Chapter eleven- Tabloids and rumors.

Misa turned aside all thoughts of escaping any inner darkness. Her fouled conscience, her inner demon. After all, why not keep your enemies close? But the enemy she was fighting was none other than herself. And she had been since she'd escaped Ryuuzaki's room.

And this escape was set up in her mind state on whether she should feel her conscience presently, or completely ignore it.

She already knew what Light would tell her to do. He'd have her get rid of it. He was Kira, after all. Nothing's to hold him back from achieving his objective. But Ryuuzaki was different. He'd have to be, what with being a detective. He had a righteous sense of justice. But then, so did Light.

In a desperate attempt to try and understand her weakness to why she couldn't betray Ryuuzaki without this sickening guilt, she had to look hard within herself to find the answer.

Misa was only left with a blank and MORE questions. Her confusion still lingered, however, on whether she was to obey Light, or she was to help Ryuuzaki. Husband Vs. Boyfriend.

With no end in sight, who would win?

But that's the thing, Misa realized solemnly. I'm the one who has to choose. The problem is, I just don't know who.

She sighed weakly to herself, a sense of loneliness enveloping her body. It all comes down to who I'm in love with. Ryuuzaki or Light.

She was grasping at straw, and all the hay was already almost gone.

That morning, when she'd finally gotten up, gotten dressed and drove to work, Misa could already tell the the day would be heck.

For one thing, Kohane was out of the hospital WITHOUT a broken nose and one of her model friends had texted her earlier to warn her that her enemy was on a warpath and was out for blood.

Misa shook the feeling away. She was not and never would be afraid of Kohane. She was just another mean model with a bad attitude. And Misa was used to dealing with such people.

Misa felt relief flood her slim being as she stepped through the doors of the agency. No whispers were spoken being spoken about her.

Kohane came straight up to her and started playing with her blonde hair. "Oh, I'm do sorry for causing you such trouble the other day. Let's be besties, okay?!"

Misa resisted the urge to vomit. "Yeah," she forced out coldly, "Let's."

Again, why not keep your enemies close to you?

Kohane faked a smile, passing it over towards the other girls before pulling something from her shirt.

A piece of paper? Sure, she couldn't see what was on it, as it was hugged close to Kohane's chest. But what could a mangy piece of paper do besides give her a papercut?

Misa rolled her eyes. Ooh, scary...

"And with that being said, BESTIE, why not tell them the truth? After all, it's the miracle of life. Why be embarrassed about it?"

Misa scoffed at her "friend's" childish ploy. "I've already told you before, Kohane, I'm not pregnant," she growled.

Kohane turned it around slowly, showing them the picture on the other side. An ultrasound. "Is that why one of the doctors was bragging about giving Misa-Misa an ultrasound? You're lucky that you put me in the hospital that day. Wait... no, unlucky."

Misa screamed as paparazzi broke through the door, flooding their cameras with pictures and yelling questions.

Kohane held the ultrasound up with a sweet smile and occasional wink at a camera. "I knew she was pregnant," she bragged to one of the cameramen.

Then man turned towards Misa. "Is this true, Misa-Misa? Whose the father?! The mysterious husband? Or perhaps a scandalous lover?"

"Leave Misa-Misa alone!" She shrieked, covering her head and trying to run away. Matsuda broke through the crowd like a savior.

"Misa-Misa, come this way," he grabbed her hand, the ultrasound, and pulled her from the noisy mob. They tried to follow, but Matsuda wouldn't allow that.

His kicked the door shut hard, but not before saying a command to one of the girls- a follower of Misa. "Saki, do it!"

Saki Yukino flashed him her prettiest smile before taking control . "Right. You can count on me, Matsu! Come in, girls. Formation."

Several of them moved against the door while others got in front of the cameras. "Sorry, you'll have to excuse us, but we can't let you show that to the public," Saki said sweetly with a hint of command in her voice.

