TCLA: Ugh. I just got over being sick. And finals. But my birthday was fantastic. Take it away Mogi.
Mogi: …
TCLA: Maybe Mogi wasn't the best idea. Any who. I don't own Death Note. I only own my OCs and a few original scenes tossed in here and there.
Chapter 28 Admittance
Disorientation. That was the first sensation that assaulted me as I blearily regained consciousness. But even as my head swam, I kept my eyes shut, careful to keep my breathing even. I would last longer if they thought I was still out of it and it would give me longer to determine exactly what my situation was.
The lighting was dim, it didn't painfully shine through my eyelids making me see red, but it wasn't complete blackness either. The sickly cloying smell that had rendered me unconscious still lingered to my clothes, granting me some relief that I still hadclothes.
This led me to focus on my restraints. I was sitting, in a chair of some kind. My hands were bound behind my back, handcuffs binding my captive wrists. My ankles were similarly restrained, and I could feel rope wrapping around my torso rendering me completely immobile.
I could distantly here the sound of water dripping, maybe in some far off corner of the room as well as the muted rumble of a generator. An abandoned building? A basement maybe. There was little more that I could glean with my eyes shut, but I refused to open them.
"I know you're awake Kira," a voice sneered.
I couldn't repress the shiver that went down spine and I clenched my eyes, my breathing increasing rapidly.
"Is Kira afraid?" the voice asked gleefully. "Do I frighten Kira?"
I found myself cringing away from that voice. That familiar voice that sent shivers down my spine . Familiar?
"What's the matter Kira? Recognize me? Oh come on Kira," I flinched away on the emphasis, "put your genius mind to the test. If you were able to fool L this should be child's play. You are after all a child."
At this, my eyes flew open. "I am not a child," I hissed through gritted teeth. "And I am not Kira!" I screamed, anger momentarily overwhelming fear and common sense.
My eyes adjusted to the low light revealing a barren room. My previous guess was correct. I was in a basement. The walls were a faded white, scuffed with dirt and marks. Puddles littered the floor as water continued to drip from the ceiling. Mold created patterns shapes along the ceiling and walls. My eyes finally focused on where the voice was coming from. I could barely make out the figure, the single light bulb from the ceiling doing little to reveal his face.
"Kira has claws," he commented. I panted, trying to use anger to keep fear at bay. I couldn't afford to show weakness. I had learned that much.
"I am not Kira," I said more clearly. I straightened in my chair. "And why don't you show me your face? Or are you too cowardly?" I taunted aware I was dangerously approaching a line that shouldn't be crossed.
Anatagonizing the man wasn't in my best interests, but judging from his hostile nature I was most likely to face some degree of pain. Whether he was in a good mood or not.
"I am not a coward," the man growled.
"Prove it," I demanded.
The man didn't move, and I thought he was going to deny my request, when he stepped into the light. My jaw dropped against my will as I took in the face in front of me. That familiar dark hair, no longer slicked back, instead hanging loosely around his face. That same man no longer dressed in pristine suits a slippery smile on his face.
"Minagawa?"
~L's POV~
My fingers flew absentmindedly against my keyboard. Checking through all of the data that could possibly be in relation to Kira was tedious; hardly challenging. I sighed quietly, peering at Light out of the corner of my eye. The moment he looked at me, I focused on the screen in front of me again. That didn't prevent me from seeing the smirk that was plastered on his smug face.
It was painfully obvious that I was bored, and was waiting for Rei to return. At the very least I could then carry a debate with her to distract me. I of course could initiate the same action in Light, but while with Rei it would have been an opportunity for me to see her flustered or irritated with me, which was always highly entertaining. But with Light the debate would be purely for a vindictive nature must likely resulting in yet another fight.
That would be far from helpful in repairing the previous argument. I already predicted that my self-imposed purgatory of watching Light would be far from easy. No Light and I were far too headstrong for anything to go smoothly. And invoking another negative reaction so soon from the eldest Yagami sibling would only result in angry silences and more bruises.
I found myself sighing again, and Light smirked once more. Despite the fact he disapproved of our relationship he seemed quite pleased at the small signs of affection I was revealing in Rei's absence. I would have to kick him quite hard next time we fought.
