Hello my dearest readers. I am here. Are you still there?

Acknowledgements:inu-furuba freak, Videle, Too-Lazy-to-ever-review, BleedingBlackRose1026, Namelesssinner, Rozel, Reona-chan, Archee-chan, kaisergirl, N.M. Smith - Mr. Cackles, ., Lawlita, Miko Yamaguchi, cabbage-for-the-people, Absh, blood0stained0cherry0blossom,i'..polish

Trappings in complexities

On the evening of my sister’s birthday, a strange couple visited my house.

It was supposed to be my mother who answered the door. Since I don’t want to disturb her while washing the dishes, I quickly rose from my chair and answered the doorbell. It might be one of Sayu’s visitors who came late for her party that ended an hour ago. I opened the door and before I could step outside and greet the visitors, the hairs at the back of my neck stood up. I’ve seen these people before. I got the distinct feeling that they’ve been following me around for the last two days.

Trying not to lose face, I regain full composure and smiled. “Can I help you?”

The woman took a step forward. She looked like a working woman, her lime green turtleneck sweater emphasizing her curves and maturity at the same time. Her eyes were steady. She reached out a hand for me to shake. I welcomed it. She introduced herself as Maki Shoto. I glanced at the boy beside her. He seemed younger than me and he was glaring as if I offended him in some way. He was all-leather. I almost felt hot just looking at him wearing the garments.

“We came here to see your father, Yagami-kun.”

“He will be home soon. Would you like to come in?”

“Bout time,” the blond leather punk pushed me aside and made his way without preamble. Maki Shoto followed him and placed her shoes on the side. She told the boy to stop and take off his as well and wear the slippers she was handing him. He scoffed but followed anyway.

My mother appeared and greeted them warmly, thinking the unpleasant boy was one of Sayu’s classmates. Maki Shoto approached her and asked to talk to her privately. My mother blinked but she nodded graciously and they retired to the living room. I was left with the rebel boy on the dinner table. We sat across each other and he just stared at me. He looked at the piece of chocolate cake and without even asking, he took the fork and started to eat it.

I saw these strangers two days ago on the subway. I know they are following me and I don’t like it. I don’t know what they want but I could only surmise that I shouldn’t make any obvious resistance on my part especially now they are inside the household. Better wait for the best case scenario. They hardly look like bad people but they did leave me a creepy impression.

The blond boy kept chewing, his eyes never drifting away from mine. There was a scathing presence in his gaze that I was quick not to ignore. His eyes, a strange color of light blue, were accusing, never even faltering for any other expression other than the obvious infuriation they held. I remained composed; trying not to intimidate him but how was I intimidating him in the first place? I watch him quietly fumbling through his garments. He produced a chocolate bar. Ah, whether he wanted to have a chocolate-induced heart attack is not my problem. People with sweet tooth always bothered me.

I wonder if I should eavesdrop with my mother and that lady’s conversation. My sense of decorum prevented the urge from taking place. The blond boy looked at me, amused, and this only worsened my confusion.

“Yagami Light,” he began, leaning closer to the table. His accent was latent while speaking my language. The thick smell of dark chocolate ensnarled my nostrils, making me a little nauseated.

“Yes?”

“I’m Mello.”

Good, introductions after ten minutes of awkward silence.

“You look pained, what’s the matter?” That was not concern in his tone. It was rather mockery, his eyes becoming narrowed slits. I said nothing in response.

“You have good records in school, Light.” Mello just kept biting on the chocolate bar without a care.

“I supposed that bears significance in this conversation.”

“Damn right it should, I didn’t fly here to Japan to speak broken Japanese for nothing.”

“Your Japanese sounds fine.”

“Fuck off.” Mello said that one in English then he pushed himself off the table, just in time when Sayu came down.

She looked at Mello, lips parted and then my sister gazed at me. I shrugged my shoulders. Mello did something out of line (to my own interpretation.) He took a box from somewhere in his tight leather garments and tossed it at Sayu who caught it clumsily. “Happy birthday, girl.”

“You didn’t have to bother.” I tried to smile. We don’t even know you.

As if reading my mind, Mello glared. “Yeah, well, I know there’s an occasion and Maki bothered being nice so shut up and let your sister look at her gift.”

