"Heiwajima Shizuo-san, how do you know Kida-kun?"
A cigarette cast a glint of fire. Shizuo turned on the lights but Mikado did not notice much of a difference, the light bulb seemed screened in darkness.
"Aren't you supposed to introduce yourself first? No matter. I saw him the other day at Izaya's place."
Mikado's mind was spinning in all sorts of directions and trying to focus on possible courses of action at the same time. It was difficult and he felt a bit unsteady.
"You don't know me but I'm Ryugamine Mikado. I understand that you are Orihara Izaya-san's enemy?"
Shizuo smoked at his leisure.
"You could say that. 'Kida-kun', I knew he looked familiar. Color gang member, yellow scarves or something."
Mikado winced. He was sure that Shizuo was not one to keep track of the many mushroom gangs but even he knew about this. Mikado forced himself to push such concerns aside. He had something to negotiate here.
"I believe that you have reasons for wanting to bring Orihara-san down. As do I. It would serve our mutual interests to join forces."
Shizuo drank some more. Mikado found it difficult to keep his annoyance from showing. He had far too much riding on this and he could not at all afford to have his one glimmer of hope to be clouded by drink.
"Heiwajima-san-"
"It's not every night some kid runs out of Izaya's place. I take it you're friends with Yellow Scarf?"
"Don't call him that. Kida-kun is my best friend."
Shizuo shrugged and puffed some smoke that caused Mikado to cough.
"Doesn't matter squat."
Mikado made an effort to remain calm. Shizuo's tendency to flare up in anger was notorious but ironically enough it was Mikado who struggled not to explode. He produced his data copier device.
"I have information on him. Plenty of it."
Shizuo lifted an eyebrow.
"So what?"
Mikado remembered that Shizuo was not particularly known for his intelligence.
"I copied this from his laptop. I'm sure there's something here that we can use against Orihara Izaya."
Shizuo finished smoking his cigarette.
"Seems like you got the wrong idea here. I'm not your pal."
"I understand. But you can-"
"Do you know how many times I've knocked the daylights out of him? I lost count by now. I've had plenty of chances of killing Izaya."
Mikado slammed his hands on the tiny table.
"Then why haven't you? Don't you hate him? They say he even framed you- don't you hate him?"
Shizuo thoughtfully puffed some more. The harsh scent of tobacco was highly disagreeable to Mikado.
"I hate him alright."
"Then why?"
The cigarette was snuffed against an ashtray and died a sooty death.
"I don't have to tell some punk who's running around acting like an idiot. Get a grip, kid. Things aren't as simple as you think."
Mikado's hands turned into fists.
"I don't understand. You have every thing to win by getting rid of him."
Shizuo poured him a glass of whiskey.
"Here, drink up. Looks like you need it."
"I don't want it. I'm a minor too."
"Let me ask you something, kid. Do you normally sneak and steal stuff from people's computers like that?"
"Of course not."
Shizuo lit another cigarette. Mikado was becoming more aggravated.
"There you go. Izaya got you to do that. Think it was your idea to go snoop on him? Get real. He's pulling the strings on you whether you like it or not. Why don't I kill him? I doubt you'll get it but I don't want to stoop to his level. I hate Izaya too much to give him that satisfaction."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Have a drink. Won't kill you."
Mikado hesitated. At length he took a sip and spent the following five minutes spluttering.
"That is awful."
"Could be worse."
Mikado sank on a chair. All the pent up tension from having no one to talk to about this awful situation caught up with him. Mikado closed his eyes and sobbed.
"Why can't Kida see that this is just bad for him. I'm his real friend, I don't care if he was a gang leader, he's still my best friend."
"Thing with Izaya is, he looks past appearance and straight at the filth. Shit you've done when no one was watching, Izaya knows about it. Don't count on me to help you but I sympathize, I guess."
Mikado narrowed his eyes.
"I don't need sympathy!"
"Not too sure about that."