Chapter Five
I had been walking to Light's house on the eighteenth, after being held back after art to discuss the possibility of extra tutoring sessions with students. I'd told Miss Hisashi that I would think about it, what with having to take care of Quinn and study requirements. Then she'd offered to bring my paintings to the attention of her sister who owned an art gallery. I'd looked back at Mr Pinstripe Man. The decision had been harder to make than I thought it would be.
"The extra money would be helpful. I've never had my paintings sold before . . ."
"Tell me what you think. I could take a picture and send it to her for confirmation while you decide," Miss Hisashi had said, all smiles.
"Thanks, Hisashi-sensei." I was getting the hang of this whole honorifics thing.
Hah. I think about that moment now and I wonder if letting Miss Hisashi's sister display the painting front and centre was what had truly interested L, or Penber's notes. Perhaps I shall ask him.
Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Still, I wonder if saying no would have made much of a difference.
It was cold on the way to Light's house. My leather jacket and school uniform were hardly warm enough to combat the ever encroaching winter that could be seen in the frost in the mornings and the condensation on our school windows. According to Kuroda, Principal Asashi refused to turn on the heating until January. Another thirteen days to go. And only seven until Christmas. Four until winter break.
As I was thinking about the approaching days, I managed to slam into someone as I turned onto the junction outside Light's house.
"Oh, sorry!" I said, jerking back in surprise. He turned around, something like alarm written in his astoundingly blue eyes.
"No, that's my fault," he replied, his voice deep. "I didn't hear you coming."
I smiled, and found myself saying, "Result of many years hunting. The snapping of a twig is a lot louder to prey than it is to us."
"I can only imagine. Have a good evening, miss." He nodded politely and walked away, his footsteps near silent as well on the hard pavement. I frowned at his back until he was out of sight around the corner. Weird. The hairs rose on the back of my neck, instinct telling me that something strange was happening.
Perhaps I will get a ride home tonight, I thought, continuing to Light's house to present Sayu with the finished, coloured painting of her.
"Do you want to say hello to Light while you're here?" asked Sachiko from the kitchen. I paused a moment, listening to Ryuk's cackling from above.
"No, that's alright. I will see him tomorrow at school. Thanks for having me."
I bumped into Soichiro on the way out, his face haggard and stark white in contrast to his dark moustache. "Oh, Minerva-san," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"Giving Sayu the portrait I promised her. How are you, Yagami-san?"
"Fine. I suppose you'll want a ride home, won't you? Just give me a minute." He went inside for a moment and came back without his briefcase, a different jacket around his shoulders.
The ride to the apartment was filled with the silence of exhaustion. I had already gathered from Light that his father was working the Kira case, and I couldn't help but feel intense pity for the man. How hard would it be for him once he finally discovers to true identity of his enemy? Would his son's disloyalty break him?
"How is work?" I asked quietly. Soichiro gave me a measuring look out the corner of his eye.
"Difficult. But everything comes with challenges," he replied, equally as quiet.
"Isn't that the truth," I murmured. I spared a single glance at the painting at my feet.
Friday night. Bland conversation during the day, peppered only with brief bursts of Kuroda's infectious happiness and Ayako wishing me a good holidays and expressing a hope of meeting up. Mikoto had heard and jumped at the idea. Nozomi's smile had been cold. Ever since learning of my marks on the national exam and closeness to Light there had been a wall, one I'd put no effort into breaking down.
Now I was in my room, putting the finishing touches on Mr Pinstripe Man while listening to one of Quinn's half-symphonies from a few years ago. It was my favourite, composed just after moving to Canada. The pain, heatbreak and confusion contained within the roaring melodies explained my life to a T.
Of course Ryuk had the impecable timing to come in just as I was doing a headstand to check the shadowing and make sure it didn't seem as though Light was floating on the surface of the Earth rather than planted firmly. Granted it could have been easier to turn the image over but being an painter left little time for any fun aeorbics.
"What are you doing?"
I stifled a scream, falling flat on my face. To a chorus of hysterical laughter I righted myself and glared at the death god and his jangling heart earring.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
"Saying hi."
