A/N: Wow, this chapter went out of control in length, taking me a bit longer to get it done than I'd hoped. Hopefully now the story will be moving along at a decent pace. I hate getting bogged down with exposition and what not, so this is hopefully the last info dump chapter. Please let me know what you think
Just over a week later.
"Say Light, you're finally free to leave headquarters on your own but it seems like you never go out. Even when Misa comes to visit, you only chat for a few minutes outside. You do realize you're free to have a relationship with her now," L said with barely a glace.
"That can wait till we've managed to solve this case. I'm not in the mood for love or anything else right now. Anyway, are you suggesting that I'll be a nuisance for staying here?" Light replied from just beyond the stairs. No L, you won't get rid of me that easily.
"No, I was actually wondering if you'd like to become more involved."
"Huh?" Light perked up. "How? I mean, of course I would but I--"
"Excellent then." L gave one of his brief smiles. "I have a job for you." He pushed himself up from the couch on which he had perched and sauntered over to the main console where his lap top lay open, nodding to Light.
"Sure, I just don't--"
"Do you recall that murder investigation I showed you a while back?" L cut in, bringing up the files.
"Yeah, of course," Light replied, taking his seat next to him. "The anti Kira ones, right? Has there been some sort of development on them?"
"You could say that. They've gotten worse." L's voice was flat, though that was hardly unusual. "Two more families were killed. The third was particularly brutal but it's the fourth that's has me worried. One of the bodies is missing you see."
L slid the laptop over for Light to take a look at. Mentally bracing himself, Light quickly went through the file and reports. In the third home, a woman responsible for an ever growing popular editorial column, known for its pro Kira bias, had been targeted. Her heart was removed and her husband drugged like the others. What was disturbing in this particular instance was that her body had also been hacked in two.
L watched as the man beside him blanched. The photos, he knew, were particularly disturbing.
Light had never seen anything so graphic in his life, well out side of movies anyways, but then that was fake. This woman was actually in two, split from her skull down. The right side of her body was completely missing, just like the eye had been, leaving the grisly insides for all to see. The room in which she had been found was a mess of red and brown and things he didn't even want to try to put a name to. But even so, the killer had left no trace of evidence for the investigators. Their only hint to anything was that the damaged had been done using a surgical saw. It was strongly suspected the killer had some sort of connection to the medical field. Beyond that, the police had no more leads than they had the last time Light had looked at the file.
The forth home was mercifully less gruesome. Its file was surprisingly small though. All it said was that the main victim's heart had been removed. He lived alone with his teenage daughter who currently could not be found. Given her age, it was suspected that she may simply be away and unaware of the tragedy awaiting her at home, though they are not ruling out kidnapping or that there was some sort of sexual assault, causing the killer to want hide the body.
Light became furious as his eye read and lightning speed, taking in every detail. Yes, this was a direct challenge to him, and by god he would make them pay. These were good people. Decent people who had never committed a crime in their lives. Children too. And slaughtered for what? A game? Some sort of a grudge? What kind of god was he, Light thought bitterly, if he couldn't actually protect his people? Yes L, he said to only himself. Please, let me help with this case.
But then it hit him. Why was L showing him this when they were still working on the Kira case? He still believes that I'm Kira. He wants me to be furious and do something foolish. Knowing L, he'd likely let these murders continue if he thought doing so would cause me to expose myself. Light forced himself to calm down and look at the man who'd been watching him with mild concern.
"These," he began with shuddering breath. "I've never seen anything like this in my life. How can someone do this to another human being?" He shook his head. "But I have to ask, with everything uncovered as it is now, how does this relate to us?"
If L was disappointed in Lights lack of force, it didn't show. "Well Light, it's quite simple. You see," he began, taking a sip of coffee. "I want you to solve this case."
Light gasped. "What?" he yelled, though L remained unperturbed. "But how? Why?"
"Well the police have no leads up to this point." He shrugged. "It's likely they may have missed something designed for only Kira to catch."
Light made to start but L continued on. "Or say someone like us, who have the best understanding of Kira and how he operates. So it only makes sense that we at least take a look around for them, and of course there is the off chance that we'll find something relevant to our own investigation."
He let out a loud sigh. "I'd prefer to go to the scene myself, but with all things considered that would be undeniably foolish of me. You however, would be under significantly less danger, not to mention amongst the task force; I trust your judgment and reasoning to be the most in line to mine own."
"I see," Light replied dryly, not at all liking where this was going. He's right. He's hoping there will be something for me to find there, something that only Kira could fine. If I solve this case, I may just end up signing my own death warrant. I'll have to be careful. Make sure there's evidence to back up my every move. I can do this L, even if you can't. Light smirked.
