A/N::: Sorry for the delayed Chapter again, guys, I was the Maid of Honor at a wedding this last weekend, so I was running around far too much to get this posted. Next chapter will be here on Friday on schedule! Enjoy!

Light

Light tapped his pen against the desk, one hand gripping his chin. Over and over, he kept recalling the exams. That couple. The one he'd followed through the train stations. The male, Hideki, had made no attempt to hide his intent stare during the tests, and then the girl, Nina, and her episode at Ueno station... her comment just before they reunited with her boyfriend.

"He's only human."

It had struck a rage in Light's heart that he didn't know he was capable of. It was like she knew. She knew that he was forging a new world in which he would be the god. It was what he vowed he'd become when he first met Ryuk. This girl—in one sentence—had challenged everything he was attempting.

There was always the possibility that it was just something she believed. That she didn't actually know anything and she was exactly who she said she was. However, there was something about the way she looked at him when she said it; in the slight tilt of her lips that implied a smirk. Light's mind could not deny that there was a chance that this Nina and Hideki were going to be a problem.

Ryuk was no help. Even when Light badgered him when he was able to speak to the Shinigami alone, the wide-eyed freak gave him nothing. He merely laughed and said, "I'm not helping you, Light, I thought I made that clear a long time ago." The prick wouldn't even give him a hint as to why he found the couple so amusing when he first saw them.

Light hadn't seen the two of them since. But it didn't stop him from looking. He tried to access the school records of all the people who took the test- intent on finding Hideki's family name. But he wasn't able to access it with the level of basic hacking he knew. However, with the show Hideki gave during the exams, and with how Nina acted on the trains... Light knew he'd be seeing them again.

He couldn't help but wonder they were working for L. If the detective was taking a new tactic against him. No more FBI agents or bluffing through the media. But these two people- people who couldn't be many years older than himself. But why them? What sort of purpose did they serve?

But the main thing Light wanted to know was why Ryuk had found them so interesting. What did he see that Light couldn't that would have caused him to make such a comment? Ryuk loved to tease Light endlessly- he'd done that when Light was trying to kill Naomi Misura, laughing when she gave him her alias and never telling Light about it not being her true name. He would make comments that alluded to the fact that there was something going on but never explain himself.

Well, Ryuk could see names and lifespans while Light couldn't. He'd refused the Shinigami's deal for the Eyes. What was the point in being the god of a new world if he wasn't around to rule it? So did Ryuk find something interesting in the couple's true names? Were they lying about their names in front of Light because they knew he could use them to his advantage? It was the only thing that made sense. That meant they knew that he was a suspect to be Kira, which solidified the fact that they were working with L even further.

Light sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. It had been three months since the exams and he was to make a speech at To-Oh tomorrow. He had a feeling he'd see at least Hideki again. He couldn't help but remember how... different the young man was from when they were taking the exams to when Light delivered Nina to him. In the exams, he'd been staring Light down without even attempting to hide it. At the station, he'd taken Nina's hand and pulled her away. Almost protective.

Then there was another thing. Something that was tugging at Light's chest. He kept thinking they were working for L. Was it possible that one of them was L? That L had come out and was trying to get to Light without him realizing it? Light never considered the possibility that L could be female. Was Nina the detective that had been daunting him all this time? That quip about Kira only being human... she could be goading him. Trying to rile him up.

"Ryuk," he said, slowly turning his head to look at the Shinigami. "Can you at least tell me if those two are a threat?"

Ryuk laughed. "And not watch you squirm?" he said. "I don't think so Light. Maybe they are. Maybe not."

Light let out a long breath. He didn't know what he expected. But regardless, he felt that tomorrow, when he saw Hideki again, he might get some answers. Some more clues about who they were and what they wanted.

Jack

L had offered for me to come and watch the opening ceremonies. But I wasn't going to be able to sit with him when he gave his true identity to Light, so what was the point? If I was going to suffer sitting in a room full of people and listen to drab speeches, I wanted there to be a show to look forward to. Specifically the look on Light's face when L told him who he was. But since that wasn't possible, I told L that I would be waiting at the tea house he planned to take Light to later.

