The situation was not that of one woman taking down several men, like it had been for the previous girlfriend rumors.
The moves the woman executed in order to get to her goal were by no means fueled by skill like it had been for the other –
But driven by instinct and motivation.
Zephyrus did not possess the knife skills the person who had given her the flick blade, had –
Yet neither did she possess hesitation nor mercy, as she let the adrenaline take over her and slashed like she was aiming to hurt.
Her small stature gave her an advantage as she dove in and dove out, shifting her gaze rapidly and taking in all the blind spots.
Her anger didn't show on her emotionless face as she spilled blood from her enemies whenever she had the chance, causing them to cry out in pain.
There were no thoughts in her head, no feelings in her heart.
Yet the woman wasn't invulnerable – for pain showed on her face and in her voice when she had failed to completely dodge the wooden stick that slammed down on her shoulder –
Before she sliced her flick blade across the guy's chest in angry retaliation and took the moment to run away.
Her left hand clutched her shoulder before it slipped away in order to be able to defend herself against any further attacks.
The adrenaline was keeping the pain at bay.
Somewhere distant in her mind, she was dimly aware that she wasn't going to last long with the injuries on her body.
Though she did not know, it was fortunate when a voice called out –
"That's enough, ojou-chan."
Zephyrus stopped.
She was facing the leader.
He looked to have recovered from the stab wound she had given him and was brandishing a metal pipe over his shoulder.
If it hit her, she was sure to get a broken bone or two.
But Zephyrus was not going to give up her freedom without a fight.
"Get out of my way."
Zephyrus said coldly, and the man smirked.
"As expected of Orihara Izaya's woman. But it ends here. Stay still if you don't want to get hurt further."
The metal pipe pointed threateningly at her.
Then it fell from his hand.
Zephyrus's expression didn't change as the leader held out his knife and spoke.
"Let's make this more fun."
"You've managed to deflect my men, I'm impressed ojou-chan. So here's a deal. If you can beat me, I'll let you go. If not you'll join my gang and –"
"Become your woman?"
"You're a sharp one."
"You do know that was an act right? I'm not 'Orihara Izaya as a woman', I acted that way to piss you off."
"Ah, I know. But I like feisty women. Get rid of those glasses and you'd be just my type!"
The man laughed to himself as he held the blade of the much bigger knife out towards Zephyrus.
"Oi you guys, stand back and watch! Only I can lay a hand on her!"
"But Boss!"
"Get in my way and I'll kill you!"
Zephyrus would have charged in for a surprise attack had the man removed his gaze from her.
"What's your name, ojou-chan?"
"Zephyrus. Yours?"
"So you really are some foreigner. The name's Shuichiro, Zeph."
"You can't call me Zeph. Only Shizuo can call me that."
"Zeph." Shuichiro sneered and Zephyrus frowned. "Zeph-chan."
"You can't call me Zeph-chan either, that's the name Izaya uses for me."
"Oh don't worry, after this you'll never see Orihara Izaya again."
"You know I'm going to lose aren't you? Thanks to your guys, my physical state isn't exactly the best."
"Eh? Are you giving up, Zeph-chan?"
"You talk too much Shu-chan, let's hurry up and fight so I can go home."
"To Orihara? Sorry Zeph-chan, but you're going home with ME!"
Zephyrus blocked the blade of the knife with her flickblade, then leapt back and ducked from a swing –
Charging in and aiming to injure her attacker's shoulder, but he was more experienced in combat than she was and there was a burst of pain.
Blood trailed down her cheek as she stumbled back, the red liquid dripping onto the floor of the warehouse.
"Give it up, ojou-chan….YOU CAN'T WIN!"
The man grinned like he had wanted to inflict damage on her face as he went on the offense.
Zephyrus knew he was right.
He was toying with her, clearly going easy on her for not only was he much more experienced in combat than she was, she was handicapped by her various injuries his gang members had inflicted.
Dodging those attacks in her diminishing adrenaline rush was merely delaying the inevitable.
The most damage she had managed to inflict was a bleeding wound on his arm and tears in his shirt here and there.
In contrast, Zephyrus was getting tired. There were cuts littered all over her body, the pain was returning to her shoulder, there was probably a bruise or two on her legs and her favorite jacket was even torn in places.
Fuck..
I was so close.
The exit was just fucking right there.
….How dare he get in my way.
Yet there was a clear divide in strength, and she was stopped by the blade pointing towards her chest before she could make another futile slash.
"Looks like you've been cornered."
The tip of the knife touched her chest.
"It's my win, ojou-chan."
"….."
Zephyrus gritted her teeth, looked to the side and let out a scoff.
"…Fine. You won fair and square."
Zephyrus said, hung her head, and dropped her flick blade on the ground in a gesture of reluctant surrender.
The leader of the gang smiled triumphantly as he spoke.
"With this, you're now my wo – GAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The man suddenly screamed out and fell to the ground.
