Come back to me, Kinu had said, and since Takasugi had heard the words, he'd been beyond pleased with his damage control. He didn't know why he'd been upset in the first place. Upset was a strong word. Agitated was a bit better. It hadn't been a big deal. Kinu had retreated to the engine room after. Hadn't even looked at him when Kawakami called on her to soak the newly pink clothes in more vinegar and rewash them.

Takasugi had no clue how they hadn't been caught. Sex on the entrance table and surrounding area, was far riskier than he'd ever attempted before, but nobody had wandered into the kitchen while they were occupied. The brass in his pocket seemed a million times heavier than it should have been.

Kinu had been in a rush to leave. Had to get ready for a second job. Even so, she took the time to force a key into his hands before leaving. Bid him to take it, with her sultry murmurs and the way she leaned into his chest; fingers teasing at his.

Her house key. They were officially sneaking around, and Takasugi felt at the key for the umpteenth time as Kawakami sighed.

"Shinsuke, I don't see any way around this. He's not going to settle."

"Let's just kill him." He murmured the words, taking a bite of his rice. "What difference does one meeting make? They can't say anything to surprise us. We can kill Nobu Nobu anytime." Matako, Takechi, and Kawakami stared at him, all silent but their looks said more than enough.

They'd been looking at him oddly since he'd started on the meal; all tucked around the kitchen island.

When he'd had enough of their looks, Takasugi turned to them and demanded an answer. What they wanted, what they were hiding, and why they were all just watching him cook like he was their latest science project.

"You're… humming." Matako had said, visibly uneasy.

So what? He hadn't realized it was a crime. Since when did they outlaw humming on his ship?

Now, Kawakami had the traces of amusement pulling at his features, and Takechi maintained his usual wide eyed expression that Takasugi had come to know as neutral, concerned, happy, and annoyed wrapped in one. It was no use trying to read his actual face.

"How hard could it be to get to Amagi? Sure, he talks a lot, and he's got a security detail, but we've faced worse."

"Who knows how he may react if we simply call the deal off." Kawakami added, with a slow, thoughtful nod.

"We should arrange an alternative route before eliminating the one we've set on." Takechi set his rice on the table and lifted his tea. "After thinking on it, perhaps we could use a drone. Something small, just to watch. The further we are, the safer." At last something they could all dig into.

The hostesses were doing their makeup again. Something about an after work party. They were all meeting up, and though their whispers had been carefully placed, Kinu had still heard them. She stood at her locker, running a comb through her hair. Staring at the squirming insect on her door. She'd hung a corkboard on it. Didn't have anything useful to put there, but she'd seen the other girls had them, and they were cute.

Now, there was a butterfly, trying to flutter away with a pin through each of its wings. She didn't know if she could help it. The stack of hundred yen coins paled in comparison to the butterfly, with a smiling little cloud on the right, and a striped bumblebee on the left; notably less cute when being used to torture insects.

"I hear they stay open until sun up, so it should be fine with a large group. Don't you wanna see what the male hosts are like?"

"Oh, I've been looking at that place since it opened!"

Behind Kinu, the women were all still chatting. Making their plans. She set her comb down. Carefully grasped both of the pins on her board and tried to pull them out at the same time. It took a few seconds, but the bug dropped to the floor, flapping its wings and fluttering about. Not flying. The holes were small. She'd thought maybe it would be okay…

It was pretty. She didn't know what it was called, but the wings were black with a brilliant blue at the bottom of the wings.

Kneeling, she cupped her hands around it.

Probably not going to make it. Whoever had put it there had to have touched it too much.

Kinu had already changed. Only needed to walk home. So she decided she'd take her new friend with her. To a bush. There was an empty lot a short distance from her usual walk home. She thought one of the blooming plants there was a nice place for a butterfly. If she was going to die, and happened to be a butterfly, she would want to be around nice things, like plants. Not some stuffy building where she could get stepped on, or pinned to a cork board.

After securing her locker, Kinu shouldered her purse, and let herself from the room. Nobody had even looked at her during their girl talk session, or invited her to scope out cute male hosts, she she figured it was an exclusive event, that definitely had no room for her.

