Hello to any random readers!

This is basically the same chapter as the last, but from Shizuo's point of view. It details what happened to him on the same day.

Thank you to the reviewer who suggested I do this. And thank you to every other person who reviewed/faved and followed! You guys made me smile like the Cheshire cat.

I' am happy to also say that I've began writing the sequel to this Fanfic, and it should be published in the next few days. It's going to be multi-chaptered, and if anyone wants to make any suggestions, please do so. It's going to be titled Shameless. So if anyone is interested, watch out for it.

As usual, if you see any spelling/grammatical errors (or just any errors at all) please don't hesitate to call me out on them.

Like I said at the beginning of the last chapter, I hope it's not so terrible your eyes bleed and you go into a coma from banging your head on a desk.

Disclaimer: I do not own Durarara!

Walk of Shame

Take 2 – Shizuo's POV

Shizuo stared at the flea, and the flea stared at him. They were at a stalemate.

Not that long ago he could see tints of orange and yellow from behind his closed eyelids. He had been readying himself to roll over and bury his head in his fluffy pillow to ignore the irritating sun, when he had felt something, or rather, someone, shift next to him.

His first thought was that someone had climbed on the bed and was perched above him, readying themselves to assassinate him. However when he gave out a groan, and remained prone, they did not hasten to stab or shoot him like he had expected. This led his second thought to being that he had succeeded in bringing someone home with him last night.

This thought made him feel mollified. It had been a long time since he had slept with anyone. Much too long in fact, and you could only use your hand for gratification for so long before it grew dissatisfying.

Shizuo felt exceedingly relaxed when he came to the conclusion that he had screwed someone last night. This relaxation, however, faded when he felt the person next to him move about. In his state of half-awake and half-asleep, he had not yet contemplated if he had hurt his partner the night before.

His strength was his perpetual stress, and was always in the forefront of his mind. He often had to hold back when he had sex, merely so he didn't hurt the other participant. Needing to reassure himself that he hadn't left bumps and bruises covering the other, he forced his half opened eyelids fully open and glanced about, with much more awareness.

It was hard for him to leave that warm and comfortable state of drowsiness and stop lounging lazily. He moved his hand, and when he realized it was grazing the skinny hipbone of his sex buddy, he let out a gruff: "What the hell..." He peeled his eyelids completely open and he nearly had an aneurism.

There was Izaya, sitting naked with the blankets – Shizuo's blankets – pooled around his slender body. The only appropriate reaction Shizuo could give (because he was certain spouting blood from his nostrils would definitely not be an appropriate reaction) was roll and lurch on the bed in an uncoordinated manner. "IZAYA!" He yelled, his throat rough from misuse. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" Shizuo regarded Izaya steelily as he stood. He was pleased to note the flea looked more like a deer in the headlights than the cat who got the cream. Obviously, by the awkward way he had been trying to sidle off the bed, he had been hoping to make a quick escape before Shizuo awoke.

Izaya's face scrunched up as he obviously tried to conceal a grimace.

Shizuo took the chance to scrutinize him. The flea didn't look beaten up, although he was covered in hickeys. The reddish, purple bruises stood out in stark contrast upon Izaya's creamy pale skin.

He looks good that way.

Luckily, Izaya spoke before Shizuo could hit himself in the face for thinking such a mutinous thought. "I know you're thick, Shizu-chan. But I didn't know you had such a poor memory. And you don't even suffer from short term memory loss..." Izaya's own voice was just as light and mocking as ever, although it did waver.

Shizuo's throat rumbled in a growl. That flea, acting so high and mighty in his home! Didn't he realize that he was at a disadvantage here!? "Why are you here!?" Shizuo asked angrily. The answer was rather obvious, but Shizuo was hoping that all of this was just some elaborate ploy of Izaya's to piss him off. However the hickeys and his rapidly recurring memories were not willing to be forced away in denial.

Last night, he and Izaya had been playing their usual deadly game of cat and mouse. Izaya had skipped across the road and into his path, and Shizuo had promptly squeezed his Styrofoam coffee cup so hard that it broke open, drenching his pants in the bitter substance. Infuriated, he had thrown the closest thing to him (a vending machine that happened to sell condoms) in the flea's direction.

