Chapter Four

Peach blossoms fall in front of the large sign that reads both in Japanese and English:

Toho Entrance Ceremony: Welcome Freshman Class of 2007

'You're a university student now. My heart is filled with joy!'

Wow that voice sure has a funny way of showing up at an interesting part of my day. Ignoring I try to find a way to get into the auditorium and secure a good seat. I walk into the auditorium which is filling up with students but it's nowhere near packed. There's a host there that tells me that I can take a seat anywhere except where it is reserved. I walk over to the front, right in front of the stage where a few students are either conversing or beginning to take their seats. I pick a seat in the middle of the first row, pulling out my phone to see if I have any messages from Ryuzaki. None. Setting it back I sit straight up. That's when I notice that Light is sitting next to me. 'Hi,' I smile.

'Frejda. Hi.'

'How are you?'

'Good. And you?'

'Yeah good.'

He's all prim and proper in his blue suit, white chemise and black tie. It's not lost on me to dress appropriately either. I'd come donning a black long-sleeved silk shirt with a long black lace cravat in the centre and a knee-length pencil skirt. My legs are covered with stockings and my shoes are black as well. I've styled in a French-braid with a simple black lace head band around my head.

Light sits in the seat that reads reserved for Freshman Representative. I remember reading in preparation for the exam that the Freshman Representative will have to give a speech to the oncoming class and that the representative is the student with the highest score in the entrance exam. Light seems to fill that role perfectly. 'You nervous?' I ask.

'About what?'

'The speech you'll have to give.'

'Not really. I've rehearsed enough times.'

'Of course.'

'How did you do in the exam by the way?'

'I did well too.'

'Well done.'

'Thank you.'

Eventually the auditorium fills up and we are packed set of freshman. I glance at the students in here with me. I don't know how many faces I can recognise throughout the room but the face that sticks out like snow is sitting right next to Light. Oh boy. I have to act calm. Just let the rest play out. The ceremony begins with some school officials addressing our oncoming time at University. Eventually the announcer invites the Freshman Representative to make his speech. He calls on Light Yagami's name and like a dutiful student; he rises up and heads to the stage. They call a second Freshman Representative: Hideki Ryuga. I do my best to hold back my laughter as Ryuzaki or rather Ryuga walks up to the stage dressed in his usual attire (plus shoes). As the two give their addresses I hear several whispers commenting on the two show-offs.

'I thought that the student with the highest score was supposed to give the addresses.'

'I guess they both had high scores.'

'I heard that they both had perfect scores on their exams.'

'Are there actually people like that?'

'It's amazing.'

'Look at the difference between them. This one looks like a sheltered genius who has been groomed for success all his life. But the other one, he looks like a mad genius.'

'There's just something not right about him.'

Great! Light will be the centre of all the girls' attention next. I applaud with the crowd when Ryuzaki is done with the speech. The boys descend from the stage. It's not until they're seated that I hear Ryuzaki talking to Light: 'You're planning to join the police force and you have experience having solved a number of cases in the past. The Kira case has now claimed your interest. I appreciate your strong sense of justice. That being said, if you promise not to tell anyone about this, I have important information concerning the Kira case that I'd like to share with you.'

Light has been ignoring him for the most part but this open secrecy to him captures his attention. Light gives him a look and after a long thoughtful pause, responds: 'I won't tell anyone. What is it?'

A few seconds in, Ryuzaki turns to him and whispers something even I don't expect: 'I want to tell you: I'm L.'

Whoa! Ryuzaki has this far proved to using unorthodox methods to go forward with the Kira investigation; in fact, I remember when he first suggested placing wire taps and cameras in each of the households. Apart from Chief Yagami, the others argued against it warning that it might warrant a civil rights scandal on them. Ryuzaki insisted nonetheless. That had its reasons. But giving your name and face away to a person whom you suspect to be Kira? That's a freaking death sentence! It's too far even for him. I try my best to look as clueless as possible but if I am meeting up with Ryuzaki later today I will give him a kick in the shins just for that. Light on the other hand remains calm and looks at Ryuzaki. 'If you are who you say you are, then I have nothing but respect and admiration for you and your work.'

