Tokyo Decadence (Yume Kuribayashi) (NSFW)

[-NekoUke-]

Tokyo.

A city that, be it night or day was practically teeming with activity; rivalling many of the major worldly cities in its density and scope. Such a city had undergone major changes over the past decade or so, with the entire country of Japan apparently following suit in the mix up brought about by one of the most dominant clans in the country; the Ichijou's. The origin of the clan stretched all the way back to the Edo period and it was said that they, from the shadows helped influence the course Japan took all the way up until today. Though nobody was certain given that they were exempt from any texts detailing the history of Japan; making them an enigma among historians. Which was strange, especially when the clan was known to be matriarchal in a heavily male dominated society.

That did not stop them from moulding society how they saw fit. For example, through a mix of clandestine string pulling and their influence as a mega-corp in the modern era; the more conservative restrictions on anything sex related for instance was lifted. Allowing Japans porn industry to truly thrive without resorting to the more sketchy routes often attributed to the yakuza. This in turn also brought about a new wave of Idols; who weren't chained by the rules of their more musically inclined counterparts.

That wasn't to say the Ichijou Zaibatsu bet all of their chips into the sex industry. They even inserted themselves into more mundane ventures; they had their own television network, printed media, electronics line. You name it, the Ichijou Zaibatsu had their brand on it. They had not yet managed to fully infiltrate the Japanese Government however. Though with rumors the clan matriarchs daughter was to run for Prime Minister growing ever more frequent; it might not have been long before their already iron grip tightened even more.

---

Though, to a black and white haired woman that paced through the streets of Shibuya; none of it concerned her. The woman, twenty-three year old Mariko Inoue; was too preoccupied with her own thoughts as she paced toward her destination. A fetish store in Shibuya that she and her Mother, Kotone frequented. She had a custom ensemble ready for pick-up and she could not wait to not only try it on, but to show her boyfriend and submissive. Yes, she; like her mother was a dominatrix and together they ran a club known as Noukoudou, or 'The Crypt'.

If her fashion sense and the clubs name didn't tip anyone off, The Crypt played into the gothic aesthetic and interests the Inoue's were known for by having a lot of strong occult vibes. Inside the club looked more like a Satanists haunt than a BDSM club but a club it was.

She hummed quietly to herself, stopping at the stores entrance and shooting her boyfriend a small; playful text that simply read "be ready" Before she finally entered the store premises. She knew he was at work at the moment but if he saw it, he'd know exactly what she meant. Her excitement dissipated a little when she noticed there was already a customer in the store before her. No matter, she could wait; she thought to herself and averted her gaze towards the magazine rack. A treasure trove of printed fetish material.

"Yume, huh? She's growing in popularity" She said to herself, seeing a magazine cover that caught her eye. "Oh, it also has an interview with the Mistress Superior herself!"

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

Somewhere else in Shibuya, in a convenience store built into the first floor of a multi-story building along one of the prominent arterial routes running through the heart of the ward, a man in his mid-20s sat behind the checkout counter, his right elbow resting on the laminate surface as his hand tapped at his cheek, almost like he was passing time without distracting himself. His sunken purple eyes glanced back-and-forth between the countertop advertisement for one of the newest flavors of slushed fountain drinks and the empty aisles of the store. Funny how empty stores like this got once the peak hour passed, almost like it was a waste to finish his shift. It was only half an hour until he swapped out with his senior co-worker, so it was no huge deal.

Then, he got a buzz on his cellular phone. A singular jolt, nothing excessive like a call. Moving his hands away from his wavy black locks, tied up into a short ponytail in back to look shorter than it actually was, he pulled the phone out of his pocket and took a look. He didn't need to look at the sender's name to know who it was, especially when he saw what the message said. To that, he let out his first smile in hours. Small, but pleased, and hopeful, too. In one hand, he typed up a response, sent it, and returned the phone to his pocket. The contents of the reply: nothing more than a LINE sticker, a shiba inu puppy with hearts for eyes and a panting expression.

