Part three – Descent into madness
Chapter twenty six
A/N:- Thank you for the reviews and onto the next chapter.
If he had stopped to think then maybe thinks would have turned out different. Unfortunately at that point Izaya was on the verge of changing finally getting ready to acknowledge what was between him and the blond, full of a confusion that he refused to admit, emotions that he wasn't ready to handle drove him forward bypassing all logical thought.
Instead of confronting Mikado about everything like he had planned, Izaya found himself out of breath knocking on the door of the Heiwajima house. It didn't cross his mind that whatever happened to Shizuka, that the blond was probably in the same state. Tapping his foot impatiently against the ground, Izaya waited for the door to open.
The door did open thanks to a big busted woman in a bright lime green jumper and white lab coat. "Yes? What do you want?" It looked like the long haired woman had something to hide trying to inch the door closed.
"I'm here to see, Shizu-chan." Pushing past the woman his sharp gaze combed the downstairs area not seeing the blond. That left upstairs. Taking the stairs two at a time he caught the mess in Shizuka's room. It wasn't his problem. Opening the door to the room he had frequently been in, there on the bed sitting up in confusion and dawning horror was the protozoan. "Surprised to see me, Shizu-chan?"
"Iz-Izaya." Clenching his fists Izaya strode across the room climbing onto the bed. "Don't."
"Where have you been, Shizu-chan? Did you think I would let you go?" The raven smirked pushing the blond back. "What's wrong? Nothing to say? No excuse why you haven't bothered to pick up the phone?" Izaya grit his teeth feeling the protozoan shake underneath him.
"Get off me."
"So you can try and run again? Not happening, Shizu-chan." Slamming his lips against the blond's Izaya groaned missing the taste of his protozoan. Delving inside he plundered the warm cavern trying to coax the still tongue into action. Weak hands pushed against his shoulders widening his smirk.
"Don't!" The blond cried a little louder. Izaya only shrugged tugging at the brute's top. His fingers faltered seeing the bandages. "Stop it!" Quickly unbuttoning the night shirt crimson eyes narrowed on the dressing across the blond's stomach. That was his first hint that perhaps he had made a mistake.
The second was the broken scream and eyes full of fear. "Sh-Shizu-chan?" Slowly calming down, Izaya took a step from the bed holding out his hands. He had never seen anything scare the monster. "Shizu-chan. I-"
The final hint came in the guise of a pissed blonde. Izaya found himself thrown across the length of the room slamming against the wall. Rubbing at his head he lifted his gaze seeing Shizuka standing over him. Izaya found himself shuddering as she reached for the collar of his jacket. "Shizuka-chan, weren't yo-"
"Get the fuck out!" The blonde growled. Izaya groaned this time being thrown from the room where he landed in a mess of paper balls. For the first time other than when he had truly managed to piss the blond off, Izaya feared for his life. Shizuka was unstable, knocking the glasses from her eyes the raven gulped glimpsing the madness within.
"Ah! Shizu-gah!" Izaya gasped his back hitting the wall, the hand around his throat squeezing. She wasn't joking around, if he didn't get free then she would kill him. There was no doubt in his mind about that.
"Shizuka!" Kanra burst into the room. "Let him go." With the movement he had Izaya reached for his knife kicking the blonde away. Grabbing his sister's hand the raven ran from the room hurrying down the stairs and out of the house clutching at his throat. "What did you do?" His sister yelled.
Shaking his head Izaya groaned dropping his head in his hands. "I think I did something bad. Something happened to both of them." He couldn't get those terrified eyes out of his thoughts. "We're going." Walking on ahead he waited for Kanra to catch up.
"Going where?" Tossing across the ball of paper he had grabbed, Izaya grit his teeth.
"Mikado's apartment."
"Will he be there?" His sister asked opening the piece of paper.
"It doesn't matter. As an informant he must keep records somewhere. Are you going to say how much of a bad idea it is?"
"No. I'm coming with you. I've never seen Shizuka like that." Kanra sighed clutching at the piece of paper. "I thought she was going to k-kill you." Izaya shuddered at the feel of Shizuka's fingers around his throat.
"You and me both." He muttered clutching his knife. The blonde had become unstable and the protozoan weak and full of fear. Something had happened and this time he wasn't going back home until he and his sister found out what had happened.
x-x-x
Shizuka growled as Izaya escaped her flying down the stairs and out of the door. After what the bastard had done she almost went after him, had it not been for the sobbing in the next room. Forcing herself to calm down the blonde picked up the sunglasses from the floor. Placing them firmly on her nose she ran into her brother's room glaring at Namie who had let Izaya in.
