I feel like I wrote Taiyo a little too stupidly trusting and unaware of her actual situation... But oh well; that's why I've labeled this fic the way I did.
Here's the next chapter of Transported to Durarara, my fic from several years ago.
{-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-}
It was Tuesday, and it had been an entire week since I had helped Shizuo. I had met him a few times on the street, and it seemed I had been right. We were friends now.
I was also getting accustomed to Japanese high-school and had finished organizing my apartment; including buying all of the things I had forgotten during my first shopping trip.
Masaomi had brought Anri along to the sundae shop the day after Shizuo ditched. I had a lot of fun trolling them as Anri tried to explain how we knew each other by misguiding every single sentence spoken. Then I asked how they met each other. Apparently they had met on the street after she had argued with Seiji, Namie's brother, and then had chatted at Ikebukuro West Gate Park with Mikado.
The rest of the days had been rather ordinary. It turned out that I excelled in anything Japanese language related as a straight A student, but, most unfortunately, I actually did need to put effort into everything else. Cries.
I had also found a teacher I really hated. My English teacher. I tried to explain that I was from America, but she wouldn't listen. She just babbled on about how I needed to know how to translate them properly. She even tried to prove it with an annoying little sentence that was more of a tongue twister than anything else.
She seemed to give up after that, and I had been left to my own devices during most of the class. Unfortunately, math, history, and science were not so easy. I did as well as I did in my old world, which was mostly A's and a couple B's, but I did have to try for it.
I made another friend, too. Ruruda Kuragata. She looked a little nerdy, but in a pretty way. She wore glasses, and, when she wasn't wearing the school uniform, she often wore ankle length jeans and an otaku themed t-shirt with a black denim jacket. Her hair was not quite shoulder length, dyed very dark blue, and was usually held back in a ponytail. Her hair was too short for the front stands to reach the ponytail, so it was always framing her face. Her coolest feature, which was usually hidden by her glasses and bangs, were her eyes. The left eye was black and the right was light blue. I only saw her right eye once, though, because her bangs always covered that eye.
We hadn't done anything together outside of school yet. During lunch breaks we would chat a lot about anime and manga. For some reason, her presence was a little comforting. We were often joined by Mikado and Anri, but Masaomi was almost always there. Occasionally, I'd catch a couple guys staring at me, but I just ignored them.
It was Tuesday, after school, and I had skipped out on Masaomi, Anri, and Mikado to train a whole lot at my abandoned building. I practiced more forms so that I could quickly change into them and added them to the collection I had started.
My favorite forms were a tall teenage girl with short blue/black hair and tiny black fox with red-tipped ears and tail and red mittened paws. After completing a black and grey patterned snake transformation, I groaned and fell backwards, transforming back to myself simultaneously.
"This is hard! I can't do it anymore today!" I moaned, "I'll just have to do some agility stuff for a while, then I'll head home." Although I hadn't improved my gymnastics at all, I had improved how well I could utilize my abilities. Before, I had had the ability of an Olympic gymnast, as you know, but I hadn't a clue how to use those abilities outside of gymnastic equipment.
Now, I flipped backwards from my sitting position, landing on my feet, and then sprinted at a window. I soared out of it, catching the windowsill by the tips of my fingers. I twirled in midair, letting myself fall to the next window down. Swinging through it, I flipped back over and swung out again. I swung back and forth, gathering momentum, and then flung myself up as high as I could. I twisted around and caught the edge of the roof just in time.
"That was quite impressive, little girl! Or, teenage girl, correct?"
My hand slipped and I fell down a story. I managed to grasp the window sill, though, as I spun around to see who had interrupted my training session.
"Oh, hello! What brings you to an abandoned building?" I shouted down, then whistled. Natsu appeared right next to me and began growling at Izaya.
"Just meeting a friend around here. So, you learned that in America?"
"Stupid question." I stuck out my tongue.
"Huh?" He stared at me with a rare look of slight confusion on his face. But it quickly morphed into another slanted smile. "What do you mean, 'stupid question?'"
"I just mean that you must already know that, so it's a stupid question!" I giggled as I hopped down to the first floor window.
