Chapter 3

Reflex action/ Attraction


Ayame's POV

"BLEEEEEECHHH!!"

Ayame and Ryuuzaki were greeted by a vomiting Misa and a compromised Light who must've had a hard time keeping her standing still. Light tucked Misa's left arm at the back of his neck to support her.

"Oh good, you're here. Help me with Misa, will you?" he pleaded.

Misa swayed and almost took Light's balance. Ayame rushed to Misa's right arm then placed over her shoulders. Misa is definitely heavier than she looks.

"Thanks, Ayame."

"No problem. . ." She stared down at her feet where she felt something sticky and wet.

"Oh my God, I stepped on Misa's puke!!!"

It was too late. Ayame saw a pool of Misa's puke under her foot. It emitted a strong sour-like smell and it made Ayame nauseous.

"Geez, Misa, what a mess!!!" she futilely scolded the blonde.

"Let's take Misa back at the hotel." Ryuuzaki said as he opened the car door.

"Misa's going to puke on your limo and my foot is going to mess up your carpet!" Ayame babbled but was ignored.

"I suggest you get a plastic bag for Misa to throw up into." Light said.

Ryuuzaki nodded calmly and spoke to his old butler through the driver's window. "Watari, do you have some plastic bags there?"

"Right here" Watari answered from the driver's seat, handing a plastic bag to Ryuuzaki.

"Okay. We're set. Get Misa inside," said Ryuuzaki.

"But—! Aww…fine!" Ayame blurted.

Ryuuzaki, Ayame and Light worked together on putting Misa in the car. Ayame glanced regretfully at the puke stained carpet of Ryuuzaki's limo. It was a shame to see something so posh ruined. Ryuuzaki closed the door shut.

"Let's go." Ryuuzaki ordered. Immediately the engine roared to a start. "And, Ayame..."

"Yes?" Ayame answered curiously.

"..Don't worry too much about the carpet." Ryuuzaki added.

Ayame simply blushed for she could not reply. She had thought she was ignored but now she clearly wasn't. Ryuuzaki had heard her irrational babble and was even kind enough to reassure her that it was okay, that the carpet was okay.

Ryuuzaki's lips mysteriously curled up. "It seemed you are more concerned about the carpet than your friend, Misa, Miss Nao."

"Ulp! No! I didn't mean for things to look like that! I meant--! I was concerned about Misa! I just-- I did not want to compromise you further--!"

"Sure…" Ryuuzaki responded. "Sure you do." He added with a more sarcastic and teasing tone. Was he playing around with her?

Ayame narrowed her eyes but did not speak. How odd, for a stranger to tease her so easily as if they have known each other since middle school. Could the reason be because Ayame was, as her brother would refer her, someone who was fun to infuriate?

Later, inside the limo, Ayame felt very uncomfortable with her puke-stained shoe. It made a squeaky sound whenever she tried to move her toes inside. She glanced around the car. She was at Misa's right side while Light was on Misa's left. Ryuuzaki sat opposite them, meaning he received the privilege of having the most space and the Chupa Chups lollipops. The Chupa Chups were placed on the seat just right next to Ryuuzaki. It seems that he is always ready with his sweet treats, anytime and this made Ayame, also a sweet toothed glut, envious.

He wasn't even grossed out by the smell of Misa's vomitus. What a strange guy… and what a strange appetite.

Light was staring out the window for most of the traveling time. Eventually he got bored of that activity and a regretful sigh escaped his lips. Putting a fisted hand beneath his chin in contemplation he began.

"Forgive me for cutting in to your date, I must have messed it up with my trouble here with Misa."

"No, I should've warned you about her drinking tendencies." Ayame apologized. She should have predicted something like this would happen. Too bad she didn't, because she was busy thinking about how to deal with her odd date.

"It's not your fault, Ayame." Ryuuzaki told her calmly.

"No, it's my fault." Light interrupted owning blame. "I let Misa out of my sight for a minute and then next thing I knew she was dancing on the table pole drunk." Light exasperatedly slapped his own face. "She made quite a commotion back there."

Everyone sighed in frustration except for the unconscious Misa.

"What's done is done. What matters now is that we take Misa and Ayame home." Ryuuzaki stated in conclusion, his gaze went to Ayame. "You stayed in the same hotel suite as Misa right? Could you tell us where it is, Ayame?"

"Sure. It's just ten blocks away from the mall, the Mille Hotel."

Twisting her keys on the lock when they arrived at the said place, Ayame opened the door widely to reveal a luxurious suite. Ayame moved around to turn on the lights. There were lamps in every corner of the room, on the right side there was a table. Two identical beds were located to the left with one bedside table in between. The bed sheets and pillows were neatly arranged and opposite it a plasma TV stuck on the wall. There were other doors leading to the bathroom and the kitchen, as well. On the far end of the room there was a window, Ayame went toward it and moved the curtains aside revealing a mesmerizing view of the dazzling lights of the city at night.

Light followed after her, carrying his lethargic blonde girlfriend across the room to place her safely on the sofa. Ryuuzaki came in last, pacing inside to casually gander at furniture. Eventually, he came across the huge fish tank that was placed at the corner of the room. He tapped its glass awed by the vibrant fishes.

Light sat beside Misa who lay on the sofa placing a pillow under her head. Ryuuzaki neared the window and pressed his hand against the cold glass as if hypnotized by the city lights on the other side of it.

Ayame sauntered towards the refrigerator and took a pitcher of lemonade, three glasses and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. All of these, she put on the table of the living room.

"Please help yourselves." She gestured getting Ryuuzaki's attention immediately and predictably he swiped a cookie, brought it to his mouth and bit it.

Eager to wash off the acidic smell of Misa's puke Ayame hurriedly grabbed for her towel. She wasn't just going to wash her feet but also her entire body.

