Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note.
A/N: I finally finished this chapter! Yay :D thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favourited and followed this story! It means a lot! Anyway ... enjoy the chapter! I really hope that this story isn't moving too quickly ... I feel like it is. Meh. I can't be bothered to rewrite it all XD
I'm so sorry, I forgot I hadn't uploaded this chapter ... I wrote it ages ago :L XD oops. It's also unedited :L I'll edit it later.
Chapter Four - Why Does It Hurt?
Friday, 19th December 2003
I don't go to school. How can I? I can't exactly turn up with tear-stained cheeks. Instead, I ran straight home. Thankfully, my mother had left for work so I was home alone. It'd be so embarrassing if she knew I was crying. Plus she'd only force me to go back to school, which would be even more embarrassing since the whole class will be able to tell I've been crying.
Light-kun is there too… I can't face him yet.
I feel so pathetic. I ruined everything. My one chance to get my best friend back. I screwed it up by shouting at him and running off.
He was lying though!
I take a deep breath and lean my head against the wall. I'm currently sat in the corner of my room opposite my bed with a single cushion underneath me. It's not very comfortable but I feel safe.
I squeeze my eyes shut and try not to cry again. Why does a fake confession hurt me so much? Is it because I trust Light-kun? No. It's not that. Was it his expression? He looked like a complete stranger. Why did I start crying though? Why do I feel like my heart is being stabbed by a sharp dagger? Why does it hurt so much? It's no different to someone telling me they liked me for a dare. I should've just got pissed off at him for lying. I shouldn't have cried.
Why did I cry?
Why are his words so important to me?
He's my best friend, he's lied before. Like the time when I wore that ridiculous dress and he told me he loved it because he didn't want to upset me at the time. He'd told me the truth a few years ago. I hadn't cried then. I'd been a little annoyed that he hadn't told me the truth, but then he knew how much I loved the dress back then.
I pull my legs to my chest and wrap my arms around them. I lean my head on top of my knees and shut my eyes.
I can't believe I'm missing school for something petty. I guess I'll just do extra studying later to make up for it.
0000
After a while, I get up from the floor and start studying. I might as well be productive in the free time I have. Hopefully I don't miss anything too important at school today. I really don't need to miss anything that could be the difference between me passing and me failing my exams.
I turn my head towards my bedroom door when I hear knocks on the front door. I sit there deciding whether to answer it, but as I stand up from my chair I hear the front door open. Did someone use our spare key?
I poke my head around my bedroom door to see Light-kun walking up the stairs. Of course he would remember where we keep our spare key.
"Hi?" I say and he looks at me.
"Sorry, but I didn't know if you was going to answer. So I used the spare key." He tells me. When he gets to the top he digs around in his school bag and pulls out a notebook. He passes it to me and I accept it gratefully. "I made notes for you, you can study for them."
"Thanks," I say and turn to walk back into my room. I put the notebook on my desk before turning around and leaning against it. Light-kun stands by my bedroom door and looks at me.
"I'm sorry," we both say in unison.
"You first," he says politely.
"I'm sorry I ran off earlier." I say awkwardly and scratch the back of my neck.
"It's fine, I'm sorry I upset you. I meant what I said though." He apologises. He takes a deep breath. "Please let me prove to you what I said was the truth, come with me to Space Land tomorrow."
"Sure," I say with a smile. Even if I still think his feelings aren't genuine, I might as well let him try to convince me otherwise. Plus, I get to spend a day with him. Our friendship may be fixable after all.
"I'll come by tomorrow morning and we'll walk to the bus stop together." He informs me. I nod.
"Cool. So, do you wanna study?" I offer.
Maybe things will go back to normal for once.
0000
"So, are you too finally friends again?" Sayu asks when Light-kun and I sit down for dinner. For the first time in a few weeks, I'm at the Yagami's for dinner. This definitely beats the burnt meals I'd cooked for the past two Fridays.
"Yeah," I reply. I look at Light-kun and realise he never gave me a good reason as to why we hadn't spoken. He'd just confessed. No explanation. The wheels in my brain continue to spin as my mind tries to think of reasons to why. Did he confess to get out of explaining the true reason for ignoring me? Or did he ignore me for nearly three weeks because he realised he liked me more than a friend? I wish I had the answers to all the questions that are currently circling in my head.
"So, Light, why didn't you talk to Manami-chan?" Sayu asks him. She gives him a cold glare and leans closer to him. "Come on, speak up."
