CHAPTER EIGHT

The Girls

"Moon…Yagami, is it? You're the only one whose lifespan I can't see. He's Kira! I can't believe it! I never thought it would be this easy to find him…but…who's that?" Misa Amane beneath her short black wig and schoolgirl outfit narrowed her eyes.

It was after weeks of hearing about Kira, and days of researching and creating an elaborate tan and working exhaustively to make sure that she won't get caught that brought her to this point: face to face with Kira, loosely put. And it was well worth it. He was so handsome, in her eyes, and young and perfect. Tall, brown haired and a clean cut face and dressed well, he stood out among his group. If there was such thing as love at first sight, Misa was sure this was it.

But right next to Kira was a young woman with long, wavy dark hair and light eyes. A foreigner. Her name, Elaine…and her lifespan…"Misa, what are you thinking?" Rem asked. Although she was a Shinigami who was not disturbed by humans killing each other, she would find it just a bit odd that the nineteen year old girl would simply kill another female because she was touching Kira.

"Nothing," Misa said quickly. There would be no point in kill her now. "All right Rem, time to go."

xxx-xx-xxx

Seven hours later

When Misa stepped out of her house to introduce herself to Light Yagami, she knew exactly where she was going. It was creepy how much information she could purchase over the internet. But after seeing him earlier today, she had to approach him. As she walked by his neighbourhood, her eyes flicked up to see that girl – that same girl – walking the opposite way. But Elaine didn't know who Misa was, or her importance. So the girl simply looked at Misa with a curious expression and offered a smile. Her eyes almost looked silver under the lamppost.

Misa could not take her eyes away at first, but when she did, it was haughtily and snappishly. Still, the returned communication sparked words from the other girl. "Be careful," the grey eyed girl simply said, "it's getting dark really soon." And that was all she said before she turned a corner and disappeared. Misa's face twisted with a frown, turning around but then shook her head.

She took a deep breath - and then a thought occurred to her.

She had come from Light's house…at this hour?

It was fine, she told herself, Elaine wouldn't be a trouble for too long anyway.

xxx-xx-xxx

One day later

The room was completely dark, with nothing but the light of the screen allowing them to see. Elaine nibbled at a red velvet cupcake as L took a bite out of a chocolate bar. They ignored the murmurs behind them – speculating about L's insomnia - as they watched the tapes from Aoyama. "How could I have possibly missed anything?" she whispered to herself, eyes intent on the screen.

"I don't blame you."

She closed her eyes for a brief moment. "I'll trail Light," she told him, "this time…I won't miss anything."

xxx-xx-xxx

Four days later

"Light."

He looked up.

"Light," the whisper continued. He looked up and stopped playing with his pen, his mind distracted from the day's plans. He looked at Kiyomi Takada, feigning interest. "I thought you and I were seeing each other…that is, we are more than just friends, aren't we?"

Her question drew his attention, but just barely. Distractedly, he noticed that Kiyomi and Emiko both shared the same colouring of pale skin, dark hair and grey eyes. But there was something different in the latter. Emiko's were sharper, more alive and brighter.

"Yeah, we are." He wondered how a girl intelligent as Kiyomi couldn't hear the disinterest in his tone. Perhaps she was only book smart, but she didn't seem to be able to capture his attention easily as the other girl tended to. He had to consciously remind himself that this woman had a reputation that he, as Light Yagami, should respect. But if it wasn't for Kiyomi's reputation and potential influence, Light would not be sitting where he was.

"Exactly and that's the reason why I'm sitting next to you in class. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Sure." The conversation felt like it was going nowhere.

"But you don't look like you enjoy being with me." He inwardly sighed. "I mean, you haven't even looked at me once!"

He wanted to roll his eyes and move his stuff elsewhere. He had thought that he left behind needy girls when he left high school, but even in college, it seemed as if there were still women who required more attention than he could possibly give. And if he gave them that attention, surely, these college women would shove that need and hide it behind a cool exterior that was expected of their age, when Light was sure of what really stood behind it.

He figured to test his theory out. "That's not true at all," he said slowly as he straightened up. "I guess I was just been thinking about how everyone would be talking about us now…to think that I am actually going out with Miss Takada, the famous Miss Todai. I mean, you're the most beautiful woman at this school." It wasn't a lie. She was the most beautiful woman…at the school.

She coughed but he was sure that she was actually enjoying his compliment as so many others would. She was only proving his point. "Why do you even care about stuff like that? Besides, I hate being called Miss Todai or whatever…it's embarrassing."

He remembered when Emiko ranted about how she hated highschool. Maybe college wasn't very different after all. The only thing he found suitable of his time was trying to find a way to bring down L and continue with killing criminals from his Death Note. He didn't want to bother with girls like Kiyomi Takada. It was for reputation's sake. He was the genius, the perfect student – and it only made sense that this girl would be his counterpart. He had to at least feign an interest.

He could handle a college woman. A model, however, especially an over eager one was a whole other story. And later that night, when the blonde girl came tackling him to the ground, he wanted nothing more than to hit that her.

Why can't everyone just be a little more like Emiko?

xxx-xx-xxx

"Lawliet," she said in a low voice once everything was gone, "just what are you playing at?" They were in her room, discussing the next move tomorrow at the University when she changed the subject.

