"Evening, Namie chan, hosting again?" Amused, Sagawa smiles at Ryūko, cleaning her glass behind the counter.
"I am a simple bartender." Briskly, she calmly corrects him eyeing the sleek silver suitcase he did not come in with…
"Not from what I heard you've been helping Majima with this business no?" Confidently, he smirks Ryūko's way and passes by Ryūko, her hues soon narrowing hearing the muffled roar of rage. She sighs softly, opening the door only to sigh when she find the bin having been kicked over and finding said male seething on the sofa.
"You done now?" Tiredly, Ryūko asks as his sharp enraged brown meet her calm blue.
"Piss off!" He roars.
"You know for a lord, you're meant to be level headed," Unfazed, Ryūko brings up casually taking a seat across from him as she see his balled up fists quivering shaking, trembling…
"I'm guessing the money didn't satisfy him," Nevertheless, Ryūko brings up, it wasn't the first time. He growls but nods bitterly as a still silence hangs heavily in the air around the two, Majima taking out a cigarette while patting himself down trying to find a lighter. His hue widens when Ryūko takes out her lighter, swiftly ignoring it. Shyly, he nods his head silently thanking her while taking a heavy inhale as a still silence fills the air between both of them.
"Namie…would you take a hit if you wanted to join something?" Her hues widen at Majima's words, finally breaking the silence, his head bowed down. Ryūko frowns at the question…
"Eh depended on the hit if it were a guy I knew and hated sure," Dismissively, Ryūko shrugs casually.
"I'm being serious!" Frustrated, he snaps at Ryūko remaining unfazed sighing as she takes out from the heater, a warmed up towel passing it to him making him frown.
"I don't think the guests nor the staff would like their lord of the night smelling like alcohol," Ryūko smirks as he grumbles, snatching the towel from Ryūko and wiping himself clean…
"I'm being serious," Grumpily, he huffs throwing the towel back.
"I know. I just thought you'd need to lighten up, I know this is serious and I see how much you want to get back into this old business of yours," Ryūko catches the towel thrown her way.
"But being like this, having a raging fit won't get you anywhere. This is what he wants you to feel, angry, feeling defeated and give up, giving him the win and allowing him to use you for the rest of your life…that's why you need to remain calm. I know you want to punch that guy I was tempted too but being like this won't solve anything…" Ryūko explains calmly seeing him go silent from my words as Ryūko gently places her hand on his shoulder, making his conflicted browns meet her hues. He bows his head…
"Would you…kill a random stranger?" He question his tone weak as she sighs…
"I…I don't know." Ryūko responds frowning, it would depend on the person who asked if it were for Kazama, no sweat, no hesitation, no nothing…she would do it in a heartbeat but if it were for a stranger…she didn't know. Quietly, Ryūko kneels down picking up the balled up paper placing it in the bin seeing Majima's conflicted expression and sigh….
"Not only has he raised the amount for next month he took Noriko," Majima reveals to Ryūko.
"Our best hostess, shit…" Ryūko scowls at the underhanded move, Majima takes out another cigarette to smoke, briefly he offers her one which she happily takes, looking for her lighter only to perk up at the faint click of a familiar flint. She looks up at Majima, bowing her head grateful, as she takes the flame lighting her cigarette and the pair of them sigh, releasing a puff of smoke and relax, enjoying the delightful taste of nicotine as they ponder their next move. Her ears perk up at the sound of the door opening making them turn to Yoshi looking frantic as he reports on what they already know about Noriko leaving, or jumping ship as some would say.
"Oh I see. Still how do we come back from this?" Yoshi questions head down in worry.
"Please we ain't got time to mope about it," Majima sighs shaking his head, glancing at Ryūko raising a brow.
"Who's the hottest hostess in town that we don't already have?" Majima comes to that conclusion.
"Well there's Nozomi…" Ryūko zones out as the other two talk battle plans for this recovery plan of theirs, talking about their rival cabaret club not that she honestly cared, instead focusing on the intoxicating taste of the nicotine, enjoying the sense of bliss as they talk as before long, Majima sets off to check out the competition…
"Um Namie san…" Shyly, a waiter approaches the woman, trying to overlook the numbers for the day in the back when the door opens to one of her servers.
"What is it Yoshi?" Ryūko sighs softly at him, not batting an eye to him.
"A woman has come in asking for someone called Ryūko." He reveals as said woman freezes flinching from the name.
"…That so…?" Softly, she stops her scribbling.
"What should I do? None of the hostesses are called that and she seems rather young to throw her back out at this hour is…" Anxiously, Yoshi asks.
"I'll handle it." Smoothly, Ryūko responds cutting him off.
"R-Right." Yoshi bows his head as Ryūko brushes by him to meet his visitor.
"So what would you like?" The bartender queries the woman girl a fair few hungry hues pinned upon the long haired girl's back.
"Oh I'll have a w-" Eagerly, the girl is about to give her order when…
"She'll have a coke." Curtly, the sharp slam of a palm hits the counter coolly.
"Eh?" Disappointed, the girl responds about to complain when…
"Oh Namie san of course!" Happily, the bartender cheerily complies.
"Namie san?" The girl furrows her brow confusion clear on her furrowed features as she turns to the blonde by her side.
"Take your drink and come with me." Sternly, she whispers to the girl by her side.
"…Fine." Frowning, the girl huffs complying as she takes her drink heading up the stairs with Ryūko following behind her similar to a shadow almost or from her body language like a child about to be scolded by their mother.
"Ah Majima-san welcome back." Beaming, the waiter warmly welcomes him back.
"Where's Ryūko?" Majima questions the waiter.
"I think she's in the back." He tells him.
"Right…" Majima exclaims as he heads up the stairs, he couldn't take on the five stars not alone anyway, not without his right hand woman.
"Though sir she isn't alone…" Anxiously, the waiter warns Majima.
"She isn't?" Majima stops in his tracks turning to the worrisome waiter.
"Yes I must say she is with quite the beauty I guess birds of a feather flock together." The waiter compliments.
"Hmm…" Majima shoves his hands into his pockets before heading to the back where as soon as he does so…
"The hell were you thinking coming down here?!" Roaring, Ryūko's voice echoes throughout the hallway as Majima peers in, his hues narrowing at the blonde berating the young woman sat down on her seat.
"I wanted to see where you worked." Shyly, she argues.
