PART ONE
Ikebukuro—a city of lights, murder, and secrets where the mundane "everyday" happens to be avoiding a certain raven-haired informant, a blonde man in a bartender outfit, and hoping never to be in the crossfire of any colored gang. The everyday where more and more people are joining the Dollars, an invisible organization, avoiding bounty hunters, and maybe catching a quick glimpse of the Black Rider while she rides on her soundless motorcycle. The everyday where a sword wielding Slasher attacks random civilians, where the Yellow Scarves fight against the Dollars, and where three very powerful best friends, completely unaware of each other, continue on with their everyday lives. Yes, here in Ikebukuro, this all constitutes for normality.
"IZAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAA!"
This is also normal. Remember the informant and the man gallivanting around in a bartender outfit? They happen to be arch nemeses, mortal enemies if you will, each as dangerous as the other. The raven-haired informant was quick and steady with a switch blade—he was called Orihara Izaya and he knew everything there was to know about anybody. He loved all humans, save for the blonde, and loved watching them in despair like some twisted god he attempted to be. The man chasing him with a vending machine? His name is Heiwajima Shizuo, a short tempered bartender turned debt collector who has absurd strength and hates everything about Orihara Izaya; from him ruining his peaceful high school life to just about the air he breathes. Speaking of which…
Shizuo hefted the vending machine over his shoulder, his eyes shining in utmost hatred, as he took in the small, black form of Izaya. Then, without so much as pulling a muscle, he threw the machine at the informant. Izaya smirked (his most common expression), dodged just at the last minute and watched as the machine connected with a fire hydrant. The water poured out like some sort of mini tsunami and had enough force the break the machine. While Izaya was completely dry, his enemy was soaked to the bone with enough water to give an army.
Smiling, Izaya waved at Shizuo. "Shizu-chan~ You missed! Unless, of course, you were aiming for that, you stupid monster." Izaya chuckled darkly, looking as if he might strike the blonde, but at the last second, he grabbed a few snacks from the now destroyed vending machine. He smiled at Shizuo. "Thanks for the food, Shizu-chan~ You've been a big help!"
"IZAAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAAA! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" And then, true to his word, Shizuo got up, completely ignoring his soaked attire and began to run after the chuckling man. Along the way, he picked up a street sign, hefted it over his shoulders, and got prepared to use it like some sort of death scythe. Izaya just laughed, his tone childish, as he easily avoided the weapon.
Yes, it was just another regular day in Ikebukuro. Completely and utterly normal.
XXX
On the other side of Japan, another everyday was happening for the students of Seika High. Their everyday wasn't quite as adventurous as the one in Ikebukuro, but it did have its quirks—one of them being the so-called "demon president" that instilled fear into the hearts of many. Well, that's not entirely true; first off, she wasn't really a demon, and second, she only instilled fear in the nearly eighty percent male student body. All the girls loved her—as a big sister of course—and many of the boys grumbled in anger or annoyance, but never had enough guts to go against the President. And it was with this—her hope to expand the female population and to suppress the male—that made her a formidable foe nearly all around. Of course, her training in Aikido, her studying methods, or just the plain fact that her drive to not give up was exceeded by no others could have something to do with it, but we're not going to get into that right now.
This girl's name is Ayuzawa Misaki, a fairly average looking girl with shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes so light they appeared golden. Her family situation wasn't the best (as they had little money and her father had abandoned them when she was a child) but she knew it wasn't the worst and that was enough for her to keep trying to improve herself. Or, as it stands, trying to improve her school.
"Yukimura! What the hell is this MESS?!"
The boy named Yukimura trembled, for though he respected the President, she still scared him. He was a feminine looking boy, much smaller than the others of his grade and height, but was probably one of the few guys who respected Misaki and even thought that she was cool. He was also her Vice President. Go figure.
Yukimura gathered his courage. "U-um… i-it's… from the wrestling team…" He waited for her to yell at him or, worse yet, have him go deal with it, but all he heard was silence. Glancing up, he realized that she was nowhere to be found. In her place was Takumi Usui, a green-eyed son of an international millionaire with shaggy blonde hair and roguishly handsome good looks. He was nearly the envy of every guy at school and the center of nearly all the female student body. Save for one, of course.
"Yo, Yukimura-kun~" he cooed, though his expression was bored. "Do you know where Miss President is?" At Yukimura's shrug, Usui sighed and leaned in especially close to him. The Vice President started to shake, his eyes avoiding Usui's own, his mind remembering back when Usui had kissed him, how soft his lips were… NO! He shook his head. He was not gay and even if he was, he was pretty sure Usui wasn't! But then again Usui did start the kiss… NO! What was he saying! He was not gay!
During this inner turmoil, Usui heard some strange… grunting sounds coming from a nearby locker room. Cocking his head, he left the near hysteric boy in the hall, while Yukimura continually tried to reassure himself that he was not gay. Once Usui reached the locker room, he leaned his ear against the door, but didn't hear anything. He shrugged his shoulders, figuring he had nothing else better to do since his favorite brunette was nowhere to be found, and opened the door.
