"You alright?"

The words dragged Shizuo from his thoughts. He glanced over at Tom, who was looking at him with a quizzical look on his face.

"Uh—yeah," he said quickly. "Why?"

Tom shrugged. "You just seem…out of it, I guess."

Had he really been so obvious? Apparently so. Shizuo sighed inwardly; he'd been struggling to keep himself focused all day, but his thoughts continued to stray to the message in his pocket. Ever since he had managed to decode it, questions had bounced around in his head constantly. Questions he needed answers to. Surely Kasuka must in be some sort of trouble, but what kind? Why set up a time at a gym? He must want to meet or something, but why there? As far as he knew, Kasuka had no ties to it. If he was being watched, wouldn't it be suspicious to go somewhere outside his normal routine? Something wasn't adding up, which wasn't surprising given how little he knew about the situation, but it didn't stop him from having a bad feeling about all of this.

"Sorry," Shizuo said, "Just…got something on my mind."

Tom raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

Shizuo stared straight ahead at the busy street he and Tom were walking towards. They had just finished collecting from a couple of deadbeats. Old Dollars members, actually. They weren't from Ikebukuro originally. Had joined the Dollars online and came here when things started to heat up. Just some kids looking for action and excitement. But now…now they don't know what to do with themselves. Guess the life of a gangster wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Shizuo wondered how many of them there were; people who had dedicated so much to the Dollars, and then, when it shriveled up and died, had been left not knowing what to do. They seemed stuck in their life, unsure if they should just return to whatever their life had been before, or if they could hold onto a little bit of the adrenaline high that this new lifestyle had brought them. Poor fools. And yet, maybe he could understand their plight, in a way…

Tom's question hung in the air as they made their way onto the sidewalk and started towards the office. He couldn't possibly tell Tom what was going on; what good would it do to drag him into something like this? Besides, maybe it wasn't as serious as he had been making it out to be. The fact of the matter was that he just didn't know enough about the situation, and trying to explain anything to Tom would only be confusing and pointless. But, if he were to tell anyone, it would be him. And, if something went wrong, maybe it would be better to have someone know at least a little…

"It's nothing," Shizuo said, adjusting his glasses a bit. "I'm just meeting Kasuka at the Rakuei Gym after we're done here."

"Ah…it's all coming together now." Tom gave him a knowing smile. "Well, glad to see you're making a bit of an effort. Don't over think it so much."

Shizuo nodded. Maybe he was doing that? Was he just being paranoid? No…this was real. Kasuka wouldn't have gone through all that effort if he didn't need to. "I'll try not to."

He looked down at his watch. Quarter to four. If he continued to walk with Tom, he might not make it to the gym on time. It was probably time to leave.

"Actually," Shizuo said, "I'm supposed to meet him at five. Mind if I head out?"

"Sure no problem," Tom said. "Hopefully nobody jumps me on the way back to the office."

Shizuo knew that it was just a joke, but he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for leaving Tom like this. It was dangerous to be wandering the streets with the amount of cash that his friend on him. But it wasn't too far to the office; he should be fine. It's not like Tom constantly needed someone looking after him.

"Well, if they do, you can finally show off all that skill you've been getting at the dojo," Shizuo said, chuckling a bit.

"See, you doubt me, but just you wait. It'll start coming together soon."

Shizuo shook his head and started across the street. "See you tomorrow."

"Yep!" Tom said, raising his voice as they moved further apart. "And don't over think it!"

And soon his dreadlocked friend was lost in the sea of pedestrians. Shizuo gritted his teeth and picked up his pace. It was time to get some answers.

Vorona licked her lips, the dry air of the corporate building drying them out. Her legs muscled up the stairs, most of her strength restored from her injuries she had obtained in Russia. Her arm still ached a bit, but it seemed that her father's doctors had done a good job putting her back together. A couple steps ahead of her was Kurai, his posture flowing and confident even as he ascended. Clothed in a black suit, which was oddly causal and yet pristine, he had told her that it would be best if they could blend in. Suit unbuttoned and tie loose, but landing so perfectly over his body that it had to be purposeful, once again he screamed chaos, but in a fashion of complete control. He was an enigma, a riddle, a puzzle that she needed to figure out if she and Slon were to get out of this alive.

She too was dressed in business attire; black blazer jacket and skirt, white undershirt. It was stupid, she had insisted, to dress in something that would so obviously restrict them if a fight. But her complaints had only been met with a cool smile and a pandering look. Which had been a common occurrence during the flight to Japan in which Kurai had explained his plan. This wasn't how she would have done it at all, and she had made it known throughout the trip. But Kurai had just smiled that smug smile that held no warmth or humor, given her the equivalent of a patronizing pat on the shoulder, and disregarded everything she had said. And so now Vorona found herself in an Awakusu-fronted business, her hand hovering a bit awkwardly at her side, ready to rip the pistol hidden in her jacket free at a moment's notice.

