Kyoko and Chizu sat on the bench outside a local restaurant. Dangling their feet, they waited patiently as people passed them by on the sidewalk.
"This isn't fair," Chizu grumbled. "Papa Hisoka and Yoko are in there."
Kyoko let out a sigh as she said, "I know, but we agreed to behave, so we have to wait out here."
"It still sucks."
"Hey Kyoko, Chizu," an older sect boy called as he approached. "Waiting for someone?"
"Yeah, for Papa Hisoka to finish lunch," Chizu said with a grimace.
Stopping, the boy frowned at them. "Why don't you go in?"
Eyeing him, Kyoko said, "We can't. We're not allowed."
"Huh? Your Papa won't let you eat with him?"
"No silly, the restaurant doesn't want us in there," Kyoko explained.
The boy looked in. He recognized Hisoka, and Yoko. They looked to be waiting. As he looked at the heads inside, he didn't see one pair of horns. "They wouldn't let you in?" he asked.
"That's why we have to wait," Chizu said.
"So, that's how it is, huh?" he asked as he frowned at the diners.
"Takio, are we eating here?" a light purple haired girl asked as she joined them.
Takio shook his head. Motioning to Kyoko and Chizu, he said, "The restaurant won't let them in." Leaning closer to her, he said, "Take a look inside, Nami, do you see anyone with horns in there?"
Nami looked in the window, then gapped at Kyoko. "They told you you couldn't go in?"
"Sign's right there," Kyoko said, pointing to it.
"Hi, guys," Chika said as she strode up.
The purple haired girl turned to Chika and said, "Those people won't let Kyoko and Chizu into the restaurant."
"It says, 'no foreigners'," Chizu grumbled under her breath.
"They won't huh?" Chika said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Mariko and Mama Lucy will be done shopping soon. We'll see what they have to say THEN!" She plopped down beside Kyoko, frowning in anger.
"We should just go in anyway," Takio announced.
"Please, don't make trouble," Kyoko begged.
"Kyoko is right," Nami stated. "We should just tell people about this ... policy of the owner, and see what they think about it!"
A couple coming up the sidewalk angle to go into the restaurant. Nami stepped in front of them and said, "They don't want us in there. Do you want to eat someplace that will not allow other residents of Kamakura in?"
The couple gapped at her, then with a frown, the man said, "We will find someplace else!" The couple walked away.
Other people coming up were also asked if they wanted to eat someplace that didn't allow sect members in. A few people decided to stay with them to inform others of this new policy. A family of sect members came by, and once they were properly outraged, they joined the growing picket.
By the time Mariko and Lucy arrived, a crowd had gathered, blockading the entrance to the restaurant. Someone arrived with a sign to protest the policy. Another teenage sect girl came up to Lucy and explained that this 'place' didn't allow sect members to eat there.
"Oh, really," Lucy said in a malevolent tone as she eyed the restaurant.
Hisoka came out and gapped at the crowd. What's going on?" he asked. He was immediately informed by several angry people that sect members weren't allowed inside.
On his heels, the manager came out and asked the same question. He was bombarded with the injustice that he had inflicted on two little girls.
Confused and fearful, the manager backed against a wall and held up his hands in surrender. "Wait! I have never said the Sect wasn't welcome here! Who said such a thing?" he cried.
A dozen fingers pointed to Kyoko and Chizu, who still sat on the bench.
Gapping at them, the manager said in an exasperated tone, "Why would you say such a thing? The Sect has always been welcome here."
"It's on your sign," Chizu said.
The manager looked to find this sign that he was sure someone had put up in jest. "What sign?" he asked as he didn't find it.
Chizu got up and marched over to the sign as she said, "Right here. It says 'no foreigners'."
"But ... you're not foreigners," he said.
"We're Americans," Chizu stated.
"Chizu, you are not!" Mariko stated.
"We are too," Kyoko said indignantly. "And that sign says we can't go in." Turning to Lucy, she said, "Mama Lucy, we're doing our best to stay out of trouble, so we waited out here. Isn't that what we were suppose to do?"
Lowering her head, Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers and muttered, "I'm going to kill him."
.
Bill noted that Lady Shizuku was taking pains to be pleasant to him. At first, he thought her soft tone was geared towards keeping him in line. More and more, her smiles and gentle words seemed too be too genuine to be faked. The woman was actually being nice to him. Bill responded in kind.
At dinner, Lady Shizuku sat down next to Bill. Casting him an impish smile she asked, "Are you busy tomorrow?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary," he replied.
"Then perhaps I could coax you into spending the morning with me?" she asked.
Bill eyed her. Was she asking him for a date? Carefully he said, "Thank you for thinking of me. Is there someplace you'd like to go?"
She nodded and place her hand over his, "And it would mean so much if you would join me."
Wow, Bill thought. He was still getting used to her blue hair and lavender eyes. Still, Lady Shizuku was a pretty woman in an exotic way. "Ahh, sure. I'd be happy to join you."
This pleased Lady Shizuku. Bill talked with her about the work he was doing. She told him how well Chizu and Kyoko were coming along. Talking about the girls, Bill became melancholy. They discussed the girls until the table was mostly cleared. A prod from another White Robe got them up to help finish clearing the table.
On the way back to their rooms, Lady Shizuku was stopped by a young White Robe. Bill opened his door to see a disk player on his small table. Going over to it, he noted a paper arrow was pointing at the play button. He pushed it.
The music of Shania Twain started :
"Don't want ya for a weekend, don't want ya for a night..
