Hello Guys! Long time not see! Here we have finally a chapter of Faded Memories! I hope you like it. A big thanks to my beta-reader again.
Let's begin.
Today was really quiet. The birds sang, people went to their jobs and everyone lived their busy or peaceful lives. It was lovely, so beautiful, so...quiet. Until, of course, Saki's idiot boyfriend decided to work. And at the hospital no less. After he was nearly stabbed to death!
"Are you STUPID!? Do you see how I AM?"
"Oh, I clearly see that my dear associate, but you were the one who wanted to see me right now. And if you want that then... you must deal with the consequences."
"You wanted that fucking envelope so much! You didn't even let me leave it with your secretary!... Fucking BASTARD! It was your fault that I got stabbed because of...ouch!"
"KIDA-KUN!" Saki yelled and went to his side to hit him lightly on the head. "Stop yelling! It doesn't help you or solve anything."
"Saki-chan is right Kida-kun! You're the one who looks stupid, not me. See ne~ You heard yourself. Lovely isn't it~" Izaya said while examining the envelope Kida had given to him.
"When I have my strength back , I'll show your face what lovely means!" Kida growled. Izaya closed the envelope and held it to his chest and mimicked someone in danger.
"I'm getting blackmailed! I'm so scared! Ah~" Izaya made a pathetic yell and then smirked at Kida.
"Don't complain! You brought me here to finish your job. Or more importantly, to make the hard part of your day leave, am I right, ne~."
"Fucking wow, Captain Obvious. Fucking finish the job so I don't see you again for months."
Izaya stopped examining the envelope for a second and glared at Kida.
" You and I both know that won't happen."
Kida sighed and fell back onto the bed. "...yeah."
The room fell quiet. Saki looked at her boyfriend. Kida had fallen onto his pillow and was glaring at Izaya who paced the room as he read the envelope.
The hospital room had two beds, one occupied by Kida and the other, Saki didn't know. There was a curtain in the middle of the room and she couldn't see the other bed or even the window. She sighed and brushed some of Kida's hair away from his face. He looked up at her and smiled. She smiled back.
Even though Kida had been stabbed he wanted to finish the job as soon as possible, for his own convenience and also because the job was already finished. Kida didn't want to see Izaya again for at least several days. And if he wanted that, well then he should just cooperate.
Izaya continued his pacing, ignoring Kida's glare. After Kida was stabbed, Saki had found him in the hallway of their apartment. She didn't hear him scream and she was sure that if it weren't for the two people that'd helped her move Kida, then he would be dead. Both of Kida's friends had found him and alerted Saki who in turn called the only person she could trust. Izaya.
When Kida found out, he would kill her. She knew that. But Izaya was the best option this time. Saki knew that the ambulance would've taken time to arrive and time was precious. Kida had already lost too much blood. But Izaya had hidden cards up his sleeves. So after Saki had called him and explained the situation, she and Kida's friends carefully moved Kida. By the time they got out, a taxi was already waiting for them.
Once they got Kida inside the car, Saki hopped inside and it brought them to this hospital just in time. Kida's wound was really deep but he would survive. He was stabbed in the right side of his stomach. It would easily heal and the doctor said the scar would close soon. Saki was happy and most of all relieved that Kida was okay.
But she still had one question. Who had stabbed Kida? And why did they do it? Was it for revenge? Or was it...the Slasher? Kida claimed he knew the person who stabbed him, but before she could ask who it was Izaya had invited himself into the room.
Saki was sure that Kida would scream and scold her for telling Izaya about the incident. But she knew they both cared about each other. The feeling was just buried deep. Really deep. Well she had proof from Izaya's side, at least. When Saki had told him that Kida was stabbed, he immediately told her to move him outside. So she knew Izaya cared. But from her boyfriend's side...
Well the main question still remained! Why did Izaya bring them to this hospital in particular? Was someone here that he wanted to meet? Did this hospital remind him of anything? From the way he was acting, alert and ready for action, she suspected that was the case. But...why this hospital?
It didn't even take emergency cases, as she'd found out later. But they had taken Kida in. Also, it wasn't one of the cheapest or the most expensive of hospitals. It was just a regular hospital. Did Izaya find anything?
"...NO, YOU'RE THE IDIOT HERE, YOU BASTARD!" Someone screamed and Saki returned to the present.
Kida was screaming, or better yet yelling, at Izaya who just watched Kida lose his patience. Izaya had stopped in front of the curtain as Kida continued thrashing around and cursing him.
Izaya closed his eyes, maintaining his smirk as he tilted his head, and said in a condescending voice as if he were dealing with a child.
"I never said that, Kida-kun. I merely said the information you gave me isn't the whole truth."
"In other words, it's useless!"
"If you want to take my completely clear sentence that way, then yeah~"
"When I find the strength to attack, I'll show you what clear is. It definitely won't be your face!"
"Ne~ Your information is inadequate is all I'm saying." Izaya said and opened the envelope searching for something in particular.
"And how do you know that, Informant? Maybe that's all the information there is on Ren!"
"Kida-kun I'm an informant. I know my job and how to find the information needed to blackmail a person. I have already searched and found out about Ren. Including, what and who he is ."
"Then why make me research extra on all these people if you already had the information you needed?"
"Because it's always better to have a second opinion before advancing into dangerous waters without a compass."
"Then why make me search for him when you, the great informant, could've found what you were looking for?" Kida asked proudly and let Izaya respond to his clever question.
"Because you have a way to find what I want without too much effort."
"...and what exactly are you looking for?" Kida asked Izaya calmly .
Izaya looked at him and, without breaking his smirk, he continued searching the envelope for the thing he wanted to show him.
He found what he was looking for and with a loud voice, he read.
''Ren attended Raijin Academy in Ikebukuro. He studied to become a doctor, which he accomplished, but became an underground one. Last week he was sent to the hospital due to a fight he picked with Shizuo Heiwajima. He is still inside...''
"Which is true! What's your point? It's real, the information isn't fake. Do you think I'm that stupid!?" Kida interrupted Izaya but he continued nevertheless.
"Haha, I know Kida-kun. You are excellent and the best at finding something like this. But listen again...I never said that you didn't do your work. I said that you didn't find what I needed, ne~"
"What are you saying? Are you nuts? I found everything that there is to know about Ren's past!"
"I know and believe me, you found all the information that you as a human could find." Izaya stopped and smirked while Kida started growling at being called a human, as if Izaya were some kind of god.
"But Kida-kun..." Izaya pouted and turned towards Kida. "I wanted the present, not the past." He said and with a quick motion, he opened the curtain.
Saki tilted her head to see who occupied the other bed in the room. Kida did the same. Both of them gasped. Next to Kida was...Ren. He was sleeping and had several tubes connected to his body. If it weren't for the heart monitor next to him, Saki would've sworn that Ren was dead.
Ren had several bandages wrapped around his head and both of his arms were broken. His leg was also broken, considering the way it was suspended in the air. Izaya turned his back to them and considered Ren. Saki believed he did it because he didn't want them to see his face, or better yet, his expression.
Considering he was still reading the same page of information over again, Saki knew that he was probably getting angry.
''Ren attended Raijin Academy in Ikebukuro. He studied to become a doctor, which he accomplished, but became an underground one. Last week he was sent to the hospital due to a fight he picked with Shizuo Heiwajima. He is still inside...''
"Yeah and? Ren was probably brought here after the second time he fought Heiwajima."
But Izaya read it again. But this time only one line.
''He is still inside...''
"You think that something is off with this? The time I found the information was after the fight he had with the fortissimo..." Kida pointed out but Izaya pressed the button to call a nurse.
"The fuck? I don't need a nurse. Are you trying to lock me up in here?"
"No. But that's a nice idea. I'll keep it in mind!" Izaya turned to Kida and laughed, coming closer. "But believe me I'm as confused as you are. So please listen to my point before you get mad. Which fight was it?"
