The studio was busy. The crew people were preparing the set for another photo shoot round. Some were either having coffee or eating snacks. Amane Misa sat cross-legged on a folding chair inside the photo studio with a bottle of mineral water in her hand. It was time for her break after two straight hours of photo shooting of Christian Siriano's summer collection. Misa released a heavy sigh as she tore open the plastic protective seal of her mineral water.

"Misa-misa needs some break!" She said exasperatedly and twisted open the mineral water. Rem was beside her, silently observing the exhausted girl. Her silky golden hair was curled on its ends. Her lips were glossy pink and her face was glittery and flushed with light make-up. But beyond her pretty face was the burden of having the eyes of a death-god. The eyes which can see everyone's names and life spans running on top of their heads.

"Great job Misa!" Mr. Oda, a skinny man who was probably in his mid-thirties exclaimed as he neared to Misa. A camera was hanging from his neck. Stubbles were growing on his chin and his eyes were droopy, indicating his lack of rest. "Thank you," Misa said courteously. Rem, who was beside her silently observed the man.

Mr. Oda gave her a sincere smile. "Anyway, I guess we have to get back to work by fifteen minutes." He turned his back to Misa and clapped his hands to get the attention of everyone who were in the studio. "Team, coffee break ends by fifteen."

"Hai," The people in the studio said with less enthusiasm while others wailed.

"All of us are already exhausted by now but we have a work to finish here. Now, give me some of the spirit." Mr. Oda said as he pasted a warm smile on his face.

"Hai!" Everyone in the studio said livelily as the studio was filled with energetic clamor.

"Mr. Oda sure is lively isn't he? You wouldn't even notice that he's sick. He sure inspires everyone in here." Kaoru, a slender brunette in her early twenties said as she neared to where Misa was sitting. She was carrying a make-up and hair dressing kit in both hands. She is Misa's make-up artist and hair dresser.

"He sure is." Misa said as she gulped her water and stood up from her chair. "Well I guess I need to get changed by now."

Kaoru nodded as she placed her kits on top of a working table beside Misa's chair. Misa smiled at her and went directly to the dressing room.

-oOo-

"Light-kun, do you think such beings exist?" Ryuuzaki asked pensively as he munched the last of the cookies Misa gave him.

"What beings?" Raito replied flatly without removing his eyes from the book he was reading.

"You know, angels… devils… shinigamis?" Ryuuzaki said, stressing on the word shinigamis.

The room was enveloped with the odd laughter of the Shinigami Ryuk who was floating inside the room. 'A Shinigami is here bummer! Light I'm dying for apples! My sickness is attacking again…' He said loudly as his body twisted.

Raito lowered down the book he was reading to eye on Ryuk. Instead, Ryuuzaki's Pale face and droopy eyes was the one in front of him.

"Shinigamis?" Raito said evenly as he placed down the book he was holding.

Ryuuzaki, who was sitting in his odd manner on top of the coffee table in front of Raito nodded.

"I can never tell. I've never seen one before."

Again, the whole room was filled with Ryuk's laughter which can only be heard by Raito.

"Me too." Ryuuzaki said. "But if such beings are true… I don't think I'm ready to see one soon." He added as he glanced around the room which was eventually caught by Ryuk.

'Ooooooooh. I can assume that he actually saw me.' Ryuk said as he sat at the right of Ryuuzaki.

"And I can actually sense something is beside me right now." Ryuuzaki said inanimately.

Ryuk turned to Ryuuzaki's direction and eyed at him; expecting the detective to turn his way. Instead, Ryuuzaki turned to his left.

"Boo!" Ryuuzaki said in his monotonous playful manner. "I was just kidding."

-oOo-

Misa eyed on her reflection in the mirror. "They sure would be sad if he dies."

'He still has five long days to count before his time ends.'

Misa released a sigh as she sat down on the chair in front of the mirror.

Two knocks were heard from outside the room and the door flew open revealing Kaoru.

"We need to have a job done here." The young lady said sweetly as she placed her kits on the front table. She opened the hair dressing kit and took out a brush. She started brushing Misa's golden locks and tied it to a clean bun with a black satin ribbon maintaining the curls at the ends of the hair. She was obviously professional at her line of work.

Misa silently watched as Kaoru worked on her makeup and subconsciously observed the numbers running on the young lady's head.

'The gift of having a Shinigami's eyes.'

-oOo-

"Or maybe… There are only few people who are given the chance to see such beings…" Ryuuzaki murmured as he reached for the banana split beside him.

-oOo-

"Misa-misa," Mr. Oda said giving MIsa a warm smile. "Great job."

Misa nodded politely.

"Thanks for the hard work everyone! I am so pleased to be working with you all." Mr. Oda said in a modulated voice so that everyone in the studio would be able to hear him. The people in the studio responded politely as they started packing up.

"And Misa," Mr. Oda added as he handed Misa a magazine.

