Saki looked up when the door opened and smiled, "Hey!"
"Hey," Hana smiled in return, holding a plastic bag and closing the door behind her. "How are you feeling?"
"Same ol', same ol'," she shrugged lightly as Hana took her usual seat at her bedside. Looking at the bag she asked, "What did you get me this time?"
"Here," Hana was actually excited as she handed the bag over. Opening it on her lap, Saki saw the wrapped plate of a large cheesecake slice and laughed. Hana perked up confused, "Wait- why are you laughing?"
"Cheesecake?" She questioned amused. "You're going to make me fat."
Hana frowned in a small pout, "I haven't brought you cheesecake in a while..."
"Yeah, but if it's not that then it's convenient store sweets or even candies from the vending machine down the hall."
She set the bag on the nightstand beside them and Hana became defensive, "But- you like sweets! What else am I supposed to bring you when I visit?"
"I don't know, maybe a book or something? Newspaper Sudoku?" Saki laughed again as her sister became gloomy. She then tilted her head, studying her face. "You're more lively today."
"Huh?" Hana lifted her head and blinked. "How do you mean?" As Saki eyed her grey eyes- the same as hers in every aspect, she noticed a light to them. A slight glimmer that made them look alive.
"I dunno. You just seem happier." Hana stared back at her sister's grey eyes- the same as hers. She supposed the both of them lacked a certain luster- for a very long time. Looking her little sister over, she noticed that her hair dye was fading, revealing the natural charcoal color they shared as well. Saki sat back, ignoring her scrutinizing gaze and asked, "Well? What happened?"
She stiffened, "Well-" she avoided her eyes, "nothing really..."
Saki gave her a flat look. "Sis, I hate to break it to you now, but you've always been a pretty bad liar." Hana scowled, which caused her sister to grin. "Come on! You're happy; it can't be anything bad."
She sighed in her hesitation. Since Saki was put in the hospital they had promise. Honesty- and unfortunately Hana broke it before they even made it. With the guilt eating at her she reluctantly began, "All right... well... I guess it's called the-... the Legendary Kazutano Incident." Leaving out certain details pertaining to the Yakuza, she told the story of how she helped the group of four- Kadota and his gang of friends.
Saki was amazed, "Oh, wow, that's so cool! To think you'd run into them all like that- freaky!" She smiled, "It must have been really exciting from your usual boring life."
Hana smiled to herself at that, "Yes, well, it was certainly a change. Refreshing, really." If she were being honest with herself.
"I'm glad." Saki's voice was unusually soft, and Hana was quick to look back up at her. Her soft expression was almost hard to look at. "I'm worried about you, you know. You don't ever talk about hanging out with friends."
She was forced to look away. "I have you. I don't need friends."
Saki laughed at that. "Oh, come on. Even I have school friends that visit me. You need a social life, Hana." Her older sister frowned- an almost menacing look to the untrained eye, but it was easy for Saki to see the pout. She could be cute if she wanted to be, she thought. "So, are you hanging out with them again later?"
She deadpanned, "Why would I."
Saki was surprised. "Did they not want to hang out with you again?" Hana opened her mouth on instinct, but then hesitated. Kadota invited me... and I'm bad at lying, I guess. In her silence Saki sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. "I swear, you're just hopeless when it comes to these things."
She turned away with a huff. "I'm fine with my routine."
"I'm serious, Hana." Looking back at her sister, she was surprised. Saki leaned forward with a genuine expression of worry. "You need friends. Go hang out with them, have fun for once."
A breeze of nostalgia passed through her.
Friends.
A few faces crossed her mind when she heard that word- Kiba, Maria, Ryan, Naomi, a few others. Their faces were only shades of grey now- littered with cuts and bruising welts from when she last saw them.
Have fun for once.
Glancing to the floor, it bothered her when she imagined Kadota, Saburo, Walker, and Erika. A split second decision, a chance encounter, and a crazy ride. Maybe I did have fun, she thought.
After a silence Hana looked up at Saki and asked, "Speaking of friends, how's Kida? Has he visited?"
Sitting back, Saki looked up at the calendar hanging on the wall. She was calculating, "Not yet. But he's due for a visit soon." She then smiled at her lap. Hana watched her face- it wasn't sad. It was that same vacant, brainwashed expression she occasionally regressed to. "He'll be back. He always comes back."
Well, she wasn't wrong. Hana sat back and sighed, crossing her arms. Damn that Orihara Izaya, manipulating their relationship. Saki swore he never messed with people's love lives, but that didn't mean he didn't gain something out of them being together. She didn't know anything personal about the old leader of the Yellow Scarves, but she appreciated the boy being able to bring life into her sister. "I could always drag him here for you."
She laughed a little, "You're such a brute. No wonder you don't have friends."
"By choice."
"Hang out with them." Hana stared at Saki's smile. "Please? For me. You don't work tonight anyways, right? Take a night for yourself."
She frowned, "But I-"
"I'll live for a single night without you," she insisted. "Go do something- literally anything else."
"For someone that doesn't ask for a lot you're pretty damn demanding..."
!
