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Fever Dreams	By : sashocirrione Category: Death Note > Yaoi-Male/Male > L/Light Views: 2733 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, and I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
CHAPTER 22
In a voice that was just slightly slurred, Matsuda said, "Light, I need help. The women don't like me! They don't like me at all. I need a date. I really do."
Matsuda's head was still resting on the table, his hair partway fallen into his face, and his soft brown eyes were blinking, looking up with such an expression of hope and innocence.
Matsuda isn't bad-looking, and he has a sweet and helpless personality. With those puppy-dog eyes it should be easy to obtain a woman. I know he's doing it all wrong.
Light opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything Matsuda suddenly blurted out, "My mother is always asking me, asking when I'll find a girl and get- get married."
Light said, "Matsuda, is it because of your mother that you're trying so hard?"
Matsuda dropped his voice and said, "No, no, it's not just her idea. I really- I mean, it's been a very long time. I haven't even had a girlfriend since before the case started. Ryuzaki likes eighteen-hour workdays and working all weekend way, way too much. There's no time at all. No time!"
Light said, "I would be happy to help you. Your attempts to pick up women are either too crude, or too shy. You need to find the right kind of middle ground. Women want respect, but they also secretly long for aggression. Your message to them should be sophisticated. You need to be complimenting them without going overboard, and showing a strong desire without scaring them away."
Matsuda said, "But that's not how you do it. You ignore women, and they just throw themselves at you. All of them want you, and none of them want me."
Matsuda lifted his head from the table to stare mournfully into his drink. He tipped it back and forth, swirling the contents.
Light said, "Well, you're not very drunk, but I think you're too drunk to do it right. You need your full mental abilities to talk to women. In the future, you should stay sober until you have a date secured. Then you can get drunk during the date."
"So, what do I do?"
"To start with, you should talk to women in a way that acknowledges their worth as people. It is easier to make that sort of impression if you know them in some way before approaching them for a date. Use any connection, no matter how small, and talk at first about something other than wanting a date."
"Like how beautiful they are?"
Light said, "No, because that's part of asking them for a date. First, establish that you would be interested in talking with them even if they weren't women at all, if they were men. You wouldn't go up to a man and immediately start talking about how beautiful he was, would you?"
Matsuda giggled.
Light said, "It is difficult to pick up women in a bar like this, because most of them are complete strangers. Find a woman in a different setting, such as a shared workplace or at a party with many people you know. The easiest woman for you would probably be a friend of a friend. Talk to the woman about that friend you have in common, or about anything else neutral. Then, when she has started to believe you're interested in her as a person, ask for a date."
Matsuda sighed and said, "I can't remember all this!"
"I could send you an email."
"No, we're not supposed to do that. Then everyone would get mad at me and I'd have to change emails again."
"I'll write it down," Light said.
Light brought out a pen and paper from his pocket; filling the page with the most helpful tips he could think of, all of them geared to Matsuda's personality and intelligence level.
There are very few people who saw L dump me, and of those few the only one likely to leak that information to Misa would be Matsuda.
Light handed the paper over and said, "You told Misa that Ryuzaki dumped me."
Matsuda got a shocked look on his face for a few moments, and then he laughed and said, "You always know everything! How do you do that? It's a trick, isn't it?"
Matsuda prodded the center of Light's chest with sharp jabs of a finger, saying, "You use your special powers, right? Hey, could you levitate something? That'd be really cool and groovy."
Rem said, "I am not here to entertain drunk people."
Light said, "I'm more like a prisoner. I'm not really someone with much control over that kind of power."
Matsuda said, "You're a hero, Light. You- you suffered so much, and you were... in lots of danger. Probably you still are in danger. And they're so mean to you. It isn't fair."
Light said, "I don't blame you at all for telling Misa. I bet you were too embarrassed to think properly when she came to you and asked about things. It is my fault you were put in such a humiliating situation."
Matsuda turned bright red and said, "It was so horrible. I- I feel like I've violated Misa-Misa just by listening to those lies being told to her."
Matsuda put his hand on Light's shoulder and said, a little too loudly, "I don't want to have sex with two men and Misa-Misa at the same time."
Several people at nearby tables turned around to stare. Matsuda became even redder and said, "No, no, I'm not with this guy, he's just my friend who has sex with my other male friend. I really like women a lot and any women who want to be with me, I'll respect them incredibly hard and skillfully with all the right respectful lines that I'm going to learn."
Light said, "I don't think you should return to this bar anytime soon. Don't try to pick up women again until you're sober and you've also memorized what I've written for you."
Matsuda slapped a hand to his forehead and said, "You're always so nice to me Light, even though I'm always doing stupid things. Always, always."
"No," Light said, "you do plenty of brave things, like risking your life with Higuchi, twice. That isn't stupid. It's being a great investigator."
Light paused just long enough to let Matsuda bask in the flattery, and then said, "However, since you did tell things to Misa, don't you think it's fair to tell a few things to me too?"
Matsuda glanced over to the stocky-brown-suit guy who was sitting in a far corner, the one who had been watching Light since before Light started following Matsuda.
