Disclaimer: Death Note does not belong to me.

EDITED!! NOW IN 3rd PERSON POV!!

CHAPTER 21 - MAY: THE DIARY PAGE

It had scarcely been a week since the first, disastrous date (after which neither of them could stomach any sort of food for three days), and nothing had really changed in Keiko and Ryuzaki's relationship… not officially, anyhow. He'd not asked her to stay after anymore, and she hadn't tried to get closer. Whether or not the lack of action was because Ryuzaki was sore over the food poisoning episode, Keiko had no idea. It wasn't that Keiko was exactly happy in "limbo," but she was convinced that taking things too far too fast would've been disastrous, so Keiko had decided to let him set the pace, as it were.

Which got them… nowhere. Suffice it to say that Keiko was not happy, but dwelling on his sudden seeming indifference too much wouldn't exactly do a whole lot to rectify her unhappiness… For this reason, Keiko tried very hard not to think about the neutral ground upon which they stood, but despite her attempts to do so, it kept coming back to haunt her. She wondered if he still had any ounce of affection left for her at all…

The entire task force was abuzz about the latest bit of news from the second Kira: a diary page from May, 2003… this sheet of paper covered minimally described events from the entire month.

"The second Kira wants us to show the diary on TV?" wondered Light doubtfully as he studied it.

"Check the entry for the thirtieth," said Yagami gravely, handing it to his son.

" '30th—We confirmed our shinigami at the Giants game at the Tokyo Dome,'" read Light aloud.

"What do you think, Light-kun?" asked Ryuzaki, standing and padding across the carpet to him.

"Huh?" There was a pause where he mulled over something, and then replied, "For now… all I can say is that this person is stupid."

"Exactly," said Matsuda emphatically. "Wanting us to broadcast this diary is obviously a message to Kira. Even if it is written as a diary from last year, it's clear they plan to meet with Kira at the Giants game that happens to be on the same day this year."

"Does this mean the person can't even figure out that once we broadcast this, the game will be cancelled…?" Yagami wondered incredulously.

"It'd be a total panic," said Matsuda informatively, as if the rest of them couldn't figure it out by themselves. "The media would be screaming that going to the game would get you killed by Kira, and other nonsense."

"Frankly," Ryuzaki began, "it seems idiotic, but… that also makes it difficult to react to." He delicately picked up a chocolate from a half-eaten box on the coffee table, and popped it into his mouth, pondering a few of the various scenarios that could occur as a result of the diary page; he resumed his seat in the contemporary-style armchair. "If we broadcast the diary, then we'll also have to announce that the game is cancelled. If we don't broadcast the diary, then the second Kira won't act."

"Yeah, but—if the game is cancelled, he may get angry and do who knows what…" Matsuda pointed out.

Ryuzaki shook his head. "That shouldn't be a problem. The second Kira seems to revere Kira. Let's assume that he's sworn to the Kira we created not to kill unnecessarily anymore…"

"What if it's a red herring?" Keiko mused aloud. "I mean, if Kira Two was trying to throw us off the scent by blatantly putting the word 'shinigami' right there in the middle of a diary entry. If he or she had any smarts at all, he or she would put that in there to make us react to that first. I think it's either Aoyama or Shibuya that we should be looking at… probably Aoyama, because as Shibuya mentions clothes shopping—a fairly typical event, especially for girls—then perhaps it would be considered normal, and it might be there to disguise the other. But Aoyama… 'showed off our notebooks?' What does that mean? 'Let's see how many guys' names I can attach at the end of my own! Mrs. Teppei Koike! Mrs. Tsuyoshi Domoto! Mrs. Hideki Ryuga!!' The language is just too weird, 'show off.' Why would they go to another district just to 'show them' to one another?" She sighed heavily, surveying the others' bemused expressions. "I have come to two conclusions: one, that there is something up with notebooks, especially in Aoyama, and two, that the second Kira may be a fairly young girl. Kira Two's actions are rather similar to those of a schoolgirl with a crush—not too bright, not too thoughtful or deep, and definitely besotted with the prospect of Kira noticing her."

Following her speech was a long silence, during which Matsuda's jaw dropped open, Aizawa's brows drew together in confusion, and Light's expression remained guarded (but Keiko thought she caught a glimpse of burning frustration in the way he held his jaw). "You're not making any sense at all," said Matsuda slowly.

Keiko shrugged, knowing that Ryuzaki would explain things in a moment.

