A/N: I don't own Death Note. Thanks for reviews! XD
Chapter 17: Still Alive and Kicking
At Mr. Blackwood's funeral, there was a mixture of those in mourning and protesters. The investigation team drove into the cemetery in the black van with tinted windows. The van passed a line of protesters, one protester even held up a sign that said, "Don't mourn over the killer of L."
What a nice gesture. L watched the protesters from inside the van. Luckily when he jumped out the apartment window, the investigation team was waiting on the sidewalk and caught him. L only suffered from some minor cuts and bruises, which was nothing compared to the hundreds of innocent people who died in the building from the explosion.
Finally, the van came to a stop. Mr. Yagami turned in the driver seat and asked, "Ryuzaki, are you sure that your feeling well enough to do this?"
"Yes," L explained, "There is a possibility that other New Kira followers could come here to pay their respects. Also since I allowed them to believe that I was dead, hopefully they'll have their guard down. If I find any New Kira followers, I'll give you all the signal."
L exited the van and headed toward Mr. Blackwood's controversial funeral. A few protesters shouted at L as he made his way to Mr. Blackwood's grave. A group of depressed family members stood around the closed casket.
A woman introduced herself as the suicide bomber's mother and began crying hysterically out of guilt and shame for the sin that her son committed. L sympathetically watched her speech, Poor woman. I wonder if that's how Mr. Yagami will act once everyone knows that Light is Kira. That is if we can ever find him. There is always the possibility that Light and New Kira are now working together…
First Light had the Death Note's power corrupting him. If he has New Kira corrupting him too, any slight progress I made with him may be lost. Or he could come to the see the error of his ways…which sounds too good to be true. L sighed then scanned the area.
Most of the people near the grave were crying or looked humiliated. But there were two men in funeral attire in the back that seemed disgusted with the ashamed mother's speech. L immediately headed toward them.
L stood next to the two apathetic young men and tested his theory, "Whiny old hag, isn't she?"
The two English men just nodded, "You can say that again."
Hm. L put his hands in his pockets, "Why is she so goddamn embarrassed? Does she not understand her son at all?"
The taller man with dark hair blurted out, "Obviously not. Her son was trying to help make a better world."
The shorter one with auburn hair hit his friend's arm, "Watch what you say, man."
Oh, this is too easy. L continued, "Why should you guys keep your mouths shut? Instead of being so depressed, people should be celebrating over L's death."
The dark-haired one grinned, "I completely agree."
The other lighter-hair man asked, "Who are you? Why are you at Blackwood's funeral anyway?"
"You can call me Ryuzaki. And I'm here to admire the fallen New Kira follower," L causally lied.
The more trusting, taller man quietly pried, "Are you a New Kira follower?"
L smiled, "No, I don't even know any New Kira followers. I just admire his work. I can't wait until his perfect world comes into completion."
The dark-haired man beamed, "You really like the perfect world?"
L friendly placed a hand the taller man's shoulder, "Of course, I do. New Kira is going to save the world."
Before the taller one could reply, his friend pulled him to the side and told L, "Let me talk with my friend for second. We'll be right back."
The two men who were obliviously New Kira followers strolled away. Good thing, I placed a small recording chip on that man's shoulder. L turned on the listening device in his ear so he could hear the two suspicious men's conversation. Then L positioned himself so he could see them in the distance.
The lighter-haired one nagged, "You shouldn't be so reckless, Nate. I doubt that Arik would appreciate it."
Arik… L listened closely to the hidden listening device.
The one called Nate replied, "God, Stephan. You're so paranoid. Arik just lost a follower, so why shouldn't we recruit a new one?"
L smirked. So easy. No wonder Light never gathered followers like this New Kira.
As Stephan and Nate continued their incriminating conversation, L weighed his options. I could continue this charade and be taken to New Kira directly. Or I could arrest these two followers and find out the location through them. But the first option would mean certain death if Light had joined up with New Kira and identified me as L… So the second it is.
L turned on his cell phone and dialed Mr. Yagami's number. He only let the phone ring once then hung up. L spotted the investigation team head toward him.
L pointed at the Stephan and Nate, "Arrest those two. Threaten to shoot them if you must."
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Light couldn't remember a time when he felt this awful. He hadn't eaten in over a day, his body ached from lack of sleep, and his eyes burned from…crying, which was a perhaps the worst problem of them all. He cried, he cried for L. He wanted L… And no one could take L's place, especially Arik.
Arik had been touching Light in subtle yet disturbing ways. Sometimes he'd keep his arm around Light's waist, other times he'd run a hand through Light's hair. Outwardly, his caressing may have seemed harmless but there was a domineering twist to it. Arik knew that Light was uncomfortable but he wouldn't stop. Arik also repeated how he could kill Light if he ever saw the need.
