Chapter Text
Another night, another reflective moment for the Yagami family.
Down to three, but only two showed up to meet. The mother and sister of the family, to be exact. At the sound of a knock, Sayu opened up the front door to her apartment to find her mother expectantly waiting.
"Hello sweetie. I just came here to check on you." Sachiko smiled and held out a gift basket, though her knitted eyebrows told of an underlying emotion within the widow.
Dad. Right...
The young woman's top eyelids extended half-way down her eyes, which have adverted their gaze to the beige carpet floor that covered the corridors of the apartment complex. Her bottom eyelids started to close in as her grip on the doorway tightened ever so slightly. Despite the tears already welling up in her eyes, Sayu still smiled as if she could stop them at will.
The older woman drew the basket close to her body again, freeing her right hand to reach for her baby's shoulder. "Honey, are you okay?"
Sayu's head jerked up to meet her mother's eyes, her own misty. A split second later, she turned her head to the hallway as she searched for anyone in both directions. A little something she's been trained to do living with her father's occupation, and by extension, Light's.
Okay, good... No one's here.
"Why- Why don't you just come in, Mom?" Sayu gestured towards the inside of her home. Sachiko, understanding like the average mother would be, nodded and followed her daughter inside her apartment. It wasn't the absolute smallest, but it felt that way due to how unkempt it was. Sachiko understood Sayu had never been the cleanest person, but her messiness was always contained to her room. Here? There were at least fifteen half-drunken bottles of water on the coffee table and separated pairs of socks in random crevices. Suffice to say Sachiko resisted the motherly urge to immediate clean up her child's mess, having to remind herself with mantras such as "she's an adult now". Still, a moment of cringe didn't distract the woman from her main goal here, and sat down on the small loveseat to prepare herself for a probably difficult conversation. Sayu staggered behind to close and lock the door, quickly joining her mother afterwards on the sofa.
For the first time since they walked in, Sayu's unusually shaky voice pierced through the silence. "Life... it's been hard since Dad's gone. Even more so living alone." She adverted her mahogany eyes away from her mother's, but still felt Sachiko's eyes glued onto her. "Sometimes-" Sayu paused, trying to recollect her thoughts while her voice was still comprehensible. "I-I think about what would happen if he didn't trade the Death Note for me, okay!?" The young woman buried her face in her hands, but her tears slipped between her fingers.
There was a long pause after that, the only sound being Sayu's sobs. Sachiko then slowly wrapped her arms around her child, knowing that Sayu needed some comfort. "Honey, he's your father." Sayu lifted her head up, maintaining loose eye conduct with her mother. The older woman continued, her own eyes becoming watery as well, "It-It was a little stupid of me to ask. Of course you're not doing okay... I'm not doing okay."
Sluggishly returning the favor, Sayu wrapped her arms around her mother. She didn't hear anymore words from Sachiko, but she didn't need to. Feeling her muscles relaxed, she quietly basked in her mother's embrace. Sure, her father was gone, but she's not alone in her grief.
I have Mom right here. It sucks, but at least we'll suffer together. If we can stick together, then there's noth-
Knock Knock
Both ladies froze, a chill running down Sayu's spine in particular. She had uttered the Death Note's name about two minutes ago, rather loudly too. Perhaps, the one knocking was someone from the International Police that just heard them leak confidential information like her mind suggested.
Yeah right, like they'd come here. It's probably just someone who lives next door.
Sayu's eyes widened further, if it was possible.
Actually, that might be even worse. They must think I'm crazy...
Regardless if it was just a neighbor or truly some international agents, someone has to open that door. And of course, it'd be only polite for Sayu to open it. Hastily wiping the tears and ruined mascara off her eyes with the sleeve of her leather jacket, she turned the door nob.
Her assumption about Interpol at the door wasn't entirely inaccurate. The strangers at the door looked to be of European descent, three of them looking very professional in their black suits. That wasn't the case with the much younger-looking guy three steps ahead of them. Instead, it'd better to describe him as winter incarnate: white hair, white pajamas, white shoes, and pale skin. The only thing that wasn't white were his dark eyes and red scarf. Sayu just stared at the lot, unsure what to even make of these people.
The white-haired stranger spoke up first, ignoring Sayu's disturbed gaze. "Good afternoon, take this card please. Hopefully you understand why I cannot introduce myself out loud." He then handed Sayu a simple card, neat and professional; something that didn’t describe his appearance. The younger woman took the card in her hands and proceeded to scan it with her eyes. The probably expensive card read:
"Near of the Special Provision for Kira. After the meeting this is used in is over, please burn this card."
It clicked in Sayu's mind.
Kira, Kira... Isn't that the killer Light has been trying chase for years? Wait, why are we getting this...?
"You're here because something with Light, isn't it?" Sayu asked, holding her breath in fear of what Near was going to say.
The strange stranger, now known as "Near", took his eyes off the floor and directed them onto the women in front of him. "That's correct. I'm actually relieved both you are here, makes things much easier for me." He smiled, though it was more of a self-satisfied smirk than one of genuine joy. Regardless, he defaulted back his poker face, clearing his throat. "Yagami Sachiko and Yagami Sayu, if I'm not mistaken…" Both women nodded, Sayu more clearly stricken with anxiety.
"I am very sorry for your loss."