A/N: Oh my gosh this chapter has been in my phone for a really long time and it's only now that I post it. I am a terrible author. I am so, so sorry for making you wait!

Despite it all, if you're still supporting Gameplay, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My next update will take an even longer time since my finals are just around the corner, but I promise I will not abandon this fic, no matter how long it will take.

April 26, 2013

"This is so strange. So very strange."

"...Concur (Agreed)..."

"Right? How can this be possible? We've been looking for our horrible brother since forever and we still haven't found him. Ohh, Iza-nii's gonna get it from us now, making his adorable younger sisters run all over Tokyo just to look for him."

"...Amendment (Correction)... Investigate (We've only been checking)... Districts... (Ikebukuro and Shinjuku)... Surroundings (and the districts nearby)..."

"Aw, Kuru-nee, that doesn't matter. Nobody needs to know all the details. Besides, it gives us a better reason to send Iza-nii flying right into a truck when we see him."

"...Logic (That makes sense)..."

"Ugh, seriously, I feel like we've been here a million times already. Maybe we should start exploring the other parts of Tokyo instead. I don't wanna risk running into Shizuo-san again anyway. What do you think, Kuru-nee?"

"..."

"Hm? Kuru-nee? What's up? You're staring into space. Did you think of something? An idea of where Iza-nii may be? Ne, Kuru-nee? Did you? Ne-owowowow...!"

"...Quiet (Shut up)... Mind (I'm trying to think)..."

"Owwww... But you didn't have to use the pepper spray just to get me to shut up, Kuru-nee."

"...Disturbance (But you were being so noisy)... Temptation (I couldn't help it)..."

"Ugh, so cruel. Okay, okay, you win, Kuru-nee. So? Did you think of something?"

"...Miss (I lost track)... Blame (It's all your fault)..."

"Ehhhh. So I got sprayed for nothing? Or was Kuru-nee just making up an excuse to fulfill her sadistic tendencies-owowowow!"

"...Annoyance (You're getting on my nerves)..."

"So cruel, so cruel. Words can't even begin to describe how terrible a sister Kuru-nee is..."

"...Irony (Like you're any better)..."

"There's no beating Iza-nii, though. He's simply the worst!"

"...Absolute (That's a fact that will never change)..."

"Why are we even looking for him? Why? For all we know, he could be watching and laughing at us from some high building for running around like headless chickens."

"...Mystery (I don't understand why either)..."

"Right? It's so strange, right? Ne, are we strange too, Kuru-nee? Are we being strange for wanting to find Iza-nii?"

"..."

"...Everything's so strange..."

It had become some sort of a routine. One that didn't bother him too much, strangely enough.

Six days had passed since Izaya was brought in. Though to be more precise, it was already approaching the end of the seventh day, and Izaya had not shown an inkling of recovery throughout his stay. There were times when it looked as if he had recognised them as he stared at Shinra and Celty's presence and blinked slowly when they asked him questions, but the usual shine in his eyes was never there.

After monitoring Izaya's condition for the past week, Shinra theorised that Apathy Syndrome was, essentially, apathy in the greatest extremity. It wasn't like indifference or aloofness to something in general; not like somebody who was, say, relatively indifferent to the sad plight of a friend or expressionless when faced with a grotesque image, as a normal person might try to explain. Neither was it mere nonchalance towards one's surroundings or even towards oneself, as Shinra had initially believed.

It was the fact that the brain itself had stopped "caring" to function.

Not in the debilitating sense akin to brain death, no, but enough to warrant grave concern.

Because if the patient didn't recover soon, it would only be a matter of time before his entire body shut down.

Seemingly minor things that most people often took for granted: sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch. These five senses were all subject to Apathy Syndrome's influence - precisely because the brain had stopped functioning in the way it was supposed to. Patients could still use their five senses; could still recognise what they were seeing or smelling or touching. But somehow the part of the brain that coordinated the response towards the object they were sensing was not sending out any of the impulses necessary to initiate the response. And that was where the main problem lied.

Because of his condition, Izaya had been rendered unable to recognise hunger.

Or, rather, his body recognised that it was deprived of food and water, but Izaya himself couldn't care less.

And so by extension, there was another even more worrying possibility, one that convinced Shinra and Celty to remain by the informant's side as long and often as they could.

The possibility that Izaya could stop breathing entirely without any warning.

It wasn't like it was going to happen soon. Or that Shinra was certain it would happen at all. However that didn't change the fact that it was the main cause of death among the patients afflicted with the condition in Tatsumi Port Island.

And if it did happen...

"...Then Orihara-kun had died the moment he entered the TV," Shinra said.

He was as good as dead the way he was now, so what difference did it make?

[Don't say that.] Celty replied after she had finished wiping Izaya's face with a wet cloth. [We don't know for sure if Izaya won't recover.]

"But as a doctor, I've done all that I can." Shinra smiled wryly; he couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy at seeing Celty treat someone other than himself with such tender care. "I never thought I'd ever say this, because it's so cheesy... But whether Orihara-kun has a chance of recovery will depend on his own willpower now. Of course, knowing him, there's no doubt about his will to live, but I can't say for certain if the Orihara-kun right before us now even has a will of his own anymore."

'That's right,' Shinra thought to himself. 'Rather than the failure of the brain to function properly, it's more like...Orihara-kun has been robbed of his will. His personality; the very essence that made Izaya Izaya. And with that taken away, he's been reduced to a state like this.'

It was the cruellest form of punishment to a person like Izaya. Too fitting a punishment for it to be a mere coincidence.

After all, what better way was there to teach Orihara Izaya a lesson than to take away his own self - something he had so much pride in - and drag him down to the pits? Take away his love, his passion for life, and leave behind a hollow shell that no longer felt anything?

[I won't forgive whoever did this.] Celty said, her fingers curling into a fist. Her actions and words interrupted Shinra's train of thought.

The underground doctor chuckled. "You're really worried about him, huh?"

Celty was quick to respond. [N-no! Uh, well, yes, but-]

"I understand what you mean, Celty. You don't have to say anything." Shinra walked over towards her and helped soak the towel in the bowl of water. Keeping his gaze on what he was doing, he said, "You were about to explain that no matter what kind of person Izaya is, nobody deserves this kind of treatment, and so you're starting to feel sorry that he's in this plight now. But at the same time, you believe that it's precisely because that it's Izaya that he got what he deserved, and so you're feeling like you're letting down the people whose lives he had ruined by pitying him.

"Because I'm the same, Celty," Shinra said, wringing the cloth. "I know how you feel because I'm feeling the exact same way."

He didn't say this to please or reassure Celty. He really meant it.

Ever since Shizuo gave him that scolding a few days ago, Shinra had been thinking. Reconsidering his stand on all that had happened, his view on his friendship with Izaya.

"But whenever I think of that, I would remember my promise to you. That when the time comes, we would escape from Izaya's grasp together, no matter what happens." Shinra dabbed the wet cloth on Izaya's forehead, like tapping a piece of cotton wool soaked with antiseptic on an open wound. "But Celty... Izaya's my friend. He might have done a lot of horrible things, but he's still my friend. So if anything happens to him, I don't think I'll be able to ignore it after all."

And it was this feeling, this concern, that made Shinra feel horribly guilty. For it was almost akin to breaking that promise he made to Celty. Almost akin to admitting that he wasn't ready to cut Izaya completely off from his life, despite everything.

Six days back, when Shizuo questioned him, Shinra had acted as if he didn't care. But that was just a front; a facade he had put up for the sake of Celty, as Shizuo had said. If Celty, who had many reasons to detest Izaya, had known that Shinra was actually worried, then Celty would be caught in a difficult position, and Shinra didn't want that.

But Shinra didn't expect to be caught in that position himself.

Celty meant the world to him. His everything; the only person who mattered. So why was he feeling worried about someone who wasn't supposed to mean anything?

[...Shinra.]

The underground doctor turned, giving Celty a forced smile. "Please don't look so sad, Celty. And don't apologise, please. It isn't something you should feel responsible for." He paused to glance at his unconscious friend, removing the cloth to soak it in the pan. "It's me," he said. "I'm the one who can't let it go like it never happened. Weird, huh? I always tell you that you're the world to me, and yet..."

