Yikes, sorry guys. College has me all kinds of messed up right now. Plus ive been sick. anyways, here's more.

Shizuo didn't go to work that next day. The pain in his stomach was too much to handle; just smelling the remnants of Tom on his clothes was enough to make his eye do that...thing again, enough to make him storm through his apartment, tearing at the couch cushions and breaking whatever glasses on the counter that weren't already dirty. He'd barely been able to keep his voice steady enough to tell Tom that he was sicker than before, but he was thankful that Tom was understanding.

He spent most of the day on his couch, the TV playing as he tried and failed to pay attention. The thoughts were too loud in his head, begging for flesh. It was driving him crazy, making him tap his fingers on the couch until he had to stuff his hands in his pockets.

"Eat...eat, come on already..."

That voice in the back of his head was driving him crazy. It wasn't his but it was loud and demanding, boyish and needy.

Shizuo was convinced he was losing his fucking mind.

Evening took forever to come, and when it did, Shizuo rolled off the couch only to hit the floor with a loud thud. He winced and pushed himself up, running a hand through his hair before he grabbed his phone and his keys. His hands were shaking as he dug out the crumpled up paper with the address Uta had given him days before. He grit his teeth and clenched his fist around it, walking out the front door.

The city was alive, like it always was at night. The streets were packed, people laughing with each other or chatting away on their phones. Shizuo slowed down, inhaling deeply. The scents were all around him.

Men.

Women.

Children?

Definitely children.

He grit his teeth and shook his head to himself, walking faster.

"Just do it already..."

"Shut up..." Shizuo muttered to himself, gritting his teeth. "Just shut up..."

He couldn't explain it. That voice just came around every time the hunger pains were too strong. It echoed around in his brain, begging for food and hissing every time Shizuo tried to ignore it. He didn't understand. It was driving him crazy. He hadn't slept much in days between the voice and the damn hunger pains.

The address was closer to him than he expected and he wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse. His stomach churned as he stared at the restaurant before him, watching as a few people walked in and a few more left. It made him gulp and he bit the inside of his cheek, walking inside.

It was warm inside, and Shizuo was confused when he saw booths with people, some even with kids. It looked like any regular restaurant, but the smell of human was mixed together with something else, something that reminded him of himself. Which, really, was weird.

"Whoa, you look terrible."

Shizuo blinked and looked over, eyeing a waiter who was smiling at him. The waiter cocked his head to the side as he looked Shizuo up and down. He scoffed. "You look like you haven't slept in a while. How can we help you?"

Shizuo blinked, caught off guard. Did he looked that bad? He hadn't brushed his hair since yesterday and had slept in his clothes. Now that he thought about it, maybe he should have taken a second or two to freshen up but there was no use now. He sighed and glanced around. "I...I was told to come here..."

"For?" The waiter pushed, arching an eyebrow.

Shizuo grit his teeth, trying to keep his temper down. "...Food." He murmured softly.

The waiter looked unamused for a second before his eyes widened in realization. "Oh, food. Right. Go sit at one of the booths in the back, yeah? We'll take care of you."

Shizuo blinked as the waiter turned to go. "W-wait!"

The waiter paused and looked over his shoulder. "If it's about payment then don't worry. Free for our kind."

Our kind.

It made Shizuo want to puke. He wasn't one of them. He was human.

"Liar..."

Shizuo sat down heavily in a booth, running his hands through his hair as he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He leaned back and pinched the bridge of his nose, staring at the ceiling.

"Hungry..."

"Tch, shut up," He hissed under his breath. He didn't like doing that...communicating with the voice that echoed around in his head. It made him feel crazy, like the crazy people he'd seen in movies when he was younger. It was bullshit, really, and the anger that welled up inside of him and made the blood in his veins boil was annoying.

Everything was annoying when he was hungry.

School, that day, had gone by too slowly for Mikado's liking. It's not as if he was in a hurry to get out of school, of course not. But he didn't like staying in class where the scents of all the other students mingled together and invaded his senses. It was harder today to keep himself calm around a of it. Every scent made his heart race and he took a shaky breath every time, biting the inside of his cheek and counting to ten in his head before he continued on with whatever it was he was doing. It wasn't so bad in the halls or outside; at least there, the scents shifted and moved. In the classroom the scents stuck and lingered, wrapping around him and suffocating him until he was sure he'd die.

