I'm terribly sorry I didn't update sooner. Thanksgiving went smoothly :3 Made it through without burning the house down! My mother directed me while I cooked, it was awesome. Anyway, I'm so very happy, elated is more the word, that this story has made more than 100 reviews :D THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU! So...I'm thinking of doing something special. Any requests? I'd love to hear them :D PM me if you do have requests or review!~ Thanks again! Oh and someone requested before to include more Erika...this is for you mystery reviewer! xD I try to follow through with requests, I don't know if this is what you wanted, but it's what I was satisfied with so YAY! I too think highly of Erika ;3 Please review~

Warnings: Possible OOC

Shizuo's POV

Sometimes things are taken from you when you least expect it. I got to taste the sweet feeling of someone's love for a while…but it was taken away just like that because of my stupid pride, because I didn't want to face the fact that I was and still am in love with Izaya. In love? I mean…that I like him…I sit in the hallway for a couple more minutes before heading off. He doesn't seem to want to talk…or even see me since he said so. I never knew such words could sting so much. I mean, we've fought for so many years, but only now do these hurtful words sting because I'm in love with him. I…I don't want to fight anymore. I'll admit it now…I love him…

I head downstairs and find myself looking up at the window where Izaya's probably looking from right about now. Unsurprisingly, there he is, looking out the window curiously. Our eyes meet for a moment before he closes the curtains. I sigh. Just like that, I've lost the love of someone I've been longing for since high school. I'm not giving up of course. I'm a stubborn guy and I know that Izaya will come around sooner or later. I just…I just wish it was sooner rather than later. It's painful; this rejection. I now know how Izaya felt when I rejected him not too long ago. It fucking sucks.

When I finally get home I collapse on my couch and cover my face with a pillow. The outside world isn't important to me right now. Everything else is dissolving around me. There's only the faint memory of his scent, his bright brown-red eyes, the feel of his velvet black hair; the kiss…soft and sweet even if he doesn't eat any sweet things. I have the wound on my lip that'll remind me for a while. I won't bother to see him for a while. I think I should leave him be, let him cool down.

Why is that even though I realized that I'm in love with Izaya, I still want to throw a damn vending machine at him?

Izaya's POV

"Gah…I can't get anything done like this…" I say as I make a mess of my paperwork I have on my desk. I hit my head against my desk and sigh as I remember the look on Shizu-chan's face when I had seen him from my window minutes ago. Why did he have to look at me like that? He makes me feel like I just kicked a puppy…which is an activity I'd never want to take part in despite my mischievous, devious nature. Suddenly my phone rings so I answer it unemotionally. "Hello…Izaya Orihara puppy kicker speaking…" I say unhappily.

"Izaya-kun? Are you alright?"

"Hello Shinra…can you call me when I'm in a better mood, maybe next month…" I say dully.

"Um…did something happen?"

"Yeah…everything…" I say as I run my fingers through my hair.

"Um…well…did you tell Shizuo about the antidote?" I recompose myself as I hear the word "antidote." I immediately start thinking about how things are probably going to get back to the way they were before…I mean…all this time Shizu-chan was probably just being affectionate to me because of his doggish nature. Even if he did confess to me not too long ago, he's probably gonna be pissed because I had yelled at him. My ears flatten against my head and then I look over to find the dog bone I had bought Shizu-chan laying in the corner of the room. "He told me that he doesn't mind staying like this for a while longer." I lie as I head over to the bone.

"Really? Um…are you sure?"

"Yeah of course. He said he's gotten used to it. Besides, he and I have decided that it'll be helpful for you if we continue with this experiment."

"Wow…well…if you two say so…If you guys change your minds, call me up. I'd be more than happy to change you to back." Shinra says before saying goodbye and hanging up. Of course Shizu-chan will be angry with me if he does find out that I decided something like this for him, but I'm hoping that he won't. For now I will remain far away from Shizu-chan until I'm emotionally prepared.

