Downward spiral

Shizuo struggled to free himself. It was humiliating that the flea could keep him in place. "Let me go." Too late he could hear the loud crash from the warehouse. The lock had broken and now the kid would find out what being a true monster was.

"Stop struggling, Mikado-kun." It was painful to know Izaya was stronger than him at the moment.

"Let go of me, damn f-" Cutting himself off, Shizuo bit his lip.

The flea couldn't know they had switched. Who knows what would happen. Glancing behind him he could no longer see the commotion around the warehouse. Just a little while ago he had been happy, now everything was getting messed up. He could hear the roar of his voice for the moment belonging to someone else.

Izaya stopped pulling him along. "Oh dear, looks like Shizu-chan has lost it. Aren't you glad I got you out of there?" It was over. Now they really would need to find a way to switch back.

"Mikado!" Kida. The blond teen was running to catch up with him.

"Oh dear." Before he could call back, the raven switched direction dragging him along.

"Stop." His feet grinded into the asphalt trying to slow their pace. Like hell he was going to go along with the bastard in his current state. "Woah. Put me down."

It was humiliating being lifted over the flea's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Behind them he could see Kida standing there. "Hm, did you grow again, Mikado-kun?" Gritting his teeth Shizuo pounded helplessly against the raven's back. "Careful now, you wouldn't want me to drop you." It didn't stop his struggling to get away. Was this truly how weak this body was?

Izaya stopped at the waiting cab, pulling the door open shoving him inside. "Ge-" A hand clamped over his mouth dangerous crimson gazing into his own. "Don't forget your seatbelt." The black strip was pulled across his chest, the door slammed shut. "And away we go." Shizuo looked back out of the window miserably accepting what was happening.

There was a niggling feeling in the back of his mind, which at the moment was too damn scary to think about. He had gone along with Kida because of the kid's feelings, not because he actually loved him. So what would happen if the kid had liked Izaya? What did that mean for him? Glancing up a hand rested on his head. "Almost there, Mikado-kun."

Mikado felt it. Seeing the damage to Shizuo's hand. Well his real hand but it was still the fortissimo trapped inside. It was all his fault, he hadn't said anything, he hadn't warned him about the danger he could be in. Of course Aoba would try something, he should have known. Like a door being open he could feel an empty pitch black abyss threatening to swallow him whole.

The rush sent him to his knees, the sirens getting louder as the police got closer. It hurt more than anything he had felt before. Was this Shizuo's pain? Mikado clawed at the dirt feeling it rip through him. A mass of sadness threatened to drown him. The switch was pandora's box everything the fortissimo had forced back and locked away hit him one wave after another. Pain. Guilt. Hatred. Anger.

So this was the curse. This was the other half of the monster. Mikado screamed feeling like he was being crushed. A hand rested on his shoulder. Paying no attention he found that he couldn't move. It hurt. It hurt so much. Unable to take it, the teen began smacking his head against the hardened dirt. "Make it stop make it stop make it stop." It was too much. Something dark slipped past his vision, a familiar roar reaching his ears. With an agonized groan Mikado slowly lifted his head. "...Celty-san." His head hit the floor finally passing out from the weight of despair.

Kadota watched helplessly knowing the pain the teen was going through. Only Shizuo could control it. He wouldn't be surprised if Mikado went mad. All those years his friend had been holding back... He had been able to reach out but to no avail. It wasn't Shizuo yet it was still his body.

It was a relief when the blond finally passed out, the black rider scooping him up with the help of her shadows. "Take care of him." The yellow helmet tilted most likely in confusion since he was currently in Karisawa's body. Kadota sighed watching the motorbike speed out of view. There was nothing he could do. Not then and not now.

"Dotachin, did you see that? What happened?" Right now he didn't care that Karisawa was using his body to jump and skip around or that he was wearing yet another skirt.

"...Nothing. Lets go." Right now no one would be able to help stop the pain Mikado was feeling except for Shizuo. "Did you see where Mikado went?"

It was disturbing seeing himself blink blankly. "Uh, Dotachin. Cel-chi just took him away." Kadota groaned shaking his head.

"Where did Shizuo go?" It was getting confusing now. Karisawa grinned pointing in the distance.

"Iza-Iza took him away. You should have seen it" Ignoring the loud squealing and the gazes directed at them, Kadota opened the door to the van.

"Shinjuku, now." Next to him Togusa nodded slamming his foot on the accelerator.

Shizuo groaned knowing exactly where he was. Maybe if he had been lucky, Izaya would have taken him straight to Shinra. Instead he was staring up at the apartment complex that the damn flea lived in. There was no time to tell the cab driver to continue and take him back. Ushered from the car he was left standing in Shinjuku without a clue where to go.

"Come along, Mikado-kun." The damn flea was holding his good hand tugging him along. Now there was no way he could make his own way back. Biting his lip he reluctantly followed after the raven into the lobby and into the small lift.

