Roppi sighed as he sat in a plush chair in the office of his head editor. A boy about twenty-years-old sat next to him in a matching chair. Both faced the desk of the editor, who was looking though the photos.
"Nice job, Roppi."
"Thanks, Kiru."
"Alright." Kiruzo Yoshino straightened the papers by tapping them on the table. "The press is going to be all over this one once we hand it to the police."
Roppi groaned and slouched in his chair. "Youki, you don't mind, right?"
"Of course not, Hachi-san." The boy smiled at him.
"Alright, I'll let you both know when the press conference is. You can leave, Akiyo-kun."
"Okay." Youki stood.
"Meet me outside." Roppi said, staring up at him.
Youki looked down at Roppi with his big brown eyes then smiled. "Okay."
With that, the auburn-haired boy left.
"So," Roppi sat up, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Another assignment?"
"Yup." He handed Roppi one of the most recent newspapers. "You've heard of the Midnight Rapist, right?"
Roppi sighed as he walked out the front door. He looked about for Youki and easily spotted him sitting on the slab of concrete that had the companies name imprinted into it. Youki glanced up and smiled at Roppi, jumping to his feet.
Roppi glowered at him as he walked up. He held up 10,000 yen of his 40,000*.
"Here."
'Eh? I told you before I don't need your money."
"I know. And I told you I won't have you do work for free."
Youki still smiled, although he gave Roppi an apologetic stare.
"Thank you, Hachi-san."
"…Thanks for being my double…" Roppi felt his cheeks heat up.
Youki stared at him, wide-eyed. Then beamed happily. "It's an honor, Hachimenroppi-san!"
After a deep bow and a wave, Youki sped off for his part-time job.
Roppi waved after him then turned down an alley.
'So, the Midnight Rapist. I've actually heard about him. Any young girl under the age of eighteen that's out past Midnight wakes up the next morning half naked in an alleyway. None remember where they were an hour prior to their kidnapping. Traces of scopolamine in their system. No semen traces, although traces of latex suggesting the use of condoms.'
Roppi sighed.
'No similarities between the girls. Dump spots were all in reclusive areas all over Ikebukuro and not one has been repeated…I might actually need Izaya's help on this one.'
Roppi sneezed, shivering a little. He was currently coatless—having left his hoodie at Shinra's and not returning for it yet three days ago. He really needed it, having only two coats and the other currently in use by his kittens, but he hadn't made any attempt to go and fetch it. He felt he didn't have a right to go to Shinra's after making such a mess on that Friday night.
So, with a sigh, he held himself close. It was March, turning April, so it was warm enough when he was in the sun, but having Reynaud Syndrome* and sticking to the shadowed alleyway wasn't a good combination.
'Damn, I should go to a thrift shop and buy a new coat. This job is most-likely going to require night work.'
Roppi sighed again as he held his little digital camera. Having left his Canon Powershot at Shinra's, as well, he was stuck using his small blue Easyshare Kodak. He had another camera at home, a film camera that needed developing in the bathroom but with a heated light. He unfortunately had to stop using it because film was no longer produced. Everything was digital now which pissed him off slightly but he coped and dealt with it.
Not only that, he had left his phone and knife so he was currently naked and with no way of calling for help if something were to go wrong.
Maybe he should go ask Tsuki to get his stuff.
…No, he caused the blond enough grief. Besides, he had school to worry about, not Roppi.
With a sigh, he looked up at the sky.
'I really am stupid, huh?'
A whinnying of a horse drew him away from his thought. Celty waved at Roppi as he ducked back down the alley, although he didn't run.
Celty pulled over and held her phone out to him. :Hi.:
"Hi. Um…sorry about what happened. That was really rude of me. Don't worry, I have no intention of—"
:It wasn't your fault.: Celty interrupted. :You couldn't have stopped yourself from having an anxiety attack.:
Roppi chuckled. "I could have, though. I know better than to go into crowds. Izaya told me I wasn't allowed to go to social gatherings without him or Shiki."
Celty didn't answer right away. She just stared at him, silently, then she typed. :What's the relationship between you and Izaya?:
"…Um…" Roppi brushed his hair behind his ears, adverting his eyes. "…It's kinda complicated. But-but I assure you, he and I have no blood relation whatsoever. It's honestly a coincidence we look alike."
…:Did he buy you?:
"No. He found me."
Celty didn't answer.
"It-It's really, really complicated. It would take a good hour to explain it all."
'That complicated?'
"And I don't…really have time right now to explain. I have to go do work..."
:Okay. Here.: Celty grabbed a shadow-wrapping that had been attached to the back of her bike and held it out to Roppi.
As Roppi grabbed it, the shadows disintegrated and his eyes widened.
His stuff!
"Thank you!"
:You never came back for them so I figured I'd track you down.:
"Thank you so much!"
'Is that stuff really that important?' Celty wondered.
