Disclaimer: This is a fan based fiction.

Author Notes: Endless thanks to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed. You are EVERYTHING.

I did something a little different this time around. There are a handful of reoccurring questions I've gotten about the story so I decided I should try and clear up the ones I've gotten more than a few times.

FAQ:

Timeline/Where does all of this fit into the main DRRR storyline/does it fit at all?: This story begins in the break between Durarara and Durararax2. Kururi and Mairu are about to take their entrance exams for Raira to begin as first years. This will eventually put us at the start of x2 Shou.

Romance with Kyohei?: I can see where everyone is coming from with this one. I love me some Dota-chin too! But! I'm afraid there isn't going to be some kind of twist in this one where Tamina ends up with him. She and Kyohei develop a very close bond, but their affection for each other is 100% platonic. Tamina is enthralled having a 'brotherly' figure in her life, given what she's gone through. In turn, Kyohei is a good guy, with strong morals. He doesn't consider himself 'friend zoned' or any less close to Tamina because she isn't interested in him romantically. Furthermore, she isn't really his type.

Does Izaya really 'love' Tamina or is it a game?: Okay! This is a big one! I'll try to explain without giving too much away before future chapters. Is Izaya even capable of love? My answer is yes! I think he is! But like everything else about him, his views on love and affection are heavily distorted. It's also been noted frequently through the manga and light novels that despite his peculiarities, he is prone to all sorts of human urges like attraction, jealousy and -lust- especially. I'll leave it at that because we'll start to explore that a little more starting this chapter.

Does Tamina 'approve' of Kururi and Mairu's 'relationship'?: When she first started caring for them she found it very strange and was sometimes uncomfortable with their displays of affection. However, there were a number of other things about the twins that surprised her as well, so she's pretty indifferent by now. She considers many things about them eccentric but their affection for each other doesn't concern her nearly as much as their other habits like mischief or fondness for weapons.

Dollars Handles: Okay! To the best of my knowledge, let me break this down! The Dollars site is separate from the chat rooms that everyone like Celty, Mikado and Izaya use. The usernames typically associated with this chat are "Taro Tanaka" (Mikado), "Kanra" (Izaya), "Setton" (Celty), "Saika" (Anri) ect. It's through chats like this that Izaya meets victims like Tamina and Ryo under the name "Nakura" or other alias'.

The Dollars site has message boards that are exclusive to only Dollars members. For these forums, Tamina's handle is "LC". Kyohei is "MONTA". Erika is "Kaluha Milk." Saburo is "Red Carpet." Walker is simply "Walker" and Celty is "Shooter."

Okay, those were the ones that kept coming up! I hope I made everything a little more clear!

Now, onto business.


Tamina woke with terrible dryness in her throat and a pounding in her head. It was very similar to being hung over, even the horrific dehydration. There was a moment of confusion as she looked about the space. Eventually she remembered the events that brought her here, easing her tension. She pushed off the futon and found herself stronger and steadier than earlier. Her dizziness was completely gone too. With that she felt confident enough to stand and explore the guest room. She slowly padded to the large sliding glass doors that seemed to lead to a balcony. She pressed a hand against the door frame and looked out at the sky just beginning to tint with light in it's transition from night to morning. It was very early. She scanned the room and found an alarm clock that read 4:42am.

She turned when she heard a thud resound from the hall. There was definitely someone awake, which had probably caused her to stir to begin with. Her overwhelming thirst caused her to head for the door. If she couldn't ask the person who was awake, maybe she could go to the kitchen quietly and get some water for herself. She hoped it was Dr. Kishitani. Maybe he could give her the pain meds he'd promised so she could get some more sleep. Surely enough time had passed by now. She certainly wasn't in any danger any more.

She opened the door and peeked down the dark hall. There was light casting from under one of the doors in the hall and the sound of a water running. She concluded whoever was awake was taking a shower, so she decided to help herself. As quietly as possible she walked down the hall to where she remembered the living room, and subsequently, kitchen was. Physically, everything seemed okay, but her throbbing head and desperate thirst made her feel something like a zombie. She entered the kitchen, silently looking through cabinets until she found a cup. Once located she pressed the glass against the dispenser in the fridge for water and hastily took a long drink. It felt as if the water was soaking into her very being, giving her relief as she gulped again and again for a nearly unnatural time. When she finally put the cup down it was nearly empty and she heaved a deep, content breathe. She filled it up completely again and began to head back to the bedroom.

