Chapter 3:
"The Crossbound"
Friday came, and Light and Misa we're picked up by a dark sedan, then driven to Haneda Airport, where they boarded a private plane with first class accommodations, and served by a Maid for the entire duration of the flight, flying to Kansai International Airport.
They were then picked up again by a white sedan and driven forty-minutes to Osaka Bay.
They arrived in Wakayama Marina City. It was is a resort town built on an artificial island of 49 hectares (121 acres), in Wakaura Bay, part of a larger area within Osaka Bay, and arrived at the magnificent berths of the Wakayama Marina City Yacht Club, where the car dropped them off near the docks.
During their trip over, Light conducted some research on both Wakayama Marina City and Cameron Cross's family on his cell phone. The Cross-Median Family were rich, and it was no wonder they could afford to berth as large yacht in Wakaura Bay.
Wakayama Marina City was one of ten artificial islands in Wakaura Bay, near Osaka Bay, and was built from landfill removed from a nearby mountain, disconnected from the coastline by two bridges. The island supported a few minor attractions such as the Kuroshio Ichiba fish market, the famous Kuroshio Onsen Spa, and a theme park created by Universal Studios. Not to mention the luxury marina.
Cameron Cross was the oldest child of two, twenty-two, of an American wealthy movie mogul, who owned a few movie studios and companies. The Cross-Median Company often financed movies overseas and outside of America, because it was cheaper, and their return on investments yielded higher. Misa had been in a few of CMC's movies and each one was a blockbuster hit. Her "sex appeal" brought in the younger crowd. That meant money.
Light had watched a few of Misa's movies and wasn't impressed. In her movies, she played ditzy characters that reminded him too much of her real personality, and he didn't care too much for love stories. Misa accused him Light of not being a romantic. Perhaps, something special would happen on this trip that could spark something between them. Stranger things had happened.
Light brought a small carry bag with basic essentials. Misa, however, packed as if she were going away for a week, and he had to help carry her bags. And why three pairs of shoes? They were going to be on a yacht on the water. Some times he couldn't fathom the minds of women.
The driver escorted them to an awaiting shuttle boat, which they then took them to a tremendously large, white, luxurious 200 foot yacht, anchored a quarter of a mile away from the main berths.
Light was in awe at its size and richness as they approached. It shouted money, with its, sleek definition with glass panelling, and triple decks. He could only imagine how much it cost and what it had in amenities. It was nothing like those massive cruise liners, however, but just as impressive.
As the shuttle boat berthed at the back of the yacht, a small lift was lowered for Light and Misa to step onto with their bags. Then it was raised to the main deck. And here they were greeted by a crew member wearing a white uniform. He had dark hair and was young and fit. Light figured he was in his early twenties. Misa commented that he was cute and he could give Light a run for his money. The crew member had heard the comment and chuckled, but nothing more.
The shuttle boat began to move away when they were fully on board.
The crew member extended a hand out. Light shook it.
"Greetings Light Yagami and Misa Amane," he said in English—both understood him— "I'm the Chief Desk Officer Benjamin Lakes, you may call me Ben. Mr. Cross is busy with another matter at the moment, but he is on board. He has asked me to escort you around on a special tour. I'm told to give you the V.I.P. Package. I can take your bags and store them aft for you until your cabins are fully prepared by the yacht's maid. Before we get started, do any of you suffer from seasickness?" —both said no— "Good, then this trip will be a pleasant one. Perhaps you should have been asked that before you came all the way here, but…" Lakes shrugged. "This is a causal yacht, but I wanted to make a good impression, so I borrowed this uniform." He smiled. "We're normally not so formal, so no standing on ceremony here. I'll take you to see the Captain near the end of the tour. In the meantime, welcome aboard the CROSSBOUND."
The tour of the CROSSBOUND was astounding, Light admitted.
CDO Benjamin Lakes escorted them around the yacht and allowed Light and Misa to partake in all its sights and sounds. The yacht could house dozens of people very comfortably.
There were two King Cabins, and large cabins for guests, staff cabins, a large seating lounge with entertainment venues below the main deck, which then gave the yacht four levels, plenty of amenities, stately halls, three luxury bathrooms, an exercise room, a steam room, a hot tub, valuable art on the walls, a gas-generated romantic fireplace in a second seating lounge, across from the main one, a library, and a marble Jacuzzi on the main deck. They met the Captain, the Chef, and the Engineer, along the way, and were treated like royalty.
And as the tour commenced, the yacht began to move into deeper waters, out of Osaka Bay. CDO Lakes said, it was part of the over-all experience Cameron Cross wanted to portray, how smooth the yacht ran over the waters. And despite the Pacific Ocean being a little chilly this time of year, there were pockets of super-concentrated warmth in certain areas generated by the ocean floor from volcanic fissures. They were moving to one now.
Strange enough, they never saw Cameron Cross. And there was one room, Light noticed on the tour, at the end of a long corridor, they didn't visit, nor did Benjamin Lakes mention or indicate. But considering it was out of the way, Light figured it must have been a storage room for cleaning supplies and off-limits to non-ship personnel.
Lakes provided more information about Cameron Cross's family and their business, and recited it all, as if rehearsed, done so on multiple occasions for other guests. Light learned Kyle Cross and Elizabeth Median-Cross, Cameron's parents, (and the reason for the hyphenated Cross-Median Company) owned a conglomerate of businesses and companies, film studios, and they were one of the largest well-to-do families on the lower Fortune 400, an annual list of companies with worldly wealth.
Misa was star-struck by the magnificence and wealth they were being shown.
The tour took about an hour and they ended back on the main deck.
Light was impressed. But something inside him felt different now than when he first came on board. And he wondered if it was just plain jealousy. Some people had too much people, while others struggled to make ends meet. His father was in the latter boat.
