It was the day of the entrance ceremony, and Ella was dressed to the nines for it.

She didn't really care about it at all, but since she'd be seeing Kira again for the first time in a month and L had informed her that she would be standing with them on stage (because apparently the one she thought was right was wrong and she'd corrected it by accident, which was absolutely way too convenient for her taste, and she'd spent about a week breaking things and screaming into her pillow when she remembered it), she wanted to look like she belonged with the snooty smart people of To-Oh.

That, and she was allowed to use one of L's credit cards to buy new clothes since he wouldn't let Naomi bring her any of her own, for some reason. He'd yet to ask about the locket, for which she was grateful, but she did wake up from a nap one time to his hands disconcertingly close to her neck.

She'd stared at him for a moment, which he apparently took to mean he could reach closer, at which point she kicked him in the stomach.

They had both ended up on the floor (stupid handcuffs) and Ella had had a long chat with him about personal space, at which point he had apologized (read: tried to shut her up) with his credit card.

Ella forgave him immediately.

So, now she was dressed in a short navy dress with a cream blazer and red kitten heels, brushing her hair in the mirror in her ensuite bathroom. She'd gotten her own room for sleeping and for hiding in when the task force came in to work. The cameras didn't really faze her most of the time anymore, but she did get annoyed at being handcuffed to the bed every night to make sure she couldn't leave.

Soichiro Yagami was not someone she wanted to see at the moment. He'd ask questions about Light and questions about Sayu (who she was trying very hard not to think about) and she really didn't want that.

So, there she was, straightening out her outfit and hair, and waiting for L to finish up whatever it was that he was doing, because it sure as hell wasn't his hair. She had tried to get L to at least brush his hair, but he had asked her what was wrong with it in the most confused tone of voice that she didn't have the heart to tell him.

Yes, he's a manipulative asshole and she's a manipulative bitch, but he acted so much like a child sometimes that Ella had trouble keeping up the sarcastic insults.

Which was probably why he did it.

Damn him.

"Are you finished?"

Ella jumped and turned to L, who was suddenly in her doorway. "I've been finished. Where are your shoes?"

"In the car. Come."

She rolled her eyes and followed him out, putting her phone (that L had provided for her with Watari's number in it, along with a tracking device built in 'in case she got lost'. Prick.) in her bra and taking out a lollipop to suck on. "I know I look good, Cookie Monster, but that's a little vulgar."

He paused, gave her a look, and then kept walking.

She smiled as she stepped into the car. It was a Range Rover, which she guessed was better than the limo, but it was still too flashy for her.

If only it wasn't bright pink.

When they got to the ceremony, she sat in the back next to L. She didn't really have a choice in the matter, but she didn't mind that. It was very far from Light's spot, which was good enough for her.

Around thirty minutes into the ceremony, Ella was getting antsy. When she kept shifting in her seat, L glanced at her.

She grimaced.

He turned back to the front.

She frowned. What a p-

"And now, our freshmen representative, Light Yagami."

There was polite applause.

"And our second freshmen representative, Hideki Ryuuga."

More polite applause, along with confused muttering.

Ella grinned.

"And finally, our third freshmen representative, Mari Ella."

As she stood up and made her way to the front, she could feel the eyes on her.

"A third representative?"

"And a female, at that?"

"She's got legs, though, doesn't she?"

"You're such a pervert, Riki!"

"It's not perverted if it's true."

Ella decided to stop listening after that.

She made her way between L and Kira, ignoring the way the latter's eyes were looking up and down her body.

She leaned toward L. "Why am I up here again?"

"I don't know. They called up a Mari Ella."

She rolled her eyes. My name is more real than yours, puffball. "You're one to criticize, Ryuuga Hideki."

The muttering started again.

"Wow, they're all so different to each other."

"Not really. The only odd one is the one with the bed hair and the untied sneakers."

"No, I think the girl's weird too. Look at how she ignores the attractive one? He's obviously interested and she's talking to the weird one."

"You're right."

