7:21 pm.
Job hunting in the *shady* part of Konoha. Will work for money.
It was a rather uneventful day. Genma-sensei greeted me as "Sweet Potato Girl" and this time I threw an eraser at him, which he caught, much to my dismay. Mr. Dark Hair And Stress Marks paid no heed to me and was once again mobbed by females shoving a variety of food in his face. I drank water and ate air for lunch, tuned out my English-sensei, expended as little energy as possible during PE, and admired Jiraya-sensei's collection of ceramic frogs. Not very exciting.
Over the years, I've found that the best place to find jobs are also the shadiest. Like, the part of town where if you turn the wrong corner you'll end up in the Black Market or something. Here in Konohagakure, the best places to find jobs are where all the alcohol is at, farthest from the school but close enough to the rich part of town, where people have enough money to indulge themselves with vodka. Or cocainne. Or both.
Anyways, I flitted in and out of various stores and restaurants practically begging for a job, using various excuses ("My mother is in the ICU and we have no money!" "My father just died and left no will!" "I need drugs!"), but I was either given a nasty look or thrown out unceremoniously. This happened at about twenty different places for about forty-five minutes.
But just as I was about to give up and go home, a miracle in the form of a "help wanted" sign appeared.
The place was called "Shinobi Bar 'n' Grill" and honestly, it didn't look very reputable. A neon sign advertising "the best sake, sirloin, and sweets around" blinked on and off from the window. I was a bit cautious, but it had a few customers and it didn't look that suspicious, so I went inside.
"Hey, kid, you know we won't sell you any alcohol."
A grey haired man with a mask in sweatpants and a muscle tee (at this point I was really questioning my judgement of this place) called out to me from the bar. He was leaning on the counter with his arms crossed in front. The guy was a bit young for grey hair. Like, I know some people can grey at their thirties, maybe, but this guy was twenty-five tops. Maybe he was uber stressed to the max and ended up aging super prematurely, so he also has to use a mask to hide his wrinkles. Or maybe he just dyed it.
"I'm, uh, not here for a drink. I'm just wondering if you're hiring. I saw the help wanted sign and I really," I breathe in deeply, "really need a job."
At this, he straightened. "Kid, how old are you?"
With my previous experience, I decide not to answer with specifics. "Old enough."
He raises an eyebrow. "Are you now?" He beckons me to the bar and I sit down. "What's your name? Any work experience?"
"Well, ah, my name's Yamamoto Suzume." I shift a little in the seat. I'm too short for it. "I was a cashier at the Ninja Mart for two years before it closed down. And I worked at The TapRoot for a few months."
"Eh? TapRoot? The one owned by Shimura Danzo?"
Ooh, that name makes me want to punch a wall.
"Uhuh. Yeah. Not his biggest fan though."
The grey-haired man narrowed his eyes at me, scanned me up and down, and then nodded. "Well, neither am I. I used to work for him too. Nasty way with business, that guy."
I let out a sigh of relief. Maybe our mutual hatred could -
"That doesn't mean I'm going to hire you though."
Damn.
I sigh. Well, that's disappointing.
"Look," he says, "I don't know your circumstances, but whatever they are, they clearly aren't very good if you've come to this part of town for a job. For all I know, you could've spent all your savings on drugs or something."
I open my mouth in protest. "Hey -"
"Plus," he continues, cutting me off in the process, "considering the fact that you worked for Danzo, either left or got fired, and are currently a bit desperate for a job here, I can't help but think that something either very pressing or highly illegal transpired at your time at TapRoot."
I gape for a moment, realize my mouth is open and I probably look like an idiot, and promptly close it.
"I will neither deny or admit to your statement -"
"Regardless," there he goes, interrupting me yet again, "if I hire you, I need you to promise me something."
At the mention of a possibility of getting hired, I immediately perk up. "Yes! Anything!"
"Wait. I take that back. I've got two things."
"Oh, uh, yes to that as well!"
He nods. "First, no matter what, do not ever come into contact with Danzo ever again. Do not go to TapRoot, do not tell anyone you worked at TapRoot. If you see him on the street, turn away. Got it?"
I nod. I wasn't planning on talking to that slimy businessman anyways.
"Second...well, this is more of an assurance on my part rather than yours. I realize that you're probably in an unfavorable situation at the moment, and it's really none of my business to interfere. But if I ever," he looks me straight in the eye (he's actually pretty scary goddamn), "suspect that something is going on that could put you, or more importantly, me or my bar in the slightest bit of danger, I will contact the appropriate people." I audibly gulp. "Do I make that clear?"
I nod. And nod more. I nod the amount that it takes to let him know that I understand.
Suddenly, as if he didn't even sort of threaten me the moment before, he lightens up and gives a close-eyed smile. "Good." He tosses me a shirt. "That's your uniform. I don't care what you wear it with. Your shift'll start at six tomorrow and end at ten. Sundays are off. Any questions, ah, what's your name again?"
I'm too relieved, excited, and elated to care that he forgot. "Just call me Suzume. And yeah, I've got two."
"Shoot."
"What's your name?"
"Hatake Kakashi. Just Kakashi is fine."
"Alright, Kakashi. And...when's my first paycheck?"
August 26, 1999. 9:41 am.
