After I left the hotel, I headed straight for home. Dad had to get to his doctor's appointment soon and I had to come with because sometimes he could get… unstable, as you know.
Dad was already in the car waiting for me. I hurried up the driveway and opened the door, jumping into the driver's seat. "Right on time," he said, checking his watch.
"Good," I said casually, putting on my seatbelt. As I pulled out of our driveway, I felt his eyes studying me curiously.
The further we drove, the harder his stare became. I tried to ignore it, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. Finally, I peeked out of the corner of my eye and saw him still staring after five minutes.
"Where did you go this morning?" he asked, voice cold with suspicion.
I shrugged, turning a corner. "Akari needed me so I went over to her house."
"Uh huh," he replied, unconvinced. "What did she need help with?"
I blushed, my mind spinning for an answer. I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Dating advice." He blinked, unsure whether or not to believe me. "Yeah, she's thinking about her relationship with Beyond."
His face softened, as if nostalgia suddenly hit him in the head like a frying pan. "Oh, I see. Young love…" I sighed mentally, glad to be off topic. "Speaking of Beyond, where is the little killer now?"
I mentally slapped myself for bringing up that idiot. "Uh, ya know, still hiding in Akari's basement. He actually likes it down there." Shut up. "I think he likes Akari, too, but they haven't really figured out their feelings yet." SHUT UP YUKI! "It's kinda like Light and I."
Another mental slap as Dad hummed thoughtfully. "What does that mean?" I wanted to pound my head against the steering wheel. "Are you two dating?"
"NO!" I said defensively, slamming on the brakes. The car jerked roughly right before the busy intersection. The red stop light suddenly blinked on.
Dad frantically grabbed the safety handle above the window. "HOLY KNIVES! " A car behind me honked as we came to a quick, hard stop. At least nobody hit our bumper.
Letting out a frustrated breath, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the headrest. "Can we just drop this subject?" His breaths slowed down as my heartbeat lowered.
"Alrighty then," he murmured, still in slight shock. The light above us turned green so I quickly, but extremely carefully, turned the corner onto the next street.
We were silent for the rest of the car ride. Two minutes of utter, unbearable silence, we finally arrived. Locking my car, I followed Dad inside the "special" clinic. It's special because it deals with people who have problems, like Dad.
As Dad checked himself in, I sat in the waiting area. An adult woman with a teenage girl sat across from me. The teen was lying against the weary mother's shoulder, sleeping.
An elderly lady sat patiently in the back corner, flipping through a magazine. Then, across the old lady sat an adult male. He was perched in his chair oddly, just like L. But he was completely different… This guy was scratching his ear with his foot.
Uh, that's unusual… Dad got called in immediately so I hoped we wouldn't have long to wait. I texted Akari who was still at L's hotel room. Beyond would get his own room and Akari would sleep on the couch whenever she came over.
Just as I sent out my last text, a nurse walked in. Though her nametag said Amy the words above her head said Amelia Chang. "Mei Yutaka?" The mother across from me ruffled the girl's hair and whispered in her ear.
The teen (Mei Yutaka) instantly shot up and stared at the nurse. Her whole demeanor suddenly changed. From peaceful to extremely sceptic and terrified. "NO!" she screamed, backing away. "I know that you're planning to get rid of me! I won't let you take me! You're all turning against me!" I sighed sadly. Schizophrenia. It took two other nurses to drag the teen down the hallway while the mother watched with pain in her eyes.
A few minutes later, Amelia Chang, who was writing on her clipboard in the front of the room glanced over to the old lady in the corner. "Uh, Miss Uzaku, your appointment ended two hours ago."
The tranquil lady (Esther Uzaku) looked up from her magazine and gave a gentle smile, her face wrinkled and frail. "I know dear. I'm waiting for my husband. He always takes a long time in there. I think he'll be back in a few more minutes."
The nurse's face fell and her eyes filled with a pity I've never seen so much of in one person's eyes. "Miss Uzaku…" she said soothingly, taking the old lady's hand gently. "Your husband died five years ago."
My heart broke as a flood of tears brimmed at the old lady's eyes. "Oh, silly me, I must've forgot again." Slowly and shakily she stood up and grabbed her cane. "I'll be off then." She hobbled out the door while the rest of us watched at the brink of tears. Dementia.
The man who'd been scratching his ear like a dog (Zakita Taylor) whimpered, catching the attention of Amelia Chang. "Oh Mr. Taylor, please control yourself." From her pocket she pulled out a treat that instantly caught the man's attention. She lured him down the hall with it.
I crossed my arms, looking at the floor. I felt bad for the people who had to work here, but I also respect them. They have to deal with this everyday, but never give up. Yeah, it must be tough, but so are they.
