A/N: yeah, so I was wrong. I didn't know that sembreak would be that busy with all that traveling and such and that was against the better part of my judgement. Ok so start. Currently watching: blood+. Song currently playing: Haruka Kanata by Asian Kung Fu generation. Currently reading: Naruto manga ch. 422.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note.

---Chapter 6---

----Sensei? ----

Matt almost choked into his soda when Lira stated her proposal. It has been a week since Lira took a break from protecting L and decided to go visit the orphanage to check up on her boy. Yes, she calls them hers. Even though the boys she once took care of in the orphanage had grown past the time when they still call Lira their 'mother', nevertheless, they still hold great respect for her and listens to what she's saying. The boys had indeed grown. Matt, the eldest, had grown a great deal of height. His frame tall but not lanky which is quite common for those who have grown in orphanages. Well, that's according to those novels where the protagonist grew up alone and suddenly had the power to save the whole universe. No, Matt was not that kind of orphan and Lira absolutely doubted whether, if given the chance, he would even give a damn as to how the earth will end up. She was pretty sure that Matt would prefer sitting in the couch watching some movies than get his lazy bum off it and do some serious fighting. Perhaps Matt did get his ass off the couch a fair few times since he has grown some muscles at the right places. And his stomach was not that of a die-hard couch potato. He was definitely doing something about it, Lira was quite sure of that. The goggles that Lira had left the kid years ago when they left is now worn as a head gear unlike when she first gave it to him that it was slipping his head. Lira's got to admit that it contrasted very well with his red hair which is mopped and has that soft 'just got out of bed' look.

Mello had also changed a lot. He's also grown a bit taller and had grown at the right places. And – Lira snorted into her drink when she first saw it – had developed a new sense in clothing style. Mello wears leather all over: leather vest, leather pants and leather boots that Lira had to wonder if the lad goes commando under all those clothes that she was sure would feel really hot against the skin. And, to Lira's utter horror, Mello completed the 'rebel' look with keeping his hair at shoulder length though his bands betrayed the look. He also wears the necklace that Lira gave him years ago. Lira almost had a nosebleed at how much a fashion disaster Mello had been. And she could only blame that to L who also got a 'weird' taste in clothes.

Near was the one has the least changes of the three. He still wore all white pajama-looking outfits and socks. His hair was still the same. It's still mopped and looked like he does not bother combing it or doing anything to it to make it look at least a little neater. His growth went unnoticed if not that he now reached Lira's hips in his sitting down position. It made Lira wonder if he ever practiced walking after she and L had left the orphanage.

The first time she saw them was when she came there and had talked to Watari's assistant and the boys just barged into the office without even bothering to knock. The blonde and the redhead stopped momentarily on their tracks and stared at Lira as if determining if she really is the real thing. When Lira grew tired of the staring, she raised her hand in greeting with a casual 'yo!' and smiling at her boys. Matt and Mello stared even longer and then shouted with glee, throwing their arms around their beloved 'elder sister', almost suffocating her in the process. When all the commotion had died down, Lira noticed an albino kid who was slumped on the floor, playing timidly with his hair.

"Is this – Near?" she asked the two boys beside her and both nodded. Lira walked over to the boy slumped on the floor and planted a kiss on his forehead which made the color on the boy's cheek turn a tinge of pink. She turned around to look at the other two and finally stated. "I missed you so much guys," and threw her arms open and encouraged another group hug.

That was a week ago and after that, the four did not waste any time on catching up on each other. Lira was glad to hear that her boys were living up to L's name and were actually the top three of the Wammy house, though she also knows that it could be a pain for them since everybody expects a lot from them. Matt was the only one who does not care what others expect him to do. He has managed to retain his happy-go-lucky side. Only Mello seemed to be the one taking the pressure. Maybe it was partly Lira's and L's fault that Mello thought that Near was everybody's favorite. But Lira wasted no time in feeling guilty about that. Mello should be old enough to realize that the world does not revolve around favoritism alone.

