Purple hues slid open to clear from the grogginess of sleep, blinking twice, she noted that she wasn't in her room but instead Watari's office. Shifting her gaze up, she noted the poor old man was slumbering as well. She had slept in his lap by accident, yet he didn't disturb her the entire night. This caused a smirk to quirk her lips, until she remembered that today was the funeral, glancing at the computer to take note of the time, she quietly slipped out from his lap and gave a kiss to his cheek. Grabbing a spare blanket, which he had placed over the back of the chair yet had fallen down, she tucked him in and giggled softly.
Quickly making her way back up to her room, she took a shower and got dressed properly in her black kimono. Her hair pulled up into a bun, and comfortable sandles well hidden. She didn't want to be uncomfortable during the funeral, but knew that some people would scowl at her for doing such a thing. She didn't care honestly, not anymore. Her features resorted to one that matched S's greatly, she felt cold for the first time in her entire life. Everyone in her family..gone..shaking her head from such thoughts, she walked out with her purse strung over her shoulder to notice the elevator doors opening. Cold features broke to one of surprise and slight awe.
"S- I mean..C-Crystal.." It was the first time Yoki had seen S in anything other than sweats. The woman wore a black dress that ended around her knees, a small slit of about two inches running up the side. She wore lace stockings over her legs, heels of three inches on her feet; the dress having a scoop neckline with tank top sleeves. Her hair pulled up into a braided bun, a few blonde strands curled accordingly. She had put on a bit of make up, and placed in blue eye contacts to hide her silver gaze. Looking up to Yoki, she offered the most stained yet comforting smile the poor woman could muster. "Ready?"
The funeral went smoothly, everything was in order and even S had to admit that it was done in a sweet way. They didn't push the fact that she was dead and gone, just moved on waiting for the rest of her family to join her when their time had come. Buddhist's words, not hers. The two had grabbed something to eat, and had begun walking back to the parking lot where they had parked before taking the bus out of the city. They both remained silent, Yoki thinking on her mother and S leaving her to such thoughts; yet something kept tickling the back of S's mind, she didn't recognize the feeling, not as of yet, but it certainly seemed familiar.
"Wait what?!" They wanted to do what? Matsuda was giving L a bewildered stare, the Chief and Light having similar expressions. "You want me to go on Sakura TV, and say that I know who Kira is?!"
"Yes...I do believe that is what I just said...Om!" Catching a falling sugar cube with his teeth, L rolled it around for a while. "Light will contact the Yotsuba group, using my name..." This was yet another test, what would Light Yagami do? "Because of Misa Amane...we have the knowledge that Higuchi is the Yotsuba Kira...however they remain unaware. We will use this to gain their co-operation."
Watching as Yoki emerged from Watari's office and dressed in a traditional mourning kimono, L felt his lips quirk downwards. "I have already obtained three hours of airtime from Demegawa..."
"So I have no say in this, do I?" Sure, Matsuda wanted to help, but...this had the very real possibility of him dying.
"No." And L was not going to budge on that fact.
It was rotten. It was desolate. It hadn't changed for thirty-five years.
Medomai lazily crossed the vast and empty expanse of the Shinigami Realm. Having just awoken from a three and a half decade sleep, it wanted to entertain itself. Several lower ranked shinigami scuttled in haste to avoid making contact with the eldest of their race.
Well, besides the King himself.
Medomai's power was obvious. It refused to become a shell, a skeleton. And in this defiance, it wrapped itself in a layer of eternally half rotten flesh. It was the only true genderless being in existence, It's spot on the neutral plane obvious to those who dared get close enough. It was aware of many loopholes that not even Justin was, and the golden skeleton was the keeper of the Rules of the Death Note.
Eventually Medomai came to rest in front of a Viewer to the Human Realm. Taking out a scroll, it watched and waited for a mortal interesting enough to cross the Viewer's vision. Eventually a male appeared, driving what appeared to be a semi-truck.
Now to alot of shinigami, this human wouldn't at all be interesting. But no one knew how Medomai's mind worked. No one dared ask. The rotting shinigami was nearly as powerful as the King himself...and almost just as old.
Materializing a quill, Medomai unrolled it's scroll and began writing. The resulting pile up would serve as at least a moment of entertainment.
A wicked and fanged grin peeked from under the large goat skull. It wanted to be there. Call it a sense of whimsy. Leaping through the viewer, Medomai landed on the truck-bed.
That feeling was only growing larger, and soon it became so unbearable that she had stopped and growled. Yoki stopped as well, startled by such a feral sound coming from the quiet woman. "Crystal? What's wrong?" Then it hit her, the chill that ran down her spine, it came on so quick that she immediately looked back to notice a semi truck heading straight for them. S's eyes widened immediately, and her body went into action before she could even piece together a plan. Grabbing Yoki's arm, she spun the girl around and jumped, both girls landed harshly on the ground, S on top of Yoki in a protective manner. A groan left her lips, and she looked down to the concrete, what happened?
Sitting up, she looked over to Yoki, and noticed the shallow breathing, a pool of blood beginning to shape around the young girl's head. S's heart nearly stopped. "Y-Yoki?...Yoki..wake up Yoki.." She shook the girl's shoulder, fear etched in her face. "Yoki please..Yoki...YOKI!"
Light seemed interested in this plan, though knew that pretending to be L wasn't an easy task. He knew quite well that he needed to choose his words carefully, and as long as Matsuda didn't me-..
He glanced down to his pocket, noting that it was ringing again, that's strange. No one usually called him, well other than Misa. Expecting the chirpy girl on the other end, he was surprised when a frantic voice answered instead.
"Hel-"
"Light! Let me talk to Ryuuzaki, now! It's an emergency."
Blinking, he looked to L. "Who is thi-.."
"Damn it Light, it's Crystal, Yoki, she's hurt! Now give the fucking phone to Ryuuzaki!"
Startled, and gaining a sudden fear in the pits of his stomach, he handed the phone to L immediately. "Crystal says Yoki's hurt." The worry was obvious in his voice, sure the girl could be a bit abrasive, but she was still..vital in some form. Plus, even he hated to say it, but the girl grew on him. Even Chief Yagami grew tense, wondering what the hell was going on. As soon as L's ear touched the phone, S talked.
"Yoki and I were nearly hit by a semi-truck, she busted her head, we're heading to the hospital close to HQ. She won't wake up Ryuuzaki, I think she's unconscious. ..Damn it, I think it was Kira." It made a bit of sense at the time.
And it was right. The truck swerved after almost hitting the two human females, and collided with a bus. This in turn caused the bus to roll several times, crushing a small sports car along with the occupants inside.
Medomai had just enacted a very rare circumstance, in which the intended victim of a Death Note causes the deaths of many. Despite their names not being written, their lifespan is still transferred to the shinigami, along with the lifespan of the intended human. It wasn't at all known to any other shinigami besides the King himself. Medomai actually wondered if the King even knew of this.
Leaping from the now ruined truck-bed Medomai turned, seeing once again the two initially intended victims of it's loophole. The first, blonde woman seemed relatively unharmed. The second however... It would sit and observe. For some reason, Medomai wished to observe this human's death. This confused the shinigami, as it cared little about the group of humans either dead or dying behind it.
This was exactly why he never got close to anyone. His thought process from long ago came unbidden to the forefront of his mind. Either something happened to them...or he had to get rid of them his own self. This was a case of the former.
"...Comfort yourself in knowing that if it was Kira, she would have died on the spot." Unless this was a new and sadistic Kira. Which L very much doubted. "Stay with her...don't leave. There is a chance she will awaken." He was comforting himself, as much as he was Crystal.
That didn't comfort the Chief or Light any, died on the spot? "What's going on?" The Chief finally spoke up, gripping the arms of his chair tightly.
S calmed once L spoke calmly, and rationally. She sighed shakingly, realizing that her emotions were peeking through a lot more lately. This was..troublesome. "Right..right.." Something still didn't feel right, it almost felt like something was right over their shoulder, the cold feeling had refused to shift. "...It's still cold." The sentence was spoken off handedly, as if an after thought. She gritted her teeth and sighed once again. "Alright, I'll contact you once more when we arrive at the hospital." She kept a firm hold on Yoki's hand as the ambulance drove in to aid.
"Hey! HEY! Over here!"
And she flipped the phone shut, waving down to paramedics quickly as they rushed over. Giving all the required information needed, one that she had studied closely as the rest of the team, they were off to the hospital in little to no time.
Yoki seemed to not stir in the least, and looked as if she were sleeping peacefully. Her breathing had increased slightly when the oxygen mask was placed on her face, though she still did not stir. Keeping a good grip on Yoki's phone, the other hand wrapped around the young girl's, S stared at Yoki's features for even the slightest bit of change.
Still cold? It was a relatively chilly night, according to several weather stations. Perhaps because of the emotional trauma, S was spouting random things? Nodding and giving a sound that he understood, L flipped the phone closed and handed it back to Light. Turning with a serious expression, he spoke to all present.
"Yoki has suffered a head injury, after narrowly avoiding being hit by a semi-truck... Crystal reports that she won't awaken, and that they are heading to the Hospital nearby." Tone quiet, he fiddled with a spoon before continuing. "We are still on an investigation...our plan cannot cease, we are so terribly close to catching this Kira."
It was callous, almost cruel in Matsuda's opinion. But he remembered that he had seen L on Yoki's floor the night before, was the Detective close to her? If so, this had to be hurting L, even if said man didn't show anything. "...Don't worry Ryuuzaki...I'll do my job. You do yours...Yoki will be fine, she has Crystal, and all of us in spirit!" Noting the time, Matsuda headed for the elevator. "I'll be heading to Sakura TV..."
L, for once, was truly thankful to the young ex-officer. Nodding, he spun back around, the chain once again on his wrist jingling, as if to remind him on who he truly suspected. He needed to notify Watari of both their plans and Yoki's condition.
The shinigami had stepped into the back of the ambulance through the doors. It was a few inches behind the blonde, and inch or two off to her left. It seemed that the one with black hair wouldn't die this night. Her vital signs had become stable once the human paramedics hooked her to various machines.
Strangely enough, this didn't actually bother Medomai. Yet it still wished to stay around and watch things unfold. Who could blame it? The shinigami realm was stagnant.
The blonde may have attributed to the shinigami's curiosity. She seemed to tense, as if she knew Death's presence.
"Yeah Ryuuzaki, Yoki's a strong girl. she will make it." Especially with Crystal beside her, Yoki seemed to be a bit more active when around either S, L, or Watari; so it was likely that with S by her side, Yoki would pull through this..hell she'd pull through it otherwise. Chief Yagami gave a nod in response before returning to work when Matsuda said his farewells.
It was then Light got to work, planning on how he would pull this off.
That feeling was getting stronger, and S refused to ignore it any longer; this was possibly the strongest the cold had ever traveled down her spine, so /something/ was near. All at once, seemingly by her command, something ghastly and monsterous formed in her peripheral. Instantly her head snapped in the direction, glaring harshly at the spot that the shinigami floated invisible to her human gaze. She refused to turn her head, almost snarling in the direction of air.
'Oh, I know you're there, you can't hide from me; not with this curse in my DNA.' The thought made a cruel gleam enter her gaze, though it shifted instantly once more when Yoki gave the most gentle squeeze she could. Worry now etched her features, as she gave a gentle squeeze back. "It's okay Yoki, I'll make sure you get through this. I'm so sorry..." Why couldn't she protect her better? S knew exactly where she made the mistake, her hand had not covered the back of Yoki's head during the fall; sure she would still be unconscious but not to this point, where blood stained the stretcher below her head.
Was she capable of protecting people if they ended up like this? How could she? This was all...her...
Something wet was hitting her hand repeatedly, and as she looked down to note of the clear liquid, a single hand lifted to wipe her cheek, she was crying? But..how...?
"Yoki...please wake up.." Laying her forehead against the girl's hand, tears continued to fall as a tightness over took her throat. "Please.."
They seemed to deem it necessary to give him comforting words. Was it that obvious, his concern? Narrowing obsidian orbs at the video feed from Sakura TV, L bit his thumb and remained silent. Demegawa seemed eager, and the crew of the station was setting up the frosted glass panels that would obscure Matsuda from view.
L already knew that this wasn't going to go exactly how they planned it...but he wasn't getting a bad feeling in his gut either. All he could do was sit and wait.
"Light...call Mr. Namikawa again...inform him of the broadcast." Once Light did so, L would give further instruction.
Medomai stared straight into the human's blue eyes. So she was aware that a shinigami, or some equality thereof, was standing next to her? Very interesting... Perhaps it would follow this blonde instead. However, Medomai would not leave this, Yoki, alone... the girl held a strange pull that intrigued the neutral god of death.
There was a reason that Medomai had not yet identified the blonde. It enjoyed the wait, the reveal. It was a very patient creature, finding entertainment in the seeming lull of inactivity. The feminine looking shinigami found no entertainment in immediately knowing. Only when it decided to kill, did it use the Shinigami Eyes.
Humans...their aura always became tainted with whatever emotion they felt. The blonde's sorrow brushed Medomai's senses, the guilt following close behind. Blinking crimson tinted orbs, the shinigami crouched, settling itself until they reached the hospital. Where various paramedics ran through it's frame to grab the handles of the gurney, pulling the unconscious girl out and into the center of healing.
Reaching out a finger that appeared as if the skin had been torn away, it moved a piece of blonde hair. A way of asking, 'Do you wish to challenge me?' The cruelty filled gaze had almost excited Medomai.
Watari, after getting the call, fully awoke. Softly snoozing in the cushioned chair, he simply had dreamt of the easier times in Wammy House. Finding Yoki gone, and himself tucked in, a fond smile reached his lips. However such an expression didn't last long.
Yoki had been injured coming home from the funeral. From what L had relayed, she was unconscious, and would not awaken. With swiftness that hid his age, Watari placed all monitors on stand-by, folded the blanket, and set off towards the Hospital.
Arriving in the entrance hallway, he approached the front desk. A kindly smile was given to the receptionist. "...Please, I have heard my grand-daughter injured. Do you yet know the placement of Yoki Kai?" The young red-head softly shook her head. "She hasn't yet been placed. She just arrived moments ago..." The only thing he could do was wait until she was placed into a room. Nodding his thanks, Watari went to sit in the waiting area.
As Yoki was pulled into the hospital, S was following closely behind, but came to a full stop when she felt a piece of her hair move. That had stopped her cold, she felt her heart sink and the chill become frigged. Her body tempeture had dropped from the touch, forcing her to wheel around and glare hell fire where Medomai crouched. During the time when S laid her head on Yoki's hand, her contacts had fallen out, leaving the silver gaze to show a horrendous amount of emotion. "...Shinigami..stay away from Yoki." And then she was off, searching for the young girl currently being aided.
"Ma'am! You can't go in there!" A nurse stopped her, panic introduced to S's features as she was grabbed. "Where is she?! Is she going to be okay?!" The nurse had a good hold on her, "We won't know until a Doctor looks at her, please ma'am just go si-.." As the nurse pulled her hand away, S noticed a crimson staining her white skin. "Ma'am you're injured, please come with me." A snarl rose, "I'm fine, please just tell me where Yoki is." The nurse practically dragged poor S off, and under some pain medication she was finally looked at. A large gash dragged from one shoulder down toward her ass, several cuts and bruises presented in various parts of her body. She was stitched up, wrapped, and given more medication when she placed L's insurance as a way to cover it.
After about an hour, S joined the waiting room looking more depressed than ever. Sitting down in the closest seat to the door, her head lowered as hair would cast a shadow over her face. Tears began to fall again, a distant thought that if anyone from the team saw her they'd probably be shocked, and L would tease her, was tossed aside. She shifted carefully as to not remove the stitches and closed her eyes. Throughout the excitement she had not noticed that her body had been damaged, adrenaline was such a wonderful thing, no?
Light nodded to L's request, going over to the untraceable phone, he picked it up and dialed the number. For a split moment, he began to grow nervous before letting it slip away. Waiting for the dial tone to stop, Namikawa answered after five rings. "Namikawa speaking."
"It's L, before I go on are you by yourself?"
Namikawa opened his eyes and looked over to his left where Midou sat, looking a bit more nervous than usual. "No."
"Then act like its a normal call again."
"I don't think there is any need for that, one of the people here with me was just expressing his suspensions about your last phone call."
Midou leaned in, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Who is that on the line, Namikawa?" Namikawa lowered the phone slightly to allow his voice to be heard by both gentlemen in the room. "It's L." The shock that crossed their features was slightly amusing, though Namikawa was reminded of how he acted in the meeting room. "L, Midou and Shimura are here as well, I'm reasonably certain that neither of them are Kira as well. In fact they seem fed up with him at this point, I'll choose to speak for them and decide that they will stand back and watch your face off with Kira, as well."
At this point Light lowered the phone to get confirmation from the real L, looking down to him with more determination. Would L trust Namikawa?
Medomai couldn't help itself. A long rasping cackle unwound itself from the half-rotting throat of the shinigami. Yes, certainly this blonde would have more entertainment value for now. But...
Following the gurney that Yoki laid upon, Medomai soon stood in the doorway, watching as the young girl was hooked to various monitors, IV's and the like. Her head had been wrapped, a small spot of crimson had begun to leak through. Three steps and the lanky creature was at her bedside.
The last medical personnel had left, and so Medomai decided that perhaps she'd take a page from Ryuk's book. Sliding one of the few spare scrolls into Yoki's fingertips, the shinigami grinned. If this proved to entertain, then Medomai would be giving Ryuk several apples. Apparently he was addicted.
Until L called, and said that he was needed, Watari would remain at the hospital. It had been almost thirty minutes, and he looked up to do one of his many hobbies. People Watching. Many others were in the waiting room, anxious to hear news of their loved ones. Apparently, from what he had overheard, the semi-truck crashed into a bus...which rolled over a sedan.
He felt for all present, as he was sure that not many actually survived. A rolling bus... Emerging from his thoughts, Watari saw S, bent over and ... crying. It made him smile...perhaps L then, is able to feel more than what even Watari thought? Standing, he sat quietly beside her, placing his hand gently upon her head, he pulled her to him. No words needed to be said.
Glancing at Light, he took a bite of cake and nodded. "Hm...That's fine..."
Listening as Light spoke of catching Kira, and needing a favour, L couldn't help his amusement when Namikawa responded.
"So then I guess Higuchi is done for." Light's eyes widened, and it seemed the kid couldn't stop the words tumbling from his mouth. "What, so you knew?"
A chuckle from Namikawa reflected L's amusement. "So it seems that even the great L can be fooled." Misa chirped, and seemed to fawn over Namikawa. "He must be smart to figure out that Higuchi is Kira! I mean, I always thought so from looking at his face~"
"...No, Light just screwed up." And with this, he went back to his cake. The plan would be explained, and hopefully, it would go off well enough. It really all depended on Namikawa at this point.
Yoki's mind was currently darker than black, she felt entirely numb and uncaring for it as well. It was peaceful, yet disturbing, comforting, yet nerve racking. So, she remained in neutrality under the numb feeling grew into tingles somewhere along her hand. Fingers twitched, and purple eyes slid open. For a moment everything was blurred, then it cleared and she saw something horrendous, it's rotting flesh and bright crimson eyes making her heart pound and blood pressure sky rocket. A doctor and nurses rushed to see the trouble when the alarms went off, but found only Yoki staring in pure fear at air.
Her mouth seemed slightly gaped, but slowly they moved to form words. They were easy to decipher, especially to someone like Medomai. "What..are...you?" She was obviously scared, but also quite intrigued. This beast couldn't be seen by the others, so she knew that it had to be supernatural, but what?
S tensed when a hand was placed on head, and then she was brought over to the body of someone who smelt familiar. His presence was warm, so she relaxed and began crying once more, the smell slowly coming to memory. It was Watari..usually S would've straightened up and hid such emotions deep within her mind, but for reasons unknown to her, she simply let herself cry. Maybe it was time S allowed her emotions to run wild, such a traumatic experience called for it, right?
"I'm so sorry."
This would be the only time someone would actually /hear/ her apologize for anything, it felt weird just saying it to someone who was conscious.
A look of irritation passed Light's features, he realized his mistake and it was quite stupid, so brushing it aside, he continued. "I'm baiting Higuchi with a staged TV special tonight, Sakura TV. A few minutes into the program, I want you to contact Higuchi, tell him to tune it, do that for me and I won't go after you or any of the other five. As for the others, Kida, Takahashi, and Ooi, if they try to do anything make sure to stop them."
Namikawa took the orders with grace, though to be involved was a bit troublesome if Kira wasn't captured, guess he would have to take a leap of faith. "Alright I understand." Hanging the phone up, he looked forward with his facial features remaining monotone. "It seems it really was Higuchi, he'll be captured tonight, apparently." A look of amusement was barely breaching through.
Another member of Yotsuba was quite pleased with himself, laughter escaping his lips as he held a glass of red wine between three fingers. "It's been about three days since I stopped killing criminals, that should be good enough, shouldn't it?" He lifted the glass slightly, looking over to the picture lying on his coffee table, Misa's modeling photo smiling up at him. "Now when I marry Misa Amane, The Second Kira, I'll have the shinigami eyes. With that power in my hands, Yotsuba will be under my control." He laughed again, quite amused with himself on how well everything worked out for him.
That is, until his phone rang.
Quietening down, Higuchi reached out and picked the device up, answering it with slight boredom. On the other end, Namikawa spoke up.
"Higuchi, we got a problem, turn on the television, check out Sakura TV."
"Hm?" Reaching for his remote, he flipped the TV on and switched it to the Sakura channel.
Several human stepped through the shinigami, none noticed. Blood-red orbs glinted inside of the empty goat sockets, a grin lifted the corners of a mouth without lips. Pure fear caressed Medomai's senses, but it was accompanied by curiosity. What it was? "Hnn~" A rough layer of gravel coated every sound, word, and utterance that the creature made. It sounded as if it had it's throat slit, and the resulting scar tissue impeded smooth vocalization. "...I am what you humans call, Shinigami...but be calm, Yoki...I do not come for you."
Watching as the young woman's eyes rolled as soon as her question had been answered, Medomai stepped away, as if her frame had been in the way of the humans trying to wake the fainted girl. Eventually, her heart rate and pulse oximeter went to normal levels as she once again slept in the smooth waters of unconsciousness. Yes...it was now sure that this would be entertaining.
"Shh..." Watari wouldn't even hear of an apology. "...You may be a weapon, Crystal. But weapons break, get chips, and need repairs... It does not make them any less deadly for doing so." Having the feeling of why she may have been apologizing, he smiled.
"And there are always those few, who are able to gently piece them back together, and dare I say make them more powerful than before..." His aged fingers ran subconsciously through her dyed tresses. He didn't try to tell her she was human. With some, one had to cater to their views, to get them to listen. "...Many even misfire..."
Almost deciding to ignore the ringing phone in his pocket, Watari sighed and dug it out, noting of L's IP address. "Yes, Ryuuzaki?" The detective was simply warning the elder that he may need his services shortly. "Very well..."
The receptionist came up to them. "I'm sorry to interrupt... But your grand-daughter has just been placed in room 318 of the ICU..." Bowing quickly she left.
Looking at S, Watari gave a small smile. "I suppose we should visit...I may have to leave soon."
"So you are saying one of those people is Kira, right?"
Two figures at behind frosted glass, the subtitle for the broadcast being that of, 'Kira's Identity Revealed!' Soon, a mechanically altered voice gave an affirmative answer. "Yes! I have a lot of evidence to prove it too!"
Higuchi couldn't help but sneer. 'What the hell is this...' "C'mon, Namikawa, it's probably a hoax...after all this is Sakura Television!"
Hearing a negative, Higuchi scowled. "At the beginning of the show he said that he overheard a meeting of eight people..."
'What?' Did they have a traitor in the company? Attention being pulled to the flatscreen on his wall once again, Higuchi felt himself tense. "And one of them was killed! The victim...was Mr. H." His heart sank to his knees. Hatori... Whoever this was, they needed to be dealt with, and dealt with fast.
If they knew this much...it was completely possible that one of the other six was on that stage...but...
"Mr. H wanted to leave the meetings...this is why he was killed by Kira." No...not any of the others...there was no benefit for them to do something like this... Wait!
The frosted panel that obscured the man from view got knocked over...That was Misa's Manager! Matsui! But how?! Even after Higuchi watched him fall, he wrote his name in the Death Note exactly like it was on his business card. Damnit. It was an alias.
"Sir, we are terribly sorry for that accident...we can stop if you want." Matsuda couldn't help it, his heart was hammering in his chest, a million miles an hour. Was he going to die? No...it seemed not. Sighing, he spoke the negative. "No. I knew I was going to be in danger going into this. I want to stop Kira by any means necessary...even if it means I get killed." Finding the words sliding easily through his lips, Matsuda knew this was the truth.
