If you're familiar with Hangover then this could be your cup of tea. On the light side sprinkled with trouble and action. Enjoy.
Chapter 1
A cruise on a luxury ship sounded great even when Shizuo Heiwajima boarded it increasing the likely hood of said ship sinking. But with Tom and his other friends at his side, anger got kept down and it was like a really expensive party where everyone had fun. Expenses were covered by Masaomi's new family sadly unable to come for the entirety of the trip with Ruben on the racetrack and Leena and Anska joining later via a passing ship. Everyone had fun and possibly too many martinis for a while simply enjoying the cruise with its features one being a sparkling pool on the ship itself. Anska and Leena had generously and happily paid for the occasion inviting everyone from the trip they met and extended the luxury to friends too. The group bathing in their kindness and love for their adopted son was Kida himself, Saki, Anri, Mikado, Tom, Shizuo, Shinra, Celty, Chikage and the van gang. Izaya didn't count as friend, more so after the couple found out more about him via conversations and Masaomi along with them called the final shots. Of course, the cruise didn't stay happy and the exact person having not been invited and the worry for Shizuo going berserk and snapping the ship in half had to be Izaya. In the parka wearing man's defense though, he didn't do it on purpose simply on a job stuck in the wheelchair which partially is his fault as he didn't try to improve his legs. Either on purpose or stroke of luck, Collie tagging along with Masaomi, scared off the informant every time Shizuo came into vicinity thus stopping them from seeing each other. However Mikado and Masaomi did find him but stayed in the shadows curiously having followed the dog one time although she never strayed far from the blonde's side being ever so protective and loving. Rather not wanting to risk a sinking ship than it already stood, the boys had kept quiet although it looked oh so beckoning to push Izaya over the edge when Kida was alone peeking at him from behind a corner. Collie's luck or strategy didn't hold up the entire cruise though and when Izaya spotted Shizuo and vice versa, the informant did not sport a smirk. If anything, he looked genuinely worried along with the rest of the ship which would be crying now if it had a soul. They managed to intervene twice slowing the damage of a raging Shizuo but by the third outbreak of severe violence and destruction, the ship suffered so greatly it groaned louder than ever. And then it started to sink. If that wasn't chaos before then the situation now definitely was as crew and captain tried to head for land. Much distress, flooding and general near death situations, the crew and captain had managed to bring the ship closer to land finding islands hidden by thick fog. The cruise never touched sand and crew, passengers and Captain had hauled themselves on one island while Masaomi and co ended up on another island. If it weren't for Saki spotting Izaya and enlisting Collie's help hauling him out of the water including wheelchair feeling bad for him, the man would've been dead. Out in the water, the water surged around the ship as it winked goodbye and with it the way home.
Tom probably had the most accurate description of their situation, still spitting out sand, drenched and collapsed onto the shore having managed to hold on to his glasses. "We're fucked."
"Celty?" Shinra croaked the dullahan beside him rather freaking out washed up aside him. Celty patted the sand around her, looking everywhere and motioning again and again to her sleeve before waving around her arms and finally face palming on her helmet with her shoulders slumped sitting in the sand. "It'll be okay, we can get through anything together. I'll be your voice."
"Hey what's that?" Walker blinked pulling himself to his feet with Erika, Saburo and Kadota near them sprawled in the sand. Indeed something bobbed up and down in the water specifically a black spear and Celty reeled it in with her shadows with delight, the sphere slowly revealing her PDA having been protected from the water. Shooter snorted happy for Celty standing beside her having changed from his usual motorcycle looks to the horse to swim to shore. Chikage rose checking on Kadota while the otakus ensured Saburo's vitality, the biker gang leader trying to remove some wet sand from his hat amazingly having been washed to the exact same shore they had crawled onto. The others started to turn to the remaining people of the group, Shizuo taking all attention by getting up with a roar, eyes narrowing on Izaya helped into his chair by Saki. Time seemed to freeze, the brute's eyes promising pain and death to Izaya but he couldn't bring himself to attack not with Saki right next to the informant. The girl had no beef with Shizuo and he didn't want to hurt her. Collie whined and Mikado managed to get to his feet with help, the teen's eyes shifting to his best friend face down in the sand not having risen yet. Anri, Saki and Mikado were to first to rush closer, Izaya trying to stay close for his own safety but the sand wasn't with him. Collie's distressed whine was the only thing keeping Shizuo's attention away for now. The dog cried out again, teeth sinking into the white hood and the female pulled with all her might managing to turn him over. Without warning Collie closed the gap and suddenly leapt onto the teen's chest full force, everybody's eyes widening and a moment later Masaomi choked to consciousness rolling over and furiously spitting out the salty water. Collie whined in relief cuddling her head against Kida who slung an arm around her neck with a silent thank you. Shizuo's eyes drifted to Izaya again becoming rather stuck in the sand and lips lifted into a smile seeing that Saki had moved over Masaomi. His hands instinctively wanted to grab a pole or something but with nothing around, the man started stalking towards his disabled arch enemy.
