See? Regular updating. uvu I promised.

Near was building a skyscraper out of his dice; a normal thing to do in his day. Rester was sitting in his chair in front of the computer screens portraying the surveillance footage of Light Yagami's home. Gevanni was looking over Rester's shoulder with his palm on the table. Halle was looking over at the two men. Beside Near, Anna was using some of the dice to make her own structure. She didn't really know what it was going to be yet…. She decided she would make it into a house.

"Hey, Near," Anna said eventually, "guess what?"

"What is it, Anna?" Near responded without much inflection. He did not make pause in his building. The clicking of the dice was rhythmic.

"Light finally proposed to Aunt Natalie!" Anna informed him brightly.

"Is that so?" was Near's oh-so-thrilled answer.

"Yeah!"

Gevanni furrowed his brow at Anna, then nudged Rester. "Did you see a ring on his hand this morning?"

"I didn't notice one… but he may have been," Rester answered.

Gevanni shrugged his shoulders. "Rewind it. Why not? Nothing's going to happen on-screen while he's at work."

Rester nodded and rewound it.

Anna squinted at them. "What? Do you guys not believe me?"

"I guess it's just surprising for something like that to happen to a Kira suspect," said Halle.

Anna frowned deeply. "Well, foo," she huffed. "You believe me, right, Near?"

"I see no reason for you to be incorrect," Near responded, and Anna drew her lips into a thin line at his logical answer.

"Near, do you trust me?" she asked him, crossing her arms.

Near seemed to think about it, pausing in his building and looking up to the ceiling. Then he resumed in his building. "Yes," he said, "I believe I do."

Anna blinked, then smiled. "Yay." There was a pause.

"Do you trust me, Anna?" Near asked her in return, his tone holding some vague emotion. Curiosity, maybe, or thoughtfulness…. Anna couldn't tell.

She looked at Near blankly. "Of course I do."

"Just wondering," said the albino, never so much as pausing in his building.

"Oh, yeah; yeah, there it is," said Gevanni, looking closer at the screen. "Do you see it too, Rester?"

"I see it," said Rester, and Gevanni straightened.

"Well what do you know?" he spoke lightheartedly. "Killers can have their sweet things too."

Anna glared at him, and Gevanni blinked at her.

"…What?" he asked her.

"I hate it when you people are so sure that Light and my aunt are Kira." Anna folded her arms across her chest. "I hate it."

Gevanni rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I'm sorry…. That's just…how it is."

"It is not 'how it is.' You people are just wrong. My aunt Natalie and…" – Anna paused and blinked before continuing – "…my uncle Light are innocent. Whoa. That's so weird."

"I'm more concerned with the fact Light may be moving out of his home soon," said Near dully, pausing in his building to twirl his hair in all pensiveness. "And if he does that, well, quite simply, those cameras we placed are no use."

"Oh…," said Anna, blinking a few times. "That's right…. Near, does that mean we're going back to waiting?"

There was silence for a few seconds before Near spoke. "Gevanni, I have a job for you."

Gevanni turned to Near, straightening up a bit as his expression went to complete seriousness. "What is it, Near?"

"I'd like you to follow Light, starting tomorrow. Try to find anything that could accuse him of being Kira. I will work from there."

Gevanni nodded. "Got it."

Anna gazed at Gevanni thoughtfully. Wow, she mused, how funny. L has me watching Aunt Natalie, and Near has Gevanni watching Light. Both of them are being kept on watch now, aren't they? And with that thought, she went back to building her house of dice.

"Have I ever mentioned how awkward I am?" I asked Light as we approached his old home, containing his mother and sister. Oh god, soon they would be related to me. Oh; oh boy. Why was I so awkward? Why wasn't Light?

God damn it.

"You don't need to," Light responded, his tone light. "And besides, I'm sure they'll both enjoy the strawberry shortcake you made."

I frowned, shifting the bag holding said dessert on my arm. "I had to make them something. I'm not inviting myself to lunch without bringing something…."

He chuckled but didn't answer. The conversation had been lost; washed away by the Bond anyway. Oh well; we'd reached the front door now anyhow. Light knocked, smiling slightly. He was thinking of how there was once a time he just walked in. Time really was such an intangible thing.

Sachiko opened the door, smiling warmly at the both of us. "Come in; come in," she greeted, moving aside to let us inside. "How have you two been?"

"We've been doing well, Mom," Light responded as he took off his shoes. I followed suit. "I hope you and Sayu have been doing the same?"

"Oh, yes," Sachiko smiled, and we were led into the living room, where Sayu was waiting.

