.
Chapter ten - Eight track II
Shizuo never did take Izaya out for shopping the next day.
A couple of days had come by since the arrival of Shizuo and Izaya at Shinra's apartment. Throughout the whole time during their accommodation, their bickerings never once resided and retained as the per usual; heavy objects lifted to be hurled at the raven only to be preturbed from doing further damage by an odd being. It made the atmosphere more lively albeit not as tranquil as one thought it would be.
As for the commotion going on in the city, it had began to die down a tad bit— only a bit. The Dollars forum continued to be filed in with plentiful of messages regarding a certain informant, mostly having to do with theories on the possible locations where he might be. Safety precautions must be taken, Izaya hadn't brought himself to enter the chat, where few people recognized the true identity behind the alias of 'Kanra', for quite some time. Whilst he may have joined them on more than one occasion, he said naught a word throughout the conversation. The only evidence left of his presence had been there was a dialogue, which would state whether the members came online or offline, imprinted in the past history of the chat group.
How high the chances that he remained to be pursued after were considerable, and Izaya came to be completely aware of this. He knows that it would be turbulent of him to roam the paves freely, he too can't keep himself cooped up in this apartment for as long. Not when he senses an obstacle about to come at his way one day. It might be his imagination, but it felt as if the obstacle had been there all along without him being keen to it; lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to pounce on its victim.
One morning, its outcome of the previous night did not bode quite well for our raven. Despite how late had he slept in, Izaya often managed to be the first person to wake up. A weak sigh escaped from his lips, and he proceeded to to push himself off the ground since he could not sleep neither obtain a single second of proper rest. Every attempt he had taken proved to be futile. It was a repeated cycle nowadays as he'd wake up with sore muscles, shoulders aching with pain, and a massive headache that sent him shifting with discomfort. The fault clearly lies upon the rough surface he slept on earlier.
Perhaps he should have slept in the living room when given the chance. Having a couch to sleep in sounded more defiant compared having a rest on a cold ground. Nonetheless, he mused, it never is too late to change his mind. That in no way meant he wasn't mad at all.
"Stupid protozoan." Izaya muttered under his breath as a soft kick was delivered to the leg of the bed where Shizuo slept in peace. Ah, if only that was his face instead. Not that– nor did it matter whether he liked him or not— but at the moment, Izaya felt restless.
A glare is thrown at the blond for one last time as Izaya regained his composure. Should he be put into the hospital one of these days, he'll have a word with a lawyer and push the blame onto him. Once he extracted some of his belongings, Izaya made a hasty exit, heading to where the bathroom was for a long period of cleansing oneself.
Replenished with his hygiene, Izaya completed one of his first habitual routines for the day. Tiptoeing his way back into the chamber, a towel was taken up to wrap and pat his wet disarrayed locks dry as he draped another towel over his shoulder. Not certain of what he was expecting by the time he returned to the room but never had he imagined the day he caught the sight of a particular blond hogged up within the sheets.
Izaya learned that the blond had the tendency to oversleep. It was nearly every day when Shizuo bounced out of his bed, an utter of incoherent words released underneath his breath as he rushed to ready himself before heading straight out of the apartment.
Rather endearing, he had to admit, and it bemused him once he came to acquire this new knowledge. What time was it now anyway? The brunet discarded his laundry into a plastic bag, placing it beside his baggage before he turned to observe the blond's face whom remained in his slumber.
How serene the face looked.
Had the blond retain his quick temper, he was bound to be popular in his circle of friends and several women to chase after him. Perhaps it was cruel of him to say this— he felt thankful that Shizuo couldn't retain his temper. The thought of him having had set his eyes on one of his siblings was enough to make Izaya turn bitter. What more if the latter's feelings are returned?
These negative thoughts; every single bit of them were shaken off when Izaya gained his own strength. He did not want to admit he was jealous. He would not admit that he envied his brother in more than various ways and he certainly would not admit that he was– and still is– in love with Heiwajima Shizuo. Proud, he was, but the truth lingers for the fact that Izaya has yet to be convinced.
