Chapter VI: Fragments of the Past

Disclaimer: I don't even own the house that I sleep in. Therefore I don't own Death Note. Even though I'm an heiress to a million dollars. It sucks.

Airport security is a bitch. And it's completely useless. So you know.

I told Light, who insisted on bringing me here, that I was going to LA earlier this week. Now I just have to get him to leave.

That's harder than it sounds.

But we're close.

Light smirks at me.

"I have a surprise for you, Elise," he whispers in my ear.

A surprise?

Yeah, Light! You call this a surprise?

Shut up. He's trying.

Not.

"What ever could it be?" I tease.

Oh yes, you have a two by two inch bulge in your pocket, and I asked you for a-

Clamp it, Karen.

Light pulls the box out of his pocket and gets down on one knee.

Fucking original, bro.

Kinda romantic...

"Elise, will you marry me?"

He flips open the box, and I gasp.

Bro...

That's a gigantic rock.

You got it, Roxanne.

"No."

His eyes narrow. I snort.

"You owe me a cotton candy and two corn dogs."

He laughs and pulls me into a kiss.

It's sweet this time, like honey on a slice of bread.

Or boringness in a jar.

Shut it, Sam.

I slip the ring onto a chain around my neck because rings make my hands feel tired.

I leave for Winchester after a quick change of clothes in a bathroom that smelled like a bunch of tourists had sushi for the first time.

Anyways, everything goes smoothly. Until the plane is hijacked. I don't really stress. Nobody's going to die. And one of the hijackers is pretty into me...

Previously mentioned guy with a gun winks at me from the aisle of the plane. I smirk at him.

The pilot makes another intimidating announcement with the intercom. I'm very tempted to roll my eyes.

This is just my luck.

What is?

A hijacking. No that's not right; another hijacking.

They just seem to follow us around don't they?

They do. And it just had to happen while I am acting as the Alpha.

The Alpha?

Yeah. You remember, don't you?

No. Tell me the story.

Sure. I'm bored anyways.

I shut my eyes.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to hide herself from the world's most powerful man. She didn't want to watch a child steal her brother's heart and then break it by dying, so she ran away from L. Do you know the best way to do that?

No.

Go to the world's second most powerful man, or, in this case, woman.

Who's that? Eraldo Coil?

No. He would have just used me to blackmail L. And he was on the same side as L. At least he was until the Third World War.

Alpha?

Yes. Alpha, the master criminal. She was in control of the black market in Russia and China. She controlled almost every criminal in Russia. She was the best criminal mastermind in the world.

So I went to Russia when I was ten years old, in search of a mob boss.

I blinked when I finally stepped onto dry land. Then I emptied my stomach onto the docks.

Lovely, darling.

Too kind, sweetie.

You know me too well, sugar baby.

Oh, I know, cutesy.

Where are we going to find a criminal mastermind?

In Russia.

Brilliant. Good luck finding her! Don't mind me while you search all of mother Russia.

Better that than pathetic little Italy.

The fact was that I was lost. I had absolutely no idea how to find her. So I became a criminal in my own right. I stole jewelry and food mostly. I hoped it would attract her attention.

But it wasn't you she was interested in right?

Right.

Once, I robbed a museum. You might have heard of it: The Kremlin Armory Museum. It was quite difficult to get inside, and I successfully pocketed several ancient Chinese miniatures. But I wasn't alone that night.

I peeked into the Russian wing to check on the guard before I left. But he was lying on the floor, slumped over.

Across the room was a kid about my age. Ten. He or she was welding a circle into the glass of display case of...

Is that a Fabergé egg?

I know that the museum holds ten eggs, but I thought that they were protected by very high tech security.

I glanced over the room.

They were.

Were?

The intruder disabled it.

He or she slid the circle of glass into his or her hand. Then he or she pulled off the protective mask.

I gasped aloud.

He was absolutely, positively, totally, completely, positively the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Or will ever see.

You said positively twice.

His hair was blond, almost white, but it nearly glowed. His eyes were a blue so bright that they looked electric. His hands were big, but his fingers were slender and long. He had pale cheekbones sticking out like daggers. Yakov. No last name. A Nordic god.

Except he wasn't. He was Russian. I could tell from his accent.

How? What did he say?

