A/N: To Nona: You are absolutely correct, Izaya does have the markings on his back, however, when he was doing those sexual acts with Shizuo he was laying on his back so he couldn't have seen them. There was a part where Izaya was sucking Shizuo off, but his shirt was pulled back down and his jacket was flattened on him again. I don't think I said this often but if anyone is confused, Izaya has a new jacket that is very similar to his old one. I'm not sure if I fully added that into the story after he had problems with the other jacket but I hinted at it many times. Though, Shizuo does know about the markings from what Shinra has told him but has never seen them.

I'll let you in on a little something; you cracked part of the story's ending and part of this chapter. I was saving it, but oh well, the cat is out of the bag. Nice job hinting at that before I even unleashed this chapter, Nona! You have a good sense memory and good eyes. Everyone here is also wonderful in their own way and I can't thank you enough.

To Iminlovewithshizaya: You are actually the one that left the most positive reviews after every single chapter and kept me happy. Everyone's reviews made me incredibly happy that I could swear that I was blushing red. But you kept on reviewing, so thank you! I never had the proper time to thank you.

Oh. And By the way; my phone broke not too long ago so I had to rewrite this chapter on my laptop whenever it was free and no family member to disturb me lol. I apologize for the unexpected long wait!

Onto the story!

Chapter 34: Cutting Ropes of Steel

Warning: Mild language

Izaya stood wavering in front of the window unable to contain his revengeful spirit bubbling with excitement. He was wearing a plain black sleeveless shirt and skinny jeans of navy that hugged his waist down to his legs. Tomorrow was the day they are going to settle this neverending cycle of hatred and fear. Tomorrow was the day those demons were sent back to hell. Dawn arose from the horizon and the sun peaked over greeting every soul in the city while lighting up every building with its illuminating light of yellow and orange, scaring the shadows and making them scatter away. The smell of a new day was cherished within the wind, but it wasn't just time. This was their day of respite.

"Will you be alright alone?" He heard the husky voice ask, breaking the silence. Izaya nodded with a small smile. Shizuo couldn't help but feel the thick heavy lump that stayed within his throat. Last night was not what he expected- they had sex and would never see themselves the same way as they used to anymore. Enemies to… to…

Lovers?

When the moon was nigh and they were making love, Shizuo desperately wanted to say what was on his mind, to express his feelings, show how h truly felt about the raven other than his sexual desire to just ravage him. Now wouldn't be the time but he couldn't force the voices of his feelings out of his head and the air around him grew tense. His chest tightened and it felt like he was being squeezed to death by his own mistakes.

'Why can't I just tell you?'

'That I…'

"Shizu-chan has work, right?" Izaya asked softly, snapping his head out of a pit of thoughts. "...Y-Yeah…" Ignoring the fact that he stuttered he took stiff steps towards the door after adjusting the hem of his vest. This wasn't only going to be tense and awkward around knowing that he just slept with his old enemy, but about Vorona. She had spoken her true feelings and they pinned Shizuo down onto the spot, not knowing what to do or even say. Her eyes may have been a tundra but he could see the tiny warmth within them that sparked within her like fire. She was passionate about loving this man-passionate about showing her true feelings towards this man she had found herself to love. What would he do? He is forced to go to work and be accompanied by her on the way. Mentally slapping his hand onto his forehead, Shizuo cursed silently to himself for the mistake he has caused.

Yet, on that same day, Izaya was there and that dream slipped into his consciousness and shedded some light. What were these dreams? How he felt?

"I'm gonna… go now." The awkwardness staining his tongue. He adjusted his blue sunglasses before leaving the apartment with a meddling Izaya. Sighing from the lack of confidence, Shizuo brought a hand up and raked it through his forest of dyed blonde locks. This was going to be a rough weekend and he knew. Softly making his way down from his apartment and onto the streets, he welcomed the fresh air of the outside world and let the sun bathe him in the warm, shining light. The tightness that hugged around his chest fled and he was able to breathe properly once more and headed down the street faster. Maybe it wasn't so bad? Picking up the pace, he began to see the throngs and lines of people minding their own business and walking down the streets in their dull manner.

