I rolled over, the warmth from earlier suddenly registering in my brain as cold. A small chill rattled through me, and I shivered. Shifting uncomfortably, I pried my eyes open just to see that the room was beginning to grow light.
What time was it? It had to be early still.
Rolling over and onto my back, I shielded my face from that God awful sliver of light that managed to creep between the curtains. Shizu-chan was gone, missing from his warm-now-cold side of the bed, and I groaned at both the loss and the uncomfortable sense of being alone that came from it.
When was the last time I had been left by myself for any period of time?
Sitting up carefully, one hand pressed to my stomach – which was sore and hurting today – I glared daggers at the slightly ajar bedroom door. He had left me. In the dark. Knowing very well that those little shadow creepers could just up and take me -
I sighed, relaxing for a moment. Nothing like sounding paranoid, or anything.
Groaning, I managed to untangle my legs from the blankets and gingerly sat my feet onto the floor. Shivering, I somehow managed to stand up despite the fact that I felt both heavier and lighter than the day before – the lightness floating in my head and chest, while the weight was holding me down in my stomach – and unsteadily made my way over to the open door. Rubbing at my eye, I leaned against the wall before slipping through the small space, rounding the corner and glancing about the small apartment.
Shizu-chan was in the kitchen. I could see him, standing at the counter with his phone in his face, a mess of ingredients strewn about the counter tops, and one hand sitting on his hip. I almost chuckled at the way he was standing, still in his pajamas, with his hips swayed to one side, sassy just like my oh so favorite secretary. He seemed confused, and judging by the eggs and the milk that were sitting on the counter, among the pans and – I'm not sure what the brown stuff was, was that sugar? - he was trying to cook breakfast.
Maybe even according to Shinra's meal plan, the one he had sent both me and Shizu-chan.
Awkwardly creeping across the apartment, I silently crept over to the entrance to the kitchen, leaning against the wall and watching as the hand on Shizuo's hip gravitated to his hair, ruffling the unruly strands before he growled. He started clicking on his phone some more, a web page or two loading up from what I could see at this distance, before he finally gave up, slammed the phone down, and turned around abruptly.
His eyes landed on me instantly and I tensed, feeling caught like a little kid with his hand in the cookie jar. Mouth twitching into a grin, more to cover how flustered I felt for getting caught watching him, I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jogging pants. "Morning."
"Morning." He said, leaning against the counter and pulling out his pack of cigarettes from his pocket. "You're up early."
I glanced to the digital time on the stove. It wasn't quite eight in the morning. "This is late for me, or this used to be late for me, anyway."
He hummed, flicking out a single stick and plucking it from the pack with his lips in one fell motion. He shoved the pack back into his pocket. "You were sleeping like the dead. Thought you could use it." He commented, like he needed to explain why he had left me when he had gotten up.
I found it somewhat endearing. "Awwh, Shizu-chan was thinking about my well being."
He didn't light the cigarette, just shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, eyes narrowing at me like he was trying to see if I was acting or not.
"What's for breakfast?" I asked, daring to leave my post on the wall, and sauntering closer to inspect the disaster that was going on atop his counter.
"Shinra sent me some complicated shit." He propped himself up, spinning around and plucking the stick from his mouth like he was actually smoking it. "Don't know how to make half the shit he sent me, so I'll just make omelets. Will that be fine?" Back into his mouth the cigarette went, and I chuckled.
"Is Shizu-chan embarrassed?"
Scoffing, he flicked his fingers in my direction, shooing me from the kitchen. "Shut up. Go sit down and watch some TV or something. Don't do anything sketchy or stupid."
Someone's moody today. Chuckling, I did as I was told, and headed out of the kitchen. "I'll behave... as long as you don't burn anything, your apartment and the whole block included." The was a growl in response, but no comment, and I heard the fridge open.
I felt good today. It was strange. My fingers traced over my bottom lip contently before I sat down on the couch. I reached for both the remote and my cellphone simultaneously. Flickering it on, I was greeted with the news. Flipping open my cellphone, I was greeted with four missed calls and nearly twenty text messages.
Sighing, I started filtering through them. Most of them were from Namie – all the calls were from Namie.
[Your apartment was ransacked. The head is missing.]
