Roxanne

You don't have to put on the red light

Those days are over

You don't have to sell your body to the night

Roxanne

You don't have to wear that dress tonight

Walk the streets for money

You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne

You don't have to put on the red light

I loved you since I knew you

I wouldn't talk down to you

I have to tell you just how I feel

I won't share you with another boy

I know my mind is made up

So put away your make up

Told you once I won't tell you again

It's a bad way

Roxanne

You don't have to put on the red light

Roxanne

You don't have to put on the red light

Everyone in the room applauded, but Hitomi wasn't paying attention to them. She sat down hastily and looked at Raito.

"What in the hell was that about, you-"

"Yes, Hitomi-chan, why did Raito-kun pick that song for you? Isn't it about a prostitute?" She froze, remembering L's presence.

"Well, I'm not quite sure. I did use to like the police, but it's not like I'm a prostitute or something." Her laugh sounded a little too nervous for her taste, and L was still giving her that blank stare that screwed up every thought she had, so she made a decision. Raito would not have this cheery American girl for the rest of the night, she'd make sure of that herself.

"Raito, don't you think that since you had me show off for Sarah, maybe you should sing something too?"

"I'm not anywhere near as good as you, Hitomi." They were both surprised when L jumped in.

"But if you insisted that Hitomi-chan sing, and embarrassed her with the song you picked, it's only fair that you have a turn as well."

"Well," Raito smiled, "since the fate of all justice in karaoke bars depends on it, I will. Hitomi, would you like to pick my song as well? So we're all squared away?" Hitomi smiled.

"Oh, Raito, after all those years we picked on each other as kids, I'm afraid we'll never be quite even. But you can pick your own song, I'm still too mortified to go near the stage again." Raito stood and left for the stage, and Hitomi waited until he was out of hearing distance.

"You know Raito has a girlfriend back in Japan, right?" she asked Sarah casually.

"Um no, Light never said anything about a girlfriend..."

"Oh, I'm sure he was going to say something. I mean, he probably just forgot because he was so entranced by you." The poor girl had no idea how to respond to this. "And I'm sure he won't mention you to poor Misa-chan."

"Misa?"

"That's her name. She's utterly devoted to him. She'd do anything for our Raito... a tad jealous though."

Sarah looked a bit worried now, and Hitomi only had to glance at L. The older man had been listening intently the whole time with his eyes on Raito, but when he sensed her eyes flick to him for a second, he looked back at the poor native girl who had no idea what she'd apparently walked into. And before he had fully realized that he wanted to help Hitomi with whatever she was trying to do to this girl- most likely to get revenge on Yagami-kun for embarrassing her- he had opened his mouth and joined her.

"Misa-chan is incredibly jealous. I heard she once threatened to kill any girls she saw him with."

"What? That can't be true, I mean, Hitomi has been with him all night-"

"Well, of course I have. I've known him since before primary school. Besides, I'm his ex. Misa-chan knows I'm not a threat to her because Raito dumped me ages ago. He doesn't want me anymore, I might as well be his sister." Sarah was gone faster than Raito got his turn to climb up on the stage.

Once they were alone, Hitomi got up and moved to the other side of the table, sitting next to L. He didn't look at her and she didn't look up either, both of them focused on watching Raito like nothing had happened. Until Hitomi spoke up in a low voice.

"So, why'd you help me out with getting rid of her?"

"I knew you had a good reason. Something not fueled by jealousy or anger." His last sentence sounded more like a question, and Hitomi felt her face flush.

"Well, thank you anyway. I owe you one." He nodded slightly, as if commiting that to memory, then motioned the waitress over.

"Do you want another drink?"

"I thought you didn't approve, Ryuzaki-kun," she joked.

"Since it's only the once, and you've already broken the law-" Hitomi cut him off, turning to the waitress.

"Two beers please! And if Mrs. Nakamura asks, they're for my legal friend here."

"What kind of beer, miss?"

"The cheapest one, I'm only a college student." The woman nodded and retrieved the drinks from the bar, and to L's surprise, Hitomi did give him one. They drank in silence as they waited for the woman before Raito finished up her song and left the stage. Then as he did, L spoke seriously.

"Tell me something."

"What do you want to know?"

"Your honest opinion on who the three Kiras are. You haven't said anything yet about them."

"L (eru by pronunciation?)... you really think I've made sense of all this in a little over a week?"

"Raito and Yagami-san had utmost confidence in you."

