8. He's not looking forward to this job. Tom's been badgering this joker for four days, but for some (stupid) reason, this guy is freakishly (idiotically) immune to hearing the name Shizuo Heiwajima. As he stands outside the target's favorite hang-out, slipping his tinted glasses over his eyes and taking a long drag from the latest cigarette, he wonders how best to approach the situation.
"Morning, Heiwajima." Mai sorta has a way of sneaking up on him when he least expects it. He never lets on that her inexplicable appearances startle him, but there are times when he knows she can tell. She always grins when she realizes she scared him. But today, she looks thoughtful, almost concerned, and asks, "Got a job today?"
"Yep. You?" That's a stupid question, he tells himself; if she were on a job, she wouldn't be there right now. She'd be off watching monitors like a cat facing a gopher hole, or whatever it is she does. He's not entirely sure how she runs her ghost business. As expected, she shakes her head, peers into the coffee shop, and asks him who he's after. It's the college-age kid, the one with the stupid-ass hair cut, he mutters, taking another drag from his cigarette before dropping it on the sidewalk and crushing it underfoot.
She sends a sideways glance his way, smiling sympathetically, and asks if he wants to talk, which he doesn't, but for some reason, he finds himself telling her the whole story. She's a good listener, quiet, almost solemn. In a way, it sorta reminds him of Kasuka. So that's it, he says, and she smiles and asks if he's feeling better.
"Yeah, actually."
"I'm glad." Taniyama crosses her arms and leans all her weight on one leg. "It's been bugging me what your deal is. Not that I ever really thought you were a bad person, but I get curious like that."
"You didn't think I was a bad person?" He gives a rueful smile. "That's comforting in a way. What makes you think that?"
"I just know you're not a threat." She shrugs with an almost apologetic smile. "It's the way I am. My boss calls it my animal instinct."
-0-0-0-
Author's Notes: It's fun writing from Shizuo's point of view.
Ghost Hunt is owned by Fuyumi Ono and Shiho Inada.
Durarara! is owned by Ryohgo Narita, Suzuhito Yasuda, and Akiyo Satorigi.
