Izaya skipped through the doorway, saying cheerfully.
"I'm home!"
"Iza-nii! Welcome home!"
"…Nii…home…"
Two little girls who barely reached his knees ran up to him and he smiled, squatting down.
"Hey you two little rascals."
"Hey! Iza-nii!"
The girl with pigtails protested as her older brother ruffled her hair.
"Shizu-chan always does this to me so I need some outlet right?"
"Shizu-chan?"
"Iza-nii's boyfriend…?"
"Yup!"
"Iza-nii really likes him?"
"Like…?"
"Yeah."
The older brother blinked as his little sisters grinned at him.
"No wonder Iza-nii looks happy!"
"Progress…?"
"Yeah, finally, he's a stubborn one that brute."
"How…?"
"Secret." Izaya winked and the two twins pouted at him.
"Not fair, Iza-nii!"
"The world's unfair don't you know?" Izaya smirked as he patted both little girls' hair and stood up, waving a hand as he walked away.
"Well I'm off to my room, Mairu, Kururi."
"But Iza-nii! You haven't told us the details!"
"Details…"
"Hey hey, little girls shouldn't talk about 'details'. Don't interfere in your older brother's relationship."
The 5 year old twins pouted at him, with one of them crossing her small arms –
"We will find out, Iza-nii! We will hack into your brain!"
"Wrong, Mairu. You can only hack into computers. The correct term is 'read your mind'."
"But Iza-nii you said the brain is a 'biological computer'! It's a computer! So I can hack into it!"
"Yeah I did say that. But it's the only computer in the world you cannot hack into. And that is one of the reasons why it's the most superior computer."
"I see…then, we will 'read your mind' then!"
"Haha. It's a decade early for you two!"
"Iza-nii reads a lot right? I will read a lot too until I can read Iza-nii's mind!"
"Well, that's an interesting resolution, Mairu. It'd be possible, if it were anyone but me."
"Wah! You're so full of yourself, Iza-nii!"
"Now that's the correct use of a phrase." Izaya smirked confidently, to which Mairu scowled.
"At least let us see Shizu-chan!"
"See…Nii's boyfriend…"
"Nah."
"Why?!"
Mairu punched the air in front of her and her twin Kururi looked downcast.
"Guess?"
"Because Iza-nii is selfish."
"…Yours."
"Eh?"
"Shizu-chan…yours…"
Kururi said, her voice louder, and Izaya blinked, then grinned.
"Correct. Because Shizu-chan is mine. Kururi wins this time, Mairu."
"Waaaah…Kuru-neeeee!"
Izaya laughed as the younger twin hit her older sister petulantly, who tried to catch her fists.
"…Sore…"
"Sore? You're calling me a 'sore loser' aren't you!"
"…."
"Ha! I 'read your mind'! See that, Iza-nii?!"
"No Mairu I think Kururi is saying your punches hurt, so she's sore. 'Sore loser' is in English, don't mix up languages."
Izaya chuckled as Mairu glared at him, saying casually as he walked away.
"Well have fun you two. Dinner will be in about two hours time, don't make me drag you two out of bed like last time."
…
As Izaya was lying in his bed, his phone vibrated and his smile was wiped away at the name of the sender of the message.
- What does he want?
Reluctantly, he accessed the message, reminding himself that Kishitani Shinra was Shizuo's only friend before him and he had his uses.
[That was a good move, Izaya. But, you should be careful.]
"…."
[What do you mean? And how do you know?]
[Haha. I spoke to Nakura-kun.]
[What? You know him?]
[Nope!]
[What is with you and speaking to people you don't even know. And even if you don't know him, how did you know to speak to him?]
[Well, seeing you and Shizuo come down from the rooftop which is his turf, and Shizuo looking so happy, I knew you had done something. So I waited and sure enough a boy came down which I recognized as Nakura-kun!]
[Explain that last sentence. And I'm offended that you didn't consider the other possibility.]
[I did, which was why I waited! If no one came down after a while then you would be a better guy than I had previously thought! But alas, Nakura-kun came down! And so I confirmed you really were as bad as I had thought! But for a greater good? Or was it for your own impatient desire? Haha!]
[I'll ask again. How do you know Nakura?]
