So... it's almost Christmas and guess who's finished her Halloween fic XD

Anyway, it's gotten a little long, so I decided to break it up into two chapters after all. So there will be one more after this one (it will be uploaded tomorrow), but that will really be the last.

Enjoy~!

Chapter 8

"Smokey…" Izo said pleading, still not being able to move from the spot that had been marked by the crystals on the floor.

Smoker stared at him for a few moments more, not able to say anything. He gritted his teeth together as anger built inside him. Without a word, he walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

What the fuck?! Smoker paced up and down his living room. Izo was the shadow person?! The one that had kept him from sleeping properly? He had even asked if Smoker had slept well, the other night! Izo had damn well known how he had slept!

The police officer sat down on his couch, with his hands in his hair, thinking about this whole situation for a while.

How could he have been so stupid? When looking back, the clues were obvious! Izo had somehow managed to get into his apartment without forcing the door open, he had made sure the two of them hadn't been together after sunset, except for yesterday and that one night Smoker had burnt his food. When the white haired man looked back, he did notice Izo had been hiding mostly in the shadows that time too. And last but not least, the previous night, when the shadow person had come to him, Izo had disappeared.

Smoker sighed. And he just bought all his lies without thinking twice about it. What a cop he was.

That thought made him look at the clock. Shit, he had only twenty more minutes to get to the station. And his clothes were still inside his bedroom.

Not wasting any more time, he walked back into his bedroom, straight towards his closet and completely ignoring Izo.

"Smokey, what are you going to do?" The dark haired man asked him.

Smoker continued to get the clothes he needed, pretending he hadn't heard his neighbor.

"Smoker, just let me explain. Please?"

The white haired man had grabbed his things and started to walk to the door again.

"Wait!" The burning sound made Smoker cast a look at the energy field that kept Izo trapped and saw the man pulling back his hand with a painful face. "You aren't going to call that woman you spoke off, are you? You aren't going to kill me… right?"

Smoker stopped in his tracks and send his supposed lover an angry stare. "I'm going to work now. When I come back, I'll see about what to do with you."

He roughly sat down and stared angrily at his computer screen for a while. He was just so mad at Izo! He had lied to his face without so much as blinking. He had tricked him into thinking his neighbor was a nice and loving person while he actually was a dark creature who feasted on his fear.

Smoker closed his eyes. Oh my god, the horror movie. He had to resist the urge to throw his head against his computer screen, breaking probably both. How could he have been so fucking stupid not to see it was Izo?

"Are you… alright?" Tashigi asked carefully after a while of probably studying her partner.

Smoker slammed his fists down on his desk. "Yes. I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine to me…" she continued, looking almost afraid of him. "Does it have something to do with your sleeping problem?"

"No. I said I was fine." He took a deep breath to calm himself a bit.

"With your neighbor maybe?"

Smoker looked at her, using all his willpower to remain calm. "Look, it's none of your business, okay?"

"Okay…" His colleague returned her gaze to her computer screen. "Just so you know, if you want to talk about it, I'm here for you."

"Thanks. I'm gonna take a smoke break." He stood up and went outside.

During the day, Smoker's anger slowly started to seep away a little. Instead, another feeling made way to his heart. Hurt. He felt hurt and betrayed. He liked Izo, really liked him. Smoker couldn't remember ever falling so hard for someone before. But now his neighbor was not what he'd thought he was, not even human!

Smoker stopped in his thought. He'd had sex with something that wasn't human.

The police officer shook his head to get rid of that ridiculous thought. It wasn't like Izo was an alien or anything. He looked human, and was more or less human, at least during the day. Smoker didn't understand it though, even if being a shadow person was Izo's nature, why had he come to haunt him every night? If he'd liked Smoker, he wouldn't want to scare him or even bring harm to him, would he? Madam Shyarly had said that he could eventually die if the shadow person kept bothering him, so would Izo really have killed him?

Smoker just couldn't understand it. Was Izo really such a good actor that he'd fooled him into thinking the dark haired man liked Smoker too? The white haired man just couldn't believe that and didn't want to believe that. Even now that he knew what Izo was, he still couldn't help the butterflies that fluttered around in his chest whenever he thought of the man. Even though he was still angry at him. And he wasn't even angry for what he was, but mainly because of what he had done.

Smoker grunted, conflicted. What the hell was he supposed to do now? He had agreed to call Shyarly as soon as he'd captured the creature, so she could vanquish it. Which meant she would kill it. Smoker wasn't sure that was still what he wanted. But he couldn't just let Izo continue like this either.

It was a quarter to five when Smoker decided to call it a day. "I'm going home," he let Tashigi know. He ignored how she looked at the clock, but was glad she didn't commented on it. On his way home, he made the decision to first talk with Izo, before doing anything drastic.

