Disclaimer: I most definitely do not own Death Note or Tokyo Ghoul. HAPPY 2019! It's been winter for a while now. The problem is I live in the Heart of the Deep South, and there's really only two seasons here. Summer and winter, and it's practically summer 90% of the year. It'll be 80 degrees Fahrenheit until December and then it'll drop to 2 degrees Fahrenheit. It's crazy!


Kyoko dragged her exhausted body towards Anteiku, needing a nice strawberry parfait. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Mado the Quinque Fanatic and his stupid extremely loyal lackey, Amon Koutarou. How lovely, they're closing in, aren't they? She walked briskly past them, not sparing them a second glance. Even Mado didn't notice the particular delicious scent of a half-ghoul around her, but humans didn't have that good of a nose.

Opening the door to Anteiku, it was Touka that greeted her and a tired looking Kaneki. What's he tired about? Oh the joys or being naïve and innocent, how quaint. I remember when I was younger when I carefree and independent of my nonexistent responsibilities. Or maybe free of the burdens of living for hundreds of years. Either way, it still was great. Of course, according to my father, I was never "innocent," but I beg to differ.

"Kyoko-kun, we'll have your parfait ready in a few minutes," Touka informed her, signaling to Irimi to start making it.

Kyoko grinned and sat behind the counter, pulling out her computer again. Koma chuckled warmly, seeing her exasperated expression.

"Homework?" Koma heartily snickered.

Kyoko groaned, nodding her head. I told her she shouldn't have put off that essay! It's coming to bite her in the ass as I said. "I have a ton of Circus Work to finish, not to mention I have to keep monitoring the Police for any new developments."

Touka's head tilted backward towards Kyoko. "Oh? What type of developments?"

"Such as if L has contacted the police directly yet, or if Kira's made another blunder," Kyoko elaborated more specifically on the subject.

She sighed after I gave her a stink eye, warning her that she'd better start on that essay before I'd steal her parfait. And perhaps to shut her mouth before it got her in trouble. Switching to her homework tab, she began typing the history essay, additionally pulling out her notebook with her notes. Kaneki peered over in her direction for a moment, pausing in his work.

"What's the essay about?" He inquired shyly.

What a lovely boy.

"The period when shoguns and emperors still ruled Japan," Kyoko mumbled tiredly, rubbing her eyes.

Several days had passed since the times of the Kira Killings had changed, which was a totally stupid move if she thought so herself. That proved to the police that Kira had possible police information. Briefly, she paused in her homework to answer a rather important and pressing email from one of the Circus higher-ups, maybe rank 3 or 4. Something about the company's function or like that. The door jingled, and a flamboyant purple haired man with a French accent paraded himself into Anteiku.

Kyoko rolled her eyes and sighed exasperatedly. "Dear Lord help us all," she muttered dryly.

"Bonjour!" He said with a fancy flick and swish of his wrist.

"Tsukiyama," Touka greeted icily. "What do you want?"

He breathed in a flowery sense of the way. "As cold as ever I see, Kirishima-san. I just thought I'd drop by."

Kyoko snorted, not believing jack about the pervert's words. Tsukiyama half twirled around to spot her.

"Ah! Mademoiselle Mikan!" Tsukiyama beamed in glee. "How fares you on this wonderful morning!?"

"It's late afternoon, you idiot perv," Kyoko retorted spicily. "You're interrupting their work y'know."

He dismissed that with a wave of his pale hand, gliding towards Kaneki in obvious interest. Kyoko speculated Tsukiyama would figure out his true identity soon enough, and Kaneki was in the deep waters of the troubling ocean. She didn't usually like to hover over people, especially when they're weaklings who didn't know anything the world they lived in. There was a small voice in the back of her head that told her otherwise.

I snickered unapologetically, Kyoko must be conflicting with her options. I do hope she'll choose the latter. After Touka managed to shove the Gourmet out, Kaneki immediately had to ask who he was. I'd stay out of those stormy waters of the underground Kaneki dear, I don't think you're quite ready to face the depths of the terrible underground. It's bad enough the Gourmet has discovered you're existence, there's no doubt the clowns and V have also unearthed you, Kaneki Ken.