Zephyrus removed the taser buzzing with electricity.
The gang leader trembled on the ground, eyes bulging until the veins were visible, and hard pressed to even move in the literal shock.
"Did you think I only had one weapon?"
T-That's unfa-ir….."
"Life's unfair."
Zephyrus smiled as she threw his own words back at him.
"Oops, I said you won fair and square didn't I? Sorry, but that was just our knife battle. Obviously though, I wouldn't give up my weapon if I only had one. You really are too naïve, Shu-chan."
She pronounced mockingly, picked up the blade, kicked away the other one, then grabbed his hair and pulled his head forcefully back.
"BOSS!"
"YOU CHEATING BITCH!"
The men screamed out in anger and moved forward as their hostage now held their leader hostage –
"Don't move."
Only to freeze when there was a knife held against their leader's neck.
"Or I'll slit his neck."
"Y-You….!"
One man managed to stutter out, while the rest had looks of fear on their faces.
Their leader was in an extremely vulnerable position, his head pushed back as far as it could go, his pain-filled eyes struggling to look at his emotionless captor, as he trembled at the sharp blade at his neck.
"Don't believe me?"
The knife drew a line of blood.
"Because I will."
"B-Boss!"
The same man whimpered, but Zephyrus showed no sympathy.
"I'm really pissed off right now."
Instead, she spoke like she was reading out facts.
"You guys have just brought about a whole plethora of negative emotions I've been suppressing for years for the sake of fucking society."
The brown haired female jerked the man's head further back and pressed the knife harder against his skin.
"And I'm pissed off enough to kill a man, especially when I can claim self-defence. Especially when it's someone who's chosen to be bad, who's chosen to be a criminal, whom I hold no sympathy for."
"Maybe if I kill this guy all the years of frustration will be gone and I can truly live a peaceful life."
"Like some form of catharsis."
There was a malevolent smile on her previously emotionless face.
"I'm in another world, so I can blame this all on an out of world experience, and no one would know."
And then as if she hadn't done a soliloquy out of nowhere, all emotion was gone from her face as she met fear-filled eyes.
"Drop your fucking weapons, or I'll kill your leader."
Slowly, one by one, the men dropped their weapons. Metal bats and pipes, wooden sticks, knives and daggers fell onto the ground.
"Interesting. Even guys like you care about your leader huh? How touching."
Zephyrus drawled with a smirk, and a new guy yelled.
"There! We've done what you've asked! Now let Boss go!"
"If I let him go, will you let me go?"
"Yeah yeah we'll let you go already, WE'LL FUCKING LET YOU GO!"
"I don't believe you. Obviously you're going to get revenge."
Zephyrus said, as a weak voice sounded –
"O-jou….-chan….."
"I have a name."
"Zeph….-chan –"
"Zephyrus. I said 'Zeph-chan' is Izaya's name for me."
"Z-Zephyrus-chan –hiii-!"
"Zephyrus."
Zephyrus stated, the smile gone from her face as she dug the blade into the man's neck.
"Hey I really don't like being called '-chan'. If it's a cute girl I wouldn't mind, but coming from the guy who kidnapped me it's disgusting."
"Z-Zephyrus-san!"
"Now that's better."
Zephyrus spoke lightly, as she moved the blade of the knife leisurely across the man's neck.
"Do you know what this is?"
The man's body froze.
"This is called your carotid artery. It's one of the major blood vessels which deliver blood to your brain. So it's one of the vulnerable points in the human body. So if I slice it open there's gonna be a hell of a lot of blood."
"Do you know why people die when their neck is slit? It's because there's too much blood and they can't breathe and they choke and die a very painful death. I think. Ah but it's definitely going to be very painful. Just like drowning. Would you like to drown in your own sea of blood?"
"N-No!"
"Really? But I feel like watching you drown in your sea of blood. I'm still bleeding from the injuries by you and your stupid gang. So I'm pretty pissed off."
"Y-You're insane!"
The man gasped out in fear, for the look in those brown eyes was deadly serious.
"Yeah well shouldn't you know Izaya's 'girlfriend' wouldn't exactly be sane? I'm still not Izaya's girlfriend but I'm associated with Izaya so nothing surprising there."
"S-Sorry! Sorry for….calling you Orihara Izaya's girlfriend, Zephyrus-san!"
The man had clenched his teeth, threw away his pride and yelled out.
"Oh wow, you're sharp too, Shu-chan! Marvelous. Now since you're so sharp, you do know what I want, don't you?"
"W-We'll let you go. I promise I'll let you go, so let me go already!"
"Eh what's this? Even a guy like you is scared for your life? Haha! How amusing."
Zephyrus was smiling like she was enjoying herself, her eyes lit up in anticipation.
Though if one looked closer, they would see anger deep behind her eyes.
"But you do know I can't trust the word of a bad guy, don't you? I bet once I let you go your gang members will attack me and then I'll be bashed up. I don't want that, so here's what we're going to do."
