OH, sooo sorry everyone ^ ^'' forgot to make a clarification ^ ^" Shizuo is twenty-four, and Izaya is eighteen ^ ^' So Izaya was in elementary school and Shizuo was a freshmen in High School when he got kidnapped. Sorry for the misunderstanding ^ ^"

O~w~O

"You know him?" Tom finally asked, though knowing the answer. Shizuo nodded, staring down at those soulless eyes that were staring into his, his battle to breath still underway.

"He's a really good friend from a long time ago," he sighed, letting his hair fall into his face. "He was like my brother, or maybe more then that, a-and I let him down when he needed me the most." The blond leaned down to the raven, hesitantly running light fingers through his hair. Izaya's breathing sharpened, flinching at the contact, still unable to let out a sound. Shizuo couldn't blame him, any touch right now must've been frightening.

"I wish I could take it all back, re-due the past," he cried, letting his tears show once again. "M-maybe then I could spare you of this pain."

"Shizuo, I think you should stop," Tom sadly spoke. "His breathing's worse now." Shizuo understood and withdrew, listening as his breathing returned to it's horrible state from moments ago. He hated this, he wanted to be able to do something! Anything was better then this. Dammitttttt.

"Isn't there anything we can do for him?" Shizuo growled, doing his best to resist brushing through that raven hair again. Even if it was dead, it still held that essence of pure silk; he could get lost in it for hours.

"I'm not a medicine person, sorry, I-I don't know." Shizuo scowled to himself, trying to come up with something. This must've been one of the worst things Tom's ever seen throughout his entire career. He probably didn't know how to deal with this.

Wait, medicine person-

Shizuo wanted to slap himself so hard he'd crash into the wall. He hated hospitals, never trusted them. Yet, out of pure shock and fear, he requested for them to come and take the precious teen from him.

HELL NO. Why didn't he keep a clear mind and call Shinra!

Quickly, he pulled his cellphone out and dialed Shinra's number. And here he was thinking Tom was freaking out, when he was the one that wasn't thinking straight.

"Hello?" Shinra's voice beamed happily through the phone, making Shizuo growl. He didn't understand why he could be so damned happy when Izaya was here suffering.

"Shinra, you're not gonna believe this-"

"You'd be surprised by what I believe, have you forgotten Celty-"

"Shut the hell up and listen!" He snapped, unconsciously punching the floor. It made Izaya force his eyes closed and slowly bury his head in his chest again. Dammittttttt! He scared him! But it seemed to make the doctor go silent.

"I need you to get to the address Tom will text you-"

"Wait," Tom interrupted, though his voice was low, nearly a whisper. He didn't want to intrude, Shizuo could tell, so he let him talk. "We'll probably be at the hospital by then."

Ohhh, dammit, Shizuo wasn't using his head again! Ahh, thank god Tom was paying attention. "I need you to get to the West Hospital as soon as possible."

"Why? What happened?"

He pursed his lips, not really knowing how to say this. It would be a huge shocker, he knew it, but he had to get Shinra to take Izaya in his care. "I found him Shinra, I found Izaya." There was a long pause, and he could swear he heard the doctor gulp in complete disbelief. He couldn't blame him, after all these years he's been missing, Shizuo, the one closest to him found him; saved him. Not only that, but it was just the other week Shizuo asked if they remembered his name. He wasn't mental, he actually found him.

"Shizuo, are you sure? I mean, he has been missing for ten years-"

"Shinra," Shizuo cut him off, not even caring. "I'm positive. But he's in serious condition, someone has him on drugs and is terrified of me for some reason," his voice cracked a bit on that last piece of information, as he still couldn't believe it. He didn't fully understand the strange look in the raven's eyes, the same look all the other humans gave him, but never Izaya. Even when Shizuo was close to nearly hitting him, he never looked scared, just sad. This was just heart-breaking.

"Shizuo, there really isn't much I can do if he's transferred to a hospital, I'm not a licenses doctor," Shinra sighed sadly, but Shizuo could hear him scrambling around, trying to get ready.

"I know, I want him transferred out of that place, I don't trust them, especially when they could 'accidentally' let the psycho-path that's kidnapped him in to see him. - No, I only trust you. Can you do that?" There was another off silence between the two, and Shizuo feared the answer. But the doctor finally sighed after what seemed like an eternity.