His name was Ken Miyakoda, and he was Mariko Inoue's boyfriend and sub. He wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

****

Back at the fetish goods store Mariko visited ahead of meeting back up with Ken - a boutique of custom-made uniforms for dominant and submissive alike, known as "Sexual Supermodification" or "SSM" - the young domme's attention was caught by a magazine at the rack near the entrance, one published by the Ichijou Zaibatsu. As was natural for their publications, the idols under their management were often on the covers of their mags. In the case of this most recent issue of "Monthly Gomu", their latex/rubber fetish publication, the front-page idol was a rapidly rising star by the name of Yume Kuribayashi. At only 19, she had managed to make quite the splash in the spotlight recently turned on for the Japanese public to witness, and the resultant waves didn't seem to stop. The secret behind her popularity varied, and was commonly accepted to be a mix of two aspects: her bubbly and jovial personality and her massive natural G-cup breasts. Her masochistic tendencies were often considered a third reason, though that was never officially stated to be the case. Still, she had a solid, increasing fandom and there was no changing that.

Though lower in billing on the cover of Monthly Gomu compared to Yume, the other name that caught Mariko's eyes was just as recognized, if not even more popular. The Mistress Superior, the title given to the founder, owner, operator and head domme of the China-based latex BDSM club known as the Church of Rubber. Little was known about her, though the print interviews provided enough details to put together a small profile. Most prominent among them her name, Wen Su, and the exact locations in which she had clubs around the world, Tokyo among them. Everything else was rumor and hearsay, up to and including the belief that she was once considered for the Chinese Taipei Olympic table tennis team before making her debut as a dominatrix. Articles and photos documenting such were holy grails of lost media within the fetish community. Chances are the interview in there would confirm some of those rumors, though likely minor ones like talk of a potential branch of the Church opening in Osaka within the next five years. If true, there would likely be some opposition involved from rival powers. Likely not the Ichijou, otherwise they wouldn't have bothered doing the interview, let alone printing it.

Yume and the Mistress Superior were just two players among the thousands comprising the Japanese fetish scene that was allowed to thrive thanks to the Ichijou's influence. Whether they were directly linked to the Zaibatsu, or merely allied with them while continuing to operate independently. Of course, there were others who existed while avoiding cooperation with the Ichijou. Mariko and her mother were two such individuals, their "Noukoudou" club an anomaly among the Zaibatsu-owned clubs in Roppongi. In much the same vein, there was SSM, whose funds came from two families of imbalanced yet equally above-average wealth. Making it the perfect place for the Inoue dommes to frequent, being unaffiliated with Ichijou.

About two minutes after Mariko first entered, the customer ahead of her finished up with the clerk, the two parties bowing heads before parting ways. The clerk, a woman in her early 30s with brown hair done up in a bun with loose locks forming a ponytail, glasses framing her brown eyes, and a modest yet sensual uniform consisting of a sleeves-rolled-up white blouse with buttons undone to present her cleavage, a black pencil skirt with garters and lace stockings coming out from underneath, and red six-inch heels, turned her attention towards Mariko as she stood at the magazine rack.

"Yoo-hoo, Inoue-sama-chan~!" She playfully called out, waving Mariko over. "How are you doing this fine evening?"

Her name was Tsuyomi Kokujo, and she was the founder, owner, operator and manager of Sexual Supermodification. A friend of the Inoue dommes for several years.

 

[-NekoUke-]

She knew what that sticker meant, and it made her smirk a little as it was clear Ken was panting like an adorable puppy in anticipation for her. It made her think of him a little, and she could see him on his hands and knees; leash in his mouth as he waited for his Mistress. It was a cute visual, but sadly there was no time to answer his response nor read the articles that were contained in Monthly Gomu as she would be called over by the clerk and woman in charge of SSM.

Indeed, the Inoue's had frequented this store; with SSM even providing some of the outfits that were part of their 'specialist' kinks within Noukoudou. Speaking of the club, it was absolutely an anomaly among the establishments in Roppongi; not to mention Tokyo as a whole since they operated independently of the Ichijou's influence. With Kotone refusing to sell to the Ichijou every time they asked. She was adamant she would not be beholden to the clan, opposing the monopoly they had. SSM seemed to be another hold-out.

Though one had to wonder if both establishments were running out of time...

