Death Note Fan Fiction ❯ True Affection ❯ A Revelation ( Chapter 3 )

True Affection

Chapter 3-A Revelation

 

--

 

Misa's thick blonde locks bounced briskly about the frame of her face as she ran.

Her Death Note remained clutched to her chest while her mind raced.

Why did Ryuzaki answer Light's phone? How could he accuse Light of abusing her?

Just as quickly as those reoccurring thoughts churned in her mind, she disposed of them. New accusing inquiries took their place while the words from her previous conversation remained etched freshly in her mind.

 

“Why are you doing this? Why do you even care?”
“Because I can and secondly, because I just do.”
“You're nothing like my Light...”
“I don't want you getting hurt. It's as simple as that.”

 

Curse that Ryuzaki. Why did he have to say such things? Why did he have to say things she should have already heard from her own boyfriend?

“Stop it.” Misa murmured to herself, rushing through the crowds and clamoring through the falling sheets of white fluttering down around her.

Ryuzaki was Ryuzaki. A friend. Only a friend.

Her dark coat fluttered behind her like a possessed shadow as she pushed herself to run even faster.

To outrun the truth.

The truth that her so called friend was not just a friend anymore.

During those few occasions she had stopped by headquarters late at night to talk to him; hear his voice; enjoy his company, she had gotten a dosage of something she desperately needed.

And of something she did not want to face nor accept.

Something she didn't want to accept nor face from someone who was just a friend.

Someone who was just a friend, like Ryuzaki.

For the first time in a long while, she truly and whole-heartedly reconsidered the actual meaning of Light's actions towards her.

Her lips quivered in the cold dry air and she instinctively bit them to keep them from shaking so much.

But it wasn't just the cold that was to blame.

It was her freewill.

 

--

 

“Good evening, everyone. This is Kiyomi Takada with the 11 ' clock news.”

 

L eyed the screens with genuine intellectual interest; his thumb pressed thoughtfully against his bottom lip.

Light, on the other hand, watched with awe as his lightly bronzed eyes studied the raven-haired reporter. 'Kiyomi?' he wondered; his thoughts teeming with nostalgia. Inwardly, he chuckled to himself. 'Kiyomi... I could have a use for you...'

 

The reporter continued her story with displays of video footage behind her.”Tonight, around 10:55pm, a mass series of deaths occurred downtown at the city square. Those who weren't victims claimed they watched the victims take their own lives.”

 

A clip of a frantic middle-aged woman was shown on-screen hugging her two children tightly to her body while sobbing.

“My eldest daughter came to the square around 9:00 to see the Christmas decorations! She arrived home around 10:30, then left saying she had something she had to do. Now, she's dead! She would never do this! She would never take her own life!”

 

L's expression remained bland and distant while the woman became enveloped by her loss.

Quietly, he slipped a sideways glance to Light out the corner of his eye. The composed young male seemed to absorb the temperamental scene with little to no outer emotion. But inside, Light was fuming.

'Misa, you idiot!' he vociferated in his mind, remotely condemning Misa. 'I told you to do something so simple and you couldn't even do that right!'

“Is something the matter, Light?” L asked placidly, still not facing the other. 'He'll most likely mention the suicides since its a direct diversion from Kira.'

 

“It's these stupid suicides!” Light complained, thankful to vent his frustration with Misa into something else. “But more than that, I'm worried about Misa.” he added, covering his tracks a bit.

But L was already one step ahead . If Light were Kira, as he strongly believed he was, it would only be natural of him to cover himself. Yet, now that L had thought about it, where exactly was Misa?

She and Light were previously at the location the incidents took place, only, Light returned before her.

 

And with a legitimate excuse in tow.

 

On the phone, Misa mentioned she did something for Light so he wouldn't be so upset.

 

L's thumb dragged across his lip in meticulous contemplation. He had no reason to doubt the two of them working together as accomplices now. But he still couldn't quite pinpoint the accusations of either of them being Kira. The proof was all he needed to confirm his speculations.

