Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, L, i don't want to own Light, but i do own Anna.


They quickly disappeared into the crowd. Anna took a quick glance around her and sighed. It almost seemed like they were going to be the only ones who weren't willingly dancing. "L, you really suck at comebacks don't you?" she sighed, knowing that the three sarcastic bastards still had their eyes on her.

L shrugged emotionlessly, "I don't interact with society, therefore I don't know about things like this." Twisting his head a little, he studied her face, "You feel awkward don't you?" he read her expression easily, "It's not like we haven't danced before." This statement was whispered, as to not be overheard.

"Why the heck would I feel awkward?" Anna smirked, "You should've seen your face when they asked me to the dance. I could practically feel the anger radiating from you, as much as you tried to hide it."

"I hate losing." L said simply.

"Then let's not lose." Anna took his hands, "There's no rule that says I can't dance with my superior." She whispered, "Besides, I have the right to be curious about my date's best friend."

Yes, you want her

Look at her, you know you do

It's possible she wants you, too

There is one way to ask her…

Anna closed her eyes as they glided over the dance floor. His pale hand felt wonderfully comfortable in hers. She knew it was dangerous for them to seen. It could destroy everything they worked for; it could be the cause of their deaths. But at the same time, she felt like none of that ever mattered. Being pulled by the current of the song, Anna gradually loosened her sharply trained mind, in this moment she would enjoy the present and not worry about the future. For this once, she would allow herself to be completely human. She would make this mistake, and she would not regret it. For the first time, Anna let go of her senses and drifted into the sensation of the song.

Shalalalalala my oh my…

Looks like the boy's too shy, ain't gonna kiss the girl!

Shalalalalala isn't that sad it's such a shame too bad…

You're gonna…miss the girl

L narrowed his eyes as the last sentence brought sadness to his heart. His fingers unconsciously tightened, and Anna immediately felt the tension behind his movements. Though unbelievably, she laughed quite wholeheartedly.

"Anna…" L murmured with a small frown.

"Quiet." She commanded with a smile and a small laugh, her eyes still closed. "I want to listen."

Now's your moment
Floating in a blue lagoon
Boy, you better do it soon
No time will be better…

The detective had sensed the change in his partner. There had always been some part of her self that Anna had reserved. She never let emotions completely dominate her. Therefore there were never any mistakes in anything she's done. But lately he felt that she's been more and more relaxed. The part he thought was locked away forever was amazingly coming back. She was no longer the deadly weapon with strength that can threaten humanity. With him, he noted, Anna was gradually becoming more open, and at the same time as fragile as glass. And, he noticed with a pang of guilt, he wanted to protect her.

Suddenly, L regretted ever bringing the girl to Kanto, Kira's territory. Even more so he regretted forcing her into the very palm of someone as smart and as devious as Yagami Light, who was likely to be the mass murderer who wanted to be God.

"Hey." Anna opened her eyes and looked worriedly at L. She suddenly felt that her partner's movements were becoming less uncertain. She also noted with alarm…that his hands were shaking.

"I don't think I've ever seen you so relaxed." L commented with a rare smile. "I've got to say I like you better this way."

Anna immediately understood his feelings. She slowly controlled the dance to a stop, and hugged L tightly. "I'm not leaving or dying, so you won't be missing me anytime soon okay?" she promised, and smiled as L placed his hands lightly around her in return. "I had a human moment, but I'm as in control as ever. Trust me."

Go on and kiss the girl…

"I've always trusted you." L replied quietly.

Kiss the girl…

But I have got to control my actions towards you. L added painfully in his mind and pushed her away. For both of us.

Go on and…kiss the girl…

"I enjoyed the dance." Anna gave an awkward smile as the song came slowly to an end. "But I guess I've got a mission to complete now."

"I-" L started, but then shook his head and looked at her through his mask, "Never mind, go ahead." He told her, and watched sadly as she disappeared into the crowd.

Light quite easily told the girl off after the dance. He had to find Anna, before L gets to her and convinces her to spy on him. If she wasn't on L's side already, Light was quite sure that she could resist his offer, however tempting it may be, for she herself was a supporter of Kira. It's still quite possible that she was on L's side though. Light had a feeling that was growing inside his heart; it made him uncomfortable around Anna, almost like a warning.

