Cold

Just as the weather was held responsible for

Work had ended quite faster than he anticipated.

Sundown was nearing, he could tell. Though the sky which were filled with dimmed clouds made it difficult to distinguish.

Not in his perspective.

Despite what the icy temperature had imparted, the citizens in Ikebukuro never lessened. As if the frost surrounding never gave them a hindrance.

As if it never existed.

It wasn't alike the bitterness he felt when Christmas began, and it wasn't as if he were expecting anything less. It just reminded him again and again – that he was alone.

Most people would stay at home; families gathering around a kotatsu and eat dinner together. Or rather, lovers huddled up in each other's embrace without any concern for the world. No, because in this particular weather, it made him remember, that no one was truly by his side. It made him realize...

He's lonely

Perhaps it's just cold getting to him, making him sentimental over trivial things. Losing the reason why he's this way. Why he deserved such penance.

Slumped against an alleyway, Heiwajima Shizuo lit his favorite cancer stick in digress. Tom had gone off an errand and gave him an advance payment. Before he could manage to say anything else, the dreadlocked man already went straight into the crowd and was currently nowhere to be found. Seeing no further excuse to implore, he merely shrugged his shoulders and accepted what fate has in stored for today.

The blond exhaled, clutching the cigarette off his mouth then stomped it to the ground. His gaze was locked at the undying crowd, yet he eyed no one in particular; wondering, envious of their goals as he is also stuck in the cold but with no purpose. Nothing awaits for him back home. Only forgotten chores and damaged goods.

And so he decided to walk along the hordes of people, taking another route.

Now, the darkness became evident. Winds grew colder as each second ticked by. Without the humans, it was much more silent. Shizuo slowed down to a stop the moment he noticed the chill bore through his spine. He was momentarily stunned. Where had he gone to, considering his body took control of the stroll while his mind aimlessly wandered out of sight. He deemed it to be in-between the borderline of Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, whereas whistles were faint but still audible enough to hear. However, the place was not familiar.

Annoying.

Being angry would do him no good; it is of no use. He'd have to find someone. Anyone, for inquires, he concludes. Though minutes has passed, there were no sign of existence.

Till voices materialized from thin air.

He whipped his head towards the sound which revealed a darkened path, leading to wherever the hell it does. Shizuo couldn't tell whether he should be glad or suspicious. Despite that, he walked unto it, unwary of possibilities that might happen.

A frosted playground; the glittering spectacles made it obvious. Briefly, he gawked at it up until the voice spoke again. This time, so terribly distinct.

"Give it up, kid."

Ah, there they were.

By the farthest corner of the playground's railing, Shizuo saw two men hover along a small figure.

"You have nowhere to run to." One of them said.

Shizuo raised an eyebrow at that. "Oi." The said men turned around in sequence. "Hah?"

Hooligans. Shizuo silently cursed his usual inattentiveness. Why didn't he think of it in the first place? He chose to blame the darkness. "You got a problem with us, man?"

"Yeah." Scum no. 1 added, as Shizuo mentally named him. "We're just hangin' out with our pal here." He sidestepped enough to let the blond see through the crack. A boy, who seemed like less than eight had an impassive look on his face. One which did not held fear nor panic. Then the hooligan preceded to put a hand on his shoulder and visibly gripped it. Shizuo could tell the discomfort of the boy and was about to retort when the boy himself declared, "I don't know them."

Both of the hooligans went pale. The boy continued to explain. "They were trying to rob me–

In a hurried pace, the other hooligan – scum no. 2, clamped his palm to the boy's mouth, retreating backwards. "Shit." A vein popped in Shizuo's head. "You saw nothing." Scum no. 1 threatened, drawing a switchblade underneath its baggy jacket and pointed it to the blond. "Walk away." He demanded. "Unless you're in for a world full of pain." Ironic. Clearly they weren't from Ikebukuro and was not aware of its known Fortissimo.

Their mistake.

