Chapter Two - Idle Conversation with a Certain Killer
The day after she lauded her destiny to the light-haired brunette, Sakura was reclining in her place of residence and observing the various whims and zigs and zags of the television set. She happened to have a tray of her favourite Dutch strawberries at her side, occasionally picking at the fleshy fruit. The particular channel on which her indigo eyes were focused bore a newsreader. Sakura's interest in the news had been royally piqued since her life's love became apparent. The reasoning behind her particular fascination lay in the desire to uncover the truth about the Kira, and thusly prove herself to the great L. She fully intended to manage the task.
The sapphires which adorned her fair head focused the whole of their attention on the reports pealed from the set. With a curvature of the upper lip, she realised she had harked more than enough of value to her plight. The particulars of the murders performed with cunning by her newfound enemy cast light on the fiend's true identity.
"Using the information I have garnished, I deem it elementary that Kira is, in actual fact, currently a member of the educational system as well as residing at a permanent address within the nation of Japan; ironically the very same conditions which could currently be said to define me! I must partake of a search!"
With a flourish and an exclamation of confidence, our young heroine swept from her house to begin her noble quest. If one, however, were to presume that this was her first course of action upon the discoveries she had that day made, they would be in the process of an erroneous error! She made to her wardrobe to cloak herself in appropriate attire.
The outfit she donned was a pearl of adorability. Although mere thread and cloth were ne'er needed to turn the downed angel into a charming temptress, this particular choice of covering sparkled. The glossy locks atop her head were worn high in an elegant display and fastened with a bow. Her second port of call was a dress playfully decorated with a young cat fond of greetings, in addition to skulls warped to maximise their quaint charm. This particular garment was painted with the colour of roses, of shadow, and of doves. The sleeves were puffed like ripe meringues and adorned with lace details. A collar shirt-like in appearance completed the outfit. It would take a fool to find an excuse to remain oblivious to her beauty.
Returning to our tale, Sakura made haste away from her place of residence, her small feet crushing the pathway underfoot. A small bolt of fear rattled and ricocheted within her ribcage. She was growing steadily aware of the intimidating nature of her foe; clearly an intelligent young man, on the same page of this life as her. Through this it was logical to assume that he attended a university with a highly qualified intake level. Her smile returned as she realised she was but a hair's breadth from a fine example of such a college, and she turned in its direction as she congratulated her quick thinking.
As she headed in its direction with a steady yet forceful gait, she recalled that she would have enrolled in that very institution had she not decided t'were better to remain by the side of her childhood companion, Yuki. It seemed a thoughtful gesture. With the hallowed gates in sight, that shudder of adrenaline once more swelled in her bursting chest. She was to confront a murderer and the thought was little less than shocking. Her bravery rang true.
Promptly and without delay or hesitation, she encountered a young man who appeared to her to be the very definition of a suspect. Her sleuth's mind confirmed it. She was taken slightly aback by the glistening quality of his auburn hair and delightful eyes. Covering her apprehension and subconscious attraction to the student, she offered a cheerful greeting, to which the response was a thin smile and the meeting of their eyes. His eyes bored directly into hers and she got a rather uneasy impression from him. It swelled her suspicions.
"Why good day young lady; my given name is Light, and would it be presumptuous to ask your opinion on it? I myself find it to be perfectly fitting." Sakura agreed with him aloud as she found her honest opinion to be in line with this mysterious stranger's. "I find you to be pleasant and must request that in return you offer me the casual treat of hearing your name spoken in what is clearly a delicate flower's voice." He topped this appeal with a cherry of a smile; elegant and inviting. Velvet.
Her expression managed to conceal the aghast sensation brewing in her guts and mind. If her initial assumption had indeed been correct and this gentleman was the serial killer she sought, then using the name he had asked her for he could surely snuff her from the plain of the living with one sure, silent stroke of a pen. Using her enviable ability to concoct plans on her feet, she formed within the confines of her nimble mind a trick so brilliant, she knew even L himself would fall for it if he were currently standing within earshot of her full, glossed lips.
"Why Light, it is a delight to make your acquaintance and I should be elated to reveal to you that, although I am personally fond of the quite lovely name Sakura, my first name is in fact not Sakura, but is actually Susan; a name less wondrous."
"I myself must confess that I regard Susan to be a name befitting of your elegance and sweetness," he assured her with another cherry-picked inflection of his lips. This latest gesture caused a confusing rush of emotions through her, making her admit internally just the vaguest hint of giddiness. It would be sane to place any quantity of currency on the positive in the question of whether he was an attractive boy.
Taking some time to converse in a friendly manner, the spontaneous spattering of feelings they had newly developed for one another were dredged to the surface of their hearts. Although her logical side reminded her with a nagging tone that he was, she firmly believed, the Kira, she tended towards the thrill of temporary infatuation. It was impossible to ignore the ever-present threat he posed to her life, but she had already considered this outcome and prepared a solution.
Sharing between them a smile, she moved her face to point in his direction and asked politely and warmly if he had a sheet or two of paper as she, she confessed, was in a position lacking any and in need of inscribing a sheet with a particular thought at that very moment. Without delay he opened his handy bag and rifled through the contents in search of the item she had requested. This request was related to the solution she had previously developed. With an invisible smirk she allowed herself to gloat that soon his identity as a normal student or as a malevolent killer would become apparent. A small yet helpless sigh escaped him.
"My efforts have met with no avail, and I feel a deep sympathy towards your inability to quench your mental thirst. As such, I will permit you rummage chance your eyes meet with that which mine o'erlooked!"
Receiving the canvas vessel, she dug through the contents in hope of finding the answer to her suspicions. Aha! The notebook, nestled within his scholarly texts, became obvious. She concluded that, stunned by her beauty, he had allowed the particular memory of placing it there to escape him. He had naturally deemed today a worthy day to drag his camouflaged weapon to his university so that he may doom unfortunate souls to a world of black whilst reclining in the water closet during the period ascribed for the eating of lunch. After all, boredom is a fickle mistress.
Sakura wrenched the all-powerful notebook from its hiding place and thrust it into the face of her arch foe, the one she had now defeated - the monster, the killer - with a declaration of victory.
His pointed face drained of blood and colour as the look of horror clouded his handsome features. The notebook had entered her clutches and, based on her apparent triumph, she had realised what he had trusted no-one would. His identity as Kira. I should add, as a note, that if this was not already clear to you, the reader, Light is indeed the Kira.
The silence which engulfed their situation was sharp enough to cut their throats. The tension only grew like a thick winter's mist around them. Their eyes were once again upon each other's and each mirrored the others' expression of unadulterated, absolute, undeniable fear.