With that statement, he shot a look at Sayu who hurriedly fumbled through her present. She unwrapped it and looked inside the box. Then she muttered gratitude at Mello and bowed her head. Mello scoffed and sat back down. My mother and the Maki person returned. I tried to read my mother’s expression but to my surprise, she was smiling without deception. Anxiety found its way in my veins.

“Light,” she was saying, “Maki-san and this boy would like to meet with you and your father tomorrow afternoon, okay?”

Maki smiled at me in the most professional way imagined. She frowned at Mello then saw Sayu. She greeted her a happy birthday. My sister sensed that she was nice so she thanked her for the unexpected gift.

“Thank you for your consideration, Sachiko-san,” Maki bowed and she and the boy headed to the door. My mother bowed for the last time before she closed the door and they disappeared.

I don’t know if I slept well that night. Usually I even consider myself a good sleeper. I get proper hours of sleep and I feel refreshed until the end of the day but sleeping doesn’t really energize me. I consider myself to be a ‘mind person.’ Mental stimulation is the one thing that energizes me. I’m not talking about excellent grades in school or even chess games. I can do all of that but what I’m looking for is the excitement of solving mysteries. My father is a cop and he said I’m fairly good with crime-solving myself even though I’m only seventeen.

Since I’m currently in that line of thought, I surmised that maybe that Maki and Mello are people interested with what my father does as chief of police. But I still get the vague impression that they also want something from me. What could it be..?

I dozed off somehow and woke up the next day. It was a Sunday.

Something about that boy Mello didn’t sit well with me. I keep thinking about their visit and I just can’t wrap any theories on their purpose that would make sense. They said that they were going to meet us this afternoon. Maybe I should stop thinking much about it. I should form my conclusions when I see them again. My father might help too since I know he also gets suspicious around strangers especially this kind.

My father said that they set up a meeting place. It’s a coffee shop on the far end corner of the second street away from our lot. We walked for ten minutes and reached the said shop. My father ordered some drinks as we sat there and waited for them. Two minutes after and they arrived. Most people looked since Mello is somebody you don’t miss in a crowd. He doesn’t blend. He’s either too sinister-looking with his tight jeans and the unmistakable scar on his face or too European to be missed here in this city. Maki was half-Japanese and she looked pleasant. She was a little nervous though with her companion since she kept silently glaring at him, as if trying to tell him to quit standing out. It’s way too impossible for Mello. He’s just so noticeable, that’s all.

“Good morning, Maki-san, Mello-kun.” My father rose up to greet them. Mello immediately sat across me and slumped forward to give my father a smirk. My father wasn’t that intimidated but he stared back gravely.

Maki started explaining. She didn’t even order first. It’s clear she wants to get to her point. “I contacted your headquarters a week ago, Yagami-san. You know why we’re here now, don’t you?”

My father nodded. I was perplexed with this conversation.

“I think I should start from the beginning,” Maki kept her hands on her lap and her eyes still. Even in broad daylight her face looks a little stale. There was something about it that tells me what she would say next might just change my life, like one of those cliché things in TV and movies.

And it did.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

My coffee was getting cold. I was too absorbed with what Maki was saying to even care. It’s a good thing we sat on a corner where nobody was sitting too close to us. In this small space I feel a little chilly and I don’t know why. Mello wasn’t even saying anything. His arm was raised on the ledge and he was biting rather noisily on his chocolate bar. He seemed to be paying attention to the other empty table than to what his companion was saying. I, on the other hand, was unable to take my concentration to some other safe place. What she was saying is too unsettling.

My father has the same level of focus. He had this fingers interlaced with each other. His eyes were deep and almost hazy. He adjusted his eyeglasses once or twice.

“I’ve heard quite stories about him, Maki-san,” my father’s voice was almost too low to hear, “stories which celebrate his success as a detective. Is it true that this is what he wants?”

Maki nodded. “There are many governments agencies who have decided on letting him be in charge of this particular operation. The FBI—” her voice lowered, “is also cooperating with him for many months now. The cases were going unsolved and we admit that we’re in the dead end and that is why we need more agents to go about.”

“Why my son, Maki-san?”

They both glanced at me. I tried to look calm but a wave of thoughts spread on my whole system. I thought about my priorities as a student and the future I could have if I accepted this proposal. It seems too risky and questionable to me.

