"There is blood in everything that I see." The whispered voice carried itself through the dark room. It glided through the spacious atmosphere as if on air currents; tangible in an intangible world.

A dark figure crouched in that same computer chair that he had occupied for the last several uneventful hours, eerie grin plastered on a pale face. Without warning, the grin split open and an overexcited giggle tore out from pale lips. "How very dramatic of you. But it's to be expected..." he paused, and then his face morphed once again into an expression somewhere in between exhilaration and anticipation, "from someone as splendid as you!"

There was no reply, but Izaya didn't seem to be expecting one anyway. He glanced up at the clock on the wall and frowned. Twenty till nine. He'd need to leave now if he didn't want to be late. Wouldn't want to keep Shizuo waiting, after all. Standing up, he tugged the familiar fur-lined coat from the hook from which it hung and pulled it through his arms, snugging it tightly across his chest and fastening it. It was the only armor he ever wore, despite the fact that he continuously put himself in dangerous positions. The fact that he could be hurt rarely even occurred to him, even when dodging vending machines and streetlamps. To him, Shizuo was part of the game. Another chess piece in the bigger picture. And what if he were to be caught by his nemesis one day? The possibility only intrigued him even more. As long as he was always at least one step ahead -which he always was- it was still just a game. As far as Izaya was concerned, he always held all the strings, and he intended to keep it that way. The door swung shut behind him as he stepped outside, clicking neatly into place as it did so.

.

.

The wind was picking up as Shizuo pulled open the door of Russian Sushi. It whipped through his hair and sent it flying upward, an arrangement that annoyed the boy in the bartender suit. He did his best to flatten it back down as he stepped inside the establishment, immediately casing the joint in search of Izaya. His hands automatically pulled themselves into fists when he saw the flea sitting towards the back. It was hard not to yell his characteristic I_ZA_YA, let alone grab a large object and send it flying towards his proclaimed enemy. 'Just wait', he told himself. 'See what he has to say first, and then you can flatten him.'

Izaya spotted him from the short distance away and raised one hand in a friendly wave. His happy eyes were closed and a huge grin enveloped his face. He looked like a cat who just ate a bird. Immediate suspicion. Shizuo walked slowly in the direction of the other boy, feeling like he was walking into a trap. He kept his eyes, covered by tinted sunglasses, on the lookout for large objects with which to throw at Izaya if the other gave any hint of violence.

On the contrary, Izaya showed no sign of starting a fight. "I ordered for you, I hope you don't mind."

'That's his greeting?' a confused Shizuo thought to himself. He wasn't used to this. A flicker of silver as Izaya pulled out his knife, now that would be something expected. Either that or a flash of black as Izaya leapt to and fro in escape. But this? He didn't know whether to thank his nemesis for ordering his meal or smack him upside the head for the lack of courtesy in ordering food without asking what kind of sushi he preferred first. Instead, Shizuo just stood there, confused.

Izaya's grin remained intact. He didn't even bat an eye as he exclaimed, "it's considered rude to just stand there. Come, sit with me!"

Just as slowly as he had walked to the back of the restaurant, Shizuo bent his knees and pulled himself up to the short table, resting on the soft cushion beneath him. He stared across the empty table, decorated only with napkins and chopsticks, at the boy he considered his sworn enemy. His throat seemed constricted, unable to put into words the questions that he had. The inability to do such a simple act tugged at the part of his brain that was responsible for feeling annoyed. It was all he could do to restrain himself from flipping the short table up and pinning the brat against the wall. Izaya just stared right back at him with that cat smile, saying nothing. Shizuo closed his eyes for just a second, trying to center himself. Finally, he spoke. "So what's this about, flea? Why did you invite me to dinner?"

For a second, Izaya almost looked offended. "Why? You don't like the date I planned for us?"

Shizuo could feel his cheeks immediately grow hot. 'Is that what this is about? A friggin' date?'

