I hope you all like games~

Izaya

"Oooh, Shiuzo-kuuun~," the overly-exuberant, feminine voice chimed in a sing-song manner.

Fumiko skipped across the floor of the pool, playfully splashing, as she approached the tall blonde, who was looking much less enthusiastic. "You seem like a pretty tough guy, so I know you won't let me fall, right?" she cooed, pouting her lower lip ever so slightly and batting her eyelashes.

"That's—!..." He began, but held back whatever protozoan-level comment he was going to say, and instead, responded quietly with, "I'll...do my best..."

He was still slightly flushed, and obviously very unsure about what he had just gotten himself into, but the attempt remained as he tried to keep his voice level. It was annoying to see how tame the beast could be just by the presence of a girl; a stranger nonetheless.

Hmph, how lame.

"Waaaait!"

Everyone's head spun around to where Erika had approached the more soft spoken twin like before.

"Fair maiden, it would be an honor..."

"Umm…!" the short haired girl stuttered at the extended hand in front of her.

"I have no interest in 3D girls."

Behind us, what would usually be an obnoxiously passionate voice, was instead, the most apathetic and dismissive tone I had ever heard come out of the boy's mouth. Yumasaki then hoisted himself out of the water to sit next to Shinra, crossing his arms, already looking fatigued.

After he had made his point, everyone's attention turned back to Erika and the girl in red.

After giving it a moment's thought, she accepted the hand in front of her that Erika clasped excitedly to.

"Woohoo! Girl power! We'll show those guys what we're really capable of," she said with a devious smirk.

Well this was certainly a charming change of events, I decided. Anything to make the game more interesting.

Nobody had even noticed the most flirtatious of the girl of the bunch had started up a conversation with Dotachin already...Which, in turn, could only mean that—

"Looks like it's you and me, Izaya-kun."

I turned to meet eyes as hard and cold as steel. Even in the warm water I felt the threat of a chill yearning to run down my spine. I could sense the venom behind Haru's words, even if she said them with a knowing smile, bright enough to knock anyone off their feet.

Almost anyone.

I tried not to outwardly sigh at the fact that of all people, she was the one pursuing me. I should have already guessed by now, by her behavior. She had most likely decided the partner arrangements for the activity before everyone was even introduced, and was acting clueless the entire time. She had always had a close eye on me, as if she were evaluating and scrutinizing my every move. In her eyes, I was a challenge, which meant her friends were exactly right; she wasn't so willing to give people chances like they were freebies.

I was sure she was aware that I was aware of all of this too. In fact, she was most likely playing her cards to disregard the game altogether and saw me as the ultimate opponent. Perhaps, she was bored like me, as well?

Her dominant personality and quick mind, I suspected, would definitely shake things up a bit during our little match. I could feel the excitement blooming in my chest as I thought of just how amusing humans truly were. I would gladly take her on as an opponent.

"And here, all this time I thought maybe I had rubbed you the wrong way. I'm flattered, really," I purred in a sickeningly sweet tone, lowering myself in the water for her to climb on — which she was definitely not gentle about doing.

The other girls were raised onto their partner's shoulders, Shizu-chan and Fumiko-chan being the last to fumble around before she was comfortably seated on the tense heap of muscle.

"Fumiko-san," I heard him whisper under the loud splashing of the raven haired girl's thighs around my neck.

The girl sitting high up top the blonde's shoulders lowered her head down, but I noticed the blush immediately sweep across his cheeks as the front of her body pressed against the back of his head. He stuttered, and quietly mumbled a low apology in advance as he assured her that even though he was strong, he would be gentle.

I felt a sense of annoyance as she returned giggling, oblivious to the fact that those long fingers holding onto her ankles, were capable of snapping them in a second with no effort at all.

A huge part of me wished to see just how our new little friends would handle seeing the beast for what he truly was. However, this was a test of how well he could control himself.

I stood up, squaring my shoulders so that Haru and I were both comfortable and my hands locked securely around her calves.

"How's the weather up there," I called, as I canted my head upward to flash her a winning smile.

"I like it. Don't even think about dropping me," she said monotonously, with a certain bite to it.

I chuckled, still amused that the ice queen believed she had me all figured out.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Haru-chan~."

"Woah! You're kinda slippery!" Erika shrieked, swaying to the side before finding her center. "Don't worry though, I won't let you fall!"

The two girls who had paired up were still finding their balance, and surprisingly Ayumi was patient with her. Despite her eyes still showing signs of worry and uncertainty, she smiled thoughtfully with rosy cheeks.

Kadota seemed to have no problem holdIng Chiyuki up. It was only then did I realize that I really had my work cut out for me between our height differences.

