AN: I don't own Drrr

...

He sat there with his piercing red glare, transfixed with the blond haired bartender. Shiki was sitting next to him in front of two businessmen. He turned his attention back to the stage where the women were dancing seductively. He saw as the darker haired woman swayed her hips to the music. No, this wasn't a strip club nor was it your usual club. It was a regular bar on the weekdays but on the weekends there were burlesque dancers. Chrissy was the main attraction. She had a deep, strong and beautiful voice. When she wasn't wearing a wig her hair was pale blond down to her lower back, her eyes were a deep mocha color, and had a nice curvaceous figure.

Most of Izaya's business deals were conducted in this bar. He found almost all his shady deals were passed if he distracted the men enough to only half pay attention to him. Chrissy unknowingly helped his numbers because of her looks. Chancing a glance back at the bar he noticed the irritated scowl of a tall blond man. Keeping eye contact with Shizuo, Izaya smirked and took a drink from his whiskey. He could practically hear his growl as he placed the cup back down to the table. Izaya loved the game they played.

"There's your favorite customer Shizuo." Laughed Tom as he made drinks for a man in front of him. Shizuo broke eye contact with Izaya as he turned his attention back to his job. Shizuo Heiwajima worked as a full time bartender in Ikebukuro.

"I hate that flea. He's always up to something shady." Shizuo grunted as he passed a tray full of drinks to one of the waitresses. "He only comes here to piss me off."

"Izayan isn't so bad." The dark haired waitress giggled. The bells on her kitty ears jingled as she skipped away. He rolled his eyes at her as she left to drop off the drinks.

"Erika has such poor taste in judgment." Shizuo muttered. He went back to one of the drunken customers at the bar.

"You could really learn a lot from her, you know. She's a lot sharper than people think she is." Tom told him. "Reason why me and the big man hired her on the spot."

"IzaIza asked for his usual." Erika set a tray full of empty cups down at the bar area. She walked with a small sway to her hips causing the fake tail she wore to move side to side. She wore a sexy black lace dress and socks that went a few inches above her knees. After grabbing the order Erika made her way to the table of four men. She set down the drinks and smiled at all the patrons she passed. Bending over as she placed the drinks to the appropriate customer, she felt a hand grab at her tail and make their way up the back of her thigh. "Any higher there and you will lose a hand." Erika sweetly smiled and Izaya chuckled at the man in front of him as he quickly removed his hand from her.

"What kind of club is this if you can't touch anything?" He scoffed at her. "How much for a little dance kitty-chan."

"This isn't some disgusting strip club Fujioka-kun." Izaya's piercing red eyes looked over to the man. "Look at the women on stage. There are no poles nor are they stripping, ne." Erika grinned at him before walking off back to the counter. "I wouldn't conduct business in some dirty club, ne."

"Maybe that's why you're so tense." Fujioka laughed, causing the man next to him to awkwardly chuckle. "You just need a woman's special attention."

"What does a woman have that my hand can't complete?" Laughed Izaya. "Lust is just another thing that leads to people's downfall. It's a shame, really."

"If you prefer the company of men just say that." Fujioka chuckled, causing Shiki to sigh.

"You would know, ne? You do constantly visit the men's bathhouse in the red district." Izaya grinned as the older man got up and grabbed Izaya by the collar of his shirt. "I wonder what your wife and daughter would say, ne?"

"You're going to pay for that!" Fujioka lifted his right fist over his head to punch Izaya but was stopped when the tip of a blade made contact with his neck.

"I wouldn't get too careless around me, ne." Izaya whispered into his ear. "I don't take threats lightly Fujioka-kun." Pressing the knife down, Izaya watched as a small trail of blood went down Fujioka's neck. Izaya laughed as he was let go.

"I could get anyone to conduct business with." Fujioka angrily spat. "You just lost yourself, a very powerful client. I will have your head by the end of this week. You'll be sorry!"

"You're really something else Izaya." Shiki groaned as he left with the other men. Izaya rolled his eyes before taking one of the shots laid out on the table. He looked at the stage to the dancing women.

"It really is an underappreciated art." Izaya looked back at Erika who was smiling at him. "These people look at the girls up there with lust or envy, but I see the passion." There was a sad glint in his eyes. No one ever saw it but Erika did, she had always been able to see past a person's facade.