The knife held in Zephyrus's firm hand never strayed from Shuichiro's neck as she spoke, addressing all the men.
"See that light over there? That's the exit. My exit. You're going to get your ass up, turn 180 degrees and walk with me towards the exit. You guys are going to stay absolutely still, my senses are sharp so if you move I will know, and if you move, I will kill your leader."
She roamed her merciless gaze across the gang to let them know she was serious.
Once they looked like they couldn't defy her, the brown haired woman tilted the man's chin up with her knife like he had done to her, staring coldly into his fearful eyes.
"As for you, once we get to the exit, you're going to turn 180 degrees again until you face your gang. Who of course will not have moved a single inch. Once I'm free, I'll let you free. And I'll remove my flick blade from your neck and then you'll be in your gang's safe hands. Fair, isn't it?"
Zephyrus said. In actual fact, she was planning to taser the man to render him immobile once again before she made her swift escape and she was hiding information to her advantage.
His subordinates would rush to their leader's aid and it would give her the time she needed to get away.
That was Zephyrus's plan.
…
But no one would know if the brown haired woman's plan would work as a breezy voice called out.
"You exceeded my expectations, Zephyrus!"
The statement did not come from near the entrance.
It came from near a pile of crates, from a black haired man in a fur trimmed jacket with a delighted grin on his face.
"O-Orihara Izaya?!"
"W-Where the hell did you come from!?"
"ORIHARA IZA-YA!"
"….Izaya."
Zephyrus said lowly. With her flick blade still threatening the man's neck, she spoke.
"Yeah where the hell did you come from, Orihara Izaya? Show's over, and I was just about to go home. You trying to make a fashionably late entrance or something?"
She cocked an eyebrow at him, clearly not amused as Izaya moved forward in elegance.
"Full name, Zeph-chan? That hurts my heart. I was here the whole time, observing my lovely humans!"
Izaya spoke, looking even happier than usual to the point there was an ecstatic grin stretched across his face.
He easily dodged the metal bat that swung at him out of nowhere.
"You bastard!"
One of the men was bellowing, fury etched across his eyes. He swung it again but Izaya evaded it with ease, smiling all the while.
"It's because of you…..IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, FUCKING SCUMBAG! I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Kill me? And just a few minutes ago you were so scared that your leader was about to be killed. Haha! That expression of fear was just so lovely! Simply exquisite! Such a genuine human reaction!"
"SHUT UP THAT'S YOUR FAULT! YOU TRICKED US, I'LL MURDER YOU!"
"Murder? I don't think that's feasible. For me, that is. As for another…."
Izaya leapt over the man using the metal bat as leverage, flicked his gaze and smiled.
"Do it, Zeph-chan."
"…."
"W-Wait –!"
"Sorry," Zephyrus said.
Those brown eyes were cold.
"I don't take orders from anyone."
"….Excellent."
Turning back, Izaya mocked the relieved expression on the man's face.
"It really is amusing! At first, you had Zeph-chan under your capture and control. She was your hostage. But now your leader is her hostage! And you lot are the one scared! What a fabulous turn of events! You should never underestimate humans, you know? Even I couldn't predict –"
Izaya was enjoying himself so much that he almost didn't dodge the attack from behind.
"Hey, hey, attacking a guy from behind while he's talking….that's not exactly ethical, wouldn't you say?"
"Shut up, bastard! And you – woman!"
"I have a name."
"Tch! Z-Zephyrus-s-san!"
"What is it?"
"Killing this guy won't detract from the deal right?!"
"Go ahead. If you can. But I don't trust Izaya just yet. So I'm still holding your leader hostage."
"F-Fine! 'Cause right now I'M pissed off!"
Izaya evaded two blows at the same time and laughed loudly at the situation playing out before him.
"Fantastic, Zeph-chan! You were just a hostage, but it's like you're their leader now!"
"She ain't our leader, retard! Boss is! Get him, you guys!"
Izaya seemed too happy for a guy who was facing a gang who had picked up all the weapons from the ground and started attacking him with them.
"Amazing, humans are really so amazing! All these self-interests and desires coming together in this abandoned place – my own best friend whom I framed upsetting my expectations and bringing about this breathtaking situation! Magnificent! I really love, love, LOVE HUMANS!"
…
At the same time
…
"Zephyrus….-san."
"Hm?"
"My gang….is attacking Orihara. There's….no reason for you to hold me hostage!"
The man spoke, seeming to finally be recovering from the almost lethal shock he had received, through the force of his anger.
"And?"
Zephyrus said emotionlessly as if she wasn't even paying attention and the man stared incredulously.
"Do you even know…what that guy did to us?!"
"I don't know. And I don't care. All I care about is myself right now. I can't trust Izaya, he might decide he's bored and leave me here alone in the end, so I still have to hold you hostage."
"That's right, you can't trust Orihara right!? But you can trust me, I'm not a liar like that bastard! I won't attack you if you let me go- GA – MPFFFHHHH!"