[Didn't I say? You were the friend I was supposed to make in middle school, but was forbidden by my love. She was disappointed in me, so I thought the least I could do was to watch you for a bit – to get to know you better like she said even if she practically forbade me to not scar your so called innocence with my attempt at forging a friendship! Anyway that's how I know Nakura-kun! He was someone in the baseball gambling ring right?]
Izaya stilled.
As he had been watching humans, a human had been watching him?
- This guy…Kishitani Shinra…
- I can't underestimate him.
[Alright. So you know. Are you going to tell Shizuo?]
[Nope.]
[Why?]
[Why should I? It's none of my business.]
[What? Now you're not making sense. You care enough to wait and confirm for yourself my manipulation, but you won't tell Shizuo?]
[What? Do you want me to tell Shizuo?]
[You know the answer to that.]
[Haha. Then, can't I be unwilling to tell Shizuo because of that? Since you're my friend.]
[Somehow, I doubt you would be so kind.]
[You're sharp! As expected of Raijin High's top student who beat me in Science! I'm not doing this out of friendship! I'm doing this because telling Shizuo would upset him which would upset the woman I love! So I'm not going to tell him.]
[That's retarded. You sound like a puppet with no free will of your own. Everything you do is for the sake of the woman you love.]
[I wouldn't mind being a puppet if I can stay connected to her. Just like you wouldn't mind giving up your stance of being distant in middle school to be with Shizuo. You really like him, huh? Perhaps even love.]
Izaya didn't reply, just stared at his phone, until it vibrated again –
[Well, I have no objections at all, after all if my two friends are happy, I will be a good person! I will be able to show my loved one that not only have I corrected my mistake in the past, I am even helping my new friend and old friend at the same time! Wouldn't I be such an admirable person? Hey, won't you come over to my house sometime? I need to show proof of our friendship to her!]
[No way. Don't be deluded, we don't have a friendship, not one willingly constructed by both parties for sure. You're incomprehensible, but I won't object either since it leaves me with no disadvantage. But you have none of my gratitude, you stalker.]
[Wah, what a harsh rejection. But I won't deny it, I will be a stalker if it's for her sake!]
[Is there any point to this unbearable conversation other than to tell me you're a stalker puppet?]
[Yeah there is! I told you at the start, be careful.]
[What?]
[I have no proof, but keep your guard up. I have a feeling a storm is going to come.]
[I don't get what you mean.]
[Well I'm not sure either it's just intuition I guess, but I feel as if somehow something is wrong with the situation.]
- Something wrong with the situation?
- What?
- While I agree romance can distract humans, maybe even me…
- My plan had no flaws. Nakura came at me with everything he had, he acted until he almost fooled me, I gave him the money he wanted definitely enough for his insinuation of a desire of a romantic relationship with me another male at that, and for his injuries. In fact I returned that money he lost and even though Shinra knows he won't tell Shizuo.
- …Maybe it was going a little far but the possibility of a guy confessing to me since I made that announcement is low, since Heiwajima Shizuo is Raijin High's most feared delinquent. And I don't like to wait when it comes to something I want.
- And Shizuo reacted the way I wanted him to – no, even better. He exceeded my expectations.
- So far everything is perfect, even I can't ask for more.
[Why do you say that?]
[It's the calm before the storm feeling, I guess! Well I can't really explain it but just don't be careless.]
[Fine.]
Izaya sent the message then put his phone down. He turned to his side on the bed, his good mood dissipating with the sudden unease he felt.
But soon he was smiling again, even laughing as he turned to lay on his back, his bemused gaze at the ceiling.
"Life just doesn't give you a break, does it?"
"Well bring it on then, but that human is mine and I don't like to share."
Izaya said with an almost twisted smile, but the resolution in his eyes could only come from the strongest emotion in the world.
Yet even as he said that with no doubt in his eyes and voice –
He had no idea how that emotion would be twisted beyond recognition –
And the extent to which Kishitani Shinra's hunch would come true in the inevitable future –
And the very familiar cause of the storm.
…
[What are you doing, Shinra?]
"Oh Celty! I'm messaging my new friend Izaya! You know, the one I failed to make in middle school! I told you I got his phone number, remember?"
[…You really are friends with him?]
"Of course! Why are you still doubting me, Celty?! That hurts my heart!"
[Because with the sort of guy you said that he is, I didn't think you would be able to be friends with him.]