Albeit, as much as Izaya was not convinced yet, he knew these emotions brewed within him were not what he first believed to be 'hatred' nor 'digust'. It started from the first day when they met, the time he first experienced the tingling sensations sent down his spines as he witnessed those amber hues tinted with gold. However, he knew the other must have felt the same way— when he first met his brother. Ah, that's right.
How could have he forgotten? The first time he met Heiwajima Shizuo, too, meant that it was the first time when Shizuo and Psyche met.
He had to admit, their relationship was rather a complicated one; an unrequited one. And perhaps it goes the same way for the blond due to an incident back then. Perplexed, he was not, but astonished, yes, he was. Such a bold move it was when Shizuo came to a confrontation with Psyche and told him of a confession. One of the things that Izaya couldn't pride on doing it himself while Shizuo had done it out of his own accord with a muster of courage.
What followed after the scene was a result he had not anticipated— albeit he would not deny it was something likewise to a dream. Psyche rejected Shizuo. For what reasons? He did not know. The only thing he knew was it became an occurrence that he could never forget, a memory so distiguishable that he would often reminisce it every now and then.
By judging on how Shizuo contorted his face into an expression that told of pain and dejection, it made all the more impossible for one to forget. Never had he seen Shizuo utterly remorseful in his entire life, and it almost reached to the point where Izaya felt pity for him. There were times when he'd make a wish that he could turn back in time. Back to the time where he could have taken it as his chance to comfort the blond and then... maybe then, he could have a chance to make the blond notice him.
Since then, he had begun to have thoughts if he took a whole another route, perhaps it'll make him notice by then– and the route he so happened to pick was his path to become a god. All that to make the blond see him.
And they say that to become a god, you need to turn your imperfections into perfections. He wondered, what is it that made him no better than his brother? What does he need to do to make 'him' look at him? But it was no longer than that when reality harshly slapped him in the face. nearly forgot— however, slowly did the reason as to why everyone chose to overlook him return to his mind. He was the embodiment and the epitome of a student yet none would bother to bat an eye at him with a glint of awe in their eyes, including his family whom shared the same bloodline as his down their veins.
Negativity began to pile up at the back of his mind, and Izaya instantly tore his gaze away from the other man's figure; both the little insecurities alongside doubts lingering inside his thoughts went disregarded. Ludicrous it was, he cursed, how a simple glance at the countenance of his nemesis could turn to a sour one.
"What am I thinking? To hope that you'd see me the same way you see Psyche." He subsconsciously whispered to himself. "Such a fool I was." Such a fool, indeed.
Sheets rustled, and it caught the brunet off guard. He panicked, his heart began to beat in an erratic pace as he instantly closed his lids without a thought, a retreat taken only when the figure turned over. He waited for few seconds, expecting for a voice to speak up and reek of displeasure.
But it never came.
Izaya peeked open his eyes, a snore greeted his ears as he fully unsheathed his vision which was met with the sight of the brute sleeping, the small thin thread of drool dribbling from the corner of his lips not going amiss.
He snickered to himself once he saw this, an idea silently forming at the back of his head. Inching his way forward, Izaya started to poke at the other by the side– much like how one poked a sleeping beast. A pout coming into view when he secluded that such pokes would not wake him up. Lest, he made an attempt for a different approach. What else could be the best way than to pinch the man's nose to get him to wake?
Izaya waited for a reaction. Finally, the blond seemed to comply this time by stimulating, his lips etching a deep downward curve before he swats the hand away. "Ugh, fucking leave me alone." He groaned, not an ounce of him sounding quite pleased.
"Shizu-chan, it's morning. Rise and shine."
Only silence was served as his answer.
"Shizu-cha—"
Bam! A pillow delivered a full blow at his face that had him landed on his rear while a gruffy voice coming from underneath the sheets told him to be quiet.
"So much for temperamental issues." Izaya rolled his eyes. "Besides, don't you have work today?"
Silence seeps into the atmosphere.
"Ugh— shit."
