No witty intros this time guys. Just wanted to ask ya'll to pray for Japan, and if you're atheist, just send good feelings their way. I do not own Death Note.
Chapter 34 Reality
Light glared at L and I as we stepped out of my room.
"Was that really necessary Ryuzaki," Light growled.
"Of course Light. That is why I proceeded to do it," L answered with a tilt of his head.
"We should probably go downstairs again," I said ignoring the bickering. "Sayu will get curious if we don't." I gave L a serious look. "You don't want to see Sayu curious."
"This was not Sayu behaving in a curious manner?" I shook my head solemnly.
"This is Sayu mildly interested."
"…I believe we should go downstairs," L suggested.
"Agreed," Light and I answered simultaneously.
Stepping around the handcuffed pair, I started down the staircase with the intention of at least slowing Sayu down if she wanted to tackle L again. And this time it would be intentional. It wasn't without mild relief that we managed to get back on the ground floor without being attacked by my younger sister. Thank God.
The relief was short lived however, when Sayu came around the corner once more, this time at a controllable speed.
"REI! LIGHT! RYUZAKI! DAD'S HOME!" she yelled happily. "Come on Ryuzaki! You have to meet Dad!" Sayu latched onto L's arm and yanked him forward, pulling Light along as well. Sighing I followed the three of them, already dreading my choice to come home.
"Dad! Dad! This is Rei's boyfriend, Hideki Ryuuga! Like the pop idol! But he goes by Ryuzaki!" Sayu introduced with a grin. To give Dad some major credit, he acted like he had never seen L before, and gave him a not so subtle one over.
Dad looked…well, like a Dad meeting his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. He had mastered the intimidating gruff manner, and stiffly held out a hand. L responded instantly, familiar enough with Dad to have no qualms with touching him. When their palms met, L didn't wince, but I could tell Dad's grip was a tad bit harder than normal because L was forced to shake it without his normal delicate way.
"It is very nice to meet you, Yagami-san," L added, trying to sound flattering. We were worse than some day time soap opera.
"Likewise, Ryuzaki," Dada replied with a hard look in his eye. We were saved from what I was sure would have been a delightfully awkward conversation by Mom who called out announcing dinner.
"This is delicious, Sachiko," L complimented, far too comfortable with referring to my mother by her first name. He shot a smirk my way, while Mom expressed her thanks for the compliment.
Meanwhile, I was gawping at L as he proceeded to actually eat the food my mother had prepared. No sugar added. It was a miracle to say the least. However, he still maintained his crouch as well as his delicate two finger grip, scrapping the theory he had been replaced by a genetically created look alike.
"Thank you, Ryuzaki," Mom said with a smile. "Rei mentioned you liked sweet things, so I did my best to make the meal suit your tastes." L smiled back at her as every preconceived notion I had about the detective was shattered. So he could be normal. Huh. Interesting.
"Sooooo," Sayu drawled out, lengthening the word by several unnecessary syllables. "Exactly why are you and Light wearing handcuffs Ryuzaki?" She shot a wicked grin at me, earning her a kick from under the table. Light winced and glared at me. Oops. Damn. I missed. Mom did her best to look like this subject didn't really matter, but I could tell she was curios.
"What are your theories Sayu?" L asked, unperturbed by the awkward atmosphere radiating from both of my parents.
"Well…"
"Bad idea. Very bad idea, Ryuzaki. Just tell her before I'm forced to hear the monstrosity she's come up with," I interrupted. L continued to eat, answering with food in his mouth.
"Light is currently participating in an assignment with me for university. I'm majoring in psychology, and needed an experiment to perform as a final of a sort. Light kindly suggested I monitor the effects of when two people are forced to endure the other's presence for long periods of time. Hence the handcuffs," L explained monotonously like he had said this spiel far too often.
"Well that's not nearly as fun as what I had imagined," Sayu pouted, but brightened when her glance fell on my hands. "And what happened to your nails Rei? They're totally destroyed!" I grimaced, curling my fingers into my palms on instinct. Mom instantly look concerned.
"Biology accident," I threw out quickly, copying L's choice to use school as an explanation.
"You're not taking biology." Sayu crossed her arms triumphantly.
"I was volunteering as an assistant for some extra money. Some kid spilled acid on me. The majority of it got on my fingers. We washed it off, but it ate away at a lot," I lied making sure to keep eye contact and not look at L or Light. Sayu rolled her eyes and muttered something like, "stupid cop out."
"How's Misa handling the handcuffs?" Sayu asked. Light opened his mouth to answer but L cut him off.
"Misa will not be swayed by anything. The presence of the handcuffs does little to effect her relationship with Light," L said bluntly.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Awkward," Sayu finally said in a sing song voice. Mom valiantly braved the tension.
"So Ryuzaki, how long have you been interested in Rei?" Mom asked, switching from one humiliating topic to another.
"I met Rei at the university entrance exam. I suppose, that was when, as I invited her on a romantic endeavor shortly afterwards, at the entrance ceremony." L popped some rice in his mouth. I blinked in surprise.
"Wait…that was a date?" I questioned. Sayu snorted.
"You really are oblivious to guys aren't you?"
"…kinda." Sayu shook her head, while Dad said "good" under his breath.
"Can you believe it Ryuzaki? She's never dated anyone! Light's had hundreds of girlfriends, but she hadn't had one boyfriend until you! I was ready to make an account for her on a dating website!" Sayu finished exasperatedly.
