Chapter Five: A Smiling Devil and An Angel in Bartender's Uniform

Flashback - Raira Days

Chieko had noticed him from the beginning. They stood near one another at the entrance ceremony and he was her classmate for her first year. A whole year's worth of waiting and Chieko was finally done. Her friends had tried countless times to stop her from being around Shizuo, but she never really listened. She went to have lunch with him and Shinra every day, and whenever Izaya Orihara came around she would only tell him not to cause trouble. Always smiling, never intimidating. This brunette with an angel's smile was always the sweetest person at school, always kind. But behind that façade sat the personality of a devil; something she hadn't noticed before.

She didn't know when it started, but one day she found herself imagining breaking the bones of any person who harmed her dear friend Shizuo. A girl who would not stand for her friends getting hurt; A girl who would never hesitate to do what she wanted to. And that included asking out the blonde powerhouse that everyone pegged as a monstrosity, Shizuo Heiwajima.

Present Day –

Chieko sat up and rubbed her eyes, stretching before she looked to the window. Her phone was lit up, a message having arrived. She opened her phone, stared at the screen for a bit, then tilted her head and sighed. "Again?" she mumbled, snapping her cell closed and placing it back on the dresser. She was going to see Shizuo again today, she didn't have time to deal with these troublesome people. Tom didn't seem to mind having her around, it kept Shizuo even the slightest bit more civil with their clientele. Chieko wanted to get a job for the business, so today she was going in and meeting Shizuo and Tom's boss. That was most important. She got up and went into her bathroom to change, making sure to be both presentable and professional. She adjusted her suit jacket before she smiled into the mirror. She headed out into Ikebukuro, soon arriving at the building where Shizuo and Tom were waiting.

"Yo." Tom waved a hand, Shizuo looking away from Chieko, carrying a small plastic bag in hand.

"Morning, you two~" Chieko smiled.

"You sure you want to take a job here?" Tom asked her, quirking an eyebrow. "It's not gonna be easy."

"Of course." She nodded, smiling and looking to Shizuo. "I wanna be around Shizuo as much as possible~" Shizuo looked away, face turning slightly pink at the declaration. "Besides, I can handle myself~" she added. "Ne?" she tugged at Shizuo's sleeve, the man sighing and looking back at her.

"… Don't get into reckless situations." He wanted to tell her not to take this job, and that it was dangerous, but arguing with her was something he refused to do. She knew how to turn the tables on him without any hesitation and she always got what she wanted from him. He turned away again in an effort to calm down, remembering that Chieko was always the instigator in their high school relationship.

"I won't~" she chuckled. "Not on purpose~" she walked with them to the office where the boss was, Shizuo still remembering how easy it was for this brunette to get whatever she wanted from him. Sure it had been embarrassing, but he was happy with her, however short their relationship was. But the fact that she was back now was a shock. He didn't know what to do, seeing her again after her step mother had blatantly told him never to see her again and ordered him out of the hospital Chieko had been taken to after he threw that stop sign her way. He was about to grip his hand into a fist when he felt Chieko's hand slide into his, her slender fingers preventing every urge his body had to grip his hand in anger towards himself. "You okay~?"

"… Fine." He replied, gripping her hand tenderly, his grip almost inhumanly soft.

"You shouldn't be afraid to hurt me." She stated simply. He flinched at the comment. "I'm not made of glass, Shizuo…"

"… After last time, I won't chance it." He replied simply. "Why did you come back?" he asked, letting Tom walk a little farther ahead of them as they headed upstairs.

"Because I wanted to find you again… my step mother sent you away… she had no right to." She added. "So… I came to Ikebukuro to see you again." she stated simply. "… Do you not want me here?"

"I would never say that." He told her sternly. "I just want you to be careful… jobs like this aren't for fragile people."

"Now who said I was fragile?" she pouted at him. "I can handle myself. I promise." She poked at his side, making him stare at her. "I swear, I can!"

"Lower your voice." He stated, patting her head with his free hand. "And next time you come on the job, don't wear a skirt. Wear pants." He stated simply.

"Oooh, really? I can change." She stated. "I'll just borrow a spare pair of yours, okay~?"

"O-oi, don't say that." He stated. "They'd fall off…" he paused, face red. "Crap, you always bring up stuff like this…" he covered his face with his hand, Chieko grinning more at him. "Just wear your own pants next time."

"Yes, okay, I will~" she said, holding his hand cheerfully. "I promise I promise~"

"You know… you'll only be in training with me, its not like boss will let you stay with me forever." He stated, making a face.

"Somehow I think he'll make an exception." She smiled at him.

"Oh, why's that?"