"Stay tuned for Kira's true identity!"
His words seemed to impact S in such a way that she had stopped crying, his soothing tone had calmed her racing heart and scrambled mind. Her thoughts slowly came back together, and processed to an amusing thought. 'This is why Yoki calls him Grandfather, huh?' She never had any family to call her own, forced to train both mind and body to a point over abusive, only to be brought back down like a horrid high. So, she never had the love of another, she never had that comfort of someone holding her and letting her cry.
She remembered her first case, it was clear as day, at this point her emotions weren't locked in a vault and she lost the key. It was a small case, just to start her out, but she had captured the criminal within three weeks; she remembered exactly how he begged her to let him go, that he only did it for his family. He had robbed a few banks in order to pay off debt and run away with his young daughter and his wife to another country. She had heartlessly thrown him in jail, only to find out the next day that he was killed in a gang fight.
She had cried alone, only one person had come in and told her to quieten down. That she didn't deserve to cry for his loss, she had done her job and that's what counted. The words were hardly comforting, as that was when she started to grow a thicker skin and lock away each emotion one by one. It didn't take long before she had killed for the first time, the shock had caused her entire body to lock up, yet they refused to comfort her on it. It didn't matter what happened to her, she was beaten, cut, shot, nothing truly mattered to those bastards. They just cleaned her up and shoved her back into the fight against all evil.
Maybe that's why she ran away, because no one had ever been there for her, why should she be there for them?
But with Yoki, and now Watari, it was different. In some ways they were there, more so Yoki than Watari simply because she refused to get close; Yoki's kindness had breached through all the walls she had built up. Somehow along the lines between when they first met till now, S had begun to care for the girl more than just a victim of circumstance, but like a friend, a best friend.
When the nurse came over and allowed them to know where Yoki resided, and Watari mentioned to visit, S nodded and stood up. "Yeah.." She took a chance, wrapping her hand around the old man's as if she were a child holding her parents hand. She walked quietly beside him, her words spoken softly so others could not listen in. "I've been strong for to long, I've been alone and never had to love of a relative or friend. Until I met Yoki, Ryuuzaki, and you; I was alone, and now Yoki's like this.." She sighed, just to hold back the tears. "I don't want to be alone, it's a painful existence to bear on anyone's shoulders. Ryuuzaki couldn't understand because he's had you, and vice versa. Yoki has had her mother, and now L and you..but I've always been..this. Strong, independent from all other humans. I'm scared to let anyone close, because I'll end up hurting them in the end or they'll hurt me.." She scoffed. "Even the idea of me getting hurt is far fetched..but I have to admit..L's done it before."
She hated appearing so weak, vulnerable and..damsel in distress would be a good series of words. "I don't know what it is about Yoki, she just has this..pull to her, she doesn't judge those that don't deserve it, and she's a smart girl even if she refuses to believe it. Her kindness is far beyond anyone I have met before..she's..different from the rest." That was why S had allowed her to grow so close, her entire being was so much different from the rest, she was truly a good human being; both in mind, spirit and body.
As the two of them entered the room, S felt that same cold chill run down her back, causing her to tense considerably as her tear stained face nearly snarled. "...It's still here.." Those words were whispered, silver eyes glaring around to try and spot it. That was when her eyes laid on a small scroll in her hand, tightly gripped as if her life depended on it. Narrowing her eyes, S released Watari's hand and walked over, as soon as her finger grazed the paper, a split second had passed where she felt a pulse. Looking up, her eyes landed on Medomai, silver hardened to gems as she glared for a moment. Her gaze shifted back down to Yoki, her fingers gently pushing the scroll farther in her grip to hide it from Watari. The old man wouldn't be able to take such a horrendous sight.
"He mentioned earlier that he thought he was going to be killed, he pretended to fall out the apartment window and escaped to a balcony a few floors below." It was impossible, absolutely impossible! Could he be a foreign entertainer and became a manger using his stage name? "If that weren't bad enough, he said he continued to investigate Yotsuba up until now and he's figured out which one of us is Kira. I'm contacting everyone right now to let them know."
Panic was beginning to set in, he was beginning to sweat as his heart raced. "Yeah..right..we'll talk later." Hanging up, he zoned in on the TV as that manager continued to talk. Anger began to build as he slammed his fist onto the coffee table in front of him. 'I have to kill him! ..Wait, Misa knows his face, she's the Second Kira she should know what his real name is.' Pressing speed dial, it began to call Misa.
Misa looked down to her phone as it began to ring, picking up from her place on the couch, she flipped it open and blinked."'It's him..." A scowl came to her pretty features. "Hm!" End!
Grunting, Higuchi snarled. "Aw what the hell!?" He glared at his phone, then glanced up to the TV as the show went on, "This is bad.." His words went through gritted teeth, "Who knows when they'll make the announcement!" Lifting his phone again, he called Midou; "Midou it's me, are you watching Sakura TV? Why don't you call your father and the House of Councilors, have them pull some strings at the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop this broadcast!"
Midou was certain that Higuchi was Kira now, the man was acting panicked, it reminded him of when Higuchi got demoted only worse. "I'm watching but I don't think we can stop it, no one believes this program and we'd only look more suspicious if we stop it. Besides there shouldn't be anything to worry about, the guy revealed his face earlier, everyone already knows its Taro Matsui, Namikawa has already gone ahead and let everyone know to watch the show. Since one of us seven has to be Kira, that means that Taro Matsui should be dead soon, right?"
Revelation and shock plastered itself onto Higuchi's face, 'Of course, I'm the only one who knows or even suspects that Taro Matsui isn't his real name! That means that if I say anything, everyone will figure out the fact that I'm Kira!' After a few moments pause, Higuchi forced out a calm reply. "Yeah, it's true..I'll talk to you later." He hung up, his anger and panic only growing worse. "Damn it!" He dialed for Misa's manager, "Mogei! Where's Misa?"
"Oh Mr. Higuchi, pleasure to hear from you, I'm sorry but Misa-Misa is taking a much needed vacation right now, she should be back oh say tomorrow morning though! You can reach her then!"
"I'm asking you where she is now!" Higuchi was far from amused by this chirpy bastard.
"Well that's private information as she's requested that no one know where she is, I'm sorry, I'll have her contact you tomorrow first thing!"
'Damn! I know his face, I could kill him at any time if I only knew his name!'
"Do you know if Misa's previous manager was an entertainer at any point?"
"Come again?"
"I'm talking about Taro Matsui!"
"Oh!" He gave a brief chuckle, "I was only recently hired so I don't know much about him, but if you need any information I could let you talk with someone from the office. Ah I just remembered, everyone is in Okinawa at the moment, you can try calling the President though!" Once the number was received Higuchi slammed the phone shut and reopened it to dial the number provided to him.
"This is going exactly to plan, it's almost scary." Light stared up at the screen, watching the screen as the scene he planned played out to perfection. "Hn you shouldn't be scared Light, you should be happy."
"This is Higuchi from Yotsuba, that manager's real name isn't Taro Matsui, is it?"
"He's not even pretending to hide what he's looking for, heheh! Stupid Higuchi."
"If he's acting like that it's proof he's beginning to panic."
"Then what was his real name?!"
"I think it was Yamata...no wait...Yamashita, and his first name was..ahn I'm sorry I can't remember." This time Higuchi snapped. "Don't screw with me! Why the hell can't you remember the name of the people you hire?!" The offended tone of the President was only pissing him off more. "Alright no need for that kind of language, I got his personal file back at the office." Through gritted teeth Higuchi snarled out, "Then go back there and get it." This time the President seemed annoyed, "You gotta be kidding me, give me a break, we're on a first company vacation in two years! But if you want to know that badly I'll give you the pin code for the office lock, you can go there yourself and look it up, how's that? The personal files are in the back to the left, you'll find them filed in the bottom drawer, the should all be sorted alphabetically. But I'm pretty sure it was Yamashita." Gritting his teeth together, Higuchi about damn near broke his phone.
'If they're going to announce it at the end of the program, that means I have two hours!
Misa, Light and L all watched the large screen carefully, waiting for any sort of movement from any of the cars. "So..what's he going to do?"
Yanking the drawer open, he grabbed his gun and placed the Death Note inside his briefcase, rushing to the garage to get inside his fastest car. He spun out of the garage when the door was open enough for him to slip through, he didn't even notice a motorcycle following behind him.
"I see Higuchi, he's carrying a single briefcase, I'm in pursuit."
Light leaned against the counter, a bit of excitement beginning to enter his veins now, "Everything's still going according to plan."
"Yes.."
Speeding well above the limit, Higuchi glared forward while watching Sakura TV on the car television. 'I'll kill him, I'll kill him no matter what! I've come this far I won't let them stop me. I'm not giving up until I have everything!" Higuchi snapped again, this one mental as an insane laughter rose above the sound of the engine roaring down the street.
As they walked down the hall, Watari allowed Crystal to gather her thoughts. Squeezing her hand gently, he thought a moment before giving one, very simple statement as reply.
"We cannot be alone for all of our lives. We must reach out. In the hopes that someone will reach back."
He agreed. L couldn't understand being completely alone. However much the pale detective wanted to deny, it just wasn't possible to do so. "...Ryuuzaki is much the same...though his is a learned behaviour...and it is also done out of necessity. You are not known worldwide. You are hidden, thus the term, Spectator." Yes, Watari had poured over her files, simply because of a desire to heal the poor woman. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible.
"Ryuuzaki...In a figurative term, he lies ready upon a chopping block...All aliases that are used have ties to things best left unmentioned. And he shoves many would be allies away, in fear. Paranoia is his only friend, and once upon a time, he even tried to shove poor Yoki away."
Grinning, the old man chortled before looking down to S, in his other hand a kerchief. "Yes, the girl has a presence about her that draws even the coldest close." Offering the cloth, he blinked and tilted his head as Crystal seemed to snarl. "...My dear, whatever is the matter?" Glancing forward, he assumed it was the sight of seeing Yoki in such a state. It tugged on his heart, but soon enough a message came that L needed him to contact various individuals in the Police Force.
Laying the kerchief on a medical stand, he bowed deeply. "I apologize. I must depart... Crystal, I trust you will take good care of Yoki while I am away?" Smiling, he turned and left, not aware that the blonde was now facing a demon of sorts.
Not even a day had passed in the human realm and already was Medomai immensely amused. Eyes glinting in challenge, it stepped forward, reaching to once again touch S's forehead. "...Such a unique human you are..." The tone held no true gender identifier, as of course, Medomai was neutral. Though one would...or should rather, wonder how in the name of God did it speak? It had no lips to form words with.
"You knew I existed long before touching my scroll... Of course...sixth senses play large roles..." By now, it was almost poking fun at the blonde's ability to sense her. What could be seen of it's face was in a seemingly eternal grin. It was prodding at Crystal, aiming to get her to admit how it was done. Medomai so enjoyed wordplay.
Once again was the Cosme Misa commercial airing, L seeming to take great amusement in mimicking the blonde celebrity. Biting the peel of a banana, the Prodigy tugged before Light gave him a sideways deadpan. "The commercial's almost over y'know..." Blinking, L released the peel. "Oh? Is it now?" Putting almost half of the fruit in his mouth, L once again began to pay attention.
Matsuda was doing very well. L had to admit. He thought the young officer would have ducked out by now, and they would have had to use the pre-recorded tapes. Pleased that this was not the case, L glanced to Light and swallowed the banana. "Put Higuchi's car on speaker one, and Sakura TV on channel two."
"As expected, he's watching every minute of this in his car..." L couldn't help but notice that Light sounded smug.
"So, according to you, it was at that party that you actually met Kira?"
"Yes, but of course at the time I had no idea." Sweat continued to trickle down Higuchi's temple. Time was running out, and if that 'Matsui' spit his name out, the world would pin him as Kira... And his life would essentially end.
"There are two things Kira needs to kill someone. Now I know there are a lot of rumors around the internet about what they are. But I know the truth!" A name...and a face. Gripping the steering wheel, Higuchi continued to listen intently.
"He only has one of those things. So I don't have to worry about being killed!" So the guy thought that because Higuchi didn't know his real name, that he was safe? Heh. Wait. If he was this confidant, did that mean he has already erased his records from Yoshida Productions...was he just wasting time?!
"Rem, what do you think?" The shinigami blinked. "Huh? What do I think? About what may I ask?"
Light was confused. "Rem? Who is that? ...There's no one else in the car...it's impossible to hide without us noticing...and he isn't on his phone. Could he be using a radio or something?"
L quickly swallowed the last of his banana. "No. There are no radios in the car...only the bugs, wires and other devices installed by Wedy." Staring at the screen, L droped the peel onto the counter. "I have no doubt she did a thorough job."
"Do you think I'll get to Yoshida Productions only to find his file isn't there?"
"Why ask my opinion? How am I supposed to know something like that?" Staring at Higuchi, Rem was confused at the sudden consultation.
"If he was smart, he would have gotten rid of all records relating to his real name before appearing on Sakura TV...also don't you think it a bit suspicious for Yoshida Productions to just let me into their offices when no one's there? Eh. I suppose not, as if anything goes missing I would be immediately labeled as the culprit..."
Misa looked very uncomfortable. "...This isn't sounding very good..." She was concerned for Matsuda...also for the plan that they had laid out. If Higuchi didn't go to Yoshida, they'd effectively be screwed.
L didn't seem to share the same worry as Amane. "He'll go...don't worry."
Glaring at the road in front of him, Higuchi continued. "Even if he /does/ have a file at Yoshida, it could simply be another alias...Damnit! I wouldn't put it past him to do something like that." The shinigami behind him was silent for a moment. This had to be Light and Misa's plan, to have Higuchi go to Yoshida Productions...
"That may be true, but if he truly knows that you are Kira, he'll end up announcing your name in public. That's an inescapable fact." Her nearly androgynous tone floated over his senses...yeah. Rem was right. Suddenly the program piped for another commercial. "Only an hour left until the reveal of Kira's identity!"
Rem continued to press. "You must go. Whether there's an alias on his record or not...If it is, that would be unfortunate. But if it's not, you can kill him discreetly using the notebook."
"Yeah, I already know that much, but just to be on the safe side I should kill everyone I talked to from Yoshida Productions, that includes the president, Misa, and her manager Mogi."
This did not at all please one particular blonde actress. "What?! He's going to kill me?-" L quickly stopped her cold, to prevent her from going on a squealing tangent that would end with him in a migraine. "It's all right. He is speaking of doing all of this /after/ he kills Matsuda...there'd be no point in killing the rest of you until he's gotten rid of the main threat."
"That's true, but still..."
Rem didn't allow his words to bother her. In order to assist Misa, she had to manipulate Higuchi smoothly. "Don't be reckless...You only have to kill the one on stage. Any more would be unnecessary... If the people you called end up dying too, then the phone records will implicate you."
Why the bloody hell didn't he think of that? "Oh...yeah. Rem you're right. I didn't think you were that smart..." He didn't care if he offended the creature. He actually doubted that such a thing was possible.
Listening further to Higuchi go on about erasing call histories, Light stood in an almost indignant fashion. "There is no way he is just talking to himself. But who's 'Rem'? Who's he talking to?"
L didn't want to think about this. He did not in any way wish to acknowledge this as a possibility. Peeling another banana, L glared at the screen showing Higuchi. "If he is talking with someone...then...it would have to be a shinigami."
Having arrived at Yoshida Productions, Higuchi got out of the car and made his way to the file cabinet that would hold the information he needed. Unbeknownst to him, Mogi and Aiber were outside of the office and ready to apprehend him. "Ryuuzaki, should we apprehend him?"
"No...not yet." Biting his thumbnail, L kept his intent focus on the screens showing the kneeling form of Higuchi. "Now...show me how you kill..." For a moment, L had a miniscule feeling of victory.
"Okay..." Writing down the name on file upon a blank Death Note page, Higuchi noticably calmed. Standing languidly, he walked out of the office door, passing the hidden officers. "Ryuuzaki, should we grab him now?
"...He still hasn't shown how he kills...he just took note. But if that's the case, why not take the entire personnel file? ...No. We must see how he does it." Watching as the suspect calmly climbed into the car, L waited. And soon Higuchi began to freak out.
"He didn't die!"
Light was incredulous. "What does he mean? 'He didn't die'? Did he already try and kill Matsuda?" L felt the scowl on his face, and knew that if his glare had physical force, it would have created a hole in the monitor in front of him. "...It seems so..."
Snarling, Higuchi tried Misa's cell again. Once more failing to reach the woman, he threw his phone to the other side of the car. "Dammit! ..." Staring at Rem through the rear-view mirror, he began to reason with himself. 'Half my remaining lifespan? That isn't bad...considering that if I get caught, my life is over anyway...'
"Rem, I want to make the deal."
It was clear that Light was getting sick of this. "Rem!? Deal? What's going on? Does Kira's power really come from a higher plan of existance?!" L had finally schooled his features into a more neutral expression. "...I really don't want to think that's the case." To be eternally dancing in the palm of an entity's hand did not at all sit well with him. "...Is it a shinigami? In any case, we should remain watching him. We will find out nothing if we take him now."
They still could be able to find out how he killed.
Speeding away from the Yoshida building, Higuchi felt the anxiety leech from his frame. A large and nearly manic grin touched his ears. Soon enough however, a traffick cop pulled him over, asking for his license. "Oh, yeah, of course. Just a minute...now where did I put it..." Hand sliding into his bag, Higuchi looked at the officer and wrote down his name, gunning the gas once he was done. 'I don't have time for that.'
"Hey!" Soon the policeman was on his tail. "This is traffic control to- Guh!" Bike swerving, the officer rear-ended a semi-truck, dying immediately. Mogi had to swerve the car to avoid following in the motorcycles ... treadmarks.
"Ryuuzaki! That cop just rear-ended a semi-truck...he's dead."
"He's dead?! By accident?" It was times like this one when L despised being right. Things were certainly not going according to plan... "This is bad..." All he did was put his hand in his bag...Could he have done something in that moment? More importantly...how did he get the information in order to kill that motorcycle cop? Does he only need a face...like the Second Kira? No...if that was the case, he would have killed Matsuda by now... Unless...
All laze had left his tone, his obsidian orbs hardened, and he quickly began to dial the number for the Police Traffic Force. "Everyone! It is too dangerous to leave Higuchi to his own devices! We must bring him in! I believe he has the same powers as the Second Kira, only needing to see someone's face in order to kill them!" The force of his words nearly frightened Misa...this was...an almost scary side to Ryuuzaki. "Please keep this in mind when you move in to arrest him!"
S had to do everything in her power not to lock up, the cold was deadly, looking as Watari left, no words dared escape in fear of admitting a shinigami was present. When it spoke up, she shifted her gaze back to the creature and narrowed her eyes, "What is your purpose shinigami?" She wouldn't dare ask it's name, she didn't care, S wanted it gone and dead. Though the thought did cross her mind, she could ask it questions if it was willing, obviously the shinigami was amused to no end by her. As it reached out to touch her forehead, she stayed as still as rock, silver seeming to sparkle as the shinigami drew closer. S figured it would ask how she could sense it before even seeing it, though by no means was S here to amuse Medomai. "Don't confuse me for a jester, shinigami. Though you will be..of some use." Oh yes, a dark look crossed her features, she glanced over to the paper in Yoki's grasp. Slowly aiding it out of the unconscious girl's grip, she looked over it with a blank look. "Is this the thing connecting us together?" She looked up to Medomai. "Are there anymore shinigami in this realm?"
"Better question, /what/ shinigami are in this realm?" She sat down on the side of Yoki's bed, not realizing that the girl had slowly started to come out of unconsciousness.
As the girl opened her eyes, she noted of S sitting on the edge of her bed, then the shinigami she was talking too. So..she hadn't lost her mind? There really was a shinigami..they..exis- unconscious again.
"Watari, connect me to the Director of the NPA."
"Yes."
"This is L, we are now aware of Kira's true identity. He is currently heading toward Shigura along Highway Route One in a red sports car, we will be handling the arrest so in the meantime please instruct all officers to refrain from approching his car."
With that done, Light switched to his father with a bit of excitement in his voice, "Alright, Dad during the next commercial take measure seven."
Mr. Yagami confirmed the order, releasing the ear piece from his hold to hear him better over the noise of the studio. "Alright, we'll do it. Demigowa, during the next commercial break swap Matsuda and the NC with mannequins, we'll make it seem like the broadcast is continuing as normal using the voices we've already prepared. We'll leave the cameras running, everyone will evacuate the building."
"So then, let's say we go ahead and join the front as well."
Looking over to the pale detective, Light nodded, trying to hide his excitement a bit better with a grim "Yeah." Sometimes he couldn't help himself, catching the bad guys was always the most fun part, especially toward the end. Though when L stood up and literally chained Misa to her chair, Light was slightly confused as to why he did it, but understood that it would be to dangerous for her to be out on the front lines so he simply aloud it. "I'm sorry Misa but I'm going to have to restrain you here for a while."
The shrill, "WHAT?!" Grated on his ears, "But thats!...Stop joking around!"
The helicopters blades gave it's signature whirl as they flew over Japan, Light kept a close eye on L to make sure he was doing everything correctly, surprise evident in his features when the detective seemed to handle it with ease. "I didn't realize you could pilot a helicopter. That's incredible."
"Well you can figure it out with intuition."
Light then glanced back to Watari, who sported a fully blacked out suit, holding a sniper rifle in his hands as if it belonged there. Staring at the GPS signal they had on Higuchi, Light noted of something. "Higuchi isn't heading to Sakura TV. He's heading the wrong way!" Worry was now evident, would Higuchi not follow through to his careful plan? "Based on his route, I guess he's going to the Yotsuba main office."
Continuing his route, Higuchi glared down to the car TV with such hate that it would likely explode if physically possible. 'If I go to the main office and get the security camera with his name on it, I can kill him.'
"Come in Wedy, have you removed absolutely everything related to Matsuda at the Yotsuba headquarters?"
Wedy blinked at the statement, but answered anyways, "Yeah, why is he heading there now?" A sigh of relief, "Well isn't that convinent. That should give me more than enough time to meet up with Mister Yagami to set up the ambush." Switching her own route, she headed straight for Sakura TV.
Unable to find the brat on any of the tapes, Higuchi was biting his lip hard enough to make it bleed, his right hand running along the side of the TV holding the video. 'What the hell?! I can't find him! This is the right tape, someone must've erased it. Did he come to erase it himself somehow, or has one of the others betrayed me and started working with him? No, doing that wouldn't save them from their crimes.'
Rushing out of the room, he bolted down the hallways and back toward his car. 'I can't wait around, I haven't got time, I have to hurry!' Listening to Sakura cutting to a commercial break, Higuchi began gritting his teeth in pure annoyance. 'Damn it! I just have to go to Sakura TV and kill him there!' Gripping the steering wheel, he spun his tires ripping out of Yotsuba, heading straight for Sakura TV.
"Dad, Higuchi's left Yotsuba. He's on his way to Sakura TV, he'll be there in less than fifteen minutes, are you ready?" He couldn't help himself, if his father was unprepared then he would surely get hurt or even killed by this Kira, but hearing his father's reply seemed to ease the boy just a bit more.
"I don't need my son asking me if I'm ready, of course I am."
"Is there anything more you'd like to add before the announcement?"
Chief Yagami kept his head turned to the right, making sure to listen in for any signs of movement from Higuchi entering the building. Wedy loading and cocking her hand gun making him just a bit more uneasy.
"Well I want everyone to think hard after Kira gets caught, people have to realize that Kir-"
"You ready Mr. Yagami? It's almost time."
Without glancing back, his grave statement answered her, "I know."
"Here."
He looked back over to notice Wedy attempting to hand him a gun, the same feeling rose in his stomach everytime he saw a civilian handle one with such ease. Why hand it to him? He was loyal to obeying the laws of Japan and they clearly stated no civilian had a right to weapons. "Hm?"
"Aiber hates using guns, right now I'm the only one armed, take it."
"I can't take this, I'm not longer a police officer, Japanese law forbids civilians to have guns, that means you shouldn't be using one either."
Looking back to the side, making sure to keep a watchful eye, he listened to Wedy's response as slight amusement played at his features.
"I guess you're as stubborn as always, huh?"
Higuchi pulled into Sakura TV quickly, shutting the car off and jumping out with a bit of relief. "Ah! I made it in time!" Slamming the car door shut, he rushed inside to find that the front desk was empty, the entire place seemingly deserted. 'Why isn't anybody here? Is it just in case the announcement is true and Kira decides to retaliate?' A smirk formed on his calmer features. "Hm."
'At least it makes my job easier. ' Unaware of what was happening behind him, Mogi and the others pulled up as well, allowing L and Light to know of their where abouts.
