It's been a hell of a long time. The last time I updated, I think I said I was finishing paper work to move to Japan? Well, I've been living in Tokyo for almost a year now, going to University. So that's my excuse for my hiatus this time. I logged back in recently and saw that I had 139 missed notifications, and that's when I realized I really needed to continue this, so sorry for letting everyone down!

The good news is, I've been able to use my experiences in Japan to further add to my story! So once, again, as dissatisfied as I was with my story, I went through and revised/added some stuff. Because it's been forever since I updated, I recommend reading from the beginning again! (If you want to)

Thank you to those who wanted more from me all this time and supported me. I received a really nice PM from someone on FF about how my story really impacted their life and damn, if I didn't start crying. I'll do my best to give you all the best fic I can, and hopefully keep you interested.

Izaya

"That should be everything," I clapped my hands in a dusting motion, looking down, satisfied with my work.

I smiled thoughtfully, admiring my handiwork in organizing my suitcase. I had packed it so that I would be bringing a relatively manageable amount of bags with me, keeping in mind that I would be away for a while.

Hauling the luggage with me, I made my way to the kitchen downstairs. I popped a slice of bread in the toaster and checked the clock on the microwave. 6:05, it read, and I was making good time.

"...no I sent them in last week...All the files were attached...Okay...I'll be there in an hour."

I heard a muffled, feminine voice coming toward the kitchen from the hallway, and my mother entered the room, an annoyed expression on her features.

Ever since her promotion to vice president, her bluetooth had become another extremity. For weeks now, I had had a lingering feeling for some time now, of an additional silent member in the room. I often caught myself watching for the little blue light to flash under her dark hair around her ear. I don't think she went anywhere without her headset. By now, I just reckoned she slept with it on...

"Come on, honey, I can't be late for work! I have a meeting!" she yelled up the stairs, exasperatedly.

Leaning against the counter, munching on my breakfast, I sat back to watch my parents' daily routine.

"Morning, mother" I said with a mouthful of toast, emotionlessly.

"Izaya?" she jumped in surprise and confusion, not expecting my presence. "What are you doing awake? It's a Saturday?" she sounded puzzled, but double checking her wristwatch anyway.

"I have my class trip today, remember?" I said, already prepared for her response.

"No," she said as she continued to rush around the kitchen to make herself her morning coffee. "Can't say that I do."

My mother was more or less a kind person, from the moments we spent together, albeit brief. She was a hard worker, in fact her job took up most of her life. I imagined it was difficult helping manage a large business, while still trying to involve herself in the life of her three children. That is, when she and my father were home.

"Oh..." I looked down at the floor. What a surprise... "Well you paid for it...We're going skiing."

"Oh really?" She continued to fumble with the creamer as she poured it in the scalding drink.

"Yes, I'll be gone for three weeks," I stated very matter-of-factually.

"That's nice dear..." She responded absentmindedly to the conversation I knew she hadn't been paying attention to.

"Shirou!" She called up the stairs once again, "We need to leave! I have 45 minutes!"

I heard shuffling coming from the staircase. My father walked into the room wearing one of his best suits, looking like the proper, stereotypical businessman he was. My mother hurried over to fix the tie he was struggling to knot.

He too, was a supportive father; financially at least. My feelings toward him were indifferent, since he was rarely around.

"Tch." I clicked my tongue out of earshot. Really, you wear a suit almost every day of your life, and still can't tie a tie?

"I'm going to need a ride to school this morning," I said, glancing over to where my parents were standing.

My mother looked up as if she was hearing me for the first time this morning.

"But it's Saturday?" My father looked at me questioningly.

I sighed, refusing to recite the previous unnoted conversation again.

"Izaya, honey, I can't take you, I've just been informed I have a meeting in one hour, and I have to drop your father off at the airport for his business trip."

"You can't drop me off on the way there?"

"It's in the opposite direction sweetie, you know how busy mommy and daddy are. Let's be reasonable."

God forbid you take a ten minute detour.

