I had decided to take a walk today; Natsuki-Sama was worried because I had been hauled up in my room for the past couple of days. Even when my acceptance letter from To-Oh came I couldn't truly bring myself to care. I guess coming to terms that I couldn't stop Light with the friend-pleading-friend role was hard for me, that and I would have to think of a better plan that ends with no one dead. If I could manage that. The sky was gloomy today and I think in a way it was mocking me. I sighed and checked my pocket watch. 3:19. Three plus one is four plus nine is thirteen. I felt myself relax and I rubbed my eyes, my umbrella dangled on my wrist and annoyingly bumped into me every time I moved. There wasn't that many people out today which was honestly a surprise seeing as Kyoto is pretty busy all the time.

I stopped and looked up into the gray sky. I could smell the moisture in the air as it stuck to my face. I bet I stuck my tongue out I could taste it.I smiled and remembered an old nursery rhyme my grandmother told me once-upon-a-time. I mumbled it quietly, trying not to attract more attention to myself than was necessary.

"Little Willie, dressed in sashes, fell in the fire and burned to ashes. After a while the room grew chilly but no one wanted to poke up Willie." I murmured and chuckled just a tad. I felt something boring into my back and turned to the window of what I thought was a store. Dark wide eyes stared at me unblinkingly, dark bags hung beneath them and it took everything in me not screech, in fact I'm surprised I even kept a straight face. He was hunched over in his seat; seeming to not even care that me, a complete stranger, locked gazes with him. I flinched and looked up as lighting tore through the sky, I stepped back as rain started to drizzle and slowly become a heavy downpour. I decided, hesitantly, to go inside what I now saw was a Café. It smelled sickeningly sweet and everything was disgustingly bright. I like color as much as the next person but this place was downright weird when it came to the décor.

I took a seat not too far from his perch in the booth next to the window. A girl I recognized from my class ran up to me, a notepad and pen in hand. She was one of those girls that always seemed to be smiling but I could tell, as my vision flashed red, that her numbers were fluctuating as if she couldn't decide anymore if she wanted to just end it all. Her work uniform was bright and I was beginning to wish my vision would just stay red, at least then everything would be in shades of red and white.

I told her my order and she skipped away but as my vision went red again I could see that at least a year was permanently gone off her life span. 'Good' I thought. 'Now at least some of her numbers are prime' I held down the smile that was tugging at the edge of my lips. Now back to the man who was still staring me down, I hadn't thought of a way to get on his good side yet. In fact I didn't even think I was going to get a chance to meet him without Light being there. I doubt L would even trust me at all. I wonder if I looked suspicious….. I was just wearing a dark green shirt and a pair of jeans that was scratched up at the knee and a simple pair of black shoes. My hair was in a low ponytail and was bushy beyond belief, it was hard finding a hair dresser that could take my mane of hair and make it into something presentable. Even being bushy it was still the longest I've ever seen it. Maybe I do look suspicious…probably like a creep. I gave a dry chuckle and looked over at L. He was openly staring me down and it was slightly disconcerting to say the least. He had his thumb poised in front of his mouth, relentlessly nibbling on it.

I brought my thumb to my mouth and gently touched the teeth to the nail and looked at him wide eyed. He blinked and tilted his head to the side, probably wondering if I was mocking him, which at this moment I actually was. I tilted my head even more than he did, seemingly breaking my neck of which was long, sadly. He tilted his head the other way and as I tilted mine I heard a sharp crack, my vision flashed red and I gripped my neck. My face screwed in pain as I looked at him. He seemingly wore a smug look and I grumbled looking away with a blush on my cheeks. This is exactly what I get for mocking him, acting so childish, I'm older than that and…oh well I admit I had a bit of fun. I turned as the girl came back with my order. It was a simple slice of apple pie with a slice of a fresh apple on it. At one corner was a leaf and when I smelled it I recognized it to be sweet mint. I smiled and set it aside. I took small bites and enjoyed the sweetness and flakiness of the crust.

Suddenly I heard the scratching of a chair and looked up to see two bottomless pits of eyes staring me down and now closer than before. I jumped back and gasped, lodging a piece of pie in my wind pipe. I started choking, my eyes shut and banging on my chest repeatedly. I looked at L for a second, he was staring me down blankly, probably enjoying watching me choke to my death. I swallowed and gasped, I could feel how red my face was and the three other people in here looked at me as if I was going to die. I cleared my throat and asked him in an inquisitive tone.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes. You could start by telling me your name" he said it in English. The cashier looked in our direction, he looked nervous as if we were bad people. I didn't even know if I could speak in English anymore. My face contorted into confusion, not at all sure if I replied would it be in English. He continued on anyway.