The PDA 'said'. It was held in the hand of a female figure –
With nothing above her neck.
In other words, she had no head.
This was because she was a Dullahan, a mystical figure from Ireland, a creature which carried her head around her with her and appeared in legends as a Death God with her headless horse, that ended up in Japan with her head lost and her memories missing.
The male in question, Kishitani Shinra, had found her and his father had offered her a place to stay.
He had dissected her out of scientific interest in exchange, as his son Shinra watched –
And told the 4 year old boy to dissect her himself.
Had Shinra's friend Izaya known this, he would have been able to understand why his 'friend' was so weird.
And what exactly he meant by being in love with a woman who wasn't human.
Though he would question the innateness of Shinra's weirdness, his psyche which had him falling in love with someone he had dissected.
He might have even called Shinra a sadist.
Though that assumption would soon be revoked by his impression of Shinra being a masochist who took pleasure in being physically hurt by his love.
[Anyway, I guess I was wrong. Sorry. I'm glad you made a –]
She meant to type 'friend', but Shinra had been looking at her PDA as she typed and he couldn't resist flinging himself onto her, hugging her in exultation –
"CELLLLLLLTY! I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU WOULD BELIEVE IN ME – OWWWW CELTY THAT HURTTTSSSS –!"
[GET OFF, SHINRA!]
Celty 'shouted', punching Shinra in the stomach and causing him to cough and complain about the pain, yet still manage a smile.
"Hey Celty, I should help my friend right?"
[Huh? Of course you should help your friend.]
"I see. I helped my friend! Aren't you glad?"
[Why should I be?]
"Because I helped my friend, I was a good friend. I treated my friend well."
[Oh yeah. It's good to treat your friends well, but I wouldn't use the word 'glad'…]
Celty trailed off, but Shinra seemed to only be paying attention to the first part of her second sentence for he smiled and declared jubilantly.
"Then! I was a good friend! Celty would be proud of me right?"
- Proud…
Celty considered the word. Proud meant she was happy for Shinra right?
Well, if what Shinra was saying was indeed true, she was happy for Shinra to have another friend other than Shizuo.
[I guess. I am happy that you made a friend besides Shizuo.]
Celty revealed those thoughts, from where was uncertain since she had no head, the closest was Shinra's postulation that she perceived through a shadow-like substance she was capable of controlling, such as that which was emerging from her empty neck.
Shinra grinned happily at this, and continued on chatting –
"Then I did the correct thing! But you know Celty, even though I helped my friend, should I help him more?"
[Of course. You should help your friend as much as you can.]
One would find it peculiar how the inhuman being had more knowledge of human relationships than the one who was actually human had, but that was one of the dynamics of their weird relationship.
Especially since the human was Kishitani Shinra, a human who did not care for humans at all for he was interested in said inhuman being since a young age, eliminating humans from his scope of interest.
"I should want to help my friend as much as I can right? But what if I can't?"
[What do you mean?]
"What if the situation doesn't allow me to help my friend? For example, if I had my own personal desires…"
No words appeared on the PDA as Celty thought about it.
- Personal desires…
- For Shinra who's weird but is always so giving to have personal desires…
- …It must be something important right?
- Shinra is my friend and family, so I should advise him properly…
- I mean, telling him to help his friend but not helping him…wouldn't be good right?
Celty nodded her neck to herself. Typing on her PDA again, she showed her thoughts to Shinra.
[That would be a hard decision to make. But although your friends are important, you are also important. If you have a personal desire more important than your friend, I don't think you should give it up, especially as it's you.]
Taking in Shinra's surprised expression, she thought further then typed again –
[So, I don't know the situation, but I think as long as you don't hurt your friend intentionally or betray him because of your personal desire, it's fine. You could put yourself above him in this case…I think.]
"Celty…"
[But of course you should still try to help him as much as you can! Just, don't disregard yourself okay?]
Celty flashed the PDA in Shinra's face. She wasn't sure if she was saying the right thing, but she was saying it with Shinra's best intentions in mind.
Although Shinra was often annoying and an idiot, he was her friend and she was fond of him.
He had been there in her loneliness, and had given her comfort with his presence alone.
Celty didn't know it was because Shinra was in love with her, but nevertheless Shinra's actions led her to think fondly towards him.
"…Celty! Did you just say I was important?"