"What do you mean...?" Kida started but the sound of an opening door stopped him.
Saki looked at the door and saw the nurse. But it wasn't Kida's nurse. Kida's nurse was blonde and she wore glasses. This one had long black hair and green eyes. Saki stopped observing her and turned back to Izaya. The button he'd pressed was at Ren's side. It seemed every patient had a different nurse.
The nurse closed the door and turned her attention to the people in the room. She smiled at Saki and Kida, waving at them.
"Woah. New people. What happened to you, sweetie?" She said in a cheerful voice and looked at Kida.
"I..I was stabbed. But don't worry, I'm as okay as my feelings..." Kida tried to continue but Saki slapped him.
She became jealous over Kida's behaviour. After everything, she believed that he'd stop doing such things. Saki thought that he'd come to terms with their relationship. She stared at him and Kida answered with a sorry smile while he rubbed his sore head. And even though Saki felt a wave of possessiveness, she didn't lose her smirk. That was the only thing she hoped to maintain from Izaya's influence.
"Yeah. His nurse said that even though the wound was deep, he'd be able to leave in three days." Saki said in a voice so calm that even she was taken back by it.
But the nurse smiled at the scene in front of her. "Oh, my dearies~ I wish you a nice recovery. But anyway, I'm not here for talking. I have a job to do. Are you family? If so, I don't recall seeing you here before."
The nurse addressed Izaya who smiled and closed his eyes, lightly laughing. Saki knew what he was trying to do. Izaya would start with a cheerful expression. Then he would either 'flirt' with her in order to gain the information he needed or he'd catch her off-guard by turning his expression suddenly serious in order to get more information. And because he was Izaya, Saki knew that he would go for the latter.
Saki knew this trick. It was one of her best ones. It was actually the first trick she used and to whom...To Kida. But she chose to flirt with him instead. At the time Saki only needed enough information to blackmail Kida. But she lost herself halfway and started truly falling in love with him. Saki smiled to herself. She knew that it was the best mistake she had ever made.
"Oh no. I'm not family." Izaya began cheerfully and then he turned towards Ren. "Merely a friend that just found out what happened." He continued with a low voice.
Saki cheered inside her. She felt like she'd won the lottery. Even though she knew Izaya to some degree, sometimes even she couldn't predict what he'd do. Like with his phone and that photo.
...
Wait...That's what Izaya was trying to say. How could she have not seen it? Or better yet, Kida?
"Oh really? I am truly sorry. Your friend is in a coma. He was hit very hard in the head. He has a concussion but don't worry, he is getting better."
"Oh good. I was worried about him. You know he was always a careful person, but this time he was careless." Izaya said, yet again with a cheerful voice.
"I know. Who picks a fight with the fortissimo? Whoever does that is a crazy person." The nurse commented and Izaya smirked.
Typical Izaya.
"Wait!" Kida almost yelled. The nurse turned and said. "Yes?"
"Pick a fight? But he was punched for no reason." Kida continued and the nurse smiled politely and replied.
"No, no, no. Even though the fortissimo is a scary and strong person, he would never pick a fight without a reason."
"But… he did." Kida said and Izaya stopped him.
"Oh please. He was asking for it. Typical Ren! Who picks a fight in your own home with someone who can send you out of it?" Izaya grimaced and the nursed laughed.
"Wait… home?" Kida asked.
"Oh, yeah. Mister Katumi picked a fight in his apartment with the fortissimo three weeks ago."
"Three weeks?"
"Yes. Mister Katumi was sent here and he's been in a coma ever since. And his bones still aren't fully healed..."
"But three days ago he was out." Kida yelled.
The nurse was taken aback, after a while she started laughing. "I'm sorry but that must be a mistake. Mister Katumi has been here for three weeks. And even if he wasn't in a coma, he wouldn't be able to walk aro..." The nurse continued talking but Kida had stopped listening.
So that's why Izaya had asked him. That's why Shizuo had asked him. But if the real Ren was in the hospital, then who was the person Shizuo punched? Was he someone pretending to be Ren? Someone that tried to impersonate him in order to achieve something? Who was it?
Kida watched Izaya and the nurse talking while he thought about... the information he brought to Izaya.
''He is still inside...''
Kida slapped his forehead. Even in his own information, he hadn't seen it. He'd found out about Ren being inside the hospital but... although Kida didn't want to admit it , he was right. His information had been inadequate. Kida hadn't found out when Ren had left the hospital or if he'd even been released. Kida had just let it slide while he searched for Ren's history. But something wasn't right.
Why did both Shizuo and Izaya want information on Ren?
Did they know who the real Ren was and want to find out who the true face behind this was? Now that he thought about it, Izaya had said on the phone that Kida should find more photos of Ren. But, as always, Kida had let that slide because he knew Izaya already had a picture. The picture that Shizuo had taken.
But Kida knew why Izaya had asked now. He wanted Kida to take the picture. To see if the person that Shizuo had punched really wasn't Ren. Kida... was an idiot.
He would've solved everything by now and he'd know what was going on. Also, now that he thought about it, Shizuo had frowned when Kida said that Ren was in his gang. But when Kida continued and claimed that he knew him, Shizuo had said something that confused Kida. Then when Kida said that the fake 'Ren' was just using his gang's color, Shizuo was surprised. Meaning that the person who was impersonating Ren was dangerous.
So dangerous that even Shizuo was surprised when Kida said he was with a group of people. But then again, he had met Ren during the fight outside the building. And that person was walking so...
But what had Shizuo mumbled before Kida stopped him? Kida couldn't remember.
"Oh, thank you! You are handsome, too! But please stop. You're making me blush!" The nurse said and Kida's thoughts returned to the conversation.
"No, no. You really are beautiful..." Izaya continued and Saki started to get suspicious.
What else did Izaya want? He'd already discovered that this man was Ren and the one in the photo wasn't. Was she missing something? Izaya kept flirting with the nurse (if Saki didn't know better, even she would've fallen for him), so Saki knew that Izaya hadn't got what he wanted yet. But what else would he ask the nurse? She only knew about Ren and nothing else.
While Saki thought that, Kida decided he wanted to throw up. Seeing someone as crazy and serious as Izaya flirt was surreal. On one hand, Kida wanted to ask Izaya to train him because, whether he wanted to admit it or not, Izaya was really good at flirting. On the other hand, he wanted to scream at him. That or tell the nurse about the danger she was in. But Kida knew something was wrong.
Izaya wanted something.
"Ah~ thank you. I am really flattered. No one has ever flirted with me before."
"Oh really? Mmm~ Well I would love to keep talking with someone as angelic as you. But I know that if we want to continue this, we should go somewhere else~" Izaya let the last word slip and that did the trick.
The nurse smiled and wrote something on her notepad. Then she ripped it out and gave the paper to Izaya, winking at him. Izaya smiled and winked back.
"I'm sure that can be arranged." The nurse said and giggled.
"I'm look forward to it." Izaya giggled and turned to look at Ren.
"Is everything okay?" The nurse asked and Izaya nodded after a while.
"Yes. But I'm really concerned. You know, for Ren." Izaya continued.
"Believe me when I say that your friend is slowly recovering..." The nurse began, but Izaya stopped her.
"I know that...but how will I tell his family? They don't know about this. Not even his twin brother..."
Wait? Twin? Twin brother? Did Ren have a twin brother? That… that means...
Kida lost touch with reality. What did Izaya mean? Was that true? Was it a trick? Or was it real? What? What should Kida believe now? From what he saw the other person looked exactly like Ren, Kida would say that Ren really did have a twin. But if Izaya knew that, then why make Kida search for Ren Katumi and not for his brother? And why did he get angry when Kida had found so little inform… Did that mean Kida hadn't done his work right? Was he getting rusty?
