Author's Note: Ha! I promised some of you that update and here it is! I was writing like a loony... Guess night hours do that to you... :D
And my offer with you choosing a character to show in the story still stands. Really, tell me what you want, it will be fun to write it!
This chapter is definitely Shizaya goodness, at least in my opinion... so enjoy!
Cold War Kids – Flying Upside Down
"And let go of all that I know
A guest on this crazy game show"
"A package for Heiwajima Shizuo" a young boy standing on my door mat announced, looking at me expectantly.
"Ah, yeah, that's me..." I confirmed reluctantly. Someone sent me something? Call me suspicious, but... I didn't like it. The last time I got a package it was a home-made bomb, though the sender made a shitty job out of it as it only seared my eyebrows lightly... Guessed it was made to piss me off and not to kill me. Who could that be, right...? Yeah...
"You only need to sign it here and it's yours." the boy poked the right line on a piece of paper and smiled at me. Too happy to my liking... Somehow, he made me think of someone I've seen before, but I couldn't put my finger on it...
Just not to drag it out, I scribbled my name and gave him back the pen. He gave me a little flat box he was holding under his arm in return and then, out of the blue, flushed me an even brighter smile and patted my shoulder.
"Have a good day, Heiwajima-san. The day is too short to let it pass without a smile on your face!" he exclaimed cheerfully and almost bounced down the stairs, leaving me with the package and a feeling of astonishment.
What the hell was that? Was he high or something? Who chatted with strangers so jovially and crossed their personal space so carelessly...? Children these days were becoming stranger with every passing day, I could swear...
I looked at the inconspicuous box in my hand and I could feel wrinkles of discontent show on my forehead. The package was rather small and flat and it was hard to imagine its contents. Another bomb? To small in my opinion... So what else? There wasn't sender's address nor data on it and it made me only more tempted to just throw it away without opening. It was some stupid shit anyway, most probably. Another prank... Yet I wasn't able to destroy in the end. Slowly and cautiously I cut it open with a kitchen knife – one of the not so many occasions to see me so focused and careful, I guess, and it made me laugh under my nose. I must have learned something on my mistakes, it seemed, as normally I would just tear the tape and carton into pieces without further ado...
My brows rose in wonder when I found inside nothing but a piece of folded yellowy piece of paper. Now that had my head running... Why would someone send me that kind of thing in a box and not an envelope? However, after a more thorough inspection, I found that there was a single key taped to the bottom of the package, just under the letter or whatever it was... Still, an envelope would be as good, but I stopped thinking about it. No use... I put the key on the counter and unfolded what I supposed was a note. And indeed it was...
Shizu-chan,
The key is to the last apartment at your floor, the one on the right. It's empty right now, with no current tenants. I hope you'll meet me there today at six o'clock. I'm seeing it as a no-fight zone – a safe ground. You can be sure it's not an attack on your persona. Shinra knows about that place and the time of the possible meeting, you can confirm that with him if you're uncertain.
I think we need to talk.
Orihara Izaya
The flea – if you prefer
PS. No use going there earlier or trying to spot me coming. My means of transport will be impossible for you to discover.
I dropped the paper as if it was infected with a contagious disease. Holy shit! Was it a sick joke? What the fuck was he trying to achieve with this? 'We need to talk'? About what? How he's ready to laugh standing at my grave? If he thought that his assurance of 'no-fight zone' set me at rest then he was in a big mistake... No matter our last... atypical... meeting, I couldn't forget about the past so easily. Was I to believe his words just like that? Because he asked me to? And he supposed to be the intelligent one...
Though, there was that sentence about Shinra... Maybe I should give it a try and call him? Just to find out more about that flea's ridiculous idea... It wouldn't hurt me. And so I took the mobile from my pocket and dialled the doctor's number.