"Shizuo." Not caring about the consequences or how filthy and tainted she was, Shizuka hurried to her brother's bed side wrapping her arms around her trembling twin. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone." When she managed to get her hands on Izaya...No, Shizuo loved him. Just like she loved Kanra. She doubted she would see her lover again after what she had done.
Her brother laughed brokenly clutching at her arm. Shizuka closed her eyes saying nothing as her sleeve felt damp. If Shizuo needed her then she would stay. Izumii had both lists to continue with his task. Hearing a knock at the door she glanced up seeing Namie at the door holding the music box she had left downstairs.
Reaching out the woman quickly crossed the room handing it over. "You still need this." Placing the box on the covers, Shizuka opened it slowly letting the sweet melody play. "I won't let him or anyone else near you. I promise, Shizuo. I won't leave you alone. Whatever happens we'll be together."
x-x-x
Shizuo sniffed feeling pathetic. He should have known Izaya would find out. He should have at least locked the door. Now the flea knew his current state. Had Shizuka not stopped him, what would have happened? It wouldn't be long until Izaya found out what had happened to him or where he was.
"...Thanks." Closing his eyes he rested his head against his sister's side.
"I had a bad feelings. I broke up with Kanra. I've never seen her look so heartbroken." Letting go Shizuo shifted over pulling back the covers ignoring the way his fingers trembled. Like hell he would ever be afraid of his sister. "I can't. I killed people. Its my fault you lost your-wah!" Gritting his teeth his fingers enclosed on Shizuka's wrist pulling her onto the bed.
"Shit." With a hiss Shizuo clutched lightly at his stomach. The dressing still remained intact, his wound hadn't reopened.
"I'll leave you to it." Namie sighed closing the door.
An awkward silence filled the room, Shizuka sitting up to take off her boots and coat. The sunglasses didn't suit her, only he was meant to wear them to avoid unwanted gazes. The similarities between them were easy enough to spot. His sister was pale, no doubt underneath those dark lenses would be haunted eyes that hadn't had any sleep.
Shizuo said nothing as she climbed in under the covers. Instead he remained on his back where his stomach wound couldn't be irritated, staring up at the ceiling. The music box finished its tune playing again when Shizuka reset it. "This is yours. It doesn't help me."
"It was the only thing I could think of." Shizuo sighed.
"Oh. I thought you knew it would bring me back."
"...What friend was you going to stay with?" Next to him he noticed Shizuka tense.
"..."
"Shizuka, no matter what you do, I'll still be on your side."
"I thought you didn't want to see me. I killed people, Shizuo." Placing a hand between the pillows Shizuo encouraged his sister to hold out hers.
"I didn't want you to see me. I let..." Shizuka's hand rested hovering slightly above his, not touching but just enough so he could feel it. "I let them hurt me. I let them break me...I-I-"
"That's the difference. You were hurt and I hurt. I'm a murderer and you're a victim." Catching the hitch in her voice, Shizuo glanced to the side seeing a tear slide down his sister's cheek. "A-and we're both broken."
"...Yeah. The broken can be fixed though." Shizuo muttered not sure if he believed it himself. "I never said it. Thank you for saving me." Next to him Shizuka began to laugh soft and full of bitterness. "You're not a murderer."
"Then what am I? It doesn't matter what reason I have for doing it...I took people's lives."
"Shizuka." Lifting his hand slightly his fingers brushed against Shizuka's palm. "...Those glasses don't suit you."He said weakly refusing to let go of his sister's hand no matter how sick it made him feel.
"I don't have a choice. When I take them off, everything is tainted... Today I planned to drop out of university and then go off with Izumii. Instead I helped Izaya. If I had stayed here then he wouldn't h-have known." Shizuo closed his eyes. So this was the strongest Heiwajima twins, weak and damaged.
With nothing more to say that wouldn't mentally harm the other, both of them lapsed into silence their fingers entwined the furthest they could go to touching each other without opening their fresh wounds.
x-x-x
Izaya and Kanra stopped outside the apartment building. "He lives here?" His sister asked in awe.
"This is where Izumii Ran wanted to go."
"So you don't know?" Izaya said nothing skipping through the lobby doors an urgency in his steps. There hadn't been enough time to grab any equipment but what was the chances the informant had security cameras? Hopping into the elevator he thumbed the button for the top floor his brow twitching when the doors slowly slid shut.
"...Do you think Shizuka still loves me?"
