This is a AU, where instead of Shinra being the one getting stabbed by Nakura, Izaya was stabbed protecting Shinra. Much OOCness, but cute and adorable and will be horribly sad XD'' Hope you enjoy ^ ^

And yes, Shizaya cuteness will come in future chapters ^ ^

The school bell rang, echoing through the breezy-sunny day in Ikebukuro. The city was buzzeling with activity, as always. Gangs walked the streets, though few in number; people ran up and down the side walks shopping, and others stuck in traffic as they tried to get to their jobs. And for some, rather most importantly, were rushing to the school grounds, jumping over whatever obstacle that came in their way.

One minute until school started. Usually, the students of Raijin Academy never bothered rushing, never really caring about school in the first place. But today was different. Today was a field trip day.

"Are you excited?" A squeaky and rather dorky voice exclaimed, pressing his palms together as he stared off into space. "Being able to visit the festival that only rolls around once a year~!"

"Tch, beats school work," the tall-blonde sighed, uninterested. He just leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling with a new toothpick swirling around in his mouth. He always seemed to need something to keep him preoccupied.

"Well, some of us need the extra grades," Kadota reminded him, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. He normally didn't like missing out on school, because the faster you did the work the faster you could get out. That was his philosophy, anyway.

The three didn't even seem to notice as the raven-haired boy walked up to them, holding the strap of his shoulder backpack like always. Then again, after what happened to him, no one could blame him. Back when they were in elementary school, someone by the name of Nakura tried to stab Shinra. Unable to bear this, Izaya stepped in the way, facing the blade's wrath. In many ways, that incident may have been for the better. He wasn't the same slimy snake that went around, trying to cheat and blackmail people anymore.

For once, he seemed to rely on others.

"Oh, hey there Izaya," Shinra smiled brightly. The raven smiled back, giving a small wave though not letting his hands off the shoulder strap. Dotachin gave a silent wave, like always. He wasn't much of the talkative type unless you got him going. Then there was Shizuo... he just remained staring at the ceiling as if he never showed up in the first place.

Izaya couldn't help but sigh, eyes turning their gaze to the floor. It was like this everyday. Unless he was somehow in danger, like nearly tripping down the stairs or being murdered by a ball, Shizuo didn't take notice. At least he was protective of him, it showed that he actually cared about him, slightly. But he did that to all his friends, but unlike to Izaya, actually talked to them.

"You ready for the festival today?" Shinra asked, going over to him and gently grasping his hands. Izaya let out a small squeak, nearly closing his eyes from the sudden contact. "Oh, sorry, I always forget," the young doctor in training apologized, scratching the back of his head.

"I-it's okay. I'm sorry," he blushed in embarrassment, looking the other way. Yeah, he never got over that incident either. He was easily startled by any sudden contact and always carried a flick-blade with him. He wasn't a master at it yet, but he was still pretty handy with it. In any case, he felt safer with it.

"Well, you excited?"

"Ehh, I guess," he dryly replied. Shinra just laughed, ruffling his hair a bit. "Ah, it'll be fun! Just you watch!" Izaya gave a small smile, but the raven was only half paying attention. He really didn't care about this kind of stuff. In all honesty, he didn't care about being here. He loved Shinra, yes, unless he wouldn't have taken the knife for him. But knowing he could never get the blonde's attention always hurt him. Sometimes he purposely got himself in precarious situations, just to feel the blonde's protective body against his.

So, he had a crush on one of his friends! He couldn't help it! But, he didn't even know if he could call him his friend. He never talked to him, and when he did, he always had this irritated or angry scowl. Even when he saved him, he just asked if he was okay before leaving.

'Shizuo... why am I so invisible to you...?'

"Okay class, start lining up outside by your groups of four. - Hurry, the buses are here." The four friends quickly did what they were told and gathered in the hallway. Kadota started talking to Shizuo about something, but Izaya didn't even bother listening to what it was. They often ignored any comments he had anyway.

"This way please." The classes followed their teachers down the halls and into the parking lot. There were a total of fifteen buses, hopefully enough for the whole school. Shinra and Kadota were seated next to each other, and Izaya and Shizuo were fated. The blonde took the outside seat, not even seeming to care if Izaya had a preference. The raven just sighed, scouting past him and taking a seat next to the window. Any other day, he would've been thrilled to be seated next to him, but he's given up by now. His heart was just too broken.

The three of them talked the entire ride there, even making Shizuo laugh a few times. But it wasn't like they took the initiative to include him in the conversation, so the raven glued his forehead against the window, drifting off into a light sleep.

When they finally arrived, he was gently shaken awake by Shinra, who's face was full of guilt.

"I'm sooo sorry Izaya, we didn't know you were sleeping," Shinra frowned, rustling his fingers through his raven hair. The raven just stared up at him with those sleepy eyes, hiding the sorrow within him.