Togusa, Shinra and Yumasaki sat at the edge of the pool, feet still kicking around in the water. Shinra, the sadistic bastard, looked like he was going to enjoy this a lot more than he should, if he knew what was best for him. Yumasaki barely seemed interested and probably would have left if it weren't for his partner-in-crime currently feeling up the slender thighs of her new acquaintance. Togusa was looking pale, probably still feeling the pain of a hangover. He had been showing small signs of discomfort from the sunlight emitting through the glass panes of the ceiling and loud splashing in every directions.

"Don't worry about me, Shizuo-kun, I trust you," the light brunette assured her knight with a smile, daring to ruffle his hair. All the more worry was setting into his facial features as his expression darkened.

"Aw, Shizu-chan, don't look so worried, even if this is the first time your head has been between a girl's legs, I have complete faith in you," I called across the water in an overly cheerful tone.

The girls and Shinra giggled mercilessly, while Kadota tried to contain a chuckle. In the meantime, Shizuo looked over at me and turned beat red.

Before he could say anything, I felt the nudge of a smooth knee to my jaw as the sharp tone above my head addressed me.

"Hey," she snapped in a low voice out of earshot to the others. "Don't get too distracted, lover-boy, I don't feel like losing."

My brow twitched at the nickname, but I ignored the comment, responding with an equal amount of warmth as before.

"A sore loser, are we? It would seem you've chosen the side with a disadvantage though, seeing as those two are taller than me," I pointed out, grudge aside.

"Oh, I'm not worried about that, I know if you put forth the effort we will win." I could hear the smirk behind the toxicity in her words. "I just want to see how your boyfriend reacts...Or has he been rejecting you all along?"

I knew her petty, green-eyed, nonsense was her just trying to rile me up. However, being the bigger person that I was, concluded that this was just her nature as a human being. Haru-chan's true colours were starting to show. The virulent mechanics in her mind were focused on finding any weakness I might have so she could 'bully' me for something so simple, so trivial as to prove that she had some kind of power and control over those who were graced with her presence; a non-discriminate kind at that.

I felt for Haru, I really did. However, her way of playing, versus my way of playing, had a single, gaping flaw...

She controlled and manipulated because she was selfish. Her wrath had no endpoint, nor a goal. She simply did it because she had insecurities; a void perhaps, she was desperate to fill. In short, she just did not love herself.

But that was why I was all the more able to love her as a human being. Despite being a bitter, malevolent, envious woman projecting her flaws onto someone else, I was able to find a certain charm in her desperate attempt to defile me. After all, she was just an empty shell on a crowded beach. There were so many girls like her, all frantic for attention. But in the bigger picture, they were all the same. All indisposable.

In the end, it didn't matter to me whether she was hollow or vibrant, hot or cold — for she was still an amusing human being who had her own purpose and potential. That is why I could forgive her.

"Your words of encouragement are certainly appreciated, but I'll have you know that Shizu-chan and I are definitely not an item; nor have I been rejected," I clarified cheerfully.

"Well then, you won't feel too hurt if he loses now, will you?"

A grin crept it's way across my lips. "I wouldn't love to see anything more than for that beast to fall," I assured her.

She made a small sound of triumph at my response.

"Good boy," she praised, patting my head.

Sadistic woman.

"Is everyone ready then?" Erika asked eagerly.

"Shinra, I know you're working so hard over there, but would you like to do the honors?" I huffed scornfully, tossing my dampened bangs out of my eyes.

"Certainly! On the count of three."

Everyone braced as the brunette started the countdown and all the girls chimed in sync.

"One, two, three — GO!"

It was pathetic, really. Dotachin had walked right up to Shizuo and the two girls had locked hands, trying to push each other off, giggling. The blonde didn't know what else to do but stand there nervously and help the twin keep her balance. Meanwhile, Kadota, who met him almost at eye-level, seemed to actually find the game entertaining.

The blonde's eyes didn't know which way to look; his vision happened to be taken up mostly by boobs, which left him awkwardly looking around desperate for something else to focus on. Occasionally curiosity would get the better of him and I noticed the twitch of his fingers every time he managed to get a full shot of cleavage. His mop of bleach blonde that usually covered his ears was partially slicked back with water, exposing their tips to be bright red.

I clenched my jaw tighter as I watched the scene, ignoring the way I felt my stomach drop at his natural, hormonal instincts.

"IIII-zaaa-yaaa-kuuun!" a shrill voice echoed loudly.

I let my gaze drop from the other pair and looked at the person whose voice had addressed me mimicking the usual tone that was used when I had managed to piss a certain someone off.

Slowly, the otaku girl and her partner approached us, their speed reduced by the force of the water that fought against them as she twisted and turned her way over. I took a few leisurely steps forward to meet her, and she stood around eye-level with my chin. The girl on my shoulders didn't hesitate to lean forward, putting more pressure on my neck than I was sure necessary.

