A/N: Alright, this is a much needed change in perspective. Most of this story will be told through L's P.O.V, but so many questions keep being asked that I realized that what was obvious to me, as the writer, wasn't quite obvious to the reader. None of you know the why behind Light, because I've never shown her perspective in this story.
So~
Shoutout to UnsightlyDreams, MonatheGreat, Ubermarine and SheWhoWearsRed. Thank you for reviewing and hopefully this chapter can clear up any confusion.
UnsightlyDreams: Roger's reaction is explained in this chapter and through the next couple. He's not like Mr. Whammy, who treated L like a son.
Ubermarine: Ah, sarcasm suits you. As for Japan, in Fool's Gambit, it was revealed that Light managed to kill the anti-Kira mass destruction movement by the Oligarchy before she was interrupted.
SheWhoWearsRed: I think this chapter should clarify the irrationality. And feel free to make suggestions for Anime and literature. I'm a voracious consumer of fiction and have found myself rather picky about my movies.
House of Cards
By Catsitta
Part Ten: Queen of Swords
"Light..."
Groaning, the girl fought against the pull of lethargy and peeled open heavy lids. Tawny eyes gleamed in the half-dark, murky from the medicine that kept her beneath an oblivion sea. Curious. Who would wake her? Light tried to turn her head, but every motion was agonizingly slow, her limbs made of lead in an atmosphere of mercury. So tired.
"Light."
That voice. Light knew it.
"Near."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Curiosity."
"Hn."
"Light."
"...Yes?"
"Why?"
Why? Quite the question. They both knew the question Near wanted answered. He was like L in that way, in sync with the genius minds around him, always in constant observation. Light saw the boy rarely compared to the other two, Mello and Matt. He was shy, soft-spoken and serious. He did not think with his heart, but entirely with that keen mind of his. When he did pay Light a visit, it was always after hours when the Whammy's House was asleep, and only spooks and specters kept the night-walkers company. No one but them knew of these visits, of their brief exchanges of single words as Near hid in the dark, doing whatever it was he did during these meetings.
Light sighed, her lungs thick from sleep. It was hard to keep awake, even though Near roused her properly from her medicated slumber. Idly, she considered how cunning the boy had to be to evade the maximum security measures on the room. The nurse would probably wake up from some kind of unwilling nap in ten minutes or so.
"You are going to need to be more specific, Near."
A pause. Near was analyzing Light's move in their unspoken game.
"I cannot perceive how claiming to be Kira is a beneficial move. L suffers, yes, but this is a sword twice edged."
"Truly? You cannot see how I have everything to gain? Not even in your cards?"
"Tarot is far from a science."
"Yet you read them every night."
"Light is avoiding the subject."
"Of course I am."
"...The cards refuse to tell me a clear answer about you and L."
Light chuckled, "This frustrates you."
"Just tell me why you chose to reveal yourself as Kira!"
"Careful, you might show emotion if you continue like that."
"Mhn."
"Hn. It's quite obvious if you think about it. L will do anything to be in control, but while he is here in Whammy's House, it is quite obvious that he is not in a position of power, that belongs to Roger. Roger perceives L as a tool or a soldier and neither are supposed to question orders or have emotions or act independently. He also sees L as a child who cannot handle being in control thus needs controlling. Both are attempting to assert power in this house, and I simply shifted the balances in my favor. L is blinded by his foolish obsessions and is thinking with his heart; why else would I reveal myself as Kira but to hurt his precious feelings? Ha! The fool. All of them are fools."
"This is a plan?"
"Everything I do has a purpose."
"Indeed. You would be a poor Queen if you acted without rationality."
"Queen of Swords, you said, yes?"
"The people's champion."
"Ironic."
"Fitting, though trickery is your calling instead of your disdain."
"What else do you see in those cards?"
"Judgment. Justice. Five of Swords. Seven of Wands. You're quite the fighter."
"I have to be."
"If you know L as you believe, what will his next action be?"
"Persistent brat...You know just as well as I what L is doing right now." Light allowed her eyes to shut. She was regaining feeling in her hands; tiny pinpricks of pain nibbled at numb fingertips. "He's sitting in that room of his with the Death Notes, at war with his heart and mind about what to do. Should he burn them? Should he lie? Should he kill Misa?"
"Misa?"
"Second Kira."
"She is not dead?"
A sly, manic grin twisted onto her lips, "No. A little red-eyed bird whispers in my ear at night."
"Hm. Continue."
"Misa adores me. With the pro-Kira movement in Japan and the kill command pulled before the Oligarchy could start a war with the people, her first action would be to get revenge on L. She knows his name. Even without the Death Note she can ruin him."
"L possesses the tool to dispose of her..."
"Yes, but the poor dear finds the option morally wrong. Bah. Idiot. If he had any sense he would write down Misa's name, burn both the Death Notes and skip back to England like a good boy."
"I still fail to see how this benefits you."