I sighed. I was already aware of this. Checking the time, I realized that I had been late getting up, and therefore late sending Namie instructions.
Whoops. No wonder she kept calling me.
[I know about the apartment. I know who did it. And the head is safe. ;)] I laughed at my own message as it sent, imagining the look of absolute frustrations on Namie's face. [Also, I need files on Shiki and his little friends. I need some dirt in case he decides that I am responsible for his screw ups.]
Scrolling through more of the messages, I landed on Shiki's reply from last night.
[The phone conference sounds fine. What time.]
Always so straight forward. Inhaling through my nose, I glanced to the TV screen. They were going over the recent string of events, something about a gang murder, – information I normally would have loved – but I felt more like watching something else. Something distracting. Something that had nothing to do with the fact that humans were terrible creatures that did nothing but hurt other people, sometimes for their own sick pleasure.
How disgusting.
[How about at noon?] I sent, glancing back up to the channels as I landed on a drama. I sat my phone down on my lap, eyes completely engrossed in what was going on in the show.
It wasn't until twenty minutes later, after my phone vibrated twice, that Shizu-chan came out with a steaming plate in both of his hands. "Omelets," he clarified when he sat the plate down, the mess of yellow and veggies and things reminding me of the time when Mairu and I had an eating contest, and she had thrown up an entire family sized bag of Cheetos. I didn't comment, because even though it looked disgusting, the smell wafting from it was heavenly. My stomach growled, and I accepted the chopsticks he handed to me.
The couch sunk from his weight as I took the first bite, happy to know that the meal was flavorful and not just plain, or as disgusting as it looked, hacked up onto the plate. I got the awkward sense that Shizu-chan was watching me, but I didn't overly mind.
"Any plans for the day?" He asked, probably aware that I was up to no good and plotting.
I nodded, swallowing another bite before looking his way. "Actually, I am calling Shiki later, and ending our business relationship on the most peaceful terms I can negotiate." I said, taking another bite of the food almost desperately.
"Slow down." Shizuo said, like he was scolding some small child. I took a moment to notice that I was scarfing it back, but I didn't really care.
You'll need it. I couldn't tell if the demon was teasing me, but it didn't sound threatening or like it was scheming.
I ignored it.
"And it's about time you got out of that shady business." Shizuo muttered, slowly eating his own plate. He had taken maybe a couple of bites, where I was already half way done. "Shouldn't have even stuck around for this long." He muttered, more to himself than to me. He was watching the show, not commenting on my choice of entertainment. He probably figured I'd enjoy it.
Scarfing back the last of my plate, I chuckled. "I guess this has been long over due." I said, licking the end of the chop sticks before putting them down. "Oh, and I slept really good last night." I shot him a quick look, watching him pretend like a blush didn't creep onto his face. He pretended not to here, instead, showering his attention on the TV.
I chuckled. I had basically cried myself to sleep. Again. Words tumbling from my mouth, fears and concerns. Stresses. Everything that had been going through my head about the situation. The fact that I was scared I was going to die. and while I had finally fell asleep with a throbbing headache, I couldn't say the same for when I woke up.
It all felt like yesterday's drama now. Like by telling him, I had unpacked all of my luggage and left it behind somewhere.
It felt lighter.
I felt good.
Funny how Shizu-chan makes me feel good.
Izaya... he'll make you feel reaaal good if you let him~
Snickering for the first time at the demon's commentary, I glanced back to my cellphone, flipping it open. Good to hear you're still alive. Not. Feeling chatty today?
"What are you laughing at?" Shizuo asked, sounded a bit irritated.
No. And with that, the creature went back into it's silent mode. Whatever. I could deal with that.
Namie had sent me another lovely text and I sighed. [There's nothing left, they set the bookshelf and the cabinets on fire.] I chuckled at that, rolling my eyes. "Nothing. But my apartment was ransacked, and my lovely secretary is not having a good time, from what I can tell." Another vibrate, another message, and Shiki was confirming my time. Good. I had a few hours to kill with the protozoan. I quickly texted Namie back, telling her she could go ahead and leave after assessing the damage, salvaging any files she could, and then the phone was slipped back into my coat pocket.
"So what are we doing today, Shizu-chan?"