 

“Shouldn't you be calling Miss Amane?”

“Why don't you?” Light retorted scornfully.

“Now, there's no need for that. She is your girlfriend, after all. And in addition to that, she was alone by herself at a crime scene. I believe that's pret-ty important to contact someone about.” he warned flatly, turning away from the monitors.

“Misa should be fine.” Light stated firmly, glaring acidic daggers into L's back. “Only suicides took place, like some kind of cult. Even a girl like Misa wouldn't get hurt from something like that.”

“'A girl like Misa', you say...” L paused in his deliberations, gazing thoughtfully towards the door he wished she would come dashing through soon; safe and flustered. But overall, safe.

 

“Yeah. Misa may not be very bright, but I seriously doubt that even she could get hurt from another person's suicide.” Light forced himself to smile in deceptive reassurance.

The detective could have sworn he heard a distinct edge of hinted malice in Light's voice when he said Misa's name.

 

Just what exactly did he want her to do?

 

Testing Light's behavior, L threw the younger male potential bait.

“How do you know she wasn't intent on joining that cult?”

Light took a step back, temporarily puzzled. “What? Why would she do that?”

“Oh, who knows.” L continued discreetly, studying Light's responses, “Perhaps she has a reason to want to take her own life. She seems to be absolutely loyal to you and to Kira. And since she's dating you, perhaps she is not satisfied with your choices towards her lately. You've been a rather lackluster boyfriend to her in my opinion.”

“ 'In your opinion' “ Light reiterated with a scowling frown and walked upto the shaggy-haired detective. “Look, we both know Misa supports Kira's ideals of punishing criminals. Why would she become part of something that is obviously not his doing?”

“To advert attention away from him.” L quickly claimed in one breath and turning to face Light.

The glimmer of an idea thrived in Light's narrowed eyes for a brief split-second.

 

But L had captured it.

 

“Do you really think Misa would try such a thing just for Kira's sake?” Light scoffed, attempting to sound in denial from the absurdity of L's words.

L didn't miss a beat. “Why don't I ask Kira?”

“That again? Ryuzaki, I'm not Kira. Can you stop accusing me of being some mass murderer?”

“Only when you stop pretending you care for Miss Amane.”

'Damn him!' Light seethed in his mind. 'He never is going to let this go. I need to get rid of him as soon as possible. ...And probably of Misa as well. I can find someone else to persuade into making the eye trade and Kiyomi is a perfect match.'

'Keep thinking on your feet, Light' L retaliated silently in thought, ' I'll be ready to expose you as the fraud you are.... and end Misa's suffering...'

 

While they glared at the other in silence, the sudden sound of doors slamming and swishing open broke their weighted tension.

“Amane...” the soft words dribbled softly from L's lips as he neared closer to the main doorway with anticipation fluttering through him.

The sharp clacks of the blonde's frantic boots echoed throughout the hallways. And in a frenzied blur of gold and black, she collided into L.

 

“Misa's sorry she's so late! But Misa is alright!” she exclaimed, clinging desperately to the male before her. The lean muscles and sharply defined bone-structure wasn't recognized as being foreign right away, but its tactility brought her into a deeper comfort.

Desperately, she hugged that comfort even closer to her heart.

“So Light, please don't be upset. Misa never should have dragged him down there in the first place! Misa is sorry...”

She was nearly on the verge of tears, her acting was so convincing.

A pity L didn't fall for it.

Instead, he simply peered down at the girl. Thick locks of gorgeous blonde hair swirled about her head, cascading in scattered curves from the pigtails on either side.

Cautiously, she began to pull away from him. Any words he may have wanted to say were stolen away by the intense shock that wavered in her liquidy brown eyes when she realized it was him that she had clung to.

 

For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped.

 

Inwardly, she scolded herself for running into L's arms first. She cursed herself for feeling her heart do somersaults in her chest. She reprimanded herself for clutching him tighter and silently begging him to hold her closer.

