Chapter Twenty-Three

I stare in awe at the screen, trying to decipher whether or not that girl being chosen as Kira's voice is a coincidence. But there's no mistaking that this didn't happen by chance. Confronting Light about it now would do no good, considering he may expect me to do that already. But I do feel bad for keeping this information from the Task Force. Even if I know the truth and I want to complete my mission fast, this may help speed things up. If Light figures out that we may confront him about this, he may come right out and tell us. Either way, I need to formulate a plan quickly. I approach Mr Aizawa. 'That girl,' I whisper, 'she and Light dated around the time Misa Amane showed up as the Second Kira.'

'Did they?' Mr Aizawa responds quietly, though not threateningly.

Now, what to do?

I know that because he's under surveillance, Light hasn't had the chance to send her any messages. So that could mean one of two things: either Kira had planned this from the beginning and wanted to select her over Demigawa, setting up his death ahead of time; he probably say the mistake in choosing Demigawa as a spokesperson in the first place. Or, another possibility, the one most likely, is that the Notebook has been passed to another person, and that person via some contact with Kira, chose Takada. I wonder, this could all tie back to Misa. I ought to question Mr Aizawa and Mr Mogi about Misa's behaviour. And if, perhaps, there is any change in her that they noticed. But my biggest clue, also my biggest risk, is to see her myself. If she has the eyes, there's a chance she may slip even subtly, in front of me. If it comes to that, I have to come up with a plan to deal with Kira quickly and make sure Misa's taken care of. There's a larger picture missing but this may be the key.

'Everyone,' Light calls us, 'I just had an idea. I was thinking we could make use of Kiyomi Takada.'

I should have seen that coming.

'To be honest I knew her,' he continues, 'back in university, she and I were actually dating for a little while. If she's acting as his spokesperson, she must be receiving orders from him. She's in contact with Kira now. I think our best bet is to use that connection to find a way to Kira through her.'

If I'm right on my second hunch, this could also be an elaborate set up so that he could meet up with her and the new Kira. All of this sounds to familiar to brush off but none of us can afford to jump to conclusions yet.

'But Taki's probably doing it because Kira's threatening her, right?' Mr Matsuda offers, 'she might be too scared to help us out with the investigation.'

'I'm not too worried about that. I know her current cell phone number. I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to convince her once we get talking. She'll meet with me if I ask her to.'

'You're confident,' I comment. 'What makes you so sure she's going to comply?'

'Talking to her will be easy, but the real challenge will be to get her to help us find and arrest Kira. We used to talk about a lot of different topics while in college, and one thing was clear: she worships Kira.'

Oh-ho…

Perfect.

'But we might be able to use that to our advantage. The police claim they support Kira, but aren't doing anything one way or the other. So I'll reveal that I've joined the police, and ask her what we can do to help Kira further. To her, it'll sound like a good idea. We can convince her to assist us as long as we pretend it's for Kira's benefit.'

'DO you think that'll go well?' Mr Matsuda questions.

'I'm not entirely sure. But it's worth a try at least.'

'I agree,' Mr Ide says, 'It'd be foolish for us to pass up a lead like this.'

Light pulls out his phone: 'In that case, I'll call her tonight.'

As he moves to do so, Mr Aizawa interrupts him to ask that he be in the room with Light as he makes the call.

'Of course. That's fine with me. Actually it's better if you do. If she lets slip something about Kira, it would be best if more than one of us was listening.'

