Chapter 72: Negotiations

"Who are you?" The question was quite useless, really. Judging from the fact that Shijima was present, Izaya already knew that he was facing members of Jo's hoes. And what's worse? Gauging the single man's authority standing amidst them all they seemed to have earned themselves a visit by the very leader of the group.

Izaya wasn't sure what he had expected.

Having heard Shijima talk about god's will and using any means to send them to heaven he already figured this entire group either had a screw loose or was simply trying to satisfy some kind of developed urge to kill.

It was the latter he had hoped for, because the first one would provide a much more organized setting compared to mere bloodshed.

Eyes locked onto the white collar sitting at the leader's neck, however, doomed all ideas about this group running around mindlessly committing murders.

"Right, I think we haven't met before," the leader announced with a voice that was made to speak to waves of people as he shoved part of his slightly adjusted ceremonial attire behind his back. "I am father Kishi. You gave my lambs quite a hard time."

A priest.

The leader of Jo's hoes was in fact a priest. And what's worse, it was a priest that seemed not blinded by his belief, but strangely composed and motivated to act.

Thousands of possibilities judging this man's personality raced through Izaya's mind.

This was bad.

A maniac he could have dealt with, but this guy showed charisma and a certain level of sociopathy right upon first glance that made Izaya hesitate.

Misgauging his opponents actions and will would be the first and last grave mistake they could make.

Where did this urge to purge humanity stem from? It wasn't hard to guess. Maybe a few too many murderers came to confess their crimes and this priest decided one day that it was time to repeat what the bible had already spoken about.

Shizuo was having a similar amount of thoughts racing through his mind, but their base was an entirely different one.

Eyes darted left and right.

Apart from the asshole they met at the bridge there were five more men at the window. Strong from what he could tell, but no match to his own strength if it really came down to it.

Namie, Vorona, Karisawa- they were all out of order. What could he do to get them all out of this safely?

His body was tense and his eyes narrowed as he shifted just slightly.

Almost instantly he was greeted with the clicking sound of a gun unlocking and Izaya's arm shoved him back.

"Shizuo-" Izaya hissed a short warning, and Shizuo understood.

Leave this to him.

That was the order, and despite the sour taste it left on his lips Shizuo remained in place as his eyes cursed the smiling priest in front of them.

"Ah, you better not move or you might regret it in a second," father Kishi chuckled with a hint of amusement that made Izaya want to vomit.

His men. Jo's hoes. They were all carrying guns and aiming them just right.

Yet they had not moved.

Meaning they wanted something.

That much became awfully clear with each agonizing second that passed.

They could have shot them both on the spot otherwise.

If they had learned anything from watching Shizuo and him then they should know that they were by far the greatest threat of this group.

So why?

Why were they here?

If they just wanted to kill them the option was easy, just let some zombies in, put a bullet through their temples, but for the leader to show himself proved of a different goal.

Which was odd. Because Shijima had obviously tried to kill them before.

Twice even. Once by sending mutilated flatworms after Shizuo and Izaya in the cafeteria of this school, and the second time a mere day ago when they tried to do the same with a group of fungi. Yet Izaya and Shizuo had survived.

Another attempt to take their lives was what Izaya had expected.

But appearing like this-

The dots connected quicker than Izaya thought they would and his stance tensed.

They wanted something.

What?

Shizuo.

They had seen him survive. They had seen him take out a flatworm. If anything he was probably what they ought to be one of the chosen ones meant to survive.

Izaya too.

No wait, Izaya definitely wasn't one of the chosen ones. Shijima had made it very clear that he wanted Izaya dead because he knew him from before the apocalypse.

Had he told this father anything about his previous deeds, then he was sure to have him on his bucket list of people to cleanse off the surface of the earth.

No.

This was about Shizuo. And Shizuo only.

Feeling the light sting of the bite mark on his wrist, Izaya unconsciously moved his arm closer to his body.