One Week Later

Celty's POV

It's been quiet around Ikebukuro, which bothers me more than when it's completely chaotic. Right now, I'm riding over to Izaya's place, but this time I'm not riding over to his place because of a job. I caught notice of Shizuo acting really strange this past week. He usually talks to me pretty openly about what's bothering him, but this time he's refused to discuss anything. Tom's noticed it too. And a dead giveaway is the fact that his tail hasn't wagged since he last visited Izaya. Shinra says that Izaya hasn't visited Ikebukuro in a week and hasn't called so we're plenty worried about him too. His phone goes to voice mail every time we call so that's unsettling to say the least. I've seen movies with these sorts of scenarios…they don't end well.

I look up at the window of where I assume is Izaya's apartment before getting off my motorcycle and heading inside. I take the elevator even though I know that the stairs is a healthier option. Though I don't think I can be "unhealthy" considering what I am. It's just a thought. I suddenly notice how dire the situation really is as I approach Izaya's door. There's a lot of junk outside of it and there are some, what looks like, nicks on the door. I knock twice before trying to jiggle the door open. Surprisingly, it opens without much effort. It was unlocked apparently. I travel through what seems to be a lot of junk and paperwork. After swimming through, I find Izaya at his desk, sleeping peacefully.

I shake him a bit, hoping to god it isn't like one of those horror movies where the guy in the chair (once you move him) is found to be dead already. I shutter before shaking him again a little more fiercely. That does the trick. He stretches a little before rubbing his eyes. A post-it paper is stuck to his cheek, but he doesn't seem to notice. He looks like a wreck. His hair is messy and he has marks under his eyes.

"Celty?" He says as he yawns. "What are you doing here?"

[Assessing how bad the situation is. Unfortunately it's worse than I thought. Why the heck is everything messy in here?]

"Ne…I told Namie to take a vacation for two weeks…I'm not in the mood to be bothered…" I take the post-it off his face and find that his cheek is covered in writing. It's backwards so I can't read it as easily.

[Why is the door so messed up?]

"Ah…I bought a piano. The door was a bit small so the piano nicked it when it was forced in."

[Huh? Why did you buy a piano?]

"I don't know; out of impulse. Want to hear me play 'Set Fire to the Rain' by Adele? I've gotten pretty good at it."

[No…well…maybe later…right now I want to know why things have gotten so out of hand.]

"You know once you think about it, setting fire to the rain is impossible. It's poetic though, don't you think?"

[Izaya!] I type angrily. [This isn't time for nonsense! Shizuo's in the same depressing state as you for some reason! What the heck happened! I thought you guys were finally getting along?!]

"We were…" Izaya says as he heads over to the piano in the corner of the room. He plays a happy melody for a moment. "Until everything went downhill." Suddenly the melody turns depressing and dramatic. I head over to him and put my hand on his shoulder.

[Mind telling me what exactly happened?]

"Shizu-chan confessed to me a week ago…" He pauses. "But I rejected him…I've been feeling guilty ever since…and what's even worse…is that he's been sending me stuff!" He says as he points to the boxes of stuff in the doorway. "He's sent me flowers and cards…boxes of chocolates…I would offer you some if I had any left…In my state of sadness I indulged in them the moment I received them…He's also slipped letters under my door…and sent me cat toys and catnip…"

I suddenly spot a brush on the floor which I look at for a moment. It's a grooming brush for cats, but I suppose this will work. His hair is giving me the willies. I begin brushing his hair as he lays his head on the piano keys. He sighs as he purrs while I brush him. I sit next to him and continue brushing his hair until it's nice and neat.

"I haven't been able to confront him since then…"

[I thought you said you liked him?]

"I do…I didn't want to accept him that easily since he didn't accept my confession. So, I wanted him to repay me for all the emotional turmoil I've suffered…" He explains gloomily. Grooming Izaya proves to be too much fun…I give him the mirror and show him my progress. He glares at me before placing the mirror on the piano gently. "Get this bow out of my hair." He says sternly. "Anyway…unfortunately, I'm feeling even more guilty because he's paid his debt a long time ago…probably around the time he sent me that big stuffed bear." He points to said bear before sighing. "Shizu-chan knows absolutely nothing about my interests…probably just got all his information from some second-rate romantic-comedy movie he has lying around in his dump of a home."

[At least he's trying.]

"I know…it's a sweet gesture, but it makes me even guiltier. That's why I put all the stuff in boxes." Izaya says as he sighs again. I get done grooming him and pat his head thoughtfully, trying to cheer him up or comfort him.

