The small end table was set up as Watari shuffled the tarot cards, settling into a deep concentration as he compiled them together into a stack. He waited for L to sit opposite him, who was still staring blankly at a wall. Watari coughed to grab his attention.
"We haven't done this in a while." Was all he commented as he spread out the cards, politely folding his arms as L sat down, who crossed his legs instead of using his normal crouch.
"I know." L murmured, chewing on his nail as his skinny fingers grasped the first card, turning it over and showing it to Watari. In the image a castle was on fire, with a man falling off the tallest spire.
"The Tower, upright." The elderly man called out. "There is going to be sudden change in your life Ryuzaki, a revelation or disaster you may not wish to seek." L huffed, muttering under his breath.
"I don't believe in these tarot cards anyway, there is little scientific evidence to back up their usage."
Watari's only sign of disapproval was a furrowing of his brows as he responded. "But they are uncannily accurate Ryuzaki, and you should know by now that this world cannot be completely explained by science." He gestured for L to choose another card.
The next one had an image of two men holding hands, encompassed by the light of the blazing sun above them. "Ah, the Lovers, also upright." Now L snorted louder.
"Your reading can't be correct today Watari, neither of these two cards seem relevant to our current situation." L pointed out. "I don't have time to pursue relationships, platonic or otherwise. This card simply cannot be connected to me."
The man waved his finger in mock disapproval, placing the card to one side. "You take these too literally. The Lovers can be a sign of impending friendship or significant relationship choices. It could just be a sign of good health. Although I have a feeling it'll be the former." L still appeared sceptical as he went to choose the last card from the spread. However, Watari stopped him.
The elderly man closed his eyes, the hum of energy surrounding him as small droplets of water shimmered on his skin. Even L could sense the thrum of power which rumbled from Watari's body. He then gestured for L to choose his final card.
L grabbed the one closest to him, turning it over. It was a man dancing on the edge of a cliff; it was The Fool – reversed.
"I-I've never had that card drawn before." He mumbled as Watari opened his eyes, nibbling on the nail of his thumb. He tried not to pale - did this mean he was going to be reckless, stupid even? The Detective was a being of logic and rationality, he found it incredibly unnerving that the cards indicated he was going to throw this away.
"Tarot cards are not always in the foreseeable future." Watari tried to reassure. "You still take them at face value; it could be that someone around you makes an impulsive or reckless decision." L tried to feel assuaged by his comments, but couldn't find it in himself to feel better. He didn't want to be a fool, he was L.
"I know Watari, I just have a bad omen about this one..." He sighed, instincts overwhelmingly warning him to flee, to escape from the imminent reality. Even when he had taken on the Kira case, he had not received the card of The Fool. But with an exhale he let the feelings recede, placing his trust in his long time mentor.
"I'll be the one to deal with the omens." The inventor offered with a light smile. "After all, I am a water elemental." L nodded, still chewing on his nail.
"Thank you." He smiled at the elderly man, rising to his feet and slouching to his quarters to finally sleep. Whatever the omen of would entail, L knew it wouldn't be good.
Light stifled a cough as he slowly crawled out of bed, moving into his bathroom and staring at the mirror. His eyes looked hollow as he examined his sculpted features. He felt like a walking skeleton, arms straining as he raised them like they were loaded with iron weights. With overwhelming tiredness he moved away, running a hand through his limp hair.
He looked awful.
Sighing, he turned on his shower and stood beneath the warm liquid, feeling it trickle and weave itself around his clammy skin. It soothed his aching joints, thoughts drifting to the day ahead. He could still feel the imprint of Beyond's hand on his, the raw energy that had flooded through his body, as sharp and defined as electric. Muscles yearning to feel empowered again, Light tried to wash away the sensation with water, scrubbing at his skin. The water seemed hesitant to comply, faltering as he commanded it to settle on his body, serving as a healing layer. He forced it anyway, straining as it finally obeyed and conceded, calming the raging soreness in his body. Luckily for Light, the effort was not particularly taxing on the spirit acolyte.
He wondered where Beyond was.