Watari dropped L off at the school and then took me over to the tea house in question. He sat with me for a cup, since it would be some time before L and Light were released from the opening ceremonies. We spoke about ordinary things like the weather and our tastes in music. Watari was pleased at the amount of classical pieces I had on my iPod.

"It's nice that youth hasn't completely forgotten the legends of symphony," he said with a warm smile.

"Hey, you give me hope for your generation too," I replied. "You actually were willing to listen to some modern indie rock and admitted it was decent."

"What was it, Night Terrors of 1927?" Watari looked at my iPod that laid screen up between us. "They are very good with vocals."

Watari eventually went back out to his car so that I could be alone for when L and Light showed up. The old man had parked just outside, and I could see him reading a paper through the window on my right. But I was fairly certain it was for show. To make himself look distracted when he was actually paying very close attention to everything around him.

The bell on the door of the tea house let out a cheerful chime. I leaned over to see L stepping inside, Light not too far behind him. Seeing the two of them side by side was interesting to say the least. L was slouching as usual, hands in his pockets. His dark unruly hair hung in his eyes, making the dark circles beneath them even more prominent. Then there was Light, with his polished posture and demeanor. He greeted the hostess at the door warmly, but he seemed a touch more nervous than the last time I saw him. His shoulders were stiff, his brow furrowed slightly.

I shot a glance toward Nox. He was seated at the table across from me that was void of people. He had his booted feet kicked up as he sat long ways on the booth bench. When he noticed my look, he grinned wickedly and waggled a finger. I bit my tongue so hard it nearly hurt. Nox was clever and he was an ass, but I had to hope one day he'd slip. But that was assuming Light was in fact Kira.

I knew that the Shinigami Eyes would solve this whole thing. I'd be able to pinpoint Kira within a heartbeat. I would just direct L toward them; encourage him to keep being suspicious and investigate them until he found proof. I had to wonder if making that deal was going to taint my soul like it would be if I wrote in my Death Note. Would I be cursed to purgatory? Either way, I'd be losing half my remaining lifespan. I was all for self sacrifice for the greater good, but... this was my soul we were talking about.

With a wave, I caught L's attention and he headed my way without another word to the hostess. Light apologized to her and thanked her before scurrying after. He was dressed rather nicely today. A collared shirt and tie with a fancy tan overcoat. L, however, was in his regular attire of long-sleeve white shirt and jeans. As the detective sat beside me, forcing me to scoot down, he kicked off his shoes under the table before getting into his perched sitting position.

"I trust you weren't bored while you waited?" L asked in English.

I grinned at him. "I had good company, actually."

L gave me a brisk nod and then gestured to Light as the young man sat across from us. "You remember Light Yagami."

"I do." I grinned at Light. "Thanks again for back at the station."

Light smiled a little, but it seemed forced. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I had no clue you were actually working with the world famous detective. Was that all an act, then?"

I winked. "I'm good at what I do."

"So then who are you?" Light peered at me as his smile faded.

"The most popular name I'm known as is ButtNugget69 and I wreck face on Overwatch. Sombra main, of course." Dear Lord it was hard to keep a straight face through that one.

L shot me a glare while Light just looked bewildered.

"I really don't know how to respond to that," Light admitted.

I laughed. Hard.

"We do have business to attend to," L said, getting my giggle fit to calm down. "Enough games. He can know the truth."

"I know that," I replied. "But that was priceless." I shook my head and wiped a tear from my eye. "All right, fine. I go by Jack. If you've heard anything about me, you wouldn't have seen my face or heard my voice. I use text to speak and the image of a Jack of Hearts playing card as my... insignia, let's call it. Much like this guy's letter L." I gestured to the detective beside me.

Light's face grew pensive. "I think I have heard that name. You're also known as the Cyber Detective, right? There was a whole scandal with this chemistry company in the states that were doing some very shady things. You exposed them."

Shady things was putting it lightly. The owner was a huge methamphetamine dealer. Like way huge. He was using his company to distribute the shit all over the entire southwest, even in Mexico. The Cartel was involved with the smuggling over the border. It was insane how far the roots went on this. Cops couldn't get anywhere with it, so finally a DEA agent I happened to work with before asked for my help. It was one of the more interesting cases I'd gotten my hands on.

