Authors notes: Hey friends!
As usual, thank you so so so much to anyone who reviewed/favorited/followed. You have no idea how feedback gets the writing libido going.
Review replies for last chapter should be posted to my DRRR tumblr shortly. Link is in my bio.
Keeping it short and sweet this go around. Please enjoy chapter sixteen!
In the business of everything around him, Izaya could barely make her out. But she was there. Right there in front of him. And she was sprinting blindly. Carelessly. Desperately looking for either one of them. Running on instinct alone.
A car horn screaming. The squealing of breaks. The sudden gasps and screams of the bi standers that could see the impending tragedy. Any other time this would be such a magnificent sight for him. Chaos, true chaos, seldom unfolded right in front of ones eyes. It was peppered here and there but it rarely had such an audience. This circumstance was truly extraordinary. For a man who lived for thrusting others into extraordinary circumstances he'd normally relish the opportunity to savor it. Every human reaction that it provoked would be wild and glorious.
Yet he didn't see any of them. He didn't want to. He only saw Tamina in harms way.
Why was this happening again? He claimed he loved all of humanity and damn it he knew that he did. But in this brief, crazy moment, the most spontaneous, and raw kind of humanity was happening all around him. The kind that he lived for. And for the first time something matter so much more to him than that.
He lunged for her, stepping out as far as possible to get just close enough to knot his fist in the back of her shirt. He could feel himself in harms way now and his heart pounded. The car was so close. He'd never willingly put his life in danger like this and the notion of both of them getting killed like this had the adrenaline kick in full force. He stepped back and pulled hard. As hard as he could. Her petite body jerked back easily and the force of his rough tug sent both of them flying back to safety.
Izaya felt the breeze of the car as it whooshed past and he exhaled a hard breath. He stumbled back and landed on his tail bone pretty hard while Tamina was flung back a considerable distance and skid to a stop on the ground. She looked up and around, then examined the minors cuts on her palms from the fall.
Blood still running high, Izaya quickly approached and pulled her off the ground. "Are you alright?"
She was clearly shaken. She nodded, not able to form words just yet. She really just nearly got killed! He'd told her this would happen. Now he felt an uncharacteristic spike in anger. That territorial edge that always nagged at him finally came to full fruition.
Tamina didn't have time to make more sense or recover from the situation. Commotion was starting to happen again. It was unclear if Shizuo was even aware of what had just happened, but he seemed to be intent on eliminating Izaya regardless. It still wasn't safe...
Tamina yelped in surprised when Izaya's hard grip on her arm tightened and he insistently pulled her along with him. She wanted to protest but the look he wore wasn't one she'd ever seen on him before. She'd seen breaks in him that showed a darkness underneath. Those unsettling times didn't compare to what she saw in him now.
He practically dragged her up the block until he was satisfied with the distance they'd put between themselves and Shizuo. Then he hailed a cab. Before Tamina could question a car pulled up. Izaya yanked open the back door and shoved her inside, causing a squeak of surprise to escape her when she collided with the backseat. When she turned it was clear there was still some protest in her.
"Go home!" He demanded in a voice that startled her and again pushed her protests down.
"But-" Was all that she managed.
"Will you listen to me for once?!" His angry passion silenced her again. "Go home." He said once more sternly, then slammed the door.
The cab pulled away and Izaya took a step backwards onto the side walk. He expelled a somewhat relieved breath but still didn't feel entirely at ease. His unusually dark stare panned down and focused on Shizuo closing in on him yet again. Everyone around made way or cleared out of the area. Under normal circumstances Izaya knew he would too. But suddenly he found himself full of a whole new vigor. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his knife, flicking it open with a snap of his wrist.
That monster. That stupid monster.
Tamina was in a daze when she reached her apartment. The twins were clearly eager to see her as she walked in the door but she couldn't muster any kind of friendly look. She hoped she could just make it to her room.
The twins picked up her energy right away, to her dismay. "Whats wrong?"
"What happened?"
Tamina couldn't even make words. She shuffled through the living space silently and made for her room.
"Mina, hey-" Mairu tried to protest.
"Mairu." Egor said in an uncharacteristically stern voice. "Leave her be."
It seemed to pacify them and Tamina was thankful. Once in her bedroom she turned off the light and laid in her bed for a few hours. She didn't sleep. Just silently let the memories of the days events haunt her.
What could she do from here? Shizuo was angry that she hadn't been honest, but her fear had never felt more justified than it did now. His words and actions were polar opposites. Something about that wounded her so deeply. If he loved her, how could he act the way he did. Did he even realize she was in danger? Did he care about anything outside of his rage? What kind of future did he think they could have behaving like that?