His position was an awfully shrewd one. Revealing the bite mark and the fact that he had not turned might prove that he was worthy to remain on earth's surface. But at the same time he had no idea of this priest's goals. He might as well kill him off as the one threat to the virus in existence.

They couldn't see it.

Not now.

Moving just barely Namie's gaze suddenly met his own and for a fraction of a second Izaya thought she would tell the priest the reason she had tried to shoot him.

About the injection he had brought to his own veins.

But she didn't say a single word.

It was funny, but in that single glance they found a mutual base of understanding as they wished for the same thing.

Survive.

The wish reflecting in her eyes was a simple one.

Get them all out of here, no matter how.

That was something Izaya could do.

Possessing confidence and charisma in spades, Izaya mustered what he could as his face took on every shred of confidence he could muster.

"I take it you are open for negotiations?" Obvious confusion circled both Shizuo's as well as Namie's face in the few seconds it took for his words to sink in.

Namie had probably expected Izaya to pull some out of the world stunt and kill every threat present- but that was a stupid idea. Fighting had never been his forte. But talking, that was something he excelled at.

Not only their side showed perplexion, the five men standing by at the window mirrored the expression on a similar level.

The priest was the only one to smile as he folded his hands behind his back. "You are quite quick on the uptake aren't you?" It was funny how a man this crude could be all full of smiles like this. "Your best man," the father announced whilst flickering his glance towards Shizuo. "I want him."

Just as Izaya had expected.

Shizuo not so much.

"What the hell are you-" the blond started, but Izaya quickly lifted his arm in order to hold Shizuo back.

And Shizuo stopped.

He wasn't stupid, he was still awfully aware of the guns being aimed at them. And being held back like this Izaya's message was clearly delivered. He had to play along. There was no way the injury to his chest had already healed either, so there was nothing he could do.

And yet-

Eyes casting downwards Shizuo saw the way Izaya's arm trembled just slightly. That's how tense this situation was.

Izaya was currently gambling to save as many as he could. And wording something wrong could immediately result in the death of one of them.

"My life for his cooperation, is that it?" Izaya questioned precisely and was met with satisfaction as the priest nodded.

"It's only one factor we need for control, if it's you that it takes fine by me."

Control, huh?

Funny. Izaya was a fan of that one too, albeit with different characteristics.

Eyes narrowing he glanced towards Shijima. He was still sitting on the ground, fondling all too happily with Namie's clothes as he revealed more and more of her smooth skin. She didn't struggle.

She didn't move at all.

She knew if she resisted she would be killed and Izaya's attention flew back to the priest.

"What's your goal?" A healthy dose of surprise flashed across Kishi's expression as he watched Izaya move towards the center of the room. Izaya couldn't tell whether he was amazed by his guts or the contents of his words, but it seemed one of them was amusing the priest beyond belief.

"Faith," the priest chuckled, "Restoring what was long lost. God sent us a blessing, he washed away the sins of people and only left those he deemed worth a life." An exasperated sigh was given and the father shook his head vehemently. "Yet there are some who deserve to survive and such who only did by impure means." A glance was cast to the side and before Izaya knew it a gun appeared from the pastor's own gown and directed itself towards Namie.

"As for this trash here," he announced, and the lock of the gun clicked.

Namie would be killed.

It was a truth.

At this moment, with this kind of explanation it was the only possible conclusion and so Izaya moved.

Quick.

Smooth.

Not into the direction of the priest as he fancied not being perforated by lead, but in front of Namie. It was just one simple move it needed and Izaya almost looked like he was dancing by the way he exerted a tremendous effort to not appear like a threat.

Hands raised to show that he was unarmed he merely stood and met the priest's barrel head on.

"You have a skilled doctor and a professional scientist in this room. What waste would it be to kill them?" he asked quickly and the priest glanced around the room.

Shinra with his injury to his thigh was on the ground, barely conscious. Kadota was pinned just like Namie- in other words, weak. Karisawa had yet to regain consciousness and Vorona-

"They are dead." The priest announced in a metaphorical way and the worst part of it was that Izaya knew he was right. The sight of presenting itself right here right now was nothing any leader would want in his rows.

