Here's the next chapter! Sorry, I got into a really good book series and I've been distracted and hey, my birthdays in sixteen days. (May 22nd). I'm getting old guys! XD anyways.

Enjoy~

chapter 31

Shizuo had gone with Izumi to drop Izaya off at the air port. It had taken them a while to actually leave, Kururi and Mairu unwilling to let Izaya leave until Ren drug them inside. Izaya had spent time talking to his dad, and then he got into the car with Izumi and Shizuo. He had asked to be dropped off at an airport a few towns over because it gave him more time with Shizuo. He sat in the back with Shizuo, holding his hand tightly. Shizuo's head was resting against Izaya's shoulder.

They stopped before they even left Ikkebukuro, saying goodbye to Shinra, Celty, Kadota and Kasuka. It had been quick but sad, none the less. The emotions had been high strung, so Izaya had made everything quick. Hugs. email address exchanges. Promises to keep in touch. Izaya wished them luck with school, which they would be starting the next day. Then, after all of that, Izaya got back in his car and they started driving again.

The sun was bright and as Izaya looked out he window, he felt a sinking sadness as he watched Ikkebukuro pass them by. He took a breath and forced himself to look away, looking over at Shizuo. Shizuo was staring out the window on his side and Izaya sighed, holding Shizuo's hand. Shizuo looked over at Izaya and smile a little as he leaned over to kiss his cheek. "You ok?"

"Yeah," Izaya murmured softly, sighing a bit at the end. He glanced out his window once more, tilting his head just a little. "I'm just really going to miss this horrible city."

Shizuo nodded, more to himself though, and then sighed too. "This horrible town will miss you, too."

Izaya laughed softly and looked back at his lover, his best friend. "I'd hope so. I left quite the reputation behind."

The chuckle that left Shizuo's lips was melodic and had Izaya's heart fluttering. "As what, the most irritating flea in Ikkebukuro?"

Izaya laughed again, louder this time, and shot a playful glare at Shizuo. "The best damn flea you'll ever meet."

"You got that right." Shizuo kissed Izaya's cheek, smiling widely. "And the hottest."

"Aw, you flatter me so~" Izaya couldn't help but grin.

The rest of the car ride was smoother, easier. Izumi and Izaya joked around, Izumi recalling a childhood event every five minutes that Izaya did not want to talk about but Shizuo did. One said incident involved a young and giddy Izaya trick or treating as a fairy one year for Halloween. At the image of a little Izaya in a pink dress with sparkly wings, a wide grin plastered on his face, Shizuo laughed long and hard. Izaya, of course, sulked and tried to change the subject. Izumi didn't stop, though; she brought up almost every embarrassing event in Izaya's childhood life. But, Izaya decided not to stop her. He didn't want to stop her, if he were being honest. He was about to leave for college in a new city away from his family. Izaya had never left home for longer than a week, maybe two weeks, at a time. Izumi was trying to keep the mood light by remembering things about Izaya that had left her happy...and who was Izaya to stop that?

The light and happy mood seemed to fade away quickly as the airport came into sight. Izaya felt Shizuo's hand tighten around his and he gave an assuring squeeze back. Looking over he saw Shizuo staring down at his lap, obviously lost in too much thought. Izaya chewed his lip, stumped, before lifting Shizuo's hand to kiss the blonde's knuckles. The action had Shizuo's head snapping up, a light pink dusting his cheeks. Izaya only winked, blushing a bit himself.

They parked their car and gathered Izaya's three bags, making their way in. Izaya had already checked in with his ticket and things online so Shizuo stepped back a bit, letting Izumi have her chance with her son. Izaya tried to avoid eye contact at first but eventually looked at the woman, his eyes soft. Izumi's eyes were filling rapidly with tears and Izaya flinched. "Mom-"

"I know, I cry too much." Izumi chuckled lightly as she wiped at her eyes. She sighed and then walked over, cupping both of Izaya's cheeks. "You grew up way too fast, Izaya...you know that? I'm so proud of you."

Izaya smiled and shrugged half heartedly. "You raised me well, what can I say?"

"I mean it," Izumi stressed as she ran a hand through Izaya's hair. "You're smart...you've got a sweet heart...and what you did for Shizuo was beyond admirable, Izaya. Your father and I couldn't have asked for a better son. You're going to have fun in college...and I won't be there to nag at you or irritate you."