"He can come in handy, don't do it Shizuo." Shinra really questioned why he did this placing himself in the middle like a suicidal maniac. Seriously, Celty was standing right there. He was with her, all he ever wanted. Shinra sighed in relief on the inside and Shizuo whipped around with a snort and growl which might only postponed the incident. Their focus shifted to the green semi tropical expanse unfolding behind shore with a few rising peeks. The island definitely wasn't small.
"You know this reminds of camping during the trip in Russia. I mean we'll have to make tents and find food and such." Mikado mentioned breaking the ice. He actually liked the idea of camping just maybe not on a random island with no definite ending of the trip.
"Alright, we need a plan." Celty started.
"Cell phones are useless if any of you still have them." Mikado sighed.
"We can put out a distress sign with stones on the shore." Saki suggested.
"We'll have to find food too."
"A fire for heat would be useful at night and we can boil water to drink it in case there no fresh water here." Anri added.
"We don't know the weather here so we should look into making a shelter or finding it." Chikage pitched in.
"Food, water, shelter… covers the basics. And making a sign. There isn't much else we can do besides that. We have to wait to be rescued." Shinra summed up with a sigh.
"Well our chances are good though. Leena and Anska will be relentless looking for Masaomi and Collie." Kadota smiled.
"And they can afford about every high- tech gadget imaginable." Saburo added.
"So after making that sign all we have to focus on is surviving." Izaya spoke up for the first time.
With the sign finished, their heads turned back to the green expanse and Kadota offered to take the lead. Saki did all her might to push the wheelchair but the island's terrain was very much anti-wheelchair prompting Celty to ponder to help with her abilities even though she didn't like Izaya while Masaomi joked it was a sign and they should leave the man behind although Izaya knew by the look they exchanged that it wasn't a joke.
"Where are we going?" Shinra asked as they whacked away with the foliage growing denser towards the center. The wheelchair sucked too much so it got folded up and Shooter had changed into a bike, Izaya hoisted on the back as Celty drove leaving Shinra jealous and the dullahan uncomfortable. Stomachs and Kadota stopped with sigh.
"I don't know, I'm trying to locate a fresh water source or spot fruit trees or something."
"We won't find anything useful at this rate." Shizuo growled a little disgruntled ripping out another tree to clear a path and throwing it away.
"At least with Shizuo's path we'll find our way back to the shore." Saburo remarked.
"Maybe we should ask Collie." Saki suggested with smile holding hands with Masaomi and the dog trotting along in front of them.
"Of course, the dog!" Shinra exclaimed. "Why didn't we think of it earlier?"
"For starters you've been staring at Celty and the flea the whole time." Shizuo pointed out. Man, ripping out these trees wasn't just useful but just therapeutic enough to prevent him from snapping along with Tom's, Celty's and Shinra's presence.
"Hey Collie, can you find us some fresh water and food?" Masaomi asked crouching down to her and Collie tilted her head sitting down.
Izaya scoffed. "As if a-" Collie suddenly yipped after a second and jumped to her feet, nose straight on the ground sniffing away and walking ahead everyone starting to follow and Izaya left sour trying not to scream stuck with his worst fear. At least Collie didn't pay attention to him which made it slightly easier. Now all he had to do was not think about Masaomi or Shizuo sicking the canine on him as both hated his guts and Collie obliged to both happily. Erika and Walker picked up conversations more and more soon blissfully lost in their own imagination rambling on about made up stories concerning their situation.
