((Okay, everyone, I at least managed to put in a short little something for you all, so there's no saying: 'Why didn't she put up something yet?' Anyway, root for me that I shall pass my AP exams~! Wish me luck in the form of reviews~! Demi-nee, it's disclaimer time! Do it~!
Demi: Right! *reads copyright laws, reads my copyright laws, then busts out laughing in a plush chair* Seriously, Maiko own Spirited Away or even anything mentioned in this? Oh, that's too rich! That's too hilarious! I'm so writing this down…. Oh, okay, I guess I should stop laughing now….Oh, my goodness….I can't breathe…..
Me: -_- …. Please just don't rub it in, Demi-oneechan….))
Lin's POV
After I ditched my apartment, I drove off in my sedan only to find myself whizzing past dozens of looming neon lights that flashed on and off in what seemed to be sort of show (are they welcoming me?) in front of a large Western-style casino. "I'm in heaven…." I murmured to myself as I stepped inside, hearing the slot machines roll, the curses of those who gambled their checks on the craps tables rattling and shaking in my ears, the slightly acrid odor of the one- two-hit combo of saké and nicotine from cigarettes nearly making my eyes water… "At long freakin' last….I'm finally home~…" Another person chorused with me, the somewhat wafting smell of sweet plum saké running rampant on her breath and slipped into my nose. "So, how's it been with you, huh? It's been how long since I've seen you, Lin-san?" As the female chattered, I can't help but remember her from somewhere before….
(IT'S FLASHBACK TIME!)
I moved to the slot machines after collecting my $1590 winnings at the craps tables, already smirking at a blonde, brown-eyed woman who cursed (rather violently) as she lost another slot. "Yo, you wanna know how to beat this stupid slot?" I asked, looking her dead in the eye as she cried with a half-finished peach saké bottle in her hand, "Yes! Just tell me already so I can pay my freakin' debt and go home!" I whispered the secret and after a few tries, she hit Jackpot nearly 67 times in a row. After celebrating, she thanked me and turned to leave. "Wait!"I called out, "You didn't tell me your name!" After smoothing back her bangs, revealing a blue diamond tattoo on her forehead, she smiled as she turned around to face me with a smirking chuckle and said, "Oh, all righty then, my name is…"
(FLASHBACK IS OVER!)
"Lady Tsunade! There you are; I've been looking all over for you! I told you to stay away from gambling houses about ten thousand times!" A woman with short black hair and black eyes ran to her, wearing a black button-down shirt with matching slacks and black strapped flats, panting as she skidded to a stop in front of her amber-eyed friend. "Tsunade….who's she?" She slightly panted between words as she gestured towards me. "Shizune, she is the person who got me free of that crazy debt. Thanks to her, I can now go back to the gambling houses with my head and my chances held high~! All right~, Lin! Way to go!" She applauded happily, pumping a fist into the air with a large grin. "Anyway, Lin-san, we've got to get back to Konohagakure; now that your pesky gambling debt is out of the way, you still have the rest of that paperwork to deal with the instant you step foot in that office! L-Lady Tsunade, are you hearing me?" She called after Tsunade's back as it made a full turn, heading for the door. She took one step outside the door….and disappeared in a puff of smoke. "She really used a shadow clone? Are you serious, Tsunade-sama? One day, you are gonna get rid of this paperwork…" Shizune grumbled as she marched out in search of her boss. "Awkward…" I muttered to myself as I headed towards the slots. Out of the blue, I heard a loud cha-ching noise, the clatter of coins, and lastly, a boisterously joyous, triumphant shriek of "I have officially won the Jackpot!" "Step on up, pay my respects, and kiss my feet while you're at it!" Tsunade happily cried as she jumped up onto the craps table that I just left and paraded around while several security guards tried to get her to calm down. Heh, good luck with trying to get her down from there… I chuckled as I gave an unseen salute to the happy (and now stinking rich) buxom blonde singing "We are the Champions" and snuck out the door into the neon and street lit night.
((Cliffhanger; sorry, but, I'd just like to say one thing: I'm done with my AP exams~! If I pass, I give my reviewers hugs! If not…then I'll stop updating and leave you all hanging.))