Light walked home from school, deep in thought. Ryuk walked beside him, actually not griping about getting an apple for once, but instead getting a head start on his new hobby—making fun of Light.

"So, Cake-kun," said Ryuk, grinning. "What do you taste like? I've only eaten apples, and I tried an apple pie once… But no cake. What flavor?"

Ignoring him, Light tried to think about his current situation. Ryuk continued chattering.

"Vanilla, I bet. That guy seems to like vanilla, doesn't he? He just doesn't seem like a chocolate guy to me," said Ryuk, chuckling. "So you must be vanilla, because you're obviously his favorite snack, hyuk hyuk hyuk…"

"Be quiet, Ryuk," Light hissed angrily.

Ryuk shut up, but he kept humming the song he had made up the night before. It was infuriating, but Light managed to ignore him and went back to thinking. At the moment, he was thinking about Misa.

She's not the smartest, or the most serious, he thought, And she's annoying… But at least she seems like the type who can—

"LIGHT!" came a high-pitched shout. All of a sudden, Misa jumped in front of him, Rem right behind her.

The man's eyebrow twitched, his eyes darkening.

Follow… orders…

"I just couldn't wait a few weeks," said Misa, smiling brightly, "So I came to see you!"

Light's lip threatened to twitch into a sneer.

I don't think I've ever wanted to punch a girl this much before…

--

Rem, Misa, and Light were gathered around the desk in Light's room, Ryuk watching on the bed and chewing on an apple. Ryuk chuckled as things started to get dramatic.

This is getting so interesting, he thought, taking another bite of the juicy fruit.

Rem turned to Light and began to speak. "Because it's what Misa wants, I'll kill L for you… Since I don't care about you, it won't kill me if his death increases your lifespan."

Light glanced up at the female Shinigami in shock. "What..?"

L will die… this easily…

He stepped away, putting a hand on the desk for support as he thought it over.

But that means…

As the reality crashed down on him, his shoulders suddenly seemed to weigh a ton.

"I've been doing all this for nothing," he muttered angrily, running a hand through his hair.

Misa cocked her head to the side, confused. "What? What have you been doing, Light?"

Rem looked at him curiously. What steps had he already taken?

"Oh, um… Nothing, Misa," said Light standing up straight. "Don't worry about it."

Ryuk chuckled. "Yeah, nothing. Though they did have a cake-eating contest once. Hyuk hyuk hyuk…"

Light glared at him. Misa gasped happily.

"L and Kira are friends?" she said excitedly. "That's so cool!"

"I've been working to get information out of him," Light growled, "He means nothing to me."

"Hyuk hyuk… Aww, he'll be heartbroken," said Ryuk, enjoying this immensely. He continued laughing, finishing off the rest of his apple in one gulp. "Hyuk hyuk hyuk…"

--

As they walked home together under the cherry blossom trees, Light and Takada talked together quietly. Girls ran by, chattering and giggling, hurrying to get home; some guys glared at Light jealously. They were ignored.

"So, Yagami-kun… How have you been lately?" asked Takada, turning to him and smiling sweetly.

"I've been wonderful, Takada… After all, I'm going out with Miss To-Oh," said Light, smirking jokingly.

Takada blushed and coughed into her fist, her characteristic gesture. "That nickname… I really dislike it."

Light laughed warmly.

She's so proud… it's clear she really likes it.

"Yagami-kun, over here," came a greeting from nearby, low and monotonic. Light froze and turned to look at the person who had called for him.

It was L, sitting on a bench with his knees pulled to his chest. The man smiled crookedly up at him and Takada. "Hello, Yagami-kun, Takada-san."

Light glanced at Takada. "Takada… May I have a moment with Ryuga-kun, alone? I need to speak with him."

She looked a little hurt, but hid it quickly. Takada nodded and murmured, "Oh… uh… Sure, Yagami-kun." She waved faintly and walked away.

