"There!" Keara backed up and looked at her handiwork with happiness. "Now we won't have any more repeats of last week's problem."
Nug nodded as she chugged the last of her coffee and set the mug down. "Let's just hope they don't start making a spectacle of themselves."
Legato came out of the back room carrying a small TV monitor and handed it to Keara who placed it on the counter and hooked a few wires into the back.
"Now, walk into the back- " Keara stopped and stared at the screen in shock. "Or never mind. I can see. . ."
"Well," Nug cleared her throat. "At least we know the security camera works." Keara nodded eyes glued to the screen.
"I'll go stop them," Legato stated and started on his way to the back room, but Keara grabbed the back of his coat.
"Just wait a little bit longer."
Kuja glanced over at the screen from his window spot and rolled his eyes, "Now what are they doing? You two are perverts."
"Uh oh." Nug looked fearful. "Soku."
Just then Soku interrupted Kashi and Teru who were the ones they had been watching and pointed up at the security camera. Keara shivered as it made her feel like he was pointing at HER.
/I AM pointing at you/
Keara jumped away from the TV putting a hand to her heart and tried to catch her breath. "I hate it when he does that!"
Soku smiled up at the camera and the next instant he was out in the shop standing next to Legato. Teru and Kashi followed looking slightly embarrassed.
"Anyway," Keara composed herself and pulled a sheet of paper off the counter. "We have noticed an unfair renting of Kashi and we think it has to do with him begging with customers."
"Kashi!" Teru looked at the younger man in surprise. "I thought you were better than that! You should at least play fair."
"So!" Nug interrupted. "Our Goal for the day is to get Legato rented."
"What!" Teru's eyes nearly fell out of his head. "Are you mad? If you let him out into the world it will be in flames in less than 12 hours!"
"Not if we send Kuja with him," Keara smiled knowingly.
Legato smiled slightly, "Looks like I've been figured out."
Kuja deserted his window spot to meander over and stand next to Legato, holding onto his seme's arm as he peered at the paper Keara was looking over.
"So starting today we're having a super great deal on a double rent of Legato and Kuja." Keara sighed. "Hopefully someone will fall for it."
"A super great deal?" Soku gave Keara a half-amused and half-disgusted look.
Nug shrugged, "It's the advertising business. You have to use words and phrases like that to catch people's attention."
Kuja gave Keara a sympathetic pat on the hand and started back towards the break room, motioning for Legato to follow him. Legato raised an eyebrow, but then smiled and started after Kuja.
Teru rolled his eyes in disgust as Kuja and Legato disappeared into the back room. Kashi fidgeted and glanced around the store looking uncomfortable.
Keara suddenly became aware of all the movement and took her attention off of her sale flyer. She immediately noticed the absence of her two bishounen and then she became aware of Teru and Kashi who were doing the best they could to only look in one direction.
"Nug what's-"
The Nug, like Teru, Kashi and Soku was staring in one direction, but it was the opposite direction they were staring. Curiosity overcoming her Keara looked behind her and her eyes fell upon the screen of the security monitor. She dropped the flyer in shock and simply stared.
A moment later there was a cloth obstructing her view of the TV screen and Keara glared over at Soku who seemed proud of himself.
"Why did you do that!"
Keara again in shock noticed that it had been Nug who had shouted the objection before she could even get her mouth open.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for Keara to finish a fan-fic with Legato and Kuja, then you go and screw up her chance at inspiration for her story!"
"Oh yeah…" Keara remembered the story and smiled with embarrassment. "I forgot about that…with the bishy shop and all…"
"Then there was no harm done," Soku smirked at Nug as he crossed his arms.
"Grr…" Nug growled to herself. "Just…go for a walk or something."
Soku shrugged and made his way to the door and then waved good-bye as he walked out onto the street for a stroll in the morning snow.
"Ok guys," Keara directed her attention to Teru and Kashi. "Show's over, get to your spots. I have to officially open the shop."
"I like this starting later in the day idea," Nug smiled. "I can actually be functioning when the store opens now."
"I just hope Soku doesn't go off and find a way to get revenge on us…" Keara mused to herself as she flipped the sign in the door from saying 'Bishies are sleeping: We're Closed' to 'Welcome in!'
Teru and Kashi exchanged glances of worry.
"We're not going to have to start a whole new investigation here are we?" Teru asked sounding a little fearful.
"No," Nug reassured them. "See, Keara isn't writing a story, so we should be perfectly safe."
"Hm?" Keara stopped scribbling on a sheet of paper.
Nug sweat dropped. "At least I hope we're perfectly safe."
"I am going to die of sheer boredom!" Nug wailed helplessly.
Keara snapped awake at the sound of Nug's voice and sat up abruptly.
"No business yet," Nug sighed and reached for her happy looking mug of coffee, which was the only thing that had kept her from falling asleep like Keara had. "I wish Doraku hadn't gone off on vacation…we could use him about now."
"Yeah," Keara sighed. "But he missed his boat…can't blame him…"
Teru and Kashi had long since dozed off leaning against each other sitting on a lavender sofa. Kuja was fanning himself lazily as he laid in the window display gazing out at the melting snow and the people passing by.
Legato stretched and leaned back in a big comfy recliner the shop had recently acquired from an old theater prop store that had gone out of business. The reason for all the sudden random furniture was simple: the shelf idea was putting Keara and Nug on their bishounen's bad side so they had sough out a more comfortable way to set them about the store. So far it was a very successful idea.