"You're welcome."
Horizons of the sky were now at the tingling shade of blue and white. Clouds danced in the midst, the sun out glistened in its usual spot, and the city routes were busied with blaring horns and vehicles that waited for traffic to move so they could get to their destination. Shizuo had long left for work, along with Celty whom received another task. Shinra, on the other hand, was tending to his one of his patients in a place elsewhere.
On the balcony is where Izaya stands, tasting the wind, the times being reminisced when he wasn't as constricted as now and move without a care for the world; and the world, itself, was cruel. It seems his current situation was a punishment bestowed by the world upon him due to his carefree spirit which once again crumbled to pieces. From here, at least he was able to regain a piece from that sense of satisfaction he once had.
A loud ringing noise fill the air, abruptly riding him of his thoughts as he takes a glance down at the device held in his hands.
000-000-0000.
Izaya frowned. This person, again. Calling him at this time? More importantly— how in the world did this person got this number? Curiosity got a hold of him, however, his instincts first told him to not answer the call in which he succeeded.
However, the incoming calls did not seem to have any intention in stopping their rinhs at any time soon. He dug his fingers deeply into his palm, resisting the urge to answer the call and shout into the phone. It was not long till the ringing had come to a halt. Finally, he sighed inwardly, a moment of peace he wanted to achieve.
Unfortunately, all is broken when the device began to go off once more.
"Good day to you, sir! How was your stay at the doctor's place so far?" He cringed upon hearing high-pitched voice from the other line by the time it was picked up. It did not strike him in the slightest way on how this stranger managed to gain a piece of information on his present residence— the sour mood clouded his senses.
"How did you get this number?" Izaya curtly returned it the inquiry with his one, aggravation clear in his tone. An implication told of displeasure and the weather he forcibly was put under.
"Aw, no morning greeting for me?"
"No one with the likes of you deserve to be greeted." If that isn't the tea calling the pot black? A chuckle then resounded from the line, one that sent shivers down his spine.
"Mm, that's cruel."
"What do you want?"
"That is for you to know."
Eyes narrowed, his stomach churning at the pit with the idea of tearing this man apart. He bears no patience at this moment, but his dignity caught him on the leash from lashing out. Patience, a deep breath was inhaled, such aspects are not worth to be argued over. "Why is that?" He questioned once more, cautious to not let his frustration nor his hesitation slip by.
"Unless you'd like your family to be in danger, perhaps you should come and see me."
Now he dares to tell seeing him after threatening to string his family along to the zone of danger? Such a mockery. If he could, he'd laugh but alas, no grievous situations would allow its victim to ridicule their own cases under any circumstances. "How do I know if this isn't simply another jest?" A jest. It had to be one. This is coming from the same man who framed him for a crime he did not commit. That sounded quite familiar, no? Speaking of which, this surely must be the time he tasted his own medicine.
"It isn't. Come by Russian Sushi. We'll set a brief meeting by there."
Silence crept in between them; a mutual agreement they both have come to agree.
...
Izaya reckoned to sit in the cafe that was located in the streets across Russian Sushi instead of the place they had set the whereabouts for their encounter. Being brash is not one of his forte, and it seemed wise to first observe this man from far before taking an initiative to fulfill his revenge.
Now, where was that pesky bastard?
A sip was taken from the tea he recently ordered. Peace, although momentarily, he was once again able to walk outside. In a new set of clothes and a pair of dark shades covering his vermillion hues, he felt certain that not a single soul would be able to take a hint of whom he was, the lucrative figure everyone decided to pin on for a reward. This whole ordeal seemed quite frivolous– all of this for a vast sum of money? He found it quite amusing that these people too had put him up wanted without a single evidence of him being the culprit.
Humans, they were all so very greedy. So foolish, so naive.
And he was no different.
Within a flicker of an eye, Izaya managed to catch a glimpseful of the figure he tried to track down since the incident. There he was, the man he saw in the tower back then, in the bundles of clothing he put on as he did back then during their first coincidental meeting. No move is made yet, merely an observant gaze noting down on the man whom did not enter the location of their conference point but maintained his position outside by the door.
