Disclaimer- I don't own Death Note...Waahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, I'm done.

Just a quick note this chapter happens after the beginning of the next chapter, it's just I don't mention any of this in the chapter. Make sense? I hope so.

Special Halloween and Happy Birthday L Chapter that I think kinda sucks...

Chapter 32

A Deal is a Deal

"So it's Halloween, is anyone doing anything?" Matsuda asked the room of quiet people.

There were several mumbled no's and a few head shakes. Matsuda sulked a little, it was the third time in ten minutes his attempts to strike up a conversation in the tense room had failed. Noriko had moved in two days before and at the moment the atmosphere was a little stifling. Light was doing his best to give her her space, but he wanted her to trust him so badly that he kept pushing her buttons and annoying her. At this point she had yelled in his face seven times and threatened to shove her lunch in places that it definitely didn't go. This had resulted in numerous sighs from Light, several amused smirks from Ryuzaki, annoyed glances from everyone else except Mr Yagami who tried to get the two to talk together civilly. All his attempts failed and ended with Noriko stalking back to her seat beside Ryuzaki who would swallow his smirk when Noriko would glare at him, daring him to say something, anything to her.

And it was still only her second full day back with the task force.

By the end of that day, Noriko was actually relieved that Lisa didn't seem to care that she wasn't twenty and not of age to drink. The reason for this was because she had gotten Noriko a bottle of plum sake for her birthday that she still hadn't drank. It was in her fridge in her apartment and calling her name. She had had sake before on several occasions with Reiji, never much, but it seemed to help her relax and calm down after a rather stressful day. And today was definitely stressful, actually that might even be an understatement. It was hell as far as she was concerned, having to be in the same room with Light who was trying desperately to get her trust back, and of course everyone except for Ryuzaki was rooting for him. It made Noriko want to grab them by the ear and toss them from her balcony, but she refrained. That's just not something nice, sane people do after all.

Now as she rode the elevator up to her apartment all she could think about was a nice hot, calming bath with some cherry blossom and lavender scented oil before changing into something comfy. After that she planned on eating something, watching some t.v and having a small glass of plum sake.

"You know...maybe I'll have a some of that sake now," Noriko mused as she walked in to her living room and eyed the fridge in the kitchen. "Sure, why not."

The apartment came fully stocked with anything she might need, but she still hadn't learned where everything was. After opening several of the cupboard doors and finding the dishes, but not glasses, she finally came across a set of tea cups. She shrugged, snatched a tea cup and retrieved the bottle of sake from the fridge. She poured herself a small amount first, but then glanced around as if to be sure no one was watching, which she knew they weren't since he wasn't under surveillance, no one was at the moment, and poured herself a whole cup of the sweet smelling sake.

She laughed quietly to herself while she sipped at the sake and walked back to her living room.

"It's very sweet, almost too sweet. Somehow I think Ryuzaki would love this...If there was more sugar in it anyways," she said to herself as she set the cup down on the coffee table before heading down the hall to her bedroom.

She pulled her red shirt over her head and tossed it carelessly to the floor before walking to her bathroom and turning on the bath water. Once the tub was full and the bathroom nice and steamy, she slipped in to the scented water and let the hot water ease her muscles and wash away the days troubles.

When the steam had dissipated and the water had gone cold almost an hour later, she sighed and got out of the tub, wrapping a towel around herself and walking into the bedroom to get dressed. She put on a pair of long, wide legged yoga pants and a burgundy t-shirt. After brushing her hair which was still short and barely reached her shoulders and pulling half off it up into a ponytail, leaving her bangs to frame her face, she made her way back to the living room, humming to herself and with a new spring to her step only to stop in her tracks.

"What the hell are doing in my apartment, Ryuzaki?" She snapped at the man that was crouched on her couch, a piece of cake in front of him.

"Eating a piece of the cake I saw you bring in. It's very good," he said through a mouthful of the carrot cake she had bought the day before.

"How did you get in here? I locked the door."

"I own the building," he replied as he let the fork dangle between his fingers of his right hand and reached over to take a sip of tea from a tea cup beside his plate, he still had yet to look at her and she found it very aggravating.

"That doesn't mean you can just barge in here whenever you want to."

"Actually, it does," Ryuzaki said matter of factly.

"You've got to be kidding me," Noriko grumbled to herself as she walked into the kitchen to get her cup of sake. When she saw the bottle, but not her glass, she became a little confused before her eyes widened and she mumbled, "Oh crap," and walked back to the living room to see Ryuzaki draining the last of his tea, his head tilting back to be sure to get every drop.

"That was very good tea Nori-san, it was cold though," Ryuzaki said to her while all she could do was gape at him.

"That wasn't tea you idiot," she yelled at the raven eyed detective.

"Oh, what was it?"

"Sake!"

Ryuzaki looked at her oddly for a moment, scratched his head and finally spoke. "How did you get sake, Nori-san?" He drawled, cocking his head slightly.

"It doesn't matter, what-"

"It does matter. Nori-san isn't of legal drinking age."

"That's not-"

"That means Nori-san shouldn't be drinking. It's a no-no," Ryuzaki said with a small giggle as he wiggled a finger in the air, Noriko took a step back towards the kitchen.

"Have you ever had plum sake before, Ryuzaki?" Noriko asked curiously.

"No. I've never had any alcohol before. I prefer sugar," he replied, shoving a forkful of cake into his mouth.

"And how quickly did you drink that?"

"I'd say in about ten minutes."

'He's going to be feeling the effects of that soon. I never had more than two cups of sake, and that was always enough to get me pretty happy, but he just downed almost twice that in ten minutes.....Maybe I should get my camera,' she thought as a smirk tugged at her lips.

"Whatever Nori-san is thinking, I suggest you don't do it. I may look small, but I am quite strong," Ryuzaki told her.

"Yes, but you don't like touching people and you'd have to restrain me, do you think you could do it?"

"You don't scare me, Nori-san."

"Whatever. I'm going to get a small cup of sake since you drank mine, can I get you anything?" Noriko asked.

"More tea please," he mumbled through his mouthful of cake.

Noriko made a disgusted grimace at the cake that sprayed all over her table. "I told you, Ryuzaki that wasn't tea. I'll get you some real tea."

Ryuzaki didn't reply so she shook her head and made her way to the kitchen. She put a tea cup of water in the microwave to heat up and poured herself a small cup of plum sake.

When the microwave beeped and she turned to get the water out, she wound up coming face to slumped shoulders with Ryuzaki and screaming before she pushed him away from her and put a hand to her chest.

"What the hell are you doing, Ryuzaki?"

"Did I scare you?"

"Not at all, I always react that way when people suddenly show up in front of me," she retorted snottily.

"Seems a little overly dramatic, don't you think," he asked, tilting his head and playing with his lip.

"Go sit down."

"I don't feel like sitting. I feel a little funny actually, tingly," he replied as he scratched at his head.

"That would be the sake. Ow, what are you doing," she shouted and whirled around when her hair tie was pulled from her hair.

"Nori-san looks better with her hair down," Ryuzaki replied as he shoved her hair tie in his pocket and slouched out of the room.

"What the hell just happened," she mumbled.

When she walked back into the living room with the tea and her sake, Ryuzaki was on the couch in his usual crouch so she figured that the scene in the kitchen was just a rare act and probably wouldn't happen again.

"This tea is different, Nori-san," he drawled in what sounded very close to a whine.

"I told you already what you drank earlier was sake, Ryuzaki," she replied irritably.

"Yes I know, I liked it, it was very sweet."

"It is, and I think you've had enough."

"Nori-san is not the boss of me."

"No, but it's my sake, so back off. How's that sound?"

"Nori-san is being mean."

"And you're being annoying."

"Nori-san-"

"Would you stop saying my name!"

"Nori-saaaaaannnnn, I want more sake."

"No!" She snapped at him.

"Please?" Ryuzaki asked.

"No."

"I'll hit Light-kun again," he offered.

"You hit Light, when?" She asked as she looked at the scrawny detective.

"It was in Amane's room before Nori-san joined the investigation. It's actually on tape."

"I want to see it!"

"Sake first Nori-san and I shall tell you where it is."

Noriko stared at the detective for a few seconds, his pale cheeks had a tint of pink to them and his lips were quirking up a bit as the sake took effect. Even she was beginning to feel the effects of the little she had had. It seemed the plum sake made its way into the system quickly.

"Ok, but I want to see that tape, understood?" Noriko asked as she got up.

"Yes Nori-san," Ryuzaki answered, saluting her with his fork and somehow managing to get cake on his forehead that he wiped off with a scowl before sticking his hand in his mouth.

She went to the kitchen and got two more cups of sake and returned to the living room. She held the cup out to Ryuzaki, but just out of his grasp.

"Where is the tape?" She asked.

Ryuzaki tried to get the sake from her, but she pulled it back further. He frowned cutely at the cup in her hands and reached for it again.

"Not until you tell me where the tape...What are you doing," Noriko asked when Ryuzaki stood up and walked around the table to where she was standing.

He stood directly in front of her and leaned in closely causing Noriko to blush at his proximity to her before he snatched the sake from her and slouched back to the couch.

"What the hell was that?!" Noriko snapped at him.

Ryuzaki looked up at her from over the rim of his cup and blinked. "I was seducing you."