"Bored . . . so . . . bored." Keara leaned forward in her chair and let her head fall onto the counter. The resulting thump woke up Kashi who glanced around the shop sleepily.
"Nothing yet?"
"NO! Nothing!" Kuja answered sounding irritated.
"Why don't you go on a break, Kuja?" Nug offered then took a sip of her afternoon Nug fuel; which was still coffee.
Legato opened one eye and watched Kuja as he climbed down from his window cushion. When Kuja had gotten to the approximate middle of the room he found he could no longer move.
"Legato!" Kuja glared at the 'sleeping' seme. "I'm not in the mood for your games."
With one smooth movement Legato was up and out of the chair making his way to where Kuja was stuck in place. While at some point earlier in time this might have unsettled him a little bit, Kuja was now far too used to Legato's intimidating actions.
"Please, Legato," Kuja softened his tone. "I really need to use the bathroom."
"Alright, I'll let you go."
However, as soon as he freed Kuja he brushed a hand across Kuja's cheek then leaned down to kiss Kuja lovingly before letting Kuja move on to the back room.
Teru had a confused expression, "Why are you being so lovey dovey today?"
"He does this every so often," Keara chimed in. "He cycles. One week he's irritable, the next evil, the next lovable. It's just the way he is."
Nug nodded, "I like him this way."
"Is that why the sale is this week?" Kashi spoke up. "You knew this was his calm week, so you had the sale put out because you knew he'd be easier to rent out this way."
Legato shrugged and followed Kuja's path into the back room where he waited outside the bathroom door just out of earshot from the gathering in the shop.
"Whatever happened to all those Demo bishies we got in last week?" Teru sat up as a method of trying to keep awake.
"We had to send them all back," Nug sighed. "Unfortunately we got a tainted batch and they made us return them all because Seichi was defective."
Kashi shivered, "It's so weird for you guys to talk about us in that way so casually."
Just then the bell above the door rang merrily cutting off whatever either of the girls might have had to say in response.
"What can I help you with?" Nug addressed the newcomer cheerfully.
"Hello again, ladies," the neighborhood officer's Irish voice ran to greet their ears. "How are things today?"
Words could not describe the disappointment that fell on Nug's face just then.
"Just fine officer."
Keara patted Nug's head sympathetically, "We're really slow today."
Legato returned from the back room and took his place lounging in the recliner, waiting for Kuja to finish taking his break. He sighed heavily as if to emphasize just how slow they really were.
"Ah," the officer nodded his head, which was covered in short orange-red hair. "Well that may be because of this one fellow I saw wandering about town today."
Silence fell upon all gathered.
Legato sat forward slightly, "And what did this fellow look like?"
The officer closed one lucid green eye as he tried to recall a memory, "He was kinda tall, had short black hair. There was a predatory kind of look to him."
"Damn you Soku!" Nug yelled randomly and she stood up. "I'm going to hunt that little bastard down!"
"Woah," Keara's eyes went wide. "Violent Nug. You must have picked up Legato's bad mood when he went all nice this week."
Nug's eyes narrowed, "I'm going out for a bit…I should be back before closing."
"Please don't get hurt!" Kashi called after Nug as she grabbed her coat on her way out the door.
Teru shook his head, "When she sets her mind on something…"
The Irish officer laughed a little, "I hope I didn't stir up too much trouble. I guess I should be going before I do anymore damage." He tipped his hat as he left.
Keara sighed heavily, "Now we have no Nug…"
Legato leaned back in his chair and yawned, "I'm hungry. Do we have any ice cream?"
"No," Kuja replied as he came out of the back room, and returned to his spot in the window. "I ate the last of it for breakfast."
"For breakfast?" Teru gave Kuja an odd look.
"Sure," Keara shrugged. "If you mix vanilla ice cream with the chocolate Carnation instant breakfast, it tastes really good."
Kuja, irritated that he couldn't get comfortable again, left the window and shook his head, "No, I just ate the ice cream by itself."
"Which ice cream?" Legato was suddenly interested.
"The Tin Roof Sundae."
Legato looked hurt, "You ate my ice cream?"
Teru looked back and forth between Kuja and Legato then licked his lips nervously. "Here Kashi, let's just sit on this end of the couch . . . away from them."
Kashi nodded, "Yes let's."
Kuja was confused, "Why are you so upset about the ice cream? You can get more."
"But you ate it without me." Legato moped. "We were supposed to eat it together."
Keara cringed, "Ack! So out of character!"
"That he is," Kuja regarded Legato suspiciously. "It's as if some strange plague has happened upon him. He's never this bad."
"Hello?" A voice came from the door as the bell jingled. "Are you still open?"
Keara quickly averted her worries from Legato and greeted the customer with a big smile, "Yes, we are! What can I help you with?"
The girl blushed and moved some of her dark brown hair out of her eyes. "I...uh...saw your flyer outside on a lamppost and I thought I'd come see if it was still available."
"Of course!" Keara began to pull out rental forms for the girl to fill out. "Legato and Kuja are right there-" she vaguely pointed in the direction of the chair Legato was sitting in.
"Right where?" The girl sounded confused so Keara looked up.
With a sigh Keara noted that Kuja and Legato were no longer by the chair they had been near not more than two seconds ago.
"Here," Keara handed the girl the rental sheet. "Fill this out while I go get them out of the back room."