"Kokujo-san." Mariko smiled with a bow of her head. Much like her mother; despite the intimidating goth appearance the two Dommes were known for, they were affable people whose Domme personas certainly never reflected their real life personalities. Approaching the counter, Mariko took a note of sorts out of her pockets. "I'm great, thank you. Is it ready yet? I plan on surprising Ken-kun with it." She giggled.

"And I'll be taking him to the Golden Sakura tonight."

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

It was true that the number of "holdouts" among the adult establishments of Tokyo were minimal in number. Ichijou and its allies were the majority, and yet independent entities like SSM and Noukoudou managed to survive without engaging themselves with the zaibatsu. Really, it was a matter of how long they could last until approached with a buyout offer, and only then would the apparent conflict between big and small business, as it were, become more direct. But tonight, it wasn't anything worth worrying about.

Tsuyomi lowered her arm as Mariko walked over and greeted her, closing her eyes and smiling in flattery at her courteous response. As to be expected of the Inoue daughter; far more approachable than both reputation and appearance suggested. Upon being given the note, Tsuyomi took it, but refrained from opening it, instead responding to Mariko first and foremost.

"Ah, so that's the reason for the new outfit! I imagined it'd be for one of your date nights, neither you nor Inoue-sama-san would dare change your on-the-floor looks." "Inoue-sama-san" referred to Kotone, Mariko's mother. The second honorific was her way of differentiating the two in speech. Once she finished chuckling at her own remark, she continued on. "Yes, it is ready, in case you were wondering. Just sit tight and I'll grab it from the back." Tsuyomi turned around and walked over to a door leading into SSM's back room, taking Mariko's note with her. She took a quick glance at it, curious to if it related to the order or had another intention entirely...

 

[-NekoUke-]

Indeed, the real question was how long they'd last until they had no other option but to sell to the Ichijou's. Some rather, unflattering rumors regarding what methods the Ichijou used did often float about; as did the rumor they had some kind of 'sexual reprogramming' facility that operated within the city. It was easy to blow them all off as just that, rumors but every rumor did have some basis in reality. Though they weren't worrying about at this moment unless one did something to actually upset the zaibatsu.

The note itself was nothing secretive. Just a simple receipt that Mariko was told to bring in as order confirmation. Anyone could have walked in and claimed the outfit as theirs, after all; so a proof of purchase made sense.

"Oh it's actually my on-the-floor attire! Well, one of them anyways." Mariko giggled. "Do you mind if I try it on in the back? I also kind of want to wear it out when I go to see him. I'm sure I'll have him chomping at the bit to finish his shift when he sees it."

"Have you ever been to the Golden Sakura, Kokujo-san?"

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

"Ah, I see." Tsuyomi nodded in understanding at Mariko's clarification, and later, again in approval at the contents of the receipt, pocketing it in the hem of her skirt as she grabbed a semi-opaque bag hanging in the back room. It was the method by which all of the custom outfits made at SSM hung when slated for physical pickup. As she grabbed it, draping it over her arm, she went and responded to Mariko's request to try it on. "Sure, you're more than welcome to! You know where the changing booths are, you can take it over from there."

As she returned to the front and handed the bagged outfit to Mariko, she took the time to answer her next question, about the Golden Sakura. "Sad to say, I haven't. Both Bonnie and Diska have, though, and their reviews are glowing, to say the least."

The names Tsuyomi dropped belonged to her nieces, two out of seven siblings, five of which were active in the fetish community, four of them as dommes. Their professional settings varied, however; Bonnie was a self-employed mistress by appointment who occasionally showed up to perform at clubs freelance, while Diska served as a specialty domme at a hardcore club under the Ichijou banner. It could have been that connection that kept SSM safe from scrutiny and harassment by their buyout squadrons. So long as they posed no threat, especially not directly, it was as good as safe. At least, for now.

(The other domme sisters were, respectively, a casual part-time domme working towards a biomedical degree and a "Sister" at the Church of Rubber's Tokyo branch. The fifth, naturally, was a lifestyle sub. The other two weren't involved in the community at all; one was focusing on college while the other, the only male of the siblings, worked as a photographer and DJ. Just some answers for those curious.)