They had forgotten him and had to come back. God, if only he could scream. He didn't say anything as Shinra helped his sleepy limbs up and dragged him off the bus. Kadota and Shizuo were there waiting for him, but he didn't dare look up to see their expressions. He knew Shizuo was probably irritated.

"Lets go forth, shall we?" Shinra smiled, hooking his arm around Izaya's. The raven just tuned them out, staring absentmindedly in-front of them. This was how things had been going ever since Izaya transferred back to Ikebukuro. He was home-schooled for a while, due to his parent's concern after being stabbed. While he was away, his only friend managed to find yet another best friend, one that didn't seem to like him. Kadota was alright, he talked to him most of the time. But it was Shizuo.

'That dammed brute,' he silently cursed to himself, clenching his fists in agitation. Why did he have to mask his presence so much? He might as well have died when the knife hit him.

For half the trip, it went relatively the same. Shinra had even lost his grip on the poor raven at one point, and didn't seem to realize it. It was okay though, it wasn't like Izaya was going to get lost without him. He just felt even worse.

Every now and then Kadota would try to include him into a conversation, but the raven's heart just wasn't in it anymore. He'd respond with short answers or nods. To be honest, Kadota seemed rather concerned about him, but he didn't say anything if he really was.

"Hey, it's eleven elven! Make a wish everyone!" Shinra's voice chimed, snapping the boy out of his non-existent thoughts. Eleven eleven, heh, Shinra always boasted how that silly incantation actually worked. When it was eleven in the morning or afternoon, and eleven minutes had passed, people could make a wish with hopes of it becoming true. Usually he thought these things were utterly ridiculous, but he was desperate at this point.

Quickly, he pulled out his phone, seeing the time was still the same. Closing his eyes, he prayed, 'Please... make Shizuo like me...'

"Oafff," he muttered, bumping into the tall figure right after. Izaya took a step back, putting his phone away even faster then he could pull his knife out. "S-sorry," he nearly bowed, eyes gazing to the floor in regret. He really must've been a stupid idiot, or the gods really hated him.

"Watch where you're going next time," Shizuo plainly stated, patting him on the head slightly. Izaya flinched, using all his will power not to pull his flick-blade out in utter shock. "You can get yourself hurt." Izaya didn't even pay attention as the monster's hand slowly slid off his head, as it usually did when he did something stupid. He'd prefer a hug, but this was nothing dangerous. Shizuo was just getting overly protective, most likely because they were in a strange place. Who knows what kind of people were out here.

'At least he noticed me... even if it was for a few seconds,' he sighed, the small blush that flickered on his face disappearing. They walked for another good hour or so, and everything turned back to how it was earlier. Izaya's spirits began dampening yet again. He really must be invisible after all.

"Is that a fortune tree?" Kadota asked, surprising the raven slightly. When was Kadota ever into wishing things? Guess Shinra was talking about it on the way here.

"YES! There it is! See, I told you there was going to be one!" Shinra giggled, running up to it. The three of them followed suit, staring down at the small papers and weird looking pens on the table. Izaya could swear there was a barely visible watermark on the paper, but he couldn't quite make out what it said.

"Is this free?" Shinra wondered out-loud, looking around to see if there was anyone to mind the small-natural booth. When no one came, he turned back to the paper. "Guess it is. - Come on guys, make a wish! They say when you hang your wish on the tree, it reaches the words of one person and grants them their wish, sometimes being even greater then it was originally supposed to be!"

"Tch, all this hocus-pocus is a waste of time," Shizuo muttered, crossing his arms. Shinra gave a frown, trying to make him write a wish out. The raven just shook them away, writing down a second wish for the day.

He hated this. He hated all this. He just wanted to be gone if he was invisible to everyone else.

'I wish I could disappear since everyone treats me like I'm invisible.' Signing it, he quickly wrapped it around a small branch. 'Please... Grant my wish,' he practically begged before noticing that his friends had left without him; again.

Dammit... Why couldn't he just run off now and see if they noticed? He didn't even know how long it took them to notice he was missing when he was sleeping on the bus. Ahhh.

A small tear somehow managed to roll down his cheek, making him immediately brush it away.

"Oi, Izaya!" Shinra whined, waving at him from a booth quite far away. "Hurry up!"

Yeah, like he wanted to hurry up. But he didn't have much of a choice anyway, so he walked over to them, arm being hooked into Shinra's once again. He felt like such a toddler like this.

"It's almost time for the ceremony!" The rest of the time spend there was watching the ceremony quietly, honoring some of the spirits and thanking all those who have passed away. The bus ride back was the same as the one there, but this time Izaya couldn't sleep. He couldn't help but feel as if something was different.

Were they being, watched? That's the feeling he felt at least. But as he non-nonchalantly looked around, everyone seemed to be minding their own business. Maybe he was just being paranoid, like always. But he couldn't get rid of that feeling in the back of his mind...