I do not own Death Note so don't sue me please! I have no money anyways, so it would just be troublesome.

Chapter 4

The Dance

The next two weeks were spent doing what seemed like endless piles of home work and non stop studying. Not to mention just trying to stay out of Izanami and Katsuo's way so as to avoid any unnecessary bruising before the dance. Which had actually gone really well, making Noriko a bit uneasy. It was just strange to her that neither of the two people had even spoken to her in almost three weeks. Not that it was bad, but it gave her a calm before the storm type of feeling.

The day of the school formal had finally arrived and Noriko was nervously getting ready with Mrs Yagami's help. It was a somewhat grueling process; having to do her hair, make up, getting the dress on and learning quickly that heels were not her friends. She was slowly getting used to them though, and could walk without stumbling over herself. Most of the time.

Noriko was standing in front of a full length mirror in Mrs Yagami's room. She frowned as she inspected herself in the mirror and turned this way and that to get a better look at herself.

"What's wrong dear? You look beautiful," Mrs Yagami said as she walked up next to her and smiled kindly.

"I just wish my dad could see it. I look so different. It feels kind of strange to be so dressed up," Noriko responded quietly.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Yes," Mrs Yagami called.

"It's almost six, we need to get going," Light answered from the other side of the door.

"We'll be right there, just wait downstairs."

"Alright."

Footsteps could be heard as Light walked down the hall and then retreated down the stairs.

"Ready?"

Noriko took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Ready."

She followed behind Mrs Yagami and slowly made her way downstairs, stairs were a little hard to maneuver in heels. Light stood at the bottom of the stairs, but he was blocked slightly from view by his mother that was in front of her. As Noriko reached the last step, Mrs Yagami moved to give Light a good look at Noriko.

His jaw dropped slightly and he blinked at the sight before him. Noriko wore a crimson strapless dress that left her pale shoulders exposed. The top of the dress was a corset that had crystals lining the top, the back was laced with a black ribbon that tied at her lower back and was left to hang down the back of the dress. The matching skirt had crystals lining the hem that barely brushed the floor,and it was gathered slightly in the back to give it some volume. Her toes peeked out from under the dress as she held the skirt off the floor, she had on strappy heels that matched the color of the dress.

She wore some makeup, not much, just some mascara, light eyeshadow, lip gloss and a dusting of powder. Her hair was partially up, the sections along the side of her head had been pulled loosely back and pinned behind her ears. Sections had also been curled loosely and fell in ringlets over her shoulders, almost reaching the top of the dress. Her cross hung around her neck and was a perfect accessory to the ensemble.

"What?" Noriko asked somewhat impatiently as Light continued to stare at her.

"You look amazing, Noriko," he answered as he smiled his perfect sweet smile at her.

She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and blushed slightly as Light held his hand out to her.

"You don't look so bad yourself," she teased.

'That's the understatement of the year. He looks great,' she thought.

He wore a three piece black tux and a tie that matched the color of her dress.

She had never considered herself beautiful. She didn't think she was ugly, just plain. She never wore make up, always dressed comfortably in jeans or shorts and a tank top or something. Her appearance wasn't really a concern to her. It didn't matter to her whether people found her attractive or not.

"Shall we?" Light asked, holding out a hand to her.

She nodded and smiled as she took his out stretched hand.

"How are we getting there again?" Noriko asked.

"My dad had to work, so one of the rookies, Matsuda I think, is going to drive us to the restaurant first, then to the dance."

"Where are we eating anyways?"

"It's a surprise," he teased with a twinkle in his brown eyes.

A honk was heard outside and Light led Noriko out of the house and to the waiting black car. The driver was a young man who seemed a little flustered, he jumped out of the car and opened the back door for her. He gawked slightly as she ducked to get in the door.

"Hey Matsuda, thanks a lot," Light said amiably to the man.

"Of course. Any thing for Chief Yagami," Matsuda answered hurriedly and with a nervous chuckle.

"You're joking?" Noriko asked as she stared out the window of the car. Her eyes were wide in disbelief as she glanced over to Light who was seated next to her.

"Nope."

"Light, this is like the most expensive restaurant in town, how the heck can you afford this?"

"I've been saving up and the owners owed my dad a favor, so we aren't exactly going to pay much. Would you stop gawking at the place already?" Light exited the car and walked around to help Noriko out.

She slowly stepped out of the car, careful not to step on the dress or fall over in the heels as she did so. Light held her hand as they walked in to the restaurant. They were seated immediately at a table for two near a window in a quiet corner.

"We aren't the only students here I see," she observed as they passed a few tables that were occupied by fellow students.

Light nodded as he smiled and waved at a few people he knew.

"Don't be stubborn. Order what ever you want," Light said as Noriko glanced at the menu with a frown.

"But-"

"No, buts Nori, just order anything," he said firmly.

"Fine, but I can't run very fast in heels," she grumbled.

Light just sighed and rolled his eyes.

The dinner was nice and peaceful, they sat quietly talking and eating. After finishing the meal the owner of the restaurant a tall, middle aged man with graying hair approached their table. He introduced himself to Noriko before whispering something to Light, then walking away.