'Thank you. The reason I chose to reveal my identity to you is because I think you could be of some help to us in the Kira investigation.'

He's joking, right?

A chuckle from either Ryuzaki or Light startles me and then that familiar hoarse voice says: 'If this guy is really L like he says he is, then consider me impressed.'

I have to figure out where that voice is coming from but that's the least of my worries right now. This is bad!

When the ceremony is done, I say my goodbyes to Light and rush first to the ladies' room before heading to the train station to head home. I try to picture the best way I can kick Ryuzaki's shins if I do get to see him later. When I reach the station later, I find Light just getting ready to walk into a car. I choose not to sit or stand in the same car as him. However when we reach our destination and get off the train, we spot each other and end up walking together, albeit silently. Light looks upset about something. Could what Ryuzaki have said upset him or was there more to the conversation that I didn't hear? When we reach my house, I plan to just walk in. Much to my surprise Light curtly says: 'I'll see you on campus?'

'Yeah.'

'Bye now.'

'Bye.'

I walk into my house, taking off my shoes and immediately collapsing on the couch. I hadn't expected this much excitement over the Toho Entrance Ceremony. At home, the rest of the day, I focus on preparing myself for school. Some of my professors have already sent emails to their students with the syllabus and requested texts. I find a site connected to the school giving information on where to get the texts. I guess I can go to do some stationary shopping while I have the free time. I should change first though. The mall near here should do. I start to get the plan into motion when my phone rings. Picking it up, I answer: 'Hello?'

'Hello Frejda.'

'Ryuzaki.' It takes all effort not to growl his name.

���There's no need to sound upset.'

And apparently I failed. 'After that stunt you pulled?'

'I want you to come to headquarters.'

'Fine.'

'Mr Matsuda will pick you up in two minutes.'

'Fine.'

I can change and be ready in that time.

Hanging up, I switch out my outfit for a dark purple sleeveless shirt accompanied by a black crop cardigan, black jeans and converse boots. I haven't unpacked anything from my purse so that's ready. I walk out and lock the door behind me. Mr Matsuda is just pulling in as I get out of the gate. 'Hi Frejda,' he says as he opens the door.

'Hey.'

I slip into the car and Matsuda continues to drive: 'How was the entrance ceremony.'

'Not boring at all.'

'Did Ryuzaki do something?'

'Oh yeah. But don't worry about it. I'll deal with him later.'

'Uh…okay?'

'How long do you think Ryuzaki will have me at headquarters?'

'I don't know. Why?'

'I'm also a student now so…'

'Right. I'm sure you'll be around for as long as necessary.'

'Right.'

It better be as long as necessary. I have my own score to settle with Kira. Of course this is after I kick Ryuzaki's shins. At the Task Force headquarters, I and Matsuda walk in to the whole team seated around Ryuzaki. Mr Watari kills me aside to file and reorganise some of our details and research done in the past few months over the case of Kira. If anything, heart attacks are becoming the number one cause of death in Japan and everywhere else Kira has managed to look for criminals. According to some international files, I've seen the rate of deaths of some French criminals go up. I wonder if it's the same anywhere else. Also in the United States. Well the world does get the greatest idea of what's happening in the U.S. so I can't say that I'm surprised. Kira's not stopping in Japan, he's aiming for the whole world. If criminals die all over the world just as they have in Japan then it's going to make people a lot more aware of Kira, more protective of him and much harder for us to find. Kira has a lot to learn about the true art of death before he can carry on in this. In my opinion this is just the playground of some inexperienced, childish figure that wants to believe that he is god and thus far, uses it to 'make the world right'. But the world has not been right for a long time and it's all thanks to man pretending to be god. Kira is no different than the religious persecutors we read about in the history books. I doubt he knows that though. In his mind, the elimination of the world's bad guys is enough. But what I would ask him, if I met him, is where he bases his right and wrongs. Perhaps then I'll have a more objective understanding of him.

