Summary: A short trip outside of the investigation headquarters has several unforeseen side effects for Light, L, and Misa. Each is forced to learn and adapt to their new situations, whether they like it or not.
Disclaimer: Death Note is the copyrighted property of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, not me. If I owned Death Note I would be the happiest person on this beautiful little planet. But I'm not the happiest person on the planet, and therefore it is not mine.
Chapter 4
"The other problem we have to address," L began, "is whether we should inform the rest of the investigation team of our predicament, or if we should conceal it from them in hopes that the situation will right itself in time. I certainly know that my own abilities would easily allow me to impersonate Light, I know that Misa-chan is a very talented actress and I have faith that Light would also be able to pull it off. However, the question is if we can carry on such a long deception for an extended period of time, while at the same time maintaining the progress being made in the Kira investigation. At this point, our topmost priority is still to capture Kira, at any cost."
Light calmly interrupted L's lecture.
"I believe that we should each give demonstrations of our individual aptitudes at imitating one other. If any of us can find fault with the impersonations, we can take those into account when making our decision."
L nodded, "That is a very good idea, Raito-chan, we—"
"—Raito-chan?" Light interrupted. His tone was that of an innocent inquiry, but the muscles tightening around his eyes betrayed that he was bristling with anger inside.
"You're a girl at the moment, Raito-chan," L replied. "You should get used to the feminine honorific now so that it is easier to accept if you must impersonate Misa later. Now, to continue with what I was saying, I propose we use that door--" L indicted the door leading out to the hallway,
"--As a prop for adopting these personas. Each of us will exit through the door and close it, mentally prepare, and then enter as the person that they are supposed to be. The two remaining will then observe each others' performance, and examine it for flaws."
Light and Misa both nodded approval for the plan.
"Good, then I will go first. Please watch me closely."
L proceeded to leave through the door, his feet dragging slightly across the carpet in his usual apathetic slump, before closing it behind him. There was a long moment of silence, and then he entered again. The change, in body language, in stance, even in his face, was immediately noticeable.
L's back was straight, his posture as perfect as Light kept it normally. His face was void of emotion, but in a slightly more friendly fashion. It wasn't L's unnerving, zombie-like stare, but was the poised, collected elegance of a professional model. He walked forward with a grace that none would believe the slouched, shuffling detective could ever achieve. The way he carried himself, the way he walked and even breathed, radiated a confident power.
Light felt uneasy, sitting there watching him. It was like he was truly watching himself, seeing what he looked like to another's eyes. Light wasn't in the least self-conscious, but inside the privacy of his own mind, he admitted that it was rather disconcerting.
Meanwhile, L then turned to them and spoke at last. His tone was smooth and polite, as was his honeyed smile.
"Oh, Misa, Raito-san, good morning." L began, flashing them a dazzling smile, rows of perfect white teeth gleaming like ivory. Light had to suppress a shiver. He really was a perfect human specimen.
And so Light, Misa and L-as-Light shared a short conversation, in which L played his part to the point where Misa began to flirt with him, forgetting that the man in front of her wore only the skin of her boyfriend. Finally L departed again, the door closing shut with a soft 'click' behind him. He entered the room once again with his usual shuffling gait and bored appearance. Misa blushed, realizing that she had been flirting with Ryuuzaki all along.
Next, Light decided to have a go.
As the door closed in front of him, Light stood completely still, his eyes closed, his gaze turned inward. He let all that defined Light Yagami fall away to some hidden part of his mind; his pride, his intelligence, his competitive streak, all his traits and mannerisms were carefully packed away. He made sure that his own consciousness was safely out of the way, before concentrating next on creating who he must become.
Misa Amane, talented model and actress. Bubbly, energetic, touchy-feely. Potential intelligence undermined by single-minded devotion. He let all his memories, all his knowledge of her, seep into his being. Hugging, jumping, squealing, pouting Misa. He conjured her speech patterns, her quirks, shaping a persona like a potter at his wheel, the mass of material taking form as his thoughts spun it around and around, building it from the center on outwards. The persona blossomed and grew until it was finally whole.
And then he was ready.
Several long moments passed before the door opened again, and Light entered. Except, the bubbly, glowing girl who appeared from behind the door just radiated Misa. She had a bright, infectious smile, a youthful bounce to her step as she walked, and she moved her hands and feet in such a graceful, feminine, Misa-like way.. Her voice was perky and full of cheer, and she just seemed to drip cuteness.
The two onlookers were impressed. Who knew that Light could ever act this well like a girl?