Noriko raised an eyebrow at Light who smiled before standing and once again offering her his hand.

They left the restaurant and returned to the waiting car and Matsuda, who once again opened the car door for her as she approached.

"Thank you, Matsuda," she said politely.

"Of course," he answered with a slight blush that went unnoticed in the night.

The drive to the place the dance was being held took less than twenty minutes. It was a large park with a beautiful garden and scattered fountains. There were large buildings off to the side that were lit with strings of lights and some lanterns.

Finely dressed students milled around in theirs tuxes and expensive dresses. All making their way to the buildings where the dance was to be held.

As they too made their way towards the buildings, Noriko received jealous glares from the majority of the females that they passed. She unconsciously stepped closer to Light, who put his arm protectively around her waist.

"You're not the only one getting the evil glares," he pointed out quietly to her.

"Huh?" she asked, blinking in confusion at him.

"Don't worry about it. I'm not sharing you," he assured her, pulling her just a little closer to himself.

"Possessive much?" she teased, jabbing him softly with her elbow.

He turned his face to hers and looked her in the eyes before giving her a soft smile. She blinked a few times before turning away awkwardly.

They entered the building and found that the lower floor the dance was being held on was quite open and surrounded by many windows that gave a view of the moonlit gardens. A large dance floor was positioned in the center of the room, there was a stage with a band, and a dj was set up right next to it. There were tables lined around the room, decorated in white table clothes, beautiful center pieces of colorful calla lilies and white roses adorned each table. Strands of lights hung from the ceiling, resembling stars as they gave the room a soft glow.

"Wow, it's beautiful," Noriko breathed.

"Not as beautiful as you," Light said with a cheesy grin.

Noriko looked over at him with her eyebrows raised, they stared at each other for a few seconds before they both started laughing.

"That was the cheesiest line ever. You'd think the number one student in the nation could come up with something better than that," she teased.

"Yeah well, it sounded better in my head."

"Whatever, come on," she walked into the room that was already filling with students.

They were glued together all night either dancing or sitting and talking alone or with friends of Light's. A few guys had interrupted asking Noriko to dance but she would always politely decline. After the first few attempts, Light possessively put his hand on the small of her back and would glare at any male that came near her, effectively getting them to turn around and walk the other way. The girls left Light alone while Noriko was with him, but the second she had excused herself to the lady's room, they attacked.

Noriko walked out of the hall to see Light surrounded by a gaggle of giggling girls. He looked mildly annoyed as he tried to be polite and refuse the offers to dance. A smile crept on to her lips as she saw that Kimiko was one of the girls who was around him. She walked around the group of girls and came up behind Light. Smiling widely, she wrapped her arms around Light who tensed, not knowing who was behind him.

"It's me," she whispered and felt him relax as she placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Now if you ladies will excuse us, my date and I were about to take a romantic stroll through the gardens," Noriko stated as she released Light and lightly grabbed his hand, leading him away from the stunned and angry girls.

"That was impressive, Nori," Light said with a smirk, following her out into the garden.

"Thanks. I couldn't leave you there to be eaten by the wolves now could I?"

"I suppose not. I would never have forgiven you," he replied in mock seriousness.

They wandered around in the garden for a few minutes before Noriko sat down on a bench across from a little pond that had some koi fish swimming in its shallow depths.

It was a warm night the moon was full and it cast a bright warm glow over the gardens. Stars twinkled in the clear sky like someone had spilled silver glitter in the dark curtains of the sky.

Noriko sighed as she looked up at the full moon. Its milky rays illuminating her face and giving her a glow that made her seem like she was lit from within and her green eyes seemed even more striking in the moons glow.

Light just stared at her, appreciating the way she looked so peaceful in the moonlight. She was his as far as he was concerned, and that moment made him all the more sure of how he felt for her.

"Nori?" he questioned quietly.

She lowered her head and her green eyes wandered to look at Light's face.

"Is something wrong, Light?" she asked when she noticed his serious expression.

"No, lets go back inside," he said as he held his hand out to help her up. He continued holding on to her hand after she had stood and they had begun walking back to the dance.

"Light, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Nori."

"Then why are you still holding my hand, I'm not going anywhere."

"Oh, sorry. I hadn't realized," he said as he quickly released her hand which she let fall back to her side.

Come by Namie Amuro was playing when they returned and Noriko pulled Light out to the dance floor.

"I love this song," she said as she put her hands around Light's neck.

She sung snippets of the song as they danced and swayed to the music. When the song ended they retreated to a table so that Noriko could rest her aching feet.

"I'd really like to make who ever invented these damn things suffer a very painful death," she muttered as she plopped down into a chair.

"It can't be that bad," Light said.

Noriko sent him a cold glare.

"Have you ever worn heels, Light?"

"Uh, no," he said.

'I should have kept my mouth shut,' he thought a little frightened by the glare Noriko was giving him.

"Then you wouldn't know, and unless you want to find out just how uncomfortable they are, I'd shut up."

