I'm sorry it took a little long, but here is the next chapter. Another tiny little thing... there's gonna be 8 chapters instead of 7. As far as I can see now. But since I'm bad at planning apparently, don't be surprised if it turns into 9 chapters XD

Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 6

He sat in his car, staring out of his window, while eating the double bacon burger he had just ordered at the drive through of MacDonalds. He glanced at the box with crystals at his backseat, to make sure they hadn't gone anywhere. After all, if things like shadow people really existed, why would he trust some magical crystals to not disappear suddenly?

Madam Shyarly had told him he would probably never recognize shadow people as being those creatures, but as Smoker stared at the other cars in the parking lot, he got a pretty good idea of who could be something like that. As he recalled all the events since he had moved to this city, the pieces slowly started to fit together.

Portgas D. Ace, it must be him. Of course he could escape from his police cell at night! There is always some tiny space through which he could have escaped, no matter how thick and well locked the cell door might be. Besides that, Smoker remembered the words of the witness who had withdrawn. "I just want a night of sleep," he had said. And, "You can't help me." It all made sense now. Portgas had been visiting him at night, scaring him, to make sure he would pull back as a witness. And apparently in such a way that Pagaya knew what he was, or at least that he was something supernatural, something the police couldn't handle. Well, we'll see about that now, Smoker thought.

It was one thing that he haunted a witness though. He could understand that, even if he absolutely disapproved of it. But it was another thing to visit a police officer in his sleep. Why would he even do that? Sure, Ace probably didn't like him very much, but it was kind of dangerous, since there was always a chance of Smoker finding out his true nature. Which was exactly what he had done now.

He wondered though, would Izo know about this? Would he know what his so called brother really was? Portgas' boyfriend would probably know, right? You couldn't live together with someone without knowing something like that, so he had to be aware of it.

Smoker sighed and looked at his watch. This was something that had to wait until later. It was a quarter to seven, so he'd better get inside. He took a peppermint to get the taste of fast food out of his mouth and left his car.

Inside the theater, he showed his ticket and sat down, he had a seat somewhere on the side of a middle row, not too bad. As he waited for the performance to begin, he thought about the past week. He had met Izo a few times, sometimes planned, sometimes coincidentally. However, they hadn't taken it to the next step yet. Not that Smoker minded that very much, he actually liked it that they didn't rush things. That didn't mean he hadn't thought about it, though.

But he really shouldn't do that right now. Smoker shook his head to get rid of the image of a stripping Izo, especially the image of him doing that on the stage currently before him. The lights dimmed and Smoker focused on the stage as the curtains opened.

When the performance was over and the lights went on again, Smoker couldn't help but smile. Izo really was a good actor. And even though the story of the play hadn't really been Smoker's taste, he'd still enjoyed it to see his neighbor in his element.

He got out is phone from his pant pocket end send out a text message: 'You're a great actor ;-) Do you need a ride home?'

It took a few minutes before Smoker got a reaction and he was forced to get out into the hallway of the theater during that time. 'You're here? I would love a ride home ;-) Can you wait in the theater café? I'll be there in fifteen minutes at most.'

'Sure, I'll be waiting,' he texted back. He ordered a coke in the café and sat down at one of the few tables. He watched the people around him, wondering why they were here, if they'd really come because the play seemed interesting to them or if they'd come for a certain actor as well. Maybe some had come for Izo too. Would he have many fans? Smoker could imagine it.

At the same time, he watched the crowd to see if there wasn't anything unlawful going on as well. He couldn't help it, it was in his nature to always keep an eye on that. So far, everything seemed fine, though he was ready to get to action when he saw a man bring his hand towards a woman's butt. However, she seemed to be his girlfriend or something of the like, or at least she didn't seem to mind it.

"You're off duty, officer," Izo's voice suddenly sounded very close to Smoker's ear, making the latter's heart skip a beat.

The white haired man checked his watch. "That was quick," he said as he tried to get the fluttering feeling in his chest under control. Seriously, the last time he checked he was an adult man, so no need to feel like a teenage girl with a huge crush, right?