While Kida was having a breakdown, Saki studied Izaya. From the way he was standing, Izaya displayed that what he was saying was true. That or he was a good liar. Which Saki knew that Izaya was. But if this was a lie then why did Izaya bring it up now and not in the beginning? And why did he do all that fake flirting with the nurse? Was that real? Why did Izaya ask a mere nurse and not search for it himself? Saki knew that with all the resources he had, he would've found his answer.
"Does he have a twin brother?" Even the nurse was taken aback.
"Yes, Rio. They had a little argument and since then they haven't really talked. But as his brother, he deserves to know about his health. But as I recall… Rio was also here. Wasn't he?" Izaya finally said and circled the bed Kida occupied to stand in front of the nurse.
"Rio? Isn't that a woman's name?" The nurse asked.
Izaya looked at the nurse dead on and stopped talking. He then showed one of his most creepy smirks and giggled lightly.
"Oh~ If only you knew~" He sang and turned his sight elsewhere, giving the nurse some breathing space.
She then moved a few meters away from Izaya and, after giving him an awkward smile, she searched her history. After a while, she looked at Izaya.
"I'm really sorry, but I can't find any men named 'Rio' who were hospitalized here. But how would you know that..."
"Ah~ As the boy said, he saw a similar face being punched by Heiwajima. So I thought, as this hospital is the most common one, Rio would be transferred here. But just as I thought, he didn't go to a hospital. He really is an idiot." Izaya continued and smiled cheerfully.
The nurse got the point and smiled back. After a while, she said her goodbyes and left the room. Kida stood too quickly for Saki's liking and almost yelled at Izaya.
"What was that? Is that true? Does Ren have a twin? And why did you make me search for Ren and not Rio? And..." Kida tried to continue but something slapped his face.
An envelope.
Kida opened it and found money inside. He looked up but before he could say anything, he was faced with an empty room.
-xxx-
"Thank you for… everything." Saki mumbled as she followed Izaya out of Kida's room.
They walked down the corridor that led to the reception. Well, Izaya walked ahead and Saki followed with her head down, probably because she was embarrassed. Saki didn't feel embarrassed though. She felt… relieved and happy. Kida was would be out in three days, as the nurse had said, and nothing vital was injured. But she was also surprised. Why? Because of Izaya. His behaviour left her confused and relieved.
Izaya had helped Kida.
Even though they hated each other, Izaya had helped him. He cared for him.
Why?
After they had passed the reception, Izaya turned to look at her. Saki stopped and stared back at him. His eyes made her stop and she looked down again . They were… different. They were… familiar.
But Izaya noticed.
"Why did you look down?"
Saki held her breath. She had seen those eyes before. She remembered them. She knew them. She felt them. Everywhere on her body. She was panicking, she knew that, but she couldn't stop herself.
Why now? Maybe it was lack of sleep. Maybe it was from all the stress. Why?
Before she knew it, she was crying. She tried to stop but couldn't. She felt it. She wanted to leave. But she was frozen. Alone. Scared.
A hand on her head interrupted her thoughts. She stopped trembling. She stopped everything.
"Saki. We're fine. We're okay. Please tell me if something is wrong. I will listen." Izaya began and Saki lifted her head to look at him.
Izaya was looking back at her. Not reading her, as he always did, but just looking. He showed Saki that his attention was directed solely on her. Listening.
Caring.
Izaya noticed that Saki was trying to calm down so he took her hands in his and said again in a calm voice.
"It's ok. I'm waiting. Don't stress yourself. I know that yesterday was a difficult day, not only for Kida but for you too. Am I right?"
Saki looked at her hands inside Izaya's. She nodded, showing that she had heard him and after a while Izaya asked gently .
"Do you want to tell me?"
Saki stopped. She closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. She then nodded again and said.
"I saw the... blood. There was too much blood around Kida. He was so pale. I thought he was dead. I… I was… so scared. I… I remembered when I… I… I… "
"I know. It was a difficult night. I know you're remembering that incident. But think about the future and the present. You are okay. Kida is okay."
"I know Izaya-kun." Saki screamed and snatched her hands away from Izaya's and crossed them on her chest.
"But… why? Why can't I stop it? Why? I… I want to not think t… that. I want to move on. But the memory is still here. It hurts sometimes. I want to tell Kida but I… I am scared. I… I can't."
Izaya looked at Saki with a sigh and then he smirked. He put his hands in his pockets and turned his back to Saki.
"I… I know how you feel Saki."
"No! You don't! You… you haven't..." But Saki started crying again.
Suddenly Saki felt someone hugging her. Saki continued crying but hugged back. Izaya put his hands on Saki's back and head and whispered.
"... no... no, I haven't. But I know the feeling. What it's like to feel lost. The feeling of loneliness. Feeling like it's all your fault. But..." Izaya said and leaned back to look at Saki.
"That feeling comes and goes. It's here and then it leaves. Why? When you're helpless and alone, it's in your head playing tricks on you. But when you feel happy, relieved and...not alone, it leaves. Why? Because those feelings are stronger. They give you hope. A reason to live. To dream. Yes we have our dark days, but we also have our sunny. And for you… you need to stop feeling alone. Helpless. Remember that you have someone you care about. Someone that is safe." Izaya continued and looked at the corridor they had walked down.
Saki listened to Izaya's speech and slowly, without her realising it, she had stopped trembling and crying.
"Because when you are alone, the only thoughts that will help you are the ones you treasure. The ones that mean the world to you. So, Saki, do me a favor. Remember the day you realised you were in love with Kida. The happiest you've ever felt. After everything you overcame to reach it. Find that feeling and when you feel down or something makes you remember the past, remember that moment. And believe me, that moment will start to develop and you will forget everything sad you felt. Because sometimes we need something to help us move forward." Izaya spoke and Saki started smiling.
Because she did remembered that day and the feeling she had experienced. It was the happiest she had ever felt. And now, she had still Kida and he loved her back.
Izaya watched Saki and once he noted that he had managed to calm her down, he flashed his trademark smirk again. He said goodbye and asked Saki to notify him if something happened, turning to start walking out of the hospital.
"Izaya?"
"Yes?"
"Is that what you do when you feel alone? You remember something that made an impact on your life?"
Izaya stopped walking and stood in the doorway.
After a while, before he left the hospital, he finally said in a quiet tone.
"Aren't humans unpredictable?"
-xxx-
Five days later
"...the feeling is still strong though. I don't usually follow my instincts or anything, regardless of my feelings, but now I feel something is very wrong. Something is escaping from the darkness. It's not only coming out to play, but to stay and destroy."
"Oh really? I didn't know you had the third eye, as they call it."
"..."
"Oh! Come on! It was a joke."
"And yet again your humor is nonexistent."
"Oh, ouch, Shiki-san. I'm hurt."
"...You're unusually happy lately, Akabayashi. Did something happen?"
"No. Maybe this is just my personality."
"Yes, but today you're really enjoying yourself. I can feel your energy."
Shiki breathed in some smoke. They sat inside Shiki's car, parked outside a familiar building. Not the abandoned one that everyone had visited one week ago, but the new one that took its place. A new picture had been posted yesterday.
Akabayashi had been with Anri He'd wanted to see how she was doing. There was something bothering Saika a few days ago and he could feel it too. His eye burned and he wanted so much to take it out. But then he remembered that it was already gone. Something had seriously bothered Saika, something really, really dangerous. Not only that but, even though Akabayashi wasn't Saika's host, he felt like it was inside him and trying to escape.
It was surreal because he had never felt something like that. No, scratch that. He had felt it before, but where? He couldn't remember, but eventually, he would. Anyway, while he was with Anri he had learnt that something was indeed bothering Saika. He had also learnt that, even though Saika was scared (something that made him question the sword) it felt nostalgic towards that person.
