I have received some interesting reviews about the last chapter... Let me answer to some of them before the new chapter, as it may be interesting for the other readers:
- The dashes in the dialogues are typical of French punctuation... and I forgot it wasn't the case in English! Sorry! If it's really annoying, I'll turn dashes into quotation marks when I have time.
- About the "awful Mary-Sue" comment: I am a little sorry that the author of this review did not give me a chance to answer directly to him (her), because he (she) was not wrong: I re-read the first chapter of this fic today, and realized it was screaming "Mary-Sue" out loud, though it really wasn't what I wanted. So I changed the title, some useless parts of the introduction and the color of Shadow's eyes (which had nothing to do with the story anyway... So now she has normal green eyes instead of odd eyes...). That's too bad the first chapter was giving a wrong image of my character, because some people may have stopped reading after it... But I can only blame myself...
However, some points of the review are not making sense to me. The name "Shadow" is maybe a typical "Sue" name, but not in this case, since I used what was supposed to be Watari's alias to make another credible assistant for L. Mr. Ohba and Mr. Obata themselves liked this name from the beginning, so I haven't searched further. Moreover. "Shadow" is a Wammy's name, like Near or Mello... The names in Death Note are far from normal anyway, with "Light" ("Raito" if you want) to begin with (I also tried to search some real people named "Lawliet" on the net, but didn't even find one...)... As for Shadow's real name, you'll see it's not very exotic...
When it comes to Shadow's skills... Well, to be chosen for Wammy's House, Shadow had to be a genius... But she's not more intelligent than L, A, B, Near or Mello... or Light, but more than Misa...^^ I could maybe say she's as good at hacking as Matt, but it can't even been compared because of the technological improvements between their generations... She started cracking files on floppy disks, come on! (I can't help laughing while writing this... It makes me think of the computers I used when I was ten... Ah, dear Atari 1040 STE, I had so much fun with you...)
About her appearance: Yeah, she's beautiful, it's not a crime... and it's also for L to tease her about it (in this coming chapter, for example) and for Misa to ask stupid questions in the future. She has long hair because I made L like it, and that's all... Shinigami apart, there are few bad-looking young people in Death Note anyway...
Generally speaking, I have nothing about bad reviews. If people write them, then it means that something may not be OK about the fanfiction... and it's a good opportunity to correct the mistakes... If other readers don't appreciate something, please tell me!
I just don't like aggressiveness in comments. There is always a calm and polite way to say things... And we are dealing with fanfictions, which are far from being dramatic questions! It's just for fun!
I am done with reviews. Thanks to everybody for writing them!
Here comes "The Real Thing"! No more Wammy's House in next chapter. We'll have a couple of teenagers (and a slightly boring English man), and things will certainly hot up sooner or later (blame the "teenagers' dirty minds", as L would say...)!
This is the longest chapter so far, and it has been a little difficult to write because I wanted things to be credible (it ended up twisted, but I am not sure about the "credible" part). Again, tell me if something is weird.
I hope you'll enjoy it ! And please, review!
Oh, I've almost forgotten it: Lois Madshaw = I am L's Shadow (without the apostrophe).
On a summer day, in 1994, Shadow left Wammy's House.
She had to go to Russia for a piano competition. It was not a big deal for her, as she had been traveling all over the world for the last two years, and on her own most of the time (Watari could not be in two places at the same time, so she was usually put in the care of the organizers of the events to which she was participating).
Now a confident teenager, she had considerably improved all the skills she wanted to study to be L's assistant: she was a true technological genius, could speak 5 languages, and was a black belt in both karate and Kendo. As for weapons, she had finally been allowed to take shooting and archery lessons since her thirteenth birthday. Explosives had to stay in the laboratories, and could not be used without supervision and when other children were around (we did not wanted C to swallow a bomb, did we?).
