Chapter 10: Dixième Jour
"My plan is now in motion." L said to the other two after getting off the phone with Near. L walked over to Mello. "Will you do anything to get Kyoki-san back?"
"Yes." Mello said, now a little worried about himself after having been asked that question. "I feel responsible for her getting caught like she did so I will do what I can to get her back."
"Are you sure you want to go through with my plan?" L asked sternly.
Mello and Yume were still not aware of L's plan, but it couldn't be that bad, right?
Mello began to wonder what L had planned.
"Yes." Mello told him.
L nodded, satisfied with the answer and walked away.
"What the hell do you have planned, L?" Yume asked.
"I cannot tell that to you at the moment." L told her.
This annoyed both Yume and Mello
L pulled out a key from his pocket and undid the cuff on his hand; he then went to Mello and did the same.
"Yay! Mello is free again." Yume hugged onto Mello.
"Though you are free, please don't venture too far away."
Mello nodded.
"I'll make sure he doesn't." Yume said as she glomped onto Mello.
Matsuda woke up from his night of sleeping on the couch. He looked over to see if Kyoki was awake, which she was. She was sitting on the bed. It looked to him as if she didn't get any sleep.
"Did you sleep at all?"
"Nope." Kyoki told him. "I stayed up the whole night eating wonderful strawberry jam and reading this awesome manga. That is why I suggested that you take the bed last night since I planned to stay awake. I want to finish reading this series before we are let go. It's really good. Would you like to read it as well?"
"Ah, not right now. Maybe later." He told her.
"How was your sleep? That couch is rather comfortable, isn't it?" Kyoki asked.
"Yea. It really is." He smiled as he sat up.
The door opened, startling Matsuda. B walked in and sat down on the opposite end of the couch from Matsuda.
"Good morning." B told them.
"Good morning, B." Kyoki said. She ran over and sat in-between the two of them.
"Eris sent me in here to see what you two want for breakfast." B told them.
"You... are you L? If you're L, what are you doing here?" Matsuda was extremely confused.
"No, Matsuda. This is B. He looks like L, but he is not L, he is B. That sounded like some math problem." Kyoki laughed nervously.
"The similarities between them are remarkable."
"Yes, I agree. But there is an obvious difference between them. One, there is the make-up. Since I myself put make-up on to make myself cool looking cool like L I can tell the real thing from fakeness. Next is B's posture. Though it is very much like L's, there are center focal points that are different from L's. Next is-" Kyoki was cut off by Matsuda.
"Do you observe L with great detail?"
"Yes, I do. I find it relaxing."
"About breakfast..."
"Oh, right." Matsuda scratched the back of his neck nervously. He told B what he wanted.
"I would like toast with lots of jam, please." Kyoki told him. "And a cup of sugar with a little bit of tea."
B nodded and got up and left the room.
Matsuda suddenly began to smile mischievously.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
He shook his head and waved his hand. "It's nothing. Just something I will keep to myself for now."
"Tell me! What are you thinking, Matsuda? I like funny stuff and from your expression it must be funny, so please tell me."
"No can do." Matsuda told her.
Kyoki decided to give up for the moment. But she vowed that she would figure out what he was thinking.
Yume watched in annoyed amusement as Watari came in, handed L a bag filled with mysterious contents, and then left. Yume stared at the bag wondering what was inside of it.
"In order to get close to the house we will need a good disguise so our plan won't be ruined." L explained to Mello and Yume.
Yume kept glancing back and forth from L to the bag. As Yume looked at the bag she thought she saw something written on the side. She leaned to her side to get a better look. On the side of the bag was the Girl Scout logo.
"Am I going to dress up as a Girl Scout and find the house holding Kyoki under the pretense of selling cookies?" Yume asked.
"No. Mello will be doing that." L said.
"W-what?! But he is so clearly a male."
"That is why it is going to be him. They will be expecting one of us to go there. With a good enough disguise Mello can make it in there without drawing attention. It's too dangerous to send you in, Yume. You may loose your composure if you were sent in. And it sending Mello in dressed as a girl will give us a advantage since they will not be expecting that."
"I guess I see your point now." Yume nodded. "Mello, I will help you in your transformation I am a real female and I know the areas in which you need help."
Mello was speechless through out that whole conversation. He had no idea of what to say to all of this.
"You will be wearing this." L pulled out the outfit that Mello would be wearing from the black bag. The outfit consisted of a pink shirt with a black skirt. Along with it came rainbow striped socks that came up to the knee and some black shoes. It also came with the Girl Scout vest. L also showed a brown wig.
Yume fought the urge to laugh as the image of Mello dressed up as a girl conjured in her mind.
"Are you sure this plan is going to work?" Mello asked.
"Are you thinking of backing out?" L asked.
"No, it's not that. But I was just thinking that perhaps this idea it just a little too weird." Mello said.
L shrugged. "If you don't want to do it I can always ask Matt... or Near." He slowly reached to pull out his phone.
"I said I will do it so I will!" Mello said loudly.
"I'm glad." L stopped going for the phone.
