not the best, not the worst.
R&R! seriously. it encourages me to care about updating.
Hana sat down in the visitor chair by Soichiro's chair. "Hello, Yagami-san. How are you, today?" She inquired, flipping through the channels on the small television on the table.
"I'm getting stronger," Soichiro answered, leaning against his pillows.
"Yeah?" She asked. Kira was scrawled across the television as Sachiko entered the room, aged by the event.
"You shouldn't be watching this," she flicked the TV off and turned to the sheepish nurse and intrigued father. "With you in this condition…"
"I'm the head of the police." He argued. "It's my job to see this."
Sachiko sighed and turned the news back on. She stood, going to grab clean towels.
A man, probably a policeman, fell to the ground as he drew his gun. Shakily, Soichiro stood. "I have to stop this broadcast."
"Excuse me?" Hana blinked at him.
"Stay here." He ordered, stumbling towards the door.
"Like hell! If you're going to do anything interesting, you definitely need your nurse to help make sure you can drive."
Soichiro glanced towards her. "You're not going to stop me?"
"Like hell!" She snorted. "You're the Chief, after all. What do you expect me to do to stop you? Kill you with hospital food? You're the man in charge. I'm just here to make sure you don't die."
He suppressed a smirk. "Take me to the garages."
Hana grinned, shouldering his weight and helping him to the elevator. "Your wife is going to murder you… If you escape Kira, that is."
"She'll understand." He promised as Hana pressed the ground button.
"Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn." She quoted. "Or something along those lines."
He led her to a police bus, flashing a badge at the younger officer. "Why do you support this?"
"Hmm. I don't know." She answered. "I've got nothing to fear."
They zipped out of the parking garage, hitting the highway and flying down towards the studio.
"What do you mean?" The old man asked.
"I don't know… I guess I'm curious." She answered. "I can't tell you, because it's probably illegal."
Soichiro peered at her, pressing the pedal to the floor and weaving traffic over the bridge. "What do you mean by that?"
"I have amnesia," she said. "Not the normal kind, but the kind you usually see on the tele."
"What kind of amnesia is that?"
"I forgot all my memories about a year ago. Retrograde amnesia." She explained. "I don't even know who I am. So…I'm still trying to figure that out. My friend is a doctor of sorts… he went to America to study their ways of regaining lost memories. He's coming back tomorrow, actually. Thank God. My cat misses her toy."
"I'm sorry." He managed awkwardly, the tires squealing as he spun.
"It's not your fault," she snickered, clutching the bar above her head for dear life.
"Hold on," he warned, approaching a building.
"What are you doi—!" She screeched as he floored the gas, bursting through the recording studios locked doors. A scream was allowed to pass her lips as she squeezed her eyes closed and ducked her head.
He grabbed his jacket and tossed it over his head. "Stay in here." He ordered, opening the door and venturing into the dust and rubble.
"Like hell!" She scoffed, mimicking his precaution and chasing after him.
He flashed his badge at the security guard. "Where's Sakura TV?"
He pointed, seeming awestruck. "There's a sign over the door. They don't want to be dist—!"
Soichiro took off down the hallway, stumbling. He was still weak after the heart attack, and bed rest had made his bones lazy.
Hana pursued closely, feeling a pain in her chest. Hesitantly, she checked her watch. It was just past 6:30. Cursing, she dug through her pockets. Houshou was very clear that she had to take her meds at exactly 6:00 PM and 8:00 AM. To her dismay, no capsules met her searching fingertips.
"Shit," she hissed as the pain intensified, crowding her lungs.
Soichiro burst through one of the doors as Hana fell against a wall, gently clasping at her heart. Time lapsed into a single, strand.
For what felt like no time at all later, Soichiro reappeared in the hallway, carrying a small paper bag. He peered at her. "Are you alright?" He asked.
Hana stared at the ground by his feet, her head lolling. Without much more warning, she collapsed in a heap on the ground.
In less than five seconds, a phone was ringing. Quickly, he found it in Hana's jacket pocket and flipped it open. "…Hello?"
"What is the situation?" A deep voice demanded. At the lack of response, he continued. "What happened to Hana?"
"I don't know," Soichiro bent over and felt for a pulse. "She's not breathing."
