This story takes place directly after The Twisted Kuzushi Affair.
Chapter 1:
"Analysis"
Two weeks had passed since the unforgettable encounter with Ken Kuzushi. After those events, the Kira Task Force with the Yagami Family had spent a few days up at the Yagami Cabin recuperating from the ordeal. The harrowing affair had been shocking to say the least.
But equally shocking was what they later found in the cabin a day after they settled in, a secret room whereby Kuzushi had decorated the walls with nothing but pictures of Light.
Ken Kuzushi, an old grade school classmate, was very much in love with Light, but his latest escapade to get Light to acknowledge—even to love him—had cost Kuzushi his life. Or, so everyone thought. Kuzushi's body had not been found despite a rigorous search. Not even a trace of a body part.
With help from L and the Kira Task Force, a military drone was instrumental in ending Kuzushi's attempt to seek revenge for Light's rejection of his love. It prevented the death of Light, his mother and sister, whereas they would have been incinerated by a bomb vest Kuzushi was wearing. It's timer ticking down, only seconds away from a large explosion that would have also set fire to a sizeable area of the Hokkaido-Jozankei Forest, in an area Kuzushi had set up camp with a personal camper.
The drone flew in at the last second and caught Kuzushi and crash landed in a near-by river, the water's density controlling the blast. Everyone was thankful for the quick thinking of Mogi for his expert piloting of the drone. L said if he could, he would give Mogi a metal for his actions in saving the day.
The task force went back to the camper and searched it thoroughly, but there was very little to been found. There were a few personal items of Ken Kuzushi, but nothing of significance.
Days later, they set off back to the Kira Task Force Headquarters in Kanto. Light's mother and sister were set up in a room in the building, but they had nothing to do with the investigation. At the very least, Light and his father could see them every day socially. They swore to secrecy about the investigation and were allowed to come and go as they pleased. They were also wonderful at shopping for items the task force needed, like food and personal items. Light was running out of deodorant anyway.
Sayu, Light's sister, kept wondering why Light wasn't allowed to leave the building. And Light explained, without giving away that he was under investigation for being Kira, that it was safer if he remained "hidden" from anymore of his enemies. L had smirked at the excuse considering the circumstances. And to avoid any more questions, Light was fitted once again with a less conspicuous ankle bracelet, so the building's security systems could monitor his whereabouts instead of a large chain handcuffed to L.
At least Sayu gave Misa someone to talk to and do things with when she wasn't at her modelling jobs.
During a quiet moment alone, Light sat at a laptop in the epicentre of the Kira Task Force building. Above him was a widescreen monitor on the wall, displaying groups of media newscasts in separate boxes, but on mute. He was reluctant to begin an internet search. He knew the subject matter would probably trigger a red flag in the system, but he needed information for a report he was asked to write.
With his fingers poised over a keyboard, he paused, then dropped his hands down. He was distracted. He had been the one to find that secret room in the family cabin with all those pictures of himself. He had no idea just how close he and his mother and sister had come to being killed by a sadistic lunatic.
But amongst the pictures, perhaps mistakenly left was a picture of someone else, someone not unlike Ken Kuzushi—but with completely "dyed" blonde hair and movie star looks.
He was Japanese. There was no name, per se, except for the initials "T.K." Was this another of Ken Kuzushi's desirable wants or conquests? Ken had said Light was "not his first". The person in the photograph was looking at the camera, his blue, cobalt eyes, almost aglow. He was wearing a white sweater, grey slacks, and white shoes, and was leaning forward on the edge of a light grey, bluish couch.
The photo was sorted and placed in evidence with the rest.
L wanted Light to write a report based on his personal experience with what the Kira Task Force labelled: "The Twisted Kuzushi Affair", but the events were so disturbing that Light couldn't put words to paper, and if he was going to be totally honest, he needed certain terms for the report. He was going to have to search certain keywords and phrases and he felt embarrassed just thinking about it.
Formulating his thoughts, he needed to needed to drum up the courage to get them down. He rubbed his eyes with two fingers, then opened them, as if he was looking at things from a different point of view, and visited the most popular search engine, and typed in the word 'Sexomania'. Top searches came up with a few unflattering images, almost pornographic. To paraphrase context, in short, he wrote down for his report: "A person exhibiting extreme symptoms for sex or the exploitation of such related matters" in relation to his profile of Ken Kuzushi. He wanted to write it as if it were a police report.
It helped him a little, but he needed more.
He then looked up OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and it brought up a generic explanation: "A chronic and long-lasting mental disorder in which a person has uncontrollable and perpetual thoughts exhibiting behaviours that he or she feels compelled to repeat".
He added it to his report. But he needed more explicit terms to even attempt a definition of what Ken Kuzushi was, because he had never experienced anything like Kuzushi before.
Ken Kuzushi was an obsessive compulsive, sexomaniac, with a fetish for exotic attire. He was also psychotic. If Light was a psychologist, he could probably find a singular term to combine everything into one label, but he left how he felt in his best explanation what he was trying to convey in the report. Besides, L would read it, and shorten it, even simplify it, so the other task force members could understand it in simple terms. And if Ryuzaki wanted to make a few changes, he was welcome.