"Did Light send you?"
"You're not being very nice."
"Sorry," I said sarcastically, picking myself up from amongst the crumpled papers and pencils littering my floor. "It's a little hard to be nice when I have an uninvited, creepy, guest."
"Mean." He stuck out his tongue. It was black and shrivelled and disgusting. I flinched in horror which set him off again.
I fell onto my bed with a nervous glance at the door. If Quinn came in and saw me talking to an 'imaginary friend' I would be in serious trouble. "What are you doing here?" I asked again in a hushed tone.
"Didn't I say I'm here to say hi?"
"What else?"
He gave a rattling sigh and flopped onto the bed next to me. "You're just like Light. No respect."
I shuffled away slightly. "It's hard to respect someone who dresses like a punk rocker, wears an earring in the shape of a heart and is obsessed with apples."
Ryuk perked up. "Do you have any?"
"No."
"Oh."
"You didn't answer my question."
Ryuk groaned and floated away, phasing through my door. I leapt up and threw open the door hurriedly to see a glimpse of black spikes disappearing around the corner. Too afraid to say a word, I hurried to the living room. Quinn was seated in front of the television, watching a neo noir film full of shadows and men in fedoras.
Ryuk was reaching for the fridge handle. With a gasp, I dove for him and tore it open, grabbing one of the apples inside. Holding it up in plain view, I slammed the fridge door shut.
"You told me you didn't have any," he said accusingly. I opened my mouth to reply.
"V?" My mouth snapped shut. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing. Don't worry. Go back to your movie." With an awkward wave, I strode out of the room as quickly as I could and hid in my room, shutting the door and cutting Ryuk's head in half. I scowled when he just phased in as though nothing had happened.
"Stay away from my brother," I hissed.
"Sure, if you give me the apple." He made to grab for it but I danced out of the way, holding it behind my back.
"No. Promise me you won't touch him. I know Light's word is worth nothing but you have to have some honour as a Shinigami. Tell me you won't do anything to him again. He doesn't need a personal poltergeist on top of everything else."
Ryuk's expression somehow fell into something other than a smile. His lips twisted awkwardly over his sharp, protuding teeth into the parody of a frown. "Shinigami have no honour," he said.
Intriguied, I tossed to apple over and sat down on the bed once more, gesturing for him to continue.
So I was treated to the story of the Shinigami. An explanation of their land, of their world, of their fall into gambling, sleeping and talking of the same things for ever, as though time for them was nothing but one massive loop. With each question I asked and each comment he seemed to grow more enthused, even going so far as to gesture on occasion as opposed to leaving his hands hanging by his sides.
"There's a shinigami with diamonds as eyes?" I asked incredulously.
"His skull's made of gold. His name's Othar. Real pain in the butt."
By this point I was leaning forwards, entranced by this disturbing, broken society of beings of twisted, pointless power.
"So why do you think you were created."
"No idea. I don't think even the king himself knows. We just exist."
"Huh," I muttered, mind racing to connect the dots. Granny Hiro's teachings came to mind, and I wondered if the Shinigami were a failed creation, made by the Enemy but ultimately doomed as everything of evil is. "So you keep living by killing off human beings? What possible path is there in that? Can you save people's lives?"
"Not directly, otherwise we –" Ryuk stopped, his eyes growing impossibly wider. My mouth dropped open.
"Otherwise you die," I said. Ryuk remained silent. "I see. Don't worry, I won't tell Light. There's no telling what he'd do with that information." After a moment of uncomfortable silence, I asked again, "Why did you come here?"
"I, uh, wanted to tell you that Light's being followed," he said quickly.
"By a guy with blue eyes?"
"How'd you know?"
"Bumped into him outside Light's house yesterday. He had a slight American accent but his Japanese was excellent though. Why is he being followed?"
"Light thinks L is investigating the police and people close to them."
A blank wall slammed down on my thoughts. This was happening too fast. Way too fast. Oh gosh. No. L couldn't know. He couldn't. I can't go back there. Back to Mello and BB and Near and everyone and everything and oh gosh no.
