Chapter 21: Cataracts of Second Thoughts
While Light attempted to talk L around, Drevan was meeting with his remaining helpers, planning for what needed to happen next. Even though Light was interesting to have around, he hadn't been part of this from the beginning, and Drevan wasn't sure he could trust him. For now, he needed his other three, because they had things to discuss.
"We have to find Taro's notebook." Drevan said irritably. "If he gave it up, it has either fallen into the hands of someone else, or Ryuk took it back to the Shinigami world.
"I doubt that." Mizu's Shinigami, Gukku, said with a sarcastic laugh. "Ryuk wouldn't give up his fun that easily." He had a point. Ryuk would have given the notebook to someone else. The only explanation at this point would be for someone to have picked it up.
"What's the big deal?" Himeko asked. "So we're missing one. What does that matter?"
Drevan looked at her, his gaze icy. "Six is the maximum number of notebooks with power allowed in the human world at one time. Having all six on our side would make us practically unstoppable." Emi glanced at him, sensing something else underneath his words, but said nothing. Drevan continued grandly, "With no sign of the current L, and the previous L as our prisoner, there's no one left to stand in our way."
"Wait." Himeko said. "L is here?"
"Light insisted that he be brought here. I agreed that if he were to be kept prisoner, he would not have to die." There was a touch of bitterness in Drevan's voice, as if he regretted that agreement.
"He's imprisoned here? Drevan, L is an innocent person. Even with his memories, he's not a criminal! We can't keep him here like this." Himeko protested. She and Mizuki hadn't known that Drevan was keeping L prisoner, and it horrified them.
Mizuki chimed in, adding, "Light arrived a week ago, and you've kept L locked up that long? That's cruel, Drevan."
"It is necessary to achieve a perfect world. L would attempt to stop us, and I'm certain that he knows how to contact the current L. He would bring the might of Interpol down on our heads, and we can't have that."
Meko and Mizu glanced at each other, seeming to come to an agreement before looking back at Drevan. "Then we can't do this anymore, Drevan." Himeko said. "We can take killing criminals, but keeping an innocent person locked up like this… We'll have no part in it. You can have the Death Notes, and we want to leave."
Drevan blinked, looking at them oddly. They appeared resolute in their decisions. He was silent for a moment, then nodded. "That's fine."
Both were astonished. They had assumed that it would be much harder to convince him than that. Each stood, handing Drevan their notebooks. "We'll give up ownership as soon as we get home. Then it will pass to you, and we'll remember nothing." Mizuki said. "Okay?"
"Yes." Drevan nodded curtly. "Thank you for your part in this." He watched them leave. Only when they were safely out of sight did he break into a wide smile. Emi frowned, moving to sit in the chair across from him.
"You wanted them to leave." she said softly, almost accusing. "That's why you didn't try to stop them."
"They were never as committed as we were to our goal." Drevan said lightly. "Everything is building up to the climax at this point, which was actually why I wanted to speak with you."
Emi tilted her head curiously, wondering what her boyfriend was planning.
"Tomorrow…" Drevan began. "I'm going to get Kinddara to find Ryuk, and bring whoever has the last notebook. An important piece of this will happen tomorrow; something that could seal our permanent victory, but we need the last notebook. I'm going to Daikoku Wharf early in the morning to scope out the Yellow Box warehouse, and there are a few things I need for you to do here."
"Isn't Yellow Box where the original Kira fell?" Emi asked.
"Yes. That makes it poetic justice to seal the new Kira's victory there." Drevan said. "What I need you to do is bring L and Light to the warehouse later."
"What purpose does that serve?" Emi asked.
Drevan smiled. "Light has a notebook, and he obviously won't leave L here alone." He paused, then continued, "I have hired a… 'professional' to aid me with what I have to get done at Yellow Box. He's a criminal, though, so I also need you to kill him when he is done with his task. I will give you his name before I leave in the morning, so it can be done when you get there and see him."
"And what is this 'task' he has to perform?" Emi asked quietly.
Drevan glanced around then leaned forward to whisper the details into her ear. Emi's eyes widened in shock, and she pulled back to stare at her boyfriend. "But…"
"It's for the good of the new world." Drevan said, hugging her. "I don't know if we can count on Light, because his loyalty is in jeopardy if anything comes up involving L. I trust you more than I trust him."
"I don't know if I can do this…" Emi said uncertainly. Drevan kissed her, murmuring, "I do. I have great faith in you, Emi."
"I'll… I'll try." Emi said, and Drevan smiled.
"Thank you, Emi."
xXx
Light was in his guest room, pondering the circumstances that they had ended up in. L hated him now, he was sure. At the very least, he'd rather be dead, which was the worst thing in Light's eyes. He didn't know how to make L understand that he was trying to do the right thing. He cared about L, which was why he had bargained with Drevan to save L's life. That turned out to be a deal with the devil, because he still didn't know the full extent of Drevan's plan. The American seemed fixated on a goal, but Light wasn't so sure anymore that a crime-free world was his plan.
But no matter what happened, he would keep L safe. He wouldn't let the detective become another victim of Kira. Not again.
xXx
Near, with Commander Rester at his side and Gevanni and Halle close behind, walked down the hall of L and Light's apartment building, intent to see them. He had found out where they lived, and decided to see if anything had happened. Neither one had tried to contact him, which surprised him. He had thought that L, at least, might call.
He knocked on the door, the three members of the SPK tense behind him. He had informed Rester and Halle about the situation, but they were still uneasy about the previous Kira.
No one answered the door, and Near tried the knob, finding it unlocked, which seemed strange considering how late in the evening it was. He opened the door slowly, and paused at the sight of a boy sitting on the couch by himself, talking to thin air at a rapid pace. He looked up, seeing the people in the doorway, and asked, "Who are you?"
"What are you doing in a home that is obviously not yours?" Near countered.
The boy sighed. "I'm Taro Kagami, and I'm waiting for L and Light to come back." Near's eyes widened at the name, and Taro continued, "They haven't been here for a week. I'm getting worried." He was swallowing fear and panic, but what he was afraid of, Near couldn't tell. All he knew was that the boy was hiding how scared he actually was.
"Taro Kagami…" Near murmured. "When L last spoke to me, he gave me your name as being Kira."
"I gave up my notebook!" Taro cried, frantically. "I gave it to L, and Ryuk told me I could keep my memories." He glanced at the space above his shoulder, then back. "Are you Near? Ryuk says hi."
"I am indeed Near." Near said. "I would say it is good to see you, Shinigami-san, but I cannot. Taro, my name is Near, but I am also the current L." Taro gasped. Near smiled faintly, adding, "Anything you could tell me about the people acting as Kira would be helpful."
"You have to stop Drevan!" Taro yelled suddenly, the mask hiding his fear falling away. "Something terrible is going to happen if you don't!" Near started to ask something, but Taro kept talking. "Ryuk told me about the rule! They're all in danger! L too, and it's my fault!"
Near reached out, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. What rule?" He listened intently as Taro explained, then turned to look at Gevanni, Halle, and Rester. All of them wore equal expressions of horror. Near looked back at Taro, asking, "Where would he be?"
"If he's not at his house, I don't know. He said something about matching times and places, but I'm not sure what he meant. He doesn't like to do things at night, either."
"So we're safe for now." Near said. "We have time to plan." To Taro, he said, "Tomorrow, you will take us to this Drevan's house, and we'll handle it from there."
"Drevan has Shinigami eyes…" Taro said uneasily. "He'll kill you."
Near smiled wryly. "We know how to handle that." The other three nodded. Near sent Taro home, with the request to return in the morning, before turning to his closest helpers. "Halle, call Carter and tell him we will be remaining here for the night. Commander Rester, make sure that all weapons are in proper working order. We don't know what to expect out there. Gevanni, help him." As they hurried to work, Near sat down on the sofa, pulling one knee to his chest.
"We can stop him, as long as we're not too late…"
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
So, with the Crusade Group down to two, Near in Japan, and Drevan's 'plan' finally getting its' ass in gear, how will things turn out for L and Light? (snicker) I know, but you don't. :) Just like I know the plan. Don't you love how I never mentioned it in specifics? :)
I GOT TO SEE L CHANGE THE WORLD!! It was such a great movie... It made me laugh, it made me cry, it mentioned Beyond Birthday... Go now to www(DOT)mysoju(DOT)com and watch it with subtitles if you haven't seen it or the first two. I command it! I also got to read Chapter 109. If you want to know what Near looks like as a grown-up, look there. It's amazing.
Anyway, to leave you all on a distinctly cliffhangered note, I would like to include some lyrics from the Foo Fighter's song "DOA". Take them as you will, and remember what I said a few chapters ago… It gets worse before it gets better. :)
Lots of love
Li
Well, you know I did it
It's over and I feel fine.
Nothing you can say is gonna change my mind
Waited, and I waited the longest night
Nothing like the taste of sweet decline
I went down and I fell, I fell so fast
Dropping like the grains in an hour glass
Never say forever 'cause nothing lasts
Dancing with the thorns of my buried past
Never mind there's nothing I can do
Bet your life there's something killing you.
It's a shame we have to die, my dear
No one's getting out of here alive
This time
What a way to go but have no fear
No one's getting out of here alive
This time
It's a shame we have to disappear
No one's getting out of here alive
This time…