Jane wasn't completely surprised that Izaya was… acquainted with the Black Rider, Headless Rider, the Transporter or the 'Dullahan' – as what Izaya had called the woman in black. But wasn't a Dullahan supposed to ride a horse? Not a motorbike. Then again it did make sense as to why the body could move around without a head. It was never attached to begin with. And it seemed Shingen Kishitani had stolen it – most likely to do his little experiments. He was probably done with it by now though that is if the head Jane saw was the dullahan's. But she decided to keep her theory to herself, after all, Izaya wasn't giving many details about the situation either. Only that of her strange shadow-like powers.

Soon, the topic morphed and changed to one thing to the next. They had the television going but Jane put it to such a low volume that made the device rather pointless. The pair was aware of Celty outside who was trying to listen in, not that their conversation was about anything particularly important.

Celty was absolutely sure that Izaya was up to no good, as usual. And the girl seemed so sweet; of course she'd be an easy target for someone like Izaya. Celty needed to warn her! He'll mess with her innocent brain like what he does to everyone and then laugh as if it was some sick game! She could, for once, stop it before it happened. But the dullahan couldn't just drag the informant out of there; it was the girl's home whoever she was. And to explain the situation the girl was getting into over typing on her PDA? The youth wouldn't understand, not to mention how they were strangers.

Maybe, she should just go home. Shinra was probably getting worried… Shinra! Celty pulled up her PDA and started to text the underground doctor.

Moments passed and Shinra had finally arrived. "CELTYYYY!" he cheered running in to embrace his all-time lover.

The woman, like usual, stopped him with her string-like shadows, 'Stop!' she wrote, 'This is not the time.'

"Aaaw~" he complained, "But you always say that."

'Izaya is up to something again.' The dullahan ignored his comment, 'And it's got to do with that girl.' She cleared the entrée then typed again, 'He's going to do something awful. I just know it!'

"I see," the bespectacled male said in feigned interest. 'Hmm… Yeah, Izaya most likely is. But, what do we have to do with it?' Shinra thought. It didn't really affect him or his future-wife, so what was the point in getting involved? He had only come because he wanted to see Celty.

'I bumped into them and, oh yeah. I declined the job from that sketchy group. Sasouharu gave me the creeps!' she notified. 'Anyway, so I decided to follow them. I guess this is the girl's house.' She pointed, 'I didn't know what to do when she practically pulled him inside! I was going to tell her when Izaya left but he's still in there! All afternoon! It's half past five and they're still talking!' The tapping of her fingertips hitting the PDA finally stopped.

"For that long?" Shinra questioned. Maybe the girl was actually one of Izaya clients looking for information. Then again, it was way out of Izaya's comfort zone to be in someone else's home; unless he had already set the plan into motion. Perhaps, the girl was one of those who wanted to make a suicide pact and Izaya was going to give his rather long spiel about the matter. How pointless it was, and how "…it's not your suffering that ends, it's your existence." Even though Izaya would do it in a really fucked way, it still wasn't really a bad thing. In fact, it was probably the kindest thing he was capable of. Cuz', well, you can't ignore the fact that without Izaya's rant the victim wouldn't second guess the way he made them. Then again, it was just to see the inner turmoil burst and rise to the surface. It's not like he'd stop them if they decided to do it anyway. But most of the time they didn't. That's probably what was transpiring now. Though, it wasn't like Shinra knew the whole story. And if he was being completely honest, he didn't really want to know. But… it seemed Celty wanted to soo… "What are they talking about?"

'I don't know. I can only make out muffled voices… well, words.' The headless being couldn't really hear. 'All the windows are closed and they aren't talking very loudly so whatever it is, you'd think they'd be discussing something serious but sometimes I can notice a ring of laughter. And I know we're talking about Izaya, but it's coming from the girl as well.' She ranted.

"Hmm…" the doctor thought, "You're really worried, aren't you?" he said admiringly giving her a loving gaze. The woman in black didn't answer. "You're so wonderful, Celty, you know that. Well, okay!" he suddenly exclaimed and took her hand though she tried to flinch away. "Let's go." He smiled only for Celty to tilt her helmet a little.

