A/N: I don't own Death Note. Thanks for the reviews, all of you guys are SO nice to me. Hope you guys like the chapter. XD
Chapter 22: Traitor's Loyalties
L slipped out of the air vent and landed on his feet, right in front of the skinny woman with long, black hair. Suzette smiled as she dragged on her cigarette.
Suzette blew out some smoke and spoke in English, "Hey, L. I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. But I guess I shouldn't expect any less from the world's greatest detective, am I right?"
L scanned the room and spotted a video camera, "We're being recorded?"
"Tch. No," Suzette walked up to the video camera and shouted, "Die Arik, you mother fucker! Russia rocks, baby!"
She turned back to face a very shocked L, "See, if that was on, I'd be so dead right now."
"Well, I guess that's a way to check if it's on." L kept his distance from strange and seemingly unstable woman.
"Yeah, well I made it how the video camera is paused on footage of me working. So no one will know that you entered this room. Unless you're supposed to be somewhere else right now," Suzette suggestively stated.
L nodded, "Yeah, we need to make this quick."
"Alright," Suzette sat on top of a desk with her cigarette in her mouth, "Ask away. I'll answer anything you ask, L. I really want an alliance between us to work."
"Thanks," L immediately went to business, "Why are you betraying Arik?"
Suzette sighed then straightforwardly replied, "Revenge."
L pried, "Revenge for what?"
Suzette seemed distraught, "My fiancée and I both became New Kira followers together. After the suicide bombing, I started to have my doubts about the 'Perfect World.' But my fiancée, he was so loyal. I believe you that you've met him, the New Kira follower named Stephan."
L recalled how he met Stephan at Blackwood's funeral and got Arik's location from him, "Yes, I've met him."
"That bastard Arik killed him. Stephan was arrested for being associated with that sick son of bitch. And what does Arik do? He kills Stephan, his loyal follower." Suzette took a deep drag on her cigarette. "I know that Stephan told you where Arik was and I'm glad that he did. I want Arik to die so fucking badly. I'm not the traitor, Arik is. That bastard killed his own follower."
L just nodded. If she's telling the truth, I can definitely see why she would switch sides. Arik killed someone she loved.
Suzette continued, "But Arik thinks that Stephan and I broke up before he died. So Arik doesn't know that I feel this way."
"That's good," L added, "What about the message?"
"Today's the 14th, so the 16th will be the day when 'L' is supposed to arrive. I will be sent to the airport to spot 'L' since I'm the one who gave a description of you earlier. Usually we're never allowed to go outside alone but Arik has already given me permission to leave alone on the 16th. And instead of going to the Gatwick airport, I may contact a certain different place if you could tell how to reach your investigation team."
L didn't reply. If she lying to me and I tell her, it could mean the deaths of everyone in the investigation team.
"Still don't trust me yet? I don't really blame you," Suzette sighed, "But believe me, if I wanted you to be dead, you'd be dead."
"How comforting," L stated with displeased look on his face.
Suzette let out a high pitched laugh, "Just trust me, okay. If you don't work with me, it'll make it harder for me to betray Arik."
"Why? You could just go to a regular police station?"
"I know that but I've broken the law," Suzette explained, "I helped in a bombing that killed hundreds of people. I just want to know a phone number so I can reach the people who you work with."
"They speak Japanese," L informed her.
"So do I," Suzette switched to speaking in Japanese, "Anyway, I want to call the investigation team in a way that they can't trace where I am. I want Arik to be arrested but I'm NOT going down with him. So I'll call them at night on the 16th, once I've reached a safe place. I know there's a possibility that Arik could write my name in his Death Note but hopefully he'll think that I'm at the airport, following orders."
Suzette gazed into L's eyes, "I'll tell your investigation team where to find Arik. But I've got to look out for my own well being. I admit that I'm probably a selfish bitch but I'm not going to jail. I'll call the team once I'm in hiding. So will you give me a phone number? And some code or something so they'll trust me enough to go where I say and catch Arik?"
If she wasn't betraying Arik, then she wouldn't go through all this trouble. Most likely, she's telling truth and with her help Ark will finally be stopped. Besides letting one New Kira follower go free is a small price to pay for catching Arik. L smiled, "Sure. Give me a piece of paper and I'll write it down for you."
"Oh thank God," Suzette grabbed a pen and a piece of paper, "I was afraid you'd never trust me. There's no way I could go to the regular police and emergency operators always trace calls."
"I understand," L wrote down Mr. Yagami's cell phone number, "And as for a code… Tell them, L's says he got captured on the date. Only the investigation team will understand that."
"On the date, huh?" Suzette's mouth curled into a smile.
"Yeah," L handed her the paper.
Suzette leaned toward L with an amused look on her face, "You're dating Light-kun?"
L stepped back from the prying lady, "Well, some people like Matsuda would probably call it that."
"Awww. That's cute," Suzette put the paper in her pocket of her black jeans, "Yet kind of sad at the same time."
"You mean because of Arik?" L suggested.
"That and the fact Light-kun is the first Kira. But I bet you already know that."
"Yes," L headed back toward the air vent.
Suzette added, "You care for someone who you aren't supposed care about, detective. Once we have Arik arrested, what will you do? Arrest Light-kun? Light is the first Kira, isn't your duty to have him executed?"
L stood still with his back facing Suzette.
She continued with the harsh truth, "As Kira, Light has killed countless people. Light's a murderer, just like Arik."
"No," L turned to face her, "Light-kun has admitted to me that he is Kira and he understands how evil the 'Perfect World' is. Kira is dead, only Light remains."
"That still doesn't change the number of people that Light has killed," Suzette gave L a sympathetic look, "I feel sorry for you, detective. Your relationship with Light seems kind of doomed to a bad end."
