AN: It actually took me a while to get started on this (I was working on another story), and I actually hit a roadblock for a bit. See, when I wrote the earlier chapters, I didn't really have a plan – I was just kind of writing. Remember, this story was initially just a little one-shot. So, I've actually been thinking on what to do next – see, I was going to fuck around with the timeline, but since I brought Anri in, I can't actually do that. I also had planned for Erika and Walker to be major characters, but they haven't shown up nearly as much as I'd have liked. And that's when I realized – this story isn't about Izaya. In fact, Izaya's barely shown up in it. It's true that he was involved in kick-starting the plot, but that's true for the entirety of the actual series. That's not to say that Izaya isn't an extremely important character, because of course he is. What I mean is that this story deals with the entirety of the Durarara universe, which is a lot of people, even if I didn't write some cameos with characters from Baccano, Vamp, or Etsusa Bridge, and at least one character from that last one will show up in this chapter. The problem is that it's really hard to manage so many characters and all their relationships, especially when they're all so damn complex and there's so many of them. On top of all that, there are a bunch of things that should have already shown up in the story but aren't actually there. Basically, I'm not entirely sure where this story is going – I'm really just trying to avoid writing myself into a plot hole. With all that out of the way, on with the story! Fair warning, though: this chapter's a bit… graphic.
Siri stared in shock at the young boy, who had somehow aged about four years in the span of one night. Before either of them had time to truly panic, however, Hiro's right arm twitched and bulged, distorting into the arm of someone who was very much done with puberty. At the same time, the upper left side of his face shrank, making his face a grotesque mix of twelve-year-old and two-year-old.
The creature in front of her made a garbled sound that was probably a cry for help as his body continued to twist itself. His eyes – one now twice the size of the other – were darting wildly around in fear as he thrashed.
"Mother of…" Hesitantly, Siri reached for him, but the boy jerked suddenly, back arching up as he screamed in terror, memories rushing into his head, tangled and confusing, and Hiro cried as he shrieked, tears dribbling down his misshapen cheeks as his eyes rolled back into his skull.
-THIS IS A LINE BREAK-
He's thirteen years old and watching his only friend in the world bleeding out on the floor and he offers to take the blame and get revenge.
He's four years old and he isn't sure why Babushka and Ojii-chan are here instead of Mommy and Daddy.
He's nineteen years old and in college and it's pretty boring and he'll never admit it but he misses Shinra.
He's ten years old and Mommy and Daddy come home with two little baby girls, who look more like Daddy than he does (he looks more like Mommy).
He's seven years old and wondering why Babushka is so determined to get him to learn self-defense.
He's seventeen years old and Mikage has dropped out of high school, and he's pretty sure that it's his fault.
He's twenty-five years old and his head hurts and everything's fuzzy and all he knows is that somehow he's been kidnapped.
He's eight years old and there's a woman holding his hand and whispering comforting things and feeding him even though she doesn't even know his name.
He's twenty-two years old and graduating and he's half proud of himself and half disappointed because nobody who came to the ceremony came for him.
He's twenty-five years old and in the hospital thanks to Yodogiri and it hurts a lot more than he cares to admit that Shinra didn't bother to visit.
He's fifteen years old and he's running from the blond boy who doesn't like him and can pick up impossibly heavy things.
He's twenty-five years old and he wonders if maybe this is how people feel right before they commit suicide and isn't that just hilariously ironic.
He's twenty-three years old and looking at Saki's unconscious body and wondering if maybe he feels a little guilty about this.
He's nine years old and Ojii-chan is teaching him to throw knives at red and white targets painted on trees.
He's eight years old and lost and terrified and cold and hungry and naked and tired and alone and thirsty and–
He's twenty-five years old and he doesn't know why they're hurting him because he's never seen people – creatures – like this before in his life.
He's twenty-four years old and Simon punches him in the face and lectures him and he wonders when exactly Simon started to care and why he bothered.
He's eight years old and he isn't so scared anymore.
He's twenty-five years old and his arm isn't supposed to bend that way.
He's sixteen and his only cousin has just lost her parents and he doesn't know them well enough to go to the funeral.
