Confluence
"Mom! Sayu! I'm home," Light called as he came in, carefully closing the door behind him. He took off his shoes and placed them carefully on the coat rack, followed by his jacket. He shivered, thankful for the warmth of the house. It really is bitter out there, he thought.
There was no response. Light frowned, and then went to the kitchen.
Sachiko was there, her dark hair in an untidy bun. "Oh, Light, you're home. How was your day?"
Light shrugged. "The usual."
Sachiko correctly interpreted the look on his face. "You can't talk about it, can you?" she asked, sighing.
Light shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Mom. It's all very cloak and dagger, I'm afraid."
"That's too bad."
"It's okay," Light said. "Where's Sayu, anyways?"
Sachiko jerked her chin toward the living room door. "In there, with a guest."
"A guest?" Please not Misa, not again…. If Misa was in the house, Light had every intention of beating a hasty retreat. Geez, that girl never knows when to let go.
"Yes, a guest." Sachiko frowned. "He asked for you, actually."
"He? It's not…."
"No, not Amane-san, though I've no idea why you hardly speak to her anymore. You guys seemed so serious…."
Light cut her off. "Did our mystery guest give a name?"
"Yes. Sato Ryuzaki? Does that sound familiar?"
Inwardly, Light cursed. Of course. What is L up to, anyways? He should have asked me before just traipsing into my house like he owns it. We're not that close, whatever may have happened in the past….
He abruptly cut off that line of thought. The former KIRA investigation had left him with some memories that he would prefer not to peruse, some memories that, given time, he had convinced himself were false, delusions born of sleep deprivation. Then there were the mysterious lapses of memory, which, somehow, were even more frightening than the haunting spectral ones…
Light shook his head to clear it. "Yeah, I know him," he said.
"Is he a friend of yours?"
Light hesitated. "More of a...acquaintance."
"Someone from work?"
"Sort of. I'll go and see what he wants, then."
Light left the kitchen, opening the door to the living room. Sayu was sitting on the sofa; she looked up when he came in and smiled in a way that was two parts happy younger sister, and one part self-satisfied evil genius. Beside her—his dark hair even messier than usual in its half dried state, sitting in that ridiculous crouching position with his bare feet on the cushion—was L. He looked up too, and gave a small, awkward wave.
"Hey, Light. How are you doing?"
God, he's actually grinning. Him and Sayu both….Light bit his lip to restrain himself from saying something biting and sarcastic that would knock them both down a peg, and rearranged his features in a friendly expression.
"Konbanwa, Ryuzaki. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
L shrugged. "Just thought I'd stop by." There was an awkward pause. "It's nice to see you again, Yagami-san."
What is he up to? "Please, call me Light," Light said, flopping graceful onto the couch beside the detective. "We're friends, after all." Translation: What the hell are you playing at?
L cocked his head very slightly toward Sayu. Light understood the gesture. L wished to speak to him alone.
Luckily, at that moment, Sachiko called out, "Sayu! Can you come here, please?"
Sayu rolled her eyes. "See you later, Light, Ryuzaki." She got up and walked out of the room.
For a moment, Light and L sat in silence. It was so reminiscent of some of their other meetings that Light had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. L's eyes narrowed.
"May I ask what is so funny, Light-kun?"
Light shook his head. "Nothing, Ryuzaki," he said, stressing the alias.
L was still glaring at Light—who had progressed from trying to stifle his amusement to openly smirking—when Sachiko came in with tea. She gave him a quizzical look, and then set the cups and the pot on the knee-high coffee table before walking out.
"So," Light said in English as he sipped his tea. "To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
L shrugged again as he stirred the tea-flavored syrup in his cup. "Like I said, while I'm in Tokyo, I thought it would be nice if we could see one another face-to-face sometimes. Computers are hackable, you know."
Light rolled his eyes. "That hasn't ever stopped you before."
L glided right over this accusation. "I do have something to discuss with you. It's about the case…well, sort of…." he trailed off, examining the handle of his cup, and then turned a little towards Light. "Is it safe to talk here?" he asked, his lips barely moving.
Light shrugged. "It's not got any cameras in it, if that's what you're asking."
"Hmm. I remember it being almost ridiculously easy to install cameras here."
"Well, you had Dad to help you. And besides, I've grown more adept at detecting them since I started working at the NPA."
"Right." L lowered his voice."It has to do with your sister, Light-kun."
