Much shorter chapter this time. Sorry for the wait. I've just been feeling lethargic these days and didn't feel like doing anything except watching anime (D. Gray Man). I had to go through your reviews to get my lazy self to write. I'm not even sure what the plot to this is, or if there even is one. Well, I managed a preview for the next chapter anyway. But I'm just kind of winging it as I go. Enjoy :) Oh I adapted a line from the Shizuo Izaya Kenka CD for this chapter, guess what it is? It's said by Izaya. To Shizuo of course.

Edit: I edited this chapter and it's much longer. So for those who have only watched the anime:

Vorona: A Russian Assassin who wants to kill Shizuo as she is obsessed about strength - especially his strength since Shizuo is very strong. She is an information collector and has much knowledge. She wants to learn everything about him so she can kill him, although someone (I think Akabayashi) mentioned Vorona is in way over her head if she wants to kill Shizuo; Shizuo knocked Igor out, another assassin who is Vorona's superior, who reprimanded her and her partner Slon for causing so much trouble. Shizuo is fond of her because she is his first kouhai, he does not know she is the assassin he battled as she was masked. The lines Vorona remembers about Shizuo telling her about Izaya are from the novel, I claim no credit for them.

Chapter 8

Cotton Candy with Sweet Toothed Assassins, Clueless Bodyguards and Jealous Information Brokers

A pretty blonde haired woman stopped abruptly in her tracks, her blue eyes shifting their gaze.

"Vorona?"

"Tanaka-sempai," Vorona said. She blinked. "I caught sight of Shizuo-sempai."

"Eh?" Tom said in surprise, roaming his gaze, "Didn't he say he was busy? And is that Izaya with him?" He said disbelievingly.

"Orihara Izaya?" Vorona said, her gaze firmly fixed on Shizuo, who was walking with a shorter black haired man.

...

"There exists a case about which I have been concerned since previously. Is the living being called Orihara Izaya a sworn enemy or something resembling the sort for Shizuo-sempai?"

"No, Orihara Izaya is kind of like a flea. He'll get close to you before you know it, and he'll have sucked your blood when you realize that he's here. He's just a noxious insect like that, so make sure to never ever let him get close to you."

...

It was then that she remembered the name "Orihara Izaya" to be associated with the term, "the flea" - the insect she would kill for her sempai's sake.

"He is Shizuo-sempai's enemy, is he not?"

"Yeah," Tom blinked, still unable to believe his eyes. "So why is Shizuo with Izaya and not killing him? Of course, it's good that he's not being violent, but- are they on a date?!" He spluttered as he watched Izaya skip along, tossing an occasional smile at Shizuo who had not killed him yet and even seemed to be responding without violence to the information broker. Tom inhaled to calm his thoughts. Nah. That's impossible…right?

"Date; meaning the process by which one spends time with another in an intention to get to know each other romantically?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"..."

...

"Carrying out murder, I have the confidence to accomplish leaving zero evidence. To eliminate the noxious insect called Izaya, there exist multiple ways."

"Oi, oi, you don't say that kind of stuff even if it's just kidding. Knowing that's how you feel is more than enough for me. Thank you."

...

There was confusion in Vorona's mind.

"...Tanaka-sempai, I request clarification of information."

"Eh?" Tom said.

"I was under the assumption of Shizuo-sempai's desire to murder "Orihara Izaya." Vorona said. "However, Tanaka-sempai stated Shizuo-sempai is on a date with "Orihara Izaya". This highly contradicts Shizuo-sempai's negative emotions towards the living being called "Orihara Izaya."

"Uh," Tom said, "Well, Shizuo does hate Izaya so I'm kind of confused on why they seem to be on a date..." he scratched his head.

...

"Then, should it be assumed that Shizuo-sempai is romantically associated with Orihara Izaya?" Vorona frowned slightly. "Negative – Shizuo-sempai has expressed the desire to kill the aforementioned subject. Is he spending time with him against his will?"

