Chapter 2

Soifon got over her shock and walked past her new boss. That was so strange, the word boss. The last owner was never around, he asked only for a contract from her and maybe some one hundred dollars from her father every month in exchange for staying above the club and for the weekly profits. So everyone worked together to be the onsite boss. Yoruichi did not let the younger girl get away from her that easily though, she followed the girl discreetly up the stairs and blinked as she took out a key and opened the door that was right next to her own apartment.

"What's that lead to?" Yoruichi asked, spoiling her own cover.

"My apartment..." Something then occurred to Soifon that distilled her aloof mood.

She turned, worry only leaking through her eyes, "A-am I going to have to move out Boss-san?"

Yoruichi's eye twitched, "Of course not, this is your home, I have no right to kick you out. I'll just keep the same arrangements your last boss had."

She flipped through a note book she had received from the prior owner listing anything she might need to run the club. Including those that worked with special conditions.

Shaolin Fong (Called Soi by most in the establishment for some odd reason or another): Contracted as club DJ in exchange for room and board, along with $100 for the extra utility uses.

Yoruichi blinked, "Shaolin?"

Soifon stiffened at her old name but otherwise showed no other signs of discomfort, "I'd prefer not to be called that."

Yoruichi nodded, "Alright, well... I guess I'll keep you on the same terms as this other dude did."

Yoruichi grinned and, walking forward, slapped the shorter girl on the back in a friendly manner, "Well then, hello there neighbor!"

If Yoruichi had thought it possible, she would say the pale girl had gotten even paler.

Soifon sighed as she walked out of her small apartment. She was wearing her regular swagger for disk jockeying, a baggy white tee reading, in big red block letters, 'El Sonido', baggy jeans that would definately fall if not for the belt she used to keep them firmly around her waist. A plain blank white baseball cap snugly fit over her black locks to give her hair a boyish look. Sunglasses covered her girlish wide eyes and she gargled some salt water to roughen her voice. To anyone who didn't know her she was a short, lanky, pale boy.

But this short, lanky, pale boy was THE short, lanky, pale boy of Tokyo. DJ R.H. the DJ who spun the record with intricate skills. People lined up for miles, and Soifon saw the perfect irony every day she worked. She alone was a dark little girl that was known by no one. But when dressed in disguise... She was the boy who's name was on every teen's lips. At times she thought about quitting... But she knew she would have nowhere to go, and this was the only life she knew anyway.

Soifon sighed and winced at the raw feeling of her throat after gargling the salt water and walked down the stairs, waiting in the shadows until she was announced. Her station was set and Isshin, the bartender, spoke up. Everything went silent and expectation hung in the air.

"Well kids, it's time for Tokyo's greatest DJ, the one, the only, DJ RAGING HORNET!"

Girls screamed, boys hollered and Yoruichi looked on as Soifon swaggered in, a small smirk adorning her face as she took up her position behind the spinning table. She raised her hand for silence and began spinning an empty record, just a hollow echo filled the now silent club, people held their breath. Soifon began to scratch out a tune with her skillful hands and the crowd screamed. Yoruichi blinked as she stared at the younger woman standing up there, easily bending the crowd to yells of ecstasy. The tune and rhythm became the hollow echo once again and silence ruled over those in the club.

"Are you ready Tokyo?!" A rough voice sounded through the speakers and the clubbers hollered again.

Music rushed forth like a wave from the speakers, people moved as if on cue. Yoruichi watched as Soifon worked the table, the younger woman moved her hands gracefully and precisely, her body swayed to the underlying beat of a song. Yoruichi smiled as Soifon intricately mixed the beats of songs, easily moving from one genre of music to another, it was as if the skill came to the girl naturally.

'Is this really the shy little girl in high school?' Yoruichi pondered as the world went on around her.

"Who would've thought we would meet twice in the same day Yoruichi."

To the young woman's credit she didn't flinch, "What a coincidence, Kisuke."

The young man smiled under his striped bucket hat, "You ran from me."

Yoruichi just sighed and stared hard at an empty corner of the club, "Yep, and we both know why too."

Kisuke laughed humorlessly, "Yes, our relationship was a running disaster wasn't it."

It was a statement, not a question, Yoruichi could only nod and cast a glance at Soifon mixing. She felt a small calm come over her that didn't go unnoticed by the man in the bucket hat.

"You're setting your eyes on the raging hornet? Yoruichi, please. He has never shown interest in any women that have ever asked him around. Even less so with the males. It's like he's asexual," Kisuke noted.

Yoruichi only glared and got up, "I have to manage my club."

Kisuke rolled his eyes and put on a small triumphant grin, "Manage your life first Yoruichi."

Yoruichi flicked him off and then walked up towards Soifon who looked so severely focused and yet so serene, Yoruichi felt as if she shouldn't bother the girl. She sat behind her and looked out to the club before walking upstairs.

Kisuke flowed through the people in the club, over to the mixing table as Soifon took a small break. She groaned in annoyance at his approach, but Kisuke paid no mind to it.

"You're under new management friend?" Kisuke asked nonchalantly.

Soifon only nodded, turning her attention to the slouching man in front of her. She messed with her sunglasses and the cap when Kisuke focused on her with a stare.

"What do you think of her?"

"She's alright I guess," Soifon let her rough voice escape from her lips and Kisuke raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"So that stage voice is your real voice..." Kisuke muttered.

Soifon sighed and turned around, "Listen man, is there anything else you need?"

"Yes, there is."

Soifon turned toward the strange man again and waited for his request.

"I need you to know that you're manager does not know how to cook. Make sure that she is taken care of."

Soifon rolled her eyes and nodded, before focusing back on the mixing table as Kisuke left. He chuckled softly and sighed.

"Well Yoruichi, it's completely done. I can now slip out of your life."

Yoruichi came back down at ten to see Soifon finishing up her last mix. You could see from up close the sweat soaking the young woman's shirt.

"Well, folks, it's time I call it a night, tip your waiters, and remember to come back to 'El Sonido'!" With those rough parting words Soifon walked away from the table and up the stairs.

People cheered her exit and began to clear out. As soon as everyone left, the waiters grinned at their tips and tackled the short young woman on her way back down.

"Thanks Soi!" Renji exclaimed.

Ichigo just grinned and the two bear-hugged her until she elbowed both of them in the face. Yoruichi couldn't stifle a laugh as the two fell, holding their noses and swearing profusely. Soifon only sent them a glare that said, 'You got what was coming to you.' The two guys got the message and shied away, still gleeful over the amount of tips they had received. Soifon made a beeline for the bar and Isshin set a glass of something green onto the counter.

"Our poor little Soi-chan worked herself pretty hard huh?" Isshin smiled goofily and Soifon only gave him a pointed glare before snatching the glass of green stuff and greedily gulping it down.

Yoruichi blinked and wandered over, "What's that green stuff for?"

Soifon was too busy gulping it down to answer so Isshin acknowledged Yoruichi's question, "Well, she has to fix her throat for tomorrow of course. That stuff there is my secret recipe, clears and soothes the throat.

"Yes Isshin," Soifon's relieved voice rang out, "But it tastes like crap."

Isshin just laughed, "At least I make it for you."

Soifon grunted and turned her eyes onto the older woman staring curiously at her, "What?"

Yoruichi smiled, "You're a much prettier girl than a you are a boy."

Soifon blinked, was that a comment on how she looked? A positive comment?! What the hell?! She stared at Yoruichi in confusion and only the floundering of her mouth gave away that the younger girl was speechless. Yoruichi patted her on the head and turned to go upstairs.

"And let me tell you something Soifon, you're a pretty cute guy too."

Soifon lit up like the sun and just glared at the back of her new boss. The onlooking servers laughed wholeheartedly and Isshin couldn't help but tease her. Soifon just felt angrier and ducked her head before heading upstairs and into her own apartment. It had been a long night and what she needed was some sleep... Some sleep and a voodoo dolls of her "family" downstairs to torture for a little while. And since she lacked the latter she threw herself unceremoniously onto her western style bed, curling up with the large quilts and sighed as sleep over took her tired limbs. Tomorrow was another day.