A few days later, Tsukishima and I find ourselves waiting outside the door of Shizuo Heiwajima's personal office.
My author flinches as a crashing sound is heard from the inside, accompanying the myriad of yelling and shouting. I sigh and lean against the wall behind me, shoving my hands into my pockets; of course we had to pick the exact time that Izaya decided to visit in order to wrap up everything we needed to with our transfer. It's made even worse because I'm fairly certain that I've heard mine and Tsukishima's names mentioned several times, confirming the reason for this round of fighting, and also successfully increasing the guilt I'm sure the writer already feels. It doesn't make sense to me- if he wants to work for YS, then he should work for YS. It's not as if Izaya has any particular partiality to him. I've worked there for much longer than he has and don't have any qualms about leaving. Then again, I've never been one to make attachments.
The sound of someone pushing a chair out rumbles to our ears, causing both of us to turn our heads towards the noise. A moment later none other than Delic walks out of one of the offices leading up to Shizuo's, scratching his head while staring down at a stack of stapled papers. He glances up and stops when he notices us standing idly. Another object's flight and a string of curses are detected from within the other room, and understanding graces his features.
"Oh," he says, "I guess now's a bad time to show him this review, huh?"
"D-...does this happen a lot?" Tsukishima inquires nervously. His fingers toy with the end of his scarf.
"Oh, yeah," replies Delic casually, coming to wait outside with us, "Sometimes we like to listen in. Kinda funny how oblivious they are."
My author's eyebrows furrow. "Oblivious?"
"You know, to all that sexual tension." Shizuo has often searched Izaya out just as Izaya has clearly done to Shizuo today, and I can see how Delic came to his conclusion, but Tsukishima appears stunned by this revelation. He doesn't have the chance to press further, however, as Psyche trips out of Delic's office, shrugging on his coat with pursed lips. I attempt to keep my glare controlled. I had no idea he was even in the building, and I'm still bitter towards his constant pestering. "Did he refuse again, Psyche?" Delic calls to him.
The dark-haired man spins around on his heel, vibrant pink eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't get it! He would only benefit from joining up with a bigger company, and he doesn't want to work for Dollars, so the only choice left would be here! I'm going to go talk some sense into him- Oh, hi, Tsuki-kun, Roppi-chan."
"Hello," Tsukishima greets politely. I merely frown.
"Yup, that guy is kind of strange," Delic chuckles, "I've never met an author that doesn't leap for the chance to get paid more. Although, I don't know if he'd be able to expect much more, since macho-man in there keeps breaking everything."
My mind immediately connects these small details with Tsugaru, and apparently so does my writer's. "Um...who are you talking about, exactly?"
"This guy named Tsugaru. Really great writer, Shizuo wants to take him under our wing, blah blah blah. Once Psyche gets asked to recruit someone he doesn't give up, ever," says Delic.
Yes, we've figured that, I want to reply, but Psyche is pouting now and Tsukishima is speaking. "H-He prefers to work in a position where he feels most relaxed, though..." I know he's only trying to get Psyche off of Tsugaru's back, but just like that, he's given the other man a useful tool for him to complete the job.
"You know Tsu-chan?" Psyche grins eagerly, catching on fast. "Great, then you can come with me! I'm sure he'll be happy to see a friend, Tsuki-kun!"
And before I can growl at someone else touching Tsukishima so familiarly, Psyche has grabbed his hand and taken off, giggling as the blonde stumbles along behind him. I'm left alone with Delic, and with no sign of Izaya and Shizuo's argument stopping.
:
"So," Tsuki nearly flinched at the cheerfully devious tone of Psyche's voice, "how are you and Roppi-chan doing, Tsuki-kun?"
If Tsuki's attention hadn't been so focused on the way Psyche was walking backwards and pretty much forcing everyone coming towards them to swerve around him, he might have blushed at remembering the last time he'd seen Psyche. It'd been incredibly awkward opening the door for the recruiter (after hurriedly tugging most of his clothes back on, no less), only for the other's gaze to drop right to his neck and then latch on to Roppi, who stood just behind him. Even now, Tsuki was wearing his scarf higher than usual. It might have looked a little funny, but... "Oh," Tsuki said, suddenly realizing that he had been asked a question, "Everything's...um, fine..." The reply trailed off into a question; Tsuki wasn't entirely sure if he felt comfortable discussing things of that nature with Psyche.
"Oh, really? That's good to hear!" Psyche hummed, spinning once in place. A frazzled looking businessman scowled as he avoided the man's flailing arms.
"Um, a-are we..." Tsuki began tentatively, "Are we walking all the way there?"
Psyche laughed. "No, silly! We're taking the subway, of course. It would be so much more convenient if Tsu-chan lived closer, though," he added as an afterthought, appearing reflective.
Nodding, Tsuki bit his lip, lapsing into silence for lack of anything to say. There was an entrance close to where they were at, luckily enough. The blonde wasn't sure if he could take too much more of the floundering quiet.
His companion all but hopped down the stairs and twirled over to the spot where other passengers were waiting to buy their tickets, earning a couple confused stares. Tsuki followed more slowly, gripping his scarf out of habit, unfortunately not noticing that this motion tugged the cloth downwards. If Psyche noticed, he didn't point it out, just grinned slightly bigger.
"There's two stops from here to Tsugaru's," Tsuki informed Psyche just in case.
Psyche let out a giggle. "I know that, Tsuki-kun! I've been to Tsu-chan's place before!"
Wondering just how many times that had been, Tsuki purchased his ticket after Psyche and moved to stand with him on the platform, waiting.