- Perhaps Shizuo-sempai is with "Orihara Izaya" as "the flea" wants to suck Shizuo-sempai's blood, as Shizuo-sempai said.

With this thought, Vorona looked up, her mind becoming clear of confusion.

"If so, I shall hereby exterminate the target."

"Ah, Vorona!" Tom interjected anxiously. "No extermination! This is an amusement park!" He sighed. "People are supposed to enjoy themselves here."

"...Enjoy?"

"Yeah, you know, have fun? People come here to feel good and enjoy themselves!"

Vorona blinked. "Then, is Shizuo-sempai enjoying himself with "Orihara Izaya"?" She blinked again. "That would mean Shizuo-sempai would be associating positive emotions with "Orihara Izaya", whom he has deemed as "the flea". Such a phenomenon is incomprehensible."

"Uh…" Tom said. He grimaced slightly. "Yeah, seems pretty impossible…but no extermination, okay?" He held out his hands, "Who knows, maybe they've made a truce!"

"I disagree- the situation does not coincide with my information," Vorona said emotionlessly, though her blue eyes were narrowed, "Shizuo-sempai replied that he was busy today, did he not?"

"Uh, ah well- look! A cotton candy store!" Tom pointed, "Didn't you want to try that?"

Vorona blinked, the lightest dust of pink across her cheeks. The blonde woman was so engrossed by the distraction that she was not aware of it.

...

"It is sweet, yes?"

"Eh? Cotton candy? Yeah, it is!" Tom chuckled, feeling inwardly relieved that his kouhai was no longer talking about extermination. "Too sweet, really."

"Oh. May I try it?"

"Of course!" Tom laughed, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder. He smiled, "As your sempai, I'll buy it for you."

Vorona nodded. "Thank you, Tanaka-sempai."

…

"Shizu-chan, Shizu-chan!"

"What is it now?!"

"Ah!" Tom blinked. He smiled, pointing forwards, "Look, Shizuo is there! Let's go say hi to him, yeah?"

Vorona blinked. "Affirmative."

Izaya smiled widely like a little kid as he pointed at the store, "Cotton candy! Try it!"

Shizuo growled as Izaya pulled him towards the cotton candy store, "I'm not trying anything!" He muttered. "Eating so much, you're gonna become fat, flea!"

Izaya ignored him in favor of making his purchase, the flea who taunted people like him seemed to have selective hearing – it figured. He received the cotton candy and turned to the annoyed brunet with a grin, "Here!" Shizuo blinked as the stick of pink fluff was shoved in his face, "Try it!"

…

Shizuo eyed the pink fluff on a stick warily. Izaya rolled his eyes, "Shizu-chan, it's not poisonous," he said, moving the stick closer to the apprehensive bodyguard, an impatient look on his face, "Take it!"

Shizuo hesitated, then took the stick. He stared at the pink fluff. "It looks sweet."

"It is sweet!" Izaya replied happily as he ate his cotton candy, "Mmm, delicious! It's not as sweet as I expected. Ah, though it's not as good as ootoro of course!"

Shizuo stared as Izaya popped a ball of pink fluff into his mouth. He reached forward and was about to take a piece when he heard a voice.

"Hey! Shizuo!"

Shizuo blinked in surprise. He paused, turning his gaze. "Tom-san." He blinked again as he saw the blonde beside him. "Vorona."

Vorona nodded towards him, "Shizuo-sempai." She said. "We apologize for disturbing your…" she caught sight of Shizuo's and Izaya's linked arms and blinked.

From observation, the blonde woman had associated linked arms to be a sign of closeness. This thought was processed in Vorona's mind quickly and she swiftly continued.

"Date. But we desired to communicate with you."

Shizuo stared. He sighed, "Look, this isn't a date," he said in mild annoyance, "He forced me to spend time with him." He gritted his teeth, turning to Izaya, "Right, Izayaaa-kun? I'm just waiting for this shitty date to be over so I can kill you!"

