Looky here looky here
Ah what do we have?
Another pretty thing ready for me to grab
But little does she know I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing
'Cause at the end of the night it is her I'll be holding
- Bruno Mars. Runaway Baby
CHAPTER 1: The Wolf
Cheap drinks and cigarette smoke. Not exactly what Shigure imagined when Aaya said 'let's go out', but it didn't really matter. He needed out of that house, even if it did mean sitting in some no name bar during what seemed like a torrential downpour. The rain did have its perks though; it was the fastest way to turn a woman's white blouse see-through. But alas, no women in see-through shirts were seeking refuge here; in fact hardly anyone was seeking refuge here.
Perhaps the atmosphere was so dull because it was five o'clock in the evening on a Wednesday. Women didn't tend to flock to bars scantily dressed until eight at the very earliest, but Hatori wouldn't have agreed to come if they had gone any later. He was such a party pooper. But Aayame more than made up for it, making sure to keep an eye out for any women inside or outside of the bar. There weren't many, and the ones that did walk by were…how to put it….not Shigure's type.
Too old, too thin, too big, too dull, too energetic, bad hair, bad clothes- Aayame and Shigure were capable of rattling off numerous things wrong with a woman without even blinking. But most of the time they over exaggerated, mostly in order to see the agitated expression that would flash across Hatori's face. "Have you two no shame?" the dragon would ask as he shook his head in disapproval, "She is a lovely woman," he would even defend the poor girl that had become the eye candy of the moment.
"Not as lovely as you my dear Aaya," Shigure would playfully tease, completely dismissing Hatori's comment.
"Oh Shigure," Aaya would moan as he leaned over Hatori, who had been sitting in between the two, in order to get closer to Shigure. Once the two were adequately close and sandwiching Hatori in between them, they would grin and move away while stifling almost girlish giggles.
And this is how it had been going, until the door chimed and she walked in. "She's cute," Aayame murmured quietly as he looked out of the corner of his eye at the woman who had just entered the bar.
"Stop right now," Hatori whispered, not even bothering to look at the girl, and instead just trying to save her from whatever comments these two would begin making.
Shigure knew that Aaya would say no more, now that Hatori had told him to stop, but that wasn't about to stop him. With one more swig of his alcoholic beverage Shigure cleverly pretended to stretch, turning his head to spot the woman who was currently walking towards the bar. He supposed she was cute, in a disheveled, soaking wet, sort of way. The woman's hair was black, and drenched from the rain which made her bangs cling to her forehead as if they were a part of her skin. A black briefcase bag hung over her right shoulder and settled over her left hip. She wore a black tweed pencil skirt, paired with a baby blue button up top and black high heels, all of which were simply soaked. And still her shirt managed to maintain its opacity, what a shame.
"No comments?" Hatori was simply taunting Shigure, and so the dog figured he best comply and give his thoughts.
"Pretty," Shigure honestly replied as he turned to face Hatori, noticing the slight shock in his face, "But her hips are wide, and her breasts seem to only be a," at this he looked back towards the woman, who was standing at the end of the bar, tapping her fingernails on the counter, "Medium to large A-cup perhaps, which I suppose is acceptable, but still."
"Oh Gure, I don't know what you're talking about, she is simply adorable, with that heart shaped face of hers, and those big brown eyes, she reminds me of a baby deer," apparently this was a compliment coming from Aaya, who was still watching the twenty something woman.
Artificial hurt flashed across Shigure's face as he let his head fall, "Ah! I see you have found another!"
"No, you are my one and only!"
Before Shigure could respond and further annoy Hatori, the bartender's loud laugh filled the room. "Oh look who the rain dragged in," the older gentleman laughed as he walked towards the woman, who had a small smile adorning her face, "And no umbrella I see, you know you'll get sick," his fatherly tone had the woman rolling her eyes as she leaned onto the bar.
"I didn't know it would rain today," she replied as she ruffled her bangs, trying to bring some life to them, but it was useless.
"Well you still look lovely as ever."
Shigure wasn't sure if the bartender was trying to hit on this young woman, but he truly hoped that he wasn't. This man was just too old for such a young beauty, but judging by the woman's expression Shigure assumed that the two simply knew each other and that is why they were acting so friendly. Either way Shigure had made his mind up, and his grey eyes were set upon the woman. He needed to liven this afternoon up, and here opportunity had presented itself wearing a short tweed skirt.
"I look like a wet dog," the woman murmured, which instinctively made Shigure smirk. Not only at the reference to being a 'dog' but also to referring to herself as 'wet', oh the joys of a dirty mind.
"Well I take it you want the usual?" the bartender asked after he let out another chuckle, which was more laughter than the trio had heard in their entire visit to this establishment. Maybe he was flirting with her.
"Yes please," the woman responded with a grin, her white teeth a contrast against her slightly tan skin and black hair. Once the bartender had left to go get whatever 'the usual' was, Shigure had his opportunity.