"Because~" she smiled as they arrived at the door, Tom opening it for them and letting them walk in, noting them still holding hands. But Shizuo hastily pulled his hand away from hers, making Chieko pout. "Buu buu, Shizuo. You're so mean."

"So you're the girl Shizuo used to be together with in high school?" the boss asked, making her turn towards him and nodding with a smile.

"Yes, that's correct~" she smiled.

"Are you seriously thinking about trying to take on a job like this?" he asked.

"Well~ I'm sure Shizuo, as much as I adore him, has racked up some damage charges, yes?" she asked, making the whole room flinch. "And I'm sure he's also done some pretty dangerous things too." She nodded, Shizuo sighing a little. "Therefore, I have a solution to your problems~ I can calm Shizuo down near instantly so as not to cause you any more trouble, and I can also defend myself. And if I can get Shizuo to do as I ask, I doubt I'd have a problem getting anyone else to pay up you know~" she added with such a confidence that the entire room just stared at her in shock.

"Oi, you shouldn't act like that."

"But why?" she asked, turning to Shizuo. "It's fine isn't it? If I can convince you to have an actual relationship with me after everything that happened, it should be absolutely no problem convincing someone who owes a debt to pay up or I'll just let you run rampant." She stated, blinking at him.

"… I think it might be a good idea, Boss." Tom stated. "She doesn't look it, but she stopped him from rampaging the other day, I saw it… it was weird, like she flipped a switch or something and he just stopped."

"She's that good?"

"Yes."

"… Take her around with you, just to see then." He stated.

"Thank you, Boss-san~" Chieko smiled. She then turned to Shizuo as Tom bowed his head and headed out of the room, reaching into the blonde's pocket, taking his hand, and dragging him out with her.

"Boss is that really such a good idea?"

"Well, we'll let them see how one day goes. If Shizuo himself recommends her then it means he thinks she'll be able to handle it. He looked pretty reluctant to even have her here."

"Chie."

"Yes?" Chieko asked as she walked with Shizuo.

"… You shouldn't say stuff like that anymore." He told her, referring to what she'd said at the office.

"Mm, then…" she pondered. "I'll stop if you promise that every day you're able you need to give me a hug." She smiled up at him.

"… Fine." He stated, knowing that arguing would only make her pout and act stubbornly.

"Yay~ Shizuo you're the best~" she said with a smile.

"… Quit saying stuff like that on the job." He replied, cheeks still tinted pink. "And are you ever gonna let go of my hand?"

"Not unless I have to." She chuckled. "I promise I won't embarrass you while working, but we're just walking right now right?" she asked, smiling. "So indulge me a bit, please~"

"… Just a little while longer." He grumbled. "You'd better stop when we get closer."

"Closer to~?" she asked, smiling. "To the job site? Or to bed?" Shizuo nearly tripped at that comment, turning to her and narrowing his eyes behind his shades at her.

"Chie."

"I'm sorry~" she said with a smile. "I'll be good now."

"You'd better be." He grumbled.

When they finished the day's work, Shizuo began walking Chieko back to her apartment, noticing someone standing there. "Who's that?" he asked, having seen the girl somewhere before.

"… Mifumi…?" she looked concerned as she rushed to the blackette's side. "Mifumi, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Ch-chieee…" Mifumi sobbed, clinging to the girl once she was close enough. "I… there was a scary email in my inbox when I came home… I… someone told me to stay away from Kasuka and I… I…" she sniffled, hiding her face against her friend, Chieko suddenly feeling very protective of the girl.

"Shizuo, come in. Close the door behind you." She told him, opening the door and letting Mifumi into the apartment, Shizuo pausing and following, letting Chieko take the sobbing girl somewhere they could talk before glancing around the apartment. Chie's style hadn't changed, that was for sure. Everything was very feminine, almost worthy of a princess. But one thing he didn't expect to see was an old photo on the shelf near the door. This was their only official picture they ever took as a couple, when they went on their official first date to a little café run by one of Chieko's older friends. He blushed a little, remembering that Chieko basically jumped him as soon as they were alone on the way home to make out, using the excuse that he'd been too reserved on their date. "Fond memories, ne?" she chuckled as she walked back into the room.

"Your friend okay?"

"She's your future sister-in-law you know." Chieko scolded, giggling at the confused look on his face. "Shizuo, that's Mifumi. The girl that has the hugest possible crush on Kasuka?"

"… Oh, the pigtails girl…?" he asked. "… Guess that's why she seemed familiar…"

"Silly Shizuo." Chieko smiled, leading him to sit. "We should go on a proper date sometime."

