Duality

The cab driver was nice enough to waver the driving cost but that was as far as the man's kindness went. It hadn't helped that neither he nor his counterpart had been very cooperative. Mikado stood outside the burnt out apartment, staring up at the place he had been so happy.

"Not you. Me." Kanra whispered.

Mikado said nothing taking the first step forward in disbelief. No matter how long he stared up at the damage, he couldn't believe Izaya would let it happen or that the informant was no longer alive. Another step forward and the raven reached one numb hand, wiping at his eyes. He was back in Ikebukuro. They were back in Ikebukuro and Izaya had yet to show. There had been no welcoming party or even a whisper about their return. Another step forward towards the police tape and Kanra piped up from the quicksand of misery the pair of them were slowing being swallowed by.

"...where's Izaya-nii?"

"I don't know." Mikado answered numbly, grabbing at the tape. "I don't know where he is." Wrenching up the tape, the raven ducked underneath trudging into the building.

"...it's unsafe."

"I know."

"...we shouldn't go in." Kanra murmured.

"It's our home."

"It's a burnt out shell. You know who's to blame."

Mikado closed his eyes, taking a step backwards. Kanra was right. What was left of the building was a death trap. Shizuo and Izaya would scold him non stop if they knew he had endangered his life. But that wasn't all. The air was stained with the cloying smell of fire.

Staring down at his knees, the raven witnessed the shaking of his legs. Even if he wanted to go further...he wouldn't be able to. Clutching at his hood, Mikado took one last long look at his home. Turning sharply he ran from the building blindly down the street.

x-x-x

"Where are we?" Kanra muttered.

"I don't know." Mikado answered listlessly. He had been walking without a destination in mind. Time to think was his goal and that had certainly been accomplished, along with getting lost in a town that thought he was dead.

His surroundings were getting easier to see, the sun beginning to rise in the horizon. Mikado might have uttered that it was beautiful in a less troublesome time.

"Where do we go?"

"I don't know." Kanra answered. "You're not safe here."

"...I don't care." Mikado shrugged trudging forward. His feet were aching from the long burst of exercise, given that he had been trapped in a house with nowhere to move. "If Izaya isn't-"

"Then what about Shizuo?" Kanra stopped them in their tracks. Mikado looked down bleakly at his hand. It wasn't his hand, it wasn't his will. Kanra was moving it, slapping him on the head. "We don't know what happened whilst we were away."

"We got sent away."

"Maybe it was for our own good." Mikado stared at his feet, watching as they moved forward one step in front of another. "We should rest."

"We will. As soon as we find somewhere safe. I think I recognise this place." Kanra took control pushing them forward.

"Do you?" Mikado asked hearing a car whizz past them. Lowering his head, the hood was tugged further over his face making him look like a street rat.

"...no." Kanra confessed slowing to a halt. "Sorry. Looks like-"

"We're lost." Mikado finished looking around.

"Yeah."

Slumping against the nearest wall, Mikado kept one hand on the hood in a tight grip and the other over his heart; the organ thumping like crazy, painful. The blood rushed to his head, the pounding getting louder. A panic attack, the raven realised slowly sliding down the wall.

"They're going to kill me." He rasped.

"Maybe maim you a little." Kanra supplied forcing their body to stand. "Come on. We can at least find someone to help. Celty or Anri."

"We're lost and-" tired blue eyes widened seeing his view blocked. A long black limo slowly pulled up on the road in front of them. Mikado shrank back as the door opened. "No."

Two burly men stepped outside striding over to him menacingly. Mikado went to run, caught between the pair. His foot made a connection to the back of the brute's knee and the man didn't flinch.

Kanra kicked, punched and clawed at the men trying to get free. The darkness of the interior was getting closer, Mikado flew to the floor hearing the door close behind him. At his eye level he stared at the black leather shoes and the ends of white pants. From above a chilling aura had him shivering where he lay.

"Mikado Ryugamine. It's been a while. Please sit. I apologise for my subordinates rough handling."

Scrambling up onto the seat, Mikado stared nervously across at the yakuza. "...That's okay."

"A lot has happened whilst you've been away." Shiki explained. "It's not safe for you to be wandering around like that."

"Where's Izaya-nii?" Kanra asked folding her arms. Leaning back against the seat, she was much more brazen and confident than he could ever hope to be. She was the one that looked the yakuza straight in the eye, demanding the truth.

"Ah. I'm afraid I don't know. I'd like to know that myself. There were quite a few cases pending before his disappearance."

"Our home was destroyed. Did you have a part in that?" Kanra demanded crossing one leg over the other. "Were you angry Izaya-nii sent me away?"

