In just a few minutes I developed such speed in my legs, as if running a marathon. Dozens of thoughts gathered through my mind. I was still thinking about what could happen to me after this event. Light would most likely murder me. If that was indeed the case, then I'd have to pick up the marker and go back to my world. But then it would be an indication to Kira am scared of him, and besides, my partners would be looking for me. No, wait! The marker is broken. What do I do now? I'll definitely be stuck here! What if I stay for years stuck in a world where I don't belong? How long will I be here? It's not possible to stay forever! What will I tell Helen? What if our parents find out our secret?
At that time, it felt like there was a war going on in my head. Many emotions fought each other. What was I feeling? Fear? What was I afraid of? Kira? I'm not afraid of him! He's just an arrogant asshole who thinks he's great just because he kills criminals. It would be cowardly of me to leave the group just because he might kill me.
I don't want to be afraid. If I want to be called a policewoman, I shouldn't be afraid! Even though my legs tremble at the mere thought I'll die in the prime of my life! It's not true! It's a nightmare, I'll wake up! Nothing is going to happen to me!
I arrived at the bus stop with my heart still hammering from running. Fortunately, the bus appeared at the end of the road. I went in, worried about the reaction of my colleagues, and hoping they wouldn't argue with me, that they would see me as a clever and brave kid.
As soon as I returned to the secret base, Matsuda came up to me agitated.
"Where were you?!" he shouted. "Why didn't you tell us anything?!"
"I was—"
"You know if anything happened to you we'd be responsible, right? What about your parents?" Aizawa added sternly.
I tried not to be startled and to look cool instead. But, my eyes were ready to shed tears. Not that I would cry just because someone raised their voice at me. I'm not a baby!
"I was on Sakura TV..." I finally answered their question.
"Were you were?!" Matsuda was startled. "On Sakura TV there was a person hiding behind the English letter O. What were you doing there?"
"Wait a minute. It's no accident the girl was there. It's not difficult to understand she went there for that very reason. She's the one who filmed the video." L concluded who looked particularly surprised, even though his voice was as monotone as usual.
Mogi and Aizawa seemed to already know I was on TV and just didn't know how to react. Only Matsuda had the look of a man who just realized what was going on.
"Indeed... She introduced herself as O, I just wasn't sure if it was Marina or just a coincidence." Mogi said.
"And it was extremely dangerous I can tell, especially for such a young child," Matsuda added.
"That's not related! You are forgetting a very important detail you haven't noticed! You describe it as dangerous although am not a baby anymore! You act just like my parents. They say: don't do this! or don't do that!"
"If your parents say that, then rightly so because they want to protect you. You're still not fully responsible for taking care of yourself!" said the chief sternly.
"My parents don't care! All they want is to get rid of me! If they really cared about me, they would let me have this adventure, and not tell me age-related things. I'm sure when I'm eighteen years old, they'll say: "Go study in your own house. You're grown up." In the end... You're never at the right age to do things you want, because there's this scourge of freaking ages!"
Then climbed the stairs and entered my room. I have no idea what I was pissed off about. I just wanted to be left alone with my thoughts. At some point, there was the need to cry, but for some reason, no tears came.
I tried to call my sister and tell her about the events, but on every call, there was a voicemail.
What the hell is she doing? I thought while impatiently waiting.
That same night when our base was already closed and the team members had returned home, I thought of going to the kitchen and having a snack before going to bed. But when I passed the computer room, I noticed they had forgotten to remove one of the security cameras from Light's room. There was indeed curiosity to see why was Light awake at a time like this.
"I'll kill her! I'll kill her! I'll definitely kill this bitch!"
"Slow down, Light. She just revealed your identity, not to kill your mother or something!'
"I'd rather have my mother killed than defile me in front of the whole country! Monday dawns in two days! How will I face my classmates and my teachers?"
"Are you asking me?" Ryuk said by taking a bite out of the apple he ate. "You'll tell them you're murdering people and it's just your hobby. What's wrong with that?"
"I'll lose the profile of the good student, you idiot! It's pretty obvious!"
