Author's Note

Okay...so, first thing is first...PLEASE VOTE FOR THE NEXT STORY THAT I WRITE! AFTER THIS CHAPTER IS UP THERE ARE ONLY TEN MORE CHAPTERS TO GO AND I'VE ALREADY WRITTEN MOST OF THEM! I AM ALREADY UP TO THREE CHAPTERS LEFT TO WRITE! SO PLEASE VOTE SOON!

Now that I have gotten that out of my system, I'm pleased to present the first chapter of the night for I am going to post three new ones!

Enjoy and review!

- A. Moonbeam

Chapter XX

Watari Explains

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Many things happened through the months. L had gone to To-Oh University to corner Light, which worked completely. Light ended up working on the investigation with them. Also, a second Kira entered the picture. This second Kira had used Sakura TV to air little messages to Kira. The second Kira also killed Ukita-san in front of the station. The second Kira was easy to catch and ended up being Misa Amane, a famous Japanese actress (also known as Misa-Misa). Misa was very much in love with Light and as she was under surveillance by the task force she made quite a few strange comments. Light was also taken into the small prison and Yagami-san (who had just recovered from a heart attack) decided to also be put in a cell for he didn't know what he would do if it turned out that Light really was Kira. Now, everyone was back and moving to a new headquarters where they could stay without any worries. The investigation was slightly stalled because L couldn't seem to think anyone could be Kira other than Light Yagami...which, Alana completely agreed.

Alana frowned as she sat in the large kitchen and helped Watari put cookies on a plate for L. It was late and she couldn't sleep. She truly thought that may be because there was no way she could get sleep with Misa yelling about wanting to go on a date with Light. Alana rolled her eyes. If she could only tell her true feelings to the task force and Misa, they would all understand how she felt to these new restrictions. The restrictions were in place by L on himself and Light. Alana had laughed when she had first seen it, but now she hated it. L had handcuffed himself to Light just so he could make sure that Light really wasn't Kira.

Alana rolled her eyes as Watari placed another tray of cookies in front of her. "Watari, what do you think L is up to with all of this?"

"He is trying to solve the case." Watari returned simply.

Alana sighed as she finished putting the cookies on a tray and stood up to place the empty sheet into the sink. "I understand that, but each time I make a comment on something on the case, it seems as if he tries to ignore it." Alana explained before she walked towards the window in the kitchen. "I don't understand what he is trying to prove."

Watari was silent for a moment as he wrapped up the cookies and put them on the counter. "I believe that he is trying to understand how you know so much about this. You have already made the comment that the weapon that is being used can't be human made."

"It can't be. Have you ever heard of a weapon that used a face and a name to kill? Have you ever heard of someone just forgetting things that you knew that they had known? Have you ever heard of two people who had to be the killers from the start asking as if they were completely ignorant of everything? Also, we have to put together the situation between Misa and Light. Light used to seem as if he truly cared for Misa and now he can't stand her. I don't even understand that one!" Alana explained quickly before she turned around with her white night gown flying around her ankles.

"Perhaps you should speak with Mello and Near in the morning about your findings?" Watari offered gently as he sat down at the table.

Alana sighed before she walked over and took her seat back at the table, "Watari, you've raised L and you have been by his side while he worked his cases. Have you ever known him to be this dedicated to a case?"

Watari seemed to think for a moment before he looked back at Alana. While shaking his head, Watari replied, "No, I can't remember anything such as this. However, L has never been on one case for this long. It's almost been a year."

The white haired woman shook her head once more before standing up once more from the table. "I suppose that could be the reason for all of this, but I'm worried about him. I know he hasn't slept in a while and he needs to sleep. Yet, he's too afraid to sleep. It's almost as if Light will take that chance and escape or kill him."

Watari smiled brightly as he stood and wrapped his arms around the young woman in a fatherly hug. "I know that you care deeply for L, but have you told him yet?"

"Told him what?" Alana pulled away sharply with narrowed eyes.

"Have you told him how much you love him?" Watari chuckled before shaking his head, "No, you wouldn't do that."

