A/N: I don't know if any of you will notice, but I bumped up Larissa's age to 19. Just so you know.
So here's the next chapter. It's just a little of what happens before the broadcasts and how L & Larissa slowly come to 'trust' each other eventually…so enjoy!!!
I would really like to know what you all think! So review if you have time!
I awoke to nothingness the next morning. Very thin slivers of light came in through a window to my left. I lay on my back, starring at the ceiling. I didn't remember having any dreams, or night mares. Looking at the glowing clock in the dim light, I realized it was already almost noon. My father must be here by now.
Pulling the covers off of myself, I stood up, shivering in my flannel pants and tank top. I walked over to the window and pulled up the shades, letting in the sun light. The twenty third floor seems really high from this point.
I turn to the open suitcase at the foot of the bed and pull out a pair of jeans and sweater.
I didn't bother with a shower at that point and just pulled my hair back. The suite is insanely quiet for noon. Something seems different about it though. And then I realize there is a hum. The hum of a fridge running. Had that been there last night?
I opened the fridge and was greeted by food. Just food you'd find in a regular fridge. Had that been there last night? I hope so. It is really unsettling to think that someone had come in while I was asleep. Even if it was just Watari stocking the kitchen or something.
Boredom finally settled and I decided to see if I could help down in the main room. I'd almost forgotten to press the blue button on the intercom by the door. For some reason, I figured that if I 'forgot' maybe once or twice to do so, there would suddenly be cameras and microphones in my room so that they would still know when I came down, whether or not my father and I like it.
When I reached the main door, it opened easily. In it was the usual team minus one. Matsuda didn't seem to be there yet. No one looked up when I walked in but I walked over to my father, who was at the phones anyway. He was logging things into his laptop as he spoke with the caller.
When he pressed the button for the next call waiting, I took the laptop from him and nodded for him to speak it all out loud. I was faster at typing than he was anyway.
For about three hours we worked, him repeating things the caller reported and me scanning and typing. Finally, miraculously, a point came where there was no call waiting.
"Well," my father said, "It seems I didn't have a chance to say good morning when you first came in."
"Good morning," I replied cheerfully closing the laptop.
He chuckled, lowering his voice. "You slept well?"
I nodded, still smiling.
"No nightmares then?" he asked.
Startled, I looked at him with my head tilted. Sheepishly, he shrugged. "I would check in on you frequently and you always seemed cringing as you slept as though you were having a very unpleasant dream. And Sochiro said you had a nightmare when you dosed off down here last night."
I shrugged. "I don't remember having any dreams last night, so I had a pretty nice sleep."
"Guys!" Matsuda screamed as he stormed in through the door. "Turn up the news! Quick!"
Almost impulsively, I jerked up and look towards the TV. L had immediately grabbed the remote with his index finger and thumb, handing it to Mr. Yagami who turned the volume off of mute.
"Wait about ten more seconds," Matsuda prodded, "I got a tip from the Sakura TV station."
"Probably another girlfriend," my father whispered and I smiled.
Finally, there was a chime and the screen of the television blared red twice. The symbol of breaking news for the station. An anchorwoman appeared on the screen with a picture of pileup at an intersection above her head.
"This just in. There has been a nine car pile-up on the 7th Avenue and 3rd street intersection outside the Mantua Library. It happened when a power surge caused all the stoplights to go out. The drivers seem to have panicked causing this horrible accident. Miraculously, the only death, the driver of a rusted red tow truck appears to be escaped convict, Hiroki Naira. Could this be another Kira doing?"
The camera switched to the scene where police were dragging a man from a red tow truck.
Almost immediately, the two phones used for the Kira hotline began to ring. Great.
Looking at the monitors, I watched as one of the seven names on the bottom center monitor moved up to the top monitor.
"Look," I said, pointing it out to the others.
"He could have hurt innocent civilians!" Aizawa muttered incredulously.
"We know that. He knows that. What is he doing?" L muttered, pulling his thumb to his lips as he climbed onto a chair, looking back and forth between the television and the monitors.
I looked at my father who was still paying attention to the news. He looked unusually troubled. I picked up the phone as it began to ring. Numbly, I watched my dad reach for the laptop, still distracted. This time around, I relayed things to my dad who would glance at me each time I paused to look at him, still concerned. About five hours later, the mad ringing of tips finally slowed down to about two rings every five minutes and conversations that only lasted about a half minute.
It was amazing how much madness Kira could create for us by poking a stick through the heart of a single criminal.
---
A meeting was called that night by Mr. Yagami. Everyone dropped what they were doing. The phone lines were temporarily disconnected and all the laptops were closed.
The eight men all gathered around the large table in the center of the room. Some sat in the four chairs, while others pulled up chairs or just stood. I leaned against the desk closest to the table.
"Now that we've run out of options and hit all these dead ends, still without Kira suspects, we need to be careful about what our next move is going to be," Mr. Yagami began, looking around at the tired team gathered at the table.
"What are we going to do with these broadcasts that Ryuuzaki has mentioned, involving Larissa?" Matsuda asked, breaking in.
No one seemed to be annoyed enough to smack him over the head. Everyone just nodded in agreement. Mr. Yagami looked at L. "That was all Ryuuzaki's idea."
L looked up as though he'd been torn from his thoughts. "Well, I've arranged with a news station that broadcasts all over Japan to give us ten minutes or so in the evening to give daily reports. They refused at first, but when they were told it will be L doing the reports, they immediately agreed. I think it will add to the public's surprise when they discover that L, well, Larissa, is a girl, which is what we want. We want them to like Larissa. That way, Kira will become mad, trying to hunt her down. Hopefully, it will lead him right to us. Here."
"I suppose," Mr. Yagami began, "That we should start preparing for these reports then."
"But won't they be shocked by her age?" Matsuda asked.
L looked at him, seeming amused. "Do you know how old I am?"
The entire group seemed surprised. I don't understand why though. From the time I'd seen him I'd figured he was too young to be on the task force- even before he introduced himself as L to me.
"At the moment, I am actually around the age twenty three. And you must admit, I look quite a bit younger. I could be nineteen, just like Larissa. It will be believable. And if they don't like it, we will just pull Larissa from the air. They'll ask for her to come back," L said, pushing his computer chair over to the table full of sweets.
"When will the broadcasts start?" I ask after a moment of silence.
"Hmm, Thursday. The day after tomorrow. It would be in a few weeks instead, but it seems that pulling your records has been easier then I previously thought. The US government has cooperated unusually well. Especially when I mentioned your name. They are proud to have any record of a teenager beating their CIA, FBI, and any basic detective's standards, erased," he muttered, before popping what looked like an éclair into his mouth.
"Ryuuzaki," Mr. Yagami began, standing up. "I have gone along with this plan from the start and I haven't complained. I'm not complaining now either. I just want you to tell the truth. Is there any chance of Kira finding out Larissa's real name."
L chewed some more, looking Mr. Yagami dead in the eye. " There is a slight chance. But there is no way possible that he can find out Larissa's real name without exposing himself now. That's why we are doing this. We are baiting him. But now, we've erased all evidence of who Larissa really is, except for the birth certificate that is locked up in that safe, right there," he said, nodding to the vault in the far side of the wall. "However, there is always one opening where he can actually get to Larissa," L continued. "I think it would be best if Larissa went to the actual studio to do the broadcast. Pre-taping the broadcast can leave all kind of paper trails. The broadcasts need to be live. She will be driven to the station three minutes before the broadcast, and leave immediately after. We'll have people guard her and several cars in the escort that split up in different directions so we can't be followed back to headquarters."
Everyone seemed quiet.
To me it makes sense. But it still seems that L is still making this all much more complicated than it should be.
"I don't like this," my dad muttered, speaking to Mr. Yagami.
Mr. Yagami looked at my dad sympathetically. "No one is forcing you or Larissa to go through with this."
"I know," my dad said, looking at me from the corner of his eye.
"I've never heard you speak so much since this investigation started Mr. Mogi," L commented, still at the sweets table. My dad only turned to glare at his back.
"Dad, I know what I'm doing," I say, forcing him to turn back and look at me. "I know it's dangerous, and I know that Kira will try and kill me. But I want to go through with it. I. Want. To. I'm not doing this blindly for the thrill of it. I'm doing it to help the investigation. Remember?"
"Brownie anyone?" L called, holding up a platter. No one responded.
---
The next morning, I walk into the main room to see the team hard at work again. Feeling guilty, I had tried to come in at seven in the morning like the others did.