"Stay far away from him," Kyoko spoke out darkly before Touka could answer Kaneki. "He's a parasite of the 20th Ward. It isn't good that now he evens knows you exist." She lifted her ruby eyes to meet Kaneki's dark orbs. "He has too many connections in the underground. Trust me when I say he's one of the most dangerous individuals in the 20th."

Kaneki nodded slowly as if taking a moment to comprehend the information. Kyoko narrowed her eyes, making her mind up about now. Her conscience was eating her up, roaring like a lion and hissing like a snake. She shut her computer shut and stuffed it in her bag, ready to leave. Right before she left, Kyoko tossed Kaneki a ball of paper, and he shuffled around to open it.

"It's my personal number. If you need me, call." Kyoko shut the door gently, walking out of the shop and onto the sidewalk.

A nagging feeling was eating her stomach raw, Tsukiyama was planning something. He'd already gotten Kaneki's scent, what the Gourmet was going to do with that worried her. She sighed, before feeling a prickling sensation on the back of her neck, and her hairs raised. She was being followed. How had she not noticed until now? Angrily, she hissed under her breath, her senses were getting duller.

She couldn't rely on me, that I knew for sure. If she randomly started talking into the air, she'd gain some attention for sure. So she did it herself. She played the role of a happy schoolgirl, twirling around and humming merrily. She also kept stopping in front of store windows, seemingly checking out the products and fix her hair. Very clever. I wonder when Reagan will finish his shift, I'll have to alert him of this new development. But Kyoko also tried to get home as soon as possible. She didn't think it was someone trying to harm or kill her, Kyoko felt no malicious intention coming off the person. She determined it was a male in his mid to late twenties.

A sudden thought struck her like a hammer. Was the police tailing her? Because her uncle was a policeman on the Kira case? Well, now that I think about it, it does make sense. They've already established the fact Kira is most likely a student, and has police connections, with a high chance on the police connections being on the Kira case. If so, that would make Yagami Light and Sayu, Kitamura Reiko, Eichhorst Waratah, and Mikan Kyoko the only suspects that fall into that category.

Dammit, she'd have to be extra careful in her house, her friend's houses and in public now. The only house she could possibly be safe in that she attended regularly is Akemi's home because Iwalani's father was an obsessive ghoul dove. Even then, Akemi's house wasn't purely safe proof. First, she'd have to figure out who was trailing her, of course, I already know the answer, as well as who Kira really is, but unless it gets life-threatening, what's the harm in a little fun?


Kyoko sighed, shutting her computer down. She wasn't entirely sure if there were any cameras in her room, but if there were, she knew the only places there could be a camera successfully hidden were in the ventilation systems and in the corner of her room. Therefore, she was currently sitting in a blind spot, where the possible cameras couldn't see her computer screen. She had several books and papers out on her bed sloppily, to feign her task of homework. As of currently, she was hacking into her uncle's files to glean any information she could. So far, there was nothing that stated anything about having policemen trail along the students related to the members of the Taskforce.

A coy smile reached Kyoko's lips. If her hypothesis was correct, then life had just gotten a taste of hilarious irony. Imagine, the Great L and V, the two greatest detectives in the world, not trusting the policemen they worked with! She didn't blame them, if she was a private detective, she wouldn't entirely trust the police as well. Yet, Kyoko knew how important trust and teamwork were in the police force, as it did in Hell's Circus. She gave a harsh laugh, they would crumble from the inside.

Just as she was about to actually do some homework, her phone beeped, alerting of a call. Curiously, she picked up her phone, it wasn't any of her Executives or Officers, and they all had a special ringtone based on rank, species, and circle. It was an unknown number.

"Moshi Moshi?" She said into the phone.

"A-ah! Mikan-san!"

Kaneki. What did he need her for? Burglary? In a tight spot with the CCG? A duel between another ghoul? Actually, those last two were a bit unreasonable.

"Can I help you?"

"Oh, I was wondering if you wanted to go to Rize's favorite place with me at Tsukiyama's, he invited me and a guest of my choosing."

