CHAPTER 26

TRUTHFUL LIES

V'S POV

Two more days.

Higuchi would be captured in just two more days.

That would give me more than enough time for my bruises to heal. I reached my hand up to touch my wounded face, and thought of the person responsible for them. Misa. How I pitied her. The agony she must be going through at this current moment, and me being the reason for that pain.

This feeling was strange. I had hurt people before in the worst kind of ways, torched them physically and mentally until they just give up and commit suicide, but this was different. This was heartbreak. I had never taken responsibility for something like that. Heartbreak was not something I had ever thought to master before my plan was formed.

Heartbreak is not something to be taken lightly, for it is not physical or mental pain but can sometimes be a combination of them both as well as emotional. If one were to have a grasp on ones emotions, they could do anything to that person, which is exactly what Light had on Misa, and I used him to use her.

It was not that I was guilty, far from it, I was glad I had succeeded. Misa's emotional pain was exactly what would lead me to my victory. She was my bishop on the board, and I had to sacrifice her to win the game. Kira would soon but forced into checkmate.

"V?" I heard the soft whisper of Light's voice. He and L (for once) were asleep in the large bed intended for three, Light being in the middle, me laying on the right and L on the left, me, and now Light, being the only ones awake. "Are you asleep?"

I turned to Light so I was facing him, and smiled softly. "I hope your question is now answered," I whispered back. He smiled with a small 'hmm', and then his smile faded.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked, his breath blowing onto my face.

"You just did," I chuckled. "But you may ask another, if you want." He bit his lip and frowned.

"I was just wondering . . . do you think I did the right thing? Dumping Misa, I mean?" I knew he would be concerned about that.

"Light, if it was not the right thing to do, then I would not have suggested you do it."

"That's easy for you to say, you're a murderer."

"So are you," I returned.

"I'm not Kira," he stated seriously. I snorted.

"I know. But if you were given a Godly power to kill, what would you do with it?" He was silent, that was good, it just confirmed the possibility of him being Kira all the more.

"I don't know, but I don't think I would become a murderer."

"Hmm, I do not believe I would either," I confessed. "I would not kill; I would rather rid the world of evil my own way." And this was the first step to faze two of my plan. Convince Light I am a good person, but have Kira think I am on his side in some way. Not an easy task, but possible if handled correctly.

"But you do murder, V," he reminded me. "You hunt and kill your victims."

"Though that is true, it is not the whole truth. I do not kill them, Light." He looked confused, so I continued. "Yes, I used to kill them, but that was years ago, only the first year or so I discovered my sick obsession for blood. But when I gained a reputation everyone knew of, the people I hunted would rather kill themselves then face the terrible tortures the rumours clam I would bestow."

". . . You made them commit suicide?" he asked, worry and fear were both identified in his voice.

"Yes."

He frowned deeply, considering what I said before shaking his head, making a hair strand fall over his face and between his eyes. He payed no attention to it. "Why are you here, V?"

I smiled softly, this being every bit as fake as almost everything I have gone since I got here, and brushed the hair strand away from his face and into its rightful place. "I have my reasons."

". . . You want to drink Kira's blood, don't you?"

"No." I decided it would be better to lie, for when he becomes Kira again he would never like me, or trust me, if he thought I was going to kill him. If he knew of the brutal things I was planning on doing to him I would be the first person he would try to kill. "No, this case has changed me, Light, in ways I still have yet to figure out. I will not be that kind of monster, every again. Take you and Misa for example. If it were not for me you two would still be together, and God knows how long it would have taken for you to finally get it over with. A year or so ago helping you with that would have been unthinkable."

He paused for a moment, shocked to hear this. I was confusing him, he was in battle with himself, deciding whether I was good or bad. He had grown up being told by his parents what is good and bad, and talking to me confused him, twisting his judgment and everything he was told. I would help him decide. "Why are you like this? Was there no way to prevent this?"

