Dear Readers

I know it's a little late to ask this, but is this story going on for a bit too long or do you think it's just natural?

The ending of this chapter is kind of rushed and messed up because I've been busy lately.

Note: Aniki means Boss and is just used as a joke here XP

please review:D

"So, have you and Shizuo-kun settled things between the two of you?"

"I guess you could say that."

Miyuki and Kazuo were shopping at a convenience store together. They happened to be short on food supplies so they made an appointment to go shopping together.

Miyuki has become a regular customer at the convenience store that they went to. She often came to the store to buy food or just buy some snacks and the store employees knew her, however it was Kazuo's first time entering the store.

"Well, it's good to know that the two of you have settled the problem."

After they have got everything they needed they went to the cashier. The cashier scanned the things they wanted to buy through a scanner to know the price.

"This is the first time I've seen you go shopping with someone, Miyu-chan. Are you two lovers?"

"We're not lovers."

They both stated in synchronization without changing the expressions they had on their faces.

After paying for the things they brought, Miyuki and Kazuo went out of the store and just stood somewhere near the convenience store where there were trees and bushes.

"You really know a lot of people, don't you Miyu?"

"Well, I always shop there so it's just natural for me to be known by the employees that work there."

Kazuo took out a pack of bubble gum from the plastic bag he was carrying and placed it in his pocket.

"Miyu, what do you think about him?"

"Who? Are you talking about the cashier?"

"No, I was talking about Shizuo-kun. I want to know what you think about the man that is known as the strongest in Ikebukuro."

"The strongest in Ikebukuro? Have you been looking for information about Shizuo, Kazu?"

"Yeah, I read a lot about him on the net and it mentioned that he's the strongest in Ikebukuro. So, what do you think about him after being friends with him all this time? Aren't you scared of him? He did hit you with a vending machine."

"I'm not scared of him. He might seem scary to others because of his strength but that doesn't scare me. He's actually a nice guy once you get to know him better and I'm sure you know that already. But to tell you the truth, I think he's kind of a coward."

Kazuo raised a brow. He was confused on what she just said. Coward, a word that has never been used to describe the fearsome man named Heiwajima Shizuo was now being used to describe him.

"A coward? Shizuo-kun? Are you serious? You think that the man that is feared by all, is kind of a coward? People are afraid of him not the other way around, you know?"

There was a tone of doubt in Kazuo's voice. He didn't really think that Miyuki was serious with what she said but he knew she couldn't be lying because she had no motive to lie.

"I mean it. Everyone might be scared of him because of his unusual strength, but he's the one that's actually scared. He's always afraid that he'll mess up or lose control. Wouldn't you call someone that's always afraid of something, a coward? or is it weak willed? At least, that's what I think."

Miyuki had a serious expression on her face. It was times like these that she looked mature and all grown up, aside from her usual personality that makes her seem like an immature little girl that just wants to play all the time.

"How do you know that he's afraid? Did he tell you that?"

"No, he didn't tell me anything about it, but I can tell just by looking at his eyes whenever he loses control."

"Well, you are sharp when it comes to knowing people's fear."

A moment of silence fell between the two until Kazuo broke the silence.

"I know it seems like I'm asking too much but I have one more question regarding Shizuo-kun."

"What is it?"

"Is Shizuo-kun someone that you trust and consider a close friend?"

Miyuki stayed quiet for a few seconds before answering Kazuo's question.

"Yes, I do trust him and consider him as a close friend, in fact I feel very comfortable when I'm with him."

"Comfortable?"

A small smile appeared on Miyuki's face and she looked up at the clear blue sky.

"Yes, comfortable. Whenever I'm with him I feel like there's nothing to worry about and I feel like I can tell him anything, even things that I never told to anyone else. But lately I feel that there's something weird with him."

"Weird? Are you talking about his guilt after hitting you with a vending machine?"

"No, it's not actually guilt. I feel like he's hiding something from me, but I'm not going to ask him what it is, because I'm sure he'll tell me if it has anything to do with me."

