So here we go some more Yuzu, and Mei stuffs! Finally, the story will pick up its pace a little bit, and I have some artwork coming in for this story that will inspire a future chapter. OH, also Mistiqarts did some artwork for me! One is NSFW the other is an adorable scene from Uncomfortable Truths. That one you can find on Instagram. The NSFW one I may have to post on DeviantArt so...yeah... it's...phew...it was spicy! They're up on my DeviantArt under this same name and twitter hehe.

Now onward to dates or possible dates...who knows.

Also, Kayo will finally speak, and we will know her job within the first few paragraphs.

Chapter 9

"So, this is a tattoo...parlor...I believe that is the correct term if I'm not mistaken."

Mei looked up from the latest text message Yuzu had sent her about possible plans for their meet-up and chuckled at the look of discomfort on Himeko's face at the pictures and artwork that plastered the front of Mitsuko's shop, though Mei could tell that her best friend's grimace was focused more on the sign that prompted people to ask about the deal they were currently offering on specialty piercings.

"You're correct," said Mei after sending Yuzu a reply that she would text her back once she'd finished her errand. "This particular one belongs to my friend Harumi's sister, Mitsuko, and her….partner Kayo. Matsuri, the girl with the pink hair you saw at the mall, also works here. She just passed her licensing exam and has been trying to build up a client base, and Kayo handles the books and does most of the piercings if you can believe it."

"I see," snorted Himeko at hearing Matsuri's name. In the week that they'd seen Yuzu at the mall, Himeko still hadn't forgotten what Matsuri had said about her eyebrows and Mei was beginning to worry about how Himeko would react if Matsuri were in the building. "Is that Matsuri girl going to be the one who handles your 'touch up' as you called it or is this Mitsuko woman? And do they have the proper medical licenses to be performing these procedures?"

"Mitsuko," confirmed Mei, trying hard not to smirk at hearing the discomfort in Himeko's voice at addressing people she didn't know by their first name. "She's the one who originally did it, and she's done most of the other ones, though as part of one of her exams, Matsuri helped with the one on my side. And I don't know why you keep asking about the medical license; they aren't necessary here. But, if you're asking about whether or not the proper government channels have cleared them in terms of sanitation practices and building maintenance as well as certifications, then the answer is yes."

Mei pointed at the sign on the door showing that the building had been cleared by the necessary government parties.

"I know it's difficult, but you need to understand that like most of the world, getting a tattoo or piercing isn't considered a medical procedure. Both have been in practice for thousands of years; Japan included. Besides, I thought the courts in Japan ruled that tattoos didn't require a medical license anymore."

"I wouldn't know about something like that," huffed Himeko crossing her arms. "But I've done some research about people who got infections from tattoos and these….what is a gauge piercing and why on earth would anyone want to get...good lord I don't even want to think about an earring going down there."

Mei smirked at seeing Himeko shuddered just as a brown-haired woman with glasses walked up; a gentle understanding smile on her face as she calmly said, "I can assure you that we take every possible measure to ensure that our client's health is taken into consideration before we do any work on them. As for your question about piercings; I can show you a picture of a gauge piercing if you're interested in getting one. However..."

Kayo coughed, and Himeko and Mei both noticed her face turn beet red.

"I'd ask that you reread the advertisement stating that we won't do those kinds of piercings. Primarily because of the risk of infection and how dangerous they can be if not taken care of properly. But also for other reasons."

"Oh, I see. Thank you for clearing that up for me."

Mei watched as Himeko's face turn a similar shade of red at realizing that someone walking by had understood everything she'd said and had also replied in Japanese, though in a mildly fragmented fashion and at the fact that Kayo's manner of dress was in stark contrast to anything Himeko associated with people in the older woman's line of work.

It was a familiar sight to Mei by this point. Most of the time, people expected the employees to be wearing jeans, tee-shirts, hoodies or other casual forms of dress. Which most of the time is how Mitsuko and the others dressed, but there were days Mitsuko changed it up, by wearing slacks, a vest, and a button-up with her sleeves rolled up to allow for others to see the amount of tattooing she'd had done. Other employees in the shop, mostly the part-timers, followed suit, wearing varying states of business casual dress, all of them with some degree of tattooing or piercing, but Kayo was an anomaly amongst the group as she almost always wore an outfit almost identical to what she was currently wearing. Rarely did anyone from the parlor see her outside of her usual attire, the only regular ones being Mei and their usual crowd of friends, which made the look of shock and embarrassment on Himeko's face at seeing Kayo that much more amusing to Mei.

