Chapter 2 : 'Footprints'
"Yo, Shinra."
"… Who's the fortuneteller now… Izaya?"
"Huh? What?"
"Oh, no nothing. Come in, Shizuo~ God, you look pretty bad.."
And the door opened wider, giving some space for Shizuo-san who had his left leg broken by that despicable truck earlier, walk into Shinra's apartment. It's really not a big deal for Shizuo-san who had a enormous power and durability for walking with a broken leg like that, I think as long as it could still sustain his body, he would be fine.
"Ceh, this was because that.. FLEA! ARGH! Why does he keep coming to Bukuro!"
"Geez, calm down Shizuo~ Haha, fine, let me fix you~ Gosh, so many blood~ 3"
Well.. Even though Shinra talks like that, I mean having some crucial or dangerous situation in front of his eyes and then talking about it calmly or even cheerfully and seems to be very psychoticly happy, he's capable as a doctor. And he's still the one who always treat Shizuo-san's and Izaya-san's wounds from time to time, and never failed at that.
…. Huh? Oh, sorry I forgot. Hello there everyone, at this current time, the narrator was changed during our shifts, and I'm not Psyche-kun. Pleased to meet you, I'm Tsugaru, I believe you have heard me from Psyche-kun on an earlier chapter, ah, that little guy really.. ehem, by the way, let's continue the story. Oh, but first I feel it was really necessary for me to apologize since I and Psyche-kun have a very different character and I am not as interactive as Psyche, so I hope you had your time and not being bored with me as your narrator.
Ah, sorry let me continue our story.
"Ne, Shizuo, have you been hurting Izaya's legs?"
"Huh? I don't know, none of my concern.."
"Hhhh… That's.. fine, I guess it's useless asking you something that's related to Izaya.."
"…It's not that, Shinra, it's just.. The flea just can't stop pissing me off! And I just don't know what to do with my temper!"
"Well, hhhhh, what should I say to you… Just ignore him, Shizuo, I guess if you really do that he would stop naturally~"
"Ignore him, huh…"
"Mmhmm~ Ah, done!"
"I guess I could try that.."
A smirk was drawn within Shizuo-san's face, I guess he's thinking some possibilities results when he really do ignore Izaya-san. And while he is deep in his fantasy, Shinra was preparing a bed for him, said that he mustn't walk before his leg healed. Even though Shizuo-san and Izaya-san are in the same stubborn level, Shizuo-san is rather choose to obey his doctor due to his condition that almost couldn't do anything while he had some hard board attached to his leg. It's not because it was hurt, but because it's troubling him. So he take Shinra's offer instead and lay on one of patient bed.
"Hey, Shinra, why asking that question all of the sudden?"
"Huh? What question?"
"…Geez.. That.. something about me hurting the flea's legs…"
"Ah, that! Oh, nothing, nothing~ But I suggest that you should take it easy on Izaya, he's not feeling well lately…"
Shizuo-san, who's barely have a sharp thought all of the sudden, quickly aware of something that regarding to Izaya-san's legs. But since Shinra didn't gave him any clue nor want to talk further about it, he just stayed away instead. A hint of worry still haunting his thoughts, even though he shook it not to long after that.
Actually, for a while, Shizuo-san really get used with their term of relationship. It's true that he still chases him everywhere while throwing things aimlessly, but the real fact is Shizuo-san is getting comfortable with everything they do, even it turns out to be his disadvantages, mostly. Well, it has been 9 years since they first encounter, quite memorable I must say. Within the time passed Shizuo-san has grown into a better young man. And his vision towards Izaya-san has changed bit by bit, truthfully into a positive side. Of course It was triggered with an accident that change his opinion about Izaya-san.
It was 6 month ago when he had a really bad mood about his job and after that he saw some teens torturing an old stray dog that he usually feeds at the park. At the time he's going to have a revenge on those labile teenagers and be ready with a street sign on his hand, Izaya-san came, on a bad timing. When he's finished with his usual greeting, Shizuo-san didn't give any respond he wanted. So he started questioning him and forced to face a familiar knuckle. Fortunately, evading something like that was one of Izaya-san's capability.
