Back from the beach house, thank goodness. I hate beaches D:

Izaya's left Ikebukuro and Shinjuku altogether, but he has the worst timing ever. After Shizuo spoke with Celty, he realized Izaya couldn't hate him – not after everything they've been through and said to each other. But how do you apologize to someone you can't find?

MPD: MultiPersonality Disorder
Chapter Twenty Five: Alfred Tennyson is a Liar

I'm sorry, but the person you are trying to call is not—

Shizuo threw his phone across the room and held his head in his hands, frustrated. "Dammit Izaya… what are you thinking? Where did you go?"

The blonde had been trying to get into contact with the informant for three days straight, but there was no word from the elusive Orihara. Shinra said he would try to help, but he'd been busy taking care of all of the thugs who dared mention Izaya's name on the streets in front of Shizuo. Celty was going crazy driving around whenever she wasn't on a job, but there was just no luck…

Izaya was gone.

And so was Kasuka, for that matter. When Shizuo got back from the hospital, Kasuka merely said:

"I won't let things end here, but for now, I suppose Orihara has won."

After that, the actor went off to England to shoot another movie.

A tentative knock on his front door roused the blonde from his thoughts and his spirits rose briefly thinking it was Izaya. But as he walked over to the oak door, he realized the informant probably would have crashed through his window or something.

When Shizuo swung open his door, just about ready to shout obscenities, he froze.

The nervous kid Izaya used to be interested in was standing on his front steps. Why?

"U-Umm, H-Heiwajima-san?"

"S'me, what do you want?"

Mikado shifted nervously, obviously trying to find his bearings. "Uh, I-I heard you were looking for Orihara-san, a-and I, umm, might know how you can get into contact with him."

Mocha eyes widened in incredulity and Shizuo grabbed the teen's arms. "How?"

The ravenette winced and hurried to take out a laptop from his bag. "He's, umm, usually on this chat room I go on – I-I haven't been on in a week, so, umm, I don't know if he'll be on since he's obviously trying to, err, get away a-and stuff, but…"

Shizuo stared at the high tech laptop and twitched. "How do I get on?"

"U-Umm! You can use your phone to access the internet, r-right? Because you're..." the teen's blue eyes looked around cautiously. "Because you're part of the Dollars."

"Yeah, one sec," Shizuo sped into his bedroom to pick up his phone and he checked if it was still working. "…Tch, I broke it!"

Mikado hesitantly entered the house and opened up his laptop. "U-Umm, it's fine! I can log in and access the chat, err, so maybe Orihara-san won't be, umm, scared off?"

The blonde stood up from his crouched position and looked sadly at the floor. "…If he knew it was me, do you think he would be scared off?"

"U-Umm! No! I mean, h-he's trying to run away from you, so he wouldn't, uh, be scared off, but, he might, y'know… run away…" the Ryuugamine child stuttered, trying not to get Shizuo too mad.

The bodyguard slumped onto his couch as Mikado set up the laptop. "That's right, he's running away from me…"

"Umm, H-Heiwajima-san…" Mikado looked up at the blonde. "He's on."

Was going to stop here, but I decided to be kind of nice ,

Izaya ruffled a towel in his hair, signing on his computer. Even if he was going to be gone for a few years, it was still good to have a job. Besides, Shiki said the Awakusu-Kai was trying to spread influence even more and strengthen ties with certain higher up gangs. The best way to do that was get information and infiltrate the gangs, of course.

Ping!

The informant looked at the screen and frowned. He forgot to sign off from the chat room after his argument with Kida the previous night.

Oh, was Mikado trying to get into contact with him?

Tanaka Taro: Kanra-san?

Kanra: Konbanwaaaaa Taro-san~ ;)
Kanra: is there something you need?

Tanaka Taro: ah, umm, Kanra-san, how are you?
Tanaka Taro: actually yes

Izaya narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected Mikado to actually respond to his question. A private chat window came up and he inwardly groaned, hoping to deities he didn't believe in that the conversation wouldn't turn into an argument like it had with Kida.

