-All it took was a cat nap-

Izaya leisurely put his head on Shizuo's lap, his purring growing more intense out of delight. The blond was still scratching that spot behind his ear that made him melt in a blissful pleasure. His eyes were half lidded but he eventually fell into a deep sleep, with sweet dreams of a certain debt collector. He'd always liked Shizuo, but the blond hated him from the beginning, literally. Their first meeting Izaya had a punch aimed at his face, for no good reason might he add. Shizuo had always felt a strong sense of resentment toward the informant. Izaya found it was nice to be around him when he was gentle though, a characteristic that he believed the taller male didn't acquire… until now.

Shizuo starred at the adorably curled up flea on his lap. He couldn't help but realize that the smaller male looked sort of angelic with the light illuminating his perfectly framed face, short strands of black hair cascaded down his forehead, he was almost innocent as he slept.

The key word being almost.

He had to remind himself that the louse and him have hated each other since high school, never once was there a time they had truly gotten along. There was no way they would ever establish a friendship… or more. The informant was a conniving little bastard who lived to make the people around him suffer and become miserable. He's also a liar! While he claims to love all humans he puts them through hellish torture. He only loves the reactions he gets! In his eyes Shizuo is a monster but if he looked in a mirror, actually looked, he'd have the perfect definition.

With nothing but disgust at the flea and himself for ever considering the possibility that "it" was cute, Shizuo pushed Izaya off of him and headed for the kitchen, footsteps reverberating off the walls of the quiet room, making them echo in the distance. He was getting hungry anyway…

As the blond pulled out some salmon to cook he didn't see the confused look gracing Izaya's features. The informant's hair stuck up a little in odd directions and he gingerly rubbed his eyes with the back of his fragile fisted hand. What happened? Did I do something wrong? He whimpered internally. Then walked through the entrance of the kitchen where he knew Shizuo was. The sweet smell of a strawberry tart he had eaten for breakfast, still lingering on his clothing.

Not that… Izaya was… sniffing him or anything. That would be… weird, right? It was just the cat thing, his senses were more… vivid now, yeah… let's go with that.

It seemed the blond hadn't noticed him being too engrossed in the food he'd been eating, Izaya's mouth watered at the sight of the pink meat.

He hadn't eaten in two days.

In between gathering information, doing research, and visiting his cliental. He didn't have time for that measly human attribute. Though it was the one thing he needed most from humanity; food and water.

The little hairs on Shizuo's neck rose up, insinuating that someone was probably creeping on him. Uneasy with the unnerving feeling, he looked up, and noted the louse standing before him with drool practically dripping from his mouth. He was still pretty angry though, so he ignored the growling stomach of the flea, and went back to shoveling salmon down his throat.

After moments of starring, the little half-neko stepped closer.

To both of their surprise when Izaya opened his mouth to let out a rather pitiful mew, he spoke, "food." His eyes widened and his mouth formed an "O" shape making his canines visible for all onlookers to see. "I… I can talk again?" He mumbled. To assured himself he said it again with more enthusiasm, breaking out into a grin, "I can talk again!" He did a little victory dance, fist pumping the air, tail rapidly moving while doing so. It was the first time he'd seen Izaya smile for real. Not that creepy smirk.

And although it was hard to keep the amusement he felt away, it was even harder to keep the attachment he felt with the flea from corrupting him, Shizuo glared daggers, indicating anger rising.

"Shut. Up", the blond demanded quietly. The informant seemed to not hear him and if Izaya did, he kept moving. That retched smile, the one Shizuo was starting to really love, was beckoning him to praise Izaya. So he raised his voice not wanting to go along with what his heart told him to, "Shut! Up!"

Izaya immediately stopped, his smile slowly fading as he saw Shizuo's expression. His ears flattened against his head, not only because he had sensitive hearing, but he felt he did something wrong. His cheeks turned scarlet red, his tail went in between his two legs, and it wrapped around the left one.

Silence consumed them.

"… I-I was just… being happy, Shizu-chan. Why did you y-yell at me?" Izaya stuttered nervously, afraid he did something to upset his brute.

The dept collector kept quiet, anger slowly boiling inside of him, he couldn't like Izaya. It was out of the question, and the ridiculous pet name only further infuriated him.

"Do you have a migraine? I give pretty good messages. I could help you relax if-"

"Stop acting so goddamn bubbly! You're the only thing giving me a headache right now!"

Izaya felt a surge of pain go through him because of Shizuo's outburst. There was no need for the brute to be so angry! I was only expressing the joy of being able to speak again, I only just found out my speech hasn't been lost forever, but I guess that wasn't such a big deal… he thought bitterly.

"It's not my fault you're in such a pissy mood…Protozoan", Izaya dared to whisper under his breath.

"What did you call me?" Shizuo asked narrowing his eyes with a frown. He knew what Izaya had said, he was only challenging the informant.

"Protozoan", it was still too quiet... almost as if the smaller male was… afraid of what the dept collector might do to him, it was comical for Shizuo.

"What? Speak louder."

"I called you a filthy protozoan!" Izaya hissed, finally losing his temper.

"Well you may have gained your voice back but you can still make cat sounds. How… amusing" He smirked.

"You know what? I didn't come here to be treated like this! I came for protection but I can speak now-"

"So you can call out for help when you need it?" Shizuo guessed. Izaya's flushed crimson, he could tell by the hot burning sensation in his cheeks that he was blushing.

"I hate you!" He yelled before running for escape, sleek black tail swishing behind him with the frequent movements and an arm covering his face. He slammed the door on his way out.

As Shizuo watched how upset Izaya got the entertainment left, they left at the point where he spoke them awful words that made the ex-bartenders gut clench. It was regret. He could feel it. But it was the flea, the one incapable of human emotions…

Or at least that's who he was before. The whole experiment altered his personality. He seemed more timid, shy, small, innocent… so vulnerable…

Izaya rushed out of the apartment building, running to the elevators metallic doors. He pressed the one button, to the last floor, and it lit up. Unwanted, but unstoppable tears slid down his rosy red cheeks. Why does Shizu-chan have to be so mean? What did I do to make him hate me this much…? I don't understand…

There was a ding sound, identifying that this was his stop. He pulled up his parka's hood on top of his head and… WALLAH… his ears disappeared. He already had his tail wrapped wound his waste. He'd say he had passed for a human.

The question was… where was he going to go? He couldn't go to his place. Namie-san would be there, she would never let him live this down. She would find a way to tell everyone bringing him to shame. Then there's Shinra… Wait! He's the one that caused all of this. He's definitely not staying with him…

Without a clue in the world as to where he was going, the informant stepped away from the elevator, and into the streets of Ikebukuro.

Alone, hungry, and without a plan, Izaya walked. That's exactly what Shizuo realized before he knew he had to go find him. Though Izaya was already long gone by the time he decided to leave.

Izaya… where are you?