Do I Want Friendship or Do I Want Your Love?
Chapter Twenty-One: The Failed Date
"Good afternoon, Misa, Nightana, Matsui," L said as he looked over at us as we entered.
"Good afternoon," I repeated, smiling at all of them, but mostly L. They all nodded and Misa tugged me along.
"Come on, we're going to try on everything now."
"That will take hours! I need to get working."
"Hey, it doesn't hurt to take a day off."
"If you're smart enough, you'll know why I like to work!"
"You work because you want to impress Ryuzaki. I know that, but it doesn't mean you can't take a day off." I huffed. "Come on, enjoy yourself a little."
"I enjoy being a detective! Unlike you, I have a lot of responsibilities with my job."
"My job has a lot of responsibilities," she defended.
"Okay, fine it does." She frowned.
"Well, come on, let's get this done so you can get back to work."
"Thank you!"
"After we go through all the clothes." I grumbled some things as she took me to my room again. "Okay, so first we need to sort out the shirts, jeans, skirt, undershirts, and all of that before we continue."
"Come on! I'm going to be being watched!"
"You change any other time in here." I sighed in defeat and helped her out. "Okay, so how do you plan to tell him tomorrow?"
"Misa! Seriously, would you quit about that."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!!!" Then began the war of 'Yeses' and 'Nos' flying between us. When we finally finished the war, we saw we had all the clothes sorted.
"Oh, good job Night!" she squealed happily. "Okay, so we'll begin with this outfit on you. Do you mind if we share wardrobes? I like some of the clothes you bought-"
"You're the one who bought them!"
"And I really might want to wear some of them a little later on," she concluded, not taking fact I interrupted her. I glared at her. She simply smiled back sweetly.
"What do you want me to try on first?" I sighed.
"You can choose," I grumbled.
"That's the spirit! Okay, this one first." She shoved me into the bathroom and left me to get ready.
After finally a long three hours of trying on different outfits, I finally got to leave Misa's side to begin working on cases again. I groaned and fell into a chair beside L.
"It seems like you and Misa had a fun time," L said, looking at me. I blushed.
"Oh, yeah, loads," I answered, pulling up the internet. "Can I hack into the different files of different police agencies without their knowledge?"
"You should be able to."
"Good. Maybe I can find some sort of lead then-"
"Night! Why did you leave!" Misa called as she ran over to me. I groaned.
"No, I'm staying here!"
"Fine, you can work with Ryuzaki! But you're giving me your time tonight to finish! Ryuzaki, did I tell you Light and I are going on a date tomorrow?" Light looked about as confused as I felt.
"No, you did not. I'll make sure to make some arrangements." Then he turned back to his computer just as Watari walked in with an assortment of sweets and fruits.
"Ryu-kun, can I have some?" I asked, looking over everything.
"That's fine, Nightana," he answered. I smiled my thanks and looked over everything again. I reached for the Strawberry cake just as L did and our hands brushed each others. I couldn't completely hide my smile and I looked up at L before grabbing a bowl of different fruits. I turned back to my computer and began working.
At exactly nine PM, Misa burst into the room again. "Night! Come on!" Misa cried, pulling on my arm.
"Misa, I'm busy," I grumbled, trying to free my arm.
"Well, you're not any more. You're going to come with me. You promised!"
"I did not promise anything!"
"Uuuh… Well, you did!" she said lamely, stopping her tugging for a moment. Long enough that I got my arm out of hers. "Please!" she asked, eyes widening to a puppy look. I sighed.
"Fine." Grumbling about how I was too nice sometimes, I got up and began following Misa.
"Thanks for coming," she said as we walked in the halls together and I nodded.
"It's not a problem," I answered, "but can we make this fast? I want to get back to work."
"That's fine. We only have twenty more outfits to go anyway. It'll only take an hour." I nodded.
"What time is your date tomorrow?"
"I'll get you up about an hour before the time."
"I'll probably be up before then," I scoffed and she nodded.
"Okay, you're going to choose an outfit also for tomorrow. Something you know Ryuzaki will like. We want him to get interested in you." I sighed, but nodded anyways. It would be better to make her happy. "Are you finally starting to agree with me? Oh, this is so exciting! You're finally admitting your feelings," she squealed and hurried up down the hall to my room. After that, she began dressing me up again until we got through all the clothes. "Okay, Night, what outfit did you like best out of all of them?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. There were so many of them I can't remember all them."
"Which one do you remember most?" I described the outfit. "Okay, that's the one you'll be wearing then," she grinned.
"Why?"
"Well, since your mind obviously remembered that outfit more, it only makes sense that your mind loves the outfit so you'll wear it tomorrow." A knock came to my door and I got up off my bed to open the door. Light walked in with L behind him.
"Misa, can you leave?" Light asked.
"Why?" she pouted, folding her arms in front of her. "Can't I be here also?"
"I want to talk to my sister alone. Ryuzaki's already agreed to let me off the handcuffs and Matsuda and the others will be watching the room while we talk so then they can make sure we don't do anything suspicious. They'll also record what they say so L can see if there is any coding in the words."