One, that sounded like a freshman in college was trying to ask her on a date when she was a second year in middle school, but since it was Kaneki, it probably was harmless. Two, TSUKIYAMA'S? Didn't Kyoko tell him specifically not to make contact with the Gourmet? Also, why was she her first choice? She would have thought Touka would have been better, but whatever he wanted she supposed. Additionally, Kyoko hated Rize but Kaneki didn't have to know that just yet.

She heaved a sigh, maintaining a cheerful voice. "Sure! What's the address?"

She clearly already knew the address, but she needed to make sure which one the show being held tonight. After receiving the address, she quickly changed into her black battle (machine washable) outfit, complete with her boots and crimson Kitsune mask and Acrobat armband tucked in her jacket. She was lucky Tsukiyama thought she was only a weak C rank ghoul and didn't know her true identity. She was also lucky enough that Tsukiyama hadn't caught her even more delicious than Kaneki's half-ghoul scent, it's probably because Reagan and I disguised her scent as a normal ghoul's years ago. She sighed again, tonight would be fun busting the MM Restaurant.

Picking up her phone again, she dialed the number she needed to pull this off. "Yuudai-ojii? I need you to pull together all the ghoul executives, and ONLY the ghoul executives, tonight, and 5 units from the Cat's Ring of Fire. I have a tracker on me, and when I press it, it'll alert your phone and signal our Acrobats to storm in the Gourmet's Restaurant. Be prepared to storm the moment I signal you."

"Wait, you're going to play bait as the main dish?" Yuudai-ojii's panicked voice echoed.

Kyoko snorted scathingly. "Blame Kaneki. Got my orders?"

"Understood, Ringleader…. Isn't there some safer way of doing this?"

"In our line of work, usually not. Also," Kyoko giggled lowly. "What's life worth if not but with a bit of fun and risk?"

As she hung up, another thought hit her and she groaned in annoyance. "Ugh, the policeman following me. Right."

Well, rooftop escape it was. Silently, she unlocked the window on the backside of the house, before slithering her way out in complete silence. Twisting her body around, she quietly pulled out her kagune as hooks, and three of the red tails grasped a ledge on the roof, and she pulled herself up. She glanced downwards, the policeman was gone. Probably to turn in for the night. In the stillness of the night, Kyoko leaped across to another house, landing silently. Rooftop runs are delightfully fun, although I flew the entire time.

After a good while, Kyoko leaped to the ground where Tsukiyama's place was, ready to roll. Entering, she was led to Kaneki in an elaborate dining room, where her keen eyes sharply caught Kaneki's well-dressed attire. The fool, he didn't even remotely suspect a trap? Ah wait, this was the trap.

He greeted her with a warm smile. "Mikan-san! Thank you for joining me on such short notice."

She waved him off. "Don't mind, and you can call me Kyoko-kun."

Additionally, she caught that Kaneki had taken a few sips of the coffee the maid had brought out. She irritably growled shortly under her breath, was he not even thinking it might have been drugged? His loss, and if he gets eaten then oh well. He wasn't her responsibility. Kaneki gave a surprised shout when the floor began moving upwards and the lights shut off, Kyoko knew better, the games and dinner were about to begin.

The lights flashed, and they were standing in the middle of a large arena styled room. Although Kyoko had attended these in the past for recon, she'd never actually been on the bottom to be served as dinner. The gasps and calls of excitement and pleasure rang around the audience, clearly, they liked what they saw. I myself was sitting on a ledge in the shadows of the ceiling, even though no one could see me except Kyoko.

"Tonight's main dish is are two ghouls!" The announcer called out.

The gasps of delight morphed into ones of confusion and bewilderment. Obviously, none of them were expecting cannibalism. Yet as Tsukiyama emerged and explained the wonderful scent of Kaneki, he dropped a handkerchief with Kaneki's blood staining it. Stalkerish anybody? The cries of happiness and bliss resurfaced.

"I do wonder what the flavor a ghoul who smells like a human possesses!" Tsukiyama declared Kaneki's death sentence glamorously.

Kaneki fell to his knees in despair, the biting harsh reality sinking in.

"Are you seriously telling me you didn't even remotely expect this?" Kyoko cut in bluntly, without a single hint of sympathy evident in her voice. "He is the Gourmet, of a ghoul restaurant."

"I-I…" Kaneki trailed off, not knowing what to say.

Kyoko sighed, patting his head. "Don't worry. I'll get us out of here. I am the infamous Kitsune, rated SSS+ after all. Most of the ghouls here are probably rated A or lower."

She could tell it didn't really help settle his nerves, she hoped Touka would give him a long and hard beating after this. Kyoko was thoroughly pissed, but she couldn't wait to witness the faces of those who would recognize her. Confetti fell to the floor in celebration, disgusting Kyoko.

"Now, here is the scrapper who will be serving tonight's main dishes!"

Scrapper… wasn't that Juuzou boy a former scrapper? He's friends with Akemi I believe.

The gate behind them creaked and began to lift in an Ancient Roman Colosseum style. Thunderous footsteps thudded, and a large beefy man with a red mask and a huge meat cleaver emerged into the light. Kyoko hissed, the scrapper had clearly been given too many steroids but was probably a stupid, slow lumbering idiot. He released a revolting blech and sauntered towards them. Kyoko started to run on the opposite side when she glanced back and almost tore her hair out of her skull. The sight of Kaneki frozen like a deer in headlights was increasing annoying.

Did he have a death wish or something? It wasn't until the meat cleaver came crashing down did Kaneki regain his senses and run.

"You BAKA! RUN KANEKI!" Kyoko screeched, already on the other side.

She wouldn't reveal her true identity just yet, and she'd let Kaneki have the majority of the fun. After all, she'd be able to kill the scrapper in less than three seconds, but she wanted to see Kaneki's skills first hand. In response, Kaneki bolted and whipped off his jacket, throwing it in the scrapper's face and bought some time. He continued to sprint towards to where Kyoko was leisurely leaning against the wall and attempted to open the tightly closed door.

"Are you that stupid?" Kyoko snickered. "Do you really think the doors will open? Even in the midst of fear and battle, you've got to keep your head on your shoulders, literally and figuratively."

Apparently, this Taro scrapper was one of Madam A's, Kyoko never did like that disgusting woman. Taro sliced his meat cleaver at Kaneki, who impressively dodged each of the swings.

"Well, you're not terrible at dodging," Kyoko muttered, keeping notes to herself.

She watched as the meat cleaver hit the wall and got stuck, prompting Kaneki to run behind Taro and kick him in the back of the head.

Kyoko let out a garbled laugh, "that was so weak!"

Yeah, the kick did absolutely nothing. Kyoko was certain the audience was wondering why both of them hadn't used their kagune yet, or why she wasn't doing anything. She patted her mask inside her jacket, not just yet… Andddddddddd then Kaneki decided to be clumsy and slip on a puddle of past spilled blood. It gave Taro just enough time to leap forward and kick Kaneki into the wall. Ouch.

"It seems the drug in the coffee has begun to take effect," Kyoko mused, loud enough for Kaneki. "You really shouldn't drink things from strangers."

Swiftly, a lot than expected, Taro grabbed Kaneki by the neck and began to crush his windpipe. Kaneki was feebly struggling, and Kyoko started to dart forward, the situation dire enough. However, she came to an abrupt halt when the gasps of shock rang out around the arena.

"Don't tell me… he released his kagukan?" Kyoko whispered in both admiration and irritation.

Kaneki wrangled himself out of Taro's meaty hands and punched him halfway across the Colosseum, Kyoko skittered backward to avoid getting squashed.

"Nice job Kaneki, you almost landed the beefcake on me!" She yelled indignantly, watching the scrapper roll around on the floor pathetically.

But to be fair, Kaneki was also pathetically trying to get up, and Mr. Taro was lumbering his way over to her senpai. Kyoko sighed, beginning to pull out her mask from her jacket's pocket. That is until Tsukiyama impaled his fist through Taro.

"Everyone, I'm terribly sorry for all the commotion, I had no idea he was a so-called one-eyed ghoul," Tsukiyama "apologized." "However, I have no intention of ruining tonight's dinner, instead, why don't we enjoy Madam A's pet scrapper?" And with that, Tsukiyama completely tore through the scrapper, who died hearing his owner yell angrily at him.