Celty held her hand out, wrapping it around Shinra's. [It's nothing to feel guilty about, Shinra. In fact, I'm relieved.]

"Relieved?" Shinra asked, looking at her.

Celty nodded. [I used to worry you wouldn't have any friends because of me. So when you told me about Izaya, I was really happy. Even until now, I'm still glad you had - and still have - him as a friend.] A pause. [Don't isolate yourself from the world around you, Shinra. I don't want you to give that up because of me.]

"But Celty-"

[No, Shinra. No matter how much you try to argue against it, it doesn't change the fact that I'm responsible for how you've turned out. Everything you do and say is for my sake, or for our relationship's sake, and I appreciate it. I really do. But Shinra, that's not healthy for you. I shouldn't be the only thing that matters to you. That's why I wanted you to have friends of your own, so that you can understand and recognise that there's still something worth your attention other than me. Especially since I'm...]

"Celty…?"

[...Look at Souji-kun and the others.] Celty continued. [Look at Izaya.]

Shinra remained silent, tilting his head slightly to glance at the television screen in his living room and then at the motionless man on the bed.

[This is what happens when you're too deeply involved with the supernatural, Shinra. Souji-kun and the others have to put their lives on the line, and Izaya was lucky to escape with his life, but nobody can say for sure that the same will happen if something similar happens again. And I...] The Dullahan's fingers began to tremble. [I... I don't want you ending up in that sort of danger.]

Shinra stared at Izaya with a stoic expression, contemplating Celty's words before he finally turned to her and smiled.

"Celty really is the best thing that has ever happened to me," he said, walking towards his beloved and pulling her into an embrace. "But Celty... This is what a normal life means to me. Even for people who know nothing about the supernatural, no one can guarantee they'll be able to return home safe and sound, but that doesn't stop people from loving someone. And if having my life revolve solely around you is going to invite danger for me, then I don't mind it as long as I'm with you.

"But Izaya and Shizuo-kun are different. I admit it now, I don't think I'll ever be able to ignore my friendship with them, but you matter more to me than they do, Celty. No matter who it is, you take priority over them. So even though there may be other things worth my attention, ultimately you are at the centre of it all." Shinra tightened his embrace. "I just need you in my life."

Shinra was even more certain of that fact now than ever.

Regardless of whatever he did, it would be meaningless if Celty wasn't part of his life. Even if she found him to be leading an unhealthy life or he would someday risk facing grave danger because of his relationship with her, all Shinra wanted was for Celty to remain by his side.

It was a selfish wish, and he knew it. And he was sure Celty knew, too. But in spite of that, she loved him, to the point that she wanted him to distance himself from her for his own sake. But that was why he knew he needed her all the more.

After all, how could he bring himself to distance himself from the person who loved him and whom he loved so much?

Wasn't it precisely because of the fragility of human life that he ought to treasure every moment he had with her without fear?

Celty returned the embrace, letting her shadow type out her heartfelt reply. [I need you, too.]

Shinra's smile widened.

"Heeeeey, Cel-chan! Shinra-san! Ah, oops."

The couple immediately parted from each other at the sound of somebody yelling, before they realised and recognised the voice to be Teddie's. True enough, there was the blond, standing by the doorway with widened eyes and a hand covering his gaping jaw.

"Ehehe... Um, sorry, did I just ruin your, uh, moment?"

"Oh, not at all, not at all," Shinra replied with an unnatural cheer. Celty turned away with a poof of smoke from her neck. "So, you're done with the investigation for the day?"

"Yup! Sensei and the others are making their way back now," Teddie said with an energetic nod.

Then, as if his words were magic, the familiar ripples surfaced on the television screen, and not long after, Souji and his teammates crawled out one by one.

They all looked the same as before they had gone in: still neat and proper, equipped with their special eye ware, and had no obvious bruises or injuries. To normal people who knew nothing of what the group of teenagers were doing, they might be relieved to see that they were safe and that nothing major had happened. But to Shinra and Celty, who understood the team's purpose in re-entering the TV world, they were also apprehensive about the outcome of the team's search after noticing that they were mostly unharmed and free from grime or dust on top of their concern for their welfare.

