I do not own Death Note
Chapter 45 Transition
I closed my eyes, leaning my head back in the seat of the airplane. It had almost been too simple to get through security. I had simply flashed the ticket and passport and I was suddenly a priority client. I massaged my temples, a headache beginning to pulse irritatingly in my skull. A flight attendant brought by a glass of water which I took gratefully, downing the contents in a matter of seconds.
This was all just too…surreal, I decided.
What had happened? Where had all my strength and resolve gone? I had sworn L wasn't going to die, just as I had sworn to bring Kira top justice. Not that it had done me much good, I though with a bitter note. But back to the matter at hand. How had I suddenly fallen comatose with no struggle whatsoever on my part?
"And the effect on you would be devastating. Your reaction to his confinement resulted in you becoming nearly comatose, in the event of his actual execution, you may be reduced to little more than an empty shell."
My breath caught. Where had I…L. When he was discussing Kira's punishment. He had expressed doubts in his conviction of killing Kira; out of concern for me and a desire to inflect a more lasting punishment than a swift death.
"Do you really believe that?"
"Yes. I do."
If L had though Light's death would hurt me…then what about his own? L believed I was extremely codependent on Light, and it was true; his return to Kira had a nearly crippling effect on me after months of his innocence. But what about during Light's confinement? Could I ever recall being away from L during that period? I thought I had been pulling away from Light, severing my ties and siding wholly with L. Had all I done was add another person I couldn't live without? Instead of transferring that codependency had I simply duplicated it's intensity in another person?
After Light became Kira again I was scattered; unable to focus. And after L's death, I had simply stopped functioning. Where as during the kidnapping I had both L and Light supporting me…
All my strength, all my power, all of everything that had made me me, had been defined by Light, and then L. So when they were both removed I was…drifting.
I frowned, but that still didn't explain my prolonged empty state. It would have taken time for me to wake up; the trauma of Light's betrayal and L's death had assured that. But years? What had happened to keep me in the dark?
Nightmares? My mind flickered to vague images of Light's cold face staring at me as I screamed at him, calling him a murderer. But…I thought further along. My father running in. Sayu looking at me, frightened. Mom crying. A syringe glistening in Light's hand. That had been a dream right? Hadn't it? But why could I remember variations of it? Missing people. Clothes changing. Objects moving, going missing and reappearing. Dreams, right? But my dreams didn't change. My nightmares had always been a terrifying constant. I always knew exactly what was awaiting me when I closed my eyes.
The plane hit an air pocket, jostling the passengers. I grimaced as the knock moved my arm, sending a dull pain from the crook of my elbow. I froze, then slowly rolled up the sleeve of my shirt. A bruise had formed above the veins in my arm. I pressed on it, feeling a throb of pain.
My mind was rushing forward again. What would the outbursts look like to my concerned family? An echo of me screaming about monsters as I couldn't wake up from a nightmare? How would they know it was only Light I sent the accusations at? To them, it would seem like a relapse. Childhood trauma brought back to the surface by recent tragedy.
I could almost see Light explaining it. First to my family, then the doctor brought in to examine me; paid off of course. We couldn't have two different diagnostics, now could we? It would be suggested for me to stay at home. The familiar environment would provide more comfort than a stark cold hospital. I could see Light's solemn face, along with my heartbroken family.
It only made sense I had woken up alone. From the freshness of the bruise it was clear Light hadn't expected me to wake for a long time. I hadn't been a threat anymore. I vaguely wondered if Light would have ever allowed me to come back to the service. Would he once he had assumed his regime as Kira? Or would he have left me to drift forever, an example to those who defied him?
It was curious though, that I had woken up. Had it been a steadily growing resistance to the sedative? Or something else…
Maybe it was just time.
Time for what? I wanted to ask. But the more I thought about it, the more I decided it was an acceptable answer. Who knows, perhaps the fates were on my side after all.
I spent the remainder of the flight on the laptop L had left me, the same one I had been using during the investigation, checking the different elements of my supposed hypothesis.
I had been correct.
