Chapter 6

It was Christmas already, and I spend the whole day with choosing the clothes I wanted. Izaya-san didn't disturb me much and was doing his own things, even though its Christmas already, I was actually wondering if he still remembered what we decided. I decided to wear a peach colored Knit tee with a small gray skirt, slightly peaking under it out. Tonight, I wasn't going to have my hair in ponytails and let my hair free with nothing in it.

I was about to pick the Knit Tee from the bed and the door flew open. 'Rio-chaaan~ I'm hungry,' was the adult man complaining like a little kid. I got in shock and tried to hide me - who was right in front of the door, bending over the bed - in underwear. I might be lucky for not being all nude.

Izaya looked confused at me. 'Why are you hiding?' he asked tease fully. 'A-as if you don't know the answer…' I stuttered, trying to speak what was kind of hard for me when I'm having a red head. He didn't move at all. 'But I'm not interested in Rio-chan's body,'

That's it, the bold, hard truth. I looked to the ground, feeling like a failure as a woman. A smile formed on Izaya's face and he came chuckling towards me, standing with his face close to me. 'Or do you want me to be interested?' he asked. He was toying with me again. 'N-no…' I hesitated first, actually not wanting to answer him at all. But I knew he wouldn't leave until I give my reaction. He came closer again. 'Then-'

The curtain was blown in his face, what made him cut off his sentence. I hid my face also in it now so he wouldn't be able to see me at all. 'Please leave,' I asked under my embarrassment. He didn't answer immediately, what made me wonder what he was planning, he was definitely planning something. 'Fine~' I heard him say after a couple of seconds. My body startled by hearing his voice and I hear his steps and then the closing of the door.

Slowly did I appear from behind the curtain, still hesitating by having the idea of him acting like he did go away so he would still be able to tease me. It appeared he was really gone so I sighed relieved.

I hurried up and put on my clothes before he comes back. I walked towards the kitchen when I was ready and started to cook for us.

When I was done I walk over to Izaya's room and knocked on his door. 'Izaya-san, dinner's ready,' I shouted so he would hear me but I didn't receive an answer. I opened the door calmly and look around. 'He isn't here?' I mumbled, just standing there. I tried to think about where he could be if he isn't in his room and when I haven't see him around. There was nothing much in mind.

I felt wind in my air what gave me shivers and I let a sound with a high pitch out of my mouth by accident. I jumped forwards and turn around, looking at the laughing and cheerful Izaya. 'You're really mean…' I mumbled. 'Never mind, never mind, let's go eat~' he said, leading me through the house towards the dinner table.

I sat down and looked at him while he was also sitting down. 'Itidakimasu…' I said softly, starting to eat. I focused on not looked at him and eating dinner so fast as possible.

'Rio-chan,'

'Eh?'

I looked up, just having some Okonomiyaki* in my mouth and seeing him smile. 'Merry Christmas,' did he say. The Okonomiyaki was spit out of my mouth, spattering on the table when he said that. 'Ah, Rio-chan~ What are you doing?'

'I-it's because you said that! So suddenly…' I mumbled, trying to explain my own reaction. I was getting all red because of him again. 'Eh? But it's Christmas remember?' he said, teasing me again. 'I know,' I sighed. 'M-merry Christmas,' I said slowly, fighting with all my might to say it.

After dinner, Izaya said he was getting ready for the party what we were going to attend. Actually, I don't like parties at all, but Izaya and I are nothing more than strangers so it would be pretty weird if they were going to something only together. Only couples do things like that. 'I wonder if we are still strangers…' I mumbled to myself.

'I'm finished!' Izaya said, sighing while he was coming out of his room. I held the handbag in my hand tighter when I looked at him. I couldn't describe what changed about him or if it was just his clothes but I get the feeling he was more handsome than before. Something changed the moment we looked at each other.

'What are you staring at~?' he asked and I flushed a bit by surprise. 'Nothing much…' I mumbled and we left while I was looking at the ground. His present was inside that black handbag in my hands…

I looked up at him while we were walking down the streets. 'Who's that friend of yours who is giving that party you were talking about?' I asked. The blush on my face from inside the house has already vanished. 'Ah, it's not really a friend or something, just someone I came to know… Ah, but you will recognize one of the people attending the party. I guess more than one,' he told me like it was nothing.

I didn't answer and remain silent until we arrived at the building. It was a flat, the building where the party was given.

'Ah, Izaya! And you brought a girl, how lovely!' the man who opened up said. His hair colour was the same as Izaya's but the style was different and he was wearing glasses. 'My name is Shinra, nice to meet you,' he smiled. 'This is Kamichika Rio-chan, we're living together~' Izaya introduced me, holding his hand on my shoulder and I blush. Shinra laughed and let us in. I saw a woman in black, with a yellow helmet. 'You…' I said slowly. She was typing on the cell phone in her hand and showed it to me. You're that girl I saved half a year a go, it's good to see you're doing fine. I smiled softly and nodded. 'Thank you for saving me that time,'

The party was fine, there were a couple of people of my class attending the party too, also the girl who I found in Izaya's office that time. I learned her little brother and his girlfriend are also in my class, so I was forced to talk with them when they came towards me and they just don't stop talking.

I felt pushed forward, that's why I hate parties. I have to socialize with people I do not care about, acting all nice to them. Izaya somehow noticed it and leads me out of the party and so we sneak out of it. I sighed relieved when we were walking around in the snowy wind. 'Thank you,' I said to him, really thankful of his action. 'It's nothing,' he chuckled.

We arrived at a park on a high place. He showed me a view of the streets of Ikebukuro, the lights were almost blinding me and I gasped of enthusiasm. 'You know,'

I looked at him. 'I didn't know what to get Rio-chan and I somehow remembered you like high places so that's why I'm giving this view as present to you,' I said, his face was hard to see in the darkness of the night. I blushed. I didn't know he was so considerate about me.

I smiled, remembering I also got him something. I was trying to find it in my handbag while Izaya was looking curious at me. I handed him the little pouch. 'I also, didn't know what to buy for Izaya-san very well,' I commented before he opened. I was really nervous actually, what if he doesn't want it? He opened the pouch and chuckled when he found the necklace, matching his ring and he putted it on, laying his hand on my head. 'Thank you, Rio-chan,' his voice wasn't teasing for the time being, it was… darker. I blushed and he walked a bit, playing around. 'Rio-chan,' I looked at him. 'Please say ''no'' when I'm asking about a party next time,' he said and I nodded with a smile, still having the burning colour on my face.

I was sitting on a bench in the park, close by the view he ''gave'' me as present but I was more looking at his actions with the children, walking with their parents or the stuff in the park itself than the view. Seeing Izaya act like that to others, being bullied by groups of children or falling from a slide plus the idea he was really thiking about me felt more like a present than the view of Ikebukuro.

And somehow, did I know that my unrequited love for this man was only growing harder at times like this.

(A/N) Okonomiyaki = a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients.