A/N: Thanks for reviewing! Love ya!
Chapter 35: Father
Light was sitting in a fancy restaurant next to Misa. They both had hidden video cameras in their clothes. Once Misa persuaded Higuchi into meeting her again, L wanted Light to go with her. The detective was expecting Light to tell Higuchi that he was the man's biological son. L insisted that this would help the Kira case. Light had no choice but to comply or else he was refusing to help the investigation, which was 'Kira-like'.
When Higuchi finally arrived, he looked surprised that Light was there. But he still sat down at the dinning table, across from them. "I thought we were having dinner alone."
"Oh, Misa's sorry. She doesn't get to see her Light very often anymore so Misa had to bring him." The blonde model explained before standing up. "Excuse Misa, she needs to use the ladies room."
After she walked away, Higuchi focused his attention on Light. "So you're her famous brother? I heard all about you on the news." He laughed crudely. "You're one lucky guy to have a sister like that."
Light forced himself to smile. "Thank you." Does he think I slept with her? What a disgusting-! Light had to pull himself out of his angry thoughts. "I have wanted to meet you for a long time, Mr. Higuchi."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, I've heard about you from my mother." Light lied effortlessly.
Higuchi looked nervous. "What did she tell you?"
Light took out an envelope and set it on the table. "You are my father. I have DNA evidence right here."
The businessman gaped at him. "W-What?" Then he quickly grasped the envelope and pulled some documents out. He frantically skimmed through the DNA results.
"If you don't believe me, you can have your own tests run. I'm completely fine with it."
He remained silent for awhile until he gave Light a skeptical look. "But I've never met you before. How did you even get my DNA?"
"I didn't. My mother was a thief, remember. She had those tests done a long time ago."
Higuchi nodded as if he believed him. "I…I would still like to run another test."
"Okay."
The businessman still seemed very confused. "But if you knew all this time. Why did you wait to tell me?"
"Before I always had a legal guardian to support me, but…I don't anymore." Light faked a sad expression. "I apologize if you feel like I'm burdening you."
"No, no, it's alright." Higuchi gazed down at the documents once again before he promised. "If you really are my son, I'll take responsibility."
Two weeks later-
Light was in his room, currently packing his suitcase. He was finally going to leave L's building today. The chain was off but L was standing right behind him. For the past couple of weeks, Light had been preparing for this day.
He was going to live with Higuchi. The businessman was his legal guardian now after going through all the proper court procedures and having the second DNA test done. Higuchi seemed fairly happy about having a son and he even ordered Light to change his last name. Of course, Light didn't actually do that. But L forged all the paperwork so Higuchi would believe Light had taken his last name.
After Light finished packing, he snapped the suitcase shut. Then he turned to face L. "Okay, I'm ready to go."
L stepped toward him and placed a very small earpiece in Light's ear. "You are to keep this earpiece in at all times so I can communicate with you." Then L undid the first button on Light's shirt and checked for the tiny hidden video camera attached to a wire.
"If Light-kun ever takes off the earpiece and turns off this camera, I will assume he is conspiring with Higuchi."
"I know, L. You don't have to remind me."
The detective nodded. "Then I shall escort Light-kun out."
Light picked up his suitcase and followed L out of the room. They took the elevator down to the workroom first. As soon as L and Light entered the workroom, the other team members quickly rushed over to say goodbye to the teen. Meanwhile L had walked over to Watari to speak with him.
Most of the Japanese detectives were formal about their goodbyes. Well, except for Matsuda who rattled on and on. "I'm sorry, Light. I can't believe Higuchi is your father. It must be so hard on you because he's a Kira suspect and-"
"That's enough, Matsuda." Mr. Yagami gave Light a sympathetic look. "I honestly can't imagine the hell you must be going through. But your father is only a suspect. It's still possible that he's innocent so keep that in mind."
Light simply nodded, avoiding eye contact with his past father. He was glad Mr. Yagami didn't have to go through the so-called 'hell' of being related to a Kira suspect. But he still felt the pang of guilt whenever he was reminded of it.
After L was done talking to Watari, he headed back towards the elevator with Light. They stood in the elevator as it descended to the first floor. Niether of them said a word the whole way down.
Once the elevator door opened, they both stepped out into the parking garage. Beyond the parking garage's entrance, Light could see a black car waiting to pick him up. He started heading towards the car.
