Well, it's been awhile. But it was my yearly Death Note binge and I actually have some time to write! The continuation is happening now!

Misa Amane, dressed in her usual attire and usual hair, walked to Headquarters with a robotic step. Her stomach churned with anticipation and worry. How was she going to handle today? How could she ever face Light, knowing his true intentions for her?

How could she have been so blind… to not know all of his promises were lies? He held is love out to her, and she followed, like a pig following a carrot hung on string. She held one hand within the other, her knuckles turning white; she couldn't believe how foolish she had been, blinded with love for a false idol.

"Time to put my acting skills to the test." She whispered to herself, jogging up the HQ steps, forcing a smile on her red painted lips. She buzzed the proper code and was let in instantly. She met the whole crew in their main hub, going her best not to stare at the back of L's head. Instead, she happily waved and smiled, have Matsuda a bear hug, and kissed Light on the cheek as he pulled away in what she assumed was disgust.

Misa looked to her left, seeing the large Shinigami offering a look of care; a look everyone else would assume to be indifference. Misa held a chilly hand to her heart, before walking forward, taking post on the swiveling chair beside the greatest detective.

"Any how are you today, Ryu? Everyone's been whispering about you, saying you've been quiet!" She leaned forward, resting her face in her hand. The detective refused to look at her, but she saw him rush to swallow his mouthful of cake for her.

"I'm rather distracted today, Misa. I'm quite exhausted and I seem to be hearing things." Misa leaned back and sighed, his voice laced with his usual tone and inflections.

"Perhaps you should take a rest, detective. Today is the day." Rem hummed, casual and cool as she so often was.

Misa widened her eyes at the Shinigami's comment. Today is the day. That wasn't a simple statement; today was the day Light was going to beat L.

The model couldn't stop the harsh, unladylike exhale of breath. She had known it would eventually come down to Light asking Rem to write both Watari and L's name in her Death Note, but it seemed so soon. She may only have hours to save L and she didn't even have an idea for a plan yet!

"Speaking of rests, its lunch! Let's get out of this room and head upstairs to eat!" Matsu, smiled as he stood, and the whole team murmured in agreement. All stood to leave, except L, who kept his perch, obviously more than happy with his cake.

"Aren't you coming, Misa-Misa?" Matsu asked. Misa watched Light ignore her existence, already half way up the stairs with the team.

"No, not today! I already had lunch, and I can't have two lunches, I'm trying to watch my figure!" She patted her thin stomach, waving the innocent detective a farewell.

"So… hearing things? What do you mean by that, Ryu? Are you going bonkers?" Misa laughed, trying to keep it light. She felt like if she could keep the odd man talking, she could keep the upper hand on the situation.

"I've been hearing bells. Which is nearly impossible, considering the thickness of the walls. But the roof is not far off. If there are bells, that's most likely where I can hear them. Then again," L began to mumble ", maybe I am going bonkers."

Silence infected them. L kept reading, scrolling, and typing; oblivious to the girl staring a hole in the side of his head. She couldn't blurt out that Light was Kira, that would immediately incriminate her as the second Kira in his eyes. She dropped her head against her arms, collapsing onto the computer desk.

'What am I to do? There's nothing I can say… I'm going to have to incriminate myself to save this man. But it's worth it… it is worth it as long as Light can never use another girl like he's used me.' Misa let her mind run wild. She pulled herself together, lifting her head to speak to L.

"Hey Ryu- huh?" L wasn't there. His cake was abandoned and his chair was swiveled backwards. How did he move without her noticing? Misa checked the surveillance cameras splayed in front of her, finding no trace of the man. As she was searching, her eyes fell on a shadowed figure, leaving through the roof window.

Misa was already running up the stairs, hoping L would still be there when she finally got there. She was out a breath and wheezing by the time she reached the roof, but she got there, and managed to bust through the door. There L stood, staring to the sky, sopping wet from the rain that must've started after she entered HQ.

"Hey!" She yelled, walking into the downpour with reckless abandon. She pulled her pigtails out to avoid any tangling, wrapping the elastics around her wrists. By the time she reached L's side, she was soaked, and had to force her hanging bangs away from her face.

"The bells. They're ringing. Can't you hear them?" He asked, giving Misa an off=handed glance.

"No… no, I can't. Where can you hear them from?" Misa replied, not able to see any of the building below through the rain.