Light entered the kitchen and finally looked through the pantry for some food. Suddenly, he felt someone grab him from behind and hold him close.
"What do you want, Arik?" Light winced as Arik pulled him in.
Arik placed his chin on top of Light's head, to emphasize the fact that Light was shorter than him, "I've been looking for you, Light. Are you trying to avoid me?"
Controlling bastard. Light refrained from cursing at Arik.
"Well?" Arik slide a hand underneath Light's shirt and began to pull it up.
Light frantically squirmed, "No, I don't want to avoid you."
"Good Boy," Arik condescendingly praised him before he releasing Light's shirt. Next, he tilted up Light's chin and forced Light to stare up at him.
Arik asked, "Are you thankful that I killed L?"
Light quickly lied, "Yes."
"Then why haven't you thanked me properly yet?"
"I don't know. I'll do it later," Light insisted, "Just let me go so I can eat something. I haven't eaten in over a day, I might pass out."
Arik smirked as he released Light, "Alright. It'd be no fun to receive your thanks when you're unconscious anyway."
What? Don't tell that he was referring to- Light tried to hide how mortified he was as he searched through the pantry.
Arik leaned to the side so he could see Light's face and taunted, "I love that expression, Light."
I don't know how much more of this I can take… Light felt exhausted, weak. And Arik constantly harassing him magnified all his suffering even more.
Then Light spotted a bag of microwaveable popcorn. Tears sprang to his eyes. L loved this unhealthy garbage. Light picked up the bag of popcorn and stuck it in the microwave with a faint smile.
Light's sudden joy seemed to annoy Arik, "You want that? There is so much better food here."
"I know. But I only want popcorn, only popcorn makes me happy," Light adoringly watched the popcorn inside the microwave.
Arik mockingly laughed, "Okay, Light. Once that's ready, I want you to come with me."
Light just nodded. After the popcorn was ready, Light poured it in a bowl and followed Arik down the hall. Strangely, Light couldn't bring himself to eat the popcorn. He just wanted to hold it, stare at it, and allow memories of L to flood his mind.
Arik led Light into a workroom filled with computers. Then Arik walked over to a safe and opened it with a combination. Light memorized Arik's movements when he put in the combination so it could be easier to break into the safe later.
Unexpectedly, Arik turned around with a Death Note in his hand, "This is my Death Note." Arik headed toward Light and held the Death Note in front of him, "Touch it."
Light complied and placed his hand on Arik's Death Note.
Suddenly, Light spotted an emaciated Death God with its head leaning toward his face. The Death God grinned, baring its crooked teeth, "Hey, Kira."
"Hey," Light stepped back to put some distance between them.
"This is Reficul," Arik introduced the Death God.
"You're the boy that found Ryuk's Death Note, right?" Reficul levitated forward.
"Yes," Light stood his ground, "Do you know Ryuk?"
Reficul laughed, "Of course, I know him. He came here out of boredom and really seemed to have had some fun watching you humans. I just couldn't let him have all the fun."
So he's doing this for fun, just like Ryuk. Light studied the tall, emaciated and most likely male Death God.
Without warning, Reficul snatched away Light's bowl of popcorn, "Ooo, popcorn." Reficul floated in the air as he ate Light's popcorn.
Light glared at the Death God. Thieving bastard.
Arik noticed Light's scowl, "You weren't eating it anyway. Now come over here." Arik pointed at a table in the middle of the workroom.
As instructed, Light sat down at the table then Arik set the Death Note in front of him.
"I want to you send a message to the Second Kira. I know that you can do it." Arik ordered, "I want you to tell the Second Kira to go on a mass killing spree."
He wants to drag Misa into this too. Light gazed down at Arik's Death Note.
"Don't disappoint me, Light." Arik leaned over Light and spoke into his ear, "You won't like the punishment." Arik clasped Light's right hand and forcefully wrapped it around a pen, "I even have a name and a picture of a Japanese criminal that you can use to send the message. The second Kira reads Japanese, right? I need you to do this. Write it, Light."
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Back inside the office building, the two New Kira followers, Nate and Stephan were in separate interrogation rooms. Nate acted restless and had to be tied to a chair while Stephan nervously sat in silence. L and the investigation team watched the two New Kira followers through one-way glass wall.
L announced, "It's time to begin with the plan. Matsuda-"
"I'm on it," Matsuda excitedly rushed into the room that contained Nate.
L opened the door to Stephan's interrogation room and entered. The young man with auburn hair demanded in English, "Who are you?! Did you work for L?!"
