Just as You Are || Death Note || L

Chapter 35: Ignorance is Bliss

Katelyn turns on the bed, her legs tangled in the sheets. A soft, lingering sigh hangs in the air before she realizes the once occupied space next to her is empty. She looks at the wrinkled spot before scanning the rest of the room. Again, empty.

Katelyn falls back into her pillows, smiling from the memories of last night —of L holding her— only for its bitter aftertaste to seep through and ruin what should've been a great night. Sighing, she throws off the covers and braces the cool air her blankets had been sheltering her from. She quickly gets ready, doing her basics before stepping out of her room.

The others turn to her and she notices an annoyed look from Aizawa, though what's new. Rolling her eyes, she shuffles into the kitchen, taking little notice of Matsuda coming up behind her.

"Hey! Glad to see you up! L told us you weren't feeling the best last night."

"I wasn't but I'm feeling better now." A partial truth. Yes, she's not upset anymore. But the situation is weighing on her, and only continues to do so, until she finds the solution she needs. She replaces the coffee pot and smiles at the young detective.

"That's great! I mean, that you're feeling better now. Not your bad day." He laughs, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. Katelyn notices a tint beginning to dust across Matsuda faces and can't help but giggle.

"C'mon." They join the others, Katelyn sitting by the chief and Matsuda sitting by Aizawa. Everyone watches as L examines little plastic ziplock bags while he mutters quietly to himself.

"Hair... Snack crumbs... hair," L holds the little bags high, scrutinizing each piece of evidence carefully before moving to the next then starting over again, "Mr. Yagami. If I die within the next few days, your son is Kira."

Katelyn nearly spits out her sip of hot coffee when the chief jumps up from his seat, "What did you just say, Ryuzaki?!"

"Exactly," Matsuda says, "What are you talking about?"

She closes her eyes and sighs heavily. It's too early for this shit.
Well, for her it is.

"Honestly, how much do you suspect my son?"

"Truthfully, I'm not sure what to think anymore." L says without turning to Mr. Yagami, "I've never been in a situation like this."

Katelyn sets her cup down on the end table, "Honestly, why does it matter how much he suspects him? No matter how you look at it, he's a suspect."

The chief turns around, his teeth gritting and his eyes widening, "Because he's my son! I know he isn't Kira! Light could never be capable of such things! And as a newly recruited detective, you best learn your place!"

Katelyn stands tall, pulling her shoulders back and marching up to the chief, "Learn my place?! That's rich coming from the guy that questions nearly everything he has to say regarding the case!" She shouts as she throws her hands towards L direction, "Honestly, I'm amazed you're still on the case at this point, considering you have a clear conflict of interest and absolutely no control over your emotions!"

Mr. Yagami is taken aback, not expecting Katelyn to be so bold. But she meant every one of them. Both the words spoken and unspoken. Katelyn can tell L has some degree of respect for the chief given his sense of justice and duty to the badge. Yet, in Katelyns eyes, it seems as though L's reasonings hold no merit with the chief.

But perhaps she's being too harsh on the man. Light is his son and if not for her prior knowledge, would she even suspect Light at all? His father doesn't and neither do those closest to Light. Expect L. That's with all great serial killers though. No one suspected them.

With L's voice cutting through them, Katelyn and the chief turn toward him as he speaks, "If Kira and the second Kira are working together right now, things are not looking good for me. Given that," L looks over his shoulder to her, their eyes meeting briefly before he turns back, "I may not be thinking as clearly as I normally do, so I could be wrong. Maybe I still consider him a suspect only because we don't have anyone else. But still... if I do happen to be killed soon, please assume that Light is Kira."

With his fists clenched, Mr. Yagami strides out of the room and a through the hotel door. Katelyn wouldn't expect anything different from the man, pinning him as emotionally immature. She picks up her cup and downs the rest of her luke warm drink.

"So," Matsuda starts, "you really think Light is Kira too, uh?"

"I know it. In fact, I'm certain that I believe it more than Ryuzaki does, actually."

"But why? I get that because his dad is the police chief, he could've had access to police information. And I also get that the Yagamis were one of the families Raye Penber was investigating before he died, but that isn't exactly a lot to go on."

"And yet that's practically all we have to go on. Listen, you can call me crazy or whatever but I have my reasons."

Not caring to continue the conversation, Katelyn takes her empty cup to the kitchen and begins washing it with a scrub, the sound of shuffling feet coming closer.

"I don't suppose you'd be up for another field trip today?"

She glances over to L, her brows knitted, "It depends. Where to?" She turns the faucet on to rise the cup before putting it away.

"To the university. Why not pay Light a visit."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she leans back against the kitchen counter, "I thought you didn't want me going to the university?"

"Technically I'll still be meeting with Light alone. But I thought maybe you'd like to be on stand by, of sorts."

"Okay but... he is gonna try to kill you though. I don't know when or how, but he tries. Obviously he isn't successful but you can never be too careful."

He hums, placing the tip of his thumb to his lips, "How convenient would it be for Misa Amane to be at Toho today?"

"Uh, not very. If she sees you, she'll know your name!" L moves quickly to shush her, placing a cool finger over her lips. Should the mere touch of a single finger to her lips cause her breath to catch and her heart to leap into her throat?

Not allowing herself a moments distraction, Katelyn looks into the other room, and no one seems to have noticed them —or her outburst— thankfully. He removes it, placing his hands back into the pockets of his jeans, "Then again, if you plan to arrest her I guess it won't matter if she does. There are just so many gaps in what I know it's almost seems to do more harm than good."

"Nonsense, every detail is useful. In fact, I happen to know she's having a photo shoot not far from the university."

"So then you do plan to arrest her today."

He gives a cute, awkward smile, the sight making Katelyns heart melt, "Be ready in five minutes."

———
A/N: hey all beautiful readers. I know, I know. This update took a long ass time.

I'm stuck between wanting to continue writing in third person or going back to first. I also want to rewrite all of the first chapters, in an effort to try and help the story flow a bit better because when I first started this story, I had absolutely no plan, lol. If anyone has a pov suggestion feel free to tell.

Anyway, thanks for reading!🖤