"Hmmm? I guess they were right~" he smirked. "~About you~"
"Who're 'they?'"
"Don't you already know the answer to that?"
"Erm, possibly, but I don't, really."
He smirked again.
"Geez louise! Just say what you want and troll me already, then leave. I don't want to waste my time, okay?" I snapped at him. 'I really love risking my neck, don't I? First I tease Shizuo, and now I'm baseline challenging Izaya! Oh geez, I'm such an idiot!' I facepalmed.
I took my hand from my face and stared at Izaya. He was looking at me curiously, as if considering what he should do with me.
"Yagiri Pharmaceuticals."
"Shit. I was worried about that." I glanced at Natsu. She was still growling. 'Wait, but Natsu isn't licking my ear? She's supposed to if someone is hiding ill intentions ...'
"So you do know them?"
"Well, I don't know how much of it all that I know, but I know the name and that they're after me. No point hiding that, since they apparently sent you to get me. Or are you just enjoying an especially rare troll opportunity?"
He hummed, "I said I was meeting up with a friend, didn't I? I wouldn't hand a friend over to Yagiri Pharmaceuticals."
I started laughing so hard I had to grip the window sill to keep from falling out. I stopped abruptly and pointed at him. "That's hilarious, coming from you, Info Broker-san!" I hummed in a singsong voice, smirking. "How many 'friends' have you indirectly stabbed in the back as of, hmm, how long have you been talking to me? Five minutes?"
"Ouch! That hurt, ~Tai-chan~! And I haven't betrayed anyone, since I never actually cared," he laughed. "But you seem like someone I might get along with, ~Tai-chan~!"
"Whatever you say, ~Iza-chan~! If you don't mind, though, I'm going to keep on training!" Without waiting for a response, I swung back into the building. I couldn't help hearing more laughter, though, slowly fading as Izaya left.
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"Want some chicken, Natsu? I'm going to try to make a new recipe that uses it," I said, closing the door to my apartment and sitting down to take off my shoes. "But first, I'm changing out of this. It's covered in sweat..."
I jogged to the closet, grabbed red shorts and a white shirt that didn't cover my shoulders and had wide sleeves that ended just past my elbow. Then I went to the kitchen to start cooking.
"That's a very cute outfit, Tai-chan."
I shrieked and spun around to face the couch, where Izaya's head had appeared. "What the hell?! Why're you in my apartment?!" I demanded. 'Was Natsu mistaken?! Was I lied to about her power? But maybe he isn't here to kidnap me, but-' I thought, but was distracted. Izaya had stood up and walked around the couch, and I saw he was holding Natsu in his arms, holding her mouth shut.
"What do you-!" I started but he let Natsu go and she ran to me, whining. I scooped her up, but still she didn't lick my ear.
"It's alright, Natsu," I looked back at Izaya, "If you ever do that again, ~Iza-chan~, I will be seriously angry," I growled, scratching Natsu's ears reassuringly.
"Sorry, Tai-chan. I just wanted to surprise you." He put his hands up nonchalantly, 'innocent'.
"Whatever, what do you want? Just spit it out already. Beating around the bush with you sounds like hell."
"Aw, I had wanted to help you, but I guess you don't want my help?" he asked, leaning onto the back of the sofa.
"I don't know. Do I? You don't care about individuals-" I snapped my mouth shut.
'I can't let him know how much I know about him. Although, he might already know if Yagiri Pharmaceuticals contacted him. But would they tell him something so important?'
"Relax, Tai-chan. I already know you're special." He smirked.
"Well, obviously." I walked to the fridge in the cabinet and got out a chicken breast. "But that's not what I want to know. I want to know what you want?"
"Chicken sounds good. I'd prefer hot pot, but whatever."
"Oh my gosh! I'm not giving you anything until you tell me what you want!" I slammed a pan onto the stove, startling Natsu. "Sorry, Natsu."
"I want you to work for me," he said suddenly.
"What?" I didn't think I had heard properly.
"I want you to work for me." Izaya repeated.
"Why?"