 

[-NekoUke-]

"Of course." Mariko took the bag containing the outfit that Tsuyomi handed her and without a moments hesitation, headed for the changing rooms. Though as she dressed, she decided to continue the conversation. Given the dressing rooms weren't too far out of ear shot from the main counter; probably to deter thieves from using the privacy of the rooms as cover.

"That's a shame, you really oughta visit one day." Mariko called out. "The owner of the place is something else. I'm treating Ken-kun to the upper floors tonight; that or he's treating me~"

She was talking about Madam Yukiko Nakamura; the woman in charge of the Golden Sakura establishment. Who had made quite a name for herself indeed when it came to Tokyo's adult entertainment. The Golden Sakura was said to have been built on the bones of an old bathhouse that catered to the more affluent of clientele; which went a long way in explaining the traditional aesthetic. One could swear the building was warped from the Edo period and into the 21st Century. Though that wasn't the most curious thing about the Golden Sakura, but rather it was an adult theme park of sorts; lighting up the street it sat in like a Christmas tree. Operating as a brothel, love hotel and BDSM club all in one; it was relatively unique indeed. And that was before mentioning it sated a niche for the traditional

No doubt most of this was due to the Ichijou's influence; or perhaps the Mistress Superiors backing?, according to the rumors Yukiko got her start as a Sister in the Church. Either way, it was still impressive.

"How are Bonnie and Diska anyway?"

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

Tsuyomi followed behind Mariko as she headed to the changing room, stopping a booth's width away from the one the latter chose. She simply stood by, responding to what the young domme had to say, beginning with her plans concerning (and the staff operating) the Golden Sakura Inn.

"I've heard," she initially replied, on Yukiko. "A mistress who styles herself after a classic brothel madam isn't one who's easily forgotten, if you'll excuse the poetry." She chuckled softly, then moved on to the next topic. "Whoever ends up paying, I don't doubt you two will have a wonderful time there."

Then came the topic of her nieces. The two oldest she made mention of, at least. "Oh, they're doing great, as always! Bonnie's on-call business has been going strong, enough that she's thinking about buying her own place so she can offer on-site sessions too. As for Diska..." She inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, her grin becoming wry. "Let's just say she's taking full advantage of the freedoms the Ichijou have offered her as one of their employees. After all, there are worse outlets for satisfying your sadistic impulses."

 

[-NekoUke-]

"Everyone has heard of Nakamura-sama. And yes she definitely has a unique if slightly archaic style but I can't say it doesn't have a niche."

"Well, I wouldn't want to pressure him too much. Even though he practically worships me I'd feel bad about not at least paying something towards the fee." Mariko said, continuing to change as Tsuyomi indeed herself continued the conversation; moving onto the next topic she had brought up regarding Diska and Bonnie. The latter of the two seemed to be doing well for herself in her freelance business; even thinking of starting her own venture for a more localised venue from the sounds of it.

"I've always wondered when she'd branch out." Diska on the other hand, she heard she was working for the Ichijou's and was disappointed to learn the rumors were true. Still, it was kind of hard to be a Domme in this town and not have a connection to the Ichijou's.

"I think I'm ready now, tell me how it looks." Needless to say, the moment she stepped out in her all black latex attire, complete with matching color thigh high heels and studded spikes that adorned the shoulder-pads, anyone who was in the store at the time would know that this particular outfit suited Mariko perfectly.

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

To suggest that Diska's involvement with the Ichijou was a disappointment would be unfitting, at least in the minds of those who knew her well enough like family members, like Tsuyomi. They knew full well that Diska was as controversial as dommes got in the public eye, regularly ignoring safewords and neglecting aftercare whenever she had a one-on-one with any sub she felt "deserving" of her whip. Granted, she knew where to draw the line - often the point where she would be liable for physical injury - and her many subjects knew full well what she was like going in. But still, it was enough that most clubs unaffiliated with Ichijou wanted nothing to do with her. But Ichijou themselves, for all their shadiness, had the opposite reaction and brought her on to make use of her "talents"...

Really, the rumors people needed to worry about, Mariko included, was Diska's involvement in the equally mythic reprogramming program they employed against unwilling competitors set within their sights. But not even Tsuyomi knew if that held as much salt as her general involvement with Ichijou's up-front business practices. So it was anyone's guess if that was the case.