"I'm going to shower for a bit. Make yourselves at home." She said though she found out that Ryuuzaki need not be told that. He was perfectly 'making himself at home' the way he was devouring every cookie on the plate without as much as a glance in Light's direction to offer the brunette some.

Light sent her an apologetic look. "No problem"

Ayame nodded and turned away. She entered a bathroom with a smile on her face thinking how about strangely funny Ryuuzaki was.

Ryuuzaki's POV

A while later, Ryuuzaki was just about finished with the last piece of cookie when Ayame went out of the bathroom fully changed.

Ayame's evening look is different, he thought. Somehow, he had become more observant with Ayame. He noted a few things, like how long her black waist-length hair is after she finally let it loose from the very tight knot it had been during their date and how much her clothing, a simple t-shirt and pajama pants, make her look the model she is.

Sadly though, as much as he wanted to look at her more for reason's he could not yet fathom, it was already late and her PJs were an indication that the she needs her sleep and privacy. This also means he (Ryuuzaki) and Light ought to be leaving soon.

"Where's Light?" Ayame asked noticing Light's absence.

"He went out to buy some aspirin for Misa's hang-over."

"I see." Ayame muttered. "Coffee goes well with the aspirin, right? I'll take a look at the cupboard if there's any left of that coffee."

Ayame proceeded to the kitchen while Ryuuzaki followed her, holding the empty tray and the glasses from his snack. Upon arriving at the designated cupboard, Ayame stopped in front of it and reached as far as she could. The cupboard was rather high, taking so much of Ayame's time and effort in order to recover the coffee. The cupboard was, by coincidence, right above the sink. This was a compromising position for Ryuuzaki who planned to place the plates there.

He decided to wait patiently, albeit the disturbing yet fragrant smell of her hair which was beginning to overwhelm his senses.

They smell great, those thick dark strands… he mused languorously.

Ayame struggled on the tip of her toes to reach the cupboard making her shirt go above her waist and making Ryuuzaki feast his eyes on her thin waistline plus her shapely behind.

Ryuuzaki's eyes grew even wider at the sight, beads of sweat started to drip down from his forehead. Quite contradictory to the coolness of the room brought about by the air conditioner.

You have got to be kidding me… This…This situation…It's…

He contemplated on how much the situation reminded him of some ecchi anime he watched from the internet, how panicked he was when Watari had suddenly appeared behind him and how much Watari made him feel like a child being caught doing something naughty. It was a relief that was Watari was not here to witness it.

"Ahem!"

But Light was.

Ryuuzaki almost jumped out of surprise when he heard Light cough leaning by the door that separated the kitchen and the living room. He steadied himself and kept his face blank to hide his embarrassment, giving the impression that nothing malicious happened.

Did Light notice him gawking just now? He pondered nervously. Ryuuzaki silently prayed not but was disappointed to see Light's lip curl up into a knowing grin. Light DID catch him.

"Hey, Light. Did you get the aspirins?" Ayame asked after spotting Light, the coffee jar she successfully retrieved was in her hands.

"Yeah, so I see Ryuuzaki's been busy helping you out?" Light chuckled.

"Huh?"

"He was behind you the whole time, didn't you notice?" Light said, an eyebrow rising.

Ayame peered behind her and gasped. Ryuuzaki quietly swallowed. Ayame and Ryuuzaki both looked at each other with mirrored looks of surprise but of their own respective reasons.

For Ayame, it was most probably the sight of a ghostly Ryuuzaki behind her the whole time. Ryuuzaki, on the other hand, was surprised because of his reaction and also, maybe, the guilt feeling it gave him after.

"…S-Sorry, I scared you…I was o-only…" Ryuuzaki stuttered.

Seriously? When did he ever stutter? He never recalled himself stutter like this before. He was the super elusive detective who figured out mysteries behind thousands of murder cases. He always had his composure and had maintained that composure even when in the middle of stressful situations. But now, he, the great mysterious detective, was stuttering in front of a very attractive lady whom he just met no longer twenty-four hours.

RIDICULOUS! Wait…did he just thought she was attractive? His thoughts were turning Mumbo Jumbo by the second. Okay, just take a deep breath…

He cleared his throat. "I was trying to put these things by the sink." And so the great detective L, Ryuuzaki regained his emotional control. No more stuttering. But even so, he could still hear Light chuckling faintly a few feet away and that wasn't a good thing.

Damn you, Light Yagami…

Damn Light for being too quick on grasping things.

Ayame's face brightened into an understanding and her eyes went to the silverwares Ryuuzaki was holding.

"Sorry! Silly inconsiderate me! Let me take care of that." She flushed and took the tray away from Ryuuzaki and unintentionally brushed her fingers with his. Both of them oddly and slightly shivered consequently. There was a brief pause. Then Ayame turned her back to the sink to wash the silvers without another word. She definitely reacted though whether in a bad or good way, Ryuuzaki couldn't tell.

He felt something indescribable and it took every bit of effort not to let any signs of alarm show, thanks to his years of experienced apathy. Unsure about this new emotion building in him, Ryuuzaki turned his back as mirroring Ayame and strode sulkily towards the door.

The sooner he gets away from her, the better, he figured. There was something odd about them when they make direct contact. It somehow reminded him of the time when he reflexively took his finger away from a very hot cup of tea.

No. He figured even further that it was more complicated than just a mere physiologic reaction but why does it feel like he was burning all the same?

One thing is for sure.

A man's hormones do amazing things...and more importantly, must not be encouraged. Ryuuzaki thought ruefully as he passed and ignored Light's probing eyes on him.

AJA: Err…I might be responsible for some ecchi stuff back there, just review if it bothers you that much. Though, personally, I think those slight ecchi stuff adds flavor to the storyline. (_;)