Chapter 10
Of Markings and Identities
February 28th 2001
When the bell he had attached to his front door rang, Horikan looked up from his workbench in surprise. He had not expected any clients today and had decided to spend the time teaching his apprentice how to appropriately take care of the tools of their trade. Pushing his glasses up his nose, he turned towards his young deshi.
"Gentaro-kun, go and greet our guest. I'll join you in a bit."
After executing a respectful bow, his young apprentice scampered away and out of the backroom. Meanwhile, Horikan carefully wrapped his needles and placed them back into their respectful boxes. When he closed the door behind him, his eyes bulged out in shock.
"Takamiya-sama," he immediately greeted the oyabun of the Black Dragon, though questions were running through his head.
While he had never met the man himself, he had heard numerous tales about him, imparted by his clients. Due to the long hours they had spent together, their tongues tended to get a bit loose and it was through them that he received most of his news about the underworld. It was strange for the oyabun to come here himself as the man had never desired to get a horimono and his advancing age would not permit such an endeavour now.
"Sensei." The man executed a slight bow with his head. "I wish to commission a horimono for my son, Takamiya Raito."
The elderly artist turned his head and his eyes were immediately drawn to the exquisite youth standing a few feet away from his father. He had never encountered such an attractive subject, such a flawlessly, perfectly balanced being. Elegance and pride seeped through the adolescent and he could not help but wonder how to best exploit such a perfect canvas.
His appraisal did not go unnoticed by the oyabun and Takamiya-sama immediately drew him out of it. "Should we discuss the design in more detail, sensei?"
Still too caught up in his thoughts, the horishi did not comment on this slight breach of protocol as they moved into his work room.
February 28th 2002
It had taken a year of discussions and compromises before the two had arrived to a design they both agreed upon. Takamiya-sama had insisted that Raito would not get a full body tattoo, and Horikan had not argued on that point. He had no intention of covering up that entire expanse of skin, only enhance it.
What they had disagreed on however, was the picture on the back. It seemed Takamiya-sama's stint in the West in his earlier years had influenced some of his views.
The man wanted wings! Wings on his son's back! Of all the stupid motifs, he had to go for ones stemming from Christianity. The tattoo master had tried to reason with him and had presented him with better, more worthy and traditional designs. But the man wouldn't budge on that point.
He wanted wings and after months of arguments, the horishi had finally given in. There would be wings, but the motifs hidden within them were left to Horikan to decide. And that was where his masterpiece would flourish – through the play between the backdrop of the wings and the creatures hidden within them.
What was more disturbing however was the oyabun's reason behind the tattoo. Unlike the ones his other clients had decided to invest in – in order to prove their strength and dedication –, this one had been designed for the wearer, without his having much, or any, say on the matter.
During the first meeting, when he had asked the teenager for his opinion, Raito-kun had simply answered, "It is a gift from father. I trust that whatever you both come up with will be beautiful."
It had bothered Horikan to witness such a passive stance from such a – he was certain of it – prideful soul. However, since this meant he had one less person to argue with, he had merely placed the thought in the back of his mind.
But it wouldn't stay there. As the weeks passed, he gradually took notice of how utterly obsessed the oyabun was with his adoptive son. It was disconcerting.
The tattoo artist had heard stories of how unemotional and aloof the kumicho was. Some even believed him to be asexual as he had never taken any mistresses or lovers. Even his relationship with his wife had been a cold and distant one. The two were practically never seen in each other's company, even after Katsuo-san's birth. And when she had died of pneumonia, many witnesses had whispered that the oyabun had not even reacted, let alone shed a tear.
Thus, Horikan's unease only grew at Takamiya-sama's insistence on how some of the motifs should be drawn out. It was as though he wished to brand his son, to put a mark of ownership on that youth's skin.
It was unsettling but in fear of losing his subject, Horikan had not commented on it and had buried his malaise deep away. But now, it could no longer be ignored.
He had seen how keenly the yakuza's eyes had followed Raito-kun, especially when he had been disrobing. His pupils had traced the youth's every move, every flex of muscles, the sharp contour of his skin. Horikan himself would readily admit that Raito-kun was an exquisite specimen of the human race. He had grown even more so since he had seen him a year ago, but the horishi was appraising him through artist's eyes – not a father's.
And then, there were the markings already branded upon the youth's skin. He had frowned at seeing the scars on one so young – especially the traces lashes have left on his back. Nevertheless, the disfigurements that had drawn his eyes were of a less permanent nature. The only lasting damage they would leave was to the psyche. Hickeys, scratch marks and a series of healing bruises could be found at strategic locations throughout the teenager's body.
And all signs pointed towards his father as the perpetrator.
This realisation greatly unnerved the old man. That a man like Takamiya-sama could be so fallible to the pleasure of the flesh…
He pitied Raito-kun. He really did.
When he had first met him, he had seen the reservoir of potential the youth possessed. But now, after realising what he had been through, it saddened him that his masterpiece would be but another chain tying the youth to his undeserving fate.
However, there was one gift he could bestow upon the teenager.
The design he had outline may serve to anchor Takamiya-sama's claim on Raito-kun's body, but it in no way held his spirit prisoner.
Having finished outlining the drawing freehand, he placed the cap back on the felt tip pen and clipped the small group of needles, all arranged in a single row to the long steel handle. His left hand carefully spread the back of his canvas' skin and he rested the shaft of his tool on his thumb. Each time his right arm moved forward, the group of needles – as one – were inserted into the skin.
Raito-kun never even twitched.
Though the outline would show the youth's state of subjugation, the shading and colouring would bring an entirely new meaning to the picture when completed. The creatures would shine through in all their glory, still fighting against their fate, despite being on the verge of defeat.
Horikan could not bear seeing his work of art disgracefully represent the oppression and repression of the teenager's nature. When he had first met him, he had seen Raito-kun's potential, he had seen his greatness. He could have been the very epitome of a god of death and his lethal beauty would shine through in his masterpiece.