"She's done much more than just that," L said. "Jack is talented and a critical thinker much like myself. She will be a valuable asset in helping us find Kira."

I glanced over at the detective. Had he told Light that we suspected him yet? I doubted it. L liked to drop his bombs one at a time. The shocker of telling Light who we are should be enough of a jolt for now. We could save giving away out suspicions later.

"So my father's met you too?" Light asked, turning his head toward me.

I nodded. "He's a nice guy. Bit of a bore. You should tell him to get out more."

Light laughed. "I'm not sure he'd listen to anyone on that note."

"Light, I'll be frank with you," L said. He leaned forward on the table. "I was approaching you because I want the three of us to get to know one another. Well, more so us getting to know you. We both work with your father and he sings praises of your intelligent quite often. How about we play a match of tennis tomorrow?"

"Tennis?" Light blinked. "Uh- I mean, sure. We can do that."

"You guys really have to pick in the most boring sport to watch?" I groaned, leaning back in my seat. "Why couldn't it have been hockey?"

"We can't play one on one in a game of hockey," L pointed out.

"Still would have been way more entertaining than watching a ball bounce back and forth." I gripped my cup of tea and chugged back what was left in it. "I might as well play some pong on the computer." I glanced over at L and noticed he had a stray hair hanging dangerously close to his eye. "Ah, hold still," I told him, delicately pulling it away and back with the rest of his unruly hair. "You really need to just keep a comb on you."

Light's eyes darted back and forth between us. "You two seem close. Have you worked on cases before together?"

The question instantly raised a red flag within me. L and I were already wary of letting anyone we suspected to be Kira believe we were attached to one another.

"Unfortunately," L said before I could open my mouth.

Ouch. I hoped that was just as a front to keep Light from thinking we were friends. But still, if the guy was going to be around us more often now, it wasn't like we were going to be able to hide that. Or at least I didn't think I could. There was something just natural about us being together at this point. Waking up and stepping out into our suite's living room to see L there, either popping sweets in his mouth or typing away on his computer, it was so... normal to me. I didn't think I could turn this friendship switch off.

"Wow, rude," I said, prodding him in the side.

"I suppose with your guys' line of work, you have to keep relationships all business and are skilled at acting," Light said. "All right. So tennis tomorrow it is, then."

I took this moment to sneak a glance at Nox. He was nearby, leaning on the wall near the booth. His posture indicated boredom, but there was something in his eyes. They were alert, and I could have sworn they were fixated on something. But then, as if he sensed me looking, they locked onto mine and he grinned.

"Looking for a slip up, Jack?" he asked with a sneer. "Be careful. You might just start seeing things you want to see."

I knew the bastard had a point. My mind had been playing tricks on me for as long as I could remember. If Light truly was innocent, I didn't want to chase after him for something he didn't do. Yet even now, sitting at the same table with him, I found myself thinking.

Too polished. Too perfect. It just didn't sit right with me. If this kid really was Kira, he currently wanted both L and me dead. I've faced death before. On three different accounts actually. And I was sure L had as well. But just the idea of someone who could threaten our lives sitting right there- so close that I could leapt across and punch him...

Odd, though. I had been around people threatening me before. Knew they wanted me dead and in one case had the means to kill me. But never before had I felt such a consuming sense of rage at the mere thought of it. Of course I detested people who would resort to murder. Detested those who would hurt others to gain. But this anger was something new. Something raw.

Then it clicked. I didn't feel this rage at the thought of Kira killing me. I felt it at the idea of him killing L. But why shouldn't I? L had helped so many people. He'd saved lives. He was the embodiment of justice. Here he was putting his life on the line to save others. What wasn't to admire about that? And yes, he'd become my friend. Something I didn't have a lot of these days.

"I will contact you with the details," L said, pulling me back to the present. "I merely felt a formal meeting with both of us before hand was in order. Do you have any questions?"

"I just..." Light slowly shook his head. His face was slack with disbelief and shock. "Look, I have loads of questions. But I honestly can't think of where to start."

"Well, think on it," L said. "We will see you tomorrow. Oh, and it would be best if you refer to us as our aliases. You understand, of course."

"Yeah, makes sense," Light said. "I just find it a little funny that you each have an alias for you alias."

"I've collected quite a few over my years," I said with a shrug.

"You don't seem that old, how long have you been doing this kind of thing?" Light asked as L and I stood.

I laughed and knew that L was curious about the exact same thing. "A long time," I said, much to the ire of both the young men before me, though neither of them gave clear signals to this. L just turned and began skulking out of the tea house. Light's brow merely furrowed slightly.

It was strange because in some ways, the two of them were very similar. They only gave the smallest hint of what they were truly feeling- if showing anything at all. They were both incredibly intelligent. And- assuming Light was indeed Kira... they both thought they were the embodiment of justice itself.

Most would look at the pair and see polar opposites. A groomed genius and a mad scientist type. One with perfect posture and manners. The other that slouched and disregarded common courtesy on regular occasion. I really had to think about what kind of person I truly was to look at these two people and immediately be far more comfortable with L. The strange one. The one that was somehow both incredibly mysterious and up front about everything. He was order but he was chaos.

But as we walked out of the tea house, I wrapped my hand in his and leaned over to kiss his cheek. His only reaction to it was squeezing my hand. It was getting easier and easier to touch him. To just be with him.

"It was nice meeting you again, Light!" I called to our third wheel as he stepped out of the building behind us. "I look forward to tomorrow. As boring as tennis is."

Light laughed and smiled. It was warm and gentle. It even reached his eyes. "Glad to hear it! See you then."

Watari pulled up in the sleek black car at that point. L opened the door for me. Ever the gent.

"See you tomorrow," L said to Light before sliding in after me and closing the door.

As we drove away, L immediately kicked off his shoes and turned his head toward me. His look was pensive. I cocked a brow at him.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

"You're hoping he's Kira," L said.

I laughed. "Well... yeah. If he is, we can shut this down all the faster. But even if he isn't, I guess he will be a good asset to the task force. I just wonder... if he is innocent, how long is it going to take us to prove it? To move on and find the actual Kira? I'd hate to waste time on this if it's a dead end."

"I agree," L said. "But Light Yagami continues to be the only suspect we have. And his actions are only raising my concerns."

"Well, like I said, he is too perfect." I looked out the window, watching the towering buildings of Tokyo flash by. "Handsome. Smart. Well groomed. Really nice hair, that's probably the most suspicious part."

"What makes you say that?" L queried.

"Someone that smart that puts that much effort into their hair every single day?" I snorted. "There are better things to invest time in."

"Is that why you keep yours so short?" L said.

I chuckled softly. "Partially. I also don't like the feeling of hair touching the back of my neck. I'd never have the patience to grow it out."

"The way you talk about Light seems to hint you fancy him," L murmured.

I snapped my head back around to see L wasn't looking at me, but instead out his own window. I pinched his arm.

"Ow," he grunted. "What was that for?"

"I just thought that you knew enough about me to at least guess my type," I said, folding my arms.

L peered at me. "Type?"

"Oh my Lanta, Ryu. Seriously." I rolled my eyes. "You're terrible at this. When you look at me, what do you see?"

L's eyes roved over me. My cerulean blue jacket. My jeans with the tears at the knees (self-earned, by the way; no way in hell did I buy pants with damage falsely planted on them). My old skater shoes with the worn soles. My satchel with buttons all over the flap, from cute little animal images, to random anime, to some TV shows I'd come to enjoy. Some just had curse words on them and a cute emoticon. Then my headphones he'd gifted me, insanely colored with wings.

"Something wild," L replied, his words slow and calculated. "Something that isn't afraid to play in the mud. Might like it actually. Something that can't be tamed."

I grinned. "And do you really think that something like me could possibly fancy such a clean cut polite guy like Light Yagami? Even if he isn't Kira?"

L shrugged. "I suppose not. Perhaps then you'd prefer a more ruffian individual?"

I tilted my head at him. "Are you trying to get a truth from me?"

"You're the one that brought it up. Now I'm interested. You say I should know enough about you by now to know your type." L squirmed a bit. He wasn't very good at car rides since the seat belt forced him to sit properly. "I'm just trying to see what I'm missing here."

