Red. That was all I see. There's nothing more than that.

It's been a few weeks since I've left that world behind with the permission of my family. They were nice people but I didn't fit with them.

I was a hitman, no scars, no wounds, no nothing. I never was a weak girl but after murdering a family in cold-blood, I seem to realize, I don't belong here. I never belonged anywhere. I am an orphan so no family would accept me.

A girl raised as a murderer, of course no one would. So I went to a small city called Ikebukuro. As usual, there were gangs and all but there were no mafia there. Yakuza, sure, but no mafia. I'm here to live as how a normal girl, my age, would. Work, get a house, enjoy with friends. But I have no friends.

I walked these busy streets where foreigners assemble. I listened to conversations as I drank my hot coffee. Been a few days since I've moved here in Ikebukuro, got a cheap rental apartment and a few bucks here and there by working as a waitress.

Heck, I'm going to quit that job since the manager kept on hitting on me. I saved most of my salary so I have some to buy groceries. At least until I find a new job.

I stopped at a shop called 'Russia Sushi' I have to say, the sushi here is really unique. I stared at my reflection, my hazel eyes were studying myself, up and down. My brown hair had golden highlights, here and there but overall, it was stunning. I was born with this type of hair, never colored and never dyed. That's just how it is.

Simon Brezhnev called me, the man works for a Russian guy that owns the sushi shop. "Would you like some sushi?" He asked, I thought for a moment. I haven't eaten though I work at a cafe so why not eat here? Plus it's cheap!

I nodded as I held on a bright smile and he escorted me to my seat. I ordered my food then I fished out my phone from my back pocket. I saw a few high school students, chatting and exchanging glances with each other as their gazes travelled in the shop. One stopped at me but I ignored it. A boy with blonde hair approached my table and smiled widely, "Hey, do mind if we sit with you? There's no more seats here." He said with a bow. I turned my head to him then chuckled. "Charming, aren't you?" I'm just teasing him and he had a faint tint of blush on his cheeks.

The short haired boy came and bowed deeply, the girl followed suit. I sweated and said, "Oh, it's nothing. Would you three like to join me?" I invited them, politely. The blonde boy quickly accepted and sat beside me. I smiled at them. They were hesitant at first but sat down anyways since their friend is already next to me.

"Don't worry, I don't bite." Well used to. I said that to them and they were still on guard. "Ah right, I'm Akamine Mei." The short haired boy then introduced himself as Ryugamine Mikado and the girl as Sonohara Anri, the blonde boy as Kida Masaomi. "Well, looks like I have unexpected company." I smiled sheepishly which made all three of them smiled back.

"It's fine, Akamine-san." Ryugamine said, "We would also like a new company." A smile made its way to my face. "Glad to hear that, Ryugamine-kun." He nodded then I turned my attention to a man who was serving my order, I asked him to take their orders too. After he walked away, Kida asked me tons of questions, some being 'Where are you from? I haven't seen you before.', 'How old are you?', 'Are you familiar with this place?', 'Did you dye your hair?'

Ryugamine kicked the blonde's leg underneath the table and successfully made him shut up. I chuckled again. I caught some of the questions since I wasn't really paying attention to him so I answered, "I'm not actually from Ikebukuro. I was born in Kyoto but I lived overseas most of my life," I stop to think for a bit, "as for my age, I'm 23 years old. I'm not familiar with this place since I just moved in a few days ago. And no, I didn't dye my hair. It's like this when I was born." I finished and they all were quiet. I confusingly looked at them and Sonohara quickly snapped out of her trance. "S-Sorry.. It's just that, no one has ever been so open before." I quickly realized that I might have said too much but then again, they're kids. What can they do?

Their order came and we all ate as we talked. They all talked about Ikebukuro which I find pretty amusing. I was too focused on their stories that I didn't notice someone approached me from behind.

"Yo!" I heard someone say and a cold metalic thing was put on my cheek. It was pulled away and I turned my head back to see a man about my age or older was standing behind my seat. "Uh, yo." I replied and he had a smirk on. "So you're the new girl that moved in Ikebukuro. Nice to meet you, I'm Orihara Izaya." He held out a hand and I stared at it before shaking it. He pulled his hand back and I looked at mine. There was a card that had his name on it. A business card, perhaps. "I'm Akamine Mei, Orihara-kun." He frowned, "Oh please. No formalities, just call me Izaya.." He trailed off when he heard some shouting outside the shop. I listened closely and heard someone saying, 'flea, come out!'. What's wrong with this town? Ori-Izaya must have seen my confused expression. "That's Shizu-chan. He's here for me so see ya!" He ran out of the shop and more shouting was heard, along with sounds of crashing and metal clashing. I blinked and turned to the three high schoolers. "Don't get too involved with him, Akamine-chan." Kida said then his serious expression changed back to his cheerful one. Ryugamine and Sonohara seemed to have followed his lead, but I knew they trying to make me change my mind about Izaya. I did anyways, I don't want any problems.

