Title: All The Wrong Reasons
Author: MistressKiko
Rating: M
Pairing: Shizuo x Izaya
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters!

THIS STORY CONTAINS MALExMALE RELATIONSHIPS. You have been warned.

"Mirads" are my made up creatures.

Shizuo's POV

"Now that that is done," Shiki said, clicking his gun to safety and pocketing it.

This was exactly what I was waiting for.

"I wish you'd take the jewelry box and go to where we found Shizu-chan!" I yelled as I whipped around the corner. Shiki looked momentarily stunned, and was reaching for his gun in the next moment. I saw Izaya look at me and disappear before I dived back behind the old lawnmower and crates. Two gunshots went off, ricocheting off the lawnmower.

There was silence for a tense moment. The scent of gun powder filtered through my nose.

My own breath was loud against my ears, and all I could think of was how relieved I was that Izaya was safe right now. In that split second, I had to think of a place that only he and I would know, so Shiki would have no idea where he was.

I think I found a new appreciation for that dog.

"Alright," I heard Shiki say, and I didn't like the fact he seemed closer, "I don't know how you came to know about this place, but tell me where you sent him and I might let you live."

The last word was punctuated by another gunshot that startled me.

Might let me live, huh? Like you let Hiroshi live? Fucking bastard.

"Hold it, Shiki."

Tom's voice.

I was suddenly fearful when I heard Shiki shift, and I looked out to see him now pointing the gun at Tom. But Tom was doing the same, also holding a phone in his other hand.

"Won't the cops be pleased to see a video of the notorious Shiki blatantly murdering someone?" Tom asked tauntingly, waving the phone around.

I blinked.

Well that definitely hadn't been in our plans.

Hell yeah! Tom, you never cease to amaze me!

"Put the gun down," I ordered, still perturbed by that thing being pointed at Tom. Shiki was tense, and I couldn't quite see his expression from this angle.

"... what are you after? You obviously want something if you want the mirad. Money? Sex?" Shiki asked like he was making some sort of business deal. It made me sick, "Just tell me what to grant you and I will, if you destroy that tape."

"I don't think you understand you are at a disadvantage here," I growled, eyes trained on the gun, "I'm not after a mirad, I just want Izaya. Now put the fucking gun down."

He slowly began kneeling down to place the gun on the ground.

Then he chuckled mockingly just as his gun was placed on the floor.

"You want that used ass so badly?"

I felt like I'd been sucker punched, the breath leaving my lungs in one harsh blow.

Oh you fucking piece of shit-

The guilt of being unable to protect Izaya was clawing against my skin, and my temper flew to unbearable heights. I wanted to hurt this man.

I felt myself move forward, muscles taut like they were getting ready to spring on prey. Really, I should have known better. I told myself earlier that I needed to keep a cool head and act responsibly about this, but with anger blinding me, it was difficult.

Shiki took his chance, swiftly pulling out a hidden gun from his inside coat pocket and turning toward me.

I don't even think I had time to widen my eyes before there was a resounding explosion in the air. I was suddenly staring at the ceiling, and fuuuck, my chest hurt like hell! It felt like my ribs cracked, accompanied with a low burn.

Bullet-proof vests could only do so much at such a short distance.

There were two more gunshots, and I panicked through my pain, wincing when I tried to sit up.

Tom...!

To my immense relief, Tom was still standing. Actually both of them were. With Shiki's gun lying on the ground, now closer to me than him, and him holding his hand to his stomach, I guessed Tom had shot the gun out of his hand.

But then something caught my eye.

Shiki wasn't just holding his hand to his stomach. I didn't even see any blood, so I doubt the bullet even hit him at all.

But he was pressing at something on his belt.

Shit..! A pager of some sort?

Of course someone like him would be cautious enough to have back-up!

Trying to ignore the earth-shattering pain against my ribs, I quickly righted myself, grabbing his discarded gun before running toward him. He looked startled when I tackled him from behind. Probably thought I was badly wounded or even dead.

Ha.

"Tom, he has back up, go to the police station now!" I shouted, slamming his face down against the concrete. Shiki hissed in pain.

Hopefully I broke his nose.

"But Shi-"

"Now!" I barked, sparing him a frantic glare.

He frowned, but nodded, and ran out of the warehouse with the videotape.

I turned my attention back to Shiki, who was glaring up at me from the side, though a smirk was present on his face.

"Sacrificing yourself for your friend? How pathetic," he spoke.

I hauled him up by the back of his suit collar.

"If anyone is pathetic here, it's you," I stated, taking the gun and bashing it against the side of his forehead. He groaned in pain, and I felt satisfied when the wound started bleeding, "I hope that leaves a scar, so you'll always remember that I'm the one who fucking brought you down, just like how you made Izaya remember you."

I knocked him in the head again, and this time his body went limp.

I rose, stepping over him, and then heard the screeching of wheels out front.

Shit.

I quietly but quickly moved to the front of the warehouse, hiding myself behind some boxes by the front door. That very door was busted through not three seconds later, men with guns drawn rushing inside.

Most of them rushed to Shiki's side, while three were looking around cautiously and aiming their guns. There were only six in total, but it was going to be quite a feat to reach the front door without their notice.

Damn it, I was probably going to get shot at again. It was a total gamble; they could very well aim for my head. Could I even focus on running so soon after a shot hit my armor? Thinking back to the pain I had just witnessed, and the fact that it was still uncomfortable to move, I didn't think so.

But if I didn't do something soon, they were going to find me. One of the guys was already making his way through the maze of junk in the back.

A loud thumping noise got my attention. It came from the back, and almost sounded like someone was knocking on the wall from outside.

It definitely captured the attention of all the men there.

Thinking this was my chance, I jumped out of hiding and ran for the front door.

"Hey!" I heard someone yell, and I cringed when gunshots sounded. One was entirely too close, hitting the side of the doorway just as I was passing through it.

The cool night air nipped at me as I ran around the back, heading toward town. It would do me no good staying out here in this deserted area.

I almost tripped over my own feet when Tom ran from behind the building and joined me.

"I thought I told you to go?"

"You thought I'd listen? I thought we've been over this before. And I just got you out of a pickle, so don't complain," Tom reasoned. I heard the sound of engines behind us and quickly ducked into an alleyway.

"How far is the car from here?" I asked quietly, kneeling in the shadows behind a dumpster, warily looking for headlights.

"Not too far. Two blocks down," Tom replied.

"Ok then, you are going to take the car and drive to the police station. I'm going to the hotel to get Izaya."

"I'll drop you off-"

"No. You get that tape to the police immediately. The hotel isn't too far away from here, maybe seven blocks. I'll keep out of sight," I explained. I didn't want to take responsibility if Tom were to get hurt because of all this.

"... and then you'll be on the train, right?" Tom asked. We both tensed when a car drove by. I signaled him to follow me, and we exited the alley to continue moving toward where Tom parked the car.

"Yeah. Call me whenever you want," I answered, flashing him a smile. He sighed, but smiled back.

I was extremely grateful it was nighttime. The shadows and alleys made it easy to hide, and once Tom was in the car and pulling away, I started running.

I was in a populated part of town now, and I doubt those guys even got a good look at me.

I have no idea how long I ran, but I never broke my stride. The cold air was restless against my lungs, and I was gasping for breath by the time I got to the hotel.

The jewelry box was lying there, next to the fence surrounding the swimming pool, right where we had first seen Shizu-chan.

I picked it up with shaking fingers, and couldn't resist the urge to place a kiss on the lid before turning on my heel and running again.

My lungs protested, but I was in a strange sense of adrenaline rush and euphoria at the moment that I didn't even pay much mind.

I was going to leave. I already had the train ticket, my bags were already on the train, and Shizu-chan was in a crate probably barking his head off.

I smiled.

And most importantly, I had Izaya here in my hand. I wasn't even going to open the lid, no matter how badly I wanted to, until I was safe on the train and we were off to who-knows-where. I didn't even care where, as long as I was with Izaya and we were away from him.

Until we could go unnoticed, or Shiki was either behind bars or dead, I wasn't coming back here. It wasn't worth the risk.

The train station ahead, lit up with yellow and white lights, was a sign of freedom.

Early update! Oh gosh, one more chapter and an epilogue left, guys~!

Many people thought Izaya would turn Hiroshi's words around and make the "his" Shizuo's. A contractor's wish is almost immediate, and Izaya didn't see Shizuo before the wish was made. Shiki still had the power... for a very little bit and it didn't even matter 'cause Shizuo was smart enough to pull what Shiki did on him last time heh heh.

Lucrecia84: Haha, South Park mode xD

Otter & Fox: LOL, I totally laughed out loud at the "It + a muffin" part. A muffin would make my day too!

Junjou-is-pureheart: But the wish was said already! All Shiki needed Hiroshi for was to wish for Izaya to listen to everything Shiki said, which basically made him the contractor again. .. wow, that sentence sounded complicated.

Minizaya: Wow, glad to hear you're so into it XD