Yume bit her lip noticing the dirty little 'trick' that L had just played over Mello. She remained silent since she had a feeling that Mello realized it as well.
"Lidner-san, Rester-san and Gevanni-san will all be watching you at all times to make sure that you are safe. The operation will take place at noon since that is a normal time for Girl Scouts to head out, so try to have him ready then, Yume-chan."
"Yes, sir." Yume saluted him playfully. "May I accompany Gevanni-san and the others to keep an eye on Mello?"
"No." L told her plainly.
"Why not?" Yume whined.
"As I said earlier, you may become overly emotional by that fact that you are so close to where Kyoki-san is being held. You may be emotional due to the fact that the person you are attracted to is out there in the "danger zone" trying to make you happy to get your friend back."
"I will not get emotional." Yume told him defiantly.
"I have a job that I need you to do for me anyway. If you were somewhere else it would interfere with the plans." L said.
Yume sighed. "Oh, fine. I'll go along with what you have going on. But if anything happens to Mello I am rushing over to that place like a crazy person to get them both back. Ok?"
L nodded. "I will accompany you if it comes down to that."
Yume smiled, then grabbed the costume and Mello's arm and began to drag him to the bathroom.
"Let's begin the sex change, shall we?" Yume said as she laughed evilly.
At noon Gevanni and Halle drove the car and parked it in front of the hotel where L was staying. They sat in the car waiting for Mello to join them.
"I must say, this plan of L's is rather amusing." Halle said. "The part that amuses me the most is how we are suppose to act like Mello's parents if something happens that requires us to interact with him."
"I guess. But you look to young to be the mother of someone as old as Mello." Gevanni said.
"That goes for you too, you know." Halle shrugged. "If it comes down to it, we'll just have to lie about our ages."
"Rester is going to be hidden down the road from where we are going to be parked, right?" Gevanni asked, wanting to get everything straight before it all started.
"Yes. I wonder what is taking Mello so long..." Halle looked at her watch.
Gevanni was about to ask if he should run in to see when the back seat of the car opened and a thirteen-year-old girl with brown hair sat in the back.
Halle looked over her shoulder at the young teenager. She looked rather tall for her age. "Sorry, girl, but I think you got the wrong-"
"Halle, it's me." Mello said glaring.
"W-w-what?" Gevanni turned in his seat, his knee banging on the steering wheel, but he ignored the pain. "You look nothing like yourself."
"You really look like a girl. You know, you make one cute girl. Did Yume-chan do all of that?"Mello nodded.
"She did really good. Even with that scar of yours, you can't even see it any more." Halle giggled. "You know, if you want to look more feminine, you shouldn't sit with your legs so apart like that. Especially with that skirt."
"I have shorts on underneath, so chill out."
Halle shook her head. "Posture is important. Now, close those legs."
Mello glared at her but did as he was told.
"You should try to speak in a softer tone as well. If you use your normal voice it's going to ruin the whole plan." Halle told him.
"Yume already had me practice. I got that part figured out."
"Ready to go?" Gevanni asked Mello as he sat properly in his seat once more.
"Yea." Mello told him.
The older man started the car and drove it to the end of the street that L had advised him to go to. He stopped the car a block away so Mello could get off there and have it appear as if Mello had already tried to sell cookies to those houses.
Once the car stopped, Mello grabbed the bag containing cookies and got out of the car. He walked the rest of the block and stopped at the first house. He walked up the sidewalk to the house and knocked on the door.
A woman answered the door and glared at Mello.
"Hello." Mello said in his most feminine voice. "I'm a Girl Scout and I'm selling some cookies. Would you like to buy some?"
The woman smiled in a creepy way. "No, thank you." She then closed the door.
Mello walk to the next door and knocked on the door. At this house a large fat man answered the door.
"Hello. I am a Girl Scout and would you like to buy some cookies?" Mello said politely.
The guy sneezed, then slammed the door in his face.
"Well, fuck you too." Mello said in his normal tone. He stomped to the next house. As he made his way across the yard he began to think that L had lost his mind.
L was currently sitting in front of a camera that he had placed on a pin on the vest Mello was wearing. Mello had another one in a hair clip he was wearing. As L watched, L grabbed a banana off the table and began to eat it.
"AHA! You are eating something other than cake or candy. I am proud of you, L-san." Yume said as she jumped around happily.
L ignored her and watched Mello fail at trying to sell cookies to another house. He leaned forward and pressed a button so he could talk to Mello through the earpiece Mello was wearing.
"Mello, please try the door across the street." L told him. "I think that may be the house we are looking for."
"Sure." Mello muttered.
L watched as Mello walked across the street and knocked on the new door.
L was not surprise when the person who opened it was someone he recognized. He had never met this person in person, but had talked to them through a computer. She looked different from the last time he had seen her, but he knew it was her.
"Mello, this is the house. Be careful." He managed to say before the earpiece and camera suddenly turned off. L realized there must be some sort of interference device in the house.
L grabbed his phone to call Near who was watching the same thing as he was, but he wanted to talk to the younger man about this new development.
Mello didn't recognize the person before him, but L did and that was enough for him.
