Sugar and Spice

“『What huh? Oh, I get it! You didn’t get to buy the new game before it went out of stock, huh? Don’t worry, Bunji-chan! I’ll be sure to borrow it to you once i’m finished. Because that’s what a good person does.』”

There was a small period of silence where the blonde searched her face, contemplating… Finally, he stood from his chair, and walked out from behind his desk to face Bunji on her side.

“…I was hoping you would say something like that.”

What came next was a sigh–something that sounded like relief–and a low bow as his hair fell in his face.

“I apologize for my demeanor. It was my intention to rile you to see how you would retaliate–or if you would retaliate at all. I’m glad that you did sharply end eloquently.”

What came back up was someone who looked exhausted, rather than ruthless. Even the tone of his voice was significantly less sharp.

“You’re right–it is cutthroat. And I’m sure you’re no stranger to cruelty from people like me. So I was testing your resolve to see if you would be willing to fight; you’re going to have to. I’d like to be able to tell you otherwise, but… Well.”

“Anyway. I certainly wouldn’t blame you for leaving after that display, but I would be happy to have you on the team. Admittedly, you may be doing a bit more than modeling, but I would be happy to pay you for the extra work all the same. The choice is yours, Miss Kanesada.”

All at once, her posture deflated.

“You mean that was all a test? Are you kidding me?” Caught somewhere between relief and anger, Bunji stood there in dumbfounded silence for a moment, words she wasn’t even sure of herself caught in her throat. She’d heard this guy was eccentric, but this went way beyond anything she was expecting.

Finally, she sighed and rubbed at her forehead. “I came really close to hitting you, you know. I get wanting a certain type of person around, but you really need to re-evaluate your methods. You’re gonna end up getting yourself really hurt.”

“Uh. Thanks?” Bunji gave the stranger a once over briefly and drew up a few concerns in the back of her mind from everything to how he was dressed to his stance to whatever it was he had in his hands, but beggars couldn’t be choosers when you’re fighting 20 against one. Or two, she guessed.

“I have a winter coat on, you know.” She gestured to her arm and the thick coat of soft fur there, but she was pretty sure the joke was lost on him.

Bunji looked down at the wooden dagger handed her way. Yagen was the last person she expected to give her a helping hand, especially given how much she tormented him, but it was appreciated all the same.

“Izumi didn’t really go over the finer points with smaller blades, but I guess the principal’s the same...”

“So. You decided to tell me a fib. I know you know what that means.”

Soothing. That was the best way she could describe it. Memo had a tone to her voice that invited you to listen and made you want to hear the next note with every breath. It was amazing to her that the girl was still fairly young---it sounded like she had decades of experience. She didn’t know if Jirachi were famous for their singing, but if all of them were as good as this, Bunji figured they should be.

“You’re way too stiff. You look like you swallowed a stick.”

She couldn’t help but look at him with a pitying kind of smile. They’d been at this for an hour already, but from her point of view, the progress they’d made had been minimal. Of course, it was odd that Iori had even asked her about dancing to begin with, but she had no reason to deny him. It felt like it had been a long time since she’d been able to get in a groove herself anyway.

But this wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. He was certainly a talented sort of guy, but it was clear they had two very different approaches to dancing. Honestly, she wasn’t sure if he’d even approached it at all before this.

“Certainly.”

Sitting up, glare hiding his eyes in this light for the moment, the tailor began again.

“Perhaps the word I was looking for was ‘agreeable.’ These references you gave me stated you were thoughtful, and a delight to work with. You’ve done everything your prior employers wanted you to do. I have the right mind to believe your casting company brought you here banking on the fact I would hire you so you wouldn’t notice them terminate your employment in the transition from corporate to small business. If it’s like anything I’ve seen previously, your photos still belong to them, given you have no legal right to claim otherwise in accordance to our outdated law system. So they give you the boot and can still claim to be an ally to the non-human cause, raking in more money than before.”