"Because you know lots and lots of things, don't you? I'm an info broker, as you so gracefully pointed out at that abandoned building, and you are filled with info. Info I can't obtain in any other way, since you know something of the future." He grinned.
"Ah, so you know all the important stuff. Guess I don't need to hide it, then." I finished prepping the chicken and set it in the pan. It sizzled as I started with the veggies.
After a long silence, Izaya spoke again, "So, will you work for me?"
"Do I really have a choice? If I don't, at least if I say no, you'll find some way to force me. Although-" I pointed my spatula at him as I realized something, "I know ways to make you leave me be, too! I guess that means it is my choice. So, what is my compensation for working for you?"
He stared at me for a second. 'Confused him twice in one day, go me.' I thought as I dumped the vegetables in with the chicken and flipped the chicken over. I checked the recipe, and covered the pan with a lid.
"So, even though you know who I am, and stuff about me no one else knows, you're still going to work for me?"
"Only if you have something I want. I'm sure spending time with you would be quite fun, Iza-chan, but I also know that it will be fairly irritating too, so I need compensation."
He smirked. I smirked back, pouring rice into a pot. Then he said, "I'll keep Yagiri Pharmaceuticals off your scent. How's that sound, Tai-chan?"
"Deal. Would you like some chicken stir fry?" I asked as I leaned nonchalantly against the counter. Izaya looked surprised at my sudden agreement.
"No, no. I'm quite busy, Tai-chan." He chuckled as he began to leave.
"By the way, I'm only going to work part time. I have no intention of serving tea or anything like Namie, though," I said to his back.
He crossed his hands behind his head as he said, "You even know Namie? You really are a monst-"
I grabbed his arm and swung him around to face me. "Do not. Call me. A monster," I growled, "I will not work for you. The way you judge people like that really irks me for some reason, so keep that crazy habit of yours to yourself!"
He smirked. "That crazy habit? Well, what about the others, Tai-chan?"
I let go of his sleeve. "Don't care about them so much. I'd prefer not to see you play with Celty's head, but I won't complain about it."
Izaya looked a little intrigued as he shrugged his shoulders. "What do I call your strange power then?"
"Just that. Strange power," I shrugged too. He grinned and left.
As soon as I saw him walk out, I sighed heavily. "I'm trusting your instincts, Natsu. Only way in hell I'd put myself in such a dangerously stupid situation. At least I'll get to spend time with Iza-chan, though. Even if I have to be in the same room as Namie."
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'GET UP YOU IDIOT! GET UP YOU IDIOT! GET UP YOU IDIOT! GET UP-'
I punched my phone, effectively turning off the alarm. I punched it because I had discovered a few days ago that it didn't break easily, (It got run over by a car and the only problem was that it had dust on the screen.) and I was annoyed.
'I hate this stupid ring tone... I thought it would wake me up, and it did, but it's so horrible...' I thought as I stretched and slid out of bed. 'Ugh, why'd I agree to work for Izaya... at least it's Saturday so I don't have school...' I stumbled to the bathroom and turned on the water for the bath. I brushed my teeth, waiting for the tub to fill, and Natsu jumped up next to the sink.
"Would you like a bath, Natsu?" I yawned, pointing at the sink with my toothbrush. Natsu yipped sleepily and nodded. I spit out the last of the toothpaste and rinsed it down the drain, then filled the sink with warm water.
"Here ya go, Natsu. Sorry, but no soap for foxes." I giggled. Natsu whined and jumped into the sink, purposely splashing me. I turned on the cold water for half a second and poured it on Natsu's head. She shivered but didn't seem interested enough to take revenge. I chuckled as I pulled off my pajamas. Then I grabbed a bath bomb and dropped it into the hot water. I watched as it fizzed satisfyingly then stepped into the tub, sighing contentedly.
I slept, I mean, relaxed in the tub for about an hour and then took a shower. This might sound ridiculous to you, but I had to wash my long-as-I-am-tall hair. I'm surprised I don't use an entire bottle of shampoo and conditioner every time I do. It's also Japanese custom to not wash in a bathtub, and I personally agree with the idea. It always grossed me out to see soap and hair in the bathtub and then having to take a bath in it.
