So I decided to to try something different and write a story from the point of view of someone blind. I've never personally experienced being blind nor do I have any blind friends so this was totally out of my comfort zone. If any of you lovely readers have any recommendations on how I can make by blind characters life more real then I would welcome them with open arms.
Disclaimer:
I don't own Death Note or any or it's characters, I just own Faith:)
A Notebook
Faith Yagami lay on her bed staring up unseeing at the ceiling. She could hear the birds chirping and she didn't hear any rain much to her pleasure. She knew that it would be time to get ready for school soon but the alarm hadn't gone off yet.
A knock sounded at her door and moments later she heard the door open. The familiar scent of her twins cologne drifted through the room and she looked over to where she could hear breathing coming from.
"Hey Light, what's up?" Faith said with a smile.
She felt the mattress dip down as Light sat down on the edge of her bed next to her and brushed a hand across her arm.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Light asked.
Faith smiled. Her brother would never stop worrying about her. She understood why he worried which is why he never got angry with him about his worry for her. When she was ten she came down with a illness that messed up the part of her brain that dealt with her sight.
When she was nineteen she would be aloud to get surgery that had a 53% chance of returning her sight to her but there was always the fear that the disease would return and she would not only be condemned to a life of darkness but she would also lose other things such as hearing or mobility.
"I'm fine. Is it time to get ready for school?" Faith asked.
"Yeah. We need to go early since we're both honour students and they want to talk to us about you taking the upcoming tests in braille. I will head downstairs and make you some toast while you get ready ok?" Light said, she felt the mattress rise as he stood and left.
Once he had closed the door behind her she got up and did her morning routine. Slipping on her uniform blazer and grabbing her bag and cane on her way out she made her way downstairs to the kitchen to eat.
"Good morning sweetie, did you sleep well?" Mrs Yagami asked with a smile in her voice.
"Yes mama. Morning Sayu." Faith said, making her way around the table into the main kitchen area.
Light gently grasped her free wrist and placed the plate with toast into it. She smiled her thanks and began to eat her toast.
"How can you figure out if we're around even before we speak? I mean I know we're family but that could hardly explain your freakish ability to figure this stuff out." Sayu complained from the table.
"It's not a freakish ability Sayu. You smell like that flowery perfume you always wear and the scent lingers in areas that you move around in. The stronger it is the shorter the timeframe has passed since you were in that area. The same applies to Light's cologne. Mom always smells like Lysol and fresh bread and dad smells like printer ink and coffee." Faith said around her toast.
"Oh. That's no fun." Sayu mumbled.
Faith rolled her eyes and placed the plate on the counter she had been leaning against before gripping her cane and heading towards the scent of the ocean, her brother's cologne.
Gripping her brother's arm gently she followed as he lead her out the door and along he street on the way to school.
The last class of the day she and Light had separate from each other and she got out first. Faith stretched and navigated out of her class towards where she knew there was a small grassy area. Running her cane back and forth she paused when she felt it hit something hard on the grass.
"Here, I'll grab that." It was Light's voice.
"What is it?" She inquired.
"A leather notebook with something written on it in English." He told her.
"Can I see it?" She asked.
"Sure." Light handed the notebook to her.
Tucking her cane under her arm and she ran her fingers along the notebook, her fingers finding that words had been carved into the cover. Furrowing her eyebrows Faith ran her fingers over the engravings and realized that whatever it said was in English. Starting on the left she began to investigate every letter individually, trying to place all the letters she had learned in English before she went blind.
D-E-A-T-H N-O-T-E
Death Note.
Faith's eyes widened. What the heck?!
"It says Death Note! Is this some sort of a prank?" Faith told him.
"Probably. Like one of those chain emails that say if you don't send it to your friends you'll get cancer. I'll probably use it as a notebook for school or something. Why, you want it?" Light said.
"Nah, I'll find no use for it. You can keep it. Maybe you'll get some sort of entertainment out of it." Faith said with a shrug, handing him the notebook.
Studying for the National exams was exhausting but for Faith it was worth it. To-oh University had a program for the blind for every single course they offered to the seeing. It had always been Faith's dream to attend To-oh and she was so glad that she was still able to attend the school of her dreams.
