Disclaimer: I own nothing! Strangers in Paradise, Cherry Hammer, and Ai Takahashi belong to the Awesome Terry Moore (creator of ECHO and Rachel Rising also) Cherry loves retro music and tv, movies. She says "Know what I'm saying" a lot. Ai was only in issue 97 of SIP, but seemed like a fun-loving, passionate woman. She was David's twin, after all. All mistakes are my own..(I'm sure there will be a lot of them)

Anything not in "" quotation marks are thoughts and narration of the characters.

- WHAT I DO BEST -

Part 2-

Omotesando Café – Tokyo

The damn place was loud and colorful from the flashes of lights of the gaming towers. I was getting a headache from the incessant noise and having to listen to music that was not my style. At All.

Hell, I had been in combat situations that were quieter than all this noise, but I was not here for gaming. I had a job to do and for once in my life, I actually disobeyed orders and decided it was my choice this time. I was tired of doing what I was told.

Besides, I already had my target in sight, know what I'm saying? As usual, my pulse began to race as I admired the beautiful woman/girl. I still didn't want to know why. Relationships were for other people.

I ignored the curious stares of the people around me as I sat at the far corner of the bar. I knew that my tall, broad body, blonde length hair, my eyes lined heavily with black smudged eyeliner and dark lipstick that I stood out. I felt like a loser surrounded by all these small, cool, beautiful Japanese people.

As I waited for the target to come to where I was sitting, the one I had been following for almost a month, I reached in my jacket pocket, pulled out a cigarette. I lit it, took a long drag off it, and instantly I felt calmer but one word came to mind- Andy Kaufman, know what I'm saying?

I nervously flipped open my cell phone and noticed I had missed fifteen calls from my boss, Tambi Baker. After I decided I wanted to stay in Japan another day despite her wishes, I had silenced my phone. I did not know why I felt like I had to decide whether to tell Yoshiko (who liked to be called Ai) about her heritage and about the billions of dollars she was worth. That was my original job, but when her unknown twin brother died of a brain tumor yesterday, Tambi told me to leave her alone that she'd be happier not knowing.

Ai was the daughter of Kenichi Takahashi, who was leader of the American Yazuka- that is worth millions. The rest of her family- her stepsister, the late Darcy Parker, who was worth billions but was a twisted witch who deserved the death she deserved. Her fraternal twin brother, Yousaka Takahashi but went by the name of David Qin had just died of a brain tumor.

She worked at this café five days a week and gave dance lessons to clueless businessmen at night. She had to struggle to make ends meet because she does not know anything about this other life. I feel like I should be the one to tell her the truth. However, the truth might cause emotional stress and the threat that the money would ruin her.

I have two words to say about that- Dana Plato.

But as for myself, I would definitely take the money. That was why I was still here in Japan. I wanted to make my own mind up instead of always following orders. I was willing to face Tambi's wrath and punishment if it came to that.

I was tired of the J-Pop that had been playing and I called out to the nearest server. She turned and smiled at me "Hello, how may I help you today?" she said, trying hard to sound perky, despite her tired eyes. She had long nails that were painted bright blue. They were very noticeable.

"Yeah, do you have any Elvis Presley or Nancy Sinatra that you could play?" I responded back to her in Japanese.

"El...vess Prhessly?" she said looking puzzled. "Please wait a moment, Miss. Let me go ask our music expert!" she said moving past the other servers.

'Oh...kay' I thought to myself. I was waiting for an answer when I suddenly heard 'Jailhouse Rock.' playing and what I thought was the same server appear before me.

"Hey, thanks a lo…" I stopped when I looked up into her face that wore a beautiful smile and sparkling dark eyes that I could get lost in. It was Ai…finally. I gave myself an internal kick for feeling like this. I was crushing...something fierce.

"Hello, I am so sorry to have kept you waiting." Ai said in a soft and sincere voice as she gave a little bow by lowering her head and upper body. "I am glad I had my Elvis cd with me so I could honor your request," she smiled sweetly. "I also have Nancy Sinatra and Dusty Springfield too, but I am sorry for the customers here only like the current music. Pity that I'll have to grant you this one song only," she said as she winked at me as I stared at her like an idiot. She liked ElviS, Nancy and Dusty! This might be the perfect woman for me! I thought to myself.

I finally came to my senses and said "Hey, thanks a lot or playing me 'Jailhouse Rock'. It's a rare to find an Elvis, Nancy, and Dusty fan in Japan or almost anywhere," I said as I kept staring at her soft and sweet face.

"My grandmother had their albums when I was growing up," Ai said, shrugging lightly. "When I asked her where she got them, she told me a friend gave them to her. I can lend you my I pod if you really can't tolerate the music." she smiled at me playfully.

