Disclaimer- I do not own Death Note

Chapter 3

Cemeteries and Shopping

The cemetery was quiet as Noriko sat cross legged in front of the stone that held her father's name and ashes. She was currently the only person in the large, cramped cemetery. There had been other people visiting other graves earlier in the day, but they had long since left the field of gray stones. For hours she had been the only person in the lonely cemetery.

It was a chilly day, the sky was cloudy and it was somewhat windy.

Noriko wore jeans and the black sweater she had gotten from Light and had her long auburn hair pulled into a ponytail. She sat gazing at the stone thinking of things that she hadn't already said now that she had recounted most of the last year.

Fresh orchids lay in front of her feet and a stick of incense burned in front of the stone. Smokey tendrils swirled about in the wind as it burned.

"I miss you dad. I wish you were still around. If you were, you'd get to see me in a dress for the dance in three weeks. Speaking of which, I'm going shopping with Mrs Yagami and Sayu next week to look for a dress. Should be interesting, me in a dress and all. I prefer jeans and tank tops or t-shirts. I'm such a plain girl, huh. Fashion just isn't really my thing, I'm too busy trying to get into To-Oh with Light. He's still the number one student in the nation. I ranked fifty-sixth in the nation, not too bad. Light wants to be a detective like his father and I, well, I want to study law, I think." Noriko sighed sadly as she gazed at the stone.

"I feel like I'm not making any sense. I'm probably not. I can't seem to keep my mind on one thing, I'm pretty tired," Noriko said as she looked down at the orchids at her feet. They were in a bouquet with some cherry blossom sticks, and even though it was quite simple she thought the design was beautiful.

"They balance each other quite well, don't you think, dad? Orchids are naturally beautiful, where the cherry blossoms are a bit plain, but when you put them together, they are both equally beautiful," she sighed again. "I'm mumbling about flowers now, and I have no idea what the heck I even mean. Sorry, you know me, always getting distracted and muttering nonsense."

She looked up into the sky with a frown as she thought of other things to say.

"Let's see.. I told you last year about Izanami marrying that scum bag Katsuo. I probably shouldn't talk like that, you'd probably scold me endlessly about respect and duty and what not. Sorry though dad, I have no respect for the woman. If you saw the bruises and heard the things I have to listen to from them I don't think you'd blame me. I grin and bare it though, it drives Light crazy seeing me brush everything off. But what choice do I have, I'm still only sixteen until June. I'm not capable of supporting myself yet. Light seems to think he'll be able to fix it all though. He really is turning out to be a great man. A little self centered at times, but I guess being the hottest guy in school goes to your head after awhile. And yes I just admitted out loud for the first time that my best friend is the hottest guy in school." She paused to take a few breaths before continuing on.

"Speaking of Light he should be here soon too. You always did like him. You used to tease us all the time about how we would bicker when we were kids. Saying we sounded like an old married couple. He would always get so mad saying he'd never marry me, and I would stubbornly agree.. We were such stubborn kids, huh? I think you liked the idea of me marrying Light though, you knew he would grow up to be a great man, like his own father... like you. It's never going to happen though."

"Why not?"

Noriko jumped at the sound of the voice and frowned at Light as he set his back pack and a bag with two boxed lunches down beside her.

"You scared me."

"Sorry. So what were you saying?" he asked as he sat down next to her.

"I was telling dad that even though I think he liked the prospect of me marrying you, it's never going to happen," she answered with a sigh.

"And why is that?"

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Do you have plans I don't know of?"

"No. But how do you know we'll never get married?"

"What makes you think we will?"

Light shrugged, but never answered her question.

Noriko shook her head at him before turning her attention to the bag he carried.

"So what did you bring? I'm starving."

"Here you go." Light said as he handed her a boxed lunch of rice balls, some tofu and veggies.

"It smells great, thanks," Noriko said as she pulled off the lid and dug in.

"You know I'm a little worried about this whole dress thing." Noriko admitted as she leaned against Light after placing her finished food aside to dispose of later.

"Why?"

"I don't know really. I think it's more the dance I'm worried about. You sure you want to go?"

"You're implying that you don't think us going together is a good idea, right?"

"You're too damn smart for your own good sometimes, Light," Noriko replied with a playful smile. " Yes that is what I am implying."

"You've never cared what people thought before, why the sudden change of heart?"

Noriko shrugged, "I dunno."

"Stop worrying so much, it'll be fun."

"I hope so."

The next few hours were spent in conversation about things that happened over the year, and about the college entrance exams that were still a few months away.

"We have cram school in a half hour, are you going?" Light asked

Noriko sighed. "I guess. I've run out of things to talk about anyway," she answered. "Besides, I don't think dad would be thrilled about me missing school."

