Chapter 10: Pickpocketing and running

It was long time ago he took a walk in London. Mostly he felt himself uncomfortable with all those people around him, but sometimes he felt the need to go out. Breath in some fresh air. Not that it was his only reason why it was a while ago since he gave London a visit. Normally he traveled around the world so he could be close by his case that he had at that moment. But for now he stayed at Wammy's House for a little while. There were three little children who were his new successors. He needed to be closer to them than the ones before. Otherwise there was a 67% chance it could end badly like before.

Suddenly he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He picked it up with his thumb and index finger.

'Hello, Watari.'

'L, I'm sorry to disturb your walk, but do you need me to pick you up soon?'

'Not necessarily.' He frowned. 'Why do you ask? Am I needed at Wammy's?'

'No need to worry, L! Roger and I have everything under control.'

He heard right away that Watari was hiding something. He sighed. 'Please tell me what happened and don't tell me that nothing has happened.'

Watari chuckled. There was nothing he could hide from the young detective. 'A few children came to my office to tell me Mello is throwing a tantrum. It seems his anger is aimed at Near and now he's busy with throwing toys at the little boy and everyone who comes near him. Roger is at the moment trying to calm him down with the help of Matt.

L was not surprised by the thought of Mello throwing a tantrum. It happened quite often. 'And what caused his tantrum this time?' he asked curious.

'I heard he stepped on some lego that scattered all over the floor in the common room. I'm sure you can guess who was building a tower with the lego.'

Everyone would know the answer to that. You didn't need to be a genius to know. 'I understand. Please Watari, go and help Roger calm Mello down. I can stay a little longer here.'

He didn't wait for a reply, as normal, and put the mobile back in his pocket. He slouched further through the streets of London.

'Alright, you know what to do?'

Dani nodded enthusiastically. 'Yes! Can I try again now?'

Beyond scanned the crowded area and pointed at a woman. 'Try that one.'

After she saw who he pointed at she walked casually to her victim. Beyond watched her closely. They were here so he could learn Dani how to pickpocket. Dani had cared for his wound for a few weeks and now he was almost healed. In those few weeks he began to trust Dani every day more and more. Because of what she did for him, Beyond felt he had to return a favor. Learning her to pickpocket like a pro would give her the opportunity to earn money herself. If they ever were separated she could survive on her own. At least for a little while.

Dani returned with a big smile on her face. 'I think I know how to do it now!' She showed him the wallet.

Beyond returned her smile with a grin. 'Good work, Dani. We're gonna try it a few more times, but not here. It's important to not pickpocket to many people at the same place. Otherwise someone may see you do it.'

They walked away from the current area and tried to find a new perfect spot to pickpocket. When they were in the middle of a street with on either sides shops Beyond stopped abruptly. Dani was puzzled why he had stopped, but then she saw what had attracted his attention. He was staring with wide eyes to a shop. A jam shop. Dani chuckled when she saw his amazed face. 'You can go and take a look in the shop you know.'

He turned to her, still amazed. 'How can I not know of this shop?!'

Dani shrugged. 'I didn't know it existed either. Maybe it's new.'

A moment later Beyond rushed into the shop. Dani followed him and she was surrounded by jam jars. Everywhere in the shop stood jars full of jam. This was gonna be a loooong day.

And she was right. After what felt like hours they were still stuck in the jam shop. It was so boring! She wanted to pickpocket a few people more.

'Blake? I'm going outside, okay?'

'Yeah, I see you there.'

Dani sighed and walked out of the shop. He said she did very good pickpocketing people so why not try it herself? Until now he had helped her everytime by looking for a good victim. It was time to look for a victim herself!

She looked around and saw a man a little further down the street. His wallet clearly visible in the back pocket of his pants. Without any more hesitation she began to run. When Dani reached the man she ran full into the man's back. While he was startled to notice anything she took the wallet quickly but carefully out of his back pocket. She hide the wallet in the pocket of her jacket and gave the man an innocent look as he turned around.

'Watch where you're going!' he said irritated.

'I'm sorry! I'll watch better next time!'

The man muttered something what didn't sound very nice and walked away.

She did it! She did it without any help! Blake had to know this! Dani turned and began her way back to the jam shop. But after a few steps she saw the messy black hair of Blake. His back was turned to her so he couldn't see her coming. She ran right into his back and threw her arms around him. 'Blake! I did it! I managed to pickpocket a guy without your help!' said Dani joyous.