Of course the flea had dodged with his usual agility and ran off.

Shizuo chased after him for about an hour before he finally cornered him in an alley. Izaya had held his knife to Shizuo's throat, and Shizuo had prepared himself to squeeze Izaya's windpipe until he wheezed for air. However, something else had caught his attention. A stray packeted condom was sitting atop Izaya's head. It was a stubborn thing, not coming loose despite the breakneck parkour moves. Izaya seemed he had yet to notice it.

The rest was a whimsical impulsive mess. Their mouths had smashed together, smacking and sucking. Shizuo had quickly established dominance, and so caught up in their attraction and lust, Shizuo had taken the flea back to his apartment and they had done the dirty deed without thinking of the disastrous consequences.

Even recalling all of this made Shizuo's stomach warm in slight arousal...last night had been a mistake, but a magical one, a magical one, because he and Izaya had been faultlessly magnetic.

Izaya's crimson eyes rolled sky high. "I'm not deeming you with an answer. For once observe your surroundings and think."

Shizuo twitched in annoyance. He felt a breeze on his naked body, and looked at his own state of undress blankly. He wasn't embarrassed.

He took the chance to observe Izaya in lieu of his surroundings. He knew the room was a mess, and this made him a little abashed, considering he had been 'entertaining' a guest. But Izaya was much more interesting to gaze at.

His hair was slightly matted and it shimmered in the morning sun. His thin legs were clenched together, and his hands were fisted in the blankets.

Though, Shizuo was unaware of it, his facial expressions changed numerous times as his emotions changed rapidly. First he was shocked from his own acceptance, and then he was disgusted with himself (who knew what disease he could pick up from the flea! He may have used a condom, but it wouldn't surprise him if he contracted some odd unknown disease, that caused hysterical laughter, a desire to cause misery for the general populace, and a creepy love for humans). Eventually, he settled for feeling victorious. Judging by how the flea was squirming slightly in discomfort, he had done him good. For once he was the one who came out on top after one of their games! "I always knew I'd rut into you one day –" Although he'd always assumed it would be with a dangerous, pointy object and not with his cock. "-I didn't expect to wake up next to you though. Didn't you want to leave?"

He was genuinely curious about that. Why hadn't the flea fled?

Izaya frowned; obviously he didn't like how the tables had turned. "I only just woke up, actually. I was hoping to escape without having to ponder on the revolting act I committed with you last night. You took advantage of me."

Shizuo snorted. He happened to remember how the flea was desperate and yearning. "You weren't complaining at all last night, you filth."

Izaya blushed, and it looked pretty. Shizuo didn't know whether to drool or laugh. Such a different expression to what he usually wore... "I'm going to leave now. And you will never speak of this incident to anyone, else it will be the last thing you do. Capisce Shizu-chan?"

Shizuo contemplated going outside and proclaiming to the world what had transgressed last night, merely to cause difficulties for the flea. However wouldn't bragging about something like that be distasteful? He may not have been the most polite person, but even he knew that doing something like that would be below standard. Bragging about bagging someone was something immature teenage boys did, or scumbags who liked to compare, or Shinra...sometimes, although his over-sharing seemed more accidental. "Like I'd want to brag about doing that with you, I won't mention it, although it would be funny to see some reactions."

Izaya stuck his nose in the air snobbishly. "Turn around whilst I get dressed. A beast like you shouldn't have the right to gaze upon my gorgeous body."

Shizuo had already seen it, and admired it comprehensively. "You're such a vain bastard." Shizuo said. "And you have no right to be. In fact..." Shizuo gazed pointedly at Izaya's hairless chest. He remembered the feel of Izaya's skin the previous night, it had been silky smooth. He never would have guessed, but Izaya was a lot smaller underneath his layers of clothing then he had expected. His figure was very slim, and he didn't have much muscle mass despite his fitness. "I think your body is rather feminine."

Izaya spluttered. "What!?"

Shizuo chuckled. It was fun to incite so many different emotions from the flea. "Exactly what I just said. You're feminine. That coat you wear makes you look much more built that you really are. You're so slim and hairless. Not to mention how soft your skin is. Do you shave and use lotions?"

"I don't shave, nor do I use lotions." Izaya hissed.

Liar.

Shizuo thought.

