L's arm was practically stretched like an elastic band with how Bean was pulling it as they moved through the rotating doors of the aquarium.

"...and sea turtles!" the small boy babbled eagerly. "We have to see those."

"I'm sure we will," L assured him.

The chain connected to Light almost caught in the revolving door, but Light stepped through just in time, leaving Misa behind to catch the next rotation.

"Ugh-!??" she scoffed hotly, stamping her foot as her fists came indignantly to her hips. She wore a pinkish red wig with fringe bangs and two low pigtails tied with black bows. Her shirt was black and white striped with suspenders and a pink skater skirt covered in a print of skulls with heart-shaped eye sockets. Her chunky boots laced all the way up to her knees.

Light glanced over his shoulder. He just shrugged. "Come on." His voice was muffled behind the glass as he followed L and Bean, the door continuing to rotate.

"D'oh!" Misa dropped her clenched hands to her sides as she marched inside. But she halted abruptly, her expression wrinkling in disgust. "Ew!" Her hand with the fingerless skater gloves moved quickly to cover her nose. "Something... smells-"

"-fishy?" L stared her down.

Light snorted.

"Well-!" Misa gave an exasperated sigh, her hands gesturing outward. "DUH, it's just- super gross! Who wants to come look at a bunch of smelly fish, anyway??"

"You didn't have to come," L muttered.

"More like YOU didn't have to come!" Misa snipped. She wedged her hand possessively into Light's bent arm as they got in line to purchase their tickets.

Bean was still gripping L's hand, his teeth stimming on his hoodie strings with excitement and intrigue as his wide eyes gawked at all the illuminated posters and LED lights that looked like bubbles and seaweed and coral.

Misa scratched her head and then huffed. "This wig itches, you know. I hope you appreciate the effort I put into going out in public with you, Light." She snuggled her cheek against his arm. "That being said... it's worth it!"

Light just sighed and looked sideways, boredly taking in a giant mural of a beluga whale with both his hands pocketed.

When it was their turn, they all stepped up to the counter, and L handed over a platinum credit card, requesting three general admissions and one child.

The Japanese girl behind the counter slackly accepted the card while blowing out her bubble gum. Her blue aquarium polo rather clashed with her otherwise gothic look, including a black hoodie printed with neon green thorns, two black buns, and heavy black and purple makeup. The bubble popped and then was sucked in through her dark violet lips as she typed on the computer and then handed back the card.

"I really love your look!" Misa gushed, flipping back one of her long strawberry pigtails.

The girl looked towards her without interest. "Thanks." Her dull gaze flicked downward as she snapped her gum. "Cool boots."

"Thanks!" Misa giggled.

Bean looked down to Misa's boots, wondering why they were cool. Then he went up on his tiptoes as he held the edge of the counter. "Do you have sea turtles?" he asked eagerly.

The cashier looked to him as she held her hand at the ready over the small printer. "Yep," she replied flatly. "Sea turtles, dolphins, penguins-" She ripped off the receipt and then held it out to L before leaning in towards Bean, taking hold of her elbows, displaying short black nails. "My favorite? The sharks." She snapped her gum again.

Bean's eyes widened. "...you have real sharks?" he whispered solemnly in awe.

She nodded, blowing and popping another bubble. "Uh huh." Then her winged eyes caught the handcuffs and chain between the two men. Openly chewing her gum, she arched an eyebrow.

Light noticed, starting to awkwardly laugh. "Oh! It's a social experiment. For college."

Her lax gaze moves to his, her gum crackling between her back teeth. "...uh huh," she said again. Then she stood upright as the tickets finished printing, and she took them, tearing them and then handing them to L as well. "Have fun."

L took the tickets, murmuring his thanks and then turning to make room for the next guests in line.

"So," Mikasa exhaled as she looked around, already underwhelmed. "Where to first?"

"Ooohhh gift shop!" Bean pointed with enthusiasm.

"Aren't you supposed to do that at the end?" Light spoke up.

Bean's eyes snapped over. "Why?" he wanted to know.

"Uhm." Light looked to L, but the detective was distracted by a vending machine nearby. He was just staring at it with his finger hooked over his bottom teeth. Light huffed. "Because... if you buy something, you'd have to carry it around the whole time. So it's best to wait until the end."

"Oh." Bean pushed his pursed lips to one side as his finger tapped against his chin.