"Maybe she likes the freaky ones?"

Correction: that's when she stopped listening.

Shifting slightly to the other side, she looked at Light. She smiled. "Fancy seeing you here."

He looked at her politely. "Do I know you?"

She raised her eyebrows. Wow. "Seriously, Smarty? I put on a dress, and suddenly you don't know what my face looks like?"

His eyes widened, and she heard Ryuk laughing. Does he do anything else? "Apple?"

"It's Mari, here, thanks."

He looked like he was going to ask her something, but she turned away.

She stood there and listened to the other two's speeches, trying not to yawn.

When it was her turn, she played the good girl. "Hello. I am Mari Ella. I understand that you've been sat here for a while, so I won't take too much time. We are all here because we earned our way in, and we will continue to try hard and succeed to own our diplomas. I hope to get to know each of you and make connections with each other that last into our adult lives, both in business and in friendship." She bowed and smiled prettily. "Thank you."

When they were sat in the crowd again, Ella ignored the looks Light was giving her.

When L began his whole 'you are light Yagami and I have something to tell you' spiel, Light began to glare, and Ella began to smirk.

When Light finished with 'I am L', she watched Light carefully. He froze for a moment, before frostily responding that, if he was who he said he was, he had nothing but Light's respect.

A normal person would be shown surprise, and not outward contempt, but Light Yagami was not a normal person.

For one thing, he now thinks I cheated on him with the greatest detective in the world.

She smiled lightly and leaned back on her seat, ignoring the look her movement had gotten her from Light.

He's wondering if I told? No, he knows I couldn't, without putting myself into deeper suspicion.

He's wondering if I knew before now that Ryu was L.

She glanced at him and winked.

He looked livid for a second before his face went cold and he turned back around.

She took a deep breath and grinned.

I'm an asshole.

But he's a murderer, so it's not as bad for me to try to hurt him as bad as I possibly can.

Ella walked between the great detective L and her murderer ex-boyfriend Kira.

And yes, it was as uncomfortable as it sounds.

Light cleared his throat. "So, Ryuuga, you know Apple-"

Ella glanced at him. "It's Mari, now."

He looked a bit annoyed. "You know Mari well, than?"

L hummed, studying Light with his unnerving eyes. "I suppose you could say that."

"What does that mean?"

"Oh, did she not tell you? She's been staying with me for a month now."

Light glared at Ella. "Oh?"

Ella glared at L. "You make it sound so scandalous, Ryu."

"Yes, I suppose it could be seen that way, what with you moving in with me the exact day you broke up with your boyfriend at this cafe while I was in the phone with you."

Ella grimaced at him mockingly. He's such an asshole. "Well, the handcuffs were definitely a factor that kept me from leaving. Not to mention the whipped cream and strawberries. You sure know how to feed my cravings."

Light looked a cross between angry and disgusted. He walked in ahead of them. "When you two are done disgusting-sorry, I meant discussing- your personal matters, I'd love to talk."

Ella looked after him oddly. Is he...?

"It seems Yagami-kun is jealous of our..."

"Newfound closeness and completely innocent discussion?"

"Implied sex life."

Ella blinked rapidly to get rid of any images involving sex and L from her mind before following Light. "Honestly, Ryu? Please never use the word sex in a sentence that pertains to the two of us, unless it's 'we will never have sex'. Please."

He said nothing, which Ella took to be an agreement.

After they sat down and ordered, L stared at Light.

After an uncomfortably long moment (so long that the waitress had brought them their food and L's coffee was getting cold), Light smiled politely. "Isn't there something you want to talk about?"

Ella sat back and nibbled on her brownie. "Yeah, sweetypie, hurry up."

Light looked mildly uncomfortable when L didn't react to the nickname.

"Mari, please refrain from speaking until I tell you to."

Ella rolled her eyes and saluted him. "Yes, sir."

Light looked at her incredulously. "You're giving in that easily?"

She shrugged, sipping her coffee. "I learned my lesson last time. I don't want him to do that again."

"Do what?!"