"Sure, sure..." Shizuo said this patronizingly. "Whatever you say...I don't know why I should turn around though. You choose now to have a sense of propriety? You're such a girl."

Izaya's glare would have made a lesser man piss themselves in fear. However the expression looked cuter to Shizuo than anything else. Shizuo indulged Izaya and turned his back to him, but not without sighing pointedly. "I suppose it's to be expected from such a cowardly man. You've never been able to face the consequences of your actions, have you?"

That had to have stung a little, right? The flea seemed uncharacteristically moody. It must have been his ass aching. Shizuo nearly snickered. At that moment, Izaya yelped, and Shizuo did snicker this time. Shizuo waited with much more patience then usual whilst the flea gathered himself. Eventually, he spoke between his teeth. "Shizu-chan...you destroyed my clothes last night in your brutish haste."

Shizuo turned around and looked down at his dirty floor. Strips of fabrics that had once been articles of clothing were littered throughout the room. Last night he had been so eager he'd torn Izaya's clothes straight off without being patient enough to wait for the flea to remove them himself. He shrugged. There were zero fucks given. "So? You have enough cash to purchase some new clothes."

"That's not it...I can't exactly walk home bare."

Shizuo shrugged once more. "You'll just have too. None of my clothes will fit you. I'm taller and broader...Although the image of you swimming in one of my blouses is cute." The tease made Izaya glare even harder, as if he was trying to make Shizuo's head combust from the look alone.

"Shut up. I don't care if the clothes are ill-fitting. It's better than wearing nothing. I can't afford to be caught waltzing about naked. It would damage my reputation."

The image of Izaya waltzing around nude publically elicited two emotions from Shizuo. First, was amusement, second, was a deep feeling of possessiveness that startled him. He didn't want anyone else to see Izaya in such a vulnerable state.

But Shizuo didn't want to admit to these frankly scary feelings. "I don't give a damn about your fucking reputation. Now fuck off and get out of my apartment. You're pissing me off."

"Oh that's new..." Izaya's voice had recovered that sarcastic undertone. "Seriously Shizu-chan, if you lend me a shirt then I promise not to pester you at all for a week." Izaya looked near bestial. It seemed he was not used to requesting anything.

He's such a spoilt brat.

Shizuo mulled over the offer. A flea-free week was a prospect he had only ever dreamed of. In his head, the imagery was filled with rainbows and relaxation. Though he didn't want to give in to Izaya, it must have hurt the flea's pride immensely to ask his hated enemy for anything. What had he asked for again? For a...

Shizuo smirked, and hoped Izaya couldn't sense the direction his thoughts had taken. "Fine," He tried to sound exasperated rather than smug. "I'll give you some clothes to wear." He strode to his second hand closet and opened the door. Multiple pairs of his typical bartender outfit were inside. However, behind those was a pair of neglected blue jeans and a plain white T-Shirt, though he didn't reach for those. He selected one of his crisp, white blouses. It was clean and washed, but it still smelt of cigarettes, cologne, and something strictly Shizuo.

The thought of the flea coated in his scent pleased some animalistic side of him. He tossed the blouse to Izaya, not caring if he caught it or not.

Izaya clucked his tongue. "Shizu-chan, this is one of your bartender tops. I can't wear this!"

"You're going to have to," Shizuo informed with a little sadism. "Cause' that's all I have. Some of us can't afford to have more than a few outfits. Besides, Kasuka brought those for me."

Izaya tentatively buttoned it up. It looked large on his slight frame, and Shizuo had to repress the urge to ravish him.

Izaya reached out a hand, and Shizuo pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing. "Shizu-chan, the trousers?" He wriggled his ringed fingers.

Shizuo let out the laugh that had been bubbling in his chest. It came out dark. "If you think back, you bloodsucking flea, you'll remember that I only agreed to lending you a shirt. You didn't ask for anything else."

How does it feel to be outsmarted, you flea?

Izaya gaped. "Give me pants now!"

"You're in no position to be demanding anything. You get what you get and that's the end of it. The shirt goes to just above your knees anyway." Shizuo knew how ridiculous the flea was going to look. He looked dishevelled, and there was even dried blood that was staining the back of the shirt.