Their throats felt parched and a few were ready to wave a flag of defeat from the long, difficult track especially Shinra and Mikado. Collie lifted her snout from the ground which seemed to have been there for eternity and turned around excitedly with friendly barks and yips hopping around on her hind feet. The group stepped forward, Izaya glad that Celty stayed rather in the back and their eyes sparkled with joy upon seeing the sparkling trickling creek gently sprouting from rock and rushing down a small stair like rock section into a stream disappearing out of sight in the thick plant growth. Too thirsty to care for fish poo or anything else for that matter as Collie openly drank beside them, the group lined up by the water cupping their hands and drinking it. Celty made a cup out of the shadows for Izaya not exactly able to really get down there and then proceeded to make cups for everyone. That's when the awkwardness really hit causing a weird ass silence and their eyes slightly wandered to Collie happily licking away and lifting her head licking her lips afterwards. The dog tilted her head at them and wagged her tail bounding over to Masaomi and Saki cuddling against the blonde's leg slightly stepping into the water on her way. The will to survive won over worry of possible bacteria and germs as everyone just decided to kick those kind of thoughts away for now.
"Think Collie can find us food?" Celty asked. "And we should probably keep in mind where the stream is."
"We won't need to, Shizuo's path is pretty recognizable and wide." Shinra remarked glancing to the makeshift road behind them.
"Yeah, she found water. She's good at fighting; you should've seen her in Siberia when a guy broke into mom and dad's house one time." Masaomi replied stroking the canine. "Alright Collie, we need your help with finding food." Collie softly barked as to tell him that she understood and starting sniffing around and paid close attention to all sounds. Shizuo had to do without ripping out trees for now to not scare away any potential wildlife suited for roasting over a fire which made it extremely hard to not blow as he didn't have cigarettes to smoke.
The sun started to set and their stomachs erupted in loud growls again. Really, it honestly didn't matter now if Shizuo ripped out trees or not any potential wildlife probably already fled from miles away. Collie dashed here and there zigzagging around with her nose steadily twitching sniffing the soil, plants and the air. Even Walker and Erika had piped down just wishing to finally see a tree bearing food in all this green foliage on the subtropical island. It wasn't awfully hot but not cold either. "We need a shelter before it's dark." Chikage reminded and Shinra grumbled about a fire and not burning down the whole island in the process. Celty felt sorry for them as her and Shooter were very fortunate in this situation as they didn't need food or water. The dullahan admired Collie's relentless search, the dog seemingly refusing to slow down in her effort to locate food for everyone being hungry herself. Her head finally lifted and the furry tail started to wag frantically barking once with her head tilted upward to a banana tree, the yellow enticing fruit out of her reach even if she jumped. The groups eyes followed, the bananas just out of their reach and Shizuo immediately rushed forward grabbing the tree with a roar and ripping it out throwing it down into the ground like a wild animal with a grin able to have let off steam. The others rushed forward and Collie barked at the poor frightened birds flying higher into the sky trying to catch one with high leaps but catching none. Their hands grabbed the bananas turning out to be three bundles of various sizes just enough for everyone. Saki and Kida grabbed a third banana and peeled, everyone clueless at first what they were doing until the ripe peeled banana got handed over to Collie happily munching it away.
"Collie eats bananas?" Mikado asked for everyone in curiosity. He hadn't been all that much to Leena's and Anska's house yet as only about a month had passed after their trip and just weeks after the whole shooting fiasco with Leena, Anska and Ruben having arrived just after that. Masaomi didn't tell them what actually went down simply stating he had been in trouble and the trio didn't inquire simply happy to have finished moving and being reunited with the blonde. The mansion with property itself wasn't in Ikebukuro but sat just outside of it with only a short ride or longer walk required to reach Ikebukuro easily allowing daily visits. Leena and Anska encouraged Masaomi despite everything to continue going to school or if he preferred to take online classes, the blonde having not quite settled on a decision sort of in a mixture of both right now, Mikado hoping his best friend will fully settle for finishing school at Raira by attending like he used to. Kida and Saki after a happy reunion and introduction moved to the blonde's adoptive parents whom were overjoyed along with Ruben and Collie having been hyper for two days straight before starting to calm down showering the two in kisses and cuddles. About a week after that Leena and Anska came up with the cruise idea and finalized who to invite with Masaomi and Saki. Chikage, Celty, and Anri got to meet them briefly via a welcoming party before boarding the ship with Chikage ever such a gentlemen, Celty being shy and adored for it quickly warming up to them and Anri also enjoying their kindness. And they all ogled at the immense mansion with property and luxury Kida and Saki lived in now. That day Collie got very excited too making friends right and left. And the rest of the group noticed how it looked exactly the same save for the property although that with some heavy duty work mimicked the previous one pretty well although it was smaller.