When the pair on the couch were in an eager discord about Izaya's complex hybrid game the doorbell rang. They nearly snapped their necks from turning so suddenly. The dullahan rang the doorbell? Seriously? The brunette and raven looked at each other, wordlessly asking themselves what to do. Izaya hopped up and was about to skip his way to the door when Jane jerked him back and stared at him incredulously. Still staying silent he gave his shoulders a shake as if laughing. The woman made a stern glare pressing a finger to her lips as a signal to remain quiet. Only succeeding in making Izaya chuckled at her protective nature. Was she like that with all the humans she spared? Or just… him…

Why was that thought not followed by disgust? And instead, a pleasant warmth from within his chest. Why did that thought make him happy? How peculiar.

The bell sounded again followed by a quick knock.

She clutched her closed knife, just in case, and the woman dressed as a girl made her way to the door. Izaya following behind her only because she wouldn't allow him to be in front. Maybe she did suit being a Knight piece. She looked through the peephole, she had made herself, to see the headless rider pulling on a male's arm trying to make him back away. More likely run away, from her frantic behavior.

"That's strange," the male spoke, "No one's answering," his voice was muffled by the door but Izaya recognized it instantly. What the hell was he doing here?

"Jane-chan, you can open the door," the raven told her. But the woman wide-eyed him, her golden eyes telling him he was crazy and resumed to be wary. "It's fine, Jane-chan," he waved off reaching his hand to the knob when Jane frantically slapped it away. "Ouchy!" he exclaimed gaining the attention of the strangers on the other side of the door.

"Izaya? Open the door already." The unknown woman fidgeted in the spot before she sighed in retirement putting her knife in her back pocket as she opened the door to greet the strangers. "Oh. Hello," the male pleasantly said meeting her eyes. The woman in black was no longer attempting to retreat.

"G-Good afternoon. You must have the wrong address-

Maemi was cut off, "Of course they have the right address, silly," Izaya teased from a few paces behind her unnecessarily rubbing his hand. He sure likes to jump the gun, doesn't he? She gazed up at the two strangers feeling a little small. Why did so many people have to be taller than her? It's not like she was a midget, these people were just so tall!

"Izaya, so you are still here," the male commented even though it was evident before he even heard him beyond the door, there was no way he could have slipped out without Celty realizing after all. The only question was why? Why was he still here? Normally, when Izaya personally pursued someone in one of his games, they had to be interesting enough to grab his attention. But… this girl seemed utterly conventional. Shinra peered at her intently, she was getting uncomfortable, he could tell.

But in truth, Jane was thinking, 'The fuck's he looking at!' Sure, from Maemi's body language of squirming and glancing all around other than his large brown eyes, of course, Shinra was mistaken.

"And how did you come to know my whereabouts, I wonder," the raven mused, though his gaze unmistakably sharpened at a certain mythological being. "Mae-chan, why are you so quiet? Come on, even I know to not let guests wait outside on the porch," he giggled.

"I-Izaya, but-" she looked back at the two. It doesn't seem like they meant any harm. Internally sighing, yet again, Jane opened the door a little wider. The male gave a coax thank you while taking off his shoes and the woman nodded her helmet, her shoes disappearing. Maemi blinked at how they turned into black mist and then nothing at all. Izaya wasn't exaggerating before, was he? Snapping herself away from that, she closed and locked the door. She guided the… umm… 'guests' into the lounge and dining area, "Please sit wherever you would like. Umm… Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee? Juice?" she listed. Wait, no! She couldn't leave Izaya alone! Quickly catching his eye, he winked, telling her that it was fine. God, he was reckless.

"Tea would be great." The male stranger said. Izaya internally complained heading to his spot back on the couch.

Maemi giggled, "Don't worry. I know you want coffee," she whispered him then went back to the group, "Make yourselves comfortable. S-Sorry for the limited space." Maemi said awkwardly feigning a chuckle. She gave a little bow out of habit from working at the café and then paced to the kitchen to boil some water. Izaya chuckled at the way the woman pulled Maemi out at a click of her fingers. Only just before, she was readying to stab someone. Was she having trouble putting it or not? But Izaya's thoughts were interrupted by a PDA being shoved in front of his face.

