Gah, sorry for updating so late! I've been busy with all sorts of things, from moving to a new home, to getting prepared for school. I apologize and thank all of my faithful supporters that have given me story alerts, favorites and reviews (especially the reviews)!
I only hope as you continue supporting me as I might have to post later than usual now that school had started. Sorry for the inconvienience! Now, that all that is out of the way... On with the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Durarara! or it's characters, and I'm fine with that, I just hope I can read more about it from Narita's brilliant work.
In the darkness beneath his eyelids, Mikado's conciousness awoke as a touch as soft and light feeling was felt on his forehead.
Still unable to open his heavy eyelids, his attention focused on the whimsical fingers on his forehead as they changed the now lukewarm cloth to a much more damper one. Perhaps he was too light-headed at the moment, or maybe he was overthinking it, but somehow... his gut told him... it didn't feel natural.
Whose could it be? Was the question that rung through his head. It didn't seem as precise as Shinra's and he doubted them to be Shizuo's violent fingers, despite how different he is, would come even close to that light feeling on his head. His thoughts wandered to deducting what other resident could possibly be present at the home...Yes... although he was never introduced, there was one more resident...
His sight suddenly turned red as a beam of light had protruded from the doors of the bedroom. Whoever it was, was leaving. Mikado willed his eyes open, wincing as the light obstructed his sight.
But he didn't have to be blind for long, as a shadow moved to the doorway, allowing the boy to see again. With some redeemed sense, he took a close look at who the visitor was.
Though his vision was still blurry, he could still make out the figure standing in the doorway between this room and the next. The person was wearing loose pink clothing, though it was still a blur, Mikado didn't need his clear vision to know it was pajamas. But as Mikado's range of sight moved upward, he wondered if he was really looking at the sight that was there.
...Or, what wasn't there...
Mikado bit back a gasp, as Kanra-san's words from a past chatroom conversation popped up.
[You see, Tanaka Taro-kun, the person on the black bike...]
[...doesn't have a head...]
Headless, headless... The word rang on his mind.
It was abnormal... how the body could still move and function as normal despite having nothing above the neck. The boy continued holding his breath, staring silently as the figure walked slowly as it's headless shadow, mirroring the body, moved across the doorframe and slipped into the light of the next room.
He let out his held breath as the figure left the room, shutting the door quietly behind it. Darkness completely filled the room, leaving the boy with his thoughts.
No, that's not possible... I'm still dreaming...right? The boy told himself softly.
I'm probably just dizzy from that fever and I wasn't really looking at this at my best condition either. She could be staring at me with wide eyes and I wouldn't know. Kanra-san's words are just haunting me again. He remembered he was the long night where he had struggled to sleep the first time he read those strange words from his computer screen.
Clutching his chest, he tried to stop his heart from pounding rapidly in excitement.
After all, Celty-san can't possibly be the Black Rider, or even headless for that matter. It's silly right?
...right?
He didn't have time to answer his own question as a wave of dizziness took the boy to his slumber.
The next time he woke, the room had already filled up in bright light.
Blinking his eyes awake, he tried to think of yesterday's events. The morning greeting from Shinra, Shizuo's visit, and the food poisoning... all in all, it was quite a busy day for him yesterday, despite the fact that he had stayed on the bed the whole time.
He pushed himself up while wiping the dazed expression from his eyes. The not so wet cloth fell from his forehead. The boy picked it up carefully.
Ah... there was that too... flashes of the event last night filled his mind. Was it a dream? Or was it a delusion?
Whatever the case, it made his curious about the remaining resident that he hadn't had a chance of meeting yet.
He gathered what he did know in his head. All that I know about her is that her name is Celty along with the fact that she's living here with Shinra-san...Could she be Kishitani-sensei's wife?... or maybe his sweetheart? Well, the way he goes on about her I wouldn't be surprised... he smiled softly to himself, but quickly paled with another memory. Ah, but her cooking is... well... he pushed the thought aside, trying very hard, not to remember the taste.
But that's all I know about her, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever really seen her... With that last thought, he came to the resolution of knowing more about her. After all, he was probably going to stay here for quite a while.
He didn't have to wait long to put into plan, as Shinra entered the room.