He's sixteen and a half and it's his first time having sex – hers too – and it's nice but it's not something he really wants to do as often as boys his age usually do.
He's twenty-one – twenty-one forever – and it's his first time with another man and it isn't bad, but he feels very sad later on and he isn't quite sure why.
He's fourteen years old and in the bathroom and touching himself for the first time and he'll never forgive himself for moaning Shinra's name when he comes.
He's eleven years old and he doesn't like those two brats that Mommy and Daddy brought home because they're loud and annoying and whiny and nobody's paying attention to him.
He's fourteen – almost fifteen – and he's carrying a crying little girl in his arms, ignoring the stinging pain in his arm where he blocked the bottle her father threw.
He's nineteen years old and Saki's crying again, but it's happy this time because he's her legal guardian now, and she'll never have to go back there.
He's twenty-five years old and the room is so white – too white and he's naked and shaking and scared but he'll never admit it because he's stronger than that.
He's two years old and he doesn't understand why he's so much more interested in the people celebrating the holiday than in the holiday itself.
He's twenty-five years old and there's a hot, heavy, disgusting body on top of him, laughing at him, mocking him, ripping him to pieces with every thrust, but he's not crying because he's stronger than that.
He's seven years old and his maternal grandparents are dead, and he can't seem to remember their names, because he's never thought to ask, and he's too scared to look on the tombstone because he knows those aren't their real names and he isn't quite old enough to understand.
He's twenty-five years old and he's not fighting back anymore because it hurts less if he just lets them do what they want and he's sure he can escape somehow.
He's twenty-five years old and has just begged his sixteen year old cousin (who doesn't even know they're related) to just fucking kill him already.
…
He's twenty years old and all alone but not at all lonely because Shinra sent him a birthday present and it's the first (and last) time that that's happened and even if it was a joke, he still likes the coat and wears it every day.
-THIS IS A LINE BREAK-
Siri held Hiro while he screamed and thrashed, quietly crying for the poor boy. He hadn't done anything to deserve this.
"Hiro-kun," she said, in Japanese, because she thought he'd be more comfortable with it. "You wish to call?" she spoke very slowly, trying to make as much sense as possible and not gets her words wrong. "Ah… I can find someone. I sure people know things. Must happen very often, no?" Hiro, gasping for breath, managed to turn his head towards her, meeting her sky blue eyes with his mismatched red ones.
"Call… Shinra…" he rasped, and Siri blinked in surprise because his voice wasn't what she'd been expecting – it was almost a mix between a young man and a small child, but there weren't multiple voices or echoes like in the movies.
"Who?" Siri asked, having no idea who that was. She was pretty sure that 'Sinra' was the name of some place in Korea or something.
"Se… Celty, then." He gasped for breath, trying not to squirm as his body twisted into shapes that shouldn't be – and probably weren't – possible.
"Who?" Siri repeated. The names meant nothing to her.
"Rider…" was all Hiro could say before slumping on her lap, unconscious, his body still twitching in places. It clicked then – the Black Rider – someone abnormal to solve and abnormal problem. Siri nodded, hoping the boy would be okay on his own for a bit – she couldn't exactly take him with her at the moment. Snatching up her cell phone, the Russian woman quickly brought up the Dollars website.
'When was last time you saw Black Rider?' she inquired. Four seconds later, she had eight replies.
'I saw it yesterday.' –Kahlua Milk
'Why do you want to know? Hoping to catch a glimpse?' –Bakyura
'I saw it yesterday as well. Why?' –MONTA
'Ah! Trying to find the elusive Black Rider, are we? My, my, how curious! Tell me, what exactly are your intentions? Are you maybe trying to get that bounty that was up a while ago, or is there some sort of mysterious romance going on?' –Kyo
'Explain please.' –San
'I can help you with that, if you've got a good reason.' –Admin
Siri's eyes widened at the appearance of the mysterious 'Admin', who had only appeared a few months ago. The infamous creator of the Dollars, whose identity remained a secret to all but a few – so said the rumors, anyhow.
