... ...
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"Ah Masaomi-kun, Saki-chan, are you two going to watch the fireworks later?"
"…You know we are." Masaomi deadpanned.
"I'm so looking forward to the fireworks!" Saki said cheerily. "Is Izaya-san going to watch them too?"
"Of course!" Izaya smirked, "I wouldn't miss them for the world!" He hummed, "Ah I already have the world after all! A world full of lovely humans~"
"Don't you think it'll be nice, standing on top and looking down at the world?"
"I hope you fall down." Masaomi muttered.
Izaya merely smirked. "I'll wave to you, Masaomi-kun!"
"Whatever."
"Anyway, why is Shizu-chan taking so long?" Izaya sighed, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture, "Where did he stomp off to? He said he went to play a game but why play a game he'll lose anyway? Not that I care what that monster's doing."
"If you didn't care would you even be complaining?" Masaomi mumbled. He wished night would come already so the fireworks could start and he and Saki could watch them without the two most dangerous men of Ikebukuro lounging around. For Izaya probably had something to do with them, the way he kept on rambling about them, and wherever Izaya was, Shizuo would follow.
Or rather, Izaya would make him follow.
"Hm? What was that, Masaomi-kun?"
"Nothing, Izaya-san."
"Iii-zaaaaa-yaaaaa-kuuuuuun…"
Izaya gave a miniscule yelp as something landed on his head. He blinked at the paws in front of his eyes. "Eh?"
Masaomi stared, and then slapped a hand to his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter at the black haired man's bewildered expression as a golden-brownish dog sat on top of his head.
"…Shizu-chan?" The informant tilted his head back, looking up into two brown eyes. "…What is this?"
"A dog." Shizuo said bluntly.
"Huh?"
Shizuo scoffed in exasperation and removed the dog from Izaya's head. Izaya turned around in curiosity. The debt collector was holding a golden retriever soft toy by its ear, between his thumb and forefinger. He must have been using the littlest strength, since the ear was miraculously still attached to the dog.
The informant collected himself and gave a smirk, "Eh Shizu-chan, it's nice to know you've given into your beastly nature and brought a dog back for dinner, but you know, you don't have to shove it in my face- oof!" Izaya glared at the dog, who stared back at him with big brown eyes, "Shizu-chan, watch where you're swinging that animal! It almost hit me!"
"Good." Shizuo said as if he didn't care. Which he didn't. He had done it on purpose, actually. He pushed the dog closer to the informant's face, "Hurry up."
"Huh?"
"…It's for you."
Izaya stared at Shizuo's gift to him like it was one of his rare failed plans. "Shizu-chan. You're…giving this to me?"
"Yeah. Hurry up and take it before I change my mind!"
-That moment he had never predicted, in the informant of Shinjuku, there was something trying to get out, be free of the confining walls.
Something the humans called-
A heart.
Izaya just stared at him like he was a normal person seeing the monster of Ikebukuro the first time, and annoyed, Shizuo grabbed his hands and shoved the stuffed toy into them. "I said take it!"
The dog was big, though it was not gigantic, it was bigger than anything he had won for his humans. And Shizuo had pushed it forcefully into his arms – causing the slender informant to stumble and almost topple.
W-Wha- it's so big and golden…like Shizu-chan…could it be…?
Izaya stared speechlessly at the dog's golden fur and brown eyes. The dog stared back.
The man who had effortlessly beat almost all the games he could find in the amusement park and given the prizes to his beloved humans did not know what to do when someone gave a prize to him.
For the first time.
"I-I…"
Izaya stuttered, then blushed and averted his gaze, his slender hands squeezing the toy close to his chest.
"T-Thanks…"
Shizuo stared at him. "No…problem…"
There was an awkward silence, then Izaya buried his red face in the dog's golden fur. "Stop staring at me."
"R-Right," Shizuo said awkwardly, coughing and looking away from the strangely adorable (damn it) flea.
When he couldn't take the silence anymore, he blurted, "Stop blushing, damn it! Why are you acting so weird?! Didn't you want me to win something for you?!"