"I take it you couldn't find him?" Shinra asked.

With a quiet sigh, Souji shook his head. "We've looked everywhere, but the fortress was nowhere in sight. There were no signs of his presence anymore either."

"It was a weak signal, as usual," Rise said, exhaustion evident in her voice. "I still can't tell whether it was the remains of the fortress or Orihara-san's Shadow I was sensing. It was just too weak for me to tell."

"Ugh, this sucks." Yosuke folded his arms, throwing the floor a glare. "It's been days, and still nothing. Nada. Zip. It doesn't make any sense. I mean, putting the Shadow aside, how could a whole dungeon disappear without a trace just like that?"

"And it's not just the fortress," said Yukiko. "The Shadows that usually wandered around the area are gone, too. They had been steadily decreasing over the past few days, but today they've all vanished. It's extremely unusual..."

"...Were we too late after all?"

Silence fell after Naoto whispered the terrifying thought that had been on her friends' and her mind.

[It's alright. You all did what you could do. What's more important now is for you to rest.]

The team did not reply, and the silence lingered before Chie decided it was best to switch topics.

"How's Orihara-san, by the way? Is he getting any better?" she asked.

Shinra shrugged. "There hasn't been any changes. But that's a good thing, I guess. No news is good news, as the saying goes."

Souji nodded curtly. "At least he's still alive," he said. "That's all that matters for now."

Shinra and Celty couldn't have agreed more.

CHATROOM

Setton-san has logged in.

Tanaka Tarou
Oh, Setton-san! Good evening.

Setton
Ah, good evening.

Setton
It's just the two of us online today?

Tanaka Tarou
No, Bakyura-san, Kyo-san and Mai-san were here earlier. But they've all left because they have something to do.

Setton
I see...

Setton
I'm surprised you're still online, then. Especially when it's so late. Are you waiting for someone to log in?

Tanaka Tarou
Ah...yes.

Tanaka Tarou
Though it seems she won't be online today, as usual.

Setton
...Can I...ask who it is?

Setton
Oh but if you're not comfortable with telling me, it's perfectly fine!

Tanaka Tarou
Ahaha, it's fine, Setton-san. I've been meaning to ask if you've seen her anyway.

Tanaka Tarou
It's Kanra-san.

Setton
A-ahh, Kanra. I see...

Tanaka Tarou
Lately Bakyura-san and the others have been wondering about her too. Do you happen to know whether she's alright?

Setton
I'm sorry, I haven't heard anything.

Tanaka Tarou
Yeah, that's what I thought... Seems like nobody knows what happened to her.

Tanaka Tarou
But still, thank you, Setton-san.

Setton
No, I should apologise... I'm sorry I'm not of any help.

Tanaka Tarou
Please don't say that, Setton-san.

Tanaka Tarou
Well... I guess I should get going now. I'll come back tomorrow.

Setton
Um, I'm not sure that's a good idea if you're trying to find Kanra-san.

Tanaka Tarou
?

Setton
Ah, no, I mean...

Setton
Since nobody has heard of anything about Kanra-san for the past few days, then maybe she's trying to stay hidden. And since she's going to such lengths to stay hidden, then it might be something serious.

Setton
So I don't think she'll be coming to the chatroom anytime soon.

Tanaka Tarou
Hmm… That's true.

Tanaka Tarou
Kanra-san is involved in a rather dangerous job after all, right?

Tanaka Tarou
Maybe she's found out something but can't risk anyone finding her.

Setton
Yes, that might be it.

Tanaka Tarou
I see. I understand.

Tanaka Tarou
Thank you, Setton-san. I'll still drop by tomorrow, though. I hope to catch up with the other users in this chatroom.

Setton
Of course. Then I'll try to do the same.

Tanaka Tarou
Well then, good night, Setton-san.

Setton
Good night.

Tanaka Tarou-san has left the chatroom.

Setton-san has left the chatroom.

Nobody is in the chatroom now.

Nobody is in the chatroom now.

... ...

"...Annoying."

