•On the Way Down•

Home Away

Nothing compared to the feeling of the heater cranked up to ten and surrounded by her best friends that when the clock on the dash board reading off 2:47 AM none of that even really mattered. Jiro nearly falling asleep in the leisure drive. And not like it was the get away from an actual scene of the crime. With that quick car ride and the trio reached a apartment complex several blocks from where Jiro and Shizuo had called for their ride.

Kyohei pulled to the side of street and parked his beaten van. Everyone flopped out and lumbered towards the complexes main door like mindless zombies. Jiro had already explained the entire situation to Kyohei once and the details she added during the drive really didn't change anything. Especially Kyohei's choice to help his friends. Throughout the second narration Shizuo remained utterly silent the entire time. Kyohei offhandedly suggested that the burly man may have been part of one of the large gangs in town and it might be safe to check with people before going out in public again. Jiro agreed and said she'd ask around. Shizuo made no attempted to even think about it. He just stormed into the building ready to forget any of this happened once more.

On the third level was Kyohei's small apartment. He opened it up jut to let Jiro and Shizuo head in first. Everything was crammed into one room, except the bathroom. That was located on the far side of the apartment and the door itself was was secluded enough. Everything else though was crammed into one place. Kitchen, dinning, living and bedroom. All in one room just like many of the apartments in the sprawling city.

Shizuo plopped down on the black futon and kicked off his shoes while loosening his tie. This was nearly a second home so when his stomach growled the blond looked over at his friend, "You got any food?" Shizuo called while snatching the TV remote off the coffee table.

"I have some cup-o-noodles. Something better than nothing," Kyohei replied while wadding up his green sweater to toss it on his desk chair for safe keeping. Jiro passed by him and yanked the dark grey bandana off his head in spite of the immediate glare.

"Hey!" Kyohei sneered and snatched it back.

"I hate that damn thing," Jiro complained while going to the large dresser in the room that she knew had a stash of emergency clothes just for this kind of thing.

"Don't care," Kyohei replied coldly and put the bandanna with his neatly wadded coat, "It's part of my look. So stop messing with it."

"But it hides your pretty eyebrows and luscious hair Kyohei," Shizuo chimed sarcastically from futon without really involving himself in any of it.

"Shut the hell up blondy," Kyohei growled and stalked into the tiny kitchen. Opening the cupboard Kyohei pulled out three things of the cup-o-noodles he kept stashed of unannounced visitors hankering for food. He looked over to the woman rifling through his designated guest drawer of his dresser, "You want some Jiro?"

Pulling a pair of overly loved pk pants for herself and then half ass grabbing some spare shorts Kyohei never wore, she perked up at the mention of food, "Sure," She replied while slipping into her pajama pants right there in the middle of the room. Anything was better than her work slacks that reeked of booze. The jersey knit shorts she'd also pulled out got launched into Shizuo's face regardless of his glare, "Pj's. Change. Now. If you smell anything like I do after that shift I'm not sleeping next to you."

Shizuo grumbled but stood up with the clothing clutched in his fist. He wandered into the bathroom and shut the door hard just to make a point. Jiro smiled at the troll man and went over to Kyohei busied in the kitchen. He was finishing up with the food as she approached and didn't take notice of her. Jiro watched his back as Kyohei moved from side to side getting spoons, napkins and what not just for the simple snack.