Rikai (Understanding)

A/N: So, even though I haven't finished this, I've decided to post some of what I have so far to get a feel for how it's going. What do you think?

Prologue

Anri woke up in the middle of the night to ear splitting screaming. Knowing exactly what it was she immediately threw her glasses on and ran to the bathroom.

The bathroom mirror was completely shattered and laid in pieces on the bathroom counter. Anri looked down to see Mikado sitting curled up against the wall. He was glowing dark purple/red again. He was rocking with his face in his hands. She could tell that he was sobbing uncontrollably. Anri sat down next to him and wrapped her arms around him. The glow dimmed as soon as she touched him, but he was still shaking.

"Mikado?" She started. He began to attempt slowing his breathing. He allowed her to pull him into her. Slowly he removed his hands and turned his head so that he was looking at her. Tears stuck to his cheek. His eyes were bloodshot. Anri wondered if he had gotten any sleep at all. It wouldn't be the first time he hadn't.

"Mikado." She began again, softly and very calmly. "What happened?"

He took in a very shaky breath.

"I…I looked in the mirror…and I saw him!" He started hyperventilating again, looking away from her. She pulled him in closer to her body and wrapped her arms completely around him. She tried shushing to help him calm down. Anri knew exactly which him Mikado was talking about. The dark dairy prince Ilan. The one who had started all of this. Izaya's evil father.

Even though they had vanquished him, the memory of what he had done to Mikado still haunted the poor boy. Anri felt so much hatred towards that dead villain for breaking her Mikado like this. It pained Anri so much to see him like this.

"I…I looked in the mirror…and and I couldn't see my own reflection. All I saw was him! I it was like he was using me as a mask. Like I was still being used! I'll never be able to escape him, Anri. Never! I can't seem to cut the strings he attached to me!"

They stayed like that for a while. Anri rocked with Mikado against her. She knew to just let him finish his rant, because he wouldn't comprehend any words consolation she would attempt until he was finished. Eventually he fell asleep against Anri like that. Anri was very near sleep herself. Before she dozed off, she thought about how her first day of school was tomorrow. She worried about Mikado, especially given what had occurred tonight. Plus, she knew she would be exhausted given how late it was now.

They all came back to Ikebukuro. Mikado, Anri, and Izaya. Summer vacation was over, and when they came back from New York, they came back to their normal lives in Ikebukuro. At least, that was how it seemed. Anri went back to Raira Academy. Izaya went back to being an information broker. Everything seemed back to normal as they slunk back into a normal routine. Yet, even though nobody knew yet, they were different. Everything had changed in New York for these three, yet this Tokyo city didn't know it yet.

Chapter 1

Anri had been right. She was exhausted the next day.

It was he first day of school. Anri would be attending Raira Academy again, yet something was different with her. Also, a certain dark haired blue-eyed boy wouldn't be seen at school with her.

As Anri was walking up to the school entrance, she was tackled in a hug by her blonde good friend.

"Masaomi!" She cried out after getting over her moment of shock.

"Why if it isn't the sexy Anri!" Masaomi cried out and hugged her tightly. The hug was so tight Anri could barely breath, yet somehow, she still managed to blush from what he had called her. It was moments like these where she longed for Mikado to scold Masaomi for calling her something so embarrassing.

Mikado.

Thinking of Mikado made Anri worry again. Ever since they had agreed to live together she had rarely ever left him alone. They had been afraid to. Every time Mikado had an…episode, purple sparks would send objects in the apartment flying all over the place. Somehow, Anri was the only one who was able to calm him down when he was like that.

The thought made Anri blush knowing what that implied. She was afraid he might hurt himself. But, she had to go to school. Izaya said that they couldn't put their ordinary lives on hold. Blending in would be easier if she went to school like an ordinary high school girl. The three of them had promised they would keep the shadow world a secret, even though they didn't want to be a part of it.

After what happened to Mikado…none of them could bare to become involved in that world again. It hurt too much. Izaya promised that he would check on Mikado at some point today to see how he was doing. His schedule was usually flexible enough that he could do that. Plus, if anything got too bad, he would send for Anri. Anri hoped it wouldn't come to that, but Mikado was more important.

Anri wondered what Mikado would be doing today when he wasn't having an episode. It took Anri a moment to realize that Masaomi was waving his hand in front of her face.

"Yoo hoo! Earth to Anri! Ah, you've returned! I've been trying to get your attention for like five minutes." Masaomi looked at Anri with a more concerned expression. It must have shown on her face that she was worried.

"Everything alright there, Anri?"

"Um, y-yeah. Everything is fine. I'm just a little n-nervous about starting school again." Anri tried to give him a convincing smile. He didn't look convinced, but smiled anyways. He put his arm around her shoulders as they entered the school.

"Well, there is no reason to fear Anri-chan. Masaomi, your amazing friend, is here for you. Oh, guess what?" He exclaimed excitedly.

"We're in the same class this year!"

Anri smiled at him. "That's great Masaomi." They entered their classroom. Anri yawned.

"Whoa, so tired already Anri? Class hasn't even started."

Anri didn't respond to this, she was still trying to wake herself up.

"Isn't it-Hey, wait." He looked around. "Where's Mikado-kun?"

Anri froze. Oh shoot. They hadn't thought of a reasonable explanation for why Mikado wasn't at school. No matter what she would say Masaomi would worry since it's so unusual for Mikado to not go to the school he had strived to go to. Even if he didn't worry, he would still sense that something was up.

Anri really did hate secrets. This really was going to be harder than she thought…

"Well, it looks like you returned from your vacation." Namie stated as Izaya came into the office. He simply nodded at her before sitting down at his desk.

He really didn't want to do this, but he had to. After all, just because he was feeling guilty and like an awful person didn't mean that he could just not do his job. He had to.

Namie plopped a heavy stack of folders in front of him on the desk.

"That's what you missed." She looked like she was about to walk out.

"Hang on a second. Did you take care of any of these while I was gone?"

She looked back at him and raised an eyebrow as though what he was saying was surprising. He just sighed and shook his head.

"What did you think I was paying you for while I was gone?" He grabbed half of the stack and threw it into her arms.

"Take of these for me. I don't care how, unless it's something important like the Yakuza. For the others, make sure you inform them of why I've been absent. And if you don't do as I say, I am serious about firing you this time." He warned her. She scoffed and left the office with the stack of folders in her arms.

He came to his desk and slumped in his chair, glaring at the folders still on his desk.

He reeally didn't want to do this. Sighing, he picked up the first folder and began to get to work.