Kyohei was joining his coworkers on a lunch break. They decided to sit in on a Wendy's and were split between a couple tables with their large group. He sat down on the end with his burger, listening as the others chatted. While busy working it was easy to focus, but now that he was sitting around his mind started to wander.
Yagiri Pharmaceutical... the Kazutano Incident... Hana...
He stared at the tabletop as he munched on his burger. Her life was no business of his, but he couldn't help but want differently for her. He pulled out his phone and opened it up, seeing her unregistered contact in his thread. He didn't delete it like he probably should have. Why would Izaya let us know what was going on with her, he wondered. Was it coincidence that they ran into her shortly after?
"In the words of one Friedrich Nietzsche, 'Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.' Or something like that."
"One more thing; do yourself a favor and quit talking to that snake Izaya. He isn't to be trusted."
Now that Izaya told him, it was stuck in his head.
"What you got there?" A coworker leaned over and peered at his phone. "Kadota got a girl's number?"
The lot of them teased him and he smiled at them, "Yeah, though I'm pretty sure she doesn't want me to message her."
"Feh, women don't know what they want."
"True, his wife didn't know if she wanted him- and she still doesn't!"
"My girlfriend doesn't even know what she's mad about half the friggin' time."
They laughed and Kyohei looked back down at his phone. His buddy nudged him, "Give her a ring! It won't hurt nothin'."
"Yeah, maybe." The lot of them became distracted by another topic and Kyohei focused on his phone again. He took a sip from his soda. What excuse did he have to reach out to her? No doubt she'd be pissed- probably hunt him down and break his phone, and he couldn't really afford a new one at the moment.
After they wrapped up lunch they all walked back together, yet Kyohei remained in the back, staring at his phone. He sighed, opening a new message. "I guess we didn't officially thank her for her help..." He grimaced to himself. Man, what the hell was he thinking? He knew she would be livid, but he just couldn't leave it alone.
After erasing and rewriting it a few times he finally sent it just in time to get back to work.
!
Hana walked through the city with a more irritated expression than usual. Saki had really stirred her up by begging her to hang out with those people. They weren't even friends. She sighed for the umpteenth time. Despite how much Saki begged she never promised she would. An evening to myself? She shoved her hands deep into her pockets. Saki would be fuming and pouty if she visited her tonight. She needed to preoccupy herself. Guess I'll just go home and sleep.
Moving with the grey crowd, she rubbed the back of her neck. Still... She was distracted with thoughts about last night, how she joined in a rescue mission. When was the last time you felt happy? A question the small voice in her head pestered her with.
She remembered the nights she would sit with Saki in the living room watching scary movies, or the times she taught her how to cook and the explosive messes she would make.
The memories were bitter-sweet. After all, they were still times that she was failing in understanding her real sister. A great divide that kept them both from saying what was really on their minds. Couldn't say, she replied to the voice.
She made her way to the center plaza of the city nearby Russia Sushi. She could vaguely hear the Russian man Simon hollering over the white noise of the city. "Prego! Es-cuse me!" Hana paused, realizing a female voice was directed at her.
She looked over to a blonde Italian woman with blue eyes, a blank notebook was hanging around her neck and she was holding a sign. "'Lost objects'?" Hana mumbled to herself.
The woman pat the notebook on her chest, "You just write what you look for here, and who knows? Maybe you find it. You can-a tell me!"
"Oh..." Hana blinked. "Well, I haven't really lost anything... Actually," she turned to her intrigued, "Do you mind if I take a look at that?"
"Okay!" The woman handed it over and she flipped through the pages.
Someone wrote down that they love Hanajima Yuhei. Another their run away cat. Hana hummed to herself, "I guess I have something to contribute."
"Sí!" The woman eagerly handed her a black marker, "Write what you are looking for deep down in your heart!"
Pressing down on the marker to bold the strokes, she took up the page writing down A Job! She smiled, feeling a little better as she handed the marker and notepad back to the woman. She wasn't very superstitious, but perhaps she'd get a stroke of luck for once.
The woman continued to approach random strangers as Hana continued on. Her phone then beeped and she took it out, expecting a message from Izaya or perhaps Akabayashi calling her in tonight. She stopped short, her grey eyes going wide at the message. "Kadota...?"
[Hey, it's Kadota. Please don't hunt me down and break my phone. I just wanted to say thanks for helping us save Kazutano.]
She stood alone, the grey crowd parting around her easily, isolating her. Her heart raced- she didn't delete her email like she should have. Taking a steady breath, she assured herself that it was fine. She certainly didn't expect Kadota to message her, but it was only to thank her. Nothing would come from it if she didn't respond.
But if she did respond... what would she say? No problem. You're welcome. Don't think anything of it. It was nothing. "You need to have some friends, Hana," Saki's voice echoed in her head.
Hana couldn't admit this, but... deep down... she was lonely. I hardly have any family anymore... everything's hanging on by a thread for me...
Kiba... Nozomi... Hideji... Ryan... Maria... She failed them all, but could she have friends again?
If there was ever an opportunity, this would be it.
A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek, the internal struggle working its way from her gut to her chest. Another voice spoke in her head- the darker one. Yakuza dog. Murderer. Her phone snapped shut with decisiveness. "Someone like me doesn't deserve friends," she said to herself, pocketing her phone.
