The Dreamer – Part two - A nightmare avoided
It all happened at once. Izaya finished class almost half an hour after Shizuo had pulled the teacher to one side. Said teacher apologised and handed him the ring. The classroom door burst open and Aoba Kuronuma came storming in.
Izaya was heading for the Starlight dorms, when one of the guards came running up to report a breach. Izaya went into the dorms as the only Midnight that could and saw that Shizuo's room had been ransacked, all the bedding was in the corner on the floor. Tossing the bedding back on the floor he found a notebook with manic scribble. Izaya picked it up and read the first line. The same repetitive line.
I don't wanna die.
Flicking through the tear stained pages, he finally found what he was looking for. The latest dream Shizuo had had, drilled into him to write out as a routine.
"Fuck."
x-x-x
Izaya waited whilst the students filed in. Mikado, Masaomi and Aoba. "Close the door."
"What's going on?"
"Sit down." He snapped. They did so.
"Shizu-chan ran away from school."
"Well I mean he was turning into a woman." Masaomi snorted.
"Really?" Aoba's head snapped around.
"That's not it. Shut up and listen. Everyone in this room are supposed to be Shizu-chan's rings."
"Uh, I have a girl-"
"I said shut up." Izaya tossed Mikado the journal. "Shizu-chan has had a reoccurring dream since he was six. The older he got, the further along the dream progressed. Shizu-chan knew who he was going to be in first year and he knew who he was supposed to be with. Masaomi screwed his chance because of his girlfriend and Shizu-chan avoided Mikado because you two were friends and always together."
"But he liked me, right?" Aoba asked.
Izaya smirked. "Shizu-chan loved you. There was supposed to be one more but Shizu-chan hadn't identified them yet. He was dreaming of graduation. He ran away because his dream took a dark turn. Shizu-chan dies at graduation."
"What the hell?" Aoba snapped.
Izaya tossed the pad down so they could see for themselves. "He could handle becoming a woman, but being murdered was too much. So he has his pills, whatever clothes he's taken and a whole lot of manic hormones and dark thoughts. It's likely he'll try and stay awake."
"That's not possible." Mikado flicked through the pages and then grabbed the new one. "How is that possible?"
"Shizu-chan ripped a hole in a solid steel gate and he didn't know anything until I explained it to him and that was on his second day. So before I track Shizu-chan down, which one of you has a murderous secret?"
Both Mikado and Aoba looked to Masaomi, who dropped the journal and stepped back holding his hands up. "Woah, it's nothing to do with me. I haven't done anything with Shizuo."
"Looks like that's an anomaly." Aoba pointed out.
"There's another one too." Izaya said. "Shizuo messed around with the Starlight third years."
"Messed around?" Mikado asked. "Got into a fight?"
"More like fooled around with them." Izaya said. "Shizu-chan has been sexually aware since the beginning. But that doesn't mean he understands. Figure out who's to blame. I'll track down Shizu-chan and hopefully he can figure out the fifth ring."
x-x-x
Five days later there was a call.
"Hey, Izaya. You still at Shadowed forest?"
"Yes, I'm currently teaching."
"Right, well, you missing any students? Because I think we just hit a Starlight."
x-x-x
Where did she go wrong? Shizuo woke up in a cold sweat. The nightmare was there again, another death. She ran and kept running. From bench to bench, the money her parents had given her dwindling down. On the fifth day she realised she'd made it back home to Ikebukuro.
She stumbled through the town wondering how her parents would react to the new her. She ran not looking where she was going. She didn't see the van that slammed into her side. She went flying and landed, cracking her head against the pavement.
"Oh shit! Hey, are you okay?"
Shizuo stared at the guy above her, brown hair and dark eyes, almost covered by the bandana he wore. Her fingers twitched. He was the missing one.
x-x-x
"Dotachin." Izaya greeted. "Where's Shizu-chan?"
"Resting. Shinra checked her over, avoided hospital barely." Kadota eyed him. "I didn't think you'd want her going to a hospital. We found the pills when we checked for ID. What's going on?"
"Where's your jacket?" Izaya asked following Kadota into a sterilised room. It didn't look quickly done, making his raise a brow.