L spun his computer chair around when I walked through the door. "Wonderful, you're up early. We should get to work on your report for tomorrow."
I walk over to the wall of monitors where it is usually just L and Mr. Yagami. L points to a chair only three steps away and I sit in it, rolling it to the left slightly to see where he is pointing at on his laptop.
"I've come up with a basic rubric of what your report should include each time," he explained, pointing to a word document. "Basically just the death counts, and then dividing it up into who was innocent and who was a criminal. There are some backgrounds of the victims as well. Include maybe two or three of the criminals' but only one of the innocent civilian's. Basically we want the public to see not only what 'good' Kira may be causing, but also the negatives. I've already entered the count for the deaths today, but considering Kira… it will have to be updated."
"Okay," I said, analyzing everything.
"Also," L continued, "Since tonight is the first report, you'll have to introduce yourself. Now, as you know, you're introducing yourself as me. I've also typed up an introduction. Tweak it if you want, and add the bios to your report." He pushed the laptop over to me and turned back to the monitors.
I scooted to my right a bit, to where I wasn't in their way or blocking any monitors and began working.
So far, there were only three innocent deaths within the past two weeks, which is a good thing… I suppose. I continue to add information on the ones who died, and detailed information on the few I chose to add bios to. I focused mainly on the innocent one's story. I tried to make it seem as sad as possible.
Then, I turned to the introduction.
'Hello. I am Victoria Lin Andrews. Known to many of you as L. I'm here to bring you nightly updates on progress of both the killer known as Kira and the task force I am currently leading. I am here to prove to you both that I am real, that this is serious, and that Kira is not only polishing off the scum of the Earth, but the unlucky innocent by standing civilians.'
"Why is my name different?" I ask looking up at L.
"Your father insisted. And I have to agree that it adds extra padding to your identity. Kira will truly be driven mad trying to figure out your real name," L explained, not looking away from the monitor in front of him.
I spend the rest of the day updating the numbers as needed. I even changed the profile of the innocent death when a new one was added.
That night, I went up to my quarters early. I was alone as was per usual. However, I couldn't sleep. I needed to despite how early it was. Unable to really think at all, I lay on the bed in the bedroom fully clothed, busy thoughts filling my head.
Sure, I was a pretty good actress and was the main focus with my school news. However, doing the school news, I couldn't be killed.
Kira will try and kill me.
Someone knocked on my door. Confused, I walk over to it and open it a bit. L stood outside with his hands in his pockets.
"Can I help you, L?" I asked, opening the door wider.
He shook his head, "I noticed you were troubled when you left the room."
"I'm just tired is all," I say, glancing over my shoulder at the clock.
"Yes, it's only five in the afternoon," he said, confirming my glance at the clock. I grimaced. He was rather persistent. "Something is obviously troubling you and I have no intentions of leaving you alone until I find out exactly what that is, you know."
I looked at the camera across the hall and think of my father for a moment. L followed my glance and made a small sigh.
"I see. Would you like to accompany me out for an early supper then?" he asks.
I look back at him surprised. "Aren't you the one who said I'm supposed to be kept here at all times and not seen out in public?"
"Yes," L said. "That is true. But it is also true that I am running this operation and control who leaves and enters this premises. Also, it is in my best interest that you are in a healthy state of mind during your broadcast tomorrow. And I feel that I can not securely evaluate that while you are under the stress of being in the same building as headquarters."
"So, what you're saying is-
"You don't have a choice," he finished, nodding.
I look at him as he analyzes my face. Is he playing some kind of weird game? I can't help but wonder if this is some trick or whatever.
"Just let me grab my coat then," I say, leaving the door open as I turn and pick up my jacket from the hook my the door. "Sunglasses may be a good idea as well. It's bright outside," L adds.
The elevator ride down is long and it seems that L is not in much of a mood for conversation- that is until we step onto the sidewalk outside of the parking garage. He'd said something about a café only a block or two away.
"By the way, I would prefer that you not refer to me as L outside the headquarters and around strangers. Ryuuzaki would do much better."
I nod.
"So are you going to tell me what's wrong, or am I going to have to strap you down to a polygraph and inject truth serum?" he says, sounding casual.
"Are you trying to joke?" I ask him, a small grin on my face.
His response is dry but serious. "I rather dislike jokes."