Taro was going to die anyway, his name was on Reagan's death list I glanced at earlier. A fitting death. Tsukiyama calmly walked forward and knelt next to Kaneki, explaining it was just supposed to be a joke and asked for forgiveness. That lying bastard, he just wants Kaneki for himself. Kyoko was two steps away from doing the same thing to Tsukiyama that he did to Taro.

"Tsukiyama, get away from him." Kyoko's cutting voice echoed throughout the arena. "Or I'll kill you."

The absurd idea that a mere "C" rated ghoul threatened to kill Mr. MM the Gourmet made the watching ghouls crack up in twisted amusement. A cold cruel smirk folded onto Kyoko's face.

"Eh? You would kill moi?" Tsukiyama pressed a silky smooth hand to his chest in "horror." "Could you even?"

Kyoko nodded with a malicious grin. "You and your appalling, revolting restaurant. I want to paint this entire room with your crimson blood."

She released all nine scarlet tails, putting on her mask and armband and laughed icily as the room erupted into terrified and terrorized screams upon recognizing her. She pressed the tracker and heard her Acrobats already burst their way inside the room.

"After all," Kyoko continued in Tsukiyama's direction. "Hell's Circus' Acrobats always put on a good show."

The next hour or so was hell for the ghouls who came for dinner and a show and instead received a massacre. Although she would have liked to kill him, Kyoko reluctantly left Tsukiyama alive, a nagging feeling in her stomach told her he was somehow important in the future. Hell's Circus completely demolished the restaurant, ghoulish corpses littered the ground and blood stained the walls. Kyoko herself enjoyed ripping apart ghouls with her kagune, giving her a sort of rush. She did admit it was hysterically hilarious watching Yuudai-ojii manically laugh while blowing up bombs he planted, causing escaping ghouls to fly through the air. Was he really 41 years old?

Kyoko raked her fingernails across a female ghoul's face and stabbed her with her kagune, then tossed her body to the side. Gazing around, she guessed they were almost finished. She heard a flap of crystal clink behind her, and she knew exactly who it was. Tengokuno Akemi was probably the nicest person Kyoko had ever met and would meet. Although she was only 19, she worked at the CCG as an intern psychologist (and spy). She was also extremely beautiful, white shoulder length hair with a turquoise ribbon and smooth pale skin. She had Heterochromia iridium, so one of her eyes was gold and the other silver. She was also Kyoko's same height, 160 cm (5'2).

Lastly, Akemi was the Executive for the Ghoul Ring of Death, SSS+, named the Bird of Paradise, and probably the most feared assassin in Tokyo. She landed next to Kyoko, brandishing her white Ukaku kagune. Her Ukaku resembled white bird wings, with several "feathers" colored different colors. The oxymoron killed Kyoko every time.

"How many escaped?" Kyoko inquired for a report.

"At least 25," Akemi swiftly answered, abruptly releasing a white kagune feather, which impaled itself into a retreating ghoul's throat.

Kyoko nodded, not entirely liking the answer. She was proud of her Acrobats but angry they let at least 25 ghouls escape. She wanted all their throats to have been thrown out.

Akemi seemed to notice Kyoko's tension and gently laid a hand across the younger girl's shoulder. "You're not allowed to feel frustrated. We completed our mission, now it's time to pull back so the Doves can't detect us. We did kill Sir Black, a high ranking member of the ghoul restaurant, that's an accomplishment."

Kyoko sighed, gazing up at the ceiling, I waved smartly with a cheesy grin.

"Yeah, but we failed to kill Souta from the Clowns," Ketsueki's dismayed voice slithered up next to them, he landed gracefully on the banister. "I almost had him too."

Kyoko's shoulders sagged while Akemi elbowed Ketsueki in the stomach. "It's fine. Killing Souta would only make the Clowns angry and they might retaliate. Let's wrap this up, it's a school night."

"Hey Kyoko-kun," Ketsueki said, glancing downwards. "What do you want us to do with that artificial half ghoul?"

Kyoko also glanced down to see Kaneki sitting motionlessly, still on the floor. "Leave him to me."

