P.I.S. Chapter Fifteen: Training Begins
The next day my family was quickly boarded on the plane with the news that the false threat turned out to be mistaken and were not planned to be carried through. My sister and mother breathed a sigh of relief. Though it was morning when we boarded and everyone had gotten a good amount of sleep--except for myself--right after the drinks were served, all of us were fast asleep in our chairs; I suspected L slipped sleeping drugs in our drinks. I'd be angry at him if I hadn't also been grateful; drug-induced sleep meant heavy, non-dreaming REM, which I needed very much. It seemed only seconds flew by before I and the rest of my family was shaken awake by the flight attendants that we would be landing in twenty minutes at Tokyo's largest airport.
When we landed, it was very late. A quarter moon hung above us, illuminating the clouds above. No stars shone brightly because of the bright lights of the airport. Our legs were stiffed as we climbed the escalator to baggage claim. The airport had very scarce people other than those sleeping on the chairs with blankets handed out by the personnel. Even with very few people, it still took nearly a half hour before we stuffed our bags into a taxi and then ourselves into the leather and cigarette stinking seats. I heard my sister yawn and lean her head against my shoulder. Even after being drugged, we all still felt sluggish and tired. I nudged my sister awake when the taxi pulled in front of our house. Groggily, we pulled out our luggage and lugged them into our bedrooms without speaking a word to each other. Sprinkles of dawn shone through my window from the west. Whatever drugs we had consumed on the plane did not seem to have worn off. I collapsed on my bed and fell asleep without changing clothes.
Tonya hadn't slept since she last saw Beyond Birthday in her home. Her nerves were always jumpy and on edge, which was usual for anyone in the company of serial killer and psychopath Beyond Birthday. Her nights were wasted looking up at the ceiling, too afraid to close her eyes or even blink lest he be in the room with her. Every shadow she saw, and though he did not fancy her company and she saw less of him, she still had a prickling feeling he was watching her from behind, above, and all around. Her appetite would diminish every time she glanced at the half eaten jar of strawberry jam with its lid covered in sticky sweetness left behind from Beyond.
Today though, she was determined to relax. She filled the tub with hot water to the rim, poured powder chamomile into it, and some bath rocks that smelled of roses. The water felt oily on her skin and the aroma tickled her allergies, but she would finally wind down if it killed her. Water sloshed as she stepped inside, slowly getting used to the temperature with each inch she doused herself. The steam and perfume clogged in her nose. Completely submerged, she sunk to the bottom of her tub, hair swaying around her like algae in the sea. Her hair would be greasy from all the products but she would give it a good scrubbing after a few minutes of relaxing; if holding one's breath under water counted as relaxing. Without opening her eyes, she lifted her hand out of the water. It felt cool in open air. The skin on her hand wrinkled and skeletal-like. Then it became smooth and child-like. Her fingers expanded and became as thick as carrots. Then thin and spidery. Finally her original hand returned and she re-submerged it with the rest of her body.
She was in middle school when she discovered her ability. The way her nose or eyes or hair would slightly change from one day to another. How strange it was to admire the body of one of the girls in school and then see that the next day her body had expanded and blossomed. She used her powers to become beautiful, morphing herself into the ideal woman. High school was a blessed time. She was awed and popular. She always had a date Friday night. She broke many hearts and many rules. Tonya's shape-shifting made her the perfect thief and con-artist. She would woo wealthy men and then leave them after cleaning them out. Every new victim she became a new person. By karma's hand, she was fated to meet Vanya, who opened a door of opportunity. Riches to steal, more of her kind, a world kept in darkness now brought to light. He promised her so much, and she walked through only to begin falling through holes. Also meeting Vanya meant meeting agents of the company. Even disguised, she was wanted and needed to keep mobile. Her body changed so often she wondered if she lost the original completely. Was the real Tonya gone for good or buried under the pile of falsities and deception?
She was brought to the surface with a small gasp when a noise from the living area came to attention. She heard a murmur of voices, and her heart sank. Who else would enter her room unannounced but them? The air itself seemed to lower several degrees from the cold aura of a certain male. Cutting her bath short, she grabbed the bath robe from the toilet and slipped into it. Wet footprints trailed behind her as she gathered up her courage and waltzed out with her head held high; inside her chest, her heart thumped manically, loud enough to hear. She saw Beyond Birthday the same as usual. He was yawning widely, lips wide and gaping, showing several fillings from childhood. He looked more bored than tired even at this late hour. Simon and Vanya came in after him and locked the door behind them. Tonya felt a sudden thrill of panic; how did she know they weren't locking out the outside but locking her inside? She looked over to Vanya who was carrying a large, heavy red toke bag.
"What's in there?" she asked, nodding her head at it.
Vanya smiled at her, cat eyes gleaming. "Oh this? This is our lenience."
