Sooooooo sooorrrry guys~ Been busy drawing and getting Christmas presents for my loved ones. Buuut, the next chapter is finally here~! Also, if you guys are fans of the anime 'K', please read my other one-shot fanfic on my OTP SARUMI!

Here's wishing all my wonderful readers A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year~ I'd appreciate it if I get reviews as my Christmas present! :D Just kidding but please review so I'll know what you guys want from this fanfic!

Chapter 7: Reunited Rivals

"It takes one person to forgive, it takes two people to be reunited."

IZAYA

The first night went exceedingly well beyond Izaya's expectations. He didn't have nightmares at all and he slept like a baby, fast and sound asleep. No deaths, no Shizuo, just him and his sleep. Izaya woke up smiling widely after a good night's sleep. He had never felt so great in the morning but after a series of sleepless nights, one would appreciate his sleep a lot more. Nights passed and it seemed like Shinra's methods were spot on and Izaya never failed to clock in at least more than 8 hours of sleep. However, he felt emptier and emptier each day. He felt like a part of his life was missing.

It was like as if he gave up something important in his life. It was then that he realized Shizuo wasn't in the equation anymore. No street signs, vending machines or objects were thrown at him anymore. The excitement of being chased by his beloved protozoan was now history. He gave them up all too soon and now he dearly missed the adrenaline Shizuo gave him. Shizuo had been the only one that gave him so much excitement in life and now that he was gone, Izaya felt empty..

So, very empty...

The temptation to set foot in Ikebukuro was high and he knew that by entering that wretched city, locating a certain blond protozoan wouldn't be too difficult but he did say that he would continue a peace truce between himself and Shizuo. Little did he know how much Shizuo made his life so much more exciting. He was now regretting having walked away that day in Shinra's office. However, Izaya was a man of his words. Even if he was the cunning bastard he always had been, he never went back on what he said. Whatever he said always ended up making others end their own life but it didn't seem so for Shizuo. Shizuo never seemed to react the way Izaya wanted and that never stopped his weird fascinations to want to know more about the brute. Having small yet violent interactions with him seemed to give Izaya excitement and adrenaline.

But that didn't matter... Not anymore at least.

Izaya pinched the bridge of his nose and let out an exasperated sigh. What he would do to see that blonde again. He shaked the thought off and buried himself in his work. That was the only way Izaya knew how to eradicate the thought of wanting to step into Ikebukuro.

SHIZUO

Days had passed after his last encounter with the informant. And strange enough, Shinra's prescription seemed to work. By the time his head lay down on his pillow, he would instantaneously fall asleep with no nightmares and no Izaya haunting his dreams. It also seemed to help in his temperamental mood he always exceeded when he woke up from those nightmares. For once in his life, peace had been lived out on his name.

Though as the weeks passed, Shizuo couldn't help but feel there was something in his part. He sighed heavily, scratching the back of his head. Why the hell is that? He would accompany his senpai in collecting debts, threaten stubborn clients until they pay up, and talk to Celty when he had spare time- nothing out of the usual there, just everyday normal routine stuff.

"Damn it..." A groan came from his lips when he realize the missing piece of his life. Izaya. He had to acknowledge it, but his usual outlet for anger without purposely hurting anyone was gone. Even if he was always pissed at him, the man was his stress reliever. Izaya would manage to make him forget everything and focus solely on him and their fighting. He shook his head at the thought. The peace effect seemed to last only for a few days...

Maybe he should visit the informant for old time's sake? With that, his legs unconsciously took him to the flea's apartment.

What the hell was he doing here again? His eye twitched as he stared up the apartment building. Even after reaffirming himself not to break his own goal at ignoring the male for at least a few months time, his body couldn't seem to ignore the temptation to at least visit the louse to see his current condition. Did the trick work for him as well? How was he doing? Was Izaya also having the same empty feeling he was having right now? He sighed irritably, pushing back his hair as his eyes continued to stared at the building. Was the informant back at home anyway? There's also the possibility of the other going to Ikebukuro or some other city but no. As much as the man loved being outside to go people-watching or messing around with them, Izaya is a man who is firm about his final decision and would stay put to it until it's over.

But to what extent could Izaya keep up with the act until he breaks, Shizuo didn't know. The man was just as unreadable as him after all, no one can exactly tell what his games meant or what his purpose is for that. And even if this wasn't any scheme or some convoluted plan, Izaya stood to make sure no one can see through his mask.

"There's only one way to find out now..." He muttered, entering the building as his resolve grew firmer with every step he took.