"I see-"

"As do I. Or we wouldn't still be here." She smiled a little.

"And I thought you were just staying because you thought I was pretty and made good cake." He looked at her from the corner of one eye to see a fake pout, and replied dryly,

"The cake was good..."

"Hey!" she smacked his arm lightly. He looked down at the spot her hand had hit, staring at it long enough for her to apologize and the pink in her cheeks to darken.

"That reminds me. That kick earlier... it looked like martial arts."

"Oh, that? It was nothing really. I've known Shito-ryu forever."

"It's karate then."

"Yeah. My dad was huge into karate. He had his own little place when we came over here until he got sent to jail. I really only keep up with it now for the exercise. I don't want to get fat from all those sweets. Or, you know, have a heart attack or something." He seemed displeased that she had mentioned having a heart attack, but returned to his first question.

"Kira?"

"My opinion?"

"Your honest opinion."

"My conclusions."

"If you're that sure of yourself."

"I... can understand your logic in suspecting Raito. It would take someone smart like he is, maybe at least that smart, to pull something off like this. And to think he could challenge the greatest detective in the world and win. And if he's the original, then Amane-san seems the obvious choice for the second. I mean, she's obsessed with Kira almost as badly as she's obsessed with Raito. And she's not nearly as smart as him. Plus she's got access to the media... it makes perfect sense."

"And the third?"

"I don't know. The deaths attributed to the third aren't like the other two. None of them were heart attacks, there wasn't a distinct pattern in cause or time of death-"

"Lack of a pattern can sometimes be interpreted as a pattern."

"Yes, that's true. So deliberately random killings. But that would leave anyone smart enough not to kill everyone the same way, or a lot of people, and who has a grudge against criminals."

"So you understand why I suspect you. By your own thinking?"

"Well, assumedly, yes. But I don't necessarily have a grudge against anyone, no less criminals."

"After your family was destroyed when your father defended you and your mother from a burgular?"

"When you put it that way, of course I sound suspicious. But Ryuzaki-kun, he wouldn't have been in jail forever. It was Kira that killed him. And his death that drove my mother over the edge. And her institutionalization that left me alone to work through college. If I had a grudge, it would logically be against Kira." Hitomi stopped, her eyes burning a little with tears at bringing up her parents like that. So instead of looking up, she stared at the table until L asked simply,

"Do you?" She hesitated, then answered truthfully in a small voice,

"Yes."

"Do you believe Raito is Kira?"

"I- don't want to. I always thought he was a good person, really. But you're so sure, and the evidence supports it..."

"One percent isn't sure."

"If it were really one percent, you wouldn't mention it."

"No one else suspects him."

"No one else is the world's best detective..." Now he hesitated.

"You- understand that I suspect you as well."

"I do. But just having some kind of relationship, past or present, with Raito doesn't seem like enough reasoning to suspect someone. Do you have any idea how many girlfriends he's had since junior high?"

"I'm assuming many, by the way you phrase that."

"And why would I help him anyway? I told you why he dumped me, and if he's Kira, then he killed my father. I don't know why you've already condemned me."

"I never condemned you." The tears were getting worse, harder to fight back.

"Then why do you act like I'm about to kill you?"

"I treat everyone except Watari that way. Since the case started I've had to be careful."

"I know," she sighed, slowly winning the fight against the tears she hated herself for having in the first place. "I just wish none of it were happening." It seemed as if L's shoulders drooped a little more than normal, but Hitomi still wouldn't dare look up. She had to stifle a surprised gasp when she felt his fingers barely brush the ends of her hair, grazing her back lightly as well.

"Help me capture them," he said, still avoiding her gaze. "Then things can change."

"Ryuzaki-kun..." They finally looked at each other, and L found himself speaking instead of remaining quiet like his better judgement told him to.

"Hmm?"

"Do you think after the investigation's over... after Kira's caught, we could..." There was a strange look in her eyes that he'd never seen before, but she quickly blinked and it was gone. As if she'd stopped herself before fully thinking something she might say.

"Could what?"

"... Might be... friends?"

"I don't think so." She looked hurt.

"Why not? Don't you want me?"Hitomi paused, realized what she'd said, then added, "To be your friend?"

He almost lost his composure when she'd asked if he wanted her. How could she right out ask a question like that? But then again, hadn't he been the one fighting a raging hard on just hours ago because of her? Even Raito had pointed out that he acted differently around her, and lately he was having some trouble concentrating on the investigation. There was the fact that he'd been going out of his way for her all night too, saying and doing things he wouldn't normally. And so, to continue the increasing trend of making her (and maybe himself, too) nervous and excited at the same time, he leaned closer to her. Close enough that she could feel his breath on her neck as he spoke.

L's voice and how close he'd come just meant he had something to say that he didn't want everyone hearing, Hitomi told herself. Something embarrassing like 'No, I would never want to talk to you again after I don't have to anymore'. Or 'The truth is, I know all about the death note, and I'm going to have to place you under arrest right now'. But she didn't expect what he actually did say.

"I'm twenty seven." All she could manage to reply was,

"Really?" He stuck out his lower lip a little, looking hurt.

"Why would I lie to Hitomi-chan's face?"

"Ah... gomen. But... what does that have to do with..."

"Maybe nothing. Maybe... a lot."

"Age is just a number, Ryuzaki-kun."

"Numbers can be very important."

"Numbers like... one percent versus ninety eight or so?" Now Hitomi had a sly smile on and when L looked into her eyes for a few seconds he noticed how glassy they were starting to look.

"You've had too much to drink, haven't you?"

"Way to ruin a moment, Ryuzaki." L and Hitomi both looked up to find that Raito had rejoined them, standing behind the two empty chairs.

"What moment? Ryuzaki-kun was just asking me what I thought about the Kira case."

"That's why you two were so close," Raito said skeptically as he took a seat.

"We didn't want everyone hearing classified case information, we had to whisper. And he couldn't hear what I had to say without being closer than normal."

"I see. What happened to Sarah?" Hitomi smiled.

"Ryuzaki-kun told her how terretorial Misa-chan is. The poor thing left afraid for her life."

"You told her about Misa," Raito sighed.

"I know, it was a dirty trick, ne?" She let out a little giggle, then covered her mouth like she'd just burped. L stood and touched her arm, his fingertips barely suggesting that she stand.

"I think it's time we take her home."

"I agree. Come on, Hitomi-chan, up we go." Raito took her other arm, and once she was up she shook them off.

"I'm not that drunk, I can walk just fine!" And she did. From their table to bowing her goodnight to Mrs. Nakamura all the way to the first uneven piece of sidewalk. That was where she face-planted.

As she fell in what felt like slow motion, she thought,

'If there's anyone up there who likes me even a little, then this won't end up like a cheesy anime with my underwear showing.'

Which they did.

Both Raito and L took a second to respond. But now in each other's company, Raito was the one to bend and help her up while L stood with his eyes averted and his hands in his pockets. Though no amount of aversion could take that particular image from his mind.

After she was back on her feet, she took her shoes off, and stood quietly next to L while Raito went to get a cab. Hitomi was swaying a little, watching the sidewalk, and L shuffled his feet a little before commenting,

"Hitomi-chan... sang quite nicely."

"What?" she looked up at him. "Oh, thank you Ryuzaki-kun, but I'm not that good, really."

"You give yourself too little credit."

"I guess... that wasn't even really a good song to judge it by though."

"You're right. I think it would be very pleasant to hear you sing in your native tongue." She muffled another small giggle.

"Well, maybe I'll have to sing for you again sometime." He didn't respond, but Hitomi thought she caught a glimpse of his elusive smile before Raito called from the street,

"Come on you two! I got a cab!" They piled in, this time Hitomi sitting in between the two men, and as the taxi pulled away from the curb, she realized how sleepy she was starting to feel, and rested her head against L's shoulder. She could see Raito clearly in the light from the streetlamps, and she could've sworn the corner of his eye twitched a little before he spoke.

"Oh, Hitomi, we really do need to get you home, don't we?" He put an arm around her and pulled her gently over so she was resting against his shoulder, saying good naturedly, "Sit over here, okay? You must be making poor Ryuzaki so uncomfortable." Hitomi didn't make any move to pull away from him, so L looked back out the windshield to where they were headed.

The entire ride back, Hitomi watched his profile dissapointedly, enveloped in the scent of Raito's cologne and wishing it was the barely existent smell of L's soap and her fabric softener on his clothes.

A/N: so there's some more. i actually had a dilemma this time. I spell Raito more like the pronunciation, but i wasn't sure if I should put L the same way. at least when someone says his name. i don't know, i think it might be easier to leave it as L, but if you'd prefer it different, please let me know. and as always, reviews are framed and have shrines built around them.