She leaped down, landing near Kaneki and walked towards him. She knelt down, poking his forehead. "Oi, get up. Go home. I'll have one of my Acrobats escort you, take a shower, you reek of ghoul blood."

Taking Kaneki's pale hand, Kyoko hauled him to his feet and pushed him in the direction of the door. "Akemi, get him home for me, would you?"

Akemi gave a big thumbs up, Kaneki was in excellent hands. Kyoko turned one last time in the 19-year-old's direction.

"Oh Kaneki."

He slowly twisted his head around, his dark eyes dull yet bright with fright.

"I was never going to let you die. You were never in danger," Kyoko said simply, but knowing it answered his unspoken question. "Just have Yomo-san or Touka-chan teach you to fight better. You have amazing reflexes though. Now get home."

I wouldn't call that comforting, but it seemed to work a bit for Kaneki.


It had been two days since she had her Acrobats wreck the Ghoul Restaurant, and the policeman was still following her. She had her suspicions that it wasn't a policeman, he certainly wasn't Japanese, European or American by the looks of it. CIA, Interpol, or FBI, those were the top choices of Kyoko's list on which organization her stalker belonged to. Rolling around on her bed aimlessly, Kyoko ended up lying on her back staring at the ceiling. What would be her next move? She still didn't know who Kira really was, but she had narrowed it down to Kitamura Reiko and Yagami Light. Out of those choices, it was probably Light-san because she had met Kitamura-san before. And that girl Reiko was dumber than rocks, she didn't have the brains or cunningness that Kira had.

She mused over her options, it was definite Light was being stalked, as well as Sayu and Waratah. She had already alerted them of course, and they pretended to be normal middle school girls, covering themselves. It was also the main reason she didn't want her human executives to participate in crippling the Ghoul Restaurant She could ask Sayu to put secret recordings and cameras in Light's room to glean any information. Speak of the devil, Sayu was calling her.

"Moshi Moshi?"

"Kyoko-kun! There's been a new development."

Kyoko sat up straight on her bed, wide awake. "What type?"

"Kira is apparently now experimenting on the kills, the victims are performing really strange actions before dying."

She knew exactly what that meant. "Kira's testing if the Death Note really works the way it says."

Sayu made a noise of agreement. "Just as I was thinking. Anything else you need me to do?"

"I need you to put several recordings and cameras in Light's room and monitor his actions. If he's going anywhere besides school, find out where and tell me immediately." Kyoko ordered, knowing Sayu had no problem with it. "Actually, I think I'll also have one of our Acrobats from Circle Death follow him."

"Sounds good, I can do that. Oh, the people trailing us are FBI agents from America," Sayu added.

"Huh? How'd you find that out?" Kyoko was genuinely intrigued by how her friend had managed to get that scoop.

Sayu giggled bubbly from the other side of the phone. "I had one of my Fire Crows trail him and pickpocket him. She took a glance at the wallet and saw his FBI status, then returned it to him saying he 'dropped it.'"

A fairly good plan, not the best but decent. "You're having her lay low until the FBI agents leave, right? He's seen her face."

"Of course I am," Sayu replied quickly. "Will you have a ghoul or human follow Light?"

"I'm thinking a Ghoul from the Ring of Death since if Light really is Kira, and if he has the Shinigami Eyes, Light can't kill them," Kyoko explained briefly, tugging on a sock. "But then if Light manages to find out the real name, he'll wonder why the Death Note didn't work since Death Notes don't work on Ghouls."

"I'd still say a ghoul," Sayu chipped in. "But it's your call. I'm going to have to go now, Mom wants some help with dinner."

"Sayonara."

Kyoko tossed her phone onto the other side of the bed, sighing once more. What to do, what to do. Making dinner might be a nice start. She doubted her uncle would be home tonight, he was barely home even before the Kira case. Now, she was lucky to see him at least once a week. Not that she cared that much anyway though. Quickly, she typed out a brief email to Akemi 'requesting' a ghoul to be deployed to monitor Light's whereabouts.

Trudging down the stairs, she lit the stove and pulled out a pan, dropping some dinner ingredients in to make some food. Something easy and light, since it would be just her. Then her phone rang…. Again. But this time she was greatly surprised, it was dear old Uncle Mihiko.