Sayu smiled at us upon our entrance. "Big Brother, you're here…. Hi, Natsumi."

We both smiled at her while Sachiko headed into the kitchen to get our food. "I trust everything's been going alright with you?" Light asked her.

Sayu nodded. "Yeah…. I'm glad you're doing alright too…." She shifted. "I worry about you a lot…."

Light only shook his head. "You don't need to worry about me. Your big brother is being very careful, just like I promised."

Sayu seemed to look more directly at her brother. She smiled. "That's good…."

Sachiko came back in from the kitchen and set a large bowl of chahan (that is, fried rice) on the dining table. It seemed the table had already been set. Light's mother was pouring tea into each of the four glasses that were set out on the table.

Light stood and I followed. He helped his sister up, and I waited patiently, ever smiling at her. This really was a place of smiles…. I don't know why, but that's just how it was. Even though pain had been inlaid here…. It was odd. It occurred to me that maybe all of this was fake smiles, the mask of the perfect family… but then I decided that wasn't the case. No… this was just a home of warm hearts, even though a cold hand had begun to grip at Light's. Simply, these people had good souls, and that was all they needed. Even though Soichiro was dead… even though Sayu was traumatized… and even though, in the dark, Light was acting as Kira, unbeknownst to these wonderful people in the light.

I remembered for a second how much I loved people. I remembered how much it pleased me to see smiles; to see such warm hearts. I remembered that I almost forgot.

It gave me a weird feeling in my chest, but it was fleeting, and even through all these thoughts I just kept smiling.

Everyone was at the table now, serving themselves to their lunches. Sayu had a bit of a glint in her eyes that one didn't see so often there anymore. "It's nice," she said to us as she filled her bowl. "It's like we're all together as a family, you know?"

Light chuckled. "It is kinda like that, isn't it? Sometimes I miss having dinner together."

"Me too…," Sayu responded. She looked at me and beamed. "And now you're a part of it too. I'm glad."

I blinked and smiled back. "Thank you."

With that, Sayu clapped her hands together and closed her eyes, her lips curved upwards sweetly. "Let's eat," she said. And we did. I noticed Sayu returning to her quiet unsmiling self with the far-off eyes. I was kinda sad about it. Light's memories especially made me wish for the original Sayu back.

"So, you two," Sachiko said eventually after taking a few bites of her chahan, "what's new?"

"We're getting married," Light said easily, almost nonchalant. Like that kind of thing was normal to be brought up in this casual conversation. His poor mother dropped her chopsticks into her bowl. Sayu looked up at her brother and stared.

"Wh-what?" asked Sachiko. "You proposed…?"

"Yes; last night," Light confirmed. He was smiling.

I was blushing.

Sachiko put her hand to her mouth.

Sayu looked at me for a little bit, then looked back at her brother. She smiled, then, her eyes closing joyfully. "Good pick, Big Brother. Your littler sister approves."

"Oh my—" Sachiko stammered, "—I'm so happy, Light!"

"It's nice to have something hopeful for a change, huh?" Light asked them with a chuckle. "Especially with Kira today…."

"Don't even talk about that!" Sachiko demanded. "This is wonderful news!"

"I'm proud of my big brother," Sayu smiled. "Is it true? Let me see." She made a gesture with her hand, and I held up my left hand to show her the engagement ring. Light just smiled. My head was bowed.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Sachiko cried. "When will the wedding be?"

Light shrugged. "We don't know yet, actually."

"I…" I came in awkwardly, "…I was kinda hoping for something small."

Sachiko laughed slightly, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "That's fine, dear."

"As long as we can come… right? We're coming, Big Brother?" said Sayu.

Light nodded and smiled. "Of course," he told her. So, we ate. Sachiko told me she would help with the planning. I thanked her, and I smiled.

We all smiled.

Mikami did his best to ignore Sara, who was on the phone with her friend Shiori. Mikami still remembered the day he'd gone to her friend's house, the Heiwahara household. That Itsuo guy really rubbed Mikami the wrong way; he wasn't even quite sure why.

Mikami turned the page of his book and idly wondered which side of this black and white world Itsuo lie. Was that man in the black or the white? He seemed suspicious, but he couldn't tell. What about Sara? She was kind… but she didn't support Kira.

