Hey there, I'm SO SORRY about the delay!!! I just got a job for the summer, and adjusting has been a pain in the rear end, no lie. More ES21CU goodness coming right up! Enjoy the chapter :)
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Chapter 10: Coffee Break
Hiruma's eyes snapped open, woken by a muffled sound. He had turned down the volume on his moniters that he used for surveilance last night, but someone was making enough noise to wake him up. And on his actual cameras too; he didn't have as many of those as he did cellphone cameras, but they came in handy when placed in the right locations.
So where had it come from? Rolling out of bed, he walked across the dark room and peered at the monitors. Movement came from the top right, and he shifted his gaze to it.
Eh…? What is that girl doing?
Kazumi was… sitting in a hole. She was behind Zokugaku school, in that run-down park. It looked like that pavillion finally had broken down. But what on earth had she been doing to break the floor? And why so early in the morning? Why was she even there?!
If I had only woken up sooner… I could have gotten better footage of that on tape. But none of my informants tipped me off about her being there so early. Maybe I'll assign someone to her?
He watched as she gingerly got out of the hole, leaning against one of the rails. Her knee was bleeding. How could she be so clumsy when she was a dancer? Weren't they supposed to be gracefull? It looked like she had no finesse at all.
Suddenly, Kazumi stiffened onscreen. Hiruma raised an eyebrow. What is she looking at... oh? What's he doing there?
Habashira didn't look happy. Hiruma saw Kazumi suddenly get down on her knees with her forehead pressed to the ground. More muffled sounds came; she was saying something! He snatched the remote and turned up the volume as Habashira made his way over.
"… Just get up. Or do you call people cowards and then wet your own pants for fun?" Hiruma smirked a little as he heard Habashira's retort. Not a bad line. But he seems uncomfortable…
"U-um…"
"What?!"
"C… can I buy you a cup of coffee?"
Hiruma's eyes narrowed. So, she calls the gang leader a coward and goes out of her way to apologise? But he had gone out of his way to force her to apologise for calling him an idiot. Did she think that this punk that lost to Deimon was more intimidating? Did she doubt his own range of influence, what he could find out if he wanted to? Moreover, how could he trust her with the leader of another team? She may have arranged this meeting.
That's it, I'm definitely assigning someone to her. But who should I send…?
He brooded over the question while watching Kazumi's tentative interaction with Habashira. His teeth ground together. Why did she look so frightened? He LOST to Deimon yesterday! He couldn't touch her even if he wanted to! And there she was groveling like… like…
Like she should towards him.
"Looks like the transferee hasn't gotten the message quite yet. I think we need to have another talk. And then, I think that person would do just fine for… surveilance ."
~*~
"So, um, where exactly are you taking me?" Kazumi wrung her hands nervously as she tried to keep up with Habashira's long steps.
"It's a couple more blocks down this way. We'll be there soon."
"Okay." She looked up at the back of his head. He seemed to have calmed down a bit since they had started walking. Maybe the exercise was waking him up a little and making him a bit more clear-headed? She just hoped that there really was a coffee shop this way, and not a group of thugs.
But… they lost to Deimon. So Habashira can't really do anything to people from that school, including me, right?... Unless…!!
Hiruma… wouldn't have asked this guy to force information out of her, would he?! No… no that couldn't happen. How was Hiruma supposed to know that she had started practicing every morning behind Zokugaku school? His surveilance didn't stretch that far… did it? Now that I think about it, I don't know a whole lot about that guy. I wonder just how much range he has for getting information. Could he be watching me?
She ran a hand back through her hair and sighed. Her head was starting to hurt from thinking about that guy.
Oh, sorry, was banging my head on your skull wall a bad idea? I was just suddenly overwhelmed by your cowardace and stupidity.
Her lips pursed angrily. It was too early for this. Who asked you for your oppinion?!
Spare me. You're acting like a cornered animal; it's disgusting. What's there to be scared of?
Kazumi stuffed her toungue in her cheek and bit down. Hard. Oh, you're right, what was I thinking fearing the VAST ARRAY OF WEAPONRY?! How cowardly of me! I should just go and leave a lit paper bag with doggie doo doo in it on his porch so I can proove that I can do whatever I want! Maybe I should put a little love note with it telling him it was me; why the heck not?!
…I think you really do need that coffee. It's creeping me out how much like me you're starting to sound.
You THINK? Not exactly a morning person with only four hours of sleep, here. And honestly, it's in my best intrest to be cautious around that guy.
I'm such a terrible secret?
You're an imposibility. Or do you want us to end up in a psych ward?
So it's 'us' when we're in a psych ward, but 'you' and 'me' otherwise…
… Just shut up. You're annoying, and I need a coffee buzz today. BAD.
