Chapter 25

Free Fall


October 8, 2004; Task Force Headquarters/Yotsuba Group Head Office

Aiber grinned and lent against the desk, arms folded, "So I just have to get close to them? No problem."

Wedy took a small drag from her cigarette, one Llana really wished she wasn't smoking, "And you want me to just override their systems, get into their security? Is that all?"

L nodded, his legs hugged close to his chest, "Yes. We will investigate Yotsuba to figure out who on the inside is Kira. And see if there is more than one person involved."

"And Kira is definitely on the inside so Aiber you need to be careful and pay attention." The woman said driving her violet orbs into the man's blue ones.

"You got it Lan, you know I won't do anything stupid."

The woman scowled at the nickname, "Look people. This has to be done, quick, clean, and fast."

"I am very sorry for interrupting, but it seems we have a problem."

Llana's stomach turned a serious summersault as she moved forward to put her hands on the desk, "What's wrong Watari?"

"It's Matsuda. I'm getting a distress signal from his belt."

L rolled his eyes, oblivious to how tense Llana was, "Where is he?"

Watari paused for a second, "It seems that he is inside the Yotsuba Group's main office."

"What?!" Llana exploded.

L let out a very loud and irritated sigh, "Everyone disregard everything I said. We have to make a different approach now." L glared at nothing in particular, "Matsuda you idiot."

All he could do was sit there. Sit there infront of the men who could possibly be Kira, with his hands between his legs, scared shitless.

One of the men eyed him warily as the other looked through Matsuda's belongings, all of which had been laid out onto the table. His cell phone, fake business cards, pictures of Misa…

He had pitched the idea of them using her as their spokes person to save his ass when they caught him eavesdropping. It was like an old movie. They opened the door, and he fell in.

"This is it for me. Why can't I listen? Llana told me not to do anything stupid." He thought solemnly.

"Well, he doesn't have anything suspicious on him. I guess that means he's not a corporate spy."

Matsuda rubbed his head nervously, "R-right! S-so please take Misa Misa into consideration."

"These two are just guards, the others are probably planning how to kill me." Matsuda had no idea how right he was.

"What should we do?'

"The main question is whether he heard anything."

"If it's a possibility, no matter how small, we have to kill him." One man said. He wasn't attractive in the least, unlike a few of the others. He was balding in several spots he looked greasy.

The others seemed to dismiss his comment, "I wonder if he did come here to support his client. He could be an undercover cop."

Another shook his head, "That's not possible. The Japanese police have withdrawn support from the Kira case."

"Look," the ugly one started again, "It doesn't really matter who he is. We have no choice but to kill him."

Matsuda continued to keep his fake smile plastered onto his face. He was still scared shitless. And it took everything he had to not dive off the couch in fear when his cell started ringing.

He looked to the two men, one nodded, "Go ahead and answer it. Don't tell them you're here and hold the phone so we can hear too."

Matsuda nodded stiffly and answered with a nervous hello.

"Yo! Matsui! It's me Asahi. It's been a while buddy."

Matsuda caught on quickly. Realizing that Asahi was really Ryuzaki.

"Asahi! Yeah! It's been a long time."

The voice chuckled, "It doesn't sound like you're out right now. Don't tell me your home already."

"Yeah."

"So you by yourself?"

"Yeah, I'm by myself."

L covered the receiver with his hand, "He's alone. He's not with Misa Amane."

"So you like, wanna go out drinking tonight?" L continued.

Matsuda tried to keep the nervousness from his face as the men watched him intently, "Huh? Oh, tonight? Sorry, I'll have to pass tonight."

"Aww, what's the matter? Don't tell me your wallet is in trouble again."

Matsuda caught on once again, "Yeah! Big trouble, with money. Ha, you know me way too well."

L covered the receiver again and threw Llana a wary glance, "He says he's in big trouble."

"Well, I guess I'll just drag you out some other time. See ya buddy."

Matsuda closed the phone and set it back on the table before throwing the businessmen a smile. "Sorry about that. So…what do you think about Misa Misa. I think she'd be a great spokes person for your company."

One of the men took another look at the picture of the blond girl, "Actually, she's pretty cute."

The brown-eyed man smiled, "Excellent. Actually she's at a movie shoot nearby so I'll call her over as soon as it's over."

Light sighed as he closed his cell phone, "Misa's phone is going straight to voicemail. But I left her a message telling her to call me as soon as she can."

Soichiro rubbed the bridge of his nose, "What do you plan to do Ryuzaki."

L looked at Llana, "Well, we have to save him. Even though our suspicions would be confirmed if he died."

The woman put a hand on his shoulder, "L…"

The detective sighed, "Lets just watch the situation."