Nationals came and went and the day the results were being passed out Faith was home sick. So she waited in her bed impatiently for the news she wanted. She heard the front door open and Light call out to let their mom know he was home. Silence and then muffled voices.
Faith waited impatiently for her brother to come up. Her wait lasted for less than a minute before she heard her door open and her brother came in.
"Hey Light, how was school?" Faith asked.
She heard Light chuckle and felt the bed shift as he stretched out next to her. She felt his elbows brush her ear as he settled and smiled at the position she knew he had taken, with his hands linked behind his head.
"Boring as usual. It's not nearly as fun without you there with me. I don't know what I'm going to do when we start going to To-oh and we have separate classes." Light said.
Faith smirked. "You'll find yourself surrounded by even more girls than you have to deal with in highschool and I will get to sit out of the way and laugh at you from out of the line of fire."
Light laughed. "Wow, talk about sibling loyalty. Thanks for that."
"What ranking did we get Light?"
"I got first and I tied with you." Faith could hear the grin in his voice.
"I got first! Wow!" Faith cheered.
Light laughed and she felt him get off the bed. "Haha I thought you might be excited. I need to go do some stuff in my room so I'm going to leave you to your sleep. Get well soon sis."
Faith heard the door close and she smiled as her eyes closed and she began to drift off to sleep.
Things had been getting crazy, a new killer was on the rise that people had baked Kira. Criminals all over the world were dropping dead from heart attacks no matter their location. Kira was the only thing anybody was talking about now. So when Faith got home from school her and Light split up and each went to their own rooms to decompress from the day
Faith was sitting in her room listening to the news channel on her tv when all of a sudden the sound of static interrupted the news reports. Faith's head jerked up and she stared in the direction of the tv screen listening intently for whatever came next.
"We are interrupting the program to bring you a live globally televised broadcast from Interpol with Japanese voice over by interpreter Yoshio Anderson."
"Interpol?!" Faith gasped.
"I am Lind L Taylor, more commonly known as "L"- the sole person able to mobilize police in every country worldwide."
"He must be on the screen in person... What is this guy doing?" Faith muttered.
"Criminals have been the target of a killing spree which has turned into the biggest mass murder case in history. This monstrous crime must be stopped at all costs. Kira, as the perpetrator is known will be caught. I guarantee it."
Faith gaped at the tv. Never more frustrated then she was right now to not be able to see the screen.
"Kira, I've got a pretty good idea of why your doing this. But what you are doing is EVIL!"
Faith's jaw dropped. "He's insane! This guy is killing though seemingly spiritual ways and he's name calling?!"
"Police have launched a worldwide investigation..." The rest of his words faded into a dull buzz as her mind raced. This guy was only going to tick off those who were already starting to worship this Kira.
Suddenly she heard a throaty scream come from the tv and she turned back.
"What's happening? Uuh I hate this! I want to SEE what's going on!" Faith vented.
Then a voice. Scrambled by computers began to speak.
"I don't believe it... This was a experiment to test a hunch I had but I never really thought... Kira, you can actually kill people without direct contact..."
"That was a test?! He killed someone to test a hunch?! What kind of monster would do that to a innocent life?!" Faith gasped.
"So my hunch was right... I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes but you can... You'd have to of course, it wouldn't make sense otherwise."
Faith felt her legs give way under her and she fell to the floor wth a soft thump. Someone had just died on global television.
"Listen to me Kira. If you just killed Lind L Taylor the man you saw on tv, he was a condemned criminal scheduled to die today at this hour. His arrest and conviction were kept secret from the media, and went unreported even on the Internet. Even you had no way of knowing about him it seems."
"But I, L, do in fact still exist. So come on, kill me if you can!"
Faith let out a soft cry, scrambling to her feet and bracing herself on the desk mumbling curses under her breath. She guessed that he wasn't personally on the screen but she wanted to see what was.
"What are you waiting for? So come on! Go ahead and kill me!"
"He's gonna get himself killed!" Faith cried.
