How To Walk Again
By: AtomicKokoro
Storyline
Masaomi is severely injured when he gets caught between one of Izaya and Shizou's legendary fights. It's up to Shinra, Celty, and Saki to teach the boy to walk again.
…
Before You Read
Last chapter, everyone found out Izaya is going to kill Shinra.
On with the story!
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Chapter 10
How To Run
Rain pattered against the windowed wall over looking Ikebukuro. There was no thunder or lightning, just pure, calming rain.
"I'm glad we can sit down and drink tea like responsible adults," Izaya remarked, sipping his tea. Shinra would have preferred coffee over oolong, but it would do. He quieting drank a bit of his tea and place it on the coffee table between the two young men just a bit to the right. Izaya did the same. "Now, Kishitani-san, I'm sure you aren't here to simply have tea. What is it you've come here for?"
Shinra took a deep breath. "Why?" It was the only thing he could bring himself to say.
Izaya rested his chin on his propped fist and tilted his head. "'Why?' Couldn't be more vague, Kishitani-san."
"Why now?" Shinra demanded. "Why didn't you try to kill me three years ago? Why are you trying to kill me now?"
Izaya smirked. "Shinra, Shinra, Shinra," he sighed, sounding disappointed. "I should be asking you the same thing? Why are you facing me now, after all these years?" Shinra ignored the question. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you it was pure coincidence, would you?"
Shinra shook his head. "I know you better than that. You have a reason for everything."
"Well, then." Izaya stood up and stretched. "I'll tell you why 'now'. I'll tell you the reason I chose to try and kill you now instead of three years ago." Shinra stood up as Izaya approached him and leaned forward, almost touching noses. "Because, 'now', you are the easiest to break."
Shinra blinked and stumbled a bit. "What?"
…
He cursed and swore repeatedly. Shizuo hated walking in the rain. It bothered him more than anything in the world. He was wet, cold, and he was always just so pissed off.
Suddenly, something slammed into him from behind and he nearly lost it. "Hey, kid! Watch where you're-"
"Heiwajima-san!" The voice cut him off before he could think of throwing the boy across the street. It was Mikado, jumping to his feet, panting heavily. "Do you know where Masaomi-kun is?"
Shizuo stared at Mikado, dumbfounded for a moment before shaking his head. "Look, kid, shouldn't you be at home, or at least wearing something for the weather?" It was true, Mikado wasn't dressed for the rain at all. He must have left in a rush, only in his green and white sweater and blue jeans darkened from the rain.
"I don't have time!" he gasped. "I have to find him. Izaya is going to kill Shinra!"
Shizuo flinched at the information. He paused for a moment, wondering whether or not he should get involved in all this. "Did you try his cellphone?"
"Yes!" Mikado cried. "I tried to get a hold of him every way I could, but he won't answer!"
There was a long pause, then Shizuo turned away. "Sorry, kid. I can't help you."
Mikado just watched him walk off, wondering what to do next.
…
"Masaomi, you can't!" Saki gasped, trying to pull him away from the door. She thought it would be easier despite that his disability, but the need to go after Shinra was just too strong. Masaomi had found his balance and was rushing towards the door. "You can't go after him. Let me!"
"I can't let you do that, Saki," he snapped. "Stay here and see if you can get a hold of Shinra."
Saki gasped and pulled back. "What are you going to do, Masaomi-kun? Where are you going?"
Masaomi turned, stumbling slightly before catching his balance again. "I'm going to have a word with Izaya."
…
Celty had tried calling Izaya and Shinra repeatedly. Neither of them answered. Ikebukuro was a large city. Where was Shinra in all this? Where did he go? She should have asked! She pushed her motorcycle even fast, up and down over a hill, high above the speed limit, hoping to avoid the police. She'd be damned if they came after her today!
Were they purposely hiding themselves from what happened? Was that what had happened three years ago? Was that the reason Shinra had been so quiet lately? Had Izaya threatened him? There were too many questions without answers going through her head. She didn't know what to do, but she knew what she wanted.
To kill Orihara Izaya.
…
At that moment, the lightning took it's cue and flashed brightly. Shinra could only see the blood-red gaze for the moment, their faces so close together. Izaya pushed Shinra back onto the couch and trapped his shoulders against the couch and pinned him down with his knees against Shinra's waist. "You were always so interested in studying Shizuo and myself, our fights, how Shizuo and I could keep up such fantastical battles."
Shinra swallowed a lump in his throat, his mouth running dry. "I-"
"That was the only thing you were interested in," Izaya purred. "Studying the physical aspects of a person. How they were able to do something so unusual. How Celty could live without a head, how Shizuo could pick up a vending machine and throw it at me, how I was able to match Shizuo's every single move."
It was difficult to breath. It was like he was suddenly only breathing Izaya's carbon dioxide, as odd as that sounded, but all he could smell was the lemon and sugar from the green tea Izaya had been drinking.
"Meanwhile," Izaya continued. "I preferred the mental ability, the psychological standards of a person and watch what would happened when they break. That's how you and I were so alike. We could know a person's physical and psychological limits. We were almost unstoppable. We would have been a perfect team, Shinra, but you have your heart set on something else. A woman. More specifically, Sturluson Celty."
"What, are you jealous?" Shinra couldn't help but ask. "You're angry because I would take part in your damn antics to screw up Ikebukuro, to kill people, to watch them suffer?"
"No, I'm not angry that you refused to take up my offer," Izaya whispered. "I'm not angry at all. I'm intrigued. If you would give up amazing research for a woman you love, then how much more would you give for her to stay alive?"
…
He was running. He was running. And, dammit, did it feel great! The wind his hair (not going backwards with the help of wheels), the hushed, harsh panting, oxygen burning his lungs, the muscles in his legs aching.
Masaomi could run all day, but he knew he couldn't. It was only a few minutes before he would approach Izaya's apartment.
…
Saki had dialed Shinra's cellphone repeatedly, but there was no answer. "Damn it!" she cursed, slamming her head on the desk of Shinra's office. She waited for a moment before there was a knock at the door. She jumped to her feet and ran to the door, desperately hoping it was Shinra.
She opened the door and blinked twice. "Mikado-kun?"
…
Ryūgamine Mikado
748-5194
Have you seen Masaomi-kun?
Anri stared at her phone, confused by what he meant. She peered out her window and suddenly knew exactly what he meant. Masaomi was running outside, speeding passed her apartment. She quickly replied to the message and hurried out the door.
…
Shinra had half a mind to cry out one of his favorite quotes to respond to that, but he decided against it.
Izaya sighed at the silence. "If you love her, you won't move," he said. "because I'm facing you with a choice; either you or Celty dies."
There was a long pause. With all his will power, Shinra snapped, "Well, what are you waiting for? Aren't you going to kill me?"
Izaya smirked. Then he chuckled, and his laugh grew into a holler. Finally, he gathered his composure. "Honestly, Shinra! Even I would think that your 'love antics' were entirely fake, just like Masaomi's, but perhaps you both will prove me wrong. Is love fake, Shinra? Of course, you're initial reply would be 'of course not!', but to some people, it is. Let's take Mikajima Saki-san, for example."
Shinra flinched. "Saki-chan has nothing to do with this!"
"Yes, she does," Izaya purred. "I made her apart of this." Shinra gasped and tried to say something, but Izaya went on. "You know their story, don't you? Masaomi and Saki's story? They fell in love, but Saki was captured by an enemy gang, trying to coax Masaomi out of hiding. He was too scared to save her. He felt so guilty. So guilty, he broke up with her, but she still loved him. He came back to her after a year, and they were going to live happily ever after."
"Leave them alone!" Shinra snapped.
Izaya ignored him. "But do you know, the first they were dating, the very beginning, she was in love with someone else? Someone I met over the internet."
Shinra blinked. He didn't want to hear what Izaya was going to say next. He wanted to punch the man off of him, but he had to stay put or Celty would be killed.
"Ryūgamine Mikado."
…
After Notes
A big, "Holy Crap!" moment! What will happen next?
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