PSL; [YEAH WE'RE LOCKED UP IN IDEAS]

[godly]

[A seventeen year-old Light Yagami adjusts the school bag slung over his shoulder as he walks home. School’s been let out, and he has homework to do (he’s already done most of it in his head; he knows what essay he wants to write, it’ll be easy, just like everything else), but regardless, the young man has chosen to take the longer route today.

There’s nothing in particular to look forward to at home — his family, maybe, but even that was an everyday occurrence — and while he doesn’t lead an unhappy life, today feels more restless than normal. He doesn’t want to go home just yet, he just wants to walk. And walk he does, blocks and blocks away from home, until he comes across a small park.

It’s fine, if his parents wonder where he is, he’ll just call and tell them he’ll be home soon. They trust him enough; they always have.]

What a pain. [-he says to no one in particular, glancing around for something to keep his interest. Nearby, he sees an table with two empty chairs… and a go board, which appears to have been abandoned mid-game.

Light looks around only briefly before shrugging and taking a seat at one of the tables. He sets his bag down next to him, idly scooting it closer with his foot.]

Hm. [Someone passes by, and he can’t help himself but ask-] Excuse me, do you play?

Comments

[deathline]

... Hey, Yagami?

Do you like humans?

[godly]

[His hand hesitates over the board, right before he sets down a piece. He lifts his eyes to look at her, questioningly.]

That's a weird question.

[Does he like humans? Did she mean humanity?]

...You'll have to explain a little better before I can answer that.

[deathline]

Well, see...

[Clack. She's determined to build her territory aggressively from this point on. ]

When you call this a distraction, I guess it just made me wonder if people aren't fulfilling you. In my case, it's the only reason I'm playing with you too; a distraction.

I... [or rather Shiki (式)... ]

I'm usually disinterested with everyone.

[godly]

[Light is silent for a moment, his expression plaintive. A hand to his set of stones, plucking another white one up. He merely looks at the board for a long minute, not speaking.

And then:] I guess you're right.

[Clack goes his piece. Focusing on his territory, unconcerned about hers right now.]

That I'm disinterested in people most of the time. I'm bored a lot. [He shrugs, saying it purposefully casually. He doesn't want pity, and he doesn't expect a deep sense of empathy from a stranger anyway.]

When you're like me, you have to make an effort to find things that interest you. And in this world... well. To go back to your original question, humans are flawed creatures. There's a lot that you could say is irredeemable about them.

[deathline]

[Ryougi Shiki is a person born with two personalities. They exist at the same time and therefore the same person. Thus, Ryougi Shiki hates humanity, is disinterested in everyone no, not everyone and yet that would also mean she hates herself especially the impulsive side of her...

She clucks her tongue at Light's response and taps her fingers against the table before making another move continuing her strategy of getting what she can. A lot of black is already filling up the board.]

So, at least distractions can work for you. That's fortunate.

[All Shiki can do is to ignore and to isolate, to be by herself, to kill her self over, and over, and over...

(It would be so easy to take out the knife hidden in her obi, to slash Light Yagami's throat right here, right now, and...)]

You don't seem too messed up yet. [At least in comparison to her.]

So at least it'll last ya.

[godly]

Messed up?

[He's not sure if he should be offended or not. Just because it was difficult to find anything to challenge to him, just because he met the lofty expectations of his parents so often that it became a dull normalcy, didn't mean that he was going to be "messed up". He was, generally speaking, a normal high school student.

(In reality, Light Yagami is anything but normal. Disinterest and cynicism and narcissism and superiority, all rolled into a young man unchecked. Pretending to be perfect because it's easy to, and no one questions him.)]

There's nothing wrong with my kind of outlook. A lot of people see the world that way.

[Tch. He places a stone down, vying for a large section of her territory.]

Are you implying that distractions don't work for you anymore? What do you do, then?

[deathline]

You must know a lot of people then!

[One person, one boy comes to mind, whose gentleness and kindness is to the point of idiocy, but endearing all the same. In spite of the world, in spite of humanity, he kept living. A counter example.

She won't bring him up.]

Oh, I follow through with them. Koto lessons, flower arrangement, dance, cooking, swordsmanship...

[one of these thing is not like the other...]

[godly]

[A lot of people? No more than most his age, though Light believes himself to be worldly enough to know what humanity is like, regardless.

But he doesn't comment. More interesting is her list of pursuits, especially-]

Sword fighting? Are you in a kendo club?

[Because that's what she means, right?]

[deathline]

Nah. Not interested in clubs. No time for it even.

[All of her lessons were for the sake of grooming her into the family head. And the less people that surround her, the better.]

My old man teaches me.

[They spar with real swords even! But no need to mention that.]

I basically learn all of that at home.

[godly]

[No time? Her father teaches her? He's nearly not sure which one to ask about first.]

You're just a student, aren't you? Let me know if I'm being too nosy, but what do you spend your time doing, then?

Other than leaning sword skills from your father, apparently.

[deathline]

It's just like I said. The stuff I just mentioned is all done at home. As for the time I do have for myself...

