Chapter 2

Dog

"I can't believe he paid someone else to get the money today."

Shizuo shrugged, "As least we're getting paid to be seen on the streets."

"Yeah I know man... you think it's because of the press?"

"Earlier this morning the body of Hiroko Cho was found in an apartment in West Ikebukuro. He suffered a single gunshot wound to the head and police are confirming that the murder is in conjunction with the shooting of two men in a Sunshine 60 alley late last night. The city of Ikebukuro has been considered safer since events occurring almost four months ago, and citizens struggle to understand why the city is being wrought with danger again..."

Shizuo remembered hearing the news story as he was eating his breakfast; the usual sugary children's cereal. He hated the thought of killing; he hated violence in general. He eyed his friend, "Maybe. Who do you think did it?"

Tom shrugged, "Sounds like a Yakuza hit to me. But you know the police... They just pretend to not know what really happened." He looked over his shoulder at Shizuo. The bleached blonde had a deep frown on his face, "You alright man?"

"Hn? Yeah. Yakuza you said?" he mumbled.

Tom nodded, "Yeah. Wasn't someone from the Hagane Clan in your class in high school?"

Shizuo's frown deepened, "Yeah."

"Dammit." Shizuo glared at the pencil he had snapped in half. It was his last one of three and now he was just stuck, during a quiz no less.

There was a giggle to his right, "Here."

Shizuo eyed the pencil being offered then eyed the person offering it. It was a girl with a sort of smirk set on her pouty lips and amusement in her hazel eyes. The blonde took the pencil with a grunt and the girl giggled again.

"Don't break it."

He glanced at the girl but her head was down. Her long, wavy, chocolate hair brushed the desk as she worked on her quiz.

Shizuo ripped the corner of his paper and scribbled on it quickly, passing it over to her.

"Shut up, I wont."

The girl smiled at him after reading the note and quickly turned back to her work. The boy ignored his burning cheeks and went back to his work; girls were weird.

"Uncle, I'm going out."

The man looked up at Nai, taking his feet from his desk and standing. "Date?"

"No, I'm going to meet Orihara san."

He smiled at his niece, "Could have fooled me. You look like you're going on a date."

The young woman shifted in her heeled shoes and adjusted her dark blazer, her usual daily outfit, "Seriously?"

He chuckled and handed her a silver briefcase, "Relax."

"What's this?" she asked, lifting the case.

"The money those men owed the Awakusu. I need you to take it Tom Tanaka; your men know where he is. You did a good job last night. Are you alright?"

Nai sighed heavily, "Yeah. It's ok as long as I don't dwell on it..."

"If this makes you uncomfortable I won't send you again."

"Uncle. It's my life; it's the family business. I'll do whatever you need me to." She grinned, "Besides, I need the other families to take me seriously."

"Good girl. Now, have fun on your date."

"Uncle!"

His warm smiled made her laugh and he rubbed her back, "It's good to have you home sweetheart."

Nai moved quickly through her spacious home and went out into the courtyard. The house was very traditional, flat, with a large garden in the back. Her uncle believed that tradition bellied power. Her usual driver and his pal, her 'men', were waiting with the door open and the engine running.

She slid into her seat in the back, "I take it you two know where we're going first?"

One man handed her a picture while the other explained, "This is Tom Tanaka. Our sources say he is headed in the direction of Russia Sushi with his bodyguard."

Nai got herself comfortable and studied the picture, "I thought that name was familiar. Tanaka was my senpai in high school." She felt her gun dig into her lower back as the car pulled off, "Who's the bodyguard?"

The men looked to each other before the driver looked to her in the rearview mirror, "Shizuo Heiwajima."

A grin spread across the woman's face and it reminded the men so much of their boss and his brother, it sent a shiver up their spines.

"Mr. Tom! Shizuo! You come for cheap sushi? It's good!"

Tom smiled at the large, tanned, man, "Hey Simon. Got a spot for two?"

"Always for my friends! Come in, come in!" Simon ushered the men inside the restaurant and showed them a table. He stood smiling as they took their seats. They ordered, and Simon still stood there and smiled.