Wordy little thing, wasn’t he. Did he even breathe?

“So if I say I don’t want you here, that’s certainly bad for you, isn’t it. And then what would you do then? You’re in no position to sue–you don’t have that kind of power. So other than that, your only other option is to try and find another corporate agency that will do the exact same thing, or dishearteningly give up your fashion career altogether to try and survive here, hoping some other brave, foolish soul tries to break down all these barriers by force.”

…

“Unless I’m wrong, and none of that deters you away from pursuing a career in the fashion industry anyway. So if I refuse to hire you, would you take it lying down?”

In all honesty, she didn’t understand half of what he’d just said to her. The ins and outs of the corporate world were far beyond her breadth of knowledge, so she couldn’t even begin to argue the facts and hypotheses he’d presented, if if they were accurate.

But she did know a thing or two about being mistreated and talked down to like she was nothing, and that was certainly what this sounded like. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she held tightly to her book.

“If you want to refuse to hire me, that’s fine. This is your house. You can do whatever you want.”

“But I’ll tell you one thing, Mr. Iori. I didn’t end up in your doorway because I’m some cute little non-human charity case they were trying to get rid of. I admit, I hardly know what I’m even doing, but I’m darn good at it, anyway. Out of all the houses my company offered me to visit, I’m the one that chose yours. Do you know why? Because I thought you were different. Everyone has a reputation in this cutthroat world we live in and I thought yours made you out to be someone worth believing in---someone who might have been able to make a change. But from everything you just said, you’re just another little fish in a big sea of pretentiousness.

coos fell from his mouth, all but melting into the treat of her nails lightly against his chin; one of his favourite places, and she has mastered just how to pamper it. she had always been the best at making him happy, and knowing just what to do. there wasn’t anyone else like her, which made him so glad that she could adapt and have a better lifestyle nowadays. it wasn’t possible for others like himself, but knowing she was doing well and had somewhere safe was more than he could have expected to be answered. and she was always so kind to offer what she could to her fellow non-humans.

“Picha!”

his eyes lit up, gesturing in all the ways he could think of to show his appreciation for her gift. paws hoisted up one and began to nibble; as much as he could easily devour them in a rush, it would only end the moment so much sooner. he would savour the taste, and that way, shouldn’t wind up worrying her about how hungry he might have been.

it was a treat on hold while he listened to her. even with fur and even used to life on the streets and wilderness, there was no denying how difficult winter was each year. ears sagged, knowing that playing it off as no big deal wouldn’t work, because she knew first-hand, and it was a given even if she didn’t. honestly, he was taken aback by the offer, glancing at the windows from wherein lights were glowing, meaning the threat of neighbours. but the prospect of a warm night, to be snug in a blanket and out of the snow. it was too good to resist. his biggest concern was her reputation, as strained as it was with those around.

"Pika! Chuchu pi!”

“Are you worried about the people in the building? It’s all right, I don’t think they’ll pay too much attention. It’ll be our little secret, okay?”

Giving her little friend a wink, she unzipped her jacket and ushered him to get inside.

“It might be a bit of a snug fit for a minute, but trust me, it’ll be fine. And we can bring your little snack, too.”

As he situated himself, Bunji gathered up the treat she’d brought him and stuffed it back into her pocket. Once he’d settled down, she managed to just zip up her coat enough so that none of him showed, though admittedly, she did look a bit more... full-bodied than before.

“Okay, we’re going in,” she whispered. “Make sure not to move or say anything until I tell you it’s all clear.”

Wandering back onto the sidewalk proper, Bunji scouted around a bit before making her way to the front door of her apartment building. The doorman who normally hardly paid her a second glance seemed to stare down at her as she passed through, but the girl only paid him an innocent smile in response as she skipped though the open door and away toward the elevators.

It wasn’t until she finally got into her apartment and closed the door behind her that she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding in.