Durarara!

Cockamamie

Chapter Eleven: Late Night Walk

Things were strangely intense the next day. Celty had stayed at home all day, chatting to someone on her laptop. Thankfully they had a PS3, it weren't for that Rei would probably have died of boredom. Rei had managed to beat both Shinra and Celty's high scores after hours of playing.

Having beaten their high scores, she turned the console off and looked around the apartment. Shinra has been away all day at work, and Celty had just left not long ago. The apartment was eerily quiet, and Rei didn't like that at all.

Her phone's chime came from the spare bedroom, she walked in and picked up her phone.

"Hello?"

"Rei-chan, it's me."

"Hi."

"I need you to pack your bags and come meet me in front of the train station in the square," Izaya instructed.

"But Celty told me to stay inside."

"Something interesting's about to happen, trust me you'll have fun."

"What is it?"

"You'll have to come find out," she could almost hear him smiling over the line.

"Alright."

"Okay, hurry up or you'll miss it."

Rei hung up, feeling a tad bit lost. She stood up reluctantly and began gathering her belongings. In no time were her bags packed up, as she didn't bring much to begin with.

She walked into the study and wrote a quick scribble addressed to Celty and Shinra, explaining that Izaya called her out. The note was more for Celty than Shinra, as she had specifically told her to stay inside tonight.

Rei hoped that whatever the reason Izaya called her out, it better be good. She adjusted the duffel bag's strap and headed out.

Rei froze slightly when she got out of the station. There sure where a lot of people here! She weaved through the people, scanning the crowd for any signs of the dark-haired man.

After minutes of wandering through the crowd and having no luck, she made her way to the side of a building. She pulled out her cellphone and looked up Izaya's number.

"Hello, Rei-chan."

Rei did a double take and almost dropped her phone. She looked up at his smiling face with a stern glare.

"What are we doing here?" she asked.

"You'll see," he chuckled. "… Oh wait, duck."

Izaya bent his knees and tugged Rei down with him. Rei shot him a questioning look, but Izaya just smiled and placed a finger over his mouth. It was real stuffy hiding between all these people's legs. Not to mention awkward.

Eventually Izaya stood up again, and Rei followed him up.

"What was that about?" she asked.

"Shizu-chan's somewhere here," Izaya scanned the proximity. "It'd be troublesome if he sees me before the main event."

"What's going to happen?" Rei asked. "Why are all these people here?"

"Quiet down, Rei-chan," Izaya chuckled. "It's going to happen any moment now."

Rei didn't like not knowing. She examined all the people present right now, they didn't look all that different from normal pedestrians. In attempt to get a better look around, she stood on her tiptoes and looked over people's shoulders. Just as Izaya had said, Shizuo was standing next to Simon who was busy handing out fliers with a smile. She diverted her attention left, there were a few well-dressed men looking rather suspicious… and… Mikado?

Yes, it was definitely Mikado, and he was talking a young woman. Their conversation didn't look friendly at all, in fact Mikado almost looked hostile. He pulled something out of his pocket and raised it above his head.

"Hey Izaya-."

Suddenly, Izaya's phone began chiming. Then it was the lady next to her, after her was the boy in front of Izaya, and soon it was everyone surrounding them. Rei was a little taken back and shrunk back into the wall. Izaya chuckled as he showed her the screen of his cellphone.

[Anyone who isn't looking at their cell phone right now is an enemy. Don't attack; just glare silently.]

Rei's mouth went dry when she realized she hasn't received a message, and sure enough the people closest to her were scowling at her. She did the only logical thing possible. Quickly, she pulled out her phone and kept her eyes on it. She heard Izaya chuckle next to her.

Before she could say anything, the sound of Celty's motorbike echoed down the street. Rei tiptoed again to check both sides of the street for Celty, but she saw nothing through the dozens of heads. Izaya shook his head and pointed up.

Everything froze at that moment.

Rei's eyes widened. The duffel bag around her shoulder was dropped onto the ground.

Celty was scaling down the building on her bike, and a very large scythe in hand. People below began moving out of the way to give her space to land, or more as if so they wouldn't get crushed.

Izaya grinned as he watched Celty fight off the attacking men. He then turned his attention to Rei standing next to him. She was watching the scene intently with a bewildered look in her eyes. Promptly a large grin emerged on her face. Izaya looked back and saw Celty's helmet knocked off the ground. He too smirked as the crowd gathered began to run away in different directions.