"Ojii-san? I thought you were out working late again tonight," she was genuinely shocked.

"I decided to take a small break, I'm coming home for dinner, and so are the Yagamis, Eichhorsts, and Matsuda because he's such a lonely bachelor," her uncle responded with a small sigh and chuckle.

Oh shit. "How much time do I have?"

"I'd say about in an hour, we'll all be there."

"AN HOUR? WHAT THE HELL?" Kyoko all but shrieked, furious at this new information.

"Kyoko! Do not use that type of language!" Her uncle snapped harshly, no doubt disappointed in her.

Kyoko didn't care. She'd have to call in reinforcements to help her, this really sucked. Abruptly she hung up, whipping out pots and pans, ingredients and cooking materials. Yakitori maybe, with sushi, mochi, miso soup, and grilled vegetables. Kyoko released a loud and irritated shriek, fiercely chopping meat.

"Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy Mom….. Wanna help?" Kyoko flashed a beaming and pleading grin.

I sighed warmly, floating down and making myself visible, picking up a knife and started to slice some vegetables. "You know you can't call on me every time you need cooking help."

Kyoko laughed that off, "yeah I know, but I know when, and it's not now."

"Should I call Reagan too?" I asked curiously, laying the vegetables on the pan to be grilled. "You know how deliciously scrumptious his soups are."

"If you wish, Okasan," Kyoko responded demurely.

That's a no then. I knew there were no cameras or bugs in the house, which led me free to aid Kyoko in her cooking schemes. Kyoko was a good enough cook, but I was an excellent cook, not to brag of course. Who am I kidding? No one. With the two of us, we managed to be finishing up right as the police officers arrived. My cue to exit, I quickly disappeared but stayed in the kitchen. Mihiko-san entered, with Chief Yagami, Matsuda, and Gilbert and Merindah Eichhorst, Waratah's parents.

They were cold, indifferent, and like Mihiko-san, loved their job as police officers more than their daughter. Gilbert was tall, much taller than the normal Japanese man, he was proudly "Prussian." I say German since Prussia is dissolved but whatever. Merindah was short, the average height for a Japanese woman, and she could pass for a Japanese woman if not for her darker skin. One of the few Aboriginals left. I don't think they are involved in the Kira case but through their daughter, they have gotten to know Mihiko-san.

As most Japanese people would describe them as Foreigners. They had done a nice job making a decent life in Japan instead of sticking with their home nations Germany and Australia.

Kyoko bowed in polite hospitality, noting none of the Yagami family had arrived except for the Chief, and Waratah hadn't appeared.

"Kyoko-chan, thank you for making dinner on short notice," Mihiko-san told his niece, offering his idea of praise.

Kyoko wryly smirked, knowing his intentions. "Welcome home, Ojii-san."

The adults convened for a bit while Kyoko escaped to her room, hiding any evidence of her previous activities.

"Guilty perhaps?" I snickered, watching Kyoko hastily close out tabs on her computer.

"Merely a precaution Mom."

Kyoko was just finishing stuffing some Circus information away when she heard the door open downstairs and heard more people enter her home. Must be the rest of the guests, as she heard three female voices and one male. Light. Kyoko hissed at the name. She had no confirmation that Light was Kira, but everything else about the boy made her skin crawl.

"His perfectness seems too perfect," Kyoko murmured aloud. "And I would know."

With those parting words, Kyoko exited her room, shut the door, and slipped on her mask of emotions. Upon entering the rooms downstairs, she donned a whole new persona, the one she let others see except for a few.

"Kyoko-kun," Waratah greeted politely, taking an unseen glance at the stern stare her mother was giving.

Sayu had less dignity, throwing her arms around Kyoko in a jubilant hug. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!"

Kyoko snorted. "You mean literally two days ago."

Sayu waved a hand carelessly, a bright smile on her face. "Yeah yeah, whatever."

Like Kyoko, Sayu and Waratah wore cleverly crafted masks of their own, and not ones Uta made. Dinner was a pleasant affair, the three girls maintained their airs of young schoolgirls who enjoyed hanging out with their friends. All the while, Kyoko knew Light was watching her ever so carefully. She gave him no reason to suspect her except that she was also "too perfect". And she loved the dull annoyance in his eyes.

