So the final chapter is here~! I hope you all liked this story. At least it really brightened my day when I got a review for this story. Since the unusual pairing, I hadn't expected so many people to like it! :D Please, whether you did it before or not, leave a review after this saying what you thought of this chapter/story! :D (constructive criticism is always welcome as well).

Thanks again to the lovely Stirlingphoenix, who organized the ophalloweenficproject on tumblr, because without it, I would never have written this! And thanks again to Aerle, who is my faithful beta and my best friend who I love very much and I know this story might have been a bit difficult for her sometimes, because it's not her ship and she's very monogamous when it comes to her ships :P So thank you for doing this anyway~!

Enjoy the last chapter!

Chapter 9

It came to no one's surprise that Ace was cleared from charge, but it still made the two cops angry. Especially Tashigi, who had no idea what the real situation was. Smoker slowly came to terms with the fact that he couldn't do anything about it. Now that he understood everything, that was a bit easier.

Through the week, Smoker thought a lot about what Izo had said. Smoker still felt the same about wanting to stay human. Like hell he was going to turn into some night creature that only could do bad things, things to destroy people's lives or at least their night rest. Not to mention getting away with going against the law. Not that Smoker would do that even if he were a shadow person, but still, you never knew; it could be in their nature.

No, only bad things could come from that, but Smoker couldn't brush it aside so easily. What if that was the only way to see Izo again? Maybe he should have taken the potion just in case…

This feeling was only intensified when a few days later, he saw Izo and his brothers move out. Smoker felt a little guilty, as it seemed he was the reason for their moving. But then again, they probably never stayed at one place for very long. Smoker couldn't even imagine how old they were, because… did they even age?

Smoker watched them load their stuff into a truck from behind his window. It really didn't feel right to let Izo go like this, but what choice did he have? Even if Smoker was ready to forgive him at some point in time, how could he ever have a normal relationship with him again without having to become one of those creatures himself? Smoker didn't think it was possible. He wouldn't be able to trust Izo and probably for good reasons. Izo now kept away from him at night, but if they would sleep together again that would probably change. Since Izo apparently didn't sleep at all.

Smoker sighed and turned away from his window. He should probably just forget about this whole thing, about Izo. That would be best.

It was about a week later and already dark when Smoker drove home after having worked late. Work was a nice distraction, but in the evening, he still hadn't succeeded in forgetting Izo and the whole shadow person thing. Apparently, it hadn't been as easy as he'd hoped. Well, if he were honest with himself, he'd known it wouldn't be easy, but he could still hope.

Suddenly, his radio cracked. "Smoker, are you home already?" Hina's voice sounded. "There's been a robbery only a few blocks from where you live and you're the only one in the neighborhood."

Smoker immediately grabbed the microphone. If duty called, he was not the one to let it down. "I'm on my way, where is it?"

Hina gave him directions and it appeared to be almost directly on his route. "There's three armed people, one woman and two men, so don't do anything reckless," she warned him. "It'd be better to just follow them and wait for reinforcement. Hina will send them after you right away."

"Got it." Smoker neared the shop that had been robbed and just saw a black car driving away from there with more speed than was necessary for normal customers. "I've got a suspicious car in sight and there are no other suspects to see, I'm gonna follow it."

Smoker had to drive faster than the speed limit allowed to keep up with the car, which was not very practical, since he didn't want them to notice him and therefore, couldn't use his sirens and flashing lights. They drove up to the motorway and headed north. It was only after about fifteen miles that they started to slow down, apparently convinced that they weren't followed.

"Alright," Smoker spoke through the radio. "They've lessened their speed, we're nearing Logue Town now, so I assume that's where they're going."

"Alright, there's backup about three miles behind you," he got as an answer.

"The safest thing to do seems to follow them until they're somewhere that isn't crowded and then take them in," Smoker suggested.

"Yes, give a sign to the other cars whenever you think is the best time."

"Sure." Smoker pressed the button that made contact with all the cars within a five mile radius and explained the plan to the two cars that were somewhere behind him. It didn't take long before the car that he was chasing drove off the motorway, towards the south of Logue Town, just as Smoker had expected.

