Antabuse: Chapter 25: Part 1: The Biggest Risk There Is

Logan had seen the show many different times with quite a number of people. Each time was different, of course, and each person's reaction was just as different, but Logan had never seen anyone so in awe as Ace was while she watched Yahiko prepare their food while entertaining them at the same time.

"That was amazing," Ace told him later that night, as they descended the stairs. "Do chefs make everything here? Prepare by hand like that?"

"Yep."

"I wonder how they make the sushi. I mean, everything matches so perfect- Logan, where are we going?" Logan had suddenly redirected their path toward the far side of the sushi bar.

At the far side they found a wooden door with 'private office' written in Japanese characters. Logan rapidly knocked.

"Come in," a heavily accented voice said from the inside. "Logan!" a Japanese man that couldn't be more than ten years Logan's senior greeted him upon entering.

"Kenshin Yamaguchi; Rory Gilmore."

Ken smiled and welcomed her. "So, you must be the gorgeous young woman Logan said would be joining him this evening." Ace blushed.

"I must be."

"Tell me," Ken said, drawing Ace away from Logan. "What is an amazing woman, such as yourself, doing with an idiot at Logan's caliber of absolute idiocy?"

Ace laughed and pretended to think about her answer. "Not quite sure."

"Well, if you ever decide that he's history, you know where to find me."

"Yes, yes, she does," Logan said, taking Ace's hands out of Kenshin's grasp and pulling her back to him. "Actually, Ace was wondering how you make everything."

"Oh, well, Japanese cooking is an art, I assure you. Follow me."

"No, I don't want to get in the way."

"Nonsense, no one will mind you walking through. But, Logan, I do think they might mind you…"

"Oh, well, then I guess I should just leave you just leave Ace alone with you, should I?"

"I wouldn't object." Still laughing, Kenshin and Ace walked through the door on the side of Kenshin's office, and Logan followed. They had ended up behind the sushi bar where everything was being made. Kenshin explained the "very delicate procedure" of sushi making and gave them a tour of the kitchen, before leading them out. "My brother-in-law was a god chef for you?"

"Absolutely! It was amazing!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, even though you were stuck with Logan."

Logan said his last goodbye to Ken, and Ace once again thanked him, and they were off.

"Ken seems very nice," Ace said as they left the building.

"Oh, yeah, Ken's a real charmer."

"How do you know him?"

"He's a Yale alumn."

"And you're friends with all Yale – the LDB."

"Once you're in, you're in. Now, I do believe I owe you after dinner coffee."

"That was part of the deal, yes."

"Great, we'll get some once we get to New Haven."

"Sounds like a plan."

The two suffered a half hour of silence, before Ace finally broke down and asked to listen to Jamie Cullum. With very little traffic on the roads, they were able to get back to campus in record time.

"That's a very large cup of coffee," Ace said, as Logan approached her, carrying the coffees he ordered for them.

"The way I see it, you have to make a very important decision directly after this cup of coffee, so it would be in my best interest to try to stay in your good graces, or, if all else fails, prolong this evening for as long as possible."

"Well, you're doing a very good job at staying in my good graces."

"Glad to hear… Want to sit?" Logan gestured to a nearby bench, and Ace agreed. Logan took a deep breath and sat next to her. "Can I – can we talk?"

She took a long sip of her coffee and looked at him. "Sure, anything specific?"

Logan fought to keep his breathing steady. "I know you want nothing to do with me and my arrangements. You think I'm a womanizing whore, and honestly, that's not far from the truth. But I've been thinking… you- you're amazing, and I mean, the other night…" Rory sat with her hands folded in her lap and was staring at the ground. "Listen, Rory, I know I'm not making any sense, but I really – I want you, just y-"

"No." Rory shot off the bench and turned to face him. Logan stood and went to put his hands on her arms, but she jerked away. "Don't."

"Rory, what am I doing wrong!"

"Nothing! Everything!" she started to pace, wringing her hands. She stopped suddenly and, once again, faced him. "I don't take risks, Logan," she snapped as though she were rebuking him for a horrendous insult. "I never have, and I don't particularly feel like starting now – not when the stakes are this high. I don't do risks," she repeated, this time shaking her head and crying. "And you're the biggest risk there is."