Llana sat down on one of the couches and dragged a hand through her hair, "I told him not to do anything stupid."

L gave his lover a saddened look. He knew she was worried, "Well, Matsuda is…"

She wouldn't say it, she wouldn't say 'an idiot', or anything to that affect because she didn't think of him as an idiot, "…reckless." She decided to say. He was simply a little reckless.

It became silent until Light's cell started to ring, "Misa?"

"Light! I'm sorry I've been working so much, I'll be finished soon kay?"

"Misa, your not with Matsuda at the moment are you?" the young man inquired.

"Him? He's a total jerk. He just ran off and left me here." Another cell started to ring but it wasn't anywhere in the room. Three was shuffling on the other line then Misa said, "I'm getting a call on my work phone…its Matsu!"

Light looked at L who just put his thumb to his lips, "Tell her to hold the phone so we can hear."

Llana moved closer to the group to listen in as Misa did as she was told. Before they knew it they heard Matsuda's voice over the phone. The female genius relaxed, knowing he was still ok, "Misa Misa, when your finish filming come over the Yotsuba Group head office! There is a chance that you will be able to appear in some of their commercials. We're working it out now."

Misa's excited voice came next, "What! Are you for real! Your amazing Matsu! So that's what you've been up to all this time. Don't worry, we're wrapping up soon."

"Great." Matsuda said, "It's just a sort trip by taxi."

The lines went dead and Llana grabbed Light's shirt. "Light. We can save Matsuda. But I need Misa's help and she'll listen to me but not as much as she'll listen to you."

Light looked the woman square in the eyes. She desperately wanted to save her friend and she needed his help. The young man nodded, "Just tell me what you need."

Preparations went smoothly. Misa did everything Light instructed and Llana discussed the rescue plan with L, Mogi, and Soichiro.

"This was supposed to be a last resort strategy to save the president if something ever happened. It's very un-uniform and very dangerous. If it's not done correctly…Matsuda will die."

Mogi and Soichiro nodded. L watched his lover in wonder. She was amazing, but he did feel a little jealous that she was willing to go to such great lengths to save Matsuda. Would she go that far to save him?

Llana bit her lip as she watched the seven men follow Matsuda through the building. It felt weird knowing that one of those men could be Kira and that she was merely only floors below them.

The woman sighed as the camera view changed to Misa's room, "Alright everyone. Here we go."

Matsuda was scared. He was so scared he was shaking. Though the others weren't paying him much mind. He placed down his cup and moved to the door, "Excuse me guys…I gotta go to the bathroom."

No one paid him any mind as he slipped out the door and bolted down the hall.

L watched boredly as Matsuda slammed the bathroom door behind him and pulled out his cell.

It rang and he answered it, "Hello?"

"Ryuzaki! Are you watching this?"

"Yes." The detective answered boredly.

"Um, look, I'm sorry that I-"

"That's not important right now." L interrupted.

"O-okay. Listen the eight men that came here were having a meeting to determine who they would get Kira to kill for them! I heard them say it clearly, there's no doubt… they're behind this."

L sighed, "That may be true. But if you did hear them and they caught you…they will most likely be trying to kill you."

Matsuda's face fell, "I know… is there any way I can save myself?"

"Well, you are still alive so we may be able to save you. But for that to happen. You would have to die before they can kill you."

Matsuda listened as shuffling sounded on the other line. He would have to die?

"Matsuda."

It was Llana.

"Matsuda I need you to listen to me very carefully ok?" The woman relayed the plans to her friend, watching his facial reactions in the camera.

It unnerved her that he was so silent, "Matsu…"

"I can do it."

Llana took a breath herself. This had to be done correctly or he really would die. She watched in suspense as he left the bathroom and moved down the hall. He put on a great show of acting drunk. She was in the room alone, everyone was in their positions.

She squeezed her upper arms as she watched him walk out onto the balcony, out of the view of the camera. Then she made a dash to the elevator.

"God please let him make it."

The woman arrived to the correct room and swung the door open in time to see Matsuda bounce off the mattress onto the floor. Llana slumped to the floor herself as relief washed over her.

The plan continued as sirens were heard outside. Matsuda got onto the mattress and Llana moved to him, still crying. She got on her knees infront of him and he just looked at her.

"Llana…"

Matsuda smiled and relished in the feeling of holding her in his arms. Llana cried into his neck as she squeezed him, "I told you not to do anything stupid!"

The two pulled away and Matsuda blushed, "I'm sorry."

"I take it back, you are and idiot." The man's face fell until she smiled, "But you're my idiot."

The two chuckled together and Llana stood, walking out the room, "Hm, an idiot for a best friend."

Matsuda smiled as he heard her say it and followed out after her as Soichiro clapped him on the shoulder.