Light

Light Yagami approached the expansive building that was To-Oh Academy. His steps were confident and smooth and his hands were stuffed in his pockets. It was a new year, but there was still a chill in the air; Winter didn't want to relent her grasp on Tokyo. Light knew how she felt all to well.

It had been a busy couple of months since the incident of the FBI agents. With Raye Penber, his fiance, and then the surveillance in his home for a full week, he'd had to do a lot of thinking on his feet. The detective known as L was a force with ever gaining momentum. Every time Light thought he'd had him beat, something else popped up. The bastard even wrecked his computer. It was a good thing he'd thought to put in that virus folder, but he didn't think someone as seemingly prudent as L would fall for it, then fry his power strip in a sloppy attempt to cover his tracks.

Light tried to push those thoughts aside for now. He had to complete his exams to get into the Academy, not that he was terribly worried about passing. With all the studying he had shown off doing, he figured he'd better do his best regardless. Appearances were important. Light was confident that most would believe Kira would never advertise how intelligent he was, so he saw this as yet another strategical move.

There were several people heading toward the school, like strings of ants carefully picking their way toward their hill. Some spoke to one another, some laughed carelessly; others were silent, staring at their toes as they walked. However, one thing nearly all of them had in common was the air of nervousness they carried. It was pungent: a gas that hung in the air. One had to pass the exams to get into the Academy. It was natural to be a touch nervous if one didn't have the full skill and knowledge to pass.

Perhaps that was why Light's stride was so full of purpose, so dauntless. He knew full well that he had what it took. Compared to his work as Kira, this was nothing.

"Sure is busy," Ryuk noted. The Shinigami floated along behind him. L glanced back, taking in the gray flesh and lidless eyes, the ever-grinning mouth, the spiky black hair, and shoulder pieces made of what looked like large raven feathers. His wings stretched out behind him but they didn't flap; they never did.

Light, of course, couldn't reply to the god of death, not out here in the open with so many people. He merely nodded slightly to acknowledge him and kept making his way toward the doors.

As he approached, he noticed two people that stood out from the drab of the crowd. Perhaps it was how they were dressed. The young man was wearing a long-sleeve white shirt and jeans. The shirt seemed a size too big and hung on his thin frame. His hair was black as ivory and laid in a layered arrangement that hung down over his dark eyes.

The girl, meanwhile, was in far brighter attire. Her thick hoodie was cerulean blue while her jeans were dark, almost navy. Her shoes were an array of neon colors and appeared to be the flat-footed runners people who skateboarded would wear. Her hair was the color of a cloudless sky, and it was short—shorter than the male she was with and even shorter than Light's. On her head was a pair of brilliant yellow headphones, but one ear was exposed in order to allow her to hear those around her.

Needless to say, both of them were hardly dressed for Japan let alone such important exams.

Their demeanor drew Light's attention next. While the majority of the students were stressed out from the pressure of the exams, these two seemed practically carefree. The girl was grinning and swinging their joined hands. The male was calm; his gaze was flat and almost bored—with where he was or with the girl, Light couldn't tell. They paused near the doors and faced one another. Light was just close enough to hear her speak to him in English.

"Just do your best," she said. "I know you've got this down pat, but... you know, still."

The young man's mouth twitched a bit—a ghost of a smile. "Well thank you, I suppose that is decent enough reassurance."

"You don't need it." The girl waved him off.

Light was only a few paces from them now. He found himself slowing his steps so that he could listen to their conversation longer.

"I shouldn't be long," the young man said. "You can explore a bit. I'll text you when it's done."

"Just remember—don't believe in yourself, believe in the me that believes in you." The girl reached up, cupping the young man's cheek. She held his gaze with what seemed like sincerity, but Light could see the struggle at the corner of her mouth. She was trying not to grin.

The young man just stared at her, unmoved. "That's from The Fist of the North Star."

"My drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens, Hideki," the girl said through a laugh she was clearly trying to suppress.

The young man let out a long breath, but his hand came up and gripped hers. He brought it to his mouth, his lips brushing against her knuckles. The girl blinked, as if this was not a common occurrence. However, she recovered swiftly, beaming and wrapping her arms around her companion.

"Break a leg. Knock 'em dead. All the cliches for good luck you can think of," she said in his ear.

The young man returned the hug, but his movements were a bit stiff. "Thank you, Nina."

Light passed them at that point. He didn't look their way or give them any cause to think he'd been listening or paying so much attention to them. What an odd couple. They almost seemed like opposites. The girl clearly wasn't Japanese. Given her accent she was either American or Canadian. Part of Light wondered who they were, but he decided he had more important things to focus on.

The exams were as easy as he predicted. Light breezed through the questions and was already halfway done within the first fifteen minutes. Oddly, it was a bit refreshing to take a break from his real work, but he felt the call of his Death Note waiting for him back home. Now that he had L scared enough to threaten 1500 FBI agents coming to Japan, he was ready to take his next steps into finding the detective and ending him.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to sit properly in your seat."