I did end up giving a little bit of puppy soap to Natsu and I sang as I scrubbed it into her fur. I even took the time to blow dry our hair; Natsu looked like a furry pom-pom. Then I went to the closet and pulled on skinny black jeans and a Harry Potter tank top. It was white and had the deathly hallows on it in delicate curvy lines.
'Time to go full on emo, eh?' I thought, grinning. 'Glad I spent all the time for English and Japanese homework playing at the mall.'
I went to the nightstand next to my bed where I was storing my scarce amount of jewelry. I examined my options and chose a thin wrap-around choker necklace with Ichigo's hollow mask hiding the clip and his evolved hollow mask dangling from it.
I slid a black Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood bracelet onto my left hand. It was a wraparound too, but instead of going around twice it went around five times. It was a little thicker and it had silver alchemical circles on it. Then I pulled an elbow length fishnet glove that didn't cover my fingers onto my right hand.
I stood back from the mirror, admiring my work. I noticed Natsu dash to my feet in the reflection and looked down before she could yip. She was holding a comb in her teeth.
"That's right, Natsu! What's an emo outfit without an emo hairstyle?" I laughed and took the comb from Natsu. She yipped and spun in circles, then sprinted off into my closet.
I tried for ten minutes to make my hair go emo, but it just wouldn't budge out of its cuteness. I wasn't going to cut it and it was too long for anything I wanted to do; I didn't like the weirdly excessive emo haircuts. After my 34th failed attempt, I gave up. I decided to just use my transforming power. Not a lot, but enough to make it emo.
I closed my eyes and focused on my hair being a foot shorter and black, with blue streaks in it. I figured that not having bangs would be a dead giveaway, so I kept them. Opening my eyes, I found that my fiery mane had been put out, reduced to black coals by the bright blue water trickling through it.
I giggled and swiftly put my hair into two tight French braids.
"Dang, I look awesome!" I said, gazing at my reflection in the mirror. "But I can't keep it up, can I? Even if I could, it would be painfully obvious to anyone who's seen me that I did something. Guess I can't change the hair so much..." I sighed and changed it back. I kept the tight French braids, though, and then put it into two knots.
I ate cereal for breakfast, then headed to my first day of work, Natsu riding on my shoulder.
"Alright, Iza-chan said that he would text me instructions to his building, but I don't have them. I guess I'll text him?" I wondered aloud as I scrolled through my texts.
'Drrriinnnggg! Drrriinnnggg!'
"Or not. Perfect timing, Iza-chan." And I added silently, 'Too perfect, I bet he's watching me, the creeper.'
I-[From the door, go right. I'm on the left, number 1323. See you soon, Tai-chan!]
'The most confusing directions without them being wrong, huh, Iza-chan?' I sighed and headed back toward my apartment. 'Too bad I know you, so I know that this is a joke to you.' I strode past my door and kept on down the hallway till I reached apartment number 1323. I knocked but there was no response. I knocked again and still, nothing. I spun on my heel and started back towards my apartment.
I-[Come now, Tai-chan! I'm your employer, so you have to come play with me!]
T-[Ugh, you are SO annoying! This is some impossible riddle that's going to have me running around for a while until you're bored! Just tell me how to get to you, or I'll find you in my own way!]
I-[If you hate me so much, maybe you should get a different job? I know that the medical business would love to have you. (^v^)]
T-[Don't waste my time, ~B~O~S~S~]
I-[(^o^) Ok, Tai-chan! I'm across the hall from you 3]
T-[~(-_-)~ congrats, you win]
I sighed as I went to the door across from mine and knocked. Namie answered.
"So you're the new person-" she stopped, staring at how I was dressed. "Izaya, I thought you were done with this 'game!'" She called as she went back into the apartment. I giggled, extremely amused, as I followed her in, closing the door behind me.
"What are you talking about, Namie?" Izaya asked and glanced up from his computers. He stared at me with slight amusement. "I thought I was."
"Well, you were right again, because I have no intention of killing myself. And if I did," I laughed, "I definitely wouldn't do it with you."
"Why not, though?" He smirked.
"Oh geez, I wonder why? I'm not really sure myself! The questions of life are hard, aren't they?" I plopped down on his couch and Natsu jumped off me. Izaya grinned.
"Indeed. So, I'd like to know your abilities, first."
"Abilities?" Namie murmured as she gave me some tea. I shoved the cup away from me.
"Why yes, Namie! She has lots of special abilities! Maybe she'd even be able to help you with ~you know what~" he snickered as Namie shot me a calculating, almost hungry look. 'So he'll protect me from Yagiri Pharmaceuticals but not from the Yagiri's? Or anyone else, I bet.' I thought.
"What am I going to do? I might have an enemy now! I'm trembling in my seat!" I drawled as I scratched Natsu's ear. Izaya chuckled and Namie seemed to relax a little.
"Well, how much do you already know?" I asked Izaya, ignoring Namie's presence. I wished she wasn't there, but if Izaya wanted her to know, she would know, regardless of what I did. And I couldn't use my Shizuo trump card on something so trivial.
"Plenty. I know you're from a parallel universe and I know that you could win the Olympics for gymnastics." He smiled and sipped his tea.
"True and true. I'll tell you that I can tell if someone has ill intentions towards me pretty easily as well."
"Interesting. How do you do that?"
"I'm not telling. Now, I'm pretty sure you already know that I can tell parts of the future?"
"The future?! Don't be ridiculous!" Namie interjected before Izaya could respond. Izaya put up a hand and Namie shut her trap.
"'Parts?' I didn't know about that." He said as his smile faded slightly and his eyes brightened.
"New info intrigues you, huh?" My grin faded too; we were getting serious. "Yeah, just parts. I only know a few years into the future of certain people, and for others I only know their childhood."
"Oh? That's a strange system. Give me an example."
"Ok. I know your future, but I don't know much about your past. I'm curious about it though."
"So what does my future hold, Tai-chan?"
"Hmmmm. I don't know what I can tell you. See, I don't want to alter the timeline," I grinned.
"What a huge responsibility for such a young girl. Well, how come you only know these 'parts' of the future and past?"
"In my world, you were all fictional characters in an anime." I replied casually.
"We... what?" Izaya was completely caught off guard, which I've never seen happen in the manga or anime.
"Ho-How dare you?! Do you mean to imply that my Seiji wasn't real!? You're delusional!" Namie screeched; she looked ready to attack me. Natsu whimpered and I held her comfortingly to my chest.
"Really, Tai-chan? Tell me more about our 'anime' then," Izaya said. Did he not believe me?
"I'll only tell if Namie can get a grip. She looks on the verge of murdering me. And it doesn't matter, Namie, that Seiji isn't real in my world because he is real in this world. I'm sure he wouldn't care except that Celty's head wasn't real either." I paused, then added thoughtfully, "I suppose that puts me in the middle of a grotesque love triangle where at least two sides will want to murder me, doesn't it?"
"Why you-!"
"Namie, how about some sushi?" Izaya suggested, pointing one finger at the door.
"But-!"
"Before they close."
Namie strode past my couch glaring daggers. As she passed, Natsu scrambled out of my hands and licked my ear. The door slammed shut and she scurried back into my hands, whimpering.
"So, the fictional me?" Izaya prompted as he stood up. He walked over and sat down next to me.
"Yep. Hold on..." I took out my phone and turned slightly away from Izaya, quickly entering the password for real world data.
"Natsu, touch it." I ordered. There was no way I could hide that requirement if I was going to be spending half of my time with Izaya.
I turned back so that Izaya could see the screen and went to manga bird. I searched for Durarara and when it came up I showed him. He snatched the phone from my hands and jumped away but I just laughed. He couldn't control it, it only responded to me and Natsu. All he could see was what was on the screen at that moment.
"I'd give it back if I was you or it will turn off," I advised, smirking. Izaya tched and tossed it at me.
"So, what do you want as proof? Was that enough?"
"Show me a panel that has already happened." He ordered. I went to the scenes with the girls who wanted to die and Izaya examined it for a while. "That's very strange, Tai-chan. You're quite the strange power." He chuckled and walked to the window.
