Wow, can't believe we're here already. I also can't believe so many of you guys love this story. It makes me really, really, happy!

And by the way, I'd like to give a special thanks to all the people in the reviews for giving me advice about the poster thing. xD! Thanks, I was already going to do that; when I get the poster and THEN tell her. :3

I really need to stop with the 'Shizuo sleeping and waking up because of something' timeskip cliche. Welp, here's the next chapter. Enjoy~

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Chapter 22: Vision

Shizuo saw what he did not want to see ever again.

That same pained expression, loud screams of fear. Izaya was thrashing and kicking all in the bed.

"I SAID STOP! MAKE IT STOP!" He let out another yell. Shizuo, stunned and frozen with worry and shock, stood at the door just staring. Izaya was having a night terror, or at the least, a panic attack. The blond found his courage dwelling within his bosom, and as fast as a blur, he dashed to the raven's side.

"Izaya-"

"LET ME GO!" The screaming continued as if he was truly engulfed in fear. Shizuo didn't know what to do. He reached his hand outward and grabbed the raven's wrist. Izaya only protested and tried to yank his arm free, and kept screaming 'NO' and 'STOP! LET ME GO!'

"Wake up! Oi!" Shizuo said as he shook Izaya firmly. Now that it was more clear to see, Shizuo's eyes widened even more than they were, shock flaring from them. Crystal streams were running down his pale, cold cheeks like a river. "Oi!-"

Shizuo kept shaking and shaking until what seemed like eternity. An eternity of a scary reality. He didn't know how long it was, or how long it had been. He just kept shaking and shaking and repeating 'Izaya, wake up!' or 'It's me, Shizuo!', 'Get a hold of yourself!' but it only resulted into more violent squirming.

"Snap out of it! Izaya!" He said as he wrapped his arms around the informant's slender back, straddling him into an embrace. "NO! N-No…!" Izaya kept repeating like a non-stop mantra.

To Shizuo, he could keep this solid hug for no matter how long it takes. He was strong, much stronger than the flea physically. No matter how much the flea screamed and thrashed trying to break his hold upon him, Shizuo still didn't let go.

Suddenly, the thrashing stopped.

"P..Please…" He heard the faint voice. "...Make them shut up… I don't want this…"

Make them shut up…? Who?

He fixed his gaze upon the black haired male but his shoulders were shaking. "Izaya…" The blond whispered as he loosened his grip around the raven. His heart was crushed by sorrow and worry.

The blond didn't know what was worse. The fact that his mortal enemy was crying once again right in front of his eyes, him screaming and crying out to anyone for his need, or the fact that he was reminded of what happened to him.

How could any of this have happened?

"Izaya, hey, I'm here." he said softly. The raven's soft sobs and shaking came to a halt. Izaya raised his head slowly before meeting golden eyes.

"...Shizu….chan…?"

Relief finally settled. "Yeah, I'm here."

They gazed at each other's eyes for countless seconds, Izaya's crimson orbs stained with glossy stars from his tears while Shizuo's was mocha and carried concern.

He felt warm. They both felt warm. Izaya was freezing cold exactly like an ice cube. For the great part, Shizuo was just glad that this was practically over. He didn't want to see anymore tears shed. He didn't want to hear screams stricken with fear. He didn't want none of that.

Before a small smile tugged at his lips, he felt arms push him away. Izaya, eyes flaring with anger and beamed towards the blond, was beyond confused. A moment of silence passed between them, just staring at each other.

"Tell me exactly what the hell you were doing?" He questioned the brute. Shizuo was bewildered. "What do you mean?"

He felt those same eyes flame at him. "The fact that Shizu-chan was holding me? Or was it the fact that you're anywhere near me?"

After what had just happened, taunts are next? "You left me no choice, louse!"

"Choice? Since when did you ever think? Hah, protozoans make no sense. Not that they need to, they only have one little cell of mind." A smirk that tried to look teasing spread upon his lips, "So why don't you think, ne?"

"...Are you fucking kidding me?"

Shizuo felt his anger bubbling. "Are you seriously going to give me this shit after what just happened?"

