Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note.

A/N: I don't think I've ever updated this quickly before... I'm just really into writing at the moment :3 it's so fun! I'm also really proud of this chapter, I read through it and I didn't find anything wrong with it. I really hope Light isn't OOC in this too :( that'd make me cry. I tried my best XD

Chapter Three: The Truth or a Lie?

Monday, 8th December 2003

Kira is everywhere. Not literally - obviously. It's just everyone keeps talking about him. Even my mother is talking about him. She's the last person I'd expect to gossip about the new serial killer that is gracing the streets of Japan.

"So, what are your views on Kira, Mana?" She had asked me that morning. Initially I was surprised at her question. I hadn't expected her to ask that at all. I thought she would have dismissed the news of Kira just like she would have done to any other criminal. She's just not into that sort of news. She cares more about what celebrities are up to compared to what actually matters. I had then shrugged my shoulders in reply and continued eating breakfast. "Mana?" She'd pressed. I rolled my eyes. She was desperate for my opinion.

'Why does she care?' I had thought bitterly. I then frowned and let out a deep breath before I replied to her question.

"I think he's doing some good to the world, but he's still killing. He's still a murderer himself." I had murmured. My mum hadn't liked my reply. I had guessed that she was one of those crazy Kira supporters. Just wait until he kills someone she loves. She won't love him then. She'll hate him just like she should.

It doesn't make sense though. How could someone kill someone with heart attacks and not actually be there? This has to be the work of a God. No human could be capable of this unless they had acquired god-like powers somehow.

This would be easier to figure out if Light-kun was talking to me. We'd discuss it and try to solve it ourselves. I'm sure he'd hack into his own dad's computer to find any information that the police may be withholding from the public.

Goddamn you, Light-kun! Why do you have to do this to me? I need my best friend!

I continue to walk to school on my own. Kicking any pebbles that got in my way furiously.

On Friday, a criminal had posed as L to bait Kira. Kira had killed them and this was all a ploy to find out where Kira was. He's here, in Japan. The Kanto Region. I could be walking past Kira right now and I wouldn't know. The incident on TV had proved how stupid Kira is. What a stupid idea to kill someone on the television. Of course it was a plan to find out where Kira is. He was too stupid to see what was happening. A positive from this is that it'll be easier for the police to catch Kira. So I guess that makes me relax a little.

Plus it doesn't help with the suspicions that Light-kun is Kira. He started avoiding me the day Kira showed up and has been avoiding me since. Either he's trying to catch Kira himself, or he is Kira. He's changed so much too. He's not the Light-kun that I grew up with, in fact, it's like someone stole him and replaced him with the Light-kun that wants nothing to do with me. That's not my best friend.

If Light-kun was really trying to catch Kira, he would have told me. He tells me everything. So it rules that idea out. Unless Light-kun wanted to catch Kira without anyone knowing, to be honest Kira is a crazy serial killer who is capable of killing without being there. Light-kun couldn't tell anyone without being told that he's being stupid. Then again, Light-kun's not stupid enough to go after a serial killer as powerful as Kira is. That'd be crazy.

He was also acting weird before Kira showed up. Something must have happened. Either he's Kira or it's just some strange coincidence.

I want to know what happened, but a part of me is telling me to stay well away. Another part of me is telling me I'm being paranoid and that Light-kun just needs time to himself to study. The stress of exams can make someone go from being friendly to being cold. It's most likely just exam stress.

Throughout the day, I study Light-kun and how he acts. Other than his distance to others, he seems normal. A little on edge, and occasionally an annoyed look will flash across his face for a second, but other than that he seems normal.

I really need to confront him; but for some reason, I can't. I don't want to know the truth. I don't want to know why he's suddenly ditched me.

I admit it. I'm scared of him leaving me. At least with not knowing, I can hope that one day he'll apologise and we'll act like nothing happened. However, if I know what I did, maybe I can fix it. I can apologise.

This is so confusing! I feel like yanking my hair out!

"Mana-chan?" Michi's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. Her blue eyes are prying into my soul, I know she's trying to read my expression to see how I truly feel about what's going on. "You really need to talk to Yagami-san." I give her a sad look.

"I know," I sigh and clench my hands into fists. Her blue eyes fill with worry and she tucks a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. She offers me a kind smile in a hope to reassure me that everything is okay.

"How about I talk to him for you?" She offers in a calm voice. I know she's trying her best to make me feel better. I'm really grateful for that. She's not Light-kun though. I hate saying it, but I'll always be closer to Light-kun. You can't blame me though, Light-kun and I have been friends for nearly our whole lives. I shake my head.

