Chapter 12: Peeping Tom

"By trying to hard, we put ourselves at risk."

-L-

Akane was troubled. She didn't know what it was about L that made her want to trust so fully, but she knew she couldn't get to close to him. He could up and die some day soon if she didn't keep a clear head. One miss step would not just take her life, but everyone around her as well and she could not allow that to happen. She knew she would have to harden her heart if she was going to survive. There was no choice in that. Feelings of any sort... was dangerous endeavor in this game and throwing away one's heart even more so, but one could endure. No matter what she had to beat Kira... whoever Kira might be.

She lifted her head not sure what she'd see in his eyes. In fact the thought alone of what she would see made her completely unnerved and so she she did not look into those eyes for the longest time. "I'm sorry," she whispered before clearing her throat and spoke normally afterwords her grip on his shirt loosened slowly and then her open hands rested on his chest. "I'm usually not this emotional."

L was blushing as his eyes widen or she thought he was with his checks a slightly different color than before. "It is fine," he replied awkwardly with his head turned slightly away, but his eyes remained on her. A woman had never been so close that he could smell that morning's shampoo in her hair, but as he expected there was the scent flower girls are often fond of. He could tell what flower it was but there was this small hint of fruit, strawberries, perhaps.

Then there was that look on her face. Her eyes may have been puffy from the crying, but her eyes were so bright as she gave him a slight embarrassed look of her current state. Akane's smile seemed to shine upon him. She didn't share this often he could tell, that she was someone that normally kept her feelings bottled inside. He quietly in the back of his mine admitted that he enjoyed seeing this side of her even if she was shedding tears, tears he wanted to whip away, but he didn't know how or if she would allow it. Perhaps that is way he let her cry against him.

Akane didn't know why he was blushing. Was she making some odd expression that made he make such a face or was this awkward for him too? She gave an quirk smile as she pulled away. "We should get back to the others. They... are waiting." She placed her disguise back in place and turned away from him. She couldn't look him in the eye at the moment... it was too weird.

"I agree," he said a bit awkward himself, "I've thought of a way to clear your name without drawing suspension. I do not think you will like it."

"Tell me, Ryuzaki as soon as that pressure is off my shoulders the better," she said curiously her voice changer in place and turned on.

….

Akane and L soon returned to the others. Naomi looked at them with concern not sure what they where discussing without her and Akane's shoulders looked rather tense for some reason. Then there was the tensity air surrounding her nearly chocking. Akane seemed like she was planning something that was going to be rather difficult to accomplish so she had her game face on. What's going on? She wondered. I got a bad feeling. I'm not going to like this, am I?

"Now that is taken care of," L began, "We will be focusing our investigation on only those people who Raye Penber was tailing. Particular he was assign to three police officers and those closest to them."

"Very well who are these three individuals he was investigating?" Souichiro asked.

"Deputy Director General Kitamura, Detective Iwoa Satobayashi, along with Detective Superintendent Yagami, and their families." L said looking at the chief from the corner of his eye.

Akane watched her father gasped and his face paled as his name was mentioned. She knew he wasn't going to like it and she was curious as to how Kira had gotten Raye's name in the first place. Akane was sure Raye had been careful the entire time. What had Kira down to get his name or was forced to do so by other means? How had he done this? Naomi say he hadn't done anything weird and the only time she knew his name was exposed was with her at that little cafe when he paid for the lunch. Maybe he used a credit card to pay for something and Kira happened to be there to see his name? Honestly she wasn't positive what to think about what happened, but she knew it was Raye that Kira had gotten a hold of for his little plan.

"At this stage I'd like to place wiretaps," L said as he turned to look at them all with a bored look, "and surveillance cameras in all households."

There it was... the part that Akane didn't like about this plan at all. At least she had the weekend to repair for this, both mentally and physically, but mostly it was so she could get her emotions in order. Akane planned for Donovan to stick with L or Naomi and fill her in on the details later on, when she wasn't being monitored, but that was only a piece of her plan. The other was to knock two birds with one stone. To clear her name and the second bird was to investigate Yuka. A bit unorthodox, but it would work... she hoped. Maybe to even draw out Kira a bit more.

"You want to what?!" Naomi yelped. What would be the purpose of this?! Do they know something I don't?

"Surveillance cameras? Ryuzaki!" Matsuda questioned in disbelief.

"I don't even see how you can consider this!" Aizawa barked. "If this ever got out we'll have a civil rights scandal on our hands! We'll all loose our jobs!"