L suddenly grabbed his wrist. "If there is a Death Note in Higuchi's apartment-"
"I would never use it." Light turned to face him.
When the detective still wouldn't release him, Light reminded him. "L, the car is waiting."
"I am aware of that." L only tightened his grip on the teen.
Light smiled. "You were the one who wanted me to leave."
L had a pouting expression on his face that made Light oddly happy. He quickly leaned toward L and kissed him. L momentarily loosened his grip then Light hastily broke the kiss as he stepped away.
"I'll be back before you know it." Light smirked at the detective before hurrying over towards the car.
Higuchi had welcomed Light into his home. The businessman lived in a large ritzy apartment on the wealthy side of town. He showed Light to his room then left. Once Light was alone in his new bedroom, he heard L talk to him through the earpiece. L ordered him to place one of the small video cameras in his room. The detective obviously wanted to see all of Light's movements. Light complied and hide a video camera on his dresser.
Then Light set his suitcase on his bed and started unpacking. When he hung a shirt up in the closet, a blue spiky head suddenly appeared out of the wall next to him. Light flinched only for a moment before the rest of Ryuk flew into his room.
The shinigami grinned. "Long time no see, Light. I was getting really bored without you around."
Light ignored the emaciated winged figure as he calmly continued unpacking.
"Hey, Light!" Ryuk called out then he flew over towards the dresser. The shinigami stared straight into the hidden camera. "Oh, L is watching you again."
"I guess I won't be getting any apples from you then." Ryuk complained while still hovering in the air. "So far I've been acting like I don't know you around Higuchi. I was expecting a reward for that."
Light felt greatly relieved after hearing that but he didn't let it show. Once he finished unpacking, L spoke to him again through the earpiece. Now L wanted him to search around the apartment. Light wordlessly complied and left his bedroom to start searching. He could hear Higuchi in the living room so Light avoided that area. He headed down the hall with Ryuk flying behind him.
First Light located a bathroom then another guest bedroom. He searched through the two rooms but found nothing. Next, Light continued down the hall and tried opening a third door. But the door was mysteriously locked.
"That's where the Death Note is." Ryuk announced from behind him.
Dammit. Light tried to remain calm. Then he heard L's voice through the earpiece.
"What's wrong, Light-kun?"
"The door is locked." He whispered into the collar of his shirt.
"Then you must pick the lock open."
Before Light could respond, he heard Higuchi calling out from the living room. "Light, where are you?"
Ryuk snickered while the teen rushed down the hall until he reached the entryway to the living room. "I'm right here." He walked towards the businessman.
Higuchi was sitting on a fancy couch and watching a large flat-screen television. Light casually sat down next to the man.
"Are you done packing?"
"Yeah…Dad." Light forced out the last part.
The businessman merely nodded, showing that he was listening. He was really focused on the TV which showed the evening news. Light gazed forward at the television screen as well once the news reporter mentioned Kira.
On the screen, there was a map of the world with red and blue countries. There were more red countries than ever before, which meant more countries that openly supported Kira. Light had to stop himself from smirking.
Then Higuchi asked. "Light, what do you think about Kira?"
L's voice immediately ordered through the earpiece. "Say you're a Kira supporter."
Light reluctantly answered. "I know it is not socially acceptable in an anti-Kira nation such as ours, but I personally find no fault in Kira's actions. His motives are just and commendable. There is nothing wrong with seeking a perfect world without crime."
Higuchi looked pleased but then he questioned Light further. "And what if Kira also killed for business?"
You idiot. The fool had just incriminated himself even more. Light pretended that he was confused. "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, nothing." Higuchi smiled before staring back at the television screen.
After they watched the news for awhile, Higuchi disappeared into the locked room. Since the businessman was in there, it was impossible for Light to sneak in. Instead of waiting for the man to come out, Light simply went to bed. He told L that he would pick the lock tomorrow.
Yagami Soichiro was laying on his death bed, gazing up at Light with red shinigami eyes. His father said that he could see numbers over Light's head. He was so happy that tears streamed down his face. Soichiro truly believed that his son was not Kira.
