Izaya sank back into his seat, having leapt to his feet mid rant.
"I give up. I just…give up."
Shizuo let him wallow in despair for a while longer.
"I know my emotions-"
"Of course you do, self awareness is the default position of all knowledge. Cogito ergo sum."
"Ah…like I was saying, it's simpler than you think. I saved you because I like you."
Izaya started. Then narrowed his eyes.
"Will you at least not insult my intelligence?"
Shizuo shrugged.
"See, this is why I didn't tell you right away. I knew you wouldn't believe me."
"'Like', you say! As if I'd buy that. I may be going through something of a crisis-"
"More like spinning your wheels madly."
"-but I have not suddenly become obtuse."
"You should be able to see that I'm telling the truth."
"I'm not the one with the mystical powers, that's you."
"But you're an informant. Finding out that kind of stuff is what you do best."
"This is preposterous."
Shizuo took off his shades and detained Izaya who was about to leave.
"Let go of me. Right now."
"Not until you give it a try."
"Give what a try?"
"Reading me, I guess. I like you. Look into my eyes and see that I'm not lying."
Izaya fretted, scanning every corner of the longue where Shizuo was not. He did not appreciate being pinned down by a demanding stare.
"Ah, you 'like me', huh. So what, you went from hating my guts to 'liking me', just like that? That you expect me to believe that is actually offensive. It hurts, Heiwajima-san. You're supposed to have more respect for your sworn enemy than that."
"Nah, I knew you wouldn't believe me. It's not 'just like that'. There's a lot to hate in you but I can't go on really hating anyone that goes out like a lamp after sex and cuddles into my arms. It's too cute, I guess."
Izaya had to close his mouth.
"Too cute…? Did your brain just die on you completely?"
"I don't think so. It's like you said, you have to take into account 'new information'. So yeah, this is new information."
Izaya had a snarky reply fully ready but a sudden bang had him seek refuge under the table. Shizuo barely saw him, Izaya moved with lightening speed.
"No wonder you've got such parkour skills, you sure can be fast. But you can come out, it's just the wind."
"Go away. Consider our contract over."
"Why?"
"Why? There's a limit to how much fun you can have at my expense."
Shizuo sat on the floor because he felt a bit silly cranking his neck to look underneath the table. But not as silly he thought Izaya looked. For Izaya held his knees to his chin, arms wrapped around them, his eyes emanating red anger. It reminded Shizuo of some frightened animal tucked deep into his lair for fear of big mean predators that it could only hope to scare away by being all prickly.
"So you don't trust me at all. Not even one bit?"
"No."
"I don't think so. You wouldn't fall asleep next to me if you didn't at all trust me."
"Whatever."
"Hey, you can play go, right?"
"What, the board game?"
"Yeah. Want to play go for a while? There's not much to do as it is."
Izaya studied him for a long time before crawling out from the under the table, his gait as gracefully smooth as circumstances allowed.
"And if I lose there's some penalty?"
"Not really. Just thought it'd be fun."
"Tell you what. If I win you'll leave me alone."
"You mean 'when' you win."
"Either way."
"'kay. If you win I'll let you alone for a day."
"Deal."
Izaya glowed as if he had regained lost ground.
"You got to explain the rules too."
"But of course."
Shizuo let him happily lay down the rules, long fingers going through the pieces in what Shizuo assumed was a mannerism of sorts.
"Sounds complicated."
"Let's just give you a handicap. I am a generous person."
Shizuo had to repress a smile and to pretend to be very serious. Izaya was in his element and nearly singing under his breath.
"Yeah, thanks."
Shizuo did not even bother to make an attempt at mastering the game. He knew that there were more important things to life than winning.
"Izaya, remember your chess talk?"
"That's an unusual way of putting it. Of course I remember. A bad player is still always above any and all pieces on the board."