AN: Okey, hey! *Waves hand* So this is my first story, not only here but for BOTH Durarara and Higurashi. Eh... so guys, don´t murder me, please? And here comes a list of warnings so that those who should can pull out of here before it´s too late!

Warnings: Elements of crack since I´ll be playing around a lot with Rena´s omochikaeri/kawaii-super mode later on (and you guys have probably witnessed her strength when she gets there). Yaoi and het-pairings with rather slow development since this is mainly a story about friendships.

Pairings: Shizaya (so, yes that means yaoi), MikadoAnri, ShinraCelty with the possible addition of MasaomiRena (because well, I´ve always been a sucker for crackpairings).

Okey! So I suppose you all know what you´ve got yourselves into now. Now let´s bring that prologue on!

A Virtual Friendship:

Chatroom:

Taro Tanaka:

So are you ready for next week?

RyuuguRena:

Of course! I am all packed up since a week ago! Can´t wait!

Taro Tanaka:

Me neither! It will be fun to finally meet in person.

RyuuguRena:

So how´s it in Tokyo right now? Raining?

Taro Tanaka:

Not really, no! But it wouldn´t hurt to bring an umbrella just in case…

RyuuguRena:

Okey… anything else I should think about?

Taro Tanaka:

Don´t forget to bring yourself ~

RyuuguRena:

*giggle* of course not! Listen, Mi-chan just showed up, I think it´s time for that treasure hunt we spoke of. Can I speak to you later!

Taro Tanaka:

Of course! Speak to you tomorrow at 11.00?

RyuuguRena:

Of course! 11.00 will be just fine ~. Sleep well!

Taro Tanaka:

Sleep well! ~

As Rena logged off the internet she found Mion looking at her with a skeptical expression on her features.

"Was it that Tanako-guy again?" she asked with a frown.

"Mhm!" Rena nodded happily, "he wanted to speak of that apartment we´re going to share in Tokyo. Apparently we´ll be sharing it with two other people".

"Hm…!" Mion raised an eyebrow, lightly scratching her green hair, "and you´ve spoken to both of them, I guess?"

"Nope!" Rena laughed, "but that´s part of the fun. They´re both friends of Mikado and since I genuinely like Mikado I just know I´m going to like them too. Besides that, imagine all the fun I´ll have exploring a new neighborhood, imagine all the hidden treasure-grounds", at the last sentence a familiar spark appeared in the girl´s blue eyes, the corners of her lips moving up to the point that her entire face became one big smile.

Rena meant dumpsters! Lots and lots of new dumpsters to explore! Mion knew her best friend well enough to gather as much. She didn´t judge her for this habit however, for she´d tagged along with it for almost as long as she´d known the kawaii-obsessed girl but why she had to go all the way to Tokyo for such a thing Mion had no idea. But then there was of course this English-class…

Say what one may about Chie-sensei but teaching advanced English hadn´t precisely been her forté, and with Rena being in need of far more intellectual stimulation than 2nd grade English Mion should have figured this would happen sooner or later… but still… the club-goku found herself letting out a sigh.

"Rena will be back before you know it", Rena placed a comforting hand on her best friend´s shoulder.

"Well…I suppose", Mion looked thoughtfully ahead of her before abruptly pasting a smile on her face, "Well then! Shall we get going? We have about a week to get you some souvenirs to show them there in Ibekuro".

"Of course! Let´s go Mi-chan", Rena giggled as she accompanied the green-haired girl to the door.

_._

"So when will she come?" Masaomi grinned at his friend as he logged of the computer, "that Ryuugu-girl?"

Mikado spun around in his chair as he met his best friend´s gaze.

"She´ll be here Friday" he scratched his chin, a thoughtful look on his face, "she´ll be at the airport at 13.20 o´clock approximately. So we have to get going at 13.00".

"Is she hot?"

As Masaomi gave one of those meaningful grins that Mikado have come to know so well he couldn´t help letting out a sigh.

"Already?" he asked as he gave the other a tired look.

For a moment that felt like an eternity for both of them that one word of Mikado´s hung in the air between them. During normal circumstances it wouldn´t have any other impact than the blond teen laughing at his friend´s annoyance but since they both knew what had brought Masaomi back to Ikebukuro so soon the word seemed to have an almost melancholic meaning.