And yet, there were still elements of what happened that even Light couldn't explain. Like how he got the mysterious tracksuit, and the weird looking underwear with the yellow smilie on the front. It was like someone had helped him, and he kept getting a weird feeling he had forgotten something. Important.
But he couldn't put that in the report, because it would not be substantial. He would only put the facts in as he recalled them, a psychoanalysis of events should not be added to an official report.
L kept asking Light how he felt, pressing him for more detail, since Light was the only one with Ken Kuzushi for most of the affair. It had nothing to do with the Kira Case, but L was fascinated by the whole thing, nonetheless.
"I'm thrilled with the inner workings of the human mind," L had said. "I am a detective, after all."
Light thought that was admirable, but he wished L would just leave him alone, so he could try to get over what he experienced. It was enough for any sane person to experience. But to be hounded by some over-zealous detective continuously asking questions of their emotions of the event was annoying. That first night after the event, L wouldn't stop asking him questions, even after he supposedly turned over and went to sleep. Light and L slept in the same bed, because L wanted to keep an eye on Light.
Light had to eventually tell L forcefully to shut-the-hell-up and go to sleep.
Light didn't sleep much that night. And who would after everything that had had happened. His mind kept repeating events. What If scenarios. And he kept wondering why—but was thankful—everything ended with a positive outcome. It was like he had an angel looking over his shoulder. But he told himself that was improbable, because he didn't believe in such things.
Ryuzaki rolled over in his chair next to Light from his own station. He had been on his own laptop, eating jelly beans, and Light assumed he was working on his own project with the Kira Case. The detective loved to eat sweets, but he never got fat. Light wondered why.
"Hi Light, is there anything I can do to help you with your report? You seem lost." L looked at the computer's searches. "I can give you a more simplistic definition for OCD, if you'd like? I'm not looking for a long-winded definition. You don't have to think hard about this, write it like an entry in your diary."
"I'm working on it, Ryuzaki," Light said, annoyed, and even a little flustered. "Please don't pester me."
Taken-aback, L said, "I would prefer if you write a short report. Often when others read reports, such as police reports, they attempt to give too much detail which overshadows the narrative—like an abstract synopsis to a novel. In a report, you must give factual, to the point, with information telling the reader what you wish to convey upfront—even if you write it in bullet form. Perhaps trying that? Tell your story in point form first, get it down, then go back and polish it, instead of trying to get the terms down now, which are a little risqué to research. Watari alerted me to what you had searched, that's why I came over."
Light felt his face flush. "I'm sorry, Ryuzaki. I was only looking up the proper terminology for a few things, so I don't look like a fool when someone reviews my reports. There's nothing worse then someone reading an essay with major errors. It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt, as the saying goes."
"Mark Twain," Ryuzaki said. "And it's best to write about things you know about. I understand."
Light nodded. "When I was a child, I learned a valuable lesson: do your research, don't think you know. I received a bad mark on a school report because of it. I vowed never to fake my way through a report like that again."
Ryuzaki nodded. "I think I understand where you're coming from, I had a similar experience."
"So, how would you describe, Ken Kuzushi? I have so many terms, I'm getting all mixed up."
L put a finger to his chin. "Well, I think crazy seems to summon him up perfectly, to simplify him down to a singular term," he said, smiling thinly, "and to add to that: …with severe psychosomatic tendencies and sexual megalomania, to put in a few psychiatric terms. But that would be how I would peg him, because I've had formal education in the subject matter. After what you told us about what happened, I think that describes Ken Kuzushi best. But the most important thing is your analysis, since you are the final word here. A first-person witness account is key, how you perceived the events. No one else can tell the story better other than the person who personally experienced it. The Witness Account is the best kind of report and is used in ninety-seven percent of court cases."
"I know, and I'm trying. It's just I'm new at this. Writing police reports is different to, say, writing an essay."
"I see," L said, then turned his chair to the lounge area. The task force members were all seated there, separated by two couches, and one single chair, around an elongated table. Papers were spread on the table, with tablets in hand. "Mr. Yagami, we request your expertise, please."
"But…" Light said, and put his hands over the laptop screen. "I don't want my father reading this," he whispered to L. "It's too embarrassing!"
"As a police officer and your father, he would read it, anyway, Light. Best to get help with it now." Light put hands to his face as his father came over. L put a reassuring hand on Light's shoulder. "Trust me."
"Is there anything I can help you with, Ryuzaki?" Light's father inquired, then looked to Light. He expressed a verbal start when he saw the searches that showed on Light's computer. "Um, interesting subject matter, son…should we have another father to son talk?"
Light opened his mouth to explain, but then L said, "Later, perhaps. But I'm pretty sure you son has mastered the elements of dating. Seven girls was the last count, if I recall your history."
"Ryuzaki!" Light said, face flushed. "My searches are for the report Ryuzaki wants, Dad."
