CHAPTER NINE
"Manipulation"

"You want to leave the Yukaza? But that's a death sentence." Light's voice was slightly more elevated than he wished it to be. And he cleared his throat to tone down his shock.

He wondered if her wannabe-defection had anything to do with him being a member of the NPA. Maybe she thought with his connections, he could somehow get her out. Asumi's more in-depth questioning of him made more sense now.

"But no one leaves, the Master would most assuredly kill you."

"Yes, but you—" Asumi's eyes brightened with hope. "You're with the police."

Light assumed correctly, but she had the wrong idea. And after all, why would he even think of helping her escape this place after what she and Riki put him through. The very nature of which would haunt his thoughts for years. He vowed no one would ever know about it.

And yet, this was yet another golden opportunity. She could give him the names of all the top echelon within the Dragon Sect, and when he was able, strike them all down with the stroke of a pen—their names written in the Death Note.

But then, Asumi had to believe that he could help her, despite it being an impossibility.

He also considered that this was all an act.

The Master wanted to see him. But Light had not provided any valuable information for her to present to him. If he agreed to help this woman try to escape, and they were caught, she could claim he cohered her somehow. It would safe her, but most assuredly sentence him to death.

"I'm sorry for what you had to endure, but I didn't know if you could help me," Asumi said. "I needed to be sure that you were the person who could save me. Now I have hope." Light looked at her necklace with the kanji for Hope, now it made sense. "I've been here far too long and seen far too much. Please, Detective Light Yagami. I want to leave."

This didn't sound like an act. "Call me Light. And you have to understand, your desire to leave will likely be a death sentence. You will have to go into hiding and you may never be safe."

"But if Kira has all the names of those involved here, then I will be safe. I can get profiles, pictures, and real names for Kira—and they could be given to him, secretly, of course."

Light grinned inwardly. Perfect. He didn't even have to ask. But he had to play innocent. "But I don't know who Kira is, no one on the task force knows his real identity. Not even L. Giving me all the information won't necessarily help you, unless the data somehow got leaked to open domain and Kira saw it. And that is an unknown."

"Kira is a god, I know he can find the information. But sometimes even gods need help." She winked.

Again, Light grinned inwardly. Indeed, this would help Kira a great deal, Asumi. And perhaps Kira would be lenient on you in assisting ...me.

"I assume all communications are monitored, correct?" Light asked. She nodded. Then contacting my people isn't an option, Light thought. "I'm still making my offer to work for the Dragon Sect to the Master." She gasped. "I'm intrigued about him."

"The Master, his name is Terrance Claw, an alias of course, will be highly suspicious of you. He already has a complete profile of your affiliations, and because you're a member of the NPA, he more than likely will want proof of your loyalty. He'll want classified information."

"That can be arranged. Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little. So, I need you to take me to Terrance Claw." Light produced a brilliant fake smile. "After I'm presentable, of course."

Light knew the NPA had a department set up just such emergencies. If a captured agent was ever forced to reveal information to an enemy, he/she would use information not known to the public regarding the NPA, hidden secretly within a DIET parliamentary database regarding falsified police matters. This would also create a flag within the system which would let the NPA know that a captured officer was in need of assistance with a possible location.

And Light was counting on that. It would most assuredly get back to the Kira Task Force. Aizawa already said he had connections on the inside despite quitting the NPA to work solely for the task force after L died. Light knew he could use it to his advantage here.

"Very well, I'll take you to him," she said with concern. "But I don't like it. He has this uncanny ability to know when someone is lying to him. The previous Mistress—the woman before me—was removed because she lied to him, failing to get information he wanted from a subject—like I did with you. I was given her job."

He didn't care about Asumi's history.

And his manipulations working. He even scared himself sometimes.

Light jingled the chain to his shackles.

Asumi produced a key, unlocking the shackles. He edged off the bed. "Now, I wish to take a shower." He smiled. "I want to smell as well as look my best when I meet Terrance Claw." Then Light had a wicked idea. "Would you care to join me?"

