Disclaimer: I don't own DRRR!
Suggested Song: Heartbeats by broove
There were three different kinds of pills Shinra prescribed to him. There was a chalky white pill, Vicodin, for pain relief, a red gel capsule for blood regulation and a stupid round yellow pill with a smiley face on it for daily vitamin intake. (How Shinra got the latter Shizuo would never know and he inwardly cringed every time he took one). Shizuo carried these pills with him everywhere in a blue Hello Kitty pill case tucked safely in his pocket where he used to keep his cigarettes. His cancer sticks had been confiscated by Kasuka and Shinra in an attempt to prolong his life, not that it would have made a difference at this point.
Shizuo had also asked Shinra and Kasuka to keep his illness a secret. He couldn't bear to have everybody look down on him with pitying eyes and sorrowful looks. However, ten minutes after his request, Shinra had gone and blabbed to Celty, claiming that he could never keep a secret from his beloved. Upon finding out, she had thrown her arms around Shizuo and hugged him tightly. She'd promised to him silently that she'd be the one to take him to Valhalla once all the pain was gone and he was free.
But just as Shinra couldn't keep a secret from Celty, Shizuo couldn't lie to Tom and told him the doctor's predicament. Tom had looked at him sadly, patted Shizuo on the shoulder and told him to take a day off. Thanks to Shinra's orders, Shizuo couldn't work as Tom's bodyguard anymore and he was once again jobless. Kasuka had assured him that it would be fine and his acting salary would be more than enough to support the both of them and pay for medical bills.
Seeing that Shizuo was starting to become a shell of what he used to be, Celty brought him an old laptop and showed him how to browse on chat boards in hopes that he could vent and spill to an anonymous friend. She made sure to keep him away from her chat board because of all the familiar faces and led him to a quieter one. Shizuo signed up as 'Otonashi' and browsed for the rest of the day.
He attempted to talk to a few people on the boards, but he felt awkward just looking for a friend to talk to online. There was one person, though, who had welcomed him in warmly, but after Shizuo said that he just wanted a friend, he was declared a "40 year old ax-wielding pedo murderer" and banned from the boards. It was then that a lurking user prompted him via private chat message.
Nakura
Hello, Otonashi-san. Those people are just awful, yeah?
Otonashi
What do you want?
Nakura
To be your friend. Didn't you say you wanted one?
Otonashi
What does it matter to you?
Nakura
So mean!
Otonashi
... I'm sorry.
Nakura
What's the matter, Oto-chan?
Otonashi
It's a long story and don't call me that.
Nakura
I have all the time in the world.
At first, he told him just the minimum details that he wasn't well and needed to vent, but Nakura-san was so kind, supportive and consoling that Shizuo couldn't help but to spill everything else, about how he was bleeding on the inside, how he was going to die in a year, how he was put out of a job, and how his friend directed him here to vent. He kept a few details quiet though, like how his super strength was the cause of his disease or the fact that he even had herculean strength. Shizuo just felt that if Nakura-san found out about his strength, he would be able to piece together who he really was and then they wouldn't speak anymore. It was just too bad they had to meet under circumstances like these. Shizuo was bad at the instant messaging so they swapped to communicating via emails. Shizuo would never admit it, but he kept every single email Nakura had sent him.
Oto-chan,
Hang in there. Just remember, though pain may be inevitable, suffering is optional.
Nakura
Honestly, it was these little notes that made Shizuo's life just a little better every day. Nakura's wise quotes and words of encouragement made this disease just a little more bearable, and Shizuo thought that if anything good had come from getting a death sentence, it would be befriending Nakura.
Izaya liked to make a hobby of browsing random forums every now and then when Tanaka Taro, Setton, and Saika can't keep him amused for long. He has random screen names here and there and logs in to see if there's anybody interesting he can manipulate, break down and destroy.
It was when he was on one of those 'making cheery friends' kind of forums that he noticed a new user, Otonashi, attempting and failing at talking to anyone. It was painfully obvious that Otonashi is new to online chatting by the way his messages were awkwardly typed, but the others online have already branded him as a "40 year old ax-wielding pedo murderer." Izaya thought it was hilarious and then made Otonashi his next victim.
When prompted for a private conversation, Otonashi comes across as a little rude. Izaya can't help but to be somewhat reminded of Shizuo by Otonashi's clipped sentences and blunt remarks, but the informant knew better; Shizuo doesn't know how to work a computer, let alone online chatting. As Nakura-san, he pried into Otonashi's life, trying to get him to open up by acting all kind, interested, and consoling until Oto-chan gave in.
Otonashi
I was told I'm going to die. Apparently I have some deadly disease.
Nakura
I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was that severe.
Otonashi
That's okay. I didn't either.
Nakura
How long do you have then?
Otonashi
My doctor said a year at the most.
Nakura
Can I ask what's wrong with you?
Otonashi
Well, I don't really understand it, but I'm bleeding on the inside, falling apart.
Nakura
Isn't there some kind of cure for that? Like a surgery?
Otonashi
Probably, but it doesn't matter.
Nakura
Financial problems?
Otonashi
No, I'm too far gone.
Izaya couldn't help but to wonder if Oto-chan is just seeking attention and pity, but the way he spoke was as if he had already resigned himself to his fate and just wanted somebody to listen. Either way, Izaya wondered if he could goad this person into committing suicide so he showered Oto-chan with sarcastic comments, subtle insults, and opinions of the cruel reality of a harsh world. However, Oto-chan must have been a real idiot, since he never picked up on Izaya's hostile tone. Izaya even has to switch to using emails instead of the instant messenger since Oto-chan was technologically-challanged, or whatnot, but she still continued to try and break down this person.
One day, when Otonashi had written him an email thanking him for being a good friend in dark times, and that he was feeling better just by talking to him, Izaya feels a twinge of guilt go through him, especially when Otonashi added that he was glad that he was so he could make a friend like Nakura-san. He knew that this would be the moment to crush Otonashi, destroy him, cast him aside, and show him the truth of human nature, but the words were so sincere that Izaya found that he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead he told him to hang in there and added a quote about pain and suffering.
Without thinking, Izaya sends another email.
Hey, Oto-chan, what would you think about meeting up? IRL?
The reply comes in less than a minute.
I'm sorry, Nakura-san, I don't think that would be a good idea.
The rejection hurts him more than it should have.
