When Light handed Ryuzaki his paper he was already prepared for the cynical criticism that he would get back after reading Ryuzaki's carefully written story. Compared to the day before, Light thought that he was doing pretty good. Ryuzaki's story made his blood start to grow cold once more.

Suicide.

Why did everything have to remind him of the dreams? Why couldn't he have a short break so he could catch his breath and prepare to solider on? It wasn't fair.

What also wasn't fair was that, had it not reminded him of Naomi, Light knew he would have enjoyed reading Ryuzaki's story. It was dark and emotional without going overboard and that was, dare he admit it, exactly what Light liked about reading whatever Ryuzaki wrote. He never told his classmate this, because, frankly, he didn't deserve to heard it. Yet that didn't make it any less true.

"Tell me what's wrong with it," Light said as he turned around in his chair. Ryuzaki always finished reading before him, so they started the discussion the moment Light was done.

"It's good," Ryuzaki replied and Light considered getting his hearing checked.

"What?"

"This is the first time your wrote something that is not lacking or plain rubbish," Ryuzaki said to him. "Well done."

"Thanks, I guess." Light said slowly, still not trusting anything that Ryuzaki said to him in this classroom.

That day Ms. Kawaguchi went around the class, reading certain group's assignments. Light and Ryuzaki's conversation stopped once she reached their desks. With out saying anything to either of them, Kawaguchi took Light's story off of Ryuzaki's desk read it, put it back, and did the same with the paper sitting on Light's desk.

"Dark," she said to the both of them after finishing. "I see why the two of you are partners."

"Do you have anything to say about my story?" Ryuzaki asked once their teacher left.

"I liked it," Light couldn't stop the words from tumbling out of his mouth. Well, it was technically fair, since Ryuzaki hadn't insulted him that day.

"I see," Ryuzaki sounded pensive. "You don't think that I needed dialogue?"

"Shut up," Light told him, but he couldn't help laughing.

His laughter died the second the class ended and his thoughts returned to the hell that he didn't know how to escape.


Sayu was staring at Light from across the table. He hadn't glanced in her direction, but he could feel her eyes fixed on him so intensely it surprised him that they weren't radiating heat. Their mother was cleaning up the kitchen and their father hadn't come home from work yet (not to Light surprise). Neither sibling had said a word for the entire meal, and Light started to wish that she would babble about something stupid and pointless like Ryuga Hideki or whichever celebrity she was currently obsessed with.

"Are you feeling okay?" Sayu finally asked, puncturing the quiet with a blunt needle.

Light felt like he wanted to scream, punch something, and cry all at the same time.

"I'm fine," he answered.

"Is that kid at school still bugging you or something?" She asked, her voice slipping closer to neutrality.

"Actually he was civil today," Light answered. He had been civil at lunch the day before when he had witnessed the beginning of Light's mini-panic attack.

"Probably realized how much of an annoying genius you are," Sayu stated.

"Probably," Light wasn't in the mood to argue over the word 'annoying.' "How was your day, Sayu?"

"Fine," she mimicked the way he had said the word a moment ago.

"That's good." This was the most forced conversation the two of them had in a while. Light hated the feeling of it. He decided that he wasn't very hungry anyway, and used this as an excuse to flee to his room and not leave it until next morning.


For the first time in years Light didn't do his homework. That didn't mean he had blown all of his assignments off, he just had not started or completed his nightly writing prompt. When he had decided to skip it, the action had not felt like a big deal. Yet, now, as he walked to class, he could feel regret coursing through him like an injected poison. He didn't want to deal with missing an assignment, he could barely face the shame of being a lousy student in the class.

That was why Light turned around and walked in the opposite direction of his classroom. He hadn't full registered what he was doing as he strode off of campus with his false air of confidence. He didn't stop walking until he reached the mall not far from the school. The day before he had walked to the same place to eat lunch, since he hadn't been up to finding ways to converse with Ryuzaki, and definitely had not felt up to sitting with his friends.

