Chapter Four: The Princess and The Jackass Prince

Flashback - Raira Days

Ayumi stood waiting for Chieko when someone stopped in front of her. She looked up and glared, seeing Izaya Orihara. "What do you want?"

"Oh, that's no way to greet me." Izaya grinned, leaning closer. "I thought you had a crush on me, Princess~" Akemi turned away to avoid talking to Izaya. He'd gone through a journal she had since stopped keeping and found that she had written about him. It pissed her off. But as mad as she was, she didn't hate him… she reserved that emotion for the people who hurt her family.

"Shut up. What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing~ I just saw you standing here and thought I'd say hi~ Maybe have a nice chat~"

"Like hell. Go away."

"Aww, you're so cruel~" he laughed, pinning her to the wall and pretending like he would kiss her. She flinched and shut her eyes tight, Izaya grinning more. "That innocence makes you just like everyone else, you know." he said, leaning in, only to get pulled off of her by a boy with smooth black hair and glasses, the boy's sharp glare one Izaya was very familiar with.

"Orihara."

"Oh, hello there Mister Dragon~" he laughed. "Protecting your Princess again~? Such a good brother you are~"

"Nii-sama..."

"Ayumi, I told you if he comes calling, punch him or something." he scolded, Ayumi looking dejected at her big brother's words. "... I'll see you at home."

"Right." she mumbled as her brother dragged Izaya off somewhere else, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. Kyoya knew she liked him, that's what made it hurt. Kyoya detested Izaya almost as much as Chie's boyfriend did... but her heart still raced for him... she mentally scolded herself as Chieko walked up to her and greeted her, the pair heading to get some sweets at a cafe before heading home.

Present Day -

Izaya grinned to himself as he watched Ayumi sleeping so peacefully, having just slipped into bed with her to give her a bit of a shock this morning. How he loved to see her embarrassed. She'd fallen asleep as soon as she'd hit the bed, and he'd left to go do some work, borrowing her key to let himself back in and pretend like he'd climbed into bed with her and stayed all night. So there he lay, watching the girl who was oh so fond of him shift in her sleep. Surprisingly she moved towards Izaya, as though seeking warmth. He found himself running his fingers through her hair, anticipating her waking and either trying to kill him or hiding beneath the covers. Either way, it was going to be fun. He shifted to allow her to curl up next to him, the girl soon waking. "Good morning, Princess." he smiled charmingly at her, making her stare. She pulled the blanket up over her head and turned away. "Aww someone's so shy~ After you pulled me into bed last night to sleep next to you and did all those things~"

"... Sh-sh-shut up I didn't!" she said from under the covers, Izaya grinning more. She wasn't sure, she didn't remember. That made it more entertaining. "G-go away!"

"You're so funny, you know." he said, sitting up and leaning over her, nuzzling where he assumed her cheek was and whispered into her ear. "I like you when you're straight forward." he said before getting up, leaving Ayumi's face bright red as she fumed under the blanket. When she was sure he was gone, she got up and ran into the bathroom to change, trying to calm down by splashing water on her face. She emerged to give Izaya a piece of her mind when she found him separating a bag of breads into what she assumed was a plate for himself and a plate for her.

"... What's that for?"

"I'm repaying you for letting me into your house and into your bed~" he laughed, making her throw a pillow at his face. "I'm kidding I'm kidding." he put his hands up in mock surrender. "It's payment for dinner." he stated, patting the couch next to where he sat. "Eat with me, honey~"

"I'll kill you." she mumbled, sitting down and glaring at him before looking to the bread. Her eyes went wide, realizing Izaya had gone out to the bakery she used to go to a lot when she was in school and he'd bought her all her favorites. "Holy crap, have you been stalking me since I was in middle school?" she asked, glaring at him.