No future at all, she realized. He had recklessly caused so much chaos that she could have been killed. Again... This hurt worst of all.
Then there was Izaya. As damaging as he'd been in the past, he was there to save her today. Was it self serving as always? Or was he just always in her corner, whether she liked it or not. All of which complicated things with Shizuo even further.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone finally began to ring. Shizuo's name came up and she figured he had finally cooled down enough to want to talk. She'd been dreading this moment.
"Hello?" She finally answered.
"Hey." Came his soft reply.
There was silence. They weren't off to a good start. Both felt apologetic for their actions yet both felt wronged.
Shizuo finally willed himself to man up and spoke. "So," He started awkwardly. "I wanted to talk about what happened..."
"Okay." She replied. "Do you want to start or should I?"
"I will." He said right away.
"Okay, go ahead."
He thought he had a lot to say. He'd always been an outspoken person when it came to his feelings. Yet he found himself silent. The turmoil between them was killing him. As it typically did, everything he had planned to say slipped away and he found his mind blank. "Never mind. You can go first if you want." His internal monologue raged at him as he pussied out.
"Okay." Tamina said with a heavy sigh. "Shizuo..." She was clearly emotional when she started. The strain in her voice was a knife straight to his heart. "I definitely made mistakes." She admitted. "There were things I kept from you because I was afraid or I didn't know how to express myself." She felt the sting of tears beginning, despite her promises to stay calm and collected when finally facing him. "But I hoped you would forgive me, considering you struggle with those things too..."
There was a hint of bitterness to the last part of her words that particularly stung him. He grimaced on the other end of the line, running his hand over his face and back through his hair.
"I'm sorry." She went on to say. "I know I'm a complete mess. I'm not this perfect thing you thought I was." Her tone was really straining now. "But that doesn't give you the right to do what you did." She finally said sternly.
He could clearly hear the tears in her voice and it tore him apart. "I know..." Was all he could say.
"You scared me." She told him between soft sniffles that she tried to conceal with her blanket. "I feel like you broke a promise to me... If you wanted peace in your life you wouldn't act the way that you did today."
"I'm so sorry." He finally said, full of shame. "I was hurt and I lashed out" He confessed.
"If you loved me you wouldn't act that way." She continued.
"No Tamina, that's not true!" He protested fiercely now. "I love you more than anything."
"You didn't love me enough to stop, Shizuo." She said softly. "You couldn't even see me today."
Now he felt panicked. He felt it all slipping away. Everything he'd worked toward in their short time together. All the beautiful new hopes that he had for the future. He didn't want to see them go...
"Tamina, please." He begged. "I don't want this to be the end of us."
Tamina lay flat on her bed looking up at the ceiling. The tears ran ceaselessly and tickled her ears. "I don't either..." She admitted. "But we need some time for things to cool down."
"That sounds fair." He agreed.
Tamina let out a sniff and ran her forearm across her eyes to wipe her tears. "Let's just give it a few days. Take a breathe. See where we are."
Shizuo hated the idea of leaving things open ended like this. But not nearly as much as he hated the idea of losing her entirely. He'd do anything for a chance to work this out. For that he reluctantly agreed.
"Dinner's on the stove." Namie said flatly as she flipped a page in the magazine she idly read, running out the clock on her time sheet.
Izaya didn't say a word as he stalked into the apartment. Namie looked up at his unusually quick pace and silence. He took off his jacket and carelessly tossed it revealing the minor scuffs and bruises he'd received in the days confrontation.
"Ah, run in with Shizuo?" Namie concluded by the familiar battle wounds. All incredibly superficial. Likely from his parkour evasive manouveors and minor contact with Shizuo's projectiles. If Shizuo had actually gotten a hold of him, he certainly wouldn't still be in one piece.
Still Izaya was quiet. He wore a look that Namie had never seen. Something darker than she thought possible for him. He stalked into the living space, a fire in his eyes when he suddenly grabbed his end table and viciously threw it into his TV.
Namie flinched away as the flat screen was annihilated. "Hey!" She shouted in surprised. "What the hell?!"
Still he was quiet. Unnervingly quiet. Even she felt uncomfortable. He'd never acted like this before and as unstable as she knew he already was, volatile behavior was not something was expecting from him. What could cause this? With all the schemes they'd pulled and games he played. What could make him this angry? Had he finally lost it?