I'm just trying to find the logic in your thought process. Oh lord, now I'm starting to sound like YOU.
We're just both screwed up today. Where is logic without caffine?? And- HEY, what's wrong with sounding like-?!
Kazumi's noze collided with something hard.
"Ouch!"
"Watch where you're going, idiot!" Habashira was rubbing his shoulder, looking annoyed. " I can't believe people as clumsy as you exist."
"Go… gobenashai." Kazumi muttered out an apology while pinching her throbbing nose. "Ib won habben again."
As long as SOMEONE doesn't distract and irritate me before coffee again during the course of the morning.
Feh.
"Whatever, save the apologies. They make me even more annoyed. We're here, so let's just get this over with." He pushed open the glass door to the small shop, and plunged inside, receiving startled and wary looks from the other customers. Kazumi gingerly pushed open the door, still rubbing her nose, and made her way to his side at the counter.
"Poor girl. Is she paying?"
"Punks like him just need to go die."
"She looks scared. Wonder if he's her boyfriend?"
"Well, she'd be stupid to get in a relationship with that type."
"You think so?"
Kazumi pursed her lips, and wrung her hands a little. Didn't people know how to whisper in this city? Or keep their thought to themselves? They were all staring, all talking about it, and it was just… Couldn't they just leave them alone?!
Ah… don't get too mad, that'll just make it easier for her. Calm down…
"Wh-wh-wh-what would you like, sir?" A young man stared at habashira's appearance with open fear. Not seeming to care, the gangster quickly swept the menu and grinned.
"One double mocha latte with hazlenut flavoring, extra shot, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, aaaand… ah, make it over ice."
Kazumi quickly looked over what he had ordered. No way… he managed to order the most expensive thing on the menu that quickly?! Geez, that doesn't leave much room for me to have anything…
"And you, miss?" having sent Habashira's order into the back, the man looked more releived.
"Hmmm… just give me a double espresso please."
The cashier blinked.
"A…are you sure?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"W-well, that's really strong-"
"Just get her the coffee, espresso, whatever she wants! She's paying for it, why are you asking questions, huh?!" Habashira had him by the front of his shirt. Kazumi took a step back.
"H-hey, stop! He was just trying to help…" Even though it was a little annoying…
A long moment went by as Habashira's glare met the eyes of the terrified cashier. The café was silent. Slowly, he let him go. "Fine, I don't want the manager called or whatever. People like you just piss me off…." He marched away from the counter and past Kazumi, bumping her shoulder and nearly sending her to the ground. She clutched the counter, stunned for a moment, and then got back up, half hurt, half pissed. And DANG, she needed that espresso.
The cashier gave her a sympathetic look before handing her order back to the kitchen. That just made her feel worse.
What was she doing trying to make friends over one cup of coffee?
After a moment, their drinks were brought to the counter. Kazumi paid, thanked the cashier, and then walked back to the small table by a window where Habashira was sitting. He didn't look up as she pulled out the chair and set the iced coffee in front of him. Suddenly, she had to stifle a giggle from coming out.
That drink just doesn't suit him… it looks so weird sitting in front of him!
Maybe this was why she kept finding him interesting. He either was scaring her to death or making her want to crack up laughing. There didn't seem to be any shades of gray between the two.
She popped the top off of her small cup, blew off some of the steam, and then tipped it back. YESSSS. Come, my precious. PLEASE wake me up.
You need help.
This coming from my alter ego? Really?
For the last time, I'm NOT an alter ego or whatever. I'm YOU!
Uh huh. And my uncle's a Frank Sinatra impersonator with horrible taste in 80's fasion. Meaning uncle Mac, not uncle John. Because that would actually apply to uncle John.
Fine, don't believe me. But what's-his-face is looking at you again.
Correction, Habashira was staring.
"Did you just… CHUG THAT?!"
The caffine was starting to kick in, and Kazumi realized what she had just done. "E…eh? Um… well, I didn't get much sleep last night and, um, I… uh… is that weird?"
"So it's not weird for you to do that?!"
"…Yes?"
"How can it NOT be weird? I knew American's liked coffee, but that's… disgusting."
Kazumi blushed to the roots of her hair. Her ears glowed. "I just… like the bitter taste, is all. I don't do it every morning, since that's not good for you, but every once in a while…" She ducked her head under Habashira's look. "I'm just digging myself a bigger hole here, aren't I…"
Habashira was laughing again. Kazumi's face turned burgundy.
"Wh-what's so funny?!"
"You… a person like you… chugging espresso… " He couldn't finish his sentence.
"Geez… it's not like I ordered a triple…"
He was laughing harder now. The other customers stared. Kazumi bristled.
