The sun was setting on the ninth day and they were no closer to finding Light's accomplice as he got undressed to shower. Trying to follow the leads proved harder than they thought as he turned on the water. It may not happen in time.

The heat at least alleviated some of his soreness as he made himself focus on being clean over the clutter his mind was building up with each passing day.

A rustle, the curtain moving causing him to start before Sachiko joined him, a covering over her hair. It was late and she always hated to wash it at night, complaining she could never get it right the next day.

They were quiet, her hands taking the soap, washing him, running her fingers over his scars, the more recently earned ones and the ones that he'd had for years. One, caused by a suspect fifteen years ago that he went after that had a concealed pen knife that had gotten jammed between his ribs. The doctor said he was lucky he only needed a dozen stitches and didn't end up with collapsed lung. She hadn't felt he'd been lucky, her eyes worried as her hand had fluttered over it that night, telling him she hated not knowing if he would come home.

Another set was from broken glass – an explosion from a high-profile case involving a robbery ring that had rigged a bomb. They had found out it existed beforehand, it was just a surprise to everyone, including the thieves, how powerful the blast had ended up being and he had spent hours sitting on a gurney getting glass picked out of his flesh, his wife, again, not amused.

Why did you put up with me? he wanted to ask but couldn't as she cleaned them both.

"The man we picked, he was starving and suffering in his own filth," he told her, seeing her pause, watching him.

"What did he do wrong?"

"Nothing. He was dying for nothing."

She nodded, her face pained as she moved closer to him and he held her under the spray of water.

"If we can't find who has it –" his voice faltered and she pressed her face against his shoulder. "I love you. I don't know why you stayed all these years after what I've put you through."

She kissed his neck before pulling back, hand on his face. "You're the bravest person I know."

Shaking his head she stopped him from looking away, his hands on her hips.

"You can't save the whole world. It was always your biggest fault, trying to do that," she told him and it was words she had said when they were young and he had worked too much, like Matsuda taking every failure personally.

I should be able to save our children.

The water was off and she helped him dry, leading him to the bed, their skin still damp as he laid down with her against him, her mouth on his.

"I love you, Soichiro."

~x~

Law enforcement they thought, or perhaps a lawyer or other personnel who had access to the courts. It was something and in many ways, it made sense given who Kira was, and what he claimed to espouse despite the contradictions, the obvious blaring fact that murder was still murder and many who died had already harmed and had been locked away. Trapped, animals caged in windowless rooms and Soichiro made himself focus on keeping his feet under him on his way back to the room.

Some of the deaths were obscure, cases from years ago but there did not seem to be one key person that tied them all together, whether justice, officer, or lawyer – all of them scattered across multiple prefectures, offices, courtrooms, prisons. It did help bar out the public in general – whoever was operating currently as Kira had access and/or knowledge of all these cases in Japan.

There was always the possibility that Light had chosen all of these with his position for his successor. But it was so many, the cases something his son would have had to look up by hand as many were back when he was in high school. There was always a chance of Light's control seeping through this far, but for now, it seemed like whoever was carrying the title was making these choices alone.

We would be too lucky if it simply pointed at one person, Soichiro thought grimly as he rounded the last corner in this all-white maze, Ryuk forever in tow.

And he stopped because he heard his wife softly speaking, and he cautiously took a step forward, not wanting to disturb her if she was meeting with someone. Straining, he tried to understand what the conversation was about but he began to get the gist before he caught sight of them on the loveseat through the gap between the hinges of the half-open door.

Sayu was sitting beside her mother, curled up, head on her shoulder as Sachiko read to her. His daughter's eyes were drooping, hours of lost sleep that could never be caught up on as Sachiko's warm voice narrated whatever novel they had found.

When he had first brought Sayu back after her ordeal and she had lapsed into silence, Sachiko had read to her, an activity that Sayu had seemed to welcome. Before that, it had been so long since he had seen either of his children be read to – years – not since they were much younger and didn't care that it could be seen as an embarrassment.

