grrlsvomitcandy- well this is your lucky day! :D I like responding to all of my reviews because it makes the person feel important, and they really are since they're the ones who motivate me to write.
Rai Rai Blue- My life is always hectic, but cranking out these chapters really helps. And hey, if I can make someone happy with these fics then I'll be sure to keep them coming. ^^
When Shinra woke up in the morning he already had the sense that something was wrong. His insides felt knotted up with anxiety. Immediately he began listing off logical medical explanations for why he felt that way, but none of them were at all convincing. He told himself it was just because of a test he later that day, but even he didn't believe that. It was in anatomy which was his best class and he had no chance of failing. Still, he needed some way to put his mind at ease.
As he went through his morning routine which included breakfast with Celty and a punch to the stomach, he slowly forgot about his apprehension earlier.
His ignorant bliss continued throughout the majority of his day; he didn't stress at all during his test. Lunch was nothing more than average when he sat on top of the roof with Shizuo and Kadota. Shinra even managed to ignore the nagging feeling that he shouldn't be sitting where he was. He denied the feeling that this was a bad place to be, that it was dangerous. This thought was pushed even farther away when Shizuo pouted and grumbled over his spilt strawberry milk. It was amazing how this proverbial display put him in a better mood.
It was during the last period of the day that his nervousness came back. He had already finished his math homework and tucked it away in his school bag. Shizuo was working diligently on his own work, brow furrowed in deep thought. The distressed look on his face unsettled Shinra. Was his friend having this same feeling? Could it be that Shizuo was having just as much trouble concentrating? Shinra reasoned that it was more likely that his friend was simply confused by the numbers. But still, the 'what if's were gnawing at his brain in a most unpleasant manner. He hadn't even realized he was chewing his lip until the bell startled him into biting down hard enough that he began to bleed.
Shizuo looked up at the sound of a yelp to see Shinra nursing his bleeding lip. He zeroed in on the blood and frowned.
Blood. It was on his shirt, staining his jacket, and matting down his hair. A few drops had even escaped past a pair of pale lips. The deep red color started to was drip down the thin face and mingle with the raindrops. In the air hung a sharp and metallic smell that couldn't even be washed away by the storm around them.
He refused to think about that anymore. It's not like it was an important memory; Izaya was still alive after all. And Izaya still needed the charger to his computer.
"We need to go to Izaya's house. You know, for the charger."
Shizuo scoffed and shoved his hand in his pockets, staring at his bag which still lay on the ground. He didn't want to admit that he was thinking the same thing, and was almost eager to do so. "You can go on your own."
"Shizuo, please. I don't particularly want to face Izaya's family on my own. You've seen his sisters," Shinra grimaced slightly at the though. The flea's sisters were odd to say the very least, making both boys wonder what the rest of Izaya's relatives would be like.
"Damn it Shinra, I'll go, okay? Just so you don't get harassed by those twerps," Shizuo said in a huff. He flung his bag over his shoulder and started off towards his classmate's apartment while Shinra scrambled to get his things and stop the bleeding of his lip.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Honestly, Shizuo was pretty sure they were lost. They had been walking for what seemed like forever and he was getting fed up with it. He was so ready to spear something with a street sign. Shinra didn't notice or care, though. He was too caught up in his frazzled emotions.
It felt like someone had tied up his intestines in an intricate knot and then squeezed on his lungs. This could be a physical symptom for what is called fear. Shinra had no idea why he felt this way, it was just natural reaction. His fight or flight instincts were raging and it seemed like flight was winning. Yet despite his better judgment, he trudged on.
"I already explained to you that Izaya's apartment is in Shinjuku, therefore we have to walk quite a way to get there. The complex is right there, Shizuo," Shinra said with a sigh. His friend grumbled but didn't say anymore since Shinra was already pushing open a set of glass doors that led to a very nice looking apartment building.
His heartbeat elevated with every flight of stairs that they climbed, so when they reached the sleek black door with Izaya's address written in golden numbers, Shinra's heart was absolutely racing. He took hold of the matching gold knocker placed below the numbers and tapped a few times with little strength. Both boys waited silently. They didn't get a response.
Shinra repeated this action twice before Shizuo took control of the situation and banged the knocker like his life depended on it. From inside there was a clatter of what sounded like plates and the scraping of a chair on tiled floor.
The door opened, held there by a middle aged man with dark hair, who Shizuo assumed to be Izaya's father. A pair of reading glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose and made him look older than he probably was. Behind the lenses were a set of eyes that were all too familiar for Shizuo's taste. They were the same deep maroon color as Izaya's. However, these eyes didn't hold the same taunting spark; instead they had a cruel glint like the edge of a knife.
When neither Shinra nor Shizuo spoke, the man glowered at them. "I'm assuming you came here with a reason, so what is it?"
Shinra floundered around for a response before saying, "Izaya needs his laptop charger."
"Why? Where is he?" The genuine look of confusion on the man's face reflected on Shinra's, minus the annoyance.
"He's in the hospital…"
When Izaya's dad's confusion lifted, it was replaced by anger. "What? What'd he do?"
This intensity in his voice made Shinra shrink back and Shizuo step up. If someone was presenting a threat to him or someone that he cared about, he was going to take on the challenge.
"He tried to commit suicide," Shizuo explained with an even tone.
Even that didn't make the man show any concern. Instead he grumbled about trouble and bullshit before grabbing a tangled chord from a socket nearby. He pulled on a coat and shoved past the two high school students.
"Mairu! Kururi! I'll be back later, I have to deal with Izaya."
The twins were sitting on the couch together, previously unnoticed, and pressed into each other's sides. They just nodded without saying a word. Izaya's father slammed the door and cut off the view of the girls who were exchanging a knowing glance. It made Shizuo wondered if things like this had happened before he had even met Izaya. The notion made his blood run cold.
"Should we go to the hospital too?" Shinra asked meekly. Shizuo seriously contemplated this, more seriously than he had done anything in a long time. His gut was saying yes, but his head said no. Logically, it made sense to go with his head. Whenever he went with his gut he made things worse.
"No," he replied, praying to anyone who would listen that he had made the right choice.
Oh golly...this was...yeah. This was written during the little down time I've gotten this weekend, and it was after dealing with some major angst so...I apologize if it's not everything it could be.
We're getting into some hardcore stuff though, folks. Hold onto your hats and strap down the children. Shit is about to hit the fan for Izaya.
~Chickadee
