Shizuo grumbled to himself as he stepped out of his small apartment, slightly blushing with embarrassment when he lifted up one side of his kimono to stop it from catching on the steps leading to the street. His kimono was white with a matching belt tied around his waist and a jacket matching the kimono's style draped over his shoulders and down his arms, consisting of a shade of light blue then darker further up onto his shoulders. Shizuo wasn't planning to go all out on this; his intention was to just pick a plain color and hoped it didn't make him look too much like a girl. Why the hell had he even agreed to this? Shizuo specifically said he was against the kimono idea, and not only did he purchase one, but it was obvious he spent his time picking out the right one.

"I think I would look rather pleasing in a kimono, don't you think so?"

Shizuo rolled his eyes. That was not why he decided to wear this tonight, and he hadn't been thinking about how Izaya would look when he saw him either. "Tsk. He looks like a girl even without this damn thing... but still." At least that's what Shizuo attempted to reason and only wanted to see for himself to prove his point that kimonos were more suited to females.

Where were they supposed to meet again? Shizuo stepped onto the street and scratched his head as he looked left and right. "Kadota said it was near the school, so I'll just head there." Shizuo began to walk his usual routine to the school, keeping his head bowed and his arms folded. He couldn't help but feel ridiculous. Shizuo hadn't even worn any of the clothing his parents had insisted on while he lived at the shrine, but the moment he finally gained some friends - albeit rather questionable friends - then bam, here he was, all kimono-clad. Shizuo looked down at his feet; yep, even the dark beige sandals were nestled comfortably on his feet. He sighed and wondered if any other males at the festival were wearing these.

Shizuo looked up, hoping he hadn't made a wrong turn while zoned out. Everything always looked different in the dark. He looked for a signpost, anything to tell him about the festival nearby. You'd think it would be marked all over if it was a big deal. Shizuo wondered whether his "friends" had played a joke on him, and he would be the only one in a kimono, or they weren't going to show up. Shizuo shook his head. After crossing the street of his school, he glanced to his left and saw someone standing at the corner by a lamp post. Shizuo tilted his head and shrugged. "Guess I'll ask her. She's wearing a kimono, so maybe she's heading to the festival too." He shifted nervously closer until he could see what the other was wearing. The kimono was all black with a red belt tied tight around the waist with a dark purple jacket over small shoulders with printed fans painted beige. "Excuse me, Miss? I'm kind of lost. Am I heading the right way to the festival? Could you point me in the right direction?"

And suddenly, the person finally turned their head toward him, and Shizuo could barely contain his surprise. "Or we could just go together, Shizu-chan."

Shizuo's eyes grew wide; he hadn't even - because he couldn't see Izaya's face and - "Fuck."

Izaya raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "What's with the surprised face, Shizu-chan?"

Shizuo was so embarrassed. "Damn it, sorry, I guess. I thought-"

Izaya leaned against the lamp post, his arms crossing lightly over his waist. "That I was a girl?"

Shizuo narrowed his eyes, his cheeks tinting red, and yelled, "It's dark, okay! And - and you're small! And - shut up!"

Izaya laughed. "Well, naturally I would be offended while my masculinity gets questioned, but your embarrassment is just too funny."

Shizuo growled and looked away. "Just shut up."

Izaya pushed away from the lamp post, dragging a sandal-clad foot across the pavement to tiptoe. Shizuo looked down at him with suspicion when Izaya grinned up at him. "Why the blush? Are you embarrassed that you thought I was a girl, or do you still think I look rather nice now you know it's me?"

Shizuo stepped back and shoved him away. "I hate you."

"Whatever you say, but you still think I look cute." Shizuo clenched his fists and began to walk down the street. Izaya chuckled. "Wrong way." Shizuo halted, spun around, glared at him, and walked in the opposite direction. "Just kidding, Shizu-chan." Shizuo released a frustrated yell and turned to the raven with all the intention of smacking him in the face, whether he looked 'cute' or not, but Izaya had already taken off running down the street leading up to their school.

"Izayaaaa!" Izaya grinned when he looked back at Shizuo, knowing the blond was chasing him. He waved and laughed when he picked up speed.

Shizuo reached out for Izaya's wrist when he noticed the raven slowing down, wrapped his hand around the small arm, and pulled him back so hard that he let out a surprised grunt when Izaya slammed against his chest. Izaya lay his palm flat against his chest and looked up at him, just as surprised as Shizuo was. The raven could feel the heat radiating off him as they tried to catch their breath. Izaya tried to laugh it off, grinning as he took a step back, ready with a teasing quip, except it died on his lips when he saw the expression on Shizuo's face. Izaya looked down at Shizuo's hand still wrapped around his wrist. "Shizu-chan, can you let go now?"

Shizuo snapped out of his daze, released Izaya's wrist almost instantly, and stepped back. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Izaya turned away from him, looked at the sign above his head, and sighed with relief. "We must have run a long way. We're here already."

Shizuo blinked in surprise and stared up at the large banner above them. "I guess I would have found it eventually. I mean, the word festival is a dead giveaway."