I decided to speak up. “Fresh agents and young ones at that, Maki-san? Isn’t that conceited and clumsy?”

I heard Mello snort a laugh. He said nothing.

Maki answered me sternly. “I knew it appears ridiculous to you but policies change when they need to. We’ve been rushing, we know and we’re evaluating young people who excel in their schools and also those who have family background on law or any high organization. We’re desperate, yes. Measures are changing as well.”

“It’s too easy,” I shook my head, crossing my arms. My father watched me as I continue to speak. “Maki-san, I can see you’re being serious with this but picking up confused teens and putting them on dangerous schemes is a bit fouler than making young boys soldiers and sending them to a senseless war.”

I sounded polite but my words, I knew, stung. Mello glared hard on me. I held the glare fiercely as well.

“You must be in quite a mess.” I continued, speaking to Maki but looking at Mello. “Whichever case, I don’t want to get involved. My father doesn’t want to get involved. There might be a national crisis but I’m not prepared to work with powerful agencies. I’m more preoccupied with my personal obligations. Gomen, Maki-san, we decline profusely.”

“Ah, fuck you.” Mello didn’t even try to hide his dismay. He didn’t bother speaking in Japanese either. “You’re a pussy, Yagami.”

“This isn’t a Tom Clancy novel where you can get good kids to do dirty work for a political price.” I answered back calmly. “This isn’t fiction. I’m not the stupid protagonist swayed by a moral crisis.”

“Fuck you, don’t be a smartmouth.” Mello slammed his fist on the table. My father didn’t flinch and nor did I. Maki said nothing in defense. “We didn’t make a mistake, Yagami. We chose you. Either you shut your pompous, lame ass mouth and comply or I have to take your whole family hostage. That happens not only in fiction, Yagami. What you read is not even close to what happens when men like me start ripping apart what is left with your life.”

“Threats won’t be necessary,” my father answered this time in English. He was leaning on the edge now. “My son and I have nothing else to say to you. Here are your options: get out of the country or you will have the whole NPA chasing after your tails. Would that be necessary for me to do, Maki-san?”

Maki was sitting almost without care in the world. She closed her eyes and sighed. Then she opened them again and replied directly to me. “We will have you come to us, Yagami-kun.”

I raised an eyebrow. “For your own good, Maki-san, and you too, Mello, I hope to never see you again.”

“We will have you come to us, Yagami-kun,” Maki said again as she stood up and bowed to my father. Mello scoffed and finished his chocolate bar.

He grinned at me. “See you soon, pussy-wuss.”

And they disappeared again.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

I started to ponder about them for the longest time even during school when I’m inside the classroom and most especially when I’m doing nothing. After almost two days I thought that maybe they’ve given up but powerful wouldn’t stop until they get their hands on what they want. So this isn’t over. Technically, things are just starting to spice up. The problem is I’m not sure it’s to my advantage.

On a warm Tuesday, I walked Sayu to her friend’s house for a sleepover. My father was working late like the same evenings and my mother was just watching the television when I left her.

“If there is anything that’s bothering you, you can tell me.” Sayu can be sometimes perceptive but rarely. This is the wrong time for her to be.

“Relax, I’m doing just fine.” I kissed her on the cheek and watched her enter the house before I started to head back. It was early and I can still get a heads-up on my Chemistry project. As I was turning to a corner, I saw Mello.

“Get your ass here,” he wasted no time on greetings. I hesitated for a moment but I took the risk and obeyed him.

Standing just a yard from him, he took something from those ridiculously-tight jeans of his and threw it at me. My instinct was to grab it, of course. I looked down at what I was holding. “And this is—”

“A transmitter. Put it on your ear and then press the button.”

I tried not to roll my eyes as I did this. This casual drop-bys are starting to bore me. “And then?”

“Listen.”

“I am. Nothing.”

“Did you press the button?”

“Oh, right.” I languidly pressed the said button. I saw him roll his eyes.

There was faint static on the other end. Then a distorted voice spoke in Japanese. “Good evening, Yagami-kun.”

“Good evening.”

“You’re not making things easier.”

I responded nothing. I kept my eyes on Mello the whole time. He was leaning on a post, digging for his chocolate, no doubt. I listened again to the speaker.

“This isn’t a real choice for you. You have no available options.”

“And—?”

“Are you aware of the global intervention unit?”

