Yume: Frappe… what are you doing?

FrappeG: Hanging myself… It's clear why… my fans hate me…

Y: I know, but you—

F: ..for not updating sooner…

Y: -you don't have to go that far…

F: *places the noose around her neck and jumps off from the stool*

Y: …

F: _ Why am I not…ack!…dead yet?

Y: It would seem that Death doesn't want you in hell either… ToT

F: ARGH! STFU YUME! *coughs and gasp, still hanging by the rope* HEEYY! I NEED HELP HERE!

Chapter 25

Misadventures

Ayame's POV

"AYAME!" Matt called from the door surprising the self-loathing Ayame. Racing ahead of the other boys, he was the first one to close in on Ayame, hugging her around her middle.

"Hey there, redhead, how's it going?" She ruffled his soft red locks. To her surprise the boy must've missed her as much as she had missed all of them. Mello and Near came after him in unhurried strides.

"You better watch out, Ayame, he might strip you naked." Mello reminded her with a smirk. She was still in her bathrobe after all.

"I'm not that perverted!" Matt barked at his blonde buddy.

"Not THAT perverted still means you are perverted to some extent." Mello responded and to Matt's annoyance, he released Ayame to tackle Mello instead.

As she watched the commotion, she jumped in her place when Near poked her on the side. He was staring at her with those rounded onyx eyes, a starling reminder of how Ryuuzaki had rooted her to the spot with the same penetrating eye contact. She blinked and Near didn't say anything but merely twiddled his hair with his little finger.

Oh. He must be expecting another twister game.

"Sorry, Near, I did not bring my twister game today." Ayame said and the albino lad lowered his head openly disappointed. Ayame disregarded the issue and took note of more important matters.

"You know boys, I could use some new clothes right now…"

Mello and Matt stopped grappling instantly. All of them looked at each other for a few moments until the redhead announced with a mischievous grin on his face.

"I have an idea!" Matt's grin reached his ears, earning a raised eyebrow from the people around him.

Ryuuzaki's POV

He didn't know what it was that really bothered him when she told him he was unhygienic. Ryuuzaki shampooed until none was left of the bottle and soaped until the bar was all used up. That better show her he was hygienic enough.

By the time he returned to his room, he found that his closet was open. He shrugged, he must have forgotten to close it earlier and so he took one from out of the many hangers of the same outfit his casual white shirt, put it on then pulled on his jeans.

He refused to comb his hair for he believed he smelled well enough to cope for it, besides he doesn't seem to have the said tool. Maybe he ought to add a comb to his next shopping list, before Ayame gets to remind him of the fact that he has none.

He watched his reflection in a full height mirror and stared at his form for a seconds realizing that this was one of those rare times that he cared about his outward appearance, at least a little more than most times.

Did a little comment from Ayame have that much influence? And what was with her calling him 'bone'? It sounds out of place. Is it that Ayame's every word is starting to matter or is he just plain paranoid?

Bone… could it mean that she thinks I'm too thin or pale white as a bone?… or both?.

He looked at his reflection for again. He bit the tip of his thumb in wonder.

So what if she did? Why? Does it even matter?

Normally, he wouldn't even remember what people call him behind his back, which makes this situation he's in currently, abnormal.

A series of childish sniggering from the other room grabbed his attention, making him turn away from the mirror. He guessed Watari had told the boys of Ayame's presence. Probably, they are eager to play with her again either for fun or for revenge.

He took silent steps, moving towards the other room to where the laughter had come from. When he reached the door, he leaned next to the wall beside it. Out of habit, probably, he wanted to know what is going on the other side of the door first before stepping right in to reveal himself.

Ryuuzaki pushed the door slightly allowing him to peer through the tiny gap and found himself needing to blink several times. A female with long dark hair in white shirt and blue jeans was in sight. This explains why his closet was left open; the ones who trespassed in his closet were none other than his promising little heirs and his visitor, Ayame.

"WOOOAAAHH! Ayame, you're like a female version of Ryuuzaki!" Matt applauded cheerfully.

"You think?" Ayame replied with a rather impish undertone. She jumped on the sofa, gathered her knees together, settling her chin on them and as if for a final touch, she held a thumb to her mouth.

"How about NOW? Do I look like Ryuuzaki?" She joked, she batted her eyelashes playfully. It was a shame, Ryuuzaki thought, for it would have made her cute… if only she wasn't mocking him.

"The resemblance is uncanny!" Matt laughed.

Ayame giggled and fell off the sofa, laughing her ass off. Near and Mello stifled and snorted noisily, having a contest on who gets to hold the laughter in longer it seems, both were red in the face, determined to win over the other.

Ryuuzaki entered the room grimly. The boys winced sensing his presence. Their laughter died down completely upon his arrival. Ayame on the floor slowly stood, still giggling.

Realizing that Ryuuzaki was in close proximity, Matt's eyes danced from Ayame to Ryuuzaki, eager to find his way out of Ryuuzaki's cold wrath.

"Watari is calling for us! Better get going! See you around Ayame!" Matt excused nervously. He added in a whisper to let Mello and Near hurry up and exit the scene.

Ryuuzaki's eyes trailed after them until they were out of sight.

"Man, I've never laughed so hard in so long!" Ayame proclaimed wiping a strayed tear from her eye. She was indeed coming close to splitting her guts due to laughter overdrive.

Ryuuzaki turned his head so quickly, his neck could have snapped. "You looked pleased."

"Hell, yeah, I'm pleased!" Ayame nodded. Unlike the little boys, she didn't cower in fear in front of Ryuuzaki. She was in fact, awfully relaxed and remorseless about her joke, proud of what she has done.

Though hunched, Ryuuzaki towered over her, intimidating. His eyes moved, examining her from head to toe. "Would you mind taking those clothes off?"

"Excuse me?" replied Ayame, still in playful mood. "Take them off? Are you trying to tell me to stay naked?"

"That's not what I meant…"

Ayame snickered. "Lighten up, Ryuuzaki. I know what you mean." Ayame said, still grinning, earning narrowed eyes from Ryuuzaki.

"Look," she said in a more serious tone. "I'm sorry for trespassing into your closet. I was just uncomfortable wearing a bathrobe around here. It was Matt's idea to have your clothes as temporary measure."

"I see… your dress was drenched, was it not?" said Ryuuzaki then he remembered that Ayame had a fever back at the antique store. Before thinking better of it, his hand moved to touch Ayame's forehead feeling her warmth growing to his touch.

It looks like her fever has passed. Her temperature is back to normal.

"Ryuu? What are you doing?" Ayame's voice sounded nervous and Ryuuzaki could see that her face's color had changed to tomato red. He felt her face warming more with it so he withdrew his hand abruptly, stuffing it back inside his pocket.

"Well, if you had just told me earlier, I would have asked Watari to take care of it." He replied trying to sound calm and certain even though inside he felt queasy.

"No, that's no longer necessary. I prefer to shop for my own clothes. The boys will be with me." She smiled, recovering right away after one harsh blushing episode.

There was no denying the fact that there is something going on between them as of late, and it's not just because she is in a bathrobe inside his suite. There really is something going on beyond those icy blue eyes of hers which might also coincide with this sudden rush of adrenaline he felt pulsing through his veins.

Ryuuzaki shook it all off with a shrug. "Have it your way then."

He had many things to think about other than this indescribable phenomenon he's been through. There is another case waiting to be cleared by L, and he needs to get working on it. Delays had come his way, but he welcomed them against his better judgment. He joined the party Ayame invited him to and he allowed himself to bid on to her requests for adventure, except revealing himself as detective L, of course.

Ryuuzaki was about to turn on his heel, but Ayame tugged at his arm.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going? You're coming with us!"

He could have sworn he saw her eyes glint. Somehow, that made it difficult for him to say no.

Ryuuzaki's POV

Ryuuzaki gripped the cart's handle in front of him tightly and pushed onwards. He would have to tolerate three manic young boys and deal with an immature twenty year old woman who would care less about his inexperience in the course of baby-sitting. Ayame had dismissed herself for solo shopping at the ladies clothing department.