"Be more specific. There are other things that happened too, you know~?"

Even if he was just teasing blond, Shizuo could tell that he was confused. Far more confused than he has ever seen him. It was like trying to talk to a brick wall with the two. You'd get absolutely nowhere.

"You were screaming and eventually started crying, I'm pretty sure you had a nightmare. Some part of me wished I never woke you up…" he muttered. Suddenly, the tables turned as the air grew more strange. "What?" Izaya said dumbfounded.

"What the hell do you mean 'what'? You heard me, you were screaming until I woke you up! Get it right, louse!" Shizuo grit his teeth. This man was truly unbelievable.

Izaya looked even more dumbfounded, trying to look for words but nothing came out. Shizuo didn't know exactly why he felt sorry, or the need to feel bad, but he could see the tint of sadness and fear flash through those irises.

"...What did I do… when it happened?" the raven asked. Shizuo sighed and brushed his hair back with his hand. "Like I said, you were screaming and kicking everywhere."

"I had to wake you up."

The raven gave a stern look before breaking the gaze and looking down. "...Is that all?" he asked. The blond replied of course. It really was a scary reality indeed. Having to wake up in the one you hate's arms and finding out that they saved you, or showing them your weak state is truly embarrassing. To Izaya, it was crushing, destroying his pride and godlike image. But what was constantly plaguing his mind was not only just Shizuo, he was far from it. What was truly interfering with his life was what he had gone through up until now.

What happened between those men and him were long past due. A very long time ago. But even such a person like Izaya could still be traumatized by it.

He heard Shizuo sigh again before seeing him shift closer and closer to his vision. "W-What are you doing?" despite having stuttered, he still was confused.

Before he could react, arms stretched wide over him and caught him into another embrace. "Hey- Let go!" Izaya growled while trying to break free from the hold, but it was no use. His struggling was never in good use, no matter where he was.

"Until you calm down, I'll keep you like this. Got it?"

Deep red eyes widened at what he had just heard. Those very same arms of a monster were clutching onto him and squeezing just a tad bit. They felt warm and comforting compared to those disgracing cold hands that could freeze anyone.

Why is it like this? Shizuo is a monster. He is the fortissimo of Ikebukuro. But why is it so hard to tell the difference between him and those beasts? He was the same; a monster that gave off power and ended up hurting everyone, but yet, people like him.

Izaya knew that it was pointless to dwell on a thought like that since he knew the answer.

Shizuo wouldn't stoop so low as to do what those men had done. Even though he was unpredictable and not always accurate on being read, it wasn't like him. Who knows, there might be a time where he might get so mad to the point he might actually do exactly what they did, only to gain power over that person.

But he was stronger than that. Mentally and Physically. Not unless his anger plagues his mind as well.

Those men were heartless and foul, infecting him with their diseases. While Shizuo doesn't give off any sort of foul-play. Why?

Why did he enjoy being held by someone? Why did he enjoy being held by only this man? Why doesn't he fight back? Why can't he decide what to do now?

Shizuo's words were calming despite his wrath.

The night's silent creeping was quiet and crickets chirped endlessly. There were more clouds than before and blocked out the moon's beauty from the streets below. It was faint, but yet soothing.

Even if it took seconds, minutes, Izaya raised his arms upward and hooked them around the ex-bartender's back, hugging him back.

He didn't want to show his weak side. This wasn't like Izaya. He was much more stronger than this. Much, much more stronger than this. But after what he had just gone through since this whole time, even if it was such a long time ago, it still affected him greatly.

Izaya was no god. He was just a plain, simple, human being. He had the same shade of red flowing through his veins, even when it spills from a wound. He had a mind, an opinion, an own body like every other human. But what disgusted him about it was that those men were also human, even if they didn't act like it. That's why he chose to be greater. Greater than them. Greater than all the rest of the scum around him.

He loves them equally. No matter what they all did, because they were human too. But another reason why he wished, cherished to be greater, was because he was used for something that is probably the lowest in the world.

But yet, Izaya gained the motivation to believe higher.

How he craved to stay in those arms forever. They were welcoming, wanting him. Needed him to calm down. Called out to him. It surprised him because this was Shizuo he was thinking about. Why must everything be so complicated?

Izaya could feel his heated puffs of breath graze his exposed neck every now and then. He felt the comforting feeling that he never believed Shizuo could have. He could feel a sense of happiness flutter within himself. It was just like…

That dream.

Surely it was just like it. Or maybe it was a vision?

Eventually, he grew tired and weary of being in a comfortable position. Shizuo's heartbeat sang him a lullaby and soothed him into what felt like a true fantasy. He was warm. He was caring for him.

"...Shizu-chan…"

Shizuo perked his up and looked back down onto the raven. "...Will you stay here…?"

He was expecting a strict answer like 'Hell no!' or 'As if,' but instead felt a hand rest on his hair and started stroking it. "Fine." was all the blond said.

And with that, he felt the warmth of a true human engulf him into a delicate, kind, sleep.

。。。

By the time it was morning they completely forgot what had happened. The light beamed through the drapes with a happy tone. Clouds were forming over the sky though, and pretty soon it was going to get cloudy.

Shizuo blinked open his eyes groggily.

"Morning, sleepyhead~." he heard a voice. He wiped the sleep out of his eyes and focused his vision on a raven sitting at the edge of the bed looking back at him. It didn't take him long to realize he was sleeping in the bed and eventually rose up sluggishly.

"Morning already…?" he snarled. It felt like everything went fast like a flash. Faster than what he'd expected. Sadly, Shizuo knows he can't afford to miss out on another day of work.

He found his strength and made it out of the bed and headed towards the closet getting extra clothes.

"You've got work today, hm?" He heard Izaya muse out. If Izaya only didn't always tease Shizuo, his mornings and probably even his life would be better. "When the fuck do I not have work?" Another growl erupted from his gritted teeth. Izaya chuckled like a little kid. Nah, Izaya pretty much is a kid.

He got his clothes ready and eventually took a shower quickly. Tom said he'd meet him in half an hour or so, so it'd be nice to go early. But what kept him steady within his mind was 'What would happen if I leave the louse here…?'

Would he try something? Would he be afraid to be alone because of… that happening again. He might have a night terror again.

But for whatever reason, he's entrusting his senses to not fail him.

As soon as he got ready he halted at the door. It was strange. Strange living like this.

"You'd better not break or steal anything, louse." He flickered his glare back at the flea. "As you wish~" was all he heard before proceeding to open and walk out of the door.

。。。

"It's great to have you back. Mind if I ask where you've been?"

"Apologies. Information is classified." She said showing no emotion.

Tom had been waiting for his friend to show up. "Oh, I see him!" He said as he saw Shizuo catch up to them. "Hey Tom," he replied as he approached but couldn't help but notice another thing. "oh, you're back."

"Yes." Vorona nodded. Even if she couldn't show it through facial expressions or through words with enthusiast, she was very well happy to be there. Happy to be back.

"So Tom, where do we have to go now?"

It was great to have an old comrade back from such a long time, but it wasn't really a normal feeling because they never really knew her long enough.

They made their way down the streets of the town through the shrouds and throngs of citizens. While they were walking, Tom decided to give them the details on their next client as they went on. "So where exactly have you been?" He asked.

"Apologies. Exactly as I told Tom-senpai, information is classified." The russian replied, icy blue eyes flickered over to Shizuo. "Classified? That's shit."

"It is true. I am sorry that I cannot share."

。。。

Red.

Everything was red.

His vision, the sky, the ground. It was all red and different shades of it.

He was just standing in the middle of it all. It was like a photo painted with nothing but different shades and colors of red. But where was the life?

His crimson zoomed at everything, but he kept still.

In his vision was a very weak raven lying in dusty dirt, motionless and trying to breathe. Was it hurt? It was wheezing and he could hear small 'craws' from how injured it sounded. A hole was visible through its chest area, streaks of crimson flowing from it like a river and forming around its body, making a pond.

He tried to approach it but a loud CAW caught his attention. It was on top of a large and sturdy looking tree but still looked pretty thin. He examined the tree until his eyes rested upon a bird cloaked in black.

