Chapter 21

It has been three days and finally, I get my backpack returned to me. At some point Light even went to my house and retrieved my iPod and headphones along with clean clothes. He's such a sweetheart. Although of course, Ryuzaki had to skim through it before he even allowed me to touch it. Can anyone say paranoid? I have found that being cuffed to him isn't all that bad though. When everyone is asleep and we both are still awake, we talk. He tries to get me to let something slip about the case but I end up throwing it right back at him. At times he genuinely wants to get to know me. He's kept to his word about removing the cuffs when I need to go to the bathroom, get dressed, or bathe. Of course, in those times Light and I get caught trying to sneak private kisses but it's sort of becoming like a game, which is funny.

Today is the day we go to the new Task Force Headquarters and Ryuzaki wanted to leave as soon as possible. Probably from Misa getting so annoying. I couldn't blame him I just wanted to shove her off to the furthest room away from me and lock her there so I couldn't hear her. Seriously, when this is all done and over with I'm so going to kill her. In the three days, we had to prepare everything and get all the kinks worked out of my plan Rem and I got to spend time together whenever I would take too long in the shower or something, but still, I managed. He really isn't all that bad of a Shinigami. Like with Light I could actually laugh with him and be myself which was nice. I'm so tired of hiding it's not even funny. Pulling my bag onto my right shoulder I go to pick up my other bag but Light does it for me bringing a smile to my lips as I look at him. His eyes were so cool and calculating but what I enjoyed was the fact they soften every time he looks at me. It made me feel like a weight was being pulled off of me and reminding me that I'm not alone. It is time to go. I knew it as soon as Ryuzaki started pulling me after him. He really was rude this way and from interfering before I could even touch Light very nearly had me growling. It was almost as if he was deliberately trying to keep Light and I apart!

Upon getting to the overly large building we walk in without even focusing on the metal detector. Ryuzaki didn't even want to take the cuffs off for it. A good part of the day then was spent with Ryuzaki showing us around. And having Misa's floor being the first stop, we sort of just left her there. It was kind of funny. Light, Ryuzaki, and I were all going to share the same floor. As he put it. Light and I were talking about living together anyway and this way he's closer so he won't have me trying to drag him everywhere to be able to talk to him. In the room he specified for us I was glad to see two beds that were apart but not far enough the cuffs wouldn't accommodate the distance. It was thoughtful of him though I suspect most of the time he wouldn't be sleeping and we will rarely ever get to go to bed. To my dismay after I put my clothes away in the dresser near the bed I claimed as my own we went back up to Misa's floor to have our.. Girl time. Seriously?!

My complaints were soon forgotten when I had a chocolate cake and a cup of my coffee sat in front of me. In fact, it made me giggle with a wiggle. Chocolate! Did I mention how I haven't had chocolate since before I was imprisoned? I was so going through withdrawals. Pulling my bag from my shoulder I set it where my feet should go between the couch and the coffee table before situating my position and setting in my usual Indian style. "By the way Kira, I've been meaning to ask you, is your Indian style like Ryuzaki's crouched position?" Light asks me. He was sitting on my right since the cuffs were on my left. I could tell from the corner of my eye before I look toward Light that Ryuzaki was curious as well for he was looking at me. My cheeks flush as I pull my hair up into a high ponytail so it doesn't get into any of the chocolate. "Well kind of I guess. This is just more comfortable for me I guess rather than having my legs down. Though I can think more clearly when I sit like this. It allows me to think more in-depth about things. So I guess with saying that then the answer would be a yes?" I more mumble shyly than anything.

"I see. Well, that's interesting." He says as he brushes a strand of my bangs that had refused to go up into the ponytail out of my face.

"Hello!" Misa sings. "It's our girl time I still don't see why the two of you can't leave us alone.

"No. No just pretend we aren't even here okay. By the way, are you going to eat that piece of cake?"

"Cake makes you fat I'm not going to eat any." My eyes widen as I look at the slice of cake I had just picked up. Honestly, I never thought about that. Should I really not eat cake? No! I can't handle that thought! I shake my head and taking a bite of the cake giving off little sounds of joy as I do. The chocolate seemed to erupt in my mouth and brought an automatic smile to my face.

"Actually I find that you don't gain any weight as long as you burn calories by using your brain." I giggle openly looking at Ryuzaki who still has his fork in his mouth.