Shit. I should hate him, I should hate him! So why can't I? Ah damn you, you're making me feel weird…
What the hell is this? Why am I acting this way? What's happening to me? I hate him, I hate him so much. But it's…so warm.
What….is this feeling in my chest? Is it an emotion?
Tch. How troublesome…
"I'm not blushing, it's Shizu-chan who has a weird imagination." Izaya said. He lifted his face, which was thankfully no longer red and Shizuo was inclined to believe the flea's words, "I didn't expect Shizu-chan to actually win something for me."
"Hah?" Shizuo stared, "Wasn't that the whole point of the competition with the kid?"
"Yes yes, but I didn't expect Shizu-chan to actually do it!"
"What the hell do you mean? Then why did you say that?" Shizuo shouted in frustration, "I really don't get you!"
"…Shizu-chan really can't understand a girl's feelings-"
"For the last fucking time, you're not a girl shitty flea-"
"Shizu-chan can't understand his girlfriend's feelings," Izaya sighed, "Even though Shizu-chan is a tsundere…"
"…You…just now you said something bad, didn't you?" Shizuo grinned crazily, his eyebrow twitching. "That word again, what the hell does that mean?!" He gritted his teeth, reaching out, "Say anymore and I'll rip that apart!"
"NO!" Izaya yelled so loudly Shizuo's hand froze. "You can't!"
"What do you mean I can't?! That's mine!"
"Shizu-chan gave it to me, so it's mine now!" Izaya said, glaring and hugging the golden dog with brown eyes close to his chest, "Shizu-chan can't touch it!"
"Izayaaaaaa…"
He was met with a knife near his face, "If Shizu-chan wants to destroy it I'll stab you and spill blood all over the bartender suit Kasuka-kun gave you!"
"…You wouldn't dare."
Izaya smirked, and Shizuo was almost gratified to see that familiar, normal malice in his eyes. "Want to try?"
Shizuo and Izaya entered into a glaring contest, which gave Masaomi the chance to fish the stuffed toy out of Izaya's hands.
"Ah what is this- it's so cute!" The blond sang happily.
"Masaomi!" Oh yes, that was sweet, sweet horror in Izaya's voice.
"So adorable!" Masaomi smiled brightly as he snuggled the dog close to his cheek, messing up the fur which was shades lighter than his blond hair, "It's mine now!"
"Ah Izaya-san," Masaomi sang as he dodged Izaya's knife, "Don't do that. You wouldn't want to hurt," he held Shizuo's gift in front of his face like a hostage, "The little adorable thing, would you?"
Izaya glared, and Masaomi relished in it. Who knew taunting Izaya would be so fun?
Izaya, on the other hand, was not so amused. His first gift was taken away from him. His first gift from none other than the unpredictable Heiwajima Shizuo. Masaomi really had a death wish, didn't he.
-He's a dead man.
Shizuo noticed, "Oi Kida," he said, "That's enough. Give it back to him."
Masaomi was suddenly reminded of the phrase, Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned. Not that Izaya was a woman, he shuddered to think of a female Izaya, him being a girl online was disturbing enough. To think the girl Kanra who acted cute and bubbly and gossiped was actually the most evil man he had the misfortune to come to know.
Yeah, Hell really hath no wrath like an Izaya scorned, with the way Izaya was looking like he was actually angry.
In all the years he had known Izaya, he had never seen him angry. Izaya was a bastard but if there was one good thing about him, it would be his lack of anger and temper.
"Kida Masaomi."
"Oh shit that's my full name isn't it-"
"If you don't want to be humiliated and bleeding in front of your girlfriend, give that back. Now."
"Shizuo-san's girlfriend my foot. You Yandere, Izaya-san."
"Or do you really want to know my real skill with a knife?" Izaya held up- no, wielded his knife, menace flashing in his crimson eyes, "You would have the honor of being the first, for even Heiwajima Shizuo doesn't know."
Heiwajima Shizuo. Who was silent and looking at Izaya with a new look.
"Mental note, Izaya uses full names when he's pissed off and that's fucking scary so never piss him off again-"
Izaya's eyes flashed dangerously, and Masaomi was glad he had held back the whimper and that his hands weren't trembling.