"The fourth murder was found only this morning, that's why there isn't a full report yet," L went on, oblivious to Lights thoughts. "I want you to go over to the scene as soon as you can and to take a look around. Also, the killer must have a way to keep tabs on this case's progress; he's sending a message after all. He wants to know if we're reading it, so keep your eyes out for that. This has all the information you'll need," He bent down, grabbing a large folder and handed it over to the boy. "And I've already contacted the investigator in charge. He'll be expecting you."
Light raised an eyebrow. "Glad to see you've already decided that I would accept this."
He smiled. "Oh don't think there was ever any doubt of that. By the way, how's Misa?"
Light frowned. Where did that come from? "She's fine."
"Glad to hear it. You should give her a call while you're out, I'm sure she'll be happy to hear from you outside of the front lobby that is." Light looked perplexed. "When was the last time you spoke to her?"
"Two days ago. Ryuzaki, why are you asking me this?"
"No reason…" He took a deep sip from his coffee. "But you really should call her I think."
Rolling his eyes, Light grabbed his folder and made to stand. "I assume you want me to leave now?"
"If that would be convenient for you."
"What ever you say, Ryuzaki." With a scowl, Light threw on his jacket and headed for the door.
Light arrived and the fourth families home just after 5 pm. He couldn't believe he'd just let L push him into this. He needed to be back at headquarters keeping an eye on things, not playing along with what ever it was L thought he was up to. Kira pretending not to be Kira but acting like Kira, but only enough to figure things out and not be suspected of actually being Kira… It whole thing made his head hurt. He needed to get rid of L, and soon.
After knocking, it was only a few seconds before he was greeted by a familiar smiling face.
"Light Yagami, it's good to see you again. I'm glad the Kira task force has decided to get involved with this after all." It was officer Okada, Light knew him from one of the cases he had helped his father with a while back. He was a good man, though rather overly friendly.
"Don't get your hopes up yet," Light said, taking a quick survey of the room. "I'm only here to see if there's any relevance to our own case."
It looked as though everyone was packing up to go home. There were only three other people that Light could see, paying little mind to the two by the door.
"And how is that going, anyways? Any chance we'll see that bastards head roll soon?" The slightly shorter man clasped a hand to Lights shoulder, making him cringe inwardly. L, I'm going to kill you.
"I'm afraid I can't give you that information. You understand, of course."
"Of course, of course," he replied, now gently shoving the boy into the room. "But this whole situation is turning into a nightmare. I mean it's like a bloody civil war out there."
That gave him pause. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well the Kira supporters and those against were always at each others throats, but now, with this…" The man made a face. "Who can say how bad it'll get. The media alone… well I'm sure you know. Freaking field day, they're having. Everyone's scared. Everyone blames the other side, and it seems no one is safe no matter which opinion you hold. The whole thing's a mess, a great big bloody mess."
Light decided he really didn't like this man. "Look, I know it's bad, but this is just one lunatic. Once he's caught, the public will see the police as heroes again, not Kira. And as long as the killings continue, Kira supporters will continue to feel abandoned by their savior. It's a win win situation for the police, really."
"Win, win?" The man gave out a bark of a laugh. "Forgive me, but I don't see the death of innocents as win win."
"A bad choice of words, perhaps. But you see my point. Anyways, I suppose I should get started."
"Oh right, of course. Well we've already been all through here, and the bodies have been removed so you're free to have your look around and do what ever it is you're expected to do. I'm going to be leaving in a few minutes my self, along with the rest of the group I suspect," he said, nodding to the few in the room. "I was really just waiting for your arrival. If you'll come with me."
Light followed the man down a hallway, where he could here the unmistakable sound of typing coming from a room near the end.
"Stag?" Okada called out.
"Over here," he heard a female voice reply. They made their way into what could only be the teenage daughters room. Posters aligned the walls, CD's were scattered everywhere, and photos of friends covered a full size mirror. Sitting at a desk, a woman in her late twenties was busy typing away at a laptop, paying no heed to them as they entered.
"Ah, so this has been where you've been hiding." The girl made no reply. "Light, this is Miss Janne Stag. Feel free to ask her any questions you may have. Janne this is chief Yagami's son. He's here representing the Kira case. Please give him your full co operation."
He gave the girl a hard stare. Janne gave only the slightest of nods before turning back to her screen.
Okada sighed. "Well then Light, I'll leave you to it."
"Thank you sir," Light said, smiling. He was happy to finally be rid of the man. Casually he began to survey the room, taking note of the various pop idols that donned the wall.
"So… this was the missing daughters' room?" he asked politely, not really sure what to make of the woman steadily ignoring him.
A short grunt was his only reply.
Ok then… "You're on the investigation team then, I take it?"
Light couldn't really make out the girls response but it sounded strangely like 'obviously' and 'idiot,' muttered softly.
