Chapter 21

~"It is my duty - no - my calling to find him and show him what justice truly means. He'll hear me, but he'll never see me coming. And when I find him, his capture will be the world's liberation." - L~

"Are we really sure Misa-san can pull off this performance?" I ask Light in a drowsy voice, finishing up some strawberry shortcake that Ryuuzaki offered me a while ago. It's funny; we always had to request Watari for any treats just like he did, but that was a complete surprise. He got it for me, I couldn't say no. And at the same time... I'm tired and my body craves sleep -- I was afraid I'd go into the "nodding off" stage and faceplant the dessert if I wasn't alert enough.

"She's supposed to be an actress, so we'll see." he answers neutrally as I push the empty plate to the side.

"Thanks, Ryuuzaki." I say.

"Mm." he hums in response. "We'll be sure to have her act out the scene before she does the real thing." Ryuuzaki says.

And before the conversation can continue, the team of three comes down the stairs. "Ada~" Matsuda sings before suddenly hugging me. "I never thought you had it in you!"

"Wh-what...?" I ask while looking over his shoulder to Aizawa and Mogi in confusion. And it's a bit awkward since he's practically hugging the chair as well and has to kneel slightly.

"You're in love~" he teases.

I sigh and pull away, too tired to overreact. "Oh, that?" I ask and quickly turn around to hide my embarrassed face. "What about it?" I glance over to Ryuuzaki for help.

"Matsuda, don't harass them." Mogi says.

"But it's so cute!" God, there really is a fanboy in him. "MisaMisa and Light, now Ada and Ryuuzaki! Awh, when will this youngster find the love of his life~?" he whines.

"Maybe you're the one who needs to be more proactive, Matsuda." Ryuuzaki says. "Instead of sitting around and doing nothing like always."

Oh, hitting him where it hurts, huh?

"Eh? But I get things done all the time!"

"Sure, Matsuda." Aizawa joins.

"You guys stop being mean." Light laughs. "Matsuda's has done a lot."

"I suppose that's correct." I say and rest my face on my hand, leaning on to the desk.

"Yeah, yeah!" Matsuds cheers, surely a blush of pride covering his face. "When we trap Yostuba, we trap Kira! We'll definitely get him this time!"

"You know, I've been kinda wondering," Aizawa starts as he takes a seat of his own. "When we finish this, what's next?"

"We can live in peace knowing that Kira's gone." Light answers him. I find myself fading in and out of the conversation.

"No, I mean between this team." he answers. "Even though lives are on the line here, including our own, I like working with you guys. But I guess we'll all have to split up sooner or later..."

"We'll definitely stay in contact!" Matsuda assures. "Even though we won't be police together doesn't mean we can't hang out~"

"I guess so, huh." Mogi says. "It'll be weird not going back to the station."

"Yeah."

"Oh, and Ryuuzaki?" Light asks him. "Will you still see Ada?"

I lift my head up as my interest in the conversation shoots up upon hearing my name. Since his voice was the last that spoke, I turn to Light. But then I take a moment to repeat his words and process them. "That's right..." I mumble, hoping my eyelids don't begin to droop. Stay awake a little bit longer. I turn to Ryuuzaki and await his answer.

"I don't know myself." he begins. "I'll obviously take the next case that interests me, no matter where it is. Yet I can't expect you to follow."

"Of course I will: I can't stay in that apartment with my mother forever!" I joke yet suddenly remember something I've set aside for a long, long time. My mom... and my home... that old apartment which I've forgotten... Has she been keeping up with the bills well? Wait, why should I care? After all...

"You have plenty of money."

"I can't go on without a job," I counter.

"Live with me, Ada~!" Matsuda sings.

Light laughs. "She's right, Ryuuzaki. Do you plan on keeping her?"

"That depends on her decision." he answers.

"I want to stay with you!" I answer right away. By the way Ryuuzaki's eyes pierce into mine, I know something's up. Now within the light atmosphere comes a dark undertone between just us in a matter of seconds.

"You can't get out of that one now." Aizawa chuckles.

As if nothing had happened just now, Ryuuzaki let's out a slight laugh himself: probably to distract me or to revive the happy mood in case it downgraded. "I'm sorry, but I can't. What I do is too dangerous. I'd rather you stay."

