CHAPTER 26 - Hide and seek
Things were strange between them. In the week that followed Mello's birthday, Light didn't get a chance to speak with L privately and he was getting more confused every day. While L was still acting like a coldass detective towards everyone, something was different in L's approach towards him. Because he stopped pushing Light away. Not that he would show some affection openly, but he started leaning into Light's touches, whenever Light made some effort to get into L's personal space. Light was not sure what happened that caused this change. But it was surely something during the time L was gone almost a week ago.
It probably wasn't a reaction to him being Kira again. So it had to be something else. Light was seriously worried about L's health condition. The detective was changing his daily menu and the number of pills on his plate was slowly increasing. Light needed to talk to L alone. But he didn't have a chance to get to him. L was not spending so much time in HQs anymore, which was also frustrating. There were even moments, when Light felt like KT was more in charge of the task force then L.
KT is a problem. She is definitely watching me. She definitely knows…. and she is practically untouchable. Everything she cares about is inside this building… so if something happens to her family or Matsuda… I will be first on her list.
She was really pissing Light off. It didn't seem that she was making much effort to really catch Beyond Birthday. She was just waiting for him to finish his deathly message, just like everyone else. Light needed to do something about this on his own.
He needed Birthday's real name.
Maybe L knew it, but maybe not. On the first briefing about Birthday a few weeks ago, L was surprised himself that the man was alive. Which meant he only knew him under the name Beyond Birthday. Or he was lying about that and he didn't want to reveal the real name in front of Light. Which would be understandable. He couldn't ask L about that. But there might be someone else he could ask… it was worth a shot.
Near was studying the Kira case for more than a week now. In his free time, in every single second he could spare outside his school duty. But also out of Mello's sight. Near wasn't sure what Mello was really up to. But the fact that he obviously obtained Kira case files on his own, without their father knowing, meant that it was something secret and on the edge. But Near also knew Mello was not the one to make idiotic moves without a good reason. That's why Near kept the information for himself and decided to study the Kira case. He was sure the answer lies there. There was something Mello wanted to find in those files without father knowing. And Near was determined to find out before confronting Mello or telling father.
There is always a possibility that he just wants to solve the case himself and get father's attention… Near thought. That would also make sense.
Near was actually happy that Mello didn't really read those files. Because if his older brother found out that the main suspect was Light Yagami, he might do something very stupid. Like poisoning Light's coffee, just to have the case finally closed.
Near wasn't surprised that the case had over 4000 files but he was surprised that it was written all in Japanese. And Near was still learning the language. So getting through it all took him much longer than anticipated. Some nights he had to simply admit to himself that it was a little too much to handle for a five year old and he went to sleep with a terrible headache. But he was not going to give up.
Right now, he was reading about Yagami's and Amane's time under surveillance. Up till now, everything in the investigation seemed logical. All the steps his father did he would do the same. All the conclusions his father came with, Near would come with the same. But something was clearly out of order there. There was something that was slipping through L's fingers.
That or… Yagami is actually innocent.
Near checked the clock on the wall and closed another case file. More reading had to wait. There was a suspect he needed to observe from very close proximity.
They played Shogi together two times in the past week. Every time, little Near came into HQs and demanded Light's time and attention. Light happily obeyd. It was his chance to get a little closer to L, while L was not even there. Light used their time together to ask Near questions about his childhood, his brother or L. Near was happily telling him about his collection of robots, about their house or about Mello's love for chocolate. But he never actually said anything, that could really reveal their house position, or that could lead Light to finding out their family name. Light was not sure if it was intentional or not. It seemed intentional. But it was hard to believe that someone could manipulate a child of five into talking into riddles like this. But Light was sure the following conversation will help him to find out.
"Near… I was wondering if you could help me with something." he said, while moving a figure on the board.
"I am listening..." Near said, while thinking about his next move.
Light took out a photo from his breast pocket and unwrapped it. Just looking at it was causing him pain. It was a photo of L, Beyond Birthday, Mello and Near that KT brought from house in Osaka. They looked like a happy young family. But Near's age on this photo was off… Light didnt realize it the first time, but when he took it from the evidence today, he realized that Near is only a few months old in the photo. Which meant that Birthday and L must have gotten together very soon after the boy was born.
But where was his mother then?
This question was bothering him the whole day. But it was not his main task. He needed to know something else.
"Near… do you know who that man is?" Light asked and put the photo on a playing board.
Seeing a photo of their family out of their house was something Near did not expect. He took a photo to his hands and examined it. He didn't know this one. There were many family photos in their house but... they were never all four of them on those. So Near was genuinely surprised by this photo and by how happy everyone looked there. Where Light Yagami obtained this photo was a mystery to him.
