A/N: HA! I have unhealthy amounts of fun writing this. IT'S JUST SO FLUFFY! And not, and crack and humor and ugh, so much fun. Especially this chapter.

And Izaya thought he'd get off easy...

Enjoy!

Shizuo stared blankly at his ceiling, watching the smoke from his cigarette swirl above his head. It was rather trippy, considering the color scheme but he was determined to ignore it. Shinra's full of shit. I'm not fuking soulmates with the goddamn Flea. He'd never trusted Shinra anyways, now he had proof that the man was completely mental.

Not that he'd really needed it.

His phone buzzed and Shizuo groaned.

[Did you have to destroy the entire apartment?]

Feeling a tad guilty, if only for Celty's sake, Shizuo quickly sent an apology.

[Sorry Celty, it's just Shirna kept pissing me off.]

I mean, who would actually believe something so stupid? Soulmates? God, it sounded insane.

He couldn't get the image of Izaya, glowing like the surface of a star, out of his head. Like it had been burned into his retinas.

[Well he was being a bit stupid, I warned him not to. I told him to just tell you straight up instead of trying to beat around the bush like that.]

Shizuo snorted at the idea of Celty trying to keep Shinra in line. It was funny that one of the most powerful beings in the city was reduced to just asking politely because of something as simple as love. If anyone would be soulmates, it would be those two. So lost in this rather ridiculous train of thought was he that it took Shizuo a moment to realize what Celty had been implying.

[Don't tell me you believe that shit about soulmates!]

Pulling a face, Shizuo took a long drag of his cigarette. Just how many people did Shinra drag into this lunacy?

[Well considering that I technically helped, yes, I suppose I do. I mean, we have the evidence right there. I'd have thought if anyone would believe it, it would be you!]

Grinding his teeth around the stick, Shizuo furrowed his brows. It still seemed stupid to him, no matter how red his vision was. But if Celty believed it…

[I dunno. I still think it's a load of shit. I mean, no one deserves to be soulmates with Izaya.]

Especially me… Brooding, Shizuo plucked his cigarette from his mouth and put it out in the ashtray. Right now, he didn't really want to have to think about the subject. It made his head hurt.

Is Izaya really seeing gold everywhere? The thought made Shizuo smile darkly. Izaya, ruler of everything dark and unholy in the world, only able to see sunshine and brightness everywhere? That was pretty fucking amusing.

Of course, that's if we're soulmates.

Suddenly, Shizuo got struck with a ridiculous urge. What if I just went and asked the Flea?

Snorting, Shizuo closed his eyes. Yeah, like that would go over well. Hey Flea, we hate each other but Shinra says were soulmates. Just how full of bullshit is he really? No, he'd rather live like this his whole life than do that.

Besides, there wasn't even any proof they were really soulmates…

Shizuo dreamed of blood. Of red lights and always of Izaya, dancing around him in a convoluted set of steps he couldn't hope to understand.

When he woke up he didn't really feel refreshed, but at least he'd gotten some sleep. Unfortunately, his vision still hadn't changed. Well I didn't expect any different.

The red was actually getting rather normal. It was odd, after seeing Izaya, who shone so brightly, everything else was muted. Less heinous. Definitely annoying, but not as infuriating as it had been which made him feel a little better.

Is this going to be the rest of my life, seeing the world in red? God he hoped not, but he supposed that he could at least function with it. I should probably call up Tom and tell him I'm good to come in today.

Picking up his phone from where he'd left it the night before, Shizuo noticed a message from Celty that he hadn't gotten before he'd fallen asleep.

[Don't discount it so soon. I know it seems unfair considering it's Izaya, but I'm telling you it's true and there's not much you can do about it besides get used to it.]

The words made him feel nervous. Renewed thoughts of his predicament crashed over him and Shizuo almost groaned aloud. He wasn't even sure how to react, it was so out of the ordinary. God, why does it have to be the fucking Flea? Shizuo spent a moment wondering if he cracked the man's skull open, would his vision go back to normal. Probably not, he wasn't that lucky.