"I don't know. Her excuse was bad and so was the way she rushed off. Until we find out what happened I wouldn't risk going back." Izaya sighed tapping his fingers against the rail. "You'd think they'd have music in here. I would. A tune that would annoy everyone."
"You aren't an informant, Izaya." His sister grumbled. "What do you think happened to her?"
"That's what we are here to find out. If this thing would hurry up." Folding his arms Izaya played with his knife thinking back to when he had ambushed the blond. The fear in his eyes, the amount of bandages covering his torso and more importantly his stomach. He should have known something was wrong instead he had carried on. "This is what happens when you listen to your he-" The raven trailed off. Listening to his heart?
"Izaya. Lets go." The doors slid open allowing them onto the top floor. The pair of them paused seeing a locked door in front of them with a keypad. Izaya grinned bitterly.
"Looks like he does have security then. I don't have my equipment with me." So many combinations with no way of knowing what would happen if they got the code wrong.
"I know what it is. Type in Shizuka's birthday." Crimson eyes narrowed. "Do it. Who else does he obsess over?" Shrugging his shoulders Izaya typed in the numbers smiling when the light turned green. "See, lets go." Stepping back his sister threw open the door hurrying through. Izaya followed after her closing the door behind him where the light turned red again.
It was easy enough to find the correct door, the raven slipping one of Kanra's hairpins from her hair. Crouching down Izaya worked on the lock already noticing the camera at the end of the corridor. As soon as Mikado checked the footage he would know it was them, even if they flicked their hoods up, their choice in coats was unique.
Pushing open the door he quickly pulled Kanra inside closing the door behind them. It was bigger than he expected. The first thing that caught his attention was a framed painting hanging on the wall. "Beautiful." Taking a step closer to it the raven gazed at the piece of art his fingers twitching to steal it.
"Its a forgery." Kanra announced examining it close up. Izaya raised a brow in question. There was only one person that could have painted such a masterpiece. "Don't even think about it." Looking innocent the raven gently grabbed the frame each side lifting it from the wall. "Be careful with that."
"Too obvious." Izaya remarked staring at the safe buried in the wall. "Lets take a look around first." Replacing the painting over the safe the two twins split up going through the apartment. A spike of jealousy hit him. The entire top floor had become Mikado's playground. "We could afford this too." Too bad they couldn't overspend or risk being caught out.
Checking the bathroom Izaya pulled up the lid his gaze narrowing as he lifted a bundle of clothes covered in tell tale red stains. Dropping them back down Izaya left the room in search of something that would explain the blood and the Heiwajima's current conditions.
In one of the bedrooms he found an unmade bed with a few blood stains, bloodied bandages piled up in the bin and a half full glass of water with a box of painkillers. This was where the blond was brought. Not to him but the informant. Finding nothing else Izaya turned away from the room. "Kanra! Have you found anything?"
"No. I think Shizuka was staying here. I'll check this room." Izaya left his sister to it, checking the desk for paperwork or at least the code to the safe. There was a locked drawer which he opened with ease. Taking a seat on the chair Izaya picked up the first book flicking through the pages. It was only a list of contacts. Putting it to one side the raven pulled out each folder. All of them were current things the informant was looking into.
Pulling out the thickest Izaya draped the folder across his lap, reading over the information set out.
Name:- Kazuki Nakagawa
Age:- 35
Occupation:- Ceo of a large company, one of the richest men in Japan. Most of his assets come from the underground, human trafficking and drugs
Relationships:- Wife Nozomi
Notes:- Avoid all contact and dealings with.
Name:- Nozomi Nakagawa
Age:- 32
Occupation:- Owner of a hidden brothel for the rich and depraved.
Relationships:- Husband Kazuki
Notes:- Just as dangerous and corrupted as her husband.
There were various notes marked down, some in thick black marker. Out of everyone in Ikebukuro it looked like Mikado had been keeping a special eye on the husband and wife. Kazuki Nakagawa. That name was cropping up again. Underneath were more names written in a fountain pen.
Kazuhiro Shiratori – A corrupt cop. Covered up Shizuka and Shizuo's parents deaths.
Notes:- Keep him from contacting the Heiwajima twins. Kazuhiro holds a grudge and will use any opportunity.
Any opportunity? Say a framed bank robbery? The police officer had been waiting in the blond's shadow waiting for his moment. They had given him that very opportunity. Each time he ran a scenario or a theory through his complex mind it all came back to that bank robbery.
