I finally got around to checking that thing Light kept a stash of dirty magazines in. Turns out I kept dating sims and other video games in about five or six of the boxes that were supposed to have books in them on that shelf. They were all for portable consoles which were also hidden there though. I guess that's one less thing I have to prepare. Still, that isn't the kind of stuff I should be thinking about when I'm helping Sayu with her homework again.

"I knew I could count on you, Light." She said.

"Why don't you try a few on your own?" I suggested.

"I guess I could…" She replied, then we were both distracted by the doorbell.

"Oh, sounds like Dad's home." She said, getting up. "He's home really early today!"

"Hey! Why don't you at least try the last problem by yourself?" I called after her as she headed for the door.

"I will, but maybe after dinner."

"Yeah, right." I muttered, rolling my eyes, then getting up to follow after her.

"Helping your sister with her homework. You sure are relaxed." Ryuk commented.

"I'm pretty sure they already think I'm acting weird, so I should probably try to fit their image of me." I responded off-handedly, then headed down the stairs to find my new father taking off his shoes. "Hey, glad you could join us for dinner. You hungry, Dad?"

"Yeah. It's been a long day." He replied.

We all sat down for dinner, and although I had gotten used to Sayu and Mom, Dad was kind of intimidating. Not to mention I had to watch what I said more so around him than the other two.

"So, Light, tell me, how're your studies going?" He spoke up and I tensed a little, earning a suspicious look.

"I-It's going fine, I guess." I responded, looking down at my food.

"Whatever. She's at the top of her class. My big sister's a genius." Sayu jumped in.

"That's my daughter. We're all proud of you, Light." Mom nodded approvingly.

"Is everything okay, Dad?" I asked, watching the creases between his eyebrows as he ate. It must be hard to know you might be killed at any moment just because you're investigating Kira. "You look tired."

"Yeah. I'm not able to say too much about it, but this case I'm working on now is really tough."

With that answer, I knew I had to go take a look at what was on his computer about the case. More instincts helped me pull that off.

"I see. Well, well, daddy's a policeman." Ryuk said as I was working on the computer. "And that must be the reason why you're so confident?"

"Nah. It's just a bonus. And it's easy for me to hack into Dad's computer. We're on a home network, so I can copy the files I need without leaving a trace. This way I can keep track of their investigation." I said as I guessed the password and got access to the files I wanted. Reading them, I sat back in my chair and sipped my hot chocolate. "Well, isn't that interesting. Looks like the police suspect a student."

Ryuk gave a raspy chuckle. "Even after all those times you set up. I guess that means you're in trouble."

"Nope. This is exactly what I wanted." I said, my lop-sided smile making it's way back onto my face. "Now I just stop writing them down whenever I have the time and just let it all happen at predetermined times."

And so I did. For two days I was at school while criminals were dying. As I was walking home with Ryuk following me, I couldn't help the giddy spring in my step.

"L must be suspecting someone with connections to the police by now." I told the shinigami.

"Oh? Is this part of what you wanted?"

"It is."

"There's one thing I don't get. Showing them you have connections to the police makes it easier for them to find you than when they just suspected you were a student."

"Ah, but the only way to make an empire fall is from within." I told the shinigami giddily.

"What does that mean?"

"You still don't understand human beings. In this world there are very few people who trust each other. Honestly, I don't even think I should be disclosing any details, even to you. But, it's not different for the police. What's important is that L and the investigators don't trust each other at all. Could you really trust someone you've never seen the face of? When L discovers that I'm somehow getting confidential information, he'll be obligated to start investigating the police department to find the source of the leak. When that happens, it'll only be a matter of time before the police start resenting L. It seems like they're working together to try and catch me, but in reality, they will be investigating each other instead. However, the police will never find L."

"Then why'd you set it up?"

I stopped and spun around to grin at the shinigami. "Because I have to take the steps necessary to come into a position to meet the real deal. This is only the beginning, Ryuk."

"Why are you even looking for him?"

"Why?" I tilted my head, like a confused dog. "I need a reason?"

Ryuk just stared at me, but then I got distracted by a whining noise. I turned to see a cardboard box with a black puppy curling up in it and looking my way. Unable to resist, I walked over to crouch down and scratch behind his ears. The writing on the outside of the box read, "Please take care of Kuro."

"This isn't how you should treat a puppy." I grumbled, glaring at the writing before picking up the little guy and snuggling him. "I wish there was a dog at home." I actually felt off being in a house without any pets. In my old life, I can't remember a time there wasn't a dog or a cat around.

"Don't you have cram school?" Ryuk asked with obvious boredom.

"Oh, right." I sighed, putting the puppy back and gently patting his head. "I'll bring you some food later, okay?"

The puppy yipped before I stood up and continued on my way to the stupid cram school.