Rynn's stomach grumbled. "Aw, come on, stomach," she muttered to herself as she surveyed the campus of Todai University. Light Yagami, her guide, had disappeared, much to her irritation. Now she was hopelessly lost. And hungry.
"Excuse me," she said in shaky Japanese to a girl who had just turned the corner. "Um…where is the dining hall?"
The girl stared at her, not understanding. Rynn mentally cursed…clearly, she should've practiced her Japanese a lot more before she came up with the brilliant idea of high-tailing it over to Japan as an exchange student. What had she been thinking? Then again, a lot of the students here should've been learning English. Light was quite fluent, after all…
"Do you speak English?" Rynn asked the girl in Japanese. The girl said something in Japanese very quickly. "Er…sorry, can you say that again? Slower?"
The girl repeated her statement, but to no avail. Rynn couldn't catch on to what she was saying. "Never mind," She sighed. "Sorry. Thank you anyway."
Rynn huffed in annoyance as the girl walked away. Someone around here had to have conversational English skills, right? She surveyed the courtyard that she was standing in. Her eyes landed on a figure, crouched in a strange position on a bench, reading a book. It was the other freshman representative. She had seen him with Light earlier…what was his name? Hideki something or other. She perked up. Surely, since this guy was supposed to be as smart as Light, he'd be able to speak English too. And the bonus was that she found him to be rather attractive, so this would be a great excuse to speak to him.
She rushed over. "Excuse me…sorry, but, er, do you speak English?"
The young man looked up at her with big, gray eyes. "Yes," he said in perfect English. "Do you need help with something?"
Rynn was astounded. "Wow," she switched to English with relief, "Your English is…excellent. No accent or anything. Are you an exchange student too?" He did look very well like he could be one. He certainly didn't look a hundred percent Japanese.
"No," the boy replied. "I just moved here to Japan a couple years ago."
"Oh." Rynn contemplated this. "Oh yeah, I was meaning to ask, if you could tell me where the dining hall is? I'm still pretty terrible at Japanese, so I can't read any of the signs around here." She suddenly felt embarrassed as she realized what she was saying. Here she was, an American exchange student who recklessly came to Japan without learning the language well enough first, speaking to someone who was allegedly one of the smartest students here. I'm a dumb ass, she thought to herself.
"Of course." He pointed. "Just take a left at that corner, then walk for a bit and you'll see it on your right."
"Ah, thanks so much."
"Shouldn't you have been assigned a student to be your guide, if you're still learning Japanese?" He asked. What an excellent question.
"I was, actually. But apparently he's forgotten about me, since I can't find him anywhere. I think you know him, Light Yagami? The other freshman representative?"
The boy's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh yes. Light Yagami." He bit his thumb as he stared at her, rather unnervingly she thought. "He would make a good guide."
Rynn laughed with some bitterness. "He would, if he was here!" She sighed. "Sorry, I don't mean to vent my frustrations to you. It's just that I'm starving and that makes me rather cranky. I'm Rynn, by the way." She extended her hand for a handshake.
He eyed her outstretched hand for a bit, like it was something he wasn't particularly interested in touching. She gulped nervously, and was just about to pull back when he reached out and grasped her hand, shaking it.
"Ryuga. Ryuga Hideki." He pulled his hand back quickly, and tried to inconspicuously rub it on his pants. Rynn noticed this.
"I don't have a disease, you know," she laughed. Inside though, she felt rather offended.
"Oh no, I know that," said Ryuga. "Forgive me, I'm just unaccustomed to human contact."
Rynn's eyes widened. She looked embarrassed. "Oh…er, I'm sorry, I had no idea…"
"No need to apologize. It's quite alright."
"Uh…yeah, well," Rynn backed off awkwardly. "Thank you for the directions. I guess I'll be going then." She turned to go, then suddenly whirled around again. "Oh wait!"
She found herself face to face with the young man, who had somehow swiftly gotten to his feet when her back was turned. Startled for a moment, she regained her balance.
"Whoa, sorry…um…I just wanted to ask, do you know if the food in the dining hall will be out on display? Like…will I just be able to point at what I want and communicate through sign language to buy it?" She cursed to herself as the words came tumbling out. God, I look like an idiot. Go, Rynn, swim back to the US, you're a disgrace.
"That I don't know." Said Ryuga, biting his thumb as he studied her. "I usually eat my meals outside of campus."
"Oh. Well, erm…" Rynn thought for a second. "Can you tell me how to say 'cake' in Japanese?"
Ryuga's eyes suddenly lit up. "Cake?"
