In this chapter italicized words are Izaya's thoughts. But only in this chapter. Get it? Got it? Good.
Edit: Aaaaaand here's the rest of the chapter. Just scroll down past 'XXX'. Everything after that is new. Sorry for posting half a chapter again...
Pain.
This was all the raven could possibly fathom. He could not muster the strength to think of anything else. Could not garner any self-conscious, as his jet-black wings unfurled to either side of him, desperately snatching at air, seeking to slow his tumult.
Down, down, down. He fell and fell and fell. His skin, used to the tingle and chill of cool air rushing past him, now numb. His eyes, accustomed to always gazing downward, at his humans, whether in love or contempt, now blind. His ears, always greedily devouring every delightful bit of information they could detect, now deaf.
His great wings flapped vainly, anxious to be gone, away from this pain, this fear, this humanity.
The raven struggled as well. That's right. I need to get away from here. Fly off, get away like I always do. I have to get away.
But he was frozen by the grip of the fiery pain. Frozen flames engulfed him, as determined to trap him as he was to escape.
He thrashed in its hold, and in retaliation the pain clamped down on his body forcefully, sinking its teeth in further, slicing flesh and scraping bone. The raven cried out, but the fire was centered in his chest, and he was unable to draw a breath. What might have been a screech to curdle blood came out as an inaudible squeak.
Finally, after what had seemed to be hours of fruitless struggle, the raven's lungs started working again. He gasped, trying to breath around the fire in his chest. But his mouth was full and he choked. He spat to clear it. The raven could breath again. That was good, that was a start. Now he needed to get away. Come up with a clever trick and fly off. Whether he fought with his wit or his claws, it was fine. He'd do anything to be gone! Back to his nest, his home and his world and his humans and his playthings and-
Shizuo. He wanted away from here-and now**. He had to get back to where he was respected, feared, hated. He would not die pitifully here.
He was Orihara Izaya, damn it!
Determined, the raven fought to get to his feet. As soon as he moved the pain lacing his chest shot through his skull. Making him groan and falter. But he obstinately refused to stop. He rolled, freeing his wings from where they'd been pinned beneath him. He tried to discern an escape route, but his eyelids were too heavy to open and his surroundings seemed to be spinning around him. He couldn't tell up from down or left from right.
But it didn't matter. The only direction he needed was away. With a tremendous effort, he hauled himself to his hands and knees. He paused there, breathing heavily, each labored breathe feeling like a hammer to the chest, like swallowing nails. More liquid bubbled up his throat, strangling him. He tilted his head downward, allowing it to dribble from his mouth, too tired to spit.
When it seemed clear he inhaled deeply again, tasting the thick metallic tang linger. He grimaced. Whatever. It doesn't matter. He could worry about it when he was home.
Spreading his wings to their full span he moved to get to his feet. But his body wasn't listening to him anymore. The Pain held all its attention now, pounding in his veins, deafeningly loud. The only thing free was his mind. That, and his wings.
Whatever! It doesn't matter!
Even if his body stiffened in place, he could overcome it! He could still fly! He only needed his wings!
The raven could feel every one of his feathers straining outward, reaching for the sky, longing for the freedom of flight. They trembled in anticipation, and the raven felt a commiserating shudder run through him as well.
As he prepared himself, he noted with relief that the Pain had begun to ebb. It must be a good sign, the first stroke of luck in this bleak day.
He moved to stand, tensed for the Pain, but there was still nothing. The raven allowed himself a rush of confidence, sure now of escape.
He relaxed himself, coaxing his stiff body to unclench and move. He had to move. He had to leave. Now!
His body finally responded to him. Unfortunately.
As soon as his muscles unlocked, the moment when he would have leaped into the sky and taken off, he fell. He staggered forward, trying to catch himself, but there was no strength in his useless legs. He couldn't even lift his arms to buffer his fall.
Smack!
He may as well have plummeted from a skyscraper. The result would have been the same. Face down, inept limbs sprawled awkwardly beneath him, humiliated, feeling his lifeblood leak slowly away.
Only now did he realize where the Pain had gone. It was chased away by the Numbness, along with his strength, his wit, his tricks, and his pride.
His beautiful, free wings still stretched to the sky. His jet-black feathers rustled against one another, screeching with impatience.
Without warning, a wind with the force of a hurricane surged past, screaming in his ears.
Riiiiip.
The raven blanched, the new sound shocking him from the numbness. A dread-filled realization washed over him, and the fresh pain along his shoulder blades only confirmed it.
His fickle, impatient wings had grown tired of him, sick of his weakness, his fragility, his humanity.
So at the first opportunity, they'd left him.
He'd been shot and beaten. Abused and insulted. Hunted and attacked.
But he'd never felt this naked, this vulnerable, this lost.
Izaya Orihara had no strength. No wit. No tricks. No pride. Pretty soon he'd have no life.
Sorry Shizu-chan... I thought I'd get you back... and everything would be fine again. I'd get my nice, privileged information broker life back, and we'd hate each other. Wasn't it fun Shizu-chan? I told you it would be...
Yes the now ex-raven was very sure of his escape now.
"...s...rry... Shizu..."
After all, how could anyone in his situation not be sure of his own death?
XXX
"NO BROTHER, DON'T-!"
Futa-chan felt her voice die in her throat as her brother ignored her entirely, striking Izaya with far more power than someone three times his size was capable of. A human would have laughed at the sight of a grown man being knocked down by a preteen boy, because that was all they were able to see.
Futa-chan saw the truth.
She watched as the most fearsome immortal she knew struck a mere mortal a killing blow. For a moment everything seemed to play in slow motion, as the raven's features twisted in pain and shock, and he fell, crumpling to the ground. Then time was rushing forward, dizzily fast, trying to make up for the seconds it had lost. As her brother gazed on with an amused smirk, Izaya rolled to his hands and knees, and for a moment it seemed he was ready to spring to his feet, completely unharmed, and tease her for worrying about him. He'd laugh and prove the blood dripping from his mouth and seeping from his shirt meant nothing...
The moment passed, and Izaya collapsed back to the ground. A coldness spread through Futa-chan's as the informant went still. She reached for his mind tentatively, not wanting to leave him lying there if he was still alive but... she was frightened. She had never truly witnessed death before, though she had both been around it her entire existence, and, on occasion, caused it, but she'd always covered her eyes, pretended she was elsewhere, as if doing so would prevent it.
She could not look away now, or her brother would win, Shizuo would never be whole again, and Izaya would...
She would not stop here! Even is she had to witness the informant's end, through his eyes, and feel him slip away forever-
Ah... she could still feel his presence, though his already vague thoughts were growing slower, changing color, like fresh blood cooling and clotting, turning brown. She morbidly wondered if that was the color his eyes were now, as they dulled and became glazed with death.
Shaking such pessimistic thoughts from her mind, she rushed to the fallen raven's side, dropping to her knees beside him. "Izaya!"
He stirred, quite unexpectedly, and Futa-chan flinched. Leaning close she called "Izaya?" softly, questioningly.
"...s...rry... Shizu..."
Futa-chan patted his shoulder lightly, trying to sound upbeat and calm. "Hey, there's nothing to be sorry for!"
She could not keep her cool however, as her brother strode towards her, hands casually placed on his hips, looking almost bored as he watched them. The girl glared viciously at him, carefully tugging Izaya into her lap and cradling his head protectively. Even a human could see how maternal she was acting towards him, even in her childlike body. Like she had known him all her life, instead of a few hours. Like he was very important to her.
"...Heh."
Her glare (if possible) grew more heated, more hateful. "What's so funny?" she snapped.
"You are, Sister. And the human, as well. The way you have become so distressed over one little human... Actually believing you could fool me! It's laughable."
"Shut up!" She yelled, her voice cracking and sounding almost... whiny. "Why did you do that to him? He was just-!"
"Just what? Breaking our laws? Staining our homeland? Spitting on eons of sacred tradition?"
Futa-chan shook her head slowly, feeling tears prick in her eyes. She sniffed. She knew her brother wasn't talking about just Izaya.
"T-there was n-no harm down, w-we weren't here l-long! A-and it was my i-idea! So..." She trailed off, feeling pathetic. She didn't want to cry over Izaya... She didn't want Izaya to die!
"He isn't dead yet, but it won't be long. He wouldn't have to be dying, and you would be so perturbed by his death if had done what I had said and stayed out of it-"
"Is that what this is about? You're trying to teach me a lesson? You're sick!"
The boy-like entity sighed, exasperated. "Not everything revolves around you, Sister."
"But most of it does!" Futa-chan snapped, and immediately regretted it. Here she was, trying to prove she could make wise decisions and hold authority, screaming and whining like a child to get her way.
Her brother chuckled, and it would look to all the world as if they really were just a pair of average siblings, squabbling over a broken toy. A beaten, bleeding, broken toy.
"It's not funny!"
"Of course it isn't. Now finish your wailing. You wanted me to explain myself, did you not? I shall not shout over you to be heard."
"I'm not wa-wailing," Futa-chan claimed, but her lie was ruined when her voice trembled. She sniffled loudly once and murmured "I'm not."
"Of course," he assured, and he stepped over to her, forcing her to crane her neck to hold his gaze. Coming closer to Futa-chan inevitably brought him closer to Izaya, causing his impromptu protector to tense, curling low over Izaya's body, attempting to shelter him from her brother. Not much good it would do now, really. The girl knew she should just get him out of there, back to his own world, and quick, but curiosity stayed her.
She wanted to understand. There was so few a time she truly grasped the workings of her brother's mind, whereas he always read her like a book. Perhaps this was what kept Futa-chan from cutting ties completely with her brother. That incessant, itching curiosity. It was a powerful thing.
Curiosity killed the cat. Let's pray all goes well for the raven.
"I'm listening."
"Good. Hmm, where to start..." He mused, and rather absentmindedly nudged the now very unconscious informant's prone leg with his foot. Futa-chan stiffened even further, and very nearly growled, her face twisting into a snarl. It was rather unexpected from a delicate looking girl like Futa-chan, but he bore the look blankly, gathering his thoughts. "Well, I suppose we should begin here," he decided, indicating the human with a nod.
"Honestly Sister, I don't see the appeal. Billions of humans throughout history, and this is the one who captures your interest? And he's not even a prominent figure with followers. Well, besides a pack of hormone-ridden high school girls." ***
At this, well, basically an implication that she was some juvenile, love-struck child, the girl adjusted her hold on the informant self consciously, and her hand happened to brush his cheek. To her alarm and mounting panic, his skin was going cold against her fingertips. "Ah! I don't have time for this! I'll deal with you," she gave her brother a final glare, "later!"
...
The boy sighed. "Such impatience. And using her powers in front of a human? What is she thinking? Well, it's not like he can tell anyone now. That ungratefully little girl. Well, soon enough she'll thank me for taking care of that human for her..." he muttered as he sauntered up to his lavish home, leaving his now empty estate devoid of life once again.
**Um, this is not a mistake. You know when you hold little kids in the air and they say "I want down!" Same concept. Izaya's in pain, so he can't think very coherently. Just saying because my friend whined about it and…. Now I'm paranoid.
*** HEY! I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT! HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS CAN BE FEROCIOUS!
You-know-who: You typed it, not me...
Futa-chan: VOLDEMORT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE POST-SCRIPT?
Me: No! Your brother!
Futa-chan: Oh... we should seriously give him a name.
Me: Pfft! You should seriously get that hot piece of ass to a doctor.
You-know-who: I'll just go then...
Me: NOT BEFORE YOU APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF IZAYA'S TEENAGE FANGIRLS!
Izaya: *moan* doctor... please... I need... Shinra...
Me: *blushing furiously* Context Izaya. Context.