No…he realized with a shudder, it is a warning, an instinct. He has always felt something uncomfortable around that girl. Something radiated off of her, almost like blood lust, or hatred. She also seems to jump at the mention of talking about Kira, though if she's truly a supporter; it wouldn't be that much of a surprise. Besides, it was quite clear that Anna could surpass any police alone with her physical abilities, and her mind seem to almost equal his own.

Almost, he noted with pride.

Still, Light thought with frustration, Anna could be an extremely valuable ally, but she also seemed just what L needs to get under his disguise. Light shook his head, should he ignore his instincts and try to gain an incredible weapon against L, or give up his greed and find another way, before L finds out who he really is?

The genius gently reminded himself to calm down. He still had time; he could still use Anna, even if she is on L's side. There was no need to rush; he had the rest of the dance to test her, there's no need to lose something over impatience.

"How was it?" a voice interrupted his thoughts, so suddenly that he was almost startled. Again, Light was surprised at Anna's abilities to sneak up on him; it was the second time in one night.

"How was what?" he turned to her with a wry smile.

"Don't play dumb," Anna replied with a playful tease in her eyes, "How was your dance? The girl was pretty, don't you think?"

"Not as pretty as you." Light answered truthfully, "How can she ever compare to the Princess of Thieves?"

"Flattered." Anna blinked, "But now you've probably broke that poor girl's heart."

Light laughed, "Come here." He took Anna's hand and led her to a balloon filled stand and handed her three balloons.

"Pretty." Anna commented generously and looked around at her surroundings as she always did when in a new area. She was especially interested on the huge banner displaying different time eras; at the same time noticing that above her hung quite a rough looking cave man with a realistic hard wooden spiked club.

Light grabbed more balloons and smiled, "You're missing the point here Princess." He led her to the school courtyard, now turned into a beautiful garden filled with luscious plants. "Let's see what you can do with those arrows of yours." he grinned.

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"Kira…God…has entrusted this to me?" a dark voice whispered from a small room. "I knew it…my deeds of justice must've been seen, and now God has finally noticed!" he opened the black notebook and quickly glanced over the rules. "Wonderful…beautiful…God is truly amazing…" Mikami Teru murmured in sheer amazement as he studied the notebook. "Ryuk…is this true?" he asked the giant shadow beside him.

"Yeah, it's true." Ryuk answered, "The book's not yours as long as Kira lives, but you can use it all you like, though you won't be able to attain the Shinigami Eyes while you're not the owner."

Mikami Teru quickly glanced at the glowing screen that was the only light source in the room, then in swift movements, wrote something on the notebook before him. "Eliminate." He whispered as he wrote, then with another look, he wrote another name.

"Eliminate…"

"Eliminate…"

"Eliminate…"

"Eliminate…"

"Eliminate…"

"Haha!" the Shinigami laughed, "That Kira sure found a keen worker!"

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The dance finally came to an end as the last song slowly faded into nothing. Excited chatters spread quickly throughout the room as all the different people from the room discussed the one thing on nearly all the minds. Who will be declared the best dancers of the night?

Suddenly, all the lights dimmed, making the bright stage center of attention. The DJ slowly stood up. "One more title must be declared before I announce the end of the dance." He spoke slowly and loudly, "That is, of course, the best dancers of the night." He paused for a second, allowing the tension to build. "I myself am astonished by the skill and grace of both of these dancers. Especially one of them was so new to the school. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Princess of Thieves and Pharaoh Tutankhamen, otherwise known as Anna and our school's popular Yagami Light!!"

(Author's Note: choke gag I can't believe I wrote this….)

L stared into the ground before him as the crowd around him cheered. It didn't particularly matter to him; in fact it was good for the mission. At least…that was what he told himself. He watched quietly as Light and Anna stepped onto the stage. His face was expressionless, as usual, though he felt a strange force inside for the first time. He was not jealous; at least, he was never jealous before. L was not jealous, right?