"What's wrong, Shizu-chan, I haven't even do anything or hear you screaming my name yet~?"
"SHUT UPPPPPPPPP!"
At that time, Izaya-san knew well that was something other than himself that made the blonde one mad. But Shizuo-san kept attacking him by swinging the street sign in hand which got nothing. Indeed, the anger within him blinded him fully and set him in rage. Meanwhile, Izaya-san had no clue why he liked that. In the middle of questioning himself whether he should just run away or snap Shizuo-san out of it, Izaya-san accidentally tripped by himself. The exact time when he expecting himself to fall just like that and humiliate himself in front of Shizuo-san, turned out to be something he didn't predicted at all.
Shizuo-san was having the raven haired's waist on his arm and somehow… we could say, helped him instead.
"Wha-, are you just… saving me, Shizu-chan? !"
"…. "
"Shizu-chan? Are you insane?"
Unexpectedly, Izaya-san's sentences made him thinking about what was he doing, and why… Such a complicated problem to solve. He thought it was just a reflex, but why? When he beginning to search for the answer within his head, Izaya-san's voice snapped him out and made him decided to save it for later and found a quick excuse instead.
".. You'll step on him, flea.."
"Huh..?"
Having the poor dog as an excuses, Shizuo-san felt a bit bad, but our strongest man of Ikebukuro couldn't think of anything that is logical enough to make Izaya-san stop babbling or humiliate him immediately.
Izaya-san, who swallowed Shizuo-san's excuses boldly without any trace of suspicious, just sighing and somehow felt a bit.. disappointed at the excuse. But the thought of Shizuo-san always be a protozoan brained person, an lowered class creature, he just let it go and keep his feelings for himself. Letting his body go from Shizuo-san's accidental embrace, he then approached the poor dog, somehow pitying him who was breathless and lift him to his arms.
"... Wait, what are you doing..?"
"Well, bring him to Shinra of course."
"….."
Doubting him full heartly, Shizuo-san just made a confused face and in the middle of thinking about what Izaya-san'll possibly do to the poor animal…
"Oh, Gosh! Don't you ever believe me, Shizu-chan~?"
And answered with 'do you expect me to believe in YOU?'-look on Shizuo-san's face.
".. Fine! Stupid protozoan.."
His gaze never got away from Izaya-san's figure as he walk away with the dog in his arms. For a while he sensed something's change between Izaya-san, he realized that he couldn't be this 'kind' to someone, well, in this case, something.
"So, are you coming or not?"
Snapped out from his deep thinking, he then move his feet and approach Izaya-san instead.
"… What are you intending to do, flea?"
"Nothing~"
"YOU wouldn't do this kind of thing out of nothing…"
"Well… hhhh… I just felt like doing it, I don't need your opinion about what I do, Shizu-chan~"
"….. Shut—hhh…. Just… shut your fucking mouth up and go fix him…"
"Ah, geez.. Impatient are we~?"
After a bit of conversation, they kept silent along the way to Shinra's apartment, well, not to silent actually. After a while, Izaya-san would ask some.. unrelated question just to melted the situation, but, Shizuo-san just keep answering with 'hmm', 'whatever', or 'shut up, flea'. Maybe the fact that they're not even a friend to begin with, stop their thought of having any further conversation. It somehow looked depressing. And as depress as Shizuo-san could be he even had his third cigarette on this 10 minutes of walking.
"….Shizu-chan, could you stop blowing those things beside me?"
"Why..? it's not that it's going to kill you."
"Slowly, indeed. Just put that out! Geez, how stupid you can be, Shizu-chan?"
"Why are you so noisy about it! Fine! Ceh!"
"Now that's better~ Thank you, dear, protozoan Shizu-chaaan~"
The shouting keeps going and going until they reached Shinra's apartment. And just as Izaya-san going to rang on Shinra's doorbell, the door opened itself.
"Oh, gosh! I was right!"
