Well, here we are. The sequel to It Is Done. I hope this story is just as successful~ (Especially considering the fact I believe this is better-written...)
In any case, I hope you enjoy!
I leaned back in my chair contentedly, stretching luxuriously, then pushed down the top of my laptop, closing it. I got to my feet happily, and turned to the others. Near was trying to play silently and independently with his toys, but Anna was watching him intently, and Sam was trying to play along with him. L was observing them quietly from a chair nearby, and Mello was ignoring everyone, off in his own little corner to himself. Light sat on a couch nearby, looking pensive, while Sierra tried to rouse Mello by repeatedly poking him in the shoulder.
"Guys," I said, "I'm going out to get some fresh air."
"That's fine," L replied, staring at me with his wide, bulging, black-rimmed eyes. "Just be sure to come back here before too long. You know our flight is early tomorrow morning."
I nodded as I pulled on my black coat. "Of course," I said. We were currently in America rather than in Japan, and I vaguely wondered what would happen to our group once we went back.
"May I come along?" asked Light.
"Sure, why not?" I was sympathetic for him, to be honest. No one here really liked him. In fact, although it had been nearly a month since the whole Yellow Box warehouse incident, his once-close relations with people like Aizawa and Mogi had become rather awkward. They knew he had no memory of ever being Kira, but knowing he had been either way made it harder to forget that. Even Matsuda, though he made an effort, wasn't as close as he used to be.
"Have fun getting fresh air," Sam grinned, waving the two of us away.
I raised an eyebrow at her, and she giggled. I rolled my eyes in response.
"You know," said Sierra, "I don't really care if someone's being teased, as long as it's not me."
Anna took this as her cue to tease her older sister. "Sierra and Mello, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" she chanted.
"Hey!" Sierra yelped, running for her sister.
"What?" asked Mello, snapping out of whatever daydreams he might have had. Perhaps they involved Near being beaten to death with a banana, who knew? "That doesn't even make any sense!"
Anna dodged as Sierra pounced, causing Sierra to knock over Near's tower, consequently making Near glare at her. "Uh… sorry…," Sierra apologized.
I laughed. Actually, Mello was right: these little teases had no place here. The only possible reason would the mind synchronization, though that's hardly valid. Perhaps it was just reaching out and grabbing a hold on the past, when we could tease one another about just about any character. Might as well start teasing Sam about Izaya from Durarara, and all would be normal. Still, those times were gone now…. "I'm sure you'll have fun here," I grinned, walking out the door.
It was colder outside in America than it was in Japan. It was still February, so naturally there weren't many people walking the sidewalks. To be honest, it was almost like Light wasn't there, either, considering he was always there, connected to me through the mind. Ever since he lost his memories at the warehouse, the thoughts and feelings flowed smoother between us; more naturally. I supposed it was because before he'd lost his memories, neither of us wanted the other to hear our thoughts.
As we walked, I felt a slight pulling sensation; a feeling of nostalgia and doubt. Earlier today, the four of us – Sam, Anna, Sierra, and I – had made the decision to detach ourselves from what was once our home, and move forward. That was the whole reason we had come to America: to go to Maxey Island and make our way home. It had happened just that morning, so the memory was obviously still fresh and clear. It's clear to me even now.
"Bye," I had whispered, smiling at the four before me and my three friends, as all of us stood on the island where our story began. Perhaps it would end there. It was four facing four. A thirteen-year-old girl, with light brown wavy hair and innocent, bright eyes. Anna. An eighteen-year-old girl with dark brown wavy hair and purple streaks, a smile beaming for the world to see. Sierra. A nineteen-year-old girl with long, dark, and curly hair, her green-gold eyes misty with the gloom of the moment. Sam. And… me. Twenty-one years old and with short, brown hair that resembled that of another person, who happened to be in front of me. Then, on the opposite side, were four who are known well. At least, they should be if you're reading this at all. The four facing us were Light, L, Mello, and Near. And each of us were connected, the mind synchronization becoming more pronounced with each day. Me with Light, Sam with L, Sierra with Mello, and Anna with Near, all for different reasons.
We'd already bid our farewells to our other friends and acquaintances. Back at the airport in Japan, we'd said our goodbyes to Matt, Matsuda, Gevanni, Misa, Aizawa, Ide, Halle, and Rester. The only reason these four had come along was because of the mind sync. It having been a nearly a month since Kira 'disappeared,' there came a time when L told the four of us that he had discovered a theory on how to get us back to our world.
"My guess is you have to be on Maxey Island," L had said. "And, of course, you all have to be there together. Then, all you have to do is want with every fiber of your being to be home again. I obviously got this idea from the times where one of you has travelled back for a moment with one of the people here with you. You had to truly want to go back to get there…. Of course, the ones that are connected would be nearby, for… insurance. An anchor if you can't stay there, perhaps, or maybe just to ensure you can go in the first place. Still, I think you can pull it off, if you want to go…."
We had just said our final goodbyes to the four. To be completely honest, only one of them accepted hugs, and that was Light. Near and Mello just didn't like them, and L was just plain out awkward with them. Naturally, none of us could hug Light too tightly (which Sam did anyway), as his gunshot wounds from Matsuda in the warehouse hadn't completely healed. But still… it was a sad moment, knowing that if we were to leave, we would likely never be back again. Without anything else to say, my friends and I turned and entered the small home on Maxey Island. We walked into the living room, and my mind took me back to that time, years ago by then, when we were all lying on that very floor, though in another reality, eating potato chips dramatically and telling scary stories. I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh.
"And we just have to want to go home?" Anna had asked me, slipping her hand into mine. I grabbed Sierra's wrist, and she mine, and Sam attached herself grudgingly to my two nieces. We needed to be holding on; otherwise we might end up losing someone.
"Yes," I replied softly. And we all closed our eyes, trying to think of our world. I tried thinking of my mother, and my father. I thought of my Grammy and Grandpa, and of my cousins. I tried thinking of special memories that I wish I could go back to, like times in the summer with the nieces at Mia's pool, or times spent camping with my dad, Sam, and Madison and Mackenzie, even Allison. And yet….
"I'm sorry," Sam said softly, and let go of Anna and Sierra. She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I can't. I can't bring myself to really want to go."
I gazed at her sadly. "I feel the same," I murmured, also releasing my hold on my nieces. "We've made ties here that are too strong."
"I guess…," Sierra whispered. "I mean, I want to see my friends and family back home, but… I have friends here, now, too, and I don't want to leave them…."
Anna gazed at the ground. "So… we're never going back?" she asked in a small voice.
Sierra knelt down and hugged her little sister. "I'm sorry Anna… I… I don't think so…."
We stayed in that room for awhile, savoring the memories, then making our way back out to them, only my eyes not downcast. "What are you still doing here?" Mello asked with a frown.
"You're supposed to be nice," Near said, staring at him emotionlessly. Mello scowled and glared at him. "What went wrong?"
"We couldn't do it," Sierra said.
"I guess we just didn't truly want to go," I'd smiled.
And I smiled sadly now, thinking of it. We'd spent the rest of our day bidding our farewells to our parents; the versions of them in this world, anyway. Saying our final goodbyes before we let go of the life we once led for good. We couldn't really turn back now. Once we went back to Japan, I wouldn't be all that surprised if I never saw America again. I gazed out at the river that held Maxey Island as I walked, the cold wind sending a shiver down my spine. The rocky beaches that would be dotted with fishermen come summertime were empty now. The sky was grey with clouds, and the snowy ground combined with the gloomy sky and cold wind made it actually feel like winter. It wasn't like that in Japan; not all the time.
"Natalie?" asked Light.
I winced. I'd forgotten he was there, and in all honesty, he scared me. I wasn't expecting the sound of a human voice among the steady lapping of the waves on the rocks and the occasional sound of a car zooming by on the street. "Yes?" I replied.
"I want to ask you an honest question."
"And what's that?"
He slowed his pace until he came to a halt, looking down with a troubled expression. I turned around to face him, stopping as well. He looked up at me.
"I was Kira, wasn't I?" he asked.
I blinked, unsure how to respond. I'd made sure no one would tell him so, as I didn't want his untainted mind to be plagued with that reality. As I opened my mouth to answer, he said, "I'm not an idiot, Natalie."
I blinked again.
"Don't think I don't notice the way people treat me now, ever since the meeting at the Yellow Box warehouse. Aizawa, Ide, even Matsuda all seem… awkward around me, as though they don't know how to act. Like they don't know me anymore. And I remember, Natalie. In that warehouse, I said, 'I am Kira.' Why? There was concrete evidence against me, and yet they let me go. Why would they do that? Why would Matsuda shoot me? It makes no sense…. And none of you dare to even mention what happened there, like it's taboo. Then there's the fact they're keeping me on leave from the NPA, even though I know I can work just fine. Everything points to this conclusion…."
I gazed at him sympathetically. "I'm going to give you the honest truth," I said softly. "You are right; that's true. You were Kira."
He closed his eyes, bowing his head and clenching his fists. "So that's why…."
"But," I added, "don't be… mad at yourself for it…." He's not mad at himself, I realized. He's mad at everyone else.
"That's why they're treating me like I'm not the same person," he said. He looked up at me again. "Whatever I did, I can't even remember it happening. I'm not whatever I had become, I'm just me. It's over now."
"They don't blame you," I responded. "It's just hard for them to detach themselves from their memories of what happened at that warehouse. I think… I think that… the things you said, the way you acted there – whether or not you remember it – is something they can't forget. And because of that, it's hard to see you the same way."
