*FrappeG hides*

Yume: What the hell are you doing?

FrappeG: Quick! Cover me! My fans will kill me!

Yume: And they would certainly if you don't start with the story now!

*FrappeG cleared her throat, still clutching on Yume for protection*

Hehehe... It's been awhile eh, readers???

*Bows head in shame*

I'm so sorry guys! I have been busy these last few weeks because I had our final exams. Now that the exams are over, I have this chapter for you. I know it's less than satisfying but I'll try to update the next chapter as soon as I can!

Oh! Don't forget to review; I'd really appreciate it! No matter how brief! My sincerest thanks to my betareader, DaAmazingMeepers!

I'm going to change the chapter titles now :) They're going to be phrases from the chapter.

Chapter 20

"Stop denying it, ice princess. That stick of a panda just melted your frozen heart"

The afternoon prior to Ryan's semi-formal birthday party hadn't been too easy for Ayame. Problems with clothes, shoes, make-up and hairdo always get the best of women especially on occasions that demand elegance. Alan M, though not exactly a woman, was caught up with stress over it.

The event will be held at the very hotel Ryan owned which is also the hotel where Misa and Ayame took residence and will be hosted by none other than Ryan's vivacious lover, Alan M. The homosexual proposed to put himself in a carton cake wherein he would pop out of and surprise his gorgeous boyfriend. Ayame indisputably objected to this incongruous idea. Nevertheless, Alan M followed her gay instincts to implement his/her plan.

At the said rendezvous Ayame stood next to the long table where all the food was put. Pies, cakes, fruits, lined themselves on gleaming silver wares, waiting to be devoured. YUM! Ayame sat on her chair; her table filled with dishes of different desserts. All of them for her of course; she made sure she gets to taste everything with a ratio of one plate for the main dish and a dozen for her sweet cravings.

A suave-looking guy approached her noticing that she was alone on the table. He took it as his chance to flirt with her. Yeah, good luck with that…

"Miss, I can see that you're alone. May I join you for a moment?"

"No, I'm fine by myself." She replied bluntly.

"No need to be so shy-"

"Leave!"

"…"

An awkward pause followed, sensing that his presence was unwanted, the gentleman turned to leave.

"…Okay…If you wish it..."

And when his back was on her, the gentlemen grimaced; his charms were totally ignored. Instead of moping, he casually approached another lady to recover his self-esteem.

Good, at least he's cooperative I'll give him that much credit… Most of the men I've encountered in my life were so stubborn that I'm so used to guys like that one.

She brought a forkful of cake into her mouth, nibbling on the silverware as her mind crossed Ryuuzaki.

It's sad, she felt lonelier than ever now. She had found a friend alright, but he's not here when he really needed him. It's unbearable almost that she has to force herself at parties without really interacting with the other visitors. Her only preoccupation was the food.

She missed the time she and Ryuuzaki talked, no matter how pointless the talk was, it was fun being with him. Unlike others here, she can't really get to vibe with. She felt like the ugly duckling, an outcast. Not that they cast her out. It was Ayame that had made a high wall to barricade her self from others, most of the time she would do it unconsciously, like it was a natural response and before she knew it, she was alone again.

Yes, she wanted peace, no disturbance; people in showbiz are so annoying they never stop talking. It would be alright if they talk about other things other than themselves. Augh! In showbiz one gets to meet narcissist and egomaniacs. Even more hypocrites! It's so difficult to find a real friend in that crowd.

Ayame almost chocked as Alan M carried out his surprise pop-out-of-cake greeting for Ryan. There was a grand applause from the spectators. Alan M had on an orange bikini, and my God, he looked like a sun burnt walrus in it! Maybe it was his lame attempt to impersonate his idol, Madonna. Ryan looked pleased but refused to display full affection in front of the public. If Ayame was right, Ryan would have done the deed with Alan if they were alone.

YUCK! Stop thinking about disgusting things Ayame. You're going to lose what you just ate.

"Well, lookie here, the little miss antisocial. You just dumped your 27th guy back there. So tell me, what was it like?"

"Go away Fuji!!!" Ayame threatened him with her fork. Briskly, she took her glass of water and drank it.

Fuji stepped aback slightly. "Oh dear, moody aren't we? Are you upset because your 'friend' Ryuuzaki isn't here?"