While Keara was off gallivanting in the store room Teru and Kashi watched the girl with interest as she giggled to herself while she filled out the form.
"Does she seem a bit odd to you?" Teru whispered to Kashi.
Kashi nodded, "I'm glad she's not renting me. She's creepy."
Teru thought for a moment, "Do you think Keara notices? She doesn't seem to. If Nug were here she could tell us."
"I found them!" Keara burst out of the doorway throwing the beaded curtain strings every which direction. Close behind her were Legato and Kuja who looked a little irritated about something. "They were playing around in the back room."
The girl looked up and smiled sheepishly, "Hello."
"So how long will you be keeping them for?" Keara took the completed form and began to look it over. "A week?! Wow, that's a long time to be taking Legato…"
Legato gave Keara a look and Keara quickly changed topic.
"Ok, I just need you to pay us a front charge and you can pay off any extra whatevers when you bring them back."
With a nod the girl pulled a wallet out of her purse and handed Keara an enormous wad of one-dollar bills.
Keara's eye twitched, "And how much is this?"
"Three hundred dollars," The girl smiled and her green eyes sparkled. "I save them up in a jar and I wanted to find something really cool to spend it all on. We're going on a short little ski vacation to Snowshoe Mountain."
"Ah," Keara nodded as she reluctantly took the lump of money and began counting it.
"I hope you two like skiing!" The girl giggled. "That's a cute dress you have, Kuja."
Kuja blinked then made a face of mild irritation, "It's not a dress. It's not even a skirt. It's just a nice piece of fabric that I thought looked good but now I'm starting to regret ever even thinking about wearing it."
Legato picked up the form and began to look it over. He looked over at the girl a moment later and handed it to her. "You forgot to put your name."
Teru and Kashi exchanged looks.
"Oh, did I?" The girl blushed. "I guess I was just so excited," She took the paper and quickly scribbled a name on it.
Keara took the form and tore off the top copy for the girl to keep and put the other copies in a pending payment box under the counter.
"Well, that would be that!" Keara smiled. "Legato and Kuja should be set. All they needs is gear and they'll be good."
Kuja smiled mischievously, "No, I don't even need that. I'll be fine."
"Yeah, and Legato will just steal a snowboard off me," Teru glared at Legato. "That's what he did LAST time we went out for some real activity."
Keara rolled her eyes, "OK! Before this gets any worse, I'm going to have to shove you three out the door!"
The girl laughed and motioned for Legato and Kuja to follow her out, "I'll make sure they stay safe!"
"Thank you!" Keara called after her, but then muttered, "But I think you're the one who's going to need to be looked after."
Kashi smiled and leaned on Teru closing his eyes with contentment. Teru blinked in surprise, but then followed suit by cuddling up with Kashi.
"You guys are too damn cute," Keara shook her head with a smile. "I can't wait to tell Nug we rented Legato!"
"You did what?!" Nug's eyes were wide. "I can't believe it! You actually did it!"
Soku rolled his eyes. He had been ill tempered ever since Nug had dragged him into the shop yelling at him about what she was going to make Keara write about him. Though Nug had entirely gotten over the whole incident now that she heard about their random business, Soku was still angry about the pointless racket Nug had made about the situation.
"The thing is," Keara pulled out the cash box. "Is that she gave me three hundred dollars in ones."
"You're kidding." Nug's face changed from glee to dread. "All ones?"
Keara nodded and opened the cash box so that Nug could see for herself the horror that was the mass of one-dollar bills.
Teru meandered over to the counter followed by Kashi and they both stared at the money in near disbelief.
"Where do you suppose she got all these ones?" Kashi pondered out loud.
"Maybe she's a waitress," Teru suggested.
With a shrug and a sigh Keara turned her attention to the security monitor. There was nothing interesting to watch, of course, because the only bishounen that were still in the shop were all in the store area.
"We need more bishounen," Keara thought out loud. "Let's make a call to the company and see if they can't send us some Square bishies. They would be really popular."
Kashi looked skeptical, "Kuja is a Squaresoft creation and he doesn't get rented that often."
"Maybe not compared to you," Soku spoke up, sounding just a touch spiteful. "Keara is right, for once. Square is a very popular game company and their bishounen would be the perfect thing to set business rolling."
"You sound like Nug," Keara stared at Soku in amazement.
Nug gave Keara a sarcastic 'Oh-gee-thanks' expression but spoke up anyway. "Soku is right. I'll give them a call tonight and let them know about our idea and we can see what they'll send us."
Keara danced happily at the thought of all the Square bishounen there were and how cool it would be to have them in the shop.
"What was their number?" Nug asked. "I think I wrote it down somewhere."
Soku held up a piece of paper with something scrawled on it in Nug handwriting. Nug took the paper and laughed at her silliness.
"What time is it already?" Teru groaned. "This day has been SO long."
Kashi jumped up, "Hey! Can I pick what we have for dinner?"
Nug nodded vaguely as she hunted for the phone, "Sure, get some money from Keara and go to the store, or go pick something up."
"Oh sure, make me the provider for the family," Keara laughed and handed Kashi part of the wad of one dollar bills.
"Does this mean we're closed now?" Teru asked hopefully.
Keara shrugged, "I guess. It's not as if we have set hours anyway. Kashi, flip the sign over on your way out."