"Ah, your awake! Does your stomach hurt? What about your throat?" now that he mentioned it, Mikado noticed that his throat did feel rather dry.
"Ah, I'm a little parched, but everything else seems fine, though I am a little hungry..." he assured the doctor.
"That's good, your fevers down too so you should be fine. Just don't overexert yourself...well, not that you really can." The doctor rubbed the back of his head, while the boy nodded sheepishly.
"And if your hungry, I brought breakfast, well actually Celty brought it. Ah- no, no, she didn't cook it herself. She bought it from a nearby convenience store." he chuckled seeing the boy pale slightly before sighing.
"Ahh~ but seriously, she didn't need to stop cooking just because of that. Just because she doesn't have watermelon cells, doesn't mean that I won't like it. Honestly, anything made by Celty is far better than the ambrosia made for the gods."
"Watermelon... cells?" Mikado questioned, snapping Shinra out of his reverie.
"Hmm? Oh, they are pretty much the sense of taste. Ah yes, Celty also apologized that her food... didn't suit your tastes." Shinra was very reluctant to say that his precious Celty had poisoned anyone.
She doesn't have a sense of taste either? Celty was becoming more and more intriquing by the second.
Seeing the chance, to know more about her, he took it. "Umm... I don't mean to be rude... but what is Celty-san like?"
"Celty?" the man's face seem to perk up altogether, now that he was given the opportunity to talk about his favorite subject.
"Why, the only thing that can compare to her beauty is none other than the grand earth. Well, actually I don't think the earth can even compare! I've known her ever since I was a little kid. Well, she was more like a reliable older sister when I was younger. But in high school I had never found any girl even close to how attractive she is. I mean just looking at the way she walks, you can tell she is a graceful woman. Anyone would appreciate how her gorgeous curves peek from-"
Mikado felt his face heat up as Shinra went on and on about Celty's finer details. It was sounding like information that his friend would be more interested in. It was becoming to much for him, but before he can try to change subject from this part of the conversation, the sound of phone resonated around the room.
Shinra stopped midway on his conversation on how adorable Celty was to pull out a white cellphone. "Ah- sorry Mikado-kun. I have to answer this call." Mikado nodded allowing the man to leave the room with a "Hello? This is-".
Given the time, he started eating his breakfast. He took a cautious bite, and was very relieved that it wasn't at all like yesterday's meal. It was a good meal in a long time, he felt as if he was starving, but he couldn't completely enjoy it as a pang of guilt hit him. Poor Celty-san...
He was tearing up the remains of the fish before Shinra poked his head in.
"Ah, sorry Mikado-kun, but I have to get to work now. If you get bored, you can read the books from that shelf right there." Pointing to a sturdy bookshelf filled with difficult looking books.
"Ah, thank you" Mikado said, and with that Shinra left with a nod.
It didn't take long for Mikado to realize just how helpful Shinra's last piece of advice was going to be. It seemed like hours since the man had just left. For the past time Mikado had laid there, with nothing to do but stare at the ceiling, as if he could burn a hole through it.
Ah, I might as well read one of those books that Shinra-san mentioned...
He got up to the edge of the bed, but as soon as he stood up. The imbalance was clear, a pain shot up from his leg causing him to fall backwards onto the bed once more.
"Oww... I guess I should have expected this. I really haven't been out of bed at all for a while now." Mikado sighed.
"Well, I'm going to have to start walking soon anyway, so I might as well start now." With a new determination he hoisted himself up, using the bed's railing as support as he hopped lightly on one foot.
He was getting closer to the bookshelf, but his endurance and strength couldn't keep up with him. The fever yesterday had drained him, and he was never good with physical action to begin with. With a few clumsy steps, he found himself face down on the floor with a thud.
"Ouch!" he cried as his bumped his nose along with the head onto the floor.
Mikado wasn't so determined anymore. He let his mind wonder as he laid there on the floor, waiting for his strength to return. Suddenly the simple task of getting a book, didn't seem all that simple anymore.
I shouldn't have done this, what was I thinking? He sighed before muttering, "I hope I didn't disturb any of the neighbors."
As if to answer, he heard the door open quietly.
