It was nighttime in Ikebukuro. Thunder crashed as the rain carried on. Everything was calm and still, aside from the bright flashes and roaring echoes from the storm. As the skies began to rest, there wasn't anything to destroy the peace.

That is, all except the scene that was set before Izaya Orihara, who was standing at the far end of the alleyway.

"Shizu-chan..." He grinned mischievously, walking closer to the blond, who was still and lying on the ground with his back up and arms sprawled out.

"What are you doing down there? It's filthy. And in this weather..." Izaya looked up at the sky and adjusted his hood.

"Even a monster like you should know that." He tilted his head when he heard no response.

"Eh? Hey, are you sleeping?" The informant walked closer, then stopped in his tracks when he noticed another substance other than rain water and dirt. Blood.

Izaya joked a bit to try and fool himself from reality. "You didn't kill someone, did you? Why else would there be blood on you? You're just resting after having brutally beating someone up, right?" He laughed halfheartedly and skipped over until he was leaning above the unmoving body.

"This isn't funny, Shizu-chan. You could get into serious trouble with the law." He smirked when he added, "Again."

Izaya looked down at his feet then proceeded to lightly kick the blonde's side. No movement.

That was when Izaya noticed the red water puddles surrounding Shizuo, as well as a few holes in his clothing. Bullet wounds. There was no question that Shizuo Heiwajima had been shot.

Shizuo didn't even seem to be breathing.

"Sh-Shizu-chan, please wake up..." Izaya knelt down beside his enemy, putting a hand on his head, running his cold fingers through the blonde's hair. Shizuo was still warm, but the rain water was soaking him, making him turn gradually colder.

"You'll catch a cold like that. You must be freezing." Izaya laid himself beside the bodyguard, against his back, placing Shizuo's arm over himself and then draping his jacket over both of them.

He didn't know what had suddenly come over him, and why he was mourning for his long-time enemy. But he snuggled closer and closed his eyes, trying to fight the burning in his throat from holding back tears.

Why was he even feeling the need to shed tears for this man?

For now, it didn't seem to matter.

"There. Now we'll both be warm."

Izaya groaned as he awoke to the rising sun's light. The rain had ended a few hours back, but Izaya still felt slightly damp. He blinked and turned to his side to see the messy blond hair, still not facing him. That was when he remembered...

Quickly, Izaya sat up and moved the jacket completely over his companion. He didn't want to look...and he didn't want to see the truth to his assumptions.

Surely a few bullet wounds wouldn't kill him, would they?

He found something to temporarily distract him from his fears. "Shizu-chan, it was really very careless of you to drop your umbrella," He noticed it for the first time as he looked over to the side he was sleeping on. He got himself up and walked over to the object, picking it up and closing it. He then sat down beside Shizuo, laying the umbrella down nearby.

"You know, you really do look ridiculous, Shizu-chan. What if somebody comes into this alleyway and tries to kill you in your unguarded state?" The brunette laughed, with a subtle hint of shame.

"Well, I'd be that person, actually. To kill you, I mean. I reserve that spot. Yet, it wouldn't be fair if I were to try anything right now."

He crossed his legs and leaned in to look at the blonde's face. He looked so peaceful, and vulnerable. Izaya couldn't help but suddenly feel like he wanted nothing more than to protect the bodyguard.

"...But...if anyone else comes in here and tries anything, I'll make sure that their life is a living hell."

He grinned at the thought as he put a hand on the bodyguard's forehead. It was cold yet...still slightly warm.

That was when Izaya saw Shizuo's chest rise and fall.

Slowly, but enough to confirm one thing.

So Shizuo was alive?