Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I'm so happy that people really like this story. This is literally the biggest group of people that have enjoyed something I've done.

Sorry about the lateness of this chapter. I caught my yearly stomach flu. It always shows up around the holidays and just ruins them. Then, my mom commissioned me to knit a cowl for her. Yes, that's right. I actually knit. It's really an enjoyable hobby, albeit expensive, to have.

I've decided to extend this story by a chapter of two and then a sequel will happen. Let me know what you would like to see more or less of and I'll make it happen.

Michiko. Benkei. Kazunori. Fumiko. Ruri. Takanori. Takuji. Justin. Kyeong Ik. Hiroyuki. Corvi's finger stopped at the next crow, she had forgotten the girl's name. The bird's head dipped with the insulted caw it released.

"Sorry. Uh... Yeon Ji?" Wrong, more angered shrieking, "Maeko?" Still wrong. She snorted and waved it off. Two tries was enough.

To anyone passing by, she probably looked like a scene from a movie. Black birds, the same as her, surrounded her as she sat on a bench in the park. There had to be at least forty in their flock and keeping track of names when she had just met them not even an hour ago was impossible. They all knew her of course, by way of her father. Corvi was not sure if it was a good or bad thing. He had pulled out all the stops. Every crow in Tokyo had been looking for her. These forty- Scratch that, five more had shown up. They had seen her flying, followed her and proceeded to introduce themselves. It was a shame she was horrible with names. Corvi bought a giant tub of popcorn, pulled out the kernels and tossed a light puff to each bird, which they ate with gusto. The new birds gave their names before the entire flock turned their heads to the approaching human. Black bangs slightly covered her eyes as she stared at the ground and not at Corvi.

"Um... Are-are you Corvi?" The girl clutched her suitcase's handle with both hands even tighter, "I was told to stay away from you but- You really don't seem that bad." She grasped her blue jacket, tugged at the arm and looked away, obviously embarrassed.

"I want to ask you something. Please don't be mad. I'm just curious. Why did you and Shi-" She was cut off by deafening rage filled cawing. The crows had decided Anri was not to ask. She tried a different question, "Are you okay? You've been sitting here for a while." Corvi did not answer, instead she scooted over on the bench and silently invited Anti to join her.

"Do you ever get kernels stuck in your teeth when you eat popcorn?" The high school girl was too busy trying not to step on any of the birds to respond, careful not to crush any tiny black feet. Corvi's head tilted back so she could stare up into the still gray sky. It had been the first day of no rain in quite a while but the clouds had not passed just yet. On similar days, she would sit out on the roof of the veranda and look out over the fields surrounding her father's house. Her view of the sky was cropped by the buildings of Ikebukuro, not that she minded. Thoughts of her old Victorian house dropped from her mind as the bench shook slightly. Anri and her shy, slightly shifting eyes were surveying the older woman. Corvi did not open her mouth, instead she shoved the tub of popcorn into the girl's lap. Wide eyes turned down at the puffed corn. It took a few moments before the school girl realized what was implied. Black beaks opened and wings pushed against another anxiously in the pile of crows surrounding Anri's legs.

"You never answered my-"

"I'm fine," Corvi's voice was firm and Anri did not push the subject. They sat in silence, which suited both fine. Replies on the Dollars' website had said to try and keep the midnight haired woman in the park and she did not seem to want to leave any time soon.

Times like these, Corvi wished she had taken pictures of her family home. Of the land, the pond, the old guest house- Well, the oven mostly. Not that her apartment did not have an oven. It did, an adequate one in fact. It had knobs and buttons and heated up like an oven should but it was not the same one that baked every birthday cake for every birthday for every person in that house. It did not smell of something slightly burnt, from one of the twins leaving a pizza still in the box inside, when she preheated it. She may not have been able to cook but anything that needed to go in the oven, that was easy. Pies, cakes, cookies, muffins, it was a surprise that no one in her family was obese.