"Yes and Light will say when he's done and Mr. Aizawa or Mr. Matsuda has agreed to call when you say you are done," L added.
"Okay," I agreed.
"Fine, I'll leave, but do you promise to visit me later Light?" Misa asked.
"Sure."
"Yay!" she said, hugging Light before leaving the room. L hesitantly unlocked his handcuff.
"I'll be just a little ways down the hall." Then he left and Light and I were alone.
"What do you need to talk to me about?" I asked as I began getting the clothes hung up.
"Do you like Ryuzaki?" I blushed and bit my lip before looking at him.
"Why are you asking this?"
"Because I was wondering. I think he likes you and I want to know if you like him."
"It shouldn't really matter," I said after a moment, looking at him. "You would give me permission to if I told you, right?" He understood instantly.
"Of course I would, but you would have to tell me first." I wanted to smile and thank him, but I couldn't here.
"Well, I'll tell you what I told Misa. Even if I did like him, he doesn't have time for that. He's the world's greatest detective and doesn't have time to deal with those burdens."
"I think he would make an exception if it was you. I know he would."
"No one knows L. Not even me."
"What is that supposed to mean." I stared into space for a moment before smiling at Light.
"I'm going to go to bed tonight. Good night." Light sighed.
"Good night, Night." I nodded and a moment later, L walked in. He hooked Light up to him again.
"Ryu-kun, I'm going to take a short nap tonight before I come back down again. Do you mind if I stay in my pajamas?"
"No, Nightana," he answered and him and Light left. I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes, falling into a light nap. I woke up two hours later and got up, brushing my hair real quick before I went downstairs again. Only L was awake; Light was asleep next to him and the others had went home or went to bed (probably just Matsuda). I made a note to see if I could help him find a girlfriend as I sat down beside L. Neither L nor I said anything as I began working. Conversation would soon fall into place easily. This was the time when we finally got to spend time together, though some days we just worked beside each other. We'd ask one another if the other wanted to do something.
"Nightana," L said after a moment and I looked over at him.
"Yeah, Ryu-kun?"
"Do you want to play some Chess?" I bit my lip.
"Did I get enough work done today?"
"You did enough for me. You've been a big help on the case and I couldn't ask for more," he answered, looking at me.
"Okay, then. As long as you think I did enough today. I'll get the game." I got up and picked up the game among the group of stuff he had. We put a table between us and both set up the colored pieces, mine black and his white. He smiled slightly.
"You always chose the black ones back at the Wammy House," he said as he moved his first piece. The sound of the pieces moving reminded me of my old home.
"Yes, I did. Black was always my favorite chess color."
"Why not white?"
"Watari taught me with black pieces. It always makes me feel at home when I play with the black pieces."
"At home?"
"Back at the Wammy House. It was my first home that I loved and will always be considered my real home."
"I see…" We fell silent, focusing in on the game.
After ten minutes, I asked, "Do you want to try playing Shogi after this?"
"The Japanese version of chess. Am I correct?"
"Of course. Do you know how to play?"
"I do know," he answered, "but I have never tried."
"Well, we can try later."
"Yes." Then we were down to the last couple moves. I stuck my tongue out slightly and bit it lightly as I took the look over the possible moves both L and I had and what I could do. I picked up a piece and hesitated. Then I saw the hidden move. I smirked and moved the opposite piece I was going to do. I saw instantly the surprise in L's eyes and smiled at him.
"Go on, Ryu-kun," I said sweetly and he nodded. I easily beat him then and smiled in satisfaction. "I win! Yays!"
"Another game, Nightana?"
"Sure. Then we'll play some Shogi."
#
#
"Night! Why are you all the way over here?!" Misa called as she made her way over to me. I had been talking to Matsuda about helping him find a girlfriend. He was clearly embarrassed about the talk. "Are you asking Matsui out?" she asked suspiciously.
"Of course not!" I defended.
"Good. Come on, we have to get you ready!"
"We'll talk about this later, Matsui," I threatened.
"Misa, keep her busy as long as possible," Matsuda begged as Misa began dragging me away.
"You don't have to ask me twice!" I glared at Misa.
"I'm trying to help Matsui get a girlfriend."
"Oh, really?" Misa's smile grew wider (if possible). "Can I help?"
"Sure," I answered, smiling evilly. I would win the war with Matsuda. I glanced at Misa. The war with her… Well, I wasn't completely sure on that.
"Okay, so you get in the shower. I'll start planning how I'm going to do your hair and what make-up to put on you."
"Make-up?!" I thought for a minute. "Wait, I already had a shower this morning-"
"Enjoy your shower," Misa said firmly, pushing me towards the door. I glared at her, but went anyways. I climbed into the warm water and finished quickly, not wanting to be in there very long since I had already taken one that day. "Okay, get dressed in what you chose earlier and I'll get the blow dryer so we can dry your hair and I can design it how I want." I nodded, not in the mood to argue with her and got dressed. She sat me down in front of a mirror and began drying my hair. She then brushed it out herself once she was done drying it and then parted my hair as if she was going to pull it in pigtails. Instead, she then parted those two parts again, brought the new parted pieces together and pulled them into a ponytail before she took the leftover hair and began braiding it into several pieces. Then she braided two braids into my ponytail and nodded in satisfaction. "What do you think?"