"Oh Light, it's so beautiful! Buy me one!" she said. His brow rose. "Just kidding! You'd never make enough money on a policeman's salary to afford even a small fraction of this yacht. I'd probably be the higher bread-winner when we get married and have kids."
"Hey now, I think you're projecting way too far into the future," he replied, "and thanks for the vote of confidence," he added sardonically. "I'm joining the NPA because I want to, not to make money. I know it won't pay much, and that doesn't matter to me. I want to be a cop like my father to help victims of crime."
"I think that's commendable, Light Yagami," Lakes said. "The world needs more people like you these days, especially with supernatural entities like Kira lurking around every corner. But with him around, you may soon be out of a job. He's cleaning up the world faster than any law enforcement, even besting that L character."
"I agree, and if crime falls, I'm all for it," Light said honestly. But he kept it at that. Misa gave him a look and he softly shook his head, as if to say, "No mention of Kira, L, or the Task Force here." And she got the message.
"Um, excuse me," Light spoke. "We didn't seen Cameron Cross anywhere on the tour."
He put the question to Lakes, who in turn, hesitated a moment, who, Light saw, moved his hand to a small device on his belt, depressing it. Lakes smiled. "I'm not quite sure where he is," Lakes said. "We may have just missed him when I was escorting you around. It's a big yacht."
But something about that answer seemed phoney to Light and he wondered if the device on Lakes belt was some sort of pager to alert Cameron Cross that the tour was over and his guests were ready. And it may have been just that.
All of sudden, from a cabin door just off of where they were standing, their host emerged.
Cameron Cross was a tall, handsome, young man, in his early-twenties, with blonde hair, an American, and he wore a golden cross earring in his left ear lobe. He wore a dark dress shirt and pants with white loafers, but no socks. When he extended his hand in welcome to them, Light noticed the gold Rolex around his right wrist. Light shook his hand.
"Welcome aboard the CROSSBOUND, Light Yagami," he said in English. Unlike Benjamin Lakes, Cameron Cross had a more pronounced accent, somewhere from the Western area of the United States. Light guessed California. From pictures he had seen of the Sunshine State, Cameron Cross fit the perfect mould of the good-looking, spoiled, rich, playboy type. But his personal profile had him thoroughly involved in the family business and was well respected.
Light also noticed something else about Cross, he was sweating mildly, as if he had just been through some tenuous exercise regime. A stream of moisture flowed down the right side of his face from under his thick hair. Cross wiped his face when he thought Light had noticed it.
Cross then turned to Misa, and smiled playfully, as he took her right hand, and instead of shaking it, kissed it on top. Cross spoke in Japanese. And Light was surprised Cross spoke it so fluently. He said, "Welcome to my home away from home." But then Cross deferred back to English, smiled, said: "I'm so glad you both could come. I know it was a long trip to get here, but this is only place where the CROSSBOUND can be berthed, so to speak, because it's so large. This is where I spend a great deal of the time. One of the King's Cabins are mine, and Ben, my best mate, has a cabin near mine. I believe Val, our maid, has already prepared their cabins?"
Lakes nodded. "She was in the process with the finishing touches as I was escorting Yagami and Amane around," he said. "And when we spoke eariler, she said she would leave a care package for each of them, which means, colognes and perfumes, soaps, and every assortment of items. Everything to make a person smell like they just had a day at the spa."
"I once offered to give Light a manicure, but he declined," Misa said. "He said it was not manly."
Cross took one of Light's hands and actually turned it over, then appeared to thoroughly look him over from head to toe. "Well, you look like you're in good health, Light Yagami," he said. "Could use a hair cut though."
"I take care of myself," Light said, taking his hand back. "And my hair's just fine, thanks." He noticed he responded with a bit of animosity, which he didn't mean. He also saw that Misa was looking at Cross with sex-appeal. He didn't like that.
"You speak excellent English, Yagami," Cross remarked. "Forgive me, but I only know a few Japanese phrases. I'm pleased I can converse with both of you in my native tongue." Cross winked at Misa.
Light saw that wink. Was Cross coming on to her?
"Well, if I'm not needed," Lakes said, "I have a few things that need attending."
"Sure," Cross said. "Oh, and there is that little matter of a clean-up in one of the rooms."
Lakes nodded, and smiled. "It was nice meeting you both, Light, Misa, and we'll see each other again later. Once again, welcome aboard." Lakes then left.
Cameron Cross opened his arms wide, and smiled. "So, Misa, Light—how do you like my family's yacht?"
"Impressive," Light remarked, as he gazed around at the immediate vicinity. "It must have cost a fortune," he said.
Cross seemed amused. "Yes, yes it did," he said with a mild smile. "So, did you bring a bathing suit?"
"I, um, didn't think I would need one," Light answered.
"I did!" Misa replied. "I'm always prepared."
"You did bring enough luggage for a week's trip," Light remarked.
"That's fine," Cross said. "I'll have something befitting sent to your cabin. I feel like a soak in the Jacuzzi to ease my muscles" —he indicated the marble Jacuzzi within sight of where they were on the main deck. "The jet streams will do your muscles wonders. You look a little tense, Light."
"Not tense, just a little taken aback with the yacht," he said. "You know—with certain things that have been happening at home, I do feel a little tense." And he felt he better keep an eye on Misa in front of Cross. "I believe I'll accept your generous offer, Mr. Cross."
Cross smiled. "Wonderful! And call me Cameron. Glad to have you both aboard. I know we're all going to have a great time. Do you drink, Light? What would you like? Ben can make anything."
"I don't drink."
"I'll have Ben mix you up something special."
"Well, I wouldn't mind something," Misa said. "Something with a little kick."
And Cameron Cross smiled.
To be continued...
