Author's Note: gawd, this is so sad. I could write better in 4th grade (and did) but I wanted to write this and I think it is a really cool idea. (not really but I'm writing it anyways) maybe I'll get better? Don't hold your breath. On another note, welcome back sarcasm, we missed you. Next chapter out on Sunday. (geeze there are a lot of scene shifts in this thing) The next chapter will be better...No, really!

"I'm so sick of this." The college bound student muttered, her voice dark with something stronger than simple annoyance. "L this. Kira that. Why can't people just drop it?" Ryuk gave her a look that said 'why are you asking me? I'm not human, you little twit.' Well, kind of. Not really.

A knock at the door broke Light from her misery bound reverie. It was Sayu asking for help on her math. Again.

"Of course I'll help you with your homework, Sayu. Don't be silly, it's no problem at all." Smile. Smile. Smile. And Charm! There we go Light, just act like nothing is wrong and maybe it won't be.

…Pfft. Like that ever works.

"Hey, Liiiiight!" Sayu sing songed. "Isn't this magazine kinda dirty?" She held the offending tabloid pinched in between her thumb and forefinger like it was a piece of Dad's dirty laundry.

"I don't know why it would be. I clean my room daily." Light pointed out, only slightly oblivious.

"Uh-huh. And what's this?" Sayu opened it at random. Light felt her cheeks start to burn.

"Righty-o then. I see your point." That was one going on the black list. "Hey, Sayu, mind handing me the matches? They're right behind you."

"How about I just throw it away instead?" Sayu, always the helpful younger sister, offered. Kira gave a faked sigh of dismay and nodded. Sayu turned to walk out the door, homework forgotten, when she was struck by a question.

"Hey, Light, what were doing with this anyways?" There was an edge of teenage suspicion in her voice that Light didn't like. With an embarrassed hand wave and laugh (both faked) she told her.

"I was reading the article about Kira and L, if you must know." She made sure to add a teasing note in her voice, just to be sure. Sayu giggled knowingly and gave her elder sister a mischievous wink.

"Geeze, Light, preparing to take Daddy's job already? Don't study too hard will you?" Sayu spoke just a little bit louder than necessary, as if trying to get her voice to carry down stairs. Light wondered what absurd assumption Sayu had made in the last five seconds but soon decided it beneath her to care. At least she could still deceive her little sister.

…not like that was hard or anything but still.

"What does your father do again?" Ryuk wondered out loud; finally noticing the smirk gracing his hostess's face. Although surprised by this question, Light didn't let it show. Guess he isn't completely enamored with apples. Who would have known?

Said mass murder waited until Sayu was safely downstairs and the door was closed before answering, "Well, Ryuk, it seems you have just inadvertently stumbled upon my ace in the hole."

Suddenly Kira was feeling a lot more chipper.

"Why couldn't Kira kill me?" L asked in the dark. His gaze lost to the maze of a city that was Tokyo.

Because I'm not a criminal? …that couldn't be it. Considering the circumstances, he definitely would have done it if he could. So it's got to be…because he doesn't know what I look like…?

A small electronic ding yanked the world famous detective from his musings. It was Watari.

"What is it, Watari?" L's voice was curt yet polite. He didn't like to be interrupted when thinking.

"The task force is starting its meetings." Finally things were starting to move.

"Good. Link me up."

I'm going to find you Kira.

Ding dong

"That must be dad!" Sayu cried and Light could hear the smile in her voice and the bounce in her step. "He's home early today!" The dark haired daughter shouted as she all but sprinted down the stairs.

"Hey! At least finish the last problem on your own!" Light called down to her, hiding her own pleasure under a mask of fake annoyance. I'm glad you're home Daddy.

Light thought about L and his deadly promise and started to feel her glee wane. Damn him for ruining this. It was true that she wanted to see her father; it had been several days after all. But she also wanted to know about the Kira case. She wanted to know about L.

"Welcome home Dad."

Soichiro Yagami gave his eldest a weary smile and, after a few heart wrenching moments of indecision, an embrace. Suddenly Light felt like everything was going to okay. I will keep you safe.

"I'm glad to be home." And Light smiled back.

"Of course I'm doing well in school." She teased "Don't you guys trust me?"

"Of course dear," her mother soothed, "but we would be poor parents if we didn't ask." Her father gave a slow nod, his focus more on Mom's home-cooked meal than his genius daughter. Probably the first thing he has eaten that wouldn't bounce off walls in days.

"You seem tired Daddy." It was an issue the small family of four had been skirting all dinner and although Light didn't want to bring it up she had to know. I'll find you first.

"I am," Soichiro agreed, "This case is a hard one, to put it mildly…" He raised a hand to his brow and rubbed at the developing wrinkles there. Light could see the headache in the way he moved and spoke. "…it's practically a wild-goose chase." Kira smothered a smile.

"But the person at the head of the investigation—" Everyone knew who that was. "did say that, judging by the time of each death, the killer was probably a student."

"I don't think this is appropriate for the dinner table…" Mom started without hesitation.

"Why not? Light may even be able to help this case. She has before!" He reminded his wife sternly. Both daughters knew it was time to intervene but only the one haunted by a god of death took initiative.

"Thank you for dinner Mom, it was delicious." Sachiko Yagami immediately began to glow from the well deserved praise. "Oh, and Sayu? Was that all the help you needed?" Sayu nodded, her mouth too full with food to reply. Light paused at the doorway, "Dad, please don't stress too much about the case, okay? We miss you at home." And Kira shut the door.

"Sayu? Was Light helping you with your homework?"

Kira hoped Sayu wouldn't remember the magazine incident. Halfway to her room Light heard Sayu's outraged shriek and wanted to smile. She didn't.

You won't catch me L.

"What!?"

"There were—" Soichiro Yagami, the detective superintendent of the NPA, shot a quick glance down at one of the papers on his desk, "23 heart attack victims again after yesterday?"

"Y…yes, sir." Replied a terrified intern.

"Each died exactly one hour apart from each other, just like yesterday?" The intern nodded.

"Looks like it isn't a student." Someone pointed out helpfully.

"Yeah, but anyone can skip school for a couple of days." Someone else reminded them.

"That isn't it! He may not be a student but that's not what Kira is trying to tell us! What Kira is saying is that he is free to choose the time of death as he pleases!" Nearly everyone in the building shot the talking computer a startled look. L rarely felt a need to speak, he usually just listened.

Kira is challenging me.