Name:- Red Raven
Age:- 25
Occupation:- Singing duo
Real names:- Rei and Ryu Takagi
Notes:- A popular pair of twins. Like parties, drugs, alcohol and seen entering the Nakagawa household. One of Nozomi's clients? Treat with caution.
Iku Yokokawa – A popular model. Sadistic in nature. Close friend of Nozomi Nakagawa
Hirokaza Kaima- Reported missing six months ago.
Mitsukuni Okamoto – Reported missing one year ago.
Izaya closed the file getting a picture in his mind as all the pieces came together. It wasn't one he liked. Putting the folder back his hand froze hearing a key in the lock. "Shit. Kanra!" Closing the drawer Izaya ran into the bedroom. "Someone's coming." He hissed pulling his sister under the bed glad that the sheets covered them.
It was just their luck that the door banged back against the wall. Had they been discovered? "Does our alliance mean that little to you?" That wasn't Mikado.
"What are you talking about, Aoba-kun?" Ah. So that's who it was.
"Don't think I don't know. Why is my brother back in Ikebukuro?"
"Why wouldn't he be? Izumii Ran works for me. I gave him a new role." The informant explained. Inching closer Izaya used his finger to lift the navy sheet trying to get a glimpse of what was happening.
"What? As the princess's bodyguard? Its a shame that I didn't know she wasn't your girlfriend any more. You haven't answered any of my questions yet you let me follow you home."
"I wanted to talk to you without any interruptions. Shizuka isn't my girlfriend, she has someone else. Why did you manipulate her?"
"Argh!" Under the bed both of them jumped at the cry of pain. "Trying to renew our contract again? It was a pen last time."
"I prefer pens. Knives don't have much potential. They are made to cut and hurt. A pen is ordinary, with force it can become extraordinary. This isn't the time for preferences though. Answer the question. What did you do to Shizuka?" Crimson eyes narrowed seeing two pairs of legs and a red line running down the wall. Making sure he had a firm grip on Kanra's wrist Izaya focused back on the conversation or more like interrogation.
"Do you remember the first time she met me? She told you not to trust me. Such a smart girl. She is your weakness and I used her weakness against her. I knew you wouldn't take her yourself, I mentioned Saki. I manipulated both of them. Shizuo wanted his sister not to worry about him, Shizuka wanted to find him."
"Weakness? You're wrong. Shizuo isn't Shizuka's weakness. They're each other's switches. If you hurt Shizuka, you'll have to deal with Shizuo and vice versa. Trying to force yourself on her was a very bad move." Izaya heard another scream and knew another knife had been used. Next to him he could see Kanra had realised what had happened. Her teeth were gritted, fists clenched. Clapping his other hand over her mouth, Izaya tried to keep her still.
x-x-x
Kanra blinked unsure of what she was hearing. The blue haired bastard had tried forcing himself on Shizuka? Gritting her teeth she tried to remain still. As soon as they were safe enough to leave the apartment she would find him and make him suffer.
"Is it? Your princess is in no condition to do anything. Neither is Shizuo. I never planned for any of it but when opportunity shows itself...Who could pass such a thing up? To ruin your most important person. Argh. Haha. Don't worry, I'll leave your new girl alone. I haven't finished playing with your old one."
She was going to kill him. Slash him. Cut him. Make him scream for each filthy word he said about Shizuka. Izaya's hand was covering her mouth keeping her still knowing what she was about to do. It was hard. So damn hard not to reveal herself to tear the bastard a new one.
"You have your answer to your question. Your brother is back to deal with you however he sees fit."
"Haha. Are you sure its such a good idea to let those two hang out with each other? What about Shizuo, are you going to leave him alone?" Kanra didn't look away even though all she could see was the glint of a knife on the floor. "You do know what he went through right? Or did you ignore it like you ignored me and Saki?"
"I didn't ignore you. Back then I wasn't strong enough." Cold laughter filled the room.
"Are you any different now? Sure you've saved everyone...or have you? Has the princess started hallucinating yet? She always was too soft hearted. Not that her brother is any better. Its no wonder he got caught." Kanra felt her heart pound, fearing that she would be heard through the sudden deathly silence.
"...What did you do to Shizuo?" Kanra shivered at the emotionless tone.
"What you've guessed. I was Shizuo's friend. I helped him contact his dear sister."
"Did you touch him, Aoba-kun?" Kanra relaxed the hand covering her mouth gone.
"There were plenty before me. I doubt at the time he knew it was me."
"You'll suffer for this. Shizuka, myself, your brother and Shizuo. We'll make sure you pay for what you've done."