[I think you should really try talking to him. I know you guys have always had trouble getting along even for two minutes, but it's clear to a lot of people now that you guys really like each other.]

"Yeah…even my mailman has gotten suspicious lately and asked me if I was going on a 'hot date' with that 'handsome bartender'. It was awkward to say the least especially since he's a guy. Well, I mean when you squint he does have some feminine features like his legs are a bit slim and he's kind of curvy…"

[Izaya…]

"Oh right, sorry." Izaya says as he nods. "Well…I suppose I should just give in…I'm not hesitating because I'm still wanting him to suffer…it's just I'm really nervous about talking with him."

[Well, let me take you to him. I bet he'll be just as nervous, so you don't have to worry. Besides, he's probably missing you a lot.]

"Fine…" He says before getting up. "If this little plan of yours fails, I'm holding you responsible. So, that means you'll have to buy me a week's worth of fatty tuna." I sigh. What have I gotten myself into?

Shizuo's POV

It's been a week since I've seen Izaya. I know he said he wanted to be alone, but a week's kind of pushing it. I mean, I bought him a bunch of stuff and sent him a lot of letters and whatnot to make up for that whole letter fiasco and he still hasn't gotten back to me. Tom has noticed that I haven't been in the best of moods lately. I threw a guy twenty feet in the air for bumping shoulders with me accidently. And then when some client gave us the wrong amount of money (by three hundred yen) I almost broke his neck. He had the money, but he said he miscounted. Unfortunately, he was telling the truth and I just went ballistic on him for the equivalent of three U.S. dollars. I'm pretty sure that guy's life is worth a lot more than that even if he is sort of a scumbag.

"Shizuo…is something wrong?"

"No." I say dully.

"Well, you've been acting more violent than usual."

"I hate violence." I growl under my breath.

"Yeah…well, for a guy who hates violence you sure know how to cause a lot of damage…to people and property…"

"That bench was crooked. It was driving me crazy." I say with irritation.

"It was supposed to be crooked. It was public art." Tom explains calmly.

"Well, the artist should have made 'public art' that wasn't crooked."

"Shizuo…you really need to try to relax…maybe you should go to someplace where there's a nice hot spring resort." There are some things that shouldn't be said around me, one is 'hot spring' because now I'm being flooded with a bunch of naughty thoughts about Izaya and me 'enjoying' a hot spring together. My face starts to get hot and my heart rate speeds up. "Are you okay, Shizuo? You look like you have a fever."

"I-it's nothing!" I say a bit louder than I should. We fall silent for a moment before my ears prick up. "Tom, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, fire away." He says as he drinks his coffee.

"Let's say, hypothetically speaking, there's this guy who likes someone…and he confessed, but the other person says that they just want to stay friends…"

"Does this have anything to do with that information broker, Izaya Orihara?" Tom asks as he casually takes another sip of his coffee.

"What!? NO!" He looks at me calmly. "Yes…"

"You confessed to him?"

"What?! NO!" He looks at me again. "Yes…How did you know…?"

"Well, when someone tells me hypothetical stories I can already tell it's about them. So…Tell me what happened."

"You don't mind…?"

"Nah, I'd rather help you out than keep seeing you explode every time someone looks at you funny." Tom says with a smile. "Of course, I'm also willing to help you out since we're friends. Friends help each other out."

"Thanks Tom." He nods and tells me to begin my little story. I tell him about everything that had happened with the letter first and then the incident that happened recently with me confessing. He was basically just absorbing everything and nodding occasionally or voicing his opinion at times when I asked him questions. The whole thing went rather smoothly. After I was done I exhaled and tried to relax and wait for Tom to give me advice.

"Hmm, you've really messed things up." Tom says as he nods.

"Thanks for telling me so…" I say downheartedly. He waves his hands around nervously, trying to tell me that it isn't as bad as it seems and that it isn't entirely my fault.

"Seems like he's still pissed about what had happened a long time ago. And sending gifts might have got you some 'points' but it's not going to fix the mistakes you made. I think you should go back over to his place and talk to him and then pour out your feelings. I bet it'll surely warm his heart."

"What heart? That flea is a heartless parasite that feeds off of negative energy." I say as I hit my head on the table.

