hell would a girl like that be doing in a place like this? With that curiosity in mind, I walked over to the bar and took a seat. The one dressed like a cowgirl looked me over before smiling.

"Is this your first time here?"

"Yeah, how can you tell?"

"You don't look like one of the regulars that come in. I would've recognized that hairstyle anywhere. The name's Tifa by the way."

"And I'm Aeris!" the church dressed girl happily chimed in.

"I'm Cloud. Um, don't take this the wrong way, but why are you working here, Aeris? You don't look like the type that would be associated with a place like this."

"And neither do you."

I failed to stop the blush that rose to my cheeks as the girls laughed.

" I work here because I need money to go back to Midgar and open up a flower shop. My cousin just so happens to be the boss of the club and he gave me the job of running the bar alongside Tifa."

She was related to the man of my wet dreams? Who would've ever thought that… I was so shocked by that, all I could do was nod in acceptance to what she said.

"Speaking of my cousin, he should be looking for my replacement soon. I'm leaving in September, and I need to train the person that plans on taking over my job."

"I believe that I'm your replacement."

"Really now? What proof do you have?"

"Just this." I said as I showed her the card that Naruto gave me. Only thing I got in response to the card was the girls laughing harder than before.

"Cloud, that's not a graveyard card. That's an audition card!" Tifa was able to tell me through her laughter.

"There's a difference?" I asked confused.

"Oh yes! A BIG difference. A graveyard card has the clubs name on one side and the address and telephone number on the other side. Having that card means that you're here to apply for my job, a bouncer, or a janitor. When you have an audition card, it means that you're applying to become a dancer." Aeris explained.

"What?" Tifa and Aeris stated laughing anew at my distress.

'Damn you, Naruto! You didn't mention anything about that! I only agreed to this stupid idea so that I could become a cashier here and to see the sex god again! Fuck!' My inner self fumed. I should've known that something wasn't right. Since when does a cashier's requirements have stripper in there? Speaking of stripper…

"Why doesn't this place look like a regular strip club?"

"You know what a regular strip club looks like?" Tifa smirked.

"No! I just wanted to know why this place looks so fancy-like!" I claimed while blushing again.

"Well, the General didn't want the club to look like an 'average' club. He believes that stripping is a form of art and he created a club environment that will treat it as such. That's why this place has such a good reputation. It still has the principles of a normal strip club though. The dancers still strip and the crowd will throw money at their feet at the end of each act. Actually, Kyuubi's opening act should be starting soon."

"What does he do?"

"He lights the crowd on fire, making them suffer from third degree burns before collecting his earnings for the night. He's quite a fox I must say."

"And I know from experience." A voice whispered in my ear. I flinched before turning around to come face to face with familiar coal eyes that held amusement.

"Itachi!" I yelled in embarrassment.

"Hey, watch it! The name's Susanoo here! How would you like if the customers knew your real name and decided to stalk you because they know that you're one hell of a sexy stripper?"

"Some 'sexy' stripper you are dressed like…that." I pointed out while motioning to his clothing. He was wearing a long black cloak that had red clouds outlined in white all over it. It covered from hi nose all the way down to his ankles. In other words, it was very elegant.

"It's what under the cloak that makes me one of the top earning strippers here." He smirked before turning to Aeris.

"You mind getting me the usual, love?"

"A scotch on the rocks, coming right up!" she said happily as she went to make Itachi's drink.

"I see you didn't order anything." Itachi commented before sitting down next to me.

"I was too busy figuring out why the hell Naruto would give me an audition card instead of a graveyard card! Do you happen to know why?" I asked with a growl in my throat.

"Hn."

Before I could yell at the man, Aeris came back with Itachi's drink.

"Come on, let's go." Itachi said as he stood up with his drink in his hand.

"Go where?" I asked. He smirked at me. Is it me or was this guy confusing as hell?

"We're going to fill out your application."

R&R

- KTK