Higuchi walked into the studio, looking around to once again notice that no one was around. "Huh?" This was way to odd, surely they weren't expecting Kira to show up were they?
'The studio is deserted, still I got to be careful where the cameras are. Can't let myself be seen.' At least this made his job easier than ever, he glanced around to see if anyone was hiding.
"We will now end this broadcast."
'Wait, what?!'
Looking over immediately, his eyes captured the two manniquins in place of the people who almost revealed his identity. It all made sense now, it was a trap!
"Higuchi, hold it right there!" It was then his heart sank, when he looked back he notice a female holding a gun to his head, and a male, both of them wearing SWAT like helmets to hide their identity. This was really bad, glancing over his shoulder, two more men showed up to apprehend him.
"I'd give up if I were you." Well wasn't this a cocky bitch, "You...you must be making some kind of mistake.." He held the briefcase closer to his chest, "I'm only here to meet with Mr. Demigawa and discuss something with him." Reaching into the briefcase, he made sure to keep a calm persona. It was failing miserably under his low confidence which was crashing into the ground quite quickly. "I'm with the Yotsuba Group from the Development Department, let me show you my business card." Grabbing his gun, he yanked it out and aimed it at Wedy, the gun turned sideways. The ending result being the man next to her jumping in front of the bullet to get clipped in the shoulder.
Least to say, he didn't stick around to see what happened next, immediately turning and bolting the opposite direction to head back toward his car, he didn't stop running even as a bullet just barely missed his head.
"This is bad, he's escaped from Sakura TV!" Light was of course worried about his father, but if they didn't catch Higuchi they would surely be in worse danger.
Reving the engine, Higuchi immediately pushed his car out of there, speeding fast enough to snap the stopping point in Sakura's parking lot.
"This leaves us no choice, we'll have to move in and apprehend him. Watari are you ready?" Light looked back only for a split second to notice that the old man laid flat against the helicopter floor, the sniper at the ready.
"Yes."
Noticing L handling the hand gun in his signature way, Light blinked several times, where the hell did L get that from? "Light, I think you should hold onto this for self defense. This is Kira." And here is where Light showed that he is truly Soichiro Yagami's son. "No thanks, fire arms aren't allowed in Japan."
"You know, I'm sure your father would say the exact same thing." With a grin and nod, Light looked back out onto the beautiful scenere of Japan.
It's purpose? It had naught but one. "Are you so simple as to inquire the purpose of a God of Death?" Brushing away several blonde strands, that skinned finger came to point at the bridge of S's nose, right between her eyes. "I doubt that is the case." A lightning quick movement, and the scroll which had been plucked from Yoki's hand was once again in Medomai's grip. "...As you are not the keeper of my scroll, I have to explain nothing."
Sliding the scroll back into the unconscious girl's grip, Medomai herself crouched, relaxing in wait for Yoki to awaken. "Of use...humans were always so arrogant. From the beginning of time until now, nothing has changed." Instead of answering the blonde's questions, the shinigami simply sat, and gave her a creepy, and almost malicious grin. "You amuse me. Continue to do so... " The end of it's statement had a ring of finality that was not at all pleasant.
-
Dammit! How could he have been so stupid? Looking back, it was almost painfully obvious on how he was being corralled. Jerking the steering wheel, Higuchi made a sharp left and pressed even harder onto the gas. Glancing into the rearview mirror, he almost snarled. How could he lose them?!
It was worth a shot, and certainly worth his car. Squeezing in between several other vehicles, the panicked man aimed to lose his pursuers in the midst of traffic. Unfortunately luck, fate, or what-have-you was /not/ on his side, for as soon as he emerged, the other two cars were on his tail again. Growling in frustration and anxiety, Higuchi scanned the road; looking for anything that would allow him escape.
'Yes!' Spotting the bridge that would take him on the freeway, Higuchi once again gunned it, in an attempt to put as much distance between himself, and the others as possible. If he could make it onto the freeway, then he would be sure a means of escape. Speeding up the ramp, he looked at his dashboard-television observing the news taking place of that...Kira Special. 'It didn't end simply because of me... What the hell is going on?!'
In the midst of his incredulous ponderings, Higuchi had to squint to avoid going blind. "What the hell?" Out there in the middle of the freeway, was a blockade of police-cars. Higuchi could almost feel his spine melt into his toes. "Oh..." So this meant that all that bullshit about the police not going after Kira was just that?! Bullshit? Mentally swearing a storm, Higuchi cranked the steering wheel in order to spin his car three-hundred-sixty degrees.
Only to come face to face with a gods-be-damned helicopter.
Watari couldn't help but express his confusion. "I thought I told the police to stay out of this..." He had stated it fairly clear. Then it occurred to him the same moment it occurred to Light.
"The only person that would do something like this is..."
L nodded. "Yes...you're right." The detective had a feeling that Aizawa would do something like this. Dare he say, that he was counting on it. Lowering the massive metallic bird closer to the strip of concrete, L placed the spotlight directly on Higuchi. However he didn't have time to say anything, as the panicked man attempted an immediate escape under the copter.
He didn't get far, for Watari was ready for him to do just that. "Stop, right, there." Pulling the trigger on the rifle, Watari destroyed the man's left front tire with ease. This caused the speeding vehicle to spin multiple times, before slamming into the concrete barricade of the highway.
"No, I'm inquiring the purpose of you being around Yoki-san." She gave a deadpan, was this shinigami that dense? It was almost painful, like how L was at times. As the shinigami brushed away a few strands of her hair, she couldn't help but allow one persistant memory to come to the forefront of her mind. The monitor image of Misa's hair being shifted to the side seemingly by magic. Her silver eyes darkened considerably as that thought passed, so Misa indeed had a shinigami in her possession. Shifting her gaze back to Yoki, a passing thought that this girl would end up solving the case long before S or L ever would brought a tiny smile to her lips.
For Yoki to solve the case that large, would surely usher her in as a Detective, at least. Shifting her gaze back to the horrendous monster, silver stared straight into crimson without fear. "So, you're only obligated to answer an unconscious girl's questions? What is the point in that?" It sounded cruel, but S's patience was being pushed. This monster wanted to be entertained so badly? How boring could the other realm be? Oh surely these things weren't walking around aimlessly, hoping someone touched their pieces of paper so they could watch like..she..did..
Pushing that thought aside, S looked at Yoki for a total of five seconds. She wouldn't be the Spectator anymore, no, she would fight to save people like Yoki; who deserved nothing less than the best for selflessly giving and giving. Gently squeezing the girl's arm, another tear rolled down her cheek. "You know how Kira is killing..don't you?" Strange question, but she figured Medomai wouldn't answer anyways. Her answer would although impact S in many ways.
With Higuchi's car unable to drive any further, and the beat up man inside, it seemed as if Victory was on the horizon. The Yagami's, Mogi, everyone could feel it. Pressing his hand into the ear piece, Mr. Yagami spoke up. "Ryuuzaki, I would like to go make the arrest." Hearing the car door open, Soichiro looked over to Mogi, "I would like to come with you Chief, if that's alright." Soichiro nodded, and at L's precautions along with Watari's confirmation on their safety, he placed on the helmet and got out of the car. Walking over to Aizawa's car, he looked inside, the darkness of his SWAT-like helmet hiding his features quite well. "Aizawa, do you have something to cover your face with?" Aizawa kept his salute up while he answered, "Yes, of course sir."
"Good, cover me then."
Aizawa straightened up, a bit of pride coming to his eyes, "Yes, you can count on me sir." Soichiro kept his stance, walking forward with several other officers to Higuchi's car. The man looked up at the sound of footsteps, squinting as the lights to note of the officers pointing guns at him. "Higuchi! Get out of the car and put your hands up!" Grimly, Higuchi followed orders. The result would be handcuffs and a blindfold wrapped around his head, and at Light's command, Mogi placed a headset on Yotsuba Kira's head.
This human... Another near dangerous quirk of jaw muscle and Medomai stood again. Apparently she would have to put much more inflection into her tone, as the human didn't get the sarcasm. Of course Medomai wasn't that dense. As for the answer to the clarified inquiry? "Boredom~" It supposed it could give the blonde /some/ information. "You see, my realm is vast, and terribly bland." Looking to the sleeping girl, Medomai's facial structure quirked further. "To compare it to your human experience, it is tofu for the senses." Unlike other shinigami, Medomai was aware on how weird that comparison sounded.
Upon realizing that this human wouldn't stop her interrogations, Medomai hummed and went silent for a time. Allowing quite a few minutes to stretch between the last question, and it's answer. "...Human, there isn't a reason for every action, reaction, or inaction. You'd do well to learn that..." A mortal would drive themselves insane trying to tag a reason onto everything.
Though of course, that would be the last and only segment of 'advice' Medomai gave the blonde. Suddenly, a low and grating sound came from the shinigami. A restrained chortle is what it was. No. That segment of knowledge would certainly be kept secret. Observing their struggle was all apart of Medomai's fun. How would they solve their predicament? Humans were such extraordinary creatures. Much more resourceful and intelligent that most other death gods gave credit for.
The only response S got was a long and low string of abrasive chuckles.
L watched with a hawk-like gaze as the head-set was placed. Finally, the mystery will be gone. "Higuchi! How do you kill people? ...Tell me!" Observing extreme hesitation, L tilted his head, and spoke a not-so-subtle threat. "If you are not going to talk, I will use whatever means I have to get it out of you." A thermos had been brought along, filled with cocoa. Pouring a cup, he stared intently at the restrained Yotsuba Kira.
Narrowing his eyes, he simply sat and waited.
Unaffected by the car crash, Rem now stood unseen in the midst of a crowd of humans, in front of the car. So...was this how Light Yagami planned this to end? If so, she couldn't help but commend the disgusting boy on his planning. Watching as Higuchi seemed still to struggle even after a threat, she spoke a single sentence. "...There is nothing you can do..."
The chuckles gave her enough of an answer, silver eyes softened considerably into amusement. "Hm, good enough." She wouldn't pressure anymore, S was pretty sure that once Yoki awoke, there would be plenty of questions spilling from her mouth that this shinigami would be more inclined on answering. She allowed the chuckles to fade away in her conscious, simply to keep herself from going entirely insane.
Maybe S was just pushing to hard, it was becoming impossible for her to have a rational thought anymore. Maybe a small break was needed, think over the entire details of the case..well now was a better chance than any other. So her eyes glazed over, and her mind drifted to every detail they had obtained. Anyone who peeked into her conscious wouldn't see any detail for to long, it all passed by faster than a bullet.
After several seconds of consideration, Higuchi finally gave in. "A notebook.." He knew that L wouldn't believe it. "You probably won't believe me, but if I write a persons name in this special notebook I have, the person dies.." At the mention of it, Soichiro went into Higuchi's destroyed car and pulled out his briefcase, tugging out the black notebook inside. "It's here Ryuuzaki.." Opening it, he flipped through a few pages. "There's a lot of names written inside of it, but it doesn't seem so special otherwi-..." Looking up, Soichiro thought he would have a heart attack right then and there yet again.
He screamed, dropped out of the car, and stared in complete horror at thin air. Mogi went to his side, and not long after was in the same situation as Soichiro. "M-Monster!"
Oh? No more questions? Medomai would not complain...but that also meant the drag of simply waiting would set in. Closing crimson orbs, the shinigami simply decided to nap, waiting for the girl on the hospital bed to awaken. If the blonde stayed, she would certainly get many of her questions answered... That is if the one named Yoki asked the correct things.
Notebook?
Sable hues glazed over as he digested this new reveal of information. Of course, a notebook fit everywhere...but it was indeed very hard to believe. Sipping slowly, L was about to delve further into his vast reservoir of mental resources, when Soichitro and Mogi began freaking out at thin air.
"...Please calm down. You aren't currently armed to defend yourself..." What was it...a monster? Surely if the Chief was the only one acting that way, he'd more than likely write it off as a case of fatigue. But Mogi also seemed to see this apparition, and Soichiro seemed to think only those that have touched the notebook could see it... "Mogi, bring me the notebook."
Soon enough, the black bound book was in his fingertips. "...Hm..." Slowly focusing his line of sight on the place where the Chief, Mogi, and the group of officers stood, he saw it. "...a shinigami? They...really...do...exist..." It all made sense. Why Light Yagami would constantly appear to be a studious college student, writing would be a natural movement. The Second Kira...the encoded letter, showing their notebooks to each other. Thus showing their shinigami...if it was the case that each notebook had it's own individual god of death...
Two books! There had to be two books! Possibly more...This wasn't over yet...
Having come around from his revelation of thought, L looked down to realize the notebook was no longer in his grip.
-
Rem glared at the helicopter, trying to wrap her mind around what it possibly could be that Light Yagami had planned. 'Light Yagami...the moment you touch the notebook, all of your memories while you had it will return.' Looking back down to the human first saw her, Rem frowned slightly. Was revealing her existance part of this carefully constructed plan? It seemed to be a very, very risky moveset, in her opinion.
Not only that, the detective that Light was at odds with, has lain hands on the Note before him. Blinking, it seemed that Light had just gotten his hands on the Notebook. Rem had to repress a lip-quirk. This...may just actually prove interesting.
Indeed the Death Note was no longer in his possession, for it laid in Light's hands. As soon as it rested fully in his grip, a wave of memories and emotion seemed to crash in on his senses; a plane drove over head, as he tried screaming for the next few seconds. After those seconds passed, all was released in a single mental anguish. You could say it was painful to have a mental barrier released, it was as if the subconscious and the conscious momentarily become one then were forced apart once again. After releasing the anguished and fear filled scream, he lowered his head and gasped for breath. Then it hit him...
He was Kira, and his plan worked out perfectly.
Having to hold back gleeful shaking, along with the curl of his lips, Light glanced up to see Rem once more. Remembering the last time they had come in contact, he knew quite well if he released the Death Note all of his memories would be lost once more in his subconscious. So he held onto the notebook, easing his breath once more.
'Everything is not in order, Kira has done well to hide his tracks as far as his identity goes. It's obviously Light, it's to perfect to not fit in. Kira is Light, Light is Kira..' A headache was forming again, Light was just...too innocent. She thought back on his incarceration, what was his word play? Her eyes closed as she thought, something just didn't fit..what was it? What was that missing piece? And why the fuck was she so cold?
A nurse walked in, noting of the close eye'd woman and the unconscious girl. "...Ma'am?" S opened silver eyes to look over to the young nurse, giving her signature emotionless stare. "I'm just gonna pull some blood on her, I'll only be a moment." With a nod, the nurse went over to the side Medomai was on. This time S paid close attention, the nurse passed right through Medomai as if it wasn't there.
S's mind nearly spun, was the shinigami just barely holding onto this realm? It would make sense..but..still..
As the nurse left with Yoki's blood, S stood up and began pacing at the end of Yoki's bed, arms crossed over her breasts. She kept her pace even and normal, eyes glazed over. There was one thing that stuck out to her, why did Light seem to demand that something was 'gotten rid of'? Her eyes narrowed, Yoki needed to wake up and fast..
L watched Light with a gaze that even the most sharp-eyed hawk would be envious of. "Light, are you alright?" His face had changed, L noted. The angles around Light's eyes had sharpened, the muscles of his visage were more taut. Deciding to play the game of subtlety, L spoke again, almost apprehensively. "I guess anyone would be shocked to see something like that..." Unavoidably, L's own line of sight was once again drawn to the shinigami. They existed... For some reason L couldn't identify, this sent a frigid wave of fear through his entire frame.
The creature wasn't particularly frightening. Jagged spikes of what he assumed was bone stuck out at all angles, the thing's arms seemed to be lined with spines as well.
Hearing Light say he was going to check names, L peered once more at the college student. His eyes narrowed, and if there was a percentage beyond one-hundred, L's suspicion would have skyrocketed past it. "...of course, yes, that sounds like a good idea." It was slowly dawning on him that he was losing. Sliding down a hill that before, had been a flat plateau. Reaching out, his hands found nothing, and he was cursing himself for ever letting the younger Yagami leave incarceration.
He needed to plan, and plan quickly. Alone.
Medomai was far from sleep. It took effort for a shinigami to put themselves in such a stupor. Opening crimson hues, it stared through the holes in the makeshift helm that would be forever attached to it's scalp. A rasping chuckle escaped. "Think of it this way, only those that have touched my scroll can either see, or touch me." The human was simply too amusing not to reward.
Humming with a grin, the shinigami decided to ask this human a question. "You pace...you are anxious. Yet your demeanor belies a rock with solid foundation. What riles the woman who would challenge a shinigami~?" It obviously was a source of irritation, and not fear. Medomai knew fear. Had helped write the definition on a couple of occasions, back when shinigami were allowed to show themselves to whoever the hell they wished.
Since he could not release the Death Note without losing said memories, it was only natural that he check if the names were what were written in the Death Note. It was a cover, an obvious one to whoever was seeing this from the outside, but a cover none-the-less. As his father and Mogi picked Higuchi off the ground, brown eyes slid down to the notebook where his watch rested, reaching behind it and running his fingers along the edges, he pulled the switch on it four times within a second. A piece of the death note was suddenly released from a secret compartment, and Light had the amusing thought that old habits die hard.
Blindly, yet with some expertise, Light pulled a small needle out and prickled his fourth finger, blood pulling out and coating the end. Keeping his gaze even with the computer and notebook, his free hand wrote Higuchi's name on the small parchment of paper. His fingers stopped shaking, and his heart seemed to calm, "..you know..I wonder what we would find if we put this through forensic analysis.." He was trying to test the waters to see where L stood as of currently.
Looking up with grim features, Light stared hard at the blind folded Higuchi, waiting for the seconds to tick by. '...This has got to be the longest forty seconds of my life..'
Then the glorious happened, Higuchi clamped up, gritted his teeth and collapsed to his knees. He was desperately trying to breathe as his heart had stopped, Soichiro panicking as Mogi demanded the dying man to pull himself together. He deserved it, for giving in to soon and for killing people whom did not deserve it. But still, there had to be some acting~ "What the hell?! What's happening?!" Oh this was just to good to be true, honestly.
"Dad what are you doing, we can't lose him! If Higuchi dies on us now...!" His father answered him the obvious, it was simply to late to save him. Light had to hold back another gleeful shake as he sat back in the chair, putting on an expression of shock.
Well that answered one question, but not the hundreds of others she had placed in her mind. If S wasn't careful, Yoki would have a rut at the end of her bed, so she changed her pace a bit as well as her walking patterns. She glanced up to the shinigami, finding that somehow S had once more amused the shinigami. Her irritation had reached even it's senses then? How interesting.
"If you refuse to answer my questions, why should I oblige to answer yours?" It was a deadpan and slightly irritated response, and quite obviously rhetorical, S didn't expect the shinigami to answer her after so many ignored questions. Then again, S was cocky in believing that she should simply be answered. So she wasn't entirely upset when Medomai refused to answer, just extremely annoyed.
Forensic analysis? No. Light Yagami had, upon touching the notebook, certainly changed in behaviour. Almost /as/ instantaneous as when he requested to be confined. Almost as instantaneous as Amane during interrogation. L had to fight the frown that so desperately wanted to crease his features. "...That doesn't sound like you, Light. We both know that this thing is beyond science." What was Light trying to pull?
Looking to the entourage of officers that was escorting Higuchi to a police car, L tried to take a miniscule bit of comfort in the fact that he was right. On both accounts. Misa Amane was the Second Kira, Light Yagami was the first. Though that tiny bit of comfort never truly reached him, because it was blockaded by the inescapable fact that he, on insistence from both Aizawa and Matsuda, released them.
Further moping was suddenly put on the back-burner as Higuchi seized, the gag falling from his mouth as did the blindfold. L was sure, if the man had his hands free, he would have gripped his chest in the exact same manner as Lind L. Taylor. Once again did his eyes narrow, several mental expletives ran between his ears, as he listened to Soichiro state the obvious. Nothing could be done.
How far was he going to slide? How much ground was he going to lose? He couldn't possibly incarcerate them again...not this soon.
"There is nothing that can be done...Watari, please take Higuchi's body to the morgue. Everyone else...please head back to Headquarters. We must examine this book." The boned creature seemed to gravitate around the copter. Around the notebook. L kept his corner vision upon it as he lifted the great bird off of the concrete. "I will meet you all back at HQ." Watari hopped down, and commandeered an un-marked police-car. Higuchi was placed in the back, and it soon was off to the hospital.
"I have answered several. Be quick to speak, or I shall find something to do with you." Shinigami of the modern times have long forgotten what their predecessors had been able to do, hundreds of millenia ago. Medomai had been the first. And it still carried those abilities to this day. "Your pacing has become...grating." Medomai stood, it's index, middle, and thumb fingers twitching slightly.
The girl upon the bed groaned, as if sensing the shinigami's own irritation. Glancing her way, it pondered if perhaps she should have given the scroll to the blonde. Quickly deciding no, Medomai grinned. Holding the answers away from the other human was a fun enough game.
S continued to glare hell fire to the shinigami, her unusual silver eyes giving off a life not shown in years. Her lips down turned, a small snarl showing on beautiful features. Stopping her pace to grip the end of Yoki's bed, her knuckles turned white from the force.
What could she do now? She couldn't stand here and do nothing, Kira was still out there..these shinigamis were causing havoc. Glaring up to Medomai as it stood, she snorted. It would hardly be interested in S's rut, her mind had gone in circles at least fifty times. But, if it was so damn curious, S would cure it. "Kira has killed thousands, using a weapon that causes heart attacks at a distance. All he needs is a face and a name, his schedule in the beginning was much like a High School student, which lead us to Light Yagami. He was to perfect, the Chief of the Police Department's son, Soichiro Yagami; a genius in his own right, perfect life, perfect family...it just didn't seem right. In every family there is something that makes them unique, this family just seemed like the picture perfect.." She snarled. Compared to her life, it was just to damn perfect. "We don't know /how/ Kira is killing, but I know one thing, Kira is Light Yagami."
She looked to Yoki, protective anger rising to her eyes. "And I promise I'm putting a bullet in his head."
S had stayed over night, simply to make sure that Medomai did not harm Yoki in any way, it seemed the shinigami was truly interested in Yoki. As to why was a mystery to S, but she kept quiet for most of the night, other than the occasional call to HQ to update herself as well as the others on Yoki's condition. A few times in the night a nurse came in to change Yoki's bandages, and then S's. Her wound had refused to do much healing, and the nurses seemed concerned for S's body tempeture being a lot cooler than the normal. She simply brushed them off, giving an off handed glare to Medomai.
So, by the time it was early morning, S left Yoki's room in search for the cafeteria to get some coffee. After making sure she was immediately notified if Yoki's condition changed, she headed downstairs.
Yoki on the other hand, laid peacefully in the bed, her head was better wrapped, hair combed out and body bathed from any blood that had caked onto her since she arrived yesterday. Her hands rested on her stomach, IVs and several other machines hooked up to her in attempt to keep track of her mental and physical wellness.
She looked so weak, yet almost..doll-like. It depressed S just thinking about it, so she pushed it to the farthest regions of her mind as she ordered a cup of black coffee with lots of sugar.
Medomai had been satisfied with the blonde's answer, and so it simply sat back down and closed it's eyes. It was not aware of just how much time had passed, but it had been enough that the human world lit up again. Glancing as the blonde left, Medomai exhaled. A motion that certainly was not needed. The girl named Yoki indeed looked as if she were positioned for funeral. An interesting position, Medomai was of the opinion.
What would she tell the girl? There was absolutely no intention of giving straight solutions. Pinpoint questions would be met with viscous and malleable answers. Double entendres and innuendo. Medomai still did not know Yoki's entire name. The shinigami had no idea what the blonde was titled. This was preferred. Once again did Medomai revel in the unknown. It made life oh so interesting, and certainly worth living.
He knew it. Scowling, he had to repeat to himself that he could do nothing about it. Light Yagami had been freed completely, simply because of a rule written by a shinigami. He was dancing. Dancing Mad. And he had no way to stop. Matsuda could sense the frustration, and avoided L for the majority of the morning.
Standing abruptly, L grabbed the notebook, and walked out the door. For once, Light was not attached by way of chain.
He had yet to see Yoki. And he was sure, if he didn't do so now, he wouldn't be able to. It was a lull in the case. A break for those who had relentlessly hunted and tracked. Higuchi was dead. One less worry to be had. But this did not comfort L in the slightest. Looking up, L noticed that the shinigami followed. "...I am to assume you are essentially leashed to this book?"
Rem nodded. She had followed the genius in silence. This was the human that threatened Misa so? He didn't visually surmount to much. "Yes..."
"So I am to assume that this is ... or was, Misa Amane's notebook."
