CHAPTER TEN
"Just A Formality"
Light was stopped at the doors of the Arboretum Gardens, two twelve-foot doors with two silver dragons adorning and facing one other. He was searched by an armed bodyguard, a suitable precaution searching Terrance Claw was a very important man. Asumi (Mistress Tigressa) was grandfathered through, and Light had to remember to call her by her title in front of mixed company, so not to give away their familiarity.
As they followed the bodyguard through, they were escorted through a lush forestry of exotic flora and fauna that Light found fascinating to be growing underground. Some of the plants needed sunshine, but Terrance Claw appeared to have solved that problem with a series of sunlamps and mirrors angled perfectly so that they directed sunshine from the surface from somewhere. As for water, a sprinkler system kept the gardens properly watered.
Equally impressive was when they walked over a wooden bridge that arched over a small makeshift creek that snaked through the gardens. Statues of gods and ancient powerful Japanese creatures stood watch everywhere as if guarding the entire place. The centre piece was a large statue of the bellyful god Buddha with its larger than life smile and round head. There were even birds flying around, chirping with an unusual happiness for animals who would never see the world above, creating a serene atmosphere.
This was Terrance Claw's inner sanctum, his gardens of peace and tranquilly, and warm. And the man himself stood wearing in a dark business suit much like Light's, sprinkling food to some fish in a mini, separated pond, apart from the river. He was a middle-aged man, slightly greying at the sides, but with a strong-looking and dominating form. Light had originally pictured the man as a thin, older gentleman. He had been dead wrong.
Tigressa had given him a short profile of the man as they made their way to the gardens, one floor down from her quarters. Each floor was separated by concrete. And the facility was explained to him, Light now knew there were several floors to this massive underground complex, separated into districts, including one floor solely for residential quarters.
But this floor was Terrance Claw's solely. He was surrounded by bodyguards in dark suits. Even down here, he was cautious.
They approached, the same bodyguard that frisked Light escorting them.
At first, Terrance Claw didn't acknowledge them and continued to feed his fish—gold coy, Light observed. Then the man brushed off his hands and looked up at them, with a serious look.
They stood in silence for a moment. "You're a very clever, young man. Finding that hidden camera in Tigressa's quarters wasn't easy. I thought it was too small to notice. But what else would I expect from an intelligent person such as yourself. A man of two worlds: part of the NPA, of the special Information Bureau, and the Kira Task Force."
Tigressa gasped. She had no idea there was a secret camera in her room. "Where is the camera?" she fumed, as if insulted that her loyalty was being tested.
"The detective can tell you that," Claw answered amused. "There are a couple, in fact. You two put on quite a show in the shower. But to save face, there are no wiretaps—there wasn't time. I had the cameras installed in your quarters, Tigressa, as you were 'questioning' the detective."
Tigressa growled unsavourily under her breath. Light could also feel her anger, but then he saw her face mellow as her Master revealed their voices were not picked up. So, Terrance Claw didn't know that Tigressa wanted to leave his service. Then again, Claw could be lying.
Terrance Claw suddenly smiled broadly. He looked Light up and down and nodded his approval.
"You choose wisely, Detective, those clothes suit you well," the man spoke elegantly. "You have a stunning resemblance to my son. Unfortunately, he died just recently. Kira murdered him. No one knows how Kira kills, but Kira seems to have a god-like power."
Indeed, I do, Light thought.
"So, I've been told," Light agreed. "The Kira Task Force has been investigating Kira and Kira seems to have an unnatural ESP power. Kira can even kill a person by looking you directly in the eye, or so the rumours say." It was a slight exaggeration. Kira needed a name and face to kill, to kill in the Death Note. However, with what little information he just gave Terrance Claw, it was obviously enough to wet his appetite for more. And judging by his face, Light figured he had roped the man into his web if intrigue. "But this information has not been divulged to the general public. Much to the dismay of most, Kira could be walking among them, and anything could trigger his judgements. Since Kira has arrived on the scene, crime has virtually disappeared."
Terrance Claw laughed, and then gave Light a hearty slap on the shoulder. "What Kira doesn't know, won't hurt us—do you agree?" He gestured Light to walk with him towards a cafe setting just beyond the pond. Light followed, with Tigressa and the guard behind. "My operation here is undetectable, even the police don't know about it. And far away from that sadistic maniac."
Light withheld a sneer at that last remark.