Watching for a minute and then he silently turned, making his way back to where he knew there were a few chairs scattered down a side hall he could rest in for a while. Ryuk cast him a look but he shook his head and the Shinigami stayed silent, a glance back, and Soichiro knew it didn't understand.

They should have these extra few minutes. A buried part of him whispered he was selfish, that he didn't want to be met with their eyes full of unvoiced pleas to not die, to not leave them, no matter how remote his survival was by this point. He knew they tried to hide the stress, the idea that he may simply die and there was nothing that could be done. That silent terror that it could be at any hour now, that he would cease, and they would be alone in this world with all the terrible knowledge that his death brought in stark, undeniable relief.

The terrible burden of hope that this would be overcome would remain until time ran out.

He sat in one of the chairs he found, leaning back, trying to relax, and knew that state was forever beyond his reach.

No, they could have a few more minutes of peace. Enough was to come today alone that they earned what little calm they could scrap together, secluded and away from the reality that was closing around them with an endless hunger for suffering.

Soichiro let his own eyes slip closed, remembering how soothing his wife's voice was, and waited.

~x~

"I see we're still not showing faces. My dad still making you nervous?"

Light was sitting on his cot as they watched in a small room set aside for part of the NPA Task Force, Soichiro sitting with his men. Sachiko was beside him this time, Sayu actually sleeping with a note left for her as to where they were. Ruvie had promised to keep an eye out for her in case she woke before it was over.

Restor was sitting in one of the chairs across from Light, looking relaxed, just like he had during their previous little talk. Soichiro had few doubts that it was false, a front, but it still made it easier as the man appeared used to hearing it.

"I have no issue with your father seeing my face."

"Yet you keep it covered." Light let out a small laugh. "I believe you."

"I, as well as most here, have an issue of being seen in any way that you or your conspirator could use."

"And if he still had access to a Death Note?"

"I still wouldn't have an issue with it." Restor stretched a leg and Soichiro squeezed Sachiko's hand. "I doubt your father would ever use it unless he lost his mind or under very specific circumstances. He's proven that much. It's why you would trust him to have the eyes, he wouldn't just kill you. Unlike Amane."

"You'd think she would?" Light actually did openly laugh.

"I wouldn't doubt that both of you threatened each other. I bet she's unused to not getting her way by looks alone with you. She threatens people around you, doesn't she?"

Light shook his head and it was obvious he was amused and Soichiro knew nothing was going to be the truth. "Misa is different, I'll grant you that. She worries that people will find her out. That I'll see something I think is better. Even after years of putting up with her, she still thinks that."

"Probably from years of being in a relationship that it is a lie."

"True," Light allowed, leaning back, his chains rattling as they shifted with his movements. "I never lied to her."

"Really? You never promised her things you couldn't give her?"

"No." Light's tone was cold. "When you let Sayu in here the first time, when she confessed she had listened to our conversation that night, even then I was telling the truth."

"Which still leaves the question of why you ever let her in," Restor pointed out and Light shrugged. "Is your distaste just because you don't like Amane, or is it a deeper issue?"

"What business is it of yours?" Light was defensive and Soichiro frowned, not certain himself. "Maybe I simply don't want a relationship."

"Ever?"

"Look, I have to put up with being accused of being Kira, but things that don't matter, I don't have to explain to you. After you allowed my mother and sister to be dragged into this. They have nothing to do –"

"They care for you. This may be the last time they see you."

"Planning to just execute me?"

"No. Only that there is a high probability that we will have to turn you over to people who undoubtedly will."

Light sighed, stretching. "L, the real one not your cheap knock-off, threatened me all the time with this under the guise of simply talking about Kira's fate. I always wanted to ask him what he thought it would get him. I mean, really, why would I come to confess if I was guilty if being hanged was the only outcome? What do you think it will get you?"

Restor's voice was calm and Soichiro felt Sachiko tense beside him as the man said, "I won't tell you something that blatantly false."

"You'll just lie about everything else. I've been wondering when mom's going to make an appearance at one of these. I mean, you got Sayu –"

"She came outside of our knowledge." Restor was still calm. "I took the call when she came to the door and Near granted permission, mostly because Detective Aizawa was still here and you wouldn't be allowed to abuse her."