L slowly lifted his head and looked directly at Aizawa, "You told me you would be willing to risk your lives for this investigation, but you wouldn't risk your jobs?" L questioned.

"Ryuzaki..." Souichiro slowly said, "What are the odds that Kira is in one of those households?"

Akane turned her eyes away to look at L curious as to what he'd say at such a question while he was looking up at the roof in thought as the numbers went off in his head at mind numbing speeds. "Maybe ten percent... no it's closer to five percent."

"Seriously?" Matsuda said, "I'm sorry, but it's not worth the risk!"

"No," Akane's father said a determined look on his face. "Of all the people we investigated so far... not one of them seemed the least bit suspicious. Even if there is only a one percent chance. We simply can't afford to ignore it."

"Chief..."

"I don't have to tell you how offended I am to learn my family is under suspicion. Having said that just go ahead with it and make sure install them everywhere I don't want any blind spots in the house and that includes the bathroom. "

A shiver went down Akane's spine, but she didn't move an inch. She knew he was going to say that. After all she knew her father all to well. Akane was not looking forward to this week or however long it was going to take to clear her name. I have no choice other than to go along with this! How humiliating and I'm forced to bare with it!

"Thank you very much," L replied. "That was my intention."

"Come on, chief! You don't have to agree to this!" Aizawa said.

"Yes that's right! Think about your family! You have a wife and two daughters at home, don't you?" Matsuda pleaded.

Naomi was quiet she didn't like this either and she knew Akane liked it least of all. It was her home after all. If this is her and L's plan we don't have a choice. It has to be done. Poor Akane though...

"Yes, I'm well aware of that fact!" He told the two of them sternly as he raised his voice. "But there is no point in doing any of this if we can't be thorough! Now I suggest you be keep quite!"

They didn't like it but his words made the two of them to stop arguing to some relief on Akane's mind. She was already uncomfortable with this as it was. This is going to be one of the worst weeks of my life, Akane thought to herself dreading it all.

"I'm sorry..." Matsuda said after a long moment silent moment.

"It's okay..." Souichiro replied as his fixed his glassed. "Excuse me..."

L moved to the couch and sat down in his unusual ways, "As a courtesy to the chief and his family only Shoko, Tenshi, he, and I will conduct surveillance their home."

"Tenshi? Why him?" Matsuda asked surprised.

"Her. I happen to be a woman, Matsuda." Akane told them in a bored voice.

"What?! I thought you where a guy this whole time!" Matsuda said in surprise.

"Exactly what I want you to think, but worry not. I won't be here often. I have my own investigate to dig into. So it would be mostly just miss Shoko, Chief Souichiro, and Ryuzaki to watch the Yagami family. My condolences for that, but the chief is quite right. Being thorough is the only way to go in an investigation such as this. Note that the reveal of my true gender means I trust you to some degree." Akane told them his a calm manner.

"I see, thank you Tenshi," the chief said a bit surprised himself, but as short as Tenshi was he wasn't too surprised she was near the same height as his eldest daughter, but perhaps Tenshi was a couple inches taller.

"Of course," Akane replied with her father having no idea he was speaking to his own daughter. She took great measures to make sure he didn't learn the truth. Her shoes may look like normal men's dress shoes, but they actually had a bit of heels inside them to give her a few more inches in height and the hat made her look taller as well. She even made sure she stood differently while dressed as Tenshi and it was in a more manly or stern sort of manner.

"Watari. How long will it take to repair wire taps and cameras we need?" L asked.

"Well starting tomorrow I can set up at any time provided we know in all three houses will be empty." Watari replied.

Akane knew how her father felt as she looked at him from the corner of her eye. She didn't like this idea either, but it had to be done to avoid suspicion of why they where looking into both the Yagami and the Sachiko houses. She didn't want to leave any impressions of herself or any inklings to her hidden powers. This discomfort was unavoidable and maybe the only way she could see... Kira's true identity or perhaps this would be for nothing other than clearing her involvement.

….

Akane spent the rest of the weekend getting ready to return home that Monday afternoon. She ended up staying the night at Naomi's place Sunday so she could wash her uniform for the next day. "Thanks for letting me borrow your washing machine, Naomi." Akane said as she turned it on.

"It's no problem thanks to you I might have a real chance at getting justice for Raye." Naomi replied.

"You could of done it without me and you know it," Akane said with a smile. "It just so happened that you and I are after the same thing. I would of helped you regardless if I had an interest or not, of course. You're one of the few people I know that I can trust. I will always hold people I can actually be myself around dearly."

Naomi gave a sad smile. She understood what she meant for she had explained it earlier. Akane must of felt so alone and now that she thought of it... maybe Akane had less freedoms then some people and maybe her stress levels where higher as well with all the presser she had from her family. That may have been why she took on the task of being Tenshi in the first place or perhaps Satoru was her freedom and future before Kira had stolen it all away or that was Naomi's thoughts on her situation. It made Naomi feel petty for her. The poor thing... you've lost more than you'll ever let on, didn't you Akane?

"Hey what do you think about ordering Chinese? My treat. I know it's getting late, but I'm starving." Akane told her with a smile trying to change the subject before Naomi could ask or say anything else. Akane didn't want her to worry about her to much so she plastered a smile on her face and pretended everything was alright when it really wasn't.

"Sure that sounds great," Naomi said smiling back. "Donovan hasn't put down that book since he got here. He really likes to read doesn't he?"

"Yeah L let him borrow it and I'm surprised he let him too. It's likely that Donovan will do nothing else for the next several hours." Akane laughed. "Sometimes I think he was a knight or something in his formal life with the way he acts."

"He does have an odd formal way of speaking," Naomi agreed, "but you can tell he's well educated and old fashion. Even with his scary voice his manners are refreshing once your use to it." They looked at him kindly as he sitting on the recliner reading the book an at ease expression on his face while he was lost in the book. Neither wanted to disturb such a creature and for a God of Death... he was so noble and kind. It was rather strange though they had no experiences with other Gods and in the back of their minds they doubted he wasn't like any other Shinigami that where, maybe, out there.

Akane nodded as she stretched before heading for her phone, "I'm going to order the us some grub now."

….

After their meals arrived the two put on a romantic movie with the actor Hideki Ryuga, which happened to be one of L's aliases and Akane found funny wondering faintly how her sister would react to her knowing someone with the same name. "My sister is obsesses with that guy." Akane told her casually.

"Of course she is. He's hot and looks great without a shirt on," Naomi said and they laughed. "What woman wouldn't want a piece of that fine ass?"

"L is better looking to be completely honest," Akane admitted after a moment then she blinked, Did I really just say that out loud?

"Really? You think so?" Naomi asked a bit surprise of what she was saying.

"Yeah," She replied a bit uncomfortable with what she had let out so easily, "Is it just me who thinks that?"

"Well... yes... sort of. I think you are, but that's not saying L isn't attractive. You must have a thing for quirky, lanky, super geniuses." Naomi told her letting out a giggle.

"Maybe or it's just him," Akane said amused and a bit embarrassed. She was honestly curious as to why she let something like that slip in the first place. Maybe it was just that she felt so relaxed around Naomi, which was a rare thing to happen at all for her. Akane didn't know what she really thought of L, but she did find him attractive in his own right. "I find him intriguing more than anything. He's such an enigma."

"Are you crushing on L, Akane?" Naomi asked her brow raised her voice going from light to slightly serious.

"I don't know and I don't know what I'm feeling. I'm still trying to figure things out and taking things as they come," Akane said honestly. It's been over three mouths now that Satoru died. I'm not ready for any of this foolish nonsense. Now is not the time to feel anything for someone for they could die any moment these days thanks to that Kira bastard. Even so... why does that L. Lawliet affect me so much? What is it about him that draws my intrigue? I don't get it at all. He such a weirdo and somehow I find him attractive? Maybe I'm the weirdo in this case or it could be I have a few screw loose after everything that's happened. I have problems... mental ones, She thought feeling a bit miserable. This is just to much at once. I need time to get my head on right so I can focus soulfully on this case. Thank heavens I have a least a week away from L even if he's going to be seeing my every move at home.

"I can understand that, your still mourning him, aren't you?" Naomi said a sympathetic look on her face.

"I am," Akane nodded before she sighed, "and you yours. We just have our own ways of mourning. Can we change the subject now?"

"Alright I do have a question. It's been on my mind for a while now. How are you going to get through things at home when you know L is going to be seeing everything?" Naomi inquired stressing the last word and Akane understood what she was asking.

"Not think about?" She shrugged. "He won't be the first guy that's seen me naked. I'll just try not to think about it and act as natural as possible, but that might be easier said than done. I mean it's going to feel creepy and humiliating, but I don't have a choice at the moment. I knew something like this was going to happen from the beginning. My father can't know I'm Tenshi yet and I think to many people already know Tenshi's true face as it is. I have to lay low for as long as possible. The longer I'm hidden the longer I'm going to live and be able to solve this case."

"How many people know you're Tenshi?" Naomi asked.

"In total? Four," Akane said. "Two are you and L. Then a doctor and finally my mentor, who taught me all I know... my grandfather Rin Yagami, who died a year ago."

"Oh I see. Did anyone else ever know you where Tenshi like Satoru?"

"No," Akane replied. "I never had the opportunity."

….

She was dreaded going to school that morning and more over she was dreaded going home that evening. Akane had a large list of things in her mind to keep her occupied during this time. She planned to redecorate her room, play video games, study, go out to Karaoke with her so called school friends friends, and read a books with Donovan so he could get his reading fix while he was at home with her every once in a while.

Naomi had said she's inform her when the cost was clear so Akane would have to be on her toes until then. She was not looking forward to any of this at all as she walked home from school. No one was home as she unlocked the door. "How strange... mom's always home after school." she casually said to herself as she opened the door with a key. It was the start of her week in hell and even worse she knew it too.

"The taps and cameras are in place," Donovan said. "I'm going to L's with Naomi and the rest, my lady. I'll be back once I have a report on Yuka for you." He bowed before leaving the house without a reply from Akane for he knew she couldn't reply.

"I'm starving..." She said to herself picking up her red phone and called a delivery place. Akane ordered herself something to eat not sure when her mother and sister was going to be home. She knew where they were. They where shopping. Her father had given the two cash to go shopping the night before or at least that was Naomi told her.

No one told her the house was going to be empty when she arrived at home today, but she knew it was empty for the front door have being locked. Akane had thought her mother would of wait to invite her to their little shopping venture, but her mother also knew Akane didn't really like going shopping or at least with other people. She always found shopping with other people irritating. Always being hounded to try on what ever little outfit the other or others found and then forced to show it off to them like so pampered show dog. That may be fun for some people, but not to her. She knew what she liked and she knew what she looked good in. Akane needed no one to tell her otherwise.

Akane rolled her eyes at the thought, Really? How is that fun? A horrid waste of time is what that is.

She took a breath and focused on what was really going on, but she suppose that was normal teen behavior on some level. Either way, the detectives likely wanted to know what she did when she was alone. Akane decided to make herself seem like any normal teenage girl to some extent as she went up the stares knowing damn well they had swept over her room and of course they found nothing odd about her simple room and only found pictures of her family, Satoru, and Toshi from back when she was happy.

Akane sighed as she touched Satoru's picture and her heart ached every time she looked at it. "That's enough. I can't keeping doing this to myself!" she scowled herself serious about it as she took his picture off the wall. Then she placed the picture on the bed and that followed all the other ones that contained her deceased lover's face. It left just her family and Toshi and the walls looked rather bare now. She didn't noticed how many pictures she had of Satoru until they were taken away.

She took a box from her dresser that contained many other pictures and began to replace the picture frames with other images. She couldn't look at Satoru every time she entered her room. It was depressing and it gave her something to do for the stinking cameras. She placed one picture of her school 'friends' in it thinking, I'd rather have a picture of my real friend than these fakes, but I can't just yet. She placed that picture frame on the wall then turned to her other pictures finding one of Sayu as a baby just learning to walk. Akane smiled at it. She could somewhat recall that memory. She was encouraging her sister to come to her. They bother had such big smiles on their faces in the picture and the next was Akane comforting Sayu after she fell. It was a fond memory even if it was a lie. She was to naive at the time to realize she was expected to the perfect show pony for her little family.

Akane quickly snapped out the memory as she quick placed those two pictures on the wall side by side. Then as quickly as she could finished replacing the rest and tucked away Satoru's pictures into the box before putting it away and just as she finished her door bell rang. "Maybe that's that's my order," she said to herself as she left the room.

….

"That's the neighbor, Satoru that died isn't it?" L inquired as he watched the TV screens.

"Yes, it is." Souichiro replied as he adjusted his glasses. He was surprised that she was putting pictures of Satoru away like that. She was trying to move on. He saw the pain stricken look on her face that disappeared just a few moments later. She exchanged Satoru's pictures with her school friends and pictures of her family.

