It was like navigating a dense, squirming forest of human legs. Shizuo hardly knew which direction to even look in, because large, heavy shoes were falling everywhere. Had Sunshine Street always been this busy? He asked himself as he ducked around another calf and nearly scared one woman silly after snaking between her ankles. To be honest, Shizuo had never noticed the buzz of traffic before. He'd always drifted above it, more due to his tangled thoughts than his substantial height. But with size no longer an item, Shizuo was forced to pay close attention to his every step unless he wanted his skull separated from his spine.
He was still in pursuit of those two lovely scents: the salty tang of fresh fish, and the familiar glow of cigarette smoke. They were close, so close he could taste them. Sight was completely useless here, so Shizuo merely lifted his nose and let his paws take him where they could. Finally, the forest gave way to open pavement and the ex-bartender leapt for it. He trotted just a little further down the way until his senses informed him of a destination reached.
"Sushi!"
Shizuo started at the sudden declaration, turning around to find the source of the noise.
"Russia sushi! You come, you buy, you happy! Prices today very discount!"
He let out a sigh, eyes dimming in disappointment. Russia Sushi, he should have guessed. What had he been expecting? Shizuo slunk past the restaurant, dejectedly ignoring its boisterous advertiser.
Suddenly, a mountainous shadow loomed over Shizuo, blocking out all light and raising the fur on his back. The cat's claws slid out and a flighty panic seized his heart.
"Hey, kitty," The Sushi man said quietly, bending down and extending a gargantuan hand, "Why look so sad?"
Shizuo wasn't certain if his human expressions were being carried over or were simply being expressed in their feline equivalent, but in any event, he frowned.
"Don't worry about me, Simon." He tried to reply, but Simon couldn't seem to hear him. Shizuo's tail swished behind him, impatient for a response. "Simon?" Izaya could hear him just fine…
"Wait here, sad kitty."
Shizuo stood in befuddlement as Simon returned to his feet and lumbered inside the sushi shop. With the intoxicating scent of food all around, Shizuo found he couldn't leave even if he'd wanted to, so he did as his friend requested. Simon came back soon holding a dish, which he set on the ground in front of the cat. Shizuo's tongue flicked out as he spied a scrap of fleshy pink tuna.
"Naslazhdat'sya." Simon grinned and heavily tousled Shizuo's head and ears.
The ex-bartender winced at his rough grooming, but smiled back afterwards. A nice, warm feeling spread throughout his body, and he felt a strong urge to repay Simon's kindness.
"Thanks," He told the Russian giant, "I swear I'll pay you back. It might not be soon, but I won't forget this."
Simon tilted his head, and for a moment Shizuo thought he had understood. But the chef only pushed the bowl closer with his finger.
"Appetit prikhodit vo vremya yedy," He insisted, resting his hands on his thighs in preparation for getting up, "prodolzhat'sya."
Following that, Simon fell silent and Shizuo gingerly began to pick at the raw fish. Russia Sushi's products were something on the spicy side, but Shizuo had always been able to enjoy them. Now was no exception. Granted, he did feel a little edgy about being watched while he ate, but Simon's company didn't really bother him much. The tuna was soft and tasty and successfully diverted the ex-bartender's mind for a few minutes while he chewed. Shizuo's tail waved lowly behind him, finally relaxed.
Simon soon returned to customer fishing and business on Sunshine Street continued as usual. Shizuo licked up the last bits of ootoro that still clung to the dish and then lifted his head, preparing to leave. Suddenly, he noticed someone from the crowd approaching Simon, and he stopped out of curiosity.
"Hey, Simon-" The man greeted him hastily, but Simon soon interrupted as he recognized the face.
"Ah, Mister Tom! Always pleasure to see you! No Shizuo today?"
Shizuo's mouth fell open and his ears straightened like boards. Instantly he crawled closer to the Russian sushi salesman. Tom Tanaka, Shizuo's employer and longtime friend, stood before him with his briefcase in hand. He seemed greatly agitated about something and brushed off Simon's hearty welcome.
"Actually, I'm here about Shizuo," Tom said, "he's gone missing. I let him out on break about four hours ago and I haven't heard from him since. He isn't answering his phone, but I haven't passed any wanton destruction either, so I doubt he's caught up with Izaya."
"I see," Simon's friendly grin faded and his expression turned somber, "Shizuo in puberty again?"
Despite his irritation, Tom cracked a smile.
"It could be that. But he would have called me if he was suddenly taking off, and...well, he just hasn't been in a bad mood lately, you know?"
Shizuo couldn't stand it any longer. He rushed up to Tom and butted his head against his pant leg, crying out as loudly as he could:
"I'm here, Tom! I'm right here! It's me, Shizuo!"
Tom gasped and yanked his foot back, but Shizuo would not be discouraged. With some difficulty, he reared back on his hind legs and planted his front paws on Tom's knee, purchasing some grip with his claws. Shizuo tried desperately to make eye contact with his boss, but Tom didn't seem interested.
