So Souls of the Blue Fire Pheonix brought up a cool point that I should do a chapter based on Izaya and Natalia so I took a short break from the main plot to write this. Soooo hope you enjoy! And thank you for the great idea S.o.t.B.F.P. and to all who have reviewed!
Disclaimer: I don't own DRRR
Eight Years Ago
"Natalia!" Shinra shouted from across the courtyard. He, Shizuo, and I had plans to go to Russia Sushi after school and Shinra seemed as impatient as ever to get there. I wasn't too thrilled at the idea of walking around the city in the middle of winter, these uniform skirts weren't exactly suited for this season, but Shinra loves to get the three of us together so I don't mind as much.
We go to Russia Sushi as least twice a week, it's more of tradition than routine. Shinra will drag us out into the city on Sunday and Friday nights for 'bonding' or something like that. Shinra knows what an odd ball group we are so he tries his hardest to have us participate in 'normal' teenage activities. Like going to see movies, eating take out together, and once he even suggested a sleep over which was quickly vetoed by Shizuo and me. Shinra tries his hardest so Shizuo and I try to go with it.
"Sorry I am late, I got held up in the science lab."
"No problem, I've heard that Haruka-sensei is a jerk! Let's just hurry I'm starving! What about you Shizu-kun?" All Shizuo did to react to Shinra's excited manor was give a 'hn' in response. Shizu-kun had become more talkative though, sure he normally opted for a short response but there were times when he would actually open up and join in conversations.
I stuck beside Shizuo while Shinra happily paced on ahead of us going on about some new surgical technique that he had heard about on the internet. He rambled on about it the whole walk. I pretty much ignored him, I know it's rude but I had gotten the gist of his story long ago. And Shizuo hardly ever listens to anything, so Shinra was all but talking to himself. But that was OK, he knew no one was listening because we never really did and he was content. I think he just talks all the time to fill the silence until we find something worth discussing.
The streets closest to Russia Sushi were always highly populated and though I normally I love to be immersed in the busy culture, it makes me little nervous at times. I'm a small girl so I easily get pushed and shoved in ever direction, my only solace was when I was with Shizu-kun because people made a point to avoid him. He let me hang on to his arm as he charged his way through the crowd.
Simon was standing outside the restaurant like always, greeting people in an accent that we both share. Simon is one of my favorite people in Japan, the obvious reason being that we are both Russian but also because he keeps Izaya and Shizuo from killing one another whenever he can. Simon is a good man, someone to be respected.
"Oh kids you eat sushi today?" Simon greeted when we got closer.
"Of course we are, it's Friday!" Shinra exclaimed throwing his hands up in air dramatically. Simon laughed heartily.
"Yes, yes how could I forget. Come, eat!" Simon showed us to our normal seats in the back of the restaurant. It was a private booth tucked away in the corner. Shizuo's presence tends to draw unwanted attention so Denis reserved us seats for Friday and Sunday nights.
We ate in relative quietness, Shinra, like always, dominated most of the conversation. Shinra and I had been assigned biology partners for a project so that's what he decided to discuss. He wanted to get the lay out for how we were going to work. Mostly he just spit balled ideas until we both agreed on something. Finally we decided that we would create an underwater ecosystem, he would perform all the intellectual stuff and he left me to the actual making of the poster board.
Shinra discussed the logistics of what all we would need for the project and I just patiently listened while munching on my meal. I glanced over at Shizu-kun and he was playing with his lighter. Over the past couple of weeks I had noticed that Shizuo had started to take to smoking. It worried me that he was picking up such an unhealthy habit. I hadn't said much about it to him, I had been hoping that he would get bored with it. He pulled out a pack out of his uniform pant pocket and lit it up. I sighed and disappointingly watched him take a long drag. I guess it didn't take him long to get used to inhaling the toxic smoke.
"Shizu-kun I wish you would not do that." I told him softly. He looked over at me with eye wide in surprise, like he didn't expect to hear my voice. His cheeks reddened slightly in embarrassment and he sighed.
"It just calms me ya know?" He said in a low voice almost as if he didn't want me to hear.
"Are you angry?" The blonde shook his head and leaned back in his seat.
"Nah not really, I just feel on edge kinda."
"Well smoking is very bad for you, the effects it can have on your body is very detrimental." Shinra started to explain, "Take the lungs for example the smoke can cause cancer, it's actual really amazing when you know what's going on. You know it's not the tobacco itself that is harmful to your lungs in reality it's-" My phone buzzed in my skirt pocket diverting my attention away from the conversation. It was Izaya. Earlier in the day during health he said he had wanted to meet up later tonight but I thought he had forgotten about it.
[Where are you?] His message read. I rolled my eyes at his stupid question, he knew perfectly well where I was. He asks me the same question every Friday and I always give him the same answer.
[Like you don't know.]
[Ahh you are so right Nata-chan! Want to meet me outside?]
[Izaya I am busy, you know that.]
[Awwwww Nata-chan doesn't love me! ;( ] I sighed, he just wasn't going to let this go. He was going to beg and beg until I caved in.
[PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASEEE EE!]
[Fine.]
[Yaaaaaaayyyyyyy!] I rolled my eyes again. Izaya is a four year old trapped in a whiny teen's body.
"Hey guys I got to go."
"Aw are you sure? I feel like we just got here!" Shinra complained. I smiled at my kooky friend.
"Shinra-kun we have been here for two hours."
"What!? You all let me talk for that long?" Shizuo and I laughed, we didn't really let Shinra talk he just did it all on his own. I handed Shizuo money to pay for my meal and got up from the table. I pulled my jacket close to my body preparing myself for the cold. The wind had picked up a lot, it kind of stung my cheeks. Izaya had stolen my scarf earlier in the week and on days like this it made me miss it.
The red eyed boy wasn't outside like he was supposed to be, which was annoying because I was getting cold. I rubbed arms to try to keep the warmth in them and waited. Turns out I didn't have to wait to long. I jumped when Izaya poked my sides and whipped around to find him standing behind me with a wicked grin plastered on his face.
"Good you came! Let's go!" He didn't give me a chance to argue before he snaked his arm with mine and dragged me down the street. I took note that he had my plush white scarf wrapped around his neck on top of his uniform. I glared him but he only stuck his tongue out at me and quickened our pace.
The sun was getting low in the sky when we made it to his house. I don't know what I was expecting but a quaint little apartment nestled in a quiet little neighborhood was not at all where I thought Izaya would live. I knew he didn't come from a bad part of town but it would make more sense, at least he would have more of an excuse for his... odd personality.
The first thing that I noticed when Izaya opened the front door for me was the amazing smell of food and the awesome cleanliness of the house, it looked as if they had a live in maid or something with how well kept everything was. It was impressive. Izaya made a comment that his mother must have made dinner already. And like the gracious host he was he didn't bother to introduce me to any of family or offer me something to eat before dragging me up to the second story of his family's apartment and into his room. As always Izaya is classy; with a 'K'.
Izaya skipped ahead of me like a little school girl, turning around a couple times to check if I was still was following him, which I was. He seemed extra giddy right now, it was unsettling to say the least. I had learned quickly that when Izaya is all smiles, he's up to no good.
His room wasn't anything special; plain white walls with a clean sterile feel to it. His room looked almost like he didn't actually live in it. The bed was neatly made, there weren't any clothes on the floor or on the chair by the desk like my room; all his things were perfectly in place. Izaya had mentioned once that he was a bit of a clean freak. The skinny red eyed boy unwrapped my scarf from his neck and tossed it onto his bed as he walked in.
"Nata-chan can I ask you something?" Izaya asked. He had taken to lounging lazing in an arm chair by the window, his head resting on his knuckles. He was looking at me curiously, I felt bit awkward standing in his doorway, but he was sitting in the only chair in the room leaving only his bed or the floor to sit on. Neither one would make me feel more comfortable. Oh how Izaya loves to make me uncomfortable. I pulled nervously at the sleeve of my uniform jacket and shifted my weight from foot to foot.
"Sure Izaya-san." He smiled kindly and simply gestured to his bed.
"First take a seat, you make me feel like a bad host with you standing like that." I paled and an awkward laugh left my lips. Was he really expecting himself to be considered a good host? "It also puts us both on an equal playing field if we are both sitting down so to speak." He meant that it would be more respectable if we were both eye level that way neither one of us had anything above the other. When I didn't move from my spot he just waved towards the bed again. I chose against being stubborn and reluctantly sat on the edge of his bed where he had tossed my scarf. You could see on his face that he was holding back a smirk. I had the urge to sigh, but I knew that would only provoke that smirk he was trying hard to hide so I kept it in.
The way Izaya was acting; pulling me out dinner with Shinra and Shizuo, taking me to his house and into his room, and asking to ask me something, it seemed like it was all building up to some pivotal question. I couldn't help but laugh in relief when his big question was,
"Do you think in Russian?"
"That is an odd question Izaya-san." I managed when my laughter had subsided. He sat straight in his chair as if he was getting defensive, but the sparkle of curiosity was still obvious in his eyes.
"Oi, it was an honest question Nata-chan!" He jut his lower lip out in a pout, but it was all for show. The more time I spend with Izaya the more I have noticed his ability to act out false emotions. It's border line sociopathic.
"Well I normally think in Russian because I use it to help me translate Japanese along with the other languages I know." Izaya nodded his head, taking in the information. I thought he was done because he didn't speak up again for while. But apparently he was still stuck on some burning question.
"So you're saying that you use Russian as a basis for language." I nodded in agreement and so he continued on. "Do you also use Russian beliefs as a basis for your beliefs?" I mulled the question over in my head before answering. I wasn't sure where Izaya was going with all of this, so it was hard for me to give him an answer in fear of what the consequences may be.
