Hinamei scowled at where Izaya stood in her doorway. Her appearance was a bit mussed and there seemed to be a bruise forming upon her cheekbone but aside her evident agitation, she was rather unharmed. Though a heavy weight had lifted from somewhere inside Izaya, a bit of disappointment burrowed in that space.

"Get the broom and dustpan, would you? I've made a bit of a mess."

"I'll say," Izaya chuckled, doing as he was instructed. "Tell me, Hina-chan—" He offered her the broom with a toothy leer. "Just what did this man do to incur your wrath? Break a set of your cherished flutes?~"

Hinamei snatched the broom from his hold and swept along the legs of the chair in which a man was bound and gagged. His buggy eyes flicked between the model and the informant as he twitched and sweated profusely. Hinamei placed her foot on the seat and roughly tilted it back onto its hind legs earning a muffled yelp from her hostage but she ignored him as she swept up the glass shattered about his feet.

"Even worse," she said to Izaya. "A vase."

"That's no way to treat the help."

She shot a dirty look towards the man who cowered under her glare. "He's not the help. He's a dirty little cheat," she hissed as she sauntered to the drop the glass shards in the waste bin.

Izaya plopped unto the couch opposite of Hinamei's hostage and made himself comfortable. "Paparazzi?" he offered.

"Might as well be—a stalker."

Izaya barked a laugh. "So this is why you've been missing our jobs; you've been playing cat with a cornered little mouse."

"Rat," she corrected venomously. She tugged on Izaya's ear roughly. "Don't be so nonchalant about the incident, Iza-kun. His intended target was you."

Izaya cocked a brow in amusement. "You don't say?"

"The idiot thought you lived here, seen you come in and out enough to make the assumption."

"And when he found I wasn't here…"

"He thought he'd settle for the next best thing."

Izaya rubbed his lip in thought though he did nothing to erase the pleasant sneer. "Any idea on what he sought to gain?"

"I didn't manage to get to that between being tasered and subduing him."

Alas, Izaya's grin faltered and his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "You were overpowered by scum like him?" Izaya spat with the heavy accusation.

"Like I said, a dirty little cheat. He snuck up on me in my own house."

"My, my," Izaya sighed with a shake of his head. "I suppose we're going to have to teach him some manners, hmm?" The hostage squirmed desperately in his binds. "What do you think, Hina-chan? A finger for each violation? A bit of acid to make him go blind?"

"Don't be so cruel. He may be useful to us, more so if he doesn't soil his pants," she chided.

"How lucky for you, hostage-san! Hinamei is feeling generous today!~"

"I wouldn't go so far," Hinamei warned. "With my face like this, I'll have to cancel my appointments." She turned on her hostage and folded her arms haughtily across her chest. "Let's hope he has something of value to offer."

And she tore off the duct tape from over his mouth in one, swift tug.


Past

The quiver she found snaking down her spine could no longer be from his insolent touch but rather the cold drops of water teasing down her open back; for that he was still to blame, placing his hand between her shoulders in a seemingly endearing way to disguise his true intent. He would switch his champagne glass to his free hand and place the other on her skin so the cold sweat from the flute would slither down her flesh. He thought he was clever clearly, evident by the hint of a condescending sneer. She was bent on wiping the smug look from his face and swore she would see to it by the night's end.

He chuckled under his breath at her little scowl. She shot him a dark, accusatory look as though to dare him to speak his mind. He needn't any encouragement; she knew very well he would do as he pleased and he did, leaning over to murmur into her ear, "is something wrong, Hina-chan?~"

Her hand curled around the stem of her glass, threatening to snap it in two. The act didn't escape the delinquent's notice and served to widen his maddening smirk. She managed to rein in her fury lest she allow it to overwhelm her and ruin the night. They still had hours to go to see to the exhibit's success.

"Hinamei?" Her expression lifted at her father's call of her name. "There's someone I would like you to meet; he's your benefactor."

Hinamei was relieved to have a legitimate excuse to abandon Izaya. As she made to flash him a smug look, he offered his infamous smirk. "I'd suggest you hold your breath, Hina-chan." She arched a brow at him in challenge but he said nothing more and went on his way.

Kine ushered Hinamei towards a man of obvious importance. His pressed suit was of some expensive foreign label and matched his prestigious appearance. If she had to guess, she'd assume he was from some Slavic region, most definitely European. He smiled at her in a peculiar way, like a wolf dazzled by its elegant prey. But Hinamei was no fragile sheep so she flashed him a seemingly coy smile and batted her eyelashes to hide her calculations.