He takes the last sip of his Darjeeling tea, placing the cup back onto the table. Perhaps it was now the time to call out to him and seek out the true motives of the culprit.
After he had done his payment, Izaya sauntered out of the entrance with a survey that never wandered from the figure. Tedious as it may be, the informant takes precaution in the flock of his steps as he moves towards the unknown man.
"I suppose that you were true to your words."
He stops at a considerate distance from he and the man. Underneath those layers of wools and leather, he watched him perking up, a recognition given of his presence. "Now, what is it that you brought us here for?"
"... This amuses me."
Brows brewed into a stretch and he blinked at those words. Amusing? How exactly was this amusing? Mouth hung agape with the tongue that was about to speak of his protest, he was long already beaten to it by the next words.
"Boy," Calamity struck him, the man now leaning close against his ears, his hot breath felt against his skin with a chill sent down his spines– one that threw him into a state of paralysis. He couldn't move, this man— how and when? "Did your mother ever told you to never put your trust in strangers so easily?"
It then felt like the whole world was crumbling around him as a push was served to send him to the ground. It tothe shades snatched away to unveil the features depicting of his face.
"It's him! It's Izaya!" Shouted the man before turning on his heels into an alley nearby.
Izaya began to realise his second mistake that one moment. What ever happened to the precautions he thought out? He never should have come here. Regret surely is a burden to be carried with.
"You are not escaping this time." With a goal settled into his mind, Izaya cut down to make a chase for the silhouette.
"Hey, isn't that..."
"It's him!"
"Get him!"
His shades were gone, and he was now forced to have his face beknownst to every single creature that came into his sight. He broke out into a sprint, a string of curses mumbled underneath his breath. The shades must have been taken away that blasted man pushed, and none but himself was to be put under the blame. It was his fault that he failed to stay alert.
To say that he is currently experiencing the stage of grief is not a mere misunderstanding. Undoubtedly, he was beyond vexation. For him to be chased down while he hunts down the person whom had become the cause his misery sounded more of a repetitive cycle.
From one turn to another, Izaya endlessly fled from the mob that went on a pursuit after him. The intensity of the situation, nonetheless, was not enough to lead him astray from that one thing ahead of him. In reality, it had only been few minutes but to him, it felt like decades have passed since the incidental purpose, and days in trying to entrap a mouse while he plays the role of a cat.
YANK!
A tug at his sleeve sent him drawn to the darker shade of the alley, a yelp escaping him as his back came into contact with a broad chest. Before he'd retrieve the chance to protest, a hand shot out and covered his piehole, effectively muffling the noises. The switchblade was long from his reach as this person had an arm hoisted around his waist, blocking the hem of the pocket where he placed his weapon.
He stayed silent upon hearing the loud steps that were approaching his way, unconsciously worming against the body of his captor. Could this be it? Could this be the end of him?
"Where is he? Damn, that guy is too fast."
"Come on, let's split up. He must have taken one of these routes!"
This was it, they were going to find him. However, strangely enough, whoever had him in his grasp said not a word but let the mob reach out of the their sight until the banters come to a fade by each ticking second. Was this person planning to give him to the police and receive the reward all to himself? Or was he helping him? It was something he had to contemplate about.
Although it was not long he is forced to be bestowed with the appearance of his captor.
"Fucking flea, what the hell are you doing?"
That voice. That nickname. The facial structure and gold locks. His breath hitched, it was Shizuo.
"How—" He breathed out, blinking his eyes away for a reassurance that this was all but a dream. "How did you find me?"
"I was here the whole time. You ran into me. I heard voices, I saw you. I don't want to deal with any shit at the moment, and it's obvious that you got yourself into some shit. The hell are you doing out here for anyway? You got a death wish or something?" The older male gave a hiss, the volume of his voice only a tad bit louder. Shizuo made a grip for his wrist, hauling him out of the corner and headed for one of the directions where the others recently entered.
"Wait, Shizuo. I think it's safer if we use that way where they come from–"
"Shut it."
"Tch. These fucking bastards won't give it a rest, will they?"
"Well, did you forget that I am wanted for a billion dollars? It's only natural that they would come after me. All this for money."
"Don't make yourself sound more slutty than you already have, fleabag."
"I told you we should have gone for the west route. But since you didn't listen to me, and dragged me out of your own will, they saw us."
"Or maybe if you stayed home, this wouldn't have happened, flea. Everywhere you go, disaster always follows."
"Well, I'm terribly sorry." Izaya scrunched his nose, "It's not my fault that I just so happened to be attracting disasters everywhere."
The pair by now hid themselves behind the dumpsters after being exposed to several more crowds. Needless to say, they caught them together. It had taken them every bit of their strength to remain standing, leaping, tumbling and sprinting away from them despite the large amount of energy consumed, leading to fatigue and exerted exhaustion of their bodies. And this only applied to Izaya since Shizuo did not shed even a sweat.
A refreshment sounded pleasing, but that has to wait. Izaya wanted to ponder on the thoughts and events that happened, and it happened too fast for his taste. There was one question that kept lingering in his mind and that was, why did Shizuo help him? Why was he helping him?
It was a complicated question that isn't provided by any answer yet but Shizuo, himself, was a contradiction. Unpredictable and full of complex is what that made this man. That could be one of the reasons why he liked him. Shizuo was a mystery, waiting to be unraveled like a puzzle with thousand pieces scattered, waiting to be completed.
His thoughts were cut close once he realised hoe close the latter to his liking, "Hey, what are you—"
"Stay still."
The voice was gentle, and surprisingly, Izaya found himself wanting to hear it again. He towered over by the blond, and he could now perfectly see how great the difference was in their height but that was not his main concern. What he was more concerned about would be what Shizuo is trying to do.
"Hey–"
"I said shut up and stay still." Shizuo quickly cut him off, the gentle tone he used being replaced by the usual one.
With the shades took from his face, he placed them over the raven's. It hung loosely at his first attempt but with a bit of adjustments, it managed to suit the raven's frame.
Despite the proximity close between them, the familiar, menancing aura no longer seeped out from the other. This was a whole new experience, and Izaya felt less than comfortable.
"There. All done." Shizuo said aloud, satisfaction displayed the casing of his face as he takes a step back.
A faint shade of blossom painted the raven's cheeks as he made no hesitation in scurrying backwards. "Sunglasses, hm?" He repressed the blush further with a smirk.
Shizuo shrugged. "At least it hides your ugly face some more."
"The protozoan does have a brain, after all. Who knew?"
"Shut up or I'll break the glasses."
Izaya huffed, peeling off the shades to shove it at the blond's chest. "Not even my glasses to start with. I don't need it anyway."
"Erika, isn't that..."
They turned, astonishment slowly writing itself on their countenance when they see the two familiar faces that practically screamed of danger.
"Shizu-shizu and Iza-Iza?! Together in one place?!"
Almost immediately, Izaya snatched the pair of shades out of Shizuo's hands and put it on once more. The blush came back, fully, this time.
"Hey, what are you two doing out alone here in this shady area?" Erika started to grin widely. "Is there something going on between you?"
"Of course not." He mumbled. But, he wished.
"Really? You mean you guys are not on a date at all?" Erika questioned dejectedly, her expression lying in somewhere between the sombre hue and of hope. "Ah, that reminds me." She turned to Yamasaki, "Didn't Izaya turn up on the news on that day?"
"Now that you mentioned about it, he did."
"It was just a pure coincidence, really! We were switching through the channels, then we suddenly saw you on the television!"
"You're also all over the internet too!"
"Great, since you two are aware, I believe we need your help." Izaya said, a plan formulating in his head.
Yamasaki tilted his head to the side, exchanging a glance with Erika. He couldn't blame them. It isn't everyday you have the said most reliable informant requesting another person for an assistance. "Our help?"
"Yes, you see. We need to get out of here as fast as we can but the brute's agonizingly slow so we have to figure another way out."
"Izaya..."
"Hm. Another way out?"
"I've already thought of one. I'm thinking of— a disguise."
"A disguise, you say?"
"Then we know exactly what you're looking for!"
( Only Human. )
"And what is this?"
"This place is a shop for Otaku!"
"A shop for freaks?" Shizuo took a glimpse of the building from the shrubs, a frown delicating his lips. "No. I am absolutely not going in there."
"Eh? Why not?"
"Why are we here anyway? I thought you were going to help us?"
"We are! They have plenty of clothes and wigs in there too! Even masks! Besides, what's a better disguise than a cosplay?"
"They have a point, Shizu-chan."
"Yes! Come on!"
And they trailed after them into the shop as quickly as they could before any one recognises one particular member. Had they recognize him, it'd spell a lot of trouble for them. And soon, it would be a pack of four the city was going to go after.
"Do I really have to use a fucking disguise?"
"It isn't as if you have any other choice, Shizuo-san. You said it yourself, they saw you with Izaya. I doubt that they're going to leave you alone after seeing you with him." Yamasaki tried to coax him in, a white costume stranded off a rail to be compared with the blond's build. It seemed too small for him.
Beep beep beep!
All at the same time, their phones vibrated with a notification sound which conspicuously grasped every thread of their attention. Izaya was the first to check, scanning through the text.
'I saw Orihara Izaya with Heiwajima Shizuo earlier! They just headed south down the Green street!'
Under the message, there was a photo attached, and the image showed the time when Shizuo was dragging Izaya along with him. Several comments on the post began to file in after that, and most of them mostly said the same thing– 'Are you kidding me?', 'No way!' Or even 'Are you sure this is not an edit?'
"They can't even let this down, hm?" The brunet cocked an eyebrow in amusement. Amusement wasn't even enough to describe of his reaction for the stupidity mankind bore. Nevertheless, what was more suspicious– he knitted his eyebrows. How was a member able to send all the other members a text? Was it not only the leader who were capable of doing so?
"So?" Yamasaki eyed at Shizuo for a confirmation, Izaya and Erika looking up at him either.
"Ugh. Fine." Shizuo stuffed his phone into his pocket, putting on an annoyed look, "Let's just get this over with."
Several minutes later...
"I am not going to wear that."
"Eh, denied?"
"Okay! What about this?"
A palm was pressed against his head. Do these two even understand how critical the situation was? Why would he pick an outragous costume when there were better loads for a disguise?
"Forget it, I'll find one myself." With a wave of dismissal, he left on his own.
For a shop full of anime merchandise, he had to admit, the section where clothes could be found was quite big. However most of the clothes sold on stock were completely out of his taste; by the means of that, they are but clothes that could succeed in making an individual stand out of the crowd. Worst of all, he had to wear one of them. Through several racks, Izaya rummaged through them in a search of something that would at least caught his interest but so far, there was belittling to none.
At one point, he was starting to think that it'd be best to pick a costume out of a whim regardless if it ended up bringing him an embarrassment. Izaya sighed exasperatedly, dangerously waning to the line where he decides to give up.
But that only lasted a moment when a color mixed of gold, black and white caught his glimpse. And it just so happened to be a costume that was hanging on another rack that he hadn't check. With curiosity set in mind, he stalked forward, reaching out to have his digits laced with the fabric as he pulled the clothes out.
A presumably short-sleeved shirt with black lines ran down the shirt. A golden cape accompanied which gave off an ambiance of reconnaissance, along with its puffy pants styled in a pattern of white and black strips. The costume seemed ridiculous and childish, but it was to his liking by far.
This should do, Izaya nodded to himself. He had chosen his disguise.
Why are you still even reading this like what– reading back, I found my first few chapters to this story more than dumb. ( Actually, the whole story, itself. ) Ah, regardless, my apologies for leaving this story dangling for quite some time. I have major examinations at this point, so I hope every one of you would understand my lack of activity. Thank you for the staying with me!