He was about to turn the key in the lock of his front door, when the door next to him opened. Izo's door. Smoker stared at it as it opened further and Marco and Ace stepped out of the apartment. He just stared at the duo for a moment, letting his brains do the work. He eyed the tattoo on the blond's half uncovered chest and immediately made the connection. It was the same tattoo Izo had on his upper arm.

Ace stepped into his personal space and stared angrily at him. "Where's Izo? What did you do to him?"

They were all in it. The tattoo was a 'family' crest. Except family didn't mean they were siblings, it meant they were all the same kind of creature. So Smoker had been partly right about Portgas after all. He gave the raven head an unimpressed look. "I don't know where Izo is. Isn't he working?"

"It's freaking Monday. There's no show on Monday," Ace said in a tone that said he didn't accept any fooling around. "You should at least know that, when you're fucking him."

Smoker looked at him without saying anything, wondering if Izo had told everything to his brothers. He tried to stare long enough at Ace so that he would step back, but the younger man only did that when Marco placed a hand on his shoulder.

The blond looked at Smoker. "We're just a little worried. We haven't seen him all day and night."

Smoker raised his eyebrows as the man had just confirmed his suspicion. "What, you check up on him twenty-four seven? Are you some sort of night creature?"

The couple stared intensely at Smoker, probably trying to figure out whether he was joking or if it was a serious question. The police officer decided that was a good moment to end the conversation and enter his apartment. "It isn't that weird if you don't see him for a day."

Smoker closed the door behind him, but kept listening for a bit more, immediately hearing what he was waiting for.

"Do you think he knows?" Portgas' voice sounded. "He sounded pretty serious."

"Let's hope not," Marco answered. "But I'm afraid he does. Which can't be good for Izo." Apparently, the duo walked away then, because Smoker couldn't hear their voices anymore.

He sighed. He had enough trouble with the one shadow person in his bedroom already, he didn't need two more after him. Well, better sort this problem out fast then.

Smoker opened his bedroom door and walked in, immediately checking whether Izo was still there. His neighbor hadn't moved and sighed relieved when Smoker entered the room. The white haired man sat down on his bed, with his arms crossed and looking directly at Izo. "You said I should give you a chance to explain, so explain yourself."

Izo nodded slowly. "I'm sorry for what I did to you. I really am. And to be honest, I don't really have a good reason for why I did it, other than that it's in my nature. And I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but I would like to explain that nature to you."

Smoker waited patiently for the other man to continue. To be honest, he didn't even know what it was that he wanted to hear. Just the truth, he guessed.

When Izo didn't get a reaction after a while, he just continued. "You said you knew I was a shadow person. Do you know what it is we feed on?"

Smoker's scowl got a little deeper as he remembered the horror movie again. He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid as to fall for that. "Fear," he answered, trying to push his embarrassment aside, since he still didn't want to admit to Izo that he'd been afraid, even though the creature knew better.

"Exactly." Izo stared at the floor. "At first, I came to you because I just found you interesting. And normally, I don't visit the same person every night again. It's not my goal to kill anyone, you know. It's just, most people are easily scared and when I've come to them for one night, I've had enough of them for a while and go to someone else. It's like you don't eat the same dish every night." Izo looked up again.

"But you, you were different. You are strong and practically fearless. Which I like during the day," the corners or Izo's mouth curled up the slightest bit, "and during the evening, as a quality in a lover. But at night… it got addicting. It's like finding this one dish that's so good, you want to eat it every night again. Or maybe like chocolate… when it's within reach, you cannot not eat it. You're not going for anything less when you've got access to the best, even though you know it might be better to go for something less. And believe me, the fear of a person who's never afraid… it's the jackpot."

"Yeah, you were right, I don't want to hear you talking about me in the way of food," Smoker interrupted him.

"You're not just food! You're way more than that." Izo rubbed his temples. "I mean, you're not food at all. Your fear might be, for me, but I can't help that, that's just how we were designed. I'm just trying to explain how it works. But that's got nothing to do with what I feel for you. Well, maybe a little, since that was just another reason to want to see you."

"And maybe another reason to not bother me at night?" Smoker opted.

Izo sighed miserably. "You have no idea how guilty I felt every morning. And yet, the next night, I couldn't help but be drawn to you again."

"You're right, I had no idea. You must be a damn good actor." Smoker was still angry, but at the same time, he started to feel sorry for Izo. Which he really didn't want, because he was angry at him. Angry for lying, betraying and hurting him.

However, at this moment Izo wore a look on his face that Smoker could only describe as honest guilt. "I am really sorry. But I do like you. I mean, really like you, maybe even –"

"I don't want to hear it." Smoker held up a hand to emphasize his words. It was funny, really, how the butterflies still fluttered inside his chest, while at the same time it felt like his heart was being stabbed again and again. Couldn't the butterflies be stabbed instead?

