CHAPTER 21:
"You Can Call Me Matt"

"Hey, you're finally awake, man. Good!" The young man grinned pleased with himself, as he approached, and leaned in close to Light. "I was wondering how long that tranq dart would last. It's been a good three hours since I brought you here. You're heavier than you look. I was tempted, when you awoke to use the Chinese Water Torture on you, but then that mask you're wearing would make it redundant."

"Obviously," Light replied sardonically.

His kidnapper pulled up another chair that had been sitting in the corner, turned it backwards, and then sat down, with his arms over the back, legs spread. He puffed on his cigarette and blew it out. Light let out three short coughs.

"Sorry about that," the young man said. "Nasty habit, but I enjoy it. Helps with stress, y'know. I also like gaming. But I have yet to find a game that I can't beat."

"Why?" was all Light asked.

"And who, you're probably wondering? Y'know, it's weird. The last thing I remember is being ambushed and gunned down by a collective group of suits in the middle of the street, bodyguards. I was helping out a friend. Everything went black for a while. Then, next thing, I awake, and find myself in a near-by alley, stripped nude, like some sort of Terminator who just came from the future. Although, I checked…my bones are not made with metal alloys."

The first thing Light thought of was if this person was one of those abnormalities in the space-time continuum Morph was trying to fix? But why? Who was this person? Light didn't remember encountering a person like this in his battle with L or even Near.

However, he did recall from a televised newscast, that Kiyomi Takada's bodyguards did take down a would-be assassin for aggressive behaviour when Mello kidnapped Kiyomi. Was this Mello's partner?

"You're a very important person, Mr. Shinto Izanagi. I left the mask on as a courtesy, and for dramatic effect, but I've seen your true face. No scars from acid, perfectly normal. And quite handsome, if I may add. The whole story about your face and even your identity is a lie. I wonder why? Nice hair though, very hip! You're a lot younger than your online profile pegs you out to be. But despite the surprise—you're the real McCoy, not some de-coy."

Light said nothing. As far as he was considered this man was a babbling idiot. His kidnapper puffed on his cigarette again and then flicked it away. Light looked to where it landed. Then the man quickly jumped to his feet, and ran, as it had flown and dropped onto Light's jacket that was laying, with other stuff on the floor. He stamped it out.

His kidnapper smiled abashed. "Sorry about that," he said. "Should always look where I flick."

"That jacket is Armani," Light said.

"And what I'm wearing is Gucci. I like designer clothes, very eye-catching to chicks, and ritzy stuff. But I may have to do something about this striped shirt of mine. I dunno, it was similar to one of the last things I was wearing before those jerks fired like a dozen holes in me. So, I bought another like just like it with this other stuff for sentimental reasons, I guess. Oddly enough, I don't have a scratch on me. No bullet holes of any kind. Weird, huh?" He pulled up his shirt and revealed his thin, but toned stomach and chest. Then dropped it. "You have a few scars on you, however. On your chest and left shoulder. Old bullet wounds, perhaps? Were you part of a gang? Perhaps the Yukaza? And you changed your name to get away from them? Stole from the mafia, eh? No wonder you're so rich."

Light breathed out annoyed. "No," Then: "So, what do I call you? Or would a name for my kidnapper be out of line?"

His kidnapper shrugged, then returned to the chair and sat back down, arms resting on the back, legs spread. "I don't care what you call me. You can choose any number of things. In this situation, less-refined people would probably denote me with swearword pseudonyms like: Asshole or Shithead. But let's go for a more traditional one, and one that I'm already known to go by. You can call me Matt. Not my real name, of course. I'm Kiraophobic, so I use a fake name, like a lot of people these days, especially in the criminal world."

"Okay, Matt. Why kidnap me? Once I'm found missing, hell's fury won't stop my people from hunting you down, and even, killing you. I was expected someplace else when you took me."

Matt smiled broadly. "Oh, tickle me pink," he said. "But I don't think they'll involve the police. You're a VIP in the business world, and having you go missing will cause a lot of stocks to tumble. So, I doubt your people will want that to happen. I enjoy adventure, so I'm looking forward to have a tate-de-tate with some of your more colourful people, your enforcers. And I know you have quite a few interesting people on your payroll. I forget her name at the moment, but she used to be a bodyguard for a celebrity. She has a hot little body!"

He continued, "But let's get back to the issue at hand. I want something from you. Oh, I wasn't going to ask—my partners aren't interested in money—but I want to help out some friends of mine who've had a run of bad luck. You see, the orphanage I originally came from recently suffered horrific damage from a freakish windstorm. Boy, from news clips, the place looks like war zone! Anyway, I want your money to help in rebuilding it."

Behind Light's mask, his eyes widened. Matt, his kidnapper, was an orphan from Wammy House? He was never one to believe in coincidences, but this was hard to ignore. Out of all the places this man could be from, of all the orphanages in the world, he came from the one place he sent the Shinigami to tear down. L's place of origin.

"I've been in contact with a friend who lived there and he says money isn't an issue, that his departed mentor has more than enough capital to rebuild. But seeing I was a bit of a trouble-maker when I was there, I thought I would help out. It's the least I can do. And since you rich-folks have more than enough money. Well, time to share the wealth, eh Shinto Izanagi? Care to donate to Save The Children From Wammy House? A few million, will do!"

Wammy House—what were the odds? It was almost like he was magnetically drawing people from his past as Kira. If Matt came from Wammy House, then it was a good chance he knew Near and had even known L.

He calmed himself. He couldn't allow himself to get agitated or nervous.

"I'll ask a final time," Light said collectively. "Why? And is money all you want from me? Who are these others?"

