The world was a cruel and unforgiving place, one where the weak were forgotten and the strong thrived, a rotting place with rotten people. No one knew this better than L, having dove head first into the cesspool of violence and deceit from a young age nothing was shocking to him any longer. That was, at least, until unexplained deaths began happening all over the world. The killings were methodical and unforgiving, almost instant death to anyone who so much as jay walked. Whoever was behind this was getting bolder the longer this went on; at first it had been a few deaths here and there, as if the killer were testing the waters, then once L took the case the killings increased to almost astronomical levels. He had been in Japan barely a month and a half when things began taking a turn for the interesting.
"Did you learn anything from your field work, Ryuzaki?" asked Chief Soichiro Yagami of the NPA. "I know it's been a while since it happened, but you haven't revealed much about it."
L shrugged, the memory of it assaulting his mind rather aggressively despite his calm exterior. "Nothing that would be of particular interest, at least not yet." He flipped through that morning's paper, looking to see whom had been killed lately, the local and international news stations on low volume on the monitors in front of him. "The suspect did seem to have a great deal of pride, however, and enjoyed gaining the upper hand. Defeat and surrender are not words in its vocabulary."
Soichiro nodded. "That would go along with your theory about Kira, especially after he so boldly accepted your challenge, killing several people with the letter 'L' in their name. I must admit, during that broadcast I was not expecting that kind of escalation."
"Yes, I had hoped that things would remain stagnant," said L as he turned the page, scanning it for anything interesting. "I do not like the fact that many died because of my challenge to Kira but it can't be avoided now. Kira seems so keen on killing me and gaining my attention, I am afraid I am forced to deal with this matter personally."
"How do you intend to accomplish this?" asked Soichiro as he watched the news, notepad in hand in case he wanted or needed to write down something.
Again L shrugged. "Despite the fact we already have suspects in mind, we haven't learned about why Kira was motivated to kill or what he hopes to gain out of this or even how he kills. So far it just seems like he is determined to rid the world of anyone whom does not live up to his impossible standards for humanity. That leaves room for too many variables and victims." L paused in his reading, his eyes drawn to a picture in the celebrity news section of the paper. "I didn't realize your daughter was acquainted with the model Masumi Amane, Mr. Yagami."
Soichiro leaned over and saw the image that L was looking at. "Yes, Light's known him since she started high school, and they've also kept in touch since Amane graduated high school. I believe Light sometimes assists him with his schoolwork when he's too busy."
"I see," said L as his eyes burned the image of Light into his brain. "Is Amane interested in pursuing a relationship with Light?"
"I'm sure it has crossed his mind," replied Soichiro with a slight chuckle. "Not that Light would seriously go out with him, she calls him the dumbest man she's ever met and considers him nothing more than a friend. I believe my wife mentioned that Light would be hanging out with him today, actually. Why do you ask, Ryuzaki?"
"Inherent curiosity," replied L and he glanced at the clock. "Mr. Yagami, would you indulge me for something?"
Soichiro raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be, Ryuzaki?"
"A break to take a walk," said L as he stood up from his chair, stretching his legs a little to wake them back up. "I know that will stall progress, but I find that sometimes I am in need of fresh air to stimulate my mind."
"I understand completely," said Soichiro kindly. "Please, feel free to take your break, after all you are in charge here. The Task Force and I can keep things going while you're out."
L began walking towards the door of the hotel room, passing by the five other members of the Task Force he had assembled a couple of weeks prior while they went through a seemingly endless pile of documents. When he was outside of the room he pulled out his cell phone and pressed the first number on his speed dial. "Watari, bring the car around," said L as he walked towards the elevator. "And while you're at it, please attempt to locate Light Yagami."
When L arrived at the coffee shop, he was astounded by how noisy it was given that it was barely noon and most people would have already had their morning coffee by now. Still, that did not perturb him, he selected a table in the back of the shop and perched himself on a seat there keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of Light. Watari had tracked Light's train pass, finding that she had gotten on a train to take her to this district and after a quick search, he determined that this would be a good spot for her to come and if he was wrong he would at least have a high chance of spotting her walk past. The thought of seeing Light again made his heart beat wildly in his chest, he had meant what he said to her during his first week in Japan when he was investigating a potential suspect, he would come for her again. He just had not expected it to happen so soon or when he needed to be focusing solely on the case. Then again, he discovered not too long after meeting her that whenever he thought of her, his brain would cease to function properly and would instead dream up scenarios that either made him ache with need or ache with loneliness. For one brief and shining moment, he was able to forget everything else in his life and focus on just being with someone, someone who was even more of a mystery to him than even Kira. He longed for that interaction again.
The door to the coffee shop opened and L frowned deeply when he saw Amane pulling Light in, he had hoped when Soichiro said that Light was meeting Amane it would be with a group of people, not a date. He gripped his knees tighter.
He watched closely as Amane found a table and pulled out Light's chair for her, Light hardly seemed enthralled with the fact she was here with him but she was putting up a convincing act nonetheless. They spoke for a few moments then Amane went to the counter, probably to order, leaving Light alone. For a moment, he thought about going over there and speaking with her, but he kept himself rooted to his chair; it was very likely that she was still very angry at him for how he treated her at the party and if he approached her now, it could create a very ugly scene. Instead he willed himself to stay still and silent as he observed Light taking in the people of the shop, her eyes not even glancing in his direction once.
