Alright! Before we start this chapter I have something very funny to say, but if you're here to read fanfiction and not my ramblings, feel free to skip down to where the bold words end.
Anyways, I got my first flame. And it made me giggle like a mental patient. Seriously, this person must be new to trolling because they failed. It wasn't even that insulting. It was just a bunch of swear words mixed in with the word "Marysue." Here's a copy.
U suck. ur story's ** up n u copied l completely and ur charactr's a ** mary sue! dont post stories is u kant even rite, bitchfaced **
Ahhh that was so refreshing. I was accused of not being able to write and copying L completely. Um, it's fanfiction. Duh, I copied L. And he's not even in the first chapter, which is all the flamer read so I'm a bit confused….unless he/she/it meant Rei was a copy of L. Which really all they had in common in that chapter was circles under the eyes (not uncommon in any form of fanfiction) and the usage of percents. And then add that wonderful use of grammar, spelling, and swearing and you've got a lovely comment. And yes Rei is a bit of a Marysue. I've tried to fix it, hence all her uncertainty about Light and all the crud that happened to her as a child.
So thank you anonymous person with a rude username! Of course I removed the comment, but if the person actually had the guts to publish it under their own name then I would have left it alone. I would actually congratulate that person for being my first flame.
So applaud the poor misguided troll and get on with the story!
And while I have your attention, I don't own Death Note. Like at all. Sorry to disappoint. Now begin!
Chapter 19 Manipulation
I paced the room anxiously, awaiting for my Dad to return with information on what the NPA's decision regarding the choice the second Kira had left for us. Either way it meant death. L's or the Deputy Director. My eyes flickered to L as I continued the path I had been treading for the past twenty-five minutes. He was calm, quietly sipping tea while I was worrying enough for the both of us. His gaze met mine and he raised a nonexistent eyebrow while I exasperatedly threw my hands up into the air.
Nope. He wasn't bothered at all, though he did smirk at my reaction. My eyes narrowed in mild irritation and to show my displeasure I sped up my pace. I could feel him watching me, and I waited for the inevitable remark that would follow.
"Is Rei attempting to wear away the carpet?" he asked with barely concealed amusement. I huffed angrily.
"No. Rei is trying to stop worrying about Ryuzaki because Ryuzaki doesn't appear to care whether Ryuzaki lives or dies!" I retorted hotly. Matsuda and Aizawa watched as warily.
"Why is Rei speaking in third person?" I whirled around stomping towards him.
"Why does Ryuzaki feel the need to say the person's name Ryuzaki is talking to in every other sentence?" I countered.
"Why is Rei avoiding the question?"
"Why doesn't Ryuzaki care?" I bellowed. I suddenly realized I was directly in front of L. I had been steadily getting closer with every remark. He tilted his head, apparently not understanding why I was so upset. He opened his mouth, about to ask why when Matsuda interrupted.
"OH JUST KISS ALREADY!" he suggested happily in a loud voice. We all stared at him. Aizawa's mouth fell open before he proceeded to cuff Matsuda sharply on the back on the head.
"Owwwww….." Matsuda whined curling into a ball on the floor, cringing when Aizawa loomed over him.
"Why the hell would you say something like that!" Aizawa screamed hitting Matsuda again. "This is serious business!"
"I said it because they obviously wanted to! And besides, nothing is as serious," he paused dramatically before looking up with stars in his eyes, "as love." Aizawa looked at us with an "is he serious?" look. I shrugged. Aizawa took this as an open invitation to continue abusing Matsuda. I sat down, my anger derailed by the idiotic outburst and violence that is still continuing.
"Ugh," I muttered, massaging my temples.
"Yes," L agreed, "they are quite loud." He passed me a cup of tea.
"You're not kidding." I accepted the cup and sniffed it suspiciously.
"I did not add my usual amount of sugar," he assured me. I relaxed.
"Good. Last time you added sugar to my tea I almost threw up." I sipped the hot liquid, relaxing even further as it slipped down my throat.
"Precisely why I didn't proceed to this time."
It was at this time that Dad chose to return to the room. I would have leapt up if my pacing and the antics of the two other officers hadn't exhausted me. Matsuda quickly got to his feet avoiding more of Aizawa's blows and slipped into a chair. Aizawa followed, grumbling loudly.
"Ryuzaki, I'm afraid it's as you thought. Several of our member countries have weighed in and it seems that they are in favor of having the real L appear on TV," Dad explained. I paled shooting a horrified look at L. He ignored me and slurped his own tea.
