A Glimpse From the Side 1

“Good morning Miss Honda, Yuki…Kyo.” A redhead woman greeted as the trio walked past her. She stood off to the side of the front door, nodding to each that walked by. Kyo stormed off, grumbling about something. Yuki paused to greet her softly in return. Tohru almost tripped over herself as she returned the greeting almost feverishly.
“Miss Rowe! Good morning! We were just on our way to school, but…”
“Nettie.” The English woman corrected for what had to be the sixth time. She suspected the age difference between them prompted Tohru, especially at such a surprise as this, to fall back into polite titles. “And I see that. Study hard, have fun, and give the teachers some sass, eh?”
“We’re gonna be late!” Kyo shouted from a few yards away. “Come on!”
Yuki nodded towards the open door. “Shigure is in his study.” He knew why the woman was there so early.
“Thank you, that’s a good sign. Have a nice day, you two…three.” Tohru looked like she was about to protest, as though torn between school and playing hostess. Luckily Yuki called her name and mentioned something about a test coming up. When the trio was out of sight, Nettie walked in and shut the door quietly.
Ever since Mitchan’s ‘mental health vacation’ – something that was mostly credited to Shigure Sohma for pushing her – Nettie Rowe had taken over as editor. This was over three months ago. Nettie had taken to visiting twice a month to check up on Shigure’s progress of his novel. The interactions, as they increased, had progressed from conversations, to pestering, to playing hide-and-seek. It wasn’t long before she understood why Mitchan had been reduced to a blubbering mess.
Because of this, Nettie decided to show up early that morning on a day that was unexpected. Slipping her shoes off, she walked through the hallways quietly. Given her dark silver pant suit, she had to move carefully least the fabric make any noise. It was more of a swaying than anything. If memory served correctly of the layout of the house, the study would be the next door on the left.
It was exciting, she thought, to sneak up on that oversized child like this. An up from their hide-and-seek last visit. With a toothy grin, she threw the door open. “Heeeeelllooooo Shigure!” She called out as she leaned against the door frame. Alas, the room was…empty. Her green eyes blinked twice. “Shi…gure?”
Nettie walked further into the room, catching whiffs of recent smoke. Her gaze traveled to the stack of papers on his desk. The manuscript maybe? She walked over and knelt down, looking a few pages over. She caught a few familiar words that he had used before, a few sentences that she had seen a month ago. So where was the rest?
Just as she picked up the stack and stood, a voice exclaimed behind her, “Hello Nettie!”
“AAHH!” Nettie spun around and smacked the person with the stack of papers. The pair froze. Nettie with her weapon of choice smashing Shigure’s face, the source of her fright. A moment passed before Nettie’s muscled relaxed. “Shigure.” She scowled. “You…” she sighed and tossed the papers back on the desk, “well played.”
Shigure gave a weak chuckle. “I thought it was until I was hit with my own work. I hope to never be in the same house as you when the power goes out.”
“And kill one of our best sellers? Hilarious. I’d be out of a job and chased out of the town with pitchforks.” She offered a smile before stepping aside from his desk. “Morning.”
“Good morning.” Shigure looked her over. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Well, that was the point.” Nettie grinned. “How did you slip away though? Yuki said you were in your study not just a few minutes ago.” Pause. “And I didn’t hear any footsteps when I was prowling.”
The man gave her a smile that was difficult to read. “Let’s just say…I smelt you from the front door.”
Nettie’s skin took on a soft pink as she sniffed herself. “Smell? What…do I smell like? From that far, really?”
The difficult to read smile turned into that of common glee. “Oh, you know, ink, evil, and a bit of honeysuckle.”
Nettie opened her mouth to respond but fell silent once more. Ink, evil and honeysuckle? Well, the latter was her perfume but she used that sparingly. Ink…she had been editing something earlier. Evil, ha, for her sneaking in. “So funny.” She rolled her eyes. “No matter, now that I have you where I want you…how’s the manuscript? It’s due two weeks from now, you know.”
