The Short Unhappy Life of Mail Jeevas

Part 9

Mello parked the motorcycle on the opposite side of the road to the Kyoto Grand Hotel. I got off of the bike, but he stayed on. We both looked to the entrance of the hotel to see one of the two Japanese men walk out, looking rather flustered. I moved slightly to my right to block whatever view the man had had of Mello.

"They haven't seen my face, but they know my name and voice. I think they're in league with Kira." I nodded in response. "Matt, you stay here. I'll tail that guy."

I gave another slight nod. "Okay." Mello drove back into the traffic, disappearing amongst the many cars.

So what was I supposed to do? He probably wanted me to keep my eyes open to see if that other Japanese guy would leave the building soon as well. I gave a soft sigh and made my way onto the footpath. For no apparent reason, I stood next to this small yellow fire hydrant. Above the Hotel's entrance waved flags of the world, including USA, Australia, Britain, Korea and Japan. There was also a flag which was black. Upon it sat a silver winged-heart with the name 'Kira' written underneath it.

I continued to stand there and wait, trying my best to not look suspicious…Was it possible to not look suspicious while you have a pair of bright orange goggles and actual apple red hair? A few taxis honked at me, probably thinking I was waiting for some form of transportation. I shook my head at each one, and they drove on.

I suddenly heard a girl's giggle and I looked up to see the Japanese man walking out of the hotel. His arm was linked with a bubbly blonde girl. I blinked at her.

Were they going out or something?

The girl was actually pretty cute…Though, not as cute as Julia!

They exited the hotel and began walking off to their right. I quickly crossed the road while the traffic lights said I was able to, tailing the two oblivious humans as Mello probably wanted me to. I watched as they entered and exited a few shops, occasionally coming back out with a new shopping bag.

Guess I should call Mello…

I pulled my mobile from my pocket and dialled Mello's number (we had exchanged numbers earlier).

"What's the matter, Matt?"

I leaned against a building, making sure to keep an eye on the two I was tailing. "A young woman…Well, a woman who looks like a child…lives in the room that Mogi went into."

"A woman?"

"At first sight she looks like Mogi's girlfriend. They've gone shopping with their arms linked…If you'll pardon my expression…She's an awfully cute Japanese girl. I can't tell her age, but I'm guessing it's anywhere between 14 and 20."

"Are you serious, Matt?"

…What was with that tone of voice?

"Yeah, very serious."

Did Mello still think that I was gay? I had a girlfriend for Kira's sake! Okay, so I had raped my best friend, so what? It was like, five years ago!

"Okay. I can't do anything yet, so we'll start with that girl."

"Okay."

"I think I've found their head quarters. Come to the Miyako Hotel."

"Okay. See you in a few minutes."

I hung up the phone and hailed a taxi. One pulled up and I hopped in the back. "Where to, sir?"

"Just to the Miyako Hotel."

"…Okay."

I didn't know why he was a bit shocked until we actually got to the hotel. It had actually been in walking distance to the Kyoto Grand Hotel…Oh well. I payed the taxi driver and hopped out of the car, finding Mello on the opposite side of the street from the Miyako. He was looking into the store window of a shop called the 'Jungle Special Collectors Shop'. It seemed to be selling anime items.

"I'm here."

Mello turned around away from the shop, facing me.

"You're going to be staying at the Little Tokyo Hotel." He pointed pass the next shop, which was a Noodle store. Next to it was a small entrance which had a sign reading 'Little Tokyo Hotel'. "We'll set up some cameras to view the entrance of the Miyako Hotel."

I simply nodded, listening to every word my best friend said.

-x-

1st December 2009

I had been watching the entrance of the building for five days…Well, five days if you included the 27th, which I did.

I was busily playing on my Nintendo 3DS prototype (a gaming device which would be officially released next year), with a cigarette in my mouth, deciding to take up the habit once more. I would quit before I went back to Julia…When would that me? Would Mello let me visit her…?

I had been calling her once a day, as I had promised, but it didn't seem like nearly enough.

Mello and I had managed to hide a listening device in Misa Amane's hotel room. The blond hadn't told me where he was staying while he eavesdropped on the cute girl. I didn't know why, he probably still thought that I might try to rape him or something. He didn't have anything to worry about, since I had a girlfriend. Mello had chosen me to monitor the entrance because I was capable of watching several computer screens at once. Actually, my record was about 62 screens. I won't tell you where or when I gained this personal record.

The hotel room was littered with trash since I hadn't been bothered to clean up my mess, nor did I let the cleaner in to clean. I had the 'Do not disturb' sign permanently hanging from the handle.

So there I sat in the dim room, playing my Nintendo 3DS prototype and smoking a cigarette. Luckily, I could play and watch the screens all at once. As I said before, I was perfectly capable of watching several screens at a time. The room was tinted orange since I still wore my goggles, just in case.

I suddenly heard Mello's voice emitting from one of the laptops. "Matt, how's it going for you?"

"Boring." The laptop we used for communication also had an inbuilt microphone so I could talk back to him without having to use my mobile. But it was only a one way line, so Mello could call me but I couldn't call him through it. "I've seen no movement at all. So far they've had all their food and stuff delivered. And both Aizawa and the other Japanese guy who went into the building after him haven't come out. Which makes it very likely that this is their headquarters…But it's so boring watching something that never changes."

"Come on, I'm doing the same thing. And if L is there, then they may think that the SPK tailed Aizawa and discovered their location, so they might decide to move. If you're not careful they could get away."

"Then why don't you change places with me? At least you get to eavesdrop on a cute girl." If I kept calling this girl cute, Mello might realise that I'm actually NOT gay!

