"You're making this way harder than it needs to be." Itori saw the other woman slouch in her seat and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"If it could be easier…don't you think I'd want that?" Miyu shook her head and set the tarantula figure on the bar. It was immediately taken by the other ghoul so she could examine it. "…so there's an easier way…?"
She leaned forward over the counter, a playful half-grin taking form that matched the delight in her eyes. "You really didn't consider just getting him drunk and asking? You know Ren-chan is a lightweight. Trust me, if you want to get information from him, you have to get him drunk."
A bottle was set on the bar between them and Miyu looked to the label. Ferment blood. She lifted her gaze to Itori again and thought the other woman might explode from the bubbling excitement. "You're sure?"
"However!" She gripped the neck of the bottle in one hand, setting the tarantula figure down in front of Miyu again. "I won't let you have it for free, you know. A bottle this nice is hard to come by. I was just lucky enough to get it as a gift from an informant. You have any good gossip?"
Leaning back a bit, she struggled to think of anything that she could offer. True, working at Anteiku meant that she was able to hear a lot of gossip. None of it was really something that Itori would be interested in though. It was usually talk of hunting grounds changes, family issues, or CCG sightings. Anything of interest, she was sure that Itori already knew.
"I…read that sheer fabrics are popular right now," she started. Miyu was speaking without really thinking, but happened to notice the details of Itori's dress that day. "Sheer sleeves…sheer collars and detailing…they're really popular. But the dress you have on today is stylish with a touch of…elegance…because of the neckline and the figure it cuts."
By some miracle, this actually seemed to work. Itori beamed and pushed the bottle of blood wine toward her. "You're too sweet, Kuro-chan! You know me pretty well, don't you?"
Taking the bottle by the neck, Miyu had to smile. "We've been friends for a long time so…"
"Did you need me to walk you home tonight? That stalker's still out there, right?" She glanced toward the door and then back to Miyu. "I heard about him freaking out earlier this week."
The idea of actually getting an explanation from Renji had brightened her mood, but now she frowned again. Running a fingertip over the edge of the label, she released a frustrated sigh. "That guy…I keep seeing him around. He still comes into Anteiku, but he hasn't spoken to me. He just…stares. I've seen him behind me on the street…and Touka pointed him out when we were walking to pick up more coffee beans for the café. I…hate this guy and I don't even really know him."
"So what do you do when Ren-chan isn't around?"
"Koma walks me home when Renji can't…and I just stay home if Renji can't walk with me to run errands." Her frown deepened as she stole a glance up at Itori. "Has…Uta said anything about being mad at me?"
The question clearly puzzled the other ghoul and she shook her head. "No. I haven't really heard from him recently."
She doesn't need to know. He's probably just busy. Miyu thanked her for the fermented blood and stepped outside to head back home. She paused on the sidewalk when she spotted a familiar figure across the street. No. No way.
The young woman hesitated to turn away. She wanted to run. She wanted to scream for Itori. Instead, she shook her head and pulled her phone from her pocket. She typed a message with trembling hands and glanced up, meeting her stalker's gaze. I can do this. I can walk home by myself. Koma won't get here fast enough and if I go back inside, Itori will laugh. She just thinks this is funny.
Shift P.O.V
He felt guilty about not telling Miyu. He hated to keep secrets from her. When he remembered the disappointment in her voice, the sadness in her eyes, it made him feel weak. This was another night that he would come home smelling like blood, but it could not be helped. It was more complicated than he had expected.
Every night, the task was more complicated than it should have been. Obstacles arose. Doves would appear or other ghouls would get in the way. It should have been easy. He should have succeeded by now. It only added to his feeling of powerlessness.
She had said that she was going to Helter Skelter that night after work so he knew where to find her at least. Renji was thankful for the other ghouls at Anteiku for helping her while he was gone. Her stalker was still bothering her, but not as aggressively as before. He had heard about him shouting at her in front of Irimi and it made his blood boil.
He was getting close to the bar when he spotted Uta. It was unusual to see him just out wandering, but this seemed to be what he was doing. When the pale-haired ghoul approached him, he had a somewhat troubled expression on his face. What is he looking at? Renji followed his line of sight and immediately charged forward.
Shift P.O.V
Miyu walked at a brisk pace, head bowed to try to hide her fearful expression. He was following her. His eyes were locked on her intensely and she felt goose bumps raise on her arms beneath her sleeves. She had her phone out, typing a message to Irimi to tell her what was happening and bracing herself for if she had to call for help.