"Everyone has their own opinion," L moved a chair right beneath the entrance to the air vent.
"L," Suzette claimed, "I know how it feels to lose a lover. I hope you and Light don't have to feel that pain."
"Thank you," L was about to climb up when Suzette announced something unexpected.
"Don't tell Light-kun about our plan."
"What?" L glanced back at her, "Why?"
Suzette took another drag on her cigarette, "Light can think normally right now but that will change. The last time Light was with Arik, Arik started drugging all of Light's food and water."
"Arik drugged Light?" L couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yeah, that's what he did last time without Light knowing. Arik wants Light to be…submissive. Light's mind is his most important tool, when Arik handicaps Light's ability to reason… Light's much easier to control. I wouldn't be surprised if Arik started drugging Light again."
L slowly nodded, "Thanks for telling me that. I have to go now."
"I understand," Suzette waved, "Arik will be arrested on the day after tomorrow. Just make it until then."
"Yeah," L climbed back into the air vent to begin his way back to the room where he was supposed to be unconscious in.
As L hurried back, his mind raced. He remembered when he brought Light back to the office building and Light was almost passing out as he worked. Light wasn't just tired; he was on withdraw from whatever drug Arik had been putting in his system.
L could feel the rage building up inside himself. Arik, you sick bastard! You know Light treasures his mind over all else. Light enjoys feeling smart and deducing information. How could you try to take that away from him?! I can't even image a handicapped Light and I don't want to see him!
Arik has no respect for Light whatsoever. He just wants Light to be easily controllable and dependent on him. L reminded himself, Light and I, we just have to make it to the day after tomorrow then this will all be over. Arik will arrested and Light and I… Should I really turn Light in? With Arik's abuse, hasn't Light been punished enough? Or maybe Light can repent for his crimes somehow…without having to die.
Finally, L reached the room and jumped down from the air vent. The two guards were still unconscious on the floor. Then L heard someone approaching the room from outside, in the hallway.
Sounds like I made it just in time. L laid down at the exact same spot where Light had hit him with the pole.
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Light rushed down the hallway then stopped and peered around a corner. One male New Kira follower was strolling down the other hall, oblivious to Light. As the man came closer, Light tightened his grip on his metal pole.
Somehow, Light had managed to make his way down one floor at a time. Along the way, Light destroyed as many video cameras as possible and also attacked quite a few guards.
The guard made his way to the corner, where the hall forked into two. Light quickly swung the blunt weapon at the man's head. The man immediately fell backwards onto the ground. Light always made sure not to hit them too hard. Just hard enough to knock them unconscious for awhile.
Then Light continued on his path down the other hallway. The sad part was that Light didn't even have an excuse for Arik. Light only told that to L so the detective would do what he had to do; talk to Suzette who could be of great help to them.
Light sighed, Whatever Arik decides to do to me for this, it'll be worth it, right? If L forms an alliance with an ex-New Kira follower, all of this may end. I know that Arik is suspicious of L and I don't know how long we'll be able to keep him fooled.
Then Light spotted another video camera and smashed it. I'm going to be in so much trouble for this. And for some reason, I don't even care. I can take whatever Arik decides to do to me, I refuse to break. Besides, beating up the New Kira followers is worth it all on its own.
Light remembered back to all the times Arik abused him and the followers just stood back and watched.Then later on, Light could hear them whispering, jeering, and laughing at his pain. The more New Kira followers I injure, the better.
Suddenly, Arik's voice boomed through a speaker in the hallway, "Stay where you are or force will be used to stop you, Boy."
"Don't call me Boy!" Light angrily smashed the speaker with the metal pole.
Next, a group of guards came hurrying down the hallway towards Light. Shit! Light turned to face the other way but guards were coming from the other direction too.
One of the guards snatched Light's arm. Light quickly swung at him but another guard grabbed his other arm. Light resorted to kicking as the guards began to pick him up off the ground.
"Let go of me!" Light shouted as he thrashed, trying to break loose.
Unexpectedly, a female guard pulled out a needle filled with a strange liquid.
"What the hell is that?!" Light struggled as a male guard forcibly stretched out Light's right arm and held it in place.
The blonde woman sneered, "This is just something to calm you down. Arik doesn't want you to hurt yourself." The woman closed in with the needle.
"Stay back!" Light desperately tried to back away but all guards held him in place.
The woman plunged the needle into Light's arm. Light winced as he felt the drug being injected into his system. Everything suddenly became blurry and Light could hear his own heart pounding in his head. The last thing Light saw was the jeering faces of the New Kira followers before he blacked out.
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Light's unconscious and drugged body laid on a couch in an isolated room. Arik stood above Light, watching him. A few New Kira followers stood off to the side, behind Arik.
Arik announced, "I probably should have drugged him as soon as he entered the building. How much damage did the boy cause?"
The blonde lady replied, "He attacked fourteen guards and destroyed about fifty video cameras."
Arik sighed, "He shall be punished accordingly." Then Arik tilted up Light's chin and gazed down at Light's face. Arik added, "And what of Mr. Lawliet?"
"Light attacked him as well. There are two guards, who witnessed it." A man with short brown hair answered.
"Is that right?" Arik continued to touch Light's face.
Then Light whispered something inaudible and Arik leaned forward.
Light smiled slightly, "Ryuzaki…"
Arik's dark eyes grew wide, "Ryuzaki?" Arik turned an Asian New Kira follower, "Ryuzaki is Japanese, right? What does it mean?"
The Asian man answered, "I believe its a name, sir."
"A name?" Arik jealously glared back at Light's smiling face. "Who is this Ryuzaki?"
End of Chapter 22
Uh-oh. People can't really control what they say when their unconscious…(and drugged.)
Light's in trouble now.