Chapter 16

It was just a few days before Christmas when Mom suddenly dropped a bomb on me, literally making me choke on my miso soup.

"Light, I heard you went on a date today?" Although the question was innocent from my mom's tone, I could hear the underlying mischievous intentions she was desperately trying to hide. Light noticed too, shrugging casually as Dad lifted his head with bloodshot eyes.

He looked like a vampire.

"Son, as long as you keep your grades up, I'm not opposed to you dating. But don't forget whatever you do, be sure to treat the girl with respect." He eyed Light with a perpendicular warning.

Dad's hair was a mess. It seemed as if he hadn't taken a shower all week nor did it seem like he had slept for a month. His mustache was all over the place, having not groomed or shaved in a week due to his lack of relaxation in his workplace.

The Kira task force had demanded a 24-hour concentration.

I'm surprised that Soichiro was even hiding the fact that L was suspecting his own son. I thought he would be more hesitant, furious at the detective even.

Well, L had not outforth declared Light as the prime suspect yet.

"Of course, dad." Light's smile remained genuine and reassuring, causing my dad to nod and sigh, continuing to eat his grilled fish on his entree plate. Light's gaze shifted over to my frozen ones that were staring hard at my chopsticks before he focused on his own food.

Oh shite.

Are we already at that event now?

I totally missed it.

Frustrated, I sighed and continued to move my fingers to tear a piece of my fish apart with the utensil.

"Sayu? What's the matter?" Light's voice called out before I could even place the fish into my mouth. Dammit! Couldn't you just have waited until I took the bite?!

"I'm thinking that we're growing up too fast." This time, I fully placed my chopsticks down and softened my look deliberately. "Light has a girlfriend, I'm moving soon to college or university, then I realized that mom and dad are growing old…"

My mom coughed at my comment, looking at me like I had just first handedly insulted her.

"Mom, you still look young, it's just, age is a number that keeps growing without any possible ways to stop it." I released the tension in my shoulders and looked at the parents that served as nothing but a plot mover to both Light and me.

"Sayu, it's good that you're growing up." Mom smiled sweetly despite the hard truth. "We all grow older someday. That's what makes life so interesting and short."

My face scrunched up sadly as Soichiro nodded along with her.

"I...I know." My voice came out unsteady as I forced a choked squeak before standing up. "Please excuse me, I'll eat later."

I rushed up the stairs, ignoring all their stares that were on my back as I slammed the room of my room before changing my gaze instantly stone hard.

Shite, you never told me when the events would happen!

I screamed in my mind, throwing my hands up while staring at the ceiling as if there was a mythical being that could form into a Wikipedia page.

Goddammit and here I was, planning my next step when I've already missed a big one!

I paced around my room in circles before swishing back and forth from my bed to the desk. Sighing with more exasperation, I pressed my face onto the cold window, trying to cool down my blazing and hyped-up cheeks.

I had planned to leave myself an option of either getting rid of the fiance myself or tagging on with Light during that event. But in both cases, I needed the Ryan guy or whatever's name!

I had originally planned two ways of playing this.

First, I either get rid of Naomi myself, creating a whole dramatic situation where Naomi successfully meets L, but to his dismay, she had me as her hostage since L was not being cooperative in letting her join the investigation task. I would then screech my lungs out and have tears pour down my eyes to furthermore dramatize my script.

It was in this way where L could have an impression of me being harmless and literally screaming to him that I was not Kira. Kira would never lower himself to act like a pitiful child. L knew Kira had pride.

The second option that I had was to go along with Light, helping him out when Naomi gave him the fake name, then taking my own action and forcing her true name out. This would show Light that I was indeed on his side, and hopefully, it would increase the trust he had in me.

Both ways had a high chance of working out. I laughed a bit drily. This was kind of like a simulation where I had to choose who to prioritize. L or Light.

But I needed Ryan-guy's full name.

I glared in fury at the shadows from the outside streetlamp. How the hell did I not notice a creepy stalker guy hanging outside of the house when my observation skills were top-notch?!

I closed my eyes and threw back my head dramatically.

No! I've lost my chance to-

No wait, I haven't.

My eyes snapped open as I threw myself on the bed, crossing my legs and supporting my body with my arms.

"Light hasn't killed him yet."

Immediately, my eyes narrowed downwards, planning out my next move.


"Yes?" Tsubame's voice came out as disbelief from the other end of my house telephone. "You don't have a phone- never mind, yes, we have them here."