"Then lets get going," Light told her as he stood up and brushed himself off.

"Alright," she agreed as she too stood up and stretched her cramped legs. "Thanks for bringing me the lunch and my class work, Light, I really appreciate it," Noriko said as she gave Light a hug.

"It was nothing. I don't want you falling behind, besides someone's got to look after you," Light replied with a kind smile.

"Oh really. I need looking after, huh?"

"Most of the time," Light teased.

Noriko stuck her tongue out at him before playfully pinching his shoulder. He placed an arm over her shoulder and pulled her next to him.

"You're invading my personal bubble," she told him in an indignant huff.

"Deal with it, I like walking like his," he answered back as they walked down the street. "Besides you're the right height and make such a great armrest."

"Why you!" she cried as she jabbed an elbow into his side.

He laughed at the look of offense on her face as she stubbornly broke free from his grasp and walked with her hands folded over her chest.

"You're pretty cute when you're angry, Nori," he teased.

"I am not cute," she shouted before stopping and facing him looking annoyed. "I mean I, grrr."

Light continued to laugh at her as she growled in her frustration at having just put herself down.

"I'm not cute, cute is for puppies and cats," she mumbled.

Light patted her on the head, "There, there."

She sent a glare at him before a smile twitched at her lips and she started laughing.

"You're such a pain, Light."

He just smiled down at her as they continued to to walk to their class.

"Well if it isn't little Miss Noriko Mori."

Noriko groaned and rolled her eyes before putting on a bright smile and turning to face the mocking voice.

"And if it isn't Kimiko. What do you want?" Noriko inquired blankly as the smile left her face and she glared at the black haired girl standing before her.

"I see you still haven't caught the hint," Kimiko said arrogantly.

"The hint?"

"You're still hanging all over Light. I'll have you know I'll be asking him to the formal next month," Kimiko responded as she flicked her hair over her shoulder.

Noriko just smiled. "Are you now? Well good luck with that. Oh, and look, there he is now, why not go ask him?"

Kimiko eyed Noriko suspiciously for a moment before turning around and walking towards Light who had just sat down at his desk.

Noriko watched as Kimiko flirted with Light who was paying little attention to her, and mainly staring out the window to his left. She saw him sigh and shake his head. Kimiko seemed put off, but said something more, after he answered her she smiled politely before turning around in an angry huff.

"What's wrong Kimiko, did he say no?" Noriko asked as the black haired girl walked passed her.

Kimiko glared at her before walking out of the room. She returned seconds before the class started looking more composed, but still angry.

After class Noriko was waiting for Light outside when she was shoved from behind. She staggered as she dropped the bag she had slung over her shoulder, but remained standing. She whipped around when she heard snickers of laughter behind her.

"If you have a problem Kimiko, then say it to my face instead of being the coward you are and pushing me when I can't see you. Or are you scared?" Noriko asked harshly.

"Like I'd dirty my hands on the likes of you," Kimiko snorted.

"So you are scared of me?"

"I'm not scared of you, you little whore," Kimiko shot back.

"Really, then why not tell me what you think of me to my face instead of behind my back. Hell, hit me if you want. But I warn you, you'll only get one shot, make it worth it," Noriko answered with a teasing smile as she stepped closer to Kimiko.

Kimiko hesitated for a second before casting a quick glance at the three other girls around her. She then handed her books to another girl before taking a step closer to Noriko, they were now only inches apart.

"Well, Kimiko. Come on hit me I dare you to. Or are you too stupid to even know how to do that right?" Noriko taunted.

"You stupid... At least I don't have to follow Light around like a lost puppy just to try and be popular, which will never happen," Kimiko retorted.

"Is that so? I was under the impression that's why you follow him around like the whore you are. Or are you just jealous that he actually likes to spend time with me and he hates even being in the same room as you."

Kimiko turned red as she clenched her fists together at her sides. "I'm not jealous of you. If you and Light are such good friends then where is he, huh, did he leave without you?"

"No, actually, unlike the worthless whores you guys are, he and I plan on getting into college. So he's upstairs getting some more info on the exams for us."

"Stop calling me a whore. You're the whore," Kimiko snapped.

"Oh, so original. Can't you think of something new Kimiko? And I call you a whore because you are a whore, I just have to ask the foot ball team," Noriko replied with a wicked grin.

Kimiko clenched her jaw as she raised her right fist and slammed it into Noriko's cheek. On impact, Noriko's head was thrown to the side and she took one step back. It took her only a second to recover before looking at Kimiko and smirking.

