Chapter 16: Lead

Miya dragged her feet into headquarters the next day. It was the day of the date, and Miya had decided that she wasn't looking forward to it. Sure, being near L would be nice, but then it's not like they would be doing anything but watching Misa and Light anyway. Plus the whole task force would be looking on through surveillance, so that kinda killed any glimmer of a mood anyway.

"Oh Miya!" Misa giggled excitedly when the brunette emerged in the room where the detectives sat, gathered around the monitors. She was obviously annoying and distracting everyone in the room from their work, and Miya could see in L's face what was coming. Oh he was so gonna pay for this later…

"Miya, could you please take Misa from the room? Light has a lot of work to do, along with the rest of the detectives." Miya glared at him for a moment and he smiled reassuringly.

"Yeah….sure….come on Misa…" she grumbled.

"Oh I know," Misa said, jogging over to her and grabbing her hand. "I'll fix you up for the date tonight. I mean, I know you and Ryuzaki aren't dating or anything but that doesn't mean you have to look like such a mom." Miya shot the whole team an evil glare as Misa dragged her from the room.

"I'll do your hair, and your make-up," Misa was going on. "And we'll pick out an outfit for you. I have tons in my closet. I mean you might have to squeeze into them or something but we'll figure it out." Miya thought a moment about Misa's wardrobe; short skirts, corsets, tank tops that cut off above the belly button…

"Um yeah, Misa, that's okay. I was just going to wear this," Miya shrugged down at the regular pair of jeans she was wearing and pink blouse. Misa's smile faded slightly.

"Yeah we'll see," she said. Miya groaned. She was definitely not going to let Misa give her a makeover.

"I can't believe I'm letting you give me a makeover…" Miya grumbled under her breath as Misa finished up whatever she was doing to her eyes. She was sitting awkwardly in an extremely short black dress that hugged her curves, tying up in the back like a corset before poofing off her hips. Somehow Misa had forced her into the thing before Miya could escape. After a final touch of blush, Misa stepped back and clapped her hands.

"Oh Miya, you look so cute! So young!"

"I'm nineteen…" Miya reminded. Apparently having a child automatically made you a middle-aged woman with big hips and no style.

"Whatever," Misa said with a wave of her hand. She glanced behind her at the clock and gasped. "Oh my gosh! It's almost six!" Miya's head snapped up at this comment. Six? That was when the date was! Miya about passed out right there at the thought of going into the date looking like this! She turned around to the mirror and gasped. Not only were her eyes done up dramatically with smoky colors, but her hair was curled and set with a black headband.

"Great! Let's go," Misa said, pulling Miya's hand. She stubbornly resisted, and was quite willing to put up a fight. Miya had been planning on going home and showering before the date, but now there was no time, especially with Misa dragging her like this. Miya really didn't want L to see her like this, despite the fact that she really did look quite pretty.

"No…Misa…"

"Please what does it matter?" Misa said, continuing to drag her out the door. "It's not like you care what Ryuzaki and Light think of you, right?" Damn, well, that was it. The end of her excuses. She wasn't sure how to play it off now without hinting at her feelings for Ryuzaki. Sure, Misa wasn't exactly the brightest girl on the planet, but with Miya's luck she would somehow see through her and realize how much she loved L.

"You're right," Miya said casually, ending the struggle and walking beside Misa. She figured it was best to just go with the flow, no matter how awful it might be.

"Gotta love this part of the job, huh?" Aizawa sighed, turning on the monitor to see Misa and Miya walking into the model's living room. The team really had nothing to do at the moment, and so they were stuck with surveillance. They all sighed and fixed their eyes on the screen, ready for boredom, when finally they all seemed to take in Miya's appearance at once. There was a gasp, a 'huh,' and a 'whoa'.

"Looks like Miss Amane got her hands on Miss Yamagata, huh?" Mr. Yagami said with a chuckle. Aizawa agreed, and Matsuda started to sweat.

'How could she dress like that when she knows Ryuzaki's coming?!' Matsuda thought to himself. 'She looks amazing! I don't know how Ryuzaki's going to react to this one…' He didn't have to wait long, however, as Light appeared, L trailing behind him. Light barely seemed to notice the change in Miya's appearance, but L sure did. His eyes widened just the slightest bit more upon seeing her, and it was clear that Miya was attempting to hide a blush.

"Light!" Misa said excitedly, running up to him and throwing her arms around him. L just stood there, still looking at Miya, who was now looking to Misa in an attempt to distract herself from L's stare.

'He's making it so obvious!' Matsuda thought, glancing out of the corner of his eye toward the other detectives, who seemed unaware of anything unusual. 'Wow Ryuzaki really needs to learn to control his emotions for Miya if he wants it to stay a secret.' Matsuda was definitely over thinking it, no doubt because he had a desperate fear that he would accidentally reveal the secret and L would come after him and kick his butt. He must have forgotten that Ryuzaki stared at most everything, and therefore it was not unusual that he was staring at Miya now.

"Okay, let's all sit down!" Misa said, pulling Light by the hand toward the couch. "I made us tea!" She sat beside him and wasted no time scooting next to him.