"They're still suspicious of me," he frowned. "Near, L, Mello, Aizawa…. I don't think even Matsuda truly trusts me anymore."
"That's because… well… the person you'd become had betrayed their trust. Then L and Mello have trust problems, and Near just…. Well, one, he just hates Kira. Two, he doesn't like the idea of having lost." I rolled my eyes. "Maybe he should think of how Mello feels." I shrugged. "All I can say is that you need to regain their trust. I'm sure you can do that much." I smiled. "It's all over now, right?"
"Of course," he agreed.
"Still," I said, "I think it's better to be alive and mistrusted than dead and looked back on in regret and resentment. Right?"
"Well, yes. That much is obvious, I would think."
I sighed and looked up to the sky. "In any case, we need to get back to the others. Tomorrow we're heading to Japan."
"What will happen now?" Anna asked as we waited for our plane to arrive.
"I will, of course, go back to being L," L commented thoughtfully. "Roger will be the new Watari; I've already contacted him and told him about it…. And I will be starting an interesting case as soon as possible."
"What about Near?" said Anna.
"And Mello," Sierra added.
"Well, they obviously can't go back to Wammy's," said L. "Mello quit, and besides, they're both past the age of graduation. I guess it would be up to them what they want to do."
"Something that doesn't involve working with him," Mello said, jerking his thumb in Near's direction.
Near twirled his hair. "I suppose I may work as a detective, like L…. Of course, I wouldn't be the top detective. I'd be somewhat like a Danuve, or an Eraldo Coil. What about you, Mello?"
Mello scowled. "I don't know yet," he said bitterly.
"What about you, Light?" asked Anna.
"Well, I'm still on leave from the NPA," Light responded. "But once they allow me back in, I'll just continue working as normal."
"That sounds good," said Sierra.
"Wait," Anna cried, "what about us? What…? What'll we…?"
L nibbled on his thumbnail. "Well," he said, "that'd be up to you too, right?"
"But still," I pointed out, "none of us have jobs."
Light shrugged. "I'm sure you could enlist in the NPA," said Light, "especially considering the help all of you gave in the Kira case."
"That sounds good…," I said uncertainly. I'd never thought about getting a job, having a future, since my three friends and I appeared in this world, and I certainly didn't want to think about it right then.
"But I don't really want to be a cop," Sam said.
"It was only a suggestion, Samantha," Light smiled. "You don't have to. It's just an idea, really, considering it'd be a possible job because of your experience. If you, say, wanted to be a teacher, you'd have to go to college."
Sam frowned. "Don't you dare call me Samantha," she scowled. "Call me Sam, or I will hurt you."
Light chuckled. "Sam it is, then."
"Actually," said L, "Sama… hm… am I supposed to call you Sam?"
"Nah, you can call me Samantha," Sam said with an uncaring gesture.
Light raised his eyebrows at her.
"Alright then, Samantha," said L, "you are open to the option of coming along with me; help me with cases."
Sam squinted at him. "But I'm horrible at analytical crud, and besides, I'm accident-prone. I'd die. …Or mess up your plans…. Why the hell would you want me?"
"With this connection we have in the mind," explained L, "you may be able to figure out my location after a time. And to be honest, I don't like the idea of having someone know where I am other than Roger. Also, we can communicate without speaking, and therefore you wouldn't need to be bugged for me to hear and see everything you do. You would be my eyes."
Sam blinked.
"That makes sense," Near mumbled. "However, I, personally, don't want this mind synchronization to progress any farther than it already has. So, I'll probably limit any contact with Anna…."
Anna frowned. "You're mean!"
"No, I would just like to keep the right to my privacy."
"It's too late for me…," Mello muttered, glaring at Sierra.
"That's not my fault!" Sierra protested. "You're the one who kidnapped me in the first place!"
"Well," said Sam to L, "maybe… but…."
"Your friends," L said with a nod. "I'm sure you can visit them between cases."
"Hmmm," Sam droned, pursing her lips.
"I wonder what happened to the other two who went missing on Maxey Island," I commented thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?" asked Anna.
"It was… Max and Sophia, right?" asked Sierra. "Do you think they came to this world too?"
"Maybe," I replied.
"You mean there might be more of you?" asked Mello, eyes narrowed.
"Maybe," I repeated.
"If there were more from your world here, wouldn't they have altered this world in ways you haven't already?" Near asked.
"Well, I don't know," I responded. "They could have changed something we don't know about."
"I wonder who they'd be synced to," Anna remarked.
"We'll worry about that if the problem actually arises," said Light. "We don't even know for a fact if they're here at all."
"Anyway," commented L, "it's time to board our flight."
Whelp, there's your first chapter! Tell me your thoughts.
Fun Fact: I really wanted to write the scene where Natalie said goodbye to her parents... but I didn't know where I could fit it. So... the scene doesn't exist anywhere but in my head.
Review? For a new story! :D