Chapter 11

The Wolf

Elena's POV

L said he would go over every single tape. I volunteered to help him. Everyone else either went home or fell asleep.

"I'm happy you came back." He suddenly said.

I didn't look at him, but I smiled.

"As long as Kira is out there, no one is safe. Not me, not my brother… not you."

He remained silent and very still.

"I meant what I said. It doesn't matter where I am, you'll always have me." I said.

"May I ask you something?"

"You may."

"Your tattoo… why a wolf?"

I smiled a bit.

"When I was four, my parents took me to the zoo. I was little and impulsive, always on the move. I fell into the beaver habitat, I couldn't swim yet. A uh, a male wolf pulled me out of the water. He wouldn't let anyone near me, at least not until the keeper came. I went back to see that wolf every year until he passed. I was ten. But I would have drowned if it weren't for him. The rest of the wolves there remembered me too. And the new ones eventually knew me to. The handler eventually let me in to see them after hours. The last time I was there was two weeks before you had me fly out here. They're almost like extended family to me." I said.

He was smiling.

"A rare opportunity. I'm very grateful to that wolf."

He traced the wolf on my arm lightly.

"What alias did you give Light?"

"Lisa Cortez."

"Hm. There's a chance that Light will investigate with us. I would feel better if you change your alias."

"To what?"

He smiled a bit.

"Valentina Wolf. I think that sounds good."

I smiled at him and nodded.

"I like it."

He looked at the tattoo again.

"You remind me of a wolf. The way you act, your loyalty, the way you protect your brother."

"Thank you."

I looked back at the screen.

"Why do you think Kira decided to go public now? I haven't been in Japan very long, but I know that Sakura TV isn't always the most respected. I doubt Kira would use that TV station."

"Hm. You have a point. And the victims… they're not the usual type of criminals. These are incredibly minor, or even for just speaking out against Kira. Something isn't right."

"A lot of things aren't right about all this."

"I mean this isn't like Kira."

I thought about it for a minute. There was really only one answer, and it was terrifying.

"A second Kira."

L spoke at the same time. We looked at each other and I grabbed his hand.

"¿Ahora que?" (What now?)

He squeezed my hand.

"What do you know about black magic?"

"Quite a bit. Why?"

"I need you to find something, anything, that could explain how Kira could kill the way he does."

"I have a bunch of books I brought with me. I'll be right back."

I tried to leave but he grabbed my wrist. I looked back into his eyes and he pulled me down.

"I don't care if you hit me for this."

Before I could ask him what he meant, his lips were on mine. I closed my eyes but I didn't move. He let go of my wrist as he pulled away. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

"I had to. I'm sorry."

I stared at him for a minute, trying to think of something to say.

"Esta no será la última vez." (This won't be the last time.)

I was rewarded with a smile. I was perfectly capable of doing my work and liking him at the same time. Seeing Ukita and the other two cops die the way they did made me realize that life is unpredictable and sometimes cruel. I would never go down without a fight, but if I was going to, I wasn't going down regretting not being with L.