A/N: Good news, more updates v(^ ^ )

Hopefully I can finish this before I leave for Hong Kong this Summer :3

I think I made them a tad bit too OOC xD Maybe I should change that...

Drrr! belongs to its rightful owner.

–

Kadota

The bell rung, signaling another break. I get up from my seat and immediately walk to the nurse's office to check on Shizuka and make sure that bastard didn't do anything to her. I think I'm walking a bit too quickly because I feel some stares boring into my backside...

While I'm running, I notice Izaya in the distance and my eyes narrow right away. I can tell he spotted me too because his smirk widens and his eyes turn into slits. I know he's challenging me. That bastard.

I make my way to walk past him until I hear his faint whisper. His voice is faint, but the message is crystal clear,

"I love her."

I ran. I didn't want to hear anymore words from his mouth so I ran to the nurse's office.

It was silent.

I was in a chair by Shizuka's bed and she's just sitting up, staring at her bed sheets with her blush still in full. I entered the nurse's office and she was like that. Her face was completely red and her hair in a mess. Dammit. I want to know what happened...

I walked in and she was laying in bed, her face completely beet red. She saw me enter and asked me to help her sit up. I grabbed her arms and propped her in bed, her back resting against the railing. I took a seat in the chair next to her and asked her how she was feeling. All I got was a simple "fine" and silence took over after that.

It wasn't completely awkward. It was more tense. Its not that this is new to us. We're both silent people. Shizuka acts more on action than words and I never talked much to begin with. I'm guessing she wanted her face to cool down after being with Izaya.

Izaya.

How did he do this to her? He managed to make her all flustered. What did he do to her...

After a minute or so of silence, I spoke up. I had to know.

"What did he do to you?"

Shizuka looks up at me surprised. She turns her head away and that blush returns. Dammit! What did he do to you that made you like this?

"He just kissed me on the cheek..." Her face gets darker, but her eyebrows furrow in anger.

My mind went blank at the word 'kiss'. I was caught between rage, jealousy, and disappointment.

Shizuka could see it from my face apparently and added,

"I-Its fine, Kadota! He was just being annoying. You don't have to be a doting brother."

Everything was wrong with what she just said. Her tone, to begin with, was nervous and she didn't sound as irritated or angry as she seemed earlier. Another was that I know through her tone, that he did more than be a nuisance to her. What bothered me the most, other than the fact that he kissed her (even if it was just on the cheek) was how she called me a 'doting brother'.

Is that all she sees me as? Someone who is nothing more than just a brother figure to her? If I'm a mere 'doting brother' to her, than what is Izaya, dammit? Shizuka, I want to be more than just a brother. I want to be someone you can rely on as more than that, I want you to see me as a lover. I want you to know that I've been by your side not to chase you, but to be with you. I've been your friend for so long because I've been falling for you all this time.

I wanted to tell her everything that was going on in my inner musing. I wanted her to know. But I couldn't.

"Eh? Kadota, you okay, man?" I look up at her and she wears a look of concern mixed with a bit of irritation.

"Y-yeah... I'm okay. I just wanted to check on you." I try to hide my jealousy.

She shrugs and looks away from me and at the window by her bed. I can't see her face, unfortunately, but I know she feels indifferent about what I just said.

"Alright whatever."

"...I guess I should head off to class, now."

"Sure. See ya later, then." She said it with such indifference that it maybe kinda hurt just a little bit.

"Alright bye..." I said that, but I stayed where I was. I didn't leave like I said I would. My eyes linger from the side of her face to her hands rested on her lap. I want to hold it. Kiss her hand and make her forget Izaya's kiss. I have to tell her eventually. What if I don't though...?

My hand acts on instinct and I reached out for her hand. I gently grabbed it and held it with such care, as if it was fragile if I was even a little careless with it. She snaps her attention back to me and her face was brushed with a pastel-ish pink colour. It suited her fair skinned face and the pink colour adorned her shoulder-length blonde hair. If only she knew what kind of effect she has on me...

She doesn't take her hand away. I can only assume this is Shinra's fault or she doesn't mind me holding her hand. I hope it's the latter of the two...

"K-Kadota, man. You can let go of my hand. I'm not that unwell. Eheh..." She chuckles nervously and it only makes me tense. I rub circles on the back of her palm with my thumb and just stare intently at her hand, avoiding contact with her.

The atmosphere only gets tense and I'm assuming she's given up trying to talk me into letting go. She would've punched me out the window by now.

Izaya leaves my mind for a bit and all I can think of right now is happily being with Shizuka. I smile and tell her about how class went, sharing stories on how we could hear the teacher from the other room get frustrated at Shinra for out smarting him. She chuckles a bit and we return to silence. Only this time, its a more comforting silence

With our hands together, my eyes shut and I smile contently at her, storing away my troubles for later. For now, I just want to bask in this moment.