It took her a moment to process the words before she burst into laughter and had to sit down in her chair. "S-S-Sorry, but that was funny. You... seduce me, yeah right."

"Are you saying I am incapable of wooing an attractive woman?" Ryuzaki asked.

"What I'm...Yeah." She replied, nodding her head.

"Now I'm not telling Nori-san where the tape is," he replied stubbornly.

"Oh come on, I was joking and wait a second did you just call me attractive?" Noriko asked as she furrowed her brows and stared at him.

"It took you long enough," he mumbled.

"...You're weird."

"I've been told."

"Where is the tape, Ryuzaki?"

"I'm not telling you, you were mean."

"Don't make me make you tell me."

"You don't scare me Nori-san, what are you going to do? Fall on me?"

"Hey, I'll have you know I've gotten a little more graceful over-"

"You, graceful, I doubt it."

"Oh you are so asking for it," Noriko growled.

"I didn't ask for anything," Ryuzaki replied innocently.

"You do know that I know where you stash all your sweets, right?"

Ryuzaki's dark eyes cornered up to her and narrowed. "You will leave my sweets alone."

"Then you will tell me where that tape is," she replied, sticking her nose into the air arrogantly before giggling at the look on Ryuzaki's face. This had just turned into a game and he wasn't about to lose.

"You're bluffing," Ryuzaki said as he stared at her through suspicious eyes.

She grinned, the sake making it a little lopsided. "Try me," she replied, standing and heading slowly towards her door.

"Nori-san," Ryuzaki warned when she opened the door.

She smirked and giggled before shed bolted from the room.

"Say good bye to your stash, Ryuzaki," she shouted over her shoulder as she ran for the elevators and jabbed repeatedly at the buttons. "Come on," she grumbled impatiently, watching the numbers above the elevator slowly get closer.

She turned to see that Ryuzaki was slouching after her, walking a little quicker than usual and also not very straight. She squealed and pushed the button several more times. Finally, the door opened and she ran inside, pushing the door close button and heading for the basement and the investigation room.

She impatiently tapped her foot as the elevator made it's descent and when the doors finally opened, she bolted and nearly fell down the steps to get to the long desk where all the computers were. Light, Matsuda and Mr Yagami were still there and watched her curiously as she made her way to Ryuzaki's usual seat and reached behind the monitor of a large screen. She fumbled around with something before letting out a victorious cry when a large plastic bag fell from behind the screen.

Holding the bag to her chest, she ran back towards the stairs only to stop when the doors to the other elevator opened and Ryuzaki slouched out. The second he saw her with his candy held to her chest, his eyes narrowed.

"Now Nori-san, be reasonable or I'll tell Light-kun you really do still love him and want-"

"Shut up you idiot," Noriko shouted at him and almost launched the bag of candy at him before remembering she was trying to get the candy away from him, not give it to him.

"Noriko, Ryuzaki what's going on?" Light asked as he walked towards the two who were watching each other carefully.

"Nothing," they both replied.

"Give the candy back, Nori-san," Ryuzaki said, slowly walking down the stairs towards her.

She backed up and clutched the candy tighter. "Not until you tell me where the tape is."

"What tape? Noriko, what's-"

"Nori-san and I made a deal, but it seems we didn't quite agree on the terms," Ryuzaki replied, cutting Light off as he continued to walk towards Noriko, who was beginning to look like a cat cornered by a dog as she hunched over the candy and watched him through squinted eyes.

"It's you that didn't agree to it you damn drunk," Noriko argued.

There were mutters of curiosity from the three watching before Noriko began to take a few steps towards the door that led to the hallway, she didn't know her way around too well, but she knew there were more elevators down one of the halls, which one was the question.

Next thing anyone knew, she sprinted for the door. Ryuzaki who was only a few steps away managed to grab her arm. Thinking that he wouldn't be able to hold her, she tried to run away, but his grasp on her arm was firm and she squealed when she slipped and fell backwards. She squeezed her eyes shut as she waited to impact the cold, hard tile floor, but instead landed on something kinda soft and bony.

"What are you doing Ryuzaki, you pervert," she screamed when she opened her eyes to see that Ryuzaki had broken her fall and was in the process of snatching the candy from her, but it was held so closely to her chest that it looked as if he were trying to grope her.

Noriko was up and staring at Ryuzaki, her hands on her hips as he inspected the bag of candy he had taken from her.

"Your candy is safe, where's the tape?" Noriko asked in huff as she glared at him.

"Just open my computer and click on the icon of a cake on the right hand side, it'll play automatically."

"Thank you," Noriko said stiffly as she walked over to the computer, hit a few buttons and clicked on the icon of a birthday cake.