"Excellent. How much would that be?" I twirled the cord linking the big C phone and the big box that could transmit the numbers out.

"Depends on which brand and version you want." She answered curtly.

"I'll leave that to you. Just make it simple to use, mainly for calling and texting." I shrugged, picturing the flip phone that I had never even gotten the chance to touch in my past life.

I mean, those were Ancient.

I doubt that I'll actually know how to use them.

"Roger that, my dear customer. I'll have it ready tomorrow. It's around 300 dollars."

"That expensive?!" I gasped out, almost dropping the heavy and outdated home phone in my hand.

"What? You want to bargain for less? Last time you already threw my dad into a fit for selling you those devices at such a low price. This time I think you'll have to return the gesture." Her voice was firm, leaving no room to argue.

"Oh, alright! I'll pay! But could you get it ready by today afternoon? I'm in a hurry to use it." I grumbled, making sure Tsubame could hear it from the other side.

"Possible. Today at 3 pm. Pick up."

"By the way, Tsu, are you free these three days?"

"Not really," her voice came out immediately. "My dad's training me as usual. It'll take around five days to actually finish, why?"

I grunted.

"Not much, just need your help. Then do you have Isame's phone number? I'll try her then."

"I'll give you all our phone numbers. Is that all? Now bye."

There was a click before she hung up on me.

I gaped at the 'duuu duuu duuu' sound ringing out of the phone.

"Are you serious?! Maybe next time I should tell her to not do that." I slapped my forehead before clinking down the 1 pound object back onto the box.

Not to mention-why didn't I just order her to give me the cellphone for free?!

That would have saved so much money!

...And ruined her shop and credibility with her father.

I sighed again, walking up to my room to change my pj's


.

I flipped the phone up with both hands, staring blankly at the device before launching it into the other side of my bed.

Wait- that throw wouldn't have broken it, right?

Feverishly I picked it up, grimacing at how rough the sides were and how the size was only half of my palm.

"I want a 2021 Samsung phone." Gnarling through my teeth, I flipped open the small device, staring at it with irritation. It wasn't hard to use, no, it was more than easy.

Yet the simple features were legit so simple that you couldn't even type with both hands. You had to press the numbers. Every. Single. Time.

The only pad that existed was numbered. Each number had 3-4 characters of Hiragana and Katana. The screen was not clear. In fact, without even squinting you could see the faint lines and squares of fuzzy characters, sprawled barely over the screen.

Heck, I couldn't even download an app!

Google had been already invented at this time, but the phone was way too ancient to actually search things online. There wasn't even a 4 GB data plan or some kind of background or wallpaper changer.

Where was the touch screen function? The youtube app? Pokemon Go?!

I'm even amazed that I could last so long without a phone! But now that I have the ancient prototype, all memories of games and simulation packs returned to me at horse jerking speed.

Where. Is. The. Music. App?

y?

Fucking goddamn, I couldn't even type properly!

Jabbing my thumb at the same number, I typed in an 'A' then tried typing an 'O', yet I missed the letter because of overpressing.

"DAHHHHH!" I thwarted, pulling on my hair and thrashing my legs into the air.

"I swear to god," I stabbed my finger at the screen. "If you don't type properly, I will kill you!"

The phone responded with a buzz of annoyance.

"Fuck you!" I propelled the phone down again, picking it up and holding it next to my ear.

"Yagami Sayu here, yes?" I responded to the caller sweetly, fluttering my eyelashes.

"Sayu! I heard you wanted to call me?" Isame's voice rang out merrily. I could literally hear the smile on her face.

"Oh, it's you." My face fell with my voice, going way too low for my vocal fold's comfort.

"Did you have trouble setting up your phone?" Isame asked gently even though I could hear her quiet snickers from the other side.

"It's not the problem of setting it up, it's the horrendously slow typing," I whined before flopping back onto my bed.

"Ah, I understand, it literally takes minutes to type out a sentence. But don't worry, it's not that bad."

Not bad?

Not bad?!

Isame, you have never experienced typing in milliseconds!

There's a thing called swipe in the future!

"I'll try to get used to it." I swallowed, hard.

"Anyhow, I need you to do a task for me." I lowered my voice and glanced suspiciously at the thin wall. "I'll text you later with the instructions."

"Sure thing!" Isame chirped as I ended our phone call. Light was on the other side of his room, possibly writing, possibly killing.