After all, the last time she had friends they all ended up in the hospital. She didn't need to drag any more people into her worthless life.
Hearing the Italian woman calling out to strangers, and hearing Simon advertise for his restaurant, Hana looked back to watch them for a moment. Foreigners... "Kazutano..." She remembered the fat, balding Italian man that called her a hero. She doubted she would ever see him again, however she wondered what would have happened if she didn't go back to help them. Would they still have managed to save him?
Hana frowned to herself. What would have happened to him if the kidnappers succeeded? What experiments would they perform on him?
Her phone went off, pulling her from her thoughts. Frowning she pulled it back out and flipped it open. Izaya... Walking off she answered it gruffly, "What do you want."
"Hana, it's been a while," his light voice replied, unperturbed by her aggression.
She tch'd. "It's Mikajima."
"Tell me, how was your visit with Saki?"
"Wonderful, actually. You weren't brought up even once." She glanced around the city, trying to spot him in the crowd. It wouldn't be the first time he was watching her while speaking on the phone. "What do you want."
"You were never good with small talk," he feigned a sigh. "Well, cutting to the chase I need you to go to the park nearby Russia Sushi. The plaza with the fountain. There will be a girl waiting for you."
She frowned and nearly spat, keeping her voice low. "Another brainwashed slave?" As disgusted as she was, she followed his instruction and walked on.
"So quick to jump to conclusions." She could hear the smile in his voice. "Rest assured this isn't anything like that. This girl is different."
Hana sighed, but didn't bother to say anything more. She kept the phone to her ear as she crossed the street, making it to the park. Standing at the short stone staircase that led to the fountain area, she looked around and said, "All right, I'm here. What does she look like?"
"She has a distinct scar around her neck."
Hana was caught off guard by the description. "A scar?"
"That's right. Almost as if someone sawed off her head only to sew another back on." She knew better than to question too much. Walking down the steps towards the fountain, she looked around. "She's young, perhaps wearing a hat. Let me know when you see her, but don't approach just yet."
Grey eyes darting around the park, she tried to be inconspicuous as she searched. Someone sawed off her head? A bizarre and oddly specific description. Walking around the fountain, she stopped short once she spotted a high school girl was sitting alone on a stone bench. Hana's eyes widened- she wasn't as horrific and zombie-like as she was imagining. She looks to be Saki's age, she noted. She wasn't close enough to see her neck, however she was the only high school girl around, wearing a white hat and a pink skirt. She frowned, the girl was shifty eyed, obviously tense as she sat alone. "I think I see her. I'm not close enough to confirm."
"Perfect. Is she alone?"
"Yeah, looks like it." She turned away slightly to avoid eye contact. "She has an eye out, though. She's skittish."
"Listen closely, Hana." She frowned sideways at her phone. It irked her when he said her first name. "That girl is a very special case. She is the first domino that will fall, causing a chain reaching throughout this intricate city." Feeling slight worry, she glanced back over to the girl. She wasn't sure what Izaya was on about, but she felt like she didn't want to get involved. He was never up to anything good. "I know it's your day off, but do me a favor, would you? She's being chased by a dangerous group, and I need to make sure she isn't caught. However I can't risk my involvement being known."
Hana furrowed her brows up. "Wait- you're asking me to help her?"
He laughed lightly, "You sound surprised."
"You're not a good Samaritan, Izaya," she said plainly. "Whatever good thing you do for others its somehow in your benefit."
"Are you saying you won't help the poor girl? I'm sure she scared to her wits end."
Looking back over at the girl, he was right. She tch'd- how the hell was she supposed to ignore a girl like that? Surely Izaya is betting on that, she thought. "I can tell this is important to you. Tell me who the dangerous people are; I need to know what I'll potentially get involved with."
His voice dipped low and smooth, "Have you heard of the Yagiri Pharmaceutical Company?" Hana's eyes widened, lips parting as she nearly choked on a gasp. "Ah, I bet you do," he said knowingly in her silence. "They hired me to gather a list of illegal aliens for their experiments. Turns out they didn't get their shipment last night because a member of the Awakusu stepped in and stopped them."
Hana was nearly knocked off her feet. She stumbled back, suddenly breathing hard. "W-wait..." As the adrenaline surged through her she felt oddly numb. She fucked up. "I don't... h-how many know?" She grasped at her chest, fist twisting the fabric of her shirt. She fucked up!
Izaya laughed, delighted at her frightened reaction. "You can relax, I'm keeping it under wraps as we speak. Whoever knows your involvement of the incident are only those you've allowed to know."
Mr. Akabayashi.
Kadota and the others were no threat to her. The kidnappers Izaya himself could handle. However Akabayashi knew her involvement, she spoke to him personally about it, and he was an executive. She swallowed, trying to clear her tightened throat. She had no idea what the Awakusu-kai would do to her if they found out she acted so brazenly by herself- going as far as to against a company as big as Yagiri Pharma. With the politics going on between the Yakuza groups, they'd kill her if they felt the need to!
"I believe you're losing sight of the bigger picture, Hana." Izaya's low voice brought her back. "You can relax. Keep in mind whatever you do is an extension of me, and I need to cover my tracks. You're only working for them because I had a deal with them to finish. None of that should matter to you. What matters is your sister, isn't that right?"
