Chapter 58

I had told Light my own ideas about the mafia and how it would help us in the long term.

"You want the mafia to search out the orphanage?" Light's lips lifted in a very keen smile. I said nothing but only watched him with the same amusement, silence taken as a 'yes' as Light nodded his head, walking forwards to the couch I was sitting on in my school door mentries. He sat down, crossing his legs before leaning back to listen intently.

Of course, Light had never been to my place in America, and with the excuse of needing to 'comfort' me, Light had left the Kira Taskforce, Death Note in hand before actually throwing me into the bed to 'comfort me.' I really had to thank my training and exercise given by the mafia or else I would have had a sore spine today.

"I've been one of the boss's favourites recently," I smiled softly before taking my eyes away from him to look at the clock that was hung across the wall, noting the time of 1:00 pm.

"He gave me my own base."

My eyes drifted back to meet Light who had his eyebrows quirked up as if not believing that someone that calibre could become a mafia boss.

"You're going to use your members and Death Note to search out the orphanage," he said slowly as I nodded.

"We don't know much about the orphanage except that it is located somewhere in the western countries. I'll start by tracing L's first case and his roots with my group," I answered before shifting my leg across the other one, leaning forwards and looking at Light with an amused smile.

"It's hard for you to move when everyone else in the task force has their eyes on you, right?"

Light observed my expression quietly before speaking up.

"You've become sexier."

I blinked.

That was random.

"What?" Shaking my head slowly, I laughed, playfully patting his shoulder before tilting my head like an innocent girl. "Does that mean a direct confirmation from my brother to give the task to me?"

Light only mused a bit before agreeing to my proposal in giving me the Death Note along with the ownership of Rem's Death Note. It wasn't a big problem since the ownership did not give him any good since there was no Shinigami attached with the book. Light's eyes flickered to me as he continued with his side of the problems.

"Near introduced himself as L's true successor, which in the helicopter last night, you had affirmed the Kira Task force's beliefs onto me," he shrugged lightly before giving me a grateful nod. "I need to focus on catching Kira."

"Mello is gone, so you don't need to worry about him. I've also heard that Near and Mello are quite close despite being candidates for the position of L," I paused before wrinkling my nose in triumph. "Near's going to suffer quite a loss."

"Even though that boy is suffering, he will soon come to the conclusion that I am the primary suspect."

Light gave a half-smile before staring at me and playing with his fingers.

"I'm going to remove the Death Note from Misa's hands."

"Oh? Elaborate."

"I need someone as the fourth Kira, so that I could pretend to catch him in front of Near. By creating a false sense that there are more holders to the Death Note, I can extend the time I'm working with Near to furthermore prove my innocence even if the 13-day rule gets revealed as a fake."

The 13-day rule.

My eyes flashed with recognition.

The rule that shut down all L's conclusions about Light being Kira. The rule which Light himself wrote into the book deems that if the user of the Death Note does not continue writing a name after 13 days, they will die.

"By that time, I will do everything in order to gain Near's trust."

My eyes shifted to his fingers that he was grazing his thumb over before humming a tone of approval.

"Just like L, huh?"

Light smiled at the name, almost pleased.

"L was more the opponent than Near. The current successor is childish to say." Light exhaled with a laugh before taking my hand that was on my lap to interlink with my fingers.

"You have to admit Near is a genius though," I pointed back before playing with his fingers, clenching them and measuring the sizes of both our hands, noticing the different thickness and bone structure between men and women.

"Of course, it is not wise to underestimate the opponent," the emotion in his eyes danced with mirth as he said his words. "I'll admit, Near is capable of catching Kira if he was a bit older and had taken more cases than L."

"Though with his current capabilities, even if he outlines me as the suspect, he's dealing with a man who will become God."

My hair slipped from my shoulders before I took a strand and started twirling with it boredly, lingering my eyes with sparks of amusement that were hinted at on my cheeks.

"You think that Near will win," Light raised his eyebrows at my silence before clicking his tongue. "That's impossible."