"I can forge my papers, I've done it before, but it's just risky. Stay with him then, I'll keep you posted on my status."

Shizuo couldn't help but smirk. He loved Shinra for this, he wouldn't make fun of his interest and fascination for the human body anymore; not if he could save Izaya. At this point, this one little teenager was the only thing holding him together, but Izaya was deteriorating by the second.

"Thanks Shinra, see you there," he smiled before hanging up. He was so glad Shinra would do anything for him and took back all the bad things he's said to the doctor, though, he knew he'd say them all over again. But as least Izaya was going to be safe with someone else he used to know. It might make him a bit more comfortable.

Sighing, he focused on the raven once more. His breathing was still labored, but his trembling had increased ten-fold. No doubt the fault was his, as he lost his temper. He was just relieved he was able to ensure Izaya's safety; or at least trying this time.

Slowly, he leaned down to Izaya, though careful to keep his distance. He didn't want to freak him out more. "Don't worry, I'm saving you Izaya. I promise, I'll do everything I can to keep that bastard away from you this time," his voice was low and soft, almost sounding like a voice in a dream. He didn't even know if Izaya had heard it or not, as he remained the same. But he was okay with that. He'd continue to reassure him until he was able to prove it.

The sound of the door opening made Shizuo spring to his feet, jumping in-front of the couch the raven was lying on. If it was that bastard-counselor, he was going to be sure he never even laid a single finger on him. However, he calmed seeing it was just the paramedics carrying in a stretcher.

"Wow wow, we're here to help," one of them gently spoke, knowing full-well the situation. Tom made sure not to leave out a single detail when he was on the phone. Shizuo had no choice but to ease himself, taking a step back to Izaya's side. They didn't say anything as their eyes settled upon the teen, their faces blanching slightly.

"That's him?" Shizuo wanted to punch these guys right now. And they were supposed to be professionals?

They seemed to read Shizuo's face as they didn't say anything and rushed on over, being careful to slowly touch him instead of immediately examining him. Izaya seemed to squeak, just as he did when Shizuo touched him in the crawl space, but seemed to curl in himself more then before.

"He was definitely injected with something, his eyes are dilated and glassed-over." Glassed over? Wasn't that really bad? Ahhhhh, why couldn't they speak English for him? "These wounds are pretty bad, probably causing his fever to be this severe. His breathing is hardly even doing anything, we must get him to the breathing machine right away." The paramedics then gently grabbed a hold of Izaya, which made him weakly swing his body back and forth in attempt to get away, but it was inevitable. It wasn't until now that Shizuo notice how flushed his face was, that pain-filled expression forever haunting him. His eyes nearly seemed as if they were swollen shut at this point, making the blond tremble. What the hell had that bastard done to him!

The paramedics finally managed to pull Izaya's light body onto the stretcher by the time Shizuo managed to calm himself down, though they were trying to decide the best way to strap him down. It would really hurt his wounds, and they didn't even want to see how badly injured his arms were. They were taking too long, didn't they know they had a life hanging in the balance!

"Tch, I'll make sure he doesn't fall," Shizuo snapped, going over to Izaya's side. The paramedics were able to argue, but Tom cleared his throat behind them, making them turn their attention to him.

"I'd listen to him, when he says something like that, he means it. He is, after all, the strongest man in Ikebukuro." The two paramedics looked at each other, before nodding. They couldn't deny the fact that Shizuo was capable of keeping the small boy from falling, they've seen the results of his strength on the news.

Shizuo couldn't help but smile, reminding himself to thank Tom later. But right now, he needed to be sure Izaya knew it was him holding onto him, no one else. Gently, he leaned down to Izaya, being careful with the distance again. "I have to keep a hold of your arms, but I swear, no matter what happens, even if the ambulance flips over, I will protect you with my body. I'll be sure no harm befalls you, okay Izi?" Izaya seemed to flinch hearing that name, though the brute didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing.

As promised, he slowly leaned down, gently taking a loose yet secure hold of the raven's wrists. He seemed to flinch a bit, but this time, not a single sound echoed through his throat. Shizuo couldn't help but smile slightly to himself, but didn't get his hopes up. Izaya could've been half unconscious right now, so this really didn't count.