"Yeah, I thought I shouldn't let you wait too long," Izo answered, while standing next to him so that Smoker could see him. "I thought you might appreciate that." The tone of his voice was slightly accusing.

"I do. I was just surprised." Smoker was also surprised to see Izo looked like his usual self, hair partly in a knot behind his head and make-up perfectly in order. It was such a big change with how he had looked on stage. "Do you want something to drink or do you wanna go home immediately?"

Izo smiled apologetic. "To be honest, I'm kinda tired, so home sounds really appealing."

Smoker nodded. "Sure." He downed the last of his coke and stood up. He didn't mind Izo's decision at all, since he wasn't that much of a person to hang around too long in theaters. He didn't really feel at ease there.

While on their way out, a man stopped Izo. "Wait, are you the one that played the male lead?"

Izo smiled. "Yes, that was me."

"Wow, you're so… different," the man, probably in his forties, answered. "If I'd seen you before, I would have never guessed you could be so… manly."

Smoker send the man a death-glare and had the urge to punch him in the gut, but at that moment the man was pushed towards the exit by a woman.

She looked apologetic at them. "I am so sorry for my husband's rudeness. You were great! We loved the play, no matter what he might say, he loved it too."

Izo smiled at her, but Smoker could see it wasn't a very happy smile. "Thanks."

The woman hurried after her partner and pulled him with her, talking angrily at him.

"That guy was really rude," Smoker said, still a little angry, as they too walked out of the building.

Izo shrugged. "Oh well, I'm used to it."

"That doesn't make it okay."

"Really, I'm not that offended." Izo chuckled. "But your anger is kinda cute."

Smoker turned towards him, raising an eyebrow while giving him a piercing look. "I dare you say that again."

The dark haired man smirked. "You're cute," he said and he softly kissed his lips. Just for a second, then the touch was gone again.

Smoker grumbled under his breath, while walking the last bit to his car. He was called a lot of things in his life before, but 'cute' was a first.

"You're a lot more than cute, though," Izo said when they'd reached the car. Smoker turned around and was surprised to find the other not going towards the passenger's side of the car, but standing right behind him and pressing him against the cold metal of his vehicle. Izo's lips were upon his again, this time longer and Smoker gladly returned the kiss that soon involved tongues and became very passionate.

When they broke contact, both in need for breath, Smoker groaned softly. "We're in public," he reminded his lover, though he badly wanted more of it.

"So? Are you afraid to be seen with me?" Izo asked, still having a heated look in his eyes.

Smoker chuckled. "Not at all. But I thought you might care for your reputation or anything."

The actor laughed. "I'm not really famous or anything, it's not like there's paparazzi on the lookout for me."

He had barely said it when there was a flash of light reflecting on their faces. When they turned towards the source of the light, they saw a man, standing only a few yards away from them. He carried a big camera and smiled smugly at them. "Are you sure about that?" After that, he hurried away.

Izo created a little room between him and Smoker, looking a little confused. "Well, that was a first."

"Seems like you're a celebrity now," Smoker said. He didn't like it when people took pictures of him, but he guessed it couldn't be helped. He wasn't going to let his evening be spoiled by it. "Well, get in the car, so we can go home."

Izo nodded and walked towards the other side of the car to get into the passenger's seat, while Smoker got behind the wheel. The dark haired man cast a look at the backseat when he fastened his seatbelt. "What's that for kind of mysterious looking package."

Smoker looked over his shoulder as well, seeing the box with crystals, covered by the cloth. He had already forgotten about them. "Oh that." For a moment, he contemplated if he should tell Izo everything, but then he decided against it. His neighbor would probably think he was crazy. "Those are just some things I still needed that have bought today."

Izo seemed to accept this answer and Smoker started the car, driving away from the parking lot. "So, what did you think of the play?" the actor asked.

Smoker thought about how he would formulate his sentence for a moment. "To be honest… if it weren't for you, I would have never bought a ticket for it. But it wasn't as bad as I expected. Not that I expected it to be bad, but the story just didn't really speak to me. However, you and your colleagues proved me wrong. Especially you were great. Even though I haven't slept much the past weeks, I haven't fallen asleep during the play, so that says something."