"Masaomi you idiot," he heard a feminine sigh, and then he was the one getting the dog plucked out of his hands, "Here, Izaya-san. Don't hurt Masaomi, okay?"
"Men, really…not understanding how a girlfriend feels…"
Izaya blinked, then smiled happily as he received the toy Shizuo had won for him, "Saki-chan's so kind!" He said brightly, keeping his knife so he could hold the brownish-golden dog with both hands. "But you know Saki-chan, your boyfriend's such a big bully!"
Masaomi stilled as a smirk crossed Izaya's face and those menacing eyes shifted to him, "That's why I had to teach him a lesson, you know? Ah it's fortunate Saki-chan is smart enough, ne?"
"Masaomi didn't understand Izaya-san's feelings," Saki said sympathetically, and Masaomi felt a new respect for his girlfriend as she beamed at Izaya with no fear in her eyes, "But I understand! Izaya-san really treasures his first gift from his boyfriend and Masaomi took that away, that's why he got mad!" She leaned forward, meeting Izaya's eyes, "Because I treasured my first gift from Masaomi too."
"Heh~ I knew Saki-chan was smart!"
"I learn from the best, Izaya-san!"
"I'm flattered, Saki-chan~!
The two girlfriends began their round of feminine giggling, until Saki grinned and said, "But Izaya-san, it's such a cute dog! The one you call Shizu-chan is really sweet to win that for you!"
"It is, isn't it?" Izaya said dreamily, his eyes glimmering, "It's mine."
It's mine. The words sent a shiver down Masaomi's spine as Izaya had once again directed his malicious gaze to him.
"Yes...It's yours, Izaya-san."
Izaya grinned, "Glad you know, Masaomi-kun!" He said, but there was no mistaking the threat in his narrowed eyes before he turned away.
Masaomi was not as into anime and manga as his best friend Mikado was but at that moment, he knew -Orihara Izaya was a Yandere.
That was a frightening enough thought to give Kida Masaomi nightmares for a week.
The blond walked like a robot to the silent man.
"…Shizuo-san. Your girlfriend is scary."
And my girlfriend kind of is too…to be able to talk to Izaya like that
"Yeah. Maybe that's why Izaya is my girlfriend."
Shizuo said distantly, staring at Izaya who was smiling brightly and snuggling the toy close to himself.
"…What?"
"I mean, who else can be my girlfriend? With this monster strength of mine."
Shizuo spoke as if to himself, looking at his hand.
"For some reason, Izaya isn't scared and though he pisses me off he doesn't get pissed off and he accepts it when I'm pissed off even though he's the one pissing me off. Ah but looks like Izaya can get pissed off. That was kind of scary, actually, since in all the –nine years I've known him, I've never seen him angry before. Ah wait not that scary though since the flea is still the flea. Izaya is still Izaya."
He exhaled as Kida stared at him, his brain still trying in vain to comprehend Shizuo's logic.
"…So maybe that's why he's my girlfriend? Is having a scary girlfriend good? I wouldn't need to worry about hurting a scary girlfriend, right? Since Izaya himself can be scary especially to others so he's not scared by me."
"…What the hell am I saying? Am I actually considering Izaya being my girlfriend? He's not even a girl. Would that make him my boyfriend then? Do I even swing that way?"
"I…see…" Masaomi finally found his voice.
"Yeah. I'm a monster with this strength of mine so maybe it sort of fits, huh? Izaya as my girlfriend. I wouldn't want to put an actual girl in danger. So Izaya is like some trash to take out my anger on since that shitty flea likes to provoke me anyway, I wouldn't feel guilty about releasing this anger on him. So, we'd be sort of close but he wouldn't get hurt. Isn't that good?"
"…"
Shizuo blinked after he had processed another thought.
"Ah but Izaya is the one person I want to get hurt…"
Masaomi opened his mouth but no sound came out. Heiwajima Shizuo seemed to have an unknown talent for rendering people speechless.
"…Argh, WHATEVER!"
Masaomi jolted as the man in a bartender suit yelled, eyes widening.
"This is so fucking confusing! That's why I hate thinking, it messes things up! Ahhh, it makes me hate that bastard who made me think even more!"
Masaomi watched warily as Shizuo started to pace rapidly, the scowl on his face deepening with every step he took-
"ANNOYING, ANNOYING! ANNOYING!"
It was at this point that Masaomi took careful steps back – he did not want to be seen as a potential object to be thrown by the volatile man.
What would Saki say? She loved him so much she would want to be thrown after him, and he didn't want that at all.
"Shizu-chan!"
At the sound of the familiar voice, Masaomi was now backing away rapidly, back to his beloved girlfriend's side.
I am not involved in this, I am not involved in this! I don't know these two crazy people at all!
"HAH?!"
Izaya blinked, "Eh, Shizu-chan is angry again?" He cradled the golden retriever with brown eyes to his chest.
"YEAH-" Shizuo stopped short at the sight, his eyes widening. Izaya blinked at him.
"Shizu-chan?"
"…DAMN IT!" The man in a bartender suit stomped forward, jabbing a finger at the informant-
"LISTEN, SHITTY FLEA! STOP LOOKING SO GOD DAMN CUTE YOU'RE DOING IT ON PURPOSE AREN'T YOU TO MAKE ME HAVE WEIRD THOUGHTS AND SO I CAN'T BEAT YOU UP-I HATE THINKING SO STOP – HUGGING THAT-T-THING LIKE THAT, DAMN IT!"
"…Shizu-chan thinks I'm cute?"
"THAT ISN'T THE FUCKING POINT!"
"Shizu-chan is really mad!" Izaya grinned and lifted the dog, plonking it onto his head so that it stared at Shizuo with its brown eyes.
"Hey Shizu-chan, this dog kind of looks like you! Eh it's so suitable, don't you think, since both dogs and Shizu-chan make loud, annoying noises!"
"WHAT?! YOU WANT ME TO RIP THAT THING APART?!"
"…Shizu-chan can't do that. I'll get mad."
Izaya said and the look in his eyes was a different one, his voice low and devoid of amusement.
"…Tch!" Shizuo said and looked away so that Izaya couldn't see the look in his eyes.
The silence between them did not last long because of the information broker.
"Hey Shizu-chan, where should I keep it? I wouldn't want it to drop off later."
"Huh?" Shizuo turned and stared.
Izaya's hand which had been ruffling the dog's soft fur stilled.
"Nothing, Shizu-chan."
"…Okay."
Shizuo stared at Izaya. Izaya stared back. Red eyes met blue.
The information broker and the debt collector met each other's eyes for the first time, for once truly seeing the other without weapons and barriers.
Neither knew whom had looked away first.
There was an awkward silence as the two most dangerous men of Ikebukuro stood, not looking at each other as if they were a couple on their first date.
Nerves frayed the air.
"It's -"
Izaya didn't sound like Orihara Izaya, his voice choked. But he managed a weak smirk anyway.
"A good thing that cat wasn't a gift to Shizu-chan huh? Or it would be quite a pathetic gift, even for Shizu-chan."
"Ou."
Shizuo agreed awkwardly.
"It would be quite pathetic, even for you, shitty flea."
There was no anger in Heiwajima Shizuo's voice.
"Yeah and that would make Shizu-chan more generous than me. And how could it be? Shizu-chan's just a monster after all."
As he said this, the information broker who controlled the underworld was hugging a child's toy close to his chest – a golden dog with fur the same color as the man in the bartender's suit usual hair color.
"Yeah."
It seemed Shizuo wasn't even aware of what he was saying, for he was agreeing with Orihara Izaya, as his hand went to his pocket, fingers curling carefully around the keychain of a black cat in a trash can.
"But I like it."
"Right…"
Izaya rested his chin on the golden retriever's fur, hoping it covered his reaction of embarrassment.
"So that's why it's a really good thing it isn't a gift from me to Shizu-chan. I wouldn't like Shizu-chan to like something I gave him."
"Yeah."
Shizuo cleared his throat, not looking at Izaya.