"I think that's the most appropriate choice given the options." My horrified look turned pleading. He couldn't do this. "Well we still have three days before it happens. Maybe we can find some counter measure. After all this would really annoy me if I'm killed by the first person who jumped on the Kira bandwagon," he added. The task force gasped as my mind finally made the connection that had been eluding me.
The choice of victims. The senseless killing of the innocence. The showy announcement. None of it fit with Kira's normal behavior. Because this was a different Kira. A different person in entirety. Which meant that this person had somehow found it possible to attain Kira's power. There was another one. My stomach twisted unpleasantly.
"Ryuzaki, what do you mean by that?" Dad asked in shock. L focused intensely on the cup in his hand.
"That there's a strong possibility that this Kira is a fake." He reconsidered. "No we should think of him as more of a second Kira."
"A second Kira," Dad echoed with a hint of defeat in his voice.
"I-I don't understand. Why do you think there's a copycat? How did you come to that conclusion?" Aizawa forced out.
"I looked at the victims he used for his prediction in tape number one. Their purpose was to prove to Sakura TV's staff that he's Kira." I twitched. There he went again. Assuming Kira is male. Statistically, there was about a fifty percent of this Kira being female or male, so why was L so sure this second Kira was male? "Both their names were only reported in tabloids and daytime talk shows." This only proved my point. What self respecting man read tabloids or watched talk shows? "They weren't exactly hardened criminals." L started stabbing the strawberry on the plate in front of him.
"The real Kira has no need to prove himself using such insignificant criminals, but from the perspective of the second Kira," he placed the strawberry in his mouth with the fork, "he had to make absolutely certain that he didn't predict the death of a criminal who could be killed by the real Kira first." He swallowed loudly.
"Ryuzaki, if you had to put a number on it, what's the probability of a second Kira?" Dad asked.
"This time I'd have to say it's more than seventy percent." This time I joined in the gasps. He was serious if he was giving that big of a number, almost certain. L frowned. "I really don't like the way he operates. It's not like Kira," L complained.
"Not like Kira?" Matsuda repeated. L began to explain again.
"In the past, he has traditionally avoided killing innocent people with the exception of those who were trying to catch him. Anyway if we can capture one Kira, I think that will provide us with a lot of insight on how we can find the other one. Yagami-san, I'd like permission to ask your son to cooperate with us on this investigation."
"If you want my son to join the task force does this mean you no longer suspect him?" Dad asked hopefully.
"Well, I can't say he's completely cleared, but his deductive skills would be invaluable to us right now." While this relaxed Dad, it only put me more on edge. What was L planning?
"If my son wants to cooperate with you, then I have no reason to prevent it," Dad responded.
"I appreciate that. However please don't tell him that we think this latest Kira might be a fake, I don't want him to know that yet. We want to make it appear to him that we're still chasing the same Kira," L instructed. I decided now was the time to add my two sense.
"I agree with you on all points but one Ryuzaki," I said. L's eyes narrowed slightly. I repressed a smile. He didn't like being told he was wrong.
"And just what do you disagree with, Rei?" he inquired stiffly. I smirked.
"You seem far too confident that this Kira is a male." I swear he just rolled his eyes at me.
"Yes, you've made your opinion on this known many times, however I still believe the Kira is male." This time I rolled my eyes.
"Look, in light of the information, I agree that the original Kira is most likely male. The original exhibits stereotypical male traits, like the urge for dominance and resorting to violence to solve an issue. But the second Kira exhibits much more feminine traits." Now I had his focus. He shifted towards me.
"Please explain."
"If you go by the starting percentage that this Kira has a fifty percent chance of being female," I started
"But if following that logic, Kira also has a fifty percent chance of being male." L interrupted.
"I'm getting to it. You mentioned that the victims were only reported on daytime talk shows and tabloid magazines, two things that females are typically associated with providing the most demand for such things." L considered this.
"While that provides more support for your argument," he said slowly, "it is not solid proof." Funny, Dad had said the exact same thing to me when I considered the first deaths as murder.
"Are you familiar with the New Testament of the Bible?" I asked. L blinked, surprised by the question.
"Yes," he answered unsure where this was going, "I have read the books in the New Testament, though I'm surprised you have." I ignored this.
"Then I'm sure you remember who Jesus' most loyal followers were. The ones who washed his feet, sang of his praises, wept at his grave, and were the first to believe in his resurrection. It wasn't the disciples, as most would believe." L eyes widened as his finally understood. "It was the women. His mother and friends, not the men who had promised loyalty, but fled." I could see the idea growing in his eyes.
"I see," he muttered lowly. "And if you continue that thought even farther it leads back to the ancient priestesses of Greece, Rome, and Egypt. If Kira considers himself a god, it would be plausible for a woman to worship him…." He trailed off. "However, this is not a certainty."
