Strawberry Fields
Chapter 1: Taunt
L'sPOV
London, England
I was inside the hotel room.
Still, sitting in the same awkward position as always and eyeing at the sliced portion of the cake that was delivered this morning. I couldn't help but indulge myself with a piece. Taking my fork, I sliced a portion and raised my hand up high. I opened my watery mouth and let the cake slither through my throat.
"Mm… So sweet…" I smiled knowing that the treat was well deserved.
I've attained victory once more.
After solving a case that nearly cost Roger's life, I'm glad that my instinct didn't fail me.
Again sweet victory.
I eyed the box once more; I couldn't possibly be satisfied with just a small nibble.
"Another slice wont hurt…" I whispered.
I was too lazy to get out of the couch and so I tried my best and just reached out for the box. My pale right hand was slowly stretching towards the pink carton, my other, still gripping the steel fork.
Knock! Knock!
My eyes looked both ways but I still turned a deaf ear. I was too busy to answer the door.
Buzz! Knock! Buzz! Knock!
I sighed in defeat.
My torso plummeted downward. I guess I have to answer.
I let my left finger do all the work; luckily my laptop was also set at the table.
Click!
"…Haiiii?…." I greeted my visitor with a coarse voice.
"L-kun? Watari-desu…"
Without thinking twice and shifting my position, I pushed the open button and let Watari enter.
I heard the door open and close quickly. Soon after, footsteps paced inside my room and Watari's shadow enveloped me. My head was still in between my legs and so my eyes were the ones who made a movement, "…Welcome back…" I mumbled.
"Thank you. Hmm?" I sensed his tension; he was already gawking at me.
"…Nani?" I asked.
He sighed and removed his top hat, "Is there something wrong?"
I pointed towards the cake and without saying a word he did what I desired. Gosh, I'm so spoiled and lazy… But… It's not just that.
"Here…" He handed me the platter as I straightened up in the same comfortable position, I placed the fork in between the tip of my thumb and index finger and shot my eyes at him, "Arigatou-gozaimsu…"
He smiled and then took a seat near me, "I'm glad that you've become more relaxed."
I dug in effortlessly.
Mmm…. Delicious…
"…It's been almost a week…Mmm…" I swallowed, "… and I'm close to home… Why wouldn't I be?"
"Hmmm… You've got a point. There hasn't been any request since. I guess that's good."
I offered him a slice but he kindly declined, "…That's a good possibility…" I answered bluntly still concentrating on my strawberry cake.
He raised his brows, "Possibility?"
"Yes."
Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!
The alarm on Watari's laptop rang.
"It seems like we spoke too soon. Should we answer it?"
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I stood in my arched back and grabbed the whole box. I tucked it in my arms and went back to my seat before I signaled Watari to hook it up on the monitor and turn on my broken voice box. It was pretty safe for me to show myself since I put on my mask and the environment that they were viewing was entirely fake thanks to my design.
"Watari? Is L there?"
It was the head of the CIA.
"Yes. What can we do for you?"
"L?"
"…Yes…? How do you do?"
He seemed rather tense that he ignored my second question.
"That's a very good question but, are you sure that you are indeed L?"
"Hmmm? What do you mean" Watari was puzzled.
"There's a 100% possibility on that… but it all depends on whom I really am talking to… so, Mr. CIA chief, is that really you?" I shot back as I continued to nibble on my cake. "…Anyone could be everyone and everyone could be anyone, the possibility on who's who is actually improbable rather than impossible, don't you think?"
There was a moment of silence.
"I see… It really is you L. I had to be sure."
Watari's voice rose. "Are you telling us that L has an imposter?"
"We didn't believe it at first but, it would seem so. Here's a picture."
The monitor showed not only still photos of L lurking about in the CIA building but also in remote places in Europe.
Quite startling, but, not unsolvable.
I sat silently as they conversed too busy savoring my treat.
Watari interrupted their presentation "Are you sure it's not just some kind fraud? It's possible to manipulate these type of things."
The chief sighed deeply, "We've checked millions of times and even took that into conclusion but just the other day, he came in person to visit. I thought it was really you, but that was clearly impossible since you're still there in London. Rome is a long ways away. He even gave a message and wanted you to be fully aware of this. He also aims to exceed you by being the best of criminal masterminds."
"He's taunting L?"
A criminal? Interesting…
"…I accept…"
"What? L-san, I'm not sure that's quite a good idea. Facing him mano-e-mano might cause complications…"
"Watari… If there's someone who can beat L that's L himself. Don't you agree?" My eyes flickered towards the screen.
He sighed but did not nod in agreement, "Actually, we've already made considerations on who'll be taking this case."
I was about to swallow another nibble but by those words that he mouthed, I froze in shock.
"Someone other than L? Who could possibly take on such task?" Watari's voice rose in confusion. He didn't want me to get involved but he also didn't want to leave it to someone whom he thinks is much inferior than me.
"I honestly don't know what the right route would be. But maybe, a synopsis of our candidate would make things better?"
I slowly nibbled on the piece of cake that was forked; I tried to act more rationally. "…Yes…please…"
I then took 3 sugar cubes and dropped them one by one on my coffee and then took a sip.
What are the chances that someone's in the same hierarchy as I?
"Alright. Our candidate has also worked along side Rey Penbar and his fiancée. The case against the so called, "Jack the Ripper" of the 20th century, the jail-breaks at river side city prison, the case in Micronesia about the bio-weapon and many more. He's also responsible for the cases that occurred this past week. Although we haven't had any contact with him personally, we have a great amount of trust on this particular agent."
"No wonder we got no calls. Is this agent of yours for real? Your reasons for not informing us, would have to support your claims, correct?"
"Of course, what do you say L?"