"Shit. I never realised how much I needed a smoke." Shizuo grumbled out before reaching into his pocket and snatching the packet of cigarettes out. Great. There was only one stick of nicotine that remained within the box, a little crumpled and all alone. Annoyance had found its way and flipped his calm demeanor over. "Fucking hell…"

This would have to do. Lighting it with his small lighter he brought the cancer stick to his lips and breathed in an unhealthy amount of it. His lungs filled with the deadly gray cloud of smoke and nicotine. His lungs have been craving them, but noticing how he didn't need them often was a sudden change he was not used to.

'Maybe it's because I haven't been gettin' mad lately…' The thought coursed its way briefly. Maybe this was a good way to handle things? Walking unknowingly ahead, he didn't get to react fast enough to see in the corner of his eye a giant truck zooming his way. The honking of the truck signified that he was in the way and the truck slammed its breaks, the screeching sound piercing the air and coming straight to a halt. Black trail marks scarred the obsidian colored road and the truck was only a centimeter from meeting Shizuo.

"Holy Shit! I'm so sorry!" The man from inside broke out from the door and begged almost pathetically. There was not a person in Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, maybe even Tokyo, who didn't know about Shizuo and his dangerous outbursts of anger and mad strength. The streets immediately died from being talkative and glued their eyes on the scene. Some people began to back away since they know the blonde could turn into a tiger and demolish everyone or anyone there.

"It's fine. Just don't do it again and watch where you're going."

Surprised at himself even finding the words, Shizuo walked forward and ignored the shocked glares of the citizens around him. The man stumbled backwards and into the truck stuttering a "Thank you!" and driving off as soon as no one was in the road. This was out of the ordinary-completely not able to happen. Shizuo did not feel a single jolt of anger or annoyance from what had just happened. Surprised, he stopped in a mesmerized manner. He didn't know when or how, but happiness sent a wave straight into him and he let a small grin slip on his face.

"Shizuo!" The call rang into his ears and he looked up to see a man waving and running over to him. "Shizuo, hey man!" Tom raced straight over to the blonde and greeted him.

"I saw that man! You didn't even get angry! I'm glad!" Tom looked like he was seeing a celebrity and couldn't contain his smile. Damn it was contagious. "Yeah, I'm surprised at myself too."

"Great. So how're you holdin' up? Are you ready to get this business out of the way?" Shizuo nodded but he caught the sight of bouncing gold hair and a slim figure running to catch up to Tom. Shizuo couldn't help but let a grunt slip out. Vorona had frozen behind Tom but gave that usual glare of ice to his way, nothing bad, just neutral. "Greetings Shizuo senpai." She said with her classic robotic tone and bowing. A band-aid patch was glued onto her cheek where her previous wound was from last night and her arm was wrapped in one as well, though, her strands of blond were slightly shorter on one side. He didn't know, but he was greatly confused until he remembered that Vorona is probably the time to act like nothing ever happened and move on.

"Alright! Let's get this over with so we have time to chill." Tom sighed out and lead the group down the street. The trio was normal, but Shizuo couldn't shake out of the web of guilt for the air around him and Vorona were tense. They were like two kids that did something embarrassing like peeping. "Shizuo, keep your distance." He heard dread-locked man say.

"We have them again."

Instantly he knew who Tom was mentioning. Suddenly he felt the animal that was inside him bubble with anger and his veins rushed with hot adrenaline. He has that Yoji man again. Those guys that were so familiar and so suspicious he instantly knew what they were behind. And that really infuriated him from the inside out like a bubbling volcano. "Shizuo senpai? Is something the matter?" Vorona's cool voice rose up and he rushed to calm himself down. Not here. Not now.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little angry is all."

He wasn't just angry. He knew. Kamito was the culprit and he knew exactly if it weren't for his animalistic senses screaming and warning him to be weary of the man. "We've just had some past experience with him. I think it was when you were out and not with us yet." Vorona locked eyes with him until she brought her head down into a nod. "I'm sad to say, but I think those punks are holding up their pay for a reason." The dread-locked man said in an unamused manner while adjusting his glasses. "And after him we get to the other clients. So let's just get this over with already." The blonde male grumbled behind clenched teeth. "Um… Shizuo."

"They are the only client for today. This is how bad they've gotten."

Only them? If only life and reality would join in together and help him out for once. He would be stuck with that man for a while if he refused. But the good news was he would get off early.