Finally, they reached the tenth-floor landing and Kurai opened the door leading from the stairway. Vorona followed him into what looked like an ordinary lobby, a reception desk at the far end of the off-white room, black comfortable looking chairs lining each side. Behind the desk was a dark-haired woman, who looked up as Kurai and Vorona entered. As Kurai approached in his normal confident manner, Vorona could see confusion and suspicion cross over the receptionist's face.

"Welcome," the woman said briskly, her tone not at all matching her greeting. "I'm not certain what your business is here, but I'm afraid that Mr. Yagami is out of the office today."

Kurai stopped in front of the desk, his smile not leaving his lips. "Oh, that's okay. I wasn't really interested in speaking with Mr. Yagami today."

A frown came across the woman's lips as she looked up from her seat. Her hands settled on her keyboard, though she did not begin to type anything. Her eyes remained locked on Kurai, suspicion growing. "Is that so? Well, perhaps you are lost then? This is the office of Mr. Alt—"

"I'm well aware of where I am, I can assure you of that," Kurai said smoothly.

"Well, then I'm afraid I don't know why you are here. As I said, Mr. Yagami is out of the office and, as such, he has no appointments sche—"

"You're not listening," Kurai said, "I said that I'm not here for Mr. Yagami."

"If that's the case, then I'm afraid I can't help you," the woman said coolly, her eyes now darting between him and Vorona.

"No, I believe you can be very helpful indeed." Kurai's eyes suddenly flash down to the woman's hands, which had started to glide across the keyboard. His smile faded, replaced by an icy frown. "And, if you wish to remain in a state in which you can continue to be useful, I suggest you stop typing."

"Are you threatening me, sir?" the receptionist says, still typing. "I'm going to call security if you don't leave immediately."

Kurai sighed, and then he suddenly flashed forward. There was a glint of silver in the light as he lurched over the desk, one hand grasping her right wrist and twisting it away from the keyboard. His other arm hammered down, driving the knife he held directly into the hand he had trapped. The receptionist screamed in pain as the weapon punctured straight through her flesh and embedded into the wood of the desk below. It had all happened so quickly that even Vorona was caught off guard. This hadn't been part of the plan…

"You still aren't listening," Kurai said, holding the knife down, pinning the woman to her desk. "I said to stop typing."

The receptionist's free hand struck quickly, blurring towards Kurai's head. It wasn't the crazed, adrenaline-fueled strike of a civilian, but a focused, trained strike. It may have connected, but Vorona had not been sitting around idly as the events around her had started to transpire. As soon as her mind had comprehended what Kurai had done, she had jumped into action, sliding around the desk and positioning herself next to the receptionist. Vorona intercept the blow with one arm and grabbed the woman's wrist with the other, pinning it back behind her back. The woman let out a yell of frustration and kicked the chair that she was seated in out from underneath her, intending it to collide with Vorona. However, she had been expecting this and maneuvered easily out of the way, contorting the poor woman's body as she did so. Sticking out her leg, Vorona took out the receptionist's footing and sent her sprawling to the ground, her right arm upraised to the desk, Kurai's knife still holding it there.

"Now, I suggest you start listening now," Kurai said, his voice oddly calm and yet deadly. "A receptionist is supposed to be helpful, no?"

"You can go to hell!" the woman said, "I'm not helping you! And the Awakusu won't take kindly to—"

"No no no. That won't do at all."

The woman screamed in pain as Kurai twisted his knife in her hand. His smile started to creep across his face again, the darkness and hunger in his violet eyes slipping past the normal surface level charisma.

"You see, the Awakusu won't have to know about this…unfortunate meeting. I've already made sure to change the camera feeds, and you'll just have to clean up this little bit of mess and—"

"Like hell!" the woman screamed. She continued to struggle, both against Vorona and the knife in her hand, but she didn't have the leverage in either situation. "You've made a terrible mistake. I'm not going to help you with anything, and then they'll find you and you'll be—"

Kurai twisted the knife again and the woman cut off her words as she sucked in air through her teeth in pain. "You need to stop talking. Listen to what I say. You're going to call Yoki and Akira off from their guard duty today. Tell them that there's been a change of plans, that you need them elsewhere. There's trouble at the club that only they can handle. You've found replacements for them. Then you'll—"

"And why the hell do you think I'm going to do that?" the woman seethed. "Threaten me all you want; I'm not afraid to die."

Kurai's smile grew wider, the hunger in his eyes deepening. "No, you're not, are you? There are, however, worse things than death. Much worse things. No…the price of noncompliance is not death, in this case. Say, what do you think Kai is doing right now? He must be getting off of work soon? And little Yuri, she must be home already?"

The woman's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare! If any harm comes to them, I'll make sure I'll hu—"

"Oh, no, you misunderstand," Kurai said. "I don't intend to harm them at all. I do, however, intend to…enlighten them, if you prove to be uncooperative."

