Surprise Birthday Party~

Mello grumbled and pulled out a stick note from his pocket. "Then just follow these to the surprise. Try and make it seem a little challenging for yourself." And with that he proceeded to walk away, but he turned around briefly. "And you didn't hear about the party from me, you got it?"

The first riddle seemed a little easy, and it read: "I always get filled, but am never full when I'm opened. It'll be impossible to find what you crave in this, considering one specific person who lives in this house. Find the next clue when you find me~" ((It's supposed to be the cookie jar; I'm not good with these riddles... xD))

"You could always borrow one of mine if you wanted~" The girl offered. "Though, you looked really pretty in that dress you wore before~"
Fey gaped at the three dresses before breaking into a large smile. "I'd combine them into one big dress if I had to." She tilted her head. "You can pick it out; I completely trust you with that decision."

((Wait, wait, who's Sarah picking a dress out for~? Herself or Fey~?))

((Actually for Fey... but it could be for both... like that Fey suggests that Sarah should wear one of the other two??" *just an idea*))

Aika had just placed the cake on the table outside and was now walking back inside the kitchen to clean up the mess when Near came walking in.
"Ah I see you received the first post-it." She said smiling. "Good luck."

"Thanks." Near said as he walked to the cookie jar.
He calmly ate a cookie first, it was a wonder there was actually one left, before he grabbed the second note to see what was written on it:
I have a big mouth and I am also quite loud! I am NOT a gossip but I do get involved with everyone's dirty business. Can you name me?
Near looked at the note for a moment, calmly reading it.
"Say, where do we keep the vacuum cleaner?" He asked Aika.

"A vacuum cleaner, I did not know we own a thing like that."

"Funny."
And with that he walked away in an attempt to find the crazy thing.


"I-I think this one would look nice on you." Sarah said as she held up the one with the butterfly sleeves.

((could be something like this model: http://www.storenvy.com/products/272939-new-white-chiffon-floral-flower-pattern-dress-ruffles-butterfly-sleeves-cute))

((Yep, perfect! I was thinking of that too! ^^))

Fey smiled and clasped her hands in front of her. "I love it already!" She giggled. "I really am lucky to have asked you for advice. You're as talented as you are sweet!" Fey tilted her head and walked over to Sarah's side. "Say, why don't you wear one of these dresses too? There's one with a rose pattern too! And it's a soft color; it'll totally fit you." She winked. "Mello'll go crazy~"

The vacuum lay at the corner of a wall by the living room, probably having been used earlier. A post-it-note hung at the corner:
I don't know why people think I'm scary; they run away because I'm too "dark" or "dusty". But I hold lots of fun and old memories! I help make space in your rooms! Where am I located~? ((ATTIC. 8D))

The first room Near walked to was the basement, since that was the place that was used as a storage room here but when he thought about it for a moment longer he figured that in normal houses the attic was used to store unused items and old photo-albums and thus he walked the two stairs up.
There, stuck to an old photo that hung on the wall he found the next riddle:
At the sound of me, men may dream, Or stamp their feet. At the sound of me, women may laugh, Or sometimes weep.((music =) ))
'The piano?' He thought, but he figured that would be too close to the previous riddle. Maybe downstairs? In the library there stood a small box/miniature suitcase with old LP's which had belonged to Ani's grandfather.
Well, one thing was for sure, this was a very effective work-out.

"C-can I really?" Sarah asked. "Than I really would like to wear this one."
It was the one with the lace sleeves and apparently a rose pattern, though Sarah could not see that. The fabric just felt nice and that was what matters most to her.
It's strange though, before she would not be very interested in wearing dresses... but ever since Mello's first reaction she just wanted to wear them more often to make him happy.


