A/N: The Chariot - The Cat Empire
"Your father?" Rin looked curiously at Nozomi. The tattoo master and apprentice entered the shop, shaking the late winter air from their bodies.
"The one and only," Nozomi sighed, disarming the alarm with her clicker.
Rin was still confused as to why her boss was deflated: most people were happy when their parents came to town, but Nozomi looked upset.
"Do you not like your father?" Rin asked as they walked into the breakroom to put down their bags.
Nozomi turned on the shop's lights, then leaned against the wall with her forehead.
"No, Rin-chan. Not particularly…"
Rin stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, rubbing her arm nervously.
Nozomi heaved herself off the wall and smiled weakly at her apprentice.
"Today will be rather quiet, I wager, so let's work on large stencils."
"Is hereally coming?" Nico asked Eli quietly over the phone.
The blonde nodded.
"That sucks,"
"I am aware, Nico," Eli grumbled as she sat on top of the counter with her legs crossed.
"That bastard hasno right to show his face around here!"
"He has a work meeting, apparently."
"Fuck his meeting!" Was the angry response from Nico.
Eli pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"He has no right to be back in Tokyo after what he did. Poor Ayako, she should have never let him take Nozomi away like that the putrid, rotting cu-"
"I know, Nico," Eli interrupted the other florist.
"But there is nothing we can do about this at the moment."
Nico raised an eyebrow and moved forward, the watering can held awkwardly at her side.
"How did Nozomi take it?"
"How do youthink?" Eli groaned and got to her feet.
"She barely slept last night, from what I gathered."
"Huh? Don't you tw-"
Eli's stomach turned into a black hole as she recounted last nights events.
"We had a fight, and then I said something stupid, and that's how I found out that he's coming. You know what Nozomi is like when she's left alone withthat thought looming over her…she slept on the couch."
"Eesh," Nico winced. Eli sighed and threw her head into her hands.
"It's my fault, really."
"Your fault? How can it be your fault?! Ihighly doubt you called that cumrag to come down here just to piss off and torture your girlfriend!" Nico was flabbergasted.
"Because I should have paid more attention to Nozomi," Eli grumbled.
"I snapped at her yesterday about-"
Eli snapped her head up and looked at Nico dead in the eye.
"It was becauseyou were smoking with Nozomi when she wassupposed to be on those e-cigarettes!"
"Wh-What?!" Nico nearly dropped the watering can.
"I didn't smoke with Nozomi! All I did were the bank deposits!"
"You were smoking with Nozomi, Nico," Maki sighed from the side, twirling her hair.
"Hanayo saw you when she went to get more stuff for the daycare."
"N-No she didn't! What kind of bullshit is that?! Hanayo is a liar!"
"You're not hard to miss, evenif you are the size of a fifteen-year-old,"
"I am twenty-six!"
"Enough."
Eli's voice was cold again, and it made Maki and Nico silent at once.
Eli leaned her hip against the counter and looked down at the fibreglass surface.
"Nico, you arenot to smoke with Nozomi anymore."
"B-But-"
"No buts," Eli shot an icy glare at the girl, who shuddered.
Eli returned to gazing at the counter.
"In regards to Nozomi's father," Eli deflated.
"He is a powerful man, so who knows what he will do. I am going to talk to Nozomi about this and make sure that he doesn't harm you two."
"Why would he harm us?" Maki was confused, and Nico shot a look at the younger girl.
"I'll fill you in."
"Are you sure there is nothing we can do?" Umi leaned against the counter, palms flat and brow furrowed in concern.
Nozomi was sitting at the counter, writing an email for a tattoo quote, and nodded.
"There is nothing for you to do apart from your job, Umi-chan. Only I am to deal with my father, and no one else."
"How do you plan to do that?"
Nozomi glanced down at the pristine floor, catching her reflection slightly.
The owner ofLily White bit her lip, and placed a hand on her hip.
"The only ways to deal with him are cowardly and selfish."
"And they are?" Umi pressed while Nozomi looked over at Rin to make sure she was still working.
"The first option is to take my annual leave early," Nozomi lifted the first finger on her left hand.
"But that leaves you two here alone and unprotected, and whoknows what the psycho will do," Nozomi's bitter tone made Umi bit her own lip.
"The second," Nozomi raised her middle finger to join her first.
"Is to shut down the shop for two weeks andeveryone takes their annual leave."
"Wh-What?!" Umi spluttered, and Nozomi sighed.
"That is theabsolute last resort, Umi-chan. I don't want to take away your pay for my sake,"
"That, and I already set my annual leave up for July to coincide with the wedding," Umi added on, playing with her tragus piercing.
Nozomi groaned and lowered her head to the counter.
"Why does he have to show up?" she whispered to herself, feeling her throat tighten.
"Nozomi," Umi gently placed a hand on her boss's shoulder.
"He's not going to come anywherenear you. I will make sure of it, Eli will make sure of it, and, hell, evenRin will make sure of it,"
"What am I doing?" Rin perked up at once. Nozomi also lifted her head and smiled sadly at her apprentice.
"Today, we'll take lunch together, Rin-chan, and I'll explain everything."
Nozomi then looked up at Umi, and her eyes crinkled with respect and adoration.
"Actually, we're all taking lunch together. The store can go an hour without us.
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