Evading suspicion

Shizuka gasped feeling the sharp rocks dig into the suit as the tunnel got smaller. Without the suit on it would almost be suffocating. In her rush she hadn't bothered to check how much air the thing contained. The dark tunnel seemed to go on forever. "Ow!" Her helmet crashed into the wall in front of her. A dead end.

Trying to remain calm Shizuka reached out feeling along the wall. The demons loved their illusions, mind games and damn tunnels. For the directionally challenged the palace was a nightmare full of cruel mazes which she wasn't even sure had an exit. Feeling her hand slip further in the blonde grinned changing direction and following the new path.

Her memory was a little hazy on how long it was to get outside. Her knees hurt though she knew there wouldn't be any wounds, the same with her hands. The suit wasn't meant to protect against damage only the foul toxic air that corroded angels and humans. Even if Shizuo had wanted to stay in the demon's realm he would have had great difficulty.

No matter how much demon he had in him, the angel half would be affected. No, it was good that Shizuo was in the human realm. There safe behind the barrier the angels wouldn't be able to reach him. The demons though were another story. If they knew what he was...No, he could handle himself. Her son wasn't a child any longer.

Perhaps sooner than later he would be going through his awakening and fall into a defenceless slumber, the very thought scared her. As long as he didn't go into that sleep everything would be okay. No one knew what a demon and angel hybrid would become especially if her genetics played part.

Shaking her head Shizuka groaned feeling a sharp rock dig into her side a tell tale rip making her freeze. "Shit." A loud beep sounded in her ears a warning signally the suit had been damaged. Now she was in trouble depending on how large the rip was. Biting her lips she braced for the pain pulling herself through on hands and knees the low ceiling scraping against her back. "Gaaah!" It hurt but she had gotten this far.

x-x-x

Delic sighed as the door to his office burst open. "Delic-sama, I just saw the enforcer. He should be here in about five minutes." His irritation at being bothered dissolved. Pushing back from his desk where he had been daydreaming about meeting his dear younger brother again, the fallen angel patted one of his favourite strippers on the head.

"Make sure the place is cleansed send everyone in the VIP room is sent home. They can have extra time on their next visit." Delic remained calm and in control giving his orders. Readjusting his headphones he stepped from his office making sure everything was acceptable. The routine check had been made only a week ago. Surely his lookout had been mistaken? No the woman was a demon with impeccable eyesight.

The damn enforcer was on his way and the smell of sex and narcotics was permeating the air. Five minutes to make sure all evidence was gone. As commanded the door to the VIP room burst open barely dressed demons, fallen and humans rushing out. "Take the back entrance out." Most of them looked disappointed at being interrupted but who could blame them. A smirk touched his lips seeing a few had to be carried out. "Make sure you hide the equipment. Why can I still smell drugs?"

At this rate he would be caught out. The enforcer assigned to his club was a troublesome Orihara. Prideful, egotistical, cocky and a lion. It was troublesome trying to get past that sensitive sense of smell. In front of him the music continued, the dancers continuing to entertain his guests. "Hurry it up."

Exactly five minutes later there was a knock on the door. "Carry on. Double check everything is up to standards. Suzuki, let him in." Delic turned around striding back into his office taking a seat in his chair. Taking a pen from the holder he carried on with what he should have been doing. A knock on the door made him pause. "Come in."

The door opened an irate demon stepping into the room. The raven was ridiculous dressed like some sort of a prince, who did he think he was? Placing the pen down looking as if he had been busy Delic leaned back in the chair meeting cold golden orbs. "Well this is unexpected. You inspected the premises last week or was there something wrong?" It was too early he hadn't done anything suspicious to warrant another inspection.

"Silence commoner. You will speak when spoken to. How dare you make me walk this far." Hibiya was bossy as always, he would complain to Izaya about it except the two were brothers that seemed to have some sort of secret between them. That stupid fortune he had been given was suspicious as well. "Now you make me wait?"

Delic grinned wanting nothing better to do than teach the brat a lesson. He barely looked eighteen. One touch would be all it took. Luckily for the demon though he didn't fancy Izaya butting into his business. "My apologies, Hibiya-sama. Why don't you sit down and I'll get you a drink?" Biting his lip he tried to stop himself from laughing.

"Nonsense. I don't wish to spend longer than I have to in this den of filth." The raven scowled turning his nose in distaste. "Well commoner? Take me around." Delic stood dipping low into an exaggerated mock bow.

"As you wish, Hibiya-sama." One day he would teach the brat a lesson not to bother those older than him. The sooner this was over the sooner he could figure out whether it was Shizuo currently residing in Ikebukuro.

"What's that smell?" Delic froze seeing Hibiya's nose twitch, the long thin tail swish behind him. Crap. "Commoner I demand to know what that smell is!" Crap. What smell? He couldn't smell anything? The wannabe prince sniffed again striding over to him long sword at his side. "It's coming from you." Oh!

