Chapter 23

Sybil stood outside the hotel and grit her teeth.

"I must admit, if Light was not a suspect, we may have been friends." She didn't like thinking of sharing her friend with anyone.

When he had told her that she was his very first friend, it had touched her so deeply.. No one had actually wanted to be her friend before, then again, she didn't try very hard to make any.

Sybil looked down to her cellphone and sighed as she began to go through her caller ID.

Perhaps she was overreacting and being selfish, but that wasn't the real question. The real question was why was she feeling this extreme jealousy? Did she really want to be his only friend? Did she really want all of his spare time spent with her?

Pushing all these thoughts from her mind, the young woman hit talk on her phone and held it to her ear.

After a couple rings, a tired voice picked up.

"Hmm, Syb?" A weak smile touched her face as she replied, using English so that no passerby would likely understand.

"Hey, Pudgy. How ya doin'?"

"Could be better. Trisha's really going through a tough time with all that's happened." Sybil immediately heard the sadness in her brother's voice and her smile faded.

"You've still got two."

"I guess you're right, but still. I can't help, but think that I did something wrong-"

"You didn't do anything wrong. These things are just meant to happen. Don't forget, Mom was originally pregnant with triplets when you and Tay-Tay were born. She got over it. Both her and Jerrod. You'll end up with a third later on in life." Troy sighed quietly.

"I know."

"So, when is Trish getting out of the hospital?"

"Today, apparently. She's gonna have to stay in bed for a month or so until she starts putting on more weight. She's not been putting on as much as she's supposed to."

"I heard that the morning sickness is pretty bad in the first trimester. If you'd like, I can look some stuff up for you. I'll send some money over too. Gotta support my own flesh and blood." Troy laughed quietly.

"Thanks. I could use it. I've been taking a lot of time off work and I think I'm fired."

"I'll transfer a good million to your account. It'll get you through the rough patch as well as help support my unborn nieces or nephews or whatever. Speaking of which, you know the genders?"

"According to the docs, two girls." Sybil's heart stopped and a warm sensation flooded her body.

"Nieces? Wow. Thought of any names?"

"Of course. Sybil and Jane."

"Don't you dare name one of them after me."

"Ah, funny thing is, Syb, Trisha wants to name one of them after you. After all, if it wasn't for you, the two of us wouldn't have met." The female detective sighed in defeat.

"Fine. Use a different spelling though."

"Gonna have to talk that over with my fiancée." A short pause.

"When she gets off bed rest, we're deciding to have the wedding two months later. You think you'll be able to make it?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm sure Ryuu will understand me taking some time off. I have been under a lot of stress lately. Especially with Dad showing up."

"So he did go, huh? Where's he staying? Did you knock him one?" Sybil smiled again.

"He's staying at my apartment and yes I did. My hand still hurts, as well as his jaw."

"Are you sure that you trust him to stay in your house without trying to kill you?"

"Well, he seems sincere. Besides, I doubt that he'll try to kill anyone again. Not with me around." She replied.

"Alright, if you say so." A silence stretched between the two siblings and Sybil glanced towards the sky.

"Troy, the chances of me dying are growing day by day."

"You're not going to give up, though?"

"Never. A Corvax never surrenders to pain. To death. If I happen to have a heart attack, I'm not gonna let it kill me."

"Good. You better not. My kids are going to meet their aunt and they are damn well gonna remember you. Especially after all the hell you've gone through." Troy replied.

The young woman closed her eyes and nodded.

"I'm not planning to be murdered, Pudgy. That's exactly why I keep myself from getting too close to people in the first place. You know that."

"However, I heard from Taylor that you've got a nickname for someone else other than your dear brothers."

"A friend who understands my pain. Nothing more."

"You want it to be more." Troy explained and Sybil's eyes widened.

Did she really-? No.

"No I do not, and even if I did, I wouldn't allow those types of feelings to take over for me. Love is a scary thing. It involves putting your life in the hands of someone else. After what happened to our mother, I can't really say that I want anything that has to do with men and love."

"That mentality of yours won't last forever."

"Maybe you should head back to you fiancée. I'm sure she misses you."

"You've avoided the question, but you are right. I'll talk to you later, right?"

"Hmm, sure."

"Oh, and please try to get over yourself. You really gotta let someone into that heart of yours." Sybil frowned.

"Goodbye.."

"Sybil, I mean it. Let someone in." She sighed.

"Goodbye, Troy." Then, she hung up and leaned against the wall of the hotel.

Was he right? Did she really have to let someone inside of her heart?

Sybil grunted in annoyance.

Even if that was true, there was no way that she'd be able to. She was just too afraid of being left broken hearted, or injured, or even killed by someone that was meant to love and protect her for all eternity. It was her worst fear, ending up like her mother.

Her green eyes went back to the cellphone in her hand before closing them.

But, he was right. She needed to let someone in. Now there was only the matter of being able to comprehend that she could actually trust someone with her heart. With her life. With everything that she was.

Her mind drifted to L and she sighed.

Maybe, just maybe, he was that person. She had entrusted him with so much already. Her past, her dignity, her life. Sybil knew that she felt something towards him. There was no use denying it anymore. She did want something more than a friendship.

The woman frowned at herself as her red bangs brushed into her face.

No. No she didn't. Nothing more than a friendship. Yet, every time she felt sad, she went to him to cry. Ever since that first time. She had been growing so comfortable around him during the time that they had known each other in person.

Sybil bit her lip and tried to compress the feelings, but soon gave up.

It was no use. She had to admit it to herself now. She had feelings towards L that had to do more with her heart than anything. Not that she'd ever admit that to anyone else, but it was a start. Maybe she would eventually get over her fear. Maybe meeting L was God's way of making it up to her for all the hell he had put her through.

She scowled.

God. Since when did she begin believing in that again? There was no God and even if there was, he played no part in her life. He ignored her and if he wanted to prove to her that she actually meant something, he'd help her somehow. Even if his way of helping meant starting with getting someone to teach her to tied her shoes.

Rain slowly began to fall from the sky and Sybil smiled bitterly.

Ironic. She had finally come to terms with her feelings and it began to rain. That was definitely a bad sign. Good thing she didn't believe in omens and that she liked rain.

Sybil walked out from under the roof of the hotel and stepped out into the rain, which immediately became heavier, but she didn't really care. She was too focused on how soothing it was to her skin. How it made her forget exactly why she had come down from headquarters. She still held her cellphone in her hand.

The young woman leaned herself back against the wall of the building, this time bowing her head slightly to submit herself to the wet oblivion.

Was God crying over her now?

Sybil opened up her eyes and stared at her untied shoes.

Again she thought about that. How many times did she have to tell herself that there was no God? It was getting rather annoying. Besides, she was supposed to be thinking about this new Kira.

She closed her green orbs once again, but visions of Ukita's death flashed through her mind instead of the knowledge she was supposed to be focusing on. Tears stung her eyes and she clenched her fists tightly together.

"Stop it.. Stop it." She murmured to herself, but her own words didn't help her to fight the burning tears.

"Sybil? What are you doing out here? You're going to catch a cold." The detective opened her eyes and looked up, locking eyes with Light and Soichiro.

How long had she been out here brooding over some stupid things?

"I like rain." She replied quietly as she looked up to the grey clouds of the sky..

Light looked to his father, who nodded and continued inside. The university student then came to the girl's side and kept her dry with his umbrella.

She looked to him before looking back to her sprawled out shoelaces.

Light followed her gaze and stared at her shoes as well. It took him only moments to realize why she was staring at them.

"You can't tie your shoes, can you?"

"No. I know it's pathetic, but everyone has their faults. Unfortunately, even a- even a genius has something that they can't beat. For me, it's my shoes."

"Why not wear shoes that don't have laces?" He questioned.

Sybil smiled at him, seeing a new side to the young man she once disliked.

"Well, how about I want to be as normal as possible? Is that a relevant enough reason?" Light smiled back before handing her the umbrella.

"Hold this." Sybil watched in awe as he knelt down and tied her laces for her.

Immediately afterwards, an even brighter smile lit her face.

"Thank you, Light. That was very kind of you."

"It wasn't a problem. Let's head inside now, huh?" Immediately, Sybil frowned and handed him back his umbrella.

"No thanks. I need to be outside right now. The rain helps me think. Especially with all that's happened. I'm sure you were watching the news?"

"Yeah. Ukita, was it?" Sybil nodded.

"Yeah. Ukita." More visions flashed across her mind and she put her hand to her head to the sudden headache.

"Sybil?"

"I- I'm not feeling well. My head suddenly hurts."

"A better excuse to bring you inside. Hey, Ryuuga will probably have a nice cup of tea ready for you." Sybil closed her eyes as Light reached for her hand.

Sybil shook her head.

"I don't like tea. He probably has a bottle of root beer ready for me, but upon discovering that it's raining, now he's asked for hot chocolate to be prepared in it's place. He knows me oh so well." A small smile touched her face as she thought about her friend.

Then, she took Light's hand and he continued to smile at her.

"He knows you that well, huh? What do you know about him?"

"I don't think it's my place to tell anyone that."

"I thought so. You're loyal to him, aren't you?"

"Of course. He's my only friend, unless you count my brothers, but they're not even in the country." Light folded the umbrella as both himself and Sybil entered the hotel and stepped into the elevator.

However, just as the doors were about to close, a hand blocked it.

Sybil looked up and smiled as Mogi, Aizawa, and Ide stepped into the elevator.

"Good morning, boys."

"I don't know what's so good about it. It's pouring out."

"I like the rain." She replied and again, just as the doors to the elevator were about to close, Sybil heard the running steps of a familiar officer.

She immediately lashed out and held the door open for a panting Matsuda. He flashed her a smile.

"Th- thanks, S- Sybil."

"It was nothing, Matsuda. Let's just head up, okay? Ryuu's waiting for us patiently to discuss the new issue."