"I wouldn't." Light was angry, face tight, it was obvious he wanted to stand but he stopped himself. "Am I not allowed to be angry when I see my sister crying having been told who knows what with that idiot next to her? You'd be upset, too."

Ide put a hand on Matsuda's shoulder as Soichiro curbed a comment to try to reassure the man.

He doesn't need this. I hope Light hasn't been telling him he's stupid all this time.

"I would be rattled that she knew my secret, finally. I would be concerned if she hated me."

Light let out a low noise, something akin to frustration. "I'm upset she's been wrapped up in this massive conspiracy. And she's obviously still being told lies."

"What lies? That we plan to test the rules? That it will be your father who writes?"

"Why would you even let him do that?"

Sachiko was looking at him and Soichiro wrapped his arm around her, leaning closer to whisper, "He doesn't know what actually happened yet."

She nodded. "To see if he set you up."

Tears were in the corners of her eyes and he kissed the top of her head.

Did you ever love me, Light? Were you always a monster incapable of this and we just ignored all the signs?

"You could just tell the truth," Restor was saying and Soichiro knew he had missed something as Sachiko leaned into him. "If you care about him –"

"What? Condemn myself in order to keep him from his own insanity?" Light's voice was brittle as he did finally stand, walking a few steps. "I'm not lying when I say I love him. He was my hero until I finally grew up enough to know better. But I'm not sentencing myself to die in a lie because he won't back down. I can't. I'd do a lot of things, but I can't do that."

"Is it because you're afraid of being executed or that you'd have to admit you're a murderer? That is what Kira ultimately is."

Light turned his head towards Restor and his face was unreadable, Soichiro had no hope to know what he was thinking at that moment.

"If that is what you want to believe."

"Did he –" she whispered and Soichiro shook his head.

"It could be construed in many ways," he whispered back, seeing his men around them shift, uncomfortable. Having her here had been a compromise as she wanted to see Light without being in front of him right now, and at this point, given what Near had allowed her to know in the beginning, they couldn't shield her from Light's antics.

If she was in front of Light right now, would she tell him to tell the truth? Would she actually call him that to his face?

"I'm merely here to tell you what is going to happen," Restor said, voice easy. "You asked to know what is happening with your family and we are keeping with that."

"Because you're hoping I'll incriminate myself." Light let out a mirthless laugh. "You're hoping that if you mislead me enough that I'll buckle, that I'll proclaim myself guilty, and then you can pack up this part, blame me for what's still happening. And it's still happening, isn't it? There are still people being killed every day while I sit here and rot. It's the same deal L did – keep me away, lie to me, restrain me to the point where I can barely take a step and the killings still go on and on."

"Sadly, you killed Higuchi before he could tell anyone the truth. And I would bet he would have told them he was approached to continue Kira's mission. Which he did, with a few added benefits to himself."

"Apparently, Kira should have picked better. I doubt he was happy."

"I doubt you had much time or control over who posed as you," Restor countered. "With Amane's sudden arrest, you knew your time was limited, L having stolen your one way to get his name out from under your nose."

Light shook his head, smoothing away any shock he had over being told about how L had found out Light carried a whole other phone to call her with that day. While not solid proof, it was fairly damning with all the rest, especially given that it had been Misa's phone originally. His son was many things, Soichiro mused, but he wouldn't take that phone for something like that unless it helped shelter him from suspicion and not about being in a relationship, given Misa's antics up to that point.

He wished he had forbidden her entry into his house, that he had gone home and been told what had happened the first time, Sachiko only telling him over the phone that an improperly dressed girl had come by to see Light. At the time, he had never connected it to the second Kira, not having her name yet or knowing how she liked to behave until later.

"You must have found someone good to push the duties of Kira onto this time," Restor continued, voice soft. "As much as you probably got off on having someone so blindly devoted, you don't strike me as being someone who wants to share yourself with anyone."

"What are you implying?"