Shizuo was on the bed, hooked up to an IV and bandages surrounding her. There was also bands keeping her bound to the bed. Resting on the bed clutched in one hand was Kadota's fleece. "You gave it to her?"
"No, I had to take it off, she wouldn't let go."
"Hey! Pretty sure that's a guy. Why are we talking like he's a girl?"
Izaya glanced at the woman. "One of yours?"
"Erika Karisawa. Third year?"
"Second but Shizu-chan has been going down the path of a woman since six years old. She's had a bit of a shock, which I guess pushed her over the edge." Izaya glanced at the fleece. "Did she say anything to you?"
"Well she held on and said fifth." Kadota shrugged. "She hasn't been responsive since."
Izaya sighed. "Dotachin, I'm going to need you to come back to school."
"No way, why?"
"Because Shizu-chan named you as one of her rings."
"How does she know that?"
Izaya sighed, taking out the journal and notebook. "We need to talk."
x-x-x
"This is impossible." Kadota whispered. "There's no record of…she gets murdered?"
"It's why she ran. She returned the rings she had and took off. Shizu-chan was fine being a woman. I told her everything on her second day as a first year, but this…she didn't handle well."
"Well I wouldn't think so. Thinking she's having a dream about the future, only to learn she'll be murdered? That's harsh." Kadota pulled the bandana off and ran a hand through his hair. "Alright, suspects?"
"Masaomi's girlfriend and anyone related to the third year starlights. Unless you have any skeletons in your closet?"
"Nope, we bury those!" Karisawa grinned. "This is like a fairytale."
"So no enemies on your end?" Kadota asked.
"No lose ends, no."
"Five rings, huh. I guess I'm going back to school. Am I even on the system?"
"Your record is. I can bring you back as a trainee teacher or something. I kept your ring."
"Alright. Karisawa, you'll pass as a third year starlight. Walker, you'll pass as a third year midnight. Keep an eye out and report anything suspicious." Kadota took the ring he'd brought with him. "Let's make sure the princess graduates."
Karisawa grinned. "Totally a fairytale."
x-x-x
Shizuo was broken. At least she felt it. Her hand twitched and something heavy fell from the bed. Forcing her eyes open was a struggle, but she did it.
"…zaya." Shizuo murmured feeling a weight on her finger.
"Izaya will be back soon, he's just updating your rings."
Shizuo focused on the stern looking face. His eyes were just like the dream. "Hello, I understand I'm your last ring. I'm Kyohei Kadota. I'm a drop out of Shadowed forest."
"Shizuo Heiwajima, starlight second year." Shizuo coughed.
"Careful. Your recovery time is impressive, but you still need to take it easy." Kadota guided a sports bottle to her mouth and she drank.
"How long?"
"You've been gone five days." Izaya said pocketing his phone. You were hit by Dotachin's van and you've been out almost seventy two hours. How are you feeling, Shizu-chan?"
"Everything hurts."
"Well you avoided hospital, so the school's secret is still safe. We're going back."
"No."
"Shizu-chan-"
"No. No! I'm not going back!" Shizuo screamed choking and rocking against her restraints. "I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die."
Kadota held her focusing her gaze on him. "Hello. Look we're not going to let that happen. Calm down. No one is going to hurt you, I promise. Get some sleep and then we'll talk. Shh."
Shizuo closed her eyes and then she was out.
x-x-x
"You're ours now." Izaya said. Shizuo grinned and kissed him full on the mouth.
"About time. You guys take so long to mature."
"It's called not taking advantage." Kadota called. "It would've been a crime if we hadn't waited."
"Instead they're just perverts." Mikado grinned. Aoba pushed him.
"Speak for yourself."
"Hey, can we get out of here?" Masaomi grumbled. "My skin is getting wrinkled. Isn't a wedding night supposed to be in a bed?"
Shizuo grinned and kissed them all before climbing from the water. "Go wash up, I'll see you in Izaya's bed shortly."
"Seems fair." Kadota shrugged.
"That's because it's your dorm too." Masaomi scowled.
Shizuo grinned walking into the showers. Sharp nails dug into her skull, as her head was slammed against the tiles. She was down on the floor, one foot on her chest, the shower cord around her throat pulled tight. "I wanted them, you bitch. You stole all the good ones."
"Oi, shut up and help me pull."
Shizuo felt her windpipe crack, her throat collapsing. A sharp stomp continued the damage to her ribs. Shizuo coughed up blood, hearing footsteps come running. The two starlights were already running away.
"Oh shit, Shizuo." Kadota murmured. "Izaya!"
"I'm already dialling, Dotachin!"
Shizuo died.
x-x-x
"I know who killed me." Shizuo whispered.
"They haven't and they won't." Izaya spoke sitting next to her.
"The collectors."
"Ah."
"You know them?" Kadota asked. She was wearing his ring too.
"Yeah, there's always one starlight that wants the best. Currently there are two in the second year. They have eight each, but they're always trading." Izaya took her hand. "The second year for starlights has always been called denial. Shizu-chan woke them up and asked the third years for help. The collectors won't be free to pick and choose anymore."
"Damn. That's stupid." Kadota said. "Well we can deal with them. Where am I staying?"
"Izaya's dorm." Shizuo mumbled.
"Looks like it's decided."
x-x-x
They gave her two more days before sticking her in the van and carting her back to the school. They went straight to Izaya's dorm, where she'd be safe and away from everyone. This time she took the bed and Izaya pulled out another spare for Kadota.
Unfortunately as soon as she was settled, she had one visitor after another. The first being Aoba. "Shame, I can't get rough with you. When you're better." Aoba slid his ring on her finger and left.
"Woah, that kid is full on."
Shizuo grinned. "Yep."
"That's right, you've dreamt it all." Kadota crossed one leg over the other and leaned on his palm. "You haven't written anything else since."
"Izaya told me not to obsess. If anything changes, I'll let him know. Until then, I'm to enjoy myself."
"Makes sense."
x-x-x
The second visitor was Mikado. He hugged her and apologised. He promised he'd be there for her, as he slipped the ring on her finger.
Four. Enough to graduate. Masaomi didn't come but she was fine with that.
x-x-x
Shizuo spent more time in Izaya's dorm than her own. Of course that meant she couldn't do anything. But she understood what they meant, when Aoba was very touchy feely.
Since she spent her time with Izaya and Kadota, Shizuo went on frequent dates with Mikado and was 'kidnapped' regularly by Aoba. It wasn't until the start of second term that she was alone with Masaomi.
"Hey, uh. You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Shizuo shrugged. "Don't force yourself. We currently mean nothing to each other."
"Yeah, about that. I'm dropping out."
"Okay."
"Okay?" Masaomi gaped.
"You want to choose your girlfriend, what's wrong with that?"
"But what about us? We're-"
"Nothing." Shizuo shrugged. "Izaya told me that my future isn't set in stone. So what, one person is missing. We're acquaintances in the same group, nothing more. You've gone out of your way to avoid me, I wouldn't dare rely on you. Why would I care if you drop out? You've made your situation perfectly clear. Goodbye, Masaomi-san."
"So that's it? Your dreams-"
"Aren't you." Shizuo cut him off. "You can go now. I'm scheduled for a date."
"Are you playing hard to get?" Masaomi demanded.
Shizuo sighed. "No. I'm cutting away deadweight. You want your girlfriend, fine. You want a girl you can ditch just so you can pass the year, fine. You should drop out. You know how to graduate. That bond is permanent. You shouldn't have even been at this school. I'm not wasting my time."
"Don't you dare walk away!" Masaomi grabbed her arm and yanked her to him, their lips touching. His kiss was possessive.
Shizuo wasn't impressed. "You just cheated on your girlfriend and made me an accomplice. Go away, Masaomi."
x-x-x
Shizuo sighed opening her eyes. Masaomi was still in her dreams, still one of her shadows, Although they were all visible now. She could see them and hear them and touch them. "Well this sucks." She grumbled popping candy and her pills.
"Huh?" Kadota asked with a yawn. "Where's Izaya?"
"Staff meeting." Shizuo got out of bed and grabbed her clothes. "I'm going to bathe."
"I guess I'll get ready for chores."