Soichiro put a hand on Light's shoulder. "I know, son. I was kidding. Research is nine times out of ten the most important part of a good police work and sometimes certain 'subjects' can be taboo. But if I can wager a guess, you need my help in formatting a good report for Ryuzaki on the Kuzushi Affair?"
"Yeah," Light said, with a relief smile. "And it could be good practise for later on."
Soichiro Yagami smiled. "Let me see what you have," he said. He read over the details, as they were, of the report Light had attempted to write. "Nice detail, a little long-winded, but overall, very good. But try shortening your thoughts. Sometimes less is more. If you were recording an Impact Report, then more detail is best—in the case of a Witness Impact Statement. Which, I suppose, you are the witness. But all these 'big words' only garble the report. Write it how you want to convey it to a simple reader. Between you and me, most police officers are 'simple-minded' people, not geniuses like you and L."
Light wanted to apologize for being too smart, but stopped short. It would be like telling his father he was too dumb to understand all the terms in his report. But his father was right. He had to simplify it.
"By the way, was there any talk about 'Kira' between you and Ken Kuzushi?" L asked.
"Some," Light said honestly. "Ken asked about my injuries and I told him about Jasper Yuta, and how, in the end, I believe Kira killed him for his crimes, and how I believed some people deserved to be—"
L's brow rose. "That you believe some people deserve to—what? To be killed by Kira? Was that an advocation for what Kira does, Light?"
"No, of course, not," Light said defensively.
"I sense a 'but' there," L said, with a hint of a smile. "You wanted Kira to kill Ken Kuzushi, didn't you?" Light cast his eyes away, but L continued, and said, "Oh, come on, in your situation, anyone would want a mysterious entity like Kira to kill the person who has threatened my family. If anyone threatened or hurt Watari, I'd wager I'd hunt that person to the ends of the earth."
Suddenly, a W appeared on a screen, and without a word spoken, L knew he had spoken out of term.
L turned to the screen. "Forgive me, Watari," L said. "It was not my position to impose things that were not present. Wishing for something and it actually happening are two different things. However," L looked at Mogi, who, with Matsuda (both looking over and listening to the conversion), "you did have a 'god' on your side, Light. In the form of an man who knew how to operate a military drone and save you."
Light looked at Mogi. "Thank you again, Mogi," he said. "I owe you." Mogi merely smiled. Light turned back to Ryuzaki. "But I don't think I should add that to the report."
"If Kira was mentioned, then add it. It gives credence to the investigation. And it tells the ICPO, for which, reports are written and submitted on a weekly bases to justify this investigation, even though Kira opposes any police involvement,. I can submit a chic for the destroyed military drone now."
Soichiro Yagami's mouth dropped. "You're going to make the ICPO pay for the drone?"
"Yes," L said. "With 'Kira' in this report, I can claim it as an expense." L wiped his brow. "That drone was expensive, but now I won't have to pay for it out my own pocket. Thank you, Light."
Light frowned, eying L harshly. "You sneaky, piece of…" he said. "How much was that drone?"
"If I tell you, you'd have a heart attack." L smiled broadly. "Now, let's get back to the report. And this time, detail is important. Watari will get a full expense account on the military drone to include with it."
"Facts are important son," Light's father said. "If Kira was mentioned, it has to be added to the report."
Light sighed. "Okay, fine," he said, a little disgruntled. "But I still think this was nothing but a personal matter, and nothing to do with the Kira Case."
"That may be so, but the fact is 'Kira' was mentioned, and it was a good thing I asked you if Kira was," L said. "When I take on a case, experience is golden when solving it. Knowing key factors is essential to track down your subject. Why do you think I suspected you so quickly in being Kira? Because the clues fit. I ask myself important questions. The times when people were being killed corresponded to a high school student's time table. Suddenly, when Kira learned about this important fact, his game plan changed, and criminals began dying every hour on the hour, as if to taunt me, as if to contradict my theory. Kira isn't like other serial killers I've ever dealt with, he's a murderer of his own breed. And we have to think of him that way. Just like Ken Kuzushi. Although, he's more common than you may think. Jasper Yuta was killed by Kira, and I had to submit a report about it to the ICPO, because 'Kira' was supposedly involved. It justified the expense of upgrading our security protocols of this building. Any mention of Kira is important to catching him, no matter how minute. Perhaps the smallest detail will bring Kira to justice. That's a nice thought."
"I guess you're right, Ryuzaki. But I'm going to need a lot more help in writing it now. If this report is going to the ICPO, I want it to be perfect!"
"Perfectionism is a crazy concept. Everyone is 'crazy' about something. I'm crazy about sweets, but it doesn't make me a sociopath with obsessive tendencies about them."
Light gave him a look, an uptick brow was hidden under his headline.
"Judge not lest he be judged, Light Yagami. Everyone has a hidden OCD about something. You want to catch Kira to clear your name, but it's not compulsive, nor is it a desire. Rather you're worried about personal image. All teenagers are."
"Hey, that's…No, I'm not worried about my personal image. I'm above that kind of narcissism." Light said, then sighed deeply. "Can we get back to work now? I have a lot of work to do."
"Let's work on it together, son," his father said. "We'll begin with the basics…"
To be continued…
