Craving happiness

A/N:- And here we are the last chapter. Enjoy.

Laughter filled the office everyone crowding around the large screen that took up a large portion of the wall. Subordinates, leaders and the successors all sat together watching the screen. What did the big bad yakuza watch? When he had first found out he had been shocked. There on the screen was Ruri Hijiribe the popular idol.

Nearly everyone in the Awakusu-kai was bewitched with her. Any meetings were cancelled and everyone gathered in front of the large television with the surround sound. Shizuo himself didn't think much of her then again that might be because of the piece of paper in his shirt pocket. The address had been memorized, his fingers twitching unable to keep still.

The idol on stage in the red dress sang the words he wanted to say with ease. The love song ended, everyone in the office clapping. "And a big thank you to Ruri-chan for performing." Shizuo watched bored as the woman stepped from the stage joining the reporter. "Is the rumour about your engagement with Yuuhei Hanejima true?"

Shizuo jolted sitting upright from where he had been slouching. His brother had a girlfriend? Since when? Admittedly she was really pretty. "Yes. It's true." The entire room went eerily silent. Coffee eyes widened staring at the large diamond on the idol's finger. Kasuka hadn't mentioned anything.

"No! This can't be!" The office was in an uproar. There and then he should have quietly snuck out since they knew the actor's real name. Instead the screen changed, a red banner scrolling along the bottom of the screen. Kanra Orihara first of the murderous pair died in hospital early this morning. It was over. His tormentor and Sora's mother was dead. Izaya had been right, there was no recovery.

"We're live standing witness to the execution of the serial killer Izaya Orihara." No! Shizuo pounded the table standing up in shock. It couldn't be... "The two Orihara's have destroyed many lives between them. Earlier today Kanra Orihara died in hospital with suspected poisoning. The doctors reported that she was in a lot of pain even though not once did she manage to speak. Now we come to this. Only a few minutes to go until Izaya Orihara suffers the same fate for his crimes. The following scenes may be disturbing."

Shizuo couldn't watch the camera turning onto a pale raven, crimson orbs scrunched in pain. With every jerk it felt like a stab to his heart. The needle pressing down sending the lethal dose into the prisoner's veins. Swallowing thickly his eyes couldn't look away frozen to the screen in horror. No! The figure in the chair jerked a few times slumping back where he didn't move. "NO!" The blond screamed staring at the screen. It couldn't be Izaya. The damn flea was too smart, like a cockroach.

"...Shizuo..."

"...Boss..."

"...Shizuo, calm down." They reached for him but Shizuo evaded backing away his gaze fixed on the screen. Izaya Orihara dead. It wasn't true. It couldn't be. Clutching at the address the blond staggered from the room sliding down the wall. He had to believe in the raven.

One week later

Most don't know they are in a cage until its too late. Who knows if friendship is real, if you can trust your partner or mentor or even those that are the closest to you. No one can see the invisible chains snaking around their wrists and ankles anchoring them down, rendering them unable to move.

The false sanctuary provided in an act of kindness nothing but a trap, the thin silver bars slowly coming down until the cage is complete and the door is locked. A small bubble of fake happiness. Ready to burst the moment you realise that its not real.

Humans as Izaya called them were manipulative in nature with hidden agendas and ulterior motives for their own means. Presents and gifts were a means to unknowingly bribe or pacifying. Connections forged gave access to emotions and personal lives, setting themselves up for hurt and betrayal.

But maybe that's what he had wanted at the time. A safe little haven where he could recover, where everyone else took responsibility for his actions. Maybe deep down he had wanted to remain blind to the truth. The flea if he was here would call him a protozoan.

Shizuo sighed taking the steps one at at time. His fever had got worse, not to mention the other successors crowded him. Haruka had taken over the kitchen and making meals for him and Sora. Shuddering at the memory he knew he would never have soup again. Stuck under house arrest there was no way for the blond to sneak out.

The entire time he had held onto that small piece of paper wishing that he could just run to the raven who he knew was waiting. Shizuo sighed again trudging up the stairs one at a time. As it turned out the address was to a penthouse apartment right on the top floor. Really, he should have known. The lift had been too nerve racking standing there twiddling his thumbs. Which was why he was taking the stairs one at a time.