Izaya grinned leaning against the rail. This was better than he could have wished for. He would love to observe the changes in the blond's body now that the original owner wasn't in control. The monster he had cultivated would be out of control. How much devastation would Mikado cause? It was new, it was fun and he couldn't wait to see what would happen.

For now though, the weaker of the two was in his grasp. One step and he would be too close. The teen was biting his lip staring at the floor. Apart from struggling the teen had said nothing. So the protozoan thought he could hide their secret? Interesting. Tapping his ring against the rail he could see the teen flinch shifting further across to get some distance.

One by one the numbers lit up until they reached the top, the doors sliding open. "Mikado-kun, do you want to let yourself in?" Holding up the keys he watched as those deep blue eyes widened. Of course the brute wouldn't know which apartment he lived in. "You've been here loads of times." Giving a suggestive wink the teen paled. Ah, this really was going to be so much fun.

Shizuo backed away. What? Mikado had been to Izaya's apartment and more than once? Just what the hell was their relationship? "Um. I thought we going to the hospital?" The damn flea couldn't find out who he was. It would put both him and the kid in danger.

"Silly, Mikado-kun. I can take care of it. You'd be surprised how many wounds I get, especially from that protozoan."

Gritting his teeth he stopped a growl at the look of disgust on the flea's face knowing he was talking about him. "He doesn't like you much either." Crimson orbs stopped inches from his face making him recoil.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Shit. What the hell was he doing? Shrugging his shoulders Shizuo looked away. "Hm? Not to worry, the brute hates me." Of course he did. The damn lying, manipulative, evil problem making flea.

Trudging forward the door was held open Izaya waiting for him to go inside. Was that something he really wanted to risk though? "Mikado-kun you don't want your hand getting infected do you?" The teen would have no problem going inside, his feet already moving. The door slammed behind him making him jump. "Take a seat."

Izaya smirked patting the teen's head, knowing how much effort the blond was putting in not to try and hit him. "Wait here. Do you want anything to drink?" There was no answer. Bounding into the kitchen, the first aid kit was removed from underneath the sink.

The teen was looking around the room a mixed expression on his face. Never had he thought he would be letting the protozoan into his apartment. Not that it mattered right now, the fortissimo was completely defenceless. In his pocket his thumb stroked along the switch blade. It would be so easy to end their extended game of cat and mouse.

"...I should get going soon." No no, his fun wasn't ending that soon.

"Let me take care of your hand, Mikado-kun." Dropping the first aid box on the smaller raven's lap his hand rested on the arms of the chair. Which one would win through in the end? The echo of his favourite pawn or the brute? He had never seen someone that wanted to kill him look so shy before.

"Hold out your hand." Why the hell was the flea being so nice? The damn raven didn't do nice. Unless there was something between the two of them. The sooner he was out of here the better. Reluctantly he held his hand out, hating how Izaya held it.

"Fuck." Shizuo hissed feeling the antiseptic swipe across the wound.

"Language Mikado, kun. You almost sound like that protozoan." His blood froze cold. No way, he couldn't know. Could he? There was nothing to raise suspicion. He hadn't called him that nickname or shown his temper. "Haha relax, I'm joking."

Shizuo relaxed slightly still not at all happy with who was treating him. "Good boy. Stay still." It took everything he had not to recoil and snatch his hand back. The minute he lashed out he would cause suspicion. "Hm, your injuries from the accident have all healed?" Not trusting himself to speak Shizuo nodded. "Good. I was worried." Worried? Since when did the flea give a damn about anyone? "I wouldn't want my precious human to get hurt."

Shit he was feeling sick. Just a bit more. Just a bit more and then he could get out of the apartment and back to Ikebukuro. He just needed to hold on. "Relax your hand." Damn it he was relaxed. Keep calm. Keep calm. Shizuo sighed wincing as his hand was held a bit tighter the clean bandage being wrapped over his now cleaned wound.

Izaya had a lot of books, most of the damn names he couldn't understand let alone say. Tilting his head his gaze narrowed on a thick one. Myths and legends. Why would the flea be interested in that stuff? Reaching out his hand was tugged back. "Mikado-kun, I'm not done. Shizuo shrugged trying not to think about Izaya touching him.

The damn flea had more money than sense. Maybe he would be able to buy expensive crap too if he hadn't kept getting fired thanks to his temper and Izaya. Then there was his constant bill for damages. Ah, that's right he needed to see if the kid was okay. It had been so long since he had let his guard down, there was no telling what sort of emotional distress the kid would be subjected to.

"Done." Turning back away from all the furniture, Shizuo tried snatching his arm back, not liking that look at all. Izaya's fingers brushed against his own. "Make sure you be careful, Mikado-kun." Inwardly Shizuo panicked his hand being lifted soft lips pressing down against his bare skin.

"Woah!" Snatching his hand back as if he had been burnt, he was up and out of the chair escaping to the other side of the room.