Disclaimer: nophers

„Namie, I'm back." Izaya called out coming in the house, hands full of grocery bags.

"Good, did you get everything?" came Namie's voice from the kitchen.

"Yup, cream, strawberries, vanilla…why do we need all of this anywise?"

"To make a cake, of course." Namie answered peeking out from the kitchen in an apron.

"Namie, you really don't have too…I'll make it myself." Izaya offered taking the things out.

"What you think I can't make a cake as good as you? Is that what you are saying Izaya?" Namie raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh at Izaya's expression.

"No, no, no! Of course not Namie! I didn't mean it like that, I swear!" he whined out in panic.

"It's okay Izaya, relax, I'm just teasing." Namie said laughing a bit at the panicked boy; "But you are going to make a cake, with me. You are going to show me how to make a perfect cake, Mr. Professional."

Izaya smiled and nodded; "Alright, what kind of a cake are we making?"

"Birthday cake."

"Oh?" Izaya looked up in confusion; "And whose birthday is it?"

Namie looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and Izaya just stared back in that puppy like expectance. Namie sometimes had a feeling that if Izaya had a tail, it would be wagging 24/7. This was one of those times.

"You have to be kidding me Izaya! You really don't know?"

Izaya's head tilted on the side, and he blinked in confusion. She could see he was uncomfortable with the situation. Izaya wasn't used to forgetting things; in fact he had an excellent memory. But, it would always be something small, and usually him related, that would throw him out of his memory track.

"It's your birthday Izaya. Remember? You're turning seventeen today." She said, almost rolling her eyes at the boy.

"Oh that's right." He said sheepishly rubbing his neck for forgetting such a simple thing.

"You really are hopeless." She sighed, before grabbing his hand and tugging him off to the kitchen; "Come on now we have a cake to make."

Next hour was spent inside the kitchen, as Izaya showed Namie how to make a perfect cake. Namie smiled at his childish excitement when she told him that they are going to have a real birthday party, presents and all. Izaya excited like a child on Christmas. He never before had a birthday party, none that he could remember at least, and was extra excited when Namie told him that she has a present for him. Of course after the obligatory Namie, really you shouldn't have, I'm mean it's no big deal… and things like that he went hyper and did what every kid does and asked what is it for at least a million times. She would just smile and say that it's a surprise.

She pitted him a little. Izaya never once had a birthday party when he was with her family. He never received presents either, not for his birthday or any of the holidays. He was just always somewhere in the background, being happy because she was happy. He never asked for anything, never once complained when he was left out of all the fun. He would always obediently stay behind to do whatever her uncle would tell him to do. And he would always welcome them back with a smile asking Namie what she did, and was it fun. He lived through her, experiencing the world through her eyes.

She remembered one time, on Christmas couple of years back, when Seiji was still half ignoring Izaya. It was snowing and every single child in their neighborhood came out pulling their sleds to have fun in the snow. She and Seiji did as any other children and went out to play. She remember how happy she was because Seiji came, for he did not leave the house all that often, forever mesmerized by the sleeping head. But this time he came and they rode a sled together and built a snowmen and even been in a snowball fight.

She remembered how, while there were building that snowman, she at some point looked back at their house, for no reason at all. She saw Izaya, skipping through the snow, like all the kids his age did. But unlike all the kids his age, instead of pulling a sled, he was pulling a shovel behind him. He wore her old jacket and a hat that didn't cover his ears completely, but he didn't seem to mind at all. He was looking absolutely happy, jumping through the snow on his way to free their drive way and from the freezing grip of snow. While all of the other children were playing, while the street was echoing in their laughter, Izaya was just glad that he was able to go out and see the snow. Izaya loved the snow, she remembered how he would stick his face on the window, every single time when the white snowflakes covered the ground.

They always love what they can't have.

She regretted that after seeing him like that she never called him to join her and Seiji. She knew Izaya would love that, but she really didn't care back then. Chores needed to be done, and if Izaya won't do them, who will? She just turned her head around and helped Seiji with the snowman, never caring for Izaya's feelings or wishes.

When she and Seiji returned home after day full of fun, Izaya was curled up in the sofa sleeping off his exhaustion. He looked like a child tired from playing all day, child curled up in a sofa, next to the fire, trying to regain his body heat. Only a part of that was true, for Izaya really was freezing and needed warmth. But his exhaustion came not from playing, but from working all day long. She could still see his chest rising and falling in the rhythm of life, his nose red from cold. He caught a nasty cold after that, but he always said it was worth it for seeing the snow again. Snow he never got to play in.

She remembered that there where croissants and hot chocolate on the kitchen table when they came home. Both were perfectly warm and tasty, a real blessing after a snow day. Now she had to wonder, did he leave any for himself. Any croissants to mellow down his hunger, any chocolate to help his frozen body. He probably did not, leaving the food to them and curled up on the sofa, detriment to wait for them and hear all the exciting stories that Namie is going to tell him about her snow day. But life wouldn't even let him have that, as his own body betrayed him and gave in to tiredness.

He was such a sad child, always living for others. Always trying to make others happy, caring none for himself. And she always just stood there and let him do it. It was cruel from her and now she was intending to fix that mistake. She wanted to watch him smile and laugh for real, for his own happiness, and not somebody else's.

"What is it Namie? Come on I can't wait any more!" Izaya whined out, interrupting her train of thoughts.

The cake was in the oven and she decided that now it was as good as time as any to give him his present.

"Alright Izaya, close your eyes now." She told him and he happily listened, practically jumping up and down from excitement.