"It's definitely not a gift. Just something you decided to dump on me for your amusement. Shitty flea."
"T-That's right…"
Silence.
"That was really sweet," Saki said in awe, "Izaya-san, I happily concede defeat!" She clapped her hands together, eyes shining, "It's your win! That was so romantic, Izaya-san."
"Eh?" Izaya blinked.
…
Masaomi wished Izaya would stop blinking – and stop hugging that dog – for it gave the deceiving notion of Izaya's innocence which didn't even exist. An innocent Orihara Izaya was an impossible existence.
Without even trying, Izaya had overturned his notion of precious normalcy again. Damn it.
Where was his Sanity when he needed her? Oh yeah, he had said goodbye to her hours ago at the start of this whole ridiculous fiasco.
And so Masaomi said something or he felt he would scream at the insanity happening before him-
Which, if personified, he was sure was male, as he did not feel attracted to Insanity at all.
And because it was associated with Orihara Izaya, who was male. A very evil male.
-If Insanity existed as a person, his name would be Orihara Izaya.
"Yes…" the boy clenched his teeth, "Saki says so…it's your win, Izaya-san," he glanced hesitantly at the man in a bartender suit. "Shizuo-san."
"Ah." Shizuo blinked. "Win what?"
"The…Boyfriend Competition?"
"Ou." Shizuo said in realization. "That stupid ass competition the flea and the girl came up with. I see." He said to himself. "It's my win?"
"Yes…"
"Is that so." Masaomi blinked as a satisfied grin spread across Shizuo's face and he turned, "Hear that, Izaya-kun?! I am a good boyfriend, shitty flea! Regardless of your shitty words! The kids you know said so, HUH!"
"Ah Shizu-chan," Izaya seemed to have regained his usual amusement in his voice, "Congratulations! Let me clap for you." Shizuo twitched as the informant gave two solid claps radiating sarcasm, a smirk on his face. "But you see Shizu-chan, I'm the real winner here, since this competition was between me and Saki-chan, ne?"
"Hah?!" Shizuo scowled, "What the hell are you talking about – you didn't even do anything! I did all the fucking work! So it's my win, shitty flea!"
"Oh, is that so?" Izaya smiled slyly. He stroked the fur of the dog in his hands, "But you know Shizu-chan, the title of the competition was 'Whose Boyfriend is Better'. So it makes sense that the girlfriends, which are Saki-chan and Yours Truly, are the ones competing, right? Mmm." He hummed, resting his chin on soft fur, the innocent action contrasting the triumphant smirk on his face, "So if it's anyone's win, it's mine! Not Shizu-chan's."
"…So basically," Shizuo said slowly, "You used me to obtain victory while not doing anything yourself."
"Yup! Shizu-chan is surprisingly fast today!"
Shizuo grinned, crazily, as he took slow steps forward. "Ii-za-yaaa…"
"Shizuo-san," Saki said so cheerfully that Shizuo stopped and looked at her, "Please don't be angry at Izaya-san. It's his way of showing his affection!"
"Affection?" Shizuo growled.
"Uhuh! Izaya-san really wants to be a good girlfriend," Saki explained as Masaomi stared at her, "Even though it's Izaya-san's win, because Izaya-san won, you, the boyfriend, is proven to be the 'better' one against Masaomi who's my boyfriend, ne? No offence, Masaomi!"
"None taken, Saki." Masaomi said dryly.
"So what you're saying…" Shizuo blinked, "Is that Izaya won for me?"
"Saki-chan is really looking through rose tinted glasses. I didn't win for Shizu-chan, I won for myself."
"You shut up." Shizuo said, his eyes on the girl. "Don't taint her words with your shitty ones."
"Izaya-san might have won, but it's not him proven to be the better boyfriend, right? It's you, Shizuo-san." Saki spoke with a honest smile. She lowered her voice, "Izaya-san might not say it, but he had faith in you. He believed he would win for he believed you were a better boyfriend than Masaomi. As a girlfriend, Izaya won, but that was because he believed in you."
"Ah." Shizuo said in realization. "When it's not the flea talking, things sound so much better." He exhaled with a smile. "Thanks kid."