Amane showed back up at their table, drinks in hand and he sat down across from Light with his back to L. L stared intently at Light for any sign of interest in whatever Amane was saying and he could find none, it seemed that she was only smiling and looking happy to please her friend. After a few moments of talking, Amane reached across the table and put his hand on Light's but she quickly retracted it, looking for a second very uncomfortable. Light said something that could only be a kind rejection before Amane was reaching for her hand again. Then Light's expression changed to something far darker than L would have expected her to make, Amane must have said something that was very inappropriate.
Light seemed to be speaking harshly to Amane and L smirked despite himself, then he watched in silent glee as she stood up from the table and left the shop, Amane standing and calling back for her. L wanted to laugh at Amane's reaction but he knew it would be best not to draw attention to himself and besides, as soon as Light was gone several women in the place swarmed around Amane apparently trying to comfort him. 'It would be best to leave her alone for a while,' thought L when he considered running after Light, coming to the conclusion that she would definitely not be in the mood to see him.
Instead he sat there and watched as two of the women whom had offered to comfort Amane took up residence at his table, patting his hands and giving him words of encouragement or endearment L could not tell. Not that it mattered, it was entirely likely they just wanted to get a date with him for later.
"Are you going to order?" asked a voice from his left, he looked over to see a barista waiting impatiently, her arms crossed against her chest and tapping her foot.
"I suppose so," replied L. "A large cup of Earl Grey tea please, seventeen sugars and a touch of milk to go."
The barista looked at him as if he were crazy but she went back to the counter anyway, he knew she would make him what he ordered, there was nothing else she could do now that he had. L thought that now would be a good time to muse over the case, now that Light was gone for now. He went over the facts carefully in his mind: the first dozen deaths could be classified as experiments rather than outright kills, the ones that followed were definitely murders without the experiment angle. The number and time of deaths were consistent everyday, the only exception was during the day of the broadcast, when almost three dozen criminals and important figures were murdered because they had the letter 'L' either at the beginning of their first, middle, or last name. L was sure he had struck a nerve rather strongly when he implied that what Kira was doing was evil and he deserved whatever punishment he received.
As far as potential suspects, he had focused primarily on anyone having something to do with the law, as it seemed Kira was acting as judge, jury, and executioner. So far they had narrowed the list substantially and he was sure he had a strong lead but he could not be completely sure, after all they did not have everything about Kira at their disposal. Then there was the fact that he had met and slept with Chief Yagami's daughter while conducting his fieldwork, an unexpected complication. L smirked again as the barista set down his tea, recently every train of thought he had always circled back to Light. He took a sip of his tea and was unsurprised to find that it tasted as sweet as it should, then he set it back down. 'I wonder if there is a way I can handle both of my preoccupations simultaneously,' he mused as he pulled out some money and put it on the table then took his drink and left the shop.
The sidewalks felt just as crowded as the coffee shop and L wondered how people dealt with this kind of inconvenience every single day. He took a large sip of his tea as he tried not to run into anyone while he walked, his eyes on the look out for any sign of Light. It had been almost a half hour since she left the coffee shop and he figured it was probably a better time to see her than when she had left her disastrous date with Amane. Sighing a little he scanned the crowd again and spotted a familiar head of chestnut brown hair, he was sorely tempted to run over to where she was but stopped himself at the last minute, this situation would have to be handled with extreme tact if he did not want to end up slapped or worse.
Taking a deep breath he quickly determined her most likely route and followed it from his end, very pleased with himself when he was in fact right about it. The two of them stopped walking when they came face to face with each other.
"Hello Light," he said casually, glad that his hands were in occupied otherwise he would be fidgeting under her scrutinizing gaze. "It's nice to see you."
"Likewise," replied Light coldly. "Out for a walk?"
He shrugged. "You could say that, I guess. You seem to be doing well, if you're able to go on a date with a local celebrity."
L watched as her expression went from suspicious to guarded. "Were you stalking me?"
"No, I just happened to be in the coffee shop at the time," he said, trying to keep his voice calm and even. "I have to say he hardly seems your type, Light, his intelligence is probably less than half of yours. Why would you go out with someone like him?"
"Change of pace," said Light, moving a little opposite of his position. He could tell she is preparing to leave as fast as she could and he feels disappointed. "Anyway, I should be going, I'm expected at home."
He watched her carefully, his dark eyes locking with her amber ones. "It seems you have forgotten my promise, that I would come for you again."
Light's expression was a mask, he could tell, one that was designed to hide whatever emotions she was feeling at the moment. She could not, however, change how her eyes appeared and for that he was both grateful and sickened. The night they met, she had looked at him with immense interest and her eyes, a beautiful brown color with flecks of red and gold, had held so many unspoken words and promises he wanted to ask her right there to be his. Now, they held nothing but contempt and whatever promises he saw, they were not the sweet ones he had seen before, these seemed more like promises of retribution.
"I don't expect liars to keep their promises," she said, her words cutting like a knife and colder than ice. Light then began walking away, keeping her gaze focused on everything else except him or the area where he stood. "Goodbye, Ryuzaki."
He stood where he was and watched her walk away, he wanted to call out to her, shout that he had missed her, anything except stand there like a damned fool. L continued to watch even when she had rounded a corner and was out of his sight, only when he was sure he could move again did he reach into his pocket and pull out his phone.
"Watari, please bring the car," he said, his voice monotone as his mind worked to come up with a way of bringing Light into his dark world.