We finally arrive.

My parents aren't home. I know this because Orihara-San parked right in front of my house.

"They're out differently actually." He said. "Your mother went to go buy some ingredients and your father had to work late."

When he said this to me I couldn't help but notice how I don't know much about them as much as he does... Is that sad?

I look at the front door of my house. Do I really want to go in? Do I really want to be alone when I know about anri and Orihara-San? Do I really want to go through this alone?

No... I didn't go through it alone. Anri's smile and Orihara-San's hug was more than enough. I must trust the only people who give me attention. And then there's masaomi... I need I talk to him. I want to know what's on his mind. To understand him again.

Who knows... Maybe Orihara-San knows already...

I turn to him and I tried to smile.

"Thank you for taking me... To the hospital... And everything..." I look at my hands. I was shaking.

It wasn't cold if you're asking but... I felt scared out of no where.

Orihara-San seemed to notice my shaking and I hid my hands.

I nod and turned to the door. He grabbed my wrist-a little too hard- and said-

"Wait."

I didn't stare back at him. I looked out the window. It was dark out and there wasn't snowflakes this time. It was all empty and quiet except for my heavy breathing.

Why am I feeling this way?!

"I knew this was going to happen."

I shape my hands into fists to stop them from shaking and turn to him.

"Huh?"

"You're still scared aren't you?" He said.

I shake my head no. That's not what I was thinking was it?

I'm just so confused out of a sudden. It happens when I find things out.

I'm just really glad that he's grabbing on to my wrist to keep me together. I would have really lost it if he didn't do that.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" He asked. He reached his hand over my right cheek, probably impatient of my quietness. I felt my face burn and I closed my eyes tightly.

I get it now. I am scared. Of him...

WHY?!

Wait... It's not it at all.

That feeling I got in the party last Sunday is back for a moment and then gone. All I see is the times he'd grab my shoulders and hurt me. Over and over again.

I backed away from him and he held onto me even tighter. I made a noise and he let me go in an instant.

I brought my wrist up to my chest and tried to rub out the pain. I was still breathing loudly.

He went closer to his door too.

"Sorry." He whispered. He then turned to the window for a sec and turned back to me.

I looked at my wrist. I'm okay.

I sat normally on the car seat.

He must be thinking that I lied. I lied that I would trust him. I want to trust him but...

Am I actually scared of the thought of him keeping more secrets? I believe every single thing he tells me. Or maybe it's because I don't want to come out and tell him to be with me and to not let me feel alone.

"No..." I whispered. "I'm sorry." I said that last part a little but louder. He looked up at me.

I'm not going to cry again. I'm all out of tears but I have enough to give.

I shake my head no. In order to trust I need to be honest as well.

"I don't want to go in alone." I said lowering my head.

Yes. Good start. I need to tell him why I'm really like this.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

He laugh when he said it... I looked up at him and... He was smirking. He wanted me to beg or something? Just to let him in? Or is he wanting to see how I react? Is there something I'm missing?

"Wh-what's with you?" I asked. Somewhat irritated this time.

I looked around with my eyes.

He stopped laughing and looked right at me.

"What's with me? What about you? I don't suppose you know what time is it do you? And to bring someone like me into your home without your parents knowing...?"

I made a face. I hadn't given him one in a while so I made sure this one looked extra rude.

"Fine. I'll go inside by myself." I turn I leave even though I knew what was next.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. He brought me to an embrace and brought his face closer to my neck. I stood still from the whole thing, still surprised.

"I'm kidding." He whispered. He hugged me a little tighter. "I'm only kidding."

I lay my head on his. I bring my arms around him too.

I didn't realize how his feelings would have gone off too. If I left him on this car like I did at the hospital would he have felt lonely like I would have?

This is the bad thing about me: I never think of anyone else's feelings. I only think of myself. At least that's what I make it out to be.

The thought of him, the guy I actually like (love-ish), being lonely made me want to cry my eyes out.

But I didn't.

Let me tell you this- it's completely dark on this car. No light whatsoever. Isn't that perfect?

We stay like this for a few more seconds. I wanted his touch to last. I wanted to actually kiss him for once. (Party doesn't count... It doesn't!)

But again... It's like he's the one that does the demanding. And yet... I still cry when he tells me not to.

"Now tell me. Are you still scared?" He asked.

I'll be honest here. I shake my head no.

He breaks the hug and turns his head over to the front door.

"I'll stay." He said as he turns back to me. "But for awhile."

A while? I guess 'beggars' can't be choosers.

I smile as I agree to the deal.

He lets me go and goes for his keys. He then turns to his door. I get out the other way.

I walk around and meet up with him. Orihara-San was already close to the door waiting for my to pull my keys out to open.