"O… okay, so I like coffee! What's wrong with that?! People have different tastes. You don't look like you're even going to touch your fancy mocha latte. Did you just order that to make my tab as huge as possible?"
"So what if I did? It wouldn't matter now if I poured it down the sink; you probably spent more than half your allowance on it, which will have to satisfy me one way or another."
She sighed heavily. "Are you going to drink it or not? You got me to pay for the expensive thing, fine. I can get you something you can actually stomach without looking like you're going to commit suicide. I'll drink the crap if you don't want it, even if it's hazlenut… and iced… and… good lord."
He looked at her with an are-you-kidding-me-you're-weird look. "What?"
" I said I'm the coffee addict, so I can stomach that warped drink… probably. I'll just order you a cup of plain black, if that would suit you better. The point is that I'm treating you, right?"
The look never changed."…What?"
"Argh! I'll be right back." Amending the previous statement was in order; Habashira came in three speeds: Scary as heck, funny as heck, or IRRITATING as heck.
Walking back up to the counter, she placed the order. The cashier blinked. Kazumi suddenly felt an urge to explain. "Ah, um, that's for him, not me. Don't worry, you won't have to call poisonn control or anything, ha ha ha… ha… um."
"Sure, I'll send that back right away." He named the price, and Kazumi paid with what was just about the last of her money. After a few moments, the cup was brought to her, and she returned to Habashira's table.
Again, she had to hold back laughter at the expression on his face as he stared at the drink he had ordred. It looked like he was trying toset it on fire with his mind, or challenge it to a fight. "Um… it's not going to walk away from you. Here, have some real coffee." She set the cup in front of him, and then took the alien fancy drink into her hands.
Was it really safe to drink this… flavored stuff? She sniffed it. Well, there was some hint of normal coffee there… maybe it would be okay. She took a tentative sip. It was… sweet. And hazelnut-y. And chocolate-y. And whipped cream-y.
Where was the coffee?!! Sure, it made a decent flavored drink,and it kind of smelled like coffee, but there was no full-flavored kick. No exiting flash of bitter robust flavor. In general, it tasted okay. But it terms of coffee… her beautiful, rich, dark, steaming hot coffee…
"Yeah… this sucks." She set the cup down. "Well, now you have even more satisfaction, Habashira-san. I can't waste something that I paid this much for, even if it's terrible coffee. So I'm going to have to drink it. All of it. And you get to watch."
Habashira peered at her, one eyebrow in the air. "That bad?"
She gave him a withering look. "Did you really have to make it COLD?"
He chuckled. "Not the torture I had in mind at first… but I guess this is good enough. Fine, lemme see you chug THAT. As payment for your words."
Kazumi swallowed. She looked at the drink. She looked back at Habashira. Back at the drink. Back at Habashira. Back at the drink. Back at Habishira, with a pleading look. He didn't back down. She bit her lip.
"I'll chug half."
"You're going to chug that whole thing, or I'll mix up my own drink for you out of what's left in your fridge right now. But I'd leave it outside for a month before even thinking about throwing it in a blender. A rusty blender."
"Did I mention how much I love hazlenut?" She picked up the cup, and tipped it back. Ugh, but not COLD hazlenut… this is worse chugged. Ew, what's that gritty stuff? Oh, those are coffee beans that leaked in when they put in the extra shot. God help me…
"PAAAH!" She set the cup down and sucked in some air. "Ugh, I'm going to get a serious stomachache from that."
"You have whipped cream… all over your face." Habashira was grinning in a half sadistic, half amused way. Kazumi looked at him for a moment, and then looked away, grabbing a napkin. That look unnerved her.
Reminds you too much of him?
Don't you dare talk to me about that. Don't you dare. And NO, it doesn't. It's the fact that I don't know whether he's being friendly or evil. It's weird.
It reminded me of that smile.
Get OUT.
"Um… okay. So, you got your drink, and a bestselling adition of fear factor, coffee edition. I hope you're happy with this, since that's as much apologising as I'm going to do. My psychological limits have been reached." In more ways than one.
"…What's fear factor?"
"Never mind. It's not important. Um, are you finished?"
"Yeah. You know, for an expensive joint, this stuff isn't much better than what you can get in a can." He said it a bit too loudly. Kazumi saw the people behind to counter bristle a bit.
Okay, time to surprise him a little.
Wait, what?! No, no please-
Her mouth moved on its own. She couldn't control the volume. "Yeah, you're right. That was pretty cheap tasting espresso. We could find the same stuff in a vending machine. Come on, let's get out of here."
"Excuse me, I'd like to ask the two of you to leave. You're upsetting and disturbing the customers."
Kazumi felt like she was shoved back to the front of her concience. She could hear quiet laughter in the back of her head. Her hands went up to cover her mouth again. "I'm… sorry… We'll leave right now." She moved past the manager, past Habashira, out the door, and down the street.
I hate you. I hate you. I'll hate you until the day I die or until I get rid of you. Whichever comes last. I HATE you.
There's the spunk I'm looking for.
Shut up. Just stop talking. You always make my life worse.
…One day, you might not think so. I hope you'll understand why I did what I did. I did it for the person we are.
You did what you wanted for yourself. We are NOT the same person. I'll proove that to everyone, and to you. Don't open your mouth again.
"OY, MCBRADFORD!" a hand spun her around, and Habashira was standing in front of her, looking pissed off to an extreeme she hadnt seen yet. His grip was hard. "What the hell was that?! That guy was acting pretty arrogant after you left, telling people kids shouldn't say things they can't back up with actions when they're confronted about it." His teeth ground together as he looked at her. "I don't get you… Why did you say that crap and then let him walk all over you?!" He shook her, rattling her teeth. "IF I'M A COWARD, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
"Sorry."
"What?! Do you think that-"
"Sorry, Sorry, SORRY, SORRY, SORRY! I'M SO TIRED OF APOLOGISING FOR THE CRAP THAT COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH! I'M SICK OF IT!" She swore at the top of her lungs, startling him. She panted for air, her hands clutching her hair. "I'm so sick of this… I don't want to apologise anymore."
"Then DON'T."
She looked up at him, shocked. "What?! How could I-"
"Look. I don't really know what's going on in that screwed up head of yours but…" He ran a hand back through his hair and sighed. "You meant what you said, right? About the coffee being crap, and me being a coward."
Kazumi looked at him, and then at the ground. She thought for a long while. Finally, she looked back up at him. "Unfortunately, yes I did."
"Unfortunately? What's so bad about speaking your mind?"
She gave him a deadpan look, and his jaw jutted out in frustration. "Okay, I really shouldn't be asking that. But… I dunno, I mean, isn't it usually better to be honest with people? If you feel like speaking your mind, just do it. And don't apologise for it. Since… that's what you need to say."
Kazumi stared at him. He ran his hand through his hair again, this time a bit… nervous? No, just uncomfortable.
"Or… something… I dunno, I'm just a gangster. But that's what I think, anyway."
"Thank goodness."
He looked over at her. "Huh?"
"You don't hate me. I'm glad." She smiled a little. "I guess that's why I apologise so much. So people won't think badly of me. But what you're saying is, they might think badly of me if I DO apologise, or regardless of what I say… I think. Is that what you meant?"
"H…hey, you know, whatever sounds good to you. I'm not confucious or some person like that." Was that a tinge of pink on his face? She smiled a bit more.
"Thanks, Habashira-kun."
His eyes widened. "Since when am I 'kun'?!"
She shrugged. "We can sort of be friends, can't we? We're even now, so there's nothing stopping us from getting along…"
"You're insane. You always change your mind about everything…" he shoved his hands in his pockets, and looked down at the ground, shaking his head. "Sure. Friends. But we're not best buds or whatever. Being with you isn't exactly helping my reputation, especially after loosing to Hiruma."
"Then you'd best toughen yourself up, ne?" She grinned teasingly at him.
"I don't know why I'm making friends with a girl who has no sex appeal whatsoever."
"Ouch, low blow. I think I'm gonna die if I don't seduce someone by walking by at least once a day." She rolled her eyes. "See you around, Habashira-kun. I need some breakfast to take away the taste of that nasty coffee." She turned, and kept heading down the street. He put his hand to his mouth.
"You better stop by a psych ward on the way there, schiz!"
"Whatever!" She did a lazy wave without turning to face him.
Habashira turned in the direction of the school and headed down the block. At the curb, he looked over his shoulder.
She was gone.
"That girl… she better not trip on the sidewalk on the way home. Or walk into traffic. She'd be just the type to do something like that. Is she really going to be okay with Hiruma around?"
He crossed the street at a jog, and started down the block.
"Let's hope that clutz can learn to take care of herself."
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Yay for friends, right? But are you now a fan of the Habashira/Kazumi PAIRING? Then vote in the poll on my homepage!!! :D
A note to anonymous reviewers: Sorry, anonymous reviewing has been disabled. The amount of genuine critique from anonymous people just wasn't outweighing the unnecessary, sarcastic, and otherwise rude comments I was receiving. My apologies to those people who had already submitted good critique, or those who had some in mind.
See you in Chapter 11! (Woot, I'm in the teens now!!! My little fanfic is growing up so fast *sniffle*)
A/N: I actually really like iced coffee. Lol.