Teru jumped up from the little sofa and crossed the distance from there to the door before Kashi had the sign entirely turned over. "I'm going with you. I don't know what freaks might be roaming the streets out looking for innocent looking young men."
"You mean besides Soku?" Keara laughed. "I don't think you have too much too worry about in this town, Teru."
"I'm going with anyway," Teru stuck his tongue out at Keara. "We don't get to spend a lot of time together now a days as it is."
Kashi's face colored, "Come on Teru, let's go get some nutritious sustenance."
"Some what?" Teru asked as he followed Kashi out into the darkening street.
"Where's the phone?" Nug stood up straight and put her hands on her hips. "I can't find it anywhere!"
Soku sat down in the recliner Legato had been sleeping in earlier and reached across to where the base to the cordless phone was then pushed a small button in. A few seconds later the girls heard a loud beeping noise coming from the general direction of the back room.
Nug gave Soku a 'shut-up-I-know-you're-right' look and tromped off to the store room to retrieve the phone from it's noisy isolation, as it was STILL beeping loudly.
Keara sighed, "Boring end to a boring day."
"We could play Clue," Soku offered. "We might actually be able to have a chance of winning as Kashi isn't here."
Soku got an interested raised eyebrow expression from Keara, "Sounds good to me!"
"What do you mean I need a password?" Nug sounded annoyed as she talked into the phone and walked back to the counter. "We're the only damn bishounen shop in the whole damn world and I need to give you a password?!"
Keara blinked repeatedly in surprise.
Nug sighed in irritation, "Yes, I'll hold."
"What was that about?" Keara gave Nug a puzzled expression.
"They wanted a password!" Nug responded sounding incredulous. "Then I ranted at them and they guy said all smug like, 'That's what he said you'd say' and then put me on hold. What is with companies now a days?"
Soku stood up, "I'll go locate the Clue game and set it up."
With that he ambled back to the break room to seek out the game of the night. Keara took advantage of Soku vacating the recliner and plopped unceremoniously onto the comfy chair.
"Yeah!" Nug spoke into the phone. "I wanted to speak to you about getting some new bishounen in."
Keara watched Nug as she listened to what the person on the other end was saying. Having a brilliant idea hit her; Keara randomly swiped the phone from Nug, pushed a button and placed it back on the base.
"Hey!" Nug protested too late. "What did you-"
"So I'd have to speak with our manager about that if you want to special order bishounen . . . hello?"
A big smile of pride was plastered on Keara's face, "Now I can hear what's going on."
"Clever!" Nug grinned.
"Hello? Miss Nug?" the phone sounded confused.
Nug started and turned her attention back to the phone, "Oh, yes?"
"Good, you're still there." The phone was now relieved. "I'm going to get my manager and you can discuss it with him. I'll be right back."
A happy tune played by a flute and violin began to stream out of the phone. Keara raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting hold music," Keara smiled. "Well, it's better than when K-mart puts you on hold. All you get then is two beeps every few seconds to let you know you're still frustratingly on hold."
"Found it," Soku took the break in conversation as an opportunity to sweep out of the back room with a board game box, which he sat on the floor.
"Clue!" Nug said happily. "I might actually be able to win this time!"
The hold music stopped suddenly and the low voice of a middle-aged man came across the line. "This is the boss. What can I help you with?"
Keara and Nug exchanged puzzled looks, but Nug shook off the weird feeling and responded.
"Yes, we were wondering if it would be possible for you to send us some Final Fantasy characters. Or just some Square bishies in general."
There was a long pause before the creepy voice spoke again, "I can see what I can do. Did you have anything specific in mind?"
"We already have Kuja," Keara muttered.
"Sephiroth," Nug said almost immediately. "Then we could rent him out to guys who wanted to show him off or something."
Soku shrugged and began setting up the game board. It was now completely dark outside and the streetlights gave off a soft yellow glow that reflected on the snow sitting on the other side of the vacant display window.
"Not Kefka," Keara shivered.
"Kefka?" The voice responded.
Just then the door to the shop opened and a figure in a police uniform bustled in. It was the friendly neighborhood Irish officer, but at the moment there was obvious concern in his dark brown eyes.
"Are you aware of where all your boys are?" the officer asked after excusing his intrusion.
The phone spoke up just then, "It seems you're busy. Just so you know the shipment should be there in a couple days. I'll see what I can do about what you asked for."
Soku reached over to the phone and turned it off after he determined there was nothing coming from the other side except a dial tone.
Keara gave the officer an odd look; "Teru and Kashi went to get dinner. They should be back soon, the store isn't that far away."
"I was just there," the Irishman said seriously. "And I didn't see them no where in the streets neither."
"Mope!" Nug wailed. "They were kidnapped! I just know it!"
"Didn't you have green eyes the last time you came in here?" Keara peered curiously at the officer.
Nug, the officer, and Soku gave Keara a look that indicated they thought she needed to take a short trip to the local psychiatric ward, but Keara persisted.
"You did! Your green eyes sparkled."
The Officer looked confused, "I haven't been in this part of town at all today."
The silence that followed then was practically ripping at the seams with tension and confusion. Soku had stopped setting up the game board and was glancing back and forth between Keara and the Irishman. Nug bee-lined for the coffee machine and quickly poured herself a cup of the constantly warm beverage to calm her nerves. Keara leaned farther back into the recliner and stared at the ceiling as if searching for answers.