I knew what he was talking about, and I knew the answer. "Yes, I suppose there could have been." His face lightened. "There was this one time I had the opportunity to live a good life after my family died, I could have lived happily."

"What happened? What stopped you?"

I gave his a sad half smile. "The one thing that stopped me, was my own lies." I remember that one moment I had that chance. All I had to do was tell the truth, for once. It was the moment I first met Mello.

FLASHBACK

Why was that man so cruel to my parents? What did they do to deserve to die? They were good to me! They should be with me right now! Why are they not?!

I sniffed, rubbing my already wet sleave against my cheek. I wanted the tears to go away, but they would not go away. I am too sad. I am nothing. I sniffed again. That book, I had already hidden it. It was safe, it would always be safe. Always. Always. It would be something I never will be again. Never. Nothing. I am nothing.

What does that book in white writing say? One day, I would know. One day when I knew the whole world's languages I would come back to it, and I would read it. One day.

"But I don't want to!" someone screamed. A little boy. He sounded angry. Very angry. I followed the voice, stumbling around the street corner and along the pavement until I saw him. He looked about four or five, and very, very angry. Next to him was an old man, and they were both standing in front of a really big house! I have always wanted to live in a house.

"But, Mello, it's your bedtime, all the other children are asleep, why would you want to be out here in the middle of the night?" he old man asked the blonde boy.

"Because I can't sleep!" They were arguing. I have never argued with my parents, never. I looked away and was about to leave again, because watching people argue was boring, but the old man called me.

"Hey, you there!" I did not turn around, because that would almost be as bad as closing my eyes when the cop wanted to hit me with that club. "Hey! STOP!" I did not. So he came running up to me. That made me have to stop. "Hey." He was much gentler now. "Why are you out here?"

"Why are you out here?"

"Oh, I was just putting Mello over there to bed with everyone else."

"Everyoneelse?"

"Oh, yes, you see, child, this is an orphanage." He pointed to the house. Oh, mommy had once said that an orphanage was a place kids without parents go. Is this where I belong? "Is something wrong?" Yes. Mummy and daddy are dead!

"No."

"Are you sure? Where are your parents?" THEY ARE DEAD!

If I said that, would he take me inside? I have always wanted to live in a house. But would mummy and daddy want me to? Mummy once told me stories about orphans that have to work hard in there, like scrubbing floors and clothes. But if I leave I will not have anywhere to go. Where do I go?

"They are at home," I said. "They wanted me to go out."

"In the middle of the night?"

"Yes." Then I walked on.

"Where are you going?!" he called out.

Where was I going? "To a butcher shop." Because I was as angry as the very angry blonde boy was, and I wanted something to cut.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Kira maybe right about the world needing a better future without certain people, but there is one thing he does not seem to be able to see." I turned my head around to stare out the opened window, up at the starless city sky.

"And what's that?" I smiled as I felt the cool air gently blow through the window and brush against my face, because what I was about to tell him was the most truthful this he will ever hear from my lips, this is something I only ever reminded Matt, Mello and Near about.

"That life, all on its own, is truly magnificent. Beautiful." I let my smile fade and turned back to Light, to stare into his eyes as I spoke seriously. "If everyone knew this simple and obvious fact, then there would be no need for me, Kira or even L. The world would be perfect if human kind would just open their eyes." I chucked, for no real reason at all and turned back over, closing my eyes. "Sleep well, Light Yagami."

Not another word was exchanged between us the entire night.

Between Light and I anyway.

"I think I understand now," L murmured once Light had fallen back to sleep.

"Is that so," I replied as I re-opened my eyes to find a dark figure crouched in front of me. "And what do you think you understand?"

"Your plan," he stated bluntly. I remained silent, wordlessly telling him to continue. He bent down, moving his face close to my own so he could whisper low enough for me to hear, but not for Light in case he was awake, though I knew he was not, his breathing was too soft. "You plan on gaining his trust until he reveals something that only Kira would know, then kill him." I smiled and glanced down at his pale lips. They were so close. It reminded me of that one moment I had stolen his first kiss. I remembered how soft they were. It was nice. I smiled wider and looked back up into his eyes.