[She chuckles as she looks at the board. She probably shouldn't have gotten too eager in grabbing all the space.]

I go on walks and play go with strangers.

[godly]

[He plays with a white stone in his hand, turning it over in his fingers rhythmically. ]

Me too.

[Dryly, with the smallest hint of humor.]

Still, you must be pretty talented to be able to keep up with all of those hobbies. Most people our age just go home and play video games, text on their phones, or watch TV all day. Is there a specific reason for it?

[deathline]

[Not hobbies, training; not that she'll make the correction. The conversation should remain on the surface as much as possible.

She lets out a low hum.]

My household's pretty traditional. Video games would be a strange sight at my place.

[The Ryougi's are a wealthy family and their high class shows in their classic Japanese estate which is an eerily serene and emanates grace.]

[godly]

[And yet Light is clever enough to draw his own conclusions.]

Old-fashioned? You must come from a very wealthy family, then. Those that struggle with income don't bother putting on airs like that.

[He realizes that might have come across as rude, and he makes an addendum.] That is, normal people often have other things to worry about. Tradition often becomes a novelty in the face of a growing society reliant on technology.

[Idly:] Wonder if I'd be any good at sword fighting, though. Can you imagine?

[deathline]

[Shiki lets out a low whistle and mutters under her breath.] Sharp...

But I suppose you could be someone who could take up the sword if you put your mind to it.

[Shiki's training under her father was grueling, mentally and physically. She had to learn, early on, to strike without fear. Even in a world where the sword was nearly obsolete, she and her father trained and fought each other with a near intent to kill. It was necessary in their line of work.]

You'd need a really good teacher though.

[godly]

[He doesn't even respond to the "sharp" comment. Yes, he knows. It needs no acknowledgment.]

A pupil's only as good as the teacher. [He laughs lightly, though, despite himself.] Well, that's not always true. Still, I don't think that kind of thing suits me. As much fun as it'd be to pretend bushido still exists, it's just a passing thought.

Are you close with your father? [He asks, a prelude to his real question, How good is your father with a blade?]

[deathline]

[That's like asking if Shiki is close with anyone. Even her own family, save maybe her brother who is the barest of exceptions, feel distant, no thanks to her self isolation.

SHIKI (織) is better at answering casually at least.]

I think some people say I take after him. [In terms of solemness anyways.]

He's tough, but nothing I can't handle. I get a lot of leeway from him, more than one would expect.

[The Ryougi patriarch had always been proud that he was able to produce a result that is Ryougi Shiki. She had the desired Ryougi trait without the seemingly disastrous side effect of madness. And she wasn't disobedient; she followed through and succeeded with her training, she endured learning the grueling sword and jujutsu arts, she did not protest against being the family head. She did not act out in any obvious fashion. Perhaps that's why, outside of Ryougi family matters of succession and grooming, her father, without having to say so, allowed her time to herself when she took her nightly walks.]

[godly]

He must be tough; working with blades requires an inordinate amount of focus and dedication, even more so teaching someone else.

[And so, his real question comes forth.] What does your family do? [Softened with an offer of information about himself; Light has learned over the years that offering personal tidbids often makes people more liable to answer questions they'd otherwise be hesitant to.]

My own father works for the police. [Chief of the NPA, really, but he'll not offer too many specifics.]

[deathline]

Manager and land owning.

[And she seems to leave it at that. She points at the board instead.]

Hey, hey. We're nearly finishing up here, but you definitely got some fight in you left right?

[godly]

[He quirks a brow, because Light isn't convinced that answers lines up. Managing and land owning, with a penchant for swordfighting? It'd be written off as a hobby and nothing more, if not for the fact that Shiki says that she doesn't really have time for anything else.

Should he chalk it up to an eccentrically wealthy family? He wonders.]

Of course. [He motions at the board, which appears to be evenly matched, but Light has been counting territories in his head. He's pretty confident of where he stands.] A few more rounds and this should be over, and we can start counting.

[They will continue, then, Light being expedient where he places his next few pieces.]

[deathline]

[It's gotten tougher at this point in the game, even Shiki has to admit that. A few more defenses and she may have been on equal footing, but now... A few minutes, she's wrinkling her nose.]

Guh. I set myself up for this.

[She's struggling to find a turnaround move and it may be too late now.]

[godly]

[Sorry, Shiki, but as much as Light doesn't mind helping others out... he hates losing even more. It's not so much that he's playing with her, but rather he's pushing through his final moves to the end, making sure there are no holes in his play.

He shrugs, though he's grinning. At least he's not making an "I told you so" remark, regarding how he hardly ever loses.]

You're still pretty good, though.

[deathline]

My professional go career will never take off at this point.

[One hand dips into her pocket. She said she usually doesn't carry around cash, but every now and then there might be some loose change, maybe even enough to total 1000 yen.]

Looks like you'll be 1000 yen richer Yagami.

[godly]

More money than I know what to do with.

[He eyes the loose change, though it's not really motivation to do better. He's playing to distract himself, not to gamble.]

Hope it doesn't go to my head.

[deathline]

Yeah. Don't wanna puff up and ruin that face of yours after all!