"Hi. I'm a Girl Scout and I was wondering if you would like to buy some cookies." Mello tried to smile sweetly.
The woman looked him up and down before answering. "What kind do you have?"
"I have some of those peanut butter and chocolate ones..." Mello was beginning to get nervous as he realized he should have memorized the cookies names. "I have some that look like pretzels with some chocolate on them. I also have some strawberry flavored ones. I also have mi-"
"Strawberry, huh? I'll have to ask my friend if he would like some of that kind. My name is Erissiel, please come in out of the cold while I go ask him."
Mello as reluctant but followed her into the house.
"What is your name, by the way? I am not trying to be a weirdo, I just would like to have a name for when I talk to my friend."
Mello nodded. "My name is Mel- Oh!" Mello bit his tongue as he realized he was about to tell his 'name' to her. "It's Mellina."
"That's a pretty name. I'll be right back, please wait in the living room. Make yourself comfortable." Eris motioned to the room to their left.
Mello walked into the room and sat down on a couch.
She smiled and then walked down a hallway.
Mello was tempted to leave the living room and start looking for Kyoki, but remained where he was. He decided the best thing to do was to wait for L's orders.
The moment that Gevanni and Halle saw that Mello went into that house, they both jumped out of the car, guns drawn. They saw that down the street Rester was running toward the house. They sent up a triangle perimeter around the house and waited for further orders.
Minutes after this, Rester talked to Gevanni and Halle over the walkie-talkie phones they all had. The phones were also connected so L and Near could hear as well.
"Someone just entered the house from the back."
"Should I follow?" Gevanni asked. He was unsure of who to ask seeing as both Near and L seemed to be in charge right now.
"L, would it be all right if he did go in?" Near asked L.
"Yes, that would be fine. Gevanni-san, please proceed with caution."
"All right." Gevanni ran toward the back the house.
Eris went to where B was and told him about the suspicious schoolgirl trying to sell them cookies.
"Thank you for telling me. Please take me to her." B said.
"Are you sure that is a wise idea?"
"Yes, it is."
Eris nodded, figuring that B knew what he was doing and probably had a plan if things did go wrong. Eris led him back to the living room.
"Hello there, I'm B." B said as he entered the living room. "Are you selling cookies to try to help some animal?"
Mello stood up. "Hello, I'm Molli and I'm trying to sell cookies. Yes, we're trying to sell enough cookies to save some geese."
"You said your name was Mellina. What is going on? Geese aren't endangered either." Eris said, her suspicion was rising.
"W-well, my real name is Mellina Molli. I'm use to going by both names. And my group is trying to save a special rare goose that is coming down with a deadly disease. There are only a few uninfected geese left."
"... What kind of cookies do you have?" B asked.
"Chocolate chip, some peanut butter covered by chocolate, pretzel looking things with chocolate, strawberry favored ones, chocolate mint things, cho-"
"Did you say strawberry?"
"Y-yes."
"Do you know how wonderful those kinds are dipped in strawberry jam? Do you know how long I wanted some of them? They stopped making them back in the eighties; it was a tragedy. I'll take all the ones you have."
"Hold the phone." She placed a hand on B's chest to stop him from saying anything else. "Did you say chocolate mint?"
"Yes, I did."
"Oh, no. Eris, calm down. Think about the children." B said in a way that could be taken as perhaps sarcastic. Though one could not be sure with B.
Mello saw an evil glint in her eye that he did not like. In his earpiece he thought he heard L tell him to run but couldn't tell due to a spurt of static Mello turned and made a run for the door. But somehow he got turned around and was running down some hallway, deeper into the house.
"Give me those cookies, kid! I want chocolate mint cookies! CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIES ARE THE BEST! They are mine! MINE I TELL YOU!" Eris ran behind Mello.
"And those strawberry ones will be MINE!" B yelled, joining in on the chase.
Mello was disturbed that those two were running after him for cookies.
Without knowing it, Eris and B were herding him toward a certain room...
After running for several minutes through a house that seemed to have a million hallways and doors, Mello decided to try to hide in a room and hope that they would pass by. He quickly went into the nearest room and closed the door behind him. He sighed in relief when he heard them run by.
Eris stopped running. "I can't believe that worked. Oh, and B... that girl is a dude..."
"How do you know?" B asked, curious as to how she came to the conclusion.
"I could tell by the way he ran. Very boyish."
"Hmm... I was thinking it could be Mello when I first saw him, but I didn't think he could look like a girl like that. Perhaps it is him after all then."
"It probably is him." Eris nodded. Her phone rang which she answered right away. The call didn't last for long. She smiled at B as she hung up the cell phone. "We have another visitor in our house. We may not need to send L the address after all since Mello is here and there is now someone else."
"We should still send it so he won't miss out on all the fun. But first we must welcome our new guest." B started to run down the hallway.
Eris nodded quickly and then ran after him.
Kyoki and Matsuda were both surprised when the young girl ran into the room. The girls' back was to them, so Kyoki was wondering if the person was all right since they were breathing heavily.