"You're welcome, Shizuo-san!" Saki smiled widely, "So, since you know, be a bit nicer to Izaya-san, okay? Give your girlfriend some grace!"
"Grace." Shizuo contemplated the word. He shrugged, "Grace, huh…"
The word triggered a memory in his mind. It was long ago, but he could remember something Kasuka had told him which he had taken to heart:
-Brother, if you ever get a girlfriend, make sure to give her grace, alright? If she makes you angry, keep calm and don't let it affect you, you don't know what's going through her mind, what she may be feeling. If not you may scare her, even though you don't intend to. Be a gentleman.
With this memory of Kasuka's words in mind, Shizuo made his decision and called out:
"Oi, Izaya."
"Hm?" Izaya regarded the man in a bartender suit with amusement, "Shizu-chan isn't angry at his loss? That's no fun…"
"It's your win." Shizuo said bluntly. "Not mine." He nodded, "That's my grace to you, shitty flea. As a good boyfriend."
Izaya stared in surprise, before he smiled. "Seriously." He squeezed the dog Shizuo had given him, "You never stop being unpredictable do you? Shizu-chan."
"Since Shizu-chan is unpredictable…maybe I should show some unpredictability too? It would only be fair, right?"
"Huh? What crap are you spouting now shitty flea-"
The monster of Ikebukuro was cut off, by an action no one had ever thought could happen.
The information broker had wrapped an arm around the debt collector's neck and leaned up-
To place a light kiss-
On the monster's untouched cheek.
Smooth lips lingered on now touched skin for a few silent, pounding seconds, then-
"This," the lips moved, "Is my returning grace to Shizu-chan."
Shizuo froze as Izaya withdrew, his arm leaving Shizuo's neck. The informant smirked at the frozen monster, "Eh, I didn't know my kiss had the power to freeze a monster like Shizu-chan!" He laughed to himself, waving a hand in front of Shizuo's face, smirking, "Hey Shizu-chan? Are you there? Are you still alive?"
Izaya's words shook Shizuo back to reality, a reality with the flea.
"You…"
"Me." Izaya proclaimed cheerfully, and discreetly tucked Shizuo's gift to him under his arm.
"YOU-"
"Me!" Izaya echoed happily, ruffling the dog's fur.
"YOU…"
Had the golden retriever under Izaya's arm been a live animal, it would have cowered in fear at the waves of anger exuding from the twitching man with dangerous eyes. It would have whimpered at the sound of something snapping in Shizuo's brain.
"YOU FUCKING FLEA!" Izaya laughed as he dodged Shizuo's punch. "HOW DARE YOU BE THE FIRST PERSON TO KISS ME ON THE CHEEK?!"
"Eh? Really? Not even your ex-girlfriend has?"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING, I DIDN'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND BEFORE YOU!"
"Wah~! Shizu-chan finally admitted I'm his girlfriend! I'm so happy!"
"You-"
"But really Shizu-chan, am I really the first? What about your parents?"
"Damn right! Not even Kasuka…Kasuka!" Shizuo's eyes flashed with rage, "You…YOU COULD HAVE JUST TOLD ME YOU WANTED TO DIE TODAY!"
"Eh, Shizu-chan's a bro-con~" Izaya smiled as he turned and ran, "How hideous!"
"I-ZAAAAAAAA-YAAAAAAA!"
"But you know Shizu-chan, that's quite pathetic!"
"LIKE YOU'RE ANY BETTER!"
Izaya grinned widely and waved, "Bye Masaomi-kun, Saki-chan!" He said cheerfully with a quick wink, "Enjoy your date! It was fun!"
"WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING, Iii-ZZAAAA-YAAAAAAA?!"
"RUNNING AWAY FROM A MONSTER LIKE SHIZU-CHAN! HAHAHHA!"
"SHUT UP! YOU HAVEN'T BEEN KISSED ON THE CHEEK BEFORE, RIGHT?! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE AND LET ME DO IT!"
"Wah- Shizu-chan, do you even know what you're saying~?"
"I'M SAYING I WANT MY REVENGE, SHITTY FLEA!"
