I had stayed home for three days after my run-in with Light. My adopted mother was understanding and only held support and love for me through those three days where all I could do was lay there and count for hours on end. My mom knew even before she adopted me that I had a slight affection for numbers and simply let me carry on. She seemed to have no difficulty raising me as a single parent and I found myself wishing that she was really my mother. But as I lay here on my bed in my own room I couldn't help but worry about going to school the next day. She knew I liked the number three in particular and would only give me three days to stay home. But today was my last day and I dread having to face Light again.

I got up and stretched my legs, knees popping and a sigh of bliss. I checked the time, 3:10. Three plus ten is thirteen. Okay. My knuckles popped as I pressed down on them then stretched. I walked over and sat at my desk (I cant believe I have a desk in my room) and pulled out some paper to doodle. I drew a chibi Light and me. I was in the process of drawing the leg for my character that was drop-kicking the Light chibi when my mother came in. In her hands was a tray of cut fruits and apple juice that she set down on my night table (ohmygoodness I have one of those). She kissed my forehead and sat down on the edge of my bed.

"Are you feeling any better ?" she asked and observed how my eyes strayed to my alarm clock.

"Much better, thanks mom" I told her as I plucked a melon slice and popped it in to my mouth. Her eyes brightened as a smile graced her face. She seemed untouched by age and stress. Her face was flawless, eyes and hair dark brown with light brown highlights. She was so pretty in my eyes and I wish we shared the same blood. My eyes were a dull dark brown, encircled by light shadows from sleepless nights. My hair was a simple brown that shone almost a dark mahogany in the light of winter and light brown in the light of summer. Where she was wonderfully slender and graceful I was ...well curvy…..if only in the curve of my hips and inward curve of my sides. I was awkward with my movements, trying to be graceful but failing (so hard btw).

"Tell me about your day" I told her and she smiled, nodded and tucked a strand of long hair behind her ear. She told me about how she was close to being late today and that her department had a new model who she was assigned to. Me and my mother –Natsuki-sama- talked for a while.

We were in the middle of a fit of giggles about her new model when she asked me about Light.

"H-He's in my second period class, just an acquaintance" because of my high I.Q. (I think they got the results mixed up or something) when I came here instead of being put in a junior class I was put into a senior class ( most of which I was taller than). I felt sick again and wanted nothing but to sleep for an hour or so. But this was bonding time and I didn't want to be rude to someone who has been nothing but nice to me.

"An admirer perhaps?" she looked at me coyly and my face erupted in a fierce red.(iv always been quick to change colors)

"Nothing l-like that!" I tried to wave off her inquisition but my flustered state only seemed to confirm her suspicions and as she glided out the room going on about condoms and safe sex I couldn't help but to slump after her whining about how there would be no baby making or anything entering and leaving that part of my body.

That night, I slept deeply and woke up well-rested but dreading running into Light. The walk to high school was uneventful and the shorts under my skirt came in handy as always when a big gust of wind came through. It was when I was running my hand over my head, trying to lay down some hair that escaped from my ever present ponytail that I saw him turn a corner up ahead. We take the same way to school? How have I not seen him before? My eyebrow twitched and then I quickly hid behind the nearest light pole. I didn't expect to see him so soon. I don't want to see him at all in fact. shitshitSHIT! If I could just casually continue to walk behind him all the way to school without accidentally stalking him….I looked at him from behind the poll. And there he was, standing casually and facing my direction. Well shit whose he looking for? I glanced around me and refrained from hitting my head on the light poll. He's looking at me. I inwardly cried, added up the time to a perfect prime of 17 and came from behind my poor hiding spot.

"Yo! Yagami-san !" I waved slowly, book bag swinging along in the other hand.

"Hey, Hana-chan" I walked next to him and looked away angrily.

" just who are you addressing so formally Yagami-SAN" Light chuckled and patted me on the head. Do I look like I'm tiny enough for you to be patting me on the head? As if I was some short school girl of which to make fun! I'm pretty sure I'm taller than him by at least an inch!

"Don't touch me so freely!" I glared and he chuckled.

"Don't be that way Hana-chan." I gave him a bland look. He's not stupid but he might be deaf.

"That's Yukimura-SAN to you" I looked away angrily. Stupid Light.

