Chapter 18

Eiko began analyzing her relationship with Izaya. Their first meeting was not of happy circumstances. In junior high she had participated in a gambling ring during a club exposition. It was actually supposed to be a biology club presentation, but Shinra had left the planning all to Izaya, who turned it into a gambling ring. She had won a bet against Nakura and he was not pleased with her and the ring at all. The next day he came brandishing a knife, stabbing Shinra and then trying to aim for her. But before he could Izaya stepped in and told Nakura that he would take the blame for the stabbing incident, resulting in Nakura being blackmailed the rest of his life. Eiko went in and thanked him and that was what basically started off their relationship.

However as time passed on she realized he wasn't as chivalrous as she thought he was. Eiko was well aware of his disturbing, complicated, love for humans and his usual observing; he told her this himself. She was also aware of his twisted collecting of "followers."

Most of them were usually depressed and/or suicidal and have been victims of extremely severe levels of violence from their parents or lovers. Those girls were lost and desperate for someone to believe in, making them especially easy to use; the perfect subjects for Izaya to toy with. When she asked about them he simply answered that all he did was shift their beliefs and nothing more; it was their choice to believe in him. If he wanted them to die they'd kill themselves with no protest. It explained the sudden spike in suicides in Ikebukuro.

Despite what made him a cruel psychopathic being, she was still fond of him. She liked him romantically, but she refused to become one of his naive followers. She nitpicked the qualities that she liked from him. She liked how he was mysterious and how he could put up a good fight. Izaya laughed when she told him this.

"You're a very positive person; it's weird." he joked. "Anything else you'd like to add?"

"Yeah; I also know that you're not a bad person; maybe... chaotic neutral?" Eiko guessed. Izaya chuckled more.

"What are you, a psychologist?"

Izaya's looks and charm were alluring enough; she'd give him that. But the way she never fell into his web of trouble like his followers was that, even though she thought of him as a friend, she never trusted him. She took everything he said as a lie until he could prove otherwise (which he normally did when he wanted to prove her wrong).

Which is why at the moment, after he left, she debated on whether or not letting Izaya observe her younger sister and her friend was a good idea; she was filled with self-doubt.

###

Time passed on and Minako had at last grown fond of Eri. Her fighting abilities slowly grew and soon she was able to start fighting back. Minako began showing up to class with fewer injuries. Eri was proud of her. Her cold demeanor was still there, but she changed just a little.

Unbeknownst to Eri however, Minako had taken up her habit of watching Shizuo's fights. She'd just calmly sit and read as he fought, then afterwards he'd complain and she'd listen.

The feeling was very mutual. Shizuo respected her and liked her because of her listening skills; the best part was that she didn't say anything back. Whenever people tried to comfort him he felt like a charity case, but since Minako almost never responded, he never felt any guiltier than he had to be.

One day, she decided to finally speak a few words to him. Again Izaya had sent more thugs after him, and Shizuo really blew his top off. Then after the fight was over, he sat beside her and he became depressed. He went on about how, because of his strength, he felt no one would ever like him. People were scared of him and he began wondering if his family still loved him. She suddenly closed her book, but didn't look at him.

"You're not that aggressive; you're very nice when you're calm." she stated. He chuckled.

"Well, that's the first I've ever been complimented so thank you." he acknowledged simply. She finally made eye contact with him.

"Please stop making yourself sound despicable; it's bothering me. I like you." She said bluntly. His eyes went wide and surprised and his cheeks reddened. He turned his head to hide his abashed expression.

"Th-thanks." he stuttered nervously. No one had ever confessed to him so frankly before. She's an odd one he thought, but he didn't mind her. She was nice company and he hated being alone. Meanwhile, Minako just happened to be at the same places at the same time because of Eri's constant detentions. They were conventional uses for each other and they were satisfied with just that.

Minako pitied him, but she was able to like him in a way that wasn't pity love.

###

By the time Minako and the other colorful characters she had encountered over time, they were second years and she had grown used to the chaotic environment. Just when she thought the sane world she knew was about to shatter before her, the cracks began to fix themselves. No matter how many people Shizuo smacked into the wall, no matter how many fights she had with Eri, no matter what Izaya said in his absurd lectures; no matter what, it all became normal to her.

Sure, she still had her questions; questions about her and him, this and that, but she still managed to live her life without thinking too much.