It was almost midnight, a quite unusual time to shop. Once Ayame heard Watari discuss about the nearest department store to their hotel that opens for twenty-four hours, Ayame did not waste any minute longer to get there. Despite her enjoyment in mimicking Ryuuzaki with his clothes on, she did not want to walk around shopping like Ryuuzaki's female twin the next morning. Given the circumstances, Ryuuzaki had to agree.

When they arrived at the nearest department store, a male clerk awarded them as the one thousandth customer of the year. They were rewarded eighty percent discounts on all available items until morning. Of course, all of his companions took advantage of the situation. He himself did not find it too bad to devour the chocolate pudding he took from one of refrigerators, until he got scolded by the sales lady.

Watari had his watch fixed in a clock shop somewhere. It was unfortunate, without Watari and Ayame, he had to watch over Mello, Near and Matt by himself. He assumed he could handle the situation but every passing minute had him thinking otherwise.

"Matt?" Ryuuzaki noticed the redhead tossing cigarette packs by the dozen on the cart.

"Yes?"

"You're tossing too much of those stinking sticks, dummy!" Mello spat in behalf of Ryuuzaki, only Mello had been harsher in his plan to warn Matt. "Didn't Ayame already tell you? Cigarettes are hazardous to your health?" Mello reminded, tossing boxes of chocolate into the cart to his satisfaction.

"You sound just like all those commercials.." Matt mumbled.

"Find other things aside from cigarettes Matt. You are too young for this vice." Ryuuzaki said in a much milder tone.

Matt sighed. "Okay, I'll just go on ahead to the game store and see if there's anything more interesting. See yah later." Matt bid before he ran and disappeared.

"Have you seen, Near?" Ryuuzaki asked his only companion left.

"Not since ten minutes ago," Mello answered while he removed the wrappings of a chocolate bar. ", he may be lost. His not used to large places. He's the type who stays in his room all day, you see."

"We'll have to separate and find him. We'll meet again in this spot after five minutes." Ryuuzaki ordered.

Mello grinned for some reason. "Roger."

Riding the cart in a way he would to a scooter, Ryuuzaki had begun to enjoy his solitary shopping spree. While on his search, he found it in his guilty conscience as to why he was more in a predicament choosing over two flavors of ice cream than in finding Near.

Vanilla or Chocolate?

Ryuuzaki was disrupted in his heavy decision making when a shout from Matt came from behind him.

"Don't let him get away!"

A hooded young robber dashed towards Ryuuzaki, eager to make it past the store's doors. Ryuuzaki easily lifted his foot and sent his kick flying to the robber's face. Matt followed kicking the culprit with enthusiasm.

"Hand over my precious playstation portable! And..oh! Mighty kick you have there, Ryuuzaki!" Matt paused for a bit only to give Ryuuzaki a thumbs up then went back to his kicks. Other customers gathered closer to witness more of the barbaric beating. The body guard thanked Ryuuzaki shortly after then arrested the robber.

Soon after, Matt was hugging his PSP. Just when Ryuuzaki was to assume everything was back to normal again, a cart carrying Near on it rushed towards him. Ryuuzaki narrowly avoided it but Matt on the other hand lacked the reflexes. The redhead tumbled, his head went inside the cart and his legs flailed helplessly as the cart continued to move. They eventually crashed on to a pyramid of tissues.

"So much action today… I'm gone for a few minutes and this happens?"

Ryuuzaki heard Ayame grumble a few feet from him. Knowing Ayame would be done shopping, Ryuuzaki sort of hoped she'd wear a dress or something more feminine but found himself disappointed instead. She was wearing practically the same clothing as he, only they were more form-fitting. There really isn't much change in her appearance.

What a shame, Ryuuzaki thought

"Hey, Ryuuzaki, I found Near." Matt reported as he trudged through a sea of packed tissue papers.

"I can see that." Ryuuzaki replied. Near trailed after Matt, rubbing his head.

"Mello's in trouble." Said Near. "Two men in black suits mistook him for a girl. They're trying to pick him up. Mello and I tried to escape by riding this cart but Mello got left behind." Near informed.