Ryuzaki, however, mulled this over and said at last, "I'm really not sure about that… I suppose you may have something there, but…" There followed a pause, wherein Keiko searched Ryuzaki's expression. The slightest flickering of his dark eyes in her direction as they widened only minimally told her that he was secretly interested in looking into that possibility further. "For now, let's broadcast the diary and announce the cancellation of the game. And also, that we will be closing off the streets around the Tokyo Dome and conducting an investigation there. Then we'll create a reply from the 'real' Kira saying, 'understood, let's meet.'"

"THAT should be interesting," Keiko muttered languidly, sarcastically, laying sideways across the armchair adjacent to Ryuzaki, tilting her head back to see him from upside down. This isn't like Ryuzaki. He's acting differently. I doubt any of the others noticed it, but he's become, well, guarded… somehow. I'll just wait until I can talk with him alone to bring it back up.

Yeah, after all, it's probably just the fact that he wants to look into Aoyama and think about the possibility of the second Kira being a girl, anyway.

"You're not thinking they'd come after it's announced that there will be police presence around the Tokyo Dome?" Yagami wondered. "They'd have to be incredibly stupid…"

"Which is what we're banking on," Keiko explained with a sigh, adding for the task force's benefit, "but I still think that Aoyama's our place…"

Ryuzaki nodded dismissively, and picked up his cup of tea, talking into it; his voice was muffled and hollow-sounding. "I don't think Kira will come, but… I'm not sure about the second Kira. I don't know how stupid he is… Also, let's assume that he isn't that stupid and think about whether there are any other hidden messages located in this diary." He held the sheet up by the tips of his fingers, showing everyone its contents. Slyly, Keiko glanced in Light's direction. His face was utterly blank… Dammit, why doesn't he show some sign!? Can't he be any dumber…?

If he was any dumber, she reasoned with herself, he'd have been caught by now for sure. Shoot, why can't he just have been a normal boy? None of this would've happened—probably.

"…and on 'the 22nd, my friend and I showed off our notebooks in Aoyama.' '24th—I met a friend in Shibuya. We bought some clothes to wear this summer.'" Keiko realized Ryuzaki was naming off entries with locations in the diary. "This may be a waste of time, but let's put our attention on people holding notebooks in Aoyama and clothes stores in Shibuya."

He launched into a soliloquy on the whys and wherefores of what might happen in either place, and how they were going to send in plainclothesmen patrolling the places. Light and Matsuda would both go on the 22nd to Aoyama… and Keiko ceased to listen. She knew she'd probably be sent into one of the two, if not both… Idly, she reached over to the table for one of the chocolates, chewing it meditatively and playing with the little brown paper cup it had been in.

"…Also," continued Ryuzaki, "and this is very important… it's true that this is a chance to catch Kira, or at least the second Kira. But at this point we also must think about Kira and the second Kira joining forces. I want to strengthen our security even more."

"What do you mean?" wondered Aizawa.

"Strengthen our security?" That can only mean he wants all pictures deleted… I mean, we've done just about everything else, save for lock ourselves indoors...! Keiko groaned loudly. "Oh, no, Ryuzaki! Not my memories…"

"Do be quiet, Keiko-chan," he said. "You're only confusing them. That's the second time today you've predicted what I was going to say."

"So explain, dummy," she shot back. "It ain't my fault you're easy to read."

Ryuzaki picked up his teacup, but merely held it absently as he explained. "Don't reveal that you are working on this case to anyone, of course. Avoid going outside as police officers as much as possible, and I want you to destroy all photos of yourselves but the ones on your person."

"Ergo my 'lost memories,'" she muttered sullenly. Keiko had several pictures of her with her family and friends, and she was rather fond of those photos. The various times they brought to mind… the happy and sad times, the good and bad times alike—all were precious to her. Why did she have to let them all go…? But then, she reasoned, she could just scan them all onto a computer and then transfer them onto a jump drive or something… Yes. That would work. But all the hours she'd spent on scrapbooking… Oh, well. Like, say life.

"I've left no photos of myself anywhere. Even at To-oh University, where I'm registered," Ryuzaki continued. "Even the security cameras at the hotels have been made to deactivate when we enter or leave. I want you to gather up all your files at the police headquarters, all your photos at home, and ones you've given away… and dispose of them."

"Easier said than done…" Keiko sighed. "And you forget that I still have one picture of you."

"That picture doesn't count."

"Ryuzaki, does that mean you still suspect my son?" asked Yagami warily.

"Unfortunately, he's not totally in the clear, and that's part of it, but… this is because we're assuming that the second Kira only needs a face to kill the person."

