L and Light stared at you in utter shock. "What? That notebook has the ability to kill humans?" Light asked, his eyebrows rising.
"Just by knowing a person's face and writing their name in this note…" L murmured, his eyes glued to Higuchi's actions.
You nodded, grimly. "This is how Kira has been killing all along…" Light considered, trailing off as his mind raced over the concept.
"No," L said, frowning slightly, "We don't know this for sure…I'm sorry Ahiru, but we need more than just a theory to prove this."
"It's fine, I'd do the same in your position…" you accepted, shrugging it off.
Issuing a few commands to the various groups, L turned to Light and asked, "Well then, Yagami-kun, shall we go too?"
Light nodded and you wondered where you would be the most useful. "Ahiru, I request that you come with me," L said, moving forwards to handcuff Misa to his chair, "I'm sorry, Misa-san, but I'm going to leave you immobolised for a while."
The next few minutes were a blur, someone was pushing you from behind and ushering you into a seat in a helicopter that you didn't even know had existed. Looking down at the buckles in confusion, you speculated about how they supposedly turned into a secure seatbelt. Picking up both clasps, you stared down at them and deliberated about how to approach the issue. Suddenly, two pale hands reached down and efficiently tightened the buckles. Looking up, you silently thanked L. He acknowledged your thanks and went to secure himself in his own seat. He quickly prepared the helicopter for take off and you contorted in your seat to find out where this helicopter had silently rested until this day. From what you could see, the helicopter had resided on a platform above the place you usually went to think. Taking you by surprise, the floor fell out from under you and you clamped your mouth shut not to shout out with surprise. Leaving your stomach behind, the helicopter took off and raced away from the building with astonishing speed. Whilst Light marveled at L's ability to fly a helicopter on top of everything else, you watched in silence as Watari calmly assembled a sniper rifle. Feeling slightly sick, you closed your eyes and pretended that you were on solid ground, not flying through the air in a piece of refined metal. "Ahiru-chan, are you feeling alright?" Watari asked, pausing in his assembling.
Your eyes still firmly closed, you answered him with a vague noise of dissent. "Take one tablet and you'll feel better," Watari said, handing you a pale blue tablet, "Yagami-kun, would you also like some medicine?"
Light shook his head and informed Watari that he felt fine. Grumbling as you took the offered medicine, you felt resentful towards Light. "You've never been in a helicopter before, Ahiru-chan?" Watari questioned, resuming his previous task.
"Once when I was a child…but I screamed so much that we immediately had to return…needless to say, I haven't been in a helicopter since," you grinned, wanting to take your mind off the flight.
"We shouldn't be in the air for too much longer, Ahiru-chan, Higuchi has just returned to his car after finding all the footage of Matsuda-kun erased at Yotsuba. He's heading to Sakura TV now," L informed, glancing at the GPS system installed in the helicopter's dash.
"Is…my grandma still with him?" you asked, hesitantly.
"It seems to be so…" L affirmed.
"I see," was your succinct reply.
Looking down at your hands, you noted that already the queasiness in your stomach had lessened dramatically. Sighing, you resigned yourself, and thinking about your family, completely zoned out.
Yagami's grim voice sounded out through the speakers, "Ryuuzaki-san, Higuchi has arrived at Sakura TV, we will be ready to engage him as soon as he enters the filming studio."
"Understood, Yagami-san. Please keep us informed about the situation," L replied, speaking into his mouthpiece.
Locking onto his words, you realised that it was nearly time for Higuchi to be cornered, and also the time for you to come face-to-face with your grandmother. Swallowing your fear, your eyes filled themselves with the determination pulsing through your body.
You waited for the news about Higuchi's capture, silently praying that everything was going to go according to plan. Mogi's strained voice suddenly shouted, "Higuchi's got a gun. The Chief's been shot. Higuchi has managed to escape."
You started in shock, immediately thinking the worst. "I'm fine…Sorry, Ryuuzaki…" Yagami said, his voice pained, "If you hurry after him, you can still catch him. Hurry!"
Exhaling in relief, you wondered how Yagami could remain so brave whilst bearing a gun wound. "This isn't good, he's escaped from Sakura TV," Light said, worried.