"No," I agreed, "but it is something to consider when planning a counter measure." He nodded.
"Indeed." L then began to further explain several more theories on why it was a different Kira, like the fact this one did not need a name to kill. He also explained that we would not inform light that we believed there was a second Kira. He focused on my father, who jumped at the sudden attention. "Yagami-san, please contact your son immediately, it would be prudent to begin as soon as possible."
"Of course, Ryuzaki." He stood and began dialing Light's number and after a short conversation, put it away. "He is on his way."
"Thank you, Yagami-san." Dad looked uncomfortably in my direction.
"Yes?" I asked in confusion. He coughed.
"Could I speak to you," his eyes flicked to L, "alone?" I suppressed a groan. He apparently was taking up on my offer to lecture me later. Damn. L looked suddenly pleased with himself. Damn. He definitely knew what was going on.
"Sure," I said through clenched teeth. He led me to a balcony off the room we were in. "So," I blurted out. "What do you need to say?"
"It is about your relationship with Ryuzaki."
"Of course it is," I muttered darkly. "I mean, what about it?" He sent me a glare.
"Exactly how long has it been going on? And why wasn't I informed of it?" I winced. I really didn't need to have this conversation. And worse I knew everyone was listening in and L was probably enjoying hearing me squirm.
"It happened after we saw you in the hospital. Which is why I didn't tell you. I'm pretty sure a second heart attack wasn't going to help you recover from your first one. We were planning on telling you once you got out. And preferably when you didn't have a gun on you," I added. He scowled.
"Please don't joke about this."
"I wasn't joking."
"Rei," he said in frustration. I didn't respond. "What does Watari have to say about this?"
"Why don't you ask him?" I suggested, being purposefully difficult.
"Rei."
"I don't know!" I said throwing my hands into the air for the second time that day. "From the way he acted I think he was encouraging Ryuzaki." I heard distinct chuckle from L. "Oh shut up Ryuzaki."
"How can I shut up when I'm not participating in the conversation?" I heard him call.
"You are now, so kindly shut up. I'm trying to plead your case and you're not helping." I turned back to Dad.
"Look, for some reason this weird love/hate/constant irritation relationship is working and for an even weirder reason it's making me happy. Can you accept that?" he sighed.
"Yes, I suppose." I sighed in relief.
"Good, now please don't mention this to Light, Mom, or Sayu yet. It's better that they don't know yet. Especially if Ryuzaki can't meet with Mom and Sayu anyway. And telling Light will only add more tension to this situation." Dad nodded grudgingly. "Thank you."
I practically fled back to the safety of the hotel room, ignoring the huge smile on Matsuda's face and the glare Aizawa was directing towards him. I sat back down next to L and took a large gulp of tea.
"You're awful," I moaned. "You're lucky he's not chaperoning us right now." I glanced back towards the balcony where Dad was apparently trying to get some air before facing L again.
"I take pride in embarrassing you. I'm hoping you'll blush again." At this my face flushed scarlet. He smiled in victory and held a strawberry next to my red face. "Hmm perfect match."
Not to be completely outdone, grabbed the strawberry out his hand and quickly swallowed it. He blinked, looking between his empty fingers and my triumphant smirk several times. "You…ate my strawberry."
"Excellent deduction," I said sarcastically. "I now know why you are the world's greatest detective." He opened his mouth, when a knock resounded on the door. I grinned. "Superb timing as always Light." L immediately frowned.
Dad moved from his position at the window and opened the door, revealing my twin. I gave him a reassuring smile which he returned. L wiped all traces of annoyance of his face and stepped up to greet Light. He extended his hand for a handshake, which surprisingly, Light accepted.
"Thank you, Light," L said.
"Not at all," Light answered politely. "After all I want to catch Kira as much as you do Ryuuga." They broke the handshake, though I noticed they both grimaced slightly and flexed their hands like they were in pain. I rolled my eyes. Boys, everything had to be a contest. Damn male bravado.
"I'll have to ask that you call me Ryuzaki here."
"I'm Matsui!" Matsuda introduced cheerily.
"I'm Aihara," Aizawa said.
"And I'm Asahi," Dad added.
"Yes, of course," Light said turning towards to L. "Then perhaps I shall call myself Light Asahi?" he proposed.
"Yes please do. To keep things simple I'll call you Light, like how Rei is Rei." L frowned at the mention of my name. Damn overprotective brother. "Okay, let's get to work. You can start by looking at all the information we've collected." L began to walk away, assuming Light would follow. When Light didn't move, I nudged him and nodded towards L to indicate he should follow.
