There was something about the bird. It would sit on his shoulder, a little ball of feathers, obviously still young, but already proudly carrying a plume on it's little head. It would watch everyone he would talk to, which could be quite amusing since not everyone liked it's red eyes. The bird would hold on with it's claws to his shoulder, pushing off now and then for some exercise, or when it saw something interesting on the floor. When it started to get dark and Vicious returned to his house, it would sit closer to his head and Vicious would be careful so the bird wouldn't fall off. It would sleep on it's perch in the living room, but sometimes it would fly into the bedroom, if he left the door open. It would eat out his hand. And most of all, it would freak out just about everyone else with it's unyielding glare.

He'd visited Julia a couple of times without Shimensoka since the first time he'd brought her, but every time he came back the bird seemed to accuse him of leaving her behind. So the next time he walked the five minutes to Julia's house, he took his bird with him. Vicious knew Shimensoka didn't like Julia, and Julia didn't like the bird. He was curious, though, what Spike would think of it.

"..."

Vicious walked into the living room, Shimensoka on his shoulder. Julia had already lost her staring match with the bird, and Spike, who lay draped over the couch, reading a newspaper, just looked at her.

"I heard you'd gotten a bird."

Vicious nodded, confirming the obvious.

"I couldn't believe it, but here it is. Where did you get it...?"

Vicious sat down, claiming a glass from the table before looking at Spike. Idiot.

"I bought her. Her name is Shimensoka."

Shimensoka ruffled her feathers at the mention of her name and stared back at Spike. Spike just blinked, accentuating his clueless look, before laghing shortly, throwing his head back, and disappearing behind his newspaper again.

"Watch out, Julie." Spike grabbed a handful of peanuts, stuffing them in his mouth. "You've got competition."

Vicious picked up a single peanut and held it in front of the bird, who pecked at the interesting new treat. Spike turned a page of his newpaper. Julia sat down. Spike peaked around the edge of the paper, looking thoughtful.

“It looks…” He started, but broke of the sentence for another one. “How long are you going to keep it?”

“Are you suggesting I will throw her out once the novelty of having a bird has passed…?” Vicious kept his voice completely level, finding this course of action something Spike, rather than him, would take. As he always had. “I don’t expect you to know, but I have had a bird before.” I don’t expect you to care, but I actually prefer the company of this bird to you. Shimensoka watched Spike, as if sensing what he was about to say. Spike shrugged and smiled, the kind of smile he could get any girl with. And yet, you had to choose…

“Pity.” He smiled again, only slightly uncomfortable by the bird’s stare. “It looks, I mean she, she looks as if she would taste good… Like chicken…” Spike cocked his head and watched Shimensoka with that thoughful look, as if he could already imagine the bird, cooked or fried, laid out on a plate. This was too much for Vicious, and he narrowed his eyes.

“Do you wish to know why I keep a bird like this, Spike?”

“Apart from the the company?”

The company of a more intelligent creature you appear to be. Vicious looked at the bird on his shoulder and mumbled something at her, then pointed at Spike, still carelessly lying on the couch. Shimensoka spread her wings and flew the short distance from Vicious’ shoulder to the armrest of the couch, landing  right next to Spike’s head. Spike seemed to finally be loosing his nonchelant act, as the bird glared her most impressive glare so far, followed by a shrill shriek, causing Spike to jolt up, holding his hands over his ears and dropping the newspaper. Shimensoka looked at him and, satisfied her job was done, flew back to Vicious, sitting in his lap. Vicious permitted himself a grin, patting Shimensoka and studying the startled Spike on the couch. The look suited him well, he appeared to have finally been shook awake, Shimensoka’s shriek not at all a pleasant sound. Even Julia could smile because of Spike’s amusing expression, the only one not enjoying the moment Spike himself. He seemed to have gotten to the conclusion he didn’t like the bird, and the bird didn’t like him.

“Alright.” Though he spoke to Vicious, his eyes were on Shimensoka, “You made your point…”

The bird ruffled her feathers, starting to carefully clean them with her beak. Vicious looked down at her, and decided he’d go to Spike first if she ever went missing. Shimensoka might be a addition to his already frightening reputation, but the bird meant much more than just that, and if a moron like Spike thought she might taste like chicken, he was free to think so, but Vicious would make sure he never found out.