Chapter Nine


Day: 15


"Light-kun."

Mmnn….what…? Who is…no, not the room again! Light struggled to find the opening in the small room he remembered being confined in his dreams. He flattened out his hands, trying to feel for the hard wall, but instead his fingers grasped handfuls of soft fabric.

"Light-kun, are you awake?"

The voice in the dark room had never said that before. And the room in his dreams had never had a blanket in it, and he was always standing…no, this wasn't a dream. Which meant, unfortunately, it was reality. Light opened his eyes and found L hovering over him, his wide eyes and calm face much too close to his for comfort.

"Do you mind, Ryuzaki? I'd like to sit up," Light said evenly, glaring with as much force as he could muster.

"Of course, Light-kun," L said, and scooted back, allowing Light to sit up without hitting their heads together.

Light felt exhausted. And come to think of it, he couldn't remember when he'd went to bed in the first place. After his shower he'd returned to the couch to do research, and once again he'd skipped out on sleep. It had been seven in the morning before he decided to get breakfast, so he'd gotten up and started walkin across the living room and….

And what?

"Ryuzaki, what happened?" Light inquired, looking at the said annoying man, "I don't remember going to bed."

"You fainted on your way to eat, Light-kun," L explained, "It isn't surprising, as you were nearly fifty two hours without sleep, and your body is not used to such a feat."

Light was inwardly horrified. He'd –he'd passed out!? That was utterly embarrassing and….wait. If he'd passed out on the way to the kitchen, how had he ended up in the bed, where he was at the present? Light looked at L again and was afraid to ask.

"Ryuzaki," Light said slowly, "How did I get to the bed?"

L blinked and tilted his head to the side slightly, "I carried you here, of course."

"What?"

"Would Light-kun care for me to demonstrate?"

"No," Light hissed, "Why did you carry me? That wasn't necessary."

"I didn't think Light-kun would appreciate being left on the floor, especially in the uncomfortable position in which you fell," L replied easily, "What I wrong?"

Light sighed and stayed silent. There was nothing he could say to that. No, L wasn't wrong. He wouldn't have wanted to be left on the floor. But at the same time, he wasn't comfortable with Ryuzaki carrying him, even if he couldn't remember it. Light instead yawned and then spoke again, deliberately changing the subject.

"Has anything new occurred on the case?"

"No, nothing has happened, Light-kun," L said, in a way that was just slightly less calm than usual. Light could tell he was frustrated.

"All right," Light nodded, "Is there anything you need me to do at the moment, L?"

"No, not at present, Light-kun," L finally learned to predict Light's next move, "Going to take a shower?"

Light didn't freeze, but he wanted to. Instead he cast a sharp glance at the other man and just nodded curtly. He went to the closet and gathered a black shirt and black pants, and then some underwear as well. Then he proceeded to walk across the room, over to the door, but L asked him a question before his fingers could grasp the handle.

"Light-kun seems to take a surplus amount of showers over the past couple weeks," L informed him, "Would he care to divulge why?"

"Maybe," Light spat sinisterly, "It's because I'm grossed out by being forced to spend time with you!"

L smirked, "No, that's not it."

Light slammed the door on his way out.

Thirty minutes later, Light immerged and ate something, although he barely paid much attention as to what it was. Then he sat in his usual seat on the couch, and L was there, apparently rereading something. Light picked up some of his papers and began rereading those too. The words on the paper had not changed.

L wasn't rereading though. He'd promised himself to evaluate Light when he had the time, and so that's what he was doing. Light-kun looked most tense just after showers, which was unusual. Usually showers and baths relaxed people, made them sleepy, but not Light, even though he'd claimed that they did. L peeked at Light, and his eyes were drawn to his wet hair, clinging to the boy's face elegantly. And then they followed a descending drop of water as it rolled down Light's slender neck.

Why had he paled at the idea that the rapist was escalating? Why had he looked distressed when he'd found out that the male had been raped? L was killing himself over it, more so than with the case itself. Because he knew he was missing something. What was it? What could it be? There was nothing dramatically different in the way Light was acting, but too many showers and nightmares…what could that be?