"Sorry."
Zephyrus said. She had tasered the man again, and had muffled his scream of pain with her hand.
"But I can't let you convince me any further than this."
"W-hhyyyy…."
The man gasped out weakly, it was a testament to his strength that he was even able to remain conscious after a second shock from the stun gun Izaya had modified.
"To be honest I don't think you're an entirely bad guy, Shuichiro. Your gang members seem to genuinely care for you. It's a pity we had to meet in such a way."
Zephyrus spoke, seeing as he would take some time to recover again, she had walked and stooped to his level to face him, and closed her flickblade.
"You're right, there's no reason to hold you hostage right now. Your gang's occupied with Izaya, so I can just walk out of here to my freedom."
Zephyrus gave a wry smile, malice free from her eyes. She looked innocent once again, even with injuries and wounds like a boy who had gotten into a fight.
"And well, you're thinking why don't I, right? Well it's because Izaya's here. I still don't trust him. He made use of me for his own entertainment. But we have a friendship."
"And you know what, I want to see his reaction too. To the situation I brought about. That's why I can't let you go fight that bastard and release all your anger, even if you won't attack me once you're free. That's why I shocked you again, because I would be in trouble if your anger at Izaya overcame your fear of me, since people do unpredictable things when they're angry. Sorry about that."
Zephyrus said honestly, an apology in her eyes. Then she patted her kidnapper's shoulder comfortingly, flicked open her flick blade once again and went behind him to leisurely hold it to his neck –
But this time without a threat.
"Humans are selfish after all."
The man Shuichiro stared, hung his head, and chuckled weakly, a smirk on his lips.
…
"….You're a strange one…..Ojou-chan."
…
Izaya, who did not hear the conversation between his two 'victims', was taking down the last few of the gang.
Even when fueled by anger, the men were no match for the information broker who was a parkour master and skilled expert with knives and close combat.
He leapt and flipped over them, dodging all their attacks perfectly, his expression alternating between a smile and a smirk as he added attacking their weak points to the physical realm.
He had rendered most of the gang immobile in mere minutes –
After which he demolished the remaining three members in a mere 30 seconds with his switch blade, slicing and dicing until they couldn't stand anymore and fight back against the swift man.
When he had ascertained he had defeated the entire gang, Izaya smoothly kept his switch blade and walked away from the area of fallen men –
Except their leader, who was still in Zephyrus's hold.
"Hey Zeph-chan, you can let Shuichiro-kun go. You're not in danger anymore. I'm here, so Zeph-chan is safe."
"How can I trust your words?"
"Well I just took down the gang for Zeph-chan, didn't I? So even if I were to leave you behind now, you wouldn't be in danger any longer. I'm sure you'd be able to handle Shuichiro-kun considering you've kept him hostage for quite a while."
Izaya said brightly with a smile on his face as he held out his hand towards Zephyrus.
"Let's go home, Zeph-chan."
"…."
Zephyrus examined him for a while.
Then she removed her flick blade from her kidnapper's neck and let him go.
Keeping her weapons, she shoved her hands into her pockets, turned and said:
"Let's go then."
Izaya's smile widened and the hood of his fur trimmed jacket bounced as he skipped happily past the man who was still filled with great anger towards him.
They walked in silence for a long moment which didn't deter Izaya's happiness –
Until a voice growled.
"Ori-hara….Iza….ya…."
"…..Hah?"
Izaya turned in bemusement as Zephyrus stopped.
"Seriously, Shuichiro-kun? Don't you think you should give up? Your gang is down, and it's impossible for you to win against me, one on one. I want to go home with my best friend, so let me off already."
Izaya spoke frivolously like he hadn't done anything wrong, as the man got to his feet.
"…ARGGHHHHH! DIE, ORIHARA IZAYA!"
Izaya watched in amusement as the man clearly still affected by the two electric shocks from the stun gun he had modified charged towards him.
The punch didn't hit Izaya.
It hit Zephyrus.
Izaya had dodged easily, but the fist had curved at the last moment, impacting his best friend –
Had the man been at full health, the force could have resulted in a fractured bone.
It was Zephyrus's own luck that she merely flew back a few meters and crashed into crates.
"…"
Izaya looked like he wasn't sure what had happened.
The man panted, then took steps towards the woman who had held him hostage
"What do you think you're doing?"
The slash across his chest didn't even deter him.
"Your target is me, isn't it?"
The man laughed in his face even as blood dripped from the deep cut across his chest.
"How's that, Orihara?! Were you surprised?! You were surprised, weren't ya! You're angry! That look on your face! YOU'RE ANGRY, AREN'T YOU?! Haha! HAHAHAHAHA! Now you know how we feel! Do you still LOVE HUMANS NOW?!"
"…"
Izaya flicked open his non-spring assisted switchblade, and pointed it at the human who had upset his expectations with a thin smile and narrowed eyes.
"…..Fine. I do have a favor to return as well."