Saki.
Hana found herself breathing hard, finally able to catch her breath. Perspiration rolled down her face, and she wiped the droplets off her chin. Izaya was a cruel, conniving bastard, but he had a point. Her sister's smiling face came to her mind. She was able to relax, getting her priorities back in order. She didn't have to worry about the Awakusu-kai so much as she had to worry about Izaya. He was the true threat.
"You've calmed down, that's good. Now, back to the business at hand."
Hana looked over at the girl again. "All right, I need to help keep her away from Yagiri Pharma. Is that it?"
"That's precisely it. Go and approach her, get her number. Whatever you do, do try to be pleasant, would you? Can't have you chasing the girl off with your scary face." The call dropped.
She snapped the phone shut with a slight growl. "Izaya..." She was wrapped around his finger- they both knew it. She had no other choice but to do his bidding. It's not all bad, she supposed. Yagiri was obviously bad news, so protecting this girl had to be a good thing. Tucking her phone away, taking a breath, she walked over to her.
"Excuse me?"
The girl made a sound of fearful surprise. Hana had to stop short, putting her hands up in peace. "Easy," she made a smile, "I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm a friend." The girl didn't respond- she was tense, as if she was going to bolt any second. Slowly Hana took cautious steps, approaching close enough to see the girl's neck.
A scar. Seeing it up close- Izaya's description of it was scary-spot on.
Hana's smile fell away, the girl's skin tone above the scar was fair, considerably lighter from the tan of her body. Her hair was auburn and her eyes grey-green. Someone else's head... and a foreign one.
Hana furrowed her brows up, focusing on her eyes. "Hey... You need to get away from Yagiri, that right? I'm here to help." After a hesitation the girl relaxed, sitting proper. Hana put her hands down and introduced, "My name is Mikajima Hana. And you?"
"Ah..." She seemed to struggle for a moment, eyes shifty again. "My name is... Celty."
Hana's lips parted slightly. "Celty..."
What the hell is going on? Hana stared, keeping her composure as her head was suddenly spinning. Shinra's Celty? The Dullahan searching for her missing head? While logically someone would jump to conclusions, the rational part of her brain nagged at her. She wasn't a doctor, but she wouldn't assume it to be possible to attach a head to a body like that.
Put that aside for now. She forced a smile, "Judging by your looks, I'd say you're around 15? I have a sister your age." Remembering Saki's face, her expression softened as she relaxed. "I'm here to help you, Celty. Can we exchange information?"
Celty was hesitant. "How... can you help me?"
A very good question. A small sweat drop formed on the back of her head. "I have connections," she assured. "I'll help keep an eye on you. And an eye on Yagiri's goons." She glanced at her scar again, "Given your situation, I have to ask... You got that surgery from them, didn't you?" Celty nodded. Not one for talking much, but that's all she needed she supposed. Was Yagiri trying to keep this under wraps? "Tell me, do they know where you are now?"
She nodded, but then hesitated. "I have to go back soon. They're always in contact with us."
"Us?" Hana's brows knit together. "Who's the other one?"
"S-Seiji."
Hana sighed, tucking her hands in her pockets. She wasn't getting enough information out of this girl. "All right, and how are they contacting you and Seiji?"
"His cell phone," she replied. "His sister always calls and checks on him."
"Okay," Hana actually smiled, now this was progress. "Easy first step. What you need to do is cut off the communication, however after that you need to run. Throw the phone away. Give the slip to anyone keeping an eye on you, all right?"
Celty seemed to already be thinking. After she nodded Hana said, "Okay, good." She took out her phone, "Let's exchange information. I'll help get you away from Yagiri, I promise."
"A-all right." As Celty stood and took out her phone from her bag, Hana eyed her. She really was scared half to death, her hands were shaking while handling her phone.
After that, Celty ran off. Hana frowned after her. Aside from all of that, what the hell was going on between Yagiri and Izaya? Speak of the devil, her phone rang. She answered it and Izaya asked, "So, did it go over well?"
"I got her number, and her trust, for the most part." Walking away, she lowered her voice, "Izaya, what the hell is going on? She called herself Celty, and that scar..."
"Interesting, isn't it?" He cut her off. "I wouldn't jump to hasty conclusions. After all, I, myself, am not entirely sure all that goes on in that building. For now, keep yourself on standby, and keep this to yourself. For the girl's sake. I'll be sending you instructions to relay to the girl, is that understood?"
Hana sighed, "Understood." She then snapped the phone shut. Staring at her phone she thought to herself, a girl with a foreign head, and she called herself Celty of all things... That couldn't be a coincidence. She glared out at the distance. "Just what the hell is everyone hiding..."
!
After work, Kyohei found himself at Yagiri Pharma. He hung around outside the building across the street, leaning against a tree as he read a light novel. Periodically he would glance over his shoulder at the compound that was gated off, but he never saw anything. No vans going in or out, not even employees walking around. I wonder what it is I'm looking for, he thought, turning a page in his book.