Rem stopped cold. "...What?" A feeling passed through her skeletal frame, that she could only describe as panic. Her fingers twitched, and she began to reach for her personal Note.
"...So I am correct. ...You see, despite being a creature of the supernatural, you show the general range of emotions that an attached human would...or one that wishes to keep someone safe by secrecy." The thing constantly twitched, frowned, or shifted in some other manner when Misa was around, or on screen. "It also goes to say that your one eye never leaves Miss Amane when she is on screen."
Rem had unclasped the buckle that held her Death Note in place. However, she hadn't even touched it when the human turned around sharply, in front of the parking garage. "...It would be folly to kill me." His shadowed eyes lingered on her hand. Frowning, she spoke in low tones. "Tell me, L Lawliet, why such a thing would be so." Once again did he look up meeting her yellow eye with his black.
"For the simple reason I can protect her... If you kill me, there are others not only in this investigation, but lined to replace me should the event come that I /do/ pass." His gaze was hard, yet he didn't give any sort of reaction when his full name was spoken. "One in particular that I can safely assume, has come to the same conclusion as I...however...there is a reason you haven't killed me already, isn't there?" Something that would cause the shinigami detriment. Biting his thumb, he waited for Watari, who was finishing the information logs.
Rem felt her single eye narrow almost dangerously. "...You are far too intelligent to be walking the mortal plane...so what do you propose, human?" She disliked this mortal. Almost as much as she disliked Light Yagami. Almost.
Scratching his ankle with his toes, L made it sound all too simple. "I fake my death. I am sure Light is already planning to be rid of me, as he /is/ the original Kira." He ignored the widening of the creature's eye. He already knew such a thing to be true. "The question is...how to go about such. Surely...if this note can specify way of death, it can specify time as well?"
Rem hadn't thought about such and so could only give the detective, "I suppose so..." Accepting this answer, L nodded. "So, if you wrote that I suffer a heart attack next week let's say. And then died by another at the end of my life, that would count?" Thinking of no rule against it, Rem nodded. "Then that is what you'll do. In turn, I will keep Misa Amane safe... If not, I make no promises."
Having been dropped off at the Hospital entrance with a pair of sneakers, L made his way to the front desk to inquire which room Yoki was in. Obtaining the number, albeit with a look of disgust from the receptionist, L made his way to room 318. It seemed to be an individualized room, as Yoki's bed was the only one present. The attending nurse almost stopped him, but then thought that his shadowed eyes were of lack of sleep. The woman pouted in sympathy, he must be ever so worried. Deciding to give him privacy, she left to go check on the patient across the hall.
It was disturbing, the way she laid. As if she was already in the eternal slumber all humans eventually fell into. Grabbing one of her wrists, he pulled it to rest against her head, a much better depiction of sleep. He noticed in her other hand a small roll of paper laid. However, in a rare show of restraint, he refused his curiosity, and left it. Instead, he sat in the chair that was positioned by her bed in his usual way, his sneakers resting on the floor.
Several moments passed, and soon a melody came to him. From a time when his responsibility was to simply read law books. He was alone, the shinigami with Watari, as he left the book in the elder's care.
And so he simply sang. Perhaps...she would hear. After all, the auditory system was the last to leave a person. "~Alone she sleeps...in the shirt of man. With my three wishes clutched in her hand.~" The melody mentally put him back when he was only knee height to Watari. L couldn't remember who he heard it from...but it always stuck with him. "The first that she, be spared the pain; that comes from a dark and laughing rain." A futile hope for Yoki...perhaps.
"~When she finds love, may it always stay true, this I beg for the second wish I made too...~" Unbeknownst to L, Medomai was keenly listening to the tune. It noted of the lengthy pauses the man let sit, and wondered, just what his relationship was to the girl. Was he a lover? No. It didn't seem that way. But he was very close, that Medomai could ascertain. "~But wish no more, my life you can take; to have her please just one day wake...~" This line was repeated several times. And so Medomai assumed the tune was created for the unconscious girl.
Upon finishing, L simply stared out of the large paned window. He had no large hopes that the song would wake her. But being beside her helped allieve some of the worry he had ignored whilst capturing Higuchi.
It didn't take long for S to return, she had been told that a man had went in to see Yoki, so S assumed it was Watari or even Matsuda. She was just about to walk in when the sound of a very familiar voice sang, it stopped her dead in her tracks. That was...L.
'When she finds love, may it always stay true, this I beg for the second wish I made too...'
Silver eyes softened considerably, and instead of walking in she gave L the privacy he needed with Yoki. Leaning against the wall, her eyes closed as she listened to the song he sang so beautifully. Sorrow and grief became evident to her posture, but her lips curled ever so slightly, as if she were remembering a fond and loving memory.
As the nurse from before passed by, she looked to the exhausted woman and tsk'd unhappily, that girl was loved and it was obvious. S ignored the nurse, and waited for L to finish before entering the room. At first she said nothing, merely glared harshly at Medomai before setting the cup of half empty coffee down. The unbearable cold ran down her spine, making her shiver slightly as bodily tempeture dropped once again. She forced her shivering body to cease movement, goosebumps rising, as the nurse walked in once more with new bandages.
"Miss? You're bandages need to be re-wrapped." S looked over to her, silently nodding. The nurse than turned her attention to L and blinked softly, "Ohn, uhm..we can draw a curtain." Without a word, S walked with the nurse to the opposite side of the bed, S seemed to avoid where Medomai resided entirely, and as the curtain was drawn and the bandages were removed, the nurse spoke quietly as to not let L hear. S almost snorted, the bastard would hear anyways. "Your wounds are looking better..but the bruising is looking worse. You're very cold too..it won't help blood circulation." S sighed, "I know this, just wrap it up please."
"Alright Miss, did the Doctor let you know when the stitches were to be removed?" S nodded, "A few weeks, I shall give it a month and a half to heal then come in." Nodding, the nurse finished her work and pulled the curtains back. S had pulled the shirt down far enough, the bruising ranging from dark purple to an almost blue color, covering most of her back while the stitches gave off the darkest purple, looking black in color, down only one side. She tucked her shirt farther down before turning around. Her eyes immediately went to Yoki, whom seemed to stir a bit.
For a woman suffering such a severe injury, she moved pretty quickly to the bedside.
Yoki did hear L singing, his voice seemed to bring a desperation out of the girl. She wanted to wake up, she wanted to see L, and her grandfather. Were they okay? What about S? Desperately grabbing out in her subconscious, she reached conscious mind after some struggle. Her breathing increased, heart rate becoming a bit more erratic while her facial features retorted to one in deep concentration.
It was only after such a struggle, that S finally tilted her head, resting her hand on Yoki's shoulder. Giving the most gentle shake, a lump rose to her throat. "...Yoki?" S was surprised to find purple hues snapping open, as if awakening from a horrible dream. A scream nearly rose, and S had to hold her from jumping out of the bed. Looking to the nurse, a tone of a commanding officer escaped. "Get a Doctor, Now!" The nurse rushed out, and S turned to Yoki once again.
"Calm down Yoki, you're okay." Yoki looked to silver eyes and seemed to calm for a moment, before she noted of Medomai and actually screamed. It seemed the first interaction was momentarily forgotten, as she threw the piece of paper in her hand at Medomai in total fear, and if it wasn't for S holding her down, S was sure that Yoki would be in the corner screaming like a child. "Yoki! Calm yourself now!" Shaking visibly, her purple eyes turned to S. "Do you see it?!" S sighed, nodding. "Why do you look so damn solemn?! It's a mon-..." Then it hit her, and she slouched, as if deep in thought.
"...Its..." It's a shinigami. They exist. Shifting her gaze to L, her purple eyes seemed a mix of emotions that were hard to identify. Fear, curiosity, excitement, all mixed and changing. That quickly turned into concern though as S seemed to clamp up slightly, gritting her teeth in pain. Yoki turned her gaze back to S, and seemed all the more concerned. "...S?" She shook her head and stepped back, in the struggle a few stitches had broken, blood was beginning to soak through the new bandage.
It occurred to him that it was highly likely that S had overheard. It was an unfortunate possibility, but one he could not help. Glancing to said woman as she approached, he nodded in greeting. Though, his brow rose as she glared at a monitor...or the direction thereof. Observing he shiver, he began to wonder if she was still suffering trauma, her body perceiving cold that wasn't there. Blinking when the curtain was drawn, he went back to staring out the window.
How was he going to convict Light Yagami and Misa Amane? The Task Force had already written them off as innocent, and would rail against him should he even suggest another round of confinement. No, he had to be subtle. To find a way to convict them completely, and irrevocably. To do this, the pale detective began to immerse himself in thought, of the various rules the notebook had.
However his thoughts were once again placed on hold as Yoki began to stir. Stepping from his seat, L approached the side of the bed, at almost the exact moment as S. Yoki's abrupt awakening caused his gaze to become alert, his senses reaching for a variety of things yet unknown. As the woman genius tried to calm the panicked mind of Yoki, L followed that small roll of paper, his frame coming to rest only a scant few centimeters from Medomai.
Medomai was insanely amused, and certainly entertained. Once the male's fingers touched the scroll, the shinigami allowed a wide and stretching grin to come to it's lip-less mouth. This motion didn't gain a reaction whatsoever from L. "...Shinigami." The word was spoken with an air of recognition, and ire. Why would such a creature attach itself to Yoki? Surely to S, L's lack of reaction would be unusual. Considering that several months ago he fell out of his chair at the mere mention of them.
Ignoring the skinless god, L turned to watch a small point of crimson grow larger on the back of S. Frowning, he was about to send another call for a doctor, when the Resident Physician entered. "What is the panic about? Yoki, is everything alright?" His voice was soothing, one that would instantaneously cause even a panicked child to calm and wait for a parent. "I'm glad to see you awake..." His badge read Dr. Nakamatsu.
Looking over to S, he paged several nurses requesting sutures and more bandaging. He addressed Yoki, "We thought you were going to be out of it for a few more days, at least. That is a pretty deep head-wound." All the while he spoke, he attended to the blonde. Coming to stand behind her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Crystal. We're going to have to remove the bandages and redo a line of stitching. It certainly shouldn't have broken so easily. We can get you a room of your own if you wish." It wouldn't be a surprise if he was one of the favorites of the entire ward. He truly wanted to make sure that what he did was okay with his patients. Yes, her medical sheet was on his clip-board.
Yoki was still immensely tense, though the initial panic had passed, she seemed to clamp up worse than S was currently. L was seeing it too now? So..her eyes trailed to the paper resting in L's fingers, and it clicked. Though to test that theory, she looked to S in question. "Do..?" S nodded, "Only those who have touched the paper can see it.." As the Doctor came in, Yoki nearly jumped before turning her gaze to him. She blinked a few times before offering a nervous laugh. "S-Sorry Doctor.." Lifting her hand to touch the bandages, she winced in pain.
"What..happened?" Watching as the Doctor went to S's side to check her opened wound, she noted that S had tensed the same way L had when Aizawa had touched L. Placing her hand over the genius's, she offered an apologetic and comforting smile. It calmed S considerably, so she stood a bit more upright and shook her head, answering the Doctor as she turned to him.
"No, I don't need my own room, I'll just take the new sti-..." Silver eyes widened, it couldn't be...
"...Taro?" The very same Doctor from the Government facility she lived in most of her life, but how? He was still suppose to be there, right? Silver eyes narrowed a bit, she would have to update on her contacts, or get rid of them. Shaking her head gently, she inhaled softly and calmed herself. "Just new stitches Doc.."
Taro? So S knew this Doctor? That was strange, didn't she cut herself off from the world entirely, taking an oath to just watch it pass by? Yoki was immensely confused, and the headache forming wasn't helping. A soft groan escaped, a hand lifted to rub her temples. "Ugh..someone please explain what the hell is going on.."
S glanced back to Yoki, answering quietly as to not aggravate the headache. "We were almost hit by a semi-truck, it hit a bus which rolled onto a sedan, several were killed and others were injured..you suffered a head injury which forced you into a coma. You've been out for an entire night." Yoki seemed to take it in stride, "What about you?"
"I suffered a minor injury compared to you, worry about yourself."
A gentle laugh escaped Nakamatsu. "Apologizing for coming from a coma?" His incredibly dark orchid hues seemed to project his amusement. "No need. You are one of the more calm cases I have dealt with today." Yes, he may have moved his expertise into the field of Intensive Care and Recovery, but he still took cases from the Psychiatric Ward. To most of the staff, he was the only one who could deal with the truly broken mentalities of the patients.
"Hm?" Focusing on S as his first name was spoken, he smiled. "You are sure? The severity of your wound is more than what a simple re-stitching would fix." Proven by the fact that the standard grade stitching came apart so easily. Her silver hues were familiar, and it almost hit him like a train, that this 'Crystal' was the result of 'Project S', of which he had been the Head Psychiatrist. Humming, he nodded as she explained to Yoki in summary what had happened. "From other first handed accounts, you /should/ have been under the truck's front tire. A wonderful friend you have here."
An expert on hiding emotion and revelation, there was no sign that Nakamatsu recognized S at all. But going through his head was a nearly proud mantra of, 'So... you have made friends after all. I told you that you would.' Setting the clip-board on the counter, he began to draw the curtain once again. "As her shirt will need removal, I will assume she desires some form of privacy. Apologies." An almost teasing grin was aimed at Yoki. Not only was he gentle, but he enjoyed teasing both staff and patients. It kept spirits on a level above insanity.
L had remained silent, a near ghost-like presence. Random socialization was not his forte, and so a small wave of relief passed as the new Doctor and S disappeared behind the curtain. Sitting once again in the chair beside Yoki's bed, he let his hand flop on the hospital mattress. So...it seemed that these Death Notes come in a variety of shapes, as the one Yoki now held was that of old and nearly decrepit parchment. Sliding ebony hues to the fleshless shinigami, L quirked his lips downwards.
So many details that fit, yet no one else could see them. He would have to wait until this doctor left, before he could interrogate this new god of death. Though, he had the gut feeling that such an activity wouldn't at all be simple. A strange aura seemed to hang around the thing, not to mention...the bells were getting louder around these creatures. It was beginning to get distracting, but remained on the edge of bearable.
A blush filled Yoki's cheeks, she felt a cheesy grin come to her lips as a giggle passed. The doctor was indeed kind to her, and S seemed to relax a bit more despite the Doctor not returning the recognition. Maybe S thought he looked like this Taro character? Who knows.
As the curtain was drawn, Yoki's face lost all amusement and fell into that of solemn curiosity, she turned her attention back to Medomai. As soon as L sat down and laid his hand on the mattress, Yoki's hand rested on his own, she continued to stare at the shinigami, though a bit of fear was more than evident. Who wouldn't be scared of a skinless monster staring at you? Forcing herself to look to L, she offered a tiny smile.
"Thank you." Her purple eyes showed much gratitude, "If it wasn't for you..I'd still be asleep." Coma seemed so scary, it all felt like a dreamless sleep to her, darkness surrounding..there were moments she thought she was floating away, so in desperation her hand reached out to hold on. Squeezing his hand gently, her kind smile still remained.
S removed her shirt as the curtain was drawn, the bandages soaked in blood once more. Her shirt remained against her arms, which she pulled to her chest to cover herself more properly. Lowering her head slightly to lift her hair up, she closed her eyes and spoke softly. "You can stop pretending now Taro, I know its you..what're you doing here?" She always had that need to know, soaking up any information like a sponge and yet somehow retaining it without letting a single drop go. S knew Taro was by far the most knowledgeable person of her history, in the short time they had together she had somehow managed to form a bond with him that she could not recognize until now. It was friendship, almost as if he was a bigger brother she never had.
He was also one of the only people alive that knew the horrors of what she had went through with that scientist. He dealt with her psychiatric melt downs, but if he only knew..maybe the key words would help, would he remember?
"It's cold y'know.." Silver eyes shifted, she needed to warn him, what if the shinigami did something to him? Could she handle it? Yoki almost dying nearly broke her to pieces..it would only do worse if Taro died. But something felt off..she felt particularly cold when L drew closer to her, did that mean..? No. Impossible. L couldn't die, she simply wouldn't allow it.
Almost drawing back as his hand was held, L looked at Yoki. She seemed to be outright frightened of the thing, but also did it appear as if she was beginning to come to terms. Dare he say, that Yoki was developing a curiosity. Blinking as she thanked him, he looked towards the floor. "...You're welcome." He let his hand remain in her own despite the feeling being absolutely foreign. "But perhaps... I should be thanking you?" Without her nearly blasphemous suggestion, they would be nowhere. "...I however am back at square one...unable to take the next piece...a castle is in the way. One I am incapable of penetrating."
He spoke in riddles simply for the reason that S was in the same room. Oh don't mistake him, he planned on sharing all he had found. There was a time where games must end, and he knew that now was that time. No longer could he hold information in front of her nose and swallow it when she got too close. She was a resource. One that needed to be used before her opening had passed. Glancing to the curtain that hid her from view, he pondered what her own reaction would be to a notebook of death.
"All my pieces have fallen, and I stand alone against something...that I may have no hope of defeating."
Pretending? "Ahn...Privacy is something I tend to give my clients Crystal." It was a simple curtain that separated them from the other two. Nakamatsu had a feeling that the anorexic looking man was much more perceptive that he let on. Just...a hunch that came with years of practice in the field of Psychology. Grabbing a hospital gown from a small, almost invisible closet, he handed it to her and guided her towards the door. "Yoki, if you need anything, the nurse's call button is on the side of your bed, also it's on a remote that controls the television..." He felt slightly awkward trying to speak to the rail-thin insomniac for some reason, and so just opened the door to guide S down the hall into an empty room.
After they had occupied the room, he gave a hum. "What I am doing here? I am a doctor, Crystal. Always have been...but instead of treating specimens..." He shifted at the term, "I am helping the public. There is only so much heartlessness I will observe and endure." He had left at least four years ago. Of course he was targeted constantly to find the missing Project. It was no secret that he had bonded with her. Setting the sutures and gauze down upon a Mayo stand, he gave her a look. "Cold? You tended to get that way before a specimen would expire." He remembered the raving of monsters, that they were horrid creatures that came only to bring death.
Tilting his head, he cut away the blood-soaked gauze and carefully peeled it off of the wound. "You mean to tell me that one of them is here? ...if they exist, I wouldn't be surprised. This is the ICU, Crystal. Many lives hang in balance." It wasn't that he didn't believe her. He had simply never seen one. Nor did he ever hope to. Her nearly panicked fits convinced him long ago that something was there. Taro simply enjoyed the bliss of ignorance on that subject. "...Several pinpricks to come. Just a warning." He had already applied a generous dose of topical anesthetic. Grabbing a suture and needle, he began the process of once again closing her back.
Yoki remained quiet whilst L spoke his riddles, wondering what exactly he meant. It sounded like he was speaking of chess, so was this a metaphor? Her heart sank, did this mean that L was losing? No, this was the great detective, the most widely known man in the world. He simply couldn't..
..Die..
She shook her head, her mind was to far up her ass sometimes, she knew quite well that L was human, and it scared her to death that he could possibly die at any moment. She looked to the shinigami, these creatures possessed the ability to let them live or force them to die, and they did it without batting an eyelash. Yoki's fear was slowly being replaced by anger, piece by piece. She didn't want L to die, she didn't want Watari to die..or S..Matsuda..Chief Yagami. No, none of them could die, she simply couldn't allow it..but what power did she hold? Realizing that her body was shivering, and that she had yet to answer L, she simply waited for S and the Doctor to leave.
Though S did say one thing that stuck out to her, she said it on the way out, glancing to L with the tiniest of smirks. "Then simply use another piece, and plan anew." Then they were out the door, Yoki looked to L in question, obviously confused.
S sat on the bed as Taro once again began working on her reopened wounds, she kept quiet for the most part, as if making sure no one would be listening in on them. "No, it's not that simple. It has bonded itself to Yoki. I do not know what to do..I cannot kill it, I cannot hurt it, I can't even make it bat an eyelash..if it /had/ a damn eyelash." She winced softly as the pricks came, though made no motion otherwise. "I figure that the others are keeping a close eye on you, and I know I can trust you with anything Taro-senpai. I just need to know, will you please stand by my side? This case I'm currently working on..it could mean the end of this world as we know it."
She lowered her silver gaze, "I feel as if we are losing it, we were so close at one point, I was sure it would be over within a week..but..." She sighed, obviously the stress of everything was getting to her. "It's getting out of control..and I'm faced with these../emotions/ I haven't had in years, and some I have never had in my entire life.." She clamped her teeth together, biting through a bit of pain. "This trial of emotions and the case itself has...been stressful. I cannot think clearly...what can I do?" In times like this, she would occasionally turn to Taro, she expected the same off-handed answer she had grown accustom to so long ago.
"I..I can't be a Spectator anymore, I have made friends..sadly." She choked back a snort of laughter. "I can't let them die, and it's very likely in this case.." Silver eyes glanced back to dark onyx, "Is this..what they call love?"
Glancing to the now closed door, L frowned slightly. If only it were that easy. To use someone new, to pull another crimi- Blinking as a dozen potential plans hit him all at once, L glanced to the now standing monstrosity. "...So you have given Yoki a Death Note...I assume for no other reason than to amuse yourself?" The Prodigious Detective sounded irked. No, much more than irked. As if he was planning a way to be rid of the thing.
Medomai let loose a string of chortles, the rasping quality all to akin to a human that had surgery on their vocal chords...or worse. "...So you have experience with my kind? Ironically, much more interesting than playing with the blonde one." Another chuckle, and the skinned shinigami nodded. "Yes~ Though for what reason, not even I know~ A random human picked to amuse me..." At this, L could feel his grip upon Yoki's hand tighten. Dancing in the palm of a God. His eyes narrowed, and he forced his tone to be neutral, and not accusatory. "Is there such a thing as a '13 day' rule?"
Blinking behind it's helm of bone, Medomai seemed confused. "What is this you speak of...? I have never heard of such a thing..." Oh...that is what this was. Ryuk had written a rule. An amusing action to be sure, but one that was entirely false. "No...there are sixty-five rules, none include the number thirteen." Turning to stare at the prone form of Yoki, it grinned. "You are the owner of my scroll...you should be asking questions~" It could tell that the girl was getting angrier.
"It has no eyelashes?" Don't ask why he chose to inquire on that bout of sarcastic ire, he just did. Sighing, he tied off the first line of stitching, and started another. One to act as reinforcement. "Remember, you left first Crystal. I would never have left your side in the first place, had you not needed to escape." Unfortunately, while helping her erase her tracks, he had lost her himself. It was hard, not seeing her face. Knowing that it was possible that she was simply done away with. He wouldn't have known.
"I am going to assume you speak of the Kira case, if it is world changing." Dark orchid hues roved over her various scars. Many he had also stitched himself. "What can you do? ...A few things. You can try to erase these feelings, to ignore the source and cause." This was obviously not an actual suggestion, and Taro paused before grabbing the roll of gauze wrap. "You can roll in the tide, allowing them to beat and batter you until you break." Handing her the end, he once again paused, being very careful not to undo any other line of stitches.
"Or you can grab them. Force them into a submission until you have identified their purpose. Take control of your heart, Crystal. You have one. Albeit it is encased in a vault that there is no pass-code to...you have one." He had seen it. Had experienced it on various occasions.
Finishing his wrap job, he threw away the stained gauze in the bio-hazard bin. "Love is a very fickle thing to define, as there is no single type... But to place yourself in harms way, to gain a severe wound to save a young girl's life...Yes, I do believe you love her. I will assume the man holds a place in your heart as well?" He smiled softly, coming to face her directly. "Perhaps you need a break... working such debilitating and crippling cases will eventually wear you to the core. You are always welcome here. Yoki will be in the ward for another few days. I will need to assess her mental condition and stability. Why not stay with her until she is discharged?"
Yoki forced her emotions into submission, if for nothing else than to listen to what L was saying to this creature. She kept her purple gaze even with its crimson eyes. It was truly a monster from the pits of hell, nightmares and darkness. She inhaled softly, managing to keep her tone even once it addressed her. "Just because I am the owner does not mean I shall use it for my own purpose, that thing is to powerful to lay in human hands, no matter how much it may amuse you, I refuse to play a puppet in your twisted show." She snapped her jaw together, giving a click of her teeth.
"Though I am interested in these rules, and how exactly this scroll works." She turned her gaze to L, wondering what questions she should ask this God of Death, what was there to be asked? Obviously the rules would answer a few if not many questions they had..but what of the other thousand that rested on their minds? Could this creature reveal how to kill Kira? "Could you please tell me what they are and how this works?" She returned her gaze to Medomai, patience and anger mixing in purple abyss.
Could she save everyone in time?