"But – but –"Izaya stuttered. "I'm not wearing any underwear!"

Shizuo almost licked his lips. That was good. It would remind Izaya that he had been the one to remove and destroy them. "Then you best walk slowly." Shizuo said cruelly. "Make sure you stick to the back alleys. It's the weekend and its midday. They'll be a lot of people in Ikebukuro. Maybe a few cringe worthy moments will ensure you stay away a little longer than a week."

"You complete asshole!" Izaya exclaimed in outrage.

Shizuo felt a sick sense of satisfaction. He was relishing getting the best of Izaya. "Maybe I should screw you more often. You're so much more entertaining like this. How does it feel to be riled up deliberately?" Shizuo felt like an admonishing teacher as he asked. This led to him wondering if he could ever get Izaya in a schoolgirl uniform.

"It sucks." Izaya jutted out his bottom lip. "I won't do it ever again to you."

Lie, after lie after lie. How can you expect me to take you seriously?

"I highly doubt that. You're just trying to manipulate me into giving you pants. Your mind games won't work on me." Shizuo wasn't about to give in to the flea. He didn't deserve it.

"Shizuo," Izaya said seriously. Shizuo blanched. It was the first time the flea had addressed him with any respect. It was gratifying. "I'd really appreciate it if you'd give me some pants."

"What's the magic world?" Shizuo asked.

Izaya bristled. "Please." He managed to sound polite. Barely.

"Hm..." Shizuo thought about it. "No." It was time the flea learnt a little humility.

Izaya went to reach for a knife that was absent. "Shizuo, I swear –"

"You shouldn't do that, it's a bad habit." Shizuo's grin stretched wider. No wonder the flea liked messing with people, it was fun. He was glad he'd bent that knife out of shape last night. "Now," The grin fell and was replaced with a scowl. He just remembered he had to meet Tom in front of Russia Sushi today. The man was very forgiving, but Shizuo didn't like to take advantage of the man's generous nature. "Get out of my apartment. I'm late for work and I don't want to walk with you."

"You know people will assume you and I...did it, right?" Izaya pointed out desperately. "It's obvious this shirt is yours!"

Did he want it to be public knowledge he had sex with Izaya? He wasn't sure, but he wasn't about to change his mind and pussy out on his decision. "It would be even more obvious with the pants."

"Shizu-chan –" Shizuo knew that the flea could argue until he lost his voice, so he stalked forward, grabbed him by the collar of the borrowed shirt, hauled him up, and unceremoniously dumped him in the hallway.

"Have a nice day!" He slammed the door before Izaya got the chance to recover himself.

He smoked whilst Izaya banged on the door furiously for the next ten minutes. Eventually the flea gave up, and Shizuo decided he should stop stifling his chortles and go have a shower instead. Maybe he should have felt guilty about not giving the flea his shoes...

Oh well. He could live with it.

Shizuo stayed in his cramped shower longer then he usually did. He was using the time to collect his thoughts and come to terms with what he had done last night. He and the flea had had sex. Did this mean that they would no longer fight anymore? Would it be too awkward and they would avoid each other like the plague? Surely that would have been ideal for him...

So why did the prospect of Izaya abandoning their game make him feel achingly empty?

After he finally stepped out of the shower he dressed and guzzled down a bottle of milk on his way to work. He looked around carefully on the streets for Izaya, but it seemed the man had run for it. He would no doubt be close to Shinjuku by the time Shizuo even got close to Russia Sushi. That is, unless he was stalled...

Shizuo's grin was impossibly wide and sadistic. No doubt Izaya would be the main topic on the Dollars forum. He didn't often visit it, but he supposed it would be interesting to do so after work today.

By the time Shizuo was nearing Russia Sushi he could notice clumps of people discussing things under their voices. He caught the name 'Izaya Orihara' a few times and tried to ignore the weighty stares that were burning into his back. One brave (or stupid) person approached him when he stopped for a smoke. He was weedy and had a long nose. "You're Shizuo Heiwajima, right?"

"Yeah." Shizuo grumbled.

"We saw Izaya Orihara earlier and he looked like he was doing the walk of shame. Was it you who had sex with him or was he sluttin' around with someone else?"

