This is one of the shorter chapters, and this is also all I have to say. xD Enjoy.


Shizuo stood in the kitchen, keeping his eye on the microwave as he spoke on the phone. He was making hot chocolate for Izaya, who was watching television on the couch outside.

"Okay… Good. Great, actually. Now, you just have to get closer to him," the voice on the other end said casually.

"How?" Shizuo asked, trying his best to be quiet. "What, propose to him or something?" he asked sarcastically. Oh, boy.

"Sure, that would work. Well, I'll call later today to see what happens. Bye," then, there was the call waiting beep. Shizuo had no idea what he'd gotten himself into, but as long as it was his job…

Shizuo had always done his job.

He took the hot chocolate out of the microwave, walking back out into the living room and setting it down on the table. Izaya reached for it, but winced when he touched the cup, taking his hand back immediately. "Ne," he shuddered. "Hot."

Shizuo frowned. "Yeah… Careful, you might hurt yourself," he said quietly. But he knew that whatever was going to happen to Izaya after that, whatever was going to happen tomorrow night… It was going to be a lot more serious and a lot worse than a little, pathetic burn. He sat down next to Izaya on the couch, staring at the television, yet having absolutely no idea what was going on- as he was too deep in his own thoughts for entertainment.

Izaya snuggled up next to him, using Shizuo's chest as a pillow. "Ahn... Shizu-chan?"

"Huh?" Shizuo asked, snapping back to reality.

"You seem… different," Izaya shrugged. "Like you're bothered."

Shizuo tapped his foot. How was he actually going to propose? No. No, the man must have been kidding. He wasn't kidding. HE WAS. Nope. He couldn't have been kidding with that voice he was using. But he'd never tell Shizuo to propose to Izaya. So, he was totally kidding.

He wasn't kidding, Shizuo concluded.

"Hey, flea..?" Shizuo looked over at him.

"Hn?" Izaya looked back at him. Their eyes, staring like that… It seemed to stop time altogether.

"… I… think your drink is cooler now," Shizuo averted his gaze, looking back at the television.

Please be kidding… he thought to himself, not daring to look back at the raven-haired man.

Izaya picked up the drink, surprised at how nice and warm it felt on his hands. He brought it to his lips, taking a sip every few seconds.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

Well… This is going to be a long day, Shizuo yawned.

- Meanwhile (Y'know, I'm beginning to think I abuse the Meanwhile xD) -

[Shinra… Do you really think it'll help?] Celty seemed to stare at him. [I mean, really… Honestly.]

Shinra stared at where Celty's face should have been with a small smile. "Come on, Celty, when have I ever let you down?" he asked.

[Most recently? This morning, when you gave me a job that was supposedly easy.] She shook her 'head.' [I just don't think that we can help Izaya.]

"No! Of course we can help Izaya!" Shinra protested. "If Izaya's only friend can do anything for him, it's help him!"

Celty seemed a bit confused. [Only friend..?]

Shinra rubbed the back of his head. "Well, yeah. I mean, I was the only one who would really approach him with positive intentions. I just wasn't afraid of him, and actually liked him. I was the only one, though…"

[Oh…] Celty 'sighed.' She'd never cared about Izaya- rather feeling quite negative about him- but somehow, wanted to help him. [Wait, but… Aren't they watching?]

"Yeah, probably. It doesn't matter what they think though, so it's okay. Even if they torture, or even kill me, as long as you're alive and Iza-san is Iza-san, I'm fine. I just want everything to be right," Shinra shrugged, looking at her.

Celty held her PDA up to Shinra. [You said you didn't give me my head back… Because you were willing to sacrifice my-and anyone else's- happiness for your own… But now…]

"Now, I care about you more than anything. Honestly, I just want the world you live in to be… like it should," Shinra smiled at her. "And, you can't have a right world without a… creepy and sadistic Izaya. I know it sounds crazy, but… My happiness is nothing compared to yours."

Instead of the usual punch or slap, Celty hugged Shinra tightly. She put her PDA back in her pocket as Shinra hugged her back.

She quickly pulled away, once again grabbing her PDA. [Wait! But… Won't they just get to Izaya sooner if they know we're trying to help?]

And Celty was right.

Shizuo's phone rang. "Hm..? I wasn't expecting a callback so early…" He picked it up. "Hello?"

"We're here."

"You're not supposed to… But what about tomorrow night?" Shizuo asked, his eyes widening.

Izaya watched in confusion as Shizuo nodded, putting the phone down. "Izaya…" Shizuo stared at the raven seriously. He pulled him into a hug. "I'm so, so, sorry…" He released him taking a few steps back. The door opened and three men came in, two of them guards. They grabbed Izaya, one holding him down and the other handcuffing him. Izaya was so obviously filled with horror.

"S-Shizu-chan..?" Izaya felt tears well in his eyes as Shizuo stood back and did nothing, his face absolutely expressionless. Izaya weakened at the sight. How could Shizuo not care? It was even worse when he accidentally shifted his weight to his left leg. He didn't care, though. Everything he said came out in sobs.

"I can't believe you would do this to me! I was right! You're just a stupid protozoan!" Izaya screamed at Shizuo. Shizuo showed no reaction, though he was practically dying inside. "I hate you!"

That was the last thing Izaya could say before being dragged out of the house.

- Three Hours Later -

The door to Izaya's cell opened, and the same man that were at Shizuo's house with the other two guards entered.

"How does it feel, Izaya Orihara?" the man leaned over to stare in Izaya's face. "How does it feel to have everyone you thought you controlled turn against you?"

Izaya didn't reply.

"Ah, I see. So, you don't know how this is supposed to go. Well, let me give you a little hint… I ask you the questions, and you answer them? Okay? Did I make myself clear?"

Izaya still didn't reply.

The man frowned, his eyes narrowing. "I'm going easy on you today… But tomorrow… Your life is going to be a living hell," he hissed, leaving the cell and locking it.

How does it feel to have everyone you thought you controlled turn against you?

Izaya thought about the words, and nothing else. Not about betrayal, or anger, or angst. He just kept asking himself- What did it feel like?

Of course, he never truly thought he controlled all of these people. It was just a game, a little something to keep him occupied.

But now that everyone was against him…

He had no idea what to think. Everything he did always had a purpose, and was always thoroughly thought out. But not this time.

This time, he was winging it.


Okay, so, you guys GET that this is the biggest chapter ever made in this story ever, right? (And yes, I meant to use ever twice. xD) It was really important to the story, so pay attention from here on out! Bai o3o

I'll see you tomorrow, my amazing pawns.