You had been working quietly all morning when the phone set on your table began to vibrate. Setting down your tools, you picked up the phone and quickly scanned the caller I.D. The number was withheld, and you sighed. 'Great, just what I need…another mission…'
Regardless, you left the room, locked yourself in a toilet cubicle and answered the call.
"Is this Ahiru?" a female voice asked.
A bolt of familiarity surged through you, but you pushed it aside to concentrate on the caller. "Yes, it is," you answered, the words sounding low and gruff through the voice modifier.
"Come to the God money gate, I will be waiting for you there," the smooth voice said, before the line was disconnected.
You stood there in silence, contemplating the meeting place. 'The…God money gate? Well, it must be somewhere around Tokyo if they want me to meet them there now…Kami…kane…mon? I don't know of any place called that…but a God gate sounds like it would be near a temple or shrine of some sort…Wait, unless they meant a sum of money…then it would be Kami nari mon…that gate that sits outside Sensoji Temple. Yes! That must be it!'
"I have to go out for a bit," you shouted through the main room entrance, struggling to pull on a backpack.
The investigators looked up in surprise, and L opened his mouth to ask your destination, but you had already sprinted off. 'Ahiru-chan…please keep yourself safe…' L thought, biting on his finger.
Wearing your trademark dark coat, sunglasses and brimmed hat, you made your way to the first gate of the Sensoji Temple. An undistinguishable figure was standing behind the gate, hiding in the shadows. Casually, you strolled over and leant against the other side of the gate. Realising that the caller hadn't given you any way of identifying them, you waited for the other person to speak first. "Ahiru?" a voice asked from the other side of the gate.
"What is your mission for me?" you answered with another question.
"She wants to let you know that even though it's not enough, that she's sorry for what she did to your family as well as you…ever since your last encounter, she's been changing. She's no longer the person who would do anything for money…now, she is…someone who works everyday to be worthy of your forgiveness…" the voice said, sadness tingeing the words.
Your entire body tensed as you realised who they must be talking about. "My Grandma is working…for my forgiveness?"
"Yes," the voice continued, "She's been working almost non-stop for charities across Tokyo…trying to raise money and save lives…all for you."
'All for you…' the words played themselves over and over inside your confused mind. 'Why would she do that though? The last time we met she was bent on killing me…she did let me live but…that was because she said she still had a use for me…I can't trust her. This is a trap.'
"If she's working for my forgiveness, then where is she? Why couldn't she ask me in person?" you demanded, on alert to every movement in the vicinity.
The figure suddenly moved and you reached for your hidden blade in your long sleeve. You pressed the figure against the gate, knife held to their throat. "Call off your attack if you want to live," you growled menacingly, watching through your peripheral vision for any sudden assaults.
The figure slowly raised their head and all of your attention was involuntarily directed to the sad features. You gaped in surprise, suddenly doubting your reasoning. "Grandma?"
Her lined mouth curled up slightly at the name. The corners of her sunken eyes creased as her smile reached them. "Hello, Ren…you wanted to know where I was, didn't you?"
Mouth ajar in shock, you couldn't find any words to say. "There isn't an attack, it's just me now…I don't own anything now except for a small apartment…those days are long gone," your grandma admitted, a pleading look entering her eyes.
'Was she telling the truth? No, she must be lying! She's trying to distract me whilst her guards take aim!'
Your eyes scanned the area, searching for any kind of potential threat. Catching a glint of metal, you threw a small dagger which made a squealing noise as it struck deep. Watching with anticipation, the wind roared down and parted the bushes where you had seen the metal. A short light post was revealed, the dagger protruding from its side. Under any other circumstances, you would have face panned. "Ok…so maybe you're not lying about the no attacks bit…but why should I believe you after all you've done?" you questioned, turning back to look straight into your grandmother's wrinkled face.
"After everything that's happened to you, after everything you've suffered…you still try your hardest to help people who don't even know you exist," your grandma said, "Seeing you try that hard for those people…made me think that maybe even an old woman like me can change."
Staring into her eyes, you were shocked at the sincerity that was held in them. 'She's not lying…'
"I know that it's probably too late for your forgiveness…but maybe by working for nothing and giving up everything…I can earn a little of your respect?"
'My respect? What…what happened to the Grandma I used to hate? The one who only kept me alive on a whim?'
"Please, Ren…at least give me that. I'm not the same anymore, I can be a loving grandmother if that's what you want! I can be anything if you want me to!"
Those words jolted you out of your thoughts, and you stood silently, watching her eyes. After a few minutes of contemplation, you moved the knife and stood with your back to your hopeful grandma. "Does this mean-"
"You want my respect? Earn it the way you're doing now. You want my forgiveness…become my grandmother…the one I used to love."