It was especially hard around Masaomi. He hadn't noticed it before today, but Masaomi smelled...really fucking good. And, frankly, that thought terrified him. He hadn't even meant to notice it, but when Masaomi had slung his arm around him that morning, the smell hit him full force and the voice in his head echoed his thoughts.

"He smells delicious."

Mikado ignored it, to the best of his ability. He shifted in his seat, glancing at the clock. The bell would ring very soon, and he'd walk home and shower before he left to the address Saki had given him.

Saki...

Mikado knew she hadn't told Masaomi. The other boy was being too friendly with him to know, and that made Mikado feel just a little less bitter. Masaomi didn't have to know about any of this. Not now, at least. Maybe eventually, when he had all of this somewhat figured out.

"You really think that boy would be okay with it?"

Mikado gripped his pen a little tighter, frowning as he tried to focus on his lesson and not on the voice in his head.

"Do you have that much faith in him?"

Mikado sighed softly and nearly leaped for joy when the class ended. He gathered his things quickly, holding his breath as other students rushed by and past him to get out the door. Anri was waiting for him in the hall, as usual, and she smiled a bit at him as he walked over to her. "Class was pretty long today."

"It didn't feel too long to me," Anri murmured with a small smile. "But you seemed sort of spaced out today, anyways. Are you feeling okay?"

Mikado shrugged a bit, smiling as they started walking. "I think it's just from being sick. I lost a lot of sleep and everything so my body is probably catching up with everything. I'll probably be okay tomorrow."

"I hope so," Anri nodded. "I'm worried. You just haven't...looked so well lately. I'm probably just over thinking it, though. I'm glad you're finally starting to feel better. I'm glad you didn't fall too far behind in class, too."

"Thanks to you." The boy reminded her as they turned a corner and started down a flight of stairs. "Really, if you and Masaomi hadn't been looking out for me I'd be totally screwed."

"I know," She laughed softly, brushing hair behind her ear. The action was small, simple, but sent a small wave of the girl's scent straight into Mikado's nostrils. He stiffened and bit the inside of his cheek as Anri continued to speak. "You'd do the same for me, though, so it's okay; it's what friends do."

"Yeah..." Mikado trailed off, frowning a little bit. He didn't like it, the way Anri was so unknowing in...all of it.

They made it out side where Masaomi was already waiting, an arm slung around Saki. The blond saw Mikado and grinned. "Hey, Mikado! Didn't fall asleep in class, did you?"

"Almost," Mikado admitted, shrugging. He met Saki's eye and smiled at her. "Hey, Saki."

"Hey, Mikado," She grinned back, ignoring the curious look Masaomi was giving her as she stepped closer and hugged Mikado, startling the boy. She grinned and stepped back after a second. "Sorry, I'm just still really glad you're feeling better. When I picked my phone up from your place last night you looked terrible. I'm glad you could still come to school."

Mikado knew, somehow, that she really meant, "I'm glad you feel sane enough to show up."

Mikado chuckled, feeling his face heat up from the confused, and slightly surprised, look on Masaomi's face. After all, it wasn't every day that Saki and Mikado were on such close terms. "You helped a bunch, so I should thank you again."

"No need," She waved him off, looping her arm with Masaomi's again. "We're walking together, right? Let's go."

They all fell into step together, Masaomi throwing a look at Mikado. "You doing okay in class?"

"Yeah, I was just telling Anri that if you two hadn't been looking out for me, I'd be totally lost." He smiled a little bit, sheepish. "You two are really great friends." And I'm lying to them both...

"You get used to it."

Mikado forced down a shudder and chuckled. "I don't know how to thank you guys."

"Just don't get sick like that again," Masaomi stated firmly, nodding as they stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the signal to change. He looked back at him, cheeks puffed out in irritation. "I was really worried about you, man."

Mikado couldn't help but feel his chest tighten a bit at Masaomi's words. The other's worry for him was genuine, something that always made Mikado feel strange inside. It was funny, now that he thought about it. Before Anri had come along, Mikado was sure that maybe, deep down, he had some sort of puppy crush on his friend. It was hard not to, what with Masaomi's personality. The other was always looking out for him, trying to do what was best for him. Even after what they went through, the fight between the Dollars and Yellow Scarves, Mikado could still feel that slight tug of what if.

It was different now, though. Masaomi had Saki, someone Mikado knew was right for him, and Masaomi was convinced that Mikado was still hot for Anri. Mikado didn't have the heart to tell him that no, those feelings had died over the months. He couldn't tell him that while Anri was cute, sure, his heart was overwhelmed by Masaomi's existence. But it didn't feel like love, at least not like before. Mikado couldn't place it, but it didn't really matter anyways.

"What if's are never fun to play with."

That voice made sense sometimes, something Mikado didn't appreciate. He shook away those thoughts and smiled a bit at Masaomi as they crossed the street. "I'll try to stay in perfect health from now on."

"You'd better." Masaomi huffed.

"Like he can help it," Saki scoffed lightly.

"I'll fight the germs that threaten him," Masaomi stated bluntly. "Yep, I'm going to fight germs."

"You do that," Anri laughed. "Let me know how it turns out."

"I'm betting money on the germs," Mikado mock whispered, giggling when Masaomi gasped dramatically.

"You have no faith in me," Masaomi stated, shaking his head and clutching his heart. "Mikado, I'm hurt."

"You're fine," Mikado smiled, elbowing his friend lightly.

Masaomi smiled again and shrugged. They walked in general peace after that, Masaomi making jokes and the others laughing along with him. After a while Masaomi and Saki parted ways, Saki giving Mikado one last smile and wave before Masaomi drug her away. Anri smiled a little bit, shaking her head a little. "Man, Masaomi's always so full of energy at the end of the day."

"It's comforting," Mikado murmured softly, smiling. "I hope he doesn't change."

Anri blinked, a little taken back, and glanced at the boy. She chewed her bottom lip for a second before she spoke as they turned a corner. "You too, you know."

"Hm?"

"Don't change, I mean," Anri murmured, shrugging a little bit. "I mean...lately you've been out of it because you're sick but...after everything that happened, I don't want you to change. You're a really good friend, Mikado and...well, you're great. Masaomi thinks so, too. We both talk about you with each other...we get worried when you aren't yourself. You don't have to change or anything. you're fine the way you are, you know?"

Mikado felt his stomach twist. Guilt? Fear? "Well...what if I had to?"

"...Then don't let it change your heart," Anri murmured, frowning as she tried to place her words correctly. She sighed and waved it off. "I'm sorry, I don't know where I was going with that. I just..." She stopped walking, taking a deep breath. "...You can tell me things. Even if you can't tell Masaomi. I'll help you however I can. You don't have to take everything on yourself; it's not good for you."

"I feel like your accusing me of something," He chuckled, hoping it didn't sound as nervous as it was. "I'm fine, Anri. Thanks."

"I know," She breathed, smiling as she shrugged. "Over thinking, I guess. Anyways, I'm parting this way now."

"Walk safe," Mikado waved.

He waited until Anri was out of sight to let out a breath he didn't remember holding. He gripped the strap of his school bag tighter and turned, yelping in surprise when he nearly collided with a familiar information broker.

"You really should watch where you're going," Izaya chuckled, tilting his head at the startled boy.

"I didn't see you," Mikado breathed, frowning a little. He shifted on his feet, glancing to the side.

Izaya smiled and shrugged. "Can't be helped. Ne, how are you feeling? I heard you were awfully sick."

Mikado cocked his head to the side. "How'd you find that out?"

"I have my ways," Izaya waved the question off and smiled again. "Feeling well enough for school, I see?"

"Since yesterday," Mikado mumbled, nodding stiffly. "Did you need something?"

"How rude," Izaya mock sighed. "I showed up out of my own concern for you."

Mikado sighed a little bit, nodding. "Sorry...I'm still a little out of it, I guess. I kind of just want to go home."

"Well, I'll walk you there," Izaya smiled, slinging his arm around Mikado's shoulders and leading him down the sidewalk. "Was it the flu?"

"What?"

"Whatever illness you had," Izaya clarified. "Was it the flu?"

