"Because it's a national symbol. The question is, what is up with the weird tropical landscape on the picture."
"Yeah, must be because it's Okinawa."
Water pouring from an elaborate fountain like contraception was all that disturbed the silence for a while.
"Are you sure you should be taking a bath? Won't your wounds get worse?"
"You're worried?"
"No. I just don't want you bleeding all over the place and ruining this wonderful experience."
"So, does 'this wonderful experience' include me? And it's fine, shallow wounds heal easily anyway. I'm used to it."
Izaya remained huddled at one end of the pool but he now decided to splash around.
"The water is so nice that not even you can make it bad. That's what I meant. By the way…thanks."
"What for?"
"You know what for."
"The phone booth thing? Of course I'd save someone I like."
"Not that again."
"Isn't it a good thing for you? It means I'll keep you safe."
"Yeah, right. What is this 'like' of yours supposed to be anyway?"
"Like is like."
Izaya latched an unwavering gaze on Shizuo.
"That is a circular definition."
"'Like' as in, not exactly 'love' but close."
"Are you suffering from nicotine withdrawal? And don't get any funny ideas. I'm not in the mood for smut."
"But you'd do that kind of thing in a public place?"
Izaya rolled his eyes much to Shizuo's amusement.
"I don't know how you got this idea that I go around screwing in public-"
"People say that about you."
"-okay, so maybe I know how you got that idea but it is erroneous. Just like I am hardly as promiscuous or sexually active as 'word on the street' goes."
"Ah…"
"For your information I've only done that a few times."
It was Shizuo's turn to burst out laughing. It scared Izaya half out of his skin.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, Izaya, Izaya. Only you. 'A few times', that's one time too many."
"It's an extra kink of sorts. Of course, I take precautions so as not to get caught."
"Yeah…remember when we went to Fuji-san on that school trip? You scared a bunch of girls by going on about dead people swinging from the trees."
Izaya chuckled.
"And Shinra wanted to dissect them."
"He was just talking about that a while ago. Kadota remembers it too."
"Oh? So you all got together?"
"For a nabe party."
Izaya focused on the bubbling water.
"Is that so. Well, good for you."
Shizuo scurried until he was almost touching him, taking advantage of Izaya's standoffish streak.
"Do you know the story about the fox?"
"Which one, there are many of those. And stay at your end of the pool."
"There's plenty of space and I was here first. The story with the fox and the grapes. You know how it goes, the fox couldn't reach these really tasty grapes so he just said, 'No matter, they're green anyway'".
"Yes, I know the story. It's technically a fable. What about it?"
"You're a bit like that."
"Suddenly, you know me ever so well."
"Not 'suddenly', just like I began like you little by little."
"There are a few constants that needs remain stable for the universe to exist as we know it. Such as mathematical relations, pi, etc. One of these is your hatred for my person."
"Oh, pie is pretty good but not sweet enough for my tastes."
"Not that kind of pie!"
Shizuo smirked.
"Heh, fooled you. I knew it was possible."
"Do you even know the value of pi?"
"Sure. 3 point…something. Oh yeah, 3.14."
"Actually, that's an approximation. The number in its totality is considerably longer."
"Longer than Long Cat? Like they say Long Cat is long."
"And annoying Heiwajima Shizuo is annoying. Keep it up and you'll dethrone the Annoying Orange."
"The what? I don't like oranges, too acid. I like coconut better. And mango, strawberry is good too with cream-"
"I don't care. What's with the fruit talk?"
"You brought it up."
Izaya sighed, closed his eyes and drifted.
"Ah, I should have tried this long ago."
"But you got to be careful. It's kinda hot in here and you're real skinny, you may just sweat away."
Izaya chuckled.
"I'm not that slim."
"Sure you are. See?"
To make a point Shizuo proceeded to poke him.
"Will you stop already!"
"This is fun. It gets better each time. Kinda like sex."
"Right…for your information, 'stop' means 'stop'. Just like in sex, what do you know!"