"Honestly, it's practically like a case," I said. "You've had to have dealt with some where the killers murdered only specific people. Hell, we're on one right now. Kira kills criminals. That's his type. And people who try to stop him, I guess..."

"Hm." L started raising his thumb toward his mouth but I batted it away.

"Leave your nails alone, they've have enough to deal with from you," I scolded.

"You would want someone with a sense of humor, I would think," L said, not seeming fazed by my actions. "And some level of intellect."

"Yeah, can't be with a moron, that would drive me insane," I sighed. "And humor would be good. Humor is always good."

"But also someone who will put things into proper priority," L went on. "You complain about how perfect Light is, saying he puts too much effort on appearance. So you want someone who places their energy into other things that are, at least to you, more practical."

"Sounds about right." I nodded. There was a strange sense of dread tickling my gut. A small nest of snakes waking up and beginning to slither too and fro. L was reminding me of something. Someone. And whoever it was- it was like my body didn't want to realize their identity. That getting close to the revelation was too dangerous.

"Perhaps someone with quirks," L said. "Oddities like you own. They wouldn't have to be exactly the same, but something that labeled them an outcast as much as yourself."

"Are you calling me and outcast?" I perked a brow at him.

L smirked a bit. "I'm not calling you a stand up citizen."

"How rude." I lifted my chin. "I'll have you know that where I come from everyone loves me."

"And where would that be?" L tilted his head again.

I waggled a finger at him. "Ah ah ah! Nice try but no free truths for you."

"I feel like we should play the game tonight," L said. "Who knows when we'll be able to again."

"You're just trying to get more out of me."

"I won't deny that. Jack..." He turned his head toward me, dark gaze burrowing into mine. "I will not lie and say that learning more about you does not give me a personal gain. The competition we set when we first met is what still drives me. And you probably know I don't like leaving things shrouded in mystery. I know just about everything about everyone I work with. Except for you. If we had some more trust with one another, we might be a more effective team."

I shrugged. "I suppose that is true. But that road goes both ways, L."

His eyes burrowed into my own. "You really have the gall to say that?" His voice was low. Even. But coated in ice.

My eyes darted away from his. "I get that I know your number one secret. But in reality, I don't know you. I mean I do... but I don't. It's just so weird to be so close to someone yet so far. Have you... have you ever let anyone in?"

"Now you're asking me for free truths," L said.

I laughed. L tilted his head at me, frowning.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked.

I shook my head, wiping an eye as my hysterics slowly released my body. "I just think it's so weird. We talk about trusting each other. About how working together is going to be the thing to bring down Kira. And yet we make a stupid game to get truths out of one another. We can't just give them up for free. What kind of friends are we?"

"You still think we're friends?" L raised a brow.

I nodded. "Haven't we've been over this? Like it or not, Sherlock. All this time we've spent together? Hunting this killer? I mean how can two people not become friends on an adventure like this? Don't pretend like we're not. You make me royal milk tea just the way I like it. You know how much honey to add. To add a dash of vanilla when able."

Now L turned his gaze away from mine. "I suppose we have become companions of sorts."

"Oh don't dance around it, it's not so bad to admit attachment to another human," I said, elbowing him. "You care about Watari, don't you?"

Watari was up in front driving. But the vehicle had a slider concealing him from us both by means of sight and sound.

L sighed. "I'm not denying attachment, Jack. I'm just saying that we need to be delicate. If Light is Kira..."

"If Light is Kira, then us being friends might just work in our favor," I said. "He'll be our only suspect that is spending so much time with us. The only one able to see how much we get along. He'll also be the only one to know that you're L and I'm Jack. The only one that would know to snag one of us. If he tries something, he dooms himself."

"You were opposed to the idea when I suggested kissing as part of our act," L reminded me.

Warmth began to tinge my cheeks. "That's because I hadn't fully analyzed him yet. We didn't know what approach we were going to take. Look, the front we're using now is perfect. I don't see many public displays for affection in Japan anyway. But if we let Light in and allow him to see we actually care about each other, then if something happens it damns him."

L slowly nodded. "I suppose this is why I keep you around."

"Aw, and not my stunning good looks?" I batted my eyes at him.

L grunted and glanced away. "You're not attractive based on your looks alone, Jack."