They traveled the path to their destination all remembered like they've been here countless of times, though, Vorona was looking around unfamiliar with the place. Slowly turning the corner, they made it to their location and casually went up the stairs without any care. "These guys aren't the first to do this or the worst that we've had-"

"They fucking might as well be."

"Come to think of it, why do you hate these guys? I don't like 'em either, but what's up?" Shizuo looked over at the man who was inches away from the door ready to knock on it. "Did something happen?"

Shizuo didn't know whether to look him dead in the eye or look straight at the apartment door with fury blazing through his eyes like a laser. Those men were just beyond the door. He clenched his fists into rough balls, his knuckles turning a ghostly pale white. "Let's just say they caused a shit load of trouble for someone close to me." A snarl rose from his throat. He felt like heaving steam and barging straight into the apartment like a train ready to start off and take action. "Well in that case I could tell why I've had a bad feeling about them." Tom always understood Shizuo and that was why he was one of Shizuo's closest friends he could ever make. The man exchanged a look of honesty and trust towards the blonde and grinned.

The Russian blonde stomped her foot directly between the men and the door meeting its front with a fierce gaze that meant business. "If they have hurt someone close to Shizuo senpai then they will have to face their punishment." Both men stood in awe as the woman hurled herself straight into the door slamming it down with one swift powerful blow from her legs. The door shrieked and stumbled back from the powerful slam. Instantly upon impact, the Russian landed swiftly within the room scanning it for people.

"Oi! Vorona!" She heard Shizuo shout from behind her along with her boss stumbling with him. In front of their eyes they all squinted in shock merged with disgust.

Black markings that looked of blood splattered upon the wall in front of them with sloppy writing.

"WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU"

"We're waiting… for you? What kinda crap is this?" The man in the glasses questioned, zipping his eyes around and scanning the completely dark room despite the light illuminating the room behind them from the door. The message instantly rang a mental note within the blonde's head.

"They knew we were coming-" Glass shattered and a bottle crashed within the apartment's wall and spilled its liquid ingredients onto the wall and floor scorching it within an orange light. "Oh shit-!" Tom shouted seeing the light grow lighter until it was unbearable and spreaded. Fire breathed in the cramped oxygen and scattered its suffocating flames that blew thick clouds of smoke. A fire had sparked from the bottle that shattered the window- must have been a molotov. The glass reflected the illuminating orange from the floor and the crew stepped all over it. Though, the door shut closed locking them in and another molotov flew in and caught the other side on fire.

"Damn it! We're locked in!" Trapped in a ring of fire they felt like animals being huddled into a safe spot from a forest fire. The fire stretched and cracked noises that sounded of wood chipping, eating away hungrily at the furniture and surrounding them deadly like. Almost as if the breathing flames had a mind of its own, dispersing hot flames eating the entire apartment, Smoke clouded the insides and it filled their lungs with its horrible stench. The three covered their noses and knitted their brows desperately trying not to breathe in the deadly air, but Shizuo was used to the smell since he breathed it in frequently through nicotine. "If we wish to escape, we must find a way!" Vorona exclaimed. Eyes instantly zooming around the room, the ex-bartender tried to find an exit other than the door for it was also caught in flames.

"The window!"

All eyes combined together to land on the window; their source of hope. Without time suspending itself Vorona rushed straight to the source of air and slid straight on through and landed swiftly upon the cement. "You've gotta be shittin' me…!" Tom quivered staring straight into the window that was surrounded by flames and looked down at the distance from his location to the ground. Vorona reached her hands out in a helping manner, but noticed the tall muscular blonde wrap his arms around the man, carrying him and hurling himself out of the window. They instantly hit the ground and rolled, Vorona rushing over to their side.

"Tom senpai, Shizuo senpai, are you alright?!"

"Peachy…" They collected themselves and dusted the blanket of sand and granite on their clothes. They all met with the shame of an apartment now burning in eternal flames devouring the entire building. Something combustible succumbed to the flames and exploded with a loud BOOM, them all staggering and moving away. It wouldn't take much time before the cops get there. They immediately rose to their feet and bolted straight down the street.