"You're right, Ryuzaki," said Light suddenly. "It's impressive that you were able to think that far ahead."

"How's that impressive?" Keiko wondered idly, testing him. "He's L, may I remind you… and second of all, it wasn't that hard to figure out, once you saw how the police died in the Sakura TV incident. I'm guessing either the second Kira is VERY well informed of the police staff's names and faces, or can kill by just knowledge of their face. Come now…"

Wordlessly, Light frowned and shoved his hands into his pockets.

Nervous sign, Keiko instantly registered. He knows something, obviously… how else would he have been able to say "impressive?" It really wasn't too hard! If he is Kira and knows the second Kira, or at least how they got that power… Or does he honestly think he's that far ahead of the game, even as a detective and not Kira? That addle-brained twit! The nerve…

Light sighed. "Never mind. If Kira and the second Kira join hands and want to wipe out the investigation team… all they'd need is our pictures to kill us all. Even Ryuzaki, whose name is unknown to anyone."

"Unknown to anyone but the infinite universe," she replied easily, still playing with the chocolate wrapper. Absently, Keiko began to flatten it out over knee, smoothing the wrinkles out slowly so as not to tear it. "And even then, the universe might be a little confused—he changes his name more often than he washes his clothes."

Ryuzaki ignored her. "Yes, I only showed myself to all of you because I assumed Kira needed both a name and face to kill… the situation has changed, now. A second Kira has appeared and Kira may also gain this ability. In order to prevent that, I would like to at least capture the second Kira during this opportunity."

Again, Keiko looked to see Light's expression, glancing up from her candy wrapper preoccupation. His face was pensive, but somehow unreadable. He was getting smarter…

After everyone left, Keiko stayed, claiming to have a few things to say to Ryuzaki. Of course, he allowed her to stay, and she plopped down on the couch beside him. "Hey… Ryuzaki? Am I really not going to Aoyama with Light and Matsuda?"

"Weren't you listening? I would have thought you could have figured it out."

She shook her head. "You're long-winded and I sorta tuned you out."

"Mm. You are, as always, a true friend," he replied sarcastically.

"I would've listened if it was something important!" she protested.

Ryuzaki blinked. "The lives of hundreds are on the line and you don't think it's important?"

"That's not your motive for doing any of this," she retorted. "Don't tell me otherwise. And my attention span is—ooh, look! Shiny!!"

"Your point is duly noted. Yes, you're going to Aoyama. Just watch what you say. I don't want any genius-sounding slips."

Keiko gave him a leveling stare, raising her eyebrows. "C'mon. It's ME. I'll… I'll go as…" She stood up and gave a big, cheesy grin, clasping her hands behind her back and bouncing on the soles of her feet, giggling girlishly. "Hi! I'm Ai! Teehee—that rhymes!"

"How revolting…"

"And I like ice cream, and tacos, and dancing, and little kids, and…"

"Do shut up."

"…Jump comics, and plaid skirts, and…"

"You're getting carried away…"

She giggled annoyingly once again and glomped him. "And I like YOU, Ryu-chan!!"

"Keiko! Get off me!" He shoved her away, and she fell back on the floor, staring blankly up at him.

She blinked at him for a few seconds, dredging up some fake crocodile tears. "Ryu-chan doesn't like Ai-tan?"

"No, Ryu-chan likes Keiko. Ai-tan is annoying and brainless."

"Ha!" she cried triumphantly, back to her normal self. "So you DO like me for my brains!"

"I can't stand idiocy. It's so demeaning to have to explain yourself multiple times."

She looked away for a second, a little embarrassed for her inattention to him earlier. "Oops. Sorry about that. But in all seriousness, I know the feeling," she added, nodding in agreement as he helped her to her feet. "Bigot."

Ryuzaki blinked. "Freeloader."

"Prosaic."

"Schizophrenic."

"Why, thank you!" Keiko bowed deeply. "Quite a compliment for a brilliant actress like myself. Speaking of acting…" She began to idly pace around the room. "The diary entry. 'Shinigami…' 'Notebook…' 'Clothing…' What's your opinion?"

"I think you were right earlier," he answered, resuming his seat on the couch. "I think that Aoyama is the key. However, I didn't want you to go with Light and Matsuda, which is why I said earlier that you weren't going at all. Matsuda is too easily fooled and you work best on your own—especially without Light to keep an eye on you. I want you to go to Aoyama ahead of time and check out any spots that catch your attention."

"What excuse will I give?" she wondered. "I'm assuming I'll be taking off work for a few days."