Alana blushed softly as she wrapped her arms around herself, "No, I wouldn't tell him that. If I told him that, he would start trying to take care of me other than working on the case. He needs to work on the case and once he has finished with that, he can handle knowing my true feelings."

Watari nodded and Alana decided to leave before anything else was said.

Alana entered the investigation room of the new headquarters and shook her head. Everyone was already there and because she had to speak with Mello and Near, Mrs. C, Alec, and Fayette that morning, she was late. She walked to her seat next to Light who greeted her warmly, and sat down to continue working.

"Alana, I never understood why you decided to become an investigator. I thought you were going to school to be a teacher, or at least that's what my dad told me." Light questioned as he looked towards her.

Alana and Light had been working on gathering information on the Yotsuba Group who had ended up with a large amount of money and the only Japanese company that didn't have any strange deaths caused by Kira. It was this reason that L and Alana decided that someone in the Yotsuba Group had to be Kira. At the moment, Alana looked over towards the brown haired boy and shook her head with a soft smile. In truth, Alana liked this new Light. This Light was perfectly kind and seemed to actually care about catching Kira and making the world a better place through catching the wrong doers. The other Light, the Light that was Kira, was none of that.

"Yes, I was going to school to be a teacher, but instead I decided to continue with this. It was also the fact that I've been doing this for most of my life." Alana explained with a shrug. "I suppose, though, that I could ask you why you have decided to become a police officer, but you would just give me the same answer."

Light laughed as he nodded his head, "I guess you're right!"

Alana nodded her head and continued with what she was doing.

"Alana, I have a favor to ask of you." L commented from his seat on the other side of Light.

"Yes, L?" Alana returned casually as she turned to look at him with her emerald eyes.

"Would you get me more tea?"

Alana almost felt as if this would be a perfect time to fall out of her chair. Tea? Really, that was all the detective wanted? Alana fought back her glare and rude remark before standing up and leaving the room briskly. Alana muttered under her breath at how annoying L was being and even noted that he hadn't looked at her while asking for more to drink. Alana took a deep breath once she entered the kitchen, grabbed a dish towel out of the drawer, and proceeded to scream into it. She was just glad that the towel muffled everything pretty well.

"I guess you know how I feel now, huh?"

Alana spun around quickly, causing her khaki skirt to swirl around her shins before she paused to look at the youngest member of the task force. It was Matsuda and he was staring at her with pitying brown eyes. Alana smiled softly at him and nodded her head, "I suppose I do. I never understood the reason for all of this. I am also guessing that by the time I return to the room, L will have already gotten tea from Watari."

"Yeah, Watari does seem to make it to the room at the right moment." Matsuda nodded his head and poured himself a cup of coffee and then proceeded to pour one for Alana.

Alana smiled but didn't respond as she took her coffee into her hands. She took a sip and wondered over to the fridge, thinking about getting an apple to slice up. Her green eyes roamed the interior of the box when something clicked inside of her head. The three notes that were addressed to L early on in the investigation that read out "L, did you know that Gods of Death love apples?"

She sat her mug down on the counter before she turned to give Matsuda a hug very quickly. "Thank you so much, Matsuda! You are a genius!" She exclaimed before rushing out of the room.

Alana did hear Matsuda stutter out a question, probably why he was a genius, but she didn't bother to stop and reply to him. She flew into the investigation room and then rushed up the floating staircase. As Alana ran towards the elevator on this floor, she heard the chain that connected Light and L together move. Alana smirked and knew that both of the men downstairs were now wondering what she was up to. However, she didn't stop until she entered the elevator. It was here that she was actually shocked to see that L and Light were following her. It seemed Light was being dragged up the stairs, but that was something she could over look. Before the elevator doors shut, Alana raised a pale finger to her lips in a shushing gesture just to confuse them further.

Alana leaned against the back of the elevator. She was very pleased with herself and what she believed she had found. However, she needed to contact Fayette to find out first and to do so; she would need to make sure that no one was coming into her room. Alana quickly moved through the hall towards her room once the elevator stopped at the top floor. Truthfully, this floor was supposed to belong to L and her to continue their research when everyone had either gone home or went to sleep. Alana stopped thinking about that and entered her room. She had just gotten the connection set up and Roger was looking for Fayette when the door opened.