"Who the hell are you?"

I dropped my bag and lifted my hands into the air.

"A thief."

He laughed hollowly. His eyes shifted. He was terrified of me wasn't he?

"I don't suppose you'd know the Alpha?" I asked, bowing with a flourish.

"I'm trying to join the Alpha! She left a message at a train station saying whoever could bring her this Faberge egg could join her inner circle," he whispered excitedly.

His eyes glinted of mischief and deviousness.

"Can I join you?" I teased.

He laughed. Then his eyes widened. In a swift motion, he pulled something silver from his belt and threw it spiraling in my direction. I heard a sickly squish. Then I heard something fall to the floor. I turned.

The security guard lay on the cold linoleum, sputtering and choking on his own blood. A sterling dagger with a handle shaped like a leaping rabbit stuck out of the dead center of his throat.

I looked at Yakov as the man's numbers shrank away. His hands shook slightly and his eyes were wide with fear but also wonder. I grinned a horrible smile. Beyond would like this boy.

I spoke lowly: "You're not bad with a knife. That's good to know. A little more practice and you might be able to beat me."

He stared at me. I smirked at him. Then we both laughed. Nothing bonds two kids like a good old fashioned murder.

"I think you're my type of lady, mademoiselle...?

"Black Heart. Birthday."

"Yakov."

I open one eye. Back to reality.

I wistfully smile. If Yakov were here, then these hijackers would already be dead. I can't kill them, but I can knock them out.

So I do. I have to make a few statements to the police, as a Jane Banks, but I leave the airport on a bus bound for Winchester without too much of a delay.

I check over everything one more time and hop off two stops after Winchester. It wouldn't make sense to go past your target, so that's exactly what I do.

Once in Winchester, I stop by a toy store to change in the bathroom. I wear a black jumpsuit. It has a hood that covers my face and is stretchy, but it has some body armor. Before I leave, I check out the toys. A suspicious number of dominos and die are missing from the shelves. And the bargain bin for video games is empty.

Next, I head over to the candy store. I bet Beyond loved this place. They're all out of chocolate. Bummer. But this confirms that L still uses Wammy's for an orphanage. For all I know he could have been manufacturing candy in there for all of these years.

I walk to the fence on the left side of the institution. The huge oak that I used to escape is still there. I remember climbing up its icy limbs in that thunderstorm. It's too far to reach from this side though. I pull on a mask with a lower case alpha symbol on it. The prisoners and their liberators have been provided with ones that have omegas on them.

I listen closely. The fence is buzzing. It's almost like a prison.

It is and was.

Prison to my brother's torment.

I feel a song coming on about that.

We're breaking into an extremely high tech institution. Full of tiny terrifying people. Who happen to be geniuses.

Meh. Boring.

I use a grappling hook to get up into the tree. The forest provides coverage until about a half mile from the house.

This is it. We're doing it!

This is the last time we can turn back.

Pfft. Like you'd ever turn your back on a challenge!

I walk through the open with my head held high. I climb into a window that leads to the library. Which has several kids in it. I sniff at them.

I am superior to all of you!

Poor kids, though. They've all sold their lives to L.

I march over to the door with a keypad. Four digits. I can't afford a mistake.

I punch in 2253. It opens. I roll my eyes. L and his cake.

I close the door in a blond kid's face. Poor guy. Dropped his chocolate. I wedge a knife in the door. Don't want to get locked in.

That would be sooo unfortunate.

Precisely.

Have you ever heard of sarcasm?

Nope. You should explain it to me. Later.

I stand in a freezing room filled with monitors and screens. I sit down in a chair. I have less than a minute. I enter the emergency code (CherryStemMaster31) and do a mass search for all files related to all of the criminals.

My phone buzzes. Right on time. I pick it up.

"I'm ready now!" Wedy croons.

She's enjoying this.

"Now!" I shout.

I hear her click the mouse.

"Done. Files deleted," she says.

I click the button. L just lost his information on all 52 of them.

"Start the soundtrack! Let's get our grove on!" I exclaim.

I plug in another phone. L has a surprisingly good sound system, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to laugh in his face. The song starts up:

Put on your war paint!

I sprint out the door. I'll risk leaving by the front. Just to mock L.

You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down;

Strike a match and I'll burn you to the ground!