"That she had the eyes like your father. That you used her misplaced love, or rather obsession over you, to get her to give up not only the book but her eyes and life she sacrificed for you –"

Life – Misa would have had to sacrifice her lifespan for those eyes and she would have had to in order to kill the way the second Kira did. But her life is long, longer than it should be at any rate. I didn't put it together, only that I could see it. Have I made a mistake? Have I been wrong –

He looked behind him, seeing Ryuk lingering by the door, arms loose by his sides, and bored by all of this until he saw Soichiro's look. A sigh, petulant.

"Yes, So-chi?"

"Misa's lifespan –" he stopped, licked his lips as Ryuk studied him, his mind going to Rem. The Shinigami had died right after they thought Misa had begun killing again. "What happens when a Shinigami kills to preserve a human's life?"

"What do you mean?" Ryuk asked but it was obvious he knew something, the rest of the men in the room along with Sachiko focused on him.

"I mean, is it just that the Shinigami dies, or does something else happen?"

Ryuk was silent for a moment, seeming to weigh his answer and Soichiro couldn't tell if it was due to any loyalty it could feel towards Light, or at least to the "game" Light was playing, or if it didn't know, perhaps couldn't say openly.

"To my knowledge, the human saved is given the maximum lifespan of the human, or the remaining years of the Shinigami, whichever is the lesser."

"Rem," Aizawa said, standing, "killed them for Misa. Light set her up to compel Rem."

"And made Misa feel that she had to make the deal again." Soichiro paused as the rest stared at him. "If a person with the eyes gives up ownership, they lose everything, the sacrificed life, and the eyes. To get them again after reclaiming a book, you have to deal with half of your remaining life left after the first time."

"That would have been, maybe a dozen years," Ide said, horrified. "She did that for him. He must have told her something good to get her to cut her life down so much. Unless she always planned on Rem dying for her."

Something deep inside him told Soichiro that no, Misa, in all her obsession, would have simply done it to please Light.

It was cold, so unutterably cold. He could still see Rem in his mind, that strange creature of bones and withered flesh, paler than white, its yellow eye studying them, refusing to say anything and they had wondered if it was just being difficult. It had been, in a way.

She went and got the book and made the deal, probably with Ryuk, and killed all those people. Light always had it planned. From the moment he touched that book, L was already gone.

"She came and saw Light there, while we were with L, didn't she?" Mogi asked, frowning. "Would that creature have seen her lifespan drop?"

A look back at Ryuk brooding told them yes, she would have as Aizawa excused himself to go tell Near, Sachiko staring at him to explain.

"We think that the first Shinigami we met was close to Misa and was set up to die in order to get rid of L and Watari."

"And you think Light set it up." Her voice was bitter, broken as she shook her head. "Is there anything he hasn't done?"

I don't know. "We don't know for sure. It's just a theory, but her life is longer than it should be if she made that deal."

"Perhaps he's telling the truth."

Soichiro licked his lips. "She was always connected. It's too big of a coincidence, everything. Even he says he didn't love her. We know Rem was close to one of them. We know that he sent her out with an apple to dig up something she can't remember anymore with promises to love her."

She leaned into him and he wrapped an arm around her, wishing she wasn't involved at all but not knowing what he would have told her when the time came for Light's death. There would be no freedom for his son this time, no misplaced dedication and fatherly love to help drag him out of the pit he had locked himself in. They knew how it worked, Light couldn't bank on their ignorance misleading them.

He barely paid attention to the rest of the conversation until Restor got a phone call and he listened intently.

"Interesting," he finally said, hanging up. "It was Misa, not you, that the first Shinigami was attached to. It's why you refrained from killing her originally when all signs pointed to Kira doing just that. Even if she wasn't a threat, she was going against Kira's ideals and that had to rankle. But that Shinigami, it would have killed you if you tried to get rid of Amane."

"What makes you even assume that?"

"Because your father told us Misa's life span is long and we just found out a Shinigami dying for a human restores life lost."

They saw Light's eyes widen before he turned away from the camera to take hold of himself. "You make me involved in this."