The boy didn't even have time to block the kick that was aimed into his gut, and he flew back at least a metre. He knew there were many rumours about Izaya floating around, about him 'loving' his humans a little too much. But Shizuo could tell, just by how Izaya behaved last night that he had probably gone even longer than him without being intimate with anyone.

That and the flea was a total prude this morning. He got flustered fairly easily. He certainly thought he was exceptionally good looking (and Shizuo privately admitted to himself that Izaya was) but he didn't seem all that comfortable being looked at whilst naked.

When Shizuo reached Russia Sushi, Tom was waiting patiently. "Yo," He said when Shizuo came to a halt at his side. "It's not like you to be late. Something happen?"

Shizuo didn't know how to respond, so he just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Fair enough." Tom was not a pushy person, and this was one of the reasons Shizuo never wanted to bash his brains out. "The guy we've got to see doesn't get home until after three this afternoon, so do you want to eat?"

"Yes." Shizuo's stomach rumbled at the prospect of food. Having sex certainly made you hungry...

"Shizuo," Simon greeted jovially when he saw the two men. "You eat good, fish very fresh! We have special on today! You fight because you're hungry, with food in belly, you no fight!"

"I don't think that's how Shizuo works." Tom said wryly, he side-stepped around Simon. "Do you have any of that cheese sushi? I don't think it's so bad, despite its richness."

"Yes, we do! You go right in!" Simon bowed with a close eyed smile. Tom walked ahead, and before Shizuo could follow Simon put a huge, bear like hand upon his shoulder. "I see Izaya today. He look different, he wear face of unhappiness. You go fix things?"

Shizuo blanched at the forwardness. He knew Simon was smart and observant enough to put two and two together, but did he really guess he and Izaya had slept together so quickly? Or maybe he was stupid to assume that it wasn't really as obvious as Izaya had made it out to be...

He'd really downplayed that one. "There's nothing wrong." Shizuo said plainly. "It was just once."

Simon let go, and Shizuo was sure the man seemed disappointed. "You have sushi. Sushi make things clearer."

Shizuo shook his head at the unexpected advice.

Tom was already sitting at a table and he looked at Shizuo questioningly as he joined him. "Why'd Simon hold you up?"

"Nothing." Shizuo replied a little too quickly. "He was just blathering on about some shit I don't care about."

"You know, Simon's not a bad guy." Tom said. "You should listen to whatever he says."

Shizuo bit his lip to stop from yelling. Everyone was frustrating him today. He was going to lose his temper if everyone kept telling him what to do.

Simon eventually came back inside and served them their sushi. Tom munched on the weird variety of sushis that the chef seemed to enjoy creating, and Shizuo nearly flipped the table when Simon gave him a plate of ootoro free of charge. The dark man's knowing glint pissed him off!

Despite the fact that the ootoro left a bad taste in his mouth, he still ate it anyway. Ootoro was expensive, and he wasn't about to waste it. They were just in the process of preparing to leave when the two heard an unholy shriek.

It took Shizuo a moment to identify who it belonged to, but when he did he paled and tried to escape without the short woman stopping him. However she could be very fast when chasing down a seme and she jumped into his path, almost causing a big collision. Walker snagged her out of his path before they made contact. She looked a little dizzy, but very triumphant when she straightened up. "Hey Shizu-chan," She beamed. "You'll never guess who I ran into today."

Shizuo didn't even respond. There was no point trying to speak with the woman when she was like this. He remembered the first time she had approached him directly, he'd always seen her hanging around Kadota, but it was after the slasher incident that she had waltzed up to him and inquired about his relationship with Izaya mercilessly. He had been dismayed with her (and still was) because no matter how many threats he threw her way she still remained persistent and unhesitant. It seemed nothing he could do would shake her, and he didn't make a habit of assaulting woman, so he couldn't rid himself of her. Not only would it be wrong, but he was certain that Kadota and his gang would find a way to bury him deep underground if he ever raised a hand to her.

So he tried to avoid her as much as possible, but she seemed to have a radar, (or as she secretly called it, a Gaydar)

"It was Izaya Orihara, and he confirmed that you and he were in love and going to be together forever!"

"Don't exaggerate," Kadota chided. He had walked up behind her. "He only confirmed the fact you two slept together." He leant forward and lowered his voice. "Izaya told me in a roundabout way that what you did together was consensual, but I want your word on it."

