Chapter 26

"You creep!" Ayame grabbed Ryuuzaki by his collar and shook him. "You made me worry, you…YOU IDIOT! They could have KILLED YOU! DAMN IT!"

"A-Ayame, c-calm…" Matt tried to help out but Ayame ignored him completely.

"DID YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS! I JUST STOOD THERE SHOUTING! I WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING-A-AND Y-YOU! YOU WENT ON AND TRIED TO BE A HERO! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? I-I-WAS SO….SO…AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! DAMN IT, RYUUZAKI!"

Ayame let go and stalked off towards the counter, frightening the clerk who wasted no time to skirt out of the counter before Ayame could reach the area. Ayame slammed her hands over the counter table and breathed deeply as she counted from one to ten to calm her anger. Ryuuzaki, along with the rest of the people inside the store, watched warily watching the crazy female who attacked the hero of the day.

Ryuuzaki was only able to take her eyes away from the woman when he felt a nudge on his arm. "Ryuuzaki…who is she?" Matsuda asked in a shaky voice that Ryuuzaki suspected as the result of Matsuda's surprise. He couldn't blame him. After all, this little trip did not exactly turn out the way he had thought it would.

The whole story was retold in different perspectives by the Matt, Mello and Near as everyone gathered shortly after arriving in Ryuuzaki's living room. Matsuda and Watari listened religiously, occasionally voicing out a comment or two. Ryuuzaki was sipping his coffee serenely and Ayame sat as far from him as possible on the couch with her arms crossed.

Hitting Ryuuzaki in the face in front of crowd who admired him for his bravery seemed like a good idea at the time, even if she'd known all along that what she would be doing is wrong. She felt the heaviness of guilt on her gut and the heat of shame on her face, turning it red. She hardly spoke since she had gone berserk at the store. She was thoroughly embarrassed by her own actions and the worst part of it was, she had brought it all on to herself.

She avoided everyone's eyes and was pretty sure they were avoiding hers, too. Maybe out of disgust for her intolerable behavior or maybe they just didn't have any words to say to her that would make her feel better about the whole thing. Sometimes, she thought, maybe a whole hour of lecture from her parents or Alan M is less torture compared to all this awkward side-glancing with the people around her here.

Her eyes drifted across the room, unable to focus on anything she saw. She was too preoccupied with her own thoughts that it took her a few more seconds than necessary to realize that she had somehow locked eyes with Ryuuzaki beside her. She held back a cringe and hid it effectively by quickly moving her eyes elsewhere.

Ryuuzaki was different, she surmised. His gaze was, as usual, calculating and scrutinizing, almost as if he was willing to rip off her skin because he was deadly desirous to find out what it is that she was hiding. She groaned mentally for she knew she was exaggerating over that analogy. But she can't help thinking that way. Ryuuzaki is not your typical guy after all. She caught Ryuuzaki looking at her too many times, most probably trying to make eye contact. How ironically convenient…it was Ryuuzaki's eyes she wanted to avoid the most.

She probably deserved all this for being such a jerk to someone he owed so much. The thought of it made an uncomfortable lump on her throat in which she sought remedy by taking her hot coffee filled cup to her lips. She yelped when her sensory neurons came into full effect and brought her out of her reverie.

"Ouch…"Ayame mumbled more about how absentminded she was then warily set the cup back down on its saucer.

"Let me see that." Ryuuzaki immediately reached out to hold up her chin to face him before she could protest. He checked her scalded lips and parted them softly with his thumb rather sensually that it surprised her. She wondered if he was even aware of what he is doing to her.

"Say aah." Ryuuzaki commanded. Ayame hesitated a moment before conceding to open her mouth enough to expose her tongue. "Not to worry. We have plenty of sugar to help relieve the burn." Ryuuzaki said after assessing.

"A-Ah know…" I know, Ayame meant to say. She looked through the corner of her eyes, and saw the others gaping at this sudden intimacy between Mr. Hero and Ms. Crazy hero-hitter. Ryuuzaki must have noticed this too because he withdrew his hand. Ayame leaned too far back, making her discomfort clear enough for anyone to think.