However, when Smoker followed them, they sped up again. Crap, apparently they were on to him. That didn't mean he could just give up on the plan though, and he kept following them as secretly as possible. But when they were on an almost empty road, it didn't have much purpose anymore.

"They're headed towards the soccer stadium, but I think they're on to me."

"We'll try to be there as soon as possible."

And indeed, the black car drove up to the parking lot that was between the stadium and the cinema. Smoker quickly followed and jumped out of his car before it was even standing still properly, gun pointed at the other car, where the three suspects jumped out of as well.

"Stop right there!" Smoker yelled at them, but the red haired woman had already drawn her own gun and pointed it at him, while the two men grabbed their weapons as well. Smoker couldn't see them clearly, as they were wearing hoodies, but one looked Asian and the other had a bit of blond hair peeking out from under his hood, covering one of his eyes.

The woman laughed. "You're alone?"

"My colleagues will be here any moment," Smoker warned them. "Drop your weapons!"

Unfortunately he focused mainly on the woman, who was standing closest to him, while the Asian looking man had sped towards him so fast Smoker had barely seen him. The criminal grabbed his wrist and turned it in such a way that Smoker was forced to drop his gun, before he could use it to shoot, while the man pressed a dagger against his throat. "No need to wait for them, don't you think?" he spoke with a deep voice.

Smoker cursed because he'd been such an easy target, but had to admit the man was incredibly strong. He didn't think it was a good idea to answer him immediately, however, since the dagger – if it was not a short sword – seemed pretty sharp. Instead, he thought carefully of what he would say next, because he had to keep them here until the others arrived.

"You're right, no need to wait for them," a third, breezy voice said, seeming to come from right behind Smoker's attacker. But there was no one to be seen.

Smoker's eyes widened, just as the eyes of the Asian man, however, for different reasons. The man holding the dagger shifted his eyes, as if he was looking for who the hell had spoken to him from so close and the hand holding the weapon against the policeman's throat started to shake slightly.

A scream came from the woman as she suddenly dropped her gun and seemed to struggle against some invisible force. "Take it easy, missy," another voice known to Smoker said. "Wow, she's actually pretty hot."

"Get your dirty hands off of her, you piece of shit!" The blond criminal yelled, but he too seemed to be unable to move away.

The voice closest to Smoker chuckled. "Ace, you're gay."

"So? I'm not blind!"

Smoker saw a shadow creep up his assaulter's throat and the voice focused on the Asian man again. "You'd better take that knife away from him, because, you see, I wouldn't forgive you if something happened to him."

The man was still trying to find who the hell it was that was talking to him and less focusing on where his weapon went, so it slightly damaged Smoker's skin, drawing blood immediately. However, Smoker saw his chance and moved backwards quickly, ducked and kicked the man between his legs.

The criminal bended over, groaning in pain. The other hooded man started to yell again. "You shitty cop! That'd better still work after this!"

Smoker ignored him and picked up his gun from the ground.

A sigh sounded as a wind blowing past. "That really wasn't necessary, you know?"

Now Smoker could make out a silhouette better. "Well, neither was your intervention, Izo."

"I told you he'd be ungrateful!" Ace said as the woman was released from his grip. She immediately duck for her gun as well, though.

"Ace!" Izo yelled at him at the same time that Smoker shouted at the woman,

"Don't move!"

The woman froze, seeming on the brink of crying. "What's happening? Where are these voices coming from? And –"

"Shut up," Ace said, but he didn't seem to want to hold her again.

"Don't tell her to shut up, you shitty bastard!" the man next to her yelled, kicking wildly around him, but not hitting anything or anyone. "Wherever you are! Whatever you are!"

"How did you even know I was here?" Smoker asked, getting a little annoyed. "Are you following me around?"

"We were in the neighborhood, believe it or not," Izo answered him. "And you seemed to be in need of some help." He sounded a little accusing.

