For you new readers, just remember that Shika is Veronica. Just didn't want to have anyone getting confused. ^-^ For you veteran readers, can you guess who'll Shika go as?

Onwards~

Light/Shika:

"Did we have to meet at the park so late?" Light asked, glancing around them cautiously.

"Yes," Shika replied.

"Why?"

"I thought you were smart," she chided. "One, there's less people to witness my vampire activities. Two, the sun irritates my eyes. Three, it's quiet, which will help me concentrate."

The student pursed his lips, not caring for her flippant attitude. They were out because she had offered him to make him into vampire, but Light wanted her to prove she could do all the things she told him vampires could do. If all was true, then it was a far better deal than Ryuk's Shinigami Eye exchange. He'd be immortal, so Kira never had to die. The world would never be plunged back into its awful ways again.

"Welcome to Vampire Class 101. What would you like to see first?" she offered.

"How about the basics?"

"Alright. Watch closely."

Veronica took a few steps back, watching her step to make sure no branches or roots tripped her. After making sure she was far enough away from her onlooker, she took a deep breath in. Letting it out slowly, she jumped up higher than any human could. Grabbing on to a thick tree limb, she easily snapped it in her grasp, falling back to the Earth. With a triumphant smile, she handed it to Light, who took it to examine the break.

"This would've taken a sharp axe or saw for a person to cut off, but you broke it with no problem."

"Yup. So, there's the super-human strength. On to the next one."

Closing her eyes, Shika strained her ears to listen to the night sounds. Turning her head a little each direction, she opened her eyelids.

"There's an owl out eating a mouse," she pointed out the area for Light to see. "And a squirrel trying to hide from said creature up in that tree. A dog is barking about a half-block away, and a cat yowling for its owner to let it back into the house a quarter mile to the east."

"How do I know they're really there, and that you aren't just saying random animals?"

"Listen," she said, annoyance showing.

Sighing, he did as instructed, doing his best to hear what she described. Barely audible, he heard soft barking. The owl and cat were out of the question, and he couldn't exactly hear a quiet squirrel, but he was slated some.

"May I continue?" she questioned sarcastically.

Not waiting for his answer, she began to change. Her medium length, blue hair shortened and turned black. Chocolate irises darkened like two pools of tar. Her straight shoulders hunched and broadened while her height grew. Now, instead of a hoodie and denim pants, she wore baggy jeans and a white, long-sleeved t-shirt two sizes too big. L stared at him, scratching his leg with his bare feet.

"I am L."

Blinking, it was obvious that Light hadn't been expecting to be face-to-face with the detective so suddenly. He couldn't speak, unsure what the hell just happened. Was he?.. Did she?.. How in the world?.. L's blank expression gave a rare smile. If he started laughing, Light would've lost his mind.

"What's the matter, Light?"

After a few more confused seconds, Shika changed back to her regular body. Laughing at his befuddlement, she shook her head.

"Oh, man. I'd pay money to see that reaction again. That just made my day." She took a calming breath. "Anyways, that's called 'shape shifting.' You know, turning into other creatures or people. Pretty convincing, huh? Nobody can tell the difference unless the other person's standing right there. Even then, it'd be hard to discover the imposter if I know the other person's personality."

"Wow," he awed, impressed at this skill. "So you can be anyone?"

"Duh."

"Is that how you plan on breaking the imposter Kira out, turning into L?"

"Or Watari."

"You'll be able to get in and out of the cell without a problem, so long as the person you're going as doesn't show up while you're there. Does L know you can change like that? That would make things difficult."

"Nope. I keep a few surprises to myself in case I need to use any of them around the others. That way, L can't issue passwords to the Task Force so they can enter certain areas and all."

What Veronica didn't say was that even if L did, she'd have a mole on the inside who would tell her what his password would be. It was great being one step ahead of others. It felt good. No wonder the two rivals enjoyed outsmarting one another. She could get used to that feeling.

"That's pretty insightful," he admitted, only slightly grudgingly. At least she wasn't as dull as he originally thought. "When do you plan on going through with the plan?"

"In about a week."

"Why are you waiting so long?"

"Well, I have other things to do. There's something I gotta do before diving back into the Kira case. Some punk's trying to catch me, so I have to deal with him. If he popped up while I'm at the hotel with L, then there'd be problems with the Task Force questioning why I'm being hunted."

"But they think you're L's relative. It's believable to say he's after you to get to him. And why's he such a threat? You're a vampire, and he's a human. He is human, right?"

"Most definitely."

"Does that make him a vampire hunter?" Ryuk asked out of the blue. The God of Death had been so quiet, that the pair had nearly forgotten he was there.

"Uhm, yeah, I guess."

"Moving on," Light cut in.

"Right, right. Well, I was actually thinking about heading home. Neches will be suspicious if I'm gone too long. I told him I was out on a midnight walk."

"I think that's enough for tonight. I better get some sleep. I do have school tomorrow."

"To be continued," she bowed. "We'll meet again Friday night. Same time; same place."

"Sure thing."

"See yah around, Light," called Shika, jogging towards the direction leading further into the city and giving him a final wave. Her eyes caught the reflection of the moonlight, making them seem malicious for a flash. But, just as quickly as he spotted it, the look disappeared as she turned away from his view. Her hair bounced and swayed in her wake.

Later into the night and early into the next day, however, Light Yagami stayed awake in bed. He stared at the ceiling, thinking about what he'd do with his eternity. Having to drink blood was hardly a consequence, especially since he wouldn't have to kill anyone. Shape shifting, strength, speed; these were what awaited him in life, while all that remained left for Ryuzaki was his inevitable demise. Kira would win in the fight against L, and all anyone would do is hold their breath as he takes his final inhalation. The spark of life would fade in his eyes, leaving them colder than their usual depths, his pale skin would turn paler than Shika's, and his pulse would take its final beat, stopping irregularly. His enemy would lay motionless, knowing all too late that Light was his opponent and no one else. Then he'd die, body stiffening as rigamortis set in. They'd put him into the ground in a wooden coffin, and fill the hole with moist dirt. It would all be over in a fortnight.

All Light had to do now was wait patiently as his plan carried out.

"Game set and match, L," he murmured into the night, dissolving into quiet laughter.