"Right, sorry."

The dance was drawing to an end, Noriko and Light sat side by side in a table near the dance floor, his arm was draped over her shoulder as she rested her head on his arm.

"It's the last dance, come on," he said as he removed his arm from her shoulders, and stood up.

She groaned but didn't protest as she took his hand and walked to the dance floor. He held her by the waist as she put her arms around his neck. The song was slow and Light pulled her closer to him. She rested her head lightly on his shoulder as they swayed to the music.

"Noriko," he said softly.

"Hmm," she hummed as she raised her head to look into his eyes.

He leaned closer to her and his hot breath on her neck sent a chill up her spine.

"I love you, Nori, I always have."

She gasped at his words not knowing how to responded to his confession. She looked into his eyes and saw the emotion behind his words.

"I..I.."

"I'm sorry, Noriko, I-"she stopped him from saying anything else by gently placing a finger over his lips.

"Don't be sorry, Light," she murmured before removing her finger from his lips and leaning forward to place her lips onto them instead.

He was surprised, but held her tightly as they shared their first kiss. The kiss deepened and was filled with a passion that neither one had ever experienced.

They pulled apart from each other for air, Noriko blushing madly as Light smiled happily at her.

"Thank you, Light," she said softly as they walked hand in hand towards the waiting black car.

"For what?"

"Probably the best night of my life," she replied with a bright smile.

He brushed a kiss against her forehead. "No need to thank me."

After the dance, Noriko excused herself from Light and the group of his friends that were crowding around them. She walked into the womens bathroom and was glad that no one seemed to be in there at the time. There was a little sitting room of to the side with some plush red sofas and a few other chairs.

Noriko sat down on one of the sofas and lifted her skirt slightly to look at her feet. There was a small but painful blister forming on the back of her left foot.

"Ow," she mumbled as she gently removed the heels and massaged her sore feet.

She heard the soft swish of the door opening and the voices and giggles of a few girls as they entered the bathroom.

"Light's just using her," she heard a very familiar annoying voice say.

"Why would he do that, Kimiko? I mean, they have known each other their entire lives," another voice said.

"Please, she's throwing herself at him. Light probably just wants one thing from her," Kimiko replied arrogantly.

Noriko had heard enough, she stood up from the couch, her shoes dangling in her left hand as she rounded the corner that lead to the mirrors and bathroom.

"Well speak of the devil," Kimiko said as she saw Noriko in the mirror.

"Kimiko, what did I say about the next time you crossed me?" Noriko asked sagely.

The girl's face dropped into an angry frown.

"I take it you remember. It's funny that you can never say anything to anyone other than your little minions. Like I said before, if you have something to say to me, than say it to my face." Noriko challenged.

There was silence as the two girls glared at each other.

"I didn't think so," Noriko replied calmly but with a tint of coldness in her voice, "Here's a few pieces of information for you. Light asked me to this dance, I didn't even want to come, but he is my best friend and so I came for him. If he hadn't wanted to come, then he wouldn't have, even if you asked him he would have refused you. Unlike all the guys you know, Light isn't the type of person to use someone for his own benefit."

Noriko had opened the bathroom door and was half way through before turning back.

"Oh and he told me he loved me tonight, then we shared a very...passionate kiss," with that said she smiled at Kimiko who looked like she was going to have a heart attack and left.

"You're smiling that creepy smile again," Light said as they headed out to the waiting car.

"Oh, I just enjoy putting Kimiko in her place," Noriko replied. "You know, the gutter."

Light raised his eyebrows at her but didn't say anything.

They carefully got into the car and headed back to Light's house so that Noriko could change before going home. When they reached his house house it was 12:30 and they quietly made they're way through the house to Light's bedroom. Noriko grabbed her bag that had her jeans and shirt and headed to the bathroom. She changed quickly and made her way back to Light's room.

"I'm done," she whispered.

"Alright, Matsuda is going to give you a ride, do you want me to go with you?"

"Nah, I think I'll be fine with a police officer," Noriko answered quietly. "Oh, and what do I do with this," she said as she held up the crimson dress, " I don't want to take it home."

"Hang it in my closest for now I guess," he replied with a shrug.

"Ok, see you later, Light," she said as she turned to hug him before leaving.

"I'll walk you downstairs," he said as he grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs.

They stopped just inside the doorway.

"Light," Noriko asked hesitantly.

"Hmm."

"About earlier, I-"

Before any more words could leave her lips he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

"I meant what I said," he whispered to her.

She nodded numbly, before turning and walking out of the house and to the black car waiting for her just outside.

Light watched her go with an arrogant smile.

'She's mine, and I'll find a way to protect her.' he thought.

Ha, that was a bit easier than I thought it was going to be. The next few chapters may be a little slow in being posted. I have chapter 5 done but 6 and so on are proving more difficult than expected But once I get over the transition into the story line it should be fine.

Anyways, thanks go out to anihana, dagger94, nightwing gurl, and princess de la luna. As well as to everyone else who has either alerted this story or favorited it. I appreciate it very much!