"Mikado! Where are you?" Kida called out his friend's name. Not caring if his fellow gang members found him or not. Finding his best friend was his main priority. The words 'please be okay' kept replaying in his mind over and over as he searched the back roads. He stopped and turned when he heard the sound of a motorcycle of some sort and followed where it was coming from. Much to his surprise, in front of him was the legendary Headless Rider. He hesitated to approach as he recalled his last meeting with the mysterious figure the other night.

"Hey, you!" Kida called out rudely. The person or thing it was turned its head to Kida's direction. The Headless Rider turned around and faced Kida, making the boy cautious. It stepped to the side, revealing what was hiding behind it. Kida's jaw fell as his eyes took in the sight before him. It was Mikado. And he wasn't moving. He was lying on the ground and a puddle of blood was around him. Kida stood still where he was, still trying to endure what he was seeing. His legs felt wobbly and he began to tremble.

"Mikado?" Kida walked hesitantly to the unconscious body but stopped when he noticed his leg being encircled by darkness. He looked up at the Headless Rider. He had almost forgotten that it was still standing there watching him. He pulled his leg and fell back.

"What are you doing!" The blonde glared at the being. The Headless Rider stood in front of Mikado, almost as if it was protecting him. Kida sat silent and watched. And then it hit him. "I… I didn't order this." He tried to explain. "They did this! It wasn't me!" Kida stopped when he heard the sound of sirens drawing nearer. He looked behind him, and then at the Headless Rider, and then at his friend. "No… I can't."

He came down to his final decision and that was to run away.

Kida didn't leave his home for a week. He separated himself and the world. He couldn't stand what was going around him. He cut off all ties with other people including Anri, Kadota and his gang, the yellow scarves, Simon, and especially Izaya. He didn't even bother to check his phone for unanswered calls or text. He would prefer not to see anyone.

"How long do you intend to go on with this?" A voice asked coming from his bedroom door.

Speak of the devil.

"…What do you want…? If you want to do it, then just hurry up and get it over with it." The teen answered with a curt response.

The man didn't respond. Instead he made his way to the bed Kida was lying in and sat down.

"You won't resist?" The informant asked. A few moments passed before Kida replied.

"…I don't care…" Kida whispered as his eyes fell. His mind wasn't focused on Orihara and what he was doing. He kept thinking about Mikado. How all of this could have been prevented. How his so called friends betrayed him. Suddenly, his mind came back again when he felt a harsh thrust.

"Ngh...!" His eyes fell shut as he endured the pain. Normally he would have tried to hold back his voice, but the groans couldn't stay in. He looked up at the informant looming over him and let out a sigh.

"Hm?" Orihara halted.

"It's funny…" Kida closed his eyes again.

"What is?"

"The reason why I let you do this to me was to keep him safe from you." Kida paused and looked up at the man again. "But now, this is totally pointless." Orihara returned Kida's gaze for a few moments until finally thrusting into again.

"So…" Orihara panted. "Why aren't you struggling?"

"I…I don't know anymore."

"You know, I went to go see him earlier today."

Kida sat up and looked at the man who was standing by the door.

"Doctors say he's in a coma." Kida's eyes widened.

"This whole time since then?" Kida asked worriedly.

"Seems like it." Orihara walked out the room.

"H-Hey! Where are you going?" Kida followed him to the front door.

"Around. You know how it is by now, Masaomi." Orihara answered. "See ya."

Kida watched the man leave and stumbled back onto the floor.

Orihara grinned at Mikado's unconscious body on the hospital bed. He couldn't get over the sight before him. Mikado laid there motionlessly. His head was bandaged and bruises were visible around his face.

"Serves you right boy." Orihara snickered.

A few moments past and the man heard a number of footsteps closing by. He looked at the door and saw Raira students. They weren't unfamiliar faces. One of the teens was Anri, the girl that Mikado supposedly has feelings for. Next to her was Mika Harima. She remembered Orihara from a few months ago and greeted him cheerfully. Lastly was a male student. Namie's younger brother in fact.

"Good to see you all again." Orihara greeted.

"Hi there." Mika replied as she and the others stepped in the room. Anri kept her head down as she held get well flowers close to her. Orihara noticed suspicious glare put up a warm smile.

"It's nice to see that Ryugamine has such good friends. I'll leave you all alone now." He said as he passed the trio. He felt a dangerous aura when he passed Anri and smirked.

"Seiji, what's wrong?" Mika asked her lover once Orihara left.

"That man… was smiling."

"Maybe you must have been seeing things. Come on, let's go see Ryugamine." The girl tugged Yagiri's arm towards Mikado.

Kida stood in front of Mikado's bed silently. The only sound that was filling the room was the heart monitor. As least he's alive, Kida thought.

"Mikado." Kida lowered his head.

"Masaomi."

Kida's head snapped up at Mikado and then to the door. His eyes widened at the figure standing in front of the door.

"Saki?" He began to approach her hesitantly. "You've recovered?"

Saki shook her head.

"Masaomi. There's something you need to know." Saki said as she stared down at the floor. Kida noticed her odd expression.

"Is something wrong?" Kida asked. Saki looked up at him and began to walk towards him.

"You've grown again, Masaomi." She giggled. Kida was began to grow warily.

"Saki?"

"Masaomi, please listen." Saki began. "Izaya… Don't go back to him."

The blonde flinched at the name as he listened on.

"He's using you! Whatever you do, don't go back to him!" Saki cried. She pointed at Mikado. "It was his doing."

"What?" Kida was taken aback.

"Izaya planned this." Kida's eyes grew. Something within him went off and anger exploded throughout his body.

"Were you part of this too?" Kida asked menacingly. "Don't lie to me."

"Masaomi…" Saki hesitated. "I didn't do anything."

"But you knew!" Kida's voice raged. "You knew it! All along… This whole time…"

"Wait, Masaomi!" Saki grabbed his hands. "I couldn't do anything. I'm sorry!"

Kida took his hands back forcefully. He turned away from Saki.

"I'm sorry for the noise Mikado." The blonde apologized and turned back to Saki. "Everything was a lie from the start wasn't it?"

The girl tried to get a word in but Kida ignored her as he walked out the room. Kida walked out the hospital, anger fuming all over his body. He stopped when he noticed Anri standing in front of him.

"Anri?" Kida's spirits lifted a little. Anri returned a glare at him.

"Did you see him?" Anri asked. Kida nodded. Anri balled her hands into fists and walked towards Kida. Kida was taken aback when he received a slap on the face.

"…You shouldn't be here…" Anri finished and entered the hospital.

After he was left alone, his anger grew again but this time, it was towards the yellow scarves. He wanted to hurt them all for putting Mikado in that condition. For making Anri and probably other classmates from school hate him. For turning him into his former self.

"This is the last time." Kida declared. "The last time anyone will ever use me."