They wheeled him onto the ambulance, and just as Shizuo promised, held onto him with all his gentle might. He was doing well, watching them place the breathing mask on the raven's mouth, until they brought out the needles. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't. He was afraid that if he took his eyes off Izaya that he'd disappear again, and he couldn't handle that. So he clenched his teeth, watching as they lifted one of his arms off the stretcher and pulled the sleeve up. Shizuo's face blanched, seeing the severe cut wounds that littered his arms. Some were deeper and longer then others, some weaker, but they were there, along with severe bruises and what looked like rope-burn marks. He could hardly watch as they rubbed the skin with a cloth and stuck the needle in.

Izaya suddenly snapped out of whatever sleep he was in as his small voice wailed, his high-pitched screech severing Shizuo's heart. Tears were rolling down those pale-abused cheeks, his trembling increasing dramatically.

Shizuo wanted to punch these guys out and let them get run-over, but something stopped him. Something he's only dreamed of before.

"S-so-rry," his chocked-dry voice mumbled through his wheezes. It was so light it seemed even the slightest bump in the road would shatter him. "I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." he continued to repeat over and over again, not even seeming to care that he was using precious air that was going through his hardly-working lungs.

That voice couldn't be Izaya's, it was too broken, too dry to be his. It didn't have any emotion in it except for fear. Yet, it was. It sounded like the same as his voice when he was younger, except it was lighter, more high-pitched. God it killed him, hearing his Izaya repeating the words on automatic response to being probed with a needle. No doubt his kidnapper injected him with many drugs and sedatives during the past ten years. It allowed them to control people better.

Slowly, Shizuo bent down low to Izaya's ear, hesitantly letting his forehead barely touch Izaya's head. He didn't know what to do, at this point, he too would break. "It's okay Izi, it's okay...," he gently soothed, feeling himself trembling. But no matter what they did, he couldn't calm himself down, so he continued. "They're just putting an IV, I swear on my life, they won't do anything to harm you, not while I'm still breathing," he cued, letting his own tears flow down his cheeks. He was a mess. Crying three times in one day? Definitely a new record for him ever since his depression days. But he'd do it everyday all day, if it helped Izaya.

"I'm not gonna let you go, not this time," his voice shook, not even bothering to mask the fact that he was crying this time. He had no emotional strength anymore.

For whatever reason, maybe due to the IV restoring his hydration, the raven grew silent and calm enough to slumber again. It was like that the whole way to the hospital, which Shizuo was grateful for.

As soon as they got to the hospital, the paramedics rushed Izaya out of the back of the ambulance and into the hands of the doctors and nurses that were there waiting for them. They allowed Shizuo to stay along-side them as they rushed to the designated room, but left him in the waiting room.

So he stood there, not even sitting down, just staring at the ground, tears silently running down his face. Izaya was like this because of him. Izaya was suffering, because of him. Izaya was terrified, because of him...

He didn't even know how many hours had passed when someone slipped through the door, but he didn't even bother looking up. It wasn't Izaya, so they weren't important.

"Hey Shizuo," Shinra's voice suddenly sounded off, breaking through the blond's clouded mind. But he didn't even look up, his fists shaking at his sides. "Sorry I didn't come see you when I first got here, they didn't let Celty in here because of her helmet, so she went to go get clearance from the manager. But I checked up on Izaya's status when I turned my paperwork in." Shizuo slowly let his gaze drift up to the doctor, who smiled at the eye-contact. Though, he couldn't hide that sadness that welled in his eyes.

"I can't believe you actually found him Shizuo, you found Izaya!" He warmly smiled, some tears of his own welling in his eyes. It took Shizuo a-back for a moment, nearly forgetting that they were close to the raven too. Whenever Izaya was around with them, Shizuo tried to keep him all to himself, but of course Izaya was just too adorable for that.

"H-how is he?" He asked, trying to make his voice stable, but ultimately failed.

"Well, the operation went well, they were able to reopen his airways that swelled due to the bad combination of drugs and his asthma. They were able to tone down the drug, but it'll still affect him. It's stronger then they've dealt with before. He's resting as of now." Shizuo nodded, now saying anything. What could he say honestly? At least he wasn't going to die, he'd have to commit suicide if it came to that.

"When can I see him?" He asked, raising his fists slightly. It wasn't until now that he noticed he had been drawing blood, and stared at his red-palms absentmindedly. "I promised him I'd be by his side to make sure no one hurt him... what would he do if he woke up without me there?" He cried, allowing his salty-clear tears to fall on his bloody palms. He didn't even seem to hear Shinra as he walked over to him, gently wrapping one of his arms with some of the bandaging cloth he always carried.