"… I still don't get why you like me so much, Chie…" he muttered, lowering his gaze to the floor, feeling like he shouldn't let her get close. He didn't want her hurt again. "I hurt you…"

"You didn't…"

"That damn flea will end up hurting you because of me." He grit his teeth, his hands clenching into fists. But when Chieko slid her hand over the back of his, he began to calm down.

"No, he won't. Izaya may fight with you, but he knows better than to cause my any more injury to upset you… after all, Ayumi swore to end him if he did."

"… That girl… Ayumi, she's the one who called the ambulance?"

"That's the one." Chieko smiled. "Ayu's looked out for us all since we became friends… And I know if anyone ever hurt us, she'd always end them… always, Shizuo." She took his hand, smiling up at him as he met her gaze. "The only reason Izaya isn't dead is because Ayumi likes him." She stated simply. "I don't think he deserves her." She added with a huff. "He's rude, he's cruel to her, he does nothing but tear her heart up with his words and actions… but she still likes him." She nuzzled Shizuo a little. "And if she can still love that asshole the way she does without wavering, that makes my love for you seem like the easiest thing in the whole world."

"… How the hell…" he grumbled, leaning against her a little, blushing bright red. "… You really want to…?"

"I've always wanted to be with you, Shizuo." She cupped his cheeks in her hands, making him look her in the eyes. "… I've always wanted you to be happy…"

"… Fine." He muttered, letting her nuzzle him more. "But I expect you to behave."

"Aww, so I can't give you kisses and drag you to bed after Miharu comes to pick up Mifumi~?" she grinned, Shizuo's face turning even darker red at the comment. "Hehe, kidding kidding, I'm sorry~" she apologized, letting him calm down for a while, going to make some tea. Shizuo, once calm again, asked something Chieko wasn't expecting.

"So… your stepmom died?"

"Yep~ Car crash." She stated simply. "She died pretty immediately, I heard." She added, pouring the tea into cups. "… Why do you ask?"

"… Nothing." He got up, walking over to the kitchen and standing next to her. "… Chie?"

"Yes my dear~?"

"… Did you do it?"

"My dear Shizuo, I may have hated her but I didn't kill her." She smiled up at him. "… I wouldn't do that to my father, you know that." She added, turning back to the tea. "… Besides if I'd been the one to orchestrate it I would have used something subtle like poison." She chuckled. "I'm not going to be flashy about it."

"Chie."

"What? Its true." She looked back up at him.

"… You promised no more talk like that…"

"Ah, you remember that?" she chuckled. "Okay okay, I promise I won't mention it unless it really bothers me~" she smiled. "… But things changed, after I couldn't see you… I got really scary~ Working for Ayu made me much more of a sadist~" she giggled. "So I apologize in advance if I'm mean to you in bed, my love~"

"Ch-chie, we're not going to bed." He scolded, the brunette smiling up at him as he squirmed at the mention of intimacy. "B-besides, you've always been a sadist."

"Oh, that's right, you enjoy it when I'm a little mean to you, ne~?" she chuckled. "Most especially if I-"

"Ch-chie, enough." Shizuo covered her mouth, face bright red. "D-don't talk about it… especially not with someone else around."

"Aww, okay my dear Shizuo~ I'll be a good girl until Mifumi goes home~" she nuzzled him again, the blonde doing his best not to freak out over how embarrassed he was getting. But this was the first time in a while he felt so at home with someone… Chieko never made him feel different, despite what everyone always said about him in high school, the brunette always stuck by his side and didn't flinch at any mention of him being a monster. Instead, she turned the tables on anyone who mentioned it directly, telling them off with a smile.

"… I should go…"

"Nope." Chieko smiled. "You're spending the night." She stated simply. "If you won't come to bed, you can have the couch. But I insist you stay." She took his hand, still smiling. "… Please?"

"… Only if you promise not to do anything weird."

"Okay~" she grinned.

"That means nothing sexual."

"Aww, but its not weird~ I promise I won't do anything too kinky~"

"Chie. No."

"Aww, fine fine." She pouted. "At least promise to give me a hug before we go to sleep?" Shizuo sighed, but nodded his head, earning another smile from the brunette girl. "You're the best, Shizuo~" she told him, the line reminding him of how adoring she had been in high school. She never let him feel like a monster. Any bad thoughts he had, she quashed them instantly with a smile and sometimes a hug or a squeeze of his hand. No matter what, Chieko had wedged her way into his closed off heart, and he couldn't deny that having her back made him feel happy. Not just content, but honestly happy.

"No… You are." He smiled, Chieko's smile brightening at his words. "I missed you, Chie."

((Finally an update-
I'm sorry about the delay, I've been kind of wrapped up with a new job and all. But I promise I'll try and update more often~

Next time, Ayumi goes Mama Bear Mode~ Please look forward to it~

-Winter Cheshire))