"Hmmm?" He glanced over at me, still not finished his breakfast. "We're not doing anything, because Shinra said you need to sit down and shut up and relax." He all but snapped at me, shoving another bite into his mouth so he didn't have to continue the conversation.
I grinned, taking the plate from my lap and setting it on the coffee table. "You can't expect me to just sit here all day and play couch potato."
Glancing over to me, he paused mid bite, staring at me hard. the look practically tore right through me, and I suddenly shivered. What are you looking at, you idiot?
He suddenly grinned, shoving the bite into his mouth, and looked away.
"What?" I rubbed at my stomach, a pleasant sensation filling me up. I was still sore, but eating had felt good, even if I had scarfed back a bit too much. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten so much. Would my stomach be okay? Would I get sick?
"You." He said, genuine amusement flickering through his eyes when he looked back and finished off his plate. "You seem to be in good spirits today."
"Am I not allowed to be?" I knew that he was getting at the point that I had spilled about some of my darker feelings. I was also aware that he had said I would feel better, and that happened to be very true. You told me so, Shizu-chan. I grinned. "Shizu-chan is so boring. You can't expect me to just sit here all day."
He stood up, grabbing for my plate. "You will sit here. All day. End of story." He grabbed it, standing and moving around the couch with a soft frown forming on his features.
"Eh, is this what friends do?" I called over my shoulder, eyes narrowing as he turned to glance at me, confusion momentarily striking his face.
And then he looked annoyed, turning away and heading back into the kitchen. "Shut up, flea."
I snorted, turning back to my drama. Could I last all day, just sitting here and watching TV? I could very well try.
Shizuo came back a few minutes later, plopping down onto the couch and sighing.
"I have to call Shiki-san at noon," I said, breaking the silence immediately. "But I don't want to stay here all day, so you should plan something for us to do. I mean, I could just go through all of your personal belongings..."
Shizuo groaned, glancing over at me. "Will you just shut up and sit?"
"I am sitting." I mentioned, kicking my feet up onto his coffee table. "But I feel good today, and I am kind of tired of being on house arrest. Oh! Unless Shizu-chan wants to talk about the fact that he kissed me last night. I mean, we are on this whole open feelings, admit everything, kind of streak so why don't we just continue on?"
I glanced over just in time to see his face going beet red. It was priceless, the way he avoided even breathing for a moment, before growling something out, incoherent and animalistic.
"I couldn't hear you." I said, a small grin lighting up my face. I was being mean, and I knew it. It felt good though. "Feel like repeating that?"
"I said, it just happened." He muttered, leaning his elbow against the arm rest of the chair and then running his hand through his hair.
"Stuff like that doesn't just happen." I said, smiling.
He huffed, grabbing the remote and flipping to a new show. Apparently the conversation was over. Settling on a documentary, we passed the next hours in comfortable silence.
"Hi, hi, Shiki-san." I said cheerfully into my phone, a half-assed smile plastered onto my face. I was still sitting on the couch, Shizuo out and about the house, cleaning things and doing things that monsters do to organize their den. "How nice of you to call me, right on time to even though I gave you such short notice."
"Hello," He said gruffly, like he was already exasperated and in need of a smoke. "It's good to hear that you are sounding well."
"Mmm, time heals all wounds." I chirped, glaring at the now off television.
"Mmm, so they say..." Shiki dragged on, before sighing. "Then shall we get to business?"
"Of course." I agreed. I had the undying need to stand up and pace, but Shizuo had already yelled at me once. I had simply felt the need to ease some nerves a few minutes before this phone call, and the barbaric protozoan had gone and raised his voice.
Sheesh. I didn't like getting yelled at.
Don't forget the goal: make Shiki think you're coming back, but ultimately decilne. How many more beatings could I survive from this guy anyway?
"I would like to start by apologizing for what happened." He said, and it sounded genuine even in my own ears. "I did not intend for things to... get so out of hand." Careful wording, meaning he knew more than he had let on. I didn't tell him what Hajime did, and while Shinra had chewed him out quite nicely, I doubted he had spilled the beans either. Maybe Hajime bragged about it? "My intent was not to sour our business relationship,"
"We almost don't have a business relationship." I said, voice guarded and teeth almost gritting.
"Fair enough." He sighed again. "On that topic, I would like to reconcile with you. Make up for past wrongs and then hopefully aid each other once again in the future."
I chuckled. "Sounds like you miss me. Or is it that you're just that your other informants aren't quite like me?"
He let an amused sound pass his lips. "Ah, they're nothing like you, that's for sure. I have to say that I trust your information a lot better than theirs, given the work that I've been receiving this past month."
I nodded even though he couldn't see me, smile still trying to force it's way onto my face. I stood up, the pressure from sitting down finally getting to me. With a hand on my stomach, I walked over to the kitchen, glancing out the window. I felt uncomfortable. Was it Shiki? "So long story short, you want me to come back and work for you because you like my work ethic a lot more than your other informants'?"
"Hm, that is a part of it." His voice was clipped, and I couldn't quite gauge what he wanted from me. How could he just expect me to agree again, after getting murdered once, and almost broken to the point of no return?
I wasn't stupid enough to fall for the same trick more than twice. Hell, I wasn't supposed to fall for it more than once.
"And you expect me, after everything that has happened, to just come back to you like a dog with it's tail between it's legs?" I asked, shifting where I stood and then pacing back into the living room.
"Of course we will negotiate that." He sighed, and I suddenly realized that he had to tell me something, and it probably wasn't good. "I value your work more than Hajime's, and so we can negotiate this, is you wish." There was a dark undertone to his voice. A chill of excitement tingled down my spine, a genuine smiling lifting my face.
"You sound less than impressed, Shiki-san." I said shifting over to the hallway and glancing down. Shizuo was in the bathroom with the door closed, cleaning. How mundane. "Did some information happen to breeze by you, changing your mind on the value of Hajime and his little gang of thugs."
There was a chuckle, but he wasn't amused. "Oh yes, a little birdie may have told me a thing or two." He said, voice darkening once again. "So what do you say, think we can negotiate out some terms?"
"Over the phone, yes." Mistrust was clear in my voice. I shifted back into the living room, glancing at the door. I rubbed at my stomach, a dull ache setting in between my hips. "We can negotiate, and then I will let you know if I'll be coming back, alright? Though I'll just warn you now, that I'm already sitting on the side of the fence labeled 'Yakuza-free'."
"Fair enough."
"I think you should know me well enough by now, you know I'll want compensation for some unsavory events that have recently occurred." I shifted back to the kitchen, and opened the window. "I'm not sure what pieces you have picked up, but you're going to have to really compensate for that."
He laughed. Dark, but not towards me. "Ah, well how about I start by offering you something, because I am getting the feeling that you are unaware of certain events that have recently occurred."
"Hmm?" I hummed, moving back towards the hallway.
"Akira Kai is dead." I froze, blood freezing, but a smile cracking onto my face. "It seems he was stabbed and left in an alley to die." Shiki said, but his tone wasn't accusing. "And it also seems that Hajime was in charge of the operation that night, the operation where you were both to come to terms so that you could be on equal standing. Seems Hajime offed his own partner." He said it in that tone, the tone that had the hairs on my skin rising. He covered for me, and if any investigation was done, the blame would be pinned on Hajime.
Even though I had murdered someone in self defense. But did he know, or did he think I just killed Kai for the sake of it?
He knows me better then this, right?
Back in the living room, I sat down again. Don't stress, stress will leave me bed ridden again. Nervousness and excitement were fluttering in my stomach. "Is that so?"
Shiki hummed in agreement. "I don't like rats, Orihara. And a man who tells stories about indecent and unspeakable things to anyone who will listen is bound to find himself in trouble."
So Hajime was bragging about what he did to me. Somehow, I wasn't surprised. I really need to get over all of this. "And what kind of trouble did our friend, Hajime, find himself in?" I asked, a hint of a smile. Neither of us commented on the fact that I didn't ask what Hajime was bragging about.
Shiki chuckled. "I gave him to Akabayashi and Aozaki for now. You know how they like to play. But you can have the final say on what happens to him and his men." I cracked a bit of a smile. But hurting people and sinning will just make this little hellion grow larger. The little shit is too big already... "I'll offer you that. Order whatever you please. And on top of that, I'm willing to give you a paid vacation of sorts, to get your head back in the game."
