The Russian Roulette
Part 1.
Izaya wakes up and his head hurts. He is not sure where he is but he knows he is not where he should be. He can feel the coldness of the stone floor even before he opens his eyes. He is in a round room, but he is not alone. There is another body sharing this space with him, and he needs only one look to recognize the other person even if that person isn't awake.
There's a noise, like an alarm, and he looks up trying to find a source of it. Then, he notices ten red dots dropping from the ceiling. They are pointing both at him and at Shizu-chan. He realizes what they are, even if he hasn't found himself in this type of situation before. Snipers; ten snipers are pointing at them. And, just because they are not tied up, it doesn't mean that they can run.
The alarm stops; and, Shizuo starts to move. He doesn't remember why he is lying on the floor, and why his head is killing him. There is something cold near his hand and he opens his eyes and sees a gun just lying there. He doesn't understand what is happening, but he knows that it has something to do with the stench he smells. And, he doesn't need to look anywhere; he already knows. Izaya is here.
However, he doesn't get to shout this time his nemesis's name. There is a laud noise and a tempered voice speaks up. The sound travels around them and the machinelike voice doesn't only come from above. It feels like it comes from the walls, as well.
"This is the game of Russian roulette. You can play and get a chance to survive, or you can refuse and die anyway. There are ten snipers pointing down at you, ready to shoot if you don't play along. There are ten cameras that are filming for people of Tokyo to see what you will choose. Don't disappoint them."
There is a silence after that. The Izaya's mind is working overtime. He knows the game. He knows the rules. There should be a gun somewhere with six holes in it and only one bullet. This is an interesting game and he had played it once and survived. He quickly wonders if these are the same people that he played with; but then, he remembers that he was the only survivor; a winner. But at a time every participant got their own gun. He wonders if he and Shizu-chan will share one. He isn't sure whether he can win today or even if he wants to. Killing Shizuo has always been his dream but he wanted to do it on his terms; not anyone else's.
"There is a gun next to Heiwajima-san's hand. There is only one bullet in it. Heiwajima-san, since you are here as collateral damage you can play first. The rules are simple. We will ask you a question and you will get to choose. You will get one minute to think and if you don't choose, you will die. If you survive, Orihara-san gets the gun, and so on. Are you ready, Heiwajima-san?
Shizuo was silent. He is thinking things and slowly but surely he gets angry. The man himself said that he was collateral damage. That means that this is all Izaya's fault, just as he had suspected. He will kill, kill, kill the flea.
"I-za-ya-kun!" he starts to shout, but he is quickly interrupted by the bullet missing him just an inch. And he closes his mouth, even if he is even more enraged than before.
"I asked you a question, Heiwajima-san. You need to understand that we are serious. Control your temper or you will die. So, I will ask again; are you ready?"
The Izaya's brain is working even harder, now. The idiot cannot control a thing. He will die and Izaya won't be the one to kill him; not to mention, that he doesn't believe this person will simply let them go even if they win.
"Oh, my... Aren't you a bit harsh? You should know by now; the monster cannot control himself. You should have tied him down. But, I guess... there isn't a thing that can hold such a beast. Or you are simply incompetent, Jakov?"
"You should close your mouth, Orihara-san. The next bullet is going your way... And, Jakov? Don't try to play your games with us."
"Not Jakov. Sasha, then? Igor? Boris?"
"You can try with every Russian name if you want. Playing Russian roulette doesn't mean that we are Russian. You have a number of enemies here in Japan. You should not dismiss them."
Izaya closes his mouth. There is only one way he can survive. He has to play the game.
Shizuo thinks within the same lines and he slowly stands up facing Izaya with the gun in his hand.
"Ask the question."
"Put the gun to a head and pull the trigger or dig up an eye."
What? Izaya is not missing that this person forgot to say "your head", or "your eye". So, these are the rules. He hopes Shizuo is too stupid to notice. And he is right. Shizuo moves the gun up to his head and pulls the trigger.
Nothing happens. Izaya's breath is stuck in his lungs. Shizuo would be dead now if the bullet was in that chamber. He has four other empty chambers and one with a bullet. The chances of survival are only dropping.
His hand is shaking; but he is not afraid. This is exciting and he starts to laugh. Shizuo looks at him like he is crazy; but how is he not to laugh. The humans are amazing; this one in particular. Izaya pissed him off, sometime in the past; and he is having his revenge. The plan itself is amazing. Not to mention that this person has done their homework. They know that Izaya would survive this gave if he was playing against anyone other than Shizuo. After all, Shizuo is the only person in the world he will not ever shoot. He will kill Shizuo, but he won't do it if someone orders him.
