Chapter 1: Desperate Decision

Usagi sat down on her cousin's couch with a heavy sigh. She had just moved to the city three weeks ago to attend the University of Tokyo, a.k.a U of T, (I don't know if this exist or not) and already she was having problems. Her scholarship only covered half of her tuition, which meant she had to come up with the other half and money for her books. She couldn't, no wouldn't, call her mother for the money. Since her father died, five years ago, her mother had struggled to support her and her younger brother, Shingo. So, calling her mother was defiantly out of the question.

Usagi thought managing a grim smile. Her cousins, Mina and Rei, offered to let her stay with them while she was in school, which was a relief. They were attending U of T also and both were sophomores. But, she knew that she had to find a job soon, not only to help her out in her financial crisis but also because she couldn't stay here sponging off her cousins like this. They told her that she didn't have to work at all because they brought in more than enough money from their jobs, but her pride wouldn't let her live off them for long, regardless of the circumstances.

Usagi slowly got off the couch and put her books in her room. It was almost 5:00pm and Rei and Mina will be getting up soon for work.

She began to clean up as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake them before time, and put on a pot of coffee.

"Hey, Odango". Rei called as she came into the kitchen. She yawned as she reached for her coffee cup.

"Don't call me that, Pyro. Anyway I don't even wear my hair like that anymore". Usagi said turning her nose up at Rei. She had long ago stopped wearing her silver white hair (I'm using her manga appearance) in twin odangos. Her hair was about mid back now and fell in silky waves down her back.

"Rei, stop teasing Usa". Minako called from the bathroom.

Minako and Rei were half sisters, same father different mothers.

Usagi signed as she poured her a cup of coffee, her mind drifting back to her problems at school.

"What's wrong, cuz?" Rei asked concerned at how sad Usagi looked.

"Well, I need a job". Usagi said looking up at Rei.

"A job?" Minako said as she came in the room. "I thought we told you that you don't have to work while you're in school."

"Hey, Mina, short enough?' Rei asked pointing at Mina's outfit

Mina wore a short blue sundress that matched her eyes perfectly. Her blond hair was pulled back in a loose braid.

"Naw." She said smiling.

"Why do you need to work?" Rei asked turning her attention back to Usagi.

Usagi explained her situation at school.

"So you need 2,200 in two weeks!" Rei exclaimed "That's a lot of mullah"

"We could loan you the money". Mina said fixing her a cup of coffee.

"No!" Usagi shouted almost making Mina drop her coffee.

"I mean no, I appreciate the thought, but that's too much money for me to borrow". She said looking down. She slowly walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Rei and Mina sat down beside her.

"I'll just have to find a job. Though I don't know of any that I can make 2 grand in such a short amount of time". She said looking down in her coffee.

Minako and Rei exchanged a look.

"Well" Rei began "I know of a place where you can make that kind of cash fast".

She said looking at Usagi.

"Where?" Usagi said suddenly excited.

"It's the place we work at". Mina said

"Where you guys work?" Usagi said looking perplexed. She knew her cousins made good money, their apartment showed that, but she didn't know they had it like that.

"Yeah". Mina said suddenly looking embarrassed.

"We work at a club called The Silver Rose". Mina said looking down.

"It's a strip joint, Usagi". Rei said her expression totally unreadable.

"A STRIP JOINT!" Usagi exclaimed "I thought you worked at a bank".

"Look, it's a quick buck and it's really not that bad". Mina said defensively

"Yeah, how do you think we're able to pay for a place like this and go to school at the same time"?

"But stripping?" Usagi said "I don't know if I can do that". She said. The thought of showing her body to strangers made her nauseous. Damn, she had a hard enough time dressing out for P.E. when she was in high school.

"This is your only option short of selling your body". Rei said her short patience wearing thin.

"If you don't want to take money from us, fine I accept that, but you got to do what you got to do. Grow up, Usagi". Rei said harshly.

"What Rei means is we all have to do things that we don't like, Usa, but you'll get used to it. Rei and I hated it at first to but now we don't even think about it". Mina said trying to soften the blow of Rei's words. Usagi had always been a sensitive girl. Her eyes were already filled with unshed tears.

Minako gently put her arms around Usagi in a comforting gesture.

"I guess you're right". Usagi said defeat in her dark blue eyes. "I'll do it".

"You can come to the club with us tonight and talk to the manager. I'm sure he'll hire you." Rei said softly, becoming protective at the sight of Usagi's teary gaze.

"It won't be so bad, Usa, you'll see". Minako said pulling the younger girl into a hug. Usagi doubted her words though. As she accepted Minako's comfort, she knew that this experience would change her life forever. She would lose her innocence, she felt, in this club called the Silver Rose.