"Well, I can convince them to let you in. Usually people aren't allowed into the patients rooms until they've woken up and been thoroughly examined. However, this is a different case. Izaya was abused for over ten years, and who knows what they did to him. They just may allow you to be there, as you were the one to calm him down in the ambulance."

Shizuo raised a questioning eyebrow, staring at Shinra. "H-how did you-"

"I have my sources," Shinra smiled, wrapping the other hand. But his smile slowly faded, as if recalling something saddening. "I know what you're thinking, it wasn't the IV that soothed him," he began. "It may have played an important role, but it was your soothing words that really helped him." Shizuo wanted to ask how the hell he knew all that, but someone walked in before he could puzzle the question.

"Doctor Shinra," a man's voice called, making them both look up at the door. There they saw Celty and a rather tall-built man wearing a doctor's coat smiling at them. "I've viewed your papers, and you're set. However, we have to wait until the boy is responsive before you can transfer him to your courtiers." Shinra and Shizuo smiled, relieved with the news.

"Thanks, I'll be sure to send reports in, as promised."

"I'm counting on you," the manager smiled, gazing at Shizuo and his hands. It made the blond feel uncomfortable. Maybe he remembered him from the news and rumors, oh no, this was going to complicate things.

"You're the one that found him and came here with him, correct?" Shizuo nodded, watching the manager's gaze drift to his now bandaged hands. His face was sunken, as if he too understood the pain blaring in his heart. "Then, do you know this Izaya? Is he a friend or a relative?"

"Yes, he and I were friends, closer then brothers, sir," he honestly replied, letting his voice come out however it wanted. There was an uneasy moment of silence, and Shizuo feared that he was going to accuse him of something until a small smile appeared on his face.

"Then, if you will, could you sit with him in his room until he wakes up? Usually it's against policy, but this boy deserves to wake up to someone he knows."

That doctor-manager had no idea how happy he had just made the blond. "Thank you sir, thank you so much," he smiled warmly, bowing in respect.

"It's no problem at all. I know the pain of not being there for someone. I can't even imagine how it'll be like for him though... being kidnapped for ten years...," the doctor trailed off for a moment, as if he didn't believe it himself. Most people were killed after missing for a year, ten years was just pure luck. "Thank god, if you ask me. That boy's going to be a wreck, and he'll need someone to trust, even if he doesn't want to. - You may go in as you wish, there's already a chair set up for you." And with that, the manager left. Shizuo wanted to kiss the very ground he had been standing on, which was completely out of character for him. But that's how relieved he was. He's never felt himself happier in his entire life then now.

"Go," Shinra smiled from behind him, making the blond turn to him. "Go, welcome him back for us." Shizuo nodded, giving him a thumbs up.

"Thanks Shinra." And he was off. He rushed over to the room, explaining what the manager had said to the nurse who was blocking the door. She didn't seem to believe him at first, but decided to let him in anyway, not wanting to argue with him, Shizuo Heiwajima. This is why he didn't want to keep Izaya at the hospital, the staff members were unreliable.

Shaking these thoughts away, he quietly made his way over to the side of Izaya's bed, the sight nearly too much for him to handle. He was wearing a white nightgown, as everyone in the hospitals wore, but it exposed his cut-bruised arms, showing the abuse his body had went through. He was cleaned up, seeing how his face did look a little bit better with the dried blood and dirt gone, but he still looked as if he was dragged through dozens of horses and cows, then struck by lightening.

His eye-lids were twitching, tears slowly rolling down his cheeks. He was probably having a bad dream, seeing how the breathing mask was still on him and the needles poked through his arms. It no doubt reminded him of times he had with the kidnapper. Ahhh, if only he was able to take all those memories away, to rid him of the terror he was forced to live through.

Slowly, he took a seat in the chair, feeling his legs aching as he was finally able to rest. But he'd put himself through hell itself before he'd ever be able to equal the same pain Izaya went through.

Leaning forward a bit, Shizuo pursed his lips, not really knowing what to say. He wanted to tell him so much, but he didn't know if Izaya would hear or care. So he decided to keep it as simple as possible.

"I'm here Izi, Shizu-chan will never let that bastard hurt you again..."