The night air was refreshing. Cooler than it had been in months. In the cavern of Kinu's hand, the little wings had stopped brushing against her, and she wondered if the butterfly was still alive. If she'd accidentally smothered it. Despite the worry, she didn't open her hands. Didn't want to lose it before she got to the empty lot. It wasn't too far. Maybe an extra five minutes off course, but when they got there, Kinu carefully eased her hands open. Held the insect up to the white blooms. In the moonlight, the leaves were nearly black, but the flowers were surprisingly bright. Her newest friend flapped a bit. Didn't seem to take the hint, so Kinu parted her hands over a flower and watched. It wasn't struggling anymore. So maybe it liked being outside, and it had only panicked because it knew it was in the wrong place. Well, that and the torture.

"There's a story about a guy that worked and lived in a graveyard. When he died, his family realized that he'd been tending his dead fiance's grave the entire time, and the butterfly that had landed on his pillow was her soul. I think it was white, though." Hands on her knees, Kinu waited for it to go somewhere. It was standing upright. Accepting it's fate. "Maybe that's what you guys do when you die. You become people's souls." Tilting her head, Kinu sighed.

"If that's what happens, you should be my soul." A slight breeze came. It walked further up the flower, and Kinu was relieved to see it move. She guessed she could leave. There was no telling if it would actually die. If she told her mom she was late because she was playing with a butterfly, she'd probably get the look. Ai wouldn't believe her. Or she would, and would think something was wrong with Kinu.

A bright light flickered, and Kinu stood. Looked back towards the buildings opposite of the path back home. Footsteps could be heard scrambling, but not too far. And then she realized nothing else could. No crickets. No sounds of the city; she'd wandered far enough from the main street to be in a quiet neighborhood. She couldn't hear any animals, bugs, or people. It was dead quiet.

Staring in the direction of the flash, Kinu felt a shiver go down her spine.

Had somebody taken a picture of her? Was it them? The person that had done this to the butterfly?

Taking a step back. Kinu kept her eyes peeled. Her heel sank into the grass, and she tried to correct herself. Quickly shifted her weight to her toes as she took another careful step. Somebody was watching her. Had been watching her for who knew how long.

Briskly turning, Kinu passed the bush and returned to the street. Started on the path back home, but the longer she walked, the more frazzled her nerves grew. She could have sworn she heard footsteps still. No bugs. They were getting closer. Weren't in line with her own.

Whipping around. She was greeted with the empty street again. Nothing out of place. Silence.

It did nothing to calm her.

She dug into her purse, taking a backwards step as she scanned the buildings and roadway. Didn't turn back around until a woman's voice greeted her, groggy and irritated.

"Do you have any idea what time it is? It's three in the morning! Three! What do you want?"

"Matako-chan," Pausing, Kinu carefully turned on her heel and started back towards the shop. "I think somebody is following me…" She kept her voice low. Tried to whisper just loud enough to be heard.

"What? What are you doing out? Go home."

Cradling the phone to her ear, Kinu glanced behind herself again. It wasn't like Matako could actually do anything, but just knowing somebody was with her made her feel a little better.

"I just got off work. I'm walking home, but there was a flash, like someone took a picture and there are footsteps but I don't see anyone."

"Why are you calling me? Shinsuke-sama is probably still awake."

"I could be wrong, it just freaked me out." There was a deep sigh on the other side of the phone, and Kinu tried to swallow her nerves. "And you're my only girl friend with a cellphone. I though about calling Kawakami-san, but-"

"Oi, it sounds like you're actively avoiding telling Shinsuke-sama." Matako's words, sparked a vein of amusement in Kinu. She turned back, just before rounding the corner to her usual path back home. Nobody in sight.

"If I'm wrong he'd be annoyed."

"If you're right you could die."

Snorting, Kinu peered at the alley she usually passed through. It was fine right? Matako was with her, so she'd hear if something awful happened. Maybe not report it, but that made Kinu feel a little better. She tried her luck. Entered the alley while stealing a glance around. There was a fire escape, so at the very least she could try to run up there, hoping her assailant wouldn't have unnatural speed and strength like Takasugi.

"I guess it's fine. I'll stay on the phone with you until you get home. You can't call me every night though."

Relief washed over Kinu and she finally let out the breath that had been collecting in her since the flash. She'd call Kawakami next time then. If she'd had Shinpachi's number she could have called Otae, but that seemed to be off the table for now. If she went to Otae's club, she'd probably walk with her a portion of the way, though. Their houses weren't too far apart. Assuming it happened in the future.