"Shiki looked kind of mad there." Erika laughed as she sat down across from him. "My shift is finally over." She sighed. "Walker is taking a long time to pick me up." She frowned.

"Shiki forgets I don't pander to anyone." Izaya replied to her. "They were boring me." He set down one of the shots left alone in front of her. "Cheers to another uneventful night, ne." He raised his own glass towards her.

"Cheers to another empty threat." Erika laughed before taking a shot. After a few more shots she got up from her seat. "I'll see you next time. Don't get Shizuo too mad tonight!"

'Just catching that monster's eye infuriates him.' Izaya chuckled to himself. Shiki sauntered back in and sat down next to him, glaring.

"That wasn't very funny." He growled as he took a shot. "I was able to smooth things over but they don't want to see you next time."

"I already have all the information I need from them. They're completely useless to me now." The red eyed man grunted out.

"If you weren't the best informant I would've done away with you a long time ago." Shiki glared at him. Izaya began to laugh loudly.

"You couldn't get rid of me if you tried Shiki. Just the thought of it makes me laugh." Izaya crossed his arms.

"You're not as indestructible as you believe you are." Shiki looked up at the stage.

"The brute hasn't taken me down and he tries so badly. I hardly think some scrawny weak human could even land a deadly blow." Izaya smirked before looking at him. "But I am too important in your plans for you to even attempt a simulation. So let's stop the what if situations and enjoy the show, ne."

Leaving the club Izaya opened his arms wide taking in the fresh air of the cold breeze. His fur jacket blowing back in the wind as he twirled around. He debated on waiting for the blonde haired man to get out of work so he could play with him a bit. He stretched his arms up in the sky as far as he could, the metal of his belly button piercing shining bright from the lamp post lights. He wouldn't have to wait that long before his shift was over. His phone began to ring in his pocket and he sighed before picking it up.

…

It was only Shizuo and Tom closing down the club. Most of it had already been done before the rest left, it was just sweeping and mopping before they had to leave. A quick task now that there was no one left in the club.

"Say what you want about him but he's a great tipper." Tom commented as he counted the money in the register. "How did you guys even meet? Doesn't he live in Shinjuku?"

"In high school through Shinra. We used to eat lunch together with Kadota too. I knew the moment I saw him he was shady as hell. I was right!" Shizuo sighed. He looked back at Tom and gave him a smile. "I'll finish up and close up here."

"Why don't you take the assistant manager position we have been offering you. You already play the part, you might as well get paid for it too." Tom asked as he watched the tall blond pick the chairs up on top of the tables.

"I don't want to be tied up here. I'm still chasing my stupid school boy dream of becoming a musician. I'm not ready to give it up just yet." Shizuo replied. Tom had been pestering him on this subject for a while now.

"Well I'm off Shizuo. I'll see you tomorrow." The brunette man told him before he left the bar. Turning up the radio Shizuo began to sing along as he mopped the floors of the club.

…

Shizuo sat in his loft playing with the strings of his guitar. His apartment wasn't so small but it wasn't big, to him it was perfect. It was a two bedroom with a bathroom in between. His kitchen and living room connected together with an island counter separating the rooms. The living room was basic seeing as he didn't need such luxury items. His L-shape couch almost looked new and the coffee table in front of it held unread magazines. His wall mount tv only played movies his younger brother acted in.

The second bedroom in his home was used as a music room. There was a grand piano, two Gibson guitars and a small table. Shizuo was frowning as he looked at the blank pages in front of him and the crumpled up papers thrown on the floor around him. He got up and cleaned the mess he made, hating his home being messy. After deeming his apartment clean enough he went to make dinner. Shizuo hated cooking for only himself, he found himself drifting back to the days he still lived at home. Before he moved out and Kasuka became famous. The boy was quiet and emotionless but still accepted the blond for who he was. Shizuo cherished the small family dinners he had with his brother and parents. They were still as close as they were when growing up and hated that they couldn't spend time together like before. Both having different work schedules and Kasuka being an idol. Shizuo's thoughts were cut short when his phone began to ring.