Her mind ran rampant with conflicting thoughts, yet the only word her lips were able to form was: “Light??”

“Misa!” Light exclaimed, rushing to her side and pulling her to his chest and away from L.

The ignored detective simply looked at them. A hint of an unknown emotion lingered in his eyes before it dissipated. He was strongly disappointed, but he didn't dare show it.

Instead, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and observed.

 

“Misa...Misa, are you sure you're alright?” Light inquired, feigning the magnitude of his concern. Discreetly, he glided his lips upto her ear. “You failed, Misa.” he hissed lightly.

Her body instantly tensed and his grip around her shoulders tightened significantly. 'He's going to hurt me.' she whispered in her thoughts, 'Here, in front of Ryuzaki, Light is going to hurt me.'

“I gave you a simple order a child could do and you failed!” Light continued; his warm breath gingerly caressing her face while his harsh words sharply cut her in stark contrast.

 

'And I deserve it.' Misa accepted, allowing her quivering lids to crumble to a close.

 

“...Misa is sorry to worry Light so much.” Still, Misa did her best to keep up her charade.

Hesitantly, her body started to move backwards, but his grasp only intensified.

 

L noticed the couple's odd behavior and began to approach them more closely to eavesdrop.

And to Light, L's timing couldn't have been more perfect.

 

“What were you thinking, Misa?! Do you want me to tell everyone your secret?”

Misa gasped and her eyes shot open, swimming with terror.
This was no longer an act. Light was serious.

Her startled features blanched.

Would Light really expose that she was the Second Kira? He couldn't! He would have to reveal himself too, wouldn't he?

Her pained eyes narrowed as a hot pang of tears stung the backs of her eyes and pooled the irises with a thin film.

It was then that she realized Light would do anything to keep L and the taskforce off his tracks.

Anything. Even if it meant disposing of her; the eyes; his upper hand.

The warm clear liquid began to spill from her eyes, dappling her lashes with glistening droplets.

 

She had told Light she would be willing for him to use her any way that he needed to, but she never expected things to turn out like this.

'..Light loves me...doesn't he? I just made another stupid mistake and he's upset with me. Right? ...Right?' Her silent pleads forced her to lift her heavy head and face her lover with wide, expectant eyes.

A deeply antagonistic smile glowered back at her.

'A lie...' A small voice in her head revealed. The woman in her and not the lover. 'Everything was a lie'

Her head lowered as Light pulled away from her and grasped at her overcoat.

'Light doesn't love me. Kira never cared about me...'

Carefully, Light made sure her Death Note was completely concealed within her coat as he yanked the long fabric from her body.

 

Misa flinched.

 

A hefty silence seeped into the room as both Light and L stared in shock at the series of bruises and cuts her exposed skin bore.

The injuries that weren't out in the open remained hidden beneath multiple band-aids of various sizes, littered about her body like plastic tattoos.

 

Feeling a sudden chill run over her swollen skin, Misa slowly brought her arms around herself; defensively cradling her sorrow and vulnerability.

 

“I don't believe it...” Light began, declaring only the half-truth behind a bewildered facade.

Inside, he was laughing non-stop at how well this all had fallen into place. “So it was true! Misa was abusing herself all along! I should have known! After all the arguments we've had, she'd always had extra make-up on her face or a new bruise or band-aid somewhere. She never wanted to talk about it. At first, I was sure someone was hurting her, but now I know.” Light fibbed, speaking rapidly as if in absolute disbelief.

 

L's lips thinned to a taut line as his cold eyes studied her. He couldn't tell if she were in denial or simply, just afraid.

Casually, he spoke up on her behalf. “If Misa were inflicting harm upon herself, what motive would she have?” He glanced to Light, “And don't tell me she'd do it out of relief from her work.” he added in a quick and muffled tone.

 

“No...” Light started, turning to the detective. “Because of Kira.”

