Shinra adjusted his glasses, a gesture Kadota identified as his meaning business.

"Izaya always had his selfishness to defend him. It has seen him through time and time again. Don't take that away from him."

"I know it's my fault,"

"I'm not blaming you. Just letting you know how things stand. If you're serious about Izaya then you better realize that you have a responsibility. In other words, if he ever lands in my ward I will hold you responsible."

It was not precisely a threat but Kadota could read between the lines well enough to know what Shinra was aiming at. He nodded in defeated assent. Kadota was too emotionally battered to view Shinra's warning as anything but a stern reprimand on his conduct, an impression reinforced by the fact that Kadota himself felt the same way. There was no mental space in Kadota to consider Shinra's feeling toward Izaya.

Kadota made his way back home in a daze of sorts, a mixture of heaviness and hope that unbalanced him. Fortunately Erika, Walker and Togusa were waiting for him and for once did not barge into his privacy. Kadota let their quirkiness wash all over him as a greatly needed distraction.


"Shinra-sensei, why don't you join forces with Kadota here and see if you can beat me."

Izaya spoke without looking up from the shogi board. Even before catching a bit of white from the corner of his eye he recognized Shinra by his footsteps. Izaya could pick up particular individuals in the faceless Tokyo crowds by identifying visual cues and other markers with an immediacy that often across as preternatural.

"I'd take more than me and Kadota working together to beat you. Probably only Deep Blue can do the trick."

Shinra busied himself changing Izaya's IV drip bag, a task he could have easily delegated on a nurse. Izaya did not even glance at him or at Kadota who sat by the bed next to the board.

"You cannot know for sure until you try. And Deep Blue played chess, not shogi."

"So, how's the score?"

Kadota scratched his head through the beanie.

"What you'd expect, Izaya's won every game so far. Four out of four."

"If I win a fifth time you'll be taking that beanie off for good."

"Okay."

Izaya sighed dramatically enough.

"It is no fun when you comply so readily."

Shinra had to chuckle.

"You've just been told. Give me your arm, need to check your blood pressure."

"Do be gentle, Shinra-sensei."

"Cut that out, will you. I'm beginning to feel like Doctor Tenma here."

Izaya widened his eyes in mock surprise.

"Was that a Monster reference? How hardcore of you. Why, Kadota's otaku friends would be most impressed."

Kadota smiled weakly, feeling somewhat out of the loop. Meanwhile Shinra had attached the cuff, checked the values and detached it.

"All normal. Now that's something people don't tell you very often, I bet."

"I do not get compared to pure evil all that often either. That hurt, Shinra."

"You poor soul."

Kadota was aware that Shinra and Izaya were trying to assure him that all was fine in their own unconventional way. But he was not convinced.

"Gentleman, I believe it is time for a change of pace. I say you two play shogi for my enjoyment."

Shinra pulled a chair.

"Alright but only if you don't take sides."

"Why, are you implying I would interfere with the outcome of the game in an underhanded manner?"

"Not implying, I'm saying as much."

"I take your baseless criticism with great poise and grace."

Izaya arranged the board and pieces, neatly ignoring Kadota's all too solicitous ways. As much as Kadota yearned to be alone with Izaya there was a burden on him that made Shinra's presence a welcome reprieve.

"So, are we playing for stakes here or?"

"Such a mercenary attitude, one worries for the future of the medical profession. You'll be playing for my enjoyment."

"I'm already curing you, now I have to amuse you as well?"

"But of course. You cannot simply focus on repairing my body, I need intellectual stimulation as well."

Shinra picked up a piece.

"'Intellectual', he says."

"Less innuendo, more shogi. And look alive, Kadota. The good doctor has some shogi skills."

Izaya turned to Kadota as if to question his silence. Kadota had been receding from the here and now in a non-entirely conscious attempt of avoiding Izaya.