A/N: Welcome to yet another chapter! Well, originally, this chapter was called "Shockwave", but I thought it was a crappy title, so I changed it. A lot of firsts happen in this chapter, one of them being V making an error on her thinking for the first time. I'll elaborate at the end.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything, and I made up quotes, since I can't remember the anime details THAT well.

Chapter 9: First

When I returned to headquarters and divulged the digital photo to L, he seemed to pore over each individual pixel before saying a word. He held my cellphone in a peculiar manner, so that it dangled helplessly between two of his fingers.

"And are you sure that she was looking at Light?" he inquired, still staring at the picture.

"She practically drooled over him like a lovesick schoolgirl so yes, I am certain," I replied in my usual calculating tone, wiping off the hideous make-up with tissue paper. I vowed to not wear it for the rest of my life...unless I lay on my deathbed and was forced to.

Silence pressed again, my brother nodding ever so slightly. I wondered if he implied agreement or that he maintained focus on my cellphone.

I tapped my fingers on my right leg while discarding my denim jacket with my other hand. Today had been a long day consisting of mindless co-ed speech amongst the three girls who had so ardently tired to drag me into the conversation. Of course, I refused, thus insensitively crushing their hopes for friendship. Doubtless that L would permit me to call them even if I had obtained their phone numbers; security nearly consumed him. And I preferred the company of my two best friends anyway. Oh, to think of them...

"I do believe that I have every right to trust your skillful judgment, V."

Surprised to hear this from L's lips, I turned toward him albeit a stiff rotation of my body. How could he possibly invent a comment like that when he clearly possessed the superior mind?

Sighing wearily, a tiredness sinking into my bones, I leaned back in the comfy chair in which I sat.

"I thank you for the compliment, but it is I who should commend you on your judgment," I countered lethargically, actually desiring an eight hours' sleep again. Walking can certainly leave one out of breath, especially a mostly secluded girl like me.

"Take credit when it is due," L told me, but he sounded rather amused from my reaction. No matter, tomorrow would be a much more rewarding prospect.

"If you tell me to pose as Light's girlfriend again, I'll kill you," I threatened idly before dozing off.

Three days later, the meeting seemed tedious, though I admittedly sensed my patience ebbing. I wanted to see Light Yagami behind bars where he belonged. Being on the sidelines while realizing how many victims died unnerved me. The strong instinct to act resonated as clearly than ever as the second Kira announced in the recent video that she had finally met with Kira.

"This isn't good!" Matsuda proclaimed.

"Yes. Who knows what destruction the two of them are capable of, now that they have met each other? Think of the deaths that could occur," I entreated, sipping green tea with a leaf included.

Light decided to add his thoughts. "Well, maybe the second Kira is just a sidekick. Maybe his...or her...intelligence is barely existent. Which, of course, would give cause for Kira to take advantage of the opportunity of another one like him—it's simple, really."

Of course the younger Yagami would theorize his opinions of Kira's elaborate thought processes like that. He would dare to possess the nerve and the wit. I sighed as I politely spit the leaf out into a napkin.

However, L rejected this guess. "We don't know for sure if the Kiras have joined up yet."

The others' (except Light's) jaws dropped in slight awe if the brilliant detective's alluring mind. L continued on to say that up to the twenty-third of this month, they had hardly united, acting as one yet, that the possibility of that happening was barely there. He even suggested that the police should allow immunity to second Kira, in the event that she proved disloyal to her all-powerful master after all. It was a good plan, but was it enough to lead to Kira's arrest? I doubted that, despite my brother's proposal. I had seen for myself the lovestruck, adoring blue-gray eyes of that girl in the restaurant. She would be the type to never tell or "squeal" on Kira, who she perceived as a potential lover. The poor girl was so foolish, so eager to rush headlong into what she deemed love. If they had a full-on, face-to-face encounter yet, the real Kira was sure to use her for his own personal gain.

Later that night, the task force members remained longer than usual, for they noticed L busying himself in watching the tapes from the twenty-second at Aoyama.

"Do you plan on watching these videos all night?" Aizawa inquired, staying just two steps back from L's chair.

"Yes. There's a possibility of the second Kira contacting Kira on the twenty-second. So, I will also have Mogi-san tail Light, who doesn't completely know that he's on the force."

"Are you dismissing us for the night?" Mr. Yagami asked, though I could tell he was grappling the urge to inquire of L as to whether he still suspected his son or not.

"Yes, get a good night's sleep, everyone."

"I doubt Ryuzaki will," I heard Aizawa mutter on his way out.

Matsuda walked slowly by him. "But, you know what? I saw him sleep in the same, exact position he's in now, I swear!"

The last words I eavesdropped on before the door closed were, "How could you even tell?"

I plopped myself down on the couch next to L, who didn't seem to mind my presence, since he probably lacked Watari's. Watari had been ordered by my brother to stay at police headquarters in case any new developments unfolded. Judging by how quickly (and how sluggishly) the case was moving, our caretaker would find himself as industrious as ever.

