Chapter three:
Light has been contemplating things and he really can't decide if going to work with this man who has offered him help. He however thinks that it could be his only chance to find his little brother. He blinks turning as someone approaches him. He spots that it is Ryuzaki. He is about to ask what he can do for the other then blinks when he is handed something.
"Will you meet me in the break room? Just us." Ryuzaki heads away after that.
Light looks down to the thing that was handed to him. He pauses when he sees that it is a paper with his and his little brother's pictures as well as some information on them. He looks to the way that Ryuzaki had headed. He doesn't see him anymore since the other man has gone out of his sight. He looks back to the two pictures then hides it in his shirt. He gets up. "I'm taking a break."
"Okay." The cop nearest to Light agrees not looking up from his own work.
Light heads to the break room finding that it is only Ryuzaki in there with some other papers where he is sitting in his strange way at one of the tables. He heads over sitting across from the other after pulling out the paper he was handed. "You found something?" He inquires not having expected this as he hasn't agreed to the proposal.
"A little bit." Ryuzaki hums softly and spreads out the papers on the table in front of them. "I will admit that there was some stuff I wasn't able to get yet. It is being looked into though."
"Why did you do this?" Light stares at the paper he has even as Ryuzaki looks to him at him asking this. "I didn't agree to what you suggested or give you an answer to that."
"That doesn't matter to me." Ryuzaki's answer causes Light to blink in surprise at him finally letting their eyes meet. "Whether or not you agree I wish to help you. As an orphan myself, as you already know, I know what it is like to suddenly no longer be with the family that you have known. I suppose I got lucky that I found a caretaker who I have come to see as a father figure as I grew. I will admit that I am fond of him. He is a very good man." He looks down to the papers. "I wanted to help you. You have a wonderful family. However how can it be complete when a very important part of your heart is still out there somewhere? You don't have to agree to the proposed idea. I want to help find him for you. I know your adoptive family will be willing to take in your little brother. So you two will not be separated anymore."
Light truly doesn't know what to say. He didn't do anything for Ryuzaki that warranted him doing this without anything in return. He quietly swallows feeling a little emotional about the kindness of the other to still be willing to help him out with this without anything in return. "Say." He continues as Ryuzaki looks back up at him. "If we do find him. Maybe you and your mentor could let me work with you two? I'd like to become a detective and I think that maybe this could truly be a good opportunity for me."
Ryuzaki gives a soft smile. "Of course Light. And we won't hold it against you if you change your mind deciding to back out at any time." He glances around before turning back to Light after getting an appreciative nod to this. "How well are you at keeping secrets?"
Light can't help a blink at this question. "Why does that matter?" He questions the other who waits for his response. He lets out a breath. "I can keep secrets pretty good."
Ryuzaki nods his head. "I am going to tell you something and I want you to not tell a soul." He gets another nod of a promise from Light at this. "I am sure that you know of L."
Light blinks at this. "Of course I have. The world's greatest detective." His eyes widen as something occurs to him. "Wait. Is that who your mentor is!?" He wouldn't believe it but it could also explain how Ryuzaki could help him more than anyone else.
"Even better." Ryuzaki informs Light watching him unblinkingly as he explains it to him. "There is no mentor. That is a cover up. I am L."
Light freezes as he certainly hadn't expected to hear THAT. "Really?" He takes a moment to process after Ryuzaki, or well L, nods softly. He can't believe that he is actually meeting the real L. He didn't think he would be given such an opportunity. He also thinks that now it makes sense why that whole name and story was fabricated allowing L to work with them in person with no one knowing any better. He doubts that it is something that is a common thing to happen as he's only heard of L working through technology. He however supposes that if L was hiding like he is with this case then it is possible he's been seen before without anyone knowing. He finally speaks after a moment of processing this. "Well it is an incredible honor to meet someone such as you." He admits genuinely.
"Thank you. However you don't need to worry about that." L hums softly and looks to the papers. "I am trusting you to keep my secret."
"I will." Light truly realizes the trust that has been put on his shoulders with such a huge secret.
"Now. About your brother." L's words bring Lights attention to the papers and the true matter at hand. "I tracked down the first place that he had gone to after you two were separated."
"The first place?" Light questions wondering what has happened while they were separated.
"Yes. He was put into one orphanage where they reported struggling to fit his needs. Seems the both of you are quite intelligent." L continues before Light can truly react to the compliment on his intelligence. "Eventually another place heard of him and his needs. However the location was put under confidentiality. So I am currently working with someone to truly pinpoint that location." He looks to the picture of Light's brother. "I must admit though. He does look familiar."
Light blinks at L at this. "He does?" He wonders if maybe L actually knows more about his brother.
"Yes." L places his thumb on his bottom lip as he looks a little thoughtful. "However I would rather do some research before I know for sure. Time does change things and people can look a bit different. Especially since you two didn't even get a hair cut yet when your pictures were taken for your profiles. Just had baths."
"Yeah." Light rubs the back of his neck slightly embarrassed. "We used to just cut our hair the best that we could using a knife that we also used for other things. Like for protection and to cut food if needed." He knows that their hair was messily cut and could have looked better if done by someone who knew what they were doing.
"It is alright." L assures Light who lowers his hand feeling a bit better at hearing this. "You did the best that you could with what you two had available. It is better than how others do as they have wild ungrown hair in your situations." He shifts the papers looking them over once more. "I will keep looking into things. I think that maybe there is a chance that we might be able to find him. If I play my cards right, get the right information, and confirm it then we can go to him."
"I really appreciate all of this." Light almost wants to cry feeling so much closer to his brother than he ever has. "I don't know how you got these files. But it is wonderful to have them." He looks at his brother's picture once more.