When she came back into the living room she paused in her tracks. How could she have forgotten? In her dehydrated haze, she'd hadn't noticed Shizuo sleeping right there on the couch. She couldn't suppress her smile, seeing him sprawled out there, completely undisturbed. His arm was splayed across his face and his chest was rising and sinking in deep sleep. She padded more cautiously now, eyes barely leaving him as she stepped away and back into the hall.

The bathroom door opened and Celty stepped out, rubbing a towel on her neck. She'd already manifested her bike attire. She still had plenty of time before she needed to get to her job so she planned on watching the news and weather for the day. Her typical morning routine. She froze when the unfamiliar girl entered the hall.

Tamina halted as well, eyes widening at the sight of Celty's truly headless form. She stared at the black shadows that oozed from her neck, expecting any second to blink and be able to see more clearly. But every time she tried, she reopened her eyes to the same horrifying sight. 'No head...She has no head... There's no head... There's really no head...' Her thoughts panicked while her body remained frozen in fear.

There was a stand off there. Neither one knew if they should move. Sensing the tension rising, Celty finally decided to reach to take out her phone and console the obviously startled girl. The sudden movement however had the opposite effect, causing Tamina to let out a bone chilling shriek.


Shizuo jolted out of sleep and off the couch, lunging forward into a sitting position at the shrill sound followed by glass shattering. His head jerked around, trying to find the source of the scream. He'd know her voice anywhere by now and the very prospect of her in danger was something he found himself immediately acting on again.

He leaped off the couch and to the hall in just two powerful bounds. His pugnacious attitude began to dissipate when he found Celty in the there in quite a panic, frantically waving him over from her place outside of the locked guest room.

She quickly offered her phone, which Shizuo read after he shimmied down the side of the hall past the mess of shattered glass and water on the floor and came close enough. "I'M SO SORRY! I COMPLETELY FORGOT SHE WAS HERE! "

Shizuo relaxed a bit at this. That was a very Celty thing to do. Despite his friends supernatural nature, she was quite the spaz. He concluded from there that Tamina must have seen and locked herself in the room. It must have been quite a shock. "It's okay," Shizuo consoled, rubbing his tired eyes. "Let me handle it."

"Okay..." Is all the text said when Celty displayed her phone again.

Shizuo recognized her body language. She was clearly discouraged as she retreated to clean up the mess and subsequently disappear. He wished he could offer some comfort to her, but his mind was currently occupied. This would certainly be an interesting conversation. He approached the door and knocked softly before calling. "Tamina, it's me. Open up."

Not a moment later the door opened the tiniest bit. Just enough for Tamina to peek, then reach out to grab his sleeve and tug Shizuo inside. He didn't resist at all, slipping through the small space and once inside she shut the door right behind him and locked it again. "Are you okay?" He asked, studying her tense face.

"She really doesn't have a head." She told him, her eyes still wide.

"Yeah, I know..." He admitted.

"It's just..." She stumbled over her words, gesturing with her hands. "Not there..." She couldn't help feel like she was dreaming. She would wake up any second wouldn't she? Bodies surely couldn't just walk around without heads.

"Well, she is 'The Headless Rider.'" He tried to remind her. When he noticed his words hadn't eased her in the least, he caught her shoulder. "Hey, it's okay." He said. Again, it didn't appear she was comforted. She still looked as if she'd seen a ghost. Considering her condition he worried further. "Come on, you're still hurt." He coaxed her back toward the futon.

She allowed him to take her by the arm and guide her back to the bed, her thoughts still scattered. "Am I.." She trailed off in her haze of confusion, so she had to start again. "Am I going crazy?" She asked, considering her recent head injury. Maybe this was a sign something was seriously wrong with her brain.

"No, you're not." He assured her, tugging her down gently to get her back on the unmade bedding.

"But-" She started but stopped when he grabbed her shoulders and gently but firmly laid her back down.