A small screen opened up as everyone gathered around her to see what it was they had been fighting over. Noriko hit a few more buttons, it took her a few attempts to get the right one, but she finally managed to get the video to play on all the monitors on the wall.

Just after the monitors flickered on, Light was seen punching Ryuzaki so hard he flew across the room they were in, dragging Light with him since they had been cuffed together at the time.

"You said you hit him you scrawny little liar," Noriko shouted, whirling around to point at him, her hand wavering slightly.

"Keep watching," Ryuzaki drawled as he picked a few pieces of candy from the bag and watched the monitors.

"This is ridiculous, Noriko," Light sighed, trying to stop the video.

"Oh no you don't...YES!" She yelled as she jumped into the air when Ryuzaki landed a nice kick to the underside of Light's jaw.

"Told you," Ryuzaki mumbled form behind her.

"Actually you kicked him, you said you hit him," Noriko pointed out as she continued to watch the monitor as the two men struggled with each other until the phone rang and it cut off.

"Hmm, you're right Nori-san, it seems I lied to you. I apologize," Ryuzaki said.

"It's alright that was still pretty good."

Light sighed in exasperation and walked away from the two.

"Although I do believe we had another deal...."

"Huh?" Noriko replied as she cocked her to the side and stared at Ryuzaki.

"Light-kun I have a favor to ask of you," Ryuzaki called.

"What," Light asked, it was clear he was highly annoyed with the two of them as he turned in his seat to glare at Ryuzaki.

"Well you see, today is my birthday so I-"

"Your birthday is on Halloween?"

"I would think that would be fairly obvious by what I just said, Nori-san," Ryuzaki replied, irritated by her interruption.

"That's so cool!" Noriko replied.

"Yes well, as I was saying Light-kun there is something I want that only you can give me."

"What is it, Ryuzaki," Light asked tiredly.

"I want to go on a double date with you and Misa-san and Nori-san."

"You want to date Misa?" Noriko asked in sheer confusion as she scrunched up her nose and tried to look disgusted, but in her intoxicated stated she just looked cute.

"No."

"Then who?" She asked.

"You Noriko," Light answered for her angrily.

"Me," she asked as she pointed a finger blankly at herself. "Why?"

"Because Nori-san is pretty when she smiles," Ryuzaki replied seriously.

"Huh?" Noriko grunted, scratching at her head in her confusion.

"Just kidding," Ryuzaki said before he turned back to Light. "I was actually wondering if-"

"Hey, what the hell, Ryuzaki?!" Noriko shouted.

"Be quiet, Noriko. You're drunk and it's a little annoying," Light scolded in irritation.

"You're annoying," Noriko grumbled as she crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

"What do you really want Ryuzaki, and leave Noriko out of it," Light said.

"Well, could you come here for a moment Light-kun, I don't want Nori-san and the others to hear this."

Light sighed and rolled his eyes, but stood up and walked towards Ryuzaki, who had one hand in his jeans pocket and the other was playing with his lip. Noriko watched as Light walked up to Ryuzaki and her eyes widened when Ryuzaki suddenly and out of the clear blue swung his fist at Light's face. Light didn't have the time to react and wound up taking the full force of the hit, he took several steps backwards and regained himself. He glared at the now grinning detective and was about to retaliate when Noriko squealed, ran up in front of Ryuzaki and threw her arms around him. She giggled as she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

Ryuzaki who was in the process of trying to get her arms off of him so he could take a step back, froze and stared at her curiously. She was grinning, but that suddenly changed into a frown and she released him only to out her hands on her hips.

"That's not fair!" She cried.

"What's not fair, Noriko?" Light asked. "And what-"

She turned to him and folded her arms over her chest, pouting a little. "Why does he get to hit you and I don't?"

Ryuzaki snickered behind her as Light's hurt gaze flickered down to Noriko's green eyes.

"It's my birthday," Ryuzaki replied, sticking a finger in the air to emphasize his point, a grin still lingered on his lips as he saw Light's look go from serious to a look that clearly said 'are you serious'.

"So, I want to hit him too," she whined.

"No one's stopping you," Ryuzaki said with a disinterested shrug, although he thought it might be amusing to see her hit him.

Noriko glanced around, but didn't move as Light wiped at his face with his arm and walked towards her.

"Come on Noriko, I know you're angry, but you're also drunk. You need-"

"Ha!" She screeched as she punched him square in the nose and took off running to the elevators laughing like a maniac the entire time.

Ryuzaki just stayed where he was, watching Light as his dad and Matsuda gathered around him and watched Noriko run to the elevators like a madwoman.

"I think that was the best birthday present I've ever received," Ryuzaki mumbled as he put his thumb to his lips and walked to the elevators to go back up to Noriko's apartment and attempt to get her to make him a cake since he had eaten all of the one in her fridge.

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