At the back of your mind, you wondered whether Light was more concerned over Higuchi's escape than his father's health. "There's no choice," L mumbled, looking over to Light, "We've got to actively join this pursuit."
Light nodded in acceptance, and Watari notified L that he was ready. "Ahiru-chan, please take this. You may need to use it," L said, holding a gun out for you to take.
Tentatively, you reached out and grasped its heavy metal base. L retracted his hand and held up an identical gun to Light. "Yagami-kun, please hold onto this, for your own protection. Our opponent is Kira, after all."
"No…that's illegal in Japan," Light replied, shaking his head.
"I'm sure Yagami-san said the exact same thing," L murmured, the corner of his mouth turning upwards.
Smiling, you thought about how Light could be so similar to Yagami in some ways and so different to him in others.
"What's this? I thought I asked the police not to get involved," came Watari's voice from the right side of the helicopter.
Leaning over to peer out of the open panel, you saw that Higuchi's red Porsche had been blocked from continuing along the motorway by numerous police vehicles. "The only person who'd do this is…" Light started.
"Yes, that's right."
'Aizawa-san…'
L suddenly directed the helicopter to the right, and you began to set down on the empty road. You looked through the front window to realise L had positioned the helicopter to catch Higuchi in between the police. Hearing revving, the wheels of Higuchi's car span and movement from Watari caught your eye. Leaning precariously out of the open door, Watari took aim and said, "It ends here."
He fired and the rubber around one of the tires burst, causing Higuchi's car to spin out of control, crashing into the cement sidewall. The police cars quickly moved in to surround the wrecked vehicle, and you felt relieved that it was all over. Surprising you all, Higuchi raised his gun and pointed it directly at your grandmother's head. "Stay back! Or I'll shoot!" he screamed, no longer capable of rational thought.
Dragging her unceremoniously out of the car with him, he kept a firm hold around her neck and the gun planted against her temple. 'What is he doing? Now he's betraying her?'
Feeling as though you had sat and watched for far too long, you pushed past a surprised Watari and leapt out of the still-hovering helicopter. You sprinted over and stood with your gun raised at the two. "What do you think you're doing, brat?!" Higuchi screeched, waving the gun wildly around.
However, you weren't interested in him, all your attention had focused on the gray-haired woman in front of him. You stared into her eyes, wanting her to feel all the pain she had inflicted on you. She held your gaze and moved her hand slightly. Your eyes flickered to that movement, fearing that it was a threat. You grew confused when she raised her hand and then motioned down, as though she was trying to wave goodbye. 'Goodbye? What is she trying?'
You took a step forward, wanting to see her face a little clearer. "Don't move, brat! I'll shoot her if you take another step!" Higuchi raged, spittle flying from his mouth.
"What do I care? Go ahead and shoot her!" you retorted, taking another step forwards.
"I'm warning you one last time! Another step and I'll pull the trigger!"
Peering into her face, you were puzzled over her forlorn expression. You had also noted that her hand movements had stopped, and her arms now hung limply at her sides. Even though she looked as though she held no hope for life, she still stared straight back at you, as though she was trying to tell you something by thought alone. Working something out, you shouted at them both, "You think I'd care about her?! What has she ever done for me? Caused me pain, left me alone, put me down!"
As soon as the last word had left your mouth, you aimed the gun straight at your grandmother's heart and fired.
BANG!!
The entire area went quiet as everyone tried to register what had happened. Your grandmother had fallen to the ground and Higuchi looked down in surprise. "Give it up, Higuchi," you growled, the menace in your voice terrifying.
A bright patch of red appeared right below Higuchi's ribcage area. Grasping the wound with his hand, Higuchi dropped to his knees, the gun falling from his other hand. Yagami and the others quickly rushed in to restrain the mentally instable murderer, wrenching his arms behind his back and tying a blindfold roughly over his eyes. You, however, were completely oblivious to this, only focusing on the fallen figure of your grandmother. Walking forwards hesitantly, you looked directly into her staring eyes.
Her stressed, raspy voice reached your ears, nearly breaking your heart, "Ren-chan…when did you figure out the truth?"