Oh man did i leave the last chapter on a cliff hanger? I swear, my hiatus wasn't on purpose.

There is a small shift in Kiyomi's personality for this chapter. I feel like its important to say that this isn't out of character for her, but simply her being more...human? It's all explained in the story. BB is good at getting into peoples heads and finding their weak points, thats all I'll say.

I reply to reviews at the end

Edit 11/16/2017: I did some edits. Added in some stuff that was going to be in future chapters, but I wanted to speed things up. I want to end this fic before January. Wish me luck. I'm actually putting some time into editing the next chapter. I guess I should put a small warning, but next chapter is kind of intense?

The blinds from the back of the room barely let any light in, and in that moment, everything felt so loud. Every step, every breath, Kiyomi felt like if she made any sound at all, even something small, something horrible would happen. The light switch was right next to her, all she had to do was move an inch. Just one, tiny, tiny inch.

She went to move her arm, but it didn't want to move. She didn't know if she wanted to see what was in front of her. The light from the blinds showed nothing in the room, just a brief silhouette of what seemed to be a person.

You have too

The switch! The switch

You can't see

Light, you need Light

C'mon Kiyo, don't be so useless

Her eyes widened, and as fast as she could while holding her breath, she turned on the light switch.

Then, she furrowed her eyebrows. It was no person who was in front of her. She hesitantly took a step forward with the tilt of her head, trying to piece together what exactly she saw. It was a yellow smiling balloon, tied close to a mannequin body with a wig duct taped to it. It looked ridiculous in the light, but it truly was a perfect silhouette. On the side of the wig, spit and strawberry jam remnants were smeared on it. Disgusting.

Kiyomi put her hand to the side of her own face while a sigh escaped her lips. "Ah, fuck."

Her eyes drifted downwards, to the coffee table by the mannequin. She decided she'd call L after she found what she wanted. As much as she wanted to be on the task force, she still just couldn't rely on them. It was like this...reminder in her head. She was the only one who knew, no one will ever be on the same level as she was.

Another note was left next to a cup of cold, black coffee. Mido drank his coffee black, and by the ring marks on the table, the cup had been there for a while.

She didn't pick up the note, but she could read it. "for what you're pleased to say,

And bidding you good-morning now, I'll call another day."

She looked to the side, but not moving her head. Her eyebrows furrowed, looked at the door and then back to the note. Staggering back a bit, she took in a cold breath. "Fuck." She said, "Fuck, fuck-" She ran her hands through her hair, taking deeper and deeper breaths.

She closed her eyes for a moment, collecting her thoughts.

"I really don't need this right now."

"I have to admit, Takada-san, I didn't expect you to invite me to lunch."

Kiyomi smiled, taking a sip of her tea. It was a nice day out, and aside from her one friend going missing, she still had to keep all of her plans in motion. "Well, I did." She said, "Have you been here before? My co-worker suggested it"

She was looking at the menu, but Light couldn't figure out her game. Nevertheless, he smiled. "I've been here once or twice." He said. Kiyomi put down her cup, leaning back in her seat, fully looking at Light. Her expression neutral. "I've been meaning to ask, are you planning on working at Sakura TV while attending To-Ho?"

"I've always liked keeping busy," She said. "Plus, my position at Sakura TV is too good to leave."

"That's quite admirable." He said. He was holding his tongue, he wanted to ask something else and Kiyomi knew it. Spit it out, coward.

"You..." She purposely seemed hesitant, when in reality she wanted to know what he was thinking right away. "Want to ask something else, don't you?"

He laughed softly, "You can read me like a book, can't you?" He was acting, he wanted her to ask him what was going on. He leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table. "I heard that your roommate went missing last week, are you alright?"

Kiyomi sighed, that wasn't the question she wanted. His eyes screamed pity, but she knew that he couldn't care less if he tried. "People come and go in life. But, if you asking if I'm worried, then of course. Mido is a close friend."

He nodded. "Times like theses make having your parents around important, huh?"

She narrowed her eyes, "Excuse me?"

You're playing with fire, Light.

"I just mean, it's no secret you don't have many 'close' friends, I just assumed you were close to your family. Losing a close friend can be difficult."

He spoke with such a familiar smile. It was disgusting. Ah, this was his game. "My parents died years ago." She answered, calmly. "And I haven't lost Mido. I won't let that happen" Will you?

Underneath her calm response was a sharp sting. There was a feeling in her chest that she recognized from before. A feeling she could never place, she could never calm. It was like she was on the edge of a building, teetering back and forth. Her feet aching, and the wind growing harsher and harsher.

