Yo.
Onto the good part... Beta work credited to Skylara. Still dedicated to Socii, as she is the awesomesauce to my...er...unawesomesauce? *smirks*
Also, I've got fanart. Mwahaha! Credited to AuraBlackWolf: http :// lawlietlover . deviantart . com /art/ Harry-Kisses-L- 160837181 (no spaces...obviously). Thank you, thank you, thank you! You people better comment on it or I shall start annihilate you all with sporks! *grins wickedly* But regardless, it's adorable!
Ja ne!
UK.
Chapter Eight
Alias
2 October 2004
L started at the name on the caller-ID with concealed shock.
As he had been in the middle of explaining to the investigation team that "No, Raito-kun and I will not be fighting anymore, and no, I'm not giving up on this case; I'm still just a little unmotivated, that is all," L being interrupted by the most unlikely of callers was enough to make the others question the strange expression on his sharp features.
"Ryuzaki, is something wrong?" asked Raito, obviously concerned that he had been staring at the ringing phone for longer than necessary.
"No...but I do need to take this phone call..." L replied in a curious voice, and flipped it open, standing up in his odd way to leave the area for a semblance of privacy.
"Yes?" said L in French, dragging Raito behind him absently as he made for the back and empty half of the room. It was much better to not have the rest of the investigation team hear the conversation, and since the entire room knew English, Harry's native language was out of the question.
There was a long, drawn-out sigh of relief on the other end, and then Harry NoLastName's airy and melodic timbre said, also in French, "Thank Merlin. You're not six-feet under or scattered in the ocean or chopped up in little pieces or I don't even know what, but something bad."
Instantly, his two-month-long depression evaporated at the sound of that voice, and he replied, "Yes, I'm not dead. And you have a very odd vocabulary."
"Look who's talking, weirdo. But seriously, I did call for a reason, you know, and it pertains to the Kira investigation."
There was no mistaking the word 'Kira', no matter the language, and Raito turned towards L and said, "Kira? What about Kira? Are we getting a lead?"
"Is that the criminal in question? Still chained up to him, are you?" Harry's voice sounded irked, perhaps even bitter or acidic.
Instead of answering Harry, L turned to Raito and replied in Japanese, "Perhaps, Raito-kun, but please mind your own business or I will kick you."
Then, again in French: "Yes. I took your advice after all."
There was a bit of an awkward silence, and then Harry said, "I still don't like it. But whatever the case, I have some information that you might want pertaining to the Kira case."
"This is not a secure connection, and anyone could be listening."
"Actually, no. I can get cell phones with scrambling algorithms too, Ryuzaki, so no one but that potential murderer will be able to hear me. Happy?"
L's eyes narrowed at the underlying idea of Harry getting such a high-tech cell phone (and the I-know-something-you-don't tone), and said, "James-san. Can I hear the information? It will be useful, as we're at a loss down here."
"Back to the James-san bit, are we? Well, I suppose it's for the best. Anyway, I found some evidence linking the current Kira to a company called Yotsuba there in Tokyo. You've heard of it?"
"Yotsuba?" L questioned, not buying the statement.
So Harry began talking a mile a minute, to the point that L, who spoke French fluently, had to ask the British man to repeat himself twice.
In the end, L's eyes were larger than his teacup saucers. He quickly made a beeline for the computers, nearly knocking Raito off his feet at the suddenness of the action, and then sat down at his chair like usual, putting the phone on speaker and typing like a fiend.
"Keep speaking in French, James-san, as you are now being heard by the entire investigation team."
"Yes, yes, I hear you. I'm going to speak in Italian just to annoy you. Are you looking it up?"
L brought up a graph of the stock counts, seeing the dramatic incline over a short period of time. He heard a couple of questions behind him, but he ignored them, bringing up another page with deaths benefiting Yotsuba, Inc.
An astounding number...
"But only three heart attacks, James-san. The others were accidents and diseases."