"It's not that far of a walk." She walked over to me and cupped my face with her hands. "Besides, the exercise will be good for you, ne, Izaya?" She beamed a smile and pecked me on the forehead.

I blinked apathetically in response.

"We'll see you later, son. You're the man of the house while I'm gone," he called as he made his leave, waving at me from the hall. "Take care of your sisters!"

"Goodbye, dear," my mother's voice followed him out the door, "have fun with your class!"

And then they were gone.

I rolled my eyes and picked up my cell phone that had been charging on the counter, and dialed a frequently used number. The dial tone rang it's tired, monotone resonance as I looked down at the city through the frost-tinted glass. Faint flurries that fell from the grey heavens began to dust the windowsill. A frown made its way across my face, until a voice sounded from the other end of the line.

"Good morning, this is the office of Ikebukuro Taxi Services, how can we help you?"

"Ah, yes, good morning, indeed."

Shizuo

"Shizuo, you're sure you packed everything?" she asked for the umpteenth time, hesitating to lock the door behind her. She hadn't quite yet adjusted to the fact that I would be away for the remainder of the month. "If you left anything you wouldn't be seeing it for three weeks, you know."

"Yeah, mom. I'm almost 18, I think I know how to pack my bags myself." I sighed, mentally double checking that I did, in fact, grab the essentials.

We hurried into the car that had been preheating while we loaded my pair of suitcases into the trunk. I really didn't see the need to pack that much stuff if there was a laundromat there. The only necessary things to bring was a hat and winter coat, anyway.

My class had been partaking in a fundraiser for cancer in the fall, and managed to come in at first place, in turn winning us a trip to a ski resort this January. I guess they figured it was also a great way to send off the senior class too, as well as use up the small remainder of our budget. The part that I didn't understand though, was how we had managed to make all that money for charity, yet somehow it reciprocated into profiting ourselves...? But I guess it really didn't matter now, did it?

Staring out the window, I noticed snow flurries beginning to fall against the windshield.

"Oh, look! This must be a good sign!" I could have sworn my mom was more excited about the trip than I was, though I knew she hated the thought of sending one of her sons away. But this kind of thing was special for my small family. Opportunities like this were rare.

I smiled to myself at her attempted encouragement. "What are you and Kasuka gonna do while I'm gone?" I asked, still watching the falling flakes melt on the pane of glass.

"Well, the family is still here from the New Year, so I suppose we'll spend some more time with them...Oh, but don't worry about us, we'll manage." She looked over smiling warmly.

If there's one thing you should know, it's that I love my mother. She's always been the most supportive person in my life, being a single mom and all. She's got enough love in her for two people, that's for sure.

We arrived at the student drop-off at Rajin High. I noticed the other students arriving were also equipped with suitcases and duffle bags among other luggage, all looking like they have never been so enthusiastic about going to school in their life.

I shut the trunk and turned to face the small woman staring up at me with watery eyes. I smiled sympathetically and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. "It's too cold to be crying, mom. I'll be okay. I promise to call when I can." I said, hugging her one last time.

We said our goodbyes and I started making my way over to meet up with my other classmates, when I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

It may have very well been the cold gust of air that swept around me, but the feeling was undeniable.

There, in the corner of my eye, he sat blending in among the crowd of students, looking right at me with that stupid smirk plastered across his face. If you didn't know him, he'd look like your average school creep, but if you did know him...you knew he was your above-average school creep.

Tch, it was too early to deal with this shi—

"Shizuo! Wait up!" A voice that sounded much too enthusiastic for 7:30 a.m. called from behind. In the brief moment I let my gaze drop from the crowd where he was standing, I looked back to see the space absent of his presence.

Bastard...

"Morning, Shinra." I still held a glare at the vacancy and turned to face my longtime friend.

"Are Kadota and Izaya here yet?"

"Tch. Why do you even associate with that insect anyway?"

"Good morning, ladies~." As if on cue, the cloy chime of his voice sang behind me.