L didn't flinch. “Interesting. Why Kira?” Inwardly, he chuckled to himself. 'Looks like he took the bait after all...'

'He hasn't figured it out, yet?!' Light practically guffawed in his mind. 'You're being outdone too easily, L!'

“Think about it. Why would Misa pick today of all days to goto that square tonight? And why cause damage to herself? It's obvious she had an idea of what was about to happen there and be a part of the suicide cult. But, she was too afraid to actually take her own life! That's why she wanted me to go with her! It was an easy way out for her to explain those bruises that she gave herself. I mean, why not be part of something that would take attention away from her precious savior in the process? She had to have been planning for the perfect cover-up for weeks! You saw the bruises and cuts too, didn't you, Ryuzaki?”

 

L said nothing. His attention lingered entirely on the downtrodden girl before him. Her head was drooped in shame; her ocean of golden hair draped acutely over her face like a shade.

Clear streaks stained her cheeks; the trails of her tears embedded against her creamy face.

 

If Misa was abusing herself in preparation for suicide, that had to be a lie. And very foolish.

If Misa was readying for suicide in order to help protect her precious Kira, that would make a little more sense.

If Misa was that type of girl.

 

His eyes shifted to Light.

 

If Light were Kira, where would Misa's loyalties lie? He couldn't answer.

L supposed Kira would need those who were both disposable and indispensable for his cause. L supposed Misa would fall into the latter category. Kira, by himself, could kill with a name and a face, but the Second Kira seemed to only need a face to kill. Why would Kira get rid of such a valuable asset if Misa was indeed in contact with him?

L determined that Kira would need someone loyal like Misa to gain full advantages of utilization. But Light on the other hand-- just what would he need from someone like her?

 

The thought puzzled and perplexed L at the same time. But his assumptions weren't doing Misa any good.

 

“Amane...” he began in a soft tone, “Is that the truth?”

Misa cringed. Slowly, she lifted her teary eyes to the one that called to her.

Emotionless dark orbs returned her blurred gaze.

But she had misinterpreted the pain that they held for her.

Her liquidy eyes fell on Light and she bit her bottom lip to control her shivering.

Piece by piece, the righteousness she had held in high regard for Kira and Light dissolved away.

 

Misa was caught between two difficult choices: to help aid Light in furthering his lie, or to deny all of it to help herself.

“It...” she breathed, hugging herself tightly, “What Light is saying, Ryuzaki is...” 'True. True. Say it, Misa!' she cried in her mind, defensively to avoid being struck by Light.

 

But no matter how her parted lips quivered and shaped, she could not bring herself to lie for that man again.

 

Her glossed and confused eyes trailed over to the silent detective. Without realizing, she had activated the shinigami eyes. Her pupils dilated in shock as she deciphered the dancing crimson letters and numbers above his head. Instinctively, she glanced to Light, expecting to see his intent expression of her regaining Ryuzaki's real name as if it were second nature to confirm her findings with him.

 

A corrupted smirk marked Light's lips as he recognized the tell-tale verification in her eyes.

 

“Misa, it's ok.” Light spoke gingerly, suppressing a chuckle. “Tell them the truth. I promise I won't get upset.” Inwardly, he grinned. 'Well well! If Misa gets taken into custody for her 'abuse', I can meet up with her later and obtain L's real name! Finally. Things are finally going my way. Good job, Misa.' he sneakily thought. Yet, Misa still continued to be a pathetic failure who was only good for gaining other's names for his uses, in his eyes.

“Misa...” Light continued, reaching out to touch her.

 

The moment his fingers brushed her bare shoulder, Misa yelped and recoiled defensively.

This, however, was all the evidence L needed.

Hands crammed into his pockets, he headed over to the large terminal behind him. Briskly, he pressed a button and spoke into the microphone promptly in another language. “Envoyez-les en( Send them in) “

 

At that moment, another door swung open into the room. Watari, the other members of the taskforce and two officers barged in one right after the other.

