Chapter 23: Reconciliation

AN: The story's rated what it is for a reason lol, even though the M scenes are slow-going. This is rather tame due to the character's level of experience ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Thanks for reading, kudo-ing/favoriting, subscribing and commenting/reviewing!

Rui hummed as she stepped out of her washroom, but the sight of Ryuzaki in her bed stopped her in her tracks. For one, he didn't have a shirt on. For two, his jeans were carelessly unbuttoned, his raven hair more disheveled than usual, and his eyes were clouded with a strange heat as he stared at her. No, in fact, he seemed to be trying to devour her with his eyes. No, wait, he was doing a little more than that. Rui blushed as Ryuzaki reached down to continue stroking himself. Why did he continue when he knew she was there?

She had every intention to leave, but instead, her legs carried her towards him, his moans getting louder all the while. She should be disgusted at such a lewd scene, but instead, an unknown heat was building in her lower belly. Swallowing in an effort to regain some form of equanimity, she made to turn around.

She didn't know what happened next. She blinked, and then she was under him, the sheets under her back still warm from his heated body. He was caging her body in with his hands on either side of her face and his knees on either side of her thighs, and the warmth of his body heat was making her lightheaded. She'd never seen him look at her that way before, and it made her whimper and try to press her thighs together. His scent enveloped her as he lowered himself down to lick at her collarbone, grinding his erection rhythmically and firmly against her soft centre.

"You feel so good, Rui," he mumbled, voice thick and hoarse with need, sucking at the sensitive skin just under her earlobe. "Spread your legs for me. Please."

Shuddering, she complied, biting her lip to try and contain her own moans. Pleasure was beginning to build up, and she knew she was wet, but this wasn't enough. She wrapped her arms around his middle, trying to bring him even closer as he moaned her name, over and over.

"Rui." Yes, Ryuzaki?

"Rui?" I need more.

"Rui!" The urgent tone startled her, and she woke with a gasp, still expecting to see Ryuzaki above her.

He was, but he was peering down from where he was slouching over the bed with a strange look on his face. For a moment, arousal lanced through her as she met his black, flat stare. She wasn't sure what kind of expression she'd been making, but she could've sworn that just for an instant, there was a returning flash of heat in his eyes. She looked away, wondering just how much he'd heard, and hoping that he didn't understand what it was he'd observed. What was that dream, even?

She bit her lip and slowly breathed out, trying to bring down the heat in her face. When she glanced back at him, she caught him scanning her body clinically, though he quickly looked back up to meet her gaze.

Her pajamas were twisted around her, plastered to her body with sweat, and she was rather in danger of exposing her chest. She immediately pulled the blankets from around her waist to her chin, still looking up at him.

"Good morning, Ryuzaki!" she squeaked. Well, what else was she supposed to say? "…Why are you here?" Come to think of it, what time was it?

"It seemed that you were having a nightmare," he mumbled around his thumb. She perked up, hope filling her tentatively. Maybe he really hadn't seen anything.

"Ahh, yes…" she replied, cringing a little at the unnatural tone of her voice. "Um…" She still couldn't think straight. She was feeling a little faint, and there was a persistent ache in her lower back and her… uh… down there.

"… How is your shin, Rui?" Ryuzaki asked, awkwardly, facing off to the side.

It felt like there was a dampness around her nether regions. Cautiously, Rui lifted the blanket, just enough to get a confirming whiff of iron. Figures. There was only one reason why she would have such a… provocative dream. No, nightmare. Wait, had Ryuzaki asked her a question?

"Hmm?" she murmured, distracted. She needed Ryuzaki to leave so that she could wash up. Had her stain soaked through to the mattress underneath? That would be hell to clean. Surreptitiously, she zipped her pajamas back up.

She didn't hear his approach.

Before she could react, he had divested her of her blanket unceremoniously.

Rui hadn't moved, so the stain was still hidden beneath her, but he was definitely close enough to smell the particularly pungent stench of blood. As what seemed like shock began to seep into his usually passive gaze, Rui decided to head it off before he assumed the worst and did something even more drastic.

"I'm… uh, I'm on my period." Couldn't a lady keep some dignity around here?

"Period of what?" Ryuzaki wondered. He didn't seem to be joking.

