Chapter 1 - Diagnosis
BYR:
IT'S FINALLY HERE! THE SEQUEL! God college has been killing my time... Sorry for the late updates in advance... Hope you enjoy!~ I'm sooo excited! XD
(Dammit...what's happening to me...?)
Izaya was staring into his bathroom mirror, dark circles under his eyes from the nightmares he'd been having for the past week. Blood was stained on the sides of the sink as he bent down again, coughing up more spatters of the red fluid. A red line of blood ran down the side of his chin as he quickly wiped it away with his hand. It was getting worse, these sudden urges to throw up. He couldn't even eat normally without having a burning sensation in his throat. And it was always blood that came out, nothing else. The sight of it made him sick. A knock was heard on the door followed by a worried tone from his favorite blonde.
"Oi flea! You ok in there?"
"Y-yeah! I'm just brushing my teeth!"
"Well open up so I can tell you goodbye properly! I gotta head to work!"
"Ok ok! Be patient!"
Quickly erasing all the evidence of blood, Izaya watched as every last drop had drained down the sink before he speed brushed his teeth and open the door. The blonde was standing there, tapping his toes and glaring into those ruby colored eyes.
"What took you so long?"
"Now now Shizu-chan~ I have to look my best before i can present myself to you!~"
"Tch, I don't care how you look. You're fine the way you are ok? So quick fussing around and come here."
Opening his arms to invite the informant into them, Izaya smiled as he skipped into those strong arms and received a warm hug.
"Gotta go. I'll see you later ok?"
"Mhm! Be safe~"
Giving him a quick kiss on the lips, Shizuo waved goodbye before he was out the door and gone. As soon as the door closed and the Izaya heard the elevator descend, he rushed to his office, grabbed his cell phone, and speed dialed Shinra.
*Bzzz...bzzz...click!*
"Hello?"
"Shinra! It's me!"
"Ohh Izaya! What a lovely surprise! I haven't heard from you in a while! Not since you and Shizuo stopped fighting! So this is kinda unexpected. What's wrong?"
"I think I'm sick."
"Sick? Do you have a fever? Cold sweat? Maybe it's the flu?"
"No it's not the flu or a cold! It's serious!"
"Hmm I see. Well come on over and I'll check you out."
"Thank you."
Snapping his portable phone closed, the informant rushed to his bedroom and changed into his street clothes. It'd been a while since he'd been to Ikebukuro. Ever since he discovered that Shizuo was in love with him, he found that he was actually flattered by the fact. Deciding that it would do them both good if the fighting stopped, the brunet gave this unrealistic love a chance. And so far, nearly a year later, they were still miraculously together.
Making his way down the busy sidewalk filled with pedestrians, Izaya wondered what could be wrong with his body. Never in his life had he ever experienced something so scary and abnormal. It frightened him a bit as he walked with his head down, eyes concentrating on the road in front of him. As he made it to the underground doctor's apartment, Izaya could feel his bones shake from fear as he knocked on the door and waited for the male to appear.
"Izaya! Welcome! Come in come in!"
The usual smiling male greeted the informant inside as he led him to the examination room.
"Hmm, you look healthy. Let's see what wrong with you. Take off your shirt please and sit on the table while I get your medical records."
Izaya stripped out of his shirt, laid it on the chair near the door, and started walking towards the examination table when he felt a sharp burning feeling on the side of his chest. Crying out in pain, the brunet fell hard onto the cold ground as he curled his body up into a ball, trying to suppress the agonizing pain. Shinra had heard the cry and rushed back into the room, kneeling down next to the male.
"Izaya! Izaya what's wrong?!"
"I.. I don't know! It hurts! My sides...nhhh!..They burn... Ahhh!"
"Hold on! Let me go get you something-"
"No! It's... It's ok... It's going away now..."
"You sure?!"
"Yeah...it's gone... I'm fine now..."
"Fine?! You're definitely NOT fine! What happened just now?!"
"I'm not sure. I just felt a sharp pain on my side and fell over..."
"Hmm, this is abnormal indeed... Let me examine you. We'll run some tests as well to see what's up."
After taking a physical checkup, the underground doctor drew some blood for tests and also did a number of brain scans on the informant. After about three hours of tests and waiting, the results finally came back.
"Ohh no..."
"Wnat? What is it? Tell me Shinra!"
"I... I'm afraid you have..."
"What?! What do I have?!"
"You have Multiple Sclerosis Izaya..."
"Multiple what?!"
"Multiple Sclerosis. It a chronic, progressive disease which cause damage to your nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. From the looks of it, your nervous system has been hit pretty badly, and I'm afraid that it's gotten to your sensory system as well. Which means that you may start to lose your five senses..."
"Lose my...sense..?"
