Part one – Meetings and growing relationships

Chapter eight

A/N:- Thank you for the reviews and onto the next chapter. Enjoy.

It couldn't be. That was impossible, almost laughable. But if what Kanra was saying was true, then...then... No way. Not him. There was no way in hell that he was in love with annoying flea that was Izaya Orihara. It didn't make any damn sense. It felt like the room was closing in on him, he felt sick. Glancing up he met the raven's gaze. "Shizuo. Are you okay? You've gone pale." It was hatred. That consuming feeling in his heart... It could only be hatred.

"Shizuo!" A hand rested on his arm making him flinch back at the warmth. "Is something wrong?" Shaking his head numbly, Shizuo closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. There was no way he could destroy anything in the bar. "...No. I'm fine." The girl was wrong that's all there was to it. He was in love with that flea? No bloody way. "...I've said all I needed to say. Do you want to go back?" His heart jumped as he realized what would meet them when they went back to his house. Slumping down in his seat, his head banged against the hard polished wood of the table.

She should have realized it earlier. Sharp crimson eyes recorded every action of the blond in front of her since she had given her confession. The puzzle pieces slotted into place piece by piece. There was no denying it, not with those reactions. Shizuo was in love with her brother. It looked like he was as clueless as Izaya when it came to their feelings. Now what to do? It wasn't any of her business.

All Kanra wanted to do was end their meeting, it wasn't a date it didn't count and rush back to where Shizuka and Izaya were. The table jumped as Shizuo head butted it again. "Do you want a drink or anything?" Why did it feel like she had stepped on a landmine? But from what was said, it looked like the childhood friend had said something. The blond trusted Kadota, she could tell that much. "...No. We should get back." The words were mumbled without feeling, a ghost like hand trembling slightly.

Panic was slowly filling her, not worry for Shizuo, worry for what Shizuka was going to think when she saw him like that. "Why don't we stay a bit longer? I'll go and buy some cigarettes for you." The raven left him where he was slumped. "Sorry Izaya. I think I broke him." By confessing her own intentions, it felt like she had forced the surprisingly innocent blond out of his comfort zone. It was already too late to regret it, though maybe everything could still be fixed.

"I'm back." Tossing the wrapped packet on the table, she wasn't surprised to find out that the pure hearted boy was still in the same position. With a sigh Kanra leaned back in the chair. "Are you angry because I told you my feelings for Shizuka? I couldn't help it, the heart is a complex thing." At last the dead seemed to rise, wordlessly ripping off the plastic from the packet. "How much do I owe you?" Well it was a start.

"No no, that way!" An excited voice echoed in his ears. "Yes! So close!" It was deafening. "And finished!" The control dropped from his fingers as he reached up to cover his ears from the victory shriek. "I won!" Yes, Shizuka was the type to scream and talk to video games. Crimson eyes narrowed as the blue car sped across the finish line, a large figure 1 showing above it. He had lost. Again.

The blonde was annoyingly good to the point he had lost every race against her. All of his perfect control, handling and the near perfect on time drifts and he had lost. As far as Izaya could see, she was only using the acceleration button. "Should we go again?" The options were already being selected, a new game beginning. "After this why don't we try something else?" The racing game was useless, he had learnt nothing that could be useful except for the medication and the music box. "Eh? This is my favourite game." It showed, like this nothing would be gained.

"You mean you don't have a chance on any other games, right?" The match was already a lost cause, he was stuck in fifth, whilst Shizuka was in first going around the track without any problems. Just how long had she played this game? "Shut up. I could beat you in any game!" It looked like he had hit a nerve with his teasing. Good. Pausing the game Izaya got up flicking through the games. It wasn't a surprise to see that they were all two player games. "How about this one?"

"No! No fair, go that way." With a smirk on his face, Izaya adjusted his aim, his thumb casually flicking over the fire button. "What? I died? Where were you?" Pointing at the screen, he showed her exactly where she had been sniped from. The frustrated sigh was music to his ears. "I always did hate this game." The raven had picked a shooting game, which he knew he would excel at. "Too bad. Its my win. You have to answer a question." Now then what should he ask? "How long have you and Shizu-chan been living alone?"