…
…
Several minutes later
…
The gang leader collapsed onto the ground, bleeding from knife wounds all over his body.
"You've learnt your lesson haven't you, Shuichiro-kun?"
Izaya said with a smile. There wasn't a single wound on his body, and his glossy black hair was still immaculately in place. Even his fur trimmed jacket sustained no damage.
The only signs that suggested he had just been in a fight was the blood dripping from his switchblade and the unfriendly look in his eyes as he looked down on his victim.
But the man was still able to laugh in his face.
"Thanks Orihara, 'cause I finally got my bloody revenge!"
"What?"
The gang leader grinned.
"You think you can just go prancing around happily doing whatever you like? You think you can just leave here in your happy ideal with your friend?! Yeah, I wanted you to feel the consequences of fucking with people! You piss me off. You really piss me off! THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO PISS YOU OFF TOO! AND I DID! I DID, DIDN'T I?! LOOK! LOOK AT THESE WOUNDS YOU INFLICTED OUT OF ANGER! IT'S MY BLOODY REVENGE!"
The man laughed again as he spread his arms stained with blood on the ground, as Izaya stared at those words.
"Is it your first time being angry? First time you lost your precious control? First time things didn't go your way? Ha! The first time you didn't love a human's reaction?! First time you had fucking feelings?! Well, how does it feel Orihara?! NOT LIKE A GOD NOW, ARE YOU? YOU'RE JUST SOME PUNY HUMAN! LIKE THE HUMANS YOU LOVE SO MUCH!"
"YOU'VE LEARNT YOUR LESSON, HAVEN'T YOU ORIHARA?!"
The man laughed hoarsely as he directed his gaze upwards in breathless triumph.
Caught off guard by the human, Izaya had no words. He simply stared as if realizing he had fallen into his human's trap.
"That woman is too good for you."
The man who was one of his many victims was grinning with blood on his lips.
"Ojou-chan is too good for an asshole like you. You think she'll still like you after you got her kidnapped? Hah! You threw away your chance Orihara! Soon she's gonna leave you – BECAUSE NO ONE WILL EVER LIKE A DOUCHEBAG LIKE YOU!"
The man Shuichiro gave one last laugh as if he was savoring the expression on Izaya's face, then fainted dead away.
Izaya's expression was emotionless as he turned away.
He made his way over to Zephyrus, who was laying on the ground as if wondering she should give in to her fatigue.
"Zeph-chan."
Izaya said with a smile.
Brown eyes shifted to look at him, looking black.
His hand was slapped away afterwards.
"Don't touch me."
"….."
"Don't try to carry me either, or I'll stab you in the neck."
Considering she had just threatened to kill a guy by slicing open his neck, Izaya wisely decided not to test this human.
He had already given her the ultimate test of a crisis situation, and she had passed with flying colors.
He had been extremely happy at her exceeding his expectations beyond his imagination, but his smile felt weak now.
Izaya didn't feel as if he had done anything wrong for getting someone kidnapped was a completely normal thing for him to do, but the human he had decided would be his best friend was acting as if he had.
The words of a minute ago resounded in his mind.
"At least –"
His hand wasn't slapped away this time, but the icy cold glare felt as if it was.
"I can get up on my own."
Zephyrus stumbled as she got to her feet, but straightened and moved forward.
Izaya followed Zephyrus.
"I told you not to push yourself too hard, didn't I?"
"Is that really what you should be saying?"
Zephyrus said, and increased her pace as if she wanted to leave Izaya behind.
"…."
For a moment, Izaya found himself standing alone.
But his feet soon moved, and she said –
"…..Izaya."
"What is it, Zeph-chan?"
He couldn't infer anything from the tone of her voice.
"Were you the one who spread the rumors of your so-called girlfriend?"
Zephyrus said emotionlessly and Izaya replied light-heartedly –
"That's rig –"
Zephyrus punched Izaya.
The punch was not from a martial artist, but the strength behind it had been fueled by a significant amount of anger.
It made Izaya wince as he clutched his stomach, a wry smirk on his features.
"That was the force of my anger."
Zephyrus stated. Izaya laughed through the pain.
"Ha…hahaha….I suppose I deserved that."
"You bet you fucking did. I should have fucking known, you bastard."
Zephyrus said, and walked away from him.
…
Ah I see.
Zeph-chan hates me now.
Just like everyone else.
Even though I gave her gifts
Even though I had her flick blade specially made
Even though I….
It felt like a betrayal.
He didn't want to think of that word, that word he had just barely given his secretary and right hand woman who could betray him anytime.
That word he had inadvertently given Shinra, only for him to add another wound to the stab wound that had landed him in the hospital – and in his heart.
That word he knew 'he' would never, ever give him, no matter what he did, bad or good.
It hadn't been long.
It had only been a little more than a week.
Yet Izaya was reminded of why he had chosen the path of loving all humans equally.