Light sat at the same sandwich shop that he had the day before. He didn't order anything this time; he didn't feel like eating. Instead Light started the homework that he would have that night. Math problems ended up being the best way to distract himself and keep his thoughts geared away from Kira and how Ryuzaki had made his first face-to-face appearance in the dream. Light enjoyed math. It wasn't confusing as long as you knew the rules and formulas. There was always a right answer, and everything else was incorrect; math didn't have frustrating gray areas. It was relaxing.


Sayu's Secret Find-Out-What-Is-Wrong-With-Light Spy Log

Day One

Something is wrong with my brother. I mean, aside from the normal things that are wrong with him. By normal things I mean his pride issues (arrogance included), OCD tendencies (I wanted to get him tested, but Mom and Dad said no), and obsession over success (in literally everything that he does).

Yeah...that's all old news and definitely unfixable by any human on this earth (believe me, I've tired). I'm talking about a new problem that he is obviously dealing with, but refuses to talk anyone about (typical stupid genius). So (like any good little sister would) I am going to not only find out what's bothering him, I am going to fix it.

And, in order to accomplish this, I need to spy on him with out him figuring out. Normally this would be impossible (I should have added paranoia to the list of his issues), so saying that I'm confident I'll be able to find out what's wrong shows how messed up he is in the first place. Whatever the issue is, it's seriously distracting him and not in a good way.

If you're asking "Sayu, how can a distraction be a good thing?" then you clearly have not met my brother (or me for that mater, and if a stranger is reading this journal then I'm concerned). A pleasant distraction is something that I greatly wish my brother had. He gets too wound up over school, and needs a hobby or a person that can help him get away from stress. However, right now he's not neglecting what he deem priorities because he found a constrictive outlet, he's a carefully concealed nervous wreck.

I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one who noticed this, which is to be expected. Nothing against Mom and Dad, they're the best parents that either of us could ask for, but it's easier for kids to hid things from parents than it is to conceal stuff from siblings. I know my brother well, better than he thinks I do. There may have been a time where he could pull the wool over my eyes, but I'm 14 now and a lot smarter than I look.

Light, I don't care if you don't want my help, you're getting it. I promise.


Light's cell phone was ringing from where it sat on his desk. Light was lying face up on his bed with all of his lights on and did not want to stand up to answer his phone. He let in ring five more times before crawling up. The phone number wasn't one that he recognized, but since he had trouble himself by moving to retrieve the device he figured that he might as well answer it.

"Hello?" He asked as he flipped the phone open.

"You cut class today," said a voice that could only belong to one person.

"Hello, Ryuzaki. How the hell did you get this number?" Light was not in a good mood.

"Miss Amane gave it to me," Ryuzaki answered.

"Willingly?"

"I had to assure her that I am not stalking you," Ryuzaki replied smoothly.

"I doubt she believes that," Light muttered.

"No, but I think she is convinced that my infatuation with you will die out if she doesn't interfere."

"Infatuation with me?" Light didn't know if he should laugh or hang up. Maybe both…

"I know, it's unfair that I am viewed as the obsessed one when you are the one who wanted to be my partner for class and decided to sit with me at lunch."

"Why are you calling me?" Light did not have the patients to talk to this person right now.

"I already told you. You cut class," Ryuzaki responded.

"Why do you care if I cut class?" Light asked.

"You are my partner, when you are absent I have nothing to do," he answered.

"I'm surprised she didn't make you join another group," Light voiced.

"Oh, she did. Maybe a better way to phrase that would be: when you are absent I do nothing." Ryuzaki admitted. "I did have to join another group, that was when I asked Amane for your number."

"Look," Light was done with this conversation. "I'm sorry that you had to work with Misa, because I skipped. Is that all that you have to tell me."

"No, I also have to tell you your homework, since we will not have a prompt to discuss if you don't complete your half." Ryuzaki was either enjoying tormenting him or had no idea that Light desired to end the phone call.