"I think they're coming from a church. A wedding… a funeral. Something important; it's a three ring bell." L… sighed.

Misa took a moment to watch L, barefoot and soaked. He was looking into the sky, but just for a moment, because he let his eyes shut. His shoulders were hunched as usual, but not a hint of tension resided within them. His long, lanky hands were limp, his mouth was parted. Misa used the power of her eyes and glanced above his head.

L Lawliet, a man whose brain was always busy, was truly resting… he knew he was going to die today.

She felt privileged to be witnessing this moment.

So, she let him enjoy it a little more. Once his pale cheeks began to turn a light shade of pink, she tapped his shoulder.

"Come on, let's go inside. We're both wet, and I don't know about you, but I know a cold is on its way!" Misa dared to grab the man, clasping his hand in a gentle hold; damn, he was freezing. That pulled him from his reverie, his wide eyes looking down to their intertwined hands. L made no move to pull away, so Misa led him back inside the building and down the stairs to where her apartment once was.

She nabbed a couple of towels and met him in the stairwell. She tossed him one, and he nodded in thanks, tossing it over his dripping hair.

"If I get sick, I want you to take care of me!" Misa joked, offering her kind laugh. L gave, in return, his awkward smile.

"Getting sick is mind over matter. Think healthy and you will be."

"I'll have to try it!"

Again, the awkward silence took over. This time, L was the first to make the move. He perched himself at the top of the landing, patting the marble space beside him. Misa sat, peeling her wet sweater off her chilled skin, patting herself dry.

"You are being very kind to me today. The chance of you being the Second Kira has raised by three percent. The overall percentage is now eighty-nine." L mused as he ran his thumb along his lips.

"I'm being nice because I want to be…" Misa was truly offended, even if L was right. She had to get to the bread and butter of the whole thing before he started to dissect her.

"I don't necessarily believe that. There is a reason."

"You're right, there is. Ryu… L," Misa pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her knees upon them ", you need to fake your death."

"Whatever for?" L was intrigued, to say the least. Misa could tell, because he slightly pivoted her body towards her.

"You want to catch Kira, right? That's why you need to fake your death. Watari too. Pretend to have a heart attack and you'll either prove… or disprove that Light Yagami is Kira." Misa laid it all on the table.

"Nothing makes sense anymore." L spoke.

"Are you going to take my advice?"

"I'm not certain I will. As the most probable Second Kira, this may be a move to trap me."

"As the truest friend you have, this may be my way of helping you." Misa countered, gently taking his towel from him, patting his exposed neck and face. She rubbed the towel through his hair; he grimaced for a moment before letting her go ahead. When she was satisfied, she handed the towel to him.

"You look like a fluffy hamster." She giggled, patting his puffy hair. Then she walked down the stairs, leaving him behind with his thoughts. When L was out of earshot, Rem emerged in front of her, pulling Misa into a dark little room just off the stairwell.

"If all else fails, write Light's name in your book." She whispered, feeling defeated. Light had treated her like shit, but she still loved him in a twisted way.

"I will, Misa." Rem didn't take a moment to reply.

"If you do, does that mean you accidently save me and lengthen my life?"

"Yes. I will turn into what Gelus had turned into; something that is neither sand nor rust."

That struck a chord in Misa. She had never met Gelus, so his story never hit the core of her heart. But the idea of Rem crumbling before her eyes somewhere alone, or even worse, in a room surrounded by people who didn't know she could see Rem and couldn't cry… that was Hell. Cameras be damned; Misa leapt onto the Shinigami, wrapping her arms around her neck. Rem wrapped her bony arms around the girl, letting her hands sprawl across the girl's back.

Shinigami's did not need air, but Rem took a deep breath, smelling Misa's hair. For the first time in an eternity, she was content. She would cherish the scent of her into the Beyond.

"Don't do it unless you have to," Misa whimpered ", and if you do have to? I'm going to miss you, so much."

"I shall miss you as well, dear Misa." She turned her head, blue lips resting against the top of her head. Rem didn't dare lay a kiss upon her; this was as close as she could get. She held onto Misa until she knew the moment had outgrown itself. The pair parted and gained their composure.

"Okay… I'll be going down to the hub now. Here's hoping it all doesn't crash and burn." Misa took Rem's hand, giving her a smile before putting on her cheerful façade and skipping down the steps.