"You're very welcome." Kayo gave a slight bow before taking a small sip of her coffee and smiling at Himeko. "You must be Mei's friend, Himeko. I'm Kayo Taniguchi, with Taniguchi being my family name if that's what you wish to call me. I apologize if my Japanese is a little stiff or overly formal. I've only speaking Japanese in middle school since my grandparents and parents didn't put too much emphasis on us learning it."

"It's quite all right." Himeko gave a polite bow and smile in return. "And don't worry about your speech, I'm having no trouble understanding you. I'm sure some of that is thanks to Mei-Mei and that Matsuri girl."

"Somewhat," said Kayo with a smile and Mei could see her turning her gaze toward the window in the door. "They've been very helpful in helping correct my usage, but much of it is thanks to Mitsuko who I thought would have already been in the shop waiting for you. Have you two been out here long?"

"Only a few minutes." Mei felt and heard her phone buzz and noticed a glare from Himeko who had also heard it. "Is Matsuri working? I'm sure she can do what's needed if Mitsuko is busy."

"Matsuri is working on a client right now and has another one scheduled shortly after." Kayo gestured them toward the door and held it open while Mei gave her a searching look.

"Two clients already? Is Mistuko okay with that?"

"She's the one who suggested it." Kayo smiled and waved them in. "Besides, you know Mitsuko wouldn't allow it if she didn't trust Matty; no matter how much of a pain she is."

"I heard that," grumbled Matsuri over the loud buzzing of her needle as she wiped away some excess ink off a the well-toned thigh of a female customer who was dozing in a large comfortable brown leather chair that had a mechanism built into it to allow for Matsuri to extend each leg individually. "But I appreciate the vote of confidence. How you doing, Oruga?"

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me that," snapped Himeko with a stamp of her foot. "You don't see me going around calling you offensive names so why must you do it to me?"

"Look who learned how to use Google" chuckled Matsuri, causing the corner of her client's mouth to twitch. "What are you gonna do, call my parents? Because honestly if you do, tell them I said 'hi' not that they'd give a crap."

"Matsuri that's enough," chastised Kayo, her calm tone causing both Matsuri and Himeko's next words to catch in their throat and the client's face to go back to its original neutral state. "Remember we're at work, not at home."

Instead of arguing back, Matsuri merely nodded and returned to her work while Kayo waved them back toward one of the larger chairs, amused at the look of amazement on Himeko's face as they walked through the shop.

"Not what you were expecting was it," asked Kayo, smirking at the look of amazement on Kayo's face.

"Not at all." Himeko sighed shook her head in defeat at realizing how little she knew about Mei's obsession.

"What'd you expect, her to be running it in the back of a butcher shop," asked Mei with a snort.

"I can do without the commentary," snorted Himeko as she watched Mei take a seat in a large black leather chair, much like the one Matsuri was using, though a bit more worn in and began examining the work station.

Despite knowing better, Himeko was beginning to think Mei was playing a trick on her. For the majority of her life, Himeko had always heard that places like this were only for criminals which had forced her to create her own prejudice against the kinds of people Mei spent her time with. But now that she was standing next to a well-organized workstation with an extensive series of binders, surgical gloves, disinfectants, and other well-maintained items, she was beginning to feel like a fool.

As she scanned the shop, Himeko saw similar supplies at each of the four other stations, and despite now knowing better, she couldn't help but wonder if someone was about to walk out wearing a doctors jacket and a surgical mask. Despite this, foolish notion, she noted that everything in the parlor was in pristine condition and practically spotless save for walls around each station showing a different person standing next to what she guessed was a willing client showing off the work they had just gotten done along with a few personal effects decorating the desks. There were even televisions on the walls showing some movie or television show, though Himeko guessed that was more for the clients than the workers. Outside of Matsuri, Mei, and the newly introduced Kayo, Himeko had no idea who anyone else was and when she was offered an extra stool she took it and sat down next to Mei and smiled at the picture hanging up on the wall that showed Mei and her grandfather standing next to a beaming woman with brown hair with a couple of piercings in her ears and dressed in a manner similar to Kayo.

