Bronze: True Heart 7
by K.Huntsman
The Ferrari Club, Shinjuku
'Toni and Arin got into the club with no trouble. It was a good thing that even in Tokyo there were underage clubs open past midnight. The front desk at the hotel had been most helpful about that.
"Wow," was Arin's impression as she paused and scanned about the place. "Not bad at all." It was big, with a dining section apart from the dance floor, speakers positioned hanging from the ceiling so there was no way to permanently lose your hearing by dancing in front of them, and lighting displays that were better than anything out of a movie. There were periodic spaces in the greenery that lined the walls, decorations of posters for movies and mangas. She thought she recognized a few, but she wasn't sure.
Until she saw the poster of Kouji Nanjou, and not too far away, a poster of herself. She giggled a little and gestured to the two posters, watching 'Toni smile as she caught sight of them. "Just like back home," 'Toni said. It was true enough. When she and her bodyguard went dancing back home in the 'States, one of their favorite L.A. clubs was practically wallpapered with pictures of Arin. Thanks to the long red wig, 'Toni's skill with makeup, and the fact that she was dressed as a girl, no one had ever recognized her. But here in Japan, she felt a modicum safer, so wasn't wearing the colored contacts she usually did.
"Shall we go?" she asked, gesturing towards the dance floor. They'd already checked their purses and safely stowed the check-cards deep inside pockets. 'Toni nodded and went ahead of her. Arin followed, her black mini matching 'Toni's.
They became separated in the crowd, and Arin smiled as she saw 'Toni dancing with two not-bad-looking guys who were probably college students. Because of all her training, 'Toni was a hell of a good dancer, and was attracting her share of attention even here. Maybe more here since she obviously wasn't a Nihonjin.
For herself, Arin just danced with anyone who came her way, guys, girls, and a couple she wasn't sure of. She didn't have either 'Toni's skill or Molly's, but she wasn't terrible at it. She started actually working up a sweat and was glad that she'd left the short jacket that went with the dress at the desk. For a few minutes, while the crowd pressed onto the floor for a wild dance number that she vaugely recognized, though she couldn't quite pinpoint from where, she got so hot that she was a little dizzy. But she kept moving just because it felt so good. And then, blessedly, the song changed into something slower and the crowd thinned.
It was at that point that her heart stopped as she was asked to slow-dance.
Katsumi tried to catch his breath after the last number; wow, that was some great music. But the DJ had put on some slow music, and he realized he should either get off the floor or find a partner. He turned around and caught the eye of a girl who seemed to be having the same idea and the same breathlessness as he was. He crossed to her, bowed, and said as gallantly as he could, "May I have this dance?"
Her eyes widened in surprise and she hesitated a minute, then she relaxed and smiled. "Sure."
She fit into his arms nicely and their eyes were on the same level, though he realized that was due to the high heels she was wearing. A pretty girl in a little black dress; every guy's dream, right?
"What's your name?" he asked. She hesitated. "Well, it's a more reasonable pickup line that 'what's your blood type'!" he defended.
She laughed at that. "Hanako," she answered. "Hanako Shouri. And yours?"
"Katsumi Shibuya. I haven't seen you here before, have I?"
She smiled at him, incredibly pretty, her light eyes shining. "I've never been here before," she confirmed, her voice sweet and pure. He wondered why something brushed at his memory. "I'm in town on business. A friend suggested I come here to work some tensions off."
"Oh?" He wanted to know more about her. "What kind of business? I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you don't look old enough to be an office lady."
She laughed again. "I'm not. I'm an artist."
"A lady with a talent!" he declared.
"And what about you, Shibuya-san?" she asked, changing the subject. "You don't look like a salaryman."
"I'm not, really. I work in my uncle's recording company. I kind of manage one of the singers, but not really." He wouldn't tell her it was Kouji. Once girls found out that he had connections to Kouji Nanjou, they immediately lost all interest in him.
"Kouji Nanjou, right?"
He froze at that, then continued dancing. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
She smiled, and her eyes looked like they knew a lot more than they possibly could have. "You said you worked for your uncle's recording company, and you said your family name was Shibuya. And I guess I must've remembered something about the nephew of the owner of Shibuya Productions managing Nanjou-san." She shrugged. "I've heard his music, and it's nice."
Katsumi stared in disbelief. A girl who wasn't head over heels for Kouji?! And he'd met her on a chance?! "Where do you live?" he asked, wanting more information. He wanted to be able to find her again.
She looked away, towards the DJ. "The song's ending," she observed. "I need to go... I have an early appointment tomorrow morning."
"Wait! How can I get in touch with you? You said you were an artist. Are your paintings being displayed somewhere?"
She looked back at him. "You'll see me again, Shibuya-san. I promise. In fact, I look forward to it." She slipped out of his arms and started heading back towards the entrance.
"Wait!" he called.
She half-turned and smiled back over her shoulder at him. "I know how to find you, Shibuya-san," she promised. "And I will."
He stood staring, dumbfounded. Then he grinned as she winked at him and left.
Taxi to the Tanahaka Hotel
"That was a little close," 'Toni said in the taxi back to the hotel, both of them keeping their voices quieter than the music the driver was listening to so as not to be heard from behind the glass separating them. "If he'd recognized you...."
Arin shook her head. "He didn't. And besides, who's to connect Hanako Shouri with Arin Hanano? If I decide to be her again while we're here...." She shrugged. "You know how different we look. I'm just glad he didn't see you; that would have given the game away."
'Toni smiled. "As soon as I saw it was him you were dancing with, I hid myself. I knew he might recognize me."
Arin propped her hand on her fist, elbow resting on her knee. "Still, I think you're right; that was too close. I don't think he'll see Hanako-chan any more...."
'Toni took a sidelong glance at her. "You know, Arin," she said suddenly, "sooner or later you're going to have to be what you actually are."
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