17
Light woke up to the increasingly loud tap on his door. He must have slept the whole day yesterday, as it looked like it was morning again. His body was still a bit heavy, but he managed to rise up and answer the person knocking on his door.
"Good morning. We are the welcoming committee. Welcome to Whammy House. My name is Mello", said a rather unenthusiastic fifteen-ish year old boy, who appeared like he didn't want to welcome anyone at all. "This is Near"
A much younger boy, who is equally bored, nodded without looking at him.
"Uh…Hello…"
"We're supposed to give you a tour of the house for today, and introduce you to your work. Do you need some time to prepare first?"
"Sure" Light replied, and the two boys took it as permission to get inside his room and sit on his bed.
"You have five minutes…er…"
"My name is Light"
"Yep. You have five minutes"
Light quickly brushed his hair and washed his face, looked for fresh clothes to wear. Apparently there was a limited stock of it in the closet. Just a plain white shirt and pants, similar to what L had been wearing the whole time.
"Is that a code or is that really your real name?" Mello asked after a while of inspecting the room.
"Yeah" he said lazily. "My parents wanted to be edgy"
"That makes sense" Mello said. "Well, most people here have unique names too so you will fit right in"
Light smiled at him.
"That's good to know"
"So, are you done, can we start moving already?"
Light could feel the impatience starting to slip in Mello's voice.
"Yeah. Lead the way"
Mello smirked.
"Well, there's nothing much, really. We might be done in five minutes" he admitted. "Roger just wanted to make sure you are acquainted properly."
"Right"
Light followed them outside his room, downstairs, into the corridor where he went yesterday.
"That's Roger's office, though you probably know that already." Mello started.
He walked fast, that Light has to jog through the corridors.
"These are the classrooms, above is the library. And further back is the mess hall. Any questions so far?"
"Uh…no"
Mello smirked again.
"I'm sure you're excited to start working, so let's move on then."
Mello proceeded walking to the direction of the mess hall, but did a double take halfway through.
"Oh, by the way, we can talk in Japanese if you prefer" he spoke in Japanese. Light was surprised.
"H-how did you…"
"Your accent is giving it away…I mean, it's cute and all but you have such a heavy Japanese accent"
Light turned a bit red.
"It's alright. Most of us can speak in multiple languages anyway, except the younger kids, so there's nothing to worry about"
Near nodded in acknowledgment, but didn't say a word.
"Well, I'll talk in Japanese then" Light said, a bit embarrassed.
They arrived in the mess hall.
"Roger might have mentioned that we are a bit short staffed. I mean there is only one official cooking staff, so us older kids have to work. In the morning, we have different tasks in the kitchen. Then, most of the kids just go to the local public school. We older kids need to accompany them so that they actually arrive there safely, and then the rest of the day we just keep to ourselves until dinner, where we do kitchen duty again." Mello explained.
"How many children are there?"
"42" Near mumbled in Japanese. Light was a bit startled to hear his voice for the first time, since he just assumed he didn't talk.
"Yeah, Near likes to impress people with random nonsense" Mello was a bit irritated. "But he is right. That just makes it a bit manageable for us, but they can be chaotic without any of us taking care of the peace"
Mello handed Light an apron. Near went farther in the room to get his distinctively own apron.
"We already grinded some discipline into these kids. Your role is to just distribute all the food into each table, and then after the meal, take it to the back room for it to be cleaned by the kids on washing duty." Mello explained. "You take that aisle over there, and I'll just be here to supervise the others"
Light started doing his work. Soon, the place was filled with children talking, laughing, and just rambling about their day. Mello suddenly rang the bell and they all were quiet.
"Before we begin, let us all welcome Light, who will be working here from today" he announced.
Everyone looked at Light, who felt a bit awkward for being stared at, but it didn't take long before they started eating, like nothing happened. Mello motioned for Light to join them in the older kid's table where they started eating as well. He was introduced to a couple more of the older kids who were on kitchen duty, for instance Matt, who looked like he was playing a handheld console in between his meal. Near was also there, but he kept to himself and no one really bothered him. He was giving an aura that he didn't want anyone near him, quite ironic for his name, actually.
Mello on the other hand looked like everyone liked him, and he was the star of the conversation. He laughed loudly, and was the last of the people who finished their meal. They were done in less than an hour, and they proceeded to gather all the plates and give it to the back room.
…
"You don't go to school?" Light asked Mello on the way home after walking the kids to school.
"I don't need it." Mello simply said. "We have the privilege to do whatever we want"
"What do you mean, 'we'?"
"Are you serious?" Mello looked at him to see if he was messing with him. "You don't actually know?"
Light looked clueless.
"Well, Whammy House is an orphanage first and foremost", Mello explained. "But it also is a home for bright kids who can be candidates to be the next L"
"What?"
"Yeah, so me and Near, as well as Matt, we are a few of the candidates who can be the future L" Mello confirmed. "L hasn't decided yet, so we are doing our best to hone our skills should we be chosen"
"Were you already an orphan when you came to this place?" Light asked curiously.