Rynn laughed. "Yeah, I know, not the healthiest thing for lunch, but I'm dying for some cake right now." Her eyes suddenly darkened. "They do have cake, don't they? God, they better!"
"I do hope so." He shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression settling back into an unreadable state. "As a matter of fact, I think I'll join you. I'm quite fond of cake as well, and I'm sure you could use a temporary replacement guide."
Rynn laughed, delighted by the idea. "They should just let you take over for Light. You're doing a much better job than him so far." She sobered then. "I really don't want to trouble you though…"
"Not at all. I insist." Ryuga turned to head towards the dining hall. "I do want that cake."
_____________________________________________________________________________
Rynn and Ryuga sat down at a table in the dining hall, their trays filled with food. Rynn dug in immediately.
"Yes! Food! I'm so happy now." She beamed at her plate. Looking up, she took a good look for the first time at what was on Ryuga's tray. Her mouth dropped open. "You…you eat more than me," she whispered, dumbfounded.
Ryuga spoke from around a mouthful of cake. "Yes, one would expect so."
"I wouldn't!" She cried. "I've never met someone who eats as much as me. My stomach is like a bottomless pit."
"Well," he licked some icing off of his fork, which he was holding very delicately between his thumb and index finger. "Now you've met your match."
She stared at him for a moment, then started laughing. "Want to have an eating contest?" She asked.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "I don't see the point, seeing as how I would be the winner."
She grinned. "You're cocky, eh?"
"No, just correct."
Rynn crossed her arms over her chest. "We'll see about that." She said. She observed his tray again. "No main course?"
"This is the main course." He gestured.
"What? You can't have a dessert as a main course!"
"You shouldn't be one to talk," he replied smoothly, nodding at her tray.
"Yes, well I got sushi too, see?" She pointed. "Sweet things aren't all that I eat."
"Well, they are for me."
She gawked at him. "You…you mean all you eat is…cake, and ice cream, and cookies and pastries and other gloriously delicious items?"
"And candy," he pointed out.
Rynn stared. "You're living the dream of a 5-year-old!" She cried. "And yet you're so skinny…how do you manage to retain such a nice figure when you're practically a human trash receptacle?"
"Again, you're not one to talk," said Ryuga as he wolfed down a doughnut. "You were just describing your fondness for junk food earlier."
Rynn laughed. "I've got fast metabolism and a big stomach, and a tendency to be hyperactive. What's your excuse?"
"I burn calories by using my brain." He explained.
"Huh?!"
He tapped his head. "You can burn off a lot of calories if you exercise your brain enough."
Rynn stared at him, then started giggling. "Are you saying that all fat people are stupid?"
"Not necessarily."
She giggled again. "I guess I better start working my brain and practicing my Japanese then. Do you suppose you could tutor me?"
Ryuga looked surprised. "I…well…" His voice took on a cautious tone. "I really can't make such a time commitment."
Rynn was disappointed at the rejection, but masked it with a joke. "Aw, I thought I hit the jackpot. A tutor and personal trainer in one. Being one of the brightest students here, I bet you could've gotten me down to a size zero by next week."
Ryuga looked her up and down. "Your figure is just fine, Rynn." He told her, very matter of fact. "You have no need to lose weight."
She flushed with pleasure. "Er, thanks."
They ate in silence for a few moments. Desperate get rid of the awkwardness she was feeling, Rynn spoke up. "Can I ask you something? Um…why is it that you sit like that?"
Ryuga looked at her very seriously. "I don't sit like this because I want to. If I sit any other way, my deductive reasoning skills immediately drop forty percent."
"Really?" Rynn eyed him oddly, wondering if this guy was for real. "Huh." She contemplated this for a moment, then drew her knees up to imitate him. Crouched on her toes, she rested her chin on her knees and sat like that for a few moments. Ryuga stared at her.
"Is it working yet?" She asked suddenly. "Am I burning calories?"
Ryuga didn't say anything for a moment. Then, "Are you mocking me?"
"Well if you're one of the smartest kids in school, then you're obviously doing something right!" She shifted her weight and winced. "Gee, you must have amazingly strong calves. Got any other tips for me?"
He studied her face curiously before answering. "I find that sweets help my mental capabilities."
Rynn clapped her hands in delight. "Yes! I knew it! I knew cake was good for something other than making me fat and amazingly happy!"
"Rynn, if you are fat, then I belong in a home for the mentally challenged."
She grinned, pleased. "Well, glad to see that you're so confident about your intelligence." She gulped down another spoonful of food. "So, what's your major?"