It was disheartening to see how easily Dad still trusted Light; not suspicious in the least I had yet to wake up. Well he was in for a rude awakening now. I vaguely wondered if they had noticed I was gone yet, much like a child who is hiding in a fit of temper. For now, I would let them worry.
After that I slept, trying to calm my suddenly shaking hands. It was when I woke up the next morning that I considered I may have been going into withdrawal symptoms from the continued use of the drug on my system. I had brushed the though aside and instead focused on catching up on both Kira and Light during my absence.
The plane landed, and I shut down the laptop having just been brought up to speed. The timing was convenient. Outside of customs and the airport, I flagged a taxi, giving the thick accented cabbie the address of the Wammy House.
"You sure, miss?" he asked in a gruff voice. I simply gave him a look. "Alrigh'. Alrigh' no need to bite me head off," he muttered to himself.
The drive through the country was a long one. Long enough for the shaking in my hands to become even more pronounced. I tried to contribute it to the fact I hadn't eaten a proper meal in who knows how long, instead of the possibility I had been addicted to whatever Light had used. Though I couldn't help consider that Light had purposefully gotten me hooked on the drug as a means of keeping me close by for more hits. Having an addict for a sister didn't seem Light's style, but having someone groveling on their knees in front of Kira did. I simply grit my teeth and stared out the window, the key and queen in a death grip in an attempt to stop my unsteadiness.
We finally approached a long driveway filled with gravel and the cabbie pulled I, driving cautiously as if he expected ghosts were to suddenly attacks. But then again, I had no idea what sort of tales this place inspired in the locals.
'This is fine," I said, deciding to end the man's obvious discomfort.
"You sure, miss?"
"Yes," I said firmly. I pulled out the credit card, but he waved me away.
"No charge for this one, miss." He gunned it, kicking up gravel as he sped away, leaving me alone.
I hiked my bag up on my shoulder and began to walk. It was beautiful, I had to admit. The lush green pressing in on me was a welcome change to the crowded city of Tokyo. There was a slight chill in the air and the sound of wind blowing, both missing in the loud city I called home. The drive was a bout a mile long, with trees an either side of it, providing cover for anyone on the road. But rather than aesthetic appeal, the tress served as a security measure, hiding exactly who was coming or going.
I eventually reached the end; a large gate flanked by a wall on either side preventing me from going any farther. There was a plaque in the wall, simply reading: The Wammy House. Beyond the gate was a large gray manor with grounds extending far past that. I could make out the top of a bell tower and what I assumed was a church behind the house. Children were playing in front of the house; their voices carrying down even to the gate, a good fifty feet back.
I pushed on the gate, finding it locked. I examined the lock, holding the key in my hand up to it. Perfect fit. It turned. The gate swung open. I stepped inside.
I waited for sirens to blare, alerting everyone to my presence. Nothing happened. Shrugging it off, I continued to walk, making my way towards the house. It was only when I was twenty feet away from the house that anyone took notice of me.
A hush fell over the crowd of children and they all stopped playing. They stared at me; games and toys forgotten in the presence of a stranger. A boy, who appeared to be the oldest of the lot, stepped forward.
"Can I help you, miss?" he asked, chin tilted upwards in defiance.
"I'm looking for Matt." I paused. "And Roger," I tacked on as an afterthought. The kid's stiff posture relaxed. I grinned. So that was all bravado, huh?
"Come on then," he said, smiling, though there was still a trace of curiosity mingled with suspicion in his eyes. He led me into the house. Children were more plentiful in here. A group of them stared at us, eyes wide from the top of a large staircase. More ran by in the middle of some game. I winced as I heard a child banging on a piano. There was an accompanying thud followed by a large shriek coming from that direction. "He's in here, miss." The kid was pointing to a more secluded room, or at the least, one not overrun by persons under five feet tall.
"Matt?" the boy asked.
"What's up, Fin?" came the reply. I looked around in the dim lightening of what appeared to be a sitting room.
"There's someone here to see you."
"Is there?" the voice asked, sounding amused. Apparently, he wasn't often visited. "And who is the gentleman calling, may I ask?" 'Fin,' sent me a nervous look.
"Lady, actually," I interjected.
