Interlude #2: Dollars Internet Chat
Tanaka Tarou: It's just the two of us now.
And Izaya, idly lurking. He isn't really looking at the words, but he might read the chat logs later.
Saika: Tanaka Tarou
Tanaka Tarou: and Saika.
Saika: *Aaaahhhh...*
Tanaka Tarou: It's a big relief, isn't it?
Saika: Yes ... the boards were a little busy today. Just a little
Tanaka Tarou: So, um, how are you?
Saika: Doing well. And you?
Tanaka Tarou: Fine. This website is all I do, besides school, so...
Saika: Did Masaomi tell you everything that happened between him and Izaya Orihara? And why he hunted the Dollars?
Tanaka Tarou: Uh-huh. Finally. I think I get it, where Masaomi's coming from. I mean, I always knew Izaya was dangerous.
Izaya caught his own name and re-read what they said. So Masaomi had ratted on him. Bound to happen eventually. Izaya rolled his eyes. Dangerous. Yes, and...
Saika: Un. Yeah.
Tanaka Tarou: I don't think I can just freeze him off, though. He's useful.
Saika: Maybe.
Tanaka Tarou: Masaomi told me that when I came, but you know it when you see him. And you can't help but be fascinated. He tells you things about yourself, even if you don't really want to know
Okay, this was interesting.
Saika: Go on.
Tanaka Tarou: Of course, it could have all been a mistake, but I'd rather not underestimate Izaya ... *laughs nervously*
—I think he tried to break me like that too.
Saika: This summer? The Dollars, Masaomi and I, and you?
Tanaka Tarou: Yes. Well, maybe Masaomi as a side game — I don't think Izaya cares much about kicking people while they're down — but he was going out of his way to mentor me, after a fashion.
Masaomi wasn't "down." He wasn't ready, and he should have been. It's not my fault he couldn't think ahead as a leader. I hardly did anything that wouldn't have happened naturally, on his side of things. But yes, that was a bonus to my plans.
Oh, Mikado. Going "out of my way"? "After a fashion"? Do you have any idea how much energy I put into that? How much crude stalking and technology hacking I had to do to be at the right place at the right time?
Well, perhaps it's a testament to my skills that I make it look easy. Dammit.
Saika: Just a little scary
Tanaka Tarou: Yes, a bit.
—But the fact that he would go out of his way to do it makes me think that he respects me, which is scary in its own way
Saika: Yes. Sometimes, it's better to be a passerby
Never.
Tanaka Tarou: ... but it's not very exciting
There's my boy. Atta-go, girl.
Saika: I don't think I want to be in the middle of exciting things!
Tanaka Tarou: But that's what I like about you, Anri-chan. You never draw attention to yourself, but you're still important — my stealthy but flawless friend.
—Although I wish you'd tell me a bit more about yourself, sometimes.
Saika: *blushes* There's not much to tell.
Oh no, it's a mutual compliment fest.
Tanaka Tarou: Isn't that — being invisible, and still being a part of exciting things — what a Dollar is? Except I still get noticed
Saika: Hard to do that with such an ordinary name like Tanaka Tarou
—(But even I got noticed, as Saika. You know, that time when everyone helped me...)
Tanaka Tarou: I suppose one ever would think someone with a pretentious name like Ryuugamine Mikado could be Tanaka Tarou
—(We were both so surprised at the helping turnout, that time — but my point is, you managed to hide, the enemy never engaged you, and no one attached a reputation to your name, so the matter was left at that)
Saika: Quite unlikely
Tanaka Tarou: So I still stick out like a sore thumb.
Saika: But that's what I like about you, Mikado-kun. You appear so normal, although inside, I know you're not. Oh, that didn't sound right
—!
—What I mean to say is, you've got hidden talent.
Tanaka Tarou: ... Thanks.
—Well, I'm glad no one popped in while we had this conversation.
Izaya snickers.
—Take care of yourself. Good night...Sleep well. Oyasuminasai, Anri-chan.
Saika: Oyasumi.
Good night, my dear chess piece pawns... Wait, didn't I make Anri-chan a queen once? I think Mikado was a ... bishop, wasn't it? But that was before my game board burned up.
Izaya yawns and stretches, carefully contorting his sore wrists.
Namie: You burned it up.
Izaya: Don't contradict me, menial attendant.
Whatever, Namie mutters, and scores a point off Izaya with a pillow to the face. He grumbles but takes the hint and goes to bed. Namie looks at the monitor thoughtfully and flicks it off. What's he doing, eavesdropping on a pair of lovers? Even she can't imagine what he's getting out of this— No, actually. He was probably bored and thought it was fun.
Then again, it's not a very good explanation because that seems to be the basic reason for everything he does.