Of course he would pick that out of everything else, a small chuckle rose. "It is skinless, Taro-senpai, I would have to assume it is also hairless." She felt muscles twitch under the pressure of being pricked and stitched back together like a broken doll. A bit of sorrow etched into nearly emotionless features, she had always felt broken deep down, just putting on the front of being strong so others could stop worrying about her. Yoki especially would be worried, and she knew this all to well.
A small crack of a smile formed on her lips, of course Taro knew of the Kira case, how much he knew would probably only be what the public knew. Unless of course he was still in contact with a few of the others that S had befriended back in her past, then surely he might of known more..that was beside the point. Whether he knew or not was not of a big matter, he knew how to keep his lips shut tight, it was obvious. Looking up as he spoke again, she listened to his words carefully, and took each option into consideration. The first one seemed a bit more glorious than the others, but S knew when Taro was being sarcastic and threw it off to the side without a second glance. But what of the other two?
Well, the second option was simply out of the question, she refused to be used in such a manner, even by herself. So that only left the third, but how could she wrestle something down that had been ignored for years? Surely it would be a challenge..a smirk nearly appeared, of course, she simply had to think of it as a challenge. Looking up to him as he spoke of Yoki, she felt her hardened silver gaze soften to one of sorrow and warmth. Though at the mention of L, unbeknownst to her, blood had rushed to her face to cause a crimson blush. She let her silver eyes travel to her hands, finger interlaced while her thumbs fiddled against each other. S cleared her throat, trying to keep her roaring emotions in check.
She couldn't of looked anymore like a school girl with a crush, "He does.." It wasn't like she could hide anything from Taro, he knew her like the back of his hand. "But only as a friend." She nodded firmly, as if trying to convince herself of such a thing. At the mention of staying here, she shook her head immediately. "I can't just yet, I must leave for at least tonight to update myself on the case.." For the first time in such a long time, a smile formed on beautiful features, "You know how I am, I must be at the top of my game. I shall return soon enough though.." Her smile deteriorated, "I..have a feeling someone is in deep trouble." L's words did not settle well with her. "I do promise to come back."
L kept his shadowed gaze upon the shinigami. Underneath the bone, it seemed to have an eternal grin. As if they were it's toys. Pondering for a moment several questions he could ask, he himself wondered what Yoki would inquire. Glancing to her bandaged head, he blinked. She hadn't seen Misa's hair move...there were quite a bit of things that only he, or S could ask. He would sit and observe for a while, that is if the shinigami remained cooperative.
Medomai blinked itself, and had to actually think. Not only did it not wish to elaborate on all of the rules, she was pretty sure she couldn't. Medomai may have been the first of it's kind, but it still followed the rules of the King. "...While I cannot elaborate on every rule, I can tell you how this works." A quirk of facial tissue and the large god made it's way to the foot of Yoki's bed. "As your pale companion has noted, you are in possession of a Death Note. A very, very simple device to use...simply write someone's name with their face in mind."
L finally spoke up. "This way those sharing the same name cannot be affected..." Yes, the shinigami was going over things he already knew, but he had to remember that Yoki did not. Medomai gave L an almost stink-eye look, and crouched. "Precisely...of course, you can specify their method of death...as long as those particular details are written in a certain window of time. You see, these notes were originally meant for only shinigami. However, at various points in the past; several bored gods decided to try and give this power to a human...it never turns out well for your kind." An abrasive chortle and it continued. "Many of these rules are in existence for the simple reason that a human very well could get a hold of this contraption..."
It would stop there. Forthgiving all of the information wasn't entertaining. And so Medomai eventually fell silent.
Yes, that solidified that. He did /not/ wish to view this thing that S saw. Burn victims were bad enough. Observing her face change with every thought that ran through her brain, Taro simply waited patiently. In his experience, if one was going to say something, they would say in their own time. That is, if what they wished to say had any worth whatsoever. Doctor Otaka had disagreed, but that was besides the point. Filling in various blanks on her medical chart simply from memory; eg, blood type and various medical conditions, Taro looked up when she spoke. The raging blush on her face made him smile, but he would say nothing on it.
"Friends are very powerful things. And it seems to me that you have several... if I am to cater to your thoughts on yourself, think of them as upgrades to a fire-arm. A scope, a silencer...or even a larger magazine, so that you may fire more often, with less down time. Of course, you know I dislike thinking of you that way..." Cleaning the rest of his mess, he nodded as she explained that she could not stay. "I understand... Your gut has never been wrong in that aspect. Not in my experience. However don't over-do it. I only want you returning of your own free will and two legs. Not by way of gurney."
Yoki took the information and placed them to memory, though she wasn't happy with the fact that bored Gods caused so much destruction, she had no place to say anything. She never killed, but when boredom struck she painted, drew, sang, something to entertain herself. Lowering her gaze in thought as the shinigami stopped talking, purple hues seemed to concentrate on what she could ask next.
"What happens to those who touch the notebook?" She couldn't help but be a bit selfish and worry about herself, if the shinigami damned her to Hell, she would be flaming pissed off. Purple eyes lifted to crimson once more, and once again did something show that she picked up from no one other than the female genius. There was a monotone challenge, it was almost as if Yoki was challenging the shinigami to piss her off. All else was temporarily blinded, until it answered at least.
Shifting her gaze to L, after it answered or did not of course, she offered a tiny smile. "Sorry L, looks like I'm going to be apart of the case anyways. I won't hold us back though." She turned her gaze back to the shinigami, it was an off-handed comment, there was truly no need for him to answer.
S couldn't help but be amused by Taro's way of saying how she viewed her friends. It was true, Yoki would naturally be her scope, L her silencer, and the rest of the team her larger magazine clip. Watari was the strap that held the gun to her body, keeping her comfortable even in the darkest situations..a small chuckle rose. "I know you don't.." The next series of words she never thought she would speak in her life time. "I think I'm realizing just how human I really am."
If that surprised Taro at all, it definitely surprised S, she stared at the wall, seeming to space out. She..was human? Biologically there was no doubt but..yes, her emotions were finally revealing themselves after being locked away, forcing her to face the truth. There was no doubt, she was human. Eyes softening, they closed as she looked down and smiled a bit more. "Of course, I don't plan on coming in such a state. Only my enemies shall come in such a way, or in a bag." A cruel smirk lifted her lips, with Taro she could freely express her darker emotions without judgement. "I already promised that shinigami that I would put a bullet in Kira's head, if it's the last thing I do."
"Unless you use it, absolutely nothing...though..." A tilt of it's head. "It is said that a human possessed by a shinigami suffers greatly." The girl seemed to have already been suffering upon Medomai's arrival. And so, the shinigami felt no guilt attaching itself to her.
Deciding to be a silent observer unless addressed, Medomai settled itself and gazed at the window. By this time, it was noon, and the sun was quaintly in the middle of the sky. L thought of a few questions to ask, but thought it best that S be present when they were answered. After all, again did he have a feeling; this one, that this shinigami had no patience for reiteration. Looking to Yoki at her statement he blinked. "You have always been in the case...simply not in the way I usually use my resources."
Oh-ho! He would have fallen sideways had he not been leaning against the counter. "Pardon, but I think I had something in my ear. Could you repeat that? Something about being human." His grin could not be suppressed, and one side of his lips nearly touched his ear. "Ahh... forgive me." A hearty chuckle left him, and he turned towards the door. "And that is a promise you will fulfill. I am sure."
Opening the door, he looked back waiting for her to join him. "Though...might I ask you not make too much of a mess? Last time you did I was scrubbing the wall for hours..." A snort. "And it still stained the steel."
If S hadn't spaced out, she would've been immensely amused, but his next comment brought her out as he had went to the door and opened it. Pulling her shirt back on, she tossed the hospital gown onto the bed after slipping off it. Walking over, that grin represented itself so widely it could've been considered Cheshire. "Ohn? Then my mark remains." There was a bit of pride resting in her tone, and she was indeed proud of such an accomplishment, if you could call it that.
As she walked out with him, stopping at Yoki's door, her silver gaze went back to Taro as she smiled sweetly. "Thank you for everything Taro-senpai, without you I surely would've still been in that hell." At this point she lifted to her toes and laid a gentle kiss on his cheek, turning around to walk into the room, the smile remained.
At that mention, she merely sighed in relief and relaxed visibly. Yoki had been suffering before the shinigami came into play, so suffering wasn't what she was worried about. Hearing S outside the door, her purple gaze lifted to see the woman walking in with..was she smiling?
SHE'S SMILING.
That smile quickly faded once S laid eyes on the shinigami, so Yoki had to rub her eyes, thinking her mind was playing tricks on her. Who the hell was this Doctor?! What the hell did he do with her S?! Giving a cute thoughtful look, it quickly faded away. "Welcome back, Crystal." When silver eyes shifted to her, Yoki saw so many emotions filter across her features it made her head spin. "...We..were just talking to..." Ohn crap, they didn't know the shinigami's name..did they have names? "...What is your name?" Looking to the shinigami, she lofted a brow.
S on the other hand, took a seat next to L and crossed her legs, arms crossing across her chest. The emotionless stone face she usually kept up was dropped, S had taken Taro's suggestion to heart, she had to take the challenge of ruling over her emotions, instead of vice versa.
Taro wore his own grin of pride. Yes, he detested what that facility was for. But Crystal was a success. Such a success, that the primary scientist had been killed by her own hands. Albeit yes, Taro had to calm her. The poor girl was clawing her own skin causing raised lines, and if he hadn't done his job, she would have succeeded in drawing blood. Coming from those thoughts with a fainter smile than before, he blinked as his cheek was kissed. "You are very welcome...anything I can do - honestly."
It was an offer of everything. Asylum, safety, information. Codes, equations amongst others. Whatever he could provide, he would. His attention landed on his patient as she seemed to make an inquiry...apparently at the wall. "Ahh. I have been informed on this situation. I shall make sure that you have privacy. Until you call, no nurse will walk in. I really do not want to have to admit you to the Psychiatric Ward." Giving a sly and knowing smile, Taro exited the room, wondering faintly what the hell it was that Crystal had gotten herself into.
Medomai had begun to wonder if names were of importance to this specific group of humans. Observing the knowing look of the doctor, it correctly assumed hat he knew of it's existence, but simply decided to stay more or less neutral. That was fine with it. "Heheh...I was beginning to wonder if you even cared." Readjusting itself with a creak of joints, it grinned. "You may call me Medomai. I should return the inquiry~"
Resting it's crimson gaze on first the blonde, then the pale man, it waited. Said man seemed however to have his entire focus on said blonde.
Why? For the simply fact that this was not at all normal. Who was this doctor, and what did he do to cause such a dramatic change in the female genius? L's sharp stare would remain on S until she sat. Only then would the idea come to him. And with the straightest face he owned, he said, "...In this environment, I assume you used protection."
Luckily for Yoki, she assumed that the Doctor and S were particularly close, thus didn't see a problem with talking to the shinigami as he stood there. When he left, her gaze shifted to the shinigami once again. So it's name was Medomai? "Please, I'm sure you know my name, this is C-.." Did L..seriously just state that? Yoki burst into a fit of laughter, releasing L's hand to cover her face, hiding her gaze from the hell fire glare sent her way by S.
S definitely wouldn't take that, she immediately shoved L, aiming to shove him to the floor with a steady glare. "You needn't not worry, Ryuzaki, I assure you my virginity is still intact." She scoffed lightly then turned to the shinigami, now named Medomai, with a sigh. They needed to concentrate. "Our second problem concerns a person holding these..papers of death, whatever you call them; she could kill without having their name present to her. Is this possible?"
Yoki eventually calmed her fits of laughter, wiping her tears away. Nodding softly, she coughed before speaking, "Yeah, the Second Kira..is that possible?" Yoki was surprised that S wasn't ashamed to call the Second Kira a female, then again S and L were positive in thinking that Light was Kira and Misa the Second. Turning her gaze to Medomai, she tilted her head slightly. A thought came to mind that caused her to think.
Even if the person haunted by a shinigami suffered greatly, it was a stroke of luck that the creature even chose her, without this trump card they would surely be stuck on the case. Then L's previous words came to mind, she was never used as a pawn in L's game of chess against Kira. She was an outsider, just like Watari in some ways..but she wondered briefly what made her so special. Was it simply because she was so much like her mother? There were plenty of points where her father came out..and she was sure L would eventually see that side of her..would he judge her? Shaking her head from such thoughts, Yoki paid full attention to Medomai.
As he had been sitting in his signature position, L indeed almost went down to the floor. Unfortunately for S's plan, L was flexible. The only motion that L had time for, was to shove his foot forward and plant it upon the smooth tile of the hospital. This resulted in the man almost doing the splits, his right hand coming forward to steady himself by taking hold of the window sill. Unfortunately for the pale detective, he did not escape unharmed. His forehead cracked against the end of Yoki's bed, splitting skin.
"...It was a simple observation..." This time, L did not feel that the retaliation he got was deserved, and so it wasn't surprising that he sounded irritable. Left eye squinting in pain, L straightened and walked around the bed to obtain a piece of gauze. He didn't need a doctor or nurse, and he would shake his head if Yoki tried to call either.
Medomai chortled shortly, before coming around to elaborate on the cause of it's question as well as answer the blonde in the same breath. "I do not already know your names, contrary to what you think. I frankly enjoy the unknown, and so do not employ the power of my eyes. To elaborate further, and answer your question, yes. As long as this female was in possession of the Shinigami Eyes, a deal made with a death god to obtain the power of knowing a person's name and lifespan simply by looking at their face...she could use the Death Note without prior knowledge of name."
Once more adjusting to allow the man, apparently named Ryuzaki, to sit once more in his chair, Medomai continued. "This however requires a sacrifice of half of that human's remaining lifespan...I will ask once again, what are your names?"
Upon settling once again, L spoke quietly. "Call me Ryuzaki, shinigami." There was now a developing pounding on the left side of his skull. However, he aimed to ignore this and asked one of his own questions. "In what circumstance would an owner of a notebook lose their memory?"
Oh~ This human was good. Settling itself once more with several cracking noises, Medomai gave the shortest and most simple answer needed. "In the circumstance that they gave up ownership." Obviously to deal with the girl meant to deal with her two companions. So Medomai simply rolled with things.
S actually felt no shame in putting L in such a position, even as he smacked his head into the hospital bed. It shut Yoki up though, as she had gasped out of worry, she was about to ht the call button when L shook his head. Giving a worried look to him, she then sent a rather nasty glare to S. "You could've been more gentle, he was joking you know." S just gave an even stare at her, and it became evident to Yoki that S just didn't care. "Believe it or not, the man-boy is more durable than you think." As the shinigami spoke up, S turned her attention to it once more.
So it simply liked the unknown, to be surprised? A deadpan stare came, "You may address me as either S or Crystal, I have no preference." Though when L asked a question, S seemed to listen very closely to the raspy shinigami. Give up ownership? ...'Get rid of it.' Her silver eyes widened, and before she could even think to spit out another question, Yoki was already asking it.
"...Is it possible for the owner to regain his or her memory?" Despite L knowing, the girls had not a clue, and Yoki seemed to be more afraid than S, if Light regained his memories then surely they would...
S snapped her attention to L, silver eyes finally showing the concern she felt for him all along. Did this mean that Light was going to beat him..into a coffin? Surely not, L was smart enough to get himself out of anyth-...
'...I however am back at square one...unable to take the next piece...a castle is in the way. One I am incapable of penetrating.'
Glancing at Yoki, whom seemed concentrated on Medomai, she turned her attention back to L. Did this mean that they were losing? Was Medomai their last way out? Could they escape..could Yoki and L be saved from death? It was obvious that S thought that she couldn't be affected by the Death Note, so unless Light or Misa just out right killed her, she didn't feel threatened by them. L and Yoki were on the line though, and she'd be damned if she allowed them to die..
But what if it was to late?
Contrary to what it looked like, the split wasn't particularly severe. However, like all head wounds do, it bled like an artery had been split instead of a few layers of skin. Already on his third piece of gauze, L shifted and his frown had become obvious. He already had the feeling he knew the answer to Yoki's question. There could be no mistake. Once Light had once again touched the notebook, he reverted back to...what he used to be like before his incarceration. Every word Light spoke made alarms go off in L's mind.
So he wasn't at all surprised to hear Medomai's answer. It simply served to shove his brain into high-gear; not only to prevent his own death, but that of Yoki's as well. Not even he knew S's true name... so his concern wasn't as great in that regard. "A letter or a gem~ Certainly interesting." Focusing on the girl in the hospital bed, Medomai seemed to grin wider. It had a feeling that the man had the answer already...his aura looked and felt...resigned.
"Yes. Once the individual that had lost their memory touches the note again...all of their memories of using it will return, but only whilst they hold the Note. The current owner of the Note must die in order for those memories to remain." At this L stood, not only to get the girls' attention, but to amble and get more gauze. "Kyosuke Higuchi has been confirmed to be the Third Kira..." A pause while he tossed the soiled pads away and grabbed a stack of new ones out of the clear plastic container.
"A black notebook was found inside of his briefcase. Attached to it was a shinigami to which both the Chief and Mogi nearly panicked when looking at it. Rather boney in appearance, with purple facial markings. I let you know this because when we return to Headquarters, you will be offered to touch the book." The bleeding had slowed, and for that he was thankful. Looking at S, he saw the concern in her gaze, and continued. "After I was handed the notebook, it came clear to me that there had to be at least two. This number has jumped to three, because of Yoki's scroll."
"Unfortunately, Light Yagami soon grabbed it from me, and almost immediately changed behavior. If there had been any doubt, allow it to be erased. Light Yagami is Kira...yet I am incapable of arresting either he or Misa. Not only will Chief Yagami possibly suffer a coronary, the Police will completely revoke co-operation, and I am sure that our Task Force would disband." He met S's gaze, his own sable hues solemn. "Square one...and all progress made amounts to nothing." He didn't sound mopey, sad, or defeated. It was simply stated as if it were a basic fact that deserved only the slightest of glances.
Perhaps this was because he already knew he had manipulated a way out. A deal with the boney shinigami, a faked death. Not even Yoki, who he let slip his true name to, could know. It didn't sit well with him, the fact that he knew such an event would hurt her, but it was necessary and now completely unavoidable.
"Oh...I almost forgot to mention that Higuchi suffered a heart attack while we tried to bring him in..." It truly did sound like an after-thought.
This definitely wasn't good, and as Yoki glanced over to S, she noted the deep concern plastered on her features, and she was looking right at L. Blinking curiously, she decided to keep quiet about it, the poor girl got enough crap from L. Though it only proved her point more, S was in love with L, but she wondered when the woman would actually show it. Shaking her head from such thoughts before she got to deep into it, Yoki was soon paying attention to L on the latest update with the case.
So..Higuchi was the Third Kira, and he was already dead? Then Light was truly Kira, and Misa the Second. As L mentioned the other shinigami, Yoki looked straight to Medomai, "Does that description sound familiar, Medomai?" Any information on this shinigami would be a great aid to her, for a terrible weight was suddenly pressed down on her shoulders. Only S knew why though, not even the young girl could explain it.
S knew with a 100% certainty that Yoki would need to be secured, and she knew quite well how to do it. Despite the poor boy's impression, Matsuda was very reliable. She would contact him, and let him know of the circumstances. Of course she wouldn't relay all the details on him, simply the things he had to know to protect Yoki. She seemed quite determined to keep the girl safe, so L had nothing to worry about. Taro would be a great aide as well, he's ability was almost like Watari's, of course Watari was older and wiser in that matter, but Taro was not a push over either.
Lifting her gaze once more, she looked at the two with a concern and guilt that nearly consumed her, she forced it to submit though, her heart aching as if someone was stabbing it. How could she keep them both safe? That was her job, wasn't it..? It was then she realized that this was simply not something she was prepared for, and having allowed them in would make her suffer all the more. Silver eyes closed, Watari's words coming back to her.
'We all reach out, in the hopes that someone will reach back.'
She had to do this, suffering was all apart of human growth.
A low and painful sound came from the shinigami. So they had caught Rem of all gods! The chuckle that came from Medomai was mirthless in it's sound. Though, with the gravel that coated every vocalization, it was hard to tell. "...It sounds familiar. But I find myself hardpressed to bother about keeping track of other gods." It had gotten tired of explaining the finer details, and so instead it would simply reply with the utmost minimalism. Or in this case, deception.
L finally had gotten the bleeding to stop, and gave the fleshless god a queer look. "...I'm sure names are important to you...her name is Rem." The shinigami remained obtuse. Or perhaps it really didn't know. But L had a hard time believing that, and so would ask again, though that would wait til later.
"Crystal...either you have been drugged, or something is chronically wrong." At first with her smile, he truly figured that she had a round or two with the doctor. However, every emotion now played across her face. She had no reason to show such. To L, who had come to know her as one who, like him, locked their emotions away; it was disturbing. So much so that the case had slipped from his mind for the moment. "...not to say that being drugged isn't wrong."
Rem was it's name? That sounded sort of female, but so did Medomai. Then again, looking at the monster it did appear as if it was once female, and simply let go of all genders. Yoki was pondering this when L made the obvious known, S was showing a lot more emotion. Purple hues landed on S as she showed a bit of being disturbed as well. They were both meet with a deadpan stare, and S sighed, as if she were tired of explaining something.
"I was told that if I did not let my emotions come to the surface, this case would eventually break me. I refuse to submit to Kira in any way, nor will I allow myself to be broken by my emotions." S let a smirk curl her lips, making Yoki gap at her, "I'm sorry if I'm scaring you two, but even I had to admit it, I cannot deny how human I truly am. It's only natural for a woman." Did Yoki's ears deceive her as well?! "I'm sorry, but who are you and what have you done with Crystal?" S looked toward her, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you must be a robot with emotions, cause the Crystal we know and love doesn't have feelings."
S deadpanned. "Are you saying a robot has more emotion than me?" Yoki answered without missing a beat, "Yes, I am. You didn't even show how sad you were when the Second Kira first introduced herself, I had a hard time telling." S's heart nearly sunk, and surprise flew across her features before fading away quickly. "...How...did you know?"
Yoki gave a quirky grin, "You're tone changes with your emotions, it's only slight and I have a hard time telling the difference, but it's there. Just like your tone is different when you speak to Ryuuzaki, it's more challenging, but dare I say almost gentle." Yoki's smirk damn near made S sweat drop, it was as if the girl knew something she didn't. "...And what's that suppose to mean?"
Yoki spoke these next words as if it were the most obvious thing in the word, and gave the best L deadpan expression she could possibly muster without breaking down into laughter. "You love Ryuuzaki."
Yoki couldn't help it, the look that came across S's face made her burst into a fit of laughter. S did well to maintain the crimson blush that tried to form, instead only tinting a light pink. "I've already told you Yoki, we're merely business associates, there is no feelings there otherwise." Yoki smirked again, "Liar~" This time the pink blush darkened to red, "I'm not a liar Yoki, and I already told you to stop with that fantasy of yours."
"I'm pretty sure it's your fantasy, not mine~" S's eyes flared, "Yoki..." Yoki couldn't quell the grin, but she raised her hands in defense, "Don't attack a defenseless girl Crystal~! It's wrong~" S's glared, a snarl rose before she huffed and crossed her legs and arms again, having nearly stood up to choke Yoki. "I have no feelings for Ryuuzaki in such a way." Giggling, Yoki looked to L and Medomai, mouthing 'She's a liar'.
Well, a bit of humor was always allowed, and Yoki did make one point, S did speak differently when speaking to L. It was simply a surprise L hadn't realized it earlier.
L's reaction wasn't nearly as violent as Yoki's. Instead, he simply gave a saber-sharp stare of focus, his gaze never leaving her own. Could hypnosis work so deeply, so quickly? Who was that doctor, and what did he do? This line of thought eventually died, as he realized that more than likely, this was of her own volition. Blinking, he came out of his thoughts just as Yoki spoke that the Crystal they knew didn't have feelings.
Of course he couldn't interject his opinion as of then. The two females seemed to be in a light-hearted verbal debate. Which ended with L feeling his eyes widen only a titch, and his eyebrows lifting into his hairline. Love? L slid his hands into his pockets and padded to sit in his chair once again. Only after moving it from between Yoki and S. "...One would think that she has more authority to speak on that matter than either of us..."
He wasn't sure if he was even going to be heard, S was busy trying to strangle the girl, who pointed out her condition in order to save her skin. The creature in the corner hadn't stopped laughing from the moment Yoki made her challenging claim, and the pale detective turned over her words in his mind. Indeed, S's change in tone was so slight he didn't notice a thing. However hindsight being what it was, he could see each and every moment that Yoki was implying.
When things finally settled, he noticed Watari at the door. The old man was grinning widely, and L had to wonder just how much his grandfather had seen. Observing Rem float behind him however made his stomach flip in a sour note, but he quickly dismissed such thoughts. Nodding in welcome, he turned his gaze to Yoki. She seemed happier, of course humor was needed.