Rui wanted to cover her face and scream in mortification, particularly since pangs of arousal still writhed within her every time he spoke. Instead, she breathed out, trying to keep her temper. She supposed that explained last night's blowup. "I am bleeding as a result of my menstrual cycle, Ryuzaki. Please leave me to clean up." Oh, who was she kidding? A lady would be able to think of something more graceful to say. She stared back at him with a blank expression, but her face still held a very prominent blush, she knew, the combined result of arousal and embarrassment, heightened as a result of her hormones.

He stared at her, still chewing at his thumb.

He was probably processing it. Perhaps he'd never had cause to interact in person with someone who had a uterus. Maybe he was thinking whether pink elephants existed. Whatever the case, Rui was feeling exhausted and running out of patience.

"It leaves me feeling exhausted and in great pain due to the contraction of my uterus. I require some specialized tools to cope. Could you please give me some time off and some privacy right now so that I may wash up?"

He seemed to rouse himself out of whatever reverie he'd been in, but he wasn't moving fast enough for her liking.

"Now, please." Rui's tone brooked no argument, and she pulled her zipper down to the middle of her sternum. "I need to wash up now, Ryuzaki." Infuriatingly, he was now staring at her sternum. What was there to goggle at?

"Now, Ryuzaki!" she snapped, tugging her zipper down emphatically until it reached the middle of her abdomen. She supposed she should count herself lucky that the two flaps of her top didn't fall apart to accidentally expose herself.

This time, he backtracked quickly, closing the door behind him.

June 20, 2004; 11 00

Rui groaned, remembering the way she'd treated Ryuzaki. In her defense, she didn't deal with pain well, this particular time of the month was exceptionally painful, probably due to the stress, and her emotions were running high as a result of the hormones. It was a day of mortification, one after another, for Matsuda had apparently been tasked by Ryuzaki to accompany her to get the things she needed.

They drove to the konbini in silence, so Rui expected much the same to happen on the way back. Instead, Matsuda spoke to her in English. Pretty simple English, but at conversational level. Whoa.

"Have you got what you need?" he asked.

Caught off guard, it took Rui a moment to process this, and she looked up from where she was riffling through her purchases. "I think so, Matsuda-san," she replied politely.

"Matsuda is ok," he responded quickly.

"Matsuda," Rui agreed, then hesitated. She didn't know how to ask what she wanted to know in a way that didn't seem condescending.

"Surprised? I speak English?" Matsuda hit the nail on the head, pointing at his face.

Rui laughed, surprised. "Yes, very! Why…?"

"I decided to learn! To be useful!" Matsuda replied exuberantly, seeming rather proud of himself.

Rui studied him, trying to remember what she knew of him from canon. He was a young police officer who 'got the job thanks to connections', didn't have a wife or children, and seemed to hold the Yagami men in very high regard. Oh, and the other task force members were usually pretty harsh on him. He seemed like a younger sibling type.

"That's impressive, Matsuda!" Rui cheered. "How long did it take you?"

"I started when Kira appeared," he replied. "I thought we might need it with L, I mean, Ryuzaki. Speaking of Ryuzaki, what are you…?"

This was the last thing Rui wanted to talk about. "It's a bit… erm…"

Matsuda was still staring at her expectantly, not getting, or perhaps refusing to take the hint. Rui sighed.

"I'm working for him as a personal assistant. I'm not allowed to say more."

"Oh," Matsuda said. "So, you and him are not…?" He held up his pinky finger*.

Wait, was Matsuda seriously asking if she was his lover-slash-romantic partner? Did he think Ryuzaki kept her around like a private mistress or something? Well, he was certainly rich enough for that, if he were so inclined. Not with her, obviously, just, in general. In her current mood, Rui would have gotten angry, but Matsuda had this earnest way about him that prevented that. Instead, Rui laughed.

"No, no, of course not," she giggled. "I'm working for him normally. Ensuring he gets his meals on time, organizing accommodation, that kind of thing." Rui wondered about Matsuda's background.

"So… what did you think of Kira, Matsuda? You must be really brave to decide to go up against Kira, just like all the other task force members!" Rui asked, before Matsuda could say anything else.

"No… I… The Chief is the one I respect most, and I will follow him," Matsuda replied, uncharacteristically somber. "I am not brave. I can see why Kira is wrong, and I can see why Kira is right. I… When I don't know what to do, I think following the Chief is best."

"You really like the Chief, huh, Matsuda?" Rui prompted.

This got Matsuda all fired up. "The Chief is great! He worked his way up from a mere trainee even without any connections! Even when things didn't- didn't go so great for me at the start, he looked after me, believed in me and encouraged me. He is not only a good cop and leader but also a good father!"

That last part was said a little wistfully.

"What was your father like, Matsuda?" Rui regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth, as Matsuda's expression shuttered and dimmed. She was about to take back her question, but he spoke first.

"He was… alright. He liked to drink. I don't talk much to him," Matsuda replied, subdued. Then his expression switched again, to one of mischief. "Are you sure Ryuzaki doesn't have a…?" He held up his pinky finger again.

The change happened so quickly that it almost gave Rui whiplash. "Uh? Oh, I don't know," she replied quickly. "I only work for him. I don't know him that well." To be honest, the thought of Ryuzaki having someone special only made the simmer of resentment grow in her. Rui knew full well she didn't have any right to feel that way. Crushes were useless. They only brought out the worst in her.

"But you bought a lot of chocolate. Is that for Ryuzaki?" Matsuda pointed out.

As a matter of fact, it was. But not exactly for the reason Matsuda was implying. See, Rui knew full well how badly she had behaved the night before, and even this morning. She was planning to make an apology gift for Ryuzaki, even if he didn't seem the sort to care for handmade items. In any case, this recipe was practically idiot-proof** – one simply had to melt the chocolate, mix in shredded wheat, spoon them out into cupcake holders like little nests, add little chocolate egg candies on top, and then cool them in the fridge. It could easily be done in her room with an electric kettle, a few bowls and her mini-fridge.

"…No, I just wanted to eat a lot of chocolate," Rui deadpanned, lying through her teeth. Matsuda simply nodded in understanding. What, did everyone know about her period? Though, Matsuda must have had sisters. Still. Rui changed the subject.

"I'm just curious, but why did you become a police officer, Matsuda?"

He laughed a little self-deprecatingly. "I don't seem like one, do I?"

"It's not like that at all, Matsuda!" Rui hastened to reassure him, "I'm simply curious, you guys are so passionate about your duty. You're the only one I've had the opportunity to ask!"

"…" What, was that another question she shouldn't have asked? This time, he didn't attempt to say anything.

"W-well, what kind of partner do you think L goes for?" Rui said, transparently attempting to change the subject. This was evidently a topic Matsuda had much more enthusiasm for, for he practically vibrated in his seat with excitement, and spouted off a long list of attributes based on 'evidence' that Matsuda had 'observed' and 'deduced' with his 'expert knowledge' of people, borne of his favorite hobby, people-watching.

At the end of the car trip, Rui had learnt more about Matsuda, Aizawa and Ukita's preferences in women, and their exploits – both in dating and in the police cases they worked – than she cared to. Still, it was great fun dissecting Ryuzaki's actions with Matsuda, and in the end, they arrived at the agreed conclusion (Rui jokingly) that Ryuzaki was the type who probably liked curvy, blond women, and that Matsuda could probably introduce some to him.

June 21, 2004; 04 00

It was rather odd, Ryuzaki mused, how quickly someone could worm themselves so naturally into his life that he still had not gotten used to them not being there. Watari did not count; as far as Ryuzaki was concerned, he had always been a constant, permanent fixture in his life, like the air he breathed. Rui, on the other hand… More than once, his stomach had squirmed as soon as he heard the light taps of her footfalls passing by his room. That was probably some sort of Pavlovian response – after all, she did almost always bring the best desserts for him.

Sometimes, he found himself absently considering plans to tease her, especially when she did something particularly easy to tease, the most recent example being when she tripped over her vacuum cleaner.

Occasionally, he caught himself glancing sideways, expecting to see her at his side, for prior to him voluntarily putting the human equivalent of a ball and chain on himself, she had been a perpetual presence, a faithful, silent shadow. One that kept morphing and twisting.

His heart skipped a beat as the image of her seductive, heated gaze flashed in his mind's eye. He'd never put much conscious thought in the fact that Rui was female, but in that moment, he became fully cognizant of Rui being a woman.

He had only been trying to quell her anger at him, unprovoked though it had seemed. Watari had told him that women's anger could not be allowed to fester, and that he shouldn't let this one do so, especially if he wanted her to continue doing her job well. Employee motivation and all that. Moreover, even he knew that his shoving her away had been a little extreme. But then again, when she increased her proximity to him so drastically, it had almost seemed as if Rui was going to... No, that did not make any sense. No matter.

Despite his original intentions, he had found himself rooted to the spot, unable to keep from taking in the delicate flush of her cheeks and parted lips, the breathless quality of her voice, the graceful curve of her neck, and the sliver of creamy skin between her breasts, before she had demanded him out of her room.

But that did not mean anything. It was natural for a man – and indeed, he considered himself one despite wishing otherwise – to notice a woman. He'd even caught Matsuda glancing after her a handful of times.

Rui had, quite simply, been dreaming. Ryuzaki had no reason to think that her gaze – nor desire – would be directed at him, or even at anybody in this world. In fact, he didn't know all that much about her, not even what she did for a living nor even if she had a significant other back in her own world.

Indeed, he had accepted that as fact, too, making it apparent even to himself how much this case had changed him. Was still changing him, even. First, the existence of Shinigami. And now, the existence of other worlds. As he understood it, Rui's DNA sample, though it most closely matched the Mongoloid race, still differed significantly from every other known ancestry they knew. Her passport listed a country that did not exist, but that she had claimed was from 'Southeast Asia'. There was no such region defined here, but Watari had looked southeast of the Asian continent and found only small villages and tribal societies, nothing developed enough to be called a country.*** Rui would have to be lying, delusional or from a different world, and he had confirmed that the first two were simply untrue.

In any case, he did not particularly care what people did outside of the roles they performed on his team. Neither did it bother him if they were married or divorced or single or some permutation of these cases. No, he certainly did not concern himself with others' decisions. Simply, it was that Ryuzaki did not like having loose ends around him (again, not counting Watari). Just when he thought he had Rui all figured out, she went and did something that shifted his view of her again. Perhaps, if he finally understood her completely, he could and would stop puzzling over her.

Ryuzaki frowned, recalling the way Rui and Matsuda had strolled into the hotel lobby the day before, both talking and laughing loudly. That was a complete one-eighty from the awkward, quiet and distantly polite manner they had addressed each other when they'd left. How had they done that?

It had taken him a bit to turn off the surveillance feed and pull his attention back to Light, who was observing him curiously. "It is standard practice to monitor the comings and goings of my chosen area of temporary residence," Ryuzaki explained to Light, almost cordially, before he again resumed needling Light for being Kira.

He knew that Light no longer had his memories at this point in time, but loss of memory did not absolve one of the crimes one did, particularly when it was done of one's own will. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, Light and Misa were the First and Second Kira, even if they were currently the human equivalent of inactive timed bombs. He knew that the current situation was necessary for his goal, but that didn't mean that Ryuzaki was immune to the frustration of waiting. It would have been ideal if Rui had been able to tell him the location in which the Death Notes were buried, or at least, more detail of the events that would transpire. However, there was the possibility that the outcome and manner in which events played out would change should he alter too much of what he did.

Ryuzaki never did like the idea of anyone, least of all Light, pulling the wool over his eyes.

He already knew he wouldn't get much from Light being handcuffed to him round the clock. The use of surveillance equipment would achieve the same purpose in further familiarising him to Light's character without his memories, though Ryuzaki made sure to spend some of his nights observing Light's sleep in person.

Tonight was not one of those nights.

The room in which he resided was kept in almost complete darkness, save for the glare of the screens. That was just how Ryuzaki liked it. However, the same could not be said of its utter silence and stillness. Another sign of him having changed. Did he like the change? Ryuzaki never bothered himself with likes or dislikes. It simply was something he'd have to adapt to.

As if summoned by the thought, there was a light knock before Rui let herself in, struggling with an oversized platter of something. He could certainly have helped, but he chose to watch in mild amusement (or so he told himself, ignoring the slight quickening of his heartbeat) as she scrambled to close the heavy doors while balancing the contents of her burden, before turning to look at him from under her eyelashes. That sheepishness was new, he thought, noting how her feet scuffed the floor rather timidly.

Rui cleared her throat, scratching at the nape of her neck embarrassedly as she felt the full weight of his attention on her. Her dream had, after all, begun in a rather similar fashion.

She took a deep breath. "Ryuzaki, I'm sorry," she said, rather awkwardly. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at you yesterday and this morning. I just… I don't know what came over me. I-" Rui cut herself off, figuring she should stop trying to explain something she couldn't explain and digging herself into holes.

With a grand flourish, she presented her platter to him. "I made this for you! As an apology gift! Rui's special chocolate nests! Ha ha." Even the name sounded awkward. Rui figured she should just stop.

His eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the contents of the platter, and he brought his thumb up to chew as he shuffled forward slowly towards her, probably to see them more clearly.

Rui knew that, and still, her foolish heart drummed, pounded, and almost imploded, all at once. That would not do, though. It would make things too obvious, at least, in her view. Taking another deep breath to steady herself, she moved forward to meet him halfway.

"They're wheat, coated in melted chocolate and garnished with candy eggs!" Rui explained enthusiastically, rather proud of her resourcefulness in managing to make something even without proper equipment. "And these are bird cookies I used to garnish the rest of the platter. I think they're made with vanilla and strawberry fillings, depending on the color of the biscuit. I haven't tried them, but they sound delicious, at least, from the description."

As Ryuzaki leaned forward and continued staring at the platter, chewing harder at his thumb, Rui moved the plate until it was almost right beneath his nose. "Go on," she encouraged. "They're probably really good, if I do say so myself." So saying, she stole a chocolate nest and ate it unrepentantly. "Mmm, delicious! I only make stuff for you, Ryuzaki, so you better eat them all up!"

"That is not a true statement, Rui," Ryuzaki contradicted, though he took a chocolate nest. "You have prepared meals for Yagami-kun and Amane as well." Oh, right.

Rui shrugged, making a finger heart as she reached out with her other hand to steal a bird cookie, only for him to lightly swat her hand away. She sulked at him.

"I was under the impression these were an apology gift for me," Ryuzaki stated unrepentantly, making a show of eating the bird cookie she had been about to pick up. Rui huffed, but then figured that he was already being gracious by not inquiring after details of why she had blown up on him. Still, it would've been funny if at least one of those cookies was filled with wasabi or something. She briefly wondered what he'd look like after having gotten a snoutful of the green stuff, then coughed to hide her snicker.

"So, uh," Rui began, scuffing her toe in a circle, "are we good? I'm really sorry I yelled at you. It was really disrespectful of me to do so."

This was met with silence.

"You're not going to take revenge on me, are you?" she questioned suspiciously, looking up.

He was nibbling delicately at the edges of another chocolate nest. Eh, she figured it was time she fled.

Rui took a couple of quick steps backward, testing his reaction. There was none to be had. "Okay, well, nights!" she said hastily, then made as if to brisk walk away.

"Rui," Ryuzaki's monotone voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks. Turning around, his expression was the same as always, but was that just a shred of hesitation?

"As you well know, not much headway will be made into this case if the status quo is maintained. Thus, Yagami and Amane will soon be allowed to meet."

* /2017/04/13/w-t-f-japan-top-5-confusing-japanese-hand-gestures-top-five/#:~:text=But,just.&text=You,holds.

** Easter chocolate nests: recipes/shredded-wheat-nests. Though, I actually got the idea from a rather old youtube video Dan and Phil did on Easter baking. Like I said, it's practically impossible to screw this up unless you're trying.

*** East Asia exists in the DN world, because Japanese (as the DN authors are) are cognizant of China and Korea, their neighbors. But what if there was a possibility they didn't remember the Middle East, or Southeast Asia? Then those regions wouldn't exist in the DN world, and it would play a part in convincing L of there being another world. Right?

Edited to add disclaimer: I am not implying that the DN authors and japanese in general are ignorant of the world. Not at all. I'm just saying that I don't remember the DN authors mentioning the Middle east or southeast Asia in their DN works, so it would be a good plot point for me to capitalize on. If they did mention it, then my bad.