"Ah, Shizu-chan is tsun tsun again! Didn't you agree it was a date just now?" Izaya spoke through a mouthful of cotton candy. He pouted, holding his hand to his heart, "Why can't you receive my feelings more graciously, Shizu-chan?"

He munched on his cotton candy then turned and smiled, "Hey, Tom-san." The informant moved his gaze. "…Vorona Douglanikov."

"Orihara Izaya." Vorona said.

The living being in front of her was the flea. She noted he was a man with effeminate features. Even though Orihara Izaya did not look like a flea, Vorona thought that he behaved like one. He was lackadaisical, but there was a certain glint in his eyes Vorona could associate with the bad things he had put Shizuo-sempai through. Thus, she registered Orihara Izaya as the flea as an apt comparison in her mind.

The urge to exterminate the flea ran through her, filling her veins with excitement. Fortunately, it was at that moment that Tom spoke.

"Izaya," Tom greeted, a hesitant smile on his features, "Hey. This is unexpected, huh? What are you doing with Shizuo?" He blinked. "And why does he have brown hair and blue eyes?"

"Ah, you didn't know? Shizu-chan's original hair color is brown! He dyes his hair. I was surprised when I found out too," Izaya drawled, "Remember that day in high school, Shizu-chan?"

"No." Shizuo deadpanned.

Izaya just continued, "Oh and he's wearing contacts." He smirked, "I'm surprised you recognized him."

Shizuo growled.

"Ah I know that," Tom smiled, "I was the one who suggested to him to dye his hair after all." He chuckled, and Izaya blinked. "I just haven't seen him with brown hair for a long time."

…

At the sound of normal conversation between her sempai and the flea, Vorona was brought back from her killing intentions-

"Yeah, seems pretty impossible…but no extermination, okay?"

"Knowing that's how you feel is more than enough for me. Thank you."

Vorona mused. Both of her sempai were against her exterminating Orihara Izaya. Even Shizuo-sempai, who wanted to erase the flea's existence, was not doing so.

Japan was a country with very respectful people. In order to not go against both of her sempai's wishes, Vorona reluctantly curbed her urge to exterminate the noxious insect Orihara Izaya, not wanting to seem disrespectful to her sempai.

That was the reason why Vorona did not exterminate Orihara Izaya at that moment.

"Shizuo-sempai looks different." Vorona agreed, involving herself in normal conversation. She looked at the pink fluff on a stick in Shizuo's hand, "Shizuo-sempai…is that," she paused, "Cotton candy?"

"Ah?" Shizuo blinked, the anger in his mind dissipating. He looked down. "Yeah, I guess."

"May I have a sample?"

"Ah…yeah," Shizuo said. He unhooked his arm from Izaya's and moved forward, holding out the cotton candy to Vorona. "Here."

The blonde assassin blinked. She extended her hand and tore off a small portion of pink fluff, bringing it to her mouth. She chewed, then gave a tiny smile. "It is sweet."

"Really?" Shizuo smiled. He laughed. "Have more then!" He plucked another piece of pink fluff and handed it to her. "Take it."

Vorona took it, her expression relaxed. "Thank you, Shizuo-sempai."

"No problem." Shizuo replied easily. He noticed a bit of pink fluff on her cheek and leaned down, brushing it away with his thumb, flicking it off his finger. "You got a bit on your face."

Vorona blinked. "Ah." She said, and popped the cotton candy into her mouth. Her lips curved slightly.

Shizuo chuckled and patted his kouhai's head, ruffling her blonde hair slightly. "You can buy it. It's pretty cheap."

"I will."

With the taste, Vorona had associated "cotton candy" to be something sweet - something positive to both herself and Shizuo.

"Hey Shizu-chan," Izaya drawled, though his voice wasn't as teasing as before, "Just who is your girlfriend, huh?"

"Huh?" Shizuo turned around to face Izaya with a frown, feeling annoyance beginning to build in him, "Definitely not you, flea!"