"I think we may have to wait until our next shipment to clear this up," Soku interjected quietly.
Nug nodded as she chugged the last of her coffee and set the mug down. "Let's just hope they don't start making a spectacle of themselves."
Legato came out of the back room carrying a small TV monitor and handed it to Keara who placed it on the counter and hooked a few wires into the back.
"Now, walk into the back- " Keara stopped and stared at the screen in shock. "Or never mind. I can see. . ."
"Well," Nug cleared her throat. "At least we know the security camera works." Keara nodded eyes glued to the screen.
"I'll go stop them," Legato stated and started on his way to the back room, but Keara grabbed the back of his coat.
"Just wait a little bit longer."
Kuja glanced over at the screen from his window spot and rolled his eyes, "Now what are they doing? You two are perverts."
"Uh oh." Nug looked fearful. "Soku."
Just then Soku interrupted Kashi and Teru who were the ones they had been watching and pointed up at the security camera. Keara shivered as it made her feel like he was pointing at HER.
/I AM pointing at you/
Keara jumped away from the TV putting a hand to her heart and tried to catch her breath. "I hate it when he does that!"
Soku smiled up at the camera and the next instant he was out in the shop standing next to Legato. Teru and Kashi followed looking slightly embarrassed.
"Anyway," Keara composed herself and pulled a sheet of paper off the counter. "We have noticed an unfair renting of Kashi and we think it has to do with him begging with customers."
"Kashi!" Teru looked at the younger man in surprise. "I thought you were better than that! You should at least play fair."
"So!" Nug interrupted. "Our Goal for the day is to get Legato rented."
"What!" Teru's eyes nearly fell out of his head. "Are you mad? If you let him out into the world it will be in flames in less than 12 hours!"
"Not if we send Kuja with him," Keara smiled knowingly.
Legato smiled slightly, "Looks like I've been figured out."
Kuja deserted his window spot to meander over and stand next to Legato, holding onto his seme's arm as he peered at the paper Keara was looking over.
"So starting today we're having a super great deal on a double rent of Legato and Kuja." Keara sighed. "Hopefully someone will fall for it."
"A super great deal?" Soku gave Keara a half-amused and half-disgusted look.
Nug shrugged, "It's the advertising business. You have to use words and phrases like that to catch people's attention."
Kuja gave Keara a sympathetic pat on the hand and started back towards the break room, motioning for Legato to follow him. Legato raised an eyebrow, but then smiled and started after Kuja.
Teru rolled his eyes in disgust as Kuja and Legato disappeared into the back room. Kashi fidgeted and glanced around the store looking uncomfortable.
Keara suddenly became aware of all the movement and took her attention off of her sale flyer. She immediately noticed the absence of her two bishounen and then she became aware of Teru and Kashi who were doing the best they could to only look in one direction.
"Nug what's-"
The Nug, like Teru, Kashi and Soku was staring in one direction, but it was the opposite direction they were staring. Curiosity overcoming her Keara looked behind her and her eyes fell upon the screen of the security monitor. She dropped the flyer in shock and simply stared.
A moment later there was a cloth obstructing her view of the TV screen and Keara glared over at Soku who seemed proud of himself.
"Why did you do that!"
Keara again in shock noticed that it had been Nug who had shouted the objection before she could even get her mouth open.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for Keara to finish a fan-fic with Legato and Kuja, then you go and screw up her chance at inspiration for her story!"
"Oh yeah…" Keara remembered the story and smiled with embarrassment. "I forgot about that…with the bishy shop and all…"
"Then there was no harm done," Soku smirked at Nug as he crossed his arms.
"Grr…" Nug growled to herself. "Just…go for a walk or something."
Soku shrugged and made his way to the door and then waved good-bye as he walked out onto the street for a stroll in the morning snow.
"Ok guys," Keara directed her attention to Teru and Kashi. "Show's over, get to your spots. I have to officially open the shop."
"I like this starting later in the day idea," Nug smiled. "I can actually be functioning when the store opens now."
"I just hope Soku doesn't go off and find a way to get revenge on us…" Keara mused to herself as she flipped the sign in the door from saying 'Bishies are sleeping: We're Closed' to 'Welcome in!'
Teru and Kashi exchanged glances of worry.
"We're not going to have to start a whole new investigation here are we?" Teru asked sounding a little fearful.
"No," Nug reassured them. "See, Keara isn't writing a story, so we should be perfectly safe."
"Hm?" Keara stopped scribbling on a sheet of paper.
Nug sweat dropped. "At least I hope we're perfectly safe."
"I am going to die of sheer boredom!" Nug wailed helplessly.
Keara snapped awake at the sound of Nug's voice and sat up abruptly.
"No business yet," Nug sighed and reached for her happy looking mug of coffee, which was the only thing that had kept her from falling asleep like Keara had. "I wish Doraku hadn't gone off on vacation…we could use him about now."
"Yeah," Keara sighed. "But he missed his boat…can't blame him…"
Teru and Kashi had long since dozed off leaning against each other sitting on a lavender sofa. Kuja was fanning himself lazily as he laid in the window display gazing out at the melting snow and the people passing by.
Legato stretched and leaned back in a big comfy recliner the shop had recently acquired from an old theater prop store that had gone out of business. The reason for all the sudden random furniture was simple: the shelf idea was putting Keara and Nug on their bishounen's bad side so they had sough out a more comfortable way to set them about the store. So far it was a very successful idea.
