Disclaimer: Death Note own I do not. Clever ways of saying this I'm running out of. (Yes I have the gall to use Yoda-speak on a Death Note fanfiction.)
Chapter Eleven Blame
~Rei's POV~
"Light's home," I murmured. L nodded and Dad tensed up. Up until this point we had been monitoring an empty house. My empty house. This had given Dad plenty of time to reflect on the situation. He was not taking this easily. Every fiber of his being rejected the idea that his family could be anything less than law-abiding productive members of society, let alone a mass murderer. I had a feeling if Light was proved to be Kira, because it was obviously not Mom or Sayu, he would either kill Light himself or just completely break down.
He was also agonizing over the HOW's and WHY's of the situation. How could have he let this happen? Why didn't he see it coming? Why didn't he prevent this? What could he have done to prevent this?
I was doing my best to deliberately not let my thoughts stray in this direction. If it was anyone's fault it was mine. Light was my twin. My other-half. If anyone could have prevented this it would have been me. I had left him alone, only concerned with my own future, not realizing the dark turn he would take. And even worse….I had given him a motive. A reason to feel like he needed to end the lives of those who broke the law. Because I had been a victim, I had condemned thousands of souls to an early grave.
No, I couldn't let myself dwell on this. There would be plenty of time to blame myself later. I had to concentrate on being impartial. On being a good investigator and trying to lessen my guilt by the slightest fraction by saving all of the future victims. I focused on the screen, not hesitating in the slightest. I couldn't afford to be weak. Out of the corner of my eye I saw L glance at me with approval in his eyes.
I politely averted my eyes when Light changed, despite the fact I had seen him undressed before. Of course we had been five at the time….
Dad started suddenly when Light stooped down to replace a piece of paper that had fallen from the previously closed door.
"I don't believe it. I never knew he went to such great lengths. What could he be hiding in there that he doesn't want anyone to see?" Dad pondered aloud. L's expression didn't change in the slightest. This behavior clearly didn't surprise him.
"For a seventeen year old kid I wouldn't say this behavior is particularly abnormal. When I was his age I did strange things too," L said dismissively. I started chocking in a desperate attempt to hold back my laughter; the images flooding my find were far too amusing for my own good. L turned his face slightly to the side and surreptitiously winked at me. He quickly turned serious once more. "Have you ever talked to your son about the investigation?" This sobered me fairly quickly.
"Of course not," Dad replied somewhat defensively. "I've never once revealed classified information to my family." He sighed, a tired tone replacing the defensive one. "Besides I usually don't get to see them too often these days. Usually as soon as I get home, all I can do is sleep."
"I understand," L answered, for once sounding like he did. He must have felt guilty at monopolizing the task force's time, leaving their families to fend for themselves. After leaving the house for about twenty minutes, Light returned with something he purchased from a store. I didn't get a good look, until he lay down on the bed and the cameras revealed them to be some sort of magazine of the playboy variety. I blinked, startled and momentarily confused. Light was not the type to look at…suggestive material like that. He didn't even particularly enjoy dating girls as far as I could tell. He only seemed to do it because it was expected of him or because he couldn't turn them down nicely enough. But…
While Light wasn't the type, maybe Kira was. It wasn't that I assumed Kira would be a pervert or anything, but this was another thing that fit Kira's profile. Deliberately trying to throw us off track with something that would seem perfectly normal if not for the fact he was suspected of being a mass murderer. And it would stand to reason that if Light simply had those magazines for his enjoyment he would um…be doing something with them. However this wasn't the case. Don't get me wrong, I was overjoyed he wasn't doing that in front of the cameras and I could have gone my whole life without having the mental image of him doing that in my brain. It was just something to consider. It was certainly something I was going to discuss with L later. Preferably when my father was not around. It wasn't going to be a good conversation regardless, but my father's presence would only make it worse.
"I can't believe that my son is looking at those magazines," Dad growled outraged. Once again L acted perfectly indifferent to this turn of events.
"It's normal for a seventeen year old," L answered. "But it seems contrived. It's too…" he rolled the words around in his mouth, "obvious. The reason he didn't want anyone in his room was because he had these magazines? That's what he wants us to think."
"Hey, that's my son you're talking about," Dad interjected, back on the defensive. "Are you honestly telling me that you suspect him?"
"I do suspect him," L stated firmly, making it sound less like suspect and more like he was sure and was just waiting for enough evidence to bring out the handcuffs. "That's why I placed wiretaps and surveillance cameras in your house and the Deputy Director's house. Dad gazed mournfully at the screen.
"Oh, Light," he muttered disappointment lacing his tone.