'I beg your pardon.'

Dani let go of him. 'Have you already forgotten about it? Did you eat so much jam so that your brain isn't working properly anymore?'

Blake turned around and he stared confused at her. 'My name is not Blake.'

His voice sounded a lot like Blake's, but there was something different about it. Then she saw it. This guy wasn't Blake! Now she took a good look at him she saw this guy had black eyes, not auburn, and he had dark bags under his eyes. And Blake wore a black shirt that day, not white!

'Oh! I…I'm sorry. I've mistaken you with someone else.'

His black eyes stared intensely at her as if he was trying to look right into her thoughts. 'If you have mistaken me with someone else, does that mean he looks a lot like me?'

Dani fumbled nervously with the rim of her jacket. Why didn't that guy just walk away after she apologized? 'I gotta go.'

She wanted to go away as quickly as possible from him, but before Dani was a few steps further she was held back by a hand on her shoulder. 'Didn't you mentioned a moment earlier that you pickpocket someone? Because if that's the case I'm afraid I have to inform the police.'

Time to run! Dani kicked hard backwards. She heard a hiss of pain and the hand on her shoulder loosened it's grip a bit. One moment later she was running as fast as she could through the street. But when Dani dared to look behind she saw the creepy guy ran after her.

L was completely surprised when he felt the arms around him.

'Blake! I did it! I managed to pickpocket a guy without your help!' sounded the voice of a girl. Blake? And did she said she pickpocket someone?'

'I beg your pardon,' said L. A little confusion was heard in his voice.

The arms let go of him. 'Have you already forgotten about it? Did you eat so much jam so that your brain isn't working properly anymore?'

The person she had mistaken him for probably looked a lot like him and ate a lot of jam… There was a person who was missing and had both things in common.

He turned around to face her and saw a girl around his age. 'My name is not Blake.'

She stared at him for a moment and he saw her eyes widen. 'Oh! I…I'm sorry. I've mistaken you with someone else.'

L kept staring at her. Could the person she knew, Blake, be Beyond Birthday?

He asked her another question and she became very nervous. She's definitely hiding something.

'I gotta go.'

The girl tried to run away, but before she was out of his reach he grabbed he shoulder. 'Didn't you mentioned a moment earlier that you pickpocket someone? Because if that's the case I'm afraid I have to inform the police.' He had to take her with him and question her about Beyond. This was the very first clue he had found after Beyond had run away from Wammy's House. Then he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He hissed from the pain and before he could stop her the girl was already running. I'm not going to lose you. L ran after the girl while taking his phone out of his pocket. He tried to call Watari, but no one picked up the phone at Wammy's. They are probably still busy with Mello. Hep ut his phone back and didn't lose the girl out of his sight.

After some time Beyond noticed Dani wasn't with him anymore. He remembered her saying going outside so he left the shop. Dani was nowhere in sight. After looking left and right he decided to go right. There were many girls, but no one was Dani. Then he heard a sharp hiss a few meters before him. He took a look at the guy and his eyes widened with fear. L stood just a few meters away. When L started running further away from him he saw something that almost gave him a heart attack. L was chasing after Dani! No, no no! This can't be happening!

Before he knew it he was running. He had to save Dani before L catched her. He followed them through many streets. His condition wasn't that good after the rest he had to take after he was shot and he began to lose L and Dani. At that moment he remembered the area they ran into. Dani rushed into an alley with L after her, but Beyond ran a little further. After that he had to turn a few times left and right. He hoped Dani would run where he was going to.

And he was right. He stopped before the high wal land listened to the voices on the other side. Dani was threatening L and kept saying to stay away from her. Beyond rushed to a trash can and placed it against the wall. He climbed on i tand could see what happened on the other side of the wall. Dani was right under him.

'Dani!'

She looked up and shrieked. 'Blake!'

Beyond leaned over the wall with his arms outstretched. Dani understood his plan and grabbed his hands.

'Beyond!' growled L as he sprinted towards Dani trying to grab her, but it was too late. Beyond had already lifted Dani up and she was out of L's reach. She climbed over the wall and landed on the ground. Before he jumped of the trash can he gave L a smirk. L just stared at him. His eyes full of black fire. Then Beyond jumped down, grabbed Dani by her arm, and together they escaped to safety.