Shinra groaned as he shifted in the covers, turning his head tiredly to the side, eyes opening groggily. He turned on his back, letting out a short breath, and turned his head to the side, smiling as he did so.

His smile faded, and he sat up in the bed, covering himself with the duvet, when he remembered that he was, in fact, naked. His eyes roamed around the unfamiliar room.

Shinra frowned because he hadn't fallen asleep alone. The previous warmth radiating off him during the night was a reminder of that, and yet -

"Izaya?"

Izaya was gone.

His belongings were gone.

His switchblade was gone.

Almost like he was never there.

Shinra shook his head; it couldn't have been a dream this time.

Izaya was here!

Wasn't he?

Shinra sighed, smiling despite the sadness in his heart.

Yes, Izaya was here, but Shinra was a fool to think he'd still be here when he woke up after what they did.

There would be no chance of finding Izaya again now.

...

Shinra almost gasped in surprise.

Shinra blinked as he stood in the doorway of his homeroom.

There was Izaya.

Shinra rushed over to him, and Izaya looked up at him with mild surprise before something akin to guilt flashed across his face. "Izaya, you're back at school?"

Izaya looked around himself sarcastically. "Looks that way to me."

Shinra tilted his head and crouched beside him. "Does that mean you went back home?"

Izaya frowned. "No, what makes you think I would ever go back there?"

Shinra nodded and sighed. "Where did you go?"

Izaya turned his attention to the front, eyes casting over to the doorway when Shizuo and Kadota entered the classroom. "That's not your business. I'm fine, so don't worry."

Shinra frowned; not his business? Izaya had almost slit his wrist yesterday, and if he weren't there, Izaya might have -

Shinra tried not to get angry. "I thought something happened."

Izaya turned to him, his eyes narrowed. "Nothing happened. Nothing at all. Yesterday was a mistake, on my part mostly, but you knew that already, didn't you, otherwise you wouldn't have told me not to do anything I'd regret. So, in a way, we both made the mistake. Nothing happened. You knew I'd regret it and you were still fine to continue. I knew I'd regret it but merely took advantage of the situation."

Shinra's eyes widened. "Izaya... I - what we did - did it not mean anything?"

Izaya almost laughed, but he couldn't. Since Shizuo had said those three words, he hadn't been himself - oh, one letter, two words. "You should not have looked for me. I did not want to bring you into this, so that's on you. I wasn't myself yesterday, and you knew that too. Yoi knew what we did wouldn't mean a damn thing, and if you thought otherwise then that's not my fault. I let things continue because I thought you could handle it, but I guess I was wrong, and I'm sorry for that. It didn't mean anything, nothing happened, end of discussion. I'm here only because I need the grades."

Shinra clenched his fists. Izaya was already a top student, and he excelled in all the subjects. "What about... what about the business?"

Izaya shrugged. "You'll get by without me. The equipment will be enough to see you through a case, and you'll get enough experience and gain what you need to take on better cases in the future."

Shinra's fists shook. "Izaya - are we not-"

Just then, Kadota and Shizuo made their way over quickly. Shizuo was frowning, well, glaring at the raven. Izaya turned his head to meet their gazes. Kadota was the first to ask, surprised to even see him here. "Izaya, you're back?"

Izaya nodded. "I'm here only for the education, everything else is moot now."

Kadota raised an eyebrow quizzically. "What do you mean by that?"

Shinra frowned and clenched his fists tighter. "He quit the business."

Shizuo slammed his fist on the desk and pulled Izaya up by his shirt. "How can you be that selfish! If you're quitting because of us, why does everyone else have to suffer!"

Izaya snorted, frowning. "That's not even it, and you don't know what you're talking about, Shizuo. There are more important reasons than you, so that makes you the selfish one here."

Shizuo pulled him closer. "What does that mean!"

Izaya's eyes glanced over at Shinra, and the bespectacled boy blinked at him for a second, wondering if there was some hidden message in his eyes.

Shinra realized.

Izaya was quitting because of what his parents had said to him. That had to be the reason, right?

Then again, everything had become incredibly awkward between them all. Izaya and Shizuo weren't even acting like friends anymore, and he and Izaya? They had made the biggest mistake, costing them their whole friendship.

"Answer me flea!"

Izaya turned his attention to Shizuo, almost flinching at the nickname spat with such anger...