"Tom! Listen to me! I don't know what's going on here, but this is all somehow Izaya's fault!" Shizuo shouted, flinching as Tom kicked his leg up, "You need to call Shinra right away and keep a look out for that rotten flea-!"
"Simon, what the hell!" Tom grunted, failing to shake the cat loose.
Tom and Shizuo struggled for another ten seconds until two gentle hands closed around the cat's ribcage.
"Sad kitty," Simon admonished, effortlessly pulling the feline free from Tom's clothes, "Don't fight. Fighting always bad!"
As though abruptly remembering something, Simon halted in his tracks. Shizuo dangled in his hands, his hind legs and tail hanging limply. The Russian sushi man turned Shizuo around so that they faced each other and raised the cat up to his nose, peering carefully into his eyes. Shizuo glared back flatly, tired of straining his undetectable voice.
"You remind me of someone, sad kitty. He also fights when he sad."
Shizuo couldn't allow himself to believe that Simon actually saw him for who he was. At the same time, he couldn't put off the sincerity in Simon's tone and the seriousness with which he looked at him. For one solid moment, it almost felt as though Shizuo was human again.
Then Tom chuckled shakily and adjusted his glasses.
"Well, maybe they're related."
Simon's attention left Shizuo and rested on Tom as the debt collector sighed and began to walk away.
"If you see Shizuo, let me know."
Tom gave a brief wave and then melded back into the traffic of Sunshine Street. Simon softly placed Shizuo on the ground.
Shizuo cursed under his breath and shook himself. Should he follow Tom? Find some way to leave him a message? He couldn't conceive of any plan that Tom would follow. And even if Tom believed it was him, how would Shizuo explain this? It was all stupid; there was nothing he could do. How did he even get turned into a cat in the first place? What had he done that was so wrong?
"Hey, sad kitty, don't be so sad," Simon said cheerfully, giving the cat one last pat on the head, "life is good. Sushi is good. You eat sushi, you have good life."
That warm feeling spread through Shizuo again as Simon spoke. It started in his tuna-filled belly and blossomed to his heart, causing the ex-bartender's dark mood to brighten just a little. He looked up at the Russian salesman and cocked his head, wondering momentarily how much Simon hid behind that pleasant exterior.
But as curious as he was, Shizuo could no longer afford to wait around. Simon had given him the gifts of serenity and refreshment; now it was time to put those to good use.
"Thanks, Simon. See you around."
An hour later, in an apartment in Ikebukuro…
Thunderclouds were gathering on the skyline, blotting out what was left of the afternoon sun; the entire transformation was clearly visible from the wide windowsill. The sounds of rummaging came from the hallway, where he assumed there was a bathroom at one end. The cat paid no attention to these bustling noises and continued to stare out the window, watching the weather turn dark.
"Ah, here it is."
Who was she? A student at Raira Academy, that much was obvious. As he was permanently enamored with all humans, it wasn't exactly his place to reject her offer. He'd been trotting along, trying to think of someplace to stay, when all of a sudden a high school student happened to stumble across him. It wasn't an event he'd orchestrated, but it worked in his favor nonetheless. That was why Izaya Orihara tolerated his hostess when she returned from the bathroom, a roll of gauze and a brush in her hands.
The sleek black cat leapt down from the windowsill and approached her. The girl knelt down onto the carpet and smiled sweetly at him, eyes wide behind large glasses. Izaya was a little nervous about allowing her fingers to stroke his fur, but soon permitted and even encouraged it. He drew nearer and rubbed against her, his tail poking her nose.
"Sorry," She laughed quietly, "I'm not a vet, but this is should be alright for now."
Izaya kept still as she combed the glass from his body and scrubbed the crust of blood from his wound. Shizuo's slash hadn't been deep, but it still hindered Izaya's ability to move quickly. It was a nuisance. But the informant could not help grinning as he pictured where Shizuo must be now, alone and lost. And with the coming thunderstorm, Heiwajima's predicament would not see a cozy resolution any time soon…He could just picture it: a thin white cat, drenched to the bone, huddling under whatever shade he could find, busy Ikebukurians dousing him with dirty water just by walking past. Maybe Shizuo will grow so miserable that he will simply wander into the street and get hit by a car.
The very idea made Izaya laugh out loud.
And as for himself? He'd be fine. In fact, maybe he'd watch from this human girl's excellent window (it reminded him of his own. That's one thing Izaya's dwelling place must have in ready abundance- windows). Being a cat suited him just wonderfully. All he needed to do was show that girl a little affection and he'd get whatever he wanted.
"I must be crazy, taking in a stray…" She told herself, taking a seat on her bed. Izaya ignored her.
"But at least now I'll have someone to talk to."
Someone to talk to? Izaya turned his head, eyeing her with a twinge of curiosity. And then he smiled.
"Absolutely," Izaya agreed, knowing that she couldn't hear him but unable to restrain himself.
"Why don't you tell me everything…?"