Like a Switch [Fruits Basket]

Chapter 39

Like a Switch

Chapter Thirty-Nine

A night on the town with Ayame started off a bit more rambunctious than you were expecting. Though perhaps you should have expected that with everything you'd experienced between him and Shigure so far. The dramatic way he flourished everything, his ability to switch tones at the top of the hat, and the passionate way he had with entering and exiting a room definitely should have clued you into the fact that walking around town with him would have been no different. For a moment you lost yourself in the simple joy of it as he pointed out places along the way, giving amusing notes about each place. You'd been down that road plenty of times before, of course, because you worked there but it was amusing to see everything from his perspective. Plus Ayame had led you farther than you normally ventured for work.

And there was a reason for that. The more secluded, away from main streets that you and he ventured into, the more adult themed and lewd it got. That only became more obvious when one of the shop workers, or owners you couldn't be sure, stopped him for a quick chat. You were face to face with a bright rainbow dildo. You blinked as you moved your gaze while Ayame chatted with the purveyor. Somehow it only got worse from there. Even with the experience you had keeping your composure due to your work, you couldn't help but give into the urge to close your eyes as the embarrassed tide rose higher than you could handle.

Ayame only made it worse. You could hear as his conversation with the person you assumed he had a casual friendship came to a close. His finger twirled in one of the strands of your hair, turning in ringlets as he leaned in closer.

"Don't," you said quietly as you heard the uptick right before he could say anything.

Though you couldn't see it, Ayame's grin was mischievous. He stopped playing with the strand of your hair and wrapped his arm around one of yours, interlocking fingers. The snake of the zodiac bid adieu to his friend before pulling you to the venue he'd originally had in mind.

The bar he'd chosen was the opposite quaint. It was vibrant and lively. There were colorful lights and fabric everywhere. And it was so crowded that you would have thought those of the zodiac would have avoided it like the plague. Yet Ayame had done such a quick meet and greet of the usuals as he pulled you to a small circular table that your mind couldn't keep up.

It wasn't until a shot in that you finally realized something you'd missed on first appearance. The guys in this place were, on average, way too pretty. And the women weren't quite right. Paired with a certain aesthetic that you hadn't gotten until you had a moment to look around.

"Ayame, is this a gay bar?"

"Safer that way don't you think?" He asked with a wink and wide smile.

"For me or you?" You laughed as you returned his smile.

The answer was probably both. But it was definitely safer for him given the nature of the family curse. ByThough that did make you wonder if it was okay for you to be there. You didn't exactly have the basic equipment as the other patrons of this place.

"So, what does my queen feel like drinking tonight?"

You paused and tilted your head, finger tapping your bottom lip as you thought about the question in earnest. At the club you ordered the house wine which was pretty much code for grape juice for the working girls there. That way it seemed like you were drinking with the clients but at the same time didn't risk intoxication every night, or organ damage over time. Occasionally you'd order a real drink but you used heavy moderation with that. And you knew which clients it was safer to drink around compared to others.