The problem was, that person had been someone unexpected. Izaya. But Akabayashi had approached, spoken to and touched Izaya before without ever feeling any strange auras around him. Akabayashi, after the incident with Sayaka, could feel auras and Izaya's wasn't dangerous. It was… nostalgic... lonely… sad. But inside it was something else that Akabayashi couldn't recognize. So he tried, in every meeting that he had with the informant, to find and approach it. But the problem with Izaya was that he always, and Akabayashi meant always, kept his heart closed.
Sure, Akabayashi had found people with closed hearts before, but Izaya's was a maze. Akabayashi felt, and Anri too, that Izaya had opened his heart once before. But soon enough it had been closed again. Why? He didn't know. That's what he was trying to find out. Akabayashi shook his head. While they were talking, Anri told him that her friend had been stabbed.
Yeah… Kida.. wasn't it? Anri had found him with her other friend and helped him get to the hospital. Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep and Kida had been released one day ago. Akabayashi could feel Anri's aura. She was relieved. Well, he would feel relieved too if someone he cared was okay. But the stabbing was a problem. Who did it? When Akabayashi said that maybe it was the informant, Anri had disagreed. She claimed to have clues suggesting that he wasn't the one who had stabbed the kid.
And the culprit wasn't a stranger. Kida said he knew them. But after he woke up, he didn't remember their face. Still, Akabayashi would keep his eye open. Maybe another Saika's slasher was out there. The only thing he could do was find Kida and ask. Before they parted ways, a familiar sound had interrupted them. Their phones.
A new photo had been added to the case of 'possible friends then enemies - the infamous duo'. This one was really different to the other ones though. Izaya and Shizuo stood next to each other, half-facing one another and a point above the camera . Izaya was talking to someone on his phone and Shizuo's hands were shoved in his jacket pockets. Izaya's free hand was outstretched in front of Shizuo. Stopping him.
Izaya looked... mad? His face showed the grimace he did when he was angry or, maybe, curious. Shizuo was… calm, but his expression suggested he was considering something. They both looked at that something, making this all the weirder. The strangest thing about the picture was that Izaya had his arm in front of Shizuo. Presumedly stopping him from moving ahead and causing chaos. But after close inspection, Akabayashi was sure this photo had ruined the image he had of the duo. Izaya was touching Shizuo's chest.
Holding him.
Both of them wore their school uniforms, meaning that either they were heading to school or they were heading home. Akabayashi couldn't tell the time. Only that it was bright. The photo was somewhat diagonal and that made the photo even more interesting. What were Izaya and Shizuo looking at? Not only that. Both of them were somewhat angry, meaning... the one conclusion that everyone had come to.
They shared an enemy.
Behind them was a familiar square that Akabayashi and Shiki currently occupied. And in front of them was the building that had sparked another mystery. In front of them was a dojo. If this was the same building as the one the duo was looking at too then… what was happening? Did someone come out of it? Did they see that person and Izaya stopped Shizuo? And why was Izaya talking on the phone?
Akabayashi sighed. He would research that picture (and read some of the new theories about it) later. Now, he had a job to do.
"Maybe I like being cheerful. You should try it some time, Shiki-san."
But Shiki didn't appear interested in the suggestion.
"Akabayashi, focus..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I feel something too. Do you think that whatever is escaping the darkness is the reason everyone is freaking out?"
"...why not? It's a possibility. But both you and I know that if we want to find out what exactly is going on, we need to ask the person himself. But lately he is nonexistent."
"Oh! Do you think our dear informant knows about this?"
"...no. I don't think he knows yet because he's too busy with the person we see him with in the photos." Shiki said and lit another cigarette.
"... what?"
"Although I respect and often got to Orihara for information, I also have another informant. Or better yet, detectives. Lately one of them found that Izaya was, and still is, spending his free time talking to on an old phone and meeting with the fortissimo himself. And yes, Akabayashi before you ask, they meet not fight."
"But we have seen them fight lately. And not just fight. They try to kill each other."
Shiki exhaled smoke. "True. But their fights are slowly decreasing. Also I haven't heard news of Heiwajima creating chaos, or for that matter, Izaya ruining lives. It's like they're invisible. They're normal. I don't know, Akabayashi. I feel like something is coming and it's trying to confuse us."
"You mean like the thing that's trying to escape the darkness is creating a fake distraction about our duo to make us blind."
Shiki nodded. Then the thing was really dangerous if that was true. But what would want to escape and create chaos in a district that was already dark? Did it want to destroy Ikebukuro altogether? Akabayashi scratched his chin in thought. Well, he had seen a new gang that wore Anri's friend's color around. Did that mean the gang was coming back or was it another one? One more dangerous and dark?
"I know that you're troubled as I am, but I need to share my thoughts with someone."
"Ah~ Shiki-san you're so kind."
"Shut it."
"Ouch... anyway. Was that the only reason you wanted to talk to me?"
"Unfortunately, no. I have some information regarding your follower's friend."
"Anri isn't my follower, but please Shiki-san continue."
Shiki nodded and he grabbed something from inside his jacket. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to Akabayashi.
"The footage of that night is still unclear. My people are analysing it and when it is ready I will notify you. But we have several incidents regarding a slasher and all of them occurred in Ikebukuro. What worries me is that all the victims say they don't remember the person who cut them. But the thing that connects them is that all victims remember that the person who slashed them was a familiar face. And no they are not a he or she. The victims don't know the same people, so the person that cuts them cannot be the same. Meaning that the gang was searching for something.
I believe the gang that has shown up recently is the one causing this mess. But I'm not certain yet. Until then, they are on my list. Another possibility is Saika's children..."
"No, no, no. I don't believe that. I think the first possibility is the right one."
Shiki studied him but didn't say anything else regarding Saika. But Akabayashi knew Anri would've felt if there was another victim of Saika and he would have too. So unless he found evidence suggesting otherwise, he knew that Saika didn't do it.
Akabayashi considered the photos inside the envelope. There were so many victims. Young, old, students. Many of whom Akabayashi knew. He looked at them again and saw that each one had been cut on different parts of their body. Several had wounds on their stomachs, others on their hands.
"So...did al the victims leave hospital or did any stay longer?" Akabayashi asked, still examining the photos.
Shiki looked at Akabayashi and closed his eyes. "No. Everyone left the hospital soon enough. They were all released after the same amount of time. Three days. Only two people, with cuts in the same place, were released earlier. As I recall, I believe it was only one day or two days at most. Both victims were male, but we don't know their names or ages. Not even the date of their attacks. But as you have seen, I am familiar with many people. I know several of the victims. Some of them have been behaving strangely after their incident. So I would be careful ."
"Roger that, Shiki-san. I will keep that in mind." Akabayashi said and looked outside.
More and more people were looking at the Dojo and Akabayashi did too. As Shiki had said, something was happening in the city. First the photographs and now the gang. Hell, he could feel something too, even if he didn't know what it was. Akabayashi had thought it was something happy, something cheerful. But as time passed, he started to feel nostalgic. Sad. Cautious.
After a while spent observing the building and the people that walked in front of it, he said goodbye to Shiki and left the car. He knew that their conversation was over and that they needed to part. But before he left, Shiki opened the window and said.
"Akabayashi… I know about the incident you experienced several years ago. And, although I don't question your instincts on the Saika matter, please don't be surprised if you are in over your head. Just follow your instincts and leave your feelings out of it."
Akabayashi smiled, or rather smirked, at Shiki and waved back before starting to walk away. Akabayashi had known that Shiki knew about his incident. He knew that Shiki felt something was going to happen and that's why he was warning him. But the thing is that when Shiki was explicitly warning someone about something...
It was always bound to happen.
Akabayashi knew that and that was what he'd been fearing.
Saika would strike today.
