Chapter 31

I woke from the sound of the plane landing on the ground.

Blinking a few times, I sat up, staring at the difference of culture in the night sky of Shanghai. It was so beautiful.

Lights decorated the tall buildings, each one of them shining its own brilliance in the night sky. I marvelled at the height and structures of the houses before Felix cleared his throat, forcing me to look at him.

"You passed out for 5 hours," his eyes searched mine with worry before pushing his blond hair back. "Are you feeling well enough to meet the young master of Red Dragons?"

I nodded mutely before turning back to the window, reminiscing about my past life of visiting this country. Memories of the food flooded back into my mind as we stood up from our seats, huddling towards the exit.

"About the inventors you have written on the paper," Felix brought up as we stepped out, red and white lights filled the area as my eyes landed on a smug face of Anthony. Did he come and pick us up? My eyes trailed down to the building that this jet landed on.

No...

Was this his cooperation?!

"I'll handle it so don't worry," Felix finished before Anthony stepped forwards, greeting us pleasantly in Chinese along with his bodyguards who saluted passionately towards us.

I replied to the gesture, turning to the cartload of gifts that were in the storage of the plane and adding that I hoped he and his family would enjoy it. He scrunched up his nose before chuckling, extending his hand like a gentleman and led us into the building.

"So I heard that you'll be teaching me skills during my stay?" I giggled once we passed the first floor of the company, the elevator taking us down towards the 7th floor.

"Well, you said you were interested in Archery," Anthony smirked before leaning close to me. "I still have to pay you back for that debate."

"Then please go easy on me, Anthony." I gave a small snicker before whispering back. He grinned mischievously before shrugging as if he would consider my proposal.

"Will do, Alyona. Will do."

Dinner with his family was quite enjoyable. Being trained by professionals had guaranteed a quick 90% pass on their society's rules. Food came to me in a more familiar form than a surprising one. No doubt about it, Chinese food was advanced, unlike Japanese food that was based on fish.

Chinese was more about pork and meat, sprinkled up with designs of green vegetables and unique sweets. It was actually over dinner that Anthony's father brought up the contract, shocking both Anthony's mom and his siblings at the table.

I laughed it off and said there was no problem discussing it over dinner, and his father looked at me as if I had talked in the same alien language that he did. And so, during my first day in Shanghai, China, the terms and policies were discussed over some stir-fried noodles and signed over some steamed buns.

His father was surprisingly agreeable and chill, unlike the average Chinese person who I've met in my past life. The mother was much more traditional but was extremely pleased when I brought in big brands of purses as her gift.

Anthony's siblings were quite nonexistent during the whole time we ate. It must have been one of their traditions, where only the victor or the eldest could talk at the dining table. Anthony had 8 siblings in total, being the 5th in line, yet with his genius talent, he was the heir to the group.

His siblings, in particular, the eldest brother grimaced every time Anthony spoke, eyeing him with the sunken eye before smiling brightly at me when we locked eyes. He was the typical greedy elder brother who knew nothing but how to kiss someone's ass. I returned a flippant smile each time before turning back to my speaking partner, which was Anthony.

Anthony was...Anthony. The smug kid who was both competitive and stubborn. Once he had heard about my improvement in dancing, he immediately challenged me to a dance competition right after dinner. I took that challenge, smirking and saying that if I won, he would have to buy me anything I wanted during my 15-day stay.

Nevertheless, after dinner, we both sweated to our cores. It was a tie.

I couldn't understand.

Sure, he had practiced for more than 7 years in his life, yet I was a full-grown adult who knew how to twist my body to make my steps confusing yet elegant. He was bold, showy, yet so resourceful at the same time.

Kids these days.

I clicked in annoyance in my mind.

They're way too talented.

Both Felix and Anthony's mother applauded us for our cooperation, his mother passing off a sly comment about how Chinese I was, more than Japanese. I smiled at her, telling her that I was actually from a Chinese orphanage, which was why I was so accustomed to Chinese traditions. I was shipped off to Japan during my 7th year of living, which was why my western papa found me in Japan.