((dress, something like this, though this one does not have any lace... all the pics I saw of dress with lace all seemed a bit ordinary/cheap and that doesn't fit Sarah: http://p.lefux.com/61/20110722/A2413000FW/cheongsam-dress-rose-womens-3236033-Gallay.jpg))

((Oooh, nice one~! ;D Um, what are LP's...? -totallyclueless- And the dressis stunning~! We could just pretend there was some lace around it, wherever you find it nice~ =) ))

((NEVERMIND. I FOUND OUT WHAT THEY WERE~ xD!!))

Aika passed by Fey's room.
"It looks absolutely beautiful outside, Fey." She complimented. "Near will love it."
She noticed that both Fey and Sarah were holding a dress.
"You two will both look adorable in those dresses."

Sarah nodded her head to Mello's question.
"F-Fey said I could borrow it." She said as she turned to Mello hesitantly.
She held the dress in front of her body.
"D-Do you like it??"

Again Near walked up the two stairs, but when he got there the door was locked.
It was somewhat strange, because Aika's parents had already left so there was no reason to keep it locked anymore.
And so he had to find L first... as to be expected he was in the kitchen.
He went back upstairs, unlocked the door and noticed the post-it on the computer screen.
The sun bakes them, the hand breaks them, the foot treads on them, and the mouth tastes them. What are they? ((grapes))
He stared at the note for a moment. He knew the answer but he didn't want to go to quick from one room to the other. After a few minutes had past he walked downstairs, again... since the fruit bowl is in the living room.

((the fore-last riddle should lead to the kitchen door... I have a great riddle/puzzle that can only be used as the final one))

((Awesome~! I'll lead him to the kitchen then~ ;D))

Fey lightly blushed at Aika's compliment and swished the dress from side to side, mumbling words under her breath as she approached the door. "It was all thanks to everyone else, too; seriously, I'd be dead without you guys." She tilted her head. "You're getting ready too now, ne~? I should go tell Rayne-nee-san and Matt too. It's almost time~!" She grinned and winked at the older female. "Ne, maybe you can convince L-san to wear a suit again~" And with that, she grabbed all the needed materials and headed straight to the bathroom. She needed to hurry up and get ready, since she actually needed to be there for the surprise. She decided to part half of her hair up and leave the rest down. She'd never worn make-up other than for undercover missions, so she decided to just settle for a light colored lip gloss and a little foundation. She was out of there pretty soon, tugging at the hem of the dress; this dress was so...cute! But why did she feel strangely flustered to be seen in it?

Mello had already gotten dressed; he usually never spent much time getting ready. Mello smiled and walked over to the girl, crossing his arms over his chest and letting out a light chuckle. "You shouldn't even ask that when the answer is obvious." He lowered his head. "You look great in anything you wear; heck, you'll be beyond beautiful when you wear that dress. It'll suit you. And I...got you something that'll match with it." He pulled out the little locket from his pockets and walked over to Sarah, extended his arms over and around her neck to securely put it on. "This is...um, to show you that you're a special person to me." He blushed an pivoted on his heel after he realized how prolonged his gaze had gotten. "I-I shouldn't keep you waiting. I'll see you at the party, of course. You need to get ready."

And, indeed, the little sticky note stood out, being tucked in between the light crease of the grapes. The note read: (Aren't you a sharp one?) I do not open and close like the usual ones; I slide back and forth. Every time I open, aromas escape into the air. With this person in there, it is like a gateway to heaven. Where am I? ((The kitchen door...because I couldn't come up with a creative one. xD))

Sarah carefully touched the necklace Mello had just given her.
Before he could walk away she somehow managed to grab his hand.
"You are very special to me too." She said. "Thank you for this beautiful gift."
She hesitantly kissed him, still not used to showing affection so openly.
"I-I should get ready now." She said, blushing lightly as she walked towards her own room.
When she was done she walked out of her room, ready to go downstairs.

Aika was already in L's room, trying to convince L to wear a suit again but it seemed that this time she was unable to convince him, no matter what she tried.
However, eventually she did convince him to at least not wear his usual jeans. And so he was wearing black dress pants and a blouse, but no tie.
Now she had to pick out an outfit for herself. Eventually she decided to wear a simple purple halter dress.