"Are you sure that was all right, Yagami-kun?" asked L, standing up and putting a finger to his mouth.

"Don't mind her. What is it?" asked Light, looking at him with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Can't a friend say hello to a friend, Yagami-kun?" asked the black-haired man, smiling again. Light's skin crawled at the sight.

Light looked away and muttered, "You left quite a mark on me the other night, Ryuga." He kept his voice down, as if they were being watched.

"Oh? I'm sorry," said L, his expression not changing. "You seem to have covered it up well, though, Yagami-kun."

The pair stood in silence. L stared at Light, and Light looked anywhere else.

"So what do you want?" Light finally asked.

A leaf falling from the trees around them landed in Light's hair. L reached up and ran his fingers through Light's silky brown locks, pulling it out gently.

"Of course, I can only tell you this because you are not Kira," said L, crunching the leaf between his fingers and tossing the pieces to the ground. "I have told Yagami-san, the rest of the investigation team, and the other L's, that if I die in the next few days, Light Yagami is Kira."

Light's eyes shot open, and he turned to stare at the detective in shock.

L smiled as if to say, 'no hard feelings'. "Oh, did I forget to tell you? There are many people calling themselves L. Think of L as a sort of investigation team."

That's a total bluff, thought Light. He's the only one… And he can only tell me I'll be Kira if he dies because I'm not Kira? That's completely contradictory! Damn it, I hate this guy…

L looked into his eyes challengingly. Light could practically hear his thoughts: Kill me, and you die, Light Yagami… But you've got nothing to worry about, because you say you're not Kira, and you wouldn't lie to me, would you? He scowled, as if the words in his head were actually coming from L's mouth.

Suddenly, a cry cut through the air; "Light!"

Oh god, thought Light, whipping his head to where the sound had come from. She wouldn't… She couldn't!

"Hey, Light!" said Misa, smiling from ear to ear. Wearing a short, black gothic dress and lots of makeup, she looked the very picture of the model she was. "There was a shoot nearby, so I came to see you! Your school is even nicer than you said!"

You idiot! Coming here now…

Light glanced to L nervously. L looked slightly in awe, lips pointed up at the ends in a subtle smile, his finger to his lips.

"Oh, is this a friend of yours, Light?" asked Misa, walking over to them. "He's really unique and cool! Hi, I'm Misa Amane!"

"Ryuga Hideki," said L.

Light's eyes widened with realization.

Misa… Misa can see his name! As it dawned on him, Misa seemed to glow with a new worth.

"Huh? Ryuga Hideki?" asked Misa, confused.

Oh crud. Misa, don't, you moron…

Light grabbed her shoulder and turned her towards him, smiling. "Yeah, it's the same as the idol. Isn't that weird, Misa? Ha ha…"

Please get it, please get it…

After a moment of confusion, Misa nodded. "Yeah…"

Light sighed inside, relieved. She didn't reveal anything…

"So this is your girlfriend, Yagami-kun?" asked L. His sly smile twitched slightly. Looking at Misa, his stare seemed to be trying to strike the girl's very soul. "I'm so jealous…"

Misa didn't seem to notice, but Light raised an eyebrow.

Could he honestly be..?

"I'm a huge fan of your work, Amane-san," L continued, his lips still twitching.

"Please, call me Misa!" Misa exclaimed happily. Hearing her shout, people started gathering around.

"Hey, it's Misa-Misa!"

"What? No way!"

"Oh my God, it's her!"

"She's so cute! I saw her on a magazine!"

"Wow, I'm getting so popular!" Laughing, Misa smiled and waved at everyone who came.

Light felt sweat roll down his cheek. Why does everyone I know attract attention?

Suddenly, Misa shrieked. "Who just touched my butt?!"

"Oh, no! This is horrible!" said L, quickly going back in front of Misa from his previous position behind her. "I will start an investigation and find the culprit at once!"

People around them chuckled nervously.

Misa giggled. "You're funny, Ryuga!" Her face fell when a screechy voice called her name.