"Your accent is kind of thick. Where are you from?" The question snapped Corvi back to the present and to the girl seated next to her.

"Northwest of Healdsburg. California. Dry Creek Valley to be exact. It's a pretty small town. Mostly just vineyards. Nothing like Tokyo."

"Do you miss it?" To be honest, Corvi did. Her father owned a large percentage of the land that was used as a vineyard. Almost all of the wine Lucky Crow produced came from their backyard. She could remember when she was younger, when she was the oldest of just six, how the plants would be so full just before the harvest. How they would play hide and seek, she was always it, and how she would cheat. No flying was the rule but she was the oldest and ended up making the rules most of the time. If she were to break them, just who would her siblings complain to?

"A little," Her voice was lighter than she expected, "But I like it here." She was not lying, after living in the city for over a year, it had grown on her. It was easy adapting, just one of the many things about being a crow, to all the ins and outs, ups and downs of Tokyo. She had also lived in a few other wards, Shibuya and Chiyoda. Anri gave a curt nod and returned to her popcorn task. Corvi took the opportunity to light a cigarette, the first since leaving Izaya's apartment. The tobacco taste was sweet against her tongue and the smoke burned her throat slightly. She had sorely missed the sensation.

Why had the old man who owned the bookstore given Shizuo an old, oversized book? Why had said elder shoved him out right after? Shizuo guessed because he was old and senile. That sounded about right. Before he could give it more thought, a familiar sound came from his phone. Celty had texted him. Texted him about Corvi. Apparently, she was sitting in the park with someone named Anri. He sucked his teeth at the text, his break was almost over. There was no way to get there in time. Tom had stood outside the bookstore, opting to smoke instead and noticed his blonde bodyguard staring intently at his phone.

"Something wrong?" Shizuo's eyebrows furrowed at the phone instead of answering, "If it has something to do with your bird girlfriend, go ahead. Actually, wait, I'll come with you. Don't want you ending up on the news again." Tom's words shook Shizuo out of his trance and all he could do was nod.

The walk made the blonde think, about what he was going to say, what he needed to say, everything except how to start. The urge to get a gift, a peace offering, of some sort gnawed at him. The yarn store was too far away, not to mention, he had no idea what she would like. During their time apart, he had looked up knitting. Gauges, needle sizes, fiber content, it was too much for his man mind to handle. Besides, he had yet to see something she had finished. The idea of a gift was squashed after some thought. It would be something else he ruined, a liability.

"What are you gonna say to her?" The question only seemed worse when Tom asked. A shrug of Shizuo's shoulders was all he could muster for now.

Maybe the frayed plain brown book under his arm was some sort of bird thing. One that he did not understand, one that might break the ice. Whatever it was, he was going to take a peek inside on the way.

"Huh." Tom's eyebrows shot up at the sound. The bodyguard had stopped walking and was entrapped with the pages.

"What is it?" Even after moving closer, Tom could not see inside.

"It's a photo album." And it was perfect.

Shizuo shoved the album into Corvi's hands without a word. She accepted it with a bewildered look. Before she could respond, he snatched her wrist and pulled her from the bench. The last time he saw Corvi, her arm was still bound in the cast. No bruises, no scars, nothing was on her forearm. It was like it had never happened.

He opened his mouth to speak but closed it and looked over at the audience. Not only were Anri and Tom still there but the vast group of soundless crows still surrounded them. Their black heads shifted to and fro, from Corvi, Shizuo, Anri and Tom. His eyes returned to Corvi, she had noticed as well. Only a nod needed to be shared between them before they set off in the same direction. A wave to his boss was a way to say goodbye for Shizuo.

"Hey! Wait! We still have work to do!" Tom shouted after them but gave up, his shoulders slumping. Just like always, there was no stopping his employee.

Shizuo missed it. He missed not having to talk to convey his thoughts. Corvi just understood. A glance was all she needed. Now if that was because they were so alike or maybe because her eyes were so better than his, he was not sure, but he knew he missed it. It was back now though. She did not ask any questions on their silent walk to his apartment. She did not need to.

