Chapter 6 Rough Draft

The strange feeling still lingered on her. It was a more than ordinary encounter that she had with the famous Shizuo Heiwajima. Had she actually gotten on his good side (if he had one that is)? The sun was already slowly going down and she was still at the school. Minako had promised her older sister that she'd wait for her until she was finished with her punishment. After another hour later Eri came out, looking weary and walking sluggishly. Her maw opened for a yawn.

"Ah! Whoever busted me is really gonna get it once I find out who it is." She growled out.

The two girls started strolling to Eri's apartment. Minako was silent as the other continued to complain about how she had to clean all the hallways in the school, and about how achy her shoulders felt. Minako now had something else to think about. Eri noticed her solemn demeanor. It was normal, but she was even more silent than usual.

"Hey, is something wrong Maso-chan?" she enquired. She paused, and pondered about what she should say.

"Eri-san, can I ask you something?" she requested.

"Sure, go on ahead."

"Why do you like fighting?" Minako asked. Eri raised a brow, puzzled.

"What do you mean? Why do I like to fight or why do I like violence?"

"Uh... no I mean... I still don't understand why you like seeing Shizuo beat up people and why you think fighting is fun." she clarified. Eri smiled.

"I'll admit that I think fighting is fun, but that's not the only reason why I fight. I just fight, because that's what I want to be best at. Ever since I saw Shizuo fight I've been starting my delinquent streak and getting stronger. It makes me feel alive. I guess that's all I can say."

"As usual you lecture too much." Minako said in a flat tone.

"Shut up." Eri retorted jokingly. "Oh, and to answer your other question; it's just really cool to see Shizuo fight. His abnormal, extraordinary strength makes the beatings he gives even better!" she exclaimed, her gleeful self-returning. She is a sadist, Minako thought.

"Also, you gotta admit he's pretty cute for a delinquent." she added with a wink.

"So you do have a bad boy fetish—"

"Shut up!" she screamed, smacking a hand over the other's mouth. A rosy streak ran across her face.

"That's not it at all! He's cool and all but that's about it. Now let me ask you a question; why do you ask?"

Minako stared up to the sky and thought. She shrugged her shoulders.

"I guess I just felt like asking." she replied frankly. Eri sighed and palmed her forehead.

"Really, is that all? Sheesh, you can be really weird sometimes." she whined.

"And also... I saw Shizuo fight while you were still in the school. We even talked for a bit too." She said. Eri's jaw dropped and her eyes went wide in surprise. Suddenly, she grabbed Minako by the shoulders, startling her.

"Why didn't you tell me that sooner?!" she yelled, shaking her a bit.

"I didn't really think it was important."

"What the hell do you mean you thought it wasn't important?! You really saw him fight?! Oh, wait, I can get the details for that later. What did you two talk about?"

"Well, it wasn't much of a conversation. I just listened while he let out some steam verbally. He said he hated fighting and all he wanted to do was live a normal life. I... I kinda felt bad for him at that point. I didn't really comfort him, I just gave him some milk I didn't drink and then he patted me on the head." she explained. Eri simply blinked.

"W-whoa. I-Is... is there something going on between you two?" she questioned awkwardly. Minako tilted her head, puzzled.

"Huh?"

Eri chuckled. "And you accused me of liking him? Oh my god; my best friend is in love with the strongest guy in Ikebukuro!" she taunted. Minako kept calm and rolled her eyes.

"It's not like that." she corrected.

"Uh-huh; that's what I said too, but you didn't believe me now did ya?"

"Sorry." She apologized simply.

"Ah don't sweat it; I was only teasing." Eri replied. "Well, I'll see you late 'kay."

"Okay."

Shinra had told both her and Shizuo about the rumors of Eri's strength. The most infamous being that she took out twenty third year junior high school students while she was just a freshman. This story seemed to prove its self later in the day.

A group of young second years, whose numbers looked about fifteen or so, stormed through the Raijin gates during lunch time. They spotted Shizuo not far off and wanted to fight him. However, as Minako and other students gathered around the windows to see the fight, she noticed Eri wasn't there. Where could she be? She would never want to miss out on Shizuo's epic beatings. As Minako continued to watch, she spotted Eri walking up to the group. Shinra, who was standing beside Minako at the very front, chuckled to himself.

"Looks like she couldn't control it anymore." he said light-heartedly. Minako watched intently.

"Hey get out of the way girlie! Our fight's with Heiwajima." one of them ordered.

Like her fight with Minako, she prepared by tying up her wild brunette locks into a high ponytail. She wore an excited smirk.

"Scraps like you don't deserve to fight." she taunted. "But since you guys came all the way here, you'll just have to settle for poor little me."

The guys began to laugh.

"Ha! You? You're outta your mind." the one up front, who was assumed to be the leader, joked. Her smile disappeared instantly.

"It's true that if you compare me to Shizuo I pale in comparison. But..." she cut her sentence short, sprinted up to him swiftly and sucker punched him in the jaw. She completed her sentence with a hiss.

"I really hate being laughed at."

An uproar flowed through the hundreds of students that crowded the windows.

"Whoa did you see that?!"

"She just took the leader down like that!"

These quotes filled through the noisy air. Eri's interference allowed Shizuo to flee the scene unnoticed.

The boys went in all at once. Fists and kicks flew wildly around the air. She dodged and dodged, none of their hits making contact with her body. She grabbed one of them, pulled up her leg and struck them in the stomach with her knee. As he fell to the ground she pivoted on her right foot, swung her leg up and blew a roundhouse kick to another one that dared to approach her. She picked up a knocked out boy and hurled him at another one. One by one, two by two, the delinquents started falling. All through the fight her beaming grin never disappeared. It remained on her face as blood spotted her knuckles and face. She brushed back the hair that unruly escaped her hair tie and laughed up maniacally at the sky, still throwing punches as she did.

"This is so fun! This is so fun! I hadn't had so much fun since forever!" she screamed. In one swift move she swung down her bloodied arm. Around her bodies lay twitching in pain. She heaved heavy breaths in and out and let out a small giggle.

"Ha, dumbasses. If you can't even beat me, what makes you think you can beat Shizuo?"