Chapter 39

It really sucked.

Apparently, something happened with L's side, causing Watari to directly leave as my surveillance person and be replaced with my dad. While it was good that the one babysitting me was my dad, and that L had sneakily given him more chance to bond with the scarred me, I was planning to ask Watari about the orphanage especially when he was under my orders.

But no, fate just had to kick me in the stomach because from that day on, Watari was never alone with me. Either L was in the room or another third person. Obviously, I couldn't ask in front of the other people, since L was basically treated as a mysterious being and Watari was known to never disclose anything about L.

I grumbled as dad lifted the newspaper from his face and looked at me with sincere eyes.

"Sayu, I wanna talk about-"

"I don't want to talk about it."

I glared at him harshly, earning a wince from his face. His tired expression grew more hurt as he barely whispered his next trembling words.

"I'm sorry, Sayu. I really am. If you need me to do anything, I will-"

I inhaled sharply before twitching my mouth into a larger scowl.

"Dad, I've told you before, and I'll say it again. I need time to get over the incident with mom. You can't force it." I crossed my arms in front of me, trying to look as stern as I possibly could.

"Even though you could have prevented it," his face turned pale like a ghost at my words before I stood up abruptly and marched into my room. I was honestly not a big fan of hurting him through methods like this. Abusing family love was the last thing I wanted to do.

But I had to do it for him to feel guilty.

I had to get rid of any lingering feelings of my actions.

I had to get rid of all my emotions while preserving my sanity.

Hurting him was no big deal. I repeated.

Do not falter.


These days, L seemed to be more stressed than ever despite his already fatigued-seemed self.

I watched him stare at the screen, never taking his eyes off for a minute as he listened to the recordings of the Yotsuba group that Yotsuba Kira was in. There was a group of 12 men at the table, and one of them was Kira.

L's eyes flickered back instantaneously between the thousands of deaths in the mafia, then back at the meeting information. He grunted and rubbed his finger onto his lips, biting the nails with his saliva.

"Was the fourth Kira in one of the mafia groups…?" I heard L whisper under his breath as Light studied the information carefully.

"Or could it be just a person who took over Kira's legacy but had more information than the news and wanted to confuse us?" Light suggested before passing L another stack of files. L's eyes glanced through them rapidly, turning his bored eyes back to the screen.

"No, I believe it is someone from the mafia," L shifted his crouching stance as he twiddled with his languid white shirt. "A rival group?"

I blinked dully as I pressed my lips together into a tight line, pondering on the speed it took L to figure that out. Flipping the page of my textbook, I continued to mind my own business in taking notes as the two young men discussed their theories.

"If that's the case, then there are over thousands of mafia groups in the underground," I watched as Light leaned over, taking his right hand that flashed his trusty old watch on his wrist.

"Each group has over 1000 people and 80,000 people max," he continued and pointed to one of the letters on the papers as L clicked his tongue in annoyance. I was honestly surprised at how they allowed me to study in the same room that they used for discussing the Kira case...well, maybe not so surprising since I was already living with L, and he referred to me as his future partner.

You and I are very alike, Sayu. Even more than Light.

L's voice rang inside my head like a broken recorder.

I scoffed at his words before peeking at him. L was not like me. I was tainted. Broken and twisted. Although it was true he did not care what method he used to attain what he had wanted, he fought for justice.

I, on the other hand, did things for the criminal side.

But then it was also true that we were alike. He did not care about family bonds nor the law. He would do anything to prove his theory and results, even if it was destroying his own morals.

Like how he did with Misa and Light's interrogation. Everything he did was illegal, but he did not care. He lied through his own teeth about the recurrence of Kira's killings to Light just so he could force Light to panic.

He installed surveillance cameras that were much against the privacy of others and the law.

All just to catch Kira.

In a way, he did not care if he had to manipulate people to get what he wanted. But he did not cross the line of murder. I sardonically smiled at the man who was murmuring his deductions.

I had already killed.

And I could kill much more.

I enjoyed watching those who opposed me from above.

I was tainted.

And I was enjoying it.

The most dangerous criminal is one who understands where they stand.

"We cannot touch them yet," I heard the snap of something before I locked my gaze on L's bleeding nail.

"Ryuzaki, no matter how impossible it is, don't bite your nails," I boredly called out before tossing the book onto the couch that I was sitting on. L's gaze flickered to me before turning back nonchalantly, ignoring my words as he sucked on the blood pressing out of his thumb as if to edge me on.

I rolled my eyes and strutted towards the boys, jutting out my hip as I stared at the information in Light's hands. Light shifted closer to me to hand me the papers as I raised my eyebrows, staring at the different deaths from every single group.

Nicely done, papa.

I whistled in my mind.

