Chapter 10

Trapped Rat


November 10, 2010; Washington D.C.; SPK Headquarters

November 10, 2010; Los Angeles, California; Mafia Hideout

It was eerie. The song she played as she sat and rocked quietly at the piano. Near silently thanked and dismissed Giovanni and continued into the room.

"Moonlight Sonata, Ideal?"

"They're storming his hideout today. They found it."

Mello looked around at the dead bodies of the mafia members, "They're here."

Near sat on the empty space on the piano bench, soaking in the sad sound of the song she was playing, "Thank you Near, for this. I thought I wouldn't get to play again until this was over."

"Of course, whatever you need."

Mello eyed the notebook under one of the bodies, shouting to his last two living cronies to keep it safe, he dashed up the stairs.

The melody had ceased all movement on the floor below the geniuses. The rest of the SPK sat in reverent silence, unsure of the occasion for the melancholy song, yet feeling the remorse, regardless.

Matsuda looked to his superior, asking if he was ready. Receiving a short nod, they moved into the harsh gunfire.

The young boy watched her elegant fingers. Then looked up at her face, it didn't shock him that her violet eyes were closed. She was talented; looking at the keys was a luxury she didn't need. She simply felt the music, and gave it life.

A teargas can was tossed into the room and among the confusion the Task Force was able to continue, steadily closing in on a desperate Mello.

"You could have warned him."

"He needs to learn. All I can hope for now is that they don't kill him. I can't lose anyone else, no matter what kind of decisions they make."

Mello ordered Soichiro to come into the room alone, leaving the rest of the team, and even Light, wondering, and waiting.

The peak of the song sounded ever so more dramatic as she started to cry. Near simply blinked his tears away and she gave a soft chuckle, "You never did like to cry in front of me. Always wanted to show me what a big boy you are."

"This song is supposed to draw and emotion."

"Yes, it is."

They stared each other dead in the eye, Mello unaware of the person coming to his aid. Several gunshots sounded and an explosion sucked the air and life from every corner.

The song ended and Llana put a hand on his shoulder, "Come on Near. We have work to do."

November 12, 2010; Los Angeles, California; Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Matsuda put his head in his bandaged hands. Everything was sore and his heart ached. Soichiro Yagami had died, his father figure, his role model, and his friend. And now he didn't have anyone to tell him everything would be fine, he didn't even have the energy to call his fiancé or daughter.

"Touta?"

That soft voice didn't belong to any of the men on this hotel with him, and Misa and Yuki had more pitch. He looked up and Llana smiled at him sadly, "I'm so sorry."

Matsuda almost fell from the bed into her arms and cried into her stomach. She soothingly put her hands through his hair, "It's going to be ok Touta. I promise."

"I don't really have anyone to turn to now."

She grabbed his, face, gently, "You have me." She kissed his lips, "You will always have me."

"Does anyone know you're here?"

"No." she smiled and sat on the ground in front of him, "I came for you."

Matsuda rest his head on her chest and sighed in relief. She studied all the other bandages on his arms and face, "Are you ok? Jesus you look so…"

"Beat up?"

"I'm sorry I wasn't here."

He shook his head and squeezed her waist tighter, afraid that if he let go she would disappear, "You're here now. How long can you stay?"

"As long as you need me too."

Illiana stood and pulled him to his feet, sitting him in a chair in the living room like portion of his room. "Is your neck ok?"

"Yes. They just wanted to keep it on. It hurts."

The woman giggled as he whined like a child. It was cute. She relieved him of the medical collar and rubbed between his shoulders at the base of his neck. He moaned and they both blushed.

"Sorry. I-it feels nice." He mumbled.

Llana could see the red on his ears from where she was standing; she could imagine the pink in his cheeks too. She rubbed lower, ignoring his apology and smirking as his breath came more rapid.

He yelped as her hands came close to his bottom and her forehead dropped on his shoulder. She giggled, "Sorry. I couldn't help myself."

Touta shivered as her breath hit his ear. It took everything in him to keep from moaning again. Her hands traveled back up and over his shoulder, he grabbed her hand to stop her and stood from the chair. "Illiana?"

The woman smiled as he turned to face her, hooking her hands around his neck, "I think I know that tone."

Llana awoke to the sun beaming on her face and bare body. She rolled over and pouted at the absence of the man she loved. A paper on the pillow caught her attention, "Sorry for leaving you alone. Light likes to start bright and early. You probably have to go back today, you're free to. I love you." ~Touta.

Downstairs Matsuda peeked at his phone and read the text message he had just received, "Be careful, and I love you too." ~Llana

The female genius dressed quickly and slipped sunglasses on her face as she entered the lobby.

"Llana pick up." Yuki glared at her phone as it continued to ring.

She looked over at the short woman and let her own phone ring, catching the woman's attention. Yuki looked over at her, "Llana?"

Llana nodded and gave the woman a quick hug before silencing her with a finger to her own lips and hailing a taxi.

Yuki smirked as she turned back to the building, "Well, at least Matsuda's gonna be happy today."

November 15, 2010; Washington D.C.; SPK Headquarters

Near sighed as he waited for "L" to answer the call he was putting through. He looked over at Llana and she nodded before smiling sweetly, "Stick it to em' Near."

"N?"

"So you fail in your mission, yet you regain the notebook and use it illegally. Or did Kira decide that he liked the Task Force?" Near said smugly into his headset.

"Don't question my action's Near."

"Don't use my name."

There was a silence as Near played with his hair. Light sighed, "Was there something that you specifically need?"

"Just a question. Mello escaped but his notebook was recovered correct?"

"Correct."

Near smiled, "That is all. Asking any further questions is useless."

Llana slipped off her own headset as Near swiveled his chair to her. She sighed, "He's behaving like a trapped rat."

"It only raises suspicion." The young genius said calmly.

Halle looked over at Llana, she actually knew the woman from working as a Secret Service, and so she was pleasantly surprised to not only have a female to talk to, but to have it be Llana.

"So you're saying that this kid playing L could be Kira?"

"As far as I'm concerned, he is Kira. But I can't call him out, none of us can just yet, he'll trap us. Just like he did L." the other woman stood from her seat and glanced at her watch. "Near, it's late, you need to sleep."

Giovanni chuckled at how the woman treated the child like…a child.

Near glared at her, but she knew it was playful, "I have no time for sleep. I must work."

She smiled, "You sound like L. But when I say sleep, you sleep."