A head popped up from behind a couch. So that's where he had been hiding. He hauled himself to his feet and pushed up what appeared to be a pair of goggles on his face. He squinted at me, not quite knowing what to make of me.
"Well, shit," he finally said in awe. "You came." He walked out from behind the couch, coming to get a better look at me. He circled me a few times. "I wasn't sure if you were ever going to come, but hell, here you are." He practically beamed during the last sentence.
"Yeah, I'm here. And you're giving me vertigo," I said. The stripped shirt he wore only served to make me dizzier, even when he wasn't circling me like a shark or vulture."
"Sorry," he smiled, looking thoroughly unapologetic. "Would you like to sit?" I nodded sitting on the couch he had been hiding behind. "Mind if I ask what took you so long?" I sent a pointed glance at Fin, who was still standing in the room.
"Fin. Go tell Roger our special guest finally arrived," Matt ordered. The kid jumped and sped away. Matt gestured for me to continue.
"Trauma and being drugged by a supposed family member," I said dryly.
"Ah," Matt said solemnly. "Mind if you tell me your name?"
My brow furrowed. "You don't know it already?"
"No, but I could guess if you like. Your accent is Japanese…so," he tapped his chin thoughtfully, "Haruhi? Or maybe you're a Yuki, that name's common right?"
I ignored him. "Is my accent really that obvious?"
He snorted. "Hardly. As I'm guessing this is your first time out of the country, you're during pretty well considering. There's just a bit of a mincing of your Rs and Ls. But we were on topic of your name?" he prompted.
"Rei."
"No last name?"
"That doesn't seem pertinent at the moment."
He smirked. "Good girl. L taught you a thing or too, eh? You have the same speech pattern when you're under pressure."
"You've met L?"
He sighed pushing his goggles back down over his eyes. "Yes and no. Never talked to him in person. Just over a computer. At least we never had to deal with his voice scrambler though. It's a bitch to listen too." He sighed again. "Did you know him? Personally I mean?"
"Yeah, I knew him."
"What were you to him?"
Was that a hint of jealousy in his voice?
"I loved him," I said softly.
"I'm sorry," Matt said just as softly. He sighed again and reached into his pocket, pulling out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. He placed a cigarette between his lips, offering me the pack. "You want one?"
I shook my head, though the shaking of my hands begged to differ. He brought the flame up to his lips, lighting it, and took a drag.
"Matt, you know you're not allowed to smoke in here," a quiet voice said. I looked up to see it had come from a girl I hadn't noticed before. Her hair was in two pigtails and she was bent over a sketchbook.
"Damnit, Linda," Matt muttered. "Warn me before I waste one." Matt stared mournfully at the cigarette before grinding it against his jeans.
"If you want to smoke, we can talk outside," I suggested.
"Nah. The walls may have ears in here, but outside's worse. There are trees out there." I tried to pretend I understood what he meant. "Sides, Roger will call us in a few minutes." Matt pulled out a DS to console his loss of a cigarette.
He played of a few minutes and I felt he was completely ignoring my presence when he spoke again.
"What was he like?"
"Who?"
Who else? Who would we ever talk about?
"L," Matt confirmed anyway.
"What do you want to know about him?" I asked cautiously.
He looked at me dead on. "Anything."
"He was…" I trailed off looking for the words to describe L, "eccentric," I decided, my lips curving in a smile. "He was always eating something sweet or fidgeting or playing with something. He stacked sugar cubes a lot. When he sat he…crouched, with his knees up to his chest. He always wore the same thing; a white long-sleeved shirt with a pair of loose fitting jeans. He never wore shoes when he could help it. When he walked he slouched, with his fists deep in his pockets. He preferred tea to coffee, though he would drink both; preferably as a paste from all the sugar he added. He always held things delicately, like he was going to get sick from touching them. He was pale, with dark circles under his eyes. His eyes and hair were dark as well. His hair was a spiky mess and looked like a mop when he got it wet. He was skinny, almost painfully so. You could count his ribs if you wanted to do." My voice got softer. "And he had a way of pressing his thumb to his mouth when he was thinking, or trying to figure something out."
When he tried to figure me out, I wanted to say.