"Like hell." I punch his arm and force a giggle from his most obvious sarcasm yet; even a child could have noticed that. Yet... there's something more. I don't know what it is, but he didn't say that just to be funny with everyone... "You're not getting rid of me even if you wanted to."

"Oh, scary." Light jokes. "I'd listen to her, Ryuuzaki."

"You be quiet." I say in a serious voice but with a fake smile on my face to not ruin the atmosphere. Something's off... Ryuuzaki, what's wrong?

~"Risking your life and doing something that could easily rob you of your life are exact opposites." - L~

"We finally get to see Misa-san's skills, don't we?" I ask in a quiet voice.

"I bet she's great." Light comments as Ryuuzaki claps his hands twice loudly.

"Alright, let's start from the top." Ryuuzaki announces.

"So, is it true that you came to Tokyo to meet Kira?" Aiber asks Misa.

"Whaaat!?" her eyes widen, she gasps in three times louder than the normal shocked voice, and she falls dramatically into the couch with her arms flailing about. Ryuuzaki bonks her on the head with a megaphone made of the script and rolled up.

"Misa," he says into the paper "I know this line is stupid but that was terrible."

"But... I thought that it was a fantastic performance." Misa turns around and pouts. "My best one yet, if you ask me."

"No."

"Okay, fine, Mr. Best Director in the Universe!" she retorts.

"If you don't begin to get serious, I will kick you."

Light, Aiber and I stare at her blankly with no words for a while. "...I want to ask Matsuda how she got her part..." I say after a while of Misa fixing her hair to get ready and do the scene over.

"I got it because I'm great, and I'll show you guys that today! Just watch!" she pumps her fist into the air with a mask of determination on her face. I nod and sit down, leaning against the side of the couch Misa is on, right by where Ryuuzaki is standing. "Alright, what's my line?"

I continue to tune out the rest of the act as I drift away into sleep, thinking about that moment with Ryuuzaki earlier. I close my eyes and tilt my head off to the side. I'll just sleep for a while... In no time I'm on the border of dreams and reality. I can mostly hear what's going on around me, but I also hear the random voices in my head that will soon construct I dream I may or may not remember. First I hear my mom's voice for a second, then back to Misa... then lighter voices that belong to children; I feel like I've heard them before. Then as everything goes black, there are only two.

'...I have to leave.'

'But I want you to stay...'

'I'm sorry, but it's not something very safe.'

'Eh?'

'Watari will show you. You and many others, what exactly I do.'

'You can't tell me yourself, L?'

~"It would be bad enough to be killed by Kira, but to die at the hands of an opportunist pretending to be Kira would really grate." - L~

I wake up and find myself back downstairs, laying on the couch by the glass stairs. Ryuuzaki and Light had their usual spots as well; Light sitting across and Ryuuzaki right next to me. Did they carry me down here? How long did I make them stay here? Did I mess up work!? At least Light has a laptop with him. I lift myself up with my arms and rub my eyes, still feeling a bit tired. And whatever dream I had is tossed out the window; I have no recollection of anything. All I know is that whatever it was, was something... something I should know. And Ryuuzaki triggered it. I should ignore that for now and focus on the task at hand and not at what Ryuuzaki wants me to think.

"Finally awake?" Light asks.

"Yeah." I answer. "For how long?"

"A while. Don't worry; Misa finished everything around evening so all we had to do is take you down here."

I sigh in relief. "So I didn't interfere with anything?" I ask and rub the crick in my neck. "Me being asleep?"

"Not at all." Ryuuzaki answers. I look around the room to find that everyone's here except for Misa and Mogi.

"Where's Misa-san?" I ask.

"They left; already in the middle of Yostuba's interview."

"Oh, I hope she does well..."

"So, did you sleep well?"

Damn you. "Yeah, but I'm still a little tried."

"Stop complaining." Light jokingly scolds. I grin and lie back down.

"Never." I mumble, and attempt to dose off. Yet after a while, just as I'm completely relaxed, it's ruined.

"Wo~w!" Matsuda exclaims. I hear the chair wheels rolling back. "MisaMisa is really taking long!"

~

The front doors open.

"Ya~y!" I hear Misa's voice cheer, which causes me to sit up. She drags her feet across the floor over to Light and sits on his lap. "I'm sooo tired."

"So how was it?" Ryuuzaki asks. Mogi answers.

"Yotsuba agreed to hire her."

"Glad to hear that."

