i - the beginning of the end

Heiwajima Shizuo was always something odd in Orihara Izaya's eyes, that much was fact.

The list of flaws that Izaya had placed on him was never ending; short-tempered, unpredictable, inhuman. The only praise the informant could give was his entertainment value, never failing to lead him into a new scheme. Within those schemes he could test the very reasons he hated the entity that was Heiwajima Shizuo, and forever make light to the fact that what he felt towards Shizuo was indeed hatred.

His nemesis was a monster, after all. Cursed to be the strongest man in the world, Izaya wondered, what else could his purpose possibly be? Monsters weren't supposed to live happy lives; they were to be cornered by their enemies and rid from the world.

Izaya could only fulfill half of this plan.

Not once had the god succeeded in slaying the monster.

Each and every time, Izaya had to find out how to come back better, setting fire to the life Shizuo had built.

Each and every time, Shizuo evaded his efforts, protecting the happiness he had found, only adding to the other man's frustration.

How?

How was it that a monster could have close family, friends, and a happy life - in a place like Ikebukuro, at that?

It wasn't fair.

Shizuo was supposed to suffer.

Why weren't his plans working?

. . .

It was too quiet.

Shizuo couldn't hold onto the life he wanted.

All he needed now was a push in the right direction.

And Orihara Izaya would happily oblige.

. . .

"Tch."

Cigarette pack in hand, Shizuo wasted no time pulling one out and putting it to his lips. His tired eyes fixated on the smoke now in front of him instead of his accompaniment, the two trailing behind him exchanging glances.

His senior Tanaka Tom and junior Varona both shared more indifferent looks, Tom being used to having an exasperated Shizuo around, and Varona accustomed to her robotic nature, though both shared some concern for their friend.

"Shizuo, you don't look so good. Why don't you let Varona handle things next time?"

"Affirmative. You seem deeply troubled, Shizuo-senpai. I would like to request that I carry that burden instead."

Shizuo came to an abrupt stop, Tom slamming right into him and stumbling backward, attempting to keep his balance. When he was able to stand up straight, Shizuo rubbed the back of his neck, eyes drifting off. "Sorry. I've been a little out of it lately."

"I've noticed." Tom pushed his falling glasses back against his face, giving the blonde a tease of a smile. "Maybe you should take some time off."

His junior shook his head, responding almost instantly. "No, it's fine."

"Come on, Shizuo. Didn't you say that Kasuka was going to be in town this week?"

When met with Tom's pleading eyes and a faint smile from Varona, Shizuo couldn't entirely refuse. "Yeah, but-"

"No buts. How many days do you want? Five? Seven?"

"Huh? Isn't that too much?"

"You never take days off. Don't worry about it."

Shizuo let out a light sigh, though he nodded his head in agreement, not willing to argue it out any further. "Alright. If you say so."

It was true that he wasn't looking forward to being a burden for the two, and either way, he would be one, so it wasn't as if he had much of a choice. If he chose to stay, his anger would surely build up and break him once again, but without him there, work would be a bit more difficult for Tom and Varona. With one mention or glance at Heiwajima Shizuo, work was done easily. He could say that Varona was starting to make a name for herself, though.

Besides, why should he have to feel like a burden in the first place? They were his friends, after all. He knew they would understand.

For the longest time in a while, he didn't have anything to worry about.

At least, until an all too familiar white fur trim caught his eye.

. . .

Orihara Izaya was the epitome of terrible in Heiwajima Shizuo's eyes, that much was true.

He was a filthy human being, always placing himself above his "beloved humans" and Shizuo himself. He messed with people's minds and lives on a daily basis, and for what? For fun.

It was that fact that led to Shizuo's disgust for the informant. Izaya thought of no one but himself, and how he could carry on making money off of innocent people's despair. If anyone was the monster of the two, Shizuo would say it was Izaya.

While he still carried part of the heavy burden of self-loathing, he was growing as a person and learning from his mistakes, becoming truly human - what he wanted to be. With Izaya always getting in his way, however, he often lost bits of the progress he had made, the desire to destroy the other man returning with each encounter.

It was simple, really. Beat the informant at his own game, and rid his existence from the world.

Shizuo could only fulfill half of this plan.

No matter how hard he tried in the past, he could never bring himself to finish Izaya off.

No matter how hard he tried in the present, nothing changed.

Heiwajima Shizuo couldn't bring himself to kill another human being.