"That's an interesting way to take revenge! Haha! HAHAHAHAHA!"
… …
… …
… …
"..."
Masaomi had never thought he would ever, ever do this, it was more unlikely than something totally unexpected and crazy like, Mikado having a crush on him. Which was very unlikely since Mikado was straight – for why else would he be so shy around ero-Anri-chan? Such a gentleman, his best friend was.
But that fond thought was promptly interrupted-
For he, Kida Masaomi, expert flirt, totally 100% straight guy, lover of big boobs, had just done something no straight guy would ever do.
He had just thanked the Gods (and fangirls) for the existence of yaoi.
"It's BL, Masaomi, BL! They haven't done anything explicit…yet."
Masaomi flushed when he realized he had said his thoughts out loud. "W-What did I say?"
Saki smirked at him, giving him a different impression of her at the moment.
"Thank you Gods of Ikebukuro and fangirls for creating yaoi."
Masaomi groaned, "Pretend you didn't hear that okay Saki."
"If Masaomi says so."
Saki smiled, hands to her cheeks. She seemed to be back to her cute self again.
"Ah, that was so cute! Izaya-san kissed Shizuo-san on the cheek! That was so adorable!"
"That was…" Masaomi gulped, trying to banish the image away, "Surprising…"
"Uhuh! It was so unexpected," Saki grinned, "But it was so cute!"
"Uh…" Masaomi said awkwardly, unable to agree with his girlfriend on the issue.
…
"Hey…"
"Masaomi?"
"Saki…" he was almost embarrassed to voice this, "Thanks…for just now. If you hadn't stepped in, Izaya-san would have…hurt me badly."
"He would have." Saki agreed. "Because Masaomi couldn't recognize Izaya-san's feelings." She sighed. "Idiot."
Masaomi flushed, but muttered, "Why would I even care about that bastard's feelings? I didn't know he even had feelings."
"Izaya-san does seem that way," Saki said airily, with that same smile she had when he had first seen Izaya with her, "That's why, I noticed."
"Eh?"
"Because Izaya-san doesn't show his feelings often, it's easy to see when he does." Saki explained the foreign concept of Izaya's feelings to him, "And he really was angry just now, you know? And scared."
"Scared?" Masaomi said blankly. "He was the one who was scary!"
"He was scary because he was scared," Saki held up a finger to stop his protests. She placed her hands behind her back, turning away and staring into the distance, "Izaya-san, he does bad things, but he's also lonely, you know? When I saw that fear in his eyes when you took Shizuo-san's gift away, I realized."
"He's lonely. He's lonely in a way no one but him can understand, even if he accepts that loneliness," Saki smiled in melancholy, "What would Masaomi feel if Masaomi isn't as popular with girls as he is, and I'm his first girlfriend, and the gift I gave you on the day of that festival was taken away?"
"…Hurt." Masaomi said after a while. "Angry. I would hurt the bastard who did that."
"Okay. What if it's your first gift?" Saki smiled, "Your first ever gift you ever received from anyone in your life?"
"…You can't be serious."
Saki just smiled calmly, "What would Masaomi do?"
"Honestly? I would probably kill the bastard." Masaomi looked at the brown haired girl, "But Saki, how do you know?"
"His reaction. Even Izaya-san couldn't fake his feelings in that moment." Saki smiled almost fondly, "And women's intuition."
Masaomi opened his mouth, and Saki said, "I know, Masaomi. Izaya-san isn't a girl." She turned, her skirt swishing in the wind, a serene smile on her face, "But girls are more acquainted with emotions, you know? And Izaya-san, was feeling so much emotion he couldn't withhold them. I recognized that…that feeling."
Masaomi thought. He was always surrounded by people who cared about him. His girlfriend, Saki, his best friends, Mikado and Anri…
What would it be like, to have no friends? To have no one who cared?
He didn't want to imagine it. The mere thought was unbearable.
Being all alone.
"I remember, when I woke up from my coma and Masaomi didn't come for a long time, I got really scared," Saki said, her hair hiding her eyes. "I started to think Masaomi hated me. I was lonely, and I cried. Then Izaya-san came."