He felt the needle going in and in and in. Constantly poking into his tender skin. It was irritating, slightly painful. It was perfectly bearable.
If only it wasn't for the meaning behind this simple torture.
Raito had survived the whip, had felt sting of hot lashes biting into his skin and drawing blood. He knew pain. He knew the permanence of those marks, even the humiliation of being at another's mercy.
He knew it all so why couldn't he simply bear this passive destruction to his dignity – as it was being ripped apart, piece by piece, inch by steady inch of skin?
For a year now, he had known it would happen. Though he had retreated into a state of numbness in the weeks preceding his first visit, he had been alert enough to have known his fate. He had known he would be branded like a cattle, marked as Takamiya-sama's most precious property, but he had pushed the event away, resolutely ignored it. His mind couldn't have handled the thought of this further degradation at the time.
But now, the day of reckoning had come and his psyche wasn't any more ready than it had been a year ago. He may have accepted his role in life – and in regards to Takamiya-sama – but this, this for some reason, he had trouble grasping.
It wasn't as though he had to participate like in –
No, he simply lay on the tatami matt – merely in his boxers –, and let the needles tear away at his person. It was that simple. It isn't as though your body belongs to you anymore, his mind bitterly reminded him.
Shut up.
Such an – insignificant – conception of ownership no longer mattered anyway. How could it – when he had nothing left? Fighting it – for his freedom – would have been useless: he had learned that long ago, in his first few weeks with the yakuza. All he could do was work with the system, submit to it and hope to survive with as much of his self intact as possible.
Not working.
If his adoptive father wanted his body, wanted him in his bed, who was Raito to refuse him? How would fighting the inevitable be of any use? It wasn't as though he had any power or right of his own. All he had were the scraps the oyabun threw him and he should be grateful for that. It could have been worse. He could have been –
Now at least, he could slowly try to build something for himself. His deal with Namikawa had – somehow – pulled through. He still had it in him.
And then, he was the cherished, beloved, despoiled son/lover/property of Takamiya-sama. The oyabun valued him at least. He could work with that. He could live with that.
He could suffer for that. He had resigned himself to his fate.
This was his only path in life, his only route to survival. There was nothing else for him. Of course, fool that he was, he hadn't understood it. It had taken him months to realise such an obvious fact. Raito had never felt so obtuse in his life. After all, hadn't that been what he had realised when he had killed Mitsui-san? To follow the yakuza precepts and survive.
Despite the change in their relationship, nothing had changed. All he could do was submit to Takamiya-sama's rules and work with them, as he had before the –
And work with them.
Now, he simply had to force himself to understand, acknowledge this stark piece of reality again.
A little tattoo – large, spanning your entire back and maybe more – did not matter. It simply reaffirmed his position – which you already knew. It was funny in a way. In the past, tattoos had been used to mark criminals. Full body tattoos had evolved from this barbaric punishment as the various crooks would use art to cover up the degrading sign.
Tattoos thus became associated with the outcasts of society, with the yakuza.
Takamiya-sama was aiming to brand him as his through this tattoo.
But then, was he not both?
He was a criminal and he belonged to the oyabun. The tattoo perfectly illustrated his two sins. There was nothing to anguish about. He simply had to learn to accept the fact and move on – move on.
Making sure to bury his head deeper into the crook of his arms, he closed his eyes and inwardly suppressed his sob. All he had to do was – once again (how many times must he go through this pitiful state of denial?) – accept that he was no longer his own person.
It was such a simple concept. Why could he not simply accept it?
Be it known, then, that there are two ways of contending, one in accordance with the laws, the other by force; the first of which is proper to men, the second to beasts. But since the first method is often ineffectual, it becomes necessary to resort to the second. A Prince should therefore understand how to use well both the man and the beast … and that the one without the other has no stability.
February 14th 2004
Wrapped only in a yukata, Raito casually flipped through the reports Takamiya-sama had left him. It may be a bit cold to wear such a flimsy garment but the complex was heated and there was no need for him to put up a show of being presentable today.
His adoptive father had gone to Kyoto early this morning and he would probably be back by Sunday night. The group's activities had slowed down ever since the oyabun's return and Raito highly doubted he would have to leave his sanctuary today.
For once, he was alone.
Raito sighed. With his adoptive father back in Tokyo, while many things had returned to normal, numerous others had changed. Seeing as he had acknowledged the youth as his heir, the oyabun had decided to include him in most of the organisation's politics and businesses. Raito no longer stood in the background nor worked in the shadows. Instead, he was involved everywhere, always under the constant watch of the older man.
It certainly hadn't been what he had asked for when he had desired more power and recognition within the yakuza.
But that was not the main reason for his increased participation. It seemed that their long separation had only made his adoptive father more voracious. He was insatiable in bed – despite his advancing age – and was unwilling to part from the brunet. Thus, he dragged him along everywhere, if only under a different excuse.
At least, his growing experience and influence were useful, unlike the other aspects of this constant supervision. Raito had very little free time left to himself nowadays, whether it was because he was catering Takamiya-sama's whims or under his bodyguard's increased attention. The brunet was uncertain of the cause behind this change. In the last two years, Makoto had slowly, though inexplicably, turned more lenient and this sudden reversal alarmed Raito.
Hence, he dared not act out of line and the time he could afford on his role as Kira had consequently been vastly reduced. Already, repercussions could be seen as he had murdered a few lesser criminals and he was deadly afraid his limited research would cause him to make a mistake. He would never be able to forgive himself if he did.
"Raito, isn't it time?" Ryuk asked him, having finally stopped juggling his plastic models of apples.
"Of course, thank you for reminding me."
He forced a smile onto his face, though it was wasted on the shinigami. His identity as Kira was not the only one that had suffered from his limited free time. His work as Kirin had to be delayed in every aspect. Luckily though, the program had already been completed and the individual modifications certain agencies had asked for could be delayed.
Anti-Kira was not so understanding however.
The seventeen-year-old knew full well how his constant absences annoyed the other man. Still, he would never endanger his life and position for some witty banter and – friendly? – company. It was not worth the risk.