"Not impossible if Near himself uses the Death Note," twirling the strand through my fingers, I felt a small twitch in between his fingers before explaining more of my knowledge of the future.

I was going to change everything for Light.

I was going to make him king.

"You see, Mello had mentioned something very interesting while I was questioning him," I raised my eyes to stare into his intense ones. Light's jaw was tense, listening to my words syllable by syllable as if eating up everything that I was going to tell him.

I felt my heart skip at the motion, knowing that this was a sign that he had placed his trust in me and viewed me not only as a partner in bed or his foolish sister, but as a partner of equal value.

Someone that would rule the world by his side.

He had literally given me permission to stand with him on top of the world. IT was strange, because, with Light, these small exchanges of vows and words were not needed to be physically voiced out.

It was like he knew me on the back of his hand, and so did I for him.

"Mello stated that because they were both so desperate to prove L's innocence, they were capable of doing anything to capture Kira." Smiling slightly at Light's understanding, I nodded.

"Think of Near as a person who would do anything, even if it involved crimes to save L's dignity. The Death Note is not only for heart attacks, it is for manipulation. " I threw back my red locks with a sly turn of my head to the side.

"After all, L is his future job."

Of course, I wouldn't tell Light about the time limit that I could control the victims before death. So far, Light only knew that the Death Note could control their actions before their deaths. In which in his mind he thought falsely placed that the death must occur in a strict time frame.

Light stiffly nodded before frowning as I gave him a tight squeeze in the hand.

"Don't be so tense, Light," my free hand flew up to his hands before touching him lightly on his forehead, sliding it down his face as I felt his jaw untense. "That's right, you have all the time to plan with me."

The colour on Light's face shifted into a more casual stature before glancing at my fingers that were trailing towards his chest, stopping before I lifted my head up to look at him.

"I won't let the Death Note fall into Near's hands," Light started before pausing ever so slightly. "It is also time to stop the Kira Task Force."

"Stop it?" My eyelashes fluttered at his words.

"The Kira Taskforce cannot go on forever, Sayu," Light's mouth perked up before gesturing to my room. "It should be time, after you have taken the orphanage out, and I have killed Near that I go fully into the occupation of becoming God."

"As you said, it is not wise for me to take two jobs at once." He licked his lips before gazing at me with a dark shimmer. "...Gods need to take vacations too."

"And exactly how do you plan on getting rid of the Kira Taskforce?" I tilted my head with amusement at my own words that were used as an explanation towards me.

"I will start with the American government, directly threatening them with the reveal of the president's dirty schemes he used to get that position. With the threat, the new President will be thankful for my help, and announce the acceptance of Kira."

Slightly nodding at his plans I gestured to him to continue.

"America ranked first in the world, Sayu," Light plucked a cuff off his shirt before smiling victoriously. "When the first begins to cave in, the others will follow."

"And the Kira Task Force will be disbanded once Japan follows America?" Grinning at his plans, Light smirked at my words.

"I will slowly kill them off after they all leave the force," he said before squeezing my hand back. "And they will die so naturally that no one will ever be able to suspect it."

Slowly shifting towards Light, he kissed me with glee.

Dad's funeral was held a week later in America as we all gave a moment of silence where his burned body was found, crushed from the explosions and unrecognizable from the fire. Though the Kira Task Force would be moving dad's remains to Japan after this funeral, they said that it would be most appropriate to grieve where dad died.

Soichiro Yagami, died as a proud father of both Light and Sayu Yagami. A capable and memorable chief in the NPA and one of the most important members in the Kira task force.

Matsuda and the gang cried out their hearts while wishing dad a peaceful ride to the afterlife, not knowing if there really was an afterlife. From the Death Note though, both Light and I knew clearly about where dad would go after his death.

We each played our parts, grieving like a pair of heartbroken siblings who lost their last parent due to the Kira incident. Light buried his face in his hands as tears streamed out of his eyes while he screamed his revenge on Kira in front of everyone. Light kneeled in front of dad's remains, bowing his head repeatedly for not being good enough to save him.

