Disclaimer: Is it really necessary for me to say that I don't own Death Note? 'Cause everyone knows who owns it, right? However, I do own some original characters: Ayame and Alan M.
Just to let you guys know... I'm still alive XD Thanks to my Betareader, Meepers, for being my betareader still after all these years! :D
Chapter 6
Mind Over Matter
It took Ryuzaki exactly 72 minutes to explain to Light everything that happened from the time they were both separated. He told Light especially about Kirio Morita, who was at the movies with his boyfriend, in full detail disregarding Light's discomfort while he told him about the intimate things both the young men were doing. Obviously, Kirio Morita has the lowest probability of being Kira. Kirio looked too happy and carefree to even have the idea of punishing criminals and changing the entire world as a main priority. However, the intriguing life of Kirio is merely a diversion to keep his thoughts away from the dark haired Ayame.
Today, he learned that women were complicated beings. They could be clingy, detached, overly emotional, manipulative, undecided, sweet, violent, smart and stupid at times. He had not been around females for most of his life. The only women he ever got involved with are the female detectives or cops who have done as he assigned them to do along with rest of the police force. All of them have never seen his face. Misa and Ayame were the first two females he got to interact with personally.
Both were equally interesting and beautiful and polar opposites in terms of personality. It was a bad decision to go on a date with them, he realized. As Light claimed to have suffered migraines after the date, he was apparently NOT relaxed. Misa and Ayame were potential distractions. If they were to interact with the women further, investigating the suspects would be an arduous endeavor. He purposely provoked Ayame's disgust and temper towards him to drive her away to the point that even Misa's rewards and threats couldn't force her to date him ever again. The task was remarkably easy, given that Ayame had quite a short fuse. Acting out of character, like giving out a lot of compliments to Ayame in particular and trying to make her think like he was a pervert(which he may be at times, he had to admit), was easier to do than he had thought since it was strangely entertaining to see a woman so agitated with a few harmless words.
Ryuzaki learned a lot more other things about women that day. Now he knew that women were stronger yet more fragile than they appear. Needless to say, he found out that holding a woman felt inexplicably good and that some part inside him actually didn't want to let Ayame go. He felt the oddest sensations overwhelm him. Everything else about women and what they can do to a man still remain a big mystery to solve. It was a curious case indeed.
However, there was a more serious case he needed to overcome first. Finding Kira is top priority. Getting to the bottom of the mysteries behind a woman's mind will have to wait.
Ryuzaki looked at Light from the corners of his eyes. Even with the limited illumination that their computers provided, he saw Light's weary face. The other investigators were retired for the night and even when Ryuzaki told Light that he might as well retire for the night too, Light was determined to finish what work he has set for himself that night. Ryuzaki let the younger man do as he pleased and fixed his eyes on his computer once again. The room that they were currently occupying within this new building that was solely built as headquarters for the Task Force became as quiet as a graveyard.
Kira has not made a move since L challenged him by means of a national broadcast. For three months, they have been searching and following suspects to no avail. The force was still investigating on the deaths of presumed victims of Kira's power. The first batch of victims' which were killed around the same week weren't the innocent types either. Many of them were in fact, suspected to be professional assassins that have been sought out by the police for years. Some of them were politicians or people who were closely involved with them.
Currently, the task force was on a state of hiatus. Kira has stopped killing altogether since he challenged him via live broadcast, eliminating further leads. L swore Kira's deeds won't go unpunished. Kira's a criminal killing other criminals. This shows how deranged this person's, no, monster's sense of justice is. L had a hunch that it won't take that long before Kira goes drunk with his own power and start killing innocents as well.
L began to bite the tip of his thumb. All that was left to do was to continue investigating the suspects… and wait for Kira to somehow reveal himself.
Ayame woke up to the sound of rock music that was Misa's ring tone. With a grunt, Ayame sat up on the couch and rubbed her eyes. Unable to bear the persistent loud ringing of Misa's cell phone, Ayame threw all the pillows aside. She picked up the pink, over-decorated phone and held it eye-level. She wondered how the phone got on the sofa. The phone stopped ringing before she could answer it. One missed call from Misa's manager. She placed the phone on the table.
Ayame went to the bathroom to wash her face over the sink. As she wiped her face clean, all the things that happened yesterday flooded her mind. Her blind date, Ryuzaki, dominated her thoughts. As the vivid recollection of their last encounter infiltrated her mind, Ayame gasped at her own reflection.
She braced herself instinctively. No man had ever been that physically close to her before. She had difficulty sleeping last night, because of it. She didn't even need that coffee she badly wanted the previous night.
Ayame calmed herself down with deep breaths. A tranquil mentality allows for more reasonable and considerable viewpoints, she thought. Once calm, she told her reflection, "You're overreacting, Ayame! Don't let stuff like this get to you."
Just then, Misa's head popped out from the edges of the bathroom door. She was smiling. "Hey, Ayame! Good morning!"
Ayame stared at Misa for a few seconds, scowled then washed her face again. Even when it was Misa who actually got drunk last night, Ayame ironically felt like she was the one suffering from a hangover.