"I'm still here. Can't do it Kira? Evidently you AREN'T able to kill me. So there are people you can't kill, that's a valuable clue. Now I'll give you some information in return."
Information?
"Though it was announced that this was being televised globally..actually it was broadcast only in the Kanto region around Tokyo. The plan was to broadcast live to other areas in turn, but that's no longer necessary. You are in the Kanto region of Japan Kira."
Faith let out a long breath. Things just got a thousand times more difficult. The one good thing is that this L person didn't use a innocent life to test his hunch but the life of a condemned criminal.
"And although the police have missed this, your first victim was the Shinjuku killer who took eight people hostage in a nursery school. His crime when compared to those of the notorious murderers who've died of heart attacks, was not very serious. I knew, Kira, that you were in Japan! And that your first victim was nothing but a Guinea pig for testing your powers!"
"We broadcast first to the Kanto region because it has the biggest population. That you were there was just pure luck. I didn't expect this to work so perfectly according to plan but... Now I dare say, it may not be long until I send you to die. Kira it would interest me greatly to hear how you carry out your murders. But that is something I can find out AFTER I catch you."
"Kira... I'm going to find and dispose of you if it's the last this I do! I'm righteous!"
Faith flinched back from the tv. The amount of emotion the speaker managed to get though the scrambled voice gave her chills.
"Till we meet again Kira."
Since that open declaration of war against Kira reports of deaths by heart attacks were filling the news. Criminals were dropping dead all over the world. But that wasn't bothering Faith as much as Light.
Since the broadcast her brother had been acting differently. Being sneaky and turning the charm with all the girls they met. It was kind of creepy. His strange behaviour worried her greatly.
Her dad was supposed to be coming home from a big meet sometime this evening and she was super excited. Suddenly the front door opened and she heard Light's door get flung open as Sayu went running down the stairs to greet their dad.
Faith grabbed her cane and made her way downstairs, stopping in behind Light.
"Hey daddy." She said quietly.
She felt Light move to beside her so that her dad to see her.
"Hey sweetie. How are you doing?" He asked, giving her a quick hug.
"Good. I'm going to help set the table with mom and Sayu now, I just wanted to say hi."
Light had been acting progressively weirder. Every day after school locking himself away in his room for hours without coming out. Faith had her own school that she had to focus on so she didn't worry to much, she didn't have time to. Just a couple of days ago he had actually gone on a date. A date! Her brother NEVER went on dates!
To top it off her dad had been acting extremely strange too. Almost the entire Taskforce had just quit on him and then all of a sudden what he did during his work days became even more hush-hush. She had a feeling that he was probably working alongside L now, that's the only thing that could have caused her dad this much stress.
However the strange behavior of her brother was just beginning. The real eye opener for Faith to Light's strange behavior and changes was after school one day.
Faith got out of her class a few minutes late and hurried out of class. The teacher had wanted to talk to her about her speech since she was going to be a freshman representative for whatever university she got into. Reaching the stretch of grass that she always met Light on she waited quietly for her brother to get her so that they could head home. Luckily it was a sunny day so she was able to enjoy the feeling of the sun on her face and the sound of laughter.
Thirty minutes passed and her brother still hadn't come to get her. Furrowing her brows she made her way to her brother's classroom and poked her head inside the door.
"Faith! What can I do for you?" The teacher called cheerfully. Everyone knew Faith, she was so cheerful and friendly that is was impossible to not like her.
"Um, do you know where Light is? I've been waiting on the green space for over a half hour."
She heard a startled noise. "What? But the minute class went out he tore out of here like he was being chased by a pack of dogs. He even left his friends behind. I thought he had picked you up on the way but he's long gone."
Faith froze. He had forgotten her? He hadn't done that since she had fist gone blind! He knew she couldn't get home alone!
"Oh, ok. Thanks sensei." Faith shot a smile at the teacher and then made her way back down to the green.
She pulled out her cellphone and dialled her brother's number. Holding it to her ear she waited on him to answer. His phone had been turned off.
Next she called home but again no answer. Then she called her moms cell and again received no answer.