"You purposefully sat close to me and went about copying my movements. I assume you know me?" the way he phrased it was a question but I knew he was stating a fact. I had to play dumb, had to not lead him, let him know I was on his side….or was this opportunity I needed? I picked up my fork and continued to eat the tasty pastry set before me and continued to talk to him.

"I don't know you, I just thought you were funny is all" I said not meeting his eyes. I took a bite and chewed slowly. My breathing was starting to pick up and I could feel the black acid starting to swirl in an almost calm whirl pool deep within my belly.

"I think you do know me. And from the way you were mocking my movements I assume you hold quite a bit of fondness toward me."

"You're delusional" I snapped. The calm whirlpool became violent waves of sticky blackness that was finding its way up my throat and sticking to the edges of my vision that was slowly tinting red.

"You're paranoid and need to be held up in a mental institute"

"Paranoid?"

"And a creep. Not to mention a pervert, I mean who walks around staring women down like they've never seen one before"

"A pervert? " I was losing my nerve and my hands were becoming clammy and were shaking. I suddenly realized I sounded like one Misa Amane. I looked at the lone apple slice and thought about the one clue Light had given L and perhaps if L had his own little weapon he could have brought Light down. The phrase echoed in my head. L was talking again but I paid him no mind.

"L, did you know,-"

"Gods of death love apples" I whispered, staring intently at the slice. I looked up and caught L's gaze. Compared to his normal stare he was now glaring me down in realization of what I had said. I pulled out some money and threw it on the table. L whipped out his phone and started dialing a number hastily. I got up and went to get the hell out of there when the inky blackness exploded into my mouth. I coughed and felt something splatter on my hand that I had brought up to cover it. I looked and saw it, that dark inky blackness that reflected a deep red in the light. I was hit with a wave of vertigo and I gripped the table to balance myself. L got up and went to take my wrist and twist it behind my back.

I flung my arm away and coughed more black acid. My vision was red and from the inhale I heard come from L my eyes was now red. I ran towards the door, L running after me. As I opened the door the acid black burnt my mouth with a copper so hot that it came out in a torrent of bubbling liquid. I coughed and gagged and immediately the few people out and about in the down pour avoided being hit. L grabbed me by the hair and I screeched and elbowed him in the face.

"Don't touch me !" I said. The rain was now coming down in a torrent. My cloths stuck to my body uncomfortably. I looked at L hard. He was now nothing but shades of dark red and white. The numbers above his head glowed white and ticked down steadily. L looked at me and I felt as though my whole world would end right here. My back ached and my vision flashed white. The next thing I knew I was sprawled out on the concrete, staring at the sky. L looked down on me, I could see that he had flipped his phone close and his fluorescent numbers started to go up. The seconds still ticked down but the months and then years started to climb. Then they started to flicker. Then he started to flicker. And before I knew it I was out like a light. But deep in the recess of my mind the nursery was sung by an aging voice from so many years ago and I could hear the crackle and splinter of wood.

Little Willie,

dressed in sashes,

fell in the fire and burned to ashes.

After a while the room grew chilly

but no one wanted to poke up Willie.

"Mommy?"

.

.

.

I woke with a start, my heart was racing and a cold sweat dotted my brow. For a second I contemplated where I was and realized I was laid out on something soft. My hair was damp and frizzed wildly everywhere and some of it stuck uncomfortably to the side of my face. The pillow I laid upon was incredibly soft but the bed was uncomfortably stiff. I moved and heard a few of my vertebrae pop and everything eased. My eyes fluttered as sweet relief flushed over me. I realized that I wasn't wearing pants and come to think of it has my bed always been this hard?

I looked up and found myself in an unfamiliar room. I suddenly recalled what had happened and cursed. I got up and heard a clinking sound as my wrist moved to support me. What I saw was enough to make me pull at my ruffled hair.

A fucking cuff was wrapped securely around my wrist and the chain was extended to have the other cuff attached to the bed post. My shoulders sunk and I saw that my legs that were now folded under me were covered by a striped pair of boxers that stopped mid-thigh. My top was covered by a -if you can believe it- white long sleeved shirt. I rubbed the fabric of the shirt between my fingers.

"It's soft" I thought. But back to the situation at hand, I was cuffed to a bed in what most likely is a hotel room. First thing first, I needed to get free. I grabbed the cuff and tried to squeeze my hand through. I winced at the thought that flickered through my head when my hand couldn't squeeze out. I grabbed my hand and closed my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable pain of breaking the joints inside of my hand and snapping my wrist when the door suddenly opened.

And in walked Watari, in the flesh.