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

Last chapter, the war begun!

This chapter? Read to find out!

On with the story!

…

Chapter 11

The Second War

The Roof of Sunshine 60; Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 22, 2015, 8:00 AM

Blood stained the snow. Green, blue, and yellow cloths were scattered along the ground everywhere. People cried in determination and pain. A few bodies had already hit the ground. They were unconscious but there would soon enough to be those dead, too.

It was hard to tell who was winning. With the Yellow Scarves, the Blue Squares and the Dollars side-by-side against the Evergreens, the mixture (or lack of) colors was hard to determine through the sea of green and blue and the sun rays of yellow.

Izaya had pulled himself to the top of Sunshine 60, where he watched the waves of colors clash against each other. He looked left. He looked right. There were more Evergreens than there could fit in the street. And there were more Dollars than there could fit in the street.

The Yellow Scarves and Blue Squares were disappearing quickly due to their significantly smaller numbers, but he also noticed the Blue Squares were a lot smaller than before. He wondered if Masaomi was still in the fight. He also began to wonder which ones the Saika were if Anri had commanded them against the Evergreens or not. There was no red to signify which ones were the Saika; only the color they had been wearing before they arrived at the scene.

And then there were the Dollars. He found it strange that a few of the Dollars had accidentally (or on purposely?) taken out a few Yellow Scarves or Blue Squares. Izaya smirked. He wondered what Mikado was up to. What was going through his head? Certainly not an old emotion of his?

And then, Izaya frowned. If that was true, then Mikado was going through the same state of mind as in the War five years ago. The War he lost his best friend in. A bitter thought made him almost wish Masaomi would die just to see if Mikado would feel the same thing he felt but he brushed it away as soon as he came.

If Masaomi died, then Saki would be devastated. What a damned position to be in.

He blinked and looked a little more. There was a thin line of Yellow and Blue left. Hardly enough to be called an army.

Blood stained cloth. It almost suited the Saika's color.

Whichever colors they might have been.

…

Grand Heights Strip Club; Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 22, 2015, 8:30 AM

Was it possible for a gang war to last so long?

They had watched it on TV for the passed half an hour. The Dollars' numbers were dwindling. There were no more Yellow Scarves or Blue Squares.

Mikado was almost regretting his choice.

Aoba could see the tension in his face. He had been gnawing away at his lip since fifteen minutes ago. Mikado would rip off some skin and suck on the blood his lip gave until it was dry then repeat the process. Mikado wanted to fight. Aoba knew this. But he wouldn't fight yet.

Not until the perfect moment.

"The Dollars are losing," Aoba said quietly. "What are you thinking?"

Mikado didn't reply. He could see Anri and Masaomi as little dots on the screen behind Kasuka; the only ones wearing Yellow and Red, the only ones that weren't Dollars or Evergreens still standing.

Akako was laughing. "How stupid you were to pit the Dollars against us," he chuckled, sipping a beer. "Really. The Evergreens are numberless."

Mikado watched the screen for a little bit, then sighed and rested his head on his arm. "I'm still thinking," he said.

"Thinking?" Akako repeated, sounding intrigued. "About what?"

Mikado stood up, stretched, then turned around. "About whether I should kill you or not." Instantly, Akako stood up but Mikado already had a gun on him. Akako stood, frozen. "Aoba, hit the ceiling."

Aoba did as he was told and shot a bullet into the ceiling. Everyone hit the ground as soon as the gun powder spout with a flash and a bang. Some concrete dust fell into his hair, but he didn't care. He turned and watched the rest of the people, to make sure none of them made any moves.

"W-What are you doing?" Akako demanded, slowly moving his hands into the air.

Mikado tilted his head to one side and glanced around. "I'm taking out the Evergreens," he said quietly. The music stopped blaring and the people were quiet. There was no need to yell anymore. "Give me your phone. I want to talk to the man who started this all."

Akako spat in Mikado's general direction but missed terribly due to his half-drunken moment. "Forget it," he snapped. "I wouldn't give you my lighter for a smoke."

"That's fine," Mikado sighed. "I'm sure I can find someone to kill."

"Like I care about the people here," Akako growled. "I don't care about the Evergreens. I don't care about anything! They promised me money, so I'm taking it."

"Who?" Mikado questioned, his voice deepening interest.

Akako suddenly realized he spoke what he wasn't supposed to and covered his mouth. With him drunk, Mikado thought. Getting him to talk won't be so hard.

Aoba sighed and nudged Mikado. "Hurry," he said. "Some of them are taking out their guns."

"Terrific," Mikado muttered, then raised his voice. "If you don't give me your phone in five seconds, I'll shoot."

Akako's eyes widened but they squinted in suspicion just as quickly. "No."

"One..." There was a pause. Akako didn't falter and Mikado continued to count. "Two..." There was some shuffling from underneath the table. "...Three..."

Bang! There was a gunshot, some screaming, both in fear and one in pain. Mikado flinched and whipped to face Aoba. "Dammit, Aoba!" he yelled. "What the hell?"