Izaya couldn't stand to see the hurt in the blond's eyes. I'm not even worth feeling hurt over. Shizu-chan and Shinra should just - Izaya grinned. "Because I don't care. I don't care about you, about the work. I don't care. I never wanted to do this to start with. It was just something to pass the time to get some money together so I could leave. See? I used everyone to my advantage." With every word he spoke, Izaya watched Shizuo get angrier and angrier. Izaya glanced up at Kadota, him too. He didn't care what Kadota thought and glanced at Shinra and back to Shizuo. It was only them.

Now for the final blow. "And just to get your amoeba brain to understand, our relationship didn't mean as much to me as I thought. Turns out, I didn't care about that either." Izaya stood up when Shizuo finally let him go. The blond was no longer angry, but a deep frown etched onto his face. He was too shocked to spiral into the fit of rage he wanted to. Izaya shrugged. "It was only physical after all." Izaya turned to Shinra. "Right, Shinra?"

Shinra froze, did Izaya just -

Shinra frowned, hands clenched, and glanced over when Shizuo and Kadota looked at him with a questioning gaze. Shinra shook his head. "N-no…. that's not-"

Shizuo blinked in confusion because what Izaya had said just now couldn't be what he thought it was, right?

Did Izaya and Shinra -

Kadota looked between them and could only think of one possible conclusion, but saying it aloud would worsen things, and he wasn't sure how long Shizuo's temper would last.

Shizuo narrowed his eyes when it finally clicked. "Physical, huh. So, you really didn't care who it was with. You'd have taken any offer, but since Shinra was convenient at the time, you took advantage of him because you knew how he felt about you."

Izaya's grin dropped slightly because he hadn't expected Shizuo to put it into words like that. And fuck, it hurt. He wasn't like that; he really wasn't…. Shizuo may as well have called him a slut. He sought Shinra's embrace because it was him. He wouldn't have done that with just anyone! But now that Shizuo had said it, he started to question it. The blond had no idea what had happened! He didn't know the reasons! He didn't know if Shinra didn't show up, he would have –

Ended it all.

No, this was what he wanted, and he couldn't allow Shizuo to see how much those words affected him.

Shinra and Shizu-chan should just hate me. Because I deserve it.

Izaya shrugged and smirked. "Pretty much, yes, that's exactly it."

Shizuo gritted his teeth, fists clenched, eyes shining with hate. They darted over to Shinra, then flashed with something else entirely, betrayal.

Shinra looked at him. Shizuo gave him the same look he had when he'd first found out about Shizuo and Izaya.

"Shizuo…. I'm sorry."

Shizuo clenched his fists tighter, glaring between the two. "You deserve each other." Then he stormed out of the classroom, and the teacher looked around at him as he walked into the room, barely able to call Shizuo's name as the blond disappeared.

Izaya shoved his hands in his pockets to try and stop them from shaking.

There was no turning back now.

He had lost everything.

His friends, his partner, his family….

There was no one left….

He was completely alone.

Shinra couldn't believe Izaya had told Shizuo just like that! Without any shred of guilt. "I guess you finally got what you wanted, Izaya. You got me to leave you alone."

Izaya looked at him and wanted to take back his words. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it because nothing he said would be enough, so why bother. He watched Shinra walk away from him, and it would be for the last time, wouldn't it? Not even he would give him another chance after this. Izaya looked up at Kadota, glaring at him.

"Proud of yourself?"

Izaya almost flinched; no, he wasn't proud, not one damn bit, but they'd get over it and would hate him for sure now.

His life was a joke.

He was messed up and didn't want to bring those he cared about down with him.

I really screwed up.

….

Shinra sat on the edge of the roof, legs dangling down. For the first time in a year, he sat by himself, eating his lunch alone.

No one had spoken to him. Shizuo avoided him like the plague, and Kadota – well, he wasn't sure how he felt about everything, but the teen had stuck by Shizuo ever since, so he hadn't spoken to him either.

Shinra hated himself for what he had done. How could he betray Shizuo like that! The worst part was how Izaya had told him.

Shinra glanced down at his bento box, biting his lower lip and staring at the fatty tuna untouched. Shinra knew he should be angry and should never want to see him again. "I should just forget about him…. he doesn't care. He wants this, he-" Shinra frowned, and suddenly, the thought confused him for a moment. Izaya wanted this….

Shinra's frown deepened.

Why?

Why did he want this?

Why did he want everyone to hate him?

Shinra's eyes widened.

Because if everyone hated him, then no one would care.

The image of Izaya raising that damn blade to his skin, back in the building – if he hadn't been there….