Even if that human being was Orihara Izaya.

. . .

It was just a bit frustrating. He wanted Izaya gone, but at the same time, it felt like part of him didn't want that.

It was nothing short of strange.

But what he needed wasn't any more weight put on him by Izaya, even if it was indirect.

So until Izaya decided to strike, he would let it go.

. . .

If Izaya were to say that he stopped by Ikebukuro for reasons other than Shizuo, only half of that statement would be a lie.

He was growing to miss the city, keeping himself cooped up in Shinjuku for longer than expected. It was a breath of fresh air to be back, though he still had quite the agenda to keep up with.

Like dealing with a certain Yodogiri Jinnai, for example.

It was indirectly Shizuo's fault that he had been stabbed, even. Though, months had passed and he wasn't particularly only to hold a grudge, so he declared his actions would be carried out as usual.

In the name of entertainment.

His spotting of Shizuo was even an accident, while he was waiting for a client to show up for a lunch meeting. It didn't take any effort whatsoever to spot the blonde through the restaurant's windows, and with a text so conveniently canceling the meeting, Izaya was off, and with a somewhat grand entrance to top it all off.

Turning on his heel, the informant wore his usual grin, putting his hands to his hips. "It's been a while, Shizu-chan."

Shizuo was completely frozen, and his companions now stood at either side of him, Varona eyeing Izaya with a rather deadly glare for her usually emotionless eyes, he thought.

The cigarette that had been in Shizuo's mouth fell to the ground and was soon crushed by his shoe as he approached the other man. "Yeah, Izaya. . ."

The informant's grin only widened as Shizuo made a move to grab him by the collar, with him leaping backward before the blonde had a chance.

"Now, now, you wouldn't want to make a scene, would you?"

Had it been anyone else he was speaking to, they might have thought Izaya's voice was charming and smooth, and they might have nodded in response.

Shizuo wasn't "anyone else", however.

"Get out." His fists were clenching and unclenching, resting at his sides of his own free will.

"Why should I? I'm just trying to have a quaint little reunion with a dear friend, you know, after our falling out. . ."

Still Shizuo did not move. "Drop the act, fleabag."

Izaya stuck his tongue out, replying slowly and sweetly, but with just enough force to set the other man off.

"And. What. If. I. Told. You. . ."

The tip of a switchblade met Shizuo's neck, and with an innocent looking smile, Izaya completed his sentence. "No?"

He turned, only taking a step forward as he began to speak once more. "I'm just trying to see how you've been, Shizu-chan. You haven't gotten into any trouble, have you?"

Silence.

Izaya gazed over his shoulder, one eye meeting Tom's, Varona's, and lastly, Shizuo's, and let his parting words leave his lips.

"Such a shame they should have to see you like this."

One more step forward, and another. Two seconds later and he was yanked backward by his hood, dangling in his enemy's grip until he made his great escape.

Once again, a screech of the informant's name would pierce the sky, and was music to the said man's ears.

Ikebukuro could never truly be at rest, as long as two particular individuals ruled the city, one never truly without the other.

And so was the existence of Orihara Izaya and Heiwajima Shizuo.

. . .

For his first day off, Shizuo expected nothing less than peace and quiet, with no sort of headache - especially not in the form of Izaya.

His pursuit of the other man the day prior ended on a low note, when he decided that the chase would accomplish nothing, and that Izaya, as usual, wasn't worth his time.

Sure, Izaya had made a comment about his friends, but Shizuo realized he should know better by now.

Don't give into Izaya, don't give in, don't give in. . .

That was how things should have gone.

Sadly, that was not the case.

Shizuo's head was throbbing, sight blurry as he first opened his eyes, and when everything started coming together, he realized he wasn't in the comfort of his bed, but his hard floor.

Though his sight had adjusted, his mind was still fuzzy, leaving him trying his best to comprehend the situation.

It certainly wasn't just another Tuesday.

As the bodyguard sat up, he felt his phone vibrate in his breast pocket, and when he flipped it open, he supposed he could find his answer.

In the form of a text from Izaya.

[You were in pretty rough shape last night, so I decided to be the better man and drop you off~ How was the floor? Cold as your heart, I bet~ (¬､¬)]

Shizuo clenched his phone, though quickly let it fall into his lap before he had the chance to break it.

The hell?

What's he talking about - last night?

Without another second to contemplate, Shizuo retrieved his phone, dialing Izaya's number and waiting rather impatiently for him to pick up.

