Chapter 3

"I said, don't know who I am, though judging by the way you address me, I'm guessing I'd be Izaya. Is that last name or first name? Since you called me a 'friend', and due to your bluntness, I'll guess first name. If I am Izaya, then this person you call Shizuo-kun probably put me in this hospital by throwing a vending machine at me. Why would he hate me and how is throwing a vending machine even human? Well, let's leave that for another time. You are dressed as a doctor, so assuming you are one, you should know what's wrong with me by the way I'm speaking. I have memory loss - or at least I am pretty sure I do - which I think is a common symptom of head trauma. What should I do now?"

Shinra was speechless, unknowing of how to respond. His high school classmate, friend, and at times annoyance was sitting there with this nonchalant expression on his face, like all of that was not as urgent as it really was.

"You really don't remember me?" Shinra asked, wanting to make sure this was not a trick of some kind, searching Izaya's face for any hints of trickery, only to get plain honesty and slight confusion.

"I'm starting to doubt your ability to be a doctor," Izaya replied, and folded his arms over his knees, "Should I repeat myself a third time? Do you need me to say it again a fourth?"

"Aheh… okay then…" Shinra said, and almost laughed at the strange complication, not sure if he could believe Izaya's words, knowing what a troll he could be, "I'm going to go get the doctors of this hospital, and they'll give you a scan to make sure your head's okay, though it was never really quite right to begin with, and they'll give you a more detailed conclusion about your status. Okay?"

"Yep," Izaya nodded, and waved goodbye as Shinra headed towards the door, still a little baffled at his friend's condition.

Celty, his beloved headless woman, was waiting for him in the guest area, and gave him a hug upon seeing him (which he happily returned).

"Celty my love! Have you missed me?" Shinra squealed, happily embracing her tight and burying his face in her bosoms, "Being away from you was almost unendurable~ especially being with Izaya when I'd rather be with you in bed- OOF!"

Celty's unnecessarily sharp fingers dug into his gut, (though he even loved her sharp fingers), coughing in embarrassment into her other hand.

Her fingers flew over her PDA, 'Don't be embarrassing! There are people watching.'

The words only served to stir up Shinra even more, as he exclaimed excitedly, "So, if there wasn't people watching, would you do it with me- OOFFFF! C-Celty, you sure are strong~!"

'So? How's Izaya?'

Shinra read the PDA and remembered what he was supposed to do, feeling disappointed that the mood had been ruined, "Ah right. It seems he has amnesia so I have to get the doctors."

'...eh?'

"I know, it's shocking right?" Shinra said, and gave a frown, "It doesn't even look like he was kidding. Are you done with your job?"

Celty nodded, as they headed towards the doctor staff room. The only reason Shinra had come to the hospital was because of Celty, who needed some help with her job since she needed to transport something to a patient in a hospital. She couldn't get in without a doctor's permit, which Shinra had happily volunteered to help with - though his doctor's permit wasn't very recognized since he was an illegal doctor after all.

What a coincidence that his fellow friend had been hospitalized there at the same time. Maybe it was fate, whatever, Shinra didn't care a lot about Izaya's well being - his primary concerns being to make Celty happy - but he decided to pay a visit to the information broker while he was there. Who knew it would be memory loss, Shinra had never tried to imagine Izaya with amnesia because it was almost unimaginable. The unimaginable was happening right at that moment.

Curious to know his friend's fate, he stayed behind with Celty as a doctor entered Izaya's hospital room, and began his tests and examinations. After ten or so minutes, he came back out again.

"I'm assuming you are friends of Orihara Izaya?" the doctor asked, to which they nodded just to make him spill the news, "I'm afraid he has amnesia. It's a common symptom of head trauma, so no surprise there. It's most likely not permanent, however, it's quite troublesome that he cannot remember anything, not even his name. The best cure is to get him with the people he loves, show him things he used to do, or the things he was familiar with."

The doctor eyed Shinra's white coat and shrugged, "Then again, since you're a doctor yourself I guess you knew that. Will you be willing to take care of him while he's in this condition?"

Celty tilted her head in a troubled fashion, 'Can't he stay here?'

The doctor leaned forwards to read the words on her PDA, "If he's got friends to take care of him, we'd rather give him into their hands. Besides, can't you talk? It's rather rude you know."

Celty made an apologetic gesture, which further confused the doctor. Before he could remark on the woman's silence, Shinra cut in, "Can we talk to him first before we talk about who's going to take care of him?"

"Of course," the doctor nodded, and turned to take his leave, "When you're done, come get me. I'll be in the staff room."

Upon entering, they found the familiar face of Izaya to be sitting there, seeming quite puzzled. He seemed like another person to see him without his scheming glances and his crooked grin. When he noticed the two newcomers enter the room, he looked up and gave a friendly wave.

"Oh hello, if it isn't the doctor-kun who was in my room when I first woke up," Izaya greeted, face quite blank as he encouraged them to take a seat, "Do take a seat please. I have much to inquire."