Through all the chaos, Rei managed to wriggle her dainty hand into Izaya's larger one. Izaya looked down and stared at their bond hands. This was all a very new experience to Izaya, having someone hold his hand. He was so transfixed on their hands that he didn't notice her lean up to his ear.

"You're right… I am having fun."

A giggle came from her as she pulled away from him and carried on watching Celty. Izaya was still staring at his hand entwined with hers when he heard a sharp cry. He looked up and saw Harima Mika blocking Yagiri Seiji from a blow from Celty's scythe.

"I'm so confused right now," Rei whispered over to him.

"That girl, her name is actually Harima Mika," Izaya leaned into her ear as she carried on watching. "She's a stalker that was supposedly killed by Yagiri. Instead, Harima went through surgery to look like the person Yagiri loves."

"And what does that have to do with Celty?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Yagiri is in love with Celty's head," Izaya chuckled.

This was a surprise, a really big one as a matter of fact. Rei watched Celty leave, wondering if this was what she meant by 'something big'. She sure made a lasting impression on the whole city.

Things seem to calm down after Celty left. The crowds began to disperse and Rei finally pulled her hand away from Izaya's. She picked up her beat up duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder.

"I'm gonna go speak with Mikado," Rei said as she walked ahead.

Mikado was picking up the scalpel from the ground when Rei reached him. He seemed startled when he saw her.

"H-hello Nakata-san," he greeted. "Are you alright? The police have been looking for you."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Rei shrugged.

"W-what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I was invited by a friend," Rei smiled.

"… You're in the Dollars?" Mikado asked.

"The what?" Rei's eyebrows knit together. "What-."

"She's not."

Izaya stepped into the conversation with a smile.

Mikado stumbled back slightly and gave the two a good look. It made so much sense now. Obviously someone such as Rei would be acquainted with Izaya.

"You two know each other?" Mikado asked, already knowing the reply.

"Yeah," Rei smiled again. "By the way, what's the Dollars?"

"… Eh? You don't know?" Mikado asked, slightly wide-eyed.

"No," Rei retorted. "Does it have something to do with what happened just now?"

"Uh well-."

Izaya grabbed Rei by the arm and ran around to Mikado's right, just in time dodging a large mailbox. All three looked back down the street and watched Shizuo approaching them with a large street sign in his hand.

"Goodbye Tanako Taro!" Izaya called after Mikado.

Once again, Rei found herself running away from Shizuo with Izaya. If she carries on going out with Izaya in public, then this could really become a problem. She looked over her shoulder and saw Shizuo looking around furiously, it seems he has lost sight of them.

"Shizuo-san!" Rei called. "We're over here!"

At once, Shizuo's eyes landed on them. Rei waved back enthusiastically as Izaya tugged her down another street. He pulled them into a semi-crowded convienent store and waited. Shizuo ran past the store yelling not long after they settled in the hiding spot.

"Why did you do that, Rei-chan?" Izaya panted.

"Because I like Shizuo-san," she smiled back. "I'm supposed to be going to your apartment right?"

"Yeah," Izaya nodded.

"Can you buy me something before we go?" she asked.

"Sure," Izaya nodded, disregarding her earlier statement. "Grab me a bottle of water will ya?"

Rei nodded and walked down the aisles, looking for something to eat. She settled for a box of pocky, not wanting to ask Izaya for too much. Then she quickly ran to the end of the store, opened the freezer and grabbed Izaya his bottle of water, and a coke for herself. Izaya paid for the items and they left the store.

The two of them went to the park where they first met. Finding a free bench by the pond, they sat down and rested their sore legs. The park was rather empty considering the lateness. Though there were still wandering couples and homeless men.

Izaya drained his bottle of water in no time, and dumped the plastic bottle into the recycling bin. He looked over at his companion and found her picking at her box of sweets. Once she got it open, she stuck a chocolate-coated stick into her mouth and offered him one. He smiled and took one.

"How cool would it be to smoke?" she grinned, holding her chocolate stick as if it were a cigarette.

"You wouldn't want that," Izaya chuckled.

"Why not?" she asked, munching on the stick.

"You don't want to end up like Shizu-chan," Izaya replied. "Stupid and possibly with lung cancer."

"I guess not," she sighed, eyeing the glistening water. "Hey Izaya?"

"Yes?" he asked.

"Can you take your jacket off?" she asked.

"Why?" he took it off nonetheless.

"Now stand in front of me," she instructed.

Izaya stood up and obliged her, finding this all so very amusing.

"Do you want to go swimming?" she looked up at him with a silly grin.

