I don't own anything to do with Death Note. I just enjoy it and write about it. All credit goes to where it should.

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1:30 am…

The Kira investigation had been going full on for a while.

The team that had joined with L, a.k.a. Ryuzaki, had already witnessed his skills in deducing what Kira's intentions were, as well as his drive to discover who Kira was. They had seen him go to even such great lengths as to put cameras and microphones in two households.

They didn't however notice him occasionally watch someone else via his computer.

He normally did this when they were all asleep or there was minimal number of eyes watching him.

One person however did notice this, once the surveillance of his son and family had ended that is.

Mr. Yagami stood away from Ryuzaki silently watching him.

L was crouching on the couch absorbed by the screen of his computer which at the moment was displaying a video of a woman sitting up in a hotel bed reading a book. It was obvious to the older chief that this video was from a surveillance camera much like the ones that had been placed in his home. Mr. Yagami stepped closer to Ryuzaki. He was now behind him off to one side.

"Who is she?" He questioned softly so the other detectives' attention would not be drawn to them. Ryuzaki's hand reached out and struck a key on the keyboard resulting in the image disappearing leaving the screen plain with the trademark L in black.

"Someone who I believe will be very useful in our investigation." said Ryuzaki quietly. "I have been debating whether or not to bring her in on this case." He looked up at Mr. Yagami.

The chief looked contemplative then said "If you think she will speed this investigation then I suggest you should bring her in."

L looked away at the computer again and with another push of a button he said. "Watari, please contact her as soon as possible and bring her here to meet us tomorrow."

"Yes, but Ryuzaki, what if she does not wish to join us?" came the reply from Watari.

Ryuzaki looked almost puzzled and tipped his head to one side saying "I hope she will be more than willing to join us however, if she does say no make sure she knows that this is all very confidential."

"Very well, I believe we will both be glad to see her again yes?" Watari said a hint of a smile in his voice.

"Yes" Replied Ryuzaki who then struck a key and the image of the woman was brought back to the screen.

He watched as her phone rang and she answered. The woman broke out in slight laughter and smiles as she heard who could only be Watari on the line.

He then heard her say "It's about time you called me… Of course I would… No… No problem at all… Um Watari, how is L?" She was silent and no longer smiling, but looking distant.

She smiled softly once more then bid Watari goodbye. She hung up the phone and jumped out of bed rushing closer to the camera seemingly situated in the ceiling in one corner of the room. She looked up directly at the camera and said "you hear that L! I'll be seeing you tomorrow and you'd better have a good excuse for not calling me in sooner."

Mr. Yagami couldn't keep back the smile on his face. "Quite a lady friend you have there, Ryuzaki. I hope you do have a good excuse to tell her."

Ryuzaki smiled and replied "Yes, me too."

In the afternoon of the following day the detectives were gathered around Ryuzaki as he spoke. "I feel the need to call another person onto this case for the time being. She is a very good acquaintance of mine that I haven't seen in years."

The questions started pouring in from the agency members. "Who is she, what are her qualifications, why now, why her?"

He simply continued placing sugar cubes in his drink and stirring. As soon as they were silent he said "I believe you will see why I chose her to come to us when she gets here. As for qualifications...if she is skilled enough to evade my networks for nine years I'm sure she can find other hidden people, Kira for example."

Seemingly right on cue Watari entered the room followed by a woman in her mid twenties. She had strawberry blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Her eyes suggested that she had been through many hardships in her life, they looked somewhat sad. Her lips were full and moist. Her skin was fair and she had carefully placed freckles as though angels had dusted them ever so lightly on her pale cheeks.

She was wearing skin tight blue jeans and a white baby doll shirt that only revealed a hint of nicely shaped figure. She held her posture straight and tall. Her hair was pulled up in a knot with the tips peeking out in an elegant fan above it.

Her voice sounded through perfectly white teeth. "Ryuzaki… gentlemen, I am Julie and I am very pleased to meet you all." She nodded her head to them and turned to Ryuzaki.

"Why didn't you call me in sooner? You obviously knew I was here. I come out of hiding a month ago using my name again in public and you don't call me till now?"

He drank from his cup and placed it down again saying "I didn't know if you wanted to see me at all."

She sighed and looked away saying. "It will take a little time to get used to working with you again" then sarcastically added, "but I'm sure I'll solve the case for you."

After they had all been introduced to her one by one Ryuzaki looked straight at her and asked. "Jewel (a nickname he'd given her long ago) what can you tell us about Kira so far from what you've gathered from news and our reactions to you?"

She smirked and said. "I believe that Kira is young, high school or college age; perhaps he is still a student. He can control his victims' actions up until they die and needs a name and face to kill. I also believe that Ryuzaki suspects someone already and has even gone to illegal lengths to prove his hunch." The investigative team voiced their surprise at her insight.

Matsuda smiling, whispered to Ide "Wow she's great! Is she single?"

She chuckled a bit and said "yes I'm single, but I'm not looking for anyone right now." Ryuzaki looked up to see her staring at him. Locking eyes they were silent for a while.

"I'll apologize now for my strange habits, dress, and work hours. I know that this is a high level case and I should be working on this as much as you guys, but to be frank I have someone that I need to visit from time to time. Eyebrows and unspoken questions were raised at this statement and Ryuzaki turned away from her moving back to his pile of sweets on the table. He seemed quieter than usual. They went back to work after briefing Julie on what they had discovered thus far.