"Alana, would you mind explaining why you rushed off?" L's voice questioned from the doorway.

"I think I may have had a thought on something. However, if Light is with you, I would appreciate it if you would leave." Alana explained as she didn't look away from the screen in front of her.

There was no response, only the shutting of the door. Alana glanced up to make sure that the two men had left, only to see that L was the only one standing there. 'I left Light handcuffed to Matsuda down stairs. I thought it would be better to speak with you in private." L explained as he scratched his ankle with his left foot.

Alana smiled softly at him before her attention was caught by Fayette coming back on screen. "Oh! Hello, Fayette." Alana smiled at her before glancing up at L. "L is here with me, but I thought I would ask you a question that tickled my fancy just a bit ago."

Fayette nodded her head as she cocked her head to the side, "Alright."

"Did you know that Gods of Death love apples?" Alana questioned as she made her face go blank so there was nothing that could make Fayette give a scripted response.

"Could you have L leave the room? I do not feel comfortable speaking with you in front of him." Fayette explained quietly.

"Of course, dear." Alana smiled softly before glancing up at L.

L only nodded and left the room with an audible click of the door. Alana picked up her headset so even if L did listen at the door, he wouldn't be able to hear what Fayette had to say. "Jonathon says that he knows where that saying comes from. Jonathon fears that there may be other powers at work in this case and that Gods of Death truly do exist." Fayette explained quietly.

"I was afraid you would say something like that. So, Death Gods really exist. Does Jonathon know how they would kill people?" Alana questioned as she rubbed her temple to relieve some of the pressure that was building up.

Fayette was quiet for a moment and the only way that Alana knew Jonathon was speaking was that Fayette cut her eyes to her side to look at him in shock. "Jonathon says that they can kill using only a name and a face. They write the names down in a notebook. He's not really sure of everything about them, but if this is the case, then a human has to have control of the notebook."

Alana was looking above the screen to a window. "Alright then, I know that I can't tell L anything about this because he'll want to know how you know. I suppose, this will be my time to shine in a little leg work."

"I'm sorry that I can't help you more, Alana." Fayette frowned as she looked at the computer.

"You've helped plenty, Fayette. I'm actually very happy that I was able to find out about all of this dealing with you and Jonathon. It helps a lot to know that I have you both to turn to." Alana smiled as she reached closer to the disconnect button. "If you don't mind, I need to get back to L who I am sure is still standing outside my door."

Fayette nodded her head, "Alright, I'll talk to you later. Bye, Alana."

Alana disconnected the call and stood up after placing her headset back down on the keyboard. "You can come in now, L!" Alana called with a soft smile to herself.

The door opened once more and L walked in. He closed the door and walked into the room until he was right in front of the female detective and looking down at her. "What was all this about?" L questioned quietly as he placed his hands unconsciously at her waist.

"Well, if you must know, Fayette was looking into another case that I had sent back to Wammy's. It's a kidnapping case and Alec and her were very interested in trying to solve it." Alana explained lightly as she placed her hands upon his hunched shoulders.

"You asked her the question that was sent to me in those notes." L responded as he pulled Alana closer to him.

"I suppose I did." Alana explained with a soft smile as she looked up into his grey eyes. "She has also been doing a little bit of research on the note. She hasn't found anything yet."

L nodded quickly before reaching down and capturing Alana's lips with his own. Alana had no problem whatsoever with this and dug her fingers into his hair to keep him close to her. After a minute, they both broke apart and L was grinning like a maniac down at her. "I should get back downstairs." L whispered before leaning his forehead to hers. "Soon, I promise, this case will be over and we can return home."

Alana's heart stopped for a second and picked up speed. Did he just said that they would go home? He must have been talking about Wammy's House, that was the only home he would have ever mentioned. Was he really saying that Wammy's was now her home as well. Alana smiled softly up at him and said, "I'm going to hold you to that then."

L laughed lightly before releasing her and taking a step back. "Watari would like to see you in his office. Apparently, there is something very important that he needs to ask you."

Alana nodded and released L before walking towards the door with him following. "Then, I will go there now."

The two detectives left the room and went towards the elevator. They made sure to stand apart from each other so the cameras couldn't see that they truly did feel for the other. In any case, Alana stepped into the elevator and watched as L pressed the buttons that they would each need. They didn't speak the entire ride in the elevator and L didn't look at her when he got off at his stop. Once the elevator was cleared, she began to think.

Alana continued thinking about what Fayette had told her as she moved through the halls to reach Watari. It was almost as if there was something just beyond her reach that she couldn't grasp. She knocked upon the grey door and was told to enter. She smiled slightly when she walked into the room and noticed all of the computer monitors that were set up. There were quite a few overlooking everything in the building.

"You wished to see me, Watari?" Alana questioned as she sat in the chair next to the older man's.

"Yes, I did. I needed to explain something to you before this investigation comes to an end." Watari returned as he turned away from the screens and crossed his legs.

Alana gulped slightly and looked down at her hands that she had folded in her lap, "I'm not sure if I want to hear this."

"I'm sure that you will become uncomfortable with what I am about to say, but it should be said." Watari chuckled. "Now, I have noticed that you and L seem to have gotten closer to each other in the past year and a half."

Alana looked up with her eyes slightly unfocused. The green eyed woman thought about what was just said, "Has it really been that long?"

"Yes, it has and before you say anything else, I have never seen L quite so happy as he is when you are around." Watari explained quietly before he began again. "L has been like a son to me ever since I brought him to the orphanage. I never expected him to find someone that makes him happy, I hoped that he would but I never expected it. I had thought that if he did find someone, it would be a girl from the orphanage. I was very shocked to find that he cared for you at all, Alana." Watari smiled as he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in front of his chest. "You are very different from my son. Your appearance is fair, your etiquette is extraordinary for someone of your age and time, you're soft spoken and stubborn, you are intelligent and wish to make the world a better place, you have worked hard for where you are and will not take charity, you help others out of the goodness of your heart, and you are the only one I know that can outsmart L in any matter. L is the complete opposite of you other than his intelligence. I do not understand why you have settled-"

"I have not 'settled' for him!" Alana interrupted with a glare upon her face, "I would never settle for any man. I truly do care for L."

"That proves my point, Alana. You care very deeply for L but are too afraid to let him know how far your feelings reach."

"I don't understand what you're saying." Alana muttered as she averted her attention from the man.

"I know that you care deeply for L, that you may even love him. I am glad to see that you see everything that I do in him. I am very proud of L and forever grateful that he asked for me to accompany him on his many cases. However, I fear that he may not make it out of this case unless he has something to fight for." Watari whispered the last part of this speech out and Alana snapped her attention back to him.

How did he know? Did Watari know that the outcome of this case could be deadly? Did he know that this was the reason that she had shown up in the first place? "Please don't say things like that, Watari. I don't think I could ever handle it if something horrible happened to either of you." Alana whimpered out before wrapping her arms around her midsection. "I don't think that I could live knowing that you were both gone."

"That is why I need your help, Alana." Watari continued. "L will only look at the logical facts in this case and has decided to ignore the notes that came to him early on in the investigation. However, you know that supernatural forces may be at work here."

Alana nodded as she turned her attention back towards Watari, "Yes, Gods of Death I believe is what the notes said."

"That is correct. I would like it if you would compile some information on Gods of Death and see if you could tie any of it in with what we know is present in this case. There is a room that I set up strictly for this purpose down the hall. I shall tell L that you will be working with me down here." Watari explained and Alana took this as her dismissal. As Alana stood to leave, she only got as far as the door, "And please, Alana, tell L how you feel before it is too late."

Alana only nodded her head before she left the room. She would not be having a heart to heart with L, for what if he didn't feel the same as her? What would happen if he asked her to leave the investigation because he didn't love her? Alana didn't think she could handle it if her heart was broken by L. He was the only man that she thought she could ever truly love. There was no telling what would happen to her if he didn't return those feelings. So, she would be keeping her love for him locked up tightly inside her chest.