"Neee, Shinra~ Good evening~"
"You're annoying, flea.."
After explaining to Shinra what was happen and what they wanted to do with the dog, Shinra then started working on his job. Even though he's not license on a vet, nor a human doctor, he said to tried his best on fixing the dog, since he knew a bit of this animal's body structure. And that left Izaya-san and Shizuo-san on the living room. The one with furred jacket was working with his cellphone and the other one just stared blankly at the ceiling and then went to the refrigerator, searching for something.
"What are you doing, Shizu-chaan~?"
Still staring at his cellphone.
"None of your business.."
He looked up and glaring at the blonde one.
"Fine~ Suit yourself.. ck.."
Finally, he found what he was looking for, grab it and pour the white substance into the glass, filling it up.
"Want some..?"
"Huh..?"
"So, you want it or not?"
"… Um, yes?"
Having the blonde offered him a glass of milk really confused him and unconsciously said yes even though he's the one who dislike milk. Not once he act nicely towards the crimson eyed one, and why now?
"Don't get me wrong, it's for helping the dog."
The disappointment stroke back. He was definitely expecting something more.
"…. Well… thank you then~"
Giving the milk to Izaya-san, he then sit beside him while drank his own milk. Give a quick glance once in a while to the person who sat beside him and still playing with his cellphone.
"What is it Shizu-chan~? Just said it if you want to say something~"
Feeling something is going to be interesting, Izaya-san cannot hold the urge to form a smirk on his face. Waiting for an answer, prepare for a comeback.
"… Just, why are you saving him.. there must be something…"
"Ah, this question againnn~ Why don't you believe me, Shizu-chan? I just felt like it, nothing more~"
"Well, it's YOU we're talking about.. the one and only flea, I can't do anything except doubting you.."
Frowning at how cold Shizuo-san's answer was, he felt hurt, yet, happy, when he was claiming that Izaya-san is the one who could he doubted this much.
".. You really hate me that much, huh, Shizu-chan?"
The blonde man shocked at the expression he saw on the other raven haired. He was smiling but, there's another feeling, it's.. sad.. and also a hint of relieved. Such a complex feeling that Shizuo-san couldn't understand. Such a rare expression that can't get away from his mind.
"Well, you piss me off every time you come here, having me quit my bartender job and some other job before, always trapped me into some crazy trucks or stupid thugs, ruin my clothes every time you open the fucking goddamn blade of yours, mocking me every single time even though you know I'm bad at controlling my forsaken temper, and because of ALL THAT, how in the FUCKING HELL I don't HATE you!"
Unusually talking that much and that fast with some anger between, made Shizuo-san quite breathless and try to catch some air. On the other side, Izaya-san who is still stunned at Shizuo-san's speech and at their position where he pinned down on the sofa with Shizuo-san above him, staring on his widened eyes. Well, too much on the position than the speech though. Especially when he found the space between their face is really narrow until they could feel each other's breath, but fortunately in this situation, only Shizuo-san's because the brunette one had stopped breathing for a while, Izaya-san could help but to be flustered at it.
"HE'S DONEEEEE~ …. Eh…?"
"…."
The three put into some silence when Shinra who just came out from his operation room, start a conversation.
"…Um… What are you guys… doing…?"
Realizing their 'wrong' position, Shizuo-san was quickly withdrawn while mumbling some 'shit'. While Izaya-san who still blank of what happen just sit himself up and stare at Shinra.
"Izaya? Are you… okay..?"
"Ah… um, yes, I guess.. yeah.."
"Good, um… are you two.. in any case.. k—"
"NO, WE'RE NOT!" "NO WAY!"
"… Are you sure..?"
Doubting his friends, Shinra who lifted one of his eyebrows in confusion, asking for some real answer.
"FUCKING YES!" "DEFINITELY SURE!"
"O… ukay…? I'll go check on the doggie again.."
BLAM
The door closed once again left those two rival together and once again in an awkward silence while staring each other with a hint of red on their faces.
"Fine, I'm going home."
