Welcome back, I hope everyone had a good holiday. I'd like to thank Jam-Man265 for the review, Chi-The-Destroyer and MysticalMuffin for the follows, and Chi-The-Destroyer, MysticalMuffin and insanemilkmatt for the favorites. Quick question though. I would like to ask for some reader feedback on the direction of the story. I realize that I'm focusing a lot on the 'starting a gang war' aspect but I started wondering if I was going at that angle a little too much and wanted to know if I should start to focus more on the relationship aspect given the genre. If it's fine the way it is, great, if not please let me know. Enjoy everyone.

-Chapter 10-

Izaya was just finishing up a cup of superbly brewed coffee– the kind Namie had no hand in making –when his phone blared from across the room. Strange, he didn't expect any calls at least until his next meeting was over. It was a curiosity worth investigating and postponing his departure for at least another minute or two. The number lighting up the screen was unfamiliar and the area code was not one he recognized. How tantalizing.

He picked up and greeted his mystery caller only to be met with hushed squabbling in a foreign tongue. He picked out a few words from the other end and recognized the language, Russian he determined. With a quick rearranging of his tongue he tried again and was finally greeted by a woman's voice. She asked if he was the Shinjuku information broker, his name probably too different from her norm for her to confidently pronounce.

He grinned into the receiver. "Yes, this is Izaya Orihara," he told her slowly and clearly enough that if she wanted to repeat it she could. "May I ask who this is?"

There was a long silence before the woman spoke, debating with herself if he had to guess. "Galina Cherenchikov."

Now that was interesting. Could she have been the Cherenchikov that had sent out that wanted poster some years before or did she simply belong to that family? Or was it simply a very odd coincidence and she shared the surname? He was certain the answer would come to him if he heard this woman out.

"What can I do for you Miss Cherenchikov?" He inquired sweetly as he slid into his desk chair.

"Mrs." She corrected curtly. "I'm told I should speak to you if I need information in the Tokyo area. Is this correct?"

Straight to the point. "That's correct. What can I do for you, Mrs. Cherenchikov? I'm very busy you see and this call is cutting into an appointment."

"Very well. I'm told that a criminal was last seen leaving a port in China and I have reason to believe she is headed to Japan. It's in my interest that I find her as quickly as possible before she causes any more harm."

"Oh? Is this a job not better suited for the police?" Izaya toyed as he quietly typed the woman's name into a few choice searches.

"This is beyond their concern," Galina snipped. "The Cherenchikov Family will personally deal with her."

He waited for his information to load. The first source revealed nothing. "And what exactly did this woman do?" The second was the same.

"That's none of your business," the woman snapped heatedly. "Your job is to provide information not the other way around."

"I do need some information if I'm to help you," he told her with a smirk as he found a match to the woman's name on some social media website that was useless unless he wanted to know the innermost details of some 14 year-old's life. He went on to his next source and found a marriage license between Galina Petrova and Sergei Cherenchikov dated close to the time Yrsa and Mashi had begun attending the same school. How interesting.

"Her name is Marya Petrova." Jackpot. Marya's last name and Galina's maiden name being the same, and Galina's hunt for the young woman wasn't just personal it was familial. But why? "The last time I saw her she had amber eyes, almost yellow, and black hair but I'm sure the stupid girl has tried to hide that." The spite dripped from her voice.

He couldn't even begin to imagine what she had done to make Galina speak of her with such vehemence. Whatever Marya, or Mashi, had done must have been truly terrible to goad such a tone from her mother. But then that was all still a theory. A few inquiries when he got home from his meeting would likely confirm his suspicions or at least put him on the right track to solving this little mystery.

"And what is this worth to you?" Izaya asked scribbling down information on a notepad so he could go back and mull over the details later.

The price she gave him was double that of the ancient wanted poster. It wasn't enough to whet his appetite of course, money was such a dreary incentive but it was much more easily acquired than entertainment. It was such a pity. Still, he promised to give her a call if he dug up any information on Marya, or at least that was the word he used. He had no intention of bringing Galina any closer to her daughter if it meant his Valkyrie skipping town to protect her "sister". He could always work both angles, bring in Galina secretly while wooing Yrsa over to his side but the risk of spooking her into fleeing where he couldn't follow was too great.

When he ended the call he found himself already five minutes late. Oh well, it just meant Shinji's feeble grasp on the world before him would hold just a little longer. He left the apartment at a brisk pace as Namie entered with the single carton of orange juice he'd ordered her to fetch and an extremely sour look on her face; there was only a second when he could enjoy the grimace before he shot a text to Sumi explaining the specifics of where she and her lieutenants would meet him.

An hour later he spotted Sumi and three high school girls that he had had no interest in meeting before today, though he was sure they all knew him. They were waiting for him outside an arcade that had only recently been stolen from the Sons of K.A.I.. The three newcomers looked nervously at him, adjusting the obnoxious clips in their hair and fidgeting more and more the closer he drew. Sumi had no doubt laid down her claim on him amongst her group, not that it would do her any good now that he had a girlfriend, but she didn't exactly know that.