The two of them take the conversation elsewhere. In the man time, I've my scatterbrained mind to deal with so I'll go to Misa. I've been having trouble keeping up with this since Near started suspecting Light, probably even before. Okay. First thing's first: getting out a clean sheet of paper, outlining a basic timeline of everything that happened since Light was placed under suspicion. Numbering the outline helps with jotting down the important bits, so not to let my mind wander in a rant. I try to monitor my thoughts carefully, seeing my details I'm missing. At the end, I come up with this:

I. Near suspects Light is Kira

II. SPK attacked by Kira supporters led by Demigawa

III. SPK manages to escape; Near further suspects that Light is Kira, questioning the Shinigami

IV. Mr Aizawa calls Near, places Light and Misa under surveillance until the arrest of Kira

V. Demigawa and four others killed by Kira on live TV while Light and Misa were uner strict surveillance

VI. Kiyomi Takada chosen as new spokesperson while Light and Misa are uner strict surveilance; coincidence?

More organised than my previous notes, and a lot more understandable, something still appears to be missing. If the Notebook was not found in Misa or Light's personal belongings, is it possible Misa could have hidden it on her person or could she really have given it away? I know that there are two notebooks involved here, or at least there were, up until the third Shinigami's arrival. So if all that remains is the final Notebook, where could it be if not with Misa? I know he's not stupid enough to carry it on his person. So where? Merde! It looks like I will have to go see Misa after all. But first, I need to talk to Mr Aizawa and Mr Mogi. Since Mr Aizawa is busy, I'll have to go see Mr Mogi. I proceed to the door, getting my coat.

'Where're you going, Frejda?' Mr Matsuda asks.

'I'm gonna go see Misa.'

'Why?' Mr Ide asks.

'Something's not adding up about all this. I won't say anything, but I think I have a way of getting to the bottom of all this. I'll be back. Oh, and, unless Light asks, don't say anything.'

'What if he asks?' Mr I de questions.

'Then tell the truth.'

'Alright,' Mr Matsuda nods.

'Wait,' Mr Ide calls.

'Yeah?'

'You really think talking to her may help us now?'

'It may. I have something on her that she doesn't know. Look, I'll explain everything when I get back, if I get back in time. I just need to be sure first.'

'Alright then,' Mr Ide says. 'I'll at least let Aizawa know.'

'Sure.'

I leave. The way to Light's apartment isn't too far, and thankfully it's not too cold tonight. I really hope this does not go down to Hell. If it looks that way, I'll have to move quickly. Light will see through everything so I'll have to reach him before Misa has the chance to say anything. If it comes to it, I'll slip him a quick and painless death and mock innocence in front of everyone. I've been trained to leave no traces. I can do the same here. But for the sake of the mission, I pray that everything from here goes smoothly. By the time I reach the apartment, the nine o'clock news plays, and I give a knock. I should not be surprised to find Mr Mogi answering the door, but I am surprised to find him in an apron; 'Uh���'

'Don't ask,' he groans.

'Okay. I won't.'

'Why are you here?'

'To see Misa. Haven't had the chance to since I came back.'

'Oh? Uh…'

'Investigation purposes. May I come in?'

'Right. Sorry.'

He closes the door once I'm inside. As I proceed to take off my shoes I ask: 'When you and Mr Aizawa came in here that day, what was she like?'

'Her usual self. She was perky and inviting, not even remotely suspicious of our real reason for coming.'

'Really?'

'Yes. And there was no way she hid the Notebook on her clothes or anything. We searched the place top to bottom and found nothing.'

'Wait what do you mean by not hiding it in her clothes?'

He blushes. 'What she was wearing that day…'

'Something rather provocative, I take it?'

'Yes.'

'Oy!' I sigh. 'Alright, where is she?'

'Dining room.'

'Okay.'

I walk into the apartment; the place looks simple, the living and dining room combined into one large space with the kitchen hidden in a separate room. It wears a red and light purple themed wallpapers with simple décor: flower vases in the small tables in between couches and on the dining table, portraits of landscapes in professional frames hung neatly in the sitting room wall over a mock-fireplace as well as the variety of food displayed on the dining table coupled with a rather amazing aroma that would make any person ravenous. I wonder if this is Light's taste or something mutual.

'Misa-Misa, you have a visitor.'