"Yes; hearing, tasting, smelling, seeing, and touching. You might also lose the ability to walk as well... I'm sorry Izaya..."
"How long...?"
"I say you have about 6 months until it fully sinks in. By that time, you'd have lost-"
"All my senses... This...this can't be happening...!"
"I know it's tough news to hear, but I'll do everything in my power to help you through this."
"I'm going to die... I'm going to die..."
"No you won't! I'll make sure of that! Here, I'll write you a prescription for a treatment to help slow the spreading. It's called Copaxone. You have to inject this into your blood stream daily ok? This should protect important proteins in your body to help support your immune system."
"Should?"
"Not all medicine can help. But hopefully it'll do its job."
"Am I going to die Shinra...? Tell me the truth."
"Most likely no. Multiple Sclerosis is deadly, but it'll only reduce your lifespan by a couple of years. You'll be fine Izaya. As long as you see me at least once a month, we can manage."
"Thank you..."
"No problem. I'm happy to help. Now, you should go home and get some sleep. Come back tomorrow for your prescription when I have it ready. Don't worry too much about it."
"Yeah ok... See ya."
Saddened and utterly shocked by the news, Izaya thanked his friend once again before he departed for home. Left alone in his apartment, Shinra frowned as the facts from the CT and PET scans sank in. Izaya was, in truth, going to die.
"... I'm sorry I lied to you Izaya... But I don't think you'll be able to live through this fight... Still, I won't give up... I'll do whatever it takes to find a cure. I promise..."
On his way home from Shinra's, Izaya decided to stop by a secret spot he always went to when he needed to clear his mind. Climbing the last stretch of rock ledges, he exhaled a breath of exhaustion as he gazed out onto the endless mass of water. The sun was blazing colors in the sky as he sat back against the only tree that was on top of the cliff, taking in the cool breeze of the ocean. This was the spot where Shizuo had confessed his love for him almost a year ago. At first, the brunet thought it was some sort of prank, but when the blonde kissed him, he knew that their entire relationship had changed. Now living at the informant's condo, he felt that his life was now more peaceful and complete with the ex-bartender by his side. That is, until now; now that he had this disease how would he live a normal life?
"I can't tell Shizu-chan... He'll only freak out and fuss over me. I can't distract him from work... It's best this way. Who knows, maybe it was just an error in the readings!"
Trying his best to be optimistic, Izaya felt his pocket vibrate as he reached for his cell phone. Pulling it out, he saw that he got a text message from Shizuo and opened it.
-Hey flea, did you eat yet? I'm on my lunch break and wanted to check up on you. Don't sit around all day with your eyes glued to that computer of yours! I'll be home around 9 or 10 tonight. See you then.-
Smiling at the cute message he'd received, he exited out of the text and stared at his screen. His screensaver was a picture of him and Shizuo, one he had taken when the blonde was sleeping soundly in his bed. Smiling at the cute picture, the informant couldn't help but tear up a bit as he snapped his phone closed and hid his face in his knees.
"It's not fair... It's not fair! Why?! Why must my happiness always be short lived?! If there is a god, then hear me out! Please! Please don't make me leave... Don't make me leave Shizu-chan alone... Please..."
"Hey Shizuo, you can go home now."
"Thanks Tom. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Actually I have a meeting tomorrow all day, so we don't need to collect any debts. Which means you have the day off!"
"Ohh ok. Thanks."
"No problem. Have a good night. Say hi to Izaya for me."
"Will do."
Exiting the cooperate building, the blonde started towards home as he walked through the brightly lit city. Checking his cell, he saw that he'd received a reply from Izaya and smiled.
-Hi Shizu-chan!~ In case you were still wondering, yes I have eaten! And I didn't stare at my computer today ok! I actually went out for a bit. Come home soon ok?! I miss my favorite blonde headed monster~ Love Izaya~ (^_－)－ -
Finishing the text, he chuckled at the message. Not so long ago he would've never heard such kind words from his enemy. Now they were living together like a couple and their lives consume of mostly each other. Rushing home, Shizuo stopped by Russia Sushi to pick up some fatty tuna for the brunet and hurried home.
"*coughcoughcoughcough!"
Izaya was bent over the toilet, vomiting and coughing violently into it as blood spilled out his mouth. Choking for a breath of air, he shook from the after shock and sat down on the cold tile floor.
"Ahhh...haaa...h-hurts... Gaahhh!"
