"But I don't deserve it," Shizuo replied simply. His tone was matter-of-fact - not wistful or dejected. Again, it just seemed logical. "I tried to cut it out." And then Izaya had bled rose-red all over himself - and Shizuo. "I hurt you." If only he could have had that promise first - that freedom from such a terrible compulsion.

He continued to walk along the path, just behind Izaya, until Izaya gestured him to sit. Shizuo did, a couple of inches of space carefully kept between them. The silence that followed did not bother Shizuo. He sat patiently, just enjoying the setting and Izaya's presence. Even if, after all of this, he didn't get the heart, somehow this felt like it could be enough. For the first time since the curse took hold, Shizuo felt at peace. His mind wasn't on hunting or that man who had hurt a child or even on what he had done to Izaya. Instead, he felt fully immersed in the present moment.

Izaya made Shizuo look at him, firmly directing the side of his face, but Shizuo didn't feel forced. If Izaya wanted him to look, he would look. It really was that simple.

"Yes," he replied without missing a beat. He brought his own hand up to Izaya's face, touching the skin of his cheek, brushing hair away as he had that previous evening. "I've known you for a long time. I know that. I can't...really remember a lot of it, but I can feel that. I know I know you, but it's like I only just woke up a few days ago. That until then, I had been...sleeping, almost."

For a brief moment, he glances down, feeling a little confused because he's not quite sure if that makes sense, but it fades quickly, and he meets Izaya's stare again.

"You're Izaya." His tone is confident, and he smiles a small, fond smile as he says it. "But you're more than that, too. That's why I need your heart."