Chapter 5

Snake

"Mr. Shiki."

The man stood from his couch as the young girl bowed low to him. He bowed back, in the traditional Yakuza greeting, "Miss Hagane."

"Nai is fine." She said as she straightened her back. "I'm still your junior and I respect my elders."

The Awakusu leader smirked and reclaimed his seat. Nai remained standing, her usual flank of two men at her shoulders. As he lounged back he took her in. She grew up pretty well, thin but not sickly with enough on the top and bottom to keep model recruiters away.

"May I ask why you came to see me in the middle of the day?"

"I received some information this morning about some activities that took place while my family was on hiatus. I was told I could get more information from you. Seeing as how you were involved."

"And who told you this?"

"A friend."

Shiki scoffed quietly, "...Orihara."

She only smiled. He may be slimy, and he might just be trying to re-light the fire under Ikebukuro. But Izaya never let Nai down.

"I can't believe all that's happened!"

"What are you getting at Kanra?"

"The kidnappings and stuff."

"Stuff?"

"The Awakusu was up to something a few months ago! And it was big~!"

Nai finally took a seat on the rickety chair on the other side of the coffee table from the minor family leader. She put up her healed feat and crossed her arms, "I didn't get many details other than your family name. But it was more than enough. So I'll let you sing."

He just stared at her for a moment. But her face was a picture of patience if not boredom.

"My name was used in the trafficking scandal. But it wasn't my guys."

"I know."

"Then why question me?"

"Because I know that you know who it really was. And seeing as how I missed so much... I just want to be included."

"..."

"I'm waiting."

He sighed, "Of course. The kid's still in prison but somehow he's getting word out to create these big movements. He was the one who started the trafficking."

Nai frowned, "Who were the targets?"

"Mostly young girls but all sexes and ages. Foreigners."

Her phone buzzed and she checked it, "This kids name?"

"Izumii."

Nai stood and bowed low, "Thank you Mr. Shiki."

"Of course Miss Hagane." She smirked at his polite tone. Forever the traditionalist, just like her uncle. "And Nai." He started, his tone more friendly, "Welcome home."

"Just more shit to deal with."

"This information is going to cost you Nai-kun.~"

"Yeah yeah. Just let me know when his parole date is and get me a picture."

"And my pay?"

"Already in your account. Let me know if you need more."

"Oh I will!~"

"One more thing."

"Yes?"

She could hear his amusement, "Do you know where he is?"

"The beach somewhere." There was a chuckle on the receiver, "I took good care of him you know."

"Goodbye Izaya." She sighed loudly as hung up the phone, "Asshole."

"Hey kid."

"I want to join the Yakuza!"

The high school girl frowned at the young boy. He had to be like ten, talking so tough in his tiny voice. "No you don't."

"I do! I-!"

"Shut it kid. My uncle will just turn you away, and my father with probably shoot you for trying to be so tough."

"I want to be part of something in this city! Part of something big!"

"And violent?"

"I..." The boy looked up at the girl. Her Raira uniform was flawless and her scowl couldn't hide her pretty features. Her green eyes grabbed him with their cold yet somehow playful stare.

"Go be part of your own thing kid. Don't become this."

"...o-ok."

She started to the car behind the two men she was standing with before, but stopped and turned back to him, "What's your name kid?"

"Kida. Masaomi Kida."

Nai smirked at him, "You're pretty cute for a middle school kid."

Izaya smiled at his phone. Nai did have a thing for fake blondes it seemed. He thought of sweet little Saki and that little idiot boy she ran off with. He knew exactly where they were, but Nai really would have to give up her body for that information.

He pushed away from his computer and giggled. Namie rolled her eyes and headed to the kitchen, no doubt to make tea.

Izaya knew the other families were on top of Nai to get all the crap in he city fixed, and he had no problem helping her clean it all up. It would just make it look better when he was reason behind it all crashing down. He looked to the bookshelf where the Dullahan's head was resting behind the books. Nai's homecoming couldn't have been placed at a more perfect time.

He could see it now, Nai coming to him and begging for his aid as her precious city fell around her pretty little ears.

The thought filled him with so much JOY!

