In my defence I did write a number of takes of this chapter until I was satisfied, but I still really fucking failed all of you last year.
So, I'm getting my shit together (finally) and no, this won't be just an empty promise this time around. I actually have half of the next chapter typed up, and I really have to kick it up a notch for this story. I don't want it to end because I have so much fun writing it but I can't drag this project on forever.
Sooo, this one is a bit shorter than what I'm used to but next chapter they'll be in Japan and the story really becomes a roller-coaster.
Happy New Year guys, thanks for sticking with me so long even though I'm terrible towards you considering how long I take to update. I'm really surprised any of you are still following it.
Good Memories and Nightmares
Chapter ten
6th of December, 2012.
Los Angeles
Jade's POV
"I really should invest in a bluetooth or something. If I get caught driving while talking on the phone again, they won't let me go easy this time around." Matt said and I heard Kim chuckling. I was sitting on a bench inside a mall, pretending to read a magazine while incognito watching over Misa and Mogi inside a store. She couldn't decide between a pink and red jacket and since Mogi was completely clueless in that department, two of the store clerks came to her aid.
Kim was the only one that remained in the apartment, doing last minute preparations for our trip to Tokyo, even though we still weren't sure whether we were going today, tomorrow, or the day after. It kinda depended on the Task Force. That's why Mello was watching over them, while I was watching over Misa and Mogi. I figured Task Force could be better in getting away undetected than someone flashy like Misa Amane. Even now people would stop her and ask to take a picture with her. Who would have guessed Americans knew about a Japanese pop star and actor. Kudos to her.
As for Matt, he was doing the pesky job of getting rid of all our equipment and cars.
"For someone who has all sorts of tech equipment one would think you have at least one bluetooth." Mello spoke.
This conference call was keeping me sane for the most part because the magazine was goddamn boring. But even though I could listen through my headphones that went under my shirt, I couldn't really talk without looking as if I'm talking to myself.
"Because they look fucking ridiculous. I'm not a stock broker."
"They really do look lame." Kim commented.
"But if we continue to keep in contact by these conference calls I see that practicality far outweighs the aesthetics."
"If we keep talking about bluetooth speakers I won't continue to participate in these calls." Mello said and I chuckled, quickly masking it as a cough.
"Jade, you alive?" Kim asked me.
"Mhm." It seemed Misa and Mogi were done with their shopping because Mogi kept looking around as Misa went over to the exit. I fixed my baseball cap and stood up, going after them. I hid behind a large group of fifteenyear olds, so they couldn't really point me out from all of them, but I couldn't lose them even if I wanted to, since Mogi was basically a giant.
"What's going on?"
"They are going to the exit." I said quickly.
"Okay so I removed the equipment we installed to keep track on Task Force. I'm on my way to dump it. Car too." Matt informed us.
"Jade left you bugs and camera's from Misa's apartment in the trunk." Kim said. "I don't know if she told you."
"I've forgot. Sorry." I managed to say.
"Yeah I've seen it. No worries, J." I rolled my eyes, taking out my sunglasses as I stepped outside.
"Well, Task Force is going back to Japan sooner than we thought. Their bags have just been loaded into an airport van." Mello said. "Jade, what about Misa?"
"She's exited the mall but it doesn't seem she's done with the shopping just yet." She was standing in front of shop window. Mogi was looking at the street in front and a couple of cabs that were parked there. Then he waved to seemingly no one before following Misa into the store. I raised my eyebrow, trying to see a single person he could have possibly waved to. Then one of the cabs left the row. I decided to stay close.
"Either way, we should be ready to take off soon." Mello concluded.
"As soon as I dump the cars."
"Did you know that the flight from LA to Tokyo takes 11 to 14 hours?" Kim said and Matt whistled.
"I bet you Jade will just sleep through it."
"Where's the lie though?" I had to add.
"And the rest of us will die from boredom." I rolled my eyes, when a cab parked right in front of the store in which Misa and Mogi were. I went to the cab.
"Excuse me, are you free?" I asked the driver.
"I'm sorry m'am, I'm already taken."
"But I'll be late to my flight. The airport is a long way, you'll earn way more if you take me."
"I was already asked to drive there someone else. There's a cab down this street." I clicked my tongue but went ahead. Halfway there I turned around and saw Misa and Mogi entering that same cab that then sped off.
"I confirmed Misa and Mogi are going to the airport." I sighed.
"That settles it then." Mello said.
"Should I go after them?"
"I can't get you a ticket on their flight, Jade. It's completely full. We'll have to take the next flight." I heard Mello exhaling. I knew he thought of us losing sight of them as a waste of time and a potential setback. Still, there wasn't anything we could do at our end.
„Hell, I don't even know if I'll be able to get tickets for that next flight."
„You'll have to, Kim." I said.
„Well thanks a lot for telling me that in advance! All of you think things can be arranged in the last second but that's not the case, okay? It only makes me all annoyed and-„ I zoned Kim's out, continuing down the street. I was debating whether to haul a cab or just walk back to the hideout, when Mello interrupted my train of thoughts.
