Chapter 11:

"Children Of Wammy House"

Auric swore. "Goddamn it! I forgot all about you!"

Raven jumped down, he came to stand next to Beyond Birthday as he rubbed his throat. She wore a black body suit, had long dark hair that was draped over her left shoulder, and had a prominent scar across her throat. Around her thin waist was a weapon's belt with an assortment of weapons. She opened a pouch, put the small knifes within, then reached behind her back and pulled out a long bladed katana from a sheath.

BB produced a throaty chuckle through a sore larynx. He smiled at the woman, and said, after clearing his throat with a cough, "Meet my wild card," BB said. "Her name is Raven, and she's a very capable woman in all sorts of ways. Thank you, my dear."

Raven gave a nod without a verbal response.

Light wondered if the cut across her neck was the result of an attack she survived but that cost her the ability to speak. If memory served him, all her victims as her role, or as the media dubbed her: "The Samurai", had all their throats had been cut. Had those attacks on innocent people to get Kira's attention been symbolic? A way to get back at her past attacker? It didn't matter, nor even Light care. She was a cold-blooded killer.

Auric spoke to Cannon. The man secured his rifle and then left for the helicopter cockpit, now becoming its pilot—propellers generating more power. Auric quickly grabbed Light and held him, pointed a pocketed pistol to his temple.

"You've always been second best, Rue," Auric said. "That's why you had to steal my spot in line to succeed L. But that wasn't good enough for you and you thought you could outsmart L instead. Just like this fool!" Auric yanked Light back towards the helicopter cabin. "You called yourself the World's Greatest Criminal, but you're nothing more than the World's Greatest Idiot!"

"Let me go!" Light demanded.

"Shut up!" Auric said. "You're going to die here and he'll get the blame. The criminal known as Beyond Birthday will be wanted and hunted around the world. Kira's crimes will remain unsolved to the public—like a Locked-Room Mystery you so much enjoy, Rue—and the world will return to its sordid, crime-ridden self. You may even get the blame for being Kira. Wouldn't that be a hysterical riot? Come on, Rue—laugh for me. Let me hear that boisterous howl."

"I don't laugh much these days," BB retorted.

Auric laughed instead. "Here's a spoiler for you, Rue: the experiments never stopped. And I was Good Doctor's best subject and his greatest success."

BB looked shocked. "You're insane," he said. "You could never succeed L."

"You're wrong! But that's in the past! Our battle has yet to begin! And Kira is just in the way!" Auric dragged Light to the helicopter, but then pushed him back and away, so Light could offer no defence, and aimed his gun. Light staggered back, dropped on his butt, his hands out front, but unable to prevent what he knew was coming. He was about to be killed.

Auric fired.

Suddenly, Ryuk interjected, soared between Light and Auric, and caught the sonic-speeding bullet in mid-air, inches from Light's face. Light looked at Ryuk in utter disbelief. The Shinigami let out an amusing discord, and said, "Oh, I'm not done here." He grinned broadly at Light. "You and I have so much more fun to have. It can't end like this, so anti-climatically. This is very entertaining. But Kira's story isn't over yet."

Light smirked, almost sinisterly. It appeared he had his own wild card.

Ryuk looked back at Auric, but Auric had slammed the helicopter cabin door, and as the aircraft began its ascent, Ryuk and Light watched it leave.

But BB wouldn't let it go. He picked up the gun Cannon had shot out of his hand and began to fire at the helicopter. All but one shot went wide. He clicked until the chamber was empty. Then turned back to Light, still on the ground.

BB ignored Ryuk and pushed pass the Shinigami. He grabbed Light by his hospital gown and pulled him to his feet, face-to-face. "Things are not over between us, Yagami! You killed L and you're going to pay for it!" BB dragged Light to the edge of the building. Light tried to fight him, but BB was too strong. Dangling over the edge, BB holding onto Light's gown—Light begged not to be dropped—BB further said, "However, sadly—I need you, and Ryuk."