And then a soft chuckle. And then another. Now she knew he'd gone crazy.
Izaya began to laugh uncontrollably. Tears crept at the corner of his eyes from his hysteria.
Namie immediately became frustrated. Had she really just been fearful of him? Even a second? "Damn it! Tell me what's going on!" She demanded.
"She's just amazing!" Izaya belted, leaving Namie in a soft silence once again. "She almost killed herself today, and it wasn't even suicide. She just acted completely on instinct! Like prey. Like a panicked gazelle. She ran right out into traffic without a second thought! Isn't that the most human thing you've ever heard?"
He paused for Namie to respond but it was clear she was completely at a loss by now.
He gladly went on. "Don't you understand? It was the last thing I ever expected! She just ran and the car was a breath away from plowing right through her! I barely got to her in time. It took everything I had!" He laughter tapered off. "Who knew there could be someone like that? She's..." he searched for the words. "So pure. I wanna make a little Tamina Takeda cookie cutter and make a dozen more just like her."
"Sure. All of that really explains why you destroyed a perfectly good TV." Namie replied sarcastically, looking over the damage.
He couldn't explain further. Rather he wouldn't. It would be nothing but ammunition for someone like Namie. He let his cryptic response serve as his answer. She'd lose interest before long.
The fact was, he had felt something that day that he never had before. Something that filled him with fear and rage and passion. The roots of which were planted deeply inside of him. So deep now that it was something he was willing everything on the line for it.
Shizuo couldn't have something like that. How could he possible appreciate someone like her. Izaya had spent years perfecting the art of understanding and appreciating human behavior. It was all that time and knowlegde that let him see Tamina in the light that he did. How could Shizuo ever hope to do that? Anything he did would be pitifully short of what a human like her deserved.
"So now what?" Namie finally asked.
"I lay low." Izaya said simply, surprising her.
Though this was frustrating and certainly made some food for thought, it wasn't a set back. Everything Izaya needed to eliminate Shizu-chan and move forward with his agenda was still in place. After this unusually stressful day, it was time to sit back and let certain sparks catch. It was time to make this city burn for her...
A few days after the Shizuo incident and Tamina didn't feel much better. She accepted brief visits from her friends but it was mostly to appease them. All she really wanted to do was be left alone and sleep. All of the overthinking had her exhausted.
It was much earlier than Tamina wanted to get up, but her phone just wouldn't stop going off. She hoped it wasn't Shizuo pressing the issue but he had been good about keeping his distance so far. When she noticed the number on the ID she momentarily panicked. Did she have business with the Awakusu's today? She answered quickly. "Hello?"
"I'm so sorry to bother you Tamina." 's choked voice came. Tamina was immeditaely alarmed by her tone. "It's Akane." She went on. "She's missing."
Tamina rushed to the Awakusu home. Many unnamed members of the company were present along one or two of the execs, which had her even more on edge than usual. Akane missing certainly created a commotion but she couldn't help but think that something else might be going on.
Still she forced herself to be useful, as the lady of the house was in no shape to play host. She made refreshments and coffee for all of their company before fully committing to the task of comforting Akane's mother.
She offered another tissue to Mrs. Awakusu as she sat on the couch in the impressive home.
She took it and wiped away her tears as she went on venting. "I just don't know where she could have gone. I've talked to all of her friends and their parents. I don't believe she would have just run away. She's out there somewhere alone and someone could have just snatch her and..." She broke into more soft cries.
"We'll find her." Tamina said gently. "We know she's been acting out. I'll look everywhere your men can't go and I have friends that can help."
Mrs. Awakusu nodded but looked up. "We still have to keep a low profile. Worse things could happen if the wrong people found out she was missing."
"I understand." Tamina assured. "I'll go out now and start looking." She said.
"I'll have someone drive you."
"I'll be able to cover more ground on foot. I know a few places that are popular with grade school kids. I'll call the moment I hear anything."
"Thank you so much, Tamina." She said with a sigh, still clutching her now cold, untouched coffee in her lap.
"Let me get you a fresh one before I go." Tamina forced a comforting smile as she took the cup away from her shakey hands.
"You must think I'm a terrible mother." Mrs Awakusu sulked as she dried her eyes.
"No, not at all." Tamina replied right away. "Trust me, I've lost the twins I look after a handful of times. I think it might just be part of growing up." After she said it she realized how it sounded and thought better. "Though that's probably not something I should be telling another client." She added with strained humor.
Mrs. Awakusu finally gave a brief smile and breathed a laugh. "Thank you." She said again.
