CHAPTER 10: APPLES

Deep brown eyes stared past the curtain wall that covered a side of that room. It was a nice day: clear skies, temperate climate, and sunlight scattered instead of causing uncomfortable glares. It was why the curtains were open, to take advantage of the weather and allowing the daydreaming students to appreciate the view.

Light was not exactly daydreaming, but he certainly wasn't listening to his professor either. Looking out the glass, his eyes followed the slow movements of the leaves. They were falling slowly, but it was using their dimensions to seemingly delay the effect of gravity.

Just like L, he thinks. See? They even started with the same letter.

However, gravity was strong and air resistance could only do the leaf that much good. Inevitably, gravity would win. The leaf would fall to the ground… and will eventually be crushed by people who'd be walking that path.

It was then that a sigh came over him, and he managed to muffle it enough so that no one could hear. A couple of days that had passed since that… day… and Light continued to wonder if it was finally time to take her life. She was certainly making it easier for him to imagine finally doing so.

But if he did kill her right then, everything would be too easy and even he looked for a challenge. The fact that it could be a trap barely even weighted in his mind that day. Challenges were fun for him, and L and Lawliette certainly provided him with that—whether or not they truly were the same person. In fact, at the moment, they were the only people who could give them that.

The particular challenge was to erase any hint of belief inside her head that he was Kira; he would wipe away the every inch of doubt. But he knew her stubbornness was noteworthy; it might even be on par with his own. And a corollary to that challenge would be to make her trust him completely.

He also knew he wanted more than that.

…simply because he liked hard challenges. And hard challenge was not redundant. It was an accurate term to describe his current endeavour.

Indeed. He, Yagami Light, would make her fall for him. The deeper the better – and when she did that would be the time to get rid of her. And if what she was saying was true, then that meant he'll be completing two challenges at once having the pleasure of sweet revenge along the way.

Only then could she truly pay for all the humiliation she—and L—had caused him.

It had been a few days now, but there was still no progress. After he was (rejected), he backed off for a few days for many reasons. One was to compose himself, and the other as some sort of formality. They both know he wasn't really the aggressive type, and if he moved too much she may deduce what he was trying to do.

So there they were, acting all normal in front of the two people who everyone thought was always admirable. But to his eyes, they were just two prying and annoying people he'd also consider ridding the world of.

Especially Rokko.

It was after that class when the four of them met by chance. "So just to be sure you two are not an item?" he asked rudely pointing a finger at them in alteration. He smirked and joked inappropriately. "Light-kun actually got friend-zoned…"

"Hiru!" Takada yelled whilst he remained impassive for the whole time. Rokko scratched his head in embarrassment. He idiotically didn't notice that he said that out loud.

"Ahaha. Gomen, gomen."

Really… he should be more careful at what comes out that huge mouth of his. Light was already considering writing his name on the Death Note. Now, he's thinking of very painful cause of deaths.

"Ne, Light, I want an apple." Ryuk commented out-of-nowhere, as if sensing whatever he was tempted about. He sent him an imperceptible glare, and the Shinigami just grinned. "You look like you'd want a bite, too. Ge-he."

...

One time, during one of their breaks, Takada asked Lawliette to come with her to the rest room. She said something about how normal it was for girls to go to the rest rooms together to the point that it was almost a rule. Lawliette didn't fully understand why that was so, but then there were a lot of 'rules' in society that didn't really make sense other than being excessive demonstrations of camaraderie.

This one, though, probably had something to do with the closeness and privacy women want to have as they talked to each other. She found a slight smile climb up her face at that thought. Close, she repeated internally. She and Takada were close friends now, right? That's really good since Takada was her first female friend.

When they arrived, the two started talking about Politics and Philosophy. Yes, in the rest room. Takada had started getting used at the oddness of situations when she was with Lawliette, and she didn't mind. Takada noted that Lawliette was like a guy in the sense that they would let her speak all she wanted. The only difference was that Lawliette actually understood what she was saying…

It was good thing Takada was smart, otherwise she'd pick topic Lawliette wouldn't understand, especially a topic that the other girl wouldn't see the point of talking about. Lawliette didn't speak much though, she only commented when she had to. She was never talkative, anyway.

But then, to Takada's surprise, Lawliette soon blurted out things that Takada recalled as an issue very much connected to their lesson in Philosophy earlier that day – a subject which Lawliette so graciously slept through. Although… considering the subject, her sleeping in Seiza position really made her looked as if she was just meditating.

"If you have someone you care about… just to what extent will you adjust your integrity?"

Takada stared at Lawliette, whilst the latter was in her own world. She was thinking about how well she knew it—that she could send Light to his execution if she proved that he was, indeed, Kira. For she knew that Kira was gifted with a brilliant mind, too, and it was inevitable he would affect people. And it worried her that there may be much more victims than she had feared. Whoever Kira may be, heart-attack or not, he will be putting more and more people to their dooms.

"I don't know. I'm sure I will keep my dignity." Takada answered, despite being unsure herself. "Let's just hope I never get into such a position." She paused. "Are you and Light really not dating?"