A few hours later Sayu and Mom came home from the shopping trip I had persuaded them to take in order for Watari to bug the house. Light was sitting at the table while Mom cooked dinner and Sayu was busy swooning over some movie star on TV. L flipped open a cell phone and hastily dialed some numbers.
"Hello Mr. Aizawa? Are the Kitamuras watching television now?" he asked. I heard a faint response from the other end. L nodded to himself and hung up the phone before addressing Watari.
"Watari, please contact the broadcasters and tell them to play our message.
"Very well. Understood," Watari answered and left the room to obey the order.
A few moments later the message must have ran on the television because Sayu read it out loud. Both L and mine's eyes flickered to Light. Light disarmed the message so quickly it was like he knew it was a bluff…or like he had learned from his mistake. This bluff was eerily similar to the one L pulled with Lind L. Tailor. It stood to reason Light would be able to counter any moves that L made that shared any relationship to that particular trick. Kira. I mean Kira would be able to counter. Deep down I knew it was inevitable. At this moment, Light was Kira, but I wanted to pretend for as long as I could that he wasn't.
L let out a small chuckle under his breath. "Your son's clever isn't he?" he asked, his thumb pressed between his lips.
"Well," Dad hesitated, searching for anything accusatory about the statement. Finding nothing, he agreed. "Yes."
I smiled as Sayu chastised Light for eating a bag of potato chips right after dinner. It was so Sayu to be concerned about Light's appearance. However, while Sayu appeared shallow and frivolous, she often showed an understanding far beyond her years. She somehow managed to catch me by surprise very time she experienced one of these moments.
Light went upstairs to study, locking the door behind him. He didn't appear to be paying attention at first though and he was careful not to make any unnecessary noise, like he was listening for something. The cameras possibly? Did he suspect that if he remained quiet enough he would somehow be able to hear them? But Light was also talking to himself, something he never did. Was he trying to send us a message? Or was he somehow able to hear something we weren't and was giving answers in a way that would be construed as just being wrapped up in studying? Did he possibly have an ear piece? L suddenly spoke again, disrupting me from my speculations.
"After dinner your son just goes back to studying without turning on the TV or his computer?" he inquired.
"It's because the entrance exams are five days away." Dad explained. He turned towards me, suddenly reminded of something. "Speaking of which, have you studied at all Rei?" I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"Dad, I don't need to study. I'm going to get in just fine," I said attempting to placate him.
"You say that now, but you forget you haven't attended school for almost a year."
"Rei is going to college?" L asked curiously. I nodded.
"Of course I am. I can't remain an intern forever. This was just something to make my résumé stand out a bit more. The universities over here really competitive," I answered. L frowned.
"Where does that leave you on the Kira case?" I shrugged.
"That depends on if you'll allow me to work on it once I no longer have access to police information." L mulled this over.
"So you fully intend to continue working on the case? Even if I did not allow you back into headquarters?" I nodded.
"I would start investigating on my own and have Dad give you all my findings." L continued to think it over.
"You have been a major asset to this team and you are one of the strongest connections we have to your brother. It would be unwise to let you out of my sight. I believe an exception can be made in this case. Once you join university you will still be a member of the investigation." I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. When he winked at me again, I realized all of his reluctance had been merely a show on his part, used to placate Dad.
We resumed watching Light study when we were interrupted by Watari.
"Ryuzaki," he said urgently.
"Yes? What is it Watari?" L relied questioningly.
"A few minutes ago, a bank clerk being charged for embezzlement and a purse snatcher being held in a detention center were broadcast on the news. They both just died of sudden inexplicable heart attacks."
"It's him again," Dad said disgustedly, getting to his feet. L stared off into space somewhat intensely, his mind fitting all the pieces together.
"While all that was happening, at your home your wife and daughter were watching television. When that was over, they turned the TV off and didn't watch anything afterwards. From just past seven thirty until now, eleven o'clock, your son has done nothing but study. Kira needs a name and a face. Without those he can't kill. So I suppose anyone who didn't watch the news couldn't be Kira, right," L reasoned. Now this was slightly cruel. L was raising Dad's hopes, only to have them dashed again.
"You said it yourself," Dad said, grasping at the straws. "That means my family has been cleared." I sighed, ready to do damage control.
"It doesn't make sense that Kira would kill two petty criminals right after their identities were broadcast." Dad gasped. I frowned, glaring daggers at L. Did he have to be so detached from everything? "I know it's only the first day, but the Yagami household seems almost too innocent to me." Dad sputtered, hopelessly trying to come up with an argument. I got to my feet making my way over to him.