After Kasuka's visit, Shizuo had cleaned, thoroughly. Clothes were hung or stored away. Sheets were washed. He even got down on his hands and knees and scrubbed the ground in ashes out of the carpet. That part had taken hours, it was a white carpet after all. The coffee table in the tiny living room was still cluttered though and Corvi had to push take out boxes and ashtrays to the side to set the photo album down.

"You've seen Webster, I take it," She had said after flipping through a few pages, "My grandfather gave this to him. He's in a lot of the pictures. We have a ton of these books because of Sorrë. Taking pictures of everything and one." If Shizuo had never opened it, he would have thought it was just a thick, worn, old book. The binding was frayed, stray threads hung from the stitching and the edges of the pages were yellowed. She folded her legs underneath her bottom and smoothed out the wrinkles in her black skirt as she sat on the couch. The book took up her entire lap. He took the opportunity to grab something with alcohol out of refrigerator. Whatever it was they were going to talk about would be easier with liquor in their blood. As he was placing the glass of wine, from a bottle of Lucky Crow she had given him, in front of her, Corvi let out a bark of laughter. Her finger jabbed at one of the pictures. It was a birthday party, streamers, hats, the works. All thirteen of the children, their father, grandfather and Webster were there at a very long dinner table.

"This was Cornielle's tenth birthday. See me? Right there. At the end of the table." He barely could. She was slumped over the table, hair covered most of her brown face. A cone birthday hat was fixed crookedly on her head.

"What happened?"

"I baked her a cake a day before her party. Chocolate with chocolate chip topped with chocolate frosting. The twins tore it apart and she found out before I did. She was balling her eyes out and nothing- not one thing I said would make her stop. And when I say crying, it was snot running out her nose, red eyes, my-first-goldfish-just-died crying. So I blurted, 'I'm make you ten ten layer cakes. Each one a different flavor'. Stupid idea of me."

"Did she stop crying?"

"Took twenty hours, eight industrial sized bags of flour, five jumbo bags of sugar, like forty eggs and countless flavorings, but yeah. She was happy." Corvi turned to him with a smile well placed on her face. It was one that lit her dark featured face and made her eyes seem to sparkle. It was also something he had never seen before on her. Shizuo decided he liked that smile.

"You really like them, don't you?" The same question Celty had asked him and Corvi gave the same answer. The sparkle faded but did not disappear as she turned away and told him to shut up.

Each new page held more memories. She had not lied, the old owl was in a lot of the photos. There were pictures of Corvi in her high school uniform. She wore an all black cardigan and a skirt that was undeniably way too short, which she said was a normal length but because she was the tallest girl in their school it just looked like that. Her long inky hair was almost always tied back into a wild wavy ponytail. He had questioned the fingerless gloves and belted motorcycle boots but she just shrugged and say "I was 16". Each story only told him more of the crow's life until they reached the last page. There were only two photos and they made her take pause. The first was at a grandiose golden hall. Twinkling chandlers hung from the ceiling, white clothed tables were set up, royal red curtains tied back away from the intricate glass doors that lined the hall. And there she stood. Mid-frame was the crow, hair tied back in a perfect bun, a decorative silver feather pin held it all together. Matching feather earrings hung delicately from her ears. Her back was arched slightly, almost in a pose to show off the gorgeous dress she wore. The gown was breathtaking, the collar wrapped around her neck and the dress concealed her entire front while leaving the back open to her waist. It fit her form like skin down to her knees. From there, it flared out, covering her feet and trailing out to a short train in the back. At a closer look, Shizuo could see the entire dress was made from glittering black feathers. In her hands, Corvi held a champagne glass. Her coal eyes stared at it and the liquid inside pensively and not at the young man next to her. Shizuo was too busy processing how beautiful she looked to notice the man but when he did-

Izaya.

There he was. That smirk. That look. It did not matter if Izaya was in an expensive suit, it was still Izaya.