Shigure contemplated giving her the slip and playing hide-and-seek as the last time. Truth be told, he was nearly done with it and planned to finish the day before it was due. To be so honest and ease Nettie’s attentive worries, however, just didn’t seem as fun. He would have started a game had he not noticed, this close to her without his own work against his face, the shadows under her eyes.
“It goes well. It should be done in time…unless I’m struck with a horrible case of writer’s block! Oh!” He gave a dramatic gesture of his hand to his forehead.
Nettie snorted and lightly punched his stomach, really just simple contact. “If that happens, just call me and I’ll beat the block away, hm? Now since this was far easier than I expected…how about some tea?” Pause. “You can make at least that without burning everything down, right?”
Shigure waved the concern away. “We’ll see, won’t we? Come along.” As the pair walked to the kitchen, Nettie following even into the room, he made small talk. Or, rather, nosey questions that doubled as small talk. “So, late night? Perhaps too much excitement with…Masaki, wasn’t it?”
Masaki Ieyoshi was one of the top reasons why Nettie had moved to Japan. Besides a job offer, as well as family on her father’s side, Masaki was a man that she had met four years ago on a visit to her aunt. From there, they exchanged letters and phone calls for a year and a half. Then she moved over here. The two and a half year mark was coming up on her moving and their official coupling. Against her aunts and uncles, as well as a few older cousins, advice, she moved in with him and hadn’t looked back.
In fact, she had half expected an engagement ring soon – something, much to her surprise that turned her off. Well, that was before…things changed.
“Oh, uh…yeah.” Nettie looked out the window as Shigure settled the kettle of water on the stove. It wasn’t technically a lie.
Shigure noticed the flicker in her gaze but said nothing. There was a line of professionalism that he knew not to cross. Well, no, he wanted to know because he was curious but perhaps there was a more subtle way to handle it.
When the kettle whispered, he finished making the tea before taking the tray over to the table. Nettie followed. The man chuckled softly. “You and your English habits.” He muttered.
“To be honest, I often don’t follow my host into the kitchen.” She said as she took a seat across from him, mindful of her pants. The house, however, was spotless thanks to Tohru. “It’s only when I think they’ll pull a Houdini that I linger.” She grinned as she took the cup he poured. She inhaled the scent and sighed almost sadly. “How I miss the black teas of home.” She shook her head before sipping it.
“Ah, England…yes. Are you planning on visiting home anytime soon?” He sipped his tea before clarifying with a grin, “Not that I want you out of my hair or house, but…”
Nettie chuckled before resting her elbow on the table. “And leave you to procrastinate on your work? I would never.” She drank more of her tea before setting it down. “No, I would love to visit England again but…the finances say otherwise, those mystic forces.” She forced another chuckle and winced at how false it sounded. “What about you, Shigure? Have you wanted to travel lately?”
The man rest his chin in the palm of his hand. “And leave you all alone, without a handsome man to pester? I could never dream of it!” He sipped his tea. “Not to mention, I’m sure Kyo and Yuki would destroy the house if I tried.”
“Yes, those two do seem to be fairly pumped. Hormones, maybe? However does poor Tohru handle it?” Nettie drank more. “I see the door has been fixed since last I came.”
“Well that was almost two weeks ago,” he pointed out, “I would hope so.”
Nettie finished her tea. She stared at a spot on the table without much thought. Zoning out, at that. Her mind kept revolving around last night, against her better judgement. It was only when a worried Shigure cleared his throat did she jolt back to attention. “On that note, I must away. I’m due back in the office. I’ll see you around the deadline, eh?” She stood and smiled.
“Of course.” Shigure said as he stood with her. “Allow me to walk you out.” As they walked down the hallway, he added, “You were really quiet, you know. I have no idea how you managed to walk so light.”
