Intro Note: -Waves happily- Hello again, thanks for checking out my sequel! I'm excited to dive back into this world—even more so because I can come up with an original story separate from the canon. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Death Note characters aren't mine, but I own my OCs and the plot.

Dedication: To all of you, thanks for continuing this ride with me! xoxo

UNSETTLED MINDS

- 1 -

Sun & Clouds

April 2014

Aya leaned forward in her chair, gripping the rail nervously as L served to stay in the match. He threw two aces in a row, but his opponent returned a ball that caught him out of position. The next point went into a long rally and L ended up hitting it out. 30-30. She bit down on her lip. Her grandfather called out some words of encouragement. L rushed the net for a volley that his opponent couldn't reach. Aya stood up and cheered along with the crowd. She heard someone yell: "Come on Ryuu, one more!" L was the underdog and the crowd wanted him to beat the defending champion.

She could feel her fingernails biting into the palms of her hands as they dashed back and forth across the court. L landed a spectacular forehand winner right in the corner. The crowd roared with approval. The championship match was going to a tiebreak. L clenched his fist and looked up at his box. Aya gave him a bright smile. When he got back to his chair, he took a swig of water. L untied the sweaty bandana from his forehead and replaced it with a clean one. Ryuk said something to him from his perch on top of the referee's chair. Aya was too far away to hear what he said, but she saw a little smirk on L's face as he jogged back onto court.

It was close for a while—with neither player breaking the other's serve. Then L went up by 2 points after landing a backhand shot followed by an overhead slam. Luck was even on his side when one of his returns hit the net and went over. L held up a hand in apology. His opponent responded with an ace.

"I never knew tennis could be so entertaining," Near said beside her.

"Are you a fan now?" Aya asked with a smile.

"I am when L is playing. I wouldn't care about watching anyone else."

L hit a drop shot for match point. The crowd started chanting "Ryuuzaki" as he bounced the ball a few times. The referee spoke into the microphone, asking for silence. Once the noise died down, L threw the ball into the air. Aya hoped for an ace, but it didn't happen. His opponent wasn't about to go down without a fight. After an 11-shot rally, L saw his opening and hit a winner up the baseline. Aya leapt out of her chair and let out a triumphant "yes!" L looked up at the ceiling with an expression of exhausted relief. He hurried over to the net to shake his opponent's hand as the crowd gave them a standing ovation.

Aya hugged her mother; eyes filling with tears as L grinned over at them. Ryuk flew down from the chair to thump him on the back. "I knew he would win," Near said with a satisfied smile. The ceremony began five minutes later. Seeing L raise the silver trophy above his head made Aya cry again. He had worked so hard for this moment.

L's team waited for him in the lounge while he cleaned up in the locker room. Aya texted Matsuda and Hana with the news—sending pics of the on-court celebrations. Ryuk wandered over as she stood by the window.

"What did you say to L before the tiebreak?" she asked quietly. Three people in the room couldn't see the shinigami and she didn't want them to think she was talking to herself.

"Oh, I told him to imagine that his opponent was Raito."

"Good thinking. It certainly motivated him."

Aya was the first to approach L when he entered the lounge. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart. You played amazing!" She gave him a quick kiss before pulling him into a hug. L's damp hair brushed against the side of her face. He smelled faintly of coconut shampoo.

"Thank you," he whispered; arms encircling her waist. "It feels good to win a title again."

Watari hugged him next, followed by her mother and grandmother. Aya's grandfather shook his hand and let out an exclamation of: "Well done, Lawrence!"

Near tugged on the hem of L's button-down. "That was an exciting match."

L mussed his white-blond hair. "Glad you thought so. I know you aren't a fan of sports."

"But I'm a fan of you," he added.

L's expression softened. Aya could tell that he was touched by the comment. They had become close like brothers over the past year and a half.

Keith, L's personal trainer, was the last to congratulate him. He clapped him on the shoulder. "You see, cutting back on caffeine and sweets did improve your game."

L gave the ginger-haired Scotsman a wry look. Changing his diet had been quite a sacrifice on his part, but it only proved how serious L was about winning. "Yeah, well, I think my hard work deserves a little indulgence."

"You're right, Ryuu. Why not visit your favorite bakery when we get back home?"

L's face lit up. Watari had called about ten minutes before to put in an order for an angel food cake topped with fresh strawberries.

Everyone was heading out of the building when a group of kids called out to L. He made his way over to sign some tennis balls and hats. One boy said, "Thanks, Mr. Ryuuzaki. You were wicked today!" Aya smiled as L bent down to pose for a picture. He had been a little uncomfortable and awkward with fans at first, but had warmed up to his public role after a while. Aya knew that L liked being recognized for his talents. He could take credit for everything he did now: there was no need to hide away from the world.

The group of eight went out for dinner at a pizzeria in Birmingham. Aya said goodbye to her mother and grandparents and then got into Watari's rental van. "Anyone want a Kit-Kat bar for dessert?" Near asked as he dug through his backpack.

"I do," replied L. He leaned against Aya a few minutes later. She ran her fingers through his shaggy hair. With a contented sigh, L closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

*.*.*

L and Aya took Near to Knaresborough over the weekend. It was a picturesque town in Yorkshire famous for its viaduct bridge. They explored the castle ruins before heading down to the riverbank to rent a rowboat. L took control of the oars—saying that it was a good workout for his arms. Near leaned over the side, trailing his fingers across the surface of the water. Aya read from 'The Ocean at the end of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman as they floated down the River Nidd. A shaft of sunlight peeked through the cloudy sky and the mild breeze blew softly against their faces. It was an altogether perfect spring day.

The trio went into the town center half an hour later to eat lunch at a pub. They were walking along the market square when L asked Near if he ever wondered about his parents.

"I already know that my birth mum was a university student in Finland. My dad wasn't listed on the paperwork though."

"Have you ever considered contacting your mum?"

He frowned. "No. She didn't want me before and she wouldn't want me now either—just like my adopted parents didn't want me when they found out I was autistic."

L and Aya exchanged a startled look. They hadn't known about that.

"How old were you when you were adopted?" Aya asked, reaching for his hand.

Near let her hold onto him, but he continued to look straight ahead. "Just a baby. They were an English couple who came over to Finland to get me. I was two when they realized I was different. Roger told me they couldn't raise a child with special needs and one of my doctors contacted Wammy's House about taking me in."

Aya gave his hand a comforting squeeze. He glanced over at her. "You don't have to feel sorry for me. I'm alright. If I hadn't ended up at Wammy's, I wouldn't have met you or L. You're the only family I need."

She bent down to give him a hug. "Nate, you know that L and I love you, right?"

"Yeah. I love you guys too."

L draped an arm around his shoulder when they started walking again. Learning Near's story upset him. He couldn't believe his adopted parents had given him away as though he were a troublesome pet. People could be so cruel and unfeeling. And there was something else too… Near's rejection brought his own fear to the surface. L wondered if the same thing had happened to him. The fragmentary memory of riding on a man's shoulders might have been his imagination. *But if it did happen, and that man was my father, then how did I end up at the St. Petersburg orphanage? What happened in those years after my birth?* L needed to know—even if the truth ended up hurting him.

*.*.*

The weather turned chilly and damp on the following week. It was raining heavily when L got out of class. He pulled up the hood of his jacket as he headed for the bus. The coffee shop was packed with people, but he didn't need a table anyway. L ordered a caramel cappuccino and a mocha with whipped cream to go.

Aya worked part-time at a bookshop nearby. L knew that she would be due for a break soon and he wanted to hang out with her for a bit. He walked down the street; head bowed against the biting wind. The warm atmosphere of Wise Little Owl Books enveloped him right away. He wiped his boots on the welcome mat and pushed back his hood.

Aya looked up from her book. "Hey, you," she said with a smile—hopping down from the stool. She cupped his face in her hands. "Ah, you're so cold! Here, let's sit down by the heater." She led him to the seating area in the back of the shop; old floorboards creaking as they walked. Two leather armchairs and a dark green couch were arranged around an electric stove. They plopped down on the plush cushions.

"How was your lab?" she asked as he unpacked the take-away cups.

"Good. I got to work with Byron today." His physics professor had a rotating partner policy, which L found irritating. He'd much rather stick with someone he got along with, and who actually knew what they were doing.

Aya took a sip of her mocha. "Byron's your friend, isn't he? You should hang out with him sometime."

"I'll have to for the final project. We'll probably meet at the library."

"No, I was talking about getting together outside of class. You know, going to the pub or playing video games like how you used to do at headquarters."

He hesitated. "Well I suppose we could go to the pub after finals are over…"

"You should. You really need a guy friend. I know that you miss hanging with Matsuda and Mogi."

Aya had already made friends in her literature club, but getting to know people was difficult for L—mostly because he couldn't share much about himself. Not that he minded having school acquaintances when he had plenty of people in his life already who knew the real him.

"Do you think Matsuda and Hana will ever move here?"

"Yeah, I do. Hana told me that she wants to raise a family in England. I figure that will be in another year or so."

L could easily picture Matsuda as a father… a role he couldn't quite imagine himself taking on. He wondered if he'd make a good dad. The thought frightened him a little bit.

"Oh, what do you think about taking creative writing with me next semester?" Aya asked, interrupting his musings.

"But there's nothing creative about me. I wouldn't even know what to do."

"Everyone can be creative—you just have to let go of the idea that there's a formula to it. Creativity is just self-expression. The professor will teach you ways to get in touch with that."

"I don't know, Aya," he said warily.