Izay turned to Shizuo with a grin. "I don't know, your brain is lacking in almost - everything, so you might not have even registered the sign."

"Do you want me to kick your ass?"

"You're the one who started insulting yourself first."

"No I didn't!"

Izaya shrugged, and they turned their attention to the side when someone called their names. "Izaya! Shizuo! Over here!" Shinra ran up to them but had a harder time running in his sandals than Shizuo or Izaya. "You guys look great!" Shinra said and almost blushed at the sight of his best friend. He looks so cute! Shinra was dressed in a navy-blue kimono with a plain white jacket, and his belt was black with grey shading.

Izaya placed a hand over his hip and chuckled. "I was actually mistaken for a girl just now by some idiot." Shizuo glared at him, and Izaya sighed dramatically, leaning on Shinra's shoulder. "So much so, that he even had the nerve to try and proposition me!" Izaya splayed his arms out for effect. "Just because I was standing on a street corner!"

Shinra and Kadota paled. "What!"

Izaya laughed; he didn't think his friends were that gullible. "I did not proposition you, flea!" a sudden shout came. Izaya smirked, and Shizuo blinked, realizing that Izaya hadn't said his name. Shizuo covered his face with his hand, and Izaya laughed even harder. "I really really hate you," he muttered loudly.

"I'm so confused," Shinra said.

Waiting for his laughter to calm down, Izaya clapped a hand on Shinra's shoulder. "I was kidding about the proposition part, but I was mistaken for a girl - by Shizu-chan."

Kadota almost snorted a laugh, unsure which was funnier, Izaya being a girl or the fact Shizuo thought he was one. He turned to Shizuo with a half-grin. "You thought Izaya was a girl?"

Shizuo growled. "It – was - dark! I was just asking for directions!"

Izaya clasped his hands together behind his back. "And then he chased me all the way here. If that's how you pick up girls, Shizu-chan, then it's no wonder none of them from our school has approached you."

"Shut the hell up! I don't do that! And besides, you didn't seem to protest!"

Izaya grinned, eyes teasing with narrowed slits. "Yes, but I'm male, so there's that big difference."

Shinra laughed nervously and stepped between them before Shizuo had the chance to lose his temper. "Let's - calm down. What do you say we enjoy the festival now? I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving! Let's get some food and have some fun, okay?"

Kadota nodded. "That's what we came for anyway." He shrugged, his dark green jacket falling slightly over one shoulder. He wore a navy-blue kimono with short sleeves.

The four began weaving in and out of the groups.

Bright circular orange lit paper lanterns hung through strings attached to long thin poles, and further into the festival, they noticed many multi-colored lights surrounding the park, hanging low above them and perfectly lighting their way through the early evening darkness. The lanterns and string of lights created a constant ominous glow.

Different food stands scattered around, from hotdogs to traditional Japanese cuisine, from donuts to candy floss and candy apples, and games consisting of ring toss, shooting targets, funny photo booths, basketball, whack-a-mole, and high striker. Two base areas were situated at either end of the festival for bathroom breaks. The festival was also not without other fun activities, such as an amusement arcade and many rides.

Two rides stood out the most: a three-loop rollercoaster and a large Ferris wheel overlooking the whole park. There were smaller rides such as a ghost train, a carousel, a log flume, a pirate ship, bumper cars, and a funhouse.

"They really went all out," Kadota said as they familiarised themselves before deciding what to do first.

Shinra nodded but was barely paying any attention; his gaze wandered over to Izaya and how the lights seemed to reflect perfectly off of him, making him appear as though he was glowing. Shinra shook his head and ignored his feelings. "It all looks pretty cool."

Shizuo shoved his way past a crowd of people standing in the way unnecessarily. While he hated the mass of groups and there were lines for EVERYTHING, Shizuo ignored all that as best he could because he never got the chance to have this kind of fun. "I didn't think Halloween was a big deal for most parts of Japan," he said as they stood in line for the hotdog and burger vendor.

Kadota shrugged. "I think it all depends on preference really. I heard this festival was actually funded by our school, so we might see a lot of our classmates here."

Shizuo clicked his tongue at the last comment. "Probably not in kimonos," he muttered quietly, but his friends heard him anyway.

Izaya grinned. "It's not that bad, Shizu-chan. For what it's worth, it suits you."

Shizuo rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but wonder. He's not fucking flirting with me, is he? Shizuo mentally shook his head. No, Izaya was just like that whether they were males or not. Besides, Izaya acted like this with all of them, so it didn't mean a damn thing. So what the hell was that back there? When Shizuo had chased him and yanked him back against his chest, their gaze toward one another was different from any other time. He didn't quite understand it, but it seemed like Izaya had forgotten about it already, so he figured it was his mind overthinking again. By the time Shizuo snapped out of his thoughts, Izaya's attention was on the food stand.

Izaya turned back to his friends, wallet in his hand, and with an offered gesture to the cart, he asked, "What does everyone want?" He gave a half-grin. "My treat."