"Kishitani Shinra speaking, How can I... Oh, it's you, Shizuo. Something happened? You hurt your leg? I can come in fifteen minutes, jus-"
"I didn't do anything. My leg is... fine. What I want to know from you, though, is what that sly insect Izaya-kun is fucking up to? Do you know about that idiotic proposition of his?"
"Oh. Oh... You've got the key then? Izaya was right about you calling... I figured you would have barge into the said apartment first, just in case... but it seems I was wrong. Not that it's bad... It means you calmed a bit, aren't you happy for yourself, Shizuo? It's somet-"
"Cut the crap, Shinra. What the fuck is this about?"
"Well... I just know that Izaya feels the need to talk with you about... something. And as he's aware of your mistrust, he informed me about it earlier, so I would confirm his harmless intentions to you. And he asked me for a good place as well. You know, where would you feel less... mmm... aggressive and willing to talk? So he somehow found out that apartment near yours... That's all I know. I swear!" Shinra said solemnly.
"Is that really all? He didn't tell you anything else? About that meeting? You don't know why he's so desperate to talk with me so suddenly? What happened before?" I inquired. I had to know if that stupid pest told Shinra about our little... encounter in my apartment. I was going to kill him if that was the case, for sure! Because, it was Shinra, for Christ's sake! He and his sick imagination... I didn't want to think about that even...
"N-No. Of course not! Why would he tell me anything? You know how secretive he is... Besides, it's not my business how he chooses to comfort you, so why would h-..."
"I fucking knew it! I'm going to kill that parasite! He's asking for it! He told you what happened, right? How he visited me and the rest... Shinra, don't you dare thinking something stupid out of it! Besides, I didn't do anything!" I shouted a bit panicked.
"Calm down, Shizuo! I get it... Just go and talk with him to straighten everything out and the both of you will stop being so stressed all the time... Every couple has problems to take ca-"
"Fuck, Shinra! I knew it you'll come up with something like this! We're not a fucking couple! And I don't need straightening out! Don't spout shit like that to anyone anymore! If people start to think that... You want to live, keep your mouth shut, Shinra! Bye." I hung up.
I wanted my life back! Chasing after the flea wasn't so bad... I would gladly go back to it in place of... Right. I didn't even know what this was... Talking with him, in private, with that strange situation that unfolded itself between us? I wasn't sure what we were standing on... Though, it was easy to deduct he didn't know as well. He wouldn't want to meet if he did... Not on such conditions.
Should I go then? Was it reasonable? Wasn't I asking for troubles again? I had a choice here... I could ignore his... invitation and simply try to somehow forget and avoid the flea like fire from now on. Unfortunately, it couldn't be an easy task. Not when we had mutual friends – or one friend, whatever – and he was determined to see me. Taking last couple of events into account, it was hard to think anything else... So... Ah... The decision was obvious, wasn't it? A great day was before me...
Those five hours to six were the longest five hours of my life... I couldn't stop casting glances at the clock and my good leg was tapping nervously in an irregular rhythm no matter if I was sitting or lying. My craving for cigarettes was enormous and I needed five packages of bubble gum and four nicotine patches to repress my smoking desire. And it didn't stop me from constantly thinking about it...
When the hour hand pointed exactly six I felt my heart speed up and my throat go dry – more then during the wait... It was now that I ought to stand up, take that damn key that was mocking me all this time and open the door on the end of the hall, where the flea's cocky grin would undoubtedly greet me. It made my stomach feel uneasy. I felt uneasy. What if the scene from before will reoccur? What if I'll lose my cool and panic again? I don't think that the louse will feel so generous and friendly this time... It must have been a one-time eccentricity... or oddity rather.
It was already five past six and I didn't even move from my sofa... Shit! I wasn't some scared girl! I was Heiwajima Shizuo and I could handle the flea just right! Ah... It somehow didn't sound right even in my head...
I shook it to clear it up a bit and determinedly locked my hand on the key. It was time to get over that shit!