When Tamina got into the hall she wiped the fake smile off her face and sighed. This was the last thing she needed. On top of everything else, now she had to scour the city for little Akane. And she would. Though she tried to give Mrs. Awakusu comfort she was just as worried about Akane as her. She knew first hand how dangerous things could be and if the wrong person were to find her... She didn't even want to think about that. This wasn't like the twins. They could at least somewhat hold their own and keep themselves safe, from what Tamina had seen. Akane was defenseless. And there was no way Tamina could rest until she was home safe.
She could hear a few men in the kitchen helping themselves to the coffee and snacks she had left out. Just before she turned the corner something caught her ear.
"Shizuo Heiwajima?! You're sure?" She heard one of the men in the kitchen say.
The sound of his name caused her to stop in her tracks and press back against the wall in the hall to conceal herself. She listened intently.
"No doubt. They said Shizuo Heiwajima smoked those guys."
"How many?"
"Three."
"I heard it was a real blood bath too."
Tamina's heart fell into her feet. Her throat suddenly felt unbearably dry. She desperately tried to steady the full coffee cup in her now shaking hands.
"I've seen the guy do crazy stuff but I never seen him kill no one." One of the men observed.
"Yeah, well don't ya think it was just a matter of time?" Another replied matter-of-factly.
"Something definitely made him snap. I saw the pictures Mr. Shiki got of the scene. One of the poor bastards was stuck in the wall with his throat crushed. He did it with his bare hands!"
The coffee cup clanked loudly against the floor and shattered when it slipped from Tamina's numb fingers. Coffee spilled all over and splashed up onto her feet and jeans.
All of the men in the kitchen were startled by the sharp sound and peered around the corner. "Miss. Tamina, are you alright?" They all immediately approached to help. One began cleaning the floor while another went in search of a broom.
"I'm-I'm so sorry." Tamina numbly stuttered as she still struggled to process what she had just heard. Had Shizuo killed someone? Had he really snapped and violently killed someone? She felt the full force of a panic attack coming as she struggled to breathe.
One of the men gently grasped her forearm and tried to guide her away from the mess. "Careful now. Don't cut yourself." When he found her a bit unsteady he noticed her pale look and asked. "Hey, are you okay Miss?"
"I.." She couldn't stop stammering. Her mind was racing. "I'm sorry, I'm just..." She fiercely fought the tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. "I'm so worried about Akane and-" That was all she could come up with before she feared her voice would crack.
The man carefully helped her around the glass. "Of course." He seemed to understand right away. "But please don't stress yourself too much. Mr. Kazumoto is dealing with it and he's the best at what he does. I'm confident little Miss Akane will be home safe soon." He tried to comfort as the rest of the men finished cleaning up the mess. "Is there anything we can get you?"
"Please excuse me." Was as Tamina could say as she shied away from the man and hurried to the bathroom. Once inside, shut the door and turned on the faucet to mask the sound of the emotional breaths that escaped her throat. Her head sank and she had to steady herself by grasping the counter. Her mind was racing. She needed it to stop so she could think.
She could see Shizuo in her mind. She could see his eyes and lips. Her mind replayed a hundred conversations in his deep voice. She could see his face hovering over her smiling while they played between the sheets. She felt his hands. The ones he was so unsure of at times. The one she always wanted on her body. Traveling her legs. Her curves. Her throat...
She felt a sudden, sickening lurch in her stomach as she wondered where those hands were now; and what they had done. Had they attacked so violently? What that man in the kitchen had described... Could the hands of someone she cared for so deeply be responsible for that?
She could hear him telling her he loved her in harmony with his powerful, rage filled screams. His words and actions forever in contradiction. His mind and body keeping them close company. The paradox that she had somehow forgotten he was.
When her breathing finally evened out she forced herself to gain some perspective. This was devastating. Maybe that was an understatement. If Shizuo was this unstable there was no hope for their relationship, and this revelation truly broke her heart. But she had to keep focus. Akane was still out there. No matter what Shizuo had done, Tamina's first priority had to be to find Akane.
She did some deep breathing and fussed with herself in the mirror until she looked somewhat presentable. Well, passable. Then she hurried out of the bathroom and made her way out of the house. She put her whole heart into the task of finding Akane and buried the horrifying news she'd heard about Shizuo as deep down as she could.
The first place Tamina went was the station. She wasn't sure why. There were so many people. But her mind was running so wild and her sense was waning. She just had to start somewhere. She watched commuters ascend the stairs and checked the ticket purchasing machines.