'Friend of mine is hurt,' she explained. 'He thinks Black Rider can help.' A moment later, a private chat screen opened up. Siri blinked, surprised.
'Hello, Shiri.' Admin wrote. 'The Black Rider is a friend of mine. I'd like to meet you to make sure you aren't a threat, but I think the Rider can take care of herself, and your situation sounds urgent. I will ask the Rider to meet you at Ikebukuro Station in twenty minutes. Please do not respond to this message.' Siri snapped her phone shut, and glanced down at Hiro. Sweat trickled down his face, and Siri bit her lip. She was loath to leave him, but there wasn't really anything she could do. Grabbing a pen, she scribbled a note to him (in Russian, of course), picked up her purse, and left, a strong sense of determination fixing her feet on the path to Ikebukuro Station, where she would meet one of the city's biggest mysteries in the flesh. She would have to make sure not to fangirl until Hiro was safe.
-THIS IS A LINE BREAK-
"Hey, do you want to have sex?" Masaomi broke through the awkward silence, looking intently at his girlfriend. The two of them had been sitting quietly together for about an hour, both of them trying to think of something to say. Saki looked at her boyfriend curiously.
"Yes," she responded after a moment. "But not until Masaomi is ready." He grinned at her.
"You don't think I could handle it?" he asked. She smiled.
"That's not it," she said simply. "But it's my first time – and yours, Masaomi. I just didn't think you'd want to do that while you're so worried about Sonohara-san."
"Are you sure you're not an esper?" Masaomi asked her, looking embarrassed. "Or is Izaya-san just telepathically telling you this stuff?" She laughed, unable to help herself.
"Who knows," she teased. "Maybe Masaomi is just really easy to read." He sighed, turning to look out the window.
"Maybe," he agreed quietly. Saki rested her chin on his shoulder, embracing him from behind.
"They'll be alright," she said simply. He nodded, allowing himself to lean back into her embrace.
"I know."
-THIS IS A LINE BREAK-
In Orihara Izaya's office building, there were five people – two men and three women. There should have been one more man and one more woman, but the former was missing and the latter was bedridden.
"Why the fuck are we here?" the younger of the two men snapped. He was easily the most noticeable of the group, with dark shades, slicked-back hair, and a long scar – the result of a nasty burn – down the side of his face. His teeth were sharp, though not inhumanly so, and his cruel expression gave him the air of a shark.
"I want your help," the oldest of the three woman (who wasn't much older than twenty-four) said. She had short, spiky brown hair, a calm face, and a deceptively small body – those who knew her were aware of her strength. The most striking thing about her, however, was her clothing. She wore shorts, a jacket, and sandals, all of which was perfectly normal. Her shirt, however, consisted of a sleeveless piece of cloth that really only covered her breasts.
"She wants us to find her crush~" the youngest of the five sang, her body waving back and forth as she giggled to herself madly. She probably would have fallen if she hadn't been leaning on a long, sharp red scythe. This girl wore a typical schoolgirl uniform, although with a much longer skirt than was normal. Her eyes, a reddish brown, were wide, and her long hair fell partially in front of her face, giving her the appearance of a less than stable woman.
"I believe the term you're looking for is 'ex'," the oldest of the five corrected, adjusting his hat. He was a man of average height, probably in his mid-thirties, but he was bald. His skin was darker than that of an average Japanese man, but not by much, so he wasn't the type of person who really stood out in a crowd. He did, however, give of an aura of authority that made people listen to him when he chose to speak. Underneath his leather jacket, he wore a faded yellow shirt.
"I don't see how their relationship matters," said the final person. She had curly black hair and dark eyes. She wore a bored expression, but her eyes gave away her inner nervousness. Of all the people in the room, she was the most normal in appearance, as she lacked any burn marks, revealing clothes, dark skin, or wide, psychotic eyes.
"A while back, Izaya mentioned the plan involving that Earthworm person, right?" the shorthaired woman's question was obviously rhetorical, but there were nods and grumbles of ascent in response. "I think it's best if we go through with that." There was a snort from the man with the scar.
"Are you nuts, Mikage?" he sneered. "In case you forgot, that bastard ain't here, and that plan kinda involves him."
