As a masked golden brunette walked through the hallway, more footsteps were following it. The brunette stopped and said,

"Why are you following me?"

Her voice sounded cold and void of emotions.

There were two voices that responded.

"I just have nothing to do."

"I got dragged here."

She looked back and saw two younger boys. A ginger and another brunette. The ginger wore a simple white shirt and black shorts while the brunette wore a jacket over it.

"Whatever, just stop following me."

She continued her walk with that being said. "I'm Dylan, 12. What's your name?" She ignored him. "Harry, c'mon you too." She could hear the one-sided talk behind her.

"Dylan, she said she doesn't want to be followed. Right, Angel?"

She stopped and the ginger almost bumped into her if the brunette didn't have pulled him in time. "You're newbies, aren't you?" She asked. They both reluctantly nodded. "We don't say our real names here only codenames or names people call you, Dylan, Harry." They both looked at each other, Dylan gasped. "B-but what codenames?" He started to get very nervous. She put a hand on her hip and smirked behind her mask.

Easy preys.

Easy targets.

These two kids look easy at first glance but they sure have something up their sleeves, was what she thought.

"You make your own or earn it. Angel is just a name people call me. You two can choose yours." She explained.

"Earn? The place we came from gave us one already." Harry said with a monotoned voice. She knew there were emotions behind that voice and those eyes hid the very emotions from others.

"Do tell." Her voice echoed through the hall.

"Ace." Harry said, "I can do magic." He shrugged and appeared behind her. She wasn't surprised but impressed. "Rare to see a magician in this line of business. You?"

"Inferno. I like shoot and blow things up." Dylan said cheerfully.

"Since we've told you ours.. How 'bout yours?"

"No one knows my codename, boys. You have to earn my respect before that happens." She walked away, leaving the two silent.

Before she turned, "See you two later." She adjusted her mask to show her left side of her face. Her eye was hazel. It had a hint of kindness laced with hatred and bloodlust. Harry could just wonder what she's been through all this time.

"My codename is Chaos, I bring destruction everywhere I go." She whispered to herself.

Her chuckling echoes through the hallways.

----

I made both Harry and Dylan some breakfast and I had work. The others went back late today so I have to clean up after them. Well I did kick them out and it was rude and all but I ain't taking no shits from nobody.

The day passed by fast. I went to work, walked around Ikebukuro, almost got caught in the middle of Izaya-Shizuo fight. All was going well until I got a phone call.

"Hello?" I answered like the usual, thinking that maybe it was Izaya's client. He gave his clients my phone number just in case something happens to him. I was reluctant but I thought nothing could go wrong. And I was so wrong.

"Kitty." The voice sang. "Did you think I wouldn't find you?"

I immediately looked around, not bothering if I look suspicious. Izaya is currently talking to someone I don't really care about so I can do whatever I want. If Izaya comes out late, that is. He doesn't delay anything.

"Relax, I won't do anything just yet." That line made me sigh in relief. "What do you want?" I said sternly, eyes still trying to spot any sign of movement. It was eerily quiet. "Revenge, Kitty. It's just that simple." I gripped the phone and I'm sure the other line heard the crack. I had just cracked my phone screen. "And what do you plan on doing?" I remained calm after I cracked it, trying not to cost anymore cash in debt.

The other line laughed hysterically. I would strangle the person on the other line if he was in front of me.

"Spare me the laughter, J." I said, getting very impatient.

"And spare me the rudeness, Angel."

I glared at the wall and gritted my teeth. I took a deep breath.

"What exactly do you want from me, J?" I said in English. Common tongue, I know but I prefer speaking in English. "Like we have been doing these past 13 years, Angel. To fight. To kill. To rip each other's throat out. When the news spread, everyone aimed to take your spot. They even beat their own members." I wondered why he was saying this.

"But I, oh I," he said dramatically, "after you left, I didn't have anyone to fight, tease and almost die with anymore, Kitty."

"Like I give two fucks about that. Stop calling me Kitty, J."

I took out a little box with a few notes in it. I just put reminders or whatever in it. I took out one that said, 'take the first step slowly'. It was the first advise I've got from an old companion of mine. He died after risking his life to save another.

"You're so vulgar, Angel. I'm sure your new friends would find that exciting. Not to mention they all have secrets they want to keep, yeah?" I really didn't care what he is saying right now as long as he doesn't disturb me.

"I know some of their secrets already, J. And you," I stopped when Izaya came out with a sickening victory smirk. He must have gotten another move from his so-called pawns. "Just make sure you don't disturb my peace." I said slowly. He chuckled. "No, I still have unfinished business with you. It's funny how you're standing in the alleyway while waiting for that shrimp to get out. He has but is still talking on the phone." I wasn't surprised at all. "Heh, so how are you?"

"Now you're taking the delicate approach? How funny you are, Tenshin. But other than the scar on my back you gave me a week before you retired, I'm perfectly insane."

"Now you admit that, J? And here I thought you were oblivious to that fact." I mocked, not even minding the fact that Izaya was staring at me.

"I'll be watching, Angel. See you soon."

"Don't be a stalker, J."

I stared at the ground before I heard the long beep that signalled the end of the call. I sighed and walked ahead, saying nothing and making Izaya follow me.

"Who were you talking to, Mei-chan?" He asked. I knew he would.

"An acquaintance." I answered and left it at that. We continued walking until Shizuo appeared out of nowhere again. Here we go running out of the way. I yawned and felt a bit bored. If I were Izaya, I could have killed Shizuo countless times before and after.

