The rewrite is out! Re: T&E is my love letter to you all for supporting this version, so I'd really appreciate it if you stop reading this and go check it out instead. You all have supported me so much throughout this version, but it's time is over. I appreciate your constant support, but there will never be another chapter added here, so there's no use in you reading and/or following if you're new. If you want to reread from time to time, feel free, but I'd feel much better knowing you read a story I'm much more proud of, and also one I feel like you all deserve for sticking with me. Thank you!

chapter one - operator error

Hangovers.

God, were they annoying. Shizuo Heiwajima wasn't much of a drinker, so hangovers weren't too common a problem, though to him, they were almost as annoying as a certain raven-haired informant. He wouldn't go that far, however. No one would ever be on par with "that flea", which was both a good and bad thing. Shizuo brushed the thought aside, though - he thought he had a hard time thinking on short notice on a normal day; hangovers made it a hell of a lot worse.

"Damn flea, damn alcohol…" Shizuo muttered, sitting up from his place on...the floor? The blonde blinked a few times to make sure he was seeing clearly, and sure enough, he lay right nearby the front door. "Must've been out real good if I didn't even make it past the couch."

Rubbing his eyes one last time, the debt collector stood up, searching around until he found his phone, flipping it open to see that he had a new text.

[Dragged your drunk ass home before you passed out in the street. You really wouldn't want to jumped by another gang first thing in the morning, ne~?]

"Izaya," Shizuo muttered, eyes narrowing. "Why would he care? Most of the time it's him sending people after me, anyway!" he sighed, closing his phone before making his way towards the bathroom, still a little drowsy. "He was obviously near me at the time, too. If that flea did anything…"

The blonde cut himself off again, pushing the thought away yet again. He had to focus on getting ready for work; Izaya couldn't dominate his thoughts all day.

Which he did, with it being a particularly uneventful day. Work was the usual - Shizuo had forgotten his pack of cigarettes, so he was a little more tense, and there were of course more uprooted street signs and unhinged doors - lunch break was usual, usual run in with Celty, but no Izaya in sight. Of course there were good days where the two didn't face-off, but it did seem that Izaya had started visiting Ikebukuro more and more recently. At first Shizuo assumed it was for work, but seeing Izaya flaunter around almost like a normal person convinced him otherwise.

And so Shizuo walked the whole way to Shinjuku, hoping to get answers one way or another. Of course, this was Izaya he was talking about. There was never a way of telling for sure what he would say or do.

"How flattering, Shizu-chan, walking all the way to Shinjuku to thank me."

Shizuo paused, turning to see Izaya waiting just beside the elevator, twirling his switchblade around with his trademark smirk plastered to his face.

"Thank you my ass," The blonde spat, walking over so he was right in Izaya's face. "Something obviously happened last night, and I want to know what."

Izaya chuckled. "What, I can't do you a favor and have that be the only thing that happens? Honestly, these days, seeing you get attacked by rogue gang members is getting a little boring. Besides," he paused, flicking the end of his blade on Shizuo's nose. "Only I get to kill Shizu-chan. With you out cold, who knows what people would've tried."

Shizuo snorted, grabbing onto the blade. "Bullshit."

"So violent, Shizu-chan," Izaya shook his head in mock disappointment, pulling out another knife and slashing Shizuo's chest. The taller man released his grip on the switchblade, taken aback. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some important business to get to." Izaya stepped back, placing both blades back in his pockets before turning out the direction Shizuo came from.

"Going to 'bukuro, huh?" Shizuo asked, following in pursuit.

Izaya nodded, stopping as his lips curved into that crazy grin of his. "Yes, actually. Why, do you want to chase me back home?"

Shizuo let out a small huff, not responding. The informant's expression remained the same as he spun back around, making a bolt ahead, watching out for the few passersby. Guess I have no choice. Then again, it has been a few days…

"IIZAYAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The same familiar screech - though not familiar to Shinjuku - sounded through the town as Shizuo attempted to keep pace with Izaya, earning some dirty looks as he ran past. He would imagine the people of Shinjuku would at least know who he was, with Ikebukuro not that far away, but no one seemed to look at him in complete fear. It was a strange feeling.

Shizuo realized after some time that taking in his surroundings was slowing him down, and Izaya was just barely in his sight. He swiftly picked up the pace, thankful that not many people were left on the sidelines. Izaya was noticeably getting slower, probably thinking he had outrun the other by now. Shizuo let out a small chuckle at the thought only a few feet behind at this point. With a small glance back, Izaya kept on running until, after what seemed like a long while, stopped in front of Shinra's apartment complex.

The two paused together for a breather, Izaya surprised that Shizuo wasn't attacking him then and there. "I need to pay Shinra a visit, so you may as well just go back home."

"What, I can't see him too?" Shizuo smirked, taking a step before but Izaya halted him.

"I don't think he needs to replace another door, should someone choose to act up," Izaya concluded with a wave of his hand, making his way inside.

Shizuo sighed, pulling out his recovered cigarette pack, lighting one and sitting down on a nearby bench. We will settle this, flea. I didn't chase you all the way back here for nothing. And god knows what you want with Shinra…

The blonde sat in silence for quite some while, gazing up at the complex, completely oblivious to everything around him. He felt a bit of drowsiness coming over him, but ignored it, leaving him to black out with no idea what hit him.

author's note~

Finally, I managed to finish this atrocity of a first chapter. - I've had this idea for this in my mind for a couple days now, and it took quite a few tries to get it decent, but it's finally here (you're welcome fox)

I know, some of you might be going "This is hardly decent!" Yes, it could be better. Way better, if you ask me. I wanted to be able to kick start the story, though. I promise you, it gets better. This is just one of those awful first chapters that at least sets up the story, for the most part. If you know me, then you know that I am absolutely awful at first chapters. But, here you go~ Reviews are very much appreciated. c: Can't get better without 'em. I'll try to work on the next chapter, but I want to know that I at least have some support going.

I'm definitely going to rewrite this once the rest of the beginning becomes a little more clear to me. It's sad knowing how this is going to end but not start. xD" Also, sorry if there's any OOCness floating around. This is my first time writing these two in particular, and I have very little experience writing characters like them in general, but I'll work on it.

So, I guess I'll see you when chapter two is out~