But first he needed to think of a good opening line. As he did he studied her face and the rest of her intently. She seemed a decent height, but even so half of her body was hidden by the bar, which made it impossible for Shigure to give her the proper 'up and down'. He had been looking at her for a few moments now, and then she finally seemed to sense his gaze. Her eyes flickered to meet his, but as soon as she realized that Shigure had been staring she looked elsewhere, obviously flustered. Shigure now had his opening line, but before he could say anything her eyes met his once more, and a timid "Yes?" left her mouth.
"Huh?" the confusion came more from the fact that Shigure hadn't imagined her to say anything. He had never really been confronted about his blatant admiring of a woman before.
"You were staring at me," she said, but Shigure's expression remained the same, and then he noticed her turn and look behind her at the TV screen that hung in the corner of the bar and a look of embarrassment overtook her, "Oh I'm sorry, maybe you weren't. I mean there are a lot of things you could have been looking at, like the TV, or the pictures on the wall, or," she was rambling, it was cute and Shigure felt the smile come to his face, "And I need to shut up now," she finished once she noticed his smirk.
"There do seem to be a lot of things to look at in here," Shigure said lowly as he stood up and began moving towards her, noticing how she kept her eyes glued onto him, "But I'll admit that you caught me admiring you."
The woman's brown eyes went wide for a moment, but she was quick to gain her composure, "Does he do this a lot?" her question wasn't directed at Shigure, instead she had leaned over, looking past him and was now addressing Hatori and Aayame.
The two didn't even need a moment to think about it before they simultaneously answered, "Yes."
"Oh you two hurt me, cuts like a knife it does!" Shigure dramatically sighed, not appreciated his friend's response, honest or not Aayame and Hatori were doing a horrible job of being wingmen, "Pay no attention to them, they are simply jealous."
Her laugh was small and breathy, and as soon as the first giggle left her lips she brought her hand up to cover her mouth, "Well I did notice you exchanging romantic glances with your friend there," she said as looked at Aayame, "And I don't want to make him jealous, so maybe you should stop flirting with me."
So she did notice us, Shigure's ego was currently inflating at the thought that she had seen them upon entering the bar, "Aren't you a bit presumptuous?"
"Big word," she said with fake awe, and Shigure had to admit that this girl was quick. Witty banter was his forte, and it appeared that she could keep up with him- interesting, and very attractive.
"Well it does describe your behavior, thinking me a flirt and all. Perhaps I just wanted to have an engaging conversation with you."
"Perhaps," she whispered slowly and then turned her gaze back to Hatori and Aayame, "Do you think he's flirting with me?"
Why does she insist on asking their input? Shigure thought sourly as he turned to give his friends a stern look. Good friends would stick up for him, lie even, but then again Aaya and Hari weren't just his good friends. They were his best friends, and for that reason they would enjoy throwing Shigure under the bus.
"Shamelessly flirting," the smirk on Hatori's face proved Shigure's logic; it was only natural for the doctor to be scathingly honest.
"But who could blame him!" Aaya may of thought this would make it better, but it didn't, and Shigure assumed the woman would roll her eyes, or simply leave.
Shigure had enough flirting experience to know that women only had so many responses to being approached by a random guy. They would either: ignore him, insult him, shamelessly flirt back with him, or throw themselves at him. Okay, maybe the last one never happened, but a guy could dream right? Either way this girl obviously wasn't following the typical pattern, and now that Shigure was currently lying under the bus (courtesy of Hatori and Aayame), he assumed this woman would cease their banter.
Instead he heard her laugh again, that airy laugh of hers, "Their funny," she wasn't insulting his friends, in fact she seemed completely genuine as she tried to stifle her laugh, "No really," she must have seen the disbelief on Shigure's face, "You have cool friends."
Cool, now Shigure hadn't heard that adjective in a while. And maybe it wouldn't have been as funny if this woman had been twelve, but she must have been in her twenties, younger than him, but still old enough to think of a better adjective than cool.
"Why are you laughing?"
He had been trying to keep it in, but the chuckles were seeping their way out of Shigure's mouth, "Nothing," he breathed, "It's just that they are cool, aren't they," and now the laughs were coming out in full force, and the woman could easily tell that both her and Hatori and Aayame were being made fun of.
"Yes they are," she stuck her nose up into the air, but this arrogant attitude didn't seem to suit her very well, "Cooler than you."
"Oh you have no idea," Shigure's laughter finally came to a halt as he leaned in towards her, "I am much much more than just cool," judging from the slight blush that stained her cheeks, he had her right where he wanted her.
She must have found him charming, and surprisingly enough she found both him and his friends endearing, "So," Shigure was now merely inches away from her, his grey eyes boring down into her brown ones, "What's your name?" the question came out in merely a whisper, and her blush deepened.