-xxx-
Well, he'd managed to get himself lost. Not entirely, but he was on a road that was unfamiliar to him. Akabayashi was sure somewhere in his conversation with a couple girls he'd made a wrong turn. He was in Ikebukuro, he was sure of that, but he wasn't sure where exactly. Not even the shops here were familiar.
Akabayashi had enjoyed the company of the two girls and the information they'd provided, but as usual he'd lost track of time and forgot where he was headed. He was sure he'd met those girls somewhere before. Maybe during some shady business, in any case he was glad they were okay.
After saving them from some hooligans, Akabayashi had talked to and accompanied the girls away from the hooligans' turf. But on the way he hadn't paid attention to where they headed, letting the girls lead as he followed. They had some really interesting information to offer.
Aside from the gossip about Ikebukuro's duo, they also knew some things regarding the new gang. How they came across the information, Akabayashi didn't want to know. It seemed, this yellow-clad gang was popular. So popular that everyone knew them by name.
The Yellow Scarves. Yeah, it was the name that Anri's friend had given his gang. But the leader wasn't active anymore. Meaning that something must've changed. Or...if Kida… yeah Kida… wasn't leading the gang … then it must be another gang. Although, their movements were the same as the Yellow Scarves'. They met behind that abandoned building and then moved to another place that was closer to the abandoned site. The one in which Anri was searching for the person who had hurt her child.
Now that he thought about it, the guard had been stabbed too. Maybe it was the same gang that attacked him. Was this new gang truly behind all the chaos lately? He hoped so, because he didn't want to believe that it was another Saika incident. Also who would stab one of Saika's children with another Saika if they were already under its control? Akabayashi scratched his head. Strange things were happening lately.
But this gang didn't act… like a gang. It was quiet and only reacted if it was provoked. The girls had also said that they only saw those thugs move when they transported an unknown product. When Akabayashi had asked where, both of them shook their heads. Their movements were unclear. Sometimes they moved their product to the center of Ikebukuro and other times outside it.
The gang also knew other languages. That part was particularly strange to Akabayashi and he decided to research and discuss this fact with Shiki. A gang… speaking foreign languages? Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Like… his feeling. Today he had been really cheerful, but somewhere in the middle of his conversation with Shiki that feeling had disappeared. Now he was feeling… unsafe? On edge? Ready for a fight.
Cautious.
Akabayashi tightened his grip on his cane as he walked. No… something wasn't right. The feeling was getting stronger.
Why?
All this time, Akabayashi hadn't realized that he'd entered an alley. He noticed this when he heard something. Something… falling down. He turned towards the direction of the sound. Someone with a hood on had his back turned to him and Akabayashi stopped. Another hooligan, heh? Akabayashi could take care of him.
Akabayashi set down his cane and smirked.
"Is something wrong?"
He asked lightly but the boy didn't answer. Nor did he turn to face Akabayashi, for that matter. That was… weird.
Akabayashi tried a different approach.
"Do we know each other?"
A straight 'no' and Akabayashi could weigh up his chances. If this person knew him then he didn't need an introduction or to mess with him. He could just leave and continued on his journey.
"... yes. We know each other."
That caught Akabayashi off-guard.
"Not face to face but… hahaha… we know of each other. Rumors and stories are my main source of information about you."
"Oh really? I'm lucky to be so popular. I'm impressed! But please, enlighten me as to who you are too."
Akabayashi said and watched as the boy's shoulders shook. A fake laugh? Ok, now he started to understand his gut feeling. Akabayashi felt like he knew that movement, that shaking? It was really familiar.
"Hahaha… of course. I would love to." The boy replied and faced Akabayashi.
He let down his hood and looked at him.
"As I said, we know each other. But not face to face." The boy said or rather...
Kida.
Kida spoke and Akabayashi let his smile fall and replaced it with a smirk. His gut feeling told him to remain cautious. He wouldn't let his guard down. Not even towards someone that was close with Anri.
"Oh~ Look at that, my memory has returned! How are you doing, whoever-you-are? Hahaha, I'm sorry but I honestly don't know you..."
Akabayashi said simply and he wasn't technically lying. They hadn't met each other (not in person anyway). Yes, Akabayashi was a really strong man with powerful connections, but not everyone who had heard of him had met him. Sure he was pretty recognisable with the scar, but yet again there were many people who had scars over their eyes.
"Oh, no. We can't let the conversation drop, can we? We know each other and deeply I must say." Kida continued and looked straight into Akabayashi's eyes.
"Ha, no. We really don't. I don't know you. But you look like a teen so… a teenager I'm guessing?" Akabayashi lied, but Kida sighed.
"No more lies. You already know that because you saw his information sheet earlier."
"Wait! 'His'?"
Kida smirked. "Oh I'm sorry~ You think I'm 'him'?" The fake Kida said and started laughing.
Akabayashi was unnerved. After 'Kida' stopped laughing, he opened his eyes and Akabayashi finally realised something.
His eyes were red.
So that's what his gut was trying to tell him. Ok then… but why wasn't his eye burning like it always did?
"Oh~ Saika, or rather Saika's child. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
'Kida' smirked. "How do you know I'm not Saika itself?"
"Because I know you aren't Saika. I also know that the real Kida was stabbed five days ago by someone like you. So tell me, Saika's child, what is the purpose of this visit? Did something happen?"
'Kida' smiled and his shoulders shook again. Akabayashi knew that movement but from where?
"Oh, nothing actually. Saika doesn't want anything. I just wanted to see the great Akabayashi for myself."
"Haha great. Now enough nonsense. What happened to your mother?"
"Nothing~ Saika is fine." 'Kida' continued.
Akabayashi started to get angry but before he could yell at the boy, his eyes widened.
"Wait… You don't refer to Saika as your mother." Akabayashi began and 'Kida' smirked.
Why was everything 'Kida' did so familiar?
"Ha! Finally! As I pointed out, you don't know Saika like I do." 'Kida' said and moved his hand in front of Akabayashi's fake eye.
Kida's eyes lit up and Akabayashi screamed in pain, grabbing at his eye. It hurt like the first time he was stabbed by Saika. But he couldn't feel Saika's love… rather pain. Only pain. And although Akabayashi was holding his fake eye and had taken it out, it still burned excruciatingly. But despite how loud Akabayashi's screams of agony were, 'Kida's' laugh was louder.
And really familiar.
Akabayashi tried to numb the pain, to stop it, to soothe it. Anything. He needed to move, he sensed danger, he sensed...
Death.
Akabayashi let out a loud scream and swung his cane. He felt it vibrate upon impact with 'Kida' and, although everything still hurt, his body moved automatically. He held his cane in his right hand to steady himself as he lifted his foot and kicked blindly. Akabayashi didn't know what he'd managed to hit, but he felt the pain fading. He breathed freely and closed his eyes.
Akabayashi had moved several steps away from the boy in front of him, just in case he attacked again. His eye still sensed 'death' and Akabayashi knew that he needed to move, to either get away from or fight the kid in front of him. He felt something was very wrong. Kida had only left the hospital five days ago, meaning that he was on the mend but the wound was still there. Still deep.
So why would the boy be moving as if nothing bothered him?
Akabayashi lifted his head and stared at the boy with clenched his teeth. 'Kida' was smirking and had his hands shoved inside his pockets. When he noticed Akabayashi looking, the kid lifted one to show Akabayashi. There was a deep scar and blood covering his palm. So Akabayashi had managed to hit him, but with what? He glanced at his foot and saw that there was a scalpel sticking out of his shoe. His secret knife.
The one he used only in emergencies.
So… Akabayashi had followed his gut instinct, or rather the senses that Saika gave him. He made his move.
'Kida' saw though and reacted. He dodged Akabayashi's cane and kicked him in the leg. Akabayashi whelped in pain and went down, but used this to his advantage. He let himself fall and, once he was sure of the distance, he turned to catch himself before kicking again. Bullseye.
