#71 Costume

A/N: 8D Happy L's birthday everyone! Here's my present to him, lol ;)

Misa squealed girlishly as she twirled in front of her mirror. She looked damn adorable, even if she said so herself. Her long blonde hair was tied up in elaborate black and orange ribbons, she wore black tights with glittering little black bats in them, her dress was black with ripped orange netting overlaying, and balancing precariously on her head was a tall witches hat.

Rem blinked at this display, curious as ever. "Misa, what is the purpose of this dress-up?"

The model giggled, swiping up her broomstick as she skipped to the door, "Its Halloween Rem! All humans dress up like scary things and go out to get candy or party!" she did another twirl as she waited for the elevator, "And Light-kun invited me to a party with him! Eee!"

Rem shook head to herself, bewildered, but accepting. "I hope you enjoy it as much as you want to, Misa."

Twenty minutes later and Misa was stuck in the middle of a party in a college student's house, having only glimpsed Light twice before loosing him in the crowd. The music was thudding in her head, the lights were flashing and with all the brightly-coloured costumes she couldn't focus on any one person. She sipped her punch and frowned at the sour taste.

A figure slumped into the seat beside her, "Hello."

She looked up, and found herself looking at a vision of loveliness.

He was tall and slim, long black trousers lead up to a blue coat, the lapels sparkled with glitter, golden buttons covered the front. His dark hair was swept back neatly. A mask almost as white as the man's skin covered his eyes, and somewhere inside this annoyed Misa, because with that, she couldn't see his name. But she recognised him purely from the tiny silver crown atop his dark hair.

She gasped, and hissed, "Prince Charming."

Then she remembered where she was, blushed, and mumbled, "I mean, Hello!"

The boy laughed softly. "You're Misa Amane, aren't you? I'm a big fan." He offered a hand. "You can keep calling me Charming, if you like."

Misa found herself giggling as she shook his hand, all thoughts of Light forgotten. "You can call me Misa-chan." She squeaked.

The prince nodded, and rose to his feet. Misa almost laughed when she saw how awkwardly he stood. "Would you dance with me, Misa?"

She found it very difficult to refuse, and in no time the pair were amid the mass of people, tangled in heat and colours and thumping beats.

It was amid all this mess that Misa started to feel the floor move dizzily beneath her.

"Oh… Misa doesn't feel so good." She mumbled, not thinking for a second that her prince Charming would hear her over the sound of the music, but unable to make herself any louder. She whined when she felt the floor move again, (just how was it doing that?) and stumbled forwards into pale white hands.

When she opened her eyes again she was outside, on the grass. Above her she saw the concerned eyes of her prince, and realised slowly that her head was on his lap. She forced herself to sit upright.

"Are you all right, Misa?" the prince questioned, shifting his position to tuck his knees to his chest. He looked like a monkey.

She nodded woozily, "Misa was just too hot… thank you for taking care of Misa."

He brought his thumb to his mouth, biting it. "It was my pleasure. It's not often I get to meet and dance with a gorgeous girl who then faints in my arms." He smiled cheekily, and Misa almost swore his eyes sparkled like his coat. "It's the best birthday ever."

Misa smirked. "It's your birthday, Prince Charming?"

The man nodded.

The model giggled, and reached to trace his cheek, "Well, Misa-misa has a boyfriend, but because Prince Charming was so good and kind to her, he deserves a kiss."

She leant forwards and chastely brushed her lips against his.

~*~*~

She didn't remember much of the night. Or she chose not to. All she was sure of was that her Prince left in an awful hurry soon after that.

Which was probably why she didn't seem so shocked when she met Ryuzaki. After all, her prince had been handsome and charming, Ryuzaki looked like a zombie.

She didn't make the connection when he said he was a fan. Nor when she saw the way he sat, or listened to his voice, looked at his eyes.

She didn't connect it until almost a year later, when, on Halloween, Watari brought out a birthday cake for L.

She had raised her eyebrows; "It's Ryuzaki's birthday?

L nodded, chewing his thumb. He appeared to glance around, then rose from his chair and leant down to whisper something into Misa's ear.

He whispered; "If you kiss me, will I turn back into a prince?"

Light never did fathom out why she ran from the office squealing that day.