Title: Stand by You

Hi Thanks to those who have read and reviewed! You all encourage me. :) . Hope you'll enjoy this one... not so much meat, but i'm just setting the groundwork for the next chapters.

Disclaimer: Gokusen characters not mine. Jyuu mine. :) .

Chapter 2: For A Living

---

Once again Jyuu and the guys were hanging out at Shin's apartment. They were all pretty much asleep, but Minami suddenly spoke up. "Hey, Jyuu-chan..."

"Hm?"

"Didn't you say you had to stop schooling a while back?"

"Uh-huh."

"Like, when you didn't have money to pay for school and all?"

"Yeah."

"How old are you?"

"Now?"

"Of course he means now," Shin muttered. His arms were covering his face as he rested on the floor, and he had the appearance of being asleep, but apparently he was listening to the conversation.

Jyuu smiled a huge smile and stuck her tongue out at Minami. She didn't say anything.

"What? Are you older than we are?"

That question caused Jyuu to laugh loudly, loud enough to wake the others up. "Forget it, Minami! I'm not telling you anything."

"Tell you what?" Kuma asked groggily. He glanced at Jyuu, then at Minami. "What's going on?"

"Hey everyone!" Minami yelled. "We've been hanging out with obaa-san!"

"Oh shut up!" Jyuu's face darkened while the others teased her. "For your information, I'm only—" she caught herself before she revealed her age. She had to smile when she saw the boys' expectant faces. Even Shin was paying attention.

"Come on, Jyuu-chan! Just tell us!" Minami looked at her with pleading eyes, similar to a puppy's, but Jyuu shook her head.

"Forget it, you guys."

"Well, OK, if you want to keep it a secret, we won't force you," Noda said. "It doesn't matter how old you are, anyway. Although we're very curious."

"How about we talk about tomorrow instead? Tomorrow's Saturday," Ucchi reminded them.

"What do you mean tomorrow?" Minami exclaimed when he saw what time it was. "It's nearly 2AM now!"

"Kyaa How could we have lazed about for that long?" Jyuu checked the wall clock just to be sure. "It was only ten the last time I looked."

"You seriously need more windows, Shin," Noda told the sleepy-eyed owner of the apartment. "We could get lost in time here."

"Or maybe that's what you like about this place, ne?" Jyuu poked a finger at Shin's face.

The boy just grunted.

"OK, so what are our plans for today? Later today, I guess. I don't know about you, but I need real sleep." Ucchi stretched his arms and lied down on the couch. In a few seconds, he was asleep.

"So much for planning." Noda rolled his eyes.

"I have to go at about eight or nine," Jyuu announced.

"How come?" Shin asked.

"I have some things to do."

The boys left it at that, since it was clear she didn't want to say anything more about it. "Let's meet up at night then," Kuma decided. "We'll probably be here all day. We can just call you up to tell you where we'll be."

"Good idea," Jyuu agreed with a nod. "Oi, Sawada, can I borrow a shirt and a pair of jeans? I can just take a bath here. I don't want to have to go home just for clothes, so can I borrow? You're as thin as I am, anyway."

Shin shrugged. It was fine with him. And his clothes were fine with Jyuu, too. She wasn't the fussy type of dresser, and besides, Shin had to admit that she looked really good in boys' clothes. Yawning, Shin closed his eyes and fell asleep again.

Soon after, the room was quiet.

---

It was past four o'clock in the afternoon, and Jyuu felt herself sink into depression. She had spent hours and hours looking for a job, but the shops were either not hiring at the moment or they were looking for graduates. It didn't matter to them that Jyuu was quick to learn and very determined to do well, all they saw was that she was an undergraduate. And female.

Damn. I'm tired. And hungry. Jyuu looked around and realized she was in the Ginza district. She passed by a host club and was irked when a man whistled at her.

"Hey! Hey woman!"

Jyuu ignored him and started to walk away, but what the man said next made her stop. "What did you say?"

