Title: Things that change for better or for worse
Chapter 21: Challenging the Change 1
By: Sissy

Disclaimer: DRRR shall never belong to me otherwise there'd be more yaoi.
Warning: Utter chaos begins!

Erika had chosen a Sunday because she knew well that Mikado didn't have work and Anri could close up her shop without worry. Masaomi took the whole day off just so he could accompany Saki, who obviously didn't work weekends. Aoba had shut off his phone to take the day free but still had to wait for the twins before he could go anywhere. Kyohei had actually checked to make sure he didn't have any jobs in his schedule before heading out and Saburou made plans to leave his bar closed. Walker was planning on having his schedule cleared up but had one delivery to make before he could be in the clear.

"He'll be here soon, Erika. Calm down." Kyohei urged the woman to sit down as it was still early. The rented room looked too empty for her tastes and the food had, for some unknown reason, been delivered early. Saki was outside with Masaomi, their present already inside in a corner. The nursery worker was on the phone with Walker, asking how long it would take him to arrive.

"He'd better not be working when I'm giving birth, too! He's lucky this is only a test run." Erika grumbled under her breath, earning a look of confusion from Kyohei. "Oh! Don't worry Dotachin! Everything will be okay!"

"What are you doing and why?" Kyohei seemed about to threaten her when Saki came back inside.

"Yumasaki-san said he would be here within half an hour. As long as Togusa-san doesn't crash or gets them arrested." Saki quickly explained with a smile and grabbed the drink Masaomi offered to her.

All three saw Erika pout but recover quickly. "And our guests of honor?" Kyohei immediately raised his eyebrow in confusion. He knew now something was up.

"Anri-chan texted me saying they're on their way. And Yuuhei-san also said they were pretty nearby." Masaomi reported with a grin, looking over to his phone when he felt it vibrating. "What happened, Chikage-san? Bored already?"

"Of course this thing weighs, Mairu! That's why I've been asking for help for the last hour!" Kururi opened the door to the room with a small salute and a gift in hand. Mairu entered after her with a loud laugh and held the door for Aoba, who arrived with another gift and a package of food. "Sempai made way too much. I should've never agreed to bring it all."

Erika saluted the twins as Aoba looked for a space to drop everything. "You brought food?"

"Mikado-san." Kururi nodded with a happy look.

"And I'm still pissed no one is telling me anything, by the way!" Mairu pouted and took one of the bowls Aoba carried to offer some sweets to Erika. "Here, Mikado-san has been making them for the last two days. They're really good."

Erika took the offered piece of brownie and broke into a smile. "Awesome! This tastes wonderful! Mikapuu made them? Ooh! So this is probably for…"

"They taste just like before." Kasuka's voice interrupted them as he munched on a piece of cookie he stole from Aoba's hand. "Ruka-kun, if you behave, I'll give this to you. Will you stay still?" He turned to his son, who was being held like a sac in his hands. The young boy responded with a smile and was placed on the floor.

Once on the floor, the boy stole a cookie from Aoba as well and handed it to his mother. "I thought I'd never taste these again." Ruri said with a soft smile and she offered half of her cookie to her son, soon after his father had done the same.

"You both knew about Mikado-sempai being able to bake? How? And why are you people here anyways?" Aoba suddenly asked as Shizuo looked for the right moment to go in. He was carrying the gifts Kasuka and Ruri bought for the expectant mother. From his position he could hear their conversations and thought it best to stay outside.

"Ryugamine-san knows how to bake?" Saki asked, though no one made any move to answer her. Even Masaomi, who had been trying to have a conversation over the phone hadn't noticed anything.

"It's because I asked them to bring me a guest!" Erika laughed as she answered with a bright laugh. She was enjoying her show now. The blond bouncer outside realized he was being tricked by his family members but was unable to make the choice to leave when he heard something that made his blood run cold.

"Anri-chan said WHAT about Mikado?" Masaomi screamed loud enough to catch everyone's attention.

Only Ruri fainted, but for the wrong reasons. "Ruka-kun ran off again." Her husband had said.

… … …

"Okay, so he was coerced? And you didn't go?" Chikage asked Anri with a confused look as he hung up the phone call to Masaomi since he didn't enjoy the scream from the other side.

"Ryugamine-kun asked me not to accompany him. He said he'd be alright." Anri explained but already regretted her decision by the time she had run into Chikage. Thinking back on it, Mikado had seen relatively calm for only a moment before he suddenly panicked and then returned to his perky foreigner-ish exterior. It made Anri worry and freeze in place.

Chikage remained quiet for the moment. It might've been a bad idea to leave the kid alone, especially since they needed him somewhere else but he had no idea where Izaya could've taken him. As he thought about what they could do, a loud and incessant honking caught their attention. Both turned towards the street light, where the familiar van tried to get people to move. Immediately, they headed over.

… … …

"Well, I suppose I can calmly say that I just didn't want to comply with Erika-san's scheme." Izaya spoke honestly as he sipped some of his beverage with ease. He had taken Mikado to a café he knew well in order to have a small talk. Though Mikado had agreed to accompany him, Izaya was glad he had managed to forcibly get his cooperation with the information he had now.

"Scheme, you say? I believe it's only you who's scheming here Izaya-san. By the way, I wanted to say that I didn't enjoy you calling my friends in order to bother them." Mikado told him calmly as he sipped some of his tea. It had a strange flavor but he enjoyed it nonetheless, considering it was Izaya who ordered it for him.

"I was just extending my greetings, Mikado-kun. Besides, I was challenged, remember? You said my sources weren't very good." Izaya seemed about ready to begin his plan. He just needed to prolong this a bit more.

"Ah, that's right. I did say that. And what did you find out?" Mikado asked as he felt his phone vibrating. He could've picked it up now, but he needed all of his attention on the informant at the moment.

Taking another soft sip, Izaya replied. "Mikado-kun, you have a scar on your arm, don't you? You got it by saving someone. And it seems you even needed a transfusion once you arrived at the hospital."

"That's right. I was saved at the same time I saved. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, no. I don't really care. I just found it interesting how you two would dive in to danger only to save a complete stranger." Mikado tightened his lower lip for only a moment before Izaya continued. "It also seems as though you got pretty famous during your time abroad. There were loads of things you did that I never expected you to participate in."

Trying not to reveal too much with his expression, Mikado smiled and asked. "Oh, really? What sort of things were they that you never expected me to do them?"

"Oh, you know. Martial arts, clubbing, competitions. There are way too many to list right now. You see Mikado-kun, you've never been the type to suddenly throw yourself in a crowd and perform for many people. Was it necessary? Along with the blood donation?" He hit a nerve there and it was clearly visible.

"That particular subject relates to a promise I made. I will tell you this right now, Izaya-san. That is the one thing I will not allow you to desecrate. My promise with the two of them." Mikado's eyes pierced into him and Izaya found it hilarious.

"So that means I can desecrate anything else? Like, say, about you and Shizu-chan?" When he got closer, Mikado realized something was wrong. Izaya's voice sounded distant now.

"I'll watch your back here. Getting drugged ain't a pretty sight. But if you find yourself in that position, especially alone, it'll be very hard to get out of it, Mikado. I can't suggest anything pleasant. Just make sure you don't fall asleep."

Like an obedient child, Mikado picked up the knife by his side.

To Be Continued…