"Hello, there." Matsuda said as calmly as he could incase the young girl was scared. "What is your name? I'm Matsuda."
"I'm Kyoki. Are you a worker for B?" Kyoki wondered.
Mello was surprised that he ended up in the same room as they were being held in. He turned around. "It's me, Mello."
"Eh? Mello?" Kyoki was confused.
Mello took off his wig and wiped off the make-up off his face using the vest.
"Holy popcorn balls! It's Mello!" Kyoki gasped. "You make such a pretty girl."
Mello fought back the urge to flip her off.
"What are you doing here?" Matsuda asked.
"I'm here to find you two." Mello told them.
"Well, then you succeeded." Kyoki told him happily. "Come, sit down with us." She grabbed his hand and pulled him over and made him sit down.
A second after Mello sat down they had another visitor. This one was Gevanni. He had the same idea as Mello to hide in a room in hopes of losing the trails of the two chasing him.
"Gevanni-onii-chan!" Kyoki jumped off the couch and ran over to give him a hug. "Yay for another guest!"
"Oh? I'm glad to see that all of you are safe. We should get out of here." He told them
"We can't. The door locks from the outside. We're stuck in here." Mello said.
"Come, sit down with us." Kyoki grabbed his arm and sat him next to Mello. Kyoki sat on his other side and was now squeezed between Matsuda and Gevanni. "I wonder who else will join us? I hope we can get out soon since it seems to be getting crowded in here all of a sudden."
L received an email from Eris which gave him the address to the house and that they now had Mello and Gevanni. He then handed the phone to Yume so she could read it.
"But we already know the address." Yume said.
"Yes, they already know that but they are just toying with us." L said. "Come, we better hurry there right away."
Yume nodded and they both left the hotel room.
Near reread the text he had received from a person named Eris. Apparently he was being invited to the hostage 'party' as well. He didn't really think it was wise to them all to be there, but he was afraid that by him not going the others would be harmed. He dialed in Rester's phone number and asked him to return to base to pick Near up to take him to where the others were. Rester said he would and Near hung up.
Near wondered what was unfolding.
Matt walked into the room.
"Hey Near, I just got an invite to that house. Oh, and after I got this text all the protection against the location of the calls were taken down. It's the same place as the address in the text."
"I got it too."
"Are you going?"
Near nodded. "Rester is on his way right now to pick me up. Would you like a lift too?"
"Sure. I'm rather curious as to what this B and Eris are like anyway." Matt said as he shrugged.
"Me too..." Near said.
The door opened and Kyoki was expecting yet another guest. She began to think that this person would either have to sit on the floor or on the bed.
But it was only Eris with a laughing Ryuk behind her.
"If you would all nicely come into the living room with me so we can go ahead with the exchange." Eris told them as she took off the chains around Matsuda and Kyoki's ankles.
Kyoki sat up quickly. "Is L here?"
"No, not yet. But he will soon." Eris told her. "Now come."
Everyone else stood up and followed Eris as she said.
"You guys are in for quite a surprise." Ryuk told them and laughed.
"Ryuk, please don't be giving them the wrong idea, all right?" Eris told the Shinigami. "So if you would, please shut up."
Ryuk did so, but only since he figured that if he was good he would be given more apples.
"Please make yourself comfortable in this room. Please do not leave or there will be consequences to pay. Thank you." Eris bowed slightly and then left them.
The living room they entered was huge. There were several couches and television sets all over. There were many small tables throughout the room. All over the room were colorful streamers.
"What is up with the streamers?" Kyoki wondered out loud as she marveled at the wonderful decorations.
"This living room is different from the one I waited in." Mello said, rather surprised at how many rooms this place had. It looked like quite a large house from outside, but it seemed like there was more inside the house than was possible for it to hold.
"When I was being chased earlier I think I passed a room with a cake. I only saw the contents of the room for a split second and it was out of the corner of my eye, but there seemed to be a huge cake." Gevanni told them.
"Then... do they want L here to throw him some kind of birthday party?" Matsuda wondered.
Kyoki shook her head. "L's birthday is in October and we are not anywhere near October right now."
"Perhaps it's a late or early birthday party." Matsuda shrugged.
"I highly doubt that." Mello said.
"Me too."
"All this talk of cake is making me hungry." Kyoki whined.
There came a laugh from the doorway. "Cake does sound good right now."
Everyone turned to look there to find a person that they had never seen before, but looked like someone they knew. Of course there was a difference. This person was shorter and hair was slightly different. Plus they were younger. The person before them appeared to be in their teens. They were all speechless.
"I'm incredibly sorry for the way you were all brought here."
Kyoki stood there, more confused than she had ever been in her life.
"The time is almost here. Where all of our work will come to an end." Eris said as she walked toward B. "I hope everything goes well."
"Of course it will." B assured her. "Why wouldn't it?"
Eris shrugged.
"Come, we should go wait in the front room for our other guest."
Eris nodded and they both exited the room.
Yume was amused when Watari, L, Sidoh and herself arrived at the same time that Near, Matt and Rester. They all greeted each other in front of the house. Halle came over and joined the small group.