One of the teachers was patrolling up and down the aisle of students and spoke out behind Light. Curious, he glanced over his shoulder toward whoever the teacher was scolding.

It took all Light's self control not to startle. It was the young man from outside, the one with the pale complexion and dark hair. He was perched in his chair like some odd bird, his feet bare and toes gripping the edge of it, knees up to his chest. His shoes laid forgotten under his desk.

However, the mere fact that he was there wasn't what shot a chill down Light's spine. The young man was staring at Light. Staring so intently with his dark eyes Light felt like they might pierce a lance through his skull. What was that about? Who was this guy? It was too late to act like he hadn't noticed, so Light elected to give the young man a small nod as a way of greeting. He didn't bother to keep the confusion off his face. Anyone would be taken off guard by a stare like that.

The young man did not return the nod, nor did he bother correcting his posture for the teacher. He just kept staring.

"Sir," the teacher tried again. "Please, sit down and put your shoes back on."

Light decided to return his attention to his papers. His heart pattered and stammered with unease. He didn't know what to make of it—was the young man someone he should know? Perhaps L had sent someone else to tail him, but he certainly wasn't as stealthy as the FBI agent Raye Penber had been. If it was an agent of L's, the detective needed to find better people.

There was a chance the guy was just weird, but it seemed off though. He was clearly an awkward oddball, so how did he have a girlfriend? One that was out of the guy's league, if Light was being honest with himself. From what little Light had seen of her, she seemed to be that young man's opposite—laughing and joking, wearing loud colors even in her hair. Meanwhile, this guy was quiet and reserved and had no color in his attire whatsoever.

Light could still feel the stare on the back of his head, like someone was trying to squeeze his skull like a lemon over their water. He didn't dare look back. Instead, he focused on his exam and pushed on until he finally finished, a half hour later. The jolt of the strange man staring at him had hurt his time, but he still felt he did well.

When Light turned in his papers, he saw that the young man had finished before him. Light spotted his dark head of hair just disappearing through the doorway.

Eager to get some answers, Light took long strides to the doors. When he exited the building, he spotted the young man down the path a ways. He was being greeted by the girl with blue hair. Light was too far away to hear their words, but she saw him grip the man's hand in both of her own and beam at him, jumping once with enthusiasm. The man shrugged and pulled her toward him, wrapping an arm around her waist. They began walking like that further down the path.

Light paused, trying to think.

"Oh ho..." Ryuk muttered from behind him.

Light glanced back, but it was too crowded to speak to the Shinigami. He instead raised a brow at him, hoping to get an answer.

Ryuk laughed and shook his head. "This just keeps getting better and better. You humans are so interesting."

Coming to the conclusion that Ryuk wasn't going to give him any information, as usual, he turned and began to follow after the couple. Something was up, especially after that little quip from Ryuk. He had to find out what.

Jack

"You're sure this is a good idea?"

L's voice was low so only I could hear it as we walked toward the street. He had texted me he was finished with his exams before he was even actually finished. It timed it so that when Watari pulled up on the road and by the time I walked up the path to greet him, L was just leaving the building. He said he wanted to avoid letting Light speak to him too soon.

But while Watari and I had gone to have tea while L did his tests, I thought of something.

The plan starting boiling in my mind when we first saw Light go into the building. I had tried to pay attention both to him, L and Nox all at the same time. The Shinigami that stalked me gave no indication of anything, however. He merely stood a few paces away, leaning on the wall and messing with the ragged hems of his cloak.

I wanted alone time with Light. I wanted to speak to him before he had any indication of who I might be. It would be in both and effort to make him slip up and to make Nox give me some indication that there was another Shinigami around. Slowly, a plot formulated in my mind. And lucky me, I'd managed to sell L on it.

"Trust me," I said. I walked with a confident stride. L's arm was still around my waist. At first I had been a bit wary of the touch, but now it was oddly comforting. Like he was giving me some strength for the shit I was about to pull. I hadn't told the detective my entire plan.

"Light lives near the Shinjuku station," L said. "This isn't a good way to test how desperate he is to follow us when we're heading his way."

"Making it easy is part of the point," I replied, grinning over at him. "Let him watch us. Let him ponder and fester his anxiety about who we are. After all, from what you said, you mean-dogged him pretty good."

"Mean-dogged?" L echoed.

"Glared at him so hard that if you had super powers his head would probably be a pile of ash right now." I winked.

L grunted softly. "Watari is set to pick us up at Tokyo station. Let's just hope this trek is of some use."

