Mogi

I ran. I ran as fast and as hard as my exaughsted, battered legs could carry me. My throat and lungs burned, panting in the winter air, trying to catch my breath. I was freezing and sweating at the same time. Everything was quiet, save for the sounds of my own heavy breathing and stumbling up the street.

Though if I really stopped to listen, off in the distance, I could hear them; the riots, the fires, the people. The massive blur of anger, disbelief, violence, and a strange sense of entitlement that lead them to think that because we had taken away what they loved, they now got to destroy whatever they could get their hands on, as if that was in some way just.

I had long ago escaped the chaos that now continued to plague the rest of the city, but I didn't leave without first searching for Director Hashimoto. We were seperated after we abandoned our car when everything started. I don't know if she was beaten, if she got lost and ran off somewhere out of the mobs, or if maybe she was...killed. No matter how much I didn't like that idea, I couldn't discount all of the possibilities. Of course, I'd like to think she made it out alright and is safe somewhere.

I still had a long way to go, and I knew well enough by then that the others had discarded their cell phones, so as not to be tracked (though we had already turned the GPS in each of our devices off the day Aizawa had been in his car accident) and maybe purchased burner phones. I lost my cell, so they wouldn't be able to call me anyway, even if they did. I lost my wallet as well, so no money for a cab, a train, or even a payphone.

I lost it while practically fighting my way out of the mobs. I definitely recieved my fair share of punches, pushes, kicks and curses. I had to get out of there before I was killed. Though, to be honest, I feel like I could have looked longer for the Director. In the back of my mind I kept thinking about it. 'If only I searched longer, if only I hadn't turned my back on her for that moment, she might still be with me.' But I knew it wouldn't do any good now. If she was taken by someone, it might've happened one way or another.

I was worried for her, but I also knew she was a capable woman. She could handle herself... to a extent. Just because you're strong or can take care of yourself doesn't mean you're indestructible. Just then, a firetruck with sirens blaring wailed by me down the road heading in the direction I had come from. I opened my eyes. Without realizing it, I had stopped and leaned against a light pole. "I can't rest yet!" I ordered my legs. "I have to keep going! I can rest when this mess is over!" I took a shaky step, then another, and another, until I was walking at a steady pace. "Just you wait, Matsuda. We WILL end this chaos!"

xOx0xOx

Ide

Misa's condo. That's where our last minute hideout was. Hardly anyone besides us and Light's family knew that he was dating Misa, so we called her up while Matsuda was unconscious and asked that, if the situation should arise, we could stay with her. It was the only place we could think of that Fear wouldn't know about, and where his goons couldn't find us. Their relationship hadn't been in the report that Abe hacked, so it was unlikely that Fear knew about her. Plus, Misa had moved almost immediately after Light's death. She couldn't take living in their once shared apartment anymore, with everything there reminding her of him. So that's where we ended up too: at Misa Amane's new condo.

I felt terrible for her. She was madly in love with Light, everyone could see that. When she answered the door to us, her young and beautiful face no longer held the life and vibrancy it once did. She wore black capris and a black, v-neck T-shirt, her hair down, and she had no makeup on. It was weird to see her like this. I had only ever seen her all dressed up with complete makeup and hair. But of course, I understood. It had only been less than a month since that day at the warehouse. She was still grieving the loss of her beloved Light, and clearly needed more time. Yet here we were, barging in and bringing more trouble.

We all knew the two things Misa loved most in the world were Light and Kira. She knew that one of us had killed Kira, but was told that Light was killed by Kira while trying to stop him. So she was probably very confused. Not only did the love of her life die that day, but her faith had been challenged and uprooted as well. Despite all of this, she still allowed us to stay in her home, and we were immensely grateful for that.

While we sat in her living room and awaited news of Mogi or the director, everyone was awkwardly quiet. Misa made us all tea, and we sipped it, but there wasn't much conversation going on. Misa and Matsuda were especially silent. It was strange, since they used to be the most talkative and active ones. Now they were about as dull and lifeless as dolls. I remember how I used to get angry at Matsuda for being that way: happy, silly, loud, a goofball. Now, I'd give anything to have the old him back. It was unnatural this way, and I'm sure Aizawa felt the same.

Hours had passed and we still had not heard anything from Mogi. We called him right when the riots first started, and he seemed to be worried, but nothing too serious. Though the riots escalated quickly, we thought he would handle it and meet up with us, or at least contact us, but nothing yet. So, understandably, we were all on edge, waiting for them to return.

The riots had started right after Fear's video stopped playing, about noon, and we still hadn't heard anything from them by five. We started to worry more and more, but none of us suggested something to do if they didn't come back at all. We were too nervous, and besides, I don't think anything could've been done anyway.

It was a little before five-thirthy, when suddenly, a knock on the door made us all jump. Out of cautionary instinct, and police training, the three of us stood and drew our guns. Misa went to hide in the kitchen. I was the closest to the door, so I went to take a look through the peep-hole, closing one eye, and looking out with the other. I gasped. "It's Mogi!" I informed the others as I holstered my gun and threw open the door.

xOx0xOx

Matsuda

He was panting heavily and looked like hell, having to lean on the door frame for support. "M-Mogi! What happened?! Where's Director Hashimoto?" Ide questioned as he quided the beaten man to a chair.

