I am back from my camp! It was fun... if you call scaring yourself shitless by jumping off a nine metre platform fun, that is.

**This chapter contains Fruits Basket spoilers - if you're reading the series and aren't up to Volume 17 yet (and don't particularly want to know what happens), then skip from the line 'I was sitting on my bed' to 'I don't remember...'**

Me: Mogi, would you like to do the honours this time 'round?

Mogi: *barely audible* Yeah, whatever. DeeNee doesn't own Death Note, just her OC Tasha.

Me: Would you do it louder?

Mogi: If you want me to do the disclaimer then you except how I do it the first time around.

Me: *sighs*

Ryuk

L was watching Tasha. I could see this clearly. Was he suspicious of her real reason to be here? Or was he starting to feel the same way for her that she did for him?

Whatever the reason, I was worried about her. I don't know why, but I felt that Tasha should know that she was being watched.

So when she took a lunch break, I told her to come into my room.

"What's this about Ryuk?" she asked, slightly annoyed about having to leave her lasagna spinning around in the microwave.

"L is watching you," I replied.

"Watching me as in... just occasional check ups, or watching me as in surveillance?"

I just grimaced, and she understood.

"Oh... that's a problem isn't it?"

"Well I'm not sure whether he's onto you yet, or whether he's got other reasons for watching you, but I'd be a little cautious from now on."

"I know what you mean. I'll be careful. Can I go have my lunch now?"

I nodded.

"Ryuk?" She asked suddenly before leaving. "Why are you telling me this? Don't you just usually sit around and spectate? I didn't you cared about humans really."

That shocked me a little. I hadn't really thought about it.

"I don't know," I said absently, trying to think up a reason.

Tasha hmphed, and left the room.

L

I'd now been watching Tasha for an entire twenty-four hours, and there were a few things that bugged me.

When we were in the same room, she often stared at me. And when I caught her staring she looked away. While I guess most people would feel embarrassed at the fact that they'd been caught, there was something that didn't sit right with me.

When I wasn't in the same room as her, I tracked her on cameras.

She talked to Ryuk quite often. And while I guess there wasn't much wrong with that, I still found it a little strange.

During some of their conversations, I turned on the audio. And what I heard didn't make a lot of sense.

But there was one thing that really annoyed me, and I found it quite distressing as well.

What did he mean when Ryuk told Tasha that he didn't think I was onto her? Did she have some kind of secret, or hidden agenda?

It was only 3% likely, because I had completed a full history check on her and there was nothing out place there. I had a couple of spies in the FBI, and they all told me she was an outstanding agent. She was as clean as a whistle when it came to her past. She'd solved numberless cases, that was the reason I started working with her all those years ago.

The first case I confronted Tasha with was the Birthday Murder case. There was someone who was constantly crashing into birthday parties and killing the birthday person with the knife used to cut the cake. This case took place in Florida. Tasha and I eventually realised that these parties were always run by the same company, called Harman Parties.

We figured out it was the manager of a rival company. They hoped to steer people away from Harman Parties by spreading rumors that the company was cursed, and killing people to prove it.

The next case I asked Tasha to help me solve took place in England. That case was the Movie-Star murder case. Minor actors in movies were being murdered.

There were several others as well. I didn't always need Tasha to help me solve a case, but sometimes I needed her to be the person to say "I solved this case!". L didn't always need to be the one to solve them officially. Let someone else take the credit.

I hated to think that Tasha had an ill agenda. But there wasn't much else I could conclude from what Ryuk said.

Tasha

L was getting closer to the truth, I could feel it. Not the truth about the Special Unit, but the truth about me liking him.

If he found out... I don't know what'd happen, but it wouldn't be very good. He could reject me entirely, cast me aside, possibly even take me off the investigation.

But then, there was a worse outcome. He could accept it, welcome it even. Hell, he could even feel the same way. While it might be nice for me to start with, it wouldn't do anything but cause him pain.

I was sitting on my bed with Volume 17 of Fruits Basket open, thinking all this through. To be honest, I wasn't even really reading it. I'd read the whole series so many times, and I kept rereading it because it was one of my favourites. I loved the KyoxTohru storyline, but my ultimate pairing in the series would've had to be Akito and Shigure.

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door.

"Come in," I answered.

Ryuga came in.

"Oh hi, Ryuga. What can I do for you?"

"Well it's- Tasha, I swear I've seen you reading that particular volume about ten times during this case," he frowned.

"But number 17 is my favourite! It's the one where you first see Akito and Shigure together properly! 'I care about you, more than I care about anyone. And that is the honest and unshakable truth.' It's so adorable when Shigure says that!"

"Hang on, isn't Akito a guy?"

"You're reading them, Mr. Ryuga?" I asked excitedly. "Well I won't spoil it for you then. Which one are you up to?"

"I don't remember... clearly not 17," he sighed. "Anyway, that's not why I came here. I came to talk to you."

"About?"

"Ryuzaki."

I sobered up immediately.

"I've noticed you looking at him... in a particular way... geez I really don't know how to say this. Tasha, do you have feelings for L?"

I blinked, and tried to look shocked.

"Why would you say such a thing?"

"Because it's the truth. Isn't it?"

I sighed.

"And if it... was?"

"I don't think it's a good idea, that's all."

"Well that's really none of your business anyway, is it?" I said bluntly.

"Probably not, but if your feelings end up somehow hindering this investigation, then it will become my business."

"Well that's not going to happen, so don't worry."

"Alright."

He turned to leave.

"Ryuga?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you not tell L about any of this? Please?" I pleaded.

He gave me a funny look. "Yeah, whatever."

"Thanks."

"It's Aizawa, by the way," he said suddenly.

Now I really was shocked.

"Um... why did you tell me that?"

"I don't know," he frowned again. "I trust you I guess. Subconsciously at least."

"Uhhh... Thanks?" I said, a little confused.

He just left.

Matsuda/Hashimoto

It was a new day! The sun was shining... this was the second time I had been to America, the first being for the ICPO conference. But this was the first time I had been to Los Angeles.

I kind of wanted to go and sight see. LA is supposed to be a really great place with the whole Hollywood thing and all. But I knew that Ryuzaki had asked me to be here to help him solve a case, not have fun.

So I went into the main room, ready for another day of sorting through papers. However, as soon as I walked in I noticed someone was missing.

"Ryuzaki, where is Tasha?" I asked.

"Yeah... where is she, Ryuzaki?" Aizawa asked. "She's usually in here by now."

It might've been just me, but I think L seemed a little reluctant to answer.

"Tasha isn't coming back," he finally answered. "She's been fired from the Task Force."

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN!

Sorry for the Fruits Basket bit in there, but I was reading it and... yeah I decided that Tasha would like it too :/

If you ask me, this chapter was a little boring. But things will definitely pick up from here, I promise. I was going to wait a little while before having her fired, but I decided to do it now since this story isn't getting many reviews and I thought that maybe people will react to a dramatic change in the storyline. Maybe.

So yes, please review! I'm often a little anxious with my chapters, and when people don't review I'm like 'oh... does that mean they aren't reading it anymore?'

I like feedback, critical or not.

BTW... L and Tasha shall be getting together soon! I promise!

Until next time... :D