"Ah! Kishitani-sensei! I'm sorry if the nois- Ah, h-hello." The person he was expecting was not at all who he thought it was. In fact, he never expected that person to come again.
"Hey..." the man called Heiwajima Shizuo entered the room, looking at the boy currently lying on his belly on the floor, his eyes glittering as if he was about to cry.
Taking in the situation, he continued. "What are you doing on the floor?"
"Eh? U-um it's just that I wanted a book.."
Book? Sure enough, there was a bookshelf quite a few inches away from Mikado's grasp.
Mikado saw the man come toward him, reaching with his hands. He panicked.
Is he going to hit me for being stupid? He remembered quite well, how easily the man got mad at someone he knew. How quickly would he get mad at a stranger?
He winced, preparing himself for the blow, but... it never came.
"Eh?" Mikado opened his eyes to find that the man was carrying him. Being careful, that he didn't make the boys injuries anymore uncomfortable.
"Honestly, what is that freak thinking? Getting an injured kid to get one of those heavy books."
Shizuo said putting Mikado on the bed, lightly frowning. Mikado couldn't help but watch him quietly.
He's so different from his angered self... maybe he's not such a bad person as he seems? Shizuo must have noticed him staring as he turned to Mikado with a stare, as if waiting for his next reaction.
"A-ah thank you." Mikado apologized looking down in embarrasment for being caught staring.
Shizuo on the other hand, nodded before walked to the bookshelf.
"Which one did you want to read?" he asked, suprising Mikado once more.
"E-eh? Um... actually I don't really know. I haven't really seen them...maybe the red one at the far left?" he pointed toward the bookshelf, choosing the thinnest book he can see, not that it was that much of a difference to the rest...
Shizuo took it out of the bookshelf before cracking it open.
"..."
Despite the fact that it was all in the language he was familiar with, he could only understand barely a third of it. He handed it quickly to Mikado, sensing an upcoming headache, if he continued looking.
"...Do you really like reading this stuff?" Mikado flipped open to a page, browsing it before looking up at him. "Actually, no... I don't even know what the first word means. Heheh" the boy chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
Shizuo couldn't help but get distracted as that hand moved lightly along the feathery locks.
The boy, getting rather uncomfortable with that the man wasn't doing anything other than staring at him. Did I do something wrong?
"U-um, it's not like I don't appreciate Heiwajima-san, for helping me get the book. It's just that it can't be helped that there's nothing really to do around here. I'm actually glad, Heiwajima-san came, it gets really quiet without anyone around." Mikado smiled softly.
It was now Shizuo's turn to be surprised.
"...It's okay for me to be here?" Shizuo asked with a hesitant voice.
"Hmm? I don't see why not, besides I think it's nice to have company. I'm stuck in bed after all." the boy logically pointed out. "...Is there something wrong?...with Heiwajima-san being here?"
"No, no..." The man waving his hand from side to side as if brushing away a dark cloud. It's just that I didn't think anyone would let me stay after I did something like that.. well, other than the flea and that freak, but they can't really count...
The atmosphere around the two became much more breathable. As the tension began to dwindle more rapidly, the flow of talk increased as well.
"Ah, Kishitani-sensei, mentioned that you went to Raira Academy as well."
"Raira? Yeah, I went there. But if I tell you I liked it... it would be a lie." his expression darkened at the memory of the flea tearing up his peaceful life.
"... A-ah! Umm, Kishitani-sensei also mentioned that you and Celty-san are good friends as well." Mikado quickly steered the conversation away; fearing unwanted results which included having him knocked out by the thick red book which was now lying forgotten on the nearby table... yet it was too close to Shizuo's hands to be a comfort.
This could also be a good opportunity to learn more about the mysterious Celty as well.
"Celty?" Mikado became relieved as the dark expression left his face. "Yeah, we're friends. He's much more comfort, than Shinra. I can tell you that"
"Comfort? Is Shinra-san really that-" Mikado froze as a thought struck his head.
Wait... did he just say he? ...h-he probably made a mistake. He turned to Shizuo who was looking rather puzzled at the moment.
"Umm.. Shizuo-san, what do you think of Celty-san as?"
Shizuo was curious with the sudden question, yet he answered anyway.