Motherfucking Izaya.

The photo was ruined.

Shizuo's hands moved on their own accord. He would take that picture. He would rip it to shreds. He would burn it. Corvi's lithe hand covered it before he could get his hands on it. Her eyes turned to his, all she could see was the pure rage he was feeling. It turned to a blend of confusion and anger before they met her's.

"Why?" Well, not because her ex-fiance was there, "Do you still-"

"No! Hell no. It's just..." Her voice trailed off for a moment, "I- That dress. It was supposed to be my wedding dress. My mother made it when I was young. It was stolen after that night." The picture was all she had of it and now Shizuo felt a pang in his stomach. Corvi barely spoke of her mother and when she did, it was not of loving memories. Something she said stuck in his mind though, "What's with your family trying to marry you off anyways?"

She tilted her head away from him and sighed, "I don't really have any marketable skills. I haven't been to college. I'm not that smart. My dad loves me, there's no doubt in that but- He doesn't trust me to take over the company. I don't really blame him, I wouldn't trust me. Imagine a board meeting and someone pisses me off." Shizuo mentally put himself in the hypothetical situation, it was a disaster. She would be the same. Her husband had to be someone that could deal with the stress and that certainly cut him out of the running. But to think, her marriage was purely a business deal, it made his stomach turn. He shook his head and turned his attention to the other picture. It was upside down, the paper side turned up to their eyes. He pulled it from its' plastic sleeve and turned it over.

Izaya again.

His face was scratched out but it was clear who it was. Corvi was next to him, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. It looked like any typical couple picture except her smile looked so forced.

"Huh." She took the photo from Shizuo, eyebrows raising at scratched part, "Pop Pop was never a big fan of Izaya." The photo paper crumpled easily in her fist and she placed it in one of the ashtrays. After lighting a cigarette and inhaling deeply, she tapped the ash onto it. He followed suit. Both of them silently hoped a still lit ember would ignite the memory and burn it from existence.

"So... what can you cook?" No answer. Corvi was too embarrassed. She could boil water. She could not cook rice, even with a rice cooker. If it had anything to do with the oven, she could cook it. She could roast a chicken, although she could not season it. Her cooking ended up with tons of ordering out or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when she was taking care of her siblings. Restaurants would know exactly who it was as soon as they heard her voice.

Shizuo stared at the midnight haired woman. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed and nose wrinkled. It was all the answer he needed.

Task: Fry an egg.

Step one: Preheat non-stick pan.

Corvi was half watching out of the corner of her eye. The other half was busy looking offended.

Step two: Place small piece of butter to pan.

Step three: Wait until it melts.

"Oh. So it won't stick. It's like when I butter my pan for cakes." Seriously? Shizuo wondered why this woman did not figure that out until now. She was peering over his shoulder now, obviously interested.

Step four: Crack egg onto pan.

Step five: Pour a small amount of water on the undersides of said egg.

Step six: Cover.

He turned to her while the egg was cooking and asked the burning question at the forefront of mind, "If you're a bird, why do you eat eggs? Or chicken for that matter?" Corvi's eyebrows scrunched up and her mouth turned up into a frown.

"Food chain. We're larger birds. Large birds eat smaller birds and smaller birds' eggs."

"What about the crows I see eating trash?"

"When you're a bird, you think mostly bird things. You don't think about the electric bill or new shoes. You think 'I'm hungry. That looks good to eat' and so you eat it."

The revelation only served to make more questions. Questions he would ask after the egg lesson was done. He made a point in showing her a spatula lest she try with a spoon or something.

Step seven: Get that spatula and lift the egg up.

Step eight: Serve.

The yellow of the yolk seemed to glare up at Corvi after Shizuo had set the plate down in front of her. She had eaten plenty of eggs before but never a fried one. She had never even seen one. It just felt so wrong. She pushed the plate away, "Can I get scrambled instead?" Shizuo's eyebrow twitched at her sudden change.

