It has been far, far too long. I hope it is good.
Ryuk stands in the shadows, behind Eli. Eli types madly on the computer in front of him. Ryuk lets out a long sigh. "This is so boring." He states. Eli doesn't turn around, ignoring him, he continues typing.
"How's it going?" Eli looks up. Aizawa is sits down next to him and looks at the screen. "Almost got it." Eli tells him. "Just… a few more…" Eli squints, his eyes strain from the bright screen. The computer beeps, "Got it!" Eli exclaims. A map pops up, and zooms in, pinpointing a location. "Great, send this to Matsuda." Aizawa leans back. Eli clicks his mouse a few times, and then emails the information to Matsuda.
Eli lifts his hands behind his head, stretching his back. Aizawa stands and pats Eli on the shoulder, "Let's go get some dinner." "Sure." Eli says and shuts down his computer. The two men walk out of the room, Ryuk follows.
Aizawa and Eli sit down at a table outside of a nearby diner. A waitress comes over and takes their order. "Light and Mora are here." Ryuk points out. As the waitress walks away, Eli looks up at the window Ryuk is pointing at. Light is standing in the window watching him. Mora is sitting down in the booth at the window, laughing and talking. Eli can't see who she is with.
"What is it?" Aizawa asks, turning his head towards where Eli is starring, "Is that Taro Akito's daughter?" He asks. Eli clears his throat and looks away, "Uh, yes." He pauses, "It is, Mora." Eli glances up again, he sees Light leaning towards Mora now. Surely, he is telling her that I am here. Mora ignores Light. Making no turn towards Eli.
Eli tries to turn his attention to Aizawa, "So, I hope that this isn't inappropriate of me to ask, but, are you two seeing one another?" Aizawa asks, taking Eli by surprise. Eli opens his mouth to answer but all that comes out is an 'umm' sound. "I'm sorry, I should have asked." Aizawa says. "No, it isn't that." Eli pauses as the waitress returns with their meals. Setting his food in front of him, Eli is suddenly starving, picking up half of his hamburger he continues speaking, "We spent a lot of time together, but we weren't really dating." Eli takes a bite, "Oh, I see, you stuck out." Aizawa laughs, Ryuk laughs too. Eli chokes on a bite of burger. Swallowing hard, he laughs too, "No, nothing like that. I just haven't seen her since I started working with the task force." "Does she know that you're working on the task force?" Aizawa asks before taking a bite of his food. "No, I didn't tell her," He lies, "Wow, this is good." He adds and takes another bite. Aizawa nods, "Yeah, they have an excellent chef here." They eat in silence for a few minutes.
Aizawa breaks the silence, "You should have let her know, girls are tricky, who knows what has been going through her head since she last saw you." Eli is surprised and doesn't hide it, "Well, I wasn't sure if I could tell anyone." He explains, "But she did know I was working, just not what on." "I guess she will find out today, if she comes out before we leave.' Aizawa jokes. Eli smirks and goes back to his meal.
"You do like her right?" Aizawa pushes the subject more. "Right now, we are just friends." Eli answers without looking up. Enough about Mora. "Getting irritated with his questions?" Ryuk asks with an impish laugh. Just wish I knew why he is so interested, I don't ask him personal questions.
"ELI!" Eli turns to see Mora waving excitedly at him, a girl he doesn't know is with her, and Light is directly behind them. Eli smiles and glance at Aizawa, who raised an eyebrow at him. "I can't lie, yes, I do like her." Eli grins. Mora gets to the table smiling brightly. "You would never suspect such a bright and happy person could possibly be Kira, would you?" Ryuk says loudly with a laugh. Mora's smile gets bigger with his words. "Hi." Mora says giving Eli a quick hug. The girl standing next to her nudges Mora in the ribs. "Oh, Eli, this is my best friend Jade." Mora introduces Eli and Aizawa to Jade. "Mora, how have you been?" Aizawa asks politely. "Well, I start classes next week. I can't wait to start running again." Mora sounds genuinely excited about this. "I didn't know you were a runner." Aizawa says. "Oh, she was quite the star!" Jade chimes in, putting her arm around her friend.
Mora turns to Eli, "Can we get together soon? Hopefully before classes start." Mora asks him. Eli opens his mouth, but he doesn't know what to say. "I'm sure we can let him have a day off." Aizawa says. "You are working together?" Mora feigns bewilderment. "Yes, I asked him to join the task force." Aizawa says. "Oh yeah! I knew I recognized you from somewhere! You lead the investigation, right?" Jade almost yells with excitement. "She's more interested in that than I am." Mora laughs. Jade begins to tell Aizawa her many theories, with them distracted Mora pulls Eli away from the table. "I'll be training a lot this week, but I choose the times. Send me a text and let me know if you get a day off." Mora says quietly. Eli shrugs. "It's not all business." Mora tells him, "I have missed your company, you can ask Light is you want." "Don't ask Light." Light says monotonal. Mora laughs. "I'll let you know. Listen, he was asking a lot about you and me. I don't like it." Eli tells her. "Well," Mora ponders for a moment, "Just keep an eye on it, and let me know if the questions get more serious." Eli nods at her.
Mora and Eli walk back over to the table. "Jade, lets get going. The movie is starting soon." Mora says pulling Jade back to reality. "Bye." She whispers to Eli and hugs him again. Eli sits back down after they are gone. The waitress comes out to their table and puts the bill on the table. Eli pulls his wallet from his pocket, but Aizawa puts his hand up in protest. "It's on me."
Eli unlocks the door to his apartment. It is nearly one in the morning. He hasn't been here in three days. "Oh finally." Ryuk zooms in and grabs an apple. Eli shakes his head in amusement and goes into his bedroom. Collapsing on the bed. "What, you're just going to bed?" Ryuk comes into the room. "Yes Ryuk, I am exhausted. I'll play with you tomorrow." Eli slips off to sleep.
Eli awakens the next morning, much later than he had intended to. Stretching tall, he walks across his room. He is fully dressed from the day before still. Gathering clothing from his dresser, he heads into the bathroom. Eli turns his shower on and looks at himself in the mirror as it warms up. I need to shave. But he doesn't. He climbs in the shower. After he is showered and dressed, he goes to find Ryuk. He finds him right where he expects. "Ryuk, do you ever sleep?" Eli asks. "I don't really require sleep." Ryuk tells him and throws him a xbox controller. "I just have to let Mora know I have the day off." Eli says as he sends her a text message. He sets his phone down on the coffee table in front of him and sits down on the couch. A few minutes later his phone buzzes. He checks it quickly. *I'll be there 1* Eli checks the clock, it is 10:30.
Eli makes good on his word and spends the morning playing video games with Ryuk. At ten to one Eli gets a text from Mora. "They will be here in a few minutes Ryuk." Eli tells him. *Come right in, my door is open* Eli sends the text and wanders over to his door unlocking it. Eli heads into his kitchen and searches for something to make for lunch. Eli hears the door to his apartment open and close. He pops his head into the hallway, Mora is dressed in her running clothes still. "Hey" Eli says, "Hi!" Mora comes into the kitchen, grinning. Eli asks if she is hungry and offers to make her some lunch. "Sounds great." Mora responds and runs her hand down his arm.
What is going on. I've barely seen or talked to her in three weeks and now… The hugs, flirty smiles, I don't think she had ever touched me before the other day.
Eli attempt to push back his confused thoughts.
She made it clear that she didn't want a relationship with me, has that changed? But more importantly Why?
Eli busies himself in making two sandwiches, he feels Mora's eyes following his moves. "You seem tense Eli." Mora says, she puts her hands on his shoulders from behind and rubs, "Is something wrong?" she asks in a whisper. Eli turns to face her. "I'm just, I guess, trying to figure out what's going on here." Eli motions in the space between them. "What do you mean?" Mora asks, her brows wrinkled with confusion. "I mean with you. You made your intentions very clear from the start, and now. All the touching." Mora cuts him off. "Do you want me to stop?" Her expression had changed, she's offended.
"No, let me finish. I like it, I wan it, but you didn't. You didn't want that type of relationship with me. I guess, I am wondering you feel it is necessary now that I am working with the task force." Eli whispers this lowly, he doesn't want Ryuk or Light to hear him. Mora obviously doesn't want to be overheard either. "That's not it. My feelings have changed." She whispers back. "I don't want you doing something you don't want to do. I am on your side, no matter what." Eli reassures her, taking her hand in his. "I know." She says with a small smile, she drops her voice back down to a whisper, "I've just been dying to…" she doesn't say it, she does it. She presses her lips to his, kissing him deeply. Eli's brain tries to tell him to pull away, but desire wins. Putting his arms around her, he presses her body to his and kisses her back.
