Title: Things that change for better or for worse
Chapter 5: Un-Change 1
By: Sissy

Disclaimer: DRRR shall never belong to me otherwise there'd be more yaoi.
Warning: Izaya being Izaya.

"How was it abroad? You learned a lot right?" Mikado's professor asked with a smile after inviting him into his office. To Mikado, this place hadn't changed and he felt a bit bad about coming in, considering the last time he stood here was when he gave his professor the confirmation for his study abroad.

"It was very educating. The process for teaching gave me a lot to think about." Mikado responded with a smile, taking the tea his professor offered to him with thanks.

"Great. I was hoping it would broaden your thoughts on teaching. You see, we don't have that many teachers who have studied abroad and come back to teach us on other countries teaching methods." The professor explained with a laugh, as if Mikado had been used as a spy. "But I'm still glad you took the offer. There were students who enjoyed your tutoring methods so that professor's offer came at the right moment. The point is that you used it to its full potential."

Mikado nodded, remembering his experiences from his time abroad. "And how have you been, sensei?"

"Oh, me? Well, I didn't want to retire but my wife wants me home now so your return really helped me out. In other words, I'm great! Thanks!" The professor joked with a grin, causing Mikado to stifle his chuckle.

With the small talk over, the professor got right down to business. "You'll start work next week. I just need you to sign this and go through the process of getting your new ID. This is my teaching schedule for this trimester. Your official job will be as my assistant for the time being. Once I retire at the end of the year, you'll be taking over my classes but I hope you'll start writing proposals for new ones." At that, he winked at Mikado playfully.

"You'd like me to teach some other techniques, right?" Mikado asked as he took all the papers his professor handed him and signed the important ones before trying to hand it back.

"That's right. And you take that over to the head of the department. He's been waiting anxiously for new teachers. I think he'll be taking you to get your ID." The professor explained without taking back the papers he had handed to Mikado.

"Oh, I see. Alright then." Mikado nodded and turned around to leave but his professor stopped him.

"By the way, that thing you had your mind on back then. Did you resolve it?" He asked worriedly since the time in question had been an important one yet Mikado's mind had wandered.

"Ah, actually, I haven't. I'm sorry for making you worry as well." Mikado apologized to his professor with a slight bow. He was actually embarrassed that the professor even remembered a tiny detail like that.

"No, I was just curious. But you should take the chance to finally resolve it since you're back. I know what kind of student you were so I don't want you to destroy your career if you have unresolved business." The professor explained to him and Mikado thanked him for his concern before leaving the office. What the professor had told him made sense but Mikado was actually still a bit scared to do anything.

I shouldn't be though; I've gotten stronger, haven't I? Mikado thought to himself as he pressed his free hand on top of his left arm. The wound under his shirt was barely noticeable and it was the incident which caused it that always reminded him of what scared him.

"You can't just ignore what happened!"

… … …

This is the worst. Those were Mikado's thoughts as he stepped out of the train station to come face-to-face with none other than his childhood friend and his childhood friend's lover. They had been on their way to see a movie and were very surprised to see Mikado, one more than the other.

"Ah, Mikado!" Masaomi greeted him with a smile as he slowly stepped towards Mikado. His lover, Mikajima Saki, simply stood by, watching what was happening.

"Ma… Masao- Guh!" Mikado held in his cough after being hit right in the stomach by what should have been his best friend. Of course, said best friend was incredibly pissed at him for suddenly disappearing six years ago so Mikado could not blame him for the act. "Do… Do you feel better?"

"Not at all!" Masaomi replied with a bright grin and gave Mikado a thumbs-up while saying, "So let me hit you a few more times to get it out of my system!"

"You want to kill me?" Mikado asked surprised, taking a step back away from his best friend.

"Of course not, Mikado! You're my best friend! I only want to beat you to death!" Mikado froze at those words, fearing they might actually come true. Isn't that the same thing? He still asked himself, despite not yet having answered Masaomi's casual comment.

"I'm sorry!" Mikado bowed the 90 plus degrees to convey how sorry he was and waited for Masaomi to reply or to actually beat him to death.

What he didn't expect was for Masaomi to burst out laughing. He fearfully looked up to see Masaomi truly laughing and turning his gaze at his lover. "What'd I tell you? This guy's nothing more than a late bloomer! He can't even stand up to me!"

"That's mean, Masaomi. Your friend is regretting his actions. You should forgive him already." Saki stifled a chuckle while pointing to Mikado. At the very least, Saki didn't care about Mikado disappearing for six good years and not mentioning he was back in Japan. Mikado suddenly realized that this person had probably not changed at all.

"I know, I know Saki." Masaomi smiled at her happily and turned to Mikado, now more at ease. "So? When'd you get back?"

"Two nights ago." Mikado replied easily and Masaomi made the connection to the chat from that time.

"Anri-chan was in on this? That's just mean! How long have you two corresponded? And who else knows you're back?" Masaomi asked with a pout while holding onto Saki for comfort.

"I only started corresponding with her two weeks ago. I'm selfishly staying at her place." At those words, Masaomi broke into a grin but before he said anything, Mikado continued. "And only Kari- I mean, Erika-san knows since she caught me off guard, just like you did."

"Erika-san knows first than I do? That's not fair! You should've come to me the moment you arrived back! You see that Saki? He doesn't love me at all!" Masaomi pouted again while holding onto Saki tighter for comfort. His sense of humor seemed intact of change to Mikado. Saki, on the other hand, kept comforting Masaomi by petting him on the head.

"Since we're all together, why don't we have lunch as well?" Saki suddenly suggested with a soft smile. "We can invite Anri-san too. Russia Sushi?"

"No! Not that!" Mikado's sudden scream surprised them and he recovered to explain. "I just got back. And that'll be there even a week from now, so since we're all together, why not splurge a bit?"

Breaking into another grin, Masaomi spoke up. "Ah, then that means you're paying, right? Isn't that great Saki? We get to eat fine food!" Without letting Mikado take those words back, Masaomi began dialing a number from his phone. It was a phone call to Anri.

With a sigh, Mikado went along with them and they headed to Anri's shop to pick her up first. None of the three ever noticed Izaya eyeing them with a wide grin.

"Found you Mikado-kun." He spoke to himself in a sing song manner while taking a sneak photo of Mikado from the side. That picture would have its uses soon. Oh, so very soon.

To Be Continued…