“When one is determined, they’ll find a way to get things done.” She teased with a grin. At the door, she slipped her shoes back on and pinned her hair back, keeping her hair from her neck. “Pleasant writings, Shigure.”
“Pleasant editing, Nettie.” He purred as she walked away. She paused and looked to her left, spotting a stray dog off to the side. She shook her head before walking back to her car. Ah, the wild country side brought all sorts of strays…
~
For the next couple days, Nettie walked around in a bit of a haze. It wasn’t just the disrupted sleep or the financial worry, but the issue of her relationship. Masaki…she sighed. She hadn’t entirely lied to Shigure when she answered his question. She had stayed up because of Masaki, but it wasn’t the fun sort. Rather, she had been waiting for him to return from a ‘meeting’ – a strip club, she knew, shitfaced and a bit poorer.
These ‘meetings’, always business he protested, had started about a month ago. They had been once a week at first, but quickly increased in frequency. But Shigure didn’t need to know that. No one needed to know that her relationship was…at a rough patch.
If she could just save a bit more money…splitting rent, covering rent more often lately, and the bills had left her nearly dry financially. What was the start of his behavior? Was it something she did? Something at work he did?
An idea sprung to the mind of the desperate editor.
In the past few weeks, she had gotten rather run down from her job. As a result, she wasn’t home often and when she was, she often wanted to just eat, shower, and sleep. Perhaps it was an issue of intimacy between them. Yes, that might be it.
If Nettie could just…try to be…sexy for a night…
She nearly slammed her head into the desk. It sounded absurd. Part of her, the logical part, told her that. It was absurd to stay with him, to try to change her own behavior in the hopes of altering his. But that part was drowned out by the emotional part that protested. If she could only dress sexy, be sexy for one night…all of the ‘meetings’ would stop.
She hoped.
But what to wear? She had nothing other than…well, no, that had gotten worn out long ago and tossed as a result. Nettie set aside her work and searched online for a shop of such natures. There was a soft blush to her face as she did, relieved that she had her own office where no one could see her. If they knew…
First to pop up was a lingerie store just a few streets away. It had good reviews, great even. It was run by two people. Before she could read into it further, a co-worker walked by. Nettie exited the page with a slight jump.
~
With a soft pink hue to her face, Nettie entered the surprisingly clean looking shop. The scent of candles, herbs, and something oddly sweet hit her. It certainly relaxed her a bit; so far this place didn’t seem as sleazy as the stereotype suggested.
“Hello?” She called out, looking around as she did. Her eyes widened a bit. Costumes of maids, nurses, teachers…she almost laughed. Well, subtle enough for the front area. “Sign says you’re open for another hour.” She had ended up staying a little later at work than planned.
A loud, thrilled voice echoed out from the back of the room. “Yes, hello! Back here! Apologies, I’ll be right there!” The voice was…happy, she noticed. Very happy. In fact, for a second she was reminded of Tohru.
Nettie walked further in, noticing a police outfit and a doctor’s outfit. Oh, gods, she thought with a flutter in her stomach. This was…this was…
“Greetings! I am Ayame Sohma, owner of this shop! I apologize for the delay, my employee, Mine, called in sick earlier and, well. Oh, your hair! It’s as fiery as the passion I’ve seen expressed in this very store! However do you get it so vibrant?” Out from the back popped a man in red and gold, his silver hair tied in a large braid over his shoulder. His golden eyes startled her for a moment – she had to be seeing things from the sinking light outside.
It took Nettie a moment to pull herself back together. She offered a smile. His own was quite contagious. “Good evening, sir. It’s perfectly alright, I imagine running a shop by yourself is chaos. And, haha, no, no, this is my natural hair color I assure you.” Sohma. Another Sohma. Well, that was a fairly common last name, she thought.
“Oh, please, call me ‘Ayame’! And how shall I address my new goddess of fire?” He stepped closer, his gaze traveling over her locks.