Yet I still couldn't risk the possibility of him catching some of my words. I began to type slowly with the device, taking in a long breath to calm myself down.

The plan would work. With L focused on Light and him focused on L, both of them would not notice a third party. I was well aware that L would be watching the security camera again and again at that moment Ryan dies.

Now that I would have the name in the upcoming future, I had to choose which way to go with Naomi. The two ways that I had mentioned both ensured her death, one being shot, the other being Light's suicide plan.

The only thing preventing me from choosing to meet L sooner was that I was skeptical of how his mind worked. For Light, I was his sister. I had a reason to help him.

But if I were to deliberately place myself in front of L, he may begin to suspect me. If not, my actions could cause the whole timeline to shift and change drastically.

My plan was relatively simple. Get the receptionist to write down Naomi's real name under the disguise of writing a short novel for my school project. Then all I would have to do is manipulate her emotions and have her almost shoot me.

If I did manage to trick L for the better, it would make my future plans much more easier when trying to get into his whatever skyscraper underground headquarters.

But the problem was that the risk was high and the rewards were low.

Yes, I could get on L's good side. But he was a character doomed to die if I wanted Light to dig out Near and Mello. I could always use another method to get into the headquarters.

An idea flashed through my head.

Looking at the other option which was going with Light and helping him, it came with low risk and high rewards.

First, the plot wouldn't change. Not at all. That would guarantee me predicting the future and preparing for Light's ultimate doom.

Second, I would gain Light's trust. Although he may not feel grateful or actually trust me, I gave him something that screamed that I was on his side.

He was not aware that I wanted to kill him.

"I want you dead," I repeated furiously. "But I can't. Even if I wanted to, I can't."

Whoops.

I mean, I had to admit I did let that slip to Light when I was under emotional stress, but he still kinda, like, passed over it because we were kissing?

Oh damn, okay, this might prove harder to do than I thought.

Yeah no...Light would remember that without even asking. He knows that I hate him for some reason, but I did specify that I couldn't.

It would be best if I could trick him into thinking that I hated him because he was older and was the center of our parents' affections.

I bit my lip as I finished my instructions for Isame.

I had to make Light trust me somehow.

My eyes skimmed over my instructions before sending them out.

To Isame:

Every day, you will sit in a cafe inside the nearest train station to my house.

You will use the paper that I have given you a few days ago and write the names of two people. When writing, imagine their face. Make sure you have both their phone numbers and give person 1's number to person 2. Afterwards, delete person 1's number from your own phone permanently.

Write this on the paper.

[First person's name]: Will stalk the Yagami household until a 17-year-old boy walks out of the house with a hoodie over his head. Follow behind him boldly, humming a song while you walk. Once he enters the station, text [person number 2] the entrance the boy entered in. Wait a moment before following him into the terminal station. Text [person 2] of the terminal line and leave the station. Cause of death: Car crash

[Second person's name]: will receive a text of 'standby.' They will immediately head towards the train station and will wait until they receive the name of an entrance. They will head immediately to the entrance. When they receive another text of a terminal line, they will take that train.

Search for a boy who is wearing a hoodie and has his head covered. Go to the next cart where you see a man wearing a trench coat. Leave when he leaves the train. When he falls onto the ground, count to 30 and rush over, calling if he is okay.

When he does not respond, search his body for an identification card. Remember his name and face, and call for help on a cell phone. After calling, text the girl with the name Isame the name and facial descriptions from the identification and the terminal line the man is located. Afterwards, delete all evidence of Isame's phone number. Cause of death: Heart attack.

I sent another mail with instructions.

Isame:

When you have received my text 'go,' you will text the second person, 'standby.' Wait inside the cafe for the name and facial features to be sent to you. Then, forward the message to me. Head towards the terminal line which [person 2] has texted you. Once you hear any news of a man dying from a heart attack, leave and text me 'done.' If you do not hear anything, text me 'no.'

I clicked sent, sighing a bit before I sagged into my bed from exhaustion. Typing was hard. There wasn't even an autocorrect.

I ran over my given orders, checking everything the last time before nodding.

Person 1 will follow Light, however, I am sure that Ryuk will tell Light about it. But then person one will not act as a spy. They will walk boldly behind Light and lower his guard. Then after person 1 leaves, Light will be completely vulnerable to someone else's following.

Hah, might as well frame Light when the innocent person 2 dies, just to fuel L's desire to catch him. I mean, after all, heart attacks are Kira's thing.

My thing is more of action manipulation.


