A/N: Hello, I do hope you like this chapter and will continue reading. I love these opening and ending songs so much. I am so sorry for not updating sooner, I was watching 'Sense 8' and the Jaiden scenes from 'The Originals'. I do not know why but Jaiden reminds me of Malec from 'Shadowhunters' and it makes no sense to me as to why Joshua and Aiden remind me of Magnus and Alec.
2982 words previous, 4111 words
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or its characters nor do I want to.
Chapter Ten: Day of Play
Raito's POV
At the Tennis Courts, I wasn't surprised L wanted to play. "I'm surprised you wanted to play me, Ryuga. Especially as a way to get to know each other" I smiled, taking out a racket from my bag. "Is that a problem?"
"Not at all" I chuckled nervously. "When you asked me play, did you know how good I was?" I asked knowing that he does. "Yes, I will be fine though. It's been a while, but I was once the British Junior Champion" he informed. "Lucky! I miss Great Britain and England" I told him sadly. "You do know they're not the same, right?"
"Yes, I know they're not the same. My fiancé was born in Great Britain but was moved to England at age 15" I explained easily. "Why don't we play a single set? First one to six wins?" he asked when we got to our respective sides of the court.
"That's fine" I agreed easily. I will try my hardest, but I won't mind losing. L was the first to serve and his serve was really fast. I almost smiled at Ryuk's yelp. It would've went straight through him so his reaction to it was hilarious. "15-Love"
"Nice serve! Guess I've gotten slower over the years" I smiled.
"Why is he wearing gloves? Sure he's smart, and popular because of his looks, but that doesn't mean he should wear them all the time. It's not like he has a deep, dark secret on his hands" I froze at this when I went to pick up the ball. I resisted the urge to cover my gloves somehow since there's no way I can. I can't leave either because they will become suspicious of me, especially L.
Soichiro's POV
"I'm sorry sir, but we're not allowed to discuss anything to do with the case" I informed when he questioned me about it. "I'm not asking for details, just what you're doing and where" he repeated.
"I can't sir, I will be going against L's orders if I answer those questions" I told him regretfully but firmly. The Director stood up from his chair to face the window behind him. "We got this case four months ago, Chief Yagami. The public wants results, they are starting to think that the NPA is incompetent. That L is incompetent"
That angered me severely. "How is that right, sir?! We're the only ones at NPA Headquarters and we are incompetent?! The other Officers would rather let a serial killer roam free than risk their lives. Excuse me" I was almost out the door when my boss spoke. "Can L be trusted, Chief Yagami?"
"He's risking his life in following a lead right now. I would never, in my life say that L is incompetent or untrustworthy" I answered firmly. I left the room as soon as I was done speaking.
Raito's POV
We continued the game, the ball going back and forth between us. L is likely thinking it's human nature to want to win. We've talked about that subject for hours decades ago. Most of the time, we've talked for a day or more about one or more topics, made possible by the fact I don't need sleep and he's an insomniac. A beautiful insomniac at that.
I hit the ball as hard as I could when I heard someone mention my gloves again. I got a hit on L, making me frown. He's likely thinking I want to win now when I just don't like it when people pay attention to my gloves. I want to have fun for once in my life as Raito Yagami. "Four games all, Yagami has the serve!"
We continued hitting the ball back and forth before I walked towards the net. I had hoped he would hit it back, but he misjudged the distance. "Raito Yagami has won the Match, 6-4"
"I had hoped you would hit it" I frowned. We left the courts to change back to our regular clothes. I wore a blue-green polo with an emerald flamingo on the left side of my chest, white jeans, and black riding boots. I also wore my Moonstone necklace.
"As expected, you beat me" L said as we walked towards the school's exit. The Cherry Blossom trees that lined the walkways were glowing beautifully in the sun. "And as I said earlier, I hoped you would hit the last one, but no such luck" I sighed sadly. "Why would you want that" he asked, looking up at me from his hunched position.
"Isn't it obvious?" I asked. He just tilted his head. "It would have been fun if you did. I quit Tennis in 2003 because it was starting to bore me. I had some expectations when you asked me to play, but I guess they were too big" I frowned, looking to the right. "What 'expectations'?" he asked, head tilted again. He looks like an Owl with those big eyes and tilted head.
"I was expecting that you would actually make the game fun again" I told him easily. "Want to go somewhere after this? It's my favorite place in Japan" I asked messing with my necklace. "You humored me with a Tennis Match, so I don't mind"
"That's great!" I exclaimed before covering my mouth in shock. "I got too excited, sorry" I bowed my head in apology. "Before that though," he said getting my attention. "I just want to say something" I frowned at this.
"I suspect you of being a pawn for Kira" he told me ominously. "If you still want to take me to your favorite place, that is fine" I stopped walking in happiness. Maybe I can stop doing this before I have to take drastic measures to stop Ryuk. "Raito?"
I shook my head to clear it when I heard L's deep voice. "Oh sorry, ignore that please" I smiled, jogging to catch up to him.
Scene Change: Emerald Crown Café
Entering the Café, I heard the bell above the door ring to let the Staff know someone is here and/or leaving.
"It is so good to see you Lucien!" a dark-haired woman with Coffee-brown eyes greeted me happily. "What would you like?" she asked. "My usual Vermillion Coffee for me. My companion will have a Coffee with eleven sugar cubes and your best Strawberry Shortcake" I smiled. "Of course! Do you want anything else?"
"No thank you, I'll be fine with just Coffee. If we leave before finishing, for whatever reason, can you box it up?" I asked. "Of course! It would be my pleasure" she smiled happily. I led L to my usual table before sitting down. "From the air around that conversation, the two of you know each other. How is that?"
"She's a friend of my family during the Study Abroad Program. Lucien is the Italian version of my English name, which comes from my mom's side as she grew up in Italy" I explained. "And leaving before finishing what you ordered?"
"I have a Flute lesson in two hours, I don't know how long this will take. Or if my family needs me home for some reason or another" I answered simply, easily. "I see"
"The Emerald Crown Café is my favorite Coffee Shop in the area. There is no chance of anyone overhearing us" I stopped when the same girl I talked to set down the food and drinks. "This is our famous Strawberry Fields Shortcake" the woman from before told L when she placed the cake in front of him. The food itself had a slight glow and was sparkling, adding to its appeal.
"Enjoy the food and drink, it is good to see you again Lucien"
"I can see why you like it, it's nice" L said when she left. The silver flecks in his eyes sparkled as he looked at the cake. "Moonstone Books is closer to the NPA, but this place is less likely to make fun of how you sit" I explained. "I don't sit like this because I want to…"
"'…I have to sit like this or else my deductive skills will go down by 40%' or something like that, right?" sipping my Coffee. "Yes, that is correct" he said taking a bite of his cake. "Your fiancé again?"
"Yes, I've been talking about him a lot, haven't I? I do apologize about that" I said sipping my Coffee again. "Oh, it's fine Raito. It just gives me more insight into who you are by who you like" he told me.
"Did you want to just hang out? Or did you want to talk about something?" L asked. "The former" I smiled, sipping my Coffee. I haven't had it in a while and it is really good. "From how you played, you must've thought I had an ulterior motive the whole time" I chuckled at that.
"You can ask me questions all day if you want, I don't mind missing my lessons to talk to you"
"You have no obligation to do this, but would you mind testing your deductive reasoning skills?" he asked me. "Why not? Sounds like fun" I smiled, fangs dropping when I sipped my Coffee again. They drop every time I do. "Do you mind looking at these three notes?" he asked, spreading them in front of me.
I looked at the notes and read each one, giving my thoughts on them. I recognized the first one but not the rest.*
Note 1:
'Laughing at you now,
Do you know how?
Oh, I bet you do
You know all too well
Oh, the past was very swell
Up goes the flames
Knowing where others place the blame
Now onto you
Oh, do you remember who?
Who saved you the day flames pillowed high?'
"The first one doesn't completely rhyme, but it does have a clear message" I commented. "What message would that be?"
"You must know whoever wrote this one, it says they saved you from a fire" I gripped my jeans at this. I'm happy I get to see L again, but this case will kill me before it's done.
Note 2:
'Should I come down to play?
Has my note gone astray?
In this game I must admit,
Now that you're playing here's a tidbit.
I'm perfectly sane, my mind not undone
Gods just gotta have some fun.
At dawn I got the news,
My eyes could not see it as a roos.
I also have my own façade,'
"Whoever this is must think they are a Shinigami, or Death God. He has his own disguise like you have your letter 'L'"
Note 4:
'Listen to this well because it's full of hints,
Oh, how I love my little stints!
Valor is my façade's reason
Even though it's not the season.
Around and surrounded by many people
Protector, my façade, totally not their equal.
Palisades my façade had been designing
Listen to the silver lining.
Even my façade is sly
Showed you he knows you, but you know nigh.'
"The 'façade' is protecting someone or something. They put up walls, or rather rules, that he has to follow" I theorized before frowning. "What is it Raito?" L asked before I looked up at him. "Are you missing a note or two?" I asked, looking at the second note. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, the third note doesn't complete the rhyme, it makes the letter sound terrible" I explained. "Good deductive skills, here is note 3 and 5" he told me handing them to me. I rearranged the order on the table before reading them again, in order this time.
'Laughing at you now,
Do you know how?
Oh, I bet you do
You know all too well
Oh, the past was very swell
Up goes the flames
Knowing where others place the blame
Now onto you
Oh, do you remember who?
Who saved you the day flames pillowed high?
Should I come down to play?
Has my note gone astray?
In this game I must admit,
Now that you're playing here's a tidbit.
I'm perfectly sane, my mind not undone
Gods just gotta have some fun.
At dawn I got the news,
My eyes could not see it as a roos.
I also have my own façade,
Note 3:
Who are you to say I'm not God?
Have been since creation
Oh, how dare you think me an imitation?
"Now this makes sense! 'façade' and 'god' rhyme which is the connection between notes 2 and 3" I smiled. "Kira must think he/she was born as a God and that must make it okay to kill people"
Listen to this well because it's full of hints,
Oh, how I love my little stints!
Valor is my façade's reason
Even though it's not the season.
Around and surrounded by many people
Protector, my façade, totally not their equal.
Palisades my façade had been designing
Listen to the silver lining.
Even my façade is sly
Showed you he knows you, but you know nigh.
Note 5:
Holidays free
A weekends spree
Volatile weekdays
Expectant praise.
Reminiscing the past
Expectantly the sky's downcast.
Down the road
Have you seen my abode?
Alongside my marionette
Nothing but a parasite, a familial threat.
Debris of the past makes him shut his eyes
Sorry but now it's time for goodbyes.
"The façade seems to be protecting their family somehow. The last one likely means that this is the last letter. Are these all from Kira?" I asked, looking up at him. "Yes, they are. You truly are smart enough to have realized there was at least one note missing"
"It's a double-edged sword though, huh?" I asked him. "I suppose" he said before I sipped my Coffee.
"How's the Shortcake? I hope it is to your liking" I asked with a smile. "It's one of the best I ever had" he answered. "Daria** will be glad to hear that" I smiled gratefully. "Is Daria the girl you were talking to earlier?" he asked. "Yes, she is. She is the Head Patisserie and she is also the owner of Emerald Crown Café" I smiled. "If you were me…"
"I'm sorry, but that is the most unlikely scenario ever spoken. Can't you just say, 'a detective' instead of 'me'?" I asked, sipping my Coffee. "Ok, if you were a detective, how would you go about finding Kira's 'façade'?"