"And that's exactly why he doesn't want to go out with you." Tom points out as he takes another long sip of his coffee. "You have to be a little more compassionate and considerate. I know pouring out your feelings is cheesy, but since he seems to be emotional over the bad stuff, he might become sensitive and emotional over to good stuff you have to say."

"I'm afraid my life might turn into some American Disney movie." I say in irritation.

"Well, would you rather it be a Disney movie or a Shakespeare play, like Romeo and Juliet where they both die at the end?"

"Considering it's me and Izaya, even if it was a Disney movie, we'd probably be the first Disney movie where we'd both kill each other at the end."

"Glad you're ever the optimist, Shizuo." Tom says sarcastically. "Oh, but here's your chance to make things right." He says as he points over to Celty who's on her motorcycle with someone riding behind her. I can tell right away that it's Izaya even if he's got a helmet on. Celty parks her motorcycle before practically having to drag Izaya this way. When my eyes meet his, he immediately hides behind Celty, peeking his head out just a little before wiggling his ears a bit. Damn he's really cute…

Izaya's POV

I'm not emotionally ready to meet up with him just yet…I'm pretty sure Celty's annoyed with me since I'm clinging onto her pretty tightly, but I can't face him. Even the sight of him makes me uneasy.

[Come on, you can do this.]

"Easy for you to say." I say icily. "Well no, you didn't technically 'say' that but…ow! Hey!" I say as she pinches my cat ear and drags me towards the beast sitting with his master at the table. Celty exchanges a greeting with the two for a second before thrusting me towards Shizu-chan. I freeze up in front of him for a moment before recomposing myself and saying hello.

"Hey…" Shizu-chan says nervously. Tom looks from me to Shizu-chan and looks as if he's configured a conclusion before getting up and announcing that Shizu-chan can take a break because he's off to have a short meeting with a client. "Tom, wait!" Shizu-chan says as he stands up. Tom looks at him with a smile before saying to stay. Of course, being such an obedient hound, Shizu-chan sits down reluctantly and sighs.

Celty does something similar with me. By similar I mean she forces me to sit in the chair across from Shizu-chan and basically "tells" me that if I don't kiss and make up with Shizu-chan that she'll have Shinra surgically remove something very important to me. At first I thought she was talking about my brain, but then I deducted that it was something of much different importance.

She heads back to her motorcycle and glances at me once more (a bit sternly) before driving off, the sound of a horse braying filling the streets.

"She sure knows how to make a dramatic exit." I say as I roll my eyes. I look over across Shizu-chan who's looking under the table for some reason. I suddenly get freaked out and assume he's doing something perverted. I kick his shin a bit aggressively, which immediately makes him mad, which I knew it would.

"Why the heck did you do that!?"

"Ne…I thought you were…" I think about the answer in my head and deem it as unreasonable. "Never mind…sorry…"

"I was looking at your slippers." He points at my bunny slippers and glares at me.

"My sister's gave them to me."

"It's funny; you're sister's seem to be your excuse for everything that's embarrassing. The clips in your hair, the slippers, the bow on your tail; what's next?"

"Shut up, my sister's really did give me all that." I say defensively. "I don't make any of that my hobby." I add as I cross my arms. "Look, I'm only here because Celty dragged me. She said you were depressed without me."

"I was not." He says angrily.

"Well, why the heck did you send me all that stuff for then?"

"I was trying to make up for all the crap I did before."

"And you thought that would work?"

"I hoped it would…" He says a bit downheartedly. I frown as I see his saddened expression and sigh. "Listen, I know I can't do anything to make up for the whole letter incident…and the whole rejecting you incident…but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to heal those wounds…because I know you're just as tired of being alone like me…" My ears twitch a bit before flattening to my head. He smiles a bit while wagging his tail. "You know, when I'm with you I just feel a lot happier even if you cause a lot of bad shit to happen. I mean, at times I'd actually want to see you around 'bukuro because it just makes my day feel a little more purposeful."

"I've enjoyed our little chases too, I suppose." I say as my tail sways happily. "No one's as fun to play with and as dumb as my Shizu-chan." I purr happily. He blushes, probably because he heard the "my Shizu-chan" part.