"I'd also like you to examine these videos," L continued. "They were sent to the TV station but never aired." Light finally trailed after L and sat down in the loveseat in front of a fuzzy TV. "For security reasons you're not allowed to take notes and all materials must remain here," L instructed.
"I understand," Light answered.
"We will begin now," L commanded.
The video began to play, and against my common sense (and hopes) and following my instincts I intensely watched Light. I started when Light suddenly stiffened and his eyes flickered back towards us. But before I could further riddle out his actions the video ended and L interrupted.
"So what do you make of this Light? Have you come to any conclusions?" L asked while pressing his index finger against his bottom lip; a sign he had been watching Light as intensely as I had.
Light made a slight noise of surprise before seeming to come to some sort of realization. Light tensed and clutched at the arm of the loveseat while propelling himself to his feet. I almost jumped at the sudden movement. When Light answered L, he hid his eyes beneath the fringe of his hair.
"It's hard to say for sure, but there could be another person out there with Kira's power," Light finally said, though he sounded reluctant to voice his thoughts aloud. I tilted my head curiously. He wasn't lying…but it didn't seem like he had reached that conclusion from the tape.
"With Kira's power!" Dad exclaimed. "But what do you mean by that Light?" I winced at his obvious over acting. Light gestured back at the screen with his thumb.
"At the very least I'd say this tape was not created by the Kira we're familiar with. It's extremely out of character for him to use these kinds of victims for his killings, and since we've established he needs a name and a face to kill, it makes you wonder how he was able to kill that detective and those two officers right outside the television station like that," Light explained.
"It's the same," Aizawa said in awe. Matsuda continued.
"That's almost exactly how L, I mean Ryuzaki said it," he added not bothering to hide L's intentions. Dad merely looked relieved. L stared at Light without blinking, like he could extract Light's very thoughts if he stared long enough.
"I think you're exactly right about that. We also believe that this is the work of a second Kira," L admitted. Light looked disgruntled.
"So you knew about this all along Ryuuga? Sorry, I mean Ryuzaki?" Light crossed his arms. "Which mean this was just another one of you tests?" Light asked. L shook his head.
"It wasn't my intention to test you. The truth is, if I was the only one who thought there was a second Kira, it wouldn't be too convincing. But the fact that we came to the same conclusion made the theory that much more believable. As expected you did not disappoint us. You've been a great help." I resisted the urge to laugh when Light's eyes narrowed. L was obviously mocking him. "It's decided then. First we must focus on stopping this copycat. From what we've seen he sympathizes with the real Kira, but clearly lacks his sophistication. I think he," his eyes flickered to me; indicating Light wasn't to know about my suspicions this Kira was female either, "may even be willing to obey the original. If is we could lure him into a trap by sending our own message from the real Kira."
Light sent him a charming smile. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you literally took the words right out of my mouth." L's eyes narrowed and I knew he was going to play his trump card in this particular match of wits.
"Oh and Light, I would like you to play the part of the real Kira," L said nonchalantly.
"Huh?" Light answered "intelligently." "Me as Kira?"
"Yes, you're the only one I can think of that could pull something like this off. At any rate, we don't have time to waste. Do you think you could script a message from Kira in time for it to be aired on this evening's national news?" He said it as a challenge. Light's eyes flashed in defiance, before nodding.
About fifteen minutes later, Light called for L again. I followed, almost like a puppy after its master. I scowled at the thought. I wasn't completely whipped yet was I? I caught a glance of L delicately holding the script, and melted a little. Oh yes…I was completely whipped.
"Ryuzaki, does this look okay? I think I managed to make it believable," Light bragged.
"I think you've done an excellent job with it," L admitted. "However, if we don't omit the part that says, 'You're free to kill L,' then I'm going to end up dead," L said.
"What?" I shouted, seizing the paper to see for myself. Light laughed sheepishly. I stared at him in horror.
"Sorry, I guess I got carried away playing the part. I figured that if I was him, I'd probably demand you'd be killed." Light leaned back in his seat and put his hand behind his head. "I was improvising, feel free to change it to whatever you like."
"Not funny Light," I chastised, unable to stop myself from imagining the consequences if that got through.
"I'm sure Light meant no harm," L comforted, though he was lying between his teeth. L stared at me until I relented.
"All right," I waved him away. "Go save the world." He smiled and headed towards Aizawa. I watched him go, anxiousness beginning to build in my stomach again. I didn't like the way Light's eyes followed him. Like a predator sizing up it's prey. Light turned back to me.
