A/N: NUFF said...

Ex78

P.S. Do I get anythin' more to say?

Disclaimer:

Ex78: I'm getting' tired of this game...okay, I'm giving this back to you!

Fuji: YAAAAAYYY!!!!--jumps so high for joy that accidentally Fuji bumps her head into the ceiling of my house and the ceiling broke.

MY HOUSE FELL DOWN....

ON ME....

--END of FICTIONAL disclaimer story—

I'm telling the truth now. I don't own any stuff of GALS, just this fic I guess, and some skins and posters and....(blah mods: Good thing she admitted it... Whew...

Chapter 4: A False Invitation

There was a ringing of the doorbell.

"Coming!" Aya shouted, closing the foundation she used to have her retouch. She had put a light pink blush on, and pink lip-gloss.

She picked up her bag and placed the letter on the kitchen table saying that she might be late in case her parents would come home that night. Her parents are working often 48 hours, and seldom-just 24. Aya isn't even informed of her parents schedule so she had made the letter. Her parents' shift had started 12 hours ago.

She went to the front door and opened it. Both were stunned of each other's appearance.

Katase was so handsome; he wore a nice and neat purple (coincidentally) shirt with a design of magnetic things. it meant he was attractive. He wore black pants that gave out its neutrality. Katase also had a silver watch that shone brightly in the light and gave him a nice appearance, something that had hovered Aya's eyes. Aya, oblivious of Katase's same response to her outfit, just smiled and greeted him.

"H-hi, you look...so gre—"

Katase pulled her close to him. She felt his shoulders tremble, but he wasn't crying, he seemed scared.

"Ka—Katase?" Aya called, blushing.

"I don't know what I did wrong, but sorry. I never wanted to hurt your feelings. Did you know I hurried so much to get here to check you out and to know why you just discarded me on the phone?"

Aya pushed gently away from him and said, "I'm sorry, I was just a bit wretched by Miyu, and I became quite irate awhile ago. Because—let's just forget it, okay? Let's go."

Katase didn't dare put it out to further issue and nodded. He led her to his car and as soon as they both got in, he started the engines and drove away.

On the road...

"So where do we go?"

"Just at Lavender's, I think."

"What? Have you really thought about it?"

"Erm...no. I didn't."

"Sounds fun if I do the plan of where to go, doesn't it?"

"Y...you decide. But I don't even have much money to spend."

"Baby, it's my treat!"

"Baby?" Aya asked, quite stunned at the nickname. "Who even told you I'm your baby?"

"You. You just asked me and said it."

"But Katase I—"

"No buts, I love you and I'm gonna call you my baby, okay?" he insisted.

Aya laughed. "Sure...baby."

There was gladness in Katase's eyes. Aya could tell very well that that gladness is the joy of her being with him. She knew Katase had been worrying about her these past few days, and now that she is already smiling, she knew Katase is relieved to witness her delightful face.

----------

"I think the only ones not coming are Aya and Yamato. Naoki said he'd come." Miyu explained.

--Naoki...-- Ran thought. She forgot about herself because of the pressure Tatsuki's imprisonment had been bringing in. She forgot Naoki. Half of her was happy, that at least for a moment she had forgotten about him. The other half was...well, not so, she felt like splitting into two. All this time, she just realized she said 'I love you' to a suspected criminal while she left the --other innocent guy-- who loved her so much.

Did I tell you yet?--scans other chapters--Oh yeah I didn't tell you..yet. Naoki had been heartbroken with Miyu remember? When he found out she was Yamato's property—sorry for the word—, I didn't know anymore what happened to him. So I determined to put him back to the Ran-Tatsuki situation. There's explanation on the author's note after this chapter's done.

"Ran? Hello?" Miyu called. "Are you coming?"

"Yes I am. I will." --I have to go no matter what. Whether he courts me...or not...though I know if Tatsuki knows about this...that I went out with the gang, together with Naoki and not him, he'll get really mad.--

"Good. At least, there are...let's see, you, me, Naoki, Yuuhi, Rei...five of us. I called Katase already but they said he's not home. In five minutes, okay?"