"I wouldn't say hundreds," Light said with a frown. I ignored her and sent her a steely look.
"That wouldn't happen to explain the strange pickup lines I kept getting emailed would it?" Sayu nodded, not even ashamed.
"Exactly! See? She was so far gone I did make her an account! But then I cancelled it. It's only free the first month." We all stared at her thinking the same thing, 'oh not because you were afraid of Rei getting picked up by some weirdo or anything.'
"Perhaps I should get dessert?" Mom asked. L perked up considerably and I let out a laugh. He gave me a lopsided smile back. I shook my head, still laughing.
"I'm second to cake," I said trying for a forlorn tone, but only sounding amused as Mom brought out the strawberry cake she had made at my request.
"But cake will not last, and I do not consume and digest you," L countered, stabbing the fork into the mass of strawberries and sugar.
"I suppose I should be thankful for that," I laughed again. Sayu's eyes grew large as she watched L devour the entire slice cut for him in a matter of seconds.
"How does he do that?" she whispered reverently.
"He's part of an alien race that crash landed on Earth hundreds of years ago and needs sugar to survive," I stage whispered to her. She nodded solemnly.
The evening progressed more quietly after that. The conversation drifted towards more mundane things and eventually Sayu even fell asleep sprawled across the floor. After whispered goodbyes, we crept out the door, where Watari was already waiting and stepped into the car.
"That was…better than I expected," I admitted back in the car. L fingers intertwined with mine.
"I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet your family before….the end of the case," L answered trying to sound cheerful, but I still caught his meaning.
My grip on his hand tightened and I stared out the window, the entire evening tinged by the realization we all still had a sword hanging over our heads.
I sat at the one of the stools that surrounded the island in the kitchen, watching as Watari was catering to one of L's many cravings. I propped my head on my hand and leaned forward thinking about the night before. More specifically, the car ride home.
L…he still thought he was going to die. That this case was going to kill him. There was nothing I could do. I breathed deeply and closed my eyes.
I really was of little value to this investigation. Right now, I was just a distraction; a deadweight. And even when I was allowed to investigate, I wasn't making a lot of a difference.
In the end…what could I really do? And would L want me to do anything? I doubted his pride would allow me. As far as he was concerned, he wouldn't want anything to overturn his own checkmate, unless it was a pawn of his own.
So I would be forced to watch as he attempted to destroy Kira while he himself would be eliminated like some common criminal.
"Watari, when's Ryuzaki's birthday?" I asked despondently. "I know I haven't missed it yet, and that he's turning twenty-five, but he refuses to tell me the date."
Watari mixed flour and eggs expertly into a bowl and thought a while before answering.
"Why would you like to know? I don't mean to pry, but Ryuzaki does prefer to keep these things private."
I looked down into my lap and wrung my hands.
"I just…I wanted to do something for him…before."
"I see," Watari answered softly. "I understand. It's the thirty-first of October."
"Thank you, Watari," I answered gratefully. I got to my feet and idea forming in my head. "And I think I know exactly what to get for him."
"Misa knows exactly what to do!" Misa squealed excitedly after I had explained my general plan to her, despite the embarrassing aspects of it.
Misa ran towards her closet and began rifling through it, throwing out discarded clothes like a madwoman. I tried not to let the amount of lingerie and short skirts scare me.
"Here!" Misa held out a red dress towards me. "Rei looks good in red. Just like my Light." I took the dress from her.
"Are you sure this will fit?" I asked skeptically. "I'm a good five inches taller than you."
"The dress is big on Misa, besides, Misa has something that will help!" These dangerous words were followed by her shaking a black lace corset at me. My eyes widened and I furiously shook my head.
"Uh-uh. No way," I stated firmly.
"But I thought Rei wanted to seduce Ryuzaki!" I clamped my hand over the verbose blonde's mouth.
"SHH! What if Ryuzaki watches this!" I hissed between my teeth.
"Misa is sorry! But Rei said she would let me help!"
"Fine," I conceded, "but if I faint, it's your fault." Misa nodded happily, clearly fine with this possibility.
Misa took this as a cue to strip me down into the most undignified way possible and shove me into the minuscule corset. She spent ten minutes tightening the thing beyond any level of comfort and another five on fixing the dress.
"Misa," I gasped, "I can't breathe!"
"Fine. Rei's done anyway."
I turned to face myself in the mirror. My breathing stopped for a moment as I looked at the beautiful stranger looking at me.
And I smiled.
"Perfect."
~Author's Note~
This officially ends the fluff fest. Next chapter we start in with the wonderful Yotsuba plot. Because that was brilliant, right?
Sorry for the shortness…but life smacked me upside the head.
We. Reached. Over. 600. Reviews. Holy crap. Thank you guys so much!
Thanks for reviewing!
K: Sayu is awesome!
Pc: yes my mother is black. Deal with it.
Taylor: Thank you so much! But I am not even close to one of the best on this site. You want the best? Check out my favorite stories!
World without L is just a word: I will get that t-shirt. And it will be amazing. I'll design it, and it'll be sexy.
Gwen: Love ya Gwenie :D
Grrr: Your rambling amused me. I currently have L at the moment, but I'll trade ya Lfor B at the end of the fic. He's next on my OC binge ;)