'What are you planning on doing now?' it read.

The transporter was being quite brash today, Izaya noticed. Did something happen? Was she projecting her anger onto him? The raven head spread a smirk across his lips, "Oh, you know, the usual. Terrorizing little girls." He allowed a cackle to escape his lips; Jane easily heard him from the kitchen and joined quietly. But Shinra's gaze darted at Izaya. The raven would never say that if he was actually planning something but the doctor decided to keep that to himself. "What about you? I'm sure you had a fun time today," the crimson-eyed male commented, being ever-so misleading with his words.

It struck the dullahan like a dagger. Of course, Izaya was a part of that group's schemes. He was probably playing them all. 'I'm assuming you know Sasouharu then.'

"Hisashi-kun?" Izaya questioned casually though the name left a sour taste in his mouth. Hisashi Sasouharu was the man who was… overly excited about a certain woman's kidnapping. He wouldn't listen to a god damn thing Izaya said which really pissed him off. The man acted as if he was some gangster who got drug fucked every day and had sexual interaction forced or not on a regular basis as if this somehow made him high and mighty. When in actuality he hadn't even got his dick wet in eighteen months and no one sold him any drugs because no one wanted him around! "So, he's out of the hospital then," Izaya noted, leaving out 'no doubt with a dint or two shaped like a meat tenderizer mallet in his head.' And lucky he did because Hisashi-kun's assaulter had walked into the room with two mugs in each hand balancing on saucers.

"I patched Sasouharu-san up, actually," Shinra interjected. "I'm guessing you're somehow responsible for the dint in his head then?"

At that Jane nearly dropped all the drinks out losing balance for a moment. Izaya let a loud laugh irrupt from his mouth. Oh! If only they knew the crime had taken place right here, merely one meter away from where Izaya was sitting. "I wouldn't say that. It isn't like I bashed his head in. Someone else on the other hand," Izaya gave the unknown woman a pointed gaze leaving his sentence unfinished. Whether this unsettled Jane or not Izaya wasn't able to tell, Maemi had just placed Shinra's tea in front of him. But apparently, his stare didn't go unnoticed. However, it was also mistaken.

'I'm warning you. Don't lay a finger on her,' Celty wrote.

"Playing the protector of 'the innocent' again, are we?" Izaya grinned looking like a fox. It was pretty ironic how he already promised the unknown woman to not touch her. But he guessed he kind of broke it… Oh well! Izaya just smirked at the dullahan looking at her helmet. Where else was he supposed to look?

Jane slipped passed them to set down her and Izaya's coffees on her new coffee table which looked the same as her old broken one.

"Hmm… Wait a second. That reminds me." Shinra spoke up, chin in his palm, "Does that mean this girl is the one you were sleeping with when I accidentally called you?" Jane spluttered nearly pouring the last cup of tea all over herself while Celty was ready to punch the human 'lover'.

What made Shinra remember this was unclear but anywho~ "Yes, she is." Izaya returned struggling to keep a straight face, laughter was about to explode from him.

"Don't say it like that!" Jane snapped.

"But it's true~" the red-eyed male cooed.

"Yeah, but it was only sleeping like r-resting, not… that!" she spat the word.

Izaya giggled, 'Is this Mae-chan? Or Jane-chan?' The woman wasn't blushing… 'Jane-chan,' he opted. Maemi had slipped away. "Hey, why did you make four drinks?" Izaya questioned in a teasing manner.

"Because there's four of-" Jane stopped and shifted her eyes to the woman wearing a helmet. "Oh! Crap! Sorry! I didn't mean to-" 'Shit! Did I just make Maemi say "crap"? She'd never do that!' the woman inwardly kicked herself.

The other female typed on a PDA, 'It's fine,' she soothed taking the mug anyway. Though she couldn't drink it, it was still comforting to have something warm in her hand. Celty decided to not try and explain this, however, it would be too hard. And probably make no sense.