"Oh, I guess I can tolerate it if you serve me a Whiskey and coke." I responded, trying to look as cool and hot at the same time.

"Yes, lucky for you, I can, and may I suggest our sushi rolls with or without wasabi?" she said, as she pulled out her order pad.

"That sounds good, and I'll definitely have the wasabi on the side. Oh, and please call me Cherry." I said, as I watched her jot my order down.

"Thank you, Cherry-san. Oh, but watch out your cigarette is about to burn you!" she said in alarm.

I looked down and realized that I had forgotten about my cigarette and hurriedly stubbed it out in the ashtray. I looked up at Ai who was looking at me with a mix of worry and amusement on her face.

I held out my hands palms up and fingers spread. "Thanks to you, my fingers are just fine," I chuckled.

Ai burst into giggles and I thought it sounded like little bells ringing. I am not one to use the word 'cute' but that is what Ai sounded like. It was nice to hear the pleasant sound in my life besides the constant barking of orders from Tambi and the begging, screaming and deaths of the targets that I had killed or had a hand in killing.

Ai's giggles died as I supposed remembering my life had put a frown on my face.

"Are you well, Cherry-san? Ai asked me with her face full of concern. She reached out and touched the top of my hand. Her touch was electric and my heart began to race again. Our eyes met and I could not look away and she looked at me with a look of worry and something else I could not read.

"I need to get your order," she said softly as she slowly removed her hand from mine. Her hands were soft, her nails short and painted a light glossy pink. "I am sure that your Whiskey and coke will make you feel better. I will be right back," she said as she turned away.

Cherry-Chan. The Japanese were so formal, but my name never sounded so honorable to me before. I then realized that she had changed the honorific from 'San' to 'Chan'. I wondered what had happened to my tough, all-business persona; somehow, I was acting like a lovesick schoolgirl!

What the hell?

XX- Ai's POV-

I felt weak-kneed as I prepared the order for the beautiful blonde woman at the end of the bar. My stomach was feeling like a flurry of butterflies had been let loose inside it. My co-worker, Suzuka-kun made her way over to me.

"Yoshiko-kun, you and that foreigner seemed to be getting quite chummy. I feel the love in the air" she said, but she couldn't keep the amusement out of her voice.

I could feel myself blush as I gave her a smack lightly on the head. "Baka! I just find her interesting, that's all," I told her. "Now move! I have to hurry and get her order to her; she's been waiting long enough."

Suzuka gave me a smirk. "Okay, I won't bother you with anymore questions, for now," as she walked away.

"Suzuka-kun! I called "Next time, address me as "Ai-kun. Where are your manners?" I called after her.

I snuck a look down to where Cherry-chan was sitting. She was staring at me and I could feel her eyes roaming my body. My stomach tightened and I just had a feeling of wanting to get to know her better.

I feel like I have met her before….perhaps in my dreams.

I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart as I walked back down to the end of the bar. 'I have to know her better' played like a mantra repeatedly in my head.

I finally reached her end of the bar and tried to keep my physical responses under control. I just met the woman, despite feeling I knew her from somewhere else. Why was I having these reactions towards a stranger?

She glanced up at me, asking, "Ai-san, was that other server causing trouble for you?" she asked, the tone of her voice was dead serious. Hmm, she was dangerous too. I liked that, it made her sexy.

"Do not worry yourself. She is just a nuisance," I replied as I put her sushi rolls and much coveted Whiskey and coke in front of her. "Here is your order and I put your wasabi on the side, do you need anything else?" I asked. I wanted to volunteer for the 'everything else'

"Oh, yeah…" I thought I heard her say when she suddenly blushed and said gruffly, "I mean no thank you. This food looks great." she replied, and then she looked up at me with one eyebrow cocked. She had on so much eye make-up that I was not sure that she even had any.

"Hey wait a minute, Ai- san. I noticed that you are calling me Cherry-Chan now. Isn't that used for more intimate or close friends?" she asked.

I took a deep breath because here goes nothing…

"I changed it to Chan because it goes well with your name, and also because I find it cute like you, Cherry-chan." I said in a light, playful voice.

Cherry stared at me and started laughing. "You must be kidding me! Me? Cute? You are the adorable one, Ai-Chan!" she said as she grabbed my hand.

"My shift is ending soon. Do you like sake?" I asked her, hoping she would say yes.

Xx-End of Ai's POV.

End of second chapter.

TBC-

I hope you like this story. I did change from third-person from the first chapter…to the first person on this second one. It was a conscious decision on my part, because it just was not working for me using third.

Despite that, please read the next chapter. It will post it any day. Thanks! Please let me know what you think!