Cold War Kids – Flying Upside Down
"We argue like two kids that can't share toys
I swing at you with words sharper than any swords
You come back with a trap so good it hurts
You say, 'I will never leave, you know, no matter what'"
I wasn't stressed. Nor flustered. Why would I be... It's just a simple meeting with the stupid protozoan that I invited myself, to clear certain things out. I was perfectly composed. I'm Orihara Izaya – the best informant in Tokyo, if not Japan – for a reason. I held much more dangerous and potentially stressful meetings almost every other day... Fuck! I was nervous as hell...
I came to the apartment an hour earlier (using balconies and ledges as steps), just in case, and there was nothing I could focus my running mind on. Except that idiot. And I wasn't even sure if he'd come. It was insane! If I wanted to win this one, I had to keep my cool and it didn't look very likely right now... The condition of my sanity and inner calmness were at stake here! I couldn't let myself to be any other than my usual self, and not the imbecile that lost his mind not long ago... That was the point of this encounter.
Yes, why have I acted so out of the pattern and proposed this in the first place? Hnh... The first one didn't go according to plan because I let myself be surprised. There wasn't such an option now. I was going to talk with Shizu-chan, if he will co-operate, and leave that dump with a cleared mind and thoughts of that monster named, filed and locked securely until I'll decide differently. Ideally.
The sound of a key being turned in a lock almost made me jump in my armchair. It was him. It had to be. He was the only one with the right key after all. I took a deep breath, rose my head and put my trademark smile on – the bright and friendly one, with a hint of authority. It spoke of self-confidence and prevented my interlocutor from looking down on me, yet assured him of my readiness to get along. A perfect one. If not for the stiffness in my jaw. Though, I doubted Shizu-chan was going to notice it.
The door opened and he entered the room slowly, the sound of his crutches loud in the almost empty apartment. His uncertainty was obvious. It made me glad, of course. I should have the upper hand here...
The moment his eyes landed on me he tensed, a grave expression on his face. Oh, Shizu-chan wasn't happy to see me? How disappointing... Then he started to suspiciously look around the room, as if I could have had some secret weapon hidden somewhere. He didn't move from his place near the door, however. Well, I couldn't allow that... What kind of host would I be then...?
"Well hello, Shizu-chan. How nice of you to join me... twenty minutes late. How fashionable... Make yourself at home. Sit down, don't stand in the door like that. I won't bite you... or cut you. You can take my word for that..." I said invitingly.
"Like I ever would... Speak out. I don't have time for this stupid shit." he spatted.
"Now now, Shizu-chan... Why so angry? I came here with an open heart and mind, won't you take example from me? Please, sit down. I've chosen this place as to not make you strain your poor leg too much. And that's why you should sit. The furniture is here for a reason..." I explained slowly. It gave me time to relax and not drag him to the awaiting armchair by myself.
"Tch! I won't believe you have a heart until I'll rip it out of your chest and see it beating." the brute stated coldly, but moved to the armchair opposite to mine and sat slowly, resting the crutches against the armrest and stretching out his leg.
It took him some time – I didn't comment. I wasn't suicidal... We were separated by a glass table now. The rest of the room was empty, aside of a small fridge in one of the corners. In case he felt a sudden need to throw something at me...
"What a lively picture that is. Yet I think I'll pass... Would you like a drink before we start? To help you relax, perhaps? There are cans of soda, tea and strawberry milk... Your favourite, isn't it? Should I fetch you one?" I asked politely. I didn't hurt to make him happy... or at least less murderous...
"Are you dumb? I won't drink anything you gave me. Who knows what you put in it..." he retorted.
"I can always taste it first, Shizu-chan..." I offered.
"It would be contaminated by you then. I would rather take the poison..." he added venomously.
I clenched my jaw harder. He was making it as hard as possible for me and he did it brilliantly. It took all of my self-control to abstain from offending him. Stupid brute. I was being nice to him. He should feel special...