"Yeah, there a few vegetables and fruits she'll eat but she prefers things with a mild taste like bananas." Masaomi explained as they finished the found bananas, their stomachs begging for more. Collie stood up again after her small meal and started to search again although Saki called her off as it got decided to focus on a shelter first. For now, they wouldn't starve hoping to find more during the shelter mission.
"We have two options; make one or find one. That peak towards the middle could have caves." Mikado stated.
"We can't see the peak from here." Chikage pointed out. "But there is plenty of wood and leaves around to make one."
"I think we should stay here for now since we don't have much time to find the peak." Kadota voiced. "We can try to find the peak tomorrow if we aren't rescued by then."
"I'll help with the fire!" Walker volunteered, the group splitting into a smaller one taking care of the fire and a larger one building the shelter and Shizuo cleared their spot smiling all the way blowing off more steam. Izaya felt utterly useless not able to help all that much although Celty came up with the idea of carving something for the water out of the wood giving him something to do. The informant also roped Shinra close to him to further ensure his safety. This whole time he didn't care to improve his legs even with a tiny chance to be walking again but now he really regretted it relying on everyone's mercy. While Saki didn't want him to necessarily die or suffer when it came down to it she'd side with Kida who hated his guts. For a second there he also regretted not returning to Ikebukuro as he carved away watching everyone around him. Walker had too much fun with the fire babbling on with Erika. Kadota used his carpenter skills with the shelter as much as he could without hammer and nails and everyone generally smiled despite the situation with Kida ripping lame jokes and trying to engage Mikado in a stick fight while the otakus provided verbal sword fighting scenery. Everyone was so consumed in their task that no one noticed Collie sneaking to Izaya not even Izaya himself lost in his thoughts over hidden regret freezing up as the cold, wet snout pushed underneath his hand and Collie gazed up at him with something in her eyes causing the man scared yet remaining calm to wonder if that was a spark of love and pity as their eyes met. Feeling his increasing fear, Collie turned away again bounding over to Masaomi leaving Mikado no choice but try to fight back with a stick, Collie happily running around them with the girls giggling and the guys chuckling, Mikado embarrassed but having fun.
Orange grazed the horizon and Shinra helped Izaya into their tent/hut like shelters made out of leaves and branches and Shizuo's spot got placed as far away as possible from the informant. Shinra coming up with the genius idea to have Celty shoot out 'strings' allowed them to look around them thoroughly allowing for finding a bit more fruits growing on the island including lychee and a few more bananas for Collie. Shinra and Celty joined Izaya's shelter while the van gang took another and Collie warmed the teens snuggled between them and Shizuo, Tom and Chikage shared one. Collie's ears perked up a little as the noises of animals changed to the night inhabitants before they drifted off to sleep. There was definitely more than birds out there but even though they heard them, the wildlife didn't really show its face much always out of reach but ever present.
The leaves and fairly loose dirt hadn't done all that much for comfortable sleep when you'd been spoiled before on a luxury cruise causing a rough start in the morning as everyone was disoriented for second too. In retrospect then if there were caves in the peak, they would probably be even less comfy but they would provide stronger shelter. Leaves were certainly abundant to try to cushion any spot they crashed for the night. However the biggest concern lied in rain, possibly heavy rainfalls that their makeshift shelters might not be able to withstand even though it was sunny and clear right now. The teens ended up with the most warmth after a rather cold night, not awfully cold but not warm either having had Collie to warm them. The dog didn't mind the temperature change at all decked in her fur.
"I'm starving." Walker's stomach confirmed his statement with a loud growl as they slowly rose to their feet, the well built fire having gone out during the night.