She felt relieved when everyone resumed to their coffee. It could be that they just didn't see much on the intimacy or maybe they were just playing ignorant for her benefit.

"Sugar?" Matsuda inquired casually just to break the tension brought about by the prolonged silence.

"Dissolving it on a burnt tongue helps relieve it, aside from running water, of course." Ryuuzaki said in his monotonic voice. Ayame almost hated how Ryuuzaki could easily come up with words even after a tight situation. She wasn't adept at that particular skill.

"I-I see." Matsuda let out a half-hearted laugh but stopped midway when no one else joined him.

Unable to stand the uneasiness, Ayame stood. "Excuse me. I have to go…" she paused then mumbled "bathroom…"

Not one answered whether they agreed or objected. Ayame took this silence as a 'yes' then dragged herself to another room, feeling everyone's eyes boring on her back. She closed the door behind her, relieved to be out of their sight. She lay on the nearest couch and meticulously plopped a pillow behind her head. Her muscles felt sore and she felt the pain on her ankle escalating but that was nothing compared to how isolated she felt. Maybe if she sleeps through it all, she'll forget her misdeeds and everything would be okay, she thought plaintively.

No… even she can't fool herself to believe that. She sighed heavily. Lying and walking out from everyone was such a lame way to say goodnight.

The whole group has retired for the night shortly after Ayame left. Watari and the boys went to their own rooms and Matsuda went home. Alone in the living room, Ryuuzaki stood by himself quietly. His thoughts were his only companions now.

He placed a hand over his eyes that had started to hurt at some point this day. His insomnia used to give him the privilege to stay up late and work things on his laptop but he found himself now too exhausted to even tap a single key on his laptop's keyboard. A whole day of dealing with harassing hairdressers, formal birthday parties, hyperactive young geniuses, violent mafian brutes and a model with a deadly temper can drain any man's(even a man like L's), energy.

Ryuuzaki touched the spot where his face bruised. It hurt. It gave him a shock when Ayame gave him that punch, but then again, knowing how Ayame gets fired up easily made her offense seem inevitable. At first, he thought she would have just snorted and said he was a 'show off' like she usually does when he displays a fair amount of his talents. His prediction was wrong. Maybe he did not know Ayame as well as he thought.

Ryuuzaki faced the door to where Ayame had gone. She did not come back into the living room. Hesitantly, he turned the knob and slipped inside. With the slightest amount of light, he was able to locate Ayame lying on her back on the couch.

Ayame, who heard him come in, glanced at him then immediately resumed facing the windows as if they have become the most interesting things she had ever laid eyes on during the last several seconds. Without bothering to even turn the switch to illuminate the room, Ryuuzaki quietly made his way to the couch.

Ayame looked at him again with a hint of surprise in her eyes, and then idly moved herself upright providing a space for Ryuuzaki to sit on. He gave her a dubious look for a moment then settled next to her. They allowed themselves to remain in that same hushed stillness for some time.

"I was a jerk, wasn't I?" Ayame uttered finally with some edge to her voice. Though her resentment was more likely be toward her self.

Ryuuzaki shifted in his seat before replying with his calm and slightly patronizing tone. "If that's a slang word for a person with rash behavior, then yes, you have been a jerk."

Ayame leaned her head back against the couch exasperatingly. "Man…I admire your honesty Ryuuzaki despite the uncomfortable feeling it leaves me." She grumbled, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Ryuuzaki shrugged grudgingly. "Don't you find it strange that you admire me… in a way that you're too generous at giving me black eyes?"

Ayame's face turned red with subdued rage. "Would you just shut up for a minute and let me talk." She said through gritted teeth.

"Not a bad idea." Ryuuzaki replied nonchalantly.

"Look…" Ayame straightened herself and promptly glued her hands together on top of her lap. "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted. But what bothers me though… is why you had to overreact."