Everyone's eyes softened at Light's actions before patting him on the back to comfort him.

I, on the other hand, wallowed in the fact that the last years I had with dad were so rocky and my regret for not spending more time with him. Unlike Light, I played the more meek and quiet sister who cried her eyes out while accompanying her brother.

We both cried till our eyes dried out, and even then, we stayed with each other, portraying the image that in this whole world, Light and I only had each other.

Days passed after the funeral as the members of the Kira Taskforce began to pack up to head back to Japan.

My face cracked with a smile when I saw the text from Tsubame.

I'm sorry for ignoring you for so long, when are you coming back?

Just from that sentence, I could tell that I was successful in persuading her. I laughed a bit before ordering the newest version of a gaming console and entering her shipping address after paying with my credit card.

Light had returned to Japan a couple of days later, the Kira Taskforce officially going back to business to capture Kira. Misa had successfully lost the memories regarding the Death Note as Light had told me in our calls and he had broken up with her, only to get a slap and obsessed Misa declare that he'll return to her after her glow up a few years later.

Apparently, she had also caused a huge commotion in the HQ's that everyone had seen the breakup scene.

"How's your face doing?" I teased into the phone as Light chuckled.

"I had the urge to kill her off right then, but that would bring suspicion towards me."

I laughed at her foolishness, asking exactly when Light would kill off Misa.

"Give her a few months away from me," Light replied with amusement. "My story is that I broke up with Misa to protect her."

"Smart," I whistled. "That way you'll also be able to execute the broken-hearted boyfriend, huh?"

"I'll use this to install more hatred towards Kira. This gives me more of a reason to chase after Kira and make it seem like Kira was trying to threaten the Kira Task Force to stop the investigation."

"That all sounds nice alright, but how are you sure that Misa will stay away from you instead of visiting you to appease your anger?"

"I've sent Matsuda to keep an eye on her. If she comes close to the HQ's Matsuda will stop her."

"Dammit, I wish I was there to see that epic breakup," I grumbled before Light laughed.

"All I can tell you is that I seemed like I was trembling in sadness after her absence and cried a bit to sell my story."

"Tears are never shameful," I nodded at his decision. "It is better to make yourself seem like a victim than a normal person."

"I've had a good teacher, Sayu," his voice chuckled. "I would have also liked it if I had studied closer when you manipulated mom."

Oh? His teacher was me?

I raised my eyebrows before glancing up at the clock and making my way out the entrance of my dorm. Chia stood outside the gates wearing a suit before lowering her head politely towards me and greeted me with her eyes and pulling the door to the car open as I sat in. Taking the wheel as if it was one of the most normal things in the world, she started the engine.

"Sayu, another thing I might want to warn you about. Near is trying to bring suspicion towards me. I can see it in the eyes of Mogi. It seems like he has started to suspect the 13-day rule to be wrong."

Oh? How did Near get in contact with Mogi? It was a smart move nevertheless because Matsuda would outright blabber the information into the group, while the other two were completely on Light's side.

But then again, how did Near get the information on the members of the task force?

"That fast, huh? But exactly how when he didn't even get his hands on the Death Note?"

My mind instantly clicked to the days that Mello had been gone from Near's contact. Near must have been going desperate due to his loss of a pawn. In the anime, it was said that even if Mello acted aggressively and against Near, all Mello's actions were taken into account in Near's plans.

Well, this time that was completely not the case.

"You didn't know?" I could literally imagine him raising his eyebrows in disbelief. "But that might be the case since L had sent a copy of the Death Note rules to the orphanage after he kidnapped you."

So L had made precautions just in case Light found out his name?

Then Light would have gotten this information because Near directly questioned him about the 13-day rule.

I licked my lips drily at the information, not knowing what to feel. It did not take an idiot to understand that most likely, L was preparing for Light to attack him after Light had found out he had kidnapped me. In a way, it meant that L had already proven that Light was Kira.