"Fine. See ya. I'll be dressing up now." Ran said, putting the phone down. Then she picked it up again and dialled a number.

"Hello? Delivery Service..."

----------

"You don't look so dressed up today, son."

"Is that so? Well, mom, I don't care." Rei answered, while his mother pecked his cheek as a sign of greeting. They had just met that day only by afternoon.

"Why, son, you weren't like that before! You even told me you won't go out a day without dressing the neatest you could, didn't you?"

"Mom...I mean no offense, but..why do you care?"

Her mom shrugged and looked him in the eye. "Because I love you."

Rei felt stabbed by a million knives. --BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!!!-- Rei found himself thinking of Aya's pain.

"You do?" he asked, trying not to sound hurt.

But there seemed to be an escape from his enveloping aura, and his mother had sensed the pain he was hiding from her.

"Son, do you need advice? I mean, you aren't yourself lately. You dress up like that, you ask me why I care, then Yuuhi tells me you're giving him advices for heart problems."

He held his head, and on closed eyes walked to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down. "This is...nothing mom. It's just that..well..I don't really know why."

His mom sat down beside him. "Don't take this wrong but...do you yourself...have a heart problem?"

"What?" he asked in quick alarm, opening his eyes and looking into his mom's. "Is that a joke? I mean—mom, whoa...I can NOT fall in love, mom."

"You mean you're not stuck up in any situation right now?"

Rei heaved a sigh. Maybe it would be better if he lets it out. "I am."

"Tell me." His mother said, holding Rei's hand.

"I had been long doing this. Before I don't care. But the last time was different. I didn't know why but...I...I felt guilty.

"Guilty? Of what?"

"Long story mom. It started when..."

----------

"That's so beautiful!" She exclaimed.

"You like it?" Katase asked, pulling it out from the rest of the dresses.

"That's cute. Really cute." She said holding it like it won't leave her arms again.

Katase stared at the blissful girl—no, she's a lady. He is so glad that he could see Aya so happy. Hadn't seen her so delighted because of his plan before. Her eyes gleamed a mount of joy. It shone beautifully. Her face had a perfect shape, which also looked so smooth. Her blush-ons even made her a real beauty. Her lips are so prominent, so shiny...and not to think like a maniac...kissable. Oh, if Aya only knew how Katase longed to kiss those. He loved her so much, not only on the outside form but also internally.

"Hey, Katase!"

How he enjoyed it when she calls out his name. "Yes baby?"

"I'm trying this on, is that okay?" she asked, pulling him to the front of the dressing room and leaving him there as she went inside the dressing room.

"Sure. I'm just here, waiting to see how it looked on you." --Of course it would look good—no, I mean, great..on you. You suit everything well, my angel.--

----------

"Kuroi, you have a package."

Everyone darted to Tatsuki when they saw a box being pulled to the bars.

He began opening the box.

Inside it were different kinds of goods, chips, his favorite snacks, a big, soft, comfortable mattress, a matching pillow and...a stuff toy.

Tatsuki had been left wondering all time who sent him the items, and he was so delighted to have those. But when he saw the stuff toy, he knew who the sender was.

"Ran..." he whispered, misery filling his heart again.

The stuff toy was the monkey Ran gave him on his birthdaythis wasn't on the series, I think on the series it's a monkey keychain, right? I meant here his last birthday.

The misery left before it had fully wrapped around his heart and was replaced by a bouncing heart. It's very expensive to send these things by package. She can't just tell the police to give them to him for free, Tatsuki knows that. And the price of the mattress is also expensive. He didn't know how Ran paid for all these, but in his heart he is so grateful.

----------

Katase was about to mock Aya that when she comes out of the dressing room they're already 60 years old when Aya shouted 'I'm finished'. It almost took her years.

