HELLOOOOOOOO, AGAIN! So, I just posted the sequel to this story, and so, here's the link... Along with a little preview! ^^

s/10006530/1/Brightened

Celty Sturluson 12:43 AM.

Shizuo, did you see that, too? There was some… SHADOW or something! And I could've sworn it was Izaya! Text me back when you wake up.

His eyes widened. He texted her back immediately.

Shizuo Heiwajima 7:00 AM.

I did. I tried to find him, but… It was like he was a shadow. It was… sorta creepy, actually.

"Shizu-chan~!" A voice called out… But it wasn't Izaya's. No, it was Mairu Orihara. She skipped over to Shizuo, not followed by Kururi for some reason.

"Oh, Mairu. Where's your sister?" Shizuo asked.

Mairu shrugged. "We got into a fight. Izzy's usually there to break it up, but… without him… I guess we're just going to fight a lot more." She sighed.

"Shizuo, I kind of… Have something to say," Tom rubbed the back of his head nervously as they started to walk. "I want you to… take the year off."

"I know, I know, but… I just…" Shizuo rubbed his temples. "Everything is falling apart. Izaya's gone, I won't be able to work for a year, and…"

[A year? Why not?] Celty tilted her head.

"Izaya. Tom-san told me to look for Izaya," Shizuo looked up at her.

[… But… You were planning on looking for him anyways.]

"No, not anymore. I realized that if he really is out there, then obviously, he doesn't want to see us. Why can't he just come out of hiding now? He doesn't actually care. He's just a rotten flea who drains the life out of everyone."

- Shizuo H. has logged on.

Setton: Hey…

Indoor Scholar: Hello~! ^^

Bakyura: Sup?

Shizuo H.: Hey. And, sorry about earlier, Setton. I didn't mean to…

Setton: No. It's… It's fine.

Shizuo H.: You sure..?

Setton: Yeah. I'm sorry, too. I was kind of stuck up.

- Kanra has logged on.

Setton: Kanra!

- Kanra has logged off.

Celty Sturluson – 6:00 PM.

Hey, Shizuo. I really am sorry for my earlier outburst. Anyways, I caught Izaya on one of the security cameras in your apartment building.

Shizuo Heiwajima – 6:01 PM.

What? Why would he be there?

Celty Sturluson – 6:01 PM.

I'm really not sure. All he did was walk up to your door, and kind of stood there with his fist a few inches away from it, like he was going to knock or something… But he never did.

Shizuo Heiwajima – 6:02 PM.

Hm… I wonder why. Well, anyways, thanks, Celty. I'll see you tomorrow.

Celty Sturluson – 6:02 PM.

See you.

Shizuo slowly brought the phone up to his ear. "Hello..?"

There was the sound of crying- no, sobbing. "S-Shizu-chan..!"

Then there was the sound of a punch being thrown. Izaya screamed out in pain.

This wasn't a rescue mission.
This wasn't a search party.
This wasn't even reality anymore.
This was something that Shizuo understood, something that would resort to… violence.

Shizuo sat next to Celty on the couch as Shinra drank coffee, leaning against the ottoman. "And… When he called me… He screamed my name, then… Something like…" Shizuo snapped his fingers. "Just don't touch… hi… hi…" He sighed. "It started in 'hi'."

[Shizuo, do you really need a rocket scientist to figure it out? He said him. Not hi, but him.] Celty sighed. [Do you have any idea what he was talking about?]

"I don't know… I heard a voice in the background, but I couldn't make out what it was saying… I really think Izaya's hurt," Shizuo sighed.

"He most likely is," Shinra stated with a shrug. "But, of course, we can sit around here, or the three of us can find another way to save him once again, unless you just want to let him suffer until he finally dies, which would take about a month given the information that you just provided. So, which one is it, Shi-san?"

"Oh, Shizuo!" The brunette at the other end of the street smiled. Alicia, Shizuo thought to himself. "Hey!"

Shizuo waved to her and she walked over to him. "What's up?" she asked.

[Oh, well, we're just trying to find Izaya.] Celty held her PDA up.

"Oh! I think I know where he is!"

Shizuo tilted his head. "What? How?"

"Do you know Kaitoya Yairu?" Alicia asked. Shizuo's body stiffened. If that stupid redhead goes anywhere near Izaya, he'll be sorry…

"Yeah, what about him?" Shizuo asked.

Alicia tapped her fingers on the side of her bag. "Well, just check his place. He has a book filled with the names of everyone there."

[Wait, but, how do you know all of this?]

"Oh! Because!" Alicia rubbed the back of her head, looking somewhat nervous. "I'm his, um… Daughter,"

"Because… Hope is amazing. Hope is something everybody has, no matter how much they deny it. And Izaya? He probably has so, so much hope for you to come and save him… Because it's what you've been doing for his entire life. Even if it was because of you, you'd always make sure he was alive, breathing, safe… So… Don't crush his hope, Shizuo."

I didn't spoil much, but what I DID post doesn't really matter... OR DOES IT!? You'll never know... Well, unless you actually read Brightened. xD See ya. BYE.