'He means monster, obviously.' I frowned and said, "Real subtle, Iza-chan. Anyways, what's my work going to be?"
"Oh, this and that. And I didn't mean monster. You are very much human. And I love humans-"
"'But I don't love you specifically. Important detail.'" I interrupted, quoting him from the original story line. I was tired of playing games, so I decided to let my guard down a little. Natsu would let me know when to put it back up. 'That is very flawed logic,' I realized almost immediately, but still, I didn't care. I couldn't help but want to relax around Izaya, he was one of my favorite characters from the anime after all.
"Hmmm. You actually..." his voice trailed off as he gazed out the window.
"I actually what?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
"Hm? Oh, you actually remind me of Shizu-chan. Is he in that anime? Durarara?"
"Yeah. And if you hate me that much, then I should probably leave while I'm still in one piece. To be honest, though, I'm more afraid of Namie at the moment. She's probably plotting to kill me right now." I sighed and fell flat on the couch. "You better not waste my time, Iza-chan. I really hate being bored."
He chuckled.
(ÞϘV Izaya)
An hour later Namie returned and set a tray of sushi in front of us. 'Perfect timing,' I thought, 'I was just getting hungry.'
Tai-chan looked up from her sushi tray and asked, "Iza-chan, do you think it's safe to assume that she hasn't poisoned this or anything?"
I thought for a moment. "Namie, Tai-chan, trade."
"Thank you, Iza-chan." Tai-chan took Namie's tray and handed her her own.
Just then the doorbell rang. I glanced at my watch and wondered how time had passed by so quickly. "Right on time as usual, Shiki-san!" I greeted him as Namie let him in.
"Shiki-?!" Tai-chan blurted, but Shiki had already entered the room.
I smirked. 'So Shiki is in this anime too, huh?'
"Hello, Orihara. Do you have it?" Shiki asked. He hadn't seemed to have noticed Tai-chan, who was eyeing him warily.
"Of course, Shiki-san. Please, sit down." I pointed at the couch and Tai-chan. She jumped up and walked to the window.
"Who is she?' asked Shiki as he took a seat.
"Oh, she just works for me. Don't worry, she's trustworthy enough." I grinned and sat down across from him. Namie set two cups of tea down on the coffee table in front of us and joined Tai-chan by the window. Tai-chan stepped pointedly away from her and the window, standing awkwardly in the center of the room. She seemed to sense our eyes on her and strode away towards the kitchen.
"You employ children?" Shiki asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hahaha, of course not! She is something of a dwarf, you see, and is actually in high-school." I heard a loud ripping sound from the kitchen and chuckled.
"Alright. So where is it?" As always, straight to the point. And boring.
"Namie, bring me the orange folder by the desk." I grinned as I took the folder from Namie. "Here's your guy. It has all the details in there, but I think you should know, the hacker is a girl, not a guy."
Shiki frowned as he took the folder from me and opened it. His eyes widened. "Are you sure, Orihara?"
"100% sure, Shiki-san." I smirked. Shiki stood up and put his hand in his coat, taking out a small envelope. I took it and flipped through the bills inside. "Enjoy the hunt, Shiki-san!" I snickered as he left.
"Good bye, Orihara."
(ÞϘV Taiyo)
"Hey, Anri-chan! Wanna join us for ice cream?" I shouted as I waved to Anri as Mikado, Masaomi, Ruruda, and I left the school building.
"Uh, y-yes, I would, Taiyo-kun." Anri called back softly and made her way to over to us from the other side of the school courtyard.
"Three girls, adorable, nerdy, and gorgeous, coming to get coffee with me? It must be fate!" Masaomi chanted, skipping ahead of us.
"Coffee? I thought Taiyo-kun said ice cream?" Mikado asked, confused.
"I did. And I meant it! Don't forget who you're talking to, Masa-chan!" I rose my voice to a domineering tyrant, like the queens of Ancient Egypt, "I am the fairy queen from the earths' core! You should bow before me!" I struck a pose but half-purposely tripped and nearly fell over. I laughed along with everybody else.
