Darker Than Black

Chapter 3

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How do I phrase this, Izaya thought, The sunlight hurts my skin, I can't bring myself to eat anything, and I seem to move quite a lot faster than I usually can.

But what else was there to say?

"Well, for starters... as of this morning, I think my skin has become more sensitive to natural light," he looked up cautiously, "and it almost feels like burning when it touches me."

It was not what the other had been expecting to hear. Shinra hadn't ever encountered anyone with a symptom like that, and occurring so quickly, it couldn't be a common sickness, at least.

"Is that why..." He looked over to the window making a gesture to it with his glance.

"...yes." A nod came with the voice.

It unnerved the doctor, this situation was very strange, especially with what Celty had told him not long before.

'What I was sensing earlier, it was him. But he's just a human, right?'

Something must've happened with him, and that's what is causing this, but considering he was here now, he was most likely looking for answers on the subject as well.

Celty was sitting in her own train of thought, still trying to identify the aura that Izaya had never emitted before this day. It felt as if she may have known what the presence was, may have encountered it before, but couldn't put her finger on it. The memory was probably hidden inside her head, unattainable and god knows where. She began listening to the conversation again as Izaya described his unusual symptoms and Shinra took brief notes on them.

"What else have you been feeling?"
The question asked, its speaker kept a calm expression as to look like he might have some ideas; which in reality, he didn't.

"When I was on the way here, I had to run from the beast... as usual," the patient started, looking down briefly before continuing. "Only, I was too fast. He didn't even try to chase me. I'm not sure how, but I must have been going twice normal speed... I'm not really sure how it was possible, but I lost him very quickly."

The underground doctor looked astonished, most likely in disbelief, but Izaya's face was unusually serious; he wasn't joking in the least.
"Do you have any idea what could have caused all this?"

The informant tensed. He had a very good idea of the cause. But wording it properly, that could take some effort.

"Something... rather odd, did happen last night that could be causing this," he confirmed. It was one of the most bizarre things to happen in his life, so that was a bit of an understatement. "I was attacked by someone—I've never even seen her before. She was exceptionally strong for her size..." She was so strong in fact, that she could easily overpower any normal person, and may have even been as strong as Shizuo. But, her skin was still rather soft and easy to cut through, unlike the blond's.

"It could be possible she had a rare disease of some kind? Most likely it could've been spread by blood... Did she cut or scratch you somehow?"

Izaya began slipping his jacket off his shoulder, the bandages were now clear and visible to the doctor and half-attentive Dullahan.