Delic smirked leaning forward. "My bad I had an acquaintance in here earlier. I told you before this club is my life, I rarely leave it and well I have my needs." With a sultry wink he placed his hands on the desk leaning back. "If you get what I mean..." Hibiya clearly did his face turning a nice shade of red.

"Y-you! I do not wish to know the details of your immoral acts. I will carry out my search. I order you to disinfect this office immediately." Delic nodded covering his mouth watching as the raven backed away slamming the door.

"Hahahahaha." Grabbing his stomach his fist banged on the table. Delic grinned he couldn't help teasing those that abhorred anything of a sexual nature. It wasn't something he could escape and if the Oriharas thought he would be deterred then they didn't know him very well. "Suzuki!" The door opened the demon ready to obey him. "Get the bar staff to make a drink for our guest. Maybe sex on the beach or a screaming orgasm." The door closed and Delic smiled. Hibiya wasn't a lion he was cub and the fallen angel knew how to deal with stubborn kittens.

x-x-x

Shizuka gasped finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Clearly she was getting old if just a bit of crawling made her tired. Pulling herself free the angel screamed as instead of crawling safely out onto the ground she found herself falling a few metres. Damn it she must have taken a wrong turn or the stupid demons had made the palace higher again. Either way she landed awkwardly on the soft sand below. At least she hoped it was sand.

The glass panel on the front of her helmet was cracked. A little tap and the air would be able to get in. Glancing down she could see a large tear along the side of her suit running from her hip to her breasts. The suit was scuffed, dirty and dusty and completely ruined. But since she wasn't feeling sick or gasping for air it was safe to assume for now the suit was still fulfilling its purpose. Here she was standing at the highest point everything set out before her.

Shizuka grimaced looking back up at the large staircase. Well demons loved their torture. Brushing herself down the blond pressed down a hand over the gaping rip. Pushing herself up her legs trembled from exhaustion. Now all she had to do was stay out of sight. If she was spotted the damn demons would cause an uproar or maybe attack her. "Ugh!" Crashing back to her knees Shizuka fell forward unable to move exhaustion taking over.

x-x-x

Delic smiled watching the dancers work their poles like masters the audience gazing at them adoringly waving money around. From his space he watched Hibiya cough and splutter thrusting the drink away from him. Stifling a laugh the fallen angel stepped in with an award winning smile. "Hibiya-sama, was my hospitality not to your liking?"

The heated glare made his smile widen. Reaching out his fingers began to glow lightly. "Don't touch me, commoner!" His hand was rudely smacked away. "What do you think you are doing offering me such obscene drinks? I'm leaving!" The prince snubbed him turning away.

"So soon? Was everything up to standard?" That was the main thing keeping his activities under wraps.

"...The smell of a-ar-arousal is overwhelming. I can't see anything amiss. I will be back again. Commoner, was it you that dared intrude in my home? The smell is different however you do look alike..." Delic blinked. Was it Shizuo? What would his brother be doing in Hibiya's home? "It was only for a moment before the intruder blinked out of existence and dared to escape from me. Pathetic angel begging for his life."

"...No." That didn't sound like Shizuo. His brother would never give in and surrender to anyone let alone beg. So if it wasn't Shizuo then that only left Tsukishima... That was impossible though... There was no way the pure angel would become a fallen. His youngest brother probably didn't know what sin even meant. Just what was going on with his family?

"Hm, it doesn't smell as if you are lying. I will take my leave now. Commoner escort me to the door." Delic breathed a small sigh used to the demands. The door was only a few paces away.

"As you wish, Hibiya-sama." Delic drawled walking ahead.

"I do not wish. I command and you will treat me with the respect I deserve!" Hibiya snapped his tail standing up on end. He would do as he was told maybe when the cub learned to roar. "I am the prideful king and you will obey me." Delic yawned opening the door.

"Would you like to be escorted home, Hibiya-sama? It is awfully late. We wouldn't want any harm coming to you now, would we?" The prince bristled glaring at him.

"I can handle myself. I'll have you know I am Hibiya Orihara." Delic nodded with a smile seeing the long sharp blade pointed at him. The door slammed shut. The smile slipped from his face realizing how close he had been to being discovered. "Suzuki?"

The demon stared at the door. "He's gone. His footsteps show no sign of coming back. We are clear of suspicion for now." Delic nodded staggering to the bar stool. "Do you want a drink?"

"Something strong. Make it a double." The fallen angel muttered staring at the polished wood. Tonight had been a close one they had barely escaped by the skin of their teeth. The diamond cut glass was set down in front of him the caramel liquid swirling around before he tipped it back letting it slide down the back of throat warming his belly. "Another. Screw it just give me the bottle. Suzuki get hold of one of Izaya's whores. I want an update on my brother. See if there has been any sightings of someone that looks like me."

Shizuo and Tsukishima, both of them couldn't possibly be in Ikebukuro at least not on this side of the barrier. Something was going on and he felt like he was the last to know. Throwing back another mouthful Delic walked past the now empty VIP room and into his office the door slamming behind him.