Through Fire and Water

Chapter 25 - Decisions

Izumi pov:

"Yo, Zuzu! I heard you needed a cab to take you home so here it is! Driver Shuta, at your service!" Shuta san greeted energetically, having slid open the driver seat window.

"Good to see you too, Shuta san." I said, returning his greeting with a casual wave. "I'm not surprised that you were called to take us home. I hope the cafe wasn't too busy."

"Oh, the cafe has the usual crowd – it's not something the others can't handle without me yelling at them to do their jobs right." He said indifferently while I ushered Ryuusei, Haji san and Kiyori towards the car. "Anyway, I heard you got your butt whooped, Cupcake, and you got shot."

I opened the car door while telling them to get in and Ryuusei, Haji san and Kiyori looked at the enclosed space warily. I smiled and nodded, silently telling them that nothing was going to happen though they hesitated for a moment before getting in and shuffling around a bit so they were comfortable.

"I did get shot but I still completed the mission." I said and bent over the three of them once they were settled to put on their seatbelts. Ryuusei and Haji san tugged on the restraints in displeasure but I shut the door of the car before they could question it.

"Oi Zuzu! Here are the clothes!" Teddy called out, having walked out of the HQ's back door, and threw a bag of his spare clothes to me. I caught it with a grunt, feeling a numbing pain through my back and glared at Teddy once before walking around the front of the car to get into the passenger seat.

When I was seated, I put on my seatbelt and Shuta san began driving. Once again, the three people at the back seemed startled and awed by this 'self-moving carriage' and questioned me on how it works. I wasn't much into cars so I let Shuta san explain the basic concept. I doubt they understood much of it but they didn't ask anything more about the car after that and looked around with wide curious eyes as we got onto the main street and joined the moderate traffic.

"There are so many carriages!" Haji san commented while peering out of the window he was sitting next to.

"This isn't much, actually. In peak times of the day, the traffic is much more." I said and chuckled as they looked even more surprised than before.

"I heard the gist from Rumiko over the phone – so these guys are from the Edo Period? And you actually time traveled?" Shuta san asked while glancing at the three of them in the rear view mirror.

"Yeah...don't ask me how it happened though. I'm no scientist and I have no clue what goes on in the ocean." I said with a shrug.

"Izumi, why is it that you are sitting there? You should be sitting next to me." Ryuusei said with a frown while looking at me.

"I wanted to sit comfortably – not squished up between you guys." I said while glancing at him.

He didn't seem happy about my reason but let it go without further argument. The rest of the fifteen minute drive to my apartment complex was mostly silent. Shuta san occasionally asked questions on what happened in the Edo Period which I answered without giving too many details and we soon came to a stop in the parking lot of my apartment complex.

"Do you want me to come up with you, Cupcake?" Shuta san asked, getting out of the car along with the rest of us. Well, I had to help Ryuusei, Haji san and Kiyori with the seatbelts before they could get out.

"No, you can head home, Shuta san. I'll be fine on my own – I'll just order food for home delivery and we'll get to bed after that." I said.

"Alright, Cupcake. Rest up." He said with a ruffle to my head before driving away.