"Exactly. They were similar diseases if not the same ones, and the accidents were mostly car accidents. It has always been beneficial to Yotsuba, but only a fair few times has it been positive for rival companies. And if this is true, if Yotsuba is either funding Kira or has Kira among them, then you know what this means, right Ryuzaki?"
L's jaw dropped in a rare show of pure emotion. Kira can kill in ways other than heart attacks!
"James-san," the detective said, switching to English suddenly so the task force could join in the conversation, "The Japanese police have stopped supporting the capture of Kira. They were bribed, along with politicians, and now the NPA has pulled from this case. It would make absolute sense that Yotsuba would be using their funds to keep Kira from being caught."
"Pull up their financial records!" Harry exclaimed, taking the heeding and addressing everyone in English as well (Harry's Japanese wasn't exactly the best, so English was the best bet). L's chest had that tight feeling again, just like in the bakery before...that, and he smiled a bit to himself, feeling a strange sort-of pride at Harry helping in the investigation so wonderfully.
Not taking his eyes off the screen, L called out, "Raito-kun, pull up Yotsuba's financial records and see if any major withdraws have been taken out of their accounts. If there are, find out where the money went. If not, look up the members of Yotsuba's finances and find anything on them."
"On it!" Raito replied instantly, while Matsuda Tota said, "Are we all supposed to be speaking in English now?"
"Seems like it," mumbled Yagami Soichiro.
Within minutes, Raito was in Yotsuba's system, caramel eyes darting around the figures, and then he cried out, "They've taken almost 2.5 billion yen out of their financial department in the past two months, and none of it has a record! This could easily be the—"
"Ryuzaki?" came Wammy's voice over the speakers.
"Yes?"
"Yotsuba business and financial planner, Masahiko Kida, has just contacted detective Eraldo Coil to discover L's name and whereabouts."
"What?" asked Harry loudly.
"Is that—?"
"Yes, Watari, that is James-san."
"This proves that Yotsuba and Kira have a connection!" said Raito with enthusiasm. "Are you ready to get out of your depression and catch Kira, Ryuzaki?"
Harry was complaining about Ryuzaki's impending demise by some other random detective until he questioned curiously, "You were...depressed?"
"Everyone be quiet for a moment!" L finally called out in a hard voice, interrupting the countless conversations going on all at once. For a long minute, there was just the sound of breathing and L chewing on his thumbnail, but eventually, the detective said to Harry in French, "Doing this over the phone is not advisable." He took a deep breath and continued, "I think I'd...perhaps you should be here, now that the investigation team is knowledgeable of you and the invaluable information you've given us today. Also, I'd like to hear how you came about this data."
L could sense that Harry had a grin the size of Chile on his face. He could definitely hear the beaming smile, along with the ring of triumph in his voice, when the emerald eyed man replied, "Sure. Just give me directions."
"I can arrange to have Watari pick you up whenever necessary to being you to the location. However, I must ask if you have any form of identification with your alias of James Lupin, so it can be used to program you into the system as the security here is state-of-the-art."
"Yes. And don't ask how," he added right before L had spoken the question, with that strange I-know-something-you-don't tone again.
"Fine. I will have Watari get you at Sato-Mari's in an hour, if this is fine with you."
Harry shuffled around and said, "What? You're not coming to give me a reception? You missed my birthday, you know!"
"I'm not dead. That is your birthday present."
"Lame! I feel so underappreciated!" Harry complained after letting out a snort of amusement.
L fought the urge to roll his eyes. L didn't do things that childish. That was Harry's forte. "If I come, you know he will be with me, correct?"
There was a huff. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Come anyway and I'll buy a strawberry cake to give to you."
L immediately said, "I will be there."
"Coming for the cake instead of wanting to be with the coolest bloke in the world? You suck."
L picked up the phone, banged it against the table a couple of times, and then hung up, a small smile on his face that didn't go unnoticed.
His chest felt tighter.
L nearly had to drag Misa to her floor so she wouldn't accompany Raito and himself.
