Author's note: In Japan, only women give chocolate to men on Valentine's day. Men give chocolates to women one month later, on White day.

February 10th, 2004

Sayu's coming home from the hospital tomorrow. She made me go to the art class yesterday, even though I skipped school to be with her. I skipped today, too, but she's told me that if I'm still here tomorrow when she gets back, she'll hit me, so I suppose I'll have to go.

I don't think she minds me sitting with her—I think she likes it, actually, because I don't dote on her nearly as badly as Mom or Dad. But I think she knows that it gives me too much time to think.

It will be good to sit through school, for once, if only to keep my thoughts from going to dark places.

Will my family and I ever be free from the shadow of stalkers?

February 14th, 2004

Light had forgotten that it was Valentine's Day. He had only remembered it when he arrived at school and several boys were comparing the chocolates that they had received from various girls. As Light had effectively snuffed out his friendships at the end of the previous year, he didn't have to deal with anyone giving him chocolates, but that didn't make the silly tradition any less annoying.

Especially when he arrived for his last photo shoot with Misa.

The whole studio was covered with lacy pink and red hearts, with a bizarrely gothic touch of black in odd places. Misa bounced over in a frilly black and pink dress, beaming at him.

"Hi, Light!" She blushed, looking down at her hands. Light only now noticed that she was holding a very large box. "Um, this is for you. I know you don't like sweets, but Sayu told me that you like fruit, and sometimes dark chocolate, so I got you, um. This." She was turning very red, and Light took pity on her, accepting the box and peeking inside.

Dark chocolate covered strawberries.

"Thank you," Light said, smiling, then hesitated. "Um, you do... trust the place you got them, don't you?"

"What?" Misa blinked. "Oh. Oh!" Her blush was gone now. "No, I mean, yes, I do. They're fine, I mean. They're off the shelf, I didn't tell anyone they were for you."

"Misa. Calm down. It's all right."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't even think-"

"Misa!" Light raised his voice slightly, and Misa turned her gaze to the ground, blushing again. "It's fine. Thank you. It's very thoughtful."

Misa peeked up from under her hair. "You like them?"

"I've never had them before," Light admitted, and Misa smiled brightly.

"Try one, then! They're really good, I got one at the chocolate shop and..." Misa sighed happily. "Go on! Try one now, before you go to make-up and wardrobe."

Light sighed, but obeyed, plucking one of the smaller strawberries up from the box, not really expecting to like it. He bit it, then hummed in surprise. It was very juicy, and very good. The natural sweetness of the strawberry blended with the slightly bitter smoothness of the chocolate while the soft flesh of the fruit contrasted with the chocolate's slight crunch. He finished it quickly, and Misa giggled triumphantly.

"Wow, Light, that was so cute!"

Light felt his own face heating up, now. He hadn't realized that Misa had been watching him so openly. "Yes, well. I have to go now, I think. Thanks again, Misa." Light wandered off, box of strawberries tucked securely under his arm.

Misa danced a little on the spot in victory as she watched him walk away. Her gift was a success! She had given chocolate to her love on Valentine's day, and he even liked it! He hadn't even seemed upset with her for being so forward. Misa took that as a go-ahead for the rest of her plan: Project Make-Light-Yagami-Misa's-Boyfriend.

She skipped away, satisfied with her work.

Twenty minutes later, Light was feeling very hot beneath the many lights in his double-breasted black suit. He straightened the red tie in the mirror and wished the stupid people here would let him keep his hair neat instead of ruffling it up all the time. He looked so untidy.

"Light! You look so handsome!" Misa said, delighted as she joined him on the set.

Light hummed indifferently. "What are we doing today, anyway? Clearly something for Valentine's..."

"You don't know?" Misa asked, surprised.

Light shrugged. "I didn't really care to find out."

Misa giggled. "Well then, I don't really care to tell you," she teased, fluttering her eyelashes.

Light blinked at her, face blank. "All right, then."

Misa pouted. She hadn't expected him to just give up like that. "It's a special for Valentine's day, but it's also to accompany an article on Mi—uh, my love life. Because Li-you've posed as my boyfriend twice recently, they're curious about you, too. I'm doing the interview right after this..." Misa watched him out of the corner of her eye. "You could come with, if you want."