"Dad, come on. You could use a break. No one is doing anything right now anyway, except Light. You should try to get some sleep. You can take over for me in the morning. That is," my voice suddenly got threatening as I burned L with my eyes, "if that is agreeable to Ryuzaki?" L nodded, having the sense not to try and stop me. Even so, I practically had to shove Dad out the door while countering all his protests. I sighed in relief, before flouncing back to my seat, not making any move to hide my irritation with L.
"Not to be rude or anything," I began in an offhand voice, "but sometimes you're a complete asshole, Ryuzaki."
~L's POV~
I chuckled under my breath. Her anger was so entertaining. I knew if I had really made her furious I would have felt incredibly guilty, but she was only mildly aggravated with me at the moment.
"I have been told that," I answered, mimicking her tone. Her lips twitched before sinking into a frown. She was fighting to stay angry with me. Her brown eyes met mine.
"Apparently it hasn't sunk in yet," she commented dryly.
"Sarcasm is the last defense of the weak," I countered.
"I thought that was denial," she replied. I smirked.
"Well either way, I have you."
"Damn," she cursed under her breath when she realized her retort could be seen as a form of denial. We remained quiet for a few more moments while her anger dissipated. She could never manage to be angry with me for very long.
"What is your opinion of everything we have witnessed," I inquired getting back to business. She sighed distressingly.
"I believe Light is Kira, that he is somehow aware of the cameras in the house, and that you are right. My family does appear too perfect." Steel came back into her voice after moment though. "However that doesn't mean my entire family is involved. Everything my mother and sister did tonight was perfectly genuine. Light was the only one who was behaving noticeably differently."
"Light was behaving differently?" I quickly replied, eager for any new information. She dropped her head into her hands for a moment before looking back at me.
"Yes, he was. I noticed the change right after the murders began, but was a bit preoccupied with work. I never dreamed that the murderer could be in my own backyard." I nodded.
"I agree. They very probability of this occurring was under two percent." She raised an eyebrow at me. "That is an honest percentage."
"I can never tell with you," she admitted.
"Then that means I am doing my job correctly." She smiled briefly. "Though I would like to ask you a few questions." She gestured towards me and reclined in her chair.
"Ask away." I shifted in my seat, keeping one eye on each Yagami sibling.
"Why were you the only one to notice this new behavior pattern? Surely your mother or sister would have noticed it, as they interact with him much more frequently than you do." She stretched, before answering.
"If this was anyone else you'd be right, but as it's Light…" She paused wondering how to continue. "How do I put this…? Ryuzaki, can you tell when people lie to you?"
"Yes," I said, slightly surprised that I answered so honestly.
"And can anyone tell when you're lying?" I frowned, not out of irritation at her, but at myself. I never sought the answer to this question before. Could anyone tell when I lied?
"No," I answered slowly. "Watari may have a vague idea when I'm not being entirely truthful, but he cannot be perfectly sure of when I lie."
"Imagine I could tell when you were lying. You'd be exceptionally careful, right? You'd make sure to use half-truths or specifically not say things I would be able to classify as false. That's how it is with Light and I," she explained, her hands moving in an attempt to convey her point. "Light is a spectacular liar. He managed to convince Sayu once that they were adding a new day of the week in between Wednesday and Thursday." She smiled at the memory. "But for some reason, I always can tell when he lies. He seems stiffer to me or more like an actor than himself." I nodded taking in this new information.
If Rei could discern Light's lies from the truth, then this could be crucial to the investigation. It would allow me to compile questions based off the deceptions he fabricated and attempt to trick Light into disagreeing with a previous story. It would be even more beneficial if we could capture this on cameras, which we conveniently already had stationed at the Yagami household….
"Rei," I began a plan formulating in my mind. She glanced up at me expectantly. "I would like to use you to test the waters so to speak. Would you be able to infiltrate your household without Light being suspicious of you?" She snorted at my choice of words.
"Infiltrate, geez. What do you do? Read the dictionary for fun?" she teased. I smiled in response.
"Not as of late. Though I did when I was a child, but back to the matter at hand. Could you?" She waved her hand at me dismissively.
"Of course I could. I happen to live there, you know." I nodded already aware of what her answer would be.
"And could you use the opportunity to discover if Light is deceiving the task force or not?" Her expression turned hesitant for the briefest of moments before returning to her earlier confidence.
"Yes, I could," she answered her defiant tone not aimed at me, but at her brother still on the monitors. I leaned forward.
"Now the true question is, will you?" I asked my eyes meeting hers unwaveringly. She nodded, keeping her gaze locked with mine.
"Yes, I will." I leaned back; relieved she had agreed to go along with the plan. Her father certainly wouldn't have. He believed far too wholeheartedly in his son's innocence.
"Of course, I must request that you do not inform the other members of the task force of our motivation. To them, I will simply be giving you the night off in return for all your hard work," I explained. She smiled knowingly.
