A/N:
No reviews? I have a couple fave and watches so I know peeps are reading. C'mon, throw an author a bone here. Whether you like, love, hate it or could do without it, drop me a line. Helps me keep on track and know how I'm doing.
With that said, onto the next chapter.
Fool's Gambit
by Catsitta
2.
"Broooooother! Diiiiinner!"
Light paused, shaking her head before proceeding to do up the last of the buttons. It was slightly harder to breathe now, the broad, stiff bandages compressing her chest into a smooth line. She'd made certain to tie them tighter than ever before. She dared a glance at her desk, where the Death Note now resided within a false bottom created out of paranoia months ago to keep family documents secure. Should anyone attempt to open it improperly, it would cause an explosion big enough to wipe this corner of the apartment clean off.
Her hands trembled, causing Light to fumble with the final button. The notebook was easily somebody's idea of a prank...perhaps even a test for terrorism by the Oligarchy. But it was so tempting to hope, to dream, that the rules were real, that simply by writing down a name with a person's face in mind, the person would die. Just 40 seconds later.
I could change the world.
She could become the savior of the people, the destroyer of corruption, a god among men!
Just a face and a name and a little black notebook.
It was a fool's gambit, to be certain, and a logical person like Light never gambled in hopeful halves with dice made of wishful thinking. Yet this Death Note...it was a mistake she was willing to make if only to say she tried...Funny, she never played stakes she couldn't win. Not until now.
"Liiiiiight! I'm hungry. Huuuuurry up!"
Standing, Light glanced in the mirror that rested opposite of her bed and gave her reflection a cursory once over. Not a hair ever out of place. Briefly she pondered the auburn tone of short trimmed locks and the gold ring that danced within tawny eyes. This straight nose belonged to her father, and these high cheekbones to her mother, but the hair and eyes belonged to neither. Genetics were a funny thing sometimes. Perhaps it was best that she played the role a boy. These strong features would never make for a lovely woman as they did a man. Sayu was so much softer, rounder, with pin straight ebon hair and eyes like burnished silver-she was considered pretty in a plain way, like a primrose in a field of daisies and dandelions.
Breaking away from the reflection that lied to her every morning, Light descended into the kitchen. Her family stood around the small table set for three, waiting as was proper for the man of the house to take his seat. Light fought back a black scowl and pulled out her chair.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
The frantic rap of knuckles against the front door elicited a groan from Light. She knew that knock. Silently, she crossed the room and politely opened the door. Standing there, grinning like the idiot he was and always would be, was Matsuda.
"We weren't expecting you this evening," Light said, hiding the disdain she felt behind strained civility. "Are you here for personal matters or business?"
Dark eyes blinked widely and Matsuda's expression became sheepish, like a shy puppy. He wrung his hands together in explicit anxiousness, but the smile never left his face. Obviously, the young enforcer was here on his own time.
"I...I'm here to call on Sayu," he said shyly, cheeks flushed in an innocent way that did not befit his 23 years. Light masked her disgust. She really hated this world. It truly was rotten. Sayu was fourteen and as such, finished with her education and of marriageable age. Rarely did girls wed this young, but even the thought of her little sister in the claws one of the government's lackeys made her cringe. The age difference was bad enough, but a law man was not what she wanted for her sweet little sister. But there was nothing Light could do. If Matsuda wished to court Sayu, then unless someone of equal or higher status within the government came along and offer suit, Light had to hold her tongue.
It wouldn't do to turn away the attentions of someone so morally stellar and respectable. Not unless Light wanted her family at the center of some unwanted attention, and Sayu's reputation turned to dirt. At least Matsuda was relatively harmless as enforcers come. He was oblivious and a fool. Light doubted the man would purposefully harm a single hair on Sayu's head. Thus she stepped aside and motioned for Matsuda to enter.
"We were about to eat," Light said. "Please, join us."
"Thanks Light! I am awful hungry after a day on the job."
Offering a false smile, Light shut the door and followed the young enforcer to the table. She made a plate for their guest and sat down after Matsuda settled next to Sayu's seat. He was flushed a rosy hue and stared in a lovesick manner at his potential, future bride. Sayu, thinking that courtship to a respectable government official was ideal, especially in her position, smiled back. Pink rose to her cheeks as she silently ate her dinner, the flawless feminine figure, a harsh contrast to her loud, bubbly nature.
Appetite gone, squelched by the day's unsavory events, Light used her chopsticks to push around the noodles instead of bringing them to her lips. She could feel her knuckles whiten, teeth clamped together tight. Ignorant, foolish Matsuda was the only one speaking, oblivious as always to Light's tightly chained anger and Sachiko's wary stare.
When the hour became late, and the dishes were cleared away, Light wished only to sneak upstairs and collapse into the sheets. Instead, she stood at the edge of the room, observing as Sayu served Matsuda tea and they talked between them about idle, unimportant things.
Beyond caring about manners, Light cleared her throat, drawing the attention of the pair.
"Sayu, it's time for you to go to bed."
"But Light," Sayu whined, catching herself with a wince. "I'm not tired."
"Bed, Sayu," Light ordered with a sharp point at the stairs. Her little sister glared at Light, before offering sweet goodbyes and scurrying upstairs like a good mouse. Light zeroed in on Matsuda, who was staring longingly at the darkened stairway. "I believe it's time you state your intentions."
Matsuda jumped a little at the dark tone. He wasn't used to the quiet teen growling at him.
"I told you before, my intentions are honorable. After the Red Light serial murder case, that I still can't believe you solved all by yourself Light, it was amazing...I, when I met your sister, I just couldn't believe what...I..."
"You are rambling, Officer."
"O-oh, right. Sorry. I just, when I met Sayu, I fell in love. Just like in the story books. I know she's young, b-but I can wait. I know in four years, I will still love her, same as I do now. Please, sir, let me continue seeing her."
It was pathetic, but once again, Light was in no situation to fight. There was no logical reason for her to turn Matsuda away, no matter how much it pained her comply.
"If you dishonor her, I will kill you," Light said, and Matsuda paled at the threat. But a grin crept onto his lips and he nodded vigorously.
"Thank you! You won't regret it-"
He was cut off by his phone ringing. Matsuda clumsily patted his uniform until he found the cellular device in his pants pocket of all the places, and snapped it to his ear. Idiot didn't even think of hiding what was presumably a work related call from a civilian. Despite the cases she helped solve over the years, a vain attempt to righting the wrongs in this horrible world as well a blatant mockery of the inadequacy of the law enforcement, she was not supposed to know about "crime". In this perfect world, crime didn't exist according to the Oligarchy. Civilians were supposed to pretend that they didn't live in fear of getting mugged, raped or killed every time they left the house.
"W-what? Another body? Not good...Yeah, I'll be there in ten minutes. Yeah. Bye chief." He ended the call and sighed. "I really wish you were out of school, Light. Then you could help out the police officially! You're so smart, I'd bet you'd figure out who this serial killer is in like, a day. But I have to go before the chief wonders where I am. Goodbye."
In a blink, Matsuda was out the door. Of course the idiot left his briefcase behind. He always did. He'd be at the station before he realized that the thing was missing...
Light felt her breath catch in her throat as she stared at the leather case sitting so innocently next to her backpack.
With a Death Note and a briefcase full of police files, Light held the makings for a loaded gun. But could she pull the trigger?
Half an hour later, Matsuda was at the door, apologizing profusely and Light handed him the briefcase with a smile...one that was not strained with disdain, but edged like a razor.
Some say change happens slowly.
40 seconds. A face and a name. A little black book.
"Travel safely, Officer," Light said.
The door shut with a soft click.
It was time for this rotten world to be cleansed.
A/N: (Thank you for reading! Please review. Even an "I like" or "I dislike" is valuable feedback. ^_^ )
