Izaya stared into the wide angry eyes of his enemy, unmistakably trying to burn him asunder, and his body simply froze.

In the last several hours, quite possibly even a full day, he had searched the city for his assigned human, and not once did Shizuo Heiwajima cross his mind. This had to be a joke! Another ridiculous punishment from Aya for messing with that shopkeeper because she was annoying like that. Perhaps the real human had yet to be found, and Shizuo seeing him just now was a fluke. This can't be happening. He took a subconscious step back when Shizuo moved toward him. I have to run. I can't let him –

"You're dead, flea!"

Izaya's eyes darted to the sign held in Shizuo's hand and watched it bend impressively before being ripped from the ground. Of course, Izaya knew the blond could no longer hit him with it but being exposed for what he had become wouldn't bode well. So, ignoring his surprise for the moment, Izaya placed a usual grin on his face and took another two steps back. "I see you're as one-track-minded as ever, Shizu-chan. I don't suppose you just want to talk about this?" Izaya's grin grew wider. Shizuo never had intentions to just 'talk.' He chuckled at the dumbfounded expression from Tom and glanced around them. Most bystanders had stopped to regard the blond's fury with absolute shock. Moron, he probably hasn't even noticed his audience. Then again, when it comes to me, he doesn't see anything else. Izaya suddenly swerved on his heel and sprinted away, tilting his head back to see the blond predictably chasing him – with the sign, of course.

"Get the hell out of Ikebukuro!" Shizuo bellowed after him, leaving an extremely surprised Tom staring after him.

Tom scratched the side of his head, and his expression became one of concern for a moment. "I know he has this sixth sense when it comes to Orihara, but – I couldn't see him anywhere." Tom sighed and placed his hands in his pockets.

Izaya grinned and jumped over the sign Shizuo held when it came crashing at his feet. His eyes were wide with excitement, and for just a moment, he forgot he was dead, and everything was as it should be. Izaya chuckled at the obscenities coming from Shizuo's mouth as he avoided another projectile, unsure why he even tried to avoid them. They turned off quickly into an alleyway, and before Shizuo could lunge for him, Izaya jumped and swung himself over a balcony before pitching himself onto the roof. The raven glanced down and wasn't surprised to see Shizuo mimicking his movements to follow him, but he had no desire to taunt him this time. Izaya turned quickly and dashed over to the next rooftop before Shizuo had reached the first and disappeared.

"Izayaaaaa!"

Izaya huffed and pressed himself to the wall, hands on his knees as though he were breathless from the chase.

Izaya frowned. Now that he was alone, his mind focused on his task. Why! Of all the people he had contact with, why did it have to be Shizuo! Izaya crouched low, and his hands grasped at his hair. "This is impossible. I'm screwed." A sardonic laugh escaped him as he inclined his head toward the starless sky. He could sense Aya's presence beside him but didn't turn to acknowledge her. "Is that why you helped me? Because you knew I couldn't complete the task anyway and that what awaited me was punishment enough without the threat of hell?"

Aya frowned and knelt beside him, shifting so she could sit on the edge of the roof and let her legs dangle next to his. "No, Izaya. I told you I have faith in you."

Izaya propped one knee up to his chest to rest his chin on the cross of his hands. "It's fine. It doesn't matter anyway. We both know where I belong, and if I have to spend my existence in the city where no can see me but my enemy to avoid that, then it's a small price to pay."

Aya shook her head. She was happy to see Izaya opening up to her, even if he hadn't realized it, but she wasn't sure she liked seeing him like this. For the first time since she took him under her wing, he had shown confidence and was exceptionally optimistic, and despite his little fun, he knew the consequences. Now, he looked like he had already given up. Maybe I should have told him. Aya knew she couldn't break that rule and couldn't give special treatment to one individual. She had to be detached, but Izaya was different from the others she'd helped.

"I hate him. I hate him so much," Izaya spoke softly, and Aya watched him stand up, placing his hands in his pockets. "Looks like he's won. Too bad for him that he doesn't even know it."

Aya's eyes narrowed, and she jumped to her feet to grab Izaya by his shirt. The raven gasped lightly when she forced him to face her. "Don't you dare! Don't you dare give up, Izaya. I would not have helped you if I didn't believe you could do this! You can! I know you can!"

Izaya reached up to push her hand away and stepped back. "Do you realize the situation I'm in? We are mortal enemies. I won't change my opinion of him, and he most certainly won't change his mind about me."

Aya shook her head. "He won't unless you show him."

