Sachi woke up feeling confused. She did not know how long she had been unconscious. Thoughts came in mixed up pieces not making any sense. Words and pictures did not fit together and she was aware that she was in so much emotional pain her body ached. L was dead. Oh, god. Now she remembers. Tears burned her eyes and slid from the corners soaking into her hair. She began to relive the tumult of emotions: anger, sadness, despair, all which came with the crushing grief that kept washing over her in waves.
"Watari is dead too, Sachi," Light had informed her with a smile on his face.
"No," she gasped out loud from the memory. "They can't be dead."
Sachi heard a grunt and mumbled words from behind her which made her instantly aware of the arm around her waist. She picked up the arm and looked at the watch. Light. Dammit. How long had she been laying here? Why did he feel the need to keep her company? Turning over she came face to face with him. Looking at his handsome face in sleep, his true wicked nature was completely hidden behind a façade of comeliness and simulated innocence.
"Light," she whispered, shaking him gently. He groaned and stirred a bit before settling back in. She slapped him so hard it made her hand sting yelling his name as she did.
"What the hell!" he yelled, pressing his hand to his stinging face. His eyes blinked open and met hers. "Oh, Sachi, you're awake!"
Why does he sound happy and relieved? Sachi's cry of shock and revulsion was covered over by his mouth as he covered hers for a hard, crushing kiss. She could not slap him because he was holding her wrist to prevent her from doing so.
"You've been asleep for days. I was so worried," he murmured, kissing her more gently this time.
"Days?" She twisted her wrist to break free of his grip and rolled away from him.
Sachi sat up, throwing her legs over the edge of the bed. She had to get out of here. She had no idea where she would go or what she would do but there was no way she could stay here. A startled cry burst from her lips when he grabbed her around the waist without warning and pulled her back across the bed to him.
"Where are you going?" Light asked, breathing heavily into her ear while embracing her with a disturbing strength.
"I-I j-just needed to go to the bathroom," she stuttered, her chest heaving painfully for air.
"Hurry back. I think today is the day when I'll show you what it's like to make love to a god," he murmured, kissing her on the cheek.
"I need to take a shower. Be patient," she told him, launching herself off the bed. She felt bile rising in her throat so she hurried into the bathroom.
It burned. There was nothing in her stomach to eject but acid. It scorched her esophagus and mouth. The taste was as bitter as the emotions she felt. When would this pain end? The emotional pain made her feel dead but the physical pain swiftly reminded her she was alive. Her stomach tried to expel more but there nothing there. It was as empty as the rest of her. Once the dry heaves ceased, she curled onto the floor holding her abdomen while her whole body cramped from the spasms. Forcing herself to stand, she brushed her teeth before getting a shower.
"Oh, my god," she moaned, looking at herself in the mirror. She looked as bad as she felt which was truly frightening. Opening her make up bag to apply a bit of makeup when vanity won out over good sense, she found a letter tucked inside.
My dearest love Sachi,
By the time you read this letter I will be dead. I'm sorry for leaving you. My name is L Lawliet. I was an orphan found by Watari and taken to live at a place called Wammy's House. I want you to go there. They will help you and keep you safe. I love you.
She stared at the address written on the bottom corner of the letter. Winchester, England! Digging around in her make up bag, she found a wad of cash, a credit card, an identification card, and a passport. Masako* Lawliet was the name on the ID and passport.
Light banged on the door with such viciousness she thought he would break in. Sachi crammed the items back into her make up bag then shoved them into her purse. She was glad that the closet was in the bathroom so she could dress without going to the bedroom where the monster waited. She hurriedly pulled on jeans and t-shirt while he continued to try to beat down the door.
"Are you okay? What are you doing in there?" he demanded, still hammering on the door.
"Um, I was having a little problem with being sick. I've also developed another problem!"
Go. She had to go. Now she had a refuge to run to called Wammy's House. L was still looking out for her despite being gone. He must have had a suspicion that this would happen. Opening the door, she was greeted with an unpleasant face full of Light.