Near smirked it seemed he was almost at the end of the little riddle expedition.
He walked down to the kitchen, it was almost a miracle he didn't pass anyone on the way.
Of course he could not know that everyone already had gathered in the backyard.
Before he reached the kitchen door, which was the only sliding door in the house he noticed the larger colored paper stuck to the wall next to the door.
A pen was actually taped next to it.
He looked at the last riddle, which was more of a puzzle, and he smiled. He didn't need a pen to solve this, he could do it by head.

Step 1. Write down "PRAWNCOCKTAILS" (no spaces).

Step 2. Take the previous phrase and replace all vowels with E's.

Step 3. Change the word "eels" to "one".

Step 4. Replace the first two E's with U's.

Step 5. Change the T to a D.

Step 6. Remove all C's and the second U.

Step 7. Change the fifth letter of the phrase to the eighteenth letter of the alphabet.

Step 8. Change the PR to a YO.

Step 9. Change the K to an E.

Step 10. Change the W to an A.

Step 11. Put spaces between the words.


((Aika's dress 8D ... http://www.hibridal.com/415-1650-thickbox/dark-purple-short-halter-open-back-bridesmaid-dress.jpg))

Mello could have sworn his body literally froze at that moment, like a giant gust of icy wind had cast over and made his muscles tense. Even when the kiss was so warm, so nice... He couldn't help but grin. He was looking forward to getting used to that, and with that, he headed down and outside to the garden where everyone else had gathered.

Meanwhile, Fey was rushing over everywhere, making sure the balloons were in place by the sliding door, which she'd covered with paper to prevent anyone from seeing through the glass doors. She was pacing back and forth, both nervous and excited. She made sure her voice was low as she walked over to the little group that had gathered. "Alright, alright... So the minute he goes past the sliding doors, this little thing will light up." She held up a small device. "Mino-chan, Mello, you two stand by the door and hold the balloons in your hand. Sarah and I will take care of the party confetti poppers. I'll whisper when to do so in your ear, Sarah." She lowered her voice even further. "L-san, Matt, and Rayne, hide underneath the table with the banner. As soon as he opens that door, we'll all shout out 'surprise'. D-Does that sound good?"

"YOU ARE DONE"
One final sticky-note remained at the backside of the kitchen door, but there were no more riddles. It was more of a direction. "Keep going; you're very warm. But something warmer lurks behind those doors~"

((THAT PUZZLE WAS SO MUCH FUN. Ahaha, I actually got paper and pen to figure it out~! I can't do it in my head... xD))

"Okay." Aika said as she took her place next to the door.
She really had to compliment the younger girl, everything was arranged perfectly even the smallest detail.

Matt hid under the table which was a bit of a tight fit with three adults.
Luckily they didn't have to stay underneath for very long.

Sarah nodded and stood next to Fey waiting for her cue.

Near blinked a few times after which a little smile appeared on his lips.
Well, that was fun.
He opened the sliding doors and stepped outside.

((neither could I... but I figured Near would be able to do so cause he's a genius xD))

Matt grinned evilly. Since he was standing slightly behind Mello he could easily make bunny ears without the blonde noticing.
It would be an awesome picture.

Once the photo was taken Aika clapped her hands.
"As Fey already said, we are going to sing for you... and while we do you can blow out the candles." She said as she lit the candles.

"You'd almost think I'm celebrating my 12th birthday instead of my 21st." Near said.

"Oh just let us have our moment of fun." Aika said smiling. "Alright, Sarah, shall we start with the Romanian version?"

Sarah nodded her head, took a deep breath and started singing.
"♪ Multi ani traiasca... ♪♫"
The song didn't go perfect but then again they had practiced it just twice or so.

((https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3tPW0y4qpA))