Mikami closed his eyes and his book as he sighed lightly. Just because they don't support God doesn't mean they're labeled as 'evil'…. It merely means that they must be convinced. Mikami opened his eyes again and gazed at a painting that had been hung on the wall. It was a traditional Japanese painting; that was all. He thought that Natalia and Kaito and Kenji were good supporters themselves… he didn't understand where Sara was led wrong. He closed his eyes again as he set the book on the coffee table, then pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

There was a clacking sound as Sara put the phone back on its base. He could hear her walking over to him, so he opened his eyes. She was looking at him, then away from him, adjusting her 'hipster' glasses awkwardly. "I'm sorry," she said, "but… are you in league with Kira? I mean, if you say yes, I'm not going to kick you out or anything, and I won't tell either. Whether you are or not, you don't deserve to be caught, right? I just… I just want to know."

Mikami gazed at her without expression for moment. Eventually Sara looked back at him, looking uncomfortable in the fact he didn't respond. Then Mikami closed his eyes. "No, I'm not in league with Kira," he said simply. "I've told you this before, and I'll tell you again. I'll admit to liking Kira, but no, I am not working for him."

Sara seemed to brighten up at that, and she leaned forward. Mikami leaned back, if slightly. "Oh, well, that's great then!" she beamed.

Honestly, this girl was far too trusting… as well as over-excitable. Ryuk was snickering at her ignorance.

"You see," she said, "now I can tell you something. You know…" she leaned in closer, and her voice lowered to something like a whisper, "…there was rumor that there are revolutionaries gathering in America. That's why Shiori and her parents left to go there. Right now it's still secret, but—"

The girl was cut off by the ringing of the doorbell, and Sara immediately straightened up. "Oh," she said, "I should get that. Mr. Mikami, you should be fine sitting there; people can't see you from the door."

Mikami nodded numbly and stared at the wall as she walked away. Ryuk was snickering again. Revolutionaries, in America? It was still secret…. If all this was true, he would have to tell God about this… or rather, Light. He needed to let him know….

"Hi, I'm Taro Matsui of the NPA," said a voice coming from the direction of the front door. Mikami listened closely to the conversation, tensing slightly. Were they here for him? Had he been seen on the way to the Heiwahara household? Had someone given him away? Or were they just investigating?

"Hi there, Mr. Matsui. How may I help you?" asked Sara.

"Er, could I talk to your parents?" His voice was familiar….

"Sure, just a sec."

"Aright."

Mikami waited silently as Sara went for her parents. It wasn't Sara he was worried about here; he knew she wouldn't give him away. Kaito and Natalia, however, were more questionable…. He was well aware they doubted him.

"What're you gonna do if they hand you off to the police, huh?" Ryuk asked him. He didn't respond.

Soon, though, he could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. "Here's my dad!" Sara said cheerfully.

"Thank you," said the police officer.

"So, what's this all about?" asked Kaito.

"Um, I'm sorry to bother you, but have you seen this man?" There was a flicking kind of sound as a paper was pulled out. "His name is Teru Mikami; you may have heard about him on the television. He's wanted for murder, you see, and we – the NPA, I mean – have found DNA evidence of this man staying in an abandoned home relatively close to here. We're just going around making sure; you're not suspicious or anything; I promise."

"Yeah, I've heard of him…." Kaito was quiet for what seemed like a long while, and Mikami clenched his fist as he waited.

If I fail you here, God, I am so sorry. "Ryuk," he whispered.

"Huh?" asked the shinigami, blinking.

"If they catch me, will you make sure Light gets the notebook back?"

"Now why would I do that?" Ryuk asked, and chortled.

Mikami shot him a look. "I should hope you would, Shinigami Ryuk." His voice got low and threatening.

Ryuk blinked again. "I've already said I'm not on either side—"

Mikami held up a hand to stop him, and Ryuk grumbled to himself. Kaito had begun to speak again.

"…I'm sorry…" he said, "…but no, I don't think I've seen him. I will be sure to keep an eye out, however." He paused. "Though I do find it a bit odd that Kira hasn't killed him yet, if he's dangerous. Kira is justice, so you'd almost think he'd have gotten him by now…."

The police officer laughed with a bit of a nervous hitch. "Maybe Kira's already got him. Who knows? But, um, thanks for your cooperation, sir."

"No problem."

Mikami heard the door shut.

There was silence.

"Sara," said Kaito eventually, "you do realize we're going against the law at this point." His voice was hard. "If that man comes back, we're telling them."

"What?" Sara cried. "No!"

"Yes, Sara! I'm not keeping a fugitive in my home for much longer!"

Mikami only closed his eyes and tuned them out as he thought. He would need to find some kind of solution.

Fun Fact: I am, in reality, incredibly awkward in reality, if you couldn't tell by my awkward apologies at every kiss scene written. I don't know how relationships work, honestly-

Review? For, uh, the untainted version of the Yagami family! =7= Yeahh...