Light momentarily looked down, at the area of the payment that his brain would be spattered all over if he was dropped, then back at BB. "W-what is it you want from me?" his voice wavering.

"I want Ryuk to—"

"FREEZE RIGHT THERE!" suddenly came an authoritative voice from the open stairwell. BB turned, he saw what looked like a small platoon of police officers storming out, guns drawn, and with them, Soichiro Yagami, Light's father—former Chief of the NPA. "Beyond Birthday, step back from the edge of the roof and release your hostage now!" the senior officer ordered.

"Beyond Birthday, or Rue Ryuzaki—whatever name you wish to be called," Siochiro Yagami said, "and yet, I suspect even the latter is fake; release my son unharmed. You are completely surrounded and there is no escape. Don't do anything you may regret."

Light was stupefied. L had used the name Ryuzaki as a fake name to hide from Kira. It wasn't anything at the time, and he hadn't even thought about it, but now Light wondered if L actually gotten it from Beyond Birthday? It stood to reason so.

BB growled under his breath, but then he whipped Light back, out of harms way, and tossed him to the ground. Light rolled several feet away. BB put up his hands. Officers swarmed and took BB into custody, quite roughly, handcuffing him, and read him his rights. BB was designated as Class A dangerous offender after trying to kill Light twice—or so everyone thought.

Beyond Birthday was escorted into an elevator and off the roof. He didn't say a word. And Light saw out of the corner of his eye, Ryuk, flying out of sight. Only he could see him (other than Beyond Birthday), but with recent events, it was best for the Shinigami to leave the area. Light would speak to him later, even thank the Shinigami for, and he dreaded it, saving his life.

Light straightened and smoothed out his patient gown as his father approached him. His father hugged him. He didn't care who saw. "I'm glad you're okay, son," he said.

Light stood up under his own power. He was angry and embarrassed. BB had humiliated him and BB would pay. But he recalled what Auric had said just before he and his henchman had departed: "The experiments never stopped". What did that mean? And who was "A", really—other than a child of Wammy House? Light wanted to know everything.

"Light, are you alright?" his father asked.

Light pushed down the anger he felt about what had just happened and forced a smile. "I'm—okay, Dad," he said. "You got here in time. Beyond Birthday was going to kill me. He's insane."

"I know," Soichiro said, "and this is now the third time Beyond Birthday has tried to kill you," he added. "What grudge does BB have against you?"

Light shook his head, pretending to not know. "Maybe I'm just an easy target," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"As a member of the Kira Task Force," Light said. "Beyond Birthday said he is a child of Wammy House, so I figure he might be out for revenge. His profile says he has a grudge against L for sending him to jail. The world knows L is working with the Kira Task Force, so…"

"You're not safe, Light," his father said dismayed. "I think you need to get away…" He walked with Light to the elevator, it was chilly on the roof. "You have some vacation time coming, and I suggest you take it. Your mother and I booked a trip, but I want you to go instead."

"I can't, Dad. Kira's crimes never stop, so neither should we."

"This isn't up for debate! The Kira Task Force has not been producing reasonable results lately and it's starting to weigh on you, Light. It's starting to weight on all of us. We all need a break." Soichiro felt his head, he was beginning to sweat. "I'm tired, Light."

Light eyed his father curiously as they reached the elevator. "Dad? Please don't have another heart attack, I don't think my heart could take it," he said honestly.

Soichiro smiled. "I know, I just need to rest for a bit," he said. "This has been a stressful day."

The elevator doors shut.

As the elevator descended, Light wandered about Raven. The femme fatale had suddenly vanished. The helicopter leaving with "A" from the landing pad was not a suspicious sight. Light kept both to himself. But he would advance his efforts to hunt them down.

As for the body of Onyx, that was a more delicate matter. He knew he would be questioned about what happened on the roof as an investigation began, the site processed by others. But like always, Light would play to his strengths and twist the truth to his advantage. And the identity of Kira would remain secret.

As for Beyond Birthday, he would wait and see. His second death was soon to come.

To be continued...