To his surprise, Izaya frowned, "Well then," he said casually, peering up at Shizuo with crimson eyes. He smirked. "I'm your date, aren't I?"

"Hell no!"

"Ehhhh? But Shizu-chan was the one who agreed-"

"The hell is wrong with you, I already told you-"

As she watched the interaction between the flea and Shizuo-sempai, something clicked in Vorona's mind.

"I apologize for the interruption," Vorona said. She blinked as Shizuo turned to her and Izaya eyed her disdainfully. "But I believe Orihara Izaya is experiencing the emotion of jealousy," she said emotionlessly.

"Huh?" Shizuo looked confused. "Vorona, why would the shitty flea be jealous? You're misunderstanding the situation," he scowled slightly, "He's just pissing me off as usual."

"I am not." Vorona stated, looking up at Shizuo. "Shizuo-sempai, he is your date, is he not? I believe he feels neglected and desires your attention." She blinked, as if just realized what she had just said, "…This is an unexpected phenomenon."

To the Russian woman's knowledge, fleas were clingy insects. Yet they also hopped around at a fast speed. "Orihara Izaya" had clung to Shizuo-sempai's arm. Vorona thought about Shizuo's previous complaints about Orihara Izaya and how he had told her to not let him get close.

Perhaps Shizuo-sempai was experiencing the effects of having let the flea get close. Because fleas were clingy insects, Orihara Izaya might have clutched onto existing in Shizuo-sempai's life.

The reason why, Vorona did not know. Vorona was a woman who knew a lot of information. Thus, she watched Orihara Izaya to find out the answer.

"Indeed." Tom said awkwardly as Vorona was immersed in thought.

Shizuo blinked. He looked to Izaya, and would have laughed at the look on his face if he wasn't so surprised. The flea actually looked offended, and that damn smug expression was completely wiped off his face. Shizuo stared at him, and blinked as he saw the slightest pink tint on his cheeks. "Hey Izaya-"

Izaya turned around. "Tom-san, Vorona-chan," he said smoothly, "Shizu-chan and I will be going now."

The raven haired informant turned his head and smiled, raising a hand. "It was nice meeting you."

"Let's go, Shizu-chan."

Shizuo blinked as Izaya walked away. "Hey." He said. "Hey, flea!"

…

Not only had Izaya not grabbed his arm (not that he wanted him to), he wasn't even looking back. Shizuo stared, then sighed. He turned his head, "Sorry Tom-san, Vorona," he apologized, scowling, "I have to go catch that damn flea before I lose him in the crowd."

"Ah, it's okay!" Tom said with a smile, gesturing for him to go. "We really took up quite a bit of your time, huh?" He chuckled. "Sorry about that."

"Go on, catch your date!" Tom smiled, "Before he gets too mad at you."

"He's not-"

"Even if Shizuo-sempai believes it not to be so, Orihara Izaya seems to believe the opposite." Vorona stated. She nodded. "Whether the aforementioned date is consensual, Shizuo-sempai is a gentleman." She looked at the brunet. "Am I wrong?"

"Tch! But Izaya's not even a girl-"

"Anyway, you should go and apologize!" Tom said quickly as Shizuo's eyebrow twitched. He smiled. "Before he disappears. I mean, it wouldn't be a good end to a date, would it?" He held up his hands, "Consensual or not. It's the principle of it, you know?"

Shizuo stared, then sighed. If his friends were adamant on him apologizing to Izaya, then he might as damn well do it. "Fine." He grumbled. "I'll go catch that shitty flea." He turned with a sigh. "See you Tom-san, Vorona."

"Don't kill him!" Tom shouted as Shizuo turned and strode away.

Vorona moved her sharp blue eyes, and pointed, "The target is heading in the North West direction, Shizuo-sempai."

"Yeah!" Shizuo called back, sniffing the air. "I can smell him!" He paused, "Oh yeah, Tom-san!"

"Yeah?"