Smoker sighed, maybe he should put his pride aside and give them a proper 'thank you'.

"Oh my God, you're bleeding!" Izo said before Smoker could even open his mouth.

The police officer felt a hand touch the wound on his neck. "It's nothing." He slowly pushed the hand away, keeping the touch a little longer than necessary. This time the hand kept feeling pretty real, in contrary to the times when Izo had tried to hide himself.

Sirens were heard coming closer very quickly. "Izo, we should go," Marco, who had been silent until now, spoke.

"Yeah, you're right." The touch left Smoker completely and the shadow disappeared.

Smoker heard a short whisper that sounded like, "We should have taken him out, it would have seemed like an accident," before it merged with the wind.

"Izo, wait!" he said, though he didn't know whether his former neighbor was still there or not. "Thanks for your help."

Two police cars drove up to the parking lot, three cops jumping out of each of them. The male criminal that had finally been released from Marco's grip, had hurried towards the woman to comfort her, while the one that had attacked Smoker was still not able to stand up.

The police officers had drawn their weapons, but looked slightly confused at the scene. "They still have weapons within reach and no one is shot!" Smoker warned them.

However, the criminals didn't fight back anymore when the cops reached them and they were taken in easily. Smoker just watched, smoking a cigar, while his colleagues did their job. One of them came standing next to him. "How did you do that? How did you get them down like that?"

"I… had some help. But they were gone as soon as you came into sight," Smoker answered. Because there wasn't really anything else he could say, right? It wouldn't make sense that he could get three armed criminals down by himself.

"Did you see who they were?" his colleague asked. "Where did they go?"

"One of them bastards was called Ace!" one of the criminals shouted angrily. "And they were pretty much invisible!"

"Ace?" Smoker's co-worker asked. "As in Portgas?"

"No," Smoker answered before he'd thought it over. Was he seriously lying to protect an arsonist? "I don't know, they were clothed in black and indeed barely visible in the darkness. But I'm pretty sure it was someone else. There's more people with that name."

His colleague shrugged. "Of course, but it could be."

"Besides, why would he want to help me?" Smoker asked to make Ace even less suspicious.

"That's true, he seemed to kinda dislike you."

"Only a little," Smoker joked.

The officer next to him chuckled, but then his face turned serious again. "But you're wounded!" He brought his hand up to Smoker's neck, just as Izo had done only minutes before, but this time Smoker batted the hand away before it could reach him. "Don't touch me. I'm fine, it's just a small cut, nothing too bad."

"Alright, if you say so," the man answered.

Smoker took a last deep drag of his cigar and sighed. "Well, I take it you can handle it from here. I'm tired and hungry, so if you don't mind, I would like to go home now, finally."

The other cop nodded. "Sure, don't forget to write a report tomorrow, though."

Smoker promised he would and went homewards.

During the ride home, he didn't want to think about anything for a moment, just focusing on the road and his driving. Once he'd reached his apartment, he let himself drop down on his couch. Smoker had lied about being hungry though, because, despite not having had dinner yet, he didn't feel like eating at all.

He rubbed his temples and tried to get things straight. Izo and his brothers had just helped him. Even though they didn't have to. Smoker hadn't even known they were there if they hadn't intervened. But why had they done it? Well, it was obvious why Izo would do it as he most likely still cared for Smoker. But why would Marco and Ace help him? Ace obviously didn't really want to anyway, but he could have just stayed away, right? And he hadn't even heard Marco complain. Though Izo had said both of them had problems with Smoker knowing their secret, so why was the blond helping him too?

Smoker stood up and got himself a glass of whiskey, in the hope that it would help him get his thoughts more clear. When he sat down again, he came to the conclusion that it didn't really make sense. Smoker had thought that shadow people were creatures of the night, feeding on fear and were therefore more or less evil by nature. But this… what they had done now, was a good thing. The opposite of evil. So, had he been wrong about that? Maybe they weren't that bad after all?