"I completely understand if you hate me. But I can't do anything but say that I'm honestly sorry that I'm like this. It's my nature and I can't help it that I need fear to survive." Izo looked like he'd just given up.

"You can't help it that you're a creature of darkness," Smoker started, but before he could go on, Izo interrupted him.

"Darkness is…" Izo seemed to think of something, "an oddly fitting word. But we're not evil. Evil is only decided by the decisions you make, not by what you are."

"We might have a different perception of what is a good decision then," Smoker commented. "Because to me it looks like you've made the wrong one."

It was quiet for a moment before Izo spoke again. "Yeah, you're right." He shrugged. "Even though it was very hard for me, it shouldn't have been impossible to stay away from you during the night. I can't change it anymore, though. I can only do better in the future." Izo looked Smoker in the eyes. "If I still have a future."

Smoker frowned. "Why would you be able to do differently in the future, if you weren't able to it in the past?"

"The situation has changed," Izo answered simply. "You know who I am now and I've gotten a pretty cold shower to wake me up."

Smoker shook his head. "Why should I trust you now?"

"Because… I don't know. I could tell you that I'm genuine, but you'd have to trust that as well, so… yeah, you don't really have any reason to believe me." Izo still didn't look away from him. "Just trust your instincts."

Smoker kept staring at is neighbor, thinking of what his instincts were actually trying to tell him. After a while, he stood up and thought some more, before he made his decision. With his right foot he shove aside one of the crystals, braking the pentagram, and with it the cage.

Izo looked surprised at him, a faint smile on his lips. "You're letting me go?"

"It seems like it, doesn't it?" Smoker said gruffly. "It's not like I can keep you for much longer anyway, because if I do, your brothers will come tonight and will probably free you. And I've got enough on one of you in my apartment already."

"You could have killed me," Izo said as he carefully stepped out of the place that was marked by the crystals.

Smoker looked at his neighbor, not sure what he should be feeling, but being pretty sure it shouldn't be the feeling of longing to held Izo in his arms. "I'm not a murderer."

"I know, but… technically I'm not human, so it wouldn't be murder?" Izo stepped closer to Smoker. "But thank you." He closed his eyes and leaned in, softly letting his lips touch Smoker's.

The white haired man didn't do anything for a few seconds, just let the kiss happen, before he pushed Izo away. "Don't do this. I don't want to see you anymore. Not during the day and especially not during the night."

Izo's mouth curled up the slightest bit. "I thought you rather liked having me at night."

Smoker stared at him, not in the mood for stupid jokes and innuendos.

Izo averted his eyes. "I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore." He walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him and leaving Smoker alone with his conflicting feelings and a shattered heart.

The nights that followed, Smoker got a lot more sleep. Even though he still lay awake quite a lot, thinking things over and over, Izo had kept his promise and had not visited him anymore. Neither had his brothers, to Smoker's relief. It even went so far as that Izo seemed to be avoiding his neighbor. One time, Smoker had seen him standing on the balustrade in front of their apartments, when he himself had just parked his car, but when Smoker had reached their floor, Izo had disappeared.

There were times when Smoker doubted his decision, though. Hadn't he been a little too harsh on Izo? Sure, the man had made a mistake, had haunted him and lied to him. But on the other hand, could he have helped it that much? Izo couldn't help it that he was a shadow person and it wasn't that surprising that he had want to keep that a secret and so, lied about things to hide it.

Other times however, he was really doubting that shadow people were not evil by nature. Smoker wondered if there were even things they could do that could be classified as 'good', while being the creature that they were. They fed on fear, after all, and that was not a good thing. And apparently, they didn't have as much control over it as they'd like either. So, maybe the best option would have been to vanquish them? Still, that idea didn't feel right. They were too human to just get rid of them.

Thoughts like these were driving Smoker mad, at times and he had often found himself in front of Izo's door, just wanting to see the man, but eventually, he never rang the bell.

Soon, the day came for Portgas' trial, however, and Smoker focused his thoughts more on that. It didn't sit well with Smoker. He was sure Ace had something up his sleeve and, being a shadow person, he would probably not stay in jail, even if he was sentenced to it. Smoker didn't really feel like going to the courthouse for this, but since he and Tashigi were the officers on the case, they were expected to show up.

As Smoker waited, he saw Ace walk in, followed by Marco and Izo. Portgas smirked smugly at him, before he took place in his seat and Smoker noted that he didn't have a lawyer with him. He probably didn't think it was necessary. Behind the arsonist, Izo looked shortly at Smoker and smiled, though the look on his face was still a bit sad.

