The students had enjoyed the surprise of a Valentine's Day part, Atsuko studied her students, soon to be her ex-students. The school board hadn't been too surprised when she turned in her two week notice that morning, in fact, they had supported her to go out and chase her dreams, and whatever those were.
"So, guys, I have some news" She sighed leaning against her desk, all eyes shifted expectantly towards her, "I turned in my two week notice today."
"But Ojiisan why would you want to quit?" Ayame asked clutching her cupcake, terrified
Pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, the older woman steeled herself "I want to spend more time with my family"
"Are you sure it isn't something else?" Masaomi asked softly as he stood closely
She smiled brightly "Now, for the next week and a half we're going to be free writing, journaling or just scribbling, one of those little pieces will be a letter to me to the person beside you, your mom, your dad, to the great eye in the sky. It doesn't matter. Just a letter. If that's all you write, that's fine, just write a letter."
"Are you going to miss us?" Another student asked
She smiled as the bell rang "I'm going to miss you all very much."
Her tutoring sessions had been cancelled since she had turned in her resignation. So after the final bell was done, the ebony haired young woman pulled her coat on and began walking out of the school. Her charcoal eyes roving around the institution, looking for some way to avoid the young blonde who had the habit of popping up unexpectedly.
She met Shizuo at the gate. He leant against the wall, smoking a cigarette and sending dirty looks towards the children who dared to glance at him as they walked by. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and smiled brightly at him.
"You look beat" Shizuo shook his head, exhaling smoke into her face "let's get you some coffee"
They walked in silence for awhile, finding it peaceful. Finally, Atsuko took some initiative and linked her arm with his, walking along as if it didn't affect her.
"What're you doing?" Shizuo asked confused
"Walking with you" She smiled up at him brightly, stealing his cigarette "I want to pick up this habit"
"Don't, it's not a good one"
She took a testing drag; the smoke wasn't so filthy this time, less acrid to her lungs. She coughed slightly while smiling up at him. Shizuo sighed, shaking his head, of course she'd pick up that habit, and he was a terrible influence. He watched as the young Tanaka took a second drag, this time not coughing, though her eyes were vaguely watery.
"These taste different from last time, Shizuo" She looked up at him, thoughtfully
He shrugged "They're a different brand; these are smoother than the kind before"
"Smoother?" She asked exhaling smoke
"Well, it's the taste, how it rolls off your tongue"
"I suppose that makes sense, I'll have to investigate this further"
"I don't think you should smoke"
"Too late, Shizuo-san, I have decided to pick this habit up"
"Well, how do you feel then?"
"I feel like…woo"
"Woo?"
"Well, like, I don't rightly know, it's the nicotine I think, like this weird rush, just kind of coursing through my body, and I suppose I like it"
"You're so weird"
Atsuko shrugged, as she finished the cigarette. They were walking towards the little coffee shop where she had met her brother the day she had come to Ikebukuro.
"We're going here?" She asked surprised
Shizuo nodded, silent. He had actually planned on bringing her there, something to show her that maybe he was a decent human being, and not just some freak that beat the living hell out of everyone and threw vending machines when he was angry. Though, he hadn't anticipated on her smiling up at him with shining eyes. In the past months he hadn't realized how fond of her he had grown, nor how much happier she seemed from that day in the subway.
"You actually know where you're going now" Shizuo smirked pushing his sunglasses up
The youth shrugged again "I've been here long enough. Though mostly, I've learned it from you and Tom-nii"
"Why do you call him Tom-nii? You seem so…"
"Childish? It's quite alright, it's just always how it's been" Her eyes looked down at the ground, thoughtful but clearly distressed.
"I'm sorry" The blonde's words felt sharp, like the sting from a slap
She looked up at him, "It's alright, I just miss my mom, you know?"
"I don't talk to my mother" was his reply, "she's not particularly fond of what I've done with my life"
"Well, I'm proud of you, and Tom-nii is too" Atsuko flicked her hair over her shoulder before smiling up at him, "You're the strongest guy I know, you know that?"
