Disclaimer- I don't own Death Note

You're spoiled.....

Chapter 34

Decisions, Decisions

Noriko spent the next day in her apartment curled up in her bed trying to figure out just what she was supposed to do now. With L and Watari dead and no one alive who suspected Light as Kira, she had very few options.

The thought of going back to living with Reiji and just forgetting about Kira and the investigation was constantly on her mind, but she couldn't do that. Staying had crossed her mind, but the only thing with that was she doubted she would be able to stay in the building since L was dead, she had no idea what would become of it after all. She had enough money to get herself a place for a few months and she had yet to claim the money that was left to her by her dad. How much there was was still unknown to her at the moment, but it wouldn't be hard to talk to the lawyer who was in charge of it.

The more she thought about what she should do the more she realized just how bad of a situation she was in. Light now had no one in his way of creating a new world and she highly doubted he would let her out of his sight. He would think of something, she knew it and it frightened her. That kept bringing her back to Reiji and then to the other Yotsuba employees who had been involved in the meetings. Light wouldn't want them to live even though they had been forced into the meetings, they knew too much and it would be dangerous if any of them spoke about their experiences.

After spending the entire day and most of the night in a semi-comatose state, Noriko managed to drag herself out of bed and into the bath. Everything seemed to move in slow motion, the water as the tub filled, herself as she tried to go through the usual motions of bathing and then getting dressed and brushing her hair. She wandered into her kitchen and got a cup of hot tea before she walked out to her balcony to watch the sun rise over the buildings and clear away the gloom that seemed to have settled over everything.

How long she sat there she didn't know, but her tea had gone cold and the sun was fully up when a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her. She stiffened and gasped when a chin was rested on her shoulder.

"How did you get in here?" Noriko inquired blandly, breaking out of Light's grasp and moving aside.

"I made a key, everyone was really worried. We haven't seen you for over a day."

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine," he replied as he tried to brush some of her hair from her face, but she turned away. Light sighed and lowered his hand. "You really do hate me, don't you,, Noriko?"

"I don't know anymore Light. It's all too much for me. I don't agree with what you're doing, what you've done, but I can't do anything to stop you. I couldn't even save them, I couldn't.." she trailed off and her body began to shake and her head bowed as she started to cry.

"Nori," Light uttered quietly, gathering in his arms and holding her to him. "I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't want any of this to happen."

"Then stop," she pleaded through her sobs.

"I don't have a notebook, you know that."

"I know it's not in your possession, but I'm sure you have a plan to get it back and even if you don't, Misa has one and that girl would do anything you told her."

"I'll tell her to give it up."

"You're lying, I'm not stupid Light. You were so set on creating a new world, why would you stop now?! There is nothing stopping you now. That shinigami is gone, L is gone, and I can't do a damn thing to stop you," she argued, pushing him away from her as hot, salty tears rained down her cheeks. "So tell me Light, why the hell would-"

"I would do it for you, Noriko," Light cut in, grabbing her upper arms to steady the emotional girl.

She shook her head and tried to wipe away her tears. "Liar."

"I'm not lying, Noriko. I love you, I will find another way to make the world a better place. A way that you won't hate me for."

Noriko broke out of Light's grip and ran past him to her room. She slammed and locked the door behind her.

Light pleaded with her for several minutes to get her to open the door, but she refused. She wound up crying herself to sleep after she managed to make her way to her bed.

As the days wore on, Light continued to try and convince Noriko, when they weren't around the others anyway, that he had meant what he had said. He promised that he would convince Misa to give up the Death Note in her possession and that he would find another way to create a better world.

Noriko found herself wanting to believe his words more than she had thought possible and her confusion only grew each day. Having known him for so long it was obvious to her he wasn't lying to her, but she didn't understand why. He had everything he wanted within his grasp. Everyone who could possibly stop him was gone and there was a Death Note that he could easily acquire. It made it that much harder to not believe his words and promises. That was why she had decided to see if he was being honest or not.