Shinra smiled brightly and placed his thumb and forefinger against his chin in thought. "Hmmm. I'll have - a chilli cheeseburger please."

Izaya raised an eyebrow. "You don't like spicy food, Shinra."

"Well, today, I'm broadening my horizons. I'm going to try something new."

"Well, don't cry like a baby when you realize it's too spicy." Izaya turned his attention to Kadota.

"I'll just go for a plain small hotdog. If we're going on rides later, I want the food to stay down."

Izaya chuckled as he relayed his friend's order before glancing over at Shizuo, still looking at the menu. "Take your time, Shizu-chan. It's not like other people are waiting to be served."

Shizuo turned and glared at the raven. "Well, we waited in line like everyone else for them to make up their minds, so they can damn well do the same!"

Izaya leaned against the cart and couldn't help but laugh. "I can't tell if you're angry because of hunger, or if you'd prefer something sweet rather than savoury." Shizuo blinked at him, impressed that Izaya could tell that about him. Shizuo frowned and glanced away, his eyes wandering over to a waffle stand, and Izaya laughed. "Or perhaps, both."

Izaya paid for Shinra's and Kadota's food with three water bottles, and they walked to an unoccupied bench. "Are you not going to eat anything?" Shinra asked and sighed when Izaya gave him a shrug.

"Want me to get you a waffle, Shizu-chan? Would that temporarily stop you from being so angry?"

"I'm not angry!" Shizuo shut his mouth, and Izaya grinned at him knowingly. "Shut up, and I can buy my own food." He stormed off to the waffle cart before anyone started to gather around it again.

"Suit yourself." Izaya sat next to Shinra on the bench, eyeing the blond as he took his time picking the right toppings. "Did he always get this cranky when waiting this long for sweets?"

Kadota swallowed the food in his mouth and replied, "Dunno. Maybe he's diabetic and his sugar levels are low."

Shinra shook his head. "I doubt Shizuo is a diabetic. He wouldn't be allowed to have what he does eat if he were. Maybe something is bothering him. HHHHBhHHHhjhjsdhskjde seems kind of edgy." Shinra took another bite of his burger, and his eyes watered, reaching straight for his water bottle.

Izaya watched Shizuo come back to them with a paper plate in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. The round waffle was almost the size of the plate, with a layer of strawberries, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and colorful sprinkles. "What a child you are, Shizu-chan. I feel sick just looking at it."

Shizuo snorted. "Then don't fucking look at t." He placed the plate on his lap and began to dig into the sweet dessert. The whipped cream had melted slightly from the still-warm waffle. Izaya glanced at the plate, and even though he scrunched his nose up, he eyed the fruit on top with more interest. Izaya pulled his flick blade from his inside jacket pocket and approached the waffle. "Don't even think about it." Izaya pouted. "You're not using that thing to take a piece of fruit from my plate. That's just about the most unhygienic thing you can do."

Shinra whimpered, and they turned their attention to him. His tongue hung out like a dog, and he was fanning it with his hand, his water already consumed. "Sorry… I can't eat anymore. It's too hot. I need another water." He placed the half-eaten burger down and ran to the vending machine opposite them.

Izaya sighed. "I told him he wouldn't like it," he said and picked up the discarded plate, using the fork to eat the chili that Shinra tried to scoop out as much as he could.

Kadota blinked in curiosity. "Is that why you didn't get any food? Because you knew Shinra wouldn't finish his?"

Izaya chuckled with a slight nod. "Why bother buying my own food when I can just eat his? Besides, there's a good chance he ordered this because he knew I wouldn't eat anything."

Kadota smiled knowingly; he didn't understand their friendship, but they looked after each other. He wiped his hands on a napkin, finished his water, and waited for his friends to finish.

"That doesn't really look appealing," Shizuo said when he looked at the plate in Izaya's lap, grimacing at the amount of cheese. He was all for fast food, but that looked like a heart attack on a plate. "I didn't figure you for the greasy food type."

"I'm not. The chilli is good though," Izaya replied as he scooped up the last bit, holding it in front of Shizuo's face. "Try it." Shizuo frowned, stubbornly closing his mouth. Izaya smirked. "Unless you're worried it might be too hot for you?"

Shizuo recognized a challenge when it was presented. He grabbed the fork from Izaya and shoved the chili in his mouth. Shizuo couldn't help but smile with a little satisfaction. "That is pretty good."

Izaya raised an eyebrow with an impressed expression. "You should taste my father's chili. See if you can handle that." Izaya realized that he had just basically invited Shizuo to dinner without his other friends, and it felt - strange. Izaya looked away quickly, hoping that maybe Shizuo hadn't heard him.

"That an offer?"

Okay, he'd heard, but that didn't mean he wanted to take the offer.

"Sure, why not."

Damn it. Izaya shrugged and looked back when he felt a nudge on his arm. Shizuo held out a strawberry on his fork, not just a strawberry, but Izaya noticed it was the last one. The raven grinned happily. Shizuo expected him to just take the fork and be done with it. Instead, Izaya leaned forward and opened his mouth, grazing teeth across the plastic, and pulled back slowly, taking the fruit with him. His eyes lifted to Shizuo's as he leaned back completely and quietly let out an appreciative moan when the juice of the fruit burst into his mouth.