She gave him a pleading look. "Come on, please try it at least. I really want to do this with you."

He wound one of her curls around his finger. "Tell you what, I'll take creative writing if you agree to take astronomy."

She beamed at him. "Deal! But you might have to help me with the mathematics side of it."

"Course I will." He moved closer to her when they finished their drinks. L caught the scent of something sweet. He swept aside her long hair and leaned close to her neck. "You smell good. Is that a new perfume?"

"Yes, vanilla-rose."

"It's pretty. I like it." He pressed his lips against the pulse at her neck.

She pushed his shoulder, laughing. "Why do you always do that when you know how ticklish I am?"

He smirked. "Because I like hearing you laugh."

"Come here and let me kiss you." L closed his eyes when he felt her mouth on his. Aya still tasted like chocolate. He slipped a hand underneath her top and started stroking her stomach. The other hand made its way to her inner thigh. She let out a little moan. L broke their kiss and whispered, "Let's do it in the bathroom like those old pervs in Amelie."

"You're disgusting, you know that?"

L laughed. "Then what about the stockroom?"

"No! I am not having sex at my workplace."

His hand drifted up to her lacy bra. "Why not? We're the only ones here," he said, leaning in for another kiss.

The bell on the door jingled half a minute later. Aya jumped up; face red as she straightened her pullover. L couldn't help but grin. He loved it when she got all flustered.

"Honestly, can't you ever behave yourself?" she scolded.

"Nope."

Aya tried to keep her expression serious, but she ended up smiling. "You staying here for a while?"

He nodded, undoing the straps of his messenger bag. "I thought I'd read some of my assigned chapters." L got out his glasses case and medieval history textbook.

Aya took the case from his hands. "Oh, so now you've decided to be a studious boy instead of a naughty one?" She bent down to slip the frames onto his face.

He caught at her hand before she could pull back. "If I get my reading done, will you give me a reward later?"

She gave him a sly smile. "Sure, I'll add a gold star to your chart."

"That's not what I meant… don't tease me, sensei," L pouted.

Aya laughed and stepped away from him. "Let's see, shall we? Mind out of the gutter, Ryuuzaki-kun—time to get back to work."

He smiled as she hurried past the bookshelves. L knew he would be getting that reward tonight. But first, he had to read about Richard III. L was halfway through the second chapter when his eyelids started to close. And the warmth from the heater was only making him sleepier. L would have curled up on the couch and taken a nap if it hadn't been for the guy who kept texting. He felt a flash of annoyance and shut the book. He couldn't concentrate with that infernal clicking.

"Excuse me, aren't you that bloke who just won the tennis championship?" the guy asked when L started packing up.

"Yes, I am."

"My little sister is a fan of yours. Mind if I get a selfie with you?"

L did mind in fact, but if he refused, the guy would only badmouth him. Keith had already talked to him about the importance of politeness. "Yeah, sure."

He tried to smile in the picture. "Sorry about interrupting your study session," the guy said, getting up from the couch. "But my sis would hate me if I didn't ask."

L zipped up his jacket and slung the messenger bag across his body. "It's fine. Tell her thank you for the support."

"Do you hang out here often? She'd love to meet you for herself."

L was getting really ticked off now. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I have a girlfriend. If your sister wants a pic or an autograph, tell her to wait after one of my matches. I prefer to keep my personal life separate from tennis."

"Right, sorry."

"Thanks for understanding." L turned his back to him and headed towards the entrance.

"Did you get your reading done?" Aya asked when she spotted him.

He shook his head. "I'll finish at home."

She studied him—brow furrowed. "What's the matter?"

"Walk me out and I'll tell you." He explained the situation when they were on the sidewalk.

"Oh, god. If she shows up and starts bothering you, I might have to fight her."

L cracked a smile. "Hmm, that could be rather amusing." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll ask Watari to pick you up tonight."

"Thanks, sweetie. See you at 6:30."

*.*.*

Aya slid into the passenger seat of Watari's car and said hello.

"How was work?"

"A little slow. Not many customers today because of the weather, but at least I was able to finish my Victorian Lit novel."

"That's good to hear," he said, pulling out of the parking spot.

She waited until they were driving down the street before asking the question that had been on her mind. "Watari, L wants to know about his parents. He contacted the orphanage in St. Petersburg, but they couldn't locate his record. He doesn't know what to do now. Did the nuns tell you anything about him besides his last name?"

Watari didn't speak for several seconds. "Aya, finals are next month. This isn't a good time for L to get distracted. He can investigate this summer."

She chewed on her bottom lip. A part of her had always thought Watari wasn't being entirely honest. She couldn't back down just yet. "Sir, please tell me if you know something. This is really important to L."

"I know it is, but I'm not comfortable in sharing what I know right now. I'll look into things further and see if I can find out anything favorable." He glanced at her when they stopped at the red light. His expression was grave. "Aya, I must ask that you keep this conversation between us for the time being. Will you promise not to mention this to L?"