She let him. Honestly, she was just as guilty as studying him as he was her. “My name is Nettie Rowe, pleasure to meet you. Please, call me Nettie…this type of business seems to demand intimacies early on.” She held her hand out, a habit, to shake his.
Like another Sohma she knew, he blinked and smiled before taking her hand. When his lips brushed against the back of her hand, they lingered for a moment. A pleasant shiver traveled down Nettie’s spine. Before she could resist, a soft giggle left her. “Nettie…the name is ever unique, just as your lovely locks and your hypnotic laugh. I should enjoy hearing it often.” He stood after he purred the compliment. Then, just like a switch flipped, he exclaimed, “So, how can I help you today?!”
Nettie brushed a curl behind her ear, trying to ignore the warmth that lingered on her hand from his lips and his hold. “Well…I’m looking for something…sexy, obviously. I mean,” she blushed just a shade less than her hair, “I’m hoping to seduce a long-term relationship again. Rough patch, passion has dulled…that story.”
Thankfully, Ayame didn’t prod or make her feel bad. She could see why his store had so many great reviews. “Excellent, I know just the thing! With your stunning colors and the way you’re shaped, I think this will be perfect!” He took her other hand and led her towards the back, talking all the way. “Right away I could tell what sort of person you are! Tell me, what is your sign?”
“Er, sign?” It took her a moment to realize what he meant. “Oh! That. Uh, I’m an Aries. And a…what was it…a rooster.” Pause. “Why do you ask? What are you?”
“Oh really?!” He exclaimed with a true sense of thrill. “How interesting! I’m a Sagittarius. I was born in the year of the Rat but…I’m more of a snake.” His voice had dipped at that part, though she wasn’t sure how to read it.
Instead, Nettie pointed out, “Sagittarius? Supposedly we’re quite compatible.”
“Supposedly? Do you not believe in the signs?” They stopped at one wall in the back.
The redhead shrugged. “Depends on the day.”
“Nevertheless, this proves what I thought the instant I set eyes on you!” He threw an arm aside to the wall full of black leather. “An assertive, dominating young lady like yourself would feel all too easily at home in this!” He presented her a short black leather skirt and a corset with half sleeves. Alongside it on the wall was a riding crop and a cat’o’nine tails, if she recognized it right. There were several buckles on some knee-high boots at the bottom, all of which looked stunning.
Nettie’s eyes widened as she blushed fiercely. “Oh, it looks quite, ah, thrilling!” She reached out to run her fingertips over the outfit. “Gods, that has to be a tight fit, a second skin even.” Ayame smirked next to her. “Can I try it on?”
“Of course dear! I would have it no other way, if only to see my work on such a beautiful body.” He picked up the corset and a skirt, pausing to glance at her waist, before taking a pair of boots. “Right this way.” He hummed contently as he led her across the way.
Taking the clothes from him, she stepped into the dressing room and let the plush, velvet curtain fall. As Nettie started to undress, she heard Ayame speak. “Do tell, my dear, who is this partner you’ll be wrapping around your little finger?”
As she undid her bra, she was quite glad to have something separating them. She could feel the blush travel to her ears. “His name is Masaki Ieyoshi. He works some numbers at a big business…accountant and all.” She wasn’t sure why she mentioned that. A subconscious attempt to convince herself, to trick herself, that these ‘meetings’ were really business-related? “He’s…”
At her long pause as she worked on getting the skirt on, Ayame prompted softly, “Yes?”
“He…uh…ha, oh this skirt will force me to shuffle rather than walk.” She changed the topic. What was it about the man that made her nearly slip? Why did she feel so…comfortable? Well then again, they were in fairly intimate settings. When she brushed her hair back, she tried to put the corset on. “I should put the boots on first next time.” After a moment of trying to lace the stays in the back, she blinked. “Um…Ayame?”
“Yes, Nettie?” Curiosity wrapped around his tone.
She bit her bottom lip for a moment. “I can’t work the corset without a second pair of hands; it’s actually a bit small.”