It was one of those catching-up sessions of the three that Matt fired a question. It was actually something that has been running through her head ever since she reached Japan. She was someone who gets bored so easily, anyway.

"So, you're going to take on one of L's names, huh?" Mello looked at her with admiration. He never thought that Lira could ever handle being a detective.

"Mmm-hmm. I'll be solving all of the cases filed under Danuve's name and, well, the usual stuff. What are you looking at?" Lira started when she saw all three pairs of eyes staring – no, ogling at her.

"Alright, I get it, you don't trust me do you? You know I'll just mess up, right?" she said placing her hands in her hips.

"N – no! W – we just can't b – believe it!", Matt stuttered. He knew very well that when Lira has assumed that pose, it is not very wise to taunt her. He himself had been a usual outlet of that kind of rage years ago. And that Lira was only seventeen. He wouldn't like to see what an adult Lira can do.

"Yes, Matt is right, we believe in you!" Mello backed up his endangered friend and Near simply nodded as if wanting to disappear immediately into the background.

"Those aside, are you planning on doing anything else except being a detective?" Matt asked a little later when he knew that it would be safe again.

"Hmm, I have already thought of that, you know. I think that I can continue my job as spy and also, I think I would try my hand at teaching," Lira said thoughtfully. All of a sudden, another commotion exploded around Lira. Matt choked on his soda, and Mello was patting his best friend on the back and Near looked like he'd eaten something very nasty.

"What now?" Lira demanded.

"Are you really sure about that?" Mello asked when he was sure that Mass would not die of suffocation.

"Of course I am," Lira answered back.

"And what are you going to teach?" Matt asked. He knows Lira is good at a lot of things though he never knew if those things could fit in an academic curriculum.

"I'm going to apply as a professor in University. I'd like to teach programming for a change," Lira answered brightly. Mello chuckled.

"And what are you going to teach your students? How to hack on databases?" Mello asked cheekily.

"Of course not! I'd be sued if I do that! I'd be teaching them real programming of course!" Lira answered back.

"Sure, you'll teach them how to make viruses and then destroy that poor university's database in no time. That is programming, right?" Matt taunted.

"No! I'll not teach the students how to become criminals, you idiots!" Lira replied angrily.

"Duck!" Near shouted and Mello and Matt obliged missing Lira's throwing knives by a centimeter.

"Geez, you always carry your weapons with you, huh?" Mello said shakily as he was standing up.

"Of course. We never know when the enemy will show up," Lira said walking to the other side of the room and pulling out the throwing knives from the wall. Matt could barely remember when he last saw Lira throw a knife and it was not a very welcoming sight. The hole that the knife left in their room was still left unrepaired. Maybe some retarded idiot thought that it would be best left like that as a memento of sorts for Lira.

"And you're going to teach with that attitude of yours?" Matt raised an eyebrow at the girl opposite him.

"I'll try controlling myself once I started the job," Lira answered wondering if she could ever do that.

"May the Lord have mercy on your students," Mello muttered staring at the ceiling as if looking for God.

"Geez, and I thought Japanese education was really good," Matt added. A vein pulsed in Lira's forehead but the two best friends paid no attention to it.

"Ok, class, today I'll teach you all about the print command of doom!" Mello started with exaggerated arm movements.

"Oh, and we'll include the scan command of doom!" Matt added with a sinister look on his face.

"YOU GUYS!" Lira exploded with anger and another commotion ensued. Near crouched low and walked towards the door so as to avoid any injuries the fight may sustain.

"Onegai sensei, tasukete kure!" Matt mocked further in the background, ending in muffled shouts.

A/N: that's it for you guys. Geez, I almost abandoned this fic, you know I'm glad I picked up some ideas for a new chapter. As to why Lira chose to teach programming, it's because I sometimes see Lira's personality in my programming professor. That's all. Please check out my deviantart profile, especially the journal. The account is still mydeadlylover. Thanks.