Yay, chapter 25! I promise I'll make the chapters longer soon enough. As soon as finals are over, I'll be able to concentrate more on this…Enough excuses! On with mah story!

Understanding

Shizuo left for work a little past three. They had decided to just meet the next day instead of later that night, because of the brute's clustered schedule.

"There's no reason for you to be traveling here so late at night. We'll pick back up tomorrow," Izaya had said.

"But…will you be okay?" Shizuo had asked.

"Of course. I'm Izaya fucking Orihara," was the playful reply.

Now, the sun was setting over the tops of the large buildings. Izaya watched the golden arches dance across the glass, scrolling across the buildings. He honestly wasn't sure of what to do with himself. He didn't have anyone to track down, the chat rooms were empty. Shizuo was gone…

"Maybe I should've just told him to come back here…" the raven thought out loud.

"Just call him! He'll come here once he's off!" Psyche said happily.

"I can't just do that. What does that say about me?" Izaya sighed.

"That you enjoy his company? Yes, what a tragedy indeed," Hibiya jeered.

"Shut up, Hibiya. Why don't you go let Delic fondle you some more?" Izaya snapped.

"Haha! Well, they are in a relationship now~!" Psyche sing-songed.

"They're what?" Izaya's eyes were wide. He remembered that he hadn't been conscious during any of the current sessions.

"Stupid plebeian! I told you not to tell him that!" Hibiya yelled.

"Uwah! I'm sorry, Hibi-chan! It slipped!"

"Hey, Orihara. Did you know that Psyche and Tsugaru confessed to each other? They're in looovvvveee," Hibiya retaliated.

"Meanie! Mine was by accident!"

Izaya stood beside the counter, listening to the voices inside his head argue with each other. He couldn't say he was mad, because he wasn't. Honestly, he had known it would lead to this direction.

"Congrats, you two. I guess you've tamed your monsters well," he said quietly.

"Eh? I heard that correctly, right? You…congratulated us?" Hibiya sounded flabbergasted.

"Iza-chan! You're being so understanding!" Psyche said.

"No. I'm just tired of fighting a useless battle. Since you're part of me, I know I can't control what you do entirely. You're just as stubborn as me. The more I tell you not to do something, the more you'll do it. So just do what you want."

"Maybe you should tell Roppi that…He won't talk to either of us," Psyche said sadly.

Izaya looked over his shoulder at the manifested raven sitting in the swivel chair. His arm had matching bandages and his usual fierce eyes were hollow as he stared blankly.

"Hachimenroppi. Manifesting again are we?" The informant asked, walking to the front of the desk.

"Yes. It gets tiring in there," Roppi pointed to Izaya's head.

"Psyche tells me I should talk to you. You're depressed?"

"Psyche is about as intelligent as a caterpillar."

"He's worried for you," Izaya explained.

"He's nosy," Roppi countered.

"Look," Izaya leaned against the desk and he got closer to the brooding male, "I'm not going to press and force you to tell me what's bothering you. But I'm not stupid. I know something is obviously wrong with you."

"I scared Tsuki. He trusts me so much and all I can do is hurt him…" Roppi looked out the window, avoiding the carmine gaze. "He told me…he loved me…and I slashed myself to pieces in front of him."

Izaya frowned at the word "love" but didn't comment on it.

"Hmm. Seems like a weird way to respond," Izaya said dryly. Roppi glanced up at him.

"You're being awfully blasé about this. No yelling this time? No telling me that I can't make my own decisions? How unlike you."

"Well, don't get used to it. I'm too tired to fight you," Izaya said, yawning. "Do you actually want advice?"

"Do you actually have any that won't piss me off?"

"I do. Explain your position to him. From what I heard, Tsuki is the understanding type. He'll listen," Izaya suggested.

"I don't know what to tell him. What can I say that'll make him forgive me for scaring him so bad?"

"You could try saying you're sorry. That's always an option."

"Could…you let me…talk to him?" Roppi asked, blushing a little bit.

"You're asking me? Wow, you're being so considerate! Here I thought you all just did what you wanted. If you want to go see him, I won't stop you. Just know that the brute is working late tonight," Izaya laughed.