It was 'Kida's' turn to whelp, but he somehow held himself upright. He then brandished a crowbar and swung it towards him. Akabayashi dodged and the duel truly began.
After several swings, 'Kida' managed to hit Akabayashi in his arm and 'Kida' took that as his opportunity to run. Akabayashi held his arm and inspected the damage. The kid had managed to give him a huge scar that was starting to turn blue. He tore up his shirt to use as a bandage. As soon as he finished wrapping the wound, he ran after the boy. Not of his own free will, but driven by his instincts. He knew that something was about to happen and, oh, Akabayashi would find out what.
That was for certain.
After he ran down several alleys and roads, he managed to locate the boy. He had climbed onto the roof of a building. Akabayashi followed but the boy jumped onto another rooftop. He froze and after a while, he jumped too. In his hesitation he'd lost sight of 'Kida' and cursed himself mentally. But suddenly he stopped and hid behind a nearby wall. He didn't know why but his instincts told him this was the right thing to do.
Akabayashi tried to determine what had caused the reaction but was shocked by what he saw next.
In front of the roof's railing, just ahead of him, stood none other than Izaya. He was looking down as if he hadn't heard Akabayashi's or even 'Kida''s approach. After a while of total silence Akabayashi pulled out his phone and took a picture. If his gut feeling to stay put weren't so strong, then he would investigate further.
Izaya was too quiet, which didn't match his usual personality. And from this angle, Akabayashi couldn't see if he was smirking or not. Izaya's posture, the way his foot supported him entirely to the railing with his hands shoved casually inside his pockets, gave Akabayashi a weird vibeness. As he could recall, Izaya wasn't fond of looking over tall buildings, or rather, seeing someone else so close to the edge of a rooftop.
He was okay if he were the one near the railing, but not when anyone else was near it. This made Akabayashi wonder. Why? Had something happened to cause this behavior in Izaya. He sighed and the adrenaline he had slowly began to fade. But a thought made his adrenaline return.
'Kida' had hit him. 'Kida' was taken over by Saika. But all of Saika's children attacked with knives. 'Kida' hadn't. He had used a crowbar. Why? And why hadn't he referred to Saika as mother?
Was 'Kida' possessed by another type of Saika? Was he even possessed by a child of Saika? Was he possessed by another type of monster or object altogether?
Akabayashi frowned. He hadn't realised until now, but his eye. The pain. How had 'Kida' done that? Was he the true host of Saika? No, no, no. The 'true host' of Saika was that chick that worked for a businessman. Kasane? Yes, she was. But 'Kida' had been attacked only five days ago. So what was going on?
And why wasn't Izaya moving?
Akabayashi wanted to go and talk to him, but something held him back. He could trust his instinct, at least. He laughed softly to himself.
And then he stopped altogether.
Death!
The feeling was so strong that it was all Akabayashi felt. He wanted to scream, to move, to do something, but his body stayed put. He cleared his vision of tears and looked for the informant. Izaya was climbing over the railing.
As he watched, Akabayashi felt even sicker. He felt darkness, danger, and death, so much death. With each movement from Izaya, the feeling plagued him. Why?
He had met and spoken with Izaya before. Why only now were his instincts telling him he shouldn't be anywhere near him? His aura was dark too. Impossibly dark.
Suddenly the pain stopped just as Izaya jumped off the roof. Akabayashi yelled and lifted himself up, only to fall down immediately after. It hurt everywhere, but he needed to see what had become of Izaya.
He limped to the edge and looked down. Izaya was nowhere to be seen. He recognized the sight of the black rider several meters away. But everyone on the street continued on normally, meaning that Izaya hadn't hit the ground. Either he'd disappeared or he'd moved so fast that even Akabayashi couldn't see him climbing to the ground.
Akabayashi clutched the railing. Geez his feeling of happiness from this morning had really turned around, hadn't it? He laughed quietly and allowed himself to relax.
Akabayashi thought back over the events of the day, trying to determine what had caused so many bad feelings to appear in his gut.
After a while, he realised something that made him totally confused and cautious at the same time.
'Kida's' movements had been really familiar to Izaya's.
Did… no. But if Izaya wasn't Saika's true host, then why did he feel that dark aura around him? And why did Akabayashi suddenly feel nostalgic when he was around him?
Was Izaya the one behind all this?
He didn't really want to believe it, but that 'Kida' and his aura showed that Izaya was at least somewhat behind this.
Bam!
Akabayashi turned at the speed of light and lifted his cane in preparation for a fight. But the only thing he saw was a grate being pushed down. Still, his gut encouraged him to investigate the sound. Akabayashi moved towards the grate and with a quick movement, he looked behind the wall. He found none other than 'Kida'.
So he'd stopped to look at Izaya too, hmm? That or Izaya was communicating with him via his mind. Or Akabayashi was simply going nuts and all of this was a coincidence.
'Kida' looked towards the sound of the grate being stepped on by Akabayashi and smirked at him. His shoulders shook once again and he jumped onto another roof with Akabayashi,on his tail.
Yeah. That 'Kida' was really looking like Izaya.
- xxx-
Meanwhile
Celty was sure that building, and all the buildings in this city, would be the death of her. It felt like every single citizen in the city had gone to see the new building shown in the latest photo. That dojo. Izaya and Shizuo were acting weird and these days everyone had at least one problem with the yellow scarves, or rather, the new gang wearing yellow.
Even Erika had stopped fangirling over her fantasies and studied the photos like they were a piece of evidence. Well, everyone was sure she was looking for yaoi proof, as she'd called it, but lately she'd been examining the photos more closely.
Like Celty had.
Something was seriously wrong with the latest photo. Since when had Izaya been allowed to touch Shizuo. Or, rather, why hadn't Shizuo tried to kill Izaya for it? Celty had also never seen Izaya look so curious before. Something was seriously wrong and what was going on in those photos gave her some insight into the present. Were the past events in the picture somehow connected to what was happening in the city now? Was that why this photo was uploaded or it was it just a new photo to add to the rumours?
Celty believed the first. The photo revealed something. Something important, but what? Now that Celty thought about it, she hadn't seen Izaya or Shizuo lately. Had… had they found out about the photos? Was the apocalypse finally coming?
Were aliens involved somehow?
Celty shook herself out of her thoughts, pulling her bike away from the building and drove. Just drove, she didn't know where to, but she wanted to leave this place just as Shooter did. Shooter was happy to leave the building, at least, but Celty was still on alert.
She needed to figure out what was going on with the duo and the gang. The gang, especially. She needed to know what they did to her horse and what they wanted from her.
More and more yellow-clad people were walking around Ikebukuro these days and Celty sensed a really dark aura. Every single one of them spoke in another language and they only ever fought if they were provoked. They stayed in groups and stuck to a certain area. Why? Nobody knew and nobody could find out. They just let them. Like all their problems. Like the duo.
Shooter had stopped in an area that was unfamiliar to Celty but after some consideration, she figured out where she was. She was at the border of Shinjuku and Nakano. It was a road that Celty wasn't fond of but Shooter seemed to be. That was weird. She always took Shooter whenever she went. So why did Shooter know this area and Celty didn't? Well, that was an issue for another time.
She scrolled down the massive list of comments. After the latest picture had been confirmed as real, all of the comments contained the same question.
What was it that allowed Izaya to control Shizuo's temper before he wrecked anything?
Celty sighed. Another unanswered question. What was going on? Izaya never helped Shizuo and Shizuo never listened to Izaya. They did the exact opposite of those things. Izaya laughed while Shizuo rampaged. Their fights were daily, the same routine every day. They would always start fighting and then run off to eventually stop fighting somewhere else. Celty never knew how.
Celty stood up and, after telling Shooter where she was going, she started walking ahead. Yeah. How had she never asked Shizuo how all of their fights stopped? That's something that she never thought about before. But now, Celty wanted to know what stopped them. She also wanted to know what started these fights.
