CHAPTER 46:
"Apology"

When Misa woke up early the next morning, she was still angry about what Light had done. Or rather, what he had said.

I still can't believe it called out an old girlfriend's name while getting an erotic massage from me? Me!

They were in a complicated relationship, she knew, living amongst the Kira Task Force, but did Light still have feelings for Kiyomi Takada?

He said he cared little for anything else other than clearing his name in being Kira. Obviously he lied. So, even in the short time he had been with her, Light still holds a spark for Kiyomi Takada? Does he feel nothing for me?

She got dressed, and grumbled angrily every bit of the way. She even thought about what kind of blunt instrument to use to attack Light's in his sleep for the betrayal, or a very sharp knife to cut something off.

Then she thought how foolish that was. She was mad, but she wouldn't…

I…I love Light. Don't I?

She prepared to leave her room and felt like eating a big breakfast to drown her sorrows—a bit of comfort food, or angry food, whatever it's called, the kitchen is just down the hall—but the moment she opened the door, she was greeted to a small package on the floor in front of her door. It was beautifully wrapped with white paper and a red ribbon and bow.

Picking it up, she looked from side to side down the hall—who delivered it? She had no idea how long it had been sitting here, but it was a surprise that someone would give her a gift.

Feeling it in her hands, it felt a little flimsy like a large paperback book or a magazine. There was no card.

She unwrapped it, and then her eyes lit up with surprise and glee.

It was a First Edition of the Mayu Mayu manga book. And when she looked inside, it was personally sighed by the artist herself. A small white envelope then fell out of the back cover addressed to her.

She opened it, read it: "Misa, I'm very sorry. Please forgive me. Love Light."

Misa felt her heart thump and she hugged the manga, pressing it against her bosom. She smiled excitedly and skipped in the hall with joy.

All her disappointment, anger, and displeasure faded away.

It wasn't the gift that got her, but she knew Light was trying to make a point with it. It was the card and the sentiment of his words. He didn't say, From Light, which someone would say if they were in a platonic relationship. It said Love Light.

"From Light with love!" she said. "I knew you loved me!"

x x x

Light stood in the epicentre of the task force headquarters. He was tired. After staying up all night to find a gift for Misa, it only took a brief spark of insight to realize he already had one, and it was a gift that came from the empathic heart.

I hope when she awakes, she finds it, and...

When the elevator doors opened, the room was suddenly filled with her voice as she called his name in joyful glee.

"LIIIIGGGGHHHHHTTTTTT! My sweet, darling Light!"

She found it, he thought.

His head began to hurt, over sensitive from lack of sleep. But Misa's voice was like a screaming banshee that would make a dog cringe and run.

He knew what was coming, she was happy—his gift obviously doing the trick—and he prepared himself, as she ran towards him like lightning striking at one-third the speed of light. She hugged him so tightly that he had to gasp for breath and literally stumbled backwards with the impact.

He was standing next to his father and L discussing something about the Kira Case, a little early morning brainstorming, when she arrived. Although, with his brain as it was, tired, it felt more like it was a cloudy day than a bright one.

She rose on her tippy-toes and kissed him on the cheek, then said, "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! Mistakes happen, right? I forgive you, Light. What a wonderful and thoughtful gift!"

She loosened her grip. "I'm glad you can forgive me for my stupid mistake, Misa," Light said. "I was inspired by our time together. And I remembered when Ryuzaki said he and Watari had collected a lot of my stuff over from my room at home when I came here. It was then I realized there was only one thing I could give you to say I am really sorry. My First Edition of Mayu Mayu that I got signed by the artist. I wanted to give you something that meant a lot to me. So, I asked Ryuzaki if I could retrieve it."

L scratched the back of his head. "Yes, and when I got the call, I was having the most wonderful dream about dogs," he said. "Did you know I had a dog when I was younger? I had a Saint Bernard when I was—"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," Misa said, waving him off. Then she fluttered her eyes at Light, and said, "Maybe you'll give me a ring someday, too?" Light's eyes widened, a little scared. "Just kidding," she said half-heartedly. "I really like it, Light. I especially like the note that came with it. I knew you cared about me. But next time, try and remember who is giving you a massage. I'll take off more than just some skin with my nails if it happens again, and I have very sharp nails. How are your wounds, by the way? I hope I didn't hurt you that much?"

Light gulped and took a mental step back, knowing what she meant by I'll take off more than just some skin with my nails if it happens again.

"Everything is fine…" he said nervously. "Nothing to worry about," he lied. "Once again, I'm sorry, Misa."

"That's okay," she said. Then wrapped her arm around his left arm. "Now, would you like to escort me to the lobby like a proper gentleman does the lady he loves? I have to work today. My Manager will get the car."

"Sure," Matsuda said, who was also there. "I'm heading down to the underground right now. Give me a few minutes." He left.

"Well, okay. But Light has to come to," L finally spoke up, the handcuffs evident on both of them. Light rolled his eyes, shook his head. "Fine, just this one last time, Light. I'll free you, so you can escort your lady to her car. It is the gentlemanly thing to do after everything said and done. You'll be watched by CCTV the entire way, anyway, so no funny business, and keep your hands where I can see them."

"Ryuzaki!" Light said curtly. Then smiled, "Thanks."

x x x

L watched Light and Misa enter into the elevator, hand in hand. Then he turned to the CCTV and watched then inside. He knew that Light was only catering to Misa's whims, but was there actually a spark between them?

At Light's university, he knew Light was dating another student Kiyomi Takada and hers was he name he called out during the erotic massage.

Light was a good looking guy, but to what degree of affection did he hold towards Misa? L figured it was less than ten percent, maybe close to five percent. Light was the kind of guy who liked intelligent woman and Misa Amane was not a smart girl.

L had researched Misa's career and was a fan of her movies, but there was just something very dark about her—other than being accused of acting as the Second Kira. Her parents were murdered by a burglar in front of her eyes during a break and enter gone wrong, and she thanked Kira for killing the murderer. And all of sudden, her mysterious affection for Light appeared, and only after he was accused in being Kira—a very dark figure himself.

Misa was a child actress before the murders and she was able to stand on her own after their deaths. But how she managed to survive without therapy was a little bit of a mystery. Her case was cut and dry. But her mental state was something to be desired.
He was just glad to help Light out when he needed it.

The last thing L needed was a wild woman going after his prime suspect with a knife, killing his best lead to catch Kira.

To be continued...