Shirai Konohana's Story

Shirai sat almost dejectedly on the stone steps. Earlier this morning, before her Botany class (telling her stuff she already knew, but the teacher was still teaching, and Shirai felt bad that she couldn't really try to give him advice. She, after all, had no credentials, so her opinion wasn't worth anything, even if she knew it to be true. This is how humans did it, and her frustration over the rules, to her little mind at least, helped bring her at least a tiny bit closer to humanity as a whole. As you see, she was once the Kami of Sakuras, Konohana Sakuya-Hime, but ever since who knows when, she was stripped of her already limited powers, and separated from her husband. And, perhaps, this was a just punishment for having the gall to be a God in the first, place; to be above the humans at all. The humans who always worked so hard, the humans that were so pure and earnest in their desires. They were precious creatures, and they had happily accepted her as one of them, even with her dubious excuse of amnesia. Specifically, her main friends were two men, Paulo and Jackson, and both of them were enthusiastic and loved to show her how life worked. Like, this high school diploma thing, a certificate for being allowed to enter training for higher end jobs in societies. The concept seemed pretty egalitarian and nice to her- since it was easy enough for her to attain one of these mysterious 'diplomas' with her name on it. A Training Certified Certificate, would be a pretty accurate name for it's use, but well, she was inexperienced after all. Other things her friends introduced the young woman to were things like, say, E, or meth, two strange chemical substances that brought her to this strange alternate dimension. With her two friends, they had a lot of fun unwinding together in that alternate dimension, and she loved taking time during her nights to do that. And they even landed her a job, a pretty lewd job, but a job nonetheless, to work and show off her body at this Odin's nightclub. It was probably the only thing Shirai disliked about integrating as a human, but she had to do it, after all. To repay her debt. And it was nice to know that there was at least one other god in this new world with her; Odin, although since she lived in stealth, he probably didn't know that she herself was a god, once upon a time.

A car drove right up to her and honked- it was her friends. Paulo called her up, calling her girlie, a name in which she felt a strange fluttery feeling about- and opened the car door, allowing her into the passenger seat. Jackson was in back, doing some sort of last minute homework for one of his various bird courses- easy courses, he told her, when she asked what the meant. A class meant for the not as skilled people, who wanted an easy way to finish their training. Shirai figured it was a just system, so everyone had an equal chance to complete training, even if they lack skills that others have. Shirai, of course, had forgone all the 'bird' courses, and instead opted for the more difficult ones, and is probably way over her head. Most people in training, dubbed 'students', went to parties, and had adventures in that strange alternate dimension an a daily basis, and she had no idea how they could fit time to do that, and study at the same time. She figured that humans were a beautiful, hard working species.

So, doing dances in front of the intoxicated men at the night club was nothing in comparison, right? She had to pull her weight, after all. Even though she loathed, and felt so uncomfortable after each session, and felt the intense need to bathe and scrub all inches of her skin after. Sure, there was a 'no touch' policy, but, well, she wouldn't report it if someone did want to put their hands on her, and the rumor eventually circulated that she was okay with it. When she brought it up to her friends, Paulo just laughed and shrugged as he cut into another lane in front of an old lady, who shook her well-manicured wrist angrily at the young men. Jackson said that it was only natural for men to want to touch girls, and to just let them do it. Shirai noted it down in her 'cell phone', what seemed to be a pseudo-magical device that allowed transmission of data back and forth between other vectors. She stared intensively at the small screen as her little thumbs fiddled with the keys.

"I'm sorry for... you know, for asking these questions all the time." She said feebly. "Thank you for always putting up with it."

Finally they arrived at her work. Tonight there would be a pretty big party, filled with high name visitors, and Jackson figured it was a great opportunity for Shirai to get more coverage with the higher class customers. It was a good business, after all, do do your best when the best were watching. Shirai could just pretend it was the same as always, and hope that they would be refined enough not to touch. She gave a small wave to her employer, Odin, before entering his office.

"Odin-sama." She stammered nervously, cupping her hands behind her back in a naturally submissive position. "Um, I, uh. I'm here, reporting for work! Please take care of me- yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" She then bowed deeply, and turned to get dressed for the big occasion, if the skimpy things could be considered clothing.

The changing room was rather filled, other dancers and strippers gathered and preparing. Shirai, well, she was pretty thoroughly confused by the whole ritual. what was the point of putting these skimpy leather pieces if you'd just take them off in front of everyone? Wouldn't it be more practical, as well as conserve more energy, to just go up naked? And obviously the little cloth bits weren't for modesty or anything like that- the other girls seemed almost excited to be getting naked in front of many men. Shirai couldn't fathom how anyone could enjoy the lewd and indecent act, but it's not as if she had any say in the matter. It was part of her repentance, after all. She had to make up for her hubris and her pride, as soon as possible.

"Hey, Shirai." One of the louder and more promiscuous girls called to her, a sweet little smile plastered on her face, "Why you even here, doll? You don't really fit in with the rest of us, y'know?" What was her name, Alex? It was Alex, right? Two other girls turned their heads, interested in Shirai's response. And it wasn't as if the environment with the girls was bad or anything- there was certainly competitions and sabotages and trying to look better, but since none of them really would feel right in trying to do anything against the submissive Shirai, they all treated her kindly and gently enough.

"Uh, I just need the money." Shirai said quietly, evenly, and the other girls just sort of stared at her in disbelief. One specifically walked up to the flower girl and grabbed her by the head, still in a friendly manner.

"Yo, yo." Bree laughed. "You're joking, right? You're smart, girl, not like the rest of us. No idea why you're in this dump!"

A chorus of laughter as Shirai shrunk into her little corner, already feeling naked and vulnerable enough, How could the other girls go around and flaunt their bodies so easily like that; so comfortably? It made no sense. Way back, women were modest... and protected. No good man would let girls like this treat their bodies like a thing to be bought and leered at. And most unfathomable of all, why was little Shirai doing it, too? Every time, when walking onto that stage, she felt like throwing up, it was so revolting and against her nature. But, it was no worse than dying had to be... and she had subjected humans to death for all eternity. Suffering in a night club was the least she could do.

"I bet little Shirai's secretly a total slut!" Alex and company let out a cacophony of laughter, and Shirai managed a weak little grin, feeling edified for at least being able to create laughter for the fellow girls at the nightclub.

She stood up and bowed deeply. "I'm glad to have been able to make you happy." She said politely. "Thanks for being friends with me, minna dou itashimashite!"

These are my precious friends. I hope life gives them enough luck that they won't have to do this to their bodies anymore.

"Party should be up in a bit, guys." Alex said, yelling as if she were the leader of the girl's changing room. "Let's put on a good show, everyone! And dude, Shirai, stop it with the random Japanese, none of us know what the fuck you're saying."

More kind-hearted laughter. Shirai kept her head down and hoped the night could be over soon, almost terrified of going on the stage.