Last time…

Kairi discovered that the new Kira was a female, and Ryuuzaki assigned Near to look into Kairi's relation to the Tagoku and Yagami families.

(L's POV)

I left Near to handle the blood test and once again found myself with nothing to do. I didn't remember having this much free time before. Maybe taking a nap would be a good idea.

So a new challenge began; slowing my brain enough to let myself sleep. It was a difficult task, to say the least. I was so used to having multiple tasks at the same time that I never slept. With a frustrated sigh, I turned onto my left side, looking over at Watari.

"Having trouble sleeping, Ryuuzaki?" he asked calmly.

"Yes. It seems I don't know how to not think."

He laughed. I didn't hear Watari laugh often. "I could get you some melatonin chews. They help people go to sleep by giving melatonin, since your pineal gland must not be producing enough to tire you." I shook my head, closing my eyes and rolling onto my back.

This was it. I wouldn't move until I fell asleep. Surely that would work.

Just when I thought it wasn't working, I felt too tired to open my eyes again. What I believe was sleep soon overcame my thoughts, or the lack thereof.

-•-•-•-•-

Then I was awake.

I looked around the room, unsure of how long I had been asleep. The lights were out, and there was a form laying next to me. I turned to see Kairi sleeping on the other side of the bed. She was always a peaceful sleeper.

I stood up, walking over to the door and turning the lights on. She didn't flinch. A peaceful sleeper, but usually a light one. When she didn't wake up, I walked back over to the bed and crawled onto the end, staring at her and waiting for her to wake. This didn't work either.

I shook her shoulder, by this time starting to worry. When I rolled her onto her back, a pungent scent filled my nose. Her face was sunken in, as was her stomach. It was as if she hadn't eaten in years and died of starvation. I jumped back as soon as I saw her. Then the unthinkable happened.

Kairi sat up. She looked at me, grinned, and started laughing. Her skin stretched when she opened her mouth, her eyes sockets void of life.

-•-•-•-•-

I sat up with a start, looking at the spot beside me. It was empty. Was it all just a dream? I couldn't get the image out of my head. What kind of dream was that? It must have had some sort of meaning. Kairi had died, come back to life, and laughed at me. She must have died of starvation, given her past experience with anorexia and occasional slip, but the second life threw me off track completely.

Watari soon entered the room and walked over to the bed, giving me a glass of water. "You were sweating in your sleep, but you don't have a fever."

"I had a small nightmare. Nothing to be concerned about," I explained, drinking the water and giving it back to him. He nodded and left with the empty glass. I sighed, running a hand through my hair before getting out of bed.

I sat down in front of my computer, checking the time. I had only slept for three hours. Maybe I could call Kairi-chan? But she would be working on the case with Near. That would make me a distraction, which she would most likely ignore.

I could pass it off as a test.

I sent her a video call. She answered it, a black piece of paper blocking the camera. "Hello, Ryuuzaki."

I checked to see what my image was set to; it was the Gothic-style "L" I had preset. I changed it to my camera feed. "Hello, Kairi." She removed the paper, showing me a calming image. She was perfectly healthy, her dark brown eyes set softly beneath her brunette hair. I let out a small breath, causing her to look at me.

"You seem distressed. What happened?"

"Nothing. I just tried something new."

"What did you try?" she asked, turning her eyes away again as she typed on her computer.

"I took a nap." Her entire face lit up with laughter. "What's so funny? It was difficult."

"The fact that something so normal for any other human is difficult for you. And you seem so excited for yourself," she elaborated. I smiled slightly, watching as she worked.

"What are you working on?"

"I'm doing research for the current Kira case while watching a video feed from Near. He's confronting our main suspect," she told me, pulling up another window by the change of lighting on her face. "How is your case going?"

"I'm working on contacting the writer of the original story."

"That's it?" she asked, looking at the camera. It was if she was staring into my soul. The image appeared suddenly, distorting her face. I bit my lip to prevent any curiosity from her. She still noticed somehow. "Ryuuzaki, you're hiding something."

"What makes you believe so?"

"You bit your lip, a sign that you possess that gives way to the fact you dislike what you are thinking about, your shoulders stiffened, a sign that you are nervous about something, and you questioned my theory, proving you are being deceitful."

I was impressed with her eye for body language, a talent she had perfected without my help. I nodded, confirming her truth. "Yes, I am hiding something. But it is none if your concern."

"It is my concern. You're family to me emotionally, no matter the lack of blood relation. Talk to me." I shook my head, chewing on my thumbnail.

"Another time. You seem busy. Why did you answer when you were working?"

"Because I am capable of multitasking, and Near has yet to arrive at his destination. Do not underestimate me."

"I am not underestimating you, Kairi. I am merely noting your focus," I replied, causing her to shake her head. "I wanted to make sure you weren't easily distracted."

"You know what I am capable of, Ryuuzaki. You were just bored, weren't you?"

Was I that easy to read? I used to be able to hide my feelings and motives fairly well. Perhaps she was right when she said I had changed. My skills have lowered, as have my strict teachings. The only question left was: is this a good thing or a bad thing?

"Kairi, could you call me once a night?"

"Yes, Ryuuzaki. I can call you." She looked at me and smiled, blowing a kiss to the camera. "I have to go now, okay? Near is about to interrogate our suspect."

"Goodbye," I said, waving slowly.

"Bye," she said with a small laugh before ending the video call.