:Well, I'll leave you to it.:
Roppi nodded. "Bye!"
Celty drove off while Roppi went about getting his pullover on.
"Come on, Tsuki. You can't waste your Spring Break lying in bed all day." Delic grumbled as he sat over the little blond, who was blearily opening his eyes.
"Five more min…just a snooze…"
"Get up!" Delic started to bounce. "Get up, get up, get up, get up!"
"Nu~…"
"You leave me no choice then, young padawon. Hi-cha!" Delic karate chopped Tsuki's head, gently.
"No~!" Tsuki pulled the pillow over his head. "Not chopanese."
"Hi-cha!"
"Stop it~!"
"Hi-cha!"
"Mm!" Tsuki rolled on his back.
"Get urp~!" Delic pushed against Tsuki's shoulders to make him bounce up and down on the bed.
"Mm!"
"You need a shower, stinky." Delic said, lying flat against Tsuki to sniff his head. "Sweat is no appealing."
"Don't sniff me then."
"But my brother usually smells so~ good~!"
"Creeper."
"Am not! Completely…"
Tsuki chuckled then groaned as Delic flopped on top of him, nuzzling his nose against Tsuki's hair.
"Sho~ shoft~!"
"Sto~p it~."
"Heehee—hm?" Delic leaned up and brushed his hand through his hair, moving strands about. "Your roots are coming in."
Tsuki's eyes widened and he jolted up…
Making his skull slam into Delic's chin.
Delic rolled over off Tsuki, holding his chin while Tsuki held his head.
"Stupit, what're you doing?" the pink blond moaned.
"…Stupid…"
"Stupit!"
The two lied unmoving, tending to their injuries gingerly—which was nothing more than holding them.
Once they were okay again, Tsuki rolled on his side to stare at his brother.
"You're not joking, are you?"
"Course not."
"Wh-what about my eyes?"
Delic stared at him. "The red's coming in. How much dye did you use?"
"N-not that much."
Delic sighed and sat up. "Do you need more?"
"No, I have plenty of eye dye*."
"And we have plenty of hair dye, right?"
"I think so."
"Alright, well I'll help you on Wednesday. I've got stuff to do today and tomorrow I'm meeting up with my manager. He's introducing me to a new possible partner."
"O-okay."
Delic hopped off the bed. "Come, come, come. Let's make breakfast, nyan? What do you want?"
"Bacon and eggs."
"And hash browns?"
"Yeah." Tsuki kicked his blankets off.
"You peel potatoes ten, kay?"
"Kay."
Tsuki followed Delic out, glancing at his reflection in the picture frame although he couldn't see his roots.
Tsuki sighed as he read his book, one arm folded under his head. He lied on the couch, phone on his stomach, listening to Delic's music coming from the sound room. It was muffled but the room wasn't soundproof so Tsuki could hear every word the blond sang into his recording microphone.
'It's been a while since I've been able to just lie down and do nothing. It feels real nice.'
He definitely needed this. Just to relax and let loose. To not think of anything other than the stuff he wanted.
It was so great.
But even in his world of happy contentment, he still had worries.
It had been three days since the incident at Shinra's and he hadn't attempted to contact Roppi once. Izaya hadn't giving him the 'okay' but that wasn't why. He felt guilty that Roppi had an anxiety attack so he decided to let everything cool down and wait for Roppi to text him. After all, Roppi's phone was still at Shinra's for all he knew. So texting would be pointless anyway, right?
…Or was he just making excuses?
Tsuki sighed and took his glasses off, rubbing his eyes as he flumped his head back.
'I really should go and try to find Roppi-san. We definitely need to talk, don't we?'
Tsuki sighed yet again.
"So, what'd you do to your face?" Namie asked.
"Hm?" Roppi looked over his shoulder at her, sitting on one of Izaya's couches. "Nothing really."
"Doesn't look like nothing."
"What do you care? Not like it's going to affect you any."
Namie glared at him then huffed and went back to her work station.
"So, Midnight Rapist, huh?" Izaya said, walking downstairs with a folder in his hands.
"Yeah."
Izaya held the folder out to Roppi.
The red raven reached for it only for Izaya to yank it back.
"Four bills, please."
Roppi glowered at him, then reached into his pocket and pulled out the three 10,000 bills from his pocket.
"Four bills."
"Shut up, I know." He growled, muttering under his breath. "Prick."
Izaya just chuckled.
Roppi pulled out his wallet and pulled out four 2000's.
"Thank you."
"Yeah, no problem." He growled.
"Hee hee, must be strange having to use money to get something you need."
"Piss up a rope."
Izaya chuckled. "Well, here. Go nuts." He held the folder out.
Roppi snatched it out of the informant's hands then flumped back on the couch, lying completely across it, and began reading.
Izaya sat down in front of Roppi's leg. The red raven winced silently, then pushed himself up with his left leg so Izaya had a cushion to himself.
