A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for being totally off schedule for this update I had some school things that needed to be taken care of. Anyways, as most of you know I'm writing a bunch of one-shots that take place before the story below so if you have any suggestions on different events that you might want to read about from L's or Anna's past or just something from their lives at Wammy's let me know either in the reviews or PM me. Without futher adue, here we go!
-Insaine
Anna's POV
I had opted to sit on the floor next to L's chair much to the Task Force's confusion. Matsuda had offered me his seat at least eight times and if he did it again I was going to snap. Luckily the subject changed. "Regarding the disappearance of Naomi Mitsora, shouldn't we open an investigation into the matter?" Aizawa asked looking between L and I.
L swallowed the cake he had in his mouth, "If we do it should be coordinated separately from the Kira case. Also we'll have to use police sketches instead of actual photos."
I nodded in agreement, "Although, I'm not sure there's any need to look for her. If she's looking for Kira-"
"We're talking about someone who's been missing for four months already. Odds are she's probably dead."
I narrowed my eyes at the investigator, "Don't say that. She could still be alive."
"If you are right, however, I find it odd we haven't found a body yet. If we did it could provide us with some much needed physical evidence." I leaned into L's chair and sighed. This was the longest investigation ever.
The door opened suddenly and Watari stepped into the room, "Ryuzaki, something seems to be happening. Turn on Sakura TV. Anna, get out." L flipped on the TV and I looked to Watari. What could be so bad that he'd attempted to order me out of the room?
"Watari, I appreciate the concern over me, but I'm an adult and I'm working on this case too. I'm staying." He seemed to glance to L for an okay, but L's eyes were glued to the TV.
The newscaster's voice filled the silence of the room, "In other words our staff is being held hostage by Kira. Besides that we have a professional obligation to share this with you. I assure you that this is not a hoax and Sakura TV isn't airing this for sensationalism."
"Kira's hostages?" Matsuda asked as I moved to the arm of L's chair.
"What is this?" Aizawa asked sounding infuriated.
"Four days ago, our program director here at Sakura TV received four tapes. After thorough examination, it is clear that they are from Kira himself. The first of these tapes contained a prediction of two suspected criminals who had recently been arrested. As predicted both men died of sudden heart attacks yesterday. Kira has instructed us to air the second tape today at exactly five fifty-nine PM and we do intend to comply with his demands." My eyes flickered to the clock as the newscaster continued talking. Two minutes to go. L was on the edge of his seat and I was as well.
"This has to be another fake, don't you think?" Aizawa implored.
"I doubt it. I'm pretty sure Sakura TV wouldn't even stoop that low." Matsuda replied. I was about to add in when a voice announced the video.
L's POV
Kira's name popped up on the screen in a fancy font similar to the one Watari and I used. The tape didn't start right away. Awkward shuffling could be heard and then someone clearing their throat. Something was wrong. This person on the tape was nervous. I had deduced that Kira had reached a god-like complex. He wouldn't be nervous to address the world. I looked to Anna. Our eyes locked and I knew we'd come to the same conclusion. "I am Kira. If this video is being aired April fifteenth and exactly five fifty-nine PM then the time now is five fifty-nine, forty-six.." The voice counted up to forty nine and then instructed us to change the channel.
"Change it!" I commanded and Watari did as I told him. Sure enough the news anchor was dead.
"It can't be!"
"How could he?"
"Change the channel back! And I need you to bring us another TV, Watari… Make it two." I commanded urgently once more.
"Yes," was all he responded before leaving to do as I asked and handed Anna the remote. She had her mouth covered with one hand in horror. Death had never been a topic she wanted to see or hear about. She couldn't even watch horror films. The disembodied voice proclaimed the death of another newscaster who disagreed with him.
"Ryuzaki?" Matsuda's voice rang out in the otherwise silent room.
"Change the channel to twenty-four!" The man was dead, "Please change it back." I looked down to the ground and thought about what was being said. Kira had told us he was going to send a message to the world… The realization of what was happening hit me like a truck, "Stop this broadcast! We can't let him finish!"
Every phone was out and in use, "Get Sakura TV on the line!" I continued to watch the TV.
Anna's POV
"It's no good. I'm trying but none of my contacts at the station have their phones on." Aizawa said as I redialed the number to the station yet again.
"Nobody's picking up at reception either!" Matsuda said desperately.
"Damn it!" The normally silent investigator shouted running toward the door.
"Ukita!" Aizawa was the first one to react.
"Where are you going?" I asked standing up to stop him, but L caught my hand in a silent order to tell me to let him go.
"I'll stop this broadcast myself if that's what it takes!" The smaller man left, slamming the door in his haste. I took my place next to L once again and stared into the TV screen.