In math. T-minus seven days until first paycheck. T-minus one day until angry, angry, angry landlady. First day of Yamamoto Suzume's official once-again-employed status.
I barely got to school on time today. I went to bed really late last night because I was so happy I ended up dancing (or flailing, if looked at objectively) to the entirety of my favorite Swan Lake recording. And then I slept on the floor. And then I woke to cannons.
I love Tchaikovsky, if you can't already tell. I really do. If he weren't dead and in Russia, I totally would have married him.
Anyways, I slipped into class so fast before the bell rang that Genma-sensei didn't even have the time to greet me (hah!) and Mr. Dark Hair And Stress Lines even looked over when I practically leapt into my seat.
He gave me a look that I translated to "why?" and I responded with a shrug that translated to "woke up late."
I don't think my actual message really got across, but I don't think it particularly matters.
2:53 pm.
In English, ignoring the teacher as she rants about the appropriate use of quotation marks.
I decided to treat myself to the 300 yen curry bread today, since I am now officially employed after two panic-filled days of unemployed-ness.
You know, after holding a two relatively steady jobs for a total of two years and eight months, being unemployed feels really uncomfortable. I can honestly say I'm relieved, even if I have to wash toilets and clean up the mess of a bunch of middle-aged drunkards.
Although, I do have a minor problem with the timing of the paycheck (it's a full six days after rent is due), but I'll talk my way around it. It's not like it hasn't happened before.
Anyways, since today is, you guessed it, IPAE day, I got to start on my composition. Or at least, attempted to start. I tried to think of a melody, or a line, or a place to start, but I really didn't know how.
Like, what the hell is "home" supposed to sound like? I don't even know.
10:21 pm.
Post-work. Dead tired.
Gosh. TapRoot is nothing in comparison to Shinobi Bar 'n' Grill. Even though it's half the size tucked away in the weird part of town, this place is a freaking jungle.
I wore the shirt I got last night (which was baggy and too long) and a pair of shorts to work. Kakashi commented on how big it was on me, and I commented on how he should lose his beer belly. Which is a total lie, by the way, and he knew it. The guy's dead fit.
I think he lifts.
The first two hours of my shift were pretty slow, kind of like what I saw yesterday. Some people came in for a drink or a snack or dinner, watched the telly in the corner, talked to Kakashi, and left. Apparently this is also a pretty popular place for some high schoolers (most of them rich) to hang out after school as well, although Kakashi makes them sit away from the bar and refuses to serve them alcohol, no matter how much they beg. I didn't have that many things to clean so I just sat around and busied myself with rearranging the alcohol on the shelf, first by type, then by name, and then country of origin, and then by color, size, and shape. Then I ate a few of the pastries (which were damn good, by the way, the sign didn't lie) that the cook made.
And then when it hit eight, things started to really pick up. People started coming in by trickles, and then BOOM! A hoard of people just ready to get drunk.
Soon I was serving and bussing and cleaning like I've never served and bussed and cleaned before, and now finally understand why Kakashi chose to hire me, despite my apparent shadiness. He probably couldn't stand one more day understaffed.
A few people were too drunk to notice that I was new, but most of the apparent regulars were surprised. A few called out to Kakashi asking about me. One guy asked "where he got me from" and he replied saying that I "came out from the streets like a rat" and "practically begged for the job."
I would have thrown the bottle in my hand at him, but frankly, he has my paycheck and I don't want to risk that. So I opted for a sickly sweet smile to the customer and a nasty glare Kakashi's way instead.
Even though it was tough work and pretty much non-stop, it wasn't that bad at all. The people, who are mostly younger and in their twenties, were friendly (Kakashi and the pastry-god chef included, but only when the former wasn't making fun of me). The atmosphere is really casual and laid back, unlike The TapRoot, which is stuffy and proper and full of old people in suits.
In other words, Shinobi Bar 'n' Grill is...hip.
Although, I've gotta say, there are some pretty weird people at that bar. There's this one guy who I'm pretty sure lives on cigarettes, cuz he just won't stop smoking. There's a scary looking man that wears a bandana on his head who, when drunk, goes up to random people and interrogates them on their whereabouts that day. And - get this - there's a full grown man with a bowl cut in a green, skin-tight jumpsuit that constantly challenges Kakashi to rock-paper-scissors matches. And he's not even drunk when he does it.
By the time my shift was up at ten, I was ready to pass out. Kakashi offered to call a cab for me, but I said no. I feel too indebted to that guy already for the job and all, and I don't need a thirty yen ride on top of all that.
Anyways, tomorrow's going to be a long day. I should get to sleep.
A/N I'm really tired. Writing is fun, but it's VERY TIME CONSUMING and SLEEP DRAINING. (But yes, here I am updating uber quickly again. I hope I can publish another chappie by the end of the week, but don't hold me to that.)
Anyways, woo a job! Also, things will be picking up soon (these first few chapters are kind of slow) but I want things to progress naturally, so don't expect dramatic love confessions by next chapter or anything.
Also, THANK YOU TO ALL WHO REVIEWED! I honestly didn't expect the response that I got but I'm so happy that I did! Shoutout to TheAsylumEscape, TheCatAteMyTurtle, SixPastMidnight, and the two guest reviews. You guys made my day!
See you all next update!
- morninggrey