"That was one of the last pictures I had taken with him," grunted Mei as she got comfortable in the cushy chair. "He'd been bothering me for weeks to bring him here to meet Mitsuko, and I eventually gave in, and I'm glad I did because Mitsuko was ecstatic when he complimented her sketchbook and almost burst into tears when grandfather gave her one of his paintings."

Mei pointed at the opposite wall to where a small impressionist style painting of what looked like horses running across a starlit field that caused Himeko's mouth to drop.

"It was one of his last ones I think," whispered Mei while Kayo began checking all of the equipment on Mitsuko's desk. "But nobody here knows he painted it so make sure you keep that to yourself."

"Of course." Himeko nodded and turned her attention back to all of the medical supplies. "Excuse me, but why do you have things like surgical gloves and hazardous material containers? I thought tattoos weren't' a medical procedure."

"Oh." Kayo jumped slightly at hearing Himeko begin speaking in English and took a minute to compose herself. "Well, technically, they aren't. But with tattooing and piercing, you end up breaking through the skin, which causes people to bleed and, as I mentioned earlier if we don't take the proper precautions, people can get infections. That's why we make sure everything is properly cleaned and sterilized between clients, and we make sure to inform the client on the proper aftercare once they leave."

Kayo handed Himeko a pamphlet while Mei clicked her tongue impatiently, wondering what was taking Mitsuko so long.

"Are you interested in us doing something for you?" A gentle smile spread across Kayo's face as she spoke. "I'm certain we can give you a discount since you're a close friend of Mei's and if you don't want Matty to work on you, we understand. She's a lot to deal with, even for us, and we've been friends with her for years."

"I heard that," shouted Matsuri from the receptionist's desk after she'd finished handing a pamphlet identical to the one Kayo had given Himeko to her client before letting her leave with a man whom they guessed was either her friend or brother. "Keep running your mouth and I won't do double duty anymore."

A few of the other employees laughed before returning to their work while Kayo chuckled before returning to Himeko.

"It doesn't have to be anything like Mei's gotten done or what you see on the walls. As long as we're comfortable with it and we're comfortable with the design you've picked we'll work with you on it."

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm all right," said Himeko with a gentle wave of her hand "Back in Japan, my family enjoys taking trips to hot springs, and many have strict no tattoo policies. Not to mention my family's personal bias and my issues with getting one. I'm sorry if that seemed rude, I mean no offense."

"No offense taken." Kayo nodded in understanding and motioned toward the pamphlet. "But, if you could do me a favor. If you ever meet anyone interested in getting some work done, please give that to them. It has all of our information on it, and we're always accepting new clients, well most of us are. Mitsuko hasn't for a few months, but that's to be expected. She's got so much on her plate lately that I'm beginning to get worried."

"Is her other job getting busy again," asked Mei, wondering if that's why Mitsuko was running so late. "How many people is she working with this time? Excluding me."

"Just the one, but it's very complicated, and you know she can't tell me anything due to attorney-client privilege," sighed Kayo staring up at the ceiling, longingly. "I'm going to go and see if she's awake yet. Do you mind waiting a little longer?"

"I don't have any plans." Mei shrugged and pulled a worn book out of the pocket of her jacket and opened it from her bookmark. "Just inform me if she needs to reschedule and I'll text her about it later."

Kayo nodded and excused herself and headed behind a heavy, solid, wooden door that was located next to the one that read 'Bathroom', leaving Mei and Himeko alone while Matsuri welcomed another client and a few of the other employees announced that they would be heading to lunch or doing another project.

"Are you feeling better now that you've seen how seriously they take their jobs," inquired Mei as she turned the page of her book and began reading a passage about how Mrs. Frisby had narrowly avoided being eaten by a farmer's cat named Dragon.

"Quite." Himeko nodded and continued to look around at the parlor, finding the brown wood floors and shelving to be rather fitting of the place. "Though why did, Taniguchi-san look up when she was discussing your friend? Is that where her office is?"

"That," confirmed Mei, turning the page of her book, "and also because that's where they live along with Matsuri."

"Who? Taniguchi and this Mitsuko woman?" Himeko gave Mei a curious look before staring up at the ceiling. "Well if they're business partners I suppose living together would cut down on expenses."