Shizuo hugged him and left. Since Kadota had dropped out and had never finished school, he could only come back as a janitor, which he was fine with. His ring was still valid.
Shizuo met with Mikado, kissing him on the cheek. They kept their distance in the water. "I hear Masaomi is dropping out."
"Yeah. He told me. Also tried to kiss me and accuse me of playing hard to get." Shizuo grumbled.
"He's confused."
"He has a girlfriend, end of." Shizuo shrugged poking at her chest. "I think my breasts are growing. Feel."
Mikado sighed but touched her chest anyway. "Yeah, feels like it."
Shizuo grinned. "Cool, my body is finally catching up."
x-x-x
"Masaomi is dropping out." Izaya said.
Shizuo dropped her head. "I know. Everyone knows. I'm fine with it. We didn't have anything to do with each other."
"Okay."
Shizuo blinked. "Okay?"
"If that's your decision, then I won't stop him."
"Good."
x-x-x
Shizuo took a deep breath, nervous as she took her clothes off. Graduation, she was finally going to be claimed. Walking through the showers towards the baths, her wrist was grabbed and she was yanked back into the changing room and slammed against the wall.
"Masaomi?"
Masaomi scowled at her kissing her, biting at her lips and throat. "You ruined everything." He hissed, his fingers stabbing against her clit.
"Let go." Shizuo pulled away, but her transition had cost her her strength. Masaomi slammed her head against the wall, his hand against her throat. His cock pushed into her and she screamed. He slammed her again, dragging her legs around his waist. "Hurts. Masaomi, stop!"
Masaomi shut her up, his hands around her throat squeezed and Shizuo…died.
x-x-x
Shizuo cried as she wrote down her dream and then she sought Izaya out, catching him just before his class started. "Shizu-chan?"
Shizuo found herself trembling in his embrace. "It changed." Unclenching her fist she handed over what she'd written.
"Alright. I'll handle it."
She trusted he would.
x-x-x
"Making sure I leave?" Masaomi asked bags already packed.
"That depends. Do you have any feelings for Shizu-chan?"
"Like she said, we're nothing." Masaomi shrugged.
"So you're going back to your girlfriend?"
"Yes, is that a problem?" Masaomi snapped.
"I'm trying to figure out what pushes you to do this." Izaya pushed the sheet against Masaomi's chest. "Shizu-chan's dream changed. She's a mess."
He watched as Masaomi read over what was written. He looked shocked and horrified. "I wouldn't do this!"
"Fix it."
Izaya would've dragged Masaomi but the timing sucked. Shizuo had always been an early bloomer. He found her in the infirmary with a high fever.
"Lockdown already?" He asked.
"Her body is showing signs." The nurse explained. "I can give you ten minutes but after that she needs to rest. She's on morphine."
Izaya nodded moving to sit beside the bed. "Izaya." Shizuo smiled at him. "I feel all floaty."
"You're in the fever stage."
Shizuo tilted her head. "Fever?"
"You're finishing your transition. The second years get locked down under observation until after it's finished. You're ahead of the others. We won't see each other until after it's finished. They're only giving us ten minutes, so I can't get the others."
Shizuo beamed at him. "So lucky you're here then."
"How long?"
"It's usually done by the start of third year."
"I'll finish super quick. Need you. Don't like hospitals."
"No?"
"Used to them."
x-x-x
Shizuo wailed as she was wheeled away from Izaya. He hugged and kissed her and then she was being taken away, locked away behind clear panels and nurses in scrubs. "This is where you'll be staying for a while. You can either choose to be awake and we'll keep you on morphine, or we can put you into a coma."
"Coma."
x-x-x
The others weren't happy. Masaomi stayed at school, the others weren't happy. Shizuo had chosen to be placed in a coma. Given how attached they all were, he didn't blame her, but the others weren't happy.
The collectors had approached Mikado and Masaomi under the guise of concern. They'd even gone to see himself and Kadota, checking if they had their rings or not. They weren't the only ones.