Shizuo was mesmerized. Shit, what the hell is wrong with me? And I swear he's doing this on purpose. No one takes a piece of fruit off their friend's fork so delicately like that!

"Who's up for some rides!" came Shinra's voice beside them. Shizuo and Izaya snapped from their little moment, and Shizuo was relieved to find the raven just as embarrassed by his actions. They both nodded, grateful for the distraction, and stood up, ready to take their minds off everything and have some fun for once. It was a chance to unwind from school, daily home life, and certainly from their chosen paranormal career path.

The first ride chosen was the pirate ship because starting off slow seemed like a good idea, lest they have Shinra puke up the burger he'd tried to eat earlier. Neither of them was too scared to try all the rides, so naturally, they braved the three-loop coaster and the sky drop, which took them a hundred feet up into the air before plunging them back to earth at an alarming speed. None of them would admit that the ride had shaken them slightly, and Izaya was almost sure his hand was bruised from Shinra's grip. After that, they decided to calm their adrenaline and share a waltzers cup, though it wasn't so calm when Shizuo and Izaya decided to see who could spin them the fastest.

The four continued to move through the park until Izaya and Shizuo spotted something to satisfy their need for a challenge: bumper cars. "How about it, Shizu-chan?" Izaya turned to Shizuo with a smirk, sliding his hand over the bars at the start of the line entrance. There wasn't much of a queue, which meant they'd have more chances to bump each other.

Shizuo returned the smirk and held his arm out. "Ladies first."

Izaya slightly pouted and grinned again when he took the lead. "Careful, Shizu-chan, this "lady" has claws, and she bites."

Shizuo snorted and shoved him forward. "Just get down there, flea!"

Izaya laughed as he walked backward. "You're so easy to tease, Shizu-chan." A slight smirk formed on his face. "And fluster too."

Shizuo's eyes widened, positive his cheeks were red. "Shut up!"

Izaya laughed again and caught sight of his other friends, who shook their heads. He chuckled and waved his hand. "Fine, fine. I'll be good." Izaya turned to the front, not quite shaking the amused expression.

The four reached the front in no time at all, and Kadota and Shinra shared one car since the bespectacled boy was too nervous about driving one by himself but insisted on being the one to drive. Kadota assumed it was Shinra's attempt to impress the other raven, so he shrugged and humored him.

Once the participants were seated in their chosen cars, singularly or paired, the operator greeted them. A few rules of the ride were announced, and they were gestured to have a good time.

Izaya made direct eye contact with the blond opposite him; his chosen color was dark red - number 8, and Shizuo's was a dark green - number 9. The sound of the buzzer counted down. Izaya smirked, wrapping his hands firmly around the steering wheel, Shizuo mimicking his moves. Izaya hit the pedal hard, and the car sped forward. Shizuo pushed the pedal with enough force to send him straight for the raven, but instead of plowing right into him, Shizuo swerved the car at the last minute. Izaya frowned and twisted his wheel to follow him, and they remained this way for quite some time.

Shinra flinched when their car rammed into the barrier for the third time. Kadota sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to stay patient. "I thought you said you could drive this thing?"

Shinra laughed nervously when Kadota again brought his leg out to nudge them back. They were jolted harshly when a car rammed into the side of them, followed by a soft yet manic laugh. Kadota frowned in annoyance over at their attacker.

"Sorry, Dota-chin, but Shinra is such an easy target right now," Izaya said with an arrogant smirk.

Kadota glanced just behind the raven and gave him a smirk. "So are you."

Izaya chuckled, pushed his pedal hard, and quickly turned his wheel. His car reversed with good speed, and instead of hitting Izaya's car, Shizuo smacked into Shinra. Izaya laughed loudly, and Shizuo glared over at him. "It would have worked! But Dota-chin gave you away! Sorry, Shizu-chan." He laughed and sped away when Shizuo turned his car to follow, muttering an apology to Shinra and Kadota.

"I'll ram your ass into that barrier, flea!"

Izaya smirked as he turned his car to the right and leaned out when Shizuo almost knocked into the side corner. "I'd much prefer a less public place."

Shizuo growled angrily, but his body wasn't agreeing with his annoyance. I should not be thinking these things. I fucking hate him. Shizuo's anger won out when Izaya turned left and whizzed past him. The blond followed until the two were again opposite. Neither one had hit the other yet, and he'd be damned if Izaya did first. They locked eyes, slammed their foot on the pedal, and sped toward each other, eyes squeezed as they waited for the impact until - buzz! The cars slowed to a stop, and Izaya and Shizuo stopped inches from each other.

"Too bad, Shizu-chan!"

"You didn't hit me either!"

The two stepped out of the cars so the next group of eagerly awaiting riders could take their turn. They met up with Kadota and Shinra next to the exit and walked around the front. "Trust you two to turn something like that into a competition," Kadota said when they stopped outside the funhouse.

