Author's Note: I should be studying.

"You have to experience this to believe me. I'm afraid to walk outside, I need help; I don't know how to deal with this, it's so strange. I'm frightened to go to sleep. What if they come back...?"

Celty shudders, currently curled up on the couch while The Fourth Kind plays on the big-screen T.V in front of her. It's not that she's afraid of aliens, per say - but the movie claimed to be based on true events, and just the thought of getting abducted gives her the jitters.

*DING DONG!*

She jumps, startled by the sound of the doorbell ringing. Pausing the movie, Celty gets up to go see who it is; normally she'd let Shinra answer it, but he's in the shower and she has no idea how much longer he's going to take. Luckily, her visitors aren't anyone she doesn't already know - she unlocks the door, opening it to let Shizuo and the little redheaded girl into the apartment.

"Where's Shinra?" Shizuo asks, glancing around.

[Shower. Did something happen?]

"I got a phone call from some woman claiming to work for Vincent. She wants to meet in person."

[That's suspicious...]

"I know. That's why I need you guys to keep an eye on the kid for me... there's no way I'm gonna take her with, but there's no way I'm leaving her alone in my apartment either."

[Understandable. Let me go ask Shinra.]

"Kay."

When Celty comes back, a dripping wet Shinra is with her. [He says it's okay, but he wants more information.]

"Like what?"

"Like what was her name, where are you meeting her, how long is it going to be?" Shinra asks.

"Didn't say, Russia Sushi, no idea."

"Why Russia Sushi?"

"She let me pick the place. Figured a neutral spot like that'd be the best for this sort of thing."

"Look at you, using your brain for once - just kidding, just kidding!" Shinra says when he sees Shizuo start to step threateningly towards him, immediately putting his hands up in a gesture of peace. "It's a good idea, though; a public restaurant would make it difficult for her to try anything sneaky, and Simon's presence alone is generally enough to make people think twice about starting a fight. How did this woman react when you suggested it?"

"I dunno, I guess she sounded a little relieved."

"Which means she was probably thinking the same thing you were. I'm interested to hear about how this meeting goes."

"I'll tell you when I get back. I gotta get going, the whole thing's really last minute."

[Text us if you need anything.]

"Alrighty." Shizuo turns to the girl, kneeling down so he's at her eye level. "I know you don't understand me, but I promise I'll be back. You be good, okay?" He smiles, gently ruffling the girl's hair. She giggles and reaches up, doing the same to his.

[Please be careful, Shizuo...]

"I'll do my best, but I ain't making any promises. See ya later." He waves before heading out the door, leaving them to try and figure out how to entertain their strange little guest.

[Are you hungry?] Celty asks her, receiving a vigorous nod in response. [I'll make you something to eat, come on.] She holds out her hand for the girl to take, leading her into the kitchen.

"I'm going to hop back in the shower real quick so I can finish washing my hair. I shouldn't be more than a couple minutes."

[Okay. We'll be here.] She says. [Have you ever had ramen?] She asks the girl, who shakes her head. [Do you want to try it? I can make it with just the noodles and broth, or I can add an egg and maybe some beef. I think we have some green onions, too... does that sound okay?]

She nods, taking a seat at the table so she can watch Celty cook. By the time the ramen is ready, Shinra has finished his shower and joined them in the kitchen. "Yummm, Celty's cooking! You made enough for me too, right~?"

Ignoring him, Celty sets the bowl of food down in front of the girl. [Do you want something to drink?]

The girl pauses mid-bite to nod, causing some of the noodles to slip out of her mouth and splash back into the bowl. Celty grabs a napkin from the holder and gives it to her so she can wipe off her face, then retrieves a glass from the cupboard. [Is water okay?]

Another nod.

Celty fills the glass with water from the sink and sets it down next to the bowl, the girl immediately picking it up and gulping the liquid down thirstily before going back to her meal.

*DING DONG!*

Suddenly, the girl stops eating; furrowing her brow, she tilts her head as if listening to something far away.

"I wonder who it is now?"

[It's way too soon to be Shizuo.]

"Which means it's someone else. Hopefully it's just a client that needs to get patched up - I'll go check." Making his way over to the front door, he opens it to find a familiar face. "Orihara-kun?"

"Oh good, you're home." Izaya lets out a sigh of relief, visibily relaxing. "Can I come in?"

Shinra wants to say no, he really does... but something about the look in the other man's eyes tells him that he shouldn't. Sighing, he steps aside so Izaya can enter. "You could have called first, you know."

"No, I couldn't have."

"Why not? You have a phone on you, right?"

"No, actually. I don't."

"Why not?"

"It's a long story..."

Now that he's gotten a good look at him, it's obvious that there's something very, very wrong; there's no smile on Izaya's face, no energy in his voice, no color in his cheeks... and Shinra can't help but notice the way his hands are shaking as he fidgets with the fur on the hem of his jacket, as if it's taking every ounce of his willpower just to hold himself together. "Have a seat on the couch if you like, I'm going to go tell Celty you're here." He heads back into the kitchen, frowning as he tries to make sense of his friend's strange behavior.

[What's wrong?] Celty asks when she sees his expression. [Who was at the door?]

"Orihara-kun... I think."

[You think?]

"Well, it looks like Orihara-kun, and it sounds like Orihara-kun, but that's about as far as the similarities go."

"'It' can hear you, you kn..."

Celty and Shinra turn to find Izaya standing in the doorway, his eyes locked on those of the little ginger girl. It's almost like they're engaged in some sort of strange staring contest; Shinra is about to clear his throat to get their attention when they both simultaneously turn to look at him, their movements so in sync that it actually manages to creep him out enough to forget what he was going to say.

"Who is this?" Izaya asks, pointing to her. "I wasn't aware you two had decided to adopt."

[She's not ours!] Celty waves her hands frantically, slightly embarrassed by the insinuation. [We're watching her for a friend!]

"Anyone I know?"

"..."

[...]

The awkward silence is answer enough. "Ah. I see..." Izaya sighs, running his fingers through his hair. "Just my luck..."

Celty is starting to understand what Shinra meant; she's never been the biggest fan of the informant, but even she has to admit that his attitude is a little concerning. [What's going on?]

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be here."

"Why are you here, Orihara-kun?"

"Because I didn't know where else to go."

"What do you mean? Are you hiding from someone?"

"That's one way to put it..."

"How would you put it, then?"

"I... it's... complicated." Izaya answers, staring down at his fingers as he continues to fidget with the fur on his hem. "I should probably go before Shizu-chan comes back, shouldn't I? I'll go... somewhere." He turns to leave, only to find his path blocked by the same little girl he could have sworn hadn't moved from her seat. "Can I help you?"

"Don't go."

"I'm sorry?"

"You can't go."

"I'm afraid I don't really have much of a choice."

She shakes her head. "It's not safe for you to go. You have to stay here."

"It's not safe for me here, either."

"He won't hurt you. He can't."

"Is that so?"

The girl nods.

"Um... Orihara-kun?" Shinra is staring at him with an incredibly confused expression. "What are you doing?"

"Having a conversation with your little friend here, obviously."

Shinra and Celty exchange a look.

"What? What is it?"

[We didn't hear her say anything.]

"We'venever heard her say anything, in fact. We don't even know her name, she won't tell it to us."

[She also doesn't understand Japanese...]

Frowning, Izaya looks down at the girl. "How is that possible?"

[Maybe she's not speaking out loud?]

"So what, she's in my head?" Izaya snorts, an eyebrow raised. "I find that unlikely."

Celty and Shinra exchange another look.

"What?"

[It's not as unlikely as you might think.]

"What do you mean?"

[She's a very special girl.]

"Special? How so?"

"Let's just say that if she wants you to stay, there's not much Shizuo-kun can do about it. What I'm curious about is, if she can communicate telepathically, why wasn't she willing to do so with us or Shizuo-kun?" Shinra asks, stroking his chin. "She's never even met you before."

[That's a good question...]

"Agreed. I don't suppose you'd be willing to explain?" Izaya asks the girl. She shakes her head, making the same lip-zipping gesture she'd made when Celty had asked her why she wouldn't tell her what her name is. "Of course not, that would be too ea...sy..." His voice trails off, a strange tingling sensation at the back of his neck causing him to instinctively look towards the front door. "Shit."

"What is it?"

"He's here..."

"How do you know? I didn't hear the - "

*DING DONG!*

" - doorbell." Shinra finishes, glancing curiously at Izaya before going to see who it is. Sure enough, it's Shizuo.

Interesting...

He thinks he's starting to figure out just how Izaya is involved in all this... and if his suspicions are correct, things are about to get a lot more complicated.