Light said, "So, you know about him too? He's not the only one. That skinny girl in the red skirt is also trailing me. I'm sure you're already in a little trouble for talking to me at all, and that won't change even if you left right now."
"Ah! I always get in trouble."
"As long as you're already in trouble, why not make it count? You know I've been subjected to a great injustice, and even Misa has been given more information than I have. I'm in love with Ryuzaki, yet because of the case he thinks he has to separate himself from me. I know he loves me, and I love him, but this small doubt keeps us apart. If I could just learn a little about the situation, and be sure my love letters get delivered to him, I know we'll have a happy ending. Isn't that what you want for the hero who saved your life?"
Matsuda stiffened, his whole body tensing up as he said, "Ryuzaki already left. We don't know where he is."
He's lying. His body language doesn't look right, and I've already calculated that it should take about a month for L to leave, not just two weeks.
Light said, "Matsuda, I know they told you to say that, but remember that you can't lie to me."
Matsuda laughed nervously and said, "Oh, right. I keep forgetting about your power. But haven't you been watching the inside of the building?"
"It doesn't work like that. So, how are things going?"
Matsuda glanced around, dropped his voice to almost a whisper and said, "Everyone hates N. Even me. He's so mysterious and self-righteous, and when he yells at Ryuzaki, Ryuzaki just agrees with him without arguing at all. Aizawa threatens to quit nearly every day, and everything is soooooo boring. Nothing that N has us doing makes any sense at all. I can't tell you the details but the only good thing is that we don't work long hours any more."
"What about Ryuzaki?"
Matsuda said, "Oh, he just sits there most of the day surrounded by bottles."
"He's been drinking?"
"No, no, it's that... no, I shouldn't even be telling you anything about him. They'll find out, and they'll say I'm not a good investigator. I should go."
Matsuda started to get up, but Light grabbed his hand, pulling him back. Matsuda looked pained, conflicted.
Light said, "I won't ask for any more information, just two favors. Please?"
Matsuda hesitated. His hand relaxed in Light's grip.
Light said, "I need to know that at least some of my messages are getting through to Ryuzaki. Does he read them? If not, I need you to promise to get some to him. Do you promise? My dad won't help with this at all and he won't say anything about Ryuzaki. I'm depending on you. You're my only hope."
"Yes, Ryuzaki looks at one or two of them each day. I don't think he likes them at all."
Light slipped an envelope from his coat pocket and pressed it into Matsuda's hand.
Light said, "Make absolutely sure he reads this one, it is more important than any of the others. But, if he won't read it, tell him what it says. Tell him that I'm going crazy with the feeling of losing him, and I don't know what I might do."
Light paused, and in a purposely-dramatic voice said, "Matsuda, if he won't see me at all, I could do anything just from the pain, without really meaning to. Tell him that for sure. It's extremely important. It's also in the letter."
Matsuda said, "Yes, I will. I'll do that, Light."
Matsuda doesn't understand this threat, but L might, and I know for a fact Matsuda will deliver it. I still have ways I can pressure L. However, this threat might be too obscure even for L to figure out what I'll do next. If he doesn't figure it out, then what will happen is his own fault for not stopping it, and after that he'll have to see me.
Light said, "There's one more favor. Keep Ryuzaki there as long as possible by saying that you still think he's pretending to be N. Say that N doesn't actually exist or is just his employee. As long as he stays in Japan, I have a much better chance of getting him back. Will you do that?"
Matsuda said, "Yes, Light."
And then, after a couple of glances over his shoulder at both of the followers Light had indicated, Matsuda rushed away.
Light quickly started putting things in place for his next plan to pressure L. Through a minor acquaintance in the computer science club - actually it was the hacker's club in everything but name - Light secretly obtained a small piece of equipment he'd need for hidden communication of the sort he had in mind. He kept it concealed on his person at all times until he was able to unsuspiciously give everyone trailing him the slip and install the equipment on a campus computer. Light strongly suspected that neither L nor N were prepared to monitor all of the thousands of computers on campus.
Light could use any cellphone to connect with that modified computer and secretly send out emails and other forms of communication. He only needed one thing for a completely private messaging system: a cellphone that was not bugged, tapped or traced.
Light knew of only one way to get such a thing. Borrowing from a friend would be useless. Perhaps even minor acquaintances had taps on their cellphones. He'd need to steal one.
Light waited, hoping he wouldn't have to do it, hoping L would show some sign of wanting to get in contact again, but the days went past with no such indication.
One morning, Sayu met Light as he descended the stairs for breakfast. She was clutching a tabloid and squealing excitedly.
She said, "You won't believe it. You were totally, totally right."
Of course I was right. But, what was I right about?
Before Light could ask anything, Sayu opened to an article in the middle, showing it to Light. A glance at a photo of Misa and the real Hideki Ryuga, a quick skim of the contents and then Light was laughing, a sense of relief coming over him, like a weight being lifted from his shoulders.
Is L responsible for this? He probably is, especially when considering that, because of Rem's concerns about Misa's happiness, I had previously made him promise to try to get Misa a different boyfriend.