Izaya chuckled because his circumstances were just too funny. "You think it's just that easy? Even if I change my opinions, someone like Shizu-chan can hold a grudge for eternity. He hates my guts, and nothing will ever change that."

Aya sighed and understood his point. "Izaya, unfortunately, you don't have a choice if you want to move on. He is the one, and I can't do anything to change that. You will have to find a way to make it work." Izaya shifted his attention to the city streets below. "Do you really want to spend your whole existence down here where no one else can see you? Eventually, it will get extremely lonely, and you might as well just be stuck inside your representative soul. Is that what you really want?"

Izaya tensed, his hands coming out of his pockets to clench into fists by his side. "I just can't do this."

Aya grabbed his wrist so that he would look at her again. "Yes, you can! Izaya, you have already proved to me, yourself, and to those who know you that you are willing to make a difference, so show that to him."

Izaya yanked his hand away, a frown on his face. "But they don't know it's me, so what use is that, and he won't believe a single word I say anyway. He can't be swayed by reason. It's always been violence first, ponder the consequences later. Although he probably doesn't even do that, especially not with me."

Aya just wanted to smack the stubbornness out of him! She grabbed him by his shoulders this time and shook him. "Make him see, Izaya! No one else knows it's you, but Shizuo will! Find a way to prove it to him!"

Izaya huffed a laugh because her persistence was quite comical. "Even if I could find a way to talk to him, he won't accept me if he knows it'll help me 'move on.'" Once again, Izaya reached up to push her off gently, and although he tried his best to act like he wasn't fazed by his own words, he was sure she saw through him.

"Izaya, you can do this. He won't have no choice but to listen now. He can't physically hurt you, and if you stop running away, he'll see the truth eventually." Aya smiled at him. "Be persistent. I'm sure you can do that. He can't make you leave, right?" A sudden grin formed on his face, and Aya frowned and flicked him on the forehead. "But that isn't a free pass to annoy him all the time either."

Izaya's grin remained, and he tilted his head with a hunch of his shoulders. "Aww, not even just a little bit?"

Aya huffed and rolled her eyes. "It's probably inevitable, and I suppose you might do so out of habit, but just try your best, Izaya. Who knows, maybe you could get to know each other for once."

An annoyed expression appeared on the raven's face, and he couldn't help but snort at her suggestion. "I gave him that chance when Shinra introduced us in high school, and he tried to punch me."

Aya chuckled and shoved him lightly. "Perhaps if you didn't clap at his violent disposition, he might not have."

Izaya hopped away from the edge and pressed his back to the wall. "Whatever. All I need from him is a truce, a way to make amends, and that's it. We don't need to be friends." He couldn't help the sigh that passed his lips as he looked at the dark sky once more. "That opportunity passed a long time ago."

Aya watched him for a moment and suspected that was the first time he had ever expressed his true feelings toward Shizuo, and she smiled. He can do this. She stepped in front of him. "Good luck. You'll be fine."

Izaya watched her disappear and sighed with annoyance at his lack of discretion. "What's wrong with me. This whole being dead thing really isn't good for my reputation." He huffed a laugh. Like he needed to worry about his reputation anymore. Izaya pushed off the wall and groaned in dismay at the prospect of his future endeavors. "Here goes nothing."

…

Shizuo growled and climbed the stairs of his apartment building. That damn flea was in the city again! Shizuo pulled out his key, trying to calm down; he couldn't afford another replacement. He was right there! I could have fucking strangled him! Izaya had been daring today. Rarely did he ever allow such close proximity between them. The raven always made sure to remain at a running distance when starting fights with him. So what the hell was he trying to pull back there…? Shizuo pushed the key into the lock, and the door swung from his aggressive treatment.

His anger returned instantly when he stepped into his living room. His fists clenched, and a deep frown formed. "What the-" Nah, it couldn't be. Izaya would not risk setting foot in his apartment. He's fricking dead if I catch him in here. I'll beat the shit out of him. Shizuo bared his teeth as his hand reached the light switch. Not a flea in sight. Shizuo sighed and swiped a hand through his hair in frustration. The flea wasn't here. "Dammit," he muttered before sauntering into the kitchen.

"Your instincts are pretty impressive, Shizu-chan."

Shizuo's eyes widened, and he quickly fumbled for the light switch, only to frown with agitation. His kitchen was empty too! "Shit, I can't be that paranoid. That damn flea is not in my apartment." Shizuo stepped into the kitchen and retrieved items from his cupboard to make cocoa. "I need a vacation."