Kazutano was safe, and he should leave it at that. Even Walker and Erika had convinced him to drop it, but there he was. Staking out a monolith of a company, and he wasn't even sure what they really did. He took another glance at the gate, glaring at them. What are you hiding in there? Rumors circulated around the building. Some said Yagiri had ties to the Awakusu, others say to the North American Nebra Corp.
Sighing, he finally closed his book, tucking it away in his jacket. However long he had been leaning on that tree, he wasn't getting any answers. Giving up for the day, he went to walk away only to stop short in surprise. "H-Hana?"
He blinked rapidly, thinking he was seeing things. The young woman with long dyed brown hair and bright red jacket was standing there in broad daylight, openly glaring across the street at the Pharmaceutical building with an aggressive aura. Hearing her name, she seemed to snap out of it and looked over at him. "Oh..." Her eyes widened slightly- just as surprised as he was. "Kadota."
They were so engrossed with the building that they didn't notice each other. There was silence for a moment as they stared at one another. "What... what are you doing here?" He managed to ask.
"I could ask the same thing," she replied, her eyes feeling like crosshairs on him.
Kyohei sighed, feeling himself tense a bit. Was she here... because Yagiri actually had tied to the Yakuza? Hana suddenly walked towards him and he stiffened. "So," she eyed the building across the street. "Have you noticed anything strange?"
"Huh?" He was surprised at how close she got. Taking a step back, he quickly realized she was trying to take cover behind one of the decorative trees lining the street just as he had done. Blushing lightly at his own awkwardness, he quickly replied, "N-no. I haven't seen or heard anything."
She hummed to herself. "Early to arrive and late to leave," she murmured. He watched as her grey eyes were sharp on the building. "I wouldn't be surprised if some of the employees lived there." Though not all of them, she thought to herself. Kyohei didn't realize he was blatantly staring at her until she looked up at him.
She smiled slightly- the gesture made him tense. "Wh-what is it?"
"You know, I had a thought that perhaps you took a special interest in me," she said and he became confused. "Though... thinking that, I still couldn't imagine why."
He blushed lightly. Special interest? He wouldn't think so, but hearing that out loud...
Turning away from him, he blinked as she added, "I realize now that you're just a nosey person that doesn't know how to drop things."
Hana's eyes snapped open- shit. She turned her head away, avoiding looking at him. She didn't mean to sound as rude as she did, but that was her nature. She was surprised, however, once Kyohei started laughing.
She looked up at him high-browed as he chuckled. "You got me pegged there," he said, rubbing the back of his head. When he smiled at her she blinked- he wasn't offended?
Frowning bashfully, she looked over to the building again. "You know... I can figure out what you were thinking."
He leaned slightly to try and see her face. "What I was thinking?"
"Yagiri Pharmaceutical and the kidnappings. I might not be in touch with society, but I know the rumors. That maybe there's a connection to the Awakusu-kai." Kyohei was quiet, watching her and waiting as she stared off across the street. After a moment she looked up at him, "I'm not going to claim that I know much about the people I'm working for. All I can say is that for the few people I do know... They're not kidnappers. Whatever is going on over there," she looked back at the building and he followed her gaze. "it's something beyond whatever the Yakuza do." She glared. "Yagiri is a villain in itself."
She said it with such weight that Kyohei didn't really know how to respond. It's like she's out of a drama movie, he thought. After watching her for a moment he spoke up, "Hey... I gotta ask."
"Hm?" Jolted out of her serious moment she looked up at him.
"You said before that saving Kazutano was just a favor repaid, right?"
"Yeah..?"
"So, why are you here now?" Physically seeing her discomfort, he couldn't help but smile. She might've looked normal, but her shoulders suddenly tensed and her facial expression was too steady.
Kyohei's motive for being there was obvious; he was suspicious and nosey. He caught her staking the place just as she caught him- though she wasn't nearly as sneaky about it.
Peering at her face, she tried to hide her growing blush. "It- It's not what you think," she quickly corrected.
Kyohei looked down at her amused. "Mikajima Hana, old leader of the Red Stains. I never knew you were capable of a shy side." She bristled at that. "It's kind of cute."
What?
Swiftly she socked him in the gut and he buckled over, using the tree to hold himself up. "O-okay," he coughed, struggling to get his breath back. "Sorry... I didn't mean it..."
"Like that helps either," she growled, glaring at the building with a blush. "I'm not shy, I just have poor communication skills."
Kyohei groaned as he forced himself upright, holding his stomach. "Geez, you don't pull your punches do you?"
She humphed. "I'm only here because I have suspicions that Yagiri has something that belongs to a friend of mine." Crossing her arms she questioned gruffly, "Well? What are you so nosey about to be back here? Shouldn't you just be happy your friend is safe?"
He sighed, rubbing his tummy. "Well, you're right about that." She glanced up at him to see him staring at the building. "Like you said, I'm just nosey and don't know how to drop things. Considering all the people that have disappeared... I just want to know what's going on in there."
She watched him for a moment. His expression was serious. Her face fell with the drop in her stomach. He's probably nosey and stupid enough to try and sneak into the place...