"Morning, Izaya!" Shinra said a little too cheerfully for the hour.

"Ne, Shizu-chan, do you have to go to the restroom or something? You're looking a bit tense this morning~." His voice hushed on the last words as he smirked.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me that, flea?!" I turned around, snapping at the man before me.

He jumped back quickly, putting his hands up in defense as he chuckled. "My, my, someone's definitely not a morning person." He narrowed his brows and grinned. "Duly noted."

"Shut up you little louse, before I kick your ass into next week!"

"Oooo~ how scary," he cooed sarcastically. "I'm shivering with fright!" He wrapped his arms around himself, faking a shudder.

Always so damn dramatic, this one.

I took a step forward rolling up my sleeve, and Izaya rolled his eyes.

Before I could wipe that stupid smug look off his face, Shinra stepped in attempting to hold my arm back as well as block my path to the flea. "As heated as this argument is getting, I'm freezing my ass off. Can we go inside the building, please?" I shot one final glare at the smaller man in warning.

"So where's Dotachin?" Izaya mused, as we entered the school's foyer.

Suddenly my pocket vibrated. I took out my ancient looking, orange flip phone that read [1 New Message].

"Shizu-chan, why do you still have that dinosaur?" the raven scoffed, chuckling his nasally chuckle. "Or is it like they say...hmm, what was it?" he said, tapping his chin, pretending to be in thought. "'The older the phone, the more indestructible it is'? Perfect for a monster like you, ne?"

"It's from Kadota" I said flatly, ignoring the comment.

"What's it say?" Shinra asked, looking over my arm to read the small characters.

I read aloud:

"Sorry I'm running late. I had errands to run. You guys owe me…"

"What does he mean we'll "owe" him? What's he talking about?" Shinra said, and I was just as lost as he was on this one.

Beside him, a wide grin formed on Izaya's face.

Should have known he was involved...

"And what exactly do you know about this?" I glowered.

"Who me?" He pointed to himself before glancing around with an innocent look on his face. "I have no idea whatever you are talking about."

The sound of the first bell rang, interrupting my interrogation.

"Ah, what a shame, and things were just about to get interesting...See you on the busses~!" He stroked the air in a waving motion before skipping off in the direction of his classroom.

"...I think he knows something." Shinra stated a-matter-of-factually.

"It's the flea! He always knows something!"

Thankfully our homerooms were sorted in alphabetical order so I didn't have to spend the entire hour listening to the flea's smart-ass remarks. And even better, "H" through "K" was in the same room, so Kadota and Shinra are both in my class.

The teacher went through attendance, stopping at "Kyohei Kadota".

"Um, he should be here any minute, maybe the bad weather is slowing him down...?" Shinra said to the teacher, hoping to excuse his tardy.

Not a good day to be late, Kadota, I thought to myself. Whatever you're doing—

My thoughts are interrupted when he busted through the door.

"Sorry about that Okimura-sensei, the snow's comin' down pretty hard," he explained himself casually.

"Ah yes, very well, take your seat...Now that everyone is here, we are just waiting for the bell to signal to leavefor the buses" the teacher instructed.

"Where were you?!" Shinra whispered in a parental tone as Kadota took his seat at our table. "We might have left without you already!"

"I can't explain right now. I'll tell you when it's more...private," our friend replied in a hushed tone.

The bell rang and we all started carrying ourselves, as well as our belongings, out to the parking lot. As the three of us got on the bus, I looked around to notice that a certain louse wasn't on board.

"Looks like Izaya is on a different bus than us," Shinra noted as well. Good riddance.

We made our way to the back. Students, as well as teachers, chaperons and luggage were all packed like sardines in the cramped confines of the vehicle.

After the clamor had settled down and we had began to move, Shinra and I both looked at our friend expecting an answer.

"I still can't tell you, there are too many people, plus Izaya isn't here, either. Once we get to the trains I'll spill, I swear."