"I'm sure I do in some ways, but I've lived in so many different countries it can be a little hard sometimes to depict which beliefs and values come from which country." Izaya met my eyes and I felt like I had just been caught in a mouse trap. For some reason that had been the exact response he had been looking for. That feeling of dread worked its way into my stomach again.
"Ah I see; you don't have a basis for what is socially acceptable then. Because in every country some things are acceptable while in a different country it is not. You don't know what is expected of you in society. And I'm sure that's very confusing for you." I opened my mouth to object, he wasn't completely off his rocker when he said those things but they were hyperbolic indeed, but he was on a roll and wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon.
"I'd like to be the one to teach you what is expected of a traditional Japanese woman." I rose an eyebrow at him. He does realize that I'm not Japanese right? "One of the obvious things being that it's uncanny for you to parade around with monsters like Shizu-chan, it's just ridiculous."
"Izaya-san, Shizuo is not a mons-"
"But back to the more important things." He easily got up from his seat and ambled towards the bed. "A woman like yourself should be treated like a queen, and she in turn should be with a king."
"Izaya what are you-"
"Nata-chan I plan to be the king of this city, this country if I can. And when that happens you will be my queen." He was staring at me with such intensity that I couldn't keep eye contact. I took a sudden interest in my skirt and anxiously played with the pleating to avoid catching those scaryily serious red eyes.
"Don't worry so much Nata-chan! That won't happen at least until college and I know how important your education is to you so I'm willing to wait." He said that last part with pure honesty and I almost looked up at him to check his face. Almost.
"Izaya-san what if I do not want to be your queen?" I asked much softer than I wanted. He scratched in chin like he was thinking for a few seconds. Then he ruffled my hair affectionately with a big smile on his face.
"Well that's what I'm here to tell you! It's expected of you to be my queen by society!" He paused and absentmindedly tugged lightly on one of my brown curls. "You know Nata-chan that look of horror on your face is kinda disheartening." I blushed deeply and started messing with the end of my jacket again, completely ignoring the fact that Izaya was messing with my fair. My face always gives away what I'm thinking. I'll have to make a mental note to work on that.
"Izaya-san I'm a little confused. When you say you I'll be your queen, do you mean that you want to...um..."
"...Marry you?" He chuckled at my slowness to grasp the situation. "Yes that's kind of what I've been implying." I made the mistake of making eye contact with him when my head shot up in surprise. My shocked green eyes met his amused reddish black ones.
"I-Izaya I...uh...we are not a couple! You are aware of that, no?" He tilted his head in confusion as if he didn't see the relevance in my statement.
"Yes I am aware." I sighed in exasperation.
"Then how do you expect me to marry you?" I practically shouted. Izaya was becoming more and more frustrating with each word that came out of his mouth.
"Because you love me." Izaya had said it so simply as if it was obvious. I groaned and ran a hand through my hair.
"No I do not Izaya. As smart as you are, you should know that." He shook his head, tossing his pitch black hair back and forth with the small movement.
"I don't think you understand. I told you that I wouldn't make you my queen until at least college when I'm in charge of this city. And when you asked why I would expect you to marry me, I said 'because you love me.' So to sum it all up, by the time I'm ready to make you my wife, you will love me." His explained.
I sat there befuddled, staring with a confused doe eyed expression at the man claiming that I will love him when I don't even know myself if I like him or not. I looked away, trying my best to stifle the deep frown that was setting in. Hugging my arms I stared at the door hoping that someone in his family would walk in and save me from this. But of course no one came.
"You know a king also needs an heir." Izaya said returning my attention to him. He wiggled his eyebrows in a suggestive way when I looked at him.
"I-IZAYA!" I sputtered out, shooting off the bed and stumbling several steps away from him in shock.
"Hm?" He looked at me questioningly and then realization hit his face. He burst out in a full belly laugh that I have never seen Izaya do. He laughed so hard he grabbed his sides and fell to his knees. I didn't find any humor in anything that just happened. I glared dangerously at him and angrily crossed my arms over my chest. After several minutes of listening to Izaya's cackling he calmed down enough to be able to choke out a few words.
"I didn't (gasp) mean (gasp) right now!" He chuckled some more but waited until he caught his breath to continue. "Did you honestly believe that I was going to jump you right here and now? " On the outside he had stopped laughing but his eyes were still laughing at me. My scowl hardened.
"Now I did lead you into my room and I'm sure you've learned from all the other countries you've been to that going into a boy's room is considered very scandalous." He put his hand on his hip and the other he used to wag a finger at me like he was scolding me.
"So I can see where you might have thought that." He put on a thoughtful expression. "My bad Nata-chan!" Izaya put his hands in the air for surrender and offered a big grin. I didn't respond so his cheery expression returned back his normal sarcastic one. He walked over to the side of the room where I was standing and placed a hand on my shoulder, pushing me to the wall. The lanky boy leaned in close and a wicked grin spread across his face.
"But now that it's out there, how many kids do you want? I'm thinking of a big family, we can start now if you want!"
"Iza-IZAYA!"
Please review! I should be posting a chapter for the normal story line a few days. Thanks for reading!