"People of the world please listen to me. The last thing I want to do is kill the innocent. I hate evil and love justice," Kira proclaimed. I placed my hand on L's shoulder in a way I hoped was comforting, "I've always thought of the police as allies not enemies. I intend to create a new world. A world free from all evil. If you are going to join me in my mission, I know we can make it happen. As long as people don't try to catch me, I promise the innocent will not die. If you don't agree with me, all I ask is that you don't make your views public in the media."
I looked away from the TV, "I hope Ukita gets there soon." I voiced as Kira continued only to be cut off by another news cast tuning in on the second TV.
"We interrupt this program to bring you live in front of Sakura TV station." I squinted at the image on the screen and covered my mouth to keep a sob from coming out. I moved from L and the horrific image that now burned the back of my mind. I moved to the other side of the room and shook my head. "As you can see, someone has collapsed in front of the doors. Again we are coming to you live in front of Sakura TV station."
Matsuda's POV
"Ukita! Damn it! Kira did this!" Aizawa was running toward the door, but came to an abrupt stop at the sound of L's monotone voice.
"Mr. Aizawa where are you going?"
Aizawa rounded on him in a fit of anger, "Where do you think? I've got to go down there!"
"You can't. Please, think about this rationally." L implored, but his tone didn't change.
"What? You want me to just sit here and watch TV?" Aizawa was pissed. I could see Anna turn from the back of the room to watch the banter between her almost robotic boyfriend and the heated officer.
"If this is the work of Kira and you go down there you'll only meet the same fate."
"L, please." L didn't turn to her, but he stopped speaking immediately. Anna approached where Aizawa was standing and I could see the unshed tears in her eyes. "Mr. Aizawa, what L is trying to say is that we are down two men already. We don't need to lose you too," Her eyes fell to the floor as if trying not to cry, "Ukita made his decision and gave his life for the case. I didn't know his as well as you or Mr. Matsuda did, but I know he was a great man. However, if you go down there you'll accomplish nothing except getting yourself killed and that is something we can't allow." I watched as Aizawa looked between her and L. He still looked furious, but he seemed to be calming down. It always amazed me to see Anna and L work together. L was always so flat. His voice more or less devoid of emotion. He almost seemed robotic, but Anna was emotional and full of life. She seemed to be the human side of the team. Still, despite their striking differences they seemed to be in sync, even when they were arguing as we'd seen them do a few times, half the time they didn't even need words to come to an agreement. It was very strange.
"You told us Kira couldn't kill without a name. So how could this happen?" Aizawa's voice was pressing with an underlying tone of anger.
Suddenly panic filled me and I looked away from Anna to L, "The alias's and fake IDs are worthless. What are we going to do, L? You don't think Kira has all our names already, do you?"
We all had our eyes on L. "That's a definite possibility, but you'd think if that's the case he'd be able to kill off the entire task force before making a move. Initially, I deduced that Kira needed both a name and face to kill, but based on what we just witnessed I wouldn't say it's impossible for Kira to kill with just a face. All I know is that Kira is either in that TV station or somewhere close by. In a place where he could see everyone who enters the building. Perhaps-"
"If Kira is in the area, isn't that why we should be down there?" Aizawa's temper was starting to rise again and by the way Anna's body tensed I could tell she noticed.
"For all we know he could have just placed surveillance cameras in the area. If we rush down there unprepared we'll all be killed-" In a flash Aizawa had his hand on L's shoulder. Anna took a step closer, obviously waiting to see what L was going to do.
"Wasn't it you who said we'd need to risk our lives to catch Kira?"
Anna's POV
Aizawa had a white knuckle grip on L's shoulder. I watched, waiting to see if L was going to react. I could hear his voice almost breaking as he spoke, "I meant what I said, but risking my life and doing something I know will cost me my life are two different things."
"Oh, yeah?" Aizawa's grip tightened and I could see L shaking.
"Stop it, you're hurting him." Aizawa looked to me, but didn't loosen his grip on L's shoulder. I gripped the collar of the tall man's coat and shoved him causing him to stumble back across the room. "I suggest you stop acting like an impulsive idiot and act like the police officer you say you are. I'm a lot stronger than I look, Mr. Aizawa and I'd be a shame if I had to hurt you, but if you lay another hand on him, I won't hesitate to do so." Even I could hear the ice in my tone. Aizawa didn't make an effort to come toward me, he simply stared at me in shock obviously surprised by the forced I'd pushed him with.
"Please control yourself. We've lost Ukita. I understand you want to go down there, but if something were to happen to you as well…" L's voice trailed off and I could hear the fear and hurt in it. I knelt in front of him so he was forced to look at me.