"I didn't know you had problems with sleeping?" Izo said, looking at Smoker from the corner of his eyes.

Smoker needed all his attention on the road as he drove, so couldn't really look away. "Yeah, well, I'm sure it'll be over soon."

"Really? Why?" Izo asked him.

"I… have been to a specialist who has given me some tips," Smoker answered. "It will get better within a few days, I'm sure of that."

Izo stared out of the window. "I'm glad of that." It was silent for a moment before he spoke again. "So, you thought the story was shit, but my acting was good?"

"I didn't think it was shit, it was just not the kind of story I would usually go for. And your acting was great," the police man defended himself. "I could barely recognize you."

"Well, thanks for that, at least," Izo chuckled. "Though, I already knew I was a great actor."

Smoker snorted. "At least you're confident."

He saw Izo turn his head towards him from the corners of his eyes. Suddenly he felt a touch on his right leg, indicating that Izo had placed his hand on there. The dark haired man softly started to caress his neighbor's leg. "Some people like confident men."

Smoker looked down at the hand for a moment, before focusing on the road again. "It seems I do, too."

A deep, and, to Smoker, very sexy chuckle escaped Izo's lips. "I know."

"Now you're getting a little cocky," the white haired man said, though he couldn't help but smile in the privacy his mind. He felt the hand slide up a little, caressing a higher part of his thigh.

"Is that so?" Izo asked teasingly.

It was getting profoundly harder to concentrate on the road, as his heart was beating fast and another part of his body also started to ask for attention. Smoker cleared his throat. "You're slightly distracting me from driving."

"If you want me to stop, all you have to do is ask."

Smoker didn't answer to that. It was just a bit too much for his pride to ask his neighbor to stop, because he couldn't focus well enough on driving. Besides, he didn't actually want to miss the feeling of Izo's hand on his leg. Even if he was now getting dangerously close to his crotch.

After a while, he drove into their city, over the main road towards their flat. "We're almost there," Smoker said, more to himself than to Izo. He only had to concentrate on driving a few minutes longer.

He tried to keep in the relieved breath he wanted to let out when he parked the car, so he wouldn't show Izo how much energy it had cost him to stay focused.

Both men got out of the car and Izo smirked at his neighbor. "I see you weren't too distracted to make it home." He winked and walked towards the staircase.

Smoker quickly went after him. He wasn't going to let his neighbor get away so easily. Toying with him the whole way and now just walking away? He wasn't going to let that happen.

He'd caught up with his neighbor by the time they'd reached their floor. "Izo, you are coming over for a drink, aren't you?" he asked as they walked towards their apartments.

Izo didn't answer until they had reached Smoker's door. There he pressed his neighbor against it for another passionate kiss, making Smoker moan softly. But when the dark haired man pulled away, he took a step back. "I'm sorry, Smokey, I've gotta work again tomorrow, and as I said, I'm pretty tired."

Smoker closed his eyes. Was he kidding? First giving him hope by kissing him and then holding off? He sighed, but knew he had to respect the other's wishes.

"But," Izo started, letting a finger run over the bit of skin Smoker's shirt showed. "What about tomorrow? The show of tomorrow starts at three o'clock, so I have the evening off. We could have some fun then… if you've got the time."

Smoker tried to look casual when he nodded, instead of showing how badly he wanted the actor to be with him the next evening. "Yeah, sure, don't think I have plans for tomorrow evening."

Izo smiled. "Alright, see you tomorrow then." He kissed his lover one more time on the lips. "Sleep well."

"You too," Smoker murmured as he watched his neighbor walk to his own door.

Izo turned the lock, but before he entered his apartment, he turned his head towards the white haired man once more. "Smokey… thanks for coming today."

An uncharacteristic smile formed itself on Smoker's lips and his heart sped up a little. "The pleasure was mine."