"What you should be seeing to is your studies." Sternly, she tells the girl glowering down at the girl having no clue how dangerous this sort of place could be for someone like her, she was in her element here however Yumi wasn't. Yumi didn't know how to defend herself let alone deal with the lecherous men about the place…
"High school's boring without you guys!" The girl complains.
"Yumi it doesn't matter if its boring if it benefits you." Ryūko pinches the bridge of her nose.
"But I missed you and the others…" Sadly, Yumi stares down at her drink.
"Do the people at Sunflower know you're gone?" Strictly, Ryūko demands as Majima raises a brow, sunflower as in the flower or…what else could it mean?
"…" Silently, Yumi stares down at her drink, her grip tightening around it.
"Yumi!" Ryūko snaps slamming her hand down on the table below.
"I'm sorry okay!" Yumi whines.
"You should be saying sorry to the caretaker, they're probably fretting over a missing kid!" Ryūko roars at her.
"I'm not a kid." Cross, Yumi barks back.
"Not old enough to drink though." Tiredly, Ryūko remarks.
"I'm not much older than you…!" Yumi points at her.
"Fortunately for you I've contacted Reina, you'll go to Serena's until someone can take you home." Ryūko scowls brushing Yumi's finger aside.
"…I'm sorry I just wanted to see you guys it feels like families since I last saw you guys." Yumi sighs sadly.
"You know why that is." Ryūko says softly.
"You mean you being beaten black and blue cause you had no clue about your future sure." Sadly, Yumi smiles strained.
"Then you understand…" Ryūko begins but…
"I understand he wanted you to go to uni." Yumi remarks making Ryūko grimace at the murky memory of it all.
"Yes well…things changed." Awkwardly, Ryūko scratches the back of her neck at the memory of him hounding her about the uni she would go to, she had numerous offers, offers he had made for her high regarded ones at that but she just…she just didn't know, she had no clue what she wanted to do and didn't want to go in debt due to one subject she thought she wanted to do but never really did after…
"That's the understatement of the century…" Yumi chuckles coyly recalling the roaring Kazama yelling at her for not knowing what to do.
"Yumi…" Ryūko begins brow furrowed.
"Everyone's changed feels just like yesterday all of us were back at sunflower playing across the beach." Yumi smiles softly sadly at the thought.
"Change is natural Yumi. Hell how did you even find me here?" Ryūko reminds her.
"Nishiki told me about it, you working at the grand and I know that I just…" Yumi begins but…
"Nishiki of bloody course." Cross, Ryūko curses under her breath brow furrowed.
"Oi Namie…" The door opens as the two turn to…
"Hm oh Majima…" Ryūko turns to him.
"You busy?" Majima asks Ryūko.
"Nah we're just finishing up here." Ryūko asserts.
"But…" Yumi begins but…
"Go home Yumi." Ryūko orders her.
"You can't just…!" Mad, Yumi begins but…
"I've phoned Nishiki to come pick you up so just stay in the back until then okay?" Ryūko tells her turning to the door.
"…Okay." Obediently, Yumi sighs softly sitting down fearful of Ryūko's killer glare.
"Was I interrupting?" Majima asks once the two are out of the room, hearing the crisp click of the lock.
"Nah not really. So what's up?" Ryūko asks Majima.
"Need help with another club." Majima tells her.
"Another one?" Ryūko raises a brow befuddled.
"Seems some guys are trying to monopolize to go against the grand." Majima fills her in.
"Seriously?" Surprised, she raises a brow by the news.
"Yep, So I'm hoping to use the club sunshine to take them down." Majima adds.
"Yeah you can't exactly use the grand for it." Ryūko crosses her arms over her chest.
"Agreed. Which is why I need your help, we got a girl but we'll need more." Majima adjusts his cuffs.
"Of course you do." Ryūko sighs.
"So you in?" Majima queries.
"Do I have a choice?" Ryūko exclaims.
"Of course you don't." Majima smirks at Ryūko's playful glare.
"Of course I bloody don't." Drained, Ryūko grumbles as she and Majima begin their strategy meeting to take down the five stars…
"So this is Sunshine." Ryūko remarks, her hand on her hips eyeing the establishment, Majima became manager of.
"Yep." Majima confirms.
"Majima-san welcome back! Huh?" Youda perks up at the blonde by Majima's side.
"Who is this?" Yuki peers over Youda's shoulder staring at Ryūko.
"Yuki, Youda meet Namie if you want to get shit done she's the one to get it done." Deadpanned, Majima points to Ryūko.
"…Wow boss I think that's the most kindest thing you said to me." Ryūko remarks amused at the thought.
"Don't get used to it." Majima huffs at the smirking Ryūko.
"A poet this one is…" Ryūko remarks gesturing to Majima.
"Y-You're going to help us?" Hopeful, Youda gasps.
"Namie is good with trends and all that crap." Majima confirms.
"And pop eye here is good at bitching and all that crap." Ryūko throws in.
"Oi I just gave you a compliment!" Majima gives Ryūko a playful glare.
"As did I so where do you want me to start?" Ryūko claps her hands together smirking up at him.
"The bar would be a good place to start." Shyly, Youda smiles strained.
"You're not wrong there, I've also called some of my girls they should be here to help you tonight Yuki." Ryūko tells them.
"R-Really?" Yuki perks up at the news.
"How can this be a cabaret club with only one hostess?" Ryūko scoffs.
"T-Thank you!" Yuki bows her head.
"Don't sweat it so log as pop eye pays me you got my support." Ryūko states the fact firmly.
"As blunt as ever Ryūko-chan." Majima huffs hands shoved in his pockets.
"And you're as moronic as ever helping out this business all of a sudden not even a second of warning once this guy is given something he has to go all out." Ryūko places her hand to her hip.
"Well let's get started shall we?" Youda exclaims.
"I'll start with the drinks you can coach Yuki." Ryūko tells Majima.
"Right, right…come on Yuki." Majima makes his way over to her.
"Y-Yes! H-Hello customer! I-I'm Yuki! I look forward to a fun conversation with you!" Yuki sits down at the booth, Majima opposite of her.
"Oh god…Internally, Ryūko grimaces feeling second hand embarrassment wash over her at the awkwardly voice.
"S-S-Say Majima y-y-you must trust Ryūko a great deal in bringing h-h-her in on this…" Yuki says softly.