"Is it really that bad?" she asked softly.

He sighed. "It's a sensitive matter. Please give me your word, Aya."

Watari's serious tone made her agree not to say anything. The light turned green and he directed his gaze back to the road. "Thank you. I appreciate your discretion."

Like the windshield wipers, Aya's mind went back and forth as she thought over this turn of events. *Did L's parents give him up? Did something terrible happen to them? Maybe they were bad people who tried to hurt him… no, that couldn't be it, could it?*

The car pulled in front of her house. "I apologize for upsetting you, Aya, but I know that you wouldn't be able to keep it from L if I told you. He doesn't need the weight of this pressing on him right now."

"I understand. The timing is wrong… I'm just worried. Should I discourage him?"

He touched her shoulder. "No. L must be the one to make the decision. Try not to think about it for a few months. What I know is very little."

"But it's enough to unsettle him." She clenched her fists on her lap. "It's enough for you to lie about it his entire life."

Watari's eyes grew sad. "I kept it from him because he wasn't emotionally mature enough… but I think he'll be able to handle it now. Please be patient for a bit longer."

Her anger subsided at his words. "Alright. Thank you for the ride, Watari."

He nodded and she climbed out of the car. *I wish I hadn't asked him,* she thought, turning the key in the lock. The cats were there to greet her when she opened the door. Aya crouched down to pet them. "Cielkins, Fiona-chan, I missed my fluffs." They kept winding themselves through her legs and she almost stepped on them while trying to take off her boots. Aya hung her jacket on the coat tree by the door.

The smell of marinara sauce made her stomach rumble. "Let's go see your papa." The cats ran ahead of her down the hallway. When Aya entered the kitchen, she saw L standing there in his bare feet, stirring the sauce with a wooden spoon. He was wearing a black apron to protect his shirt from splatters.

"Welcome home, muffin." Her heart constricted at the smile he gave her. Aya didn't want him to be hurt by whatever Watari knew. *I just want him to keep smiling happily… but I can't protect him from this, can I?*

He set down the wooden spoon and turned to her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into his shoulder so he wouldn't see her expression. "Thank you for making dinner," she murmured.

L ran his fingers through her hair. "You're welcome, love."

They clung to each other until they heard a raspy voice say, "Where's my welcome, I'm home too."

"Yeah, hey Ryuk," L said indifferently.

"So rude… Aya, look what I've brought you." The shinigami was holding a pale purple envelope in his claws.

She walked towards him. "Is that the wedding invitation?"

"Sure is. Here, take it. I want to get some apples."

The envelope was sealed with a fleur-de-lis stamped in gold wax. Aya carefully lifted the seal and pulled out the ornate card.

*.

Please join us for the wedding of

Hana Takeda and Touta Matsuda

on Saturday, June 21, 2014

at 7 o'clock in the evening.

Location:

The Rodin Garden

Musée Rodin

Paris, France

. . .

Dinner and dancing will follow the ceremony.

RSVP by May 15, 2014

*.

"Thanks for bringing it, Ryuk. How are Hana and Matsu doing?"

"Great. They were very lovey-dovey with each other—almost as nauseating as the two of you."

L threw a towel at Ryuk. The shinigami let out a chuckle as he plucked it from his shoulder.

"Did you go into Hana's boutique?" she questioned.

He took a bite of his apple. "Yes, it's very nice… lots of sparkly things. You've seen pictures, right?"

"I have, but it isn't the same as seeing it in person." Aya and L were planning on visiting Tokyo in July. "What about her wedding dress?"

"Stunning. Like a fairy princess."

"Ah, I'm so jealous! I should have been there… I'm her sister and yet I missed out on the opening of her boutique, and her dress fitting too! It isn't fair," she complained.

Ryuk finished off the apple and said, "Sorry, buttercup, but that's the way it goes."

L made an amused noise. "Buttercup?"

"That's right. I can have a nickname for her too."

Aya smiled. "Ryuk, did you watch 'The Princess Bride' with Hana by any chance?"

"Sure did. I found it very entertaining."

Aya poured them glasses of water while L drained the pasta. "Ryuk, will you grab that silverware for us?" The three of them went into the dining room a minute later. Aya and L ate their dinner while Ryuk told them about the taskforce. He had spent time at police headquarters catching up with everyone.

"So, L, do you miss solving crimes?"

"No, but I miss the team atmosphere." He took a sip of water. "I'm glad they're doing well."

"I can't wait to see them again at the wedding."

Aya knew the storm of L's family history was looming, but she was looking forward to summer break—regardless of what fate had in store for them.

Closing Note: Happy Valentine's Day and thank you for reading! Please drop me a review and let me know what you think of the first chapter ^3^ Love, D