Izaya was relieved when they went into fever stage. It wasn't until the start of third year that Shizuo woke up. She'd been right. She was beautiful and off limits until graduation.
x-x-x
Shizuo felt like she'd woken from a long dream. She went through the checks, so many checks before she was allowed out of isolation. They stood guard as she looked at her new reflection. She was the spitting image of her dreams.
They gave her a new uniform and a bath to use. Shizuo was finally where she needed to be. They wrestled her into a bra and when she was finally dressed, they told her she was a third year.
Shizuo went straight to Izaya's dorm and waited. Kadota was there tidying up, his jaw dropping as she ran to him. "Kadota!"
"Shizuo, you look incredible."
"Thank you." Shizuo smiled leading Kadota to the bed. She pushed him down and straddled his hips. His erection was impressive.
"Woah! Hey! Not until graduation."
"I'm a third year now. I feel like graduating right now."
Shizuo worked the buttons of her blazer and shirt. Kadota's gaze went straight to her breasts. "Kadota, please fuck me. You go straight in and hit my sweet spot."
Kadota groaned. "Oh god." Shizuo ground down on his erection. "Shizuo wai- oh god!"
Shizuo moved down, using her teeth to unzip Kadota's jeans. She took his dripping cock in hand and licked at the tip.
"Oh god oh god. Shizuo, please. Mercy."
Shizuo grinned moving forward to take the whole thing. A sharp tug warned her, her hair had been wrapped in a fist. Her head pulled back and she looked into Izaya's eyes. "Izaya."
"Not until graduation, Shizu-chan." Izaya said, his eyes boring into hers. Shizuo sighed and climbed from the bed. Kadota hissed out a shaky breath and ran.
"Are you sure? You can go first. You always do." Shizuo murmured against Izaya's lips. He tugged her hair again like she was a leashed puppy.
"Graduation." His hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her from touching his cock. She kissed him again, touching as much of his skin as she could reach. "Shizu-chan, disobey me and there will be consequences."
Shizuo licked her lips and his. "You'll punish me? Promise?"
"I'll make sure you're held back a year."
Shizuo groaned and slumped. "Fine. This sucks. Can I go back in the coma?"
"No."
x-x-x
He should've said yes. Shizuo was oblivious to how beautiful she was. She walked around without a care who saw her, even the first years. She had a damn following and a fan club. Izaya dislodged bug after bug.
The subject of Masaomi still hadn't been breached. He'd been held back a year, so the chances of him meeting Shizuo in the baths were high. That was a problem for another day.
Izaya found himself in a meeting with the teachers. Naturally there had been complaints. It was a classic story of a dark horse becoming the most beautiful. Shizuo's nickname was currently the goddess.
"This is a problem. The first years now know the truth. The girl has adapted way too quickly."
"Did you tell her?"
"No." Technically not a lie.
"Her compatibility scores weren't perfect. Her new scores show as 100% as a woman. It's one of the quickest blossoms we've had."
The principal studied him. He was old and he'd seen pretty much everything. "Is it possible this girl is a dreamer?" Izaya flinched. It was barely noticeable since he was so controlled but the principal nodded. "I see. How many rings?"
"Five. Masaomi is currently a problem." Izaya confirmed.
"Any more?"
"No."
"I see. All of you will be isolated in the sky garden house until graduation. Who is the youngest ring?"
"Second year."
"I see. The third years will be held back until next year. Until then you'll be living together. The same rules apply."
Izaya bit back a grimace.
"Is that going to be a problem?"
"We'll handle it." Izaya sighed.
"Orihara-kun, how long?"
Izaya sighed again. "Six. She's going to be a hellion." Funny that. He didn't believe in religion and yet Shizuo was temptation incarnate. She was going to be trouble and now they had to wait an extra year.
"The girl is a dreamer?"
"We haven't had one of those in…ages."
"That would be because dreamers are warnings." The principal said. "Any problems we should be aware of?"
Izaya sighed. "We think we've stopped any issues. Shizu-chan isn't dreaming anymore. Should she graduate with her current year, she'll be murdered by two Starlight students nicknamed the collectors. Should Masaomi Kida not be one of her rings, he will for some reason rape and kill her."
"I see. Inform us of any changes. We'll have Sky garden set up."
Izaya went to break the news.
End