"You could say that." Majima considers calmly looking over at the blonde teaching Youda how to mix drinks.
"H-H-How long have you known her?" Yuki asks as she watches him stare at her, doing small parlour tricks as Youda eagerly claps.
"I think a year or so…" Majima shrugs simply, he wouldn't say he knew everything heck he had no clue who that Yumi was nor was this sunflower thing was either then again now that he thought about it, the two never really spoke of their past, they simply spoke about the present, neither of them had pried about the other not even with the eyepatch, she never asked about it…he supposed a part of him was grateful for that, it didn't seem out of fear that she didn't bring it up she simply didn't.
"A year? With the way you act I thought you'd known each other for years!" Yuki says shocked.
"Please as if I could handle her for more than a year." Majima scoffs at the thought of the firecracker.
"I heard that!" Ryūko throws in from the bar brow furrowed fuming.
"Oi! It's rude to eavesdrop." Majima throws in from the booth brow furrowed at the blonde.
"Just as it's rude to gossip." Ryūko retorts.
"Heheh…" Yuki giggles her hand to her mouth muffling said snicker.
"Oi what's so funny?" Frowning, Majima gives a playful glare to the giggling Yuki.
"You two, you two act like a married couple!" Cheerily, Yuki describes.
"Eh!? You think I'd settle for that blonde bimbo?" Majima scoffs.
"The hell!? You think I'd settle for that eyepatch solid snake wannabe!" Ryūko roars back brow furrowed fuming.
"What was that?" Majima gives her a warning look.
"You heard me!" Ryūko barks back.
"Heheh…" Yuki continues chuckling coyly.
"Namie san could I have some help with this bloody Mary?" Meekly, Youda asks hopeful.
"Sure." Ryūko sighs softly showing said drink to him.
"Still don't get what's so funny." Frowning, Majima turns to Yuki once more.
"You two, it's clear you guys care for one another." Yuki points out.
"Tch…please as if I'd settle for someone who wears boxers instead of panties." Majima scoffs smirking.
"Eh!?" Yuki gasps as just then a familiar blonde approaches swiftly whacking Majima at the back of his head, glaring down at him.
"FOR THE LAST TIME BOXERS ARE MORE COMFY!" Cross, Ryūko roars raising her voice defensively at Majima.
"IT'S WEIRD!" Majima states scowling at her.
"Oh but not as weird as during a interview you ask a young girl what sort of panties she wears!" Ryūko retorts.
"You can tell a lot from a person by the stuff they wear." Majima asserts.
"Clothes sure but undergarments are a whole other level of creepiness!" Ryūko roars back.
"Heheheh…" Yuki holds her stomach smiling unable to not giggle at the feuding two.
"Oi Yuki you know as a hostess you want your customer to focus on you, talking about other girls isn't going to help you." Majima turns back to the task at hand.
"O-Oh right apologies!" Yuki apologizes.
"Okay well let's start with an easy topic tell me 'bout some hobbies of yours…" Majima offers.
"S-Sure hobby talk um hobbies…hobbies…hobbies…" Humming, Yuki ponders brow furrowed frowning, trying to find some sort of answer for her hobbies.
"Y-You're amazing Namie-san!" Youda gushes clapping his hands at the tricks she pulls.
"Hm?" Humming, she turns to him raising a brow at his giddiness.
"Doing those tricks who taught you those?" Youda questions fascinated.
"Oh you learn a few things from working at a bar for a few years." Ryūko shrugs, she needed to keep those that had the intel she needed entertained what better way than with some parlours tracks especially with the liquor that could help, drunk mind sober thoughts after all.
"You worked at a bar before?" Yoda raises a brow by it.
"Yeah…for a fair few years." Ryūko shrugs she needed a source of intel to keep her in Kazama's good books to be of good use to him, to squirm her way into the yakuza rants.
"That's amazing perhaps you could teach me?" Youda asks hopeful.
"Sure, it does help keep those waiting for their time with the hostesses busy." Ryūko admits as she shakes said sleek silver flask before pouring the contents inside.
"So how did it go?" Casually, Ryūko asks as Majima limps over, slumped over the bar counter exhaustion etched into his fatigued facial features.
"Yuki is something else…" Majima mutters.
"In a good way or….?" Ryūko probes but…
"In a get me a drink way." Majima hints making Ryūko smirk slightly.
"Right, right…here." Ryūko sighs softly handing him the Majima special or so what he calls it.
"Thanks…" He takes his drink.
"So is she any good?" Ryūko quirks her head to the side.
"Conversation wise she needs a helluva lot of work." Bluntly, Majima states the fact firmly.
"Guess you got your work caught out for you." Ryūko smirks slightly shining the glass.
"I guess…you know she's got a bonsai tree." Majima points out.
"That so…that's rare for a girl her age." Ryūko gives Majima that.
"Yeah she's comfortable talking to her grandfather so…" Majima begins.
"That should appeal to the older demographic." Ryūko ends.
"Exactly, she also has a diary." Majima smirks.
"…She told you that?" Ryūko furrows her brow by the detail.
"Yep." Majima confirms.
"…Oh sweet summer child, should she be in this business if she's that honest?" Ryūko furrows her brow by the thought concerned at the details she could give out to these men.
"She'll be fine." Firmly, Majima assures her.
"I hope so." Ryūko sighs softly.
"Still thanks." Majima sighs bowing his head.
"Hm?" Ryūko raises a brow by the thanks.
"Your girls really helped while I trained Yuki." Majima sighs pointing to the girls heading to the changing room with Yuki shyly shuffling in.
"My girls want money and I had the opportunity that was all it was." Ryūko states the fact firmly not to mention, spreading them out could help her achieve new sources of info she could make good use of, not that she'd let loose that slip of info…
"Still…" Majima begins brow furrowed about to say more when…
"I'm amazed if not surprised Majima san, Ryūko san keep that up and we just might really manage to beat those bullies back!" Beaming, Youda rushes over towards the two as just then…
"And which bullies might those be exactly?" A pudgy man in raw red arrives.
"Hino!" Youda gasps at the sight of the chubster.
"So that's the mars guy I assume." Ryūko remarks.
"Yep." Majima confirms slowly standing up from the bar stool.
"Hm? I see you have new staff, my, my what a beauty, how about you come over and…eeep!" The piggy man squeals similar to a perturbed panicked pig from the knife being thrown his way, nicking his cheek impaling the door behind him.