What a perfect disguise.

My eyes drifted over to the group under papa's rule, inwardly smirking at the number of deaths. Henrik had followed my suggestion of killing the enemies that were lethal to the group while hiding under the number of useless comrades that he wanted to discard.

Reading rapidly through some of the names written under my group, I realized that papa was putting the information network I gave on his birthday to good use. Henrik had ordered the people to join his group, then killed them off as a disguise.

The Black Dragons were untouched, Henrik knowing that they had proposed to work with his group. My mind drifted off to Anthony and his family in China, remembering the food and the clothes he had paid for. Definitely, he was a generous wallet.

My eyes cast towards the corner page and instantly chewed its dead skin from my lips, ripping it and swallowing it down my throat. Xzar.

Hugo's group. The numbers were overwhelming under the name. Of course, Felix had mentioned briefly on the plane to China that Xzar had opposed papa's group and proposal, not to mention the business contract.

Papa had deemed them as an enemy. But why would Hugo refuse such fair and equal terms of rights? Of course, Xzar was known to be one of the most powerful groups in America, but no businessmen would refuse a chance to advance their assets.

"I think you can start with the elimination method, the groups that had deaths are innocent," I gave the paper back to Light who frowned at my suggestion.

"It could be a disguise?" He keenly noted out as I shrugged.

"Would they really do it though? In the big picture, more members would equal more manpower. I doubt if one was Kira, they would intentionally kill off his own group and force them into a corner just for the sake of disguising."

L hummed in agreement at my words before picking up one paper with his second finger and thumb as if it was a deadly virus and stared at it.

"I would agree with your lead, Sayu." L flicked the paper back onto the table before mulling over his own thoughts. "But Light does have a point too."

Light glanced at me with narrowed eyes before shifting them back with pursed lips.

"Sayu's right," he uttered quietly, surprising me.

Did he really trust me? Just like that?

And I had thought that me speaking out this would raise suspicion to me helping the victim side of the mafia. My eyes trailed with hesitance towards Light as I watched him drum his fingers at the side of his body. Blinking once from noticing my gaze, he opened his lips and smirked, snaking his hand into mine while giving me a comforting squeeze.

I almost wheezed out from my heart leaping in circles.

Light?! Taking the initiative?!

I saw my face flush darker in his orbs, ripping my gaze off as Light took his fingers away from my barely twitching ones.

"You two are extremely close for siblings," L turned his eyes towards my hands, smiling a bit as if trying to make his comment seem innocent. The screen behind L fluttered its lights as if feeling embarrassed for us.

Caught like a rat, I jerked my head to meet his, opening my mouth with shameful hesitation before Light interrupted my words.

"Of course, Ryuzaki, I thought you would know best about it," Light blinked back with his brown sincere eyes as L slowly turned back his head towards the screen with pressed lips.

"Of course," he echoed. In the silence, I heard the add-on of L's words, as if they said, among the lines of, 'geniuses like us can hardly find similar people in this world.'

I inhaled slowly and tried to control my breath before giving Light a quick glance that shared the same thoughts.


"My dear Light!" Misa's voice echoed into the halls as Light flinched beside me and wrinkled his nose and turned backwards as Misa's light body flopped into his arms. Light shifted backwards from the impact, frowning almost instantly the moment Misa rubbed her cheek onto his shirt. Her blonde pigtails twirled against Light clothes as she lifted her head and pouted cutely.

"Light! Guess what! Today a man named Kyosuke Higuchi kept hitting on Misa! Misa tried to brush him off but he kept on staring at Misa with his lecherous eyes!"

Both Light and I glanced at each other before Light pushed Misa gently off of him, smiling nicely at the girl with concern.

"Kyosuke Higuchi? From the Yotsuba group?" Light asked as Misa nodded vigorously, shaking her pigtails as they bounced.

"Misa was recommended for their advertising campaign! But that man was so infuriating!" Misa narrowed her emerald eyes as if she was thinking of that guy, and stomped her foot. "He was a big pervert!"

Something inside me edged me as my mind whirled to the name and the Yotsuba group. If the third Kira was in the Yotsuba group, and the mention of that man's name came out of Misa's mouth, most likely he is Kira.

My hand flew instantly to my necklace as my eyes widened in recognition.

The 3rd Kira has Rem with him. This-this was the part that Misa was supposed to get in touch with the Death Note! Clutching the pendant tighter, I watched Misa tell about her day and interactions at work as Light casually ignored her, ushering her inside to the building.


"Misa," I called out as her face swirled to meet mine with a polite grin. L who was chained to Light also glanced my way before I smiled and skipped towards the blonde girl and pulled her arm towards me.