"Did she take her medications? There should be eleven pills." He said.
"I don't know," Soichiro repeated. "She's just my nurse."
"Where are you right now?" The voice demanded.
"Sakura Recording Studio." Soichiro managed.
"God damn it," he growled on the other line. "That's that Kira place. I specifically told her to stay out of it."
Soichiro frowned but didn't answer. "You'll die if you come over here." He stated. "Stay away."
"And if I don't my only success will die." He challenged. "I don't care."
"I'll take her to the hospital. Stay away." Soichiro snapped the phone shut and lifted Hana's arm. "I have to get her out of here…"
Her eyes were wide and unseeing as he dragged her out to the police barricade.
"LET ME THROUGH." A voice screeched. "THAT'S MY DAUGHTER. HANA."
Soichiro's eyes widened. The voice was the one from the phone.
"I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SAVE HER. GET OUT OF MY WAY." He whined, trying to push past the barricade of shields. No gaps came through.
With a shove, a tall, black-haired man burst through the troops and sprinted towards them. He wielded a handful of pills and a water bottle. Carefully, he sent the capsules of drugs down her throat and caressed the water down her throat. "So careless," he whined, adjusting his glasses.
A minute passed, and nothing happened. Frustrated, the man drew his hand back and slapped her across the face. "Wake up, you disgusting female."
Hana screamed suddenly, gasping in air greedily and clawing at her throat. The man held her hands against her sides, as if he were accustomed to the procedure.
As she inhaled, tears streamed down her face. "They're mad at you," she whispered softly.
"I know," he grinned, his glasses flashing in the light. "I would be too, if I kept taking away their angel."
"Dipshit." She sat up, leaning against him for support. "I'm cold."
"Let's get you home." He urged. "Your immune system might start waking up if you're not careful."
She was limp as he lifted her from the ground and gently carried her to the barricade of men. It was surprisingly caring for how harsh he had previously been.
"They're with me." Soichiro called, his hand on the hood of a car. The doors were opened. "Get in."
"No way." He adjusted her weight, shifting to try and squeeze through the crowd control shields.
"You don't have a choice." He said. "It's come with me or be interrogated."
"Just cooperate, Houshou." Hana murmured. "Interrogations can last hours…"
"You're so stupid," he hissed, sliding her into the back and settling into the passenger seat.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, curling into the leather.
Soichiro sat in the driver's seat and started the car. "You said you were interested in the Kira case, Hana?"
"That's right." She burst into a coughing fit.
Houshou glared at her from the corner of his eye. "We've already spoken on this matter, and we agreed you would not interfere."
"But I can help." She whined. "I can see." She touched her eyes gently.
"Quiet." Houshou snapped his eye closed, crossing his arms. "I'd ask you to drop us off at the nearest place you can." He said. "I need—."
"That won't be possible. I have to report immediately to L." He said.
Hana's eyes lit up. "You work with L?"
Soichiro glanced up at her in the rearview mirror, recalling his phone call to L about the tapes. L had expressed his interest in her once Soichiro mentioned that he didn't know where she had disappeared to after she came with him. It was after that L decided to have Soichiro bring her into the hotel with him.
"You have no right to keep us here," Houshou growled. "It's an infringement on our human rights."
"She isn't protesting," Soichiro felt stress filling the pit of his stomach at the argument presented by the black-haired man.
Houshou turned his icy gaze to the moving road. "She doesn't have a choice."
"He's right," she protested. "I want to help, and you can't stop me."
Houshou clenched his fists.
"I could kill myself, Houshou." She stated. "I'm not afraid of death. You aren't either…as long as it isn't your own."
Houshou's tensed muscles were beginning to pale. "You wouldn't."
"Are you really willing to test that theory?" She demanded, sitting up weakly and leaning her head against the window. "Lose your only success? Lose your secrets?"
"…No." He hissed through clenched teeth.
"Thank you, Yagami-san." She returned her attention to the older police. "I'm sure a partial psychologist can't do much, but I can certainly try."
"L…We call him Ryuuzaki…said you're theories matched his own for the most part, which made you valuable to him."
"L…" She repeated to herself. "I suppose I'll finally get to see if my theories on you are correct."