"Leonid," Kine greeted the man with the amiability of longtime friends. The man clapped him on the shoulder and drew him into a firm hug.

"Ah, Kine! I was beginning to worry you wouldn't show." His heavy accent confirmed Hinamei's earlier suspicions. "What a waste that would be to miss such a fine exhibition?" His sight flickered to Hinamei at this and she flushed expectantly. "You must be the daughter Kine goes on about. Hinamei, yes?"

She gave a respectful bow with her, "yes."

Leonid openly admired her. "She's as exquisite as her taste, my friend."

"She takes after her mother," Kine agreed. He rapped the side of her head gently with his knuckles. "But her mind is much like my own."

"That remains to be seen but I am yet eager. Come," Leonid said as he extended his hand out to Hinamei. "You must meet my wife. She is quite impressed with all that you've accomplished here." Though she was sure he was referring to the gallery, Hinamei suspected there was more to Leonid's words. She followed after him nonetheless.

Her mother was talking to who she supposed was Leonid's wife. A tall and limber woman with decidedly cold features; her hair was as snowy as her flesh and her eyes bragged a shocking electric blue—Kovshutin Inna was a distinguished beauty that heavily contrasted the dainty figure of Hinamei's own mother, Hana. From behind her was a glimpse of her two children, a lanky daughter who fidgeted with her hands but read the world with her owlish eyes and a son much too young to be wearing such a severe look. They were a curious bunch on the surface and perhaps even more abnormal to the core.

Inna flashed a white smile at the sight of her husband towing Hinamei. She placed kisses on either of the girl's cheeks before stepping back to praise her. "My, my," she breathed with exaggerated approval. "Quite beautiful, are you, krykhitka?"

"With an equally beautiful mind," Leonid added with a wink to Kine.

"My husband tells me you are the one who put this altogether, yes?"

"I couldn't possibly take all the credit," Hinamei spoke with false humility. "My classmates helped as well."

"And humble," Inna praised. "You are in the making of quite the young woman, my dear." Her daughter shifted from foot to foot behind her but did not say a thing. "Ah, this is my daughter Lucya and my son Fedir. They are both rather impressed with your exhibit, hmm?" They nodded their agreement and the daughter shuffled her feet once again. Inna leaned closer and whispered to Hinamei. "But it seems despite your efforts, the talk of the night is you." She flashed a smile Hinamei couldn't quite discern but returned nonetheless. Inna carried on her conversation with Hana then as Leonid cut in.

"Your father tells me your talents go beyond event planning," the man commented as he sipped from his drink.

Hinamei glanced at her father who wore an unreadable expression. Hinamei relied on his minute body language for the proper response. "I have many talents, Pan Kovshutin," she said assuredly.

He grinned. "Rest in mind, I have no intention to exploit them, krykhitka. I only wish to see for myself what it is you Moris can do."

At this, Hinamei smirked. "There isn't much we aren't capable of."

Leonid exchanged a look with Kine who nodded in response. "That is my hope, krykhitka."

His hope would soon be tested.

Leonid lead the Moris away from the gallery towards a quiet hallway where no one seemed to roam. Hinamei wondered just what the man had in mind when she was forced to face the bane of her existence. She did her best to contain her abhorrence and only grimaced just a bit. Izaya's eyes glistened with mirth to her response before bowing respectfully to Leonid. After a small exchange of pleasantries, Izaya held open the backstage door to the school's theater. The curtains were drawn and the overhead lights were dimmed to give the space an ominous feel. In the center was a table surrounded by a haze of smoke where two men sat and a third hung back. Hinamei felt as if she had entered the wolf's den, even more so when they turned their hungry sights upon the group.

It was how she found herself in quite the predicament.

She wore a mask of stoicism though she feared she was coming as undone as the curly tendrils falling loose from her chignon. She nearly flinched as Izaya's fingers ghosted over her cheekbone pushing the stray hair behind her ear. She narrowed her eyes in silent warning though he only grinned in response. She was thankful that on the outside the exchange looked like nothing but one of admiration than one of fretful encouragement.

Leonid puffed from his cigar as his bored expression was blurred behind the haze of smoke. Kine rubbed his chin in seeming thought though the act was as transparent as glass to Hinamei. They were all counting on her and her ability to read lies; they would suffer more than just a monetary loss if she failed and even more so if she were to be found out. But no one would believe a schoolgirl had a "superpower?" It was this that truly kept her going.

She fiddled with her right earring before choosing to fold her cards. Her hand was good but that wasn't the point; she wanted their clients to think she was clueless. She was doing well, making small earnings here and there but she was out for the jackpot.

