Chapter Two: Taking a Chance
Disclaimer: I do not own Durarara.
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It had been two years since anyone has seen or heard from the infamous information broker. Only a few actually felt the void of his absence.
"I can hardly believe he just up and left without a word. It's been two years since I last talked to him. You know I don't think I was a very good friend to him at times," Shinra murmured staring down at his quickly cooling cup of coffee dejectedly.
[Was he even a good friend to you?] Celty asked. She knew Shinra was most likely Izaya's only friend and for the most part Shinra only had Shizuo and Izaya as friends.
Shinra said almost wistfully, "He could be at times. With Izaya it was hard to tell what he was truly feeling. However he was one of reasons why I am so successful at what I do. His connections were out of this world. His reach was longer than one would think for someone so young and on his own. Just saying his name could get you in the door and protect you."
[And at the same time get you shoved out of doors or get you killed. Izaya did have a lot of enemies, more so then he had friends.] Celty reminded Shinra, while taking the cup from him seeing how he wasn't going to drink it.
Shinra sighed placing his head in his hands, "Don't we all? No one goes through life without making an enemy or two. For all of his faults he always kept in contact with me and his sisters. Even though their relationship was a bit strange they cared for each other in their own way."
[You're right. Luckily he made so much money and set up everything in advanced that his business practically runs itself. Well expect for the actual information gathering and his network. It's amazing he accumulated enough wealth to do so.] Celty agreed.
Shinra added, "Izaya also made a smart choice of having such an intelligent and efficient secretary to be able to take care of things in his absence."
[What's more is that Shiki-san is lending a hand as well.] Celty was shocked when Shiki was told of Izaya's disappearance he made plans to keep Izaya's operation running until he returned.
Shinra commented, "Well Izaya never said it aloud, but he admired Shiki-san. There was also no secret that the man valued Izaya's talents and wanted him to join the Awakusu completely. Izaya enjoys his freedom too much to commit and it never hurts to have someone on the outside helping out."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Quickly donning her helmet Celty answered the door only to find Shizuo on the other side with another surprising guest, Shiki.
[Come on in.] Celty let them into the apartment. If she had a head she would've had a look of confusion on her face.
"Shizuo, Shiki-san what's going on? Why are you both here?" Shinra wondered gesturing for the two men to have a seat.
Shiki replied, "We ran into each other on the way here. As far as I know our business is unrelated." The man glanced at Shizuo with a bit of caution. He never had a problem with the Fortissimo of Ikebukuro, but he was not particularly fond of him either.
"Just dislocated my shoulder again, I kind of threw a van at a guy. Asshole pissed me off he mentioned the flea to my face saying I killed him or something," Shizuo muttered. "Izaya isn't dead anyway. Like anything could kill that cockroach," He added using one hand to grab and light his cigarette.
Shiki snorted, "I know you didn't kill Izaya, but he hasn't been seen in two years. You were always claiming you were going to kill him so of course people think you finally made good on your threat. Good thing we convinced his sisters not to file a missing person's report or the police would look to you as suspect number one."
"Anyway any word on Izaya, Shiki-san?" Shinra asked trying to steer the conversation somewhere else because Shizuo looked seconds away from taking a swing at Shiki. Even Shizuo would have trouble dealing with the full weight of a major organization like the Awakusu coming after him.
Shiki replied, "There are rumors circling around about some hotshot who has made a name for himself in the underground. His name is Kisuke Kenichi. His father was Yusuke Kenichi. Rings a bell, doesn't it?"
Shinra looked alarmed for a moment while nervously adjusting his glasses, "He was one of if not the top Yakuza boss that operated out of Kyoto and his group was called the Ken. It was said that his power was starting to stretch to Tokyo and he had dealings in Russia and Italy. He was killed in a hit two years ago most likely his growing power was the reason for his death. His son was named the successor. You mean to tell me Kisuke Kenichi is his son."
Shiki nodded his head, "Yes, many years ago Kisuke had a falling out with his father over who he was to marry. Yusuke wanted his son to marry the daughter of another organization to consolidate their power, but Kisuke claimed to have fallen in love with someone else.
Kisuke and his lover were engaged to be wed or rather they had planned to elope. One month later the lover vanished with only a note. Some believed the lover was killed under the father's orders and made to look like they ran away. Others say the lover couldn't handle the pressure of Kisuke's family legacy and they left. Only Kisuke, the father, and the lover know the truth.
However without Yusuke there to lead it created a large void and an empty seat of power. This caused rival families, organizations, and even members within Yusuke's branch to nearly go at war. It didn't happen due to Kisuke swooping in. The main reason for this swift and silent takeover was because of this mysterious man who came out of nowhere. This person was Kisuke's right-hand man and lover, Akai Metsuki."
"What does it have to with the louse?" Shizuo asked a bit pissed off that his shoulder was being ignored for story time with a Yakuza boss. Not that it hurt or anything, it was more of an annoyance.
Shiki smirked, "The mysterious lover is described to be beautiful, deadly, highly intelligent, and master at manipulation. He has long black hair and crimson eyes, in his mid-twenties, and quite talented with anything sharp. Now doesn't that sound familiar?" Shiki produced a picture of Kisuke walking in the park with his lover Akai both looking quite happy and held it out for all to see.
[It's Izaya!] Celty gasped.