The laughter dies and Izaya is dead serious. He takes the gun and before the question is even asked he points it at his head and pulls the trigger. Nothing happens and he takes the breath out. There are only three empty chambers left and there is no guarantee that the bullet is not in the next one.
Then, the voice around them starts to laugh.
"Very well, Orihara-san. The next question is for you, Heiwajima-san. You can choose between putting the gun to a head and pulling the trigger or between ripping your own dick off. You have the strength to do that. Right?"
And, Izaya isn't missing the fact that this person hasn't said "your head" yet again. He doesn't want Shizuo dickless or dead. So, he points it out loud. He hopes that Shizuo won't be unpredictable just this once and won't ask why is he offering tips when Shizuo will shoot at him if he gives them. He starts to laugh again, but this time his laugh is fake and he hopes Shizu-chan won't see through him.
"You really are a stupid monster, Shizu-chan. The man said "a head" you know that you can put the gun on my head. Right?"
Shizuo's face is unreadable. The anger is gone. And he looks deep into Izaya's eyes and he says "I know"; but, he still puts a gun on his own head and pulls the trigger. The Izaya's heart stops beating in that one millisecond where he isn't sure if the gun will shoot; but, when nothing happens it is working overtime. It beats so loud and his mind can't understand how Shizuo gets to be this unpredictable. It is obvious to him that the monster doesn't want him dead. He just doesn't know why.
"If you knew, why aren't you shooting at me?" he asks. But, he knows the answer even if Shizuo doesn't say a word. After all, it is the same reason why he isn't shooting at Shizuo. He doesn't want to play by anyone else's rules. This game between them is just theirs and they should be the only one who gets to choose how to play it; and, if Izaya wants to kill Shizuo only with his own knife; or if Shizuo wants to kill Izaya with his own two hands; that is their choice. Right?
Not right. Deep down Izaya knows this is not it; at least not for him. There is another reason why Izaya pulls the trigger at his own head once again without hearing the question.
He is very lucky. The chances were ridiculously high. He takes a breath and gives the gun back to Shizuo. There is only one empty chamber left. Shizuo will have fifty-fifty chances.
This time, Shizuo won't wait for the question. He is begging all the Gods that there is a bullet in the next chamber and that it will shoot him. Even if he says that he hates Izaya, he doesn't want him dead. He isn't sure if he will survive anyway. He is not a monster; whatever Izaya says. He looks at the red eyes again as he moves the gun to his head. His tone is serious and he looks calm. He has a look of a man who accepted his fate.
"If I die, take care of Kasuka."
And, he smiles as he pulls the trigger.
Nothing happens. He is still breathing. Shit. There is only one shot left and it has a bullet in it. He doesn't move and he still looks at Izaya's eyes. He is not handing the gun. He quickly thinks about pulling the trigger once again and killing himself; but, there is not any guarantee that they will let Izaya go.
"Hand over the gun to Orihara-san." The voice warns. "If you refuse to do it, we will shoot the both of you."
And, Shizuo's hand is shaking. He starts to beg the voice to let Izaya go. He is crying and he is on his knees.
Izaya's heart is breaking. Monsters should never beg. Monsters should not even feel. They should stay proud and above everything human. Shizuo on his knees is not right. There is not a smile on Izaya's face. There is not anything but the anger.
"Shizu-chan, get up and give me the gun."
He will do whatever they ask. It's the only way in which they will both have a chance to survive.
Shizuo isn't moving and he looks broken; on his knees with wet cheeks. Izaya kneels in front him and takes the gun from his limp hand.
"Ask your question."
Whatever they ask of him, he will do it. He will take his eye out or even rip his limbs if needed. He will try to survive and he will not shoot Shizuo. If they ask him to choose between Shizuo and himself, he will die; but that is life, and he has always lived to the fullest.
"Orihara-san, you can choose between putting the gun to a head and pulling the trigger or having sex with Heiwajima-san."
Now, Izaya is laughing again. This is the best game ever. And, he is almost jealous that he wasn't the one that came up with it.
Shizuo looks at him, and Izaya bets that he thinks that he is crazy. But still, he can't stop laughing. This had to be a joke.
"Your time is up. What have you decided, Orihara-san?"
The laughter slowly dies.
"Come on, Shizu-chan... take off your clothes. We are going to give the people of Tokyo a free show."