"Why would you even care?" Shizuo demanded.

"I don't particularly like that asshole. But rape is wrong, no matter whom it involves." Kadota said this firmly. He was a very moral man. "I have a feeling he would lie even if it wasn't consensual."

"You think I'm that much of a dick?" Shizuo snarled, somehow managing to do so softly. However the words rang through his head, 'You took advantage of me'. Had he? Perhaps the flea had been against it the whole time, but wasn't able to protest. It seemed Kadota could detect his doubt, and he frowned deeply.

"I know I shouldn't meddle in matters that don't concern me, but if you did do something that lowly, well, I'll just have to do something about it, won't I?"

"Ah, Dotachin!" Erika looked up at him with starry eyes. "You're like the unwilling big brother figure whose concern takes on a tangible form! But..." Her eyes turned stormy. "If you ruin their relationship, I'll kill you."

Kadota flinched backwards in fright. Obviously that threat was not to be taken lightly. Walker shuddered, and whispered to him: "She's dead serious."

Kadota sighed, and stepped back. "I'll leave it for you two to fix. I'll see you around." He turned on his heel and walked off in the direction of Saburo's van. A silently spectating Saburo followed after him, but Erika bounced up and down. How could she be so energetic? How could she be so passionate about something that didn't concern her?

Tom, who had been watching the happenings with wide eyes nodded in the direction of a sign post and gave them some privacy.

"I shall give you some advice." Erika said so wisely, Shizuo expected her to sprout a long white beard. "You're in the early stages of your relationship where you are questioning everything. In conventional relationships this is usually the time to go slow and steady, but you two have never been conventional or anything but fast paced, so I think you should both figure things out now before either of you over-think everything."

"We aren't –"

Erika shushed him brashly. Walker's eyes opened from more than slits as Shizuo's hands shook in anger. "You are. You just haven't realized it yet. I want you to go after Izaya and drag him back to your apartment before he gets to Shinjuku. Don't you think it's time to mix things up a bit?" She continued before he had the chance to answer. "Think of how much fun you had last night and this morning. That could happen all of the time!"

Shizuo felt Erika could convince anyone to do as she said, because he found himself actually contemplating the semi-proposal semi-order. It had been entertaining this morning, hadn't it? And he had thought about how cute the flea was...and Izaya hadn't complained once about Shizuo hurting him the previous night. Sure, he must have been a little resentful he couldn't walk right, but he hadn't whined or cried like many of the others Shizuo had slept with.

And really, what was so wrong about actually trying to have a decent relationship with someone? Even if it was with Izaya...if things didn't work out, they could always go back to behaving normally...but then, had it really been consensual? Was Izaya serious about Shizuo taking advantage of him? Or was he just pouting?

Would Izaya want to try and go further?

He didn't tell Kadota I raped him like I would have expected him to do. I caused him some trouble today, and I thought for certain he'd like to ail me in return. Maybe he wouldn't be so opposed to the idea...

Shizuo was the sort of individual who did things on a whim.

We should try a new game...and if it doesn't work out, at least I'll have the perfect opportunity to kill him whilst he sleeps.

That prospect made Shizuo happy.

"Yes, yes..." Erika cooed creepily as she saw Shizuo's thoughts flicker across his face. "Be irrational..."

"Erika, Walker!" Saburo called from his van. "Hurry up! We're going to see Kazutano!"

"One moment..." Erika called back with a dulcet tone. "Shizuo," She looked at him severely, placing her hands on her hips. "Think about this from an objective perspective, and try and forget about how much you hate Izaya."

Shizuo nodded stiffly. The sooner he complied the sooner she'd go away.

"Okay," She said cheerily. "Tell me, who is it you feel the most strongly about?"

"Kasuka."

"Someone who isn't your brother."

Shizuo was silent. He felt extreme hate for Izaya, and hate was a strong emotion. "Izaya." He answered.

"Who do you fight the most with?"

"Izaya."

"Who makes you feel the happiest?"

"Izaya." Shizuo said.

Only when I actually land a hit.

"Who are you not afraid to hurt?"

"Izaya."

"Who is the person you enjoyed sleeping with the most?"

"...Izaya."

