Chapter Two: Street Conversion

 

            *The blustery street had few pedestrians. No one cared to be out in one of the worst blizzards in the history of the city. No cared to be out. Yet there were a few who had no choice, as always. Those who could huddled inside the alcoves of the alleys, shivering on their own, alone in the dark. For the others who were not so lucky, the open street left many a life to chance. If they were not careful, they could easily become sick. Or struck by a car. Or simply freeze in the below zero temperature of the January snowstorm. This was the world he had chosen, this was the world he was satisfied with.

            Hiiro stood in the very eye of the storm, daring to defy nature’s threats to strike him down for his arrogance and lack of reverence for her awesome power. Leaning against a lamppost, the wind seemed to cut directly in front of him, as if avoiding his own icy stare. He stood silently, plainly. He stood, waiting for his next customer. The next person who would decide they were tired of being lonely and fall to his ever present and dangerous charms.

            But no one came. The night was too cold. The night was too dark. The night was too frightening for anyone to chance anything. So he stood. All night, just waiting for a presence that would not show. And his loneliness enveloped him. Self-hatred welled. And hot tears fell and froze to his ghostly white face. So it had been like this for three years. Slowly his mind collapsing in on itself, slowly his sanity slipping away night by night as he sold himself into the sinful hell of plaguing memories.

>>>)(<<<

            “I’ll do as I please!” She cried, storming out of her house. All be damned if she was to listen to that brat. Always trying to protect her, shelter her. God forbid she do anything worthwhile with her wasted existence. She slowly made her through the icy streets. Only the night before the ground had been packed with snow to her waist. But now the wind had died down. The snowplows had paved the road, and it all seemed so clear as to where she should go. To hell. However, that, as of yet, was not an option. So instead she did the next best thing.

            The bells in the door chimed when she entered the bar. Sitting herself down at the counter she looked at the bartender and gave him a look of desperation.

            “What’ll you have sweetheart?” He asked, smiling at her.

            “Whatever will make me drunk the fastest.”

            “My kind of lady.” The bartender roared, pouring the woman a shot of whiskey.

            “I am no lady.” She stated gruffly before drowning the entire shot whole. “I’m a bitch who deserves to rot in hell. But we’ll try to forget that for now.”

            “By getting drunk? Sorry lady, you aren’t going to forget jack by getting drunk. You just won’t feel it. But you still remember it. A whore’ll make you forget though.” The men at the bar counter laughed loudly at the bartender’s suggestion.

            “Will he now? And have you ever heard of a man prostitute?” She sneered, drowning yet another shot.

            “There’s one at the table behind you. He goes by the name of Cin.”

            “Really? He any good?” The men got a good laugh out of the woman’s question.

            “I wouldn’t know sweetheart, I ain’t like that!” The booming laughter annoyed her, but she ignored it and turned to face the man behind her. She stood and swayed. Then, sauntering over to the man as best as possible, she dropped into his lap.

            “I hear you’re for hire.”

            “Hundred an hour.”

            “Oh?”

            “Plus you provide the place.”

            “Sounds delicious. Cin.” The woman purred into his ear. Hiiro could smell the whisky on her breath. But hell, as long as she paid, he didn’t give a damn. He needed the money.

            “Let’s go then.” He stood, leaving the woman in his lap to slip to the floor. Bending over, he picked her up and placed her on her feet.

            “My name’s Ilene. Ilene Tsukino.”

            “Cin. Where you want it?” He pushed. He didn’t like waiting. He just wanted to get it over with. During the deed he had no rational thought. He could use a break from his haunting ideals and memories just about now.

            “Follow me!” She laughed, then pulled on his shirt. He followed easily. She led him to a large house in a nice neighborhood. Odd. He didn’t get many women who lived in houses. Most lived in apartments. He thought little of it however.

            “Key?” He asked.

            “Don’t need it. Unlocked.” She smiled again. Tugging on his neck, she smashed her lips against his in a bruising kiss. He responded instantly. Wrapping his arms around her, he trailed kisses down her cheek and neck. Sucking gently on her ear for a moment, he began to work his hands up under her jacket and shirt. Both man and woman released moans as they continued making out under the porch lights. Hiiro removed one hand from its work under the woman’s shirt and open the front door. Forcing her inside and never breaking the kiss, he smashed her against a wall. Lost completely in his task, he had shut down his senses.

            “What the heck is going on right here!” An angry voice came from behind. Hiiro cut off all contact and spun around, ready to attack whomever had decided to interrupt him and his client.

            “Don’t worry about it Serena! Just having a little fun, that’s all. Go to bed.” Ilene laughed in her drunk and giddy state. She pulled on Hiiro’s jacket and pulled it off from his shoulders. His focus did not shift from the intruder.

            “She’s drunk, isn’t she?” The intruding woman sighed angrily and brought her hands up to rub her temples. “Again.” She muttered to herself.

            “Cin.” Ilene begged. Hiiro turned back to his client. Screw the other woman. Whoever she was, she could wait her turn. Hiiro resumed his kissing.

            “Excuse me.” The other woman’s voice rose just slightly. Hiiro turned around in annoyance.

            “What?” He spat.

            “You can’t continue this. Look, thank you for bringing her home. I’m sure it was a very noble thing for you to do…”

            “Look. Ilene here is my client for the night. She hired me. So, I don’t care if you’re her mother or not. Get lost.” Hiiro growled. Funny. This woman didn’t turn tail and hide like the others when he used that tone of voice. If possible, she only became redder in the face.*