Some time later the pair stood in front of the older blonde's door. "Tsu-chan!" called Psyche happily, knocking on the wood. Instantly a dog started to bark, others joining the cacophony only a second later, claws scraping on hardwood floors in a mad dash to get to the visitor. Tsuki couldn't help but jump- the dogs had never had that reaction to him before. Psyche seemed used to it and wriggled in anticipation.
Tsugaru was slightly slower in answering the door than usual, Tsuki noticed. The other writer barely had time to greet them with a surprised glance at Tsuki before at least four canines launched themselves at Psyche, howling.
Panicking, Tsuki cast a stricken glance to Tsugaru, vexed at the resigned expression on his friend's face. Did Psyche really come around to bother him often enough that he would let his dogs attack him like that?
But Psyche had his arms outstretched, and upon being sent sprawled on the floor, let out a high-pitched shriek of glee. The dogs were absolutely ecstatic, licking every area of skin they could reach, whining. Psyche rose to his knees so that he could pet every one, smiling in for once genuine bliss.
Tsugaru appeared to be caught between gazing fondly at the scene and looking slightly distressed, but moved out of the way so that Tsuki could enter and Psyche could lead the posse of dogs inside nonetheless. Psyche cooed at his worshippers all the while.
"The dogs seem like they like you a lot," Tsuki observed, still a bit shaken from his earlier shock.
"Yeah," Psyche agreed, scratching one behind the ear, "They never lie, and they always take everything for face value! They're so trusting!"
Tsuki wasn't sure if that was the best reason to like dogs, but it was a reason, at least. He couldn't help but feel that maybe Psyche was comparing the animals to people.
"Psyche, I...appreciate you coming all the way out here, but-"
"Tsuki-kun!" The recruiter cut Tsugaru off without a second thought, tugging at Tsuki's sleeve. "Weren't there so many nice people, at YS? Wasn't it really fun? You thought so too, right?"
Meeting Tsugaru's exasperated blue eyes, Tsuki wished for the first time that his visit with the other author would go by quickly.
:
Admittedly, there had been some strange events at the workplace with Dollars, but...nowhere near as unsettling as the activity that two of the employees are now partaking in. I quickly attribute this to a woman wearing all black, including a dark hat that covers chocolate brown hair. The twinkle in her eyes is more like a hawk seeking out prey than anything poetry has likened a sparkle in a girl's gaze to be.
"Can you hear anything, Karisawa?" Delic asks impatiently. The female in question holds a finger to her lips, presumably for dramatic effect, and tilts her head against the office door slightly.
"Ah! I can hear something!"
"And?" Delic urges. The blonde man squats next to her and attempts to copy what she's doing. It all looks very odd- this is the type of thing one would expect children to do, not adults.
Karisawa gasps suddenly, delighted. "Listen, listen!"
I am fully prepared to let them play their little game themselves, but at Karisawa's command, a pair of expectant faces turns to look at me. I figure that while I'm waiting and Tsukishima has been stolen away, it won't hurt. Although, I do admit to being inquisitive as to what's going on behind the door. Sighing for their benefit, I gingerly lower my weight to my knees next to Delic, pushing my ear up close to the door.
"I don't know if you've realized, Shizu-chan, being the protozoan you are, but people generally do not take well to having someone shove them up against a wall and then breathe in their face. I advise you let me go, now."
Karisawa looks smug and holds out her hand towards Delic. He huffs and pulls out some money, slapping it into her palm. "You're too good at this, Karisawa."
"I just know a lot about boys in denial," she says proudly and pockets her winnings, "It's all there in BL manga!"
"I still have no idea what the hell BL is, but I believe you."
"Hey, you're from Dollars, right? I came from there too," Karisawa informs me abruptly, "but I transferred here because Shizu-Shizu's door is easier to listen at than Iza-Iza's. Why'd you switch?"
I blink at her misguided reasoning. And did she really just refer to Shizuo and Izaya like that? There are all kinds of abnormal people in this business, I suppose, and I ignore her question; something warns me that I do not want to tell her that I transferred just for Tsukishima.
My phone vibrates. Hurriedly I pull the object out, standing up and walking away from the door, recognizing the number as Tsukishima's. Delic returns to listening to Shizuo and Izaya's conversation while Karisawa stares at me curiously.
"Tsukishima?"
"Roppi-san," he says, voice even quieter than usual. I hear a dog yip in the background. "S-Sorry to disturb you, but...um, can you come over here?"
I'm surprised. "Are you going to be there for a while?"
"I...I don't know, but this is kind of...um."
"Alright, I'll head over," I assure him. It's probably terribly awkward, what with Psyche struggling to bend Tsugaru's will, but I'd rather be over at Tsugaru's with him than here.
"Thanks, Roppi-san," Tsukishima chuckles anxiously. After a moment he hangs up, and I slide my cell back into my pocket.
"Delic, I'll come back tomorrow, so could you let him know that I-"
"You smiled!" Karisawa exclaims, pointing an accusatory finger at me. I glance over at Delic, and he merely shrugs. I'm fairly certain that my visage hasn't even twitched. "All right, maybe not completely, but you looked slightly less pissed off! Who's Tsukishima? Hmm?" My lips quirk downwards- I don't know how nor do I want to answer her.
"I'll let Shizuo know that you'll be back," promises Delic, saving me from having to fabricate some sort of reply, "Just tell Psyche to get back here; he's still got work to do."
I nod, stating that I'll do that silently, and hastily escape Karisawa's possible questioning. I'm a little more than anxious to check up on my author.