"You had her set up the Kira killings, restart them so L was always suspicious, knowing that it would force this Shinigami to kill in order to protect her. I had wondered why you leaped right back into the Kira killings, thought maybe it was a compulsion or an obsession, or perhaps you were just that cocky. It was never anything of the sort. You had it set up so the one person who was still suspicious of you, sure you were guilty, would have no choice but to think that. And he couldn't be allowed to test the rules. There would have been a workaround eventually – either by simply stealing the book to send off, or blatantly telling you to your face. You needed him dead and you had the means to do it, manipulating everyone, even a Shinigami to think it had no choice in order to save a human it cared for that you put in danger again, to do what you wanted.

"Then you kept her around because she could tell you names. It's how you killed all of Mello's cronies during the raid, right? It's how you were able to guarantee to the Task Force that they would be walking into an almost empty building. You just couldn't bank on Mello setting up the bomb. You had no way of knowing that he would do something like that. Though, you worried that your father couldn't go through with the murder. I bet you hoped it wouldn't come down to it."

"It's a nice story you have for yourself," Light said easily, shifting his weight. "Puts everything on my shoulders with no way to show I'm innocent. At this rate, we could twist it all up and make almost anyone guilty."

"Most don't keep coming up in a mass murder and serial killer investigation. Tell me, did that Shinigami think you would care for Amane? Near is of the theory, and from what we understand, L was too, that you would have killed her if you had the option when she first surfaced. Knowing the Shinigami was willing to die for her makes it clearer why she lived. Did the Shinigami trust you?"

Light shrugged, keeping himself relaxed as he leaned forward still seated on his cot, foot tapping a few times. "How am I to know the thoughts of a Shinigami? "

"You had this creature in your web. We thought it was defending your poor choices but you purposefully not only sent it out to find a replacement for you to cover for Amane's sloppiness but set it up to die and restore Amane's lifespan."

"Why would I know it?"

"Because you're sister heard you say its name the night Amane first showed up. Rem."

Light scoffed, a half-laugh. "Please. She was spying through a closed door and it was years ago. What she heard or remembers could have been heavily influenced by many factors –"

"She made a diary entry that night about everything she overheard so she wouldn't forget because it was so strange."

Soichiro couldn't help the half-strangled little laugh that came out of him at the look Light had. It was annoyance and shock, the one he often wore when Sayu pulled something over on him that he hadn't quite seen coming before muttering words they couldn't hear.

"What was that?"

"You're basing this investigation on my sister's five-year-old diary entry?"

"No, but it looks fairly damning, doesn't it?" Restor shifted, and Soichiro wouldn't doubt he was smiling as he continued. "It was a good plan. Find a fall guy, solve the case, and get your powers back after making up rules to clear yourself. You needed the attention to be away from you to be able to provide proof of innocence. Amane has told us you sent her out to dig something up that she never remembers finding, apple in hand, and then she comes and sees you at the building you won't leave because you know you can't – that if you leave, aren't being seen, it will leave room for doubt."

"I think you like the sound of your own voice."

"They told me L died in your arms. I can't imagine the cruelty you have to possess to do that to someone, the one person who always saw you as you are."

Light stiffened before he shook his head. "Only because you decided to share his views."

"You are nothing but a murderer, Light Yagami," Restor said, his voice low, the words biting from even here and Soichiro felt his wife shudder at his side.

He wished she wasn't watching as he found her hand, surprised that she didn't turn her face away from the screen, her gaze resolute.

"In your eyes," Light returned. "I'm sorry my family seems to be misled the same way –"

"Because you involved them. You are no better than the people you kill. In fact, you are worse because you stand away, aren't forced to watch the carnage you deliver," Restor spat out, his body rigid. "You have never shot someone, seen their brains exit their skull, blood saturating clothing from knife wounds, torn off limbs from bombs, the panicked look while they're being strangled or the pleas of stop while being beaten. You've made sure you've kept it sanitary, palatable, which translates in your mind as dignified if not sanctioned. But you do worse to them, make them behave as you see fit before they die, parrot words, write notes, perform actions.

