The Distance A Raindrop Falls

By: AtomicKokoro

Storyline

Set five years after the end of Durarara. Peace seem to have finally fallen in their lives, but one wrong word brings everyone back together for one last round of war.

…

Before You Read

Why is this all out of chronological order? I'm not sure!

Last chapter, we discovered a few things about Izaya.

This chapter? Well, why do I even ask?

On with the story!

…

Chapter 7

Old Emotion

Somewhere in Shinbashi, Minato

December 15, 2015, 8:37 PM

Mikado and Aoba were tense, ready for a fight. Instead, the Evergreens laughed and backed off. "Pathetic," one of them chuckled. "C'mon, let's go."

The Evergreens turned and walked away, leaving a confused Aoba and Mikado behind. They exchanged unsure glances before Mikado sighed. "I guess a war is approaching," he muttered.

"Let's go back," the twenty-year-old sighed, turning towards the train station. "to Ikebukuro. Let's regain your position as the leader of the Dollars...and the Blue Squares."

Mikado hesitated, then followed.

…

*A Bit of Foreshadowing*

Mikado would be very upset with what he saw on the Dollar's forum.

…

Black Snake Bar; Ebisu, Shibuya

December 20, 2015, 11:28 PM

Masaomi downed his fourth bottle in that hour. Drinking wasn't his game, but during days like these, he could certainly use some amnesia.

He didn't plan anyway home. He hoped he could call Saki and she would come pick him up but, in his stupefied case of "amnesia", he forgot she was working at the local Food Basics and he wouldn't remember until half passed one.

He thought about calling Mikado, but that would be pointless. He could crash at a fellow Yellow Scarf's, but that might ruin his image. Defeated, he dropped his head to the bar and ignored the loud noises behind him that was giving him a headache.

However, in his half-drunken state, he failed to notice that, behind him, was Saburo Togusa. But, since neither had seen each other in nearly three years, they didn't recognize each other and Saburo ended up leaving just as Masaomi lifted his head off the bar.

But, before Saburo left, he turned to the TV screens above the bar, which were showing a baseball game. "Hm," he said. "We're actually winning. Kyohei would enjoy this..."

Masaomi heard him, but he didn't care. At that point, he couldn't even remember his own name. He smiled. Bliss certainly worked wonders, now.

…

An alley in Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 17, 2015, 6:01 PM

Kyohei wasn't expecting anything like this to happen. These sort of things, he supposed, sort of happened whenever the time was right.

Like Torao asking the leader of the Toshima-Sector Evergreens to take him out.

…

*The Right Choice*

Kyohei made the right choice, seven years ago, to make friends with a certain sushi-obsessed friend.

…

Three guys in green would have been a piece of cake. Four of them might have been a bit tougher. But five, and the odds were all against him. Or, at least, that's what it felt like. He hadn't ever dealt with five guys on his own. He usually had Walker, Erika, or Saburo by his side. A large van, and maybe some back-up.

But it was now just him against five guys in green. Whether they wanted him alive or not was certainly beyond him. He thought about asking, but that might just seal his fate, so he kept quiet.

There was a small stare off as the group surrounded him. Kyohei glanced sideways, behind him, left, and straight, sizing up these guys and estimating the best tactic to take them out with.

…

*Fun Fact Number Two*

Kyohei learned some of these techniques from Izaya, some from fellow Blue Squares, and a lot from reading the Dollar's forums on Fighting Tactics and Self-Defense.

…

The Evergreen facing him stepped forward and smirked. "Listen," he said. "This isn't personal. The head man from Shinjuku just wants you dead."

Kyohei frowned. "Torao? What do I know? Where he lives? His name? That you are the bad guy here?"

"No," the Evergreen behind him purred. "Not what you know, but what you can do..."

Kyohei flinched as an Evergreen leaped from his left. He ducked down and let the man trip over him into the guy on his right. With one swift kick, both of them were on the floor. This might be easier than I thought...

Soon enough, Kyohei found himself to be thinking too quickly as the guy behind him jumped on him and tackled him to the ground. The Dollars member struggled for a moment before realizing it was futile. Then, he pushed himself to a stand up and tried to fall backwards into a wall. The Evergreen's head slammed off the brick and he let go, clutching his head as he fell.

A fourth Evergreen, who had acted before Kyohei got the third off his back, managed to nail him in the face. Kyohei spun but stayed on his feet, turning and returning the punch just as strongly. The man fell and Kyohei turned to the last one. "It's been fun, but-"

Kyohei didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. The Evergreen who had tripped hit him hard on the back of the head with a wooden board. Kyohei dropped to his knees, groaning.

"It has been fun, hasn't it?" the leader Evergreen chuckled. "Any last words?" Kyohei simply growled. "Too bad."

Kyohei looked up and found himself staring into the barrel of a gun. He didn't bother to breathe anymore.

Then, there was a voice; "Oh, Kyohei. You fight again?"

The six men turned at the voice. At the mouth of the alley stood Simon Brezhnev. It was strange not seeing him dressed in his usual Russia Sushi get-up but Kyohei really couldn't care less at the time.

The five Evergreens looked at each other, scoffed confidently, then turned to Simon. "You want something, old man?" one of the sneered.

"Stop fight," Simon replied solemnly. "Go home, eat sushi. Feel better. No fight."

Blood soaked through Kyohei's hat. He was beginning to feel slightly light headed and couldn't stand, even if he tried.

The Evergreens ignored whatever Simon said and – finished talking – charged at Simon. Simon, however, was more than ready for the attack and knocked each one in their own separate direction. Simply, then stood back up and tried again.