Shizuo growled, "What?"

"How have you been Shizuo? No fighting I hope."

The blonde grunted, he hadn't actually seen, smelled, or even sensed Izaya at all today... yet. But he would take what he could get, he didn't need anymore crap today, "No fighting."

"Good good!" Simon smiled from ear to ear, "I will make your order!"

Tom released a very heavy sigh as he relaxed into his seat. Shizuo slouched a bit also and started to say something... But men hovering at their table made him close his mouth. His senpai regarded the man standing at his shoulder, "Hey man..."

The blonde growled like a dog and there was a chuckle, "C'mon Heiwajima. You know I would never threaten you."

His growl deepened as the woman placed a silver briefcase on the table, "Who the hell are you?"

The woman took off her sunglasses, very similar to the pair in his breast pocket, and raised an eyebrow. Shizuo's stare didn't waver as he shifted in his seat, "Where the hell have you been?"

Nai's slight look of shock was wiped away with a smirk and she put the glasses back on. Ignoring Shizuo's question she looked to Tom and put a hand on her hip, "I'm sure you're glad to see this money, it's all there. Sans the cost of having us get it for you." She looked down at her phone then tucked it away, "Now if you'll excuse me. I have somewhere to be."

"Nai-kun!" Both Nai and Shizuo went frigid. Izaya Orihara smirked at them from the door of the restaurant. "I was expecting a wonderful evening with you Nai-kun, dinner and fine wine, but here I find you with the protozoan." He shook his head, all the while still smiling, "That's unacceptable."

"We weren't going on a date Izaya. It's business."

The info broker put a hand on his chest where his heart would be, "That hurts Nai-kun."

The woman glared and started to say something else but Shizuo's large hand on her shoulder made her stop. He stood in front of her and took a deep breath. "Izaya...why are you here?"

"I came for my woman!" he giggled. "But seeing you was a bonus, Shizu-chan."

"Izaya!" Nai squeaked indignantly.

"Please no fight inside. You scare customers." Simon pleaded as he brought out Tom's food.

Shizuo balled his fists, ignoring the Russian, "I'll kill you."

"Do something!" Tom shrugged at Nai and put his attention on his food.

Sounds of ripping metal came from outside and Nai pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is so stupid." She turned to her men, "Just get the car."

"Yes ma'am."

Nai walked out to the street and lent against the outside wall of the restaurant. She couldn't help but smile a little as Izaya's giggles of glee mixed with Shizuo's angry roars. At least things stayed normal while she was gone.

Her men honked the horn as they pulled up and she walked towards them, yelling over her shoulder, "Let's go Izaya!"

The narcissist grinned at his opponent before skipping away towards the woman's voice, "Bye bye Shizu-chan!"

"IZAYA! Get back here!"

Nai let Izaya into the car before getting in after him. Before she closed the door she took a last glance at the blonde who dropped the trashcan he was about to throw.

Tom sighed as he exited the restaurant and was at his friends elbow as the blonde lit a cigarette, "You alright man?"

"Yeah."

"That was her wasn't it, Nai Hagane?" The blonde nodded and Tom grinned, "She grew up well."

The blonde rolled his eyes and accepted his doggy bag, "Can I go?"

"Of course man. I'll drop the money off."

Shizuo turned on his heel but stopped as his phone rang, "Hello?"

"Wow you answered."

"Who is this?"

"It's Nai, Shizuo. Meet me at West Bukuro Park in an hour."

"Why?"

"Or don't meet me Heiwajima, your choice."

"Fine."

The line went dead and Shizuo glared at his phone for a while longer. He saved the number under her name and headed in the opposite direction from home, towards the park.

"That was fun."

Nai shook her head at Izaya, "You couldn't just wait for me." She said as she put her phone away.

"But Nai-kun!" he whined, "I couldn't wait to see you."

"Liar."

A smirk set on his face and he put his delicate chin in his slim hand, "My last game piece is home."

The woman ignored him and looked out the window. She really wanted to go to the park...