-M-

Mikado didn't expect to see him on his way to the supermarket with Anri, in fact he didn't even see him until Anri grabbed his arm and pulled him behind a trash can.

"What, Sonohara-san!?" he exclaimed as she grabbed his arm and pulled him into hiding, her eyes were wide and full of shock. Mikado looked over her, Anri's eyes were glowing red, indicating she was feeling threatened by something, a small bead of sweat ran down her forehead and Mikado turned to where her eyes were focused.

Kida Masaomi.

A small gasp left the teen's lips and his blue eyes narrowed. Just like he had read online the former gang leader was a mess. He had lost weight, so much that his white sweater looked oversized and hung loosely off his body. Masaomi's skin looked pale, sickly and his brunet roots poked out from the top of his head making his blond hair look dirty.

"Oh my god." He murmured, "He looks like shit." He observed with a slight snarky undertone. Serves him right. After all he has done, he deserves to waste away like I had before Izaya came back. It was like while Mikado had been growing increasingly stronger and healthy, Masaomi had been doing the opposite.

"He shouldn't be here." Anri murmured quietly looking at their former friend with red eyes and Mikado looked at her concerned.

"What do you mean?" Mikado asked looked at her questioningly and Anri froze and looked over at him with a nervous expression.

"I…I, um..." she stuttered but Mikado understood. Ah, she cut him didn't she? Not that I really care, he deserves a lot worse.

"You cut him." Mikado mused looking at Masaomi who was looking around from where he stood at the entrance of an alley. He was very obviously waiting for someone.

"H-he was… I heard what he said in the hospital room." She mumbled and Mikado looked at her with wide eyes,

"What?"

"I was coming to visit you and I hear Kida-kun say how he told Heiwajima-san all the same lies he told me. He got Orihara-san killed, if Kida-kun had never spewed those lies to Heiwajima-san then Orihara-san would still be alive, you wouldn't have been put through all this pain… you would still be happy." Anri said sadly and Mikado touched her arm with a sombre expression.

"I know. I understand. Thank you." He gave her a reassuring smile and she gave him an unsure smile in return. They turned back to where Masaomi was waiting just in time to see someone go up to him. He was familiar looking and the pair of friend looked at each other questioningly.

"That was one of the yellow scarves members." Mikado murmured his eyes focusing at the short brunet, trying to remember his name. He was close with Masaomi, his right-hand man even. Ko…Yata…that's right, Yatabe Koji. What is he doing with Masaomi? Is his loyalty really that strong? That he would support some so unstable looking?

They watched as Koji walked up to Masaomi and they started talking. Mikado and Anri were too far away to hear what they were saying but judging by Koji's concerned facial expression, he hadn't seen Masaomi in a while. They watched as Masaomi was became increasing agitated by whatever Koji was saying and eventually, Koji backed off and walked away leaving Masaomi, who stormed furiously into the alleyway.

Why is he sticking to the alleyways is it because he knows someone is after him? Perhaps he is scared Sonohara-san is going to slash him again? Nonetheless, he isn't going to get away, I will find him and I will punish him for what he did to Izaya.

The two teens stood up from where they had been hiding and looked at one another. Mikado looked at Anri who looked upset. "My control on him has weakened so much, this has never happened before." She said looking conflicted,

"Perhaps his will is too strong?" Mikado asked uncertainly and Anri looked at him horrified.

"But what is his will? What will he do? He already got Orihara-san killed! Who knows what he could do next?" she exclaimed grabbing Mikado's arm, the raven-haired teen was startled to say the least. But he carefully wrapped his arm around Anri's shaking shoulders in an awkward, comforting one-arm hug.

"I don't know. But I can promise you I won't let him hurt anyone else." Mikado promised her and pulled away from his friend who nodded. He smiled reassuringly at her and she looked up at him with wide eyes.

"But Mikado-kun, what are you going to do?" she asked, surprising Mikado with the use of his first name buthe didn't mention it and he frowned unable to really answer without admitting to murder.

"Anri-chan~!" a familiar energetic voice yelled from nearby and the friend turned around to see none other than Karisawa Erika, Yumasaki Walker and Kadota Kyohei coming towards them. Mikado sighed with relief as their interruption saved him from Anri's question.

Erika bounded over to them excitedly with a huge smile and the two men approached them in a more relaxed manner. Erika's eager brown eyes looked over Mikado and he stared back wondering if she would recognize him. His long black hair was pulled back into a short ponytail and his fringe had grown long enough that it covered his blue eyes. He was still skinner than he was before Izaya's death and wore black jeans and shirt and his green army parka.

He didn't look like the old Ryugamine Mikado, that naive and country-bumpkin looking kid, that person had died when Izaya did. Masaomi had killed him, they had killed him along with his lover. The person standing there was slightly dangerous and unhealthy looking, he was a murderer really. And by the way the three older dollars members looked at him, they thought he looked bad too.

"Who's this?" Kadota said warily and Anri looked at him surprised, she was shocked they couldn't recognize Mikado but the teen himself, wasn't so surprised, he had walked past them before with them realizing.

"Eh?" Anri looked at them surprised, "It's Ryugamine-kun." She replied confused as if they should easily be able to tell who he was but of course they couldn't

"Ehh~!?" Erika and Walker exclaimed in unison and Kadoto's mouth dropped opened in shock, Mikado flinched as the two otaku's mobbed him, lifting up his fringe to get a better look at him. Their eyes looked him all over making him feel uncomfortable and naked. He had never been self-conscious of them before but the scars from his stay in hospital felt alive and burning on his chest.

"You look so different! What happened?" Walker exclaimed when Mikado backed away for a bit and Mikado frowned not knowing what to say. He didn't know what to say, should he tell the truth? Was it safe too? He wished he could call Izaya and ask but he couldn't. He missed the days when Izaya would magically appear and save him from awkward situations.

"I was in hospital for a few months." Mikado said carefully looking at Anri who looked back at him uncertainly,

"Eh? Why?" Walker asked shocked and Mikado bit his lip unable to talk as images of that night flashed in his head. He touched his collarbone which was covered by his shirt, underneath was a mark; half bite, half kiss mark that Izaya had loving left the teen. Sensing his discomfort Anri stepped in,

"He got badly injured." She supplied quietly and Mikado looked at her gratefully but her comment only made the trio more insistent.

"By who?" Kadota asked narrowing his brown eyes and the teen grimaced, the van gang were incredibly protective of them and they knew that. Mikado sighed and closed his eyes before opening them again.

"By Heiwajma Shizuo." Mikado spit, the name spilling from his tongue like poison, his eyes narrowed and the older trio looked at him shocked and Anri touched his shoulder comforting and he gave her a strained smile.

"What do you mean? What did Shizuo do?" Kadota demanded, Mikado sighed. That was right Kadota went to high school with Shizuo and Izaya. He thought. Maybe telling them isn't such a good idea. He looked at them, their eyes were focused on him and he instantly knew there was no getting out of this. He looked around, surveying the busy street they were on.

He forced a smile on his face, "This isn't the best place to talk about it, why don't you come over to my place?"