"Well come out! What do you expect, I'll be the one to go in there?" he said, rolling his eyes and placing his hand over his head before leaning on the wall. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine Aya wearing the gown, but to no avail. He isn't used to see Aya wearing those kinds of fashion clothes before. Still he kept his eyes closed and continued to imagine, but he can't.

"I thought you want to see my look. Why are your eyes closed?"

"I'm trying to imagine you wearing that. I can't picture you that much but—"

Aya giggled. "Why imagine if you can see the real thing?"

Katase opened his eyes. "Whoa!" he was speechless...never had he seen Aya so beautiful, so gorgeous, so striking, so...indescribable.

The dress is a black fitting long cloth with a satin skirt. Its left shoulder is velvet and the sleeves are seemed to have been cut in half. The sleeves of the left shoulder are long, while on the right shoulder the dress is sleeveless. It glittered and anyone who'd see Aya in that dress would find her very attractive.

"Don't you like it?" Aya asked.

"I love it. You're indescribable." Katase complimented. Aya's hair hung up to a bun but in a messy still attractive way. "Your dress seems loose on the upper portion."

"I know. I couldn't reach the zipper behind me. Could you zip it close?" she asked.

"Okay." Katase blushed. He'll be holding the zipper of her dress! He shook his head to dismiss the green thought. --Katase! Discipline! Don't be a maniac, you can't lose her trust, could you?--

He went behind her and held the dress. He slowly began to pull the zipper up, his hands trembling.

"You're shaking. Is something wrong?" she noticed, but didn't look and still bowed her head down.

Katase blushed again while proceeding to zip it. His eye caught attention of her neck. Her nape was clean, pale but smooth. He noticed that she was clean.

His eyes set on her nape as he is slowly closing the zipper. His hands trembled, then he shook off the thought—the green thought—trying to keep him unfocused. He tried to quickly zip it close. When it was closed, Katase embraced Aya from behind. "You're so beautiful today, my baby. I love you."

Aya's make-up hid her blushing. "Th—thank you."

He let go and asked her, "So are you going to buy that?"

"I don't have—"

"I will. For you, okay?"

"But—"

"No buts, baby."

Aya giggled. "So what's next?"

"Meal time!"

Then he paid for the dress at the counter and pulled her into the car. He drove swiftly and sooner they were on the restaurant.

----------

At Lavender's Café...

"Yoohoo! Over here!" Miyu waved at Yuuhi.

Yuuhi crossed the street. When he reached there, he scratched his head. "You are kinda noisy, ya' know?"

"I could see you didn't find it good to bring Mami here, huh?" Miyu asked.

Yuuhi fell silent for a moment. "It had been a difficult time to make excuses from her so I could go here. She won't believe me that I'd be seeing just Rei. Which is why it is good to hear that Rei's coming."

"Don't you love her?" was Miyu's direct question, turning serious. "Don't tell me you're just playing with her heart 'til now."

"Didn't Ran tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"I am just allowing her to be my girlfriend. But I don't love her. You know who I love Miyu. But I didn't tell her yet."

"So you mean you're turning 18 and it's been years since you were hiding that sensation and yet you still think it isn't the precise time?"

"Well, yeah..."

"Yuuhi, let's go inside now, Rei's waiting for you. Maybe Ran'll arrive soon."

----------

"This one please...and erm..what drink?" he asked, looking at the lady across him.

Aya shrugged and smiled. "Anything."

"Red wine?" he asked, no real intention of getting her drunk.

Aya shook her head. "Softdrink's fine."

"Okay." He turned to the waiter. "You heard her."

"Yes sir. No more?" the waiter said.

"So you mean you want me to spend more?" Katase mocked, to which Aya giggled and the waiter went away.

----------

"Kuroi, one cev and number 15 for table 12!" the waiter said to Naoki, who was assigned to bring the food for table 12, which coincidentally is Aya and Katase's table. He's taking a part-time job

----------

"Aya?"