But, he would indulge the man when he was certain of his privacy. It was the least he could do.
For some time now, Anti-Kira had been pestering him on some matter of importance. Raito would admit he was curious about what had that unshakable man so jittery. His queries and posts had turned into a peculiar direction lately. However, as this sudden change had coincided with Takamiya-sama's return, the teenager had not spared it much thought.
He would find out soon enough after all.
Without rushing, he carefully placed the stack of documents in three distinct piles a bit further away on his desk: those unread, those that would need more thought or research and those that looked perfectly fine. By his side, Ryuk was impatiently fidgeting.
"C'mon Raito, stop stalling!"
The human paid him no heed. Closing the other windows he had been working on, he moved his mouse down and opened a new one. He encountered no trouble when hacking into the third block of the third section of the Funny Dish server. Though Anti-Kira had left him a five minute window, it had taken him only a few seconds of rapid typing.
As soon as he gained access, the entire screen went white.
How dramatic, Raito thought amusedly. Knowing the man's self-righteousness, he was in no way surprised that he had chosen the colour of purity for the backdrop of their conversation.
It would nicely contrast with the constant sinful blackness of Kira's forum.
Without warning, Ryuk shoved his face next to his. Raito frowned but moved his head to the left to give the death god more space. With his eyes bulging out and intently scrutinizing the millions of pixels, the creature looked as though it wanted to discover some alien sign in that infinite whiteness.
Then, one by one, the letters appeared.
'KIRIN-kun, I have recently learned you have created the newest software currently used by investigative agencies around the world. I have a proposal for you I am certain would work to both our advantages. Would you like to work for me?'
Raito stared at the screen in shock. WHAT THE HECK WAS ANTI-KIRA THINKING? His hands clenched into a fist as he barely refrained himself from simply leaving the other man hanging.
There was a reason he kept to the forum. He vastly enjoyed the anonymity it offered. Though he liked Anti-Kira and truly valued him, he did not want any of his identities to mix. Moreover, there was no way a yakuza, a criminal would willingly meet an upholder of the law.
It was suicidal.
But aren't you willing to let yourself be caught?
Only if they find proof.
Behind him, the shinigami doubled over in laugher, both arms clutching onto his emaciated stomach.
"Hehe Raito. What are you going to say to that?"
L was impatiently fidgeting in his seat. He had been anticipating this moment for more than a week now. He had the right to be eager, even excited. He nervously nibbled on his thumb. It was a good thing he had sent the task force home for the weekend as they would have been staring at him perplexingly, just as they had during his last his involuntary show of emotion.
In order to secure true privacy for their first meeting – not in person but still – he had even asked Watari to leave him alone for the day. L was 97 percent certain the elder man did not know what to make of his recent behaviour and L had no intention of enlightening him to the cause.
His meeting with Kirin would be his own little secret. When the programmer accepts, L would gladly share the news with the others, but at the present moment, he was feeling a little selfish.
And there was absolutely no reason for Kirin to refuse. L had calculated the chances and he knew they were minimal, barely .5 percent. He knew the other man was unhappy in his new job. He had seemed so much less enthusiastic in his latest – and irritatingly infrequent – posts. That he would want to meet and work with Anti-Kira was another given.
After all, neither of them had ever encountered another on the same level as themselves until now. Their banter attested to the fact; the immediate bond they had formed on certain issues was yet another proof. Why would Kirin ever want to let such an opportunity escape?
L was convinced his partner in crime was just as curious as he.
And then, there was the entire Kira issue. The detective knew of Kirin's own distaste for the mass murderer's actions though the programmer had never stated it out loud. It was simply too obvious if you examined his sentences closely. Of course, Kirin wasn't L's fan either, but the investigator preferred it that way.
He already had the world's law enforcement at his beck and call, he did not need another crony and Kirin was far too clever to be reduced to such a role. Although L hated it when police officers questioned him, as they were too slow to follow his reasoning, he had never truly discouraged intelligent inquiries, though they were quite rare. Misora herself had been one of the last 'worthy ones'.
Kirin, however, Kirin was in an entirely different category. L had never met such a fascinating creature; one so conflicted and real. There was a depth to the man that simply drew the detective in and L never got bored drawing him out of that hole. Kirin could weave words together better than the greatest politician's speech-writers and he could practically manipulate any situation to his advantage.
L constantly witnessed that when the programmer played the devil's advocate. And always, there was a profundity to his word, a hidden secret because Kirin never revealed everything. It was this mystery – among so many others – that pulled L in and he was desperate to unravel Kirin in all his forms.
Not only that, but he was his one true rival. He was the only person whom L would ever concede defeat, the only one he would not mind losing against. Whereas Kira was a worthy enough opponent, L was determined to crush that psychopath.
Kira could never measure up to Kirin.
Whereas Kira had answered L's taunt and revealed many of his powers to him, Kirin kept eluding him without even trying. Two months back, L had been unable to find any traces of the man from the forum. He similarly had never managed to tease any personal information out of him. Anything he learnt about Kirin was usually volunteered by the man, such as his new employment.
And his rival's brilliant mind simply went without saying. Against all expectations, Kirin had actually made L question some of his most stubborn views, just as he had done to various members of the forum. It was disconcerting, but then, everything about Kirin somewhat was.
Thus, when L had found out that that annoying impenetrable perfect program had been conceived by his rival, he had not pressed further on the matter. He would not be able to win on such grounds and had immediately ceased his hacking attempts.
But that did not mean he had given up. No, all he needed to do was recruit Kirin. Such an alliance could only be beneficial to them both. L would finally get to meet his rival – and if the programmer wished to remain anonymous, L would let him… for now – and he would get to share his greatest passion with Kirin by stopping the most nefarious criminal mastermind together.
The only hitch may be his identity but L wasn't too worried about that. After all, Kirin himself had attributed his ambivalent opinion on 'L' to his not knowing the detective personally. Being L may not work to his favour, but it would not work to his disfavour and that was all that mattered.