"We all are." Mikado joined with a sigh.
"Let's get water first." Kadota announced everyone agreeing.
"Since we have something to carry the water inside now, maybe it's better if Izaya-san stays here, it'll make the trip quicker and we we'll pass through here again anyway when finding the peak." Saki suggested. "I'll stay here."
"Then I'm staying too." Masaomi joined.
"We need Collie though; we stopped making path for while. And Collie follows you." Shinra pointed out.
"Not if I tell her to go." Kida crouched down and Collie cuddled against him gazing into his eyes. "Go with them and listen to Kyohei." The collie didn't like the idea of temporary separation in their unfamiliar surroundings but obeyed slowly walking to Kadota stopping beside him and glancing up at the man with alert eyes.
"Anybody else staying here? It's better though if no one else stays because there is only so much we can carry and we won't know when we come across another source after leaving for the peak." Nobody else stayed and Shizuo gladly made another pathway.
"You didn't have to stay Saki." Izaya commented after a few minutes rather a sitting duck without Shooter as transportation, the man currently sat up against a log near the dead fire.
"I don't mind. To be honest we walked so much yesterday my legs got so sore so I'm glad to take break now before we'll walk a lot again." Saki smiled.
"I could totally give a piggy back ride when ever your legs get to sore." Masaomi offered.
"So you used my disability to your advantage?~" Izaya mused.
"No, not really. But this way, it saves time we can use otherwise and it's just easier. Plus if Shizuo gets time away from you he'll have it easier when we are all together again. I also think you might be scared of Collie because I can't think of a reason to not like her." Was Saki always this observant?
"But it's totally to have alone time with me!" Masaomi exclaimed and Saki giggled. "Stranded on a romantic island with your knight by your side to protect you from harm!"
"You know if we weren't stranded, this would be a neat place for a date or a vacation with just you and me." Saki smiled placing her head on his shoulder having sat down on the log.
"With the addition of hotel looking over the island from a balcony. Only the best for my queen." Masaomi added and Saki giggled as they contently gazed out into the distance with a smile, Izaya watching them with a smile of his own. Maybe Kida didn't appreciate it but it was really nice that Saki still let him know what she was grateful for bringing them together in the first place. In way it felt like old times for second with the two doting on each other and Izaya there but in the background. His eyes shifted to his legs. He needed to walk again, even just for his own survival on the island but it'd take years and he'd rather not know if he would manage it stuck years on the island. For a single moment, the man entertained the idea of finding a magical cure on the land in the middle of nowhere surrounded by water.
The trio thirstily took the water handed to them and after short break from walking and Collie glad to be closer by closer by Masaomi again, they started to head off with Shooter as Izaya's transportation and Shizuo making paths you couldn't miss. It's not that Collie didn't like the others apart from Izaya but Masaomi and more and more Saki were her immediately family prompting her protect them more than the other although the dog would protect as many of them as she could seeing the others as friends. On their way, they at least bumped into more wild fruits but not enough to quite fill their hunger.
"Alright stop, this is ridiculous." Shinra announced after a good or so of walking. "We can't see the peak so we have no clue in which direction to go!" The other blinked but got his point. They were taking a wild guess.
"The shore is over a day away, do you really want to backtrack all that way?" Saburo countered.
"No…" Shinra sighed. He hated this situation. But at least he had Celty that helped a lot.
"What about trying to see from a tree?" Mikado suggested. It took a few tries before they lucked on some taller tree and Shizuo helped with giving the climbers a start consisting of Masaomi, Walker and Chikage.
"I see the peak!" Kida called.
"I think there are fruit trees on the way too!" Chikage added while Walker wondered aloud if the peak hid a volcano where everyone just wanted to face palm dearly hoping there wasn't a volcano. But the thought of death by magma lingered now and would for a while. "Hm? Hey, aren't you coming down?" the man started to climb down but noticed that Masaomi didn't move looking at something in the distance.
"Can you see that too?"
"See what? Hold on, I'm coming over, I'll jump."