"What? No-."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was pushed into the pond and drenched to his toes. He rubbed his stinging eyes, and saw Rei laughing on shore.

Only one thought kicked in: revenge.

"No! Don't you dare!" Rei eyed him knowingly.

Now he couldn't really explain what happened, but he had managed to climb back onto shore and drag the wailing girl into the pond with him.

"Oh my god!" Rei laughed when she emerged from the water. "It's freezing!"

"You should have thought of that before you pushed me in," Izaya chuckled.

Rei splashed water in his face and swam back to shore. She climbed back onto the concrete and squeezed the water out of her hair. Izaya got out too and pulled his shoes off.

"That wasn't a very smart idea," Rei said, though there was a certain amusement behind her voice.

"Not smart at all," Izaya nodded pouring the water out of his shoe.

"Oh my god," she laughed eyeing the water dripping from his shoe. "Not smart, but it sure was fun."

For the first time today, Izaya took in her appearance. Her fair hair was a couple of shades darker than usual when soaked in water… or pond water. And her sundress stuck onto her skinny form, leaving no room for imagination.

"What?" she asked when she noticed him staring.

"No I was just wondering, looking at your hair," Izaya replied. "Has your hair always been this dark or was it the dirt in the water?"

Rei listened at his comment and stared at the hair in her hands. He was right it was covered in dirt, grass and god knows what.

"Urgh," Rei dropped the hair. "Let's go, I really want a shower."

Rei walked over to the bench, dumped her unopened coke and box of pocky in her duffel bag. While it was opened, she realized that she had clean clothes with her, but seeing her situation, she would rather walk back soppy wet then change in the park.

Izaya put on his shoes, and squirmed at the feeling of his wet socks squishing into the shoes. He picked up his jacket, and was about to put it on but he noticed Rei was bare shouldered and her dress was really hugging her torso tight.

"Here," he passed it along to her.

Rei immediately accepted it with a crafty smile. She pulled it on and began walking. Izaya stood, wondering what the smile meant. That's when it hit him: she planned the whole thing, so that she could have the dry jacket at the end.

Izaya chuckled and ran after her. His shoes making a very unpleasant sound, with each step he took. This was going to be a long walk back home.

After getting back to the apartment, Rei immediately went for a shower. Having only one bathroom, Izaya had to wait for his turn. Instead he got out of his dripping clothes and changed into something dry and comfortable. He walked to his desk and flipped open the police databases, checking on updates on Rei: none.

All the new updates have been on the tonight's incident. With all the hype about the headless rider, perhaps the police will overlook Rei's case for now. He shut his computer after hearing Rei leave the bathroom. She walked into the office in what looked like her pajamas – a pair of checkered pants and a large shirt.

"You can go now," she said, suppressing a yawn. "You've got a very nice place by the way, I didn't notice the last time I was here."

"Thanks," he smiled, and pointed to the second floor. "Your room is through there."

"Okay, thanks," Rei nodded and picked up her bag.

Izaya watched her leave, and turned to go into the bathroom. The room was full of steam from the last shower. Izaya took his clothes off and stepped into the shower.

XoXo

After his shower, Izaya dried his hair with a towel as he walked along the hall towards his bedroom. He stopped just outside of Rei's room, and listened in. He heard nothing, and carefully opened the door to take a peek. At further inspection he realized that she was asleep in bed, Izaya opened the door a little wider. He saw her discarded bag in a corner, and his semi-dry jacket folded on the nightstand.

Izaya walked in and took a closer look at Rei's sleeping form. Her features were relaxed and calm. This was nothing unusual, as she always keeps a passive face, but seeing her asleep and so vulnerable was a strange feeling. She turned around with a grumble, worrying him for a moment, but she fell straight back into deep sleep.

With one last look at Rei, Izaya made his way out and carefully shut the door behind him.

Yaaay! Two chapters in two days! And this time it's long! ... Or relatively long compared to the last one! :D I was gonna write up to 3k words but then I thought 'screw it'. Okay I'm tired and going to sleep now!

Special thanks to:

easily1994addicted– Hope this was soon enough for you! :D

Im-Ina-Tent– I'm glad you did! After spending hours on tumblr, I thought back to this story and was like 'right it's now or ever'. I was soo tempted to split this chapter after the big dollars thing but I thought naah. PLeaaase tell me what you think of their little development! :)

Le Wandom Stwanger – omgg! I'm like giggling reading your review! :) Thank you soo much! I'm super glad that you like her and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :D