Forgive me! I know that I'm taking forever, but I've got it all planned out! Honestly! It's just all these damn fillers that I'm working on to get to the end.
Anyway, I also want you to forgive me for any mushi mushiness. I know not all people are into that sort of thing, but I'm one of the people who are. I'm sure there's others like me out there, but not everyone is exactly like me, right?
Yeah. Also, I guess I might as well say this now, but I know nothing about satanists! If there are any out there, I just want you to know that I am not trying to be offensive! I am merely attempting to build Geof's character. He does beleive in Lucifer and he does sacrifice his blood to the devil. I know nothing of Satanist rituals, just what I watched once on a television program. I just thought you should know in case anyone has taken offence to my take on the religion.
Also, I realized that I made a reference in an earlier chapter about Americans. Um, yeah, I personally have nothing against Americans, seeing as I am Canadian living directly beside America, it's just Sybil's character. I figured I should apologize in case anyone has taken offence to the story because of some references. That is just Sybil's personal view on- yeah. I think you get it. I know I'm a bit of a rambler, but I just thought I should apologize.
By the way, I'm not sure how many people on this site are Canadian and are familliar with the Canadian Law, but I guess I should fill you in. I know I didn't really explain how Jerrod only spent fifteen years in prison for killing his wife/Sybil, Taylor, Troy's mother/ Jane Carlyle Corvax, but I will now to make it all up to you.
Life in prison is 25 years. That's the max time. No multiple life sentences anymore.
For first degree murder, there's supposed to be up to 25 years without chance of perole.
For second degree, it's up to 25 years with a chance of perole at 10 years.
Manslaughter is 10-15 years in prison, but usually they get less. It depends on how the victim died.
I took a Law Class this semester in high school, so I know what I'm talking about. I just thought I'd let you know how it worked if no one who's currently reading Untied Shoes is Canadian and knowledgable in Canadian Law.
Yeah, so Jerrod got 15 years. He was charged with second degree murder. Just thought I'd clear it all up.
Forgive me for the rambling and being so late, but please review anyway.
Geof held a knife in his hand, watching curiously as Jerrod paced the room.
"Relax, Jer-Odd. Now's not the time to be worryin' about somethin' like that."
"Don't you get it?! My record is now in the Japanese database! Kira could strike me next!" Geof shrugged and slid the knife along the palm of his right hand, which was held over a bowl.
"Could, bein' the word. You worry too much. It's your son's wedding day. Though, I'm not sure which one." Ah, Geof.
He could be so stupid, but so smart at the same time. There are few people who can do that. Jerrod immediately, or at least attempted, to relax. Then, he began to pace again.
"Your record's in the database too, isn't it? You could be killed!" Geof began to wrap his hand in some bandages he left nearby.
"Nah. I used a fake ID to get into the country, knowin' full well about Kira. Funny how useful knowin' how to read Japanese is. Kira's posted all over the news on the Internet. So's the fact that it seems that Kira's beatin' this L figure, whoever the hell that could be." Jerrod narrowed his eyes.
"A fake ID, Geof?! Are you insane?!"
"Maybe. Eh, accordin' to the police guys, my name's Reid Jennings. Man, I should've been more creative." The younger casually replied.
Jerrod smacked his forehead and exhaled.
Well, at least Geof would be safe if he was to die. He could at least then know that someone could look after his family for him.
The man with the knife then slid it across his other hand and Jerrod shuddered.
Or, maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
***
Taylor helped straighten out his twin brother's black bow tie, grinning at the other's obvious nervousness.
"Hey, you need to calm down. The ceremony doesn't take place for another two hours or so."
"Don't tell me to calm down! You're not getting married, you don't know how I feel!"
"Then tell me how you feel."
"Scared shitless that she'll change her mind. Although, I wouldn't blame her if she did." Troy received a brute punch in the gut and he grimaced in pain.
"You moron! Don't talk like that! You're the most confident guy I know! Besides, she said she'd marry you. You and I both know that Trish always does what she says she will. In that aspect, she's a lot like Sybil. Apart from the extreme lack of a romantic life. Poor Sybil. If you're scared shitless, imagine how she feels." Troy lowered his eyes to his feet.
Taylor made a good point. Sybil was probably feeling a little lonely. Scratch that, extremely lonely. Especially since she was so afraid of going through everything all over again. For that reason, she had pulled herself out of touch with those around her, attempting to keep her emotions boxed away somewhere. Of course, lately, both the brothers had noticed that her demeanor seemed to have changed. She was staying later nights at headquarters and smiling a whole lot more.