"You don't know anyone else" the bodyguard chuckled
There was a short silence, "Say, Shizuo, what have you heard about the Slasher?"
"I've heard The Slasher is a member of the Dollars, but other than that, I don't know much"
The duo ordered their wants; Shizuo requested a milk and pudding cup, while the younger ordered a coffee and a taiyaki.
"You and those stupid fish, why do you put yourself through that?" Shizuo asked as he paid
"Shizuo, you don't have to pay for me" The teacher shook her head, attempting to ignore his question
"You hate those fish, all it does is remind you of your mother" He shook his head, "You do this to yourself"
"The custard ones aren't so bad" She shrugged sullenly
"Okay, this is stupid" Shizuo shook his head, "I'm leaving"
Atsuko sighed sadly, watching the blonde man exit the shop. Dropping the taiyaki in the trash bin, she and her cup of coffee pursued the individual dressed as a bartender. It was easy seeing him through the crowd, his tall stature and blonde hair enabled her to see him from a fair distance. Though, she hadn't anticipated on spilling her coffee on someone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry sir-" Atsuko stopped as she realized who, exactly, she was talking to
"Tanaka Atsuko, I see we've finally had the pleasure to meet" Orihara Izaya's lips curved up slightly as he stepped in closer, "I'm sorry to say you've ruined my least favorite shirt"
The youth shook her head, "I'm sorry, I really must be going"
After making an attempt to go around the man, she found herself nearly stuck with a knife. She froze. Her eyes looked down at the knife that was positioned to slide neatly in-between her ribs, then slowly back up into the bloody eyes of the man who held her in a terrible place.
"How about we take a little stroll?" He asked happily as he linked his arm with hers, "I'd love to have a chat with you"
He began to push her towards a narrow alleyway, her coal hair hid her face, she'd be almost unrecognizable if he had his way with her, he could slice and dice her, and no one would notice. The youngest Tanaka had never been one for religion, though now, in that moment, she thought of how maybe a religion would had offered her salvation or some kind of something after he killed her. But of course, of course she had been raised as an agnostic child. She knew nothing of Christians or Muslims or Frisbeetarianists, she was going to die and that was that.
"Don't look so scared, you'll attract attention" Izaya's mouth was close to her ear, the words were warm and airy, too breathy almost
Inkwell eyes screwed shut as she felt the knife poke her back sharply, almost breaking the skin. He could get away before anyone noticed she was hurt or dead. He was the information broker that would kill her, and then have her brother pay for her broken, battered body. He'd say the yakuza did it, that it was nothing but a random act of violence.
"Just where do you think you're going with her Flea?" Shizuo's voice was a godsend
"Shizu-chan" Izaya smirked, "It's lovely to see you again"
Shizuo effortlessly ripped a street sign out of the cement beside him, briefly, Atsuko wondered how much it cost Ikebukuro to repair the damages caused by the giant's rage. Her thoughts were cut short when she felt the information broker's arm wrap around her torso, she was pulled roughly into him, her back pressed against him, the knife now at her neck
"Now, now, Shizuo, you wouldn't want to see such a pretty girl bleed would you?" the man questioned, grinning
By now, a crowd had gathered, albeit, it was a safe distance from Ikebukuro's two most dangerous men. Mobile phones had been taken out, taking pictures and videos of the standoff, of the girl who presently had a knife to her neck. A few gasped as the knife dug into her neck slightly, making the young woman whimper.
"Let her go" The blonde insisted
"And what? Let you break her like that shop keeper all those years ago?" The words were sharp, his eyes focused on the bodyguard's reaction.
Shizuo faltered, his eyes behind his blue-tinted sunglasses were pained. The Tanaka had heard the story from her brother late one night, when they had sat up listening to white noise on the radio and drinking kool-aid wine. It was a habit they had picked up a long time ago.
Atsuko's eyes closed, her life flashing before her.