"I don't really know." Mikado murmured. He felt a little distracted, Izaya's scent washing over him in a wave. It made Mikado's stomach twist and he swallowed thickly, forcing himself to speak again. "Whatever it is, I'm just glad I feel better."

"I supposed that's what really matters," Izaya nodded.

Mikado walked stiffly and frowned again. "...Not to...be rude or anything but...I doubt that you came just to check on me."

"Well, that's true," Izaya nodded. "Shizu-Chan isn't out today. Again. I was bored."

"He's been gone a lot lately, from what I hear," Mikado murmured. "I think he's sick or something."

"Shizu-Chan doesn't get sick," Izaya chuckled, forcing down the small and knowing smirk that made it's way onto his face. "Maybe he died?"

"No, he's alive," Mikado assured, a little stiffly. "You shouldn't say something like that..."

"Oh, I'm only kidding. Relax a little," Izaya scoffed. They turned a corner and crossed a street, the informant sighing a bit. "Ne, you're much too tense, Mikado."

"I'm just tired," The boy mumbled, forcing a smile. "Sorry. You just got me on a bad day."

"It's to be expected," Izaya shrugged. "The ghoul attacks have been a lot closer lately, yeah?"

Mikado tried not to go stiff, he really did. "I guess...I try not to pay attention to them. It freaks me out...incidents always show up on the Dollars forum, though. Nothing too close but..."

"Still something to worry about," Izaya murmured, smirking a bit. "A little thing like you might make a good meal."

Mikado forced a shaky laugh. "I'd...rather not be the meal."

"Well, I certainly don't see you as the ghoul," Izaya snorted before he thought about it. "Certainly not. You're too normal to be a ghoul."

"Uh...thanks?"

Izaya cackled to himself, stepping away from the boy as his apartment complex came into view. "We part ways, Mikado! Stay safe~"

Mikado watched the other walk away, frowning to himself. He welcomed the lack of Izaya's scent, though, and ran a hand through his hair as he went up the stairs. When he got inside he shut and locked his door, dropping his school bag and letting out a sigh, sliding down to the floor and leaning his head back against the door.

"Eat..."

"I'm going to," He muttered as he shook his head. "Soon..."

"Should have sunk your teeth into Orihara-San..."

Mikado frowned and closed his eyes. "No."

There was no reply, only silence. Idly, he wondered if it was normal to talk to...whatever it was that was speaking to him. He was still confused, wondering about the red haired girl that had been before him, for that split second, before Saki arrived. He must have been hallucinating, or something like that, because he knew for a fact that he'd never seen her before.

The question was on the tip of his tongue, making home on his lips, but would go no further. Was the red haired girl the same voice that spoke to him?

He didn't want to think about it, though, and pushed himself up to his feet. He went and took a shower, washing away the dirt from the day and pulled on black jeans and a T-shirt, slipping on his sweater as he waited for the sun to begin it's journey down to the horizon.

It was only starting to get dark when Mikado pocketed his keys and phone, walking out the door. The streets were bustling with life, every face that walked passed him followed by a scent that felt like a punch to the gut. Holding his breath had become something he had mastered, though, thanks to the days spent with Saki and the time spent at school.

Boys...girls...

Laughter from those around him, from the groups of teenagers that passed him.

Men...women...kids...

The scents hit him hard every time he passed someone. His stomach churned and he sped up, holding his breath as he bit the inside of his cheek. He broke into a sprint, weaving through the crowd and ducking through alleys as his heart pounded in his chest. That voice was whispering in his head but he couldn't, for the life of him, figure out what it was saying.

The restaurant came into view before he realized it. He didn't know what he expected, really, when it came to appearance. It looked like any other restaurant, with people walking out as he walked in. He was caught off guard by the overwhelming...human scent that lingered in the air. If it weren't for the underlying scent of something that definitely wasn't human, he would have though he'd walked into the wrong place. It was there, though, the stench of what he could only assume was ghoul.

"Yo."

Mikado paused and glanced over at a waiter who was looking at him, waiting. He bit his lip and cleared his throat. "Uh, I was...told to come here for...uh, food?"

"Another one," The waiter nodded, gesturing to the booths. "Go on and sit there; we'll take care of ya, kid."