"Bored . . . so . . . bored." Keara leaned forward in her chair and let her head fall onto the counter. The resulting thump woke up Kashi who glanced around the shop sleepily.
"Nothing yet?"
"NO! Nothing!" Kuja answered sounding irritated.
"Why don't you go on a break, Kuja?" Nug offered then took a sip of her afternoon Nug fuel; which was still coffee.
Legato opened one eye and watched Kuja as he climbed down from his window cushion. When Kuja had gotten to the approximate middle of the room he found he could no longer move.
"Legato!" Kuja glared at the 'sleeping' seme. "I'm not in the mood for your games."
With one smooth movement Legato was up and out of the chair making his way to where Kuja was stuck in place. While at some point earlier in time this might have unsettled him a little bit, Kuja was now far too used to Legato's intimidating actions.
"Please, Legato," Kuja softened his tone. "I really need to use the bathroom."
"Alright, I'll let you go."
However, as soon as he freed Kuja he brushed a hand across Kuja's cheek then leaned down to kiss Kuja lovingly before letting Kuja move on to the back room.
Teru had a confused expression, "Why are you being so lovey dovey today?"
"He does this every so often," Keara chimed in. "He cycles. One week he's irritable, the next evil, the next lovable. It's just the way he is."
Nug nodded, "I like him this way."
"Is that why the sale is this week?" Kashi spoke up. "You knew this was his calm week, so you had the sale put out because you knew he'd be easier to rent out this way."
Legato shrugged and followed Kuja's path into the back room where he waited outside the bathroom door just out of earshot from the gathering in the shop.
"Whatever happened to all those Demo bishies we got in last week?" Teru sat up as a method of trying to keep awake.
"We had to send them all back," Nug sighed. "Unfortunately we got a tainted batch and they made us return them all because Seichi was defective."
Kashi shivered, "It's so weird for you guys to talk about us in that way so casually."
Just then the bell above the door rang merrily cutting off whatever either of the girls might have had to say in response.
"What can I help you with?" Nug addressed the newcomer cheerfully.
"Hello again, ladies," the neighborhood officer's Irish voice ran to greet their ears. "How are things today?"
Words could not describe the disappointment that fell on Nug's face just then.
"Just fine officer."
Keara patted Nug's head sympathetically, "We're really slow today."
Legato returned from the back room and took his place lounging in the recliner, waiting for Kuja to finish taking his break. He sighed heavily as if to emphasize just how slow they really were.
"Ah," the officer nodded his head, which was covered in short orange-red hair. "Well that may be because of this one fellow I saw wandering about town today."
Silence fell upon all gathered.
Legato sat forward slightly, "And what did this fellow look like?"
The officer closed one lucid green eye as he tried to recall a memory, "He was kinda tall, had short black hair. There was a predatory kind of look to him."
"Damn you Soku!" Nug yelled randomly and she stood up. "I'm going to hunt that little bastard down!"
"Woah," Keara's eyes went wide. "Violent Nug. You must have picked up Legato's bad mood when he went all nice this week."
Nug's eyes narrowed, "I'm going out for a bit…I should be back before closing."
"Please don't get hurt!" Kashi called after Nug as she grabbed her coat on her way out the door.
Teru shook his head, "When she sets her mind on something…"
The Irish officer laughed a little, "I hope I didn't stir up too much trouble. I guess I should be going before I do anymore damage." He tipped his hat as he left.
Keara sighed heavily, "Now we have no Nug…"
Legato leaned back in his chair and yawned, "I'm hungry. Do we have any ice cream?"
"No," Kuja replied as he came out of the back room, and returned to his spot in the window. "I ate the last of it for breakfast."
"For breakfast?" Teru gave Kuja an odd look.
"Sure," Keara shrugged. "If you mix vanilla ice cream with the chocolate Carnation instant breakfast, it tastes really good."
Kuja, irritated that he couldn't get comfortable again, left the window and shook his head, "No, I just ate the ice cream by itself."
"Which ice cream?" Legato was suddenly interested.
"The Tin Roof Sundae."
Legato looked hurt, "You ate my ice cream?"
Teru looked back and forth between Kuja and Legato then licked his lips nervously. "Here Kashi, let's just sit on this end of the couch . . . away from them."
Kashi nodded, "Yes let's."
Kuja was confused, "Why are you so upset about the ice cream? You can get more."
"But you ate it without me." Legato moped. "We were supposed to eat it together."
Keara cringed, "Ack! So out of character!"
"That he is," Kuja regarded Legato suspiciously. "It's as if some strange plague has happened upon him. He's never this bad."
"Hello?" A voice came from the door as the bell jingled. "Are you still open?"
Keara quickly averted her worries from Legato and greeted the customer with a big smile, "Yes, we are! What can I help you with?"
The girl blushed and moved some of her dark brown hair out of her eyes. "I...uh...saw your flyer outside on a lamppost and I thought I'd come see if it was still available."
"Of course!" Keara began to pull out rental forms for the girl to fill out. "Legato and Kuja are right there-" she vaguely pointed in the direction of the chair Legato was sitting in.
"Right where?" The girl sounded confused so Keara looked up.
With a sigh Keara noted that Kuja and Legato were no longer by the chair they had been near not more than two seconds ago.
"Here," Keara handed the girl the rental sheet. "Fill this out while I go get them out of the back room."