“Hm? Really?” He gripped the curtain but didn’t open it. “May I?”
“Please.” She made sure that she was decent one last time.
When the curtain was pulled away, Ayame gasped. “Already it looks like it belongs on you! And that delightful blush you have, so innocent yet quite the opposite, hm?” He laughed airy, a noise that sounded familiar somehow, before he shook his head. He undid some of the stays in the back, adding, “Button the front first, then we will tie this up properly.”
Nettie buttoned the front before glancing in the mirror, looking over her shoulder at the silver haired man. Her heart jumped when their eyes met. His serious look as he had been studying her altered when they did. He instantly smiled wide and nodding. When he reached forward to lace the back of the corset, his fingertips brushed against her skin. It was just a sliver and just for a moment, but it was enough to spread the blush down her neck.
Loathing how her blood so easily betrayed her, she was quick to comment, “No modesty panel, I see.”
“Hmm,” Ayame said in a hushed tone, “it would rather defeat the purpose given the nature of the outfit, wouldn’t you agree?” Almost like a sadist, his fingertips brushed against her back once more before finishing. “There! Now gaze upon your commanding form and swoon as I have!”
When Nettie brought her eyes to her reflection, she gaped. “Oh.” She breathed softly, running her hands over her obvious figure slowly. She turned slightly and smiled, taking in every angle. “Perfect.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Ayame commented, “There is simply no way that your Masaki will be able to resist you!”
Nettie laughed aloud at this, delighted by the idea. As soon as she did, however, she pressed a hand to her side and winced. “Breathless.” She commented. “Hm, I think this corset might be a bit too…tall. It’s digging into me at certain, ah, angles.”
“Really? I suppose you are a bit short…perhaps I can make a new one for you, custom made to your measurements!” He suggested with excitement at the prospect.
“I…” she hesitated. Ayame’s smile fell a bit in the mirror, wondering what was wrong. “Um, well…how much would that cost? I mean, how much is this?” Right. Finances. She nearly forgot.
“Hm, with the custom corset, the boots, the skirt…shall we say…twenty-five hundred yen?” Ayame offered.
Nettie ran the numbers through her head for a second. She smiled and nodded. “Yes, sounds perfect.”
“Fantastic!” He proclaimed, “Shall we take your measurements now then? Unless you’d like to wait until my female employee returns in a few days?”
“No, no, that’s fine. I want to try this out as soon as I can.” She gave a weak laugh at her own eagerness. “I’ll get part way dressed and then we can measure.” The curtain closed, allowing her to undo the corset and put her bra on. The shirt would mess up the measurements. As she set the skirt aside, replacing it with her pants, Nettie noticed the price tag.
She nearly whimpered. The actual price of the outfit was almost twice as much as he quoted! And to think she was going to have a custom piece, something that would have been the quoted price alone! Nettie cleared her throat before stepping out, only slightly bothered by the awkward match of her outfit without a top.
Ayame had the long measuring tape out, pausing to look her over. He smiled and started to talk about how he designed the corsets with whalebone, how many panels, and so forth. The slight chill from the measuring tape raised goosebumps over her skin. Of the great ironic contrast, the occasional brushes of his fingertips made her face warm.
Once he had written down the numbers, he nodded. “Perfect! Hm, let’s say a week before it’s done? I’ll contact you if it’s finished early.” Nettie put her shirt back on, brushing her hair back as it had gotten quite wild from all the changing. “Is there anything else I can show you, do for you? There are some lovely collars I have in the case! Even a few leashes, and…”
“O-oh, no, no.” Nettie laughed with a hint of embarrassment. Leashes? Collars? She knew he didn’t mean for dogs. “I’ve got to get home to make supper.” Probably for an empty house. “Here,” she wrote her number down before handing him the clipboard back, “contact me for any updates. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Ayame smiled wide before nodding. “Sounds like an excellent idea, Nettie! Until then!”