Claw snapped his fingers and a servant poured some tea for Light and for their host. Terrance Claw sat down in a tall back wicker chair that looked out over the gardens and Light sat down in a smaller chair, with a small round glass table between. It would be rude not to except the Master's hospitality. Tigressa did not sit, no doubt doing so would ruin her dress.
Light took a sip from his cup. "Let's get down the brass tax," he said. "Despite my previous afflictions, I've decided I want more. After getting to know your operation, despite what I went through when I was brought here, Tigressa has been kind enough to let me in on some of the finer details, and I want in."
Terrance Claw looked at Tigressa as he was in the midst of sipping his tea, then to Light. The man eyed Light with suspicion. "What do you mean? You wish to join my organization?"
"You've obviously aware of my police profile, so you know my skills. I was valedictorian at my high school, and recited the entrance speech at my university's opening ceremonies. I also took top marks in my police foundation courses and was assigned to the Intelligence Bureau until I transferred to the Kira Task Force. So, there is much I could bring to the Dragon Sect."
"I see," Claw said, as he took another sip of his hot tea. He put the cup down on the table and took a moment looking inward, like he was thinking. Then he gave a sideways glance. "I want to ask you about L. Very little is know about him. But it must take a superego to pit yourself against a pseudo god like Kira. I'm surprised L hasn't yet been killed with this battle of wits."
Light took a sip of tea, ignoring the outright blasphemy in labelling Kira a pseudo god. He put the cup down on the table "Yes, L is a sly one, I'll give you that," he said. "But the most recent wave of killings by Kira has put L's reputation into question. The community by large is calling for an inquiry, and frankly, I don't blame them."
"As they should," Claw agreed. "Whoever this L is, he needs a serious evaluation of his skills. Otherwise, the Kira Task Force should just disband. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I would surmise that is a fair assessment of the situation from an outsiders point of view," Light returned. But something about Claw's push for information irked Light a little. Did he know something about the task force? Well, as he probes me for information, I'll do the same—then I'll kill you, Terrance Claw.
"Is L Japanese?" Claw asked. Light knew this was coming. "He uses a voice synthesizer to relay his messages to police agencies around the world. It is to hide his real identity, correct?"
It would not give away any information that the public would not already know, Light thought. "Yes," Light said. "But I'm sorry, I cannot give away L's nationality, you understand."
Terrance Claw picked up his tea cup again and sipped gently. A servant brought some biscuits on a tray, and Claw took one, dipping in his tea. "I fully understand. But I already know the truth. And Mr. Yagami, you're not a very good lair You have so many tells, and if you and I were to play poker, you would lose every time. Body language can reveal a lot about a person, too. But being trained to know such things, as a detective, you know exactly what I'm taking about."
Light blinked. What tells? What did he give away? Or was this mind manipulation?
Obviously, Claw's organization was privy to a lot of information. And Light knew there were moles within the NPA.
Terrance Claw chuckled. "Relax, Detective. Nothing you have said is untrue. I know much more than you think about the Kira Task Force and yourself. The Yukaza have spies everywhere. But I'm not interested in petty personal issues. And if you wish to join my organization, you will have to prove your loyalty. Words are meaningless to me."
Light was already prepared for this.
All of a sudden, a massive Komodo Dragon came out from a thicket of bushes and crawled towards Light. Light jumped out of the chair. He had only seen such creatures behind glass at zoos or in online documentaries.
"Remain calm, Detective," Claw informed.
Claw made a clicking sound with the side of his mouth, and the ten foot, hundred-fifty pound scaly amphibian, looked at him. With a hand gesture, it haled. Light held his breath.
"Hearing my voice, my pet, Kito, came to say hello, Mr. Yagami," Claw said, "I've had him since he was small enough to fit into the palm of my hand." The Komodo Dragon ejected its tongue out. "But if you try and pet him, you'll regret it. I'm the only one that can." And Kito went over to Claw and allowed the Yukaza boss to pet its scaly head.
Light let out his breath slowly. "I was never one for cold-blooded creatures. I had a cat when I was kid, but that was as far as it went. Unless you count some of the women I've encountered."
Terrance Claw laughed. "And you should be commended that you're still alive, especially after your encounter with Yukie Matsushita, who had an unhealthy infatuation with you. And I'm sure you do wish to be reminded of your problems with Ken Kuzushi, an old junior school classmate, who also had an unhealthy infatuation with you. You were indeed popular with both sexes, Light Yagami. Well, good looks do have its advantages and disadvantages."