"Kasuka! I was just thinking about you." Shizuo's lips graced themselves with a small smile.

"Brother, I was just checking up on you." His emotionless voice could be heard through the phone. "How are you?"

"I'm doing really good. I saw you are the star of a new TV series coming out. What's it called… 'Promised Neverland.' Are you excited? It's a recurring role in a show." Shizuo sat down with his meal. At least he'll have a conversation at dinner tonight.

"Ah, it's been getting a lot more attention since they released my name in the cast." Kasuka told him. He was in his own loft at home eating whatever his manager brought him to eat. "My manager suggested I break out of movie roles and go into shows. Just to open up more doors in my career."

"Sounds like you'll eventually become an international star and not just very popular in Japan." Shizuo proudly stated.

"That's the goal." Kasuka answered him. "How's your job? Are you still a bartender?"

"Yeah. My boss Tom is really nice." Shizuo stated.

"You haven't been getting into trouble?" Kasuka asked him. "No fights with Orihara?"

"That damn Flea is always up to something shady." Shizuo snapped the chopsticks in his hand. He got up and grabbed another pair. "No, I've been working on it. It doesn't help that he regularly goes down to my job to conduct shady business deals."

"He's just trying to get to you. Don't fall for his games, Shizuo." Kasuka sighed. "You're still going to therapy, correct?"

"Yes I am and I know. Don't worry about me Kasuka. It's you I'm always worried about. With your crazy fans always chasing after you." Shizuo chuckled.

"I have people watching over me and I can handle myself if need be. We did grow up as brothers." Kasuka stated, taking a sip of his water. Shizuo looked down and frowned, knowing he was one of the reasons Kasuka changed his name for the screen. Ashamed of the strength his older brother had. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's fine Kasuka." Shizuo muttered. "Tell me more about the show you're going to be appearing on."

…

Tom paced back and forth. It was one hour to opening and his pianist left with a case of food poisoning. Tonight was going to be a mess. The club had already been losing a lot of money and on the verge of bankruptcy. He didn't have time to find a replacement and without the piano the show would be ruined. He frowned as he looked around at everyone who was setting up for tonight's show. Tom almost jumped up in happiness as he saw Shizuo walk in.

"I don't know why I didn't think of you before?" Tom rushed up to the tall blond. Shizuo looked at him oddly holding up his coffee cup. "You know the piano, right Shizuo? And you have a terrific voice! I need you to fill in for Josh."

"What happened to Josh?" Shizuo asked as Tom led him to the grand piano.

"He got food poisoning. Erika made something and no one ever warned him about her cooking." Tom sighed. "It's a very easy line up today and I'll get you the sheet music if you want to practice until it's time to go up."

"Yeah, that'll be great." Shizuo smiled. "Poor Josh. Erika should never step into a kitchen."

"That's for sure. You're a lifesaver man." Tom patted his back. "You're just backing up Chrissy tonight."

…

Izaya frowned as he looked behind the bar and the tall brute wasn't there. He always worked weekends! He had to be there. The red eyed man sat down at the bar and ordered a scotch and looked towards the closed stage. He was waiting for someone to come in. A young girl with low self esteem, her father one of his clients. Izaya was well aware this girl was not drinking age, but he needed her for his plan to work out. She walked in with a tight black dress and stilletos. Her long black hair flowed down to her waist with light curls. Her face was lightly done with makeup. Her skill with makeup was subpar and she could have picked a dress that complimented her figure, but she didn't look terrible. He stood up and led her to the stool next to him.

"Ah, Ella. How are you tonight?" Izaya feigned a smile. "You look breathtaking."

"Thank you Orihara-san." Ella blushed a deep red. She thanked Tom as he placed a mixed drink in front of her.

"Please call me Izaya. You were telling me some concerns you had over your parents." Izaya gave her a concerned look as he placed a hand over hers. "My parents had a nasty divorce when I was younger. You can talk to me about anything." His lie left his mouth smoothly.

…

It was five minutes until the curtains went up and the show was going to start. He was pacing back and forth anxiously. He hasn't performed on stage in years. Since his senior year in high school. Chrissy, a petite curvaceous blond, walked up to him and patted him on his back. He looked down at her and she gave him a big smile.