"Yeah, well no one's as annoying and fun to throw things at as you flea."

"Aww, not gonna say 'my Izaya'?" I egg him as I smile and twitch my ears playfully.

"Not a chance." He says as he flips my hood onto my head and covers my eyes with it. "So…can you forgive me?" I rub my chin a bit, irritating him as always. "It's either you forgive me or I'm stuffing you inside that mailbox over there." He says as he points to said mailbox. I laugh a bit nervously.

"Alright, alright. I forgive you." He smiles.

"Good." He says before leaning over the table and kissing me on the lips. I don't remember agreeing to doing this, but I'm not gonna argue since he's a really good kisser. Besides, I'm not gonna keep fighting these feelings anymore. I suppose he's repaid his debt. He pulls away and then kisses my forehead before sitting back down in his chair. "Can we just give it a try?" Just this once…I won't fight, I won't argue…I nod with a smile as he takes my hand to hold it in his.

Suddenly, the moment is killed in a flash as we notice someone taking pictures. No doubt if it's a reporter it'll be tomorrow's cover story. I can just imagine the title; "Ikebukuro's Monster Couple Revealed" or "Strongest Man of Ikebukuro Has Unexpected Lover". It practically writes itself. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it's just Erika, one of Dota-chin's weird otaku friends.

"What the hell?"

"It's your fault for kissing me in public, protozoan." I say as I shake my head.

"I knew you guys were dating! Now I have proof!" Erika proclaims to the heavens. That girl needs to see someone about her strange obsessions.

"Jeez, she's making it seem like she found proof that Bigfoot exists." Shizu-chan says as he looks at her with an annoyed expression. "I mean, sure, it'd be more believable for Bigfoot to exist than us getting together, but she doesn't have to rub it in."

"You don't either." I say icily.

"Erika, what are you doing?" Dota-chin asks as he approaches us casually, his hands in his pockets. "Oh, hey guys…you having lunch together or something…?"

"They were kissing!" Erika informs Dota-chin happily as she practically crushes the camera with her energetic squeeze. If that camera was a person, I swear it'd be suffocating. "I have a picture of it! PROOF. P-R-O-O-F."

"Is that how you spell 'proof'? I thought it had two f's." Shizu-chan says dully as he looks at me curiously. I facepalm myself as I sigh. Of course Shizu-chan has never been the sharpest tool in the shed. Sometimes he amazes me with his short, out-of-the-blue moments of brilliance, but that moment isn't this one. He's adorable though.

"Sorry if Erika was bothering you guys." Dota-chin apologizes nervously.

"It's alright; no harm done." I say simply. That girl has a screw loose I'm sure. Stalking people on the street when they're trying to engage in intimate actions isn't something a normal person would do. Only fanatics do that. Well, fanatics, and that one weird neighbor I have who watches people making out with his binoculars. Though I have some I don't engage in such things. Observing people is entirely different from stalking them. "But in the future I think you should have tabs on that girl. She might be a public menace."

"Takes one to know one." Shizu-chan whispers whimsically before snickering. I hit his sore shin again with a smirk. He growls at me, his dog ears erect and his tail frizzed a bit. "Damn flea." He growls under his breath.

"Well, we better get going." I say as I pet Shizu-chan on the head. "Shizu-chan and I have some unresolved business to attend to." Shizu-chan looks at me curiously.

"I thought we just resolved—OW! What the fuck!?" He says as step on his foot. "IZAAAAYAAA." He says angrily as he gets up and picks up the table we were sitting on. I smile as I wave goodbye to the two spectators before running off with Shizu-chan on my heels. This is what we're used to and it's plenty fun. It's not like we're fighting now because we hate each other. It's just that some things never change.

Erika's POV

Now I've seen everything. I think it's every fangirl's dream to have their OTP to get together and now that mine has, I can die happy, but I'm not ready to die right now that's for sure. After making necessary, totally not obsessive copies of the picture I took of Shizuo-kun and Iza-kun kissing, I show the picture to anyone with working eyeballs. If my life were a movie, this would be the part in it where I start singing because I'm so darn happy. I think I might have sparkles in my eyes!