"Sister-in-law," I whispered as Misa's face flushed red before she giggled at the title "I need to tell you something about Light. Could you come with me to the restroom?"

The awe in her eyes shone as brightly as the sun before busting out of my grasp to peck Light on the cheeks before she waved to the boys. Light stared at me with curiosity as I gave him a mischievous wink, earning a slight chuckle from L who did not suspect anything yet.

"My honey, see you later! Misa and Sayu need to have a girls' night about boys!" She giggled and yanked me by my arm, pulling me into the restroom located 2 floors below the level that we were currently on.

My eyes shone with a tint of darkness as we both entered the washroom, Misa grinning happily as we went into the blindspot of the building.

It was time.

"Misa, whatever I tell you, I am being serious with you," I said slowly before glancing at the doorway warily. Misa nodded with her beaming face before I leaned closer to her.

"My brother is Kira."

Almost instantaneously, Misa gasped, lifting both of her black painted nails towards her mouth and squealed in excitement.

"Oh! I knew it! I knew it! I love Light so much!" She fawned as literal hearts started showing up in her eyes. Hopping on each of her feet, I waited until she finished her swooning speech about how Kira saved her parents by murdering the criminal and how much she worshiped him. I held back my eye roll before lifting my locket and pressing the top bead twice, the locket opened the third layer hidden underneath my family photo.

"Misa," I called out gently as she turned her sparkling gaze in my direction. Her face was flushed with excitement as I tapped her gently on the wrist with the paper. Nothing changed on her face as the indication that she did not retain her memories since the paper I had was Ryuk's notebook.

"Light told me to tap you with this when the time comes," I said seriously before smiling a bit. "He trusts you quite a lot."

Misa tilted her head as I continued explaining.

"Misa, you are the second Kira. In the past, you worked with Light as his partner, killing criminals. But when that," I paused. "Damnable L separated you apart, you lost your ability to see names of people."

Misa's eyes widened before narrowing hostility at the mention of L.

"That man," she said with growling anger. "He took Light away from Misa!"

"Yes," I echoed, extending the 's.' "In order to protect you, Light forced you to give up your ability and ownership of the power."

I gulped forcefully before placing the note back into my locket and blinked rapidly, creating a red and teary-eyed illusion.

"Misa, both Light and I treasure you so much," I sniffed before leaning my head towards her shoulder. I felt her surprised squeak as I leaned on her, pretending like I was crying and used the blindspot that she couldn't see to pinch my leg as hard as I could.

"That man was torturing you so badly that Light tried to take his attention away from you by offering himself to be interrogated." I lifted my eyes to reveal actual tears and winced at the pain that shot up my leg. Misa's face instantly turned pale as her chin trembled in rage and devastation.

"He lost the power of Kira and his memories," I uttered quietly just so Misa could sink the fact into that thick skull of hers.

"Oh no," she gasped before falling onto her knees, covering her face up and started to sob with a trembling chin on the marble tiles. "It's all Misa's fault!"

"No! Misa! We were both determined to save you!" I faked, falling onto my knees and comforted her, pulling her into my arms and patting her. I felt her tears wet my clothes before sighing and patting her on the head.

"Misa, Light came up with a plan to restore his memories and powers," I cooed before pushing her away so that her moist eyes could stare into mine. She sniffed with her runny makeup.

"Light told me the location of the Notebook that grants him the powers of Kira. He then gave a person in the Yotsuba group another book so that the 3rd Kira could act as a distraction." I said firmly.

"But those two powers belong to you," I reassured. "Light plans to get them back after you have killed the damnable L who took you away from Light."

Misa's eyes shined with childish hope as the sly smile I had started to morph into a more gentle and concerned one.

I told her what she was supposed to do.


Rem will undoubtedly help Misa when she notices the Death God surrounding Higuchi. Of course, I told Misa that Rem did not find Light Yagami very pleasing, so when Rem would try to ask about how Misa came in contact with the Death Note again...

Misa would not say anything to a God that found Light irritating. She had finished her job by recording the third Kira's confession and handed it over to L without even a slight pause of hatred seeping out from her.

No doubt, although Misa was childish and impulsive, she was an actor through and through when her priorities were straight.

I smirked and watched L question Light in the most uncomfortable way.

"Is there a possibility that you handed your powers by your own will if you were Kira?" L asked as Light pondered a few moments before speaking up.

"If I was Kira," Light emphasized with skeptical eyes directed at his talking partner. "It would be extremely likely that I gave my powers instead of the shinigami taking it away from me. There was no need to wait for my imprisonment if the third party would have wanted the power to stay hidden."

L nodded at Light's words, turning back to the bright screen in silence for a moment before announcing his orders.

"We will arrest Kyosuke Higuchi as the third Kira tomorrow night."