"He left you all alone? Haha, what will you do here all by yourself?" Roppi looked up at him.

"I'm not alone. You're here, aren't you?" Izaya smirked.

"Yes. But I'm not supposed to be."

Shizuo walked beside Tom, letting his mind wander. He barely noticed where they were going, what they were doing, who he was punching.

"Hey, you alright? You seem out of it tonight," Tom remarked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Just thinking," Shizuo replied. There was so much on his mind at the moment he felt like he'd burst. Shinra had said he'd lose his personalities and become one person again. That was a good thing…right?

"Anything you want to discuss?" Tom pressed.

"Nah. It's not anything too important. Who else is on the agenda tonight?"

"A man named Kento Watanabe. He's borrowed a lot of money from me and hasn't paid any of it back," Tom scoffed. Shizuo's eyes widened.

"Kento?" Couldn't be the same guy…

"Yeah. His grandfather died or something. I don't know, or care. I just want my money. Ready to do this?"

"Hell yeah." Shizuo snarled animal like as they walked to some upscale apartments. Finally, he could beat someone up he actually wanted to.

"Watanabe-san isn't here. He's at the hospital," a maid said as she answered the door.

"Do you know when he'll be released?" Tom asked.

"No sir. His injuries seemed pretty bad. Can I take a message?"

"No. We'll visit later. Have a good evening." The two men stepped back out into the streets.

"Damn! People keep beating me to my own targets!" The dreadlocked man sighed.

"Hmm. Maybe the dick deserved it," Shizuo remarked, following his irate boss.

"Hell, I know he did. Anyway, he was the last one I needed you to get tonight. It was going to take time, but I guess now you're free to leave if you want to. Hopefully the bastard is out in a week. We'll send him back to the hospital."

Shizuo grinned, looking at his watch. It was ten p.m. Sighing, he observed his feet as he set off to his apartment. He really half-hoped the smaller man would be there like last time. He trudged through the bustling streets, mildly noting that it was cloudy outside. If it rained, he would sleep good that night at least. He opened his door and…silence.

Izaya hadn't come after all. His apartment was empty. Shizuo disappointedly changed clothes, put food in the microwave, and went to the window to smoke. He stared at the dark clouds moving over the moon, blowing smoke out every now and then. He wondered what the smaller man was doing. He hoped the damn informant was alright. When the beeping of the machine signaled the food was ready, he ground out the tiny remainder of his cigarette, rising to shut the beeping up. He sat on the couch, flipping on the television. Damn, nothing good was on. He settled on some stupid sitcom and ate in silence, when his door opened.

"Shizuo, I need a favor," Hachimenroppi shoved through the opening like he owned the place, stopping in front of the blond man. He was dripping wet.

"Hachimenroppi? What-Is everything okay? Is Izaya-?"

"Yes, yes, Izaya is fine. Well, fine as he usually is. I…need to speak with Tsuki," Roppi admitted, glaring at his feet.

"Right now?" The brute was surprised by the boldness the other man was showing.

"No. I walked here in a rainstorm and burst in your apartment just to ask you that before I left," Roppi said sarcastically in a very "Izaya-like" way.

"Fine, fine. Damn pesky fleas…" the blond grumbled, rising to put his plate in the sink before going to his small bedroom to get the items Tsuki would need. When he emerged, he was no longer Shizuo.

"R-Roppi! How…are you?" Tsuki asked, his garnet gaze resting on the bandages.

"I'm…fine…" the smaller man stated, shuffling his feet uncomfortably.

"No you're not! You're soaking wet! Come on!" Tsuki dragged the other man to the tiny washroom to remove his sopping jacket and forcibly dry him with a towel.

"Tsuki! Tsuki, I can dry myself!" Roppi exclaimed as he was assaulted with the terry cloth material.

"No, let me do it! You only got soaked because you came here to see me! It's my fault…It's my fault you cut yourself too…" Tsuki whimpered. Roppi looked up to see his eyes full of tears.

"That wasn't your fault. It was mine. That's…actually why I'm here…I'm…sorry. I'm so sorry." Roppi used the edges of the towel to dry the taller man's tears.