"Careful ladies, it would be a shame if you were to harm those beautiful faces of yours~," I said smoothly, as if I were actually serious.

"Iza-Iza is so cruel! You shouldn't say that to a lady!" Erika scolded between clenched teeth as she was struggling to keep her partner upright.

"Hmph," the raven above me scoffed. "That's why you're on the bottom, Izaya-kun."

"I beg your—"

With a force strong enough for me to take a few recoiling steps back, Haru gave one final push to the tower of girls, causing them to tumble over, hitting the water with a resounding smack. During which, a small, freshly pedicured foot came into contact with the side of my jaw.

"Hnn—!"

I winced at the sudden sear of pain that tingled on what I could feel was going to instantly swell, and if it weren't for the female riding on my shoulders to find balance for both of us, we would have been next.

"That was too close." I felt sharp nails digging into my scalp as she pulled a fistful of hair and hissed by my ear.

When the large splash had subsided, all eyes were in our direction when the first opponents to lose resurfaced, coughing.

"We're...okay!" Erika choked, out of breath.

The small feminine coughs coming from the other brunettes rose, wet bangs hanging in her face and covering her eyes.

"Are you okay, sis?!" Fumiko's worried voice shrieked across the water, her and Chiyuki's hands still locked and frozen in place.

The two males beneath them were also glancing over with stunned expressions holding their breaths.

Everyone awaited her response and we were all a little surprised when she started to giggle, and nodded.

"That was chilly," she laughed a whimsical laugh and the other men in the room let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

"But did you see how you totally uppercut Izaya-kun when you fell?!" Chiyuki shouted, bursting out into a much less delicate laughter.

Fumiko and Shinra couldn't hold in their giggle fits either, seeming to have witnessed the accidental combat. Kadota and idiot Shizu-chan were attempting to hold back their chuckles just at the idea.

My hand still cupped my cheek as I glanced down at the tiny girl, whose eyes immediately went wide with horror.

"I am so sorry, I didn't—"

"It's quite alright, I assure you," I beamed a smile, but I could feel the tug of what would be a bruise by morning.

"Ne, Haru-chan, are you okay too?" Shinra asked, but I knew he could care less.

"Just a little startled," she waved off with an elegant smile with one hand, but the one pulling at my locks tightened.

Erika and Ayumi were making their way over to the ledge of the pool to join the audience with the other three boys. Erika shuffling over to sit as close to the other brunette girl as possible. Ayumi didn't seem to notice as she tried to wring out the water in her hair, and it was surprising that her makeup was still in contact. It really must have been undoubtedly expensive to survive a fall like that without a single smudge of mascara.

I considered the quality of Shizuo's makeup, still uncertain as to whether or not it would guarantee to stay in place. At this point in time, I could care less.

"Look out!"

The irritated voice from above snapped me out of my observations as a shadow soon loomed over us. If it weren't for Haru-chan being as alert as I hated to admit, Kadota and Chiyuki-chan would have ambushed us before I could duck and move out of the way as swiftly as I possible with the additional weight of another body holding me down. They must have seen an open opportunity and left Shizu-chan's team to attack us first.

What I didn't expect was for the girl on the other's shoulders to be in an almost-standing position, her heels balanced on the palms of the larger male. I hoped that Haru didn't get any creative ideas and try to test the strength abilities I didn't have.

She was on guard though, and would quickly lean from side to side to avoid the redhead's grabby hands that aimed at her shoulders.

"I see your Muay Thai classes are paying off, Haru-chan!" Chiyuki said in a tone that could be considered more out of adoration, than a real tease.

"Yoga seems to be doing likewise, Chiyuki-chan," the raven said coolly.

Meanwhile, I was trying to follow the swift movements of my partner and maintain a steady center as Kadota kept stepping towards us. However, his attention was not focused on the few times he had nearly stepped on my feet as I treaded backwards. He was watching as the two girls continued to grab and dodge and grab and dodge again, the slight curve of a smile at the edge of his lips.

"Shizuo-kun, shouldn't we—?"

"O-Oh, r-right…" the blonde mumbled as he was brought out of his daydream. In the corner of my eye to my left, I saw he and Fumiko take long strides towards us.

I don't have much time if they're going to surround us...and I will NOT lose to Shizuo...I thought, glancing back and forth between Dotachin who was absentmindedly taking steps closer and the blonde who would soon be cornering us from behind.

Quickly...quickly…

As soon as my thoughts had registered I gave a gentle pinch to Haru's calf and stepped back abruptly, squinting my eyes as I started swatting in the air.

"I certainly hope no one is allergic to bees," I said, feigning worry as I waved one of my hands around my face.

The sudden change of my character made everyone around us stop; even the sound of Shizuo idle splashing with each step came to a halt.

With the hand I was using to hold onto the girl on my shoulders' legs, I tapped her a few times to indicate that it was an act and an assistant would be ideal at the moment.

