Chapter 11

Ikebukuro lived again. In the busy daytime crowds, Tom and Shizuo were meandering. They had just put up with the boss's yelling about an overdue client with a mighty hefty bill which required expediency on their part.

But before then, some aimless wandering to relieve stress.

"You think the boss was harsher than usual today?" Tom inquired to Shizuo as they strolled.

Shizuo, hands in his pants pockets, harrumphed. "You think so, too? I haven't seen him get so worked up lately."

"He likes results. It's good for him. And us."

About to reply something to clarify the boss's definition of "good results", Shizuo saw Arisa coming from the opposite direction. He didn't say anything to Tom, but when Tom saw her he made an approving noise.

She weaved her way towards them. Dressed in a short skirt and a flowery blouse which wasn't at all hideous like her Russia Sushi uniform, Shizuo discovered his hand had surreptitiously run through his hair.

Shizuo noticed her first, but Tom was the one who spoke. "Hi, Arisa. Nice to see you around."

"Hi, Tom-Tom. How are you?" Arisa tucked stray hair behind her ear. Her gaze flicked to Shizuo before returning to Tom.

The dark-haired man smiled humorously at the nickname. "Kind of shabby. The day already had some dents in guys."

"Thanks to Shizuo, naturally." Arisa turned her attention to the ex-bartender, who shrugged. "Hi there-" -then she experimented with the deadliest in greetings- "Shi-zu-chan."

Tom threw him a startled glance, knowing how that pet name of Izaya's provoked him.

Shizuo pinkened. He was also surprised to hear the name coming from her and not that idiot Izaya. Somehow, when Arisa said the cutesy name he wasn't flying into a raging fit. In fact, Shizuo welcomed it. Embarrassing to hear, but not revolting.

He realized he was just standing there. Not wanting to be completely rude, he said, "Hi. I doubt your day has been filled with dents. How are you?"

Arisa's grin seemed to widen at hearing his thoughtful question. "Starving. I'm heading to that new cafe that opened up. The one with the sign of the fork and spiral-looking thing."

"Corkscrew," Shizuo supplied, its shape ingrained in his brain from his real bartender days. He and Tom passed the place, but Shizuo didn't think they would eat there so soon. The lines were ungodly long.

"Ah, that's what it is." Arisa took a step closer and Shizuo made out stomach-jumping hope in her eyes. "You guys want to join me?"

Shizuo didn't respond, so Tom did it for him by nodding. A very bemused crease centered between Tom's brows as he studied Shizuo. Tom was on the verge of laughing for some reason and Shizuo had an inkling it'd be directed at him.

Tom looked back at Arisa. "Good idea. We were thinking of eating somewhere." A flat-out lie and his friend damn knew it.

"Cool. Let's talk about the rumors about the restaurant."


At the schmaltzy cafe, business was hot. An unopened bar was at one end and rest of the space was dedicated to dining. They had to wait in line for almost ten minutes, just making it before the major dinner rush when the lineup would extend longer.

Eventually seated at a window table with sodas and menus, Arisa excused herself for a restroom trip.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Tom began good-natured guffawing at his friend. "You are so into her, my good man."

"Pfft. You need better glasses." Shizuo glanced out the window to hide a bout of awkward shyness, rather pointless as the view was blocked by a line of waiting bodies wanting to get inside to eat.

"I'm serious. You're giving her looks that would break any young girl's heart."

Shizuo drummed the tabletop with his fingers. "I don't shoot lovestruck gazes at Arisa."

Tom's straight teeth flashed in triumph. "So you are feeling something for her! And you called her by name."

Inadvertently, his cheeks warmed. Tom wasn't wrong.

Arisa didn't always speak her mind. This irritated him greatly. People had to let others know what was bothering them. Normally, he would smash people who didn't confess -hell, that was part of his job description- but confessions from Arisa were like opening gifts. Surprises, but not the destructive bomb kind filled with resentment or ill will.

When Arisa let her fuse of inhibition spark, telling him what really pushed her with or without words... well, Shizuo felt excited. Adrenaline-humming, almost. The sensation was becoming strangely addicting.

"Oh, but it's a nice sight to see." Tom propped his chin in his hand. "I haven't seen this side of you before. It's quite interesting."

"Side? What side?" Shizuo's tapping fingers quickened.

"It's hard to describe. Like... you don't want to kick her butt to the curb."

"Real helpful."

"In fact, I intend to be. I've got to meet the boss."

"No, you don't!" Shizuo knew Tom's schedule.

"Well, Arisa doesn't know that, hmm?" Tom winked and stood up when he saw Arisa approaching.

Shizuo straightened fast in his chair. "Hey-"

"I'll be waiting next door. I feel like having one of those wild coffees."

Protesting ceased as Tom was already telling Arisa about "the boss".

Arisa waved as he left, sitting in Tom's vacated chair. Her legs bumped against Shizuo's long ones and again, he wasn't minding the act. Arisa might not have either, since she didn't tuck her legs away.

"What do you want to eat?" Arisa asked, handing him a menu. Her hand brushed his.

Shizuo blankly looked at the text. He just lost all capacity to read Japanese as Tom's teasing echoed in his thoughts. The hell?

She was speaking again. "We could split something. The line out there is so long."

"Sure." Comprehension returned at last. He pointed at the page. "Okonomiyaki?"

Arisa nodded excitedly. "Make it a modanyaki."

"Noodles on top, huh?" Their waitress took the order.

They didn't speak for a while. Shizuo felt unusually comfortable sitting there with the full knowledge that Arisa wasn't merely another human to interact with in Ikebukuro as was the majority of people he ran across.

Their pancake-like snack arrived. After splitting it, Shizuo eagerly dove in and took the first bite. His eyes closed in delight. That succulent sweet sauce. An extra long noodle hung from his mouth and he drew it in. When his eyes opened, Arisa had a smile.

Shizuo raised a curious brow.

"Nothing." She looked ready to laugh, like Tom had when they all came here.

Shizuo frowned from her withheld secret.

Arisa's pointer finger reached out and rubbed a spot on his chin. "You should ask for an order of sauce if it ends up here."

Her finger suspended in mid-air in front of Shizuo's mouth, he automatically tipped forward and lightly sucked the sweetness off her fingertip.

Arisa blushed and now Shizuo was the smirking one.

They finished their meal with pleasant conversation and their bill was placed on the table.

Arisa picked up her bag. "I'll pay."

"Let's split the bill." Shizuo didn't want to be a freeloader.

She nodded and Shizuo took cash out his wallet. Arisa dug out her purse from her bag. As she pulled it out, her Swiss army knife clanked on the table.

Shizuo pretended not to notice it as Arisa's hand closed over it, then thought better. "You got it back from Shinra. It's, uh, cute?" The folded knife was small enough to fit completely in her petite palm. Easy concealment.

"Oh, um, yeah." Arisa laughed, discomfort evident as she took out some paper bills. "Handy tool for those everyday problems. Cutting string, de-icing."

Quiet reigned between them. Distractedly, Shizuo could feel their shared moment ebbing away. The pocketknife reminded him of an important question, one he had shut out until now.

He pushed on. He had to find out. He stared straight at her.

"How well do you know Izaya Orihara?"