My eyes slipped from the monitor to the small bag that had previously held the ice Rei had brought me. Now it only held water.
The clear plastic bag was reminiscent of a jellyfish. It's outer membrane quivering from Light's incessant typing. Small droplets of the liquid, the result of condensation dripped from the plastic onto the smooth surface of the desk. I pinched the bridge of my nose. I was reduced to analyzing a plastic bag. I reached for the bag with the intent of removing it to reestablish some dignity.
And then it burst. I blinked in surprise at the cold spray of water that had suddenly left the bag.
"Ryuzaki!" Light scolded. I ignored him, slowly processing this. Could this be considered bad luck? I pushed that aside instead choosing to return to the dull monitor rather than pursue that train of thought.
It was another hour before the long awaited sound of a door opening reached my ears. Without turning, I spoke.
"Ah Rei. Yes, I have several leads I'd like you t-" I stopped as I turned in my chair to see Matsuda and Watari, unaccompanied by Rei. I felt myself frown. "I suppose Rei is still outside?" I asked sourly. They didn't answer. "Matsuda?"
Matsuda hung his head focusing intently on the floor.
"Watari?" I asked aware of the childish aspect my voice gained as I asked my guardian to reassure me, like I had many times before.
"Ryuzaki," he answered. "Rei…she's missing."
"Explain," I demanded. I felt Light stiffen on the other end of the chain and realized for once we were completely on the same side.
It was an odd feeling. To see someone I had considered an enemy for many months and a suspicious inconvenience now, to experience the same emotions running through my mind. It wasn't unwelcome in the midst of the worry plaguing me. It was a comfort to see someone of my intelligence reduced to the same state of emotional discord in accordance to the current situation.
"I'm sorry Ryuzaki!" Matsuda apologized wringing his hands. "She was there and then she was just gone!" Matsuda shook his head. "She said she would be right back, but…"
"Rei is gone?" the Soichiro asked.
"It's happening again," Light muttered twisting a hand into his auburn hair. "Damn it."
"Ryuzaki, I'm so sorry," Matsuda pleaded. I closed my eyes for a brief moment seizing the logic that had scattered like roaches from the light. My hands bawled into fists and when I spoke again, there was no indecision.
"Watari, Matsuda, Aizawa, and Mogi. Please go to the location in question where Rei went missing. Be thorough. Examine anything nearby. Streets, vehicles, alleys, stores. Question anyone who may have seen something or someone suspicious," I ordered.
"Light and Yagami-san. We will stay here and continue our investigations in accordance to the Kira case."
"You seriously expect me to stay here while my sister is missing?" Light asked, his tone dangerous. I met his sharp tone with one of my own. Even when we were on the same side he had to be difficult.
"I expect you, Light, to do as you are told," I answered getting to my feet. He laughed mirthlessly.
"I am not just going to sit here Ryuzaki!" Light stood in attempt to force me to back down and bend to his will. My own hunched back straightened, one of the few intimidation tactics I could employ. It left me exactly at his height.
"Light, if you step outside this building you will spend the remainder of this observation period back in a cell." Light flinched, but kept eye contact with me. "We are compromised by our relationships to Rei. We cannot be expected to behave rationally or objectively in this case. Nor would Rei want us to put aside what is undoubtedly the most dire case the world has ever seen in order to make her safety a priority." Light's gaze dropped to the floor. "We will remain here and continue to work on the case in hopes Rei may come back on her own."
"Ryuzaki, I'm s-" Matsuda began again.
"Matsuda. I suggest you leave now before I lose what's left of my fragile control and break your jaw," I said coolly.
I sat down ignoring the man's whimpers. My hands flew across the keyboards, though this was now an act of desperation. I didn't react when I felt Watari's hand on my shoulder.
"Ryuzaki…"
"Please just go," I said wearily, my hands ceasing their movement.
"…of course."
It was only when the door shut behind them did I allow myself to participate in some form of comfort. I buried my head in my knees, my thumb finding its way into my mouth. I was vaguely aware of a sharp pain, when I realized I must have drawn blood.
I wasn't used to this dependence. I felt distinctly weak and I hated it. I had felt helpless far too many times in my life. I closed my eyes seeking refuge from the images of A and B's mutilated bodies as well as the fate my mind created for Rei.