Not just the ones she witnessed every day but… how these fights began. Celty had started to blend into the crowd. No one gave her any attention and nobody commented on seeing the black rider. Well, now she was an old tale. The only thing anyone cared about anymore was the mystery surrounding the duo. But Celty was still shocked that nobody tried to talk to her or ask her anything. She thought that when faced with an urban legend, people tended to approach it and learn about it. See it in action. Touch it.
Well, human's were really an interesting species. And still, Celty wanted to be like them! Celty started browsing windows, her hands inside her pockets as she continued walking. Where to? She didn't know. She just wanted to be alone. Alone.
Something was eating at her. But what? The dark aura she felt? Was it the duo? Her horse? Or Shinra?
Shinra.
It was his birthday in a few days. That's why she was browsing. She needed to buy him something. But what? He had everything, according to him. Except Celty as his bride. Celty had blushed and punched Shinra into the other room for saying that. But he still said the same thing.
'Ah Celty. My love! I don't need presents to celebrate my birthday. I need only you! Well, maybe if you were my bride, I would be happier but...'
Celty stopped and watched the humans walking. Some walked ahead. ready to go to work. Others were probably running late. And some others were on some ladders, installing lights and new signs. Now that Celty thought about it,in two weeks time there would be a celebration held here. An annual celebration? She didn't remember if there were any celebrations here before. But seeing the humans working so enthusiastically, it must be really important. She had even heard some people talking about it. And look at that! It was in two weeks and everyone was really anticipating it.
Celty smiled and continued walking. She walked several meters before she stopped again. Now that she reminded herself, she hadn't seen Izaya or Shizuo around today. She'd seen Tom and Namie, meaning both of them were still working, but Celty hadn't seen the duo herself. Maybe Shinra had seen them?
Maybe. He saw many people lately and judging by their auras, she believed that many were those yellow-clad people. But although Celty had told Shinra not to accept them, she knew that they needed the money. Izaya hadn't given her any jobs lately and nobody else gave her any kind of work. Maybe in the hours that Celty was in Ikebukuro one of the duo would've gone to Shinra.
But Celty didn't believe herself either. Shinra would've told her if he'd seen anything. Still, their absence was really shocking. The city was so quiet.
Not even the text she'd sent to Shizuo had helped. She'd asked him if he wanted to meet, to talk, at least to do something. But he hadn't replied. And the dark aura she felt didn't help at all.
Even now, she felt it. It was strong and it was nearby. Who even produced so much darkness? Was it Saika? Something else? She knew that humans couldn't produce such a dark aura, even if they wanted to. But there was always an exception.
Celty looked down and kicked at some pebbles. She took out her PDA but there was nothing. Not one message. Not even from Shinra. That's it.
Celty was bored.
She wished to at least see someone she knew in the crowd. Mikado, Anri, Erika, Tom, Shizuo. Hell, even Izaya would be something. She needed to escape this routine. Celty wanted to talk. Not even the chat was active. Everyone was elsewhere.
Celty started to head back towards where Shooter was, when she noticed something. Something bright. It wasn't the sun or anything that glowed in the sun's light. It was hair.
Blond hair.
Shizuo!
Celty went to where she'd last seen him and searched.
...
There he was! Walking ahead. He had his hands shoved into his pockets and wasn't giving anyone a second glance. Yes, it was him!
Celty was relieved. She half-ran towards him and pulled out her PDA to type Shizuo's name with a 'finally' underneath it. Celty grabbed his arm and turned the man towards her and...
.
.
.
Celty stopped.
This… wasn't Shizuo.
He was so similar to Shizuo but it wasn't him. He was another person with blonde hair. Now that Celty looked at it, it was a little darker than Shizuo's. This person looked like Shizuo but his eyes were green, his hair was longer and he had a scar on his mouth but not very deep. He was wearing a suit, not bartender clothes and wore a tie instead of a bowtie.
He was smoking a cigarette, which slowly burned in his mouth, directly over the scar. Celty continued looking at him. The suit was normal and not expensive, he didn't have gloves on and he also wore a necklace. It was a small orange leaf that shone in the sun on the man's neck. Surely the first thing people would notice about the man was this.
The man looked strong and calm. He didn't wear any sunglasses and was looking directly at Celty. He was calm at first, curious and shocked but he also looked angry, frustrated and ready for an attack.
Celty shivered. He looked so much like Shizuo and he acted like him, too. The movement that the man took, snatching his arm really fast from Celty's grasp, didn't help her confusion. As soon as the man was a few steps away, just to have some distance between Celty and him, Celty took out her PDA and wrote really fast.
{Sorry! Wrong person!}
She turned away from the man and walked away from him. She was walking back to where she was before she noticed the man. When she found herself back where she'd previously stood, she turned and looked at where the man had been and found nothing. He must've walked away.
That was really strange, even for her. The way he moved, looked at her and just looked in general was surreal to Celty. It was like she'd met him before. It was like she saw a...
"A doppelganger." Someone said.
Celty agreed 100% with that before jumping and looking at her side. She found the person that had spoken.
Mika.
Mika was looking back at where the man had been with her hands behind her back. She didn't talk for a while, giving Celty the chance to ask.
{You're... alone?}
Mika read it and immediately frowned. She adjusted her hat on her head and said.
"Yes… unfortunately. My angel is away for today. No, somewhere else… he is with... his sister. That bitch. I'll murder her when I have the chance, believe me."
Mika continued talking, but Celty tapped again.
{His sister?}
"Ha! You're confused, aren't you? Everyone is today, just by looking at me. It must be a shock to see me alone."
When Celty nodded, Mika continued.
"Well… we sort of have a... truce. We'll share him. Until one of us finds a solution to this problem. But believe me, I'll be the one to find it and hahaha… let's just say that it won't be nice. Seiji is with that witch today. Tomorrow he is mine and so on... Jealousy, that's what did it."
{...Jealousy?} Celty asked, clearly confused.
"Oh, yes. A few days ago, Seiji and I were walking around and we somehow ended up in one of the main squares. There we saw something. Or should I say, someone. We saw the witch and Izaya sitting on one of the benches and since Izaya has become a regular sight on the website lately, they were easy to spot. Izaya was talking and that bitch nodded, but I don't know why. Izaya's arm was behind the bitch and that was when it happened.
Seiji got... jealous. Because he saw his sister… as he said... ignoring him and not paying attention to him. At that, he left me to run towards her and grabbed her away for Izaya. The witch was surprised but happy and Izaya didn't give a fuck about the situation. He was smirking, like always. I believe he did it to make my Seiji mad, not the witch. Why? Well, he was smirking at Seiji and didn't interfere when he took his sister away from him.
Izaya was nodding and waving when the witch walked away from him. Like he had planned to do that. And I think he did it on purpose because he turned and smirked at me. He started looking through me, as if he knew I had a bug planted in his room. I think he planned it all so that he could get Namie out of his office and knew that I wouldn't be able to watch him later on, because I would be really busy. And I know that something must've happened, because when I finally checked on him, there was a huge hole in his wall."
Celty listened to Mika talk and even though she was shocked by the bug, she let it slide and asked her something else that bothered her.
{Mika. I know that I don't know Izaya well... But… if he knew that you had a bug in his apartment then why didn't he uninstall it?}
Mika read the PDA and then snorted.
"I haven't thought about that. Maybe he wants it for something. Maybe that appointment he had was a personal matter. No, it's Izaya we're talking about. Really that bothers me now too. Why? Well, he'd used a trick to get rid of Namie without much effort. But what was it that we missed?"
Mika stopped and thought, as did Celty. Then suddenly Mika spun around happily and sang.
"But let's forget that, shall we? We have more important mysteries to unfold right now. Who was that person you just encountered?"
Celty shrugged to say that she didn't know. And indeed she didn't.
"Well, as I said he was like a clone. A doppelganger."
