Frappegurl777

I really wish I had more time in my hands to update more often, but I'm sorry, school made me busy. I'll try to make up for it though, like making updated chapters long enough or maybe two chapter updates. J

To Sakura23:

Thank you for sympathizing and for your thoughtful review! You're right, I don't get much reviews, I don't know why… it's either: Readers hate this fanfic or readers are too lazy to review or readers are to eager to read the next chapter to bother. XD

But that's not stopping me. What matters most to me is actually being able to share my stories. Writing is a pleasurable hobby for me.

Yep, the story was actually just from random thoughts. I get my ideas from my life and things I observe. No, I don't research that much. I'm actually just an annoying L-fan. I love the guy so much I gave him a Ayame as a gift, LOL!


Yume: Hey, maybe fanfiction should make changes like, review first before going to next chapter! That way every reader will be forced to review if they really want to know what happens next in the story.

FrappeG: *Grins evilly* Sounds good...

(Joking!)

Chapter 18

Surprises part 2

Ayame's POV

It was late afternoon. Her apparition in front of Ryuuzaki's hotel door wasn't exactly part of her schedule. In truth, it was only just an hour ago that she had taken the initiative.

Ayame felt slightly mischievous at her unexpected visit. She held in her hand a plastic bag containing a mat for a twister game which she bought from a toy shop she came across the street. When she first saw it, she had visualized Ryuuzaki playing it and thought it would be fun, so here she was waiting for her knock to be answered.

As she waited, she scrutinized herself first. Good thing she wore clothes that were comfortable enough to execute twister movements. A grey sweatshirt, a black tank top with highlighted silver words printed 'Bring it on', khaki shorts and sneakers. Lastly, she had her hair tied up into a neat and tight ponytail. Now, doesn't that make everything perfect? Maybe her being here was meant to be. This may be the day she'll be able to defeat Ryuuzaki.

How was she able to locate the exact place of his residence, you might ask. Let's just say, Ayame had almost memorized the address because of Misa's histrionics on ambushing Light during his visits at Ryuuzaki's suite. The trivial information somehow sunk in.

It's strange how a student like Ryuuzaki could afford a five-class hotel such as this. Was he really a student or just some heir to a rich family? Ryuuzaki never talked about his past. Ayame herself failed to ask him.

He's so mysterious…

Maybe a game of informational exchange will incline Ryuuzaki to share about his anonymous background. After all, Ryuuzaki was gung ho at every challenge he bumps into. Duh! It's obvious he thinks he can take on everything. He almost died just to prove himself back then when she threw down the gauntlet for him to pick. If she'd known he'd be that idiotic to risk his life, she wouldn't have done so. He's too damn proud for his own good.

She had her opportunities of observing this cursed pride of his.

Flashbacks…

Yesterday, she and Ryuuzaki spent the whole day together. For a few hours or so, they, as Misa would call it, hit it off. They ate, they argued about food, they played random mini games such as rock-paper-scissors and they even fenced with their forks over the last piece of cake on the plate. It was rather embarrassing because their fencing splattered the cake to their surroundings and their faces. A draw ended the petty match, nobody got to eat that last piece of cake.

Does she really need to mention the weird looks they were getting that time? Of course, Ayame and Ryuuzaki had to leave immediately; Ayame hoped the other customers will forget about that incident. She wouldn't have to return to that bakeshop for a month just to make sure!

They strolled around the park after and talked. It was different from their first meeting. Unlike the suspicious Ryuuzaki from when she first met him, he was more casual to her. Shocking as it seems, she found him to be someone she can easily talk to about anything. Even more astonishing, his eruditeness empowers him to always have an opinion a.k.a declaration about, well, everything!

Maybe he isn't as childish as she had thought. As a matter of fact he was a genius! He'd make a very interesting professor.

The words 'genius' and 'professor' linked her thoughts to Einstein and L. Stupid word associations, she told herself. Ryuuzaki would make an idiosyncratic representation of the two. He may be a whiz but that doesn't necessarily mean he can be L! Seriously, her frisson for L is too much for even her to bear. The entire situation was like searching for a needle among the haystack. Pointless, impossible and you're not even sure if the needle is really there.

Moving on, they went to the mall and passed by a toy store, he solved a Rubik's cube within seconds. Then at the bookstore he recited a page from a novel just by reading it once. When Ayame asked him something about L's recent case, he further discussed about psychology, criminology and political science that sent Ayame's brain rocketing into orbit attributable to information overload. Ryuuzaki is au fait when it comes to general topics, even including L. It actually made her feel inferior so she accused him for being an L fanatic like herself for knowing such fine details about the great detective.

"You like L, don't you! Admit it!"

"It's not the matter of me liking L. It's the sense of justice that I share with him that draws me. That aside, I don't see anything wrong with me admiring a person with such competent stature."

