[Izaya's POV]
Gee. (F/n) is being too stubborn. It's been weeks and days, and probably even more than a month since we last talked. If Mairu did not disillusion (F/n), I could have gotten her. Actually, I think (F/n) is in her right thinking. But I still wanted a woman for myself.
I'm getting tired of just playing with Shizu-chan and fawning over human beings and their fears. I wanted a different kind of thrill. (F/n) has it all. She rode different kinds of thrill her entire life. Even she herself had become a thrill.
If she becomes too desperate, she'll grab the glass' sharp side and take on my bait. I can have her as my own human, someone to play with anytime. It's not a normal play, though. She will become more like a play thing. I want to know if she could possibly fall for me and I want to see what a woman in love with me can do for me. I won't fall in love with her, though. I've long decided to love humanity for the rest of my life.
But I am seriously getting tired of this. I can't shrug (F/n) off my mind. I went such lengths to look after her and man, it's both expensive and time consuming. But it is fun to push her to her debts. Simply put, I like her... not as a person, but as a human. She is human, just like Shizu-chan.
I felt something strongly vibrating in my fur coat's pocket and slid my hand inside to pick my phone up. I looked at the unregistered number before I answered the call, "Oh, right! Who must this be?"
"It is me," the woman said. My eyes widened as I recognized that voice. I've been spending my time in the park just walking around since morning because I didn't have anything to do. Now, it's dawn. I felt a grin spread on my face.
I stretched a little and made my voice firmer. "So, you have finally decided, (F/n). I was waiting for you. I thought you'd never call."
"Meet me at XXXXX's building rooftop right now," she said urgently. Her voice sounded like she drifted away her phone and was about to end the call.
"Hold on, (F/n)," I stopped her. "How sure are you that I am not going anywhere?"
She didn't reply right away, but I sense that she put her phone back to her ear instead of ending the call. (F/n) probably remembered that she was the one in need and has no right to hang her phone up on me. "Are you?"
"Well, no. I'm meeting you up now," I said to her dismissively and hung the phone. Because I don't appreciate being hung up upon, I'd rather hang up on someone than wait for them to do it.
I took my time leisurely as I tread my way. It was dark when I got in the meeting area. As I opened the door, I notice her looking down from the rails of the famous suicide destination. I snuck up to her and whispered, "You called me so that you could end your life together with me, then."
She flinched then moved away. "You're late," she said, half angry and half holding back.
I was rendered silent. "You called me here to confess, then you get mad at me for being late?" I taunted her. "I could just dump you."
"Get serious with me!" (F/n) snarled, having no time for my lame jokes. It hurts to admit it. "Take me to where Shizuo is."
I could see the fire in her eyes. That is the spirit. Those are the eyes of someone who refuse to stoop low and ask help from the enemy lair, but ends up asking for it anyway. But there's more to it. Those are the demanding eyes of a girl who plays unfairly. She gets what she wants, then leaves. It's for her own good anyway. I just like messing up with the people I like.
A smirk crept on my face, but my eyes are not smiling. "Don't be hasty (F/n). You've chosen a good location to start with."
"What?" she asked, confused. What I said probably didn't make any sense to her. I just rolled my eyes and motioned her to follow me as I jumped from one roof to another, each move bringing danger like one of my legs is already buried in the hard soil.
(F/n) followed masterfully. Had it been other woman, or even just gang men, they couldn't pull a move like this. Only Shizu-chan can do as well. Celty can do this as well. I led her to a remote area that a normal person couldn't arrive to. There is a rundown apartment and a short way to its basement. It still functions, but no one would probably bother living in it.
(F/n) looked around. "Are you sure this is the place?" It is wide and completely downhill. She looked like she finds a reason why their tiresome search is fruitless.
"If you just stand there absorbing this place, you won't find your beloved one," I said to her. She immediately got behind me and followed me in the dark.
I secretly pulled out my phone and sent Shinra a text message stating where we are and how to get in our location. I'm confident the black rider can bring them both to this place.
-
[Shizuo's POV]
This guilty woman is even more red handed than I thought. So she had the connection I can hope for. I cracked my neck to both sides, figuring that the job (F/n) spent so much of her energy for can now be finished.
The woman flinched at my mannerism. She was highly on guard.
"The man named Chikara (F/n) wracked wanted her to deliver to you his message," I said to her before I cleared my throat to make sure that I won't choke. "He made a mistake on you and he sincerely wanted to apologize. 'I'm sorry' is what he wanted to say, but the old man didn't make it."
Claudia chortled and shed a few tears. I felt myself smile as I see her happy when I said that. I felt happy for (F/n) too even after what I did to her. But what she said next startled me as if I was suddenly smacked by the air. "Futile..."
She glared daggers at me next. "Don't think those words overwhelm me whether you made it up or Tatsu-kun said it himself."
She is being very defensive and overprotective when it comes to that Tatsu-kun, but she's also being stone hearted towards him. It confuses me how she felt for him and how to solve this myself. Obviously, she'd hate him for throwing her out after being used. I am worried; (F/n) must hate me now. But Claudia was the one who brought the man back alive and even let herself get used.
I hate doing this thing because it is not my thing. This is four eyed flea's expertise – reading minds and speaking other people's thoughts, especially towards Celty. But this should work on her.