Finally, the clock on his monitor turned to 5:00. From his own position on the server, L restlessly squirmed. Seconds later, Kirin joined him.
Just as quick as I thought…
L did not bother with pleasantries before bluntly typing out his proposal.
His eyes stared fixedly on the screen as he keenly waited for a response.
Ten seconds…
Twenty five.
Fifty-five.
A minute and a half.
What's taking so long? His teeth sunk onto his thumb. A coppery taste invaded his mouth. He paid it no heed.
Three minutes and forty-seven seconds.
'I am sorry Anti-Kira. Despite how interesting your proposal sounds, I cannot renege on my previous obligations.'
And then he was gone.
L stared at the screen in shock waiting for his rival to reappear.
Another five minutes passed and still no sign from Kirin. Annoyed but resolute, L left the server and called his assistant. "Watari, bring up the two tortes from the pastry downstairs – Orange Bavarian and Black Forest –, the Opera Cake from down the street…" He chewed on his nail, thinking. "Don't forget the chocolate mousse and the tiramisu. Oh. And the strawberry cheesecake from the café three blocks down would be good. If you have time, go to the supermarket and get the usual supply. I'll call you if I think of anything more."
"L?"
"Go." He ordered.
As soon as the connection closed, L left his seat by his laptop and stared out of the window. You aren't going to escape me so easily Kirin. Not for such a weak excuse.
No, he would somehow hunt down his rival and force him to accept his offer. If there was one thing L was known for besides his intelligence, it was his stubbornness.
Except for that one time when he had been stumped by Kirin's firewall, he had never given in – and especially not without a fight.
But first, he would indulge himself in his supply of sweets. There was no way L would lose in a war of attrition.
"Raito," Ryuk whined, "why did you reject his offer? Shouldn't you have waited to see what he wanted? Wouldn't it be fun to work with Anti-Kira anonymously? Hyuk. Hyuk."
"Impossible, I know what he wants."
"Huh?" The shinigami turned his head upside down.
"He's –" There's only one possibility, now that I think about it. "– L."
The creature's eyes widened in shock. "Anti-Kira is L?"
Raito leaned back on his chair and almost slumped down, but refrained himself in time. Instead, he crossed his arms. "Yes," his smile was faint, troubled. "Surprising, no? But the clues were there all along. His bold uncompromising statements designed to test and infuriate his opponents and his own views on justice corresponded to the attitude L projects to the world. "However, what is most telling is his recent interest in me."
"Y'mean he suspects you are Kira?" The sudden grin on the shinigami's face was quite disturbing. It looked as though he was expecting eventual bloodshed.
Raito was all too happy to destroy his delusions.
"No, not Kira, Kirin. L is among the few private detectives and agencies that have shown absolutely no interest in my program, which would explain how long it took for him to make the connection. The greatest clue, though, is his recent inquiries. He was trying to find out my opinion on L and on the progress of the Kira case, among other things."
Raito tilted his head up and looked at the cream ceiling as he quietly contemplated the situation. "It seems as though he may have somehow made a link between Kira and the FBI's database. Guess I made a mistake with Steve Mason. He probably wants to hire Kirin to track down whatever traces Kira has left there." He shrugged his shoulder. "It matters not. At least the investigation is proceeding." Seemingly content, Raito returned to the papers he had set aside.
Ryuk was not so easily pacified. "So you're not going to do anything about this?"
"Why should I?" The youth raised an elegant eyebrow as he looked at the death god. "It is good that he is making progress."
"But Rai"
"Shush."
February 17th 2004
OUR LORD KIRA FORUMS KIRA'S SHRINE GOD'S POLICIES
14/02/04, 7:32 PM - ANTI-KIRA: KIRIN-kun is a coward.
14/02/04, 9:11 PM - ETERNAL666: Huh? Guess those two aren't so cosy-cosy anymore.
15/02/04, 10:58 AM - KIRA-FOLLOWER36: It must be Kira's will. Perhaps KIRIN has finally seen the Light.
15/02/04, 11:10 AM - BLACK-CAT13: Doubt it. Anyone have any idea what they disagreed about?
15/02/04, 11:11 AM - BUBBLEDOOR: You guys think this has to do with KIRIN's less frequent posts on the site? Perhaps that sinner has finally realised the light of Kira-sama's divinity.
…
Today, 6:32 PM - KIRIN: ANTI-KIRA, congratulations on your clever strategy to 'draw me back'. Insult my honour, but I am not avoiding you, even after our last exchange. I have no reason to do so.
Today, 6:33 PM - BLACK-CAT13: You guys know what they have argued about?
Today, 6:33 PM - ANTI-KIRA: Then KIRIN-kun should not have left without hearing me out. Especially after giving me such a weak explanation.
Today, 6:35 PM - KIRIN: I saw no reason to be tempted to stay. If I cannot help you, then you have no reason to divulge personal information to me.
Today, 6:35 PM - ANTI-KIRA: What if I were to tell you it is a fight for justice?
Today, 6:38 PM - KIRIN: Then it would be unjust of my part to renege on my contract.
Today, 6:38 PM - BLACK-PROPHET: Just checked and their last post seems to be about a business meeting ANTI-KIRA had gone to at someplace only three blocks away from his office and the funny dishes he tried there. He talked about how nice the servers were and had invited KIRIN to try out the third section of the menu or something. You think they met in RL on the 14th? After all, KIRIN's next answer gave out only a day and time.
Today, 6:39 PM - BLACK-CAT13: Guess it didn't go that well then.
February 23rd 2004
OUR LORD KIRA FORUMS ACTUALITY ROT IN SOCIETY
Today, 5:17 AM - ANTI-KIRA: What if KIRIN-kun were to give me a clue?
Today, 5:17 AM - KIRIN: ANTI-KIRA, do you ever know when to give up? I cannot violate my client's privacy for you, no matter your excuse.
Today, 5:19 AM - ANTI-KIRA: Even for justice?