"I hope it was worth it, I didn't even feel it," she said as she stepped towards Kimiko and threw her clenched right hand into the girl's stomach.

Kimiko's black hair fell over her face as she hunched over in pain before dropping to her knees. Her friends all ran to her as she held her stomach in her arms.

"Is that all it takes to get rid of you? That was disappointing Kimiko," Noriko said as she turned and picked up her bag and began walking away. She turned back a few steps away. "Next time you feel you have something to prove, I won't go so easy on you."

She began walking down the street towards her neighborhood a sense of happiness washing over her as she thought of how good it felt to hit the self proclaimed most popular girl in the school as her friends watched, and did nothing.

"Hey, Noriko," a voice called from behind her.

She turned around to see Light walking a few yards behind her.

"Hey, what's up?"

"You were supposed to wait for me and what's with the smile, it's kinda scary," Light asked as he saw the prideful smirk she wore.

"Oh, nothing. Kimiko punched me and I punched her back, in the stomach, but a lot harder, it was fun," Noriko replied giddily.

Light blinked at her for a moment not sure he had her correctly."Wait, what?"

"You heard me right," was her only reply.

"I was afraid of that," he mumbled.

"What?" Noriko asked defensively.

"Nothing, but how about using your words next time?"

"I tried, she seems a little slow though, I don't think she understood. She does now though," Noriko replied with another smile.

Light shook his head at his best friend before grabbing her under the chin and forcing her to look up in to his eyes.

Noriko winced slightly as he brushed the fingers of his other hand against her slightly bruised and swollen cheek.

"Didn't hurt, huh?" he asked with a smirk of his own.

"Oh, please. I've been hit a lot harder than that," she scoffed.

"I really don't like it when you joke about that. I don't find it to be funny," Light scolded.

"Sorry," she shrugged. "But it is true, funny or not."

"I know," he sighed as he put his arm around her shoulder and continued walking towards their homes.

"Oh, how about this one?"

Noriko looked over to Sayu who was holding a long blue dress with a very low neck line and no back.

"Um, no," Noriko responded with a shake of her head.

'You're so going to pay for this Light,' she thought sourly, it was two weeks before the dance and she was looking for a dress with Light's mother, Sachiko, and his sister Sayu. They had been shopping for hours now and not one dress had caught her eye.

"You're too picky Noriko," Sayu whined.

"Sorry,"she sighed.

"Let's try another store dears," Mrs Yagami said from behind Sayu with a reassuring smile to Noriko.

"Sure," Noriko answered and smiled half heartedly.

After two more stores and trying on a few dress that just didn't suit her, Noriko was beginning to think she'd never find a dress.

"We'll find you something Noriko. Don't worry honey."

"Thanks Mrs Yagami, but I think I've given up the hope of finding something I actually like."

"Let's try down here."

The three females turned down another street of shops and began looking through windows. A few stores down Noriko stopped and stared in a window of a small shop. She cocked her to the side as she eyed a black dress in the window. It was a strapless corset type top with little crystals along the top and sprinkled throughout the top, the skirt was long and somewhat puffy but not overly so.

"Let's try in here," she said thoughtfully.

They entered the store and Noriko quickly found a few dresses that struck her interest. After trying on 4 different dresses it was decided among the three of them which she would get. They then picked put a pair of heels that matched as well. Mrs Yagami paid for the dress and heels Noriko thanking her profusely.

"It's no problem Noriko, Light wanted you to be happy. I can't wait to see you two all dressed up," she responded with a smile.

"You're going to look so beautiful Noriko," Sayu chirped happily.

"I hope so."

"Well girls let's head home and get some dinner," said Mrs Yagami.

"That took awhile, but I see you found something," Light said as the three girls entered the house with the purchases.

"Yep." Noriko said with a smile.

"Well, can I see it?"

"Nope. It's a surprise Light," Sayu answered with her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, it's a surprise," Noriko replied with a grin.

"Women," Light teased.

"Like you know anything about women," Noriko snorted before playfully poking him in the shoulder.

"I know they're troublesome."

"I won't argue that one," Noriko said with a shrug.

"So you're going to wear a dress, this should be fun," Light said.

"Heels too," Noriko replied as they headed up the stairs to Light's room.

Two steps from the top she stumbled and fell landing forcefully on her right knee and using her left hand to catch herself.

"Maybe you should wear tennis shoes instead, I don't want you to lose a leg or something," Light said as she picked herself up.

"Oh, shut up, I never said it would be graceful," she huffed.

"You, graceful, I wouldn't have thought it possible."

"Yeah, heels will be fun. Keep in mind if I go down, I'm taking you with me." she said with a playful smirk.

"We'll see about that," Light replied challengingly.

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