"Give me that." Kadota says as he snatches one of my copies. He looks at it for a moment before looking disgusted and surprised. It happens to almost everyone who hasn't had the wonderful opportunity to experience boy's love before. Soon, the inexperience become full-blown fanatics until at one point they find themselves not only having breakfast in the morning, but also a healthy, moderate proportion of boy's love mangas. "Look, Erika…I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for this…"

"I'm all ears to your 'perfectly logical explanation' Dota-chin."

"Stop calling me that." He says before thinking about an explanation.

"I think Kadota just wants to be like that American fictional character 'Big Brother' from that one book." Walker says before continuing. "He's trying to conceal the truth and rewrite history! He's trying to come up with a reason to make us believe that this didn't happen." He holds up a different copy of the same picture in front of Dota-chin's face.

"Get that out of my face." Dota-chin says as he looks away. "I'm not trying to 'conceal the truth' or make you guys believe it didn't happen…I only wish it hadn't. Before I caught up with you, I saw it Erika so I know it really did happen even without the damn picture. I just can't believe it."

"The two hottest guys in Ikebukuro becoming a couple? I can believe it!" I say happily.

"Of course you do, since you're into that stuff." Kadota says. "And thanks for excluding us out of the loop of 'hottest guy' contest."

"Just saying. I mean I have a list. You guys are probably in the high twenty or high thirty."

"If those two's relationship ends in disaster this city's gonna fall to ruins…" Dota-chin says. "We'll have vending machines and traffic signs as our tombstones." This isn't the end of the world as we know it, this is the beginning of a new world that we fangirls have been waiting for. Shizuo and Izaya are together! That means love really isn't dead if Ikebukuro's worst enemies can fall in love with each other. What a glorious day this is, and to think it's in a wonderful and romantic season. I mean, it's almost Christmas time!

Celty's POV

I don't think I've ever seen them happier. They're fighting, sure, but they seem pretty content. Izaya's back to his cheerful, annoying self and Shizuo's back to his normal violent nature instead of extremely violent and depressed state. Shizuo may be half dog right now, but even before this incident happened, he was still the kind of person who enjoyed having someone's company. He hates it that his strength and temper get in the way of interpersonal relationships. I'm pretty sure he's been longing for a lifetime partner as well. And despite all that Izaya's done to Shizuo, he's noticed that Izaya is the only person who seems to look for him and isn't afraid. I have to be honest that even if my body is incapable of dying, I'm always kind of surprised by how much damage Shizuo can do. I'm not afraid, but I still like to steer clear of him whenever he's on a rampage.

I get back home and find Shinra sitting on the couch trying to pet Blackstorm. He's not having any luck though since Storm doesn't like him very much and so he continues to hiss and lift his body up menacingly.

"Ah, you're back. So how did things go?" Shinra says as he notices me.

[Pretty good.] I answer him happily. [I don't think they'll ever stop their little chases…but I guess couples have their own ways of showing their affection…]

"Heh, 'couples'?" I nod before searching my phone for a picture I took before driving off. "They kissed in public like that? How peculiar, especially since it was Shizuo who took the initiative. I was betting on Izaya…" Shinra sighs before smiling. "Remind me to pay Simon the next time I see him…"

[You made a bet with Simon?]

"I would have made a bet with Kadota but he didn't want to. He said he wasn't interested in their love life. Normally I don't like to make bets, but I thought it'd be kind of fun…Are you sure Izaya wasn't the one who kissed Shizuo first?"

[I'm positive.]

"Darn…I was really looking forward to winning a thousand six hundred and forty-eight yen…" Shinra says downheartedly. "Well, there's always next time." I stay still for a moment. He knows perfectly well that I'm glaring at him. "I chose betting this way rather than playing poker at least. You know how bad I am at poker. You on the other hand…" I hit the back of his head. "Right, right sorry…Well, now that those two are on better terms I suppose I'll be seeing them less often. I mean I'm hoping they'll still come and visit but I'm guessing visiting because of cuts and bruises will be a thing of the past."

A thing of the past…seems too good to be true.

A/N: It's right around the time of the year where I get really festive. I really wanted to have this story sort of flow into Christmas time since it's cute to me. I hope you guys are okay with that. Anyway, please review. I tried my best to make it funny yet sweet. Anyway, please tell me how I did. THANK YOU!