Would he come back? How did he sneak past his father last night? He was so... Different. Light could feel it before the man had even sat down; the dangerous air, the sensation of overwhelming power just rippling below the surface. Maybe Light should've taken it as a warning sign, but it had only served to entice the acolyte further, intoxicating as a bee to nectar. Beyond was the nightshade that would serve to be his poison.
But why was he helping Light? Did spirit callers actually stick together because they were so few in number? Mikami had mentioned that people found with affinities to spirit were experimented on, their powers neutralised for their own good. Maybe Beyond was trying to help him. Yet the explanation seemed too simple; Light could see the toxicity in the world, how it oozed with corruption. Why would Beyond be any different? Everyone has their own agenda, even he did. It was unlikely that the other spirit caller was being kind with no other motive.
Letting the water trickle away with a sigh, he shut off the shower and stepped out. He hated not knowing, not having the chance of gaining the upper hand. Even with the realisation that he would be more powerful than others, he still felt weak. Dragging a towel around his shoulders, he heated the fabric to help him dry off quicker.
The sound of knocking drew him out of his sad stupor.
"Light? I need to talk to you." Soichiro's voice filtered in, a frustrated frown creasing Light's forehead.
"Not now, Dad!" He called out, reaching for some clean clothes.
"It's important." Soichiro was now stood outside the bathroom door, foot tapping with his impatience. Light sighed, knowing he wasn't going away.
"Can't it wait a couple of minutes?" Fumbling with his boxers, he saw the door knob rattling. Trying not to groan loudly, he kept the towel wrapped around his shoulders and yanked the door open.
Soichiro almost crashed through the doorframe. "What is it?" Light snapped, clearly peeved he had no time to tend to his hair and be left in peace. Why today, of all days? He was completely exhausted…
"I want to ask you a few questions about what happened to you last night." His father spoke calmly, leaning against the door and placing his hands in his pockets. He took the opportunity to assess his son's condition, noting the pale complexion and bags hanging under his eyelids.
"Nothing, why? I went out for a few drinks with friends after finding out about my affinity." Light explained smoothly, forcing his body to remain rigid in case he sagged to the floor with his weariness.
"Matsuda saw you collapse." Soichiro said flatly, eyes boring into Light's as he tried to detect any signs of lying in his son's expression. Light swore internally, but made sure not to grimace. Shit, time to play this off.
He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his damp hair with his palm. "Yeah I had a little too much to drink. I guess I went overboard, I'm sorry Dad." He sounded genuinely apologetic, but the only reason he was sorry was because he got caught out. And by Matsuda, of all people. "I'm definitely paying for it today." He pointed to his sunken features.
Soichiro seemed appeased for now, seeing as Light's rather flimsy explanation actually made sense. "Who was the man who Matsuda said you left with? He didn't recognise him as one of your university friends."
Fuck, now this was going to be hard to explain. "He's Takada's boyfriend. She went home early, so I hung out with him for a little longer." He lied through his teeth, retaining his implacable smile as he started to dry his hair. Light couldn't maintain eye contact with his Father any longer.
"Is he a student too? What affinity does he have? Are him and Takada serious?" He probed, raising a sceptical eye at Light's explanation of meeting the mysterious man.
"He's a water priest, and the rest is none of your business." Light warned, causing Soichiro to become yet even more suspicious of his son's reasoning.
"A priest at such a young age?"
Light nodded immediately. "Yeah, both he and Kiyomi took their priest exams at the same time, they're both qualified. I'm hoping I'll be a fire priest soon enough too." Light had learned over the past couple of days that there was a level of experience each person had with their affinity. Everyone started as an acolyte, but when one can control their abilities to a significant extent, they can take their priest exams. Only masters of their elements could be called elementals like his Dad, however. It caused Light to wonder if Beyond was an acolyte, priest or an elemental of spirit; he couldn't simply compare him to other spirit callers to find out…
"Light…" He began, unsure how to proceed. "I don't want to discourage you from your ambitions, but you should be more careful with your abilities and who you talk to. You know there's a killer hunting people who are particularly gifted with their affinities." Soichiro warned, placing a strong hand on his son's shoulder. Light resisted the urge to back away in irritation.
