Her lungs were strained, the early spring air threw her a gust of wind, causing her to shiver as she continued to run. Her breathing coming out as tired pants, she pushed herself. She had to keep going. Keep going until she reached her destination. Catching a glimpse of the familiar high-rise building, she ignored the overbearing feeling of burning lungs. She had been running for about half an hour, trying her hardest to get to Shinjuku quickly. She had no time for the subway or taxis, she had to get there by feet.

She heaved, doubling over and cupping her knees, she caught her breath. The task proved almost difficult. She was not a runner. Not as a teenager, not as an adult. Deciding on walking the rest of the block, a fist clutched over her chest. She was definitely not used to exercise. In fact, she was certain it was her enemy. She was pretty sure she had sweat through her shirt as well. Finally arriving at the glass double doors, she wrenched it open, no hesitation in entering.

When she finally met with his unnervingly familiar door, she knock at it, her knuckles white and her shoulders squared. Eventually, it opened and Reika was met with that vaguely recognizable intimidating female. Namie glowered at her and Reika fought the urge to shrink back at her scary look. She was here for a reason. Silently, the noirette held open the door for her silently, her face blank. She looked over her shoulder to her 'boss' at his desk and scoffed.

"I'm taking another break." She said stoically, her tone dominate and steady. Reika meekly looked between her and Izaya, who did not give her direct eye contact as of yet. The informant nodded solemnly and Namie raised an eyebrow before rolling eyes and fetching her purse by a nearby desk. The taller, older female did not spare Reika a glance and promptly left.

"Well isn't she a delight." She muttered to herself once the door had clicked softly behind her.

"What brings you here?" His voice startled her and Reika blinked. He wasn't looking at her, but instead indulged into typing whatever he was typing.

"Why'd you do it?" She breathed, her eyes glued to his form. He stopped typing for a moment, though his eyes never faltered from the screen. It was starting to bother her. Was it so hard to merely glance at her?

"And what did I exactly do?"

"You.. sent out my resume to a job without my consent."

"Oh?" Now a sinister smirk tugged at his blank face. "And what proof do you have, Rei-chan?"

"I know it was you.." She mumbled. He was frowning now, his eyes refusing on landing on her.

"What makes you think that?" He barked a dry, humorless laugh. "What would I get out of a meaningless act of kindness?"

"It wasn't meaningless." She frowned. "It really helped me, and hopefully I'll get the job."

"You were a nurse before, right? It shouldn't be a problem." He muttered.

They froze. He realized his mistake. "So you admit it." She smiled at him. He quickly recovered. "A lucky guess, I suppose."

"You're Izaya Orihara, you do not guess." She said softly. He swallowed the lump in his throat at the buried compliment, forcing himself not to look at her. "Ah, Rei-chan, I'm flattered you think that much of me."

"Don't change the subject." She interrupted. She sighed and brought a finger to her temple, gently rubbing in motion.

.

"From all that fucked up shit you told me he did, it seems like he did it for a reason. Maybe he just wanted to keep you?"

.

"Izaya.." She found herself saying. "Are you in love with me?"

This time he stopped typing completely, his eyes widening a fraction. For a moment, it almost looked as if he was finally going to look at her, but his expression contorted into a blank void and the moment passed. His eyes were hard and a smirk graced his lips. A malicious, ill-natured tilt of the lips- but she knew. She knew it was fake. She's thought she's never seen his persona so transparent in the entire time she's known him. His voice was even and steady, but she had caught the tiny millisecond of hesitation. "My, my, of course I love you. You are apart of my precious human society. Now, if you are asking if I like you individually, the answer is no."

"You did it as an apology, didn't you." She went on as if he's never spoken. A muscle twitched in his face. "I'm sorry I've never acknowledge it before-"

"I am not in love with you, Rei-chan." This time she smiled.

"Remember what I told you," She paused as she watched him tense. Of course he remembered.

.

"I'm not that much of an idiot." She spoke. "When you call me Reika, you seem more genuine. Like you're telling the truth."

.

"You didn't call me Reika."

"That is pure stupidity," He shot down through clenched teeth. "Your perception of me has nothing to do with the truth."

"Probably. Probably not." She smiled softly at him. His eyes were locked onto hers now in a dangerous glare. "Although, you've been calling me Rei-chan since the first day I've met you, it always had a double-standard. Just as you called me Rei-chan again, there was a double meaning there." She took a step forward and he went rigid.

"Stay where you are, Sohma." He hissed, his voice a low growl. She disregarded his demand.

"You make yourself seem indestructible and unfeeling, and maybe you are. Maybe I'm really an idiot to think you have a side to you that no one's ever seen. But it's a chance I'm willing to take. What can go wrong anyway? I'm always playing it safe. My biggest risk I've ever took was moving to Ikebukuro, really. That's why I have no problem saying this." She was talking as she walked the rest of the distance to his desk.

"Get out." He snapped harshly. She ignored, maneuvering her way around the large and spacious desk. He was tense and glaring angrily at her. She was now a foot away from him. He suddenly flicked out his switchblade, pointing it threateningly at her. His arm outstretched, the point of the blade was stiffly against her neck, close enough to draw blood. She dismissed the prickle of sharp pain and smiled down at him. A bead of crimson slid down the spine of the blade in a slow, tantalizing manner.

"I don't mind getting hurt once again-"

"Stop it."

"-Or crying more pointless tears-"

"Stop."

"-It's fine really. I don't mind at all-"

"Shut up!"

"-because I forgive you, Izaya." His switchblade clattered to the floor, his hand still outstretched in the same position. Her lips were tilted upwards in a calm, sincere smile as she cradled his head to her neck comfortingly. He stiffened, his glare fading as an irritating burn sparked behind his eyes until his vision turned blotchy and unclear. It took him a moment until he realized he was letting tears build at the corners on his eyes before they fell silently. They landed onto her shoulder, and he was positive she could feel them as they dampened the material, forming small, darkened blots. His fists clutched the fabric of her shirt, his face burying into the nape of her neck. He was embarrassed to admit he hadn't been held like this since he was a mere infant, and he was sure he was blushing a fiery red as he relapsed in her warm embrace. He wasn't shaking with sobs, or even sniffling for that matter. He was simply clutching onto her to prevent from shamefully crying so openly.

"I forgive you." She repeated softly. "So long as you forgive me."

He felt relieved that the embarrassing tears had ceased, and he was now immersing himself into her warmth. He didn't respond, knowing that he had already agreed to the proposition. She distanced herself a couple inches so she may see his face. Her eyes softened and she surprised him by pressing her lips against his forehead. The action was so gentle he almost thought he imagined it. She pulled away again and tilted her head, completely oblivious to how cute it looked to him. Another smile tugged at her lips and she spoke the words that made him return the gesture.

"Let's start over, okay?"

He stared at her for a moment before closing his eyes. He shook his head before his shoulders started to tremble with fits of laughter.

"I-Izaya?" She voice careful, a string of worry lacing her tone. He suddenly threw his head back and clutched his abdomen, laughing loudly. A sound that was genuine and confused her at once. Before she could properly respond, his arms shot out and yanked her to his chest. His body was still buzzing with laughter when he hugged her tightly. She looked at him in surprise and a playful as well as devious smirk was sent her way.

"You really are an idiot."

She narrowed her eyes and pouted, nudging him with her palm. When he chuckled at that, she sighed and straightened. Silently, she turned on her heel, heading for the door.

"I'll see you another time-" A hand that snatched her wrist was what caused her abrupt stop in sentence. She stopped in her tracks, tensing at the sudden action.

She turned around, her eyes immediately snapping to his. His gaze was intense and overwhelming. The room suddenly felt as if it had risen in temperature as they stared at each other. She swallowed the lump in her throat and found her mouth confusingly dry. She took a shuttering breath, and before she could bite her lip in nervousness, his mouth was covering hers in an unanticipated move. It was quick and short, but somehow left her breathless. He pulled away a few centimeters to assess her reaction. She was neutral faced, too dumbstruck to form a proper reaction. His lips brushed against hers in another kiss before pulling away just as quickly. Her heart was pounding hard against her rib cage a mile a minute, and she was certain he could hear it.

His hands had gathered her face, and she could hear his ragged breathing. His mouth was on hers again, adding a little more pressure until she was sure her lips were bruised. He kissed her roughly, desperately. She finally responded, her fingers finding their way into his choppy raven hair and burying themselves there. Something warm and slick brushed against the seam of her lips, ticking it briefly. She parted open her mouth, just enough for the wet muscle to sheath in. It gently coaxed her own to play, and she responded positively, her tongue massaging gently against his. Her face as on fire as their kiss transferred into a more heated level. Soon, she couldn't tell who's tongue was who's as his body pressed against hers.

Suddenly, she pulled away, and surprisingly, he let her. She stared at him for a long moment before reaching a hand to the one that so gently clutched her face and pried it away. She smiled one last time and he sighed.

"Make sure to treat that brute badly."

"Not a chance." She chuckled at his pout. His other hand slipped from her face and fell limply by his side. Taking a step back, she turned around and headed for the door. Just as her fingers curled loosely around the knob, she looked over her shoulder. He was watching her every move, still in the spot she had left him. "I heard this saying once," She said calmly. "That some people are meant to fall in love with each other, but aren't meant to be together."

He blinked, his eyes widening a fraction. She opened the door and grinned brightly, ignoring his secretary that was coming down the corridor. "Good-bye Izaya!" She waved happily at him before walking away, a little bounce to her step.

Just as Namie had entered, she looked back at the nearly skipping woman in perplexity. "Who's that girl?" She asked aloud, raising an eyebrow at the staring informant. "What's with that face?" She scoffed. He wore a wide, happy smile, a distant look lingering in his eyes. Answering her first question, he chuckled.

"Just an idiot."