"Aww, come on, smile! It's a beautiful day, don't you think?" Misa attempted to convince Ayame with a wider smile that showed all her teeth.
Ayame ignored Misa, picked up her still wet sneakers which she placed right under the bathroom sink and left the bathroom while Misa trailed in her wake.
As she sat on the couch, Ayame put her sneakers on. Misa jumped on the couch right beside her and without further ado started her lengthy speech about her date with Light. Ayame took time tying her shoelaces without listening.
"How was your date with Ryuzaki, Ayame?" the sound of his name had Ayame on the alert. She kept to her nonchalant face as if that name hadn't really gotten to her so she didn't reply.
Misa pouted. "Ayame, how long do you plan to ignore me? It's not nice, you know!" Ayame noted the twitch on Misa's cheek. She is apparently on the brink of losing her patience.
"Look, Misa, you made me date the creepiest guy on earth. What do you expect?"
"Given that our plan had been a success, I plan to have you help me again in my following dates with Light. That means you will be dating Mister Creepy again. It's a fantastic plan!"
Ayame shook her head. "You're out of your mind."
"I'll pay you, if that's what you want!" Misa said, crossing her arms. If she was trying to be intimidating, then she has failed.
She wouldn't date him even if Misa offered her millions. "I'm not interested. Find someone else."
"B-but… that would take more time! I need you for my date with Light tomorrow!"
Ayame scoffed. How often does Misa have to date Yagami in order to make her satisfied? Given Misa's obsession with the guy, Misa might as well have chained him to her. "Does Yagami know about that date?"
"Not yet! I want to surprise him!"
Predictable really, Ayame thought.
"Well!" Ayame smirked as she got to her feet. "Best to start looking as soon as possible for that perfect girl for Ryuzaki then." She smirked besides herself, thinking that a girl would have to be insane to want Ryuzaki.
"You can't just leave me like that! I will…I will sue you!"
"Oh please." Ayame said sarcastically. As soon as she closed her bag, she went straight for the door. Misa beat her to it and leaned against it, barring Ayame on her way out.
"I won't let you!" The blonde girl said indignantly.
Ayame took a deep breath. She wanted to hit Misa so badly and she felt worse for not having the luxury to do as she pleased. "Get out of the way…" She said firmly. "...or else!"
Misa seemed to have gotten the cue and put a hand up. "Y-You're not going to hit me, are you?"
"I won't if you would just move out of the way." She may be very angry at the moment, but she was no criminal. She was only trying to scare the blonde away, so that she would be left alone.
"I know!" Misa's eyes suddenly brightened. " Let's have another deal!"
Ayame scoffed. "Spare me, Misa. The very first and, I hope, last deal you made with me turned out to be an unbearable experience. Furthermore, I was also poorly compensated." Those desserts she ate yesterday made her stomach churn uncomfortably last night after the disturbing stunt she and Ryuzaki did.
"It's not all that bad! You're exaggerating!" Misa argued, not moving away from her place in front of the door.
Ayame closed her eyes tight. Just a few seconds and her fury subsided but only slightly. Before she could start screaming, Ayame's mobile phone rang. Ayame took her phone out of her bag and answered her land lady who was on the other line. The land lady's news wasn't pleasant and Ayame couldn't hide her anxiety from Misa, who was there to see the change of expression on her face.
"What happened?" Misa asked, curious to hear the news that had put Ayame in such distress.
Pondering whether she might tell Misa about her trouble or not, Ayame let out a long sigh. Well, she wouldn't lose anything if she explained to Misa, right?
"My land lady just kicked me out of my apartment. You see… I have not been able to pay her yet and I'm short on cash at the moment…" Ayame found her situation to be unfair. She needed to live in a place near her workplace. The quickest solution she could think of was to ask Misa to let her stay until she would receive her salary next month. There should be another solution! Sadly, she couldn't think of any other. She doesn't know a lot of people in Tokyo save for her uncle and her brother. Staying with Alan M in his hotel would mean awkward nights she'd have to spend hearing Alan M and his boyfriend making love in the other room. All so suddenly, she began to think Misa's creepy apartment seemed more appealing a place to sleep in.
Other than that, Ayame was too stubborn and proud to ask for her uncle's help. It was she who wanted to be independent in the first place. Borrowing money from Alan M was out of the question. That would only show how incapable she is to be living on her own. She really should learn how to manage her money. Now she's paying for the consequences.
Misa would no doubt agree as long as Ayame would comply with her request. Ayame need not finish her story. Because Misa knew that Ayame badly needed her help.
Misa grinned, pleased at how the tables have turned in her favor. "No problem, Ayame. Make yourself at home! It's no problem at all! Now, about that deal… "
A/N: Flashback
"Well!" Ayame smirked as she got to her feet. "Best to start looking as soon as possible for that perfect girl for Ryuzaki then." She smirked besides herself, thinking that a girl would have to be insane to want Ryuzaki.
Aja: 0_0 What does that make us, my fellow L-fanatics? Insane? LOL! Sorry, I couldn't help myself!