"Thank you." Kinu murmured, and she could hear Matako moving.

"So what are we gonna talk about? It'll be awkward if we're just quiet."

"Hmm…" Racking her brain for ideas, Kinu turned from the alley. Safe. It wasn't far now. "I saw some really cute earrings the other day…"

Kinu tried to go to school. After her humiliation, she'd been dressing for it, but unable to force herself to get on the train. This time, she made it. That wasn't the important part, though. Her desk in the empty classroom was far from the way she left it. A tidal wave of thoughts and emotions ran through her. First it was disbelief. Then confusion, and finally, an odd mull she couldn't decipher. She stared down at the litter covering her seat. Cans, papers, water bottles, food containers. Covered with garbage. She'd started to push through it. Ignore it and reclaim her spot, but the words written on her desk gave her pause.

Whore.

It had been carved into the wood. Lined in red. She didn't understand. She had only slept with Takasugi. Hadn't even spoken to anyone at school that she knew of, aside from the people that bought projects from her. Why would any of them think she was doing anything? The usual three had only seen her with Takasugi. They'd looked fine when he was there.

Even if she had slept with somebody other than Takasugi, that was her own business. It wasn't for lack of trying, Kinu was just painfully awkward and unattractive. A lot of the other girls had multiple boyfriends, sometimes all at once. She didn't think she had the energy for that, but she heard them talk about it.

After looking at the state of her desk, she decided that she was still sick. More words had been carved. Freak. Loser. Bitch. Maybe they had the wrong desk.

Maybe Matako was pissed at her, but how would she get into the school to do this? Kinu didn't think she was that vindictive.

The entire ride back home was filled with uncertainty. Kinu couldn't stop thinking about her desk. Wondering who had done it, and why. When she returned to the shop and was surprised to see Shinpachi looking back at her. Across the counter, her mother was grinning and waving around a spatula.

"Oh, there she is! Dear, I was just telling Shinpachi-kun we got a call for an exclusive job! A formal tea ceremony; and he's paying a ton! Your father already accepted. You remember how to do it, right?"

Kinu was too tired for this. She hadn't been able to sleep a wink the day or night before.

That would mean they had access to her at both places, and her house. Kinu couldn't think of anybody like that.

"Hm…" Glancing at the woman, she tried to avoid eye contact. To slip behind the counter and find a corner to crawl into. Sure. She remembered. Sort of. But it had been years, and springing it on her was downright cruel. Her grandmother had been the last one to go through it with her. When she reached the display case, she shrugged.

"I know it's been a while. Maybe you could practice with Shinpachi-kun? I'm sure he'd be open to help you rehearse. Or maybe your friend?"

She slowly met Kinu's eyes, and the devious glint hit full force as she chuckled.

Ai was evil.

Maybe as evil as Takasugi. She had done this intentionally, there wasn't a doubt in Kinu's mind. Shinpachi would never come over looking for her, or try to get her alone. He was pure.

She needed practice, there wasn't a doubt in her mind. But just knowing Shinpachi was there would ruin it, Kinu wouldn't be able to focus on the ceremony, she'd be too worried about what he thought of her for screwing up. After making that voice in front of him. At least Takasugi would outright tell her how bad it was. But she didn't want that either. She needed her father.

"Maybe you two could head to the library. Pick up some books on it." Placing the spatula in the sink, Ai grinned at Kinu, well aware of her frown.

Was that some kind of hint?

"If it helps, I'm willing to go, Inoue-san. I owe Kinu-chan a favor, anyway." Shinpachi finally spoke, but Kinu eyed her mother.

"No, it's fine. I'll ask dad."

"What? Dear that's… You know how he is. Shinpachi-kun is willing to take you, you could-"

"No. It's too much to ask."

As Kinu spoke, a curious smile crossed Shinpachi.

"It's no trouble at all." Shinpachi held his cup up, and Kinu frowned down at him. Was he serious? He was going to let Ai bully him into taking her out? "I've never been to a real, formal tea ceremony, but I'm willing to learn how."

"Hm…" She could wear cute shoes, and maybe pull her hair back, or put on tinted lip balm. Maybe he'd compliment her tea. But she didn't like practicing something so precise with other people. Certainly not boys; not that she'd made a habit of it. It would be boring and embarrassing. "Really, it's okay."

She'd thought she would be happier. Feel something other than annoyance at her mother setting this up, or the anxiety of having to brush up on old skills she hadn't used in years. The twist in her stomach as the back of her mind insisted an unseen force was out to get her. Shinpachi never would have asked her if Ai hadn't orchestrated it. Or Gintoki. Takasugi had bitten her when he'd asked her if she wanted to see the festival, even though it was probably with Gintoki and Kagura. Or maybe Kinu was just tired. Too tired to properly judge the situation.

"I'd rather do it alone." Kinu stared at the hardwood under her sandals. Was she an idiot? All she'd wanted as far as her romantic life was to get Shinpachi to spend time with her, and maybe like her, but it didn't feel satisfying at all. She knew Takasugi would leave her, but he'd come back some times. He probably wouldn't mind if she actually dated somebody, but she didn't want to.

Selfish as it may have been, she wanted an excuse to keep going to Takasugi. Being bad with guys was the perfect reason. Until he found a guy he liked and called it off. She wasn't some desperate pervert that used her mom to score dates. "Thanks, though."

"Well, let's not bother her more than necessary." Ai was well intentioned. Kinu knew that she meant no harm, but this was too much. "Ki, you should practice your koto. He wants the full deal; food, tea, music; everything. His guests are patriots, so it would probably be best to ask Gin how to decorate, and-"

"I don't want to." Turning to Shinpachi, Kinu found him frowning up at her. Unsure of what to make of the tug of war between her and her mother, maybe. He'd gone from hostage to innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She didn't know if her tone had been as bitter as it had tasted. She had already said it though. Couldn't rethink her phrasing, or honey it to be soft and cute. Hell, Kinu only had twelve hours to try to sort out Takasugi's ship before getting ready for another shift in front of the hostess club, and she wanted to be on guard for creeps trying to drag her off into the night again.

She walked straight to her room, without looking back at her mother, or Shinpachi, but she could almost feel their eyes on her back up until she closed the shop door behind herself.

Kawakami greeted Kinu at the docking ledge of the ship, and led her to the engine room, frowning at the folded metal arm attached to the bot at her side the entire way. Her toolbox was perched across the back of the drone, for ease of travel, and the moment they navigated their way down the stairs, Kinu turned to the man.

"You know how to play that thing, right?" She gestured towards the shamisen strapped across his back and his hand instinctively raised to it.

"Of course."

Humming to herself, Kinu wandered over to the collection of equipment, fresh and coated in bubble wrap, as well as the few crates of liquids, fuses, and all manner of parts she'd requested. They'd really produced everything she listed. It was incredible. Beside her, the drone started to wag its back end, and the tools loudly jostled around their container as the arm extended towards Kinu and the new equipment.

Kawakami's brow raised, and the girl blankly peered down at her assistant.

"There's nothing to carry right now." She stated, but the frenzied switching of his back wheels continued. With no other option, Kinu glanced over the room, scanning for a fix, and settled on the coolant. She handed one off to the drone and his metal clamp clasped the bottle. As soon as he had it, he went still. Kinu turned to the man watching, and placed a hand on the bot's arm. "Sorry, I haven't taken him out in a while. He's just excited."

Kawakami snickered. Kinu saw her opportunity and took it as she settled in and familiarized herself with the best way to attack the remodification.

"I have a request." The man was patiently silent as she immersed herself in the first task. Removed the spent fuel cells and unlatched the coolant loops. Her drone, which she affectionately deemed Mister Snaps hoisted the solid hunk of metal from it's cave and Kawakami saw exactly why she needed the help. The drone was impossibly sturdy and more than capable, when it came to lifting oversized loads. Kinu didn't speak much, but he watched her from the stairs as she propositioned him. Instead of full pay, she wanted help, and he was more than willing to curb the expenses of their upgrades.

When he agreed, the girl went silent, and sank further into the machinery. He hadn't known the room could be broken down to the point she brought it to. Entire wall panels were snapped open, and tossed aside. Dust was swept and wiped, and metal was welded under the white hot flame of her torch until the room looked foreign, despite having watched the entire process.

Kinu worked until she was smeared with grease and panting at the bottom step. She'd long since tied her hair up and knotted her shirt at the side, and as she wiped the sweat beaded at her brow, Mister Snaps thrust her water towards her. The machine jabbed the clear bottle in her direction three times before she took it, and lightly thanked him. Patted his clamp.

"How long have you been doing this, Kinu-chan?"