~Rei's POV~
"So Kira recognizes me." I shook my head trying to make it connect.
"I don't understand. Why are you doing this? How could you think I'm Kira? You know me. I was there when we outed Kira. I personally came forward to my father with the evidence…"
"Why am I doing this? Come on little Kira…" I felt another wave of anger at the little. "You want to know why?" Hesitating slightly I nodded.
The man let out a laugh and it echoed eerily throughout the room. He strode forward catching my face with his hands pressing his forehead to mine. I tried to move back, but there was nowhere to go. He stayed there for a moment breathing his sickly breath into my face.
"Because you ruined me," he finally whispered. He spun away, releasing me and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Did you honestly think they let me come back after the little stunt you pulled? It was one offence to many. Apparently the higher ups had been watching me. They didn't approve of my interrogation methods. And you were the final straw. I wasn't emotionally stable enough to continue working, so they fired me." Interrogation methods.
I swallowed loudly. As he paced the room, his speech pierced by giggles. I took a deep breath. "And how does that make me Kira?" I asked. He stopped his deranged laughing and movement, pausing, becoming completely silent. He whirled towards me and he slammed the chair I was in to the floor. Air was knocked out of my lungs and my eyes watered as my head came in contact with the concrete floor.
"Because you little slut. How could a bitch like you discover Kira before I did?" he demanded. He yanked the chair back up, leaving my head swimming. "And then the answer came to me," he continued acting as if the interruption had never occurred. "Because you're Kira. It fit too perfectly. You had a motive. You had the background. And then you revealed Kira yourself before someone could beat you to it. The perfect alibi. It guaranteed you a spot on the task force and a way to spy on L."
"If I'm Kira, why aren't you dead yet?" I asked unsteadily. "I know your name and face."
"And what would my death accomplish?" he responded airily. "If I die you're still trapped here. No. You'll leave me alive and hope someone can find you before you confess.
"Confess?"
"Of course." His eyes met mine from across the room. Perfectly sure in his delusion. "I am not unreasonable. I will of course require your confession before I package you up for L. But don't worry. I'll be keeping him updated on our progress. In fact," he strode away back towards the dark portion of the room. I could hear him fiddling with some sort of device. A small red light began to flash as he pulled a camera from out of the shadows. "…let's start now."
"Hello, L," he said pleasantly. I froze. "I believe I've got something you want." He stepped aside, showing me to the camera. "Say hello, Kira."
L…
I kept silent. my eyes focused on the camera.
"So disobedient," he said clucking his tongue. "But don't worry L. I intend on breaking her of that before I return her to your custody. Shall we begin then Kira?"
I said nothing. I still stared at the camera.
L was going to see me. Light was going to see me. Dad. Matsuda. Watari. Aizawa. Mogi. They were going to watch as this man attempted to break me. My hands balled into fists. And I was going to give them a show.
"I'm not Kira," I said unwaveringly. He would not succeed. Not with them watching me.
He sighed and slowly approached me.
"Wrong answer."
I felt the slap before I saw it. I grimaced, ignoring the stinging of my cheek. I tasted blood. My teeth had cut my the inside of my mouth.
"Are you Kira?"
"No," I answered my gaze back on the camera. Another slap.
"Are you Kira?"
"No."
Slap.
"Are you Kira?"
"No."
Slap. Slap.
"Are you Kira?"
"No."
Slap. Slap. Slap.
And after hit, after every question, my eyes went back to the camera.
"Are you Kira?" he screamed.
"No," I answered just the same as before.
And then the slaps changed to blows. I held back cries of pain as his fists continued to hit me any and everywhere. And then he stopped.
My head slumped forward and blood began to drip down my nose, and I wondered in the back of mind if it was broken. Blood welled in my mouth, a sick copper taste. His fist tangled in my hair, pulling my head back to face him.
"Are you Kira?" he hissed. I gasped heavily, and mustering all my strength, spat in his face.
"No." He released my hair and I slumped forward once more. And then I was falling. I bit back a yelp as he threw the chair to the ground again, my already tender head hitting the concrete once more.