"Nothing again," Izaya sighed as he tossed his cards away. Though he sounded discouraged his smirk and lax posture contradicted the tone of his voice. He was the table's wildcard and the perfect distraction from their true scheme.

Hinamei eyed the other players, two men who looked as wicked as their names. Karasu was a tall man with shoulders as broad as his own legs. His hair was a thick, black mop that hung over furrowed brows. Nozuchi, on the other hand, was a bit more on the average side and could be considered willowy in build. It was not to say he was any less formidable; he wore a smile as sly as the curve of a snake's lips. They were an unsettling duo, even more so than their bodyguard spectating from his spot against the wall. But Hinamei refused to falter; she had dealt with much more fearsome men at even tenderer an age.

"Did you invite me here to rob you?" Nozuchi hissed in delight. He swept his winnings up like the eager glutton Hinamei discovered him to be.

"Don't let your luck cloud your judgement, cep," Leonid chided.

"You never know when the tables will turn," Kine added as he shuffled the deck. "Your cut."

Karasu cut the cards with little enthusiasm. Though he wasn't down, he wasn't impressed and the game was quickly losing his interest. Hinamei worried he would back out if they didn't act fast.

"What do you say we raise the stakes? Things are getting a little boring around here.~" Though she was annoyed by Izaya's intervention, Hinamei also found herself somewhat grateful. Perhaps she would admit that to him after they reigned victors. Nozuchi arched his brows, his grin widened and he leaned closer to hear the proposition. "All in on the next hand."

Nozuchi cackled while Karasu sighed. "Doesn't exactly pique my interest but at least it'll end this god-awful game."

"I don't think you're quite understanding me," Izaya said through his smirk. "We're all men of money." He motioned to his companions with his arms spread wide. "Money is hardly a gain, hmm?"

"Go on," Karasu said slowly.

"I offer my services to the man with the better hand."

Nozuchi sneered. "And what are you but a schoolboy?" he taunted.

"My prodigy," Kine said firmly. Hinamei bit her lip in annoyance. "He's learned everything I know, may soon enough surpass me."

"So what is it that you have to offer?" Karasu demanded.

"Alliance," Kine responded. "Better to be a friend of the Awakusu than an enemy."

"No doubt," Karasu nodded.

The duo turned to Leonid then who grinner over his cigar. "Oh me?" he chuckled. "Alliance as well but I assure you, I am on the path of a great venture, one you surely won't want to miss out on." The Kovshutin spoke for itself.

At this point, Nozuchi's eyes glittered with absolute desire until his sight fell upon Hinamei. He leered at her with pointed suspicion that sent her heart into a small panic.

"And the girl? What's she to a game of men?"

"Collateral," Izaya said with a flippant wave of his hand. Kine clenched his jaw but held his tongue. Hinamei was surprised she was able to do the same. "She's hardly anything to worry about anyhow. Lady Luck doesn't seem to be on her side."

Nozuchi clicked his tongue as he mulled the offer over. He exchanged a look from Karasu who shrugged. "And what is it you seek to gain? Surely there is something more to your proposition?"

"I'm glad you asked," Izaya said with a widening sneer. "My sources tell me your men have developed quite the antidote." Nozuchi scowled at once and Izaya shrugged. "I'm an informant; I know everything," he offered to his silent question. "However, chemistry isn't my strong suit.~" Hinamei inwardly groaned at his pun and concealed her grimace behind a sip of champagne.

"You want the Shifuku?" Karasu surmised.

"Not just the pill," Izaya clarified. "The rights, the distributors, and the manufacturers."

"And how is that a fair trade?" Nozuchi snapped.

"Not so confident now?" Leonid taunted. "We'll take the offers off the table if you have any qualms. I'm feeling rather lucky myself."

Nozuchi flashed a heated look at Karasu who merely shrugged in response. Nozuchi glowered before thrusting his bet into the pot with a heavy, "I'm in."

The others followed Nozuchi's lead although Karasu sat out. He eyed Hinamei as she deposited her own bet. "I sense a bit of injustice," he said, staring right at her face. She wondered if the fear had become apparent, that her mask was coming undone. "The girl has everything to gain and yet hardly anything to lose."

She managed a small smile, one she hoped was sweet yet sultry enough to sway Karasu's mind. "Didn't you hear? I'm collateral," she said. "I have just as much to lose as any of you."

"Tangible," Nozuchi agreed. "We need something more than that."

Kine cast his sights at his hands rather than his daughter. They had hoped it wouldn't have come to this.

"Very well," she said with the smile still in place. "If I lose, I forfeit myself."