"I'll be fine, Dad. The elemental I met at a testing clinic said he'd train me. He's called Mikami, and he's a lawyer." Light added, knowing it would please his Dad that he was appearing to be responsible. Soichiro nodded in approval.
"Ah, Teru Mikami. I have encountered him before on many cases. He's a good man." Soichiro affirmed. "And it's unlikely Kira will strike the same clinic twice, I suppose." He murmured, causing Light to smirk to himself.
"Yeah. You're probably just overreacting Dad." He covered his Father's palm with his own, replacing his smirk with a bright smile. Soichiro nodded again, stepping back and dusting off his suit.
"Well then, I apologise for worrying my Son. Let me know how your training goes with Mikami." He bowed slightly as he left Light in peace.
Finally able to get dressed, Light let out a sigh of relief. That could've gone disastrously. All he needed to do now was tell Kiyomi that he'd told his father that she had a boyfriend (and that no, it wasn't him), and see if he could locate Beyond, somehow.
But for the moment, all Light could do was roll back into bed and pass out, bones aching for a rest after the exchange with his Father.
Beyond sat in an abandoned warehouse, cordoned off from industrial use due to significant levels of asbestos. Not that Beyond particularly cared; it meant he didn't have to murder anyone to find a place to hide out. He'd decorated it with the bare essentials, the furniture centred around a chalk pentacle he had drawn on the stone floor. He had originally murdered the receptionist because he knew she was one of L's rats, bribed out of time in prison in return for keeping a watchful eye over Teru Mikami and the adolescents that came to Kanto's biggest clinic. But he'd been hoping that she'd held some sort of power he could've used, but the woman had been element-less; He'd done her a favour by ending her pitiful life.
But who would he strike next?
Stepping into the circle – being careful not to scuff any of its edges- he drew out a knife made of dark obsidian, carefully dragging it down his arm. A trail of blood oozed in its wake, dripping into the pentacle's centre as he began to chant.
"Celestial spirits, heed the call of my blood." The liquid that had pooled on the floor appeared to evaporate, consumed by the chalk in the circle and turning it a dark pink.
"Divine souls, I am your capturer and master." Soft wails could be heard as he held his arm out, the red in his eyes sparking even brighter. "Yield to me!" Raw power reverberated in his voice, the very foundations of the building shaking as he shouted.
The two apparitions that were manifesting in the circle latched onto his arm, closing his wound and kneeling at his feet. One took the form of a teenage girl with brown pigtails, pulsing with a brown and green aura. She remained in the north area of the circle, smile rueful as she was forced to obey. The second was another young boy, dressed in all white as he curled his hair around his finger. He knelt on Beyond's east side, staring at him with bored eyes. His whole being seemed weightless, barely tangible as white light emanated from his form.
Beyond took a step to the east, centring his attention onto the boy. "I command you to lend me your power, search for this man." Out of his pocket he drew a single chesnut hair, one he'd collected from the unconscious acolyte the previous night. He held it out to the air spirit, who carefully grasped it. After a few moments of silence, the being shut its eyes as the white glow grew stronger, almost blinding. Beyond could feel the air around him lifting, sweeping him into a different environment, the concrete walls fading. Instead of darkness, the sun shined brightly on his head, peering at the exterior of a brick house. Outside, a man with a crop of black hair stood with a notepad, peeking over the fence occasionally. He was clearly trying not to look conspicuous as he fiddled with his phone, as if he were waiting for someone.
"Take me inside." Beyond ordered, as he felt himself pushed through the house's boundaries. He bee-lined for the stairs, going to the room at the very end of the corridor. He walked through the walls to assess the situation.
Light was fast asleep as Beyond's projection watched him intently, noticing the boy looked significantly more well rested than he had merely hours before. Good, his spirit affinity was helping him recover quickly from his exhaustion. It wouldn't be long before he could approach him again.
It was all Beyond needed to see, breaking his connection to the air spirit and returning to the dusty room with a harsh snap. Closing the circle, he dismissed the spirits as he slotted the blade back into its holder.