"Hai," was all she replied, not particularly knowing how it got there. Kiyomi looked at the mirror and then to her curiously.

"What do you think about Rokko?"

"He's a good friend and fun to be with, I suppose…" Lawliette answered frankly and threw the question back. "What about you and Rokko?"

"Where did that come from?"

"I don't know. You're questions, Takada-san, are also rather random."

Takada blushed. "I was just curious." She said and looked at herself and smiled. "Rokko and I? We're good friends."

"Sou?"

"Hai," Takada said with certainty, only adding: 'With benefits…' in her head.

"Takada-san?" She flinched. "What's the matter?"

"Hmn?"

"You were smiling."

"Eh? I was?"

"Hai." This time, it was Lawliette that smiled. "You two must be great friends. You must love him very much."

"A-Ah." Takada nodded reluctantly pushing down her blush. "Only as a friend though. I love someone else as a man."

Lawliette stared at her blankly, but for some reason Takada thought she had an idea of what she was speaking about. "Lawliette…" She asked, holding her hand in the process.

"What does Light like?"

..

TENNIS COURTS

the next morning

Creak

It was morning again in TODAI, and a small well-hidden frown was pasted on the freshman representative's face, especially as he entered the tennis court protected by metal wires.

It was the first thing in the morning, and he was dressed in a rather… sporty attire. Light was particularly alert that time, and he knew he had to be even more careful now… now that she seemed to be conducting some sort of odd tests. "Are you sure about this? I was a Junior Tennis Champion twice in the past…" he muttered feigning congeniality as he made tapped his racket with a palm.

"I'm not particularly bad, myself, Light-kun." She answered. Light knew she didn't go out much, considering her extremely pale skin, so that meant she must be playing inside her house. They were pretty rich... he thought. In any case, chances were: she shouldn't be that good.

Pak!

He ate those words the second they started.

His eyes were wide and slowly, he turned his head to where that intentional gust of wind—that so graciously passed a foot of him—headed to. And there it was: the tennis ball.

"O-Oi. Lawliette, have you ever heard of warming up?"

"She who attacks first always wins." She answered coolly, and he smirked.

'Is that so? Then let me disprove that.' He announced and dribbled the ball. He wouldn't let her have her second return ace, that was for certain.

Whoop

He threw the ball up, and with one swift motion of his upper body, a strong hit targeted the win.

...

They had a wonderful game. And he won, fortunately—No. 'fortunately' wasn't the correct term. It was 'understandably' or even 'expectedly'.

Sure, there had been a chance that he might have lost if she wasn't a girl, but it was still slim. Nevertheless, her performance was impressive. Really, Lawliette never had failed to disappoint him… even when it came to these types of trivial things. He didn't really understand what the point of that was, though – it could only prove that he wanted to win, like him, and pretty much everybody else.

This couldn't be some sort of ceremony on their 'friendship' either – something to tell everyone that they're buddies. They had been 'friends' for weeks now, after all. It had to mean something else –

His eyes widened slightly at a thought before forcing them back. Did she mean that she would fight back if she had to? He looked at her stoically.

Did she find out what he was planning?

.

But in the end, he shrugged. It was just another challenge he would inevitably overcome.

He heaved a sign and so did she, before she finally walked to the center of the court for the traditional handshake. He followed and smiled like the smile the usual Yagami Light would do.

His eyes twitched for the nth time as he watched that distracting tail of clothing. What was it with that scarf? She didn't take it off even as their game heated. Somehow he was starting to think that that scarf had an incredibly deep meaning for her and he didn't like it.

And didn't she know he—or anyone strong enough—could kill her even without using the death note with just that scarf? Given enough planning, he can definitely neutralize her self-defence skills with that scarf.

And as they shook their hands, everybody else cheered. No one approached them and they just looked at them without closing in as they exited the fenced court. Light knew they were revering them in the most lax sense of the word, while Lawliette had no idea. She was probably used to people avoiding her.

And soon, they were a few meters away from the crowd when two people ran to them. "S-Sugoi, you two! I didn't know you were that good!" It was Rokko with Takada following closely behind. "Well except when someone said you were actually a two-year Junior champion, Light."

"I've seen pros play, as you may know." Takada stated, assuming that everyone knows her father's a pro tennis player. "And you two can pass that level easily!"

Click!

They turned to where it was.

Click!

There it was again. But this time in a different direction. Lawliette narrowed her eyes but realized they were just students. "What's that?"

"Someone took a picture of us?"

"Well, we are a very popular group. Didn't you know?" Takada commented and Lawliette wiped her chin as if it had invisible mud in there somewhere.

"Hmn…"

"What is it?"

"…that explains those odd students in the bushes every lunch time…"

Silence

"What?!"

"That's just creepy."

"I guess." Lawliette shrugged. "I don't know what is so interesting, though—Oh. Yeah, the pictures could be a lot of money in the future."

"Well, it would be a bummer if we don't actually become famous though." Rokko said, willing himself not to comment about the fact that those people with camera may just as well be waiting for something else. He sighed. Now that he knew they have stalkers, he and Kiyomi would have to be more wary.