"Hm?" he murmured, trying to sound innocent. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Baiting out Light…calling him your first friend." She raised an eyebrow.

"Do I detect a tone of jealousy?" he asked, amused. She narrowed her eyes but she didn't seem irritated at all by his assumption. "I figured it may confuse him and wouldn't do much harm." She didn't seem very happy with this answer. "Besides, I do consider Light quite a good friend. On an intellectual competitive level, that is."

"And what am I, your monkey?"

He tilted his head and examined her, his black eyes running down her before concluding in a flat tone: "More like a cat."

Her nose wrinkled and the ridiculousness of her expression teased a smile out of L. "And not a puppy?" she asked curiously as she ruffled through different sheets of paper, looking for Light's schedule so she could time out where he would be. Lawliet simply hm'ed thoughtfully as he spun the fork around and stared at the ceiling. Elaine, a puppy? He shrugged.

"Puppies obey their human owner," he countered, "whereas cats just...run all over you and leave whenever they want. All they need from their owner is to be fed." He spoke with a tone of declaration. The mention of being fed caught her attention and she slit her eyes.

"A cat?" she surmised.

His eyes wandered, and he looked thoughtful. "Yes," he muttered, "you're a cat."

"Oh, fine. I'll show you how much of a cat I can be!" she exclaimed as she threw the papers down on the desk and stuck her arms straight out before attempting to literally roll all over him. But he was quicker than her. His eyes flashed and he called out her name, cutting through her laughter that drowned out the room, and abruptly shoved her off him.

She let out a shriek as she fell to the ground but his voice was calm as he called out, "Come on in!"

"Hey," she pouted, blowing the hair from her face as she popped back up. She pulled her legs to a crossed position and leaned up to peek at the door to see the familiar old man walk in. Her face lit up - and she quickly glanced back at L, smiling. He wasn't looking at her, and her smile dropped.

"The finger prints just came back to the lab and we identified it with Miss Misa Amane," Watari told the two as he indicated at the screen. The two young detectives had mixed reactions – L narrowed his eyes and Elaine gasped. "I've seen her!"

"Where?" he asked immediately. "At Aoyama?"

She furrowed her eyebrows. "No, no…when I was leaving Light's house –"

"Light, hm?" L murmured and his eyes moved back to the picture of an attractive, smiling blonde. "So the Kiras met then." She nodded, assured. Finally – a break. And then she blinked and one hand slammed down on his arm as if she was having an epiphany. His eyes widened. "Ellie...what are you doing?" he asked slowly as if he was talking to the mentally unstable.

"If they met yesterday, I'm sure that Kira would be out to kill you as soon as possible." She paused and let him go, remembering the incident earlier yet the nervous glint in her eyes was ever present as she stared at him intently. Her mind raced through possibilities. "There's a real chance that you may just die tomorrow if either of them come into contact with you."

He didn't speak for a while. "Then I'll just tell the Task Force to assume Light is Kira if that were to happen."

She groaned and bent back to grab a pillow before slamming it into him. Repeatedly. "You're not going to be sacrificed like that!" Despite her outburst, it was clear: she was really, really afraid for him. L didn't seem fazed and he allowed her to hit him several times before finally he rolled his eyes and took the pillow of her hand and threw it across the room while replacing it with a plate with a red velvet cupcake instead. She was still breathing heavily, her eyes too big and her breathing too loud. She looked down at the dish as if it was a monster and placed it down hastily. "Lawliet, I don't want you dying as proof that Light is Kira. There has to be another way."

Of course there was, but he had to consider all the alternatives.

"Maybe if I make a surprise attack," he murmured, his thumb by his lip as he forced himself to think for this girl's sake, "throw him off his game by telling him that if I die, it is enough proof that he is Kira – I'm sure the UN would believe me, anyway. I'm fairly sure the deaths will stop once Kira is executed. And knowing the second Kira's ability, if Misa were to arrive –"

"We could capture her too," she finished, the plan dawning on her, "even if Light isn't Kira, he can't do anything if the second Kira was unable to report back to him your true name." Her eyes flashed up to him and the anxiety was replaced by the familiar anticipation that he has known her for. She got up quickly, excited for action. "Cut off any source of contact between them while I'll go get the police, alright?"

He nodded and he stood up too. "I'll brief the Task Force."

She pulled out her phone, off to carry out the plans but stopped. "Wait!" she said and spun around. She stared at the tall, almost sickly looking man who was such a stark distinction with his messy, dark hair, plain white shirt and jeans. Her mouth twitched. This was the person she had known for so long…even when that simple white shirt of his was too big on his childish frame and his jeans so long he tripped over them. She had known him when he was standing at half his height, when his hair reached and nearly covered his eyes; when they were at the Wammy's house, in the dark corners, whispering.

But those were the easy days, when things were certain. And now something was changing each day with the growing Kira case, and she became uncharacteristically more unsure of its outcome.

With L, victory was always assured. So why was it...not this time around? Since when did defeat became an option, let alone their safety? "Be safe, okay?"

He rolled his eyes and her gray eyes widened. "Lawliet!"

He sighed. "Yes, yes," he said dismissively, "smile, will you?"

Because for God's sake he was beginning to miss it.

Because we all need some L moments to outweigh Light's first move. :)

Reviews would be lovely!