"Aww man those bastards!" Looking down in utter discriminated disgust, Tom scrunched his nose and hissed. Vorona had placed herself next to her senpai and continued to watch the man with serious eyes. "I'm starting to believe that Shizuo's reasoning was right." The man grumbled. "Sorry you had to get dragged into my problems, Tom…" The blond looked down in a sorrowful sight.

"Don't worry about it man, we'll find them someday. Meanwhile," he rose up from his seating. "they were the only people for today, so I believe you're free to go." He spoke with a nonchalant grin.

It was still day with the sky blue as ever and clouds swimming within it. Shizuo turned on his heel and went on with his business down the path after muttering a "thanks" but stopped midway after noticing the slender female stiffly walking towards him to his side.

"Shizuo senpai, I would like to discuss something with you." The blond claimed, eyes of blue crystals meeting with chocolate ones. Something important such as yesterday. That smacked onto his head like a train and he felt guilt climb onto his back. He did leave her out in the rain all alone to deal with Izaya, the sudden memory trailing into his subconscious.

"Listen Vorona, if it's about yesterday then I-"

"Do not apologize, Shizuo senpai." She cut him off and he earned a stern sight of her. "You did nothing wrong. I had unexpectedly told you how I felt when I did not even know myself." Her eyes told her tale in a melancholic way. "What I had told you the day previous of this one was true, your presence has always made me feel strange-have this burning feeling and I couldn't understand why it was happening."

"What I have found out is that most people have called it a crush or something called 'true love' when I thought it was some disease or a sudden cold and I have come down with a mere fever." She frowned.

"But now I understand my mistakes." Shizuo felt the nauseating feeling of absolute guilt take over his entire body-he didn't mean to make her feel like this. He didn't want to make her feel sad. "Again, do not look sad or pity me, please. I am not ready for love and have charged into it too soon." Vorona licked her lips and stood tall. She was frozen with dignity. She knew she was inexperienced and that stuck like a sticky note into his brain. Vorona was an intelligent person who found herself in clumsy situations that ended up being caused by her, despite how smart she can be. The faint memory flashed within her making her remember the silhouette of her father, the man she had loved like family and never treated her like one, like she was nothing and left her out in a blizzard. Knowing this she became so cold and distant to many until she found a way to unlock the love her father gained for her and break the ice bit by bit. Sadly it let to so many of her mistakes it clung to her more than the ice that blocked her and her father. "I apologise deeply for ever bringing you into my troubles..." She spoke a sad song through tight lips, the dread feeling of foolish behavior tensed around her.

"Relax, it wasn't your fault. You didn't get how this worked out. You said you've never felt this kind of thing before which probably means it's your first time having a crush." Shizuo replied composed.

"Even if you did confess to me 'bout your feelings, I wouldn't just fucking abandon you and stop being friends. I know that you feel that this should just slip right on behind us like it never happened, but you shouldn't feel bad about it. Just don't let confusion lead you on because it can lead to being a bitch, believe me."

A sudden emotion snatched her eyes away from looking down at the ground and meeting with his orbs-so true and stern. Never had she felt this warm around anyone and it felt so sudden, so strange, so foreign to her. "To tell the truth, I think I should be the one apologizing. For leaving you in the rain like that-sorry..." He raked a hand into his hair until it rested on the nape of his neck. Vorona gave a warm smile. "I am positive it was something in importance to your matter."

"Forgive me for prying, but was that person someone of equal or much higher purpose? They are the important one you have spoken about earlier?"

The words she had spoke made his chest tighten. It felt like such a long time ago but he remembered that he muttered something about someone dear to him other than his friends. Someone of importance indeed.

"...Yeah, I guess you could say that. They are someone very important to me. They annoy me, hell, but..."

"I just can't afford to lose them." A grimace took a tight hold upon his lips. Losing Izaya made it confusing beyond his beliefs. He loathed Izaya from the moment they linked eyes, spoke words, fought with every inch of sweat and strength they had left. Never would he imagine that things would turn out into them being this close, so intimate, so relying on each other. So mentally attached to each other that they have commited love making-sensually touching and embracing themselves as equal. The sudden thought dusted a faint blush on his cheeks.

"I apologise once more for bringing this sudden topic change-"

"Cut the crap on being sorry already! You're not doing any harm here. If you need help or want to talk, just ask, okay?" Shizuo snickered, reaching his hand to her hair and slightly ruffling. Vorona felt the sudden change within her and gave an actual warm smile. Tundras were not inside those crystal orbs but a warm spring. "Very well." She smiled again.

