It was a little past 10:00 in the evening when a young girl with glasses dressed in all black found herself on a familiar doorstep looking for answers. She wasn't sure if the person she was visiting could give her the answers she was looking for, but she didn't know who else to ask.
She rang the doorbell, wondering if she should have called rather than showing up unannounced. A few seconds passed before Celty answered the door, clearly surprised to see Anri at her door so late at night.
"[Anri-chan? I wasn't expecting you, is something wrong?]" Celty asked.
"I'm so sorry for not letting you know I was coming but can I ask you something?"
Celty nodded and stepped aside to invite her in.
"Um... I was wondering… Orihara Izaya-san… is he back in town?"
Celty tipped her helmet to the side quizzically. "[He is, kind of. Why do you ask?]"
"Oh," She looked down at her hands, unsure of how to continue. "It's just that… some men tried to kidnap me a few minutes ago…"
…~45 minutes earlier~...
"Hey," the man nudged his partner, nodding in the direction of a young girl walking by herself, "how about that one?"
The other, larger man looked up from his phone, catching sight of the girl just before she rounded a corner. "I think she'll do nicely," he replied, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Bring the car around, I'll follow her."
He followed in the shadows. It was usually pretty simple: follow their victim for a while at a distance, wait for them to end up in a more secluded area, then grab them and shove them into the car.
But that's not what happened this time. The girl seemed to live in a less populated part of town, the perfect location. The car pulled up just as the larger man picked up the pace. In one motion he grabbed the girl with one hand and pulled her closer while simultaneously covering her mouth and nose with a chloroform soaked rag.
That should have been it. Quick and easy. But something was different about this night…
No, something was different about this girl.
It happened so fast the man didn't have time to respond. Something pricked the palm of his hand when he grabbed the girl. He didn't think anything of it at first until he heard it…
I love you… I love you… I loveyou IloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyou
The man wanted to scream but something stopped him. He felt as if he was losing control of his body as the voice in his head grew to a crescendo. Then everything went blank.
…~45 minutes later~...
"It's just that… some men tried to kidnap me a few minutes ago…" Anri said quietly.
Celty's helmet popped off as her shadows shot up in surprise. She began typing fast, shoving her PDA in Anri's direction in exclamation. "[WHAT?! Are you okay?! What happened?!]"
"I'm fine, it's okay… it's just… Saika kind of acted on her own and cut the men that grabbed me. When I asked them who they were they said they worked for someone that had a business in abductions…"
"[And this has to do with Izaya?]"
"I'm not exactly sure," She hesitated, "But um… one of them mentioned their boss was busy asking around about Orihara-san, so they were acting on their own tonight. I tried to get more out of them but they said their boss was being secretive and refused to say more to them, so they didn't know anything beyond that. But because they mentioned Orihara-san by name I just wanted to know if he was up to something like before."
"[Did you get their boss's name?]"
"They said his name was Sato Hiroto."
Celty tapped her fingers on her knee, looking to be in deep thought for a moment before typing her response. "[The name doesn't ring a bell, but for once I actually don't think Izaya is behind this.]"
"Really?"
"[Yes, actually let me ask Shizuo. Believe it or not, Izaya has been staying with him and if he's up to anything Shizuo would have noticed.]"
"Orihara-san is staying with Heiwajima-san?" Anri repeated back, clearly confused.
"[It's a long story that I don't even fully know yet, but yes. Shizuo is a good friend of mine, he wouldn't lie if Izaya's doing anything suspicious. Let me text him quick.]"
Quickly typing up a message, Celty sent her question.
"[Sorry for texting so late, but a friend of mine was just attacked by some men that mentioned Izaya by name. He isn't up to anything lately, is he?]"
Shizuo's response came a few seconds later. Celty gestured for Anri to lean closer to read over her shoulder. "[No, his attention has been on other things the past few weeks and he hasn't really been left alone at all the past three days. Is your friend okay?]"
"[She's okay, the attackers also mentioned the name Sato Hiroto. Does that name mean anything to you or Izaya?]"
There was a long pause before Shizuo's next response.
"[Yes. Is your friend there now? I guess Izaya wants to know if it's Sonohara Anri?]"
Celty turned to Anri, silently asking if she was okay with answering that question. Anri nodded.
"[Yes, she's with me now.]"
Celty's phone began to ring with an unfamiliar number, startling her for a moment when another text followed.
"[Izaya's calling you now.]"
Celty slumped a little, unsure if she should take the call.
"You can answer it," Anri said quietly.
Celty accepted the call, putting it on speaker.
"Hello, Celty?" Izaya's voice came through, "It's me, can you put Sonohara-san on the line please?"
"I'm here," Anri replied.
"Thank you. You say these men mentioned me by name? And they also said their boss was Sato Hiroto? Are you absolutely sure?"
"I am."
"What exactly did they say about me?"
"They didn't seem to know much, all they knew was their boss was looking for information on you and it was taking up a lot of his time. I guess I did jump to conclusions that you might be behind it but I couldn't help but wonder if there was a specific reason they came after me when I heard your name."
"Not to worry, I definitely don't associate with that type. They probably just assumed you were an easy target, especially if you were alone. I'm guessing you got this information from them because you cut them with Saika?"
"I did."
"Where are they now?"
"I… I just ran away, so I'm not sure. I didn't know what else to do yet."
"Listen, I know you don't exactly like me, but is there anything I can do to convince you to help me out using those men?"
"What exactly would you want me to do? Who are they?"
"Their boss they mentioned runs a human trafficking ring that's trying to set up in Ikebukuro. Your control over children of Saika is strong, if you agree to let me use those men you won't have to be anywhere nearby to do it. I can make sure they don't hurt anyone ever again."
"Why would you do that?"
"I have personal business with their boss that I am looking to settle. I promise you the world will be a better place if I can get rid of him. He's a terrible person, really. Please, Sonohara-san."
"I-I don't…" Anri wasn't sure how to respond. Something about Izaya sounded different than before. He even said "please" when making his request. The whole situation was strange.
Shizuo's voice cut in from the background before Anri could finish voicing her thoughts. "Wait, Sonohara Anri?"
"Y-yes?" She responded as if snapped out of a trance.
"Hey!" Izaya exclaimed in protest as Shizuo's voice got closer, he must have taken the phone from Izaya's hand.
"Aren't you the girl who watched Dokusanmaru for my brother Kasuka?" Shizuo asked, his voice coming through clearly now.
"Yes, that's me."
"And you have control over those sword people? And two of them work for this 'Sato' guy?"
"I-I do, yes."
"Listen, I know Izaya is a piece of shit–"
"Well that's rude," Izaya said in the background.
"–but if you can help without putting yourself in danger that really would be great. I can personally hold Izaya to whatever he promises for you and make sure he doesn't put you in danger."
Anri hesitated. "No innocent people will be hurt?" she questioned.
"You have my word, Sonohara-san," Izaya's voice came back on the line clearly again, "Whatever it takes for you to agree, I will do it."
"Stay away from Ryugamine-kun and Kida-kun. That's all I want from you."
"I had no intention of contacting them again anyway, are you sure there's nothing else?"
"That's all I want from you," she repeated, "And I reserve the right to change my mind if I don't like what you're doing."
"Deal," Izaya agreed, "Were you able to get their names? Once I figure out how they can be of use I'll let you know my plan. If you don't like it, you are free to revoke your involvement."
"Fujimoto Yuito and Matsui Minato." Anri stated, still uneasy about the whole situation.
"Thank you," Izaya responded. Anri had to admit, it sounded genuine. "I will contact you again soon."
Anri was silent for a few moments after the call. She considered everything Izaya had said as well as Shizuo's assurance that Izaya wasn't lying. She had no reason to doubt Shizuo, Celty always told her that he was a good person and despite seeing him angry a few times she also had briefly spoken to him in the past and he seemed trustworthy enough.
"[Don't be afraid to say no to him.]" Celty wrote, "[I know he's a lot to deal with for the average person and his words can hurt, but I've turned down jobs from him before and he has always accepted my reasons. If you truly are uncomfortable with anything he asks of you, I will back you up.]"
"Thank you, Celty-san," Anri whispered, "But if he means what he said and he really is planning on stopping what those people are doing I am okay with helping. I was only saved because of Saika. I hate to imagine what would have happened if I was just an ordinary girl."
"[That's true. I'm not sure who exactly this person is but from that conversation I think this Sato Hiroto person might be aiming to hurt Izaya. The reason he's with Shizuo right now is because Shizuo is acting as his bodyguard. Shizuo told me there was someone dangerous going after Izaya and that is why he agreed to accept guarding him.]"
"Someone that has Orihara-san wanting a bodyguard…" Anri said quietly, "And has him asking Heiwajima-san and myself for help?"
"[That's why I'm telling you not to be afraid to refuse whatever he asks. It's one thing for Shizuo to get involved in Izaya's business but I don't want you in danger.]"
"But more people could get hurt too if I don't help. I think I will at least listen to whatever his plan ends up being."
…~-~...
What started out as a slight upturn in Izaya's lips was gradually becoming a full on grin. The type of grin that Shizuo usually saw directed at him and usually meant trouble. But this time felt different. The grin wasn't directed at him, but rather in response to the voice on the other end of the phone.
Just minutes after speaking to Sonohara Anri, Izaya got a different call. The more he listened to the voice on the other line, the bigger his grin grew.
"Of course I accept," Izaya responded to something Shizuo couldn't hear, "I don't know that information off hand, but I will send it your way the moment I find out."
More silence while the person on the other line spoke. Shizuo was on the edge of his seat waiting for Izaya to end the call. He had to know what Izaya was talking about.
"Yes. Of course. I am at your service, like always." Izaya ended the call and immediately jumped back into the research he had been doing since getting the names of the men that had gone after the Sonohara girl.
"Well?" Shizuo asked, "What was that all about?"
"That was Shiki-san, one of the higher ups from the Awakusu-kai," Izaya said, turning to meet Shizuo's eyes. He could see a certain brightness that had been missing for some time. "He wants me to look into a human trafficking ring setting up operation in Ikebukuro on Awakusu terf. Turns out there might be a connection with a rival yakuza group from Ueno. Shiki-san wants to know the name of the person calling the shots. This might all just resolve itself in a good old-fashioned yakuza turf battle if I play my cards right."
"But you already know who is running it. Why not just tell them now?"
"In due time. I want to make sure his operation gets thoroughly fucked first. If I hand out everything I know too fast I won't get to see what happens to Jiro when everything crumbles around him. Also it might look suspicious on my part if I reveal to Shiki-san that I've already been digging into them."
There was a dark look in Izaya's eyes now that Shizuo wasn't sure he liked the look of. It was good that this could all be coming to an end soon, but if Izaya was only drawing things out for revenge it could backfire.
"Izaya you should just end it quickly. I understand completely that you want to make him suffer, but it seems dangerous."
"Don't worry, I won't let it get to my head. But between this and the development with Sonohara-san… I have to say the odds are in my favor right now."
"Just promise you'll be careful. And don't put that girl in any danger."
"I'll be careful."