"Wait!" called Misa as she peeked around the corner from the kitchen. She dissappeared back in and came out a moment later with a glass of water. "Here, drink this first, catch your breath," she told Mogi.

He did so, and after a minute, he regained enough composure to say, "I'm alright... But I don't know what happened to the director."

"What do you mean?" Aizawa questioned, furrowing his brow.

"We got separated after you called. We couldn't drive through the traffic and crowds, so we had to try to make our way out on foot. One minute, she was there, getting out of the car, and the next, she was gone. I tried to call her cell, and I looked for her for over an hour. I couldn't stay there any longer though, so I got outta there," he explained, clearing his throat and taking another gulp of water. "I only hope she did too."

"Wait, did you walk all the way here?!" I asked, astounded.

"Y-yeah... I lost my wallet and phone in the mobs, so I couldn't call or get a cab. I don't think I could've gotten one anyway."

"Are you sure you're alright, Mogi?" Misa chimed up. "Do you need anything else?"

"Just some bumps and bruises. I'm fine, mostly tired,"he replied. "I'm okay now that I've made it here. The director doesn't know the address of where we were headed, so if she's able, she'll probably find somewhere safe. She's smart, she'll figure something out." He sounded pretty confident in her.

"I hope she's okay," I added.

"Before the riots," began Mogi, changing topics, "we managed to interview the first three suspect's wives."

"Suspects?" asked Misa. "So you guys actually have an idea of who this guy is?" We turned to look at her.

"Well, sort of, but not really. Sorry, Misa," I decided to speak up. "I hate to tell you this, but I don't think you should hear this. It's not that we don't trust you, it's just that... well, it's dangerous. We don't want to involve you in this anymore than we have to, and we're already hiding out in your condo." I explained. "I just... don't want you getting hurt because of all this."

"She seemed a bit angry at first, like she was going to protest, but calmly agreed, breathing deeply through her nose. "Alright, I understand. I'll just go in the kitchen and make everyone some dinner then."

"Thank you, Misa," I responded. I almost didn't have the heart to ask Misa to leave, but I wanted to be the one who did. After all, I was the one who broke the news to her about Light's death. I felt horrible telling her that, but worse, I felt responsible, for obvious reasons. Since then, she moved into this new condo, unable to stay where she and Light used to live happily together. She left all of his things in their old apartment and left the next week. She's been reclusive since then and hasn't even taken on any new jobs.

Suddenly, Misa returned from the kitchen, looking almost embarrassed. "I hope you all like soba noodles, 'cause that's kinda all I have right now. I'd run to the store if I could, but... you know."

"Oh, that's perfect, Misa," I told her.

"Whatever you have is fine," Aizawa added, and the others nodded in agreement. "Okay then, I'll just cook that right up and be back out in a jiffy," she said cheerfully as she left the room, starting to sound like her old self a bit.

"Thank you, Misa!" I called out to her.

So, Mogi, what were you going to say about talking to the suspects' wives?" Aizawa asked, getting back on topic.

"Right. Like I was saying, we only managed to interview the first three before we got caught in the riots."

"Did you discover anything useful?" I asked, hopeful.

"Well, maybe. We had no conclusive evidence that the first two women, the wives of Nakamura, Katsuo, and Hayashi, Nao were cheating on their husbands, and they also seemed to greatly respect them. So did their employees, according to them. However, when we got to the third wife, Fukuda, Sadako, something was different, and the director picked up on that. She started questioning her much more directly and adamently than before, and got her to admit that she was, in fact, having numerous affairs with younger men, and she also told us she had seen his employees talking badly about him behind his back," he elucidated.

"That's great!" I exclaimed. "That could mean it's him!"

"Maybe, but..."

"But what?"

"Remeber, we never got to the fourth wife, Mrs. Kinjo, and anyway, we don't know that any of our suspects are actually Fear in the first place." He had a point. Of course I knew that, but I couldn't stop myself from hoping that it would be him, and that we were on the right track. The sooner we found him, the better.

xOx0xOx

Misa soon returned from the kitchen with delicious hot dinners for everyone. It'd been a while since I'd eaten that well and I really needed that comfort of a home-cooked meal. "Thanks, Misa!" I said, with a mouth full of food. "It's delicious!"

She gave a small giggle. "I can tell by the way you're scarfing it down," she replied.

I returned a smile, then shoved another bunch of noodles into my mouth. I didn't really pay it much mind at the time, but the others were glancing over in our direction. At first I thought they might have been looking at me because of the way I was eating, but in hindsight, I think they were probably glad to see Misa and I look happy for once since the incident, and actually have a conversation that wasn't about the case, or Light, or Kira.

It was a brief moment, but long enough. It was the first time I had been genuinely happy at all in over a month. All it took was a good meal and my friends around me. Corny, but true. I realized that, though, and stopped eating for a minute, staring down at my plate forlornly. I was thinking about all the things that had happened, and all the things yet to come.

"Too bad this won't last for much longer..." I thought.