Tsubasa wandered about the empty club. She had been on edge since Aoi was grabbed by the cops but now that she was one her way home she was practically climbing the walls. very time she heard a car pass she’d turn her attention to the front door and stare at it like a lonely puppy waiting for her owner to walk in. We’d kept her sedated with fights and bunny videos but she was beyond even that now. A motor idled outside and Tsubasa tensed up with her eyes fixed on the door. The door opened and Tsubasa let out an annoyed cry as Xianying walked in.

“It was just Mako giving me a lift. she’s going to park the van calm down.” Tsubasa tossed herself into a booth and spread out trying to lie down. She let out a distressed groan. When Mako opened the door to the back she didn’t even look up. Blast gave me a pat on the shoulder as she stepped out of the way to let Aoi through.

“How's it going?” Blast said. Tsubasa jolted upright and scanned the room when she spotted Aoi she tripped over herself trying to stand up. She hit the floor hard and groaned loudly, though this one was more pained than the last. Aoi pushed past the group but by the time she got over Tsubasa was already back on her feet. Aoi hopped toward her and Tsubasa did her best to catch her. However she hadn’t been given enough time to adjust for the added weight and the two of them fell over. I thought one of them might be hurt when they didn’t get back up again but on closer inspection they were merely making out passionately. I supposed that was good enough and decided to leave them too it. Though I admit I was feeling a bit flush.

“Uhhh...” Blast said. Xianying cocked her head to get a better look.

“We might wanna give them some time.” Mako nodded toward the door at lead us out to the back lot where Blast’s bike and the ice cream van were both parked. Xianying pointed at the bike.

“Can you move this over we’re gonna need some space.” Blasted nodded and backed her bike out to the street and pulled it up closer to the van leaving an empty space just large enough for everyone to stand in.

Xianying looked at her phone. “Just be another minute.” Blast looked like she was about to ask a question but Xingying cut her off. “Boss wants to talk to everyone.”

After a minute or so of standing around the Boss rounded the corner into the lot. our impromptu circle shifted to make room for her.

“How is she doing?” The boss asked her voice was crisp and calm as always.

“She’s fine. We wanted to give them a moment alone.” Xianying pulled a pocky stick from a box.

“Hey let me in on that.” Blast said reaching out toward Xianying. She took the tip of hers into her mouth and passed another to Blast and then offered one to me. I’m not typically one for pocky but it was chocolate and I was feeling peckish. I bowed respectfully and thanked her. Blast was already chewing on the last of hers before I started mine.

Mako turned and opened the back door.

“I’m gonna go check on them.”

Blast followed

“I have to pee anyway.”

The door snapped shut behind them leaving me alone with Xingying and the Boss. It felt like they were looking me over more than normal and it was creeping me out. I breathed a sigh of relief when Mako returned.

“I think we should do this without them.” Xianying raised an eyebrow.

“Are they…?”

Mako nodded rapidly.

“Yeah.” I had to cover my face to hide the flush in my cheeks. It was pretty obvious the twos make out session had escalated during our absence. I supposed it was understandable, the both of them probably needed it.

The Boss clapped her powerful hands together. The echo in the alley was strong and clear. The others began backing away casually leaving me and the boss directly facing each other. The enormous warrior ahead of me adopted a battle stance but her eyes remained calm. Her gaze was fixed on me.

“Today, I will be your opponent.” She stood still and calm presumably waiting for me to adopt a battle stance. A sharp throb of anxiety shot through me and I quickly tallied my options. Fighting the Boss was likely some rite of passage, If I refused I’d probably be kicked out. Knowing this fight was going to end with me on my ass I slid down into the stance Blast had taught me. Low to the ground chest angled to reduce my horizontal profile, The intent was to present as small a target as possible and to keep moving. The larger the size difference the harder it would be to land a decisive blow so long as… Before I’d realized it The Boss hand pounced forward and my vision was totally obscured by rippling amazon chest. Powerful arms came up from behind me and pulled me into a big bear hug. My arms were pinned against her chest and attempting to move them was futile. The Boss’s grip tightened. I started to panic as I realized I was completely stuck. Her arms may as well have been steel cable. I felt my feet leave the ground and one of her arms snapped free shifting to pushing me up by the side. The Boss hoisted me above her head. All I could see was the overcast sky behind the tops of the buildings that surrounded us. My arms and legs splayed uselessly, I was being held up by my upper and lower back. I struggled just to hold my head up against the force of gravity. A loud clunk echoed around me.

“Heyo” Blasts cocky voice was pretty distinct. Suddenly I felt myself rushing toward the ground. My feet suddenly felt solid resistance I wasn’t ready or balanced for it and I ended up stumbling to the ground. The sky stopped spinning and I started to get my wits back. I blinked as a black blob hovered over me. She offered me a hand and pulled me back up. Blast slapped me on the back and pushed me toward The Boss who was standing in the middle of the group with her hands in her pockets.

“You are still very green my young friend but I see your potential.” The Boss grinned at me. “However there is one last thing you must do before we take you as one of our own.” The boss allowed her coat to drop down and she pulled off the tight fitting t shirt that did nothing to hide the impressive six pack under it. Topless but for a blue-black sports bra it revealed a beautiful flower garden tattoo it sleeved from just above the elbow and ran over the shoulders down her back. The small of her back featured a small pool with a beautiful and serene mermaid sitting peacefully at the water’s edge. The garden was ornate with brightly colored lilies dotting it.

“I have come to understand ink and its history in this country. You will take on some of your own.” The Bosses statement didn’t sound like an order, even if it was worded like one. I took a deep breath and nodded. The Boss laid a gentle hand my shoulder. It was powerful and heavy yet graceful and kind. It momentarily distracted me from her abs. I wanted to touch them because I couldn’t believe they were real. They were so firm it was unreal. It was then I realized I hadn’t simply imagined trying to touch her chest. I snapped my hand back and blushed profusely. The Boss let out a hearty laugh.

“It’s alright. I worked very hard on those.” Her face showed hints of pride.

“Sorry!” I shifted uncomfortably.

The Boss turned to Blast.

“Take Kairi to the well.” Blast nodded and trotted over to her bike.

“What’s the well?” I asked looking to Xianying.

“It’s a Tattoo parlor in the red light district.” Mako replied lighting up a cigarette.

“We’re doing this now?” My voice shook I had not even started coming to grips with getting a tattoo done.

“May as well get it over with.” Blast smiled at me from the back of her bike.

My heart pleaded with me to slow things down but I didn’t know what I could say. Things were already in motion and I didn’t know how they’d take it if I tried to put the brakes on. I did my best not to think about it and just grabbed my helmet when she handed it to me.

“Might wanna start thinking about what you wanna get on the way.” Blast smirked cheekily. Her eminently punch-able face did cheer me up a bit even if I was no less nervous.

“We’ll be right behind you.“ Xianying clicked her tongue and opened up the back door of the ice cream van.

“I should speak with Aoi before I join you.” The Boss stretched her arms back behind her head. She still wasn’t wearing a shirt and I had to make a point of not gawking too much. If she was the least bit bothered by the cold or showing that much off in public she didn’t show it.

“They could be a while.” Xianying warned.

The Boss smiled a bit.

“That’s quite alright. I’ll join you when I can.”

I put my arms around Blast as she backed out onto the road.