My first instinct was to run. Just run away and hide. But I was frozen with fear and surprise, I couldn't move.
His eyes narrowed, burning a hole in my forehead. Finally he pushed through the doors and came up to me with an angry look on his face. "So you were lying to me, huh?"
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I prepared a defense in my head. "It's not what it looks-"
"Yuki, I know you're meeting L," he interrupted. "You don't have to keep lying." Suddenly the rage in his eyes turned to hurt. "Why didn't you tell me? It wasn't that hard."
I lowered my head. "He said to keep it a secret. It was confidential business. Private."
"When did that matter to you?" he grunted, hands curled into a fist. "You didn't seem to have a problem crashing a private secret police meeting."
I looked up at him and frowned. "Uh, that was your idea."
"But you didn't try that hard to stop me!" His voice was getting angrier, the hurt in it rising. "Akari and I are your friends. Akari's your best friend, but you didn't bother telling her. Why?"
I tried to search for an answer, but I didn't have one. A part of me thought that Beyond was right. I could've easily told them. There was no problem with them knowing, of course they would've kept it a secret. They've seen L just days before.
When I said nothing Beyond scoffed. "Did you not tell us because you wanted the fame and pride of saying that you were working with L? Did you think we couldn't handle it?" All these accusations were untrue, I was sure of that, but I couldn't bring myself to stop him. "Or maybe you were just trying to get closer to L. I bet you wanted him all to yourself. You-"
Finally I stepped forward and shoved him. "Shut up!" I said, trying to hold back tears. I felt guilty about not telling them and maybe I deserved the guilt that I'd carried now for a couple of days, but I knew I didn't deserve this.
"Tell me why," he said in a low voice, red eyes flaming.
Clenching my fists so hard that they grew red, I narrowed my eyes, trying to pierce into his pale skin. "Just leave, Beyond. Go away! Leave me alone!"
Recoiling slightly I could see the hurt that flashed across his eyes. He stepped forward, about to say something, but after he scanned my incensed expression, he grew solemn. "Fine, I will." With that, Beyond stormed out of the building, leaving me to wallow in my guilt.
For dinner that night Dad ordered takeout for us. We sat in the living room eating while watching a rerun of our favorite game show Quiz $ Millionaire.
I sighed and took a huge bite of my sweet and sour chicken. On the table was my phone, which I'd previously turned off. I stared at it with longing and desire, but knew that it'd be best to stay off it. It was very hard because it seemed to plead with me saying "CHECK ME! CHECK ME!"
Dad's laughter filled the room, overtaking my sadness. "He lost a million dollars," he chuckled, then took a sip of his drink. I stared aimlessly at the screen, trying to block out the thoughts of earlier today.
Dad glanced over at me and noticed my depression. "You alright Yuki?" He asked with concern. I shrugged without taking my eyes off the screen. "You can tell me anything you know."
Turning to look at Dad, I smiled weakly. "I've just had a long day. I might go to bed early tonight."
He knew I wasn't telling the whole truth, but glad that I responded so he smiled back and continued to eat dinner.
Suddenly an urge came inside of me. It said to check my phone. Instead of brushing it away, I gave in. Rushing forward, I snatched my phone and turned it on. I couldn't bare having it off anymore. I had a problem.
A million messages popped up from Akari, wondering where I was at and what happened with Beyond. Hmm, Beyond must've returned to her pretty pissed. Then, another message popped up from an unknown number. Turn to Channel 4 - W
W? No one came to mind right at the top of my head, but I flipped the channel anyway. "Hey!" Dad whined. "I was watching that."
Channel 4 was an interview or show featuring Hideki Ryuga, the famous actor that all the girls at To-Oh were squealing about. Suddenly a message popped up at the top of the screen. Dad leaned forward and squinted at it.
"What the… Interpol is sending 1,500 investigators to Japan in response of the Kira murders…" He frowned. "That's an awful lot just for one serial killer. Do they really need that much?"
That moment it hit me who W was. Watari. He'd sent me a message from L… This must mean that it isn't true. He sent me the message two minutes before I turned on my phone which means he knew it was coming on even before it did…
It must be a test, but for who? Kira? Light? Everyone watching Channel 4?
After the announcement ended I turned the channel back and threw away our trash. After reading Akari's urgent messages, I knew I had to do something. Beyond was pissed at me. Akari was extremely worried.
I decided to sleep on it. Going to bed early, I curled under the covers and tried to sleep…
As I emerged in the hotel room, I knew something was wrong. Aizawa and Matsuda and the rest of the Task Force members were gone which was unusual.
Tiptoeing down the hall, I stopped outside L's door. It was wide open and inside he sat in a chair. My heart pounded with fear. His back was straight and his legs stretched out, feet touching the floor. Something was wrong.
"L?" My voice was the echo of a mouse, soft and high pitched, yet almost unheard.