Well, maybe they wouldn't have to if those other two would actually look at them the way they wanted to.

What the heck was with them, anyway? They're emitting a type of atmosphere that he didn't even know. It was so obvious that they were… attracted to each other but to what degree – or maybe even to what type—was impossible to know with those two.

In any case, Lawliette looked at Light differently and who could blame her? But she was too interesting to pass out. Besides, Light already had Takada thinking of him every single minute of every day.

Maybe it was time to move.

And so, on their way to classes… Rokko asked her casually if she was free later that night. And to his surprise, Light was the one who answered for her.

"She isn't. We'll be going somewhere."

"Really?"

"Yeah. She'll be interrogating me."

"Pardon?" Rokko tilted his head and frowned. He shifted his gaze towards Lawliette who, to his dismay, nodded in confirmation.

"He's right, Rokko-san. Why do you ask, though?"

"N-Nothing. I just wanted to ask you out sometime… it has been a while since our last date."

"Oh."

Lawliette looked down and for a moment she wanted to agree. It had been a while since they hang out alone. But it brought about memories she didn't like: how she was out playing when people were dying. She only smiled at him sadly, and told him she'd inform him when they get the time.

Takada took the opportunity to back Light into a corner. "What about you, Light? It had been a while since we went out, too…"

"Like I said, Takada-san, Lawliette and I have some business to do."

"I see… then…" She looked around and pondered. "What about teaching me in English? We both know it's my worse subject. I have an exam in my last subject, too…"

"You got a 90, Takada-san."

"But not the 100 you two have." She stated. "I would have asked Lawliette, but Rokko told me he'd want her to seat-in during our next class because our professor's a huge fan of hers."

"What about you, though, Kiyomi-san?"

"We're not required to attend. Well, Rokko kinda needs to. There's just some exercises that will probably end up getting a take-home assignments, anyway. Rokko here has lots of connections. "

"Ah…"

"So, if that's alright with you Lawliette."

"I don't see why not." She smiled. "I'm interested to see that General Chemistry subject anyway."

"It's decided then!" Kiyomi grinned. Rokko nodded. Lawliette remained impassive.

And Light seriously wanted to punch Ryuk.

...

"kukukukukuku~"

Light glared. "Shut up you damned death god."

"Light-kun?" Takada smiled. "Here're my references. I'm particularly having trouble with chapter 10."

"I see." He said and took them before scanning. They were currently the backyard of the school, where they usually ate lunch, alone, when most of the other students were having lunch. As he read through the chapter he heard a crunch beside her and stared. Takada was suddenly holding an apple in a way that Light wanted to sigh about. Seriously, he mused, she should be more creative than this.

She pretended to be shy about his stare and extended her apple. "Want some?"

Ryuk was suddenly between them. "Light~ can I have it instead?"

"No, thanks." He said dismissively and quickly finished up his read-through and started telling her the main points.

It had been several minutes since they had started and Light could sense her irritating ogles. She said she was going to say something to him, and Light had an idea what she was trying to do. He was popular, but only a few girls really dared confess to him. Even then, he was a standard. Takada, apparently, was confident she'd be up to that.

Takada looked cool as usual but he could tell just how nervous she was. It was then that she bit her apple again and raised it in front of him. She took care to make the bite marks look clean. "It's really good."

"I'd rather have one that other people haven't touched, but thank you for the offer."

"Okay…" She smiled awkwardly before finishing it off as they studied. She then started shifting so that they were basically half a centimetre apart now. She leaned down as if to look at the book, and then raised her head to look at him to ask a supposedly innocent academic question.

Light had been aware of Takada's feelings and had pretty much deduced by much hidden clues her little flings with Rokko, he never thought she was this deluded.

Don't touch me.

"What are you doing?" he asked stoically as she seductively, placing a light hand on his chest. Light's frown deepened. Really though, he thought, who does she think she is?

But more importantly, who did she think he was – thinking he'd be affected by such low things. He's a god – such human impulses can't affect him. For most part. And now, with Takada, this situation easily slides to that category.

"Oh, what do you mean?" She asked separating. And he sighed internally.

Very unsightly for someone called 'Refined Takada'.

But as much as he wanted to get it straight with her, Light need not necessary enemies. She could be an asset in the future. It was wise to keep her clinging to hope.

So, he blushed.

"I…let's just study, okay, Takada-san?" He smiled. Her eyes widened and she blushed several shades of red.

"I'm no good with such proximity. I'm sorry." Do that again and you'll die in a freak accident. He then turned his eyes over to the shinigami hovering above them in anticipation.

"Aaappplless." Ryuk chanted. Light sighed.

'Ryuk. Using metaphors simply does not suit you.'

His eyes shifted to Takada who was then shyly playing with the left over apple on the ground. She looked happy, and he groaned mentally knowing he would have to ready himself for her next advances.

Well, in any case, they wouldn't be able to finish studying with her in that condition. "Apples." He said. "Where did you buy them?"

"Lawliette gave them to me." She paused.

"She said you liked them."