"L, come with me please?" He did as I asked and I turned to the two remaining members of the task force, "If something happens, inform us immediately. We won't be but a moment." I shut the kitchen door and turned to L.
L's POV
Anna's eyes met mine for a moment before she opened her arms and enveloped me in a tight embrace. I returned it whole heartedly, "Anna, I just got a man killed."
She shushed me, "No, you didn't. It wasn't you who made him go down to the station. He made his choice."
I shook my head and tightened my grip on her, "I didn't stop him either." I couldn't show this part of myself to the other two men in the next room. I needed to be the strong one, the level headed one. I was in charge of this investigation and it was my job to keep everyone calm.
"L, it's going to be okay. Just breathe. Sit down, too please. Like a normal person for a second." She held a slight teasing tone in the last part. I supposed she did that to calm me down. She walked up to me and began to take off my shirt.
I grabbed her wrists, "Anna! What are you doing?"
She rolled her eyes at me, "I'm checking your shoulder. Stop being a big baby." I pulled off my shirt and she ran her fingers lightly over the spot where Aizawa's hand had just been. I flinched and Anna frowned. "That's going to be a bruise. He has a strong grip."
"You're telling me." I voiced as Anna went to the freezer.
She came back with a stick on ice pack. "This is going to be really cold, but it'll help." I nodded, trusting her and she stuck it on. I inhaled sharply at the sudden cold. She giggled and I wrapped my arms around her and rested my head on her stomach for a second before looking up at her. She leaned down and kissed me. I heard the door open and scrambled to pull my shirt back on.
It was Matsuda, "Am I interrupting something?"
Anna placed her hand on my good shoulder and smiled at me then him, "No, nothing. What's up?"
He fidgeted uncomfortably, "Come look."
Anna's POV
"A vehicle has just driven through the front doors of Sakura TV!" The newscaster's voice rang out in concern.
"Well, that's one way to get in without Kira seeing you."
"But who would do that?" Matsuda asked.
I shrugged. "I wouldn't put it past one of you lot, but since you're both here…."
"A police car has just arrived." My eyes widened in surprise.
"So we're not alone. There are still officers willing to stand up to Kira."
I felt a faint smile play at my lips, "You'd be surprised at how quickly people rally together in a time of crisis." He looked down at me in surprise with a faint pink across his cheeks.
"Mr. Aizawa, you know the deputy director's cellphone number right?" Aizawa dialed it in and handed the phone to L. We all waited in anticipation. "This is L. There's something I need you to do for me. Some police officers may see this broadcast and feel moved to take action in the name of justice. If you don't take control of this situation quickly, there will be a disaster." I placed a firm hand on L's back to let him know I was there and supported whatever plan he was hatching.
"Two police officers just collapsed on the sidewalk! I think we may be in danger! We're moving away from the scene." I watched the image from the news camera retract and shake as it backed away.
Watari's phone went off, "It's detective superintendent Yagami."
"Call him back immediately and give me the phone." L's voice was strong and commanding. He sounded nothing like the broken hearted man I had been int kitchen with moments earlier. Watari handed him the phone, "Yes, it's me, Mr. Yagami. So you're the one driving the police van."
Collective gasps filled the room, "L, tell me you're joking."
L shot me a silencing glance seeing as both his hands were preoccupied with a cellphone, "But what about your condition? Are you alright?" He listened for a moment and then nodded to himself, "Please hold the line for a second." He pulled the other phone to his ear and lowered the one he was talking to the chief on, "Deputy Director Kita Moura? It was chief Yagami who drove the van into the building. Are your preparations complete?" L dropped the phone to his side and picked up the line Mr. Yagami was on once again, "Mr. Yagami, listen to me. In exactly five minutes I want you to come out the front entrance." We all listened to the news as we waited for Mr. Yagami's arrival.
When the doors to the hotel room, Mr. Yagami was leaning against Watari. "Chief Yagami!"
"Welcome back, Chief!"
"Ryuzaki, I apologize for taking matters into my own hands. I have to admit I got a little bit carried away. Here, these are the tapes and an envelope. Everything that was sent to Sakura station is in there."
L looked into the bag, "I can't thank you enough."
"I think I'd better rest for a minute." The chief began to start toward the couch, but I placed a hand on Watari's shoulder to stop them.
"Chief, you should lie down. Please, go rest in the bedroom. I'll make you some tea to calm your nerves."
He nodded, "Thank you, Anna."
"Mr. Aizawa, could you please take this to the crime lab right away?" L asked handing the taller man the bag. I froze.