"Fine, don't drink then. Maybe you'd like to smoke? Don't let me stop you..." I said through gritted teeth.
"I can't. Had to quit thanks to Shinra's constant nagging. Should make you happy that I'm suffering, louse..."
"Can't you fucking stop for a moment? You think it's easy for me to be so nice to you? Someone should teach you manners, you stupid neanderthal! I wanted to talk with you nicely for once, but it seems it's too much to expect from such a brute like you!" I exploded finally.
Shouldn't, but did. Last days stress was too much even for me. And speaking without using acid remarks wasn't easy when you did it all your life...
"You should take what you're given, flea... I'm not trying to kill you, am I?" he murmured. Oh what? Suddenly feeling remorse?
"Tch! What an extreme effort it must be for you, acting like a human for once. Don't die on me because of it..."
"Don't fucking provoke me, flea!"
"Who was provoking whom first, you protozoan?"
"You have a problem with me, don't write stupid letters to ask me for a fucking meeting! And above all, I should kill you the moment I entered! You were the one who fucking told Shinra what happened, you sick bastard! Now how do you think it'll end?" he shouted, almost spitting at me.
"What the hell are you talking about? I didn't tell him anything except for the fact I want to talk with you... I'm not an idiot, unlike you..." I exclaimed.
This whole meeting? It wasn't going the way I planned it. Not at all... Fuck!
"So how the fuck did he know you tried... comforting me or whatever shit that was!" he shouted louder still. He looked seriously pissed off and I didn't even do anything...
"I'm telling you one more time, I didn't tell him a single thing about that... Why would I? I know he has a tendency to tell others things he shouldn't and making things up as well... My opinion could suffer from this..." I was finally able to explain calmly. It was no good to let my emotions on loose again. It could only end badly...
"Bud how then... I didn't tell him as well, so..." he started again, a bit more composed, when suddenly his face started getting red, eyes widening.
Why was he reacting like that? I didn't say anything to embarrass him and... Oh... Oh! It had to be it! Stupid brute! I had him now. I so had him now... It was all I needed for my smile to come back.
"Oh my, Shizu-chan... Now what's gotten you so red? Could it be you realising your own mistake, perhaps? It pleads for apology to a certain someone, don't you think...?" I asked teasingly.
He'd gotten even more red and I almost rubbed my hands in contentment. Such a silly mistake he made, that idiot. And it didn't really matter that Shinra and Celty knew. They were easy to shut up if one had the right means. And wasn't as naïve as Shizu-chan apparently was...
"Shut up! You know nothing!" his voice was angered, yet he wasn't looking into my direction anymore. He really was too easy to fluster...
"I wouldn't be so sure... I know I wasn't Shinra's informant this time and you admitted yourself you haven't told him. As there was no-one except us in the room then, and I had the pleasure to see Celty-san when leaving, it's rather obvious... I know you're friends with her, I've seen you many times in the city together... And she is close with Shinra, lives with him. Is there something else I need to know to make a proper conclusion?" I laughed quietly, seeing how lost and embarrassed he felt. It was almost... sweet.
"She promised to keep it to herself..." he whispered, already defeated.
"You're horribly naïve for your age, Shizu-chan... Ah, well... What's done is done. We can't erase their memory, but... What should I do with you, Shizu-chan? I think I deserve some kind of consolation for your indiscretion... What would that be...?" I pondered aloud, observing him intently.
"I owe you nothing!" he turned in my direction, his eyes blazing with anger, despite his still red face. "It's my right to talk with whom I want, about what I want! It wasn't something I made up to defame you, I talked with Celty because I was confused!" he shouted in my face... and momentarily became silent, now even his ears blushing.
Oh my, he didn't want to say that, right? He admitted to being confused because of my actions, the whole situation. It made me strangely happy. Probably because I was sure I wasn't the only one tormented by thoughts of it... I couldn't show him, though, that I had the same problem. I was finally winning!