"You were invited too, Near?" Halle asked.
"Yes, were you?" Near asked.
She nodded.
"I'm getting so confused. I thought they only wanted L." Yume said.
"I think they only said that at first, but B knew that we would all end up working on this together and decided to ask you to come after that." L said.
"It's almost like we are all being gathered for a... party." Yume said. "Whose birthday is this month?"
"There is Light-kun, but I don't see B going out of his way to celebrate his birthday." L said.
"Do you think they are celebrating my birthday? I don't even remember my birthday though... which day was it..." Sidoh said as he tried to remember.
"I don't think that is the case..." Yume told him kindly.
"Is it really safe for all of us to be together in one place like this? What if Kira is behind this?" Halle asked.
"It's safe. B is the one behind this. I am twenty percent sure it's him."
"Only twenty?" Rester asked.
"That's not a lot to go by..." Matt muttered.
"Don't listen to him. His numbers are only there to mess with our brains." Yume explained.
"They are not." L said.
"In any case, I do not see any danger in this situation." Watari said.
"Neither do I... I think." Yume said.
They all looked at the house for a few moments. L was getting impatient and was about ready to go to the house alone.
f"I am Katashi. And I shall keep you company until it is time."
Kyoki thought to herself how his looks and posture was very similar to L and Bs.
"Are you related to B or L somehow? Like... a brother or something? Cousin? Nephew?"
"I'm sorry but I cannot say at the moment." Katashi told her.
"Why are we all here?" Matsuda asked him.
"I cannot tell you at the moment."
"Can you tell us anything?" Mello asked, getting rather annoyed.
"You must be uncomfortable in those clothes. I have prepared some other clothing for you if you would like to change." Katashi told him.
"Yes, I do." Mello said.
Katashi stepped out of the room and came back a second later with some clothing that he held out to Mello. "That room right there is a bathroom. You may change in there."
Mello took the clothing, nodded and ran to the bathroom.
Once the group went to the door, Halle knocked on the door. They only had to wait a few seconds before a smiling Eris opened the door.
"Hello and welcome! Please come in and make yourself comfortable." Eris held the door open for them. She closed it once they were in. "Now, if you don't mind, I am going to scan you all to make sure you don't have any weapons. But if you already have non-hidden weapons, can you please set them on that table there."
Halle and Rester put their handguns on the table.
Once she was satisfied that there were no more weapons she led them to the living room where the others were all sitting on couches.
"Go ahead and visit with your friends." Eris said as she stepped into the room.
Kyoki, Matsuda, Gevanni, and Mello all looked in surprise as not only did L, but the others entered the room.
Kyoki stood, frozen by her happiness of seeing L again.
Yume ran forward and hugged onto her cousin.
"I'm so happy you are all right! Whoo!" Yume cried out happily.
Kyoki hugged her cousin lightly, still looking at L.
Yume let her cousin go and gave her a slight push toward L. "Go to him already, idiot." Yume laughed and then jumped onto Mello's lap, hugging him tightly.
Kyoki ran over to L, and glomped onto him.
L stood there. "It's nice to see you again."
Kyoki was sure it was about time to let him go, but she didn't want to. So she continued hugging him.
Near and Rester went over to a couch and sat down. Halle stood where she was.
At that moment B entered the room from the other entrance across the room.
"Thank you all for coming today. Eris and I invited you all here today to celebrate a special birthday today with us." B said.
"You have a messed up way of inviting people to a party." Mello told him.
"The usual way is overrated and I wanted to have some fun." B told them.
Kyoki continued to hug onto L, but she turned her head so she could see B and Eris as they walked over to yet another door on the middle wall. This was a two-sided door.
"Whose birthday is it?" Near asked.
"Today's birthday is..." B started.
Eris grabbed one doorknob while B grabbed the other one. They both opened the door.
"Katashi's L Ryuzaki's birthday!" Eris finished.
Katashi stood there, eating some candy. He quickly put the candy away and waved at them happily.
"I am incredibly sorry for what my parents have put you through the last few days. I told them regular invitations would be easier... but they wouldn't listen." Katashi told them.
"Who are your parents?" Kyoki wondered, even though she had a feeling she already knew.
"Those two." He pointed at B and Eris.
"I knew it. I have failed once more..." Kyoki let go of L and went into the nearest corner and kneeled down on the ground. She began to doodle on the ground with her finger as a background of 'doomish' type air began to fill that area.
Everyone was silent for a few moments, not sure what had just happened to Kyoki mentality.
"Um, so anyway. Please relax and enjoy yourselves." Katashi smiled at them all politely.
Most of them quests nodded and began to mingle. At first it was a nervous mingle, but then everyone started to feel comfortable.
Katashi ran over to L and smiled happily.
"I'm so happy you came. I am so happy I can finally meet you in person." Katashi told him.
L nodded. "Same here. Would there be any cake here?"
"Of course. My parents should be bringing it out right now." Katashi said.
Over by the double doors Eris and B were pulling in a table that had the largest cake that almost everyone in the room had ever seen. It was in the shape of a square pyramid. The cake was at least four feet high. And four feet across.