As I stepped closer, I realized that the bags under his eyes had disappeared. Although his clothes stayed the same, his posture and face were completely frightening.
A bitter smile plastered his face. One filled with regret and hurt, pain and confusion, and sadness.
"L, what happened?" I asked, but he said nothing in reply. His attention was focused on the static from the broken tv monitor in front of him. A large crack was split down the center. "L? What's wrong?"
Finally he turned his head to look at me. But it was a slow, one mile per hour turn that sent an icy chill up my spine. His eyes were blank and unreadable. His voice low and monotone, but full of angst.
"They're dead," he whispered. "All of them."
"Who's dead?" I asked, prepared for the worst.
"Everyone…" I held my breath as his smile faded. "Matsuda… Aizawa… Mr. Yagami… Ukita… Mogi… Ide... " He lowered his eyes. "Even Light... "
"T-They're gone?" My eyes widened. How could this be? What happened?
"Yes…" Lifting his head, his eyes met mine. They flashed with pity and sorrow. "Makai… Akari… Beyond… All dead."
I shook my head, not allowing my eyes to well up with tears. "No, you're lying to me."
"Remember which one of us is the liar," he reminded me with Beyond's voice. I recoiled at his words, pain stabbing me through the heart. "Kira killed them. He killed everyone."
"N-No, this can't happen, not to me." I choked back tears that dared to flow as I stumbled back. "No, please tell it isn't true."
"You left us," he said in a sad voice, eyes dropping to the floor. "Since you weren't here to protect them, he got to them. He killed them." Snapping his head up, he glared at me. "It's your fault."
"What could I have done?" I asked, guilt flowing through my veins. "I'm not anyone's savior. How could I protect them?"
"You know how," he said, standing up. "Now he's coming for you."
I stumbled out of the room, but the floor dropped beneath me. I screamed for help then remembered that no one was there. They were all dead.
Falling… My heart pounded out of my chest. I screamed as loud as I could, adrenaline pumping inside me. My head spinned. Below the ground grew red and firey.
Below stood Light. He was waiting for me.
My arms thrashed around for something to grab, but there was nothing. I kept falling and falling and falling… Finally, I hit the ground.
Waking up in a sweat, I realized that I'd rolled out of bed. My head ached terribly and my body was sore. It had not been a good night sleep. Sitting up, I reached for my phone on my nightstand. It was only eight, but I knew I couldn't go back to bed.
Pushing myself up off my floor, I wiped my face with my beside towel and took a drink. The room was hot and clammy so I opened a window to let the fresh air flow in.
Outside on my street, kids were running around. I couldn't understand why they were up so early. They must have more energy I guess. So innocent and naive…
Today I felt like crap so after I showered I just slipped on a black long sleeve turtleneck and jeans. Phone in my pocket, I put my silver hair up in a ponytail.
Dad was still in bed when I came downstairs so I left him a note saying that I was out with Akari and Beyond, which I would be.
Outside I marched down the sidewalk a couple blocks. It was a little chilly, but that didn't stop me. A couple streets away, I jogged up the steps to my friend's house.
Instead of knockin on the door, I burst through the doors to Akari's house. Her mom was in their kitchen cooking breakfast on the stove. She gasped as I sped walked past her.
Akari's dad wasn't here. He wouldn't be here. Ever. Eight years ago her family went through their first huge tragedy. Akari's dad died in a car accident. Akari was about ten when it happened and got notified at school. It was a hard year.
Speeding down the steps to the humongous basement, I found Akari and Beyond on the couch watching tv. Beyond's eyes narrowed and he began to open his mouth when I held my hand up to stop him.
"Just shut up and come with me," I said before seizing the two and yanking them off the furniture.
We marched upstairs. I mean, I dragged them upstairs. When we passed the kitchen Ms. Kimoto raised her eyebrow. "We're going out," Akari said quickly as we passed. "Be back later!"
Outside, as I pulled them behind me on the sidewalk, no one uttered a word. I didn't even hear a sarcastic mumble from Beyond. They just stayed quiet as I yanked them along with me.
Once at L's hotel I expected them to say something, but they were still silent. I kept moving to the elevator and pressed the button, letting us inside. As it closed the annoying, yet catchy, elevator music came on, filling the awkward silence.
We exited the elevator and emerged in the hall. I tightened my grin on my two friends as I continued to pull them down the hall to L's room. Opening the door, I pushed them through.
Luckily L and the rest of the team were in the living room at the moment we burst in. They all stood up, except L, in surprise as I shoved the two forward. L lifted his head and looked blankly at me, but we both knew this would eventually happen.
Mr. Yagami gasped in slight shock. "Yuki, what are they doing here? You know this is supposed to remain confidential." The other five glanced at each other with unease.
I looked between bitter Beyond and annoyed Akari and sighed. "I think it's time we talk."