"That's not exactly what I meant," said Mei, her ears burning when Himeko raised an eyebrow before pointing at a picture of Kayo and Mitsuko both wearing white lacy dresses with Mei, Harumi, and Matsuri standing next to them wearing long, flowing, v-neck dresses made of shimmering black cloth. "When I said 'partner' I meant more like a life partner, specifically marriage and Matsuri they kind of adopted along the way."

"Oh," said Himeko with a nod and followed where Mei's finger was pointing and after a moment, her eyes went wide as she placed a hand over her mouth. "You mean that woman in the picture and her are...is that legal here?"

"It is," said Mei with a smile, amused at how out of touch Himeko still was. "But they don't make a big deal about it. Most people know, and almost nobody cares. Though it hasn't been easy as Kayo's family is a little more traditional, which has led to them not speaking. As for what Mitsuko and Harumi's parents think; they don't talk about them much, so none of us know what they think about the situation. But their grandmother was at the wedding; that's her next to Harumi. And according to them, her opinion was the one they were worried about the most."

Mei watched as Himeko squinted her eyes and smiled at the sight of a wizened older woman wearing a bright blue dress and sun hat standing between Mitsuko and Harumi and nodded appreciatively, not even batting an eye at the large rose tattoo that covered a good portion of Mitsuko's arm, shoulder, and neck.

"They do make a good couple." Himeko nodded and smiled as she spun back around in her chair to face Mei. "I'm surprised you didn't tell me that you were a part of it. You look stunning in the dress you're wearing in the picture."

"It was a spur of the moment." Mei had all but forgotten her book thanks to the burning in her cheeks and ears. While she tried to refocus, she found herself remembering the morning when Matsuri and Harumi had dragged her from her house and onto a plane heading to Massachusetts for a wedding she had no idea she was going to be a part of. "Not to mention that since Harumi was the one in charge of getting everyone ready, I didn't have much choice in what I wore. But I appreciate the compliment."

Before Himeko could answer, there was the sound of footsteps, laughter, and whispers from behind the door that Kayo had used earlier causing Mei to roll her eyes at the sudden silence and Himeko to stare at it.

"What's that about?"

"Don't ask," sighed Mei returning to her book. "Unless you're into that sort of thing, I suggest you leave it be."

Just has Himeko was about to inquire about the meaning of Mei's words, the door opened to reveal a slightly disheveled, red-faced Kayo, and a grinning, bed-headed Mitsuko wearing an old worn-out black, band tee-shirt of what looked like an electric chair being struck by several lightning bolts and a pair of shorts that showed off large mandala style tattoo on her left leg that looked like a roaring bear and what appeared to be an infinity symbol made of a giant armored snake eating it's own tail encircling a giant tree wrapping it's way up her right.

After giving Kayo a quick kiss on the cheek Mitsuko nodded and began walking toward Mei only to be stopped by one of her employees, a tall, pale-skinned man with a piercing through the bridge of his nose, a bushy beard, and several tattoos handed her a pad and began asking her questions.

"I'd say go with this." Mistuko ran her finger across the page and after borrowing a pencil made a few adjustments to what was on the page. "Also, if it's who I'm thinking, remember that issue he has with his shoulder. You go too far up, and it's probably going to cause more problems. You got clearance from his doctor, right?"

"I wouldn't be working on it otherwise," said the man with a grin. "I got the email backed up and a few extra copies printed out. The doctor said that he should be good to go and I'm just waiting on the ink to come in. It's going to jack up the price, but better safe than sorry."

"Good job." Mitsuko nodded and stretched her hands above her head. "Any calls for me about my appointments next week?"

"Matty left a few messages on your desk earlier, but I don't think they were about shop jobs," said the man with a shrug. "They sounded more like your other clients given the way she was talking, but I didn't hear everything, so I'm not sure."

"Thanks." Mitsuko peered past the man at Matty who was buried in conversation with a client who had just walked in the door; her hand was furiously moving across a large sketchpad. "Is she doing okay?"

"She's doing fine so far." The man nodded and scratched his beard. "Not that I didn't expect anything less. She's been here three years, and we've all worked with her. The regulars like her and she can handle herself, so I'm just going to say quit worrying and relax a little Boss. Honestly, you deserve a break and nobody would blame you if you and Kay..."

