The informant swallowed his ire with a crooked smile, though that didn't prevent leaving and acrid aftertaste on his tongue. He decided to push away the prickling sensation away with a shrug of his shoulders, licking his lips as he cocked his head onto the back of his couch.

"Shizu-chan…I'm hungry…"

"Then eat."

The informant pouted at the back of the debt-collector, sleeves rolled up and kneeling against the wall. To the raven's surprise, the beast was a lot more docile than that other wench, though he had to admit- watching Shizuo made him realise just how deft and useful Namie really was. But he wasn't about to admit that. Not yet. Besides, it brought gaiety to watch the enslaved animal struggle in paying his own debts. How ironic.

His mouth scrunched up in what appeared to be an attempt to conceal his smirk. "Can't Shizu-chan cook me something?"

The blond shot a glare over his shoulder. "Since when did I offer to babysit you? I just said I was taking over that poor woman's job for a we-"

Izaya's smile spread from ear to ear.

"Don't tell me you make her do the cooking as well?"

As if Shizuo had not spoken at all, the informant childishly pointed at the wall. "Work."

"Who the fucks not doing any work today?"

"I'm thinking, planning- an important job for an informant" He tossed a lock of black over his head. "Not that your neathanded brai-"

"Fucking fine" The informant let out a chuckle as he threw his hand above him, waving his head. "Yay! I finally get Shizu-chan to cook for me! Though I think he needs a bit of help cleaning those walls as he had made zero progress. Though I guess that's a lot for a single cell-"

"Just shut up with your chirping…" The blond lowered his voice, and if the raven did not have such acute hearing, he would have thought that he had rendered the man silence all together. "If anyone needs help, it's you."

He hated it: the ridiculous show he played oh so nicely for Shizuo last night- and he hated how the monster didn't end it right there and then- no, chose to hug him- in his weakest moments. He hated how the blonde's presence remained as a constant reminder for how easily his mask broke- and of what had forced him to make the mask in the first place.

He felt his body give up an involuntary shudder as he could feel his stomach seethe. No, not here- not now. Not while I'm with him.

Releasing a sigh, he let the weight of his head sink into his hands, mind wandering today- as it oft did. He had seen his human's play this scene before: seen the sorrys, the tears, the emotion- and had laughed at it. Claiming how they were all so 'cute' and 'adorable' and 'care-free' to be able to act that way. Izaya knew he was a jealous, and greedy man- but he wasn't accepting enough to put him on the same level on his humans.

No, because he was lower.

He was filth.

He neither had the heart to admit or the strength for denial, so he just passed by- as if it was just another wave crashing upon this lone pebble in a vast beach. Neither did that pebble move- nor did it go back. It just remained there- stubborn and cold with grey malice as it slowly wared away.

But ware away it did.

The flash of glasses and the silk of chocolate plaits twirled round the corridors, dancing on her footsteps like some fairy from a midnight dream. She pouted, brunette eyes shining with impatience. "Hurry up Kururi!" She stomped her slender legs impatiently as she placed a mellow-dramatic arm upon her breast. "Hanejima-san is awaiting for our presence and we can't make him w… Just find any coat!" She flicked the shorter girl lightly in the head. "Any coat will do."

When her sister made no reply, Marui narrowed her eyes. "Unless you are trying to look your best for Hanejima-san, then take all the time in the world…Ah." She placed a slender finger in the air, as if swirling all those delightful pheromones into sheer sun-kissed bliss. "But not all the time because we have to see him of course."

"Marui, quiet." Was all the brunette, sporting ear length hair, replied.

"Now now." She skipped childishly along the wooden floor boards, stopping by the doorway in which her sister stood in- beneath an oak staircase. "We all know that's your jo-oof."

Squinting, Marui rubbed her nose where it collided into the back of her sister head. "Watch where y-" her gazed moved to where the girl pointed her finger before looking up.

"It…fell…" The voice barely heard.

The said girl shuffled away so the taller one could inspect the gap in dust on the roof of the case- squared and out of place like a line of yellow paint in a canvas of murky grey. Marui shrivelled her small nose out of rebuke. "Mother better clean this place properly…" She leaned down to latch her fingers onto the wooden box- sealed with layers of duct tape. She gave it a sturdy yank before exhausting a sigh.

"Who the hell taped it up so much in the first place."

Completely, forgotten of their primary purpose, the two girls fought to open the damned thing- with nails, teeth and by simply throwing it violently at the wall tilt the wood and tape eventually gave way into a sticky mess of debris and sawdust. Out spilled an envelope in which her sister kneeled down to, but Marui had her eyes coined on something else.

A flash of silver.

She followed the rolling trail, stopping in between her toes as she lifted the object to her face, squinting at the scripting engraved on the inside of the cylinder.

"A ring?" She pushed up her glassed on the bridge of her nose, twisting her head around the bend in light. "Akashi…O?"

She gazed at the familiar glint of silver, though this one seemed more rusted- colder.

She turned around to the squatted figure. "Hey Kururi- doesn't it look like that creepy stuff Iza-nii would wear?" She crept closer to the figure, wrapping an arm around the tense shoulder. "Maybe our brother might actually have a friend…."

Shaking.

"Kururi?"

She then saw the face of a shocked corpse ridden on her sister's face, daring to peer down at the envelopes contents- the printed red smouldering like hot iron into the backs of her lids. A lous screech filled the house and footsteps rushed to the hallway.

A woman, in her late forties placed a worried look upon her face, till it dropped.

"Mother?" The twins backed away.

There was always something pothering about the Orihara household. Starting with their parents. Even from the outside you could sense something off about them, something that was missing from their efforts in keeping up a 'perfect family' image. And Kururi could see it before her eyes.

The mother stepped forward, pan in hand and eyes unnerving.

"You saw it, didn't you."

Then silence.

"So first, he makes me do his fucking cooking… and now his shopping" he could feel the plastic tear under his vice grip, cursing as losing a trail of items down the streets of Shinjuku. "Fucking louse."

But no one dared laugh, no one dared question the man in the bartender's suit his sanity- not if they valued their life.

"What am I? His fucking maid?" Another growl from smoke stained lips sent all forms of life scrurrying away from him. "Why am I doing this in the first place?"

But then he remembered: the naked fear; the shell of a being and the doctor's words- and that's all it took for the beast to remain docile as he made his way to the lengthy stairs of high rise flats that lead to the raven's door.

Stubborn flea. He was about to open the door when his hand paused on the handle as he pressed his ears against the door. Music? Now letting the food fall forgotten by his sides- he pressed his figure as far as he could in the wood without it braking, eyes wide. A violin?

The blond pushed the door open, a light smile tugging on his lips. It sounded beautiful.