The other side

Shizuo stares in shock at the teen; unrecognisable but at the same time he knows it's Mikado. "I- I thought-" Words fail him, his brain choosing to shut down as his heart rejoices. Climbing out of the car, Shizuo embraces the teen.

He knows Mikado shouldn't be here. Izaya sent him away, it's not safe for the teen. Not if he's to be protected from old friends turned enemy or Shiki. Right now he can't bring himself to care about the danger. Mikado is back. Maybe now Izaya could take care of the boy. Shizuo knew he had burnt his bridges. The connection with Izaya was gone, their relationship history. He'd prefer it if Mikado stayed with him but the one that needed the teen the most was probably Izaya.

"It's good to see you." Shizuo composes himself, standing up straight. "If you want to see...Izaya..." The name still hurts. Shizuo wonders if the pain will ever fade. Letting go of the teen, his hand moves to his chest, lightly scratching at the scars beneath. "...I don't know where he is."

"It's okay, Shizuo-san. It was you I came to see."

x-x-x

Mikado slides into the seat next to Shizuo, the blonde closing the door as if the sun is blinding. He notices how tired his lover looks and the longing sadness in his eyes.

"We broke up." It's information he already knows. It's clear that something happened. Just like Izaya sent him away, the informant has abandoned Shizuo leaving him broken hearted.

"I'm still here, Shizuo." Mikado smiles softly leaning against blonde's shoulder. "I'm not leaving."

"You should."

There's something under his lover's shirt. Specks of blood are coming through the crisp white. Mikado continues to smile, an art perfected now.

"You look tired." The new informant says gently.

"...Haven't been sleeping much."

"You can sleep now. I'll let you borrow my lap." Mikado sits up straight, patting his thighs invitingly. He gives Shizuo a warm smile.

His lover doesn't have any reservations about his return or giving in to old habits. Mikado smiles as the blonde's head rests in his lap, body curled up on the seats.

"I missed you, Shizuo." Humming softly, his hands gently sift through soft dyed locks. Mikado pushes Kanra back for now, she can have her share later. It's too early to let slip about her.

"It's okay." Kanra whispers. "He's asleep."

"That was quick." Mikado lifts back the blonde's bangs seeing his eyes closed, soft even breathing making the blonde's chest rise and fall. "Shizuo?"

"Of course. He's hurt. Izaya broke his heart. You heard the rumour. The two of them are supposed to be leaving today." His counterpart was right.

"We can't use him against Izaya." Mikado decides eyeing the spots of blood on the shirt.

"We have to. Let's take him with us."

"Not yet."

"Why not?" Kanra whined. She didn't like it when their plans didn't go as they should.

"It has to look natural. Shizuo will want to stay with me-"

"Us."

"Us." Mikado corrected. "We can't just kidnap him."

"So we wait for Kasuka." Kanra sighed. "I suppose so. It will do Shizuo good to get some sleep."

"Yeah." Mikado sighed softly. "I know what he's going through."

x-x-x

Izaya has the distinct feeling something is wrong. Years with Shizuo and the underground has taught him not to ignore such a feeling. It's not an animal's instinct as such, more of his subconscious warning him not to mess up.

Too bad his subconscious hadn't warned him about his ex boyfriend. Staring out of the window he could see the podium standing as the only shield between the hungry press. The cab had chosen to drive past, which Izaya didn't mind. It gave him another chance to check everything was okay. There was no sign of the blonde. Most likely Kasuka had instructed his brother to stay out of the way. That would mean the protozoan was probably in Kasuka's car or whatever they would use to travel around.

"Izaya-san? Do you want us to stop?" Anri asked quietly.

"No. There's no need." Izaya looked away from the window. The protozoan was no longer any of his concern.

x-x-x

"Are we going back to Shiki-san?" Mikado asked quietly. The last thing he wanted to do was disturb his lover.

"I don't want to. There's too many guards. It feels more like a prison. We could get him to give us an apartment like the one Izaya-nii had."

"Yeah. One big enough for the three of us."

"Not too big." Kanra sighed. "Shizuo won't be happy if he finds out about Shiki."

"We won't tell him." Mikado shrugs. "It'll be our secret."

"Good idea. We'll have to make sure he can't leave."

"Yeah. We can't let Izaya hurt him any further. We have to-"

The door opens, Kasuka slipping inside looking tired. "Nii-san, it's done. We can go- who are you?" The retired actor noticed them. "What did you do to nii-san?"

"Shizuo is sleeping." Mikado said quietly. "I'm Ryugamine Mikado, Shizuo's lover. Don't you recognise me?"

"Oh. You look...different."

"I didn't have a lot to disguise myself with." Mikado explained. "Besides, I'm hiding from Izaya."

"He broke your heart too?" Kasuka asked.

"Yeah. I heard what happened. I couldn't leave Shizuo alone."

"You know we're leaving in a minute."

"I know. It's a shame I can't come with you. Ikebukuro is where I've made my home."

"Nii-san, knows you're here. If I split you apart it will be as if you're breaking up too."

Mikado nodded his fingers stilling. "...yeah. I didn't think of that. I'm sorry."

Opposite them Kasuka heaved a heavy sigh. "Nii-san's friends are here and so are you. It will be better if he stays. Maybe you can help him get over Orihara-san."

"I-I'll try. I'm still a kid in Shizuo's eyes. I don't have a home or anything yet." Mikado lowered his head.

"I'll take care of that." Kasuka told them without blinking. "Anything you and nii-san need, I'll provide."

"T-thank you."

x-x-x

It was another goodbye. Shizuo didn't understand what had happened whilst he had been asleep, only that things had changed. Kasuka had decided to go on his own and buy an apartment for him and the kid.

"Take care, nii-san." Kasuka gives him a brief hug before stepping back. "I'll be in contact."

"...bye, Kasuka."

That it was it. His brother was gone and he was left standing outside an apartment block. Mikado smiled up at him taking his hand. It looked like the kid had picked him. Shizuo sighed staring at the key in his hand. Everything was happening so quickly it was making his head spin.

"Shizuo, is everything okay?"

"I need to lay down." The blonde grumbled shaking his head.

"Kasuka-san said he ordered furniture for us. It should be here within the next few hours."

"...right. It had to be the top floor."

x-x-x

"...had to be the top floor." Shizuo murmured once they were in the apartment. Big enough for the three of them with extra space for his own personal study.

Mikado smiled looking around. Kasuka had done everything to his specifications. It had to be the top floor. A perfect vantage point for incoming threats. The blonde didn't seem too happy with the choice- a reminder of Izaya.

It was all coming together perfectly. Shizuo knew the apartment and anything else they needed would be paid for by Kasuka. "Shizuo, you don't like it?" The teen asked hugging his lover's side.

"It's fine. I'll get used to it." The blonde hugged him back. This was all he needed. One was enough. The one that hadn't abandoned him. With a sharp gasp Mikado backed away.

"You're bleeding!"

"It's nothing." Shizuo covered his chest averting his gaze. Mikado felt Kanra stir. "The stuff should be here soon."

x-x-x

Izaya shoved his hands in his pockets, striding through the hospital towards the room occupied by Masaomi's comatose body.

The teen was indeed on life support covered in bandages and tubes, a clear mask over his nose and mouth. Izaya's eyes widened at the sight. "Kida-kun!" Anri gasped sharply at his side.

Izaya's attention turned to the chart hung on the end of the bed. Multiple cuts, head trauma and stab wounds made by more than one weapon.

"What are you doing here?" Saki demanded pushing past them.

"Ah, Saki-chan. Do you know what happened?"

"Why would you care?"

"Because I'm here on behalf of Anri-chan, here." Izaya shrugged returning the chart. "What have the doctors said?"

"There were two people. The obvious ones are knife wounds. The other ones are smaller and rounder. The doctor's believe it's a thin circular weapon, like a pen."

"Two people?" Izaya murmured. Immediately the newest troublemakers Dual came to mind. A knife and a pen. A dangerous combination. Masaomi had been taken out of the picture and he had personally disassembled the yellow scarves.

"So it seems." Saki didn't look too comfortable with him there. Anri was at the teen's bedside looking horrified. Izaya listened to the wheezing of the machine keeping the teen alive. "I don't really want to ask but can you find out who did this? I want them to suffer."

"As it turns out, the ones that probably did this are a thorn in my side."

"Thank you." Izaya glanced over at the bed. Whoever Dual were, they weren't to be taken lightly. The duo were dangerous. Their next target was probably the leader of the disassembled blue squares, Aoba. That would mean his sisters would be pulled into the mess.

"Anri-chan, are we finished here?"

"We've only just got here." Anri mumbled. "Just a little longer."

"It's not as if he'll be going anywhere." Izaya sighed ignoring glares from both girls. "Suit yourselves. I have a call to make."