They ended up being a couple minutes late, so L was a bit disappointed about that, but his copper-haired reluctant companion sat on the other side of the limousine with a contemplative expression on his face. His arms were crossed, and those caramel eyes were narrowed on L's face. It was starting to make him uncomfortable, and he was thinking about bringing the subject up when Raito finally commented, "This guy we're meeting...who is he?"
L paused, at odds with this one. He wasn't sure who Harry was, or what he did for a living, but he knew one thing for sure: "He is the second friend I've ever had."
Which wasn't exactly true.
If L considered him a friend, Harry would've been the first friend the detective had ever had. He had told Raito that he was his first friend not even a week before meeting the emerald-eyed man for the first time, so he had to say the second friend. However, that had been a lie, because L wasn't friends with him. He could never be friends with a murderer, no matter the lack of evidence.
Truth be told, L didn't know what to consider Harry, to be honest. He turned his wide, fathomless eyes back to the window, ignoring Raito for the moment, and mulled over what he felt for the man.
It wasn't just 'friendship', really. 'Friends' spent time together, yes, and passed humorous comments between each other, but it was more than that with Harry and L. Even being away from Harry for over two months hadn't really decreased how much enjoyment they shared just talking to each other.
'Friends' didn't have two, if not more, meals a day with each other seven days a week. But Harry and L had, and had enjoyed every moment even though L had had various urges to kick Harry in exasperation.
'Friends' didn't make chests tight. And L's chest was tight, tighter than the string of a bow.
'Friends' didn't make each other strangely nervous before seeing each other. And L's stomach was curled up on itself, the tension and nauseous feeling back again just like it had been before the incident at the bakery.
'Friends' didn't kiss. And Harry had kissed L.
...but L hadn't pulled away either.
Like déjà vu, the 2002 Nissan President parallel parked close to the door of Sato-Mari's, and his stomach felt just the same as last time: fluttery and nervous and nearly sickening.
However, he didn't even have to get out of the vehicle, because this time, Harry came to him.
He had a gigantic bag of sweets, which normally would've caught L's eye immediately, but things had changed. This was Harry, who looked remarkably different. His jeans, just like last time, actually fit for once, and he still was wearing a short-sleeved shirt (green this time), with the same jewellery and the same round glasses.
But it was Harry's eyes, filled to the brim with laughter and excitement, which caught L's attention and made the man look so different. He barely noticed when the strange feeling in his stomach and the tightness in his chest all but disappeared, opting instead to focus on Harry practically skipping to the car, throwing it open, and automatically producing a bag of chocolate chip cookies in front of L's face.
"Merry Christmas!" Harry practically sang in English.
L didn't know what was more amusing: the look of poorly-concealed shock on Raito's face or Wammy's desperate attempt to prevent himself from laughing. L just took the bag hesitantly and said, "Thank you, James-san. But you promised me cake."
Harry dead-panned, "I've got your cake, Ryuzaki. Hold your horses and eat the cookies I so generously purchased for you."
He hopped in, pulled out a cup of green tea ice cream, and finally laid eyes on Raito. L was surprised to see a strange look in his eyes at the sight, but as quickly as it was there, it disappeared, and Harry said, "You must be Yagami Raito." At said teen-ager's nod, Harry continued, "Well, I'm James. James Lupin, or vice-versa, depending on your preference. And I'd recommend you get something from the bag now before Ryuzaki eats it all."
Raito shook his head and politely declined, so Harry called, "You too, Watari. Want something?"
"No thank you, James-san. I'm quite alright, and it is dangerous to eat and drive."
"Good. All mine," mumbled L, digging his hand in the bag of cookies and pulling one out in his delicate grip.
Harry turned back to Raito after snorting, glanced down at the handcuffs, and said, "I still don't approve of this, Ryuzaki."
With his mouth full of delicious chocolate, L said, "Well, you shouldn't have given me the idea, James-san."
"Stop with the honorifics, Ryuzaki!"