Izaya watched as his mom smiled, though her tears had started to fall again. He dropped the bags he held and hugged his mom tighter than he ever had before, squeezing his eyes shut." J-jeeze mom...I'll come back on holidays...and I'll email...I won't be gone forever."

"It'll just feel like forever," Izumi laughed shakily as she hugged Izaya just a bit tighter. "I'm so used to you always being with me..."

Izaya sighed heavily and stepped away enough so that he could kiss his mom's cheek. He smiled brightly, head tilted slightly. "This is going to sound cheesy...but I'm always with you, Mom...ok? So don't worry."

After kissing Izaya's head and smiling again, Izumi wiped her eyes and gestured to Shizuo. "Now, go talk to your poor boyfriend. I'm sure he's as bad as I am right now."

Izaya hesitated then, taking a deep breath. He walked up to Shizuo with ease, the blonde looking up at him. Izaya's steps faltered and he frowned almost instantly. "You're not supposed to be crying already..."

Shizuo's laugh was shaky as he brought a hand up to wipe at his eyes. "Y-yeah...s-sorry..."

Izaya smiled softly as he pulled Shizuo into an embrace, running his hand through Shizuo's hair. He could feel Shizuo trembling against him and he spoke softly against the blonde's ear. "I love you, you know? I love your voice...your eyes...I love that cute little face you make when you pretend you can't stand me." He chuckled softly. "I love how well you are with kids...and the way you put others before yourself...and I love all your insecurities too, because they make you Shizuo. There's so much about you that I love...I'd never be able to find anyone else like you...not that I'd even go looking, of course."

Shizuo made a soft sound to let Izaya know he had heard him. Izaya sighed softly again as he gently pushed Shizuo back until he could look at him. Shizuo glanced away, ashamed and embarrassed at the tears that had begun to cascade down his face. His heart was pounding in his chest like mad and he couldn't bring himself to look at Izaya. "I...It's g-gonna fucking suck w-with you gone..."

"I know...it'll be really boring not having you around, too." Izaya mentally cursed when his voice cracked. He glanced down at his feet and frowned a bit. "...I'll email...and text, and video chat...we can set up those cheesy video chat dates...so...it won't be that bad." His heart suddenly felt as if it was being ripped in half, slowly, bit by bit. He winced a little and then looked up as his own tears started to fall. "I love you, Shizuo."

Shizuo forced a smile on trembling lips as he pulled Izaya back into his arms. They had both started crying, quietly though. Around them the rest of the world faded away and all they could hear, all they could see was each other. Izaya pulled back to kiss Shizuo, the blonde parting his lips instantly to let the raven's tongue have access. Though it seemed rushed, both were trying to mesmerize the taste of each other, the feel of being pressed against each other. Izaya held tightly to Shizuo, feeling as if the blonde would disappear if he let go of him. He could feel the tears that were making their way down the blonde's cheeks and it broke his heart. He fought to brand every detail of the one in his arms to memory, over and over until he was positive he'd go mad. That's what he wanted, to be madly in love, even more so than he already was.

Shizuo was no different, having to break from the kiss to bury his face in Izaya's shoulder, sobbing quietly. He breathed in Izaya's scent, the scent that had brought him security for so long. He couldn't bring himself to look up at his boyfriend. "F-fuck...s-sorry..."

"Don't be." Izaya murmured as he smiled, despite his tears. "N-no one's m-mad at you for crying...and hey, I'm crying too."

Shizuo stepped back to wipe at his eyes but Izaya moved his hands away, cupping Shizuo's cheeks and wiping the tears away with his thumbs. He smiled softly sniffling himself. "It won't be that bad...I promise...so try not to worry, Shizuo..."

"I should...be telling you not to worry..." Shizuo murmured as he stepped closer once more. Wiping away the tears on Izaya's face, he continued softly. "You're already worrying about me moving back with them..."

"Did you expect anything else?" Izaya said with a small, light laugh before averting his eyes. "...You'll tell me if anything happens, won't you? The minute it happens, you'll tell me? I'll get a hold of you as fast as I can, I promise, I-"

"Izaya," Shizuo cut in quickly, holding a finger to Izaya's lips. He smiled softly, his eyes still gleaming with tears. "I'll be alright...I told you before that I'm stronger now because of you...so, it'll be ok. I'll be ok. If something happens I'll tell you in a heartbeat...but don't stress yourself out over it, babe. Everything...everything will be ok, just like you said."

