Chapter 4: Dating Is Such Sweet Sorrow

This was going to be a long day in the life of Shizuo Heiwajima. He didn't want to be there but he had given Airashii so much hope when he said he would go with her to eat. Shizuo stood outside the corner store waiting, smoking a cigarette. He knew that the peppy brunette would show up. She always seemed to find him easily. He also knew that getting mad was a definite 'NO' today.

"Hi, Shizu-kun!" came the all to familiar voice.

Before the blonde could see where it was coming from he was attacked. Airashii threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her height for a hug. This was no easy feat.

The green eyed girl let go of Shizuo's neck to grab his arm. "And to think I actually thought you weren't going to come."

"W-Why?"

Airashii shrugged. "I don't know. You just seemed to not like the thought of this possibly being a date."

"It is a date." Shizuo grunted.

Airashii looked to Shizuo then down. "I told you, it's not if you don't want it to be." Airashii stated.

"I'm not stupid, Aira." Shizuo huffed. "I know that you want it to be a date. So … fine."

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable with this." Airashii said.

Shizuo shrugged. "Seriously it's no problem. If it's a date, it's a date."

Airashii smiled then began to walk dragging Shizuo along with her. As they walked down the main street Shizuo knew people were looking; whispering. He usually would tell them all to mind their own damn business while beating them with the closest street sign he could find. But he also knew with Airashii there, holding on to his arm he wouldn't be able too. Not that he would anyway, with her there it made him too peaceful to lash out at the stupidity and annoyance.

"So … where do you want to eat?" Shizuo asked.

"Doesn't matter." Airashii smiled.

"How about Russia Sushi. It's not great food but I kinda know one of the workers."Shizuo shrugged.

"Sure, sounds nice for a not date." Airashii said. Shizuo looked down at the small girl, who winked at him. Shizuo sighed.

When they appeared in front of Simon he seemed very excited. "Ah, Shizuo, you have lady friend? You here for sushi?"

"Yeah, Simon we're here for sushi." Shizuo nodded.

Simon beamed and showed the two the way in. He sat them down at what he said was the best seat in the restaurant. He left to get their drinks and sushi platters.

"So … Airashii, what brings you and your sister to Ikebukuro?" Shizuo asked trying to make conversation.

"Well, me really." Airashii smiled. "I got a job here so I had to move closer. Hikari came with me for … moral support you can say."

Shizuo chuckled. "I can't see that. Your sister seems to not have any life in her. Why would she care so much about you?"

"I'm her only real family. See, our parents died in a car accident when we were kids and since then we lived with our aunt. She's our only living relative." Airashii explained. Then Simon came back with drinks. He said the sushi would be one more minute and left. Airashii continued explaining. "It was the death of our parents that made Hikari the way she is. She thought that if our parent who have done nothing to the world could be taken out of it so easily why is life worth living. She lost all emotion then, thinking it was better to feel nothing for anyone, cause then … you won't get hurt when their gone."

"She's quite morbid." Shizuo said taking a sip of his drink. "Didn't anyone try to help her?"

"Yes. My aunt and I tried to get her to go back to how she was but she was – I guess – a lost cause. She did try to feel something on her own. A few times I caught her cutting herself to feel pain but it didn't work. She would just stare at it like it wasn't her blood or something." Airashii said in a sad tone as she sipped down her drink. "Once, she even attacked me with a knife. She was getting desperate to feel anything. She thought if she hurt someone else – like her sister – she would feel remorse."

Suddenly Simon came with a large platter of sushi. "All this talk of cutting and blood is bad. You eat, you feel better."

Airashii smiled at Simon. "There is a bright side to all of this."

"Really?" Shizuo questioned.

"Yeah. Not matter what Hikari says she does feel." Airashii said. "When she attacked me she stopped herself saying she couldn't bring herself to hurt her own sister no matter what the reason. See, Hikari is technically older than me so she looks out for me and protects me like any big sibling should." Airashii smiled. "It doesn't matter what she has done. I will always love my sister for that reason. I'm special to her."

Simon nodded in approval of the end of that conversation and left them to eat. Airashii picked up a piece of sushi and popped it in her mouth. Shizuo was right it wasn't all that good but it wasn't terrible.

Shizuo after eating a piece of sushi looked to Airashii. "What is your job?"

"Oh. I work at Design over next to the plaza." Airashii smiled. "Hikari works with Izaya-san as his "secretary". It was the only job she could get at such short notice."

Shizuo, trying to ignore the Izaya comment, asked. "It's easy to say you like fashion."

"Oh yes, I love making clothes and helping people pick the right outfit to match their features. I kinda feel like the master of fashion." Airashii laughed. Her laughed caused Shizuo to blush slightly.

After eating the two walked around for a bit. Their conversation stayed with a bit of Airashii's background. Shizuo decided to walk the small brunette home.

Once they arrived at the apartment Airashii smiled at Shizuo. "I had a nice time, Shizu-kun."

"Yeah. Me too actually." Shizuo said.

There was a pause.

"Guess I'll be heading inside." Airashii said.

She turned and unlocked the door. Before she entered the apartment she turned back to the blonde. She reached up and kissed Shizuo on the cheek.

"Good night." she smiled.

Shizuo placed his hand on his cheek where she had kissed him, blushing slightly. "Night."

Shizuo walked back to his home thinking of the day. He went out with an annoying but pretty, sweet, and fun woman. He liked her, she wasn't too much to handle. It really surprised him, that with the violence she did see she wasn't afraid of him. He was happy with her around. He actually couldn't wait to see her again.

Shizuo sighed and stared at the night sky. He lit a cigarette.

What a day.

He let out a puff of smoke.