Shadow had also changed physically: the child was quietly becoming a beautiful young woman. She was certainly catching attention with her creamy complexion, delicate figure and dark copper brown hair that were cascading down to her hips. L had asked her never to cut her auburn tresses. Even if it was taking a lot of care, she had not been able to refuse his request, not wanting to deprive him of his beloved "toy"...
L's look was catching the eye too, but for other reasons: in a few years, the boy had lost the few interest he may still have had in his appearance. He had grown taller, but was slouching all the time, and did not care about varying his clothes anymore. Tiredness was showing in his features, and the lines under his eyes were slowly turning into dark circles that were contrasting with his pallid skin. For some reason his eyebrows were almost invisible, but it was hard to notice, for his raven hair was hiding them, almost reaching the tip of his nose.
Some people may have said that he was looking strange, unhealthy and far from handsome.
For Shadow, he was just perfect the way he was.
She didn't care about the lack of emotion on his face. She knew it was a way of protecting himself and his work. His feelings were still there, but hidden in a secret place that could rarely be reached.
She was only concerned about his well-being, worried that his sleepless and hectic life may lead to any kind of terrible illness.
- You know you could rest just a little bit more... You haven't even slept for two hours...
- I am resting now...
It was a quiet afternoon. L had returned from a long trip to Asia two days ago, and was allowing himself to relax a little with his friend. She had been insisting on him taking a cat nap after lunch. She loved using the words "cat nap", for the boy's favorite sleeping place was exactly the same as a cat: her lap.
- How do I know if you are not already thinking about some kind of said-to-be-unsolvable case?
- Because I am watching you.
She smiled. The changes in her appearance were L's last subject of teasing, since he had made her blush a few months ago by stating he didn't mind looking ugly as she was beautiful enough for the two of them. Recently, he had started to say that his brain could not work properly when she was near because it was giving him "naughty ideas". Even if she was doing her best to hide her emotions "on business purpose" like him, her fair skin was not helping and she was sometimes betrayed by a sudden flush on her cheeks. It didn't matter so much, though, since L was the only one to see it.
- As if your great brain could be messed up by a girl's charms...
- As if your charms couldn't mess somebody's brain up... especially with this make-up...
- Come on, it's just mascara and a hint of powder... and you are the one who brought me those cosmetics from Japan! I am just testing them to see if I don't have any allergy before using them on the competition day. Speaking of it, I could try the concealer on those circles under your eyes...
- It would be useless...
- How do you know?
- I have already tried it.
She raised an eyebrow.
- Why am I not so surprised?
- You've spent too many years with me, maybe...
- Those last months, our constant travels haven't allowed us to see each other so much...
She sighed loudly.
- Now you're back, I don't feel like going to Moscow anymore...
She had to depart the following morning.
- I'll still be here when you come back. I've heard Watari saying that he would go pick you up at the airport on Monday...
- "My Dear Uncle" could come with me, so I wouldn't get the usual "poor girl who's always alone" speech from the other kids... I am a little fed up with hearing it all the time...
- He can't. I think he has to input some data in his new computer... Some that you can't enter for him...
- Why don't you just say that he doesn't want me to see them? I programmed all the computers of the House. There is no data I can't handle...
- I am happy I almost don't use computers in here... it would be dangerous...
- Why? Oh, no, wait! I am sure that the answer is something about your "teenager's dirty mind"...
- Aaah... Now I'll have to find something else to make you blush...
His feigned disappointed face made her giggle.
- But your smile is as cute as your flushing face...
There her cheeks turned pink, and he looked delighted.
- I'd hate you when you do that...
- ... if you didn't like me too much for it, I know...
- Aren't we too young for finishing each other's sentences?
- I'll die young, so it's better to start now...
- I'll die younger than you, then... Have you ever heard of a shadow existing on its own?
He bit his thumb. Had she any idea of what was going to happen?
The night was falling, it had started to rain, she was tired and Watari was not coming.
She did not know which point was the most annoying.