Not that such things concerned Tsuyomi right then and now, especially as Mariko had finished dressing into her new outfit. "Sure thing!" Tsuyomi called out from the other side of the stall, standing at attention as she watched the young domme exit and present herself in a pose befitting of a pro. The shop manager's eyes widened in amazement and admiration, her body trembling on the verge of kneeling down and worshipping her. But she held back, and with a swallow of the air in her throat, she looked right at Mariko and gave her a thumbs-up. "It looks superb, just as I thought it would. Trust me, Ken-kun is gonna go crazy over it."

 

[-NekoUke-]

It was mainly disappointing to Mariko. Being an Inoue, she was one of the few that were outspoken against the Ichijou's monopoly as it were; their business practices and background deals going completely against moral ethics. That didn't even include the reprogramming initiative they operated right in the center of Tokyo and yet completely illusive to the public eye. Those who found out it existed either discovered it voluntarily through equally clandestine channels, or not of their own free will when the Ichijou decided to 'eliminate' competitors or critics.

Their tolerance for non-consensual acts sort of made Diska perfect for their clubs. Then again, the people who got involved with her knew exactly what they were getting themselves into; so they only had themselves to blame.

But more to the point. Mariko was now ready as she stepped out and watched Tsuyomi pretty much gawk in awe at the Dommes change in attire. Indeed, every Domme had an outfit they completely gelled with and this was no exception. Mariko would not have been bothered if Tsuyomi, right then and there decided to start licking her boots. But she watched her relent and give a much more subdued signal of approval.

"Maybe I should wear it out and show it to him while he's working?" She giggled. "If there's one good thing the Ichijou's have done...it's make public humiliation and indecency non-taboo. Their more liberal attitude towards sex and fetishism has been a boon for us lifestylers; even if they have monopolised the industry."

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

The idea of Tsuyomi dropping down and showing complete reverence to Mariko was not an unfounded one. Despite her status at the top of SSM's sparse hierarchy, consisting of an assistant and a rotation of part-timers, Tsuyomi was as submissive as it got, rivaling many of the professionals at that craft. There were no doubt moments of demonstration she employed within the walls of her store, many of which were towards Mariko's mother, some of those Mariko herself laid witness to. Tsuyomi had yet to show such intimate loyalty to Mariko, even as a mere response. Tonight could've been it, but with her employees out of the store this night, the full-timer of the bunch busy with errands, she relented. Someone had to uphold the dignity of SSM as a business, and if her number two couldn't do it, it was all up to her.

"I have a feeling you're going to do just that, no matter what I say. So I say go for it!!" She gave Mariko a double thumbs-up, giggling alongside her. "It's as they say, everything has benefits and drawbacks. And in the case of Ichijou, the benefits are more than worth it. But it's good to keep your eyes peeled, just in case the drawbacks look to disrupt your everyday arrangements." The way in which she gave Mariko that advice she knew full well already, it came off as solemn as opposed to playful, as she typically did. Just proof that everyone had their concerns about Ichijou and their way of doing things.

 

[-NekoUke-]

Indeed, Kotone had often made her publicly worship her. It was something that was allowed after all so no one was going to tell her any different. Still, on the subject of the Ichijou having their benefits and drawbacks; it was obvious in a way. They had done a lot for those in the lifestyle with their more liberal attitudes as opposed to conservative trains of thought. But that still didn't mean everyone was happy, far from it. The Ichijou faced quite a lot of criticism from fetishists with the stranglehold they had over the more adult side of the entertainment industry but nobody really wanted to outright challenge them.

Onto more positive topics however, Mariko placed the clothes that she discarded; save for her practically over sized coat into the bag. She was planning on revealing herself to him as if she was wearing a trench-coat. Perhaps motivate him to leaving work faster?

"Anyroad, thank you Kokujo-san." Mariko bowed her head. "I should be off, I'll let my mother know I stopped by and that the outfit fits me perfectly."