"Finish that sentence I dare you." Ryūko scowls severely at the pig sweat sliding down his tense temple panic pumping through his veins, eyeing the knife impaled into the wall just by him, having felt the rush of air softly slap his cheeks, almost nick it as he sees his reflection reflected back from the blade.
"T-Tch…bitch. Whatever I'm here for your answer as promised. Well? Ready to sell this hovel to me?" Haughty, Hiro smirks smugly at her.
"I told you before the answer's NO." Youda refuses.
"…I see and here I was hoping to do this amicably. Shame. All right you lot." Hiro turns to the burly men by his side.
"What are you-" Youda steps back alarmed at the taller muscular men.
"Teach this stubborn old fool a lesson!" Hiro orders his men.
"So you resort to violence in the end!? You're a coward!" Cross, Youda angrily accuses him.
"Sticks and stones…" Hiro huffs.
Sticks and…who says that anymore? Internally, Ryūko ponders to herself having heard that in a long while.
"We'll see which comes first you give me what I want or you die!" The man in red roars.
"Hold up a second." Majima steps up.
"What are you supposed to be?" The man in red sneers.
"Name's Majima Youda-han's asked me to take over operations here and as long as I'm standin' nobody's making trouble in my shop." Seriously, Majima introduces himself before glaring down at the squirming panicked pig below.
"A new manager heh I see, I'll grant you it's a wiser choice than letting a dimwit like Youda keep running this dunghill into the ground and you seem to know your way around a fight…so you're the boss AND bouncer. Clever choice for a idiot. I'm impressed truly." Tauntingly, he sneers glaring at Youda.
"What do you want us to do? Take this guy out too?" The muscle asks Hiro.
"No…I find myself curious to see how they plan to claw their way out of this hole. We can crush them anytime. I look forward to being entertained as I watch just how far you manage to crawl after making enemies of the five stars. You were lucky today Youda and Majima san well…why don't you try your best? If I get bored I'll drop by and swat you down like the flies you are and take that beauty." Booming, he points to Ryūko not even batting an eye to the pig simply giving the man in red the middle finger as she tries to clean her glass.
"Bring it Porky. Enjoy watchi' your wobbly little house of cards come crumbling down on top of ya. Hope yer ass is ready to get buried." Majima steps up glaring down at the boy below.
"Hmph we'll see how long that big talk lasts I advise you not to take five stars lightly." The man in red sneers before departing with his men.
"Thank you Majima!" Youda bows his head.
"Don't worry about it. The real battle's just startin' we gotta whip this club ito fighting shape fast if we want to take them on." Majima assures Youda.
"We will I'll give it all I've got!" Youda promises.
"Look me and Ryūko got our hands full with our own place too. So we can't be here around the clock I'll make a point to drop by whenever I get a minute though the same with Ryūko." Majima gestures to the blonde tidying the glasses after their first night.
"Yet again not even asked." Annoyed, Ryūko hollers haughtily from behind the bar.
"Just do it." Majima frows at the blonde cleaning a glass.
"Fine…" Frowning, Ryūko gives in too tired to argue as Majima goes back to train another one of his many hostesses for the fight ahead…
"I said I was sorry!" Apologetic, Nishiki sighs as he resides in his car, the car slowly stopping before Sunshine.
"Sorry isn't going to cut it, what if Yumi hadn't found the right club? What if she had bumped into some gross guy? What if she got attacked? Sotenbori is not a good place for someone like Yumi." Ryūko tells the fact firmly to Nishiki, the two knew how dangerous Sotenbori could be, the only reason she was sent down on this job was because she knew how to look out for herself, Yumi didn't.
"Come on Yumi isn't completely defenceless." Aloofly, Akira brushes Ryūko off.
"Isn't she?" Ryūko remarks.
"Well what I mean is she would make a good hostess." Honestly, Akira admits.
"Would you want that for her?" Ryūko demands from Nishiki glaring.
"What's wrong with being a hostess?" Nishiki argues.
"Nothing I just…I don't want her to get hurt." Honestly, Ryūko reveals.
"And you think I do?" Defensively, Nishiki huffs.
"I dread to think what Yumi would have done if she found out all that asty business with Kiryu." Ryūko confesses brow furrowed fatigued from the thought alone.
"Yeah so…I gotta ask what's with this place? I thought you worked at the grand, you get fired or something?" Scowling, Nishiki eyes Sunshine.
"Why is that the first thing you think?" Tiredly, Ryūko questions him.
"Some gross groper guy you put in his place." Unapologetic, Akira answers.
"Well…that hasn't got me fired yet." Ryūko trails off.
"Still not answering the question…" Amused, Akira points out.
"Urgh we're just doing work here, spreading the grand out you know?" Tiredly, Ryūko groans, ruffling her blonde roots.
"I guess, don't suppose I could…" Hopeful, he begins but…
"Don't think about it ad remember it's Namie here..." Swiftly, she ends.
"Aye aye mam…" Obediently, Nishiki sighs sadly watching her get out of the car.
"Hey isn't that…?" Youda looks out
"…Alright let's get to know each other a little better Yuki." Majima drapes his arm over the back of the booth as he and Yuki sit down conversing preparing for the cabinet conversations for the night to come as Ryūko goes to the back of the bar.
"O-Oh okay." Shyly, Yuki agrees.
"Not that I care but why don't ya tell me about what kinda guy you like?" Majima questions Yuki.
"W-Why do you have to put it like that?! When you say it that way it really doesn't inspire the most creative of answers Majima-san…" Scowling, Yuki frowns at Majima.
"Yeah yeah my bad. So tell me about your type already." Majima presses.
"Let me think…I…I like a guy who can be my prince!" Yuki reveals.
"Uh? A prince?" Perturbed, Majima frowns.
"He should be kind tall and handsome with flowing hair! He really respects me and he would look good riding a white horse y'know?" Yuki describes.
"I can see that if I were lookin' for a lady I'd want a princess too. Hey Yuki if you're gonna hold onto dreams or ideals ya better swing for the fences" Majima advises.
"Exactly I'd prefer to chase the idea of my perfect man but he might not actually exist…maybe my standards are too high…s-still y-you never know! My prince might ride in on his white horse and sweep me off my feet tomorrow!" Yuki confesses to Majima.