"You didn't make tea…" Miya pointed out, taking the couch across from her. L did the same, stretching the handcuff across the table before pulling his knees to his chest.

"Oh well, um…will you make some?" the blonde asked Miya quickly before turning her full attention back to Light and starting a ramble about her photo shoot tomorrow. Miya sighed and stood up, heading to the kitchen. She came back with a tray that held a teapot, cups, and of course sugar for L. She rested it on the coffee table and was unsurprised to see Misa totally ignore it. L, on the other hand, leaned forward and took a cup, filling it with sugar and then adding a bit of tea.

"Thank you Miya. It's very good," he said after taking a sip. Matsuda felt himself sweating bullets.

'What is he thinking talking to her?!' he thought as he loosened his tie to let some air onto his hot neck. 'Now everyone's going to see how much he likes her!'

"Oh my God," Aizawa began as Matsuda jumped and whipped his head to the side to look at him.

"What? I didn't notice anything!" Matsuda said quickly. Aizawa and Mr. Yagami eyed him curiously.

"I was going to say 'oh my God, how long can Misa talk?'" Aizawa clarified. "But now I'm going to ask what the heck is wrong with you?"

"What? Nothing!" Matsuda defended quickly, looking back to the screen. Mr. Yagami shook his head.

"The boy must have gotten into Ryuzaki's sugar stash again. You remember how he acted last time he ate too many sweets?"

"Oh yeah…" Aizawa remembered before turning his attention back to the surveillance picture. Matsuda took a deep breath. He needed to control himself. There was absolutely nothing unusual going on and all this panicking was just making him look crazy.

On the screen, Misa was still rambling on about something. Miya was looking extremely uncomfortable in her outfit, and as she crossed her legs she tugged at the end of her skirt in an effort to make it longer. L was staring at the table, but Miya's movement caught his attention and he found his gaze uncontrollably traveling up her bare legs. It wasn't often that she showed that much skin and L couldn't help but notice. Matsuda's eyes about popped out of head as Ryuzaki's head tilted slightly toward Miya.

'He's looking at her…' Matsuda thought on the verge of insanity. 'He is using his eyes to see her leg…oh it's all over…'

"Whoa, I think Ryuzaki was checking Miya out," Aizawa laughed as L's head turned back to the coffee table. "Hmm, maybe he doesn't just think about Kira after all." Aizawa was still chuckling, and Matsuda couldn't think straight in his panic.

"Pervert!" he half shouted. "Geez that Ryuzaki! Always doing that! I saw him checking out Misa Misa once…"

'Yeah that's good,' Matsuda thought. 'Make him seem like a pervert and no one will realize he's actually dating Miya!'

"Well he is a man, Matsuda," Mr. Yagami pointed out, looking at him oddly. "Perfectly normal I'd say."

"Yeah no need to peg the man as a pervert just for noticing a woman or two," Aizawa said casually. "I mean I'm not gonna lie, I've checked Miya out once too. It's not like he's gonna get a girl anyway I mean, don't tell him I said this but he's a little weird. Okay seriously Misa needs to stop talking…"

'That's true…' Matsuda thought, calming a little. 'Ryuzaki is a little weird. How did he end up with her? What's he got that I don't have?' Matsuda examined Ryuzaki carefully. Messed up hair, same old outfit, bags under his eyes! 'It must be because he's smart. But I'm smart, right? I don't get it…' Matsuda was officially over his panic attack. He could keep this secret. Besides, he didn't want the guys to know that even Ryuzaki could get a girl when he couldn't seem to!

After tea, Miya endured a lovely dinner in which Misa talked nonstop, and then a fantastic dessert that involved more model talk. Finally everyone was set free, and Miya was able to return to her home to change. Noah was with his grandparents for the weekend thankfully, as Miya especially didn't want him to see her dressed so…Misa-like.

Miya had almost reached her dresser when she heard her living room door open and close. She sighed and stepped back out of the bedroom to see L standing there looking at her with a slight smile. Miya groaned.

"Shut up. I know I look ridiculous," she said, hiding her face in her hands.

"Well, I wasn't thinking that exactly…" L said as he placed his thumb to his lips. Miya's mouth fell open slightly.

"Wait, you like this crazy Misa Misa-like outfit?" she clarified. L realized he needed to be careful with his response here.

"Well, I like it on you…" he mumbled. Miya nodded.

"Very well answered," she laughed. "And thank you. But I'm going to go change now."

"Really?" L wondered. "I mean, no need to get all dressed up for me."

"Well it would be dressed down technically," Miya said. "This is kind of dressed up don't you agree?" She motioned down at her outfit.

"Well, whatever you think is best," L shrugged, staring at her. Miya looked back with narrowed eyes.

"You just don't want me to change," she accused with a slight grin. L didn't reply and Miya skipped toward him. "Well, I guess I can leave it on for a bit. I mean Noah's not here so…"

"Noah's gone?" L wondered, cutting her off.

"Yup, off with the grandparents," Miya said, looking around the room. "I've got the whole place to myself…" She laughed slightly as she slid her arms around L's neck and kissed him gently.

"Did you have fun on our date?" she wondered as she pulled back so she could see his face.