"Sorry," he said but he didn't sound it at all. "Someone was going to shoot us."

"Oh." Mikado seemed satisfied with the answer. Aoba gave an inaudible sigh of relief. He turned his gaze back to the man with the gun who now laid dead on the floor beside one of the woman who had been stripping on stage. He had only meant to injure him but it with only the head to shoot, he wasn't left with much of a choice. Not that he regretted it or anything.

Mikado continued to stare down Akako, who was now fumbling with his phone. With one man now dead from Aoba's shot, who was to know if Mikado was any less braver. "Here," he said shakily. "The man's name is Shuhan Kashira. It's already ringing."

Mikado took the phone from Akako and put it up to his ear, listening to the phone ring for a moment. Unfailingly, someone picked up the phone. The voice, assumingly belonging to Shuhan, asked, "What is it, Misora?"

"Mikado," the raven corrected. "My name is Mikado Ryūgamine. I'm leader of the Dollars and of the Blue Squares. I'm currently holding Akako under my gun. I have a few questions to ask you and you better comply, or I'll completely wipe out the Evergreens here in Toshima."

There was a shocked silence from the other line. "W-What is it you want?" he asked.

Mikado smiled.

…

Kurabuya Street; Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 22, 2015, 8:49 PM

No one could hit as hard as they could anymore. Everyone was stumbling, trying to hit down as many enemies as they could before collapsing of exhaustion.

Masaomi and Anri had lost each other somewhere in the fight. Partially, they looked for each other and, partially, they still looked for Mikado. Mostly, they fought, taking down as many enemies as they could. Blood covered them both; mostly, Masaomi covered in his own while Anri was soaked in her victims' blood.

Kyohei remained in the fight, too, but had a surprise around this time as he was slammed in the back of the head and forced to his knees. He held his head, trying to will away the pain but when he finally brought his vision to, he found his attacker unconscious on the ground beside him. He got to his feet and looked around.

Masaomi smirked. "You are getting old, man," he chuckled.

"Shut up," Kyohei growled but the friendliness in his voice remained in tact and he ended up fight back-to-back with Masaomi.

That was, until phones began to ring. Masaomi, Anri, and any of the Yellow Scarves were the only ones who's phones didn't ring. Kyohei flipped open his phone and read the text. "What's this?" he muttered. "Something's happened."

"What?" Masaomi asked, peering over his shoulder.

"It's a message from the leader of the Evergreens," he said quietly. "and the leader of the Dollars."

Masaomi looked over his shoulder and blinked. "What does it say?"

Kyohei turned and opened his eyes wide at Masaomi. "Run," he said loudly.

Masaomi backed up, then looked around. "Who's side did Mikado choose?" he asked quietly, ripping off his yellow handkerchief from his neck and hiding it in his pocket.

"His own," Kyohei replied quietly.

Masaomi paused, stared at him in horror, then turned and ran into the nearest alleyway to hide. Not too long later, Anri ran up to Kyohei, panting and sweating. "Where's Masaomi?"

"He went off to hide," Kyohei explained. "We have to get out of here, too, before someone asks us about him."

Anri nodded and both she and Kyohei disappeared into Sunshine 60.

…

Grand Heights; Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 22, 2015, 9:05 AM

Aoba held the phone up to his ear. "I couldn't let him do it," he said quietly. Akako was dead. Mikado was on the ground. "I want control of the Evergreens in Toshima. I promise you, everything will work out for the best. The Yellow Scarves are the only ones who won't side with us, and there is no way to tell who the Saika are."

"With the Saika inside the Evergreens and the Dollars," Shuhan said. "we might not be able to take over Tokyo as we wanted."

"No," Aoba said. "but when the Yellow Scarves are taken care of, I'm sure we can use Ryūgamine to lure out Sonohara. It's all been a game of the heart."

Shuhan said nothing in response. Instead, he chose another topic. "How much do you want?" he asked. "for your side of the deal."

"Doesn't matter," Aoba replied. "I'm just doing what should have been done along time ago."

Shuhan went silent.

…

The Roof of Sunshine 60; Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 22, 2015, 9:27 AM

Izaya did not like this.

He didn't like it one bit.

The text style wasn't even close to Mikado's. Mikado tended to write in perfect grammar and spelling. Aoba didn't. And he highly doubted he would have wanted Masaomi Kida dead. It didn't make sense.

But what did make sense was Aoba wanting him dead.

Now the question was, "Why?" Why did Aoba want Masaomi dead? Why did he want to take over the Evergreens? Why did he want to have all this control?

It was beginning to hurt Izaya's head. Why Aoba would want this done was far beyond him. He had ignored his job for five years and it was going to end in a lot of deaths and the destruction of Tokyo.

I don't really care, Izaya thought to himself. So why do I want to interfere?

Izaya stood up.

It was simple.