He let his head fall back and stared at the ceiling. So what if being a shadow person didn't make you evil per se? The feeding on fear was still a bad thing, right? And Izo had still made the choice to visit him every night. Even though he hadn't done that anymore, since Smoker had found out it was him. So apparently, Izo had meant what he'd said, because he had kept his promise.

Smoker sighed and drank the remaining liquor in his glass in one go. While he put down his glass, his eyes caught sight of something unusual. He stood up and walked over to the cabinet that was standing against the wall. But it was not the cabinet that was out of place, it was the object on top of it. Smoker crossed his arms and glared at the small bottle as if he was very disappointed by it.

It was clearly the bottle with whatever kind of potion in it, that Izo had tried to give him about two weeks before. So Izo had been in his apartment again. Beside the bottle lay a folded paper. Smoker opened it and read the few lines that were written on it with the most elegant handwriting he'd ever seen.

'Just leave the option open.

It doesn't change the person you are. You can still do what you like and be who you are now. You don't have to change jobs and you won't turn into something bad. You could even give your job an extra dimension, go where normal cops can't go, use your abilities for the good.

I'm not asking you to be a bad-guy. I just wish we could be together again.

Izo.'

Smoker was torn between drinking the potion immediately and smashing it against the wall, with a small preference for the latter. However, that would ruin the chance to choose the former, so he couldn't do that. He groaned and instead let his head fall against that wall. Why did this have to be so hard and frustrating?

Deep inside, he knew how desperately he wanted to be with Izo, his heart told him that every time he even thought of the man. But at the same time, his head wanted to leave that part of his life behind. It would be better to forget about Izo.

Or wouldn't it?

Day after day passed without Smoker being able to make a decision. He couldn't just choose to join them, it was a life changing decision, after all. But he also couldn't leave it behind him. Sometimes, when he woke up, Smoker was convinced that it had all been a dream. But when walking to his living room, the potion was still there, standing on the cabinet where he'd found it.

Every day, there was at least one moment when he held the bottle, convinced that he'd just drink it, but then put it down again nevertheless.

Somehow, he expected Izo to show up again somewhere, to make another attempt at convincing him. However, that didn't happen. There weren't even 'coincidental' meetings or signs that Izo had come to visit him at night. He was almost disappointed in Izo that he didn't show up. But Smoker knew that he had been the one that had said he didn't want to see the other anymore. He just wished he hadn't. Or at least could change it now.

He could of course just call Izo… but his pride didn't let him. Sure, he might have forgiven his former neighbor, but that didn't mean he could just call him and ask him to come over again, did it? Besides, Izo had said the only way to be together was for Smoker to drink the potion.

Sighing, he sat on the couch, with his laptop in his lap. Not sure what to do, he opened Google and typed in the name of Izo's show that Smoker had visited weeks before. After a short investigation, he found out that the play would be on for two more weeks. Smoker wondered what Izo would do after that. Would he move even farther away?

Deep in thought, Smoker clicked through a few pages and before he even fully registered what he was doing, he was asked to pay for his ticket for the next evening. Well, he really wanted to see Izo again. Even if it was just to watch him from a distance.

He sat somewhere in the middle of the audience, trying his best not to stand out. He knew Izo could probably not even see more than the first two rows, but he didn't want to take his chances. The small bottle containing the potion sat in the pocket of his jacket. Smoker wasn't sure why he'd taken it with him, but somehow, he felt like keeping it close to him.

Even though it was his second time watching the play, he liked it nevertheless. He might even be a bit more focused on Izo than on the story line than the first time, but he felt like he needed to enjoy watching Izo as much as he could. It could very well be the last time he ever saw him, after all. Smoker shook his head. He didn't like that thought at all, so he'd better not think about it. He watched the dark haired man move over the stage, gracefully, but less elegant than he'd normally do, as that was part of the part he was playing. Smoker sighed. Why was it so hard to let the man go?

When the play was over, Smoker went to the bar of the theater again and ordered a coke. He sat down at the same table as he had done, weeks ago. He stared at the drink for a long time, letting his thoughts go all possible ways, but barely away from Izo.

