RARARA! VOLUME 1 CHAPTER 9-LOVELESS-FORMAL INTRODUCTIONS

(For all of you who didn't know, Itachi means weasel. So Izaya-san gets the little get-together party after all. Even if it's not quite with friends. Thank you if you hung on til the end! Almost done!)

Shinjuku. Afternoon.

"I must admit, I do fear how good you handle those knives Hitoshi-kun."

A handsome slender information broker spoke from his chair in what appeared to be an office space.

"Oh but he does make excellent food~!"

The youngest of the party of four piped up. He seemed extremely childish with soft blue eyes and bear-eared headphones.

"Shut it."

The man who was cooking tori spoke. He glared at Izaya although it seemed more playful than anything.

"What the hell is up with this apron? For once, I'd like to have a normal one without frills or hearts or whatever the hell you creeps own."

"Ouch~ that hurts"

"Oh but Hitoshi-san~! The one we have at home makes you look less intimidating!"

A beautiful woman with long black hair observed their conversation with little interest. She went back to reading her magazine.

"Hitoshi-san, it's a somewhat pleasant surprise to see that you have returned. Still, I can't lie, I'm irate over the fact that you left the company without a word and disappeared like that."

Not one word uttered was done so with gentleness. The lady, named Yagiri Namie, had a voice filled with coldness. It wasn't her mood, but she always acted that way among people who weren't her brother.

Yes, the only one she showed a overly sick kindness nature to was towards her brother who she erotically loved.

All three men in the room knew this fact. Orihara Izaya, the information broker, reacted by teasing her. Nishi Akihiko, the youngest of them all, simply giggled it off as if it was a devious rumor. Takeshi Hitoshi, the man cooking in a by far feminine apron, simply said that love was love, no matter to whom or in what way.

"With all due respect, Namie-san, that matter no longer concerns you... Right?"

There was an iciness in her glare that she had set towards Hitoshi, but Hitoshi seemed hardly affected by it at all. He just waited patiently for her answer.

"So you've heard... If you tell anyone I'm here, it's your head."

"Oh my~ I wish I cared about my life enough to fear that threat! But yes, we wouldn't want Nebula finding out where Namie-san is, would we? If they do, they might confiscate Celty-chan's head!"

"Exactly."

Hitoshi nodded then started setting out plates, serving tori with usukochi shoyu with Akihiko's assistance.

Izaya wasn't surprised at how much Hitoshi knew. In fact, he was the one who shared it with him when the two were in Romania for exchange of... Other information. He spoke up as he recalled something.

"Have you seen the news! It would appear that Moon got killed by another serial killer! He's this old one named Loveless."

Hitoshi's lips curled into a smile as his companion Akihiko giggled even more.

"Itachi! Not Izaya! This one is Itachi! Huuhuuhuu~!"

After teasing Izaya, Hitoshi nodded his head.

"Why don't you just ask away? I know you already know my identity. I'm not keeping it a secret."

"How fearless of you. Would you mind if I told anyone?"

"Not that my answer matters, but no, I don't. If for some reason you tell the cops, Akihiko-kun could always easily disprove it."

"Ah... Hitoshi-san..."

Akihiko interrupted politely.

"I'll need some time before gaining the trust of the cops again. They've changed now, haven't they?"

Izaya nodded listlessly, listening to the two analyze Ikebukuro.

"Yes~! You two missed more than you think!"

"Oh I would've loved to be part of all those exciting stories you so kindly shared with us, Izaya-san."

"Yes. Anyways, Hitoshi-kun, don't you ever want a challenge?"

"... No, I don't murder for sport, Izaya-san..."

"Well if you ever get the urge, may I point in the direction of Shizu-chan?"

"Ah Izaya-san!"

Akihiko tackled the information broker to the ground as a kitchen knife went soaring to where Izaya's head had only moments been.

"Oh Mr. Information Broker, please don't mention harming any of the four people Hitoshi-san actually cares about."

Akihiko warned in a gentle voice. Izaya blinked and stared at where the knife had now sunk in above his head and started chuckling.

"How interesting~! A serial killer who fears for the safety of certain people! A torturer with a heart! Oh Hitoshi-kun, you simply become more interesting as I get to know more about you."

"Mr. Information Broker, did you hear me? You don't want to be marked as an Unloved."

"Akihiko-kun... Izaya-san is already unloved whether he's marked or not."

Hitoshi said calmly. He acted like he never threw the knife at Izaya. He smiled gently at both of the men still on the ground. They sat up slowly.

"That's why I haven't bothered killing Izaya yet. Besides, he's a bit amusing himself, don't you think?"

"Why thank you, Hitoshi-kun."

"Let's eat already, if you keep yapping nonsense, the food's going to get cold."

"Now Yagiri-san, let's not spoil the art of conversation."

"Shall we talk about love? Monsters?"

"Monsters? Hmm... Perhaps that's why I love humanity the most. They're the most monstrous creatures from my experience anyways"

Hitoshi laughed ironically to himself.

"Well, to call all of humanity monstrous..."

Izaya started slowly.

"No, you're right Izaya-san. There's million of untold stories out there! They never repeat, no matter how similar they can be. It's a wonderful experience. Yet, push a human far enough, and a high majority of them exhibit at least one monstrous quality."

"Although Hitoshi-san takes an interest in this, there's one thing Hitoshi-san loves far more than monstrous humans."

Akihiko piped up.

This one thing was one of the biggest reasons Akihiko stood by Hitoshi's side so much.

No matter how obsessed Hitoshi was with violence, all he could give is pure love.

There was love.

And infinite love.

Love was given towards all humanity.

The infinite love was given to...

"Let's not talk about me Akihiko-kun. We're talking about monsters and humans. Have you seen those movies with soldiers putting their life on the line for each other? Huuhuu, it's funny how they always make the enemy totally ruthless and heartless. Now, of course, they make the enemies aliens with all of the end of the world theories and what not, like aliens would give a shit about us"

Hitoshi laughed dryly as he drank from his tea.

"These 'honorable men' always seem a bit too pure hearted for me. I hate movies. They don't show the real raw emotions. Actual pure souls. Ah, well that's not the point. Don't you always wonder what the enemy is thinking? Perhaps they're fighting for each other's lives as well. But for some reason, they never show that. Killing the enemy is victory. Killing us is a loss. What a warped twisted sense of justice~! That's why... Yes, that's why I truly enjoy life."

Izaya smiled and nodded at Hitoshi's words. He looked away as if thinking to himself.

"Hmm... It would've been a pleasure to have you work for me, Hitoshi-kun. Too bad you're head over heels for Shizu-chan. Ah, well, now that you have properly adjusted as Takeshi Hitoshi and Loveless, I'll be the first to say it. I hope you excuse the fact that we're in Shinjuku when I say this, but welcome back to Ikebukuro."

Hitoshi gave an earnest smile. This time, Akihiko was surprised at the genuine smile directed to the information broker but remained silent beside his companion. Millions of thoughts raised in his head.

"How sweet. Unlike Akihiko-kun, I never really did get a warm formality. I suppose I, like you, will never be loved in return. Not that I'm expecting to be so... Thank you, Izaya-san. But the truth is, I feel as if I never really left."