"Celty is someone I go talk to often, well not really talk... it's mostly me doing the talking; he's pretty quiet. Maybe the reason why I can stand him easily. Well anyway, he's usually busy with a delivery job, but we often hang out when he's not busy."
Mikado was suddenly thrown into complete confusion. Wait! Shinra-san said that Celty was a woman and known her from the time he was a kid. But Heiwajima-san is also a good friend but he says Celty is a guy! It's makes more sense if Celty was a woman, since Shinra-san has known her, er... maybe him... for so long. Yet is it possible to for someone to be adrogonys enough to fool someone close to them?
"Oi! Ryuugasaki! Are you alright?" Shizuo was getting rather hectic that Mikado was there clutching his head in confusion.
"Ah-! I'm fine!" he snapped out of it, forgetting to correct his name. But the question still lingered in his mind, growing larger and larger.
Before he knew it, he blurted out, "But Heiwajima-san, isn't Celty-san a woman?"
"..."
A pregnant pause filled the room.
But before Shizuo could answer, an outburst filled the room.
"Of course Celty is a woman! What else would she be?" Shinra apparently had returned.
"...Really? She is?...my bad." Shizuo seemed to have finally found his voice.
"...My bad...? Shizuo! You really didn't know? How is it even possible! Can't you notice, just by looking how attractive she is? Look, look at how her body is wonderfully shaped!" Shinra could not compute how someone could even make such a mistake that without thinking he dragged an unsuspecting Celty, who wandered over in curiousity, into the room.
"But then again, Shizuo's brain is as developed as a kindergarten kid, so maybe you don't have that maturity to notice this kind of-... Celty? What is it? You look rather flustered, your shadows are gushing out... ah!" He noticed his mistake.
Come to think of it, Shizuo would probably be trying to crush me by now but... he turned to the man. Sure enough, Shizuo's attention was not on him but on Mikado who was staring wide eyed at the headless figure before him.
Shizuo thought that the boy was probably going to faint over this, he seemed so timid.
Yet, after a few minutes of restless silence of watching how the boy would react. The boy did close his eyes, but he reopened them again, as in disbelief.
This was not at all suprising since most people probably wouldn't believe that a headless person was standing in the same room.
Yet what was so strange is that the boy did not faint, or even screamed for that matter. Instead, a smile slowly filled his face.
"Ah, g-good afternoon, you must be Celty-san?" He had a trembling voice, yet it did not seem to be from fear.
For Celty, the normal reaction from humans, were the shouts or screams of alarm or suprise. It was strange, but perhaps refreshing? Either way, she took out her PDA and greeted him as well.
[Yes, I'm Celty. It's nice to meet you Mikado-kun. I would have met you before but well...]
She pointed to her missing head as to make a point. Mikado nodded his head in understanding.
"A-ah! I see. U-um, would it be rude if I were to ask a question?"
The whole situation seemed surreal as if he was dreaming it. Yet, he's saw the headless figure nod in agreement before typing out. [ I don't see why not. It was pretty rude of me to introduce myself now.]
"Hmm? No, no! Not at all! But u-umm could you be... The Black Rider?" Mikado noticed that he was still trembling in excitement.
Celty nodded. [Shinra said that you wanted to know more about me...would you like to?]
When Mikado nodded with a "Yes!.. i-if you don't mind..." she propped herself onto the bed and the conversation between two quiet people began.
It was nice watching the two get along. It was an even nicer feeling, seeing the kid smile. He would have stayed longer, but the message from his cellphone told him he had to meet Tom.
He signaled at the door, telling the others that he had to leave. The two on the bed nodded, waving him goodbye. Shinra on the other hand followed him out, quietly claiming "It seems I'm not really needed here anyways."
But as they went out, the doctor seemed to be up to his bouncy self, ready to tease Shizuo. Apparently, he still couldn't forgive him for mistaking Celty's gender.
"Shizuo, a second visit? I'm surprised. I mean, it's been forever since you bothered to bring anyone you injured here and now your visiting the Mikado-kun again. Should I be proud that you are actually growing out of your mentally childlike sta- owww! ow.. ow. owww... Shizuo stop! My arm! It's going to snap! I need that!"
