Author note

Oh my God I am so sorry this took so freakin long! I've been busy reading a required book, writing in the multiple books I have and all that stuff but to make it up to you all I have the next two chapters nearly complete and both should be up within the week. Again I'm sorry for the extremely ridiculous delay! I grovel for you all to forgive me! D :

Welcome Danni Daedalus and minogirl01 and LaughingAngelsGibberish to the reviewers. I love all of you and thanks so much! : D

I do not own Death Note, Mercedes or Ghirardelli. (Oh that's a triple whammy, I'm gonna go cry in the corner now.) I do however own Serenity, Richard and the other random people that show up! ; D

So in this chapter I wanted to show a bit more of Serenity's past so that's what the dream/flashback was for. I just felt that I didn't really explain it enough in the 1st chapter so here you go.

Hope you all enjoy : )

When L got the hair samples off of the video tapes, Serenity decided to examine them first. In other words she took the information from Watari, offering to deliver it to L herself. Of course she would do that after she looked at the evidence her self. She felt odd standing in front of the room, but she could tell if someone was coming so it didn't matter. She held the bags up to the light. None of these look like that girls hair. That doesn't make any sense, I'm sure that girl I saw was the second Kira, I could feel it! Grah this doesn't make any sense. She sighed. Debating over it in her head wasn't going to help anything, she knew L would be able to figure it out so decided to go in and give him the evidence.

"Here Ryuzaki, this is the evidence that Watari collected." She said, handing him the small plastic bags.

"Thank you." He picked up each delicately and held them to the light as he examined them with his darkly rimed eyes. After a few moments of muttering to himself and looking at the contents of each bag in turn he said something of interest. "Mr. Yagami, if I die within the next few days your son is Kira." L said in his usual monotone, not stopping or looking away from his work. Serenity couldn't help but flinch at L talking about his own death, she knew that she would stop it and that it wasn't time yet but it still bothered her.

"What did you just say Ryuzaki?" Soichiro shouted, infuriated at the fact that the detective suspected his son.

"Yeah how much do you suspect him anyway?" Matsuda asked not upset, just curious.

"The truth is I don't know what to think anymore, I've never been in a situation like this before…" L said. Serenity caught something. What is that, I've never heard him sound like that, is he afraid? Of course, who wouldn't be afraid of dieing at the hands of someone who can kill by any means was frightening. Serenity thought back to her own death, so painful. She remembered her last thought, L. She wouldn't let him be afraid like this, she would do something when the others weren't around. "Well if Kira and the second Kira are working together then things aren't looking good for me. Given that I may not be thinking as clearly as I usually do. Maybe I just suspect him because we have no one else. But if I am killed then please assume that your so is Kira." L finished, staring blankly into his coffee mug. Soichiro stormed into the adjoining room furious, and was followed by Matsuda and Aizawa. Pissy pissy, though I do pity the chief. His son is a evil crazy murderer, poor old guy, no one deserves to go through that. She looked at L with compassion when she saw the distant look in his eyes. She walked over to him and sat down on the coffee table in front of him. She picked up his coffee cup, took a sip stared at it thoughtfully and finished the overly sweet cup and replaced it on the table next to her. L just looked at her sadly not really caring about his stolen coffee and hung his head.

"L," She started lifting his chin so that his eyes met hers. "You are not going die any time soon, I swear it." She said in a serious and stern voice as her oceanic eyes bored holes into his ash like pools.

"How can you be so sure?" He asked in a distant voice. "Ever since this case started I've been hearing the bells." Serenity knew what hearing the bells meant, that death was coming soon. She had faintly heard the bells when she herself lay dieing, she wouldn't let that happen to L. She held in her emotions as she thought of her existence now, a foe life to fool the people around her into not suspecting anything strange but whether she seemed alive or not the truth that she was dead saddened her greatly. Though Serenity hated knowing that she was dead and she couldn't do anything to change that, she enjoyed being able to spend time with L and the Task Force. Her focus returned to L as she shook the saddening truths from her head.

