Okay, so sorry guys. I had computer trouble and then went on a trip and then made more excuses. Moving on. Someone asked me how old Izaya was? So here are the ages-

Emi is 16, Izaya is 18, Shizuo is 19, Shinra is 21 and blah.
I sped up time and made puppy grow up faster. Whoo.

THEN I was asked if this is going to be a romance story, by so many people it's just whoa fine alright. I wasn't intending to do that, but I'm going to try it out since there was a lot interest. I'm not good at this stuff though so don't hate me.

I'm also moving forward with the plot now, yes there is a plot. I was just building characters all this time.

I never knew, I never knew that everything was falling through. That everyone I knew was waiting on a queue to turn and run when all I needed was the truth. Let's rearrange, I wish you were a stranger I could disengage. Just say that we agree and then never change, soften a bit until we all just get along, but that's disregard.

-Over my Head (Cable Car)
The Fray

Old lady.
Old lady feeding pidgeons.
Teacher leading a class of kids, pointing out flowers, supervising.
Father and his son playing catch, laughing without a care in the world.

Izaya sighed and put his hands behind his head, tilting back over the park bench to squint at the sun, shooting rays at him through the tree branches. Crimson eyes were unfocused and a sharp mind was reeling. Celty and Shinra were becoming such a nuisance, always giving him inquiring looks, like they knew something he didn't.

"What?" he asked, mildly annoyed as the Dullahan watched him, as best she could being headless. She immediately snapped out of it and shook her hands frantically before hurrying off with Emi to the living room. Izaya glowered after her.

Shinra snickered and pushed his glases up the bridge of his nose.

Curiosity made Izaya tolerant, but he didn't have to like it. He scoffed to himself and rose off the park bench, where he felt he didn't belong. He stifled a yawn, turning slightly to take in a view of the grassy field. There, the information broker spotted her.

"Good boy!" she giggled and rubbed the shepherd's head, the large black dog thumped his tail appreciatively; grabbing at the stick in her hand with his teeth. Izaya stood watching, still lost in his own head. Emi puzzled him in some ways, other things were more blatant and straight forward. Like, why did she insist on wearing the most outrageous things? Rainbow striped cut off gloves that reached her elbows, a bright blue t-shirt, that blazing red hat. Or, how come she trusts him when she shouldn't?

"Oi, Emi lets go." he called, already turning to walk off, frustrated with himself for not being able to identify how he felt. Confused for not understanding and angry at Shinra and Celty for patronizing him.

A sharp tug on his sleeve caught him offguard, Izaya yanked his hand away and then froze.
Emi's bright yellow eyes were round and excited, "Where are we going now? Can we stay out longer? Please?"

"Longer?" he echoed, wearing his best poker face because he was still stuck in place. Yoite, Emi's dog, stood relaxed his tail waving slightly and panting. He gave Izaya a look that might have questioned his mental health. "Right, okay, lead on." Izaya smirked. He'd figure this out.

….

Stop, hold the phone.
Izaya wanted to scoff, 'of all places to go, I mean honestly?'

He watched from a distance while Emi talked with Shizuo, every few seconds the black haired girl would make an exaggerated gesture and then the blond would laugh, shaking his head. Izaya knew it was of little use to constantly tell her to stay away from him, Shizuo was always at Shinra's where Izaya often left Emi when he...'worked'. Annoyance tugged at him, he glanced down at the alert figure of Yoite by his side, "Hey, why don't you go bite him? Right in the ass." Izaya said lightly, unclipping the dog's thin brown leather lead from it's chain collar.

Yoite weaved through the people on the sidewalk, crossing the street effortlessly slipping between cars and made his way over to Emi and Shizuo, tail wagging.

'Traitor.' Izaya thought bitterly as Shizuo greeted the dog by giving him food from his pocket.

He lightly strolled across the street and slipped in next to Emi, right in front of Shizuo.
"Great talk, now, we should be getting back." he chirped, a grin on his face.

Shizuo glared at him, "what's the occasion flea?"
His fist clenched and ready to knock the other man's lights out.

Izaya eyeballed his movement and smiled, "Didn' think I'd-"

Shizuo grabbed Izaya by his coat collar and pulled him forward, a fist ready to punch him. Quickly, Izaya slipped away and kicked his ribs, dodging to stand behind the raging bodyguard. Shizuo growled and snatched Izaya by his shoulder, yanking him forward, but froze when the broker snarled quietly, "not right now, let me take her home." his eyes even.

Shizuo pressed his lips into a thin line, dropping the flea rather ungracfully and glancing over at Emi. Her eyes were watery and frantic, he didn't notice it now but Yoite was latched onto his ankle and growling. The dog let go slowly when Izaya's feet touched the ground and he fixed his jacket. "Sorry." Shizuo mumbled in Emi's direction.

No words were exchanged as Izaya and Emi walked off, Emi casting frustrated looks over her shoulder and concerned ones at Izaya.

Shizuo looked down, Yoite looked back up at him, sneezed and then trotted away to join them. "Yeah, you too."

….

"Haha! Because we talk shit over all the time right?"

"...I think you should listen."

"Your priorities aren't in check flea! Last I looked you weren't exactly a trustworthy safe person, since when did you genuinely care? Why didn't you leave her at Shinra's? Need a pawn or something?" Shizuo hissed menacingly, his cigarette dropping to the sidewalk.

Izaya came back that night, and after a quick brawl insisted the two enemies talk. So far it wasn't appealing well. Izaya was biting his tongue, hard, at Shizuo's words. They stung, but he was the information broker of Ikebukuro, he wasn't bothered by anything. So why? Whywas this hurting so much?

"It's none of your concern, just keep away from the kid." Izaya's words were hardened and tense, he couldn't keep his cool in this, and he didn't know why. He wanted to kick himself.

Shizuo laughed heartily and put his hand over his eyes, before dropping it and laughing some more, "Wait one fucking second, you don't want her around me? Because I'm the bad guy? Who else is going to warn her about you? It's only a matter of time before you throw her to a pack of wolves for your own gain!"

Izaya breathed in, drawing his switchblade from his jacket pocket. The silver glinted with the city lights and moon, "What...did you...tell her?" he spat though his teeth.

"Hit a nerve?"

"Shut your mouth." Izaya rushed forward, slashing at Shizuo skillfully with the blade, dodging punches and a street sign. People skittered away from their fight, used to the action by now.

….

When everyone knows I'm in over my head, over my head. With eight seconds left in overtime she's on your mind, she's on your mind.

-Over my Head (Cable Car)
The Fray

Ooooh, the ever unshakable unflappable Izaya is confused! And frustrated! And anguished! And more confused! Poor guy, doesn't know how he feels about anything and can't understand it. Stay tuned.