Mikado watched the other walk away and sighed, chewing his lip as he started looking for a place to sit. A familiar blond head caught his attention though and his eyes widened as he walked closer, head cocking to the side. "Shizuo?"

Shizuo sat up and looked over at him, eyes widening; Mikado had never seen Shizuo without his glasses. He squinted at Mikado before he frowned. "...Ryuugamine, right?"

"Y...yeah," Mikado breathed. He glanced around and spoke softly. "Y...you're a...ghoul?"

Shizuo blinked, almost letting himself get angry, and then he sighed. He leaned back and frowned. "That'd be a damn good excuse for my weird super strength...no, I'm not a ghoul. Er...I mean, I wasn't always...whatever, fuck it. It's stupid."

"...No, I..I'm not either," Mikado murmured, slowly sitting down across from the other.

Shizuo scoffed. "But you're here."

"I woke up like this," Mikado murmured. He frowned, trying to form the right words for what he wanted to explain. He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "I passed out in my kitchen the other day...I woke up and I had this weird medical scar, like I had gone through surgery or something. Only, I hadn't had a surgery. Not at all and...and I got really sick after that. I only just recently was able to go back to school after a week..." He shook his head a little. "...I wasn't born a ghoul-"

"But after you got sick, your eye changed," Shizuo cut in, leaning forward with wide eyes. When Mikado nodded slowly, Shizuo scoffed. "...I passed out after I left a bar last week. I woke up with a scar in my side and feeling like shit. Next thing I know, I've got a ghoul eye and suddenly I'm not fucking human."

Mikado scoffed back and shook his head, too. "...We're the same, then."

"Apparently," Shizuo murmured as he frowned. "...This sort of thing doesn't just fucking happen, kid."

"No shit," Mikado breathed, sighing. He glanced around and hesitated before he cleared his throat. "...I did some research into it."

Shizuo scoffed a bit, falling silent as he watched the waiter from before walk over to them. He placed two plates before them, plates piled with mounds of meat that were soaking in red liquid. The food instantly made Mikado's brain go blank, his mouth watering. He clenched his fists under the table as the water set down mugs of coffee for them, too.

"Enjoy." The waiter waved before he walked off.

There was a moment of stressed silence before the two. Shizuo stared at his food, taking a shaking breath. "Wh...what do you think it is?"

"Heart."

"Heart, probably..." Mikado murmured, echoing that voice in his head. He lifted a shaking hand and grabbed a knife and fork, succumbing to the hunger that snarled deep in his belly. The knife cut through the organ on his plate roughly, the blood that it soaked in sloshing around a bit. He didn't think twice as he brought a forkful into his mouth, making a noise of content as he chewed.

Shizuo watched, partially horrified and partially intrigued. He glanced back at his food and bit his lip. His stomach growled angrily and that damn voice spoke up again.

"Eat...eat! Please...please, we'll die..."

"Is...is it...good?" Shizuo asked, looking back at Mikado.

The boy paused and blinked, swallowing the mouthful of meat in his mouth. He hesitated, a wave of guilt and disgust washing over him. "...It's the best thing I've eaten in days." He admitted. "In...in ever, really. Plus I'm just starving...and you probably are, too. You should eat, Shizuo."

Shizuo looked back at his food and sucked in a sharp breath, picking up his fork and knife. His knife cut through the organ as roughly as Mikado's had and Shizuo almost gagged as the blood on his plate sloshed and moved around. He shut his eyes as he brought his fork to his mouth, a wave of euphoria washing over him as he started to chew.

The hunger deep in his stomach rumbled and grew, for a moment, before a deep feeling of content washed over him. His eyes opened slowly, focusing on Mikado's that were gawking right back at him. Mikado blushed slightly at being caught staring, looking back down at his own plate as he forced himself to eat again. It had caught him off guard to see Shizuo so content, to see the euphoria wash over the man's face.

"...I looked into it." Mikado said finally, breaking the strained silence as they both allowed and forced themselves to eat. "This...suddenly being a ghoul, thing, I mean..."

Shizuo chewed slower, watching as Mikado looked back at him. The blond frowned and cocked his head to the side. "And?"

"There's...rumors I've gathered from lingering in the Dollars forums," Mikado started slowly, frowning as he tried to place his words correctly. "Did you ever catch anything about that stuff that went down in the twentieth ward?"