It pissed him off because if had been anyone else, it would have been bearable but it just had to be Izaya that everyone was convinced he was inextricably connected to. Like everyone had gotten together to play a horrible joke on him but he still couldn't see the punch line.

It's just color blindness, it's not that bad…

That's when Shizuo realized that something was off.

He hadn't noticed it a moment before. It wasn't, after all, particularly obvious. In fact, if he hadn't been already so attuned to anything strange and abnormal, Shizuo wouldn't have thought anything of it.

But he noticed, and he felt his stomach sink.

Written on his arm, in tight, spiky, slanted cursive was a name.

Izaya Orihara

Shizuo felt his blood pressure spike.

The fuck? Rubbing at it effectually, Shizuo found himself racing towards his bathroom, caught between fury and disbelief. When no amount of scrubbing could take it off, Shizuo examined it closer. It didn't look like pen, it almost looked like a tattoo but the blond had never seen a tattoo that looked so clear before. And how could it have just appeared?

Storming back into his room, Shizuo snatched back up his phone.

[Shinra, why the fuck do I have Izaya's name tattooed on my wrist? What kind of shit is this?]

While he waited for a response, Shizuo scratched irritably at the name imprinted on his skin. Though he hadn't seen it at first, he gradually became aware of the fact that the ink glowed subtly, a glimmer of crimson that reminded him again of the man it represented.

Stuck on my body, stuck on my mind, what else is the Flea going to get his damned hooks into?

His phone buzzed.

[That's not supposed to happen…]

Yes Shinra, thanks for the help.

[Damn right it's not. Fix it!]

Digging his fingers into his hair to keep from irritating his wrist, Shizuo stomped into his living room, trying to find something else to focus on besides his problems. Why? Does this mean it's real? Am I really soulmates with Izaya?

Shinra's response was clearly panicked. [I can't fix it, it's another symptom of soulmates. But you weren't supposed to get more than one, this shouldn't be happening. I need to go look over my notes again]

[That doesn't help me]

[You should come down and let me run some tests on you!]

The plastic casing around his phone cracked. Screw this, Shinra's useless.

And that's when an idea struck him. A crazy, absolutely stupid idea as a certain Flea would say, but an idea that he was determined to carry out nonetheless. Dropping his now worthless phone to his counter, Shizuo walked back into his room, quickly changing clothes.

What has gotten into me? he wondered, straightening the bow-tie out of force of habit and not even bothering with his hair. What the hell am I thinking?

But that was just it, he wasn't thinking. All Shizuo wanted were answers and if Shinra wouldn't give them to him, then he'd find some for himself.

Outside was the same hellish landscape from the day before, all the demons out and about got out of his way though. He probably looked furious. Well, Shizuo was. Currently he had the name of his worst enemy tattooed on his arm and vision that only ever came out red. That should be enough to drive anyone up the wall.

And the whole thing about soulmates? It was madness!

And yet Shizuo was pretty sure he believed it at this point. Because what other explanation was there? He didn't like it, in fact, it made him feel a little sick once he got past all the anger but the matter still stood. Something was messing with his and Izaya's life in the exact same way and Shizuo wasn't going to stand by and let that happen.

Glancing at the name on his wrist, Shizuo could have sworn it was glowing more brightly the closer he got. Which was stupid, because it felt too ridiculous and he hated seeing more concrete proof that Shinra wasn't just making shit up.

Hell, he'd been almost counting on it being complete bull but this seemed to be proving it. Soulmates. Sooner or later I'm going to have to face that fact. But not right now, now he had a purpose, a mission if you will and he was going to pour his focus into this and pretend everything else wasn't important.

Except it all was tied together into one big mess, something Shizuo wasn't sure how to untangle.

I wonder how Izaya's taking this? It was an unusual question, one that had never crossed Shizuo's mind until then. He'd never really cared about how the Flea was doing, generally considering his existence to be a stain on the world but right now, he couldn't help it.

He's probably pretty freaked out. Izaya would take something like this more seriously after all, probably, he'd be panicking, trying to figure out what to do. He's probably pretty horrified that I'm his soulmate. With a rueful laugh, Shizuo shook his head, watching as the businesses of Ikebukuro faded behind him.