Maemi worryingly nodded her head with a slight heat in her cheeks out of embarrassment. "Sorry," she said again. The male chuckled to himself relaxing on the couch. 'Shut up!' the woman gave him a glare which only made him laugh more loudly. She turned back to the woman in black and the brunette male, "Umm… What was it that you wanted, exactly? N-Not to be rude!"

'I guess we should introduce ourselves,' the dullahan typed. It was evident Izaya wasn't going to do it. 'My name is Celty Sturluson.'

'How the hell am I supposed to pronounce that last name?' the girl thought.

'You can just call me Celty.' She added. Maemi nodded courteously, inner relief struck her. She looked passed the woman to the male in rectangular glasses.

"Shinra Kishitani," he said.

"It's nice to meet you." The woman didn't let her recognition of the name, show on her face. Shinra Kishitani was the boy who Izaya supposedly stabbed. Not to mention his father being that underground doctor that was, and could still potentially be, in possession of that head. And by the looks of that lab coat, the male was wearing, he was following his father's footsteps. It was no coincidence that they were together, confirming part of her theory. "My name is Maemi Shimizu." The girl gave a small bow again.

After a moment of silence deciding what to say, Celty tapped on her PDA and presented it to the 'chestnut' haired girl, 'Listen, Shimizu-san. I need to warn you,' it read. It went on to say things like, 'Izaya wasn't someone who she should get involved with,' and 'it's hard to explain,' or 'he has impure intentions.' Celty went back and forth looking at Shinra for help. Jane was getting a little bored reading. After all, she knew all of this already.

Getting involved with Izaya was a bad idea, but somehow, he and she kept worming themselves into each other's lives. And it's not like all of it's been bad… Probably most of it but… having company was… a nice fresh breath of air. But enough about that. Maemi looked up into the helmet… is that where she was supposed to look? "Umm…" Maemi nor Jane knew what to say. Was this seriously why the Headless Rider followed them? Jane really was on the wrong side, wasn't she? No, no. There weren't any sides.

Jane concluded an innocent girl would just be confused, and so, "What do you mean impure intentions?" she cocked her head to the side, a fear swimming in her gold eyes which seemed oh-so-real.

Izaya nearly choked on the coffee he was sipping, out of hysteric laughter. Jane-chan really was committing to Mae-chan's behavior. So much that it was annoying him… somewhat. It would be so much more interesting if she made a major oopsie. Maybe she needed a little push. "Oh, come on, Jane-chan. Don't believe a stranger now." He smirked letting her know he used the name on purpose.

"I really don't understand that nickname," she waved off under her breath but loud enough for the others to hear.

"Do you want me to explain it to you?" Izaya's voice mused but he wasn't considering at all. He had already decided. The woman gave him a warning look. "Jane Doe is the name given to females who are unidentified. Whether they're dead or," he paused for dramatic effort, "If the woman is concealing their iden-

Jane shoved her spoon in the reddish-eyed male's mouth, quite roughly might he add. This time Izaya actually choked, not on laughter. He delicately removed the spoon from the back of his throat, "That wasn't very nice, Jane-chan," he wheezed intentionally.

The woman stayed silent as she comprehended her actions. 'Ah shit.' Shinra was chuckling while Celty was very still trying to understand where the violent action came from. The girl was being so sweet before. "Errr…" Jane struggled to grab Maemi to drag her out, "Th-That was… Umm…"

Izaya smirked, 'Ahh~ that's better.' He leaned back taking a sip of coffee attempting to sooth his throat. 'Ouchy… That really hurt~'

Jane shut her mouth and inhaled deeply. He fucking did that on purpose. Shit. Shit. What should she do? Maemi didn't want to come out and Jane couldn't fill in for her anymore. She had been doing it all morning and she just wanted to stop. Izaya rose from his seat bending into the woman's ear, "They're not going to tell anyone, Jane-chan." Izaya spoke at a smaller volume but the pair staring would easily be able to understand his words.