'Kira's targeting criminals in other countries audaciously,' I note out loud.

'Hmm. At this rate, he'll have the whole world on his side.'

'Agreed. I just hope we can find him before it comes to that.'

Ryuzaki eventually adjourns the meeting he was in before he walks over to me and Mr Watari. 'Quite the performance you put up in there.'

'Thanks. At least my performance didn't put my life on the line.'

'Not yet anyway.'

I glare at him.

'I thought that you don't believe that Light Yagami is Kira.'

Oy! 'I don't! But even if I did, I wouldn't reveal myself to him just like that!'

He chuckles.

'This isn't funny. I may not be suspicious of Light but I know that Kira needs a name and a face to kill and you just gave him both of yours.'

He continues to chuckle.

'What?'

'I think that you now suspect Light of being Kira.'

'I don't sus—'

Oh. Oh ho. I see what he's doing. Jerk!

Changing my voice into a polite tone I try my next move: 'Ryuzaki?'

'Yes?'

'Will it be alright if I invited Light to go shop for school supplies?'

'Sure.'

Classes start next week. We can go tomorrow.

I stop by the Yagami household when Matsuda brings me home. I ring the doorbell hoping that Light is home. Sayu is the one who answers the door. 'Frejda! Hi!'

'Hi Sayu. It's been a while.'

'Yeah. How ya been?'

'Good thanks. You?'

'I've been good too. How's school? Or are you on break?'

'I'm on break.'

'Having fun?'

'Yeah.'

'That's good. Um…is your brother home?'

'Yeah. Do you want me to go get him?'

'If you don't mind.'

'Okay. Why don't you come in?'

'I'm okay here.'

'Alright. Wait a bit?'

'Yeah.'

The door remains open as I wait. This is kind of awkward. Sayu runs up the stairs to get her brother. I try not to look idle while waiting. A minute later Light shows: 'Frejda. You need something?'

'Yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to go school shopping with me tomorrow.'

'Oh. Uh…yeah. That'll be great.'

Someone laughs and I turn in the direction of the sound. Although the voice sounded closer, there goes a man walking while talking on his phone. He's laughing.

'Great. I'll see you tomorrow then,' I smile and turn to leave.

'Uh Frejda?'

'Yeah?'

'If I was being rude earlier, I apologise.'

'You were rude?'

'I didn't talk to you the whole walk.'

'It's fine. See you.'

'You too.'

The rest of the night is my relaxation night. I make myself a nice dinner after which I curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I haven't had the chance to start it since buying it. I might as well take advantage of the time I have off. It remains my only activity for the remainder of the night. The next day, at around ten thirty or so, Light and I meet up out front. He leads the way to the train station ad unto the mall, keeping the conversation to small talk most of the time. When we get to the mall, Light leads me to the section for stationaries. It looks like the place I went to get books in the first place. 'This is one of the best places to get school supplies,' Light explains.

'Awesome.'

'By the way, I've been meaning to ask, where do you go most of the day?'

'Hmm?'

'I always see someone come to pick you up. Is it a boyfriend?'

'Uh,' I have to release a chuckle, 'no. It's not a boyfriend.'

'Then what—'

'It's part of my foreign exchange programme. I get a job.'

'Oh?'

I need to change the subject. 'How many classes are you taking Light?'

'Five. That's the best start number for full-time students.'

'That's true.'

'You?'

'Same.'

'Even with your job?'

'Yep.'

'Wow.'

'Yeah.'

There's a moment's silence. I fill in the awkwardness with picking out the appropriate notebooks and other forms of stationary. Most of the notebooks here are very thin. As I shop, I spot a T.V. playing the news. A picture of a man, a criminal I'm guessing, shows up on screen with Japanese words following it. 'Hmm. I wonder what that's about.'