"Light," she shrieked, backing up a step. Giving him a sheepish grin, she continued. "I need to go to the pharmacy. I need medicine and uh, something else."
"Tell me what you need. I'll get it," he offered, stroking her wan cheek. "Why don't you stay here and eat something?"
Sachi had all she needed to get to her safe house except a way to escape from her present prison. She was working on that at this very moment. If she could just get out of here and to the airport, she would be on her way.
"But I need feminine things for that time of month. I use the pink ones in the black box. Be sure to get the slenders because – "
"No! Never mind! You go get whatever you need," he insisted, digging his wallet out of his back pocket. He pulled out a handful of cash and gave it to her.
Sachi gladly took it, figuring she would need it for her trip anyway. She pushed past him while stuffing the money in her purse. She looked at the bed and winced. The god would be so disappointed. Walking fast, she was halfway through the control him when he caught her.
"Hey!" Light exclaimed, grabbing her wrist and spinning her around to face him. He pressed his lips to hers in a rough, possessive manner as if to remind her that he owned her now. "Hurry back. Don't make me worry."
"Yeah, sure," she returned blandly, offering him a weak smile.
"You're special to me. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you," he said in a voice loud enough for everyone in the room, including his father, to hear.
Sachi did not respond to that but wiggled out of his arms since they were being watched. She was sure he had done that so when something did happen to her he would not immediately be under investigation as the first suspect. Bastard. Some people deserve to die and Light is definitely one of those. L was not.
'I'll kill you, you bastard. It won't be fast, and it won't be easy. You'll suffer for what you did. You stole something precious from me that you can never give back,' she thought to herself, smiling sincerely at the heinous fiend in front of her. Was there anything else she needed? Her eyes scanned the room, seeing her laptop on the desk beside Light's. L's computer had already been dismantled and removed. His chair was gone as well. Just as her heart felt as if it were caving in, her eyes fell on the notebook lying beside Light's computer.
"Light, is it okay if I get a cup of coffee and something to eat while I'm out?" she inquired sweetly, walking to the desk to retrieve her laptop. She deftly scooted the notebook toward it and slipped it inside of her computer to conceal it. "I'm going to do a little research while I'm out. I won't take too long I promise. I just need to get out of here for a while to clear my head you know."
"If you feel like eating, by all means get something. You have your phone right? Call me in thirty minutes to let me know where you are," he told her.
Sachi gasped when she felt his arms encircle her waist from behind. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to remain calm as his lips brushed across her neck.
"By all means, clear your mind, my darling. I want to be the only one you think about now. I want you to be mine completely," he murmured, kissing her cheek. "I'll help you forget him."
"Sure, Light. I'll be thinking about you all day every day."
Sachi clutched her computer protectively to her chest. Walking calmly to the door, she pondered what she had just said to him. She meant every word. What she did not tell him was that she would be plotting his demise while finding new and intriguing ways to torture him before his end came.
...
Sachi did in fact stop by a pharmacy on her way to the airport. She bought something for nausea and pills for headaches. Walking down the aisle something unexpected caught her eye. Pregnancy tests. Find out as soon as the first day of your missed period, boasted the writing on one package. It would be a week before the first day of her missed period, but she bought it for future use. Her and L had not used protection and there for a few days all they did was spend their time in bed together. Smiling from the memory, thinking about him helped reduce the pain in her heart. Even though it was only a small amount, any lessening of her despair was welcome at this point. There was no doubt in her mind that the nausea she experienced was from her overwhelmed emotional state. After picking up a bottle of herbs that claimed to help calm and soothe nervous conditions, she went to the check out. Whatever else she needed, including clothes, could be bought in England after she arrived at Wammy's House.
At the airport, Sachi tossed her phone into a trash can outside of the terminal. She had considered calling Light, but she wanted to be far from here before he had a clue what had happened. Let the new super detective figure out this mystery. The case of the disappearing girlfriend would be his next biggest challenge.
