Play Fight (2 / 3)
****pt.2****
The smoke was waving itself into oblivion as the tall blond hurried away from it. He had just finished a long shift of following Tom around and whoever decided to skip out on the debt that hung over their sorry little heads. All he wanted right now was a nice bottle of awamori; the only drink that's been able to block out the details of a recent event.
He settled with the bar around the corner, slouched onto the seat closest to him and ordered the bottle. The room was dark, covered in a cloud of smoke that only grew bigger the longer he stared at it. He drew back five shots, one after another, each one fighting the flashbacks that leeched into his head every time he closed his eyes. It wasn't until the sixth when everything around him became hazy.
There. That's better.
He fiddled with the small glass for a few minutes before he poured another shot. He looked at it; wondering if it would be a good idea to throw this one back. "I'm not so sure I can stand up right now. Tch, the hell with it."One more turned into another and another and another. He had paced himself in between each grueling drink, but the way his knees almost gave out when he stood up to leave made it clear he had way too much. He cleared his throat, straightened his back, and stepped outside.
The streets were better this way. The way the people moved alongside each other, the little conversations he picked up on as he moved passed them were bearable. Whatever was bothering him before this elated state was in the past and all he wanted now was to get home and rest.
Ah, but this is Ikebukuro. Expect one thing and get slapped with another.
He ended up in the middle of Nishiguchi Park and since he wasn't so sure he could walk without sending his head for a spin, he decided to hang out. He took out his pack of cigarettes, picked one from the five that were left and looked for his lighter.
It wasn't until his eyes focused in on the swarm of yellow that surrounded him when he knew something was up. There must've been 15 guys, 20 tops, looking at him. Each one had their own weapon at arm's length. Some even cracked their knuckles as if their hands alone could beat the living shit out of someone like Shizuo.
"Shizuo! What a surprise running into you like this!" Horada wouldn't be this cocky any other day, but the intoxicated state Shizuo found himself in was obvious to anyone that payed enough attention.
"Ha, what the hell do you want?"
A crooked smile spreads over Horada's face. He picks up his cell and holds it close to his ear. "We've got him."
It didn't take long for Shizuo to put two and two together. Goddamn flea set him up.
"Get him!" Men with metal bats, chains, and crowbars ran in first. Shizuo didn't get a chance to clear something for protection, so he settled to fight with what he had -his body. One by one, each member was stripped from their instrument, allowing Shizuo to land spinning kicks, hook combinations and an occasional laugh. But with each body that fell, there were three more to replace it.
Shizuo scanned the area for a tree, a pole, or something to help keep his attackers from landing blows, but nothing was within arm's reach. Damn.
And then there it was, that stupid fucking laugh. In the split second Shizuo took to look for the son of a bitch, a metal bat right about smacked his left leg from his body. His knees buckle. There's no doubt about it; his leg is broken.
A crowbar comes flying in, striking his lower back, knocking the shades from his face. The sheer look of pain and confusion across Shizuo's face catches Izaya off guard. He had been watching everything from the top of a lamp post.
"Why the hell aren't you fighting back?" He murmured.
Just then, Horada instructs his minions to continue attacking. One by one, every 20 or so members take turns kicking, punching, and hitting Shizuo with whatever it was they had in their hands. He manages to push some of the ones standing in front of him off, completely forgetting that there were still some behind him.
Izaya jumps off the building and begins to run towards the group. "That's enough, Horada!" He stops when he realizes the sound of desperation and panic that just slipped out of his mouth. Shit.
"I'll take it from here."
Without having to tell them twice, Horada and his yellow bandits walk away, celebrating and recalling the blows they managed to inflict on the strongest man in Ikebukuro.
****pt.3****
Izaya took small steps towards the body that was trembling with pain in front of him. This was what he wanted, what he payed to have done, but, seeing Shizuo like this…i-it just…wasn't right.
"Get the fuck away from me, flea." Shizuo tried to push himself off the floor, but ends up falling back down to his knees. "I might not look like it right now," he looks right into Izaya's eyes and continues, "but I can still kick your ass for doing this to me."
"Ah, Shizu-chan. Let's worry about that some other time, ne?" He moves in closer, bends down, and extends a hand. That damn smirk is plastered on his face and as much as Shizuo would like to slap it right off, he's not so sure he can make his hand do it. He may not be as smart as Izaya, but he knows better than to pick a fight when he can't even stand.
"Hmph."
"Fine, how 'bout this." Izaya stands up. "We get you all fixed up, get you nice and clean, and whenever you're ready, we'll fight." Shizuo shoots him a look that screams 'You're lying.' He extends the same hand again and tries to sound as sincere as possible. "You know, to make this fair."
Shizuo takes the hand. It only takes about 5 seconds before he's on the floor again. "It's no use!" The frustration in his voice sends chills down Izaya's spine. He's seen Shizuo mad before, but he's never seen him like this. These are emotions he likes to see from his humans, he'll admit to that if you were to ask him. Shizu-chan, on the other hand, isn't a human. He's a monster and yet, it took every fiber of his being not to apologize over and over for doing this to him.
Izaya kneels next to Shizuo's right side and rolls him on his back. His eyes take note of the cuts and bruises that cover a good portion of Shizuo's arms and face. His right arm hovers above the injured leg, his eyes looking into Shizuo's as if asking permission to continue with the awkward physical. He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out his switchblade knife.
"What the fuck?"
"Calm down. I'm just gonna cut off some of this fabric off your leg," his head tilts and glows with embarrassment "..uh..so that I can see what …uh…how bad you're injured." Chuckle.
He pinches the black fabric and carefully makes a small cut. He repositions his blade and does away with the rest. And then he sees the damage. A little piece of bone was sticking out right under Shizuo's left knee.
"What? It's broken isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Goddammit."
Izaya's had his share of broken bones, many of which Shizuo can take total responsibility for, but he had never actually taken the time to look at them.
Curiosity moves his hands over the peering bone. His index finger extends while the rest of his fingers curl into his palm. Pressure.
"IZAAAYAAA!"
His finger doesn't move. He presses harder.
"Fucking bastard, stop it! That shit hurts!"
Izaya's eyes are glistening now.
"Stooo- -" A low grunt interrupts the scream.
"Shizu-chan?" He climbs over Shizuo and pokes him on the forehead. "Did you… pass out?"
Izaya is laughing so hard he has to hold his stomach to stop it from hurting. After a few good minutes, he takes his cell from his pocket and dials Shinra's number.
"Dr. Kishitani, I need you to operate on someone immediately."
On the other side of the line, Shinra excuses himself from the dinning table where Celty sat. "What kind of operation are we talking about?"
"Ah, broken leg." He vaguely explains what happened to the confused but attentive Shinra.
Shinra agrees to do the job. Before he leaves, he finishes the rest of his meal, kisses his beloved Celty's hand, and promises to tell her all about the job when he returns. He gathers his supplies, flashes Celty a wide smile as he steps out of the door and heads off to Shinjuku.
(...to be continued...)