As his father laid there dying, Light was only focused on one thing. He needed his dad to write Mello's name in the Death Note. He was screaming at his father to write down the name, to kill Mello. Even though that meant damning his father to going to neither heaven nor hell, Light didn't care.
He just wanted his dad to write down that damn name.
Light woke up with a gasp. Then he quickly sat up as he took in deep breaths. His whole body was shaking and tears were trickling down his face. My dad! My own dad was dying and I-
Light tilted his head down sadly. I used and manipulated my dad until the day he died. The guilt was unbearable. How could he do that to his own father? And the man was so happy when he believed Light wasn't Kira… It was terrible.
"Another nightmare, Light-kun?" L's voice asked through the earpiece.
"Yes." Light replied tersely before standing up. He could see the sun rising though a window by the bed. "I'll get ready for school now."
He went through all his next actions mechanically as he prepared for school. He couldn't stop thinking about the nightmare. Watching L die was painful enough… But his dad had died because of him too? Light always knew that he had taken his past father for granted. Yet he didn't realize it was that bad. Mr. Yagami was truly lucky that Light wasn't his son in this life. Light didn't deserve him. He didn't understand that in his past life, but he was certainly aware of it now.
It was a good thing that Light's biological father was Higuchi this time. Light didn't mind betraying a rotten man like him.
Once Light was ready, Higuchi gave him a ride to school and dropped him off. Then the businessman drove away, towards the Yotusba building. For the first time in quite awhile, Light walked into the school building. Everyone in his class seemed really surprised to see him again. He only came because Higuchi still believed Light was attending school regularly.
Light sat in his old classroom while everyone gawked at him for the rest of the day. No one spoke to him except for L who still talked through the earpiece a few times. Yes, Light still wasn't allowed to take it out. And the video camera was still hidden in his shirt collar too.
Once school was finally over, Light walked down the hallway towards the exit. But then someone grabbed his shoulder from behind. Light turned around to see Takada. Oh, shit.
"Hey, Light. I was afraid I wasn't going to see you again after that phone call. So how did you-?"
She stopped when Light silently mouthed, "Don't."
Takada quickly took the hint. "H-How are you doing?"
"I'm fine."
"That's great." She faked a smile before strolling away.
L spoke through the earpiece. "Who was she?"
"Just a school friend." Light whispered under his breath.
"I see." L didn't sound completely convinced.
Once Light returned to Higuchi's apartment, he headed straight toward the locked door. L was sill pressuring him to pick the lock open. Light hesitantly began picking the lock while Ryuk hovered above him. The lock wasn't that difficult but Light stalled as long as he possibly could.
"I know Light-kun can pick that lock." L's voice came through the earpiece.
Light cursed mentally before he finally picked the lock open. Then he reluctantly stepped into the dark room. There were pictures of several different faces on the walls and beside each picture there was a name. Ryuk wasn't lying. The Death Note was definitely kept here. The only furniture was a chair in front of a messy cluttered desk.
Light headed towards the desk and started searching through the drawers. Meanwhile Ryuk was still flying around him, snickering. When Light opened the very last drawer, he spotted it. Damn.
He had found the Death Note. Light picked up the black notebook and set it down on top of the desk. Then L ordered him to pull the video camera out of his shirt and zoom in on the pages. Light wordlessly complied. He had no choice but to cooperate. The distraction was over. Higuchi was finished.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
Light froze before he nervously turned around to face Higuchi.
L's voice explained quickly. "Remain calm, Light-kun. We have the area surrounded."
Then why didn't you warn me? Light wanted to shout at the detective but he didn't have time. Higuchi immediately stormed toward him and snatched the video camera out his hand. Then he yanked the camera away causing a wire to rip out of Light's shirt.
Higuchi's face was contorted with rage. He looked like a wild animal as he slammed his fist into Light's face. "You traitor! I'll kill you!"
The force of the blow caused the earpiece to fall out while Light crashed onto the floor. Light quickly sat up then he heard the sound of police sirens and windows shattering. The law enforcement must've broken into the apartment.
In a state of panic, Higuchi grabbed the Death Note and fanatically scribbled in it. Light instantly stood up, about to rush towards the man. But then several masked law enforcement officers barged into the dark room. They were all shouting and had their guns ready. Light ducked down as bullets zoomed across the room.