We walked to school together, him picking at me and tugging at my ponytail. I swatted at him and pouted most of the way but it was actually pretty fun. I never knew how nice Light was before he became some crazed killer (sociopath). And I honestly liked people playing with my hair; it's very sensitive and tends to have a mind of its own. I put my shoes away in the lockers and put on the foam slippers they had us wear. It's honestly so weird not to wear shoes during school. Light had gotten spirited away by a few of his friends. I don't want o seem rude to the students here, but I honestly loved my solitude and therefore did my best to not become more than associates with anyone here.

I shuffled to class; the sound of the slippers rubbing against the hall floor pleased my ears. I hummed a song and had to stop myself from actually screaming from a yelling part in the song. I went through the songs in my head, switching from one to the other like a random radio station that changed every five minutes. Well I'm not a vampire but I feel like one! sometimes I sleep all day- I want to make you move because you're standing stiiilll- well I'm not paralyzed but I seem to be struck by you-. And you get the point,right? I entered class and set my things on my desk and sat down. It would be a tiring day at school. As usual. I checked the time. 8:00. My trusty Sebastian watch has yet to fail me but damn it eight is not prime. The teacher walked in and everyone ran to their seats and stood.

.

.

Classes were uneventful but man was I tired. Light walked over to my sprawled out form on the desk and nudged my shoulder. I turned to him angrily; his smug smirk irked my soul to no end.

"Don't think you'll be able to get out of cleaning duties just because you're tired, Hana-chan" the urge…to choke him..must resist…..ugh.

"Kindly piss-off Yagami-KUN" I emphasized the 'kun' part hinting at the lacking formality he addressed me with. Someone called out who was going to sweep.

"Over here!" Light yelled and the girl, Akamichi-san I think, handed him the broom and dust pan. He handed me the broom and smiled before pointing at the floor.

"Get to work" I WILL EAT YOUR FUCKING KIDS BRO, DO YOU WANT TO DIE TODAY ?!

I inhaled and exhaled in an effort to stay composed and calmly snatched the broom from light, flipped him off and started sweeping. When I was done everyone had finished straightening the desks and papers and were probably already on their way home. I wiped my sweaty hands on my shorts . I sighed, gathered my things and left the classroom. As I left the school grounds I looked around and saw Light standing up from the ground with a black book in his hand…

Well shit…

The game has begun.

I looked at the time 4:18. Four plus one is five plus eight is thirteen. Okay. .Inhale.

"Light?" my voice cracked and I did my best to clear it. Light turned and waved at me, book in hand.

"Hey Hana-chan" he walked next to me, book at his side. I eyed it from the corner of my eye. I needed to get that book away from him. I preferred the annoying Light to the crazy-sociopathic-manipulating-bastard-kira he would become.

"h-hey Yagami-san? Whats that ?" I asked gesturing to the book in his hand. He raised it up to eye level. He looked it over and shrugged and we began walking home.

"Just some book I found." He seemed to wander into his own personal thoughts for a bit and I tried to figure out a way to pry the book away from his long fingers. Wait. What? I looked at his hand clutched around the Death Note. He totally has long fingers. And then my mind smashed into a gutter and a rosy blush graced my face accompanied by some drool.

"an-chan?" oh and then he could-

"Hana-chan?" oh my gosh jizz face-

"Hana-chan!"

"whu?" I replied stupidly, staring at him blankly and my face a red inferno. He was looking at me worriedly but then smiled.

"Hana-chan is such an absent-minded little girl" he said tugging on my ponytail.

"N-Ne !? Yagami-san let go ! that's not funny !" he laughed and released my hair. I tugged on a few strands of his hair while pouting.

"that's not funny Yagami-san! How do you like it ? eh ?!" he smiled and rosy sunlight tinted his face a dazzling honey color with just a tad of red reflecting off his hair. It was absolutely beautiful and my hand twitched for a pencil and some paints. He looked so pretty in that moment and I wish I had something to keep that moment on, like a piece of paper….or a photo. My stomach fluttered the bubbly acid currently neutral and at ease.

"Si vis pacem para bellum" Light looked at me as we continued to walk, a look of confusion on his soft appearance. I glanced at the black notebook and suddenly the acid wasn't so neutral anymore.

If you wish for peace, prepare for war.

4:36. Four plus three is seven plus thirteen. Line up, lye down.