"I still have a few friends down there so I'll have them look at every inch of this."
"Very good. While you're doing that, I'll watch these tapes and see if they can tell us anything."
"That's not necessary, Mr. Aizawa. I studied forensics in school. I'm more than capable of doing this myself. As L knows very well, we don't need a crime lab." I was almost angry, but I kept myself in check. I couldn't allow myself to become angry. Instead I kept my tone icy.
"Anna, I'm well aware you can do it. However, I need you up here with me and the moment."
I met L's eyes and frowned, "Fine."
L's POV
"Well? What do you make of these?" Anna was sitting on the couch rubbing sleep out of her eyes to my left. Aizawa's question had awoken her out of a peaceful sleep I was grateful she'd fallen into while I watched the tapes. She would have been panicking right now if she knew exactly what they contained.
"They were definitely interesting. If the police had said yes to cooperating with Kira, tape number three was to be played; tape four if the answer was no. Tape three covers the terms of cooperation. Simply, he's asking us to broadcast the names and faces of more criminals. He seems particularly interested in people who have hurt or taken advantage of the week. Of course, Kira would play a judge in all of this. Furthermore, he wants police officials and L to appear on TV and make a public announcement that we plan to cooperate with him. He needs our names and faces so he can kill us if the police do anything suspicious. In other words, he'd hold our lives as insurance." Anna's face went pale.
"And the contents of the other? If we said no?" Chief Yagami asked.
I placed my thumb to my lips, "It was worded differently, but he more or less said the same thing. Mr. Yagami, I think it goes without saying that the answer is no. Please have someone take tape number four to Sakura TV and authorize them to broadcast it."
Anna's POV
L had pulled me onto his lap as Sakura TV began the broadcast. I felt my heart begin to beat quickly, something was wrong. L didn't do this, especially not in front of people. He was a private person and only did things like this out of necessity. Something was very, very wrong. I wrapped my arms around him and leaned into him as I listened.
"It's clear that the police wish to oppose me. This will not go unpunished," the high pitched Kira voiced over the TV, "So I'll start by taking the lives of the general director of the NPA or the detective known as L, who is currently leading the investigation against me." I pushed myself out of L's reach and walked to the other side of the room covering my nose and mouth with my hands. I was not going to cry. "The general director or L, who will pay the price for your refusal to cooperate in the creation of the new world? You have four days to decide."
I heard whispers across the room and then felt a strong hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Matsuda giving me a sympathetic smile. "Come on, Anna. It'll be alright, we're going to weigh in with ally nations and see what they think."
I crossed my arms and looked away from Matsuda, "I know what they think." I turned to L, Chief Yagami, and Aizawa, "I think you all should go home for tonight. Spend some time with your families." They looked to L as if to ask if it was alright. L didn't respond he simply looked at me. When no one moved I straightened up and my voice turned to ice, "I understand I voiced that last statement as a suggestion, but it was very much so an order. Leave." The room was cleared within seconds. I kept my arms crossed and looked to L shaking my head, "You weren't going to tell me? L, this is crazy. You're going to get yourself killed. This…" I looked to the TV, "What they hell just happened? I'm not going to let you die." I knew my words didn't make any sense and it was just rambling that didn't fit together, but I was just so upset.
"Anna, this is how it has to be." L's voice was as calm as ever.
"L, I know what you're thinking and I'm not going to let you do this." L didn't say anything as he stood up. He reached out as if to hug me and I jumped away. "No, don't touch me. I want to know what's going through your head! L, talk to me!"
He turned away from me, "I don't want to argue with you, Anna."
I gripped his shoulder and turned him to face me, we were toe to toe, "Tough shit, L you have to. Why didn't you tell me what was on that tape before they played it? Why did you act like everything was fine?"
L shook his head, "I didn't want you to worry, Anna."
I bit the inside of my cheek, "Well, I'm not worried anymore because you aren't head of this isn't your case anymore. It's mine. I told you before, you're no good to the world dead. Kira won't know the difference between you and I. He doesn't know who L is."
L gripped my shoulders tightly, "Anna, we don't even know for sure what's going to happen. For all we know, the nations might say the general director should-"
"L, I do not appreciate that bullshit you're trying to sell me. We both know exactly what's going to happen." I said shrugging him off.
He sighed, "Anna, please? You know this wasn't my case from the start. It's always been our case."
I scoffed, "Then why didn't I know what was going on with the tapes? Why has it always been you who makes the final decisions? The police coming here, the tapes… you didn't even ask me what I thought!"