His footsteps retreated and I heard him gather the camera as well, slamming the door behind him.
I held back a whimper as I took account of my injuries. My nose was possibly broken, though for the most part the stinging hits had numbed that area of my face. My face, I was sure, was swollen, and blood trickled into my eyes from where his fingernails had raked my face. My arm was pinned underneath me between the chair and the floor and it felt sprained.
A smile appeared on my cracked and bloodstained lips. I hadn't confessed. A small laugh tore free from my lungs and I let myself laugh. Tears followed, mingling with the blood on my cheeks. I was hysterical. I needed to calm down. I needed to breath. I needed…
L. I needed him. The giggles faded away and I frowned. During all those days of confinement I had become so dependent. Throughout the whole case in fact, I had been desperately clinging to him.
I needed him. Just like I needed Light.
The emotions I had come to associate with him had far surpassed simple affection.
Another harsh laugh bubbled from my chest.
I loved him. I loved him and now was going to be tortured to death on accusation of something I didn't do.
The ultimate cliché. How appropriate. For the heroin to realize her true feelings when faced with death. It was everything I had scoffed and laughed at while Sayu and the other girls would swoon over the hero on the screen. And now I was the one conforming to the overused love story.
"Only us, eh Ryuzaki?" I muttered to myself.
I was unstable. I realized that much. This situation was far too reminiscent of what had happened before. Only this time there was no one to swoop in and protect me.
If I didn't get my emotions under control soon, I was going to do something irrational.
The door opened and I immediately stiffened, preparing for another onslaught of pain.
So I was confused when I heard the soft tentative footsteps. Gently the chair was righted and I blinked, the sudden motion making the room spin. I felt the nausea build in my stomach, and then I was throwing up.
But instead of feeling myself covered in vomit I found myself staring into a trashcan, blood and stomach acid pooling at the bottom. I pulled away, the smell making me nauseous again.
A damp cloth began to dab at my forehead and I winced.
"Sorry," a voice murmured.
I tried to focus on the face in front of me. The voice. The treatment. Soothing. My mind struggled to put it together as the face came into focus.
"Tai?"
~Author's Note~
Yes yes I'm terrible. So who saw the return of Minagawa coming? *raises hand* See? I's not some random unfounded accusation. The crazy person has some grounds.
L is probably OOC here. Sorry. I just couldn't really imagine any way for him to react. So I figured anger and immediate action. Then he lets himself wallow a little.
So two wonderful fics were written for my birthday. A by Jayne Foyer in which she basically inserts me as a female A and talks about her death. It's wonderful and violent and filled with Beyond Birthday goodness. Read it. And Viva la Vida, Kira by Miss Bright. This is basically a parody of the last episode and all the amazingness that happened. On my birthday I might add. Read it. I command you to read them both.
Thanks for reviewing!
2lazy2login: Don't worry. I have no intention of letting Rei slip into the background. I intend for her to be a very vital player in the second half. So while she may seem a bit subdued here, there will be definitely enough action to make up for it. Thanks for reviewing!
Sara and Kisa: Ahaha medication…I probably should take you. Sorry about the errors, but I swear the website does a couple of them. Anyway it probably was my fault. Periods and commas are small on my screen and hard to see. Thanks for reviewing!
SweetHearts4L: What would I say? Hmm… "Oh I was off having an affair with the rest of the DN crew. Haven't you wondered why the kids look nothing like you and aren't named after anyone in either of our families?" Something like that ^_^ Lol 18 and 15 isn't too bad of a difference. We'll just lie to the coppers. Thanks for reviewing!
K: Ah yes. The fight scene. I've been itching to write that for a while. Thanks for reviewing!
AlbinoButterfly: D: How can you write like that? Internet speak how you amaze me… Minagawa. Minagawa is dumb enough. Thanks for reviewing!
Gwen: I'll try to keep the wait from being too painful :) Glad l seems in character despite his fluffy tendencies. Thanks for reviewing!
Clarice: Ahaha thanks for reassuring me :) And Minagawa is crazy. That is why. Yes, there will be a lemon suggestion, but only a suggestion. I'm not quite comfortable writing full on stuff yet. Though I'm totally fine with reading it… Thanks for the review!