She stretched a hand out and a few of the, gave up their devices. Others, however, seemed more reluctant. One person even managed to hide a copy when it came his turn to relieve himself of the technology.

Kohane smirked. Good job, Desen.

Those photos would ruin Misa-Misa forever.

Misa sighed in relief from the back seat of the car. She had a few apparent tear-streaks running down her face.

Matsuda bit his lip guiltily. "You okay, Misa?"

Misa gasped, completely taken by surprise by the dropped Misa at the end of her alterego. She managed a nod and forced a smile through her melancholy. "Yeah. thanks, Matsu, for getting me out of there! You're a real lifesaver."

He nodded softly, taking the compliment with a mixture of shyness and delight. "Of course. Though, I'd say Saki deserves a thank you the next time you see her."

Misa chuckled shyly, feeling alright for the first time since the attack. "Yeah, Saki's the best!" She frowned as a sudden thought crossed her mind.

Matsu saw the look. "What?"

Misa thought of a way to phrase it right. "Matsu, do you know I'm married?"

Matsu scowled, jerking the wheel to the left hard. "Why do you ask?"

It took a moment for her to recover from the jostle. "Well, that paparazzi guy said that Ryuuzaki's mysterious and then that I probably had a scandalous lover bedding me also." She glared at her own wording, displeased with the outcome and implication.

Matsuda flushed, not quite as comfortable with where this was going. "I don't know what you're getting at," he admitted.

"Did you know I got married?!"

Matsuda found Misa's childishness amusing. "Yes, I did know that."

She added carefully, "Is he mysterious?"

"Very much so."

Misa sighed, resting her chin in her palm and staring out the window. "Do you know him?"

Matsuda's eyes widened, panic becoming clear on his face. What should he say? Should he lie and tell her no. No, he sucked at lying. So don't lie, he told himself. "Ryuuzaki sounds mysterious."

Misa sighed. "You don't know him? Hm, sorry I asked."

The car stopped as he pulled up into the long, narrow driveway. "I can't say I do. But I can give you one piece of advice; who cares what the paparazzi thinks? I know you love you're husband and you're not sleeping with another man on the side."

Misa smiled, a cheer touching her cheek. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, setting his face in fire. "Thanks, Matsu."

"You're- you're - you're welcome," he stuttered, feeling his cheek.

She flashed him one last smile before stepping out of the car.

"Bye-bye, Matsu!" She called after him as he drove away.

Misa slammed the door behind her and slid down it. "Ryuuzaki, can you talk to me?" She called out.

Ryuuzaki heard the sad tone in her voice. "Yes, I already know why you're upset. There are photos flooded everywhere. I'm sorry."

Misa groaned. "I can't believe they think I'm pregnant! We haven't ever met."

A wry chuckle came through the speakers above. "That's not the most interesting rumor I've heard. One tabloid says that I'm not even the father. And the ultrasound makes quite the innocent impression."

Misa winced. "I'm not pregnant," she promised. "And I'm not sleeping with anyone else either. I'm waiting to meet you."

Ryuuzaki raised an "eyebrow" at that. "Well, that's nice to know."

Misa sighed. "I don't know where they got that ultrasound. Kohane's gone too far. That bit-"

"Kohane Misaki? You mean the model right behind you in the popularity polls?"

She blushed sheepishly at his knowledge of her occupation. "Yeah. How do you know that?"

He shrugged. "I like the magazines," he admitted shyly. "Plus, your photographer seems to know how to do his job exceedingly well. Your pictures always come out rather... sexy."

Misa's eyes widened. "You pervert!" She broke into a fit of hysterical laughter, tears falling down her face.

Ryuuzaki scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "What'd I say?"

She shook her head, smiling. "I don't just THINK you're a pervert. I KNOW you are. And I think I love you because of it.

"In that case, I think I know how to make you feel better."

Misa's eyes widened. Was he gonna...?

You're gonna have to wait til tomorrow for the next chapter.