Shinra shook his head. No, Izaya wouldn't do that!

Izaya had been at school for the entire week, so there was that.

But today, he wasn't.

Izaya couldn't stand everyone forgiving him so easily, and he couldn't stand the pity, so he responded to the anger much better than anything else.

Shinra clenched his fists and couldn't believe it had taken him this long to understand.

Shinra stood up; he had to find Izaya!

The bespectacled boy spun around and started to run.

Then he froze.

Someone stood in front of him, blocking the way to the exit. Well, not just someone, three.

The middle one grinned and said, "Well, seems like your 'friends' have finally come to their senses. I knew they'd get tired of you eventually and figure out what a loser you are."

It was those bullies. Didn't they get tired of this? Were they ever going to stop tormenting him? They had once Izaya, Shizuo, and Kadota hung around.

No! He didn't have time for this!

He had to find him!

"So, Kishitani. what are we gonna do with you now?"

Shinra gulped but clenched his fists. He could throw a punch, right? Izaya said so himself.

"Touch so much as a hair on him and I'll cut you to shreds."

Everyone blinked. Who had said that just now?

Shinra's heart skipped a beat when the three turned to the right, and then he could see him standing there, glaring at the bullies, blocking the doorway.

Izaya!

Izaya walked toward them, his knife glinting in the sunlight as he raised it. "You've got a problem with him? Take it up with me."

Shinra remained frozen and couldn't believe Izaya was here.

There seemed to be a stare out, neither one willing to back down, but Izaya's confidence had always been high, and he could bluff his way out of anything. The three new Izaya was strong, not Shizuo strong, but enough to know he could take them.

The middle one snorted, looked behind him at Shinra, and then back to Izaya. "You're wasting your time with this one. He's pathetic, which reflects on you, runt."

Izaya smirked and chuckled. "If wasting my time with him stops me from acting like you, then I'd gladly stick around."

Shinra shook, not out of fear but happiness.

The three pushed past Izaya, and the raven chuckled and watched them disappear through the exit. He turned back to Shinra, smiled at him, and then –

He collapsed.

Shinra shot forward, skidding on the ground beside him. Izaya hunched over, barely sitting upright. Shinra pushed against his shoulders, forcing the raven to look at him. Izaya grinned weakly, and Shinra frowned, wondering what was wrong. "Izaya-"

"Sorry for the interruption…. wasn't sure if you could take care of it…."

That was not an issue right now! That was not what he should be concerned about! Shinra's eyes roamed over him, and that's when he noticed blood dripping on the ground. Shinra's eyes widened. The blood was coming from inside his sleeve, dripping from his hand between his fingers. "Izaya…. what did you do?"

Izaya smiled at him. "Yeah… I was going to, and I did, but then I heard them, and I couldn't do nothing."

Shinra couldn't believe it! Izaya had been here all this time!

"Izaya you-"

"I heard you, and I thought it would be better if I just – heh, I guess you needed me after all…."

Shinra shook his head, blood staining the sleeve. He reached over and grabbed Izaya's arm. "What did you – Izaya-"

"I think I might have made a mistake…."

Shinra glared at him. "You think! You think you made a mistake!"

Izaya flinched, eyes averting away.

Shinra grabbed his shirt. "Look at me dammit!" Izaya's eyes widened, and he was forced to look at his friend. Shinra's eyes clouded. "How could you possibly think this would be better! How could you just – you can't just – Izaya, just because you think it's what you deserve, it doesn't mean it's true!"

Izaya stared at him. "You – you figured it out…."

Shinra nodded. "I did. I know why you said those things. You wanted us to hate you, right? Because you think that's what you deserved. That's why you quit, why you told Shizuo all that stuff, and that's why you-"

Izaya watched in surprise as Shinra carefully lifted his sleeve up, and the blood smeared across his arm. Izaya had cut, but not his wrist. He cut the vein in his cubital fossa, but –

Izaya looked at it and smiled lightly but wasn't sure why. "Ne, I think I missed."

Shinra frowned up at him. "Yes, you did. The blade just missed the vein. Dammit, Izaya…. what were you thinking…."

"Must have gotten distracted by those idiots."

Shinra narrowed his eyes. "Please tell me that was a joke. Tell me that you're not disappointed you missed."

Izaya looked down at his arm; there was a lot of blood, but nothing close to life-threatening as he thought. "No, I guess not. I'm not disappointed…."

Shinra sighed in relief. "The cut is deep, so it makes sense you nearly passed out. Of course, lack of food would definitely cause you to collapse like that."