Misa took it without hesitation and was pleased to see herself on the front cover. She was wearing a cute pair of pink rat ears along with a long pink rat's tail and an orange tea-time waiter's dress. She was holding a silver tray which she was balancing with a tea pot and a couple of tea cups on top of it

"That will be out in newsstands by next week. Good luck on your career." Mr. Oda said softly as he took off the camera which was hanging from his neck and walked away. His image started to fade away from Misa's sight.

-oOo-

Ryuuzaki slowly nibbled on a chocolate pocky stick as he stared blankly at the computers in front of him.

'Raito. Raito. Raito. Raito. Raito. Raito.-' Ryuk started to chant but stopped when Raito gave him a What-is-it!? intimidating look.

'You know, I'm gonna die now… no apples… no entertainment… I get nothing but pure boredom."

"Minna-san! Misa-misa is here again!!" Misa exclaimed enthusiastically as she with Rem entered the computer packed room.

'Nah nah nah… It's the girl with the Shinigami's eyes with her pet again" Ryuk butted out as his body started to twist again. 'Oh no… It's here again…'

"Misa-san," Ryuuzaki recognized her presence as he swiveled his chair to face Misa. "The cookies were great with the coffee."

"Well expect best things from Misa-misa all the time!" Misa-misa exclaimed victoriously as she hurriedly sat beside Raito. "Light!" Misa-misa interjected as she stuck the magazine which Mr. Oda gave him in front of his face

Raito who was still reading lowered the book he was reading. "Oh Misa. You're here."

Misa stood up in utter disgrace. Raito didn't even notice her presence until the very moment. Dejected, she walked to Ryuuzaki and held the magazine in front of his face. It was too near that he didn't even decipher what Misa was showing him. Misa, becoming aware of the situation, held the magazine a little back to give Ryuuzaki a better view.

"It's you." Ryuuzaki said flatly as he stared blankly at Misa's image in the magazine.

"Of course it's me you dimwit!" Misa-misa exclaimed in fury. All she was looking for was for someone to actually notice how pretty she was in the front cover, appreciate it and compliment her. But it seemed like none of the two guys actually understood how she feels.

'What do I have to expect anyway?' Feeling awfully miserable with Raito and irritation to the no-better-than-dead Ryuuzaki, she dropped her head.

"It's pretty." Ryuuzaki said and nibbled the last of his pocky stick.

Misa, regaining her excitement, raised her head and smiled brightly. Though Ryuuzaki didn't sound too enthusiastic with the matter, at least for once he actually said something that pleased her. Though she thought she would be happier if Raito was the one who said those words.

Ryuuzaki stared blankly at Misa's figure in the magazine which Misa was holding down. Her legs were actually in display for the dress that she was wearing in the magazine was undeniably short.

"Ryuuzaki PERVERT!!" Misa exclaimed in fury upon realizing what Ryuuzaki actually staring at.

"Misa-san, you held it right before my face a while ago and now you're angry that I'm looking at it?" Ryuuzaki said more of a statement rather than a question.

"It's different now! PERVERT!!" Misa exclaimed stubbornly as she marched to Raito and laid the magazine on top of the table in front of him. "This is for you Light-kun." Misa said as she gave the guy a warm smile. After all, she wasn't really mad at Raito, she was just a bit depressed but then he's the love of her life. She was confident enough that she will win her own battle of having Raito's heart.

"Goodbye Misa," Raito said flatly as he lowered the book he was reading to take a quick blank look at the girl.

She hasn't even planned to go home yet but it was as if Raito was already brushing her away. "Whaaaa!? Is that all that you have to say to Misa-misa!? Wouldn't you even ask me how my day went?! Or at least ask to walk your girlfriend home!?" Misa cried out loud.

Raito stood from his chair. "Misa, you have to be aware of the situation. L and I are having our hands on a very important matter. It's concerning everyone's life. I'm sorry if I can't spend too much time with you but I promise to make it up to you after we get our hands to that bastard Kira." Raito said in full emotions as he enveloped Misa to a reassuring hug.

Ryuuzaki silently observed them. It was as if time froze for Misa. She can feel the heat running in her entire body as Raito's strong arms were wrapped around her.

"I promise… and continue killing people for me my Misa." Raito whispered in her ear.

Misa nodded as Raito had finally gave an end to the embrace.

Misa felt a lone tear escape her eye. She hoped that someday Raito would fulfill all his sweet promises to her. "Bye bye for now," Misa said softly as she wiped the tear from her face and exited the room.

Raito sat back on his chair and reached for his book on the table. He didn't even take notice of the magazine Misa gave him.

"Raito-kun," Ryuuzaki interjected. He was already across Raito and was standing lazily with his droopy eyes eying something on the table.

Raito lowered down his book.

"Can I have this? That is if you don't mind of course." Ryuuzaki said, pointing on the magazine on top of the table.

"Sure." Raito said monotonously.

Ryuuzaki got back to his place in front of the computers with the magazine in hand.