It appeared as if Waratah's parents weren't giving her too much trouble, merely ignoring their daughter's presence and conversing with the other adults. In some ways that's good, and in others, it wasn't. Ah, with her parents, one could never tell. The dinner itself wasn't a problem, it was after that caused the tension.

Chief Yagami gave a curious glance to Kyoko, his eyes grey and stormy. "So Mikan-san, what do you think of Kira?"

Kyoko caught a glimpse of interest in Light's own eyes. Clearly, the Chief was ignoring his wife's exasperated sighs, poor woman. Well, she won't be lasting much longer anyway. Sayu stealthily mouthed 'go ahead.'

"I think…." Kyoko started hesitantly, signaling to Waratah with her eyes to watch Light. "I believe that evil criminals do deserve to die and that Kira is doing the world a favor by killing them."

Dear Mihiko-san, and the other police officers were growing a bit red in the face, while Light held a triumphant yet hidden smirk.

"However," Kyoko clarified, "some criminals could be innocent, and some offenses aren't worth the death penalty, yet Kira kills them anyways. Who is Kira to decide who dies and when? Kira isn't God, why is Kira get to be the one to make the choice of death? Kira shouldn't."

A few personal feelings involved in that statement.

Her uncle looked appeased and even a bit proud at Kyoko's words. She is so sneaky sometimes. Light was the one now with the red eyes flashing angrily and seething. Ryuk was cackling his head off behind Light, good thing I can be invisible to Shinigami eyes as well. Waratah's parents' glares were lessened while Waratah herself breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

"You scared me there for a moment, I thought my parents wouldn't let me talk to you ever again," Waratah muttered later in Kyoko's ear.

Kyoko returned it with a cheeky grin. "But would you have really let them stop you?"

"That you are correct, my foxy friend."

The rest of dinner was spent quietly. The adults conversed with their "grown-up" talk while the three girls chatted amiably about silly, trivial things like boys, grades, and upcoming events. All three of them eyed Light carefully throughout the entire dinner, although the perfect boy appeared mostly interested in the adult conversations, he was also keeping tabs on the girls' topics of talk. I was positively mad with delight and laughter, the entire time dinner was occurring, the four youths in the room were in essence spying on the other! It was a spy movie to the fullest! After dinner, the parents and the old lonely bachelor named Matsuda settled into the living room to chat some more while the girls had been stuck with cleanup.

"Alright, are you ready?" Kyoko announced with all seriousness. "This moment could decide the very principles of our friendship. There's no backing out after this moment."

"We're in," Sayu confirmed with a tone of finality, Waratah nodded her head

Kyoko gave a short clipped nod to Light, who was giving them three looks of both "are you really stupid?" and amusement. "We must extend our thanks to Yagami-san, who graciously is acting as our mediator."

"More like dragged into the role," the older boy muttered.

Kyoko conveniently chose to ignore that. "Three, two, ONE!"

The three girls each snatched a straw from Light's hands.

"YESSSS!" Kyoko trilled happily, jumping up and down in ecstasy.

Waratah collapsed to the floor, sobbing dramatically while Sayu high fived Kyoko in triumph. All the while Light couldn't decide whether they were geniuses or complete idiots.

"Stuck…..with….dish duty….." Waratah looked at the short straw in her head with distraught. "Oh straw, why did you betray me?"

Kyoko stuck her tongue out childishly at her European friend. "That's what you get for pulling the short straw! Besides I made dinner! You've got no right to complain!"

"But…but…but!" Waratah protested indignantly, shaking her fist with the straw tightly clutched between her fingers.

"Take your punishment like a woman!" Sayu cackled insanely, her eyes wild in amusement and with bragging rights.

"I DEMAND A REDRAW!"

"YOU THREE SHUT UP!" Mikan-ojii bellowed from the other room in exasperation and extreme annoyance.

Light concluded they were bumbling idiots.


I finally got this chapter out, I'm so sorry it took forever for me to update it! How many of you settled chores with yuor siblings like that? My sisters and I never divided chores like that but we did make sure the playing field was fair (mostly).

Leave a review and have a good day!