"You need not fear the bells. Trust me L, as long as I'm around you will not die." She assured him, removing her hand from beneath his chin. He smiled one of his rare smiles at her. He placed a tentative ivory hand on her own darker one.

"Thank you Serenity, but I don't know if even your resilient spirit can prevent Kira from getting what he wants, and right now that is my death." He said with a sad smile.

"Suit yourself my friend but you can't do anything to change my mind. If Kira kills anyone else on this Task Force its going to be me, and he's goin' down with me."

"Please don't talk like that Saga, this case is difficult enough. If you were to be killed by Kira, I don't know what I'd do." He turned his gaze away and stared at the floor, trying to hide the slightly embarrassed look on his face with his shaggy black hair.

"Sorry." She said, patting his hand. She examined his face, the face she knew so well. She tried to change the subject to something less dark and depressing.

"You're planning something L, what is it." He looked at her in surprise briefly.

"I think I know who the second Kira is, and I'm sure I know who the first Kira is. I'll tell you when I discuss it with the rest of the Task Force." She nodded and they both headed to the other room. When L explained his plan it seemed fool proof, he also knew the name of the supposed second Kira from Watari's research. So that's the second Kira's name, Serenity thought as L explained his suspicions and plans for the suspect. Misa Amane.

"So Ryuzaki, you plan on meeting Light today?" Serenity asked.

"Yes I do."

"Exactly how will that get to Misa Amane?" Irritation flecking Aizawa's tone.

"We know that the first person that Amane came into contact with in the Kanto was Light Yagami, the evidence we have suggests highly that she is the second Kira, and unfortunately that fact raises the possibility of Light being Kira by a large percentage."

"So what do you plan to do?" Soichiro asked, still distressed about the suspicion of his son.

"I plan on paying Light a visit today. Hopefully Amane will make a slip and try to contact him, either way… Mr. Mogi, I want you to apprehend her today, blindfold her so that she won't be able to use her "Shinigami power". Tell her she is being taken in for suspicion of being the second Kira, perhaps this will confirm her identity and possibly lure Kira to expose himself to us." L explained as he scanned their faces briefly.

"I'll get a group together and we will apprehend her, she has a photo shoot today, we'll intercept before she gets there." Mogi said, standing up to leave. L nodded in approval.

"Can I drive the get-away-car?" Serenity asked a little excitedly. L gave her a skeptical look.

"I don't see why you wouldn't be able to drive the vehicle that the suspect is apprehended in. Go ahead." L replied. Serenity jumped up and fisted the air. Noticing the looks she was receiving she calmed down and collected herself.

"I'll go catch up with Mogi, we'll get Misa Amane in custody before the end of the day." She said hurriedly and dashed out the door after Mogi. So the fun begins. She smiled to herself as she ran down the hotel halls. This case was going to get a lot more interesting for the worlds fourth best detective.

"Mogi!" Serenity called as she finally caught up with him at the hotel door. He stopped and looked at her questioningly. "Looks like I'm gonna be your shofur for this arrest so to speak." She laughed. Mogi laughed as well, Serenity's random giggles were infectious to anyone. "So what's the plan?" She asked after she calmed down.

"I know a few officers that might be willing to help us out for one arrest, so I'll call them and we'll set this plan in motion." Mogi replied, pulling out his cell-phone and dialing a number as he followed Serenity to the car. Watari had two cars with him, one to shofur L, and the other for his own use or the task force. Serenity stared at the black Mercedes with a mischievous grin as she twirled the keys around her finger. This is going to be fun. Serenity thought as she clicked the unlock button. Time to speed in sexy German style to arrest the second Kira. Oh yeah this is going to be fun. Serenity sped down the road to Lights university, Serenity assumed that this Misa girl would slip, from the videos she just seemed to be an idiot. Mogi was in the passenger seat next to her, the officers they recruited were behind them, struggling to catch up with the speeding Serenity. She felt lucky to be driving in a police arrest, she was sure that if she wasn't she would have had a couple tickets and have her license evoked for reckless driving. She stopped the car on the side of the street near the university when she spotted the young culprit Misa being dragged away be someone who must have been the girls manager. Serenity pulled out her phone to tell the officers in thee other car that it was time to move in. she motioned Mogi out of the car, tossing him the blind fold and got out herself. She watched as Mogi and the other officers went to apprehend their suspect wile she readied the car for her arrival. Mogi soon arrived flanked by the other officers, with a squirming handcuffed and blindfolded Misa in his strong grip. Serenity took the young teen and strapped her into the back seat, she hated doing this to one so young, but she reminded herself that the girl was a murderer. She wanted to say something comforting, but restrained herself and got back into the car and pulled out her cell-pone. It rang until a familiar voice answered.