"Be safe." Was all he heard from the Russian beauty and proceeded into his waltz. Judging by the way things were turning, Shizuo felt a sense of relief. He was off and able to go home while the day was fresh and never called the afternoon sky from it's slumber. It was still fairly morning and the clouds swam endlessly around. Briefly the air was moist from yesterday's unbearable show of cold tears yet warm tears.

"Guess it's time to go..." He was near the fountain Farther in the city he swore he could have heard a faint squeal of a horse echo throughout the buildings. Turning where the wind advised him to go, he saw the motorcycle roaring close to him. The vehicle screeched to a halt and parked, its life quickly leaving it like steam forming from water being poured on something hot.

"Hey Celty. Long time no see?"

"Well, you're home early." He was greeted with Izaya's purr like voice and maintained eye contact. It was barely dusk with the sun hiding behind the horizon, shining its light upon the city once last time before kissing it goodbye and letting the night settle. The orange light seeped through the blinds with its rich tangerine scenery and crawled passed the shadows. "Yeah, we only had one client. Though, I think they left a message for us."

Izaya gave Shizuo the look of question. "A message? For us?"

"I guess I forgot to tell you. These bastards have been causing trouble around this certain part of 'bukuro. I think I know who was responsible for what happened..."

Izaya didn't know whether to give a look of one who was completely fixated on the topic or of one frowning. "I've noticed a lot of things. He's this sort of slim built guy with a hoodie, glasses, kinda short cut and possibly a snarky attitude that makes him feel like he knows everything or like he's acting nice."

The disgust forming back into his features but a hint of hesitation lingering in his voice. "...And he had a silver ring."

Not knowing whether he hit the nerve or actually struck it, Izaya remained glued there in a questioning manner or of thinking. His eyes of russet furrowing and eyebrows knitting. "Let me guess. Did his name start with a 'K?" The blond snapped his head up in surprise. "Yeah, it did."

"Kamito was the fucker's name." He felt like he wanted to spit from the name actually poisoning his tongue. His name was like the essence of disgust, seeping poison through it. Izaya's expression to the name, however, made him smile. "He changes his name quite a lot variating from the letter K." To the raven, this man was as predictable as a pheasant. Knowing this made Shizuo question how they were going to 'settle the score'. It was no doubt revenge clouding the air between the raven and the infamous group, but the sense of doubt was undeniably strong. The info broker found his way to the couch and plopped onto it looking out into space with that same smirk of a cat's. "He's not hard to find, especially the runs you've had with him."

"Wait, you know about my business with Tom and him?" Then it dawned on him.

'As a matter of fact, yes, I was.'

'I was bored and I wanted to check on you. Strange, isn't it?'

Almost forgetting and pushing out the recent vision, Shizuo recalled it from the depths of his memory. Upon tailing the raven on their chase, he was captured and within being captured he had another one of those dreams. The blond mentally facepalmed out of remembering and being so dense towards it. Who knows how many times Izaya has been sneaking out and spying on him.

"Apparently I have. But I haven't been out today because of planning."

So he does admit it.

The blond took his seating next to the raven. "I might have looked a little too much and seen what Shizu-chan does alone~" The smile peeked up. Shizuo felt a bead of sweat. "And what does that mean?"

"That Shizu-chan does some things that he doesn't want me knowing~" Feeling the sudden tension rise Izaya it was the perfect timing. He slithered up to the faux blond like a snake and drew closer to his ear. Shizuo gave a look of confusion, shying away slightly. The faint blush painting his soft tan skin like a rose blooming. The ravenette was a nail away from the blond's ear, breathing hot air onto it like a hot humid breeze.

Izaya snickered. "Shizu-chan is so easy to mess with~" he chuckled pulling away, trying to muffle the cries of laughter. Shizuo sat there with disbelieve written on his face. Izaya read him like a book. Upon looking at the raven, Shizuo felt a rush of play run through him. "So ya find that funny?" He growled behind a snicker.

He didn't know if it was a smart idea, but it was worth a try.

Shizuo tackled the raven and wrapped his hands around his waist giving small squeezes and tickles straight to his stomach. Upon impact, Izaya was being attacked by tickles and bursted out laughing. "SHIZU-CHAN STO-HAHAHA!" The raven couldn't contain his forced laughter and kicked around under the blond. Shizuo was completely amused and smiled deviously himself. "What? You want to what? I can't hear you!" He talked over the raven's pleading laughter and rummaged him even harder. Who knew he was ticklish?

"STOP IT BRUTE!" He yelled but couldn't stop laughing. The melodic sound of laughter trailing from the raven was a well crafted song. It was a nice thing to hear unlike his laugh of constant messing around in his usual sly behavior.

His shirt flew up inch by inch every time the protozoan tackled him with tickles. Izaya felt his throat grow dry of soreness and his lungs bruise from the lack of air. If only Izaya showed this side often. If only they were this clos and fond of each other daily. If only they would allow themselves to be like this for as long as it takes, pushing everything bad back and letting it rot in a pit. Izaya rolled around onto his side and resting there, clenching and protecting his stomach from the rest of the assaulting arms seeking to attack it. Within just seconds, Izaya found himself missing those arms when the blond froze softly. Instead, he found those same hands slithering around his worn out sides all the way to his abdomen and to his back. He froze.

"I got carried away again..." He could hear the soft husky voice that sounded troubled. Izaya trailed his eyes upward and fixed his gaze upon the blond's chocolate ones. They didn't show, they didn't look like, they were speaking. Speaking of sorrow and how upset with himself than he ever did. He knew this look all too well. It was the look Shizuo gave when he had failed to protect someone or let them down. Celty had spoke of this once.

His blood froze within his veins as if Shizuo's fingers were ice. They rested on the carvings.

Not even for time to call itself back into the present, the raven turned slightly to get a better position, slightly curling himself upward and resting his hand onto the blond's. They connected eyes as if they were talking to each other through them, giving expressions in the deafening silence. There were no songs of birds chirping outside nor did the sun have time to kiss the city goodbye before setting even more over the sidelines. It was calming. They stayed like that, statues endlessly gawking at each other if it was their last breath they ever shared with each other. Not until Shizuo broke the silence and leaned forward, pressing his lips onto the soft cherry ones that awaited him.

They kissed softly instantly wreching into a passionate one. He drew away and glared into those godly crimson orbs, shining a gleam of passion. "You're not anything they marked you as."

Izaya frowned. "You aren't anything fucking like that or what they marked you as. What they think of you."

The trail of venom that dripped from his words stung him. In a positive way.

"We'll find them." Shizuo growled.

"And we'll fucking kill every single last one of them."

It surprised him. Shizuo had many things under his sleeve because of his unpredictable nature that Izaya couldn't pick up, but he actually meant it. It wasn't like when he vowed to slaughter Izaya on the streets of Ikebukuro and never do it, but it made him feel that he might actually kill someone. And he wanted that from the very start, but just the feeling and thought gave him a negative feeling. Something not as fun as it was when they were having their cat-and-mouse game on the streets. His fingers remained on the markings, slightly rubbing in a calming and welcomed manner. A warm sensation blossomed within his cheeks and his heart. He never felt so warm-so welcomed. He was so used to doing things all by himself, taking care of his sisters, not doing anything he enjoyed or what pleased him in any way. Not until he had heard of a disastrous person known for having a short temper and violent behavior. If Shinra hadn't introduced them, he wouldn't know what to do.

They stayed on that couch comforting each other until night crawled from the depths of its slumber and casted the dark blanket across the sky.

12:07 AM

It vibrantly glowed in his vision with its red light. It was already time, night was the time to get a head start.

They were already outside speeding across the alleyways. Completely shrouded in shadow and vague to the human eye, despite all the colorful signs that shed their light on the people and the streets. They didn't waver on their journey until they were certain they were there. They were at the mysterious warehouse on the outskirts of Ikebukuro. The bushes around the edges surrounded them, keeping them hidden, inches away from the broken windows on the sides.

"Alright." Said a certain voice in a purring gesture.

"Let's show them a good time~"

Well, now that this next chapter is going to be the last, (Or I might even throw in a bonus chapter...)

What new phone should I get? My mom has already decided what to get, but any suggestions? It's obviously going to be LG...

Until next time my wonderful fans~!