'Is it Light, finally?' Turning to see me instead of her partner, her face sulks only for a smirk to replace it just as quickly. 'Well, well. So Frenchie is back, huh? You're not going to steal Light from me now that Ryuzaki's dead, are you?'

'I see you haven't changed a bit. And by the way, Light's all yours. I'm not pursuing him or anyone.'

'Oh really?' she stands. 'You're telling me that you don't have a crush on Light? You were always all over him when you were here last time.'

'Heh. Wow. Look, Misa, not everyone is as romantic as you are. I'm married to my knives.'

'Ew. Do you have some kind of knife fetish?'

Only she would understand it like that.

So far, no illicit reaction, no sign she's even aware that I have no lifespan above my head. But I persist in case she's holding it in or something. 'So, you haven't seen Light in a while, have you?'

'I thought it was his work that kept him busy, but it turns out that it was you all along.'

Rolling my eyes, I explain: 'Believe me, I have no interest in Light. And I doubt he has any interest in me. Besides, I came here to make sure that you're okay. With Kira becoming more serious and all.'

'Yeah, Kira is great. But Light's working to catch him and I support whatever Light does. I can't say I disagree with my husband.'

'Husband?' I question.

'Light proposed to me, and I said yes.'

'Uh—mazal tov.��

'I can't wait to get married, after all this is over.'

Oh boy.

She really has no clue and from what she's telling me, she supports Light's decision to catch Kira. But if she's been the Second Kira all this time, chances are she was giving the Notebook to someone else. If she was holding the Notebook, I may have sensed the presence of…

Oh by the Saint! The Shinigami! Where is the Shinigami? It stayed with us even after Chief Yagami's passing and now it's gone? Around the same time that Kira killed Demigawa and his comrades on live TV? Bloody Hell!

'Uh, Frejda?' Mr Mogi calls.

'Yeah?'

'We have to go. We're wanted back at HQ.'

'Alright. Nice seeing you Misa.'

I dash out before she can utter another word.

Back at headquarters, Light updates us on the new plan. Takada agreed to come meet with Light after the news. He'll leave to meet with her at the hotel with Mr Aizawa, and Mr Mogi while the rest of us stay at head quarters. I help Mr Ide and Mr Matsuda with setting up the monitors and audio feed while the Mr Mogi, Mr Aizawa and Light set up the bugs and cameras. Once everything's in place, we wait until Takada shows up. In the mean time, I pull out my notes and circle the word Shinigami. Each time we've come into contact with a Notebook, a Shinigami has been present; these are the rules. If the Shinigami disappears, the Notebook cannot be in anyone's possession; meaning the Shinigami's disappearance proves that someone else is playing the part of Kira, conveniently after Light and Misa were both placed under suspicion again. One other Notebook exists in the world, the one that Chief Yagami brought with him when Kira contacted the police. We've been so focused on getting the one that Mello took that we forgot about the spare. So that's how it is. There's really another Kira out there as a cover for Misa and Light. Light and Misa lost their memories last time this same move was made; Misa appears to be the only victim of that. How else can one explain her interest in stopping Kira while Light looks to be completely unaffected by the ordeal? He was almost an entirely different person when he lost his memories. This Light, the one I said goodbye to, the one whom I returned to, this Light is Kira. So is it possible that he kept his memories without having the Notebook?

'She's here!' Mr Matsuda announces.

'It's showtime,' I whisper.

The door opens. She walks in, looking prepped up for a date. They silently stare at each other for a long moment. And then: 'I missed you,' whispers Light.

'Ugh,' I groan.

Mr Ide and Mr Matsuda stare at the monitor with widened eyes and dropped jaws.

'Um,' Light clears his throat, 'I-I'm sorry, it's just—, anyway, please, sit down.'

Each takes a seat opposite each other.

'To be honest,' he continues, 'it doesn't seem like that long since we last saw each other.'

She's quiet, although his charm seems to be working on her; she shyly looks away.

