Chapter 12

Courting

~ You Have Logged On ~

...

Saitou – "Hey everybody."

Kanra – "SAI-KUN!"

Setton – "Hey Sai. We haven't heard from you in a while."

Saitou – "Yeah, I've been busy."

Setton – "Nothing dangerous we hope."

Saitou – "I promise everything is fine."

Taro – "Have you heard about that new drug?"

Saika – "Kids at school have been talking about it."

Kanra – "I don't think children should know about such a thing."

Setton – "I have to agree with you."

Saitou – "Yeah. Stay away from it."

~Bakyura Has Logged On~

Bakyura – "Hey guys."

Saika – "Hello."

Taro – "Hey Bakyura!"

Kanra – "Have you been eating any naughty candy lately Bakyura?"

Bakyura – "What? What are you talking about?"

~ You Have Entered A Private Chat With Bakyura ~

Saitou – "Tell me the truth."

Bakyura – "The kids at school have talked about it. I've never touched the stuff."

Saitou – "Good."

Saitou – "Any of the kids get their hands on it?"

Bakyura – "A few of the seniors with rich parents..."

Saitou – "..."

~ Bakyura Left The Private Chat ~

~ You Have Left The Private Chat ~

Kanra – "Were you two talking alone?"

Saitou – "Shut up Kanra."

Setton – "C'mon guys, no fighting."

Bakyura – "Why don't you go crawl under a rock and die Kanra?"

Kanra – "Aww. I love you guys."

Setton – "Good grief."

Taro – "Anyway, I've got homework."

Taro – "Goodnight."

~ Taro Tanaka Has Logged Off ~

Saika – "I've got homework too. Good evening."

~ Saika Has Logged Off ~

Saitou – "Bakyura?"

Bakyura – "Oh jeez..."

~ Bakyura Has Logged Off ~

Kanra – "When the children are away the adults will play."

Setton – "I don't think so. I have a date."

Setton – "Goodnight."

~ Setton Has Logged Off ~

Kanra – "Just you and me Sai-kun?"

Saitou – "I actually have a date too."

~ Saitou Has Logged Off ~

~ Kanra Has Logged Off ~

"You look stunning."

Nai sat next to Tezuka, "No need for flattery. Lets just do this."

The young man tossed his hair over his shoulder, "Why do you hate me?"

She crossed her legs and flagged down a waiter, "You're an asshole."

"You're uncle seems to think we'd make a charming couple."

"He's insane."

Tezuka ran his hand across Nai's bare back, leaning over to whisper in her ear. "I've always liked you. Since we were children."

Nai didn't shrug away from him. They did play together as children, even went to the same Private School before high school. He changed though, so did she.

She sighed, "Things change Tezuka. We changed."

He frowned and leaned away from her. She tucked up a piece of her hair that fell from her bun and he picked up his drink. "How are sales?"

Nai smirked "Great actually. We paid off the FBI agents and reassured them the drug would be controlled."

"What about the money?"

"No guarantee different agents wont come knocking."

Tezuka whispered in her ear again, "It's nothing we can't handle."

Nai wasn't amused, "What happened to you being safe? You felt the need to point out that they came after my family first."

"Well... It could still lead to the rest of us."

She took a large gulp of her drink, "I think Izaya is up to something."

"Oh?"

"He knew about the FBI at the party. It was odd."

Tezuka tried to snuggle up to her again, "Information is what he does remember?"

Nai rolled her eyes. Tezuka was doing his best to keep this date off the Yakuza Business track. She knew her uncle wouldn't be too happy if he heard the date he'd set up for them went south because she wanted to discuss who needed to be taken out.

She started to say something about ordering food when her phone rang. Tezuka reached for it as she tried to check it, "Really now Nai, am I not enough entertainment?"

She ignored him, "Hello?"

"Hey. I just left Tom. You free?"

"Um." She eyed the polished man next her who pretended to be fascinated by the menu and sighed, "I'm a bit busy right now."

"I'm bored. Let's do something."

"Heiwajima, I'm busy."

Shizuo's pitch didn't change, "Alright. I'll see you around then." But he did hang up awfully fast.

"Shizuo Heiwajima? Wow. You do have this city in the palm of your hand." Tezuka teased.

"It's not like that."

"Oh?"

"He's not a tool."

His handsome face became serious and even sitting down Tezuka imposed his height on Nai. Her strapless little black dress wasn't enough to hide her pistol, without it she felt vulnerable. Although, Tezuka would never hurt her...she hoped.

"Then what is he Nai?"

"A friend."

She wasn't expecting him to smile at her, "Right."

Her phone went off again. She guessed maybe she could try to be civil to the man, "I'm sorry."

He shook his head in slight annoyance and sipped his drink. At least it was only an instant message. "Finished the testing." ~Shinra

"Tezuka?"

"Hm?"

"Do you know what this drug does?"

Tezuka's expression was thoughtful for a few moments, "Well no. I havent tried it, I don't plan on it." He ran a hand through his long bone-straight hair, "Why should we care anyway?"

"Because-!"

"You're being stupid." He lowered his voice.

"I am not!" she whispered harshly.

"You are." He said with a smirk, "All the more reason you should step down as clan head. I don't think you're tough enough."

Tezuka watched as the woman left the booth and angrily tossed back his drink and the rest of hers. Some men from the bar approached his table, "Is everything ok sir?"

"Everything is fine." He slammed a fifty dollar bill on the table. "Take me back to Shinjuku. Ikebukuro smells like shit."

Shizuo wasn't too happy about being pulled away from his television and the box of pizza on the table. His usual night in would have been a night out if somebody weren't Miss Popular.

There was a knock at the door again and he almost ripped it off the hinges, like he could afford to pay his landlord for another door.

"Hey."

He felt his cheeks heat up, "What the hell are you wearing?"

Nai tugged on her dress, effectively showing more boob than she wanted to and hurried to fix her mistake, "You didn't have to point it out."

"It's uh...nice?"

"Let me in."

The blonde stepped aside and let the woman into his apartment. He closed the door and looked her over, clearing his throat when she met his gaze. "I thought you were busy."

She smirked, "I was. But it turned out to be a shitty night. I'd rather hang out with you."

He blushed, "Oh. What happened?"

"The Noramibu clan wants to take my family."

Shizuo was confused. He wasn't exactly well versed in the workings of the Yakuza. Nai kicked off her heels and snuggled on the couch, letting her hair down. "What?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She munched on some pizza.

He stared at her until she gave in.

She stuck out her bottom lip and threw a bit of a fit before starting, "I sort of grew up with the current head of that family. He wants to marry me and the Yakuza works like royalty. If I get married my husband becomes clan head."

"You're getting married?!"

She deadpanned, "This not listening thing isn't going to become a habit is it?"

He sat down.

She continued her slice of pizza.

They turned to each other after a moment and Shizuo asked, "What does that mean?"

"It means that Shinjuku and Ikebukuro will become one city under Yakuza rule. I mean, they'll still be separate cities but..."

"No, I get it."

"So...?"

"That sucks?"

Nai nodded, down to the pizza crust now, and spoke with her mouth full, "Yup."

The blonde eased into the couch, throwing his arm over the back. Nai getting married, that was a strange notion. He nudged her, "Don't get married."

Her eyes were wide, "Um...ok?"

"I don't mean not ever. Just, give it some thought first. Don't just marry anybody."

She laughed, "Are you giving me life advice?"

"Maybe."

Nai continued to giggle next to him, scooting closer and putting her head on his chest. His arm came around the back of the couch and he tapped her playfully. "I'll get married eventually and I promise I'll give it plenty of thought. Besides, I'm not giving up my family to just anybody."

"What about love?" Shizuo questioned her.

She snuggled even closer to him, "Why?"

"I hear you should marry for love. My parents did."

The heiress bit her lip. She'd never been in love, not even with Kyohei. She cared about him sure but she wasn't in love. It was so unlike Shizuo to talk to her like this, it made her wonder if he was always this deep somber person instead of the brooding monster most people thought he was.

"I'll marry for love when I fall in love."

Shizuo tightened his arm around her and turned up the volume on the T.V.

"Nai get in here!"

Shit. She had even taken off her heels so she could tread past his office quietly. Now she was going to get it.

The door creaked open slowly and she inched inside. Her hair was pulled up messily, her dress still clinging to her form, her shoes in her hands, "Good morning uncle."

"What the hell happened!"

"I-"

"You left Tezuka there before they even brought out the food! Do you have any idea what you did!"

"Uncle-"

He interrupted her again, "I trusted you to do the right thing!"

"I did the right thing!" she exploded, tears brimming in her eyes. Her uncle never yelled at her. She balled her free hand into a fist, "He's scheming uncle, and I will not give up my family to the likes of that spoiled brat!"

Daiki softened his gaze on his niece and rubbed his forehead tiredly, "How do you know this?"

"He said it to my face. He told me I should step down, said I wasn't tough enough."

The man went quiet. Nai was starting to feel scrutinized standing there the way she was. It's not like she hadn't been working hard, but then again she only wanted to be clam head because it's what her uncle wanted.

"We'll brother maybe she should step down."

She whirled on her father, "Excuse me!"

Daifu smirked at his daughter, "Either way you won't be leading the family. You get married, you step down, you don't get married I will make sure you still step down."

"Are you threatening me?" Her tone was low and even.

Daiki glared at his brother, "I chose Nai to succeed me. If she chooses not to marry she can rule on her own."

"You chose a weak girl to replace a weak man. It's almost poetic."

"You are my brother Daifu. But you threaten my successor, you threaten me, and I will punish you to the full extent of Yakuza law."

The younger Hagane male found all this very amusing, "You'd kill me?"

"Get out Daifu."

Nai clutched her shoes, "Uncle..."

"You need to toughen up Nai."

She started to say something, then she turned to leave. On her way down the hall her shoulders shook. Toughen up? He wanted her toughen up? He sent her away to toughen up and it still wasn't enough!

"I'll show him tough."

Shizuo was parked on his couch. He had received a pleasant gift this morning.

Nai had been wrapped up in his limbs, the two of them oddly comfortable on the couch together. And when she woke up, her smile was crazy bright and she nuzzled his neck and mumbled a good morning.

He took another bite of cereal.

It was definitely pleasant up until she panicked, realizing what time it was, and dove into her car, taking off at top speed.

He stood on the side of the street in his tee shirt and sweatpants for a good ten minutes. Just smoking and people watching until he got hungry.

So here he was.

Finishing his cereal.

His phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey man, sorry to bother you on your day off."

"I'm not doing anything special."

"We got a few high profile collections. Shouldn't take too long."

"I'll get dressed. Hey, you know a lot about girls right?"

Tom laughed, "Yeah man. I'm good with girls. Wanna talk?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be there in ten."