"Well, I can't" her voice became soft, an air of seductiveness taking over her demeanor as she batted her eyelashes up at him. Damn, Shigure thought with a smirk noticing how easily this girl could turn on the sex appeal.
"Why my dear?" he purred as his eyes strayed from her face and caught sight of her chest.
"Stranger danger!" the loudness of her voice shocked Shigure, sending him staggering backwards as he tried to process what just happened, "You sir could be a serial killer for all I know, preying on innocent women while your friends beg you to turn your life around," she said this with such a straight face that if she hadn't smiled at the end of it Shigure would have thought she seriously thought he was a murderer.
Shigure took a moment to just look at the woman, who managed to snap out of sex kitten mode in a blink of an eye. Interesting. He had never had a challenge like this before, a woman who was willing to play the game with him. Of course he had also never been accused of being a serial killer.
"I hope these guys aren't giving you any trouble," the bartender appeared in the midst of the silence, his eyes glaring at the three musketeers. In his hand was a to-go bag, which he placed on the counter in front of the nameless woman.
"Oh no, not at all," if she wanted to she probably could have had the three of them kicked out of the bar, but instead she dismissed the bartenders accusations, "What do I owe you?"
"It's on the house, for your troubles," the bartender was obviously referring to Shigure, who was still standing relatively close to the girl.
"Thanks Ryo," the woman smiled as she took the bag off the counter, preparing to leave this fine establishment.
"Wait," Shigure ignored the bartender's glare and placed his mouth next to her ear, "I never got your name," he whispered, noticing how her body tensed up at the feeling of his warm breath against her cold skin.
"Sorry stud," she grinned as she backed away, using yet another term Shigure hadn't heard in quite a while, "But I can't," she shrugged, still walking backwards.
"Have a good evening Emi!" Ryo called as he watched his longtime customer moving towards the door.
"Emi," Shigure smirked as he said her name, noticing how she stopped in her tracks and let out a sigh, "Well Emi I'm-"
"No!" she snapped as she placed her index finger in front of her lips, "Shhh, don't," her hand dropped back down her side, "It was really nice meeting you."
"But you don't know my name, therefore we haven't technically met."
"That's fine," her feet once again began slowly moving backwards, towards the exit.
"You don't want to know my name?" Shigure tried to use fictitious anguish to guilt Emi into allowing him to speak his name.
"No, no," she waved her hands in front of her, the bag swaying in her hand, "I do, but it'll ruin it."
"Ruin what?" Shigure raised an eyebrow as he noticed the mischievous look Emi was giving him.
"You're nice," she complimented, "You guys too," her eyes switched to Aayame and Hatori, "But I have to go," her back hit the door as she began pushing it open, walking out into the rain without any regard for it, "If we meet again then you can tell me your name okay?"
"O…kay?" Shigure watched as the rain hit the woman's head, soaking her once again, but the smile on her face made it seem like the sun was shining overhead.
"Good," she nodded, "Bye Ryo!" she gave the bartender a small wave, which he returned, "Bye stranger," her eyes lingered on Shigure for a bit, and then she was gone, the door closing behind her as she made her way down the street.
Things became oddly silent once Emi left, not to say the bar had been overly loud before she arrived, but now it just felt empty. Shigure stayed standing there, staring at the door, for a few moments, his mind still trying to compute everything that just happened. Eventually though he made his way back to his seat next to Hatori, who as actually the first to break the silence.
"She's a smart girl."
"What do you mean?" Aayame had other adjectives he would use to describe the woman known as Emi, but he didn't know if there was enough evidence to give her such praise and call her smart.
"She knew Shigure's game, and wasn't about to fall victim to it. The banter they shared was refreshing, and she obviously enjoyed it, but she didn't want it to be too personal. Instead she will simply remember that man she met in a bar, no name, but he managed to make her laugh."
"Wow Hari," Aayame breathed, "That was beautiful. But too bad Shigure will probably never see her again," he pouted.
"No," Hatori looked at Shigure, who's gaze was flickering between the bar in front of him and the door to his left, "It is a good thing that she will never interact with him again. And you should do your best to just forget about her Shigure."
Shigure stayed silent for a moment as he turned and looked at one of his oldest friends, "Forget about who?" he said with a smile, pretending that he had already wiped that woman from his memory.
Hatori seemed to believe him, as he stood up and changed the subject to that of them leaving. But even though Shigure liked to believe the girl was far from his mind, as they walked outside into the rain he couldn't help but search the sidewalk, hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman with the airy laugh named Emi.
Author's Note: So there it was, chapter 1 of Playing With Fire. I have a lot planned for this story and numerous twists and turns. This will be following the manga, but of course some events will be altered and not everything that occured in the manga will occur in this story. I really hope you enjoyed this first chapter, and please make sure to leave a review. Thanks!