'What the Hell is Light doing?' Mr Ide scolds, 'He's not saying anything. If he just stays silent, she'll get suspicious.'

'Come on, don't tell me you've never been in love before, Ide,' teases Mr Matsuda.

'Guys, I didn't sign up for this soap opera; please don't make it worse with the commentary,' I say.

'Yes, ma'am.'

'How's it going?' Mr Aizawa asks, walking in.

'Awkwardly,' I answer.

Something vibrates through the speakers. Takada's phone.

'Please excuse me,' she says, fumbling through her bag until she takes out her phone. 'Kira!' she gasps.

'Whoa!'

'She just said it's Kira!' Mr Ide pronounces.

'You should answer it,' Light encourages.

'Um, right,' she nods and presses the phone. 'Hello. No, I'm with a friend right now. Yes, we're alone. He wanted to meet all of a sudden.' A gasp, then, 'He said that he wants to speak with you.'

Without saying anything, she passes the phone to Light; taking it, he holds it against his ear: 'Yes?'

'This would be dangerous if it's the real thing,' Mr Ide notes.

'Hello? Five pages on November 26th? I don't get it. What do you mean?'

'This doesn't look good,' I warn.

'Yes,' Light continues. 'Yes. But how can I trust that you're the real Kira? What's that? Sakura TV?'

'Quick, let's check it out!' Mr Aizawa switches the TV on.

Kira's Kingdom continues in absence of Demigawa. The new host, like Demigawa, dressed in that silly white robe, starts to introduce some new delegates. In the middle of his promotional speech, the man gags in pain, choking for air before he collapses on the ground.

'Oh my god,' I breathe.

'This is bad!' Mr Ide panics, 'he's the real thing!'

Turning over to the cameras monitoring Light, I notice he hastily writes a not for us to read. 'The Hell does that say?' I demand.

'"Kira wants the room checked for devices,"' Mr Matsuda reads aloud, 'He's removing the bugs?'

'We don't have a choice,' Mr Aizawa sighs, defeated.

Great.

While waiting to hear from Light, I return to my notes and add everything that's transpired since. I think that this is all a game to him, Kira. He wants to tease the Task Force until he's eliminated all competition. If the purpose of that charade was to meet up with Takada, through whom he could speak with New Kira, it played out in his favour, another loss for us. This means that this set up was not to get Takada to come to our side, but to use her to his advantage as Kira. I can't present this to the others without solid proof but this has to be what's really going on. Or else…

Or else, what the Hell! Takada, Misa, this New Kira, they are all his pawns. I could care less where I fit. This has to end for the sake of the world. I need to end this! But I cannot make my move yet. I need more proof; something to show the others to convince them of what's really going on. The visuals can only work so far in my favour, and he is a charismatic liar. No. What matters is that this ends and if I'm required to be more patient, then I will be. Because one misstep could mean that I get no chance, no recovery and then, Kira truly wins. I will not let that happen.

The phone rings, starting to us all. Mr Matsuda picks it up quickly, placing it on the speaker for us to hear: 'Light, are you okay?'

'Yeah. Kiyomi was able to work things out with Kira. I've decided that from now on, I'm gonna pretend to be dating her. We might be able to find Kira that way.'

If they don't see from that one statement how much of a trick this is, then my work is already much harder than the insane level it is.