"It's more interesting that way," Izaya replied before grinning. "You're just sulking because Shinra can't drive."

Shinra pouted. "It's not a real car you know," he whined.

Kadota snorted. "Thank god. If it were real, we'd both be dead by now."

Shizuo ignored his friend's banter and looked up at the building. "What the hell is this supposed to be anyway?"

They stopped their bickers and turned their attention to Shizuo's interest. Shinra then explained. "I think it's one of those wacky houses where certain parts of the floor move really fast in different directions. I guess it's a balance test."

Izaya jumped over the bar. "I'll conquer that hands down." The raven glanced over at Shizuo. "My balance is flawless."

Shizuo clenched his fists and stepped forward. "We'll see about that."

Izaya shrugged and turned to his other friends. "Are you coming with us?"

Shinra slumped and shook his head. "I need a break. You two go ahead, and try not to break a leg or kill each other." He moved toward a bench to sit down, rubbing at his legs he swore were bruised from the bumper car.

Kadota jolted his thumb. "I'm gonna keep an eye on him."

Izaya waved a hand dismissively and ran into the building with a chuckle. Shizuo frowned and ran after him when he realized the raven would get a head start.

Kadota sat beside his friend, happy to have the break too.

"They turn everything into a challenge, don't they? Can't take them anywhere," Shinra said with amusement, and Kadota saw the admiration in his eyes.

"I got a confession to make," Kadota said with a sigh.

"What?"

"Before we met up here, Shizuo and I made a plan over the phone to keep you and Izaya apart while on the rides."

Shinra blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"We know how you feel about him. It's not a bad thing, and you can't help it, I guess. But we got the feeling you might succumb to your feelings if you were given the chance today. So, we kept you from sharing the same cart with him on the rides."

Shinra frowned a little and looked down at the floor. "Oh."

"Sorry, but we're just looking out for you. We don't want things to be awkward."

Shinra clenched his fists in his lap. "It's not just some crush you know."

"We know, and that's what makes it worse."

Shinra huffed. "How do you think I feel? Do you know what it's like to be in love with someone who probably doesn't feel the same way? For that person to not only be a male, but your best friend too?"

Kadota shook his head, feeling sympathy for the boy next to him. "No."

"No, you don't. It kills me. I can deal with it, and I've been dealing with it for months now. I just didn't think my friends would outright plan behind my back to actually keep me away from him. What if he starts to think I'm avoiding him? The least you could have done is talk to me first."

Kadota felt bad now. "I'm sorry, Shinra."

Shinra sighed and slouched forward, lowering his head. "I can't tell him, and I know that, so just let me deal with it my way. Let me be close to him as much as I can. He's not suspected anything, but if I start to avoid him and act distant, he will."

Shinra had a good point. They'd been the foolish ones. Kadota nodded. "You're right. We shouldn't have gone behind your back."

Shinra smiled. "I know you're just looking out for me, but I'm fine. It's all okay."

Shizuo grabbed hold of a side handle when his legs were forced sideways. He tried to steady himself, but the floor moved too fast to stand upright. He heard a chuckle from behind him and tried to turn his head to glare while still clinging to the side. The distraction almost caused him to fall flat on his face when the floor continued to jolt his legs the other way. "You look like a flapping monkey," the voice claimed teasingly. Shizuo had lost track of Izaya during the third obstacle, and it was obvious the raven was much more skilled with balance. Shizuo growled in annoyance and was finally able to step off the fast-paced floor. A sandal came over the moving floor and began moving with it. "It's not all that hard, Shizu-chan."

"Fuck off. Not everyone is as good as you. I've never even been in one of these before. I'm just not that good with balance."

Izaya looked up at him when he stepped fully onto the floor, jolting from side to side. "It's not just all about balance." Shizuo watched him start to shift his body. "You have to force your body to copy its rhythm." Izaya moved his hips and bent his legs slightly to keep in time with the floor. "Like this." Shizuo was mesmerized by Izaya's movements, eyes trailing down toward his hips as they swayed. Blinking, he shook himself out of it and noticed the raven's outstretched hand.

Shizuo frowned knowingly. "No way."

"What do you think I'm going to do? If I sabotage your balance, then I'll lose my own. I'm going to help you, so just trust me for once." Shizuo glared at the hand and sighed before reaching out and wrapping his hand around Izaya's. "Hold on to the sidebar too." Shizuo did as told for once with no angry remark. The blond grunted with annoyance when his body almost jolted him, and he almost toppled to the side. Izaya's grip tightened, and he shifted so the two were completely opposite. "Let your legs move in contrast to my own." Shizuo blinked in confusion until he realized his and Izaya's side of the floor were moving in opposite directions. Using Izaya's steady hand and his grip on the bar, Shizuo bent his knees slightly and moved his hips, watching Izaya's moves carefully. "There you go. Now you don't look so pathetic." Izaya grinned when Shizuo glared at him but remained in place. "I'm going to let go now, so don't fall. If you fall on me, you'll probably crush me." Izaya laughed.