A piercing scream from the end of the hallway jolted me to the bone. "AHH!" There were two screams. One was a woman, and the other was a male. I instantly recognized the male. Dad! Running out of the waiting room and past the other frantic nurses and doctors, I sprinted to the end of the hall and pushed the door open.
My father was hovering above the nurses with a sharp needle in his shaky hand. When he saw me and we made eye contact, I knew this was another episode. A very dangerous one.
"D-Dad, please put it down," I pleaded, raising my hands up defensively as he debated on what to do. "This isn't you. Please just think about this and-"
"I am thinking!" he shouted furiously, sweat dripping down his face. "I can't take it here anymore!" His hands were shaking violently, eyes twitching.
"Don't make any rash decisions," I said calmly, stepping closer. He flinched the closer I got, but I stopped going forward, trying not to push it. "Please just hand me the needle."
As I reached closer, hoping to seize it before he did anything, Dad made a swift move. Stabbing me in the arm with the unknown needle, slightly injecting me with the mysterious liquid, he pushed past me and out of the room.
The nurses screamed in fear as I tumbled to the ground, the needle stuck in my arm. Cringing, I got it out with a quick tug and tossed it across the floor.
The side effects hadn't kicked in yet, so I scrambled up and bolted after my frenzied father. In the waiting area and front desk, shouts of panic and orders were mixed in with chaos.
The doors were opened and I spotted my father's figure darting down the sidewalk, dodging everyone in his way. Dang it! He's getting away! Hopefully he doesn't harm anyone.
I raced down the street after him, brushing and bumping abruptly against people's arms. I almost knocked a lot of people over as I tried to catch up with my father.
I caught Dad at the end of the street, running straight into busy traffic. "DAD!" I shouted. Pushing myself as fast as I could, I heaved my body after him harder than ever before.
Honks of horns sounded off incessantly in the street. Dad was halfway across when a semi truck came barrelling down the road, not bothering to slow down.
With a forceful leap, I grabbed onto Dad and yanked him out of the way along with me just as the truck pounded over the spot he once stood. We landed on the sidewalk with a rough thud. Voices of worry and anger filled the streets as we laid on the ground, dazed and in pain. Instead of becoming more clear, my vision started getting blurry.
The luminescent color of white came into view so I thought I was dying. But the sound of familiar voices brought me back to reality. The nurses in their white dresses, doctors wearing their white coats.
Beside me, Dad's body moaned as he stirred. I sighed, glad he was okay and that he didn't kill anyone. Remembering the needle, I tried to say something to the nurses attempting to pick us up, but it came out as a groan.
The last thing I remember before blacking out into sleep was the smell of coffee from the Starbucks right behind us. I could really use a vanilla bean right now…
"She looks like crap."
"Well, she did get stabbed with a needle."
"And almost hit by a truck."
"And fainted in the middle of the sidewalk."
"She kinda looks hungry, too. Should we feed her?"
"She's sleeping."
"Maybe she wants jam?"
"NO! MY JAM!"
"Beyond, grow up."
"She is awaking now."
My eyes, still blurry, blinked open. A bright light filled my eyes instead of the darkness that had surrounded me for the past hour or two. I don't even remember how long I've been asleep.
"Uuuugggghhh." My attempt to speak came out in a jumble of mixed feelings and tone. "V-Vanilla bean…" I smiled with desire, licking my lips.
"Yuki," came a warm, familiar voice. But it wasn't Akari's or Beyond's. When my vision slowly, but surely, adjusted, I bolted upright to come face to face with L.
"L?" My thoughts started pieces together properly and my head eventually stopped its incessant spinning. "Where am I?" I looked around. It seemed like a hotel room, and I was laying under the covers of a bed. My everyday clothes were changed to a white longsleeve shirt and grey sweatpants.
Akari, Beyond, and L were all sitting on my bed. L on my right side, Akari on my left, and Beyond at my feet. "Ah!" I gasped, realizing how close everyone was. "What happened?"
"Your dad went psycho!" Beyond snickered with amusement. L and Akari shot him down with death glares. He shrunk back and shut up.
"Remember getting stabbed with a needle?" Akari asked gently. "Well, let's just say it was meant for patients who couldn't settle down."
I blinked, leaning back against the headboard of the bed. "So, I passed out?" She nodded. My heart suddenly began racing as I looked around for someone. "Where's Dad?"
L shifted his feet and bit his thumbnail. "It is most unfortunately to inform you, but I must. Your father had been admitted into the Tokyo mental clinic downtown."
Shaking my head, I trying to push them off the bed so I could get up. But Akari held me down. "He's being treated with care, Yuki," she said calmly, but sternly. "Don't worry, he's in safe hands."