She snapped her head towards him, "You've got to be kidding!" Jane whispered violently.

"Come one, think of the benefits, Jane-chan. He's a doctor," Izaya cooed slyly. "Don't tell me you want Shingen-

"Shut up!"

He giggled and switched to her other ear, "It's not like you have to take off that wig." Izaya said softly knowing if he announced it loudly, it would have the opposite effect of what he wanted.

The woman thought for what felt for a long time, "I can't," her voice gentle, no, fragile.

"Yes you can," he encouraged with his silky tones. "Come on, it's easier than pulling Mae-chan out all day." By the slight flinch she gave, his bold statement seemed to be correct. He glanced at the doctor and the monster who was looking utterly perplexed. A grin slid on his lips as Jane-chan sighed.

Izaya was right; being in touch with an underground doctor would be beneficial. As for the Headless rider? Not so much but… The dullahan wouldn't be talking to anyone, right? "What should I say?" she asked but the male just shrugged observing her every move. "Well, I guess I should explain what I know," she notified to herself and turned to Celty and Shinra. "I know Izaya is an absolute asshole who toys with people just for the fun of it. You don't need to warn me. Maemi comes off as naïve so I understand why you felt the need to do so. But I'm completely aware that this guy is dangerous in many ways, therefore you have nothing to fear on my behalf. And besides, he's not up to anything got to do with me. At least not at the moment. You really should just be looking after yourself. Trust me, I know your situation. Was your warning all you wanted to say? If it is, then please get out of my house." Jane finished.

Izaya's voice broke the minute of ringing silence, "That was a bit blunt." He chuckled.

"Hmm… D.I.D." the doctor diagnosed. Izaya pouted, he knew the bespectacled male's reaction would be boring. Shinra was always like that; if it didn't have to do with him or Celty then he simply wasn't interested. The monster, on the other hand, looked quite stricken by Jane's spiel, shoulders visibly twitching.

"I don't have multiple personalit-

Izaya giggled, "You kind of do."

"No, I don't," Jane darkly rumbled.

"Hey~ why are you so cranky, Jane-chan?" the raven sang.

"Shut up!" she snapped. "That's enough… Now, again, is that all you wanted?" The woman was back to being a calmer self.

Celty hesitated to type, 'Okay… Just because you know what Izaya is capable of, that doesn't mean you're not one of his… playthings.'

"Hmm… Did you not hear him before, Celty-san?" the woman questioned. "Oh. I guess you aren't aware of Izaya's little quirks and habits," she mumbled which gained Shinra's interest. When the doctor turned his gaze to Izaya, the informant did not look happy. "I'm assuming you asked Izaya what he was planning when Maem- I mean when I left for the kitchen." She went on. "And Izaya responded with '… Terrorizing little girls.' Now, can you, Headless Rider, think of a time where he admitted to something as vulgar as that?" Jane waited for a second, "Yeah, that's one of his quirks-

The raven cleared his throat purposefully making sure he plastered on his infamous grin, "I hav-

"'No idea what you're talking about,'" Jane finished for him yet again, taking in his frustration. "Revenge is so sweet~" she cooed as the male would giving him a challenging stare. They heard the doctor laugh and shifted their eyes to him sitting at the dining table.

Shinra couldn't help it. Izaya had finally had a person who understood him, at least a little. And she was just as strange as he was. And Celty had no idea what to make of the situation. She was so~ cute when confused. "Celty, let's go," he said simply, standing. The woman in black gave a small flinch and frantically went to type on her PDA but Shinra placed his hands over her typing fingers, "It's okay. I have a feeling Maemi or Jane knows what she's doing. Let's go," he repeated pulling the woman's hand to the exit. Celty's helmet was still looking back at Jane and Izaya on the couch. Izaya wiggled his fingers in goodbye when they were just about to pull into a corner where the front door was. Then the pair heard the door open and swing closed.

"Well, that was interesting," the male noted.

I'm sure you can tell but I love Shinra and Celty together~ They're so cute!

... Oh, and you might want to remember Hisashi Sasouharu. Not gonna say anything else. Shhh~