"I'm not that heavy you know."

Izaya shrugged and kept his rhythm as he slowly let go of Shizuo's hand. He let his arms fall by his sides, and the floor moved him perfectly in tune with it. Izaya chuckled. "Let go of the bar, Shizu-chan."

"Just give me a minute!" Shizuo almost lost his concentration amid his temper, but he took a breath and removed his hand, slowly letting his arms fall to his sides. "Ha!" He grinned triumphantly, looking at Izaya to gloat, but the raven wasn't smirking at him; he was actually smiling. Shizuo hardly ever saw him smile like that. With him, it was always a teasing smirk. The two fell into sync with one another.

The hum of the simulator around them slowly shut down as the overhead lights shut off. Pulled out of their sync when the boards beneath them stopped abruptly, Izaya quickly grasped Shizuo's jacket before he fell backward. On instinct, Shizuo wrapped his arm around the raven's waist to keep him from falling. It wasn't until a voice came over the intercom to explain the situation did they move from their position.

All ground simulator rides are now closed. Please make your way to the exit immediately. The fireworks will begin in half an hour.

Izaya chuckled at his embarrassment to seek stabilization from the blond and removed himself from the other male's space. "Let's go," he said and moved through the rest of the building. Shizuo followed after him, almost slightly disappointed they didn't finish the course.

Shinra and Kadota looked up when their friends appeared from the exit. "How was it?" Shinra asked as he and Kadota stood up to greet them.

Izaya laughed. "Shizu-chan did a great impression of a hysterical monkey, or perhaps a thrashing fish forced out of water for too long, depending on how you looked at it."

Shizuo shoved him hard, and Izaya stumbled back against the bars, still laughing. "Fuck off!"

"No need to get violent, Shizu-chan. It's the truth."

"Whatever. I guess you'll never be anything more than an asshole." Everyone seemed to blink in surprise at Shizuo's sudden hostility. It wasn't like Izaya had gone too far, so they didn't understand why the blond was so offended.

"Shizu-chan-" Izaya watched him head over toward the bathroom stalls. "I was just kidding," he finished, but he knew Shizuo couldn't hear him. Izaya sighed and rolled his eyes. He looked at his friends, pleased to see they were just as surprised.

"What's with him?" Shinra said.

Izaya shrugged and leaned against the bars. "Beats me."

Kadota gave him a curious look before replying, "What did you do?"

Izaya snorted, feeling slightly offended. "I didn't do anything. It was harmless teasing. I know you like to think I'm the reason he's so pissed off all the time, but I didn't actually do anything this time."

Kadota slumped, about to go after their friend until Shizuo returned, seemingly calmer now, his hand wrapped in paper towels. "I feel better now," Shizuo commented casually and avoided Izaya's gaze entirely, which annoyed the raven.

So we're back to that, are we? Stupid hot-headed brute. Izaya shrugged and moved away from the bars, and Shinra followed after him.

Kadota walked beside Shizuo, glancing down. "What happened to your hand?"

Shizuo grunted, holding up his hand, and dismissed it. "Hit a mirror back there. I assumed Izaya might be grateful it wasn't his face."

"That hasn't stopped you before!" Izaya quipped back. Honestly, he was more agitated because he didn't know why Shizuo was suddenly so pissed at him.

"Shut the hell up, flea!"

"Bite me!"

Kadota sighed. "Why are you so mad at him?"

Shizuo opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find a plausible answer. "I-" he closed his mouth and folded his hands behind his head as they walked. "Dunno. I guess I just am. Sometimes I don't have a reason. He just pisses me off."

Izaya turned to glance at the blond. "That's a great definitive of words, Shizu-chan."

Shizuo glared at him, and Izaya rolled his eyes, turning his back once more.

Shinra spun around, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, guys! Let's not argue now. We've had a great time so far! I think we've got one more ride before the fireworks start. Why don't we go on the Ferris wheel? It'll be a great view, and it'll give us all a chance to calm down."

Shizuo lowered his arms when they stopped just outside a small gift shop. "We're going to be stuck up in the air, so I'm not sharing a cart with him!"

Izaya narrowed his eyes with a slight sneer. "Like I care. I need to talk to Shinra alone anyway, so no need to worry about us in close proximity, brute."

Shinra laughed nervously. "Erm, ferris wheel it is then?"

Izaya glanced at Shizuo's hand and turned into the shop. "Whatever." The three watched him disappear into the shop and decided to wait for him.

Kadota looked at Shizuo with a raised eyebrow. "Don't," Shizuo said. "I don't know why I'm so pissed at him. It's been a long night, and things have been pretty calm between us. Maybe I just expected him to piss me off by now."

Shinra tilted his head and gave him an incredulous look. "Let me get this straight. You're pissed off because he hasn't pissed you off?"

Shizuo snorted and folded his arms. "I guess. I know that doesn't make sense, so let's just drop it."

Shinra lifted a finger. "Actually, it makes perfect sense. Izaya is kind of your opposite. He compliments your temper, he's the only one capable of withstanding it, and he enjoys it as much as you, I guess."