Izaya moved Shizuo's hand and nodded slowly, smiling again. "...Here I am being the emotional one and making you comfort me..."

"I don't mind," Shizuo murmured as he hugged Izaya once more. "...You're gonna miss your flight if you stay here any longer..."

Izaya stepped back and placed a gentle kiss on Shizuo's slightly parted lips, and it felt suddenly as if the world had come to a stop once more. "I love you, Shizuo."

"I love you, too, Izaya," Shizuo smiled brightly as he took a step back.

Izaya smiled back and hugged his mom once more before he gathered his things. For a second he hesitated, glancing over his shoulder. He smiled a bit and waved, rushing off with his things in tow. When he was out of view Shizuo's smile slipped away and he looked down as Izumi came and wrapped her arms around him. "He'll be ok, sweet heart."

"Y-yeah...I know," Shizuo murmured as he hugged the woman back, forcing back the tears. "I...I can stay a while longer right? With you, Ren and the girls, I mean..."

"You can stay as long as you need to, honey." Izumi assured as she took the boy's hand. Her smile, now, was wide and bright, her eyes full of hopeful happiness that Shizuo desperately needed to see. "Now, how about we stop for ice cream on the way home? I know you love sweets."

A half hour into the flight Izaya leaned back in his chair. The other passengers around him were quiet and he was a bit bored, though boredom was the least of his concerns. He was still worried and his lips still tingled from where they had pressed so softly against Shizuo's. He let out the smallest of sighs and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his sweater. He blinked and frowned. What the hell's in my pocket...?

Izaya removed a folded piece of paper from his pocket and he blinked yet again. Slowly unfolding it he was surprised to see Shizuo's handwriting on it. He raised his eyebrow as he started to read.

Izaya,

I'm really no good with words when it comes to saying them face to face so...when ever you find this I apologize for my probable lack of words when you left. There's a lot I want to say but when I'm standing in front of you, I can't form the words. How do you do it? Say things so easily, I mean? Always expressing your love...it's one of the things I love about you. You're just so plainly...amazingly...you. I'm glad I met you, Orihara Izaya. It's true I didn't like you at all at first but there was always something that set you aside. I tried to brush it off as you just being irritating, but it was more than that. You got under my skin in the most painful of ways...and, well, I didn't know what to do. You saved me, you know. I was always so caught up, so trapped in this endless dark place that I called life. I thought I'd never get out...but then you, damn you, you came into my life. You were like...a bright light of shining hope...and I loved it. I loved you. It's harder than it should be to say it out loud and I know you know...but I don't think it's very fair of me to just not say it as much as you do. I'm sad that you're leaving but I'm also insanely happy for you. This is a great chance for your future and everything and I'm glad you can do this. I'm glad you have a chance at great future. I know it'll be difficult...and I know we're gonna both be miserable and stuff...but just remember I love you, ok? I love you more than anything, to the moon and back. Everything will be ok, just like you always say. So when you're cramming for lame college tests or you're just up late and bored...you can read this. Make new friends, go out and do stuff, ok? Don't be a loser and sit around. Have fun. Enjoy all of this, Izaya. I love you. I wish you the best.

-Shizuo H.

Izaya looked down and smiled slowly, wiping at the tears that were making their way down his cheeks. He leaned back and held the letter a little tighter. "Shizuo, you sap.."

When Shizuo walked into school on the first day, he heaved a long and heavy sigh. Shinra and Kadota were walking on either side of him, Shinra linking arms with Shizuo. "It's so nice to be back in school!"

Shizuo rolled his eyes but made no move to get Shinra off his arm. "Nerd."

"Nah, I have to agree with Shinra." Kadota murmured from the side. "I was starting to get really sick of lying around all day."

Shizuo smiled again as he at down in his classroom. He had Shinra and Kadota in his class too, and that made him feel a bit better. He leaned back in his chair and Shinra sat in front of him, turning to grin at him. "Let's have a good school year, yeah?"

Shizuo stared at Shinra and smiled again, slow and graceful. "Yeah, I agree."

So! There you have it. Izaya's gone, but! But! more to come! Theres still some plot to get through before I finish and start the sequel. Review? I hope you liked this chapter lovelies.