Thought this would turn out so well, but I'm beginning to see that instead its trouble.
Into a pattern we fell, of prolonging the inevitable.

-Come right out and say it.

Relient K

'How long has it been?' Izaya's mind wandered as he walked down the sidewalk, following behind the energetic kid. The answer he was looking for was 10 months, it had been 10 months since he stopped at that stupid park, and checked his stupid phone, and went to that stupid bridge, and kicked those stupid guys asses and- "HEY! Izaya! Look look look! C'monnnnn." Emi had his hand and was pulling on him, dragging him into a shop. Her eyes were bright with excitement.

He glared at her, she didn't even flinch, "What?"

"While you're standing there, wasting time, I found this." She panted, running into the store, Izaya following. Embarrassed, for what was probably the first time in his life.

Emi's black hair was all over the place, squished under a…hat?

Izaya shook his head and looked at the rack next to her, filled with hats. He picked up a red beanie and removed the other one from her head. He shoved the new one on and smirked, "That suits you better, it looks as nuts as your brainwaves." He snickered.

She turned to look into the mirror mounted on the wall, "I actually like it." She cocked her head at a weird angle.

Izaya had his cell phone out, studying the clock. He tried not to stay out too long when Emi was with him. No one knew she was here, and he thought it might be best that way for now. He looked up where Emi was still hopping around the store like an overjoyed rabbit with the hat on her head. "Lets go, I'll pay for that." He called.

10 months was a long time, almost a year. At first things were a little weird. Izaya wasn't considerate at all for another person, if Emi thought his strange personality or 'I love humans' speech was weird, well, she didn't say anything and quickly grew comfortable with the arrangement. As did Izaya.

The only people aware of the predicament were Shinra and Celty. Who saw Emi often for medical purposes on her leg, or when Izaya 'went out.' Code for street trolling or whatever the hell he did. No one talked about what would happen in two months, a whole year, when Shinra would declare Emi healed from the surgery that amputated her left leg and replaced it with a prosthetic. The group just assumed things would remain as they are.

Her personality made it easy for Izaya to live with her, but at the same time it bothered, interested and nagged him. Unlike everyone else she didn't react as expected to anything he said. His tricks didn't work on her. Emi wasn't fooled by him and his view on humanity didn't raise any surprise. Even the shock of loosing her leg didn't bother her, when he tried to strike a match she only responded with, "I'm just thankful I can still walk."

A tug on his sleeve, "You alive over there?" her yellow eyes were on him.

"Nope, just rotting away~" he trilled, walking back in the direction of home, a smile on his face, "Happy birthday kid."

...…...

The bell rang a harsh tune that made the students jump from their seats and gather their belongings. School was over, they were free.

Masaomi made his way over to Mikado's desk by the window. "We should stop by the Russian Sushi place on our way outta' here, Simon said he'd hook us up." Masaomi announced, Mikado nodded, "Sounds fine to me."

He was cut short when Masaomi leaned over his desk and stared out the window, "who is that with Izaya!" he questioned abruptly. Mikado looked in the direction his friend was pointing, "I don't know." He mumbled, watching Izaya walk by, a girl about their age a few steps ahead of him, circling back to playfully mess with him. Izaya didn't look bothered, just casual.

"C'mon. We're skipping sushi." Masaomi grabbed Mikado by the collar and drug him out the door of the classroom.

…...

"Slow down!"

"No way, he's probably going to kill her or something. A cute girl like that? I should save her, and then she'll be impressed and be my girlfriend." Masaomi grinned, winking and giving his friend the thumbs up.

Mikado sighed, "you're joking…right?"

They rounded a corner, Izaya was talking on his cell phone, and the girl was behind him sitting cross legged on the cement waiting for him to finish. She was wearing skinny jeans, skater shoes, and a tee shirt with a smiley face on it, a black hoodie and a red hat.

Izaya shut his phone, noticing Mikado and Masaomi standing there. 'We were almost home too.' He sighed with a smile, putting the phone back in his pocket. "Oi! Kida!" he called. Emi looked up at him, confused, and then looked over to where he was looking.

The blonde haired teenager walked over to meet him, his crow haired friend following, "You can't just walk by the school and not say hello." Masaomi complained sarcastically.

Izaya shrugged, "I have things to do Kida." He smirked.

"Who's your friend?"

Izaya didn't say anything; he just looked at Emi, who stood up to introduce herself, "I'm Emi Yamahizu, nice to meet you." She bowed.

I'm Masaomi Kida, and this is my friend Mikado Ryûgamine. The boy said cockily, a grin plastered on his face the whole time. Mikado scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "I'll split off here Masaomi, and I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye!" Masaomi called to his friend as he jogged off before turning back to Izaya, "what's the deal? Is she a job or something?" he asked boldly.

Emi's eyes flickered to Izaya, "No, but your guys did a number on her." The information broker cracked a smile at Kida's expression.

"…what?"

"Yellow Scarves."

"When?"

"About 10 months ago, on the bridge at the park." Izaya hummed.

Masaomi flinched; he remembered seeing the blood on the bridge, and the spray paint declaring who did it. He especially remembered the fight that ensued at their meet up spot when he told the gang members to knock it off with the stabbings.

Izaya continued, enjoying the reaction he was receiving, "she lost her…left leg." He chimed. Emi was quiet, neutral, standing next to, but half behind Izaya. This was awkward.

Masaomi stared at the sidewalk beneath his feet, Izaya was lying. He's a liar. Everyone knew that, everyone knew how Izaya messed with peoples heads, how he manipulated them. This was just another game of his; he was trying to get a rise.

Izaya stood in front of Masaomi, his eyes narrowed coyly, hands in his pockets and a smile on his smug face. The angry teen wanted nothing more than to punch the broker in the face.

"You sick-"

Emi stepped in front of Masaomi, her eyes flashing, "Izaya isn't lying!" she defended, her voice strained but high. She stabbed an accusatory finger at Masaomi's chest.

He stepped back, and retorted fiercely, "you have no idea who he is, do you?"

Her hand dropped to her side, fist clenched and shaking with anger, "he saved my life! What do you say to that? He isn't a bad person!" she hissed, lifting her left pant leg, revealing the metal and cords of the prosthetic leg as proof. As if it somehow justified her argument.

Masaomi froze, 'he wasn't lying.' He lifted his head and stared at Izaya. His crimson eyes were hard on the scene before him, tense, 'is he surprised?' as quickly as Masaomi identified the emotion, it was gone.

"Kida, as much as I enjoyed our chat, I'm afraid I must be going!" Izaya grinned at him, turning and walking off before Masaomi could work up a response. Much to his interest, Emi followed him.

'That asshole.'

…...

Izaya walked on, Emi ahead of him again. The kid defended him, said that he wasn't a bad person. No one has ever defended him before, no one. Did she really believe that? Did she really believe that he was a good person? And why did he care so much?

"Who was that guy back there? He didn't seem to like you at all." Emi said lightly, falling in to walk next to Izaya.

"Masaomi Kida, the founder and former leader of the Yellow Scarves." He said, almost as if to himself, a small smile was on his lips.

Emi looked at him, "…oh."

"Did you mean that?"

"Mean what?"

Izaya stopped walking, Emi turned to face him, her hands clasped behind her back. He was quiet for a minute, thinking, "what you said back there, about me. Did you mean it? Do you trust me?"

"Of course." She said, studying him.

Izaya let the smile return again, "good to know." He continued walking.

And I tried to guess what goes on in your head,
'Cause in your mind I just might find all those things you left unsaid.

-Come right out and say it.

Relient K