L and Katashi ran over, both eager to have a piece of that wonderful cake.
/
After waiting several minutes in hopes that Kyoki would fight her way through her gloom, Yume approached her cousin.
"Kyoki-chan? Are you all right?" Yume kneeled next to her cousin.
"I lost to Eris once again... I lost again... Again... Once more... Will I ever win? No... forever a loser... that is I." Kyoki muttered this to herself.
"What are you talking about?" Yume wondered.
"I don't want to talk about it." Kyoki muttered and then began to say how she lost once again.
"When we were younger we were both at Wammy's House." Eris began to explain as she came over to the two in the corner.
Yume stood up to hear this story.
"The first day we met we, hmm, we learned that we didn't get along at all. Within the first ten minutes of meeting we had already established our first competition. Ever since then we have had competitions and races over anything you can imagine. Who would beat a game first; who could hold their breath longer, who could eat dinner faster or slower, who could text faster, those types of things. We never hand a verbal saying to a contest like who would have a kid first. So I didn't technically win."
Kyoki stood, and turned toward them, tears in her eyes and about to pour down her cheeks. "You did win. You won fair and square. Congratulations. Congratulations on having such a cute kid and making him with the person you love/worship."
"Uh, thank you...?" Eris said. "I'm sure you will have one too someday. Don't worry."
Kyoki just shrugged and walked away to another corner.
"I'm so sorry for my cousins competitiveness and how she's acting right now. I think she's been under a lot of stress lately... or something."
"It's fine. I'm rather competitive as well, so I understand how she's feels." Eris said.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Yume asked.
"Sure."
"Do you know why L and B look so much alike? Are they related?"
"I don't know for sure. But seeing as how much they look alike I think it's possible that they are brothers. Probably twins. I believe that L was separated from their family somehow and eventually was taken in by Watari while B remained with their parents. After their mother passed away I think that B came to Wammy's House and was reacquainted with his brother though he doesn't know it. He won't tell me if he has a brother for sure. I don't know it it's just something he doesn't want to talk about or if he doesn't even know himself. Then he really can't tell me."
Yume nodded. "That is very interesting. I think those two must be brothers."
"I agree." Eris said as she nodded as well.
/
Ryuk went over to Sidoh since he wanted to talk to the other Shinigami.
"I'm surprised to see you here, Sidoh."
Sidoh looked at him, confused. Suddenly he remembered what happened to cause him to come to the human world. "But you're the one who took my notebook and told me to come down here to reclaim it. And then you dropped it in all that fruit."
"You must be mistaken, Sidoh." Ryuk laughed nervously and then flew off to get more apples.
After watching that scene between the Shinigami, Mello came over to Sidoh and held out the Death Note to him.
"Here, you can have it back."
"Thank you!" Sidoh took the notebook and hugged it tightly to his chest. "Do you think I can stay around for this party? This is my first human birthday party. This is the first time I've ever been to a birthday party. Or any party, actually."
"I'm sure that is fine that you stay. I don't see why it would be problem."
"That is good. I really wanna eat a piece of that cake. It looks wonderful." Sidoh ran happily over to the cake in order to his a piece.
/
"Here, I brought this for you since I figured you might get bored with all the human interaction." Matt kneeled down next to Kyoki who was in her 'doom' corner. He held out a PSP to her.
"Really? You brought this for me?" Kyoki looked up at him.
He nodded.
She took the game system from him and thanked him.
"But if I am using this one, what are you going to do?"
"Don't worry, I brought my second one with me for myself." Matt reached into this pocket and pulled out another PSP.
"I see." Kyoki nodded and turned on the PSP. "Thank you, otou-tou-san."
Matt watched as she slowly began to come out of doomy mood.
/
"I just don't understand why I was invited here too..." Halle said.
She, Near and Mastuda were sitting down on the same couch as they talked.
"Maybe it was to help create a relaxed atmosphere if we were all together." Near speculated.
"Maybe they didn't want anyone to feel left out." Matsuda offered his opinion. "It's sad that Light or Misa couldn't come to the great party."
"Those two were invited so they could help eat the huge cake my mom got." Katashi joked as he came over to them and sat down. "I was looking forward to meeting Light-kun. And I wanted to get an autograph from Misa-chan. But given the situation they are in right now it is understandable. Perhaps I can get her autograph another time. Anyway, you are welcome to eat as much cake as you want."
Matsuda nodded happily.
/
"Does this seem crazy to you?" Gevanni asked Rester as he sat down. A plateful of cake in his hand. He ate a piece of his cake.
"Yes it does. But crazy is what you get when you deal with people from Wammy's House." Rester said, shrugging.
Gevanni nodded. "You're right about that. This cake is really good."
Rester nodded in agreement.
B wandered over to where L was enjoying his cake.
"How is the cake?" B asked, unsure of what to say.
"It's quite delicious." L told him. "I knew there were similarities between us. But I'm quite surprised by it now that I am seeing you in person."
"I agree."
"Where did you get this cake?"
