AN/ I told you, I will update earlier~3
Chapter 5: Business
The sun was already behind the skyscrapers, painting the sky in orange and gold and bathing the city in its warm dimmed light.
At this beautiful time of day, the infamous informant of Ikebukuro, Orihara Izaya walked towards one of thousands cafés splattered all over his beloved city.
There was not much difference between this local and other normal cafés in this district of Tokyo, although he had to admit, the owner found just ideal place for business. It was situated near the entrance to metro, on the road that was frequently used by teenagers walking to Raira and people going to work in office skyscrapers, meaning the local had to be also really expensive.
It was also a comfortable spot for watching people, either pass by on the pavement or interact in the walls of café. Large windows and the actual size of room allowed it. - And that was why it wasn't the first time, Izaya visited it.
What actually differenced this café from others was its name and both open and domestic atmosphere that lingered its modern style.
The heart shaped signboard, hanging over the main door to the local read Cuore di Café in Latin alphabet with Japanese signs for Heart Café and French Café underneath it.
A quiet ring of bells could be heard, when Izaya opened the glass door but short after, the tune disappeared in the sound of someone's laughing.
The raven walked straight to the back of the room where was situated his favourite table, as every part of the room and what was outside was visible from that spot.
He wasn't waiting long before ((h/c)) woman appeared by his side and asked him for his order.
Sepia eyes locked with ((e/c)) irises and Izaya asked for black coffee, his lips pulled in the always present smirk. Her lips pulled up a little more as she asked if maybe this time he wanted to try any of the sweets, which of course gained her negative response. Then ((F/Name)) left with her smile still present, ignoring provoking tone and glint in his eyes that she had to notice. Like every other time.
Not that he minded it.
He would just swiftly switch to watching his beloved humans interact with each other until owner's brother arrived with his coffee. The tan skinned man was the exact opposite of the woman. It was a thing, that the informant knew since he laid his eyes on the pair. The ((h/c)) always wore some kind of a smile and when she would sometimes actually stay by Izaya's side and exchange at least few words after she delivered his order, her brother always sent the customer lingering cold stare and left him with his question unanswered.
Izaya once again moved his gaze around the room.
Just then, a black Mercedes parked in front of the building. Orange light reflected on it's clean body when front door on passenger's side opened and a man in black suit got out of the vehicle to open back door.
Sepia eyes glued to the leg clothed in white, then quickly moved up to the face of the man, surprised.
Shiki-san?
Yakuza's executive turned to the car and reached forward, catching a hand of another person, who revealed herself quickly after, smiling lightly up at her husband.
The man in black suit, who had to be the guard dog, closed the door and after hearing his boss' orders once again got in the car which drove away.
Izaya's eyes switched to ((h/c)) head that just turned from his direction.
Was it a simple coincidence or something more? - he wondered.
The raven watched as new customers walked in café and sat by the table that was on the other side of the room in another place good for observing surroundings. Just before they both sat down, Shiki's eyes locked with Izaya's and the informant gained an acknowledging nod, And then executive's attention moved back to his wife, which just waved in counter's direction.
The tanned waiter walked to the new customers, slight smile present on his face.
Izaya supported his head on his palm, watching the three people talk. As Damian's lips formed a "May I take your order?" sentence, the information broker wondered from where would they know each other.
Short after the couple was left alone, ((F/Name)) walked through the room with their order, stopping on her way to leave a cup of coffee on another table.
She exchanged few words with the pair and then left with polite smile plastered on her face.
The raven placed his cup back on the plate in wonder, his eyes glued to ((h/c))'s back.
"Can I leave the cleaning to you..?" ((Name)) dried her hands with a kitchen towel.
"Sure." responded Damian, not looking her way.
She walked to the back door.
"Mais, ne faites pas de nouveaux ennemis s'il te plaît. [But please, don't make new enemies.]" ((Name)) turned her head, looking at her cousin.
Their eyes met for a split moment and the woman walked out of the kitchen, smirking lightly.
She walked in the living area and opened front, or more like back door, light smile gracing her lips.