Her eyes widened, as Light extended out a hand. "You have enchanted me, my dear Asumi," he said. "Let us forget our previous tides and consummate a new beginning." It was also a perfect opportunity to make her believe he wanted him to help her escape. It was also a good way to release some of the tension he felt for the indignity of her interrogation. It get her back!

Asumi took his hand, and together they walked into the on-suite bathroom, and into ecstasy.

Standing in front of a tall, free-standing mirror in the bedroom, Light adjusted his dark red tie that complemented his Armani suit. He had chosen it from a selection of male clothing presented to him. Asumi was adding the finishing touches to her new dress, a dark red frock, that accentuated every line and curve of he sensual frame, with jewelry accessories. Despite this being an informal meeting, Light wanted to look his best when he met Terrance Claw. First impressions said a lot to moving things along on a positive front.

He smirked to himself. He not only felt refreshed but all his tension had washed away in the shower. It had completely restored his self-confidence.

Asumi turned to him. "Are you almost ready, Light?"

"Almost," Light replied. But he felt incomplete without his watch.

"I approve, very becoming, you look good in black. It suits you."

"As do you, Asumi," Light returned the complement, as he straightened his shirt cuffs.

She went over to him, and in her hands was a gold chain she had been wearing when he first met her with the kanji for Hope. She placed it around his neck. "For luck," she said.

Light withheld disgust. He felt like she had just put a leach around him.

"Master Claw will find you more convincing if you completely embrace the Dragon Sect," she further said. "So, you really need to sell yourself. But as you are so naturally charismatic, that shouldn't be a problem for you."

Light faked a smile.

Suddenly, there came a couple of knocks at the door to her private quarters.

They both turned. "Are you expecting anymore?" Light asked.

She shook her head. She answered the door, and Riki stood on the other side. Light saw Asumi fall into the role of Mistress Tigressa immediately. "Yes, Riki?"

"Sorry for the interruption, Mistress," he said with a bow. "I came here to ask if you had any work for me…" He suddenly gasped, looking beyond her. "Detective, you are here? Why is he here in your private quarters, and unguarded, Mistress?" Riki admonished himself. "Forgive me. iI's not my place to question you, Mistress. Your personal business is your own. I will leave."

Riki bowed, and then quickly left.

Asumi shut the door softly and then let out a sudden breath.

"He likes you," Light said off-handedly. "I get the impression he looks up to you."

"I'm his Mistress, our relationship is purely stoic. He obeys my every command."

"Do you treat him any differently than any of the others under you hospice?"

"Well, yes. He is my Prime Assistant."

"That's not what I mean," Light said, venturing over to her. "You care for him, don't you? Almost in a maternal way, or have I made a wrong assumption?"

Asumi looked away abashed, he already had her figured out.

Light stepped closer. When he was first brought here, Asumi had him under her thumb, but now the tables had turned. He was in control, and that was the way he wanted it. Light brushed a a stray hair from Asumi's cheek. She had already told Light that she wanted to escape from this piece, but he knew there was something else. Had she fallen for him?

"I want Riki to come with us," she suddenly said. Light froze. "He deserves a better life." Her eyes glistened with deep pools of sadness. "Please, Light. Riki needs to escape here, too. I would never be able to forgive myself if I left him behind."

He smiled sweetly at her. "Let us get past our first hurtle. The personal invitation with the Master. It would be rude to keep him waiting."

He eagerly awaited the Master, and as he and Asumi prepared to leave her quarters, Light took one fleeting glance at one of the framed paintings on Asumi's wall. It was a surreal paining of a Japanese Edo period landscape. If Light recalled, the Edo period encompassed the beginning of the seventeenth and ended in the later half of the nineteenth centuries. It was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate and its many powerful feudal lords. It was an era of economic growth, strict social order, isolationist foreign policies, and establishing a stable population, with the motto: "No More Wars". But that wasn't what interested Light.

In the eye of the feudal lord was a miniature camera, he noticed the glint a few minutes ago as he was getting dressed but didn't react to it. He had practise with such things. Hence, even before their meeting, Terrance Claw would know of Asumi's betrayal, wishing to leave the Yukaza. Nevertheless, his battle with Claw was only about to begin.

To be continued...