"I gave them my cell number out to them and three of them already asked to meet me in private." Misa explains. She flips open her phone and shows Light.

"What!?" Matsuda screams.

"Now I can meet those who called and gather information, the plan worked like a charm!"

"No, we can't do that." Light says.

"Eh? Why not, we came this far!"

"If we continue like this, you'll be in danger. You can continue to work for them but from now on pretend you don't know anything about the second Kira or L." He makes her stand up from his lap. "Mogi will be your body guard and you'll just act as a model."

"That's...! If Light says so, I'll do it." So she'll really do anything he says... "I'm tired and I'll have to wake up early tomorrow so I'm going to sleep now."

"Huh? It's night?" I ask in confusion.

"Nope, I'm just being lazy!" When she reaches the doorway, she turns around and leans against it with a mischievous smirk on her face. "Light, aren't you going to sleep with me?"

"W-What are you saying Misa?" he asks.

"Oh, I know, that'll be after we catch Kira! Don't be so shy, Light!" She giggles and runs off. I find myself laughing as well.

"It's okay not to be shy, Light." Ryuuzaki teases.

"I'm not shy!"

"Why are you being so serious, Light? You don't have to shout."

"Nevermind..."

I laugh again, enjoying the funny moments. In fact, I'm trying to soak in every little bit of happiness I can when it comes around, because... I have a feeling that it will all end soon. "Misa-san seems to have no problem exploiting the status of you two... it probably does get annoying."

"Just a little." Light admits. "But she's okay. I'm just a little worried about her." I nod and yawn right after, realizing that I'm not close to still being awake.

"Ada," Ryuuzaki calls. I'm positive at first it's to try and trigger something again, but I'm surprised to see him sitting like a normal person. "You should go back to sleep." It takes me a second to realize what he's saying.

"On your lap? But..." I say and begin to blush; Light wastes no time to get back at us teasing him earlier and starts laughing.

"Aw, Ada-san, don't be shy."

"I'm not--!" I cut myself off and give him a dirty look. "Fine, you win." I crawl over a little to Ryuuzaki and poke him in the chest. "Just this one time."

"Hm." he shrugs.

Moments later, I'm dozing off with the comfort and warmth of Ryuuzaki right there with me. I don't even care about how it might have been embarrassing, in fact, it feels natural to be like this with him... Before this would have violated boundary I set up regarding personal space. Before the investigation I wouldn't have been able to laugh, smile, and engage in such a playful conversation for so long. I wouldn't have shared information that I thought would not have been accurate and have fulk confidence in it like I do now. And... I'm starting to remember some things I never thought about. Whatever it is, it appears that I don't want to know but Ryuuzaki wants me to.

Ryuuzaki, you've changed a lot about me; I've changed for the better. If whatever this is you're trying to do will help me, then I think I can trust you. I love you. After all of this, we can't die.

~

"I understand! Since I'm Kira, in order to make you believe I'll stop killing the criminals. And then you'll have to believe me and we'll get married!" the voice plays through Misa's cellphone.

So he...is Kira? I think with my jaw dropped in surprise. "Misa-san, you... you're brilliant!"

"Thank chu~!" She winks. "And so that's how it is! Higuchi Kyousuke is Kira!"

"Take your soul? What, is that something you humans come up with? Tch, I'm not doing anything to you. The moment that notebook arrived in the human world, it became human property. That notebook is yours." -Ryuk ~

Later that night, after figuring out exactly who Kira is, there's no way for me to sleep. The moment I'm confident that Light is sleeping, I speak up with a soft whisper. I only have to make sure that I myself can hear my words because I'm leaning on Ryuuzaki's shoulder, and his head is resting on mine. If we're any louder than that it could risk waking Light. "Ryuuzaki, I want to catch Higuchi as soon as possible. I want all of this to be over..."

"You sound impatient for this despite not minding the most time-consuming tasks." he replies in a voice just as low as mine.

"Because I don't want us to stay in danger. I want this to end and us be safe; and admit it, no other case will be able to top this one." I explain, already seeing a future with him. "When we catch Higuchi, we catch Kira..."

He doesn't respond.

"Ryuuzaki, I..." I falter for just the slightest moment. Say it, I tell myself. "I love you." I bury my face in the crook of his neck. "I love you, Ryuuzaki. Let's catch Higuchi already."

"Ada..." I lift my head up and look at him, anticipating his response. "You think Higuchi is Kira?"