"Haha, no silly girl." he grinned. "I just happen to know you love these kinds of foods is all~" he said as he bit into one of his rolls. "Eat. They're pretty fresh still." he added. Ayumi stared at him for a moment before she took one and ate it. Izaya caught sight of the smallest smile gracing her lips.

Ayumi was wandering the streets of Ikebukuro, feeling like an idiot. She couldn't believe that Izaya had said what he did this morning, and what he said went on the night before. He was so hard to grasp from a mental standpoint sometimes... it was like catching smoke with your bare hands, a term she'd picked up from a book she'd read once. She sighed, wearing the coat that he'd loaned her out of "respect" and as a peace offering of sorts to her, in exchange for her help with something going on in Hokkaido he wanted to learn about. It was cold, so she was appreciative of the warmth, but she felt odd... this didn't feel like a man's coat. And when she'd checked the tag when he tossed it to her, it was definitely not a men's brand. It was odd… Namie didn't wear this kind of coat it wasn't her style. She'd been to the office enough times in the past month to know that for sure…

"Ahyoomi." The large man before her wearing the white uniform of the restaurant he worked for smiled at her, his Russian accent catching her ear as it always did.

"Evening, Simon." she smiled a little.

"You want sushi? Is good today. Boss got fresh salmon and green beans." he stated.

"Ah, maybe I will." she smiled.

"Are you bothered? Something is wrong?" he asked her. "You seem unhappy. Is no good, must smile." He stated, making Ayumi chuckle a little.

"I try… but I had a little run in with Izaya and he was quite the troublemaker…" she stated.

"Oh." she turned when she heard that voice, pausing to see Kadota and 3 of his friends. "If it isn't Ayumi." he smiled.

"... Kadota...?" she blinked. "Ah, it is you..." she smiled. "Dotachin~"

"Oi, quit calling me that." he stated, tousling her hair, pausing to stare at her jacket. "That's new."

"Yeah..." she paused. "... It was a gift..." she added, face tinting pink. "A-anyway, do you guys wanna join me? I'll pay."

"What no way, really?" the girl in all black jumped forward with the man in the blue hoodie.

"Is this one of those times where a girl in distress from your distant past comes and asks you for a favor or something?"

"Oi, knock it off." Kadota told them.

"Introduce us, Dotachin!"

"Yeah yeah!"

"Ugh." he sighed. "Ayumi, these are my friends. Erika." he motioned to the girl in black. "Yumasaki." he motioned to the light haired man. "And Togusa." he motioned to the last one with brown hair. "Guys, this is Ayumi Ryugazaki. She used to live in Ikebukuro."

"I do again, now." she stated.

"Oh, you moved back?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, your name is so cool! It's not a pen name is it?"

"No no, it's definitely a faction name." Yumasaki stated. "Sounds like the ane-san of a big time yakuza group."

"Oi, she's not a yakuza." Togusa said, shaking his head. Ayumi and Kadota looked at each other before smiling a little. "Anyway, there's no way we can let a kid pay for our food."

"Oh, I'm not a kid..." she mumbled. "I'm 22... and I have an income... besides, I've kind of gotta ask Kadota some stuff so call this compensation..."

"Whoa, 22?!"

"You're not that much younger than us..." Yumasaki stated. "But you also have a round face which characterizes you at first glance as the loli type... but then..." he pondered. "You have a large bust so perhaps its like the little sister type?" he asked, Erika agreeing and adding that she might be the library girl type, both agreeing on this before skipping into the restaurant, Ayumi smiling and chatting with Togusa and Kadota as they were seated, the energetic pair sitting together as Kadota let Ayumi into the farthest seat back, Kadota sitting next to her with Togusa at the end. After ordering, Kadota looked to Ayumi.

"So what's up?"

"... You know already." she said, looking to her jacket that she'd removed. "He's still an asshole, but... something's different..." she mumbled. "I know he's not the type to give gifts, so what the hell is he doing?"

"Did you consider that he might be trying to get you on his side to curry favor with your family?"

"Oh, is this a suitor perhaps?" Erika asked.

"... More like a guy who doesn't know how to treat a kid..." Kadota said to Erika. "You wanna tell them?" he asked Ayumi, who shook her head. "Mind if I give them the short version?" She shook her head again. He nodded and turned to his now very curious friends. "Ayumi's family is a serious power player in the business world." This was true. "The guy who gave her the coat used to visit her house when she was a kid, and she used to have a huge thing for him. But as soon as he started being an asshole to her she didn't know what to think." This was also very much true. "Then something bad happened, they had a huge falling out but her family still did business with this guy's family." Half true, half false. It was just him, no one else was involved in the business. But she appreciated the cover up. "Anyway, I guess he's been... weird... since she came back to 'Bukuro...?" he mumbled, turning to her.

"He's an asshole but he's not as pushy as he used to be... and he's been giving me gifts and stuff so I don't know what he's trying to get at... whether it's my body or whatever." she muttered, hearing Simon bringing the food and looking up as her plate was passed to her. "Plus, he said this coat was one of his, but it's a woman's coat, and his assistant has her own so I know this isn't hers." she added, shaking her head. "I don't get him..."

"You still like him?" Erika asked, Kadota flinching and preparing to reprimand her for the comment when Ayumi stopped him.

"I do."

"It's been how many years?"

"... I dunno, 7 or 8?"

"Have you stood up to him yet?" Yumasaki asked.

"In a way yes..." she mumbled.

"Have you told him he's an asshole?"

"Plenty."

"Oi, guys..." Kadota sighed. His friends backed off the subject a little, soon talking about what plot this resembled as Kadota looked at the younger girl. "Hey, Ayumi."

"Hm?" she looked up at Kadota.

"You told him before you left right?" he asked her. "That was your note he found on his desk?"

"… You saw that, huh?" she asked.

"He was parading it around class all day saying stupid shit." He replied, smiling a little. "You should ask him what he did with it."

"Knowing him he'll get on your case for telling me." She sighed, starting to eat her sushi. "Don't wanna impose that on you." She added, polishing the piece in her hand off quickly. But you could tell she felt better hearing that.

"Man, you're still always worried about others…" Kadota shook his head. "Think about yourself for once."

"I did." She replied. "When I ordered this sushi." She finished off the last piece on her plate. Everyone in their little group laughed at that, Erika and Yumasaki telling Kadota that she'd won that round for sure. She drank her tea before taking out money for everyone's meal as Togusa and Yumasaki began arguing about something playfully, Erika joining in and soon dragging Ayumi in when they realized she read this particular book that they were bringing up. When they left the room to pay, she weaved past them and paid in cash, thanking the old man and Simon before heading out the door. Kadota pat her head once they were outside.

"Take care. Don't let that asshole of yours get the better of you." He smiled. "If you need help, just call." He added, handing her his phone number.

"I'll do my best, Dotachin~" she smiled. He ruffled her hair before letting her go off on her own, the girl smoothing herself out and then hurrying back home. But on the way, someone was on her tail. That worried her greatly. She weaved through the crowd and hurried along, trying to avoid the person. But somehow she was followed all the way into the train station. She was going to leave when she ran into a familiar black v-neck shirt and fur-lined jacket.

"Princess, you should be careful." Izaya chuckled, pulling her closer. "Showing public affection for your lover is dangerous~" he lead her into the train car, seeming to notice the man on her tail. "Don't worry~ We'll go home now~" he added, holding her close and far away from the man who had to enter through another door and began combing through passengers looking for her. Izaya just leaned over her and kept her from view of pretty much anyone unless they were sitting right next to the exit. The man walked past them, Izaya grinning. "Miss me?" he asked her, the girl not making eye contact with him. He looked down at her hands, noting that she was shaking. "Ahh, was that scary?" he asked. "Goodness, since when does the Princess get scared?" he asked, pausing when he felt her grasp them hem of his shirt, looking up at her and seeing that she was biting her lip. That was fear… real fear…

"That was…" she mumbled, clinging to Izaya's clothes. "That was the guy who tried to stab Kyoya…"

"From when?" Izaya asked, much more serious than he had just been.