She rolled her eyes and handed him the red wrapped box. He opened his eyes, all the happiness in the world floating in his eyes as he hugged her.

"Oh Namie, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You might want to open it before you thank me, I can't guarantee that you'll like it" she laughed.

Actually I can, whatever I give you, you always like it.

"Okay! I can't wait to see what it is!" Izaya plopped down on the floor, carefully removing the wrapping paper from the box and finally opening it.

"Namie…"

"So do you like it?"

"I love it, thank you so much Namie!" Izaya looked up at her like a dog that just got a bone from his master. He was clutching his new fur trimmed jacket close to his chest with absolute happiness.

"I'm glad you like it. It's a bit warm for it right now, but when the winter comes there will be nothing better. Then you can go and play in the snow with it on."

"I can go play in snow!"

"Sure, when it falls." She smiled at him.

"I love you Namie, I love you so much." He shot up from the floor and hugged her once again.

"I love you too, Izaya." She smiled in his neck, feeling his warm scent around her.

They were interrupted by a doorbell ringing off.

"Who could that be, are you expecting someone Namie?" Izaya's head shot up.

"Yeah, those are your guest."

"Guests? I have guests?!"

"Yes, better not keep them waiting."

Izaya nodded his head eagerly bouncing his way to the door and opening them. On their doorsteps stood Namie's uncle and Seiji, accompanied by a strange man in the gas mask. Izaya tilted his head at the man as a slight feeling of fear passed through him. He remembered that man from somewhere, but he wasn't sure from where. However his brain reminded him to watch his manners, so he bowed respectfully at his guests.

"Good morning and welcome."

Mr. Yagiri smiled at him approvingly and Seiji just entered ignoring the older boy. Izaya was glad. He would rather have Seiji ignoring him, then tormenting him. Namie's uncle introduced the gas mask man as Dr. Kishitani and asked Izaya does he remember him, showing no surprise when Izaya said that he does not.

Izaya was really happy with his birthday party. The cake turned out great and everybody was happy and full by the end of the lunch. Namie looked very happy to, as she started talking again with her brother. Seiji, what was most important to Izaya, was behaving well towards him, actually treating him like a human being and not doing anything to humiliate or sadden the older boy.

All in all it was a very good day. Namie's uncle gave him two silver rings, telling him that they are very important to him and that he has to be very careful not to lose them. Namie almost started laughing at Izaya's face of pure joy and determination for being given such an important mission; he was simply overjoyed because Namie's uncle had so much faith in him.

After the meal was done and the dishes washed Namie's uncle and Dr. Kishitani went home, and Seiji stayed to talk to his sister a bit.

"You know, Seiji. I'm really happy that you and Izaya are getting along now." Namie said as she was greeting him out when he decided to go home.

"Yeah, I guess I have been a jerk to him all those years, huh." Seiji sighed.

"Yeah, kind of. But what's important is that we all get along now."

"Where is Izaya, by the way? Haven't seen him for a while now."

"He's probably at his parent's grave. He goes there every day."

"Oh I see, well goodbye Namie."

"Goodbye Seiji."

-Graveyard—

"Hi mom, hi dad. I'm back again; I brought you some new flowers." Izaya hummed as he arranged the new bought lilies around the grave; "You know, it's my birthday today. Namie threw me a real party, it was lots of fun. We had cake and it was really great. I'm sorry I didn't bring you any."

He sat down in the grass smiling a sad smile, as wind played with his hair; "You know, I may not remember a lot about you, but I still love you a lot. I bet you were the best parents ever and I'm so sorry I left you."

"I bet she was a whore." Harsh voice traveled from behind and Izaya spun around in surprise.

Seiji was standing behind him, deadly look in his eyes as he pierced Izaya with his gaze; "I bet she slept with every guy that passed through her door, hell I bet she slept with every guy in town."

Izaya's confused eyes angered Seiji. He wanted the stupid dog to cry, to be angry, humiliated, something. He wanted that power over him again, power which Namie took away from him. He needed Izaya's fear to make that power.

"S-Seiji? What do you mean?"

"You really are stupid aren't you? I mean that she was disloyal little whore, and I bet you're not even your fathers son. I bet that you're just mailman's bastard or something like that. Wouldn't surprise me."

Izaya's head went down to look at the ground as harsh words whipped his back.

"And I bet your so called father was no better either. He was probably some old greasy pedophile. Am I right mutt? Do you remember you father playing some special games with you, huh mutt?!" Seiji burst in laughter enjoying Izaya's misery.

"You are wrong."

"What?" Seiji looked up; "What you say runt?"

"You are wrong Seiji. My mother and father were nothing like you say they were. I may not remember them a whole lot, but I know." Izaya looked at him in absolute determination.

"Are you defying me Izaya, are you now? Well I can't have that can I?" Seiji roared in anger and charged at Izaya ready to beat his brains out.

Every bad dog needs to learn its place.

Seiji huffed out in pain as Izaya's fist connected with his stomach. It was a completely instinctive action and Izaya himself looked surprised at what he did. Then surprise left and terror nested in boy's eyes as he realized the size of his mistake. Seiji looked at him and got up ready to kill, but before he could make a move, Izaya bolted of in terror.

"You'll pay for this you little weasel, you hear me?!" Seiji yelled after the fleeing boy, and snapped his phone open; "Yeah this is me. You have a permission to move in."

Author's notes: You thought that Seiji is going to become a good guy too huh. Well wrong, Seiji stays a double time jerk he always was. And now since I'm on my dad's computer (family trip) and need to get off as soon as possible, I can't re-read what I wrote, so please excuse the mistakes. Please review, it keeps me alive (creatively)