"Right, cape, sword, the whole nine yards." Majima lists off handily.
"That didn't sound sincere at all Majima san for all you know your princess could be right around the corner." Yuki playfully hits his shoulder.
"Eep!" The two then jolt up at the sharp screech of Youda.
"Youda I told you keep the lid on firmly, it's all in the wrist, see…" Sighing, Ryūko demonstrates to the stained state of Youda.
"But still a boyfriend when I think about dating all I can think about is how much of a hassle it is…" Yuki confesses as the two go back to their conversation.
"A hassle? Even if it was your equestrian princeling?" Playfully, Majima jokes.
"If my boyfriend really were a prince on a white horse it'd probably be even more of a hassle than dating a normal guy, every date would be a struggle for the right clothes and make up and even then I can't begin to imagine what I'd be able to talk about with him." Honestly, Yuki explains.
"You'd figure it out." Majima assures Yuki.
"Really Majima san? You're the last person I expected to hear that from…" Yuki says surprised.
"Really? What's up with that?" Majima scoffs.
"Oh it's just that you suddenly sounded encouraging and positive it took me by surprise are you sure you're feeling okay?" Yuki tries to explain herself to him.
"Course I'm okay! I'm just saying if you found that certain someone you don't need to worry about that sorta shit they'll love ya for you, you get what I mean." Majima promises Yuki.
"Hmm…I guess." Yuki trails off.
"You're an odd girl Yuki-chan, you're like a grumpy old man in the body of a romantic young lady." Majima describes.
"What do you mean by a grumpy old man!? At least make me a grumpy middle aged woman!" Wrathful, Yuki glares at Majima.
"Ah compromise one of the first rules of a relationship." Jokingly, Ryūko brushes by, silver platter in hand happily smirking at the two.
"You mind we're training here?" Majima scowls at Ryūko.
"I'm just saying, a happy wife is a happy life." Ryūko recites.
"What's your type Namie?" Yuki asks Ryūko
"My type? Don't have one." Ryūko shrugs.
"You don't?" Yuki says surprised.
"Never really had a crush before." Ryūko confesses.
"R-Really? You must have had admirers." Yuki assumes as Majima leans back brow furrowed.
"Uh…I mean I did in high school though they were dealt with." Ryūko responds, brow furrowing from the murky memory of those brave few who would approach only to falter from the tall towering figures behind her.
"Dealt with?" Alarmed, Majima furrows his brow but before he could ask further…
"Namie-san the drinks are ready." Youda calls out to her.
"Right let's try this bloody Mary of yours." Ryūko lowers the silver platter placing it to her side sauntering over to Youda's side.
"So…grumpy and middle aged is fine, long as you're a woman?" Majima furrows his brow at Yuki.
"I'm just not starved for love there are more important things in life than romance!" Yuki points out.
"Yuki have you ever actually gone out with someone? I get the feeling you've never dated before." Majima confesses.
"I-I-I-I've gone out with plenty of guys of course! T-There's Sato-kun, Suzuki-kun and…Tanaka-kun!" Tense, Yuki lists.
"Ya know if you're gonna lie about ex boyfriends you should probably use their first name Yuki-chan." Coyly, Majima points out.
"OH!" Yuki gasps her hand darting to her mouth.
"Majima san does your wife ever get mad at you because you're in this line of work?" Yuki questions Majima.
"Nah no wife to get mad at me in the first place. I live alone as a free man." Majima boasts.
"Ppff…" Ryūko places a hand to her mouth muffling said snicker shooting out.
"What's so funny?" Frowning, Majima glares at Ryūko.
"The idea of you being married is pretty funny." Frankly, Ryūko confesses.
"Oi you think I couldn't settle for that life?" Majima glares playfully at Ryūko picking up the wine bottles and glasses left behind.
"I'd feel bad for your wife to be honest." Honestly, Ryūko smirks at Majima.
"I'd feel bad for your husband if the world ever ended, I wouldn't be surprised if he put a bullet in him." Majima huffs leaning back in his booth brow furrowed as Ryūko simply shakes her head, giving him the middle finger before heading back to the bar.
"Majima do you cook at all?" Yuki questions Majima.
"Do I look like a chef? I just do whatever." Majima responds.
"You know Majima if you're always eating our or junk food you won't have a balanced diet." Yuki scolds him.
"You sound like Namie." Majima mutters slumping his shoulders.
"I do?" Yuki wiggles a brow befuddled.
"Yeah sometimes Namie-chan drops off food." Majima tells Ryūko.
"She does?" Yuki says surprised turning to the blonde behind the bar.
"Only cause he looks so thin it's weird." Ryūko cleans the glass in her hands.
"Do you not like thin people Namie san?" Yuki quirks her head to the side.
"There's a difference between your thin and Majima thin." Truthfully, Ryūko deadpans recalling days at the grand of seeing his bones protruding out of his skin or looking as pale as a ghost.
"So you took care of him you're kind Namie san." Yuki clasps her hands happily at Ryūko.
"I'm really not I just didn't want to look at someone so thin I thought he would break his leg by moving forward or something besides I always end up making more than I really need." Bluntly, Ryūko scratches the back of her neck, seeing someone so thin made her squirm, she just didn't like it, she knew some people had problems but seeing it just made her look away…
"Namie san really is kind you should be lucky to have her help you out so much." Yuki scolds Majima.
"…Yeah…I guess. Namie you can handle tonight's shift right?" Majima sighs standing up done with the test trial.
"Going to see the competition?" Ryūko raises a brow at Majima.
"Yep." Majima heads to the door.
"Right have fun you too." Ryūko hollers seeing both Youda and Majima head off…
"Ooh it's really…flashy…" Youda comments on the raw red neon lights as the two hide behind a tall towering electric poll.
"Yeah it's a damn eyesore, hurts to look at it." Goro grumbles glaring at the club.
"Thank you very much see you soon I hope Tabata-san!" The voice calls out as a girl in red descends down, a customer and waiter following behind her as they guide him out.
"Yeah of course I'll be back as soon as I can make it Ai-chan!" The customer promises Ai.
"Wonderful! I'll be waiting for you!" Ai smiles softly watching the man depart just as a familiar man in raw red approaches.
"Damn I did that deadbeat a favour and sent Ai to his but he didn't spend jack! Who the hell odes he think he is treating Ai like that!? She's the number one girl of club mars! Ai I don't want you dealing with cheapskates like that louse anymore! Got it!?" Angrily, Hino huffs glaring at the fleeting figure of the man.
"Umm…but Tabaa is a long time regular! And he mentioned his finances were tight this month!" Meekly, Ai attempts to defend her client but…
"Cry me a river! If he don't got the cash NOW he's useless! Business don't ruin on kindness to poor parasites I want you serving the fat cats because y'know what makes the world go round? Money, money and more money! Listen up maggot we'll need high end liquor in the club, and let's pimp out the interior! Use gold leaf or something!" Scowling, Hino roars glaring at the waiter.
"Y-Yes sir!" The waiter complies.
"What's with this Hino guy? He's got another thing comin' if he's that fixated on cash." Goro glares at the scarlet suited male.
"Hino thinks money can solve anything including how to run Club Mars as a business. So he spends as much as he thinks he needs to get more customers in and become a popular club. He's actually spent a small fortune to attract girls from the other clubs. That's why the quality of his talent really sets the bar but the girl who's the undisputed number one at Club Mars is Ai who's been working there for a long time." Youda explains to Majima.
"She's number one at club Mars eh?" Majima eyes the ruby red dressed girl.
"No she seems to be the lone exception. Apparently, she simply wanted to work at the cabinet club and just applied. The girl who walks in off the street winds up making more money than the girls he spent to recruit the irony of it all." Youda remarks.
"That's part for the course you can't expect girls who'd betray their clubs for cold hard cash to provide excellent customer service." Seriously, Majima states the fact firmly.
"But that girl…she seems so nice. She's cute too…I wish a girl like that would come and work for us! Yuki and Namie are a bit…plain." Honestly, Youda confesses.
"Hey watch it you say that kinda stuff in front of Namie and you're dead meat." Majima warns Youda.
"Hm what's going on there?" Tense, Hino's hues narrow at the two watching on…
"Something wrong sir?" The waiter asks him.
"No just two buzzing flies who need to be swatted go exterminate them. Let's go Ai." The scarlet suited male turns on his heel heading up.
"Oh okay um are we having issues with bugs at the club?" Confused, Ai asks as he walks up the stairs with her following behind him.
"Whoa, this is bad let's get out of here!" Youda panics as the men surround the two.
"A man who spends all his money on fools is all the more a fool." Firmly, Goro glares at the men surrounding them.
"What are we going to do Majima san?" Youda probes panic pumping through his veins.
"I'm gonna take care of them you make yourself scarce Youda san!" Goro calls out as Youda flees frightened leaving the men to Majima…
"So how was club Mars?" Ryūko asks as she records todays ins and outs while perched upon the bar cleaned counter, writing in the book their earnings or well profits and losses trying to keep up with what they need to refill in certain stock as she turns to the mess that is Majima. She sits perched upon the bar stool, one leg over the other, pencil in hand as she spots the girls going to the back after a good night of hosting, taking off their makeup and attire as they begin heading home, Youda rushing over to praise them for a good days of work while Ryūko raises a brow by the zombie like state of Majima making his way over to the bar, joining her side.
"…Flashy." Groaning, Majima mumbles, gently sitting himself down slumping slouched in his seat.
"…Flashy?" Frowning, Ryūko raises a brow by the description only to falter from his leaning into her side similar to that instrument you would find perched upon a piano going from side to side but he simply plops down to one side across her shoulder, seeking solace in it.
"A damn eyesore." Majima mumbles bowing his head, nuzzling into her shoulder, shyly hiding it.
"Makes sense with his outfit…" Ryūko recalls her ruby red scarlet suit.
"Should have heard him sounds like some cartoon villain with that obsession of money of his." Huffing, he grumbles in her shoulder making Ryūko sigh softly rubbing patterns in the back of his neck noting the tension in said shoulders, hearing his low groan of approval as she hears it…
"…Right, guess you're tired then." Ryuko remarks crawling her fingertips up towards his neck noting the faint flinch as she stops slightly from it, looking towards him, giving him a moment as she feels his tight tense muscles slowly be put to ease as she draws patterns into the back of his neck.
"Eh those guys were nothing." Aloofly, Majima dismisses drained.
"Not from that cut come on." Gently, Ryūko reaches out to his cheek noting his faint flinch back but she doesn't get deterred by it, silently softy sliding her hand across his cheek.
"I said I'm fine…" Feebly, he whispers weakly while shyly softly leaning into her hand.
"You're a terrible liar." Ryuko sighs softly pinching his cheek taking him aback as she gets out the first aid kit from behind the bar removing herself from him to do so.
"Why do you always do this?" Majima questions softly, sighing seeing her take out the box.
"Do what?" Ryūko opens the first aid box.
"…Look after me." Majima exclaims.
"Cause someone has to you're clearly not doing enough for yourself." Resolved, Ryūko states the fact firmly frowning at the bags heavily hanging from his hues.
"…You're not uncomfortable?" Meekly, Majima whispers.
"…Uncomfortable?" Ryūko frows as she dabs his cheek with alcohol noting the cuts.
"…My eye." Shyly, he whispers while her hues dart towards his eye.
"Why would that discourage me?" Mystified, she quirks her head to the side.
"It looks…" Majima begins but…
"It looks fine." Firmly, she curtly cuts him off noting the timid tremble coming from him.
"Fine? How is this fine? You never even asked…!" Angrily, Majima begins but…
"Because it's none of my business." Briskly, she cuts him off once more mystifying him.
"But aren't you at last curious?" Confused, Majima disputes.
"Just cause I'm curious doesn't mean I have the right to make you uncomfortable. When you want to tell me, you can tell me when you're ready to you can tell me. But I shouldn't have to force you to tell me what I assume is quite the painful memory." Honestly, Ryūko explains as she tends to around the eyepatch.
"You don't even find it a little gross?" Meekly, Majima whispers.
"Of course not it's you. Yes you can be pervy, angry or well you but you're kind in your own way just as you are caring and supportive too. And this is a part of you, because its you, it's a part of you, besides you look like a pirate." Honestly, Ryūko elaborates to Majima.
"A pirate?" Puzzled, Majima raises a brow bemused by the thought.
"Yeah pirates are cool." Cheerily, she smirks at him.
"So you see me as a pirate?" Majima smirks slightly at the thought.