"See," Erika said once she had finished her questioning. "You and Izaya really are closer to a couple then you think. A love-hate couple, but a couple nonetheless."

"Erika, Walker," It was Kadota that shouted this time. "Come on, or Saburo is going to leave without you!"

"Coming..." Erika said. She jabbed Shizuo on his muscled chest. "There's no harm in trying, and there's no time like the present." She linked her arm through Walker's.

The boy looked at Erika with a scared expression. "You really are into BL too much."

Shizuo watched as they toddled away, bickering like a married couple.

Tom walked back over. "Shizuo, I don't know the ins and outs of what's going on with you today, but I'm going to give you the day off." He held up a hand before Shizuo could object. "This guy should be able to pay up."

"Thanks Tom." Shizuo said thankfully.

Tom waved a hand dismissively. "No need to thank me. You haven't had a day off in a long time."

Shizuo reclined against the bench he was sitting on and enjoyed Celty's reassuring presence. She had been looking for him, and she had found him not long after he had walked away from Tom. He'd followed her to the bench, and was now basking in silence after he had told Celty in detail of what had occurred last night and this morning.

The headless fairy had listened sharply throughout the explanation, even at the parts that grossed her out, and had placed a kind hand on his shoulder afterwards. [I don't know if Erika is just trying to fuel her own fantasies, and I don't agree with some of the things she said, but I do think she was correct about you and Izaya being more like a couple then you think.]

Shizuo's eyes flickered as he read the message. "So you think I should listen to her?"

[I think you and Izaya should talk things out and then maybe have a trial period. I haven't seen you calmer than you are today. Obviously you've got him on your mind. You've been so contemplative.]

"I don't mean to interrupt, but why is Shinra sitting over there?" Shizuo indicated to a park bench not so far away. Shinra was on his phone, looking rather bored and gloomy. There were a few bags of groceries sitting at his feet.

[I think it would be better for you not to take Shinra's advice.] Celty confessed. [He'd probably say you two should elope and get married.]

That thought made Shizuo queasy. "I'd never contemplate that." Although the image of Izaya in a low riding white dress was rather appetizing...the thought of them exchanging heartfelt vows made him nearly gag up that ootoro he had forced down.

Celty looked as if she was laughing silently. [The change isn't as drastic as you think. I'm certain you and Izaya could never be one of those in love couples that give Eskimo kisses.]

Shizuo shuddered, that was plain disturbing. "Anyway..." He was eager to change the subject. "Do you think I took advantage of him?"

[Honestly, you have to ask him that.] Celty showed him her PDA. [I think he just said that in the heat of the moment, but I can't be certain. I will tell you one thing though, when I saw him earlier -]

"You saw him earlier?"

[ -Yes, and when I told him I was happy for you two, and that I hope you two can sort out your differences, he just said 'Thanks'.]

"He did?"

[Yeah.]

This made Shizuo feel much better. He could be dramatizing this whole incident. He tended to do that. Kasuka had once told him that sometimes he believed Shizuo should have been in the acting profession.

[I think you should go see him now.] Celty suggested. [I need to be getting home. I promised Shinra I'd cook him dinner.]

Shizuo mentally sent Shinra a 'Good luck'. He'd tasted Celty's cooking once before, and never wanted a repeat of that incident. "Alright, thanks for listening."

Celty gave him a one armed hug. [I'm always here for you.]

"You're a good friend."

Shinra seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to Celty, and he ran over enthusiastically, grocery bags clanking and clunking. "Are you two finished!?"

[Yes.] Celty typed. [Let's go home.]

"Wait, I wanted to tell Shizuo about Izaya's health conditions before they do anything risqué tonight –"Celty yanked his cheek hard. "Ouch, Celty, that hurts!"

[Bye Shizuo.]

"Bye." Shizuo said absently. Celty dragged Shinra away, the man still whinging as she did so.

I had better hurry if I want to catch Izaya before he gets to Shinjuku.

Shizuo passed a group of rowdy teenagers on his pursuit of Izaya. The four had stopped in front of him, and a confident blonde boy had begun to talk to him before he had backed away wisely when Shizuo had given him a scary look. He thought he had seen one of the girls, a girl with large breasts and glasses, before, but he couldn't really remember her name or under what circumstances he had become acquainted with her.