We took the subway up to the main JR line and transferred over. Of course this time of day, the JR was flooded with people. It was, after all, the main line that roved around Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region. I felt my heart rate began to accelerate at the sight of the line built up waiting for the next train. We were at Ueno station, which was one of the busiest. People were coming and going like eddies in a river. I clung close to L, surprise that it seemed to help relieve the tightness in my gut from the crowd.

"The trains aren't so bad once you get used to them," L said, seeming to sense my discomfort. "Besides, I'm sure someone will be willing to give them your seat."

"Why do you say that?" I asked, frowning up at him.

"You're an attractive young woman," L said with a shrug. "Plenty of men would be eager to act as the gentleman for you."

"Was that a compliment with a genuine tone?" I teased, prodding him in the side. "You're going to make me blush."

"I think I already have," L pointed out, reaching up and brushing a thumb against my cheek.

True enough, there was certainly heat in my cheeks. I knew we were supposed to be trying to sell this dating act, but damn... I didn't expect him to get to me like that.

"Maybe it's just been a long time since someone paid me such a lovely compliment," I said.

"Can't imagine why."

I scowled at him and saw his mouth flicker with an almost smile.

The train pulled in, sending a small blast of air our way before it slowed to a stop. The speakers above played the musical charm announcing its arrival and the disembodied voice calling out: "Ueno. Ueno desu."

A flood of people exited the cars, but as soon as they left, the lines of people were filing in. They pressed forward, and as L and I neared the car, I realized that there was barely enough room for someone to take a single step. They were literally shoulder to shoulder, squashed in like sardines.

L stepped up into the car, squeezing between two business men. He looked at me expectantly. There was barely enough room for one more person. But should I step up there, it was going to have me pinned when the door closed. I wouldn't be able to move.

I wouldn't be able to breathe.

The chime was going again, the warning that in three heartbeats, those doors were going to close.

"Nina," L said sharply.

I finally found the courage to move. But instead of taking a step forward, a step into the car...

I took a step back.

The doors closed.

L's eyes were wide as the train pulled away with him inside and me still standing at the station.

It was a good thing I wasn't even planning on getting onto that train. I had gotten pretty familiar with the train lines, unlike what I led L to believe. I could avoid the JR if I wanted to. But to be honest, the act I just gave for L wasn't entirely fiction. There was a reason I stuck to the subways and not the main line. This crowd was a nightmare.

Now to sell it.

"Shit," I breathed. "Shit, shit, shit!" I stumbled a few steps back.

Directly into someone.

I immediately reverted to Japanese. "Excuse me," I said, turning to properly apologize.

"It's all right. Are you okay?"

My heart leapt into my throat. Part of me hadn't expected this to actually work- but there he was.

Smiling at me was none other than Light Yagami.

Light

Following them hadn't been the easiest thing, especially when they got on the subway. Getting off on Ueno station was a nightmare this time of day. He was terrified he wasn't going to be able to get on the same train as them when they went up to the platform to board the JR. But he'd arrived just in time to see the train doors close, separating the young man and the blue-haired girl.

"Oh hello," she said in stilted Japanese. "Uh, yes, I got..." She paused, seeming to search for a word. "Separated from my..." She paused again then let out a small, frustrated sigh. "I'm sorry, I'm not very skilled with Japanese yet. Do you speak English?"

"I do," Light replied in the language. "What happened exactly?"

The girl laughed and rubbed the back of her neck. "It's pretty embarrassing, to be honest, a real rookie mistake. I might as well be a tourist," the girl said, switching to English. "I got separated from my boyfriend. I guess I saw all the people smashed into that train and... well it freaked me out."

Light frowned at her. "Yeah, it can be a bit nerve-wracking if you're not used to it," he said. "Are you going to try and get on the next train?"

The girl glanced from the train tracks to the signs overhead showing the schedule, then back to Light. She adjusted the headphones on her head a bit. One still covered her right ear.

"Honestly, I don't know. I have someone that can give me a ride, but he's on the other side of Tokyo right now, it would take him forever to get here," she said with a tight sigh. "I don't want to make him do that. But at the same time... it's so busy..."

"Do you want someone to come with you?" Light asked. "What station were you trying to get to?"

She hesitated, twining a gloved hand with the cord to her headphones. "I wouldn't want to be a bother. You don't have to do that."

"It's okay," Light said. "In fact- if you like, I'm familiar enough with the train lines, we might be able to figure out a way to just use the subway to get you to the right station. It might take longer, but at least it won't be as crowded."

"Oh, well that's really nice of you!" the girl said. Then she grinned wickedly. "But how do I know you're not trying to pull something on me, huh?"

Light laughed a little. "Oh, no, of course not, miss. My father is actually a police officer. And the subways aren't deserted, mind you. Plus there are cameras. I won't make you follow me anywhere you're not comfortable."

He didn't know who this girl was, but he wouldn't mind some time to talk to her. To figure out who she was, and if she was a threat.