"Yeah like I said pirates are cool, hey you're looking pretty pale…have you been sleeping?" Sternly, Ryūko furrows her brow, her hues narrowing as she softly sets Majima's head to the side eyeing him.
"…" Quietly, he looks away as he leans into her tender touch.
"Maji…" Softly, she sighs at the mess.
"Thanks." Tentatively, he whispers weakly looking down at the ground below unable to look her in the eye.
"Hm?" Humming, Ryūko raises a brow befuddled by his thankfulness.
"For feeding me, not making me eat crap all day." Drained, Majima mutters recalling it at first, him looking in the fridge during breaks, her eyeing his takeout prying probing about his diet until next he knew, she brought two meals one for her the other for him.
"Oh…that's fine." She brushes him off.
"But why?" Majima frowns at Ryūko.
"Why what?" Ryūko queries confusion clear on her furrowed features.
"Why do you keep doing this? For a nobody like me?" Mystified, Majima argues annoyed.
"Cause I don't like seeing people suffer even if there are a pain in the butt." Bluntly, Ryūko deadpans.
"Hmm…" Humming, Majima glances to the side.
"Have you been drinking?" Ryūko questions.
"No…" Majima trails off.
"You can talk to me. You can cuss, cry, scream, it doesn't matter. Just talk until it's all out." Softly, she assures him noting his hues widening when hearing her words, feeling heaviness hang heavily in his hues.
"You want to sleep for a bit?" Softly, she asks as she notes his soft shy nod, feeling his arms wrap around her form.
"…" Quietly, Majima nods his head, softly snuffling siffling as he nuzzles into her side.
"Alright." Softly, she wraps her arms around him, holding, hugging him feeling him go limp like a sack of potatoes as she leans back, letting him sleep letting him have his rest…
"Hey! Let go of me!"
The sharp scream jolts Majima awake as he leaps up slightly from his bed of sorts. His hues widen when noting the coach he is laid upon, noting the jacket draped over him, a small jacket but still the attempt at the duvet draped over him. He raises a brow by the material, his nose twitching at the familiar scent bringing a strange sense of ease upon him as he gets up, surprised to feel so refreshed.
"What now? Someone fighting outside?" Majima ponders to himself as he gets up from the sofa, entering the front of Sunshine seeing Ryūko at the bar. His hue widens when noting her dress shirt, her jacket discarded as he swore he saw a shy spot of ink beneath the bundled up fabric of her rolled up sleeves.
"The timing is too perfect…" Ryūko's brow furrows, her hand over her rolled up sleeve.
"This might be Hino up to no good." Youda asserts anxiously.
"Then let's go and find out." Majima asserts as the group head outside the club.
"You're Ai from Hino's club Mars!" Angrily, a drunk glares at Ai.
"We got scammed out of all our money at that asshole's club. You gonna go somethin' about it!" Irritated, another homeless looking male adds as he and the other men crowd around Ai.
"They really think she can do something about it?" Ryūko raises a brow baffled by their delusional deductions.
"Seems so…" Majima exclaims.
"What can I really do? I mean if you're going to play you've got to pay!" Ai argues.
"Shut it! My wife took the kids and left me 'cause of that damn club you're part of the problem!" Pained, the man accuses angrily.
"Sounds more like he's the problem." Pointedly, Ryūko deadpans.
"Its time for you to fix it!" Incensed, the drunkard roars.
"Fix it? By doing what?" Ai annoyed argues.
"What's all this crap?" Majima huffs.
"It sounds more like they spent too much money at club mars and were drive to bankruptcy?" Youda assumes.
"But now they're blaming her? To get to that train of thought boggles the mind…" Mystifed, Ryūko shakes her head.
"Bankruptcy? They partied at a cabaret club until they went bankrupt!?" Baffled, Goro gawks at the news.
"Hino certainly knows how to bleed a customer he'll let them play until they run out of money and when they run out he'll loan them money to let them pal more with cutthroat interest of course." Calmly, Youda confirms.
"I gotcha pretty nasty business." Goro catches on.
"Yes that's why so many people hate club mars doesn't surprise me at all that this girl has to deal with something like this." Youda sighs sadly.
"Still doesn't mean they should deal with it, they just work their they aren't the ones making the decisions." Deadpanned, Ryūko argues.
"Agreed but of course the girls would have no idea why they're being targeted. Hino doesn't tell them how he's driving their customers into deeper debts with his loans.
"Majima? Hey where are you…?" Youda attempts to explain only to falter furrowing his brow by the man stepping up.
"Step back Youda, Ryūko." Majima advises as Ryūko scowls.
"Yo you lot why you makin' a scene in front of the club?" Majima hollers.
"What? We're busy here. Fuck off!" The drunkard roars.
"You surround a girl and threaten her…you oughta be ashamed I'd ditch your sorry ass too if I were your wife." Majima remarks.
"Say what!?" The drunk turns to him.
"Sounds like you wanna die ass wipe! We'll get this shithead first then Hino! Kill him!" The other drunk throws in only for Majima to easily deal with the brutes.
"What a pain…that was…" Majima stares down at the mess of men below.
"Underwhelming?" Ryūko offers.
"Underwhelming." Majima confirms.
"No Majima san you're are just too strong but why did you?" Youda begins but…
"You're really asking why?" Ryūko raises a brow baffled by the question proposed.
"What was all that noise?" Yuki exits out of the club confused.
"Ah Yuki…" Ryūko turns to her.
"What on earth happened?" Horrified, Yuki gawks at the men below.
"Funny story." Smirking, Ryūko begins…
"Huh!? Who are these people!?" Perturbed, Yuki demands.
"Like I said funny story." Smoothly, Ryūko continues but…
"Have you two been beating people up again!?" Annoyed, Yuki glares at both Namie and Majima.
"Well if you'd let us finish our funny story." Sternly, Ryūko crosses her arms over her chest.
"Why d'ya always gotta assume its us? Heh, guilty as charged this time, though. These bozos were makin' a racket in front of the club so I figured I'd do somethin' about it." Majima states.
"Really? You beat them up just for that?" Yuki frowns.
"And stopped a possible assault." Ryūko throws in.
"Majima san, Namie san you two ca be such monsters!" Mad, Yuki accuses.
"I didn't do anything! If you'd listen you'd know that!" Tense, Ryūko disputes.
"No! No that's not true! They saved me!" Ai steps up.
"Saved you? Um who might you be?" Yuki quirks her head to the side.
"I'm Ai from club Mars." Ai answers.
"Club mars? Oh w-what are we going to do Majima san? She's from club Mars!" Yuki gasps.
"Yeah women do tend to be from Venus." Ryūko remarks.
"Come on calm down I knew that." Majima sighs.
"Huh?" Ami and Yuki both blurt out.
"I just wanted to stop someone from being assaulted for stupid reasons." Ryūko rubs the back of her head.
"You knew…and you still helped her? What if she's an enemy spy and this is all part of her plot?" Pensive, Yuki disputes.
"This isn't some drama Yuki; I doubt that stuff happens in real life." Ryūko dismisses.
"Ai san why were you in front of our club?" Confused, Youda ponders perplexed.
"Oh right! I had a message from Hino san for you! I've allowed you to exist out of the kindness of my heart until now but I grow tired of your buzzing insects. If you're challenging the five stars there will be no mercy it's high time I destroyed you, let the tears of defeat begin to fall. That's the message!" Merrily, Ai recites.
"…You remembered all that?" Taken aback, Ryūko raises a brow impressed.
"Yep." Ai smiles.
"Well ain't that classy? I guess that's his declaration of war. Fine if he's got a death wish I'd be happy to grant it." Majima declares determined.
"That sounds great let's show Hino that we won't bow down to the five stars!" Youda agrees.
"Heh sounds like you're starting to grow a pair Youda san." Smirking, Majima teases Youda.
"Haha maybe you're starting to rub off on me." Youda smiles shyly.
"What's the matter Yuki cha? Yer shivering are you scared?" Goro teases Yuki.
"Quit teasing her Majima." Ryūko places her hands on her hips.
"N-No! I'm just pumped for the fight!" Firmly, Yuki cheers.
"Heh don't try to act all tough." Goro smirks at her.
"T-That's not what I'm doing!" Yuki disputes.
"Hahaahahah! That was great!" Ai giggles.
"What? You making fun of me?" Mad, Yuki glares at Ai.
"Haha oh no I'm sorry I don't know it's just…fun!" Ai snickers smiling.
"Fun?" Frowning, Yuki furrows her brow befuddled.
"Yeah! Everyone at club sunshine actually gets along with each other!" Ai gushes.
"You think so?" Majima exclaims.
"We don't get along at all actually." Yuki states.
"It's a nice change of pace from where I work is all the girls at club Mars are wound up tight and Hino doesn't really trust us like people." Ai reveals to them.
"That's a suitable work environment." Dryly, Ryūko remarks.
The way you three talk to each other…I'm jealous." Ai admits.
"There's nothing to be jealous about! Majima makes fun of me all the time!" Yuki whines.
"Don't confuse the cold hard trust for me makin' fun of ya Yuki Chan." Majima deadpans.
"Rrrgh!" Yuji glares at him.
"Alright you two cool it you can get a room after business hours." Ryūko intervenes hands up in the air between both of them.
"N-Namie san!" Yuki gasps.
"Oi Namie!" Goro glares at the unapologetic blonde.
"Pppf your faces…!" Ai giggles as the blonde smirks smugly.
"Namie-san's the real devil out of the three…" Youda sweat drops.
"Well I'd better get back to club mars Hino is gonna blow a socket see ya later!" Ai turns to leave.
"You stay outta trouble don't get attacked again!" Majima calls out to her.
"Agreed we won't always come to the rescue." Ryūko throws in.
"Majima san. Why did you help me even though you knew I was your enemy?" Ai asks Majima.
"That ain't how it is club Mars may be my enemy but you're just working there you got nothing to do with the lines in the sand. Besides…I ain't jaded enough to let a girl get attacked ight in front of me and just twiddle my thumbs." Truthfully, Majima explains to Ai.
"I see…" Ai whispers.
"Majima san I truly wish you the best I hope we meet again." Ai bows her head before taking off.
"She wishes us well?" Yuki watches the fleeting figure.
"Guess so…" Ryūko shrugs sheepishly.
"That's why she's number one at club mars she's cute." Majima smirks.
"And cold. Poor girl must be freezing in those clothes…" Curtly, Ryūko adds.
"I wish she was my daughter." Youda gushes.
"You wished your daughter would be harassed on the basis?" Bluntly, Ryūko furrows her brow by his words.
"She does got a sparkle in her eyes." Entranced, Majima adds.
"Yep they're gone…" Ryūko sweat drops.
"Hey my eyes sparkle too! See!" Scowling, Yuki points out.
"…" Both boys blank her out.
"Boy it's kinda chilly out today…." Youda turns back to the club.
"Yep back to it I guess." Goro goes to join Youda back at the club.
"What!? Hey!" Mad, Yuki yells at the two.
"Don't worry Yuki, I see it." Ryūko pats her shoulder giving her an awkward thumbs up.
"Thank you Namie san…" Sadly, said girl bows her head from her friend's attempt at cheering her up.
"Hello club sunshine my favourite little ant farm you all seem to be scuttling about as mindlessly as ever." Hino huffs stomping into the club.
"Club Mars Hino right? You're the one who dragged your ass to the nest wanna take a swing and see what happens?" Majima challenges.
"Ha! don't get cocky little roach. I could crush this club under my heel if I felt like it." Haughtily, Hino declares, Ai by his side.
"I'm looking forward to you givin' that a try we'll see who gets crushed." Cockily, Majima smirks smugly at the thought.
"You insects sure do dream big these days no grip on reality. Answer me this Goro Majima what is the most powerful thing in the world?" Hino asks him.
"Eh?" Majima blurts out.
"Money. You're a winner if you have money! And if you don't you're a loser and me? I have money LOTS OF IT! Expensive liquor! Great food! Hot women! If you have money you can have anything! If I want more customers I can even pay for them! How do you think a piss poor cabaret club like you is going to win against what's in my wallet?" Hino explains to him.
"Beats me. Won't know until we try but ya know…runnin' a club takes more than the cash ya put in it." Majima dictates determined.
"You continue to annoy me you fly! But ya know what? I'm gonna really enjoy watching you worms squirm on the ground begging not to die!" Hino roars slamming his foot down on the ground glaring at the group.
"Alright then let's see what you can do." Goro smirks smugly at the challenge.
Agreed let's do this!"