I walk up and get my keys out. I open the door and peek inside. It's dark in the living room. He was right, my parents are no where to be seen. I even see a note on the fridge.

I enter and let him in. It's like sneaking into my own house... Scared to get caught. Scared for anything to happen. Still... It's better than entering with no one else. I walk up to the note on the fridge and pull it down seeing the letters written out exactly what Orihara-San said they both would be. Dad at work and mom shopping.

I put the paper down and turned to Orihara-San.

"What exactly did you tell them where you were last night? I'm sure they would be here waiting for you if you told them you got sick."

I started to walk away from the kitchen counter and said-

"Oh... Um.. Well actually... I told them I was out with some friends... And.." Yeah I mean... Anime conventions are friend activities, right?

He understood what I meant and look at my stairs.

"If you're going to eat something go ahead." He starts to walk to the stairs.

"Wh-where are you going?" I stuttered out.

"Up...stairs..." He was looking at me surprised. "What? You want me to stay here?"

I nod. I was starring at the lamp next to him.

"Alright fine." He said patiently. He begins to take his jacket off and places it on the sofa. I begin to walk back to the kitchen and grab a gallon of milk from the fridge.

:::::::izaya::

So she's helpless. That's really what I can describe her right now.

I really feel like she finally shattered into millions of pieces. Why do I say this?... Well... It's because she has never showed this side of herself to me. So agreeable. So 'honest'.

I don't know if I should like this... Or feel like it's very predictable... I'm taking in all the small things she does.

At least she's not mad/scared of me. She's more scared of herself. I know exactly how to make her forget about herself for just a quick second. It's a fun process.

"Don't you want to eat something?" Her voice is really soft. I want to tell her that there really isn't anyone else in the house other then me and her but I answer her instead.

"I'm not hungry at the moment." I said.

She nods and turns away quickly. She's flustered, I can tell.

I sit back on her sofa. I just hope she continues to be strong. I wouldn't want someone like her to be drained out from this world like her old self did.

I looked up at her as she sits down and starts to eat... Cereal?

She noticed me giving her confused looks.

"Thi-this was all I can... Eat..." She said. She puts the spoon down lightly.

If she was able to live with me, she wouldn't have to eat 'breakfast' at night.

"It's fine." I said. She continues to lift her spoon full of flakes.

Did I really just imagine her living with me?

...

Now I'm curious.

"Can you cook, Rio." I ask.

She looks up at me, surprised. She puts her spoon down and wipes away milk from her mouth.

She reminded me of a kitten. My kitten.

"I... I can make miso soup!" She smiles. "And... Rice balls... And... Rice and..." She looks at her bowl. "Cereal..."

This surprised me. I would have thought he knew how to make plenty of dishes.

"Anything else?"

"There's other things... But I can't name them all." She said.

Oh... So she does know how to cook.

"Do you like children?" The question was easy for me to answer: I don't really like them. If these children grow up interesting and not really mine then that's fine.

"I do... Actually." She answers. "This one time I babysat for someone across the street. It was all fun until the kids didn't want to sleep." She was actually forgetting about everything. I guess I don't need to do anything else but remind her of good times.

"Do you like doing laundry?"

She makes a confused look at me but answers anyway.

"Someone has to do it, right?"

I smile.

As expected from her.

She notices my silence and continues to eat her food.

I wait and look around. The living room is dark except for the dim light coming from the almost burned out lamp. Pictures hang around. All about her being young and happy having also happy parents.

I turn back towards her and she's already getting up.

It's 11:34. When are her parents coming?

I take my sweater from the sofa. I start to walk to the stairs. She begins to catch up to me and she tugs at my shirt. I let her hold on as we go up.

Her room hasn't changed. It's still girly looking.

I walk up to her bed and lay down. We both didn't even bother to turn the lights on.

"Now tell me. What are you going to tell Masaomi?" I said.

::::::Rio::

I was afraid he might remember and bring up the question...

I look around, desperate for atleast an idea.

"Um... I'll tell him I saw him exiting the hospital late." This is perfect. Masaomi will assume I came that late to see Anri.

"What if he lies to you and tells you he was with Anri the entire time?"

"We'll I..." Why does it have to be complicated with him? I give up. I sit down on my desk chair. While I sit I begin to reach for my lamp's button to turn it on for a better look at his face. "I don't know..."

"So you will accept that he came to visit saki?"

I looked at him quickly. "You don't know that for sure... I have to let him explain..."

"That's really all the proof you need." He said coldly. "Besides, he won't explain if you don't confront him with a good excuse."

He's right but... is he correct?

"I'll ask... I know I'll think of something... And if I don't then... I guess masaomi can handle this on his own if he really doesn't want me to get involved and everything."