"Are you still near the mall?" It seemed no one was paying Kim's rant any mind.
"Yeah, out by the east entrance."
"I see you." I raised my brow, taking off my cap and looking at my left. His car was on the other side of the street so I dumped the magazine in the trash.
"Okay, I'm ending the call. See you two at the hideout." I said, entering the car and seeing Mello putting his phone away.
"We should have put tracking devices on them." He said as he shifted gears. I raised my eyebrow but soon figured he was still talking about us not being on the same plane as the Task Force.
"Yeah we should have microchiped them." I added sarcastically. He glared at me.
"At least their luggage." I threw my hands in the air. "It can't be helped, Mello!"
He tapped his fingers on the wheel and it was slowly driving me nuts. I turned my head to the other side, watching streets go by us.
"Do you want me to drop you off at the hideout or not?" I looked at him.
"Why? You're not going back?"
"Have to drive the car to Matt."
"Right. Take me back then. I haven't packed yet." He nodded and I soon exited the car, going up the stairs when I got an idea. Well, more like Mello's whining about us losing sight of the Task Force was so effective it made me construct a solution.
I dialed Idri's number.
"Hello Jade!" She chirped and I smiled.
"Hey Idri, what's up?"
„We're waiting for Rester's call. He spent the day investigating Kiyomi Takada."
„Make sure to pass the info to me."
„I will. Is that why you're calling?"
„No, I actually wanted to know if you're planning to go to Japan any time soon"?
„Some time in the near future, yes. Why?"
„What if I tell you that Task Force is going back to Japan this afternoon?"
„I'm listening."
„Unfortunately we cannot be on the same flight as them so we won't be able to follow them to their Tokyo hideout."
"I see your train of thoughts. You want me to ask Rester to tail them as soon as they land?"
"If it isn't too much of a problem."
"Give me a minute." I knew she went to consult with Near since it was his agent after all, but I had no doubt my proposal will work. Task Force's location is beneficial to Near as well and he won't miss on the opportunity to cooperate in order to learn new info.
"It's on. Near will contact Rester about it. As soon as he sends us the address I'll forward it to you." I smirked.
"Thanks a lot Idri. I'll tell Kim to message you the flight details."
"Sure. I'll keep in touch." She hung up and I grinned.
"That ought to keep him satisfied." I muttered, opening my bag and beginning the dreadful process of packing.
New York
Idri's POV
Not long after Jade's call, Rester's face greeted us from the screen.
„Commander Rester, had any luck gathering information on Kiyomi Takada?" Near asked, playing with his robot duck. The duck was making quaking sounds as he made it go around the room with the remote. Gevanni and myself ignored it but I could see Halle getting irritated as time went by. The sight was very amusing and as I built my tower of cards I mentally calculated how much longer before Halle loses it.
„I have. Near...Idri..." I looked up in surprise, seeing this was the first time Rester addressed me in the report as well.
„Kiyomi Takada of NHN was Light Yagami's classmate at Too University. And it seems they shared a special relationship during that time."
„What do you mean special?" Near asked and I chuckled slightly. I knew what Rester meant.
„I can't say with certainty but it seems other classmates thought they were more than just friends. I don't think this happened by chance."
„Hasn't he been friends with Misa Amane since the University, too?" I turned to Near. Gevanni nodded.
„So are we supposed to think that Light Yagami's ex-girlfriend becoming Kira's new spokesperson is coincidence or not?" Near asked.
„If you think Light Yagami chose her...I don't think so. Kira definitely made Takada his spokesperson only after Demegawa died."
„Was killed." He corrected me. „To use someone who could be linked to him wouldn't be in Kira's fashion."
„Besides, wouldn't Aizawa contact you to say Light Yagami has spoken with her in the past few days?" Near nodded, bringing his robot duck to an abrupt stop.
„If New Kira knows Light Yagami is Kira he would never choose Takada as a spokesperson." He looked at me.
„It doesn't matter whether he knows Light is Kira. If they were in any contact Light would have told him, or her, not to use Takada in such a way."
Near turned back to his toy.
„Commander Rester, can you go and approach Takada?"
„I'll try too..." He sighed. „Although currently, like Demegawa but rather because she's a lady, she's protected by far more Kira followers than Demegawa. For the worshipers, if Kira is a god then Takada is a goddess. She is always surrounded by bodyguards and paparazzi. However, it doesn't look like she's displeased by all that. She's acting like a queen." I rolled my eyes.
„She doesn't strike me as a particularly smart woman." Near muttered.
„Maybe I can get close to her disguised as one of the worshipers, but if while doing that I'm seen by Mr. Aizawa, it's likely that our actions will become known to L."
„You don't have to worry about that. I doubt they would tell L that you are a member of SPK. Mr. Aizawa has no reason to disturb our investigation." I said.