Shinra shouted, "Wait a second you mean Izaya just up and vanished to be with some guy. He left everything he knew to basically elope!"
"Don't know, but that's Izaya. No one can get close to either of them without going through proper channels. Akai or rather Izaya is fiercely protective of Kisuke. The last guy who intended to harm Kisuke was in ICU for nine months and still is in mental and physical therapy," Shiki said causing shivers to go down everyone's spines.
Shinra interjected, "It still doesn't add up. You're saying that Akai… Izaya came into the picture suddenly like two years ago suddenly."
"Exactly either Kisuke has some real dirt on Izaya or he really did fall in love. I doubt any amount of dirt in the world would make him risk his life for someone," Shiki chuckled.
Shizuo grunted, "Yeah, but Izaya being in love? That's a concept I can't wrap my head around. He's a heatless bastard through and through."
"We can find out for ourselves I decided to extend an invitation to Kisuke and where he goes Izaya will be sure to follow. It was only by chance I obtained this information," Shiki said putting the picture back into his pocket.
[How did you get it?] Celty inquired.
"One of my guys was visiting some family when he spotted Izaya. He tried to get closer, but there were guards with Izaya not that he needed them in my opinion. It appears Kisuke in possessive in his own right. My guy followed them and took the picture to show me so I could identify if it was really Izaya," Shiki shrugged.
[After two years we finally found him.] Celty sighed.
Shinra theorized, "That is if Kisuke accepts the invitation. His father was killed because of business with Tokyo. Though I'm sure the Awakusu wasn't responsible and safer to do business with. If Kisuke wants to expand or at least form an alliance he'll come."
"Right and it is not bad to do some business with the Ken. They are a powerful organization. An alliance will be good for the Awakusu. I just thought I should inform you of the good news. You are Izaya's friends after all," Shiki said politely bidding them a good day.
Shiki let himself out of Shinra's apartment only just hearing Shizuo's shouts of anger and denial about being Izaya's friend earning a chuckle from the Yakuza executive as he went down the elevator.
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"Relax Shizuo, I'm sure Shiki-san was just kidding," Shinra tried to pacify the angry faux-blond.
Shizuo growled, "No wonder the flea got along with him, they're both a couple of smart-ass bastards!"
[Calm down, what's with you? You've been angrier in these two years then you have ever been in your entire life.] Celty commented.
Shinra sighed while preparing to fix Shizuo's arm, "Yeah before when a guy pissed you off you would just throw a street sign or toss a vending machine now it is cars, trucks, and vans. I hate to say this, but maybe your run-ins with Izaya helped with your stress rather than made it worse."
[I'm sure things will go back to normal once Izaya is back. Then you can go chasing him through Ikebukuro like you used to.] Celty sighed, not looking forward to that aspect of Izaya's return.
"That is if Izaya wants to go back to the way things were. If he has started a new life for the sake of love who are we to judge or get in the way. I just want answers maybe reconnect," Shinra said softly as both Shizuo and Celty only looked at him in silence.
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"So do you think it's worthwhile to pay Tokyo a visit, do you wish to go back?" Kisuke asked Akai who had just delivered the invitation to him at his office.
Akai had change since his departure from Tokyo. Choosing to let his hair grow out until it reached down to his waist in a silken waterfall. He often was confused as female due to his androgynous features.
He grew quite fond of the color red ever since Kisuke lend him his nightshirt, which he steals from time to time. Akai was currently dressed in a red long-sleeved turtleneck, black slacks that conformed to his long slender legs, and shin-length black leather boots.
His new trademark was his crimson fur-trimmed, double breasted black overcoat that ended at his ankles. Of course being who he was the coat was lined with all sorts of sharp weapons and a pair of black leather gloves he kept in his pockets when they were needed. The one thing remained of his past were the pair of rings that still adorned his index fingers.
Akai shrugged, "It is worth a look. The Awakusu is not your average Yakuza group. They are rather intelligent and quite loyal. They have a modern business-like attitude."
"I see that could be useful. I also hear they're allowed to hold personal likes and dislikes as long as it doesn't affect the organization…" Kisuke paused.
"Very well, it's not likely the Awakusu was the group who killed my father and I do wish to expand my 'businesses' to Tokyo so to Ikebukuro we go then," Kisuke smiled stepping away from his desk and wrapped his arms around Akai tightly.
Akai smiled gently and pulled Kisuke into a deep kiss before stating, "Kisuke I don't regret my decision to come with you. I doubt anything in Ikebukuro will catch my interest."
"I'm worried you may have had a lover back in Ikebukuro. If such a person existed then I'm sure they waited for someone like you," Kisuke sighed caressing Akai's face.
Akai giggled, pulling out of Kisuke's hold teasingly, "This is why you would be so lost without me you're such a worrywart. Come on let's go home and pack for the trip. We'll be back before you know it." He winked and practically skipped out of the office.
"It is funny how you grew to be this strong person when you seemed so unsure two years ago. That's what I love about you Akai," Kisuke whispered to himself following Akai never knowing that he was heard.
"You're wrong Kisuke. I'm scared to death to return to Ikebukuro. However if I don't face this I will wonder that even if my memories somehow returned will my love remain the same. I have a feeling that the answers to my past are in Ikebukuro," Akai sighed.
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End of Chapter