Celty pointed at Mika.
"Oh, hahaha. Yes, like me. That person looked like Shizuo-kun. The only thing that made him different, from what I remember, was that necklace. Have you seen that necklace before?"
Celty shook her head.
"Me neither. But that necklace is giving me bad vibes... Do you think he… transformed himself to look like Shizuo? You know... like what I did?"
Celty stopped, before she tapped anything in her PDA. She hadn't thought of that. Was he really a doppelganger? A clone? Had he transformed himself just to be with someone else? But who wanted to be with Shizuo that much, in order to make someone do that? Or was it his choice like Mika's? She confused herself as more and more questions popped into her mind.
Was that true?
Did he want to be like Shizuo or did he want to be with someone else?
{Maybe the latter… I don't really know myself. I hope that person we saw just happened to have the same appearance as Shizuo. I hope so...}
"You write words that don't fit your thoughts, meaning you are in doubt. Believe me Celty-chan, I am too. But please don't deny that our world is the most fucked one." Mika pointed out as she started walking and then stopped.
{I agree with you. This world is really fucked up. But not all people fit into this category.}
Mika smiled. "True. But all people have secrets. Me. Those two boys walking ahead. You."
{How you know that I keep secrets? Maybe I don't.}
"All people do."
{But I'm not a human to keep...}
"No. You are not. But you are behaving like one. And don't lie to yourself. Celty-chan. You do have secrets of your own. But you keep them close and hidden, knowing that when they are released, things will change."
Celty watched Mika.
{Why you are telling me this?}
"Oh… well, how our topic changes? Well, maybe because that image distracted me. Did you see the new photo?"
Celty nodded.
"Well… that's why. I believe those pictures are cursed. Dangerous. They show some things but they can reveal much more if there a push. There is a secret behind those photos that, when released, will not only cause chaos but… will close some wounds."
Celty examined Mika. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was a connection in those photos. But what?
Mika suddenly turned around.
"Do you feel something?" Mika asked and repeated the same motion.
Celty watched her but the feeling was mutual. She felt like she was being... watched. Like someone was waiting to strike. She looked around too but found no one looking in her direction.
"Anyway, that person you saw, did he leave after you left or did he stay there?"
Celty understood why Mika was asking that question. But Celty didn't feel like she was being watched from the direction the man had been. Rather from above. Either way, she looked back in the direction the man had been but found no one with blond hair.
She then tilted her helmet upwards and Mika followed the motion, but she turned faster than Celty. Mika smirked.
"Ho… so that's why I felt uneasy." She said and Celty followed her line of sight.
There, up on one of the rooftops, stood Izaya. He was looking down and his stance showed curiosity. One of his legs was hooked on the railing and his hands were in his pockets. Celty didn't know if he was smirking, but she knew that his eyes were focused on something.
Izaya moved his head around like he was searching for something. He searched and searched until finally his eyes caught something and stopped. Finally, Celty could see that Izaya hadn't been smirking but now he did. Then he moved.
Or better yet, fell.
Izaya started to fall and that caught Celty off-guard. But before she could do anything, Izaya turned his body and grabbed onto one of the building's lamps, slowing his descent. He then jumped to land on a car in mid air andr used it as a base to jumped into and disappeared into the crowd.
Celty moved towards where she thought Izaya landed, only to find no one there. She realised she'd been running towards Izaya without realising. Well although he was an asshole, Celty did try to save him unconsciously.
That's why Shooter appeared in front of her. He must've felt Celty's discomfort and ran towards her. Shooter stopped and she patted it.
"Did you see where he went?" Celty jumped at Mika's voice but quickly tapped in her PDA
{No. Unfortunately. I lost sight of him.}
"Oh no. I wanted to see where he would go. Ah, nevermind I need to return to my love anyway. I just got a message from him! I need to go before that witch uses her magic and takes him from me. Goodbye, Celty-chan. And please consider what I said." Mika sang, waving as she ran away.
Celty waved back, now more nervous than before. Because Mika was right. Something was trying to be released, something sinister.
Unfortunately for her, Celty was connected with Shooter and what Shooter saw, Celty could see later. When Shooter decided that what he'd seen was important, he showed Celty when she touched him. And what he saw was not only significant, but it gave her even more unanswered questions.
He had seen Izaya landing, then walking towards someone and leaving with that person.
And that person was the man that had looked like Shizuo.
-xxx-
Kida sure was fast. And sure was getting on Akabayashi's nerves. He was constantly looking back and waiting for him to follow him. He wanted him to follow. That or he was trying to hide from him and hadn't succeeded.
Unfortunately for him, Akabayashi didn't quit so easily. Kida was still running and still had red eyes. He smirked but didn't fight back, he only ran. Ran and ran and ran. He didn't stop.
But Akabayashi was determined to catch him. He felt like something was off. He knew something was off. The fact that Kida had called Anri Saika instead of mother had to mean something. Who was Kida controlled by? Or rather, what was it? Was it like Saika? Was it Saika but somehow completely different? A different species? Or maybe it was Saika trying to confuse Akabayashi.
Yet again, Anri hadn't felt another Saika possessing Kida. So, that's what kept Akabayashi from quitting. He needed to find out what he was. What he was hiding.
And why he felt somehow excited?
He continued running and, although Akabayashi could feel Kida's discomfort, he didn't use a maneuver to avoid or to lose Akabayashi. Something that made Akabayashi more and more suspicious.
Akabayashi was sure that they' made it to Ikebukuro. He'd been chasing that kid for so many hours that he'd lost count. But why here and not somewhere else? Akabayashi let that slide as he jumped onto the next roof and allowed himself to fall into the catwalk that led to the pavement. Kida was close and if Akabayashi had the strength he would easily catch him, but he was exhausted. He was sure that he'd fail in the end.
Yet Kida wasn't even breathing heavily. He was running just fine and his parkour skills were slowly improving. All those were really bad signs for Akabayashi. Kida turned and looked at him and after he frowned for the millionth time that day, he ran away.
That frown was just like Izaya.
Everything reminded him of Izaya. Izaya must've done something. Akabayashi could sense that too. What had he managed to do?
Was he another Saika host? Was that true?
Or was the exhaustion getting to Akabayashi head?
But he was sure that earlier Kida had been acting so much like Izaya that it confused Akabayashi. Was that a trick or true? But he hadn't felt Izaya's aura so dark before. Was he a victim, too? That's why he had that aura now? But if that were the case, shouldn't Kida's aura be the same?
Akabayashi was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice when Kida threw some barrels at him. At the last moment, Akabayashi managed to dodge them but he lost some ground between them. Meaning that Kida could hide and outrun him now.
Damn.
Kida turned around and entered an alley, which Akabayashi had gone into before. Which was lucky, he knew where that alley went. Akabayashi slowed and tried to catch his breath as he walked towards the nearest catwalk and used...
But before he could use it, he stopped. Akabayashi felt something… familiar. A feeling that he had lost long ago. He backed away and turned his head. That feeling was calling him. And it was leading him into the alley that Kida had used.
Akabayashi shook his head and tried to focus again, using the catwalk as he heard the one he was chasing after.
"He's here."
So Kida was leading him somewhere. Or rather, to someone. Akabayashi brushed off his suit, caught his breath and used his cane to walk freely into alley. He was ready, after all that introduction, to meet the one that had caused him all this trouble.
Akabayashi walked inside and before he spoke, he stopped. He let his cane fall to the ground and started to back away in confusion.
He wasn't ready for what he'd just seen.
Because he was sure the thing in front of him wasn't real. Even if his gut was saying the opposite, his heart didn't believe it.
"...Sayaka?"
Cliffhanger? We will see in the next one.
Who was that person that looked like Shizuo? Will Akabayashi be ok?
See in the next one!
And since some of you asked Sayaka is Anri's mother. The original Saika user.