"Shhh." He tried to ease her racing mind. "Listen, I know it seems pretty crazy, but Celty would never hurt you. She's a good person. Just think back to the first time you saw what I could do."

At that Tamina softened. She'd been so overwhelmed with fear up until then but he was right. It was very similar to that time she'd seen Shizuo hurl a street light at Izaya in the streets. It was shocking and overwhelming, but by now she knew Shizuo meant her no real harm at all. With this she finally started to relax. Fear was subsiding, but she remained somewhat shaken. As if everything she'd ever known could be wrong. She started to think about all the other supernatural folklore she'd been so dismissive of in her life.

A soft knock came to the door, and Tamina tensed again. Shizuo lightly tapped her arm. "It's alright." He said as he got up to answer it.

A groggy Shinra waited just outside. "How's she taking it?" He asked Shizuo with a yawn.

Shizuo assumed Celty had briefed him. "She was just a little surprised." He told him through the small crack of the door.

Shinra nodded at that. "I can imagine. Well, anyway, I figured since she was up she might want some meds." He offered two small white pills and a new glass of water. "Maybe we could all go back to sleep." He said, a slight hinting in his voice that seemed to make sense with his still exhausted expression.

"Thanks." Shizuo said as he took them. Shinra left him to it, determined to get back to bed and get at least a few more hours of sleep. Shizuo shut the door and came to crouch next to Tamina on the floor again, who was looking slightly less unsettled, but only slightly. "Here." He offered her the medication.

She propped herself up onto her elbows and eagerly took them along with the water. In the fog of hysteria, she'd momentarily forgotten the pain in her head.

"You should get some more sleep." He told her while he a stifled yawn himself.

She put the water aside and came to lay down again, eyeing the second unfolded guest futon next to him. "Will you stay with me?" She felt rather silly asking. Like a child who'd seen too much of a horror movie or feared the dark.

He followed her eyes and silently contemplated. Was that appropriate? She'd asked, so he slowly concluded it couldn't be too wrong or rude. He reached over and began to set up the other futon and came to lay on it. He settled on his back with an arm behind his head, glancing over at her. She was laying on her side, favoring her uninjured side, watching him quietly. There wasn't anything exceedingly strange or intimate about sharing a room but he still felt a flush in his cheeks laying next to her like this. He hoped the mostly dark room concealed this. It was innocent enough, but he'd never shared such space with a woman and it caused his heart to speed up just a bit.

"So...What is she?" Tamina's soft voice broke the quiet.

Shizuo's eyes shifted to the ceiling, glad for a distraction. "I'm not entirely sure myself, but she's some kind of fairy."

"A fairy?" She questioned with a curious look. When she thought of fairies she thought of little creatures with wings. Not headless motorcycle riders.

He nodded, understanding her confusion, but didn't know enough to explain further. He'd never really concerned himself with what exactly Celty was. It never really mattered to him.

Tamina fell silent. The medication Shinra had given was beginning to take effect. The pulsing in her head was easing up, which made it much easier to rest. Now that the nagging of pain was fading she could feel how exhausted she still was. She decided to rest her eyes momentarily with every intention of asking more questions, but underestimated her need for more sleep. Despite the growing morning light in the room she slipped right back into slumber.


When Tamina woke it was hours later. She could tell by the brightness in the room and sounds of the city outside the glass balcony doors. She glanced next to her and found Shizuo on the extra futon. His arm was resting across his eyes to block out the days light but he still slept deeply. She smiled softly to herself, opting to stay right there for the time being to avoid disturbing him.

She tried to quietly roll onto her back to look up at the ceiling. She winced a little, suddenly remembering the injury that had brought her here once her weight settled. Her hand came to cautiously feel the area toward the back of her head. Her nerves had kept her from investigating the wound until now but she finally ran a finger over the tender area. There was a mild discomfort as she felt the ripple of each staple in bedded in her head. The wound was longer than she had thought but she was happy she didn't know this last night. She silently wondered how long it would be before it was completely healed. She'd never so much as had a stitch or a broken bone in her life, so she had no idea what the recovery process would be like.