Well the feeling is mutual.

With that thought in his mind, Shizuo sped up, trying to ignore the idea of Izaya staring at his own wrist, at golden letters that spelled out his name. It was satisfying in a strange way. The satisfaction vanished though as an image of Izaya, eyes wide with fear and lip caught between his teeth flashed through his mind. An unpleasant wave of emotions hit him and Shizuo banished all thoughts of Izaya from his mind.

He might have hated the man, but he couldn't relish his emotional distress. It felt wrong.

Looking about, Shizuo tried to get his bearings. He'd only been here once before, half by accident, half because he'd been curious. Half because he'd been pissed and it had worked out. In the end, it had all culminated in a perfect pinnacle of opportunity.

But none of that was at play at this moment. Right now, all one-hundred and fifty percent of him just wanted some fucking answers.

The woman at the front desk only looked at him for a second before her eyes widened and she reached for a phone. Glaring at her, Shizuo didn't even stop to see if she put it down. He knew she had.

Probably, she remembered the damage he'd caused last time.

Without thinking twice about it, Shizuo headed for the stairs, too full of energy to bother with the elevators, no matter how fast the fancy things were. His mind blurred as he walked up the towering flights of stairs. He knew deep down that this was actually slower but to that he said fuck it. Standing in a tiny enclosed space, listening to bad music and dealing with worse people just wasn't something Shizuo had patience for.

He was surprised he still remembered the floor number, the apartment number too. As he stood outside the door, Shizuo found himself self-consciously running a hand through his untamed hair before realizing what he was doing and forcing his hands to stay still.

The chipped paint and strain marks on an otherwise immaculate door made Shizuo smile. Too lazy to replace it eh? How sentimental of him...

For a moment, he considered knocking as opposed to breaking down the door, but hey, why ruin a good thing?

With a crash, the door flew off it's hinges and into the apartment beyond.

"III-ZAAAA-YAAAA!"

~•~

Izaya didn't want to get out of bed.

No, scratch that, he didn't want to live.

He was currently staring at his ceiling, unable to will himself out of bed. Yesterday had been abysmal, the night even worse. Izaya had spent half the night waking up, feverishly sweating and clutching at his sheets in fear. Every dream he could remember had been filled with that fight he and Shizuo had fought the day before, except this time Izaya hadn't moved fast enough, Shizuo's punch had been too hard, his vision had screwed him up. Each time was another scenario where he ended up bruised and bleeding. In pain.

What scared Izaya more, seeing them in the cold light of day as he was now, were the good dreams. The ones where Shizuo wasn't breaking bone and drawing blood but instead was smiling. In those dreams, Izaya had felt safe, even sitting next to his worst enemy because Shizuo hadn't been his rival.

He'd been something else. Something dangerous.

And now Izaya was left to the less than pleasant wake up call of his five a.m. alarm and vision of gold. Rubbing at his eyes ineffectually, Izaya pawed at his alarm until the sound ceased. The moment the room descended back into silence, Izaya returned to staring dismally at the ceiling, wondering what had become of his life and what steps he could take to regain it.

Killing Shinra was still pretty high on that list…

Shifting clammy and swiftly cooling sheets off of his person, Izaya struggled to get his feet under him. He felt drained, mentally and physically. He also felt like he'd been hit by a semi-truck but that was likely the fault of Shizuo.

Stupid beast, feh…

And his soulmate, apparently.

He'd spent all of the previous afternoon searching for any and every pertinent piece of information on soulmates. Shinra, as far as he could tell, had the most comprehensive notes out there, which honestly didn't surprise him. Unfortunately, Izaya had found nothing on reversing the effects without… Without…

Izaya shuddered with an odd sort of fear and forced himself to his feet.

Golden yellow light swirled in his vision as all the blood rushed to his head and for the fraction of a second in which his mind was unfocused, Izaya wondered why something so beautiful had to be so terrible. But then the moment was over and Izaya narrowed his eyes against the momentary dizziness, dispelling it. Focusing his mind, the Raven stood up straight and pretended like everything was fine.