Izaya tensed when Shinra held his hand over the deep gash, trying to stop the bleeding. "How did you-"

"Come on, Izaya, the only way we could get you to eat anything at lunch was if you stole it from ours, and since you got everyone mad at you, you stopped…."

Izaya smiled. Shinra really did know everything. His smile faded because what he had done not only fucked his own friendships up but caused Shinra's too. "I didn't mean to make them mad at you…that wasn't my intention."

Shinra shrugged. "I was alone for so long before you guys came along, so it wasn't hard to get used to it again. I should be mad at you for-"

"I know. For saying what I did, for doing this shit…."

Shinra blinked at him and shook his head. "Actually, I was going to say I should be mad at you because you were actually going to do this." Shinra pointed at his arm. "Right here within plain sight…. and I wouldn't have even known…."

Izaya sighed. "I'm sorry, Shinra…."

Shinra stood up, pulling Izaya with him. "Come on, this needs treating."

Izaya didn't know what to say. Why was Shinra still fucking here? He didn't deserve this! This time, he thought for sure that he would – "…Hate me."

Shinra looked up at him. "What?"

"Why…. why don't you hate me?"

Shinra sighed. Was he still doubting his worth to him? "Because I love you."

Izaya stared at him, wide-eyed, and his breath hitched. "Shinra… no, I-"

Shinra continued. "I know. I know you don't feel the same. It's not like that."

Izaya tilted his head. "It's not?"

Shinra chuckled. "Okay, it is, but hear me out. It's okay that you don't love me back. It's okay that you never will, and it's okay if you don't ever return those feelings to anyone else."

Izaya's eyebrows creased slightly. "Shizu-chan?"

Shinra smiled. "Yeah, him. It doesn't matter because deep down, I know that you care, and it's the type of care that makes it just as special. Your heart is fragile, but it's full of so much loyalty, so much passion, that when you put effort into something, it's a hundred percent. Whether it be the business, your friendships, or – or even your relationship."

Izaya's eyes grew wide, and his mind frazzled at the words spoken with such damn honesty. "Shinra…."

"I love you, Izaya, so don't you dare fucking leave. Please."

Izaya bit his lip, tears clouding at his eyelids, and then –

Izaya wrapped his arms around Shinra, hugging him tightly, and just cried.

Shinra returned the embrace; they really should get him to a hospital, but Izaya needed to let this out right now. The raven's hands clutched the back of his shirt, and his body shook as he sobbed. "It's okay, Izaya, it'll be okay."

Izaya's voice cracked, and he screwed his eyes tighter. "I'm such a fucking mess…. Shinra…why, why am I like this?"

Shinra just chuckled. "Because you're an idiot. You just need to get used to what a true friendship really means. It's not anything bad, and there's nothing wrong with you. You're just you."

Izaya huffed a laugh, his sobs ceasing a little, and he pulled back, smiling through his tears. "I don't think that's a compliment, Shinra."

Shinra laughed. "Not for anyone else, but to you it is, right?"

Izaya smiled. "I guess so."

"Good." Shinra placed his hand on Izaya's shoulder. "It will be okay, I promise. I'm here for you, and I always will be."

Izaya breathed out a shaky sigh. "You were right, I'm an idiot."

"Well, now that we've agreed on that, let's get your arm treated."

Shinra pulled Izaya with him toward the exit. Izaya stopped him, grabbing his wrist, and Shinra turned to look at the frown now etched on his face. "Don't tell them anything. Dota-chin and Shizu-chan. I'm not ready to explain everything to them yet."

Shinra smiled. "I wasn't going to."

Izaya sighed. "I just – I can barely handle the fact that you've forgiven me. I don't think I can take theirs too. Not that I think they would, or that they should…. Just-" Izaya huffed a laugh. "One at a time, okay?"

Shinra nodded. "I understand."

…

Izaya turned his head to the sound of a giggle sitting in his art class. Shizuo had moved seats, and Izaya glared over at the reason why. That giggle was fucking annoying. That damn smile he gave her. She had always been in this class, but only recently, three weeks to be precise, she had approached him, spouting shit about how she always thought he was nice and cute and always had a crush on him. Izaya hadn't believed his eyes at first, but she did it right in front of him! And what did Shizuo do? He fucking blushed! Smiling that smile – the one he had used for him before… and now he felt the same about someone else. At least, that's what it damn well looked like.

He wasn't jealous, not one bit, nope.

Izaya clenched his fist when she giggled again. Shizuo laughed too, and she leaned on his arm with a smile. God, he just wanted to fucking –

Izaya blinked and hadn't realized he even balled up that piece of paper that had just hit the side of the girl's head. Whoops.

She looked down at her desk and unraveled the ball; she wouldn't find anything written there because he kept the piece on his right.

Izaya grinned down at it, but his grin faded when he realized.

The page was blank.

Which meant that – Izaya looked over at them.

Izaya chuckled at her loud screech. "That's horrible!" Oh well, serves her right. "Who would draw something like that."

Shizuo frowned at the paper when she showed him. Obviously, it was a drawing of her, but it depicted her somewhat – decapitated.

Okay, maybe that was a bit much, but she honestly wasn't meant to see it. Izaya hadn't meant to throw it at her, and he certainly hadn't meant for Shizuo to see it either. Izaya glanced up when Shizuo stood up and stormed over to him. "What?" Izaya tilted his head, giving him an expression of innocence.

Shizuo gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the desk, ignoring the teacher's protests for him to sit back down. "What the fuck was that, Izaya?"

Izaya smiled, though it was more like a grin, this was the first time Shizuo had said any words to him in nearly two weeks, whether out of anger or not. Shizuo was talking to him – well, he was shouting, but that wasn't the point. "What was what?"

Shizuo was about to grab him by the shirt when the bell rang.

Izaya chuckled and jumped out of his chair. "Saved by the bell!" He dodged Shizuo's hand to grab him and grinned over his shoulder as he ran out of the classroom, knowing Shizuo would chase after him.

Izaya ran down the corridor and slowed to a stop, looking back when he realized.

Shizuo wasn't chasing him.

Izaya frowned as he stared down the corridor, and his hands clenched when Shizuo emerged from the classroom with the girl in tow, lightly sobbing against him, his arm wrapped around her in comfort. Izaya snorted. Seriously, was Shizuo really attracted to that type? Clingy, over-sensitive, airheaded –

"Izaya?"

Izaya blinked and turned to who had called his name. Shinra. "What?"

Shinra tilted his head and stepped beside him. "Who are you trying to burn holes into?" Then he saw them, Shizuo and – Kimori? He was sure that was her name. Ai Kimori. "Oh, I see. They're getting along really well, aren't they?"

Izaya glared at Shinra. "That's not what your supposed to say, Shinra."

Shinra laughed nervously. "Heh. Sorry." Izaya continued to glare at him, and Shinra sighed. "I'm sorry, Izaya. I know this is hard, but I think he really likes her."

Izaya rolled his eyes. "She's not right for him. She's too-" Izaya stopped when Shizuo and Kimori neared them, and Shizuo glared at him.

"Stay away from her, flea."

Izaya narrowed his eyes as the couple walked down the stairs. Shinra looked at him with a questioning gaze. "What was that about?"

Izaya snorted. "She turned on the water works just because of a drawing. I didn't think it was that bad."

Shinra chuckled as he shook his head. "Stop being mean. It's only going to get you in trouble. Shizuo is the last one to forgive you, so if you keep doing stuff like this-"

"No, he's moved on Shinra. It's too late for us. He won't forgive me now, and I've just got to accept that."

Shinra's expression grew sad. "Izaya…"

Izaya smiled at him. "Don't worry about it, I'll be fine. There's no point in explaining anything to him. It's done."

Shinra sighed. "So, that's it?"

Izaya shrugged. "That's it. Given how we started out, our relationship was probably doomed from the start."

….

Classes from the second years were standing in lines outside in the parking lot with their homeroom teachers in front, waiting to step onto the designated buses. They were going on a field trip to some popular museum or something. Izaya wasn't sure which one, and he didn't care much for field trips. Izaya narrowed his eyes when he heard that annoying giggle. They were standing in chosen, 'field trip buddies,' Izaya was standing next to Shinra, and Kadota was behind them, paired off with the unfortunate kid who got travel sick. Shizuo and Kimori were in front, one couple down from them.

"Shizuo, you're so funny!"

Izaya snorted, placing his hands in his pockets as they began to get on the bus. His voice feigned a high pitch when he said, "Shizuo, you're so funny."

Shinra chuckled.

Kadota clapped a hand on his shoulder, poking his head between the two. "Could you be anymore jealous?" Izaya knew he was teasing him.

"Shut up, Dota-chin, I hope that kid is sick on you."

"That's harsh."

Somehow, Kadota had forgiven him, and Izaya wasn't sure how he did it, but Kadota had a good sense of intuition. He knew it would be a while before he could regain their full friendship, but it was a good start.

The students took their seats in their pairs, and Kadota had to sit at the front. He felt slightly abandoned but couldn't really blame Shizuo. It seemed that the blond was happy, but it had always been the four of them. Even when Izaya and Shizuo had been together, it had still just been them. Shinra would sit next to Kadota after Izaya and Shizuo became a couple, sometimes switching. Now, Shizuo was with someone else entirely, and she didn't even try to become part of their circle. It was like she was taking Shizuo away from his friends. Given her personality, she probably wasn't doing it on purpose, but she was extremely clingy and needed all Shizuo's attention. He liked to think Shizuo was his best friend, and he'd always been there for him. He glanced at the kid beside him, slumping in dismay. And I get stuck with this kid.

Shizuo gritted his teeth, closing his eyes, counting to ten in his head, a vein popping out on his forehead. The buses had already left the school on their way to the museum, so he could not seriously start a fight on the bus. He clenched his fists. Why did he have to sit right in front of Izaya and Shinra; god fucking damn it. The raven was kicking his chair on fucking purpose! Again! Like he used to do in art, but not his chair directly, hers. Shizuo could feel the vibrations.

Shinra tapped Izaya on the arm, whispering, "Izaya, stop it."

Izaya chuckled, slouched slightly, and booted under the chair with a grin.

Before Shizuo could turn and punch him, Kimori turned around, popping her head between the seats.

"Excuse me, Izaya-san?"

Izaya raised an eyebrow, his expression amused. "Yes?"

"Um, you're kicking my chair."

Izaya refrained from laughing, glanced at Shinra to see him glaring, and turned back to her, his expression changing to confusion. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize."

Shizuo glared at him from over the top of his chair. You know damn well you were.

Kimori smiled at Izaya. "No problem, I just thought I'd let you know. It's okay."

Izaya rolled his eyes when she turned back in her seat. Jesus fucking Christ. Izaya looked over at Shizuo and smirked. "Something you want to say, Shizu-chan?"

Shizuo held a firm grip on the chair. "Leave her alone. I'm warning you."

Izaya shrugged and raised his hands in mock surrender. "Whatever you say."

…

They were free to walk around the museum if they stayed in their pairs and took notes. Many sections displayed different Buddha statues, extinct animals, information about the wars in Japan and other countries, and even a side section – the dungeon.

Izaya and Shinra met up with Kadota and his buddy and knew Kadota would want to look around the section and were surprised to hear that even the sick kid wanted to. Shizuo walked past them. Kimori was talking to him about something they'd seen. Kadota raised his arm up to catch his attention. "Yo! Shizuo!"

Shizuo stopped and turned around with a smile, and they walked toward them. "What's up?"

Kadota shrugged. "Nothing much." He gestured his thumb behind him. "We're checking out this section. Looks cool so I thought you might wanna join us. It's about the old punishment laws and prisons, I think."

Shizuo stepped forward, nodding that he'd go with them, but a pull on his arm stopped him. Shizuo looked behind, and Kimori shook her head. "I don't want to go in there, it looks creepy."

Shizuo smiled and kissed the top of her head. "You don't have to. You can wait out here, okay?"

Izaya clenched a fist; was Shizuo just that fucking ignorant, or was he doing this on purpose? How dare he display that affection right in his face!

Kimori rubbed her arm shyly. "Wait out here, by myself?"

Shizuo looked up and nodded over at the group of girls near the samurai swords. "Your friends are there, wait with them. I'll be out soon, I promise. Then we can check out that indoor garden stuff you wanted."

Izaya rolled his eyes; everything about her just pissed him off. "Stay with her, Shizu-chan, or she might start crying." The words slipped out before he realized it. Shizuo glared at him, and he glared right back. Like hell would he feel bad for that.

"Shut the hell up, Izaya."

"Tsk." Izaya turned his back and dragged Shinra toward the entrance of the dungeon. Fucking brute.

Shizuo looked at Kadota and said, "I probably should stay with her."

Kadota sighed. "Alright. Talk to you later."

Shizuo watched him jog to catch up with the other two, and he felt bad for not spending much time around his friends lately. He really did want to go with them, but –

"I'm sorry, Shizuo. I feel bad now. I don't want to keep you away from your friends."

Shizuo smiled at her. "It's not your fault."

