Lavender Books

The two removed their hats as they entered the front of the store.

"Lavender Books, why does that name sound so familiar?" muttered Chizuru with her hands folded behind her back.

Shion  looked a Chizuru and with a sarcastic smile said, "this is no ordinary bookstore. In fact membership is required to enter the back. Stick close to me and Ill have the owner give you a tour."

"Shion, wait. So we aren't here buy a book? Why are we here then?"

"Technically, I will be buying a book, but just wait and see."

Shion walked casually over to the counter with a hand-painted sign that said "Information" and slid a metal card with the word "member" engraved on it. Here the secret dialogue began that confirmed ownership of the card.

The clerk, "Hello can I interest you in the red rabbit special?"

Shion replied "No, but I hear Lavender is beautiful this time of year, have you any?"

"I have a bunch ready for a pretty penny".

"A pretty penny, I do have. Let me enter the flower shop."

The clerk said " Ok, follow me, but who is the other one with you? I haven't seen her before."

"She is a friend of mine, can I collect my visitor pass? 

The clerk nodded and gestured for the pair to follow her. 

They head past a few stacks of books, then past a black curtain. Behind a mirror the clerk revealed a bio/combo lock. She removed her glasses and held her eye next to the screen, shortly after a green light flashed and a finger pad slid out from the machine and poke! Another green light. The next lock was shut with a key pad, which the clerk covered and entered the pass code. Three green lights, a click and a door began to open in the floor.

As soon as the hatch lifted the sound of synthetic/ EDM music blared and the dark glow of black lights emanated from the cracked hatch.

Shion looked at Chizuru whose expression was a mix of both confusion and curiosity. Chizuru raised an eyebrow at Shion before grabbing her outreached hand and descending the stairs. 

"Enjoy your visit to Lavender Books. May you find whatever it is that you desire," said the clerk and locked the door behind the two Lts. Chizuru reflexively jumped into Shion's back. She let out a nervous giggle, and gave a shy smile to Shion who was laughing at how startled Chizuru was. 

At the end of the staircase there was a tall, and slender brunette wearing a leather bunny mask, coreset, with leather thigh high black boots, carrying a horse whip. Shion looked over her shoulder and double tapped the back of her ear, signaling Chizuru to engage her Neurolink. 

A message rang into the women's mind, "Hello ladies and welcome to my house of debauchery. Please select a mask and put it on. Anonymity of our customers is one of our most valued guarantees. Feel free to make any request, and we will do out best to accommodate your every desire."

Shion pick up a bunny mask from the table and put it on, and gestured for Chizuru to do the same. Chizuru selected a puppy mask and followed suit.

Shion beamed her thoughts to the hostess, " She's new, can you give her the grand tour. Also get her a dance, and add it to my tab, I'll be back, I have some business with the Librarian".

"Chizuru go with miss Bunny and she will show you around the place, if you see something you like go for it, Ill pay for it. But maybe don't drink or eat anything they give you, you never know what's in there and we don't have enough time to come down from the kind of high you may get."

"But Shion..., why can't I go with you?"

" You can,  just enjoy the tour, as you can see this is no ordinary bookstore. I'm heading to the back to get my book."

Ms. Bunny took led Chizuru down a narrow corridor. With several metal doors with small sliding hatches for viewing in them. Red lights were eminatimg from the cracks under the doors. As they walked by a hostess was leaving a room and Chizuru caught a glimpse of a man in a diaper and baby bonnet crawling on his hands and knees with a lady with a whip close behind. Her face turned bright red.

Miss Bunny opened a slot, "Take a look inside and see some of the services we have to offer. Some of them can satisfy a different need."

Chizuru peaked inside and saw a bowl full of white powder, bags or pills, and syringes prefilled with some mystery fluid. 

"No thanks..."

"Okay, the Lt bought a special treat for you. Take a seat in one of the blue chairs. I have a couple questions for you before we can begin. Male or female?"

"Uh, female?"

"Ok. This dancer is known as Stella. Just sit back and enjoy the show."

With that a pole came out if the floor and Stella began to dance. Chizuru was both intrigued and embarassed as she sat in the chair gripping the arms. 

Miss Bunny  beamed a message to Shion, " Ok she will be busy for the next six minutes, get what you need to get done quick."

Shion took one last look at how uptight Chizuru was and let out a laugh. Then headed to the back of the shop. In a small corner behind metal bars was a small older man smoking a cigarette. 

"Good morning Librarian, I trust my associates have left a package for me in your care."

The man was silent and slid a little metal box through the bars with the message attached " this should last for six weeks. Continue to fight the good fight, you smart ass". 

The message had to have come from Matt. He was the only on that called Shion that.

"I told the other SS girl i was here to buy a book. Got anything you think I would like?"

The man put cigarette down in the ashtray, and smirked meekly and slid an old worn book across the counter "50 positions to make your partner go wild". The old guy winked and blew a kiss to Shion then started to laugh.

Shion gave him a snarky glance with an eye roll, of course, she thought. "Thanks so much Librarian. You never fail to go above and beyond. I better go save my subordinate before she has a stroke". Shion turned around and tucked the metal box in her coat, then lift the arm holding the book and gave a single wave.

Shion walked briskly through the hallway and was quite surprised by what she saw. Stella had moved to siting across Chizuru's lap, laughing and chatting with her as chizuru retained her death drip on the seat. Shion put her hand lightly on Chizuru's shoulder. A visible shudder went down Chizuru's spine. She looked to Shion leaning over her looking down at her face. Chizuru instantly thought "so cute".

Shion spoke lightly, "Sorry to interrupt a good time ladies , but I got what I needed and am.rwady to go, Unless you would prefer to stay Lt." 

Chizuru shot up from her chair so fast she almost fainted, luckily Shion caught her before she fell down. Chizuru was left speechless, because without even trying Shion had saved her and looked gorgeous doing it. A single strand of hair fell into Shion's face as her ocean blue eyes looked into Chizuru's face. Her eyes looked so gentle, it was a look that Chizuru found at strange times. Shion was normally stoic and cold but there were times when her gentleness slipped through. Chizuru wanted to believe that Shion was actually very kind which is one of the things she loved about Shion.

That's right, Chizuru was literally in love. She wanted nothing more than to show Shion she was serious, but this trip really threw her off because it was so unexpected. 

Next thing she knew Shion was carrying her out of the backdoor. She immediately better as the cold breeze touched her face. "Shion, you can put me down now." Shion gently let her down.

Shion asked " So, let me guess, after seeing that I regularly go to a place like that, you want nothing to do with me right?"

Chizuru replied " No, there is nothing that you do that could make me feel that way. In fact, I asked Stella about you and she told me that when you come here all you do is talk to the dancers and even when some have asked you to go to a room you declined.  I feel like you must be really lonely and sad Shion."

Shion replied  with a small giggle " Ok because I literally thought you were going to have stroke with how hard you were gripping that chair, " Shion mimicked Chizuru grabbing the chair. 

"Well its just that I have never seen or done anything like that and I didn't want to do something  stupid considering that I belong to you. Seriously Shion. After all that let me see the book."

"Sure, here you go."

Chizuru grabbed the book and read the title "50 position the make your partner go wild...".Her face turned beet red. 

"Shion, why do you need a book like this?! I mean we have been seeing each other for awhile but, I don't really think you need this."

Shion's head snapped back, "Wait, what?!"