He didn't want to admit it. He hated to admit it, like any other human, but he blamed himself for Shinra's death. He blamed himself for all of it. It had been his fault from the beginning. When he took the biology club and turned it into a gambling area. When Nakura got angry and stabbed Shinra. When, from that point on, Izaya made it his personal goal to get to Valhalla.

If only he hadn't tried to start that war. If only he had just let Nakura go to jail instead. If only he hadn't interfered with the gangs. If only he hadn't dragged Shinra and Celty into all this. If only he had just given Celty back her head. If only he had just caught Shinra when he fell off the building.

If only he had just done things differently.

He glared down at the dying Second War.

Izaya didn't know why, but he wanted to fix things. After all, the Second War never would have happened without the First War. He looked up over the city.

There would be a Third War.

And he had to stop it.

…

The Train Station in Ikebukuro, Toshima

December 22, 2015, 9:47 AM

She broke into a full sprint as soon as the subway doors opened. Sunshine 60 wasn't too far from there.

Saki had been wandering aimlessly around the streets when she saw Yuuhei Hanejima on screen, reporting the Second War in Ikebukuro. She saw Masaomi on screen, fighting. He was drenched in blood. She hadn't realized she had screamed until she noticed people's stares.

With a gasp, she turned and rushed to the train station as quickly as possible. And, here she was, running along the streets of Ikebukuro. She hurried to the Sunshine 60, but, by the time she got there, everyone was gone.

She looked around frantically, looking for someone. Looking for some indication that Masaomi was alive, but all the members of the Yellow Scarves she knew from over the years laid dead along the icy road. She tried to wake a few, but none of them stirred. None of them were breathing. Not any of the bodies along the ground, no matter what gang they belonged to.

They were all...dead. Her voice caught in her throat from the horror. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, trying not to cry. Trying not to scream. She had to move on.

She jumped over everyone, looking, looking. Saki continued to look, silently praying she wouldn't find Masaomi along the bodies.

And she didn't.

She stood hopelessly for a moment. Lost. Confused. Terrified. There was only one thing she could do and only one person she knew would help her.

Saki opened her phone and scrolled through her Caller Log until she found the name Kasuka Heiwajima and dialed the number. She put her phone up to her ear and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" The voice was different this time. This one was almost recognizable. "Who is this?"

"I," she stammered. "I'm Saki Mikajima. You...called me."

There was a confusion in the silence. "I did?" came the voice.

"Yes," she said. "You told me to leave my house before the men got me."

"...I did?"

"Yes, you did." Saki was almost impatient but her fear made her quiet and calm. "Who are you?"

The voice thought about how to answer, before just answering bluntly. "Shizuo Heiwajima." Saki almost turned white. "This is my brother's phone."

Uh, oh. "O-Oh! I'm so sorry for bothering you, Mr. Heiwajima, but...this number really did call me." There was a grunt in reply. "Please. I need help. I... I'm scared." There was a sigh in frustration. "Whoever called me before," she continued quickly. "Just put me on the line with them. They can help me."

"I don't know who called you," Shizuo replied.

"Oh..." was the disappointed reply. "I'm sorry for bothering you, then. I'll let you go..."

There was a pause, then Shizuo said, "You said your name was Saki Mikajima, right?" Saki gave confirmation. "You're Masaomi's girlfriend, aren't you?"

"Yes!" she gasped, surprised. "Do you know where he is? I'm looking for him."

"No," came a blunt reply. Saki almost groaned but she simply closed her eyes and exhaled. "but I do know the Dollars and the Evergreens are out to kill him with the remaining Yellow Scarves."

"Oh, my God..." she whispered. "This can't be happening...Please don't tell me this is happening..."

There was a pause, then, "Hold on, hold on. Someone wants to talk to you."

Saki blinked and took that moment to get herself onto the sidewalk so she wasn't among the bodies. She turned away. She couldn't face it. There was so much blood. So many people dead. So many colors. It didn't matter what their colors were. They were dead...!

"Saki?" The voice she knew more than anything.

"Simon!" she gasped. "Oh, my God! I'm so glad to hear from you!"

"Where are you?" he asked. "Why you in Ikebukuro where there war? People fight. People die. No more sushi for them to eat so they kill other."

"I know, I know," Saki whispered. "It's terrible. So many people are dead, but Masaomi is going to be among them if I don't find him soon!"

There was a pause, as though he was shaking his head. "You should go back to Shibuya and pack up to leave Tokyo with Masaomi. You in danger. You should leave."

"Masaomi wouldn't leave while Ikebukuro is in this state."

"Then you leave without him."

"Are you crazy?" It was louder than she wanted it to be. Her voice was high and shrill. She looked around to make sure no one would hear her and come for her. Saki turned back to the dark ally. "I can't leave without Masaomi. He's all I have..."

Simon went quiet. "You must leave Ikebukuro," he said quietly. "or you both will die."

With that, the line went dead. Saki pulled her phone from her ear and stared at it for a long time.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

And she was sure it was the last tear she would ever shed.

…

After Notes

No, I couldn't just end it, could I? I had to be stubborn and give more to the story than there had to be...

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