[Huh? Of course you're important!]
Shinra's eyes widened, and then brightened immensely until Celty felt she had to 'look' away.
[W-What?!]
"Nothing! I'm just really happy! Celty called me important! She cares about me!"
[You're so weird. Of course I care about you, idiot.]
Shinra merely grinned wider, laughing sheepishly as he raised his hand to his head.
"I would love nothing more than to spend time with Celty, but I have to do my homework. Celty wants me to be a good student right?"
[Yeah, you should be a good student. Don't cause trouble for others.]
"Of course! Then Celty, I'm going to my room! Would you like to join me – ahhhh no, seeing Celty on my bed would be too distracting I might start thinking dirty things about Celty!"
Shinra said as if in a dilemma with himself, and Celty just shook her neck, choosing to ignore his nonsense for the sake of her sanity.
As Shinra trudged off to his room, she mused.
- Still…
- I don't know how to describe it…
- But why was Shinra so concerned?
- …Maybe concerned isn't the word, but he did seem cautious somehow.
- ….
- Oh well. He seems fine, I'm probably just imagining things…
Celty shrugged her shoulders and tried to ignore the unsettling feeling in her heart –
Unaware that that feeling would evolve to something she would never have imagined –
By none other than the male she was concerned about –
Whom she would come to love in the future.
…
- I guess it's fine.
- Since Celty said so!
The brown haired male with glasses thought as he sat at his desk, taking his book out from his bag.
- I did help Izaya by warning him.
He remembered the expression on Nakura's face as he had staggered away –
The strange mix of fear and anticipation.
- Anyway, I have no confirmation that Nakura is indeed planning something
- Though I could help him further by telling him of what he's seemed to forget…
Shinra thought on this for a while, but he soon shook his head with a bright smile, opening his book.
- Ah, it doesn't matter!
- After all Celty herself said I should put my personal desire above Izaya's!
- And if I tell Izaya about how much the gangs resent Shizuo, I will have to tell him about Shizuo's strength and Shizuo will be angry at me which will make Celty mad at me!
- I can't have that, not when Celty is so pleased with me now!
Shinra convinced himself with just those thoughts, and felt almost no guilt at all as he turned his attention to his homework.
- Well, as long as the storm doesn't affect me and my relationship with Celty, I don't care.
He thought cheerfully as a last thought before he focused on his homework.
Perhaps if he had known what would happen in the future because of his selfish love, he would have put it aside to prevent another bigger storm –
Which would result from the storm he had predicted.
But he did not, and so he smiled as he did his homework, thinking instead of how being a good student would portray him to his love in a favourable light.
For though he had predicted that storm through his intuition, he had not predicted it would be the catalyst for an inevitable future –
From the bigger storm created by the one he hid information from –
For the sake of his love –
Who would be used to create the biggest storm the city of Ikebukuro would ever see.
…
…
The wheels of fate were beginning to turn.
For these four individuals, connected to each other through their relationships but disconnected through their individuality –
And the secrets they kept from their loved one and for the sake of the one they loved.
For it was only human nature to conceal secrets, especially from someone they cared about.
Thus they did not know.
For even though they were four distinct individuals –
A boy with superhuman strength who would later grow to be known as the Strongest Man in Ikebukuro –
A boy with high intellect but with a manipulative nature and love of humans who would end up in the job he would feel suited him the most –
A boy who had no interest in humans at all, and thus did not care for the selfish or twisted things he did which would impact other humans negatively –
Because of the woman he loved, who was not human, a Dullahan living peacefully in the human world, unaware of the power she possessed.
They could not predict the future.
And thus they lived in peace in the current moment, with only stirrings of apprehension.
Unaware that one of them would turn out to be the villain in the end – manipulating even more individuals with their personal lives and values –
And that the one responsible for such would be the only one who could stop him –
And he would have to kill the one he loved to do so.
…
Yet, humans can evolve.
They can evolve through a variety of things.
But most of all –
They can evolve through the strongest emotion in the world –
Love.
Even if it is twisted beyond reason.
Such as how the villain would evolve from his love of such evolution.
And thus there would be a possibility that the boy with the superhuman strength –
Whom the one who loved humans currently considers to be the most human –
Could evolve in the humanity he sought for.
And perhaps would find in one of the greatest catalysts for evolution.