"So now you're calling me stupid? Fine then! I'll give you the piece of cake as long as you agree to leave Kira and me alone."

"Even if we leave you two alone I'm still going to be watching on surveillance cameras and listening to everything. So it wouldn't make any difference."

"Could you stop it with your creepy hobby?"

"You can call me whatever you like.." He gets up and steps onto the glass coffee table picking up her piece of cake. "Last time for cake!"

Getting all into my cake I close my eyes savoring each bite making sure they are small to make it last longer. "What's wrong with you? I thought us moving here was supposed to help us catch Kira. But since we've been here you haven't seemed all that motivated to me." Light says as I lean against him in a way I can still eat my cake but be near him all the same.

"Not motivated? You're right, actually, I'm depressed."

*Light*

I smile down at Kira as she moves against me still making sounds as she eats, that reminded me so much of when we were on hers or my bed a while ago. Trying to get that out of my mind I look back to Ryuzaki as I hear him speak. "Depressed? What for?"

"Well, really all this time I thought your girlfriend was Kira and the entire case hinted on that fact. I guess I just can't get past the fact that my deduction was wrong. Although having said that I'm still suspicious of her." I notice as Ryuzaki holds up his wrist in between bites signifying the cuffs "That's why we are wearing these. And we also know that Kira can control people's actions which means it's highly likely that Kira's been controlling her actions so that I would suspect her. If then I assume that the two of them were being controlled by him. Then everything we've observed so far makes a lot more sense to me."

"If that's what you think then Kira and Misa were both Kira around the time they were being controlled right?"

"Yes, I don't think I could have been wrong about that. The two of them are Kira."

"Can I request something?" She finally sets up straight setting down her empty plate and picking up her coffee.

"Sure what is it?" Ryuzaki asks her.

"Well, two things really. One can I get more cake and two, can we call me Kiara so it's not so confusing hearing Kira Kira?"

"Hmm well I agree with you and as for more cake only if Watari wishes to. He's also watching the surveillance."

Lifting her head she looks around the room as if trying to spot a camera giving up she openly asks. "Watari, can I please have another piece of chocolate cake?" She draws out the word please with a smile. Before setting down her coffee and setting back on the couch.

"Anyway if what I am thinking is correct when Kiara's confinement began she was Kira. Until then everything pointed to her being Kira. But the killings never stopped. I seen how she began getting overly irritated and withdrawn but the more time passed she suddenly calmed down and began actually talking to me almost as if doing a complete flip on her emotions. As with Misa when she was first incarcerated she would hardly even speak at all. Then suddenly she was begging for me to kill her went unconscious and then her personality as well flipped. Based on that I can only assume that Kira's power passes between people."

"That's an interesting idea, but if it's true then it will be virtually impossible for us to catch Kira." I say bringing my arms down and finding Kiara's right hand linking our fingers together.

"Yes, that's why I'm overwhelmed. Even if we catch someone under his control they'll most likely lose their powers and any memory of their crimes. So in the end pursuing them becomes futile."

"But at this point, we have no way of knowing that is the case. So cheer up would ya?"

"Cheer up? No, I'm sorry I can't. It's probably better if I stop trying so hard. By chasing Kira so desperately we are just putting our lives at risk for nothing. Yes, it's just a waste of time." I stand as I let go of Kiara's hand my eyes set on Ryuzaki.

"Ryuzaki." My eyes narrow upon him as I clench my fist and pull it back ready to strike him.

*Kira*

"Don't!" But it was too late Light fell through with his punch. I hear his fist connect with Ryuzaki's face and his grunt of pain, the force was enough to send him flying dragging me along with him. In mid-air, I grab the chain using him as a weight to land with my feet beneath me. Rubbing my wrist it had felt like the cuff had cut off circulation for a second. The proof being the now building bruise peeking out under the metal. Hearing Misa's surprised yelps then the sound of her stepping on a piece of cake. I watch as Ryuzaki sets up looking at Light.

"Ya know that really hurt."

"That's enough, you don't feel like doing anything just because your genius deduction was wrong and Kiara isn't Kira?"

Ryuzaki runs his sleeve over his mouth as if trying to wipe away something that wasn't even there. "Fine, perhaps I phrased it the wrong way. I meant it would be pointless for us to make a move so we shouldn't even bother."

"If we don't chase Kira he will never be caught is that what you want? If you were just going to give up then why did you involve all of those innocent people?" Light moves forward and grabs Ryuzaki's shirt pulling him to his feet. "And more importantly what was the point of putting Kiara and Misa behind bars?!"

"I understand but still whatever the reason." Sighing as I listen to them talking before glancing down at the cuffs with a smirk. Grabbing a hold of my thumb I bite my bottom lip as I dislocate it. Slipping off the cuff and clicking it around Light's wrist just as Ryuzaki kicks Light in the chin. Holding onto my left hand I grab my bag as Light hits the couch followed by Ryuzaki. That should teach them. Walking from the room I push on the elevator door and step in going down to the ground floor. I didn't want to see this. If one of them happens to bleed I don't know if I can keep my eyes normal color. Walking out Mr. Yagami and the others glance at me. The others look back to the room where Light and Ryuzaki are still fighting and Mr. Yagami comes over to me grabbing my left hand and looking at the swelling and discoloration.

"You really should take better care of your body Kira, but I understand you could have gotten hurt worse if you didn't remove the cuff. Those two weren't thinking." He says as I take my hand back grabbing a hold of my thumb I pop it back into place with a small whimper of pain.

"You shouldn't have to apologize for them Dad. And it's alright tensions are high. I understand. And I got them back for it. But for just in case this happens again you should know I am not going to allow him to cuff me again."

Looking back to the screens I see Ryuzaki crouched near Light. "I won't be satisfied unless your girlfriend is Kira? Well, there may be some truth to that. In fact, now that you mention it you're right. I think I wanted her to be Kira." I watch as Light strikes Ryuzaki in the face again with his fist. Going over to the table I set down with my legs under me in Indian style I reach into my bag and pull out my iPod and headphones putting them in my ears, I turn on my music device and hit play. I didn't want any part in this.

*Light*

The phone rings as Ryuzaki and I have a hold of each other's shirts holding our other fists up ready to punch. We pause looking at the phone. "Huh?" Ryuzaki makes a confused sound before going over to the phone and picking it up with his pointer finger and thumb. "Yes?" He just seems to hold the phone while crouching down as if ready for me to attack him at any second. "I see." He then holds it for a little longer listening to what is being said before dropping the phone down onto the receiver.

"What was that?" I ask regaining my calm composure looking down at him.

"Matsuda's acting stupid again." He says as he begins setting up the furniture that had gotten knocked over.

"Well, that is his specialty" I sigh as I help him. Once we've set everything back up I glance around. "Uhh, Ryuzaki?"

"Yes, what is it Light?" He asks looking at me.

"Where's Kiara?"

Looking at the cuffs seeing the other end was on my wrist as if he just noticed it before looking back at me. How in the world did she do that? Most importantly, when. Going to the elevator with him we decide to start on the main floor of the task force. Once inside the elevator, he takes off the cuffs and tucks both ends and the chain away into his pocket. "Well, if she's just going to slip out of it I guess these things are pointless." Inwardly I am laughing at her sudden trick but still. Was I really that focused on the fight to not notice her disappearance? I knew from the way when I got kicked and Ryuzaki fell with me that she had put the cuff on me. But seriously, I didn't notice she had left the floor?

"I guess you're right, besides there are surveillances in key areas of this building so it won't be hard for you to keep an eye on her."

"True." He says as the door opens and we walk through it. Everyone was looking at us. It was Dad that motioned where Kira is. She was now sitting at the table off to the side and as we walk closer to her I notice she has headphones on and seemed lost in her own world her hands were on her knees under the table setting in Indian style with her eyes closed. She didn't look too happy at all though. Ryuzaki was the one to try and get her attention by tapping her on the shoulder. She slowly exhaled a sigh before removing her headphones with her right hand and looking at us. "You disappeared, how? And even put the cuff on Light?"

"Does it matter? I see you guys are done having your brawl of testosterone. Did you have fun?"

"Yes, we burnt off some steam." He says and I just look at him. Glancing back to her as I hear her bag zip shut she slides off of the seat.

"I should thank the both of you for having forgotten I was attached to one of you. I could have gotten hurt you know and neither one of you would have noticed." So that's why she slipped out of the cuffs. How could I be so stupid! She puts her bag on both of her shoulders I notice her swollen left hand. Reaching out I grab her wrist to look at it.