"Miss Amane!"

"Oh… It's my manager," said Misa, sounding disappointed.

An old woman in a fashionable dress ran through the crowd and grabbed Misa by the arm. "Miss Amane, I've told you not to skip any more shoots. Come now, you're late…" She began to pull Misa away, and people started leaving.

Misa waved back at the two as she left. "Bye, Light! See you later!" She shrieked as her manager gave another tug, making her trip over her heels. With a final wave, she shouted, "We should go out soon!"

Light waved back halfheartedly. L nodded goodbye to her, using his other hand in his pocket to, unbeknownst to Light, press a button on a small remote that sent a signal to a nearby team of police officers.

Turning around, Light smiled slyly at L. "Well, see you later, Ryuga…" As soon as I'm a decent distance away, I'll call Misa and get his name… See you later, Ryuga… Ryuzaki…

L smiled back, expression equally sly. "Yes, farewell, Yagami-kun." He gave the impression that he was thinking of something cunning, and it made Light wary for a moment; but the he shrugged it off and walked away.

I'm glad I get to kill you myself, Ryuga, thought Light, pulling out the cell phone Misa had given him. After dialing the number, Light's hands shook with excitement as he put the phone to his ear.

Behind him, a ringtone started blaring.

L pulled the pink cell phone out of his pocket, looking at the Caller I.D. As he read it, he thought, He acted much more quickly than I had imagined… But Light-kun is not likely to speak without confirming who is on the other line first…

"… when the two of us are together. Can't be sad when I'm looking into your inviting eyes… That guy is my CANDY BAB—click."

"Hello?" asked L, holding the phone in the air next to his ear.

Light gasped. When did he...?

"Hello?" L asked again, pretending he didn't know who it was.

Light's eyes darkened as he turned around. He glared straight at L's back, saying, "That isn't funny, Ryuga…"

"Oh, Yagami-kun," said L, voice serious. "How kind of you to call me. This must be about last night. We never did finish; although you didn't seem like the type to want to do these things over the phone…"

"That isn't funny either," Light growled, hanging up the phone and walking towards the detective.

"My apologies, Light-kun," said L, turning around to face Light. He didn't look apologetic in the least. Putting the phone down from his ear and into his pocket, he said, "It seems someone dropped this phone in the crowd…"

"Give it to me, it's Misa's," said Light, holding out his hand. "I'll give it back to her later."

Handing the phone to Light, L stuck his hands back in his pockets. "Well, goodbye now, Yagami-kun."

Light nodded curtly. "Yeah. Bye."

Before Light could walk away, another phone rang. L pulled out a sleek grey phone, putting it to his ear in the same fashion as before. "Hello? Oh, so you did it. Good."

Putting the phone away, L turned to Light, his eyes seeming to gleam with triumph.

Light grew uneasy. "What was that about, Ryuga?"

"Yagami-kun," said L with a cautious tone. Somehow, it still sounded like he was mocking the other man. "I'm afraid that your girlfriend, Misa-san, has just been arrested on suspicion of being the Second Kira."

When Light didn't speak, L continued explaining. "Cat hair and fabric matching that found on the Sakura TV tapes were discovered in Misa-san's room. She's being taken to a private facility to be questioned," said L, raising his thumb to his mouth and chewing on it.

Light stared at him, stunned speechless.

How long had he suspected her?

L spoke again. "Are you all right, Light-kun? It must be nerve-racking, finding out that your girlfriend has been arrested on suspicion of being the Second Kira…"

God damn it, it's like he's trying to cheer me up, thought Light, glaring at L openly.

L smiled. "It's too bad," he muttered, looking somewhere between sympathetic and smug. "Now you probably won't be able to see her very often…"

With that, L turned and left, leaving Light to his shock and horror.

--

Few! Finally. ; Had to rewrite this, because I messed up the first time... I hope it's satasfactory!

Reviews please!