"Much like what you were doing when you revealed yourself as L in Light's university."

"Yes, but I feel you have far more of a chance at succeeding then I do." He was right. No matter how magnificently intelligent he was, Kira would only see him as a threat and be far more on guard with him, but having a serial killer that he thought was on his side would be far more tolerable, far easier to let in, to slip, because he would confuse me as himself.

"Well, wish me luck, L."

"I do." It was silent. Too silent. Was he going to move into bed anytime soon?

"Come sleep, L. You know you need your rest for the next two days."

"I can't."

"And why is that?"

"The spring on that side of the bed is broken or missing." I stared at his for a second, wondering whether he was lying to keep up convocation, or he really did not want to sleep in a bed with a broken spring. It seemed unlikely with the fact that I have seen him sleep on chairs in positions that looked extremely uncomfortable, but I checked regardless, reaching my arm over Light and felt the mattress, and soon came to see that there was in fact, a missing spring.

"It seems there is." What were we going to do about that? Simple. I gently pushed Light over to the side (careful not to wake him up), and I moved over into his spot, leaving the place I was laying on a gap. "You are welcome."

L hesitated, but soon climbed into the bed.

"Goodnight, L."

"Yes. And to you, V."

This was it. The day we would catch Higuchi. L, Light, (surprisingly) Misa, the rest of the task force (besides Matsuda) and I were all in the main room, prepared and waiting.

Though I had a headset that would enable me to hear whenever Reiji Namikawa was saying, it did not stop me from noticing the one and probably only reason Misa had quit cry and came down here. To win over Light. This was not good. My plan was to reverse her feelings for Light so that she would hate him.

Well, no matter, perhaps this was better. This way I could encourage Light to push her further away, and if lucky he will push her so hard she will finally get the hint and leave him alone. It now seemed unlikely, but I have come to realise Misa does not matter. Yes she is an important peace in my game, but the way I see it, I could use more than just her heartbreak, I could use her friendship.

"Well I'm here, what's with this privet meeting?" I heard Reiji Namikawa ask.

"Namikawa," another said. "Tell me, who do you think is Kira?"

"Ha. Why do you want to know what I think?" he demanded calmly. "Besides, for all I know it could be you, Shimura. Or maybe even Mido." Another one of his business partners responded.

"Shimura can't be Kira. He was the one who came crying to me about how he can't go along with Kira's crimes anymore."

"Really? But if Mido had turned out to be Kira you wouldn't have been killed." I turned my face to L, making sure he could hear everything that was happening (him being the only other one able to), then to Light to make should he was ready to make the phone call, and then continued listening.

"No," Shimura replied. "You and Mido would've been successful on your own. There's no way either of you would need to hold those stupid meetings, let alone with seven others, I can at least see that much, we're all corroborating with these killings because we're afraid of Kira turning on us. I mean it's only a matter of time until the public finds out. And this isn't going to stop until that happens."

And right Shimura was. "So, Shimura, let me ask you then, who do you think Kira might be?"

". . . Takahashi or Higuchi." He was very close on that one.

"No, Takahashi is just a decoy. Kira would make sure there are people less clever then him." And right Mido was, good for him.

"Ha, than it looks like we all know the truth already," Reiji Namikawa observed. "It's Higuchi, isn't it?"

"Yes, he's the one who's most obsessed with money and success. He might always act as if he isn't interested in those things, but that just proves it all the more."

They went on about all of Higuchi's flors that could make him Kira until Reiji Namikawa asked about being the only other one that was invited.

"I also invited Ooi, but he said 'you can hold your stupid privet meetings by yourself'," Mido informed him with what I could only assume was Ooi's accent. "Go figure." They went on like that for another moment or so until Shimura mentioned the phone call Reiji got from Light.