In Moscow, her flight had been delayed for technical reason, and she had not been able to catch her connecting flight to Southampton Airport. She had had no choice then but to fly to Heathrow. She had called Wammy's House to inform Watari of those changes, and the man had answered that he would come and pick her up anyway.
But he still was not there.
She yawned. Was not she supposed to be the only heiress of her wealthy uncle? Since when rich girls had to wait so long that they were almost falling asleep on airport benches?
She wanted to go back to the orphanage. She wanted to take a bath. She wanted to see L. She wanted to...
The familiar big, black car was showing at last.
Watari quietly open his umbrella before getting out of the vehicle.
- Did something happen? I have never seen you being late before...
- I am really sorry. There had been a terrible accident which stopped all the traffic on the edge of the town. Please go in the car. I will take your luggage.
- Thank you.
An accident... Well, those things happened...
She opened the back door of the limo and knitted her brows. There was a bag on the seat, and an envelope. The name written on the latter was not her alias.
- What is...?
- Make yourself comfortable.
His tone had been insistent. She understood she had to remain silent.
She waited until he went back to the driver seat and closed the door to ask:
- What is going on?
Watari answered while starting up the engine.
- Everything is explained in the letter, please read it quickly. We have a lot to do tonight.
Perplexed, she opened the envelope and recognized instantaneously the handwriting: L.
" Shadow,
I apologize because I know you had to wait at the airport, but it was necessary for my plan.
I have to be brief: today, I will make you disappear from this world, as Lois Madshaw as well as Shadow.
Of course, you may have already guessed that you will not really die. But only a very few persons will know that.
I have been thinking about this for a long time, and it seems to be the best thing to do. Don't get mad at me for not having said anything about it before, but it was the best way for everybody, and I wanted you to act as naturally as possible.
Of course, you are not coming back to the orphanage. You will never see Wammy's House again. I don't think that you will regret it so much anyway. Watari is going to drive you to a place where I will meet you later. I have to stay back now to make everything believable.
Since we are faking your death, I need you to get rid of all your personal belongings. Please use what is in the bag and get changed in the car. Give your bracelet to Watari. This is the most important point of this operation. This was already the case when I offered it to you, in fact. You will understand why soon. Just trust me for now.
The only thing you have to do is to wait in the room where you will be taken to. Do not go out or even communicate with the outside world.
It may be a little annoying and will take some time, but if you trust me, and if your objectives are, as I think, the same as mine, then it will definitely be worth it.
Yours,
L"
Shadow took a deep breath. This was it. There were too much or too less information in the letter for her to understand exactly what was going to happen, but she did not really have a choice anyway. She could not help feeling tense.
It was a question of trust. And L was the only person she trusted.
She looked at the bag next to her, and then at her bracelet.
It was the only real present he had ever given her. She had been spending so much time wondering why it was so important for her future. She was going to know the answer soon...
L had promise it would be worth it.
And she had nothing to lose but him...
- Mr. Watari...
She took the piece of jewelry from her wrist and hold it out to the driving man in front of her.
- I think I have to give you this...
Without taking his eyes off the road, he seized the bracelet.
- Don't worry," he said, "everything will be fine...
- Of course!" She answered a little wryly "After all, it's not so terrible: I am just going to die...
It had been the longest night of her life. The hotel room she had to wait in was awfully quiet. She was still tired, but too excited to sleep.
Was she going to stay there for a long time? She had been there for hours already... It would have been nice if L had chosen a quick way of "killing" her...
In the morning, she was almost dozing off when she finally heard footsteps near the door. She could have asked who it was... but she had to stay silent...
What if it was not one of the persons she was expected?
She positioned herself next to the door, ready to "welcome" any kind of intruder.
The door unlocked.
It was far from an unwanted guest.
- L!
She almost jumped on him.
- For a dead girl, you seem terribly healthy...
- Stupid!
She took his hand and dragged him to the bed where they sat.
- Now, you owe me explanations.
- I thought the letter was clear enough...
- Come on! How comes you suddenly decided I had to disappear? What did you do? What about my bracelet?