There was that feeling hiding under her words. And it was growing more persistent. Every single second. Like she was about to fall and

Never

Ever

Be

The

Same.

She remained focused on the conversation. She maintained her eye contact with Light, and hid that feeling.

In talking about her family, she'd give him more options for him to exploit. If he didn't kill her, then he'd manipulate her, like he does with everyone. Yes-he'd try to act like a concerned acquaintance trying to lend an ear. If she'd mentioned any family names (if she had any) he'd use it as ammunition to blackmail her, if it ever came to it.

He was in control of the conversation. She had to change this. "It's alright, I assume you're just pushing your problems on me. Kira is the name on everyone's tongue these days. Your father being the chief of police must be putting a strain on your family."

Oh, that was just mean. Light didn't seem like he particularly liked Kiyomi saying that. "If you ever want to talk about it, I can always lend an ear." You could almost hear the smirk in her voice.

"That's..." He started, "Maybe you actually can read me like a book," He leaned back in his seat, maintaining eye contact with her. She fully understood the double meaning he meant.

Maybe he was on the same building as her? Maybe his feet hurt just as much as hers.

Maybe she could just... turn around.

Maybe she

could push

him off.

Kiyomi smiled with her cup of coffee close to her lips. Focus, Kiyomi. Focus.

He knew that Kiyomi didn't trust him, but he didn't know why. He couldn't think of a time where he slipped up, past the night when she caught him booby-trapping his desk. Did he kill someone she knew? Did she know more than she lead on?

But...she was hesitant around him before he became Kira.

Light knew something wasn't making sense.

And Kiyomi was having fun toying with the person who killed her. She was beginning to understand why Light and L put so much effort into this the first time around.

Naomi and Kiyomi searched Midos apartment, going through his trash and mail, trying to find some sort of idea of if Mido knew that BB was going to kidnap him, or if it happened fast.

There was no blood in his apartment, showing that he should be okay. There should be no reason for BB to kill him. Right?

Unless...

Kiyomi wondered if she affected Mido's life expectancy.

Then again, how would she know? Did it even matter in the end?

...

...

What was her goal again?

"Perhaps Kiyomi-chan should contact the task force immediately when she finds another clue." L's dull voice said. Was he annoyed?

"I contacted Naomi." She said.

"Four and half hours later." He replied, swirling around in his chair, slowly. She rolled her eyes, folding her arms.

"Won't happen again." She said, almost like a kid being scolded by a teacher.

"It is interesting, however. Kiyomi-chan presents herself as a serious student and TV anchor, always very polite and nice." He said, "But-"

"I'm a bitch. I know. Is it really that interesting?" She quickly cut him off, getting straight to the point.

He frowned slightly. His eyes boring into her, forcing her to break eye contact with a scoff. "It seems Kiyomi-chan is irritated."

"BB has Mido and it's my fault." Is it really? Maybe he deserved it. Kiyomi's inner voice was struggling against her. "I don't see the use in have a conversation like this when I could be with Naomi trying to figure out where the hell he is." She snapped. Oh, oh the wind caught up! It was a heavy push, she almost fell off the building. She needed to fix her footing, but the wind was growing harsher. She took a step forward to where L was sitting, her heels clicking on the tile of the hotel rooms floor. "Do you have any idea what it's like being completely alone? Mido is the only one I had left." What are you saying! You don't mean that, no, you're lying again.

What do you feel? Describe it, where are you feeling this in your body? Come on, you can do it. Just pin point this feeling, this doubt, this weakness-and rip it out.

L was silent for a moment, his thumb to his lips. He was looking at Kiyomi, trying to figure out if there was some ulterior motive for acting...emotional. But perhaps he really is just out of his element in this area.

"It doesn't help that there's a mass murder on the loose with thousands of people worshiping him like a god. Do you know what I do on the news? Every day, I read the names of the dead of a list. So yes, I'm irritated, I'm pissed, and when I act like a bitch, I get results."

"Getting results is the only thing that matters." She finishes, and it sounded like she was mostly telling herself that. Like the line between what she tells herself in her head and her mouth blurred. Was she really even talking to L?

"I agree," He responds. "We will catch BB, along with Kira."

She pauses, looking at the piles of files-the pointless leads, the wasted time had taken a physical form around her. "I want to believe you."

Get it out.

The gears were turning in L's mind faster than they have before. Kiyomi was hiding something, and L knew it.