That had been the first thing Shizuo said once he bumped into Simon after parting ways with Tom and Vorona.

"It's so annoying."

"What annoys you so?" Simon asked, before he held up his flyers in an innocent manner.

Shizuo waved it off, holding a lit cigarette between his fingers. "I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about...this." He spat out the last word as a growl.

"'This'?"

"This. I mean...this."

Simon simply stared at Shizuo, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Shizuo sighed exasperatedly. "This...this whole week. It's been too peaceful. Way too peaceful if you ask me."

His answer only served to add to Simon's confusion. "But peace is good. Peace like sushi. Eat sushi, get peace."

"Yeah, I get what you mean..." A pause. "Uh, actually, not really. But anyway, Simon. What I'm tryin' to say is, this peace is way too unnatural. And it's pissing me off."

Simon's frown deepened. "You do not want peace?"

"It's not that I don't want it. I mean, it's something I've been asking for all my life, but..." Shizuo trailed off, taking a moment to consider how to phrase his next words, "...but I'm not getting a good feeling about this so-called peace. It's like... I get the feeling that somebody's watching. Somebody like the flea. And call me nuts or whatever, but it really doesn't help that I've been hearing him call my name the past week even though he's never there when that happens."

Simon said nothing, and kept his gaze on his friend before he replaced his serious expression with a welcoming smile on his face as he greeted passers-by and handed them flyers.

Shizuo remained where he was - leaning against the wall of a nearby building by the pavement where Simon did his promotion - and brought the cigarette to his lips, taking a deep breath from it.

"I see," the Russian said, breaking the silence. "So you miss Izaya."

The fortissimo of Ikebukuro choked on his cigarette.

"What the-where the hell did that come from?!"

Simon turned towards him, the smile wiped clean from his face.

"Not that meaning," the Russian said. "Trouble in Ikebukuro, always involve Izaya. Now no trouble, still believe Izaya's involvement. So I say to you, Shizuo: not everything Izaya's fault. You too used to Izaya's meddling, you paranoid about peace and even hear his voice. It almost like you want something to happen so that you have reason to blame Izaya for it. That is what I mean by 'You miss Izaya'."

"..."

"You no wrong to think that, Shizuo. But it not healthy thinking, no no."

Was that it? Was that really true?

Shizuo wondered about what Simon said as he took another whiff of his cigarette.

Maybe, to some extent, it had been true, since what Simon said did make sense, but it wasn't like Ikebukuro had never known peace in all her life. Shizuo had gone through long periods of time where nothing major really happened, and yet he never felt that something was amiss during those times. All along, it was only when something did happen - usually something bad - that Shizuo could smell Izaya's dirty involvement in the incident. Never at times of tranquillity.

But this time, the past week had been too peaceful to be true.

Shizuo was half-convinced that it had something to do with all the weirdness lately: the body hanging from the lamppost, TVs that came alive on rainy nights, things like Personas and Shadows...

Then there was also the fact that Izaya, the Orihara Izaya, somehow got himself caught and tossed into a TV, was subject to this large black mass' strangling and suffocation, and was now practically lying on his deathbed.

And right after all that messed up stuff was just a week's worth of peace? How was he not supposed to believe that the whole thing was too suspicious to ignore?

Not only that, but he had been hearing Izaya's voice at random times for the past week. If that wasn't suspicious, Shizuo didn't know what was.

"...I see. I get it."

Shizuo stepped away from the wall.

"Hmm? Where you going, Shizuo?"

"I'm heading home. Got lots to think about."

"Ohh. Thinking is good. Sort out thoughts, get clearer picture."

"Right."

Shizuo stuck the cigarette between the side edge of his teeth as he turned in the direction of his home.

"Thanks, Simon. I'll see you around."

"Take care, Shizuo!"

Shizuo gave Simon a wave as he walked away.

But unlike what he had told the Russian, however, Shizuo did not head home.

He had every intention to return home and sleep away the exhaustion from the day's work, but the more he got absorbed in his own thoughts, the more he deviated from the path home without him realising it.

