Written
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adjective: set down in writing in any of various ways
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Sachiko was woken by a soft creak, which she vaguely recognized as that of her bedroom door opening. Still she did not open her eyes, trusting that whoever it was (most likely Soichiro) would leave quickly and quietly, needing no response from her.
Thump.
Scratch.
Slither.
She frowned slightly at the noises, opening her eyes a slit to see a tiny, one-and-a-half year old head peeking over the edge of the bed at her. Light was balanced precariously on the slats extending out from the mattress, his chubby fists grasping the covers and his face creasing in concentration as he tried not to fall backwards.
Sachiko chuckled softly and extended her hand towards him. "Here, my darling." She crooned. "Let's get you up safe." Her arms were weak, but it was still only the work of a few moments to pull Light up onto the bed beside her. He smiled, pulling the book he'd placed onto the bed beforehand up as he snuggled under the duvet beside her.
"You want me to read you a story?"
Light nodded. "Yes please." He opened the book, pointing at a page illustrated with pictures of a glorious autumn day before sticking his thumb in his mouth. Sachiko smiled.
"Alright." She shifted so that she was in a slightly better position to read and began, her fingers tracing a line beneath the words as Light listened. He watched her with wide eyes and curled up in his dark blue sleepsuit, looking the picture of childish innocence as she read.
The story came to an end and Sachiko yawned, feeling tired despite the amount of time she'd been spending in her bed of late. Light looked up at her, evidently worried.
"'Kaa-san, are you alright?" He yelped as Sachiko ruffled his hair in response, intensely proud of her son's ability to speak so well at such a young age.
"I'm fine, sweetheart." She reassured him. "Just a little sleepy."
Light frowned, unconvinced. "Is it the baby's fault?" He cast a glance down at his mother's swollen belly. This time, Sachiko frowned a little as well.
"No, Light. It isn't the baby's fault. Mummy's just not feeling very well, that's all."
They were interrupted by the sound of the front door unlocking. Sachiko eased herself back onto the mattress fully and ruffled her son's hair, all discomfort forgotten as he yelped indignantly.
"'Kaa-san!"
"Go say hello to your Dad," She laughed. Light smiled at her, working his way out from under the covers. "Ah- you're forgetting something!" Sachiko chided gently. Light paused for a moment, then turned and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "That's better."
As her son skipped from the room, Sachiko began to wonder. Not even two years old, and he already showed more intelligence than many of the neighbours' children did at twice his age.
"What will become of you, Light, my darling?"
--
Soichiro toed off his shoes as he stepped inside. He set down his briefcase and spent a moment waiting for his coat to be taken before he remembered that Sachiko was resting. Her pregnancy had taken its toll on her- she needed all the sleep she could get. So he hung his own coat up, and was about to get some coffee brewing when a small voice called from the top of the stairs.
"'Tou-san?"
He smiled. His son was living up to his name- precocious and happy, forever bringing a smile to everyone's face.
"Hello Light. Do you want to get downstairs?"
"Yes."
It helped that he was clever, too, with a grasp of Japanese that never failed to surprise his parents. Soichiro chuckled as he strode up the stairs. Light was waiting for him at the top, clutching a storybook almost as big as he was as he stood with his thumb in his mouth.
"Thumb out of that mouth, young man." Soichiro instructed, gently tugging the appendage out. Light pouted, then lifted up his arms to be held. His father smiled down at him, and he copied the expression. "That's better." Soichiro lifted him easily, uncaring of the book which gently slapped into his arm as he did so. Light held it up as they descended the stairs, pointing at it in a way which clearly showed he wanted to be read to. "One moment, Light. Wait until we're sat down."
As they read, it was Light who traced the words with a pudgy finger, slipping his thumb into his mouth out of habit. Again Soichiro tugged it away, and again the child pouted, though it had no effect.
Later, after Light fell asleep in the crook of his arm, Soichiro leaned over to pick up a book on child development. After scanning it for a few moments, he placed it aside again, holding his son a little closer as he mused;
"What on earth did we do to deserve a genius like this for a child?"
--
Years later, standing in the taskforce headquarters, Soichiro realised it wasn't something they'd deserved. It was a gift, a loan, and he was paying it off right now as he watched his beloved son spiral into madness before his eyes. As everyone present saw his name written out in a death-dealing hand.
Sachiko never knew her son was killed at the whim of a Death God and a few words on paper.
He certainly wasn't going to tell her.
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Author's Note: In case you hadn't guessed, that was filmverse. I'd already written this when I heard that the Death Note Movie premiere was on tonight. I'm still not sure exactly what premiere this is, but this is in honour of it. -laughs-
There will be more- not necessarily film-based (actually, more filmverse is unlikely unless I'm very inspired to write one). Should hopefully be at least 49, with various oneshots and story arcs coming into play, as I've said in the summary, and I'd like to know what you think of it so far. (hint, hint)