He pulled the zipper down and Tonya squeaked in surprise. Inside was not clothes or weaponry. No, inside was a boy so pale and white. Hands over her mouth, she turned to look at the monster who surely caused this. From his spot on her couch, Beyond was looking at her. His knees were drawn up to his chest and his head leaned against his hand for support. "He's not dead," he said, as if reading her thoughts, "He's just sleeping."
Tonya turned around back to the young boy who was being lifted off by Vanya. His curly white hair and clothes stuck in her mind. "He's one of the three you told me to follow."
"Near," Beyond said, "His name is Near. A child prodigy with extraordinary abilities. Of course, it was not his ability that allowed him to leave Wammy's two years early." Beyond unfolded himself and strolled over to the floor where Near was resting. He bent his knees and stood over him. "They didn't have anything to teach him. He was smarter than any tutor or teacher." Spidery fingers touched white hair and twirled a piece that stuck out more than the others.
"Your target is L," Tonya piped up, "Are you hoping to use the boy to turn himself in?"
"Of course not," Beyond said, unfurling into a standing position, "My one target is L. However, if I want him to obey my rules exactly, I will need something he can't afford to lose."
"Do you think this boy is that important?" Vanya asked.
"If you had asked me eight years ago, I would have said no." Beyond walked past them and into the kitchen. He returned with the jar of jam from the fridge. Tonya frowned at it. "You see, when I knew L, not that I really knew him, he was independent and found it burdensome to have any underlings." He licked his strawberry jam covered fingers wetly. "A man who obeyed his own rules, yet had his own boundaries. The Company saw him as a nuisance, yet he was too valuable to rid of. Then again, they wouldn't have been able to if they tried." He smiled almost nostalgic. "But now, now he's different. He has not only subordinates but an entire team! He's become a leader instead of a rogue player. He's a completely different person."
A let a drip of jam fall back into the jar before his pink tongue lapped at his knuckles. "Whatever the reason, his new change will be the end of him. He's grown too soft. He's grown too human. This boy is not just another proxy. He is family. L has contradicted himself and tangled himself in a web with which he has selflessly given me the thread." At this Beyond laughed shrilly.
Tonya looked down at the pale child. Near. A code name given to the exclusive Wammy children who worked under the Company. This child worked for the men she despised, who threatened to stick her in a horrible place much like the place Beyond had been sentenced to. His lips were parted and his eyelids heavy, but he did not appear to be breathing. She wanted to feel his pulse but dared not touch him. Still, anger flared in her throat at the man who was dripping jam on her carpet. Her nails dug into her palms.
"For God's sake, Beyond!" she yelled bravely, "He's only a child!"
The bravery quickly fell to idiocy and fear when Beyond looked back up to her. His eyes were wide, staring into her mind. They had not changed color, yet she could feel her skin turn icy. She was trembling visibly under his gaze. She feared the Eyes, the Eyes that could torture her with images she never wanted to witness. She didn't want to be his victim. God, please no.
But he never turned his Eyes on her. He simply looked at her. Then he stretched out like a cat and walked toward her. Her blood ran cold as his fingers outstretched toward her face. Surprisingly, they were warm on her chin. He smiled at her.
"Do us a favor, lass, and watch over him until we return."
He walked past her. Simon held the door open for them to exit. Beyond got just outside the frame when he looked back.
"Oh. I almost forgot." His smile was charming but monstrous. "He won't stay asleep for long. I suggest you prepare for his awakening. He's not going to be a very happy camper."
The door shut and Tonya lowered herself to the floor next to the sleeping boy. Yes, she could feel her extra years slipping away with each second she spent in Beyond Birthday's company.
Something was tickling my cheek. It traced over my cheekbone to my eye and forehead and down my nose. It irritated my skin and I swat at it, telling whatever it was to stop. Then it began to tap on the tip of my nose incessantly. Again, I swat at it and added a grunt of frustration. It seemed to have work because I did not feel it poke me anymore. I slipped back into the wonderful sleep I had been in just minutes prior.
Then my nose was painfully flicked.
"Ouch!" I grabbed my sore nose and opened my eyes. Above me were two pairs of black eyes and messy black hair. I blinked several times because his face was much too close to wake up to.
L smiled and sat back. "Oh, you're finally up." I rubbed my nose while trying my best to glare at him. "You missed breakfast but I brought it up to you."
He moved a tray I was unaware had been there onto my lap. There was steaming rice and eggs with juice and toast. I sat up and looked around my settings. I wasn't in my room anymore. The bed I was lying in was much bigger than the one at my house. This room was exceptionally large and had a vanity mirror, closet, and when I craned my neck, I could see a full bathroom. The room was mostly white with a few splashes of color from appliances such as the television and computer. The floor was a white carpet, too.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"We're in Great Britain," L answered, "I'm sorry but we won't be able to much sight-seeing today. You've been asleep for a whole day and we need to begin your training as early as possible."
My mouth fell open. "A whole day!" My temper flared and I grabbed the front of his shirt. The tray between us clattered but nothing fell, though now I had L's shirt in my eggs. "What the hell did you slip me?"