Shizuo turned and smiled, giving a quick wink to his two friends, "Should I congratulate you?" He said in amusement. "You could have told me."

"Eh?"

But Shizuo was already looking away, "I'll talk to you later!" He yelled, "Have to find that damn flea."

"IZAAAAYA-KUN – WHERE ARE YOUUUUUUU?!"

"Uh," Tom said, feeling embarrassed as Shizuo stomped off, parting startled crowds as he sniffed the air, "Did he think we…?"

Vorona blinked. "Why did Shizuo-sempai congratulate you, Tanaka-sempai?"

"Eh, it's nothing!" Tom said quickly. He sighed, "Didn't get to ask him why he didn't join us. "

…

Vorona thought back to her observation about Orihara Izaya. Indeed, because he was on a date with Shizuo-sempai, he could cling further to him and his existence in Shizuo-sempai's life.

As she thought about this, why Orihara Izaya was a flea made sense to her. He was clinging onto being in Shizuo-sempai's life despite what Shizuo-sempai wanted. And when Shizuo-sempai got angry, he would hop away like a flea, and then come back to him to cling onto him again.

- Orihara Izaya is very much like a flea.

Vorona thought to herself in Russian. She then further contemplated this issue. Orihara Izaya had gone away when he realized Shizuo-sempai did not want his presence. Seeing Shizuo-sempai conflicted, she had told him to go after him.

Had she too fallen into the flea's trap?

But then she remembered the expression on Orihara Izaya's face which was very human and not insect-like. It was raw and full of emotion.

Jealousy.

That was the deciding factor for Vorona. Orihara Izaya had been jealous – she could not have fallen into the flea's trap as it was not his plan.

At this realization, Vorona felt relieved that she had not unintentionally tricked Shizuo-sempai. She linked her thoughts in her mind.

- Instead of hopping away and giving an expression very flea-like, Orihara Izaya was showing the human expression of jealousy.

- Orihara Izaya did not attack Shizuo-sempai. It is unlikely, but perhaps the flea really desires a date with Shizuo-sempai.

- …Orihara Izaya desires Shizuo-sempai's attention.

It was this last thought that led the Russian woman to say her next words.

"I rescind my previous statement." Vorona stated suddenly. "The current situation coincides with my information." She nodded. "Shizuo-sempai is indeed busy."

The catalyst was the word Orihara Izaya had used - "girlfriend". Vorona knew the word to be one associated with romance and relationships - to label the female in the non marital relationship. Although the word was unsuitable for Orihara Izaya as he was not female, he had clearly shown an emotion girlfriends would show when their "boyfriend's" (by default, she associated this term with Shizuo-sempai) attention was turned away from them.

Because of how Orihara Izaya had implied he was Shizuo-sempai's "girlfriend" by his question and then reminded him he was his date, Vorona could feel all the pieces of her information sliding into place.

- Orihara Izaya was jealous because he desires Shizuo-sempai's attention.

Vorona solidified this thought in her mind, as it was the answer to her question. She mentally noted to notify Shizuo-sempai of this information in the future. To her, Shizuo-sempai was angry because he was confused on why "the flea" messed with him. Should he know the reason, perhaps he would feel less angry. Less confusion would cause Shizuo-sempai's mind to become more clear, allowing him to control his anger.

Vorona felt satisfied at her thoughts. It had been correct of her to observe Orihara Izaya, for he was a big part of Shizuo-sempai's life as he was greatly affected by the flea, even though with his strength he could kill him easily. Orihara Izaya was a big part of Heiwajima Shizuo's life, and he was part of what she wanted to learn about him. By observing Orihara Izaya, she had also come to a suitable interpretation of Heiwajima Shizuo - the man with thrilling strength whom she had sworn to kill.

After all, that was what Vorona currently lived for. To kill the man Heiwajima Shizuo. To test her strength against the seemingly unbeatable man.

For if she could kill Heiwajima Shizuo, then it would mean that she was stronger than him.

- To be stronger than the strongest man in Ikebukuro...that is a truly thrilling thought.

Vorona resisted the urge to shiver in excitement.

"Yeah, but I didn't get the chance to invite him to watch the fireworks with us. I thought it was a lucky coincidence he came to the same place." Tom sighed, unaware of Vorona's murderous thoughts about his kouhai. "Oh well, I hope he enjoys his date anyway." He shrugged, "It's kind of surprising, but at least they're not chasing each other around Ikebukuro. Maybe the vending machines are finally safe!" He chuckled, smiling. So Izaya is the one who sent that message, huh? How surprising.

Registering that her sempai wanted her to be involved in normal conversation and not wanting to show disrespect, Vorona responded in curiosity.

"I have never seen 'fireworks' before."

"You haven't? Oh yeah, you're from Russia, they probably don't have fireworks there."

"Is it a common custom in Japan?"

"Yeah, quite, you can see fireworks in festivals," Tom said with a smile. "They're pretty and come in all sort of colors." He laughed. "Sometimes they come in various shapes too."

"I see." Vorona said softly. Her lips quirked. "I would like to view these 'fireworks'."

"Yeah trust me, you'll like them," Tom said, and Vorona smiled slightly. He smiled back at her and held out the stick of cotton candy in his hand.

"Here. Your very own cotton candy. I got it while you were stealing Shizuo's," Tom teased slightly. "You wanted this, didn't you?"

Vorona blinked, before she smiled and received the stick of pink fluff. She had thought he had bought it for himself.

"...Thank you very much, Tanaka-sempai." She looked at him. "Do you not want some?"

"Nah, I'm good."

They walked along in a peaceful silence as Vorona ate her cotton candy in contentment and Tom wondered how Shizuo was doing. He hoped he hadn't killed Izaya, but they were in an amusement park so Shizuo would restrain himself. Probably. There were children around after all.

"Hey Vorona?"

"Yes?"

"Never thought Orihara Izaya could look like that," Tom said casually, with a wryly amused smile. "Shizuo is surprisingly…clueless huh?" He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "They're a strange pair. But I guess it's good they've come to a truce of sorts, Shizuo didn't look so angry as he usually does whenever he sees Izaya. That's good, huh?"

Vorona blinked as her sempai talked. She took another bite of her cotton candy, finding the sweet taste immensely appealing as she thought about her sempai's words.

- Shizuo-sempai was not in a rage, perhaps Orihara Izaya had given him some "peace"

- Shizuo-sempai seems…willing to give the flea his attention. He was able to tolerate Orihara Izaya's presence.

As she thought about the reason her sempai had not tried to kill the flea, Vorona nodded in satisfaction, as a small smile formed on her lips.

"Affirmative."

Next chapter: Meeting Dotachin and 'Love Triangles'

"Oi Izaya. Go back to Shizuo. I don't want to get killed."

"…No. I don't care about Shizu-chan anymore."

"Resorting to violence, Shizu-chan? As expected of a protozoan."

"You…YOU WERE THE ONE WHO SAID YOU WERE MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"Well, I changed my mind! I'm Dotachin's girlfriend now!"

"Girlfriend? Don't I get a say in this?"

"Kyaaa! Oh my god! It's a love triangle! A threesome! Three guys, so it's a perfect OT3! Shizu-Shizu loves Izayan but Izayan loves Dotachin! And Dotachin…loves Shizu-Shizu! It'd mind-blowing! A three-man Ouroboros!"

"OH my god! I knew it! I knew it knew it knew it! Dotachin! Don't steal Izayan from Shizu-Shizu! They're meant to be together!"

"IZAYA! If you want to cling, cling here! Kadota doesn't want you anyway!"

"But Shizu-chan doesn't want me either. I'm sure Dotachin wants me more!"

"Who…Who said I didn't want you?"

"Hey Izaya, just go after him. You want to be with Shizuo, don't you?"