Pure blissful happiness.
Such was the emotion that had replaced Izaya's blood. Perhaps things were changing. Perhaps Shizu-chan would stay. Perhaps Shizuo's past life on the surface could be forgotten and he could begin anew with Izaya loyally at his side.
Shizuo's mind was burning with curiosity and unasked inquiries, as he and his...as he and Izaya walked through the streets of the underworld. Skeleton children ran amuck, laughing and playing. A ghost dog was yapping in an alleyway, which caused a skeleton cat to charge out, yowling. Shizuo yelped in surprise, as the undead creature scuttled under his feet. His heart began to pound a mile a minute. Izaya burst out laughing.
"You don't get out much; do you, Shizu-chan?"
Shizuo shrugged. "Not really...Back in my world, I'd usually spend my days hiding away in my bedroom, with my only company being my thoughts and my drawings."
"Really?" Izaya's tone was brimming with interest and curiosity. He intertwined his hand with Shizuo's, relishing the comforting warmth. "I wouldn't mind seeing them, someday."
Shizuo chuckled softly, in an almost dry manner. "Too bad you don't trust me going up to the living world."
At Izaya's half-glare, half look of hurt, Shizuo continued, "They're all at my home. I was sketching, actually, before I was forced into the ordeal that ultimately lead me to the graveyard."
He felt Izaya lean against him, content. "And to you," he added, wrapping an arm around Izaya in an embrace. Izaya couldn't help the way his stomach came alive with butterflies. This was perfect. Absolutely perfect.
᷈
"What is that ungrateful boy up to?" Kyohei's mother was irate and livid, pacing one end of the drawing room to the next, very unladylike for someone of her stature, but this was her own home. She could act however she pleased, thank you very much.
Kyohei's father sat in one of the armchairs, by the fire. Kasuka and Kadota stood against a wall. Kasuka's expression was deadpan.
Kasuka was the one who broke the silence of the corner. "Nii-san hasn't abandoned you."
Kyohei Kadota scoffed. "He ran off in the middle of our wedding rehearsal. He humiliated me!"
"My brother meant you no disrespect!" Kasuka was quick to defend his big brother. "He was nervous and scared, he acted without thinking!"
Kadota inhaled once, and then exhaled, calming down. He spoke after a moment of quiet.
"But why would he do this? He could've trusted me. He could've told me what was going on inside his head, what he was afraid of...I could've tried to help."
Kyohei couldn't stop the tears that were threatening to spill over. He felt as though he had failed his future husband, somehow allowing Shizuo to believe that he couldn't tell Kadota anything.
"I don't know," Kasuka said. "But I know Shizuo hasn't abandoned you. My nii-san will return."
Gazing out the window, at the ominous full moon, Kasuka added in a whisper, "He has to."
᷈
'What's going on with me? What have I gotten myself into?' Shizuo thought to himself, as he and Izaya sat on the single, abandoned bench, watching the sky mix its bloody shades of crimson. It was beautiful, yet terrifying. Black, ominous clouds swirled occasionally, and, if you strained your ears hard enough, you could hear the tortured screams of evil souls being punished in some ungodly place that this world harbored. It had become an almost comforting habit for Izaya to stroke and nuzzle him whenever Shizuo stiffened, having heard a tormented scream in the far distance.
"It's okay, Shizu," Izaya whispered, his head nestled in the crook of Shizuo's shoulder. "I promise it's nothing that'll hurt you."
Shizuo forced his muscles to relax, and practically went limp against Izaya, giving himself up to the raven's attentions.
'What is so wrong with me?' Shizuo demanded internally, confused at his own actions. It was as though Izaya's attention was a nutrient that Shizuo's body severely lacked, and now that it had it, his body was desperately lapping up any amount it could get, be it a nuzzle from Izaya, a heavenly stroke through Shizuo's hair, or a cuddle, Shizuo found himself desperately craving it, needing more with each moment.
'What is so wrong with me?'
Izaya smiled contently. By now, Shizuo was curled up, his head resting on Izaya's lap, eyes half-lidded as the raven ran a hand through his hair, stroking his scalp. Izaya would not have been surprised if soon Shizuo began to purr like a content kitten. It appeared as though the blond was struggling to keep his eyes open, the sensations going through him leaving him weak, completely at Izaya's mercy.
It was adorable.
"Aww...you like that, don't you, Shizu?" Izaya couldn't help but tease his flaxen-haired mate a little.
Shizuo whimpered in embarrassment, face flushing a deep crimson, curling up tightly, as if to shield himself from his own humiliation. Izaya laughed, and bent down, placing a tender kiss upon the crown of Shizuo's head.
After a moment, Shizuo nodded in confirmation, his blush deepening.
'What is so wrong with me?'
"What're you thinking about, Shizu-chan?"
Shizuo's eyes snapped open. With relief, he found his face returning to its normal pale shade. Almost hesitantly, he peeked upward at Izaya, finding the sepia-eyed corpse looking down at him with an amused, loving smile.
Shizuo got up, and, after a brief moment of hesitation, decided his best action was to scoot over to allow Izaya to cuddle into his side.
"It's nothing really," Shizuo fluently came up with an excuse. "Just wandering off with my thoughts."
Izaya snickered, deciding to tease Shizuo a bit. "Thinking about me?"
'I'm trying not to, flea.'
"Of course." Shizuo wrapped Izaya into his arms. "How could I not?"
Izaya chuckled, a faint pink blush accenting his snow-white complexion.
In the shadows, their wedding rings glistened. The symbols of the corrupted romance of a lovestruck flea, and a confused protozoan.