He looked back down at her as she sighed. While she rubbed the back of her head contemplating, he merely stared in dumb confusion. I can't just confirm Yagiri's doing experiments on illegal aliens for him. That could potentially expose Izaya, and by extension put herself at risk, and then get led to the Yakuza. And yet... if I leave him to his own devices he might just get wrapped up deeper in this shit.
After she let out an aggravated sigh, crossing her arms, Kyohei blinked down at her. She stubbornly turned her head away again. "Look, I don't have serious evidence for you, but yeah. Your suspicions spot on." She uncrossed her arms and tucked her hands in her jean pockets. "Yagiri's no good."
They possibly had Sturluson's head in there- the Dullahan had to have gone to the information broker about her missing head. If Izaya had the same suspicions Hana had, then the girl that called herself Celty could be the key to confirming it all. And if Yagiri felt like their secrets would get out...
Kyohei was watching her, seeing her glare at the building as she became lost in thought. Even if she made fun of him for being nosey, she wasn't far off either. Though her growing seriousness got him worried, "Hana?"
She was pulled from her thoughts and she glanced up at him. However, something else caught her eye. Glancing past him, she spotted a younger man with a long coat walking towards them. Head down, shoulders tense, hands deep in pockets. A coat like that is too heavy for this weather.
She frowned as a bad feeling sunk into her gut. This isn't good. "Come on," Kyohei's eyes went wide when she grabbed his wrist. "Don't run."
Kyohei couldn't even get a word out as she dragged him away. He blushed lightly, staring at her hand on his wrist. Geez, her grip was strong! Once they turned the corner down another street, she ran, dragging him along. "Hey- wait a second!" Still he ran after her, not feeling like he had much of a choice.
Eventually she came to a stop, the both of them huffing as she looked behind them. He bent over for a moment to catch his breath, and lifting his head he realized she was still holding his wrist. "Uhm... mind letting me go?"
"Hm?" She looked down, and then bristled with a blush. "Don't hold on so long," she snapped, throwing his hand aside.
Kyohei stood there at a total loss. But... but you were holding onto me! He wanted to say, but seeing her embarrassed blush, he sighed and let it drop. "Mind explaining why we just ran?"
She wasn't going to respond, but there were distinct pops in the distance. She frowned- as I figured. That boy was attacking the compound. "Hey," Kyohei whipped around towards the sound. "What the hell is that? Back at the building?"
"It's none of our business," Hana said curtly and turned away.
"Huh?" He looked after her- he was amazed that she was just walking away. "Hey, wait!" He hurried up next to her. "You know what just happened. How can you leave it alone?"
"Kadota..." She stopped walking and he moved in front of her, preventing her from walking off again. She sighed, "Look... There's nothing we could do. If there was," she looked up at him, "I would do something." He kept quiet. Seeing her expression, he had to believe her. "Fact of the matter is, Yagiri Pharma is a big company with big money. We go to the cops, they buy the cops, get our information and suddenly we're the ones kidnapped."
He frowned at her. "You know something, don't you."
She sighed- suddenly exhausted. "Who knows. I can't claim to know anything- it's just speculations." And she just had no means to figure out what by herself. "Just leave it alone, all right? You're better off that way."
She then walked around him, continuing on. He frowned after her. Looking at her, he could tell there was weight on her shoulders. Sighing he looked back towards the building, rubbing the back of his neck. Yeah, he was nosey, and he was sure to get himself in trouble if he kept poking around them. He looked back to Hana, watching her get further away and swallowed up by grey bodies.
That boy had to have terrorized the building, she thought as she dodged shoulders down the sidewalk. Yagiri was nothing but bad news, and soon enough she'd figure out what they were up to, so long as she helped Izaya with his plans. She smirked to herself- a spiteful look. Perhaps she'd been around him so much he was finally poisoning her mind. Who would've thought she'd ever look forward to working with him.
However until then, I need something to preoccupy myself. Coming to a crossroads she joined a group that was waiting to cross the street, hanging in the back as she sighed. She couldn't visit Saki. She had no friends to preoccupy her time. It was her day off from the Yakuza, unless Akabayashi messaged her, but she doubted he would. Unconsciously she brought a hand to her chin. Even if I relay Izaya's messages to Celty, there's no guarantee he'll tell me everything he finds out. He's not obligated to. I'll have to find a way to-
A presence appeared too close to her side. She glared up at Kyohei, seeing him leisurely staring steadfast, nearly touching shoulders with her.
Her gaze was hot. "What do you think you're doing."
"Huh?" He blinked down at her. "Why are you surprised? I'd been walking with you this whole time."
Her eye twitched, her hair becoming frazzled. "You're joking." As his brown eyes blinked at her innocently, she sighed heavily and the light turned green.
Crowds began to move and she growled, "Stop following me," and walked on.
"You were the one that dragged me away from the building," he pointed out and followed in step with her. "You also told me to leave it alone. So," after they ended up at the other side of the street, he smiled down at her. "Since I have nothing else to do now, I'm following you."
"I will punch you again."
"Hey, that reminds me." He spoke so damn casually it was starting to irk her. She glared sideways at his cheery expression. "I sent you a message earlier. Did you get it?"
"Y-... Yeah..." She looked away, resisting glancing at him. "I did." What the hell was going on? No one ever pushed themselves onto her like he did- following her and trying to make conversation. Did he want to get punched? Was he really that stupid?