"I'm sorry for the long wait, but to take care of café means dedicate it most of your time." she said, stepping aside to let her guests come in, then showed them to go upstairs where the living room was. "Make yourself at home."
When ((h/c)) was closing her door, she noted black Mercedes parked behind the house. She decided to not try her luck and turned the key.
She trotted up the stairs silently, trying to catch any possible sound of conversation, but heard none.
When ((Name)) walked in living room, she saw Anna inspecting the surroundings and her husband simply sitting on the couch.
The moment she entered the room, the man in white suit stood up, though.
"Pleased to meet you personally, Shiki-san. I'm ((F/full name))." the ((h/c)) shook the man's hand in businesslike manner, although she wore warm smile.
"The pleasure's on my side." the man responded and let ((Name)) greet his wife with friendly embrace.
"After you visited me first thing after coming to Tokyo, I thought it would be a good idea to return the gesture. I hope you don't mind it." Anna parted with her friend, who shook her head.
"Not at all, I'm truthfully delighted." she laughed and took a step back to look at both people present in her living room. "Would you like a drink, or maybe something to eat..?"
"No, thank you." said the man, and the woman pondered.
"Actually, do you have this black tea, you always offered to me when I came to your house?"
"Of course I do." when brunette's eyes shone at the statement, ((h/c)) chuckled "I'll be right back." and disappeared in her home kitchen.
"Can you do one for my gloomy husband over here too?" Anna shouted after her friend, who snorted.
"I always make a full pot of it, you know?" she commented, pouring water in the kettle.
"Well, I haven't had it in years." the brunette retorted. "I can forget things like this."
"At least you don't remember my every quirk." the ((h/c)) winked at her friend, from her place beside counter.
"Like the one which made you piss off every new met person and then in next five minutes make them worship and follow you like sheep after a shepherd?" she mused.
((Name)) gasped.
"Tough. I've never done that!"
This time it was Anna to snort.
"Yeah, keep lying. Also, you always turned every guy down, even those that were actually in your type. I was truly shocked when I heard about you engagement."
((h/c))'s form stiffened slightly.
"It didn't work anyway..." she pouted and turned around to fill the pot with hot water. "How did you know that, though?"
Anna chuckled.
"Chris told me." she shrugged.
((Name)) paused, before walking back into the living room and placed the tray with cookies, tea and teacups on the coffee table, then sighed.
"Can we not talk about anything Christopher-related?" she asked and without waiting for response, changed the topic. "But aside from that, you actually had another reason than just a friendly visit, to come here."
The brunette rolled her eyes.
"I missed you."
"Really..." the ((h/c)) deadpanned. "Shiki-san?" her eyes moved to the silent man, that all this time had been watching the two women with light smirk.
"Why do you always think, that when I come to visit you, I have some business!" Anna pouted, which gained her amused grin from ((Name)).
"Oh? But I didn't say anything." she sang, causing her friend to blink with surprise. "Plus, you always came to me when you wanted something... like hot chocolate, borrow a volume of manga, occupy my computer to play games - you know I kept them on it only for you, right?" ((Name)) winked and Anna rolled her eyes.
"That was childish of me." she admitted, then glared over ((h/c))'s shoulder. "And stop smirking at me like this, Haruya. It's irksome."
The man lifted his hands in a calming manner.
"I'll remind you, you asked me to not talk." he pointed and his wife rolled her eyes.
"Because when you get straight to the business, it's impossible to start normal conversation after that." she shrugged.
((Name)) glanced to the staircase, from the parterre. She wondered if Damian was still cleaning up, or maybe he just didn't want to disturb their talk..? being an agent, he would be also eavesdropping and she wasn't sure if it would cause her trouble, so she placed her hand on Anna's shoulder.
"You forgot the word impossible doesn't have its place in my dictionary." she smiled and her friend sighed, shutting up.
"We'll se."
"Well then," ((Name)) moved her attention back on her friend's husband. "How can I help you, Shiki-san?"
AN/ I regret nothing~!
Any support would be highly valued 3