Aya raised her head a bit and stared at Katase shyly.

"Problem?" he asked, concerned.

Aya shook her head. She felt like she was already Katase's girlfriend. She felt too shy to face him. She felt like dating him as her boyfriend. Did she forget Rei that fast? "I'm "

"Liar. You aren't shivering like you're supposed to." Katase laid his palms open on the table. "Give me your hand."

Aya placed her hand on top of Katase's.

"Aya, you have to tell me."

Aya can't look at him straightly. "R-ran..if she knows I've been dating you after I gave up on Rei—"

"You gave up on him? Why?" he asked, quite happy but obviously stunned. Okay, he supports her love for Rei, though it hurts for him --so sad--

"I don't want to hurt any more Katase. I want to feel happy. Besides, I don't want to tell Ran, I don't want to keep depending on her to make me joyful."

Katase thought for awhile. "I could bring you somewhere happy!"

"Table 12!" The waiter(Naoki), called.

Katase raised his free hand(he was holding Aya's, remember). "Here!" Then he turned to Aya again.

Naoki came and transferred the ordered foods on the table, not yet looking at the customers.

While setting the food on the table, Katase kept on talking to Aya. "I'll bring you to the Shibuya Dance Club nearby later by 7. I want you to enjoy, okay?" he said, holding Aya's hand tight.

Naoki smiled, not helping to overhear the conversation, although he's busy. After placing the food, he raised the tray and said, "You're a sweet couple, ma'am..."

He was flabbergasted when he saw the female customer of Table 12 staring lovingly at the male across her. "A-aya?"

Aya was distracted and she turned to see who it was. "Na—Naoki!!" Much to her horror, she asked, "W-what are you doing here?"

"Part-time." Suddenly something occurred in his mind. "Oh no! I have to meet Ran today!" he exclaimed, removing the knot of his apron and going away.

Aya stood from her seat. "Na-Naoki!" she called. Katase was confused.

Naoki turned. He saw Aya's eyes full of plead. "Don't tell Ran...that you saw me. Please."

"I gotta go." Naoki said, and still can't believe in what he saw. Then he went out after receiving his daily salary.

Aya sat back down and tried to concentrate. She began to eat.

Katase didn't try to bother her more and ate his food, too. Still he saw Aya's brow crease in worry.

He can't take the uneasiness he is seeing in Aya's eyes. "You want to go home and rest now? Maybe I could just drive you home. You look tired."

Aya thought for awhile. --I could see he is hurt now that he knows I gave up on Rei. He hurts himself with that, and I'm making it worse. I'm still thinking of Rei, though now I have someone to be with. Someone who loves me. He's jealous of Rei. The way I value Rei than him.--

She shook her head. "No, I'm more comfortable with you."

Katase showed a short-time expression of astonishment, but looked down at his plate. He blushed. "Are you...Are you sure about that? I mean—"

"Yes. Well, you better eat now, your food's gonna be feasted by flies."

Katase looked her in the eye now. He said nothing more and smiled. Aya knew exactly what he meant.

----------

Naoki hurried down the road.

--I almost forgot I still have to see the gang!--

----------

The friends laughed at Yuuhi's story and Ran was happy to get her third serving of Mongolian rice-in-the-box.

Rei gave Ran a dry stare. Then he focused on the topic. Sooner Naoki arrived.

He panted for breath. "Guys, sorry I'm late. I forgot we had a meeting! So what is it about?" he asked, sitting down right across Rei.

"Nothing. Sort of reunion. We don't meet that much anymore, do we?"

Naoki shook his head. When he did, he saw Ran out the corner of his eye.

Miyu saddened. "Uh, Ran, by the way...is Yamato real busy these days?"

"Yeah. Tatsuki's in—"she turned to Naoki. Then reddened. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I know anyway. My brother's in jail but in a week or less he'll be out. He was accused of stealing a car—or maybe using a stolen car. But he was proven not guilty."