Ayame took longer than necessary to reply "It's just the way I am." She sighed and this time, she had mustered enough guts to face Ryuuzaki. Sadly, he did not return the favor but instead sought enjoyment in wiggling his toes. He saw Ayame scowl at him for his lack of attention but she did not say anything about her irritation. Ryuuuzaki, amused by how easily her temper flares, had only done so in purpose to see her face contort. He was actually listening intently.

"I'm not saying that as an excuse," She continued, tolerating Ryuuzaki's toe-wiggling. ", I wanted to say that… because I want to be accepted as I am… I mean... I meant to say that I don't have enough…"

"…self-control." Ryuuzaki finished. "I see that you have maneuvered your answer about overreacting so then let me rephrase the question." His moved and clashed with hers so suddenly it took Ayame aback but the question he said after could have shaken her off the couch. "Why were you worried about me?"

It was crucial question no doubt, not to mention, very direct. Ryuuzaki had wanted to settle things out clearly with Ayame, to ask her out directly, because he was bothered by the serious suspicion: that Ayame has developed feelings for him and that this perhaps carried a more degree of intimacy than mere friendship.

"E-Excuse me? Worried? Isn't that a bit extreme? C'mon…I-I…" Ayame stuttered apparently stunned. She seemed to have composed herself a little bit for she added indignantly. "I mean… THAT"S A STUPID QUESTION. OF COURSE, I AM! It's because we're friends!"

Ryuuzaki, not quite satisfied with her answer, probed further. "And…?"

"And I was concerned about your welfare. Yes! And hey! I just realized that I actually hated you!" Now she bolted upright showing him how certain she had become of her answers. "I hated the way you tossed yourself into the mess with such easy abandon. Were you trying to kill yourself? You were lucky enough to have come out unharmed but what would you have me do if something really bad happened to you? What, huh? Do you understand?" Ayame heaved then exhaled through a loud snort. She turned around to stump towards the window and crossed her arms.

This is clearly getting more intense, Ryuuzaki thought. He had to admit that he was flattered and awed by her unconventional demonstration of passionate concern.

"You are selfish Ryuuzaki… You don't know what it was like for me… for us to stay on the sideline and watch you get stabbed or killed… or…"

"But I did not."

"That's NOT the point!" She flashed him an angry look. "And the worst thing about it was that I wasn't able to help you. I'm SO STUPID and…." She cleared her throat. "I mean, what did I learn all those Aikido techniques for? It was meant for defense and I couldn't even help the one person I-"

Ryuuzaki inclined his head, awaiting the words that would let him know just what he was to her.

C'mon…say it…

"T-The one person I have become rapidly friends with."

Ryuuzaki drew his brows together and wrinkled his nose. That wasn't what she intended to say, he was sure of it. After all, he was not the only one she had rapidly made friends with. That would include Watari, Matsuda, Mello, Near, Matt and so on. Once again, he found himself unsatisfied by her answers.

Ryuuzaki was beginning to get annoyed. Was this woman too thick headed to not even understand her own feelings?

"Don't get so agitated about it. I had the situation under control." He assured her.

Ayame shook her head disbelievingly then scowled. "Sheer arrogance!"

Ryuuzaki rose from the couch with a faint smirk on his face. "I'll have you know, that I mastered the arts of Capoeira quite well. You've seen it."

"Cap-what?" Ayame inquired impatiently.

"Capoeira. It's a martial art." He stepped closer to her. "Forgive me Ayame, for letting you worry. In fact, I'm so sorry that I would go as far as teaching you this martial art for compensation for my recklessness."

"You don't seem you when you say that. It's creeping me out." Ayame said. Ryuuzaki's mouth curled ever so slightly.

The stupid woman can't she even tell that he is trying to be a gentleman? He had meant to sooth her worries but instead found his advances creepy. Wasn't there any limit to her ignorance?

"Don't you see, if you master Aikido and Capoeira, it might be possible for you to utilize both to deflect any opponent. Maybe then, you'll not be staying on the sidelines anymore and be strong enough to aid people…well, people you rapidly become friends with" He said adding a slight smirk to the last sentence.