The glint in her eyes almost made me sweat, knowing that her eyes were the eyes of a mother who found the perfect wife candidate for her son. I didn't mind of course, it was the whole reason why I perked Anthony's interest.

It was a busy day for all of us, Felix being extremely pleased with the fact that the contract was signed during the first day. He even took a public plane and headbutted out of this place, leaving me and 12 bodyguards and my extra designers for the rest of the 14 days.

I had to laugh at the speed he took off, sinking into my bed for the first time in this life in another country.

In the morning, I was surprised that the men in the household had moved out to the archery grounds. Anthony's mother and I dined together, drinking our Chinese teas and the specially ordered milk tea for me.

She smiled sweetly when she asked me about what I knew in the roles of Chinese marriage. After gulping down my dim sum dumplings, I replied without even batting an eyelash.

"It is the men that take care of the job. It is the women, who look after the family, and make it so that the husband is satisfied with the house."

The mother grinned brilliantly as she nodded, teaching me more about the culture and the ways of marriage. Although they were mafia, they were also one of the most influential families in the country. This had surprised me, since, in Japan, the underground was not able to reach the surface and interfere with the citizens because of their crimes and dirty ways.

"In China, money is power," She said as she sipped her tea, rising up and ordering her servants to lead us to Anthony's archery class. I raised my eyes at the fact, thinking that this country would be perfectly suitable for the wealthy, yet extremely unfair for the poor.

But it made sense.

If the poor had no desire to fight it, they were not worth having rights.

We walked with quiet chatterings, the mother seemed to favour me more and more by the moment. We stopped in front of a glass panel, Anthony standing dashingly with his comfy gym clothes and holding his bow and arrow.

After a couple of bull eyes, he turned around in surprise to find me grinning up at him and waving.

"Alyona, you wanna give it a try?" He held up the bow and dangled it in front of me before I smirked, taking the weapon and aiming at the target. Anthony stood behind me, guiding my hands with his arms and positioning my stance into the beginner stance. While I felt comfortable touching his body, it suddenly made me remember the jolts of electricity between Light and I.

My concentration slipped.

"Close!" Anthony whistled before flamboyantly grabbing another bow, aiming it and shooting the bullseye just to show off. I pouted, aiming for the second target before hitting the corner of the outside circle.

Well, I was improving, at least.

My third shot was way off, this time I was scrutinizing at the bow, thinking that there was something wrong with it. Anthony snickered at my puckered face before proposing his help. I refused out of spite.

It was on my fourth shot that I noticed there was air in this room. Not any air, but wind.

Gaping at the fact, I turned my almond eyes to glare at Anthony who was wiggling his eyebrows and calling me dimwitted.

I showed him a bullseye on my sixth shot.

His jaw dropped.

I smirked.

The next day I spent the whole afternoon with Anthony as he showed me around the city, paying at each stall that I showed interest in.

Char siu, dongpo pork, tea eggs, mooncakes, sachima, shaobing, youtiao, cong you bing, mochis...I ordered them all.

Surprisingly, he was extremely kind and paid for everything I ate. He even suggested that I check out the shopping markets and that he'd pay for my expenses. I dragged him from shop to shop, marvelling at all the clothes that I picked and him clapping in awe at how every single piece of outfit actually looked good on me.

I slapped his shoulder playfully at his rude comment and he laughed at my childishness.

The days in China went by so quickly that I was almost getting too used to staying in Shanghai. The glint in the mother's eyes told me that she had successfully achieved her goals when she saw me reluctant to leave.

"我的姑娘, 你总是可以过来的," she patted my shoulders and told me that I could always come back to Shanghai and spend my vacations there. Anthony waved goodbye as I sat in my private jet, waving in return.

It was fun and easy.