"If you want to keep your job, I'd suggest you keep your mouth shut."

Mei chuckled at the frightened look that Mitsuko had withdrawn from the man while Himeko simultaneously shuddered at the chilling atmosphere that emanated from Kayo's body.

"Su...sure thing, Boss," stuttered the man before pointing his thumb at his work station. "I...I'll be over here if you need me."

"Check to see if Kayo needs any help before you get back to it since you seem so keen on what's going on in our personal lives."

"Quit being so rude," tutted Kayo as she finished setting up a series of screens and headed over to Mitsuko, her hair done up in a bun that fully exposed the vast collection of small hoop and stud earrings that had been hidden beneath her hair. "You know full well he didn't mean anything crass. He was being polite and trying to say that they had everything covered if we wanted to relax for a little bit. Honestly, you should know better; he's been here longer than most of the others."

"And you should know that's why I'm so tough on him," huffed Mitsuko after wrapping a red bandana around her short hair before heading toward a nearby sink and began fervently washing her hands, her voice lowered so that only Mei, Himeko, and Kayo could hear her. "Which is why I expect him to be more professional than Matty and the others. Outside of you, he's the only one I trust to run the shop if I have to spend a few days in court. If I'm not hard on him, then it'll look like I'm playing favorites."

"Are you saying I'm not your favorite," teased Kayo with a wink, making Himeko and Mitsuko blush and Mei chuckle, her book long forgotten.

"How about we discuss this when clients aren't around," coughed Mitsuko, attempting to look composed. "Not to mention people we've never met before. Uhhh Mei, would you mind introducing your friend? I'm pretty sure I know who it is from what Matty said a couple of days ago, but I'd rather you do the honors."

"We're not done talking about this," scolded Kayo before heading to the front to greet a man and what looked to be his sixteen-year-old daughter and began asking what it was the girl wanted to get done.

"We never are," sighed Mitsuko as she sat in her chair, looking expectantly at Mei. "So, who is this? Are we using English or..."

"We can speak English," answered Himeko trying to sound much more confident than she felt. "And I'm Momokino Himeko though from what you said I'm sure you already knew that."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Mitsuko nodded and gave a polite smile. "I'm Mistsuko Taniguchi, and Kayo said she already introduced herself out front. Is that true, or was she lying?."

"It's true," Himeko nodded, cutting Mei off once again, her voice a little higher than usual, "and for the record, I think your wife is a charming woman."

"I appreciate the compliment," answered an astounded Mitsuko before turning her eyes toward Mei who was in the process of removing her tee-shirt, exposing the tank-top and tattoos underneath. Mitsuko could see the familiar red of embarrassment flooding Mei's ears and cheeks. "But who told you that? It wasn't Mei, was it? Because if I remember right, she hates it when people expose personal information without permission, don't you Mei?"

Mei winced at the sudden stinging sensation as Mitsuko gave her shoulder a resounding slap.

"She said you didn't mind people knowing," said Himeko apologetically, pointing at the picture while a cold sweat poured down her cheek. "But if it's a problem I'm sorry. She only told me because I made a comment about you two being business partners and then she pointed out the picture and explained her mistake for not explaining your relationship more clearly. I'm sorry if I offended you, but I want you to know I think you all look lovely in it and I'm happy that you all are such good friends."

"Relax Momokino," chuckled Mitsuko; rewashing her hands and applying some hand sanitizer before putting on her gloves and preparing her equipment. "I was only teasing. I don't care that you know about Kayo and me. It's pretty much common knowledge for the people who come in here. I mean, it's not like we hide it."

"That's true," chuckled Mei pointing at a few rainbow flags that were placed strategically in the windows and door. "You guys have always been pretty welcoming to outsiders."

"Everyone needs a place," sniffed Mitsuko before asking one of her free employees to help her apply a surgical mask before cleaning the tattoo and pressed on a pedal beneath the chair, activating the needle. As she held up the needle, Himeko could see a smile form in the corner of Mitsuko's eyes and began her work as she jokingly said, "Even hopeless loners like you."

"I don't know whether to be grateful or insulted," chuckled Mei, wincing briefly at the initial sensation of the needle piercing her skin before getting lost in the rhythmic sensation of the needle moving gently across her skin.