UGH, right on target. Fuji's absolutely right. But Ayame, stubborn girl she was, kept her face neutral, never allowing an ounce of emotion to leak through her face. She can't allow to let Fuji realize he was correct. The jerk took the seat next to her with a perpetual impish grin glued to his smugly face.

"Stop denying it, princess. That stick of a panda just melted your frozen heart."

"SHUT UP! Don't you have anything better to do? I wouldn't say womanizing is a good thing to do but I'll allow you this time, just get away from me!"

"Why'd you have to be so rude Ayame, I'm your cousin." Fuji pouted.

"Cousins! BAH! Every fiber of my being detests the likes of you. I'm find it hard to believe we're related. For all you know…the pediatrician must have switched the babies in the nursery you were at right after your birth!" She cast him an evil glare.

"Yeah, that's it!" She concluded.

"Ouch!" Fuji replied with a grin, no matter what Ayame says as long as he gets attention from her, he'd enjoy it. Twisted.

"I don't really see why you prefer panda-man instead of other guys out there."

"I like Ryuuzaki because he's different. Don't level him with the likes of scum like you." Ayame stabbed her fork forcefully through her dessert making a crack on the surface of her plate.

"If you weren't sounding so angry, I would have taken that as a compliment."

Ayame jumped and turned around to eye the guy she least expected. Dark, round eyes met her surprised blue ones.

Ryuuzaki! He's here! But I thought…

"I know, it's surprising, I'm not even sure why how I managed to carry myself here."

Ryuuzaki still had the same blank expression and pout mouth and drone monotone of a voice. His hair neatly pressed aback, leaving only a few strands of lock on his forehead. He wore a tuxedo, black tie and everything formal. What astonished her most was his upright posture. If he hadn't spoken he wouldn't have recognized him.

"…Ryuuzaki?" Ayame blurted.

"Yes, who else would he be?" Fuji said with a sarcastic undertone. Ayame ignored it and so did Ryuuzaki. They were checking each other out. Fuji knew he was hopeless in getting Ayame's attention now.

"I'll see you later guys." Fuji waved a dismissive hand at them though the people he spoke to did not even acknowledge his disappearance.

"Ahem!"

Light cleared his throat behind Ryuuzaki and the two snapped out to look at his direction.

"So what do you think Ayame? Think I did a good job with Ryuuzaki here?" Said Light proudly, putting his hands on both of Ryuuzaki's shoulders, displaying him openly to her like he was something to be sold on auction.

"Huh?…uhh…YES! YES! He looks definitely better."Ayame cheeks colored and Ryuuzaki's as well.

"LIGHT!!!!" A familiar pitch reached their ear drums.

"Oh no, it's Misa…" Light groaned, slapping himself exasperatedly for forgetting her existence. An early dose of Misa's irritating voice was giving him migraines.

"Hi everybody! Oh light! I'm so glad you're here!" Misa directly attached herself to Light like an intractable amoeba.

"Light, let's go get some drinks!" She nudged at Light childishly, acting on her sassy girlfriend role. Ayame viewed her as a cat purring on it's owner's lap.

"Where's Ryuuzaki by the way?" Misa added. Scanning her eyes around the room in search of a scrawny hunchback.

Ryuuzaki waved faintly at Misa with a bored expression on his face. "I'm over here, Misa…"

Misa gaped at him from head to toe, in a few seconds she somehow found reacquired her cat-caught tongue.

"WHAT!!! RYUUZAKI IS THAT YOU?" Misa did one of her cheesy over-reactions again. It was rather sarcastic for poor Ryuuzaki.

"Duh…"

Misa's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. She wiggled like a tadpole out of the water. "Oh gee! This is awesome! You're going to dig some chicks here, right!? Right???!! So I see you have the gentleman approach this time! Not the pervy style---"

Light put a stop to her fidgeting.

"Okay, that's enough Misa, let's go get some drinks. Meet you later, alright, Ryuuzaki?"

Light said as he winked at Ryuuzaki. There was a glint in those honey eyes that made Ryuuzaki tense. He knew very well what was on Light's mind. He wanted him to be alone with Ayame.

Ayame caught Light winking at Ryuuzaki and the latter's intensified reaction. Something tells her that Ryuuzaki was experiencing weird emotions at the moment.

That reaction…Could it be…? Is Ryuuzaki ... gay…?

"OKAY, LIGHT!" Misa responded automatically, then the couple trotted toward the serving table to get some glasses of champagne.

"Would you take a look at that, she did not even greet me. Some friend…"Ayame muttered.

