NINE. smoking out the window

✿•˖* ℘

꒱.. Yui's boyfriend is launched toward one of the metal store shelves.

Zack's eyes gape at the sudden noise while Daniel's jaw loosens to let his mouth hang in surprise. While Shinju hyperventilates, she releases her hands from the clenched position before dropping to the cold sleek floor.

"Chihiro," breathlessly escapes Shinju's lips before her consciousness is no more.

Zack's eyes dart between the injured male and the unconscious girl on the store floor.

Daniel's shoes shuffle against the floor to reach Shinju. He drops to his knees grasping at her face to see if she is all right. What even happened to begin with?

One moment the mean man is flying toward the stacked snacks then Shinju falls downward muttering something.

"Fuck," the man mutters as he feels his body tremble as he gets up. He wipes the smeared crimson red next to his lips more as his stare settles on the one who dared to hit him.

For such an innocent-looking girl, she packs a punch. A mean one at that.

"I'll get you little bitch," he storms up to Daniel and the defenseless Shinju but is shoved back harshly.

"Hey, jackass. That's how you treat a girl? Both of you are a piece of trash," Zack continues to egg him on.

The man chuckles, "Jackass? Trash? Now I'm really fucking pissed! Just a second, bitch."

Daniel begins to drag Shinju somewhere out of the way so she won't be near them while they trade blows.

"Come here, come here. I won't bite. I won't hit you," the man swings his fist in Zack's face who easily catches the swing.

The man snatches his hand back with embarrassment written all over his fuming features, "Are you scared? I just scared you."

Zack is having none of his meaningless tough talk as he smoothly dodges another of the man's weak swings.

"Hey, Yui. Are you tight with Mira?" Zack calls out to Yui.

"Mira Kim? Not really," she answers.

"Hey, you son of a bitch! I'm not finished!" The main hisses at the silent treatment he is receiving.

"Good... then you didn't see me here today, okay? I'll keep him away from you. I didn't fight here, huh? A man who hits a woman is not a man," Zack readies his stance as the man swings for him once again.

"Do you know who I am?" The man's fist is easily countered as his face meets Zack's fist. Once again the man meets the floor as Zack smoothly hands him a one-liner.

"No clue."

The man begins coughing as he curls up on the floor as Zack stares down at him. "Getting hit like that hurts, doesn't it?"

"Fuck." The man mutters before attempting to hit Zack a third time.

You would think his lesson would've been learned as Zack slaps him avoiding the hit. No matter what he tries, Zack either counters or dodges.

He is simply faster than the man.

Deciding he is done playing games, Zack circles around before hitting the man with a right hook.

The man rolls around in humiliation and hurt cradling the pain in his face.

"You do not hit a girl. The saying is you don't hit a flower, even with a girl," Zack stuffs his hands in his pocket before swishing around to face Yui, "Hey! You! Don't say a word."

Zack's eyes drift down towards a timid Daniel, "And now I don't owe you. If you think it's unfair you can take a swing."

"No, it's fine... thank you," Daniel thanks him, for if he wasn't here this would've probably gone a totally different way.

"Hey, you!" Zack kicks the man curled up on the floor, "Get up, and if you try anything, I'll make the punishment worse."

The man fastly stands up angrily staring at the three before him, before turning his back and walking out. It isn't long before Zack told Yui to head back as well.

"I gotta go, take care of her," Zack points to the slumped Shinju before walking out into the night atmosphere.

Daniel watches him disappear before walking back to Shinju's side taking hold of her hand before trying to shake her awake, "Hey Shinju?"

His efforts aren't in vain as she begins to stir awake before she jumps up, her breaths uneven.

"Daniel? What happened, is she safe?" Shinju quickly rushes out in Japanese, holding her neck fearfully.

But Daniel's eyebrows furrow as he can't understand a word of urgency she speaks. "Shinju I can't understand! You gotta calm down! Wait here I'll go get you some water."

She nods letting him know she is comprehensive. He runs quickly to fetch a bottle of water, he will worry about paying for it later as she is more important.

"Here drink some," Daniel twists the cap free holding the liquid up to her. She gratefully takes the water, letting it refresh her.

"Do you know what happened?" Daniel questions her.

"Uh... I need to call someone," Shinju avoids his ask, "Could you hand me my phone pretty please." Daniel nods before fastly picking up the cellular device and rushing back to return it to her.

Shinju winces at the bright screen before making her way through her contacts and clicking on his. She puts the phone to her ear as Daniel gives her some space.

"What do you want," his rough voice enters through her phone.

"Wow, whatever happened to hi or hello? You're so mean to me," Shinju pouts momentarily forgetting the reason she has called in the first place.

"Hello, now what's wrong, why are you calling so late?"

"Can you pick me up, and please keep this to yourself," Shinju pleads anxiously playing with her hands.

"Why can't your brother do it?"

"Please pick me up, I don't want to trouble him so late. He might yell at me."

"So you choose to bother me instead?"

"Hey, I can explain when you get here. Please, I'm so tired," she whispers into the phone.

"Fine, text me the address. Bye Ju," the man clicks off the call after exchanging goodbyes.

Quickly typing the store's address in, Shinju leans back closing her eyes revisiting the moments she remembers before losing consciousness.

But her thoughts are interrupted by a strange man stepping foot into the shop. He seems really attentive to his phone, as his eyes are glued to whoever's sweet voice is spilling through the phone.

She watches as he awkwardly stares down Daniel before setting down his item, "I'll pay for this."

"Yes! Yes!" Daniel hurriedly scans the glass, green bottle. But something else attracts Shinju's awareness.

The pointy object concealed in his pants.

The man picks up the black, plastic bag and leaves quietly as Shinju's eyes travel with him with each step he takes.

"Hey Daniel, I might still be dizzy, but I think he had a knife."