"Hmm," he said as he nodded looking at him before turning his wide eyes back to the TV.

They watched as she payed for the meal at the door and went back inside. A casual look replaced her more determined one when she was replaced the pictures. Faintly he wonder where she had gotten the money to order food though she did have an allowance so maybe that was it. He pushed that thought out of his mind for it was likely irrelevant.

"What to watch with the meal... hmm..." she muttered as she looked through the movies on a shelf in the living room. "This one might do. Sayu has been trying to get me to watch it for ages." She giggled as she read over the main cast on it's cover. "Of course this is why. Her crush Hideki Ryuga is all over it. What does she see in him? Really? Six pack? Great hair?" Her eyes landing on the back seeing an image of him in swim trucks all wet from the pool or whatever. She smirk and gave a teasing chuckle, "Or is it that he looks good all wet?"

Her father nearly choked on tea hearing perfect Akane talking like that. What did she just say?! He demand in his mind completely caught off guard.

A corner of L's lip turned upward slightly amused, She said that on purpose. Most likely to get a raise out of her father. She certainly succeeded.

She sighed as shrugged and then she tucked the movie under her arm. Afterwards Akane headed upstairs to put it on on her room. The screen came on and in the first few frames of the opening credits where about a cute, but plain girl vowing to never love or was it she didn't believe in it. Then it moved on to a hot and steamy where Hideki was wearing only a towel fresh out a shower. An image of L in just a towel after similar steamy shower suddenly popped into her mind. Oh dammit why that?! She growled in her head. Why the hell did he have to choose an alias with the same name as this damn actor! Now that image is violating freaking my brain!

Akane sighed rolling her eyes with unimpressed look on her face, "He is attractive, but what is there anything else about his? Ugh, so unrealistic." she said before taking a bit of her food. "This movie is almost average at best."

"That actor is Hideki Ryuga," L said staring at the screen as he watched every small movement of her face trying to get a read on her personality. "Most girls at her age are obsessed with him. Do you find it surprising she is not?"

"My Akane is more mature than most," Souichiro said passively. Even if that comment earlier said otherwise, he added as an after thought.

"That is not why I asked that," L replied. "She seems bitter of him. Perhaps their was trouble in her love life."

"Akane isn't dating anyone. She is far to focused on the school entrance examines and cram school for college." her father said.

"I see," L replied, but he knew better.

….

Akane's mind was numb as the screen changed to a rain in the city of Tokyo and she groaned as Hideki told his love interest, "I love you... always," in a the sexiest voice the man could muster as he looked at her with his intense light brown eyes. She watched as the girl dramatically fell for his words and pretty tears poured from her eyes as she dropped her umbrella. The only thing Akane was asking herself was why the hell was he out side in the rain without his own umbrella?! Was he trying to caught a cold or something? But no it was to make it more dramatic and so girls could see through his button up dress shirt too.

"Blow me, Hideki," she said mostly to herself as she turned off the TV and went down stairs to trough away the trash from her meal. Then walked back upstairs to grab a change of clothes. This is it... time to shame myself for the camera. I hate L so much right now. I hate myself right now too!

She made her way to the bathroom and shut the door locking it behind her. Then she turned on the water setting the temperature higher than usual. She wanted her skin to turned red to hid the fact she new she was blushing and the steam might cloud up the lens a bit... she hoped at least.

Akane sighed as she lifted her vest sweeter throwing it into the hamper before she unbutton her shirt. Then she went for her skirt and socks. Just take them off and act normal. Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush.

She quickly slipped off her bra and then panties. Keeping her face as blank as possible before jumping into the shower. The hot water rinsed over her as she sighed and tried to relaxed as much as she could. She washed her hair and body trying to be quick yet not suspicious. She stepped out and wrapped a towel around herself. Blow dried her hair and put on her change of clothes.

Her face was still a bit red but the rest of her a bit red as well so no one should really notice. Then left the bathroom. She forced herself not to think about what just happened and focus on going back to her room to do homework and study. Congratulations Akane you just turned L into a peeping tom, She thought to herself with sarcasm.

A part of her wanted to cry, but she knew she had to do this and just bare with it. She had no choice in this. She knew she was going to be a suspect when Raye was killed and in order to clear her name she had to be investigated. It didn't mean she like it at all. Akane felt mortify by having to do it in the first place. Hopefully that's going to be the last time I have to do something so... disgusting.

EDITED!