"It´s only been 3 months", Mikado said after a while, sympathy shining through in his blue eyes "I think you should…"

Masaomi knew very well of what he spoke and in fact he´d been trying his hardest these last months to forget it. But some wounds were not quick to heal no matter how heavy the medication.

"Yes, yes!" he waved the words off as if waving off an irritating insect, "I should let it heal or whatever they say take time, let the scars go away! And I will", he sighed, "I´ve gotten as much! Just let me…" the blond looked into his hands for an instance before giving his best friend an almost pleading look," be me… for a second".

Mikado met his gaze quietly, a slight hesitance visible in his gaze before giving a quick nod.

"Of course!" he said plastering a smile to his lips, "I suppose there´s no helping it. And as to whether she´s you know… hot or not", the black haired boy emphasized the last word, slightly mocking his friend´s tone, "I suppose you´ll just have to see for yourself in a week".

"What?" Kida starred at the other as though he´d committed a blasphemous act, "you mean, you didn´t bother asking for pictures of her?"

"Nope!" Mikado smiled in glee.

In truth he had seen several pictures of his online-friend, for after all they had spoken for about half a year and he had to at least a vague idea of how she looked if he was to recognize her in a week. But of course he wasn´t going to share that information with his hot blooded, impulsive friend, who needed he remind himself had only recently been dumped by his girlfriend. As for the Ryuugu girl´s looks in question he hadn´t put any further reflection on whether they would fall into the category of "hot" or not for Mikado had only one person whom he ever viewed in such lights and he just couldn´t wait until she joined him, Masaomi and Rena at their studies this fall.

_._

"Ah! There we go!" Keiichi gave a satisfied grin as he lifted the small chair out of the many planks that had covered it instances ago, "am I awesome or what?" he turned his head back to look at his female friends whom were all in the midst of digging through various piles of broken furniture and toys.

"Ha!" Mion exclaimed, pointing towards the big teddy bear to her left, "admit defeat Kei-chan! I´ve done you one better yet again", she turned her head towards the brown haired girl to her left with a triumphant smile, "ne, Rena-chan?"

The brunette quietly gazed between the various items her friends had found for her this evening, suddenly realizing what she was leaving behind. A year went fast she´d consoled her friends but as she now looked at the evidence of the trouble they´d went through just to give her something to remember them by she wasn´t so certain of her own words anymore.

"They´re all amazing!" she said, a sincere smile on her lips, "I will think of you when I look at them", she paused for an instant looking down at the ground, "you know… everyone. Rena will really miss you when she´s gone".

The silence filled the air as they all looked back at their friend, they all thought the same thing but it was Keiichi who uttered the words first.

"Perhaps you don´t have to go", he said hopefully, a hesitant smile on his lips.

Rena drew a deep sigh before smiling softly in return.

"But Rena wants to go…" she hesitated as she finally managed to put her words the way she wanted to, "… and stay with you at the same time", she said as her eyes traced over all six faces, "Rena will be back before you know it and before I know it too. And perhaps…", she said with the same hope in her voice as Keiichi had had one moment ago, "you can even come visit me there?"

Another wave of silence filled the chilly evening air before she was met by six smiles.

"Oh Tokyo", Mion stretch her arms behind her back scratching her back with a frown on her face, "I don´t know about that! Too dangerous for biking, smelly contaminated air", she grinned at Rena, "damnit Rena-chan, why did you have to go and make life so difficult for us!"

Rena chuckled softly.

"Because that´s how life is. Friendship comes with sacrifices", she giggled as she glanced knowingly at her best friend.

"I´m not afraid of a challenge!" Satoko grinned as she looked back at the kawaii-obsessed girl, "the stench has nothing on me!"

The others chuckled as they looked at the small blond, thinking they should have seen this coming. Satoko wasn´t one to stay quiet for long and in a matter such as this they certainly shouldn´t have expected any less.

"I´ll come visit as fast as I can", Satoko continued, "I´ll slink into your apartment in the middle of the night if I have to".