He laughed and she glanced up at him. "Yeah, I figured you wouldn't respond."
He then walked with her- as if it was normal. She swallowed, her sister's face manifesting in her mind. "Make some friends, damn it!" Saki's voice yelled in her head.
Her face scrunched up, glaring at the ground. If there was ever a time it would be right now... but she didn't need friends. And who the hell was he to act all friendly with her anyways. Well, she supposed she ruined his afternoon plans of staking out a building... After a fierce internal struggle- one Kyohei was oblivious to, she finally forced out, "I... I thought about... responding..."
"Huh?" He leaned down and she tensed again, feeling his presence close. "You what?"
"I-it was nothing!" She hastily replied. While she turned her head from him, hiding her frustrated blush, she moved at a faster pace.
With his longer legs, however, he easily kept up. "What was nothing?" Though confused, he smiled at her antics, "You're not really making any sense."
Stopping short she whirled around on him, "Do you have nothing better to do!?"
He deadpanned, "If I did do you think I'd be following you like this?"
She froze. While her brain started rebooting, he tilted his head, noticing something. Lifting his hand, he casually compared their height, hovering it over both their heads. She stared at him bewildered as he perked up, "Oh, wow, I'm a few inches taller than you, huh?" Her eye twitched. "Funny, for some reason I imagined you were my height. I just noticed!"
"I don't..." She shook her head out. "I don't have time for you," she snapped and pushed on, hoping he'd leave her alone.
Kyohei was a man that was undeterred. He watched her for a moment, smiling to himself. Who would've thought Mikajima Hana, leader of the old Red Stains, was so easily flustered? Thinking about her working with the Yakuza, what she secretly did for them, he frowned. He thought back to how he remembered her.
The middle school girl that showed up to class late, ruffed up from a brawl.
The high school girl that was feared, leader of a massive gang.
The woman that fought Izumii in a warehouse, breaking her shoulder and beating him bloody, the admirable things she said.
The woman that fought a whole gang alone to save her sister.
The woman that cried on the hospital floor.
That's her, he thought to himself. No matter how much distance she was trying to put between the two of them, he felt oddly close to her. With that feeling tugging at his chest, he hurried after her. Pulling himself out of his memories, he smiled sideways down at her, "Oh, I get it now. Saving Kazutano; it was nothing. That's what you meant." He grinned when he noticed her blush, seeing her grind her teeth in frustration. "Are you blushing-?"
He almost didn't finish his sentence when she punched him in the side. "Oh- god," he held his side as he coughed, falling to his knees. "You almost got me in the kidney...!"
"Yeah, I know." Standing tall over his wounded self, she crossed her arms and stared- which looked like a glare to most people. With a struggle effort, he looked up at her- one eye screwed shut as he smiled. She was surprised- she hit him and he was still smiling at her? Who the hell was this guy to be so... happy? Furrowing her brows up she sighed out her nose. "You're an idiot, you know that?"
"Takes someone else to remind me." As he slowly stood back up, rubbing his sore side, she looked up at him. "So, you busy today?"
Hana frowned- mostly to herself. Glancing away, she watched the grey bodies walking around Ikebukuro. Should I be honest?
"Judging by your silence, I take that as a no," Kyohei continued and he glared at him flatly. A tick mark throbbed on her head. I should have lied, she thought annoyed. He took out his phone and checked the time, "Saburo and the others won't be available for another hour or so at least." He smiled at her, "Wanna get some food?"
She stared. Did she want to get some food? Looking to her feet she thought it over. I last ate... with them this morning. Realizing how long it had been since her last meal she suddenly felt herself feel hungry. Blushing lightly, she glared to the side, "I guess since you're not going to leave me alone, and I was planning on eating anyways..."
He blinked at her. She's actually... kind of cute, he realized. He was taken aback at her glare, "Just no bothering me about stuff, all right? And you're buying."
He grinned, "All right, where do you wanna go?"
They found themselves at Russia Sushi. Standing in front of the building, Kyohei stared up at the sign surprised. "I'm surprised you chose this place."
She huffed amused. "Despite what you think, I actually come here often."
"Do you?" He asked, even more surprised.
"Yeah." Staring up at the sign, she thought back to the first time she showed up. Late at night, her first job with the Yakuza. "I actually know them pretty well here." With that she walked inside.
Kyohei stared after her. I didn't imagine that look, he thought. A sad memory crossed her mind, and being the nosey man that he was, he had a new drive to figure out who Mikajima Hana was. Following in after her, the restaurant was nearly empty aside from a couple of men on break, eating alone for the day. "Hey, Denis, Simon," Hana greeted as she sat at the bar and Kyohei joined her.
"Hana!" Denis was happy to see her. "Will it be the usual- huh?" He was surprised, making eye contact with Kyohei. "Kyohei! No friends today?"
"Sure, I'm with this friend today," he replied, thumbing to Hana and making her irritated.
"How wonderful!" Simon popped up in front of them, happy as ever as he spread his arms out wide. "Hana have good friend!"
"We're not friends."
Simon blinked while Denis chuckled, cleaning his knife with a rag. Kyohei laughed a little as well, "Harsh." She merely huffed, taking a complimentary wipe and cleaning her hands.