"All of your lies, the greatest one is to yourself. You pretend to be a god, a savior, when in reality you are a cowardly murderer whose entire system will collapse once the constant threat of death is lifted from the world. Nothing you have done will stay, your impact on the world will be a net negative, more harm than any good. And you can't even have the decency to face your victims, at least the vast majority, as you condemn and kill them."

Restor rose, Light staring at him, watching every movement and Soichiro could see his jaw clenching, the little twitches in his hands.

"Your father will be writing in the book, Light."

"And you expect me to confess to save him from his own stupidity. To keep him from dying –"

"To at least try to spare yourself when he doesn't die in thirteen days if you can't be bothered with not endangering him. I can't say I see you ever being bothered by anyone's life other than your own."

Something about Light, the way he seemed to shiver made that hole in Soichiro open further.

He has barely given a sign but it feels like he's done something, made sure that I die. That he can barely conceive of it but it's there. Unprovable but there.

"I suppose we will find out in thirteen days." Light's voice was cold and challenging.

"I suggest you use your remaining time to come to terms with what you are." Restor's voice slid over them like ice, leaving emptiness behind as Light refused to acknowledge any of it. "You will never be anything more than a murderer with delusions of grandeur that threw away everything for nothing."

Restor left. Everything about his son was controlled, most likely being well aware that he was being watched and analyzed. Light remained still on his cot, leaning forward, fingers wiping at his mouth absently as his eyes stared down at the floor in front of him, concealing a good portion of his face.

Sachiko stood and he followed, his men quiet, eyes sympathetic to her and he sensed she was close to snapping at them, demanding they not pity her. Wanting to avoid that he murmured to her that he was exhausted, and knew it would please her that he was willing to rest even if he ended up staring at the wall or the ceiling for a few hours because he couldn't do anything else.

"I'm sorry."

It was Matsuda, blurting out things when they were almost to the door, Aizawa right there as he was on his way back from Near. Looking over, Soichiro saw Ide glare at the man, Mogi shouldering him and Matsuda shuffled.

"I know," Sachiko said, her voice lilting despite how thin it was. "It's not your fault. I want to ask why you didn't see what he was sooner, but watching him, I can see how convincing he can be. I keep wondering how much of his life he's spent lying to me."

"Sachiko," Soichiro whispered to her but she shook her head before looking up at Aizawa.

"I remember what we spoke about. But I don't think any mother has had to face their son being what he is. And I ask myself where I went wrong –"

"Nowhere," Aizawa interrupted, voice firm. "Don't do this to yourself."

"What else am I to do?" she cried out, finally showing her strain. "Tell me, what else am I supposed to think outside of perhaps the book did something."

Soichiro paled, wishing it was so, Aizawa drawing in a large breath.

"Your husband has been an owner and has made a deal with a living Shinigami. I have handled the book extensively. Neither of us has had changes in our beliefs." Reaching out, Aizawa took one of her hands that had been pulling at the hem of her shirt in a useless, helpless action. "I wish it was the case. All of us do. But I do know, having personally met your son before all of this and our research, that nothing shows he was deeply disturbed. You aren't to blame for what he's done to himself."

"Did – did he test it when he found it? Think he couldn't come home?" Her voice was heartbreaking, Aizawa beginning to lose his stoniness as she continued, "I would always take him home. If he truly wanted to come, I wouldn't turn him away, even now."

"Mama."

It was Sayu, with Ruvie, having come to find them and she went to her mother, putting her arms around Sachiko, whispering something to her that made his wife shake her head.

"No, Sayu," she murmured, "don't hate him."

"I'm trying not to," Sayu whispered back before leading her mother out, Soichiro feeling useless as he watched them go, despising that they had been told but seeing no good end regardless of what they knew.

Would they believe me dying in the line of duty better? Of Light dying the same way shortly after? How much of a mercy is that – leaving them in lies that could always surface, tearing apart what peace they build up?

"No," he said to Aizawa's unasked question. "I'm not putting either one in front of him again."

"Even if it upsets him enough to tell us something?"

"If it doesn't, that just destroys them further. My son has destroyed enough."

He glanced back at the screen, Light still brooding, refusing to show that he felt any genuine emotion, before following his wife and daughter out.