"Leave," I hissed to Ryuk. When he didn't move I picked up a paintbrush and threw it at him. "LEAVE!" He disappeared, the paintbrush clattering harmlessly on the floor. I collapsed to my knees and tried desperately not to cry.
The morning dawned bright and cold, with a clear sky but a wicked wind whipping through the city with a vengeance, sending rubbish swirling about the ankles of the morning walkers. After school I waited by the bus stop between our houses, clenching and unclenching my fists in an effort to keep my fingers from losing all feeling. A call had me snapping my gaze away from the group of school children across the road enjoying the repreive from overcast, rainy weather.
"Minerva!" Light was walking towards me, Ryuk at his side. I gave them a small nod, observing Light as he closed his eyes and talked to his personal death god under his breath. How he managed to do that without ramming into a pole or falling off the sidewalk eluded me.
I was about to smile when I saw Light's followed appear behind Light, appearing for all the world the casual tourist. A thought occurred to me. A wicked, angry thought that felt completely justified in Light bringing me into Kira business again.
So as soon as Light was close enough I let my expression turn ugly. "You are a real piece of work, you know that?" His eyes narrowed. The stalker was within earshot. Perfect. "You couldn't even say you're sorry. No, instead you call me out here on some sort of apology trip as though that will fix everything. Fine. I'll play along. I'll say I forgive you for cheating. But remember how you always tell me that an action speaks a thousand words? Here's mine."
And with that I reeled my arm back and slapped him as hard as I could, a satisfying smack resounding through the street. Everyone within forty feet stopped and turned to watch as I crossed my arms, walked a few metres away and leaned on a lamppost, looking every inch the angry girlfriend. Ryuk was beside himself as Light massaged his jaw, a bright red handprint on his left cheek. He played his part masterfully, not raising an eyebrow like I could see him wanting to and instead swallowing his pride and crossing his arms.
The bus came. Light came up behind me, his hand touching my lower back. I glared at him and pulled away to pay the fare to Space Land, a theme park around an hour's ride from Light's house. I must have had such a ghastly expression on me that the bus driver fell compelled to say something, as he asked, "Are you alright, ma'am?" I blinked, forced a smile on my face, and handed over the money.
"I'm fine. Nothing that can't be fixed." With that I gave Light a scathing look and strode down the aisle to one of the back seats, sliding in and staring fixedly out the window. I only noticed my mistake when Light slid in beside me, Light's stalker behind and Ryuk a hulking menace in the aisle. I was trapped.
"Quite a show," Light murmured in my ear. "What's the occasion?"
"Being dragged into this mess when I told you not to involve me is more than enough for a slap, don't you think?" I smiled brightly and immediately turned back to the window. Light let out a breath of air and gently threaded his gloved fingers within mine. The soft cotton felt strange against my skin.
So I was stuck like that for at least twenty minutes, only an elderly couple, a younger girl and her boyfriend and the stalker as the other passengers. The scenery rolled past, gaps in the cityscape showing the tree-covered mountains in the distance. Tiny glimpses of what I'd left behind in Canada. A wave of homesickness hit me and I gripped Light's hand harder, furiously holding back tears.
"Are you alright?" he whispered. I nodded and pressed my forehead on the glass. It fogged up with my breath.
The bus stopped and let on a hunched man with a crazed look in his eyes. Light's fingers flexed. I was on red alert instantly, shifting closer to the bronze-haired boy to get a better view.
Then the guy pulled out a gun, the driver cried out in alarm and the man shouted, "Stay in your seats unless you want to die!"
Oh you've got to be kidding me.
The man went on threatening us and the driver for a moment as Light took out a piece of paper and scribbled on it. Just as the driver was asking for someone to come out of Space Land with a box of money Light held out the note in front of me.
Don't be scared. As soon as he turns around, I'm gonna grab the gun out of his hand.
I was about to tell him the effectiveness of that when low and behold, Mr Stalker interrupted.
"Don't be stupid. That's risky," he said. "If it comes to that I'll take care of it. It's okay." Light started writing again. "We don't have to pass notes back and forth. As long as we keep it down he won't be able to hear our voices over the sound of the engine."
"Do you have any proof that you are not his accomplice? Why should we trust you?"
Oddly enough, it was the we of that sentence that got to me more than Light's obvious manipulation of the situation. He had to know from Ryuk that this was the guy following him. This must have been some sort of plot to get his name. Only Light would be dramatic enough to use a bus hijacking to get it.
Playing along, I said, "Accomplice? Really?" barely able to keep the sarcasm from my voice. Light continued with his preplanned speech and the man ended up handing over his wallet, the name Raye Penber and FBI emblazoned across his ID.
Wow. FBI. L was really pulling out the big guns for this, wasn't he?
Light knocked a piece of paper out of his pocket a few seconds later. As he bent to grab it the junkie came up, snatching it before Light could get to it. He tossed it to the side with only a cursory glance, walked down the aisle then stopped suddenly as we went beneath a tunnel. His shoulder started to shake as he twisted around, eyes bulging in fear and gun up.
"W-who the hell are you?" he cried. "You in the very back! What do you think you're doing? Don't mess with me. How long have you been back there!?"
"What's this?" asked Ryuk. "You are talking to me?" It only got worse from there. Raye shouted for us to get down and Light put a protective arm around my shoulders. Only I could see the gleam in his eyes as his plan worked to perfection. I flinched in shock as the man shot off several rounds into Ryuk, the bullets passing leaving ripples in his body as they passed through and shattered the back window. I was wrong. There was something immensely scary about seeing Ryuk's immortality up close and personal. It had never really occurred to me just how unnatural he truly was. Watching the man go crazy as his weapon of blood and death was reduced to little more than a banging toy in the face of the Shinigami slapped me face first with the true nature of the death god.
"Stop the bus!" The driver applied the breaks, the hijacker raced out of the door and was promptly hit by a car. I covered my mouth, closing my eyes as tightly as I could.
Breathe. Breathe.
"Hey, it's alright. He's gone." Was it only me who could hear the giddy note in his voice? That strain of triumph underlying every look, every word, every movement? How was it possible for him to be so proud of something that resulted in death?
Light got up and moved towards the front of the bus, leaving me sitting there shell-shocked. The second death I'd seen up close and personal since meeting Light Yagami. How many more would there be?
"Miss? Are you well? We should get off the bus," said Raye Penber, waiting by my seat. I accepted his hand and allowed him to help me to the driver's seat. There he excused himself and got into conversation with Light just outside the door.
"Ma'am?"
"Oh, sorry." I moved aside for the bus driver. He was a thin man, with a pale face, eyes too large for his head and shadowed by his blue cap. He gave me an approximation of a smile.
"I hope you're alright. That must have been terrifying."
"It's you who was the one in the most danger. Well done for keeping your cool," I said, which was partially true. I mean, he could have totally lost his nerve and driven us off the road.
He gave a nervous laugh. "Yes, well, I need to talk to the police." He left and Light held out a hand for me to come down. Now I was grateful for his gloves. Raye Penber was running down the street, with a head full of knowledge about Light and I just waiting to be reported back to L.
We got to his home, not telling Sachiko or Sayu of what had happened. They didn't need another worry on top of Kira and Soichiro.
Light showed me what he'd written in the Death Note as soon as we were in his room. He told me his plan not to kill Penber for another week. I listened with Ryuk and wondered how long until he would be planning my death in the same way, doubtlessly believing me to be a liability and therefore worthless to his cause.
Maybe L would find me before then. Who knows.
God, if you exist, help me. Please. I don't want to die.
I sold that painting, by the way. Miss Hisashi told me an elderly man with a British accent had purchased it within two days of it being displayed. Any guesses who that was?
TOWRTA: Well, hello. I have a question: is anyone else's stories displaying a zero view count since about Monday? Mine is, and I know people are reading it considering I've had new favouriters and followers since then.
Also, thank you to everyone who did favourite and follow. I prefer reviews though. It would be nice to hear from my readers. What do you want to happen next?
Next Time: L!
Review if you wish.