Wrinkling his nose, Izaya stretched and picked distastefully at his rumpled sleep shirt, grumbling as it sparked an itch that spread over his back. Yet another reason why not getting sleep was terrible.

A shower, Izaya decided, already shucking his clothing as he made his way to his bathroom. Then more research.

He would not remain a slave to something this asinine any longer than was strictly necessary. There was always a solution, he had to believe that. Otherwise, he'd go crazy.

As he showered, every movement economic, Izaya mulled over thoughts of his last fight with Shizuo. There had been something about it that kept bugging him. Though he'd spent most of the fight scrambling to keep his thoughts together, Izaya remembered one moment very clearly. Right after Shizuo had sent him flying, when he'd still been shaking the stars from his eyes, Izaya had seen a look of fear on Shizuo's face. Seen how carelessly he'd rushed out into the street to get to the Raven.

Maybe he'd just been planning to finish him off but it certainly hadn't felt like that.

Izaya didn't like it. He was quite satisfied with a Shizuo Heiwajima that hated him and was more than willing to fight him like the monster that he was. There was no room in his life for something different and a hole within himself that he liked to keep filled with this rivalry. Shizuo wasn't allowed to change.

Soulmates? Feh, that meant nothing.

It means everything.

Izaya could feel that now familiar tingle of fear work its way up his spine. It clutched at his heart and made it throb painfully. God, what am I supposed to do? How do I get away from something that's so intrinsic to my construction? Because everything he'd read thus far intimated that soulmates never changed, they were there from birth. Something inside him that would forever draw him to Shizuo, no matter what their relationship really was.

Sure most of it sounded horribly poetic and sappy but due to current circumstances, Izaya was being forced to take this at face value and assess his situation based on ridiculous rumors.

Some of them made a terrifying amount of sense.

All the stupid 'non-magic signs of a soulmate' lined up almost perfectly. Izaya and Shizuo were practically always around each other, they were both obsessed with the other. Shizuo had become such a big part of Izaya's life, the Raven wasn't sure what he'd do if something happened to the man. It might have been hate, but it sounded an awful lot like something else.

Grumbling under his breath, Izaya turned off the hot spray and stepped out of his shower. The cool air hit him and he shivered involuntarily. As he walked by the sink, he looked up into the mirror. Well, if he hadn't been convinced he looked like death warmed over…

The bags under his eyes were noticeable, so too was the generally defeated way he held himself. It was depressing to see how something so small could affect him so much. It's not small, it's the rest of my life.

But he couldn't let that stop him. Straightening, Izaya glared at his reflection and said aloud. "I will not let some crazy lunacy control my life. I am better than this." In the silence, his voice sounded weird and he cringed.

It was only then that he noticed it.

Probably, he could have gone quite a while without even realizing something was amiss but this was Izaya and behind him was a full length mirror. Before that day, he wouldn't have been able to tell you why he had it or what possessed him to put it in because he was sure it hadn't come with the apartment. Now though, he realized it had it's uses, however unpleasant.

Because it was now that he saw the glowing script sparkling down his thigh.

What it the ever-living hell?

The words were in black ink, though Izaya could have sworn they glowed gold. It took him a second to read them, considering he was trying to see them in a mirror, but it didn't take him long.

Shizuo Heiwajima

Written in sloping, thick letters over his thigh.

And just like that, Izaya felt himself crumbling. Why why why? Desperately he rubbed at it, as if it would just come off or something but deep down, Izaya knew it wouldn't. It was tattooed into his skin. Shizuo's name, the name of his soulmate.

He could almost hear Shinra's words. It's said you find your soulmate's name tattooed on your body. It can be anywhere, but it's usually the wrist.

Of course I'd have it somewhere degrading, of course I would. The image in the mirror was blurring and Izaya reached up to find tears clouding his vision. They glittered pale gold in the mirror, like little diamonds falling from his eyes. God, I'm falling apart, why is this happening to me?