"I thought you had no problem eating eggs."

"Yeah. Just not ones where the yolk is so- It feels like I'm staring at a cooked baby for some reason. I mean, I know I'm not but..."

"If you were a crow right now, would you be this picky?" At that, Corvi shut her mouth. He was teaching her and all she could do was complain? She picked up a knife and cut into the egg. The yolk bled out of the side, she used every ounce of self control in her body not to cringe. With scrambled eggs or even an omelet, the yolk and white was blended. It all just looked like a yellow unidentifiable liquid and not-

"Let me try first." A rain delay. She would still have to do the deed when she was done though and it horrified her.

The plate sat in front of Corvi, a chunk of the egg white missing. She had cut around the yolk as best as she could but it was now forgotten. Her sights were set on Shizuo and his knife and fork. The knife cut agonizingly slow into her try at scrambled eggs and cheese. It may have been her perception of the situation but something tingled at the base of her spine. What if she had broken the shell too hard and missed the piece in the mixture? What if she had blended it too much and it was tough? What if there was too much cheese? What if the cheese was burnt? What if the egg was undercooked? The fork raised to his open mouth-

"What the fuck?!" She had slapped the fork out of his hand before he could take the first bite, "I was going to-" Shizuo's anger was muffled by her lips. Sure, he could have been angry but with her body pressing against his, it was not going to happen. His arms wrapped around her waist and brought her closer until he could feel every curve of her body.

It had been too long. Too long of not feeling this sensation. Too long of not tangling his hands in pitch black hair. Too long of not gripping soft brown flesh. He needed this now.

The eggs could wait.

He lifted her thighs up and she knew to wrap her legs around. He grinned into their kiss. She understood so well.

A gasp escaped her lips when he pressed her back against the fridge. Fingernails scratched roughly over his scalp and the back of her neck. He bit down on her bottom lip as his hips and growing arousal ground into her. Shizuo's hands trailed up her legs and under her skirt to grope her round backside. Their lips parted and he attacked her throat, nipping and goading soft moans from Corvi. Her now shoulder length hair tickled his face. The slightly sweet scent of bird oil filled his nose. They could hear the contents of the refrigerator shuffle around violently as he pressed into her harder. Fingers laced under the sides of Corvi's panties and pulled downward. When they did not move, Shizuo tried the next option and tore them off. He tossed the shredded material over his shoulder without a thought.

"The fuck Shizuo? Those were my favorite pair!"

"How do you know? They're all black anyways." He mumbled into her throat before he was pushed away.

Oh, yeah. He had forgot. This was Corvi he was dealing with again. She had already pulled off his belt and was working on the buttons. Once his throbbing erection was free, she dropped to her knees and held it tantalizingly close to her mouth. He watched, mesmerized, as her lips parted and engulfed his member. The warm, moist feeling of her mouth made Shizuo suck in a sharp breath. Her tongue swirled around and around, teasing him. He dug in hands in her inky hair as her head bobbed up and down. He could feel himself getting close only after a few minutes and pulled her away just in time.

His voice was raspy and breathing irregular, "And why have you never done that before?" Corvi had no time to answer before he ripped off her top and carried her to the bedroom.

He dropped her unceremoniously on his bed and gazed at her almost naked body as he worked on getting undressed himself. Her half lidded eyes and small grin promised so much. She could wait no longer, grabbed the edge of his open dress shirt and yanked. Shizuo's balance gave, sending him toppling onto her. Corvi's grip changed to his collar and pulled him into a kiss. Hands adjusted her hips until his length was sliding against her wet entrance.

There was no hesitation this time. No fear of hurting her. Corvi was just like he was and he loved it. He also loved the almost animalistic moan she made when he entered her completely. She noticed Shizuo fumbling with the hooks of her bra and quickly guided his hands. He nuzzled between the two soft mounds, letting the warmth of them press against his cheeks. Her skin was smooth to the touch and his hands could not stop trailing up and down her legs.