From there she went down a block, then up the next, zig-zaging nonsensically checking any shop she thought might appeal to a child. Ice cream, candy, clothes, arcades. She even asked a few business owners with a vague description of the girl but not one seemed to know or care. It felt like running an awful relay race.
After some deep contemplation Tamina decided it might be okay to tell the van gang about this. She trusted them, but getting them involved with the yakuza was something else all together. But she was getting desperate and knew they would want her to call them in a time like this. She reluctantly pulled out her phone and called Kyohei.
After a long wait his voice mail picked up. She hung up and called Erika next. Again, no answer. Walker. No answer. Saburo. No answer.
This was odd, Tamina thought as she pulled her phone from her ear for the last time. Someone always answered. They were a tightly knit group and if they all weren't able to answer they were all likely together. Something might be wrong...
"Dollars." Tamina blurted the word out loud as the thought occurred to her.
She resettled herself uncomfortably on the stairs on the side of the business that she had perched herself on. Squinting in the bright day light to focus on her screen, she checked the dollars message board. And wow. Just wow. Things were not looking good.
Ikebukuro was in chaos! Well, more so than usual it seemed. The Dollars seemed to be actively antagonizing a neighbor gang and even Kyohei had gotten involved by the look of the pictures posted. He brawled with their leader at this very moment. The posts and updates were coming in faster than she could read them. With all of this going on there was no way her friends would be able to help her find Akane.
She briefly wondered if she should post a message describing Akane, but quickly dismissed the thought. It would only cause more chaos.
Tamina let out a frustrated breath. She was getting no where. She flicked her thumb up on her phone screen, letting the page scroll while she scanned with little hope. Shizuo's name caught her eye and she quickly pulled the page back down to read what she had passed.
'SHIZUO ON THE RUN FROM THE MOB :OOOOOO'
She impatiently tapped the message to open the thread. It read: "Yoooooooooooooo, just saw Shizuo straight up climb a building. Dawgs on the run from the yakuza!"
The subsequent message read. "I saw it too! I think he has beef with the Awakusu's!" All the messages after went on to take sides on which side would have the better chance. Shizuo alone or the whole Awakusu group. Most put their money on Shizuo.
The familiar sickness crept into Tamina's bones. Why would he do this? Why would he throw all of it awa-.
She stopped herself again. She fought through the burning in her eyes and the ache in her chest. He couldn't be important right now. Akane was important.
Tamina shoved her phone in her bag and gave an exasperated huff. She stood up and began to walk again. As she hopelessly made her way she realized there was someone that she could call... Someone who probably definitely knew something. Someone she had been particularly avoiding. She stopped in her tracks and reminded herself again what was important. She slowly took her phone out again and made the call.
"Miss Takeda!"
Tamina cringed at Izaya's stupid, overly friendly voice. "Where are you?" She demanded.
"Geez, not much patience today. And how do you get off having an attitude with me after the last time we saw each other?"
Tamina inwardly groaned. She knew she should have reached out to him after what had happened. He had saved her life. "I'm sorry." She admitted. "And thank you for what you did. I just didn't want more problems so I've been laying low." She explained.
"What a coincidence!" He said cheerfully. "It just so happens I'm doing that very thing right now so I guess I can see where you're coming from."
"Laying low?" She inquired. She could hear chatter in the background that she couldn't readily identify. It sounded crowded.
"Mhm! Taking some time to get some work done away from Ikebukuro. Care to join me?"
There was a distinct sharp squeal in the background and she could hear a boarding call. She concluded he must be on a train. If he wasn't near Ikebukuro then he probably wouldn't be able to help her, but at least it meant he wasn't likely involved in the chaos going on now. She held onto the hope that he might at least have some information. "Where is Akane Awakusu?" She decided to be straight forward.
"Right here next to me." Izaya replied right away.
There was a pause as a chill ran up Tamina's spin. Her mind began to race again. What did he just say? Until she heard Izaya's familiar obnoxious laughter.
"Did you really believe that?!" He asked through his outburst. "You think I'm a kidnapper now?! I wish I could have seen your face!"
Tamina scowled into the phone as he carried on. "I'm hanging up."
"Hey, hey!" Izaya managed to stop, though the laughter was still present in his voice. "Relax. You know I just cant help myself. I love it when you come to me all doe eyed with these questions."
"I still don't know what that means."
"Irrelevant!" He suddenly said. "You're looking for Akane Awakusu." He finally came back to the main point, grabbing Tamina's attention at once. "I don't know where she is."
