This fiction is for amusement only (mainly the Mouse's), I get nothing from it but a happy Mouse! By the way, "nezumo" is mouse in Japanese, and "shinju" is pearl.
June 7th, 2000 Sunday 8:00 AM
Teo put down the Book Review section of "The Times," pulled off her reading glasses and rubbed tired eyes. Damn this case! She'd spent days reading half-assed reports written by supposedly educated men and women who had trouble with grammar and spelling. Not to mention some truly horrific handwriting samples. She was out of Visine again.
Besides, her nezumo had her worried. Since she had started this case he had been having nightmares about his life on the streets. She knew how much he hated thinking of the days and months before she had come across him and convinced dear Hank to let him share her place in the brownstone. "Convince"- that was a good word- Hank had loved to be well and thoroughly convinced. She had always been proud of her skill – she still got humble letters from old servants.
But her nezumo, she would never wish to put him in an uncomfortable or frightening situation. It upset him and she couldn't bear to see him unhappy. It took a week of nightmares before he admitted what was going on. Since then he had slept in her bed – it stopped the bad dreams. She wasn't used to sleeping with someone consistently. Especially a cuddler with a different work schedule. Just as she fell into a dreamless sleep she would feel him press up against her. The first time she had caught herself before she had belted the intruder. Now she just had trouble getting back to sleep. Being tired didn't help her personality any, as people were finding out.
The new people she was working with saw her as a poacher on their case. As if they had made any progress. No one had even thought to check for similar attacks outside Manhattan. She had Myojin working on that- at twenty-five he had energy to burn. Teo laughed to herself while thinking about the big young cop. He was so much fun to "convince" , and so happy and grateful about it too!
Her coffee arrived – a full French press pot of it with hot whole milk in a separate pitcher. She poured an au lait , took a sip, and prayed for the gods of Kenya AA to kick in. Another sip, another tired sigh.
Now she had a boy reporter wished on her too. She would have him do some fact checking, might as well use his contacts as a supplement to her own. At least the tall dark man would be "eye candy" for the nezumo-chan – maybe it would give him better dreams.
Teo watched heads turn as the eye candy walked in. Feo, the head server, practically vaulted a table to talk to him; then turned to lead the man to Teo's personal back corner table. The man wasn't formally dressed today, he was in a soft blue cotton shirt and black slacks that showed off a very nice body, carrying a black leather messenger bag slung over his left shoulder. His caramel eyes were just lighter than his perfectly tousled short hair. Yep, the kobito would want to see this one!
Sanos greeted Teo and was poured a cup of coffee. He tried to drink it black, choked a little and opted for milk and sugar. Feo stood, drooling, until the man gave his order. Teo tapped her old friend on the wrist. "You know what I want – grief and all. Bye-bye now!" Feo stumbled for the kitchen, trying to look back over his shoulder. "Now, Mr. Sanos…"
"Call me Dave. May I call you Teo ?"
"No. This is work, not social. Call me Lieutenant or Gaudro. It just keeps things on a professional basis." He made a little face at her but was smart enough not to push it. Good, he might be useful. "Again, Mr. Sanos, what do you wish from me ? And what can I get from you?"
They went over the main points of the case. Sanos agreed to ask other contacts he had about similar occurrences. The fruit cups arrived – fresh melon over a shaved orange juice sorbet. Unfortunately, so did an annoyance in a short skirt and tight top.
"Hello, Dom- Teo!" Gods, thought Teo, how is she so damn perky at this hour! "I haven't heard from you in days! May I sit?"
"No. I am working. Donna Kaye, meet Dave Sanos, reporter for whatever paper he says he works for. Mr. Sanos, Donna Kaye, dispatcher for the NYPD. Joy. Enough friendliness. Go away Donna."
The black haired, blue-eyed woman made a pouting face. "But you said you'd call soon. That was two weeks ago!"
"As I said – I am working. At my job. Which is important. To me. The more I am whined at, the more phone calls – or anything else – slip from my memory. Now say goodbye to the nice man and go adore me from afar." She made a waving, dismissive, gesture.
Sanos watched the woman suddenly smile at Teo and practically skip away to sit at a table with a good view of his rather cranky companion. Her eyes never left Teo's face, like a puppy watching its master. "Is she okay?"
"Of course she is. If I was too nice she'd be on me like a lamprey. This way we're both happy – she's ignored and I'm adored." She cocked a quizzical eyebrow at him.
Sanos shook his head. Either she was a miracle of forthright speech or a huge bitch. Probably both. Feo came up with a tray. "Veggie scramble with wheat toast for the gentleman. Heart attack on a plate for the one who's gonna get yelled at!" Dave looked at his companion's plate. It appeared to be Eggs Benedict, but on a bed of wilted spinach instead of English muffins.
"Save me the editorials, Feo. More coffee, please."
