12 year old Kai Yagami sat on the floor of his bedroom, a knife in his left hand and his right forearm bleeding as evidence of what he had just done. A knock on his door startled him out of his trance-like state and he hurriedly pushed down his sleeve, hid the knife, and opened the door. Keitaro walked in and opened his mouth as though he wanted to speak but stopped and locked his eyes on Kai's arm,
"why is your arm all bloody?"
Kai glanced down and, sure enough, the blood was soaking through his shirt, staining it. He stood there for a moment, saying nothing before trying to change the subject,
"what did you want to talk to me about Keitaro?"
Keitaro frowned, "you didn't answer my question."
"It's not important."
"Yes it is, you're bleeding! That's not a good thing Kai!"
"Don't worry about it."
Keitaro's frown deepened and he left Kai's room and ran down to where L was working. Kai sighed and followed at a much slower pace, giving the 6 year old time to go wherever he was going.
Keitaro ran up to L and tugged on his sleeve.
L turned to face him, "what's wrong Keitaro?"
"Kai's arm is all bloody and he won't tell me why."
L raised an eyebrow, "why do you think he wouldn't want to tell you?"
Keitaro didn't miss a beat with his answer, "I think he hurt himself on purpose."
L nodded, "I will speak with him."
Keitaro ran out of the room just as Kai walked in. Kai turned and started to follow after him.
"Kai, wait for just a moment please, I would like to speak with you."
He turned back around to face the eccentric detective. L motioned for Kai to come closer and sit down and Kai obliged, sitting in the chair next to him.
"Kai, please show me your arm."
Without waiting for a response, L grabbed Kai's arm and pushed up his sleeve to reveal 3 thin, fresh cuts. He slowly made eye contact with the 12 year old,
"it appears your brother was correct…why are you cutting yourself?"
"Well, let's see. Both of my parents are dead, not to mention my father was Kira so I get a lot of crap for that at school, you are constantly breathing down my neck because you think I'll become the next Kira or something, and on top of that I have to live in the same freaking house as you and your insane daughter."
L habitually put his thumb in his mouth as he analyzed what Kai had just said.
"You blame me for your mother's death as well as your father's."
"Well, it is your fault."
"You're right."
The young genius stared at him, "…What?"
L sighed, "Misa was the second Kira and I let her go, it makes sense that you would blame me for your mother's death. Misa had given up the notebook by that time, therefore she had no memory of being the second Kira and I had no evidence against her other than your father's statement which hardly held any credibility. I was wrong to assume that because she had given up the Death Note she was no longer dangerous."
Kai glared darkly at him, "let me ask you something L…if my father had given up the notebook…would you have shown him the same mercy as you showed Misa?"
"He would never have done that."
"That's not what I'm asking…if he had given up the notebook would you still have sentenced him to death?"
L remained silent and Kai frowned and leaned back in his chair, "I figured as much…and you say you're justice."
He scoffed and walked over to the detective.
"I've got news for you L," he began, saying the letter as though it was the vilest curse word, "that isn't justice. You're nothing but a hypocrite."
L continued to stare wordlessly at the boy and Mello conveniently chose that particular moment to walk into the room,
"what the heck is Keitaro freaking out about?"
L tore his gaze from the dark glare the pre-teen was giving him and turned to face Mello, "Kai has been cutting himself, please remove any objects you can find that he could use to harm himself from where he can access them."
Kai looked from L to Mello and back and scowled, "what if I have to use them for a school project or something?"
"If that becomes the case then we will monitor your use of them."
Mello nodded and left the room and Kai sat down in his chair and sulked.
Kai frowned as he subconsciously traced the small scars on his forearm.
Keitaro has always had some sort of trick up his sleeve to get me to stop doing something he doesn't want me to do…I know he doesn't want me to be Kira, that's pretty evident. I wonder what he'll do to try and stop me.
Kai's frown deepened, he could do anything and I wouldn't be able to stop him—he knows that. Killing him isn't an option, that would draw unnecessary attention to myself…why the heck am I even thinking about that? I will not kill him. It shouldn't even be a matter of whether or not it would help me.