She snorted, biting on to her fork for the last piece of cake. She dragged another plate for another round of dessert; apple pie. Ryuuzaki took the seat next to her, mildly amused by Ayame's glutty behavior.

Suffering from yet another of his mean stares, harshly, Ayame asked. "What?"

"Nothing…"

They had a staring contest for a bit. Knowing that the act was getting pointless, Ayame changed topics. She thought of his new look and she couldn't help but ask since her exaggerated imagination was getting on her. She imagined some alien kidnappers took Ryuuzaki the previous day, used him as their test subject for their latest technological breakthrough; 'a super-duper-effective-hair-managing-hair product!'

She shook her head in disagreement at her own imagination.

"Lemme guess, Ryuuzaki, you been attacked by hairstylist?"

You have no idea… Ryuuzaki thought.

(read Ryuuzaki's major make-over. You'll understand XP)

"Sort of" he replied.

"Ahhh…haha…Is that so…" Ayame faked a laugh and realized that Ryuuzaki was being quiet. So she had to propose another topic.

C'mon, Ayame! Think of a topic! Ah, let's see… uh… oh yeah! He's surprise appearance! I could ask him that!

"This party is boring. I'm so glad you're here... I really thought you weren't coming."

Ryuuzaki shifted uncomfortably in his seat and she guessed that it was his posture that caused it. "I didn't say no when you asked me, right. I said I'd think it over...

"Well, yeah…but…even so, I just couldn't really imagine you being…" Ayame struggled for euphemisms but could not think of any. "…LIKE THAT!" She pointed to him, hoping he did not take it as an insult. Ayame was actually only trying to prevent saying 'handsome'.

He shrugged and Ayame felt a pang of relief for he did not look affronted. "So how are things going on?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing much exciting…unless if you find Alan M's performance appealing." She grinned and her face darted back to her meal. "Only the platter here in front of me is worth giving attention to!"

Ryuuzaki almost snickered at that comment. He should have known, really…

"I 'm curious though! How did you manage to sit that straight? You told me back then your deductive skills would be reduced to what…ummm…" She tapped the edge of her fork into her soft lips. "...forty percent?"

Ryuuzaki was awed that she actually listened to his previous explanations about his odd exploits, she even got the percentage right.

He added. "I don't really want to sit that way, I had to sit that way, but given the circumstances and the required formalities I had to go against my natural habit."

Ayame put a finger beneath her chin and arched an eyebrow at him suspiciously. "Hmmm…I wonder why you'd take all that effort…"

"Yeah, wonder." He answered dispassionately, coldly giving her the 'don't bother knowing' look. Clearly, it was a statement that could end the conversation right then and there.

Ayame took the answer as an order which means he won't be saying anything more. But it only made her more curious. She asked him irrelevant questions first for asking about Ryuuzaki's feelings for Light was too crude for starting an interrogation.

"You admire someone don't you? A guy would only do such things for a lady he likes… Is it Misa?"

"That would be scandalous. She's Light's girlfriend…"

"Oh, so is it Light you're after?" She leaned closer, eyes glowing radiant with intrigue. The detective locked eyes with her in retaliation.

"You have a poor ability in associating issues that particularly relate to gender anomalies, Ayame."

"Blame Alan M for my gay paranoia problem!" She said angrily.

Ayame thought. And I blame you! How am I supposed to anything from you if you don't share any to me at all? She looked at him with condemnation through her peripheral vision.

Ayame had planned to take out the answers for Ryuuzaki, wanting to know more about him, to know and unleash all those secrets he hides behind that pale blank facade of his. She had thought of random things, any questions that she would ask and that as long as he tries to answers she would consider it a good try already. Maybe he'll be able to leave her clues about himself. So what if he is gay or not gay? He'd have to confess, and Ayame is anticipating for confirmation soon.

"I see, you're in denial stage about your gender! But don't worry; you can trust me on your little secret, Ryuuzaki." She winked at him in a teasing sense. And Ryuuzaki grew tenser than he did earlier. She voiced the worse accusation a person could ever give to any man, that he is a faggot. The woman was mistaken as to guess the main source of his apprehension who was actually...

HER

Guess what will happen next!

Yume: You're going to demand for reader's reviews..

FrappeG: Err...Aside from that... I meant the story, DUH!!!

*Yume points down at that bar below*

Yume: Make the crazy girl happy.