"Ah, Tatsu-kun, for you to say such kind words to me is too much for me to be eternally grateful to you," I said as I acted like Shinra which gets into my nerves. "Why? I am willing to do anything for you. You don't have to apologize to me."
I kept raving on her and I notice her expression change. She was taken aback, wanting to say things in return to possibly disagree to me. She opened her mouth but nothing came.
"I am yours, didn't I already tell you? I am your slave. You can kill me if you wanted to, but why did you spare me? Why did you keep me alive? Why do you push me away? I can't live without you!" I took deep breaths in between. The look in Claudia's eyes are no longer good. She even looked like she will just start hyperventilating, but what I said was not enough. "Lies! Lies! If we can't be together, better die! You're useless! Piece of crap! I hate you! If you can't return to me all I readily did for you, then die!"
I am surprised myself. I am ranting like some psychotic girl. It is actually perfect. The girl who took me is definitely psychotic. I caught up to my breath and finished my notion, "How close was I?"
She chuckled again, huffed like a maniac. "You're such a fool. Have you ever tried fitting your big foot on my shoes? No!"
She's giving me nonsense, probably to get back at me. I flashed her a look to tell her that I don't understand her and I don't plan too, either.
"Men are simpletons. They don't understand what we, women, feel! What stirs in our hearts, what drives us crazy... you just won't understand!" she exclaimed as she stood on her bed and looked down at me. I have to hold back, or else she will bring out her (F/n) voodoo doll. "It's the same as standing on high heels the entire day while flashing generous fresh smiles to people who don't care."
I ignored her but pretended to be listening to her. After she probably felt better, she sat down on her bed. I'm getting sick of her. I wish I can just leave or someone comes to take me away.
I then urged her to say something that I can understand. "What is your relation to Tatsu-kun and why are you trying to go after (F/n)?" I calmly asked her.
She looked at me blankly for a while before she started to dismiss her thoughts. "I brought Tatsu-kun back to life. It was my first time to cast a spell, a taboo that was never meant to be perfect in the first place. I gave up my sight just for him."
"So he really died," I subconsciously spoke my thoughts. The villagers tried to prevent the execution. Perhaps, there is only one brave soul who dares to do something out of league and make a sacrifice of oneself. "There are five of them, but you only saved him..."
"I won't lift a finger to save them," she said it like she's even more bitch than the person she is now. "The other four are just pigs in white clothing who snide people they look down on."
I am impressed that I am finally able to make her spill what's filling her heart with black water. So she was being bullied probably because she is in a different race. It's still hard to believe that a foreigner like her live her life in a slummy village.
"I grew up in an orphanage because my parents couldn't accept a baby made by accident. And as I grew up, medicine became my passion," she said with a warm smile while looking down and tugging her fingernails tirelessly. "I became an apprentice to Tatsu-kun's group, but I was only outcast. Tatsu-kun would always defend me, cheer me up, help me, and everything. Before I knew it, my world revolved around him. I have fallen madly in love with him."
She was talking like she's in the prime moments of her life. So this is a classic love story, eh?
"But I was a minor and my love could never reach him. I only knew him for months and he is already married. He's even impregnated his wife." She clenches her fists. "Her wife was fake. After Tatsu-kun was condemned, she left him and even aided the people to get rid of him. I was not officially a part of their group. Not recognized by the people, I was spared. Since then, I dedicated my life to reviving Tatsu-kun by the witch book I always carry as I started to be independent."
"After I brought him back to life, he became a changed man. Because I loved him, I did everything for him, even with my own life at stake. I thought he finally loved me, but no. He just threw me away. He gave me cash to survive, but that was just that... I recovered my sight and trained to be a powerful witch, even capable of changing my own appearance and casting spells. I've loathed my love since then as well as the other couples who are happily in love, but I loathe the people who killed the kind Tatsu-kun even more. While he grows stronger and farther from reach, I made myself stronger. I waited for him to avenge his former self, also because it'll save me some hassle. After which, I'll deal with him myself." She said it like she turned into a maniac again in her last sentence.
"I'm not sure I follow, but what's that got to do with (F/n)?" I understand her tough love and madness, but she didn't answer my second question.
"(F/n) is a successful Berserker. If I take her, I can continue Tatsu-kun's revenge. After all, she is the manifestation of our village's will to struggle." She speaks some other nonsense, but whatever it may be, it doesn't look good. She's definitely going to use (F/n). "Uncured Berserker brings poison to my body. That is why I need to get (F/n)."
"If I get her, I'll free you," Claudia added. "Because you two love each other so dearly, you're never meant to be together."
"I'm sorry to it break you, but you'll never get your hands on (F/n)," I said to her confidently and accidentally said something I shouldn't because she triggered me. "Just like how your shallow love won't make you a happy ending."
Claudia gags blood and her eyes got blood shot. "What do you and your smart mouth know about love? There is no such true love! All that exist in this world is fake love!"
"Fake love?" a familiar voice mocked from behind the door. "Shut your pie hole!"
The door falls with a loud bang after. There are two people who showed up, those two that I would want to see last in this place. "(F/n)? Izaya!"
(F/n) wipes the dirt off her chin and smirks at me. "I came to save you, my love."