Izaya's eyes went wide. "What's the matter? Don't you want to go on a date with me?" And then the dark haired boy was giggling. "Don't get so frightened. I simply wanted to talk to you. I figured we might as well get something to eat at the same time."

"Oh." He hoped the boy in the coat couldn't see his still-flushed cheeks. To his luck, a server dressed in a white kimono suddenly appeared beside their table, holding a plate covered with sushi. He welcomed the distraction, willing his embarrassment to fade as the server placed several plates of the fish on the table in front of them. To his surprise, Izaya had ordered no less than eight types of sushi.

"Don't worry," Izaya stated, misinterpreting Shizuo's startled expression. "I'm paying for everything. Eat whatever you want. I tried to order dishes I thought that you'd like."

For several seconds, the bleach-blonde felt like an ass. Izaya had obviously spent a lot of money, and most of the sushi rolls were ones that he might have ordered for himself anyways. He hesitantly picked up his pair of chopsticks and used them to grab a piece. "Thanks," he muttered with a mouth full of fish and rice. Izaya simply smiled again. That annoying grin that was really beginning to look like a cat. What was that cat again that he was thinking of? Oh yeah, a Cheshire cat. A creature full of secret intentions. Despite this current act of politeness, he still couldn't help but distrust the skinny boy with the dark hair.

After several minutes and a number of sushi pieces consumed by the hungry bodyguard, Shizuo spoke. "Aren't you going to eat?" The other boy had been simply staring across the table, watching quietly with his arms crossed neatly across the table.

"But I sooo like watching you eat, Shizu-chan! Makes me feel like we are on a date!"

One arm shot out and grabbed the little flea by the collar. It took all of Shizuo's restraint not to hurl him across the room. "STOP saying we're on a date! And STOP CALLING ME SHIZU-CHAN!"

The Cheshire grin stayed perfectly intact, its owner knowing full-well that the threats were just noise. At least at this point. Any further and it probably would turn into an all-out brawl, however. Perhaps it was time to defuse the situation. Izaya dropped the expression he had been carrying since his nemesis had stepped in the door, opting for a look of apologetic plea instead. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "Perhaps I had too much sake earlier. Sometimes I say strange things when I'm drunk. Please forgive my rudeness."

Shizuo narrowed his eyes. The only glass on the table that sat near Izaya was filled with water. No alcohol in sight. He looked into the eyes in front of him, searching for any sign of deceitfulness. But such things were impossible to see in Izaya. Always had been. Finally, sighing heavily, he released his grip on the shorter boy's collar and sat back, leaning against the wall behind him. Emotions still fueled with anger, he plucked the next piece of sushi from the plate with such force that it practically exploded between his chopsticks. Bits of rice flew all over the table. Shizuo closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to count to ten. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. Finally, he spoke, eyes still closed. "What's this about, flea?"

The pause that followed was prolonged. Izaya was either trying to build the mood or else had no idea himself of why the two of them were there. When Shizuo opened his eyes again

-ready to punch something- he was greeted to the sight of his companion staring at the table, a peculiar expression on his face. He looked up slowly, strands of dark hair falling mysteriously over his eyes, and began to talk in a quiet whisper. "Do you believe in Valkyries?"

Confusion. "Huh, what are you talking about?"

"What about prophesies?" the other boy continued. "Imperative events? Fate?"

Shizuo shook his head. "I've no idea what you're getting at." He took a stab at another piece of sushi, successfully this time, and swallowed it whole.

It was Izaya's turn to sigh. "Of course. You need to see it. Then you'll know." In a manner opposite of Shizuo's, he slowly picked at a piece of sushi with a pair of chopsticks, pulling it apart with delicate precision and leaving the pieces strewn across the plate.

"What are you talking abo-"

Before he could finish his question, Shizuo was interrupted. "I have something of yours. Or rather, a friend of yours. I really think you might want to come take a look at it."

.

.

Comments = Love