In time, Shizuo let go with the mere fact that Shinra really did need his arm and more specifically Mikado needed it as well.
"Well then, you should expect to see me more often... I'm coming back tommorow." Shizuo said turning towards the door.
"Wait, again? Shizuo, I might not be able to survive if you keep com-" he was stopped when Shizuo's finger met his forehead, in a light flick.
It was a gesture common between friends whether they were joking around or playing a punishment game. But apparently due to how the flicker was none other than Shizuo, the result did not end as harmless as it would have been.
Shinra did not rub his forehead and complain that he was going to get a mark. No, instead as soon as the impact was felt, Shinra fell unconcious on the floor.
Shizuo on the other hand, left leaving the poor man on the floor to recover from his concussion. Unknown to the other two residents who were busy chatting in a room not far away, but nonetheless, oblivious to the event.
"Ah, Shizuo. You're a little late today, did something happen?" Tom had been waiting for him near the park.
"Ah, nothing really. There were just some things that came up." Shizuo answered, scratching his head, as they took a stroll for their next target.
Things? I wonder what it is, he's been acting a little odd lately. He doesn't look at all scruffed up or angry, so at least I can guess it's not a fight... Tom was rather relieved that he wasn't angry. It was pretty difficult to keep him in place when Shizuo was already ready to blow before the job even started.
"...Hey Tom, do you happen to know what books are popular among teens lately?" Shizuo quietly asked.
Books? Since when did he take reading as a hobby?
"Sorry, I'm not really sure about what kids these days read...Why do you want to know?" Tom couldn't help being curious.
"Ah, it's this kid... Argh, you know what? Nevermind..." Shizuo went quiet after that.
Kid?... Tom kept quiet, but the idea couldn't stay from his mind. …Don't tell me... is it an illegitamate child? !
Wah~ Done! I'm so sorry for taking so long. I know, I know I'm really slow at this... -_-
As a way to say sorry, I've decided to make some omakes every now and then.
They may or may not have anything to do with the story. The characters may be very OOC sometimes in the omake, so you have been warned!
Omake: Shizuo's Discovery
"Are you sure it's around here?" Shizuo asked turning to a figure wearing a skintight suit with an unique looking helmet.
Celty, having no current way to communicate simply nodded. With that, the two began their search around the empty lot.
Celty had recently lost her precious PDA, while she was on another odd job for a certain information broker.
The helmet tilted downward as if sighing. Izaya's jobs always tended to leave a bad aftertaste, but I never thought something like this would happen.
She pushed a bush away before noticing something gleaming behind the fence.
Ah! Could that be? She rushed forwards in hopes that she could find her PDA.
"Celty, it's not over here!" Shizuo called before putting the old trashed bin in place.
There was no response. "Celty?" he called again. This time there was a sound of a desperate rustle.
Shizuo rushed to the spot, to find Celty with her helmet stuck in the fence.
"Ah, Celty! I'll get you out of there!" Shizuo grabbed her sides.
Ah- wait! Celty panicked, if he pulls any further... she tried desperately to signal that his help wasn't needed.
But before she knew it, she was pulled out easily though, not completely, her helmet was still on the other side.
Shizuo silently waited for the man to scream, not out of fear (it was very difficult for her to imagine that) but probably out of anger for decieving him.
...but that was not what happened. In fact, she was surprised to see the man turn away before walking away in a swaying style with such gloomy aura.
Listening quietly, she heard mutterings of "... I beheaded him... it's gone...pulled it clean off..."
The man apparently thought that he had pulled hard enough with his overwhelming strength and ended up beheading he had thought carefully, he would have noticed that it would be odd for a person to remain standing after they lost their head. But Shizuo didn't seem to have registered that in his despairing mood.
NO! Shizuo you got it wrong! It's supposed to be like this! Celty tried shouting, flailing her arms wildly in an attempt to get his attention..
But all that came out was a large waft of smoky shadow.
And that would be all for now. What do you think of it? Yes, I know I have a pretty strange sense of humor, ahahaha...
Thank you all for your support! I enjoy getting your reviews, and I like the tips that you give me. It's a little harder to have time to write, now that I'm in school now. But I'll try to get the next chapter done quickly, please wait patiently for the next update.