Wait, then does that mean L had also sent the orphanage the list of suspects? And if L had died during my interrogation, that would serve as evidence to prove Light as Kira? No wonder the plot was moving so fast despite Light having regained sanity.

If that was the case, then all Near needed was to prove the 13-day rule, and capture Light. That was it to prove Light as Kira. Even after L's death, his actions were threatening Light at every corner.

"From now on, our calls will likely be recorded or monitored."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance before glancing out at the changing scenery.

"Roger that, brother."

"Not that it would be suspicious to call my sister after all that has happened," I heard Light shift at his other end before his voice sharpened. "Once you get rid of the orphanage, come back to Japan."

"What's going on?"

It seems like Light had heard my confusion before he continued with only a slight hint of amusement.

"Near is the type to do anything to capture Kira. Although he had hid it very well, a few of his desperate actions have revealed his habits. In case of him using you to threaten me again..."

Seriously? Another potential kidnapping? I swear this storyline is literally against kidnapping.

"Did you know? Apparently Near has a preference with dolls."

I narrowed my eyes at his words before grinning ironically at how the tides are changing. At a rapid pace, in fact. In the anime, Light was the one on edge and desperate, but this time, it was Near.

"Should I be asking how you knew that Near had a doll habit over the screen?"

"I revealed myself to Near in order to gain his trust."

"What a risky move, Light," I saw Chia's eyes widen from overhearing our conversation. "Aren't you afraid that this will make Near suspicious?"

"Near will find out sooner or later who the identity of the head of the task force is. In order to lure the enemy in, you must create a delusion that you have a weakness to exploit."

"You used dad's death and me as an excuse to reveal Near's face?"

"It worked extremely well."

"Well, glad I could help," I rolled my eyes before scrunching my nose and trying to understand what good it would bring if Light knew Near's face. It wasn't like Light had the shinigami eyes.

"This was a small exchange to motivate my members and place suspicion onto him, Sayu."

My own eyes expanded before returning back to normal.

I see.

In order to reinforce my words into the minds of the task force, he deliberately placed himself at risk to prove that Near was underaged. After seeing Mogi's suspicion, Light had to do something to pull his members back in place with evidence. With the reveal of Light's face, not only showed that Light was being sincere in working with Near, doing it in front of his members would impact his persona of trying to get revenge for his dad.

It made Light seem that he was truly desperate to catch Kira.

It also pointed a dagger at Near's throat.

If Near had rejected Light's exchange, then Mogi would not have even the slightest percent in standing with Near. That also applied to everyone in the task force. In addition, if Near did not show his face then that would place suspicion onto Near himself.

After my words of telling the task force that Near and Mello knew each other, the task force would have a false illusion that the two successors were secretly working with each other. Meaning that Near was actually aiming for the Death Note in Light's hands.

Who was trying to regain a lost Death Note?

Kira himself.

Light was basically threatening Near as Kira if he did not reveal his face. And Near had to comply because he did not have enough information on Light or the Death Note. Not to mention the chances that Near already knew that Light was Kira.

If Near cut Light off, that would be cutting his source of evidence to prove that Light was, indeed Kira.

"Well...played," I swallowed thickly before seeing my own face white as a sheet in the rear mirror. "Well played indeed, brother."

There was no way for Near to refuse. Near would have directly lost the game if he did.

Genius.

The voices inside of me cried out with red hollow.

Light Yagami was a genius!

That was a complete L move he did there!

Light knew that Near was suspecting him due to the rules of the Death Note and L's suspicious location of death. Light was basically waving both of his arms in the air as he mocked Near, saying, 'catch me if you can! I am Kira!'

But then again, if he found a way to get Near to reveal his face, why did Light send Misa away when she had the eyes? If he had just invited her to the meeting, all she would have to do was to see Near's face and KO, he's dead.