As I watched them fight, I saw a familiar man walking down the streets. He wore that suit as always, those shades and the darn crane. That scar on his face is as clear as day. He was about to approach me but Izaya threw a knife directly at Shizuo who was in front of me, making me sigh and walk away. In the end, I approached him.

I put a hand on my hip while giving him a familiar look he would always recognise. The face of hatred and bloodlust.

"Yo, Akamine Mei." I narrowed my eyes on him.

"Yo, Akabayashi Mizuki." He put on his famous irritating smirk.

"So we meet again, Mei. Not to mention here in Ikebukuro. Where you lived for three years your life as a journalist."

"So much info, Mizuki. You still in Awakusu?" He simply nodded. "You got a sec?" I stared at him confused before glancing at the fight going on behind me.

"I'm sure what you're gonna say is shorter than this." My thumb was pointed over my shoulder, showing the Izaya-Shizuo fight.

"Just say that you were with me."

"I worked as a journalist, now a PA and bodyguard." I said and he ignored it while walking away. I groaned lowly before following him.

----

I opened the canned drink before drinking the content. Mizuki knows me long before I was in the Mafia. So I can safely say that he's like a father figure to me.

"What did you need to talk about?" I asked. His reply was the one that made me really pissed off.

"Just to ask how you are, Mei. We haven't seen each other in years. I know you five years before you got taken. Then we sometimes meet during the times you were on errands. The three years you were here and you barely talked to me. After that, I've never seen you around."

"It's just been four years since those three years, Mizuki." I shrugged. I know I don't have anger issues but this place is making me have it.

We were sitting on a bench, careful on not letting people get suspicious of us. I mean, a infamous guy from the Awakusu Group is right next to me, someone who works under Izaya the infamous information broker. I threw the empty can in the bin before casting my gaze to him.

"How have you been all these years?" I stared at the evening sky, it was getting dark. "Quite fine. Other than the fact that I'm going to be broke because of these people." I motioned the crowd, knowing some of them might be in there.

"You know I'm here, right? You can depend on me, Mei." He ruffled my hair. A gesture I've missed for so long. "You have your own job and other stuff to handle. Like Anri and the group. I wouldn't want to trouble you more with me."

"You're Mei and I'm Mizuki," he flicked my forehead, "nothing is too much for me. Especially if it's for you." I rubbed the sore spot. I swear this guy hates hitting other girls but me. "Still, you have your own troubles to attend to. And I'm still dangerous for anybody."

"You can control yourself, how dangerous is that? Or.." He stared at me, "It's true. You did retire. That means some of them are after you."

"Actually, most of them. They want my spot and they'd do anything for it. Even killing their own members." I said. "That's sad of them. They should honor your spot and leave it be. We, the Awakusu Group, was planning on helping your family. But that ruckus they've made quite a problem for us, higher-ups."

I nodded at the information and stared at the ground. I scoffed, "I guess it is true," I glanced at my hands, "I bring it everywhere I go." Sure I look pathetic but I can only look like this in front of Mizuki. I've made that rule ever since I went on my first mission.

I put my arms on my knees as I looked forward, admiring the innocent people that knows nothing at all. Suddenly I felt a hand on my head. I craned my head to the side and saw him smiling. A reassuring one.

"I'm sure you'll get through this. You always do." I smiled at those words. He always knows how to get me riled up or happy about something. It's something we both know how to and nobody else.

I was about to give him a reply but a sudden sign stabbed the bench between us. My position right now surely isn't the 'on-guard' type but I sure as hell can dodge a bullet anyhow.

"Izaya-kun!" A voice sang as he approached us. I twitched. The said man glared from afar. Mizuki just laughed.

"I never thought I would be this close to an attack from the fortissimo of Ikebukuro." I just sighed at his laidback personality. He didn't used to be like this, he used to be hot-headed. And I knew why he became like this. Sonohara Sayaka, Anri's mother, he was in love with her the moment he laid eyes on her but got shot down since she said she had a husband and child. Unfortunately, she killed herself and her husband because her husband was drugged with rage. He must have felt the lingering feeling and took her in. The funny thing is, she was Saika and she was the one who gave him that scar on his right eye.

Some twisted Tokyo love, as I say it.

Moving on,

"Have you seen Izaya?" He said, still irritated about the other day, it seems. I shook my head and answered, "Last I've seen him, you were throwing things at him like a child, Heiwajima." I purposely said to rile him up.

"Hah? A child? Oh please, he wants to fight so badly like a kid that didn't get an ice cream." I snickered, oh it's so easy to rile up hot-headed people.

"Heiwajima Shizuo." Mizuki called him. Shizuo casted his attention from me to him and so did I. He lifted up his well-crafted crane to Shizuo's chest. "If you hurt her," I felt a deadly aura surrounding Mizuki so my breath was hitched. He was one of the people that I was scared of. The words that came after didn't help at all.

"I will kill you."

Silence enveloped us for a good two minutes. He finally got up and laughed. "Tell that to your friends." He said. I finally let my breath go and so did Shizuo. "What.. The fuck?" He uttered and I slapped his shoulder after standing up. He rubbed his shoulder and glared at me. I ignored it, walking to find Izaya. That damn troll should be around here. I saw a lock of raven hair at a hotdog stand nearby. This time I didn't slump so I was really taller than him.

He turned and was surprised to see me. "Ah, yo, Mei-chan." He said as he gave me a hotdog. I shrugged and ate the hotdog.

After he explained our next move tomorrow, he said I could finally go home.

I sure as hell need some sleep. I was really getting my sleep and with those two idiots in my house, it really gets the cautious feeling away.

Of course, my luck just had to run out.

"Yo, Angel."

TBC...