Only to be met with the sight of a flying 200 pound behemoth from the wrestling squad.
The man hit the opposing wall with a sickening thud and Usui stared, shocked, as the guy slipped down the wall before becoming a mess of spit on the floor. Almost like he was in a horror movie, Usui turned slowly towards the now silent locker room before he smiled at the sight.
"And if you ever make a mess like that again—" His beloved Misa-chan had two of the members suspended in the air in a death grip—"then I'll be sure not to go easy on you. GOT IT?!" The two suspended members cried out in fear and pain as they yelled a garbled, "YES!" to the President.
At that, Misaki felt they had been sufficiently punished and let them fall to the floor in a pile. It was when they did this that Usui realized the other members of the wrestling team were thrown about the room like ragdolls. As though she hadn't just beaten the shit out of nearly ten guys twice her weight, Misaki said to those still conscious, "Oh—clean up that mess in the hall too. I expect it to be done before the end of today." And with that, she left the semi-scared shitless wrestlers behind.
"Wow, Misa-chan was so strong and cool~ Now if only she could act more like a girl…" Usui just barely had enough time to move as Misaki tried to punch him in the head. Seeing her pissed expression, he smiled. Really, it was just too much fun messing with the President. And besides, even though he teased her, he rather liked this fiery part to her personality. Not that she couldn't be cute or that he didn't worry about her, but it was because she was so different from the other girls that he was attracted to her. That among other reasons.
"So sorry if I don't act like a girl!" she huffed, attempting to hit him again, only to have it blocked lazily by the blonde. He smirked, uncurled her fingers, and held her hand like one would a lover. Her face went scarlet red as she wretched her hand out of his grip and began to walk, quite quickly, to the student council office. Usui followed right behind her. "And stop following me! You're not part of the student council, so don't come into the room!"
Yes, even here it was another regular day. A regular day for Misaki and Usui, that is.
XXX
"Huh? You want me to come for a visit?"
After Shizuo had gotten back from chasing Izaya from Ikebukuro, he returned to his apartment, hoping to catch a nap before Tom and he collected debts. Well, while Tom collected debts and he made sure they paid him using any means necessary. He wasn't known as the fortissimo of Ikebukuro for no reason, after all.
But yes, he wanted to take a nap—it'd been too long since he'd last had a peaceful night's sleep, dammit! Everything, from the attack of the hordes of Slasher victims, to fighting Izaya, to beating up those guys in the Yellow Scarves, from fighting Izaya, to destroying that blonde-haired mockery of the human race that had shot him, to fighting Izaya…
He felt his patience wane and, in an attempt to calm himself, he grabbed another cigarette and started smoking. Really, why was the flea always around Ikebukuro? Didn't he have anything else better to do in Shinjuku, like get a job or a girlfriend? What was so damned interesting in Ikebukuro? Pissed, he spit his cigarette on his floor, stepped on it, and grabbed the largest piece of furniture he could find. The unfortunate piece happened to be his refrigerator, a brand new stainless steel behemoth that weighed nearly 400 pounds and almost quadruple Shizuo's weight. Just as he was about to fling it at the nearest wall (or Izaya), the phone rang. As though he wasn't about to completely remodel his apartment, he gently placed the fridge back on the floor and went to answer his phone, already lighting another cigarette.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is Heiwajima Shizuo there?" The person on the other end was definitely a woman, that much Shizuo could discern, but as he raked through his memories, he couldn't remember ever hearing her voice before. It was high, almost like a high school student's, but Shizuo had the sneaking suspicion that she was much older than that. So, then, who was this woman? And how did she get his number?
"Uh, yeah." He took a puff of his cigarette. "That's me, actually. Who's this?"
This woman, this strange, unknown woman, giggled on the other end in embarrassment. "Oh! I'm terribly sorry! It's just…" she lowered her voice as if she was telling a secret, "it's been a while since I'd last heard you. I guess I just keep expecting to hear a child's voice, not a grown man's!" The woman laughed like she didn't have a care in the world, while Shizuo's cigarette fell from his mouth. 'Expecting to hear a child's voice'? Who the hell was this chick?!
The woman sucked in a deep breath and Shizuo wondered if she had choked. Then, with as much seriousness as she could muster, she said, "My name is Ayuzawa Minako. Or, as you probably remember, Auntie Mina. My husband, Sakuya, was your father's brother." She seemed to sound upset when she mentioned that and Shizuo wondered if there was bad blood in between the two.
Shizuo's eyes widened. Auntie Mina? He didn't remember ever having an aunt like that… But wait! She said Sakuya, right? If memory served correctly (and Shizuo hoped it did), he did remember a rather imposing man named Ayuzawa Sakuya, a man who was one of the few people who received Shizuo's respect. He'd been his father's half-brother, connected by their mother, so his last name had been very different from Heiwajima. So then… Auntie Mina was probably the dark-haired woman he'd brought to the house a lot. Though there hadn't been anything absurdly memorable about her, she would always play with Shizuo, right up until the family moved away. He remembered some other kid too—a little baby by the name of Misaki. She'd been what… two? And he could distinctly remember Minako being pregnant again before they left Ikebukuro.