"Sorta," Shizuo murmured, taking another bite. "Bits and pieces..."

"Well, there was a bunch of talk about a ghoul called Eyepatch or something like that," Mikado told him, setting his fork and knife down. "There's been a lot of underground rumors that he was...made. Born human but something...happened. People think it's totally unrealistic, yeah, but the possibility...and then if you think about whatever...happened with us..."

Shizuo frowned, feeling his stomach churn for a reason other than hunger for the first time in days. "So...someone just decided to scoop us up and fuck us over?"

"I...I'd like to think that maybe it was just a coincidence," Mikado sighed. He brought a hand up and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I...I mean it's not like there's much to connect the two of us if this was on purpose." He cracked a small smile. "The only thing we have in common is the Dollars."

Shizuo scoffed and nodded as he looked down at his food. "...Shit doesn't make any sense and-"

"Ah, I'm so glad you aren't alone, Heiwajima-San!"

Shizuo paused and looked up, letting out a soft breath. "Uta..."

The ghoul smiled a bit and looked at Mikado. Mikado squinted at him and blinked. "You're the guy who gave me the candy."

Uta nodded, smiling again. "I am. What a surprise to run into you. I had no idea you were...well, you know."

"He isn't," Shizuo cut in. "...Er...he wasn't."

"Ah, you're in the same situation?" Uta gasped, eyeing Mikado. "How strange."

Mikado frowned, confused, but bit back any comment that threatened to come out of his mouth. He forced up a very small smile. "W-would you like to sit with us?"

"Oh, no," Uta waved a hand in dismissal. "Thank you, though." He paused, looking over the food on Mikado and Shizuo's table. "You should drink your coffee before it gets cold; it's the only human thing our kind can consume."

"You're serious?" Shizuo blinked, glancing at his coffee.

Uta nodded, examining his black painted nails. "Mhm. It's better warm, I assure you."

His curiosity getting the best of him, Mikado grabbed his coffee and brought it to his lips. His eyes widened and he nodded as he swallowed, looking at Shizuo in shock. "It's good."

Shizuo frowned, hesitant. He brought his coffee to his lips and took a drink, letting out a sigh after. "I would have broken someones neck if it had tasted like shit."

Mikado cracked a small smile before he glanced back at Uta. "So...you and Shizuo know each other?"

"A little," The ghoul nodded. "I was just checking on him; I've been awfully worried for him. I'm glad he's at least found a friend."

Mikado smiled again and shrugged. "Yeah...I'm glad, too."

"It's a bit strange though," Uta mused, arms crossing. "The two of you in the same situation, I mean. Poor dears."

Shizuo grunted, frowning. "It doesn't make sense."

"It'll make sense eventually," Mikado murmured as he bit his lip. "...I want to figure it out, I mean."

Shizuo glanced at Mikado before he looked at Uta. "Is there anyway you can help us?"

Uta blinked and thought about it, shrugging. "Maybe? I'm not sure if..." He trailed off, eyes narrowing at the window behind the two. He frowned and cleared his throat. "I'll certainly see what I can do, but I'm afraid I have to leave now."

"So soon?" Mikado arched an eyebrow, surprised.

Uta smiled again and patted Mikado's head. "I'll be seeing you, I'm sure." He turned to Shizuo and smiled again. "Take care of yourself, Heiwajima-San."

They watched the man leave and Mikado frowned, not entirely sure how he felt about this Uta guy. He looked back at Shizuo and offered a small smile. "At least we have one ghoul on our side."

"I wouldn't exactly say on our side," Shizuo mumbled. "I wouldn't trust someone that easily, at least..."

"I guess you're right," Mikado agreed.

They finished up their meal in mutual, comfortable silence.

When their plates had been collected they went outside, Shizuo running a hand through his hair. "...You live around here?"

"Uh, few blocks that way," Mikado gestured to the left.

Shizuo didn't live in that direction, but it didn't seem to matter much. "I'll walk you home. You're still a kid, after all."

"You don't have to..." Mikado murmured, even though they had already fallen into step with each other.

"I want to." Shizuo grunted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It isn't safe at night, remember?"

Mikado smiled a little as he followed. "Thank you, Shizuo..."

