"MERRY CHRISTMAS MUTHAF*CKA!" Rika yells busting into Mikado's home.

"R-Rika?!" Mikado jumps in surprise.

"Here, I promised you laptop!" She hands Mikado a poorly wrapped box.

"Um…"

"I was in a rush and they didn't deliver it until this morning ok? Shut up!" Rika huffs.

"T-Thank you Rika but…What's with that outfit?" Mikado stares at Rika's Santa dress before looking away blushing.

"It's to get into the spirit!" Rika cheers.

"And maybe hook up with a few guys," Rika mumbles under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

"…Ha, you've always been into the Christmas holidays," Mikado laughs.

"Of course! It's the one day when I'm happy for the entire day! Nothing can bring me down today! Ohohoho!" Rika laughs triumphantly.

"Have a Merry Christmas Mika-chan~ Spend quality time with your girlfriend!" Rika winks before exiting nearly tripping in her high heeled black boots. Shaking his head, Mikado laughs at Rika's weirdness.

Running around in a strapless Santa dress wasn't exactly easy during the middle of winter. But to Rika, seeing everyone smiles made it worth it.

"Well, aren't you cheerful?"

"You know for once I'm not going to get pissed off," Rika smiles and takes Izaya by the hand.

"Come on! Let's enjoy the holiday season you introverted, sadistic, creep!" Rika giggles pulling Izaya along with her. Walking around a snow covered Ikebukuro was magical.

"Is it always this pretty?" Rika asks but got no response.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Rika rummages around her huge sack and then hands Izaya a small box.

"Go ahead, open it," Rika urges Izaya to open the box and when he does, there is a pretty glass queen piece used in chess inside.

"I noticed that your shogi/Othello/chess board game thing was missing a queen the last time I was at your office, so I thought I'd get you one instead considering I don't know anything else to get you for your Christmas gift,"

"Like I'd keep this," Izaya scoffs.

"I don't expect you to keep it, I just thought it would be great in your game thing. You can dispose of it anytime but for the time being, I thought it would be a nice gift," Rika shrugs.

"…" Izaya looks at the chess piece in silence and Rika laughs.

"Come on, don't be like that, how about a thank you?" Rika says jokingly and gently took Izaya's hand again before starting to walk when she stopped dead in her tracks. Letting go of Izaya's hand, her own gloved ones fall to her side. Up ahead was her boyfriend and another girl kissing. They then linked arms and walked away while time slows down for Rika. Izaya takes this to his advantage and walks up behind her.

"Wasn't that your boyfriend? Did you guys break up or something? Well I don't blame him, the girl is a model after all,"

"…" Rika's hair covered her eyes for a second before she turns her head up again with a smile.

"Haha, nice try but its Christmas! Christmas is the one time when I'm not allowed to cry, nice try I-za-ya-kun!" Rika made a peace sign and then started to smile gently.

"Besides, this is probably just karma for playing around…I need to go do something now, I'll see you later!" She waves and walks away slowly and Izaya is laughing. He's finally found something that will break her yet he doesn't feel as giddy as he should be.

Rika walks around town and watches the couples holding hands, blushing under the mistletoe, and acting all lovey dovey. She eventually ends up at the park and she sat down in front of the lake and reminisces the time when her boyfriend first confessed to her.

"Who would have thought we'd last 6 years before breaking up? On our anniversary too...I guess I'll send him a text saying I understand," Rika stares at her phone before putting it away.

"I'll do it tomorrow…Heh…I guess this is what happens when you decide to have a little fun with other guys," She leans back and props her arms onto the bench.

"The worst part is that I'm not sad about him….I'm ashamed of disappointing someone else…" She covers her eyes with her arm and laughed.

"I'm so pathetic," She stands up again and slapped her face.

"Time to finish delivering gifts!"

Walking through the front door, Rika throws her keys on the table and looks at the time.

"Ah…It's already 11:46PM…" She walks over to her desk and picks up the photo of her and her boyfriend. Staring at it for a few seconds before placing it face down on the desk. Changing out of her attire, Rika slumps onto the couch and covers her eyes. 11:52PM. Tears start to roll down her face.

"Ah…Seems like I didn't make it in time for Christmas to be over. You can come out now…Izaya," Rika mumbles gently. Soon enough, Izaya comes out of the shadows but his face was covered by the darkness of her home.

"…" None of them say a word when Izaya turns his back and walks towards Rika's door while Rika stands up and walks outside onto her balcony.

"…This is a perfect opportunity to tell you everything I guess…On our very first encounter on that rooftop…You had asked me why didn't I just jump and end everything. I answered I don't know right?" Izaya stops walking but he doesn't turn around.

"That was a lie…But I'm guessing you knew that already," Rika chuckles dryly.

"I was scared. I still am. I was scared my entire life, fearing abandonment, love, loss, about nearly everything…Then I met you…You are the reason how I'm able to say all of this right now. I'm sorry. I disappointed you…Didn't I?" Rika asks hesitantly.

"….Yes," He replies monotonously. His face still not visible to her and her back still turned towards him.

"I wasn't good enough to meet up to your expectations. I guess I really am worthless," Rika laughs bitterly.

"…Night 150," She whispers almost inaudibly.

"Izaya-kun…Please turn around," Izaya, surprised that Rika had asked him something, turns around slowly only to catch her smiling serenely.

"Merry Christmas…" With that, she falls off the balcony. Izaya instantly notices her belt gear and a note next to it. He walks over to it hesitantly and reads it.

Dear Izaya,

If you're reading this then it means I've finally cracked and did it. Heh. It's been a wild few months huh? Heck you were in love with me weren't ya? Pft, guess we were both too stubborn to admit feelings for each other hm? I must be crazy…Choosing to fall for you of all people…That's right. I cried because of our fate and how it was never meant to be. Until now, I've never had the guts to do anything courageous until I met you. Anyways I left my belt gear for you and I hope you like that chess piece I got you. One last thing…Thank you…Orihara Izaya~

Tsukino Riko

Izaya widens his eyes and rushes over to the balcony where he heard a sickening thunk and saw splatter of blood. Little did he know, Rika was repeating those words as she was falling. Thanking him for giving her the courage to finally let go for real. Izaya slides onto his knees and crushes the letter.

"Why am I feeling unsatisfied? I got what I wanted in the end right?! So why aren't I feeling satisfied?!" Izaya clutches his head.

"You…You're always two steps ahead of me!" He screams as the sirens of the ambulance overlap his screams.

Five month has passed since that day. Izaya is at his base tinkering with his game board pieces, specifically a sparkling glass queen chess piece, when Namie decides to mock him.

"Are you still thinking about her after all this time? I would have expected you to move on after an hour," Izaya glances at her.

"Who is this 'her' you speak of?" He responds with a smirk.

"Tsukino Rika of course,"

"Of course not. I never cared for the being anyways. She was merely a human who intrigued and entertained me but failed to continue to do so," He shrugs and stares at his board again.

"So why bother keeping that chess piece she gave you?"

"Would be a waste to throw away such a pretty gift,"

"Why not just admit your feelings? You've kept it all this time-"

"It is none of your concern," Izaya cuts her off and it's the end of the discussion.

Another month passes and Izaya is wondering the streets of Ikebukuro looking for people to manipulate when he sees Shizuo and thinks it is the perfect time to go and irritate him when he freezes at the sight of familiar mahogany hair with Shizuo. He runs up and pulls on the person's shoulder to reveal her face. Silver eyes and a tint of blue exactly like Rika.

"…Who-"

"Excuse me, who are you?" This woman cocks her head to the side.

"It's Izaya…Rika?" The woman cocks an eyebrow but smiles.

"I'm sorry but you must have the wrong person, I am Fukui Mai," She answers humbly.

"But-"

"I-za-ya-kun," Shizuo dictates before pulling out a nearby vending machine and chucks it straight at Izaya who jumps out of the way and starts to run. Shizuo tries to give chase but Mai holds out a hand to stop Shizuo.

"Cut him a break will ya?" Mai asks and Shizuo sighs.

"Tch, fine, whatever," He lights up a cigarette and looks at Mai who is staring at the direction Izaya ran longingly.

"…I'm back where I started," She whispers to herself.

"…Are you sure you're ok with this…Rika?"

"Yeah…He deserves better, besides I can't keep up with his games. Now shall we get going…My dear onii-chan?"

"Yeah,"

"…This is for the best. After all…He is always two steps ahead of me,"

.

.

.

TBC

jc:hurhurhur!

cinna: wow...

jc: anyways, until season 2 comes out, youll hav to live in curiosity in this mysterious appearance of Rika

cinna: you troll

jc: haha, oh yeah, btw, i chose 6 months because apparently season 2 is set 6 months after the first season so yeah, thts an extra note

cinna: haha, alright, so until next time when the anime comes out~

CinnaRose and MangaluverJC out~