"You're going to do great Shizuo! Me and the girls believe in you!" Chrissy pointed to seven other women, all with different hairstyles and clothing. They clapped and cheered for him. "Remember, just breathe and if you mess up don't stop. Just keep pushing forward."

Shizuo thanked them and went to his seat at the piano. He watched as the eight women got into their places on stage. In less than one minute the curtain was to go up and he was going to start his performance. He just needed to do what Chrissy advised him.

'Just breathe.'

…

The sound of a piano was not what brought Izaya's attention to the stage, but it was the sound of a deep sultry voice. He turned away from the bar and saw Shizuo playing the piano, it was as if something had enlightened in him. He shouldn't be thinking like this, the blonde was a monster. Everyone's eyes were on the dancing women, but Izaya's was on the blonde's. In high school he knew the blond to be a musician but he was never allowed anywhere near his shows. The ones he was able to sneak into he made it so the blond never saw the stage.

A few hours had passed since Izaya had gotten to the club. The girl next to him had gained confidence through all the liquor she had consumed. She just about told him her whole life story. He was growing quite bored of her now.

"I didn't quite catch what you just said Ella." Izaya turned back to the young girl, a fake smile on his lips.

"His rendition of 'Somebody To Love' is great!" She stated. She was starting to feel a little dizzy from all the drinks she had so far. Izaya felt as if he had gotten all the information he needed from her and was waiting for his transporter to escort her home. She swayed back and forth in her chair singing along to the song. "I had a really nice time tonight with you."

"You were such a pleasure tonight Ella." He grinned at her. "I can see we are becoming the best of friends." He saw Celty walk in the door through the corner of his eye.

"Just friends?" She bit her bottom lip, pouting at his words. He couldn't help but smirk to himself, she was doing everything he expected her to do. "I was hoping for a little more." She awkwardly leaned towards him in her drunken state. He grabbed her chin and gave her a big grin.

"Sorry, but you're just not my type." He laughed at her and leaned back into his seat. He knew with the low confidence she had he would just need to give her a little bit of attention and she would give him all the information he needed. Feeling betrayed, Ella stood back and made an effort to slap him. He grabbed her wrist and smiled.

"You're a terrible person." She began to cry.

'I take it she's the one I'm escorting.' Celty flashed her phone screen in his face.

"Yes, it was a wonderful night, really Ella." Izaya smirked at her. She saw as his face went from a concerned innocent look to a conniving egotistical look. He turned his back away from her as Celty led her out of the club.

"You're a monster." Laughed Erika as she sat next to him. "She's definitely not your type."

"Oh? You know my type now? Why don't you enlighten me." Laughed Izaya as he looked back to the stage. More pointedly at Shizuo.

"Well you've been staring at it all night. Tall, blonde and strong." Erika giggled as Izaya grimaced at her. He turned his attention back to her and scoffed.

"As if I could ever fall for a protozoan like him. I'm just surprised the keys are still there and he hasn't smashed the piano yet." Izaya got up from his seat and put money down on the counter. "I should get going. Places to be, people to see, you know the drill."

…

After being dropped off at home by the headless rider, Ella went to cry in her room. She had gotten a message from that jerk. He wanted to apologize to her in person and asked if they could meet each other. She agreed and snuck out of her room to meet Izaya for the second time that night.

Ella was freezing cold as she stood on top of the building her gps led her to. Her dress was doing nothing to protect her against the night's wind. She felt stupid and violated. She heard the footsteps behind her becoming louder.

"Humans are so funny. All of them believe they have something special inside of them. As if their problems are the worst things that could ever happen." Izaya chuckled. "So what if your father had an affair and is never home. Your mother is giving your younger brother attention because he has handicaps. Also her not letting you go out whenever you feel like because you're a little spoiled brat, ne."

"You were just lying the whole night to get information from me?" She cried out.

"Most information I had already gathered before our little meeting. As if I would ever date a seventeen year old high school student. I am the great Izaya Orihara after all! You're just an average teenage girl with minimal problems. Problems that don't even concern you." Izaya laughed at her. "Their problems are not your problems, ne."