Today, 5:20 AM - KIRIN: Justice is such a broad term and can constantly be redefined according to the situation. Are you trying to imitate L and Kira here? I sense hypocrisy in your intentions…
Today, 5:21 AM - ANTI-KIRA: If KIRIN-kun would simply put his ethics aside, he would be much happier.
Today, 5:25 AM – KIRIN: You think so?
Today, 5:26 AM – ANTI-KIRA: I know so.
--
Because you would be working for me.
--
You know nothing L.
--
Today, 5:28 AM - KIRIN: I've had enough of this nonsense. If all our time is spent arguing on that issue, I may as well go back to bed.
Today, 5:29 AM - ANTI-KIRA: Then you wouldn't join me here a bit longer?
Today, 5:30 AM - KIRIN: My father will kill me if he knew I was awake at this hour.
Today, 5:30 AM - ANTI-KIRA: KIRIN-kun does not seem to be the type to live with his parents.
Today, 5:32 AM - KIRIN: Maybe, maybe not. You won't tease information out of me so easily.
Today, 5:33 AM - ANTI-KIRA: Ah… it was worth a try. I guess my interrogation was a failure then though perhaps I would fare better next time. Would you like to play a game?
Today, 5:33 AM - KIRIN: A game?
Today, 5:33 AM - ANTI-KIRA: May I test your investigative abilities?
Today, 5:40 AM - KIRIN: That sounds interesting.
Today, 5:41 AM - ANTI-KIRA: KIRIN-kun waited too long to answer to be sure of himself, but I will go anyway. If I were to give you a hypothetical situation…
February 29th 2004
Eyes barely above the table, L was carefully analysing his prey. Delicate forms of multiple colors were staring back at him. At one corner, a plum blossom was carefully folded in on itself. Next to it lay a peach-like jelly. Small animals were grazing amongst this abundance of colour and L slowly licked his lips at the sight.
They all looked so delectable. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he grabbed the ume and bit half of it off. The second bite came barely a second later. He thoroughly licked his fingers and sucked all the sweet sugary taste from his digits.
The one thing he loved about being in Japan was the wagashi.
"L," Watari called out to him, "are you certain you want to involve Matt?"
"Yes." Without taking his eyes away from the confectionaries, he answered the elder man. "Despite his lack of interest in the matter, he is third in line for my title. Now would be a good opportunity for him to use his skills."
Watari didn't say a word for a minute or so before he finally acquiesced. "If you say so. I'll mail him the software then."
Kirin was being incessantly uncooperative. Not only was he avoiding L, but because of that, Anti-Kira never got the chance to convince him to change his mind. Of course, whenever L tried to steer the conversation to his favour, Kirin would then threaten to leave which was perfectly unacceptable.
It had taken some quick thinking on the detective's part to keep Kirin with him, but he didn't regret it. After all, he had discovered his rival's amazing deductive skills in the process. He had always known of his intelligence but to see his reasoning in action was awe-inspiring.
It was like seeing an alternate version of himself, on the same level but going through an entirely different thought process. L could not help but wonder about what they would achieve if they ever joined abilities.
It only made L want Kirin more.
Still, the war was not going as planned and he was still unable to make any progress on the FBI's database. Only ten days ago, he had gotten Watari to buy him a version of the program under one of his numerous aliases.
He had tried it out on a spare laptop and even from within, he could see how complex and impenetrable it was. It would take him months – months he could not waste – to unravel it. Thus, his time was better spent on reorienting his investigation, pestering Kirin and leaving the task to Matt.
The computer whiz may solve it. And even if he didn't, L believed the experience would be well-worth it in the end. It would at least show the fourteen-year-old the possibilities that lay ahead of him, if only he applied himself.
But for now, L had to solve another dilemma. Seiobos or matsunoyuki. He did not know which sweet to eat next.
March 2nd 2004
"My employer would like to hire Kirin for a six-month project."
Reiji sighed but kept his friendly disposition. It seemed all he had been doing these last few months was run interference for Raito. While the youth was busy with the yakuza; the business man was dealing with all his potential 'suitors'.
He almost snorted at the thought.
Putting on a pleasant smile, he calmly gave the same answer to the elderly man. "I am afraid Kirin-san is not interested in working for anyone at the moment."
Walters-san raised a bushy eyebrow. "Really? I heard that he had recently signed a four-year contract. Moreover, Danuve-san is willing to pay him double the amount for only six months of his service. Kirin would not even have to reveal himself if he prefers staying in the dark."
The vice-president of sales barely kept his surprise at that. "Your sources are false. I heard of no such engagement."
"Then he may have made it without your knowledge."
Reiji let out a breath of exasperation, annoyed by these men's recurring requests. "Fine. I'll contact him about your offer, just like I had for any other, but don't expect any response." He took the card that had been handed out to him at the beginning of the meeting and slipped it into another folder.
The aging gentleman pushed his glasses back up and bowed. "Thank you for your time, Namikawa-san. Have a pleasant day."
"You too."
As soon as the door closed behind him, the executive ran a hand in through his hair in irritation. At moments such as these, he felt like he was Kirin's very own Watari. It certainly hadn't been what he had signed up for when he had accepted the youth's offer.
Still, he had never regretted it.
When he had joined Yotsuba, he had known exactly what he would be expecting: business politics, rivalries, backstabbing and promotions, all mixed with the company's affairs. He hadn't anticipated Raito. But really, who could have?
The program he had first left him had been an instant success within Yotsuba itself. The youth had been right: it had been beyond anything they had seen before. Many of his superiors pestered him about his programmer but Reiji had kept his lips sealed on the matter. It certainly helped that Yotsuba wanted to keep this efficient software to themselves. They didn't want to hand such a weapon to their rivals.
The problems started arriving with the second program. This one was designed for investigative agencies and thus, and many of their potential clients had been suspicious at the secrecy surrounding the creator. Now that Kirin had been revealed to them, the backslash had been just as terrible: they all wanted such an asset for themselves.
It was the one thing that somewhat disturbed Reiji.
The businessman had always valued efficiency above anything else but even he – despite his occasional depreciating thoughts – would never reduce another human to the level of a tool.
What he admired in Raito was his ruthlessness, his cunning and his manipulative ways, not the benefits he brought to him and the company.
Yet, the way the teenager constantly distanced himself when they were cutting too close to personal matters showed that he thought differently. Reiji did not like it. From what he could see, the youth's bodyguard didn't like Raito's self-depreciating attitude either.
Still, there was nothing he could do to change the situation. Raito was far too proud to let him meddle in his affairs and really, it was better to keep the relationship between a businessman and a yakuza cold and professional.
Such thoughts did not ease his worries however.
March 2nd 2004
OUR LORD KIRA FORUMS MEMBERS POLICING KIRIN AND ANTI-KIRA
Today, 5:06 PM - KIRIN: ANTI-KIRA, I was pouring over old schoolbooks today and one particular poem struck me. I think you would be interested to hear it:
Losing sight
Over is the quester's reign
Left justice for regret
Lost is the opportunity
Evermore of friends bereft
Hostage within his own domain
March 2nd 2004
L's eyes bugged out at Kirin's message, the piece of opera cake frozen halfway between his mouth and the plate.
He read it and reread it and reread it. But all he saw was that one sentence that would appear if he read the poem from the side.
HELLO L
HELLO L
Kirin knew who he was. Kirin somehow knew, had found out (perhaps Anti-Kira had left too many clues… perhaps he had been too obvious in his requests…) and didn't care. In fact, Kirin was telling him to leave the matter alone and to simply concentrate on his investigation.
That he had no intention of participating.
L did not know how to respond to such revelations.
March 3rd 2004
The door slammed opened with its usual ceremony. Loud footsteps stomped into his messy room, breaking a console along the way. Suddenly, but not unexpectedly, a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"C'mon Matt! Don't tell me you're still stuck with that damn ga –" Mello cocked his head to one side, surprised by the lack of beeping noises and of a game on the monitor screen. "Huh? What are you doing?"
"Some program L left me." The boy managed to mumble out through his cigarette.
"WHAT? L!?" He leaned closer to the monitor without paying any heed to his friend. "Why the heck would he want to ask you for anything?"
"Dunno. But it's an interesting program." Matt did not pause in his typing.
Huffing, the blondie stood back up. "Well, just you see! Next time, L's gonna ask for me!" And with that, he stomped back out of the room. His footsteps receded in the library's direction.
After expelling a stream of smoke from his lungs, Matt typed yet more data into the profiling section of the program.
It was truly an ingenious software. Though he had trouble imagining L having trouble with anything, he could understand why this one may be so troublesome. There were layers over layers and hidden within those layers themselves. It was all a mess of programming, but done so well Matt couldn't help but be impressed.
Just trying to unravel it may be more fun and challenging than his numerous games.
Maybe.
But what truly interested him were the features found within. It was the perfect space to store his own stuff and since this was a gift from L, there was no way Mello would ever try to mess with it.
Which was perfectly fine with Matt.
Raito stared incredulously at the list of criminals found in one of his users' computer. The deceased all had the strangest names and died in the most gruesome and unrealistic manners.
Druxias – burning potion mixed with fire arrows
Entorilx32 – beheaded
Corvinell – eaten by a direwolf
Ssovnb – stricken by lightning
Hyvner – transformed into a zombie
…
And the list went on for another two hundred names or so. Because he had set his watchdog to monitor the different databases for unusual activity, it was no wonder that he had been alerted by this sudden increase of fatalities.
But then, he had not expected this.
All Raito could do was silently go through the catalogue of victims in shock, poise completely forgotten. He could not believe it. He simply could not believe it –
– that someone had actually used his program to profile game characters.
March 8th 2004
Shit! Shit! Shit! I'm so late!!
Matsuda rushed his way under the extensive canopy but immediately slowed down at the bellboy's look of disapproval. Smiling sheepishly, he stopped his run and hurried dignifiedly into the Sheraton Miyako Hotel, his arm still tightly holding onto the doughnut box.
Well, it wasn't his fault for being so late! With L constantly switching hotels, Matsuda, being unfamiliar with the new territory, did not know all the prime locations for the coffee runs (though it was without the coffee since Watari's was much better).
Stopping for a moment to reorient himself and trying to remember where the elevators were, he scanned the room. In front of the foyer were sets of brown leather armchairs all symmetrically arranged around a footstool of the same material. On them, guests were in deep conversation.
Nope, it wouldn't do to ask them.
Behind him, the revolving door swooshed open and he saw a youth and his – bodyguard? guardian? – come in.
He turned to talk to them when suddenly, he noticed the boy's oh-so-familiar traits.
"Takamiya-san, you do only have one hour this time."
Sharp features on a beautiful face; determined brown eyes methodically examining the room; soft perfectly combed brown hairs. He was the embodiment of Waraya's picture, of the chief's son.
Yagami Raito… He shook his head. No, the bodyguard had called him Takamiya. Standing a few feet from Matsuda was the kidnapped son of Yagami-san. He could not believe his eyes.
"I know."
Forgetting all his other duties, he hurried after the two men who were disappearing down a corridor. He could not believe it. He had to do something.
This was his chance to repay the chief for all his help. He had seen the anguish and regret in the older man's face when he had been telling them about Raito. He had felt his desperation. And now, Matsuda could help him out.
There was only one yakuza member with Raito-kun and it was the perfect occasion for a family reunion. It was like fate! Grinning, the police officer could already see it happening. A tearful reunion, apologies from both parties, but happy. And with L on their side – really, the man couldn't be heartless enough to not help them – the yakuza wouldn't be able to do a thing about it.
And it'd all be thanks to Matsuda! He puffed out his chest in pride.
Sidling carefully next to the wall, he saw the two turn into a thin strip of dining area separated from the hallway by thin silver grids. They were overlooking the hotel's traditionally landscaped Japanese garden.
