12 A New Start
Last timeā¦
Ryuuzaki learned more of the author's personal experiences with Jeffrey Woods, then later received a call from his apprentice. Kairi expressed her stress to Ryuuzaki, who was personally relieved to hear she would be returning once the Kira case was resolved.
Kairi then continued her work, crestfallen by their lack of further movement on the case. She asked Sayu for assistance in her new persona.
(Kairi's POV)
"Madoka Mika?"
I looked up from my book, smiling a little at the man. "Yes, that's me," I said with a slightly different accent. I couldn't risk someone recognizing my voice, even if it had been years since I was in Japan.
"I am Seragaki Ayato."
"Nice to meet you, Seragaki-san," I stated politely, standing and bowing at a ninety-degree angle. "Please forgive my impolite behaviour. I haven't been in Japan since I was young. I occasionally forget the style of respect here."
"You aren't from here?"
"Ah, I was born here, but I moved to America with my grandmother when I was only six."
"I see," he spoke, and I was glad my act was going well so far. "Please, come with me. I would like to introduce you to my director. Your assistance would be very useful." I nodded and followed him further into the police station. I got permission from Near to investigate within the police to get more information without having to worry about being caught. Of course, I had to be my character. Tagoku Kairi didn't exist anymore.
I was led into a more private room, a man sitting behind a desk turning his attention to me as I entered. "Good evening, Sir," Ayato began.
"I don't have all day, son. What do you need?"
"I have brought in Investigator Madoka Mika."
"I'm not interested in help from amateur investigators."
"I am not an amateur, Sir," I replied, bowing my head in respect. "I have brought every case from America that I have solved."
He motioned for me to come closer, so I did so and handed him my file. He viewed all of the cases and took his time. "You are quite the investigator, Madoka-san."
"Thank you, Sir."
"But what brings you back to Japan?"
I hardened my expression. "Many close friends of mine were killed by the current Kira. N may be a great detective, but he needs help." The director nodded.
"I am willing to bring you under us as long as you tell me anything we can do to help." I simply nodded, taking my file back. "I will see you bright and early tomorrow." I smiled, though he couldn't see it.
"Thank you, Sir," I replied with another bow before heading out with Ayato. Once we were down the hall, my escort placed a hand on my arm.
"I'm sure you probably have a good amount to do to prepare for the case, but I would like to invite you to a small party the police station is holding here tonight for all of our newly joining officers." I smiled a little, looking away in thought.
"I'll come by if I get the chance," I said after a moment. It was a reasonable answer, and it would give me the ability to ask Near his opinion and make the decision to either go or not without suspicion from the station.
"Great! I hope to see you then," he said with a smile. I nodded and took my leave, heading to the place where Near's butler would be picking me up in a small car with tinted windows.
I watched as he rolled down the window and made sure it was just him before getting in the passenger seat. "Is Near where I can talk to him?"
"I'm afraid not. I do not have a microphone with me." I nodded, sitting quietly the rest of the way. When we reached the location, I pulled my mask up and started towards the building, jumping a little when a strange sound echoed nearby.
"Hey, Kouju, I think I heard something. I'll be right back," I said, to which he hesitated before nodding. "I'm safe. I have a gun with me, and my face is hidden. Don't worry."
"Okay. Don't be long. I'll be waiting for you right inside." I nodded. Once he was inside, I headed to the side of the building, pulling out my pistol in case someone was trying to get in somehow. I didn't see anyone; however, a small book was lying on the ground. I raised a brow, and I walked over to it. I nearly froze in shock.
"Death Note," I read breathlessly. I lowered my gun, scanning everything again before kneeling down and picking up the book. I opened it, seeing the rules in the front of the book. My heart skipped a beat when I heard a voice.**
"Long time, no see."
I turned my head, my eyes widening. There was my cousin. At least, what I assumed was my cousin. He looked nothing like Light, at least until I began to look closer at his outfit. I saw the red tie that he wore as part of his school uniform, as well as the jacket he was wearing the last time I saw him. His face was now a skull, and a set of goggles sat atop his head. I thought I could cry. "You dropped this, didn't you?" I asked softly.
"I did. I need your help, Kairi."
"I can't talk out here. I don't want this," I stated, trying to give it back.
"Please, keep it Kairi. I will explain everything." I bit my lip, taking the notebook back. I slid it into my file. "I know you understand the rules."
"I'm not going to kill anyone," I stated, my eyes narrowing a little. "I would rather not join you."
"What if you could kill Kira? You could kill the one who killed your family."
"If I could kill the Shinigami that corrupted him, I would. But I want to destroy the death note, not kill the man."
"You have such a righteous heart. I'm intrigued." I looked away, heading towards the building. "If you tell Near, I will kill you." I froze at that. I can't risk getting Near killed as well, let alone myself. With a small sigh, I simply nodded. "Good. I can't tell you what to do with it, but I will let you know what you need to do." I nodded again.
"I looked up to you once, Light. Congratulations on losing the one relative who understood." I then walked into the building, not caring if he followed or not.
(Near's POV)
I was curious what Kairi had seen that caused her to be so long. But she did come up with Kouju eventually. "Did you find something?"
"Just some dumb squirrel," she replied lightly, sitting down next to me in another chair. "But I got in."
"Perfect."
"I did so well that I was invited to a party for the new officers tonight," she added, and I raised a brow.
"Did you accept?"
"Not yet. I said I would swing by if I got the chance. What do you suggest?"
I thought for a moment. It might be a good idea for her to friend more people at the station so that no one questions her when she needs something or does something. "You may go. But don't show your face to anyone. If they ask, it's because of Kira, and you can never be too careful."
"Good idea," she said with a nod. I dismissed her to let her get ready.
Once she was gone, I looked up to Kouju. "Bring Nemura here. He ran a few tests for me." Kouju nodded and left the room, and I turned my head back to the camera feeds throughout the building. I had secretly placed one in Kairi's room to make sure I would see if she did any other self-harm.
It was still strange to see the previously-brunette girl with bleach blonde hair. It was almost silver it was so light. I turned the feed off momentarily when she began to change, not wanting to invade her privacy more than necessary. Nemura set the test results paper before me. I called up Ryuuzaki to let him know the results before I looked at them.
"Near," the familiar scrambled voice began.
"Ryuuzaki," I replied, looking down at the file before me. "I have the results. I haven't looked yet. Do you want me to tell you, or should I mail them to you?"
"I don't have a mailing address. Please tell me." I nodded, opening the file.
It took me a moment to scan the results, but I let out a sigh once I understood. "Tagoku Kairi is related to neither the Tagoku family nor the Yagami family."
"I was afraid of this. Is Yagami Sayu safe?"
"She is staying on the second floor of the building, whereas I am on the third. Do you wish to speak with her?"
"Perhaps you should. I have a few things I would like to know, and you may add as many questions as you would like. Let me know by tomorrow what she says."
"I was asking because Kairi is going to a party tonight. She wouldn't know we are communicating."
The image of the L remained the same as always, but I could tell by his delay to answer that he was thinking about it. "Very well. Take a laptop. I will create a new persona since the original 'L' is assumed dead." I simply nodded.
"Oh, and Ryuuzaki, should I inform Kairi or let it go for now?"
"I want to speak with Sayu first. Then I will decide."
"Very well. She leaves within the hour, so I will go when she is gone."
"Call me back," Ryuuzaki stated. I nodded and bid my temporary farewell, the call ending seconds later.
Kairi ended up leaving about an hour after the call ended, checking in with me only momentarily to receive a recording device in case she had any interesting conversations. Once she was headed off with Nemura, I stood up and turned to Kouju. "Bring my laptop to Yagami-san's room. I am going to put on a temporary disguise and mask." Kouju nodded, and I left him to do as he was told. I went to my own room and put on a medical mask to cover all but my eyes. I then put on a black wig to prevent my unique appearance from being visible by Yagami-san. Once everything was secured, I went down to her room and knocked twice.
"Come in," a feminine voice called, so I opened the door and entered the room, removing my shoes to show that I respected her temporary home. "Hello. I am Yagami Sayu, but I think you already know that."
"You may call me Near."
"You don't trust me." I raised a brow at her assumption. "You disguised yourself and hid your face in case I was Kira. But I don't blame you. You can't be too careful anymore," she said with a small smile. "Please, come sit."
I simply nodded, stepping into her room and walking over to the small desk where the laptop was. "I assume Kouju has told you why we are here." She nodded. I turned to the computer and called Ryuuzaki, glad that this seemed to be going well so far.
"Hello. I am L."
"L is dead," she replied, slightly confused.
"Indeed, my predecessor has passed, but I have taken his place to continue his legacy."
"Very well. Nice to meet you, L-san," she said with a nod of respect in her seated position on the bed.
"I have a few questions for you in regards to your cousin, Tagoku Kairi." Sayu nodded again. "I have come to find that her parents, your aunt and uncle, never registered her as their daughter under their household. Care to explain?"
"Yes, of course. Kairi-chan is not related by blood to the Tagoku family. She was found as an orphan living on the streets. I was told this by my father last year. I am afraid Kairi-chan does not know yet."
"Is there a reason you haven't told her?" Ryuuzaki asked.
"I haven't found the right time yet. I've only seen her twice since she's returned, and both times one of us was too stressed to handle the conversation. But I do plan to share this with her as soon as she seems to be in the appropriate mood."
"I would advise against telling her." Sayu furrowed her brows. "If you tell her while she is working on the Kira investigation, it may distract her from her work. She needs to be as focused as possible."
"But I shou-"
"You've waited this long. It won't hurt her if you wait longer," he reminded. Sayu thought for a moment, then nodded her head.
"Very well, L-san. I will keep it to myself until the Kira investigation is closed."
A small pause ensued, and I turned to look at the image of the L. Ryuuzaki soon continued to speak. "Do you know the truth about the Kira cases, Sayu-chan?"
"I am afraid not," she replied.
"The first Kira found what is called a Death Note. This note has a supernatural power and is given to a human by a Shinigami. Any person whose name is written in the Death Note will die. There are a few rules that go along with using the Death Note, but they are unnecessary to explain at the moment." I took a look at Sayu. She seemed to be taking the news fairly well; her eyes were downcast, but otherwise she seemed perfectly fine.
"And you say that Kira used this notebook?"
"Indeed. I am under the assumption that the Death Note is the source of all the power. It feeds off of the user's negative emotions, therefore it is nearly impossible to control."
"Yagami Light, my brother, was the last Kira."
The room was filled with complete silence for a good moment.
"May I ask how you came across this information?"
"I saw the Death Note once. He had left his room for a moment, and I snuck inside for just a little while. I saw it but thought it was some strange college project."
"Why exactly did you sneak into his room?"
"I was looking for my phone. I used to go to his room and visit with him, but it sounded like he was busy, so I waited until he was gone to look so I wouldn't bother him." She smiled sadly. "If I had only known, then I could've turned it in and helped stop him beforehand."
"That would have been helpful, but it's too late to fix now. I do, however, want you to keep an eye out for this notebook since you know what it looks like. Avoid touching it unless entirely necessary. And do be careful; if you do happen to go out, keep more than half of your face hidden to prevent the use of the Shinigami Eyes on you."
"Very well. Thank you, L."
The "L" disappeared from the screen. I closed the laptop and stood up. "I will expect news if you do come across anything." She nodded. "Be careful, Yagami-san."
"Don't worry, Near-sama. I will be." I nodded and left after Kouju did. "Oh, and please watch out for Kairi-chan for me."
"I already am."
**This part of the story is based on the "Unnamed Shinigami" theory. Here is a link to the theory itself: Unnamed Shinigami Theory
