WARNING: Descriptions of women who work in a brothel (whore house) and two people make out.

Enjoy the chapter!

With a mumbled curse, Shinji opened his eyes.

He was laying on a bed done in dark red silks, a bed that was meant to witness things no boy ever were lamps around the room but they were carefully decorated with shards of bright glass, glued together to throw kaleidoscope colors over the walls and roof of the room. The mirror against the wall was covered in lace but could be exposed if the user wished it to be. Across from the bed was a table scattered with bright baubles and pots of cosmetics. Table and stool were covered in the same fabrics, someone's attempt to bring a bit of beauty to the otherwise dark world. If there was one thing Shinji could appreciate it was that. Before he could attempt to push himself up though the curtains that served as a door were gently pushed aside.

"Awake are you?" came the demand, though the voice was anything but harsh.

Shinji felt himself smile as he looked at the woman. She was dressed for her profession in a long pale pink kimono, her violent red hair spilling unbound down her back. The garment was opened to reveal a low cut corset that barely covered the pale swell of her breasts. A swath of black covered her lower body, barely though. Her legs were bare as well, endless until they slipped into the straps of the high shoes that decorated her feet. Her eyes were the same dark ruby as her hair and the color on her pouty lips. Shinji pushed himself up but a hand, fingers capped in long nails painted the same ruby pushed him back before he could stay upright for long.

"I'm not having you fainting on me," she said putting her hands on the narrow curve of her waist, "when's the last time you ate?"

"This morning!" Shinji cried.

"Shinji Hirako, I'll not have you telling lies in my bedroom," she said, "I get enough of that from men who pay."

"I did!"

"Then why'd you faint this morning in the market like some girl in the heat?" she demanded.

"I dunno," he said with a shrug.

"Well you're eatin now," she said, "food's gonna come up in a minuet."

Shinji went to push himself up but she pushed him down again.

"Ruby!" he wined.

"Hush yourself," she said with a flick of her ruby locks, "you're not moving until you eat and that's the last I'll hear of it."

A man brought up a tray of food. Shinji's eyes widened at the amount of food on the tray. He looked at Ruby who smiled and waved her hand at the food. Shinji barely bothered with chopsticks as he began to shovel the contents of the first bowl into his of the corner of his eye he saw Ruby slip the high shoes off her feet and shed the kimono as she slipped behind the changing screen in the corner. When she stepped out again she was in a short lilac silk slip that barely came to mid-thigh but was slit much higher. She walked over to the dresser pulling a pair of dark stockings out. She sat down on the stool and began to pull the sheer stockings up her thighs. Shinji barely gave a glance to the stunning woman getting dressed as he continued to shovel food down his throat.

"Don't go choking," Ruby said hooking her stocking up before sliding the other up her leg.

"MmmokayIwont," Shinji mumbled through a mouthful of rice.

Ruby shook her head and turned to the mirror, beginning to alter her makeup. She gathered her hair up in her hands and twisted it, sliding a pair of hair sticks into the style to hold it in place. Sliding to her feet she turned around and walked over to where her shoes were and slipped her feet into a different pair of high, lacquered shoes, tying up the laces before turning to Shinji. He looked up at her, his cheeks bulging with rice.

"Doyoueedtherom?" he questioned through the mouthful.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Ruby ordered, "and no, I don't need the room. Now, you stay up here and don't come down," Shinji nodded enthusiastically before he began to chew again. Ruby reached out and ruffled his hair before she walked out of the room.

Shinji continued to eat, remembering all too well the feeling of his stomach being empty. Ruby always gave him food but he didn't like to take things from people who were nice. He didn't have a problem with stealing from people who were mean or rude. Even if Ruby would give him food freely he had enough pride to steal his own, not that stealing was really all that hard for him. But he was never able to steal this much. It was great. Even when his stomach began to ache he kept eating, wondering if there was a way he could store the food up so that he wouldn't have to eat for weeks.

"Ruby?"