"I said, you could work for us. We're expecting important customers later, and we need more workers. You'll do."

"You mean... as a hostess?"

The man snorted and laughed out loud. It took him about a minute to catch his breath. Jyuu looked at him wearily, somewhat annoyed at the insulting laughter.

"Not as a hostess... but a helper, you know, to help serve and clean up... How does it sound to you?"

Despite being slightly offended, Jyuu was relieved to hear that the job was not to be a hostess. She nodded eagerly at the man and agreed to work. "What time do I start? What about the pay?"

"The pay's not bad, I tell you. You start at seven o'clock tonight. Show up about an hour before that, got it?"

"What's your name, sir?"

"Just call me Kaguro."

"All right, Kaguro-san."

Kaguro looked at his watch and raised an eyebrow. "It's almost five. Can you start now?"

"Sure sure!" Jyuu replied. "Do I have to wear a uniform?"

Kaguro looked at the white shirt and jeans Jyuu was wearing. He thought for a while then shook his head. "Your clothes will do fine. We'll give you an apron later. Come on in, I'll introduce you to the one who'll be in charge of you."

---

Soon after being recruited, Jyuu saw that Kaguro was right. They really did need more workers. Sayuri's Host Club was filled with big-time-looking customers, including a group which was clearly composed of Yakuza members. "Where do these guys come from, anyway?" Jyuu asked the cook.

"From all over Japan. Now get back to work and take these drinks out," the cook snapped. He was in a bad mood, considering all the work he had to do. He waited until Jyuu was holding the tray of drinks, then he pushed her towards the busy guest area.

Jyuu rolled her eyes and approached the businessmen's table. When she got there, she heard the Yakuza group nearby complaining about the lack of "girls" to entertain them. Jyuu grinned at their funny comments and started to distribute the drinks to the more reserved businessmen. "Please enjoy."

"Oi," a voice whispered behind her. Jyuu turned and saw Kaguro standing there.

"What?" she asked as they walked back to the kitchen.

"Get changed. There's been a change of plans."

"What?" Jyuu asked again, this time in disbelief. Kaguro was handing her a dress that looked too small. It was crimson and made of shiny silk. Jyuu's eyes widened and she gave Kaguro a dirty look. "I'm not wearing that."

"The pay's gonna be bigger," Kaguro promised.

That made Jyuu think, but still, her dislike for dresses won. "I don't care. I'm not wearing that. And I'm not going out there to serve as a 'fun girl' for those stupid men."

"Those 'stupid' men are the ones putting money in your pocket." Kaguro frowned at Jyuu. "It's either you do this, or you're fired." He smiled to himself when he saw the dismayed look on Jyuu's face. He knew the girl needed money. He didn't know her story, but it was obvious she needed the job.

"How cruel of you, Kaguro-san," Jyuu wailed.

Just then, a man entered the kitchen. Jyuu guessed he was Suzuki, the partner that Kaguro mentioned to her a while ago.

"Kaguro! Where are the new additions?" Suzuki caught sight of Jyuu. "That girl's too skinny. Where are the others?"

"She's all we have for now. We don't have any other options. Sano's still out there looking for new girls."

"Fine. This girl will do. Hurry up, girl! Get changed!"

"All right, all right!"

"Hey, wait!" Suzuki called out.

"What?"

"Are you under-age? We can't have you working here if you're under-age! A nearby club got busted last week, and the heat's still on around here."

"I'm not under-age!"

---

"Let's go to the karaoke house," Noda suggested to the others. It was seven-thirty in the evening and they were all willing to have fun.

"That's a good idea," Minami agreed.

"Call Jyuu, then," Ucchi told Noda. He poked Shin awake, as he was asleep again. "Shin, we're going singing. Get up." Shin did as he was told and stretched his arms.

"Where's Jyuu?"

"I'm about to call her," Noda said, dialing her cellphone number.

"Shin-chan! Looking for Jyuu?" Kuma teased Shin, but he was ignored.