As usual, Anna accessed her surroundings with keen eyes. It unnerved her to be in front of a sea of people who knew exactly who she was. After all, she was used to being unknown, as invisible as she can possibly make herself, as her job demanded.

"Kiss the girl!" someone randomly shouted from the crowd.

Anna and Light stared at each other other quickly, unable to say much. Quickly, Anna's eyes went to the crowd, trying to pick out the one figure that was L. Finally, their eyes met, though as usual, L's face didn't show anything of help. So Anna automatically decided it was a chance choice. She turned to Light and smiled before pulling an arrow out of her quiver. "I am the Princess of Thieves, we'll have to see if you can handle me." She handed him her bow and arrow. "Hit three balloons with one arrow…and you get the Princess of Thieves."

"That easy?" Light took the bow and arrow, "I might not look it, but don't underestimate me."

"Show me your stuff then." Anna replied with confidence, she knew Light's level of skill from the practice they did earlier. However, from her study of the surroundings, one arrow to shoot three balloons that floated around the ceiling was almost impossible. There was but one way, and she curiously wondered in Light would catch it.

Light took the arrow and carefully aimed; realizing at first glance that just going for the balloons will result in only failure. His fingers lingered on the string as he narrowed his eyes as he locked the target in sight, then with a small smirk, le loosed the arrow.

It flew true, knocking down the small metal ring that held the spiked club above the balloon stand. It fell straight as gravity took its toll, and with the crowd's startled screams, fell right in the center of the stand, causing the balloons to pop in a crazy frenzy that encouraged further screams from the massive people below. With a gentle grin he turned to Anna as the horde of dancers finally calmed. "I believe I won." He said softly.

"So you did." Anna choked out, as her heart thumped wildly. After a few quiet moments, finally controlling her mind to stop screaming at her to jump off the stage and run away, or to kill him there and then. Anna stepped forward, and suppressed a shiver as raised both his hands, removing the thin veil that shielded her from his almost super natural ability to read expressions.

Forcing her every muscle and going against her every instinct, Anna raised her hands to cups his face. Light leaned forward, his eyes semi closed, and Anna again controlled the urge to push him away. Then as Light's eyes finally closed, Anna squeezed her eyes shut as she felt his lips forcefully touch hers.

(Author's Note: I still can't believe I wrote this…I suck…wallows in self pity)

L averted his eyes as the crowd around him cheered and clapped loudly. He had failed, as hard as he and Anna might've tried, the mission was over. Even from a distance, he read clearly Light's movements. He was testing Anna, and, he added as rage soared inside him, even during this, he's using her and trying to get to him.

The detective narrowed his eyes decisively, there's no way he's going to push Anna further into this pointless mission. It was right to send her to Britain, even if she's working under cover with Mello, it would be better than thrusting her into the hands of this demon. Mello's temper was dangerous, and he knew it, but it was better than Light; that L was sure of.

Like a ghost, L slipped out of the crowd and into the change rooms where he changed back into his normal white shirt and blue jeans. Then still unnoticed, walked calmly to the courtyard outside. It was time to discuss the new mission with his partner, and L knew from experience that it will not be easy. Trying to convince Anna to go to Britain without him will be like convincing an extremely hungry snake not to eat the mouse under his nose. The detective thought as he walked into the maze of a garden.

From a distance, he seemed like any normal person taking a walk, but even L could not deny himself the fact that, inside his pocket, his hands were tightened into fists, his knuckles white with pressure as he controlled the beast called rage within him.


Author's Note: L's NOT JEALOUS!! Is he? Gasp!! Sorry that I updated a bit late, but I probably won't be able to update regularly since school started sob Still, I'll try to keep it between a week or two. So please be patient as I will put school work before writing this…I think…I hope I can manage…

Did you like the dancing scene between L and Anna? I actually liked it…a lot…

L: I'm not jealous…ur starting to ruin my reputation

Hotori: heh…sorry…I'll morph you back in character soon…I think..

Light: such a minor role…

Hotori: too bad Light. MUHAAHAHA!!!!

L: how shall we kill him today?

Hotori: I wonder…