She shifted back onto her side, preferring to keep her weight off the area. She was feeling a great deal better and didn't want to push her luck by irritating it. With little else to focus on, her eyes fell on Shizuo next to her again. She allowed herself sometime to study him. He was so peaceful, his breaths coming slowly and evenly. Even though she couldn't see his eyes, his face seemed so soft and gentle in relaxation. It was a far cry from the twisted rage she'd seen in times before. She knew he was tall, anyone seemed so next to her. But he wasn't overly muscular. At least not nearly enough to hint at the tremendous power he had. He was paradox upon paradox.

As if feeling her eyes investigating him, Shizuo started to rouse. He let out a low groan, recoiling at first, then extending his limbs for a much needed stretch while his tired eyes adjusted to the unfamiliar room. His stretch was interrupted when his arm collided into the girl laying next to him, which caused him to momentarily stiffen. He looked over and met a pair of dark cobalt eyes, causing the memories from the night before to rush back to him. He instinctively jerked his arm away and out of her space. "Sorry." He blurted.

Tamina found him perplexing. Despite his hardened exterior and violent outbursts, he was surprisingly such a wholesome guy. So modest and respectful. At least when it came to her and his intentions. But what disconcerted her was his habit of apologizing. He did it so often. She could think of a dozen occasion he'd done it in their short time knowing each other. For serious and trivial things a like. Even for just touching her now. As if he sometimes apologized for his very existence.

Then she started considering. She thought back to how she'd thought of him before last night. How he'd absolutely terrified her. How she had let Izaya's words and jumping to conclusions poison the initial chemistry she'd had with him. She hadn't texted him after they'd exchanged numbers. She hadn't even considered it after that encounter. She wondered how many others were so dismissive of him after seeing what he could do. How many had passed judgment. No wonder he felt he needed to apologize for simply touching her.

Now she was the one compelled to touch him. She suddenly felt like she should make up for everyone's apprehensions toward him. To teach him something. She grabbed his arm and gave a tug. He blinked, completely unsure of her intention but complied, allowing her to pull his arm from his side. She shimmied close, off of her futon and onto his into the space that provided, laying her head down on him between his shoulder and chest. She avoided his eyes as she came to settle there, snaking a leg over his hip to completely mold into him.

Shizuo fiercely fought the heat he felt in his face and the way she made his heart jump. He had no control over the way his body tensed under her touch. She curled into his side and when her leg came to snake over his lap he let out an audible breath despite his best efforts.

She was so intrigued by his tension. It was as if he'd never been touched at all. As if it pained or worried him, holding such close proximity with someone. She thought it would begin to subside but his body remained rigid against her. She spooned into him further and spoke softly. "Shizuo?"

"Yeah?" He asked anxiously, though he remained still. He wasn't sure how to reciprocate, and the nerves of not reciprocating made him feel even more awkward.

"I'm tired of hearing you apologize." She told him, listening to the distinct quickened throbbing in his chest.

Before he could think about it, it almost came out again. 'Sorry.' His lips parted but he stopped himself. It was then that he was truly at a loss. He had no idea what to do in that moment.

Tamina sensed this in his silent stillness. "It's okay..." She said softly, pulling and guiding his hand around her hip. "You can touch me." She told him.

He remained uneasy but started to soften at her guidance, fingers curling around the curve of her waist. Despite the new territory, his apprehensions slowly faded. Surprisingly, the situation didn't feel lewd or explicit at all. It was so new and subsequently, refreshing and exciting. Once these sensations washed over him, he finally felt his body moving freely and independently, as it usually did. For once, this came as a relief. He needed to reciprocate. He wanted to.

She felt incredibly warm and safe when she felt him finally start to respond. He pulled her closer into him, hugging her into his side. She let out a content sigh, resting her eyes again. There was some familiarity with the feeling. It had always felt good to her. Laying close to and being held by someone. But there was something else at work here. She felt an excitement under his fingertips. A burning under his touch. These were the same hands that ripped out street lights. The same fingers that curled into fists and fought with a ferocity that was well known. Feeling them so gently touch her caused a warmth to spread through every part of her. She couldn't suppress the small smile on her face, silently feeling as though she'd proven something by just laying here with him like this.

He found himself overwhelmed by a similar sensation. So often he found himself at the mercy of his impulses, but in this particular moment, it was exhilarating. His body was acting on its own, as it so often did, but it wasn't destroying public property or fighting some punks. He was touching and holding a woman. Carefully. Tenderly. He let the moment last, hugging her against him and deeply breathing her scent. Maybe this is what it was like. Peace.

They were content to stay that way for a while. It was quiet, but neither felt the need to interrupt the silence with words. As if reasoning would just take away from this moment.

They both stiffened when a soft knock came to the door. "Heyyyyyyy..." Shinra's voice came softly from the other side. After they heard the twisting of the locked door knob Shinra added. " I probably should have mentioned this before, but I'd advise against any 'strenuous activities.' At least for a few days..."

At that Shizuo's tensions returned and spiked, causing him to gently untangle himself from Tamina and sit up. "Shut up! It wasn't even like that!" He spat irately.

"Like what?" Shinra toyed with him. "I wasn't trying to insinuate anything, but since you're so defensive I have to wonder-"

"You really want me to come out there and kill you, don't you?!" Shizuo snapped back.

Shinra's tone immediately changed. "So! Who wants breakfast? Take outs on me!" His voice trailed away from the door and down the hall.

Shizuo growled, unsure why he expected Shinra's usual stupid antics to come at a more opportune time. His eyes shifted to Tamina, who seemed to be hiding an amused expression beneath the blankets. "Sorr-" the word nearly came out to apologize for his friend but he stopped himself, remembering her earlier request.

She came to sit up next to him. "Don't worry about it." She assured, beginning to get up.

He came to his feet first, offering a hand to assist her. "How do you feel?" He asked.

"A thousand times better." She told him, eagerly taking his hand and steadying herself. "But I'm starving."

"Well, you missed dinner and kind of puked your brains out last night so..." He pointed out.

She breathed a laugh. "Yeah, I guess I did." She admitted, slightly embarrassed by that.

They both tried to compose themselves a bit before exiting the room. . Shizuo adjusted and straightened his button down shirt and Tamina tried to tame the mess of waves and kinks that was her hair. They shared a shy smile before they headed out of the room and into the hall.


They came to find it was after 11am. They ordered take out for a late breakfast from a local place Shinra and Shizuo were familiar with. It was an odd morning for Tamina, being treated and waited on, considering her usual work. She got to eat at her leisure and lounge about rather than rush around and worry about the twins.

"So how do you two know each other?" Shinra asked with a somewhat telling smile as he finished up his breakfast and shut the take out container lid.

Shizuo immediately answered, hunched over his own food. " We're friends."

"Well obviously." Shinra rolled his eyes. "I mean-"

"I know what you mean." Shizuo cut him off, eyeing him with some hostility.

Tamina decided to stay out of it, nursing the orange juice she'd gotten with her breakfast. The banter between the men she shared the space with was amusing. It was obvious they'd known each other a long time. Maybe middle or grade school.

"Okay, okay." Shinra relented, trying to change the subject. "Tamina, what do you do for work?" He asked warmly.
"I'm something like a nanny or care taker." She explained.

"Oh! So you like kids?" Shinra asked suggestively. He felt Shizuo's eyes momentarily flicker toward him, causing some tenseness.

Tamina hardly noticed though. "I do, but the girls I look after are a little older. In their teens. I mostly just make sure they're fed, have clean clothes and stay alive."

Shinra laughed. "And I thought my job description was interesting."

Shizuo felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. When he checked the ID he offered it to Tamina. "It's Kadota. He's probably checking on you."

Tamina nodded, taking the phone and excusing herself to the adjacent balcony. She shut the sliding glass door behind her for some privacy.

Just as she left, Shinra's phone began to ring too. He reached into the pocket of his long white lab jacket and checked the ID when he pulled it out. "Ah. I need to take this." He told Shizuo as he began to excuse himself to his bedroom. Shizuo watched him leave but paid little mind, assuming it was a client. He came to settle on the couch, hands folded behind his head.


"Hey" Tamina answered.

"What the hell?!" Kyohei's unhappy voice came immediately.

"What happened?!" Erika's voice came booming in the background.

"Did someone hurt you?!" Saburo's voice mixed in as well.

Tamina cringed away, holding the receiver away from her ear at the volume of her friends scolding. When they seemed to simmer down she answered. "It's okay. I'm fine." She started.

"Bullshit!" Kyohei interrupted harshly. "You spent the night at the mob doctors house. Don't you lie to us."

Tamina was surprised at that. 'Mob doctor?' She hadn't questioned the legitimacy of Dr Kishitani until now. Still, she forced herself to keep a convincing tone. "I'm so sorry I worried you guys. I promise I'll explain everything when I see you." There was a silence on the other end that was almost as unnerving as the disciplinary tones she'd just been receiving. "Dr. Kishitani should okay me to go home soon." She added after the prolonged pause.

"Call us when he does." Is all Kyohei responded.

She couldn't help but feel uneasy after ending their talk. A heaviness started to creep into her heart. Kyohei, Saburo, Walker, Erika. Each of them had done so much for her. There was no need for the kindness and friendship they'd extended to her without question when she first showed up here. The least she owed them was honesty. She heaved a heavy sigh thinking bitterly. 'Damn it, Izaya...' He'd screwed things up for her again. With that thought she felt her anger toward him slightly falter. No. She couldn't keep blaming him. This was her fault.


Shinra made his way down the hall and ducked into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him before answering his phone. "So, what is it this time? Did you get yourself stabbed or shot?" He asked.

Izaya's grin was obvious in his voice from the other end of the line. "What if I just called because I wanted to talk?"
"Sure." Shinra replied in an unconvinced tone. "And what could you possibly want to talk about?"

"I don't know." Izaya began as if thinking. "The weather. Pop culture. Your physical relationship with a mythical creature. Or... maybe your current house guests?"

At this Shinra felt a shift in his mood. He knew his friend had resources as an informant, but he never appreciated them being used against him. Especially considering the precariousness Celty's presence presented. The thought of eyes on his home caused his friendly nature to dissolve. "Care to elaborate?" He asked in a more neutral tone.

"I'm talking about Tamina Takeda. Is she there?" Izaya asked in a strangely friendly way.

"She is." Shinra felt no reason to deny it. He obviously already knew this. "How do you know and why do you ask?"

"I'd talk to her myself but her phone goes straight to voicemail. The last person to post about her on the Dollars message board was Celty, so I assumed she found her way there and my resources confirmed this. So what happened? Is she hurt?"

"I'm afraid that breaches doctor/patient confidence." Shinra told him dismissively.

"Fair enough." Izaya relented, gaining more than enough information from that statement alone.

"How do you know Tamina?" Shinra asked.

"Oh, me and Miss Takeda go back a ways. Last I saw her we were planning dinner."

Shinra scoffed at this. "Dinner, huh?"

"That's right." Izaya replied. "I enjoy her cooking but I thought I'd take her out for a change." He added smugly.

"That's strange." Shinra found himself interjecting. "Considering how close her and Shizuo seem to be."

There was a pause on the other end, which gave Shinra some brief satisfaction, but Izaya's tone came back seemingly unfazed. "So Shizu-chan is there too."

Shinra knew his friend better than that though. "So what is this?" He asked curiously. "Just another thing between you and him?"

"Not at all." Izaya dismissed.

"Chasing after the same girl?" Shinra pressed.

"I called to talk about her, not that brute." Izaya replied in a tone that surprised Shinra.

A silence passed between them and Shinra found a smirk creeping onto his face. "Well that's intersting." He commented.

"Anyway," Izaya began again. "I was just checking on her."
"How kind of you." Shinra observed. "And she's just fine." He let him know.

"Great to hear!" Izaya's typical exaggerated tone came back. "I'm sure I'll see her sometime soon anyway. Well thanks Shinra! Bye now." And abruptly the call ended.

Shinra remained, silently contemplating. Izaya was as conniving as ever. Their long standing friendship had taught him that Izaya's had little reservation or distinction between men or women when it came to his scheming. He knew it wasn't beneath the info broker, to use a woman, especially when it came to Shizuo, but something about this didn't seem that simple. Something about Izaya's tones and shortness. He couldn't suppress the feeling of something bigger at work here. And, despite himself, he felt a growing apprehension toward Tamina developing as well.