"You're looking too closely at the surface level. By exposing myself as I did, Roger lost trust in L and needed to reassert himself over his disobedient soldier. I become a bargaining chip and am safe because of it. If L disobeys and does not burn the Death Notes, Roger will attempt to regain dominance by killing me, but L, being the fool that he is, will not allow it. He will interfere and ruin his life and reputation to be the shining knight in white armor. If he obeys, then I will lose all my memories and possibly my mind, but I will remain safe and L still suffers for his choices. If he uses the Death Note to kill Misa, he must question his inflated ego for once in his life and might find it impossible to burn the books, thus preserving my memories. If he doesn't, then remains Misa as a threat, which will provide ample distraction for him and will further dislodge him from his pedestal. The only thing I have to lose at this point is my sanity."
"That does not bother you?"
"There is freedom in madness."
"You still lose."
"What is one battle for the sake of the war?"
"This goes against your nature."
"It's part of my plan."
"If your plan is the choice between death and insanity, then I question your IQ."
"Hm."
Silence fell between them like an iron curtain. Near had used up all his words and Light was suddenly quite exhausted. One might wonder why the child who rarely spoke would stay up late to converse with Kira, but they both understood. Light was a puzzle and Near would never tell. The only person who knew her cunning plans and cutting thoughts would remain ever mum, analyzing the data he was given as was their mute agreement. Both could speak freely in the velvet night, and no one would be the wiser.
Come morning, Near would return to his chess pieces and jigsaw puzzles, and everyone would think of him as just a wandering ghost. As for Light, she would go back to waiting, her fate perched on a single, unpredictable factor. Everything else went as planned, but now, L had to make a choice.
"In every one of my readings, The Devil shows."
"Oh?"
"It seems the Queen is in bondage, her entrapment tainting her judgment. In a different world, one without war and Death Notes, I believe Light would be a just, truthful creature instead of deceitful."
"As they say, ignorance is bliss."
"Perhaps."
"Hm."
"Light."
"Near."
"Why tell me? What have you to gain?"
"You know the answer."
"I could tell everyone what you tell me."
"You won't."
"No?"
"No."
Without further word or well wishes, Near departed. Light could feel the drugs setting in, pulling her under into that deep, darkness.
She wondered briefly if it would hurt to lose her memories.
As she faded away, she could hear Ryuuk's wild laughter filling her ears.
Tbc
A/N: (Hopefully this chapter was not too nail on the head. It made me terribly nervous to change perspectives and makes this reveal as I did. That, and I felt Light needed a confidant. The Whammy Boy's aren't the focus of this tale, but out of all of them, I could see Near engaging with the highly suspicious person L brought home and telling no one because it's none of their business.
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PLEASE READ THIS FOR TAROT INFO!
Yes, I do read tarot, and am aware that every card has different meanings depending on the deck and the person doing the reading. But the translations I'm offering are very general.
Queen of Swords: "The People's Champion". She is lawful, intuitive and thinks with logic above emotion. Fights for justice. Can seem cold or distant, but is kind and looks down upon deceit. She is against winning battles through trickery. Is often serious.
The Devil: Major Arcana. Represents bondage, self-betrayal and entrapment, perhaps even spiritual stagnation. This is a person or a situation that is unhealthy due to this bondage of self and soul.
Judgement: Major is a dual sided card that mainly represents making a choice. This choice can be good or bad. It warns of needing to make this choice and how if you've done bad, you know you've done poorly and that will come back and bite you. Doing good can lead to resolution. But remember, there is always choice.
Justice: Major is a reinforcer of Judgement. Equality, impartiality, preparing for the consequences of a decision made. Cause and effect. In some decks, this card is replaced by Karma. As in, what you put into the universe comes back to you.
Five of Swords: Fives always represent conflict, a struggle or a battle. The five of swords is very harsh, sometimes implying a battle lost due to deceit. A struggle that cannot be won. When paired with Justice, it reinforces this message of discord and deceit. It is associated with dishonorable actions, a lack of morality and sometimes even criminal activity.
Seven of Wands: Quite simply, a struggle. A fight. This card has very aggressive implications. When paired with the five, it offers a suggestion of a greater struggle, where the individual feels pitted against something bigger than themselves and they are alone in the fight.
Depending on what kind of spreads Near is using, the meanings of these cards can change. Such as, when he explains the Queen being in bondage, it means when he lays down his cards for a reading, The Devil is in the same reading as the Queen of Swords. The Queen of Swords being what he feels is Light's Signifier card, or what represents her as a person (which Light claims is ironic since she does nothing but lie). For example, if Near is doing a Celtic Cross Spread and the Queen is the Querent, then The Devil could mean many things depending on where it is positioned. If it is in the Crowning Thoughts, it is something that is in Light's focus. If it is in the Environment, then it is a factor that cannot be changed. If it is in the Final Outcome, then measures need to be taken to change the current course of action to avoid this from occurring. Etcetera. I can talk all day about what exactly the whole of the readings meant, but these should be enough to understand exactly what Near is telling Light.)