The elder man smiled leaning forward. "No. I didn't have a part in the fire. I was quite put out when I found out you were no longer available. Still you're back now."

"Then Shizuo! Did you have anything to do with his disappearance?"

"No. I didn't. Kidnapping isn't a method I use."

"You've kidnapped me now." Kanra pointed out. "I wasn't asked."

"For your safety." Shiki shrugged leaning back again. "Quite reckless of you to roam around without a disguise."

Mikado averted his eyes. "...we didn't have time."

"I assume you didn't know about Izaya or you wouldn't have run away from home."

"This is my home." Kanra declared. "Izaya-nii and Shizuo are my lovers. I want to see them!"

"Then perhaps we can help each other." The yakuza smiled. Mikado shuddered feeling the limo move.

x-x-x

Both Mikado and Kanra had their suspicions before but led to the little room, that feeling grew. Shiki was behind them flanked by the two muscled bodyguards. The room was a dressing room with a makeup dresser and a closet. Mikado warily eyed the bed and the door which would connect to an en suite bathroom.

"Use the room how you see fit."

"Wait! We didn't agree to anything!" Kanra spun around on her heel. The door was already closing. "Hey!" Click. "Damn. Another prison just a different place."

Mikado slumped against the door giving up on tugging at the handle. Locked. The room was bigger than his own back at home. "Maybe it's just temporary."

"That's what you said about your parents." Kanra grumbled. "Let's get changed and get out of here." Mikado scowled over at the mirror.

"I'm not dressing as a girl."

"I'm not dressing as a guy!" Kanra argued taking a seat. With a smile she took the makeup brush. Mikado smacked it away with his other hand. "Hey!"

"No makeup!" Mikado clutched the edge of the dresser hanging on tightly. Kanra wrestled for control trying to reach for the brush. "Please."

"Fine." His counterpart relented. "Let's put the contact lenses in. Ah, they're already ready." Kanra smiled gently lowering her finger into the solution. "Shiki is thorough."

"And dangerous." Mikado murmured glancing worriedly at the door. Looking back to the mirror he could see one vermilion eye staring back at him. Flinching back he whacked the small pot from the dresser.

"Hey!" Kanra snapped glaring at him. "What's the deal?" Walking over to the mess, the raven crouched down carefully reaching for the delicate lens. Mikado stood up crushing the lens underfoot. "What is your problem? I thought you wanted to live?"

"Not by becoming you. I'm not hiding anymore." Mikado spoke quickly. "I'm not being suppressed."

Kanra sighed shaking her head. They were back at the mirror looking at the reflection. "I suppose it's fine. It's a bit edgy. I won't wear any makeup. It's not like we need it."

"Really?" Mikado asked quietly. "What about the skirt?"

"We haven't got that far yet. Next is the wig." Kanra glanced at the mannequin head, lifting the long ebony wig to balance on her fingers. "Maybe it's a bit long." In the first drawer they found a pair of scissors. "I'll cut it."

Snip snip snip.

Mikado affixed the wig grimacing at both the length and the erratic cuts. His fingers pinched at the ruined ends. "Izaya trained you with a knife..."

"Yeah. What about it?"

Mikado sighed taking the scissors in hand. "...you can't cut straight with scissors."

Snip snip snip.

"Like you can do any better." Kanra smirked. "It's too short on one side."

"It's asymmetric." Mikado shrugged placing the scissors down. "Let's leave it and choose the clothes."

"Yeah." Kanra turned around glancing at the rails. "There's certainly a lot set out for us. No skirts, right?"

x-x-x

The door was unlocked. Kanra was the first to point it out. It had only been an hour since their arrival. Opening the door, two guards standing either side towered over him. "Boss wants to see you." The first grunted walking away.

Closing the door, Mikado followed tugging at the rollover of the sweater Kanra had decided to wear. The dark jeans were fine, they didn't have any outlandish patterns or girly qualities. They were a comfortable fit too.

Shiki was being very hospitable despite locking them in, going so far as to supply them with weapons. A small penknife which Kanra had no problem using. They hadn't agreed to anything except for accepting help in a disguise. It had been stupid to think they could get something for nothing.

Another room. This one was small with only a group of sofas. Shiki sat in the one facing the door. "I see you've found everything okay."

"Yes, thank you." Mikado spoke for them.

"What are your plans now?"

"To see Masaomi. If you didn't have anything to do with Shizuo disappearing or the fire then he did."

"I see. I wish you good luck." Mikado stared at the small bundle held in the bodyguard's hands. "A phone for you. Call if you need anything. My offer still stands. I won't force you into anything. Your payment for my help will be to complete Izaya's unfinished cases."