Faith was starting to panic. She didn't know anyone here since most people avoided her because of her blindness. She called Sayu and received no answer again. Faith whipped her head around, trying to keep herself from panicking. Maybe she could get home without help, it was always worth a try.
So Faith set out, staying to the inside of the curb and going at a snails pace she managed to get off the school grounds and was walking along a street filled with little shops on her way to the train station. She could hear two sets of feet behind her and all of a sudden she felt herself get pushed into the glass of the storefront.
"Hey cutie, wanna come with us for some fun. You'll enjoy it, I promise." One slimy voice said.
"Yeah, we can give you the ride of your life!" Another chimed in with a cold laugh.
"No. Leave me alone. I don't want to "go have fun" with anyone." Faith said trying to keep her voice from shaking. This is why she never walked alone, because these kinds of things happened.
The boys laughed at her and one grabbed her shoulder and pinned it there. Insults and threats were thrown at her as the boys jeered.
Faith lost her fight with her panic and felt herself begin to hyperventilate as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She was scared.
"Hey! You boys leave this girl alone! The cashiers inside are calling the police as we speak and your going to be in major trouble when they get here."
A older male voice with a British accent spoke sharply to her tormentors.
"Police! What the heck man! Let's go, some dumb blind chick isn't worth getting arrested for." The leader said and took off with his cronies at his heels.
"Are you ok miss?" The kindly man asked.
Faith raised a trembling hand to try and wipe away her tears, but they continued coming.
"I-I'm ok thanks. Can you help me to the door of the bakery? I don't think it's safe for me to try to get home any longer." Faith said shakily.
"Of course. If you don't mind me asking your name?" He enquired as he led her inside.
"My name is Faith Yagami." She answered softly as he sat her down in a chair.
"Faith Yagami?! Your Chief Yagami's daughter!" The old man exclaimed.
"You know my dad?"
"I work with your dad. Why on earth are you going home from school so late and alone?" He asked.
Faith shrugged and pulled out her cell phone. She hadn't wanted to disturb her dad at work but felt as though she had no other choice. She dialled the number and waited for him to pick up, but his cell phone was off to.
She felt a whole new wave of tears fill her eyes as she realized that she had no way to contact her family now. A gentle hand settled on her shoulder and she was steered into the back corner of the bakery.
"What are you-?" Faith started only to be interrupted by the man.
"I'm going to call my boss. He's working with your dad right now and always leaves his cell phone on. I'll put it on speaker ok?"
He did just as he said and barely one ring had gone through before someone picked up.
"What is it?" Came a young male voice over the line.
"Ryuzaki, I need you to bring Chief Asahi onto the line with you."
The older man said.
Silence.
"He is listening." The voice told her protecter.
"I was at the bakery when I saw a girl walking alone down the street. She was going extreamly slow and was reacting strange to loud noises so as I waited in line a watched her. As I was watching three high school guys ran over and pinned her to the wall and were harassing her. I went out to stop them and saw that this girl was blind. So I asked her name and she said that it was Faith Yagami."
"That's my daughter! Why is she alone?" Her dad's voice came over the line and sounded rather frantic.
"Light forgot me." Faith said, her voice still sounded teary and it trembled.
"He FORGOT you?! Ryuzaki you need to send someone to go get her! My wife and daughter are out of town for a day trip and won't be back until late this evening." Her dad said frantically.
"Watari, would you be able to bring the girl here? I believe that it would not be wise to just drop her off at home and leave her alone again. Oh and don't forget my cake!" The young male voice said calmly.
"The cakes are already ordered. I will be there presently." The older man called Watari said cheerfully.
After retrieving the cakes the man told her to grasp his arm so that he could bring her to his car. Following her rescuer Faith focused on composing herself. No point in her father seeing her like this.
They arrived at wherever her dad was working and she was escorted into what she realized was the lobby of a hotel. They got into the elevator and Faith stood in the corner. She was escorted down a hall and they stopped outside a room. A swish of a card and a click of the lock and she was led inside.
Faith held tightly to her cane and glanced around in a futile attempt to locate her father.