At this, shock spread across the receptionist's face. "You…you…they wouldn't…"

"Wouldn't what? Believe it? Oh, don't worry, I have my ways. I have more than enough evidence on your dealings with the Awakusu, your secret life that you've been living. I know what you've done and I can make sure they know too. Suddenly all the pieces will start to click together, the small inconsistencies in your stories will all add up. It'll be undeniable. And you, my dear, will lose them. But not only that…they'll know the real you. The monster."

The woman stopped struggling. For the first time, the defiant look in her eyes fades away.

"Ah that's much better," Kurai said. "See how smoothly this can go when you are listening?"

He paused, apparently relishing his victory. Vorona eyed him carefully, taking this fact in and hiding it away for later. This man, he doesn't just try to accomplish his goals...no, he has to do it in spectacular fashion, has to know that he has crushed his opponent, and he lives for that knowledge.

"I asked you a question," Kurai said, his smile curling tight.

The woman just nodded, all fight gone.

"Good, good. Now, no one will have to know anything. Not your family, not the higher-ups in the Awakusu. You can keep living your life just as you always have, and no one will have to be the wiser. I've set it up so that poor Yoki and Akira will take the fall for this…miscommunication and you'll go free. However, you do anything to tip off your associates, and both they and your family will know the truth. So really, you only stand to lose if you don't help me. Does all this make sense to you?"

The woman nodded again.

"Good. Glad to hear it," Kurai said. "Now, how about we give old Yoki and Akira a call, shall we? They need to know that Akane will have some new chaperones today…"

Shizuo eyed the entrance of the gym, watching as students exited after the day's lesson. Most of them were kids, likely those who took the class directly after school gets out. The sight briefly brought back memories of the past, faces that he hadn't seen in some time. Izaya's twin sisters, Mairu and Kururi. Akane Awakusu. Vorona. He shook his head, trying to remove them from his thoughts. He was here for a reason, and he shouldn't let himself become distracted.

Shizuo took a final drag from his cigarette and then flicked it away. He leaned away from the wall of the corner store about a block away from the gym, a position he had taken as a precaution. He scanned the gym's surrounding area, looking for any sign of Kasuka. The note had said five o'clock sharp, and it was getting pretty damn close.

C'mon where the hell are you…

But then, something grabbed his attention. The man had just exited a car and was walking towards the gym's entrance. It was the man's appearance that had instantly caused Shizuo's eyes to gravitate towards him, for it was an appearance that was iconic in Ikebukuro, a guise that he was very familiar with. The man's hair was medium in length, bleached an eye-catching blonde. He wore sunglasses and a bartender's uniform; white undershirt with a black pants and vest and a bowtie to boot.

This man walking up to the gym looked exactly like him.

A strange twisting formed in his gut as Shizuo took in his doppleganger.

What the hell…?

He was frozen as he watched this man moved purposefully up the steps leading to the gym, his mind trying to catch up to what was going on. And as he followed this man's trajectory, he saw another familiar face: Akane Awakusu. The twisting feeling in his gut grew and he found himself slowly moving away from the shop, towards the gym. Something was wrong…something that was way over his head, something that he couldn't comprehend.

And then, he watched as his doppleganger grabbed hold of Akane, right in the middle of several dozen witnesses. Watched as she suddenly went limp in her captor's grip, watched as the other Shizuo scooped her up amongst the scared cries of the other kids around her and ran to the black car that awaited him. Shizuo found himself running now, rushing forward, not knowing what was going on but knowing that he had to stop it. But he was too far away; his doppleganger was already in the vehicle with Akane, and the vehicle was already screeching away.

Dammit! DAMMIT GET BACK HERE!

Shizuo sprinted towards the car, but he knew it was helpless. He wouldn't be able to catch it. But as he ran, another thought ran through his head. As far as all those around here were concerned, it appeared that Shizuo Heiwajima had just kidnapped Akane Awakusu. Someone, whoever had actually kidnapped her, had wanted exactly that. His reputation would be his undoing; both the police and the Awakusu would instantly recognize his description. And while the police had often turned a blind eye in his direction before, there was no way they could ignore a kidnapping. And the Awakusu…they were even worse. If they caught him, they wouldn't believe him even if he pleaded innocence.

Whoever had just kidnapped Akane had just framed him, and neither party interested in getting her back would listen to him. Within the hour, Shizuo Heiwajima would become the most wanted man in Ikebukuro. Both sides of the law would be after him and he had nothing to prove his innocence to those who weren't willing to listen.

He needed to disappear. Regroup. Try and figure out what the hell was going on here.

DAMMIT!

He suddenly cut sideways, heading not after the car but down a side alley. And, at the last moment, just before he fully rounded the corner, Shizuo saw what might have been the most surprising development yet. It was only a fraction of a second, so maybe he had been mistaken. But he would recognize those sharp features anywhere, that long, flowing blonde hair whipping around as she sped after the car on a motorcycle, her violet eyes laser focused.

Vorona.