The next few months seemed to pass by in a blur for Izaya. The nurse had quickly called in a physical therapist to help him get back in shape, and he started eating better again. Soon, he was gaining back the weight and confidence he lost.

The doctor also brought in a psychiatrist to ask him questions about his new prosthetic leg, why he wanted it, what he did before, etc. The man also prodded into Izaya's car accident, which only brought up bad memories and guilt.

Izaya didn't have to worry about returning to and from the physical therapy, mainly because he was still stuck in the hospital for the malnutrition and his other injuries. Although it sounded bad to admit, he was actually glad he was still in the hospital.

The idea of driving anywhere after what happened, even to a place supposed to help him, was too much for him to think about…

So, he didn't think about it. Instead, he spent his time talking to the eccentric nurse and sitting in the hospital's garden. Sometimes both at the same time. It was during these peaceful times that the raven realized something about himself.

When Izaya looked at the world now, it felt completely different. Instead of being shades of black and white while the humans were in colors, the world shone brighter than ever before.

He noticed things that he never took the time to acknowledge before; Like the flapping of a hummingbird's wings, how certain flowers smelled, and how the clouds seemed to form the most beautiful things.

The world was so lovely, Izaya wondered how he ever missed it.

When he had any free time, he would go out to the hospital garden or stare out the windows of the building, simply watching the world move and change.

Why did it take almost dying to notice this beauty? The raven often wondered.

But instead of constantly questioning, Izaya decided to simply enjoy the sights and sounds he had taken for granted, and thank whatever was up in those clouds for the second chance he had.


Izaya and the nurse also grew closer as well, after all he owed it to her; She pulled him out of his pit of depression.

Mikiru Kirisaki was her name, but she demanded all patients call her by her first name. As Izaya would come to discover, Mikiru wasn't one for formalities.

"When my boyfriend and I get married, if that ever happens, I don't want a huge, formal wedding. We could wear jeans and cowboy hats for all I care," She once told him, and Izaya believed her wholeheartedly.

She also seemed to have a mischievous streak in her, as she was one of the few nurses who snuck fast food in for patients from time to time. She didn't do it a lot, only when she knew that people needed a pick-me-up. Still, the influence she had on people was obvious.

Sometimes, she would join the raven in relaxing in the garden. They would sit, and talk about simple things they now enjoyed, about their lives, and their plans for the future.

One day, Mikiru brought up something that Izaya hadn't thought about in weeks. They had been speaking about the past, and Mikiru had explained that she hadn't been in touch with her family since they gave up on her in the hospital.

"Well, at least you don't have their toxicity in your life anymore," Izaya pointed out, before chuckling to himself. "My parents never cared about a thing I did. They had no clue what my job was, what I was doing in that job. Hell, they probably have no clue I've been in a hospital all this time."

Mikiru snorted. "That sucks," She replied,"Sounds like both of our parents would get along really well."

Izaya nodded, completely sure that they would. He could already see them pouring expensive tea, eating tiny, oversized, overpriced pastries while complaining about the children they never bothered to care about.

Then, Mikiru caught his attention when she asked,"So, when you finally get out of here, are you gonna go back to your old job?"

The raven stopped, eyes widening the slightest bit. Instead of the glee he usually felt when he thought about informant broking, dread and hatred wrapped around his heart. But, he wasn't confused; He knew exactly why.

"No," He firmly answered,"I'll never go back to my past life. Never."

Mikiru grew a concerned look on her face. "Why?" She hesitantly asked.

Izaya brought up his trembling hands, instantly overcome with memories of all the cruel, heartless things he had done to so many innocent people. "I.. Was a monster, a cruel and heartless person," He admitted,"I had fun with it, I wanted to make people's lives perfectly horrible. I-I don't even know why I enjoyed it so much, it was because of that this happened to me; I was horrible, honestly I deserved it.."

He shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself. "I don't want to go back to that life, I want to become someone better," He explained,"I was given a second chance, and I want to use it right. I want to live like Kine and Manami would have wanted, if they had lived."

Because, they would have lived if it wasn't for me.. Were the unspoken words between them.

Mikiru didn't respond at first, she merely moved a bit closer, giving him a tight hug. "It's okay, Izzy," She whispered,"I understand the feeling. I'm proud of you, you want to become better person to make up for your past actions, a very honorable thing to do. Just don't let your guilt take over your life, live with their memories, not for them."

Izaya sniffed, wiping his tears away, and wrapping an arm around her. "T-thank you, Mikiru, for understanding," He whispered.

Mikiru nodded against him, and they went quiet for several minutes.

Then, Izaya chuckled, and asked,"Izzy?"

"I just randomly thought of it, okay!?" Mikiru exclaimed,"Be grateful, I don't give nicknames to just any patient!"