Shizuo shrugged a bit. "No problem."

They walked in general silence for a while, the sounds of the city echoing around them. Gradually, a sinking feeling started to well inside of Mikado's stomach. He felt eyes on them, though he couldn't exactly place where from. He frowned and reached out, grabbing Shizuo's shirt. "Hey-"

"We're being watched," The other murmured. At Mikado's confused look he shrugged. "I deal with Izaya on an almost weekly basis; I can tell when I'm being watched."

"What do we do?" Mikado asked.

Shizuo frowned and thought about it.

"Run."

Shizuo blinked, startled by the calmness of the voice in his head. He frowned and grabbed Mikado's wrist, tugging him into the closest alley as he sped up. Mikado stumbled and gasped, speeding up to keep up with the older man's longer strides. "Sh-Shizuo?"

"Something is telling me to run," The man grunted as they turned into another alley. "I'm not going to ignore whatever it is."

A scent hit Mikado's senses, one that cut off his reply and sent every cell in his body into high alert. He looked behind him, startled at the figure following after them in the shadows. The scent was both familiar and not, something that made his blood pump faster.

"Fuck!"

They hit a dead end and Shizuo grit his teeth, frowning. He yanked Mikado behind himself as he turned towards their pursuer. "Stay there, kid."

Mikado blinked but fell silent as their pursuer stepped out of the shadow of the alley way. He wasn't any taller than Mikado, maybe, and had pure white hair. His face was hidden by a mask that covered everything, save for one black and hungry looking eye. The stranger lifted a hand, cracking a finger as he cocked his head to the side, the action sending a shudder down Mikado's spine. "H-he's a ghoul..."

Shizuo didn't say anything, frowning as he clenched a fist. His heart was hammering in his chest out of fear, but between himself and Mikado, he knew someone had to be the brave one.

"Who the hell are you?" Shizuo snapped.

"I should ask you that," The stranger commented, voice muffled by his mask.

"Fuck off," Shizuo snapped again, gritting his teeth. "You don't want to piss me off right now, buddy."

"Is that so?" The stranger murmured, tentacle like appendages unfurling from under his shirt and spreading out, intimidating.

Mikado gasped and gulped, feeling his heart pounding in his rib cage. "Wh-what is that...?"

"Kagune. It'll kill you on the spot if you let it." That voice in his head, calm as usual, said.

Mikado watched the tentacles sway before he pressed back against a wall.

Shizuo grit his teeth and took a shuddering breath before he scoffed. "You think I'm scared of some shrimp sized ghoul?"

Shizuo hardly registered the tentacles flying at him, wasn't even sure how he'd barely caught it to begin with. He jerked to the left, shoving Mikado away so hard that the kid skid across the hall, hitting another wall. Mikado let out a pained hiss as Shizuo stumbled back, barely avoiding a tentacle that swatted his way. "Fuck!"

"Shizuo!" Mikado sat up and winced, rubbing the back of his head.

"He'll die." The voice whispered.

Mikado grit his teeth, watching as Shizuo ran at the ghoul with full speed. The boy winced, watching as the ghoul's kagune swatted Shizuo away, slamming the man into a wall so hard that it cracked beneath him. Shizuo slid down to the ground, holding the back of his head, and Mikado struggled to stand. "Sh-Shizuo!"

"That fucking hurt!" Shizuo screamed as he looked back up, one eye black and red.

Mikado gasped and pressed back against the wall behind him, feeling his blood run cold. But, beneath the terror, there was another feeling. A feeling that stirred in his belly, burning hot, like he wanted to fight.

Shizuo let out an angry yell and Mikado stared in a mixture of horror and confusion as the man's shirt tore at the shoulder. It slithered out, a wide and bright green colored...thing. It slithered out along Shizuo's right arm, pointed tip sticking out a good four inches past Shizuo's finger tips. Mikado gasped and closed his eyes, grabbing his head. What is that?!

"His kagune," The voice murmured, calmer than ever. "I know that kagune."

"Wh-what's it doing on him?" The boy whimpered cracking his eyes open in time to watch Shizuo's kagune clash with the strange ghoul's.

"You're both ghouls, or have you already forgotten?"

