Chapter 7 – Stolen Hearts

The sun's luminance beamed all over the city of Ikebukuro. It was as if the rainy evening yesterday was nothing but a cool dream.

Shizuo wiped the sweat off his brows for the umpteenth time. He took off his black bow and pocketed it. His hands undid the buttons of his vest and the first few buttons on his long-sleeved shirt. The hot wind blew its fiery breath on his tan skin. The tall man mingled among the perspiring crowd. He scrutinised everyone who passed by him, searching for that certain pair of ruby gems to stare back at him.

He wasn't looking for any trouble – he just wanted to thank that skinny man who always angered him. There's nothing wrong with showing gratitude even if it was to your rival. After all, Izaya did help him find the right words. Izaya made him feel unafraid of himself, made him feel like he was no monster at all. Izaya gave him the exercise of his life by chasing him all over town. That raven gave him a scar on his chest when they were students, pushed him to his limits, made him stronger than before and earned a spot in his heart. Suddenly, he didn't sound like his foe at all but rather, a friend – a hateable friend in which he can't stop arguing with. Would this be called lover's quarrel from the very start? After seeing his pale face for at least two seconds, he blurted out the meanest words to him.

I dislike you.

Yes, it did hurt when you listen to it. And he even dared to say that line to someone he had just met.

Izaya, would you ever forgive me?

The blond looked at the box of chocolates in his hand. He had bought it to give it as a peace offering. Unfortunately, the recipient was not in sight.

Where are you, Izaya-kun? I'm not in the mood for hide-and-seek. Shizuo's head boiled in a little resentment towards the raven. That troublesome informant always popped up at worse scenes. When could he ever get his timing right? When Shizuo felt down and upset, he would suddenly hear his annoying shoes clicking towards him. This flea was looking for trouble and he was his favourite target.

If you ever need me, I'll be in Shinjuku. See you later, Shizu-chan! Mwah! Those certain words rang in his head. Izaya had once said that after he nearly smashed his head with yet another stop sign. It seemed like a joke but he must admit that he needed him now. He needed to give this peace offering now or never. That was just it.

His legs strode towards the direction of his rival's place. He didn't even know why on earth he knew exactly where the young man lived. But the blond kept on walking, knowing where his feet would take him.

Soon, the tall building rose to view. Shizuo pressed the doorbell to Izaya's place.

"Good afternoon." A woman's voice spoke through the mini-speaker by the buttons of doorbells.

"This is... an old friend of Izaya Orihara's. Is he around? I'm just dropping by a surprise." Shizuo tried to calmly speak. Why did it feel like his heart was in his mouth? Yes, why on earth was his heart banging wildly inside his system?

"Leave the gift downstairs. I'll pick it up and give it to him." The feminine voice said after a few minutes of silence.

"No, I want to see him." Shizuo blurted out. Eh? I do?

Another minute of silence passed by before the woman spoke again. "He'll come down for you."

With that, Shizuo gently put the box down. He quickly worked to close the buttons of his shirt. When he manipulated the last button on his vest, he heard the recognizable sound of Izaya's shoes. The door of the building creaked open and out came a man in shorts with a jacket.

"Shizu-chan?" The man with the furry jacket was surprised with his unexpected guest. He quickly zipped up his jacket to cover the short shirt he was wearing. The blue shirt revealed his flat stomach. "My, my, this is so unpredicted. Why did you come here? If I knew that it was you on the doorway, I could've at least worn something decent." He sharply said as he pulled his hood.

"Nice legs." Shizuo muttered when he picked up the box.

Izaya's face reddened. He was glad that his hood somehow covered his furiously blushing cheeks. He looked down at his skinny legs that were free from disgusting marks and smiled. He never really received a compliment from his enemy before. Am I seducing you, Shizu-chan? Izaya playfully thought and giggled inside.

"I came to give you this." The blond shoved the box to his hands.

"What's in here?" The man in shorts curiously looked at the big box. He sniffed it and his scarlet eyes widened in astonishment. "Shizu-chan, I think I've smelt... chocolates!"

The tall man gave him a small smile and nodded a yes. Izaya pulled the glittering black ribbon off the box. He lifted the cover and his mouth dropped at the amount of chocolates that filled the space. Then a side of his lips arched up in a smirk. He picked up one piece and flashed it at Shizuo.

"Eat this." He said in sugary voice. At first, the tall blond refused but when Izaya forced the chocolate inside his mouth, he bit a tiny part. "Now I'm going to call the police and have you arrested."

"What? Again? You..."

Shizuo was about to pick him up and prolly smash him to the wall when Izaya held out the bitten chocolate in front of him.

"You ate my heart! You a-a-ate my heart!" Izaya said with a funny melody. "Shizuo's a monster! M-m-m-monster!"

"Don't you just go gaga and sing a crazy song right now! I'm still mad over here!" Shizuo roared.

Unexpectedly, Izaya threw his slender arms around the bartender-suited hunk. "Thank you, Shizu-chan." He said in an innocent and happy voice. Izaya gave him a tight squeeze and stayed like that for quite some time. Although the hunk was sweating, he wouldn't end the moment soon. This was the first sweet thing he ever did to the bartender as Izaya – not as someone else.

Shizuo had no idea why but his arms instinctively wound around the man's thin body. He gently hugged him, still afraid that he might choke him or something. Funny, he thought. Funny that I'm actually concerned that he might get squished by me. Shouldn't I be happy if he dies? Wait, no, that won't be any fun without him.

"Iiii-zaaa-yaaaaa-kuuuuuunn..." The blond muffled that his name with that scary tone. "You stole my heart."

The jacketed man suddenly pulled away and gave him a quizzical look. Shizuo's hand slipped inside the pocket of his jacket and fished out a key.

"See? You stole my heart." He flatly said and showed him the heart keychain that dangled on his house's keys. Izaya cracked a wide grin and retorted, "At least I didn't eat it like what you did to my heart."

"Oh, go ahead and enjoy your chocolates before they melt!" He said the line sharper than what he had intended. He turned around and slowly paced away. "Eat them before I eat your heart again." He looked back at him with a murderous stare.

Oh, no worries, Shizu-chan. You've already eaten mines for real. I wonder if I really did steal your heart for real.

Shizuo left Shinjuku as quietly as he arrived. He came into Ikebukuro and felt those hot rays on striking at his body again.

Oh, Izaya, if you only knew how much you've literally stolen my heart. Damn, what would Kanra think of me now? Why do I fall too quickly?

The 2nd most boring chapter ever. I apologise! That is not what you've been expecting for and yet this is what I've came up with D: Frankly, the next chapter would be boring as well because it would demonstrate Shizuo's life if Izaya weren't around. But if you're really faithful enough to read Water Balloons from cover to cover, then I love you! *hugs you*