According to Kadota the damn flea was waiting for him to come to his senses and get out of the cage he had unknowingly been in on his own. But a week was a long time. What if the address was invalid and Izaya had gotten tired of waiting for him? He had cruelly let the raven wait seven years without any contact.

Did he have any right to go and see him? To dare to be happy? Shizuo stopped his hand resting on the banister hearing it creak under his grip. Izaya had killed his sister for him and now he knew that the man he loved was still fighting for him. Biting his lip Shizuo let go carrying on.

But wasn't he still pissed at the damn flea for walking out on him? Shaking his head he kept walking one foot moving in front of the other up each step until his frown faded, his legs spread wider as he took two steps at a time breaking into a run. No this time he had already decided to have the flea back in his life. The feeling he had a week ago he never wanted to have again.

Every night he had woken up screaming from the same nightmare. That he would knock on the door and get no reply because that had been his flea on tv. The very thought made him feel sick. Every night it was the same nightmare.

In his pocket his phone vibrated. Kadota. All ready. Just waiting on you. Biting his lips Shizuo slipped the phone back in his pocket. Since last week the leaders of the Awakusu-kai had become more stern, expecting more and more of him, even offering to babysit Sora and set them up in the main house.

Shin had become more insistent on delving into his mind trying to get the information he wanted. The only one that hadn't done anything was Akabayashi who had told him to take a walk, look at the clouds and think of what he really wanted. His partner Haruka had been watching him closer than before. That might be because he had tried to yank her hair off hoping it was a wig and Izaya in another disguise. He wasn't that lucky. Since the flea had walked out on him he had heard nothing.

The steady steps turned into a light jog and then into a reckless run up the flights of stairs. Catching his toes Shizuo went sprawling on the stairs banging his knee. Grunting in pain he pushed himself up and carried on.

By the time he reached the top Shizuo was on his hands and knees panting harshly. Why the hell did the flea live on the top floor? There was no need to check the address on the piece of the paper, he did so anyway. Surprisingly it was the same door he had seen in his nightmares. Reaching out he knocked lightly.

The door remained firmly closed with no sound of movement behind it. Shizuo grit his teeth knocking louder...nothing...again he rapped his knuckles harshly against the wood watching as the wood chipped...nothing... "Damn it flea!" Grabbing the handle the blond pushed wrenching the door open.

The door swung wide showing a single large bed in the centre of the room and a small bedside table with a laptop set up. "Izaya?" Shizuo froze hearing a soft click an icy feel pressing against the back of his neck.

"Get inside!" Holding his hands up Shizuo walked into the apartment, Haruka holding a gun to his head. "Where is he?" Pushed forward the blond sat on the edge of the bed glancing around the empty apartment. The door slammed shut swinging open a touch since the lock was broken. "Izaya Orihara and Shizuo Heiwajima, both of you have been declared liabilities and not fit to be in the Awakusu-kai."

So this was how it was going to end. His partner who had supposedly had a crush on him was going to kill him. Thanks to Kadota and Izaya he had known something like this was coming. Which was why he had gotten Sora to safety. The only one the Awakusu-kai could hurt was him. His friends and family were leaving Ikebukuro.

Hearing whistling get closer a hand covered his mouth stopping him from warning the unfortunate person away. Instead the door opened the raven dropping the groceries he had been holding. "Shizu-chan, you're here already?" Izaya grinned happy to see him. "Haruka-chan too."

Shizuo watched the woman had one gun and there were two of them. "Do you mind putting the gun away? I have enough otooro for all of us...No! My tuna!" The raven crouched in panic searching through the bags. "Ah! Its okay. Oh goodie. Shizu-chan, are you aware you have a gun against your head?"

The blond blinked glaring at the raven. "Is that all you have to say? You walked out on me you bastard! You mmph!" The same hand clamped over his mouth.

"Enough. Get on the bed arms raised." The gun moved pressing against his temple. Even with his strength he would wind up dead. Slowly the flea did as he was told.

"You are aware that during the month I've been watching over my Shizu-chan, I've been keeping an eye on you all. Hehe. Information is a powerful thing, who knew?"

"Stop talking." Shizuo hissed. Of all people it was going to be Izaya that would get him killed.

"Haruka-chan. Wakes up everyday at 5am has a shower, a protein shake for breakfast and then an hour of gun practice. Ten minutes before going to school she visits the office to give her report on you just like the others. For lunch she has the same bento every day. After leaving work again she reports to Shiki-san and the others. At 7pm she eats a balanced dinner making a note of the calories. At 8pm she has a bath and is in bed by 10pm, with her gun under her pillow. Hehehehehehehe, I know everything about you, Haruka-chan."

Shizuo blinked reaching out blindly as Izaya placed his hand over the barrel. "Including the fact that after you load your gun for practice you don't touch it again. Besides that you keep the weapon locked in your desk. In short, there is no bullets currently in that gun. If there was and you pointed that at my Shizu-chan. I might just have to kill you." No bullets?

Lashing out the gun flew across the room, his partner staring in shock. "Neither of you will get out of this building alive." Shizuo grit his teeth staring at her in disgust.

"Shizu-chan, run!" A smaller hand slipped in his own pulling him from the room. Together they ran down the corridor stopping at the lift. The doors slid open Izaya running his fingers over the panel. "This way." Instead of the lift the two of them slipped through the fire exit door. He caught a glint of silver the fire alarm ringing out throughout the building. "Don't stop!" It was the serious Izaya again, no hints of madness in those eyes.

"There they are!" A loud shout alerted the rest of the yakuza where he was. He himself had never done any of the illegal jobs. The ones chasing him though did and on a regular basis. A similar shout came from below them. They were cornered. Shizuo sighed cracking his knuckles wondering if he would have to fight his way out. Seeing the guns he swiftly changed his mind.

"...Izaya..." Taking a step forward towards the banister, Shizuo looped one arm around the small waist.

"Shizu-chan? DON'T!" Too late he toppled back plummeting down from the height. Clutching Izaya safely to his chest, the blond free fell knowing it would hurt. The staircases blurred past him. Closing his eyes Shizuo smiled bracing himself for impact.

The harsh ground never came. The sound of something ripping sounded in his ears. His back hit something soft yet it still knocked the air from him. Trying to calm his trembling body he opened his eyes seeing Kadota and Walker holding what looked like a thick hammock. Underneath him was a thick blue mat that looked like it had been pinched from the school gym.

"You idiot protozoan! What the hell were you thinking?" Shizuo laughed softly feeling Izaya's fist bang against his chest.

"Guys, argue in the van." Reluctantly he let the flea go, rolling painfully from the mat. He was going to have a lot of bruises in the morning. With Kadota on one side and Izaya on the other they made it outside and into the van. "Shit. Hurry up. The double doors were thrown open a happy Karisawa and Sora waved at him, Chie was curled up in her lap.

Kadota climbed in the front slamming the door with Walker the last to climb in the back. Shizuo groaned resting back against the interior his arms holding Izaya close. Outside they could hear banging and shouting. "Floor it!" All of them in the back swayed to the side. He couldn't see anything except for Kadota's panicked expression in the mirror showing just how much trouble they were in. Closing his eyes his arms locked around the slim waist refusing to ever let go.

x-x-x

Togusa was a mad man not once taking his foot off the accelerator. Yet they managed to lose the yakuza and reach a hotel without so much as a scratch on the exterior. For now they were safe. All of them slid from the dangerous contraption a bit shaken.

"The rooms are booked. Shizuo, Izaya you two are together. We'll look after Sora tonight." Kadota was already walking on ahead. His friend was right. Izaya was back now they had to talk.

Sliding the card key across the door opened allowing them inside. All three doors were next to each other. "So, Shizu-chan. We're alone no-ow!" The door slammed shut Shizuo slapping the raven full across the face. "What was that for?" Izaya rubbed at his reddened cheek.

"You left me!" Shizuo clenched his fist.

"I had no choice. Its not my fault you got sucked into the Awakusu-kai... I know, you got sick. I'm sorry. It hurt me just as much. We're free now. For the time being."

"I saw you die." The memory was still painfully fresh.

"I'm here aren't I? Or maybe I'm a ghost?" The raven giggled. "Wooo Shizu-chan, I'm back to haunt you. Hehehe." Shizuo blinked turning away. "Shizu-chan?"

"Don't make fucking jokes! Do you have any idea what I f-felt." Shit not again. A hand rested on his shoulder.

