PART ONE

It all started so fast. And a simple coffee run turned into a babysitting session.

Light sat on the couch in his apartment with a three year old boy next to him looking withdrawn. His mother was currently in a coma after a terrible car accident that he witnessed.

The boy and his mother were just walking on the sidewalk when suddenly a loud BOOM was heard and then a car jumped the curb and struck his mother. She rolled over the hood and hit her head on the payment. This was according to eye-witnesses.

Light had been there to see it for the most part. He and Matsuda were coming back with coffees and teas and heard the crash, then saw the aftermath. They instantly went to help. Luckily, a police cruiser was driving by and took over the scene. Emergency services were quickly called and arrived. They took the boy's mother to a near-by hospital.

Light had been the first one on the scene after the accident with Matsuda and the boy stuck to him like glue for some reason. The boy was obviously in shock with what happened to his mother and needed someone to cling to and chose Light. The boy took to him like he was his father or an older brother and would not go with the police or with child services.

The boy would not leave his side. Light saw it as a form of Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder, a term he learned during one of his university Sociology classes, where a child clings to a complete stranger for support. The boy hid behind him and held on to him irrationally, Light thought, and Light was forced to become a temporary caregiver for the boy until his father could be contacted.

The boy did not have any contact information to give, however.

Light gave his contact information to the police and where the boy would be staying with him.

"So that's the story," Matsuda said, after reciting events, "but the boy won't speak."

"Poor kid, probably traumatized," Ide said, he stood next a wall.

"Any information on him or his mother?" Aizawa asked.

"No," Light said. "And we don't know why she and the boy were going especially without identification. His mother didn't even have a purse with her."

"I did find that weird," Matsuda said. "But the police are surveying cameras in the area in case someone saw an opportunity to snatch it if she did have one. In a large crowd that might be the case."

Light agreed. It was a good theory. "Light," his father said, getting off his cell phone. He had been away from the others as they comforted the boy. He cocked his head. "Can I speak to you for a moment?"

"Sure," Light said. "Matsuda, can you take care of him? I'll be right back." Matsuda sat down next to the boy as Light stood up and joined his father. The boy turned his head as if to follow him, watching him. Light gave the boy a thin smile, and said, "I'll return shortly, okay?" speaking softly.

The boy nodded slowly, but wouldn't take his eyes off him. It was like he was worried Light wouldn't come back, like he had some sort of separation anxiety.

"I just got off the phone with the hospital," Soichiro said quietly. "The boy's mother is surgery with head trauma. It's not looking good. There is severe swelling of the brain. They'll try to relieve some of the pressure. Child Services asked about the boy and wondered if it would be okay for the boy to remain with you for the time being since he doesn't want to leave your side."

Light nodded. He had other things to do as Kira, but for the time being he would leave that to Misa. Protecting the innocent was Kira's job and he wasn't going to renege on that. The boy needed him at the moment. When Sayu, his sister, was his age, he helped his parents with her care. This was no different. And as a cop, it was sworn duty, as well.

"Sure, no problem," Light said. "Any word on relatives?"

"No, and at the moment, she is categorized as an Unknown Person. She had no personal effects on her at all, like a cell phone or wallet. She may have been victim to a pick pocket after she was hit and a crowd surrounded her. Until the boy talks, we won't know anything."

"Thanks Dad, keep me informed with any new developments. But I will say, calling him 'boy' or 'kid' is kind of impersonal. I would like him to start to feel more at ease with us, so he'll speak to us. If I could, I would like to give him a temporary name. When Kiyomi Takada and I were dating in university, she had a favourite cousin she admired for entering into the media business and is now a famous television broadcaster. She wanted to enter the same business. Anyway, his name was Minoru."

Just then, the boy perked up, and said, "Yes?"

Light and father turned. "Is Minoru your name, son?" Soichiro asked.

The boy nodded. "Minoru Tanaka," he said.

Light smiled, and went over to him. "Do you have any relatives near by we can call, Minoru?"

The boy shook his head. "My foster-father is out of town for a business trip. I don't know his cell phone number. Is my foster mother going to be okay?"

"Foster mother? You're adopted?" Matsuda voiced.

Minoru Takada nodded. "My foster parents can't have children," he said. "I was found on the door step of an orphanage when I was only three weeks old, I was told," he added. "I was adopted by my foster parents from an orphanage for gifted children. I don't know my parents real name. My name is Minoru Takada now."

"Sounds like a smart kid," Aizawa remarked, "and very respectful to others. He communicates well."

"That's the way I was brought up," Minoru said. "I'm may only by three years old, but I have already taken an IQ test. I scored very high for my age group."

"He reminds me of you, Light," Soichiro said smiling. "You were exceptionally bright at this age too."

To be continued...