June 8, 2002

4 years, 5 months, 15 days prior to Incident

Light put down his chopsticks. "Sakura-san."

The girl in question was munching on a sandwich as she lounged across from him. "What?"

"The history project… are we going to work on it at your house or mine?"

"Clearly yours," was the prompt response. The pinkette didn't even look up from her book.

"I see…" He didn't, actually. "Is there a reason?"

"My apartment's too small and cramped, I have a 5 year old sister and an annoying little brother, I probably won't have the right supplies, and my home's too far from any kind of supply store."

"You have siblings?"

He'd pegged her as the only child type. Not spoiled, exactly, but... outspoken. Unafraid to speak her mind, and not bothering to pick and choose her words. He'd seen her verbally dressing down a senior last week, without any thought as to the possible repercussions of such an action.

"Yeah. Why?"

"It's nothing. Here's my address. Come around at 5 today, I have cram school before then."

She gave him a lazy salute.

"Ara, I didn't think Light's friend would be such a pretty girl! Come in, come in."

Sakura had arrived.

Light hoped Sayu wouldn't embarrass him as she was prone to doing whenever a girl from school came over -

"Are you onii-san's girlfriend?"

- he'd spoken too soon.

"No."

Well, at least Sakura wasn't playing along.

"Do you want to be onii-san's girlfriend?" Despite himself, Light couldn't help but to listen for her response. What if she said yes? Light didn't think he'd be able to reciprocate her feelings, and then their tentative alliance would become awkward.

"Not at all."

He was relieved, Light told himself. Relieved, and not in the least indignant.

His pride was not wounded. At all.

… But wasn't that reply too quick?!

She didn't even think about it!

Light shook his head and made his way down the stairs to save Sakura from his little sister.

After somehow being roped into having dinner with the Yagamis...

(She couldn't resist the temptation of a mother's cooking.)

… enduring a rapid fire round of questions from Yagami Soichiro-san...

("What do your parents do?" "What is your school grade average?" "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?")

… utilizing evasive maneuvers to avoid lying to a policeman without revealing anything important...

("Oh, this and that, things many people do for a living." "Somewhere over 90%." "Attending university and earning money.")

… and finishing the history project two weeks earlier than it was due, thanks to the combined efforts of two over-achievers, Sakura stood on the Yagami household doorstep with Light at her side, politely bowing to the adults and waving at Sayu.

"Goodbye Sakura-chan, don't hesitate to come over again soon!"

After a last bow, she walked off with leftovers in her hands and Light in tow. She felt sorry that he'd been forced to walk her home, but Mrs. Yagami was just too persuasive to refuse.

After a few minutes, Sakura broke the silence. "Well, that went over better than I expected."

"Why, what did you expect?"

"I don't know. Something exploding. Being chased out with pitchforks and torches. Putting my foot in my mouth and accidentally offending your parents."

"Offending my parents is on the same level as something exploding?" he remarked dryly.

"Worse. I have a chronic fear of being hated by authority figures."

Light laughed.

"Why is that funny." Sakura sounded almost offended.

That just made him laugh harder.

Fuyuno Sakura - age 12, 2nd year junior high

Yagami Light - age 13, 2nd year junior high

AN

Don't think Light didn't notice how all of her answers were so vague. He definitely did, he's just not mentioning it.

FYI, Sakura is definitely not smarter than Light or L. She just has a different unfair advantages over both.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and favorited and alerted, thanks so much!

guest (with a lower case): Thanks! Death Note x Naruto cliches? There were such things? Could you tell me a few so I can try to avoid them?

Guest (with an upper case): Yay! I'm going to be updating this thing really often since I'm still in the excitement phase, so look forward to that. Light is really tsundere, isn't he? Unfortunately, he's going to grow out of it, since I need him to be canon. ;-;

candy dream: Like I said above, I'm updating this super often 'cos I'm so excited about it. More of whose interactions, Sakura and Light or BB? In the first case, here you are! In the second… well, next chapter... You'll see.