He gazed up in shock. At least six bullets had been fired into Higuchi's arm, which held the Death Note. The businessman let a bloodcurdling shriek as the black notebook fell to the ground. Light swiped the Death Note and quickly stepped away from the injured man. Higuchi collapsed to his knees as he clung onto his bloody arm. The man was still crying out in pain while Light skimmed through the Death Note.
I have to find what he wrote! Light's heart was pounding anxiously until he flipped onto the correct page.
Then Light let out a sigh of relief. The idiot had written down Higuchi Light. If he had the shinigami eyes, I would be dead right now.
A few officers rushed toward Higuchi and shoved him face-first into the floor. Then they forced him into handcuffs. Even though the man had a severely injured arm, they were still rough on him. Higuchi continued writhing on the floor and shouting crazily while Ryuk flew above him, laughing.
"Light, bring the Death Note over here." Mr. Yagami was among the crowd of police officers, outside of the dark room.
The teen nodded and headed towards the opened doorway. When the officers first barged in, they had actually knocked the door off its hinges.
Higuchi was still on the floor as he frantically yelled. "H-How? How are you still alive?"
Light turned around and smirked. "I never changed my last name, you fool."
The look of utter despair on Higuchi's face was priceless. Light savored it for a moment before he continued walking away.
Once he reached Mr. Yagami, his past father grabbed onto the Death Note. Suddenly Mr. Yagami gasped. Light's breath hitched. Shit! Can he remember the past as well? The very idea terrified Light.
Luckily, Mr. Yagami pointed up. "A shinigami!"
Oh, good. He can't. Light glanced over at Ryuk and acted surprised as well. "Oh, my God! They're real!"
All the police officers started shuffling around nervously in the crowded hallway. Then Matsuda accidentally bumped into the Death Note. He pointed up at the shinigami and screamed too.
Before anyone else could touch the Death Note, Mr. Yagami rushed out of the hallway while calling out. "Come on, Light. L is waiting."
Light followed his past father out of the disheveled apartment and into an elevator. After the elevator door closed, they began to descend. Light was still trying to calm down his racing heart. Everything had happened so quickly. He nearly avoided complete disaster. Light gazed down at the Death Note in Mr. Yagami's grasp. He could've died.
"Are you okay?" His past father broke the silence.
Light nodded. "Yeah, Higuchi wrote down the wrong name. So everything's fine." Also you can't remember anything, which is great.
"But…your own father tried to-" Mr. Yagami gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."
He guiltily avoided eye contact. You're no way near as sorry as I am. The memories of his past father's death were still fresh in his mind. Even in this life, Mr. Yagami was far too kind. Light didn't feel like he deserved it.
When the elevator came to a stop, Light was actually thankful. After the elevator door opened, they headed down a hallway on the building's first floor. Mr. Yagami opened a door to a room and led the way inside.
In the room, L was perched on a chair in front of a large computer screen. Once he heard them enter, the pale black-haired detective stood up and determinedly walked towards them.
"Here." Mr. Yagami held up the Death Note.
He reached out and grabbed the notebook between his thumb and index finger.
But then L screamed.
Light froze. It felt like the room was spinning as he watched in horror.
L dropped the Death Note and leaned against the wall for support. The pale detective took in deep shaky breaths and he clung onto his head as if he was in a lot of pain.
Mr. Yagami hurried to L's side. "What's wrong?"
L raised his head back up and started directly at Light with wide black eyes. The teen knew what that look meant. And it scared Light stiff.
Then Mr. Yagami gazed over and spotted Ryuk floating in the air next to Light. "Oh, that shinigami is back. Yeah, it's really shocking." He picked up the Death Note and handed it back to L.
L grabbed the Death Note again. "You may go oversee Higuchi's arrest now."
Mr. Yagami nodded and left the room, closing the door on his way out. Now the two geniuses were alone, except for Ryuk who watched them with great interest.
No. This can't be happening. Light could feel himself trembling anxiously as L started to walk towards him. He knows. Light fearfully stepped away from the detective. He knows! L continued heading straight towards him at the same pace until Light backed himself right against a wall.
Then L slammed his hand on the wall next to Light's face. Light shuddered as L's black eyes bore into him.
"The last name Morello never suited you," L leaned forward and hissed in his ear. "Yagami Light."
A/N: Oh, Damn. Major cliffy