We agreed to his terms, after all, it was only a ten minute bus ride to Ikebukuro Station.

Upon our arrival, Okimura-sensei made one final announcement. On the train, we will be sitting four to a cabin, and our groups had already been chosen for us. The teacher walked to the back, looking at my two friends and me. "You three, plus Orihara-kun," he said turning away.

"Wait, why is he stuck with us?! We don't want him!" I exclaimed, "Can't you stick him with like...those guys?" I pointed over to a rather nerdy crowd playing with graphing calculators. Right up his alley, right?

"Sorry, but no one else wanted him in their group either, and since you are the only three I see talk to him on a daily basis..." he said leaving it at that, and to move on to the next group.

"Fuck!" I hissed under my breath.

"Shizuo, it's two hours, you can do it," Shinra assured me, patting me on the back.

"Plus, I've got some good news to make up for it," Kadota beamed a smile.

I doubt anything can make up for the flea's presence...I thought to myself as I anticipated what was to come.

We arrived at the station, and the chaperones kept us in a single file line down the escalators, and through the maze of one of Tokyo's most extensive and busiest stations. Even being as early as it was, and on a Saturday no less, there were still hundreds of people roaming the subway. It was challenging to stay in a single large group, so we had been instructed to break into smaller ones, due to the crowd and our luggage.

Businessmen dressed in suits walked briskly with their briefcases towards their gates. Businesswomen wore heels that clacked along the tile, wearing pencil skirts, despite the snowy outdoors. Teenagers were walking in bustling clusters, ready for a day of shopping in Sunshine City, carrying bags dazzled with hundreds of anime keychains and straps. Others shuffled more quietly, listening to their headphones or playing gatcha games on their phones. Couples held gloved hands, leaning close together on their way to a cafe for breakfast. There were some tourists still around from the holidays, and other anomalies that didn't quite match the standard Japanese citizen. Yet, the conglomerate of people were exactly what made Ikebukuro, Ikebukuro.

It was things like this that I would miss; the uniqueness of the city I knew to be home. It was as I scanned through the gate to leave Tokyo, did I almost wave my farewells. I assured myself, though, the same way I had assured my mother earlier; three weeks, and I'd be back before I knew it.

Suddenly, that same feeling from earlier this morning came right before I heard his voice.

"My fellow groupies! Did you hear the news? We've all been assigned to the same cabin. Fancy that?"

Izaya had rolled up with his suitcases, trailing alongside us. He began to chat with Shinra, the only other early bird I knew, and the only other person who could kind of stand Izaya. Kadota had his headphones in, and I wished I could tune them out just as quickly.

"Ne, Shizu-chan," the nasally voice behind me called. "You better not destroy the train before we get there."

My brow twitched as I stepped down onto the escalator. "Then try not to stink the place up with your nasty flea-smell," I growled behind me.

"You're the one with poor hygiene here…" I heard him mumble under his breath.

The hand on the handle of my suitcase cracked a little under the pressure of my grip, and I felt Shinra put a hand on my shoulder.

"Two hours you guys!" Shinra encouraged, "please let us live that long then you two can go at it all you want at the resort," he said coyly. "For the sake of my health and Kadota's, just be civil. Two hours is all we are asking."

We stepped off the escalators onto the platform to wait for the train to arrive, and Shinra cleverly positioned himself between me and the flea, Kadota on his other side.

I took a deep breath in, wishing I had a cigarette right now. I had only recently picked up the habit, but I noticed that it was one of the few things that took the edge off whenever I was around him.

"Fine, but tell him to stop doing things that piss me off," I said flatly to Shinra.

The lights of the train were starting to round the corner, and I wasn't looking forward to being in such a confined space with the man I hated most.

"You just make it too easy~." Izaya said quietly, but loud enough for me to hear him. He wasn't even looking my way, which ticked me off even more.

The train slowed, then came to a stop. The doors opened, and we filed in slowly. I was regretting not having a final smoke before the doors closed, and I was saying goodbye to my city one last time.