The Alt-Rock Queen And Her Tattoos

Part #5 [The New Face Of Sanya]

Mika woke up in an unfamiliar room. The glass chandelier hung overhead, like a beautiful array of icicles hanging from a cabin in the wilderness. Naturally, Mika wondered how she had ended up in such a fancy room. The memories in her mind quickly sorted themselves: a bath, Wang Xianshi's return... a tattoo appointment. She stretched her aching limbs, feeling her body sink further into the real mattress she had been sleeping on.
"It's so fluffy. So much better than the basement floor."
Mika spoke to nobody but herself as she rose from the white, silk sheets, her hair standing upright from her wild sleeping pattern.

The time on the golden wall clock read 9:07 AM, later than she had ever been allowed to sleep since first joining the Bara-gumi over a month ago, not including her time away at the Hidaka residence just a week into her initial capture.

She stood from her king-sized mattress, her hands raking through the many silk kimonos that resided in her brand-new walk-in closet. As she slipped into a thin, black kimono with rose patterns covering its entirety, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She was unrecognizable. Downright attractive. She had never seen herself look so cute before, and it gave her a sense of slight discomfort.

"Is this why Nozomi-chan was so obsessed with her appearance? Maybe it's just in a girl's nature to want to look cute."
Mika brushed her hair, applying a thin layer of Versace brand perfume to her slender neck.

Her wooden geta sandals clinked against the floor of the staircase as she made her way into the dining hall. Breakfast had already concluded, yet there was a single covered plate remaining at the edge of the table with a paper note that read,
"Eat. You don't want to pass out during your tattoo appointment.
-Kazuya."

Mika peeled the foil from atop the lone dish, letting out a soft giggle as she admired the contents: two beautifully roasted salmon fillets, accompanied by a bowl of rice and a raw egg for her to enjoy on top. The familiar feelings from Kazuya's fatherly actions warmed her heart as she sat alone to eat.

Around 11:00 AM, Mika watched as Kawaguchi Harumi entered the doorway to the apartment. She was wearing baggy shorts and a loose, pink crop top, her tattoos on full display.
"Mika-chan! You look amazing in that kimono!"

Harumi's gentle smile put Mika in a state of pure bliss. Here was the one woman who actually cared for her, feeding her compliments, even if they were about the clothes that belonged to Charlotte.

"It's been a while, Harumi-chan. What have you been up to?"
Mika stood from her seat, rushing over to Harumi's side to assist with the large bags she had been carrying. Curiosity got the better of her, and Mika peeked inside.

Harumi quickly snatched the bag away, holding it high in the air so that Mika couldn't see.
"Ah, nothing important! Don't worry about me; you have to get to Enki's tattoo shop. I'm sure Kazuya is already waiting in the car for you."

Mika studied the nervous facial expressions of Harumi, wondering what exactly she was hiding that was so important. Yet, she trusted Harumi, deciding not to dwell on it too much.

"Right... Well, I should probably go. Though, I'm a little nervous about inking my body."
Mika felt as if she could share her true feelings with Harumi, knowing that she would more than likely have the right words to calm her nerves.

Harumi smiled, giving Mika a pat on the back.
"It's going to hurt like hell, Mika-chan. But you'll feel like a new woman by the time you're done. You're a tough girl, right?"

Mika's eyes glistened. She nodded her head, savoring the feeling of Harumi's touch against her back.
"Yeah, I'm tough! I'm going to get the best tattoo the yakuza has ever seen!"
Mika firmly believed her own words, vowing that her ink would be a symbol of hope to those suffering in the shadows, granting her the courage to face her problems head-on without faltering.
She stepped into the backseat of Kazuya's sedan, watching as he shifted gears down the barren Tuesday streets.

Kazuya parked the car behind a run-down tattoo parlor at the edge of Arakawa-ku. He brought a cigarette to his lips, watching Mika stare up at the neon sign mounted to the front of the building.

"Kioku? Like... meaning 'memories'?"
Mika's gaze was fixed on the beautiful word hanging above her head. The sign had cobwebs and mold growing off the sides, yet it exuded a powerful aura unlike anything she had ever seen.

"Go inside, puppy. Call me on your phone when you're done."
Kazuya returned to the driver seat, starting the ignition of the car.

Mika whipped her head to the side, shouting at Kazuya from afar.
"You're not coming in with me?!"

"This is something you must do alone. I won't be far if you need me. Just relax and chew some gum. Enki has a way of making people feel comfortable."
Before Mika could change her mind, Kazuya sped down the street, leaving her all alone.

Quickly, Mika shoved a piece of bubblegum in her mouth. Her heart raced in her chest as she stared ahead at the tinted glass windows, covered in various rock album covers from the 1990s. Her hands trembled as she pushed on the door, leading her into an unknown world.

Sitting behind the counter was a woman in her late thirties, maybe even early forties. Her hair was cut short but beautifully styled against her sharp face. She had piercings on her lips, nose and ears, along with a generous amount of eyeshadow on her eyelids. Her body was petite, much like Mika's, yet her attire was unlike anything she had ever seen. She wore a black vest and no shirt, revealing just the right amount of cleavage to keep onlookers guessing. Her shorts were tight, but not too revealing, complemented by multiple silver chains hanging from her belt loops. Despite being a world-renowned yakuza tattoo artist, this woman had just one single tattoo on her wrist. The word was 'Kioku,' meaning memories.

"I thought you ran away. Come on, I'll take you to the back."
The woman hopped up from her chair, swaying her hips seductively as she walked to the door behind the counter. The speakers were turned down, yet Mika could make out the familiar sounds of rock and roll.

"Are you... Enki?"
Mika kept her eyes glued to the walls, studying the unfamiliar album covers that lined every inch of the store.

"What do you think? I'm the only person here, aren't I? Yeah, I'm Enki. Have a seat, Umeda Mika."
Enki tossed the curious Mika an unlabeled bottle of water and sat across from her as she motioned for her to take a sip.

Mika grew increasingly nervous the longer the encounter lasted. She assumed the water must have been Enki's way of offering comfort, much like Kazuya stated during the car ride. Reluctantly, she took a long sip, noticing Enki's hand holding her own in place, forcing her to drink the entire bottle in one go.

Mika coughed, watching as Enki prepared her tattoo gun with sterilizing chemicals. Mika could feel her head begin to spin, causing her to slump back in the padded leather seat. Her body felt light, almost as if she had been drugged.
"What was... in that water..."

Enki removed Mika's kimono with gentle hands, stopping inches short from the strap of her bra.
"Just a little drug to loosen you up. It's okay; I do it to all of my clients. You see, I'm a sucker for learning about people's pasts. Go ahead, Mika, tell me all about your life. I'll use the stories you tell me to craft a perfect tattoo on that little body of yours."

Mika couldn't think straight. Her vision slowly distorted from reality to hallucination, leaving her perplexed as she stared at her past self through her third eye. Her very life was flashing before her, and she could do nothing but watch as the drug took control of her soul.
"I wanted... a dog tattoo..."

"I see, so you like dogs? Noted. Now, tell me about yourself, Mika. What memories are you willing to share with me?"
Enki's eyes seemed to glow. She carefully lined the tip of her needle against Mika's chest, ready to freehand an entire portrait like an artist in front of a blank canvas.