Rushly got up from his seat, he then walked towards the door. But suddenly something stopped his step. Holding him back from reaching the door knob. A hand that grab his.
"Wait, Izaya, what about the dog?"
"Huh? Of, course you're going to take him for a care, Shizu-chan, what else?"
He swear he could see some redness on Izaya-san's face and realize how he avoid eye contact. And somehow stimulating something inside Shizuo-san, giving a ticklish feeling to his heart. Somehow he didn't want to let go, but a must is a must, he didn't want Shinra to have any misunderstanding about them, again.
"..Alright.."
"Great, I'm off.."
After putting his shoes properly, he opened the only door that connect to the outer apartment.
"Izaya..?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you.."
"….."
Too shocked to respond, Izaya-san just stood there and stared at Shizuo-san.
"Um, well, uh, how should I put it, I usually feed him on the park, so, I kinda feel like having a com—"
"Shh, I know….."
Once again a smirking raven haired man. But this one is a little bit different, it's emitting an aura of happiness, and gentle. After putting down his index finger from the blonde's lips, he touched Shizuo-san's cheek, caressing it gently, making Shizuo-san's eyes widened in exchange.
Then slapped it in a medium level of power. And that's quite hurt.
"…YOU FUCKING PESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!"
And the so called pest, flew away from the bigger one's knuckle and run away, laughing freely, didn't really care about the neighbors around.
"Hahahahahahaha! Bye, then Shizu-chaaan~ Take care of him well~"
"Geez! Seriously! That insect!"
"Whoa, what's with the loud scream? He? Shizuo? What are you doing there?"
"…Bid a farewell.."
"Ah, so Izaya is going home already? What a shame, I was going to ask you two for a dinner together with Celty's fabulous cook~"
"Naah, I pass.. I better get going too.."
After thanking Shinra for the dog, he brought the dog home but forget about Gokusonmaru, his precious cat that he bought with Kasuka-san, his brother. So he slept with the dog and left Gokusonmaru on the living room, luckily they are friendly to each other, despite being a different race that should chase each other. But the later healthy fellow starting to sitting on the door, it seemed wanting to get out, then Shizuo-san, bring him to the park and let him go, he seemed thankfully to the tall blonde that every time Shizuo-san visiting the park, he always comes and sits beside Shizuo-san. What a loyal dog.
And from the dog accident, Shizuo-san started to think that after this long time, maybe, Izaya-san began to change little by little into a better person. He still pisses him off anytime and anywhere. But Shizuo-san feeling something different indeed. And without he realized himself, he has been softened a bit about Izaya-san. For example, he's not thinking about kill Izaya-san too much anymore and start to think about how he could stop being pissed off by Izaya-san's presence or mocking.
[Well, Shizuo, do you need anything else?]
A PDA suddenly being shoved in front of the blonde's face who's now sitting nicely on the patient bed.
"Ah, no, that's enough, thank you, Celty.."
[Just text me when you need something, I'll be on the next room.]
"Okay, thanks for taking care of me.."
[No problem. :D Good night!]
"Hehe, good night."
The door was shut and left Shizuo-san alone in the room. Too tired to think about anything, even though there's still an unsolved problem of why he helped him 6 months ago.
But he decided to let it slide again, and just rest.
Meanwhile on Izaya-san's apartment…
"…Damn… FUCK!"
"Shit! Just! DISSAPEAR!"
The pain kept coming back, the painkiller was already gone from its bottle, disappear to God knows where.
Just why is this happening to me..?
This pain…
How long I must endure this fucking pain!
This is the second week since he last visited Ikebukuro or... anywhere, it's not that he didn't want to go, pay Shinra a visit, doing his job, and mostly pranking Shizuo-san on his free time, it's just, he can't with the chronic pain on his feet, he couldn't even walk with so much pain stroking his nerves.
Please healed!
I just want to meet him..
If this is the last time… I could run away from him..
So be it!
Oh, gosh! After so long time, I finally update! Ah, my other fanfic… UvU; Please enjoy, feel free to give some critiques :D