I sighed. “Yes, I’m aware. And this has something to do with what you’re going to tell me.”

“No. Just checking.”

I didn’t respond to that again. Mello was on his second chocolate bar already.

“Do you like winter or summer?”

I raised an eyebrow slightly. “Winter.”

“Why?”

“No school.”

“Don’t you like school?”

“Yes.”

“What’s your favorite show?”

“Dexter.”

“What is that?”

“It’s about a forensic blood expert named Dexter Morgan. He hunts and kills criminals who get away with the law.”

“Interesting choice.”

“Thank you.”

As much as I’m mystified with these questions and more significantly, who I’m talking to, I allowed the speaker to interrogate me nonetheless until he reveals his objectives. I was patient enough.

“Yagami-kun, I think you know who I am.”

“I’m taking a wild guess right about now.”

“You are correct.”

“I’m still not joining your squad.”

“I have no squad.”

“Then what I am joining?”

“A recruit agency.”

“I’m not joining your recruit agency.”

“Do you like chess?”

“Yes, especially when I win.”

“We all like to win. I know you do as well, Yagami-kun. One thing you should know about me is I cannot lose, not with the current status and scenarios presented. Listen well, Yagami-kun. You are to pack your things and follow Mello to the airport. You are not to say a word to your father. I shall deal with him.”

“I don’t trust you. I don’t know you.”

“You know me.”

“I don’t trust you.”

“Do you trust Mello?”

“No, I don’t trust Mello.”

The blond boy gave me the finger. I smiled back at him.

“You are to pack your things and follow Mello to the airport. You are not to say a word to your father.”

“Are you forcing me out of my will—?”

“Ryuuzaki. You may call me that.”

I looked at Mello’s face. His face was unreadable. I coughed slightly and removed the transmitter. I handed it back to him. He didn’t take it. I shrugged my shoulders and placed the transmitter inside my pocket. Then I walked back home, with Mello trailing behind, not even making an effort to stop me. I opened the door and saw my mother has fallen asleep while watching. I turned off the television and kissed her forehead. I went to my room.

I sat down on the bed. I placed the transmitter back again.

“Ryuuzaki?”

“Yes, Yagami-kun?”

“If I don’t do this, what am I to expect?”

“Brute force.”

“Won’t you want me to come complacently?”

“I prefer that, actually. Will you grant me that?”

I debated. I looked at my desk. “What do you mean you will deal with my father?”

“Yagami-kun, someday you won’t have all the answers.”

I walked to the closet and started taking my shirts and pants. I looked for the luggage underneath my bed. “I admit I’m curious.”

“And ambitious.”

“Well, yes.”

“I can’t promise that you will be glorified with your efforts but I am exchanging full confidentiality on your skills.”

“Skills? You have an evaluation sheet for that?” I started packing.

“We’ll see.”

I finished packing. I went outside and locked the doors. I saw Mello with a motorcycle from nowhere. He started the engine and waited for me to climb up.

“Don’t you have somewhere more comfortable to put my luggage on, Mello-kun?” I asked politely.

“Fuck off and just hold onto it.” He started to drive.

“I see I get no helmet.” I said louder as the win gushed noisily as we drove.

I took off the transmitter for a while until we reached the airport. Once we were on the airport, Mello finally helped me carry my bag (well, he dragged it on the floor.) I saw Maki waiting for us in some kind of a private plane. I moved slowly towards her and bowed my head as a greeting. She bowed back and took my luggage from Mello. The boy climbed up without further preamble and the rest of the trip was filled with tense silence. I placed back the transmitter.

“Ryuuzaki-san?”

“Hai, Yagami-kun?”

“I don’t want to see you do something threatening so I came here willingly. I deduced that you may not make it easy for me. But this is something to consider as abduction, only your prisoner is giving you the go-card.”

“I have surmised that. Yagami-kun is very obedient. This is also an ironic situation. Given the status, it is necessary measure.”

I rested my head on my seat and closed my eyes. “Do you like chess?”

“Yes, in fact.”

“Summer or winter?”

“Rains.”

I sighed. I looked across the dark skies and searched for a star. I saw nothing. I crossed my arms. “I’ll be seeing you then?”

Static. Then a soft chuckle.

XXX

Francesca will be returning on the next chapter. I apologize for the delayed gratification.