"I would probably try to get him to say something that was never made public. Wouldn't a marionette not remember anything while being controlled though? They don't have brains, so they wouldn't remember being manipulated anyway. Why try to find the marionette if that proves to be true?"
From the owlish-look of his eyes, he either thinks I am crazy or hadn't considered the possibility. "Truly remarkable. I have asked several detectives the same questions and they never said anything like that. Took them minutes to even answer. But you came up with one almost immediately" L informed.
"What is my percentage of being a suspect for Kira's marionette then?" I asked. I wondered if he would get what I meant. "It raised from 1% to 6%" he answered me blankly. "I see" I frowned, sipping my Coffee.
"It has made me much more determined to work with you, Raito. Even if you are working with Kira…" I flinched at that. "…It would benefit me more to have you on the case than if you were off of it" he explained. "Do you know why I think that?"
Placing my Coffee cup down, I answered. "If I am working for Kira, there's a chance I could spill his whereabouts. I would help the investigation move forward even if I am not working for Kira though" I theorized.
"Do you want another cake? I am paying for this so it's fine if you do" I asked seeing that he was done with it. "I am good Raito" he waved it off dismissively, but I could tell he wanted something else. "Will you help us investigate if I take you to Task Force Headquarters?"
*Ring Ring* His phone went off. *Ring Ring* "And that's mine" what is going on?
I answered the phone when I saw it was Sachiko. My greeting was cut off when I heard the sobbing. "Raito… your father" L tried to say but I was already taking out the money for the food and drinks. I grabbed my bag and left the Café, wondering frantically if Ryuk tried to kill my father.
I told Soichiro that working too hard would stress him out, resulting in a Heart Attack. I was just warning him about the consequences of working too hard at his age.
Scene Change: Hospital
"Call me if you need anything. Raito, take care of Soichiro, will you?" Sachiko asked. "Of course I will, it is my job after all" I smiled stiffly. I watched her leave the room before deciding I was going to ignore L for the time being.
"I've warned you about the consequences of working too hard at your age, didn't I?" I asked in annoyance. "Yes, I remember Raito. At first I thought it was Kira for a second" he said in relief. "Why would you think it was Kira?" I asked confused.
"That's right, you didn't know Kira kills by inducing Heart Attacks, did you?" I froze at this. "Is that why you looked at me strangely for mentioning being careful or you'd have a Heart Attack?" I asked. I worried because that would mean he thought I was Kira, if even for a second.
"Yes, though you did very well in describing L when I asked what you think he would look like" Soichiro praised me. "Yes, I did. It is easy to guess what a person looks like by their job and how they approach it. It goes the same way the other way around if you switch 'approach' to 'personality'" I smiled. "You're actually smiling today Raito, did something good happen?"
"I got the classes I wanted and decided on my Major and Minor when I change schools" I smiled happily in my seat, by his bed. "What are they?" he asked with a soft smile.
"Drawing l, Poetry, Orchestra where I play the Flute and Piano, Art History, and Criminology" I winced at the last one. "I'm going to Major in Art History and Minor in Criminology" I smiled. "You're doing too much Raito"
"I wouldn't mind working with you Ryuga, so long as I can hang out with you more outside of the investigation. I want to catch Kira more than ever now for choosing a killing method that would make my father think I was Kira for even a second" I told him.
"The two of you are getting along I see" that got my attention. "I wish this was under different circumstances though" Soichiro smiled softly.
"I've begun to think in a different way about this whole thing" Soichiro said after a while. "We can all agree that Kira is pure evil…" I gripped my jeans at that. "…But what I think is truly evil, is the power to kill people" I closed my eyes tightly at that. I felt my gloves through the other, hating that I must wear them for that reason. I have to wear these gloves because of my power that is very destructive, even having the ability to kill others, with a single touch. Does that make me evil?
"Anyone who encounters this power is cursed, no happiness can be gained by killing people" tell that to my brother and sister and Ryuk. "I'd have to agree with you, Chief Yagami" that got my attention so I turned to L.
