Against the clock

"Gah!" The flimsy bed frame slammed into the wall. The phone somehow was still in one piece, vibrating against the floor, the small rectangle screen lighting up. His leg was barely holding him up, yet the adrenaline speeding through his body was fuelling his rage.

"Shizu-chan." The teen spun around at the sound of that awful nickname.

"Don't call me that!" Kanra shivered where she was crouched. The phone continued to ring, grating on his nerves. The damn flea had threatened both Kasuka and Chiyoko, the two most important people to him. He knew what they were doing, or had that been a lie? There was no way he could watch them at the same time. Then again it was Izaya they were talking about.

"Shizu-chan. What did he say?" It seemed that the raven was feeling a little better. A hand rested on his shoulder. The room was a wreck and still that little electronic device continued to make its presence known. It was Kanra that swept the phone up staring at the little screen. "We have to answer. You don't want him to get any worse."

Shizuo clenched his fists, keeping that anger in, where it continued to seethe under the surface. Every last bit would be used to crush the nuisance if he dared hurt either of them. Except that he didn't know where Izaya was and he was stuck in hospital. "Damn it."

The teen fell down more than sat down, Kanra sitting opposite him. The phone was in the centre untouched, where it rang relentlessly, each ring a shock to his nerves. "Answer the damn thing then!" Both of them hesitated reaching out at the same time.

If this was a game then he wasn't playing. If he didn't know the rules... Kanra pushed the button and then another, the egotistical voice coming through loud and clear.

Shizu-chan, so violent. What if that had been a normal phone? Shizuo stared hard at the raven sitting opposite him. The girl was shaking her head.

So meeean cutting me off like that. The cold manic laughter grated on his nerves. As I was saying before. I'm going to kill one of them. Hahahahaha. Shizuo felt his blood run cold. If you guess which one then I suppose I'll stop and let them live. Chi-chan or Kasuka-kun. Get it right and they both live. Get it wrong and you lose a brother or a girlfriend. Simple. Even a protozoan would understand that much.

The game starts when you wake up. Can't have you running around in the dark now, can we? Well not that you could run around. Shizuo slammed his fist down, the phone was quickly moved out of the way. Always getting angry, be careful Shizu-chan. You might harm someone you care about and thaaats my job.

Humans are my playthings and you are no different. Hahahaha. Oh! I almost forgot. Good night. Kanra screamed as the phone went dead and the lights went out plunging them into darkness. He could hear footsteps coming closer. Shizuo lashed out blindly. He felt something cover his mouth.

"Shizu-chan? Where are you?" His eyes drooped breathing in whatever was covering his mouth. His body felt exhausted as it collapsed to the floor, everything going black.

His head throbbed when he opened his eyes. Shizuo groaned his cheek pressed against the cold floor. The room was bright, showing him the damage he had done. Next to him was the raven. Coffee eyes widened remembering exactly why he was on the floor. Shit. Chiyoko and Kasuka were in danger. "Kanra! Wake up." Shizuo shook the raven not getting a response.

Shaking a little harder the girl groaned opening her eyes. "...Where are we?" Shizuo shook his head massaging his temple. "Shizu-chan?"

"Your hospital room. What time is it?" It was daytime. The game had started and maybe he had already lost.

Chiyoko or Kasuka. He needed to find them. Kanra was slowly pulling herself up. "Shizu-chan, what happened?" The blond didn't answer reaching for the phone. The only number he knew off by heart was his brother's. His fingers trembled as he entered the number in. In the corridor he could see the nurses walking up and down. It was almost mid morning.

Taking a deep breath Shizuo pressed the dial button, waiting anxiously whilst the call was trying to go through. The number you have dialled... With a curse the teen felt despair fill him. Kasuka could be busy, he could be filming right now or doing whatever else he did... "Damn it." He couldn't lose his brother.

The number you have dialled... Shizuo cut the call trying again. The number you have dialled... "Pick up!" The number you have dialled...The number you have dialled...The number you have dialled is not available please leave a message after the tone... "Kasuka when you get this give me a call back." Hopefully the panic he was feeling didn't seep through into his voice.

It wasn't the only message he left, yet at the same time trying not to cause his brother any panic if it did turn out he was okay. By now Chiyoko should be sitting in class. "Her number is in my phone. I'm going to see the nurse." Shizuo was already gently scrolling through the phone book, so he didn't crack the phone.

Chiyoko or Kasuka. Both were important. The number you have dialled... Chiyoko had never missed his call. Sure the pair of them were a little shy when it came to answering the phone. But when he called she answered and when she called he could feel those little butterflies in his stomach as he stared at the screen.

Coffee eyes narrowed on the strapless phone. It wasn't his phone. It was Kanra's. Shizuo sighed. The constant noise outside the room was getting on his nerves. He didn't want to think that one of those trolley beds being rushed down the corridor had either one of them on. The number you have dialled...

The new teacher could be strict. Or maybe Chiyoko hadn't charged her phone. Maybe she had left it at home... There could be numerous reasons. It didn't mean she was... Shizuo tried to swallow past the lump in his throat. His fingers trembled as he alternated between his girlfriend and his brother, both were the same. The number you have dialled...