Izaya's jaw twitched after he ended the call, absent mindedly turning his attention to emails and other social media.

"This is strange. Even for you." Namie commented from her place leaning against one of the book shelves in Izaya's apartment. "Care to explain?"

"Nope." He immediately replied, pocketing his phone and crossing his living space to his computer desk.

Namie scoffed, pushing off the shelf. "Why do you give a damn about that little suicide girl? You've pulled that scheme a hundred times."

Izaya came to sit in his computer chair and swivel to face her. "I'd tell you, but I doubt you'd believe me."

Namie hated appearing interested in his antics, but his actions lately were exceedingly odd. "Try me." She challenged, curiosity winning her over.

"Alright then." With that a toothy grin took Izaya's face. "Tamina Takeda is... A very good human." He could tell by Namie's unchanged expression that she didn't grasp what he was saying. "I'm fairly familiar. With people, you know?" He added, idly beginning to spin himself in his chair. "There are those most would consider 'bad people' and those most would consider 'good people', strictly based on what our society considers 'morally permissible.' He steals so he must be bad. She helps the old lady across the street so she must be good. I'm not talking about that imaginary line that the world around you draws between people. I'm talking about human nature."

Namie suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, impatiently waiting for him to make whatever 'profound' point he thought he was making.

Izaya went on. "Tamina Takeda makes the right choices for the right reasons. Sometimes... She also, just as frequently makes the completely wrong choices for the right reasons. Or wrong reasons... " He trailed off with a telling smirk on his face. "She's human nature at it's finest. So exciting and imperfect."

"So watching her fuck up turns you on?" Namie asked.

"In all honesty there isn't much she can do that I don't find myself enjoying. She's cute when she smiles and plays. She's pretty smart and has a good sense of humor. She has some wit about her too. Those things are all fine and good. But when she cries... When she's hurt...When she's frightened... When her eyes are glazed with unapologetic lust... " His tone adopted a more passionate inflection. "When her face twists in anger or frustration. God, I like it when she does those things too. It just reminds me why I love humans so much to begin with." With that he paused, remembering his conversation with Shinra. "And humans are mine. All of them..." He found himself saying sternly, looking out the window at the city. The silent possessiveness that had been creeping into him for weeks now was coming to a head. Even more so, thinking of that monster near her. Maybe it would be different if it were another human... But it wasn't. It was a beast. And he'd be damned before he let a monster have any human. Let alone a human like her.. "Especially her." He added.

Namie found herself in a soft silence. She's never seen him quite like this and she wasn't quite sure to make of it. Izaya felt her eyes on him and turned, meeting her curious gaze. At that he adopted his more usual mannerisms, letting out a laugh. "Anyway! Do you have what I asked for?" He asked her, changing the subject.

She suddenly remembered the folder she carried tucked under her arm. "Right." She said, opening it and skimming through the printed pages inside. "He's a sick fuck, this one." She noted.

"How old did you say you were?" He asked, standing from his chair to cross the space and retrieve the documents she provided.

"Thirteen." She replied in a disgusted tone, closing the folder and handing it over.

Izaya took it and made his way back to the living room, flipping through it's contents. He let out a long whistle after reading some of the text. "Wow. What a perv..." He observed, but held a disturbing grin.

Namie had more than her fill of his demented behavior and the day was still early. She decided to relent, grabbing her purse and heading for the door. "If that's all for now, I'm going to pick up some groceries." She told him. There wasn't anything his apartment desperately needed, but she found herself making any excuse to break her confinement at times. Especially when she had no one but this twisted man as company.

"Sure, sure. See you later." He said hardly minding, flopping onto the large couch to read the documents she had provided him with more thoroughly. He heard the door shut as Namie swiftly made her exit. In his privacy he found himself chuckling to himself. "Who knew one of the top defense attorneys in Shibuya would have so many skeletons in his closet..."


Author Notes: Thank you thank you thank you for reading! Update coming in a few weeks.

PLEASE REVIEW/FAVORITE/FOLLOW! I appreciate it more than you could ever know!

And feel free to follow me on Tumblr! Link in my profile bio.

See you next time!