Light narrowed his eyes. "What does Sayu have to do with it?" His lips tugged upwards as he thought of something. "You're not…err…attracted to her, are you?"
For some reason, L's pale cheeks flushed just slightly. It was an interesting effect, almost as though life was flowing into his porcelain skin. "No, Light-kun. I have no interest…not like that…"
Light smiled at the flustered tone of the older detective's voice. "I was only asking, Ryuzaki. It's not a big deal."
L took a deep breath and said, "I think your sister could be useful in this case." When Light said nothing, he quickly went on, "Her deductive skills are at least as good as yours, and I think she may already know more than she should about this case…."
"Out of the question. Mom and Dad don't even want her to marry a detective, much less be one. She's supposed to have her own life. And how could she know anything about the case? I don't tell my family about everything, Ryuzaki."
"There's no need to get angry," L said, unperturbed.
"I'm angry for a good reason!"
"Yes, I know. Please, let me explain."
Light shut up. Almost. "Go on then," he said, folding his arms.
L told him about Mello, and about the questions Sayu had asked on the plane. "Mello is not the best of undercover operatives, but he's not stupid either. Sayu seems to have a sense of curiosity, and that could be dangerous should the wrong information fall into her hands. However, if she is already part of the task force, we can keep an eye on her, as well as providing us some much needed help. This Kira…." L swirled a finger in the bottom of his cup, making Light cringe. "He is intelligent, far more so than Higuchi." L turned his eyes on Light. "Almost genius…"
"Oh, god. Not that again. I am not and never was Kira. Is that good enough for you?"
"You're not Kira now."
Light ignored this and said, "And the answer is no, non, kein."
"There is no need to reinforce your point by switching languages, Light-kun," L said in flawless Japanese, then back to English. "I thought you might say that. In which case, I was going to ask you if you would do me a favor."
"And what is that?"
"Make sure your sister has no access to any information relating to the Kira case that is not available to the public."
"That's easy," Light scoffed. "I've been doing that for ages. But I can check her computer; search her room while she's out…"
"Then by all means, do so." L cocked his head to one side. "But if you do find something…"
Light sighed. "Then I guess I might have to reconsider your offer."
L smirked in the way that Light knew he would, his success plain on his face.
"But," Light added, "I wouldn't feel well about it unless Mom and Dad knew. So if I find something, and if Sayu agrees, you will still have to consult with my parents about it. They only want what's best for their daughter."
"She's a legal adult."
"She still lives at home."
"So do you, obviously."
"That's different. "
"How so?"
"Look, Ryuzaki," Light said, his impatience getting the better of him. "That is my last offer. Take it or leave it."
L stared at him a moment, then sighed. "I suppose it shall have to do."
Light was smirking now, recognizing the signals. "I suppose it shall."
L's phone blipped gently. He tugged it out of his pocket and flipped it open, saying, "Yes?"
There was a moment of silence.
"Yes, I see. Yes…I'll be there as quickly as I can…I did warn you, Roger….Yes, I know. Right, then." He hung up and turned to Light. "I'm sorry, Light-kun, but I have to go. There is a….err…situation that I must attend to back at the hotel."
"I understand." Light stood, brushing imaginary dirt off of his slacks. L stood up too, hunched as always. If he had better posture, Light surmised, the dark haired Englishman might even be taller than he was.
For a moment, L just looked at him, and Light found it almost impossible to look away. He swallowed, pushing away the memories that threatened to overwhelm him, and looked right back, into those dark and unnerving eyes.
L was the one who looked away, saying softly, "The day after tomorrow, I will expect you at the hotel for a meeting. He made as if to walk out, and then turned about, saying, "And by then, you will have the information I asked for."
"In one day? That's a little demanding, don't you think?"
L's face was set. "Last time, Kira killed twelve FBI agents and countless jailed and suspected criminals. However much that might have reduced the amount of murderers and rapists in the world, I am convinced that too many innocents lost their lives in this judging. I won't make the same mistake twice, Light-kun. This time, I will catch him before he has the chance to kill so many."
And, with that declaration, he left, leaving Light standing there, a thousand unformed thoughts and plans racing through his mind.
A/N—Reviews are a writer's sustenance, so please remember to review! Thanks to Black-Dranzer-1119, Ulaire, and Dark Oracle for your feedback, and I hope that this chapter is foreshadowing somewhat what is to come. :grin: I still refuse to tell anybody what my pairings are; you'll have to guess for yourselves. :wink: