Read through it and realised there was a scene I'd missed when posting at the start of this chapter! This bit at the start makes the whole thing make sense haha. Updated now, now it makes sense they tell Light what's going on.
A week passed. It rained almost every day. The grey streets of Tokyo ran with grey, brown and clear water. Everything dripped and squelched. She only lived a few streets away from the police station, but when she got home Rose was sopping wet and freezing. L was predictably crouching on the sofa, working on something. Rose went to change, draping her wet clothes over the radiators, and came back into the living room with a towel around her head.
"I've been looking at the data your program's been gathering. The police records of dying criminals. It seems Kira has been experimenting."
Rose leaned over the sofa to look.
"Three criminals today did things before they died. One drew an elaborate mural on the wall, one confessed to many unexposed crimes, and one wrote a suicide note. There didn't seem to be anything special about the words."
Rose looked at the photo of the drawing. It was a monster with big black wings holding an apple. "I find these results highly disturbing. I mean, they could have done these things off their own backs, but..."
"Yes I know what you mean. What if he can control the actions of the people he kills?" L mused.
"Yeah, to be fair if he can mysteriously kill from a distance it not that much of a stretch to think he can control them too. I've never seen anything like this."
"Me neither. been a week now, have you still not been approached by anyone from the department?"
Rose shook her head. "Not a soul. I've had plenty of betrayed looks and heard mutterings behind my back, but no one's approached me. Hah, Light has been incredibly confused as to why so much of the department is giving us the cold shoulder!"
"I can imagine." L frowned. "I was sure that someone would try and get your name. This puts a twist on things. Perhaps they're biding their time. Or perhaps it was a hack after all. Though there's another obvious conclusion to draw."
"What?"
"That either you, Light-san, or the Chief is Kira."
Rose couldn't tell from his face whether he was joking or not. "Oh come on. You'd have definitely noticed if it was me."
"Well if Kira can kill from a distance and control their victim's actions, then perhaps you're doing it with the power of your mind alone." L raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"You're not seriously suggesting that?" Rose sighed. "Well I know I'm not Kira. The Chief doesn't have a bad bone in his body. And Light-kun – well, he's a good person, he's my friend, I've known him for months. If he was a psychopathic killer, I'm pretty sure I'd have noticed."
"Tell me, what flaws does Light-san have?"
"He thinks he's better than most people, a total narcissist. Though of course the trouble is that he generally IS better than most people, at almost anything, so he's not wrong." Rose laughed. "That's his other flaw – Light-kun's too perfect, in my book. And that's coming from a perfectionist. I sometimes have to poke him to check he's real."
"Hmm."
"That said," Rose remembered her conversation with Light a few weeks back, "he did confess to being pretty angry and depressed. Said he wished he could do something more useful with his life, something more like you L, actually. He wanted YOUR job."
"Did he really? Now that's very interesting." L turned round on the sofa so he was facing her where she leant on the back of it, and stared up at her keenly. "Now don't you think that sounds like just the sort of person who would try to rid the world of all criminals? A man with a perfect mask, a messiah complex, and a high level of hidden discontent?"
"Well, yes," Rose admitted. "But we could make many people's character fit the bill if we really tried, including yours."
L frowned. "That's probably true."
"Though," added Rose, "if you were Kira, you'd have definitely killed me. I'm both a criminal AND working to stop Kira, which makes me the ideal victim!"
"Shall we get Light-san to work with us?"
Rose raised her eyebrows. "You want to spy on him don't you!" She accused.
"Yes."
"You really think it could be him?"
"There's a one percent chance."
Rose sighed. "I agree that his character fits the bill. So, I have a professional obligation to let this happen. But be nice to him, okay? It will probably turn out that he's entirely unrelated to it all, and I don't want us all to be fighting all the time because no one trusts each other."
"I understand." L swivelled back round to face his computer, and Rose wandered into the kitchen. A towering pile of teacups, saucers, and empty pudding bowls teetered next to the sink.
And er, Ryuzaki-kun..."
"Yes?"
"You need to wash these up."
"Wash them up...?" His owlish gaze turned to her, confused.
Rose bit back her laughter, and pulled a disapproving face at him. There's so many things that 'the world's greatest detective' still needs to learn.
(gap)
"Emily-kun what's going on?" Light could tell from her face that she was trying to say something to him, but hadn't worked out the words. He leant against her dining table, watching her anxious expression. Rose perched on the arm of the sofa, Ryuzaki was crouched on the coffee table next to her. On the table. Doesn't he know ANYTHING about etiquette?
"The thing is, I haven't been entirely honest with you lately." Rose played with her hair, wondering how to phrase the confession.
"What Emily-kun is trying to tell you," Ryuzaki interjected, "is that I am L."