Thoughts like how things had been for the kids for the past week. And even how the flea was doing. After visiting Izaya a week ago, Shizuo made it absolutely clear to Shinra that he didn't want to be updated on the flea's condition at all - knowing Shinra he would use all sorts of excuses to spam Shizuo - unless something major happened, and then left the doctor's apartment after Shinra agreed. True to his word, Shinra hadn't contacted him for the past week, and thinking back on it now Shizuo realised just how stupid and impulsive he was to have made that request.

Because it had created the very peace that Shizuo was growing suspicious of.

Without any updates, it was only natural to assume that nothing had changed, but considering how the impossible had happened, and how quickly it had happened, it was hard for Shizuo to simply accept that everything was now fine and dandy and that there wasn't anything to worry about.

The same went for those kids. Shizuo wondered if they were getting the same vibes as he, or how they had been handling the past week. They were pretty hard on themselves for what had happened to Izaya, after all.

Shizuo's mind kept reeling and reeling, and with it his feet as they continued bringing the distracted blond further and further away from his intended destination.

When he realised that something wasn't quite right, it was only because he found himself waiting for the elevator in a lobby that he did not recognise as the one he normally used.

"...Shit."

He had gone to Shinra's apartment instead of his own.

Shizuo ran his hand through his hair, resisting the urge to punch a dent in the wall.

The realisation was so awkward Shizuo wasted no time in getting away, this time focusing on getting home without heading off to some other place again.

"Dammit dammit dammit dammit... Why did I do that? Why the hell did I go and do that? Dammit dammit dammit..."

Shizuo mumbled to no one in particular he walked down the Kawagoe Highway.

"Idiot. You just had to be an idiot to walk right up to Shinra's without realising it. How stupid could you get?" the blond snarled to himself.

Why Shinra's, of all places? Even if his body wanted to wander off somewhere, it could've picked somewhere other than Shinra's. Then at least it wouldn't have looked like he came to visit Izaya or anything of the sort. If Shinra or Celty happened to be out and saw him there, or happened to be looking out of the window and saw him downstairs, what would they think?

Shizuo hastened his pace.

In his hurry, he knocked right into the lamppost in his path and accidentally bent it over. The light flickered dead with a zap, leaving this part of the road dark and gloomy.

Shizuo stared at his unintended handicraft, looked around him, and then tried to reshape it back into its original form sheepishly.

As he pushed the metal pole back in place, Shizuo glanced up to make sure it looked straight before he stepped back and waited. The lamppost could stand without his support, which was a good thing. But the bulb remained dead, which wasn't.

There wasn't anything else he could do about the light now, Shizuo decided with a tinge of regret. He could only hope it would turn itself back on somehow, or that somebody would come and fix it. He berated himself for making such a careless mistake.

Then, just as Shizuo was about to turn and leave, his eyes caught sight of the full moon, in all its borrowed glory, right up in the night sky.

It wasn't that the moon was any unnatural occurrence or anything, but Shizuo found himself unable to turn away from seeing it. And it was most likely because of something someone told him. Something about the lunar cycle, and how it was linked to some other thing.

His gut instinct told him it was Shinra who mentioned it, but Shizuo couldn't remember when and what exactly it was about. So eventually, he chalked it up as one of his childhood friend's long ramblings which he couldn't bother to remember in detail, and left.

As he walked home, leaving the Kawagoe Highway and passing by the familiar streets and bakeries and little shops, Shizuo suddenly came to a stop at the intersection near the Sunshine 60 building after he heard Izaya's voice for the umpteenth time that week.

While he had learnt how to ignore it, this time he couldn't help but turn in the direction the voice came from.

Because unlike the previous times, the voice was loud. Almost to the point that it sounded as if Izaya were speaking directly into his ear.

And that was when Shizuo saw him.

Across the road, from the pavement he was on, was a raven-haired man. Dressed in a coat with fur trims too familiar to be a coincidence, with black, slim-fit pants and shoes that Shizuo was all too used to. Headed for the entrance of Sunshine 60, even though the department store was already closed for the day.

"...What the flying f-"

Shizuo couldn't finish his sentence, too stunned to utter another word.

For the man had disappeared into some alley near Sunshine 60 before Shizuo could call him out.