He did know that the group of them were friendly with Celty, but honestly he didn't care. He kept to his own life, and he didn't want a bunch of kids yapping to him whenever he caught their fancy. It was bad enough he had to put up with Erika and Simon on a daily basis.

So the bunch of them had continued on their way hastily, but not without the blonde one shouting out praises for Shizuo. Obviously, the little punk knew Izaya as well.

When Shizuo finally caught up to Izaya (the flea had been moving slowly) the other man seemed close to being pummelled by this gross looking guy. They were standing in the middle of the street, and there were only three girls who were around to witness the fight. Under normal circumstances, Shizuo would have just stood back and watched as Izaya got the shit beat out of him. However, today he felt inclined to stop the man from beating up the flea. He felt territorial, as if he was the only person alive or dead who had the sacred right to attack him. So when Izaya was close to being stabbed (and for once Shizuo regretted ridding the man of his weapon) Shizuo had jumped in without much thought. It was instinctive, and he'd cleanly broken the man's wrist before he had the chance to even recover.

When the man cried out in pain, Shizuo turned to the flea with a mixture of worry, relief, and anger. He was certainly volatile. "You damn flea! Always causing trouble for me! Can't you go for one day without starting some fight!?" He blatantly ignored the screeching girls. Why couldn't he have a nice peaceful day without violence?

"I didn't instigate this." Izaya said coolly.

Shizuo didn't doubt that. Izaya was clearly in no shape to fight. However he knew the flea must have baited them somehow. He was too prideful to walk away. "In fact, this is your fault. I've been trying to get back to Shinjuku, and I keep running into every person I've been trying to avoid. It's been tedious and torturous."

They seemed to have been under very similar circumstances. Shizuo was silent for a long moment.

Now I've seen him, I have the urge to take him back home and follow Erika and Celty's advice. But I can't talk to him genuinely; he'll just make fun of me. And that's not how we do things.

"I have a solution for your problem." Shizuo's half-smirk half-snarl wasn't nearly as faux as he had expected it to be.

"What?" Izaya snapped, smoothing down the shirt that had begun to billow in the light wind. Shizuo wondered if anyone had had a glimpse of the raven's nether regions today. He hoped not.

Shizuo tried to conceal his nervousness. "Don't go back to Shinjuku, stay with me." Shizuo shrugged, as if he wasn't suggesting something life changing. "We can figure everything out that way."

He expected Izaya to laugh uproariously, to mock him and enrage him. However he smiled and it was still catlike and cunning, but there was a trace of genuineness in there that Shizuo thought he just might have been imagining. "I guess I wasn't the only one who ran into everyone today."

It was funny how people could convince you to do things you might not have even contemplated. Shizuo thought they both might have been bowing to peer pressure, but maybe in this case, it was a positive thing. "No," Shizuo said. "No you weren't."

I wonder what was said to him. Was it different to what was said to me?

"Even Shinra?" Izaya asked.

"And Celty."

The two gave each other appraising looks. "I'll go." Izaya decided with a sniff. "But only if you treat me to Russia Sushi to compensate for the awful day I had."

Shizuo had already eaten sushi that day, and would have preferred to dine somewhere different, but he supposed he owed the flea that much at least. Besides, ootoro no longer seemed unappetizing. It would be refreshing to share some of it with the flea. "Wearing that?" Shizuo pointed at the blouse.

"It's not like everyone in Ikebukuro hasn't seen me." Izaya said, this time with his own half-smirk half-snarl. "Catch me if you can, Shizu-chan!" Izaya began to run away, back in the direction of Russia Sushi. His limbs were clumsy and his running was slow. It was more for show then anything, more playful, but Shizuo still found it somewhat endearing and followed after at a much slower pace than usual.

At the moment, he had an elated feeling bubbling in his chest, and he was content to enjoy it for now, because that feeling would probably fade the longer he was in Izaya's company.

To think, Izaya, so shameless, had been nervous about doing the walk of shame. He snickered when he saw the dried blood on the back of Izaya's bare thighs.

This new game would be fun for the both of them.

The end...for now.

I hope this wasn't really boring. Anyways, I'm going to go work on the sequel now! Thanks for reading! Adios peeps! ^_^