You held out a hand for her to shake, and her eyes widened. "That's no way to treat family," she said, before reaching out and pulling you into a tight hug.
You tensed, almost expecting a gun to be pushed against your back. However, you were released safely, and almost felt like reaching in for another hug. 'I guess things are going to change from now on…'
Apart from L and Light, you were the only one in the main room, seeing as it was nearly midnight. It had been a few days since your meeting with your grandma, and already you felt more trusting of her. "You seem to be going out fairly often, Ahiru-chan," Light noted, spinning around in his chair to talk with you.
"Yeah…" you answered, smiling absent-mindedly.
Light and L exchanged glances, both wondering why you had been acting so cheerful these last few days. "And the reason is what exactly?" Light prompted, feeling slightly irritated by your constant buzz.
"You know my Grandma?" you started, smiling up at the ceiling.
"I do not think she is easily forgotten," L commented, dryly.
"She's actually become my Grandma…we've been going to see shows, movies, we've gone to the zoo, everything that a normal grandma and her granddaughter would do," you grinned, thinking back over your trips together.
L frowned in worry, "Is that safe, Ahiru-chan?"
You blinked in surprise, and turned your head to look at him. "Of course it is. She really has changed…you'd see it if you met her, Ryu-kun."
"Are you sure it isn't just a trap?" Light suggested, his eyes betraying his concern for you.
"I thought that it was at first…but she hasn't done anything but try to redeem herself. If it is a trap, it's certainly a well planned one," you confessed, grin fading as you contemplated that situation.
"Promise me you'll be careful, Ahiru-chan," L asked, his wary eyes showing nothing.
You almost felt tempted to giggle at the detective. 'What's this? The quiet genius is worried about my safety? Well…I guess I haven't exactly had the best track record…'
"I promise, Ryu-kun," you answered, your voice sounding grave.
He nodded at you in appreciation before turning back to his computer. You smiled to yourself as you thought, 'Maybe he worries about me more than I suspected?'
The investigators had received word from the Chief that they had to make a choice between remaining on the investigation or returning the police. Matsuda, Mogi and Yagami had already displayed their intention to remain on the case; however, Aizawa was experiencing troubles in choosing because of his family. "Ryuuzaki…didn't you make me promise that if anything happens to any member of the investigation, including being fired by the police, I would provide them and their family with sufficient financial aid for a lifetime? Why are you reluctant to tell them this?" Watari's voice interrupted through the speaker.
"Mind your own business, Watari," L replied.
Watari apologised and cut the speaker, leaving Aizawa standing in shock. "What? You've even acted to protect our livelihood? Isn't that great, Aizawa-san?" Matsuda said, smiling at the investigator.
He did not return the smile, and instead a look of loathing warped his features. You watched silently, feeling out of place and more than a little useless in the situation. "Ryuuzaki, were you testing me to see whether I'd leave the police and continue here?" he questioned, suspicion coating his deep voice.
Yagami and Matsuda cut in with excuses, denying that L would do such a thing. You looked towards L, doubt showing in your eyes. 'That does seem like something he'd do…'
Your uncertainties were confirmed when L said, "No. I was testing him. I was seeing what choice he'd make."
The other investigators appeared surprised, and you quickly looked back at Aizawa for his reaction. He raised his head in resolution, voice rising as he nearly shouted, "Fine, I get it! I'm leaving this investigation and returning to the police!"
Matsuda instantly tried to persuade him to alter his decision, but the damage inflicted by the detective's harsh words was already too deep. "I was unable to make an instant decision like you and was leaning towards returning to the police," Aizawa admitted, his shoulders sagging in defeat.
"Don't be stubborn," Matsuda pleaded.
"No! I quit! I've just clearly realised…I hate Ryuuzaki, his methods, all of it!" Aizawa burst out, turning to leave once and for all.
You could only stare, feeling distressed that a person you considered a close friend was going to leave the headquarters forever. You felt like running over and begging him to stay, but the expression on his face stopped you from moving even an inch. "You know, Aizawa-san, I like people that are like you…" L said, his eyes not moving from his computer screen.
Aizawa shook with either anger or confusion, and he turned around to give the detective one last verbal lash, "That's the other thing I hate! The fact that you can say that with such a straight face! I'm out of here!"
He turned and walked out of the room, fists clenched tightly. You heard L quietly say, "Thanks for all your hard work."
L hadn't moved at all since Yagami had brought the news, and you wondered whether he even cared that he had lost an investigator, maybe even a friend. Feeling torn, you decided that even if you couldn't persuade the man to stay, you would at least say goodbye. Jumping out of your chair, you sprinted down the hall in an attempt to follow him. However, by the time you had reached the lobby, he had taken his things and had disappeared from the investigation and your life.