Strawberry Cake for Two

(R.A. walks into the white, empty room. "Whoa, someone needs to redecorate this place." Stares at readers. "Umm… How about you watch me do some magic to this abysmal hole? Here's a good place to start. How about a Death Note fan fiction?" Words magically appear. "There, that adds some life to the place. Enjoy…")

"Why are you dressed like that?" He was a boy, no more than five, his shoulders slouched, his black hair a mess. He stood out on the grass in front of the church like building, oblivious to all but the girl in front of him. Maybe two years older, her sand colored hair was pinned up and she flashed a blue kimono. They're the only children in sight.

"My mommy dresses me like this!" She snapped and folded her arms, indignantly.

"But you don't have a mommy." He replied, a perplexed look on his face.

"Neither do you." The girl barked in defense. They were both silent.

"What's your name?" The boy asked, suddenly, peering at her with wide, dark eyes.

"Why? You gonna' tell Grandpa that I snuck outside without his permission?"

"No. I was just gonna' ask if you want to share my cake." He smiled a lilting grin. "They call me, L."

The girl blinked, uncertainly, and then grinned widely at him. "They call me Sabishi. But you can call me Sabi. Let's be friends, L." She took his hand, a confident expression on her face.

The boy blinked, uncomprehending, and then laughed. "Okay! So you'll share my cake?"

"Only if it's strawberry..."

Eighteen Years Later

(L's POV)

"Bang."

That was the word I said after the Japanese Task Force members all rattled their names to me. Now, they were all preparing to leave, satisfied that they'd finally seen my face.

"Thank you, Ryuzaki. For assisting us on the Kira case." Yagami bowed before me.

"On the contrary Chief Yagami. By accepting this case, I am taking full control of your task force. Thank you for assisting me." I tucked my legs up to my chest and took another sip of coffee. I could actually taste the particles of sugar swirling around in my mouth. Diabetes in a cup. My favorite.

Watari gave the officers their cell phones and bid them farewell. They all turned to say goodbye to me once more before leaving.

"Wait one moment, please." I stopped them, a thought suddenly coming to my head.

"What is it, Ryuzaki?" Matsuda asked.

"There is one more condition that comes with working with me on this case." My voice was distorted by the walls of the coffee cup. The men nodded, uncertainly. "You will not be the only ones helping me in this case. Watari, along with a few others may be called for assistance. I would appreciate if you do not question or interfere with their work. Particularly anybody carrying a briefcase."

"A briefcase?" Aizawa asked, shocked. Did I have to repeat myself a million times for these people to understand me?

"Yes. In fact, don't attempt to make any direct contact with anyone like that as long as you remain with me."

"Ryuzaki, you have another visitor." Watari suddenly interrupted from the door.

I sighed. Already? I thought I'd told her to come after the task force members left. It didn't surprise me that she was so willing to disobey my orders. She had always been curious.

"Open the door, Watari." I ordered.

Watari unlatched the door and in strolled a figure dressed completely in a black trenchcoat lugging a dark briefcase.

"Everyone, this is Sabishi. If you ever see Sabishi anywhere, please avoid confrontation at all costs. Now if you'll excuse us..." I dismissed them all from the room.

Matsuda stared at cloaked figure before heading out the door. She waved and blew him a kiss. They all left, until it was just me, Watari, and Sabishi.

"That one was cute, L. What's his name?" She pulled down her hood and stripped off her trenchcoat. "Hey, Grandpa." She kissed Watari's thick mustache and perched herself across from me.

"Sabi, I thought I told you to call me Ryuzaki. And to refrain from calling Watari your grandpa. I also thought we discussed that you weren't to wear that trenchcoat everywhere. It's not exactly what I'd call discreet." I lectured, softly as I eyed the briefcase at her side with genuine interest.

"I know but... this trenchcoat gives me an air of mystery. And I look like a terrorist!" She squeed as she combed through her thick blonde hair and straightened the wrinkles out of her lowcut, longsleeved, vampiric black shirt. I wondered passively if she always made a conscious effort to be so stunningly beautiful every time she visited me.

"This case is dangerous, Sabi. If you're going to help me, you need to follow my exact orders. Or else you could go back to Whammy's and humour Mello for a while." I knew that was cruel, but it was all truth. The Kira case was easily the most dangerous case I'd ever accepted. This case was no joke.

She shrugged. "Whatever."

"Did you bring what I asked for?" I prompted, still eyeing the briefcase.

"Of course! I always come through for you, don't I?" She slammed the briefcase onto the table. "Granted, I imported most of it from other countries and it cost more money than I was aware, I was able to make sacrifices. Especially since I decided all of this was essential to your survival in the Kira case."

I unlatched the briefcase and opened it. My eyes scanned the treasures with intense ferocity. It was truly perfect.

"Did you bring..." I started, but she was already pulling a plastic box from her trenchcoat and resting it in front of me. I took the box gently in both hands, afraid of destroying the contents, and grinned when I saw what I'd asked for.

"Strawberry cake!" We both said in unison.

I flipped the lid of the briefcase open all the way, to reveal a wide array of gourmet treats that were all preserved in packaging. Enough sugar to last me a decade, or at least two days. She'd really gone to the outer rim for me this time.

I opened the plastic box and took out the cake. I could already taste that sweetness going down my throat. I rested it on a plate that I already had picked for this occasion, and cut it in half. Alright, I'll admit that I gave myself a little more than Sabi, but I couldn't resist. Then I looked into the bag, sure of what I was going to find. Two forks...

"Strawberry cake for two." Sabi laughed her whole hearted laughter and posed on the couch before taking her share of cake.

We ate in silence for a moment, both savoring the wonderful flavors. Then I looked across at her.

"Kira can determine the time of death." I stated.

"Tell me something I don't know." She'd been the one to suggest this in the first place. Of course, I'd been thinking it. But she tended to be the first to voice our opinions.

"So, what can I do to help?" She asked, an excited gleam in her eyes.

"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to stand on the sidelines for most of this investigation, Sabi. Kira is a dangerous murderer, and if you use any of your usual antics, he will kill you. I don't want to take that chance." I knew she wouldn't take well to the decision, but nonetheless...

"I see..." Her expression showed her dissapointment. "What will it take to get you to let me do at least something small during this case?" She asked, hopefully.

I looked down at my last forkful of strawberry goodness.

"It might take another piece of strawberry cake..."

(Rhamiel smiles at the work that's been done. "Great! People are gonna love this! You love it, don't you?" Asks readers. "Well if you do, review it! Duh! Then I can know what to do with the rest of this empty building!" Winks and jumps through open window. "Ouch... No one told me it was a two story...")