The Little Things Give You Away
By AishiExcel
Don't own anything. Half credit goes to Nikkiacat.
Sorry about how long it took to update folks! I've had a superbly busy week/weekend/etc. I had to go to the orientation for the art school I'm attending next year, AND I had to go to my boyfriend's prom… on the same day. And the next day, at 7 am, I had to crawl to a meeting at work… So I've been exhausted. But never fear! I am going to keep Little Things going.
Anyways, those who guessed the song as Charmless Man by Blur were absolutely right. Those who didn't… It is a great song, so look it up.
I wasn't sure about this chap's song so tell me if you don't think it fits. Anyways, that's enough rambling. Here's Little Things!
"Doctor? Seriously?" Light couldn't suppress his laughter this time. That was just TOO DAMN FUNNY.
"Why is Light laughing? I'm entirely serious."
Light eyed the stranger. He couldn't have been older than 21. He was ungainly; his hands were too big and his fingers were too long.
"Do you mean an intern?"
"No. I mean a doctor."
"Do you mean a nurse?"
"Doctor and nurse are not synonyms, Light Yagami. I do not see how I could say one and mean the other."
Light smiled. Oh. He got it. This guy WAS a comedian. Best to just agree to avoid being the butt of a joke.
"Okay, okay. You're a doctor. I get it." Light rolled his eyes. And I'm the freaking Pope, he mentally added.
Ryuzaki seemed to realize Light wasn't entirely convinced, but he let it slide. "Anyhow," he murmured, "Light got to ask me a question, and so may I ask him one in return? It's only good manners."
How did this guy know ANYTHING about good manners? Nevertheless, the teen star consented.
"Sure. Ask away."
He didn't know exactly what it would be, but he had a pretty good idea. Questions always fell into two categories- gossip, or fan trivia. The former was usually something like, "Is it true you posed for naked pictures on the internet?" while the latter was something like, "In episode 24 you were clearly seen to be holding a scythe, but in episode 25 it became a sword. How did that happen?" Looking at this guy, it could have been either one. But he didn't expect the question that followed.
"Light said once in a magazine interview that his I.Q. was somewhere around 112 or 113, correct?"
Light raised his eyebrows. He barely even remembered that obscure interview. It had to be at least 2 years old.
"Yeah, I did…. But that was a while ago-"
"It's much higher, isn't it?" Ryuzaki interjected, cutting the celebrity off. "I would warrant a guess that Light Yagami's I.Q. was at least over 150, possibly even over 180."
What. The. Hell.
Light didn't even know what to say for a minute. This… this GUY… he was….
Absolutely right.
Will you look them in the face?
Could you look me in the face?
Three cheers you fooled them all
Come on, hip hip hooray
Three cheers you fooled them all
Come on, hip hip hooray
Hip hip hooray
"I… what?"
He realized what unnerved him so much about Ryuzaki. It was his gaze. He had a horribly piercing gaze, like he could see through Light's soul. Or maybe just his clothes. Either way, it was unsettling.
"An I.Q. of 112 or 113 is only slightly above average, and Light seems to me to be rather beyond that. I would be seventy-five percent sure that he's a genius in intellect as well as acting ability."
How did he know? How did he know? How the hell did this guy know that? Light was an excellent actor. He knew just how to pretend to be at the same level as everyone else. He had built his façade so carefully that sometimes his own act fooled him and he forgot how damn smart he was.
'How did you… I mean," God! He was stammering like an idiot. Light Yagami did NOT lose his composure. He took a deep breath and smiled. His mask clicked back into place.
"You're absolutely right! It's pretty interesting how you picked that up. How did you manage that?"
Ryuzaki's gaze wasn't going to unnerve him this time. No, sir.
"I fancy myself something of a… mental diagnostician as well as medical doctor. I think I can understand Light's motivation, too."
"You do?" Well you think you know it all you little weirdo, don't you? Light smiled even harder.
"Light is, on all accounts, superior to the people around him. He is more gifted; richer and most definitely more attractive than any other 18 year old save for a few movie stars, and personally I believe that the only thing they have over him is wealth. One more thing to separate them would just make it harder to connect to people. When you're the best, it's lonely. You can't hide your success or looks, so the only thing you can downplay is your intelligence. When you're already up on a pedestal, one more thing to be revered for is just an annoyance."
"…"
Ryuzaki was unusually close. His breath smelled like frosting and coffee. Light backed up and pushed an auburn lock of hair off of his face.
"I… I guess you're…. Right…"
Ryuzaki seemed oddly satisfied with this. His unusual smile contorted those pale lips upwards.
At that moment an older gentleman, in every sense of the word, approached. He resembled noting more than a butler or an English chap with his neat gray moustache and laugh-lined eyes.