Why he had had no friends except Shinra who would backstab him anytime for the sake of something that wasn't even human.
Had Shinra been there, he would have told Izaya it was because he had a fragile heart which could not endure the pain of betrayal, having never allowed anyone to get close enough to do so before.
Yet, she was acting as if he had betrayed her – when he felt as if it was the opposite way around.
The pain in his stomach was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.
But Izaya was not a man to apologize –
For being eternally true to his own desires.
It would be like apologizing for being who he was.
…
I suppose our friendship game is over.
Izaya thought, but the smile was slipping away from his face.
Well, it was fun while it lasted
His lips refused to curve the way they usually did.
And getting to see such pure human reactions from Zeph-chan in a crisis situation, it's like ending with a bang
One of my best human observations ever
But the thought didn't cheer him up like it usually did.
Izaya thought, and resolved to close his heart -
"AAAAAARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
- Which jolted at the sound of a frustrated yell.
"?!"
Izaya couldn't keep the surprise off his face.
"…Okay. I feel better now."
The woman who had just done something he thought would be more suited for a certain man instead, spoke loudly.
She lowered her arms with an exhale.
Then she looked back at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Eh?"
"Why are you just standing there? Are you injured or something? Did my punch hurt that bad?"
For the second time, Izaya found himself not being able to understand the situation.
When he could only stand there, Zephyrus walked back towards him and asked.
"What's wrong?"
"….."
"Sorry, even if you're injured from your fight I can't help 'cause I'm not doing so well myself."
"…."
She was speaking as if nothing had happened between them.
She was speaking as if they had teamed up to defeat a gang, when in reality he had gotten her kidnapped and left her to deal with the situation against gang members experienced in fighting even though he could have easily taken them down with his combat skills himself.
"What….you look sad. I have no idea why but don't look so sad it's not like you."
A hand ruffled his hair as if hoping to cheer him up.
Izaya was genuinely confused.
The hand withdrew.
"Oh shit I think my hand has a bit of blood. Sorry, wash your hair when you get home yeah?"
Izaya dazedly reached up to his hair.
Hands landed on his shoulders. His best friend looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.
"Izaya, what's wrong?"
"…Zeph-chan."
"Yeah?"
"…"
"You look like you need a hug, want me to call Shizu-chan?"
Izaya looked lost.
Zephyrus sighed, letting her hands fall.
"Well anyway let's get out of here first. I'm sick of this place."
Zephyrus said and before she walked away, grabbed Izaya's wrist to pull him along from darkness towards light.
They walked out of the warehouse together.
…
…
Izaya squinted against the light of the afternoon sun.
As if it was bringing him back into reality –
Where he was walking with someone by his side.
"Zeph-chan."
"Yeah?"
Izaya couldn't comprehend the lack of anger in his best friend's voice.
They had emerged from the abandoned warehouse into an isolated part of the city. Their surroundings were mostly empty save for them and the silence brought his attention to the voice he was hearing besides his own.
With his impeccable appearance and good looking features, Izaya looked out of place in the sort of area criminals would gather. His companion who was walking steadily even with injuries all over and a straightforward gaze, looked like the elegant man's bodyguard.
But Izaya for once took no notice of this ironic image as he asked –
"You don't resent me?"
"No. Why should I?"
"Didn't you punch me?"
"Yeah so I'm not angry anymore now. Well I'm still a bit pissed off, but I don't resent you."
And it's more at myself.
Argh I'm so fucking pissed off at myself
Dream my foot.
Fuck I'm a retard
You're a fucking idiot, Zephyrus.
"Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to resent someone like you."
Izaya's eyes lit up in interest as he walked by Zephyrus's side.
"Oh, why is that so?"
"It'll be really tiring."
Izaya blinked, then chuckled as if he was amused as Zephyrus immersed herself in her thoughts.
"…..And I don't want to be alone in this world. Since I don't know anyone else but you."
The girl who had just been thrust into the reality that the world she was in wasn't that of a dream, said.
There was silence. Zephyrus didn't see Izaya's expression as he said:
"Zeph-chan won't be alone as long as Zeph-chan doesn't leave me alone."
Brown eyes widened in surprise and shifted their gaze.
Izaya was smiling his usual smile, but the look in his eyes was different.
Smiling wryly, Zephyrus shoved her hands into her pockets and murmured.
"…Yeah."
There was a few seconds of peaceful silence as they walked beside each other before Izaya had to break it.
"Zeph-chan."
"…."
"Zeph-chan!"
"What?"
"Hand."
"Huh?"
"Hand."
Izaya said with a smile as he held out his own hand.
"Paw?"
Zephyrus responded sarcastically as she held out her own hand anyway.
Izaya's smile widened. He took hold of her hand, then continued walking as if he hadn't done so.
"….."
Zephyrus waited, but Izaya didn't let go of her hand.
"Izaya."
"What is it?"
"Why are we holding hands?"
"Because I feel like it?"