He went back to reading. Izaya stared at him.
Then the informant placed his hand on Roppi's right leg and pushed.
Roppi called out in pain. It was short and was quickly quieted but it drew Namie's attention.
"Hm? Roppi-chan, is it possible your leg's broken?"
Roppi didn't answer, just glared at him and tugged his leg free.
Izaya slammed his hand against the limb. Roppi full-out screamed and pushed against Izaya, dropping the folder on the ground and causing the papers to slide out, only to have the raven hold his leg down and grab Roppi's left wrist.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
"Is your leg broken?"
"Yes, yes! Let go!"
Izaya released.
Roppi pulled his limbs to his body after sitting on his rump, holding his wrist to his chest and tucked his legs to his torso. He refused to let the tears flow as he clenched his teeth.
Namie's eyes remained narrow although she was surprised. She had never seen Izaya do that to Roppi before. All the times before when Roppi refused to admit he was injured, Izaya would just push and push until he confessed.
"What else is broken?" Izaya asked.
Roppi didn't answer, still favoring his limbs.
Izaya reached for Roppi's wrist again.
"My-my hand!" Roppi flinched away. "My hand's broken!"
"And nothing else?"
"My…my wrist isn't broken but the wounds infected. Si-Simon cleaned it out a few days ago."
"And all that was from Shizu-chan?"
'Oh!' Namie's eyes widened in realization. 'That's why.'
"No-no. My wrist isn't—"
Izaya grabbed Roppi's wrist and tugged. Roppi screamed, flopping to his knees as his face was pressed against Izaya's shoulder blade.
"I did it myself! It wasn't Shizuo!"
Izaya hesitated but released Roppi. The red raven backed away, holding his wrist gingerly.
"Stay here." Izaya stood. "I'm calling Shingen."
"Eh?" Roppi stared up at him wide-eyed. "N-n-no! I'm fine! I—"
"Shut up. Don't move."
"I…I don't have any money—"
"I told you to shut up, did I not?" Izaya cast him a glare.
Roppi flinched but fell silent.
Izaya huffed then disappeared upstairs.
'What was all that about?' Namie wondered.
:Two more days and you can have Roppi back.: the text came suddenly, vibrating against his stomach and making him jump and drop his book on his face—which actually hurt.
He held the phone up while rubbing his nose.
'Two-two more days?' Tsuki felt an itching suspicion creeping up his spine. 'Why two? What's so special…I'm probably over thinking it, aren't I?'
Tsuki didn't really know what to send back. If he said 'okay' or 'thank you' it would make him sound like he was admitting Roppi was property to be tossed to and fro.
But not to reply back would be rude, right?
:Alright.:
'Better than nothing, right?'
"His leg's only fractured." Shingen told Izaya. "He should be on crutches but a supportive cast boot will work too as long as he doesn't put too much pressure on it. Which means, no running or jumping over rooftops.
"As for his hand and wrist," Shingen continued. "His wrist was already cleaned of the rot so there was nothing for me to do there but most of his metacarpals'* are broken so that cast will be on for a couple of months. Don't get it wet and don't put too much strain on the wound.
"There's not much I could do for his face but bandage it. Since he refused to take an eye test or CAT scan." Shingen just shrugged.
"Thanks a bunch." Izaya handed him the money Roppi had given him earlier.
Shingen left with a solo wave.
"So," Izaya said. "No heavy metal work."
'But I can't work at all like this.' Roppi kept his mouth shut.
Instead, he stood with the folder in his hand and turned to the door.
"Don't forget to pay me back, okay?" Izaya waved good-bye.
Roppi didn't answer as he slammed the door shut.
"Stupid bastard…" Roppi growled, hobbling awkwardly on his booted foot. "The hell you doing so suddenly?"
Just doing what you want with nothing to gain. The hell's with you lately?'
Roppi sighed then glanced down at the folder.
'I won't be able to work on this case till my leg's healed up. Dammit, what a pain.'
With a growl of irritation, Roppi headed back to Ikebukuro.
*okay, so 100 yen is approximately 98 cents in US Dollar. So basically, cross off two of the zero's and you got the real amount. I'm getting tired of having to put the real amount at the bottom. Sorry.
10,000= $100
40,000= $400
2,000= $20
Reynaud Syndrome- basically, a person's body can't handle the cold so it starts reacting negatively; I'm not explaining too much because it's a little bit of plot in part three. So, if you wish for more info, google it. Sorry.
Eye dye- ouch! This stuff dye's the iris's of one's eye. You put it in, keep your eye open for about twenty to thirty seconds to let it settle, then spend the next thirty minutes with the sensation of soap in your eyes. It ain't fun.
metacarpals- the bones in your hand (not your fingers, those are phalanges; not your wrist, those are your carpals)
...
Holy shit, so many side notes.
Kittycatkyla