Slinking into the open rooms opposite to them, where larger tables were placed, Matsuda avidly followed Raito's movement. That was until he noticed the absence of the thug. It was already too late when the realisation hit because the yakuza's arm was wrapped around his neck, perfectly immobilizing him.
Shit.
Sweat pooled over his temples.
"What are you doing, following Takamiya-san?"
"I – I –" Seeing the teenager closely looking over the two's interactions, he knew this occasion was as good as any to broach the subject. "I know your father Raito-kun! He's in this very hotel!"
The youth's eyebrows immediately narrowed. Matsuda gulped. That definitely was not the reaction he had been anticipating.
"The only father I have is back home."
"But what about Yaga –"
"That man is no father of mine." He replied coolly as he turned away. "Come Kohashi, we've wasted enough time already."
The yakuza reluctantly let him go at the order and Matsuda slumped down on the ground, rubbing his sore neck. Damn it! Why did Raito have to act that way?
Just before turning away, he gave the youth one last mournful glance and saw that he was occupied with talking to an older man with long black hair.
"You're late." Came L's monotone voice.
"I – I know." Matsuda told the room breathlessly as he placed the box of doughnuts – that looked a bit beaten up – on the coffee table. "But something happened. I –" Shaking his head, he immediately addressed the detective pleadingly. "Please, can you please hack into the hotel's surveillance system? There's something the chief must see!"
He pressed his hands together over his head in a sign of supplication.
"Matsuda!" Yagami-san reprimanded. "Ryuuzaki does not have the time for such nonsense."
"But – but Chief," he took a deep breath, "I saw your son."
The silence was so complete that you could have heard a pin drop.
After a few seconds, Matsuda impatiently started again, this time with more vigour. "I saw your son, Raito, in this hotel. He was with a yakuza, Kobayashi or something. I told him you were here but he wouldn't listen."
The police chief's expressions immediately closed up at those words. "Let's go back to work Matsuda."
It would have been the end of the matter had Watari not spoken up. "If you really want to see your son Yagami-san, I can easily give you a live feed of him. I have complete access to the hotel's cameras."
"Can – can you?" Then, as though realising what he had just uttered out loud, he immediately shook his head. "No. It's useless and I should concentrate on the investigation. There is nothing between us now."
"That may be so but wouldn't you like to see him one last time? Just to ease your heart about how he turned out?"
"I – I –"
"C'mon chief!"
"Do whatever you wish Yagami-san," L said, "just as long as you won't be distracted from your work afterwards."
"Then yes please." He bowed down his head. "Thank you so much Watari. Thank you."
"It's no problem."
Annoyed at the disruption Raito's appearance constantly caused, L turned back towards his own computer. After Kirin's message six days ago, L hadn't dared breach the subject of his recruitment again. In that one poem, he had made it very clear that Anti-Kira may lose his friend if he pursued that issue.
Perhaps involving Namikawa-san in their dispute had hit a bit too close to home for Kirin's comfort.
As for Kira, still no progress had been made. For the past month, the psychopath had started broadening out. He had executed criminals with less severe crimes than the ones with whom he had started off. He no longer refrained himself to serial killers and had started eliminating simple murderers who had escaped the judicial system. L was not surprised. He had expected Kira to take this course, had thought he would do it earlier even.
After all, this self-proclaimed god couldn't just let the smaller criminals run free. Since the bigger threats had now been eliminated, he could finally concentrate on the smaller nuisances. Slowly, Kira's grip on the world was increasing.
That, L simply could not allow.
"Awww… damn! It's really too bad we can't hear what they're saying!" Matsuda's loud voice broke through his musings.
Curious despite himself, L looked away from his laptop. All his men, except Watari who was back in the kitchen, were pressed near the television.
"Do you know who that man is that he's talking to? He doesn't really look like a yakuza."
Finally, unable to contain himself and unable to concentrate because of the viewers' – mainly Matsuda's – constant exclamations, L got up from his seat. He may as well find out what was so special about this Raito-kun.
His breath stopped as soon as he saw the screen. There, sitting calmly was an extremely attractive teenager that any parent would be proud to call his son. He was confident as he spoke and his eyes glittered with intelligence. Every aspect of his person screamed dignity and poise, from the way he held his chopsticks to the way he sat like an emperor on his throne. He had complete control over the situation even though his companion seemed about a decade older and more experienced than he.
But it wasn't the youth that stopped his heart.
It was the other.
"Namikawa…" he let out despite himself. Everyone looked at him.
Namikawa Reiji. Yotsuba's vice-president of sales, Kirin's contact.
And suddenly it all made sense. All the little pieces of the puzzles – the self-righteousness, the yakuza, Etsuko, the program, the hacking abilities – that he could not make up fitted together. L silently shook with hardly suppressed anger.
"Out." He breathed between gritted teeth. "Everyone out."
"Ryuuzaki –" Yagami-san started hesitantly.
"I said 'OUT'. OUT ALL OF YOU!!" He yelled, completely losing his composure.
At this, they all scampered away. Watari poked his head out of the kitchen. "L are you –"
"Leave me. Alone."
As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, L violently swept his arm over the tray of snack and satisfyingly heard the china break as it hit the ground.
Damn Kirin. Damn Kira. Damn him whoever he is!
Like a fool, he had been played. The vase was thrown on the floor. He had believed him; he had believed that conniving lying son of a bitch.
He had been taken in by the youth's sweet lies, by his intellect, by his inquiries. He had even thought of teaming up with the two-faced bastard in order to capture Kira. He let out a bitter chuckle.
All this time, it had been Kira all along. Kirin was but a fantasy created by Kira to trick him. And then, that last message… that taunt.
Oh… he had known who Anti-Kira was all this time.
In that moment of rage, he suddenly caught sight of Raito-Kirin-KIRA calmly discussing whatever dismal plan he had with Namikawa. At that instant, he wanted to haul that little television set out of the window.
Or perhaps go down there and beat the prick up himself.