Kimori looked at the entrance and held onto his arm, a determined frown on her face. "Let's go in."

Shizuo blinked. "What? Are you sure?"

Kimori smiled. "You want to, don't you?"

Shizuo nodded and glanced at the section, then back to her. "But I know you won't like it."

She gripped onto his arm tighter. "Just don't leave my side, okay? I don't want to get lost in there."

Shizuo chuckled. "I won't. I promise."

Halfway through the dungeon, Izaya, Shinra, and Kadota were a few feet ahead of Shizuo, and the raven kept glancing back at them, rolling his eyes because she had her eyes closed the whole fucking time!

Izaya smirked and stopped. "I heard someone got trapped here a long time ago." He looked purposefully back at the couple, and Shizuo frowned. "Just a tourist. See, after the museum shut, he stuck around to come down here." Izaya nodded over to the guillotine. "Got stuck in one of those." He walked over to it, crouching as if to inspect it. "The poor fool tried to get himself out, but the damn thing was broken and – bam! It came down on him." Izaya stood up and smirked when he saw her shaking. "Rumors suggest that he's still here, looking around for his head…. it's right here!" Izaya threw something at her.

Kimori screamed loudly.

Shizuo caught the object. It was a prop of a skull.

Izaya laughed hard.

Shinra and Kadota shared a glance, and Shizuo snapped.

The blond stalked up to the raven, grabbed him by the shirt, and slammed him against the wall. "Cut that shit out!"

Izaya wrapped his hand around Shizuo's wrist. "It's not my fault she's a coward."

Shizuo slammed the skull onto the wall beside Izaya's head, and it crumbled into pieces. "Aren't you being a fucking hypocrite! All the crap you've been through and your pulling shit like this? Don't you think you should show some damn sympathy!"

Izaya narrowed his eyes; what Shizuo said was not the same! How fucking dare he! "Get the hell off me, Shizuo!"

Shizuo slammed him against the wall again, and Izaya winced. "I don't know what the hell your problem is, and I don't know why you're being such a dick, but just leave her the fuck alone, got it!"

Izaya clenched his fists. Goddamn it, couldn't Shizuo see how much he was hurting? Couldn't Shizuo tell that seeing them together was killing him? Didn't he care at all? Izaya's next words came in a whisper, barely audible. "She's not right for you…."

Shizuo loosened his grip slightly and frowned when Izaya looked at him, his smirk gone. "You broke up with me, Izaya."

Izaya swallowed the lump in his throat and was about to say something. Tell him that he missed him, that he couldn't fucking stand to see him with that girl, and –

"Or maybe it's because you can't love me, no one else can either."

Izaya's eyes widened, and he glared and shoved him off.

Shizuo stepped back, wondering if maybe he'd said something out of line, and he began to regret it, but why should he?

"Fuck you!" Izaya pushed him back again. "I hate you! Don't ever speak to me again! Go fuck her for all I care!" Izaya stormed past him and dashed toward the way they came in.

Shizuo stared after him; he'd never seen the raven so angry at him before.

Kadota and Shinra gaped in shock and looked back at Shizuo. Kadota asked the question. "Sh-Shizuo? Are you okay?"

The blond clenched his fists. Shit. He walked to Kimori, who looked at him with sympathy, leading her back toward the entrance.

…..

Shizuo, Kadota and Kimori were inside the gift shop.

It felt wrong to leave the museum without buying a souvenir. Kimori browsed the trinket section while the two boys looked at figurines.

Shizuo picked up the statue of a samurai warrior and peered underneath it with a whistle. "Damn, that's expensive."

Kadota chuckled. "You really like that one, huh?"

Shizuo nodded. "I like swords."

Kadota smiled. "Is that one of the reasons that attracted you to Izaya?" Shizuo half glared at him, but he could see Kadota hadn't meant to upset him. Kadota hunched his shoulders. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking."

Shizuo shook his head. "S'alright, but yeah, you're right, I guess."

Shizuo and Kadota looked behind them when they heard Kimori speak. "Why can't I buy that? Is it that expensive? Is that why it doesn't have a price tag?"

Kadota tapped him on the arm. "I'm gonna go back to the bus with the sick kid, okay?" Shizuo nodded.

Shizuo walked up behind Kimori and lay his hand on her shoulder. "Something wrong?"

Kimori nodded and pointed to the black box on the shelf by the cash register decorated with a red rose and a lock dangling from it. It reminded Shizuo of a memory box or a jewelry box. "He said I can't buy that."