Dashing across the road the moment the green man light was on, Shizuo reached for his cellphone and hurriedly dialled Shinra's number. He headed into the alley, and saw an opened door, no doubt the door that people ran out from when there was an emergency in the store. Cursing under his breath when Shinra still failed to pick up, Shizuo cancelled the call and dialled the number again as he ran up the stairs.

The doctor finally answered when Shizuo made the fifth call.

"Look, I don't care who you are, or why you're calling me, but I'm busy with my beloved at the moment and I don't appreciate-"

"Shinra," Shizuo growled.

"...Oh." A pause. "Oh hi there, Shizuo-kun! I, uh, wasn't expecting this. Ehehe... Uh, well, um, what can I do for you at this hour?"

"You can do me a big favour by go checking up on the flea."

"...Izaya? Why? Is something wrong?"

"Yeah, either I'm going crazy or you're not doing a good job of looking after him like you're supposed to."

"Ahh, I see. So you're worried about him after all."

"That's not it, dumbass."

"Well, if it's not, then I can't think of any other reason why you made this phone call, then. And at this time of the day, too."

"Stop caring about the reasons and just do it already!"

"Alright, alright. Geez, you don't have to flare up at me. Just give me a moment here."

Shizuo relented, focusing on catching up to the flea - the bastard sure was fast for someone who was supposed to dying, last he heard - and kept his phone to his ear. He heard some muffled shuffling over the phone, a bit of quiet complaining on Shinra's part, and then finally the creak of a door opening. Silence followed after that.

"...Oi, Shinra? You still there?"

"...Shizuo-kun..."

The mild shock in Shinra's voice caused Shizuo to tighten his grip around his phone.

"Let... Let me ask you a question. To confirm something."

"Shoot."

"Are you...chasing a particular somebody as we speak? Somebody whom we thought to have been dying?"

"Unless the flea has found some way to clone himself, yeah. Yeah I am," Shizuo grunted.

"...Ah. Oh dear." Shinra chuckled nervously. "That...explains things."

"The hell it does! I thought the flea was in some shitty condition? Why is he here, out in the streets and going up flights of stairs like nothing's happened?! Damn flea's going faster than me. I'm not even sure if he's here anymore, dammit!"

"Well... One thing's for certain, at least. And that's the fact that Izaya isn't in the room anymore." Shinra stopped, as if waiting for Shizuo to respond. When he didn't, Shinra continued, "Which means that that's our chance."

Shizuo raised an eyebrow at that. "Chance? What chance?"

"Don't you remember, Shizuo-kun? Apathy Syndrome is linked to the lunar cycle. I told you that before. You know, how a significant number of the residents of Tatsumi Port Island somehow suffered the outbreak with some of them recovering for no reason on nights of a full moon?"

To be honest, he didn't remember much. All he had was an inkling that Shinra had maybe said something like that before, but Shizuo decided against voicing that out and simply remained quiet.

"Even until now, the link between the lunar cycle and Apathy Syndrome is an enigma to all researchers looking into the disease, so there's no guarantee that what I'm about to predict will come true, but..." A pause. "Since the lunar cycle is connected to the recovery of a patient with Apathy Syndrome, and tonight is a full moon... There's a good chance that Izaya just might recover. But at the same time, there's an equally likely chance that he'll never be the same Izaya we know again.

"So Shizuo-kun," Shinra continued to speak, "I know I'm asking a lot of you, but please, find some way to catch up to Izaya. And don't lose sight of him. If anything, treat it like it's your final opportunity to chase him. There's no telling what will become of him after tonight."

"..."

"I'll stay on the line. Update me on whatever you think is important. Celty and I will make our way there now."

"...Alright." Shizuo kept running. Had been for the past however-long-it-had-been, but his speech was coherent. "I'm at Sunshine 60, going up the emergency staircase. Looks to me like the flea's heading for the roof, so try to get up there instead."

"Understood. I'll go explain the situation to Celty now, so don't hang up yet, Shizuo-kun."

And then Shinra's voice was gone, replaced by a tense silence filling Shizuo with dread and hope all at the same time.