Instead, he merely curled up on himself and watched Kirin-Kira talk. His arms were wrapped around his legs and his head practically buried down. Only his dark eyes were visible, looking onto the screen.
Despite having finally achieved his goal and discovered Kira's – and even Kirin's – identity, all L felt was a sense of loss. Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.
March 13th 2004
OUR LORD KIRA FORUMS MEMBERS CONFESSIONS
Today, 3:32 AM - ANTI-KIRA: KIRIN, what is your goal in life?
Today, 4:54 AM - KIRIN: Why this all of a sudden? My goal? I do not know really. To see justice be realised perhaps. To see crimes rightfully punished by a rightful system. To see Kira judged and executed? To survive? I do not know. The future is uncertain and I have never been one to hope.
Hope has only ever destroyed me.
March 19th 2004
"L – please tell me I am wrong. Is my – my son really –" The man had immensely aged in the last week and a half. White hair peppered the black and grey strands and his features were drawn out by both lack of sleep and worry.
L himself did not look that great and the shadows under his eyes had deepened. After he had completely destroyed the hotel room, they had immediately moved out. They could not stay in the Sheraton any longer since Matsuda had revealed their location to Kira.
The detective had subsequently spent the next few days locked up in his room, unwilling to see any of his coworkers. Even Watari had been kept out.
"Yes. I need you to show me all the letters you have of him."
With shaky hands, Yagami-san retrieved them. Despite his question, he must have anticipated it.
It had taken L a long time to calm down enough to examine the situation carefully and without getting his bitterness embroiled but what he had come up with made his blood boil.
Takamiya Raito was Kira and Kirin. There was no doubt about it. A father like Yagami-san would have instilled the meanings of good and evil, of righteousness and justice in his child's mind. As shown by the letters, these feelings and beliefs still remained despite the boy's changed circumstances. His connections with the yakuza, and thus Etsuko, only made him the perfect suspect.
Thus, it was perfectly plausible for Raito to be Kira.
But not Kirin. Never Kirin.
L bitterly munched on his piece of custard pie. But then, L had been tricked. It seemed as though Kirin was nothing but an illusion, a means for Kira to incite his followers to take action, like what he had done to Righteous-Apostle. It was quite clever of him. By presenting them with an enemy, he had forced them to ally and think, and to take a more proactive stance when it came to Kira and the judicial system.
It had worked. The people were demanding reforms in the law enforcement and the yakuza seemed to have been scared into submission. As for L, it appeared as though Kira did not view the detective as a threat any longer, even though he was slowly but steadily closing in on the murderer.
After all, if Kira changed the world's mentality, he would have won, regardless of L's actions. The detective could not suppress his feelings of indignation at the thought.
It highly annoyed him, but it was about time he took action. He could no longer allow his emotions to govern the case. Whatever his feelings, Kira must be stopped.
Looking up from the crumpled letters, L addressed the task force. "I am 99 percent sure Takamiya Raito is Kira." He could not look at Yagami-san. "As many of you have already guessed, he is also Kirin. It is through his program that he managed to gain access to our investigation."
"Then we must immediately warn the NPA and all the other agencies." Aizawa exclaimed.
"No. You cannot. The discovery of such a leak will cause immeasurable panic and we do not want that to happen. The law enforcement cannot handle another blow. Moreover, this clue doesn't exactly harm our investigation as we do not use his software." His lips twisted up into a slight smirk. "However, we may be able to trick him into making a mistake through it."
Frowning, Ukita spoke up. "But can't we just arrest Kira and confine him or something?"
With great regret, L shook his head. "No, because we do not know his means of murder, we cannot do anything of the sort yet. If we try to detain him, the Black Dragon is going to learn about Raito's two other identities. Through this, it is quite possible that Kira's power will somehow be transferred to them. The murders now, though reprehensible, are at least controlled. It will not be so with the organised crime involved.
"This means we cannot act until we find out what that power is. Waraya," he turned towards the young woman, "you said he told you he was preparing for the entrance exams right?"
She nodded.
And he told me he had signed four years of his life away, the amount of time necessary to complete a major. Furthermore, the 17th of January coincides the day of Toudai's entrance examination.
"Then I will go undercover as a student at Tokyo University and get close to him." They all looked at him, shocked. "It may be a bit late to register but they would not deny me. Now, we must start investigating the yakuza, but do not, and I repeat," he looked pointedly at Matsuda, "do not tip off the Organised Crime Department or the various syndicates. Also, Yagami-san, are you certain you can continue with the investigation?"
"Yes, it was what –" He shook his head. "Yes." He repeated, more resolutely.
"Good. Now let's get to work."
He will bring the war to Kirin's door. It will be between the two of them now, and Toudai will be their battleground.
March 20th 2004
"I – A Death Note? You mean I have a power like Kira's now?"
"Yes."
Grinning, she clutched the notebook close to her chest. She was like Kira now; she was going to meet Kira, the man who had executed her parents' murderer. Even though he usually killed greater criminals, he had deemed that filthy burglar who had destroyed her life just as bad as they. He had seen her plight.
Wait for me Kira, I am coming for you!
A/N: Yes, the moment you've all been waiting for is finally here. Isn't it great? And see, I actually managed to dump L in Toudai! And the greatest thing is that Raito was ahead of L this time.
Okay, so the second arc is done and there are two others left. Still haven't planned everything out yet for the next part so it's gonna take a while, especially as finals are here (though school is officially over).
Anyway, I really want to give out a huge thanks to Recipe for Insanity and her wonderful and quick work in editing this chapter. A round of applause please!
And thank you all for the reviews and I look forward to finding out what you think about this one. Isn't it great that they'll soon meet?
Important question: For the beginning of year speeches, do any of you know if the representatives write it themselves or if they're just reading out whatever Toudai decided for them?
IMPORTANT: Seeing as many people are confused with how L figured out the connection between Raito, Kirin and Kira so quickly, I posted his thoughts on my livejournal. The realisation was made almost instantaneously so the thoughts are a bit jumbled.