Title: Death Note: Apprentice Glass
Pairing: Kyon X L
Summary: Follow the story of Death Note from the point of view of a surprising new character.
Disclaimer: Death Note belongs to Obata and Ohba; Kyon belongs to me.
Author's note: Welcome back, readers. I present to you chapter 9 of Apprentice Glass. Written while listening to Capable of Cruelty by the band Raised by Swans. Enjoy.
"Very few of us are what we seem." - Agatha Christie
The letters O and S have a graceful shape to them. The letters T have flourished crossbars. Much of the writing has smooth down strokes. The text is large, bold with open space, and slanting. Also, let us not forget the carefully dotted letters I and J. Not many people know this but trails of clues are always behind in handwriting. The way you form your letters, the slant of your handwriting, the pressure you use on the pen. It is perfect for character profiling.
A strange diary page from the Second Kira arrived, still believing that we are the original killer. It appeared written in English, making it easier for me to work with. Large and bold forms of writing show that the writer is confident, self-assured and has an outgoing personality. The careful dotting show that the person was very caution and calm while making this entry page. The curvy shapes and strokes reflect that the writer is a female. I have yet to voice this find to my mentor, knowing that he might shoot down the fact that the fake killer is a woman. The hidden codes in writing never lie; which is why I use both female and male characteristics in writing a letter to create an androgynous feeling to throw the reader off.
I'm not fond of L's dehumanizing way of typing his letters on computer.
The page has certain dates marked with the events. I set the page in front of me, analyzing the contents. It seems like any normal schedule. I looked over at the clock that flashes 4:25 in the afternoon. I have been trying to investigate the schedule calmly. L theorized that this page could have a hidden message, a special code that only the real Kira would understand for a meeting. After a few hours of researching Aoyama (a spot mentioned on the page), I found an interesting fact. On that exact day, a store called Note Blue will be opening there. On the schedule, the date before says that the Second Kira meets with a friend to exchange notes. The word Ao in Aoyama means 'blue' in Japanese.
It could be a coincidence, but this is the only message I have found here in the past few hours.
I turn unnerved at a small shuffling sound by the door.
I discreetly close the file with my theories and leave the diary page in plain sight on the desk.
"Eru-san, you don't make a good spy." I speak up.
The door opened slightly to have L's head peak in gingerly.
"I take it that you've found something out."
He has good timing.
"A store named Note Blue in Aoyama will be opening on the day the second Kira will be there," I make an emphasis on blue, "On the day before, they will exchange notes with a friend. Could it simply be a coincidence?"
He stays planted behind the door, thinking over my question.
"There's a high chance that it could be a clue. I can send Yagami-kun and Matsuda-san to scout the area. I'll let them know to keep an eye on that store in specific."
I frown at Light's name. Even from his hidden form, the sugar loving panda noticed it.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked, nonchalant.
"I'm concerned, of course. While we are here pretending to be Kira, the real killer has not appeared to prove that we are fake and stop us from getting to the Second Kira. I do not understand his lack of action."
He gets up without a word to walk in. I turn away from his form to look down at the diary page.
"There was a reason why I asked Yagami-kun to work on the script. If Kira had appeared despite his contact, then the chief's son would be clear of suspicion. You're correct, the lack of action is quite curious."
A compliment at the end will not distract one from the context.
"Why was I appointed to work along side him then? Your excuse of using me as supervision is both credible and suspicious."
He stops noiselessly next to my seat, looking into my eyes through the reflection of the vanity. His analyzing gaze notices the gleaming accusation. I dare him to respond with a simple glare.
His face remains passive as he refuses to look away.
"... I am 2% suspicious that you are Kira."
Snap goes one of the good nerves.
"Elaborate for my sake."
"You have seen through most of Kira's hints and plans. That is why I have requested you to do research on the case. Your insight has been similar to the killer and I can see that you're hiding more findings than you let on." His eyes hardened in response.
I sigh.
He knows about the character profile I made on the Second Kira.
L turns away from me and walks towards the door, stopping in front of it.
"You've been awake all night. Please catch up on your sleep." He spoke up with his hands in his pockets.
"I'm not tired. I will take a shower and eat before going back to work." I said, taking the silver brush from the table and started brushing my hair.
I felt his gaze on me once more, but I chose to ignore it.
"Don't over work yourself, Kyon."
"I'll stop when you do."
The door closes behind him not a second later.
I continue to brush my hair thoroughly.
More accusations.
The paranoia tends to eat at L's mind constantly.
Nevertheless, that is how he has survived for so long.
Moreover, I do not hold it against him for being suspicious of me.
There is a little note hidden under the file:
"I found the pseudo-cherub."
Nina found it taped to my locker in the ice rink.
There is only one person that comes to mind.
Should I warn L?
August, 2002
"What's wrong, Watari?" L asks through the laptop.
"I've received an emergency signal from the tracking device Kyon wears. I instructed her to only send a signal if her mission were to go wrong..."
"Yes?"
"However, all I found of her was the tracking device in the apartment."
L stood silent. Someone has taken Kyon. He sent her off to meet Naomi Misora with clues to the Wara Ningyo Murders in L.A.
He did not expect this.
Nobody knows about her; K is just a shadow behind L.
Who would know Kyon is separated from him?
"Kyon-chan, you look tired."
I shake my head.
"I'm fine, Matsuda-san. I stayed awake to watch you and Yagami-san investigate through Aoyama through the video cameras. Did you find anything suspicious?"
"Not really. We even passed Note Blue and there was nothing special there." He affirmed.
Our attention turned to the television screen that replayed the last tape sent to us by the Second Kira.
"I will refuse to reveal Kira's name. Policemen, thank you for your advice. But, I live to erase the evil from this world with Kira. I will collaborate with Kira and have him recognize me. I will punish the criminals Kira has not yet punished. I will distribute the power to more and more people who are worthy and hope to make this world a better place."
"What do you make of this tape, Ryuuzaki?" Chief Yagami asks from his chair.
In his usual position, L reached over the table to pick up a chocolate covered doughnut.
"From this video, I feel as if the two Kiras have made contact. First off, the Second Kira was determined to find the real Kira in the first few tapes. But now, it disappeared and she's determined more to punish criminal and make Kira recognize her... She has probably met Kira and was given these instructions." He explained, biting into the doughnut.
"Is it possible that they met even though we've been keeping a constant watch over Aoyama?" Aiwaza wonders.
"Yes, it is possible. However, this contact is lethal. Two Kiras are worse than one. Fortunately, this means that my suspicion of Yagami-kun being Kira has lowered."
"What do you mean, Ryuuzaki?" The chief asks.
"If he was truly Kira, he wouldn't have made this mistake. He would have just had the Second Kira blackmail me once more into showing my face on television." He took another doughnut, licking off the chocolate.
Before L continued, Matsuda had picked up a glazed doughnut from the box and handed it to me. I accepted it with joy and glee, uttering a small thank you to the police officer.
"Ryuuzaki?"
I perk up at the sound of Light's voice.
"Yes?"
"If I were Kira, I wouldn't do that."
"Why do you say that?" L asks, twice as calm.
"I know your personality, L. I would know that no matter how hard I tried to blackmail you, you would not come out on TV. There is hardly a reason for you to make yourself known to the public. You'd always think of a way to escape..."
He puts himself in Kira's shoes.
L tries to think of how the killer would react.
How come Light's reasoning seems too suspicious?
The chief stepped in.
"Raito, it was only a hypothetical question. Would you please stop talking as if you WERE Kira?"
"S-sorry, father. I just wanted to let Ryuuzaki know that I am not Kira." Light replies, smoothly.
"Light-kun isn't Kira. No, it would be troublesome if Light were Kira. Because Light-kun is..." He finishes drinking his coffee and his sentence, "My first friend."
Bull.
I finish my doughnut, staring intently at my lap.
"There are no friends. That is my first rule. Second, never trust anyone."
"N-not even the others?"
"No, not even the others."
"A supermodel named Misa Amane, Yagami Light's current girlfriend has been arrested as a suspect of being the Second Kira. It's been proven by a series of DNA tests of fingerprints found on the tapes that matched hers. A day after her arrest, Light began to believe that he is Kira and was placed in confinements as well by his own accord. They will be under constant watch and if the killings stop, then they truly are Kira. Now, here is the hard part... Kyon has been placed under house arrest by my command."