Light shook his head. "I have to go to the art class later. Besides, I'm not a part of your love life."

Not yet, Misa thought determinedly as the photo shoot began. Their interactions in the pictures started out slowly. First there were shy glances, then they proceeded closer. Light kissed Misa's hand, and Misa hid her face a little, looking embarrassed. They progressed to holding hands, then got a little closer. Misa pushed Light's jacket part-way off of his shoulders, loosened his tie.

"Okay, that's good. Last couple of shots, you two—let's see some kissing!"

Light furrowed his brow, turning towards Mei. "No."

"Oh, come on, Light!" Mei wheedled from the side of the set. "It's just a few kisses. Come on, look at her, she's very pretty, and everything!"

"This was not part of my contract, and I'm not-"

Light was cut off by a tug around his throat. He was pulled downwards, and his eyes widened momentarily as Misa kissed him.

Misa was in heaven. Here she was, kissing the man she loved, with him looking so handsome. Surely this would knock some sense into him. She licked his lips slightly as she felt him gently pushing her away. Strawberries.

Light extracted himself gently, but firmly, frowning down at Misa. She looked hopeful. "Would you be my boyfriend now, Light?"

Light shook his head slowly. "Is that what all this was about? I'm sorry, Misa, I just don't see you that way."

Misa's smile disappeared, and she looked as if Light had hit her. "But—why not? I did everything right! I stopped talking in the third person, and I even got you a dessert that you like! Why don't you like me? Why don't you love me like I love you?"

Light winced, stepping back. "Misa. You of all people should know that love isn't always reciprocated the way we want it to be... and that advances like that are out of line."

A tear escaped Misa's eye and she swiped at it furiously. "But I don't understand! You like me now!" She stepped closer, clutching at the lapels of Light's suit. "Why won't you like me like you're supposed to? I love you! This was all for you!"

Light twitched. "I love you, God."

"We belong together!"

"You belong to me."

"Why can't you see that?"

"All for you, God."

"Misa, get away from him. Something's wrong."

"I know something's wrong!"

"Get out of the way! He's having a panic attack." Misa's face was replaced with Mei's, and Light thought that he would have appreciated it more if he could breath properly. Mei placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Light. Look at me. Look at me. Listen to my voice." Light nodded with some difficulty. "I'm going to get you out of here so you can calm down, but you need to focus. Try to control your breathing. Here, breathe with me. In," She inhaled slowly. "Out." She exhaled slowly. "In. Out."

Light mimicked her with some difficulty, but after a few moments, he got the hang of it. "Good, good. Okay. Let's go, we're leaving. Walk slowly with me—here, lean on me, if you have to."

Light's sense of time was distorted. It could have been minutes or hours, but he was guided into a small, cluttered office and into a comfortable chair.

Mei handed him some water and waited until he had finished before asking quietly, "Why didn't you tell me you get panic attacks?"

Light shook his head. "This is only the second time it's happened... I didn't think it would happen again."

Mei gave him another glass of water. "Sip it slowly this time. You should probably see a doctor."

Light shook his heads stubbornly. "I don't want to take medication, or go to therapy. I'll get over it eventually. It's just that some of the stuff she said... brought me back."

Mei frowned, eyes searching Light's weary face for answers. "What happened? You weren't...were you?"

Light raised an eyebrow at her, trying to follow her meaning. "Are you asking me if I was raped?" Mei nodded. "No, I wasn't. I don't want to talk about it."

Mei nodded again, more hesitantly this time. "I'm sorry about that."

Light shrugged. "You didn't know, and I frankly should have expected it. I'm not saying that you or Misa are bad people," he said quickly when Mei looked like she would protest, "but you will have to admit that you are both quite stubborn."

"...I guess."

"And, speaking of being stubborn," Light said once he had finished his water. "You have definitely broken the contract."

"Right. Of course I have." Mei fished her wallet out of her purse, looking distracted. "Here's the pay for today, and sixty extra dollars."

"For what?"

"I'm calling Ms. Jun. I'm not letting you go in today, you have to relax."

Light sighed, but did not fight this. He stood to leave, then paused in the doorway. "...Thank you."

"Despite the fact that you're completely impossible, Light, I do like you. Be safe."