"I confused you, Shizu-chan? Why have you felt confused? What part of my action made you feel like that, hmm...? You said earlier something about comforting... You think I tried to do that then? To comfort you? To ease your pain? But... why would I do that? You know me. I hate you, don't I?" I said calmly, in a lowered voice, leaning slightly into his direction, a sly smile adorning my face.
Uncertainty. Anger. Loss. Exasperation. Confusion. Shame.
A feast of emotions and feelings. How mighty it made me feel once again. Oh how I needed it to come to my senses, to be myself...! I made him feel it. It was me and my machinations, words... Good. Splendid. I felt magnificent!
"I... Don't fucking know what that was! I remember you doing that things, though, not me! It was you who decided to play your act of pity on me! You who wiped my tears and... and kissed me! You! Not me!" he almost stood up in the chair, breathing harshly.
No! Oh no! He wasn't going to spoil it! His words were nothing! It all didn't matter... The fact I could make him so agitated was the only important thing... I was the one who had the upper hand with him. All the times. Always! I could easily win this...
"Silly boy! What if I did? You can only find one motive in that? There are so many things you don't know about, which you can't think of and comprehend that it makes me laugh. To be so trivial and narrow-minded, so naïve and easily deceived... What a boring life you have, Shizu-chan..." I insulted him.
His muscles tightened and there was a visibly pulsing vein on his temple. He was so predictable, why have I ever thought differently?
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I'm going to kill you, you fucking flea! You think you're so great and clever, but it's going to bite you in the ass and then not only me, but the entire Tokyo will be laughing from you, I'll make sure of that!" he threatened.
"What are you going to do? Throw your crutches at me? How will you get back home without them, Shizu-chan? Thought of that before?" I teased, my humour better with every moment.
His murderous gaze was so intense and hot that it was a miracle it really didn't burn me down. Poor Shizu-chan... He was so hopeless with that leg of his... I almost pitied him. Almost...
"You fucking little shit! I can play your game as well!" he growled and suddenly everything shifted.
It was dark and hot and only after the first moment of my shock had passed, I realised what was happening. The fuck? What the fuck? I was being... kissed. The stupid brute was kissing me!
And then it dawned on me that he pulled me by the collar of my shirt that was now in his inhumanly strong grip and that his other hand was securing my wrists, keeping them together. His lips were hot and slightly moist from all the shouting and a bit dry under as well. My head was spinning still from the sudden movement and I wasn't able to do anything concrete. To free myself, to escape those lips and this person.
I opened my eyes and gasped silently, what didn't exactly help my situation. I couldn't control it, however. Shizu-chan's eyes were opened as well and those intensely burning orbs stared into mine. It was too much, I didn't understand why he was doing it and what were his feelings. My feelings? I was only breathing through my nose loudly. Like a deer caught in the headlights.
And then I noticed another thing. It wasn't... brutal. He wasn't hurting me really. It only made sense that his... kiss... should be strong and merciless and bruising. Yet... all I could feel were delicate, if not even... shy lips. It was a simple touch, just like... what I've done earlier to him. It made my heart skip a beat, suddenly, and I didn't know why. But then he was pulling away from me and I dropped onto the armchair behind me like a boneless doll. Silent and dazed.
I could only look at him without a word, waiting for some kind of a display of epic self-satisfaction – him being able to really shut me up for once...
Shizu-chan, however, still had that fervent kind of stare, not a hint of amusement in it. His skin was beat-red, though, as if someone painted him that colour. Seriously? If I still wasn't in shock, I would've commented on that certainly. How could he be embarrassed after something like that? Wasn't he supposed to be angry and self-confident? How was he able to do that in the first place if he was embarrassed and unbalanced? Stupid brute...
"I don't care what was it that you wanted to say to me. I'm done here..." he stated and limped out of the apartment slowly. I didn't stop him.
Bonkers... That's what we were... The both of us.