"It's nice," I commented, smiling as I looked it over.
"Good. Do you not want to wear make-up?"
"No, not really," I admitted.
"We won't put it on then," she told me and I smiled my thanks. She smiled back and then pulled me to my feet. "Let's go! Light's waiting for me!" I followed after her down the hall and up a few stories, down the hall again until she finally knocked on Light's door. We're scattered all over the place, I realized as I followed into the room. It was set up just like any other room basically, except that there was lunch sitting on the middle table between two couches. I sighed and fell down on the opposite one that Light and L sat on. Misa got down eagerly, but the date soon became boring. Misa quit chatting, clearly not happy with how the date was going and then a smirk appeared on her face.
"Ryuzaki, have you talked to Night lately? You must have been listening in on our conversations," she said sweetly.
"I talked with her last night about the case," he informed Misa and I studied him closely. He was depressed again. I set my book down on the table.
"That's not what I mean," she grumbled. "I mean that have you asked her out to go on a-"
"Misa, stop it!" I said loudly enough that no one could hear what she said next. She glared at me.
"I'm just trying to tell him that you might like to go out with him if he liked you." I felt my face beginning to warm up again and picked up the book again to hide my face. I could feel all three of their eyes on my book covered face.
"Ryu-kun," I said to pull everyone's attention away from me. "Is everything alright? You seem depressed." He looked at me and met my eyes.
"Yes, I am depressed."
"Why?" Light asked, frowning.
"Well, you see that since I thought you and Misa were Kira, I directed the case all on that information, but now that we have cleared you aren't Kira, even if I still believe you are, we have nothing to go on and we aren't finding any new leads."
"So you're saying that your depressed because you were wrong?" Light growled.
"Well, you could put it that way," L said in his usual voice.
"Just because you lose a lead doesn't mean to get so upset about it."
"It's not only that. I must not be thinking as clearly as I used to so I can't be completely sure. I was thinking that maybe I shouldn't risk everyone's lives at chasing Kira when we can't even find him or her."
"Her?"
"Nightana had clarified the Second Kira was a woman."
Light stood up suddenly. "Ryuzaki…" He looked at Light just as Light's fist connected him his face, sending L and Light backwards. I scrambled to my feet.
"Both of you stop it!" I cried as I went over to them.
L sat up, leaning against a wall and he ignored what I said. "You know that really hurt."
"That's enough! You don't want to do anything just because your genius deduction was wrong and I'm not Kira? That's completely-" "Perhaps I phrased it the wrong way. I said it would be pointless to make a move so we shouldn't even bother." "If we don't go after Kira, he will never be caught! Is that what you want?" Light walked over to L and picked him up by his collar.
"Both of you stop it. Get back over here and sit down," I ordered.
"Night! Just stay out of it!" Light shot back and then spoke to Ryuzaki. "What was the point of risking all those innocent lives? More importantly, what was the point of putting Misa, Night, and me behind bars?"
"I understand," L said after a moment. "But still… whatever the reason-" He got out of Light's hold and kicked Light back. I backed away so I wouldn't get hit.
"That's enough both of you!" I said, walking over to them after the couch had fallen over.
"Night, just stay out of it," Light growled, glaring at L.
"It's not my deduction that was wrong. The fact is I can say that Light Yagami is Kira and Misa Amane is the Second Kira, but it won't be enough to solve the case and that's why I'm a little depressed. Is that so unreasonable?" L asked, still ignoring my warnings.
"Yes, yes it is," Light said as he got up. "It's as if you won't be satisfied unless I am Kira."
"I won't be satisfied unless you're Kira?" L repeated. I fell onto the other couch, giving up on trying to stop them. "There may be some truth to that. In fact, now that you mentioned it, you're right. I think I wanted you to be Kira." Both were standing now. Light swung his fists again and hit L in the face. L stayed in place this time. "I'm a… lot stronger than I look you know." He spun around and kicked Light in the face. Light swung backwards for a moment before he pulled Ryuzaki in his direction. They both grabbed hold of each other's shirts.
"That's it! Stop it!" I said angrily, grabbing both their hands just as the phone went off. L stepped away and answered it.
"Yes." He was silent, listening to whatever was being said. "I see." Then he hung up.
"Who was that?" Light asked, pretending that nothing happened.
"Matsuda was being stupid again."
"Well, that is his specialty."
"You know he can hear you," I muttered before glaring at them. "Both of you sit down," I ordered, getting their couch picked up. They both listened. I hit both upside the head and they both looked at me confused. "That is what you get for not listening to me! Misa, please go get some ice and rags and sandwich bags from over there." She did and I got the ice packs made up. "Light hold that there," I said, poking the bruise on his cheek.
"Watch it," he grumbled, doing as I told him to.
"Ryu-kun, do the same," I said, holding the ice out for him and he took it between his thumb and pointer. "You can't do that," I sighed, laughing slightly and pressed it gently against his eye. "We'll leave after the swelling goes down.