"But…I thought I made you do it…because I wouldn't leave…"

"I would've done it anyway. Probably worse if you hadn't stopped me… Forgive me, Tsuki."

The blond smiled gently down at the man, slowly moving the towel over raven tresses.

"Of course I forgive you. I lo-…like you a lot." he said, moving the towel down to Roppi's neck. "Your clothes are all soaked. Do you want to wear some of Shizuo's? You'll get a cold."

"That sounds good." They went to dig out some dryer clothes for the sopping man. He decided on a simple t-shirt and sweatpants. Tsuki laughed.

"I've never seen Roppi dressed so casually! It's funny!" he giggled.

"They're all I have," Roppi mumbled, flushing. He scratched his wounded arm. The bandages were sticking from the moisture and it was uncomfortable.

"Stop that. You'll cut them open again," Tsuki said, unwrapping the offending material. His eyes scanned over the wounded flesh. He moved his fingers over the gashes gently. He lowered his mouth, kissing them.

"Tsuki…" Roppi's voice was filled with sadness.

"Don't do this anymore. Your skin is too pretty to cut open like this," Tsuki said quietly, kissing up the arm. His lips moved up the Roppi's shoulder, then to his neck, up to his jaw line. Their eyes met.

"I won't do it ever again… I don't want it to hurt you, too," Roppi whispered.

"Hurt me all you want. Just don't hurt yourself." Tsuki ran his fingers through black hair, marveling at the man before him as he re-wrapped fresh bandages over the wounds. He looked down at the blushing raven. Hesitantly, he brought their lips together. It was a gentle kiss… At least, it started out that way. Roppi brought his arms up to intertwine around the taller man's neck, and Tsuki's large hands rested on thin hips. Taking initiative, the blond ran his tongue along the raven's bottom lip. Roppi couldn't believe how forward the gentle man was being, but he opened his mouth and welcomed the curious tongue as it moved around his own.

"R-Roppi…you taste…amazing," Tsuki moaned before he resumed his deep kissing. The smaller man was pushed against the wall as he was devoured, his quiet moans swallowed by the blond. Roppi's hands moved to Tsuki's back, scratching across the clothing. The taller man groaned at the harsh treatment.

"I love it when you do that…" Tsuki whispered, licking along the raven's mouth. He pulled their bodies closer, accidentally pushing their hips together.

"Nnn, Fuck…Tsuki…" Roppi hissed, repeating the action.

"You're…hard…" Tsuki mumbled against his lips.

"You are, too…"

"…What should we do?" Tsuki asked, sounding nervous. Roppi laughed quietly.

"Tsuki, you're so cute sometimes," he said as he put his hand inside the blond's sweatpants.

"Hah…Roppi…." The tall man moaned, resting his forehead against the raven's. "What…are you doing?"

"This is how you fix it…" Roppi said, moving his hand along the length. He started slow, moving his fingers from the base to the tip, loving the whimpers the blond was making as he held on to him for dear life. He was taken by surprise when Tsuki mimicked his actions, moving his hand inside the raven's pants. Roppi purred, connecting their mouths again as he showed Tsuki how to move his hand correctly by example. His nimble fingers started moving faster, stroking the blond rather harshly as he swallowed the moans.

"Rop-Roppi…Roppi…" Tsuki repeated like a mantra, mirroring the smaller man's hand as he stroked the raven in return.

"Feel…alright?" Roppi asked, going even faster.

"Incredible…ah…"

"Agreed…"

Their hands continued until Roppi heard a strangled cry from the blond. Tsuki's release splattered in his hand first, the man panting hard. Roppi was quick to follow, hearing Tsuki choke out his name as he came pushing him over the edge. Tsuki slumped on top of him, crushing him against the wall. They were both breathing hard, looking into each other's eyes. Roppi found forgiveness in those ruby eyes. Tsuki found the emotion he wanted to see in the raven's garnet gaze.

"I…love you, Roppi," Tsuki said, kissing the smaller man's forehead.

"…I know… you do…" Roppi whispered, leaning into the touch.