Mikado paused, breath hitching. He grit his teeth, watching as Shizuo swung that...pointed kagune, cutting into the tentacles that lashed out at him. The strange, white haired ghoul jerked back, narrowly avoiding a swing that would have probably gotten him right in the face. One of the tentacles swung at Shizuo, knocking the man into another wall with enough force to crack it again. Gritting his teeth, Shizuo stood back up, wincing as he coughed up blood. The blood splattered on the ground and Shizuo's shoes and the blond hissed. "You bastard..."

"Who are you?" The white haired ghoul asked, tentacles kagune driving through Shizuo's shoulders before Shizuo even had the chance to react.

Shizuo screamed out, wincing as he stared back at the masked ghoul. "Why don't you tell me who the fuck you are?!"

The white haired ghoul tilted his head as he stared at Shizuo. "...Half ghoul. What are you doing here?"

"I live here, asshole!" Shizuo hissed, thrashing. His movements drove the other's kagune deeper into his shoulders, making him wince.

The white haired ghoul seemed unsatisfied with the answer, throwing Shizuo into the wall again and stepping closer. He cracked a finger again, just one, and poised a tentacle, ready to strike. "Not anymore."

Shizuo blinked, vision blurry, and waited for the pain to explode within his body. A glimmer of blue, bright and blinding, flew past him before the masked ghoul was knocked away, flying into a wall across the way. Shizuo blinked a few times again and felt his eyes widen at the blue, swishing appendage that emerged from Mikado.

It swished with the motion of a feline tail, really, but it was thick around, and split half way through it into two separate parts that were both pointed at the end. It was like a tail...a dangerous, bright blue tail.

Mikado whirled around, his ghoul eye wide and...hungry looking, while tears welled up in his other blue eye. He dropped down by Shizuo, grabbing his shoulders, barely avoiding the injured part. "Shizuo, are you alright?"

Shizuo's voice caught in his throat as he stared at the swishing...tail behind the kid. That voice in his head screamed.

"Hikari!"

Shizuo grabbed his head and yelled, shoving Mikado back a bit. "L-let's just get out o here!"

Mikado nodded and stood up, helping Shizuo to his feet. He whirled around again, gasping when he found the tentacled kagune only inches from his face. Heart pounding in his chest, with Shizuo's hand gripping the back of his jacket, Mikado froze. The masked ghoul before him cocked his head to the side, taking a deep breath.

"...You smell like a female ghoul." He murmured slowly. "...Who are you?"

"N-no one important," Mikado assured, watching the tentacles closely as they slowly moved away from him. "W-we just want to go home...w-we were getting a meal and now we're done. I-if this is your territory or...or something, we're leaving. I promise."

There was a tense silence, Shizuo's ragged breathing and Mikado's own heartbeat the only things the boy could hear. The masked ghoul stepped back, turning on his heel and walking away without another word. Mikado exhaled loudly, looking over his shoulder at Shizuo. "Are you-"

"He just fucking left," Shizuo gasped out, staring at the retreating ghoul. "...What the fuck..."

"I don't know..." Mikado murmured, a hand coming up to grab his head as it throbbed. "My head..."

The ground was rushing at him, suddenly, and Mikado could have sworn Shizuo was yelling his name.

But why would he?

The ringing of his cell phone was a bit of a surprise. Izaya answered it, leaning back in his seat, "Hello?"

"Your little pawns may not last very long," Uta's voice sand idly.

Izaya frowned a bit, arching an eyebrow. "And why do you say that?"

"A familiar face appeared," Uta replied. "I'm just saying, this one has a habit of...killing things. But, who knows? Maybe your pawns will surprise us. They're together, you know."

"Shizu-Chan and Mikado?" Izaya asked.

"They were eating together," Uta nodded. "At a place that serves food to ghouls. A safe haven, basically."

"That's no fun," Izaya muttered bitterly as he scoffed. "A place that takes care of useless ghouls..."

"They were eating together, I'm sure they probably left together." Uta continued. "And-"

"We'll talk later," Izaya cut in cheerily, ending the call before he dialed another number.

"CCG headquarters," A voice chimed.

Izaya smirked a little. "I'd like to report multiple ghoul sightings in my area."

The game wouldn't be fun at all if things were easy for them, after all.

Izaya, you literal ass.