"Doesn't that hurt," asked Himeko quietly, her face moving a little closer toward where Mitsuko's hand was expertly moving across the bear tattoo, filling in some of the faded ink.

"It did at first," sighed Mei as she felt a tingle spread thoughout her body. "But after a while, I tend to get lost in it and begin to enjoy how it feels. I think Mitsuko's the same; she's had a lot more work done than me."

"She's right," chuckled Mitsuko over the loud buzzing of the needle. "Not only that, but I've had a traditional tattoo done too."

Mitsuko took a moment to stop and show off what looked like some sort of tribal tattoo around her wrist before beginning to inspect her work. "Also, unless you're willing to wear a mask, please take a few steps back. I know you're curious, but I can't risk you breathing on this right now."

"I'm sorry." Himeko took a few steps back and watched Mitsuko work for a moment. "What do you mean by a 'traditional tattoo'?"

"It means that instead of a gun like I'm using, I went to someone who used a series of needles attached to a piece of wood and a stick to apply the ink." Mitsuko stopped for a moment, inspected her work, and nodded before sitting back and rotating her wrist. "I had it done on mine and Kayo's honeymoon when we went to New Zealand to visit a business contact who introduced me to a friend who specialized in this type of tattooing, and I figured, what the hell? Took about two days but I like it, and no you can't see it."

"How long did these other ones take," asked Himeko, amazed that someone could go to such lengths for a tattoo.

"Three weeks for the roses and about a week and a half each for the two on my legs." Mitsuko gave Himeko a smile Speaking of which, are you sure this is the only one you needed to rbe worked on? I have time, so I can do some extra work if you got it?"

"I'm fine with this." Sighed Mei, wincing again as Mitsuko began cleaning her shoulder. "You're busy, and I don't have any other ideas at the moment, but I'll send you a few pictures the moment I think of anything. Besides, I thought you were supposed to be resting and preparing for court? Don't you have some big case or something going on?"

"It's nothing I can't handle" Mitsuko winked at Himeko and after making sure Mei was taken care of, began cleaning up her equipment. "Besides, it's nowhere near as difficult as what I'm trying to figure out with your grandfather's paintings. I'd have had the one Yuzu found back to you already, but the lady who bought it off of that asshole is demanding more than what she paid even though I've proved to the courts it was stolen. Unfortunately for us, she's got pull with certain people that are allowing her to get away with this. I'm sorry, but I don't really have any other way and unless you okay it, we're probably going to lose it."

"How much more?"

Mei sighed and shook her head in defeat, aware that something like this would happen. The moment she said she'd pay for any information regarding the recovery of the paintings she'd known something like this would happen. But part of her had hoped that people would at least understand why she was asking for them back and wouldn't attempt to extort her like this. But like most things in life, it wasn't meant to be, and she was resigned to her fate of having to pay, though now that she thought about it it was her fault for offering rewards for the found paintings.

That's why she had no problem discussing it in front of the people in the shop as she'd been quite vocal about what she was going through and had waived any sort of confidentiality with Mitsuko regarding the matter.

"She wants fifty percent more, so you're looking at twenty-two and half," explained Mitsuko as she prepped a care package and handed it to Himeko. "She shouldn't need all of this, but if she does, can you help her since the tattoo is in a difficult spot."

"Offer her twenty and see if she's willing to take that," grunted Mei as she attempted to put her shirt on. "I'm sure she'll be happy making some profit, and it's not like I need the money anyway."

"If you say so, you're the client." Mitsuko sighed and let out a small yawn before making a note on her phone. "I'll let you know what happens. Are you sure you don't want me to put you on the waiting list because once I'm done with this current client, I'm not going to have a lot of free time."

"I'll be fine." Mei winced a little as she slid her shirt on over her head. "But I'm sure I'll see you soon. Please keep me posted about the issue with that woman and whether or not my presence will be needed. I do hope your other court dates go well."

"Thanks." Mitsuko nodded and smiled at Mei as the bell above the door rang, causing her face to screw up in confusion. "Hey, Yuzu! What the heck are you doing here?"

Mei's ears felt like they were on fire at hearing the name while Himeko scowled in the direction of the door.