My thought process relaxes a little as I brainstorm everything whilst drinking hot chocolate on the roof. It serves as a quiet getaway for every puzzle piece and question to fill my pages of notes. But as much as I write, analyse and review, it feels like I'm jumping to conclusions. Even if I'm jumping to conclusions, a lot of this manages to add up. Another person exists in possession of the Notebook, and Kira's using this as an advantage to manipulate both the mysterious person and Takada into doing his bidding, to protect himself. I really am not sure if I should feel sorry for these people or not. But a conscious choice is a conscious choice, as perhaps my feelings towards them will not get in the way of justice. I feel the same way about Light. Ever since I came back, we've acted more or less the same towards each other as before. My hand involuntarily moves to my lips as I think about his kiss. I've never viewed Light as a romantic interest, and I don't intend to. Perhaps his kiss is a move to try and manipulate me, to use his charm so I can fall like the rest of the Task Force, and because I'm a woman, it makes me easy prey. But somehow, I know it's not true. This kiss is meant to make me feel vulnerable, yes, but not to manipulate me; the Shinigami must have linked at something towards me from the beginning. It's not about my knowledge about him being Kira. The Shinigami was, is, the only reason Light pursued me. This whole thing reeks of a recipe for tragedy. Before I took this job, the Headmistress sent me to our Seer, a pious woman who gives us a ritual blessing before we begin our job. During the ritual the Seer wept for me. I could not have known the weight of that weeping and what it predicted of my time here in Japan from the moment I met Light until where we are now.

My phone vibrates interrupting my thoughts; fishing out of my pocket, I'm surprised to see an unknown number. I consider ignoring it but something compels me to answer; I hold the phone against my ear: 'Hello?'

'Frejda Sofer?'

I freeze, anger and fear coursing through me, though anger seems to weigh more. How the Hell did he get this phone number and why bother to give me a call? 'Yes, this is she,' I answer, my voice controlled.

'Are you alone right now?'

'I am.'

'Good. And I assume you know who I am.'

'Yes.'

'Good. I'm calling about your work with the Japanese Task Force. I understand you started investigating with them under L.'

From the way he said 'L', I gather he's speaking of Ryuzaki. 'Yes. What do you want?'

'I want to know what you know.'

'How did you find out about me? How did you get this number?'

'Simple. All you had to do was walk into the apartment of Misa Amane. I'd bugged the place and overheard your conversation. Your French accent is quiet the give away. I almost thought you were your friend Martha Abdul.'

'So Near did let you go on purpose.'

I hear what sounds like a snap on his end before he responds, 'That's right.'

'There's only so much I can say, you know. What information I gave Near is all I can give you.'

'So you know a lot more than you're letting on.'

'That's right.'

'Fine. Tell me now about Misa Amane. Near and the others informed me that she's the Second Kira but, I mean…'

'Yeah,' I sigh. 'I can tell you for sure that the Second Kira is Misa Amane. But the information you hope to get eavesdropping on her doesn't exist. Do you remember the rules of the Notebook?'

Another snap, 'I see.'

'Will that be all, Mello?'

'For now.'

He hangs up.

The thin ice I've been walking on just got a whole lot thinner. Kira is in my grip. I have every opportunity to eliminate him, especially when he's alone. I wonder if my fear of being discovered takes real root or if I'm just prolonging it for the non-existent perfect moment. Or is it his constant self-preservation that makes it harder for me? In the old days, our branch would have a quick and easy access to the target, eliminating them almost instantly upon acquire. But in today's world has technology which makes it infinitely more challenging to cover my tracks; it's a miracle I can get away with anything at all. Though I get the feeling that my experience has a lot to say about how prepared I was for this. I had no choice but to get close to the Task Force in order to solve this case, but now that he is its head, not even Mr Aizawa and Mr Mogi's suspicions are enough to cover me in order to do my job. If he dies out of nowhere, there maybe secrets that he has, plans he's set up in case of his own demise. Although I doubt that he thought that far ahead considering the severity of his god complex; it's the only thing in my favour. But if he did think that far ahead and everything has been set into motion, then it's already too late and I'll have to keep chasing him forever. I can't let that happen.

I think about the time L first revealed himself to Light, how calm he stayed although that would have been the perfect point of pressure, forcing him to come clean as Kira on the spot. Whoever the New Kira is, chances are he was hand picked by the Original Kira precisely because they think alike. The same could be said with Kiyomi Takada. Unlike Misa, Takada is calm, collected and obedient to Kira's philosophy by the book. It's not clear if she has a Notebook too but the only reason she was chosen must be because, like the New Kira, she's moves in the image and likeness of the one who started all this. The question is: how can I put a stop to this before more people are involved?