'You don't know Japanese do you?'

'Nope.'

'The criminal was found dead by a heart attack. Kira's doing.'

'Oy!'

'What?'

'Kira.'

'Oh yeah. He's become quite popular these days.'

'Mm. I wonder what he hopes to gain by doing all this.'

'You're not a Kira supporter?'

'I can't judge Kira but this is wanton murder which I don't stand for.'

'Do you approve of killing criminals?'

'It's a bit complicated.'

'How so?'

'I believe that a person should be allowed to kill only if they understand what it means to die.'

'How do you expect anyone to know what it means to die if they're not dead?'

'Death, to some people, is a problem solver. This world will only be better if the people who stop making life difficult die. That's a common thought. But when you ask those same people what defines death, they hardly give you answers. Death is often mistaken for an evil judge: justice in the case of the wicked, cruel in the case of the righteous. People celebrate when a terrorist dies but are saddened when a good person dies. They turn their blame on G-d, whether or not they believe in Him when someone good dies. But very few people understand that death is not a judge. Death is just death: both end and beginning. When a person kills without the true understanding of death then all they are, is nothing but cold murderers. They themselves are afraid of the same death they give to others.'

Light clearly doesn't expect this answer. It's long and philosophical. Too deep, too soon. 'Well…that's a lot to take in.'

'Sorry. With this whole Kira thing around, this is always on my mind.'

'You must be into philosophy a great deal then.'

'I'm actually religious.'

His eyes widen in surprise. 'Really?'

'Yep.'

'So if Kira is worshipped as a god, you won't join?'

'Note even if I supported him.'

'Huh. Well, I'm not a supporter myself but I do understand the people who support Kira.'

'So do I. Kira's doing them a service in their mind, letting the bad guys get what they deserve and making the world a better place. But given what I just said, I think they're guilty of not understanding death. I don't blame them though. I get why Kira is looked at as a saviour.'

'Yeah.'

A faint smile appears on his face and I almost question what he's thinking but decide against it. I may have given him a lot to think about considering what we just discussed.

'Alright,' I sigh, 'that's the last of what I need.'

'Right.'

I pay mine at one of the cashiers while Light takes another. We meet up in front of the store when we are done. Light offers to treat me to a coffee shop at a favourite spot of his. When we reach the place, I order a hot chocolate while Light orders black coffee. As we wait for our drinks at our table, Light smiles at me and says: 'Kira has begun to seep through into international attention huh?'

'Yep. Everyone around the globe has heard about him. They're just as scared as people are here.'

'Do you know if there are supporters in France?'

'A small percentage here and there voice their opinion: mostly in support. But as far as they're concerned, this is Japan's problem. So there isn't much talk.'

'I assume no one wants to come to Japan now, huh.'

'No criminal does anyway.'

'Right.'

Our drinks are brought. Light adds one bag of sugar to his coffee. I don't add anything to my hot chocolate.

'So if you were to decide, do you think that Kira understands death? Based on his kills?'

'Well…I can't say that he does. Kira seems to be too busy killing criminals to understand the true meaning of death. All he seems to be concerned about is wiping the world's criminals off the planet. He's enjoying his power too much to care in my opinion.'

'What about the results? Crime rates are dropping everywhere, especially in Japan. Surely that should count for something?'

'You sure you don't support Kira?'

'I'm playing devil's advocate.'

'Right. Well, like I said, I don't disapprove of killing completely. If Kira were stopped the world would only continue as it was. With Kira here, crime rates decrease but there are going to be repercussions. For instance, there are still some who consider Kira to be a criminal and have no problem supporting the police to stop him.'

'Well either way, Kira is becoming a good name. We can't ignore that he probably likes the attention.'

'True. It speaks of his lack of understanding of death, if that's the case.'

I don't know that Light can be Kira. For all I can tell, this is all probably just a ruse. I'm not Ryuzaki. I didn't ask him to come with me to test him. I believe him to be a genuine kid so all I want to do is spend a day with one other person my age outside of the Task Force. That being said, I'd rather spend what free time I have of the day with Light talking about anything else really but Kira. And that's exactly what happens. Light offers to show me around more of Tokyo. The rest of the day is just two friends hanging out, getting to know each other. Not that I consider Light to be my friend. Yet. In all that time, Light does not seem to be showing any signs of odd behaviour. There are a coule of instances in which he seems to be checking his wallet. But beyond that, nothing makes him—Oy! Here I am checking him out as if I suspect him. Darn Ryuzaki! If I could hold on to those moments where I'm away from Task Force then that would help shake off what he rubbed off on me. By the end of the day, Light drops me off at home and we don't see much of each other the rest of that week. I spend every other day at Task Force Headquarters working with everyone on the team this time, filing documents regarding suspects and keeping up with anything out of the ordinary on the news regarding Kira. At this point, progress is very slow and no new developments are made. Ryuzaki has made no outrageous requests to put more wiretaps and cameras in any home. he seems intent on investigating Light on his own. In my opinion, this is a dead end. When I'm at Headquarters, I often stick near Chief Yagami to see if he's handling everything fine. For the most part he seems composed but I can see the stress lines increasing on his eyes with each passing day. The others are hardly taking it easy either. They seem to be more concerned with the Chief than they are with themselves or with the investigation. If anything, they are working to remove any and all suspicion of Light at this point. But based on the number that Ryuzaki gave us (which I personally believe is an outright lie) I don't think that we'll find the grounds yet. Ryuzaki hasn't been too keen on letting us know what it is he suspects about Light. Only that there is something off about him.

The night before school starts I receive an email from France. The headmistress asks how things are going. I respond:

Everything is in place. Possible suspect a student. Progress slower than expected.

It should be enough to let everyone know where I am with the case and to keep me in their prayers. We need all the divine help we can get around here.

The school semester begins with an intense array of classes. The work load we get is a lot for the first day! I go home that night to have a really occupied mind for a change. The professors in the school are nice for the most part, if not strict. Still my studies, coupled with the work I have to do with the Task Force takes a lot of my mind and time. Since it's just the first week I'm thankful for the breaks I get between classes. I share two classes with Light and Ryuzaki each and one class with both of them together If I know Ryuzaki, he's probably managed to get into all of Light's classes just to get near him, except for the class I have with Light. I guess investigation can make a person go that far. Things remain steady for the first couple of days of school. The only problem I have is referring to Ryuzaki as Ryuga and the fact that the names sound similar doesn't and does help. Good thing I don't run into them that often. When I am in the same class as both of them, I sit as far away from them as I can. Ryuzaki needs to work on his social skills. In the class that I share with Ryuzaki alone, there is a lot of note the passing between us going over the stuff at headquarters that I'm missing out on. I make sure that I tear the notes to pieces before I leave the classroom. The class that I share with Light is biology and he's my lab partner. Although I do sit next to him in class, we do not talk or really acknowledge each other. When the class ends, Ryuzaki is there waiting for Light. I smile at the boys before heading in the direction of the library. I might as well make use of my time there doing homework and keeping up with the news Kira's killing hasn't stopped. Perhaps this student is in another university or maybe, with time between killings and shortening, there's a chance that he is no longer a student. But what if the whole student suspect thing was a decoy set up by Kira to begin with? It's a jump. For now, it's best that I focus on homework and keep up this university student charade.

Around the time my break is over I head to my last class of the day only to find out that it's cancelled. Well that leaves the rest of the day to do more Kira work. What I have left of homework I can finish tonight at home. I head to the lower part of the campus where the recreational parts are. I pull out my phone to call Mr Matsuda to pick me up and take me to Task Force Headquarters. I've barely begun dialling the number when I spot a crowd of students around a tennis court. I wonder what's going on. Slipping the phone back into my pocket, I join the crowd in the space that allows entrance into the court. In the centre of attention are Light and Ryuzaki, playing an almost professional game of tennis. Oy! They're evenly matched against one another. No wonder people are watching. Free seats to a professional match! The familiar hoarse voice is here, chuckling at the scene: 'And just like that,' he says, 'we have an umpire and a line judge.'

