Title: Things that change for better or for worse
Chapter 15: In front of Change
By: Sissy

Disclaimer: DRRR shall never belong to me otherwise there'd be more yaoi.
Warning: Way too much tempo. And good little boys and girls should not imitate Mikado.

Anri was frozen in place. She couldn't move from the shock. If anything, she felt like fainting. Why is such a family in front of my store? She couldn't help but wonder.

"Ah, I see. You're Kida-kun's friend, right?" Kasuka asked as he and his loving family entered the store. Anri nodded feverishly, hoping not to say anything too offensive. She had heard once from Masaomi about this man's son being in Saki's nursery job but never did she expect him to show up here, much less know she was Masaomi's friend. "I'm looking for your tenant, Ryugamine Mikado-san."

Not knowing what to say, Anri was startled by Ruka's small roar. The child seemed to have found an enemy in one of the antique statutes in the store. "If I may ask, why are you looking for him?" Anri willed herself to ask.

"I'm certain it doesn't pertain you, Sonohara-san. There is something I wish to speak to him about alone." Kasuka explained and stepped forward to Anri, stopping just in front of the front counter.

"Kida-kun told me once, not because he was being nosy, about you and Heiwajima-san. He knew I wouldn't say anything and it's not something he'll mention to just anyone, but since I know that much, I have to decline. I can't let you see Ryugamine-kun." Anri seemed adamant about this but she was just worried.

"How much do you know?" Kasuka asked while Ruri picked up her son and brought him over. The child had been dangerously close to breaking something.

"Just that Mikado-kun is afraid. And I don't wish to see him backed into a corner. We've all agreed to leave this matter alone. It'll solve itself when it does. The last thing both Kida-kun and I wish to see again is an empty apartment." Anri explained her stand in this, even though she knew nothing yet.

Kasuka glanced down, almost in thought. "You're right." He admitted and Ruri looked at him worriedly. "But I'm not planning on dragging him to see brother. I just want to know what he's feeling and what he felt. I know nothing either, after all."

"Yuuhei-san…" Ruri called out to her husband worriedly and since they were outside she didn't call him by his real name, even if she preferred to use his real name. "If it helps, Ruka caught his scent."

"Thank you, Ruri-san." Kasuka nodded to her to show her appreciation.

As they turned around to leave, Anri called out to them. "Please wait. I don't…know where he is today… But he should be back in the afternoon. Sorry, I just don't want to push Ryugamine-kun too much." She apologized to them and saw Ruri smile towards her.

"We won't do anything that'll cause brother to be depressed either. We just want to see what we can do to help." Anri almost swore she saw a smile on Kasuka's face before all three left her shop.

… … …

Breathing in and out, Mikado tried to calm his nerves. It wasn't that it was something new to him but it'd be the first time he did this since he came back. He was happy, thrilled even. After all, there was a promise to keep here. But more than that, it was a reminder of what he had done in order to reach the him who stood there now; who took a step into the building.

… … …

"What the hell are you doing?" Yagiri Namie's voice came as a surprise to Izaya, who suddenly woke up in his sofa in nothing but a towel around his waist. She had been abroad for some time now so suddenly seeing her previous employer like this took her off guard.

"Huh?" Izaya wiped the drool and grinned. "Well, this is a surprise Namie-san! You came back? Weren't you off following your beloved brother?" Since the incident with the head, it was common knowledge that the headless-now-with-a-head rider had left the country, along with some doctor. What wasn't common knowledge was that Yagiri Seiji and his stalker/girlfriend/head-substitute Harima Mika had run after the other couple. And like the loyal sister she was, Namie also followed suit.

"Seiji heard about that coming back and asked me to give them a great welcome home. I don't really care except he promised me a kiss if I did that." It was amusing to Izaya how Namie's expression change per noun. "So I'll have you help me out."

"You quit so suddenly, and without a letter I might add, and now you expect me to hire you again?" Izaya asked with a sly grin, waiting to see what kind of answer his previous employee would say.

"I can see you still don't know how to take care of yourself. You've even lost your clothes if you had to sleep like that." Namie eyed him with a smile that showed how much she was trying to make fun of Izaya.

"How rude! I'm not going to hire you if you act like that! Besides, I've got no idea how I ended up here like this!" Izaya pouted, trying to be cute. "Though I have a feeling it has to do with something interesting. Hmmm… I wonder what could've happened." He seemed interested in the mystery so he stopped paying attention to Namie.

As the woman rolled her eyes, realizing not even the years alone would change Izaya. For the moment, she tried to think of a way to get Izaya to finance the Dullahan's welcome to the city.

… … …

"Just got out. I won't scratch it, don't worry. I do feel a bit hungry though. Yes, they gave me food. I'll just buy something to eat anyways. See ya." Mikado hung up on his second international call from America. He had just gotten out of the hospital and felt like scratching the bandage on his arm. As he began his trek to Anri's place, something put his hair on end and he froze.

Sweat began to fall down. He knew that something was about to happen. His switch was flickering as if it needed to turn on. And then, he heard his name. "Mikado."

There was no need to turn around since Mikado knew who was calling him. The softness in the voice caused Mikado to tremble. It's the same as back then. He doesn't even hate me. Turning around, trying not to make a dash for it, Mikado saw him. "Shizuo-san…"

Both were trying to say something; anything. "That flea said you were here. And then I got a phone call, but you wouldn't pick up." Their hearts were racing. Adrenaline was pumping.

"Just a few more days!" Mikado ran for it without giving an excuse, earning Shizuo's wrath.

"Stop right there!" As Shizuo struggled to get closer to Mikado, he fought against the instinct that screamed "Grab that flea and kill him!" since he knew dropping something on Mikado was the last thing he wanted to do. Kasuka stood by the side, along with Ruri and Ruka, wondering how Shizuo even got there before them when they hadn't even told him anything.

And then, as Mikado made a jump resembling Izaya, he landed directly on the floor and did not move. Shizuo and his family arrived at the scene and Ruri was the first to poke him. "He's unconscious."

What the hell just happened?, was on everyone's minds.

To Be Continued…