"Well, some of them are, but I knew my mother. She gave me this necklace" Mello showed him what looked like a rosary hanging around his neck. "Our family is dirt poor. Watari offered quite a large sum to them, but they were crying when I was about to go. My mother told me to do my best, but it's not like she has the right to say that after what she did, you know?"
Light didn't say anything.
"So, what is your deal?" Mello started interrogating him back.
"What do you mean" Light asked.
"I mean, Roger had to leave all of us, making us in charge, though I'm not complaining, to get you from Japan?" Mello clarified. "You don't appear to be one of the candidates, and yet Roger and Watari took special care in bringing you here"
"I'm sorry….what do you mean?"
Mello scoffed, a bit impatient.
"You don't know?" Mello looked at his face to see if he was hiding something. "Well, to be honest, you look a bit old to be placed in an orphanage"
"I came here to work" Light replied.
"Yeah, except Roger doesn't really trust anyone easily, hence we are always short staffed." Mello argued. "The only time they were this engaged was when they see a potential candidate"
"I don't know what you mean…"
"Hey, is it true that you were working with L? With the Kira case" Mello suddenly asked.
Light hesitated.
"Yeah."
"Oh…" Mello had a sudden realisation. "That's probably why"
He examined Light from head to foot.
"Can you stop that, it's a bit unsettling" Light said.
"But Watari had always told us that it could only be either me or Near"
"Well, that could be the case, since I'm not planning to be the next L"
"Are you sure about that"
"I'm sure." Light assured him. "It's not like Watari even likes me"
"Huh" Mello continued. "But why are you here?"
"If you must know, I came here to have a change of pace. Not have some random people asking me constantly what I'm planning to do" Light was a bit irritated.
"Sorry." Mello knocked it off. "I am just a bit paranoid when it comes to L…"
"Well, I'm not going to take the spot anytime soon" Light assured him again. "Can we be friends at least?"
"Yeah! Definitely" Mello smiled at him. "Do you want to hang out with us after this?"
"That would be wonderful." Light replied. However, he felt a bit wobbly. Mello caught him just in time.
"Hey, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Light said as he started rubbing his head. "I was just a bit dizzy. He suddenly started to feel sick. He rushed into the side of the road and threw up most of what he just ate. Mello just watched him with concern. A few minutes of this, and Light caught his breath, wiping his mouth with his shirt.
"You look sick" Mello pointed out. "Maybe you shouldn't hang out with us after all.
"No, it's alright. I don't want to spend the rest of the day in bed again."
Light started walking.
"Well, suit yourself then" Mello brushed it off and led him to their hang out place.
….
L could not contain his anger, his frustration, at what Watari had done behind his back. Though it may look like he was in charge, apparently, when it came to it, the older man would still have his way even if it is contrary to L's wishes. He should have seen the signs, realised that the older man didn't really favour Light and would go this far to take him away from him.
He thought he could be with Light a bit longer. He should have paid more attention to him, he should have given him more time, and now all he could think about was Light.
Watari did not care to explain where he moved Light, although he had an idea where, but he wouldn't confirm it either. All he could say was, he would be able to bring Light back as soon as the case was closed. But it was proving more difficult than was expected.
For one, the police department has already suffered from Kira fatigue, that they are willing to just conclude the first suspect who admitted to the case, which was Higuchi. They had all the evidence clearly documented and filed, and everyone even Yagami Souchirou has been accepted back to the police force, apparently with promotions. They weren't willing to spend another indefinite amount of time to try and look for another Kira, not when the killings has stopped since Higuchi's death, and it is not like something like a death note would hold any bearing in court, being that it is still treading on hoax and supernatural factors. No court would accept any case like that, so for the sake of their mental health, and job security, they informed L that they would no longer be working in the case.
On another note, Souichiro Yagami looked really shocked that his son would just disappear like that, without telling anyone. Watari explained to him that he was the one who chose to leave, and that he was being well cared for in a secret facility. He just could not accept that statement and threatened to sue them for kidnapping, but quickly realised that it would all just be pointless with all the legal capabilities available to Watari, and just punched a hole in the wall before he left.
L was left without a team, other than Watari. It was not like it was unfamiliar ground to him, he used to work alone in cases anyway. However, it was the first time that he felt really alone. He missed Light. Now he is facing a dilemma. Should he continue working on this case, despite knowing that Light might actually be Kira and in effect be the one to end his life for good? Or should he just listen to the police, and make do with what they have?
L found one of his fingers bleeding. He had been chewing on it unconsciously to the point that it bled. He had to make a choice, and that choice should be something that would satisfy him, Watari, and all the people involved.
….
"Here, it'll make you feel better" Mello said as he tossed something in Light's direction.
Light caught it in midair. It was a chocolate bar.
"Thanks"
Mello still continued to observe him.
"I must admit that I'm still very interested in you, Light" Mello repeated as he watched the other open the chocolate bar and take one small square out of it, and into his mouth.
"Just let it go, already, Mello. He's starting to look uncomfortable" Matt, who has been playing games the whole time, suddenly spoke. He smiled at Light.