"So Rei…"
"Yes, Light?" I asked suspiciously. Can you blame me? He looked like he wanted to push L off the roof of the hotel!
"You and Ryuzaki seem to be pretty close," he observed. My eyes narrowed. Where was he going with this?
"As close as someone could be to Ryuzaki, I guess," I admitted warily. He sighed, and in a very brotherly like gesture put his arm around me.
"Just be careful alright? I don't want to see you get hurt."
"See me get hurt?" I repeated incredulously. "And how the hell do you think I'm going to get hurt?" He sighed again, like this pained him to tell me.
"Rei, I'm the main suspect in this case. Don't you think it's possible that Ryuzaki might be manipulating you, to get to me?" Light prompted. I stared blankly back at him, my stomach feeling like it just dropped twenty stories.
"I don't understand," I said flatly as I ignored the connection Light was trying to create.
"Look, I'm just suggesting that it's possible that he's manipulating your feelings in order to get more information about me from you, or to even convince you that I'm Kira." Manipulating me? L was manipulating me? "It seems like a likely move on his part as well as a way to assure loyalty to him even if he is proven to be wrong," Light explained plausibly.
"Manipulating me?" I whispered. I was sure I caught a glance of triumph in Light's eyes, but I was too far distressed to care. It would fit with L's investigation methods. He had no boundaries when it came to interacting with suspects. Light's stare grew kind, though I could feel that he was just going through the motions of comfort right now.
"I'm sorry, I just…I don't want him to use you like that," Light pleaded. I didn't answer. "I'll just leave you alone for now I guess." I nodded mutely.
Was everything L had done an elaborate act? From the first time I had met him, he had shown no hesitating in prying into my private life, hell he practically stalked me at the graveyard. Would he go so far to twist my emotions like that?
What about Light though? Couldn't he also be manipulating me? I had seen how he had looked…. Yes, Light was definitely manipulating me. But that didn't mean that L wasn't.
I felt someone's gaze on me and I looked up in response, my eyes meeting L's. He tilted my head at my expression and turned, ready to walk over to me until Light intervened by placing himself in L's line of vision. And from the looks of things, he was bombarding L with questions. I felt relief washing through me, as well as thanks towards Light. Even if Light was faking the concern, I couldn't talk to L right now without broaching the topic. Taking advantage of the solitude, I started analyzing all of L's past actions towards me, until a loud beeping interrupted me.
I glanced up seeing the task force gathered around a laptop with a gothic W providing contrast against the formerly blank screen.
"Ryuzaki, we have a reply from the second Kira," Watari's voice reported.
"What?" Dad asked, surprised by the quick response.
"Really?" Matsuda said excitedly.
"I'm bringing over the envelope and tapes we received, but in the mean time, I'm streaming a copy of the video so you can view it on your end." I crept behind the huddled group while Watari spoke, momentarily distracted my internal dilemma. The screen changed to the crude calling card of the second Kira.
"Kira, thank you for your reply," the distorted voice said. "Please do not worry, I will follow orders and do as you say."
"Whoa," Matsuda said reverently.
"It worked," Dad added in astonishment.
"I really want to meet you," the voice continued. "I don't think you have the eyes," here Light inhaled sharply, "but you don't have to worry, I'd never try to kill you. That's a promise." How reassuring, though it would be rather nice if the two Kira's had killed each other off.
"What's this having the eyes supposed to mean?" Aizawa wondered. "Is it a code?"
"Yeah…" Matsuda trailed off. However I was ignoring them. I found myself focused on L, who had suddenly gone rigid in his seat, with his thumb paused halfway to its normal position on his mouth.
"Kira, please tell me how I can meet you, you'll think of something. When we meet, we can confirm our identities by showing our shinigami to each other." Air whooshed out from L's lungs.
"Shinigami?" Aizawa and Matsuda asked simultaneously, but I continued to ignore them, watching in shock as L began to scream, with his hands in the air. Manipulating me or not, that sound terrified me beyond all measure. L tipped over, his sudden outburst ruining the precarious way he had sat.
"Ryuzaki?" I asked reaching for him instinctually. L sat up from where he was sprawled on the floor, looking past my concerned face to the screen.
"Shinigami?" he asked his voice shaking as he trembled. "Am I supposed to believe that shinigami actually exist?"
~Author's Note~
And end scene! I'm evil to stop it there huh? Rei and L are freaking out. I am the true manipulator here.
Nothing much to say really…I have a paper cut. On my right ring finger right below the nail. I have no idea how I got it there. Oh well….
Thanks for reviewing!
methodtothemadness: I agree, that it does get tedious which is why I decided to spice things up! Thanks for reviewing!