Mashin: Part 2 is now up! Enjoy~! (Sorry, I didn't manage to finish it on Boxing Day. xO)
--- ---
Sirens and noises filled the nighttime as ambulances and vehicles blocked the entrances, leaving Soichiro and the rest of the NPA working on the Kira case outside.
Soft piles of snow were pushed away as a black car sped by, turning around and stopping besides an ambulance seconds later. With a 'slam' of the car door, Watari stepped out in his black trench coat, followed by a glaring Ryuzaki. Rushing forward, Ryuzaki slammed him against the side of the ambulance, ignoring the man's gasping for breath as he slammed him against the ambulance again.
"What the hell is your problem, Yagami?" Ignoring Soichiro's cries of 'That's my son!', Ryuzaki continued to slam Light into the side of the vehicle. "What in the world made you take your father's gun and shoot Kagome?!"
The sound of the sirens and the harsh pull towards Watari left Ryuzaki with no answer as the butler started dragging him towards the car, whispering words until Ryuzaki got himself up and walked alone. Ignoring the stares and looks from the NPA and workers, Watari shut the door and hit the gas, letting the car speed off, as if the snow were not a problem.
Soichiro watched the black car go off into the distance, reaching down and helping his son up from the snow seconds later. "Why did you shoot her, Light? Kagome-chan didn't do anything to you." He mumbled softly, so the other officers wouldn't hear.
Light remained silent as he swayed, one hand to his temple and the other limp at his side. "It's like…something just came over me, and then…" Shivering, Light pulled his thin jacket over him, as the snow flew down in a rush. "I don't know. I just wasn't myself."
-- --
"Where's your shinigami?"
I looked up. What was Higurashi-san doing here? I thought she was in the kitchen. "Pardon me, but I have no idea what you're talking about, Higurashi-san."
Higurashi-san's eyes narrowed. "You're lying. I can see the blood on your hands. Blood of the convicted criminals. Where is your shinigami?" Arms crossed, she practically screamed 'Dangerous' all around.
I shivered. For the first time, I felt truly afraid of someone. She felt as if she had the power to kill me painfully, and she could back it up.
But, she said Shinigami…
Argh!
Flashes! All across my vision! My head hurts! Make it stop! I heard screaming and cries of pain. Higurashi-san was silent, watching me with something in her eyes. Was I the one screaming?
Oh, God! It hurts! Make it stop! I don't want to see anymore! No! Why are you showing me this?
Wait…I remember this. This was when we were going to Spaceland. A busjacker got on the bus, pulled a gun. I was talking to someone….I can't remember. We came out safely, because the busjacker ran off the bus and died…
But why did he run off the bus? He said something about a-a monster or something. Nobody could see it, nobody…
…Except me.
What was it? It had wings, and sharp teeth. And eyes…eyes that could see through your soul…
Like Higurashi-San's…
Was that thing a Shinigami? If so, is Higurashi-san a shinigami?
It doesn't matter. She's a threat! A threat! She's going to kill me!
Wait! There's someone at the doorway! Dad!
Help me, Dad! She's going to kill me!
Why can't I talk? What's going on?
Never mind!
I'll do things myself!
-- --
"Do you remember anything after that?" Gently shaking his son's shoulders, Soichiro looked at him with a soft look in his eyes. No matter if his son was Kira…
Shaking his head, Light watched along with his father as the ambulances started to drive off in the snow, followed by the sound of screeching tires. Looking up, the To-Oh student closed his eyes as the snow fell down once again. "Dad, what do you think will happen after this?"
Soichiro offered no answer as the NPA –along with Light- slowly started trekking back inside the building.
--- ---
Where am I?
I see nothing…It's total darkness. Looking down, I can see my feet trod against the blackness as I wander off into nowhere.
How long have I been walking? My feet ache…My legs cry for rest. My chest hurts. Especially my left side…
Ow. It's throbbing. It hurts! It's like something amplified the pain!
It hurts! Someone help me! Please!
Someone!
--- ---
"Body Temperature's going up! Someone pin her down, she's starting to thrash!"
"Get the mask ready; She might break through the straps!"
Racing through the halls, the half-open eyes of Kagome Higurashi continued to stare at one place as the stretcher sped towards the operation room, packed and surrounded by white-clothed doctors as they shouted orders through the hallways.
"Put the mask on!"
Wait! No! Voiceless, Kagome's vision was clouded as her body started to shake, eyes rolling into the back of her head as she closed her eyelids.
"She's lost too much blood! Operation starts now! Get your gloves on, Hayasaka! Get the blood sample ready!"
Unconscious, the body of Kagome Higurashi went through the most painful 4-hour operation it had ever gone through in its entire life.
Help…
--- ---
December 26th came by as a relief and a haven.
Crouching in the stiff chair to the side of the hospital bed, Ryuzaki's eyes continued to stare at the prone body of Kagome Higurashi, even after the doctors had come in and stabilized her condition-again.
Flipping through the records and data provided, Light frowned as he read the latest report given. "Higurashi-san had to get a blood transfusion, apparently. Lost a lot of blood. You wouldn't happen to know who donated the blood, would you?" Gently placing the chart on the bedside table, Light folded his arms across his chest and waited for an answer.
"I thought you wouldn't be one to worry about it, since you're the one who caused the blood loss." Ryuzaki calmly replied as he reached for another piece of licorice. Arm rising, his sleeve fell to the point where you could see a small white bandage on his arm, which would have been well hidden if the sleeve had stayed at its original place. "Why are you so curious? You do not want your cousin to survive?"
"Of course I do!" Turning his head, Light's glare softened as he watched his cousin whimper again, her own pale hands gripping the sheets. "I'm just wondering why you, of all people, would donate blood at the 'darkest hour', so to speak."
The room was encased in silence as the two men stared at each other, occasionally taking a glance at Kagome, lying on the bed as she whimpered.
"So, why did you perform a blood transfusion with Higurashi-san?" Light asked again.
Ryuzaki frowned. "None of your concern."
"She's my cousin; I think that's enough of a reason to be concerned."
"Cousins don't shoot one another."
Slamming his fist on the table, Light glared at Ryuzaki. "I already explained it! I didn't exactly do it, it was like something took over me!"
"Try explaining that to the courts." Chewing on another piece of assorted licorice, Ryuzaki glared back.
Furious, Light turned on the ball of his foot and headed for the door. "I get it! I was your prime suspect for being Kira, and all you needed was proof! And here we go! Your proof! You just want to get this over with and end it already, no matter if you're persecuting an innocent person!" Pushing the sliding door open with more force than needed, Light turned his head and glared at Ryuzaki. "Go ahead and arrest me, then! Say I'm Kira! Being the world's greatest detective, nobody's going to argue!"
"I never said anything about arresting you."
Glare disappearing, Light turned around and stepped forward, shutting the door behind him. "What do you mean? You were the one talking about the Court of Law."
Ignoring the urge to roll his eyes, Ryuzaki glanced at the seat on the other side of Kagome's bed. Taking it as an invitation, Light walked forward and slumped onto the chair, no longer caring about his posture and guard. "Kira is known to control many before their death. Who is to say you were not another victim? Even now, Kira may be planning more actions and tasks for you to perform before your time is up. If brought to court, you may be asked to step up as a witness." Ryuzaki explained.
Speechless for the first time in a while, Light rested a hand on his temple, fingers spread as his ring finger lightly touched his forehead. "Does that mean you think I'm innocent? I doubt that. Matsuda-kun coming up and saying he's gay would be less surprising."
"A question like that just raises my suspicion even more. Albeit, the idea of Matsuda-kun being homosexual is not a lost idea." Ryuzaki chuckled, popping another piece of licorice in his mouth.
"I resent that!" Matsuda's voice shouted from behind the curtain at Ryuzaki's back, before the fabric moved aside to show Matsuda's enraged face. "I am as straight as a ruler, thank you very much!" He spat out, splitting his gaze between the two men in the room.
Looking up, Light pretended to look somewhat surprised. "Why, Matsuda-kun. When did you come here?"
Soichiro laughed as Matsuda let out another cry.
--- ---
I hear laughter. It sounds wonderful.
As the sound leaves me hearing range, my chest falls. It is so quiet and desolate here. It's all black.
I need something to lean on. Something to remind myself of who I am. Who I was, before I was cast here.
Frowning, my eyes look down at the pink bauble resting on my collarbone.
All I have to think of now is this jewel. The Shikon jewel.
And right now, I want to think of anything but.
Please, someone come. I don't want to think of the past anymore.
I want to think of the future…
There's a chuckle. A deep-sounding chuckle. It echoes, though it is not loud, unlike the laugh.
Something inside me is saved as my eyes divert their attention from the jewel. They look to my right.
All that stands out from the black is messy hair and baggy eyes.
And the smell of licorice.
Can't forget the smell of licorice.
--- ---
December 29th arrived with a flurry of snow.
Eyes slowly opening once more, Kagome Higurashi continued to blink as she stayed in her comfy seat, watching Ryuzaki's fingers tap the keyboard with speed she could barely imagine. Snuggling even further into her blanket, her hand retracted from the holes in the cocoon of fabric to the small plastic bag resting on her knees. With a content sigh, the girl opened her mouth and popped a piece of assorted licorice in.
Ryuzaki's fingers paused as he turned his head to stare at the blinking girl besides him. "Are you sure you should really be up?" He asked. Shrugging, Kagome pried his mouth open and popped another piece into Ryuzaki's mouth, before closing it for him. "I'm fine, really. Doesn't hurt unless I hit it." She replied as she watched him chew the bits, then swallow the mess.
"You were shot in the shoulder, dangerously close to your lung. It's a miracle that the bullet never hit any major veins or nerves." Ryuzaki commented. Already, his head was turned back towards the computer and his fingers were back to typing.
"Yeah, but I'm fine now! Nothing wrong with me." Kagome raised her fist from the blanket and pretended to flex it. Ryuzaki, however, never once glanced at her childish show and merely continued typing.
Smile disappearing, Kagome reached forward and placed a hand on Ryuzaki's shoulder, effectively causing him to turn his head towards her trusting eyes. "Ryuzaki, I'm alright now. Stop worrying so much."
Pausing, Ryuzaki smiled once more and placed a hand on top of hers, gently sliding it off his shoulder as he went back to typing his email back to the Wammy House. "I can't help it, you know." He muttered, hitting 'enter' once more. "You're the kind to attract trouble and pain."
"And that's why my blood type was compatible with yours."
Ryuzaki smiled.
At least the blood transfusion didn't change her at all. *
--- ---
December 31st.
"NEW YEAR'S EVE!" Matsuda cheered as he looked below him at all the lights and people running around outside.
Yes, American Holidays were influencing Japanese Culture once again.
Laughing, Kagome watched as Matsuda got a face-full of confetti, kudos to Soichiro, who was taking the time to relax and have fun for the night. Already tense beyond relief due to the whole chase-after-Kira and Kagome being shot, the team whole-heartedly accepted this chance to be free for a night, as fireworks went off in the distance, no doubt by an overly-excited teenager.
"Hey! Kagome-chan! Look up for a second!"
Head snapping up, she was about to ask Matsuda what was going on…
...Before some horrid, ugly, slimy mask was shoved in her face.
"EW! Matsuda-san, that's just gross!"
Chuckling, Light watched as the young woman raced around the flat rooftop, away from the Halloween mask Matsuda held between two hands. Turning around, he studied Ryuzaki's face for a moment. "How come you're not over there with her?" He asked the pale man.
Shrugging, Ryuzaki continued eating his licorice. "I have no need to participate in the games."
"Yeah, but it'll make her happier if you do." Light pointed out. Unable to come up with a retort back that would send the To-Oh student off edge, Ryuzaki settled for sitting on the chair, facing the direction of the fireworks.
Drop.
"Hey! Ryuzaki! It's snowing!"
Looking up, Ryuzaki smiled. "Well, it is."
Already, some of the men were grumbling at how they wouldn't be able to light their fireworks. Said fireworks were in a box being carried by Kagome.
"Err, Kagome-chan?" Matsuda pointed towards the snow. "I don't think the snow will let you light those."
"Just watch." Giggling, Kagome let the match light under the cover of her hovering palm, letting it touch the string. Diverting the men's attention towards the fuse growing shorter and shorter, the only female tapped the side of the firework's barely discreetly, and the snow never touched the firework.
With a giant bang and a whine, the firework flew off into the sky, erupting in exploding colors of red and gold. Cheering, the group brought out the rest of the fireworks, letting Kagome light them. Already, Soichiro was trying to light them, but to no avail. With a sigh, he dropped the firework into the bundle of those that hadn't worked and went on with the celebrations.
Ignoring the offers for more ginger ale, Kagome sneaked off towards Ryuzaki once all the fireworks were ignited and into the air. "So…" Trailing off, she swirled the rather generous amount of ginger ale in her cup around. "Mind telling me why you're not participating?"
"No need to."
Kagome scowled. "C'mon, it's New Years. Lighten up."
"They'll do the same thing again on Chinese New Years, so I'll take part then."
"Liar." Standing up, Kagome placed the cup on a nearby table, leaving it for later as she sat in the chair besides Ryuzaki, ignoring Light's confused stares and Matsuda's snickers in the distance. "You'll never take part. Now stop being a worry pants and get up! You already missed the fireworks, so you're going to get me some booze!"
Chuckling, Ryuzaki allowed her to drag him up until his started walking on his own, back hunched and knees bent. "So I'm your puppet now?"
"You're going to be a man on a firework if you don't get me that beer!"
--- ---
"Ugh, my head."
January 1st.
"Someone get me the water! I need water!"
The time for hangovers. And the time for whining.
Sighing, Ryuzaki turned the chair around so he could face the large group of crying men. "This is what you get for drinking too much last night." He announced, although Watari was already getting water and more painkillers. "We should just let them suffer in peace." The last part was muttered towards the girl on her left.
Kagome groaned as she curled herself tighter into the blanket. "Yeah…But I'm having a headache on my own, so come back and talk to me in about 3 hours, will ya?" Groaning once more, she gratefully accepted the painkillers and water from Watari. "Seriously, that's the last time I ask you to get beer for me. Now I know why there's an age limit."
"Well, now you won't bug me about it in the future."
"Hell no!" Head snapping up, Kagome grinned. "I'm so going to bug you about it when I'm of age-Oh crap!" Coughing, the girl quickly swallowed another cup of water. "Ugh!"
"Are you sure you want to try alcohol again? Your mother would kill me if she found out I let you try beer last night." This time, it was Light who spoke up. Like Ryuzaki, he was smart enough to take small amounts.
Glaring, Kagome coughed again as Ryuzaki handed her a licorice piece. "And your mother would be horrified if I 'accidentally' told her about the stash of porn behind the textbooks on your shelf." Muttering a 'thanks' to Ryuzaki, she popped the candy into her mouth and sighed as it traveled down her throat rather easily.
Fumbling for words, Light decided to just race up the stairs towards his temporary room. "I'll get you later, dammit!"
Ryuzaki and Kagome watched as the man disappear from their view, before turning to face each other. "Is there really porn in his room?"
"No. It's just a bunch of stuff I put in there a few days ago that he doesn't want anyone else to see."
"And those would be…?"
"Baby photos and feminine products. He can't really get rid of them without people being suspicious."
Chuckling, Ryuzaki popped another piece of the licorice into his bag, before he handed it to Kagome. "You are cruel."
"No, just in desperate need of an outlet for revenge."
--- ---
Blanket around her shoulders like a shawl, Kagome ignored the urge to spit the hair out of her mouth as the winds blew around her. Coming to the roof at night probably wasn't a good idea since she only had shorts and a T-shirt on underneath. Nonetheless, the woman made no move to turn back and head inside.
Besides her, Ryuzaki had his hands in his pockets, knees bent to the point where he was only slightly taller than Kagome.
"You know…you never did tell me your real name."
Ryuzaki turned his head towards Kagome. "Yes, but we have not caught Kira yet."
"But we were close. We almost had evidence."
"The evidence wouldn't have mattered if you ended up dying."
Looking up, Kagome placed a cold hand on his shoulder, which he clenched tightly with his own. "You mean that?"
"Well, I don't really say things like that."
"Does this mean you'll tell me your name?" Looking up, Kagome practically had 'Hope' written over her forehead.
With a sigh, and a small 'I don't even know why I'm doing this', Ryuzaki leaned down and cupped his hands around her ear. Heart beating, Kagome barely gasped as he whispered faintly, his lips barely touching the skin of her ear.
Pulling back, Ryuzaki looked at Kagome's blushing face. "Kagome…?"
"I don't know if that's your real name or not…" Trailing off, she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him closer. "But did you really mean that last part?"
Ryuzaki nodded, fully aware of the short gap separating them. "Yes. I wouldn't joke about something like that."
Kagome sighed in relief. "Good."
And she closed the gap.
--- ---
January 2nd, 2008.
The aftermath of the giant New Years hangover.
Looking up from the papers scattered all over the papers, Matsuda reached up and accepted another cup of coffee from a grinning Kagome. "Hey, Kagome-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"How come you aren't making out with Ryuzaki-san right now? Don't tell me it's about my 'No making out in the lobby' comment!" Even now, Matsuda was trying to keep his expression innocent-looking, despite Ryuzaki's threats on shoving a particular male organ down his throat, chopped up and all.
"WHAT?!"
Turning his head, Mogi's booming and over-exaggerated laugh filled the room. "Oh, that is so cute, Kagome-chan!"
Blush growing, Kagome picked up the closest pillow used for a makeshift bed and hurled it at Mogi's head. "Not funny!" She shrieked.
Nonetheless, the rest of the NPA continued to laugh at Kagome's poor misfortune.
--- ---
"Kagome-chan?"
"Matsuda, if it's about me and Ryuzaki, then you can go shove your comment up your-"
Matsuda let out a string of nervous laughs. "Oh, it's not that. I'm just wondering."
Looking up, Kagome put the cup down on the tray. "Well, then go ahead."
"How come you keep denying your relationship with Ryuzaki-san? I mean, it's really obvious you two know you like each other and…" Matsuda trailed off. "Well…I was just wondering."
Smiling, Kagome grabbed another small bag from the cupboard and placed it besides the cup of coffee. "Well, that's because we aren't together."
"What? But…But we saw you kiss and everything!"
One of Kagome's eyebrows arched up. "I won't ask how you saw us kiss, and why you make it sound like we did more." She commented, letting Matsuda open the door as she stepped out of the kitchen. "And we're not together because it would look weird for a 26-year old to be with a 17-year old, wouldn't it?"
"So…You're not with him because he's 9 years older than you? I wouldn't have thought you guys would stay apart because of social appearances."
"It's not just that." Sighing, Kagome turned her head as she turned the corner, placing the coffee pot besides the NPA's empty cups. "You have to understand that Ryuzaki doesn't know much about women in general. And we've decided to wait until I've finished with schooling and this whole case. Getting together now would only make things more complicated."
Matsuda nodded. "So you two are holding back until…"
"Around the end of next year or so."
Eyebrows raising, Matsuda ruffled Kagome's hair. "Well, in case you ever need help with him or anything, you're free to ask for any one of us. You're like our little sister or something."
Smiling, Kagome headed towards Ryuzaki's seat. "I'll remember that. Thanks, Matsuda."
Matsuda grinned as he stood beside Soichiro. "She's not a little kid anymore to you, is she?"
"She hasn't been for a while." Soichiro replied as he watched her hand Ryuzaki his cup of coffee and his bag of licorice. "She's grown up from the little girl I saw 10 years ago."
"Just asking, Sir." Matsuda looked up towards the older man. "How did the two meet?"
"Let's just say it started with licorice."
--- ---
Owari.
--- ---
Mashin: HOLY CRAP, I BARELY FINISHED IT. –Sighs in relief- As I type this, I'm listening to 'I need a Hero', which seems to fit the future chapter in FATAD right now.
Anyways, thanks for sticking in for…A week, as I've worked my butt off to type this. Leave a review, your opinion, a few words, anything! I love hearing from you guys!
-Mashin.
* Blood tranfusions usually go off without a hitch, but it has been known for the recipient's blood type to change if the amount of blood being transferred is of a different blood type (This can be because there's no other option, the blood type is unknown, or of some other reason).
In Japanese culture, a person's ABO blood type is predictive of their personality, temperament, and compatibility with others. I'm assuming that Kagome is a Type B and L is a Type AB here, according to their basic personality. By blood tranfusions, some of the donator's personality traits can be transferred into the recipient, causing small changes in their attitude, etc, etc.
So, when L says that he's glad that the blood transfusion didn't change her, he's talking about the difference between their blood types, and how it could have affected her. If L's blood had been too dominant or anything like that, her personality and attitude could have drastically changed to the point where it would affect her view on Life and people around her.