Great, so now I have to deal with this… Light went over to a bookshelf and began to run his fingers along the magazine titles lining the stacks. "Look, I'm sorry to have disturbed you, I'll just—"
"Don't touch anything!" she screeched, finally turning in her chair.
For the first time, Light actually got a good look at her. A plain face, simple glasses, brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Painfully average, he thought with satisfaction. "What?"
"I don't care whose son you are, but I really don't have time to babysit some collage student. Look around if you want, but don't touch anything," she snarled before going back to her work.
Light stared. Was this woman for real? Who the hell did she think she was? Or he was for that matter? "That's not why I'm here," he clipped out, not moving from his position.
Another grunt.
"I'm actually part of the Kira task force. I'm here as part of the ongoing Kira investigation. It's believed that these murders may have some relevance to us. There may be some information your team has missed or over looked, simply because you don't have access to the same information that I do. Do I make my self clear?"
She looked at him darkly. "Well then in that case, you may look around and touch things." She spoke as though she were explaining something difficult to a small child.
Having had enough of her insolence, Light choose to go the other rout and try to ignore her. Quietly he began to riffle through the girls things, looking for anything at all that may have been out of place.
"Is this the first room you've decided to look through?" the woman asked after some time.
"Yes," Light answered. The woman gave him a hard look, taking in his entire appearance. She then made a show of giving him a coy smirk before typing furiously once more. "Is that supposed to mean something?" he asked.
"Probably not," was her short answer.
Light shook his head. Unbelievable. "Why are you here, anyways? What is it you do?"
She sighed. "Well right now I'm trying to write up a psych profile."
He blinked. "And you need to be here to do that?"
"You're forgetting the babysitter part," she said, finally turning in her chair.
"I don't need to be watched."
"Well the great L thinks differently, apparently."
Light faltered for a moment. Well that was unexpected. Had this girl been in contact with L? Light stared down at the small woman before him. "If you knew I was working for L, then why have you been giving me a hard time?"
This time she gave him a big smile and with the sweetest voice replied, "Because I'm pissed off."
"That's not really my fault, you know. You don't need to be taking it out on me. Blame L if you want to be pissed at someone, but leave me out of it."
The smile dropped. "Don't you have a job to be doing, or something?"
"Fine." He turned back to his rifling, not really knowing what L thinks he'd be able to find in all this mess. "So what have you gathered about our suspects personal psyche?"
The girl snorted. "That he's crazy."
"Aside from that."
"Aside from that, I'm just writing four thousand words explaining the term 'crazy' to a bunch of bureaucratic idiots who think it's really just another word for misunderstood." Janne made a point of using her hands to empathize the words. "Who knew learning to bullshit through university would come in handy, eh? He's crazy, Light. Pure and simple."
"I see." This is going nowhere.
"No you don't," she clipped back. A few more minutes passed before she added, "Well at least you're not a complete idiot."
"And what do you mean by that?" Light answered, no longer phased by the girl.
"Well, there's the fact that you've decided to search this room first, rather than the main victims. Or was it L that told you to do that?"
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out the missing girl is the key point of this particular scene," he replied calmly.
"Then we're agreed then."
He sighed. "Agreed on what?"
"Point made."
"Huh?"
"Never mind, I'm just jerking you. Hey when you're done here, let's say we go out for coffees."
Light stopped what he was doing and turned to stare at Janne. Did he just hear that right? This girl was nuts. "Are you asking me on a date?"
Janne tossed out another of one of those big smiles, making a show of giving him the once over. "No, just a casual exchange of information… with coffee, of course. Besides," she added with a twinkle of mischief. "Don't you think we should leave the sex till after the fifth victim is found? I mean you're cute and all but I'm just not that kind of girl."
The magazine Light had been holding slipped from his hand as the expression on his face turned from shock, to intrigue, to complete horror and back again.
"Oh, this is just too easy," she began, barely containing a fit of laughter. "I am going to just love working with you."
Comprehension dawned on him. "Oh I see, and by working, you mean jerking me around."
"I thought I said, not till after the fifth body," she answered, not missing a beat.
Light couldn't believe it. What had he done to deserve this, he thought, vaguely entertaining the idea that L had set the whole thing up and was killing himself laughing somewhere. "I can't believe it," he muttered under his breath. "I'm actually missing Misa."
The girl had apparently heard him and gave him a studying look. "You are a sharp one if you've already picked up on that."
"Picked up on what?" he asked, confused once again.
"The Misa Misa connection," she answered with a genuine smile.
Light stared at her in shocked silence, but only one thought drifted through his mind.
L knew.
A/N: ever had a character that was designed to never be really anything but then you kinda started to love em and wanted to increase there role? yeah, I'm in that predicament right now but it makes me excited to see where the story will take me now.