"Say that you're going with your family on vacation. Say that you're going skiing, perhaps…"

"Maybe we should actually send my family over to a ski resort," Keiko suggested, coming back around to plop down beside him on the couch. "That way, we can actually get a feel for telling more… well-fabricated lies as to what the trip was like, when people ask, and then, we'll come up with some amusing story of something that happened… I'll end up doing a face-plant after tripping over Mizuki's skis, or something."

"Mm, who is Mizuki?"

"My younger sister. Five-foot-two, age twenty-one, a senior at To-oh, double-majoring in Photography and Fashion Design."

"I take it you're total opposites…?" said Ryuzaki. She shrugged in response. This made him smile slightly. "Is she smart?"

"Why, trying to get someone younger than you?" Keiko asked lazily, leaning back against the arm of the couch and propping one foot up on his knee. "Got a Lolita complex?"

He frowned at her. "No. I'm curious."

"S'what killed the cat, y'know."

"I am not a cat."

"Seriously, though?"

Ryuzaki blinked his big, owlish eyes at her, and said, "I have very few memories of my family. I have no siblings; my parents are gone… I have no idea what it's like to have a family of my own."

"Didn't you try to research your grandparents?" she wondered seriously.

He looked out the window, turning away from Keiko to gaze unseeingly upon the skyscrapers of Tokyo. Something in his eyes and voice spoke of a great sadness, but only apathy was visible upon his face, like he'd supposedly let it go… Keiko knew better. "From the time I was seven until I was ten, I did all the research I could. I spent hours alone with only a computer in hopes of trying to find my family. I only knew the names of my parents from the records given to the orphanage. No grandparents, nothing. I finally discovered that my maternal grandparents had died in an internment camp, but I found nothing on my father's parents. His last name was Smith, you see… and that posed something of a problem."

She whistled. "Yeah… I can see that as a dead end…" Even if he wasn't lying about his father's last name, that didn't tell Keiko anything. "So… anyway, about Aoyama," she began slowly, switching subjects. Having never been in that situation, nor any experience with friends in similar circumstances, she didn't exactly know how to handle such a subject as lost family, especially if Ryuzaki was lying about it… "So what, in order to make this convincing, I'll have to take off about two days or something prior to it… and I'll spend the first scoping out the scene, and the second… well, I'll see whether or not I'd need to look anymore on the second day."

"Mm, please call me if you find anything. And I will book hotel reservations for you in Aoyama, so you don't have to inconvenience yourself with traveling back and forth."

A hotel room? Call him? "You act like money grows on trees… yeesh," Keiko muttered. "But sure."

"Won't you need to write my number down somewhere?" he pointed out, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket.

"Oh…" That certainly surprised her! For one, Keiko did have that bracelet that would connect her to Watari. And Ryuzaki's personal cell phone number…? "Okay. I was gonna just call Watari with that bracelet thing, but this works, too."

He read the number from his cell (because, apparently, it was too trivial for him to remember on his own), and she punched it into her contact list, grinning hugely as she stumbled across an idea. "Now, I'm gonna prank call you all the time…"

"Only you, Light-kun, and Watari have that number. I'll know it's you."

"Spoilsport…" she shot back. "In that case, I'll just call you randomly at work, in the middle of the afternoon, at midnight…"

"I wish you wouldn't."

"You should've thought of that before you gave me your number. I'll send you obscene text messages… that should be fun."

"Just stick to business calls, if you please," he said, straight-faced.

Keiko sighed dramatically, playing the martyr. "All right… if you insist. So, I guess… Thursday after next, I'll be going 'skiing' with my family."

"I guess so."

She nodded decisively. "Sounds like a plan." With that, you got to your feet and headed for the door. "I'm out. See you tomorrow."

But she stopped as he spoke her name. "Keiko-chan?"

"Yah?"

"Bye." Ryuzaki padded over to her and gave her a brief, one-armed hug, which seemed a tad awkward, but nonetheless, Keiko was extremely pleased by this gesture. It wasn't really like him to do such things—he wasn't exactly a touchy-feely guy—and to a degree, it showed he still possessed some measure of affection for her.

Happily, she smiled and stood on tiptoe to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. He turned bright red, at which she laughed. "See you later, L-igator," Keiko sang, practically skipping out the door, leaving behind a slightly confounded Ryuzaki.

He held his hand up to his cheek dumbly, as though in disbelief, and smiled to himself as he closed the door, locking himself away from the rest of the world. He, L, had been kissed... it was a nice feeling...

Review, please! Thanks for reading!