"I'm not sure. Eris was the one who got it this year." B told him.
"I see. Then I should go talk to her." L left to go talk to Eris about the origin of the cake.
/
B followed behind him. He wanted to see how L moved in person so he could use that to become more like L and thus someday surpass L.
For the next couple hours people mingled and talked and had fun even given the odd situation from the previous days. Even Kyoki came out of her doomy mood and had fun.
When it was time to go Eris gave each person a large piece of the cake to take with them. Even after all that was eaten and taken, there was still a large portion of the cake remaining. Kyoki was still in the front room of the house saying her goodbye to her captors while the others were outside. Everyone else had already said his or her farewells.
"B, thank you for letting me read your manga. And even though this situation was rather awkward at times, I still had a lot of fun." Kyoki told him.
"Your welcome. I think I am going to miss eating jam with you. Eris can't eat it plain."
"Yea, I'm going to miss that too. We should keep in contact and get together once in awhile to eat some strawberry jam."
B nodded.
"Oh! I almost forgot something! Can I run back to the room to get my souvenir?"
"Sure. Follow me, I'll take you there." B wanted to come along since he was curious as to what this souvenir would turn out to be.
When they got there, Kyoki ran over to the bed and lifted up the pillow and grabbed an empty jar of jam.
"I know this is a weird thing to keep. But it was the first jar you gave me and since you're the first person I have met that can eat strawberry jam plain for enjoyment, I felt like I should keep this. Is that all right?"
"Yea. Sure." B told her.
The two of them headed back to the front room where Eris and Katashi were now waiting. Kyoki smiled at Katashi.
"Happy birthday again, Katashi. I'm sorry I was unprepared and came with no gift."
He shook his head. "That's fine. Meeting you and the others was enough of a gift for me."
"Hehe, you're such a sweet kid." Kyoki said.
"You should hurry, you're friends are waiting for you." B reminded her.
"Oh right. Well, good bye then, B, Eris and Katashi. It was nice to meet you B and Katashi. It was somewhat nice to see you again, Eris. Our next competition will be my victory."
"Dream on little girl." Eris said with a smile.
"I shall dream and this dream will turn into a reality. Later." Kyoki smiled and waved.
"Good bye." Katashi waved back.
"See you." B said.
"Bye." Eris told her.
Kyoki ran out of the house and joined the others by the cars. When she got there they were discussing who would go in what cars.
There were three cars and eleven people and four destinations. Mello and Yume wanted to return to their home. Matt wanted to go back to his house while L, Kyoki, Matsuda, Watari, Gevanni, Near, Rester and Halle all wanted to go back to their hotels.
"We can take Matt with us since his house is on the way to ours." Yume offered.
"Sure, that's fine with me." Matt said.
"I can drive the others to their hotel while Rester, Halle and Near use the other car to go back to our hotel." Gevanni suggested.
"That seems like it would work." Near said.
"What hotel are you staying at?" Kyoki asked Matsuda.
He told them.
"Wow! That is the same one that L, Mello and I were staying at." Yume laughed.
"So I was in the same hotel as you?" Matsuda was surprised.
"Yep."
"Would it be all right if I stop by and get my stuff that I left at the hotel?" Yume asked L and Kyoki.
L nodded.
"All righty then. See you guys later." Yume waved as she and Matt got into the car they were going to drive and took off.
Near, Halle and Rester said their farewells and then left as well.
Everyone began to get seated into the car. Gevanni was in the driver seat; Watari was in the passenger seat while L, Kyoki and Matsuda sat in the back. Kyoki sat in the middle of the two of them. In the backseat L was sitting in his normal style, Kyoki was sitting in an indian style while Matsuda was sitting like a normal person.
"Onii-chan?" Kyoki said, having a question she needed to ask.
"What?" Gevanni and Matsuda both said at the same time.
"Wow! That was awesome! Both of you replied to me at the same time! I totally forgot that I refer to both of you as 'onii-chan' so I was only expecting one answer." She giggled.
"What did you want to say, Kyoki-chan?" Matsuda asked while Gevanni said, "What were you going to ask?"
Kyoki thought for a moment. "I forgot now. It wasn't anything important. So don't worry. Perhaps I'll remember it later."
Without another word, Gevanni started the car and began to drive toward the hotel.
During the drive everyone was pretty quiet and Kyoki fell asleep, her head ended up resting on L's shoulder.
A little bit later they arrived in front of the hotel. Since Kyoki was sleeping and leaning on L, he had planned on carefully picking her up and carrying her to her hotel room, but she woke up seconds before the car came to a stop.
She rubbed her eyes and yawned, apparently not fully awake. She stood on the sidewalk, swaying slightly.
Matsuda moved to her side so she wouldn't fall while L went to her other side.
Watari had already departed, but he said his good-byes to Gevanni before he left. He had to go overlook some information concerning a case that he thought L might be interested in.
"Thank you for driving us here, Gevanni-onii-chan." Kyoki wanted to lean forward and give him a hug, but she was worried that she would lose her balance. "See you later."
"Thank you." Matsuda and L said.
"Later." Gevanni said and then drove off.