"I don't enjoy being pissed off, Shinra!"

"That's not what I meant. He's kind of like your vent. Whenever you feel angry, be it at him or not, he's always there to take your frustration out on. Izaya probably teases you on purpose whenever he senses you about to get angry. It's not healthy to bottle it, so he feeds it and counteracts it with his own."

Kadota blinked in surprise and said, "That actually makes sense, in a deranged sort of way. But I don't think Izaya really knows why Shizuo is angry this time, and I think he is genuinely just as confused. I don't think he was actually feeding his anger. He seemed pretty annoyed."

"I suppose only Shizuo knows the answer to that," Shinra said.

Shizuo clenched his fists, more frustrated with his own confused state than out of anger for the situation. "I don't know! So let's just-" he was hit in the chest by a small box before it landed in his hand. Shizuo blinked and turned the box around in his hands. It was a travel-sized bandage kit. Shizuo looked up at Izaya, who had appeared from the shop when he wasn't paying attention.

"If you're going to go around punching mirrors or other defenceless objects, you might want to carry that around with you." That was all Izaya said before turning in the direction of the Ferris wheel.

Shinra chuckled at Shizuo's surprised face, clapped a hand on both his and Kadota's shoulders and followed after their Izaya. "Come on, we don't have much time before the fireworks go off!"

Shizuo blinked a few more times before running to catch up to them, Kadota following close behind. The hell?

Izaya and Shinra were the next pair into a cart as the wheel turned slowly. Shizuo looked at Kadota, suddenly realizing that Shinra would be alone with the raven. "Should we swap with one of them? I still don't wanna be next to the flea, so I'll go with Shinra."

Kadota shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Shinra knows about our plan, and he seemed pretty upset. He assured me he wouldn't confess to Izaya. Besides, Izaya wanted to share the cart, so if we try separate them now, he really will get suspicious."

Shizuo felt bad for what they did; he didn't know what it was like to be in love with someone, and Shinra obviously treasured his and Izaya's friendship enough to keep it to himself. "I guess you're right."

Izaya and Shinra took their seat opposite each other inside the cart. The operator closed the gate beside them, and the wheel slowly moved them away from the entrance. Kadota and Shizuo were the last to get on. Once their gate was closed, the wheel began to turn at a consistent pace, allowing each pair a chance to enjoy the view equally.

"Wow!" Shinra exclaimed once they neared the top. "You can see everything from up here." The lights below began to blur. The festival's grounds were in direct viewpoint, and just as they reached the very top, Shinra pointed. "Look, Izaya, there's our school." Izaya turned with amusement and shifted to see.

"Why don't you sit down before you start to realize how high we really are," the raven told him, and although Shinra protested, Izaya knew he would get dizzy eventually. Once Shinra was seated again, Izaya leaned forward, resting his hands over his knees, trying not to knock the other's legs in their closely confined space. "Why are you avoiding me?"

Shinra blinked at the sudden question. "What do you mean?"

"I don't care to know what's going on in that brute's mind to apologize for what I may or may not have done." Izaya leaned back slightly against the hard seat; he could be himself around Shinra. "You deserve better than that. So, what's with the avoidance? Have I done something to offend you?" Izaya grinned. "Other than what I usually tease you about." Izaya's grin turned into a soft frown.

Shinra laughed. "No, of course not."

"Then what's with the distance?" Izaya punched him on the shoulder. "Are you jealous I shared the rides with Shizu-chan and Dota-chin?" Shinra almost let out a surprised yip when Izaya hit the nail on the head. "Are you worried about them taking your place as 'the best friend.'" Izaya laughed. "I thought only girls worried about things like that."

Shinra smiled. "Maybe a little." He may as well agree since Izaya was half-right anyway.

"Shizu-chan and I can barely stand one another at the best of times, and not even Dota-chin has the patience to put up with me as much as you, so no need to avoid me like we're in third grade on a playground."

Shinra laughed. "I wasn't avoiding you. Kadota told me he and Shizuo were keeping me away from you." Shinra realized what he'd said too late. Oh crap.

Izaya raised an eyebrow. "Why? Is it them who's jealous?" Izaya snorted at his own joke.

Shinra noticed they had looped and were heading for the top once more, and when Izaya turned his head to look over at the view, Shinra couldn't help but stare at him. He was sitting opposite the one he'd fallen in love with, the wind moving Izaya's black strands against his face. The glow from the Ferris wheel lights lit up his friend's face when they passed over the top, making him look so angelic. He's – beautiful. Shinra took a shuddering breath. The wheel had stopped for a few moments, giving everyone a chance to capture the view, but Shinra didn't care for the view below this time. I have to tell him how I feel, and if I don't do it now, I'll never get the chance like this again. The moment seemed all too perfect. "Izaya…" Shinra called, and Izaya turned his attention to the boy. "I - I need to tell you something."

Izaya raised an eyebrow. Shinra looked serious for once. "That sounds ominous." Shinra flinched, fumbling with his hands in his lap. "What is it?"

