Chapter Twenty-One – Housekeeping
Takigawa whistled softly as he headed home, taking his time as he walked around the square. It was as he walked that he noticed a familiar figure standing at a shop window. He stopped to watch curiously. She wasn't doing anything in particular, just staring inside. Is she sizing the place up or something? He wondered, his police instincts kicking in at the way she watched the people inside the store. He reflected that being friendly never hurt anyone and approached slowly.
"Good afternoon." He greeted cheerfully, surprised as the redhead almost flinched away from the window. She looked scared. He softened his tone somewhat. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you…" He apologised, watching the woman's hazel eyes looking for an excuse to leave. There was something so familiar about her, but he couldn't place it. He was sure he'd seen her before. "Are you shopping for Halloween supplies? I haven't even started yet." He added in a friendly tone as he looked through the window.
"No, I'm…just looking around." She replied in a small voice. The voice was small, but very pretty, very feminine. He had no doubt she'd sound downright sultry if she were a little more confident. She seemed to be making herself look small. She was timid and uncertain. It's like she's just been caught doing something she shouldn't…He also noticed that she was a little dirty. It wasn't that she looked unbathed, but her clothes were a little battered from the weather. She hasn't been inside for a few days at least…
"Looking around to keep warm?" Takigawa asked gently, the woman raising her head in surprise. "It's pretty cold out here." He added as his breath formed a small cloud in the air. The redhead nodded her quiet agreement. Takigawa's eyebrows raised as he watched her carefully. That's…unexpected…If the woman noticed his sudden probing she made no show of it. "Almost enough to freeze your insides." He added with a joking tone, remaining relaxed as she turned her head to look at him.
"Sometimes it is." She replied simply, and Takigawa nodded his agreement. Plenty of rough sleepers died each year from exposure. He knew from experience that androids like Charlie were much hardier, but he was pretty sure their bio components could freeze up. The woman had her arms folded, the bodywarmer providing her a little protection.
"I'm Takigawa Houshou…I'm a police officer. What's your name?" He asked kindly, watching her stiffen at the news. He remained open and assuring, hoping the redhead would relax a little.
"Ayako…" She replied, watching the man beside her beam at the news. He was surprisingly kind, for a human. She quietly wondered if he would act the same if he knew she was really an android. She stayed for a while. He was the first person she'd spoken to since leaving John's shop. The Android haven wasn't what she'd hoped for. The group had been small, full of barely active units clinging to life. It had been more like a hospice than a sanctuary, so she'd taken to wandering the streets. She wasn't sure what she'd do now. She had a couple of blood packets left, but after that she would begin slowly shutting down unless she found a way to resupply.
"You know, I considered getting one of the new AX500 models, for housekeeping you know, but I figured it wasn't worth the price. I had a human cleaner for a while, but then she started working in her parents' old café." Takigawa said, unsure how long he'd been talking to the redhead. It was long enough for his hands to go cold. He watched an AX400 walk up the street, shivering at her state of dress. It seemed cruel to send even an android out in this weather, particularly when wearing only a mini-dress and thin slacks.
"You're looking for a housekeeper?" Ayako asked hesitantly, wondering if this could be a potential way out. She wasn't programmed for it, but she was capable of learning how to do things. With a little money she could buy more blue-blood, and with Takigawa working as a police officer she could probably hide in his house for a few hours to keep her systems running smoothly.
"Sort of. I didn't post an ad for it, I just figured I'd find one at some point, you know?" He added sheepishly, surprised as the redhead turned away from the window to face him. She looked serious and determined, an expression that sent heat between his legs. He could have sighed at himself.
"I could do it." She offered seriously, watching the human turn it over in his head. It wasn't exactly safe to allow a stranger into your home, especially someone like Ayako. At the same time, it goes against my moral code to leave a lady in need. If a few things end up going missing…it's not the end of the world.
"Are you sure? It doesn't pay much." He replied, but the redhead seemed satisfied. She also requested to be paid in cash. Technically he knew he shouldn't. Cash in hand jobs tended to go ignored when taxes came around, but since it was unlikely she had a bank account anywhere he agreed. "I guess I should show you the place." He added finally, deciding to walk the fifteen minutes to his house. It would give her time to look around the area and map out the route.