December 25, 2002

3 years, 10 months, 29 days prior to Incident

Sakura brought a glowing hand to her forehead and managed to focus on the intricate workings of her brain with only minimum difficulty.

She'd been arrogant. Used to thinking herself as invulnerable, she hadn't believed she would be seriously hurt from that kind of fall. Sakura had forgotten that this body wasn't a finely honed weapon like her previous body had been; she was young and fragile now, easily breakable.

She needed to remember that.

"One particular serial killer, aptly known as the Shi no Kage, or the Shadow of Death, has long terrorized the people of Japan. The criminal is infamous for silently entering high security rooms and leaving no traces of their presence but for a dead body. Those who have previously inspected scenes of the Kage's murders agree that it almost seems as if the shadows themselves had reached out, leaving a single, fatal, incision across the throats of their victims. Forensic investigator Iryou Sosa, whose report was the first such description of the Kage, was the one who coined the name that soon became the culturally accepted title for this evasive murderer.

Police are still no closer to catching the Kage than when he or she first came into emergence around 1997. Even some of the best detectives in Japan and the world admit to being stumped by the killer, and have been unable to find any relation between the many victims. The Kage's motives remain largely unknown, but it is theorized that perhaps they are some sort of escapist savant with a deep seated psychological defect that compels them to kill; more informally, many people believe that the Kage is not human, and that perhaps he or she is an actual manifestation of the shadows, an inhuman entity exacting revenge on humanity for various wrongdoings of an unspecified nature. Whatever the case may be..."

"I hope they catch that guy soon. Imagine, six years of deaths, one after the other, going unpunished like this... Capital punishment would be too good for him. What do you think, Sakura?"

Actually, it was seven years, but she wouldn't correct him.

"I think I'm going to kick you," Sakura said. "If you don't get off me in five seconds."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Five."

"I'm on your legs, how are you going to kick me?"

"Four."

"Stop it."

"Three."

"Sakura."

"Two."

"That's creeping me out."

"One."

Light rolled off her legs just in time to miss the knee that would have implanted itself into his face.

"You could've broken my nose!"

"Well I warned you, didn't I?"

"Matt."

"Ah, Sakura-chan!"

There was a series of crashes, and she could hear Mello shouting "Hey, watch where you're going!"

"Chibi-chan! I missed you~! I thought you would never call!"

"Beatus. You could have called me, if you missed me that much."

"Well, no, he couldn't have, 'cause then they'd trace the call to you."

"What... do you mean?" she asked hesitantly. "Why would anyone be tracing your calls? Aren't you guys at a boarding school?"

"Um. It's a top secret military boarding school? Yes? Yes, that's exactly what it is! Shhh, but don't tell anyone."

That was a barefaced lie, one so obvious that it was almost painful.

"Don't worry, you can count on me," Sakura told Matt wryly.

She could hear Mello saying, "You idiot, she clearly doesn't believe you."

"She totally does!"

The pinkette could almost hear the responding eye roll. She did hear the clink of plates, however.

"Are you guys eating breakfast?"

"Yeah. I wouldn't be in the same room as the psycho otherwise."

"Ara, I think I was just insulted by Number Two-san."

"Shut up!" Mello roared.

Sakura interrupted before a fight could break out. "Anyway, I just called to wish you guys a Merry Christmas."

"Oh, is it Christmas? Merry Christmas Chibi-chan!"

Matt spoke up. "What did you think the tree was for?"

"I don't pay much attention to what you trash are doing everyday."

"You fucking - !"

"Anyway. Have a good Christmas you guys. Tell Near for me too."

"No need, Fuyuno-san. I bid you a happy Christmas as well."

"WHEN THE FUCK DID YOU GET THERE?!"

Sakura hung up, not willing to take anymore abuse on her poor eardrums.

Fuyuno Sakura - age 12, 2nd year junior high

Yagami Light - age 13, 2nd year junior high

Matt - age 12, education unknown

BB - age 16, education unknown

Mello - age 13, education unknown

Near - age 11, education unknown

AN

The first scene: Sakura woke up before Light and healed her head while he was sleeping. She then went back to sleep.

The second scene: Sakura woke up for the second time that morning to find herself in Light's bed, with Light laying on her legs to watch TV.

Japan's time is 8 hours faster than UK time.

No presents because I'm lazy. Use your imagination!