Matt got up and shrugged. "Well, you know my reasons for you being here. But as for the others, well, looks like I'll keep you guessing for a just little while longer. It isn't time yet for the big reveal anyway."

"The big reveal?"

"Yeah, one of my partners says he knows you. But as for me, I'm dying to know who you are." He took off Light's mask, exposing his handsome features. "Who are you really? Hmm, you do have an aura of familiarity, but I can't place the face. Mello told me about some crazy guy with a supernatural notebook who went around killing people. Freaky stuff. No one knows what happened to him. Some say, he just changed his name. Like you. Right? Changing your name and persona is like experiencing a resurrection. And I'm not talkin' about the Son of God."

Matt wielded a lot of information. But who were the others in his crime party? He wondered if Matt and Near had spoken about other things? And now Mello's name was dropped into the mix.

"Every heard of the phrase: Less is more? You babble too much."

"Well, I'm a bit of a chatterbox when I get going. Normally, I'm more reserved and quiet. I normally try to remain on the sidelines, but sometimes my true personality shines through. I often work alone, but when I found the others, I begin to break out of my shell. You're a pretty intelligent guy. Wammy House was a place for gifted kids, but I hated all that studying. Bored the hell out of me. Came easy to me. I really don't much care for that prepare for the future garbage anymore. I've decided to live for the moment. Oh, and gaming—definitely gaming! Do you know some of the smartest people on the planet engage in gaming? It helps with abstract thinking."

Matt cocked his head and gazed deeply into Light's face.

"You know, you have an aura of sophistication about you: bookworm, playwright, Shakespeare lover. So, what did you have to sacrifice to get where you are? You're so young to be the CEO of a multi-national conglomerate. What are you, in your mid-twenties? Quite an astounding feat! You must have known what you wanted to do early in life."

Matt lifted up his tinted-goggles. Hidden behind those red optics he exhibited enchanting blue eyes. They were beautiful, almost dazzling. Perhaps that was the reason he chose to hide them behind googles, more intimidating.

"It doesn't take much to use a search-engine these days," Matt then said. "Your profile, if it can be believed, is up there for all the world can see. But I wager there's much more to your background." Matt looked Light up and down. "You know, you make me jealous. All that money and good looks. I was born under an unlucky star."

"Aren't you afraid Kira may catch you?" Light said, with a smirk, as Matt hid his eyes behind the goggles again.

"What an interesting question," Matt replied amused. "That would imply Kira was still around, or even existed in the first place. But I have a theory about Kira. And I think he's a coward for going into hiding after he battled Near and the SPK. Kira wasn't wrong in trying to help the world, but his methodology wasn't right, either."

Light wasn't going to get into a theological debate on Kira. But it was obvious now Matt knew about Near's investigation. However, it was also apparent, Matt had never seen Light's face, or he would have been instantly recognized. "So, Matt, care to tell me why my pants zipper is open?" Light asked.

Matt smiled embarrassed, and then scratched his right temple with a finger. "Well, don't think less of me, but while you were out, I undressed you, to disarm you. I took your gun in the holster from under your arm—you wear one like a cop—and your baton that was strapped around your left thigh. Call it a full-body search without the usual invasion. I had no interest in looking where the sun never shines. But nice piece." He winked. "I like the ladies, but whoa man, you have it all, don't'cha? Sorry, but when I was putting your pants back on, you kinda got a little excited."

"How dare you!"

"I don't know what rich-folk think about it. Money, women, booze. But whatever got your juices flowing is the reason why I couldn't cage that beast. So, I left it open." He zipped Light up. "There, all tucked in. But I bet you'd make a killing if you were on the porno circuit with that monster. And, no, I'm not interested in guys."

Light was a little taken aback by the subject matter. However, he had been excited in seeing one person just before he was kidnapped. Had he been thinking about her while he was unconscious to cause such a reaction?

Matt reached into his left pocket and took out a gun. Light noticed Matt was left handed.

It was a custom crafted golden luger—Light's gun.

Matt whistled when he looked at it. "When I first saw this on you, I nearly shit bricks. This is some piece, dude. And it must've cost a fortune." He put a hand to his chin. "It's still so shiny that I can see my face in it. I even took it apart. It's never been fired. Whadda do with it, just carry it around for show?"
Light admitted, it had never been fired. But it had been used to threaten Aveeno Tant with it to play his game.

Matt stood, then went over to Light's jacket. Underneath was his baton. With one press of a button, it telescoped to just under four feet. It was compact enough that it would not cause discomfort when Light wore it.

Matt's brow rose. "I know someone who'd love to have this thing for her collection of notty toys," he said.

Just then, someone else entered the room. "Hey Matt, here you are," said a female voice, with a slight Australian flare. "Been wondering where you were. J wanted to know about the statue of our prisoner."

When she came into view, Light momentarily gasped, and his heart skipped a beat in how physically attractive she looked. She was a gorgeous woman with buxom breasts that seemed to want to explode from a very tightly buttoned shirt with only a thin black tie separating them. She also wore a short plaided skirt, thigh-high stockings and fuzzy boots. She had shoulder-length, reddish, brown hair, with supple lips.

She went to stand next to Matt and was at least two feet shorter than him. Together, they looked like an odd couple. And looked like they were about to attend an Anime Convention dressed as their favourite characters in cosplay.

Suddenly, Matt flinched. She had reached around and squeezed his butt.

"Ah, nice Matty, you've been doing those butt tightening exercises I taught you," she said candidly.

"Ex-na, on the playfulness-eh, Chastity," Matt said. "And not in front of the prisoner."

To be continued...