"Sorry. It wasn't me. It was Seiji-kun. Mika-chan committed suicide almost an hour later. Namie-san went mad, she's in the very mental institute she was working in. Everything is done. There are no loose ends." Except that the yakuza were after them. Taking a seat on the bed Shizuo dropped back onto the covers.

"Shizu-chan, are you going to push me away again?"

"...After you left I realised what I wanted. For better or worse, I want you in my life."

"For richer or poorer?" The blond nodded knowing he only had what was left of his salary.

"In sickness and health?" Izaya's eyes twinkled.

"I guess. You aren't sick are you?" The flea didn't look sick.

"Till death do us part?"

"What the hell, flea? What kind of question is that? We've only just met again." Wait. Where had he heard those words before? That's right...Celty and Shinra!" Shizuo's eyes snapped open seeing Izaya kneeling on the floor. "Wha-?"

"Answer the question, Shizu-chan." Swallowing thickly the blond stared at the silver band. His finger felt empty since he had torn off the successor ring and crushed it. This couldn't be happening...It had to be a dream...After everything, did he get to be happy too?

"...Y-yeah. I don't want to leave your side again." His hand was taken, the silver band being removed from the cushion and slipped onto his finger.

"The ring I owed you as promised. I won't ever leave you, Shizu-chan." Shizuo nodded cupping Izaya's chin kissing those soft lips.

"What do I call you now?" His chest was exploding with happiness making him feel all warm and fuzzy.

"Izaya Orihara is dead. I've been playing around with a few names Roppi, Psyche, Hibiya, maybe Sakuraya. Its up to you. I'm yours, Shizu-chan. Who do you want me to be?" Those crimson orbs twinkled the raven slipping from his grasp to tip toe across the room and quickly open the door. Karisawa and Sora blinked innocently.

"Uh...Hey Shizu-Shizu." Shizuo shook his head holding his arms out. His little girl beamed rushing to him. He was jobless, currently homeless and had done everything he had promised himself he wouldn't. Yet now Sora was staring up at him with a wide smile looking happier than he had ever seen her.

"Papa looks happy." Shizuo smiled pulling her into his lap. Everything had been stripped from him. All he had was his friends, Izaya and Sora. Yet he was happy, incredibly so. Then the door closed and Izaya stepped forward. Two pairs of crimson met, Sora tilting her head. "You look like mama."

The raven gave him a look. Shizuo blinked just as confused. Sora reached into her pocket taking out a folded square. Slowly she opened it pointing at the girl he had loved back in school. "This is you! Mama Chiyoko!" H-how? Had Karisawa and Kadota said something?

"But I'm a man." Shizuo sighed glad Izaya wasn't going to tell her the truth. His little girl sighed tapping the paper again. It was a habit lately when she believed she was the smarter one.

"So is this. Same eyes and face. You're mama!" Damn it. "You're mama. You make papa happy." Shizuo's eyes widened watching Sora hug Izaya's leg demanding to be picked up. Somehow she knew.

"Shizu-chan?" Izaya was staring down at his daughter.

"...Yeah. It's okay." Izaya Orihara was dead. Just like Kadota he would stop him from doing anything stupid, because he loved him.

"I guess I could be your mama." The sight of the two of them together was too much. Turning away he rested his elbow on his knee covering his eyes. The bed dipped a hand taking his. "Shizu-chan, this is a new beginning for all of us." No matter what happened or what played out, everything would be okay as long as he had those he loved. Scrubbing at his eyes, the blond wrapped an arm around Izaya's waist.

"I love you, Shizu-chan." Izaya leaned against his shoulder.

"Me too." Shizuo pecked his lips.

"What about me?" Sora looked up holding her arms out. A bolt of black flew across the room leaping into his arms. "Chie too." The cat hissed at Izaya snuggling between them.

This was the starting point. They could do anything they wanted. Crash Celty's honeymoon, go and see Kasuka and have a decent talk, though with Izaya it might get awkward or even see or see how his parents were settling in their new home. But that was for another day. The four of them were a family. This was his happiness and nothing would be allowed to ruin it.

End

A/N:- That's the end of that one. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Let me know what you thought. Thanks for all the support and yeah, see you on the next one.