Sorry for the late update! These next few chapters have been a big challenge for me. Mostly because My lovely beta - Juu (Give her some love!) - helped me write out most of it. For some reason, I couldn't do it by myself, and with Twinx too busy to help, I went to her. Thank God she understand Shizuo much better than I do! She helped me out a ton with him. So, these next few updates are a collab of her and I. I hope you enjoy!~

When morning came, Shizuo awoke to an empty room and a cold hand. He blinked back his blurry vision and closed his fist, disliking the absence of Izaya's warm palm pressed against his.

He sat up, rubbing his face and yawning as a heavy feeling settled in his chest. It ached more as he thought about the previous night. How Izaya had cared for him. How he had told Izaya about his feelings. How he had asked for Izaya to stay. And how the raven said he would.

Where was he now?

The blonde dragged himself out of bed and ran his fingers through his hair, sighing as he leaned forward. He felt like an idiot. A fool. He had honestly thought that Izaya would stay.

He shook his head, swallowing the lump in his throat and getting up to grab fresh clothes to wear for the day. He wouldn't allow himself to wallow and complain over something that would be common for the flea to pull. He should have expected it. So he shouldn't be hurting.

Shizuo stepped out of his bedroom, making a beeline for the bathroom so he could get himself clean. He felt sticky and over all dirty after a night of cold sweats and fevers.

Stripping himself of his clothes, he walked straight into the spray of cold water, not bothering to wait for it to heat up. The pounding of ice water on his warm skin felt relaxing. It shocked his body awake and seemed to quickly wash away the feeling of sickness on his body.

As the water slowly heated up, his muscles relaxed and he felt all his problems rinse off his body to swirl down the drain. All the muck and grime, along with all his worries, vanished - leaving him clean and refreshed.

He took his time bathing, not wanting to leave the soothing warmth of the shower. He washed his hair three times, until the shampoo bottle was only squirting out tiny bubbles.

When his skin was beginning to turn pruney, he stepped out and quickly towel dried himself. He didn't bother to dry his hair, and simply slipped on a pair of pants. He slung the towel around his neck and stepped out into the hall, shivering at the temperature difference.

"You're awake? I swore you would have slept in. It's only 10 a.m."

Shizuo paused when he heard the voice coming down the hall. He couldn't tell if his mind was just playing tricks on him. "…Izaya?"

"Morning! Sorry I wasn't around to hold your hand when you woke up~" the informant grinned teasingly as Shizuo walked into the kitchen. "But I was getting hungry and thought that getting breakfast would be a better use of my time."

"You... got food?" He asked as he rubbed at his hair with the towel. Izaya glanced up and raked his eyes across Shizuo's body, only pulling his gaze away when Shizuo caught his line of sight. He reached into the take-out bag and pulling out a container of sushi.

"I checked around and your kitchen is pretty bare. You're gonna have to go grocery shopping eventually. But for now, some delicious ootoro will tie us over." He said happily as he picked up a plate of ootoro and a glass of milk. He walked around the table and handed it to Shizuo. "Here. My treat."

Shizuo took the dish and sat down, frowning as he stared at his plate. Izaya quirked a brow and crosses his arms. "What? Is something wrong? I bought you something that actually tastes good, and even poured you a glass of strawberry milk - which I also bought on the way back, since I noticed you were out of that as well.

"No, I just... I've never had ootoro before."

The informant shrugged, sitting down in front of his own breakfast, "Well, there's a first time for everything. Besides, I thought you would need a pick me up."

Shizuo couldn't help but puffs up cheeks with reluctance. "The gesture was nice for a little while, at least." He grumbled and took a sip of his milk, trying to delay having to eat. He really didn't want to try it - it smelled too fishy.

"Stop being so stubborn and just eat it." Izaya barked, getting annoyed at his beloved food getting cold. He smiled a bit and waved a plump piece in front of Shizuo's face, "You won't regret it~" He plopped it into his own mouth and sighed happily at the flavor.

