Chapter II: Jaded
Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note. Unfortunately, this chapter doesn't include the Spice Girls.
I blow a bubble out of the gum I stole from the receptionist as sit at the desk by the police officer. It's grape flavored. My favorite. Anyways, this police officer. He's... different.
He's some kind of a rookie. He also happens to be an idiot. Dad probably paired me up with him on purpose. What was his name? I lean forward till I can see half of his face. Matsuda. Aww... He's actually kinda cute.
I guess Dad doesn't have anymore cases for us. During the past three hours I have solved five cases. Of course, they'll go on Matsuda's record, but I still am proud of my work.
Matsuda is watching television with the volume up too loud. I can tell it's annoying some of the other detectives. I reach over and push on the subtract button a couple of times.
Matsuda blinks at me. Then he blushes. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how loud it was."
You live on your own planet, don't you, Matsuda?
"It's okay. You could make it up to me by getting me a box of donuts," I tease.
"O-okay. Right away, Sir! Err- Ma'am. I mean Miss."
He takes off before I can tell him that I was joking. Well, at least this gives me an opportunity.
I hack the police database using Matsuda's computer. This is not new for me. I began doing it freshman year. The first time I erased anything on my past persona. The next time I deleted all past data on my profile. Up until last year I checked up on Beyond with it. Lately I had been using it to research L.
L.
The only person alive who has ever beaten my brother.
Note the alive?
Yep. He killed the other one.
Huh? Beyond?
No, L.
It seems like he's working on a drug trafficking case. It's pretty difficult, but even I can see a way to catch them within the next week. I guess it's a boring day to be L too. I pull out of the system and wipe the last two minutes off of all the computers in the room. The collective groan over lost work confirms that I was successful.
Matsuda comes back with a box of chocolate doughnuts. I pick one up and lick the icing off.
Ugh! I forgot that I'm chewing on gum!
I spit the gum out, into my hand. I take a shot at the trash can. I make it.
Like a pro!
You should join the NFL!
What? You mean the NBA, right?
No. You'd be equally bad at both.
You are just a little ray of sunshine, aren't you?
Matsuda looks at me kinda funny. "Do you have any more gum?"
I toss him the pack. Hehe... Poor Matsuda.
I go back to licking the doughnut.
We flip from channel to channel. Eventually, Matsuda stops at a news report on a daycare center that is being occupied by some creep. They show the dude's photo.
Hmm... He has three more years to live. A pity. The hostages are probably going to end up dead. The news caster cuts away.
Matsuda is about to change the channel again when they cut back to show the hostages running out. I'm shocked. What happened?
They announce that the suspect is dead.
It has to be a police cover up! I type the man's name into Google. I click on his image. There aren't any letters or numbers above his face now.
I can't believe it! That man, his lifespan, i-it changed! What the heck?
Suddenly the receptionist storms in.
"My gum has been stolen again; that's the third time this month!"
Matsuda stops chewing and glances at me. I wink at him. He wordlessly hand me back the gum.
I need time to think over what I just saw. I tell Matsuda that I'm going home. I walk home slowly, but once I get there I realize that Mrs. Yagami is the only one home. Needless to say, I back track. I head over to a small convince store and spend the rest of the night reading manga.
I start home when it's been dark for about an hour. As I walk along the sidewalk a man on a motorcycle and his buddies harass some poor woman. Sickos.
You should stop him.
I'd probably take a punch or two. What would I tell Dad?
That your boyfriend beat you up.
BWAHAHA! I can just see the look on his face! But that's no good; Light wouldn't believe me. He knows I'm smarter than that. And quicker than that.
Well, if you don't get a move on, someone is gonna have the rest of her life ruined.
I groan, but I approach the man and tap on his shoulder.
Takuo Shibuimaru: 34 years left. A pity.
Now, I don't mean that I want to kill him myself; it's just that the world doesn't need creeps like him.I'm not against creeps in general, but some of them are disgusting, even to their fellow creeps.
I lift my hand to give Shibuimaru a black eye, but stop when his lifespan is suddenly shortened. Extremely shortened.
I watch, helpless, as the woman breaks free and runs across the street. Sicko climbs onto his bike in order to chase her. He is promptly turned into a pancake by a huge truck.
What the actual hell is going on?
People have changing lifespans. Deal with it.
Changing lifespans. What has always held me back isn't true? Does this mean that I didn't have to kill those men? Does this mean that I could have saved them? Could I have saved him?
I don't know how I got home. But when I do, Light is waiting for me, his eyes bright.
Light.
Light Yagami.
That's all I see. No lifespan. It must have run out.
He's going to die. Just like those two men.
I crumple to the floor, just like how my victims always did.
Late into the Night
Brr bu bu bum bum tshch Brr bu bu bum bum tch ka-
What the hell are you doing?
Showing off my sick beatboxing skills!
Really? Is this the appropriate time? Right after my brother dies?
Oh, him? He's not dead. He's been staring at you on and off for the past few hours. It's actually pretty creepy.
Great. What's that smell?
It's me.
You? You my friend, are a figment of my imagination.
Oh, so we're friends now? And I'm not imaginary; I'm your stuffed monkey toy from when you were two years old.
You're Joko? No. Joko is way more awesome. He's also in a bin at the bottom of the closet.
Hey, when you're just a traumatized toddler, you need someone you can trust. Originally, I was Joko. I developed more of a... personality as you grew up.
So you're not Joko?
No.
Good. So did Light bring me my old toy?
No. Sayu did.
Awwww... She's so cute. Joko. He means a lot to me. He's pretty much all I have left of my old life.
You also have your necklace.
Yep. That's from a little later though. Do you remember when Yakov brought it to me?
He looked like a tomato.
No, he looked like a... A strawberry.
I feel the weight of my necklace on my neck. It's a silver heart with the letters B and Y engraved on the cover.
I must be coming to. I blink. I can see the light fixture above my bed. I focus on the face of the person sitting next to me. Mrs. Yagami?
She sighs. "Good. You're awake. Here, take this."
She hands me a bowl of something warm, and leaves the room as Light glides in. I swear he's telepathic.
"How do you feel?"
"Like a boss."
He snorts.
"What about you, Light? You didn't cheat death while I was away, did you?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
He's hiding something.
No shit, Sherlock.
What is going on?
"Just been a weird day." I glance at the bowl. Oatmeal. Of fucking course.
You really hate that gunk, don't ya?
You think?
No. You just dropped the f bomb for no reason.
I know. I'll need to work that into my vocabulary more.
"Hey, Light. I'll give you this oatmeal if you get Mom and Sayu not to tell Dad that I was late."
"Hmm... Alright, but you owe me a favor."
Favor. I hate favors.
Do you hate the world?
Huh? No. I just don't care about it. I do hate some parts of it though.
"I don't do favors. If you want something from me, you have to ask me here and now."
"I see you haven't lost your personality. I'll ask you after dinner, okay?"
"Fine."
After he leaves, I wobble over to my dresser. I pull on a pair of gloves. Then I wipe down every inch of my room.
Fingerprints bother me. I try to avoid them. I wear gloves most of the time because of this. No, more like all the time. I only take them off for sanitary reasons or social stigmas.
I finish wiping down my laundry basket as Sayu announces that dinner is ready.
I try to be cheerful during dinner. But my mind is elsewhere.
What is up with Light? He's acting so weird.
Maybe he's dying?
Naw. He'd already be dead.
Is there anyone else who doesn't have a lifespan?
Just me and Light. Hey, maybe that's it!
What's it?
Maybe I can't see his lifespan because he's a part of me.
A part of you?
He's the only one who can understand me. Maybe I... I love him.
But you could always see Yakov's lifespan. And you loved him.
Maybe I didn't really love him because I knew that he was going to die.
Wow. He'd be proud to hear you say that. And his lifespan didn't stop you from trying to save him. You would have died to change his fate.
Maybe it's because we weren't fated to live together. Maybe Light and I are fated.
It's a decent theory. But something seems off...
It's the only explanation.
Isn't it illegal? To marry your adopted brother?
Nope. Not in Japan. I looked it up once.
I set down my chopsticks and head back to my room. I live in the basement. It's actually pretty cozy.
Light follows me down the stairs shortly after. He must've made up his mind.
"So, what can I do for you, big brother?" I ask mockingly.
I'm only a couple of months younger than him. His birthday is February 28, 1986. Mine is August 6, 1986. One of the few facts they know about my past. Great day. They dropped the first atomic bomb on it. It suits me. A necessary evil.
"You can make me a promise."
"A promise?"
"Promise me that you'll have my back. Always. No matter what."
"I promise. Forever and ever."
I wasn't expecting him to hug me. I clam up for a second, but I return the embrace.
"Thank you, Elise."
Then he's gone.
What is he hiding?
I watch television with the volume down low for the rest of the night. No way am I sleeping for the next four days. A couple of really bad criminals have their lifespan shortened. There's no way that this is a coincidence. I Gentle 'the worst living criminals.' I click on the first result. It's some kind of list. The first three people are dead. The fourth's lifespan changes before my eyes.
Damn. This isn't a coincidence. People can't change lifespans. I search for the first about five in the morning, the USA releases a report on his death. A heart attack. Apparently the guy had high blood pressure. Seams reasonable enough.
Is it really just a coincidence? That a couple of criminals are having heart attacks? No. Someone is doing this on purpose. I don't know how, but this is the work of a killer. However, I do know someone who can find out how.
I get up, stretch, and jump out the window. It's not a very exciting jump, as I don't fall at all. I actually gain altitude. Remember that I live in the basement?
I grab Light's bicycle and peddle over to the library. As I go, I disable the neighborhood security cameras with my mobile phone. I know, it's bad to text and drive, but I'm a rebel. If I kill anyone on my bike, you're welcome to sue me. Next, I take down all of the cameras in the area of the public library. It opens at nine, so I'll be alone. Then I jump into the return book shoot. It's tight, but I manage. I'm short and tiny. I'm only 5 foot 1 inch. It's pitiful really.