This wasn't some romantic sign of true love, this was a glowing brand. Just like I'm a slave, a slave to something so incredibly awful I can't even fully comprehend it.

As the tears fell harder, Izaya felt himself slowly slide down the side of his sink until he finally curled up at the base, shaking. Shame burned at his face and he hid it in his arms, not wanting to see how pathetic he'd become.

In just two short days, Izaya felt like his world had been destroyed. Maybe not physically. Maybe he was still as powerful as ever but mentally, he was wrecked. There are places you can't come back from. I guess this is mine.

It took a while for him to get himself under control. By the time the tears slowed he was freezing cold and the moisture in the air had all but dissipated. When he glanced back up in the mirror, Izaya rubbed at the dark yellow stains under his eyes and sighed. Why bother, why do anything anymore?

Because he was too stubborn to give up when he'd been defeated.

Shaking, Izaya rose to his feet and numbly opened the bathroom door. Part of him wanted to be furious, wanted to rage and throw things. Act like the beast he was so closely tied to but the rest of him felt drained. Just as long as I don't have to see Shizu-chan, I'll be fine. Because if he had to talk this over with Shizuo, Izaya really might lose it.

He must be going crazy right now, Izaya thought ruefully, rubbing at his thigh absently. My name, tattooed on his body, why wouldn't he lose it? How long did Izaya have before Shizuo realized what was wrong? Would he wonder at all? When he inevitably did, would he try to kill Izaya or try to make things work out?

I'm not- I won't- He can shove any ideas like that up his ass, I'm not going to do anything with him, even if it means things going back to normal. Clenching his fists to focus his mind, Izaya took a deep breath before proceeding with his day, determined to act like everything was normal.

And for the most part, he almost succeeded. He got dressed, went downstairs and even got breakfast before remembering that his secretary was going to be there soon and quickly glancing at himself in the reflection on his chrome refrigerator. Yep, still look like hell. At least I'm not paying her to look at me.

Izaya didn't even look up from his laptop when he heard Namie unlock his door.

"Well you look like death warmed over," Namie commented as she walked in, her eyes traveling over Izaya. His blotchy face, limp hair and unkempt clothing. Her eyebrows drew together for a moment but then she was closing the door and looking away.

"Thank you Namie-san, you look as terrifying as always!" Izaya replied brightly, in that manic voice he got when something was horribly wrong. "Those turtle-necks really do nothing for you whatsoever. But that's just my opinion, ne?"

Namie turned to glare at him but her eyes softened somewhat when the looked him over again. "What the hell happened to you?" she asked, mouth pursing into a tight line.

"Nothing at all Namie-san," Izaya responded breezily, waving his hand nonchalantly. "I'm just having a spot of trouble with my vision, you know, nothing too terrible."

Namie stared at him a moment longer as if to say 'I know you Izaya, you aren't fooling me for a second' before shrugging and walking towards the kitchen as if to add 'but I don't care about you so whatever'. Izaya just sighed and went back to his computer screen.

The name only vanishes once intimate acts have been performed between the- With a soft noise of disquiet, Izaya closed out of the tab and started reading the next article. Those that have been blessed with such a beautiful sign must be aware that the names will vanish after the two have had- Exit, next tab. After sex, the names will-

Izaya groaned. This was hopeless, he felt like he was going crazy.

He was about to actually just doze off in his glorious swivel chair when he heard it, the thump thump thump that sounded like footfalls outside his door. A bit too heavy for someone normal, a bit too awkward for someone who lived here. Who the hell…?

Izaya only had time to shut his laptop before the door to his apartment crashed inwards and a furious voice that he knew too well yelled from the dust, "IIII-ZAAAAA-YAAAAAA!"

Well crap.

~•~

Namie had never liked being Izaya's secretary. It was only because she needed protection from some people who wanted her head, if it wasn't for that, she would have been soaring in the business world.

Instead, she worked here.

Oh joy.

All in all, it wasn't terrible. Izaya was a dick but what else was new? Sometimes he had dangerous people about and rarely, he legitimately needed her help taking care of them. Either way she did her job and tried not to get too involved in Izaya's crazy little paradigm. It didn't always pan out that way, but Namie did her best.