A hand grabbed her shoulder roughly and spun her around to face him. The young man glared down at her from behind his glasses, his hands holding her shoulders in a bruising grip. "I tried being nice! I tried being polite to you! I met your "boyfriend", you know. You deserve better than that thug! I can make you so much happier than he ever could!"
She stared back at him, alarmed by his abrupt outburst. It was as if he had been out on the sidewalk for hours, seething. Or letting the rejection eat away at him over the past week since she last spoke to him. "I…I love him! You don't even really know me! How can you think that…I'd just pick a stranger over him?!"
"Listen to me! I'm the one for you! I'll treat you like a princess! I'm better for you than that he is! Just give me a chance!"
"I said "no"!" Miyu planted her hands on his chest and managed to shove him away. The urge to use her kagune was strong, but she stopped herself. She glared back at him now and took a step away from him. "Just leave me alone! I'm happy with him and there's no way that I'd ever leave him for you anyway! You're creepy!"
"I'm creepy?!" A muscle in his cheek twitched and his kakugan activated. The dark brown eyes were replaced by red and black as he took a step toward her. "Fine! I'll show you! I'll make you need me…even if I have to take a bite out of you!"
As he darted forward, she prepared to release her kagune. Four rips in the back of her shirt and jacket exposed her skin to the chill night air. The bright red appendages were just starting to poke out when a hand gripped the back of her jacket. Miyu was brought against someone's chest, facing away from the stalker with an arm around her waist, and she heard a loud thud. A grunt of pain and sobbing indicated that the creep had been injured.
Her kagune receded and she gripped the front of Renji's coat with both hands, trying hard not to let her fear show. When she did look over her shoulder, she saw the younger ghoul sprawled on his back on the street. Her eyes darted back to Renji's and she threw her arms around him. "Why…why were you gone tonight?!"
He held her for a moment, watching the boy struggle to try to push himself up. The younger ghoul's glasses were broken by Renji's punch and he was clearly stunned from the impact. "Miyu, wait here."
"Don't…don't do that. I just want to go home. Please."
His eyes narrowed on the boy and he turned his attention back to the young woman in front of him. Lifting a hand, he let his fingers trail over her long, chestnut hair. "Let's go," he agreed. Renji held her hand, fully aware of how she trembled and wanting to get her home so she would feel safe.
Miyu immediately set about making coffee, her hands shaking from the encounter. That guy was going to try to take a bite out of me! What would have happened if Renji wasn't there?! She carried the cups to the coffee table and was going to sit down, but a gentle grip on her wrist made her stop.
The expression that he wore was soft and it was obvious that he wanted to comfort her. He led her into their room and the two settled onto the bed. His arms wrapped around her, holding her back against his chest, and waited a moment before speaking. "I'm sorry that I haven't been here," he started.
She sniffed, smelling blood. Ghoul blood. Miyu had wanted to try to get him to explain his recent absences that night, but the evening had taken a bad turn. It was not a good night for her to ask. Instead, she bit at her thumbnail and prepared herself for a much simpler question. "…are you bleeding…?"
Shift P.O.V
"Who the hell was that guy?! Damn it…that bitch! She thinks that she can lead me on and then turn me down? She thinks her friends can protect her? I'll show her! I'll show her what happens when you lead someone on!" The boy struggled to stand, his glasses cracked and the frames obviously broken. He spat blood and turned to follow Miyu, but stopped in his tracks when he saw the tall, dark-haired ghoul that blocked his path. "You!"
Uta tilted his head, examining the boy. "Renji held back."
"You…thug! You've been following me, haven't you?! She told you to, didn't she? Listen to me! She's just playing with you! She's a heartless bitch and she doesn't care about leading people on! She's-!"
"That's not very nice." He stalked forward, watching the boy take a few steps back. The younger ghoul's confidence was rapidly decreasing as Uta got closer. "…are you afraid…?"
"I-I'm pissed off! I'm not going to let her get away with-!" Blood flew from his mouth and he whimpered in pain. A hand weakly grabbed for Uta's arm in a pitiful attempt to remove the limb that was now lodged deep into his chest. When he failed, he looked to the man with watery eyes. His blood was running down his chin and neck from the corner of his mouth.
Uta leaned down to his ear, pushing his arm in a little deeper. "I can't let you hurt Miyu. I don't like the way that you talked about her…and you keep bothering her. You didn't give me a choice."