Ryuga paused very briefly before answering. "Undecided for the time being. And you?"
"Law enforcement." She answered.
"I see." He nibbled his thumb, studying her intently. "Interesting. You want to be in the police force when you graduate?"
"Not exactly…" She laughed. "More like, I want to be L when I grow up."
The boy stopped chewing his thumb. "I beg your pardon?" He asked.
"You know how little boys want to be Superman when they grow up, and little girls want to be princesses? Well I want to be L." She grinned. "I always thought it'd be a lot more glamorous."
He watched her wordlessly during her explanation. Finally, he took his thumb out of his mouth to speak. "You think it would be more glamorous to be a detective than a princess?" He asked.
"Not just any detective, the world's greatest detective," she corrected. "Though I admit I had a more romanticized idea of detective work back when I was five. Something along the lines of Sherlock Holmes."
"Ah yes, how the media influences us when we are children." He swallowed another spoonful of cake, then looked at her very carefully as he asked his next question. "So, I take it that you're not a Kira supporter then?"
The merriment disappeared from Rynn's face, and her eyes suddenly hardened. "Absolutely not." She said, staring down at her plate and deciding to attack the cake. A thought struck her, and she looked up. "Are you?" She asked.
He didn't answer for a moment, and Rynn started getting nervous. "I am not." He said finally. "I suppose you could say that I am apathetic."
"Ah." Rynn decided it was best to be cautious, lest someone got offended. "I hope I don't make you uncomfortable then, with my opinions…"
"Not at all," he responded, "I'm quite open-minded. I just prefer not to take a stance myself, that's all. But I'd be very interested in hearing your opinions. Perhaps you'll convert me."
Rynn nodded. "I respect other people's opinions. I understand that many Kira supporters are biased, because they were victims of criminals that Kira killed, or friends and family of such victims. However," her eyes narrowed, "I am biased as well. My friend was a victim of Kira."
"I'm sorry about your loss." Ryuga offered politely. "What did your friend do to incur Kira's wrath?"
"She was definitely not a criminal, if that's what you're thinking," Rynn said sharply. "She was merely against Kira. She was a journalist, so she spread her beliefs on the matter. And he killed her because of her opinions." Her fists instinctively clenched under the table. "I know I'm biased. I suppose, under different circumstances, maybe I could have been a Kira supporter…I don't know. But to think that Kira would kill innocent people just because of their opinions…and not even hesitating despite the fact that she was a woman…" Rynn took a few deep breaths, trying to control herself. "No, I could never support Kira."
"I certainly can understand why you feel that way," Ryuga agreed.
Regaining her calm, Rynn turned back to him with a grin. "And that is why L is my hero!"
Ryuga couldn't help a small smile. "Is that so?"
"Yes," she nodded enthusiastically. "I hope L finds Kira and throws him or her behind bars."
Ryuga's eyes widened slightly. "Him or her?" He asked quietly. "You think Kira could be female?"
She shrugged. "Don't underestimate women." She grinned at him slyly. He only stared back at her, a strange expression decorating his features. Her smile slowly faded. "You look like you're scared of me now," she tried joking, but it was half-heartedly.
"I just find your idea to be quite an intriguing one," he replied, biting his thumb again but not meeting her eye. She looked at him worriedly. It was as if his whole demeanor had just changed, and she couldn't understand why.
Suddenly, Ryuga's cell phone rang. "Excuse me," he said to her, pulling out the device and flipping it open. Rynn took in the peculiar way that he held it. She observed him curiously, and with some amusement. What a strange, strange man, She thought to herself.
"I see," he was saying into his phone. "Yes. Yes, alright. Very good." He hung up, then suddenly smiled at her brightly. All of the tension he had been holding previously was gone. "My apologies. Where were we?"
Rynn stared. Is he bipolar? She wondered. "Er…um…" She scrambled for an answer, but sighed. "I don't quite remember."
Ryuga started gulping down what remained on his tray at a speed that had even Rynn transfixed. "Well, I did enjoy our conversation," he said between mouthfuls. "However, I've got to get going." Finished, he stood up. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Rynn."
Rynn stared up at him, wide-eyed. Ryuga stared back down at her curiously. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
"That…was the most remarkable display of skill I've ever seen." She declared, still staring at him. "You're right. You win."
He stared at her a moment, not understanding, then smiled again. Quite a dashing smile, she found herself thinking. "You see?" He said to her. "I'm always right." He turned to leave. "Goodbye, Rynn."
She stared after him. A silly grin crept onto her face. "Bye…Ryuga."