L did not look surprise by my outburst but removed my hands from his shirt with little effort. "I didn't slip you anything," he said, "I instructed the flight attendants to."
"You got stewardesses to drug me?"
"They prefer to be called flight attendants. And they're C-3s specialized in potion making. I just didn't think their sleeping potion would be so strong."
"I thought C-3s were a criminal class."
"Most are but we're working with them. Vanessa and Irene are more interested in flight than causing harm."
I rubbed my head, thoughts streaming around. I kept thinking of routers and adapters and wires and 010010111010... "Who else is here with us?"
"Mello will be arriving shortly," he said as he stirred soy sauce in my rice, "Matt is here."
So it was his thoughts I was hearing. The boy was enraptured by some kind of technology as I had always seen him with some kind of contraption, mostly video games he liked hacking and recoding.
"You need to eat," L instructed, lifting the bowl of rice to my face, "Your stomach will cave in if you don't."
I took the bowl and chopstick but did not eat yet. "What exactly is this place?"
"It was my original headquarters. Of course, when Mello, Near, and Matt moved in, I had to do some renovations. They do most of the decorating."
I knew then whose room I was in, and I felt guilty of sleeping in his bed when he was in the hands of that bloodthirsty killer. "What about my family?"
"You told them you were camping."
I raised an eyebrow. "I told them?"
"One of the effects of Vanessa and Irene's potions. I couldn't kidnap the chief of police's son so I had them instruct you to tell them you were packing for a camping trip with some friends from school." L once again thrust the chopsticks back into my hand. "Now eat. I will answer any and all questions when you're done. Your clothes are in the closet. I will be downstairs when you need me."
He removed himself from the bed and proceeded to the door. I wasn't sure whether to thank him or ask more questions so I remained silent. The door snapped closed behind him and I was left with my thoughts and the echoes of Matt's trying to figure out something I could care less about. My stomach ached with hunger and I began eating but the taste seemed bland with my mind on things back home.
Mello had returned after breakfast sweating profusely and smelling like fuel. My training began around noon after L was sure I was no longer drowsy and had a full course meal for lunch. I imagined it would be like a quick course in Karate, but instead I was sent out to the courtyard and told to run laps around the manor.
"You're kidding, right?" I looked at L, thinking he would smile his cat-like smile and then tell me he was going to teach me the steps in self-defense. However, he just raised the stopwatch and pressed a button.
"Go."
I didn't take a step.
"You're wasting time, Light-kun."
Aggravated, my sneakers stomped against the grass as I started running. The manor was huge and running around it was difficult. I managed to run six laps around it before I had to stop and hold my knees to keep from falling over, my chest heaving as I gasped for oxygen. My back and hair was soaked with sweat and the bright sun above us was not making things better. My legs ached and throbbed.
"Is that all?" L asked, looking at his stopwatch, "You don't have good timing."
I growled at him. "What the hell do I need to run for? I'm supposed to fight."
His dark eyes lifted up to mine. He was shrouded in the shadow of a large patio umbrella and had a glass of cold tea that I envied at. "The first step is to know is how to avoid danger. You can't be slow. If you can't handle a simple jog, then you won't be able to handle one-on-one combat without falling over from exhaustion." I glared at him. "Again." He pushed the button and I took off once again, with my body still aching and slowing me down.
"I'm home," Sayu announced as she removed her sneakers and slid them with the others.
"Welcome home," Sachiko said warmly. She was drying her hands with her apron after finishing washing the dishes. Her daughter tossed her school bag onto the chair and stretched.
"Has Onii-chan come home yet?" she asked, "I have a test I need him to help me study for. Mrs. Nakao is so mean about tests."
"Oh," Sachiko frowned, "I guess we forgot to tell you. Light went camping with some friends of his."
"Oh." Sayu looked away, disappointed. "Did he say when he would come back?"
"No, he didn't say."
The youngest Yagami furrowed her eyebrows. "And you let him go even when he has school?"
"Well, Light has always been prestigious in school work. I'm sure he'll get caught up if he misses a few days."
Sayu stared at her mother incredulously, wondering what had happened to the usual woman who had always taught them never to skip out on their studying. Sachiko kissed her daughter on the forehead and went back into the kitchen. Sayu followed after her.
"Aren't you afraid that he will be too far behind?" she asked.
Sachiko looked over at her. "No. Should I be worried?"
The young lady looked at her mother with a confused look. She was acting very peculiar and out of character from the usual stern mother who worried over her children whenever they were not under the house's roof.
Sayu smiled. "No, there's nothing to worry about. I'm going upstairs to my room now."
Along the way, she paused at her brother's closed bedroom door. It was plain and had nothing special about it but it felt as though behind it was a secret that kept her brother away and making excuses.
"What are you up to, Onii-chan?"
(A/N): Nothing much happening in this chapter. Light starts his training not doing what he thought he would. And it looks like Sayu thinks her brother is acting suspicious. What will happen next?