A shortage of breath and running steps forces me to turn around. A freshman boy stops just in front of a group of us: 'You won't believe this!' he pants, 'I thought that I heard the name Light Yagami somewhere.. he was the '02/'03 Junior High Champion. Apparently during the third ceremony he announced that he was hanging up his racket and has not played competitively since.'

'Hey, hey!' a young girl with short black hair and glasses calls, 'what about my Ryuga? Don't tell me he's got less on this former junior high champ!'

Well, well. She likes Ryuzaki. I wonder if I should set them up. Nope!

The boys compete with such force, tossing the ball back and forth with such focused gazes driven towards one another. Their minds are tangled with strategies and calculations against one another like there is a plot they're trying each is trying to figure out on the other. IN between them, the ball bounces like a peace offering that neither boy is willing to accept. I remember Light didn't look right the day Ryuzaki revealed to him who he really is. My guess is that Light believes he's a suspect and is only upping his guard. That would make him look guilty but that's not what's going on here. Perhaps this is nothing more than just a couple of friends getting to know each other through tennis. But with the way the Kira investigation is going, anything is possible and nothing about this match looks relaxed, never mind friendly. The unspoken thoughts are pulled to a stop when Light charges for the ball and lays one final offensive hit.

'Game and set! Won by Light Yagami! Six games to four!'

I join the crowd in applause.

Eventually the crowd clears while I wait for the boys. Light is the first to spot me. 'Hello Frejda,' he smiles.

'You two sure know how to pull a crowd.'

Ryuzaki shyly puts his hand behind his head.

'Yeah,' Light chuckles. 'Oh let me introduce you to—'

'Ryuga,' I smile. 'We share a class.'

'Oh. Do you?'

'Yeah.'

'Oh.'

'Listen, I'm heading out. Catch up on you later?'

'Yeah,' they both say.

I wave and go away. As originally planned, I call Mr Matsuda and have him pick me up from school. when the car rounds up in front of the campus, I slide in it. 'Hey Frejda,' he says.

'Hi.'

'How are you doing? School keeps you busy huh.'

'Yep.'

'Yeah. Those were the days.'

'How is everyone? How's the chief?'

'We're all surviving I guess.'

At Headquarters, I meet up with Chief Yagami who does not look so good. He sits in a chair near the window, looking over the documents while more are scattered on the floor around him. I sit near him, enough to get him to look at me. I smile. While he doesn't return it, he seems to relax his shoulders a bit at me. Suddenly he looks ahead, his hand clenching his chest, specifically where the heart might be. 'Chief!' I yell as I get near him. I'm all but too late to keep him awake. He collapses in my arms. I glance at the other men in the room: 'Call an ambulance!'

The boys must have heard by now. Mrs Yagami is in the room with me an awakened Chief Yagami. I excuse myself to use the rest room. The nearest one is at the end of the corridor. I wonder how Light might react and Ryuzaki. A heart attack! Chief had a heart attack! We all thought Kira must have gotten his identity and killed him but when he awake, the doctor ruled it as stress. I can only imagine the craziness that he must be going through, especially with Ryuzaki suspecting Light as Kira. But the case continues and only criminals are killed. Oy! When I'm done in the bathroom, washing hands and all, I head back to the Chief Yagami's room. I reach the door just as Mrs Yagami leaves: 'You take care of your father Light,' she says.

They're here!

'Hello dear,' she smiles at me. 'I'm heading home now. Light is in there though.'

'Alright.'

Oh boy!

When I stand at the door, I'm spotted by all three men. Light looks most perplexed. 'Frejda! What are you doing here?'

'She's the one who helped bring me here Light,' Chief Yagami says, 'from Task Force Headquarters.'