I frowned and stopped eating, "…It hurts me…"
"Hmm?"
Both of them looked at me in wonder.
That's right, I was hurt.
"What hurt you?" the chief asked.
"…You believe that… the possibility of this person that you haven't even met in person to tame another L is higher than L himself?"
I drank the whole coffee up and turned the cup downward. I let out my tongue and waited for the last drop to rest on it.
"L… You're saying that our agent is… no good?"
I replied bluntly, "…I'm not the one who said it…"
"L…" Watari put on a concerned face. "We will be contacting you if we agree on these terms, we need a private conversation if you don't mind."
"Understood. We will stand by and be on watch."
Click!
"…Watari-"
Click! Bleep! Click!
The lights were flickering and the computer system was fluctuating, someone was hacking into our system.
"Hmm?" Watari checked the laptop, "I thought we just-"
Suddenly, everything went back to normal but I still let my eyes wander inside the room. Something was amiss.
What now?
"Sorry for the intrusion."
The monitor lighted up and pictured in the screen a 16th note in the same style that my signature L was fashioned. I had a feeling that it would be the fake L, but once he spoke, I knew it wasn't him.
"Who are-"
I interrupted, "…Yes? You are the agent correct?"
"My, my, aren't we a little irritated?"
His broken voice echoed through the walls, "…Am I?"
"Yes."
"…No matter what you say, I wont hand you over the case… L will face L alone…" I was about to hit the end transmission button but, "So, excuse u-"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
My head finally turned to the monitor while my finger stood stiff above the button, "…Why?"
Isn't he a little cocky?
"After I sent you that cake, you wouldn't even say thank you?"
"…Watari sent me this cake, didn't you Watari?"
Watari shook his head and the voice giggled, "See, I told you so. I also know that you already ate it all up."
My hands smacked the box at sides and I placed my head inside it, "…Lucky guess… It's likely that you've heard some rumors about me…"
"Is that so? Then how do I know you're real name?" I heard a slight chuckle, "Maybe for now you'd prefer Eraldo Coil or Deneuve"
"How did you?"
"I know a lot of things Watari-san. You of all people should know."
I said nothing. He knew of my aliases but my name? That's highly unlikely.
I threw the box and got out of my seat. I stood in front of the huge of monitor and placed my hands on my pockets, "…How?"
"Oh, I have my ways L. You know, we're not that different, you and I."
"…And? Why the sudden interest on my imposter case?"
I tried to test the agent, there's a 10% possibility that this could be the 2nd L. It all depended on the answer.
"That case is yours. I have no interest in it."
"What?!" Watari fidgeted.
"I'm more interested in the real L. The thing is, before you go over this little case of yours. I'm proposing a quest. Something that will interest the both of us."
"…I'm listening…"
"I know you're name but not of the real L. I wish to see with my own eyes if you are indeed real. I've spend my service in the shadows and I'm about to come out in public but not until I share the secret of your identity."
I grinned, "…You're gonna track me down?"
"Not only that, I wish to test your ability. I want proof that you're better than I am."
"…Hmm…" I'm very intrigued, why not? "What's in it for me, agent-san?"
Good question that I asked. Aside from my pride, what else could he bargain?
"Good question."
See?
"I'm proposing a trade, meaning your identity for my identity. No strings attached. I'll keep yours a secret and you can do whatever you want with mine."
I bit my lip in excitement, "…No taking back if I accept?"
"Yes, and in addition. I'll give you a lead on your imposter case once you find me. Sounds like a good deal don't you think?"
He's already halfway through the investigation. Clever man. He knows how much I hate these things.
"…Sounds interesting…"
"Although… there is a catch."
What ever happened to no strings attached? "…What is it?…"
"By the time we've reached the last destination, you need to show yourself in person, unarmed and unaccompanied just like myself. Will that be all right? There's no turning back. What do you say, L?"
Oh, if that's the case…
"L! Don't, it's not a very good idea. You'd be risking everything! If anything happens to you, what will happen to-"
"The orphanage will be left unharmed and uninvolved." The agent assured. "You have my word on that."
I grinned bigger this time, "… If that's the case then… I accept. No need to ask a second time."
I felt the person behind the voice smile widely, "Thank you. As of now, we've come upon an agreement."
"…Although…"
It was my turn to ask questions. This cant be one sided, I also have to re-assure my victory and freedom.
"Yes?"
"I need your pseudonym. It's clear that you're not giving up your real name any time soon."
He paused to edit, "Very well, as of the moment. Please call me E."
"…E… As in the enigma that I'm about to solve."
He shot back fast, "Try to solve is more like it. We shouldn't waste time and commence right away; your first clue will be the image you see on your screen, I also advice you to listen and look intently at my clue."
The musical note.
"Need more clues?"
"…No… Thank you…"
"I wish you the best. Till then, L."
Click!
I placed my thumb in between my lips.
My face etched a brimming smile.
"He's right."
He probably might be worth the time.
"What're you talking about L?"
"…I think overestimated myself…"
He sighed, "You know L, if you want to be the best, you have to compete with the best. Meaning, you must believe that, that is who you are."
"You think so Watari?"
"I know so."
"Thank you… But nevertheless, I still have something to prove."
"And why do you say so?"
"…It's just something I know… My imposter case can wait. Please don't contact the CIA yet. Right now, I need to know who this E is. Now, it's a race."
My eyes were still fixed upon the clue that he'd left me.
A note…
"…Come out, come out… wherever you are…"
I made my way towards the window and took a glimpse at the city heights.
I sighed and looked at Watari.
"L?"
I pursed my lips on my thumb harder, "…I think I need more cake…"
AN: Waaah, sorry if it's so choppy . I hope you guys like it!