There he goes again with his mind-boggling answers. When someone asks you an open-ended question, you're supposed to answer either YES or NO. Why can't he just go by that rule? If he were a typical person with a typical answer, she'd be able to think of a better retort. Oh well…

"G-A-Y…GAY……GAY!!!"

"Your presumptions don't make sense. I must say I'm not surprised. After all, your friend Misa thinks the same."

"Misa strongly believes you are. So are you really like 'ON THAT SIDE OF THE FENCE' as she presumed?'"

She leaned toward him, raring for his silly confirmation. His enormous black orbs moved to the corner of his eyes in her direction.

"Still in doubt of my gender identity, huh. Do you want some kind of proof?"

"Prove it!" She dared him.

Out of the blue, Ryuuzaki had brought his face so overly close to her as if motioning to kiss her. The act caught her by surprise and by instinct she flinched and recoiled from him. A scarlet flush evident on her cheeks.

Ryuuzaki face was blunt but an invisible smirk was on it, Ayame's sure of it.

"I could even make you blush. Is that proof enough?"

"You pervert! That's not how I wanted you to prove it! You could at least talk about it not do it! Do not do that ever again!"

He responded with a sly smile, loving the feel of victory. Ryuuzaki is quite quirky and competitive. And as she thought, he was the kind of person who hated to lose and would resort to even the strangest strategies in order to win. HE WAS VERY UNPREDICTABLE.

It was usually him who blushes but the tables seem to have turned over.

What has gotten into him? He's acting stranger than usual.

Flashback ends…

She swallowed and thought that she was being too close to Ryuuzaki for having such stupid ideas such as playing twister but since she's already here, might as well indulge. Also, she already lost to him three times: beach swimming contest, treating him to cake and the argument about his gender.

Confident to win this time around, she thought that the twister game would help her score a one. Ryuuzaki's not the only one competitive here.

Growing impatient, she jiggled the door and was surprised to realize it was open. When she got inside, the room was, to her disappointment, empty.

"Hello?" Ayame asked no one. Gently, she set foot inside and closed the door behind her faintly. Moving to what would be the living room; Ayame beheld the room's trimness.

There were sofas, couches and tables in center of the room. Potted plants were decorated next to the wide windows, the plants photophilic to the sunlight that streamed through the window's glass. Nature somehow found its way here and lived. The zombie image of Ryuuzaki contrasted the plants ability to give color to the surroundings.

Grey and loony Ryuuzaki is not here at the moment.

Where's Ryuuzaki?

Ayame presumed him to be always sitting weirdly while sipping tea in front of his computer screen. What else can a guy do? Jerk off? Uh, no! That was tad vulgar. Watching adult rated videos?

Ryuuzaki…that's a possibility…

A guy with no feminine distractions usually opts to find pleasures in watching THAT. Her pervert-detecting radar was as honed as her gay-radar. Grinning at the thought of catching Ryuuzaki in the act, Ayame took off her sneakers hoping that her socks will omit the sounds of her steps. Ninja action movies inspired her to move along the walls laterally, following its contours to reach the nearest door. She pressed her ears next to the nearest wooden vertical plank that she guessed lead to Ryuuzaki's room. Maybe he'll turn the volume loud enough for her to hear.

FrappeG: GEEZ, Ayame! Has Ryuuzaki's perverted-ness and creepiness rubbed on to you? You're weird, too! You're just like another Ryuuzaki! It's scary!

Ayame: Uhh….pardon me but you're the author and what you write happens so I am in no control of the storyline and you're weirder for getting ideas like this.

FrappeG: That's tough… one point Ayame.

Ayame: I like enumerated lots of points back there!

FrappeG: *ignores Ayame, talks to readers*

If you read the last chapter, I advertised about L fapping. That clip inspired me to write this chapter.

"When will he be back? Where's L-errr-Ryuuzaki?"

"He said he'd be back later from picking up groceries."

"Eh? Isn't that Watari's job?"

"Nah, Ryuuzaki's all frantic nowadays over 'normal life'. I never would have imagined him like this. It's kind of…disappointing…"

The voices beyond came from boys. Perhaps they were boys younger than her basing on there tones. No doubt about it. Ryuuzaki is NOT HERE. Who could these boys be? Could they be Ryuuzaki's relatives? Ayame laughed at her own imagination of little Ryuuzakis playing and messing around. Wonder what it would be like to have kids as queer as Ryuuzaki… Uh! Irrelevant! Just when did she ever think of having kids? And having Ryuuzaki's kids? Very funny! Ayame pressed her ears harder, readjusting for better reception.

"Would you two keep it down, I think someone is at the door."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm 95 percent sure."

"Just get to the door, Matt!"

"Would you two stop ordering me around? I know the two of you rank 1st and 2nd but that doesn't make me your slave!"

"GET THE DOOR!"

"Sigh…"

Nearing foot sounds audible, Ayame drew back and when the door opened she witnessed red hair, orange goggles, stripes, cigar between his teeth and a portable playstation gadget in between his hands. His eyes were on Ayame now but he could still frolic on the PSP buttons without looking at it.