"Are you serious?" Ayame's mirrored him with a pleasured smirk of her own. It made her face brighten and for the most part, attractive. "You do know that if you teach me those, you're going to regret doing so once I've kicked your ass."

"You don't have to worry yourself over such thing. You could never defeat me." He said matter-of-factly.

Ayame's immediate response was to strike him with a kick aimed to his head which Ryuuzaki barely blocked using the side of his arm.

"Get ready to eat those words, Ryuuzaki." She sneered despite the slight discomfort she felt on the other foot which was sprained but it did not matter to her anymore. Ryuuzaki was gratified to see that her mood was beginning to liven up and all the awkwardness that had gone on between them had been forgotten. They were back to their normal selves.

She is learning too quickly, Ryuuzaki thought, suppressing a smile.

By morning, Ayame whole body was throbbing with aching muscles and joints. It displeased her further that Ryuuzaki succeeded in winning every round of fighting they had. She was uncomfortably pinned to the floor on her belly, with her wrist twisted behind her back by Ryuuzaki who positioned himself awkwardly on top of her.

"Do you concede defeat?" He said casually.

"DAMN IT! LET GO OF ME!"

"The last time I let go off you, you aimed to hit me below the belt." Then he added with more emphasis. "Literally…"

Ayame flipped her hair aside then tilted her head upwards to meet his eyes. "You told me yourself to aim at an opponent's weakness…ARGH!" Ryuuzaki twisted her wrist further. "DAMN IT, RYUUZAKI! THAT HURT!"

"Keep quiet. I think I hear a commotion outside." Ryuuzaki said curtly, straining his ears to concentrate on the noise. He heard the sound of multiple muffled footsteps on the carpet and jumbled curses and whines from young little boys and the barking orders of a voice which doesn't sound naturally female.

The door in front of them burst forth, revealing two muscled men. They wore mostly nothing save for the shiny black material that covered their privates as a sort of underwear though no one can really call it underwear now that they had showed up in it in public. Their torso, legs, calves and shoulders were left uncovered. Between them was Alan M, his flushed face red enough to rival his orange hair. Mello and Matt were clawing and kicking as a means of freedom from the grasp of the obnoxious newcomers, though the bulky strangers made no expression of discomfort the boys set upon them.

"RYUUZAKI! WE TRIED TO STOP THEM-" Mello informed.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY NIECE? "Alan M screamed at the top of his lungs, pointing a green fan to Ryuuzaki. He used the accessory as a tool to slash away at Ryuuzaki who released Ayame instantly and avoided the assumed weapon.

"YOU PERVERT!" Spat Alan M. For a moment his voice sounded deeper than the usual fake female voice he is fond of using.

Ayame, now out of Ryuuzaki's hold, scrambled to her feet and tried to calm her uncle down through a hurried explanation of what happened after she went off from the party with Ryuuzaki. But Alan M wasn't listening.

"So, you think you are so smooth, Mister Ryuuga? For kidnapping my niece and seducing her into coming here! Oh and God knows what else you could have done if I hadn't come here for the rescue? I don't even want to-" Alan M choked in despair.

Ayame's mouth dropped. Ryuuzaki's eyes widened, apparently stunned.

"That's a serious accusation uncle! He didn't do anything to me, in fact—"

"Alejandro, take her away from that despicable man!" Alan ordered and the men swiftly left Mello and Matt alone to stride across toward Ayame.

"No, uncle, you don't understand. Ryuuzaki was only trying to help me! Wai-HEY!" One of the muscled men, which Ryuuzaki assumed to be Alan's bodyguard, carried Ayame effortlessly over his shoulder.

"UNCLE! STOP IT! YOU'RE EMBARASSING ME!" She kicked the man who held her. It had no effect on him.

Clearly there was no stopping Alan M. He went on and complained about the ruined sandals that were seen just outside the bathroom door where they lay forgotten since Ayame's arrival at the suite. He did not stop calling Ryuuzaki pervert either. Alan M spat every nasty and malicious conclusion he could think of to draw a scene proving Ryuuzaki was indeed harassing Ayame. Ryuuzaki's eyebrows rose a little higher at every conclusion for they were so detailed, even L wouldn't be able to come up with them. Ayame, with no energy left, hang limply over the Alan's bodyguard groaning.