When Izo had disappeared inside his own home, Smoker let his head fall against the door, slightly annoyed with himself. Damn, he had it bad.

When he went to bed, a few hours later, Smoker realized he had left the crystals in his car. He had been so focused on Izo that he had completely forgotten about them. He groaned. He really didn't feel like going outside again to get them, so they'd have to wait one more night. Or hopefully two, if his plans for tomorrow worked out.

However, when he lay in bed, this meant he wasn't able to even close his eyes. Smoker was just waiting for the bastard shadow person to show up. When he thought a bit more about it, even if it was very likely him, he couldn't accuse Portgas just yet. He had many clues, but no evidence yet.

Besides, he couldn't let Ace know that he suspected him, or let the shadow person know that he now really knew what they were, because they would be on their guard. They would probably expect him to set a trap then, at some time. Smoker shook his head. He really must have sounded stupid when he'd said that he knew about them being a nightmare. Had he really expected to scare the creature away with that, even if he had been right about its nature?

After having lain awake for two hours and not having noticed anything irregular or suspicious, his eyes slowly started to feel heavy and flutter close. He was on the edge of falling asleep when he felt a bit of wind gazing his arm.

His eyes snapped open again and he saw a shadow hurry away. Great, just when he got hope the creature would leave him alone this night, it was here again. Smoker groaned.

He sat up and turned on the light next to his bed. Getting a book, he pretended to read, while thinking of what to do next. It wasn't an option to get the crystals after all, since the creature would know then. But he also couldn't sleep as long as there was something or someone spooking around in his bedroom.

Could shadow people read minds, Smoker suddenly wondered. Because if they did, he wouldn't even have to bother with the crystals, since the creature would already know about them and avoid them. Well, Madam Shyarly hadn't said anything about that and if they were able to do that, she would probably have said that, right? It was a pretty important detail to leave out.

While he used the next hour to figure out if there was a way to get some sleep this night without letting the shadow person know how much he knew, there was an eerie feeling growing inside him. Slowly, thoughts like 'what if I won't get any sleep tonight' and 'how long can one survive without sleep' started to appear in his mind. He had heard it once, what was it? A week or a month? Someone had gone without sleeping for eleven days, he remembered. It didn't kill him, but Smoker had heard that it was possible. Besides, Shyarly had told him he could die of fatigue, so it was possible, he could die.

The more he thought about it, the more panic seemed to take him over. He tried to think rationally about this, to put everything into perspective, but it didn't seem to work. It was only when he was about to freak out, that he realized what it was. Shadow people could evoke fear. And that was exactly what was happening to him now. Somehow, when he realized it was all the creature's doing, he could find a peace of mind to some degree. Though not completely.

Smoker sighed. It seemed there was no way he'd get a bit sleep tonight, unless he did something about it. So he cleared his throat. "Listen, I don't know what the hell you are, but could you just leave me the fuck alone? Go bother someone else, will you?" Smoker said annoyed. It stayed awkwardly silent for a few moments and Smoker thought for a short while that the shadow person had left him. But then he could swear he saw something move again. "Just one fucking night! Is that too much to ask?! I need to be rested tomorrow, just let me sleep and get the fuck out of my apartment!"

He never got an answer. Not that he'd really expected the creature to answer, but some sign of communication would have been nice. However, after a while, Smoker didn't notice any movement anymore. He kept looking around his room for about an hour longer, to make sure there was no one spooking around anymore, but he didn't see any shadows move or feel any shift in the air anymore, let alone something that could be described as a touch.

Eventually, he had calmed down and closed his eyes again. He soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

He was staring at his computer screen for quite a while now. It was a quiet Saturday and after having been on patrol in the morning, they had been sent to the station for the afternoon. They could be called away any moment, but until then, they should be doing some paperwork.

"Say, Tashigi," he started, after having done nothing but staring for ten minutes. "Do you believe in the supernatural?"

His partner looked up from her work. "You mean in things like ghosts? Or do you mean religion?"

"No, ghosts and demons and the like." Smoker made sure to sound as casual as possible.