Smoker took the tiny bottle from his pocket and placed it next to the glass. How bad could it actually be? If it didn't change the person you were, like Izo said… And Smoker knew he could trust him on that. Because, why would he lie about it?

Smoker was now thinking of reasons why he shouldn't do it. He had asked Madam Shyarly a few more questions and it seemed that shadow people were indeed more or less immortal. So drinking this would give him eternal life. But the down side was that he couldn't show up in public anymore after sunset. At least not for a very long time, seeing as it was hard to keep human form then. That could be bad if he'd had to work late, especially when winter came.

But then again, he could maybe take it just that bit further to catch criminals and he wouldn't have to be afraid of getting hurt, at least not physically, since his body would only take the form of a human body, but not actually be one. Smoker shook his head. That was weird and he wasn't sure he'd wanted that.

There was one thing he was sure of, though, and that was that he couldn't handle the thought of this being the only thing that stood between him and Izo.

He got the small cork out of the bottle, but then put the potion down again. He should make a choice at a certain point in time, and he'd waited long enough already. But the point was that he still didn't know which choice it was, that he wanted to take. However, he had to admit that he was leaning more and more to drinking the potion.

Would he have to drink it purely? Or could he mix it with his coke as well? Smoker picked up the bottle again and looked at it one more time, before turning it upside down, emptying it into his glass.

Well, he couldn't go back now. He had to make a choice. Either drink the whole thing or throw it away. Still, he didn't know whether it would work if he'd drink it, mixed with coke. Maybe nothing happened after all. Smoker nodded. It was a good day to let fate make the hard decisions for him.

Without giving himself much room to think more about it, he downed the whole glass of coke.

Wow, that was gross. Smoker should have known things like that tasted bad. But beside the fact that he had a terrible after taste in his mouth, he didn't notice anything different. Except… he felt a little tipsy now. Wait, there wasn't alcohol in that potion, right? He still had to drive back.

He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again, to clear his view. There was something weird, people seemed to have an extra edge, or… a visible aura or something. Did that mean that the potion did work? Or was he just going crazy now?

While looking around, he did notice that most of the other guest were already leaving, the last few people making sure to drink their beverage quickly so that they could go home. Smoker saw the bartender give him an impatient look as well and when he looked outside, Smoker saw that it was already beginning to turn dark. A quick look at the clock told him that it was ten p.m. and he decided that it was time to leave for him. Especially if the potion had worked.

Smoker looked around, realizing Izo hadn't seen him or at least hadn't let him know that he'd seen him. But of course, the man didn't expect Smoker to be at the theater, so he wouldn't look for him either. And he could also have taken the artist's exit, if there was one.

Smoker waited near his car for the darkness to set in. However, it barely seemed to do so. The only thing that hinted at the darkening sky was the fact that the colors he saw became less vivid. And the sun was gone. He could slowly see the crescent moon better at the sky and after a while, stars joined it too. However, he could still see everything and everyone just as well as before. That is to say, he still saw people with that double edge-aura thing. He looked at his own hand, but that was normal. No shadow, no aura or whatever.

Suddenly, a man sneaked past him, missing him by just an inch. He walked straight to Smoker's car, trying the door handle. Smoker raised his eyebrows. What the hell was he trying to do?

When the man found out the car was locked, he looked around, probably to see if anyone was watching him, before taking something out of his pocket.

Smoker cleared his throat. "Yes, hello, that's my car. What do you think you're doing?" He knew his car didn't look like a police car from the outside, that was why he could follow without being noticed, but it was still the car of a policeman.

The man jumped into the air, which somehow gave Smoker a really pleasant feeling. The poor guy looked around him, but didn't seem to see him. "Where are you? You scared me."

It was then, that Smoker realized for sure the potion had worked. "I'm right in front of you. Were you trying to steal my car?"

The man's eyes widened and his heart sped up. Smoker could hear his heart speed up. He could feel his fear, smell his fear, breathe his fear. And it was good. So good that Smoker was a bit taken aback by it. Had he turned into a monster?