Cheeks puffed out Shinji turned his head towards the door. Standing in the doorway was a wman dressed all in purple. Her ebony hair was a dark wave that shone blue in the light. The top of her garment was pale rose and kimono like except the folds were open to reveal a strip of pale skin and the generous swell of her breasts. The top was tucked into a strip of darker rose cloth knotted high on her hip that covered only the necessities. Silver bracelets shimmered on her forearms, a physical depiction of the bondage they were all committed too. Gold lined her endless night colored eyes while pink shimmered on her lips. She looked at Shinji with a smile. Shinji grinned back.

Pearl was another one of the girls. Ruby was one of his favorites but Pearl was great as well.

"Shinji! Thank goodness you're up. You had us worried for a bit back there," she smiled.

"Is Takuya here?" he asked.

"Takuya dropped you off and went off, he said his job was to get food for the others. You'd know your way back."

"I know the way," he said with a grin, "Ruby's downstairs," he said finally.

"Hmm, well," she turned around, "would you like to wait up here? I'm sure Shinji will keep you company. It'll be good practice for when your wife gives you another child," the man must have agreed because she nodded with a smile, "I'll go tell Ruby your here."

Shinji turned back to his food as the man walked in. he could smell something on the man, something pretty, like someone had captured the smell of new rain. The women wore perfume as well but nothing like this. He glanced upwards. The man was dressed in simple cloths but even he could see the quality of the fabric. It was like he was playing dress up. A quick glance and he would look just like anyone else. The man had his hair pulled into a tight top knot and wrapped with dark cloth, though he had a feeling that it was not common for him. Shinji swallowed and surveyed the man, full enough to feel self conscious around him. Shinji carefully set down the bowl he was holding and wiped his sleeve across his lips. The man looked over at him, his brown eyes softening as he touched the corner of his own mouth.

"You've still got some rice there," he said.

The simple act revealed several crucial things to Shinji. One the man was obviously a father and one of his children was young enough to eat chaotically. Two despite the fact that he had children his wife was not someone he loved, or maybe he did but he liked to have sex with other people. Three, he loved his children, something Shinji had seen could not be turned off and on. He wiped at his cheek. The man smiled and nodded, showing he had gotten the rice.

"So, whats your name?" he asked looking at him.

"Shinji," Shinji said, seeing no reason to be mean to the man.

"Shinji huh?" he smiled, "I'm Jirou," he said, "I have a son about your age back home," his smile widened, "eats like you too and somehow manages to remain skinny. He's the envy of his very vain sisters who seem intent on eating as little as possible."

"Thats horrible," Shinji shuddered thinking of trying not to eat.

"So, Shinji, tell me, how did you come to be here?"

"I dunno," Shinji shrugged, "I fainted and woke up here. Lot nicer than the street."

Jirou nodded in agreement. The boy reminded him of his boy so much. There were a handful of kids running around the brothel but he knew this one wasn't one of them. He looked at the empty bowls and then at the skinny frame of the boy. The handful of remaining food was still warm enough to steam. The poor boy had probably passed out from hunger. His son was always eating as well. They had tried to get him out of the kitchen once but he always wanted to eat. Though his grin was less wide, He smiled a lot as well. There were a lot of kids in Rukongai but this one reminded him of his son more than any other. Shinji looked over at the rice and then back at the man. Jirou smiled.

"You can eat," he said.

Shinji grabbed the chopsticks. He didn't see anything wrong with the man coming to a whore house even though he had a family back home. Rich men came to this place all the time. Shinji didn't think there was anything wrong with it. He imagined even when he got old girls would always be something he liked, especially if they looked like Ruby or Pearl or Violet. He didn't think there was anything wrong with having more than one girl. Besides, Jirou seemed like a nice guy. He wasn't kicking Shinji out or being weirded out that there was a kid in the room. Shinji was definitely gonna leave before they started, that was just gross. As it was though he just ate a bit slower. The tray kept food from getting on the bed sheets so he knew there'd be no evidence he was there when he left.

Just as he was setting the last bowl down Ruby stepped into the room. Jirou got to his feet to greet her. Ruby smiled and stepped fully into the room.

"I've been getting aquatinted with your friend here," he said looking at Shinji.

"Have you now?" Ruby smiled, "he's quite the charmer."