Rem took a few more moments of reading over Light's shoulder before she said, "Does this mean Misa is happy?"
Sayu said, "Isn't it weird? It's like the plot from a soap opera. I guess Misa really is shallow like you said."
Light said, "I told you there's no such thing as love at first sight. Anyone who suddenly attaches to a person the way Misa did to me can just as easily attach to a new romantic interest. It's a simple deduction."
Sayu said, "It's not just superficial, it's really strange! I mean, it's pretty clear that the famous Hideki Ryuga didn't have anything to do with the trouble Misa was making at To-Oh yesterday, and then the police arrest both of them and accidentally lock them in the same examination room in their underwear for a couple of hours, and now he's her boyfriend! I can't believe you and Misa both have a Hideki Ryuga! And that's pretty fast for her to grab a new man."
Light said, "Not really. It's only natural. After all, Misa started filming a movie with Hideki Ryuga as a co-star back in October, and she's been making all sorts of appearances with him lately to promote it. He's good-looking and she's had plenty of time to be attracted to him."
Rem said, "Light Yagami, I have underestimated you. No matter what happens, your plans work. I appreciate this, and all you've done to protect Misa."
Good, I'm even getting Rem entirely on my side. With this, there's even less chance that she'll try to break our deal after I lose my memories. Killing me or letting Ryuk kill me could make Misa look suspicious and that alone should motivate Rem, but if I'm also earning Rem's admiration, then I have an extra assurance that my life is safe.
Sayu said, "Well, I guess there won't be any more dirt getting thrown at our house and all that stupid mail will stop. Are you jealous that Misa managed to get the prettier Hideki Ryuga?"
"I don't want air-headed celebrities even if they are male."
"Oh, I guess not. You like the mysterious look, don't you? Ryuzaki looks as if he's hiding something. And he's so rich that he really ought to dress better, so he is hiding at least something, right?"
Sayu makes deductions like this? Perhaps her intelligence has developed better these past months when she was not always leaning on me to give her the answers to everything.
Light said, "I'm attracted to his mind. We have conversations you would hardly believe. Now, let's go tell Mom the good news."
The absence of Misa's harassment was not as relaxing as Light had hoped it would be. With each passing day, an aching worry grew in him. He became tired of the banal chatter of those he called friends, those people who always flocked to him, somehow wanting to bask in his glory, to share in the illusion of perfection.
Talking with them and putting on a show of being social seemed more pointless than it ever had been. Light sometimes felt that his calm exterior would rupture, and then everyone would see the seething frustration and vast dissatisfaction underneath. His disguise was wearing thin, feeling worn-out and useless.
When it had been about a month since he'd last seen L, he decided to make his move, hopefully before L left the country but if not the repercussions should reach L wherever he had gone.
Light smoothly nabbed a cellphone from a complete stranger during the chaos after a particularly large lecture ended. He hid it in his sleeve all the way home, and only took it out once he'd completely gone under his covers, pretending to be feeling sick and needing to go to bed early.
It took some waiting and a few emails, but Light got in contact with Sho Fujiwara, the exact man he needed for the scheme he hoped to pull off.
Sho Fujiwara was a reporter known for going undercover to get big stories and for keeping his sources entirely anonymous if they wanted to be. His reputation was impeccable. Nobody knew who the prime minister's mistress had been even five years after the fact, but nobody doubted that she existed and that Sho Fujiwara had interviewed her.
The reporter wanted to talk in person. Light explained a little to Fujiwara about how he was being followed all the time, and suggested a plan for them to meet in a way that would be both private and public, the perfect way to fool everyone who would be watching.
Two days later, they met just as planned. Sho Fujiwara was in disguise, having used a bribe to temporarily replace one of the assistant tennis coaches. Light was supposedly being evaluated on the courts. He played a difficult game against the captain of the tennis club and then, as the captain left and the small crowd of students dispersed, Light sat down on a bench to talk with the "assistant coach" about the possibility of joining.
Light knew his clothing wasn't bugged, and Light saw the two watchers he had that day were both at enough of a distance that overhearing the conversation should be impossible. That left only lip-reading as a possibility, and that could be thwarted by the large fake mustache Fujiwara was wearing, along with turning heads away at critical times and using towels to blot at the face and neck.
At first, they did talk of tennis, using a script Light had earlier provided. Fujiwara proved to be a true professional. He had to have done this sort of thing many times before, as part of his other projects in investigative reporting.
Then, just as the watchers were showing further signs of losing interest, Light turned his head just enough to hide his lips from their view and said, "This will be the biggest story of your career. However, if my name is leaked, I will deny everything."
Fujiwara said, "If you can show me a little more than the facts you've already given me, I can guarantee your story will be published and believed. Right now it doesn't amount to much."
"I can't tell you the entire story, or any critical details. If I did, we'd both be arrested. However, I think I will have no problem convincing you that I am a Kira suspect."
"And that you've met the real L?"
Light said, "You'll have to use your own judgment about that. Even I can't prove to myself that I met the real L, I merely suspect that I did."
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Fever Dreams