Shizuo, however, took his time while eating. He picked up a piece, poking it and making a face of disgust. He sighed, hesitantly taking a bite. He was aware of Izaya's eyes on him, evaluating his face as he chewed on it thoughtfully. He stared at the plate as he set down the other half and swallowed the first.

"Well?~"

"...Needs sugar."

Izaya sputtered, completely appalled at the idea. " Sugar? That would ruin the entire dish!"

"But it's so... fishy." He shrugged, a small smile tugging on his lips, "Dunno, maybe my "protozoan" tongue can't handle your rich people shit."

Izaya rolled his eyes, "Well, last time I checked sushi was made out of fish. Perhaps you'd like something made out of cookie dough and pixie sticks." He reached into the take-out bag, pulling out a separate container. "Luckily for you, I also bought you some of the normal stuff you get." He winced and sighed dramatically, "It pained me to spend money on something so cheap and mediocre in taste."

"It pains me that you wasted your money on this expensive crap." Shizuo growled as he took the container and slid his plate toward Izaya, "Want the rest?"

"Gladly." He wasted no time in shoving another morsel into his mouth, purring with happiness. "Mmm, perfection~" He mewled as he made a show out of eating - as if he was teasing Shizuo about the delicacy he was missing out on.

The blonde just ignored him, sticking a piece of his sushi into his mouth with no problem. This stuff definitely tasted better than ootoro - at least to him. "Hey. Want this one?" He asked Izaya as he dangled the half bitten piece of ootoro in front of him.

Izaya scrunched his face, "It's got Shizu-chan germs all over it~" His voice had a teasing undertone, causing Shizuo to smirk in response and position the ootoro between his teeth.

"Come and get it."

The raven leaned forward with a smirk, narrowing his eyes and cocking his head to the side. "Is that a challenge?"

Shizuo grinned the best he could with the sushi in his mouth, and cocked an eyebrow. Izaya instantly read the gesture as a dare.

He was tempted to push the rest into Shizuo's mouth, and laugh at the way he choked and tried to spit it out. However, there was a part of him that wanted to go for it.

"Oh, I cannot resist my loving ootoro~" He leaned over the table, tilting his head to gingerly grab the piece with his teeth, their lips barely touching as he did so.

Shizuo grabbed the back of Izaya's head and pulled him into a kiss, nabbing the ootoro and playing with Izaya's tongue instead.

Izaya's eyes widened for a moment, before narrowing dangerously. "Mphh…" He flicked his tongue against Shizuo's with annoyance. He suddenly remembered of the last time they fought over food, and felt himself blush unwillingly.

Feeling bold, Shizuo moved his mouth brashly against Izaya's, threading his fingers through Izaya's hair. Izaya couldn't help but match Shizuo's actions, kissing him back with the same fervor and grabbing the back of his neck to pull their mouths closer.

Pulling Izaya in by the small of his back, Shizuo encouraged him to sit on his lap. He rolled his tongue around Izaya's, running the tip against the roof of his mouth. He broke for air, licking his lips. Izaya gasped, shakily sucking in air.

"Ootoro's.. not so bad…"

"Shizu-chammph!" Shizuo pulled the brunette back in for another kiss. Izaya grunted, kissing him back as he ran his fingers through Shizuo's damp hair. He tilted his head to press their lips closer. Shizuo deepened the kiss, licking on Izaya's bottom lip, earning an appreciative groan from Izaya who opened his mouth to give him more access.

The hand on Izaya's back starts to slip under his shirt, causing the raven to shiver and arch into his touch. The blonde lifted his hips up a bit into Izaya's, gently rubbing their groins together.

Izaya jolted and shoved Shizuo back, gasping for air and wiping off his mouth with the back of his wrist. "W-we're supposed to be eating breakfast…not each other." He breathlessly said as he tried to catch his breath.

Shizuo grinned, a little dazed, but satisfied from the kiss. "But you're tastier." He reached over to grab another slice of sushi and popped it into his mouth to wash down with milk.