Of course, seeing this video that L watched implied that I saw myself wandering the city streets.

"You really did a poor job on looking natural when it came to your face," L commented as he bit into a doughnut. "It's almost as though you're a different species."

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart," I responded sarcastically while he chuckled in a near whisper. How many times did I have to be reminded that yes, my feminine skills could use some improvement? Leaning lazily against the back of the couch, I suppressed a yawn, which spoiled the brooding look I had aimed for.

"Perhaps you should go to bed."

"Perhaps you should as well," I retorted with a scolding determination. "You're the one with much darker bags under your eyes."

L paid most of his attention to the television screen, as if he intentionally feigned indifference toward my statement.

"Fine. Be that way, but once a doctor gives you the diagnosis of insomnia, you'll regret not heeding to my advice."

I proceeded to summon my acting abilities to do my best impression of my brother with his quietly even monotone. "Oh, why didn't I listen to V? She is my wise sister who always knows best."

"Well, little sister—" and L still made no conscious effort to divert his gaze from the video he studied—"you're not the one who has solved over a hundred cases in a span of nine years, are you?"

An awkward silence filled the space of room to the point of making me feel like a small fish in a big—no, gigantic—pond.

"No...to tell the truth. But, if concern for my brother—"

He cut me off. "I'm perfectly healthy, V. Now, preserve your energy, don't dare to overexert yourself, and get to bed."

I sighed moodily and muttered, "You have ensured to become our mother."

All these obscure moments between my brother and I combined to create our sibling bond between us. It's funny how quirky my conversations with L could become.

My sleep stumbled onto a malevolent path all on its own that night, something haunting and from my past. In my dream, a woman whose only traits I saw were her black hair and pallid hands stood by a crib, her curls barely brushing the smoothly hewn railing.

"Now, Vicky darling, we won't be gone long," the woman assured, her soft, gentle voice soothing and comforting the silent baby inside. "It's just a trip to the grocery store. We even decided that your big brother L will look after you while we're gone. He definitely is one who is older beyond his years."

The baby gazed knowingly up at her mother, though remotely looked troubled.

That baby knew, or seemed to know, of what would occur the day her mother calmly assured her that she and the father would come back shortly.

They would never come back.

Their car, a 1987 Jaguar model, would crumple at the front end due to an irresponsibly drive, brand-new Corvette crashing into it. The driver of the accursed sports car had decided to celebrate the moment he had it in his possession...by going to the downtown pub. Two people—two victims—were recovered at the scene of the accident: Jonathon and Lydia Lawliet.

Our parents. The reason I was aware of what truly happened came in the form of L telling me fourteen years ago, when I had been susceptible to a curious phase. The only time he told me, too; of course, he had looked slightly traumatized, though donned his emotionless mask again. Poor L.

"Mom?" I whispered, eventually sitting up in my bed. No mother existed in this bedroom. For all I knew, a mother never existed, a woman who could have baked cookies with me, go to the park with me, and told me bedtime stories. I lacked her and a father, which disheartened me, even though my brother still lived on.

A tear welled up in one of my dark eyes, and I furiously wiped at it. The past was the past; I had to release the fact that my parents died. At the time, I was a weak, defenseless baby who couldn't do anything to stop cruel fate. And as I glimpsed a shiny spot on the back of my hand where the tear lay, I knew I had to move on with my life, as well.

With that said, that was the very last time in my life I ever thought of my tragically deceased parents. The Kira case did consume us all, and time was of the essence. Besides, dwelling on what could have unfolded for me had I still lived with my parents would only torment me until death. That dreary morning I bid farewell to their memories as I hoped for a brighter future.

Later that afternoon, Light came to the usual daily meeting from To-Oh University. I often wondered how he managed to maintain his impeccable As while he sat with us discussing Kira. Pinpointing the culprit to sheer dumb luck, I treated this with indifference every time. Today the supposedly last taped second Kira message arrived today, almost as soon as Light emerged from the corridor. We then speculated as to the second Kira's intentions from that message.

After analytically pondering over the second Kira's possible approach to Kira (if any such approach was made at all), L listened to Light's opinions.

"If I was Kira, I wouldn't do anything like you thought second Kira could do."

"Why is that?" L asked as he chewed on one of his doughnuts, which originated from the box from yesterday.

"If you're the real L, I would know your personality by now," Light answered a little too cleverly for his own good. "The real L would be cautious and avoid being televised at all times."

"He's right," I sighed glumly, swallowing liquid ice cream of the regular chocolate flavor. "He's described you perfectly, Ryuzaki."

"Yes, precisely, Miyazawa-san."

What became revealed in the conversation next was something rather disturbing, a curveball I would never have seen coming...yet almost ready for nonetheless.