"Would my queen be so gracious as to get coffee for once?" Masaomi pleaded, kneeling in front of me.
"Hmmm." I said, considering him from above, "if it's at an anime themed café, then I shall allow it, just this once. Wait!" I added as Masaomi started to whoop. "What about you lot? You cool with an anime themed café instead of getting sundaes?" I glanced at the others. They were all grinning at me with expressions that I couldn't quite place, and Anri was blushing a little. "Guys?"
"You two are cute." Mikado chuckled.
"Yeah, like a couple, even," Ruruda grinned evilly.
I felt my face heat up as I stuttered. "L-Like a what?! Wha-What are you talking about?" Mikado and Ruruda just laughed and started walking again. "Anri-chan, help me out here! Masa-chan and I are as far from a couple as can be, right?"
Anri only blushed a little more and sped up to walk with the others.
"Guys! Wait up!" I whined as I ran to catch up with them. "What do you even mean by 'a couple'?"
"You can't deny it anymore, my queen! Even outsiders have noticed our burning love! It's fa-!" Masaomi shut his trap as I glared at him warningly.
"Guys, do you wanna go to an anime themed café or a sundae shop? At least answer the question!" I pleaded.
"Nah," Ruruda shook her head. After glancing at Mikado and Anri, who nodded, she jabbed a finger at me and Masaomi. "You two lovebirds can decide. We wouldn't want to get in the way of fate." They all roared with laughter and scattered as I bellowed, chasing them down the street.
I pursued them for a good ten minutes before finally giving up. I leaned over, hands on my knees, and panted. Suddenly, there was a flier shoved in my face. Backing up a little, I saw Simon, from Russia Sushi, holding the flier out to me.
"Why you running so fast?" he said in his deep voice, "Running make you tired. Have sushi. It fresh, it good. It make you feel ready for more running!" he grinned down at me. And I mean down, he was so tall I had to back up a little more so as not to strain my neck.
"Well, I'm with friends, but if they agree, then yeah, I'd love too!" I grinned back and took the flier.
"Sushi always better with friends. Shop over there. Have good time!" he waved and I walked back toward my friends.
"How about sushi?" I suggested when I was within earshot, holding up the flier.
"Well, sushi costs a lot, so…" Mikado shifted awkwardly.
"I'm not gonna force you all, but you know, I am extremely rich, so it doesn't matter. Seriously!" I added, punching Masaomi in the side to stop him spouting flirtatious nonsense.
"A-Are you sure it's alright, Taiyo-kun?" Anri asked worriedly.
"Of course I'm sure! Come on, then! It's sushi time!" I grabbed Anri's hand and pulled her towards the corner street sushi restaurant run by Russians in Tokyo.
"You heard her, you wimps!" I heard Ruruda bark behind me, "If someone offers you free sushi and assures you that it's fine, then you shouldn't question it! Come on, hurry up!"
I smiled. 'Friends really are the best,' I thought as I waved at Simon on my way through the door.
Thirty minutes later, and we were all ordering seconds. I had to threaten Mikado and Anri with a royal beat down to stop them whining about the cost. I got that it was expensive, a glance at the bill proved that pretty quickly, and I could understand their hesitation, but even so, it was really annoying having to deal with so many "Are you sure?"s and "but it's so much!"es and "You don't have to."s. Ruruda was the only one who didn't argue, gobbling down plate after plate of basically everything on the menu.
"That was so good!" I yawned and stretched as we left Russia Sushi an hour later.
"No joke! Thanks for the meal, Taiyo!" Ruruda said, saluting me.
"Yeah, thanks, Taiyo-chan!" cried Masaomi.
"Thank you for the meal, Taiyo-kun." Said Anri.
"Thank you, Taiyo-kun." Said Mikado. Both he and Anri bowed a little.
"Don't mention it! Do you lot wanna come to my place to study tomorrow?" I asked as we walked to the street where we'd all coincidently part ways.
"Totally! Then we can finally-!" Masaomi yelped as I stepped hard on his toe.
"That sounds great! When should we be there?" asked Ruruda.