"Yo, Jyuu," Noda said into his phone. "We're off to the karaoke place. Be there!" He was silent for a while, listening to Jyuu on the other end. "What? You're busy? Where are you?" He made a face and put his phone back in his jacket pocket.

"What did she say?" Minami wanted to know.

"She's busy..."

"Where is she?"

"I don't know. She hung up."

"Did she sound like she was in trouble?" Shin asked.

"Nah. She sounded really busy, though. So, should we go now?"

"Let's!" screamed Kuma.

---

The dress wasn't uncomfortable in itself. In fact, it was almost like it wasn't there. That was what made Jyuu uncomfortable. She tugged at the hem, helplessly aware of her exposed legs. She sighed as she thought of her friends. They must be having a blast by now... she sighed again. I'd wanted to go karaokeing, too...

"Oi, Jyuu! Hurry up and get out here!"

"Oi, Kaguro-san," Jyuu got out of the dressing room. Her face looked pale. "I'm no good at this. And really... I feel sick."

Kaguro studied her and nodded. "You'll do fine. You're not as skinny as you look in jeans."

"Are you even listening to me? I'm saying I don't want to do this. I don't care if I lose the job," the slim girl said weakly.

"You can't back out now. We need you, Kawakaze."

Jyuu looked at Kaguro's weary face and felt sorry for him. He was obviously trying his best to do good in his business. Such a shame I can't be better than this, Jyuu thought. "Well, all right. But wouldn't it be bad for the club if I mess up?"

"You can pull this off, I'm sure." Kaguro smiled and nudged Jyuu out towards the guests.

"The yakuza? You're handing me over to the yakuza?" Jyuu hissed.

"You can do it." Kaguro winked at her. "By the way," he said.

"Hm?"

"You look great."

"Thanks."

"Now go!"

---

"LINDA LINDA! LINDA LINDA LINDA!" Kuma screamed into the microphone. He bounced on one of the sofas and spread his arms as his finishing touch to the song. He tossed the mic to Ucchi and panted. "Fuu I'm tired."

"Who wouldn't be, moving around that much?" Minami rolled his eyes. He took a sip from his drink and leaned back. "I wonder where Jyuu is now?"

"I'll try calling her again," Noda said, taking out his phone. He dialed Jyuu's number and waited while her phone rang. When there was no answer, he pocketed his phone and shrugged. He took hold of the song book ang started flipping the pages to pick something to sing.

"You look worried, Noda," Minami observed. Shin was also looking at the orange-haired boy's face.

"I'm just wondering what Jyuu's up to, this time."

---

"Hey, good evening," Jyuu greeted the yakuza men. She sat between a man the others called 'Wakagashira' and another man they called Tetsu (Tetsu in the drama, but Minoru in the manga). Though the men were rough and loud, they weren't perverts, and Jyuu felt OK around them.

"Hey, I'm Kyo," 'Wakagashira' introduced himself. "What's your name?"

Oh, so your name's Kyo... "I'm Jyuu" she replied, pouring the others a drink while they introduced themselves. There was a total of five men at their table: Kyo, Tetsu, Minoru, Shiro and Wakamatsu. She felt awkward moving around in the dress she was wearing, but she tried her best not to show it.

Despite her attempts to act natural, someone still noticed her discomfort.

"Oi, Jyuu," Shiro spoke up. He was the best-looking among the bunch, Jyuu decided. His muscles were developed but not exaggerated, which suited his slender build. His bleached hair reminded Jyuu of a cat she used to prowl the streets with before.

"What?"

"Here." He had taken off his jacket and was now handing it to her.

Jyuu felt her lips quiver. She had been near tears ever since Kaguro made her wear the dress, but like the brave girl she was, she shoved her misery underneath smiles and better feelings. But as she took the offered jacket, Jyuu's sensitive side surfaced. She couldn't look at the others while her eyes watered. By the time she was composed, she had finished wearing the jacket. She looked up and grinned at Shiro. "Arigatou ne."

"No problem."

"Oryaaaaaaaaa!" Kyo exclaimed. "Shiro is being such a gentleman!" Tears ran down his face (animé-style) as he raised a fist to the sky. He ruffled Shiro's hair, much to the younger man's annoyance.

"You never cared for girls before," Minoru teased him. Tetsu nodded in agreement while Wakamatsu continued drinking silently.

Despite the others' remarks, Shiro's face remained expressionless. It was Jyuu who boxed their faces, including Kyo's, even though he was obviously the leader of the group. Minoru thrust his lower lip out as he touched his swollen cheeks. "What kind of hostess beats up customers?" he sobbed.

Kyo started to laugh but his face hurt, too. "That's some spirit, Jyuu-chan You are very much like our Ojou..."

"True, true!" Tetsu nodded vehemently.

"Ojou?" Jyuu grabbed a bottle of sake the men had brought with them and drank straight from it. She knew she was supposed to act womanly and attentive, but the men were apparently fine with her being herself.

"She's our boss's granddaughter," Tetsu told her.

"A cute woman, she is!" Kyo clapped Tetsu's back and winked at him, causing Tetsu to redden.

Jyuu took another swig from the bottle. Then another. Then another. When that one ran out, she grabbed another bottle. And when that one ran out, too, she grabbed another. The cycle repeated about four of five times. All the while, the men continued talking. They obviously forgot about Jyuu. I'm getting paid to drink and sit around, Jyuu smiled to herself. She clutched at Shiro's jacket and frowned. The dress is hell, though. "Neee" she blubbered. All that sake had finally caught up with her. Usually, she could hold her drink well, but she hadn't eaten anything since that morning.

The men stared at her. Wakamatsu calmly took the bottle she was holding in her hand. Kyo's eyes were round when he realized that their sake supply had been hijacked by the 'hostess'. Tetsu began laughing. His laugh was so contagious that Kyo and Minoru couldn't help but laught with him.

"What?" Jyuu asked dazedly. She burped and stood up on unsteady legs. "Oof... I gotta go check my phone..." Then she walked off, knees knocking all the way.

When she was out of sight, the men burst out laughing all over again.

---

My stomach aches... Jyuu thought with a groan. She entered the dressing room and ignored the stares of the other girls there. She stood in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. Her hair was a mess, as usual. Taking hold of a brush lying there on the table, she carefully fixed her hair. Or tried to fix, anyway. Everything was a blur to her. She slapped her face to clear her head, and she succeeded enough to appreciate the quality of Shiro's jacket. "Maa... those guys are rich."

Placing the brush down, Jyuu looked around for her clothes and took her phone from the pants pocket. Then she sashayed back to the yakuza table. "Ne..."

"Are you all right?" Tetsu asked her as she sat down beside him.

"I'm starving..." she murmured before passing out.

---

Kogaru was making his rounds, taking note of how the new recruits were doing. When he got to Jyuu's table, he was shocked to see the men fanning the unconscious girl. "What happened here? What happened to her?"

"Relax," Kyo assured him. "She's just drunk."

"Are you sure, Wakagashira?" Tetsu asked worriedly. "She looks really pale."

"I'm sorry for this inconvenience," Kogaru apologized. He started to carry Jyuu off the sofa, but Kyo stopped him.

"We'll take care of her," Kyo said firmly. He had developed a soft spot for Jyuu, and he wasn't willing to just dump her off to someone else's responsibility when she needed them.

"I'm sorry, sir," Kogaru tried again. "But I'm in charge of her."

Minoru shook his head at Kogaru. "What Young Chief says, goes. So let us handle this situation."

"We will not harm her," Tetsu promised, to erase the man's doubts about their character.

"I think the girl should eat," Wakamatsu spoke up.

"You're right... she did mention she was starving."

"Starving?" Kogaru tilted his head questioningly.

"She said she was starving, just before she passed out."

"Hey, look! She's coming around!"

Everyone fell silent when Jyuu opened her eyes.

"Jyuu, are you hungry?" Shiro asked.

She sat up and groaned. Her whole body ached. She looked around blinked.

"Are you hungry?" Shiro asked again.

"Yeah. I haven't eaten anything."

Kogaru was appalled. A girl so thin... not eating... what is she thinking? "You're stupid, Kawakaze. Come here, I'll take you to the kitchen. You have to eat something."

Before Jyuu left for the kitchen, she and the others said their goodbyes. She said she wouldn't be working as a hostess anymore, since she wasn't cut out for the job. Waitressing was fine with her, though. "It's been nice being with you," Jyuu mumbled weakly. "I'm glad I got you guys on my first job."

"Don't forget your phone!" Tetsu reminded her. "I save my number there."

"Only your number!?" Kyo glared at him and saved his own number on Jyuu's phone as well. Jyuu laughed at their faces and urged them to hurry up because she wanted to eat already.

---

"Oi, Shiro," Kyo said as they headed for home.

"Nanda?"

"What about your jacket?"

Shiro was silent for a while. Then he answered. "She can have it."

The other men looked at each other, but they said nothing.

---

SUNDAY

It was past noon when Jyuu woke up. She yawned and stood up to look for food. As usual, there was only cup ramen. Her head ached a bit and so did her stomach, but Kogaru had fed her well last night. Even the cook was kind to her. Remembering yesterday's events, Jyuu smiled. Seems like a dream. But it wasn't so different from the hectic life I've had. She prepared the ramen and ate in silence.

I wonder why Noda didn't call again...

As though to respond to her thoughts, her cellphone rang. She eagerly answered it. "Noda!"

"Heya, Jyuu"

"Why didn't you call?"

"What do you mean??? I called you about ten times since the last time we spoke on the phone!"

"Really?" Jyuu struggled to recall what she had done with her phone last night. She rolled her eyes and decided to forget it. "Anyway, what's up with you guys?"

"What's up with you is the question. Where were you yesterday?"

"Nowhere," Jyuu brushed off the question. "So, did you have fun with karaoke?"

"It would've been more fun with you," Noda said loyally.

"True!" Jyuu laughed. "I'll see you guys tomorrow then."

"Ja ne, Jyuu-chan!"

---

MONDAY

Yankumi stopped just outside the 3-D classroom. "Faito... oh!" She opened the door and smiled a big smile at her students. Then she sighed. The room was empty. "Where in the world are those kids?"

Suddenly the door banged open and in walked Minami, followed by Jyuu, Noda, Kuma, Ucchi and then Shin. "Ohayou, Yamaguchi!" Jyuu shouted cheerfully. "Sorry we're late."

"Yeah, we saw the others on the way here. They'll be here soon."

"You guys have to pay attention to the time, ne," Yankumi complained. She went over to her desk and put down her books. "We'll wait for the others."

The present students sat in their seats and talked as they waited. Minami poked Jyuu. "You still haven't told us where you were Saturday night."

"Who cares about that?" Jyuu poked Minami back. "Forget it, Minami."

"Hey, listen," Ucchi said aloud. "The graduation trip is coming up. Why don't we plan ahead?"

"Why's the trip going to take place way before the final grades are in? Even way before the exams!"

"That's how it is with our class, Jyuu," Noda explained. "There's no guarantee that all of us will pass, but the school decided to make us enjoy before we find out whether we'll be ronin or not." (Ronin is someone who fails to graduate)

"I guess they're afraid we'll cause trouble if we get in a bad mood," Kuma cracked. "It's a good thing! So we can all go on the trip."

"That's true," Ucchi agreed. Then they chatted some more, until the other students arrived.

---

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Author's Note: Not so much here! But at least I was able to introduce some characters I'll be using in the future. Heheh. Hope you enjoyed this one!