Mr. Yagami approached his son with a concerned expression on his face, presumably resulting from hearing Light state "hypothetically" that he was Kira. At that moment, I glared at Light for a fraction of a second; how dare he put his father through this much emotional torture. Gray hairs grew more commonly on Yagami-san's head due to the stress of this case. And here was Light, killing criminals like most people would swat flies, right under his father's nose.

"Light," Mr. Yagami stated now, "I still don't like that you refer to yourself as Kira. Even if you're just making a point when you do say it, I'm uncomfortable with it."

Admittedly, Light did put on a rather intriguing act as a son humbled by his father's stern tone.

"I know. Sorry, Dad."

That word—would that even cut it? Light could apologize as often and as complacently as he wished, but I was still convinced that he was Kira, not just playing the part. Such palpable expressions I espied from him proved that he inwardly calculated what actions to execute, what right words to articulate to charm those around him. On the verge of wrapping the task force members around his finger, his plan flowed smoothly. This was enough to frustrate me.

Light continued with his explanation to his father as I diligently scooped more ice cream out of my Ben and Jerry's pint and into my bowl.

"I have to be honest with Ryuzaki if I want my name cleared. Besides, I'm trying to show that I'm not Kira."

He sounded very charismatic once he said this, as if he believed his own despicable.

Of course, he seemed to mollify his father. "I see where you're coming from now, Light."

"Thanks, Dad."

L stirred his cup of tea somewhat more slowly than usual. Through my lopsided strands of hair, I peeked at him worriedly. Did he...? But, no, it couldn't be possible.

Actually, I loathed it as possible that L could even think of considering what I suspected. Contemplating all these terribly morbid thoughts compelled me to tap my fingers against my jeans; it bothered me more than I had assumed.

"Light isn't Kira," L spoke quietly—too quietly. "At least, I don't want him to be. Because..."

A foreboding sense jabbered at me, as if something truly awful would be said should he finish that sentence.

"Light is my first friend."

He did not just permit those words to pass through his lips. My sometimes proud brother would never utter such a falsehood...right? A chill coursed through my body, a shockwave that nearly impelled me to tremble like a shaky leaf. However, my own pride saved me from that, an event that truly made me want to thank it for once. I sighed and sharpened my focus on Light; the evident shock on his face told me he didn't anticipate this from L either. But, if the real Kira lay deep within him, he would absorb these words as a bonus. He would turn them around and betray L if this was the case. So for my brother to confess this not only made him vulnerable, but made him look like a huge gambler. My anxieties promptly heightened. However, he couldn't possibly be telling the truth...right? I admit that this event marked the first time I was ever confused.

L meant what he said when it came to obtaining a first friend. All his life, he, too, had to overcome so much adversity and jealousy that his peers emitted. The other children ignored him, even teased him, thus dashing his hopes of building friendships. At some point, he had inevitably surrendered to social isolation, which he allowed to surround him. He wouldn't even bother to interact with my friends. For L to say that he saw Light as a good friend was clearly a desperate need for someone like him: a genius.

Or so my thought processes stated at the time.

Despite the fact that blood connected me to L, I couldn't help him with that. Apparently, siblings could hardly be permitted to be best friends, as well as family.

That night, I stood in front of the hotel windows, which displayed the beautiful Japanese night, bright neon lights and all. Headlights of rushing cars sped by, and I could discern that Tokyo never slept. I could sense L shuffling toward me.

"Is something wrong, V-chan?"

Oh, no. He never called me V-chan unless he read my dejected state like a book. His brotherly caring toward me compelled me to cry, which I could never do. I degraded myself once ten years ago by doing so, and I had vowed the night after L left Wammy's that I would conceal my emotions around all except allies.

Closing my eyes in meditation, as well as to block out my brother's face, I could hear the wind stirring outside whisper to me. I swore that it called my name while it muttered and murmured away. Oddly enough, that comforted me...slightly.

"I only have one thing I want to say," I whispered, similar to that if the sighing, lachrymose breeze. "No matter what happens or what decisions you make, I will support you one hundred percent. And I hope that your life, as well as mine, will improve with time after this case."

L appeared dissatisfied for a brief moment from this eloquently phrased answer. But then a small smile curved his lips, and he patted my dusky black head.

"It's good to hear that at least one person believes in me, even if it's my own sister."

Beaming in response, I turned away from the window to retire for the night, and I no longer felt sad.

A/N: OK, the mistake that V made was actually thinking that L meant what he said about Light being his first friend. It was also a mistake on my part originally writing this, though I figured that L lied. Just wasn't sure until I read Volume 13: How to Read the other day. So, I decided to make my faux pas into V's. Because, not even geniuses are perfect. OK, the dream sequence wasn't originally planned either, but I wanted everyone to kind of know who V's parents were...in my fic anyway. And, yeah, a little bit of foreshadowing toward the end, but I won't say where. XD

Thanks for reading this story to this point, everyone! Review! Will be updated on Sunday.