So fun that I almost forgot about the Death Note.

There was no challenge while being with Anthony.

Was that a good thing?

A frown appeared on my face as the plane started to lift from the ground making my head race in turmoil. How much did the plot advance in my absence? Was it even intact?

Had Light met Misa yet?

The frown on my face deepened at the thought, knowing that the clingy girl did not have a good ending despite being so attached to my brother.

In the end, anyone who came in contact with the Death Note, would not have a happy ending. Yet that was only if they did not work with the bigger picture. A single person could not become God, you needed a group of people to push you into that position.

I closed my eyes and waited for the broadcast to announce my arrival at my destination.

It was around 5:40 pm when I arrived on the ground, Felix beaming at my entrance as he opened the door of the car for me.

"So how did the names I told you to get, go?" I asked nonchalantly as we passed countless houses, each of them had cute triangular tops, unlike the high ended China. Japan was definitely more on the cuter and traditional side of Asia while China was more modernized. Felix shrugged before checking the time on his watch.

"I booked an interview with Bill Gates. For the other three, I have an assistant still locating them."

I nodded at his words before he asked about my trip.

"All according to plan," I said. "Anthony is quite shaken with me, not really in a romantic way, but as a buddy."

"Don't worry about that, his mother will do most of his view change on you," Felix's lips twitched as we pulled up to the nearest station to my house.

"He's her puppet, alright." I nodded quietly before stepping off with a prepared suitcase in Felix's hands. I stared at it before taking it reluctantly.

"Souvenirs from China, small gifts that seemed to be purchased by a 15-year-old girl. Hand them out as proof." Felix nodded as he waved goodbye and I gave my thanks, heading off in the direction of my house. It was no discrete thing, but the dress I wore was the one that Anthony purchased for me in China.

It was a more modern-day get-up than the traditional robe they had. Black stockings with a black mini skirt along and a red turtleneck sweater that had gaps to show off my shoulders. My new high heel boots clicked on the ground as I walked along the empty sidewalk, seeing a short silhouette in the distance come out from my house. I squinted.

Blonde pigtails, a puffy dress, thin and visible collarbone-

I gasped.

She gasped.

"Light's sister?!"

I gasped wider.

"Amane Misa?!"

The power of PLOT!

"Oh my gosh! Light's sister! Misa is so glad Misa met you before we missed each other!" She squealed and rushed over to me, grabbing both of my hands and shaking them with all her energy. I almost cringed at the use of her third pronoun.

"Oh my gosh, Misa Amane! I am so honoured to meet you!" I squealed with equal energy, jumping up into the air as she joined.

Fuck this! It's time to reveal my hidden bunny personality!

"I never knew Light's sister was my fan!" Misa blinked her deep eyes widely before I grinned, squeezing her hands softly. No, I haven't read your magazines, but if you want to think that I'm your fan, then go ahead.

"Wait, how do you know Light...?" I trailed off deliberately, hoping that she would reveal being Light's girlfriend so that I could flatter her in the most dramatic way possible. Misa ducked her head around, looking in the streets for any people before pulling out her Death Note and tapping me with it. I gawked at her actions.

What-what-what-

You're taking out a mass murder weapon in the middle of the streets just to gain my trust?!

A shinigami started to morph in the air, the long skeletal appearance became even more clearer in the moonlight and his spinal cord echoed long enough to show the insides and spider-like body it had. The Death God wore a bandage over his right eye, staring back at me with his yellow vertical slits with pursed-up purple lips.

"This is Rem!" Misa introduced as the Death God blinked at me with contempt.

"Misa, I don't think Light would like it if you showed the Death Note to a random human." Rem's female voice murmured through the air before Misa gasped.

"Oh! Misa didn't think about that! But Rem, Sayu already knows about the Death Note!" Misa giggled childishly before sliding her book into her carry pack.

How did she know that I had come into contact with the Death Note- oh right, her eyes probably didn't show my lifespan.

