Voices flooded your head as you began to regain consciousness. It was easy to recognize Shizuo's gruff voice, but the other male's voice was unfamiliar to you. They were talking in low voices as if not to wake you from your slumber.

"You're sure she'll be fine?" Shizuo asked, his voice full of concern.

"Yup, she'll make a full recovery soon," said the unfamiliar voice.

"But you didn't even give her stitches yet."

"Trust me, she doesn't need them. It's just the concussion that worries me, but that'll go away in time."

"Thank you, Shinra. I'm glad she's better," Shizuo said in a soft voice.

"I'm glad I could help," the man, Shinra, announced proudly. "But I do have to say, I'm kinda hurt that you got a girlfriend and didn't even tell me until now."

"He wishes I was his girlfriend," you teased before Shizuo could respond. Your voice was scratchy due to a dry throat which got you wondering just how long you were passed out for.

Both men turned their attention to you immediately. To your surprise, Shizuo didn't even seem annoyed by your comment - he just looked relieved. He also looked to be quite a mess. The bartender outfit that he always seemed to cherish so much was wrinkled and had several blood splotches across it. Shinra, as well, had blood splotches across his white doctor's coat and his glasses were crooked, but he bore a pleased smile on his face nonetheless.

"Ah!" he exclaimed. "She finally awakens!"

Shizuo hastily pushed his friend aside and sat down on the couch beside you. His usual shades were nowhere to be seen on his face allowing for his brown eyes to be seen. They stared into your (E/C) ones for quite a few moments before he finally spoke.

"You're such a dumbass," he said gruffly, sounding almost irritated.

"Wow, thanks, asshole," you retorted with a scowl on your face, turning away from him with your arms crossed.

Shinra laughed sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, this is quite the reunion."

Strong arms suddenly engulfed you into a hug from behind, shocking you momentarily. "But, I'm glad you're okay," he whispered.

Suddenly, a door slammed shut from somewhere in the large apartment, causing you to jump. Footsteps soon followed the noise causing you to tense up. After nearly getting run over by that black car, you weren't too keen on being in strange places. Even though Shizuo was there with you, it didn't make you any less nervous. Shinra seemed nice enough, but you had no clue who else lived in the apartment...

"Hey, no need to be nervous," Shizuo said as he put a hand on your shoulder.

Shinra laughed slightly before shooting you a friendly smile. "That's just Celty. She may appear intimidating, but she's really just a big sweetheart."

A girl dressed in all black stepped into the room and she certainly did appear intimidating. It wasn't her tough physique that frightened you; it was the fact that in replace of her head, black smoke was coming from her neck. She quickly typed a message onto a cell phone and held it up for Shinra to see.

"I'm not deaf you know," the message read. After holding the phone long enough for everyone to read the message, she folded her arms and tapped her foot.

Shizuo chuckled. "He's not wrong, you know. To normal people, you do come off as a little intimidating without a head."

"You're the Black Rider!" you exclaimed, interrupting their little conversation. You remembered seeing her the first day you arrived at Ikebukuro. Shizuo did mention that he knew her, it was just so hard for you to believe it until now.

She quickly started typing on her phone again before holding it up for you to see. "I'm glad to see that you're feeling better."

"Celty, here, was the one who helped me get you to Shinra to fix you up," Shizuo told you.

"Thank you so much," you said to both Celty and Shinra.

The doctor suddenly wrapped his arm around the girl clad in black and dramatically tilted his head back. "Ah, my wife here is just the best! She can cook, she loves helping people - not to mention she has such ginormous-"

She pushed him off of her before he could finish, sending him flying onto the ground. "Such a ginormous heart!" he stammered quickly as he got to his feet. "I was saying you have such a ginormous heart, Celty! Why do you have to be so mean?"

You couldn't help but giggle at the scene before you while Shizuo groaned in frustration, obviously used to Shinra's shenanigans. If Celty had a head, you could've sworn she would've rolled her eyes at her husband's attempts to seem innocent. Before he could say anything more, his phone began ringing. He held up a hand to us before answering it and walking away.

"So, Celty," you said, trying to make conversation. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you exactly?"

She typed on her phone quickly before holding it up. "I'm a dullahan."

"Basically the Irish folklore equivalent of the Headless Horsemen," Shizuo explained as he laid back in his seat and closed his eyes.

"So you really don't have a head?" you questioned.

"I have one, it's just lost."

Before you could question her even further, Shinra finally came back, not looking as happy as he did before. He threw Celty her yellow helmet with a forced smile on his face.

"Sorry, but you just got a job request," he said, not sounding too happy.

"What's wrong?" she typed.

"It's pretty far away - a few cities over. You don't have to take this one if you don't want to, especially because of the person who's requesting it."

"Who is it?" Shizuo asked, suddenly intrigued. He finally opened one eye and was staring at Shinra intimidatingly with it.

"Well, uh, I really don't think you want to know," he said sheepishly.

"Just spit it out already."

"Izaya Orihara."

A low growl was emitted from Shizuo, but he closed his eyes again. "What business does that little parasite want a few cities over?"

"I'm not quite sure," he admitted hesitantly. "Usually he tells Celty what he wants her to do once she's on the road and leaves me in the clouds. Not that I'm complaining. I think I'd rather not know what he's having her do."

Celty and Shinra both looked at Shizuo expectantly, as if they were waiting for him to blow up. He opened another eye again and sighed. "Look, this is your business, not mine. Do what you want. I know you're more than capable of taking care of yourself, Celty."

"I'll get going now," she typed before turning to you and typing some more. "It was nice being able to meet you. You can call me anytime you need me."

"I will," you told her with a nod.

Shinra helped her get ready and in a matter of minutes, she was gone, the only thing heard was the sound of her bike neighing in the distance. The three of you sat there in the apartment in silence for a few minutes before Shizuo finally spoke.

"I should probably take (Y/N) back to my place. Are you sure she's fine, Shinra?"

"Yes, she should even be fine to walk on her own by now," he told him. "Just no strenuous activity like running. She's still not fully healed yet."

"I hope you've learned your lesson about roaming Ikebukuro on your own," Shizuo muttered angrily.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

But you couldn't help but smile at just how much he showed that he really did care.