"Yeah, I get it, Ryu. I'll keep quiet." Her expression turned somewhat pained. "I can just understand where Dad's coming from. Why he defends Light without any sort of doubt. To admit that Light is Kira is admitting that he failed or that I failed." My stare turned intense.
"I assure you Rei that you have not, in any way, failed. If your brother is Kira, then it is he who failed you," I declared my voice low and intent. She nodded weakly, but I could see she didn't quite believe me yet. Something suddenly seemed to occur to her.
"Oh don't be surprised if Dad is angry with me after I go home. Just do your best to restrain him." I looked at her questioningly, but she shook her head. Apparently I wasn't going to receive an answer that easily. In order to break the serious atmosphere, I decided to ask a somewhat ridiculous question.
"May I ask what you visualized?" She raised an eyebrow, waiting for more information. "When I admitted I did strange things as a teenager," I clarified. It had the desired effect, she burst out laughing.
"You really want to know?" she managed to say in between giggles. I gave her a wry smile.
"Well if I didn't before, now I must if your reaction was any indication." Her face got a light flush on it, slightly embarrassed by the visuals her mind had created.
"Well…"she trailed off, before blurting everything out all mixed together. "."
"I didn't catch that," I said, thoroughly enjoying her discomfort. She sighed in defeat.
"I thought of you at a poetry reading and ice skating." I blinked in surprise.
"You give me far too much credit," I answered. "I am not nearly as creative as that. Though the image of me sitting on a stool at a café reading poetry is amusing." Her face darkened even more and I couldn't hold back a chuckle. She crossed her arms indignantly, though the effect was slightly ruined by her pink face.
"Am I 'amusing' to you now too?" she questioned in irritation.
"Yes you are," I answered as her jaw dropped, before getting up to retrieve a slice of cake.
~Author's Note~
Yay! L POV! Oh and I couldn't resist putting in the bit where Light didn't appear too interested in girls.
So next up is some family time. Lots of Sayu love. I think Sayu is a very underused character and usually is just written a as ditz, but I think she has quite a bit of potential. Light is in the next chapter too. He and Rei have a nice sibling moment, which I have to put in because I've been neglecting him.
L and Rei have progressed to the friends stage. If you want a hint about their relationship next chapter I'll give you the title as a hint: Realizations. It means oodles to me, but probably squat to you. Oh wells.
Thank you all for reviewing! You all make me smile stupidly. So congrats!
snowXgem: I need to watch that show now. Maybe if I ever get around to just posting drabbles I'll title it that. "Awkward Moments with L." Rei certainly does know how to get her point across. I am glad my mind spawned her. Light and Rei next chapter for sure! And here's the L POV you requested. And don't feel bad about asking, I like incorporating little stuff you guys like into the story. Don't hesitate to put forth any ideas. And I'm a stalker like that too XD.
caribou. and. cake: I DEFEAT YOU WITH SPACES STUPID USERNAME BLOCK! Procrastinating is fun. I enjoy it immensely. I'm trying really hard not to do that with this story though. And you are looking in someone's mind. It's mine. Aren't I seriously messed up?
gnarley- I don't mind if you call me hun or dear. I think it's sweet! I seriously love your comments. You point out everything you like, which gives me more ideas of what to put in to please my audience. Please continue with the in-depth reviews.
Sesshomarus-demoness20: Yes I am Alchemist-san! HERE ME RAWR! *attempts to roar and small mewing comes out…sweat drop* Gotta work on the roar. Thanks for the feedback!
WinglessDreams: I promise future interaction is to come! I PROMISE! SAILOR SCOUTS HONOR! Thanks for the review.
Ailia Sparrowhawk: Thanks! I just wanted to prove that Rei isn't some sleepless sugar fueled machine like L. She does have limits. And if the other officers were tired she would be too. Your reviews help me a lot. They give good constructive criticism and tell me when I'm going in the right direction with the story.
sakuno101: My wish is your command! Here's the update!
Mega-Chan: Dumb Kira. Make him stop giving you headaches. It's not polite for fictional characters to give their host's body pain….wow. I only just realized how nerdy that sounds. But Kira should be pleased. He gets some time next chapter.
Lt. Sarcasm: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Bad . I kill you with my mind! L is sneaky. And Rei is oblivious. But that's kind how these things have to work XD. I like the werewolves best! Can Bella die? Like, can she and Edward get hit my an asteroid or something?
god of all: GOD? Haha Mikami moment XP. Thanks for the review.
Shinigami's-Rusty-Death-Scythe: I less than three constant reviewers. You guys make my day, honestly. And so did multicolored fluff feathers. I bet they're fluffy….