"But he needs me!" I protested, trying not to cry. "I told him I'd always be there for him! He probably thinks I betrayed him!"
"He knows you did no such thing," L spoke up as I struggled. "I privately conversed with him." I stopped wrestling Akari to stare at him. "I discussed your current situation with the the Task Force and I. He's agreed to let you stay with us."
"I can go home," I argued, crossing my arms. "I'm not five. I can live on my own." But I didn't want to. I still wanted Dad.
"Just stop fighting Yuki," Akari said with exhaustion.
"No," I snapped, pushing her off me. "I'm going home." Sliding out of bed, I slipped on some socks and my boots which were lying beside the nightstand.
"Yuki," Akari protested, scrambling up off the ground. "Just wait! You can't-"
"Let her go," L interrupted pitifully, staring at me coldly. "Give her some time to think. She'll understand."
I scoffed at him, gliding across the room and out the door. I didn't bother even glancing in the direction of the Task Force members. Marching outside, I ran back home.
My house. It looked bleak without lively people inside. My car had been parked in the driveway. I hurried past it and burst through the front door. The first thing I noticed was that it was cold. Lifeless. Broken.
Strolling slowly through the living room, my eyes fell on the pictures set on top of the fireplace mantle. Most of them were of me. Younger years, school pictures, and family pictures.
Further down, I stopped at the frame holding my parents. Both were smiling gleefully into the camera. The background was under a covering of tall, luxurious trees. They took this picture the fall before Mom died.
In the kitchen, I realized that most of the food in the fridge was spoiling. I didn't bother taking them out. Instead, I just unplugged the refrigerator to save energy, and my future electric bill.
Upstairs in my room, I laid out on my bed and, for some reason, decided to talk to myself. "I'm gonna miss this house." I knew, thinking back, that Dad needed professional help, not mine. I'd try and visit him, but he was better attended for there. I could do nothing for him while I was at school.
Everything belonged to Dad after Mom died. One day, when he dies, it will go to me. And I plan to sell every last bit of it. Even my things. After college I plan to get rid of my stuff and start anew, somewhere better.
My mind wandered back to L. "You know, you can be an insensitive detective sometimes, but you're right." With a longing sigh, I pushed myself off the bed and started packing.
In one large, blue suitcase I put in all the clothes I wanted, including shirts and jeans and other stuff. In another suitcase, smaller, I put in cheerful pictures of my parents, my special treasures, and everything else I wanted. Everything that I needed with me could be fit inside two suitcases.
Around back, turning off the electricity and water, I stacked my suitcases in my trunk and went back inside. Absorbing everything around me in a long, deep breath, I smiled. "I guess this is goodbye."
Locking the door, I hid one key under the mat and another in the outside window sill. Taking in one last look at my childhood home, I turned on the engine and back out of the driveway. "Bye," I murmured, driving down the street.
Back at the hotel, I parked my car in the back space of the parking lot and grabbed my suitcases from the trunk. Locking it, I marched inside and up to L's floor.
Bursting inside, I found everyone staring at me with curious eyes. L, from his perched position in a chair, smirked. "Well, I see you have finally come crawling back to us."
Rolling my eyes, I dropped my suitcases on the floor. "Fine, I'll stay with you guys while we're trying to catch Kira. But I'm here on my own terms."
"What does that mean?" growled Aizawa, crossing his arms.
"It means I come and go when I want," I snapped, crossing my arms, too, challengingly. I was still in college so there's that to add to my now-busy days. "I want my house to be cleaned while no one is there, just so it doesn't deteriorate. Also, I want my own room."
Matsuda hummed. "Well, it doesn't seem like a lot to ask." He looked at L, waiting for his answer like everyone else.
I narrowed my eyes at the debating detective who was sipping his dark tea. "Hey, you're the one that suggested I stay here. I mean, you do need me." I gave him a playful wink.
"Alright," he replied, stirring his drink. "Your requests will be taken care of. Watari, please take Ms. Miyoshi's bags to her room." The old man nodded and did so efficiently.
Later
I knocked on L's door and twiddled my thumbs, waiting for him to open. When he did, he silently invited me in. He sat on a chair while I sat on the edge of his bed.
We stared motionlessly at each other in silence, letting the vibration of L's computer fill the quiet room. "So, will Dad be alright?" I asked meekly, swinging my legs.
"Yes, your father is in responsible care. Though I doubt he will be released soon." I nodded, understanding his transgressions.
"So…" I rubbed the back of my neck. "How about that detective life?"
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Yuki, I know your intentions of coming to me were not to discuss the mundane parts of life. What is it that you really want?"
I sighed, lowering my head. "I need to tell you something…" He waited. His attentive eyes were studying me. "I have a secret."
To Be Continued…