"How about, 4:00 o'clock? Does that work for you all?"
"Sounds great. Uh, where do you, uh, live?" Mikado asked awkwardly.
"Oh right! I'm sorry, I forgot to say! Hold on, I've got paper in my bag," I dug through my backpack and finally found a notepad and pen. Hastily, I scribbled down my address four times and tore the sheets out. "Here you go, sorry I forgot." I giggled as I handed them out. Masaomi's eyes widened as he read the paper.
'That's right!' I realized with a jolt, 'He's been to Izaya's apartment! He'll know that he's a hallway across from me!'
"See you all tomorrow, bye!" Ruruda grinned and sprinted away.
"Huh? Oh, bye, Ruru!" I bellowed after her. Ruruda stumbled a little but she caught herself quickly and waved, still running.
"I'll see all of you tomorrow, then?" I looked at my other classmates.
"Yeah, tomorrow! See you, my fairy queen!"
"B-Bye, Taiyo-kun."
"Tomorrow, Taiyo-kun!"
I spun around and started jogging towards my apartment, towards my home.
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"Na-chan, I'm home!" I shouted as I tugged off my shoes. There was some frantic barking, but Natsu didn't appear. "So you're not over your cold yet? Well, I brought some fish to cheer you up, Na-chan!"
'I was at the grocery store anyways, so I figured I might as well. She doesn't need to know that though.' I dropped the bags on the kitchen counter and dug the canned tuna out. I peeled off the lid as I walked around the couch to Natsu. She yipped excitedly as I set the can down next to her.
Ding-Dong!
I blinked. The doorbell rang again and I hurried over to the door, peering through the peep hole. It was Celty and Shinra.
"Hello, Shinra-san, Celty-san!" I said as I let them both in.
"Did you really sign up to work for Izaya, Taiyo-chan?" Celty typed as the door snapped shut.
"How'd you know about that?" I asked nonchalantly, making my way towards the kitchen.
"Straight from the horses' mouth," said Shinra.
"Sneaky troll," I muttered darkly, thinking of what I'd do to him next time I saw him.
"Do you know who he is and what he does, Taiyo-chan?" Celty asked as they followed me into the kitchen.
"He's an informant, right? And a freaking troll king."
"He's not a good person!"
"He seems to be only a little bit crazy…" I shrugged. "Would you guys like some dinner? I'm making stew."
"Don't change the subject," said Shinra, but he sat down at the kitchen table nevertheless.
"I'm not changing the subject, I'd just like to know how much to make before I start cooking." I pouted and puffed out my cheeks.
"We'd like some, thank you, Taiyo-chan," Celty typed.
I heard a yip form the living room so I went to check on Natsu. As I came closer she struggled to her feet. She yipped and scrambled up onto my shoulder, licking my ear. I froze instantly. "Is it Shinra or Celty, Na-chan?" I whispered. Natsu just stared at me. "Is someone else in this apartment?" she yipped and licked my ear again.
'Act casual!' I thought, panic coursing through my veins, 'think of a plan, and act casual. We need to get out immediately. Damn, what's my excuse? Maybe I should suggest going out to eat? Yeah, I'll do that!'
"Shinra-san, Celty-san?" I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible as I walked back to them, Natsu on my shoulder. "Wanna go out to eat instead?"
They looked surprised, but didn't protest. Then something sharp hit me in the back of the neck. I gasped and reached behind to take it out, realizing that it was a dart. There were two loud thumps as Celty and Shinra collapsed, more little darts poking out from the napes of their necks.
'Laced with a sleeping drug?' I thought wildly as I spun around and was punched hard in the stomach. Doubling over, I heard footsteps rush past me, pause, and then move past me again, slower this time, as if weighed down. I tried to look up, but a foot met my face and my vision went blurry. I saw, as if from a foggy mirror, the shape of a man carrying something large on his back as I passed out.
{-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-}
Oooo, cliff-hanger. Sorry about that (not sorry [a little sorry, actually]) but it was the best place to put a chapter break.
See you soon for the last chapter (remember I said it wasn't a completely natural end, just an end. It's a little abrupt).