The two of them were currently sitting in her living room alone, she was huddled up on her couch while Light sat across from her. They were quiet at the moment, Light didn't want to press Noriko too much too fast for fear that it would only scare her away and was not what he wanted to do. Noriko just didn't have much to say, her thoughts were too erratic and unstable to keep pinned down for long, let alone talk about.

"Prove it," she had said suddenly as she looked up at him and stared him right in the eye.

"What," Light asked, a little confused by her request.

"Have her give up the notebook. I'll be able to tell if it happens or not, and I'll be able to sense whether or not Ryuk leaves the human world. I still think you're up to something, so prove to me that you're not lying and have her give it up."

"And you'll give me another chance?"

"We'll see," she replied.

Two days later, nine days after L and Watari's deaths, Misa Amane gave up ownership of the notebook in her possession after Light had asked her to do so. Ryuk left the human world and the only threat left that Noriko could sense was Light.

Noriko who noticed these things immediately, stood up from her couch in her darkened apartment and proceeded to make her way to the investigation room. Light was there, at the computers as usual when she stepped out of the elevator. She was wearing a black tank top and red pajama bottoms, her feet were bare and the cold of the tile against the soles made her shiver and wrap her arms around herself. Mr Yagami had been the first to notice her standing on the ledge above them, watching them with sad eyes.

"Is everything all right, Noriko," he asked.

Light had turned around as soon as her name was spoken, she nodded as she locked eyes with him. She never responded to the question that had been asked her, but Light stood up. "I'll be back in a little while."

Mr Yagami nodded. "Take your time."

"Thanks dad," Light said before jogging over to Noriko. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just cold," she replied.

"Let's get you back to your apartment then, you look tired," he smiled warmly, put an arm behind her back and led her to the elevator.

"So you did it." She said as they walked into her apartment and Light fumbled to find the switch to turn on the lights in the dark room.

"It wasn't all that easy," he replied, a note of annoyance in his voice.

"I take it she didn't like the fact that you were doing it for another girl?"

"Not really, but I've never liked Misa. She just threw herself at me."

"Ryuk is gone too."

"I figured as much," Light replied.

"That leaves only you," Noriko said.

"What do you mean?"

"You're the only one left in this world with an attachment to a notebook."

"Yeah, but I don't even have the notebook in my possession, I have no way of using it," Light pointed out.

"You killed Higuchi to get your memories back and to gain ownership of the notebook. You can't tell me that you had no plan to get it back after all of this," Noriko retorted.

"You're right I did," Light conceded. "But I told you, Noriko, I want to be with you and I'll do anything to-"

"Then release ownership of it."

"How? I don't even have it to give it up and Rem is gone."

"Then destroy it," Noriko said seriously.

"I can't do that."

"Why? It won't kill anyone who touched it."

"So you knew they were fake rules?" Light asked after a short pause.

"I did. Not all of them are, but it's obvious which those are since I know the truth. Destroy the notebook. It may be locked up somewhere since everyone thinks I might kill us all by trying to burn it again, but I'm sure you know where it is."

"Yeah, but Noriko how am I supposed to convince-"

"I'm sure you'll think of something," she interrupted, pushing herself up from where she had sat on her couch. She walked away from Light and to her bedroom, pausing at the door. "If you want to be with me, Light, then you'll do it."

Once she disappeared into her room, Light smirked arrogantly and let himself out of her apartment. Everything was going as he had planned so far, a few more days and everything would be just the way he wanted it.

It had now been ten days since L had been secretly laid to rest. Herself, Light and the other four members that were left to the task force all attended a small service for him. It still struck her as odd that even though no harm had been done to his body the coffin had been closed, she figured it had something to do with no one knowing who he was to begin with and just an extra precaution.

Watari's body had been sent to England to be buried. It turned out the elderly man was actually a well known and respected inventor and had done many things to help orphaned children throughout the world.