"This will be so much better! So much more fulfilling!"

Namie rolled her eyes as she set the man's tea on his desk. His maniacal laughter going in one ear and out the other. She didn't really get him still. Always plotting and seemingly always failing.

"Izaya."

"Yes Namie?~"

She rolled her eyes, "Why are you even bothering with this crap again?"

His smile was so wide it almost seemed true, "Because I know Nai-kun won't let me down. She never does."

Nai sighed heavily as she put out the cigarette she had been smoking with the toe of her pumps. She sat against the guardrail while her car idled on the side of the road, her driver and his partner waiting patiently. She decided she needed some "fresh" Bukuro air while she blackened her lungs.

"What's going on?" Shizuo joined her on the guardrail and she smirked.

"Shouldn't you be working?"

"I was heading home when I saw your car. Answer the question."

She chuckled at his gruff answer, "Nothing's going on."

"Nai..."

Another chuckle, "Jesus," she paused as he lit a cigarette of his own, "Since when did you become so attentive?"

"What?"

"Never mind." They sat for a minute then she bumped him with her elbow, "I have a question." He waited for her to continue, "Do you know anything about a kid named Masaomi Kida?"

The blonde's face scrunched in confusion as he tried to think. He was sure he heard that name before... "Does he go to Raira?"

"I called the school." The woman frowned, "He hasn't enrolled for this semester."

Shizuo scoffed, "Why are you looking for some kid?"

"I made the mistake of letting Izaya keep an eye on him."

"..."

"..."

"That was stupid of you."

"I kind of got that Shizuo." She stood, tossing chocolate waves over her shoulder and rolling her eyes, tightly crossing her arms.

"I know some kids that might know him."

Her shoulders dropped and she uncrossed her arms, "Oh. Thanks."

"Uh huh."

Nai finally turned and he was swinging a leg over the guardrail, returning to the sidewalk. "Where are you going?"

"Ramen. Let's go."

Without a thought she waved to her men who nodded and made a u-turn in the middle of the street. Heading home without her. She cleared the rail, adjusting her pants and the pistol tucked in them. Her long, purposful, strides brought her next to the blonde and she followed beside him quietly.

Shizuo turned on the lights in his apartment and waited for the women to enter behind him. As he closed the door she wandered to his tattered leather couch, "Not bad."

He grunted and headed to the kitchen, pulling two instant ramen cups from the cupboard. He watched her explore his apartment from his open kitchen. She picked up some pictures from the coffee table. There was one of him with herself and Shinra on graduation day. Another of the group including Izaya and Kadota on the roof at school during lunch, and one of him and his brother when he still had brown hair.

The teapot whistling brought her out of his small bathroom and she walked over to the kitchen, folding her arms on the high counter that separated the space from the rest of the apartment.

"So...why the sudden invite?"

He handed her the ramen and snarled. She chuckled.

"Fine fine. I think I know what you're doing."

Shizuo pulled on his bow-tie, it loosened and fell off, followed by his vest and he undid the first few buttons on his shirt, "Really?"

Nai smiled, "Keeping me away from that house won't work any better than it did in high school."

"Come stay with me."

"Shi-chan, don't be crazy." the young girl scratched her head of chocolate waves, "My uncle would go nuts."

"You can't stay there!"

"Your parents won't let me stay with you. What about your brother?"

"I'll hide you."

"I'm not a stray cat Shizuo."

"..."

"It's ok."

The blonde frowned at the girl, "They're going to ruin you."

Shizuo placed his ramen cup on the table and Nai continued to slurp down the hot noodles next to him. "This is stupid."

She placed her cup next to his. "...I can leave."

"Not that."

"What then?"

"Your...situation."

Nai was a little frustrated. She appreciated that he cared enough about her to want to help her, to save her, but there wasn't anything to save her from. She pulled the pistol out of her pants and it clattered on the coffee table, almost knocking over his full cup of ramen. Shizuo clenched his fists next to her and glared at the weapon.

"I promise not to do anything stupid."

"I don't believe you."

She sighed, "You're just going to have to take my word."

His knuckles turned white, "They're going to ruin you."