"Hello? Shizuo-kun?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Shizuo answered with, "Yeah, yeah, I'm here. Look, I'll cut right to the chase: what do you want, Auntie? It's been what—seven years? I'm sure you're not just calling to say hello."
Minako sighed tiredly. "Yes, yes, you're right. I know this seems somewhat forward of me, but I was wondering… No, no. You probably wouldn't agree to that."
Shizuo sucked in a deep breath and prayed to God or whatever deity was listening to not let him lose his temper with her. "Just spit it out already, Auntie." He really needed a cigarette.
"Do you think you could come for a visit?" At Shizuo's incredulous silence, she continued hurriedly, "Please. I'll… be away for a week or so and as much as I trust Misaki, she needs time to be a teenager." Then she said to herself, "Of course, Suzuna could probably take care of herself… But what kind of mother would leave their children unattended? Oh, what to do… Shizuo-kun? Shizuo-kun?"
Shizuo was no longer listening. Him… leave? Contrary to popular belief, Shizuo hadn't been out of Ikebukuro his entire life. The one time, the one single time he'd left, he'd only gone to Okinawa for a school trip. But to leave Ikebukuro… well, he guessed, in a way, it was a vacation. Plus, he smirked; I wouldn't have to deal with that damn flea for an entire week! I could finally have a peaceful life that he stole from me!
"Shizuo-kun?"
"I'll do it." Shizuo couldn't help imagining his new peaceful life. "I'll watch your kids."
It seemed like the ordinary day was about to change. For Misaki, for Usui, and for Ikebukuro.
XXX
After they said some small formalities, Minako hung up the phone. She was so glad! At first she'd been worried—she hadn't talked to Shizuo in quite some time and was afraid that he'd hang up before she'd be able to say anything. Or worse yet, he wouldn't be able to remember her and then she'd have to stop her date with Sakuya.
Yes, that's exactly what she was doing: she was going on a date with the man who supposedly left her. Misaki didn't know, Suzuna didn't know; heck, a couple of weeks ago, she would've called you crazy if you'd mentioned her going on a date with her ex-husband! The thought still made her dizzy and she would've fainted from happiness, if not for another person in the room.
"So how did it go? Is Shizu-chan coming here?"
Minako smiled, something that rivaled a thousand light bulbs, and gave the man a hug. "Oh, Orihara-san! It worked! I'll get to see little Shizuo-kun again but besides that, I'll get to see my husband! I'm… so glad…" And with that, she buried her head into Izaya's shoulder.
The one and only Orihara Izaya smiled down at her and returned the hug. Though, if Minako had been paying any attention at all, she wouldn't have missed the dark gleam in his eyes or the way his hand clenched in anticipation. "I'm glad it worked out, Ayuzawa-san. It—"
"Oh, you don't have to be so formal! Call me Minako-chan, if you will. We've been talking for the past six months, after all!"
Izaya smirked at the oblivious mother. "Alright, Minako-chan. But are you sure you want to leave?" Though he needed her gone, he was simply playing the part of a caring friend. Besides, he knew about the woman well enough that she wanted desperately to leave for a week. Much as she loved her kids, she missed her husband more so, so she wouldn't give up a chance to three days in Okinawa paid for by none other than the raven-haired informant. Izaya smirked; humans were just so predictable!
True to form, Minako only took a second before saying, "Misaki's always telling me to take it easy—you know, take time off and the like. But I'm still a little worried… I mean, don't you think she'll be suspicious that I'm going away for a vacation? We don't have a lot of money as it is…"
Izaya waved his hands like he was waving the matter away. "Oh, Minako-chan~ I'm sure your daughter will be fine. Just say you're visiting relatives."
"I'm still not sure…"
Izaya tsked, then grasped Minako by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. "It's all right. Shizu-chan is very dependable~ Besides, Misaki can take care of herself for one week." Minako still looked unsure, but slowly, she nodded and acquiesced. Izaya had expected that type of resistance, so he hadn't been surprised when she left with a strange look in her eye. He had an accurate suspicion that she wouldn't stay away for the entire trip, but that was okay. His plan would work better that way, anyway. He smirked.
Oh, Shizu-chan~ This is going to be so much fun!
XXX
… And here I am writing a story while most of my others are on hiatus. I'm a douche, I'll admit xD But seriously… this plot bunny was bugging the shit out of me and I had to write. Had a lotta fun, too. I just finished Durarara the other day, so if I start going on a DRRR binge, you understand why.
BTW, according to the Kaichou wa Maid-sama wiki, Minako is Misaki's mother's name and Sakuya is her father. I'm not sure if Minako is in character (after all, she was only described as being ditzy from where I've read) so hopefully she isn't too OOC.
At the most, this'll be a three-shot… maybe a four-shot if I'm feeling adventurous. Hopefully you liked this and if you can, review! It'll mean the world.