"If Kira is this ordinary person and gained this awful power, then he is indeed cursed" L finished. It feels like I am more of a suspect for being Kira than being used by Kira. "I'm sorry for causing all of this trouble, Ryuzaki. I will be back at work when the Doctors say I can leave" Soichiro apologized. I heard the door open, so I turned my head to see a Nurse.
"Excuse me, is Raito Yagami in here?" I stood when the brunette asked that. "That would be me" I said, walking over to her. "A woman came by, she dropped this off for you" she informed giving me my phone. "Thank you, and I am sorry for the trouble. We will be leaving soon" I smiled. "Very well" she blushed before scampering off.
"We should go now, Ryuga. Get better soon father" I smiled softly as I waved 'goodbye' to him when I left the room.
I felt the stiffness in my hands when I rubbed my palms. I had better control of my powers before the fire. Because of the fire, my hands were burned and became a permanent garnet color.
I felt the bumps and indents from the parts of my skin that feels like MRSA. That was just how they became when I got into my powers though. Because my powers have to do with the destruction of cells in any one thing I touch that is organic. What I touch turns black and is no longer of any use because the black parts are dead. It only happens to the one thing I touch though.
If it is hard, like wood and stone, it will crack but not break. If I touch something that can stretch or be removed, like hair and clothes, it will fall to the ground like ash or dust. If I touch something from something that was/is alive, like skin, flesh, or organs of some kind, they will either turn stiff or fall in a decomposed mass of goop. For example: If I touch wood, that specific wood turns black and cracks. If I touch hair, that hair turns black and falls off.***
"Are you okay, Raito?" L asked when he came out of the room. I resisted the urge to jump in surprise/fright when he spoke. "I'm just fine" I nodded with a smile. "Why do you wear gloves anyway? From how I've seen you react when someone mentions them, you don't seem to like them" he asked when we left the Hospital.
"I have bad burns on my hands that won't go away, I also have MRSA that hasn't spread past my wrists. It's a potentially fatal disease that can be spread so I was told to always keep my hands covered. I found out I got the disease during surgery on both of my wrists when I was younger" I explained. "I see" he said before he got into the car. He will likely check out my story when he gets back to whichever Hotel he is staying at.
I knocked on the window when he closed the door. "What is it?" he asked when he rolled it down so it was at 1/3 the way up. "I agreed to help with the investigation, but I will likely not be able to do anything until my father is out of the Hospital" I informed. "I wouldn't think you would, today was a fun and enlightening experience. Thank you and goodbye, Raito Yagami"
I watched as the car drove off before I heard Ryuk's annoying voice. "How is you father's condition? Did you think I tried to kill him despite our agreement?" he asked making me sigh. "Yes, the thought did cross my mind. Before I remembered what I had warned him about once when it came to working too hard at his age" I answered.
I started the trek home before thinking back to what I saw when I asked L if he wanted something more to eat. I want to bring him something when I meet the rest of the Task Force. I know Strawberry deserts are his favorite, but the decision I have to make is which one.
L's POV
I know you are not Kira, Raito Yagami. You have no reason to be. Even if you were, you would likely be Kira in Alaska instead of Japan as it is a place you are more comfortable being. Alaska is also the place you would rather be, but because of Kira you are stuck here.
I am going to need to check up on the wrist surgeries and MRSA that he mentioned he has. I don't know what I should look for that would burn his hands so much though. There are many things that can cause such damage to a person's skin so much that they don't like it being mentioned or noticed.
A/N: Hello, I finished writing this at 7:28 P.M on September 24, 2017.
I finished rewriting this at 7:36 A.M. on September 28, 2018.
*The 'Note #:' are not shown anywhere on the pictures. It's just to help you.
**Italian name meaning 'Owner of goodness'
***I have no idea if I mentioned this before, but even if I did this shows a more detailed and, if I may add, disgusting information about what happens when he touches something or someone.
I do hope you like this chapter and story and will continue reading, see you October 12, 2018.