It seems like an eternity has passed when they separate. Eli feels like he is on fire and can't help the boyish grin on his face. "I'll finish lunch." He says calmly. "Ok" Mora responds and leaves the kitchen.
Eli joins Mora on the couch, serving her a turkey sub. "Thank you" Mora takes a small bite. Ryuk and Light are not in the room. "Where…" Eli begins to ask, as they emerge from his bedroom. "Everything is all set Mora." Light says. Mora nods to him. "So, I know we have everything written out in advanced but, I think it is time to introduce a third now." Her voice is low. "Ok." Eli matches her tone. "I'll handle everything, I just wanted you to be aware I was starting." Mora tells him, Eli nods.
They finish their lunch silently. Once they are finished Mora asks, "Do you want to go do something?" "What did Light mean by everything is all set?" Eli asks, ignoring her question. "I made sure there was no bugs, or camera in the apartment. I had a feeling Ryuk wouldn't think of it." Light answers. Eli closes his eyes. "There is none." Light adds. "Good." Eli says thinking about how careless he was with Ryuk.
"Eli, you look exhausted, why don't you lay down?" Mora suggests and squeezes his fisted hand. "Yeah, I am. I've barely slept the past three weeks." Eli stands up, "Bye Mora, I'll see you soon." He swoops down and gives her a peck on the check, then strides to his room and closes the door behind him. Mora stands up and bring the plates to the kitchen, rinsing them off and putting them on the rack to dry.
"Let's go Mora." Light demands as she reenters the room. "Yeah, just a second." She says, swiftly walking, she opens Eli's door and enters his room, closing the door in Light's face.
"Relax Light." Ryuk says. "She cares too much." Light says drifting over to where Ryuk sits. "You want to share you genius plan with me?" Ryuk asks. "Just sending the investigation in a different direction." Light says vaguely. "Sounds like you care too much." Ryuk laughs. "Not really, bur I would like it to last longer before they get caught. Finding another human isn't something I want to do right now." Light says. "What about the investigation, anything to share?" "No, they aren't even considering her yet. Kira fanatics are the only people they are looking at mostly. They keep talking about some woman they are trying to get to join the investigation. Apparently, she is in the same league that 'L' was." Ryuk says with a smile.
"Who is it?" Light asks with interest. "You really want to know?" Ryuk asks snidely. "Yes." Light snaps. "Your human sister." Ryuk laughs loudly. "Sayu?" Light says in disbelief. "The very same, I guess the crimes of her evil brother inspired her to a life of justice." Ryuk finds humor in this. "I, I can't believe it. It must be someone else with the same name." Light doubts Ryuk. "No, it is her. That's why they think she is having trouble joining them, because of you." Ryuk mocks Light. "My greatest achievement as a human is what I did as Kira. I couldn't careless how she felt about it." Light snap coldly. Ryuk hit a nerve.
Mora exits Eli's bedroom. Her hair is down now. Light eyes her. "Ok, Light, let's go." She says as she walks to the door to leave. "Bye Ryuk, keep Eli safe." She says and closes the door behind her.
Once in the hall way Light begin questioning her. "It is none of your business." She snaps at him loudly. "You are easily distracted." Light states. "I am going to do what I need to do to keep him with me." She tells him. "So that's all it is?" Light questions. "Well no, but it is a big motivator." She admits. "Can we talk about this later." Mora huffs and continues walking down the hallway.
When she turns to go down the adjoining hall she bumps into someone. "I'm sorry." She stammers. Her eyes widen. "No problem." Aizawa says with a smile. "Sounded like you were arguing with…" Aizawa pauses to look around, "Someone. I didn't want to come barging down the hall, is everything ok?" He asks. "I was on the phone." Mora quickly shows him the phone in her hand. "Everything is fine, thank you." She adds. "Good to hear." Aizawa says and walks past her. "Eli is resting." Mora calls to him. Aizawa pauses in the hallway. "You work him too hard." "He has been working hard, I just wanted to update him." Aizawa says. "Maybe you should call first, he was laying down when I left." She says. "I texted him, he knows I was on my way over." He answers her smugly. "Oh, well, I am just warning you. In case he doesn't answer." Mora says embarrassed, "Bye, have a good day." She adds.
Aizawa turns the corner, Mora stands perfectly still until she hears him knock on Eli's door. Mora peaks around the corner, just as Aizawa walks through Eli's apartment door. Mora hurries down the stairs and out of the apartment building.