Inside, I duct tape up all of the web cams on the computers. Sometimes hacking just takes too long. Then I sit down at the one of the PCs at the end of the hall.
Hmm... Which identity should I contact? There's the obvious choice, but that probably has the biggest waiting list. The second choice is probably slow too. But if I use the third choice, I'll seem like a threat.
You mind explaining what the heck you're talking about?
Someone's touchy today.
Why shouldn't I be? We're sleep deprived.
True, true. But you're just gonna have to watch and learn.
I open an 'incognito tab' and search for his website.
Third choice it is then. Ooh-la-la! It's in French!
Huh? I thought you said that you didn't know what I was thinking.
Umm... I don't know if you've noticed, but we're kinda the same person. It'd be weird if I couldn't read your mind.
I always thought that expression was strange. I mean, how do you know that you read minds? Couldn't you see minds, or observe minds, or watch m-
You're weird, kid.
What makes you say that?
You know when you're drinking something with ice in it?
Yeah.
Well, whenever the ice gets stuck at the top, you always push it down.
Yep. Stuck ice makes me pissed. Floating ice soothes the soul.
I rest my case.
I realize that my internal conversation has taken up about five minutes. Oops.
I click on the 'contact button.' The screen looks like this:
Denueve,
The name is written in scrolling letters across the top of the screen. I delete it.
I hold my breath as I press the key that I know will his cause every high tech tracking system to close in on me.
L,
That's how I start. I type as quickly as possible, and hit the send button less than a minute after I started.
A 'review letter' screen pops up. I glance over it:
L,
I am writing to you because I am concerned over a series of heart attacks among the world's most infamous criminals. I have reason to believe that these accidents are not coincidences, but are the work of a killer. I suspect that the culprit is living in Japan, but I do not have the resources to prove this statement. If these deaths are indeed murders, then it is one of the most atrocious acts in history. You would be a coward to turn down this case.
Don't disappoint me,
Someone who doesn't appreciate nosiness
I click on the send button. Ha! Like he hasn't already read it! I leave my duct tape on the desk. Then I ditch.
School is slow as hell. Light seems to be in a better mood. He smirks to himself the whole day. He doesn't even glance at his beloved window.
Take that! He's all mine, window!
Why aren't you trying to be romantic with him?
Huh? You mean Light?
Yeah.
I usually tend to lean back and let fate do the driving. You can't ever fight the fate!
That sounds like a pop song.
Should I write one?
Sure, let's go home and do it!
Okay! There's the bell. Let's go become the next Miley Cyrus!
No. Not Miley Cyrus.
Okay fine.
I hear Watanbe clear his throat.
Oh yeah...
I saunter over to his desk and give him the peace sign. "Wazzup?" I slur.
"Miss Yagami, why do you insist upon bad behavior? You are one of the smartest students in the country, yet you act like a hooligan,"he says.
Harsh, bro.
"I don't see how my behavior matters. I am a saint compared to some of your other students," I respond smoothly.
"Maybe. But you have potential for something greater. Do you even have ambitions? What do you want to do when you're older?" he questions.
"Glad you asked. I've decided to become..." I pause for effect. "A pop star!"
He smiles wryly. "You are a good singer; my daughter loves going to the concerts you preform in. You also have written some of the best musicals of the decade, in English, a language that isn't even yours. And you have directed some of the most touching children's movies that I've ever seen."
Huh? How'd he know about all of that? I didn't even tell my family about half of that crap. In fact they only know about the movie I'm doing currently and that I sing in random concerts on the weekends.
"Is all that in my file?"
"No. You've been very humble of your work. I had to do some serious research to find out that. Why didn't you tell your family? Why didn't you even tell Light?"
"I didn't because-"
Why didn't I? I suppose it's because they would only have pushed me harder if they knew what I was capable of. I didn't even do those things because I was inspired. I did it because I was bored.
"I didn't want them to push me harder. I did those things out of sheer boredom. I just wanted things to stay the same."
"Change isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes you have to take the long road to find happiness."
The long road? I've been taking it my whole life. Let me tell you something, Watanbe. It's not worth it. We- all of humanity- can't change a thing. We're all doomed. We're all going to die. And nothing we do along the way matters. If it does, I'm already doomed. But it doesn't. This whole, rotten world is just a lie.
"I'll think about it," I say.
AN: Well that was slow. And depressing. And painful to write. Hopefully things will pick up next chapter. Thank you for 74 views! Whoa! That's fricking crazy!
Special shoutouts to SakuraTheGreenEyedGirl and blondmage for favoriting. More shoutouts go to blondmage (again) and Andraste's Flaming Sword for following.
"Matsuda! Where's my reviews?"
"Umm... Maybe Ryuzaki ate them?"
"Matsuda you idiot! If I don't get them soon, I'm gonna use you to test the thirteen day rule."
*Matsuda grabs the camera*
"Please! You have to help me! I don't wanna die!"
End of crappy story
As you may have guessed, I do multiple accounts. For different crap. So I haven't updated like I should. I'm gonna try to change that!
See you onion rings!