The girl seemed surprised. "I thought you'd ask something else. Our parents died in our third year of high school. After that they tried to take us away, it was thanks to Kadota's parents and Tom that we got to stay here." The childhood friend again. Who was the other person? "Tom? Another friend?" He was met with a smile. "That's another question." Fair enough, resetting the game, they started again. The end result was clear. "Tom Tanaka, he was a friend of our father's. Shizuo looked up to him when we were kids. He used to live with us until we could manage on our own. He comes to visit every now and then to check up on us. Why can't I ask you any questions?"

Setting up a new game Izaya smirked. "You didn't ask." As soon as the blonde opened her mouth he kept her quiet. "Its too late now. The duration is for the end of each game." If she had realised it any earlier he may have been the one being interrogated, though he would get out with perfectly smooth answers. "Should we go again?" There was still so much more he could ask.

"Damn it. Fine ask away." Now what should he ask first? "Does Shizu-chan have any weaknesses?" Shizuka froze glaring at him. Had that been too direct? "...You too." Her fists were clenched. "My brother isn't a monster he's the same as everyone else. Of course he has weak points." Izaya could hear the grinding of her teeth. "I see. I'll let Kanra know." The rising anger he could sense died down remaining under the surface. "Shizuo won't hurt Kanra. You don't need to worry. Their date will be fine as long as he sticks to my instructions."

Wait. Shizuka had planned everything? "Oh? And how can you be so sure?" The blonde grinned removing a folded piece of paper from her pocket, confidently handing it over. Something niggled at him as he read each line. Kanra was on a date planned by her crush. Did she know that yet? If she didn't then without a doubt she would fall for his Shizu-chan. "See nothing can go wrong." And that was the problem. "I'm surprised you know my sister so well."

His comment was ignored, Shizuka searching through the stack of games. So she had enough of the one sided streak. "What do you want to play next?" Anything as long as he would be the winner. "Is that your phone?" Izaya could hear something ringing. Since his phone had an anime ringtone he knew it wasn't his. "Its not mine." Reaching behind the cushions he pulled out the ringing device. "That belongs to Shizuo." The number flashing up on the screen had no caller ID. "They hung up."

The phone was snatched from his hand. "Don't touch t-" His interest grew as she trailed off, face filling with confusion. "Something wrong?" The blonde continued to stare at the screen. "This is Mikado's number. Why is he calling Shizuo?" Swiping the phone back he slipped it into his pocket. "Shouldn't you ask him? I'll return it to the protozoan." His curiosity was peaked once again. It looked like Shizuka wasn't the only one keeping secrets.

"Why don't you draw something?" The girl sighed dropping back on the sofa. "I said I didn't feel like it. Lets try a fighting game." He wasn't kind enough to point out why she couldn't draw, counting it as Kanra's punishment. It looked like Shizuka hadn't realised why she was so close to his sister. "If you lose you have to answer another question." The blonde smirked. "Same to you."

It looked like the game belonged to the protozoan seeing that Shizuka wasn't very good at it. The buttons crunched against the controller as they were mashed, a frustrated growl leaving his opponent. "You aren't giving up?" His gaze didn't leave the screen, taking his time to execute critical moves. "No. I know what you want to ask if you win." Izaya grinned. "Do you now?"

He lost. Brute strength had won the first round. "My turn. When was the first time you saw me?" Well that he hadn't been expecting. "Don't you know?" Coffee eyes narrowed. "You used it as a threat against me. So when?" He could lie but there was a chance Kanra would spill if asked. Still if she knew it would give him the advantage. "Late at night in the art room." The confusion cleared turning into undisguised panic. "Letting a teacher do that. I had to stop Kanra from hurting him."

Shizuka froze her blood like ice in her veins. They knew. Izaya and Kanra knew what she did with Mikado. "Should we play again?" The bastard was gloating a smirk on his face. There was no choice now, if she sided with Shizuo and kicked him out, her older twin would find out that she had broken her promise. "Fine." She couldn't let him find out. Still slightly shaken her fingers hovered over the buttons.

Rather than snap the controller in half, Shizuka closed her eyes in resignation. She had lost and because of that, Izaya would know what her brother's weaknesses were. "How do you feel about Kanra?" What? Why was the question about her? "She's my friend." The raven grinned. "Are you sure about that? Is that how you really feel?" leaving the controller, she tried to back away, Izaya moving closer. "What kind of question is that?"

"A normal one. Maybe you should ask what you feel here." Her breath hitched as a finger poked her chest. What she felt about Kanra? She was a friend. Wasn't she? "W-why didn't you ask about Shizuo?" Being around Izaya messed with her head, it was as if he was doing it on purpose, making her restless. That smug look was back. "I already know the answer." Shizuka watched anxiously as his fingers slid through the ends of her hair. "Shizu-chan's weakness is you."

Swallowing thickly she pushed the raven away. "Wrong." She wasn't her brother's weakness she could handle herself. "Is it? Are you sure about that? It seems to me that he spends every moment watching over you. Am I wrong?" Shizuka stayed silent unable to deny anything. Izaya's words were like a slow acting poison in her ears. "I have never got-" But she had. There were so many occasions where Shizuo had got hurt instead of her. "Hm? I thought so." Shaking her head, she grit her teeth. "I'm not his main weakness."

Before she could make the mistake of letting something slip or punching Izaya into next week, there was a knock at the door. The tense atmosphere drained, her limbs were able to move again. When the raven was serious there was no way she could handle him. Would Shizuo be able to? Running to the door her hand paused on the handle. If everything went well Shizuo and Kanra should still be happy on their date. Meaning it was either Kadota or Tom, since Mikado rarely did house visits.

It was her brother and Kanra. Part of her felt disappointment, while the other half was happy that they were back. "You're back early." Something was wrong. Shizuo was usually the first one to greet her, instead he was oddly silent staring at the sleeve on his shirt, an unlit cigarette between his lips. What had happened? Unless Kanra had broken his heart.

Turning her attention to her friend, she could see the guilt in those crimson eyes. "So you're back." A slight shudder ran through her as a shadow stood behind her. "Is something wrong? Shizu-chan." The blond said nothing trudging past them. "Did something happen?" Kanra shook her head. "No. Nothing. We spent the entire time talking." So it was something the raven had said. Closing the door, Shizuka turned around to see Izaya already sitting next to her brother. This couldn't be good.

Flopping back on the sofa, Shizuo stared blankly at the results screen. His supposed date with Kanra had been more of a heart to heart of revelations. His nose twitched knowing who had just sit next to him so close they might as well be on his lap. The raven girl was in love with his sister, that he hadn't minded one bit. As long as it didn't affect her strength Shizuka was free to do as she pleased. But according to the feelings that she described, it would mean that he didn't hate Izaya at all.

"How was your date with my sister?" Right now he was too numb to move properly, Izaya was way too close, his scent choking and he couldn't do a damn thing about it. Not even as a hand rested on his thigh, or a more crafty one slid underneath and touched his butt. Kadota wouldn't lie to him, they had been friends since he was a brat. So maybe Kanra was wrong. Or maybe he was deluding himself, because there was someone that he hated, so he already knew what that felt like.

The damn hand squeezed and apart from the cigarette falling from his mouth, he remained in his dazed state. Kanra had wanted to stay and tried everything to set his turbulent emotions at ease. Even so they had stalled enough and it had been time for them to go back. It was laughable and ridiculously impossible that he was in love with the damn flea. "Izaya I think we should go." There she was again trying to help him out.

The palm on his thigh slid up, a small exhale of breath leaving him as it brushed against his crotch. "Hm? I still have a match to play with Shizuka-chan." The bastard wouldn't leave that easy he should've known that. Shizuo shivered as a warm breath caressed his ear. "What did my sister say that shocked you so much?" That hand pressed down a little harder, subtly moving side to side. "Our game can wait until another time. Shizuo are you hungry?"

The blond couldn't say anything, words frozen under the emotions that threatened to drown him. "Just me then." The younger twin was humming as she went into the kitchen, coming back seconds later to stop in front of him, a spoon and pudding cup in her hand. Straight away he noticed his writing on the lid in black permanent marker. His hands twitched as the lid was slowly torn off, the silver spoon dipping into his pudding cup.

"Damn it Shizuka! How many times have I told you not to eat my food!" His sister only smiled popping the full spoon into her mouth. Shoving Izaya away from him, Shizuo stood up and reached for Shizuka only for her to dodge savouring another mouthful. "This is really delicious. Do you want some?" Gritting his teeth, the sofa was instantly in his hands, high in the air. "Sorry Izaya, Kanra. You might want to leave this will get messy."

He didn't bother to see if the twins listened to Shizuka or not, his gaze was solely focused on the near empty pudding cup. The door closed shut, Shizuka smiling in relief running towards him. "You're back to normal. I'm glad." Lowering the sofa, he wrapped his arms around his twin realising what she had done. "Yeah. Thanks." His sister had no doubt known that the damn flea was molesting him and had used the one guaranteed thing that would make him angry to snap him out of it. "I'll buy you another one. What happened on your date?" Shaking his head he let out a sigh. "It won't work out. There's nothing between us at all."

Shizuka grumbled as her hair was ruffled. "I'm going to rest for a bit." There was definitely something wrong with Shizuo. She watched as he trudged up the stairs hearing the slamming of a door. Setting the sofa straight, she turned off the game, returning it to its case. With a gasp Shizuka realized that Izaya still had Shizuo's phone. How was she going to explain that one? Remote in hand she turned off the tv, Izaya's words still circling her mind.

"Kanra you can let go." His sister was gripping his arm pulling him away from the blond's house. "Do you want them to hate us?" Yanking his arm free, Izaya kept in step with Kanra's fast paced ones. "It was a bit of harmless touching. Shizu-chan shouldn't have let his guard down." It was disappointing that it had ended all too quickly. His palm and fingers burned where he had touched his treasure. "Shizuka was watching."

"Like that matters. Shizuka-chan is your problem, not mine." So he was feeling a little bitter. Kanra had gone on a date with his Shizu-chan and to top it off the blond had returned a shell. In those few hours, something had happened. "I know that." In his pocket something vibrated. Ah that was right he still had the phone. Taking it out of his pocket the same number flashed up again. Why would Shizuka's ex boyfriend be calling the protozoan?

Reaching their apartment Izaya grabbed Kanra's arm before she could escape. "Aren't you going to tell me how your little date went?" His sister stayed silent, not looking at him. His fingers twitched wanting to shake the answers out of her. "He warned me away because of my wrist." Was that all? "Why were you so long then? A threat takes less than a minute. Did you touch him?" Shizu-chan was his and only his. "Izaya, you should cool your jealousy. When you're ready to listen, I'll tell you. It was a warning for both of us."

He let her go, hearing the bedroom door slam shut, his knife embedded in the wall. A warning? It was a bit late for that. Dropping down in his favourite chair, the blond's phone was in his hand. Flicking through the contacts there was nothing special, just the people who he already knew about. Selecting the photos, he scrolled through them. There were photos of Shizuka and Kadota, one with the protozoan included. Then there were photos of the sky and surprisingly ones of kittens. It looked like the blond was an animal lover.

Sending the one of the blond to his own phone, Izaya went into the messages, crimson eyes narrowing at the same repeated number. Opening one message after another, he began to put the picture together already knowing what the warning was about. If only Shizuka knew that he couldn't tell her brother about their first meeting because he already knew.