"Speaking of Sybil, haven't you noticed that her schedule's been off since the last time we were here? Now there's no telling when she'll be home. I'm not sure, but I think there's something she's not telling us." Taylor nodded as Troy then began to straighten out his own bow tie.
"I agree with you there. But, you and I both know that she'll tell us when she's ready. Although, you don't suppose that this Kira investigation actually pulled her out of her shell, do you?" The brothers looked to each other before chuckling.
"I highly doubt it."
***
"I can't believe I've agreed to wear a dress. I feel so self-conscious." Sybil murmured as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Trisha smiled sweetly as she forced the redhead to spin around.
"You look beautiful, Sybil. I envy you so much. Besides, mint green is such a nice color against your skin tone." The brown eyed woman, then brushed some hair from her face before doing the same for the other.
Sybil felt a band of pink creep across her nose.
She was so relieved that L wouldn't see her in this. Not that he'd say anything about it, but all the same, she would feel extremely embarrassed. It was safe to say that Sybil and dresses did not get along. Not one bit.
"I still hate it." Trisha laughed quietly.
"That may be so, but seeing as your my bridesmaid, you wear what I want you to wear. You're wearing a mint colored dress, lacking in sleeves, and a pair of silver heels."
"I regret agreeing to this all the same."
"I know, but it's only for today. Besides, you have such cute ankles." Sybil flushed a deeper shade of red.
"This is exactly why I didn't have friends in high school and why I didn't go to prom. I feel so naked. Besides, aren't I supposed to be helping you?"
"In a minute. There's still something missing- ah!" Trisha dug into her bag and pulled out a royal purple silk sash, which she tied tightly around Sybil's waist.
Sybil immediately felt like a glass doll.
"I'm going to resent you for the rest of my life."
"You're only saying that. Besides, you still haven't seen your reflection."
"I don't think I want to."
"Just look in the mirror!" Trisha exclaimed excitedly and Sybil frowned.
"No."
"Stubborn."
"I'm just as stubborn as you are." The conversation ended with Trisha physically forcing the detective to look at her reflection.
Sybil then blinked and blushed frantically, too embarrassed to say anything. The reflection she saw staring back at her, wasn't exactly what she was expecting. Her hair seemed to have grown since she last looked in a mirror, and Trisha had used a curling iron on it just to give it a wavy look. The dress reached down to just above her knees, strapless and mint colored. Apart from the purple sash which Trisha had just recently tied around her waist.
She still didn't feel like herself. Not one bit. Perhaps it was because he wasn't there. Sybil wouldn't know unless she chose to wore this attire outside. Highly unlikely.
"So?"
"Interesting."
"Oh, come on! You're so beautiful!"
"So I've heard." Now, her mind was no longer focused on the wedding that was to soon take place.
Her mind had traveled to the dark haired detective, who had her heart in his hands. Whether or not he truly understood just how strong her feelings were, well, that would be told eventually.
Sybil sighed.
"Let's get on with you now, okay? I just want this done and over with so I no longer have to wear something that shows so much skin."
***
"Are you sure about this, Ryuuzaki?" Watari asked and L nodded as he swallowed a mouthful of strawberry.
"Quite. I know that my feelings for Sybil are strong and I believe now is the time for me to prove how strong they are. That means I must eventually meet her family. Considering that today is a very important day, it would be the best time." Watari smiled.
"Then, should I help you get ready?"
"That would be highly appreciated. I can go through one day of discomfort for Sybil. I want to be at her residence in thirty minutes, Watari."
"Of course, Sir. Thirty minutes it is."
***
Sybil checked her watch and took a deep breath. Difficult to do with a sash wrapped tightly around her abdomen, but she managed anyway.
Three more hours and then she would finally be able to slink herself out of this stupid dress so that she could hide herself away in her bedroom until the next morning. She really missed L, not that she'd verbally admit it to him, but she knew it was true.
Ever since she had found out that the end of her life was rapidly approaching, she had taken it upon herself to spend as much time with those she cared about as she could. Especially since she didn't know exactly when her end would come. She just trusted what Fang had told her.
Sybil sat on the floor of her office, her back to the wall as she kept herself away from the other members of the household.
But, still, she hated being pushed and forced into doing something. The wedding, she had agreed to. The dress on the other hand and the crazy amount of people in her apartment- it was just too much for her to deal with. She really needed a breather and someone to talk to who would actually understand what she felt. Of course, there was just one person who would feel as she did in this situation.