"Yes?" L asked on the other end of the line.

"Ryuzaki, this is Saga. We have the fugitive in custody and are on route to the secure location. Are you with Light?" Serenity said as she drove around another corner, not wanting to jostle the poor girl to much, so Serenity for one of the few times in her life wasn't speeding.

"Yes I see, so its done the?" He replied. Serenity knew that meant he was with Light.

"Uh-huh. We have her secure and blindfolded in the back, she can't hear us up front. And Ryuzaki, please be careful." Serenity said in a kind voice. They both hung up, and Serenity continued driving on to their destination to meat up with Watari.

Serenity couldn't help when it came to restraining Misa in her cell. Her emotions and compassion for others get the best of her. And though that helped her solve many of her cases, she couldn't bring herself to help tie up the girl, murderer or not. She and Mogi headed back to headquarters in silence, neither wanting to talk about the girls angry cries, insults, and accusations. Even Serenity was able to figure out that Misa had an incredibly unnatural devotion to Light.

Three days after they had apprehended Misa she began to talk. She begged for them to kill her as she threw indults at her captors. Serenity tried hard to keep her emotions in check, it pained her to see one so young beg for death and try to attempt killing herself. The members were all confused as she seemed to be talking to herself, but Serenity knew who she was talking to, her shingami. She was begging her shingami to kill her. After days of nothing she began to speak again, sending more insults only she acted entirely different. What's going on, she's asking strange, almost like she's been brain washed. Like she doesn't remember why we apprehended her or that she's the second Kira. Is that even possible? Ah even after death my existence just has to be complicated! Serenity thought angrily to herself. She was tired, a day of just sitting and watching Misa on screen was taking a told on her kind heart. She felt herself drifting off to sleep, but her dreams were haunted by dark memories from her past.

She was in a car, she recognized the people in front. It was a gut feeling that the man and woman in the front seat were her parents. She looked to her left and saw the boy sitting next to her. He was surprisingly familiar, her older brother. She couldn't remember the names of her family and she hated that.

"Hey sis you wanna play I Spy or something? I'm bored." Her brother asked poking her arm. Serenity was thinking of what to say when she suddenly replied. Then she realized this wasn't an ordinary dream, this was reliving a memory.

"I don't know Rick, I'm kinda tired." Younger Serenity replied, giving a fake yawn.

"Aw come on Serenity! Mom make her have some fun!" Her brother complained.

"Both of you should be nicer to each other. Serenity play with your big brother, and you mister, you're older and you should act like it." Their mother scolded the two children kindly. "Isn't that right honey?"

"Of course." Their father smiled back at the quickly. But in the blink of an eye that their father looked away from the road he didn't notice the truck coming at them straight on.

"DAD lookout!" Serenity screamed. It was two late, the two vehicles collided head on. Serenity's vision was blurry, she felt pain everywhere from the shock of impact. She looked around with her blurry vision, she looked in horror at he bleeding brother beside her and at her bleeding parents up font. She screamed, but she was losing blood fast and everything went black. Suddenly the scene of her memory dream changed. She was in what appeared to be a hospital room, there was a nurse near her who came over when Serenity woke up.

"Hello sweetheart, how are you feeling?" She asked as she started to check certain medical machinery attached to Serenity.

"Where are my parents, and my brother?" Serenity asked, not bothering to answer the nurses question.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but your parents and brother have gone on a trip, there fine though." The woman smiled, though their was pity in her eyes.

"Don't patronize me!" Serenity yelled at her. "I may be five but if my parents and brother are dead then just tell me!" She sobbed. The nurse tried to comfort her as she apologized to the weeping girl. The scene changed again to what seemed to be the hospitals waiting room. An old man was sitting next to her.

"So Serenity, do you think you would like to accept my offer and come to Wammy's." Watari asked the young girl.

"I'll go Mr. Watari, but only because I don't have anywhere else to go."

"There, there little one. It will all turn out well, I'm sure you'll be excepted into the orphanage with open arms. " Serenity nodded and latched her tiny fingers around Watari's hand as he led her to the car that would take her to the orphanage, to her new home. The scene changed again and she was in Wammy's. She was clinging to someone's arm, she looked up to see the face of an angry L, he looked to be around thirteen.

"L why do you hang out with her? She's so weird." A girl around their age asked. She had short blonde hair and cruel blue eyes. The boy next to her only grunted, his brown hair hiding whatever emotion was in his brown eyes.

"She's not weird, she's special! And she's my friend. If you want to be my friend so badly then why don't you try being nice to me and her." L said wrapping her in a tighter hug, his voice in a rare angry tone. Serenity remembered how she felt at that, happy, amazed, grateful, and something else for her best and only friend.

"Whatever L. Come on Holly, lets go." The boy grunted, pushing himself off the wall and moving to leave. Kat shot Serenity another glare and stormed out.

"Whatever you say Kato." The girl growled as she followed her companion.

"Thanks L, it was nice of you to stand up for me." Serenity said, releasing her grip on him and stood up.

"Serenity, nothing would stop me from helping my best friend." L said with a rare smile.

"Thanks anyway buddy." She said, playfully punching his shoulder. Suddenly she was alone on her bed, she felt an overwhelming feeling of grief and loneliness. She remembered the day well, the day after L had left. Their was a knock on the door, causing her to look away from her sketch covered walls.

"Come in." She called quietly, struggling to conceal her grief.

"What's the matter S? Still upset about your boyfriend leaving?" A cold voice asked with a cruel laugh. Serenity didn't flinch, she only glared at the boy now in her room.

"What the hell do you want B?" She growled at the dark haired boy who could have been L's twin, except for his eyes. The two teens stood in a stare down, Serenity's calming blue verses Beyond's unsettling red ones.

"Oh can't I just drop in and say hello to a friend? And since I am second to succeed L when something happens to him, we should get to know each other."

"Nothing is going to happen to him!" She snapped, he laughed in response. Suddenly he seemed distracted, staring above Serenity's head with a confused expression on his face. "What is it B?" She asked. Her and the strange boy had never been friends exactly, always neutral towards each other. This was due to the fact that they were opposites, she was good and he was evil, as simple and complex as that. Beyond cocked his head to the side.

"Your lifespan, its incredibly short."

"That doesn't make any sense, how can you even tell?"

"Trust me Serenity Karther, I know these things."

"I don't trust you as far as I can thr… wait, how do you know my name B?" He only laughed and left. "B! Beyond Birthday! … damn you B!"

Serenity's dream, or line of flashbacks continued through her death, to L's death. Only in her dream she couldn't save him, and the world fell to Kira. She screamed as she shock the images from her head, her eyes snapping open, She should feel the sweat that beaded her brow and the soft denim beneath her head.

"Serenity its all right, calm down." She could hear L's concerned voice above her. She turned her head to look up, her eyes met his briefly before she pushed herself up and out of the awkward position of her head in his lap. She hid the blush and immediately tried to change the subject.

"Soo… has Amane said anything?" She asked as she adjusted herself on the couch, finally settling in a normal sitting position.

"Besides her incoherent babbling, no." L paused before continuing in a slightly less monotonous voice. "Are you alright? You were mumbling and whimpering in your sleep. What was the dream about, you can talk about it.. If you'd like." Serenity gave him an odd look, L had been more emotional lately, something Serenity wasn't used to with him.

"It was nothing, just a nightmare." She dismissed, focusing her attention on the screen.

"You really are stubborn aren't you." She shot a glare in L's direction but her hostility died down immediately.

"It was like a flashback I guess." She looked at him with sad eyes. "My parents and brother, you, H and K, me, and… B." His eyes hardened at the mention of the three other Wammy kids. She stood up abruptly. "I should go to bed." She said and turned to leave. The hand on her arm stopped her, her skin tingling from the touch.

"What did B say?" L asked calmly as she met his gaze.

"It was just something creepy he said about my lifespan back when you first left."

"What did he say?" His voice remained emotionless, but his eyes screamed in desperation and concern.

"It was stupid and irrelevant. But he said that my life san was incredibly short, and then he… and then he said my name. And I NEVER told B my name, EVER. It was just creepy." Serenity replied quietly as a shiver went trough her, but whether that was from the fear of Beyond or L's hand sliding up her arm to her shoulder, she didn't know. Serenity looked into her friends sad eyes.

"Well your fine, so I guess B was wrong. It's alright Serenity, I won't let anything happen to you." But that little red eyed psycho was right, I did have a short lifespan, I only lived for ten years after he told me that. But how could he have possibly known that I would die young? Premonitions? I don't know why I even bother thinking about it. I'm dead. B was right. End of story. Serenity thought, giving L a weak smile.

"I know, and I won't let anything happen to you either Mr. Monotone." She chuckled, punching him lightly in the chest. Neither of them could find the will to move their hands, both lost in the others gaze. Serenity move her head closer to his and he responded and closed the distance. They stood their, their faces barely an inch apart. Serenity felt L's warm sweet breath on her face, it was making it hard for her to breath, it was intoxicating. In that moment she wanted nothing more but to kiss him, to feel his lips against hers. This isn't right Serenity. You're an angel, he's a human. You're dead, he's alive. You can't do this to him. It could tear you both apart. She turned her attention back to L, her conscience was right. I can't do this. She realized with a pang that it was probably for the best for both of them. She turned her head away from him.

"I'm sorry L." She whispered and she ran back to where the others were sleeping. In that moment she felt her heart brake, even in death she still felt suffering. She silently cried herself to sleep, returning to her haunting dreams. L stared after Serenity confused. What just happened? Did I do something wrong? L sighed. He was utterly emotionally befuddled at what had happened between him and Serenity. It had been the oddest sensation to have her so close to him and he didn't understand any of it., his emotions or his fluttering heart. He shock it from his mind, this Kira case was the most difficult thing he had ever worked on, but his emotions and feelings towards Serenity were even harder to figure out.

The morning and day that followed Serenity and L's confusing encounter were uneventful to say the least. Misa did nothing but babble nonsense about stalkers and perverts and Serenity avoided L like he had the plague. She went about her work as her mind drifted, she would have at least thought that after she died that someone would make things less perplexing. L's just a friend, last night was nothing. I mean awkward situations like that happen between friends all the time right? Yeah, were just friends. Serenity tried to convince herself as she took another bite from her chocolate bar.

"That's not what your heart says Serenity." She nearly chocked when she heard the voice in her head, it sure as Hell was not her conscience.

"Who the Hell are you?" She mentally snapped at the mysterious speaker in her mind.

"You know you always seem to greet me like that. You don't recognize my voice? Really? You told me yourself that you never forgot a voice." It replied innocently.

"Richard is that you?"

"Who else?" The other angel said.

"You're hilarious. How are you talking to me anyway?"

"Angelic telepathy you could call it, I can hear and feel your thoughts ands emotions when I feel like it, and now I'd like to help you out."

"Well you picked a great time, I could have used your help a while ago, like way BEFORE I nearly kissed my best friend."

"You may think of him that way, but your heart says differently." Serenity didn't bother to answer and just gave Richard a mental punch before returning her focus to her work, expelling him from her mind angrily.

"What does he know anyway." She grumbled as she shuffled her pile of papers and took another bite of Ghirardelli.

"What does who know?" Serenity jumped in surprise.

"Dear Lord Matsuda, you scared the hell outa me!" She said trying to smooth out her frayed nerves.

"Oh sorry, you were just kind of spaced out for a while." Matsuda replied quickly. Getting Serenity upset wasn't something he delighted in doing, especially since her attitude had been less then good that day.

"Save it."

"So… who were you talking about." The other detective asked her as he took a seat in one of the chairs that surrounded the small table.

"No one."

"Oh really?" Matsuda enquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Matsuda, don't push it." Serenity growled at the other detective. Matsuda threw his hands up and stood.

"I surrender, peace." He said as he backed away form her. Could this day get any more ridiculous. She thought bitterly. As she said that their was a knock on the door and it was opened to reveal none other than Light. Oh great Kira's here to make the atmosphere even more uncomfortable. When Light started talking about how he could quite possibly be Kira subconsciously and that he wanted L to put him in a cell under surveillance Serenity started suspecting that it was a ploy. How stupid does he think we are? Wait Light's not a moron, this is obviously a ruse to try and throw us off, or it's part of some other elaborate plan. Whatever the case I don't trust him no mater how innocent he acts, I can feel that shinigami of his and I can feel his evil. This kid is an evil genius if I know one, and I did in fact know and evil genius psycho killer. Serenity thought grudgingly as Light handed himself over. Serenity was frustrated, yet again she found herself in a situation where she couldn't tell anyone that Light was just putting up an act, that he was Kira. She was starting to get really sick of how difficult everything was, it seemed to be more complicated then when she was alive.

She personally escorted Light to his cell along with Mogi. They seemed to be becoming the members of the Task Force that arrested and locked people up. Serenity forced Light forward with a push to his handcuffs, towards his cell. She grabbed the short chain before she let Kira into his cell.

"I don't know what you're doing Light, but it seems pretty suspicious to me. And trust me if you really are Kira I promise you that I will bring you to justice, and if you aren't well then I'm sorry you have to go through this." She whispered gruffly in his ear. Light flinched. What is with this woman? Does she really suspect me as Kira? But how would she know, I've been so careful to hide the evidence that pointed to me, well except Misa but that's not the point. The point is that this woman knows something, as soon as I get out and get my memories back I'll have kill her. Saga Vetta you're time is running out. Light thought with grim satisfaction as e seated himself on the bed in his cell. This plan would work, he just knew it.

Light's imprisonment took a tool on Soichiro, he even insisted to be locked away until his son was cleared of suspicion. Serenity pitied him, his love and loyalty to his son was deep and it broke Serenity's heart to see anyone in such stressful torment. With the chief imprisoned along with Light the Task Force's numbers were reduced yet again, their numbers from seven to five. The decrease in the number of detectives did nothing to slow the case, they had their two main suspects in custody, now all that was left to do was wait.

Hope ya'll liked it : )

Okay so some of you guys gave me Light/Rem torture so here the are! ; )

Matsuda: So what did you guys do to Light and Rem?

Me and Serenity stare off into space as the flash back starts.

Light: Where are we? "looks down to see that he and Rem are chained to chairs"

Me: For killing L and or attempting to do so, you are being ruthlessly punished. Rem, you're up first ya little death demon.

Rem: What are you going to do.

Serenity: "laughs evilly and adjusts Rem's chair" Your going to watch as we make Misa suffer.

Me and Serenity: "pulls out candy bars and peal the dramatically. Starts to slit Misa's wrists with candy bar wrappers."

Rem: NNOOOOO! D'X

Me: That's what you get for killin L bitch! "Rem starts to cry as Misa slowly dies of blood loss."

Serenity: She's suffered enough, lets put her outa her misery. "pulls out rocket launcher and blows Rem to oblivion."

Me: Okay Light its my turn, you're goin down! "throws Light into an eternal unimaginable pit of eternal pain and suffering."

Light: AAAHHHHHH! XO

Me: That's what we did.

Matsuda: 0.o Oh my God, you guys are sick and twisted aren't you.

Me and Serenity: Yep. : D