She stood on the other side of the metal fence of the tennis yard. Crowds and crowds of people were standing around. Faceless people who Kiyomi could never find herself able to connect to; like nothing had changed when she was younger. Was it like this with Mido? Kiyomi could barely see the two geniuses play. She kept her distance on purpose. She wanted just to be a face that could fade away for a moment, painfully aware that these kinds of moments were fleeting. Her time on air had made her more popular.

People loved to hear the updated death toll of Kira, and when such gruesome news is matched with a 'sweet' face like hers, it paints a softer picture for those who were on the edge of whether or not they supported Kira.

Many viewed Kiyomi as a neutral party, almost like a person in the middle of the crossroads. Oh, how wrong that was.

She heard a tennis ball hit the fence, but she didn't know who scored, but then cheering quickly followed.

She chewed on her bottom lip.

This was a foreshadowing event, wasn't it? Light wins in the manga. She felt a sense for dread in her chest. She furrowed her eyebrows and pushed through the crowd. She soon got a better view, and for a minute, she caught Lights eye.

The tennis ball went shooting past him.

Kiyomi smiled.

She was not invited to lunch with L and Light, and she wasn't expecting too. Instead she spent the afternoon talking with...fans.

It was odd. The original Kiyomi did not rise up to have fans when she was in college. Then again, Kiyomi has definitely found her own path. She hated the attention, but at the same times she kind of liked it. It gave her a sense that no one could touch her, even though it was far from the truth.

She brought flowers to Mr. Yagamis hospital room. Ms. Yagami was delighted, and Sayu was apparently excited to ask Kiyomi what it was like being on TV. When she arrived, she didn't see Light, but she didn't care. It was...almost hard looking at the Yagami family.

Knowing what happens to them.

But she smiled and answered all of Sayu's questions. She didn't see, but Mr. Yagami was smiling.

Oh, how her persona has grown. It's seamless, really. All she has to do is smile, and no one will know. She can't mess this up. She won't let herself.

When she went home to her empty apartment that night, she once again couldn't sleep. Did she need Mido? Why does she feel so wrong right now? It's like there where a thousand framed pictures in her mind, and one's titled to the side just a little but. Just one thing is out of place.

The wind is strong tonight.

She took out a pen and paper and started writing. She wrote about the garden at her old house. She listed every flower, bug, bush, and tree that she ever saw or planted in that garden.

Kiyomi felt as if the world was in her hands, just like when she used to pick up spiders when she was young.

She remembers her father. How he never knew. Or maybe he did, he knew her best. Kiyomi never payed attention to him, as cold as it sounded. He was never on the playing board, he never played a role in the grand play that Kira set up.

Is that why he died? Because he was important to her, and he wasn't supposed to be?

How many more people are dead because of Kiyomi? What had she caused?

She'd look at spiders with curiosity when she was young, at every angle like she'd never seen a spider before. Then it would either crawl up her arm, or fall off and back into the dirt without a sound.

She hummed to herself and crumpled up the paper she was writing.

Another thing to burn.

passanger : I'm really happy you like Mido, i had no idea people would like him so much! Thank you!

DarkDust27: ( ◞･౪･) ehehe, guess you just have to wait to find out

makesomehassel: midoprotectionsqaud2k14

reula: I didn't even mean to leave it on that cliff hanger for so long! I'm sorry

RimK10: I kind of view Kiyomi like a snake playing with her food, which right now is Light. She's getting more daring, similar to how Light starts to get with L. Testing just how far she can go without giving too much away, but at the same time being interesting enough for Light to peruse her for more information. What I like though, is that even if she does slip up, she wont know until the very end. Just like everyone else.

kaitlin2515: I'm glad you like her! ashjkl;kl writing L is so fun bc like, I feel like he would actually say that.

Katy Rose: Thank you!

DeceivingAura: BB doesn't kill without a reason ( ` ω ´ ) He needs Mido for something. Oh, and Light and Kiyomi was just a possibility. It's kind of a weird situation. Because right now, with Mido gone, her mental mind frame has shifted. She's feeling real guilt. But romance is not the focus of the story.

Maester Ta (￣ω￣;)

Snickering Fox : i honestly didn't expect people to like Mido so much, but your guess was close!

snkannie: Thank you!

cat105 : ( ◞･౪･) L? I never seriously thought about those two together. I remeber someone else said something similar. Hmmm, it would be rather odd. But I'll think about it. I'm glad you like Kiyomi

Ella Peters: (^∇^)