"Bye...bye..." Kyoki closed her eyes and began to slide down, but Matsuda quickly grabbed her.
L stepped forward and picked her up in his arms. Matsuda then picked up the their pieces of cake that were in somewhat large plastic containers. There were three of them, one for each of them.
On the way up to the hotel, Matsuda held open doors for L and pressed the elevator buttons. Everything was going smoothly until they came to hotel door. The card for it was in L's pocket. Matsuda liked L, but he didn't like him that much...
"Hold her for a moment." L said. He then carefully transferred Kyoki to Matsuda's arms. L then took the three cake containers from Matsuda. He then got the card key and unlocked the door. L held the door open for Matsuda.
"Should I put her on the couch?" Matsuda asked.
"Yes, that should be fine." L told him.
After laying Kyoki down on the couch he turned toward L. "I'm going to head back to my room and get some sleep. I'm exhausted."
"Thank you for your help. But next time you shouldn't be so reckless."
Matsuda nodded waved goodbye and then left with his cake.
L went over and sat down on the same couch as Kyoki, but opposite end so he wouldn't disturb her.
Minutes later, Kyoki sat up, wide-awake.
"Has Yume or Mello come yet to get her stuff?"
"No."
"I wonder what they are up too?"
"... I think it's best that we don't know for the moment."
Kyoki thought for a moment and then nodded. Kyoki stared down at the floor as she began to think to herself.
"Umm, I think I am going to go take a shower now. I didn't really get a good shower at B's since it always feels weird to me when I take showers at others people's houses." Kyoki then scampered off to the bathroom.
L looked at the door that she had just closed, thinking to himself how something was a little strange with her...
An hour later Mello and Yume arrived to acquire her belongings.
"Where is Kyoki?" Yume wondered.
"Shower. She's been in there for the last hour or so." L told them.
Mello could have sworn that L briefly had a worried look on his face.
"Are you sure? She hates getting wet or in water. I've never seen her take a shower longer than twenty or so minutes." Yume bit her lip.
"I am sure. I've been keeping track of the time." L said.
"Has she said or did anything strange since she came here?" Yume asked. "Well, strange for her... that is."
"She's been less talkative than normal. But that is normal for someone who has been held captive."
"I don't think something like that would bother her. B and Eris are pretty nice... kinda. So I don't think she would be like this right now. There must be something else bothering her..." Yume sat down as she began to think of what it could be.
Mello sat, chomping away on some chocolate as he pondered the reason as well.
Fifteen minutes later Kyoki came out.
Yume ran over and hugged her cousin.
"Oh, hi Yume." Kyoki said.
Yume waited for her to complain about how she felt like a wet cat... but her cousin didn't say anything.
"Oh, look. Your make up didn't wash off in the shower. Or did you put some more on?" Yume asked, poking her cousins' cheek.
"I haven't put on any make-up in the last few days... OH! I must have real ones now!" Kyoki ran back into the bathroom to look at the dark lines under her eyes.
Minutes later, Kyoki came back out, yawning. "I'm going to go to bed now. I'm so tired." She walked over to Yume and gave her another hug.
"Ok.. sleep well then..." Yume forced a smile.
"Good night, Kyoki-chan." Mello told her.
"Good night, Mello-kun. Good night, L." She waved and made her way to the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
"There is definitely something wrong with her. She didn't even complain about being wet." Yume whispered as she sat down. "And she closed the bed room door. She rarely does that since she is claustrophobic. What the hell is going on with her?"
"I'm starting to get worried too." Mello admitted.
L bit the tip of his thumb as he began to think of what was causing Kyoki to be like this. He began to think that he knew what it was... but was unsure.
Kyoki lay on the bed, wide-awake as she began to think.
'I have made my decision... I just have to stick to it now... Is this the right thing to do though? Of course it is... right. It is... I'll wait a few days and then I'll tell the others what I have decided on... Yes. That seems like the best thing to do... For now I should sleep...'
Kyoki turned onto her side and closed her eyes to try to force herself to sleep.
AfterNote: Eris. Was that an act, or does she really love chocolate mint cookies? I'll let that be up to your imagination... Yea, so. During writing this chapter my sister was crying about her pants and I realized my sister freaks out and cries about almost anything. Why are people in my family so damn emotional? Anywho, just two more chapters and this story will be over... that is if I don't get anymore ideas or anything. It took me awhile to actually plan this chapter out. I knew how I wanted it to go, but all the small details were kinda hard. I had actually forgotten to add Matt in for the party... so I had to go back through this chapter and add him in. Sorry Matt. I kept sitting there as I typed feeling as if I had forgotten someone or something. And it was poor Matt. I am such a horrible person. I really hope that everyone was semi in character for this chapter. Oh, and I do not own Katashi. My cousin created him and she allowed me to use him. Oh, and I also used Eris, Eris doesn't belong to me, I borrowed her from my dear cousin as well. And I guess I don't really own Yume since that is my cousins' character. The only one I own is Kyoki. I wish I could own L... But sadly I can't. Well, then, only two more chapters left so yay until next time.