"Call him now," I told his, and Light immediately grabbed a phone and did what I said. After about two or three rungs, he answered it.

"Namikawa speaking."

"It's L," Light said in a voice that was a bit too dark for my task. "Before I go on are you by yourself?" How stupid. Then again, he was not able to hear what L and I hear, us being the only ones wearing the headsets.

"No."

"Then just act like it's a normal call again."

"I don't think there's any need for that," Namikawa disagreed. "One of the people here with me was just expressing his suspicions about your last phone call."

"Who is that on the line? Namikawa?"

"It's L." I chuckled, for he could not be further from the truth. He was no talking to L, the world's greatest detective, only the world's greatest Kira suspect. "L, Mido and Shimura are here as well, I'm reasonably certain none of them are Kira. In fact they seem fed up with it at this point. I'll speak for them and say they'll choose to stand back and watch you face off with Kira, like I plan to." Light looked over at L for approval.

"That's fine," L told him.

"Tonight I'm gonna catch Kira, but I'll need a favour from you."

"Hmm . . . then it's the end for Higuchi." Do not do it Light, do not mess up.

"What you know that it's him?" Hmm, that is what I thought. Light could not pass off as L, no matter how intelligent he was. Not that it really matters, it does not particularly affect the case.

"Ha! So even the great L can be tricked! Based on your reaction I'm now 100% curtain that Higuchi is Kira."

"Namakwa's pretty smart, ha?" Misa pointed out. "But then again I always thought he was, by looking at his face, I guess this proves it."

"No," L corrected her. "That was just because Light messed up." I chuckled. That got Misa angry.

"What?" she demanded quietly, apparently being smart enough not to raze her voice to high when Light was on the phone. "You think it's funny?"

"Yes," I chucked blankly. "Why, is that a problem?"

She glared at me, crossing her arms. It was clear she wanted to do something (punch me, or yell in my face) but was too terrified to this time. How frustrating it must be for her to just stand there, unable to do anything to enlighten her anger on me. She huffed and stomped over to the couch. I chuckled again.

But on more important notes, I should get ready, I was not about to ride off after Higuchi in my regular clothes.

I smirk devilishly as the powerful wind whipped at my hair wildly. This felt nice, this felt like freedom, an emotion I had not been able to feel since I was chained to L, though I was able to free myself at any moment I liked, it never felt right, it was not what I was feeling as I rode this motorbike down the streets to the television station. That is where Higuchi would be, attempting to kill Matsuda.

It was strange watching Higuchi back at HQ, he kept talking to someone unseen in the car, of whom I have no doubt was a Shinigami, then he tried to kill Matsuda by simply writing his name down in a black book. Was that book the reason he could kill so easily? Was that book the weapon? L did not really want to believe this was all supernatural, but after telling his about the Shinigami talking to me threw a human some time ago he had no choice but to be fully open to all possibilities.

I had not stayed much longer after that, I just ran out of the building and grabbed a bike. All I really had to do now was restrain Higuchi and get him to tell me how he kills. It would not be hard; I would simply tell him who I am.

"V!" L's voice called. Though I was not wearing a helmet (the only protection being a one pieced leather bike suit) I was smart enough to bring a headset, and I was not surprised L figured out witch one to call to contact me.

"Yes, L?"

"Higuchi now has the same power as the second Kira! He can kill with only a face! Please be careful!" He has the same power as the other Kira? Hmm, I am sure I will be safe if I am right about him having the special eyes Beyond once had.

"Thank you for the notification." And I had arrived. I quickly parked the motorbike to the side of the building and ran inside. Higuchi was not there yet, so that gave me little time.

"Here," I heard Wedy's voice speak from behind the set. "Aiber hates using guns, so right now I'm the only one armed. Take it." What was she giving him? A weapon? A gun? Most likely.

"I can't take this," Mr. Yagami refused. "I'm no longer a police officer, Japanese law forbids civilians from having guns, so that means you shouldn't be using one either." So I was right, it was a gun, it would be useful to me. I quickly and quietly snuck over behind the set they sat behind, right next to Wedy without either of them noticing.

"I guess you're as stubborn as always, ha?"

"I guess he is," I said, gaining both their attention. "But, in my eyes the law means nothing in a situation like this." I grabbed the gun, looking at it closely. "Hmm, it has been a while since I had used one of these. Though powerful and easy to kill with, I still prefer knives. They are far more intermit." Without looking, I just knew Mr. Yagami frowned.

Then I heard a car pull up.

"He has arrived." Soon the door opened. I had no doubt that L would have the team wear something to shade ff their faces, but I soon came to realise here is a possibility that Higuchi also has another kind of weapon, not just a supernatural one. There is a 76% chance he has one on him, and if he does it is 93% a gun. I did not want to believe it would end this easily.

"Higuchi! Hold it right there!" Mr. Yagami yelled, jumping out from behind the set, and Wedy followed him, along with other members of the taskforce. I, on the other hand, stayed behind in case my assumptions were right and he did have a gun.

"Don't move! I'd give up if I were you."

"You-you must be making some kind of mistake," he denied shakily. He went on and I only rolled my eyes. He then said something about showing them his business card, and I knew what he was going to do. Take out his gun. I frowned and clenched my teeth, for I also knew what I was about to do.

BANG! He fired his gun. Mr. Yagami was just about to jump in front of Wedy to protect her from the bullet, but I would not have that. Mr. Yagami is just too good of a person to get hurt this way. So just as he jumped, I did to, only instead of jumping in front of him as he did Wedy; I pushed them both out of the way, and then was meat by a sharp pain in my stomach.

I grunted, but not in agony, but in frustration. He was getting away! No way was that happening! "L, Higuchi has a gun on him! V's been shot! He's escaping!"

"No. He's. NOT!" With this new sense of fire and determination, I got back onto my feet, ran outside, got onto the motorbike and rode off after Higuchi. How dare he shoot me! How dare he! I drove fast, so fast I was right on his tail. I was so close I could just jump onto his car.

And that is what I decided I would do. I had to. I still had the gun on me so I was safer with that. I could only hope I would not die from this. I slowly reached my legs up so that my feet were on the seat, sitting the same way L does, and then stretched then out, so that I would stand. I had only one shot at this, so I would be sure I would not mess up.

3 . . .

I narrowed my eyes.

2 . . .

I bent my knees slightly.

1!

And I jumped. I used all my leg strength, and that alone was enough to fly me over the roof of the shiny red car and onto the very front of it. Higuchi must have been very surprised, but I took no time to look at his expression. I took out the gun, and shot at the windscreen glass. It was bulletproof. Not that it mattered, for the car suddenly screeched to a swirly stop, and while remaining on the car, I (for the first time) noticed all the police cars and helicopter.

What? But L had told the police to remain out of this. Unless Aizawa . . .

I smiled and jumped off the car. There was only one place left for him to go, but I am sure Watari would stop him. As I thought, he drove through the gap, but his car swerved and collided with the wall of the road, shattering the headlights. Watari did a fine job.

"STAY BACK!" he yelled, pointing the gun to his head. I aimed my gun and shot at his own, frightening him enough to drop it onto the ground. It is over. Well, almost, there was still much to be done.

I slid the gun into my back pocket and stormed over to his car. I did not ask L permission, I did not need to; all I needed to do was get him to talk. "Higuchi," I said calmly when I was at him car window. "Get out of the car." He did as he was told; he even went as far as putting his hands up. "Good. Now, please would you tell me . . ." I lifted my head up so my hair was no longer covering my face, and smiled childishly. "How do you kill?" My voice was not demanding as I am sure L's would have been, but it was more childish, as though I were a 6 year old, asking why the sky was blue.

He stared at me for a second, and then glanced above my head. He gasped. "W-what a-a-are you?"