The lad in the conspicuous attire said to Ayame. "Who are you?"

He doesn't look like he's related to Ryuuzaki. Maybe he's a friend of his?

Ayame straightened up, introducing herself. She wished the teenager did not suspect her as a thief.

"I'm a friend of Ryuuzaki's. My name's Ayame. And you?" Ayame said feeling out of place. Ryuuzaki has never mentioned anyone else was living in his suite. Ryuuzaki has other friends?

Well, of course he has, he's not that despicable. Ayame blushed inwardly thinking Ryuuzaki was actually 'adorable', in a weird kind of way!

The redhead discerned the sudden changes in Ayame's expression, the latest one was a rosy tinge on her face.

Suspicious woman… Ryuuzaki's friend…? Looks like L's been busy…

"I'm Matt." He muttered, puffing smoke.

Coughing at the offensive smell of nicotine and such, Ayame snatched the cigar from Matt's mouth, and with all detest she dropped it to the floor and stumped on it. Matt envisioned a rhino putting out fire the same thing Ayame is doing. The useless cigar charred the carpet at their feet. Ayame whiffed her arms manically to disperse the remaining fumes. She turned her heel for her to see a dark spot on her newly-washed socks.

"God, I hate smoke! It ruins people's lungs, the environment and now, my socks! You're a minor, aren't you?"

She ranted, glaring at Matt as if he deserves to be apprehended for such conduct.

Matt raised his arms vindictively, startled by the woman's reaction. "No need to get all furious-mother-nature on me. Smoking is my hobby."

"It won't be a hobby when lung cancer strikes you!"

"Matt? What's the fuss all about?"

"A friend of Ryuuzaki's come here for a surprise visit."

The second boy appeared next to Matt. If it wasn't for the blonde's rude tone and leather tight clothing, Ayame would have mistaken him for a transvestite.

"My name's Ayame."

Not so nice to meet you. She gave the blonde a curt nod. The guy's probing eyes were disturbing. Come to think of it, this is the same sensation she experiences whenever Ryuuzaki looks at her. Maybe, they are related, huh?

Mello arched an eyebrow. That name of hers sounds familiar…where have I heard it?

"Mello", said Matt doing the introduction for him.

"Excuse me, please move aside." A little white haired boy came to squeeze through Mello and Matt.

"Don't touch me!"

"Well, I wouldn't if you would just stand aside and let me through!"

The albino kid stopped, acknowledging Ayame's presence. Ayame found the third boy to be cute. He has Ryuuzaki's blank expression, haughty pouted lips, pale complexion and he even has a slight glint that would appear every so often from a genius' eyes. She hadn't known Ryuuzaki for long, but talking to him yesterday made her aware of that he possesses a capable brain beyond normal beings.

"As I thought, someone was at the door" Near said. The three boys wriggled out from the tight doorway.

"You're looking for Ryuuzaki? Who are you to him? What business do you have with him?"

"You're bombarding her with too many questions, Mello! She's not some criminal undergoing interrogation, you know!" Matt mentioned ostensibly irritated.

"I'm a friend of Ryuuzaki. If you heard me earlier, I already told you my name is Ayame."

"And I don't like your tone, boy. Did somebody ever teach you about respecting your seniors?"

"Tsk! You're not that old!" Mello said.

"I dwelled earth for three or four years ahead of you and that pretty much makes me your senior! I have a name, so call me Ayame!" Ayame retorted hating the lad's unkind treatment.

She loves kids but detests disrespectful tykes. She was the youngest in her family and badly, she wished for a little brother or sister would take her place. So that she'd have someone to play and cuddle with. On the outside she's looked like someone who hates everything but actually, inside her was a girl who adored cute things. She acted mature for the sole purpose of amending her juvenile older brother Kenichi.

"What's this?" toy-loving Near asked, poking Ayame's plastic bag. He was stooping nosily next to her.

So cute!

She stooped to level eyes with him. "Want to play twister with me?"

"I've never played that game before."

"The rules are simple. Here, I'll show you!" Ayame slid to the living room, put the bag down to the floor, took out the twister mat and spread it neatly to the floor. On the mat were large dots of red, yellow, green and blue. Near followed obediently and read the instruction manual of the game.

"We were having a conversation! You did not even answer my questions!" Mello bellowed, furious for being ignored. Ayame's attention to him had shifted to Near so fast. Why is it that everyone prefers Near more than him?

Matter-of-factly, Ayame answered him. "That wasn't a conversation that was interrogation. There's a difference."

Matt turned off his PSP. A multiplayer game is better, he thought. "I want to play!"

Chapter ends here ^^

FrappeG: That's cuz of your hairstyle, fashion sense and mean attitude.

Mello: JUDGMENTAL!

FrappeG: What's the big deal? You got tons of fans out there just waiting for their chance to strip you off and gobble you—

Mello: Oh, enough!