While Keara was off gallivanting in the store room Teru and Kashi watched the girl with interest as she giggled to herself while she filled out the form.
"Does she seem a bit odd to you?" Teru whispered to Kashi.
Kashi nodded, "I'm glad she's not renting me. She's creepy."
Teru thought for a moment, "Do you think Keara notices? She doesn't seem to. If Nug were here she could tell us."
"I found them!" Keara burst out of the doorway throwing the beaded curtain strings every which direction. Close behind her were Legato and Kuja who looked a little irritated about something. "They were playing around in the back room."
The girl looked up and smiled sheepishly, "Hello."
"So how long will you be keeping them for?" Keara took the completed form and began to look it over. "A week?! Wow, that's a long time to be taking Legato…"
Legato gave Keara a look and Keara quickly changed topic.
"Ok, I just need you to pay us a front charge and you can pay off any extra whatevers when you bring them back."
With a nod the girl pulled a wallet out of her purse and handed Keara an enormous wad of one-dollar bills.
Keara's eye twitched, "And how much is this?"
"Three hundred dollars," The girl smiled and her green eyes sparkled. "I save them up in a jar and I wanted to find something really cool to spend it all on. We're going on a short little ski vacation to Snowshoe Mountain."
"Ah," Keara nodded as she reluctantly took the lump of money and began counting it.
"I hope you two like skiing!" The girl giggled. "That's a cute dress you have, Kuja."
Kuja blinked then made a face of mild irritation, "It's not a dress. It's not even a skirt. It's just a nice piece of fabric that I thought looked good but now I'm starting to regret ever even thinking about wearing it."
Legato picked up the form and began to look it over. He looked over at the girl a moment later and handed it to her. "You forgot to put your name."
Teru and Kashi exchanged looks.
"Oh, did I?" The girl blushed. "I guess I was just so excited," She took the paper and quickly scribbled a name on it.
Keara took the form and tore off the top copy for the girl to keep and put the other copies in a pending payment box under the counter.
"Well, that would be that!" Keara smiled. "Legato and Kuja should be set. All they needs is gear and they'll be good."
Kuja smiled mischievously, "No, I don't even need that. I'll be fine."
"Yeah, and Legato will just steal a snowboard off me," Teru glared at Legato. "That's what he did LAST time we went out for some real activity."
Keara rolled her eyes, "OK! Before this gets any worse, I'm going to have to shove you three out the door!"
The girl laughed and motioned for Legato and Kuja to follow her out, "I'll make sure they stay safe!"
"Thank you!" Keara called after her, but then muttered, "But I think you're the one who's going to need to be looked after."
Kashi smiled and leaned on Teru closing his eyes with contentment. Teru blinked in surprise, but then followed suit by cuddling up with Kashi.
"You guys are too damn cute," Keara shook her head with a smile. "I can't wait to tell Nug we rented Legato!"
"You did what?!" Nug's eyes were wide. "I can't believe it! You actually did it!"
Soku rolled his eyes. He had been ill tempered ever since Nug had dragged him into the shop yelling at him about what she was going to make Keara write about him. Though Nug had entirely gotten over the whole incident now that she heard about their random business, Soku was still angry about the pointless racket Nug had made about the situation.
"The thing is," Keara pulled out the cash box. "Is that she gave me three hundred dollars in ones."
"You're kidding." Nug's face changed from glee to dread. "All ones?"
Keara nodded and opened the cash box so that Nug could see for herself the horror that was the mass of one-dollar bills.
Teru meandered over to the counter followed by Kashi and they both stared at the money in near disbelief.
"Where do you suppose she got all these ones?" Kashi pondered out loud.
"Maybe she's a waitress," Teru suggested.
With a shrug and a sigh Keara turned her attention to the security monitor. There was nothing interesting to watch, of course, because the only bishounen that were still in the shop were all in the store area.
"We need more bishounen," Keara thought out loud. "Let's make a call to the company and see if they can't send us some Square bishies. They would be really popular."
Kashi looked skeptical, "Kuja is a Squaresoft creation and he doesn't get rented that often."
"Maybe not compared to you," Soku spoke up, sounding just a touch spiteful. "Keara is right, for once. Square is a very popular game company and their bishounen would be the perfect thing to set business rolling."
"You sound like Nug," Keara stared at Soku in amazement.
Nug gave Keara a sarcastic 'Oh-gee-thanks' expression but spoke up anyway. "Soku is right. I'll give them a call tonight and let them know about our idea and we can see what they'll send us."
Keara danced happily at the thought of all the Square bishounen there were and how cool it would be to have them in the shop.
"What was their number?" Nug asked. "I think I wrote it down somewhere."
Soku held up a piece of paper with something scrawled on it in Nug handwriting. Nug took the paper and laughed at her silliness.
"What time is it already?" Teru groaned. "This day has been SO long."
Kashi jumped up, "Hey! Can I pick what we have for dinner?"
Nug nodded vaguely as she hunted for the phone, "Sure, get some money from Keara and go to the store, or go pick something up."
"Oh sure, make me the provider for the family," Keara laughed and handed Kashi part of the wad of one dollar bills.
"Does this mean we're closed now?" Teru asked hopefully.
Keara shrugged, "I guess. It's not as if we have set hours anyway. Kashi, flip the sign over on your way out."
Teru jumped up from the little sofa and crossed the distance from there to the door before Kashi had the sign entirely turned over. "I'm going with you. I don't know what freaks might be roaming the streets out looking for innocent looking young men."
"You mean besides Soku?" Keara laughed. "I don't think you have too much too worry about in this town, Teru."
"I'm going with anyway," Teru stuck his tongue out at Keara. "We don't get to spend a lot of time together now a days as it is."
Kashi's face colored, "Come on Teru, let's go get some nutritious sustenance."
"Some what?" Teru asked as he followed Kashi out into the darkening street.
"Where's the phone?" Nug stood up straight and put her hands on her hips. "I can't find it anywhere!"
Soku sat down in the recliner Legato had been sleeping in earlier and reached across to where the base to the cordless phone was then pushed a small button in. A few seconds later the girls heard a loud beeping noise coming from the general direction of the back room.
Nug gave Soku a 'shut-up-I-know-you're-right' look and tromped off to the store room to retrieve the phone from it's noisy isolation, as it was STILL beeping loudly.
Keara sighed, "Boring end to a boring day."
"We could play Clue," Soku offered. "We might actually be able to have a chance of winning as Kashi isn't here."
Soku got an interested raised eyebrow expression from Keara, "Sounds good to me!"
"What do you mean I need a password?" Nug sounded annoyed as she talked into the phone and walked back to the counter. "We're the only damn bishounen shop in the whole damn world and I need to give you a password?!"
Keara blinked repeatedly in surprise.
Nug sighed in irritation, "Yes, I'll hold."
"What was that about?" Keara gave Nug a puzzled expression.
"They wanted a password!" Nug responded sounding incredulous. "Then I ranted at them and they guy said all smug like, 'That's what he said you'd say' and then put me on hold. What is with companies now a days?"
Soku stood up, "I'll go locate the Clue game and set it up."
With that he ambled back to the break room to seek out the game of the night. Keara took advantage of Soku vacating the recliner and plopped unceremoniously onto the comfy chair.
"Yeah!" Nug spoke into the phone. "I wanted to speak to you about getting some new bishounen in."
Keara watched Nug as she listened to what the person on the other end was saying. Having a brilliant idea hit her; Keara randomly swiped the phone from Nug, pushed a button and placed it back on the base.
"Hey!" Nug protested too late. "What did you-"
"So I'd have to speak with our manager about that if you want to special order bishounen . . . hello?"
A big smile of pride was plastered on Keara's face, "Now I can hear what's going on."
"Clever!" Nug grinned.
"Hello? Miss Nug?" the phone sounded confused.
Nug started and turned her attention back to the phone, "Oh, yes?"
"Good, you're still there." The phone was now relieved. "I'm going to get my manager and you can discuss it with him. I'll be right back."
A happy tune played by a flute and violin began to stream out of the phone. Keara raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting hold music," Keara smiled. "Well, it's better than when K-mart puts you on hold. All you get then is two beeps every few seconds to let you know you're still frustratingly on hold."
"Found it," Soku took the break in conversation as an opportunity to sweep out of the back room with a board game box, which he sat on the floor.
"Clue!" Nug said happily. "I might actually be able to win this time!"
The hold music stopped suddenly and the low voice of a middle-aged man came across the line. "This is the boss. What can I help you with?"
Keara and Nug exchanged puzzled looks, but Nug shook off the weird feeling and responded.
"Yes, we were wondering if it would be possible for you to send us some Final Fantasy characters. Or just some Square bishies in general."
There was a long pause before the creepy voice spoke again, "I can see what I can do. Did you have anything specific in mind?"
"We already have Kuja," Keara muttered.
"Sephiroth," Nug said almost immediately. "Then we could rent him out to guys who wanted to show him off or something."
Soku shrugged and began setting up the game board. It was now completely dark outside and the streetlights gave off a soft yellow glow that reflected on the snow sitting on the other side of the vacant display window.
"Not Kefka," Keara shivered.
"Kefka?" The voice responded.
Just then the door to the shop opened and a figure in a police uniform bustled in. It was the friendly neighborhood Irish officer, but at the moment there was obvious concern in his dark brown eyes.
"Are you aware of where all your boys are?" the officer asked after excusing his intrusion.
The phone spoke up just then, "It seems you're busy. Just so you know the shipment should be there in a couple days. I'll see what I can do about what you asked for."
Soku reached over to the phone and turned it off after he determined there was nothing coming from the other side except a dial tone.
Keara gave the officer an odd look; "Teru and Kashi went to get dinner. They should be back soon, the store isn't that far away."
"I was just there," the Irishman said seriously. "And I didn't see them no where in the streets neither."
"Mope!" Nug wailed. "They were kidnapped! I just know it!"
"Didn't you have green eyes the last time you came in here?" Keara peered curiously at the officer.
Nug, the officer, and Soku gave Keara a look that indicated they thought she needed to take a short trip to the local psychiatric ward, but Keara persisted.
"You did! Your green eyes sparkled."
The Officer looked confused, "I haven't been in this part of town at all today."
The silence that followed then was practically ripping at the seams with tension and confusion. Soku had stopped setting up the game board and was glancing back and forth between Keara and the Irishman. Nug bee-lined for the coffee machine and quickly poured herself a cup of the constantly warm beverage to calm her nerves. Keara leaned farther back into the recliner and stared at the ceiling as if searching for answers.
"I think we may have to wait until our next shipment to clear this up," Soku interjected quietly.