Izaya

I return to class and got a light scolding from the teacher. I tell her how I merely escorted an injured student to the nurse's office and the nurse asked me to monitor the student while she left for a meeting. It's not a complete lie, at least. I only omitted how I was the cause of said student having to go to the nurse.

Shinra got in trouble for pointing out the teacher's flawed teaching method and that was the only amusement I got from class. I stare blankly at the board and only nod once in a while. My mind is overrun by how the day went and how I am going to get rid of Kadota.

I'm sure he heard what I said perfectly well. I can tell by the way he ran from me. I inwardly smirk and look down at my booklet.

I can't get rid of him, per say. Of course I can't. He's her closest friend and getting rid of him would only result in a flaw in my plans. In fact, I'm pretty sure she'd wipe the school grounds with my blood if I so happen to eliminate Kyohei-kun.

'Yes, he'll be out of the picture... but will she forgive me?'

As much of an asshole I may seem, I do have a heart. At the same time, I also know that getting rid of Kyohei-san would be a fault in my plan to gain Shizuka's love.

Sighing, I look back up and chose to clear my mind for the rest of class.

–

School ended. Thank the heavens. I waited for Shinra to collect his things so that we could meet with Shizuka and walk home together. Bastard needs to hurry up.

Once he finished, we walked to the nurse's office together only to see Kyohei carrying Shizuka in a bridal style. Oh that son of a bi-.

"My, my! What have you been up to?" Shinra teases with that dopey smile. He gets closer, probably to get a better view of the happy pair. Unfortunately for him, he was a bit too close because Shizuka managed to headbutt him into submission. If we're lucky, she hopefully knocked down a few IQ points off of him.

We walk together in silence. Hell, even Shinra's silent. I don't mind though. Gives me a chance to think things through. Though, seeing Kyohei carry Shizuka like that... It puts me into a mentally blind rage. No way would I show how angry I am on the outside... well, not yet at least.

I'm pretty sure Shinra and Kyohei are in their own inner world too because Shizuka's been apparently yelling for our attention for the last few blocks.

"Hey! Assholes! Kyohei, put me the hell down! I'm going to miss my train!" She yells. Shizuka rides the train? Please let it be in the same district as me...

"Ah, right... But can you walk?" His voice sounds reluctant, as if he doesn't want to let her go. Tch... figures...

"Fuck... I'll be fine." She hops out of his grasp, much to his disappointment and limps toward the station. I wonder...

"Do you live in the ** district?" I call out, slightly embarrassed by the hopefulness in my tone. She looks back at me and nod. Perfect.

I smirk and walk over to her. I'm a five-six male. The top of her head is at about the tip of my nose, so I assume she's five-three, five-four, possibly?

I kneel over a bit and sling her over my shoulder with some effort. For someone so petite, she's pretty heavy. Probably all that muscle.

"Well, ja nee, Shinra, Dotachin." I say and wave back at them as I carry Shizuka towards the train station. I bet they're staring, along with other passerbyers, but it doesn't matter. I have her in my hands now and that's what matters to me (even if she was flailing a bit and my back is going to probably extremely sore tomorrow...).

"Fucking flea! Put me the hell down right now!" She yells. Flea?

"Is that a new endearing nickname you've come up for me, darling? I'm touched!" I can feel her fuming on my back, and quite frankly, I think the feeling in my back is gone. She's not the only one uncomfortable too because while she was flailing, her hands accidentally brush my ass and it was... well... just right. My arm is wrapped around her legs so that she doesn't kick me.

The most recent swipe on my ass was the last straw. I carry her to a nearby alley, in hopes of scaring her. She only flails more, but out of anger.

"If you don't fucking put me down right now, so help me, I swear I'm going to rip-!" I cut her off by swiftly putting her down and pinning her against the wall. I lean closer to her, close enough to hear her breath hitch. This would be gold blackmail material if I wasn't so occupied with something else.

I've pinned her hands above her head and places myself between her legs. I expect so much from her. I expected her to be scared. To be angry. To yell at me. To struggle harder out of my grasp. To shake. To cry, even.

But I never expected her eyes to soften. I never expected her to stop struggling. I never expected her to open her mouth and ask,

"What do you want from me, y'damn flea?"

in the most calmed voice I've heard from anyone.

I know she's not submitting to me. I know she's above that. My grip on her wrists loosen and her hands drop to her sides. Our eyes are locked and we're both anticipating my answer.

What am I supposed to say to this unpredictable creature?

On instinct, I speak.

"I want you... to love me like I love you."