L hated himself for not being able to figure it out. In the beginning he thought it'd be easy, but he was only just remembering that this was Light. Light, who'd he'd always thought was Kira, who'd always suspect was duping him. Always one step ahead of him in everything. Light was, without a doubt, the most interesting puzzle L had ever come across. Even more; the most interesting person.

Light's eyes, though, looked different. Even before Light had admitted he was Kira, L had seen it, but thought nothing of it. Did that have anything to do with this? The stiff way Light had sat in his seat, the way he hadn't met his eyes? It hadn't happened for long, but L had noticed. He supposed it couldn't be a coincidence. L didn't believe in coincidences.

Light lifted his hand and drew a wet lock of hair behind his ear. L wondered why such small, meaningless actions attracted his attention. Light had not yet noticed L's eyes on his face, evaluating him. Studying him. L wanted to know everything about Light, and before he'd admitted he was Kira, he was sure he had. But such an admission, and the slightly strange behavior he'd been showing in the past weeks, had shown otherwise.

What am I not seeing?

Light finally looked up from his work and directed his eyes at L. His face was completely clear, stoic and hard. It reminded L of a manikin at times, and for the first time he was not impressed with such a cover. Instead, it annoyed him. He wanted to see Light and it seemed like the young man just refused to let him.

That meant, whatever Light was hiding, he was ashamed of it.

Or, L thought wryly, he's just trying to get on my nerves.

"Ryuzaki," Light said calmly, "If there's nothing else to do, I think I'll go read a book. I haven't read anything else by the author of Quintessence. If anything comes up, tell me."

L merely nodded and watched Light walk away. He had to find out what Light was hiding soon, too, because he had little more than a week before Light died. Or…Or was convicted of being Kira. L didn't want to dwell on either concept. Instead, he focused on Light's retreating form.

What you could be possibly hiding, Light?


Day: 16


As I sat there, on the train, the tracks bumping steadily beneath me in a rhythm that would soon surely put me to sleep, I wondered if I had done the right thing. He had killed the woman I loved, my best friend, and what was I doing? I was helping him, running away with him, and I have to speculate. Was that the right thing? Should he not go to jail for what he'd done? Shouldn't he suffer for hurting Jenny, and in turn hurting me?

What I'm doing is wrong, but I'm doing it for love for my best friend. The man, who, more than anyone, was always there for me. But then, I suppose what started this in the first place. Him doing something wrong, killing Jenny, for his concern for me. Is that okay then? To do something bad for the right reasons? Do the ends justify the means?

Even if his motives were right, were his actions enough to validate it?

It's an age-old question. Something I shouldn't ponder too much.

For now, I think I'll just sleep.

Light closed the book, blinking and staring at it's cover. This one was not a murder mystery. In the beginning, the main character, John, had been visiting his best friend Brendan in Jail. Brendan had killed John's fiancé, Jenny, in what seemed like cold blood, and through out the story, you had to figure out why.

Light hadn't figured it out, for once. This author, whoever he or she was, really was simply amazing. Light put the book away and yawned, looking at the clock.

It was only eight in the morning, and last night he'd fallen asleep in the middle of the 643 paged book, and this morning he'd started reading it again. Finally, he was done, and L had yet to return to the room for him, so Light assumed nothing important had happened with the case. L had, apparently, come in and slept a few hours during the night, however, according to the ruffled covers on the opposite side of the bed.

Light was still lying on his back as he stretched, stomach lifting up toward the ceiling just a bit before he relaxed and let his body sin into the mattress. Then, he sat up, gathered his clothes and went to the bathroom. He relieved himself and then took a shower, once again rubbing his skin raw in effort to maybe, somehow feel clean again.

Today he dried his hair with a blow drier and walked calmly, loosely, out into the room, where he saw L sleeping on the couch. Hm, he looked so much different when he was sleeping, Light mused, walking over to the detective's limp form. Light looked down at the man, taking in the almost unguarded look on his face. He supposed he looked the same when he slept…unless he was having a nightmare.

He was in his normal position, although his was more slack than usual, and his head was leaning against the back of the couch, his cheek squished against the cushion.

Light reached out, slowly, unaware of what he was actually doing, to brush stray hair our on Ryuzaki's eyes. His eyes caught sight of the computer screen and he yanked his hand back, seeing that it was a clear shot of the bedroom they shared. Wonderful. L had been watching him, again. Light sighed and went to get something to eat.

Little more than an hour later, while Light was yet again many of the victim's information, he heard a soft beep beep come from L's laptop. Light stood instinctively and stepped over to L, and shook the man's shoulder.

"L, wake up, you have an email," Light said in a voice he hoped was loud enough to wake Ryuzaki up. It was, thankfully.

L's large eyes blinked open, and Light realizes that this is the first time he'd ever seen L awaken. L seemed to snap out of sleep immediately, while most others, although awake seemed to be lost to the world for a minute or two. L looked up at Light, cocked his head to the side and frowned.

"Light-kun, usually our positions are reversed," L stated. Light rolled his head.

"You have an email," Light repeated, not amused, "See what it says. It could be important."

L nodded and leaned forward, clicking on the button to open it as Light went back to his side of the couch. Light then sat down easily, anticipation filling up his stomach…or was that bile? He could scarcely tell. Who would the new victim be? Who? Or…what if it was just another meaningless email? What if Watari was merely telling L that his cake was done, and would be delivered soon? What if Light was getting excited for nothing?

"Light-kun."

Light's head shot in L's direction.

"He tried to attack a police officer," L told him, something shining in his usually platonic black eyes, "He didn't know he was an officer at the time, but the police man easily subdued him. He noticed that he matched the picture of the serial rapist and brought him in."

Light's mind reeled at the implications.

"So, he's in custody?" Light asked, straight-faced and evenly. His insides jumped around, pulling at his stomach and squeezing his lungs.

"Yes," L nodded, "We are allowed to speak to him tomorrow, Light-kun, but for now, I will print out his profile."

Light nodded, and waited, his eyes dropping to stare at the silver back of L's computer as he thought. They'd caught him. Was it really so easy? Would he deny his actions? Of course he would. Why wouldn't he? Unless he was proud of it. Light wouldn't put it past the rapist. Bitterness rose in Light's throat, and it tasted sour in the back of his mouth as he waited for the paper to finish printing out.

L finally handed Light the paper and the younger man took it from him quickly, his eyes immediately jumping to the name.

Suspect:

Name: Akitoshi Kamajirou

Age: 36

D.O.B: August 12, 1968

Sex: Male

Occupation: Unemployed. Life Insurance from Father.

Height: 6'4

Weight: 265 lbs

Hair color: Black

Eye Color: Black/Dark Brown

Distinguishing features: Crooked nose, mustache.

Crimes: Suspected four counts rape. Assault of a Police Officer.

Light didn't falter. He reread the profile several times, imbedding everything into his mind, and the picture looked much like the drawing, only more real. More ominous. He went onto the cop's statement.

Shizu Koori

I was walking to the store to get some milk for my wife and he suddenly tackled me in an alley. I was in shock at first, but when he started pulling at my belt buckle, I elbowed him in the face. I punched and kicked and used a few self-defense moves before I finally was on top of the guy. I took out my cuffs and arrested him and called for back up.

Light took a shallow breath, and went to read Akitoshi's profile once more, imprinting it into his mind. This was him. That man who'd raped Lenako, Iori, Miyu, Ryu and Light. It was the bastard who'd done this to him. Who'd defiled his body in the worst way possible and made him so damn weak. And now he knew his name. Knew his face. If only he could get the Death Note back into his grasp.

Then he could go back to being God.

Shove. Hands. "No.". Cold. Pain. "Aaaahhh!"

But, no.

No, that wasn't the way it worked. His death would be a reassurance, and nothing more. It would not erase his memories of the event. He would still recall that night, this man, what had happened. He would still dream about it and scrub himself until he was raw during showers. He would still be used.

Light went back to reading everything he could about the horrible man. Maybe this wasn't even the same person. No, that was just Light deluding himself. But he needed to know. How could someone hurt others in such a cruel way? How could he rip away everything from so many different people, and not care? How could someone ruin others for themselves? Who was so selfish? Who could be so malicious, and why?

Maybe, if he looked long enough, read fast enough, and tried hard enough, Light would find the answers to those questions.