"Well when you have connections around the world with the world trusting you it makes it a bit easier." L does have a point that Light hadn't fully thought of.
Light supposes that must be the true reason his adoptive father was never given any information.
They would be seen as only representing Japan so why would another country willingly and easily offer information to someone in law enforcement in Japan? They could have been seen as attempting to spy on them or gather information that could lead to figuring out how to get other information.
Not to mention that those that separated Light from his brother originally were truly adamant about them being apart from one another for whatever reason; One that Light never could understand as it wasn't really explained beyond that they had to go to different places unable to stay together.
Light wonders if L could get that answer. "Say." He looks up to meet L's gaze. He is actually starting to like those eyes more and more. He can't describe it however there almost seems to be something special about the other. "Would we be able to find out why the two of us were separated in the first place?"
L pauses staring at Light before he speaks. "You were not told?" He continues after Light shakes his head. "Well in your files a reason was put. One that I guess in their heads was good enough. However I truly don't understand it myself." He hands Light a piece of paper with more information like where the two had been found, their living conditions, and other known information about them. "The reason that they put was that they did not believe that you two were really siblings. They thought that you had taken him from somewhere."
Light looks wide eyed at L at hearing this. He can't even form any words as his shock swirls with anger at that.
"However they did some investigating. They couldn't find anyone missing looking like your brother. Then when they did a health check on you two, including bloodwork, they realized that the two of you were siblings. Despite this and I don't understand why, it was decided to keep the two of you separate. One reason put forth was that it would have been easier for you two to get adopted. That doesn't justify it for me however I cannot change the past. Another reason that they put forth was that it would be the best for you two to truly grow mentally instead of being stuck in the past." He sighs with a shake of his head. "If you want my honest opinion I think that they just didn't actually want to admit that they had made a mistake. So they decided to not apologize and make it right due to their pride."
"Those bastards." Light clenches his hands hating that this could have happened. "They should have done the right thing. I thought maybe some people still had good in them."
"Pride is a hard thing." L admits with another sigh. "Some cannot accept that they've made such a huge mistake. So they just avoid it for as long as they can. I do plan to try to get them to not be able to avoid it much longer. I already contacted someone who owes me a favour. He is going to be looking more into those that separated you two. They won't be facing any jail or criminal charges. What could be done is that they have to fix any other mistakes of separating any other family members like in your story. Then they will be put on suspended leave and I personally will be advocating for them to lose their jobs or to be demoted to a place where they cannot make such decisions anymore."
Light smiles feeling a bit better about this after hearing that. "Thank you. I really appreciate that there is even just a hint of justice for what happened to us." He turns to meet his brother's eyes. "I am coming for you little brother. We'll be reunited just like I promised." He whispers under his breath excited for when he will be able to see his little brother again. He feels like it has been too many years apart.
Elsewhere…
Mello walks around the orphanage. He pauses turning when he sees Near staring out of one of the orphanage windows. He doesn't understand why Near stares off into the distance like that when not playing with something on the floor. He turns away deciding to leave him alone as he has something important to do. He has been waiting for this day all year like he does every year. He sneaks out of the orphanage grounds. He walks calmly through the streets of the city. He heads into one store causing the other to look up to him.
"Ah hello. Welcome back." The employee greets to Mello who nods his head in greeting to the other.
Mello heads his way knowing exactly where he is going. He heads to the back as he is well known enough here to go there. He enters into the managers office where the manager, a man in his late adult hood with black hair that has the sides shaved, turns to him as he enters.
"Good to see you." The manager greets then hands Mello a chocolate bar.
"You too." Mello takes the bar and opens it only to start eating. "So." He continues after swallowing the bite in his mouth. "Were you able to get what I asked of you?"
"Yup." The manager grabs a book from a drawer of his desk. He hands it to Mello. "You really sure that you know what you are doing? This isn't complete. There is stuff that is not allowed to be known."
"Don't worry." Mello looks to the book. "I know someone who can help me with the rest." He tucks the book under his arm after doing a quick flip through seeing that there isn't as many words as he had been hoping. He supposes that he can't really blame the other for not being able to get all the information. "Your friend did pretty good getting this much."
The manager hums with a slight sparkle in his brown eyes. "Yeah well my friend is in the right job for it." He fully turns to face Mello now. "I got what you wanted." He suddenly scrambles as something is tossed to him from the other. He now has a flash drive in his hands once he has caught it.
"The pictures from those devices like you asked." Mello tells the manager who looks so happy to have these back. "I am so sorry about your daughter having passed."
The manager breathes a sigh of relief and quickly puts the flash drive into the computer. He scrolls happily through the pictures on there. "Thank you so much. These were the last pictures I had of her after my wife went crazy and destroyed everything else. You have no idea what this means to me." He looks to Mello unable to stop smiling. "Look. You clearly have talent or at least a talented connection. My friend's company is looking for people who could help out-" He doesn't get to finish as Mello cuts him off.
"Not interested." Mello turns away. "Thank you for this information. Enjoy having those pictures back." He leaves with that and as he heads towards the orphanage he texts Matt telling the other that he needs his help with something. He has done enough favours for the other that he didn't plan to let him know what he was up to. He however might finally have to tell Matt about what has actually been going on. He pauses as he spots that Near has moved. He looks to the other who is now shifting some colored tiles around. He tries to see what the other could be making. All he can tell is that it is two figures almost like stick figures. He supposes that those tiles do have limits. He wonders who Near could be thinking about as he almost swears he sees the ever faintest hint of a frown on the other's face. He turns away as Matt calls his name. He sees the other heading his way. He glances to Near once more deciding that maybe it is nothing more than perhaps Near working on some solution to some sort of problem, or processing something he learned. He heads towards Matt ready to tell him about what he has actually been up to and why he needed Matt to get those pictures from those devices.