It is not until she closes her bedroom door before she speaks again. "I hate that man." She says angerly. Light stays silent, but she knows what he is thinking. Mora turns to Light, "I think the third Kira will make a grand entrance." Mora grins and begin writing in her death note.
Eli is back to work early the next morning. Everyone is gathered in a single room, waiting for Aizawa to arrive for a team meeting. Everyone is sitting at a large circular table jotting down last-minute notes. Eli checks his watch. It is not like anyone, but especially Aizawa, to be late.
Aizawa finally stumbles through the door over an hour and a half late. Ignoring everyone in the room he walks over to the computer and hits the master delete. Every file in the entire system begins deleting. Matsuda jumps up, as Stacy, Matsuda's wife, rushes to the computer to try and stop the delete. "What the hell are you doing?" Matsuda yells. Aizawa makes his way to the table. Everyone is on their feet, watching his strange behavior, as he frantically writes something on a piece of paper. As soon he is finished writing, he clutches his chest and lets out a pain scream. Aizawa falls to the ground as Matsuda rushes to him, shaking him violently. "He's… He's dead." Matsuda says look up to everyone. Eli stands there stunned at what just happened.
Matsuda grabs the note from the table, his eyes open wide, as he reads the message out loud.
"How many of me, could there be? I am number three."
It is the first day of classes. Sitting in her science class taking notes, her phone, which is on silent, lights up in front of her. Glancing at the screen, it is a text from Eli
*Can I see you tonight*
*So you're talking to me again?*
*I don't remember saying I didn't want to talk to you, I've just been busy*
*I'll be free at 4*
*I'll pick you up*
Mora returns to her notes.
By the time four o'clock rolls around Mora has gone to three classes and track practice. Sitting on the front steps she awaits Eli's arrival. Mora glances at her phone, it is 4:15. "He's here." Light informs her. Mora looks up from her phone to see Eli's car parked along the curb. Still in her track gear, she gathers her things and walks slowly to his car.
"Hi." She says through the open window. "Hey." He sighs, he is dressed in a suit. Moving a bag from the passenger's seat, "Jump in." he says. Mora climbs in the car and he pulls away from the school. "Listen, I needed to see you both." He addresses both Mora and Light. "Why?" Light asks from the back seat. "We have been working double time since Aizawa's death." Eli pauses for a moment. They disagreed on choosing to kill Aizawa, but the message got across. "A new investigator has joined, to lead the task force." He looks at Light in the rear-view mirror. "Who is it?" Mora asks. "Her name is, Sayu Yagami." Eli says still look at Light. Mora's head snaps to the backseat.
"Mora." Light says. "Yeah?" Mora responds uncertainly. "I think I may have to trade places with Ryuk for a while." Light says calmly. "What? No. No way." Mora yells. "It won't be forever." Light reassures her. "Can you even do that? What we just trade death notes?" She asks. "Yes, it can be done, but no it is not that simple. If you look back at the rules. 'The person in possession of the Death Note is possessed by a god of death, its original owner, until they die.' Even if you switched, I would stay with you, and Ryuk would stay with Eli." Light explains the process of how to switch the notes from one Shinigami to another and allow them to keep their original death notes.
"Why do we need to do this?" Mora asks in protest. "Because Ryuk will be useless here." Light says. "Thanks Light." Ryuk speaks for the first time, Mora forgot that he was even there. "Ryuk, forgive me, it is nothing to do with you. I just wasn't expecting this." Mora says. "Don't worry about it, I wasn't expecting it either." Ryuk lets out a laugh.
Mora turns to face forward, she sits silently looking out the window. "Eli, please drive us somewhere we can do this without being seen." Light asks. Eli nods, and gets on the highway. Mora doesn't speak again for the rest of the drive.
"We are here." Eli says, Mora looks around, unsure of how long they had been driving for. They are at a hiking trail. Getting out of the car, they begin to walk.
"Mora, tell me what is on your mind." Light's voice pierces the silence surrounding them. "Nothing Light." Mora stops walking. "This should be fine." She says and fold her arms across her chest. "Ok, Mora, are you ready?" Light asks. Mora pulls out her death note. "I relinquish ownership of this death note." Mora whispers, she passes it back to Light, who passes it to Ryuk, who drops it back to the ground. Mora picks up her death note. Eli and Ryuk complete the same process as well.
"So. What now?" Mora asks. "Now I can go to task force headquarters with Eli." Light says.
"Ok, let's go home then." Mora says and begins walking back to the car.