With a yawn, Izaya greeted him. "Ah, Shizu-chan."

"Tell me what happened right now before I come over and kill you."

The informant chuckled in response. "Not much. Needless to say, you were acting quite out of character. Much too friendly for my liking."

"Make sense, flea."

"Ne, Shizu-chan, what do you say we-"

"I didn't call you to put up with your shit again. Stop beating around the bush and answer me, would you!?"

"You're too impatient. If you wouldn't interrupt me, maybe you'd get your answer."

Shizuo sighed. "Fine."

"Thank you. Now, as I was saying, what do you say we play a game?"

It was a simple request, but all the while, not simple at all. Shizuo understood better than anyone how something like this would turn out, and he wasn't pleased with Izaya's attempts.

"A game? I don't have time for this, Izaya."

"It'll be fun. All you have to do is play, and you'll get your answer. It's as simple as that."

Shizuo snorted. "Easy for you to say."

"I'm trying to be helpful, and this is what I get?" Izaya sighed in return, though continued on with his offer. "If you're willing to cooperate, meet me at Shinra's in one hour."

Without any parting words, Izaya hung up, leaving a frustrated and dumbfounded Shizuo to fall back onto his couch, closing his eyes and taking in every word that was said. Part of him considered staying home and not bother trying to figure everything out. He was dealing with Izaya, after all. For all he knew it could be something unimportant and as part of him assumed, a waste of time.

Izaya's initial statement still echoed in his mind despite that thinking.

Needless to say, you were acting quite out of character. Much too friendly for my liking.

That statement made this an issue he couldn't just ignore. When had he ever been friendly with someone like Izaya? Wouldn't he remember something like that?

Much to his disbelief, this wasn't something unimportant.

He could only hope Izaya would play fair - two phrases that never belonged in the same sentence - and that all would be resolved by the time Kasuka came to visit.

With great reluctance, he found himself standing at Shinra's doorstep an hour later, greeted by not his friend, but Izaya.

"What a pleasant surprise. I didn't think you'd actually show up."

Shizuo frowned. "Let's just get this over with."

With a smirk ever in tact, Izaya stepped aside for Shizuo to enter, the blonde's frown remaining even as Shinra gave him a nod in greeting.

"After our meeting yesterday, I thought it would be best to have Shinra mediate. I'd rather not die today, after all." Izaya pulled over a chair from the kitchen, sitting down in front of the already seated doctor, restlessly kicking his legs back and forth.

Shinra cast him a sly grin. "You have to admit, that would be pretty entertaining."

Shizuo didn't laugh, but his expression did soften. It was no surprise that the doctor would side with him.

"I'm not here to kill you," Shizuo said simply as he took a seat beside Shinra. "I'm here to get answers, so just get to the point already. You had me wait an hour."

Izaya exhaled, placing his chin in his hand as a pout reached his lips. "You're no fun sometimes, Shizu-chan."

Shizuo furrowed his brows, and Izaya sat back up, letting his hands fall into his lap. "Alright then, I'll get straight to the point."

The bodyguard had to make a great effort not to interrupt him with a sigh of relief.

"In exchange for your answer, I'd like for you to be my secretary."

At first, there was silence.

Then. . .

"Hah?!"

And so the game began.

author's note

Welcome back, everyone! Or if you happen to be new, welcome! Finally, I can introduce you to the rewrite that I have wanted to write for the entirety of this fic's life. I'm really glad I waited this long, though, or else I wouldn't have gotten as far as I did (casually thanks everyone again).

Now before I make this an extremely long AN, my apology and thanks to everyone is over in chapter 31 of the old fic if you want to check that out, and it also has some rambling about what else I'd like to accomplish alongside this fic, but that can also be seen in my profile. As always, chapter progress will be updated on my profile and general updates will be posted over on my tumblr.

If you're new, thank you for reading and I hope you'll stick around for future chapters!

Also, happy birthday to both t&e and Varona! I didn't know it was her birthday until a few months afterward last year, and I had to laugh because this is quite the coincidence. I absolutely adore her, and she has finally made her way into the beginning~

As always, I hope you all enjoyed and I'd love to hear what you think! Quite a bit has changed, but I think I can safely say that it's for the better. For now, new chapters will be released every Thursday, but knowing me, that schedule will definitely change somewhere along the line. It shouldn't be anything as drastic as the last few updates, though.

And with all of that finally out of the way, I'll see you next week!