"Yuuhi, what about you and Mami?" Ran asked, thankful no one tried to ask her change of subject but she saw Naoki turn disappointed. Anyhow, she didn't bother.

"We're fine." Yuuhi said –quite- truthfully. "I just brought her to a date yesterday at Cups and Plates dine-in, the restaurant Naoki's working at."

--Date? Oh!-- Naoki remembered. He startled everyone around the table when he banged his fists on it. "Guys, you gotta know this! I saw—"

--Flashback—

--Naoki saw the pleading eyes of Aya. "Don't tell Ran that you saw me...please."--

--End of Flashback—

"Saw what?" Ran pressed when he paused for so long.

"Saw...saw..." he sat back down and thought for awhile. Finally he decided.

"I saw Aya dating someone I don't know. I saw the guy hold her face gently, then held her hand tight and even invited her to go to a club later night! In all those things he did to Aya, she let him. She let him hold her face, she..."

Rei bit his lip and Ran saw his reaction. With a sudden flush of gradually arousing anger, she turned back to Naoki and shouted, "Shut up your big ass MOUTH!"

Everyone was astounded—should I say frightened? They were surprised to see her almost begin to run amok.

"Are you sure?" Ran said, actually meaning sorry and calming down.

"Yes, they were the last customers I served before I remembered our meeting this afternoon."

"Look it's already 1 o' clock! Uh, where did you say he invited her to?"

"Shibuya Dance Club. But I didn't hear the time. It would be tonight." Naoki responded.

"What if she had returned to her old self Miyu? What if she turned back to her prostitution?"

"Things could get worse." Miyu worried. "What if..."

"Don't think negative. Who knows? We might see her before she goes there and stop her!" Rei retorted. Ran gave him a faint smile. --He cares? Since when?--

"I hope you're right. I hope so." Miyu added.

End of Chapter 4

A/N: Naoki is a student at the same school of Tatsuki. Aside from them everyone else studies in different schools. Katase's and Aya's are near to each other's and to the city park, Ran's, Rei's and Miyu's are near to the police station, Yuuhi's school is near to Shibuya's edge, near to Ikebukuro. Mami wanted him to study there and provided him the fee.

Naoki and Tatsuki's school can be found just near the restaurant Naoki is working on with his part-time job.

As I was saying, Naoki got heartbroken and he decided to go back to Ran. He resolved to try to be more serious, not only with this verdict to love Ran purely, but also in trying to win her from his so-called brother. He didn't want to settle any more contests to proclaim who had won over her like the the Ramen noodle fight. I mean—he did want to get Ran and all, and no way is he going to let himself look childish again.

Anyways, asking what Rei felt for Aya? And why he did dump her like that on the first chap? Here's why:

Remember they had a relationship? Good. But Rei had been indifferent, and that had hurt Aya. (They were 16 in the series, right?) Now they are about to turn 18, meaning a year had passed. Within that year, Aya had a tough schedule, so she'd been trying to see him every possible way. Their meetings had been seldom at least once in two months, and everytime Aya had been seeing him(not dating, I mean you know accidentally see him like "Oh he's there!") , she'd tried to talk to him. Rei did talk to her, but sooner when Aya brings the subject to her lovelife, he goes away or dumps her. This he did until now, so that was where I got into on chapter one. And by the way, Rei had been guilty in Aya's last confession because that was the first time he noticed how she hid her pain from him. She didn't cry in front of him everytime he dumps her. So there. I myself even wondered why I made a tiny nudge let his armor down. Hehe...

Please review! Flamers, you're welcome, but...well.. just be at least quite polite and give even just a little respect.

Oh, wait...I need to say this first. This is an AU, okay? The attitudes may crook off course from the original! Don't expect they're still the same after a year. Everyone changes, right? (Forgive me too for my wrong grammars or my incorrect spellings)

Oh well...how my fingers hurt can't replace the way I feel when many people would review this fic. Please, please, please!!! I need your support guys!! And GALS!!