"You feel like holding my hand after you got me kidnapped."
"I didn't get you kidnapped – it just so happened I was questioned for information on my own best friend!"
"Something tells me you're really happy right now, but I don't know why."
"Astute as always, Zeph-chan!"
"Why?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out!"
"…This isn't an attempt at forging a romance, is it?"
Zephyrus asked warily. Izaya laughed, grinning.
"Don't worry, it's not. I think."
"…Could you remove the 'I think' at the end?"
"It's not," Izaya said again, amused at Zephyrus's reaction. "I have no romantic interest in humans after all!'
He said, and laughed, swinging their hands in between them like they were kindergarten kids.
"And because you're in love with Shizuo."
To her surprise, Izaya didn't look annoyed or even bemused. His happy expression simply didn't change.
"…Wait, seriously? You love Shizuo?"
"Maybe!"
"Okay you're simply ecstatic now, aren't you?"
"Maybe!"
"…You're just screwing with me now, aren't you?"
Izaya smirked. "Maybe – ow!"
He laughed freely after getting hit, grinning as she glared at him.
"Heh, what a fierce wolf! Scary, scary."
"Wolf?"
"That's right. After witnessing Zeph-chan's spectacular performance, I've come to the conclusion that Zeph-chan isn't a dog! After all, I don't like dogs, in contrast to how I like Zeph-chan. That's why Zeph-chan is a wolf. Ah yes, the wolf is quite an elegant yet majestic creature compared to a lowly dog, perfect for my best friend!"
"Zeph-chan is a sly wolf indeed, acting like a dog but in reality Zeph-chan is a wolf with hidden fangs! Hahaha!"
Izaya said as if he was happily recounting the memory and Zephyrus tilted her head.
"Huh? Well okay, but I thought a dog would fit since they say dogs are a man's best friend – in fact I was just about to make a joke about that. Since I'm your best friend."
Zephyrus said dryly, her face scrunched up slightly at Izaya inadvertently taking her joke away.
Izaya grinned in amusement at that, elegantly flipping his free hand.
"Well for a man like me, a dog wouldn't be fit to be my best friend. I don't want someone who only knows how to follow me around. Someone who's like a wolf and lives independently would be more fitting instead!"
"Alright so I evolved from a dog to a wolf?"
"You didn't evolve. You were always a wolf. You only required the right circumstances to bring out your innate wolf, so to say."
"So I was never a dog? Shizu-chan said I was like a dog though…."
Zephyrus said thoughtfully, and Izaya suggested –
"Well, how about a wolfdog then?"
"…You just combined the two, didn't you?"
Izaya looked in amusement at Zephyrus's deadpan expression.
"There is such a thing as a wolfdog, you know. Not to mention they're highly intelligent creatures who don't like to be patronized, which is like Zeph-chan."
"And you know this how? Never knew you were a fan of dogs."
"I'm a fan of anything outstanding. Wolfdogs are a hybrid of the follower dog and the independent wolf – because of this conflicting contrast, they're misunderstood and humans have differing views on them. Since they give me interesting information on the humans I love, they're an exception to my dislike of dogs."
"Some say the wolfdog has a calm personality, others say it's excitable just like a dog and will steal your pillows or something of that sort. Isn't that like Zeph-chan?"
"…So I should start stealing your pillows?"
Izaya blinked – and then laughed as if he had just imagined the scene.
"Hahaha! You crack me up, Zeph-chan! Ahaha….that's not it! I was simply saying that the wolfdog has different sides to its personality – just like Zeph-chan! Not that you should steal my pillows – pftt! Hahah! Hahahahahaha!"
Izaya collapsed into a fit of laughter, unable to stand straight in his mirth and causing Zephyrus to stop as well.
"You don't have to laugh that hard…!"
Zephyrus glared, feeling a bit embarrassed at Izaya finding great amusement at her expense.
"Anyway, enough about me, what about you?! What animal you are then?!"
"Human."
Izaya said cheerfully, and grinned as he ducked the punch from the growling 'wolf'.
"Izaya….."
Zephyrus gritted her teeth at him aggressively which only made Izaya's grin widen.
At least he didn't have to watch out for any flying vending machines.
"Alright, what animal do you think I am?"
Izaya's tone belied his interest as he regarded Zephyrus once he was standing up straight again.
"Fox."
Zephyrus said bluntly without hesitation.
"Black fox. They have orange eyes and black fur. You have black hair and reddish-brown eyes. Close enough. Also they're rare in some countries like the UK, and are said to be bad luck. Sounds like you. Since foxes are sly and curious too."
"Mm. A fox and a wolf huh? Not a bad combination."
"And a tiger."
"Hm?"
"Nothing. Anyway why are we suddenly discussing about what animal I am anyway?"
"It's because Zeph-chan brought up the topic of dogs. But since I don't like dogs, Zeph-chan should be a wolf. Or a wolfdog. Anyway isn't this a trend on the net? Your 'spirit animal' or some sort – I don't believe in quizzes though they are amusing, but I thought it would be fun to discuss with my best friend!"