 

Misa backed away enough to watch Aizawa and the officers charge towards a bewildered Light and slap cuffs on him.

“Wh-what's going--” Misa began to question, but stopped abruptly when Matsuda and Chief Yagami approached her.

“Misa-Misa, are you ok? We heard everything!” Matsuda exclaimed, pressing his concerned hands against her taut fists.

“I'm.. Misa is fine. Can someone please tell Misa what's going on...?!” she demanded, attempting to recompose her stable stature.

“Ryuzaki had informed us, after Light had left the meeting early to go out on his date with you, that he suspected Light severely and wanted all of us to stick around even after the two of you returned.” Soichiro informed indefatigably.

“Yeah! We were all worried about you, Misa-Misa!” Matsuda enthused. “If Ryuzaki hadn't suspected Light, none of this would have ever happened!” he added, frowning on every word after Light's name. “I thought we could actually trust him...”

“Ryuzaki...?” Misa murmured, looking over Matsuda's shoulder to glare at the apprehensive detective.

'Did Ryuzaki do this because he thought Light was Kira?' “Kira...” she whispered, her fists tightening yet again. “Kira...!” she shouted, pushing past the two puzzled teammates and charging for L. “Kira! Kira! Kira! Kira!” she yelled, fiercely throwing herself at the unsuspecting detective and pounded on him with her fists.

Alarmed, L spun around quickly as his body impulsively started to prepare a counter, but he stopped himself immediately when his wary eyes fell on her.

 

Getting dragged out of the room, Light fixed his flaring eyes on Misa. “Misa!” he called, hoping to distract her from possibly saying too much.

 

But his voice was stifled into unnecessary background noise in the presence of her anger. “Ryuzaki knew all along, didn't he!” she accused, still fruitlessly punching L. Not to hurt him, but to vent her vexation.

 

Yet, L had no idea of what she was actually referring to and candidly addressed her. “Amane, please stop doing that.”

 

Obeying, she began to hiccup against his chest wile clawing at the fabric of his shirt. “You knew all along that Misa's Light was Kira! Why did you lie and say you were only suspicious?!”

 

Various sounds of awe and shuffling feet clamored loudly as everyone faced Misa. A deathly hush then seeped into the room.

'That IDIOT!!' Light cried in his mind, but didn't dare falter his appearance in the least. “Misa, I'm flattered you think of me as your idol, but let's be serious now. You're taking things a little bit too far. I'm not Kira and we both know it.”

 

L acknowledged Light's words, but didn't take his eyes off the blonde below him. “An explanation would be much appreciated.” he muttered.

“Misa is not lying...” she whispered into the folds of his shirt, “Why else would Ryuzaki had Light arrested?! And if Ryuzaki knew Light was Kira, then he also knew the Second Kira was Misa-Misa. So! Now you'll have to look her up too...” she trailed off, prying herself away just enough to look into his eyes.

 

A distant, blank stare was all she was met with.

 

An aching eternity seemed to strain by until L finally parted his lips to speak.

In a soft and almost embarrassed tone, he answered Misa. “No. No, I wasn't sure he was. I didn't have the proof, despite my suspicions. But now... Now, it all makes sense...” he uttered quietly, outlining the curve of his bottom lip with his thumb.

 

The color nearly completely drained from Misa's face and her eyes doubled in size.

 

She had just revealed everything L needed to confirm his suspicions.

 

Everything.

 

Frantically, she turned to Light, who glared at her with a sickeningly acidic gaze.

There was no way he could talk his way out of this one. Misa had beaten Light; in return of all the times he had indirectly, and directly, beaten her.

 

The man who was once her everything was nothing more than an abusive, manipulative liar.

'Everything.' the words swirled madly around in her head until Misa felt herself start to slip away. Light-headed.

Soon, everything churned into a blur as her everything fell apart beneath her.

 

--

-Mel