"I second that with enthusiasm," added Raito.
Harry shot another strange look at the copper-haired eighteen-year-old and said, "You know what? You remind me of someone I know. Mind you, he's quite a bit younger than you, but you both have similar appearances. It's kind-of creepy."
That caught L's attention. "Who?"
Harry hesitated, then said, "My godson Teddy, actually." Almost immediately after that statement, the emerald eyed man laughed and said, "Well, sometimes. The kid always changes, but for the most part, he has the same youthful features as you with similar coloured hair. Although he's definitely not Japanese...but then again...he has his—er—moments. Merlin, never mind; you wouldn't understand anyway."
This statement was said almost like an inside joke, like L was missing something crucial.
"Thank you?" Raito said with a faltering smile, and Harry just snorted again and replied, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, where are we heading?"
"To headquarters," L answered, glancing up and seeing Harry look away quickly, as if embarrassed. For a second, L wondered if Harry would be daft enough to say something about their last meeting in front of Raito, but then shrugged it off, knowing that Harry had more sense than that.
"Well, that's enlightening. I guess you have some ultra-secret-kick-arse base in the Imperial Palace or at the bottom of the ocean. Or maybe you have some awesome aeroplane flying above us or wait! Maybe it's a gingerbread house out in some deep, dark forest!"
L's eyes widened at that. "Watari...is that possible?"
Harry laughed, while Raito raised an eyebrow, obviously wondering why such a strange man was riding with them to the Kira investigation headquarters.
"I'm just kidding, Ryuzaki. Besides...you'd eat the thing in a day."
"Yes, that is true. You have to be increasingly ridiculous to make up for lost time, I see."
"Apparently so. Oh, how I've missed annoying you, Ryuzaki. But really, where are we going? How do I know you're not planning on taking me to the outskirts of Tokyo and axe murdering me or something?" The sound of Harry's British tone was clearly stating 'Yeah, and fat chance of that happening...' Which was interesting, for lack of a better word.
"Don't make me kick you. And we are going to the Marunouchi district."
"He does have a mean kick," Raito said with a smile.
Harry glanced at L with a grin. "You kicked him?" Switching to Italian (mercifully), Harry said, "Bravo, you suicidal nutjob! You're just asking for this kid to kill you. And he's awfully young, don't you think?"
"Yes, but to be honest, his intelligence rivals mine even at his age. And about that statement, please observe him carefully and tell me your opinion."
Reverting back to English, Harry replied solemnly, "Yes, master."
L threw a cookie at him.
The first thing Harry noticed was Amane Misa on a set of high-tech screens.
The first thing Harry said was "No fucking way."
Ryuzaki walked past him, dragging the potential murderer behind him, and said, "Yes, James-san. That is the Misa I was referring to."
Harry felt a bit astonished; not exactly because she was one of the most famous women in Japan right now, but because the actress-model was currently painting her toenails on surveillance cameras for being the suspected Second Kira.
"Well...er...that's interesting." He glanced at the others and introduced himself quickly as to get away from the familiar-but-not staring (it was an uncomfortable reminder of the Wizarding world). "Hello. You may call me James. Please no honorifics; I have to deal with that enough, so I'd appreciate it if you'd drop them unlike someone I know."
Perhaps the reason for Yagami Raito's reaction of wide eyes, along with the rest of the (quite small) investigation team, was the fact that no one really spoke to Ryuzaki like Harry was. Everyone was unnervingly polite, including Ryuzaki's lead suspect, almost as if they had already placed the detective on a large pedestal. Even though it seemed that Ryuzaki had put Yagami at an equal status of sorts, the young man still seemed to acknowledge that Ryuzaki was still the highest man on the totem pole.
They introduced themselves, but Harry was more interested in the high-tech equipment.
And Ryuzaki, of course, but that was beside the point.
At that, Harry took a deep breath and steeled himself, ready to be part of the team that was going to catch Kira—all of them.
(2.5 billion JPY = ~25,000,000 USD)