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

Tsuyomi's solemn gaze soon gave way to her typical cheer as she closed her eyes and bowed her upper body to Mariko in return. "As always, Inoue-sama-chan. Oh, and when you next talk with Inoue-sama-san, do let her know I'm looking forward to her next visit, okay?" She gave Mariko a wink to follow up, hoping she would do just that.

 

[-NekoUke-]

"Oh don't worry, I will. I'm sure she's looking forward to it herself." Mariko smiled. "If you'd like, you could stop by the Crypt when you close up? You're a friend of the family so you'd be given priority." She was essentially personally inviting her to visit the fetish club that the Inoue's owned and operated; a club that seemed more like the sort of place satanic rituals would be performed at than acts of domination and perversion.

"Either way, I have to head off before he closes up himself!"

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

"As much as I'd love to tonight, I'm gonna have to pass. Closing up shop solo takes a lot out of me, especially when it comes to the metal curtains and other security measures. Maybe when Sumire-chan comes back from her trip abroad to help me out with it, I'll take Inoue-sama-san up on that 'surprise visit' offer." She rubbed the back of her head as she spoke, chuckling softly to offset any nervousness, though it wouldn't be blamed if the laughs only emphasized things.

The name she mentioned belonged to the only other permanent employee of SSM, Sumire Utsuyutomi. The lover and sub of one of Tsuyomi's nieces - specifically, the one employed at the Church of Rubber Tokyo - she started working at SSM as a means of building up rent money in the event the pipeline of cash courtesy of her brother living overseas started drying up. But the manner of the work she did proved more fulfilling than the meager paychecks, so she stayed on, proving herself a valuable asset to SSM. It was still able to run smoothly in absences such as this, where she flew out to the U.S. to visit her brother, but as Tsuyomi inferred, the extra help was more than appreciative.

But that piece of conversation was of no matter, as Mariko had to get going. "Very well. Hope your evening with Ken-kun goes wonderfully." She bowed to Mariko ahead of her departure. "Oh! And tell him I said hi, too! And that I'd love for him to stop in the next time his schedule allows for it!"

 

[-NekoUke-]

While she didn't have time to stay and chat some more as she left the premises, Mariko was still pleased to hear Tsuyomi speak Sumire's name. She had not seen her for quite a bit but the last she heard, she was doing fairly well for herself being among the staff of SSM; the income being much better than what the average pay check could offer at least. Did the Ichijou not pay their employees that well? Or was it the matter of the CoR's founder; Wen Su? That's how Mariko read it at least, due to her bias. She could be entirely wrong of course.

But that was no matter; as she stepped out of the store, carrying a bag with her original clothing inside while she wore the garments that she came to the SSR for she would make her way to the workplace of her betrothed. The only piece of her original attire being the overly large coat that conveniently hid some of the more provocative parts of the surprise she held for Ken. She was sure he'd love this. That he'd drop and worship her right there even in front of customers, something that before the Ichijou regime kicked in would have been frowned upon.

At least that was a benefit to the Ichijous. Society being more liberal toward sex made the jobs of people like Mariko a heck of a lot easier than they used to be. Brothels could operate in the open rather than having to front as Soaplands to skirt a legal grey area.

She continued walking along, inching ever closer to Kens place of work as her heels clicked with every step. The neon, borderline seizure-inducing signage that littered almost every street in this city acting almost like a beacon that guided Mariko to her destination. Of course, she was familiar with the signage, having taken this route many many times before. Once she passed a Host Club, followed by a book store a few miles down she knew she wasn't far.

And indeed, eventually she would reach the convenience store Ken worked at. She played coy at first, pretending to be a customer as she noticed him. Though it didn't take her long to approach the counter when she was in the clear to open up her coat before him without saying a word.

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

Contrary to the line of thought Mariko had as an anti-Ichijou individual, the discrepancy between Sumire's paycheck from SSM and her partner's was, if actual like she thought, born out of loyalty to the Mistress Superior as opposed to corporate greed from the zaibatsu. Ultimately, it was irrelevant. The Church of Rubber was more Ichijou-allied than it was Ichijou-controlled, so all control of salary was left in their own hands.

Not to mention, Mariko had more intimate concerns ahead of her than worrying about Ichijou and their allies. Like her night out with Ken, which she saw fit to bring to its beginning with a stop at his place of work for the evenings.