"No, I agree with Sharaku-san," the bald man said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Izaya-kun's role in the plan was mostly a silent one, and I think I know who we could have play the part."
"Is Kine-san saying that we should use this Earthworm nut to find Izaya?" the curly-haired girl asked. She did not look at any of them directly, her face lost in though. Unbeknownst to the others, she was thinking back to the conversation she had had only a few hours earlier with a certain doctor.
"Yes, that's right," Kine confirmed. "I know that Manami-chan and Ran-kun aren't all that fond of Izaya-kun, but he is useful to all of us, and he's quite important to Sharaku-san and myself."
"What, that bitch gets 'Sharaku-san', and I'm just 'Ran-kun'?" Izumii demanded, his lip curling. "The fuck, ya dick?"
"That would be because I'm older than you, more respectable than you, and much better to look at," Mikage said offhandedly, a hint of triumph on her face.
"You bitch," Izumi growled, stalking forward. He was halted by a scythe pressing threateningly against his chest until he backed off.
"Izaya-san is important to me too," said Niekawa Haruna. "He knows where Takashi is, after all." Izumii muttered something under his breath, but he was ignored by the other four.
"I'm already spoken to Dragon Zombie and Nakura-san," Mikage explained, her face returning to its original serious expression. "Nakura-san isn't all that thrilled, but he'll do it. As for Dragon Zombie, their leader said that they were still working for Izaya. It seems that they like to finish what they start." Izumii groaned.
"Great," he grumbled. "Anyone got a script or some shit?" Manami reached into her purse and pulled out a sheet of paper, handing it to him. "'Act like Izaya, you dumb shit'." He read. He glowered at her. "Go fuck yourself." Then he grinned. "Ah, unless you'd like some help with that." Mikage gave him a warning look.
"Don't push me, Izumii-kun." She said quietly. He snorted, but did not respond. She sighed, shaking her head. "The only problem is that I was hoping to have Yagiri-san's help with this. Since she's hospitalized, however…"
"We'll have to plan around her," Kine said simply. "It won't be too difficult, as she wasn't all that involved in the first place."
"Izaya-san must really like her," Haruna said thoughtfully. "I don't think he's ever screwed with her. Not the way he screws with other people, I mean."
"He wants to keep his leading lady close," Mikage explained. "He likes everyone, but we're his 'friends', so we're a bit more important, I think."
"I want to kill him," Izumii pointed out. "That bitch–" he gestured to Manami "–already tried," he grinned. "Guy's got a shitty definition of 'friend'."
"Well, you did say you'd kill him last," Kine said calmly. "Most people just go with 'I'll kill you', but he knows you need him to keep you out of jail while you plot to kill all those other people. To Izaya-kun, mutual extortion is the basis of all friendships." Haruna shrugged, smiling.
"He's not exactly wrong," she said cheerfully. Mikage scowled.
"Death threats and creepy shit aside," she continued. "I can't say for sure that doing this will help us find Izaya, but it'll definitely help us make a name for ourselves." Manami nodded, turning to look out the window.
"Green Lights…" she murmured. "It's hilariously fitting."
-THIS IS A LINE BREAK-
The boy stood on his very tiptoes to sneak a peek through the window of the warehouse. He had followed the girl from his big brother's class all the way over here, because she'd looked so sad, and now she had been locked inside by some sort of monster. Despite the gravity of the situation, the boy couldn't stop himself from grinning. After all, it was not every day that a normal boy got the chance to rescue a beautiful damsel in distress. Then again, Kuzuhara Sōji was not exactly the textbook definition of a normal boy.
AN: Wow, this was a long one – for me, at least. I'm having a blast writing this story, you know. I can't really think of anything else to say… Yes, I know Manami didn't join up with Izaya until much later in the novels, but there is a reason she's showing up now. As for the "Green Lights", they are a part of my story – they don't exist within the Naritaverse, as far as I know. Sōji-kun is from Etsusa Bridge. That's all I'll say for now. I'm tired… I'll post this as soon as I get home, I think, but for now I'm going to try and get the next chapter started. See you then, I suppose.