Title: Things that change for better or for worse
Chapter 28: The Reason for Change 1
By: Sissy

Disclaimer: DRRR shall never belong to me otherwise there'd be more yaoi.
Warning: Flashback Part One.

Mikado had been walking along the road like usual. There was nothing strange about this. It was an everyday thing. He had begun his freshman year at the local university along with Masaomi, Anri and Saki just three months ago and things were going well. The local gang wars were kept to a minimal degree so he connected to the Dollars website for only ten minutes a day. It was very rare now for anything to go wrong.

So what had happened in front of him should've been completely normal too.

It was a normal event to happen. People were screaming and running away from the area. Shizuo and Izaya had begun another fight and it was currently localized to one point. Mikado stared from afar without much care. He just saw it as an everyday thing.

"Oh, Mikado-kun! I needed to talk to you so don't run off now, okay?" Izaya turned his attention for one second to the Dollars' founder before evading another of Shizuo's fists. "You know, if not for the fact that I hate you, I'd be tempted to agree with Karisawa-san's delusions."

"Shut up and die!" Shizuo had screamed without stopping his attacks.

The scene was normal and Mikado had no intention of staying since he wasn't even remotely interested in the fight. Plus, even if Izaya needed him for something, the informant had ways of finding him so Mikado decided to turn around and continue home.

Of course, that act was what started it all.

"Oh no, don't you leave with that nonchalant face, Mikado-kun!" Izaya had actually thrown a knife towards the Dollars' founder, much to the surprise of the rest of the people who remained there out of fear. But what had surprised them all, Mikado and Izaya included, was that Shizuo had gotten in the way to protect the younger boy. The blood flowed from the new wound in his left hand as the ex-bartender directed his glare towards the informant. "My, my Shizu-chan. I never pegged you for an ally of justice." Izaya joked, finding the surprised look on Mikado very amusing.

"You flea! Don't involve others into this!" Shizuo barked, not realizing that it was simply because Izaya tried to have two conversations at the same time, if those could be called conversations. While Mikado stared at the wound, he wondered why someone like Shizuo would save him.

At this time, they did not formally know each other. Shizuo still knew him as a Dollars member and Mikado knew him as the one-man army of Ikebukuro, yet neither had tried to get closer because there had been no need to, until now. That's why Mikado did not know that Shizuo protected him because Shizuo cared about others more than he normally showed.

"Um, Shizuo-san…" Mikado meekly called for the ex-bartender without sounding too afraid but the other wasn't listening. The blond pulled out the knife and threw it back to Izaya before resuming the one-sided fight.

All Mikado wanted to do was say his thanks.

… … …

It was the very next day that Mikado willed himself to act almost stalker-ish as he cut class and followed Shizuo from various feet away. He had not been able to sleep well and it didn't help that Izaya passed by his place to poke fun at him for no apparent reason. But now he hoped to say what he wanted to Shizuo. There was rarely a moment when the ex-bartender was free and they were spent shooing people away.

I guess I might have to try after he gets out of work but… When exactly is that? It wasn't that Mikado was embarrassed of going to Shizuo and expressing what he wanted but he thought it might put him off if there was anyone around.

Around eleven in the evening, Shizuo finally parted from Tom and the office. Mikado took this chance and came closer to the blond but another obstruction had shown up. It was a group of people who seemed to have hatred for the blond. Shizuo had almost ignored them when they caught his attention by surrounding him. Mikado seemed a bit worried but the one-man army reminded them all that he knew how to take care of himself.

However, when one of the group came from behind to hit Shizuo, Mikado lounged with a piece of wood he found and knocked the man out. "Huh? What the hell are you planning?" Shizuo questioned Mikado who immediately dropped the object.

"No, I was just trying to stop him. I came here for something else!" Mikado tried to clear the misunderstanding and Shizuo simply ignored him by walking away. Ah…! I can't let it end here! Running after him, Mikado grabbed Shizuo by the same hand he was injured the day before.

"What the hell do you want?" Shizuo seemed to be on the verge of grabbing Mikado and punching him away but the younger one simply stroked the bandage with a smile. "What are you doing?"

"Thank you." Mikado finally spoke up and caught Shizuo off guard. "I know it might have been a little thing for you but I know I have to properly say it anyways. So, thank you Shizuo-san." With that, Mikado let go of Shizuo's hand, still smiling up at the blond.

"You're the kid from yesterday?" Shizuo asked, almost sounding curious. He had thought Mikado looked familiar but it was only now that he recognized him again. When Mikado nodded, Shizuo scratched his cheek as he tried to hide his embarrassed look. "It was nothing. I was just angry with the flea."

"It's alright. But, I was wondering… Is there anything I can do for Shizuo-san to thank you?" Mikado asked meekly but Shizuo shook his head.

"Just forget it, it was nothing kid. No wait… It was… Ryugasaki?" Shizuo asked and heard Mikado chuckle. Getting a bit pissed at Mikado since he thought he was being made fun, Shizuo was about to punch Mikado when the other apologized.

"I'm sorry, Shizuo-san. It's actually Ryugamine. Ryugamine Mikado. But I'd still like to do something to thank you." Mikado smiled and easily eased Shizuo's wrath. But before Shizuo could say something in response, Mikado's phone rang. "Oh! I forgot I'd cut class all day!"

Shizuo was taken by surprise by that comment. "Why'd you…?"

"Um… I was hoping to thank you properly and couldn't find the right timing for it so I kinda…followed you all day… I'm sorry!" Mikado apologized with a deep bow and tried to calm the butterflies in his stomach. But he felt confused when Shizuo stifled a chuckle.

"I knew I wasn't crazy when I felt someone watching me. Anyways, you're welcome so don't worry about it." Shizuo ruffled Mikado's hair and turned around to leave.

But it still isn't enough. I really should properly thank him. But how? Mikado tried to think. He didn't want to turn into some kind of stalker so he figured he should ask someone who knew Shizuo well. Of course, Izaya was out of the question, what with the mutual hatred they had for each other, but there was someone else. Shizuo-san's co-worker. But will he even answer me?

… … …

"You know, kids with manner like those are really hard to see these days." Tom had spoken up with a smile as he remembered the kid from the previous day. Shizuo looked so confused that Tom had appeared shocked. "Don't tell me… You blew him away with that patience of yours? Aw, man! The kid seemed so nice too!"

"What are you talking about Tom-san?" Shizuo asked, trying understand why his senior was reprimanding him.

"That kid who wanted to thank you." Tom replied quickly and Shizuo froze. "He was in here yesterday asking about how to do that. I told him you like cakes and where he could find you in the mornings since he was a university student. You didn't knock him unconscious without hearing what he had to say, right?"

Shizuo took a strong whiff of his cigarette and sighed. "No, I did hear him out. There was no problem." The blond explained and dropped the conversation there. Of course, there was no way he could say how said boy had caught him off guard with the cake and had promised to visit later on to hear Shizuo's thoughts on it. The whole thing was weird; very weird.

To Be Continued…