It went on for a while; charging only to be knocked back in place. One of them eventually gave up and fled the scene. After he was gone, Simon sighed. He muttered something in Russian and grabbed one of the fallen guys by the back of his sweater and threw him into another guy against the wall.

Once the Evergreens realized they weren't going to win, no matter how hard they tried, they also fled the scene.

Simon watched them run off before turning to Kyohei. The injured man forced himself to stand and leaned against the wall. "Thanks," he slurred, much to his displeasure.

Simon smiled. "It no problem," he said. "First one on house. I bring you to see Doctor?"

There was a small silence and Simon knew what the problem was, but his smile never faltered. Kyohei sighed. "Just the hospital," he said quietly.

…

Along the Streets of Shinbashi, Minato

December 20, 2015, 5:38 PM

Anri got out of work around this time. She never headed home straight after. No, not while there was still daylight out. She preferred to put on her helmet and wander around the shadows, watching the Evergreens.

…

*A Flashback*

Mikado and Anri's Apartment; Shinbashi, Minato

December 15, 2015, 9:01 PM

Mikado thought Anri had gone out, but she was really in her room catching up on a book she never had time to read. She was enjoying her book when she heard the apartment buzzer and, a few moments later, some knocking and a second voice.

Curious, Anri got up, out of her bed, and pressed her ear against the door. The first voice she heard was Mikado's. "That wasn't very...helpful," he said. "I wish those guys had been more talkative..."

"We all could use some more information," She recognized the voice as Aoba (he had been dropping by often lately; more often than she liked). "but it looks that's all we will be getting for now. Why not text Masaomi and see what he knows?"

There was hesitation. Mikado didn't want to talk to Masaomi. She could feel it, but his voice sounded dreadful and he muttered, "Yeah, I will, later." He paused. "I hope the Dollars aren't doing anything brash."

"That's why were are going to head to Ikebukuro for a few days," Aoba chuckled. "Leave Anri a note. She'll get it. She'll understand. Heck, maybe she'll even drop by to see what's going on."

There was a heavy silence. Finally, Mikado began to move across the apartment. She assumed he was grabbing a pen and paper and he was scribbling down a quick note.

"I have some clothes you can borrow," Aoba said as Mikado was in the middle of writing. "Don't worry about packing. This has to be done as soon as possible."

Mikado nodded.

…

She wanted to keep Shinbashi safe for when Mikado got back from his "field trip" (on the note, it said he was taking a field trip with his college classmates to a hospital in Ikebukuro to study; Anri saw right through the lie as there was no field trips in college).

Suddenly, she had a better idea.

She slipped off her helmet and stepped out into the winter sunlight. It was cold, still, but it didn't bother her in her short, black skirt. She liked the cold weather.

With a huff, she started towards the train station.

Maybe she would drop by after all.

…

Aoba's Apartment; Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 19, 2015, 2:13 PM

When Mikado saw the Dollar's forum, he was very upset. In his absence, Kyohei Kadota had stepped up and taken his place. Already, there was a truce between them and the Yellow Scarves (Mikado supposed it was natural; after all, his best friend, Masaomi Kida, led them).

He noticed the truce with the Blue Squares was still pending, noting he hadn't received a text for it yet. When he asked Aoba about it, Aoba knew he could only assume Ran had received the text instead of either of them as that was who was in command when Kyohei was apart of the Blue Squares almost six years ago.

Since Ran had disappeared five years ago, the number was probably changed from Ran to a different number, recycled, and given to someone else. Whoever received the text probably thought it was some sort of joke and never replied.

Little did either of them know, however, was that it was all true, but Ran's former number was now Kasuke Heiwajima's. Due to certain circumstances, Shizuo was now in possession of his phone.

…

*What Happened Between Kyohei and Shizuo*

When Shizuo received the text for Kasuka's phone, he recognized the number as Kyohei's. Furious, he stormed to Kyohei and asked if it was some kind of joke. Kyohei calmly explained that he had meant to sent it to Ran, not Kasuka.

Thankfully, Kyohei managed to avoid any broken bones or destroyed body as he was considered "not as bad as the damn flea".

Kyohei almost expected Shizuo to bring up a certain Doctor, but nothing was said.

Unfortunately, since Kyohei no longer knew who the leader of the Blue Squares was or did he had any contact (or so he thought), he gave up on the truce and decided to start plans with Masaomi on the eighteenth.

…

Aoba fixed up some coffee and handed Mikado a nice hot mug to drink to calm himself before he got too upset over Kyohei's "stupid" decision.

"So, should we post that the Blue Squares, the Dollars, and the Yellow Scarves will work together?" Mikado asked, tapping his finger against his chin. "I don't know how the Blue Squares will react to have to work with the Yellow Scarves."

Aoba shook his head. "Remember, these people are older now. About as old as us. And the rivalry between the two gangs is old, too." Aoba thought about it for a moment. "It depends on our motive," he said. "We could either use the Blue Squares to team with the Evergreens and wipe out the Dollars and the Yellow Scarves. We could team up with the Dollars and Yellow Scarves to take out the Evergreens. Or we can do both."

Mikado looked at him strangely. "Both," he repeated, then looked back at the screen. There was something. Something deep inside that reminded him of when he was fifteen. That same, deep, dark feeling. Excitement. Desire for change. For something...more. "Sound good," he said. "Both sounds very good."

…

After Notes

Dun, dun, duhhh! Is it just me, or are these chapters getting longer?

Love it? Hate it? Wanna read it again? Let me know! The review button is right there!