'What are you doing up here?'

'Mother!' I jolt, looking up.

Light stands above me, wearing his formal suit. Couldn't he change out of that?

'Don't do that,' I warn.

'Sorry.' He slides down next to me. 'What are you doing here all alone?'

'Thinking.'

'About?'

'How to end this. Before more people get involved, or god forbid, killed.'

'Yeah. With Kiyomi on our side, this whole thing should end quickly. Kira's a step closer into our grip.'

'I hope you're right. By the way, how does it feel to re-kindle a romance?'

'There's no romance. I meant what I said: this is all a pretence to get information.'

Funny. I seem to recall that he would never stoop so low as to manipulate a girl's feelings to get information. He declared it loudly when Ryuzaki suggested he do the same to Misa. He was an entirely different person, almost completely incorruptible. Was that the real Light? Or is this, perhaps, some part of him invited out by the Notebook itself? Which is the beast and which is the man? Or is it both?

'I heard you went to see Misa,' he says.

'I did, yeah.'

'Why?'

'Just to see how she was doing, really. I mean, it's only fair that I get to right?'

'You two didn't exactly get along last time. Was it civil?'

'Misa views every girl as competition for your affection. I don't like her because she's a nuisance.'

'She views you as competition? For my affection?'

'I believe her exact words were: "You're not going to steal Light from me now that Ryuzaki's dead, are you?" The nerve!'

Light's face darkens when I mention Ryuzaki. 'What does this have to do with him?'

'She always thought that Ryuzaki liked me so she wanted me to pursue it. So she could have you to herself.'

Silence.

'Did he?'

'Hmm?'

'Did Ryuzaki have feelings for you?'

'I doubt it. Nothing beyond friendship, which he almost hardly capable of. No offence,' I look up in apology.

'Did you have feelings for him?'

'Not beyond the-brother-I-never-had. Why do you ask?'

'No reason,' he says, unconvincingly.

'Okay,' I nod. Whatever.

More out of tire than anything, I lean my head against Light's shoulder. To my surprise, he wraps an arm around me. I haven't forgotten his kiss, and I haven't forgotten how much he's asked after me, but I know, like everything else, it's all pretence. The Shinigami behaviours around me have not been lost on him, he's too perceptive to miss their discomfort and curiosity around me. He's looking for something, an answer, my secrets. It's his real reason for being here. Even if it would be easier to get information that way, neither of us has the time to romantically pursue one another so he's spying on me instead, using my status as a foreigner and as Near's gift against me. For all it's worth, he's smart to treat me like a Trojan horse, but I can't unleash my surprise attack. He doesn't sleep. I think about it though. Right here, right now. It's the perfect time. Unsuspecting, even to the passing eye, that anything could be going on than a couple looking at the stars or some cliché like that. I could pull out a trick, something that won't leave a quick trace to me…

It's too soon. The perfect setting is enough to warn me that it's the perfect trap, even if Light doesn't see it coming. Something happens to him, then Takada and the New Kira have all they need to execute some sort of plan that will hold the world hostage. And the Task Force, even if they suspect the worst, this may lead to treading waters I cannot cross. Zut! I'll let him have this moment. As if to show my kindness to myself, I reach out and hold his hand in mine. He accepts, allowing the silence to grace the moment. Filled with involuntary pity, I treasure the peace between two enemies that will come to an end soon. The worst part is that we both know it will end and neither of us will do something to stop it; neither of us can do anything to stop it. This is just the calm before the storm. 'A word of advice Light,' I say.

'Yeah?'

'Do not let Misa Amane anywhere near Kiyomi Takada. Not if you can help it.'

He chuckles. 'Got it.'