Light froze. Time seemed to slow, his heart raced. Whaaat? THIS guy is L? He's so young and... weird, not how I imagined at all. This is the person trying to bring me down? Mustn't let anything but a little confusion and surprise cross my face. He heard Ryuk chuckle next to him. Ryuzaki had not stopped staring at him for a single second.
"Well this puts a spin on things doesn't it Light?" Ryuk growled with amusement.
"You're L?" Light asked. "I can barely believe that. Surely L would never show his face."
"It's true," Rose said, "I know for sure that Ryuzaki-kun is L."
"How?"
"We worked together in England," Rose lied.
Light shook his head in disbelief. "Then if you're L... Emily-kun does this mean you're working with him on the Kira case?"
Rose nodded guiltily. "I'm sorry Light-kun, I'd have told you sooner if I could!"
Emily why have you made yourself my enemy? Of all the people, I'd have preferred not to have to erase you. I must make myself seem a little hurt and angry at her betrayal, but not excessively so. Light made his face look hurt.
"I can't pretend I don't feel betrayed. You know how much I've longed to work on that case! And with L!"
"I'm sorry. L didn't know if he could trust you."
Light made his face calm down a little, and he nodded, as if hurt but understanding. Got to play this carefully. "I wish I could have been working with you, but I can understand why you couldn't tell me. Especially with the death of Nakamura implicating the police. So, does this mean you trust me now?"
"No. I think you're Kira," L said calmly.
Rose glanced sideways at him. His probing gaze had not left Light's face for a single second.
Light laughed lightly. "You think I'M Kira?"
Rose returned to looking at Light. He looked so easygoing, unperturbed. That doesn't look like an act to me.
"Yes," L said. "But if it turns out that you aren't, then I'd love you to work with us."
"And Emily-kun, what do you think about this?" Light settled his face into a hurt expression again. "Surely you don't think it's even a remote possibility? You know me better than that."
"I do think it's totally far-fetched," Rose admitted. "But leave no stone unturned. Besides, now I can actually tell you what I've been doing." Rose explained how L had come to the conclusion that Kira could be him.
Light nodded. "I see. And he doesn't suspect you or my father? That hardly seems fair."
"Emily-kun and Chief Yagame-san are too mature to be Kira," L remarked casually.
How dare he? I'm perfectly mature. "Hey now Ryuzaki-san, that's quite insulting."
The raven-haired man shrugged. "That's just how I see it. Oh and by the way, if you DO turn out to be Kira, you should probably know that you can't just kill me and Emily-kun and no longer be a suspect. I informed your father this morning that you're under suspicion."
Damn him! "You told my dad I'm a suspect? That'll make him horribly stressed out, he's already stressed enough as it is. Why did you have to do that?"
"Self-preservation. Sorry, it was the only way." L munched few grapes. For the first time in what seemed like a lifetime to Light, he dropped his gaze from Light's face and examined his toes.
Rose watched Light's shoulders un-tense as he was released from the stare. Does that make him more suspicious? Not really. I'd be tense if L was staring at me for that long.
"So," L said brightly. Brightly didn't suit him. "In a way you should be thankful that I suspect you. Otherwise you'd have probably never gained the opportunity to work with L."
Light growled internally. He's so full of himself. God, he knows how to get under my skin. To be honest, I'm looking forward to the day I can kill him.
They finished up their conversation, and Light asked them to do whatever was necessary to clear his name, and that he would work with them whenever they were ready. L suggested after a period of 24/7 surveillance. Still feeling bad, Rose followed Light out to his car.
"Sorry this had to happen."
Light smiled at her warmly. "Hey, it's okay. I was upset at first, but I know you're too good of a detective to allow your personal relationships to get in the way of a potential lead, and I respect that. You're obliged to investigate me, even if it's a tiny possibility. Come here."
He folded his arms around Rose, and hugged tightly. "Don't worry, my name will be cleared soon enough and we can work to catch Kira together! I'm looking forward to it. It's pretty exciting, huh?"
"Yeah," Rose mumbled into his jumper.
"I must say, L's nothing like I expected."
"No, he wasn't when I first met him either."
"It doesn't seem like he's taken to me, but I'm sure me and Ryuzaki-san will grow to become friends eventually."
"Yeah." Rose smiled, they let go of their hug, and Light climbed into his car. Light isn't Kira. L is without doubt a fantastic detective, but I think he's often TOO paranoid. As she was only wearing socks, the cold pavement seeped into Rose's toes and she ran quickly back up the stairs.
L watched their embrace out of the window. Is that what friends are supposed to do? Perhaps I should try it. Or perhaps it's something only people that are more-than-friends do? Are Rose and Light more than friends?
Rose re-entered the flat. L turned around, his hands in his pockets, his hair falling waywardly cross his face. He looked pensive.
"Are you and Light-san in a relationship?"
Rose laughed, and sat down on the sofa. "No."
"Why not? He's very attractive."
"There's gotta be more to it than that. Besides, we're both too in love with our work. Just like you."