"Mari."

She gave L a glare and Light a peace sign, but she stopped talking.

Light looked at her judgmentally. He actually sort of looked like he her counselor and was very disappointed in her life choices.

She fought a grimace.

You're one to talk, Mr. Pretty Boy Murderer. Prick.

"Light Yagami, please stay on task. I have a test for you."

Light took his eyes from her to look at L. "What sort of test?"

Ella spoke. "It's to test your intelligence or something."

L gave her a look. "Mari."

She shrugged. "Just trying to hurry things along."

"I'd prefer it if you didn't."

"You and your dramatics, Ryu. You know what I think?"

"Most likely."

"I think you could be Kira just because you want people to root for you and they would either way."

"Mari."

"Ryu."

"Stop talking."

"Hurry up, than."

Light cleared his throat pointedly.

She stuck her tongue out at L and turned back to her food.

L turned back to Light and pulled out the three real crime scene photographs. "Please analyze these photographs and tell me if you find anything unusual."

Light immediately pretended to look for the message he wrote. "When did this happen? I didn't see anything about this on the news."

L placed his thumb to his mouth. "That's because these incidents were never reported. The press was told that all of these were heart attacks."

Light eventually decided to act like be found the message, at which point L took out the fourth photo and Ella looked pointedly away from them and at Ryuk, who had been oddly quiet lately.

She raised an eyebrow at him as she pretended to admire the wallpaper.

He chuckled. "Ya wondering why I haven't been making fun of you and Light, aren't ya?"

Ella tilted her head to the side before taking out her phone and fiddling with it.

Ryuk laughed again. "Light doesn't like me talking to you. Which is why I decided to talk to you right now."

Ella's lip twitched and she glanced at the two geniuses beside her. She rolled her eyes and continued to fiddle.

Ryuk stuck his head through the table and looked at her.

She didn't jump, though she did cough lightly, turning it into a pointed yawn when Light glanced at her.

"Aren't ya gonna ask why I'm talking to you after so long?"

She sighed and put her phone away, leaning her head on her hand, watching L and Light play their little murder game. She tapped her fingers on the table.

Ryuk lowered his voice. "It's cause I think that you're gonna win this little game. Neither of them even know you're a player yet. It's fascinating how your gender automatically disqualified you from the game in their minds."

Ella smirked at the table, but she was confused. I'm not a player. I'm just here to fuck with things.

She shook her head and turned back to the boys.

They're still not done? Oh well.

Ella felt like being obnoxious (being cooped up and handcuffed to various things for the majority of a month will do that), so she abruptly leaned back in her seat and groaned. Loudly.

When they, along with the waiter who was passing by, turned to look at her, she smiled sweetly. "Sorry, I just got so bored of your game that I decided to pleasure myself under the table. Hope you don't mind."

Light looked a cross between disbelief and annoyance, with a bit of a blush on his face.

L just looked unamused.

She smiled wider and stood up. "Well, don't know about you, but I'm finished, I think I'll go wait in the car. Later, Ryu."

L was about to speak when all three of their phones went off.

Ella looked down and froze.

Well. How's that for mood whiplash.

She looked at Light, who was even paler than she was. She felt a pang in her chest. Fuck, I hate it when he has feelings. "Smarty..."

L stood quickly. "Come, Yagami-kun, Mari. The car is outside."

As they rushed out of the cafe, Ella felt slightly sick.

Soichiro Yagami had just had a heart attack.

She knew it didn't kill him canonically, but she was also not even in this world canonically.

What would seeing her do to him in this state?

She sat next to Light and didn't protest when he grabbed her hand, and L didn't point it out, probably too busy pondering if Light was far gone enough to kill his own father.

He wasn't, and Ella wanted to slap him for even thinking it. That worried her slightly, but she pushed that worry away. Now was not the time for stupid problems like that.

She was panicking, even through she knew it was irrational. Deep down, she knew he would survive this.

But there was still that small chance that he wouldn't. And if he didn't, it would be her fault.