Tilting her head back, Kinu gazed at the upside down man.

"This is my first real repair… But I know how it works, so don't worry." She straightened and took another swig of her water before giving it back to her assistant, and music notes danced across the lit green display screen under his arm. "This guy was my first major project." Her foot tapped into the bot, and another sequence of music notes ran across his display.

"You seem skilled enough. I'd even venture to say you're proficient in robotics and machinery as a whole. If you were open to it, we always have a place for skills like yours in our crew."

Again, Kinu turned back to the man, frowning.

"Did he put you up to that? You're trying to recruit me because Shinsuke-"

"Not at all." Hands in his pockets, the deaf man shook his head. His mouth curved then. "I know your position. You won't leave, but eventually you'll need a place to fit in. And when you do, I think you should look here first. Regardless of Shinsuke, or Gintoki-san."

So he knew? How much?

"What do you get out of it?" Fully intrigued, Kinu leaned up from the stair behind her. "This isn't selfless. You're not fooling me with that warm front. How do you benefit?"

Kawakami's even expression cracked into a smile, and he laughed. Short, but hearty. He nodded once, running a hand through his hair as he perched back against the stairs.

"You've got me." He admitted, tilting his head and glancing over the displaced wall panels. "You want Shinsuke. I want Matako-chan. The more obvious you two become, the more she'll come to me, and eventually, she'll realize that he hasn't been the least bit interested in her romantically. Platonically, it works, but the more she pushes to deepen the connection, the more he tolerates it."

Wasn't that a fruitless endeavor to begin with? It shouldn't take Kinu to make her realize Takasugi wasn't barking up either of their trees. Well… Not really.

"The longer you've been around though, the less idle he's been. Selfish, maybe, but that's exactly what I want."

"We're both pretty selfish then, aren't we?" Kinu took her water from the drone in front of her and unscrewed the cap. "I do want him. Even if I know it won't actually happen."

"Call me forward, but… Hasn't it already happened?"

"It doesn't mean anything." She murmured back. "I wish it did, but-"

"Give him some credit. Shinsuke's never kept a woman around. He's just a little rough around the edges..."

"No, that's not it." Kinu wasn't entirely sure what the "it" was, now that she thought about it. "I think it's just to pass time, but if that makes him happy..."

"That sounds more like you're pretending to be selfish, Kinu-chan. That's entirely too kind to be in the club with me."

"No I'm definitely there. I want to keep him as long as I can. Until he's bored..."

"The club may have found an opening." Kawakami snickered back, and she echoed the sound.

"Because I'm pathetic, and desperate? I get to join the scumbag club?"

"Pathetic and desperate is one way to put it."

Kinu nearly choked on her water. She turned back, gaping at Takasugi as he navigated around them to descend the steps, and looked over the room. He stopped on the bottom stair, frowning at the robot that started wagging its back end.

"What is this?"

"It's Mister Snaps, Shinsuke. And from the look of it, he wants to carry you." Kawakami pointed to the bot, as the one eyed man squinted back at him.

"He's-" Rushing to put her water in the robot's hand, Kinu jumped to her feet. "He just gets excited at new people. His facial recognition software does the happy dance when he's in work mode and confused-"

"Didn't I tell you to do this alone?" A single sharp olive eye carved into Kinu and she pursed her lips.

"I built him. So technically..."

At the sight of the corner of Takasugi's mouth raising, Kinu struggled to suppress the same expression from sprouting on her own face.

"I think that qualifies as cheating." The man said, and she stole a glance at Mister Snaps.

"Don't say that. He can hear you, you'll break his little heart. You wouldn't want to do that." Suddenly frowning, Kinu tapped the drone with the tips of her toes, and he started his shuffle again. His happy dance. The one eyed man made a dismissive sound as his friend snickered, and Kinu followed him with her eyes. "No, really. It's a nuclear core I stole from an Amanto lifeboat."

The girl crossed her arms, and thoughtfully nodded, eyes on the ceiling.

"We would probably die. Or want to be dead, if it ruptured."

Eye wide, Takasugi stared at the girl. Behind her, Kawakami pursed his lips, and tapped the robot with his foot. It swayed from side to side.

"Fine... You can keep it."

"Hear that? He thinks you're handsome." Kinu turned down to the bot, and it stretched the bottled water towards her, still gyrating. Helping, apparently.