L nodded. "I've always thought that such things would make life a lot more difficult."
"Why do you ask? Is it because you watched us hug?"
"I was curious as to what such an embrace means."
"Well, they can mean different things with different people. But lots of friends hug each other."
L nodded again. "I see. And are we friends?"
"Well, yes I suppose. We're both work associates and friends, I think."
"And when do friends hug each other?"
"All different times. When they say hello or goodbye, when they're excited, when one is sad and needs cheering up... All sorts of times."
"How interesting."
The evening passed quickly and uneventfully. They worked side by side, background checking the other members of the police force for other potential suspects. Tomorrow they would set up surveillance in Light's house and car.
(gap)
Light arrived home fuming.
"Damnit, they got me!" He sank onto the chair at his desk.
"I must admit, that L guy seems to have you sussed," Ryuk mocked.
Light groaned, and rubbed his eyes. "And so would Emily-kun if she wasn't blinded by being my friend. I must make sure to keep my friendship with her strong. At least until I kill her. It's a shame I'll have to do that, but it's too dangerous to let her live." He stroked the Death Note fondly.
"24 hour surveillance, huh? Looks like you're gonna have to come up with something pretty clever to get out of this one, Light." Ryuk cackled.
"I know," Light said calmly. "Luckily, I have the perfect thing up my sleeve. The game has only just begun."
He opened his phone to the text inbox.
'Hey Light, are you free tonight? Just going out with some mates from the TV station if you fancied joining. Haven't seen you in ages. x'
"What you doing?" Ryuk craned his ghastly smiling face over his shoulder. "Going on a date?"
"Something like that. My ex from To-oh, Kiyomi Takada. She texts me regularly, hoping to see me again. She's also expressed support for Kira on social media – Kiyomi's the perfect person."
"For what?"
Light smiled purposefully. "You'll see."
(gap)
The meal with her work friends ended, and they drifted away from the entrance to the restaurant in twos and threes, chattering amiably. Light took Kiyomi's arm, and they walked slowly to his car.
"That was nice. Thanks for inviting me out."
"No problem." She squeezed his arm. "I'm glad you came."
"Hey, do you want to come back to mine for a bit? It's still early. We could chill for a while." Light gave her a winning smile.
"Sure."
Light made sure the drive was filled with intelligent, interesting conversation. He asked her about her new work life as a TV presenter, laughed and smiled and sighed in all the right places. It was simple to mention Kira, and establish her firm conviction in Kira's quest to rid the world of evil. Once she was settled on a deep blue armchair, he poured them both a drink, and handed one to her, chinking his glass against hers gently. He looked at her, letting his eye contact linger for just slightly too long, before looking away, as if nervous.
"What is it?" She asked softly. Kiyomi brushed her short black hair out of her eyes, and watched Light fumble for words. I didn't think it was possible, but he's got even more handsome since university.
"The thing is Kiyomi-kun, I've missed you."
Kiyomi caught her breath. Yes. "Light-kun," she breathed.
"I thought it would be best for us to part, you know, because we were going off into our new lives, but I was wrong." Light's golden-brown eyes looked anguished. "I think about you all the time. I kept telling myself that I shouldn't meet up with you again, but I was totally wrong. Tonight's been the best thing that's happened to me in ages."
"Light-kun," she breathed again, and caught his chin with her delicate hand, raising his face so that he looked at her. He looked tormented, Kiyomi couldn't bear to see Light look that way. She leant forward and kissed him gently. Her body ached for the man she'd never stopped loving. "It's okay. I understand."
"Will you, will you be mine again? It's all that I want."
Kiyomi stroked his cheek gently. "I was angry at you for leaving. But I really do understand. Of course I'll be yours again – to be quite honest, I have always been yours. And I always will be."
Light leant in and kissed her hungrily. "Kiyomi-kun..." He took their drinks and set them down on the floor, moving off his seat to kneel between her legs. She edged forward to wrap her calves around his waist, and he let his hands trail down her back as they kissed passionately. He stood up, holding her securely around him, and carried her off to bed.
An hour or so later they lay naked on top of the duvet, and Light stroked her dark hair softly.
"Kiyomi-kun?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to distract from the mood, but there's something playing on my mind."
She raised her head from his chest to look at him. "What is it?"
"I've been given this secret parcel to hide. It can't be anywhere that could be at all related to me or the police. It's a work thing, you know. I just don't know where to leave it that would be safe. It's really bugging me."
Kiyomi wandered her fingers across his firm chest. "Well, you can give it to me if you like. No one would think of looking at my place."
This is too easy. "Really?" Light looked surprised. "I hadn't considered that. Would you really do that for me?"
"Of course. Just leave it with me."
"You're a life saver. It won't be for too long, don't worry." He raised his head, and kissed her forehead. "Let's get some sleep. We've both got work in the morning."
Thanks for reading = ]