A Leap of Fate

A Leap of Fate

It is a regular day in Ikebukuro. And, it is a regular day in Shinjuku. Orihara Izaya sits on his chair, reads posts on various forums, and gathers information... You know, a regular day. Recently, he has heard about a mysterious taxi driver who does not take people where they want to go, but where they need to go. To him it is a bit ridiculous, but who knows; this is Ikebukuro, and urban legends have lived here for as long as he had breathed.

So, he investigates. He bites his ego down and asks Shinichi Tsukumoya for help. He visits various web pages, countless forums, and a lot of different chat rooms. He talks to people; young people, old people, everyone really who has seen the taxi and took a drive in it. The stories are constantly changing and he doesn't know what to believe in. So, he takes numerous taxi drives. His wallet is a bit lighter, but he guesses it will pay off eventually.

One day he manages to catch it. Nothing really happened that was out or the ordinary. Izaya gave one address and arrived at the other. The driver was an older gentleman that hasn't spoken a word to him the entire drive. He himself hasn't spoken a word about anything either. The whole ride he was researching about the vehicle he was riding in, without actually knowing it. Nevertheless, when the taxi stopped, he paid and went out.

So, he now stands in front of a movie theatre. He doesn't understand why he needs to be here, but he is so exacted and he really wants to find out. Almost jumping with his every step, he buys a ticket and goes in. There are only a few people and the room looks almost empty. The movie has already started and it is a cheesy one about two boys who are friends, but secretly in love with each other.

He doesn't want to think about love. It is easier to say that you love whole humanity instead a person who yells that he hates you and that he will kill you. He also hates to be vulnerable and having someone know the truth will make him a laughing stock, so he keeps it for himself. He suspects that Shinra knows, but the doctor also knows how to keep his mouth closed. Moreover, it helps that Izaya has additional security measures neatly tucked in his office in a glass jar. So, there is that.

Izaya quickly returns to his mission, wanting to find out a reason why he is here in the first place. Even though the situation is interesting, the movie isn't. And, he quickly moves his attention from the big screen to the individuals sitting around him, trying to see them even though the room is only lighten by the said screen.

Honestly, he can't see a thing. There are a few girls on the front, two couples and one old man. If Izaya had looked behind him, at the corner in the last row, he would see a man with blond hair trying to keep his appearance a secret. He has seen the other entering the room; he even smelled him. He is angry, but he is having a night for himself, indulging in something that should not be indulged. Boys love is for someone like that Erica girl, not for an Ikebukuro's monster.

He rarely does this anyway. He hates that he is not normal, that he does not like girls. There are so many things about him that are not normal and this simply is a cherry on top of the cake. The world does not need to know that he is secretly gay. Orihara Izaya especially does not need to know this; not when their whole mutual hatred is based on Shizuo's homophobic tendencies.

He has seen Izaya even before they have met. He looked at him from afar. His heart would always beat faster when he would meet the red eyes; when he would look in a window just to note that he was watched in return. The Izaya's smell alone was something that made him hard instantly; he smelled like wood, dark leather, danger and blood. Shizuo hated it.

So, when he saw a person that made him feel so wrong it was easier to say "I hate you" than anything else. Even now the attraction hasn't gone away. It only grew until it became so unbearable that he always feels dirty, and broken, and almost wants to die from the pain he feels whenever he sees those beautiful eyes. The smell still makes his blood hot and he still gets so angry when he sees the other. He will kill Izaya; just not now.

Izaya doesn't know why he is here. The movie is terrible and he doesn't recognize anyone. He doesn't see why he needs to be here. He can't understand anything. Izaya doesn't know a love even when he hits a giant sigh with the actual words spelled for him, so he leaves the theatre and decides that whole rumor is just that, a rumor.

He arrives at his apartment long after Namie went home. It is already too late and he feels so washed out. He has walked all the way from Ikebukuro because he decided that he now hates all taxi drivers. He hits the shower and just as he is drying his hair with the white fluffy towel, a text message comes. The screen reads:

Shinichi Tsukumoya: Today I gained the information you asked for. The taxi is a real deal.

Izaya starts to laugh. It is just like him to miss a chance. After all, he did a same thing all those years ago when he had met him. But, in a city where urban legends exist, he knows that he will find the cab again. Perhaps, he will find out, even tomorrow, what has been in stored for him. So, he takes a leap of fate as he tucks himself in his cold, empty bed and closes his eyes.

The same as every night for the last ten years, he dreams of a smile that is not meant for him. He dreams of warm eyes, blond hair and strong arms keeping him safe. The same as every morning for the last ten years, he wakes up with a tear stained pillow and hates himself for loving a monster who won't love him in return.