„If he does tell that to L and Commander Rester ends up dead, it will be all the more proof L is Kira." I gave Near a look. He really needs to stop being so insensitive. He saw my look and sighed. „But I don't believe Kira would do that unless he's put in a really tight position." I told him with my eyes how that didn't do much in fixing the original statement but he turned back to his toy.
„I think what we have to do next is to go to Japan." I said. „New Kira has to be in Japan. Because of the victims and the fact that he chose a NHN news presenter as a new spokesperson. Wouldn't you agree, Near?"
„Correct. We will bring this case to an end in Japan." I nodded with a slight smile, turning back to my cards. Near's duck began to quack again and Halle buried her head in her hands, Gevanni letting out a small chuckle.
"This has to be your new record, Sir." He said and corner of Near's lips curled up. I bit my lip, trying not to laugh while Rester rolled his eyes.
"I'll report back later."
"Commander Rester, I hope you haven't forgotten to be extra careful when following the Task Force. After all, Tokyo is their terrain."
"Don't worry Sir, I was trained for this."
Los Angeles
Kim's POV
Jade went to pack as soon as she entered the apartment. I tried yelling at her to come help me a couple of times but I figured she probably put headphones on, so I gave up.
Arranging a flight to Japan, no, scratch that, letting me arrange our whole move to Japan was slowly driving me nuts. That had to do with the fact that I was always well organized, very aware of every little thing that's important when booking a flight and planning to move to a whole other country. And because I was by now an expert in these things they were all like; 'okay, Kim will do all the work'.
It's not like I wouldn't do all the work, or that I hated it, but I hated doing it in the last second. Which was precisely what was I doing now. Oh Kim, quickly, book four plane tickets on next flight to Japan, find directions to the house we bought, take out the money, change the credit cards, change our identities, photoshop the pictures, the ID's, find every single relevant address – all this was driving me nuts because I had to do it like right now.
I was fuming but still typing and thinking how I have to throw out the food that will spoil, take out the trash, pack my toothbrush because I already forgot one in New York, pack my chargers, charge my spare batteries, take care of all the fluids and metal things that are not permitted on board...
„Yoo, Kim!" Matt was that kind to interrupt me in all this.
„Do you maybe have a spare battery for my Nintendo...ookay, forgot I asked." He saw the look on my face and went away. I don't need interruptions. If I did say that I have the spare battery but it's in my room, even with all the instructions he wouldn't be able to find it. Then I would have to get up and go get it myself and I had no time nor patience to deal with that right now.
„Oi, Mells, wanna sit next to me in plane? I have a feeling Kim would only strangle me if I sit next to her."
He was right about that. Also, his initial plan was to sit next to me? Okay, maybe I overreacted a bit.
„I said-„ He inhaled. „Can I sit next to you in a plane!" He yelled and I banged my fists on the table. „Will you stop shouting, Jesus Christ!" Matt decided it would be smart to leave while he's still in one piece and for a while I was left alone.
Then Jade finally exited her room.
„Finally. Would you mind taking out the trash?" I said but she didn't answer. I moved my chair a bit away from the desk and soon heard music emanating from her headphones. I have no idea how she didn't become deaf yet.
„Jade!" I yelled. „Jaaade!" She appeared on the doorway, taking off her headphones. „What?"
„Turn down the music, goddamit. I can hear it over here. And take the trash out!"
„Okay, geez." After that they all hid in their rooms until it was time to depart. I did all the work in the mean time and was the last one to pack. Yet no one told me anything so I guess they figured I'm not in a good mood. Or maybe they figured they owed me a whole lot for organizing and arranging everything. I didn't sign up to be their secretary but I sure acted like one.
Our flight was at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, two hours after Task Force left for Tokyo.
As soon as we boarded the plane I exhaled, letting myself relax. Everything was taken care of and I wanted to enjoy in my game and free drinks for this twelve hours.
„I think I might take a nap." Jade yawned. Then we saw Mello waving to get our attention, his seat a couple of rows in front of us.
„Hey Kim, do you want to trade seats?" Jade looked away, pretending she didn't care, and I chuckled.
„Yeah, sure." I went to take a seat next to Matt who scooted away as he saw me coming.
„Oh I won't bite." I slumped down.
„So the evil clone stays in Los Angeles?" I glared at him.
„Or maybe not." I rolled my eyes, giving him an extra battery for his Nintendo.
„You remembered." He grinned.
„Of course I did. I keep many tabs open in my brain."
„Thanks a bunch."
„You owe me."
„So, why change seats?" Jade asked Mello who leaned on his seat with an exhale.
„Matt asked me if the plural of bluetooth is blueteeth and we didn't even left the airport." Jade burst out laughing.
„I don't need twelve hours of that."
„Likewise, I don't need Kim playing games next to me for the whole flight." He looked at her from the corner of his eye. „So what do you plan to do for twelve hours?"
„Sleep."
„Should have known."
Also if anyone reviews it will definitely make me more eager to put up next chapter faster than planned. :)