"Ryuzaki, Anna, if I may interrupt." Watari walked into the room. I wanted to shout at him to leave, but I couldn't. He was like a father to me. He raised me after what happened with my parents… I couldn't disrespect him that way. "Both of you need to work together if we want to finish this case and get out of it alive. Chances are the nations are going to choose to have L appear on TV as a sacrifice to Kira. However, we are going to try to prevent it. We have four days. I understand this is a draining process, Anna but you need to trust him. The same goes for you, Ryuzaki." L and I looked at one another and I allowed him to take me into his arms. "Other than that, Near called a few minutes ago. He would like you to call him back, Anna."
I nodded and slipped out of L's embrace, but held his hand tightly, "Do you want to talk to the boys? Chances are Matt and Mello will want to get on the line once they hear who Near's on the phone with." L nodded and kissed my forehead. I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach that told me this could be the last time the boys heard L's voice.
L's POV
I held Anna's hand as Chief Yagami entered the room. "Ryuzaki, I'm afraid it's as you thought. Several of our ally countries have weighed in and they are all in favor of handing the real L appear on TV." Anna let go of my hand and covered her face before taking a deep breath and regaining her composure.
I took a bite of cake, "Well, I think that's the most appropriate choice, given the options. Anyways, we still have three days before it happens. Maybe we can find some counter measure. After all, it would really annoy me if I was killed by the first person to jump on the Kira bandwagon." Anna looked at me, obviously annoyed with how light I was making the whole situation.
"Ryuzaki, what do you mean by that?" The chief asked.
Anna let out a frustrated sigh, "Don't tell me you haven't been thinking it." She pinched the bridge of her nose and I jumped in before she could continue.
"There's a strong possibility that this Kira is a fake. No… I think we should consider him more of a second Kira." I said scooping another fork full of cake into my mouth.
"A second Kira?" Aizawa asked.
"I don't understand. Why do you think there's a copycat? What made you come to that conclusion?" Matsuda asked. Anna leaned forward and I watched her bite back a retort to the young officer's question.
"I looked at the victims he used for his predictions on tape number one. Their purpose was to prove to Sakura TV that this was the real Kira. Both names only appeared in newspapers and tabloids. They weren't exactly hardened criminals. Kira has no need to prove his identity with such minor criminals. Which reminds me. The perspective of the second Kira. He'd want to pick criminals he was sure wouldn't be killed by the real Kira first."
"Ryuzaki, if you had to put a number on it, what is the probability of a second Kira?" Chief asked.
"This time I'd say it's more than seventy percent. I really don't like the way he operates. It's not like Kira." I said more to myself than the task force.
Anna looked down at me in confusion, but Matsuda asked first, "Not like him?"
"In the past he wouldn't kill innocent people, with the exception of those trying to catch him."
Anna laughed at me, "So you prefer the lesser of the two evils?"
I pushed her lightly, "Anyways, if we could catch one, it could provide us with a lot of information on how to catch the other. Mr. Yagami, I would like your permission to ask your son to cooperate with us through the investigation." Anna paled.
"If you want my son to join the task force, does that mean you no longer suspect him?" Chief asked sounding a bit too hopeful.
"Well, I can't say he's been completely cleared, but his deductive skills would be helpful to us right now." I said and watched him.
He seemed thoughtful for a moment before answering, "If my son wants to cooperate with you I see no reason to prevent it."
I gave a light smile, "I appreciate that."
"Ní féidir liom. Nach bhfuil muid ag go kid bheith ar an tascfhórsa. Níl sé ag tarlú mar sin é a chur as d'intinn ceart anois." Anna spat at me in Gaelic and I frowned.
"Anna, no one here knows what you're saying."
"A dhéanann tú."
I sighed. We'd all been required to learn some other language while at Wammy's house. Anna had opted for Gaelic as well as a few others. I'd learned most languages that one included. She, however, only spoke it when she didn't want anyone else to know what she was saying to me seeing as it is such an unpopular language. "Anna, please. Muinín dom."
She bit her lip for a moment before conceding, "Fine." I turned from the defeated looking Anna who was still mumbling to herself in the foreign language.
"I would like to request, however, that you do not tell him we suspect this latest Kira might be a fake. I don't want him to know that yet. Make it appear to him we are chasing the same Kira." The task force mumbled their acceptance of my request and I nodded to them. "Alright, let's get back to work."
A/N: I thought you guys might like some translations so you don't need to look up Gaelic.
Ní féidir liom. Nach bhfuil muid ag go kid bheith ar an tascfhórsa. Níl sé ag tarlú mar sin é a chur as d'intinn ceart anois. - "I don't. We are not letting that kid join the task force so get it out of your mind right now."
A dhéanann tú.-"You do."
Muinín dom- "Trust me."