"Wait," Tashigi whispered next to Smoker. "Isn't that..?"

"Yeah, didn't I tell you they were brothers?" Smoker answered before she could finish her sentence. "But we aren't dating anymore, don't worry."

"So what happened?"

"That's none of your concern." Smoker was relieved when the judge entered and the trial began. Talking to Tashigi about his problems with Izo was not on top of his list of favorite things to do at the moment.

The next half hour or so went as Smoker expected. The two remaining witnesses had claimed they weren't sure anymore and one even said she thought she might have been wrong the first time, when pointing to Ace. Portgas had probably paid them a visit to scare them as well. All in all, even if the investigation had pointed out that it had surely been arson, it seemed like there was little proof that Portgas was really the one to start it. The judges would go in debate, and the trial would be suspended for at least half an hour.

Smoker went outside to smoke and tried to clear his mind. There was nothing he could do anymore to get that damn brat behind bars. And even if he could, he would be gone the next morning anyway. See? This was what you got with shadow people. They only used their abilities to defy the law.

Smoker was awoken from his thoughts by a cough behind him. He turned around, but as soon as he saw who was standing there, he returned his gaze to what was in front of him. Speaking of shadow people…

"Can we talk?" Izo asked him.

Smoker shrugged. There wasn't really much that he wanted to say, but if Izo wanted to talk… he didn't mind.

"I had to tell my brothers everything, you know, about why I was gone that night and day," Izo started as he came to stand next to his neighbor.

Smoker nodded slowly. "I'm surprised they haven't killed me yet. Especially Ace, since he'd promised to do that if I hurt you."

"He did?" Izo said surprised. He chuckled. "He's so cute. But this thing was all my fault, so… no need to get aggressive towards you. However…" Izo paused for a moment. "They do see you as a threat. See, you know our secret now and they don't trust you with it."

"So you're here to get rid of me?" Smoker asked with raised eyebrows.

"Don't be silly, I still like you," Izo said. "I wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to you. But it's kinda hard to convince the others that you can be trusted. Because you wouldn't tell anyone… would you?"

"That's an interesting assumption you're making there." Smoker crossed his arms. "I haven't told anyone yet. Well, I had to explain to the person who gave me the crystals why I hadn't called her when I caught you."

"What did you tell her?" Izo asked a little cautious.

Smoker shrugged. "The truth. More or less."

"And she just accepted that?"

"Well, she said she helped clients, but if they didn't want to be helped, it wasn't her place to do anything about it." Smoker had paid Shyarly for her efforts, however. That had seemed only fair.

Izo sighed. "Since I think this problem won't easily be solved, we're moving. My brothers and I are moving to Logue Town. As long as I'm working there at least. After that, we probably move on. It's to make the situation easier, you know, not having to meet each other all the time. Especially for my brothers."

"You… don't have to…" Smoker was a little surprised by it and not pleasantly so. That he broke up with Izo didn't mean he was ready to completely let him go. "Yeah, that's probably for the best," he said, because there was no way he was gonna let Izo know that. "Unless Ace has to go to jail."

Izo tilted his head a little. "He won't, you know that."

"We'll see about that," Smoker said.

"There is one more thing, though…" Izo reached into his purse and Smoker couldn't help but smile for a second because of the little feminine detail. The bag just screamed 'Izo'.

The black haired man had found what he was looking for and pulled out a tiny bottle. "I would like you to have this, for if you ever change your mind and want to be with me after all."

Smoker eyed the bottle suspiciously. "What is it? Some magical potion that brings you to me in an instant?"

"Not quite." Izo looked him in the eyes. "Though that would be kinda fun. No, when you drink this… it will turn you into one of us."

Smoker raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, no way. You can keep that. I like to be human."

Izo smiled. "I understand that. But… don't you want to have the choice? One day you're gonna miss me and wish you could be with me again and… well, this would make it a lot easier. It isn't bad to be a shadow person, you know, it has a lot of advantages."

"Like hell I'm gonna miss you." Smoker turned his head away from the other man, because he knew he wasn't the best at lying.

"Oh, I know you're not over me yet." Izo let his nails run over Smoker's cheek. "I get that you're not ready, but when the time comes that you are… just take it in case that moment comes."

"It won't." Smoker pushed his neighbor's hand away and looked right into Izo's eyes. He cursed inside his mind because his heart started to beat faster again, reviving feelings he was trying to get rid of. "Take it with you and leave, please."

Izo sighed and put the small bottle back into his purse. "Alright. If that's really what you want." He turned around to go back inside, but stopped before actually having set a step. "How did you sleep?"

Smoker put out his cigar. "Great."

Izo smiled. "That's good to hear," he said and then walked into the building for real.

TBC~

(please leave a review, I love you forever if you do!)