Medomai sneered at the floor, however the motion was obviously made for the boned shinigami. Rem blinked at this, and had the almost undeniable urge to sink through the floor and never come back. That...was Medomai. Eldest shinigami, besides the King himself. The humans in the room could not feel the completely oppressive aura, that nearly suffocated Rem's senses. The urge to ask why it sat there was strong. However, she refrained and simply settled to watch the group of humans.
Watari paid Rem no mind, and simply walked up to the side of Yoki's bed. "You are awake!" His proper English rang crisply, with obvious relief and happiness at seeing Yoki conscious. His fingers ran though her hair, and he handed her the blanket she had lain over him as he slept in his chair. "It is frightening, to think of how abruptly life can change...This old man was scared for a long cluster of moments." He looked to S with a warm smile. "You took care of her, like I knew you would. Of course Ryuzaki helped, I would assume?"
S had heard L quite clearly, and knew he had a point. Yoki was more inclined with her emotions and knew how to tame them. So she could concentrate on the things that went on around her, one of the many perks of being a wall flower. The blood had yet to drain from her face, for Medomai was still laughing it's ass off, she suddenly wished to hide under something. Now what was this emotion? Eyebrows furred together, and soon she recognized it, embarrassment. But what reason would she have to be embarrassed? It wasn't true..it was then she glanced to L, and felt her heart skip a beat while her stomach turned inside out.
Looking back to the wall opposite of her, she forced that emotion down with all her strength, that one could wait. Her silver eyes darkened slightly as another shiver ran down her spine, another one was here, and as she looked to Watari, she caught a glimpse of the damn thing. By this point Yoki was staring at her, noticing how she glared at a certain spot with so much hatred it nearly made the younger girl cower away. "...Crystal, what's wrong?"
"Another one is here."
It was stated simply, but Yoki pushed it aside to look up to her Grandfather with a bright smile. "Yes, yes I am, you can thank Ryuuzaki for that." She giggled as he ran his fingers through her hair, closing her eyes as she grabbed the blanket and held it close to her chest. Opening her eyes, she seemed a bit guilty, "I'm sorry for concerning you so ojiisan, I'll try not to do so again." A small grin was given, as S nodded to Watari's gratitude. "You're quite welcome, Ryuuzaki seems to have a voice meant to bring people out of a coma." She shifted her gaze to L, a small grin present, yes she was teasing him.
"Hn..Yoki, do you wish to show your new friend to Watari-san?" Yoki looked to S, blinking softly before realizing she was speaking of Medomai, Yoki looked up to Watari in slight concern. She worried that he would grow only more worried for her if a shinigami was hanging around. "..Only if Ryuuzaki and him both think it best..but otherwise I don't want the rest of the team to know." S quirked an eyebrow, "I think that is best as well." Seems Yoki was either getting smarter, or she was scared of being shunned by the rest of the team. "Also..I think it's best if we see this new shinigami in the room.." S wouldn't hide it any longer, that cold feeling made her blood slow, she was almost holding herself to keep warm. There was simply no point.
"How can you tell, Crystal? I don't see anything.." Yoki looked a bit concerned, S's lips were losing their color. "These silver eyes are not my only curse, Yoki." Yoki blinked, "...I thought they weren't real." S snorted, "At one point, I did have blue eyes, but because of Tsung, I now have this color. It's not a color I prefer, but one I must deal with." S looked to Medomai, it seemed the creature would get its answer. "I can sense death coming around the corner, because these shinigami are either the cause of it, or they're near. I get cold, every time they're around."
Yoki's eyes nearly bulged out of her head, "..Woah. That's..pretty cool, but bad!" The glare sent to Yoki caused her to say the last part, she waved one hand with a nervous look, giving a gentle yet nervous laugh.
Medomai was not the only one amused to see that S's face had suddenly turned into a cherry. L had the faintest of smirks, and Watari had on a gentle grin. But the Elder's expression could easily be attributed to finally seeing Yoki. And awake to boot.
Both male geniuses however turned their full and serious attention to the blonde upon Yoki's concerned inquiry. L knew of what she meant, but Watari did not, and so filed it into a mental drawer before looking back down to Yoki with a chortle. "I can? Hm. I can thank Ryuuzaki for a number of things. However this would be the largest so far." Shaking his head, he once again set his hand upon the young girl's head. "I hope not. The thought of losing you..."
Any seriousness that could have settled was shot out the window by S's quip. Watari was actually taken aback, he had never heard the young man whistle, let alone sing. The expression on L's face was that of mildly irritated stone. A deadpan stare was leveled straight at the femme genius, and he had the quaint urge to crack her over the head with his heel. Instead he simply shifted in his seat. "Yes...well...Hn." He had no intelligent reply.
Blinking from his thoughts of retaliation [which seemed to happen often around the blonde], L glanced to Medomai and back to Watari. Hands resting on his knees, his visage morphed into a nearly...arrogant smirk. Remaining silent, he would allow Watari to speak for himself. "Ah, the looks of concern I see are touching, but honestly unneeded. I am not a frail old man, Yoki. And Ryuuzaki...is this the talent in which you were able to get both of them to sleep?" He spoke of a single instance where the two chosen to succeed him would not go to sleep without first speaking with the Prodigy. He had set the laptop upon the table and then left, only to come back and chortle at the two heads passed out near the computer.
L felt an oncoming eyetic. Really, was he to be ganged upon by even his grandfather? Sighing, he took the scroll out of his pocket, where he had put it during the chaos of Yoki's awakening. Handing it to the elder, he spoke in monotone, belying nothing of his exasperation. "...I warn you, it is...disturbing." Watari simply raised a brow and took the aged parchment. A tug came behind his eyes, and he blinked, a massive, fleshless creature that donned a goat skull sat in the far corner. "Hm...certainly unique. And much different than this one." The intonation held the slightest note of interest, but not much else.
Medomai rose the muscle of it's brow. Standing with several cracks and groans of joints, it rose a good head and a half above Rem. "You and I have something in common, elder. But first, might I inquire your name?" Rem was taken aback by the raucous sound of Medomai's voice, no shinigami sounded like that. Though visually, her face remained neutral. Observing as Watari pulled the black notebook from his bag, she looked to L. Would he keep his promise, and keep Misa safe? "Perhaps she should call the doctor..." A single yellow eye roved over a blonde head, and noted that the lifespan had no worries of running out soon.
As Watari handed the notebook to Yoki, he responded to Medomai. "You may call me Watari." His finger had already pressed the call button on the inside of Yoki's bed.
Despite S speaking up about L singing Yoki out of a coma, she continued to look at Watari with the eyes of a sad child. She hated making people worry about her, that was her job, she worried endlessly about the others..maybe that was what made her such a good waitress to L, S, and the rest of the team. Placing her hand over the old man's, she gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise." Offering a tiny smile, she looked to Medomai with a semi-curious look. "I have a feeling since I'm entertainment to Medomai, I'll be at least semi-protected from other shinigami." She looked to L as he tried to find the intelligent words to shoot back at S, surprised that he had found none.
S on the other hand, grinned victoriously; despite Yoki getting one up on her, she had managed to stun the man silent. Though a bit of regret panged her heart, she truly felt bad for putting him on the spot, but Yoki was sure to be next. As the old man spoke of his ability to handle himself, Yoki seemed more inclined to allowing him to see the monster resting in the corner. Though a look of surprise crossed her features as L pulled the piece of paper from his pocket..when did he get that? S didn't seem surprised, and simply waited as the old man looked to Medomai. S herself was still glaring every now and again to the spot where Rem rested, seeming to make Yoki all the more nervous.
The poor girl looked like she was freezing to death, it was indeed a curse. As Medomai and Watari got to know each other, she noted that the call nurse button was pressed. Yoki took the notebook in her hands, blinking once before looking up to see Rem for the first time. She breathed in, purple eyes taking in its form. "...Hm, she is different from Medomai.." The notebook was handed to S, whom noticed the call button. "They won't be able to do anything other than give me warmth..unless you can hold all Kira conversation until I warm back up outside.." This time, as S looked up to Rem, she noted the monotone look. It seemed concentrated on her hair, and she looked up to the blonde locks to not notice anything. "...What are you staring at, shinigami?"
"S, could you be a bit nicer? I know you don't like them..but they're still Gods of Death.." S looked to Yoki, whom looked dead on concerned for the woman's health. "I've been plagued by these creatures before, you have to excuse my annoyance with them as my blood runs cold." She handed the notebook to L, having resorted back to her monotone look to hide her feelings once more. She felt a pang of hurt, being reminded once again that she was different than everyone else, including L. A blanket was suddenly thrown on her, and she looked up to Yoki who gave a glare that surprised the woman. "Stop looking so down, you know I didn't mean anything harsh." S blinked, then nodded softly and unraveled the blanket, wrapping herself up in it. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on the appendages, letting the blanket hide most of her body. She kept her eyes shut, pushing the feelings away, that was enough for one day..she felt almost exhausted.
If only the hospitalized human knew just how protected she was. Rem blinked and cautiously looked to Medomai. Any human that was possessed by it, was off limits to any other shinigami in existence. Any and all, except for the King. No, it wasn't a written rule, instead it was one unspoken - passed to every newly created God of Death. And it wasn't one that Medomai started intentionally either. However it wasn't complaining in the least.
A young nurse came in, her sweet face full of scripted, but very true concern. "Hey there, is there anything I can do?" She was new. Fresh out of medical college and hoping to land a permanent job after her internship, so because of inexperience, she did not notice S's fading color. Watari turned and gave a shallow bow. "If I could, have several heated blankets please. This room chills my old bones, and my granddaughter shivers as well." With this he waved in the general direction of both Yoki and S, so the young woman decided to bring enough for all three of them. "Of course sir, anything else?"
L shook his head and leveled his shadowed gaze at Watari. "We should be getting back home..." Placing the black notebook under his arm, he stood and ambled around the hospital bed. Glancing at Yoki, he stopped. "...You will join us again in a few days, I am sure." It was essentially a statement of the next time he would see her. On his mind currently was various plans on precisely /how/ he was going to get the Task Force on track once again...and how he would convict Light Yagami.
Indeed, a few days later after several examinations, Doctor Nakamatsu was finally comfortable allowing Yoki to go home. Unfortunately her clothes had been cut away, instead of pulled off to avoid jarring the large head wound she had. So Taro gave her a pair of sweats and a plain white tee to go home in. "I'm glad to see that you have recovered so quickly. If anything comes up, do not hesitate to call, even if it seems minor. Even faint dizziness is something to watch out for."
It seemed to him, that thanks to this girl, he had found Crystal after quite a number of years. Handing Yoki a prescription for pain medication, and instructions for home care on how to wash her hair for the next few weeks, Taro gave the warmest smile that his face was capable of. "...I thank you for bringing Crystal back...she has been a very good friend of mine. After losing contact, I thought I'd never see her again. So...thank you." Pushing up his glasses, he turned to head for the door.
Medomai watched all of this with interest, and after looking at the stitches that lined the girl's scalp, it chuckled. She certainly was indeed a lucky human.
Being once again in the vicinity of Light Yagami, L tried to think of infallible ways to nail the college student. None had yet come to him. Having finally the chance to fully examine the notebook, he had noticed that a corner had been torn away. "...Shinigami, would one be able to kill someone, with only a piece of paper from the notebook?" These questions came slow to him. So very slow. But for the simple reason, that constant images from Whammy's House invaded his mind's eye.
Blinking, Rem looked questioningly to the detective. She may have made a deal with him, but her main loyalty, however temporary, was to Light Yagami. "...I wouldn't know. I haven't tried using it like that."
This, L translated as a yes. "I see..." Placing the book down on the glass table in front of him, he stood. He couldn't focus. Loud, ringing bells sounded in his ears, and it was only with great effort that he had noticed the torn page. Something was wrong... mental pictures of children flashed momentarily before the basement once again came into focus. Blinking, he made his way to Watari's private office. Padding silently
The elder noticed after only a moment that L stood, silent. As if he was struggling to find the right words. "...Ryuuzaki, whatever is the matter?" The Prodigy had a mix of irritation and concern on his features, which made for a very worry-causing expression. It took several minutes before L said anything. "...I can't focus, Watari. The bells, they ring so loud..." He sounded terribly distraught about this fact. Well, compared to the normal monotone it was terrible.
Standing and taking a few steps towards the detective, Watari smiled kindly, but with much concern. "The rain calms you. It has helped in the past, has it not? Go, maybe the bells will quiet themselves." Nodding slowly, the pale detective thanked Watari quietly before heading to the elevator.
Yoki had smiled brightly as Taro gave her the medication and thanked her, tilting her head cutely to the left, she giggled. "It's not problem Doctor, in fact it was a stroke of luck for you and her. You seem to make her happy, so I'm glad." Least she actually saw the girl smile for the first time. Glancing toward the shinigami, Medomai, she turned around and walked out to find Matsuda was taking her home. Grinning like an idiot, she went to him and gave him the biggest hug she could handle without gaining a headache.
"It's so good to see you again!" She looked up to the grinning ex-officer, who held the door open for her as he was hugged. "Yeah, glad to see you alive Yoki, I'm sure you're eager to get back." Yoki nodded and slipped inside, "Yeah, top speed~!" Matsuda shook his head and chuckle, closing the door before getting in and driving off.
Light felt insanely comfortable, he knew that all the pawns were on his side now, the rest would simply be cast off. L was going to die, soon. He could feel it in his bones, and it nearly made him giddy. Looking to the clock to find that L had left for quite some time, he glanced to S whom rested in a curled position. Ever since she had returned, she had been unusually quiet, and he noticed a few times that she stared at him with a point-blank hatred. Glancing back to the clock, he sighed and went to stand up. "Sit down Light, I'll go find him."
Her voice nearly made him stumble over, it was the first series of words she had spoken since her return. Standing silently, she made her way out with quick haste. It was almost as if she feared Rem, though she did look cold, wrapped up in several blankets until now.
She hated that cold, hated it with a passion. Before it was bearable, but now it was so freezing that the blankets were even failing at their one basic job. Silver eyes glanced toward the elevator as it went up to the top floor, lofting a brow, she immediately knew it was L. Watari for one had no business on the top floor, while the rest of the team was either away, or working currently. S knew from previous experience that L had always seemed to go to places that made him think more clearly.
She waited for the elevator to take him all the way up before pressing the button to take her there. He seemed more quiet as of late, as did S, but with him especially quiet it made the rest of the team stand on pins and needles. As the elevator took her up, she leaned against the railing as softly as she could, her back was incredibly tender. Silver hues disappeared behind eye lids as she heard the ding, walking out, her eyes glanced around before she found herself in the same place she was at so very long ago. Had it really been that long?
This case changed her to well.
Walking out onto the roof, the thunderous rain pounded against the concrete and gravel. Looking out to find the pale detective staring out into the sky, she blinked several times. "L?" Her calm voice was drowned out by the rain, and she knew he wouldn't be able to hear her speaking so low. Watching him curiously, the cool rain seemed to make her feel just a bit more comfortable in her own skin.
It didn't seem to matter that there was no longer a dry spot to be found on his frame. L stood, unaffected by the wind, or the cold rain. Staring at no particular point on the horizon, he allowed the mental images to flow freely. First, a young boy, just dropped off at the orphanage, his parents having been killed in a car accident. Tears ran down his face, and raspy wails carried throughout the halls. L was only eight.
Another image, one of the back acreage of Whammy's House. Several children ran about, a young girl just having fallen. She didn't seem at all to be phased, and stood to once again give chase to the boys. Trying to prove she could be just like them. L watched through the window, he had just turned ten. His life was now almost entirely encompassed by case studies, and solving petty crimes in a matter of hours.
For some reason, he had gotten into the church's clock-tower. No one had followed, no one in that moment seemed to care. An eleven year old Prodigy climbed the circular stairway, making it only two floors from the top. A large set of gears, rods, cranks and chains sat below. Turning forever the large hands of the clock face. L sat, watching with extreme interest the workings of the large construct. Suddenly a loud call of his name caused him to start, his precarious footing failing, and he fell right in between a gear and wire. The wire sliced open his leg, and his vision went white.
Once again did the falling rain come into focus, though his soaked bangs obscured many buildings from view. Sensing someone behind him, he turned and blinked. It was S. Her lips moved and he rose a brow. Placing his hand around his ear to act as an amplifier, he leaned toward her, a slight grin on his face. It seemed, that the knowledge of his own death seemed to loosen a few gears in the pale Prodigy's head. Either that...or he wanted her out there with him.
Was that idiot actually grinning? She lofted a brow as he lifted his hand in a motion that seemed to say 'I can't hear you', know she couldn't be heard over the rain, she glanced up to the skies before walking out. Her silver eyes stayed on him as she drew closer, finding that she grew colder with each step. She tacked it off as the rain, until the rain actually began to grow warmer. She stood a few feet from him, silver eyes holding a tiny bit of concern.
"What are you doing L?" It was then that she realized that Yoki was right, her tone was outright softer speaking to him, instead of harsh like with Light, or calm with Yoki and Watari. That thought trailed away, as warm rain pounded down on her, wetting her entirely from head to toe. She dared to take a step closer, only to find that if she drew any closer, her heart ached heavily. The impending doom was near, but her brain refused to recognize the possible.
"You're going to freeze, idiot.." Her silver gaze betrayed her monotone features, they appeared deeply sorrow, as if they were etched in by a sculptor by a hammer and nail. It was always there, just hidden under layers upon layers, locked without a key. She just somehow unearthed it after so long, even if it scared her to death.
"Oh...it's not that I'm doing anything in particular...I just hear the bells... they seem to be /unusually/ loud today." Attention drifting once more to the grey clouds on the horizon, he continued. "They've been ringing nonstop all day...I find it very distracting." Slowly, his shadowed hues drifted to land absently on a large metal box. A stand for the satellite. "I wonder what it could be. A church...maybe a wedding, or..." He knew what it was, and why they rang so loudly.
Another vision swam in front of his mind's eye. The first day. The day Watari brought him to Whammy House. It was cold. He had just had his fifth birthday. Gifts received included the large beige coat he was wearing, along with the scarf. The mittens were old. Almost too thin to wear. But that didn't matter. Because his tiny hands laid in the larger, warmer ones of Watari. The old man gave him a look, and they stood outside the gate for what seemed like hours before it opened.
Blinking the snowflakes away into rain, L twisted his lips and looked even farther away from S. He was rambling, and he knew it. "...I'm sorry...nothing I say makes any sense anyway. If I were you...I wouldn't believe /any/ of it." He couldn't stop his lips from moving, from making words that spilled like water from a decanter. He had failed. The utter, solemn look of defeat was painted across his face as if the artist used neon colours.
She let him ramble, all the time fighting the cold that seemed to over take her entire body. Throughout the entire time she had this..disease, she had always been thousands of miles away, so to feel this cold so close was...suppressing her ability to move. As she fought with her own body, morals, and mind, he talked about bells. She was now only a foot away from him, her silver eyes staring into his with the same sorrow, yet capturing his own defeated look.
It was the first time she heard him ramble incoherently, shoving the truth even farther into her face, L was going to...
No, she wouldn't think of it. Shaking visible, a small chuckle escaped. "You forget, I'm different..you may not make sense to them but..." Her words trailed off, and eventually she looked up to him once more, offering a tiny yet broken smile. "I understand you, it just proves how mental we are." She lowered her gaze, "I'm surprised you believed me when I told you about how..cold..I am.." It hit her like a train then, he heard bells just as she felt cold.
Somehow, that comforted her to the extent where she could move freely. Her emotions ran free for the first time since she was a child, as her hands lifted to gently touch either side of his face. She lifted his head as hers went forward, capturing his lips with her own. Tears sprang freely from her eyes, well hidden by the rain pounding against her. The cold she felt from before suddenly ignited into a burning warmth, as if someone had set a fire in the pits of her very soul, awakening her blood to move more quickly. Her body pressed against his just as gently as her hands resting on either side of his face, a low sob twisting her throat into a lump that wanted to drop in her heart.
He was going to die, and she couldn't save him, her heart seemed to crack, a glass object that she hid so well seemed to only have scuffs on it until now. It was unbearable, yet somehow..this first kiss seemed to soften the initial blow. It was almost as if she were saying she was sorry.
Looking up, he expected to hear some form of chastisement. Some form of quip laced with sarcasm. Perhaps even a simple and to the point, 'You are stupid'. Lazily glancing to her as she spoke about being different, being able to understand...he had one simple thought. 'So you are.' Before he was able to cognitive a response, her hands softly gripped the sides of his face, and he could see moisture swim in her currently startling silver eyes.
Was it the tears that made them so? Was it the fact that she knew as well as he that his clock was slowing? Was Yoki correct, did the female genius have feelings for him, only coming to a cusp before his expiration? A press of lips to his, and he felt all cerebral function cease.
He didn't pull away. Yet he made no move to advance either. Right arm lifting cautiously, he set it on the curve of her waist. Only then did his neck bend forward, his own pressure being put behind the kiss. But for a moment, enough time to clear his mind, the bells quieted. Only then, did he realize the risk to both of them. The rain was now almost freezing, it being the month of November.
Pulling away, he blinked twice. In a completely unconscious movement, he licked his lips before speaking. "...We should get inside...we're both drenched." A light skip laced the end of his sentence. As if he wanted to chuckle, but simply couldn't.
His lips were soft, wet of course, but it had almost surprised her that she found herself in such a position..the surprise only grew when she realized that she didn't want to pull away. He instead did what she found no reasoning to do, her silver eyes opened once more to look at him. Without her knowledge, the silver momentarily faded to reveal a blue shading not normally found among Japanese women. They ranged from navy around the pupil, to a crystal blue around the iris. Just as quickly as the color came, it disappeared back into a silver abyss.
She lowered her hands, enjoying being held by him even if it was lightly. As he licked his lips, she let the corner of her lip turn up ever so slightly. His words brought her back to reality, the cold crashing back around her as if an iceberg had been dropped onto the fire. Nodding softly, her words came just as quietly, "Yeah.." It was new to her, everything, the kiss, the fire, the sudden urge to just be held by him in her last moments with him. As these feelings ran rampant, she wondered how he had wormed his way into her glass heart.
It was likely the first meeting they had, S knew immediately that he was different from the rest, hell it was obvious. There was a draw to him though, and by fates hands..or well Yoki's, they had reunited. Throughout the fights, the irritation and jokes, she had somehow..
Taking a baby step back, her face dropped into the sorrow from previous, it was bound to happen somehow. Her heart would shatter, and no one could pick those pieces back up, S couldn't glue them back together, they would all stab her fingers, demanding to be left alone. Her heart thumped loudly in her ears, her body following him as he would have to be first to go inside. This is the love Taro and her spoke about, right? ..No, it was much different, but the same word..it was foreign, but nice to feel.
Her gaze remained distant, she...she is in love with him, it doesn't even matter that she tried to stay far away from it, her heart had its own mind and it was made up.
The change in colour took him by surprise. Blinking, he found it had gone as quickly as it had come, and so he brushed the event to the side. Stepping back, he almost winced as the bells came back. Yet...he couldn't help but realize they weren't as loud as they were before. The imagery of the past also remained in memory, no longer did it try to shove itself to the forefront.
The kiss...certainly new, but not something so uncomfortable that he would never do such again. Padding across the roof, he could feel her presence following. Finally reaching the alcove that lead to the stairway, he opened the door, and giving S a glance, he went inside. Why did she look so sad? Surely his presence wasn't that important to her. After all, wouldn't she say that he was simply a business associate?
Reaching the closet that held spare t-shirts and jeans, he bent in order to find the towels. Biting his lip, he had the thought; simple business partners don't kiss on top of the roof. Hell, simple business partners don't do half of the things that they did. Most of the time, this had not bothered him one bit. He was able to harass the female genius without a thought. Though...now thanks to Yoki, he had to wonder; did S do these things for that one reason? Because...she loved him?
It didn't matter...he was going to die. Most likely very soon. Although he knew it to be a faked death, she would not. Straightening with a handful of towels, he turned to face her as she came in. "I think you'll need one of these..."
She was thinking along the same lines as L was, did they truly exceed the business associates line? Well of course, but where did that leave them now? It was a foreign territory that scared the crap out of her, but none the less it hardly mattered. That cold was freezing her again, though not as harshly as before. Looking up as L handed her a towel, she pushed those feelings aside and offered a smile. "Thanks." Taking the towel, she unwrapped it from its fold and placed it over her head, patting her hair dry from the excessive rain.
Tapping her chin with the driest part of the towel, she allowed him to lead her toward the stairs, where she sat down on the steps and wrapped the towel around her neck. Her gaze never left the floor, she was simply thinking to hard on this. Shifting her gaze back up to L, an airy yet unsuccessful chuckle escaped.
She couldn't find the means to even be happy, sharing her first true kiss, finding the meaning of love within the man-boy. Even that little joke didn't give her the slightest bit of amusement. Well, she wouldn't let L see her like this with his last moments with her. Putting on a smile for him, she patted her neck with the towel and sighed.
Padding back to the closet, L bent and grabbed one of the many spare t-shirts Watari always kept for specific cases such as these. A fluffy white towel was draped over his own head, and one would wonder how he planned to change shirts with such a thing in the way. Obviously the act took practice. Pulling the soaking wet shirt he wore away from his frame, he let it plop onto the floor. Glancing over to S, L realized that the soaked shirt and bandage would not at all be good for her wound.
Stepping silently behind her, he dropped the dry t-shirt on her head. "...You should change." So many thoughts ran through his head. So many instances of useless spats and fights that; while they may have been entertaining, they were unneeded. Ambling down three steps, he crouched and grabbed her foot. Seriously, to remain in soaking clothes would cause an illness that may worsten her condition. And so, he pulled off her shoes, heedless to any protest she may have. Next came the socks, and he pulled the towel from his head.
Somehow, his hair had retained most of the water, despite the towel's presence, and so said cloth was mostly dry. Several streams ran down the sides of his face, which held a look of focus. "...Allow me to help while you do so...don't worry, I won't look."
As the shirtless L came into her visual, she couldn't help the blood rushing to her head and causing a pink blush. It darkened as the shirt was laid over her head, a hand plucked it before her own wet head could soak the shirt. Lowering it to her silver gaze, she stared at it like it was a foreign object. Before long, she felt L take off her shoe and sock, clearing her feet of the water that had collected inside the shoe. She lowered the shirt to stare at him, her silver gaze holding the emotion she had felt all along, yet never knew. A soft chuckle, and she lowered her head a bit more, her bangs casting a shadow over her features. "I don't care."
She truly didn't, many men and women alike had gazed an experimented on her body, though she did appreciate his gentlemen like attitude. Setting the shirt to her side, she reached back and grabbed the wet shirt by the back collar, pulling it over her head and tossing it off to the side. This left her in a sports bra, scars decorating her body from all angles. Bullet wounds, surgeries, enhancements, stabs, scalpel, rock, jagged metal, glass, broken bones; they all had a story behind them, but each one seemed more tragic than the next.
Pulling her hair up in both hands, she rung it out with a twist before letting it drop back down to her back, taking the dry shirt given to her and placing it on to replace the wet one. It obviously engulfed her tiny body, but it was extremely comfortable to her. Looking up to his still dripping wet features, she picked up the towel given to her and reached forward. The towel was brought along his forehead, then down across his chin, "Tck.." She felt a light twist of her lips upturn them. "L..." How could she explain it?
"...Heh, dripping all over the place, you're so messy.." She was kicking herself, almost literally, "Then again, I guess it suits you." She lowered the towel, "Dripping with good looks, eh?" Just a smile L, just one to ease her breaking heart, it was a hard reality and definitely one she wasn't prepared to face. 'I'd go back to that hellhole, if you can just live on, I'd..I'd take my own life to save you..' She wouldn't let the sorrow betray her amused features, 'I'm so sorry L..I want to save you, but how? Please..tell me how..'
Didn't care... A small smirk made it's way to his face upon the recollection that the woman had stomped down in only a towel, to give him a broken jaw. Looking up as her towel wiped his face, that smirk widened, he unknowingly granted her a wish. "...I still am of the opinion that blond suits you." It was a tease. One that was utterly pathetic, in the fact that it wasn't a tease at all. The golden blonde dye he inserted into her conditioner gave her a small glow. However it wasn't painfully bright, like Amane's.
"Messy... I'm sorry." Looking back down, he gripped her foot firmly. Subconsciously, he knew she was teasing, but it seemed that he had the desire to atone. To apologize for things...before he left. Lithe fingers almost roughly massaged the sides of her foot, traveling to her ankle and back. "Forgive me...you'll get used to it...I /am/ rather good at this, believe it or not." She was hiding. Hiding her sadness, putting on a face, just as he was beginning to remove his.
Inhaling audibly, as if to sigh L spoke quietly. "...If polished correctly...I have a feeling you would shine." It was random, and sure to cause a nearly stupefied reaction. It seemed the bells had increased volume yet again, a small movie played in his vision as L began to ramble. But this time, coherently. "Hn...you were right." He referred to all those months ago, nearly a year now, at the pastry shoppe. "Do you remember... you said I was an orphan." It still bugged him that she was able to pick up on that so easily. But no matter. "You...were right."
So many things ran through his mind, and this time, he could not pick out any of them. The faint concern that the shinigami would really kill him floated in the back of his thoughts, and he went silent.
It couldn't be helped, his pathetic attempt to tease her caused a laughter to escape between pale pink lips. She leaned back slightly, allowing him to do what he pleased with her foot. Luckily for him most of the nerves in her body had been dulled, so she wasn't easily ticklish. At his random comment, she felt the pink darken considerably. If only he knew of her horrors, she could never shine again.
Unbeknownst to her once more, the face she had put on dropped entirely, and it became obvious why so many people had failed to "fix" her. She looked so sad, as if an eternal sorrow had been placed on her shoulders that she couldn't shake off. Looking at him as he continued to speak, she realized he was once more speaking in ramble, though she did remember that night so long ago. It was a fonder memory, one she would cling to until her death most likely.
"I figured.."
She might as well explain now, there was no point in trying to hide the truth anymore. "You have the same look as I do, it's one common with orphans..you looked lonely." Maybe that wasn't the right word, "...And sad.." That was better. "When I was born, I was taken away from my birth parents and raised in a Catholic Orphanage until I was six. The Government took me to the facility where they trained me.." She paused, not for dramatic effect, but for the fact that the entire idea behind Project S was finally being revealed. "..to be like you." Her gaze lowered, she was staring hard at her knees. "They failed, horribly...I'm nothing like you, always two steps behind, I feel like..a carbon copy." She clenched her teeth, she never blamed L, nor Watari, it was their fault. It was why she would never return back to that hell, at least..she wouldn't until now, if it could save him.
"You're absolutely brilliant..."
"But..that's why I refuse to return..they enhanced me in so many ways..I didn't feel human.." She looked up at him, "I don't even have a name, I just pick up aliases, they never stick.." A weak smile, it faltered immediately. "I guess I can only be so human..heh..." Her gaze lowered again.
The pad of his thumb pressed firmly into the flat part of her foot, and was pulled toward her heel. After reaching the end of it's intended trail, it began a journey forward, ending at the base of the big toe. Coming around to put pressure on the top of her foot to massage the various ligaments and tendons, L pressed even harder. Not to intentionally cause pain, the foot simply was at times difficult to unkink without pressure.
Listening silently, he nodded on several occasions throughout S's explanation. L was very much aware of the various worldwide programs intended to recreate his genius. None were sponsored by Watari, and until the moment he scanned her chip, he had been unaware just how drastically people were taking the process. No, he wasn't surprised by the brutality. Humanity... It was capable of so much, of love, happiness, and justice. But also was it capable, and moreso inclined, to malice, pain, and war.
His hands slowed, and eventually stopped their ministrations. "Have you ever heard the statement, 'Failure is Success in Progress'?" His tone was low. Nearly inaudible under the loud patter of rain. Did this woman really think that she was nothing compared to him? Looking up, his sable hues held a loud note of seriousness. They held a warning, that one had better listen, else they might end up regretting it. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Crystal." Word for word what had been spoken months ago, upon the discovery of the Second Kira.
"Not only to the one being imitated, but to the imitation as well." Twisting his lips, L decided to refrain from going into detail. No matter which way he could put it, it would sound arrogant. He didn't particularly care about that fact, to be honest. It simply didn't appeal to him as of then. Standing abruptly, he asked a seemingly random question. "Are you aware of an optical phenomenon titled Fractoluminescence?" Whether or not she intended to answer, he would continue. It seemed, that he was becoming more like his normal self... if only a bit.
"It is the emission of light from the fracture of a crystal generated through the breaking of chemical bonds when it is pulled apart, cracked, scratched, or crushed." Padding past the prone form of S, he reached the closet again. Pulling another t-shirt out he turned to face her back, scanning over the area in which the black bruises rested. Soon enough the tee was over his head and on his frame. He was about to further explain in a subtle way what her name should be, however his phone began to ring. Pulling it from his still wet jeans pocket, he answered. "Yes? ...Good. We'll be right there."
His plan was about to go into motion. Giving a look to S...no, Crystal, he closed the device and replaced it into his pocket. "That was Watari. He has finished setting up a plan that I have..."
It took a minute for his words to register in a reeling mind, each memory she possessed seemed to come to the forefront of her mind, so she had to force them back to concentrate on what he was saying. Failure a Success in Progress? Her teeth bit down on her lower lip, almost drawing blood, she refused to say it but it kept screaming in her mind.
L was actually complimenting her on something that mattered to her heart.
She let his words sink in, finding that silver had soften to a point that she was looking at him with fondness and the emotion she continued to deny until now. Love had shown, and her glass heart seemed to crack all the more. Taro had done a lot for her, yes, but his words were simply empty to her because she felt that he was merely trying to cheer her up. It never worked..until L said them.
Then he was off about a crystal, and she found that even though his facts were right, she had no idea what he was going on about. There was a faint tug at the back of her mind, her subconscious calling out something that she could faintly hear. Her brows furred together, as L had stood and answered a phone call, she concentrated at what her subconscious was screaming at her.
'Crystal. Crystal.'
It clicked, and it seemed her mind started to work ten times harder than what she was use too. Her name, it should be Crystal. Looking at him as if he were an alien, she suddenly felt something that hadn't occurred in her entire life.
She felt human.
Standing up as he said Watari had finished his plans, she slipped off her other shoe and sock, leaving them behind to go barefoot instead. "Alright..and L.." She stared at him, how could she say it? "...Thank you." The words were genuine, and full of emotion, S...Crystal, looked like a completely different woman, none of the emotions on her features were forced. But still, how could she tell him what she had felt all this time? Those words were at the tip of her tongue, yet they failed to spill forth from her lips. It was frustrating, and no matter how hard she tried, it simply denied it's freedom.
The only thought running through his mind as of then, was a question put on repeat. Would he be able to convict Light Yagami with this plan before his supposed 'death'? Eventually the reel ran out of tape, only to be replaced with a roll of thought processes and possible situations in answer. It was unlikely, as this would unavoidably place Misa Amane back into the light of suspicion. To such an effect, that she would most likely be arrested immediately.
Blinking, L came out of his thoughts just in time to watch Crystal's gaze soften considerably. Twisting his lips awkwardly, he turned around before his face could betray just how unused to this situation he was. "Ah...yes... You're welcome." The intonation however betrayed him anyway, as it was that of uncertainty. The tone that occurred when he was uncomfortable, or not wishing to explore a particular route of investigation. Grumbling, he began to make his way toward the elevator.
He hadn't missed her look of bewilderment. In that case, did she get what he implied? Obviously his words had given her a large amount of comfort, as her expression was no longer a mask.
Pressing the button for down as soon as he approached, he turned to face her, having gotten his emotion and awkwardness under control. Looking down to her feet, his brow rose but nothing was said about the absence of foot coverings. "...to be blunt, you are much more akin to me than you realize. Dare I say...a potential successor?" Of course he had said the same thing to Light, but only as a taunt. No truth had laced the words directed at the younger Yagami. But this was different.
About to speak further on the plan that he and Watari set, L stopped and quirked a brow. Crystal looked like she so desperately wanted to say something, but something was stopping her. "...You can tell me anything, you know." It wasn't intended to sound cute or fluffy, but it came out sounding like such. The elevator dinged, and he entered, expecting her to follow.
She felt as if she were floating, watching from the outside instead of actually being there, she had to stick her hand in a soaking wet pocket, and pinch her thigh just to make sure she was actually awake. After a tiny wince, it was confirmed, so this was actually happening. His look seemed to make her look down, embarrassed for putting him in such a position. It was to strong and confusing not to examine like a scientist. A nod came at his welcome, and she followed behind him toward the elevator.
After he pressed the button and turned to her, she lofted one brow at his expression, then looked down to her bare feet. What? Her socks were wet, and she wasn't going to be stupid enough to catch a cold. Though their clothing was now damn near identical, which was kind of creepy. She looked back up as he spoke up about being a potential successor. Her eyes widened a titch, and she just stared at him dumbfound. Was she truly that much of a success that she could actually succeed the Greatest Detective? Not saying anything on the matter, she merely looked down as a pink blush formed on her cheeks.
His next series of words only brought a darkening blush, Crystal was getting uncomfortable with not being able to say it, maybe.. "I...can't...it's not the right time yet." She knew that would confuse the fuck out of him, so looking up to give a comforting look, a smile quirked. She was getting better at showing emotions, but she did train herself since before Yoki's accident. Well, it was her's as well. Following him into the elevator, she leaned against the railing as before and closed her eyes. "It's something I want to say, but it simply won't come out..I think it's the flurry of emotions clouding my mind. Now I see why the Government was trying to keep me as emotionless as a rock." A soft chuckle, and she shook her head. "But yes, this plan of yours?"
Time to get off that subject, before her brain exploded.
As the sub-basement button lit up, L leaned against the railing and slouched even further. Not out of any particular thought of depression or anxiety, it was simply a physical expression of just how tired he truly was. For a year, Kira had eluded him. For five months, two weeks, and eighteen hours he had known Kira to be Light Yagami. Raising his thumb to his lip, he pressed and hummed lowly.
Having been staring intently at the seam of the elevator doors since they closed moments ago, he slid his gaze to land on Crystal as she spoke on what she couldn't say. Straightening his posture, he nodded. "But of course. Timing...is absolutely everything." Her stating that she couldn't say, made him all the more curious as to what it was that had her tongue-tied. Almost to the point of painful focus.
Blinking almost owlishly at her redirect to his plan, he pulled himself forward and began to walk, just as the elevator slowed to a stop. Stepping through the doors, he turned his head back. "As we are already here, might I ask you to listen with everyone else? Repetitive is not my style." Having dropped to slide into a pocket, his hand came up once again, the thumbnail being fiercely bitten as sable hues landed on Light Yagami. On Kira.
Matsuda had been antsy the entire car ride back. His worry for Yoki almost reaching that of brotherly affection. Having gone ten miles under the speed limit to not only avoid a collision, but to avoid jarring Yoki as much as possible without causing a traffic jam; the poor man was on the calmer side of the jitters. Having gotten to the sub-basement only minutes before the two detectives, he was busy asking Yoki if she needed anything, insisting that she stay on the couch. "It's alright Yoki. You deserve a break. Perhaps the universe thought so too?" Chuckling while rubbing his head, Matsuda was completely unaware of the dying shinigami in front of the TV.
Raucous cackles streamed almost endlessly from a half-rotted frame, the towering nine and a half feet doubled over in mirth. The boy was slightly awkward, constantly tripping over words to make sure they weren't misconstrued as a more mature type of affection. Rem was standing as far away from the one she possessed, and Medomai was taking immense pleasure in making the female Death God squirm without movement. This entire environment was rich in amusement, and the genderless god couldn't help but wonder where the two...oh, there they were.
L gave only a passing glance to the fleshless shinigami, stopping to stand behind the couch. "...you are well?" It was a murmur. As if he couldn't bear the thought of the entire Task Force knowing he was capable of such an emotion as concern. Seeing that indeed she was, for the most part well, L left Yoki and went to his chair. As if nothing had occurred. As if he didn't ramble incoherently on the roof, and didn't kiss the woman sure to come up behind him to listen. "As I am sure you are now aware, I have a plan." Picking up a small coffee spoon with his index and thumb, L pointed with it to the open notebook on the desk.
"We are going to test it."
Crystal nodded, timing was absolutely everything, and now wasn't the right time. She stared at him as he seemed to give that owlish look back at her, her red blush lighting to pink once more. It was killing them both it seems, the three words that could change her life, and his. Then the doors opened, and she followed him out. A chill made her shiver, so Yoki was back with that Shinigami, giving a passing glare at the creature, she placed her hand on Yoki's shoulder and offered a kind smile. "Glad you're back, Yoki.."
With L going back to his seat, she followed behind and sat in the seat next to his, pulling the blankets back over her and taking her knees to her chest. She wrapped herself up like before, silver eyes turning to L as he spoke up about testing the notebook. She could feel Yoki stand up, about to scream at him that he was being an idiot. Her silver gaze looked back to purple, making the younger girl shut up and clench her teeth. L needed to prove to the others that the thirteen day rule was a lie. Looking back to L, she glanced down to that notebook and seemed to glare at it as if she could set it on fire that way.
This would end horribly, she had the strongest feeling.
The entire car ride, despite Matsuda's worries, Yoki chirped and chatted as if she didn't face an accident that nearly took her life. She continued to speak about the Doctor that took care of her, though never dived into the relationship happening between S and him. That quickly switched into remembering her mother and stories about their travels and what not. Before she even knew it, they were back at HQ and heading inside. Yoki carried only one thing, forcing Matsuda never to touch it, it was a briefcase holding the Death Scroll, as she nicknamed it. Yoki even carried it down to the subbasement where it rested next to her feet as she was forced to sit down.
As Matsuda lovingly tried to aid her, she simply laughed softly and waved her hand. "I'm fine Matsu-san~ I promise, I don't need anything." Then L was there, as if by magic, Medomai's cackling seemed to grate on her brain yet she expertly didn't show a thing wrong. As L spoke, Yoki smiled and nodded softly, "Fine, Ryuuzaki-san.." Her words were quiet, she knew he didn't want to be exposed as a caring individual, especially toward her with Light in the same room. As S passed and spoke quietly to her, Yoki immediately noted a huge difference in her, she seemed more open and less of a stone. It was surprising, so much so that Yoki stared at S as if she were an alien until L spoke up about testing it.
Yoki immediately stood up, about to scream at him, why should they test it when Medomai already revealed the truth? That was immediately silenced by S's stare, and she sat back down. That look said it all, the others didn't know nor would they believe them..as Yoki couldn't reveal a shinigami following her around without being suspected for using the Death Scroll. Clenching her teeth, she looked back to Light who seemed to do well at hiding his emotions.
Light was indeed quite surprised, as S followed L, he noted that the two were very close in appearance, though S looked a lot more relaxed and even showed emotions. He stared at the two, at least until they sat down. Previously before they entered, Light had welcomed Yoki back only to get the cold shoulder, he brushed it off as something common with Yoki to him. Though something did feel a bit off about her, more so than usual, he pegged it off as something that happened at the accident and ignored it. When L stated that he would use the notebook as a test, Light's eyes narrowed.
If he tested the notebook out, he'd find out that the thirteen day rule was fake, the last fake rule secured the safety of the notebook, so he wasn't worried about that. Though the second to last rule was a bit wavering, he expected that L would try. Glancing at Rem with a small lip quirk, he stood there and schooled his emotions into one of curiosity. "But the Death Note states that you would die within thirteen days if you use it..also, something has been bothering me, even if we were to catch Kira, could we actually commit them of this crime with how..strange the case is?"
Matsuda answered without missing a beat, "Of course we would! This guy is purposely writing names into the Death Note knowing that people are dying from it! Even if we couldn't publicly convict Kira, the least we could do is execute them!" Aizawa nodded solemnly, "Yeah, the higher ups would at least do that.." Now it was secured, Light held the tiniest smirk, 'So, what're you going to do Rem? You can't hide that you care for Misa, you would ensure her happiness, wouldn't you?' It was a sadistic thought, and he knew for sure that L would die very soon. He was finally going to win after a year of road blocks to becoming the new God of this world.
"Yes...it does say that." Glancing to Light from the corner of his eye, L blithely ignored Yoki's almost scream of protest. 'Trying to save yourself by continuously pointing out that rule? Light, you don't know how damned you have become...but am I in the same boat?' Internally sighing, he shoved aside loud and vivid memories of Whammy's House, if only by the sheer force of his will. This caused a small, but ignorable headache to pop up at the back of his head. Gazing resolutely at the notebook, he addressed everyone.
"There is however, a way around that. You see, I had Watari make preparations for a condemned prisoner to use the book. Approximately thirteen days before his scheduled date of execution, he will write a fellow inmate's name, who is scheduled to die that day." Motioning to the notebook with the spoon, he couldn't help but notice that there was no coffee in his cup. As well as despite all of his efforts, the image of the orphanage would not go away. Narrowing his eyes, he did his best to set that on the sidelines.
"If he still lives after the mentioned thirteen days...he will be freed. And the rule will be established as false." Glancing to Matsuda, he was slightly surprised to hear such ferocity from the young officer. "...Yes, that is of course, the only plausible outcome." L would have been most pleased should he put the needle in Light's arm himself. Pressing the com that linked to Watari's office, L spoke almost amiably. "You have made the preparations for the notebook to be shipped?" The elderly voice came through with an affirmative.
A flurry of thoughts swirled with hurricane force through lavender tinted dreads. What was Light doing? To cooperate with these humans meant an almost certain conviction of himself. In turn, with the thirteen day rule blown away as false, Misa would once again be under suspicion! If she were to be convicted, she would-
Rem gasped. It finally hit her. She finally got to the apex of Light Yagami's plan. Her sickly yellow hue widened, and then narrowed in disgust. 'So, Light...this is what you want me to do?' Purple lips lifted into a sneer, and she activated her shinigami eyes. 'Fine. I will kill Ryuuzaki for you...you, Light Yagami...have surpassed even shinigami in your disgusting cunning...I will do this, not for you. But for Misa.' A crimson tint had settled over her gaze, and she walked unseen through the wall.
Unseen by all but one.
Medomai had long since ceased it's sounds of mirth, and focused with frightening seriousness upon Rem, and her possessed human. The male seemed calm, yet arrogant. The aura that surrounded him a dark reddish hue. The moment that Rem had disappeared into the wall, it followed. Leaving the group of humans that communicated with the screen, Medomai emerged on the far side of Watari's office only to observe Rem sink back into the wall.
It was a struggle. To breathe. To think. Let alone move or speak. L had just asked a question, the man-boy's face sitting quaintly in the middle screen. Shadowed sable eyes stared into the camera with a note of expectation, and he could do nothing to answer. The only thing in focus was those eyes, seeming to dawn with the knowledge that something was very wrong.
["Watari?"]
Oh how he wished that he could place his aged hand on his shoulder, to ease the concern that slowly, yet surely etched itself into stoney features. Groaning, Watari tried to forced the spasms of pain out of his frame, but focus was hard when no breath could be taken. Normally sure footing had failed, and he now braced himself against the desk with pure will alone. Reaching desperately, he for a moment, thought that he could do as he desired. To touch L...to say everything was fine.
Silver hues blurred as his vision faded. Strength was leaving, and there was only one thing that could be done. Dropping his hand to the keyboard, he fumbled briefly, pain making it difficult to make sense of which end was up. Finally...and with one last gasp of air, Watari succeeded in pressing the button which would completely wipe all systems, all information relating to the case. Everything. 'I swore to be the last one to leave you...' He couldn't see, and his frame could no longer support itself and began to slump sideways.
But he was smiling. For it seemed that he no longer would be the last to leave after all. The mental picture of Yoki, L, and Crystal set in his mind's eye as the world faded away into nothing.
"Watari!" The Prodigious Detective almost made a motion as if he were about to leap at the screen. All of a sudden all information on every screen and monitor was replaced with a glaring, horrendous white with only one line of text.
'Entire System Data Deletion'
For but a moment, all train of thought stopped cold, the frigid revelation that something very wrong was happening gripping his mind and causing him to lose all colour. Continuing to stare in almost blank horror, L was only brought out of his reverie by Matsuda's confused and slightly panicked question of what was going on. Gathering himself into a mask of complete stoicism, L replied lowly, yet with some speed. "It was set up some time ago. A precaution against Kira...if anything were to happen to Watari or myself."
Glaring now at the screen, L narrowed his gaze. Matsuda looked around, sounding confused. "H-hey...the shinigami isn't here..." At this, the paper white detective almost snarled and straightened completely, no slouch curved his spine. "Everyone! Find that Shiniga-" Breath catching upon the excruciating pain that traveled from his heart through his lungs, L felt his eyes widen, his fingers losing all feeling.
One by one, all coherent thought processes stopped. The precious oxygen that supplied his brain seemed to disappear, and his entire frame radiated thrice in abysmal pain before all muscular structure failed. The only sound L heard, was not the humming of the screens, or the panicked shouts of his name from Matsuda. It was the bells. The loud, gong-like sound reverberated in his ear as if he were standing inside the clock-tower itself.
Feeling his momentum shift of it's own accord forward and to the left, L felt his fingers lose grip of the spoon, lanky frame dropping to the tiled floor. Sable hues stared unblinkingly forward, the nerve-endings in his body told him that he had been caught before his skull could crack into the tile. For the life of him that seemed to be leaving, he couldn't identify who it was. All he could see, was the very smug expression upon one Light Yagami. If L was capable of smirking, he would have done so himself. 'You think this is over? You are fatally mistaken.' Eyes closing, L hoped to whatever other gods existed, that the shinigami had not betrayed him, and that he would awaken, precisely as arranged.
A final breath seemed to leave him, and he stilled completely.
She had no time. No time to write anyone else there. No time to write any other name from memory of that day. Skeletal fingers had crumbled almost immediately, her shoulders and scalp seeming to follow just as quickly. A soft and sad smile curved her lips, and the image of Misa seemed to stand before her. Smiling as she always did. 'The things... I would do for you. This is love? How do you humans handle it...?' Long boney constructs dropped piece by piece, and soon her existence would be erased. Staggering momentarily at the shift in weight, Rem looked up.
And Medomai was standing with a venomous sneer. How Rem could tell the opposing god's facial expression was beyond human explanation. Bending slowly, almost mockingly; said fleshless shinigami plucked the Death Note from Rem's quickly accumulating ashes. "...You have devolved...or perhaps, you were once human yourself and so you succumb to the emotions that come with one... I had truly thought better." Rem couldn't answer, the process of disintegration too far along for anything.
Medomai honestly didn't want one. Pulling a small ball of rubber from a well hidden satchel, it flipped her book open to the page freshly written upon. "I have only /just/ found this source of entertainment. I can't allow you to take it from me." Medomai understood all too well the workings of the human heart. Hundreds of thousands, if not billions of years in existence gave a very thorough education. Lazily rubbing away the name of 'Quillish Whammy', the genderless god dropped the book back into Rem's ash pile. As good as any spit in the face. The elder would awaken in several hours, perhaps more as his body was old, and not as healthy as a younger human's.
So...her death was to be for nothing? Rem noted of the cruelty in which the Elder God treated her. Did she deserve it? Perhaps. But if Rem had to do it all again...she wouldn't change a thing.
Yoki had done everything in her power to stay quiet, knowing full and well that even if she blurted it out, no one would believe her other than Grandfather, L and S. Relaxing as much as possible, that was all dashed away as the screens suddenly changed. She was well aware of what this precaution meant, her heart suddenly ached incredibly harshly, as she turned to bolt out the door. "Grandfather!" Just as she nearly hit the door, a slam was heard behind her, she turned to find something that made her go pale.
"...N-No..."
L was lying there in S's arms, the look of pure horror on that woman's features made Yoki tremble with such force that it was visible. Tears fell from her eyes, blurring her vision as she walked toward the two geniuses. "..."
It all happened slowly for her, she turned her head to see L starting to fall, and her body moved so fast it made her own head spin. Catching him before his head could crack into the floor, Crystal stared at him as if he was disappearing from her very eyes, fading away into time. She trembled, tears spilling over almost instantly. It couldn't of been this soon, it was impossible! Her pink lips had almost instantly turned blue, all color leaving her features as she ignored the frigged cold consuming her entire body.
"...R-Ryuzaki...yo-you're okay.." She felt a sob rise in her throat, knowing it was a lie. "Come on Ryuzaki! Wake up!" She shook him, sobbing softly. "Come on damn it! You're not leaving us behind! You can't leave me! I just found myself damn it!" Pulling him to her chest, she cradled his head while crying into his shirt, "Don't leave me..I..I love you..you can't leave me.." The words were whispered, her tears beginning to soak his shirt. "I love you L.."
Light stared at the scene in front of him, not believing his luck in all of this. Rem had actually done it, L was dead! He couldn't help the smirk on his features, staring at L's owlish eyes finally closing in an eternal sleep. S was screaming at him to wake up before sobbing into his shirt, saying something that Light couldn't hear. He decided it wasn't important, and once again schooled his features, yelling, everyone but S looked up to him. "We're next! The shinigami's going to kill us al-..!"
That yell was immediately silenced by Yoki's foot slamming into his skull, sending him spiraling to the floor. He winced and grabbed his head, looking up to the crying yet glaring Yoki with surprise. Did she actually kick him?
"Enough!" Her yell silenced all but S, who continued to sob into L's dead corpse. "The shinigami was after L, that should've been obvious from the beginning, these beings are obviously smarter than what we assume and knew L would be the one to capture Kira.." Her sentence ended with a sob. "Find that damn shinigami, right now!" Her words were a flurry of emotions, yet in such a commanding tone that Aizawa, and Mogi went out. "Matsuda..handle S please.." Chief Yagami had went to help his son back up, Yoki hadn't turned to neither of the Yagami's, instead turning to bolt out the door as it slammed into the wall and nearly rattled out of it's hinges.
She needed to see her grandfather, just open that door and find him smiling back at her, it all be one cruel joke. Her feet nearly made her fly toward his door, slamming it open to find the old man crumbled to the floor with a smile on his face. Another wailing sob rose, and she stumbled to his fallen form. Lifting him up much like how S had done to L, Yoki sobbed loudly. "Grandfather..oh Grandfather please wake up!" Tightening her eyes shut, she screamed out in pure agony. Each member of her family was slipping away, one by one.
Laying against him, she continued her sob into his chest, gripping his shirt with a fierce hold.
Despite that unfortunate kick, Light still managed to find Rem's remains, a cruel smirk coming to his lips as he picked out the Death note and placed it behind him at the hem of his pants. Tucking his shirt over it, and making sure his jacket made no motions to the where abouts, he turned and yelled out to alert the others. "Hey! I found something here guys!"
Crystal didn't dare leave L's body, even as Matsuda tried to aid her away from him, she just yelled and pushed him away. The poor man was persistent and eventually got her to instead cling to him. He lifted her up and took her away from the body, allowing her to cry and scream. Her heart had shattered into a million pieces as assumed, leaving her glass heart unable to be pieced back together. Hugging the poor woman, Matsuda kept her gaze away from L's body, looks like Yoki was right all along, though he didn't hear S state her love for the man, it was quite obvious in her actions.
Though what could he say at this time? No words would comfort her, not now.
Matsuda stuck close to Crystal, taking no heed to the tears and mucus that now stained his suit. Cautiously, he wrapped his arms even tighter around her, to give her some form of comfort. No matter how miniscule, or seemingly non-existent it was. Though once again, nothing came to him. Not a word to say, not even a soothing 'it's okay'. And it was simple as to why. It was certainly not in any way alright. Their leader...the head of the Kira investigation...had been killed, by the shinigami that put on the false guise of help.
Glancing up, Matsuda watched Aiber enter with the most crushing look of solemnity. Never, did Matsuda think that he would see such a look on the confidant conman. Watching through his peripheral vision as the man made his way to L's body, he kept Crystal's face turned into his chest. From that one encounter several weeks ago, it was obvious the two got along about as well as oil and water. She didn't need to see Aiber right then. Also, it seemed that the man was going to take care of L. Nodding only the slightest amount, Matsuda began to rock from side to side, like his mother used to do when he would cry.
Aiber saw this, and had the faint thought that he had pegged the one titled Crystal from the moment he laid eyes on her. Carefully carrying L to the elevator, he pushed the button for the garage floor, and gave the detective a slight smirk. "You said you had a plan. That you would be fine. Well...when your ass wakes up, I am going to enlighten you to how fine you are /not/." It truly appeared as if the pale prodigy was dead. There was no pulse, no sign of breathing whatsoever.
However, before Aiber was able to lay the man-boy in the back of an SUV, he noticed that L's body gave a start, originating in his torso. Raising a brow, he placed two fingers to the man's jugular, and flopped against the side of the car in relief. "You...are the smartest Dipshit I have had the misfortune to work for..." Rubbing his face with both hands, Aiber closed the back door and climbed into the driver's seat. L had specified a hospital on the edge of town, which got barely any traffic because of it's out of the way location. "...I want a damned raise if you keep pulling stunts like this."
Medomai had been crouching next to Watari when the young woman came in. Looking up, it swiftly disappeared. Yoki needed time to grieve. But...hopefully, the girl would realize that the elderly man wasn't dead. The shinigami would give Yoki as long as it took for her to observe the others, and then come back.
Stepping through the walls and back into the room in which Rem gave her life for one apparently called Misa, Medomai observed Mogi and Aizawa kneeling in the ashes. "It isn't ash...is it sand?" Ahn. That's right, humans had a different definition for ashes. Grinning slightly, Medomai kept to the wall. Mogi had stood, and looked sadly at the sand pile. The shinigami seemed to be a truly amiable individual. If a bit monotone and dry. He never thought that the shinigami would be on the side of Kira. As a child, he was always taught that the gods of death and the underworld were neutral. Serving neither good or evil.
It was obvious that whatever the brunette had desired to do, he had done. Medomai noted of the absence of Rem's Death Note, and stood with a creak. Of course none of them could hear it. Once again traversing the walls, Medomai came to stand beside Yoki's sobbing form. Crouching, it grabbed one of the girl's hands and placed it on the man's throat. A soft, but normal pulse was present, and it stood, confidant that Yoki would find it.
Yoki had remained on Watari, her head resting against his shoulder while her hands rested on his chest. She continued to cry, not wanting to get up, or do anything. Images and memories of Watari and the good times they had continued to play on repeat in her head. She didn't even move when her hand was lifted and placed on his throat. It was Medomai, no doubt, she heard no footsteps nor did anyone try to pull her away.
Then, the faint pulse lightly thumped against her fingers, making her stiffen before sitting up. She looked down at him, new hot tears streaking down her face. Pressing a bit more into his neck, she found it, his pulse was there. "...Oh god...Grandfather.." Looking up to Medomai, she shivered, "Thank you..thank you so much." It was then Yoki lifted Watari and forced him to sit up, her purple eyes filled with happiness. "Grandfather..come on Grandfather, wake up." Her words were murmured, just to bring him out of that sleep.
A gentle shake, and a murmur of words was all that had passed, he had just suffered a heart attack so Yoki didn't expect him to wake up and be himself immediately. "Grandfather..L..he's..." New tears spilled forth, L was gone..
He was gone..and she couldn't bring him back. As Matsuda rocked her, she calmed a bit and continued leaning against him as if he were her only pillar in standing. "Why...?" As soon as she heard the elevator ding, she looked back to see L's body was gone. New tears spilled forth, and she choked back a sob. He was..gone..
Gulping, she wiped her face clean with much frustration and reached into her soaked pocket, the memory of his lips on hers making her clench her teeth. She pushed it back and pulled the device out, flipping it open and pressing a few numbers. Lifting the phone to her ear, her eyes closed, "...Aniki-kun..I'm coming to your office.." Her voice sounded broken, and she knew that Taro would surely be worried. "Expect me within the hour." Crystal needed to leave, this case had gotten to personal, and it would be the death of her.
Shutting the phone without a second thought, she turned to Matsuda with the most depressed look anyone could muster. "...I'm so sorry..." She glanced at the screens, knowing that her information was now deleted. "I can't stay here...I'm leaving this case..at least temporarily.." She turned back to him, "Know this...Kira is close, and you must always be on your toes..or else you'll end up like..him.." A clench of her teeth, and she pulled out a pen from the same pocket, taking Matsuda's palm, she wrote down a number.
"Please..despite me not being apart of this case..I want to know as much detail as you can give me.." Looking up at the young officer, she placed the pen back. "...When the time comes that Kira is in your grips..let me know. I will be there, I promise that." She knew Light was Kira, it was simply to cold, frigged still, her lips remained blue despite the red streaks from her hot tears across her cheeks. "...Take care.." She turned and went straight for the elevator, the goodbye was hollow, her words were almost empty..but somehow she knew that Matsuda would do well, he was almost her Yoki as Yoki was to L.
It was only an hour later when she returned to Taro's office, her breathing labored as if she had ran the entire way here, instead of taking a cab. She was once again soaked to the bone, yet uncaring as to the condition of her body. Lifting a hand, she knocked on his door, tears once again trailing down her cheeks. For once, Crystal needed someone, anyone, to be there for her instead of the other way around.
The fleshless shinigami stared intently at the old man. It's own reddish hues watching as the numbers above his head constantly reeled, undecided of their final value. Because of this, Medomai spoke up, but quieter than one was used to hearing. "...it is unknown to me how long he will have. I suggest an ambulance...or some type of medical attention." It only nodded at Yoki's tearful thanks. The girl didn't know just how much Medomai did. And perhaps the shinigami wanted it to remain that way. It had a reputation after all.
Assuming that the girl could do such by herself, Medomai went to follow the one that 'Ryuuzaki' had glared harshly at. Shinigami Eyes were still active, and so it saw the name of 'Light Yagami', the amalgamation of numbers made the fleshless god grin. Not very long...
Matsuda shook his head. He had no answer. There was no answer. Not any that were good enough. Blinking and pulling back as Crystal seemed to reach for something, Matsuda couldn't help but ponder just what exactly went on while the two detectives were away. It was as if a light-switch had been flipped. Before he would be lucky if her face cracked to frown at him...and then, emotion suddenly seemed right at home. Thinking about it made his head hurt, and he shook it again. So she had an older brother? "You...you're leaving?" For about as long as they worked with Ryuuzaki, she had always been there. So seeing her leave...it was understandable, but...did she have to?
His hand was grabbed and he looked to see that a number rested in his palm. "Close?" Of course he knew that the two geniuses suspected Light. But...he couldn't bring himself to believe it. Nodding at her request that he give information as often as possible, he set his determination, and before she turned to leave, he reached out and gave her one last tight hug. "...You /are/ apart of the case... I'm pretty sure... Ryuuzaki thought so... And of course." It may not have been the best to say, but he felt like it needed to be said. Nodding, he let her go and flopped to his knees after she entered the elevator. He was exhausted.
Besides the occasional groan that would occur during a speed-bump or other form of road-turbulence, L made no sound. Aiber constantly looked through the rear-view, making sure that the pale prodigy still breathed. He was going as fast as he could without getting pulled over, and soon had pulled into the Emergency section of the rural hospital. The building was small compared to others of it's occupation, and Aiber was quickly ushered to place L upon a soon as the machines were hooked to the man, the nurses found something wrong. The heart beat was erratic, and Aiber was quick to explain once again that his cousin had suffered a bizarre heart attack.
Being the conman he was, his acting skills fooled every medical personnel on shift, and he insisted that he stay by L's side. Of course, the name given was a falsity. One set by the detective himself, as he had said, 'I have a feeling...that my common aliases will be of no use.' And so had chosen a brand new alias; Braden Burns. Aiber had shrugged, stating that, 'Y'know, I feel like I should be used to this by now...that is the most normal name you've ever taken.' L had given him a small grin, which unnerved him slightly, but Aiber had long ago given up trying to understand the man-boy.
Eventually the resident physician came in after having done various tests, and Aiber darted to the man. "Will he be alright?" Smiling, the doctor said yes, but that he wanted to keep Braden for several more days, for observation. He should wake up soon, as they had given medication to regulate his heart-rate. Nodding, Aiber bowed and thanked the doctor before going to the side of the bed. 'Really, kid...what do you plan to do from here?'
Ever since her phone call, Taro had been filled with concern. Very rarely did sorrow ever reach her, and never had it done so to this extent. For an hour he had paced and did jobs that kept his mind and hands busy. Blood-work, mathematical equations, organizing pills into their respective bottles. On the mark of an hour, he made his way back, only to find a sopping wet Crystal knocking on his office door. Was it really raining that hard? Blinking, he swiftly made his way to her side, speaking quietly. "C'mon. It's all right..." Noting the large t-shirt she wore, he couldn't help a tiny grin. Shuffling her into his office, he placed a 'do not disturb' placard on the nob, and turned her to face him.
Her lips were bluish, whether because of the cold November rain, or something else entirely, he wasn't sure. Though he had a feeling that she would enlighten him soon enough. "I am here, Crystal...what's the matter?"
The hug wasn't at all ignored by Crystal before she left, in fact she could still feel the young officer's arms around her as she rode in the cab. Not a word was spoken as Taro opened the door, she even remained still as he turned her to face him, silver eyes filled with tears. She lifted a hand to cover her mouth, holding back another sob.
"He's dead..L..is dead.." Crystal couldn't help it, she threw her arms around Taro and held him close to her, sobbing into him without mind of her soaking wet form. No amount of tears could bring him back, she knew this, but even still. "The shinigami..killed him.." What was she to do? What could she possibly do? There was no bringing him back, the image of his eyes closing the final time caused her body to go weak, her knees buckled and she fell; though Crystal knew better than anyone that Taro was here for her, thus he would take care of her.
At Medomai's suggestion, Yoki nodded and dug out her phone with one hand, immediately calling the ambulance. Yoki knew that if any of the others found out he lived, Medomai would have to be revealed. So she was immediately glad for L's constant training, otherwise she wouldn't be able to lift the man. She wrapped his arms around her neck and shakingly pulled herself to a stand, dragging the poor man all the way to the entrance. She avoided the most trafficked hallways, instead taking the back route.
Pulling him out as the ambulance pulled up, she was aided by the others to put Watari on the gurney, and after telling them she was family, she ride in the ambulance with them straight to the hospital. It took a few good hours before Yoki could see Watari, since they had arrived at the hospital, but she was eventually shown to his room. Seeing him hooked up to multiple machines caused her to choke up, but she still sat by his side and held his hand. "Grandfather..is he going to be okay?" Purple eyes looked up to the doctor, who smiled and nodded, "Luckily, you got him here just in time, I'm sure he's very lucky to have a granddaughter like you." Yoki offered a tiny smile in return, before looking back to Watari. "It might be a while before he wakes up, though at his age I don't expect it for a while. We'll keep him here until I'm sure he'll be okay."
Just as Aiber had done, Yoki had given a fake name for Watari as to not arise suspicion. Though because of their different nationalities, she had to make a fake name for her too, Naomi stuck, she she kept to it. Staring at him, she kissed his knuckle and closed her eyes. Maybe, just maybe, the trick L used for her could work on him? His singing had never left her mind, the words suddenly becoming as clear as day.
"Alone..she sleeps..in the shirt of man, with my three wishes clutched in her hand.." It had been a while since Yoki had sung, but even still, she sung beautifully. "The first that she..be spared the pain, that comes from a dark and laughing rain. When she finds love..may it always stay true, this I beg for the second wish..I..made too." Her eyes softened, "But wish no more, my life you can take, to have her please just one day wake..to have her please just one day wake." Tears spilled over, as she kept repeating the last lyric, holding his hand to her forehead, tears spilled down her cheeks.
For a moment, the doctor felt his brain pattern give a hiccup. "...L?" The very being in which she had been created to succeed? Older features belied nothing of his surprise. No, his shock. This meant, that he had met the world-famous detective not three days ago. The pallid and rail-thin insomniac was L. It made sense. For that is who Crystal let on that she liked. "...so you have been working with him. Oh Crystal." Effortlessly did he catch her falling frame, bringing her in close for an embrace that seemed foreign, but was welcome. Of course he had comforted her in the past...but never so with an embrace.
Obviously it could not be let out that the Prodigious Detective had passed. No matter if this 'Kira' was decreasing crime rate or not, with the knowledge of the so-called 'Pillar of Justice' gone, many disgusting and evil individuals would come out of the wood-work. And by the trend that this Kira had set, that meant a mass murder. Entire front now soaked to his skin, Taro smiled and pulled her up, a few inches between them as he peeled her away for a moment. "Crystal, if you do not change, you will become ill enough to admit." He understood that she needed comfort. He would give her all that he could...as soon as she got dry. "I will grab heated blankets...why don't you change into a gown?" While he was down there, he would grab an outfit for her as well.
Coming back within a span of what seemed like moments, Taro quickly wrapped the blanket around Crystal's chilled frame. "...A shinigami...the one without skin?" That was the only one he remembered discussing recently. Of course Crystal had seen various other gods of death, but he couldn't particularly remember their description as of then. Holding her tight to himself, having changed his shirt with practiced ease, Taro tried his damndest to get her body temperature back to normal levels.
After an hour or two, Aiber had begun to feel the pains of craving tobacco. Narrowing his eyes, he grumbled as he remembered that Wedy had shoved his cigs someplace, and he had yet to find them. He really didn't have any time to, as he had been saddled with creating in essence, another life for L. The kid now had an apartment located not far from the hospital, and all computers and monitors were already set up. Of course, the technology was in a room that one needed a passcode to get to. Otherwise, L instructed that it be plain. Always the paranoid one, he didn't want there to be chance of any from the old team happening upon it, and recognizing anything.
It was understandable. Aiber was about to head out the door in order to buy a pack when he looked over to see sable hues at half-mast. "...Braden. Well sonuvabitch!" Watching L's eyes slide over to his location, Aiber wondered if there was any mental damage done. "...Braden, are you alright?" Now crouching by the right side of the bed, the french conman waited for any sort of response from the pale detective.
L continued to stare at the blonde man, his mind reeling with the realization that he still lived. His chest throbbed in pain, which made inhaling every breath a sore event. Lifting his hand to eye-level, he observed the line of tubing attaching itself to him. "...I...am alive." And that was all he said on that matter. No, he wasn't particularly okay. In fact...instead of bells, his mental ear rang with words. Words with the tone of a broken woman. 'You can't leave me!' Guilt as such he had never before felt weighed upon him, and it seemed that his slouch became just a bit more pronounced. 'I love you...you can't leave me...'
Looking out of the room's large window, L wondered what she would now do. Crystal would never give up, of that he was sure. No matter what obstacle occurred, she would knock it aside...but what he had done... She seemed to have been repaired, only for him to shatter what she previously thought made of stone. Sighing, only to groan at the pain that came with, L swiftly pushed those thought to the back of his mind. To be dealt with later. Turning to Aiber, he spoke softly. "Could I... get a cake...or something, cousin?" He could /feel/ the medicinal chemical run through his veins, and his brain was moving slower than it should. So, the only logical answer would be sugar, right?
Grinning with a hint of a smirk, Aiber nodded and stood. "I'm glad to see you are still yourself...you terrified everyone." Walking to the door, he intended to get the doctor. L watched, and looked down to the various cords and lines that somehow attached to various parts of his body. "...I know." And for perhaps the only time in his life, he wished that he could go back and have let one of them know.
Sound. It came in and out, first a sobbing, then a wailing of sirens. Even in disorientation, the unconscious elder knew precisely who cried for him. But...why was he able to hear it? The shinigami...Rem...was that it's name? It came to apologize. And then...pain. But the more he thought about it, the more he noticed the /absence/ of the pain. If he was dead, was the Almighty being cruel? Forcing him to listen to the sounds of his granddaughter's sorrow?
No...no. Somehow, he could tell that he wasn't journeying upon the tides of the afterlife. Soon, a deep voice saying that he was lucky...and then quiet, for a little bit. He had felt himself being moved. So...he was in a hospital then. Attempting with closed eyes and a half-asleep mind to flex his fingers, he found that they were held within much smaller hands. With much effort, his silver hues cracked, and slid to observed a blurry form of his Yoki singing softly. For a moment, he couldn't understand.
But as soon as he could, he immediately wondered why she would know the lullaby that was only sung to L. The boy's previous caretakers said it soothed him. That it was useful for calming the creepily intelligent infant. Although the context of the song made no sense for an infant, it indeed worked.
And now he was aware of what precisely had awoken Yoki from her coma. Parting dry lips, he croaked softly, "Yoki...I'm...okay."
Yoki had remained quiet for a total of five seconds as Watari finally spoke up, she hadn't felt his fingers twitch in her palm, but his voice reached out to her in the deathly quiet. Looking up, purple eyes half glazed, she felt a wave of relief crash over her. "Grandfather..you gave me quiet the scare.." She was a lot calmer, it having been a few hours so she could actually gather herself. Kissing his hand again, she offered the tiniest of smiles, not knowing that she was blurry to him.
"Get some rest Grandfather.." There was no point telling him now, in due time he would be well enough to actually tell him. "I love you."
Crystal continued to sob, until he lifted her back up and told her to change, with that command, Crystal sucked it up and waited for him to leave before removing the wet clothes. Each article of clothing was peeled from her skin quickly, at least until she got to L's shirt. Staring at it as if it were him, her lips pressed to it before she folded it and set it aside. Putting on the hospital gown, her body was wrapped in a heating blanket not much later, Taro's arms following suit.
Silver eyes stared ahead blankly, her emotions reeling once more, "...I..have a name.." It was as if she were pieced together only to be broken once more, but still, that name remained. In his honor, she'd keep it. "..Crystal.."