"You're so mean! They are my problems. Why do they hate me so much? Why is all the attention from my parents going to my brother? I want their attention too." She began to sob. "I don't have many friends at school. My parents don't care about me. I do everything to make them happy and I'm still only the last choice. Why is it that everyone I love leaves me? Is there something wrong with me?" She cried. He wasn't sure if she was asking him or herself. "I'm tired of giving everyone my love just for them to overlook me. I'm tired of helping everyone with their problems and no one is there for me in my time of need. I wish my parents asked me how my day was for once. I wish my friends would stop making plans and excluding me. I'm tired of always being the last choice. When will someone love me for me? I'm tired of this loneliness,"

"What do you know about loneliness and heartbreak?" He sneered at her. "You see yourself as someone hated, ne? Don't make me laugh. Maybe you're just too boring or too depressing to hang around with. Have you ever asked your parents how their days were, ne? No, because you only think about yourself. Do you go out of your way to make sure your friends are alright?"

"Why are you so rude?" She cried.

"A lot of people believe death is to be the end of all their problems. What is a better way to get attention than to do something drastic, ne?" He walked past her and looked down at the ground where the concrete was stained with dried blood. "Just a fall from this tall building would be instant death. If you really believe your problems to be so bad why don't you end it all here, ne? You'll get all the attention you want from this one action. All your classmates will know your name. Your parents are bound to find out you're missing and when they find out what you did. They won't ever forget. One step off this building and all your problems will be solved. It won't hurt one bit."

She felt his words sting her, it was as if he was challenging her to do it. She walked up next to him and took off her heels. She hopped up on the ledge and turned herself towards the entrance of the roof. She let in a deep breath before walking back, falling to her instant death. Izaya began laughing. The man from the night before was really going to regret his words.

Tomorrow Ella Fujioka was going to have all the attention she sought.

…

The last song of the night was Chrissy's solo. She was the most seeked out in the club. She had a beautiful deep singing voice and amazing dance skills. She sat on top of the piano with a long red dress, one leg over the other and a drink in hand. She looked out to the crowd and gave a dazzling smile. As the last note finished the curtain was brought down. A few of the girls went straight to Shizuo and patted his shoulder.

"You did so awesome!" Lexi, a dark haired girl with a bright smile yelled out. Tom went backstage with a drink in his hand.

"That was so good, Shizuo! I haven't seen you smile as much as you did today in a while!" The brunette man handed him a beer.

"Thanks. It felt really nice to be on stage after a long period of time." The bleached blond stated as he walked with Tom to the bar area.

"You were right Shizuo. You shouldn't give up on your dream for a management position here." Tom patted his shoulder. "You sounded really great up there. We'll have to put you in the band more often."

"I know IzaIza really liked your performance." Erika giggled as she began to clean up after all the customers left.

"That flea was probably trying to find ways to ruin the performance." Shizuo snorted as he cleaned the counters. "He probably didn't do anything because his little date was too entertained by it."

"Touchy touchy. Someone sounds a little jealous there." Erika smirked at him.

"Of who?" Shizuo glared at her. "I hate him."

"Love and hate are two sides of the same coin, Shizu-chan." Erika mocked Izaya's words.

"Change of subject before Shizuo throws things at you again Erika." Tom sighed as he saw where the conversation was going. This was going to be tough closing with the duo. At least they were almost done cleaning.

…

"I'm home." Izaya called out to no one as he walked into his loft. Taking off his sweater he hung it on his coat hanger. He knew there wasn't anyone he was calling out to but sometimes he liked to believe there was. Walking up the stairs to his bedroom he went to strip himself for a bath. The water was hot, burning his skin in all the right ways. His pale skin turned a bright red as he curled up in the tub. His head resting on his knees. "Humans are so stupid but I still love them all the same."

The smoke in the bathroom escaped through the cracked door. Steam covering the windows in the bathroom and his bedroom. He wasn't sad nor was he lonely, he kept telling himself. He felt numb. He hated to admit it to himself but Ella's words stung him without realizing it.

"Why is it that I love all these humans so much but they still hate me?" He asked himself. "Why is it that the people I once loved left me?" He began to giggle to himself. "Maybe I am a tad bit lonely." Getting up from the tub, he grabbed a towel and trapped it around his waist. It was getting late and he had a busy day tomorrow.