As much as Shizuo wanted to fuck her into the mattress, the look on her face stopped him. It was different this time. Her fingernails traced small circles across his chest while a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"Sorry" It may not have been the best time to apologize with him still inside her. The smile that threatened to break through on Corvi's face fell. She lifted herself up to sit on his lap all the while their eyes never broke contact. Her hand traveled along his jawbone, the rough hair of an unseen five o' clock shadow scratched her fingertips. She suddenly burst out into a laugh, "Did you think I'd let you get this close to me if I was still mad at you?"

Corvi had a point.

He tangled his hands in her hair and pulled her head back. There were red lines crisscrossing all over the skin but it did not deter him. His teeth dug into the soft flesh until he was sure there would be a mark that would last for months. She ripped away from his mouth and raised up. He had not forgotten, his member had twitched in its' confines as they spoke and now Corvi was back to taking charge. She stopped when only the tip was left in, a teasing smile was flashed at him before she slammed herself back down. It knocked the wind out of Shizuo and he gripped her thighs until his knuckles turned white. A repeat of her actions sent chills down their backs and sighs from their gasping mouths. When he collected himself, Shizuo attacked her with his teeth. Her throat, collarbone, shoulders, it was all marked after he was done. Corvi found a pace she enjoyed and rolled her head back, lost in pleasure.

She missed this. She loved the way he made her feel. She loved his rough hands roaming her body, pinching and teasing at her nipples. She loved his grunts with each thrust and hot breath on her mahogany skin. It tickled her ear and heightened her desire for him, as if it was not already high enough.

It was definitely different this time. Corvi had great control of her inner walls and took the chance to demonstrate with every sheathing. Shizuo had never really gained control back from her. She was just about running him ragged. He could not complain though. A buck of his hips at just the right time made her thighs tighten around him, she was close and so was he. She nuzzled into the curve of his neck and quicken her pace. He met her thrust downward with his own, their skin meeting with a loud slap. Toes curled and hands turned into fists. They came together, curses tumbled from their mouths as he emptied into her. Limbs intertwined as they fell backwards with Shizuo on top.

Corvi reached out for the pack of cigarettes on the night stand. Her hand only knocked the box off to the floor, "Fuck."

Fine. They would smoke later.

A sigh came from the other side of the bed. Shizuo turned to Corvi and gave her a quizzical look. She was busy staring at the ceiling but could feel his eyes bore into her.

"It's nothing. Go to sleep. I know you're tired." Indeed, he was. She had that effect on him- Well, what they did together had that effect on him. But it was not nothing. She would have said nothing if it was nothing.

"Your father," On the mark, she sighed again, "He wants you to go back to California, right?" She had not talked about the subject and was intent on just ignoring it until-

"You don't have to do what he says, you know?" Yes, she did. Shigeru may have been a conniving crow but he never did things without a plan. Besides, she owed her father so much. He had given the money for her to move across the world in the first place. He had made sure she had a job after she arrived. He had pulled strings to get her the nice apartment and paid her first month's rent. It was only the short list of things he had done and disobeying his orders were a slap in the face. Crows take care of, respect and obey their elders and she would be doing the complete opposite.

How was Corvi supposed to explain that to Shizuo though? She just groaned and raked her fingers through her hair.

"Maybe I can talk to him. See if he's willing to cut me some slack." Probably not. He, more than likely, let her stay for the chance she would get back together with Izaya. With that obviously not happening, Shigeru was ready to cut his losses.

"What if I talk to him?" Corvi shook her head at his suggestion. That was the last thing she needed. Her father had already forbid her from seeing Shizuo and their current sweaty, naked bodies was already quite a fine betrayal. In any case, her father knew best how to press her buttons. It would be a piece of cake for Shigeru to rile Shizuo up. There would only be more reason for his decision.

Thinking so much gave Corvi a headache. She stored the thoughts away and turned to the blonde man. He had sat up, back rested against the backboard of the bed, face blank as he stared out into the room.

"How's about you stay here?"