"Does your head still hurt?"
It was, of course, an absurd question. Shizuo kicked himself inwardly.
"Not right now. But I know why it's been hurting so much. There's someone else in my head and she won't leave. It's like being haunted by…yourself as a ghost. The ghost in the mind, if you will."
Shizuo hugged him tightly.
"Don't let her come back, okay?"
"Those cuts, I made them myself didn't I?"
Shizuo was frightened by this calm lucidity.
"Yeah."
"I wonder why I'd do such a thing. But then again I'm sure I deserved it. Surely. Because I wasn't a good person when I was alive so I should suffer now that I'm dead. That's what they call…justice? Or perhaps destiny? Fate? Karma."
"Izaya, you're alive."
"No, I'm not. I'm dead, Mairu is dead, Kururi is dead. So we can all be together again. The Orihara trio."
Shizuo peered into his eyes and tried his very best not to let his anxiety show. He was suddenly terrified.
"You know what happened to your sisters?"
"I got them killed."
Izaya looked around as if he expected to find something.
"It's not your fault."
Shizuo watched with baited breath for an outburst, for Kanra to creep in back, for Izaya to break before his very eyes and told himself that he could handle it when it happened. Only nothing did happen.
"Izaya?"
Empty eyed silence.
"Hey, say something."
"How come you can see me? You're alive, I'm not. It's rather strange."
Shizuo held Izaya's hand and placed it over a narrow chest over the heart.
"You're alive, see? Can't you feel your pulse?"
Izaya shook his head and smiled softly.
"It doesn't matter. I cannot be alive in a world without my sisters."
And before Shizuo had a chance to deny this Izaya turned around and addressed and empty chair.
"So you went on a holiday? You should've told your brother! I was worried. Now, your tresses are undone. Let me do them for you, okay?"
Shizuo's fear escalated into sheer dread.
"Izaya? Who are you talking to?"
Izaya was on his feet, standing behind the chair and working his fingers in some sort of pattern that Shizuo recognized as weaving hair. It looked like some sort of conjurer's trick hanging in the moonlit air.
"Mairu, of course. Say hello to Shizu-chan. His little brother is that actor you like so much, Kasuka. I'll get Shizu-chan to give you a signed photograph. Maybe you can even meet him! Can you make that happen, Shizu-chan?"
Izaya beamed at him, all hope. Shizuo's heart got caught in his throat.
"Izaya…there's no one there. I'm so sorry, so very sorry, but your sisters are not here. They've passed away."
"What are you talking about? She's right here."
Izaya pulled another chair as if to invite someone to sit.
"Izaya-"
"Kururi, you should rest. It's getting late but I'll make an exception since this a holiday. Did your sister bully you much today? No? That's good. Want a massage?"
To Shizuo's absolute horror Izaya proceeded to stroke the air as if conducting a deaf orchestra.
"Izaya, can you see them…?"
"We want Shizu-chan to dress up as a chicken again! And flap about!"
Shizuo held him tightly. Izaya pushed him aside gently.
"Shizu-chan, there are minors in the room. I haven't told them about us."
"Your sisters aren't here. They're dead. I'm sorry but please, please accept it."
"Perhaps the O-bon is earlier this year. With those bugs chanting away, it seems like August to me. How was it, you make a horse with some vegetable…the dead can come back for a while during this time, that's why you can see me. Neh?"
Shizuo was close to screaming. Celty knocking and walking into the room was the only thing that stopped him. He was sure that he was crying but he did not even feel the tears. Izaya jumped up and down and put on his typically bouncy display in order to convince Celty to remove the helmet because his sisters wanted to meet the headless rider. Shizuo waved at her and left to get Shinra.
"Shizu-chan, don't forget that signed photograph, okay? It's a great thing that your brother is alive and well. Sorry for putting up with me all this time, I know I've been a burden to you. I love you. We all do, it's an Orihara thing! Neh?"