CAW

It was a… crow? It had completely pitch black eyes that could suck anyone into a deep trance. Within those eyes were danger.

But that wasn't what concerned him. That crow had something trapped within its beak. A small red shaped oval was caught in the mouth; a seed. "A crow with a seed…?" He focused his orbs closer. That seed was dripping with crimson droplets, raining down onto the dusty ground below the tree. "What are you doing…?"

Eye to eye, the crow stared at him as well did he stare back. As if an animal had feelings or understandment…

Being the animal that it was, it tossed the seed across the air.

The bloody seed pelted across the dirt.

It began to rot. Sudden black strings and what looked like to be briefly black colored hands submerged it into the dusty sand.

The raven stopped wheezing.

The sand switched to mushy brown liquid. Mud. It dragged at his legs and trapped him no matter how hard he tried to escape the muck.

He tried to call for help; look for a way out. Panic rushed through him as did his chest pound with fear. But,

he couldn't feel his heart. Even if there was pounding against his rib cage.

The constant cawing kept repeating and repeating until multiple other sounds of crows flooded into millions cawing at once.

"...Shut up…"

They cawed even more. Louder.

"I said shut up…!"

Louder.

"SHUT UP!"

They were mocking him. Teasing him. Laughter and words spreading across like a deadly disease to his virgin ears. He covered his ears and let out a frustrated scream of agony.

Suddenly, he felt a million arms tackle him under the mud within a blink of an eye. Before he could scream, before he could do anything. That damned crow looked down onto him with a smiling glare from its dark beady eyes.

He couldn't breathe. The laughing and constant craws of that same accursed bird continued on as a mantra. Those black hands dragged him down until he was in nothing but darkness of water.

He couldn't breathe.

Struggling and fighting.

Fighting them.

"You will never be perfect…"

The water's density grew thicker and thicker until he couldn't suppress the urge to keep fighting, letting the water rush through his windpipe clogging it and flooding his lungs.

"You are too shallow. So easy to see through."

Limbs growing tired and eventually came to a stop.

"No one will ever accept you,

not even the ones close to you."

He felt an ice cold breath sting his ear, shuddering and could feel the presence of someone there. A feminine voice that sounded of no emotion.

"He will never bond with you."

"Never understand you."

Disgusting. Revolting. Those repeated within his head. Hands of dark beings slipped up his clothes; shirt; pants.

Fear was all he could ever feel.

But a voice was calling him from the distance. It was so faint, but it was calling his name.

"Never care for the likes of you, filth."

His shirt was lifted up until it exposed his naval covered with not very visible bruises. 'S-Stop it…' Traveled even lower to the buckle of his pants. 'I said stop!'

Another voice, a tone similar to man's;

"You're my gift, and mine only."

"No one can protect you."

"Not even that beast who acts like he truly cares for you."

They were all over his body. That voice calling and reaching out to the raven grew louder and louder until it almost blocked out all the other voices. All of the voices except for one.

"You're mine now."

Panic slammed into him like a truck running him over before he gained his conscious. Sweat bubbled across his forehead but he felt something warm like a rope wrap around his back. He opened his eyes and looked up to see blond hair.

"Izaya, hey, I'm here." was what heard.

Was he still in the dream or…?

No. This was very much real. He was in Shizuo's arms.

。。。

That was the least of his worries. It was what he hard dreamed about. What happened? What was wrong with the raven? It looked like its heart was stolen by the size of it having a gaping hole in its chest.

Why?

So many questions, but that shouldn't keep him from doing what he should. Shizuo would come back later, so for the meantime, he should be relaxing instead of thinking about that nightmare. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to not think about it.

That should be left to him to seek out the answer. Ah, if he could only have his laptop he could find out the symbolic reasoning behind it; not that it mattered or anything.

Izaya will wait until Shizuo came home. He felt uneasy from sitting in an apartment all alone and very vulnerable. He felt safe when the blond was around. He will wait.

He will wait for Shizuo to get home.

。。。

Haha, I love leaving important twists in the plot that is confusing and gets the readers inspired to figuring it out. :3