"Thanks Michi-chan, but I'd prefer to talk to him myself." I say quietly and give her a weak smile. I hate how weak I feel without Light-kun. I've never gone so long without talking to him. I don't know what to do. Michi wraps her arms around me and pulls me into a hug.

"Everything'll be okay, Mana-chan!" She says enthusiastically.

0000

Monday, 15th December 2003

Another week passed.

Light-kun is still acting the same.

Mum is even questioning why I no longer walk to school with Light-kun and why I no longer go over his in the evenings.

Light-kun, why? Why are you doing this? What did I do wrong? Why aren't you talking to me?

Kira's still killing. Obviously. Except, he's killed forty-six criminals in the space of two days; which, in my opinion, is crazy! Kira's crazy. He's killing without a second thought. He doesn't feel an ounce of guilt. He's evil. I know the criminals he's killing deserve it, but I still don't think it's right for someone to just kill them. They've had their trials, if the crimes they committed were bad enough to get the death sentence then the police would ensure that. They've already got the punishment they deserve. Kira's a criminal too. He's just as bad as those that are in jail, yet it seems as if he's acting like he's better than them. As if he can't do any wrong either.

This Friday I'll do it. I'll confront Light-kun.

I promised Michi I would. Originally I would have had to today. Luckily, I convinced her I needed more time. I do. I need to plan what I say correctly. One wrong word and Light-kun may never talk to me ever again and I'll lose my best friend. I'll lose another person I care about.

I lost my dad, I lost my mum (in the sense that we're no longer friends) and I don't want to lose Light-kun. I can't lose Light-kun. He's the only person left who knows me like the back of their hand.

Over the past few weeks since Light-kun and I stopped studying together, my grades have dropped even more than they have. Mum and Dad are going to be so furious when I fail all my exams.

I know I need to study more, especially since I have no one to help me. But the whole issue with Light-kun ignoring me is occupying my mind. I can't concentrate. I can't stop worrying. I'm losing my best friend.

I guess one good thing has come from Light-kun's ignorance, Michi and I have grown closer as friends. I guess there's always one good thing to come from a storm.

"So, Friday you're going to confront Light-kun. When're you gonna do it?" Michi asks.

"I don't know. Maybe after school?" I reply. Michi's blue eyes narrow slightly and she shakes her head.

"Bad idea, he normally bolts straight home after school, you'll never catch up to him. I say in the morning. Leave extra early in the morning, you're neighbours. It should be easy to confront him, especially since he has to pass your house to get to school." She suggests. My eyes go wide and I grin.

"Thanks! That's a great idea!" I exclaim and I throw my arms around her.

"No problem, Mana-chan. Then at least you have all day to confront him should he manage to escape."

So I then plan the confrontation very carefully in my head. Yes, my grades are going to suffer as a result; but at least my friendship with Light-kun won't.

0000

Friday, 19th December 2003

The year is slowly drawing to a close. It's Christmas soon.

Speaking about Christmas, last night I was out buying Light-kun and Michi a present. In the shop, I bumped into Sachiko-san and Sayu.

Thursday, 18th December 2003

"Manami-chan!" Sayu had called out. I turned to face the young girl and gave her a smile. "We've missed you! Light won't tell us why you won't come over anymore. He's still being stubborn." She had rolled her brown eyes and let out a giggle. I looked at Sachiko-san and noticed that her eyes were full of concern. I don't blame her, her son and his best friend are no longer talking for no reason. She's bound to be concerned about it.

"I've missed you too! I've been busy with studying. I have exams soon." I inform Sayu. She takes the lie willingly. One look at Sachiko-san tells me she didn't buy the lie like her daughter did. "I'm sure Light-kun's busy too."

"Yes, exams are next month aren't they?" Sachiko-san asks me. I nod and give her a smile. Too soon. I wish I had a few more months to study. I'm going to fail every damn exam I take.

"You have to come over for dinner tomorrow! Mum, can Manami-chan come over for dinner tomorrow?" Sayu asks enthusiastically.

"If Manami wants to."

"Of course! I'd love to!" I reply politely and give them both a genuine smile. If I fail to confront him tomorrow then if I go to his house he won't be able to avoid me there.

Friday, 19th December 2003

The police aren't any closer to catching Kira either. He's still out there killing.

I lean against the wall by the Yagami's front door. Chances are he won't see me here and he won't be able to avoid me somehow. I curl my hands into fists and hope my plan works. I need my best friend back.

I hear the door open and watch as Light-kun steps outside.

"Bye, Mum." He waves before shutting the door.

"Yo," I greet him and I swear I saw him jump. I think I may have given him a heart attack.

"Manami-chan? Why are you waiting for me?" He asks, shock clear on his face. His voice is calm, no hint of shock in it. A complete contrast to his face. His brown eyes are wider than normal, yet still narrower than they were a few weeks ago. How has his face changed so much?

"We need to talk." I say, my voice shakes as the words leave my mouth. It's so obvious I'm nervous. I curse in my mind. I clench my fists tighter, I need to stay calm. No matter what happens, at least I can say I tried. At least I tried to fix our friendship.

"Sure." He replies. He begins to walk and expects me to follow. Of course I do, I'm not exactly going to ask to talk to him and let him walk off. That'd be stupid of me.

"Why are you avoiding me? What did I do?" I ask him. My voice continues to shake and I pray he doesn't notice.

"I've just been busy." He replies curtly. He begins to walk quickly.

"Doing what, Light-kun? You can't keep avoiding me! Just tell me what I did wrong!" I beg. I try to keep up with him but I can't. So I just stand and stare at his retreating back. "Light-kun?"

He turns and looks at me. His eyes void of any emotion. If anything, he looks sinister. I feel my face pale and I take a step back. He looks scary. It's like I'm seeing his true self for the first time.

"There's something I need to tell you Manami-chan." He says, his voice full of honesty. The sinister look on his face disappears once the words leave his mouth and he offers a small smile. A small, fake smile. But a smile, nonetheless. It's like he noticed my fear. Was it that noticeable? I mentally face-palm. Of course it was. I took a step back and I probably looked like I had seen a ghost. Underneath the supposedly innocent smile though, is a smile of pure evil. A smile that is no good. A smile that is manipulative. I almost missed it.

I analyse his face and search for any sincerity. I had to have been seeing things. There's no way Light-kun would smile like that at me. I need to know that he's not going to lie to me. I need to know he's going to be truthful. But no matter how much I pray, his smile still says otherwise. Everything is telling me to run. From that smile to his body language. He clearly wasn't truthful when he told me I needed to spend more time at home. If he really meant what he said he wouldn't be avoiding me. He wouldn't let me suffer on my own. So how can I trust that smile he's wearing so proudly? How can I trust a single word that will leave those lips?

I wish I knew what was going through his head at this very moment. I wish I knew why he said what he did. I wish I knew why he is acting the way he is. I want answers, but it seems those answers I'm searching for are unreachable. They're untouchable. Invisible.

I continue to analyse his face. It's expressionless. His eyes are empty. Void. I can't find out anything. I feel my eyebrows furrow together. What is he up to?

Is he going to tell me the truth? Or is he going to lie?

I narrow my eyes at him when he opens his mouth.

Should I even trust him?

"Light-kun?" I ask, my voice barely audible. Why am I shaking? Why am I scared of the truth? His smile falls and he looks at the ground before meeting my eyes. "Light-kun? What is it?"

"I know I've been an awful friend, lying to you and leaving you. My excuse isn't even great." He begins. His eyes full of fake guilt. He seems fake. So fake. Everything about him is fake. Who is this Light? My heart drops at the realisation that the Light I knew was gone. "I've been avoiding you because I like you."

A confession? No. No way.

"Of course you like me. I'm your friend, Light." I say. It can't be true… I look at him, I don't see my friend. I see a stranger. There's no way he's telling the truth. He's lying.

"N-no." He looks away in an attempt to act like a schoolboy expressing his feelings to his crush. If I were a stupid girl I'd fall for his act. However, I'm not stupid. My grades may say otherwise, but they don't matter right now. That's not Light-kun. He'd never do that. He'd tell me straight away. I know him. He's my best friend. He wouldn't just abandon me because he has feelings for him. If he were to confess he'd say:

"Manami-chan, I think I like you."

He'd be upfront and honest.

My chest began to hurt. Why? Why does it hurt like this? Is it because he's lying? Tears begin to pool in my eyes and I squeeze them shut. I can't let him continue. I shake my head vigorously.

"Don't lie about things like that!" I scream, interrupting what he was about to say. His mouth hangs open. My words nearly left my lips too late. If I waited a second later he'd say the very lie I didn't want to hear. I span around and ran away without looking back, tears streaming down my cheeks in the process.

I never knew Light-kun would do that. I never expected him to lie.

I never expected it to hurt this much either.

A/N: Please leave a review, favourite and follow! It means so much! More reviews and follows and favourites = quick updates!

This is definitely turning out better than the original, in my opinion. I prefer Manami as a character so much more in this. Also, the end was kinda unexpected... oops. I planned for Light to confess but I didn't plan for her to know he was lying and for her to run off XD

I hope you like this chapter too!

Remember: review, favourite and follow! It just takes a few seconds of your time and it makes me really happy!

Don't hesitate to be honest either, I need honest criticism so I can fix any mistakes I've made and correct my writing style/ how this is written.

Thank you for reading!

~ Alicelovescakes