A/N:

I normally try to update this work every *Sunday (on the lord's day because I like to sin,) but I'm gonna be flat out all of next week, so here's a phresh new chapter a wee bit early.

*My Sunday, I live in Australia ',:)

Start The Fire- No Doubt

Nozomi practically skipped to work with a smile on her face. She unlocked the store, disarmed the alarm, and took a seat at her desk in the breakroom.

Like clockwork, she pulled out her sketchbook and turned to her latest design: A drawing of Storm from X-Men.

She glanced over the drawing: sure, she wasn't a comic book illustrator, but she thought that the design of the mutant was rather good. Then again, it would be up to her client if they liked it or not.

'Now, to call back this number,' Nozomi glanced at the clock: 10:55am. Yep, that seemed a reasonable time to make the phone call. Nozomi kicked back the chair and got to her feet, and began the rather quick journey to the floor for the store phone.

Rin had left the name and number on the counter for Nozomi to call. She was a very considerate apprentice, after all. Nozomi tapped the number into the phone and leaned against the counter as the ringing began.

"A-Rise Retail Management."

"Ah, Hello! My name is Toujou Nozomi, I'm the owner of Lily White Body Art. I believe you asked for me on Friday?" The tattooist put on her phone voice.

There was a silence for a few seconds, but then the voice spoke.

"Yes, I did, Toujou-san. My name is Anju, and I work for the company that manages your store's profits."

"Indeed you do,"

"Great. I just wanted to discuss with you a matter that has come up."

Nozomi raised an eyebrow, and decided to pull out a piece of paper and pen to note down what would come next.

"Do tell."

"Now, you'll have to forgive me because I am not too familiar with the world of tattooing, but I believe that an issue has arisen in regard to your apprentice."

"Rin-chan?" Nozomi bit her lip and glanced around the store. Surely Rin hadn't done anything that would cause this? There was no physical evidence of anything that could be out of place.

"According to these records, Hoshizora-san has been your apprentice for nearly three months, correct?"

"Yes?"

"And has she been under your supervision for that period of time?"

"Not be rude, Anju-san, but the progress of my apprentice is nothing to do with the management of the store," Nozomi's voice was going lower in pitch, but she tried her best to keep her cool.

"Oh I know, but there has been a legal issue raised due to something to do with Hoshizora-san. I was just calling to let you know that the matter would be easier to discuss face to face with me and your landlord, it will tie into the inspection we planned."

"If you just wanted to organize this, why threaten to close down my parlour?" Nozomi's patience was waring rather thin as her free hand gripped the counter top tightly.

"Some owners do not respond to these calls. Sometimes, a threat is the only way to get them. Now, would you be free tomorrow afternoon?"

The green-eyed artist's face was now just a scowl. She pressed her finger to the power button on her computer, and loaded up her schedule.

"The studio opens at 11am, and I don't have any clients until 2pm. Does 12 suit?"

"Perfect. I will be down with the landlord, Minami-san. Is that okay?"

"It's fine. Are you going to tell me this legal issue now?" Nozomi articulated her works more harshly. This was not a good way to start a Monday.

"It's an issue regarding your apprentice. It seems that a rule has been broken, is all."

"Excuse me?" The artist felt her blood run cold.

"Peering at the online information sent in to us, it shows that you did not sign the bottom of the form regarding a small tattoo done on the neck of a client. You did not authorise permission for the tattoo to go ahead, and yet it was completed."

Nozomi's heart stopped. It was as if time froze. Her eyes went wide as she felt her blood run cold.

"According the laws of body modifications; Chapter 13, paragraph 7, line 2, For an apprentice to perform a legal tattoo, a licensed professional tattoo artist must sign the bottom of the legal form. Toujou-san, it seems that you did not sign that form."

The woman's voice was just fading away, as if someone was turning the volume down on an mp3 player. Nozomi's vision was also fading, so badly that she could barely see the bright crop of orange hair skip into the store.

"And because of this, someone is also taking this case to court for incompetency and illegal actions, a businessman by the name of Toujou Osamu."

The phone fell to the ground with a crash, and Nozomi felt her chest tighten immediately. Her throat clenched up, her body went numb to the point that she couldn't feel Rin's touch on her shoulder.

"Bibi Flowers, Eli speaking."

"Ah, Eli! It's Yoshino."

"Yoshino-san! Good morning, how can I help you?"

"I was just wondering if I could enquire about my order?"

"Sure thing," Eli quickly entered her reserve screen on the register and scrolled down to see the name of the customer.

"Yep, it's still there. We're getting a shipment in of flours on Thursday, which we will use for your bouquets. They'll be ready Friday morning, which is normally my day off, so Nico or Maki will give you a hand."

Nico emerged from the backroom, carrying a stack of plastic pots for the new flower seeds she was about to grow. It was Nico's idea to plant new Barberton daisies, and Eli allowed her to do so.

"That sounds great, and I can pay the rest off then?"

"Yes."

"Great! Thank you, Eli!"

"Not a problem, see you," Eli smiled, and hung up the phone. Although the blonde was putting on a brave face and going about her day as if nothing was wrong, she couldn't pop the bubble of anxiety in her stomach.

"Hey, everything alright with you?" The blonde felt Nico's gaze linger upon her, and she shook her head.

"Nozomi needs puppy training, again."

"How so?" Nico's confused face Eli let out a puff of air from her nose with a tiny grin.

"She insists that I don't worry, but it's not something I can help."

"Oh boy, do I know that. Remember when she went out one night with her friends from fine arts and told us not to worry? She ended up at some uni party an hour out of Tokyo!"

"Don't remind me," Eli let out a gruff chuckle.

The two couldn't help but laugh over the memory, but they didn't hear the door open.

"Excuse me, Eli, Nico,"

The polite voice made Eli snap up instantly. There stood Umi, hair tied back and chewing on her snakebite nervously.

"Hey Umi, what can I help you with?" Eli grinned, but the piercer didn't return it. She stuffed her hands into her jeans pockets.

"We got some bad news at the studio. Nozomi's in trouble."

"Well, speak of the devil," Nico nudged Eli's side, but immediately drew herself back as her boss's face fell.

"You sure you'll be okay by yourself? We can call Maki in," Eli threw on her coat as Nico shook her head.

"Eli, two people have come in all day: one of them was Umi," Nico jerked her head towards the body piercer that was standing by the door, a phone was held up to her heavily pierced ear.

"I'll try not be too long," Eli nodded at Nico, and then briskly walked to the door.

"Let's go," She looked at Umi, who nodded and waved Nico goodbye.

The harsh winter wind hit the florist in the face as she left the comfort of her heated store. She had never really appreciated that particular perk of her job once she let out a grumble and stuffed her chin deeper into her coat's collar.

Umi was already briskly walking to a Fiat parked just a bit further down the street from them.

"Kotori didn't drive to work today?" Eli quickly recognised the number plate instantly. Umi practically threw the door open to the driver's seat, in comparison to Eli – while she was worried about Nozomi, she did not have any intention to break Kotori's car.

"I dropped her off this morning," Umi's flat yet hasty answer met her once she slid into the passenger seat.

"C'mon, we have to get to the studio."

Kotori's car is the fiat 500 in mint green.

Shit's gonna hit the fan. #Pray4LilyWhite

Tumblr: tarot-tatas