Still, he felt the need for more, when the man spoke, "N-no, I swear, I thought it was my own car. I must have been mistaken." He was obviously lying.

Smoker placed a hand on the man's shoulder and said man turned his head towards it, showing fright on his face. Smoker breathed in deeply and then released him. "Good, then I will let you get away with a warning. Because stealing a cop's car isn't a good idea."

The man didn't know how fast he had to run away.

Smoker rubbed his temples. That had definitely been a new experience. Now he finally understood a bit of how Izo must have felt, because that fear had already been really addicting. He should just take a walk to clear his head.

Walking through the still lively part of the city, he quickly noticed something, as he bumped into a very confused woman. Apparently, he was invisible, but not untouchable. And though that did make sense when he thought about how Ace and Marco had hold the two criminals days ago, it didn't make sense when he thought of how shadow people were supposed to fit through the smallest keyholes. He should definitely try to find out why that was and how it worked.

A man on the other side of the street caught his eye. He had light brown dreadlocks and a dark, pointy moustache, and seemed to study him with interest. Wait, could he see him?

Now that Smoker looked at him more closely, he noticed that the man didn't have the aura thing, everyone else had. What did that mean? Was he a shadow person too?

The man smiled shortly at him and then entered the building he was standing in front of, called 'Ed's Pub'. Smoker felt the need to follow him, but before he could do so, something else caught his attention, something more pressing. He immediately recognized it as fear, but different from the fear he'd tasted before. He didn't like this one.

Still, curious where it came from, he followed he scent of it into an alley. There he found a man, pushing a young woman against a wall, her hand on his crotch, but obviously involuntarily so. She tried to turn her head away from his hungry lips. "No, stop, I don't want this!" she managed to bring out.

"Of course you do," the man said with a raspy voice. "I know you want me, no need to play hard to get, babe."

Smoker had reached the two and grabbed the back of the man's jacket to yank him away from the woman. The man turned around angrily, yelling, "The fuck?! Get the hell away from me!"

"I think that's what the lady was trying to say, sir," Smoker huffed.

The assaulter was now looking around wildly, trying to find the source of the voice, while the girl just looked relieved. "Show yourself, coward!" the man said angrily.

But slowly, the woman's fear that Smoker had felt before was making place for the man's fear. And somehow, Smoker liked that a lot better. He had the feeling it wasn't because he was a man, but because he was a criminal. "Leave the lady alone and watch what you're doing, because I will find you if you don't," Smoker said. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the girl quickly walk away. "And believe me, I'm worse than your worst nightmare." Smoker would only admit in the privacy of his mind that he enjoyed saying that.

The man looked around, scared, and stumbled out of the alleyway as well. Smoker followed him for a bit longer, just to make sure he wasn't going after the girl anymore. When that didn't seem to be the case, he let out a content breath. It actually felt good, scaring people like that. Giving them what they deserved. He had never been one for the strict police rules, anyway. Some criminals had to be dealt with immediately and the system went too easy on them sometimes, in Smoker's opinion. Especially in the case of sexual assaulters, when there was often too little proof. This was actually great.

But then he remembered this wasn't really why he'd chosen to become a shadow person. Besides, he still had to learn a lot so… he should try to find Izo. But where to start? Izo hadn't given him his new address and this city was way too big to just stroll around endlessly until he found him. He got out his phone from his pocket and selected Izo's number, to send him a text message. He was wondering what he should say though. They hadn't really talked in a long while and almost everything Smoker came up with, sounded too casual or too sappy. Eventually he just typed 'Where can I find you?' He hesitated for a moment whether or not to actually send the message, but then pressed the button after all.

He stayed where he was, waiting for a reply, even if it was in the middle of a walkway. There weren't that many people around anyway. It didn't take long before his phone made a noise to notify him of a new message. Looking at the phone, he read surprised, 'Behind you.'

When Smoker turned around, he indeed saw Izo standing there, being his fabulous and beautiful self.

The dark haired man smiled at him. "That shade looks great on you."

~The End~

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