Oh. Well. I wasn't expecting that answer. My cheeks heated. Did he seriously just call me attractive? And in one of the most wholesome ways he could? That was smooth as hell. But L wasn't the type to flirt. I didn't think he could. He merely stated facts. Which meant he found me being attractive a fact.

Seriously, how was someone so awkward so slick?

"Oh. Thanks, then," I muttered, my mouth dry.

"What would you like for dinner?" L said. "I can ask Watari to grab us something on the way home."

The sudden subject change took me for a loop. I blinked and tried to rack my brain. "Oh. Food. Yeah, uh... Dotour?"

"Again?"

"Their sandwiches are really good, okay!"

L's mouth twitched. A small smile. I grinned back at him. Yeah. Friends. Strange. I hadn't had one of those in a long time. I didn't feel that Austin counted, seeing as he was my brother. And everyone else that I'd dare to get close to... well...

No. I didn't want to think about that now. I just wanted to think about how my hand was in L's as we stepped out of the car and headed back to the hotel, bags of hot food being carried for us by Watari. About sitting down and enjoying some good food with the detective.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," Nox said as we stepped into the hotel room. "In fact, I don't think I've seen you this... alive. Is it just because you're finally hunting down another Death Note? Or perhaps you like your new friend a bit too much?"

And as the Shinigami chuckled, I realized why I'd felt such a sense of dread when L was describing my type.

He had been describing someone an awful lot like himself.

L

L pulled the three pieces of paper toward himself when Jack handed them over. They'd eaten in the living room area of the suite. She'd seemed a bit distant while she chewed on her favored sandwich. L wondered if it was merely because she was hungry. But that had never stopped her from talking with her mouth full before.

"If you don't want to play the game tonight..." he began.

"No, it's fine," Jack said, waving him off. "Go on. Read them."

L slowly looked down at the papers. He frowned. So far—other than the last time when she told him she'd been adopted—Jack had given her two lies and one truth under the same formula. Like "I've never eaten pistachios" with "I've never eaten apricots." But this time, the three sentences were very different.

"I started working with computers and learning about hacking when I was eight years old," he read. He looked to the second paper. "I've lost my father and two very close friends to murderers." Finally he went to the third. He stared at it for a long moment before ripping it up, his movements swift and efficient. He then went toward their fireplace and tossed the bits inside.

"What are you doing?" Jack asked.

"That's not something you should write down," L muttered.

He looked back to see Jack was smiling a little. Like she was amused by a child's actions. "And saying it out loud is better?"

L let out a long breath through his nose. "Is... that... is that the truth?" He gestured toward the fire.

Jack shrugged. "Actually... they're all the truth."

L stared at her. "Why?"

"Because it's like you said," she replied. "We need to trust each other. Now we're even. Well... actually it's tipped in your favor. I think you know more about me than I do about you at this point."

L padded back across the room and sat in his favored posture on the couch next to her. He looked at her from the corner of his eye. Her green eyes were wide and flickered with the reflection of the flames across the room. She almost seemed scared.

"You didn't have to," he said.

"We've been over this," Jack replied with a small laugh. "I know that. I wanted to."

L's hands gripped his knees. He itched to bite his nails but knew Jack would just smack him. The fact that she worried about his health... Most people just worried about him doing his job properly. Solving the cases they threw at him. But Jack... she continued to amaze him.

"It's a very... pleasant name," L told her.

Jack grinned. "To be honest, I've always hated it. It's why I took on the nickname. My brother started calling me Jack when I was little. I had complained to him that no one at school could pronounce it. He told me I'd better just make it easier then."

"Jack does suit you more," L said. "I don't know why exactly. It just does."

Jack shrugged. "My boyish nature?"

L grunted in amusement. "Perhaps."

"Listen, L..." Jack was looking at her feet. She'd kicked off her shoes and now her socked feet worried one another. "When this is over... when we catch Kira... I think I'll have another case for us. Something small. Nothing life threatening. It'll be fast with the two of us working together."

L raised his brows. "Another case? Judging by the look on your face, it's personal."

"It is," Jack said. "It's... a really long story, ya know? I'll tell it to you one day. I think I'll tell you everything one day." She smiled then. It was gentle and carried something akin to sadness. "I hope you'll feel you can do the same with me. Someone like you deserves a person they can trust. Someone besides the guy who raised you."

