Author's Note: Wow, I'm getting a lot of reviews. Most of them remark about how glad they are that I'm updating frequently, and that's because I'm updating each time I finish another chapter- as in, I've just finished writing chapter 17, so I'm posting the tenth one now. I'm hoping to have the story finished very soon, and there may be a sequel coming, as well, depending on how things develop. As for the other reviews, they hope for more L, and he's coming eventually, I promise. And, as for the confessions of love, I'm very flattered, if a little disturbed. Thank you all for reading.

December 13th, 2003

"What are we doing, Sayu?" Light asked with a puff of breath as his 14-year-old sister dragged him through the city streets. She was bundled up in a white coat with a pink hat and scarf, and looked the picture of innocence. He was sure that she was up to something.

Sayu, for her part, smiled innocently. "You don't like hanging out with me?" She asked, voice high and pretending to sound hurt as she looked at him with large, mirthful eyes. Light quirked an eyebrow, and Sayu continued, "Come on, you wouldn't want your little sister to go out alone, would you? What if something happened to me?"

"Sayu, you and I both know that you can go out with your friends any time. I should be studying."

Sayu dropped the facade and frowned disapprovingly at her brother. "No, you shouldn't. You spend all of your time shut up in your room, now, and that can't be healthy. You know you haven't gone out with your own friends in a month?"

Light hadn't known that, but now that she said it, that sounded about right. He was surprised that no one had approached him about it before now. Still. "Sayu, I need to study for my entrance exams if I want to get in to To-Oh."

"You could sleep from now until the entrance exams and ace that test in your sleep, big brother," Sayu said softly, stopping on the sidewalk and looking up into Light's eyes. "Both of us know that, and it's stupid to pretend any differently." Light looked away from her too large, too perceptive eyes. "Light. If you were home right now, you'd be driving yourself up the wall, waiting for another letter or worrying about what he'll do next, or worrying about when Dad'll crack between the stress of this on top of his job, or doing dangerous things because you have no sense of self-preservation—or if you do, it's been overshadowed by your sense of justice."

Sayu was too smart sometimes. Light wondered just what she was hiding in her head which let her read him so easily, when not even their parents could do so. "What would you have me do?" Light asked lowly, beginning to walk again and giving up on pretending. It was clear that it wouldn't work on Sayu, anyway, and so he let his exhaustion and desperation show through onto his face, just a little. "I can't just sit by and do nothing."

Sayu smiled that sad little smile that Light had been seeing too much of lately. When had she developed that expression? "No, you can never just sit by and do nothing," Sayu agreed. She tugged on Light's arm to direct him into a park. "That's why I'm dragging you out today, to try and keep you occupied. You're too polite to ditch me, especially if I threaten to call Mom and complain. This way, you'll be forced to think about other things. At least for today." Sayu swung their connected hands back and forth, looking at her brother pleadingly. "Please? Humor me?"

Light sighed and nodded. "What are we doing?"

"I thought we could go ice skating," Sayu said lightly, "and then maybe we could go warm up at that cafe you like."

"Sounds good," Light agreed, then listened as Sayu recounted several stories about the antics and drama of her school friends, and about her terrible teachers who insisted on giving her so much homework. It was a relief, in a way, to let his mind focus on the little things Sayu told him about, instead of on the heavier things that always seemed to weigh down his mind. She rattled on about nothing all the way to the ice rink and while they rented and put on their skates. She only stopped once they stepped onto the ice, and then only because Light had to focus on keeping his balance while dodging other skaters and keeping an eye on her. They skated for an hour before Sayu complained of being completely frozen and dragged him off to his favorite cafe.

As they sat down at a booth in the back, Light said, "I think I'm on to you, Sayu. You just wanted me to treat you to a day out."

Sayu rolled her eyes. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, big brother. If that's what you think, then you can buy me some hot chocolate and a piece of chocolate cherry cake," she teased.

"Whatever," Light scoffed. He then proceeded to order the hot chocolate and cake, as well as a cup of black coffee.

There was a relaxed silence for a few minutes, though both siblings carefully avoided eye contact with each other. After a while, Sayu said, "Thank you."

"Thank Mom and Dad, it's their money," Light said dismissively, smiling a little.

"Not for the chocolate, although that's nice, too," Sayu folded her hands on the table, and Light was reminded just how very small she was. He could probably fit one of her hands completely in his. "Thank you for coming with me today." The waitress came with their order, and Sayu waited for her to leave before she continued. "We worry about you, you know? I worry about you."

"It'll be fine," Light said, robotically. "I'll be fine. We'll all be fine."

"I don't want you to be fine, Light," Sayu said firmly, glaring down at her cake. She picked up her fork and took a vicious bite of cake. "I want you to be happy. I just don't know how to do that."

"I will be happy, as soon as all of this is done with," Light said, raising his coffee to his lips experimentally. He shook his head and set it down. Too hot.

"No, you won't," Sayu murmured.

Light bristled. "Don't you dare suggest that I want-"

"I'm not suggesting that you want his attentions," Sayu said quickly, and a little too loudly. She glanced around and quickly lowered her voice. "Light. I'm your sister. I'm not Mom, who loves you too unconditionally to notice the masks that you wear, or Dad, who hasn't spent enough time with you to really know you. I'm your sister, and I've known you my entire life, and I've watched you all these years." Her voice was getting more and more choked with emotion, and she took another ferocious bite of cake. "I'm not dumb, Light, but I'm not as smart as you. Mom and Dad aren't as smart as you. I don't know if anyone in the world is as smart as you, but you're not happy here. You're the top student in the top high school in the area, and you don't even have to try. Who knows what you see when you look at us, God knows you have us all figured out. I've watched you, Light, and you were bored. We bore you—don't try to defend yourself. I know you love us, too, but we bore you. We'll never be on your level, and you'll never be happy just... just following these mundane expectations. What can you hope to achieve like this, top student at To-Oh? The fast track to a job like Dad's, trapped in a system of endless paperwork and red tape with nothing but wrinkles to show for it?"

Light stared at his little sister, shocked, and she seemed to deflate a little. "What would you have me do, Sayu?"

"Don't become a cop, Light," Sayu said, sipping her hot chocolate. There. There was that sad little smile again.

Light rolled her words over in his head for a few minutes, sipping his coffee while Sayu ate her chocolate cake. "You're wrong about one thing, you know."

"Oh?" Sayu asked, a little too lightly. Light pretended not to notice the tears at the very corners of her eyes, because she blinked them back and pretended she hadn't just vented at him like that. "And what am I wrong about, big brother?"

"I don't have you all figured out," Light said, staring down into his coffee. "If I've learned anything in the last couple of weeks, it's that people can always surprise you. Especially you, Sayu," Light added, smiling. "You'll never bore me, I think. I just can't seem to understand you."

Sayu smiled. "Well," she said, looking away bashfully. "Small blessings."