We continued to tell stories but it's my turn so I told them about myself but left out the Mafia related stuff and changed it into work as a journalist. "Wow! You've been through a hard time yet here you are! Successful!" Kida said and I chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Thank you, Kida-kun." He then frowned, just like Izaya earlier. "Call me Masaomi! Same with them." He decided without their permission. I looked at the two, they seemed relaxed now. "Can I ask a question?" I said to them, they quickly cast their attention to me. "Is there anything dangerous in this place?"

At this question, they started to sweat. I knew it, there are things that I'm supposed to avoid here. "Of course." Masaomi said. I nodded at him, Anri spoke up, "Y-You seem like a person we can trust." A person you can trust? My eyes widened at this but nevertheless, I smiled softly at them. Mikado nodded since he had nothing much to say. "Don't worry, you can trust me." I put a finger on my lips and they smiled. "Then, Akamine-chan! Wanna hang out with us? We can show you around too." Hang out? I guess so, it's still early.

"Sure."

----

"Hahahah, Masaomi! Don't make me worried!" Mikado said as he heaved out. "Same goes to you, Mikado!" They laughed. Anri and I just stared at them. A few guys chased them earlier while Anri and I were buying ourselves some ice cream. We're at the West side of Ikebukuro. "Are you two okay?" Anri asked. I sighed, they are at their rebellious phase so I didn't say anything about it. Turning myself around to find somewhere to sit for all four of us, I saw a blonde man stomping his way to us. I backed up a bit, the scowl on his face doesn't show that he's nice. Bartender suit and shades? I thought.

"Oi, you four! Where's Izay-wait four?" He looked at me. I waved nervously and my smile turned into an awkward one. His expression softened. "Sorry, I didn't notice you." So he's capable of apologizing. He was about to say something but it was cut off. "Shizu-chan! It's not good to leave me alone!~" There Izaya stood a few feet behind him. I said nothing and my waving hand just stopped in midair when the blonde guy had his scowl back. He put his hands on each side of the vending machine, where I didn't notice was there, then lifted it, much to my surprise. I gaped when he threw the vending machine towards Izaya. I was quickly pulled back by Mikado and Masaomi with Anri in front of them. I saw the guy throw more signs and vending machines. I quickly looked at the kids in front of me, adrenaline flowing through my veins. I ran with them until we reached a safer part of Ikebukuro. I coughed a bit, I swear I should start exercising more even though I don't do that work anymore. I'd die in this city because of flying vending machines or whatever else is here. Also that headless rider, I don't know anymore. After all of us breathed normally, I managed to say even through my state of shock, "What the heck was that?" Masaomi just chuckled nervously. Mikado sighed and Anri looked at me, a bit apologetic. "That, is what you call every day life, Akamine Mei!" I looked back to see Izaya standing that a little bruised up but nonetheless fine. That blonde guy was nowhere to be seen. "Where's the other guy..?" I asked no one, not wanting to see another fight between that brute and him. An information broker like Izaya, having an archenemy like that blonde guy, must have it rough. Yes, I know him. My days as a hitman isn't that bad. But of course, even the most knowledgeable information broker doesn't know me or how I look. I'm practically a shadow.

"Oh, Shizu-chan? He's chasing me in the wrong place." He slumped his shoulders and looked at Mikado. I followed his gaze, they both had a smile on their faces. I sighed and looked at my watch. It's 8:00 p.m. it's early for me but not for them. "Don't you guys have school?" They looked at each other then at me. They said it's fine so I shrugged. "I'll walk you guys home anyways." Izaya then walked next to me. "Then I'll walk you home!" I raised a brow at him, my old behavior coming but I supressed a tempting feeling to hit him. Sure I was rough before but now I have to stop being a barbaric woman. He stared at me but I smiled and waved it while saying, "Fine, but I owe you a cup of coffee." I don't like owing people so I tend to finish it off quickly. "Let's go then." I said and walked first, unintentionally, going to one of the three's place. My instincts kicked in and I stopped walking, a flying vending machine flew past me and I almost got hit. I froze and so did the high schoolers behind me. My eyes were perfectly covered by my long bangs, it hid the twitch. The guy in the bartender suit came again and chased Izaya away.

I muttered some curses while pushing them away from the scene. Sorry, Izaya, but I know you can take care of him, I thought.

