Arisugawa's Locket: Investigations

This was one of those really ODD ideas that came up around closing time. They were stacking chairs on tables while May and Nabiki swept the floor when the conversation started. They were based in Shinjuku, but really the staff didn't get out into the district much. Or at least that was Juri's opinion.

"It's kind of sad," Juri admitted as she helped lock up the booze, "when I lived out here in my apartment I really knew the area. Now, not so much."

"Yeah, you've moved out to the sub-burbs and gone domestic," Ryouko teased, making sure the kegs were fine then locking them up. Not that the Locket had ever actually been robbed, but eh, why take chances?

Juri snickered as she brushed off her hands. "You know what I mean," she said, shrugging.

"So what do you think we should do?" Nabiki asked, wearing a simple dress today. She had started to dress a bit more feminine the past few weeks, though she alternated as much with trousers and suits. It made for a interesting style for her.

"Go out into Shinjuku and see the district," Juri shrugged, "god knows we could use the chance to catch up with the neighbors."

"You're just looking for company because Setsuna's away for a nurse's conference," Ryouko offered with a chuckle.

"That too," Juri conceded as the others laughed.

Midori Sugiura finished shutting down the electronics over by the kareoke stage. "What the hell," she shrugged, "sounds like fun."

"Besides," Juri said cheerfully, "what's the worse that could happen?"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The Yasuke Club wasn't that far from the Locket, but it served a different class of customer. Businessmen tired from work came in to drink and talk to pretty hostesses who did their best to get them buying expensive drinks and food. Of course, sometimes things got a little out of hand...

"Let her go, you bastard!" the manager yelled to the wannabe gangster who was holding a knife on one of her girls.

"You tried to throw me out!" he slurred drunkenly, swaying a bit. "Disrespecting me!"

He didn't even see his attacker move, the woman just appearing as she yanked his knife hand away then punched him in one smooth motion. "The lady said let go," Nabiki said flatly as she pushed the girl towards the manager.

"Don't hurt mah buddy!" another guy roared as he and his buddies clambered out of their booth, shoving hostesses around.

"Oh dear," May sighed.

"Back Nabiki up," Juri ordered as she took on a fighting stance and met the biggest one with a powerful blow.

Things went downhill from there, at least for the poor club manager. The punks and the Locket group went at it, the working girls jumped in to support whoever was helping their friend, and much property damage followed.

"Shoulda just let me cut loose," Ryouko growled as she stomped on one gangster for good measure, as the fight was winding down.

May put down the damaged chair she had clobbered one punk with as she shrugged, "I think Juri would like to keep a low profile."

"This is a low profile?" Midori asked, chuckling impishly.

"Thank you very much," the manager bowed to Nabiki as they stood in the wreckage of the bar.

"I'm sorry about the damage," Juri bowed back. Wryly she added, "I didn't expect there to be trouble dropping in on a neighbor."

The older woman laughed, "It's fine..."

The front door slammed open, and a black haired short woman with braids burst in yelling, "Who's causing trouble?"

"Oujo," the older woman smiled "it's fine, things are under control."

"Hey, Kumiko," Juri nodded to her friend politely. Well, kind of friend They knew each other off and on, from back when the Ooedo clan had tried to muscle in on the Locket.

"This is under control?" Kumiko noted with some amusement. The young woman got the story and nodded thoughtfully, "Thanks for your help." She nodded to Nabiki, "You wanna job? I could always use a fighter like you."

"She's mine," Juri said firmly.

"Hey!" Nabiki laughed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"This is a VERY bad idea," May noted as Kumiko joined them on their trip around Shinjuku.

"Just my being here will help keep fights like that last one from happening," Kumiko argued reasonably. She smirked, "Besides, I don't get out as much as I used to."

"It'll be fine," Juri reassured them, feeling a touch tipsy from their victory celebration back at the club. It wouldn't have been polite to turn them down, and they had poured generous drinks for all of them.

"Where to next?" Midori asked reasonably as they walked together in the evening.

"Well, there's a friend I was meaning to look up...," Juri admitted.

The office was in a run down office building, but the interior was reasonably neat. It reminded one of a private eye's office, but the woman in the office was no private eye. Kaori Makimura smiled warmly as she hugged Juri, the black haired woman dressed in a snazzy suit. Then she punched her in the gut, hard.

"Ooof!" Juri gasped.

