Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note.


.

.

"What?! Does it have to be now?" Sayu protested, eyes large

I sighed softly. "Your father has been working all-nighters lately without a change of clothes, so you're going to bring these to him."

"But Mom, I totally promised my friends I'd hang out with them today!"

"It'll only take about half an hour to finish. I'm sure your friends can wait a little."

"Why don't I go? I could use a break."

We turned to look at Light, who'd just stepped into the room. It was such a surprise and relief – he hardly left his room anymore. I'd been starting to get a little worried for him.

"Thanks, Light!" Sayu chirped. "I owe you one."

I hesitated; this wasn't the first time Light had gotten Sayu out of an errand before – he was a very kind older brother that way. But still … sometimes, he was a little too kind. I turned back to my daughter. "No, Sayu. I want you to take those clothes to your father."

Both of my children stared at me. There was surprise on their faces, and I couldn't help but wonder if I had some of it in my own expression; I'd always believed in letting them negotiate these sorts of things between themselves. And it always was so very nice of Light to always help out Sayu when she needed him.

But Sayu was growing up – it wasn't good for her to keep relying on her older brother to bail her out of so much so often.

"A-are you sure, Mom?" Light asked me, his eyes filled with a new uncertainty.

"Yes," I replied.

"Aw, Mom!" Sayu whined as she got up from the couch. She snatched the bag out of my hands and sulked out the door.

"Is something wrong, Light?" I asked as my eldest abruptly turned away from me.

"Nothing, Mom." But despite his words, he stalked back up to his room with a strange glint in his eyes. It was almost as if he was frustrated. And maybe he was.

I sighed again. Truly, he doted on Sayu far too much.

.

.


Author's Note: You can see everything going downhill for poor little Light from here, I think. And Naomi gets to live in this AU! Yay!