...
Sachi gaped at the stately English manor behind the fifteen foot high iron gate. A bronze placard attached to one of the brick columns of the entrance had Wammy's House engraved on it in plain block letters. It was a massive, sprawling building, and she would have thought it was a government office or a church. There was a huge clock tower on the house whose bells began to toll indicating that it was two in the afternoon. The front doors burst open and children poured out as if the floodgates had been opened. Some children ran and screamed while others walked sedately and quietly. She watched with fascination when some of the kids grouped together while others paired off to go run and play. There were a few who chose to be alone, finding solitary, peaceful places under trees to sit and play by themselves.
One boy in particular intrigued her. His shaggy, snow white hair caught her attention first. He was dressed in loose white pajamas that appeared to be two sizes too big for him. He picked a very shady spot and spread out several action figures he had been carrying in his arms along with a bag that contained dozens of dice that were now scattered on the ground.
"Can I help you?" a kind, grandfatherly man asked her on the other side of the gate.
Sachi jumped, screeching from surprise. She did not notice the man's arrival because she had been studying the boy so intently. Digging through her purse, she found the letter from L and handed it to him through the widely spaced bars of the gate.
"I was told to come see you if certain things happen," she said, watching his pale, almost colorless, blue eyes begin to well with tears.
"Is he dead, Miss?" he inquired, his voice shaking as much as his hands.
"Yes, he is," she answered softly, biting her lip as the frail looking little man dug into his pocket for a handkerchief. She felt like crying herself as she watched him remove his glasses to dab at his leaking eyes.
"Watari?"
"Yes. Him too. I'm so sorry," she murmured, feeling tears streaming down her own cheeks.
"I'm Roger Ruvie. You're the one L told me about. I've been expecting you, Masako," he said, using her new name.
Masako Lawliet. Even though they never had the chance to get married, L had given her his name when he gave her a new identity.
"Yes, that's me," she returned with a pleasant smile despite her tears.
"Come in, come in!" he happily exclaimed, opening the gate for her. "I'm sure you're tired after your trip here. I have a room ready for you. Welcome home, Mrs. Lawliet."
Sachi cried out for joy and threw her arms around the sweet old man who had just made her heart soar by calling her that.
"Oh, well, um…uh…" he sputtered, blushing brightly from the unexpected affection from the pretty young lady.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry!" she squeaked, covering her mouth as the warmth of embarrassment flooded her face.
"It's quite all right, Miss," he rejoined, straightening his tie and cleaning his fogged glasses. He chuckled lightly and offered her his arm. "I'll show you around. This will be your home after all."
They walked toward the boy with white hair in the awkward crouch with one knee on the ground and the other bent beneath his chin. He did not acknowledge them when they came to stand in front of him.
"This is Near. He's one of L's successors," he told her, relinquishing her arm.
Sachi crouched down in front of him. She did not try to touch him but stared at him intensely until he raised his dark eyes to her. They looked black but they were actually a dark gray. She held his piercing gaze as they silently studied each other.
"What is your name?" he inquired, his eyes remaining locked with hers.
"Masako," she answered succinctly.
"How old are you?"
"A lady never tells her age. How old are you?"
"I won't tell you my age then either," he countered with a snarky edge to his voice. "Who are you?"
"I already told you," she replied.
"No, you didn't. You gave me your name. That is different from who you are. I also know that is not your real name. Who are you?" he repeated, his gaze not wavering.
He had read her facial cues to determine that she was lying. Amazing.
Sachi stared at the young man who suddenly reminded her of L. His eyes drilled into hers and she wondered if L's eyes would have been this color if they had not been fully dilated all of the time.
"I am a very good friend of L's. You can think of me as your big sister," she told him.
"I don't want a sister," he remarked bluntly with a toneless and solemn voice.
"Most kids don't. Congratulations, you've just been adopted as my little brother…whether you like it or not."
*Masako means Justice