My grin immediately disappears. There is a minute of silence and I know he is waiting for me to answer his question.
"Well, I'm not saying I want to back out or anything. But this whole thing… it can- no, it will make Kira want to kill me. I have never had someone out to kill me. I haven't even had someone dislike me that I can think of, at least not to my face. Not even when I reported on the school news that Mr. Buchanan had supposedly fried up a few of the frogs used for biology and eaten them for lunch one day. He just laughed it off and said I do a good job keeping the school news interesting. I guess I'm just now realizing that I will have an actual lethal threat after me."
"So you're scared then?" he asked. "This is it," he added, nodding to a door on the right. I follow him in and we sit in a back booth, waiting for the waiter to come for us.
"I'm not actually afraid or anything. I just feel numb. Like I should be afraid for my life. But I'm not and it's just awakening me on all sorts of levels. I feel jittery all the time and restless and…," I try to explain.
L looked up when the waiter came over.
"And what will you two be having this evening?" he asked.
"I'll have some chai tea and a slice of strawberry marble cake please," L said. Before he wrote down his order, the waiter examined L's sitting position skeptically.
"And you miss?"
"Just a cup of coffee please," I say, pushing the menu in front of me to the side.
The waiter walked away. "Coffee won't help you're being jittery," L advised patronizingly.
I waited for L to say something more. When he didn't, I decided I would add to my thoughts. "I guess it's also a little weird for me to pretend to be someone else. Least of all, Kira's biggest enemy."
"But isn't that what acting is?" L said, leaning forward a bit. "I know you starred in a few school performances. You're top of your class. Ranked fourth in all of Japan. A reasonable profile for the great L. You can pull it off. What do you have to be worried about?"
"What if Kira goes after my mom?" I ask, revealing the few nightmarish thoughts I'd had in just the past two days. "What if he knows me? I know you suspect Light Yagami! I know Light Yagami! And if he is Kira, he knows all my family very well!"
"That's simple," L said calmly, lowering his voice, indicating I should lower mine. "Kira can not hold your mother at a ransom for you if he can not find or contact you in any way, shape or form; which he can't do without exposing himself and admitting that he is Kira."
Or killing in the open.
I sit back and look at the steaming mug the waiter had just set in front of me.
"You make it all seem so simple. It makes me feel so dumb," I say, wrapping my hands around the plastic cup.
"No, I'm just completely selfish and oblivious to other people's emotions, which makes me completely confident in my actions," he said simply, taking a bite out of his cake.
"That's not true," I said after sipping my coffee for a few seconds.
"Hmm? How so?" he asked, pausing to look at me with a bite ready on his fork. I barely notice the way he is gripping the fork; delicately with his thumb and index finger once again.
"You noticed I was a bit out of it and tried to calm me down before the broadcast tomorrow. That's not selfish or oblivious to other people's emotions in any way," I reminded him.
"But if you look at it my way," he said, lowering his fork, "It's completely selfish. I'm trying to find out why you're distraught, because you need to be completely sane for the broadcast. It's in my best interest that broadcast goes well tomorrow, or this will not work."
Tilting my head to the side, I try to figure out a way to prove the infamous L wrong.
"Either way," I say, "You are aware of my 'distress' as you put it and take time to correct it. Being selfish would be telling me or someone else to correct it before the broadcast tomorrow."
"It's all depends on how you look at it," he said.
"Hmm," is all I say, picking up the drink again.
Like a gentleman, L covers the bill and tip, then we walk back outside the shop. "Is there anywhere else you would like to go Miss Mogi?" he asks, looking around.
"Umm, not today," I say, not wanting to waste his time.
"Miss Mogi, I would take advantage of the free time you have out now if I were you. Rest assured that in the next few weeks, you won't be able to leave except for the daily trips to the studio and maybe a rare trip like this."
"Well…" I begin, "In that case I guess I would just like to walk around for a while."
So we spend the next two hours aimlessly walking the streets. We blend well, even me with my American features. Another thing that L later points out, will better my chance at being believed as L. There were many speculations that L was a foreign detective.
Finally, darkness begins to set into the sky, L informs me that we should head back. We go our separate ways when we reach the elevator. Of course, L goes into the main room. I however, go to my room. It was just as I left it. Still unpacked and empty. Nothing like the home I am going to miss dearly.