I, too, thought that it would not have been wise to show me the Death Note...but, oh well.

"Um, hello, I'm Sayu Yagami." I bowed deeply to God, wanting to facepalm Misa's actions. Rem said nothing, only giving me a slight nod before turning her face and floating closer to Misa.

"So Misa, er, can I call you that?" I peered curiously into her doe eyes as she bobbed her head up with excitement.

"Yes! Yes! Of course! In the future, we won't have titles like 'sister-in-law' to make our relationship stranger!" Misa tapped her hands together before clicking her lolita boots. Finally! Cue my flattery!

"You're Light's girlfriend?!" I put on my most dramatic expression and suddenly hugged her, smelling the scent of musk that resembled Light's smell. "Finally, Light finally has a cute girlfriend!"

I started outright sniffing with watery eyes like a father seeing his own daughter get married to a young man. Shaking her hands up and down, I brushed away a comedic tear.

"Please take care of Light, Misa! I will place him in your hands! Only your hands!" I extended my arms in the middle of the road to exaggerate my emphasis. I remembered that Misa was a bit of a yandere, directly threatening my brother to kill off all girls near him...too bad she didn't know of my special existence.

Misa looked surprised at my words before her expression flushed into pure happiness.

"Oh! Sayu, you are so nice! Misa cannot even thank you!" Her feathery voice sighed in disappointment after thinking about my brother. "If only Light was that open with Misa!"

"Oh, don't worry," I started as Rem reminded Misa about the last train or something. "Light is a bit cold-hearted because all his past relationships ended with the girl bothering him."

I brushed it off as I offered to walk her to the station. She gladly accepted as Rem quietly observed me from behind.

"Misa will be his last one, so don't worry!" Misa hummed as she bounced on her feet, carrying us to the station. Of course you will, he'll be needing your eyes.

"Definitely!" I agreed by placing my hands over my heart. "Misa, tell me anything I can do to support you and Light! I will do my best to help you! Light needs you as much as he needs food!"

We both burst out laughing before she reached the station, hugging me tightly before waving goodbye. After she left, the smile on my face instantly disappeared.

Covering my eyes with my hand, I pressed my face into my cold fingers, sighing in frustration.

Misa, Misa, Misa. Can't you be more careful?

I legit started to fake cry from the ironic situation I was in.

Bruh, when Death Note finally has a heroine...She turns out to be-

I gestured to Misa's appearance in my mind.

Sniffing my red eyes, I looked up at the sky, blinking rapidly before turning to my house.

She was so easy to manipulate that even with my mock act, she took it seriously. I made a face of disgust. Please, Misa, why couldn't you have been born with a brain?

But then again, I was somehow quite talkative today with my own preferences...

I had been making snarky comments from the moment I met Misa, which was a bit strange. Was it because I had to act hyper which caused my inner sarcastic self to burst into colour? Was it because I had too long of a break that it made my head spin with too much euphoria? Or was it because...

I hesitated before turning back in the direction of my house.

No, it couldn't be.

I heard that jealousy was a thing between girls, yet I wasn't even worried about Misa taking Light. Hell, I didn't even favour Light anymore than a stepping stone and a toy for me to play yoyo with.

Dread started to fill my arms, making them heavy as lead as I thought about that possibility.

No, it's definitely not.

It's not.

My steps faltered before I felt a cool breeze of wind behind my back.

I cannot fall here. I repeated.

I cannot fall in any way possible.

He was nothing to me but a fool.

Author's note:

I had a hard time...writing Misa's dialogues.

Not because I couldn't grasp her personality, but because of her "Misa is me! Misa is Misa!" Third profile mention.

I had to edit her dialogues 3 times, each time catching a place where I spelled "I" instead of "Misa."

Oh Misa, why are you Misa?

Also, what do you do when you lose passion for something? I like, am having this problem right now: started with this fanfic with bubbling excitement....Now I'm just like: (O_o)