"How chivalrous," the girl said with a chuckle. "All right, pretty boy, I'll take your word for it. I'm trying to get to Tokyo station. If you can show me a way to get there without being part of a cat's canned food, I'd appreciate it."

"Of course, I'd be happy to," Light said. "I think... did I see you and your boyfriend at To-Oh Academy today?"

The girl's face lit up. "Could be! Hideki had exams today. Now that you mention it, I think I saw you pass by!"

"Yes," Light said with a nod. "My name is Light Yagami. Who might you be?"

"Oh, my name is Nina Forner," the girl replied. "Let me just text Hideki to wait at Tokyo station. Otherwise He'll just get on the next train back here."

She pulled out a phone and flipped it open. Light was tempted to see if he could maneuver around to look at her screen to see what name she had "Hideki" saved under. The more clues he had on that guy the better. However, Nina stayed in front of him, only showing him the back of her cell as her thumbs danced across the keys. She paused for a moment, then there was a small tone and she looked at her screen, eyes darting back and forth.

"Okay," she said, snapping the cell shut and grinning up at him. "He'll wait for me at Tokyo station."

Light smiled back at her. "Great. It'll probably be about a half hour to forty-five minutes, but I think you'll appreciate it much better than stuffing yourself into one of those."

Even as he spoke, another train showed up and people shoved themselves inside. There wasn't even room for a single yen between the people.

Nina watched with an expression that almost looked nauseated.

"I agree. Let's go." She turned to him, giving him a toothy grin.

Light offered her his arm. "Best we don't get separated."

She eyed it for a moment, clearly apprehensive.

Light chuckled. "I'm sure Ryuga will understand."

"Right," Nina said. She slowly reached up and then slid her hand into the crook of his elbow.

He could sense her discomfort. But he didn't let it show. He smiled gently at her before leading the way back down the stairs into the main station.

He'd have at least a half hour alone with her on the subway. Surely that would be enough time for him to pry some useful information from her. And if she was a threat... he'd eliminate her.

L

This was not good.

L had dealt with several different complicated situations. More than complicated situations. But he had almost always known all the variables. All the potential possibilities. Yet somehow, somewhere along the line, he'd neglected to notice a very key factor.

Jack was scared of crowds.

Not just scared. Terrified.

The look on her face was that of someone facing the barrel of a gun. He didn't understand at first. He gestured for her to join him. But instead of stepping forward to his side- she'd stepped backward. And then the doors closed.

It made sense- the medicine she took might not just be for sleep after all. But what part of an anti-psychotic helped with agoraphobia? Wouldn't that be a type of anxiety? L had all the pieces to put this particular puzzle together but for some reason he couldn't get them to fit.

He'd planned to get off on the next stop- text her and tell her to just wait there, he'd go back on the next train going the other way back to Ueno. But she texted him first.

"Hey, so that guy you took the test with—Light? He's here and offering to get me to Tokyo station through the subways instead of the JR. Meet you there?"

That's what it read. It sounded so casual. Like a girl texting her boyfriend. L knew her phone was set in English, the text would read in English, but neither of them were certain how fluent Light might be in the language. She was smart, covering her tracks in case he managed to look at her cell. And L knew it was a brilliant chance. Taking the subway all the way to Tokyo station would take about a half hour and that was just riding time, not including transferring trains and getting to the subway itself from the JR.

She'd have plenty of time to investigate him. Talk to him. Possibly get him to slip up. Jack was smart, she'd proven that time and time again.

But so was Light.

Suddenly, Jack's episode didn't seem like just discomfort of crowds. While he felt confident even she couldn't fake that kind of terror in her eyes, he had a horrible feeling she planned this. She had said she wanted to see how far Light would follow them. She started heading in a direction that would lead Light home on purpose.

That idiot.

L bit down on his thumbnail. He could almost hear Jack's voice scolding him for doing so. The mere idea of her being alone with Light... Light who very well could be Kira...

He'd stared at his phone, at her simple, common text, his heart hammering. If he told her to tell Light to leave her alone- to tell him that L would be back for her- even offering for Light to wait with her while L returned- all of that would only show Light was that he was blatantly suspicious of him.

No. No, L knew that wasn't what he was frightened of revealing to Light. He wanted the young man on edge. He wanted him to panic and slip up. That was the entire reason he'd gone to the test in the first place, why he'd shown his face.

L knew the real thing he was scared of showing Light was that he was concerned about Jack. That he... cared. Showing that kind of protectiveness would only tell Light that Jack could be used as a weapon against him, just like Jack told him he would do if he saw them too close. He couldn't have that kind of weakness, that kind of vulnerability. Besides, it wasn't like he truly... cared... about Jack...

L's fingers darted across the phone. His response was simple.

"I'll be waiting, then."

She didn't respond back.

She still hadn't responded after L had been waiting at Tokyo station for nearly thirty minutes.