The chain tugged, and Light found himself taking several disinclined steps towards the vending machine.

Bean looked up to Misa, who was texting on her red flip phone. His head tipped as he studied her for a moment. "...are you mad?" he asked innocently.

"Huh??" She blinked down at him, her thumbs hanging idly over the keypad. "Oh! No, sweetie, I'm..." She hesitated before snapping her phone shut with a sigh and stuffing it into the tiny panda purse she carried on her wrist. "...well, maybe I'm a little mad, okay? I mean, nobody else's boyfriend is permanently chained to a nosy third party. No offense! But you know!"

Bean brought a hoodie string to his mouth as he looked over to his Papa and Light. His gaze dropped before looking up to Misa again. "I don't like it either," he confided quietly.

Misa leaned her hands on her knees, coming more eye-level with the small boy. "I bet you don't," she said miffly.  "I'll tell you what. I'll try to have a good time today if you promise you'll talk to your Papa about ditching the handcuffs. Use your best charms, okay? Is it a deal??"

Bean pushed his lips aside again. He'd already asked. Lots of times. But after a slight hesitation, he grinned and nodded. He wanted her to have a good time.

Misa smiled and poked his nose sweetly, making him scrunch and giggle a little. As she stood upright again, the boys returned from the vending machine.

L held a bag of mochi gummies.  Additionally, several lollipops and packaged treats had been stuffed into his pockets. "So, have we decided where we are going?" he asked, smacking around the chewy candy in his mouth.

"Sea turtles!" Bean elected confidently.

And so sea turtles it was.

**********

The ripply blue water reflected on Light's moonlight complexion as his finely-set brown eyes watched a bull shark glide ominously past. His hands were in the pockets of his khaki pants, which he'd paired with a long-sleeved, scarlet henley that had three little vertical buttons at the collar. The top one was undone.

Walking past him, one might catch scents of sweet fruits, hair gel, and fabric softener, which wasn't uncommon among those within his age group. A woody essence, though, matured his aura, distinguishing him as respectable beyond his years. His skin care routine additionally granted a healthy glow to his already handsome and youthful features. In everything, he exhibited all the qualities of an attractive Japanese boy. Even standing here now, he effortlessly turned the heads of a few schoolgirls, though he noticed neither them nor the death glare they received from Misa.

His gaze wandered downward, finding and then following the path of a smaller sand shark.

Misa sat on a bench nearby, her knees knocking together with her feet apart in a bored slouch.

Light, though, seemed genuinely captivated by the razor-toothed predators, in the way they slipped through their environment like deadly ribbons of solid muscle with their beady eyes and their unlatched frowns.

But then his eyes settled on Bean and Ryuzaki, a few feet away.

Little sneakers were propped on a ledge against the glass, raising the small boy's height to nearly that of his Papa's. His back leaned against L, whose arms were held securely around him, and one small hand rested against a white sleeve. The other hand held the end of a hoodie string to the edge of his mouth as blue eyes were lifted with childish awe to watch another shark slide past them.

Light watched, his own hands still boyishly pocketed. He remembered coming here with his own father at a similar age, and he remembered being similarly held in front of the great glass exhibit. It was unsettling, being so close to such sinister and lethal beasts, but Light recalled with perfect clarity how Dad had made him feel completely safe, and he observed that same endearment now in Bean.  Without realizing it, Light relaxed his stoic expression, his mouth forming the likeness of a fond smile.

But a loud sigh spoiled the moment as Misa clunkily ho-hummed her way into his reluctant arms.

"Mh." She grunted the sound in the form of a scowling pout. But then her head tilted as she sighed femininely, turning on a slow pivot to face him. "You know, Light..." She batted her lashes as she walked two painted fingernails up his arm and towards his shoulder. "That corner over there looks awfully dark. I'm sure Ryuzaki wouldn't mind... or notice..." She started to smile  as her fingers reached his neck by his ear.

Light scoffed and recoiled, slanting his head as his shoulder lifted in protest. "Misa, stop that," he complained. "That's so weird, there are kids here."

Misa scowled again, immediately crossing her arms. "Oh, like you've never made out in a public place!"

Light rolled his eyes sideways, an irritable inhale drawing through parted lips. But he made no attempt to deny it.

Misa huffed offendedly, turning and marching back over to her bench and plunking herself down with her chin in her hands. Then with an angry little scrunch to her nose, she exaggeratedly itched at her candy red wig.