Mikado cradled the bundle to his chest, slipping the phone in his pocket. "T-thank you, Shiki-san." With a small bow they were permitted to leave. Mikado walked quickly taking a speedy glance back. The bodyguards nor Shiki were following them.

"I don't trust him." Kanra grumbled. "But we can use him." Mikado nodded in agreement. As far as allies went, having the yakuza in his back pocket wasn't bad at all. "How do we find, Masaomi?"

"We don't." Mikado smiled taking out the phone. "He finds us. No doubt he'll be checking the Dollars' forum."

x-x-x

It was a running joke between them. Words only his once best friend knew. Replies that only his best friend knew. Kida knew he was back in Ikebukuro. Now it was only a moment of waiting. An abandoned warehouse. Mikado stood alone slowly moving in panoramic view.

It was bigger than the one he had initially been rescued from. The floor was dusty with panels of metal and wood strewn across the brick walls. There were two entrances. Two large double doors big enough for a small van and the small door at the top, accessible from the balcony overseeing the floor.

Mikado was standing on the balcony leaning against the railing. His footsteps clanged against the thick metal sheet underneath. It was difficult to guess which entrance the blonde would use. The stairs outside or the main. The choice was fifty fifty.

"Are you going to be ready?" Kanra asked dubiously flicking the switch-blade open and closed. "This guy is your best friend."

"Was." Mikado sighed. "If he's hurt Izaya and Shizuo..."

"Good." Kanra smiled.

Below them the door rattled. "I win." Mikado told his counterpart. "No skirts for a week."

"Fine." Kanra sighed. "Being the leader of the yellow scarves, I was sure he'd be smart and use the better access door."

"Mikado?" His old friend's voice rang out echoing inside he warehouse. "Mikado?"

"Masaomi." Mikado called leaning over the rail. "You came. I hoped you would."

"I hoped you wouldn't." The blonde called up. Mikado eyed the baseball bat held in one hand. Not the sort of thing to carry around when visiting a friend. "Why are you back here?"

"Why did you set my home on fire?" Kanra snapped sending the blonde a heated glare.

"I was angry. I knew you'd gone back but that bastard still needed to be taught a lesson. You look good. Not sure what's with the new look but I guess you can't go around as your self."

Mikado recoiled hearing the truth. His old friend had been the one to destroy their home. "Where's Shizuo?" The raven steeled himself. Finally he was getting somewhere.

"No idea. Come down and we can talk."

"You're free to come up here." Kanra shrugged. "You drugged Shizuo. Where is he?"

"No idea. I just said that."

"Then Izaya. Where's he?"

"Don't know don't care. The bastard set the gangs on a path of destruction and vanished. I've got no idea where he is!"

"He's lying." Kanra whispered.

"I know." Mikado whispered back. Looking down at the blonde, he raised his voice. "You were the one that got Kasuka-san into drugs. You were the one that got him to drug Shizuo!"

"Mikado, I did that for you. To save you from them-"

"Where's Shizuo?"

"I don't know."

"Where is Shizuo?" Kanra raged running across the balcony. Slowly she made her way down the stairs clutching the knife.

"I don't know." Kida held the bat out in front of him like a kendo sword. "Come on, we're friends. I wouldn't lie to you. I don't know where either them are."

"Square root of three." Mikado murmured. Kanra ran forward swinging the knife down. "You took Shizuo from the hospital."

"That was the plan. The drugs made him confused and paranoid. I only wanted to break you up."

"Liar!" Kanra lunged forward, the blade finding purchase in the wooden bat. "Shit."

"Mikado, I saved you."

"And I'm going to kill you." Kanra cried wrenching the knife free.

The blonde jumped back swinging wildly to warn against any advances. "It looks like I have to save you from yourself too."

"So be it." Mikado shrugged reaching into his pocket. Shiki was nice enough to supply them with stationary too. Taking out the silver fountain pen, the raven weighed it in his hand, smiling at the familiarity. "I'll get the answers from you the hard way."

x-x-x

The glass clinked as it tapped lightly against the counter. The fridge door gave a small squeak as it opened. A carton of milk left the side door, the top opened and the creamy cold beverage sloshed against the inside of the glass as it was poured in.

The carton was left on the counter, the full glass carried from the kitchen into the adjacent bedroom. Quietly it was set on the small bedside table next to a large wooden bed.

With a small smile the curtains were pulled open letting light into the bedroom. The pillow on the left was fluffed and replaced, attention turning to the sleeping figure curled up on the right side of the bed. "Nii-san, it's time to wake up."