Alan M pivoted his way out to the door with his nose held up high and his bodyguards following him outside carrying Ayame with them. Ayame waved goodbye at them sheepishly and mouthed 'I'll call you.' The door was shut closed. Ryuuzaki, Matt, Near and Mello stared at it blankly.

"That was weird…" Matt conveyed. "Aren't they supposed to be arrested for that? It looked more like kidnapping than rescue."

Ryuuzaki shrugged. "Sadly, the man named Alan M is Ayame's guardian. So we can't do much about that."

The disturbing vibration on his pocket signaled that he had a call. Ryuuzaki fished out his cell phone from his pocket, half-expecting that it was Ayame calling so soon. He was disappointed to see Light's name blinking on the phone screen.

"Ryuuzaki, are you with Ayame right now?"

"She just left, actually… not all too willingly, I'm afraid."

"Was it Alan M?" Ryuuzaki made a sound agreement though it sounded more like a grunt. He heard Light sigh on the other line.

"I called to warn you, but I see I was too late. He was searching for Ayame the whole night. Misa and I were at her flat looking for her. Misa didn't have enough common sense to hide the information that Ayame might be at your place. I guess it's not surprising he had to overreact seeing her within a guy's residence at such time."

"There weren't really any casualties, so don't worry too much about it."

"…Did something significantly bad happen?"

Ryuuzaki glanced down at Matt and Mello. They looked like they were in a sour mood after being manhandled too often in this country. That reminded Ryuuzaki about what happened last night. A lot happened indeed, Ryuuzaki thought.

"I don't want to discuss it." Ryuuzaki said.

Light paused briefly. "I take that as a confirmation." Ryuuzaki didn't reply.

"Well then… That's all I've got to say." Light said. The conversation ended with an abrupt beep. Ryuuzaki reluctantly slid his phone back inside his pocket and stared blankly at the wall.

"What do we do now? Uhh… L?" Mello inquired, half glad that he could address the detective by his real identity.

"Should we take Ayame back or something?" Matt said as he lighted the cigarette between his lips.

Ryuuzaki turned to his room, "Let's do nothing," He answered them and shut the door behind him.

Inside his room, Ryuuzaki faced his laptop catching up to the cases. It was getting harder not to think about Ayame and what happened to her after Alan took her away. Every once in a while her image would appear in his mind that he had to shake it much too often. For the following days he worked on them and despite his delay in work and his thoughts of Ayame, he managed to resolve the cases near the estimated time. During the day he would be attending classes at the University and play a few rounds of tennis with Light. On the evenings, he would resume working on his cases. The days went by uneventfully with the exception that Matt almost burned the carpet because of his attachment to had not called. At first, Ryuuzaki did not pay it much thought. But one week passed and still there was no news from her.

Ryuuzaki had always liked the solitude and quite of To-Oh University's roof top. It was the one place in school he could think. Not like the library which is not much of a quiet place, not when one is accompanied by a class heartthrob like Light Yagami who always has a group of admiring girls close to his trail. The giggling noise from the girls tends to ruin concentration.

Up there, he stood with his head tilted back to observe the sky above. The weather was cloudy and the air was cool against his skin. Ryuuzaki guessed it would rain pretty soon. It reminded him of the last time he and Ayame had been stranded on the streets and trapped inside a dusty antique shop for the duration of the storm. He was vividly reminded of his intent of kissing her shortly after that as well. Ryuuzaki had thought he has gone out of his senses.

He found himself rather frustrated just thinking about it. Everything reminded him of Ayame lately. And his curiosity as to what happened to Ayame after he had last seen her is gradually morphing into worry. Could something bad actually happen to her? He shook his head, disagreeing with his own idea. No, he would be notified by Misa and Light if something horrible had really happened to her.