"Temporary out of order I would say," Izaya tried, but of course negotiating facts wasn't something the father would let himself be fooled by.

He shrugged, "I don't fancy carrying around dead luggage."

"And I don't fancy working with dictators."

Silence.

The priest had obviously not expected to be blackmailed himself. Izaya was obviously playing with fire here, because acting against the pastor's order might as well backfire on him killing him and taking anyone else hostage.

At that moment he could do nothing but hope that Jo's hoes had seen Shizuo's rampages and learned enough fear of them to know that killing him would bring Shizuo's rage upon them no matter what sweet words they used.

A few more agonizing seconds passed until the priest's expression softened into one of fake kindness.

"I see we have arrived at a stalemate. What are you suggesting?"

"All of us in exchange for Shizuo and me."

Low whispers traversed the room for a second as a few members of Jo's hoes were obviously not exactly pleased with the offer. But Kishi quickly brought his hand up in a motion to remain quiet and the whispers died.

"Think about it" Izaya continued, "It's more members on your side and as you stated none of us pose a threat. I mean look at us. Two women, a four eyed wimp and a former cook." Lying was always a game of mixing just enough truth into the pretension to make it seem believable. Not mentioning Shinra's medical skills and lying on Vorona's and Kadota's profession came as easy as breathing to Izaya and so not a shred of doubt was shown by the priest when he continued. "We can do low effort work. Collect food, run errands, you name it."

Kishi smiled and nodded and for a brief moment Izaya thought he had already won. "You seem like you know what's good for you. But I am not looking for servants." And then he knew he hadn't as that gun aimed towards his own head.

Fuck.

It was logical.

Get rid of the only one obviously opposing him inside this group.

Namely Izaya.

"You could develop more of the virus to spread it around."

The words came faster than Izaya could process them in his own mind.

But they were genius.

Freezing immediately the pastor's eyes lit up at what must have been the perfect bait. Conflict and greed mixed into an interesting cocktail of smiles.

"I like the way your mind works, but how would you accomplish that?" he asked, but didn't move the gun yet.

This was it.

Izaya's time to shine.

"We already discovered two different sets of viral means as the root source of the infection. Separating the disease and spreading it in the city via airborne means should be no issue," Izaya lied like the professional he was and the pastor's mood elevated further.

"And you are confident you can do that?"

"Facts don't need confidence."

That was the nail to the deal.

Dead silence followed, cursed by a winning smile as the pastor finally lowered the gun.

"Fine," Kishi agreed, and his expression turned back to one of sobriety. "But I don't like being talked back to. So get a grip on those companions of yours." The side eye thrown towards Namie told Izaya more than he needed to know.

Seeing how Vorona was knocked out she had probably opposed the strangers invading them without better knowledge and she had paid the price for it.

It explained her awfully apathetic state.

"Shijima." The priest called briefly and the bastards stopped playing around with Namie's bra as he turned in disappointment.

"Hehhh? I thought she was going to be my cocksleeve," Shijima complained, but moved immediately as told as he rose to his feet. The guy having held Namie down tossed her to the side using his tight grasp on her hair.

Namie didn't move.

Like a doll she remained in place, not daring to move a single muscle.

The situation was tense despite Izaya's win and the pastor's eyes traveled through the room as he viewed each of their members individually.

"As for this one- yeah, I think taking her would suffice," he suddenly announced and the men he brought with him pulled Shinra to his feet.

"Hey-" Shizuo spoke up, but Izaya quickly signed for him to remain quiet.

A sleek smile spread across the pastor's face as he addressed the blond. "Rest assured, we won't harm him. This is just precaution so you don't get any weird ideas." Turning to Izaya the smile immediately fell. "We expect you north, down the highway at sunset. You should be familiar with the route."

Of course they were.

It was the route they had taken in order to reach the donation facility.

With that the pastor turned. The men walked to the door and the door shut as they finally left.

to be continued~