I'm only interested if I can have ya for life... yeah
I know I sound serious, and baby I am...
You're a fine piece of real estate, and I'm gonna get me some land,
So don't try to run, honey, love can be fun,
There's no need to be alone, when you find that someone..."
Bill stared at the player. Who left this in here? He pondered if it had been Lady Shizuku. Hearing a noise besides the music, he turned if off. Another soft moan sounded from behind him. He turned to see a form curled up in his chair. The frazzled pink hair and slim arms wrapped around her long legs confirmed who it was.
"Chika?" he asked as he approached the sleeping girl. He also noted an empty saki bottle beside the chair. "This isn't good," he told himself.
He had to get her out of here. Carefully, he picked her up, calling, "Chika... Chika sweetie, you have to get up."
Chika's eyes opened as she let out another soft moan. Upon seeing him, she wrapped her arms around him with a happy sigh. Bill sat to keep from falling, and ended up with Chika in his lap.
"Bill," Chika whispered as she hugged him tight.
The empty bottle and her breath was more than enough to prove she was intoxicated. Bill held the drunk girl, having no clue what he was going to do. "Oh boy," he breathed. Lucy wasn't going to be happy when she found out about this.
"Bill are you.." Lady Shizuku said as she appeared in the doorway, and stopped mid-sentence to gape at them.
"Could I have a hand here?" he asked, wearing a grimace.
.
"She can't go home like that," Bill said as he sat by Lady Shizuku's futon that Chika was sprawled out on.
On Chika's other side, Lady Shizuku eyed him and asked, "So, what do you plan to do with her?"
"Me?" Bill asked.
"Yes, you. That was your saki, wasn't it?" Lady Shizuku asked in an accusing tone.
"No, I hate saki," Bill said firmly. Pleadingly he said, "Look, if she goes home in this condition, who do you think will catch hell? Me, that's who."
"So you propose to keep her here, so she can go home in the morning with a hangover?" Lady Shizuku asked with a raised eyebrow. "I imagine Lady Lucy will be very forgiving of that."
"Point taken," Bill conceded.
"If I take her home, then I will have to tell the truth about where I discovered her if anyone asks," Lady Shizuku stated.
"Gee, thanks for the support," Bill grumbled.
Lady Shizuku shrugged, "The truth is always best." she then cracked a grin and added, "I am sure you are man enough to take responsibility."
.
Bill was careful to approach the back of the Maple Inn where he knew the darkness obscured the cameras. He was sore from carrying Chika on his back. Although her tight grip on his neck did help keep her in place, holding onto her legs made it hard to punch in the entry code.
The display flashed and reset. Shit! He'd hit the wrong number. If he did it again, security would be notified, and the flood lights would come on. Straining, he carefully punched in the code a second time. This time he heard the lock click.
Struggling, he got the gate open without dumping Chika on the ground, then eyed the Inn. Only a few lights on, kitchen, and the TV room. Good, he had a chance to sneak up the back stairs. Stealthily, he went in and crept up the steps, grimacing at every creak the stairs made. In the upstairs hallway, he realized he had no idea which of the many rooms was Chika's.
Risking the noise, he softly called, "Chika... Chika, wake up."
"Hmm?" she asked as she re-tightened her hold on him.
"Which room is yours?"
Letting out a satisfied sound, Chika mumbled, "Ours... second past the bath... across the hall."
Bill snuck down to the room she indicated. Peeking in, he did see it was a girl's room. The futon was rolled up in a cubby. Leaning over to keep from spilling her on the floor, he let go of one leg to pull the futon out, and kicked it flat. He threw a sheet down, then a pillow. Getting the sheet mostly straight, he laid Chika down on it.
Chika latched onto him and pulled him to her. "Keep me warm," she mumbled.
"I have to get a blanket."
"That would be nice," she replied with a sleepy smile.
Bill got her a blanket and covered her up. Seeing her blissful face, he suddenly had a strong urge to kiss her. On his hands and knees over her, he was pondering whether or not to steal a kiss when a small voice asked, "Daddy?"
Bill looked up to see Kyoko staring at him.
Damn. Thinking quickly, Bill put a finger to his lips and said, "Shh, don't wake her."
"I don't think you should be here," Kyoko said as she twisted her fingers together.
"I was just bringing Chika home, I'll be going now," he said softly.
"But, this is our room. Chika's is down the hall," Kyoko told him.
"Please let her stay here tonight. Just sleep in her room," Bill coaxed.
"OK, but please go before anyone sees you," Kyoko said pleadingly, then left.
Hearing other voices in the hall, Bill went to the window to make his exit. The ground was a long way down. He jumped and rolled when he hit the ground. Thankfully, the sound of his landing didn't draw any attention. He was able to slip out the front gate and get away.
.
Lady Himari was confused when she went into Kyoko's room to kiss her goodnight, and found Chika in her bed. The covers were in shambles like someone had been wrestling in them, and the futon was anything but properly laid out. By the smell, Chika was drunk, too.
"Chika?" she asked as she petted the girl's rumpled hair.
Chika rolled over and gathered up some covers in her arms. "Bill, honey, come back to bed," she mumbled in a satisfied moan.
Lady Himari took in Chika's condition, and the condition of the bedding. She then went to the monitors to back up the camera records to see Bill exit from Kyoko's second floor window.
"Oh, you evil man," she said sadly. Lucy might not like this, but Bill had to take responsibility for what he'd done.