Noriko had barely spoken to anyone aside from Light and that was only because he was trying to convince her to give him another chance. She usually ignored him, but it was getting harder to do when she saw the hurt and pain she was causing him. As hard as she kept telling herself he was a liar and she didn't want to be near him, her resolve was weakening and it was getting harder to believe those things. Especially now that he had done as he had said and had Misa give up the ownership of the notebook she had owned and even Ryuk had left the human world.

Light was beginning to see the cracks in her attitude and behavior towards him and knew that it was only a matter of time before he would be able to convince her to give him another chance. She was so lost and alone and he was so familiar and willing to be there for her that he knew it wouldn't be long before she realized that and gave in.

At the moment, Noriko was huddled in a desk chair, watching Light who was typing away at the computer a few yards away from her. Matsuda, Aizawa and Mogi were all gathered on the couches on the far side of the room, reading over the newspaper that had a story on Quillish Wammy's death and details about all of the good deeds he had done when he was alive.

Noriko pulled the blanket she had brought with her tighter around herself as she listened to Aizawa read the article. She rested her head on her knees and stared off into nowhere, she was still fairly out of it and hadn't even noticed that tears were silently falling from her now dull and glossy green eyes until Light put a hand on her shoulder.

The touch startled her and made her gasp and jump slightly as she turned her eyes up to Light. He seemed genuinely concerned as he crouched in front of her and brushed the tears from her cheeks. The room had gone completely silent as everyone focused on them.

"Are you all right?" Light asked quietly.

She swallowed and nodded as she backed away from him and wiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Yeah, sorry."

"Don't apologize, Noriko," Light replied. "Are you sure you're all right? Do you want me to take you to your room so you can rest?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I don't really want to be alone right now."

"I'll stay with you then, but you really need to rest, Nori. I know you haven't been sleeping," he said.

Just as she opened her mouth to reply the door opened a tired Mr Yagami walked in.

"Hey, chief welcome back," Matsuda greeted happily.

"So what happened?" Aizawa asked eagerly.

"Well... 'L captured Higuchi as Kira and the killings stopped, but only for four days', they were all over me about that," he replied as he took a seat beside Matsuda. He was referring to the N.P.A, he had just returned from a meeting about the current status of the investigation.

"So, what did they say?" Matsuda asked anxiously.

"I told them we were getting closer to the truth and convinced them to let us continue the investigation, but...I couldn't tell them everything. If they knew that L and Watari were dead we would be forced to stop the investigation again."

"This is ridiculous," Matsuda sighed.

"Yeah, but you know how people are. Always looking out for number one," Aizawa replied.

"Fortunately, we were the only ones who knew what L and Watari looked like," Mr Yagami said.

Noriko looked up, Light was still beside her, standing now as his father spoke.

"I don't understand," Noriko said quietly as she looked up at Light.

"If we want to continue the investigation, we'll have to continue to operate as if L is still in control, right?" Light asked.

"Yes. We'll have to work as if we are still under L's orders," Mr Yagami replied.

"But we can't continue to operate from here," Aizawa spoke up thoughtfully.

"Will you make it Light?" Mr Yagami asked.

Noriko's brows knitted together and she glanced over to Light. She had no idea what was going on.

"Yeah, I'll have most of the data transferred by tonight," he answered.

"What data?" Noriko asked.

"All the files on the Kira case. I'm transferring them to my home computer so we can operate from there. Although I don't really like how I feel like a thief," he said.

"But..." she trailed off and lowered her head. If she brought up the fact that there wasn't anyone capable of being Kira since no one owned a death note aside from Light it would lead to a lot of uncomfortable questions. On top of that the killings hadn't actually stopped yet.

"The only question is who will act as L and Watari?" Light said.

"What are you talking about, Light," Matsuda exclaimed. "It's got to be you, even L said you could be his successor."

'Is this what he wanted?' Noriko thought. 'To be L and Kira all at the same time. It would be the perfect cover. No matter how hard they searched, with Kira among them, they would never find him. So he does have a plan to get the notebook back then, he has to.'

"Well, with this computer and mine at home we should be fine. I can scramble the signal and be L from my own room. It'll be uncomfortable with mom and Sayu around though, it would be better if we could rent an apartment," Light said, sounding reluctant.

"Yeah and Noriko needs a place to stay for awhile, so that would work out nicely," Matsuda added.

"There wouldn't be anything wrong with me renting my son an apartment," Mr Yagami agreed.

"So Light's new place will be the new headquarters," Matsuda declared.

"What about Watari?" Aizawa asked.

"I'll do that too," Light answered.

"Huh?" Was the general response from everyone.

"I'm already going to be playing L's role, so both won't be too difficult. Besides, most of what Watari did was connect people to L."

"I could do that," Noriko spoke up.

Everyone turned to her as if just realizing she was there.

"No, I don't want you involved, Noriko, you've been through enough," Light replied worriedly.

"I agree, Noriko. This is too dangerous and you should be involved as little as possible," Mr Yagami said.

"So, what are we going to do about the notebook?" Mogi asked, since he was fairly silent it was his turn for everyone to stare at him.

"Since destroying it isn't an option we just have one of us hide it in some place no one will ever find it," Light suggested.

Noriko's eyes narrowed and for the first time in days she felt something other than grief and confusion. Anger.

"But who?" Aizawa asked.

"It would have to be someone we trust completely," Light answered. "And who won't tell anyone, even any of us, where it is."

"Chief?" Matsuda asked.

"Huh?" Noriko replied, her anger temporarily forgotten as she turned to Light's dad.

"Yeah, we trust you Chief," Aizawa said.

"Not to sound, uh, rude or anything, but since he's Light's dad aren't any of you worried he would say something to Light?" Noriko asked. "I mean, not that Light is Kira, but..."

"You don't have to worry about that, right dad? You won't tell me where it is," Light asked.

Mr Yagami nodded. "No, I won't tell anyone where it is."

Noriko grew confused over this, she had been certain that Light was up to something, but if Mr Yagami kept to his word and hid the notebook and then never disclosed the location then Light would never have access to it. It was a fact she couldn't ignore. He may not have destroyed it, but he made certain he could never touch it and that Noriko knew it.

"How about it, Noriko?" Light asked, turning to her.

"Hmm?" She looked up at him, blinking away the thoughts that were flying through her brain. He had done it, not quite how she had wanted him too, but he had made sure he wouldn't have access to the notebook. He was no longer Kira and it would soon become apparent that there was no longer a Kira when the killings stopped.

"Will you live with me and give me another chance? I promise not to screw this one up," Light said, a warm smile lifting his lips and brightening his eyes. He then reached behind his neck and undid a necklace he wore that Noriko had never noticed before, hanging from the necklace was a familiar black and white diamond ring.

Noriko could only stare at him as he removed the ring from the chain, unable to answer because she wasn't sure what to say. She did love him and she wanted things to go back to how they had been, but things weren't the same anymore. They had both changed as a result of everything they had been through in the past several months and she would never forget what had happened. But could she forgive him and get past what he had done? Could she really be happy with him again? A part of her wanted to think so and right now that was the part of her that was speaking the loudest.

"Nori?" Light questioned.

She didn't answer, but she nodded and smiled lightly. Light looked ecstatic as did Mr Yagami, Matsuda shouted out a triumphant "Woohoo!" Only to end up laughing nervously when everyone gave him disapproving stares. Light then slipped the engagement ring back on to Noriko's finger. All she could do was stare at the sparkling gems on her hand, she didn't know what to think or feel. A part of her was happy, but another part felt immense guilt for trying to be happy with the man she knew was responsible for so much death.

"If you screw up this time," she said softly, so only he could hear her, her eyes still locked on the ring on her finger. "I'll make sure you pay...." Her eyes flickered to his and a small smile found its way to her face.

'Her trust in me is still low. I'll just have to move carefully for awhile,' Light thought as he smiled and nodded Noriko.

Please review!