Izaya declared cheerfully, and Zephyrus stared.
Then a smile crossed her lips as she turned away.
"Hahaha…hahahaha….."
Izaya blinked, and was met with louder laughter.
"…Hahahaha! Hahahahaha! Man – seriously?!"
"Ahh no no," Zephyrus said at Izaya's expression.
A grin that could rival Izaya's was on her face.
"It's just – this is ridiculous. I just survived a kidnapping and a fight and I have wounds all over and here I am, talking about spirit animal with the guy who got me kidnapped in the first place….seriously…..you say Shizuo has no sense of timing but you don't have any sense of timing either do you!"
"Why would I need a sense of timing with my best friend?"
Izaya said with a bemused smile, and Zephyrus's grin widened.
"Well that's true, but I just went through a kidnapping you know? Wouldn't normal people know to not talk about something so trivial like spirit animal after such a traumatizing event?"
"But I'm not normal – and neither is Zeph-chan."
Izaya said, and as if his own words had made him think of something, he turned with a bright smile, spreading his free arm –
"I love all humans equally, and Zeph-chan treats all humans equally. We make the perfect pair!"
"Yeah whatever," Zephyrus said, unable to bring up that it was not her who made a perfect pair with Izaya, but Shizuo.
She was smiling. "But, you sure are happy."
"Why? Is it wrong for me to be happy?"
"Of course not. You deserve to be happy as much as anyone else."
Izaya's eyes widened in surprise before he smiled widely, looking forward and humming happily.
"Zeph-chan really is perfect as my best friend after all!"
Zephyrus just smiled as Izaya was immersed in his happy ideal, but her thoughts were in a different direction, and she soon voiced –
"Are you okay?"
Izaya looked surprised for a moment, but it didn't take long for realization to reach his eyes.
"You punch me then you inquire about my well being? If it were anyone but you, I would think you were making a fool of me."
His eyes looked as if he was assessing the human in front of him.
"So why is the concern in your eyes genuine?"
As is understanding that, Zephyrus replied honestly.
"I didn't actually want to hurt you. Well I wanted to hurt you at that moment. But I was controlled by my feelings, by my unbeatable anger. Normally I don't want to hurt you….most of the time."
"What's with that ending phrase? Should I be concerned?"
"No, it's just you can be such a bastard you piss me off sometimes…so I may hit you, but I don't really mean it. I know it's just the way you are."
Izaya didn't say anything in response.
But he gave a smile which Zephyrus was sure could move even Shizuo's heart, and walked forward with Zephyrus.
…
…
….I was hurt
And I hurt someone
I stabbed someone
And I wanted to kill someone
…..It couldn't be helped.
I always thought, if I was in a dangerous situation, especially if someone threatened the well being of those I care about –
That I would threaten their well being in return without hesitation.
But
If my anger hadn't been controlling me
If I hadn't been so consumed by rage it swept all the fear away
I probably wouldn't have been able to get out and gain the upper hand
They're much stronger than someone like me
If I hadn't had a weapon…
Her hand unconsciously tightened around his.
Zephyrus inhaled to calm down, as thoughts raced through her head, her survival instincts turned on at her own thoughts.
…As I thought, being associated with Izaya is really dangerous.
On the other hand, Izaya had proceeded to swing their hands happily again.
But he's totally oblivious
Yet as his best friend, I can't suddenly decline to be seen with him in public
But going around wearing a disguise is a bit extreme
Nothing really bad happened this time, but if I can't keep a low profile…
The same thing might happen again with worse guys.
And Izaya might not be there watching the next time
…Ugh, I'm in such a troublesome spot…
When I agreed to be Izaya's best friend, I didn't agree to this….
I should be more alert next time.
She stopped short at the thought.
….So this really isn't a dream.
The pain had been real.
The fear had been genuine.
The anger had completely consumed her.
The situation had almost slipped out of her control.
"Zeph-chan?"
Izaya who had stopped when Zephyrus had, was looking at her.
"…Izaya."
Zephyrus looked at him as if seeing him differently, then gave in and dropped her head onto his shoulder.
"….Mikage."
"Eh?"
Izaya said, surprised at the display of fatigue from his usually aloof best friend.
"Mikage….runs a dojo right? If it's not too much trouble, could I…"
"Learn some fighting skills there?"
"…Yeah.
"Sure, Zeph-chan. I can arrange that with Mikage-chan easily."
Zephryus stared at Izaya's bemused smile, as if she hadn't expected Izaya to agree so easily.
Then she heaved a heavy sigh as if a large burden had been lifted off her shoulders, and moved to stand upright again.
"Great. Now I need to get home so I can freak out."
Izaya laughed and ruffled her hair as if in some form of comfort.
"You're always welcome to freak out here, you know."
"Go die."
…
His hand was pushed away again –
But this time it was with a wry grin.