Chapter 18

Pop Goes the Weasel

"Are you going to tell me the truth now?"

Tezuka cleared his throat. The woman standing before him made him nervous, "If you tell me what you want to hear."

"Just stop. Stop trying to appeal to me."

"I love you. I'd do whatever you want."

Nai started to laugh, he was too much. She continued to laugh as she pulled the disk from her blazer, "So it's normal to call the police on someone you love. It's totally fucking normal to plot against someone you love? Are you bi-polar or something!"

The man's hands trembled as he held the disk. "I guess this is evidence against me?"

"It's your voice calling me a cold hearted bitch."

He winced, "You are you know. But I like it."

"Just stop!"

"What do you want me to say?" Tezuka stood and crossed the room, "I am sick and tired of being in your shadow. It's Hagane this and Hagane that. But I still care about you; I only meant to get you in enough trouble to drop your favor with the families."

She rolled her eyes, "You didn't have to do anything they already don't like me."

"But your name more than makes up. And if it's not you they trust its Awakusu."

His honesty was burning in his gaze. But truth or not it didn't make up for the crap his antics put her through. It was a twisted way to show affection...it was a yakuza way... "Are you trying to kill me?"

"No."

"Who is?"

Tezuka stepped closer still and put his hands on her shoulders, "You don't want to know."

"I wouldn't have asked if that was the case."

Tezuka sighed and turned his head to the large window but his eyes laid upon the closed curtains instead of the drive just beyond. His head snapped back to her when he felt the barrel of her pistol pressed to his gut. "Nai?"

"Yakuza rules. You betray me, I kill you. A simple trade."

He smiled at her. That damn perfect smile, his black hair sifting over his shoulders and he lent down to put his forehead on hers, his grip on her shoulders tightening. He chuckled, "They know you so well. I guess they don't need me... Tell Izaya he'll burn in hell for this."

"Such a sudden hatred for your partner in crime."

"He hates me Nai. Just like you do."

The gun cocked, "Who is trying to kill me Nora?"

Silence.

"Tell me."

Tezuka put a hand between them and guided her finger to the trigger. He smiled at her, he should have known she wasn't truly prepared to kill him. "Can you do it?"

"..." Her green eyes said it all.

"You have to. Yakuza rules remember?"

"Stop questioning how I do things!" she tugged her arm.

"You're being weak. I'd rather you kill me than them."

Nai narrowed her gaze, "They expected me to kill you?" a nod, "They're setting me up again..."

"Nai listen to me." He put his forehead on hers, his long dark hair fell over his shoulder and brushed her chest. "Your father wants both of us gone. If you kill me, my father can elicit war under Yakuza rule."

"Then I won't kill you."

"If you don't. My father will."

She shook her head, "What is it with fathers not wanting their children?"

He chuckled, "I wish I knew." he brushed her chocolate waves behind her ear, "I'd rather you kill me. Then I want you to go down the hall and kill my father. There won't be anyone left to elicit war, and you can request trial against your father."

"Hagane this and Hagane that huh?"

"Just take good care of my territory. The way I would have taken care of yours."

"Tezuka!"

The little boy fussed with his laces as he felt the girl run up behind him, "Wait a second."

"Hurry up! We've gotta go!"

"Im hurrying I'm hurrying."

The girl pulled at his hands, giggling as she did. "Come on!"

Little feet echoed through the halls as she the children navigated the large house. The Noramibu house. "Nai! Quit all that running."

The girl came to an immediate halt, her friend ramming into the back of her. Both children looked up meekly at their parents. Her own father sneered at her while Tezuka's father was amused.

"Tezuka was taking forever to tie his shoes."

"I was not!"

"Were to!"

"Silence!" Daifu shouted. Both children were quiet as he turned on his heel and stalked off. The older Nora following, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Too bad we cant be rid of them."

"Too bad indeed."

Tezuka grabbed the girls hand and followed after the men, "It'll be ok."

Nai rubbed her eyes with her free fist and followed silently behind.

It wasn't as easy as he made it out to be. Killing him. Or his dad. She sat on the floor with him till he bled out, said blood all over her jeans. His father had smirked when she entered the room, "You killed my son."

"Better me than you."

"And now you're here to kill me. That won't stop the war. Your father is now Ojo of Shinjuku. And your uncle will be put-"

Put to death.

Those words.

She wasn't going to make it. And her uncle would have scolded her for trying. Now she had to stay alive. She had to sit in her car, a city away from the family she trusted, and cry.

Helpless.

Weak.

Alone.

Celty Sturluson was almost completely over no longer having her head. The word almost is used because there were some things she wished she had it for. A voice, expressions mostly. There were things she could not convey. But not being able to produce the many emotions one can feel didn't stop her from understanding them.

Sitting in West Bukuro Park was Nai, her expression blank. But clearly painful.

"Everyone is looking for you."

It took the woman a moment to look at the phone. She looked up at Celty's reflective helmet, "Oh."

"What happened? Shizuo's been calling you. We all have."

Nai looked down at her own phone in her hand. She blinked at the astonishing number of missed calls from her friends. "I see…

"Nai look at me." Kadota arrived, kneeling before her and lifting her chin. "The police arrested Izumii and Horada."

"I…I employed them."

"I know I know. What I'm saying is we need to get you off the street. The police are everywhere." Nai didn't react to him so he looked up at Celty who nodded, "Nai, your uncle-"

"He's been put to death."

"You know?!" Celty typed quickly.

She nodded. "I wouldn't have made it in time." she spoke clearly, softly, but clearly. "I have to address my family. I'm Ojo now."

"We don't have time for that." Shizuo was gruff and stern, like usual. He reached down and pulled the woman up, "Let's go."

"We should take her to Shinra."

"No, she's coming to my place."

"But Shizuo!"

"Celty, don't be an idiot." The dullahan's shoulders slumped as he put an arm around Nai and pulled her close. "Take care of that brat." Shizuo had the hindsight to meet Masaomi and the other two at the school when it let out. Telling them to go to Shinra's instead of going to their respective homes. That went double for the little blonde.

Kadota grabbed the crook of Shizuo's elbow. The blonde stopped and glared at him but her stood firm, "Take care of her."

"You know I will."