"Let the kid go." When did Shizuo light up a smoke? "Or you're gonna do what?" Scum no. 1 taunted. Rip your head off for starters, the blond pondered. Was he supposed to display violence in front of a child? In order to save him? Ha. Heroic.

When did anything he wants ever go his way?

"I hate–

Shizuo's words were cut short when the hooligan closed their distance and attempted to slash his chest. As the cigarette fell, his restraint evaporated. Never mind the kid, these scumbags needed to be disciplined. The blond easily evaded the attack, seizing the arm of the hooligan – scum no. 1, then crushed it with a minimum force.

"Ow! Fuck, fuck, fuck–

"I hate violence." Shizuo repeated. "I hate it as much as I hate people like you." The hooligan practically yelped at the increasing pressure on his limbs. "And here I thought we could compromise without using it." Shizuo glowered. "Guess I was wrong." It was all so abrupt. He wasted no more time, explanations futile. The next thing he knew, scum no. 1 was hurling beside his counterpart. Scum no. 2 shrieked.

"Wha–wha–wha–what the fuck was that!?" He bellowed. "What the fuck are you?!"

A monster, Shizuo told himself. Although the hooligan was only met by a stare. "Do you want me to repeat what I just said?" Scum no. 2 noticeably gulped. "I-I'm not af-afraid of you!" He tensed, shoulders bent. "Do-don't come any closer!" Shit, the blond completely forgot what's important. The boy. Scum no. 2's palm was no longer on the boy's mouth but was holding a knife against his throat; the other hand clamping the boy's lithe physique to prevent an escape. "One more step and this kid will drop dead!" He emphasized his statement by tightening his hold of the boy. The said boy furrowed his eyebrows. "How low." He spat. "Why you little–

Something obstructed the hooligan's wrist as he aimed to give the kid a beating; it just wouldn't move an inch. Though the very moment he feasted his eyes above, he immediately regretted it. The sight was alike of a nightmare come to life. Absolutely terrifying. Shizuo, somehow, loomed towards him unseen and caught his wrist before he could hurt the kid. Scum no. 2 instantly dropped the blade he was holding. "Ow, ow, ow, owplease don't kill me–

"Shut up." The blond commanded, in which the hooligan easily obliged. "I gave you a warning but you completely ignored it."

"So you have no right to complain." After that, he also sent the hooligan soaring along the direction he threw his accomplice in. "We-we'll remember this!" Scum no. 1 shouted. Surprisingly he gained consciousness and dragged his comrade away while limping. Then merged further into the shadows of the night.

Finally, the turmoil has died, replaced by peace and its quiet vibe.

Perhaps it was about time to actually arrive home.

As Shizuo spun his back to leave, in a chanced setting, a set of different colored orbs meet. The blond felt like he couldn't speak. "Uh..." He muttered, specifically to himself. What would people usually say after they saved a kid? Give them a wisdom of thought? Nah. It's too unlike him.

"Aren't you supposed to be with your parents?" He asked, disposing the awkwardness. Shizuo half-expected the kid to scram, to produce a shrill of terror in response to what he saw. Yet he did neither of those things. Instead, he just stared back. "..." The boy eventually broke the eye contact, mumbling words the blond couldn't understand. "Would it kill you to be a little louder, kid?" Their eyes met again, this time Shizuo noticed the color it radiated.

Red.

"...m'not a kid."

"Ha?" His tone slightly sharp.

"I'm not a kid."

"..." Shizuo resisted the urge to snort. "Right–

"I'm at an age where puberty usually begins. To still regard me as a child based on my appearance is beyond stupidity."

What?

"Months from now I'm going to be an adult." He puffed out, dragging his feet back and forth. "Well, not technically... But reaching adolescence nonetheless!" The last word came out a bit high-pitched, to Shizuo's dismay, was kinda cute. Alike of a squeaking mouse ready to be trampled. He tried his best not to let impatience follow. "What are you doing alone this time of night? There are many dangerous people around who can harm you, like those people earlier." He lectured. "Wouldn't your parents be worried by now?"

"..." The boy's eyes fell down, his mouth wording whispers again, then stated, "...no parents." Shizuo froze. "They're working abroad."