"You have to have a bit of patience with him. He's very obsessed with any potential candidate for L" Matt explained. "Plus he's gay"
"That's a private matter!" Mello reminded him, turning red. "And I'm not interested in you in that way if you're thinking about that"
Light could not hide his amused face.
"I was not…thinking about it" he said trying to hide his red face as well.
Mello looked unconvinced. "So are you gay as well?"
"Wha…why this all of a sudden…"
"Well, nothing wrong with being gay, anyway." Mello dismissed his excuses. "As long as you stay away from Matt because he's mine"
"Hey, hey…" Matt spoke again mid game. "Don't start friendships with that kind of warnings"
"But that's the truth anyway." Mello wasn't listening. "And we're sort of friends now, aren't we?"
Light nodded awkwardly.
"I have to remind you, that friends tell each other secrets" Mello despite his calm voice sounded threatening. "So, you worked with L, how was it like?"
"Uh…." Light started feeling uncomfortable.
"How does he look like? How good was he?" Mello kept interrogating.
"He's ….fine I guess"
Mello thought about it for a moment.
"That's all you can say?"
"I mean, you probably know him more since you're his candidates"
Mello looked like he was going to throw a fit. Matt interrupted.
"We haven't seen him in person yet. We only heard his voice once, and we just keep studying his cases"
"What…." Light didn't think L would be this secretive.
"So tell us all you know!" Mello demanded.
"I don't know much about him too…" Light started. "I mean…I don't think I've really known him. I…"
Light didn't realise that it would be too painful to remember.
"Hey, could it be…you're his…" Mello suddenly realised something, and his suspicions became clear as he witnessed Light in tears.
"You've gone too far, Mello" Matt reprimanded him.
"I'm sorry…I was being too forceful" Mello apologised. "That's just me, I was too caught up in the moment"
Light continued crying, and Matt and Mello did their best to comfort him.
"Excuse me" came another familiar voice. It was Near.
"Wh-a…Near! What are you doing here?"
"Roger asked me to get Light." He said. Mello just looked at him irritably.
Light stopped crying and looked at Near.
"So are you coming with me, Light?" Near continued.
"Okay"
Light followed the younger looking teen toward the office. It was dead silent throughout their walk, until Near finally started.
"I'm sorry for not talking to you earlier, Light" he spoke suddenly. "But Mello was doing a great deal of talking, that I did not want to overwhelm you"
"Oh…that's alright" Light was not sure how to respond.
Near was also observing him, like what Mello was doing previously.
"I see Mello's started interrogating you" Near spoke again. "If you don't want that you can hang out with me instead"
"That's…okay…sure" Light smiled at him.
Near reached for something in his pocket. He handed him what looked like a pencil topper.
"A symbol of our friendship" Near told him. "If you tell Mello we are friends he'll leave you alone"
Light took the toy from him,
"Thanks…"
Light found that they were in front of Roger's office already.
"I guess, I'll see you later then" Light smiled, as he opened the door without looking back. Near continued looking at him as he closed the door behind him.
"Light!" Roger greeted. "How are you finding this institution so far?"
"It's okay…" Light smiled awkwardly.
"Watari arranged for doctor visits, so here is a doctor for you" he motioned to a masked man in white, face completely hidden. "Sorry if we have to withhold his face and name, as Watari insisted on it"
Of course, Watari was still suspecting him to be Kira. The doctor started checking him, and felt like he was being examined from head to foot like livestock.
Surprisingly, the doctor did not find his pregnancy weird at all, and just seemed to accept that a man can possibly be pregnant. He even told him that he was probably around 5 weeks along. After meticulous checks, the doctor prescribed him with some pre-natal vitamins and medicine to deal with his morning sickness, plus a long list of instructions on what to do, and what to stay away from. He was really helpful, and treated him like a normal person despite not seeing his face.
…
"What did Roger call you about", came Mello's questions again during dinner time.
"I'm not supposed to tell you" Light didn't want anyone to know. "But it really has nothing to do with you"
"Hey, why are you being secretive all of a sudden?"
"I'm sorry, Mello. But I don't think Light wants to talk about it"
To his surprise, the person defending him was Near.
"He has a right to have secrets of his own" Near was a bit straightforward this time. Mello surprisingly backed down.
"Why are you suddenly friends with him?" he asked Light before leaving them alone. "Whatever, I didn't like you anyway"
"Thank you" Light genuinely meant it this time. He was already tired of answering questions, especially when it just meant that he had to lie.
Near didn't say anything else but kept close to Light throughout dinner, like a bodyguard. Mello purposely avoided the two of them and didn't talk at all during dinner. The table was dead silent, however no one seemed to find it strange. Maybe Mello had always been moody that they had been used to dealing with it. Light finished all his tasks with the help of Near.
"Thanks again for tonight, Near…" Light started, however the boy quickly held his hand, and nodded without a word. Light did not know what to make of it. All of a sudden Near started leaving him to his confused thoughts. Light just stared at him for a while until he realised that he was the only one left in the mess hall.
People here are weird.
….