At the time she entered the store, Ken was busy ringing out a customer. After scanning their items and reading out their total price, he just sat back as they made their payment through the pinpad. Do-it-yourself tasks like that made this job very non-intensive, especially compared to the borderline exploitation he suffered at his other job... But it was as he waited that he caught sight of a customer browsing the aisle endcaps, appearing to be looking for something without actually grabbing anything, giving him the occasional glance as the middle-aged man at the checkout ambled his way through the input prompts. Her two-tone hair, her oversized leather jacket... He didn't need to rub his tiring eyes to know it was Mariko. His lover, and on most nights, this one included, his mistress.

"Thank you for stopping in, have a nice night," He told the customer after handing him his bag of items, receipt included. Once he was out the door, his sights turned back to Mariko, who started making her approach, now that the coast was clear. "Just couldn't wait for me to end my shift, could you, Mariko-sama?" Even with the lax regulations towards D/s relationships on public display, Ken still felt a thrill calling Mariko even by that most acceptable of titles. But before that thrill could wear off, she opened her coat and revealed her outfit to him. He froze up, his heart pounding as he looked her up and down. His knees almost buckled, but he remained standing, placing his hands on the counter to support himself. "Damn, that's a nice outfit..." That was putting it lightly, of course. In fact, he put it lightly on purpose, knowing what she might do to him in response to such weak statements.

That was the sort of thing he loved most about being Mariko's sub.

 

[-NekoUke-]

Obviously she would be biased. Nobody really expected Mariko to play nice with the Ichijou or their associates though her lack of tact at times showcased how much more mature Kotone was compared to her daughter. There was of course the fact that Kotone was much older but still, the difference was there.

At this present moment inside the store, Mariko indeed waited until the cost was clear before approaching the counter to tease her beau. Naturally she gave a small smirk upon seeing his reaction, which was a reasonable enough response to seeing what he saw. She wore the outfit well, and her presence only served to further accentuate her dominance in this moment as she leaned across the counter, running a thumb across his chin as she gazed longingly into his eyes.

"Such a middling response, Surely you can use those words of yours more; hmm? Boy?"

Her inflection was playful and yet threatening, a low tone similar to her mothers. Though the latter's had a much more pronounced air as opposed to Mariko's more casual speech.

"You have your collar with you?"

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

Ken's gaze moved up from her outfit towards her eyes as she stopped at the counter, the meeting of their gazes making him shiver in a combination of intimidation and delight. One Mariko knew all too well, and one she took advantage of here and now. Gulping softly as she teased him both physically and verbally, he calmly spoke back, though still tense from the vibe she imposed upon him.

"Of course, Mariko-sama. But I can't be too intricate with them, not when I'm technically still on the clock, hehe..." He closed his eyes and let out a short, nervous chuckle. Even with society having changed per Ichijou's influence, workplace expectations and etiquette didn't change much, especially in public service jobs like the konbini where he worked, where Mariko came to meet him.

It appeared that his playfully honest remark calmed Mariko down, assuming she didn't naturally switch off for a brief moment, as the discussion shifted from his failure to pay the appropriate verbal respects to her outfit right off the bat, to if he had an asset of his own ready for the night ahead.

"It's sitting in my locker in back as we speak, Mariko-sama," he answered with a bow of his head. "Would you like me to follow behind on all fours once we take our leave, or will simply wearing it with you at my side be plenty?"

 

[-NekoUke-]

As much as she wanted to, she couldn't ask him to do anything that violated work place etiquette while he was still technically on the clock. This was despite the Ichijou's influence on society. Though those expectations would no longer apply once they stepped outside. For now though, she'd settle with just using her words to tease him. "Hmm, I'll have to make sure to correct you for that later." Her words were once again playful and threatening all at the same time.

She gave his next words some thought. As fun as it would have been to have him crawl through the streets at her side; an act no longer deemed taboo in this new sex positive society. She would suffice with having him walk alongside her while wearing his collar, a symbol of who exactly owned him. "It's presence should leave no doubt as to who you serve, so there's no need to crawl for me. Unless of course you want everyone to see how much of a dog you are~"

Maiko giggled a little, but switched off for a bit as she continued to speak; no longer speaking as a Domme. "How familiar are you with the Golden Sakura, Ken-kun?"

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

"Simply walking with the collar will suffice, Mariko-sama. Though depending on if you brought your leash, I might insist on crawling anyways~." He lightly giggled alongside her. When she "switched off" to ask him about the Golden Sakura, he did the same as he responded. "Not as familiar as those who've actually gone, but I've read up on it enough to know what it's all about. Part love hotel, part brothel, part S&M club, and depending on what you're craving when you visit, it can be any combination of the three. I've also heard that much of their in-house staff are femboys, and because of that it's very popular with dommes, especially those with subs who are bi, bicurious at least." Ken fell into the latter category; his main preference was women, and he never had any gay experiences to this point, but he did express more than a fair amount of interest in having relations with a femboy, especially at the order of a domme. Mariko liked to tease him about it sometimes, most often when she pegged him.

That said, especially with the subtle reference towards his own sexuality, it was clear Ken knew where Mariko was getting at, a stance solidified with the concluding sentence to his response.

"In other words, a place perfect for a domme and her sub boy to spend the night. Right, Mariko-chan?" He smiled at her, hoping his presumptions for their evening plans were correct.

 

[-NekoUke-]

Mariko knew about Kens curiosity in regards to the male form, and indeed she knew the perfect person to sate such. Perhaps she could introduce him to her mothers own live-in slave and house boy should the opportunity present itself. Though it definitely depended on whether or not her mother took a liking to him. As far as she was aware, they had never met and she had no knowledge of him, or at least a more intimate knowledge of him.

"And we'll be going there tonight." She smiled, pleased he knew of the place. The Golden Sakura did hire women as well, but their specialty was indeed their abundance of pretty males. "Nakamura-sama is something else, aren't you a fan of hers? Or am I mistaken? Over the past few years, she has built quite the reputation for herself though I wonder just how she has managed to become so notable..."

"Anyhow, shall we be going?~"

 

[Yume Kuribayashi]

Ken smiled at his lover's affirming statement, as if to say "As I thought" but with no words at all, let alone those three exactly. He did have words for her follow-up question on the Golden Sakura's proprietress, however.

"I know only surface-level details, Mariko-sama. The deepest fact I know is that she was mentored by the Mistress Superior of the Church of Rubber herself. Not even the Mistress Inferior of Tokyo's branch of the Church, which I would've assumed were it not spelled out in the website bio." He let out a soft chuckle, straightening his posture as he lifted himself from the counter. "Maybe that's where her notability came from. Or at least, where it all started." For someone who only knew recently of the Golden Sakura beyond hearsay, he sounded very knowledgeable, his wording suggesting moreso than Mariko herself in some respects. Not that he intended that on purpose, but considering the tortures she was sure to put him through tonight, a little extra wouldn't tip the scales too much, he hoped.

With a brief stretch of his arms, he looked at Mariko with a more eager smile, but an equally subdued tone to the accompanying voice. "Seeing how my shift ends in the next minute, we might as well. Just let me stop in back and get the appropriate attire on, then we can depart." He playfully bowed his head to her before turning around and heading to the back door, just a brief walk from the checkout counter.

 

[-NekoUke-]

The circumstances seemed to differ depending on who one asked. But indeed the one unifying detail was that Yukiko was one of the Mistress Superior's protegees. Of course, how she created the establishment was up for debate, if it was something of her own creation or it was entirely an Ichijou brainchild. The latter would not have been too surprising, especially if it was Aimi that came up with the thing but then again, most of these were just rumors no one seemed willing to confirm lest they end up on the wrong side of the clan for knowing 'too much'.

Honestly, it wasn't unfair to compare the Ichijou to a Yakuza clan.

Not that the two would need to concern themselves with that right now as they had much more important matters to attend to. Mariko smiling as Ken spoke. She raised her eyebrow a little with how much he seemed to know regarding the Golden Sakura but she let it slide. Whatever punishment he had coming would more than make up for it anyway. "Just make it quick~" She purred, teasing pulling open her jacket again before he left out the back to get ready as it were.

How she loved him, and really hoped Kotone would approve of him.