We are the jack-o-lanterns in July;

Setting fire to the sky!

He-here comes this rising tide!

So come on!

I accidentally knock over blondie. Mihael Keehl. He shouts at me, but I'm too busy singing along to the voice reverberating around the whole world. Got an old friend, Aiber, to sing it. He's not bad.

Blondie turns as red as a tomato. I pick him up and spin him in a circle as I shout:

Put on your war paint!

Cross walks and crossed hearts and hope-to-dies;

Silver clouds with grey linings.

I slide through a plethora of papers surrounding a girl. Lily Evans. But she signs her art with Linda. I snap my fingers at her and point:

So we can take the world back from a heart attack;

One maniac at a time we will take it back.

You know, time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start,

So dance along to the beat of your heart!

I almost trip over a cord from a Play Station. I pick up the other controller and beat the boy, Mail Jeevas, in a round of Mario Kart. Yeah. On a Play Station. I don't know how that happened either. I wag a finger at him:

Hey young blood!

Doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

I'm gonna change you, like a remix;

Then I'll raise you, like a phoenix.

Wearing our vintage misery;

No, I think it looked a little better on me.

I'm gonna change you, like a remix;

Then I'll raise you, like a phoenix!

I take a slight detour to avoid the front office. Half of the kids in the orphanage must be chasing me. I twirl around to wave at them:

Bring home the boys and scrap scrap metal the tanks;

Get hitched and make a career out of robbing banks.

Because the world is just a teller and we are wearing black masks;

"You broke our spirit," says the note we pass!

So we can take the world back from a heart attack;

One maniac at a time we will take it back.

You know, time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start,

So dance along to the beat of your heart!

Hey young blood!

Doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

I'm gonna change you, like a remix;

Then I'll raise you, like a phoenix.

Wearing our vintage misery;

No, I think it looked a little better on me.

I'm gonna change you, like a remix;

Then I'll raise you, like a phoenix!

Put on your war paint!

I tumble through a city made up of dice. I shrug apologetically to the white haired kid who presumably set them up. Nate River. Finally, someone with a normal name! I finish up the last variation:

The war is won,

Before it's begun.

Release the doves;

Surrender love!

(Wave the white flag!)

Hey young blood!

Doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

I'm gonna change you, like a remix;

Then I'll raise you, like a phoenix.

Wearing our vintage misery;

No, I think it looked a little better on me.

I'm gonna change you, like a remix;

Then I'll raise you, like a phoenix!

I reach the entryway. I turn once more:

Hey young blood!

Doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

I'm gonna change you, like a remix;

Then I'll raise you, like a phoenix!

Put on your war paint!

I leave as fast as I can. I change and go to America. Then Mexico. Then Canada. Then Japan. That should throw L off the scent.

I grin to myself as I climb off the subway. I'm reading a report on the escapees. None of the names have been posted. I'd pay money to see Kira's face right now.

They're calling us Alpha, but referring to us as "he."

I wonder why L kept that information to himself.

I stop by a coffee shop, Cafeel. It's a cozy place. After an espresso, I walk out into the streets. I take a short cut through an ally. The hair on the back of my neck stands on its ends. Something's wrong...

Pain shoots up my arm. Someone has grabbed me. As they slam me against the wall, I fear the worst. Is it? Beyond?

No.

No. It's Yonegoro Nusumi. Fifty three years left.

One of his hands goes over my mouth; the other slides through my hair. His bristled chin rubs against my ear as he whispers into it:

"You're a fighter, aren't you? It's a good thing I surprised you. I saw that you got an espresso. I like a woman who isn't scared of some oomph. See, I saw you come in just as my shift ended. It was destined, you see.

"What's this?" He pulls at the chains around my neck."An engagement ring?"

I don't respond. I'm busy working out a counterattack.

"And which one is the lucky guy?" he asks, holding my locket. On one side is a photograph of Yakov and on the other is Light.

"I'm guessing the older one," he mutters. "Sorry, but I'm not going to be gentle like him."

He pulls out a roll of duct tape and raps it around my head. Then he tapes my arms, one by one, to the wall behind me.

I kick him when he goes for my feet. I rip my arms off the wall and punch him in the nose.

I pick up a trash can lid. And rip off the rest of the stupid tape.