"Oh really?" Izaya queried, growing mischievous. "Did you forget about Crazy legs, Fish, Blue, Penny, and June-"

"Oh shut up, you smartass!"


After his little heart to heart with Mikiru, Izaya's emotions seemed to be much easier to handle, as were his thoughts.

All his old personality seemed to melt away, revealing the person he had buried a long time ago. A happy, mischievous personality was revealed. His heart, the one he had kept hidden for so long, was finally allowed to love.

He now cracked jokes with other patients and the staff, made friends, and helped people feel better about their situations. The shadow that covered his true self was gone, and he became a ray of sunshine.

At first, he was terrified, afraid that his brittle heart may be shattered. But… Nobody sneered, hated, snarled, or acted at all like people had when he was cruel. As soon as he realized this, his personality grew even more.

Everything had changed, but in a good way.


Then, the day finally came. It was time for Izaya to put on his prosthetic leg for the first time.

They had gone to the room where bars were set up; His doctor, Mikiru, and the physical therapist were with him.

He got fitted into the sock, lining, and prosthetic and was surprised by how heavy it felt. "Whoa…" He muttered quietly,"That feels really weird"

"Well, you've spent about five months without a real leg, the weight and feeling will be kind of strange," His doctor explained.

They gave him a few moments to get used to it, and all Izaya was able to do was stare, feel, and move his new leg the slightest bit.

Then, the doctor gently asked,"Ready to try standing?"

Eagerly, the raven nodded. He looked at the balance bars in front of him, while The physical therapist took a seat ahead of him.

"Alright, grab the bars and keep your weight on your right side," The doctor continued,"You might feel a little too tall but that's normal."

Izaya nodded, taking a deep breath, and then hoisted himself onto his feet. He kept his weight on his real leg, but tried to stand up as straight as possible. His hands shook, staring down at the leg.

The physical therapist helped him at the waist, asking,"Is everything okay? Even?"

Izaya nodded again. "Yeah," He breathes out, suddenly feeling as though all his breath had been yanked from his body.

Once they were sure everything was right, they had him sit back down and remove it, taught him how to put on the sleeve, and then had him do it.

Then, he stood again. And the doctor said,"Alright, let's try some steps in place."

Izaya nodded, and then lifted his real leg, placing it back down. Then, with held breath, he lifted his prosthetic leg and placed it back down. He couldn't help it, he started to laugh.

"Izzy?" Mikiru asked nervously.

"It feels so weird.." He admitted,"I'm not used to it anymore. But, like a good weird."

"A good weird!" Mikiru cheerfully repeated.

The next step was they had him move his real leg forward, leaning on his toes to get the carbon fiber moving. And then bounced on his heels with his prosthetic leg in the front. Once again, he giggled a bit, unable to hide his excitement. They repeated those exercises a few times.

Then, the moment of truth. The doctor softly said,"Alright, we're going to have you walk. Just do what you would naturally do, okay?"

Izaya nodded, squeezing the bars tightly once more before beginning to walk as he normally would with as much concentration as possible.

As soon as he started, his brain seemed to be doing mental gymnastics to try and understand why he was walking again. He walked forward, turned and walked backward.

As soon as he got back to the end, he finally let the floodgates go. He released loud, ugly sobs and released the bars, covering his face.

"Izzy!?" Mikiru frantically called,"Are you okay!? Does something hurt!?"

The raven shook his head, sniffling softly. "No no," He croaked,"I'm just.. So happy!"

He descended further into sobs, feeling Mikiru pull him into a hug. He leaned into her, crying tears of joy.

A little while ago, all he wanted to do was die. But now, he was living, he was walking…

He was soaring.


"So, you're staying in Yamanashi?"

Izaya, back in his wheelchair, but with his leg on, nodded. "Yeah! There's tons of new things that I haven't done or seen here!" He excitedly chatted,"I have no reason to go back to Ikebukuro, There's so much I haven't done, and now I actually can!"

"I'm glad!" Mikiru replied, stopping outside of the hospital. "Well, you know where I am. I expect many, many, many visits, okay? You check ups and therapy doesn't count! I want real visit, Izzy!"

The raven smiled, heaving himself out of the wheelchair, and taking his bag of stuff from her. "Of course, Miki! You didn't think you'd get rid of me, did you?" He teased.

Mikiru laughed, and then hugged him tight once more. "Be safe out there, okay peg leg?" She asked.

Izaya didn't respond, he merely hugged her back and nodded. He owed her so much, and couldn't help but be happy to have someone who understood everything he went through.

They came apart, and Mikiru went back into the hospital. Izaya waved goodbye, and then turned back to the expanse that was Yamanashi. It was completely unfamiliar to him, but that was what made it exciting.

He took a deep breath, breathing the outdoor air for the first time in a long while. Then, he took his first step forward into the world.

And his first step towards his new life.