"Kiara…"

She yanks her hand back and holds it with her right gently. "I dislocated my thumb to get out of the cuffs alright. It will be fine." It was then I notice the very wrist I had grabbed had been bruised by the cuff that had been there. It must have happened when I first punched Ryuzaki. Guilt began to build even more within me as I stared at her lightly clutched hand.

"That was quick thinking on your part but I don't know many people who would actually work through the pain enough to dislocate their own thumb." Ryuzaki says and she just rolls her eyes.

"Never mind that. I'd like to tell you I am not going to allow you to cuff me again. A fight like that could break out again and I'll be a bystander in it. I'll stay here alright."

"Well, I already figured that if you could slip out of them they were useless."

"Good." She says as she walks past us not even giving me a second glance. Why did this action feel like she was ripping my heart from my chest? "Then I will move to my own floor or if you can't have that then I guess I'll go to Misa's you choose." Ryuzaki looks like he is thinking about it. I just turn to look at her back. When he didn't answer right away. "I guess I get my own floor. I'll choose one myself." She then walks off to the elevator being careful not to use her hand too much. What was this feeling? She has every right to be mad at me for starting that fight but even though I know this why does it feel like... Like my very life is being choked out of me?

"She's mad understandably." Ryuzaki needlessly points out. Looking at him I feel like I'm going to punch him again.

"If you weren't talking like you were I wouldn't have punched you."

"On the contrary, if you wouldn't have punched me she wouldn't be upset."

"Enough you two!" I hear my dad yell, causing us to look towards him. I see him walking over to us. "You openly fought in front of women and to top it off you could have really hurt one of them more than just the bruise she already got! Just Because you both neglected to think about the one that was forced to be handcuffed. Light, I raised you better than that!" Wow, he really does get angry when Kiara could be in danger. "I expect you both to make a formal apology to her as soon as you can. It is only right in doing so." With that he straightens his glasses then walks back over to the wall-sized computers.

The next couple of days Kiara refused to leave her floor. She wanted nothing to do with anyone. Dad had gone and checked on her and he said that she had gotten her hand wrapped up but she still wasn't in any shape to see anyone. This made me worry. Was I right? She has a fragile defense and this shattered it? This thought made me pause with my typing. I still need to focus on the plan, she won't have given up on it after that. "Ryuzaki, I know you aren't feeling up to it but come here." Hearing him wheel his chair up to mine I bring up the files I had found. "Take a close look at this, it can't be a coincidence."

"Huh?" He gives the sound of surprise looking at the screen.

"All of them were prominent businessmen, CEO's in their respective industries. And in just over a month they all died of heart attacks." Bringing up the graphs so he could see them I watch as the lines form themselves. "As expected there has been a downturn in the general market except for Yotsuba. In other words, their deaths have worked in Yotsuba's favor." I bring up another file. "Looking back there have been thirteen similar deaths in the past three months." Glancing at Ryuzaki he had his mouth open and was touching his lip with his thumb looking at the computer. "Your thoughts? Based on this I can only conclude that Kira is supporting Yotsuba."

"Hmm, could be but if what you are saying is true then we can assume that punishing criminals is not this Kira's real intent."

"Right? Punishing criminals is a diversion for him. It obscures the fact that he is actually killing people for the benefit of his company." I chuckle slightly smiling at him. "Are you feeling a bit more motivated now?"

"Yes, Good work Light."

Although he said good work he didn't sound like it at all. Like normal he kept his usual emotionless façade going. "I'm going to print these out." I tell him as I route all of the pages to the printer.

"Oh and Light I have a question I've been curious about."

"What is it?" I ask him not without looking away from the computer screen.

"Why does Kiara have such a top-of-the-line computer in her home? All we found on it was anime and simple games. That wouldn't explain why she would have that particular computer."

"You'd have to ask her I guess. I know she's pretty good with computers but all I ever see her doing is watching anime or shopping on it."

"I see, but I doubt she will just tell me, especially right now when she is still upset with us."

"All I can say is give her time. She isn't the type to stay down for long. Plus, if you make her comfortable here she might let you in on some of her secrets."

"Secrets huh, like her faked birth certificate and past?"

I give him a chuckle before getting up and going to the printer. "Uhh, maybe who knows."