Hey, here's chapter 4. It didn't quite like a planned but hopefully, you still enjoy. Lena goes to the Yagami's for dinner but begins to argue with Light and he hits a nerve. She kind of feels uncomfortable because Light is acting off and she picks up on it. Also, sorry if Light's OOC a little. I'd recommend listening to "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" from The Piano soundtrack for the Lena & L scenes really set the mood. Lena is twenty-six for future reference. Sorry, the slight cliffhanger at the end I wanted to get this up. I don't own only the plot and Lena. R and R and tell me what think, thanks for reading. ~Serria Spell23

Ch.4-Dinner at the Yagamis'

In the police cruiser, I shifted uncomfortably trying to avoid Chief Yagami's gaze. He undoubtedly burned to delve into my shadowy past with L, however, I couldn't think about him when my mind had to be clear.

My boss drove the streets, dusk falling, wrapping the car and our chosen route within the limitations of melancholy and tragedy. I sighed. Rain began pouring and I observed the streaks on the window, my eyes glassy and clouded; the person I was attempting to block from my thoughts, vying for my attention—in a fierce tango of logic, impulsiveness, passionate charisma and, of course, pain in the ass arrogance.

I hated L so much in some instances and yet…I…cared about him.

"You and Ryuzaki…you two have history," Chief Yagami stated matter-of-factly.

"There's not much to tell. We were partnered together…onlookers may have said I developed a crush…"

"The attraction was and is deeper than superficial, wasn't it, Nanami?"

I nodded. "Yes, but I'm sure you and rest of the team have put two and two together by now. I care about him fervently but if I enlightened him it would only give Kira a pressure point to exploit. I was always awestruck by him his methods scared me but they constantly mesmerized me."

"Don't they still?" my boss teased as he turned into the driveway of his house. I blushed, shielding the evidence from his deductive expression.

"Yes although the argument is moot…I've explained why I can't tell him."

Chief Yagami shook his head, frustration clear within his features. Unbuckling himself, he let out a sigh, stepping around the cruiser to open my door. He paused, glancing at me and finding the words that had frozen on his lips. "Ryuzaki deserves to know, damn the risks!"

I bowed my head ashamed. I knew he was right. However, the chain reaction would prove tragic. L's happiness and well-being held top priority he was focused on catching Kira and wouldn't rest until he tasted justice. He had no time for sentimental declarations. I just had to get my head out of the clouds this was not the time to be selfish.

"I know…" I muttered, brushing passed Chief Yagami. "Sadly, it's never that cut and dry."

Tears welled in my eyes as my hand grasped the door handle. I blinked them away and walked into the house. His wife stood at the kitchen counter fixing dinner. The two other members of the family his daughter and son were nowhere in the vicinity the most probable answer to their whereabouts was homework.

Mrs. Yagami set down the knife and embraced her husband, kissing his cheek. "Dinner's nearly ready, I see we are joined by a guest this evening."

"Yes, Sachiko, she's assisting with the case her name is Nanami."

She extended her hand, I shook it. "Pleased to meet you," I said.

"Likewise, dear. Why don't you make yourself at home dinner will be served shortly."

Leaving my shoes by the door, I took a place at the table. His daughter entered the room bouncing over to her father.

"Hi, Dad."

The chief smiled. "Dinner will be done in a few minutes, Sayu."

The girl nodded and sat the table. Dishes, appearing the wooden surface, assumed the atmospheric white noise of clattering against the table, signaling the meal was moments from now. My mouth frowned as I caressed the slender black, glossy pen clutched in my right hand with my thumb. My case journal laid in my lap—though I was not doing anything productive right now my ears stayed opened in case —but since there seemed to be a lull in activity on account of dinner being on the horizon—I kept my hands nimble by drawing sketches on an empty page.

At least they weren't idle. I smirked thinking of the old adage.

My peace shattered as Mrs. Yagami yelled for her son to come downstairs. "Light, dinner!"

"I'll be there momentarily…"

The smirk disappeared from my expression. An undeniable wave of discomfort hit me—the boy about seventeen in age descended the stairs—the way he carried himself seemed off kilter for the briefest of seconds. His complexion was paler than one would anticipate if someone merely was anti-social and holed up in their room to escape human contact. He was shaken to the core. And I had a hunch why… A silence grew among the people at the table—a prickling, gut, hatred for the man now seated across from me already causing my skin to crawl—only amplified when he opened his mouth.

"How's the case, Dad?" he asked, his voice callous and semi-condescending underneath the layer of masterful guile.

"We have theories but as far as anything damning we are out of luck. It's a slow process, Light. Oh, this is Nanami she is an associate called in to help."

I fixed my eyes on my journal, bit my lip, and tried for the love of God not to interact, however, my horrid vice of civility would win eventually. My pen flew a mile a minute, scratching, crossing out and adding to the list of bullet points on the paper—anything not to lock eyes with him.

"Hello Nanami, look at me, dear. It's only polite."

I tensed, hearing Light refer to me nonchalantly by L's term of endearment. I'd say he stole it or claimed it but he could do neither. L had no claim to a simple word, albeit, a word probably uttered with affection. Nevertheless… Light dipped his head to trail my avoidant gaze. Holding my eyes using a well-executed smirk, he gave a noticeable 'ahem.' With one last stroke of my writing instrument, I cagily answered.

"Yes?"

"You're alone in the world, aren't you," Light commented brusquely.

I rolled my eyes, focusing on my food to alleviate the anger I felt. "And you're a stuck up honor student who always gets a free pass if you do something wrong, your point?!"

"Easy sweetheart, I haven't done anything."

"Not yet...and don't call me sweetheart I'm older than you!"

"An invalid reason to adjust my practices perhaps if I held you in any esteem," Light sneered, so I could only hear.

The desire to yank my hair out in large clumps became more tantalizing as the cat-and-mouse style conversation wore on. I scarcely ate my dinner, on the one hand, it bothered me while on the other—I'd lost my appetite, dreading I would puke if I continued. "You son of a…"

"You are the one who's being cryptic not me…is it a crime for a police chief's son to be curious and want to be involved?"

"If your intention is innocent, no. Excuse me, I don't feel so good."

"You're alone in this world, don't worry you have nothing to lose," Light said revoltingly sweet and I knew he was trying to get inside my head.

The Chief rose from the table, following me outside. I slouched against the cruiser, attempting to get a grip on the nausea. He touched my shoulder patting it gently. "Too much stimulation? Are you all right? Do you want to return to headquarters? The broadcast is done I have no idea what Ryuzaki's doing but you are more at ease around him than you are here."

Nodding, I wiped my mouth, stood and opened the car door. "I'm sorry I screwed up dinner, Chief…and he's eating his twelfth sweet within the hour I bet.

"Don't apologize there's no need. I'll drive you to headquarters then come back." My boss choked on a laugh. "Really?!"

"I've seen it happen, trust me."

After ten minutes fifteen max, we arrived at headquarters. I sprinted into the suite adrenaline carrying me the distance my body couldn't. My boss grinned, looking over his shoulder and shutting the door as he left the room. L tore his eyes from the cupcake in front of him.

"I feel disgusting my skin's crawling!" I blurted.

"What's wrong, dear?"

Light Yagami that's what's wrong! He is the most egotistical, cocky, arrogant son of a bitch! You and he would get along fine. I need a shower. A cold shower."

L glanced at me sideways, pretending not to enjoy my frustration with quite the amount of vigor that he did. He liked observing my cheeks flushing as a result of exasperation. He loved seeing me passionately lost over anything it was hypnotizing.

"I resent that…and why a cold a shower you'll be chilled."

I shook my head good-humoredly. "That's the point…you were brilliant tonight."

"You watched, Nanami?"

I put a finger against my lips, sighing with content. "No, however, Light's reaction when he came to the dinner table was gold. It was instantaneous if I'd blinked I would have missed it…you rattled him for sure then his true colors showed…he started acting like an ass."

L, who had been half-feigning attention because of the various cakes in front of him, perked up as he noticed a shift in tone specifically on the word 'ass' before when I'd cussed Light out I was fuming this time I was hurt.

"Lena, dear, did he say something to you?"

I wanted to protest but didn't have the strength. I needed to disclose within L, my best friend. "I'll clue you in after my shower." I flung my notebook at the detective absentmindedly. "As per your request."

"Ow! You hit me in the eye."

"You were supposed to catch it, L."

He smiled, retrieving from where it fell next to his chair.

The shower acted as the 'shock to my system' I desperately craved after the events of the evening. Remembering what Light said made me livid the fact was more or less true though but dwelling on it caused my pain to fortify my insomnia. My tears mingled with the flowing water as rinsed my hair as I pondered whether I was acting melodramatic.

I shrugged, turning off the shower and pulling the curtain back. I wrapped myself in a towel walking to my room. Dressing swiftly, I changed into another nightdress and my bathrobe. I went into the living room and desired nothing more than to throw my arms around L, letting my concerns of earlier slid off my tongue. Reaching him, I did the usual gesture, however, in addition to firmly anchoring myself within his embrace—I stealthily maneuvered past the arm that held me to swipe a bite of cupcake from the one he was eating.

My friend's eyes widened. "If I'm not mistaken I was eating that, dear. You must be upset you're regressing into your coping techniques."

I brushed the crumbs from my face. "You track my stress habits?! Don't know if that's creepy or helpful, L…"

"I'm observant. Now, Light got under your skin, what did he say, Lena?"

My voice choked, my gaze blurred, and a few tears streaked my cheeks. "You're alone in the world, aren't you and you're alone you have nothing to lose."

L cradled me closer, my head falling onto his chest, protectiveness flashing in his sharp eyes. "You are not and don't you dare let anyone convince you otherwise especially our suspects…"