"I… don't know. I don't think there's things like that, but I'm not sure," she answered the question. "You know, there could be things like ghosts, something between life and death. But there could just as well be nothing. We'll only find out when we die, I guess. But if you're talking about vampires and werewolves and such, then no, I don't believe in them. I'm not a child anymore, Smoker."

"Hmm." He'd thought she'd answer something like that. He guessed he couldn't really discuss his problem with her then.

"Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason," Smoker responded and he pretended to focus on his screen again. "Just a passing thought."

"Smoker!" A sudden shout through the office shook them up. Their pink haired boss came walking quickly towards them. "Hina is very displeased!" She'd reached his desk and threw a newspaper on his keyboard. "What's this?"

Smoker looked down at the paper, which showed a clear picture of him and Izo, kissing like there was no tomorrow. He raised his eyebrows. He hadn't been aware that the photographer had been there for so long already. Underneath the photo stood the headliner "Rising actor has passionate affair with cop."

He looked up at his boss again. "That's a picture of me. And my neighbor."

"He seems to be a bit more than just your neighbor," Hina commented, obviously not happy with the situation.

"So?" Smoker didn't see her point.

"You've got a public function! You should be setting an example for society, you know that very well." Hina looked accusing at him.

"So I can't date my neighbor who happens to be an actor?" Smoker was getting annoyed.

"Of course you can," Hina answered. "You just could be a little more discrete about it. Not having passionate make out sessions in a public parking lot."

Smoker shrugged. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, it's just love." He closed his eyes. He did not just say that. Love?

"You think people can still take you seriously when they see this?" Hina had lowered her voice already, but still seemed displeased. "You will be known as the guy that has an affair with some celeb. Who is a guy, no less."

"Oh, so that's what this is about?" Smoker crossed his arms.

Hina looked him straight in the eyes. "Partly. Listen, Hina doesn't care whether you date a man or a woman or a dog. But there are people who are uncomfortable with it and will complain about this kind of thing. It would just make things a lot easier if you held your private life a bit more private."

"I didn't ask for these pictures to be taken. And if anyone has a problem with who I date and where I kiss with them, they can come to me," Smoker said, now downright pissed. Why did people always have to care so much for what others did in their private time?

"Hina will tell them that. Just try to be a bit more careful next time, alright?" his boss told him.

Smoker shrugged. "I'll try." He should have gone after that photographer after all, but he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. If he saw the guy again, he would make sure he'd leave them alone next time.

Satisfied with that promise, Hina walked away. Smoker saw Tashigi trying to see past their computers, to get a look of what was in the newspaper, but she didn't succeed. Smoker rolled his eyes and tossed the paper towards her. "Didn't know you were the gossip type."

"Oh hardly, I'm just curious about my colleague," she answered as she almost caught the newspaper. When she had it ready on her desk, she gave the picture a look over. "So that's your neighbor?"

Smoker hummed confirming and tried to focus on his work again. However, now his mind had drifted off to Izo and the previous night.

"What's his name?" Tashigi asked.

"It's probably stated in the article." Smoker had also by no means forgotten that Izo had agreed to come over coming night. It was something he was really looking forward to. He started to plan out this evening in his mind. Wouldn't it be great if Izo could stay until tomorrow morning? Even with a shadow person on the loose, they wouldn't dare to come visit him when he had company, would they? Izo wouldn't be in danger if he stayed with him, he was pretty sure of it. Especially if his hunch was right and the shadow person was Ace. Yeah, that wouldn't be a problem. Smoker couldn't wait to get home and make everything ready for his date.

He vaguely registered Tashigi saying something, so he looked at her again. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"Oh, nothing, never mind." She chuckled. "I think I've already got my answer."

~ Bonus ~

He stared out of the window. It had taken him all of his willpower to leave, but eventually he had been able to do so. "The desperate sound of his voice didn't really help, though," he said to himself, since there was no one around to talk to, at this hour.

The creature, barely visible in the darkness of the night, sighed. "He's really like an addiction."

TBC.

See you next chapter and please leave a review! ^^