Title: Things that change for better or for worse
Chapter 2: The Return of Change 2
By: Sissy

Disclaimer: DRRR shall never belong to me otherwise there'd be more yaoi.
Warning: Soft paced chapter. Other than that, nothing. But thought are simple italics.

Anri gave a soft smile in Mikado's direction once she saw him stretching in front of her shop. It had been three years now since she started up her father's old business and had expanded it to include more types of antiques, like books. The shop was well received in her area and she had gotten to know more people that came to her for the sole purpose of finding specific items. Somehow, it was hard work but relaxing at the same time.

"It's really nice. The store, I mean. It has this refreshing feeling to it." Mikado mused with a smile as he grabbed his bags, refusing to let Anri carry anything heavy. "Is it really okay with you if I stay here a while?"

"It is. I already explained this to you, Ryugamine-kun. My place has an extra room, so you're welcome to stay as long as you need. Though you will have to pay me a fee." Anri explained with a slightly joking tone but led Mikado to the inside of the shop. "And thank you for the compliment." She added as she walked around the stands and shelves before reaching the back of the shop, where a staircase was located.

"No problem. So, where is the room?" Mikado asked suddenly as sleep started to overcome him.

"Oh, it's over here." Anri quickly led him to the empty room, which had been fixed a bit in a last minute attempt to turn it into a guest room. "I asked Kida-kun a few days ago to help me with this. I hope it's okay." She asked shyly after turning on the light and looking over to Mikado, noticing his slightly pale look. Almost immediately, Anri came closer to him to apologize. "I haven't told anyone yet!"

"Ah. Aah… Yeah, I'm sorry. I just know he's also going to be angry with me for suddenly leaving. Even though I know Masaomi will forgive me… Just like how you and I forgave him. But, I don't want to tell too many people right now." Mikado said with a saddened look and placed his bags inside the room.

"No, I understand. I'm just glad you asked for my help." Anri smiled with relief in her eyes. "The bathroom is down that hall. I'll show you the rest of the house tomorrow. You're tired, right?"

"Yes. Thank you again Sonohara-san. We'll talk some more in the morning." Mikado nodded and slowly closed the door to the guest room just as Anri left his sights.

Immediately after he was alone, Mikado dropped down on the floor with a sigh and held onto his body. He thought he had changed after all that time abroad. He had grown, he told himself. Coming back will be okay, he made himself believe. Everything will be okay, but he was simply lying to himself.

No, I'll make it into reality, Mikado nodded to himself, this time, believing in his words. "First thing's first." He opened one of his bags and grabbed a spare change of clothes along with a bar of soap before heading out to the bathroom. Even if he was tired, he told himself to clean himself up first. His long-awaited sleep would come second. Jet lag was a bit hazardous sometimes; it simply took too much out of him.

So while Mikado entered the bathroom, Anri was in her living room, catching up on some of her work. A few items had arrived earlier in the afternoon and she never got the chance to look over them. Both the books and the vase that arrived were in good condition, but the snow globe that one of her customers had been looking for got chipped on the way. She frowned at that and decided to place another order, this time with a different supplier. Her customer would have to wait a bit more for that item.

However, soon enough, the clock indicated it was too late and Anri never found what she was looking for, so she took a quick bath and headed to bed. Before going into her room, she noted that there was complete silence from Mikado's room, indicating that her friend was utterly dead to the world. She smiled, simply glad to know he was back, and closed the door to her room.

Early the next morning, Anri woke up to see that Mikado was in her kitchen cooking breakfast. At first, she thought it was a mirage but quickly remembered that she had picked him up the earlier night.

"What are you making?" Anri asked curiously, taking a few steps closer to him.

"French toast. I learned to make it while I was over there. It goes great with eggs so I'm making some as well. And um, sorry for suddenly using your kitchen without saying anything." Mikado apologized at the end with a shy look, causing Anri to chuckle a bit.

"There's no problem. It's been a while since anyone's made me breakfast. And, you're living here Ryugamine-kun, so I think you're entitled to using the kitchen. I'll help you clean up afterwards, alright?" Anri said as she got closer and looked for plates for both of them to use.

Without saying anything else, Mikado finished up what he was making and shared with Anri. After her first bite, Anri was complementing Mikado on his cooking. She wanted to set the mood a bit before beginning her line of questions.

"Did you enjoy your time abroad?" She began slowly, taking another bite of the French toast.

"Yes. It was nice. Oh, I never explained it to you, right? I was studying for a PhD over there. I'm going to start working officially at our old university by the next term. My old professor set it up after I informed him I was graduating. He's retiring this year so it works out. I'll be helping him out in the meantime while easing into my new job." Mikado explained with a smile as he grabbed hold of the soy sauce.

"Wasn't it scary, studying over there all alone?" Anri asked shyly, wondering if he missed her and their friend just as much as they had missed him. Suddenly breaking their trio after all they did to get them back together again was devastating to the ones left behind.

"A little bit. But there was something scarier here." Mikado revealed with a smile and took a sip of his milk in order to swallow his food better.

Fearing that Mikado would clam up if she asked what the scarier thing was, she moved the subject. "What happened to your old apartment? Did you end the contract there?"

"I did." Mikado nodded and continued, "I left whatever furniture I didn't need in exchange for ending the contract early and sent various things of mine back to my parents' place. All I took with me were my clothes and a few other things, like my schoolbooks."

"Oh. That explains it." Anri looked down, not noticing Mikado's confused look. "Kida-kun and I had gone to your apartment the day you left and found it empty, except for that furniture you spoke of. The landlord confirmed for us that you really had left and never left a forwarding address so we didn't know how to contact you. You never picked up your phone after all."

"Oh. I cancelled my contract when I landed and got a new one over there. Actually…" Mikado suddenly brought out his old phone and showed it to Anri. "I still have this but I need to get a new phone. Will you come with me today?" He asked her with a soft smile and was slightly surprised to see her shake her head.

"I have to open the shop. I'm sorry. If it's alright with you, shall we go this weekend? Or will you be too busy?" Anri asked curiously, noticing she had not asked him what he would be doing until he began work.

"Well, I have to meet with my old professor tomorrow. I think I'll be starting work around next week or so, but I won't be there every day. I think I can wait until the weekend." Mikado said with a smile, nodding to both Anri and himself. "In the meantime, should I help you with the shop? I can use my free time for that."

With a relaxed smile, Anri replied to him. "Sure. I'll be counting on your help then. Have you had experience with this type of store?"

"A bit. I worked in a book store for a while over there. And if you need me for international orders, I'll be useful as well!" Mikado looked proud of his language skills and shop skills, causing Anri to laugh a bit. At the very least, having him around would help her. And she didn't want him to leave her sight again.

As soon as both finished eating and cleaned up, Anri instructed Mikado on the rest of her house's structure, the shop's work hours and inventory. After that, she and Mikado prepared to open shop and waited until the appropriate time to open. All that was left was to give Mikado a set of spare keys to her place so he could come and go easily, though she had hoped for a second that if he depended on her to open and leave the shop, that it would cause Mikado to stay closer. She quickly discarded that thought, thinking it silly to begin with.

To Be Continued…