"Faith!" Her dad exclaimed. A hand reached out and pulled her into a tight hug. She allowed it for a couple minutes before pulling back and looking up where she knew her fathers head would be.
"Can I sit down?" Faith asked quietly.
Someone approached her, her nose was slightly stuffy so she couldn't place the scent for future reference much to her frustration.
"Hello Faith-chan, I am Ryuzaki. It is nice to meet you." The male voice she had heard on the phone said.
Faith smiled in the direction of his voice and offered her hand in that direction. It was grasped by a large and soft hand and shook firmly before being released.
"Hello Ryuzaki. It is very nice to meet you to." She murmured politely.
"Hey Faith!" A bright and cheerful voice called.
"Hello Matsuda. How are you?" She asked with a genuine smile. Matsuda was one of her favourite people. He treated her like one would a younger sister and he was fun to talk to.
Her dad spoke up. "Where is your brother?"
"I don't know. I called his cell and it was off and I called home with no answer. I think he's in his room, he's been locking himself in his room a lot lately." Faith said bitterly.
Her dad made a grumbling noise.
"I'm going to call home again." He announced abruptly.
He turned it onto speaker at Ryuzaki's request and sat down next to Faith.
Two rings passed and then the phone was answered.
"Hello?" It was Light.
"Light!" Her father exclaimed angrily.
"Dad! What's wrong?" Light's voice sounded worried.
"I'll tell you what's wrong! Or better yet Faith will." Her father snapped.
"Faith?! Oh my god I forgot Faith at school!" Light's voice switched from worried to horrified.
"Hi Light." Faith said dully.
"Faith! Oh-" Light started but her dad cut him off.
"I am coming home to drop her off and I am NOT happy with you." Her dad said before hanging up and shoving his phone in his pocket.
Faith felt herself get pulled to her feet and her dad lead her to the door.
"I'll be back soon Ryuzaki." He called over his shoulder.
Finally they arrived at home and Faith was just stumbling along behind her dad wearily. Between the walk she took on her own which was crazy long since she couldn't take the shortcuts they usually took without Light and then walking with her dad on top of the adrenaline rush that came when those guys cornered her she was exhausted. All she wanted to do was go home and sleep.
Her dad opened the front door and closed it softly behind him. Leading her up the stairs into her room without a word. He brushed some stray hair from her face before leaving her to get changed and go to bed.
She heard voices out in the hall as she climbed under the covers and began to relax. The volume of the voices began to rise until her dad's angry baritone rose above Lights. The words were still indistinguishable but she got the gist.
She heard her door open and Light's cologne filled the room. She didn't respond or acknowledge his presence and she heard him give a sigh. He sat down on the bed next to her and she felt his hand comb through her hair.
"I'm so sorry Faith. I didn't mean to forget you. Dad told me what happened. I can't believe that you got cornered like that. You could have been hurt and it would have been my fault! I could never forgive myself if something happened to you. Are you really ticked off at me now?" Light's voice sounded almost fearful.
Faith sat up and faced the direction of his voice, reaching out a hand to place it on his shoulder.
"I'm not angry with you Light. The reason I went to bed so early was because I'm tired now. I know you didn't mean to forget me because if I had thought that I would have done something to freak you out as revenge." Faith said tiredly.
Light sighed and she was pulled into a tight hug. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Light?"
Light's head shifted and his voice rumbled though her. "Yes?"
"Can you stay with me until I fall asleep? After what happened today I don't want to be alone." Faith admitted softly.
Light shifted on the bed and all of a sudden she felt him crawl across the bed to lie down on the other side. "Yeah I'll stay with you."
Faith smiled and laid back down, burrowing under the covers and smiling when she felt her brother wrap his arms around her and pull her into his side.
"You smell like the bookstore." She murmured drowsily.
"Haha ya, I got myself some magazines." Light said quietly.
Faith smiled and shifted so that she was resting her head onto Light's shoulder and allowed herself to drift into sleep. Comforted by the knowledge that her brother would always be there for her.
So what did you think? Reviews are welcome! Flames shall be laughed at, posted for others to laugh at, and then ignored as I continue the story.