"Nonsense!" Simon leaned over the bar, frowning at her. "Hana need friend!"
She glared up at him. "Shut it and get me tea."
Kyohei froze up- fearful for his life for once. Who talks to Simon like that!? He screamed in his mind. Simon sighed dejectedly, "Da, da..." With that he turned around and started preparing it.
Kyohei's mind was processing. Denis, who was already preparing some sushi, glanced over at him and chuckled. "She's a special case," he explained, catching his attention.
Hana was quick to frown at him. "Denis..."
"Don't take that tone with me, missy," he said- lightheartedly at her warning tone. Kyohei blinked, bewildered at their relationship. "You might tip well, but you're just a child still."
Her frown turned into a pout. "How old are you anyways," she grumbled, her usual response.
Simon turned back around with their tea and set the cups in front of them. "Hey, I gotta ask..." While Hana shot him a warning glare, both Simon and Denis glanced at him- Denis still chopping furiously. He ignored her look, "How... do you guys know Hana so well? I can barely get a word out of her."
Both the Russians laughed. "That was us, too, kid," Denis replied.
Hana frowned at him, suddenly tense. "Denis-!"
"Ah-ah," he waved his knife at her. "Someone as young as you shouldn't have the secrets you do. You don't want to go into an early grave, do you?"
"Da!" Simon agreed happily.
Kyohei leaned forward intrigued. "So, what happened? How did you all meet? Hana won't say anything about it."
"What a surprise," Denis joked and the three men around her laughed, making her tremble in rage. Assholes, the lot of them, she thought bitterly.
For her it was a private moment in her life. One of the many secrets she harbored. But there Simon was- the lovable oaf he is- happy to tell the story. "It was late night, Russia Sushi already close. It rainy and cold -weather be sick in."
!
Hana wandered aimlessly in the empty streets. A car once in a while could pass by. She was numb, she already got sick and spewed what was left in her. The metal pipe she carried dragged against the stone sidewalk. She stared at the ground vacantly as she walked- the rain that poured down not quite washing off the blood that was splattered over her hands and face.
She was approaching Russia Sushi, and Denis and Simon were wrapping up for the night. After counting their earnings, deducting from spending and what was wasted, they gathered their things and headed out. As Denis locked the door, Simon noticed her first, and tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned, and they both stared at the young woman in surprise. Not only did they see her- the blood, the vomit on the corners of her mouth, they recognized her expression. They knew what she did. A curse slipped out of Denis in Russian from shock. "She's just a kid," he murmured.
As she neared, she was vaguely aware of them. She stopped and looked up- grey eyes vacant. "Little girl," Simon addressed, "You hungry?"
Taking a moment to register, she eventually shook her head. "You're soaked head to toe," Denis said and unlocked the doors. "Come inside and warm up at least. And keep that pipe outside."
Denis and Simon went back into the restaurant, turning lights back on. Hana stared for a moment, the cold sinking into her bones. The pipe slipped from her hand and clattered on the ground as she mindlessly went inside.
!
"We got her cleaned up," Denis explained, making sure to leave the story vague, however Kyohei wasn't stupid. He stared at Hana, who's hair obscured her face as she stared at the countertop. "Poor thing caught a cold after that, but she became a frequent customer- usually early morning and late at night." He then set the plates of sushi down in front of them.
"Ah- thanks," Kyohei quickly said. Hana didn't use manners and shoved the sushi in her mouth. "Wow," he smiled at her, "Small world, who would've thought you were close with Simon and Denis." She didn't reply. "Walker and Erika are gonna be excited when they hear this. They like to make up random stories about them- Russian spies or something."
She didn't respond.
Kyohei's face fell. "Hana?"
She ate more sushi.
Denis chuckled and Kyohei looked up, seeing him cleaning the knife again. Simon grinned at him, "Silent treatment, da? Hana angry girl."
"What?" Kyohei became panicked, "Silent treatment- why?" Turning to Hana, he leaned forward to try and see her face, but she stubbornly turned away, chewing her food. "Hey," he frowned, "I kept the agreement! I wasn't bothering you about stuff, but you didn't say I couldn't talk to other people about stuff."
When she looked at him be froze. She was angry- there was no mistaking that. But he found it almost impossibly cute as she glared with cheeks full of sushi. She's... She's a chibi! Sitting back, he blushed lightly as she swallowed and a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. Her face returned to normal, and after giving him her signature look, she silently went back to her food.
He deflated with a sigh, "Oh well..." He'd have to deal with this until after food he supposed.
Hana withdrew from her environment while Kyohei talked with Simon and Denis. Her first assignment from the Awakusu-kai. Her first murder. While she ate her sushi, it filled her with a comfort. Since that night she had come to this restaurant before or after an assignment. But Denis had told the story so candidly...
"I know who you are, you hypocrite. Since when the Hell is Mikajima Hana a vigilante?"
"Hey- yeah! You're a murderer just like the rest of us!"
She glanced at Kyohei, seeing him smile and laugh. It made her face fall. He was a good guy. Too good to be hanging out with her.
Hanging out with a murderer. I don't deserve friends.