"Harumin asked if I could drop these off," said Yuzu cheerily, the sound of her shoes echoing across the floor as she ignored Mei and handed a couple of large plastic bags to Mitsuko. She was dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a blue tee-shirt and was wearing a pair of star earrings while her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders and for the first time, Mei couldn't help but notice a noticeable amount of muscle definition to her arms. "She wasn't able to get away from her class today, so she asked me to drop it off for you guys and..."

Yuzu's eyes shifted from Mitsuko to Himeko, before turning into a bright smile once she saw Mei.

"Oh my god, Mei! What are you doing here?"

"She's a client," explained Mitsuko with a smirk, taking the bag and setting it on the table where they kept complimentary, iron pills, juice, and water for clients. "One of my oldest. We just got done doing a touch up on her shoulder tattoo."

"No way." Yuzu's smile only seemed to grow brighter and despite the fluttering in her stomach, Mei forced herself to remain calm in the face of such cheerfulness. "What's the tattoo? Can I see it?"

"Sure." Mei's voice sounded a little colder than intended and felt like someone had punched her in the stomach when she saw Yuzu's smile falter. "But, not here. I'm afraid you might scream a little too loudly when you see it."

Yuzu giggled at Mei's answer while Himeko snorted and stepped between Yuzu and her best friend, her arms crossed in yet another attempt to look intimidating.

"Excuse me, but aren't you forgetting something? It's rude to ignore someone standing right in front of you."

"What?" While Mei hid her behind Himeko's head, Yuzu continuously shifted her focus to Himeko, though her eyes kept flitting to the side to catch a glimpse of the artist. "What are you talking about? I'm not ignoring you. I just wanted to say 'hi' to Mei first."

"How about the three of you take this outside," said Mitsuko, her voice chilled and her gaze focused on Mei who gave her a hasty nod.
"Himeko, let's go; now."

Despite her urge to argue, the tone in Mei's voice and the piercing gaze from Mitsuko kept Himeko in check and with a curt nod and a huff, followed Mei out while Yuzu stayed behind for a moment.

"Sorry about that," said Yuzu as Matsuri walked up and began inspecting the bag and pulled out a large raspberry pastry before grabbing a bottle of water. "I don't know what she has against me? That's only the second time I've ever talked to her, too."

"Maybe it's because you laughed at her when I commented on her eyebrows," snickered Matsuri after swallowing a large amount of pastry.

"Although if she doesn't want jokes made about them, maybe she should consider getting it taken care of."

"Of course you had something to do with it," grumbled Mitsuko, rounding on Matsuri. "If you knew she was a friend of Mei's, why'd you antagonize her given how often Mei stops by, not to mention the fact that you work here."

"Because it made Henry laugh." Matsuri shrugged and licked a bit of glaze from her fingers before going to wash her hands. "Also I didn't know Eyebrows was gonna show up. Last time I talked to Mei, she was out of town."

"So you made fun of her for Henry's sake?" Mitsuko sighed and shook her head as she rubbed her temple and gave Yuzu an apologetic look. "And I take it he became obsessed with that facial feature shortly after Matsuri pointed it out?"

"For three days" sighed Yuzu while Matsuri busied herself with grabbing a couple of more pastries. "Hey save some for the others."

"Matsuri quit hogging all the food," ordered Mitsuko though Matsuri paid her no attention. "Some of us still haven't had breakfast."

"Not my fault you slept in so late," snorted Matsuri before handing a few to one of the other employees.

After her coworker left, Matsuri took a few steps closer and in a whisper loud enough that only Yuzu and Mitsuko could hear asked, "Besides didn't you and Kayo get enough to eat when she went upstairs to get you?"

"I'm going to show myself out," blushed Yuzu while Mitsuko chewed on her lower lip and Matsuri snickered as she dodged her boss' attempts to kick her.

The last thing Yuzu before she left the shop was the sound of Kayo's voice attempting to soothe the fuming Mitsuko while customer and employee alike laughed at the scene playing out in front of them.

Once the door closed, Yuzu let out a sigh of relief only to gulp when she saw the glare Himeko had aimed at her, only daring to remain thanks to the nervous, but reassuring look Mei was giving her.

"So," chuckled Yuzu, nervously scratching the back of her head. "You guys hungry? My treat!"