He knew the Yagami family (or Light) was being watched for some reason, but that wouldn't stop him claiming the acolyte.
Light was destined to be his.
L scrolled through the names of the suspects listlessly. After the tarot reading, he couldn't help but feel pessimistic about his search for the spirit acolyte and Beyond. He couldn't even confirm if Beyond was Kira, knowing that he often teased and joked about killing people to throw L off the scent of the real killer. And his list of people who had visited the clinic had yielded no anomalous results yet.
He pored through it again, starting from the top. Misa Amane – water acolyte. The up and coming model had made a scene at a magick club in Kanto by helping the DJ manipulate the water from the speakers and soaking the people inside. Some had complained of catching a cold, but none would dare whine in her presence. Apart from her unusually successful career, L nor the woman tailing her could identify anything suspicious.
The next was a teen with bright red hair and goggles, known to L for low-level hacking. He had presented as an earth acolyte, using his newfound abilities to try and drive his car whilst intoxicated. Of course, what the acolyte hadn't realised was that his affinities would not work within what was essentially a metal cage, causing him to be arrested by police the previous night. When questioned, he was incredibly cocky and intelligent – traits he similarly held to Kira – but displayed no affinities to the other elements. He had agreed to be released if he hacked for the NPA, with Soichiro taking the young man under his wing. L was sure that if the boy had been the spirit acolyte, he would've used his powers to escape the cell – L had deliberately made it so only a spirit acolyte could manoeuvre a breakout. He would be ruled out, for now.
That left him with three other suspects, with only one standing out to him. Out of the list, Light Yagami was clearly the brightest, having achieved nothing but perfect scores in his academic life. He'd also managed to be the freshman representative at To-Oh university, a feat that L admitted wasn't easy. But this didn't prove he was the spirit acolyte; it proved nothing.
L was working on a hunch, and he hated it.
After speaking with Light's father, he'd discovered that Light had also been at the same club as Amane, wondering if there was a connection to the two. He'd learned that Light had collapsed at the bar, with Matsuda (who L thought was too old to be frequenting such bars...) checking to see if he was alright. He'd been with a man described as the boyfriend of Kiyomi Takada, who was close to Light. He'd decided to have the girl traced too, in case she turned out to be suspicious - which she already was for becoming a priestess at a young age. But L couldn't help but feel something didn't add up in Soichiro's account of Light's night at the club. L didn't need glasses to see that Light wanted to be perceived as nothing but perfect, so it seemed odd to him that he would pass out a bar. It was far too irresponsible for someone so pristine, especially as the son of the Chief of the NPA. L knew it was still a hunch, but it was all he had.
"L." Matsuda called out. The Detective span on his chair, facing the officer with mild irritation. What was Matsuda going to annoy him with now?
But L's annoyance dissipated when he saw that Matsuda's irises were a clear white, expression devoid of his usual chirpiness. His tone was also much deeper than normal; Matsuda was experiencing a prophecy. L knew replying was useless, waiting for the air priest to continue.
"Death is coming. Another death." He droned, staring blankly at L as he spoke. "They will be consumed by their own fire. Kira is coming." Matsuda then jerked, breathing rapidly as his eyes returned to their usual colour, blinking at the Detective in confusion.
"What just happened?" He mumbled, blearily rubbing at his eyes as he yawned.
"You had a prophecy." L stated blandly, trying to keep a tremble out of his voice as he turned away. "But as usual, it was nothing important." He muttered, shaking slightly as he rose to his feet and hunched over. He needed to think about what Matsuda had foretold, a deep anxiety pitting itself into his stomach. All he knew was that someone with an affinity to fire was going to be killed by Beyond. He didn't know who, when or where; He was still clueless to the inevitable.
L thought he was downtrodden before – now he was more pessimistic than ever.
A/N: Things are beginning to spice up now! What's Beyond going to do with Light? Who's going to die next?
But don't worry for any L fans out there, his luck will pick up very soon!
Thank you all so much for reviewing and reading this fic! It means the world to me :)
~Max