"And even if it was Izaya-san, I felt relieved. That someone was there for me. To talk to me. To inform me of what was happening in the world outside that lonely place." Saki raised her gaze, "I heard Izaya-san was in the hospital for some time…now, I kind of regret not visiting him."
"Because…he must have been really…lonely."
Lonely. Izaya, lonely. He tried to imagine being in the hospital with only the nurses and doctors for company, with the knowledge that no one cared enough to visit him or even call him to find out his condition.
Being all alone in that white blankness.
"Saki…you're really perceptive." Masaomi sighed, holding his hand to his forehead. "I hate Izaya, that still hasn't changed. But I never realized…"
Saki giggled and smiled at him, "Izaya-san loves to observe humans for their reactions," she said, "I'm not like Izaya-san, but I like seeing people's emotions. Not like Izaya-san who plays around with human lives, but people's positive emotions. Happiness, excitement, care, love."
"And Izaya-san, was really happy, you know? He was really happy with his first gift," Saki continued with a fond smile, "It's the first time I've seen Izaya-san like that. Masaomi tried hard for me and won me a lot of nice things, but that- really was Shizuo-san's win. He isn't good at the games like Izaya-san or you were, yet he got something for him. That gesture- so simple yet so thoughtful and sincere and to Izaya-san…" Saki sighed, smiling, "Shizuo-san is really a good person."
"I don't know if he loves Shizuo-san, but he was really happy Shizuo-san gave him something. I have never seen such emotion in Izaya-san's eyes before."
"Ah, for once I agree with Izaya. Saki is so kind," Masaomi smiled genuinely at the girl he had fallen in love with, "Things…like happiness. In this cruel world, not many people recognize that."
"That's because Masaomi is by my side," Saki smiled at him sweetly, reaching out to clasp his hand in hers, "Because I have Masaomi, I can be happy. I can be no longer afraid."
"Yeah, me too. I'll protect you," he met her eyes, "I swear I won't let you be hurt again."
Saki smiled at him, "I know you will, Masaomi." She said softly.
He smiled back at her, and she said, "Out of everyone, even though Izaya-san loves to observe humans, he's the one who guards his heart the most. I know you hate Izaya-san," Saki said, looking at him. "But whether anyone accepts it, he has feelings too. Izaya-san is human too."
"Ah," Masaomi said, tightening his grasp on Saki's small hand. He raised his amber gaze to the evening sky.
"Human, huh."
… …
… …
… …
She did not tell either males she had taken a picture. She did not tell Izaya, and as Masaomi clasped her hand, she did not tell him.
A picture of Izaya showing what he was, when faced with the unpredictability of Heiwajima Shizuo –
Human.
For as Izaya observed his humans, she had observed Izaya.
It seemed that Izaya did not suspect her.
The girl, Mikajima Saki, who was Kida Masaomi's lover had known Orihara Izaya for some time. The knowledge that Izaya relied on his information was thus embedded firmly within her.
But her confidence had grown at the fact –
Izaya's information told him she was a normal girl, and that she had only gone against him because of love.
Izaya had updated his information on many people.
But he had not on her.
She was Izaya's past. Izaya did not care for his past until it caught up with him. But Izaya was a man who did not believe his past would catch up with him. He lived in the present, and future.
The past was of no definition to Izaya.
For the informant, what was important in his past was already in his present.
Saki was content with being Izaya's past, because she had found her future
– In Kida Masaomi, whom she loved and whom loved her above all other girls.
Saki knew she was different from other people, from her lover Masaomi.
She was not wary of Orihara Izaya, for she saw no reason to be.
Her injury was her own fault, the incident was her fault. She would take full responsibility. For it was her that allowed herself to be captured because she idolized Izaya. It was not Izaya's or Masaomi's fault. It was hers, and hers alone.
That was why she could smile at Orihara Izaya. Why she could speak to him normally. Why she could giggle when she saw him with the strongest man in Ikebukuro, Heiwajima Shizuo, her eyes shining–
Mikajima Saki was just that kind of girl.
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Next chapter: Intermission: Chatrooms