I laughed. "Trying to buy me off? No hard feelings if you pay for it, right?" He didn't sound impressed, but he clicked his tongue. "Listen. I appreciate the offer, but I will leave Hajime to you. Let him live. He'll just end up in Hell anyway." I shrugged, glancing over as Shizuo suddenly emerged from the hall, running a hand through his hair and motioning towards the door. 'I'll be back,' he mouthed, before disappearing.
Maybe he needed a smoke.
"Let the man live - I don't care what you do to him. If you're paying me for a vacation or leave, I want six months." I said, glancing back to the door and then sighing. "Six months. No business calls or emails. A check in is fine." I glanced to the television, eyes narrowing. "And at the end of that six months, if I am not happy with what you have to offer, I'm done, alright?" Quitting later would be easier then quitting now.
Shiki chuckled. "Sounds like terms that I can agree too. If I disagree, I'll lose you right now?"
"Yes," I said surely. I would need time to plot out how to go about my nice, life style change.
Once the demon was gone. And who knew how long that would take.
"Fair enough. I will transfer funds right away then." Shiki said. I could tell he was smiling. "I'll text you when Hajime has been released then. Thank you for your services."
I hummed in acknowledgment. We ended the calling.
Sighing loudly, I dropped my head back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. Why is everything so messy? But hey, who was I to complain. I just killed three birds with one stone. Kai was done. Shiki had Hajime, and I wouldn't be seeing any Yakuza for the next six months.
A smile broke out onto my face. Six months of free time? What could I do? I could do so much!
If you live that long.
"Oh, shut up." I said, just as Shizuo opened the door back up and stepped in. He had a white bag hanging from one hand, what looked like bottles of milk floating about the bags contents.
He glanced to me, before glancing to my stomach.
That would never feel comfortable.
"Is that thing pissing you off?" He asked, kicking off his shoes and removing his shades. He walked through the living room, eyes following me as he headed to the kitchen.
I laughed. "If you only knew." Getting up, I followed him and leaned against the doorway.
"So?" He was putting the milk bottles into the fridge, along with a few cans of pop and some other unhealthy snacks. Like a package of cupcakes, that was conveniently missing one. "Yakuza still being shady shits?"
I laughed. "I got a six month paid vacation, and Kai and Hajime have been taken care of." He didn't comment on the term 'taken care of' as he straighten up, closing the door with his foot.
"Sounds shady." He said, throwing the bag into the trash before heading back to the door, with me following in tow. He put his shoes back on, and I glanced to him with a sad expression suddenly taking over my face. He eyed me carefully before grinning. "It's really nice outside. Get your shoes on, we're going out."
I stared, almost wide eyed. "Really?"
"Yeah," He glanced to my jacket and my ragged attire before shaking his head and taking his shoes off. "On second thought, go shower first. You smell like shit.
We were going outside!
It felt stupid, to be so excited to go for a walk! But Shizu-chan said: "well taking an easy stroll isn't strenuous, and as long as we don't go too far, it should be okay. and you're too annoying with too much energy so hurry up, let's go." And of course I agreed. I had taken the fastest shower ever, checking my stomach wound real quick just to make sure that it was looking alright, and it was. It was healing nicely.
That had added to my current elation. But I still couldn't calm down, not with the sun basking on my skin and the air smelling fresh and not like Shinra's sterile lab and Shizu-chan old apartment.
When was the last time I had just gone outside and walked without the fear of being stolen by the shadows or murdered by gangs? When was the last time I had gone outside without anywhere to go or anywhere to be, with no concerns or fears impacting my every move?
We were walking down the side walk maybe a block away from his apartment, and if the smile on my face didn't give away my mood, then the way I was skipping certainly did. I had been locked up in Shinra's for way too long, and even that trip out with my mother hadn't been this care free. She had been after something, and I had still been burdened by all the stress of my situation. But now. Now, I had none of that. So what, all this bad stuff happened?
I was Izaya Orihara. I was the best info broker in probably all of Tokyo, so good, that I had gotten information on my own life after death.
Of course I could survive this and come out stronger.