Any hope I felt of him saying those three words back vanishes, and I find myself frowning. "What? Of course he is, Misa-san proved it..."

"Light, is Kira. Did you forget that?" he avoids my eyes and completely turning his head to face mine.

"I... didn't." Guilt is the only emotion I can feel right now.

"Liar. I saw it in your eyes yesterday, especially when Misa proved that Higuchi was Kira's proxy." Even though it's just almost a whisper, there's an icy feel in his words. "You let yourself get too attached, Ada."

Did I let myself get so attached that I forgot who the enemy was? Did I really think of the real Kira as my friend...? Did I forget that Misa-san kills with a glance at the face? Dammit... I almost feel a physical pain in my stomach when realization hits me. I grew attached to those murdurers, and I may feel horrible with executing them... Wait. I confessed to Ryuuzaki and all he has to say is that I messed up!? Just from wanting to be with him!? He didn't even say it back... three words I was certain he would say...

I can't find a way to reply reasonably; I suddenly don't have the energy to argue "I'm sorry I have emotions, Ryuuzaki."

"Me too." I can't be mad at him for that, I know I'm rendered a bit useless at the moment: it's just the cold truth.

I scoot away and lean back onto the couch and turn my head opposite from him. It's true, you let yourself get soft. I scold myself, and bite my lip. Damn, why does this hurt? I almost wanted to... cry.

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Yo~ minna.

Long time no see, I know. Yes, you can pretend murder me over the Internet for taking like what an eternity hiatus. But right now it's nearly 4:00am here so I'll just say I can not even begin with how to thank those who have been patient...and even I know what it's like waiting anxiously like that for a long time (Wattpad story-related wise).

And yes, yes I did make Ada a bit of a Tsundere but please please please PLEASE believe me when I say I planned that from the very beginning...and I had no idea what Tsundere or Yandere was at that time...so when I finally learned about Tsundere I was just there like: "Well... okay, coin-ci-den-ce... O.o"

Admit it, you've had crazy coincidental moments like that from anything in your life before, nē?

Again, thank you all for your patience and here's the long awaited (I'm guessing by most fans of this story) chapter 21.

And for the next chapter only, to make it feel easier to read and so some readers may be able to have it just flow through their minds easier, Raito will be refered to with the spelling "Light-kun" or just "Light". If you guys want, I can go back and change it to that if you prefer...I just like Raito better for some reason XD

~Azari

(P.S. Yeah, there's no next chapter preview :3 It's 4:00am and I'm done for tonight. Oyasumi!)

In a futile attempt to meet a decent word count, your author will now begin a satirical rant on her old, child-like author's notes. She will keep them there to give any new readers an idea on how it used to be. And now the rant:

SHUT UP. SHUT UUUUP.

"ONLINE MURDER ME" IMMA MURDER YOU NOW IF THAT WASN'T CONSIDERED SUICIDE. OR MURDICIDE. WHATEVER.

FUCKING TSUNDERE YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH LITTLE GIRL YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE AND I WOULD KNOW BECAUSE I WAS YOU. STOP TRYING TO SOUND COOL WITH THE RANDOM JAPANESE AND OBVIOUS AS FUCK "COINCIDENCES" TO MAKE YOURSELF COOLER.

WHY THE FDUCK DID YOU MAKE IT RAITO INSTEAD OF LIGHT?

"Because Raito is how they pronounce it in Nippon land desu~!"

FUCK. YOU.

YOU LIVE IN 'MURICA LAND AND GUESS WHAT YOU SPEAK ENGLISH. AND EVEN THE CREATORS INTENDED FOR THE

ENGLISH

WORD

LIGHT

TO BE HIS NAME. SO SHUT UP. OH MY GOD. WHY MUST THIS STORY REPRESENT ME. WOE IS ME, RANT RANT RANT, I'M WASTING MY TIME ON THIS WEBSITE.

I COULD FOCUS ON GRADES AND PICKING COLLEGES, BUT NOOO, I FIND ENJOYMENT FROM BEING IN THIS SITE.

YOU'RE TEARING ME APART, LISA.

ARESGSF.... I... I can't. I can't find anything else to say. I've exaggerated everything I could think off. I tried to reach three thousand words and I can't. Good night. Happy 2872 words.

.

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*And actually, you've hit 3417 words, darling~