Kira told me to follow him quietly and obediently. I did as he said, and we walked from the school building into a black car with darkly tinted windows. Inside the car in the back seat was a girl with yellow hair in gothic lolita dress, Misa Ayame, the famous model. I sat in the passenger's seat.

"You, Harlow," he said coldly. "You have a Death Note?"

"Yes," I answered.

"And you're not willing to work with Kira?"

I sat up straight and considered what to tell him. To say no meant death. To say yes would put him at such ease so quickly.

"Maybe," I whispered, fearing my words.

Kira drove away from the school. "You do understand that Misa has the Eyes, don't you? And you obviously don't. I got that from your message."

I smiled proudly. "You noticed."

He turned to me with a scowl then turned back to the road. "Of course I noticed! Now, do you want to die or not?"

"I will work with you, Kira," I said. "I'm honored to meet you, actually."

I took him by surprise. "You are?"

"I get picked on at school for being quiet and having no friends. I'm not pretty. No guys even look at me. Bullies always target me. So I got them back. It felt good. Then I got other people. People on the news. Other bullies. Newscasters, too. I hate them. They spread lies. They spread the lies and rumors of my cousin. He can't have a few beers without being on the news. So I kill them."

"You said you weren't close."

"We used to be, as kids. He was a teenager when I was born, but he wasn't famous, and we would play together."

The car stopped at a red light.

"So you're protecting your cousin?" the girl asked from the back.

"As much as I can."

"That's innocent."

I laughed. "Is it?"

"I think so. Revenge from bullies who have hurt you isn't bad, either." She smiled at me, and I was put at ease. I was not afraid of this girl. She seemed to be so innocent and trusting. I almost couldn't believe that she was Kira. But everyone had secrets. I didn't know much about her, even though her entire past was just a click away. I was not into modeling, despite my cousin's career.

"Harlow, if you work with me," Kira began, "you will be promised complete protection from any and all harm. You will be introduced as a cousin of Misa who has come to stay for a while to get into the modeling business. Your entire personality must twisted into one just like hers. You must become extroverted and bubbly at all times. You must be flirtatious and dress... well, Misa will take care of that. We're on our way to town. It's so busy there that you won't run into any familiar faces. You will be transformed immediately into a new person."

I narrowed my eyes. "You already knew I would side with you."

Kira laughed. It was joyful and almost angelic. "Of course I did! Who would say no to me? They'd die."

I tilted my head with thought. "True."

We drove into town and got out after parking a mile away. Misa took me into stores while Kira stayed within a close proximity to keep a look out for any suspicious behavior. Luckily, there was none, and when I left the shop, I looked like a mini-Misa.

My legs were covered to my thighs by a short black dress that belled out in a cute and elegant way, with white sleeves that came out from under my dress as if they were two different articles of clothing. I had on arm warmers and high black pumps. My hair was done up into pigtails with black and red ribbon intertwined with my dark brown locks. For the first time, I had dramatic make-up in my possession.

Kira drove me home and parked a street away from my house. "Get it," he demanded.

I rushed to my house and grabbed my Death Note, assuring my mother that I would be right back.

I knocked on his window, which he lowered. I stuck my Death Note through the opening and he touched it. Misa's arm stretched around Kira's head to touch the leather-bound notebook, also.

"Hello," Hades said as Kira's eyes fixed on the shinigami. "I am Hades."

Kira smiled. "Hello, Hades."

Hades turned to me as I took the notebook back. "Harlow, go home. Let me have a talk with them, alright?"

I wanted to object, but I went with my better judgment and excused myself. I jogged down the small hill home. When I walked into the house, my mother looked at me oddly. My school uniform was in a plastic bag, and I was dressed in a style I had never shown interest in before. I had also been out much later than usual, even though it was only about five.

"Honey, what's this?" she asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Oh," I said with a cracked and nervous voice. "I met a girl who's really into gothic lolita, so I was trying out her style today. She bought me this and had me get my make-up done. No biggie."

"Are you... rebelling?" she asked as she placed a worried hand on her face.

I laughed casually. "No!"

The next day was a Friday. I went to school like usual, and I was picked up three streets away by Misa and Kira.

"Come with us," Kira said, and I got in the back seat. He took me to what he said was the Task Force Headquarters as I changed in the back of the car shamelessly.

When we got there, Misa put my make-up on for me quickly and efficiently. I looked like a doll, and I couldn't help but be impressed at my short and stubby reflection in the shiny car door.

We walked into Headquarters. My heart beat madly, and I took in deep breaths to calm it. Extroverted. Bubbly. Flirtatious. Right.

We walked in to a small group of men. They looked over pieces of paper containing what must have been evidence. The room smelled strongly of coffee, and there was a mug of the steaming drink next to each person.

"Light!" an old man exclaimed. "Who is that?"

He looked at me, and I felt very small under his gaze.

Kira- Light- put his hand on my shoulder. "This is Misa's little cousin, Kari. She's trying to get into the modeling business, so she'll be staying with us."

Kari? Of course he would change my name! I felt stupid for not expecting it.

"Well, hello, Kari," the man said. "I am Light's father. It's nice to meet you."

I bowed lightly. "It's nice to meet you, too, Mr. Yagami."

Everyone else introduced themselves. Aizama, Matsuda, and Mogi were all very polite and accepted me without question. They were also very gullible.

"Alright, Kari. It's about time to go to your room. We have work to do," Light said, and Misa pushed me out by my shoulders.

It was only then that I realized how close Kari was to Kira.