"Don't walk too fast." Shizu-chan chided me like I was a small child, sunglasses in place and hands shoved into his pockets. He was the perfect picture of nonchalance and patience – for now. "Just stop being so jittery, what's wrong with you?"
Showered, changed into dark clean jeans and a t-shirt with one of Shizu-chans green sweaters thrown over top, I hadn't felt this normal in a long time. It was like there was no little demon hiding out in my stomach, threatening to tear my open at any given moment. I was borderline skipping down the sidewalk, constantly stopping to let Shizuo catch up because he was just walking so slow. I wasn't exerting too much energy, I was still a little too sore to gleefully skip like I used too, but I was still briskly making my way down the street with quite the bounce in my step. "There's nothing wrong with me!" I said, both too quickly and too loudly.
He smirked, never increasing his pace and forcing me to slow down and wait for him. I stopped again, the smile never leaving. I was practically jumping where I stood. "Come on, hurry up!" When he caught up – secretly laughing at me, I could see it on his face – I tried my best to walk by his side instead of skipping forward. One hand was in the pocket of the zip up sweater, sitting over my stomach protectively just in case, while the other swung by my side. The are was so clear, and the sky looked more serene then I ever remembered. Being a shut in was terrible. And to top everything off, the ache was still there between my hips, but the movement felt good! The stretching of my muscles, the shifting of my body, the creaking of lazing joints.
So good!
"Can we walk to Sunshine!?" I blurted when the silence dragged on for longer than a second. I glanced up and over at Shizuo almost pleadingly.
Shizuo sighed, glancing over at me, looking more exasperated than ever before. "Fine. Just don't tell Shinra."
"Yes Dad!" I yelled, face beaming and I laughed. He sounded just like a parent, and the second I thought of it, Shinra acted just like one too. "I won't tell Mom!" Shizuo laughed at this, before that line appeared in his forehead, the line that indicated he was thinking hard about something.
Shinra was so overbearing sometimes; he never would have let me go outside. He would have annoyed and teased me endlessly to try and keep me amused; driven me mad if I had been stuck there any longer. There were only so many medical books I could read before getting bored. And then what? Celty worked all the time and didn't really like me, and Shinra was either making a fuss over something or being cold and telling me to man up.
Okay. Maybe I was over exaggerating. He did seem to care, but we didn't really share hobbies. Or. Rather. Safe hobbies. Hobbies that wouldn't get either of us arrested, anyway.
Not that I shared hobbies with Shizu-chan -
"Wait, that would mean I married Shinra."
I glanced back over to him before bursting out laughing. "Eh? Shizu-chan just automatically assumes that having children comes after marriage? What a prude."
His face dusted red, and he scowled at me. "Well if I ever have children, they will never act like you, that's for sure." He said, finger motioning for me to come back because I had skipped too far ahead again. "Stop with the skipping. Just walk like a calm person. Just calm down I-zay-ya! You're not two."
I laughed, waiting for him to catch up. "I am a calm person! And age doesn't mean anything." I didn't know if it was the sun, or just the fact that I was outside, but I felt so tingly and excited. I couldn't help it. "I can't help it. Just hurry up. Stop walking so slow. I want to go and see everything!"
When Shizuo caught up, I turned to skip away again, laughing. There weren't too many people around yet, even though it was the afternoon. The students were at school. Most people at work. The streets were relatively safe, being bright and sunny and all, and with Shizu-chan by my side, well who would even dare come close to me? A foreign sense of security washed over me, and I relished the sensation. It had been so long! Too long!
Shizuo caught my forearm when I tried to skip ahead again, his unrelenting strength keeping me from moving too fast. "I said we're not telling Shinra. So don't hurt yourself by moving too much, so I don't have to explain this."
I laughed, letting him pull me back so we could walk together – very painfully slowly, but walking none the less – my hand suddenly grabbing onto his. He jerked, not sure what to do when my fingers slipped over his. "Shizu-chan can't lie, can he?"
He seemingly came to decision and abandoned my forearm to wrap his hand around mine, glancing at me unsure, maybe even a bit flustered. "No. Why should I lie?" He said seriously, eyebrow twitching. "But what are you doing?" He squeezed my hand, indicating what he was talking about.
