Chapter 10

Ikari's profitable evening continued, most of his... 'friends' had payed up. And why wouldn't they? After all, the implications of letting his new unknowing buisness partner loose was just too heavy a risk for most.

The two had continued through alleyways and side streets, and upon the fith person, Zasshu was standing at the mouth of yet another alleyway.

He yawned slightly. Really, Zasshu was a tad bored. He was happy to hang out with Ikari while he talked to some of his friends, but honestly, there's only so much entertainment one could gain from standing around.

It was just a minute after the two in the alleyway, Ikari and a rather twitchy Weasel, began to talk that Zasshu felt an urge as old as time...

He needed to take a piss... maybe a restaurant nearby would let him use their bathroom?


Ikari sighed.

"Look man, all I'm saying is that I want the money that I loaned with you, along with the fuckin' interest, that's all I'm sayin." he said, lightly stretching.

The weasel scratched the side of his face a little too hard, and coughed into his hand slightly.

"C-cmon, y'know I don't have any man, I spent it all man, just give me a couple more days man..." he muttered, eyes shifting left and right.

"Thats fucking bullshit!" Ikari growled, "You look like you haven't gotten a fix yet; I know you didn't spend the money." the growl weakened into a grumble.

"Cough it up."

"F-Fine man, fine..." the Weasel looked to the mouth of the alley, and spotted the absence of a large hybrid...

Huh. So this would go just like he had originally hoped...

Sweet.

The weasel dug into his pocket, and instead of pulling out a small wad of money, like expected, he pulled out a knife, about four inches in length, and pointed it to Ikari.

Ikari stopped suddenly, the anger in his eyes turning to fear as he gazed torwards the alley's mouth...

Where the hell was Zasshu?! He couldn't be too mad, Ikari realised. This whole thing was a trick anyway, he probably realised that it was bullshit and dipped.

Ikari would have done the same, given the circumstances.

The weasel's tone of voice lowered to a similar growl to the one Ikari had used moments before.

"I-I know I'm not the first one you hit today, Ikari!" he snarled.

"Give it to me, now!"

Ikari, like a smart man, preferred his life over what was technically just paper that was given value.

He nodded, "Yeah...yeah alright man." his voice was light and frightened, as he slowly reached into his pocket to pull out the cash.

"Hey!" a voice yelled, and both Ikari and the weasel gazed to its source...

Zasshu had returned.

And he looked rather angry, due to the look on his face.

He ran down the alley, and looked like he didn't intend to stop. Maybe he wanted to barrel into the weasel?

The weasel looked down at the knife, then to the Hybrid, then to Ikari's hand, frozen in shock.

The Weasel, like a smart man, preferred his life over what was technically just paper that was given value, and dropped the knife, high tailing it away.

Zasshu stopped in front of Ikari, with a worried look on his face.

"You okay?" he asked, slightly bending to get a better look at Ikari, who had slid down the alley's wall just a moment ago.

He gave a silent nod as Zasshu sat next to him.

"Sorry I wasn't here to help sooner, I had to y'know, use the bathroom. Which took a bit, because none of the restaurants would let me use theirs so I had to go behind one in a trash can." Zasshu realized far too late that this was too much information.

"...Ayway, what did that guy even want?"

Ikari didn't ask that question, instead taking a moment to look at Zasshu, a mix of guilt and surprise on his eyes.

"You...you seriously didn't...

I've been tricking you. This whole time. I've been getting money from all the guys I talked to and threatened them with letting you eat them." Ikari let it spill out. I mean, lying to the man who just saved your life was just horrible, even for his standards.

Zasshu gained a look of realization, letting out a dry, "Oh."

The two were silent for a moment, staring at the brick of the wall ahead.

Until Zasshu spoke again. "Y'know, I paid you back for helping me; and then I helped again, so I mean, you kind of do owe me..." Zasshu said, as Ikari looked at him confused.

Zasshu looked down and to the side into Ikari's face.

"Maybe, to pay me back, we could try and, y'know, try this stuff again? Y'know, the friend stuff?" Zasshu asked hopefully.

Ikari sighed, and gave one dry chuckle.

"Sure, I mean, I owe you now, I guess."