"I could just bring today's one," Light argued.

"Yes you could, if you had actually written it," Ryuzaki replied.

"Who the hell told you that I didn't do it?" Light demanded, feeling what he refused to call paranoia fill him.

"You did, just now." Light didn't have to see Ryuzaki to know that he was smirking.

"Very clever." Now the only thing that Light was filled with was irritation.

"I agree."

"I'm hanging up now," Light threatened.

"If you want to rudely hang up on me I cannot stop you, but at least let me tell you the prompt first." Ryuzaki sounded so reasonable, that Light was forced to relent.

"Fine. What it is?" Light waited Ryuzaki to answer, still unsure if he would actually write it.

"Write a story that is only dialogue."

"Really?" Light questioned. "That's it."

"Yes."

"That's really simple," Light laughed. "Just write a script."

"Or a phone call."

"Ryuzaki," Light froze. "You're not using this conversation as your story, are you?"

"Of course not," Ryuzaki dismissed. "How are you supposed to critique a conversation that you were a part of."

"Right, silly me," Light closed his eyes. "I'm actually going to go now. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ryuzaki hung up before him.


Light Yagami's Sleep Diary

Time: 20:48

Day: 13th

Month: May

Year: Omitted

I am done letting these dreams me rule my life. Because of my reaction to the more recent dreams I have fallen behind in my studies, cut a class for the first time since junior high, and aloud these behaviors to be noticed by someone who I do not consider an ally. I know that something is wrong with me, and I know that I can't fully stop it from affecting my behavior, but no matter what my dream-self does I am not going to break down at school (or anywhere in public) ever again.

It's possible that they only way not let this destroy me is not to fight it. I don't know what is causing the dream, and I don't know how to stop them, so maybe the best thing for me to do right now is accept that they are going to be a part of my life for the time being. In order to do this I need to stop judging my dream-self. I know that he is an extension of myself, and I guess what scared me was how alike we are.

Up until he killed Raye Penber and Namoi I didn't see any difference between him and I, and the only reason that I felt I was different is because it sickened me to think that I would go to that extend to achieve my goals. Yet, is it wrong to go to any extend to create a peaceful and just world? When I think about it with a cool head, I know that it's the right thing to do. I know it's what I would do.

I'm ready to keep moving forward. In both reality and these dreams.


Light closed his journal, and transcribed his phone call with Ryuzaki for his prompt.


Ryuzaki L Lawliet

Creative Writing Prompt Seven

May 13th

Write a story that is only dialogue.

"Who started it?"

"You mean who threw the first punch, but that's not the same thing."

"Why did you hit him?"

"Why should I tell you? I don't need you to fucking judge me."

"Isn't there a rule about language in the house?"

"Do I look like I give a fuck?"

"Now you're just over using it."

"Shut up."

"Alright, I will sit here in silence until to tell me what happened."

"..."

"..."

"He was harassing Mail."

"How?"

"Called him a bunch of names and spilt everything in his bag all over the hallway during a passing period."

"..."

"Don't say that I should have just told a teacher, because Mail did, but it never makes a difference."

"This has happened before?"

"It happens every fucking day! The only reason I'm not targeted is because I'm not afraid to give the assholes a few punches, but Mail doesn't want to. He doesn't like to disappoint Roger or Wammy, you know when he's actually around."

"So you attacked the boy for him."

"I would have pounded his ugly face in if they hadn't dragged me off of him. I know. Violence is bad and all that shit, but what was I supposed to do?"

"You did the right thing."

"What?"

"You did the right thing. That boy deserved it and Mail needs to know that someone's on his side. I'm not saying that I liked the idea of you putting yourself in harms way, but I would have done the same thing in that situation."

"Thanks."

"And, Mihael?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell Roger I said that."

"Got it."


Author's Note: Sending virtual cake to MasqueradingChaos, Animelover5008, Death By Heart DBH, Corliss Kat, and Guest for reviewing!