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Return to Me

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Haichi had his legs crossed and was anxiously tapping his Ray-Bans on the coffee shop table, his hair was even neater than usual, his stature lean, face somewhat gaunt and his suit was new as he waited – his eyes never leaving the restaurant where his reincarnated friend sat chatting with his reincarnated soulmate. Truth be told, he'd kept a close watch over their comings and goings that day. Starting around midnight, he'd set up a close watch of the entryway to the apartment then when his friend had left for his business meeting he had shapeshifted into a young woman to follow him through the subway. He'd managed to enter the meeting as a janitor mid-way through and stuck around afterwards to see what he could overhear. Many people say things to each other when they believe no one is listening. That cousin, for example. If anyone was having Ryo followed, there was no doubt in the racoon demon's mind that it was him and that he had something quite dastardly in mind. The question would be how to broach the subject with Ryo or whether it would merely be easier to confirm the theory by catching the man sent to stalk the boy.

He hadn't been around today much to Haichi's disappointment – despite his scent being relatively fresh outside the building. From what he could tell, the stalker was human. Male. Most likely around 40 years of age. Heavy consumer of oranges. A father of at least two and married or in a serious long term relationship with an admirably active sex life. Usually carrying a loaded pistol that had been fired recently but lacking the smell of blood or death. Avid smoker of both joints and cigarettes. Partial to pure cotton rather than synthetic fibers. There was much Haichi had managed to learn just by studying the scent alone but what did still didn't have was a name and motive. Just because the cousin said cryptic things and was undeniably underhanded didn't mean he was the one who paid to have him followed. Haichi needed more than just a suspicion. He needed hard facts and for that he needed the man.

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"So, um, your parents both died of cancer?" Chiyo asked quietly as she prodded the last few pieces of romaine lettuce on her plate with her fork, "That's quite sad."

"It was," Ryo responded with a heavy sigh, "My father died a few weeks after my mother. I had to deal with being an orphan almost overnight."

"That's awful," Chiyo muttered sadly before furrowing her brow, "My mother died giving birth to my brother. You know about my brother and father."

"I'm very sorry for your loss," Ryo offered sincerely as he gave her a sympathetic smile, "But we're going to find answers for your father and brother's death."

"Just like we'll find the man who kidnapped you," Chiyo agreed as she gave him a strange smile, "You know, you're not so bad when you're not trying to hit on me."

"I do what I can," Ryo chuckled softly as he took a sip of his soda, "You're not too bad yourself."

"Excuse me but what did I ever do to you," Chiyo gasped in mock offense.

"Nothing except ditch me at a party," Ryo teased as he arched a brow and sent her a knowing smirk, "I waited for you for an hour before I realized you'd left."

"You waited for me?" Chiyo asked shyly- a faint blush blooming on her cheeks as she turned her attention back to her almost finished salad. Giving her a curious look, Ryo merely shrugged and picked idly at his sushi, "Well, I thought we were doing well at the time but life had other plans. Instead of a lover, I hope I have gained a friend. Perhaps that's better in a way."

"Better how?" Chiyo asked in an amused tone as she lifted her eyes to assess him, "You barely know me. Maybe I'm crazy."

"Oh, you're most certainly crazy," Ryo teased lightly as he gave her a silly grin before gesturing to his person, "What girl wouldn't want a piece of this?"

"A girl who doesn't like being groped," Chiyo clipped back as she bit back a smile, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar you know."

"Oh, so you're crazy and now you're a fly. How interesting," Ryo snorted playfully as he rolled his eyes, "And here I thought I was in the company of a sane public servant. How mistaken I was."

"Oh, you know what I meant," Chiyo laughed despite herself as she shook her head, "Honestly. Can't take you anywhere."

"Alas, no you cannot," Ryo hummed happily before furrowing his brow and staring just over Chiyo's shoulder at the strange man who'd steadily watched them eat from across the way for over an hour now. It wasn't the same man. His stature was very different but there was no doubt in his mind that he was being watched. Still, he didn't want to bring it up now. This lunch date was actually surprisingly pleasant and he didn't want to make it awkward or putting the woman he was with in any type of danger. Well, more than she probably already was in that is.

"Is something wrong?" Chiyo asked quietly as she too glanced over her shoulder, "Is someone watching us?"

"Not sure," Ryo answered honestly before rolling his eyes and lifting a small piece of sushi towards his mouth, "Just paranoid probably."

"Maybe not," Chiyo whispered more to herself than to him as her eyes flickered from the dapper gentleman across the way and the various passersby until they landed on another strange figure. A woman who looked strangely familiar – sitting idly on a park bench by the bus stop. She'd caught Chiyo's attention when they first entered the restaurant due to her dress – the coat she donned was actually one that the officer had been wanting to buy for some time now – but over an hour had passed and bus after bus had arrived then left yet that woman was still there.

"Do you see that woman?" Chiyo asked quietly, "I think she might be watching us too."

"Are you serious?" Ryo asked quietly as he stared at the woman, "What should we do? I mean, do you want to leave now or…something?"

"No, no, keep eating," Chiyo whispered as she turned back around, "But if she's still there when we're done we'll take a different exit or perhaps your bodyguard could meet us to escort us back to your apartment?"

"Haichi took a personal day to take care of some family business," Ryo sighed as he rolled his eyes, "I don't want to disturb him. Everyone deserves a day off now and then."

"Well, we'll leave out the back then," Chiyo answered simply with a shrug before looking up and grinning at him, "This is kind of exciting actually. Mysterious figures watching us from a distance. Having to take the back door. Pretending we saw nothing out of the ordinary."

Grinning at her, Ryo took a moment to admire the cute way she smiled and the sparkle in her eye. Oh yes, he could definitely foresee a future with her. His own smile faltered slightly as he shook that thought from his mind and returned his gaze to his food. For the moment, he'd respect her wishes. She would be his friend first. Only time would tell where it went from there.

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"They're eating now. No sign they have noticed my presence. Her companion confirmed as one Ryo Ishinomori," the woman texted her employer before glancing back up at the pair inside the small café. Observe and report. Observe and report. That was all she did anymore. Oh, she yearned for more difficult missions. Ones where there was some possibility for danger but no. She got stuck having to plot the kidnapping of a rich asshole just to prove a point. Hell, the girl probably wouldn't even care if he came up missing. They seemed cordial at best. Who the hell else could she really target though? All of her other friends were officers or worse yet, officers on the mafia's payroll. If they'd just listened to the boss, they could just kill the girl and be done with it but that wasn't his way. No, he liked bestowing lessons. She hated it. It was messy and unnecessarily complicated. One way to prove a point, however, was to kidnap the girl herself and maybe have a little fun. Gouge out an eye, amputate a finger or two. A wicked smile grew on her lips as she considered that idea. Chiyo might not care if she abducted the man but if she was taught a lesson, it might as well be one of self-preservation, right?