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: Izaya

The informant narrowed his eyes. Mikado didn't call him that.

[Private Chat] Kanra: who are you?

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: -san, sorry, my enter button is huge on this new laptop

[Private Chat] Kanra: ohhh, congratulations

Mikado sighed in relief, looking at Shizuo. "Umm, I think it would be better if you just let me type, Heiwajima-san. Orihara-san doesn't… errr, well he got defensive when you typed in his name."

Shizuo grumbled but sat back, staring intently at the screen as Mikado went back to talking with the raven haired informant.

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: where have you been? Kida and Anri have been worried that maybe you might be… plotting something… again…
[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: you aren't… are you?

[Private Chat] Kanra: I assure you, Mikado-kun
[Private Chat] Kanra: I'm not up to no good this time, I just decided to take some time off from Shinjuku and Ikebukuro

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: but why?
[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: people have been worried!
[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: as… odd as it is…
[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: Kishitani-sensei was asking about where you are and Celty-san is looking all over for you and…

Mikado looked at Shizuo, who looked up once he noticed the typing stopped. "What?"

"You've been worried about him too… I-I mean, if you're not, I won't write it, but if it's true, then… it's true… so…"

"…As much as the flea is annoying and idiotic, yeah," the blonde's gaze softened. "I miss him."

[Private Chat] Kanra: as flattered as I am, I won't be coming back

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: Heiwajima-kun misses you!

The high school student paused, staring at what Izaya typed in just before he pressed enter and then quickly gave a panicked expression to Shizuo. The blonde looked like he might die, right then and there. His brown eyes were wide and his knuckles were white from gripping his knees too hard.

"…What? He's not… what the hell is he thinking?"

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: Izaya-san, don't be ridiculous, Iaasdkfljalskdjflasdf

"Heiwajima-kun! What are you doing?" Mikado tried to retrieve his poor laptop.

"I'm gonna talk to this idiot!"

"B-But he could just log off!"

"I don't care!" Shizuo looked at the screen, just about ready to cry. "This idiot is all I have left."

Mikado slumped onto the couch, sighing heavily. "Okay… but don't blame me if he runs away."

Shizuo shortly thanked the teen and started typing.

Izaya stared at the chat for a while, wondering if there was supposed to be a secret message hidden in that ridiculous line of kanji. He doubted it. And he was just about to tease Mikado for it before suddenly his laptop 'ping'-ed.

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: Izaya, it's me

The ravenette flinched, closing his eyes briefly before responding.

[Private Chat] Kanra: that's a very vague statement

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: cut that crap, you know it's me

Oh yes, that vulgar language, only Shizuo would be capable of it. The thought of the enraged blonde almost made the ravenette smile.

Almost.

[Private Chat] Kanra: what do you want, Shizuo? I guess Mikado was in on this too, mentioning you and all

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: I want you to come back

[Private Chat] Kanra: it's not simple like that

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: yes it is! I want you to come back and I want you!

Izaya wanted to believe him. He really did.

[Private Chat] Kanra: you picked your brother over me, Shizuo… from that moment it was over

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: no, you don't understand, I get it now! I want to be with you!

[Private Chat] Kanra: I want to be with you too

[Private Chat] Tanaka Taro: okay then done and done!

[Private Chat] Kanra: but like I said, Shizuo, it's over between us
[Private Chat] Kanra: goodbye, Shizuo

The red eyed man quickly signed off, not wanting to let his ex-lover get in another word. Any long and he would cave, go back to Shizuo, and the two of them would just hurt each other more. "Tennyson was wrong… 'tis not better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all," he muttered in a mocking tone.

Izaya lay on his bed and curled up, imagining Shizuo's warmth and comforting embrace. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes, but he wouldn't let them.

"It's worse."

Tennyson, AKA Alfred Lord Tennyson the poet, has right over the saying "'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all." I thought it kinda fit :)