"Ladies," he began with glee, "I hope you weren't waiting too long for me?"

The youngest lieutenant pushed some hair behind her ear to show off a new earring and trying to act nonchalant told him, "Oh we didn't even notice."

Sumi sent the girl a jealous glare and stepped forward to assert herself. Her misplaced bravado was amusing. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show, Izaya." She huffed for show; he knew she would have waited there all day if it meant she could see him.

A grin split over his face. "I'm so sorry, Sumi-chan. But if you're not too mad at me I'd like to take you to the meeting I've arranged."

The other girls looked concerned but Sumi nodded falling in step with Izaya as he moved away from them. They weren't far from their destination, only a few blocks between them and the Razors' headquarters, that damn pit of a warehouse that Izaya loathed to set foot in even one more time with its insufferable crate furniture and dank air. It would be his last venture into the place both before and after the alliance was formed. If they wanted to meet with him again it would be out in the sunlight where he could torment and humiliate at a much grander scale.

Izaya came to a stop outside the warehouse and turned to face the girls. The girl that had shown off for him was trying to look calm but he could see the way her eyes darted around nervously, the way her legs were fighting to stay still rather than step all around to relieve the anxiety; she was just as scared as the other two but was trying much harder to hide her fears. Sumi on the other hand had set her face into a frown and pulled her hands into fists ready to go to blows with anyone that might attack first.

"This is the place?" She asked as she sized up the building with a long glance.

"It is indeed," Izaya chirped sliding his phone from his pocket. He sent word to Shinji to let them inside and a moment later the large door was being hoisted up from a chain on the other side.

The Razor that greeted him had been one of those that had killed the Crimson Head, the one that had had most of his teeth broken several weeks prior. Izaya paused and he regarded him, a silly moment of reflection where he realized if this idiot hadn't killed one of his darling humans then he never would have discovered something even more precious. He debated what to do with this boy and the other two who had slaughtered the other gang member; on one hand they'd murdered one of Izaya's humans, but on the other they had brought his attention to a Valkyrie. Halfway through his march into the cavernous building he decided to be generous and allow them to escape town before the real fight began in a few months. But if they just happened to stumble back into Ikebukuro when the police were rounding up the remaining gangsters then that would be their problem, and maybe even fun to watch.

Izaya came to a stop and put his arm up so the girls would do the same. Shinji was just across the room sitting on his plywood throne. In the shadowy warehouse he was sure the boy wouldn't be able to see much, Izaya himself would just be a fuzzy image until they drew closer. He almost couldn't wait for the grand reveal.

"Good ta see ya, Izaya," Shinji said.

Izaya hid his grin, practically feeling Sumi go ridged as she fought to place the voice in the semi-darkness. "Likewise. Now if we can get down to business I'd like to introduce you to someone…" He finally stepped aside and motioned for Sumi to step into sight. "Allow me to introduce the leader of the Rose Raiders, Sumi Suzuki. But I get the feeling you two have met before."

Shinji stared that moronic stare he got whenever something didn't make sense, and Izaya had grown accustomed to it by now, but it faded into a rather entertaining mixture of shock and confusion before finally settling on rage. There were murmurs amongst the Razors in the dark corners of the building as they watched their leader lose the cool he had urged Shinji to retain at all times, or at least as often as he could.

The scene played out perfectly. Shinji screamed at his sister, demanded to know why she would start a gang when there were so many dangerous ones in the city; he was nothing if not a concerned brother. Sumi performed her part as he had instructed. She remained cool to the heated words being flung her way. When Shinji had screamed himself hoarse Sumi began.

"I came to discuss a treaty," she ground out through clenched teeth, but couldn't help adding, "not be shouted at like a child by my older brother."

Shinji looked mad enough to hit someone. Normally he would, if the person that punch was meant for wasn't family. With this idiot in charge of the Razors Sumi was the only person he could negotiate with even if he wasn't the picture of calm during the talks; anyone else would have been beaten to a pulp already and the group would have claimed self-defense before a small war broke out. This way was better because for all his angry blustering Shinji would neither hit his sister nor allow one of his men to so much as look at her the wrong way. Once the two groups were merged Sumi would slowly work her way into the leadership role and the next phase could begin.

A few more idle words and Shinji conceded to a discussion with the four girls. Unfortunately it was just as uncivil as he had anticipated.

"So you wanna surrender ta us?" Shinji plowed ahead as soon as his voice was fully recovered. "Or you're here ta ask for protection right?"

Sumi quickly glanced at Izaya. "I came here to discuss an arrangement, not be insulted by your assumptions."

"Yes that was the deal I worked out, Shinji," Izaya added. "Or have you decided you don't want to make a truce with the Rose Raiders?"

"Ya didn't tell me it was my sister!" Shinji growled.