Cutting the call, the teen returned to the phone book. If Chiyoko was in class then so were his friends. Finding Dotachin on the list, Shizuo waited for it to go through. But would his friend answer the phone knowing it was Kanra's? Hello? Are you bored again? Stop calling.

"Kadota, its me. Is Chiyoko there?" He was met with a hushed whisper.

Shizuo? Why do you have Kanra's phone? Chiyoko isn't here. She didn't come in...Sensei, this is imp-

The connection was cut, leaving him feeling worse than before. Chiyoko wasn't answering her phone, she hadn't turned up to school. So where the hell was she? Maybe home sick in bed? A family emergency? Anything...anything but that. His heart felt like it would break knowing she could be in Izaya's clutches.

"Shizu-chan, I've convinced the doctor to discharge us." The raven ran into the room, fingers pressing against the door. "Why are you on the floor? Did you get through to them?" The phone was still trying to connect to his brother's phone. Shaking his head, Shizuo stared blankly at the floor.

"I see. What do you want to do? Izaya won't be happy if you don't play his game." Chiyoko or Kasuka?. Chiyoko or Kasuka? The number you have dialled... He was getting sick of the woman's robotic voice telling him the same crap over and over again. "Shut up!" The phone hit the wall hard, smashing into pieces.

Chiyoko or Kasuka? He couldn't choose between them. Chiyoko or Kasuka? Shizuo remained on the floor covering his ears with his hands. It was all a bad dream and when he woke up he would be laying in the same hospital bed or maybe in his own bed and Izaya didn't exist. "Shizu-chan. We should hurry." He knew that, if he could guess right then they were both saved. But if he was wrong...

"If we split up, we have an equal chance. Shizu-chan?" The blond nodded.

"...I know." He just couldn't choose which one. There shouldn't need to be a choice, none of this should be happening. Clenching his fists, Shizuo took a deep breath. "...Chiyoko. Kanra, go after Chiyoko." The raven nodded.

"You've chosen your brother then?"

The cab door closed, Kanra grinning at him nervously. Shizuo watched it drive away in the opposite direction that he had to go. Both of them were on their own. His new crutches weren't much of an improvement and he knew they wouldn't hold up the entire day. He didn't know what the raven had said to his doctor but it had worked, the nurse helping him get dressed and out the door.

Dropping down on the seat, his crutches fell to the side. "Where to?" His plan fell short. The teen had no idea where his brother was. "Take me home." Rattling off his address and slumping back in the seat, he could only hope his choice was correct.

His father was still at work as usual, leaving his mother to welcome him home with a big hug. "I didn't know you were out of hospital. You should've called me or your father. Is your leg okay?" Shizuo forced a smile.

"I'm fine mum. Where's Kasuka?" He was running out of time.

"He's in the middle of filming. I was just going to see him, if you want to come. The director is really nice." Shizuo wasn't listening already making his way out of the door.

No matter how fast he went it was never enough, his leg was a liability and may cost one of his loved ones their life. The traffic didn't help, slowing him down even further. At last his mother parked outside a large looking house. "I'm so proud of him, he's doing so well. Has he told you what the script is about?"

Shizuo shook his head struggling to get out of the vehicle. "Its about a rich family, the only son gets led astray and ends up trapped with a pyscho." His mouth dropped open, slamming the car door. Quickly he made his way into the house, his crutch went a bit too far, slipping from his grip.

"Stop!" Coffee eyes widened.

As he got closer he could see Kasuka was surrounded. "How dare you do this?" His rage took over, finding a large statue by the door, hefting it up with one arm he let it go, knocking three of the attackers far away from his brother. The remaining few stared in shock. But he wasn't done, no one would hurt his little brother.

Glancing around he could see no sign of the damn flea. The crafted table was next knocking two of them out. "Cut!" Shizuo blinked hearing a sharp clack. He had only been staring at the small area around his brother. Following the sound his eyes widened seeing the wires and cameras, a group of people standing or sitting. Crap.

"Cut! Medical check they're okay. I need them. Who let that kid in here?" The one with the loud demanding voice was no doubt the director. Kasuka wasn't looking at him. Damn. He had screwed up. His head dropped feeling his rage drain. Everyone except for his brother were laying unconscious and wouldn't be getting up for a while.

Turning around he could see his mother shaking her head. "Shizuo, maybe-" A loud chime rang out, his mother's ring tone which she refused to change. "Hello... Oh, we haven't met...no problem...I'll pass you over." The phone was held out to him. "Its one of your friends, Kanra. Did you give her my number?"

Numbly he took the phone holding it to his ear. Kasuka was perfectly safe, though he had ruined the set. "Hello?" There was rustling in the background and then what sounded like a thud. Shizu-chan, you went after Kasuka-kun? Poor Chi-chan, I guess you don't love her that much after all. He didn't ask about Kanra, he could guess what the thud was. Another one that was his fault.

Do you think your brother hates yoooou now? You ruined the set like that. Such a monster. Or is it a protozoan? You did get it wrong after aaallll. Shizuo closed his eyes, not wanting to hear the next part. Say bye bye to Chi-chan.

"Don't you dare-" Harsh laughter interrupted him.

You guessed wrong, Shizu-chan. Hahahaha. The call went dead, the same words repeating over and over again in his head.