Another sudden urge forced him to face the bloody water again and puke more red body fluids into it. The blood swirled in a stomach churning way as he closed the lid and flushed. Hot tears dropped from his worn out eyes as he cried into his hands. After he'd returned from Shinra's, the informant had promised himself that he would keep this all a secret from Shizuo. But that might be a challenge if he was going to keep this up. Wiping the trail of blood on his chin with his black shirt, he stripped out his clothes and slipped into his pajamas. Wearing one of Shizuo's large grey hoody and his black shorts, Izaya went to brush his teeth. Done, he looked at the digital clock on the wall and saw it was 8:38 pm. (Hmm, Shizu-chan won't be home for another hour or two depending on how busy he is... Maybe Tom will let him go early tonight... I just hope he gets home soon.) Taking a step toward the door, he felt his knees buckle under him as he fell hard to the floor. His body seemed to have shut down, not even his fingers would move to his command. Mind and vision becoming blurred, the brunet fainted and was left on the cold floor to die.
Placing the key inside the lock, he twisted it and entered the room. All the lights in the house were off, confusing the blonde. (It's only nine, so Izaya wouldn't be asleep already would he?)
"Oi, flea! I'm home!"
Shutting the door behind him, Shizuo removed his shoes before he stepped further into the room. Walking into the office, he half expected the informant to be sitting in his chair, working, but no one was there. The living room was empty, and so was the kitchen. So the only place he could be was in the bed room. Opening the bedroom door, Shizuo quietly walked in, thinking Izaya was asleep, but he wasn't in bed either.
"Where the hell is he?"
That's when he saw the bathroom lights glowing underneath the closed door. Knocking on it, the blonde called out to the brunet.
"Hey Izaya! I'm home."
No answered. Again, he knocked harder.
"Izaya!"
Still nothing.
"Hey! Are you ok?!"
Panic started to seep into his veins as he kept calling out to Izaya, but no one called back. Deciding to kick the door down, the blonde warned the brunet to step back before he smashed right through it. And there he was, lying unconscious on the floor.
"Izaya!"
Rushing to the male's aid, Shizuo held the brunet in his arms, shaking him, ordering him to wake up.
"Hey! Izaya! What happened to you?! Hey!"
"Sh... Shizu-chan..?"
"Izaya..."
"Welcome home Shizu-chan."
"Idiot, this is not the time to be saying stuff like that! What happened to you?! Are you ok?!"
"I'm fine I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Don't worry?! I found you lying on the bathroom floor! How could I not worry?!"
"I was just tired that's all. I guess I was more tired than I thought that I just fell asleep here. Sorry to worry you."
"Are you sure you're ok...?"
"Yeah, really I'm ok."
"*sigh* you nearly gave me a heart attack..."
"I'm sorry."
"Come on, let's get you to bed."
"Nn, but first let me brush my teeth ok? Why don't you go change?"
"Alright... You sure you can stand?"
"I'm fine, stop doting at me."
"Ok ok! I'll go change now."
Leaving the male's side, Shizuo left the bathroom and went to change. Closing the door after the blonde, Izaya sighed in relief. Another urge from the back of his throat caused him to rush over to the sink and puke again. His body shook violently as his breathing began picking up pace. Staring at the blood, he turned on the water and began brushing his teeth while washing away the body fluid. After he was sure there were no traces of red left, he exited the bathroom and climbed into bed. Shizuo wrapped his arms around the brunet's waist and pulled him closer to his body.
"Night flea."
"Good night Shizu-chan... I love you"
"Love you too..."
The blonde cuddled against his human pillow and not long he was fast asleep. But Izaya couldn't keep his eyes close; his mind raced with thoughts, like how he can keep this up without telling the blonde about his illness. Thankfully it wasn't transmittable, so he could stay by this monster, but the fact that he was slowly dying inside stung him. How long would it be before he was rendered useless without his senses? How would he go on living? How would he be able to love Shizuo if he couldn't see him, couldn't hear his angelic voice, couldn't smell his cigarette-like scent or even touch and feel him? He might as well be dead. And that's when he decided that he wouldn't let this defeat him.
"I'll use the time I have left and spend it with Shizu-chan. I'll treasure every moment. I won't lose to this; I refuse to. No matter what happens, I'll be the one to bare this burden alone."
Turing his body to face Shizuo, Izaya smiled as he gave a soft kiss on those lips and snuggled closer to his chest.
"You don't have to worry Shizu-chan... I've made you suffer enough already… I won't let you suffer anymore… "
A/N:
REVIEW PLZ :) ITS MUCH APPRECIATED! XD I LOVE READING THEM!
Ok so most of the facts about Multiple Sclerosis are true except for the part where it destroys all your senses. I looked everywhere if there was one that took away all your 5 senses but there isn't. I even asked my mom who's a nurse and she said that it was impossible! So I went to the next best, or worse however you see it, thing! Just in case any of you were gonna yell at me for making up facts. Who knows?! Maybe one of you plans to be a doctor or nurse! I don't want to give the wrong info, but most of you don't care anyway so I'll stop ranting… See you soon! Ugh... college...