"Unlike you I can't watch multiple screens at once, dumb ass. You think my spot is any better? Do you realise how annoying this girl's voice is? It's all Light this, bored that, Misa is a good girl, Light loves Misa, Mogi/Motchi is a good cook, it's getting fucking annoying." He also gave a soft sigh.

"Yeah, well-"

"Hey Matt, is your DNA on profile?"

I paused my game and frowned at nothing in particular. "You mean like with the police and that? I don't think so…Why'd you ask?"

"No reason. What about your girlfriend? What's her whole name?"

"Julia Mills." Well, Marie Mills, though I didn't know this at the time. "But wh-"

"And she lives in Winchester, correct?"

"Well, yeah, I moved in with her abou-"

"Get back to work." There was a beep and Mello's voice disappeared.

…Well, that was weird…

-x-

5th December 2009

I gave a slight frown as I peered at the screens. Mogi and Aizawa were talking to each other outside the building…What could that mean?

Their expressions were grave and serious…

I picked up my phone immediately and called Mello. He picked up before the first ring had finished sounding.

"What's up, Matt?"

"Mogi and Aizawa are outside together. I don't know what they're talking about, but they do look unusually serious for people just chatting outside." Not that I'd actually know about that…

"Okay, keep an eye on them."

"I told you we should have put a listening device out there. I can't read lips Mello, and I'm fairly positive you can't either."

"I said keep an eye on them, Matt! Do you understand that or not?"

"…" My voice retreated into the back of my throat and I just hung up the phone. Mello would probably be able to hear my unspoken words. 'Yes Master'.

-x-

December 7th 2009

I frowned down at the picture the screen showed. The man I had come to recognise as the person whom delivered the food to the Japanese men in the hotel was smiling happily. In his hands he was clutching a large wad of cash.

I quickly made my way out of the hotel, not bothering to put on my faux fur jacket, and speedily walked down the small staircase.

"Excuse me…" The man turned to me, holding the money to his chest protectively.

He sneered. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry." What was I apologising for? "But, do you know anything about the men you have been bringing food in for?"

The man blinked at me and then grinned greedily. "They payed me this lot just to move out all of their junk and stuff." He laughed. "Suckers, I'd have done it for a quarter of the amount they gave me!"

"Do you know anything about them?"

"I couldn't even tell how many there were. Moved 'em out yesterday and they paid me today." He cackled again. This man was a good example of a normal human being from my point of view.

"Are you sure you don't know anything?"

"Quit hassling me, Kiddo!" He glared at me and walked off. I gave a sigh. Mello would kill me…

I turned and quickly made my way back to the hotel, suddenly feeling unsafe without my vest to protect me.

I got inside of the room, closing the door behind me and making my way over to one of my computers. I picked the laptop off of the ground and began to fumble around with it, rewinding the video. There was no sign that there had been an escape, but now I could see that the truck had been there way longer than usual yesterday. Dammit, I should have noticed that…

I quickly called up Mello, using my shoulder to hold the phone to my right ear. As soon as the blond picked up, I could tell he was irked at me.

"What are you doing, Matt?! Mogi's at LAX."

"Damn, they got me! They must have payed the food delivery guy who came yesterday and used his truck to move out along with all their equipment. I questioned the usual delivery guy after he came out counting a wad of money, but the room was already empty…he couldn't even tell me how many of them there were. I had the camera rolling on all the exits and windows, but they used the trucks door to block the view…Shoot…"

Mello was momentarily silent. "Matt, I'm going to tail Mogi to Japan. Follow me right away."

"Huh, Japan…? Seriously…?"

"No, I was kidding. Of course I meant seriously, you idiot!"

"Okay, don't get your leather in a knot. What do I do about the cameras though?"

"Bring one laptop, and one camera without the stand. Leave the rest. The cleaners can have them as amends for the mess you made of the room."

"How did you know the room was a mess?"

"I shared a room with you for eight years. Now quit talking and get moving."

Mello hung up the phone and I sighed softly, shutting down the computer. I'd take this one since it was actually the computer which I had been given at Wammy's. The technology wasn't old enough to be useless.

I wiped the memory of the other three laptops and left a small note apologising for the state of the room. I took one of the cameras off of its tripod and slipped it into my bag, along with the pc. It made my rucksack significantly heavier, but I could take it.

What I didn't expect was for my cell phone to choose that moment to go off. I frowned. Had Mello forgotten to tell me something? I answered the phone, surprised to find that it was Julia's voice on the other line.

"…Matt…I need you to come back…We need to talk about something…" Her voice sounded worried, yet somehow calm at the same time. "I…I found this disc…And…Listen, I'm not angry at you, I just need to talk to you about it…"

…She had found the disc about Mello and I…Shit, I had forgotten to get rid of it…

"Julia, let me explain-"

"I don't care about this video, Matt, I just need to see you…I love you, Sweetie…"

I was silent for a few seconds. "Julia…I love you to, I really do…I'll be there as soon as possible. We'll sort this out."

"…Thank you, Matt." There was more confidence in her voice. "…I love you."

"I'll see you soon."

I don't know if I kept that promise, since I did see her again…She just wasn't alive by that time…

-x-

I'd caught a taxi to LAX, and right now I was looking over available flights. For some off reason, it appeared that today there weren't going to be any flights straight to Japan…Wait…

My eyes caught onto a certain plane flight.

It was headed to the South Hampton Airport, and then 2 hours later it was going to head to the Tokyo International Airport.

I could go to Winchester to make sure that Julia was okay, and then follow Mello to Japan!

Thank you Kira!

-x-

…It was all my fault…That's what Mello had told me…It was my fault that he had killed her…And at the time, I had actually believed him…He had blamed me for her entire murder, even though he was the one whom had committed it.