They were quiet for a minute as they started to eat. Sanos found his food excellent. "The chef here has quite a good reputation. I've been here for dinner, but I didn't know they did breakfast."
"Only on Sundays. Hank loved a big Sunday breakfast and so do I. Ken opens at eight for the locals and runs a brunch from ten till one. Then he's off until Tuesday, it's a nice break for him."
"You know the owner?"
"I am the owner – one of them, anyway. We share this brownstone, the bookstore "Leaves of Past" – on your left as you came in – and this place. Kenshin runs the kitchen and I do the books." Teo looked past Sanos' shoulder with a smile. "Here's my not-so-silent partner now."
Sanos turned to see a small slender man coming to the table. He was in full kitchen whites, except for a dark blue ball cap with the words, "Yes, I AM the Boss!" on it in white. His ink-black hair was pulled back in a thick foxtail; small bangs framed a delicate face. Teo stood to greet him, taking him by both hands and sharing a gentle kiss. A strangled squeak came from Donna Kaye's table, but they ignored it and her. Sanos stood as well to greet the newcomer.
"Good morning, Shinju-sama. You know that just because you have a vegetable under all that doesn't make it healthy."
"Good morning, Nezumo-chan. My blood pressure is lower than yours. So stop complaining – until next week. Dave Sanos, I present Mr. Kenshin Boldt, fine chef and fine friend. Kenshin, Mr. Sanos is the reporter I mentioned."
Sanos took the surprisingly strong small hand he was offered and looked down into huge violet eyes flecked with black. Having been bigger than average all his life, he found small men very attractive. This man was a delicate mix of male and female, but he was leaning to the male side. They sat down and Teo poured coffee for her friend.
"Kenshin- that's a very unusual name , Mr. Boldt; may I ask what it is?"
"It's Japanese. An old family name – though I'm not Japanese. An ancestor of mine was some kind of an ambassador there and his son was born there. My great-great grandfather, I think." His voice was a musical, clear light tenor, a pleasure to hear.
"That's very interesting, Mr. Boldt."
"Please, call me Kenshin or Ken. I'm not as strict as someone I know." He gave Teo a sly smile.
"Excuse me for manners," she huffed, but Sanos noted a softer, richer note in her voice now. "You know it's hopeless with me, kobito, just like you won't be making me give up my soon-to-be-cold eggs. Play on, gentlemen, I'm eating." She looked over at her victim's table and gave Donna a small, almost evil smile. Sanos watched Donna almost wag with happiness.
Kenshin laughed, a sweet musical sound. "She's BAAACK! I told you she wouldn't give up. You should say hi."
"I already said everything I am going to today – to her at least. Talk to the nice man, darling, I'm busy here."
Sanos chatted with the beautiful,(yes, that was the right word,) young man, with the occasional comment from a munching Teo.
"So you're looking for the man who is doing this, too, Dave?"
"Man or men, it could be more than one."
"Or even a woman, according to Capt. Shou." Teo put down her fork. "He says not to count out a strong woman with a hatred of men. It's sort of his pet theory."
"A woman, koi?"
"More and more violent crimes have female perps. It's equal opportunity run amok, Kenshin, my dear. Well, I'm off to the mines. Mr. Sanos, there's a briefing tomorrow. Attend, if you care to- just stay out of the way. See you later, Nezumo-chan."
Ken rose to take her hands and share another kiss. "Take care, koi. I've got to be going myself to get things ready for the rush." The two men watched Teo stride away, passing Donna's table. She briefly paused to stroke the sitting woman's hair and walked away without even looking down. Donna glowed with happiness. "I never know how she does it, Dave. She keeps them so well behaved and happy!" Kenshin shook his head with a smile.
"Isn't "Koi" a fish? And what does "Nezumo" mean?"
"Nezumo-chan is "little mouse," kind of an obvious name for me. Koi can also mean "precious" or "love." It's a few of our public nick-names for each other after twenty-two years of being friends. One of who speaks Japanese –though she has taught me." Again he showed Sanos his sunshine smile.
"Twenty-two years? Did you meet her when you were in pre-school?"
"Dave, I'm thirty-eight! Why does everyone look shocked when I give my age? I'm still carded on Pride Parade day and at clubs, too!" The two men laughed. Dave thought Kenshin's laugh was beautiful too.
"Would you like to go to a club, Kenshin? With me? Tonight? God –I sound stupid! I know it's short notice…"
"I can't go clubbing, I have late plans. But I could manage an early supper. Meet me at the door here, around five, all right?"
"Yes, I'd love to! Thanks!" He watched the slim figure walk back to the kitchen, showing off a very tasty little ass below the swinging black tail of hair which came nearly to his waist. "Yes! He's going out with me!" Sanos gave himself a big cheer and gave Donna a wave. She waved back, happy herself it seemed.