"Wow, I never knew Raito could be such a good me." Whispered Misa, blushing. He must have been studying her a lot to be able to act like her that well!
"Hi guys! I'm sorry I took so long! Did you miss me?" Pseudo-Misa chirped, winking cutely and flipping her hair playfully over her shoulder. "I know I missed you, Raito!"
Pseudo-Misa ran up and gave L a big hug, tackling the nonplussed body of Light Yagami to the sofa. After proceeding to coo and squeal over "Raito" while snubbing "L" scornfully, Pseudo-Misa finally departed, winking over her shoulder and giggling at the two before shutting the door once again.
Light walked in again, all traces of bubbles or playfulness gone. His face was completely neutral, but if one knew him, his eyes were a little too narrow and his lips were a little bit turned down at the corners. He didn't look very happy.
Misa, completely oblivious, was clapping enthusiastically, her eyes alit with awe.
"Raito, that was amazing! You were just like me! It was like when I watch myself in a movie. You were really good!"
"I must agree with Misa-san. That was an impressive display of acting ability. I believe that you could easily fool everyone on the team with such acting talent." The last part was said casually, innocently, holding not a trace of accusation or subtle finger-pointing. None at all.
Light had to work to keep his eyebrow from twitching. He knew better.
"I may be able to do it for a short amount of time, Ryuuzaki, but I do not think I would be able to keep up such a façade for such a long period of time," Light deflected, "acting female is exhausting."
"Really, Raito-chan?" L cocked his head a fraction, "You seemed to be quite comfortable in the role."
Light shot him a withering glare, but otherwise coolly ignored his provocation.
"I also believe it would hamper the investigation if I was to pose as Misa, since I would be almost completely unable to work. I do not relish the thought of working in... this," he gestured down to Misa's body in distaste, "But I would rather work like this than not at all. "
"Nonetheless, Raito-chan," L replied, "we should observe Misa's capabilities before reaching our final decision on the matter. Misa, would you begin?"
Misa bounced up off the couch, full of energy.
"Okay! Misa-Misa will do her best! Wish me luck, Raito!" And she ducked out of the door. L and light waited patiently on the couch.
A few minutes later, she entered again. Her shoulders were hunched over, her hand stuffed in the denim pockets of her jeans. L's face betrayed no emotion, the gaze piercing and calculating. The Pseudo-L shuffled into the room, his bare toes gripping at the carpet. He made his way over to a chair, and sat down in his usual precarious position, crouching. He opened his mouth to speak…
…And promptly lost his balance, toppling over onto the floor, with a very uncharacteristic squeal of surprise, followed by an even more uncharacteristic pouty moan of disappointment.
"Ryuuzaki, why do you have to sit so strangely? It's hard to stay on the chair." Misa clambered up off the floor and dusted off her shirt, shooting a glare at the detective.
"Misa, if you are unable to mimic my mannerisms and personality in a convincing fashion, then we will have no choice but to inform the investigation team of the circumstances."
"But I was doing great up until the end! I could practice it until I have it right. I'm just not used to acting a boy, that's all. And you're not even a normal boy, either. I bet I could be a good Raito!" Misa groaned and crossed her arms in front of her chest, collapsing onto the couch. "why couldn't I have been in Raito's body instead?" She grumbled. The other, being used to her complaints, ignored them in lieu of discussing more pressing matters.
"There is also the matter of Misa having to direct the investigation if she is to impersonate you," Light interjected, looking at L, "She is hardly up-to-date with the investigation. She would need to know a lot of classified information, and I don't think we could give her that. It is also very hard to fake intelligence. As unhappy as I am with it, it is clear that we will have to inform the team."
Misa looked glumly at her toes, while L only nodded in agreement.
"In the time before the team arrives," L said, picking at the hem of his jeans as he spoke, "we should review last night's footage from the cameras. It may give us some clue as to when or how this all occurred." While he spoke, Watari entered, bringing in two top-of-the-line laptops and setting them on the table in front of L and a determined-looking Light. They both set to the task while Misa went down to her room to change "into something less hideous". A part of Light wondered,
After about half an hour, Misa wandered back into the room where L and Light were still searching the footage for clues. Unfortunately, there was no clear indication of anything abnormal occurring. The three sleeping forms never dramatically changed their positions, or went into convulsions, or glowed or anything. To the outside world, nothing was amiss.
And then Light hit a certain spot in the tape, taken early in the morning; only a short while, actually, before he himself had awoken. It had been recorded in the bedroom that he and L usually shared.