L blinked. He knew that Jack knew his name. But he didn't know just how much about his past she'd managed to dig up. He still didn't know how she found information on him in the first place.

"It actually is kind of obvious, for someone who pays attention," Jack said. "I've spent enough time around you two. The way you interact isn't exactly father-son stuff, but there's a connection there. A protectiveness you each have for each other. I know about Whammy House, so I guess that kind of helps me see it, but still..."

L nodded. It only made sense that she knew about the orphanage he grew up in. That had to be the only place that had any record of his true name. But all the same, how she got it astounded him. Wasn't she in California the entire time they worked on their first case?

"Anyway." Jack waved her hand in a dismissive fashion. "Enough sappy crap. I just wanted to say all this before we had a third wheel around."

L eyed her for a moment. "I have some questions, if you don't mind."

She shrugged. "I can't guarantee that I'll answer any of them. But I'll hear you out."

"The murders..." L began slowly. He saw it in her eyes first. A flicker as her gaze went down toward her socked feet. "What happened?"

"Well..." Jack took a deep breath, exhaling it through her nostrils. "The two of my close friends were the ones who were killed first. I was sixteen. My father is the one who taught me about computers. Austin, too—uh, that's my brother. I learned quickly. By that age, I was already hacking a number of devices besides just computers. I would hack my game systems, my cell phone... Anyway, because I was ahead of nearly everyone at school, only a few of the other kids would hang out with me. Being too smart isn't cool, ya know?"

"Your friends, I'm assuming," L said.

Jack nodded. "Yep. A boy named Troy and a girl named Clementine. They were a couple eventually. Only took them all of middle school to figure out they were destined for each other." She smiled again, this time it was warm and content. No doubt she was looking back on memories of these friends. But that smile slowly faded. A candle flickering out. "Look, maybe one day I'll tell you what happened in details. But for now, let's just leave it at this. Their deaths was my first case. It's what got me into what I do now. I was the one who found their killer. Not the police. Not the justice system. Me."

L had never seen such rage in Jack before. Her cheeks were flushed, her jaw clenched, cords straining on her neck. It didn't seem natural. None of this did. Jack was so cheerful. So laid back. To see her eyes veiled in the shadows of both loss and fury was like seeing the sun rise in the west.

"I see," L said. "I won't press the matter if you don't wish to talk about it. I'm glad that you caught their killer at least."

Jack nodded stiffly. "I appreciate you not pushing," she murmured. "I'm going to have to ask you to keep to that after I say what happened to my father. I'm not ready to talk about it in full yet, L. But I think you deserve to know at least a piece of it."

L couldn't help but lean a little closer to her. She knew him well enough to know what she had to say was going to peak his interest highly. She wouldn't ask for him to not push otherwise. He wanted to promise her he wouldn't. It's what... it's what a friend would do. And Jack was his friend. Someone he actually didn't mind spending time with. Someone that he found fascinating and amusing and...

Her eyes looked like leafs right then. Ones that had just bud in the spring. Brilliant and vibrant. Her hair, though he knew it to be dyed, was perfect for her. Wild and bright. The sky above the trees in her eyes. She was the Earth, walking and so full of life and will. She was loud, but that was the thunder of a storm. She was mysterious, but that was the depths of an ocean. Wondrous and infinite.

L had never looked upon another human being and felt like he did when he looked at Jack. And that worried him. Was her presence too much? Was he going to slip up and get distracted by her very being? He couldn't let that happen, not with a case like this one. But at the same time he knew she was helpful to him. Almost vital if he wanted to take down Kira as fast as possible.

So yes. He accepted that they were friends. That he cared about her. But when Jack said her next words, he felt every single instinct in his body straining to leap on her for answers. To dissect her like he had any other witness or suspect.

"My father..." Jack said, her voice a weak murmur. "He is the one that lost his life to a heart attack. And I know for certain it wasn't natural causes." Her eyes darted toward the corner of the room. Again, she was looking at something L couldn't see. Looking at something that she was assessing. Weighing. It was too direct of a stare. Finally, her gaze found L's again. "And it wasn't Kira."