So when she heard the ear-splitting sound of someone breaking down the front door and someone yelling Izaya's name like it was a battle cry, Namie knew that this had already exceeded what Izaya paid her for. Oh if I get out of this, I'm making him pay me double for today.

Abandoning her coffee, Namie peeked around the kitchen entrance at the pair in Izaya's main room. The obvious focus of the room was the man standing wreathed in dust and power. Namie vaguely recognized the blond man as Shizuo-Heiwajima, the same person who Izaya never shut up about. Currently, he was standing in the middle of the room, fists clenched at his sides, a terrible grin plastered over his face.

Izaya on the other hand, was atop his desk, seeming not to care about the papers that were scattered everywhere. Of course he doesn't I'm the one who has to pick them up. The man held a knife in one hand, the other was held up as if to say 'don't attack me just yet'. "Shizu-chan," Izaya crooned, a real, if fragile smile curling across his lips. "What a delight to have you here. Please, do make yourself at home, I see you're already starting to renovate, why stop a good thing?"

"Izaya," Shizuo repeated, his eyes blazing with fire. If Namie had been the kind of person to be intimidated, she would have been. As it were she was more than a little curious about this man. After all, according to Izaya and frankly half of greater Tokyo the man had superhuman strength. "What the hell is going on?!"

Namie had been around Izaya long enough to see the way his smile faltered before pushed back up to its limits. "Why Shizu-chan," he crooned, jumping off his desk and walking away from it as if to prevent Shizuo from destroying anything too expensive. "I don't know! You're the one who just broke into my apartment ever so rudely. Why don't you tell me."

"Bullshit!" Shizuo yelled, though it wasn't really rage behind his words, it was just vehemence. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Izaya faked a yawn and Namie wondered how her employer had survived so long if he acted like a petulant child ninety percent of the time. "Oh dear, you see, it's still so early," Izaya explained as if what he was saying wasn't complete and utter lies. "Why don't you say it a bit slower so I can understand because honestly Shizu-chan, I have no idea what you're-"

"What the hell is this?" Shizuo held up his wrist, a look of irritation finally crossing his face. Though Namie couldn't see what he was talking about, she could see the way Izaya turned white as a sheet. Perhaps it was the distance, but she could have sworn she saw him start shaking. "TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK THIS IS?"

"I-I don't-" Namie had never seen Izaya rendered speechless in her life. It gave her a new sort of respect for the oddly dressed blond man standing in the middle of the room. "I have no idea Shizu-chan, don't ask me such stupid questions."

"Shinra disagrees, he's pretty certain you know exactly what this is," Shizuo's smile was definitely terrifying. "Isn't that right, I-za-ya?" Namie raised an eyebrow at the way the man drew out the Raven's name. God, it's like watching a married couple fight. And Izaya's sure he hates this man?

"I have no notion of what you're talking about," Izaya hissed, retreating a few steps. While she might have been imagining things, Namie could have sworn Izaya sounded afraid. "It's none of my business why you have my name on your wrist. Ne, I didn't know you felt that way about me."

Izaya you idiot, what the hell do you think you're doing? Even I'm not buying that lie.

And she was right. Shizuo didn't buy it either. "That's funny, because I didn't know we were soulmates either until yesterday." He took a step forward. "Got anything to say about that I-za-ya?"

While Izaya floundered for an answer, Namie's eyes widened. Soulmates, eh? Not that she was particularly surprised. She'd had her suspicious that such a thing existed for years but this was an interesting bit of proof. What I wouldn't give to be able to run some tests on these two…

"You're out of your mind," Izaya breathed, but Namie new he was just lying to himself. "Get out of my apartment Shizu-chan and don't let your crazy leak everywhere."

"I'll leave when I decide to leave," Shizuo growled and Namie marveled at how dangerous the man could sound without actually being angry. I wonder if Izaya can even tell the difference. I doubt it. "What's it like Izaya, only being able to see gold everywhere because I sure as hell hate seeing red."

Oh, fascinating! Namie watched with intense interest at the way Izaya stumbled as if hit by a flying punch. So that's what he meant when he said there was something wrong with his vision. "You know nothing!" Izaya spat, though Namie knew the way he crouched lower was his way of making himself a smaller target. "I don't have to talk about this with you."

"Yes you fucking do." Namie didn't even see the vase until it shattered against the wall she was hiding behind. Izaya had naturally ducked out of the way. "Tell me Izaya, do you have my name on your wrist?"

"As a matter of fact I don't!" Izaya snapped, looking sickeningly proud of himself for that fact. Namie could see through his bullshit but didn't bother calling him out on it. She could do that later. "And I have no desire to-"

"Then where is it Izaya?"

Izaya went red with shame and stammered, "G-get out of my apartment! I hate you!"

"You do realize that nothing is going to change until we fix this," Shizuo said, still not angry, just matter-of-fact. "Shinra told me what it would take. Believe me, I hate it too, but we have to do something."

"No!" Izaya sounded downright terrified. "We have to do NOTHING! The only thing you have to do is get out of my apartment Shizu-chan. Get out of here right now!" Namie's curiosity turned sour as she heard those notes of fear in Izaya's voice. If Shizuo's expression was anything to go by, he'd been affected as well.

I should probably do something, she thought resignedly. Stepping out from around the corner, Namie sharply said, "Heiwajima-san, I understand that you have your concerns but I'd rather you not voice them at the present moment. Izaya has asked you to leave and I will call the cops if you do not comply."

Shizuo stared at the two of them for a moment, though his attention was mostly focused on Izaya. "Fine," he said at last. "I'll go, but you're not going to be able to just think your way out of this Izaya. Even you aren't that good." And then he just walked out as if nothing had ever happened.

Izaya stood there, breathing heavily, before stumbling over to one of his sofas and collapsing next to the broken door.

Namie didn't allow him much time to recover. "Soulmates?"

"Go ahead," Izaya spat bitterly. "Laugh all you want. It's true."

Sighing, Namie dropped onto the coffee table across from him. "No, I know it is. I've done research on it." And then, even though she wasn't sure why she bothered, Namie added, "I'm sorry."

Izaya sat there bonelessly for a moment before suddenly coming alert. "You've researched this?" He looked at her intensely and Namie didn't like the rabid hope in his eyes. It was the kind that wasn't to be reasoned with. "So you know all about soulmates?"

"I mean I know some, no one knows everything," Namie already knew what he was going to ask her before he opened his mouth.

"So you can fix this?" No Izaya, I don't think I can, no one can. "Please," he begged in an uncharacteristic show of weakness. "I can't survive this Namie-san. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you if you'll just try and fix it."

"Izaya, I don't think-" she started, trying her best to inject some sense into the conversation.

"I have information that will help you take down Nebula," Izaya stated bluntly. "I'm willing to give it to you if you'll only try."

At last, Namie relented. Though the thought of finally being able to destroy her business adversary was quite wonderful, it was the look of desperation in the eyes of her employer that got to her. Ugh, I'm going soft.

"Fine," she snapped, rolling her eyes at the look of unabashed gratitude that spread over Izaya's face. "But I expect double pay while I do and you can't complain if I need to run tests on you."

Izaya nodded. "Please, just figure it out as quickly as you can. Please."

With a heavy sigh she kept to herself, Namie got to her feet and walked back towards the kitchen, only now just remembering her coffee. "I'll start work on it today. But I expect you not to spend the whole time hovering and pulling your hair out." Grabbing her now cold mug of coffee, she added, "And get someone to come fix that damn door."

Because your boyfriend is highly destructive.

She didn't say it aloud.

A/N: A day later than I'd intended but oh well *shrugs* what can you do?

Anyone what to guess what new level of torture I'm going to subject these two next? Also I love the idea of Namie actually caring about Izaya, even if it's just a bit so excuse the ooc-ness. Do you think she's going to be able to help?

Next thing I'll work on is a chapter of A Little At A Time. Expect that within a couple of days! Seeya!