Light's stomach twisted, in shock all blood fled from his face, leaving it white. As the anger and humiliation set in the color returned again to his features, his face now flushing a furious red. He couldn't believe what he was seeing… It looked like… No! That was horrible, disgusting, unthinkable. He tried to remind himself that it was Misa, and NOT Ryuuzaki, that had…. That had...!!
…Kissed….
Light's eyes flickered dangerously as he glanced up over the laptop's thin screen. His eyes met with Misa's, and the girl-no-more shrunk back into her seat, looking perplexed and not a little afraid. Hearing Misa's small squeal of fright, L glanced up, at Misa and then at Light. Then he looked back down at his screen. One graceful eyebrow arching was the only reaction he showed. Light was already making moves to delete the footage of the scene. L, however, stopped him.
"Raito-chan, I realize why this footage may have upset you, but you must not delete anything that might help us discover the cause of this predicament."
Light calmed himself then, schooling his features and relaxing the muscles that had tensed with vexation. Now, it was Misa who was blushing, as well as glancing apologetically up at Light. Light ignored both her and L, and threw himself into his work once again.
…But no matter how much he focused, he could not get the horrible image of the gangly detective kissing his own sleeping form out of his mind. Even though it had been Misa in control of L's body, and she had kissed his body that L had been inhabiting at the time, from the outside it still looked like…
Light felt his stomach twist again in a combination of nausea and anger. It was just so wrong, so disgusting, and so confusing!
--And if L dared to show that footage to the investigation team, or worse, his father, then he would be very sorry indeed. Having lived with the detective for long enough, he already a lot about the detective and his habits, as well as the layout of their rooms; Light was very resourceful, and cunning, and any vengeance would be brutal.
Putting those thoughts aside for consideration later, Light dove again into his work. He would solve this puzzle. He would solve this if it took every ounce of his being!
The investigation team, as always, arrived mid-afternoon, its members slightly agitated after going through the building's advanced security screening. Belts and shoes were removed, bags were screened, eyes and fingerprints were scanned and passcodes were recited. Mogi and Aizawa had brought coffee and donuts on the way there, however, so the team's spirits were more easily sustained. Matsuda was humming a tune while the team rode the elevator up, and the rest of the men didn't even mind. It was too pleasant a morning to be annoyed at Matsuda, no matter how easy that would be. The elevator began to rise, floors and their numbers whirring past outside its the serene gleaming walls. Finally the right floor was reach, and with a small 'ding,' the door slid smoothly open. The team walked the familiar path to the main investigation room, ready to start anther day of Kira investigating.
Once they entered the investigation room however, the team's members stopped in their tracks and stared, confusion and shock evident on their features. Light, Ryuuzaki and Misa were all inside the room, as expected, but the scene that they made was... out of place.
Hunched over precariously in L's usual swivel chair was Light, looking unnaturally untidy in a worn white long-sleeve shirt and scruffy blue jeans, toes bare, munching on a piece of cake as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The only thing the same about him was his impeccable hair. He was doing exactly what L normally did at this time of the morning, pulling up a list of information for the rest of the team to sift through for clues or ideas.
The seat next to L, which Light normally occupied, now held the petite form of Amane Misa. Something was off about her too; her hair was tied back in one low, simple ponytail today, instead of cute pigtails, her blond locks spilling over back. She was wearing a pair of black jeans and a t-shirt today, with not a frill, gothic cross or lace edge in sight. Her normally cheerful and bubbly features held no expression now. She looked more like a serious business woman than a cute idol. Her posture, the set of her mouth, the gleam in her eye all commanded attention. Several members of the team noted that she was handcuffed to Light, but wasn't paying him any attention at all.
The strangest one of all was L, who was sitting on the couch looking bored, fidgety and unhappy. He was not sitting in his normal gargoyle-esque manner, but was seated in an almost normal fashion, legs crossed over the knee, toying with a strand of his hair. In his lap lay a magazine, one of the collection that was kept in the room to entertain Misa when she visited for longer than it took to kiss Light on the cheek between modeling photo shoots and filming commercials.
But more than simply L's body language was different. He was not wearing his normal ensemble, but was instead dressed in a long-sleeved striped gothic shirt (which Light had received from Misa on his last birthday, but had never worn), a single necklace with a cross pendant and a pair of fitted dark blue jeans. His hair, normally a black, messy crow's nest, was --for the first time ever before seen-- combed, falling down straight sleek to his shoulders and parted neatly away from his face, his bangs held back with a beret fashioned like a little skull and crossbones. When it was not sticking out from his head at all manner of angles, L's hair was actually quite long and almost… girlish. The lack of curtaining strands made L's face stand out in its paleness even more sharp, his features for the first time clearly illuminated. He looked, for once, good. Not handsome, not perfect, but he looked almost like a normal human being, if an effeminate one.
And was he wearing…. Mascara?
The three inhabitants of the room finally noticed the arrival of the remainder of the investigators, L looking up cheerily and giving a bubbly "Good morning!" Misa and Light gave more curt greetings from their seats in front of the row of monitors. The investigators just stood, immobile, staring. The first person to speak was a rather boggled Soichiro.
"I-is this some sort of joke? What's up with you three?"
Light put down his now finished plate of cake, setting his fork down with a discernable clink, sending the sound of china against metal ringing through the silence of the room like a great bell.
Light's honey-smooth voice sounded lower, more monotone than normal, when it answered his father.
"I'm afraid this is no joke, Yagami-san," Soichiro started slightly at the distant and professional way his son addressed him,
"Something occurred to the three of us after our excursion yesterday evening. You see, when we awoke this morning, we were quite literally, not ourselves; I awoke as Light," he gestured to himself, "Light as Misa," He gestured to the girl beside him, who nodded and scowled down in distaste at her body, "and Misa awoke in my body, and has since been adjusting it to her presence. Speaking of which, we had an agreement of no makeup. Do you not remember?" He asked, turning to the pouting figure on the couch.
The blond chained to him scowled and cut in
"And WE had an agreement on limited sweets. I don't want to return to a diabetic, nutritionally deprived body. In comparison, a few cosmetics have hardly any negative effects on the body at all."
"But Raito-chan," The youth retorted, "I need my sweets in order to function at my highest mental capacity; my diet will not spoil your body in any way. I eat plenty of vitamins, and there is quite lot of healthy fruit in my cakes."
" But you have to get adequate sleep as well. If you give me those horrid bags under my eyes like yours—"
Soichiro coughed, interrupting the side conversation that had developed between the two.
"Ah yes, Father. What is it?" The blond turned now to face him, polite and responsive, acting more familiar with him than Misa would. She had even addressed him respectfully as 'father' in the same manner that Light had always done. Soichiro looked hard into the girl's eyes. His answer was hesitant.
"R-Raito? Is that… really you? "
Soichiro stared at the blond skeptically. His inner turmoil was evident in his face. If what Light—Ryuuzaki had just said was true, then his son… was in there. He looked deep into the girl's blue eyes, searching for any traces of his boy, his pride, his Light. She stared back at him, her gaze conveying complete seriousness, her eyes sparkling with a familiar intelligence. Misa's eyes had never looked like that, alert and dignified. All traces of the cheery, light-hearted model seemed to have evaporated like a soap bubble.
Soichiro looked over at the auburn haired youth sitting beside her, meeting an equally intense stare set firmly in a no-nonsense expression. Although the face was that of the boy he had raised since birth, had cherished and taught and imbued with his pride, the look it gave was not the look of a son at his father, but of one adult looking at another, with respect tempered with authority. He somehow looked older, more mature.
Finally, he looked at the raven-haired man sitting on the couch, who had returned to happily reading the magazine in his lap. Upon feeling Soichiro's gaze falling on his back, he turned up and met it, eyes wide, his features strangely innocent. The figure was lacking its usual aura of a hardened detective. Instead, the body language and mannerisms looked effeminate; cutely girlish in the way Misa had always been
After a long period of standing in wide-eyed disbelief, and then a flurry of questions, the investigation team finally entered the room and sat down in their usual places, faces still unsettled. However, they seemed resigned to believe this strange new development, at least for the time being. There was work to be done after all, and if this was a joke then it would be revealed in its own time. Things began to calm down as everyone settled back into their familiar routine.
Watari walked into the room, walking over to L's seat as silently as he ever did, handing the brunette seated there another piece of strawberry cheesecake and a fresh cup of tea. The blond girl beside him short him a withering glare as he picked up his fork and lifted a large hunk of the cloying confection to his lips.
It was going to be a long day for everyone.
Huzzah, I got a new chapter out, and it didn't take me even a month! I thought this would be a nice back-to-school/end-of-summer present for you all. Thankfully, I had built upon a buffer of material, so I didn't have to write too much from scratch. I'm not entirely satisfied with the last portion of the chapter, but I was running out of time and energy. Things are going to be a bit busy for me for a while, so I hope this chapter can tide you over until next time. there will still be plenty more hilarious adjustments and reactions to come.
Remember, reviews inspire an author to update faster!