"Me first!" Kanra groaned looking beside her in shock. She had managed to stay hidden and Izaya had shown himself. With no other choice Kanra slid from underneath the bed. The blue haired bastard was pushed against the wall pinned by a knife through his hand and another at his neck. Mikado was the one holding the knife staring wide eyed at her brother who had just broken Kuronuma's nose.
"...What are you two doing here?" Mikado eventually asked. Neither one of them could answer. Izaya's eyes full of anger as he punched the bastard again and again his fist pumping back and forth. Both she and Shizuka's ex remained still not trying to interfere. How was she supposed to explain this?
x-x-x
Ten minutes after her brother had beaten Aoba Kuronuma into unconsciousness, The two of them stood awkwardly in front of Mikado's desk. A cold blue gaze washed over her, sending a shudder along her spine. "Here. Take care of that." The older raven tossed Izaya a pack of tissues to clean his bloody knuckles. "What are the two of you doing in my apartment?"
"...To find out the truth." Kanra mumbled shrinking back when that gaze fell on her again.
"What truth would that be?"
"Do you need to ask? What happened to Shizu-chan and Shizuka-chan?" Izaya asked. "I've already seen both of them. I think I made a mistake. What happened to them? Why does Shizu-chan look so fearful?" Kanra blinked in surprise hearing the emotion in her brother's voice.
"You've seen them? Ah. I suppose I should've made sure they weren't disturbed." Mikado sighed. "Shizuka moved quicker than I thought she would."
"Tell us what is happening." Izaya demanded. "Is it to do with the file in your drawer?" For a moment the informant looked taken aback.
"...What will you do if you know? What is Shizuo to you? What is Shizuka to you?" Kanra bit her lip.
"She's my lover. If she's hurting I want to know why. I want to know what I can do to make her better. I love her. I've only ever loved her."
"Shizuka doesn't want you to know. She'd rather you two break up. Are you going to go against her wishes?" Against Shizuka's wishes?
"...Even if she hates me, I want to make sure she is happy." Even if in the end she was pushed away. Kanra wanted to see the blonde's smiling face.
"I see. You care about Shizuka a lot. Izaya Orihara?"
x-x-x
Izaya blinked at the question. What was Shizu-chan to him? Why had he lost control over his so tightly disciplined emotions and beat Aoba Kuronuma up? The skin across his knuckles had been grazed. The ring had bitten into his finger. "Izaya?" Next to him his sister stood waiting. She hadn't had any problem declaring her sickening love for the blonde. From the moment they had met Izaya had wanted the older Heiwajima for himself.
He had done everything in his power to make that happen. Manipulating Shizuka, causing trouble for the childhood friend. Everything had been done to make the blond his possession. A treasured trophy that couldn't be sold. The most precious thing he had ever stolen.
"Shizu-chan is..." Trailing off Izaya knew that wasn't right. If the blond was a toy then why did he have so much fun provoking him, why did he hold back and make sure not to go to far? Why did he prefer it when the brute was smiling? Why had he watched him sleep every night they had been together?
Why had he felt lifeless when the blond had gone missing? Why hadn't he been the one contacted? Jealous...He had been jealous when Shizuka had been called and not him. No one else interested him, no one else challenged him with their unpredictability. From the start he hadn't wanted the protozoan's body. "Izaya?" Shrugging his sister's hand from his shoulder Izaya stared wide eyed at his feet.
It wasn't possible. Not for one person to mess him up this much. Jealousy, anger, betrayal. Since when had he become this lost? Since when had his control slipped out from underneath him? Why had he used his fists instead of his knife or logic? "I understand." Shaking his head Izaya blinked finding the raven staring back at him. "I won't tell you. You can see for yourselves. What I will say is that its bad. I hope you can help them through it." Mikado sighed.
Izaya followed his movements watching as he lifted the painting down. The safe door opened the shelves inside full. "I haven't had a chance to go through anything. You'll need to find it." A pile of tapes fell to the floor. Making his stomach turn. If he was right then this wasn't going to be pleasant at all.
"Okay." On each tape was a name and date handwritten. Hirokaza Kaima. The same name as Mikado's report. Putting it to one side Izaya picked them up sorting through them. Shizuo Heiwajima. Swallowing the bile that threatened to rise, Izaya piled each one neatly on the floor for each day that the blond had been missing. The final tape had no date or name. The last one. No doubt this was the one Kanra needed to see. Adding it to the pile, he took the bag Mikado held out placing them all inside.