Tamina's face fell and she began to feel impatient. "You're not very good at this whole information thing."
"Oh, are you approaching me as a client?" He asked, playfully intrigued.
"Do you know where Akane is or not?"
"I told you I don't, but I do know of someone who can help you." He explained.
Tamina knew how this was going to go. He didn't want money and she wasn't eager to owe him anything more. Especially since he hadn't necessarily called her tab yet with the whole yakuza hook up and information on her step fathers scandals. She expelled an irate breath through the nose. "One dinner." She told him.
"A week." He countered.
She didn't have time for this. "Done." She spat and anxiously waited for some kind of information that would at least put her in the right direction of finding Akane.
"Just call Celty." Izaya finally said.
Tamina was floored. Celty. Of course. There were so many things that Celty could probably do to help. In all of the happiness that this revelation gave her, there was a certain bitterness present as well. Why the hell hadn't she thought of this herself!? Had this asshole just gotten a whole week of home cooked meals out of her for that?
Her lips parted with the familiar urge to yell at him but she stopped herself, realizing again that she was just wasting time.
"So when can we..?" He started to inquire.
"Thanks. Gotta go." She blurted as she hung up, no more patience to spare. It was just another thing that she was going to have to deal with later. Just before she dialed Celty's number she stopped herself. After thinking better she sent Celty a quick texted.
It was the longest two minutes of her life. She shuffled down the street, surprised by how far she'd ventured from where she'd started. The chime from her phone made her nearly leap from her skin and she couldn't get it out and read it fast enough.
Celty had replied. "Hey. I'm kind of in the middle of something. What's up?"
Tamina tapped a message back as quickly as her fingers could. "I need your help. Its a matter of life or death." She hit send, hoping the urgency would convey.
Celty messaged back right away. "Meet me at my apartment."
"Tamina! Long time no see!" Shinra greeted as warmly as always.
"I talked to Celty and-" She started to blurt anxiously.
"Hey now!" Shinra stopped her rambling. "Everything is okay. Celty told me you needed help with something really important. She'll be here any minute so why don't you come inside and relax." He offered before she could go on.
Tamina nodded and tried to let his words ease her. She shuffled out of her shoes and made her way into the living area of their apartment.
"Good afternoon Miss Tamina." Mr. Shiki greeted her.
Tamina couldn't contain her surprise. Shiki was the last person she had expected to see. "Good afternoon." She replied politely with a respectful bow. "I looked all over for Akane. I checked-" She started to say.
"No need to worry." He told her right away. "It seems that whole situation may be resolved." He let her know warmly.
The relief took Tamina's breath away. "Did someone find her?" She asked anxiously.
"I don't have all the details." Shiki admitted. "But the black rider should."
Did Celty have Akane? The thought filled Tamina's heart. The prospect of this nightmarish situation being over finally put her at ease. Well, somewhat.
Shinra gave Tamina a cup of tea and she had a seat on the couch. Shiki's men stood awkwardly the whole time as if on alert but she tried not to mind it. Shiki himself seemed to be deep in thought. Tamina wondered what had brought him all the way here but couldn't work up the nerve to ask.
"Excuse me for a second." Shinra proclaimed to his company. "Gotta use the little boys room." He said as he excused himself.
Tamina tried to let the tea soothe her nerves. But without Akane to preoccupy her mind, her thoughts drifted to the other pressing matter in he life. With that thought she remembered one of the men from earlier mentioning Shiki having pictures of the scene of Shizuo's supposed attack. If anyone knew the truth, it was probably him. She summed up her courage. "Mr. Shiki, can I ask you something?"
"Of course" He replied right away.
She hesitated but willed the words out. "I heard that Shizuo Heiwajima was in trouble with the Awakusu." His men became uneasy and Shiki's rigid silence seemed to speak truth to everything Tamina had heard. She couldn't take it anymore. She needed to know. "Please just tell me the truth." She pleaded. "Did Shizuo kill someone?"
Her question took him completely by surprise. He gave a heavy sigh. "Again, I don't have all the details. But Heiwajima is definitely a person of interest for us at the moment." He admitted. "There was an incident and we have some questions for him, but he's actively avoiding us. It would be best if you avoided him until we clear everything up."
Tamina gave a numb nod of acknowledgment. If Shizuo was dangerous, he was to be avoided. Despite the pain this thought caused, she found no way to disagree.
Shiki could clearly see her stress. "Let's not jump to conclusions." He tried to comfort. "I'm sure we'll know more soon."
Despite his effort, his words didn't ease her at all.
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