Then, could it be that she had simply forgot about me? The thought of it made him frown. He did like that at all. Not when he was having a hard time NOT thinking about her. The excitement she brought would be missed. Then, at that moment, it hit him. The very idea that he wouldn't miss just the excitement…he would miss the woman entirely. He felt his heart quicken and its beat pounding hard against his chest. It was a discomfort he fought to ignore and to deny.

"What are you doing up here, Ryuuzaki?" It was Misa's voice. His eyes went to her. She was wearing some punk Goth outfit with red and black colors abounding. He had almost forgotten the fact that Misa comes to the university almost everyday, just to see her beloved Light.

"Nothing..." Ryuuzaki replied in a bored tone hiding his delight that Misa would be one of those people who can clear his doubts about what happened to Ayame. After all, she should know where that stubborn woman was now.

"By the way I want to ask you-" Ryuuzaki started to ask but was rudely cut off.

"Where's Light?" Misa questioned, turning her head to every direction searching for her boyfriend. It appears she had not heard him. "I thought he was with you? We were supposed to meet by the cafeteria but he's taking so long." Misa said, pouting.

Light was with the teachers at the faculty room discussing important things related to Light's scholarship. Light had told Ryuuzaki not to mention this to Misa for she would surely butt herself in to the faculty room and bring about unnecessary interruptions.

"I'm afraid he went home already." It was so easy to lie to Misa.

"WHAAAT? How could he forget about me!"

"How's Ayame?" He asked, no longer able to hold his question any longer.

"Huh?"

Ryuuzaki repeated the question.

"Oh. She returned home, she's not at the hotel with me. It's been a week. We haven't talked to each other since Alan's party. Alan's just called after telling me that Ayame will be at home because she's sick. And if she stays at our hotel room nobody would be able to watch her, not with me being busy and all."

"She's sick?" Ryuuzaki inquired thoughtfully.

"Yes. But she should be all right now given that she was off work for a week. I'm just wondering why she had not called me yet."

Ryuuzaki wondered the same thing. He couldn't take this uncertainty anymore. If he had to go personally to see how Ayame was doing, then he will do so.

"Misa, can you tell me where Ayame lives?"

Misa looked at him incredulously then grinned slyly. "Oh? This is unusual, Ryuuzaki being interested in someone other than potential criminal masterminds."

"I was asking merely out of curiosity. I have not seen her for quite awhile" Ryuuzaki replied with such nonchalance no one would have guessed he was seriously bothered by Ayame's absence. "Now, can you tell me where Ayame lives?"

Misa looked surprised for a moment then laughed haughtily and grinned. "Does that mean you miss her? Oh! I knew it!"

"Do you have any plans of answering me?" Ryuuzaki asked in a more serious tone.

Misa's grin was still on even as she shook her head. "You know how Ayame is. She nearly killed me when I let you have her number through Light. But, I may take the risk again if you tell me where—"

"Light is having an appointment with the faculty." Ryuuzaki did not have to hear Misa ask twice. He had to be stupid, too, for giving her the very information that Light purposely wanted kept from her. He must be desperate.

Misa glared at him. "So you really did lie to me! You said Light went home! Ryuuzaki, you are such a creep!"

"I told you where Light is. Now tell me where Ayame lives. Quid pro quo."

Misa looked confused. "Quid what? Did you just say something in a foreign language to insult me?"

Ryuuzaki narrowed his eyes at her. With her evading his question and stalling at every turn, he was no longer in a mood to tease.

"Geez! Fine!" Misa said finally.

After getting all the information he needed from Misa, Ryuuzaki nodded and began to leave.

"Hey! I'm not done with you yet, Ryuuzaki! You have to help me find Light!" The blonde demanded.

"Sorry, I've got some important appointment to go to." Ryuuzaki replied without looking back. He felt a little sorry for Light who had to put up with Misa now that Ryuuzaki had told Misa about his whereabouts. But he had no choice. Well... actually he did. But he had to find and set out to visit Ayame himself as soon as possible for his patience couldn't tolerate any further delays. He just had to see her, even if it also meant making Light miserable.

"Light will get over it." Ryuuzaki murmured and grinned mischievously as he made his way out of the school gates.

Aja: Sorry for the very late update. :P