"It's a long story-"
"Not good enough!" She retorts. "Come on, give us a real answer. I can see Mana-chan wants to know why. You're lucky she's nice and forgiving."
Light-kun never got the chance to reply as Sachiko-san started bringing in dinner.
The dinner passed by with idle chit-chat. Light-kun's dad was absent from dinner as he is busy trying to catch Kira. Another reason I hope Kira gets caught quickly.
0000
"Are you ready?" Light-kun asks me when I step outside my house. His hair is perfect as usual, I still don't believe that he doesn't brush it every morning. He's wearing a white jacket with a grey top underneath and the usual jeans he wears at the weekend. I don't know how he always looks good. It's not fair. I tried so hard to look decent today and I'm still plain. Just my usual hoodie and jeans. I did try putting some eyeshadow and eyeliner on but I'm still plain-looking. It really isn't fair.
"Yeah," I say as I shut my front door. We walk side by side to the bus stop, and I can't help but notice that Light-kun keeps looking over his shoulder. Are we being followed or something? I look over my own shoulder, no one suspicious is following us.
"I'm so excited!" I say, "I haven't been to Space Land in years!" I look at Light-kun and give him a big grin. I'm happy that I have my friend back. Even if we're on a date. Is this a date? I guess so, since Light-kun did confess. I feel my cheeks burn at the thought. I look away from him and stare at the less interesting ground.
We reach the bus stop and I dig my purse out, ready to pay the fare.
"Manami-chan, don't worry, I have enough money for the bus fare." Light-kun offers. I look at him and shake my head.
"N-no! I can pay for myself!" I protest and he gives me a smile.
"It's fine, honestly. I invited you, I should pay." I let out a sigh and nod.
"Thanks, Light-kun." I thank him and put my purse away. "I'll buy you coffee later though!" The bus arrives and we get onto it. We sit close to the back with me next to the window. I love window seats, I just love to watch the outside world blur past. I notice a man sit down behind us on his own. He was wearing a suit and looked too smart to be going to Space Land, maybe he's meeting someone there? I try not to think about it too much, I shouldn't judge people. Especially if they want to go to Space Land wearing a suit.
The bus left the stop and sped down the road. "So why Space Land? It's an unusual choice of place." I ask him in a weak attempt to start a conversation.
"I know you liked going there when you were younger." He says honestly. He offers me a smile which I return.
The bus stops at another bus stop and another man walks on, except this man looks familiar. Where have I seen him before? He walks up to the bus driver and pulls out a gun. I grasp Light-kun's hand.
"This bus is being hijacked!" He calls out. "Nobody move from your seats or I'll blow your head off!" I look at Light-kun and he seems calm.
"L-Light? What do we do?" I whisper, my voice shaking in fright. Are we going to die?
"Just stay quiet," he whispers. "We don't need to draw attention to ourselves." He gives my hand a squeeze and I watch the man at the front of the bus.
"Hey, bus driver, you know the number to Space Land, right? Call them and tell them this bus has been hijacked." The man orders the bus driver, who obeys them immediately. The bus driver says something into the phone before the man snatches it from him. "Now listen to this, take all the money you made yesterday and bring it to Yuhihama bus stop. That's two stops before Space Land. I want the money quick and it needs to be delivered by car." He orders. "You try to call the cops and I'll kill everyone on this bus."
The bus begins to drive off, heading to the bus stop the man wants the money delivered to. I look at Light-kun and grip his hand tighter. He looks at me and gives me a reassuring smile before passing a note over to me.
Don't worry, Manami. I'm going to try and grab the man's arm and pin him down when I get the chance. My dad's a detective and you know he's shown me what to do in these sort of situations. We're going to be okay. He doesn't look to strong, so I shouldn't have a problem with restraining him.
I look at Light-kun and shake my head. No way! That'd be too dangerous.
"I don't think you should do that. It'd be too dangerous." The guy in the suit says from behind us. I pass Light-kun the note back. "Let me take care of it." Light-kun begins to scribble something down on a piece of paper. Why does he have pieces of paper? Had he known that this would've happened? "It's okay, we can talk if we keep our voices down. He won't be able to hear us over the sound of the bus."
"I don't mean to be rude, but you have a slight accent. You're not Japanese, are you?" Light-kun accuses the man. I look at him in shock. The guy is trying to help us! This isn't the time to ask where he's from!
"No, I'm American. But my mother's Japanese."
"Do you have anything to prove that you're not the hijacker's accomplice?" Light-kun fires back. "It's pretty common for a hijacker to have an accomplice too, that way they can help if anything goes wrong." The man is left speechless at Light-kun's question. "Well, do you?"
"Here," the man replies, and passes an ID card through the gap between the seats. I couldn't help but notice the large letters reading 'FBI'. What is someone from the FBI doing on a bus to Space Land, let alone in Japan? Did the Japanese police get desperate and asked them to help? Does that mean someone on this bus is suspected of being Kira? I look to Light-kun. He kept looking over his shoulder earlier. Then the FBI agent sat behind us. Is Light-kun Kira? I'll have to ask him about it later. He can't be. My friend can't be Kira. I've known him my whole life.
"Okay, I trust you. I won't ask what an FBI agent is doing on this bus. Got a gun?" Light-kun asks. I look at his face and try to read his expression. He looks calm.
"Yes I do."
"So you'll take care of it if something happens?"
"Yes."
"Light-kun," I whisper. He looks at me and I squeeze his hand tighter.
"Everything's going to be okay." He looks back at the front of the bus and his eyebrows knit together. Light-kun suddenly reaches to the floor and I realise he must have dropped the note he passed me. I can feel the blood leave my face. There is no way the hijacker didn't notice Light-kun leaning over to pick up the paper. We're dead. We're going to die. My heart starts beating frantically and I squeeze Light-kun's hand tighter than I already was.
"Hey, you! Hold it! What's that paper!" The man yells while pointing his gun directly at us. I feel my whole body freeze. We're going to die. We're going to die. Oh my God. Light-kun leans back up, leaving the paper on the floor. "Ya little smartass, passin' notes and tryin' to plan stuff are ya?" He snarls while snatching up the screwed up paper from the floor. He opens it and reads what is written. We're screwed. "Tch! What's this? Just where you were gonna meet your date? Drop something again and I'll shoot ya." He tosses the paper back at Light-kun and I give him a questioning look. Why did he have another piece of paper? It must have had a time and place written on it. Why would he have that? Is he planning to meet someone else? "And that goes for the rest of you! Anybody makes a move and I'll …" His voice trails off and his eyes widen. He looks absolutely terrified. As if he's seen a monster.
I look around and notice that there isn't anything there. Is he high or something?
"What the hell! You! In the back there! You!" He splutters, pointing his gun to whatever is there. "Monster, how long have you been there?! Don't move, just stay right there … or I'll shoot!"
"He's on PCP or something, he's hallucinating! Everybody, get down!" The FBI agent orders. I lean down in my seat, letting go of Light-kun's hand in the process. I feel Light-kun's arm drape around me protectively.
There are several gun shots, each making me jump. The man begins to scream in terror. I hear a clatter and presume that the man dropped his gun. I look up to see him bolt towards the driver. "Open the doors and stop the bus!" He sounds terrified. The bus slams to a halt and the doors fly open, the man doesn't wait another second before bolting off the bus. Right into the path of a car. I squeeze my eyes shut, knowing that the man was hit and is probably dead. I notice that Light-kun looks at his watch quickly as I turn to face him. I can feel my whole body shaking.
Light-kun looks at me and takes my hand. He gives me a reassuring smile. "Everything is okay." He promises. "We'll go back home, we can go to Space Land another day. Unless you feel okay?" I shake my head.
"I wanna go home." My voice trembles. I've never been so scared in my life. Light-kun nods and we leave the bus, only to be questioned by police immediately.
0000
We walk back to Light-kun's house once we're allowed to go.
"I'm really sorry that today went so badly." He apologises. I look at him questioningly.
"There's no way you could have known that was going to happen. It's not your fault, we'll just go some other weekend, right?" I say and he nods.
"After our exams? They're soon."
"Yeah."
He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze as we walk hand in hand down the busy streets. When we get to the quieter part of the city, he stops walking. He turns to face me.
"There's something I need to ask you," he begins. He takes a deep breath. "Will you be my girlfriend?" My cheeks turn red. I can't tell if it's from the cold or because I'm blushing. I search for words, I'm completely stunned. I wasn't expecting him to ask me that sort of question. Girlfriend? Light-kun could pick anyone and he wants me to be his girlfriend?
"Yes," I say when I finally find my voice. A smile breaks out across his face and I smile too.