Houshou scoffed quietly. "Disgusting."
Hana drew her arms around herself as they zipped down the highway. They approached Plaza Hotel, a looming golden hotel.
"Check!" She whispered. "Modest living in a way as to not catch attention." She stepped out of the car, leaving Houshou alone to wait.
Soichiro inclined his head to the security guard in greeting as they passed the threshold and headed towards the elevator.
"I'm a bit nervous, ya' know?" She twiddled her thumbs as they waited for the elevator to arrive.
"He's a bit…strange." He agreed. "But he's actually quite kind…in his own way."
She exhaled deeply. "I was surprised Houshou let me leave." She admitted. "Usually…" They stepped into the elevator and he pressed 12. She shook the thought from her head.
The elevator lurched as it began to rise. Hana stumbled and leaned against the wall. Her heart was still recovering, and the drugs only did so much.
"How did you come back with just those pills?" Soichiro asked, as if reading her mind. He pulled her arm over his shoulder and supported her.
"You know that obnoxious American show? Southpark?" She urged.
"No." He stared at the doors as they slid open.
"Oh… Well, there's a character named Kenny. He dies a lot, but is always alive the next episode. I'm kind of like that." She said.
"You die a lot?" They quietly made their way down the hall, limping in an awkward huddle of recovery.
"Yes and no." She answered. "Houshou doesn't want anyone to know about it…"
"About what?" Soichiro paused outside room 1230.
"Sine Anima." She answered. "He prefers Hominis Confractum, though."
"What does that mean?" He gently knocked on the door.
"Without soul, or broken human." She answered, tilting her head as he pushed through the door and entered the dim room.
"You brought the girl?" The eccentric man from the hospital stood and slumped towards them.
"Like you said. Hana-san, this is R—."
"Stupiiid," she slapped her forehead before dragging her hand down her face to stare at him. "Ryuuzaki-san."
"Do you mind if I call you Asami Hana?" L inquired, his hair somehow defying gravity with all the directions it stuck up.
"I don't see why I would," she answered. "An alias… for Kira, I presume?" She tilted her head. "But Asahi Hana isn't technically my real name, so either way I'm safe."
"What's your real name?" A black-haired, puppy-like man asked innocently.
She shrugged. "Hell if I know."
Ryuuzaki tilted his head and examined her, sticking the tip of his tongue on his lip. "Interesting."
"I have the tapes," Soichiro thrust the paper bag at him and hobbled the girl to settle on the couch.
"Aizawa-san, could you run these through forensics?" L handed the back off to a male with an Afro.
"S-sure," the well-dressed man disappeared.
"I'm Matsui," the puppy man introduced himself.
"Asahi," Soichiro said apologetically.
"What'er the chances?" She snickered.
"Ryuuzaki," L grunted.
"Watari," an older man in his early seventies rasped, holding a hat to his chest.
"Asami," she smiled at them all. "I would be more proper, but my heart is bad and I need rest."
"Would you be interested on working on the Kira case, Hana-chan?" L crouched on his chair across from her.
"I'm very interested," she agreed. "So, yes. I would be."
He accepted a plate of cake from Watari and shoveled it into his mouth. "I'm glad. I think you'd…"
"Make a valuable resource." She finished. "Ya—No—Asahi-san told me."
"I'll apologize, but his car was bugged." L said. "I was curious. What did you mean when you told that man you were his only success?"
Hana frowned before grinning. "We all have secrets, neh, Ryuuzaki?"
He narrowed his eyes before brightening. "I suppose so."
Hana shivered and inhaled deeply. "I really, really want to stay and chat but I do actually need to go home with Houshou. I…can't live without him."
L stood and extended his hand. "I'll send a car for you tomorrow."
She accepted the handshake, squeezing confidently. "I'm glad you found use in me, Ryuuzaki-san." She wasn't aware of his fingers slipping into her jacket pocket.
He waved her off cheerfully before returning to his monitor and activating the new bugs he had placed.
Hana listened to the door close before hesitantly heading for the elevator. "…Houshou is going to brutally murder me…" She whined, touching her stomach protectively as she pressed the 'down' button. "And then resurrect me so he can kill me again. If I were a shinigami…I'd hate him too."