"… When Mama was…" she hid against Izaya when the man came back, the man sighing and holding her close. "When Mama was killed…" she whispered, Izaya's eyes going wide. He glanced over his shoulder as the guy continued to patrol the cars, soon seeing him sit in the car ahead of them. "He's the one who went after Kyoya…" she mumbled as Izaya kept her out of the man's sight. They stayed there the whole ride, and when people got up to get out of the cars, he leaned over to Ayumi's ear, whispering something before they headed outside quickly. The man looked around for them, but he was unable to find her. Izaya meanwhile walked Ayumi out, having switched jackets to make things confusing for the man. Ayumi wore his jacket, the sleeves almost too long on her, where as her jacket was a little form fitting compared to what he was used to, but he would deal with it. They were in Shinjuku now, and he could keep her safe here.

"Come on." He told her, leading her to his office before making her sit down, noting that Namie was not here this evening. As much as he loved seeing humans react to bad situations, this was one situation he was not willing to test. Ayumi's parents had been killed in their own house, and she'd almost lost her big brother that night too… The information he'd gathered on the incident in its aftermath was only that the group was a yet unknown band of renegades, not working for any faction to his knowledge. And Ayumi when scared was something he didn't like seeing. He told himself that shouldn't be true, that he should be making fun of her and taunting her, a yakuza, for being scared in the face of danger… that she should be angry… but whenever he was about to say something and he caught that sad, scared look, he bit his lip and told himself not to. This was one time he knew she'd just stop reacting, so he just poured her some tea and sat with her. "You feeling better?" he asked, noting that despite having removed the jacket that he'd given to her, she was practically drowning herself in his jacket.

"No."

"… You gonna keep my jacket hostage?" he asked, grinning a little as she nodded. "So long as I get it back later." He pet her head, knowing that she wouldn't calm down and probably wouldn't sleep. But why was he being nice to her? Why wasn't he throwing taunts and teasing her like he always did?

"Izaya."

"Yes, Princess?"

"… I'm sorry…"

"Sorry?" he looked shocked. "For what?"

"I'm imposing…"

"You're so strange, Princess." He sipped his tea. "You always do what I'm not expecting…"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I expected you to…" he stopped himself. What did he expect? Did he not know? No that couldn't be, he always knew…

"… You expected me to…?"

"Nevermind." He shook his head. "Sleep on the couch." He added, going to get some blankets, only to be stopped by Ayumi. He paused, turning to look over his shoulder at her. "… You want me to stay?" She just nodded, Izaya feeling something different than he was used to… He felt like he was needed…no, not just NEEDED… he felt wanted. Despite the fact that he was such an ass to Ayumi, she still behaved this way towards him when she needed someone. He rubbed the back of his neck, smiling a little. "Man, you're really weird." He mumbled, pulling her to lean on his shoulder, waiting for her to doze off. Once she did, he turned to look at her, making her lay down in his lap and staying there to stare at her for a while before shifting her off his lap, but allowing her to keep hold of his jacket as a blanket, going to sit at his desk and check on those leads he'd been running down. But he kept glancing back at her as he worked. Why was this happening? He didn't get it. But after a moment he paused, laughing quietly to himself. "Oh, could it be…? Do I like the thought of being in love?" he asked, shaking his head. "Or do I like you, Princess?" he looked back at her, seeing her still sleeping peacefully on the couch. "Hahaha, your big brother's not gonna thank me for this…" he grinned to himself, getting back to the Dollars chatroom.

(Ahaha, here's the next chapter-

I hope you guys like it ; v ;''' no reviews yet...

Next time, it'll be Shizuo and Chieko's turn~ o v o

-Winter Cheshire)