"Eh? This?" I swung our arms, laughing as the bewilderment crept onto his face. I suddenly let go, and he did too out of surprise. I took a step away, shoving my hands back into my pockets and keeping a space between us. "I'm not sure, Shizu-chan, it just happened." I grinned, shrugging like it didn't matter even though it had my pulse racing faster than simply skipping down the sidewalk had. "You know, you shouldn't lead people on, they might get confused and end up embarrassing you."
He scoffed, closing the distance before grabbing back onto my hand. "I don't know what happened." He said, referring to the kiss. "It just happened. And it's fine."
"Fine?" Kissing me was fine? I squeezed my hand, shoving the other into the pocket of my sweater. People were looking, but whatever. I wasn't concerned. From what I could see, we didn't know any of them, so that was alright. There was nothing weirder then mortal enemies walking down the street and holding hands, right? "So what, you don't want to be friends anymore, you want to be a thing?"
He almost broke my hand. I laughed, feeling something creack dangerously before he regained his composure and loosened his grip.
"No," He dragged out the word, huffing, "I'm saying that, I have come to see that you're not always an ass and once you get past that terrible personality, socio-something-pathic behavior, and your stalkerish and evil tenancies, and not to mention the fact that you're always stabbing me-" he suddenly broke off from his slow drive into anger, realizing that he was rambling and getting off track, "Anyway, being all pathetic and kicked and knocked down isn't your style." He said, looking away and shifting a bit.
"So you agreed to help me? Because you didn't like how pathetic I had become?" I said, remembering him tell me something along those lines. "So you wanted me to go back to normal, so you spent some time with me and then what? Was Shizu-chan wooed my by never ending charm?"
He scratched at the back of his head with his free hand before shrugging. "Something like that."
I laughed, before choking on it. I stopped, staring at him with my mouth hanging open. I had been joking. No way. Did he actually just say- He stopped with me, glancing over. His face suddenly twitched, lips pulling back to bare teeth. "Don't get me wrong, you still piss me off, but I think I'm okay with that. Actually, I think we could have fun with that."
It had been as simple as that. I laughed. I just burst out laughing before grabbing onto his arm and hugging him before he got the wrong idea. "Alright." I said, pulling to get the massive boulder to start walking again.
He looked momentarily stunned, but slowly started to walk with me anyway. "You're... just – alright?" He asked, staring at me intently through the shades.
I laughed again, turning the corner, pulling away from him but still leaving our hands in tact. "Yeah. I'm alright with that. I mean, what could be better than spending the rest of my life pissing off a brutish monster like you?" Laughing, something creaked in my stomach, and I coughed, the chuckles dying quickly.
"I just said... I didn't say..." Flustered, Shizuo groaned, rubbing his hair. "I mean. I don't know. Never mind." He huffed, unconsciously slowing down as I did. "We're still friends, I guess." He said, like it was such a bothersome fact. I only laughed again, though it was getting weak. The butterflies were flickering faster in my stomach, and my legs were starting to get tired already.
"So we're not a thing?" I asked, encouraging Shizu-chan to take the next corner, bringing us just a little closer to his house.
He groaned. "Friends." He said, looking mildly irritated. "If you're 'alright' with this, then I'll wait until this all blows over, and we can do the thing thing properly."
He glanced over just to see me staring at him intently. My heart was throbbing in my chest, a pleasant sort of nervousness coursing through my veins. It was weird. This was all weird. I should say no, or use this against him, but that would counteract all of my efforts thus far. But. I also didn't want to do that. Is he saying... this could work. This might be what I need to save myself. My other hand slid to my stomach and I suddenly groaned. I stopped where I was, pain and ache reminding me of it's presence. "I think we should go back."
Fifteen minutes, and I was done. Butterflies were still floating around my stomach, and my nerves were all jittery and uncontrollable. I was smiling like an idiot, and even Shizu-chan seemed content. He sighed in relief, guessing right that I was perfectly okay with this, before guiding us back to his apartment.
And that was how I accidentally masked and ignored the ominous feeling in my gut.
A/N: (^_^) So. The next two chapters will probably be really long. Because they are the last ones...
And there might be a bonus chapter! Also, I fixed some mistakes from last chapter. xD