"Ah! Ryuzaki. There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you. Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Now that I have met Light Yagami I am."
"Ah! Pardon me!" The gentleman turned to Light and held out his hand. "I'm Watari, the hospital director! So pleased to meet you. If not for your donation, we would never have been able to build the new children's wing. Surely you'll allow us to thank you somehow. A plaque perhaps?
"Oh, no, no, I could never allow that." Light's charming face was slightly rattled, but he managed all the niceties and the humble smile. "I could do more, really. My sister stayed there when she got sick a while ago. It's a really nice hospital."
Watari smiled even wider. Judging from those crinkles around his eyes, he smiled a lot. "Well, thank you. It will be even nicer now." He turned to Ryuzaki. "Ryuzaki, were you aware that the band will be playing soon? I thought you might be interested in hearing them."
"Ah. Yes." He glanced over at Light. "I would like that very much. I suppose I will talk with you…. Another time… Light Yagami…" There was a strange note in that monotonous voice. "Goodbye."
Watari looked curiously at Ryuzaki but held out his hand to help him out. "Well. Perhaps we can grab a drink of punch before the band begins. The caterers are excellent." He led Ryuzaki off talking to him under his breath.
Light was breathless. Just like that, away walked an enigma and a mystery and possibly the strangest person he had ever met. No… he wasn't going to let all the questions in his mind go unanswered… and there were so many of them! How was Ryuzaki connected to the hospital director? Could it possibly be true that he was a doctor? Or was he just a liar? How did he know about Light's I.Q.? Who the hell WAS he?
He tailed close behind them, slipping into crowds and circles of people to avoid being seen. He listened to the hushed conversation between the old man and the young man in snippets.
"…didn't plan for….. something must be done…."
"….could be dangerous…….not the wisest course of action…."
"……….administer 20 milligrams of……. He will begin to…….."
"….. then what do you plan?"
"……….give him the dosage. He will not seriously be affected. I will handle the rest."
That last statement was definitely Ryuzaki's voice. So he was discussing medicine with Watari? But… that could only mean….
Had he been telling the truth?
"Oh look. I spy Light again." Ryuzaki waved. Shit! He'd been spotted. "Do you want to watch the band with us, Light?"
Light smiled. "Sure. Why not."
"You're kind Light. Allowing a complete stranger such as myself to impose myself on you. I should grant you some kind of favor. How about a glass of punch?"
Light shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat."
"Watari, fetch punch for Light."
Wow. He was bossing the hospital director around like a common butler. He HAD to be a doctor, or arrogant. Either way, Watari complied.
They found their seats and the darkened stage lit up. Two figures could be seen- one, slender and blonde, clad in leather, and the other a bespectacled redhead in a striped shirt. The music began with a thumping pulse and the singer's voice floated over, strong and commanding.
This feeling never leaves you alone
You pull the trigger on your own
You're hiding in your safe place
Hiding with your eyes shut tightly
all the way to the hospital
The loud music and flashing lights made Light's head hurt. He squinted and looked at Ryuzaki. The weird man seemed to be paying no attention to the show and staring openly at the teen star.
"Ryuzaki," he asked, his voice drowned in the music, "who are you?"
"What?"
" I said… Never mind, here comes Watari."
Watari handed Light a small cup of reddish punch and smiled again. "Here you go Light. The band is good, are they not?"
To be honest they were giving Light a headache. He sipped at the punch to try and cool his head but it wasn't helping. In a frustrated gesture he downed the whole cup.
Now will you ever rest your head?
You end up feeling mostly dead
Pretending you're the last one
Hiding with your eyes shut tightly
all the way to the hospital
The singer's voice was getting even louder now. Light squinted his eyes and growled. Shit… he was NOT feeling well… his head was hurting badly now, and the room was spinning…
Ryuzaki stood up. "Light? Are you feeling quite well?"
He tried to speak but instead his knees buckled. Holy crap. Was he going to black out?
Ryuzaki caught him before he hit the ground. "Watari. Get the car."
Light tried to protest but he couldn't. Dammmmmn, he felt like he was dying…
"I'm a doctor. Don't worry. You're going to be fine." That fuzzy-head's monotone was hardly reassuring.
"P-promise…" he managed to stammer.
"Promise?"
Before I cross my heart and hope to die at all
Take off my mask and leave the lies to the liars
"That you aren't lying," Light murmured, and then the music and the lights stopped. Everything fell into blissful, serene nothing.
Yaaaaay! This chapter was much longer than the last one… I think….. I hope you enjoyed! A cliffhanger, w00t!! The next update should be relatively quick but I'm not sure. I have final exams coming up soon and I always have tons of homework for Creative writing…. But soon enough school will be out, w00000000!! Then I should be able to update regularly. I hope everything was good this chap! Review, review, review!! Love you all!!