"Tch...shut up." The raven hated the fact his cheeks were dusting pink. He slipped himself off Shizuo's lap and shoved another slice of ootoro into his own mouth, focusing on that flavor instead of Shizuo's taste that lingered on his tongue.

"You know, I meant what I said... " Shizuo murmured as he ran a finger over the glass. "Last night…"

Izaya rolled his eyes with stared at his plate, "It was only your fever. You were mumbling in your sleep last night…" He refused to believe that Shizuo was telling the truth. Because…well…he wasn't ready to accept the possibility of that yet.

Shizuo growled under his breath, "You're calling me delirious when you're the one who's in denial?" He snorted and shook his head, "It wasn't just the fever, or I wouldn't be saying it now."

"You're wrapping yourself in the idea that you..Io-" He choked on the word, scowling and clenching his fist. "…have romantic feelings toward me. Can't you see it's impossible? After all, you've hated me all this time."

The blonde scratched the back of his head, his gaze dropping down. "I haven't hated you, not for all of it. True, you get on my nerves and under my skin, but…" His grip tightened hard on the towel. He couldn't believe that he was…admitting to these feelings that have been eating away at him over the past few months. It terrified him, because he didn't want rejection. But…

"Eh?" Izaya chuckled from amusement, "So, you're trying to tell me that all those years of 'I'm gonna fuckin' kill you, louse!' was your way of saying 'I don't hate you, but you just piss me off'?~"

…but what did he have to lose?

"I told you, that was before!" He slammed his fist on the table, causing the plates to clatter. "Not now... it's different now."

Izaya sipped his tea, sighing, "You're so stubborn." He took another bite of ootoro and stared at his plate.

"I guess that's a good thing, huh?" Shizuo stood up from his chair, his heart racing painfully in his chest. "Izaya, look at me."

No. I won't look at you. I won't let you get to me. Izaya thought bitterly as he licked the juices off his fingers and took another drink of his tea, refusing to make eye contact. Shizuo growled, clenching his fists.

"Put the goddamn fancy shit down and look at me."

Izaya sighed loudly, looking up at him with narrowed eyes, "Yes?"

Shizuo bent forward and rested his hands on the back of Izaya's chair, boxing him in with his arms. "I want you to look me straight in the eyes and tell me that you don't feel a thing for me." Izaya flinched and stiffened, staring hard at Shizuo.

"Why should I have to say anything? Aren't my feelings for you clear?" He sneered.

"You're dodging again. Tell me."

Izaya's heart raced, and he was certain his mark faltered for a moment. He…he couldn't say it. He couldn't deny the claim, or admit that he does…have some feelings toward the blonde. But he couldn't give Shizuo the satisfaction. "I..have no feelings toward you."

Shizuo stared long and hard at Izaya, before smirking, "Liar."

Izaya smirked back, tilting his head, "Don't I always lie?~" His eyes twitched a bit when he caught his slip up. He was so used to snapping back at Shizuo, and usually said the right thing. But this time, his words backfired and only hinted that he was lying about having no feelings. Which was true - although he wouldn't accept it yet.

However, Shizuo didn't seem to catch that, and his smirk turned into a frown. "I had hoped the "always" wasn't so true."

Izaya stood up, moving closer to Shizuo in an attempt to push him back. "Then how about you just forget that anything intimate ever happened, hm? Then we can go back to our daily lives of cat and mouse."

Shizuo frowned, "No... I can't do that." He stepped forward, closing in on Izaya and bringing them closer. The raven froze and took a step back, his adrenaline pumping.

"And why is that?"

The blonde chuckled dryly, "I already told you one time, but apparently you're dying to hear it again." He paused, a look of concern washing over his face. "Do you?" He leaned in slowly, and gently kissed Izaya again.

You're delusional. Izaya thought to himself as he stood as still as possible, trying not to encourage Shizuo. Even though deep down, his heart ached and wanted him to continue.

This was it. Shizuo couldn't hold it back anymore. It was like a raging tide that swept over him and made him speak before he even knew what was happening. He had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. This was his last shot.

Shizuo pulled away, looking at Izaya with loving eyes. "Izaya, I... love you."