That night Shizuka struggled to sleep, tossing and turning. Curling into a ball her hands covered her ears as if that might block out Izaya's words. In her clenched hand was the strip of pills she had found in Shizuo's drawer. No she wasn't his weakness, but she was the cause of everything. Over and over again she had caused him pain in one way or another. She had helped create his weakness, she had been the one that had driven him to it.

Letting the pills drop to the floor, Shizuka turned back over heart thumping in her chest. What would have happened if Shizuo and Kanra's date had gone well? When she found it it had gone badly she had been happy. It meant that she still had a chance... A chance at what? Kanra was a friend, her best friend excluding Mikado. Yet today she had been unable to draw, the usual inspiration and need gone. Why was that? Scrunching her eyes up the blonde tried to block out everything.

Failing miserable Shizuka climbed out of bed, opening her door. The soft melody that had become so familiar reached her ears. So she wasn't the only one troubled. Knocking on the door, she waited for an answer. "Shizuka?" Opening the door, the tune became louder, the music box sitting on the bedside table. "What's wrong?" Shrugging her shoulders she stepped further into the room. "I couldn't sleep."

How could two twins be so different? Kanra calmed her and made her happy while Izaya made her feel less than human. "Me either." The covers were lifted for her to climb in. How long had it been since they had last done this? Shizuo's arm wrapped around her, as she rested her head on his chest. "What happened with Kanra?"

There was something ugly stirring in her heart at the thought of her friend with anyone else. "I asked her about her wrist. In the end she made me realise something I didn't want to." Shizuo sounded like he was in pain. "What was it?" If Kanra had hurt her brother would she be able to do anything? "I asked Kadota about some feelings I had and he told me it was hatred. Kanra made me realise it wasn't. I might actually be in love with the bastard."

Was he talking about Izaya? There was no one else she knew that got on her brother's nerves. "You could ask me. I've been in love before." Gentle fingers ruffled her hair. "I know, but if its true, does that mean I'm gay?" She didn't have the answer to that. Izaya had managed to get under her skin and it looked like the raven had pierced even deeper with Shizuo. "You don't have to admit your feelings if you don't want to."

"I won't run. Especially not from that flea." Shizuka sighed, already knowing what the outcome was going to be. "Shizuo. Are you still taking that medication?" She didn't look up fearing the answer. "No. Didn't you see me lift the sofa? I stopped when you told me to." That was true. There was nothing to worry about. "Izaya said something. He asked me how I felt about Kanra. I'm sorry Shizuo when your date ended badly I felt really happy. I'm sorry." The arm around her tightened. "Its fine. I never felt anything for her. You can do whatever you want." Feeling her worries fade away, Shizuka closed her eyes lulled to sleep by her brother's heart and the soft melody from the music box.

Kanra swallowed nervously slipping on her thin gloves, the cast on her bed. Tonight was the night. After a hectic day there was still much to do. "The layout is simple enough. This will be a piece of cake." She thought Izaya would still be filled with jealousy, instead he was back to his usual self, a knowing look in his eye. Had he already worked it out? Slipping her boots on, she began tying the laces and double knotting. Her hair was tied back into a tight ponytail, curled underneath a black cap. Everything was new as usual and nothing could be traced.

This would be one of their biggest jobs. Staring up at the large building in front of them, nervousness took over. This was nothing like the galleries what she was used to. This was one of the richest men that they were stealing from. A hand rested on her shoulder. "Lets go." As usual Izaya showed no feeling except for anticipation. The only light seen was from the laptop. "Memorize this." Gazing at the screen she nodded, committing the layout to memory.

"Security is looped, the movement sensors are disabled." Taking a deep breath she headed into the daunting company building, Izaya a little while behind her. Adjusting the headset and checking it worked, Kanra made her way quickly up the floors. She didn't allow herself to breath until she made it to the very top, following the dark corridor to the end. Its the door at the end. The only one with an engraved name plate.