"Oh." An onslaught of relief weighed off his chest, though he didn't comprehend its basis. "But–

"No more questions." What!? "It's getting annoying."

"..." Shizuo's restrain twitched as he mentally tried to calmed himself: breath in breath out–

Fuck it.

"Well, if you don't have any plans on giving me details, I'll just head back to my hometown." He answered. "I'm sure you'll be able to find your way home on your own."

"Since, after all, you're going through puberty." The boy's face instantly reddened. "That's not what I–

"See you, kid." Even if he did misheard the dejected tune of the kid, Shizuo only chose to ignore it.

Apart from the light produced by multiple street lamps, the surrounding was pretty much pitch black. Undoubtedly not even an hour has elapsed since he walked out of the playground. Perhaps the kid had already gone back to his house. Where his family would be worried sick and was waiting for his arrival–

"...no parents."

"..."

"They're working abroad."

Halting dead on his track, guilt flooded across Shizuo's conscience. Should he return to the playground and properly escort the kid? It's probably too late now, but his sympathy won't let him forget.

Damn it.

With a new profound determination, Shizuo found himself turning onto the direction he was once in. And was entirely surprised at the sight that greeted him.

"I can't believe you never noticed me."

"..."

"Are you daft or something?"

"..."

Indignation coiling, whether or not he looked pathetic in front of someone younger, Shizuo really didn't give a rats ass at the moment. "YOU–

He gaped, fingers pointing accusingly to the kid. "WHEN–

"I didn't think I'd be smart to stay there by myself after what happened." The blond stiffened. "So I decided to follow you instead."

Luminosity shone directly in their path, letting Shizuo's vision to clearly discern the ambiance.

"It went well didn't it?" The boy flashed a lopsided grin, a smug conduct written all over his mien. Was this kid trying to provoke him? Shizuo simply swallowed his annoyance and let out an exasperated sigh in replacement. Approaching the kid, he observe the grin has fallen into a straight line; his guise unreadable, Shizuo perceiving it as a sign of apprehension. When he ultimately faced him, he let his brows soften a bit, lifting his hand midair near the kid's forehead, and flicked it; the gentlest he can.

"Ouch– hey! What was that for?" Okay, maybe it wasn't that gentle. The boy almost lost his balance at the impact but stayed strong on the ground, his fingers stroking his now sore temple. Shizuo held back a chuckle. "By the way." Red orbs met brown again. "You really don't know where you're going, don't you?"

"..."

Silence.

"You were going in circles."

Humiliation.

Shizuo's cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Yeah, well... I'm not from here, so..." Those words didn't take much to absorb honestly. It was no wonder the streets appeared similar. Then, the fact dawned on him. "Wait– the hell! I thought I told you to go home?!" He exclaimed. The boy quirked an eyebrow. "Why should I listen to you?" Shizuo groaned; this was getting no where. "Look, kid. I don't really know why you're out alone this time of night but if you still think its safe, be my guest." The blond said, messing the golden strands in his head. "'Sides, if I was going the wrong way, you could've informed me beforehand."

"Unless... you were scared–

"I'm not scared!" Shizuo's eye widened. "Why should I be scared?"

"..." He'd be lying if the boy's words didn't give him a some sort of effect. What's worse, is the warm feeling that began to start in his chest.

What is this?

"You're so dumb."

What?

"You didn't even notice my presence till you turned around!"

"..."

"I mean, did you even feel the stones I threw at your back?"

"..." The realization hit it straight. "YOU WHAT?!"

"Protozoan..." Had it been another being, Shizuo would've sent them flying. This conversation would have ended nice and easy. This conversation never would've existed in the beginning. Yet, he let himself ridiculed, his temper contained in an unknown boundary. The blond would be lying if it didn't make him giddy for some reason. "...what's your problem."

"You said you'd return to your hometown."

"...yes? I did." He wavered. "What about it?" Shizuo eyed the boy suspiciously.

"..."

"Take me with you."

"..."

Huh?