"No don't!" Too late with a lofty smile, Rocchi already leapt from the tree while Masaomi tried to scramble out of the way but couldn't. Chikage landed awkwardly to say the least, the tree not very suited for climbing let alone having two people at the top with Chikage sort of smushed over and beside Kida both trying to somehow fit. Masaomi grumbled and looked back at what he saw with Chikage's head a little over his. "Do you see it now?"
"It's hard to make out; I can hardly even see the grey…" Chikage squinted. "But it looks like something is built in the forest maybe like some tiny jungle town or something… That means we're not alone."
"If we're lucky, it's just rock underneath the tree or if it is a town of some sort it's abandoned. Whatever it is, it's just next to the straightest way to the peak, we could check it out." Chikage nodded and their eyes sped beneath them upon hearing a crack followed by several others. "Oh no…" The branches snapped as they had unconsciously shifted their weight a little trying to make out what was in the distance and the pair crashed down loudly, the other quickly coming to the scene as the as the last leaves and twigs fell to the ground.
"What happened, are you alright Masaomi!?" Kyohei asked for everyone as Rocchi's and Kida's heads peeked out from the green and brown mess both spitting out some leaves and Masaomi on top of Chikage. "Were you in Masaomi's tree?"
"I jumped into his tree; we found something that could turn out really bad for us." Chikage explained as they got to their feet and Masaomi kept explaining with Collie inspecting him for any wounds.
"There is a grey area near the most direct path to the peek but it's hard to make out what it really is. It's so unclear that it could some rock formation but it could be a settlement too."
"How about we keep going towards the peak and regularly check by climbing trees?" Anri quietly suggested.
"Well if everyone is okay with it, let's keep going this way." Kadota summed up receiving no complaints taking the lead as nobody wanted it. Shizuo had to admit it was amazing how well he could keep it with the current company and occupied with clearing a path, the company taking two breaks finding a fairly decent amount of fruits although it harshly waned towards the second break and their water started to run out adding another problem. Shizuo threw away another tree to the side, Collie comically tilting her head as she seemed to complement trying fetch with before hopping around a smiling Masaomi getting the girls to giggle, the collie wearing the biggest doggie smile. And even though a breeze had picked up and clouds started to form and even despite the situation it seemed like their group glowed with happiness, Shinra conversing with Izaya carried by Shooter, Walker and Erika lost in their own adventure and everybody generally happy they shined like a sunny day. And Shizuo found himself smiling something he'd never thought to do around the flea, a smile like when he held a pleasant conversation with Celty. The blonde never really considered this entire group as his friends at least half rather acquaintances although right now they all felt like friends except Izaya. Even those he didn't know all that much. This reminded very much of Siberia except it turned out much calmer until now without out temporary amnesia. Chikage entered the teen's conversation. Now, if the island didn't run out of the trees there might not be a single fight but honestly just a little action like a shared enemy might help better than tree and the surrounding company. Because back in Siberia they had to pull together to make it home unable to do if they would've torn apart and with the shared enemies popping up right and left they didn't have time to fight all that much.
I'm pretty sure the other chapters will be longer but here you go chapter 1. The stories I have started are being updated although I won't give time frames with fire emblem crossover on hiatus soon to be defrosted. You know I should make like an update section on my profile… especially because I added a third one on top of two ongoing ones and I'm writing at least three in the background at the same time along with my books… yeah I was going to go like, okay one story per category and finish each one before starting more but you know I'm a scatterbug with lots of ideas and the snowballs slow and roll constantly so I'm going to just update everything because really, my pace doesn't change. Updates will drop like crazy with multiple stories and I think it might be even be better because often as I write a certain or something or a concept gets a snowball unstuck and yeah. Okay, I'm plain weird to sum it up my story section will expand quite a bit I promise I will never abandon a story. The last paragraph chunk there I wrote while listening to 'Stick Together' which kinda spawned that, I really like the song with the group for some reason. I'll probably listen to this on repeat while writing this and it'll spawn more sweet moments that I thought would be in thereXD Anyway, I will shut up now hope you enjoyed the read. Oh yes fell free to critique especially characterization because I haven't written much of Saki(I think I have her figured out though), Anri(I think so too) and Chikage where I could use the most critique although I think him and Masaomi could have an awesome bromance like Rocchi and Kadota if they spend some more time together. I could totally see him and Shizuo go all protective over the teens with Kadota.