**********

L would be lying if he said he wasn't exhausted by the time the motley group trodded into the gift shop.

"Alright, go on," he said to Bean, a single index finger prompting the back of the boys shoulder. "Pick out a few things."

Bean didn't hesitate to scamper over to some toys, starting to look them over to decide what he wanted.

"Mhh..." Light stretched a little before bringing a hand to his stomach. "I could really go for some sushi."

Misa had apparently gotten over being mad at Light because she giggled loudly. "That's a morbid thing to say after looking at fish all day!" She took his hand as she pressed herself possessively against him. "Light, you're so funny! Though now that you mention it, I am pretty hungry. What do you say, Ryuzaki?"

L stood a bit hunched with both hands pocketed, only looking over to the conversation when he was addressed. "I like some types of sushi," he said slowly.

"Great!" Misa declared happily before running her finger up Light's arm. "You know, some consider sushi to be an aphrodisiac. You know what that is, don't you, Light?" She smiled sweetly and gave him her best flirty eyes.

"I don't," L audaciously lied, looking right at her. "What is it, Misa? Tell me, I'm curious."

Misa scowled. Abruptly, she stepped towards L, wagging her finger in his recoiling face. "You-!  You think you're soooo funny, don't you??"

L couldn't possibly have looked less amused.  With a dismissive sigh, he turned his gaze back towards his son only to find him scampering over with an armful of goodies.

"Papa, we need a basket," Bean informed him.

L's brow raised.  "Bean... I'm not sure you need to get all of those things," he said slowly.  

It wasn't that he couldn't afford it.  That was hardly the case for the billionaire detective.  L just wasn't trying to raise a selfish and spoiled child. 

But Bean shook his head.  "It's not all for me!" he insisted.  "See?" He began shoving items into L's hands.  "A chocolate shark for Mello... Sour gummy turtles for Matt... Umm, these cards for Near..."

L blinked as his big hands accepted the treats one by one.  Selfish and spoiled?  Not his boy.  "...are we going to mail these?" he asked with reserved amusement.

"Uh huh, those ones.  Then these marshmallow fishies are for Mister Matsuda..."

"Oh, presents for everyone..." L murmured, nearly dropping and then catching a bag of sweets .  "I think you're right, Bean, we should get a basket."

"Okay!" Bean shoved the rest of the things into L's arms before skittering off towards a stack of shopping baskets.

Misa watched before tipping her head up at her boyfriend. "What are you going to buy for me, Light?" she asked expectantly.

"Huh?" Light arched a brow down towards her, his arm still clutched in her hold.  "Why would you want a souvenir?  You made it pretty clear you weren't having a good time today."

Misa pouted.  "I... had a good time!" she objected innocently.  "I'm happy as long as I'm with you, Light!"  She cuddled her cheek against his arm before letting her eyes survey the store.  "Hmm.  Oh!  How about that fish skeleton plush??  Oh my gosh, does it glow in the dark??"  She let go of him and hurried girlishly over, picking up a black fish-shaped plush with a neon pink skeleton on it like an x-ray.  "It's so cute!"  She hugged it and spun around on her heel.  "Buy it for me, Light!  I can spray it with your cologne and sleep with it!"  Her cheek snuggled it dreamily.

"I thought you were happy just being here," Light muttered tiredly.  But he started to reach for his wallet.

Misa giggled.  "You're so sweet!  I have the best boyfriend!"

Meanwhile, Bean's basket was filled to the brim with presents for his friends back home, the Task Force, and even Watari.  A good amount of sweets made their way into the haul as well, and Bean picked out a colorful coral reef puzzle for himself, along with a beanie sea turtle plush and some gummy snacks.  

The group left the Tokyo Aquarium soon after with their novelties in tow.  At lunch, they were subjected to a lengthy recap of every fascinating thing they'd learned that day, courtesy of the little Bean and his exceptional memory. 

But later that night, as L sat in the glow of a computer monitor with his arms wrapped around his knees, he found himself staring despondently as Light slept soundly in a bed beside his chair.  Truly, seeing his son happy and enjoying himself helped to alleviate the heaviness of the depression he felt regarding the case, but in the silence and the darkness of night, it all settled back over him like a weighted blanket.

Like a predator lurking in the shark tank, the shadowy figure of Kira remained ever-present.