I stopped by Anri's place first, we bid farewell and continued walking. "That was really close!" Masaomi's sudden burst startled me. Mikado and I looked at him with a confused look, though mine disappeared as fast as it came. "The vending machine..?" I made sound like a question so that they won't see me as suspicious as to how I catch on so fast. Masaomi nodded. "If you hadn't stopped..!" He gasped, probably thinking of the possibility of what would happen it did hit me. Honestly not much but I need to lay low for these two weeks then I'll be free to do what I want.

"You're right, Masaomi. Mei-san would have gotten hurt. Shizuo-san wouldn't have liked that." Mikado said. Shizuo? Shizu-chan? Just who the hell is he? Questions started bombarding my head and it started to ache so I just calmly cast it away for now. "Um, just who is this Shizuo guy? Or Shizu-chan?" I remember Izaya saying it, now I feel bad for leaving him there. They both looked at me and sweated. "Don't call him Shizu-chan. It'll piss him off." Mikado said. I nodded in agreement as to how the blonde guy reacted when Izaya called him that. "Despite his looks and attitude, that guy actually hates violence." Masaomi continued for him. I tried to make up the puzzle pieces together. Then click. "So the guy hates violence even though he gets in a lot of fights. He just has very bad temper which results to him getting pissed very easily then... There's Izaya who keeps provoking him. So the two constantly get into fights here and there which involves knives by Izaya and flying signs and vending machines by that Shizuo guy." I said and they stared at me in awe. "W-what?" I was really getting uncomfortable with their gaze, "It's just that, you got the whole thing right in just a matter of seconds." Ah great. Now to think of an excuse, "Guess my journalist experience does give me a heads up, eh?" I said to them, smiling. I seem to have my straightforward attitude towards them.

----

I walked both of them home though they were constantly talking about that blonde guy, Heiwajima Shizuo, and Izaya. Turns out the brute is a softie but is very tempered, he's sensitive about his little brother and about Izaya. In another way for the latter. I looked through the business card Izaya gave me earlier and sighed. I've already got more than enough trouble.

As I was silently complaining about my dreadful life, I saw a familiar face of the blonde guy running past me. I stood there in silence as he craned his neck back to say something but Izaya's shouting was heard from the distance, making him go away. After he was no longer in my line of sight, I saw a rustling in the bushes and quickly went on guard. I saw a lock of raven hair popping out of the bush which caused me to show a bewildered face. Izaya immediately jumped out and went to my side. "I'll walk you home now." I was very curious as to why he's being so nice but him being an information broker, it ain't really that hard to know. He wants to know who I am, probably because there's not much in my profile. Too bad I'm well educated for these types of businesses. Stating the fact aside, I laughed. He stared at me like I've grown two heads. "Sorry, it's just that," I took a deep breath to stop laughing and to also find an excuse, I don't want him to know what I'm thinking, "your blonde friend there is glaring right at you." I pointed at the end of the road where Heiwajima Shizuo was standing at. Wait, looks like Lady Luck is on my side. He was now approaching Izaya who had a smirk on his face, oh how I would love to wipe that off his face with my gun. Then I realized what I was doing in this town, I'm not supposed to be involved with these two.

I frowned inwardly as the two began to bicker one-sidedly. I sighed for the third or more time today as I walked away from the two. Izaya noticed my retreating figure and was about chase after me, Shizuo seemed to stop talking. "Who's that?" He said to Izaya who was more surprised at his sudden calmness. Izaya eyed him. I stopped at the corner as they walked towards me. "She's someone who just moved in Ikebukuro, Shizu-chan. I don't have a single detail about her." He said and I chuckled to myself. Shizuo, I'll just call him that since most people I've met here keep telling me to call them by their first names. Anyways, he replied with, "Don't call me that and how come you don't know a thing about her? You're an information broker. Though she looks quite familiar." He scrunched up his forehead while trying to remember who I am. I thank my sharp hearing that I've gained over all the years of my 'work'. I also tried to remember but I don't think I've met him, maybe seeing him during my walks in the streets but not anywhere else. He took one cigarette from the box in his pocket, putting it at the edge of his mouth, he took out a lighter and lit it up. They talked some more but I tuned it out. My eyes were getting heavy, I should probably get home now.

Next thing I know, another sign went past me. I craned my head back to see Izaya holding a throwing knife with Shizuo carrying another sign post. I cursed under my breath and walked away, hastily. I didn't stop until I reached my apartment. I heaved out a shaky breath and opened the door then went in.

"What a day.." I let myself fall onto the hard cushion of my couch. I instantly fell asleep, hoping tomorrow wouldn't be even weirder.

~~~
Mei: well.. AHitsu doesn't own Durarara!! All except the plot and OCs

Izaya: don't forget to comment and vote, we'd really appreciate it! *dodges a street sign*

Shizuo: Izaya!!!!! *throws another*

Mei: honestly.. Are they even in their twenties?

TBC...