"Hmm, yes Misa's topics of conversation are fascinating," L said seriously. Miya chuckled slightly.

"Good thing I know you enough to understand your sarcasm. You don't exactly give it away with your face."

"Really?" L wondered. "Hmm and here I was sure I was communicating a sarcastic expression."

"Okay, now I'm not so sure if you're being sarcastic or just being L," she shrugged. "Which reminds me, L, what is your real name?"

"I'll tell you one day," he replied simply. Miya leaned up and pressed her lips to his, drawing him in closer to her. After a moment, she pulled back.

"Now do I get to know your name?"

"Don't worry, I have the full intention of telling you one-" Miya leaned back into him, breaking his sentence off before he was done speaking. She pulled her arms tighter around his neck and slid her hands into his hair, gripping it slightly as her lips parted. Just as L's parted with hers, she pulled away.

"Name?" she breathed.

"If I say no, are you going to stop kissing me?" L wondered in a low voice, his eyes actually closed. Miya could feel his hot breath tickling her lips and she felt herself leaning back toward him as she answered.

"Definitely not…" she managed to say before meeting his lips again. She felt his hands reach her waist as hers fell from his hair to either side of his neck, willing him to come closer. L's hands gripped her sides while she slid a hand to the center of his chest, grabbing a handful of his shirt fabric and stepping backwards toward the couch, pulling him with her. She felt the couch hit the back of her leg and so she grabbed L's shoulders, breaking the kiss just long enough to turn around and push him down so that he was sitting. Miya found his lips again quickly as she fell beside him, pulling him with her slowly as she leaned back into the cushions. L propped his hands on either side of her, his body hovering over hers while her lips moved against his.

"L," Miya finally breathed.

"Yes?" He said in a husky voice.

"I'm gonna go change…" she said, sitting up and therefore causing him to sit up as well.

"Okay," he agreed as she headed quickly to the living room. As much as she hated to leave, she knew that if she didn't, her passion would overtake her thoughts, and that would not be good. At least not yet…

Miya hurried to change into flannel pajamas before poking her head out into the living room.

"L?" she wondered when she saw that he was missing from the couch.

"Yes?" he said, popping up from behind the counter, piece of cake in hand. Miya rolled her eyes.

"I should have known," she laughed as he headed over to her. She noticed he only had one piece and one fork and she pouted.

"No cake for me?"

"Oh, did you want some?" L asked, glancing down at the cake. "It's the last piece." Miya nodded.

"Oh okay," she said. "Then in that case…" she paused for a moment before snatching his fork and stabbing the cake, shoving a huge bite into her mouth. "I'll just have a little then…"

"Hmm or half the cake…" L grumbled, looking down at his once beautiful slice. Miya giggled and grabbed his hand, pulling him into the room. They took their normal positions on the bed, L chowing down as Miya scooted over next to him.

"No crumbs," she warned.

"Mmm no problem…" L replied through his full mouth. He then placed the empty plate beside him on the nightstand before placing his arm around Miya, who was already on her way to sleep.

It had been two months since Light, Misa, and Mr. Yagami had been released from confinement, and it was obvious to the whole force that the case was in a rut, along with Ryuzaki. There had been a number of Kira related killings lately, but no clear suspects unless you counted Light, who at the moment was free from suspicion thanks to the evidence that pointed away from him. L refused to let go of all suspicions however, and his inability to accept that his original deduction may have been wrong was clearly bothering him. So it was a relief to everyone when Light turned away from his computer with what was to be a much needed lead.

"Ryuzaki," he said to the man beside him. "I know you're not feeling up to it but come over here for a second. Take a close look at this." Miya was in the room as well, but she found that Light tended to ignore her as if she wasn't alive. She never really did anything to him, so his reasons for possible dislike were a mystery to her. She couldn't say she really cared though as she leaned over along with L to see what Light was looking at.

"It can't be coincidence," Light began explaining. "All of them were prominent Japanese businessmen; CEO's whose companies are leaders in their respective industries." Miya's eyes widened slightly as she confirmed what Light was pointing out on the screen. "In just over a month, they've all died of heart attacks," Light continued. "As expected, there's been a general downturn in the market with the exception of Yotsuba." Miya furrowed her eyebrows.

"The company?" she wondered.

"Yes," Light said quickly before continuing. "In other words, their deaths have worked in Yotsuba's favor. Looking back, there have been thirteen similar deaths in the past three months. Your thoughts?" He wondered, turning to the detective. "Based on this I can only conclude that Kira is supporting Yotsuba."

"Hmm, could be," L agreed. "But if what you're saying is true, we can assume that punishing criminals is not this Kira's real intent."

"Which means his motives have changed, or at least it seems that way," Miya added.

"Right," Light continued. "Punishing criminals is a diversion for him. It obscures the fact that he's actually killing people for the benefit of his company." Light then turned to L with an almost grin on his face. "Are you feeling more motivated now?" he asked. L didn't reply, but instead turned back to his computer screen. Miya could see from the look on his face, however, that he was relieved to have a new lead. Finally the case seemed to be picking up, and that was just what L needed.