Running her gloved knuckles across the middle of the door, she could feel the bumps. Crouching down, her fingers brushed against the lock. Taking out the lock picking kit she set to work. "This is more your thing." There was laughter over the headset. I'll be there soon. You should be able to manage. Giving him a rude response, Kanra pushed open the door.

The target's office was stupidly huge. A large desk by the wall, a long window that stretched along the side. Moving the small torch further along, she spotted the large door she was looking for. "Found it. I'm going to get started." There was no reply from the other end. "Can you hear me?" Still no response. What was Izaya doing? Closing the door behind her the raven headed for the safe.

"Kanra? Can you hear me? Kanra!" Checking the real security footage, he couldn't see anything in the corridors, neither could he see into the office where his sister was. Tapping on the headset, he tried again, failing to get a response. Something was wrong. Staring at the screen more closely there was something moving in the dark corridor. There was someone else in the building.

Shoving the open laptop into his slim backpack, Izaya was already running up the first flight, pulling the cap further over his eyes. There was still no response from the headset. There was no doubt that the movement on the top floor was a security guard. So why was there only one security guard watching over the entire building?

Izaya grimaced as loud static cackled in his ear. Are you there? I've got the diamonds. His heart calmed as relief washed through him. "Where are you? There's someone on the top floor." More static. A jamming device? His heart quickened as he finally reached the top floor. "Stay where you are!" That wasn't his sister's voice. It wasn't directed at him either. His blood ran cold as the sound deafened him.

He could hear the gun shot as well as his sister's scream. The guard was armed. Rushing forward, his knife was already in his hand. The little light from Kanra's torch showed the gun pointed at her. Slicing the man's fingers, he watched as the gun fell to the floor, kicking the damn thing away. The guard cried out in pain, but he didn't have any sympathy for him. Holding the knife against the soft skin of his throat, he resisted the urge to press deeper.

"Get out of here. I'll catch you up." Kanra did as she was told, head bowed low. "I don't know what you want, but my boss is already on his way back." Great. Grabbing the guard's head, he slammed it against the name plate, a smile on his face as the man hit the floor out cold. "That was for my sister." This one was a little more complicated. Izaya. Hurry up.

With a sigh he ran to keep up, hearing the unmistakable fear in Kanra's voice. As they reached the third floor, bright lights shone though the window. "Kanra stop. They're already here." As he hit the second floor catching up with her, he caught sight of the the car doors opening. "What now?" Flicking the small torch around, he caught sight of a fire extinguisher. "We jump."

Izaya waited until the men got to the first floor, smashing the fire extinguisher into the window. The glass shattered, making the hole as big as possible, he took Kanra's hand and jumped hearing loud shouts behind them. Curling his body, the raven landed crouched like a cat, Kanra the same, both of them in one piece.

As he ran, his fingers worked away. "Security is back on." Next to him his sister said nothing, clutching at the bag. Neither one of them stopped running, both of them checking behind them to see if they were being followed, as they took twists and turns finally returning to the apartment when they were sure they were safe.

As he closed the door, Kanra slumped to the floor shaking uncontrollably. Dropping his bag down, Izaya dumped the cap on the floor, heading for the kitchen. He didn't have the words to comfort his younger twin. If he hadn't been there right now she would be dead. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, wishing he had hurt the guard more.

Setting the two mugs on the table, Kanra was still by the door, clutching the stolen diamonds. "Kanra." Gently guiding her to the sofa, Izaya took the bag away tossing them on the table. Right now they weren't important. Handing her the mug, he waited until her hands were steady enough before letting go. Returning with a blanket he draped it over Kanra, sitting next to her. "...He...shot at me."

"He missed and we escaped." The mug fell to the floor, making a mess everywhere. It was very rare occasions that his twin cried and nearly facing death was one of them. Pulling her closer, his arms wrapped around the trembling body, where she clung to him, the blanket covering the two of them. His shoulder became damp, where Kanra cried herself to sleep. Even then he remained awake, watching over her and the the apartment door, knife in hand in case somehow they had been followed. It wasn't until the sun rose that he allowed himself to rest knowing they were safe.