"I am sure you could", Shion giggled softly, patting the small girl on the head, "but however I think it´s unnecessary to get yourself arrested, you still have a lot of studying to do".

"Studying", the blond girl muttered some inaudible and as Rena guessed not particularily beautiful words before looking back at her friends with a defiant pout on her lips, " she always ruins everything! That Chie-sensei"

"I will come visit you!" Rika smiled sweetly, "I want to treasure-hunt in Ikebukuro too, nipah"

"We´ll come visit you too", Keiichi grinned, arm placed meaningfully around Mion´s shoulder, "as fast as uncle here overcomes her fear of gasoline ridden vehicles".

"Oh, shut up, Kei-chan!" the club-goku muttered, hand grabbing his ear, "of course we´ll come visit Rena", she grinned, "as fast as we get the time and money".

"And overcome our fear of gasoline", Keiichi grinned teasingly at Mion who once again retaliated by sticking a finger into his ribs, "ouch that hurts!" he muttered before smiling again, his lips connecting the green haired girl´s in a brief yet affectionate peck.

Rena exchanged a meaningful smile with Shion as they gazed at the couple. A lot had indeed changed this last year, and not only in the department of security in the Hinamizawa village. They had all overcome a great trial and that in turn seemed to have brought even more changes. Perhaps it was the fact that they´d all been reminded of the fragility of life that had set them in motion… or perhaps… they had simply been in the stage of life where changes normally occurred. While everyone had been well aware of Keiichi´s and Mion´s feelings for one another, everyone had also been well aware of the chances of their relationship progressing being slight to none. It seemed near death-experiences indeed did lead to severe changes after all…

"Now let´s stop dilly-dallying!" Satoko exclaimed, her sharp canine tooth showing as she looked ahead of the countless piles still left unexplored, "Rena still don´t have nearly enough to remember us by".

"Right!" Keiichi grinned as he let go of Mion, "now! The one who finds the most treasures gets to decide the fate of the looser. Rena is immune".

"Why, I thank you Keiichi-kun!" Rena gave a mischievous smile, "but Rena wants to deal out some punishments too for after all Rena only have one week left of club-activities".

"Alright then", the brown haired boy sighed, "Rena gets to decide the fate of the loser!"

Giggling Rena followed her friends as they all struggled not to come in last.

Only two girls, one blue haired and one purple haired lingered behind, having far more serious matters on their minds than coming last in the competition.

"Allowing her to leave the village, will be risky, won´t it Hanyuu?" Rika spoke in a voice that only came forth once her friends were out of sight, a stern expression on her youthful face.

"It would be, normally", Hanyuu nodded seriously, "but while our tasks here are completed Rena still has an important mission ahead of her. It is important to the degree that Oyashirosama´s protection will be with her throughout the entire process".

"A mission such as what?" Rika´s tone a mixture of annoyance and concern.

Having seen her friends die countless times, one death more horrible than the other Rika was in no mood to submit one of them to another painful trial. Rena had fought just as hard as any other member of the club and she deserved just as well as the rest of them to finally sit back and enjoy the sweet fruit of their combined efforts.

"I can see that you are worried about her", Hanyuu gave a comforting smile, "but Rena is strong, stronger than she´s ever been before and this mission is going to be a lot less painful", the goddess giggled all of a sudden, "if I know her as well as I think I do she won´t even be able to tell she´s on a mission to begin with".

Rika glared back at her guardian, still not liking this one bit. Rena was headed for a part of a town said to be more chaotic than Hinamizawa at a level 5 state of Hinamizawa-syndrom and Hanyuu dare tell her Rena wouldn´t even be able to tell she was on a mission.

"I know what you´re thinking", the purple haired girl let out a sigh, before she faced the Miko, "but please have faith in me. Remember what we´ve said of Keiichi having the power to defy fate?"

"Yes?" Rika looked back at the demon with a glance that seemed to say and your point is?

"Well…", Hanyuu gave another smile, this time filled with secretive excitement, "it seems he´s not the only transfer student capable of changing fate".

AN: So well, I hope I caught your interest enough for you to read chapter 2, anyway. See you well... next time I update xD. Hope you enjoyed this chap!