Her green eyes closed and her body quivered. But, her body jumped as the door suddenly opened. The young woman's immediate reaction was to scream profanity and kick whoever it was out, but she bit her tongue and kept silent. It was a good thing she did, because a smile soon broke out on her face.
"Ryuu, this is quite unexpected." Sybil's voice was quieter than she had anticipated it would be and L's onyx orbs flashed with concern as he closed the door behind him.
Then, he knelt down and she was rather taken aback by how quickly he had her pinned to his chest. Her eyes were wide with surprise, but she soon relaxed and allowed her chin to rest on his shoulder.
"You seem exhausted."
"Ah, I'm fine. A little uncomfortable with my, eh, current attire, but I shouldn't be complaining. You're in a tux." L gave her a small, sheepish grin and Sybil smiled.
At least he didn't seem to mind.
"Hmm, I happen to think you look quite beautiful."
"I feel ridiculous."
"Yes, but as you said, I'm wearing a tux. It happens to be very uncomfortable." He replied.
She closed her eyes and sighed.
"You didn't have to wear it. It is a private wedding after all."
"Ah, but if you must wear something you are uncomfortable with, I see no reason why I cannot do the same."
"Hey, did you actually get more mature since I saw you yesterday?"
"I've grown to miss you since then." Her eyes widened before she placed her head against his chest and relaxed yet again.
It was nice to know that he felt the same as she did.
"I love you." L's own eyes widened before he placed his chin on top of her head and released a near inaudible sigh.
A sudden thought then occurred to her.
"Hey, didn't anyone notice you come in?"
"No. Your family seems to be rather preoccupied with the event."
"You're right about that. God, I can't breathe." She reluctantly pulled from his arms and tugged on the purple sash around her waist.
"I really don't know why Trisha insisted on torturing me with this thing. It's cutting off my circulation." He chuckled and brushed his fingers against her cheek, causing a blush to creep up into her face.
"Wh- what's so funny? I'm dying here!" He became serious.
"Sybil."
"Sorry, Ryuu. I shouldn't make such a reference." Even though it could have been very much the truth.
"No, that's not it. I only have a question for you." Sybil was generally confused, but pleasure was brought upon her when L kissed her tenderly, his fingers tangling themselves within her hair.
She brought her hands down onto his shoulders and closed her eyes as she returned the affection. After a few minutes, L ended the kiss and stared at her for a few moments.
"Sybil, if we both survive to the end of this investigation-" Her eyes widened as she comprehended the question he was now hesitating to ask.
So soon? Then again, people were getting married within hours of knowing each other nowadays. Las Vegas helped with that. And, if she thought about it, it made sense for him to want to ask this of her. They had a rather unusual connection that probably could only be broken by death, perhaps not even that. But, Sybil was worried all the same.
If that was the question L was so hesitant to ask, she would most likely hurt him in the end. Her death was nearing, and though she didn't know how soon it was, she knew it was near. Although, the fact he had thrown in that it would be most likely taking place after the investigation ended, in the off chance that both of them survived.
Her grip on his shoulders tightened slightly and her lips were parted slightly in thought before they curled up into a smile.
"So hesitant. Ryuu, if we both happen to survive to the end of this investigation, I will gladly marry you. And if only one of us makes it out of this alive, I'm pretty sure our bond will remain the same as it would if it was the both of us." Now, the blush had crept upon L's cheeks as she had closed the small gap between their lips.
She had- she had predicted his question so easily. Of course, it must have been painfully obvious. He was sweating out of extreme nervousness and he had hesitated for at least five minutes.
His own lips twitched up into a smirk as he brought his hands down to her waist and applied a little pressure. Just to let her know that he would always be there.
In all due respect, he didn't believe for one moment that he would survive to the end of the investigation. He merely wished to ask such an important, life changing question to let this woman know just how important she was. Just how she had changed his life by contacting him the day of the Aoyma bomb threat. Just to let her know how much he loved her and how he always wanted to be there for her, even though he believed it would be a highly unlikely situation.
Sybil ended the kiss hesitantly and stared into his onyx orbs, feeling the nervousness that was waving over him.
"Wow. Never thought this day would come, huh? It's coming on really fast, but I wouldn't change it for the world." He smirked again.
"Neither would I." L paused.
"Sybil?"
"Yes, Ryuu?"
"Seeing that we are, in a way, engaged, I believe now I will open up to you." Her eyes widened in shock as his expression fell somewhat.
"My true name, is L Lawliet."