"Are you so obsessed with me that you imagine me showing up in your apartment? Some people might find that sort of flattering, but I have to say, it's disconcerting."

Crack.

The mug in Shizuo's hand shattered, his body tensed, and he released the shards before slowly turning to face the intruder with extreme suppressed rage. Izaya Orihara was standing in his apartment! He knew it! The bastard was standing in his fricking kitchen doorway and –and he was grinning! "Izayaaaa! You louse. I'll kill you!" Shizuo lunged forward and grasped the round breakfast table, and lifted it above his head. "Get the hell out of my apartment, flea!"

Izaya stepped back out of instinct and jumped to the side when the table came flying toward him. The wood splintered and snapped into three pieces against the wall. Shizuo darted forward and jumped over the wreckage and into his living room. Izaya stood on the opposite side, hands now in the air in what Shizuo might have guessed was some attempt at surrender if he wasn't so angry. The blond reached for the couch next, grunting at the difference in weight compared to the table, but still lifted the object with ease.

Izaya knew from the second he arrived that this was probably a bad idea, but it was the only chance he had to force Shizuo into a conversation. "Before you throw that at me, I assume you would prefer not to destroy your own apartment, and that's why I'm here. I had a better chance of you controlling your anger if we were here." Izaya shifted a few feet to the left, out of the line of fire, and came to the blond's side. "I only want to talk." While it was true that he suppressed his own disgusted emotions because the mere thought of having a civil conversation with his enemy made him want to puke, he was better at hiding it. Izaya hated to admit it, but without Shizuo, he couldn't ever hope to pass from this world peacefully. They needed to find common ground, and Izaya didn't care how long it took. Unfortunately, the feelings had to be mutual, so even if Shizuo, by some miracle, forgave him, it wouldn't work unless Izaya let go of his own hatred. Izaya was sure that's how it worked.

Shizuo bared his teeth at the raven standing beside him and threw the couch back into place, eyes narrowed. "You want to talk! I'll fucking kill you for even stepping one foot in my apartment. There'll be no talking, just my fists breaking every bone in your goddamn body!"

Izaya jumped back a few paces before Shizuo had the opportunity to lunge at him. "You can certainly try if you want," he said calmly, and then his voice dropped to almost a whisper. "But I'm already dead, Shizu-chan." Izaya knew the blond had heard him and glanced up to see the expression of confusion.

"…"

Izaya tilted his head when Shizuo failed to reply. Maybe I broke him. Before Izaya opened his mouth to offer another explanation, a sudden deep laugh erupted from the blond's throat until it turned into full-blown hysterics. I really broke him. Izaya took a tentative step forward. "Shizu-chan?"

After another minute, Shizuo calmed down, and even though he continued to chuckle, there was a prominent vein throbbing on his forehead to indicate his remaining rage. "I have to admit, that's certainly new. I didn't know you were capable of spouting even more bullshit than you already do."

Ah. Izaya rolled his eyes when he realized Shizuo hadn't believed him. "It's the truth. I'm not lying, and I can prove it."

Shizuo gritted his teeth. He'd had enough, but he didn't want to break his furniture, even if it was to hurt his enemy. Shizuo growled and pushed his sleeves up to his elbows before a smirk tugged at his mouth. "You'll be dead once I'm done with you."

Izaya huffed in annoyance before stepping back once more. What a brute. I can't believe I have to protect this monster. "Let me prove it, and if you still don't believe me, I will leave you alone and never set foot in Ikebukuro again."

Shizuo narrowed his eyes, and the smirk faded. "Like I'm going to believe anything you tell me, but I will make sure you don't come back."

Izaya curled his hands into fists, getting irritated now. His calm composure was breaking considerably. He watched Shizuo's smirk return and wished he could punch it right off his face!

"It's quite entertaining to take that confident smug attitude away for once. Something wrong, flea?"

Izaya couldn't help but grit his teeth. How dare Shizuo taunt him! I should leave before I do something I'll regret. I can't afford to slip up. Unfortunately, this was the closest he had gotten to a civil conversation. Izaya sighed, unclenched his hands, and spread his arms out. "Shizuo," he started. Using his correct name was a good start. "You can hit me as hard as you can, and I won't move an inch, nor will I attempt to block it. I also have no weapons either." Izaya slid off his jacket, discarded it to the side, and returned to his previous position.

Shizuo gritted his teeth. "Tsk. Like hell. You're insane. We both know if I used my full strength to hit you, then you won't be walking out of here, and you wouldn't take that chance so stop acting creepy and use your damn knife. Just give me a reason to smash your face in."

Izaya flashed him a small grin. "What, breaking and entering isn't a good enough reason? Also, we're in Ikebukuro, and that's always a good enough reason in your mind, right?" Izaya placed his arms behind his back. "So, come on, Shizu-chan. I'm offering a free shot at full strength, and I suggest you take it."

Shizuo curled his hand into a fist but remained grounded. "Two questions, flea. One: why are you acting like this, and is this just another damn scheme of yours? Two: if I do hit you, and I believe you, what then?"

Izaya hummed a response and placed his hands in his pants pockets. "First of all, that's three questions."

Shizuo slammed his foot down with a loud growl. "Shut the hell up! Just answer me before I really kick your ass."

Izaya lifted his hands out in surrender. "Fine fine. I'm not 'acting' anything. For once, this isn't something I've planned, and also, I will explain those reasons soon. Now, if you would be so kind, hit me so we can move on to more prominent issues."

Shizuo grunted in surprise. Izaya was skilled in deceit, so this had to be a trick. He glanced at the discarded jacket, knowing that's where the raven kept his knives. What if he's telling the truth? But – if he is dead, would I be even able to hit him? His attention shifted to his enemy once more. Whether or not he believed in ghosts wasn't important, it was getting this damn flea out of his apartment, and if that meant playing along with his stupid plans, he'd suck it up. I'll get to hit him. "Fine," he said, "if you're so keen on getting a broken jaw, I'll humor you."

Izaya flashed him a toothy grin. "Give me your best shot." Despite his confidence, he was concerned because what if Shizuo really could hit him? Not only would his plan to prove the situation fail, but it would also fucking hurt!

Shizuo took a step forward, then another, and another. He stopped three feet away from Izaya, enough distance to cover the lunge and the blow. Izaya still hadn't moved. "You're really just going to stand there?"

Izaya rolled his eyes, tired of repeating himself, and anger took over. "Will you just take a swing at me! How can I make it any clearer for your simple mind to understand, you stupid brute!"

Shizuo's eyes widened with anger, and he no longer hesitated. He pulled back his fist and lunged forward.

Izaya couldn't help flinching when Shizuo's fist made no connection to his face. Izaya peered up at the blond with curiosity, and the sight was comical. Shizuo looked ready to pass out. "Now do you believe me?"

Shizuo jumped back from Izaya. No way, no way was this real! But his fist went straight through! "Then – you really are dead?" Izaya could only nod, not quite used to hearing those words yet.

Although Izaya half expected it, he couldn't help feeling slightly offended when a smile crossed the blond's face, and the man erupted once again with laughter. He gritted his teeth, moved to take a seat on the couch, leaned on his elbows, and hunched over his knees as he glared up at the blond. "Are you done?" he asked when Shizuo started to calm down.

Shizuo turned on his heel to regard Izaya with a grin. "I can't believe it. Someone actually managed to wipe you out. That's – pretty impressive."

Izaya sneered at him. "Laughing at someone who tells you they're dead is not a normal reaction."

Shizuo began laughing again. "It is when that person is your enemy! Although that was supposed to be a compliment to you. All those times that I tried to kill you, and finally, someone succeeds! I should be celebrating." Shizuo's laughter died off once more when he heard Izaya huff. "You can't tell me you wouldn't do the same thing. You'd dance on my grave if I died."

Izaya smiled and shrugged, leaning back on the couch. "You're probably right about that."

Shizuo frowned slightly at the casual gesture. "Get the fuck off my couch, flea."

The raven's smile shifted into a grin. "Make me."

Shizuo gritted his teeth and knelt down. "I might not be able to touch you, but I can still fling this couch with you on it."

Izaya rolled his eyes and stood up. "Happy now?"

Shizuo came face to face with him and glared. "Now, get the hell out."

"You said you would hear me out, and I'm not leaving until you do."

Shizuo twirled around and stomped over to the door. "Fine, then I'll leave!"

Izaya quickly jogged over. "I'll just follow you." Before Shizuo could open the door, Izaya grabbed his wrist. "Shizuo, listen!" Shizuo stilled and turned to face him in surprise. Izaya sighed and released his wrist. "Hear me out, would you? You already believe that I'm dead, so you know I won't gain anything by lying."

Shizuo frowned, and for a moment, Izaya thought he might leave anyway, but then the blond gestured back toward the couch. Izaya followed him, and they sat opposite ends. "You've got my attention, and I can't hit you, so – talk."