- You will never this bracelet again... It will be buried in two days with the cremated remains of a dead girl Watari has identified as Lois Madshaw...
- A dead girl? Whose corpse is it?
- If this was known, then we could not have stolen this dead body so easily...
She suddenly fell a little dizzy.
- Wait... You stole a corpse and pretended it was mine?
- Exactly. In fact, There were two corpses. One for you, and one to play the part of the driver of the Madshaw family. Watari has identified him as well, as the man was supposed to have no relatives...
- How did they die?
- Both died in a fire two weeks ago. It was the perfect opportunity. Officially, Lois Madshaw and her driver died in a car accident last night. They had not been able to get out of the vehicle and burned with it. Their remains were in such a state that they could not have been identified without checking their personal effects...
She froze.
- That's why you needed the bracelet... because that's the only things I own that everybody has seen and remembers about... A unique piece in the world, so there could not be any mistake... I got it... However...
- However...?
- It was two years ago... I mean, when you gave it to me...
- And I was already thinking about this plan...
- Amazing... But... you couldn't have planned the problem at Moscow Airport too...
He smiled.
- They told you it was a technical problem, right? But you had to take another plane because they were searching for a bomb in the first one... A simple phone call had been enough... I needed you to arrive at Gatwick or Heathrow so the journey back to the orphanage would last longer...
- Speaking of the orphanage, why did I need to disappear from there too?
- Wammy's House has been created to find me a replacement or a successor, not an assistant or a friend... Nobody was supposed to bond with somebody else... And I was supposed to be alone when I would leave definitely...
Their eyes locked as she held her breath.
- Tell me: what would you do if you weren't allowed to follow me in the end?
For having thought about this possibility, she knew the answer too well:
- I would do everything to find you, even if it meant becoming the subject of your investigations by blowing the whole world out. I told you this the first time we met: my life is depending on yours. I feel it. I chose it.
- Blowing the whole world out, eh? That's a little scary... It's a good thing you won't need to go that far...
- You mean...
- There is no way I can get rid of you... Watari was against it at the beginning, so we had to make a deal: for my safety, and yours, the other kids would have to think that you were dead. Only Roger, Watari and I will know that you are still alive... Right now, Watari is at the House, explaining to everybody how Shadow, as Lois Madshaw, has lost her life in a stupid accident... He will also tell them that I am definitely leaving the orphanage with him to pursue my career as a detective...
- L...
She wanted him to say it. To say that she was going with him. Definitely...
- You can still change you mind... get a new life... We can do this, but you have to choose now...
She looked offended.
- No way! I...
- Do you understand what it means? You will be hidden from the world. You won't exist, but in my shadow... Is that really what you want?
Her chest tightened.
- Are you making me come with you only because you know I will never let you go so easily?" She asked, lowering her eyes.
- No.
She stared at him again.
- I really believe you can be helpful.
- I see...
- And I also want you to be with me as a person... not only as an assistant...
He looked up and bit his thumb.
- I need somebody to remind me that I am still human sometimes... with feelings and all...
He smiled at her.
- You're the only one who can do that...
She did not know that she could be that happy. But she could not find any word to express this feeling. So she hugged him as strongly as she could.
He didn't push her back. They stayed like this, silently, for a few minutes.
- L..." she finally started, not moving against him. "You faked a bomb scare, stole corpses, had them burnt in a car, and spent a fortune in a bracelet you destroyed, only to allow me to come with you... Don't you think it was far too much for this result? There must have been an easier way...
- You think so?
- ...
- I knew you would be upset about the bracelet. I'll buy you another one...
- No joke, please...
- It worked and didn't cost so much, you know. I can do a lot more...
- I am not saying you can't...
- And it was worth it...
She sighed and smiled at the same time.
- I will never be able to prove you wrong, will I?
The truth was that she did not even want to try.
On a summer day, in 1994, Shadow left Wammy's House, and died. For everybody but the one who was to become the world greatest detective.