Shizuo didn't know what to feel he moment he knocked on the male's door. Was Izaya really in there? What if he's out doing work or something? Should he bail when he still had the chance and pretend that this never had happened? The series of questions never ceased its gathering even as Shizuo anticipated of the possibility why the informant might not be there. "He's not there, is he..?" He sighed softly, ready to depart from his position until he heard footsteps nearing the door, making him stay back in his place. Could it really be...? Shizuo didn't want to get his hopes up for all the times the man had tricked him but still... He swallowed a lump in his throat, converting back his usual demeanor even as the unknown individual opens the door.

IZAYA

After a good two hours of clearing his mailbox and taking care of the necessary, Izaya was done with his work. He took off his glasses and set them on the table before giving a little stretch as he stood from his ebony office chair.

Walking over to the glass windows, Izaya craved the excitement out there. The adrenaline, the fun in having Shi- What was he thinking..? He sighed yet again and slumped himself onto the sofa. His mind polluted with thoughts of none other than the blond protozoan. That deep voice that never failed to make him smile whenever Shizuo calls out his name or that satisfied grin when they come face to face. Oh how he miss them so much... God, he sounded like a demented lover. He ran his fingers through his hair and stared at the blurred reflection of himself in the screen of the television.

"Was I actually missing Shizu-chan~? How pathetic.." Izaya gave himself a good laugh when he heard a loud door knock. "Huh..?" Izaya wasn't expecting guests so who was at the door? Curious, Izaya walked over to open the door. His eyes widen but only for a moment before his usual smirk plastered onto his own lips wanting no one especially a certain brute to know how happy he was to see the other again.

"May I help you Shizu-chan~?"

SHIZUO

A faint smile on his face was reveal in a millisecond when he saw the person on the other side, the man who he had promised to kill until his last dying breath, Izaya Orihara. Really, he had missed the guy and his antics. Always aggravating him, always making sure to piss him enough to chase him, and always making sure he was close enough to almost catch him. He could almost hug the male if it wasn't for the fact it would look awkward for two grown men hugging each other as well for the fact that Izaya was his rival.

He shrugged nonchalantly in response, letting a wicked grin form on his face as he stared at the male. "Just wondering how's life treating you without me throwing anything at you before.."

IZAYA

His lips curled wider emitting a wider grin than he had shown before. That voice, so husky and creamy, was what he needed to hear so badly after weeks of not seeing his beloved protozoan. He could almost hear the other screaming his name and his harsh words threatening to kill him at the back of his mind. How nostalgic.. The slender male leaned against the corridor as his carmine eyes travelled to examine Shizuo's face. Nothing's change and those eyes still burned with so much intensity. His hand reached up to brush his fingers through his raven hair as he gave it a light shift to the side.

"Life's been great Shizu-chan~" Izaya purposely emphasised the last part for old time's sake knowing how much the other hated the nickname given to him.

What a lie. Life was too boring for Izaya. He almost felt like a living zombie without the adrenaline he used to get from the fights they usually conjure up. But it wasn't like he could admit it. He wasn't going to be the first to crack. Seeing how Shizuo showed up at his doorstep must mean something. Why was he here in the first place? What was his motive? Izaya cocked a brow and locked gazes with the blond.

"I'm sure that's not the only reason you're here Shizu-chan~ Don't tell me you travelled to another city just to check up on me? "

SHIZUO

A raise of a brow was made known on to the blond's expression as he stared at the informant. Izaya.. was doing fine? No way! That had to be another one of those goddamn lies the man was good at telling. Izaya couldn't live a day to make sure he was the damper in his good day, so avoiding him those few weeks had to be a real sore for the male right?... or was it all in his head? Truth to be told, Izaya conditioning him in to seeing the other everyday and provoking him in to chasing him was already a daily routine for him. No matter what time it is in the day or what he was doing at that moment, he would always drop everything whenever the informant would appear in front of him. It's annoying, really. How a simple change could affect Shizuo greatly until he couldn't take it anymore.

Though this was anything but simple.

Izaya leaving him that day was one of the most confusing and empty days of his life. "Actually... yeah.." He would never admit it easily as this, but he had no choice, Shizuo was willing to get to the point if it might help their situation even a bit. "I.. wanted to see how you were doing. To see if this shitty solution was working for you, but I guess it is.." He scratched the back of his head, somehow finding himself in a weaker position all of a sudden.

Fushi-Sashimi: *doki doki* Shizuo-san, I didn't know you had such strong feelings for Izaya-san..

Shizuo: -blushes- HUH?! Just where did you get that idea from?!

Izaya: Oh look, Shizu-chan is blushing. My my, coming to visit me in another city. Are you sure you hate me Shizu-chan~?

Shizuo: DFKJLHKJERBKJE FUCK YOU BOTH!

Izaya: Gladly, Shizu-chan~ -smirks-

Shizuo: I'll seriously kill you IIIIZAAAAYAAAA!

Fushi-Sashimi: Hehehe it's so obvious Shizuo-san likes Izaya-san. -whispers- Reviews please~