"You're not supposed to use phones in the hospital."

Izaya sighed hanging his head. "Don't leave the room. I don't need those two on my back."

x-x-x

One after the other furniture for the apartment arrived, delivered through the door. Shizuo barely had to use his strength since everything was done for them.

Mikado smiled watching as the last piece was placed into the bedroom. The bed was made up, soft covers covering the sheets. His lover fluffed the pillow looking tired. "Shizuo, you can take a rest now."

"It's okay. Should probably wash first." Mikado eyed the bloodied shirt. The blonde was scratching at his chest again- a habit they had already noticed.

"Can I join you?" Kanra asked with a smile.

Their lover looked conflicted. "...sorry. I need to be alone right now." Mikado silenced his counterpart before she ruined everything.

"Oh. Okay. I'll unpack our clothes." Mikado smiled softly. The wig was ruffled, the blonde leaving them alone. Mikado stared after him fists clenching. "He's still pining after Izaya."

"Obviously." Kanra whispered. "Shouldn't you report to Shiki?"

"Yeah." Mikado took his phone out, speed dialling the yakuza. The call went as expected to voicemail. "We've moved into an apartment with Shizuo. We'll be staying here from now on." He wasn't sure how their new boss would take it but seeming as the yakuza had allowed Izaya to do it, they should be fine. "Done."

"Good." Kanra grinned. "What should we do about Izaya-nii?"

Mikado shook his head. A loud thud drew their attention. "Shizuo!" The teen ran to the bathroom opening the door. "Are you okay?"

The blonde was on the floor. "Yeah, sorry I tripped." Mikado's jaw dropped staring at his lover's bare chest. Izaya's name was carved into the blonde's chest. "What? Oh this? This is-" Mikado embraced his lover. Izaya had been cruel scarring the blonde permanently. "Hey, listen..."

"Everything will be okay, Shizuo."

"Maybe. Listen, I need to tell you something."

Mikado looked up seeing how troubled Shizuo looked. In his pocket the phone rang and he knew it was Shiki. "Sorry. I should get this."

"Oh, sure."

x-x-x

Shizuo sighed raking his nails across his chest. Mikado had seen it. He still needed to tell the teen that Izaya wasn't to blame. It was his fault. Before things got out of hand he would need to tell him.

Shizuo hung his head seeing droplets of blood deep from the open wound. He should have said it from the start. He should have told the truth and left with Kasuka.

The longer he waited the harder it would be. Already Shizuo couldn't bear the thought of parting with the teen. "I have to tell him." Damn it, it hurt.

"Sorry, Shizuo." Mikado apologised entering the bathroom.

"Your parents?" Shizuo asked. The teen smiled.

"You didn't want me to see that, did you?"

"No. This isn't as bad as it looks." Shizuo sighed reaching for his shirt.

"Can we bathe together now? I'll wash your hair."

Shizuo closed his eyes away from the teen's earnest gaze. Just a little longer. Until after their last bath together. Maybe after the pair of them had rested up or tomorrow morning.

"...yeah. Did Kasuka buy you a new wig?"

"I like it like this." The teen smiled.

"Oh okay, whatever you choose is fine." The truth could wait a few hours. Shizuo held out his hand, Mikado's smaller one fitting in his own. Tomorrow would be another day. Tomorrow he would confess his sin and say goodbye to his remaining lover.

x-x-x

Nakura :- So what did you have against the leader of the yellow scarves?

Dual:- He was in my way.

Nakura :- What's next? The gangs were already destroyed.

Dual:- Only you.

Nakura :- Riiight. You said you were going to use Shizuo against me. Too bad he's gone. Looks like you'll have to try something else.

Dual:- No. We can still use Shizuo against you.

Nakura:- It's not nice to lie, Dual-san.

Dual:- It's not a lie. Why did you carve your name into his chest?

Izaya's fingers stilled on the keyboard. There wasn't anyone apart from the Heiwajima brothers that knew what had happened.

Nakura:- Nice try. Shizuo is gone.

Dual:- Too bad.

A picture had been sent through. Izaya clicked on it, groaning as the picture opened showing what he feared. The blonde was fast asleep in a bed. The photo had been taken close up including the damage he had done.

Dual has left the chat room.

"No!" Izaya banged his fist against the keyboard. How? He had seen Kasuka. The pair should have left. But the picture was clear evidence. Dual had the fortissimo.