"I was just kidding, man... Just don't shout because it's past eleven, and as far as I know, mortals are asleep by this hour."
There was a moment of silence between them. I anxiously waited for the next word of Light, as if depended on it.
"Ryuk! I've got a marvellous idea! Although am not used to doing such things, I'll apply it, as the occasion calls for it."
"So? What is it?"
"I call it an improv plan. When I arrive tomorrow at the secret base, I'll let things go as they are and when the timing is perfect, I'll do whatever idea comes to mind."
"Like what? Grab her and throw her off the balcony?"
"Not exactly, although it wouldn't be a bad idea..."
He turned his gaze to the television. It projected the weather forecast.
"Maybe tomorrow's hurricane will be an obstacle.
"Are you going to put the plan into action outside?"
He smirked. "You never know..."
"Anyways... Keep in mind I'm not particularly excited. It's important to remind am neither on your side nor on the side of the police. I'm just another shinigami waiting for the moment to write your name. Just like the rest of them."
I turned off the camera and went back to my room. Didn't feel like snacking anymore. Whatever Light had in mind, it certainly wasn't safe. It probably included death too! He certainly had no shame in his actions or appearing casually in front of the police officers! I wanted to inform L but didn't know if he was asleep or awake. I had a restless sleep that night.
I decided to be extremely aware of Light's every move for the next day, as well as Ryuk's. When all logic is lost in the Kira case and Kira is surrounded by gods and magic notebooks, you know it's a power authority. And this power had totally driven him crazy!
It rained all day and was quite stormy. The drops fell so hard on the windows, you'd think they'd break. From what I have seen in crime movies, such weather is suitable for an assassin to kill an important person like a politician. I wondered if Light did something similar.
Due to so much rain, the power suddenly went out. Matsuda fell off the chair, Aizawa was staring at the wall in fear, and Light jumped into Matsuda's arms.
"Guys, chill out. The power just went off!"
"A cockroach!" Matsuda shouted.
I turned my gaze towards the screens. Indeed there was something large and black walking around. It didn't seem hostile though, mainly because cockroaches don't bite. But these men acted like they saw a ghost!
"Here are my brave colleagues! They're afraid of a nasty little critter!" the manager scoffed.
"It's not a nasty little critter, Dad! That thing looks like a coffee saucer!" Light shouted.
"I have childhood traumas with cockroaches and can't approach any of them!" Matsuda added.
"You're not afraid of a mass murder, but you're afraid of an insect that's not even hostile? How pathetic..." I commented.
I grabbed the insect and brought it in front of their faces. They hugged even tighter due to fear.
"Does it seem dangerous though?"
"Stop! Get it out of here!"
"Kill it! Melt it!"
"We demand the death of the profane right now!" Matsuda shouted as well.
"If you will allow me, gentlemen, I'll just let it go free through the window. All God's creatures have a right to live."
I opened the window and let the strong wind blow it away. Although it wasn't obvious, I felt sorry for them to be honest...
"Oh God... My heart's still shaking..." Matsuda murmured.
Light ran upstairs in a hurry. I didn't know what the hurry was about, but certainly not for good reason. By the time I went up, the attic door was already closed. I placed my left ear on it. Nothing was heard, so I opened it widely.
"Oh! Marina! Didn't realize you were behind the door! How come you passed by?" Light said in a friendly yet fake manner.
"I just wondered how's it going. You good?"
"Yeah. How did you know I was here?" his voice tone was clearly sarcastic.
"I assumed so. Attics are places where geniuses go when they want to immerse themselves in their thoughts. That's what I've heard at least."
"Nah, it's nothing... I'm not suitable to be called a genius!" he giggled then pulled out a chair from the far side of the room as if wanted to start a conversation.
"Well, you know something, Marina? Sometimes I think: Why do animals kill other animals? To survive obviously. But when a man does so, what reason do they have? Why would they want to kill? What's going on in the back of their mind? Have you ever thought about that?"
"I have. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing. Just chit-chatting."
"I believe that for someone wanting to kill, it means they have the feeling of revenge. These people probably wish to get revenge on someone, and by sending the victim into the hands of Hades think it's the easiest solution. Or even not wanting to get revenge on someone, maybe something is going on with the neurotransmitter in the brain. I wish I knew more, but am not a specialist on the topic."
He shook his head. "Well, for me I believe they feel wronged. Of course, murder is a crime, but it's allowed when you feel the justice of the state itself can't even reduce crime. In other words, I wouldn't be surprised if I saw a victim desperately wanting to kill the perpetrator. I disagree with the death penalty being abolished in most countries."
He paused a little. "Thankfully that problem has been fixed..." he pointed to the notebook. "...Thanks to me!"
"If you think you can fool my ally and I, you are the one who's been fooled! You're still too young to work! Even so, to chase a person who only brings peace to the world! You don't know what's fair or not! It's the society that has brainwashed you, kid! But, you'll soon see how wrong your perceptions are! Without me, this world wouldn't have been developed further! There would still be wars, cruel regimes and idiotic politicians! So, you're wrong, Marina! And so is the rest of the justice system that's useless at defending the weak ones!"
"You have lost all of your reason! If you think you'll just fix all the worldwide problems with just a stupid notebook, you're blind!"
Then my palm slapped his cheek hard and pushed so hard until he collided with the wall. "You're way too brave, aren't you, kid? See this to get yourself together!"
He opened the notebook and I noticed a page written in bold letters: L Lawliet. For a moment, I thought he held a fake death note, as my eyes couldn't believe the sight of it.
"When did you write that? He was still alive when I was downstairs!" my voice trembled.
"Now he's gone, girl! He really is!"
I hurried towards the stairs. "You won't like this sight at all!" he shouted from behind.
"L!" I expected him to answer.
"Marina, did you call me?"
"Light's going to spin out of control!" I warned them. But by the time they got into the right defensive positions, Light had gone down and was even looking at the detective in bewilderment.
"Wait... L? Are you... Here?"
"I shouldn't have been, but yes, I am."
"But... How?! I'm pretty sure I wrote your name down!" And showed him the page with his real name written on it.
"I wonder who kind of brat would give you my own name... Ryuk, I assume."
"It's not possible... How can this be possible?!" He was astonished and then pinched his cheek to make sure.
"I'm particularly surprised, L... So you're immortal!"
"Nah... I'm mortal just like everyone else."
"But why didn't you die? Did I spell the name wrong? What happened anyway?!'' he irritably flipped through the notebook. He stopped short as if he thought of another "amazing" idea.
"I've seen Ryuk writing during the rain, on a day I should be studying. After all, the notebook might be waterproof and wouldn't know it! I have made progress! You can't stop me!"
He ran furiously towards the roof with me chasing him again. He opened a metal door leading to the top of the building. At that time, the rain had increased so much I could hardly see his body position. The drops fell on me like nails. It was the first time I was in the rain without protection. But it was a critical moment! We couldn't lose! That would mean so much to the task force team! In the distance, I noticed a long narrow gray funnel which although it was far away, seemed to be getting closer. It seemed like a tornado!
I began searching desperately for Light in the hurricane as the wind picked up. Luckily a lightning bolt helped me spot him. I ran and grabbed his notebook so coarsely, that his hand was almost cut by paper.
"You've been blinded by power! Stop at last! We'll only die when Mother Nature decides so! Can't you see she too has turned against you?"
"You again?! Will you stop following me already?!"
"What? I can't hear you! It's raining hard!" I shouted sarcastically and ran to the entrance.
"Give me the notebook back, bitch!"
"Only over my dead body, Kira!"
"Then if you put it that way... I'll kill you first!"
"Not while it's in my hands!"
I went back out to the roof to make him chase me. I was starting to enjoy this game anyway. Fear wasn't inside of me anymore! However, at some point, I brushed passed the edge of the building causing Light to stumble, and began to float in the gap with the storm. I worried if he was killed by accident. Luckily he held on to a rope.
