The same thought pulsed through O-Ren's mind. No one would expect her to be with Arya, especially not considering the voracity with which she'd had to cut ties to anything gaijin. She forced herself to hold still as the attendant counted the money, sorted her change.

Just as she was about to lean over and whisper to Arya, who seemed to have picked up on things as well, the attendant tugged at his collar, sweating in his little booth.

"Atsuii, ne?" she inquired as sweetly as possible, but it was a cold rush that shot through her veins as he worked at the knot of his tie, and a telltale flash of inked skin appeared.