Chapter Thirteen:
"Eyes"

After everything had unfolded and things settled down, and with the media attributing Jasper Yuta and his cohorts deaths to Kira, relayed by the NPA through L's directive through a press release, rebuilding commenced in certain areas of the Kira Task Force Headquarters building secretly.

Reconstruction of events during their hostage takeover played out to a certain degree, but all that that transpired in the small entertainment suite was a dead issue. Light didn't remember much of what happened.

It had been a week since things ended, and in that time Light had had surgery on his arm and leg to remove the bullets through a private doctor L knew.

Now the task force was once again discussing the Kira Case with new vigour.

Misa was out on another movie shoot as everyone was gathered in the epicentre, lounge area. Misa wanted to stay, but L told her Light would be fine. But during the entire week of Light's initial recovery, she was was all over Light, waiting on him hand and foot, and even offered to do him "special favours" to make him feel better.

Light declined most of her advances, but allowed Misa to help with things that made it difficult for him to normally do, and was very supportive in every way possible.

Light, however, was back to being handcuffed with a lengthy chain to L.

Even after everything that had transpired, Jasper Yuta's last words still haunted L. And what really happened between Jasper and Light in the small entertainment suite?

Even Galileo's—Ichi Levin, was his real name—death was still unexplained.

But L had a theory. At certain times, a person could do extraordinary things like overcome an attacker, while then forgetting it ever happened, despite the evidence. There was little evidence to go on except Light's handcuffs, which had Galileo's blood and samples of skin. Had Light choked the teen to death in a feat of strength and then repressed it? There were no working cameras in the room, so no one could prove it. Galileo's gun was also examined, and it was determined that the two bullets found in the wall in the small entertainment suite came from his gun.

The physical evidence was filed away for later examination.

Charging Light with murder here would serve the task force no worthwhile purpose, especially when L was trying to prove Light was Kira. It was would also be counterproductive to the overall case. It would also draw attention to the Third Kira, as L called him.

L still needed Light. He would keep his eyes on him.

It was learned that Tristan and Isolde—both their real full names were discovered in police records with pictures, and no doubt how the Third Kira got access to them—had a young son, who was being babysat by a friend at the time of the incident that lead to their deaths. He was later placed in foster care, which upset L. Yet another orphan made by the parents mistakes.

L was orphaned at a young age, but he was lucky he had Watari to help him get through the really tough times.

Despite the tragic outcome, and as far as the Kira Case was concerned, at least only the Kira Task Force knew L's real identity now. With the death of Jasper Yuta and his friends, who had discovered what he really looked like, he was, for the most part, safe.

Regarding safety, however, after his return from the hospital, Light kept pressing for L to allow the task force members to carry weapons to protect themselves if anything like the Jasper Yuta affair happened again.

L said no.

"Non-lethal tasers?" Light said, during a roundtable. They were supposed to be talking about Kira, but Light kept getting off topic. L figured he was still in shock about what had happened and wished to carry a weapon to make him feel safer. "Anything!"

"No," L repeated sternly.

"I feel completely defenceless!" Light said in a huff. His arm was in a sling after his surgery and he had a leg wrapping around his right thigh under his pants, but other than those two places, apart from the quickly fading scar on his cheek, he was none the worse.

"That's how we all feel against Kira, Light," L retorted. "I was wrong last week when I said Light would be safe with three former police officers with him. And I was a little shocked and perturbed that despite this building being one of the most sophisticated ever built, and with some of the most up-to-date tech in the world, an AOS—Autonomous Operations System—that controls this building, was so easily hacked by a teenager with a simple computer tablet." L sounded miffed. "Protocols are being implemented to prevent that from ever happening again with multiple firewalls and dualistic systems working simultaneously, and on independent servers, as per Light's suggestion. One will kick in if the other AOS ever has a similar issue. Watari is taking care of the details."

Light was about to say something, but L got the jump first. "However, as Light feels…vulnerable. I will offer a concession." Light thanked him. Watari stepped forward with a small metal case, then opened it. "It's called a billy club. It's non-lethal, light-weight, and it can be carried almost anywhere, derivative of London, England, mid-1800s. I've even instructed Watari to attach a clip for your belt."

Soichiro Yagami put a hand to his face to hide a smile, as Light picked up the small, black club, about eight inches in length, and made of cheap children's plastic. Light tapped it on the table they all sat around on couches and it made a hollow sound.

Mogi turned to snicker. Matsuda just burst out laughing.

"Not funny, L," Light said seriously. "This isn't funny in the slightest. I'm completely insulted!" He slammed it to the table angrily.

"Relax, son," his father said calmingly. "L is just joking."

"Well, I'm not amused!" Light said, wincing from the pain of his injuries.

"Perhaps you should take up martial arts again. I remember you once mentioned you took classes when you were a kid just after the first incident with Jasper Yuta and his father when you were ten years old. Or, I can begin a Tai Chi starters class in the morning? It does wonders for the mind, body and soul. It may also stymie some of that pent-up anger you seem to have. Or…and I say this from experience…you could acquiesce to Misa's offer to relax you. You're at an age now where certain 'exercises' are very beneficial for a young man's health."

"Ryuzaki!" Light said, eyes wide.

L shrugged. "Just a suggestion," he said.

"But L is right, Light," Matsuda said. "You need to learn to relax more."

Light lifted his right arm showcasing the hand-cuff and lengthy chain, the other end was attached to L. "How can I relax when I'm still under the suspicion of being a mass serial killer?" he said. "I am not Kira!"

"So you say," L said. "So, once again, we are back to where we began. The Jasper Yuta Case is closed. Time to get back to the Kira Case. Does anyone have anything to report?"

Light slammed an open palm to the table in frustration. It started everyone.

L looked at Light. Light stared back at him with an angry glare.

"I don't like that look in your eyes, Light," L said.

"And I don't like being ignored!"

L tilted his head. "Very well, let's all stop and listen to what Light has to say," he said.

Light opened his mouth to say something, looked around at the rest of the task force, and then shut up. If it didn't have anything to do with the Kira Case, it was irrelevant.

The discussion with the Kira Case continued.

END