Shinra looked up into Izaya's crimson eyes and opened his mouth to say something - anything. Actions speak louder than words, I guess. Before Izaya could lean back any further, Shinra shifted forward, closed the gap between them, and pressed his lips to Izaya's.

Izaya's eyes widened. He was so shocked he couldn't move to protest. It wasn't until Shinra's left hand came to rest on his thigh and his other on his shoulder that Izaya snapped out of his stupor. With a grunt of disapproval, he pushed against Shinra's chest with a little more force than intended, and the other boy fell back against the opposite seat, causing the cart to rock slightly. "Shinra…" Izaya panted slightly, having his breath taken away so suddenly. "Wha - what the hell was that? Tell me that was a joke. Tell me you consumed alcohol at some point tonight…." Izaya looked at his friend's face, and the boy avoided his gaze, his hands gripping around the bottom of his seat. His actions told Izaya this wasn't a joke.

Shinra finally looked up at him, facing Izaya's shocked and somewhat annoyed expression. "Izaya… I love you."

Izaya's eyes widened even more. Did he miss something? Since when? "You - you what?"

Shinra sighed. "I'm sorry. I tried not to. I thought maybe it was a stupid faze or something…but I fell - I've fallen in love with you, Izaya…."

Izaya shifted closer to the gate of the cart. "Shinra…. I don't-"

Shinra nodded, gazing sadly at the ground. "Yeah, I thought so. You don't think of me that way, do you?"

Izaya still couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How long?"

"Does it matter? It wouldn't change-"

"How fucking long!" Shinra flinched.

"Six months…"

Izaya gripped the gate. How had he not seen that? Did he do something that led Shinra to believe they could - he couldn't think of anything. He just acted like he always did, and not just with Shinra. He acted playfully with their other friends too. Though Shizu-chan might mean something more than I'm willing to admit. Izaya shook his head. "Shinra, I'm sorry if I've ever given you the impression that I - that we might-"

Shinra suddenly broke into laughter, but it was blatantly forced, and Izaya could see the tears forming. "Don't be silly! It's not your fault. I mean, why would someone like you wanna be with me like that anyway. You probably don't even like guys at all! Heck, I don't even know if I do. Well, at least now I know. Can't blame me for trying, but I would."

Izaya started to worry. Shinra was rambling and fumbling for the latch on the gate. "Are you okay?"

"Sure! No problem! Just trying to get this stupid gate open so I can make a perfectly natural hasty getaway! Nothing like being completely embarrassed and trapped at the same time."

"Shinra, the latch won't open until the wheel stops."

Shinra laughed again, still fumbling for it to open. "Oh good, maybe that'll be best. A quick painless exit to end my suffering."

Izaya frowned and grabbed Shinra's hands. "Don't be ridiculous!"

Shinra turned and shoved Izaya backward. "Let go!" He frowned angrily through tears. "I'm sorry, Izaya! You don't love me back, and you can't understand how painful that is! I should have just kept quiet about my feelings, but I couldn't anymore. It's too hard!"

Izaya simply stared at him, not bothering to get up from the small space on the floor. Shinra turned for the gate, and Izaya moved quickly to stop him but realized the wheel had stopped. "Shinra, wait!" Izaya followed him out of the cart, running off the ramp. Kadota and Shizuo blinked after their friends, sharing a glance, and instantly came to the same conclusion. The two ran after them, exiting their own cart seconds after. Izaya grabbed Shinra's wrist; it was true that he held no feelings toward Shinra, but if there was one thing Izaya didn't want to lose, it was their friendship. "Shinra!"

Shinra spun around, tears staining his cheeks. "Leave me alone!" Izaya felt the force of Shinra's punch on his lip push him back. Shizuo and Kadota were close enough behind them for the blond to catch him in time. Shinra ran off, losing them within the crowd of people.

Izaya pushed Shizuo off and spat the metallic liquid forming in his mouth before clenching his fists. "How long have you both known?" Izaya felt betrayed; the life he'd created around those he trusted came crumbling down. Everything was different now. Nothing would be the same.

"We - we didn't expect him to tell you," Kadota said. They shouldn't have let Shinra be alone with Izaya. It was only a matter of time.

"Isn't that the perfect excuse." Izaya turned to glare at them. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him, is that it? You're innocent as long as Shinra keeps his mouth shut? How could you keep something like this from me and act like it's okay!"

Shizuo took a step forward, trying to reach the raven to calm him down since they were gaining attention from quite a few people. "Izaya-"

"Don't fucking touch me!" Izaya lashed out with his knife, but Shizuo moved in time to avoid its sharp blade. "You just stay away from me. Both of you. I hate you, and I never want to speak to you again."

Shizuo frowned. "You're being childish!"

"I don't care! I have every right to act how I damn well please! Especially when it involves being betrayed by people important to you." Izaya turned and ran from them, but they didn't go after him.

As they watched Izaya disappear, the sound of fireworks boomed in the background, lighting up the sky with an explosion of colors, creating cheers of excitement among the crowds around them.