Ch. 4

The days went on the same way. Izaya and Shizuo would have their fights, constantly.
Even gangs started to go after him for no known reason, but it was later obvious that Izaya was behind it.

Because of everything that had happened, Shizuo never trusted him, and knew that he never would.

Friendship with that boy was out of the question.

But Shinra just kept pushing it.

"Shizuo, you really should try to get along with him. I know...you'll tell me to shut up, but you can't keep having these fights. They aren't good. For anyone."

"Shinra, he's a little bastard who won't leave me alone."

"He just wants to be friends with you."

"Yeah, sure. He cuts me with his knife almost every time we meet. He keeps using that...that nickname. He annoys the hell out of me. Stop trying to make something impossible happen, Shinra. I don't want his friendship, and I sure as hell don't think he wants mine. Not by the way he treats me. I'm almost like a...plaything...to him. It's sickening."

Shinra let out a long sigh. "I know that you two have never gotten along. Yet, you've never sat down and actually spoken to each other." Shinra chose his words carefully. "You threw a punch, and he cut you. That's pretty much all of the interaction you two have ever had."

"Well, until a day comes when he's able to not make me feel annoyed, I don't think I'll ever stop fighting him." Shizuo stood up from his desk. "And as soon as I walk outside, I'm sure that there will be some people waiting for me...more of those gang members." He growled and got his bag to leave.

Shinra looked after him and frowned. "Gang members?" He shook his head and spoke to himself. "Oh Izaya...what have you done now?"

Unknown to them, Izaya had heard the whole conversation in his hiding place in a nearby cabinet.
Stupid protozoan. He thought. We could have had some real fun together. But you had to go and attack me when I tried to be civil.
He was relieved that he was hidden, so that the disappointment in his face wouldn't show. But his frown quickly turned into a wide smirk.
But it wouldn't be fun if things weren't this way, would it? He took out his knife and examined it. If that's how you'll be about it, I'll make things much more...interesting.

After he was certain that the classroom was empty, he slipped out of the cabinet and got his bag, checking his cell phone in the process. More information was sent to him, and he loved information. Perhaps he would make that into a career one day

I'll continue to be in your life every day, Shizu-chan. Whether you like it or not, I will be there.

Present Day

The smaller male gently put a hand on the others arm, searching his face for any sign of emerging rage. There was none.

"Shizu-chan...I-" Izaya was cut off when he saw Shizuo's eyes flicker, signaling that he was back to reality from his thoughts. Izaya was half-expecting Shizuo to grab him by the throat and throw him away for even daring to lay a finger on him. Yet the brunette didn't move at all, keeping his hand firmly, yet gently, on the larger arm.

"What is it fl-...Izaya?" Shizuo looked down with a questionable yet surprisingly gentle stare. Maybe this constant routine had gone on long enough. Both of them knew that they didn't have it in them to really kill one another. There were so many opportunities, yet they would let them slip by through their fingertips.

Izaya shuffled his feet and looked at the ground, slowly bringing his eyes up to meet the blonde's. There was complete honestly and sincerity in what was said next.

"I'm sorry. For everything that I ever did to you."

Shizuo's eyes widened. This man, who had tormented his waking life for so many years, and more recently, his sleeping life, was now apologizing.

It made him think back to last night, when he had that dream...

Shizuo was running. He kept running, never needing to catch his breath. He felt even more invincible than ever before. But where was he running to?

A hand suddenly grasped his, and he turned around to see his rival.

"Hello, Shizu-chan." Izaya smiled. But not his normal evil, mischievous smile. No. This smile was much different. It was full of...kindness, and something else. But there was nothing bad about it.
Shizuo felt almost...happy, and at peace. It was strange, but he didn't think so. The feelings overtook him.

"Izaya." Shizuo felt absolutely no hatred at this very moment.

The brunette moved closer and wrapped his arms around Shizuo's waist, into a hug. Shizuo made no attempt to break the embrace. It felt...wonderful.

"I wish we wouldn't fight anymore..."

"...Really?"

"Yes. I don't really want to kill you, Shizu-chan."

Shizuo nodded slowly. "Yeah. Me neither."

That was when Shizuo awoke. He felt immediate confusion as to what he had just dreamed.

"What the hell..." He sat up. "Why the hell did I dream that?" He put his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath. He could practically still feel Izaya's arms around him, even though it had only been a dream. And the strangest part was...Shizuo didn't feel disgusted by it. In fact, he almost craved the brunette's embrace.

"Yeah well, I still want him to leave me alone..." He sighed and fell back unto his pillow, but he was secretly hoping to continue the dream. At least in dreams, they could get along. And Shizuo was fine with that.

Shizuo shook his head to come back from his thoughts.

"I...I don't know for certain why I did the things I did. I guess I didn't know what else to do. I knew you hated me...so I did things to feed that hatred. You intrigued me more than others ever have." Izaya lowered his head and softened his tone of voice. "Yet today, seeing you other than...well, how you normally are…it made me realize that there's more to you than your anger." The informant slowly raised his head, looking the bodyguard in the eye. "It's a stupid reason, I know. But for that...everything...I'm sorry."

Izaya waited for a response, but never got one. It was to be expected after all, with everything he had done in the past. Izaya took in a sharp breath, nodded once, and turned his feet, walking away.

A strong grasp around his arm stopped him.

"Izaya."