"V!" L yelled. "Your face is revealed! He could kill you! Cover it immediately! That is an order, Vampire!" I snickered and threw the headset aside. I would not obey L's orders; I can hardly remember a time I ever did.

I whipped my hair back and ran my long slim fingers threw it before grabbing Higuchi by his shirt and hoisted him up into the air.

"Answer me!"

"Y-your n-name . . . WHY ISN'T IT THERE?!"

"HOW DO YOU KILL?!"

"WHAT ARE YOU?!" What was I?

"Your worst nightmare. I am V," I growled, gripping his shirt tighter. "Now tell me." I pulled him closer so I could snarl in his face. "How do you kill?"

His bruised and sweaty face shook in fear, then he gave in with a sigh. "You probably won't believe me, but I have this notebook. If I write someone's name in it while thinking of their face that person dies." I was right? It was the notebook that kills? I threw him on the ground, letting the police blindfold him while I went to check out this killer notebook, but not before grabbing the headset I threw on the ground.

"Did you hear any of that?" I asked. The headset had not been thrown to far away, and everything was very quiet, so it could not have been too hard to hear.

"Yes, I did, please go see what this is." I leaned through into the car and grabbed the bag on the passenger seat, then leaned back out, standing up in the open, holding the bag at arm's length. This would be interesting. I slowly reached my hand into the bag and pulled out a black notebook. It looked ordinary enough, I would not have guessed that it would poses the power to kill someone.

I was about to open it, to look for more evidence proving its power, but was stopped by something white and bone-y standing in front of me. I looked up, and came face to face with a very large, monster-like creature, the kind a child would dread seeing under their bed or in their closets.

A Shinigami.

I stared at it, refusing to show any expression, as did it. This must be Rem. I almost wanted to smile and introduce myself, but found myself instead looking away and opening the book while casually leaning against the damaged car. There must be two notebooks, that is how the other Kira was able to kill as well as the first. I remember I has said something like this before, after I watched the tape on Ray Penber's death. 'I could turn my back on you when you need me most, the second Kira writes your name in his death list, do not rely on me.' I had come close, so close. The only thing I got wrong was that it was not a list he would be writing their names on, it was a notebook.

"V, is something the matter?" I was not surprised by L's question, I had been staring at the creature long enough to cause suspicion.

"Well, I would not say that." I looked back up at the Shinigami. "Nothing is practically wrong."

"Then what is it?" I smirked, leaning off the care and turned my full body towards the God.

"Hello, you must be Rem. It is a pleasure to finally meat you. I am Vampire." The creature seamed shocked by my polite and formal introduction.

"V, who are you talking to?" Mr. Yagami asked, clearly worried for my own sanity. I looked back down at the notebook, then at the Shinigami, then back down, then back up.

"Hmm, it seems only whoever touches the notebook is able to see it."

"See what?"

"Look for yourself." I held out the notebook to him, and ignored his screams when he touched it. But what I could no longer ignore was the pain in my stomach. I will have to do something about that. I walked past Mr. Yagami (who was now laying on the ground in terror) and walked over to the right side of the helicopter where I knew L would be. "I do not believe you would want to miss this, L," I told him holding the notebook out. He took it without question and looked back out. He sees it. I looked away from him and back at Rem. This is not over yet.

"Ryuzaki! Come on, let me see!" I had a bad feeling about this. I pulled myself up by the edge of the helicopter window and peaked through, and saw the book was no longer in L's hands, but it was in Light's. Then, without warning, Light screamed.

And to think, I would not be here if I had just been truthful to that old man from the orphanage. I would not have gone to that butcher shop, and that would mean I would not have tasted the blood. I would not have been a criminal.

All I had left now was to wonder whether or not it was worth it.

Hello!

So, the Death Note has now been discovered. YAY! I hope everyone liked this chapter. And just a quick question, do you think L and V should share something intermit next chapter, like, maybe a kiss? Tell me what you think, and thank you all for the last comments! And if you have any ideas you would like to happen i one of the future chapters, just tell me and I'll add it.