Kazuo chuckled and patted Miyuki's head.

"You can be pretty dense sometimes, you know?"

Miyuki didn't know what Kazuo meant. She was confused and just tilted her head.

"Huh?"

While Miyuki and Kazuo were chatting they saw what some might call an unusual sight. They both saw a group of four men that were being chased by a man in a bartender suit while a black rider was following behind him pass by. Seeing the unusual sight, Miyuki and Kazuo just stood there, staring at the chase that was going further.

"Um….Miyu."

"What is it Kazu?"

"If what I saw was right. Those guys were being chased by Shizuo-kun, and Celty-san was behind him, right?"

"Yes, they were."

The four men were running as fast as they could so they can run away from Shizuo.

"Tetsu! This is all your fault!"

The man with red bleached hair shouted.

"My fault? How is t my fault?"

The bespectacled man said.

"If you weren't so rude back there, we could have asked him where Miyu-chan is and he wouldn't be chasing us right now!"

"Well, I wouldn't have been so rude if he didn't lie about knowing Miyuki or not from the start!"

"Could you two just shut up! Just focus on running for now!"

The man wearing a red headband said.

"But this feels kind of nostalgic. I remember the last time we ran for our lives like this was when we made Aniki angry."

The man with red bleached hair said with a smile on his face as he ran for his life.

"Don't sound so happy!"

The others shouted at him.

The men ran into an alleyway and got into a dead end. They can no longer run from Shizuo and they know that fighting him will be useless. Celty stayed in a distance not far from Shizuo but she didn't interfere or try to stop Shizuo. She just simply stayed there on her motorbike and watched since she knew that she couldn't stop Shizuo even if she tried.

"Now you bastards can't run anymore."

Shizuo had those men cornered and was ready to beat them up. It was then that those men had a surprised look on their faces, but it wasn't because of Shizuo. Their eyes widen as they looked behind Shizuo. As he realized this, Shizuo held back his punch that he was going to deliver.

"Aniki! Why are you here? Don't come closer! It's dangerous!"

The man wearing a headphone around his neck shouted out to someone that was behind Shizuo.

-Aniki? So, their boss came here.

"Seriously, you guys. What did you guys do to make Shizuo mad?"

-That voice. Isn't that…

"This is all Tetsu's fault, Aniki."

The man wearing a red headband Spouted as he pointed his index finger at the bespectacled man.

The voice of the one that was just called 'Aniki' sounded familiar to Shizuo, too familiar.

"You know, I was just having a nice chat with Kazu, but then you guys passed by while being chased by Shizuo."

-There's no mistaking it. It must be her.

Shizuo turned around to see and make sure who was behind him. There he saw Miyuki standing not far away. Her hands were on her hips and she had an annoyed expression on her face.

"By the way, why are you guys still calling me Aniki? It's not like we're a yakuza group or anything and even if we were, you should be calling me Aneki not Aniki."

Shizuo was no longer mad but he was now confused. He suspected the group of men were going to do something bad to Miyuki and the mastermind behind it was the guy that they called Aniki. But now those men are calling Miyuki Aniki. He no longer knows what's going on, in fact everyone except Miyuki was feeling awkward and confused.

"Do you know these guys, Miyuki?"

Shizuo asked with a still confused face.

"Yeah, I know them. They're my friends and just to make it clear to you guys Shizuo is my friend too."

A moment of awkward silence went though for a couple of seconds, but the tone of Shizuo's ringing cell phone broke the silence.

"Hello."

"Hey, Shizuo. Your break ended a few minutes ago and I'm waiting for you. Where are you now?"

"Screw it! I lost track of time. Sorry Tom-san, I'll be there soon."

And just like that Shizuo left the scene, ignoring the questions in his head and went to work.

The title was meant to have a play of words with the meaning Boss and Big Brother.

But I don't think I gave Kazuo a Big Brother character in this chapter -_-'

once again, please review XD

Next Chapter: Love and Hate