Though I doubt that Misa could attend the Kira meetings as a magazine Idol, not to mention if she did, Near would probably not reveal his face no matter what. If L had sent the rules of the Death Note and a brief explanation to the orphanage, who knows what else he might have sent? His suspicions of who Kira the first or second maybe? Because if that was the case, then Misa could well be on the list.

Not to mention with Near's knowledge, Kira only needed a name and a face. Even if L had not mentioned the existence of the eyes, if Near did not die immediately after revealing his face, then that would waver the suspicion of Light being Kira.

Light told me a few more things before hanging up the phone. I fell limp into the backseat before exhaling slowly with shock. Explaining my thought process to Chia, she also fell in deep awe at how much Light had gained from not risking anything.

"What...would you do, Chia?"

Chia jolted up before clearing her throat to turn back to me.

"If-" I opened my mouth. "If a person suspected you of being Kira, but did not know specifically of your identity, what would you do to clear your suspicions?"

"I would..." Chia slanted her eyes before thinking for a moment. "I would make someone my scapegoat and try to create an alibi when the deaths are occurring."

"Exactly," I snapped my fingers at her. "But what my brother did here was directly forced Near's suspicions onto himself so that he could shoulder everything, then execute the scapegoat."

"Reverse psychology to the max," I echoed before falling into silence. "A non-risky one too."

Light basically guaranteed his victory. It had zero risks and a high income of benefits.

"Amazing," I clapped loudly with both of my hands, feeling the burn in between my palms. Near would undeniably start to doubt the motive behind Light's intentions. He would hesitate like L had when he didn't die, even when Kira only needed a name and face.

"Alyona, you are also impressive for understanding your brother's moves," Chia whispered out and shook her head. "I would have thought that revealing my face to Near would be a terrible move."

"No, that's because I'm from the future," I reminded Chia before turning to the window. "In the future, everyone knows the basics of reverse psychology."

"Like how Light and I are in a prisoner's dilemma."

"Excuse me?" Chia's eyes widened before turning her head back to me in shock.

"There's no doubt, if Light didn't die in the end, it would benefit me emotionally and physically." I pointed out with a slight shrug. "If he didn't kill me, then he would also avoid feeling the loss."

"Without betraying each other, we would reach the most optimal outcome where he would rule the surface and I would appease for the lives of my members," I paused before gesturing that everything was on hold with my hand.

Directly telling Chia was like announcing my betrayal towards Henrik. But Chia was already my member, and thus I was confident that she did not side with Henrik anymore. Not to mention Chia's name was on the Death Note that I told Isame to write a long time ago.

Chia could not betray me no matter what.

"But in spite of winning, I could kill Light."

Since the end game only had one victor. It was also like a dictator's game where I had all the power to decide the outcome of the game because I was stepping both feet in the boats of Light and the mafia.

This is what I had over Light.

"Also at the same time, Light could kill me if he thought I had the slightest chance of betraying him."

I shut my mouth before going over my thought process again.

"The thing is, we both cannot communicate without throwing all our secrets at each other."

Chia furrowed up her eyebrows before sighing without any hint of emotion.

"Alyona, your feelings are not wise for the big game." She said, making a gentle right turn on the street, driving into a tunnel. "And with your death vow with Henrik..."

"I do know that, which is why I'm only stating it out," I added confidently even though I knew the vow was fake for my side. "Light will always be haunted to betray me if I really try to reveal all of my previous plans to get rid of him even if I decide not to kill him."

"It's too risky, which is why his percentage of killing me convinces me to kill him," my face fell at my own words, the sentence echoing in my mind.

He was able to kill me, even without the Death Note, he was able to kill me. Was I able to pull the trigger if I wanted to?

Even though I didn't want to?

There was a way to leave a happy ending with Light without revealing my intentions from the get-go. It was to betray Henrik completely, which I did not want to happen.

I tossed back my head as the darkness of the tunnel clomped with dim lights everywhere. Humans were so selfish.

We wanted everything.

But if I had to choose...

I swallowed bitterly with a smile.

I'd choose my career over and over again.