Title: Recluse in War and Life
By: Sissy

Scene 10: The Hero shows part of his true personality

"Is it alright if I call you Mikado-san? Or maybe 'sempai' since you're older than me?" Aoba wondered with a curious expression as he accepted the tea Mikado offered him.

"Whichever you prefer Aoba-kun." Mikado said with a smile and sat down on one side of the sofa. "And I know I shouldn't ask, but how did you find me?"

"Orihara Izaya left a small trail for me to follow. It wasn't that hard." Aoba responded with a smile.

"And what has he told you?" Though Mikado knew far more than he let on, he preferred to not let this younger boy know too much.

"Just that the founder of Dollars, or rather you, lives as a shut in. Because I found it interesting, he suggested we make it a competition to see whether one of us is capable of doing something that will get you to go out. Such as hurt your friends or whatever else we think of." Aoba had no problems discussing that information with Mikado, though he was hiding something special that was noticeable behind his eyes.

"Though I'm not one to talk, you really shouldn't meddle in other people's lives. Also, you are aware that Orihara-san is simply using you, right?" Mikado asked worriedly as he grabbed the cell phone he had left on the table near him.

"Well, I don't mind at all. It's not as if I'm doing anything else." Aoba replied with an aloof grin.

"But you'll get hurt." Mikado said worriedly as he stood up and walked to the door that lead to the balcony to make a phone call. "Ah, hello? Well, I just remembered that we ran out of tea cakes. I'm really sorry, but could you please buy some as well? Yes, I'm really sorry. I'll see you soon." He hung up and walked to the kitchen. "Sorry about that. I really did forget."

"No, it's no problem. But there's something I found interesting." Aoba said with a smile.

"And that is?" Mikado wondered as he looked for something else to feed Aoba.

"Mikado-san is not on paper. I mean, Orihara Izaya gave me your name and I found most of your information erased. Mikado-san, you're hiding from someone, aren't you? What would happen if I gave away your location?" Aoba asked as he walked closer to the kitchen and saw Mikado bent down near the floor.

"That would be scary. Really scary." Mikado replied to him with a forced smile but since he was facing the other way, Aoba had not seen it.

"Then what can I do to drag you out of here? I could bring my friends, but you'd probably do the same. I mentioned hurting your friends and I shouldn't really say how I followed Sonohara-sempai here, but what if captured her? What would you…?" Before Aoba could finish the suggestion, a cut formed on his cheek and he had found he had a knife pointed at his face.

"I will not allow anyone to hurt my friends. Handing me to them would be a lot better, however, if you should raise a hand to anyone I consider dear, I will take the appropriate methods. That was one of the reasons I created the Dollars." Mikado shoved the other words that threatened to come out down his throat as his eyes flashed their strange icy color in a glare.

"Scary, sempai, really scary." Aoba smirked before the door to the apartment flung open and Mikado lowered the knife as his eye color returned to normal.

"Mikado!" Masaomi entered the apartment in a hurry and saw both Mikado and Aoba. "What is…? Aoba? You're…?"

"Ah, welcome home Masaomi. I didn't realize that time was up." Mikado smiled at Masaomi who looked angrily at Mikado.

"Stop messing around! Aoba, out!" Masaomi grabbed Aoba by the shirt neck and threw him out of the apartment. "I see you or your pals around here and you'll end up in the bottom of the river!" With that, he closed the door.

"No one says that anymore sempai. Still, how scary." Aoba turned around and saw Anri glaring at him.

"I won't attack you since Ryugamine-kun prefers that I stay out of it as much as possible, but should you come again, I'll enforce Kida-kun's decision." Anri walked past him, her eyes flashing a deep red before she headed into the apartment.

"Damn, I feel very much used." Aoba murmured and left the area, planning his next move.

Scene 10 End