December 27, 2:30 pm.

I heard Light's footsteps down the hall as they paused behind my door.

"Sayu?" I heard his voice call out before knocking twice. Not answering, I heard the door to my room open, then after a dreadfully long 3 minutes, he closed the door and walked down the stairs.

I snapped my eyes open and threw away my covers that disguised me as sleeping. I heard the front door close quietly as I crept to my window, glancing through my thin curtains to outline Light wearing a hoodie.

It was time.

Go.

I texted Isame and went back to my bed, sappily waiting for something to happen. It really wasn't my thing to wait and do nothing, after all, I hated waiting.

But I had to rely on my pawns to move. Light was already too suspicious of me, so I couldn't do anything out of the ordinary. Instead, I had to act even more submissive these days because he was so on edge. It was like he had a time bomb on his back and could explode at any second.

I knew it had bothered him. With all the stalking from an FBI agent and the pressure of L's pursuit, I saw how Light was sharpening his weapons. He was becoming more and more callous, yet still somehow embodied the essence of seducing.

Light was a charmer, indeed, but the way I had charmed people was from experiencing all ranges of emotions. I knew how they worked, how to initiate it, and how to twist it to my own pace.

But Light, he was so inexperienced. Too perfect and cautious that he caught L's eye. It was a miracle how he killed off his emotions yet still was able to manipulate people. Well, he was still far below my skill level.

I stood up, stretching my arms to the sky as I glanced at the time.

3:00 pm.

Well, you know what's better? Creating an alibi to prove that I was at home the whole time.

I was sure that Light knew I wanted the Death Note. Hell, he probably even hid the note in an even more secured place. If suddenly, an innocent person died because of a heart attack, the first thing he would suspect would be me.

Although he'd take another eternity to figure out how the hell I had found it and used it with my Aphantasia.

I giggled in delight.

"Ah, what a gift God has given me!" Sheer pleasure rolled off my shoulders as I ran my fingers through my hair. I knew the look I had in my eyes right now.

Raw, ecstatic, joy.

"Who knew," I threw back my head and burst out. "Who knew that Aphantasia would actually become my excuse?!"

"Something I dreaded so much, something that made me break into pieces! It has come to me as a shield!" My voice shrilled towards insanity, my room turning into a darker shade of red as the shadows flew off my body as I howled. Everything around me started to morph into something more sinister, and it came out from the depth of the darkness surrounding me.

"It's not enough," I murmured as the sound of a pounding drum echoed around me with a clamouring beat.

"The Death Note is not enough."

Something in me started to crack again. That once held sanity started to twist and converge into a monster-filled with greed. Its beady red eyes stared into my soul, motioning me to come closer.

The claws beckoned me as I peered closer into the blood-red darkness.

It was true.

I was insane.

I had killed people. Multiple.

But it wasn't enough. None of it was enough.

It felt good being in control, and it enticed me to do more-to become something greater.

I felt powerful.

I wanted to do more.

More.

And that couldn't just stop at the Death Note.

Why was insanity bad? Could the world not see how much it had given me?

Ambition!

Power!

Skills!

Insanity forced me to manipulate my skills to the max! It sculpted me into something greater.

Madness was what had created me.

It was my mother.

It was me.

I had to show the world who I was. I needed more people who could relate to me. More who could want this feeling of madness and sip on it like wine.

Yes...

I will become something bigger.


I hummed slightly, preheating the oven to 350 degrees before prancing back to the cake mix I had made for the past ten minutes. Cracking three eggs, I blended the whites separately from the yolks, creating more of a fluffy mixture of clouds.

3:30 pm.

My phone buzzed.

Smiling sweetly, I placed the mix on the table and wiped my hands on the apron before flipping it open.

Raye Penber.

Light eyes, black hair. Sharp nose, pointed jawline.

3:50 pm.

Done.

The beat that fizzed with fire-cracked open like a bombshell.

It was time for the next move.


Author's note:

Ye...so…

I think it's time to up the madness.

Also, I just noticed, but Sayu was a really brainless side character. Like, OMG, she infuriates me. I was reading through the whole script of Death Note and in the whole series she was like,

"My brother's a genius!"

"Light!"

"Dad, you're the chief for the Kira investigation? That's totally awesome!"

"What?" x20

"Huh?" x10

"I never learned this."

"Light is the best brother ever!"

"But dad!"

*rolls eyes*

Make it stop!

DAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH.

Reviews are desperately needed!