"Now don't be like that, I only just found out," he lied smoothly. "How was I to know two of the toughest gangs in the city would be led by brother and sister? It's almost serendipitous wouldn't you agree? Fated even."

"He's right," spoke one of the Razors stepping out from the shadows. "If it was your sister that raised up the gang that took out the Laces they'd be a hell of an ally. It's like it was meant to be or something."

"Who asked ya?" Shinji snarled.

"This is how you treat your own men?" It was one of Sumi's friends this time. "It's a miracle they follow you."

"Shut up you stupid-" Shinji barked but Izaya stepped between them before he could finish.

"Now, now we came here to discuss a treaty not jump down each other's throats," he told them in a soothing voice.

"Both groups have their strength but also their flaws." He turned to face Shinji and the two men that served as his lieutenants, both having slunk up to his side during his rant. "The Razors have the numbers and maybe even the strength to go up against any of the other gangs, but you lack the cool head I've often had to provide." He turned to Sumi's side. "And the Rose Raiders certainly have a way of getting what they want whether with words or clever ploy, but can't handle the kind of hard fights that go down every day between the gangs. With that sort of handicap I'd say that they showed what they're capable of when they put an end to the Cyan Laces even without brute strength."

Sumi beamed at his words but she shouldn't have taken it as a compliment when he had given her the all the information that had led to her rival's defeat.

Izaya turned a slow circle around the room. "What I propose is not a treaty but a merger. The Razors have the muscle, and the Rose Raiders have the talent to direct it where it needs to be," he told his captive audience.

"We don't need 'em," Shinji said stubbornly. Izaya had foreseen this and already made sure there was plenty of ammo to chip away at his obstinacy.

"So you can take out the Crimson Heads on your own?" Izaya sounded surprised when he was anything but. "How's that been going?"

"Terrible," one of the lieutenants spoke up before Shinji could retort. "They've hit us hard this week and sent ten of our best guys to the hospital."

"It was a fluke," Shinji defended quickly.

"Fluke my ass. They took back almost all the territory we snatched up from before and that took us months! They even took some of ours!" A few voices in the crowd agreed, though quietly with their irritable leader already in such a foul state.

"We can take it back," Shinji supplied.

"How?" Someone from the crowd finally had the spine to speak up. "They're guarding with everything they've got!"

"They're after us hard after what we did to them! We need the help!"

"You guys have been in the game longer than us," Izaya held back the laugh at Sumi's choice of words, "and you still can't even defend your own territory?"

There was a chorus of agreeable murmurs.

"The crowd seems to be turning on you, Shinji," Izaya teased. "Remember, a good leader listens to his people."

Shinji's face turned a hideous shade of purple, his temper barely held on to. He stood to silence the dissent from his people and the sneering looks from Sumi's. "Fine, we'll merge or whatever it is."

Sumi again turned to Izaya. "What will the terms be? I'm not giving up my girls."

"First, neither group will attack the other, you're working together now after all. Second, the Rose Raiders will control how and when an attack or raid is made while the Razors will provide the muscle which means the Razors can't go and attack whoever and whenever they want anymore. Third, your first order of business will be to take down the Crimson Heads. The Sons of K.A.I will be your toughest opponent and right now they seem content with their war on the Black Flags. You'll need to strike while they're distracted-"

"What about the Dollars?" It was the girl that had flashed her earrings that was asking. Sumi sent her a scathing look for interrupting.

"You're young, but do you remember that business with the Yellow Scarves not too many months ago? Using that as example you can see that the Dollars don't really concern themselves with these sort of things unless attacked do they?"

"Well, no I guess not."

"Then as long as you don't go after them specifically they won't be a problem. And until you all learn to work together it won't matter anyways, the Dollars are much too big for you right now."

"Then we'll just have to grow," Sumi said with confidence enough to make him snigger inwardly; he wouldn't allow her group or any other to take out the Dollars. "I agree to these terms. We'll come up with the plans and you provide the troops to take out the Crimson Heads. Agreed, Shinji?"

Shinji's frown was so heavy his mouth could have hit the floor, but he agreed after a long, pensive silence where the rusty little cogs in his head fought to turn fast enough to think of another plan that wouldn't involve his sister.

Izaya clapped his hands together loudly with a large grin spread across his face. "I'm so glad I could help you both come to an agreement. You all should settle in and get to know each other, after all we don't want any attacks within your happy little union do we? It'd be a shame if one person caused this all to fall apart wouldn't it?" He knew some of them were thinking it. Those stupid enough to pledge complete loyalty to Shinji would be offended to take on the Raiders and their childish thoughts of rebellion needed to be quashed now if his plans were going to come together.

With his work done Izaya headed towards the loading door that he'd used to enter the abysmal hole that was this warehouse. As the first rays of bright sunlight hit him he felt rejuvenated. All his plans were coming along nicely, the mystery was unfolding and growing before him between Mashi and her estranged mother, and he had no immediate plans for the rest of the day other than coercing Yrsa to his side of the board. He just had to find her first and he could start.