"He reminds me of my son," Jirou said.

Shinji jumped down off the bed. He didn't wanna be here when they started to do the 'grown up' stuff that they did.

"Hold on," Jirou got to his feet and reached into his pocket, "here," he held out a handful of coins that Shinji could feed himself for a month on.

"What're you given those to me for?" he questioned.

"This your first time here?" Jirou asked with a smile, "I pay everyone in this room."

"Okay," Shinji shrugged, it made sense to him. He accepted the coins, "thanks!"

Jirou watched him go with a faint smile before he turned to Ruby. She walked forward, forward, pressing her body against his as her fingers slipped through his hair, pulling it out of the confines of its knot. He leaned forward, his lips beginning to work against the smooth column of her throat. She breathed out softly, barely a sound escaping through her parted lips.

Shinji walked down the hallway towards the doors before stepping out into the street. He was in the 45th Province, slum enough for shady dealings without being completely sleezy like the higher ones. A handful of people dressed like Jirou wandered around. Well for the 45th it wasn't that uncommon. Shinji looked at the coins in his hand. He didn't think he had ever held that much money in his entire life but that man had just given t to him as though it was nothing to him. He bet that the son he reminded him of had that much money, probably got it every day. His brow furrowed. Why was it that he got so much and Shinji was forced to scrounge for scraps? It didn't seem fair to him. In a world of unfairness he had never considered why it was unfair but at the moment all he could do was stare at the gold in his hand and wonder.

His fingers closed over the coins, the metal warming quickly in his palm. He could feed himself and his friends for so long but the coins in his hands felt as though the cost his very soul. The man had given them with a smile, just handed them over to him as though it meant nothing. How could it mean nothing for him and so much for Shinji? Shinji looked back at the brothel. The women in their were good people but they did the same thing, accepting money that most men could just throw away without a second thought. That was no fairer. Did they feel as disgusting after receiving their coins as he did at the moment? They were just coins, what should it matter where they came from? But it did matter. It mattered and he thought that if he were to stick them in his pocket he did not know if he could make it home with the sheer weight of what they represented.

It was not fair.

And for the first time, he hated them.

Every one of them. He hated Jirou with his kind smile, he hated his son who he had never met. He hated Ruby and Pearl and Violet for doing what they did, the fact they had no choice aside. He hated that Hana and Takuya and Riku had to scrimmage like dogs while others lived so well. He remembered the Shinigami in the street, the one they threw blessings and praises at. He left the coins in the mud. What made him so different? Why was he able to be as he was? Why could he do what he did? Why was Shinji like this and they were different. Different was not bad--not bad unless the difference was between having nothing and having everything. He wanted everything and he had nothing, nothing except the coins in his hand that made him feel as though he was being dragged down to the bottom of the district well.

It

wasn't

fair

The smell of burning flesh reached him before the pain did. With a sharp gasp Shinji opened his hands, the coins falling to the ground as he clutched the appendage. His palm was a mess of bright red circles, each the outline of the coins he had gripped. Shinji looked down at the coins on the ground, his eyes wide. They were the same gold coins but instead of being gold, at the moment they were glowing. They were hot. He looked at his hand and then at the metal pieces, not knowing what to think. He had seen metal that hot before but only fire did that and only after a while. But he had just--he had just done that with his bare hands. Slowly around him rain began to fall, hitting the coins with a hiss as the metal continued to glow. Had the man tricked him? No, no they had been normal until he had gotten outside, until he had gotten angry.

He had made them turn hot.

The rain turned heavy as Shinji continued to stare at the disks as the heat slowly ebbed away, leaving ah handful of ordinary looking coins in their wake. Palm stinging, Shinji bent down and touched one of them. It was cool to the touch. He quickly gathered them into his burning hand, the metal cool against his palm instead of red hot. Turning he quickly ran home. He was going to give the coins to Hana and pray that he never had to see them again.

All he had to do was make sure he never got that angry again.

Jirou's son is gonna be there soon. You'll know him when you meet him.

So Shinji's displaying Spiritual Powers, Yamamoto better get a move on huh?