"If you weren't part of this team, I wouldn't be here! Because of you, criminals will start sprouting everywhere again! Bastard!" he shouted as loud as he could as the rope swung back and forth ready to cut itself.
I ran down to the computer room and informed everyone. They all looked pretty anxious.
"What happened?"
"Light hanged himself!" I stated.
"A suicide?!" his father asked in surprise.
"No, he's being held by a rope and swings just above the twelfth floor!"
"What are you waiting for? Save him! Someone call the fire department!" the manager screamed. "Yes Sir!" Aizawa obeyed.
But judging by his words, the fire department had received twenty emergency calls due to the typhoon and couldn't serve us.
"Next time I'll complain to the municipality about the poor service of the fire department!" Matsuda said.
A window was heard breaking from the attic. I thought it might be because of the typhoon, but my pace still quickened out of instinct. Yes. Light had broken the window using a brick to get in. He took a towel from a drawer to wipe the water off him. The notebook next to the door had a flash of lightning on it. Without a second thought, I grabbed both of them and walked away. I knew my actions would have bad results, but I still had to protect the team from Kira.
The flame passed over the cover and the murderous notebook slowly began to shrink until it was finally reduced to ashes. I couldn't wait to see Kira's face. When I re-entered the room, his face seemed so furious. Almost like he blew smoke out of his ears.
"What's gotten into you, Light? Are you okay?"
"You burned it!" he screamed. It wasn't Light anymore but Kira. His other self had come out of him.
"It's your problem, not mine! I only did my duty as a policewoman!"
"I wanted to test you, that's why you found it there! I should have known you were unruly! The facts prove it! First, you make a fool out of me in public, and then you hang me from the roof!"
"First of all, the rooftop thing was purely an accident and I can tell you am glad you didn't die. Second, no one on the police team believes you're Kira and that's why I put you on public display. I wanted and still want to prove L is right! Because I, too have a strong sense of justice! And you just ruined it!"
"That's right, Marina! You ruined all of my plans and shattered my dream of becoming the protector of this world! Now the world will be hurt, cry, and it will be purely your fault!
He pulled my hair and threw me hard against the wall.
"Damn you, little devil! You've got a lot of nerve to think the hero is a murderer! Sure, what else would L's minion think? People love me because I save them from this rotten society. But when the police came, all of you set out to ruin everything for me! I don't understand you at all... There's no point in the existence of criminals! Why should we keep them?"
"We don't know the value of human life! We're still emotionally immature as a species! Only God decides when we'll die."
"That's what am talking about! I am God, and I get to decide everyone's fate!"
He pulled me by the collar and slapped me as if trying to do a failed karate move. I counterattacked by biting his arm. He let out a cry of pain and let me down. I tried to struggle away but in a split of a second, he pulled my shirt again. Luckily he punched me just once. I couldn't do anything as my whole body was surrounded by him. At some point, he probably saw I had no more strength left, and he put his hands around my neck to choke me.
"I didn't want to kill you because I thought the worst would happen to me... But after all, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to watch you die in front of me."
His hands tightened around my neck. My legs lifted and hit straight into his stomach. I coughed trying to catch my breath. I then grabbed his left hand and twisted it, as if trying to break his bones. I just wondered how much he could bear the pain.
"I like you, kid. You're such a brawler! But when someone messes with me, they don't get away that easily."
"Oh, really? Didn't know that!" I mocked.
I too, tried to jab his cheeks, but my own hand hurt even more.
"L must be so proud to have such an unruly girl as a partner... And even one so young!"
I didn't answer, just kicked him between the legs. He let out a small moan of pain. Shortly after, he picked up a piece of glass from the floor and before I could fend him off, he had already made two scratches on my face. He grabbed my collar again dragging me to the stairs. I tried to defend myself once more, but with a hard push, I landed on the floor downstairs. My right leg suddenly started to hurt a lot. The policemen ran to help me up. I looked at my reflection on the glass stairs. I looked... Rather awful. One of my eyes was blackened, half of my face was covered with blood and bruises, small drops of blood were on mouth and my right leg was twisted. I looked indeed as if I had returned from war.
Naturally, they were frightened at the state I was in. Matsuda headed to the attic to lock Light in the underground cell. He still couldn't arrest him if the necessary evidence was not present, according to the civil protection ministry.
L helped me to get up and put his hand on my shoulder to tend to my wounds. I waited for an expression of anger or worry to appear in his eyes after that. An expression which answered to the fact I looked as if came back from a martial arts competition. He took me to the next-room kitchenette. I sat on a stool, watching him take a first-aid box out of the cupboard.
I couldn't think of anything else, other than whatever happened, not only my fight with Light but also his true identity being shown on TV. He said if I hadn't appeared, he would now have completed his goal as "protector of the new world". Whereas now that I've humiliated him, people know who he is, and so, appearance on the streets isn't really a thing. Was hunting Kira a huge mistake in the end? Did we do something without thinking about it? Is Kira right after all? Is he really building a better world and we're just chasing a murderer who might be a hero after all? The police officers just did their duty to hunt down crimes. But me? What did I come here for? My presence was completely accidental... By another world. I had nothing to do with the police and just followed my instincts. Maybe the police and I, are gangsters at the end of the day. And that's where human stupidity is visible. We used to say it's foolishness to kill a criminal, as it is considered murder anyway. Well... It's human cleverness after all...
Meanwhile, it was Helen's idea for me to come here. How will she react if she finds out I became a gangster cop? Involuntarily I chase the saviour because that's basically how it happens. It seems I still don't know what real justice means. Light does know though! And I... Ruined everything! I'm the scum, not Light!
Burning tears started running down my cheeks. I let the drops fall to the back of my hands so that L wouldn't see them. But what if he did? I wouldn't know how to justify my crying. Why was I crying? Is it everything to blame? Are my thoughts to blame? Or was it because my leg hurt so much?
"Kira is right and we just hurried to act. He is the hero of the world and we just don't understand it. Apparently, we should give in and let him take over the society..." I said in a broken voice. "One who has divine power can't be messed with! He's Grim Reaper himself! He can kill us all at any moment... That's it! We're powerless against a seventeen-year-old!"
I took my eyes off the floor and noticed L. Now his look changed from cold to one of compassion and love. He gently stroked my hair and wiped away my tears with his finger. I was lost for a moment. This man, a mystery in himself, is inexpressive, and was willing to deprive Light and Misa of their basic needs even though they are guilty, how is it possible for this man to have feelings? Unless he there wasn't any feeling at the time and didn't want to appear heartless.
"Don't ever say that again. We are and remain capable of defeating him! The team hasn't found the strength or courage yet. We can't give up that lightheartedly. If all the policemen relinquished at the first difficulty, no case would ever be solved. He'll soon be behind bars!"
"I don't know... I doubt about it..."
"He mentioned the police are incompetent, isn't it?"
"No... He didn't say about us... I mean... He called me a scum for being an obstacle in his plans. And thinking about it, he's right... I am a child and like all children, am immature. Who takes a fourteen-year-old as mature enough? People expect you to be eighteen to be taken seriously. I shouldn't have joined the team... Now these people will die because of me!"
My soft cry turned into sobs. Some tears were falling on the gauze my leg was tied to. I didn't expect L to squeeze me in his arms.
"It's not that... You rarely see professional police officers with such courage. Specifically to bring criminals to justice at the risk of their lives. You've got a strong sense of justice, as well as a fearless mind. Trust me... I don't see a moron, but a potential policewoman in the long future." he talked sweetly.
"But—"
"You gave your best and well done! Calm down now..."
How strange... It wasn't an ordinary hug. A hug a relative would give me. This one was completely different. Like he tried to protect me. An embrace which showed tenderness, compassion, love, and warmth. As if he told me: Don't be afraid... Everything will be fine. I am here for you.
I snuggled into his warm embrace until finally calmed down. It seemed to be what I needed. Even the injuries didn't bother me anymore...