"Yes, I do." Near said put the photo back on the board.
"Your dad and that man… were together… right?" Light asked and tried to stay as calm as possible, but he was dying to know everything the boy could tell him. He figured out that Near was surprised to see the photo, but it didn't seem like it evoked any emotions in him.
"Yes, that is correct." Near said and moved his figure on the board.
"Do you remember him?"
Near slowly shook his head. "No… I don't. I was very small when he left. Why are you asking?"
Light leaned closer over the board: "I shouldn't be probably telling you this but this man is… he did bad things and he is currently on a run. We are trying to catch him but I am afraid that your father and aunt are not objective in this investigation."
Near tilted his head slightly: "I see… so you want me to tell you what I know about him, so you can find him."
Light smiled: "That would be very helpful."
"I am afraid I must disappoint you… Light. I remember very little of their period together." Near said and he didn't lie. He really didn't remember his own father. He knew him only from photographs and Mello's storytelling.
"Oh… there must be something you remember… I don't know….like … a nickname he could be operating under? Or something like that?"
That was an important moment for Near. From the Kira case files he already knew that Kira needs a name and a face to kill. Light had Beyond Birthday's face. Now he needed a name. But it was also unlikely that he didn't already know his name. Because from what L said a year ago, their father was murdered by Kira.
So Light has to know his name already… but that name is not working for some reason. Wait… is he trying to figure out a different name? But father doesn't have any other name so that could mean… Kira can't kill him. For some reason, Kira can't kill him!
"Well father was calling him BB." Near said innocently and he had an urge to smirk. But he managed to suppress it.
"And that's a short for?"
"Beyond Birthday." He said and watched as a lightning of anger flashed in Light's eyes.
Got you… Near thought.
Light couldn't suppress the urge to frown. He probably shouldn't be surprised that the boy didn't know. He was indeed little in that photo and if Beyond Birthday was the name that the bastard was using regularly, there was no way he could find out the real name…. but… Light could still ask Near about the other thing that was drilling in his head:
"Near… may I ask you one more thing?"
"You can try…" the boy said and put his head on his knee.
"You seem to be very young in this picture. No more than 3 months old… but if your father was with Beyond Birthday in that time… what about your mother?"
That was really a tricky question to answer right and Near wasn't exactly ready for it. He couldn't say that there was no mother. For a moment he wanted to say that he was actually brought onto the world by a surrogate mother to be a successor of L, but that would deny L's official version. So Near decided to tell the lie… which was actually also true.
"I never met my mother. And my father never talks about her. So I don't know how to answer your question." Near said with a level of sadness in his voice. Big enough to say Near was not happy about the question but not great enough for him to realize, he was playing it. And Light fell for it.
"I see… that must be hard. I am sorry I shouldn't have asked." Light said and shoved the photo back into his pocket. He shifted his attention back to the game and they were silent for a few minutes. Before Near spoke up again:
"Will you also allow me a question, Light?" the boy was scanning Light with a piercing sight.
"Ofcourse…" Light said with a soft smile.
"Why do you want to find Beyond Birthday on your own? I understand why you think my father and aunt have prejudices, but I don't understand why it is your concern."
Light opened and closed his mouth. He didn't not expect the boy to notice so fast. But he was L's son after all. And because he was a lot like his father, there was no point trying to deny something:
"I want to bring him to justice… and make sure he will not hurt your father, your brother or... you."
"You like us so much?" Near asked with an innocent childish smile, but his mind already knew the answer. This was the second time Light Yagami made a comment about keeping his father safe. It was getting clear what was going on.
Light smiled back: "Your father is very dear to me and you… you and your brother are part of him."
"I see…" Near said and turned his head back to the game board. His theory was confirmed and he had a lot to think about now. But still… he felt like he should finish the conversation: "I like you too."
There was a knock on the door and then the door opened without the person waiting for invitation.
"Hello!" KT greeted the old man and only her head was looking inside the room, while the rest of the body was waiting outside. She was smiling wide.
Watari smiled back at her: "Good evening, my dear, come in."
KT stepped into Watari's office and started talking: "Tomorrow our Christmas tree will arrive! I wanted to discuss with you, where to place it. It is almost 3 meters high."
Watari chuckled at her enthusiasm. She looked really happy. He didn't remember seeing her shiny like this for a long long time. Even her dress were more colorful than normally. Relationship with Mr. Matsuda was obviously doing miracles with her.
"Well I guess you don't want to celebrate christmas in HQs?" Watari asked.
"No, I dont. You are right as always." She smiled at him and threw herself onto a sofa.
"In that case, we need to find a way how to get the tree into the highest floor." Watari said and moved from his monitors to a comfy chair.
"Why there?" She frowned.
"There is a flat with an amazing view L wanted to keep empty. There is one spot there, with a ceiling almost 4 meters high."
KT's eyes shone with excitement and she immediately got on her feet: "Amazing! Can I get keys please? I wanna check it and think about the decoration."
"Of course, but what about having a coffee with your old man first?" Watari asked her and gave her an amused look. She really looked full of energy and happiness.
"Of course! Sure!" She said smiling.
Watari wanted to stand up to make them a coffee but KT was faster.
"No! You stay where you are. I will make it myself." she said and headed to the coffee machine.
"Thank you my, dear."
Watari watched her dancing next to the coffee machine and humming. It was amazing seeing KT like this.
God knows the girl got through too much. He thought.
After two minutes KT was back with two coffees and they were both just sitting in silence and sipping on their coffees.
"So… is there something you wanted to talk about? Or you just wanted to enjoy my company?" She asked and winked.
"I wanted to enjoy your company of course. Because for the last week and a half, you are neglecting me, my dear." Watari said and gave her a knowing look through his glasses.
KT bit her lower lip and Watari saw the light pink color spreading through her face.
"I… I am sorry Watari. I had a lot of work and…"
The old man chuckled: "Work you say? Do you realize I am watching cameras in the tower corridors?"
KT opened and closed her mouth. Of course she knew but she didn't think Watari would confront her about that…
"I… I just… it's nothing, Watari. I just need to relax a little." she stuttered and her eyes were fixed in her cup.
"Nothing you say? Well that's a pity." Watari said with disappointment in his voice, but there was amusement as well.
KT frowned, not sure what he meant by that. But he explained himself:
"Because Matsuda-san is a good man. He is kind hearted, devoted and he is not calculated. If it wasn't nothing… as you implied… I would say that I am happy for you."
KT bit her lower lip and smiled a little: "You… you are?"
Watari nodded: "Yes my dear… I think he might be the right man for you."
KT blushed and looked into her coffee again. She was not sure what to say. Watari surely knew she was lying about them being nothing but…It was too soon to give their relationship a name. Or she didn't know how to put it all in words. But in the end there were no worlds needed. KT abruptly stood up, leaned across the table and hugged Watari tightly.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She said and she was smiling from ear to ear.
Watari was very surprised by her spontaneous behaviour, but he hugged her back. When she finally came back to her seat, they had both teary eyes.
"You deserve to be happy, K. You and your brother as well."
L was not sure how to act. For the first time in his damn life.
It was all much easier with BB, back then, in LA. Because L just wanted him to come back home, to him and their kids and he wore his heart on a sleeve. Even in the moment, when it looked like BB was going to kill him, L pleaded him to stop and come back home. He was willing to forgive his murders. He was willing to risk his detective reputation just to save his family. But it didn't work. B almost killed both of them, he wounded KT and poisoned Watari.
L could swear his heart frozen back then. BB was his first love. And no matter how much you want, you never forget your first love. Not to mention that he had two little teddy bears to remind him of BB every day.
It was different now, with Light.
From the moment L realized he fell for Light, he was doing his best to look indifferent. Because he figured that letting out one's feelings is dangerous and also because he knew Light was Kira. No matter what was happening between them, he needed to have the upper hand. It might have worked on the outside, but it wasn't helping him much on the inside. Because what L felt for Light was… it was so unbelievably strong that L sometimes felt like he was drowning in it. And sometimes he feared that it was actually the strength of Kira's personality, that is holding his heart so tightly.
But no… that's not it. He thought.
L loved Light. He loved his smile, he loved his kisses, he loved his sweet whispers, his hands in his hair, his fingers caressing his skin. He loved his intelligence, his calculativeness and also… yes, also his Kira part. Because these all things were what made Light… Light.
L knew how dangerous this was.
Because if Light realizes he actually has the upper hand, it might ended badly for the whole world. But for the last week, L was getting tired of fighting his feelings. He knew it was mostly because his hormones were getting the worst of him, but he was barely holding on. He just wanted to run to Light's arms and stay there until the end of the world. He needed to be held, he needed to sleep in Light's embrace. Feel his gentle touch on his still flat belly. He needed all the love and protection he knew he couldn't have.
And above all… Kira was killing again.
L knew it was Light. All the killings in before were probably Misa Amane but now, Light had the Death note. Which also meant it was probably in the building. It would be easy to get Light out of the tower for a few hours and search his room but… L couldn't find the courage to do that. He was still holding on to the hope that he would somehow persuade Light to stop. Although, it seemed more like a dream every day.
So L… didn't know how to act. For the first time in his damn life.