Yukie Matsushita* was an old high school classmate with an overly obsessive desire for him and it almost got Light killed, and Kira caught. At the time, Light had just recently picked up the Death Note, but another classmate had died from a mysterious heart attack, and everyone blamed Kira. But it was later revealed Yukie had injected the school bully with something that induced and made it appear like a heart attack. It was also Light's first sexual experience, when Yukie got him alone in his bedroom, and tied him down. Eventually, she was judged.
As for Ken Kuzushi*, he was an old grade school classmate, with a bizarre personality, who dressed up in a girl's uniform at school and pretended to be a female student—until his real identity was discovered. He also had an infatuation with Light of a different sort, and later, when Light was in his senior year of high school, Kuzushi returned, and kidnapped Light's mother and sister and demanded restitution for Light rejecting him. Kuzushi was also judged.
(Yukie Matsushita is a female character in my story "Moral Compass", and Ken Kuzushi is a male character in my story "The Twisted Kuzushi Affair"…Please take some time to read them).
Light's eyes widened. How the hell did Terrance Claw know about those encounters? Both of the aforementioned had tried to kill Light for personal reasons. How much personal background had Terrance Claw conduct on him? I'm going to have to be very careful with Terrance Claw. It's almost like I'm battling L again.
Light wondered just how much information was in the public domain about him. And if information was ever brought to the surface about him being accused of being Kira or that Misa was involved, then all his plans to get close to Terrance Claw would go up in smoke.
Damn it, I need my watch back with the piece of the Death Note. I need to kill all Claw, and everyone else, and get the hell out of here, asap.
"And I know about, Misa Amane, the actress, as well. We know all about her infatuation with you. You do get around, Mr. Yagami. A real casanova, you are." Claw chuckled under his breath. Claw waved a hand across his face as if to wave off a bad smell. "But in my opinion, Aname's movies are horrible, her acting amateurish. The only thing she has going for her is that her body." Claw smiled. "I don't know how you can tolerate her? Tigressa would make a better suitor, wouldn't you say?" Claw looked at Tigressa and smiled mischievously.
Light acknowledged Asumi, but did not give her a smile.
A servant came over with a tray. Claw then handed Light his cell phone off of it. "We went through it. There were emails and text messages from your work contacts, and a rather interesting, albeit, disturbing video. Ms. Amane and you don't seem to be getting along lately, I see, so she has to mock you with a scandalous video?"
Light snorted under his breath. "Yes," he said irritated. "But I'm sure you learned little from communication with my colleagues. And as for the video, Misa Amane is a very, how should I say this, angry person, if she doesn't get what she wants. Her personal life does not mirror her professional one, and yes—we have been having…problems."
"Indeed," Claw said, then made another clicking noise, and ordered Kito back into the gardens. The Komodo Dragon almost let out a groan, but obeyed its master's command.
Light watched it leave and he was glad for the grotesque creature to be out of his sight.
Claw stood up. "Very well, until dinner tonight—this meeting was just a formality," he said. "Shall we shall seven o'clock in the Dining Hall? Tigressa can show you the way."
Light bowed, which was the respectful thing to do, and then Claw left.
When they left the gardens, Tigressa and Light returned to her private quarters. Immediately, Light went to the large painting on her wall and checked it. The camera was gone. And now that he had applied to become a member of the Yukaza, he was more than sure that there were no more cameras in Tigressa's quarters. Which didn't make it any less intrusive, the damage to her dignity had been done.
Light let out a breath and loosened his tie as he dropped down into a chair in the living area, it would be a couple of hours before dinner. He would have to choose something else to wear for dinner. Wearing the same attire would be folly. "Terrance Claw is an intimidating man," he said.
"But he's taken a liking to you," Tigress said, sitting on the arm of the chair. "He even said you remind him of his late son."
Light smirked, as he stapled his fingers in front of his mouth. "How far I can go with him will remain to be seen, I underestimated how much he knows about me."
Light wondered how much Claw really knew? If Claw kept digging, Light had some damaging secrets if exposed.
He had to get Asumi more on his side, he needed information about Terrance Claw, and his organization, and quickly. It was time to pump her for more information, and with a sly move that brought her closer to him, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. She didn't resist.
Light fingered his neck collar, loosening it further. "Let's get out of these tight clothes and into something loose fitting," he said playfully.
Asumi smiled, agreeably.
To be continued…