Matt nodded, not stopping me through the whole description. "You got all that Linda?" he asked. The girl mumbled a small affirmation before giving a sketch to Matt. He studied it for a few moments. "This him?" he asked, turning the sketch to me.
My heart caught in my throat at the sketch. It was L, no doubt about it. Linda had captured everything perfectly. I raised a finger to touch the sketch unsure if it was real. L was in his trademark pose, his thumb pressed against his lips, brow furrowed while he stared off onto the distance.
"You're sure you've never met him?" I asked in a choked voice, raising my head to look at Linda. The girl shook her head. "Can I keep this?" I asked. She nodded, smiling slightly. "Thank you," I whispered.
Matt studied the picture again. He bit his lip, considering something.
"Was he a good man?" he finally asked, seeming to be fighting himself about something.
"Yes. He was."
Matt nodded gruffly. "Just had to be sure. We're not taught to think very objectively about L here." I nodded. "I'm glad he was a good man." I smiled at him.
"Matt?" Fin was back. "Roger wants to see you and," his eyes shifted to me, "her."
"Thanks buddy," Matt said, standing and patting the kid on the head.
Roger turned out be a very old man in a very old office surrounded by what appeared to be old bugs. Dead old bugs. He peered at me over spectacles, his eyes lacking any of the warmth Watari's had. His head rested on interlocked fingers and he pursed his lips at me. I obviously didn't measure up.
"So this is who L thought would be our winning piece," he mused. I tried not to bristle.
"Yep," Matt confirmed breezily. "This is L's girl."
"I can't say I don't have my doubts. I almost didn't believe you'd ever arrive."
"I'm here now," I said cuttingly. He frowned.
"Be that as it may, I can't say I'm inclined to give you any of what L left you-"
"L left things for me?"
Roger's frown deepened. "Personal items, part of the inheritance, but that doesn't concern you-"
"Like hell it doesn't conce-"
"Roger," Matt said firmly. "Don't be a prick and make me hold a gun to your head. You know Mello left me one. If L left her part of the inheritance, then she's damn well gonna get it. I've been waiting here for years. I could already have met up with Mello by now if L hadn't told me to stay here. Now give the girl what she's owed so I can take her to Near and finally wrap this case up."
Roger sighed. "Very well." He rummaged through his desk, bringing out a stack of papers. "Once you sign this, you will be the owner of everything L left you in his will."
I gave Matt a look.
"It's safe. No hidden conditions or anything. I looked it over a few times." I nodded, trusting his word. I signed my name, wondering if the Japanese characters still had the binding power on the English documents.
"Is that it?" I asked warily, wondering if something else was going to be revealed to me out of the blue."
"Yep. That covers it. When are you going to be ready to set out for New York?" Matt asked.
The USA huh… I smirked at him.
"As soon as you can get tickets."
He returned the smirk.
"Looks like you're heading for the Big Apple."
~Author's Note~
Here we go. Hope that cleared up some questions. Especially, "Why was she asleep for so long?" "When are the Wammy's coming in?" "Does the author know what the hell she's doing?" Well…not a hundred percent yes to the last one XD
This is my interpretation of Matt. He's fairly cheery all things considering. Mello really brings out his smart aleck side. I hinted at that when he cussed. And Matty being the otaku he is, guessed those names in reference to popular anime and manga.
THANKS FOR REVIEWING!
Nicole: Thanks for the loyal support! I salute you!
AlbinoButterfly: That is seriously sweet. This one of the best reviews I've ever gotten. It's making me tear up… I WOULD NEVER ABANDON THIS. THAT WOULD MAKE ME A QUITTER. Not to mention it would bug the hell out of me. I like finishing things. Favorite part of the review, "Light is gonna hurt at her hands." Oh yes he will.
Grrrr: It's quite alright chap. Happens to the best of us.
SaberAmane: I guarantee a happy ending. Though maybe not one with quite as much frolicking as you described…
A fan of course: Thanks for the enthusiastic review! It made my day!
Whipcreamallovermysexymuffin: Seriously. WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN? Everything WAS cleaned out except for what L left purposefully behind such as the mirror and laptop for Rei. He had those things placed after task force headquarters was abandoned.