Hey! You're like the weak Captain America!

Weak?

I trip him when he runs at me. Then I slam the lid down on his head. He doesn't move. Out cold.

"Elise!" a familiar voice shouts.

Light sprints into the ally.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I got jumped by this sicko."

Light leans forward and pulls out the dude's wallet. The photo in his ID makes me remember him.

"He's attacked women before, but he's never been convicted. Mogi almost got him last year," I inform Light.

He nods.

"Let's just leave him alone," I mutter.

"No!" he says. "We can't do that! He's sick and deserves punishment!"

"Hey, we don't have any proof. He'll get what's coming to him."

For a moment, Light's eyes are dark. Then they brighten.

"Fine."

We walk in silence for a bit.

"Have you heard about the prison break?" he asks.

"The big one? Alpha break?"

"Yeah. It's ridiculous! Totally criminal."

I smirk. "I don't know. Alpha is going against both Kira and L. He's being called a patron of freedom. A musical genius. A vigilante."

Light frowns. "A criminal. Just another one to be brought to justice."

We talk about college and other things. And so time went on.

About a week later Dad calls a family meeting.

I roll my eyes. Seriously, a "family meeting?" That went out of style in first grade.

Even though we never went to first grade?

Pretty much.

Sayu voices my concerns: "Um, so what's with the 'family meeting,' Dad?"

Dad answers, "I figured that you're going to find out sooner or later, so I might as well tell you now. I don't want you to be alarmed. I'm sure you've heard of this Kira Investigation; well, I'm currently in charge of it."

I was right.

"What? Are you serious? That's totally awesome, Dad! You're the best cop ever!" Sayu exclaims.

"That's not quite the point I'm trying to make."

"No way!" I mutter sarcastically.

"You see the truth is, the FBI sent twelve of their agents to Japan; to assist us in finding Kira. And all of them died yesterday."

"Does that mean they were all killed by Kira?" asks Light in a traumatized voice.

That means... Raye Penber?

Shit.

Kira.

"What I'm saying is that there's a chance that Kira will actually try to kill anyone who comes after him. His crimes are ruthless and more frightening than anything we've seen. Many detectives have already quit."

Sayu leans forward. "Dad, you should quit too! I don't want you to die! What if he gets you?"

Mrs Yagami joins in. "That's right! Your life is so much more important than some job!"

"I can't. I could never forgive myself if I walked away from this. I will not sit back and let evil triumph!"

"He's right. It's his duty." I add.

Sayu and Mrs Yagami protest.

Light casts his vote: "I think it's honorable of you, Dad. I'm proud to be able to call you my father. And if anything should ever happen to you, I'm going to find Kira and make sure he gets executed." He closes the door behind him.

Drama!

Your favorite.

Yep.

Did anything seem off about that?

Maybe a little cheesy. But that is how a real man makes an exit!

AN: Hi. It's been awhile, hasn't it? Like a few months. Wow. Yeah.

My bad, guys.

I honestly can't guarantee that it won't happen again. I would just get so frustrated with this. And yeah, my life kinda has some sucky bits. One of my friends killed himself, and I would talk about the show with my buds,...so watching DN has been pretty weird. And I'm still not super pleased with this chapter. But I finished it just for you guys. And I'll keep going for you guys. I haven't lost my sense of humor yet!

Seriously though, your support meant and means a lot to me.

And so I'd like to thank AngelofDarkness1999, pikypiky1,cccourtc, Cats are my World, Queen Of The Dragons 0227, SeleneAlice, Blackhooded001, Hell's Death Angel, DaughterOfDiana, Madi the death angel, DeathToPigeons, Elvira Silver, bbb671, PurpleRose8a, EvilRandomCrazyPerson, Joki Birthday, CoilyCaughtCat, Tusceline, orangeyorange, amedartyst, bleedmeout, ZnarbSharbz, musiclover564, JamieTheGreatt, Angel of Change, Charm0900, TheHeartlessNukia, afsharrezaee9774, Vixter9339, taylorelenahart, Yuki4600, and Nifawiwa for favoriting or following.

Oookay. That was a ton of people.

And thanks for the lovely reviews. I don't have time to react to them right now, but I have read them. I hope you all find buried treasure and onions and happiness in your life!