He laughs a little. It sounded like he was telling me 'you're already involved'. I try to get rid of the idea.

"Ok.. What ever you say." He then starts to lay down on my bed again. I want to join him but I feel like that would be too awkward...

So the conversation about masaomi ends like that... He really gets bored easily.

I stand up. My body covers the only light source of the room and I lean cautiously to look at his face.

"May... I lay here with you too." I said. I started to blush but I was happy that he couldn't see me.

He starts to sit up and moves back so that I can have space to sit up with him too.

I take my boots off and sit. I look at him and smile.

He was quiet but I know what's going on in his mind. He's worried about what masaomi will say to me maybe. That's really all that's been going in lately. People worrying about other people.

That feeling from Sunday came back. I tried to swallow the feeling but it stayed.

I wrap my arms around his right arm and say-

"You don't know how great full I am that you came." I was very quiet for one reason: I never talk to anyone like this. It's embarrassing.

Forgive and forget about everything. Right now, it's just me and him. I will probably not be able to hear his voice again for a couple of days... Or weeks since he's so busy... The thought of it made me hold onto him more tightly.

"Rio, you shouldn't be thinking bad things right now."

I looked up at him. He was serious. He probably knows that I'm telling myself to stop being weak in such a harsh tone to myself...

He shakes my arms off of him and he drags his arm around my waist. He puts his left hand on my hair, trying to be gentle.

I can't really see the other half of his face due to the fact that I'm really close to his body and being scared on where to put my hands but... I can see a light smile appear on his gaze.

"Would you like me to make you forget about yourself for a second?" He spoke softly and that's what made my heart sink. I was completely helpless now and the thought of what he had in mind made me want to find out.

I grip onto his sleeves and feel myself try to nod.

He places my arms a little lower to stop them from fidgeting. He then leans onto me and presses his lips on mine. I close my eyes tightly. I don't know what will happen next. I'm scared to know what will.

I bring my hand up to my cheek to try to stop then from heating up my face but he grabs my hand and lowers it.

I lift my legs closer to my body but the were stopped on the way by his legs.

We're still sitting up but I can feel myself wanting to faint and die happily.

He lets go of my troubled right hand and grabs on to my hair. He's holding me in place since I moved back a little.

He pulls back for a sec to let me breath and I go in for it again.

I feel my stomach grow those bubbles everyone loves... Butterflies maybe...

I shift my body towards him and I put my left arm down to support my body.

He was a soft kisser. A good kisser. I wonder if I'm even doing this right.

He pulled my hair a little too hard and I yelped.

He pulled away quickly and stared at me.

"Are you ok?"

'Why'd he had to stop?' Is what I want to be thinking. Instead I think of how concerned he looked and how I'm still pretty much dead.

My breathing isn't normal and loud. He still has his hand in my now ruined hair. I'm sure my face is redder than a tomato and I try to cover my mouth with my hand. As if covering it will bring back the feeling.

I nod. "I'm ok..." I lower my head. I'm just glad I'm not wearing lip gloss... That would have been really messy.

I'm a get carried away kind of person. As I lean in like desperate cry for more he puts both of his hands on both sides of my head... Just below the ears so that I can hear him clearly.

"I said for a second..." He said. Although it was clear he wanted to do it again too.

He's probably concerned about how he 'gets carried away too. Does he not want to hurt his little girl? The reason we're together is because he's trying to find something out. Now he can.

Maybe he's testing me.

I begin to nod like I can't speak.

He grins.

He drops his arms away from me and begins to lay down.

I never noticed how my bed can fit two people perfectly.

It's not as big as his, or comfortable, but ill remember this place mostly from my first kiss and my first death.

I look behind me and he's staring at the chair I was sitting on moments ago.

:::::::izaya:::

Am I insane? I was really sure I was going to do something not ok. Not ok at all.

She sets herself down next to me and diggs herself closer to my chest.

Here I though I wasn't ever going to be able to kiss her the same way that I used to...

I begin to run my fingers thought the mess on her hair I made. I want to say sorry but she seems to have no problem. Her hair is sensitive.

She pulls away gently and says-

"You're staying after all?"

"Until you fall asleep." I said.

She nods and sits up. She takes a bed sheet and drapes it over us. She take off her sweater leaving behind her tank top. Yeah... She just had to do that last part.

She comes down again and hugs me tightly.

I tried to search for her hair again but a touched her arm instead. Her skin is soft. I lay my arm on top of hers. She really is soft.

Everything about her is soft.

Which makes me want to ask her-

"Rio... Are you bi-polar?" At first it was a joke but she said-

"No... I'm just... Really confused." She whispered.

I begin to close my eyes. I don't remember if she fell a sleep like I did but...

I heard a faint 'I love you'.