L sat down in his awkward way across from the frantic New Kira follower, "Well, since you're never seeing Arik again, I suppose I can tell you. I am L."
Stephan leaned back in shock, "No… L's dead!"
"Or rather I allowed you to believe I was," L began, "So, Stephan, Where is New Kira?"
"Like I'd tell you that!" Stephan sounded outraged, "I will never betray Arik!"
"Really?" L calmly replied, "Well, at least there are still some loyal people in this world."
"What?" Stephan looked worried, "What are you talking about?"
"Your friend, Nate. He already told us everything."
Stephan shouted, "You're lying! Nate would never-"
"Didn't Nate seem a little too eager to talk to me the funeral? Why would he act so trusting around a stranger?"
Stephan flipped over his chair and stood up while yelling. "What are you saying?! That Nate's a traitor?!"
L stayed composed, "I'm trying to strike a deal with you, Stephan. Are you really going to let Nate have you executed?"
"Shut up! I have no reason to believe you!" Stephan banged his fists on the table.
"Do you want proof?" L offered.
"What?" Stephan stepped back with a surprised look on his face.
"Follow me," L stood up and walked out of the room. Stephan quickly followed behind him.
L led Stephan to the one-way glass wall that showed the inside of Nate's interrogation room. Neither of them could hear through the one-way glass wall, they could only see what was happening.
Inside the interrogation room, Nate was still strapped to a chair but he was smiling and laughing. Matsuda was also in there and laughing beside him.
"No," Stephan watched in horror.
"You'd think that a loyal New Kira follower would be more concerned. But look at Nate. It's as if he's talking with an old friend without a care in the world," L claimed.
Stephan placed his hand on the one-way glass, "Traitor…"
L nodded, "Yes, he told us everything and left you to be persecuted alone. But if you tell us everything as well, you don't have to be executed."
"W-What do you want to know?" The confused New Kira follower turned to face L.
"Let's go back the room and talk," L insisted.
"Okay," Stephan dejectedly headed back to the interrogation room.
L secretly flipped off a switch that cut off the laughing gas from entering Nate's interrogation room. Then L triumphantly strolled back into Stephan's interrogation room to finally receive answers.
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Back at New Kira's base, Light had reluctantly sent the message to Misa by making a criminal write the message in blood before dying. Knowing Misa, she would automatically follow orders and begin a mass killing spree in Japan at any moment.
Arik picked up his Death Note and scanned over what Light had written, "Do I need to find someone who reads Japanese to translate this for me?"
"Don't bother, I did as you asked. I knew that you'd check what I wrote anyway," Light leaned back in the chair.
"Good Boy," Arik insultingly tousled Light's hair.
Damn it, if only I knew Arik's real, whole name. I would have written it down in an instant. Light clenched his hand underneath the table.
Suddenly, a female New Kira follower entered the workroom, "Sir, Nate and Stephan were arrested!"
Arik stepped away Light and asked her, "What? Who arrested them?"
The young woman shook nervously, "It was that same Japanese investigation team that was outside the apartment building when it exploded. But someone spotted Nate and Stephan talking to a man in English before they were arrested. Also the man that spoke in English left with the investigation team."
She fearfully continued, "That man…he fit the description of one who entered Mr. Blackwood's room!"
L?! Light felt his heartbeat quicken. L's alive?!
"Do you have any pictures of him?" Arik demanded.
"No… Any camera footage was destroyed from the bomb. And at the funeral, no one was able to get close enough to take a picture of his face," the anxious woman explained, "We just know that he's pale, has black hair, and appears to be in his early twenties."
"Damn it! If it really is L, he'll probably manage to get my location out of those two idiots," Arik slammed down his Death Note and quickly jotted down two names.
Light just ignored the chaos around him. L's alive… Light forced himself to conceal his smile.
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Inside the interrogation room, L placed a map of the London area on the table, "Where is New Kira?"
Stephan bitterly gazed at the map and said nothing.
L slid the map toward him, "Come on, you've already been betrayed just-"
Suddenly, the auburn-haired New Kira follower gasped and placed a hand over his heart. Stephan eyes grew wide with fear, "Arik, why?"
Damn! L shouted, "Don't let him get away with this! Where is he?! Where is New Kira?!"
Stephan gripped at his chest in pain. Then the New Kira follower shakily raised his hand and slammed his finger down on the map.
"There. Arik's ther-" Stephan collapsed head first on the table with his finger still on the designated spot.
Matsuda dashed into the room, "Ryuzaki, Nate's dead!"
"I know," L lifted Stephan's limp hand and glanced at the name of the street, where Stephan had pointed at.
L pulled out his cell phone and called the British police headquarters, "This is L. I know where New Kira is."
End of Chapter 17
To be continued…