"Not difficult. Impossible. Haven't you noticed it yourself? The creepy smile, the way he makes you think he knows every single thing you ever done wrong- how the hell can anyone tell what he's really thinking?"
"Indeed."
Kida seemed to suddenly snap out of it. He got up and nearly knocked down the low table.
"I am done answering questions. We never had this conversation, we had a great dinner tonight and then I went home."
"Oh, sure. I wouldn't tell Izaya about this."
To Kadota's surprise Kida sat down again and proceeded to attack some sushi with relish. It was as if a switch had gone on and turned Kida into a calculating person. Kadota could understand just why Izaya had picked Kida to work for him.
"He'll get you to tell him, rest assured. If he suspects you have something on him. You'll end up telling him every single thing before you know it. What, thought I'd storm out? No can do. He knows I'm here and if I dashed mid-meal it would look very suspicious. And you'll be paying for this, neh?"
Kadota wondered if some of Izaya's sly ways were rubbing off on Kida but was wise enough to keep silence on the subject.
"Aren't you being a bit paranoid?"
"No. No, I'm not."
And that was almost the last Kadota heard of Izaya from Kida that night. With almost disturbing ease Kida was back to chattering about a thousand and one things at the same time, splurging on sushi and in apparent high spirits. It was only when dinner was over that Kida offered a final bit of information. He stood in the threshold and spoke without turning around.
"One more thing. When Izaya plays against himself he doesn't exactly follow the normal rules. I don't think it has anything to do with board games to him."
Kadota could not help thinking that he could have drilled Kida in a more systematic way but as he reviewed his notes later that night, he realized that he had undercovered an important part of Izaya's personality. As he was contemplated these things, Heiwajima Shizuo took a stroll down the street, his mind wandering off to Izaya as well. At first Shizuo had not thought much of Kadota's investigation but it dawned on him that thanks to it he could now predict Izaya's advent. Assuming Kadota was on to something, that is.
It was with the intent of figuring this out that Shizuo took this stroll. And indeed, in no time he ran into Izaya. Instead of doing the usual chasing act Shizuo actually waved at him and he could see the briefest of hesitations in Izaya.
"It's about time you dropped by, huh?"
"Shizu-chan, good evening. I see that I find you in a sane mood. How refreshing."
Shizuo smoked in silence, keeping his gaze fixed on Izaya. It was enough to make Izaya rather jumpy.
"Got some business around here?"
"It just happens that this is still Shibuya, technically. So I'm not intruding on your Ikebukuro turf."
"Bet you were about to do just that."
It was indeed Izaya's plan but it was completely foiled now.
"Is today a day off?"
"What, can't I go for a walk when I feel like?"
Izaya spread his hands in a placatory gesture that indicated he did not quite care.
"But of course you can. After all, this is a free country and Tokyo belongs to everyone."
He waited for Shizuo to go off an angry rant about how Izaya was strictly forbidden from setting foot on Ikebukuro if he prized his life. It was one of those invariable elements on which Izaya could trust. Shizuo smoked some more in silence.
"I dunno what you're planning and you're more slippery than an eel but you know, you can't keep dodging forever."
Izaya smiled with a hint of malice and made sure that he kept a solid security distance between himself and Shizuo. This kind of approach was not something Izaya expected but he was not an automaton and was already running through possible explanations and plans of action.
"Oh my, could it be that you are threatening me, Shizu-chan? Can't say that I like that. It's not very friendly."
Izaya was ready to apply his switchblade if need be. But Shizuo merely shrugged and turned his back to him.
"I gotta go back. If you like 'bukuro so much then I guess you'll be coming back like the annoying bugger you are. But don't think that I don't know you're up to something."