"I don't mean to be nosy, but you said you are single, and that you need to visit someone. Is it your family?" Matsuda asked.

Julie laughed softly and said "Yes, what's left of it at least."

Ryuzaki, who had been listening, turned to her "Family? When I met you said all your family was dead"

She grimaced and said "well yes, they are technically, but families can be added on to." Ryuzaki looked as though he was going to say something then went back to watching a news report. After a day and half the night some of the team had gone home and the ones that were left were asleep, all except Ryuzaki and Julie. Julie was going over paperwork from the investigation so far and Ryuzaki was staring off into space seemingly thinking.

"L Do you know the reaper only eats apples?" Julie muttered to herself. Ryuzaki looked up at her statement.

"Why would Kira send a message like that? Maybe it means more. Hmmm." She looked over realizing that Ryuzaki was watching her. "You like watching me don't you?" She said annoyed. He kept looking at her. Staring for what seemed an eternity.

"WHAT?" She hissed finally breaking under his gaze.

He looked sad as he voiced his opinion. "You've changed."

She sighed exasperatedly. "Of course I've changed Ryuzaki it's been over nine years since we last saw each other."

He put his hand up to his mouth and while biting his thumb said. "No not like that. Something happened. You look like you're missing something in your life. You're not completely happy."

She looked to the floor and replied "Is it that obvious?"

"No, but now it is." He droned.

She looked up startled. "I should have known. L, you always do that to me."

He smiled "It's Ryuzaki, so stop being so quick to answer then."

"Well for your information 'Ryuzaki' I am happy with my life as it is I have plenty of money I have a wonderful career, I'm free ok." She couldn't look directly at him.

"You don't seem so convincing. You still sound like you need something." He played with his lip while studying her.

The next day they resumed the case.

As they were deeply involved in a conversation Julie glanced at her watch and gasped "I'll see you later" and with that she ran out the door leaving the investigators puzzled.

That evening she reappeared wearing a dark blue knee length dress and intricate silver jewelry. Her hair was pulled up in smooth curls.

"Sorry I took so long I came back as soon as I could"

"Well, where did you go? You look wonderful." said Mr. Yagami.

She smiled gratefully and replied "I was at the ballet it was really important."

"Ooh a hot date?" teased Matsuda.

She laughed lightly. "No actually I was there to see someone perform."

"Wasn't tonight the international youth selections?" asked Mogi who's wife had seen a flier for it earlier that week.

"Yes it was. I love the ballet. Any dancing really, in fact that is my job. I'm a professional dancer."

"Ballet?" inquired Ryuzaki.

"No actually I do ballroom now." She said putting down her purse and making her way to the couch.

"What happened to the ballet it was your life back when I met you." said Ryuzaki distractedly stacking sugar cubes.

She sighed seemingly a little distressed. "I gave it up."

"Why?" His coal eyes never shifted to her.

"Because I needed a break and never went back." She looked nervous

"That doesn't sound like you. What really happened?" persisted Ryuzaki.

At this point Julie seemed really flustered. "I told you I…"

Ryuzaki interrupted her. "Did you get injured or… something else." Now his eyes raised to hers catching her with a hurt expression.

"Ryuzaki…" she started… did he know her secret?

"The girl I knew would never give up ballet unless something major happened to her." He said

"OK fine, L you win, as always, the truth is I quit because I got pregnant…" silence reverberated from every corner.

Ryuzaki was looking at Julie with a slight shock dawning on his features. Everything else lay abandoned.

When she spoke again her voice was quiet and withdrawn. "I have a beautiful daughter. She is very talented and that is who I went to see at the ballet. She is top dancer of her class."

"I never knew" said Ryuzaki just as softly.

She sighed "I know. I kept it a secret from most people that I knew. I was young and scared. I had no job, no house, I had been living in the ballet dorms and as soon as I had to stop dancing, which was as soon as I started showing. I had no place of my own so I lived at my friends' Rachel and Alec's house till I was recovered enough to work. Soon after that Alec convinced me to start ballroom dance and be his partner. He is still my dance partner today and the competitions that we entered were where I got most of my money from. When I turned a certain age my family's money got released to me, but I still keep dancing." She smiled fondly at the memories.

"You should have told me. I would have helped you." said Ryuzaki sadly.

"If I told you the truth it would distract you, and besides you were busy chasing fugitives. Why would I bother you with my own problems even if you were my friend?" She paused seemingly gathering herself then she continued "I'm sorry everyone, uh, let's just get on with the investigation."

They all continued out of respect to her. Matsuda and Ide were discussing quietly what had happened.

"Do you think Ryuzaki and her hold some secret past relationship?" asked Matsuda.

"Well they do stare at each other a lot and they do seem to generally care for each other's well being." said Ide.

"I just think it would be the best scandal yet. Brilliant detective, tragic dancer their love torn apart by…"

"You sound like a movie trailer give it a rest already." said Ide.

"Well can you blame me?" Started Matsuda "There was obviously something there and I think it still is."

Ide nodded "Yea your paranoia."

"NO," Said Matsuda frustrated "I mean they are in love." Ide looked over at the pair they were discussing. Julie had taken off her jewelry and was sitting down next to Ryuzaki. Both were watching the news report of another criminal death, acting like distant friends, but nothing more.

...

What do you think? I'm going off of anime and the manga so things might be a little weird on a timeline. R&R please it means a lot... Thanks KIDAOWRE