"Next time, just summon a guard!" Matt told Near.

"This is not good…" Ryuuzaki hurried to the direction where Near pointed Mello was. He'd have to be quick or Mello will be further harassed or worse…

And there he saw Mello being pulled by one of the men. This is real bad. Ryuuzaki recognized them from his files. The men in the suit were tall, bulky and bald. They also have the same sunglasses, a typical look for those working under the mafia. The two also had the same taste for women, one evidence is the short haired blonde with the tight leather clothes they were eager to get their hands on. That was Mello. Not a woman. So that would mean they're pedophiles as well.

"Marl, make her shut up!" The man pulling Mello said.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm a GUY!" Mello shouted back.

"Ed, stop! You're alarming the other customers!" The second man warned.

Ayame hurried onto Ryuuzaki's side. She gasped. "Those two look strong, I think we should call for-wait! Ryuuzaki! Don't! You can't take those two on your own!" She held out a hand to stop Ryuuzaki but he ignored her and did not bother stopping at all.

Ryuuzaki knew well enough that the two villains won't listen to reason so he proceeded to attack them. Ryuuzaki kicked the one called Ed on the head. Ryuuzaki motioned Mello to get away. Mello did so but only after kicking the first man with a kick on the nose giving the man a nosebleed.

"Take that, you fag!" Mello cursed in triumph.

"Ed!" Marl exclaimed then to Ryuuzaki. "Damn you!"

Ryuuzaki evaded Marl's punch and used a leg sweep on him knocking him down to the floor.

"Mello!" Ayame shouted. Mello ran to her, regretting so shortly when Ayame pulled him by the ear. "What do you think your doing joining the fight? You could have been injured! Wait! You're not injured are you?" Ayame searched Mello for any signs of bruises or cuts.

"Geez, woman, calm down!" Mello replied.

"Calm down? How could I be calm?"

Meanwhile, Marl quickly stood up and pulled out a Swiss knife from his shoe.

"How'd you like that? Eh, hero boy? My knife versus your kick!" Marl snarled.

"RYUUZAKI!" Ayame screamed.

Both Matt and Near just arrived, joining Ayame and Mello. "Oh crap!" Matt exclaimed. Mello and Near were rigid on their spots. Eyes carefully following Ryuuzaki's every move.

The man went on to cut Ryuuzaki who barely dodged it. Ryuuzaki docked from the second attack and from below he kicked the enemy by the jaw. The kick was mighty strong to have Marl pass out and drop to the floor again.

"M-Marlf…."

Ed with the bloody nose hurried back onto his feet but froze on the spot when an officer came along holding a gun to his head.

"Don't move! NPA!"

Ryuuzaki glanced up guessing as to whom that familiar voice it belongs to. The young officer flashed them his badge. His eyes were wide and focused on the criminal. Even in his civilian clothes, Ryuuzaki would recognize him anywhere.

"Matsuda! Perfect timing!"

Matsuda shifted his gaze to Ryuuzaki and his jaw dropped. "Eh-L-eehhh…Ryuuzaki? What are you doing here?"

"Don't let your guard down!"

Matsuda jumped slightly, he put his badge back quickly into the inner pocket of his jacket and used both hands to hold his gun. Marl was out cold so only Ed rose his hand to surrender. Two security guards came to assist, locking the mafian men's wrists with a handcuff.

The officers offered a brief thank you to Ryuuzaki and Matsuda then took off to put the mafian men in jail.

"I was shopping…" Ryuuzaki calmly answered Matsuda's question like there have been little interruption.

"S-Shopping?" Matsuda raised both his eyebrows, a little unnerved by Ryuuzaki's unnatural calm. "You were like knocking off the bad guys!"

"That's why I said I WAS shopping…until those two came along."

"Ryuuzaki!" Ayame marched towards Ryuuzaki the boys following behind her.

Ryuuzaki was about to speak but she cut him off with a punch to his face. All eyes widened in shock.

AJA: Sorry, everyone, for uploading so late.