"Damn it, Arisugawa! We haven't seen you in months? Where the hell have you been?" Kaori demanded crossly.

"I kinda moved away from Shinjuku," Juiri confessed, rubbing her stomach tenderly. "That hurt," she said plaintively.

"I have no sympathy," Kaori told her. She smiled at the women who filed in, "Sorry about this, I'm not usually this rude to guests."

"No, it's fine," May said warmly.

"Besides, this is damn entertaining," Ryouko offered, making Midori snicker.

"I have the tea," Emi Makaze said, the young woman entering with a tray, cups and teapot.

Nabiki smiled slightly. The woman moved like a dancer, in fact she was pretty sure she WAS a dancer, recognizing the name. She also had a hickey on her neck that looked pretty fresh, and from the way she and Kaori had been blushing when they came in she suspected they were a couple.

"I meant to check in after Ryo left town," Juri admitted, "but that was when the Locket was hit by that army, and things got pretty crazy."

"Army?" Emi blinked, her eyes widening.

"It ain't the craziest thing I've heard about the club," Kumiko noted wryly.

"So, what happened?" Juri asked as they sat around a table off to one side of the office, a battered couch and chairs surrounding it.

"Ryo was always pretty good about my dating Emi," Kaori admitted, "but I think he always hoped I'd... get over it, or something."

Emi took Kaori's hand, squeezing it a bit. "But that never happened," she said with a smile.

"He finally realized I wasn't going to return his interest," Kaori said. "So he sold his interest in our detective agency to me for a yen, packed his stuff up and left."

"Huh," Juri sipped her tea. "Well, I liked Ryo, sort of, but I'm glad things are working out for you." She looked at them, "They are working out, right?"

"Oh yeah," Kaori laughed, smiling casually. "We get a lot of work from Saeko over at the police department, and I do the usual PI stuff."

Emi looked deeply amused as she offered, "And I'm her girl friday."

They spent awhile catching up, as well as trading embarassing Juri stories, then the women set off again into the darkening night. "You know the most interesting people, Juri," Kumiko said, shaking her head. Curiously she asked, "They really all right?"

"I don't think Kaori would lie," Juri said, "but I think things are probably a bit tight. I'll see if I can get some business referred to 'em."

"You like to take care of your friends, huh?" Midori noted as they walked along. She smiled slightly, "You remind me of my friend Mai."

"Any other errands we have to run?" Nabiki asked archly. "Because this really does feel like we're running errands, Arisugawa."

Juri grinned, unashamed. "Well, I was thinking we should crash the Strawberry club, but I think they'd get cranky," she suggested.

"That would be a bit much," May agreed. "How about that new dance club, Angel Beats? I'd like to see if they'll be competition."

"I've heard the live band is very good," Ryouko admitted, "wanna check it out?"

"Yeah, lets," Juri agreed.

The place was, frankly, a dive. It actually reminded Juri and Nabiki of the old warehouse they converted to the Locket before the renovations. It was dingy, the furniture was crap and the lighting was bad. But when the four young woman took to the stage it didn't matter at all.

"Wow," Midori breathed out as the woman sang.

"Who are they?" Juri whispered to a young woman dancing in place nearby, guessing she might know about them.

"Girls Dead Monster," the dancing girl said cheerfully, "Masami is the lead singer, Hisako is the guitarist and Miyuki plays drums. Aren't they incredible?"

"Damn right," Ryouko agreed. She looked over at Juri, "We gotta hire them for a few shows at the Locket, boss."

"How do you know they'd be so inclined?" Juri had to ask.

Nabiki snorted with amusement. "Look at how Hisako looks at Masami. If they aren't at least interested in each other I'll eat my shirt," she said.

"She's got a point," May agreed, "though we may not be able to get by all the fangirls to talk to them." She looked around at the screaming fangirls, "Do you think we could try later?"

"Sounds like a plan," Juri agreed as they resolved to head out again.

"I'm staying to dance," Kumiko admitted, "catch ya later."

"Have a good time," Ryouko agreed, the group leaving.

To be continued...

Notes: The Yasuke Club is from Gokusen, along with Kumiko. She also appeared in my fanfic 'Echoes of a Final Duel' about starting Arisugawa's Locket. Emi and Kaori are from my City Hunter fanfic Continuing Studies. Finally, I just saw the anime Angel Beats and wanted to slip them in.