The man behind the register shook his head. "She can't have it because it's not for sale."

Shizuo tilted his head with a frown. "If it's not for sale, then why is it out here in the shop?"

"It's a display only. Not to be sold to anyone."

"Maybe you should put it in the encasement then."

The man waved him off. "I think your class is about to leave, and it's time you left too."

Shizuo wouldn't argue over it. He looked at Kimori and smiled. "Ready to go?"

Kimori pouted and looked up at him. "But I haven't brought anything yet. I promised my mom I'd get her a gift."

Shizuo could see the other students were leaving and sighed. "Alright, I'll tell the teacher to wait some more."

Kimori jumped in excitement. "Thank you, Shizuo!" She then kissed him, and he chuckled and left the shop.

###

Izaya stood outside the restrooms, casually glancing inside the gift shop, waiting for Shinra. He could see Kadota and Shizuo looking at figurines. God, he missed him so much. Izaya stepped closer to the shop.

"Damn, that's expensive."

Izaya chuckled quietly to himself.

"You really like that one, huh?"

Izaya saw the figurine Shizuo had picked up. The blond loved swords, and there was even one hanging in his bedroom.

"I like swords."

"Is that one of the reasons that attracted you to Izaya?"

Izaya froze. Damn it, Dota-chin, why did you have to be so blunt.

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking."

"S'alright, but yeah, I guess you're right."

Izaya's eyes widened. I didn't know that, and just one of the reasons? What else had Shizuo not told him he liked about him?

Izaya narrowed his eyes when he watched the exchange between Shizuo and Kimori. His heart clenched painfully when she kissed him, and Shizuo jogged out of the shop. Izaya stood behind the shop wall and peered inside, watching her browse the display of trinkets and charms.

Kimori looked up at the shopkeeper when he turned his back to restock the items behind him. She chewed her lip as her fingers edged closer to the black box. Izaya's eyes widened when she quickly snatched the box from the shelf and put it in her bag.

Kimori smiled and called out cheerfully. "I'm sorry if I was pushy, Mr. I had a great time here. Thank you!"

The man turned to her with a kind smile and bowed. "Come again soon."

She giggled and jogged out of the shop. "I will!"

Izaya grabbed her wrist, pulled her back, and pinned her to the wall. She let out a squeak of surprise and clutched her bag, but relaxed when she saw who it was. "Oh, Izaya-san, it's you. You scared me."

Izaya leaned toward her. "That's theft."

Kimori's eyes widened and darted side to side, looking for someone. Yeah, Izaya knew exactly who she was looking for. "W-what are you talking about?"

Izaya grabbed her bag. "You took something from that shop. I saw you."

Kimori yanked her bag back. "I didn't take anything, I swear!"

Izaya gritted his teeth; he just fucking watched her take it! "What else doesn't he know about you?" He placed his hand beside her head, glaring at her.

"It's not like that! I didn't take anything!"

Izaya slammed his palm on the wall. "I just saw you!"

Izaya skidded across the floor, wincing when he touched his fingers to his lip. He stared up at Shizuo in surprise, and blood trickled at the corner of his mouth. "Shizu-chan…. She-"

Shizuo glared down at him. "I don't want to hear it!"

Izaya stood up, his fists clenched. "She just took the black box from the shop!"

Shizuo glanced at her, and she shook her head vigorously. "I didn't! I swear, Shizuo. I didn't take anything…." She clung to his arm, and her eyes watered.

Shizuo rubbed her arms. "It's okay, I believe you."

Izaya snorted. "You've got to be kidding me… Shizu-chan, if you don't believe me then check her bag! Check the shop!"

Shizuo narrowed his eyes at Izaya. "Has it really come to this? You're lying now? Do you really hate me that much?"

Izaya opened his mouth to say something, but Shinra called his name.

"…. What's going on?" Shinra looked confused, looking between them.

Izaya glared at Shizuo and Kimori and shrugged. To hell with them both! If Shizuo wanted to believe her, whom he had known five fucking minutes, then so be it! Izaya stormed past them, causing Shinra to look toward Shizuo before running after him.

Shizuo sighed and glanced down at Kimori. "You okay?"

Kimori smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "I thought he was going to hurt me…." Shizuo frowned the slightest bit as he wrapped his arms around her. He doubted Izaya would hurt her like that, but – that didn't excuse him for accusing her of theft.

"Don't worry. He won't hurt you."

Kimori nodded, and, unbeknownst to Shizuo, she grinned.