She understood and I heard a waver in her voice as she tried to stay in character.

"There is a bee!" she said swatting the space around her.

"A bee?! Where?!" Chiyuki's eyes went wide as she sat back down, cowering behind Dotachin's head to the best of her abilities.

Kadota looked around too, scrutinizing the air, as if he would be the one to save her from the pretend insect.

"Oh oh oh, I am not going over there, uh-uh, nope." I could tell Fumiko was shaking her head behind me, probably trying to disappear behind blonde locks as well.

"Remember the last time you got stung by a bee, Chiyuki? Didn't you get a huge red mark that took up, like, half your arm?" The voice above me spoke in concern.

You could see the the flashback of worry as the redhead seemed to recall the time through her eyes.

"I heard bees are attracted to the colour green too!"

I knew that Haru was milking the situation to add more anxiety to the helpless girl wearing the light green swimsuit.

I smiled internally as I admired Haru for being able to betray a friend so easily.

"Look! There it goes!" I shouted suddenly, pointing past Chiyuki's head.

She screeched, and Kadota mustn't have had a strong enough hold on the other's legs, as she immediately dove off his shoulders into the pool.

It didn't take but a second to feel the raven haired girl start to giggle above me.

"Well done, Izaya-kun," she praised, devilishly.

Kadota's eyes snapped down to mine, confusion flashed in his eyes before the realization sunk in and his expression changed to be not-so-surprised.

"Nice improv," I heard Shinra clapping giddily from the sidelines as the rest of the benchwarmers sat watching in amusement; give for Erika, whose mouth was agape in shock, as I had so easily conned the girl — which she probably deemed sexist and unfair of me. I thought surely that by now she knew that it was always fair game with me, and that I didn't favor any gender more than another when I played with humans.

"Flea!"

The furious bark behind me had me spinning around to meet the blonde's simmering gaze with a delighted smile.

It didn't take him but half a second to make his way over, obviously pissed off.

"'The fuck was that for?!"

He seemed to have forgotten the filter he tried keeping around the women we had acquaintanced within the past hour, and the surprise in Fumiko's eyes as she looked down at her knight went entirely unnoticed by the brute.

"'The hell kind of guy are you to scare an innocent girl out of her mind over a stupid game? That wasn't part of the rules! You said you had to push each other off!"

I shrugged as well as I could, a smirk drawing at my lips as I chuckled darkly.

"There was no rule against them jumping off willingly, Shizu-chan, need I remind you. Don't you think it's less violent that way?" I cooed.

"You scared her, you dumbass!" he growled, pointing over at the girl who had risen to sit with her other friend.

"Frankly, I'm surprised you haven't frightened everyone else away, with that colourful vocabulary of yours. And since when do you play by the rules, monster?" I huffed a laugh.

He was fuming now, and I could tell from my mentioned comment he was really trying to hold back from strangling me to not send them running.

"Besides, I'm not afraid of playing dirty," I said in a velvety voice as I took a step closer to him.

Something else flashed in those caramel orbs as I continued:

"I'm not afraid of playing dirty at all," I proceeded to edge closer, my grin widening. "I set this game up for us to have fun, and I assure you that I'm having lots of it."

He took a step back scrutinizing me as my words spilled out, almost manic.

"Seeing that helpless and flustered expression you've been sporting since we started surges copious amount of joy through me, I can barely contain it. Even now, watching you hold back that brute strength of yours has my blood hot waiting for you to finally snap."

He took another step back, eyes widening and colour starting to stain his cheeks. The brunette on his shoulders sat with her mouth wide open, not looking much better from utter shock at my bluntness.

I craned my neck to look up at him closer, following him as he backed away. "You've always had such a soft spot for women, but since they never approach you, I figured, being the great friend that I am, why not introduce you? I'm doing you a favor," I brought a hand up to my chest as if he had just accused me of doing the opposite. "Don't think that I haven't noticed your eyes curiously wondering in places a real gentleman's wouldn't. Who's the dirtier one now?" I said it in a tone that, if you didn't know me, would sound almost like a praise if it weren't for the twist in my words.

All was quiet around us before he gained the courage to speak up, cheeks darkened to a flushed rose colour.

"You dare say that after using these girls for your own entertainment? If you have a problem with me, talk to me without dragging anyone else into it," he said virulently through clenched teeth.

"Oh? And since when did talking about our feelings work best with you?" I chided, raising an eyebrow in inquisition. "After all, actions speak volumes when it comes to the likes of you," I drawled, smooth and low, "and I learned that firsthand last night~."

It didn't take but a simple push of my index finger to send him stumbling back, losing his balance in the water, the female on his shoulders joining him in his all but graceful descend.

I felt a wave of power and adrenaline rush through my veins, that that was all it took to have the brute wrapped around my finger.