Right, here's the second chapter. I've got a busy week next week, it's my birthday next Sunday and Easter this sunday but I'll try and update midweek. Thank you to everyone who read this and to those who've reviewed =]
I don't own Deathnote.
Chapter 29
Misa and Jenny spent most of their day rehearsing for Misa's debut within Yotsuba. It started off well but the longer it went on the less interested Misa was until Jenny would remind her that it was for Light. Aiber joined them eventually to finalise the rehearsals. Things went downhill when L and Light joined them.
"Misa please take it seriously," L had clearly had enough and spoke into some rolled up paper he was using as a sort of megaphone.
"Yes Director Ryuzaki, sir," Misa replied. L walked away to inform Mogi of his new role, somehow no one could quite picture Mogi as a manager, not in the way Matsuda was anyway.
"Jitsumi, you could come with me, as my assistant," Misa proposed.
"Jitsumi isn't going anywhere," L walked back over, "she does not have the knowledge to be your assistant." Jenny really hoped that he was implying she didn't know how the industry worked and not that she was stupid.
"Ah you're right, she has no fashion sense," Misa offended.
Jenny dropped her crumpled piece of paper onto the coffee table, "I'll leave you to it." Her Misa-tolerance quota was full for the day; she really didn't need to listen to Misa's cruel yet innocent jibes. In need of cheering up Jenny went to pester Watari for a game of chess.
Two days later Misa went for her interview with Mogi as her manager leaving the taskforce to work quietly, well, mostly silent. Matsuda was as usual prattling on about unimportant things and carefully avoiding the stack of paperwork he'd been assigned.
Jenny was sat next to L in front of the big screen eyeing up the bowl of cherries in front of him. Maybe if I just take one, she waited for L to look at the computer screen then reached for one, success! A few moments passed, maybe one more. Jenny had three or four before L decided he didn't feel like sharing and moved the bowl out of her reach; he then stuffed as many cherries as he could into his mouth. "I'm sure one would have been sufficient," Jenny said dryly. L shrugged in response and pushed the bowl further away. Jenny took this as a challenge and waited a while but not too long that all the cherries would be gone. She stood up and retreated to the sofa where the Chief and Matsuda were working to check something in a file. When she walked back over she stood between L and Light and set the file down on top of the table covering the cherries. As she checked a piece of data with Light she slid the bowl out under the file all the while keeping a very neutral look upon her face, or so she thought.
L knew exactly what Jenny was trying to do and allowed her to carry on. He was happy to share; this was only a more entertaining way of doing it. Light was proving to be very boring; he wasn't reacting to L's carefully aimed comments insinuating that he was Kira. Until the interview ended he had very little work to do.
Jenny finished off the cherries and set the empty bowl down. To make up for her cherry theft she went to fetch strawberry ice cream for L. He would need all of his precious sugar goods for when Misa returned, she assumed he would have a lot to think about. She explained where she was going but L made no acknowledgement; he was too busy watching Light out of the corner of his eye.
Misa returned by early evening full of energy as usual. Matsuda jumped on this and questioned Misa, she was all too happy to oblige. L remained silent until Misa rambled on about their current plan. He informed her that the plan had been cancelled. Misa angrily protested and comically reached for L, he hands on either side of his head. Light grabbed hold of Misa before she could act any further. L complete with messier hair than usual frowned at Jenny for the intrusion of his personal space even if she hadn't done it she was the only one that would understand.
Misa calmed down and left but not before causing a scene, "Light, won't you sleep with me?"
Light's face was a mix of embarrassment and confusion, Jenny hid a giggle as a cough and tried to concentrate on her work.
"Please don't be shy Light," L said as he sipped his tea. It was too much for Jenny who buried her hand in her arms on the table to laugh as quietly as she could.
"I'm not being shy," Light protested.
"Don't be so serious about it either," L was able to keep a complete straight face as he antagonised his Kira suspect. Thankfully Misa had long since left.
"What's so amusing?" L questioned Jenny whilst feigning ignorance.
"You're really going to ask that? I was laughing at you and Light," neither of the geniuses were amused. L hated being lumped in the same category as Light and Light didn't like being the centre of the amusement, it ever so slightly wounded his pride.
As time wound on Jenny found that finding even the slightest bit of humour in a situation helped her cope. The seriousness of the case could really get to a person especially when they were alone. For Jenny this was a lot of the time and her books could only distract her for so long before she became restless and frustrated. Matsuda was always a good source of entertainment for her and when L and Light were both in high spirits she was always guaranteed an intriguing conversation with them.
When Misa went to her filming the following day a small catastrophe emerged. She gave Mogi the slip, "I understand that it might be frustrating for a girl of her age to be under supervision all the time," L cast his eyes on Jenny who was quite worried over Misa's disappearance, when she first joined the case Jenny would become very frustrated at being indoors all the time and practically begged to leave the hotel for a short while. At least she had enough sense not to sneak out. Light tried to call Misa but her phone was switched off. L had more serious thinking to do, last night Amane acted strangely against Light. Normally she would've refused to back down but yesterday she backed down obediently and now she's cut herself off from Light this can only mean… L didn't finish that thought.
"Will Misa be alright?" Jenny asked tentatively.
"She was the second Kira," L mumbled so Light, who was still trying to reach Misa, wouldn't hear. Jenny was fully aware that L had avoided the question but was reassured slightly when he took her hand in his and squeezed it. Jenny was conveniently stood so that Light could not see, L would not risk such a move if that was the case.
Misa turned up nearly five hours later having discovered that Higuchi was Kira. If the punishments stop, then it will be harder to see the actual process of killing, I need to think of a way too…I need to consult with Jenny and Watari, L had rapidly taken in everything that Misa had said and was busy processing it. Jenny's thoughts weren't as deep as L's; she'd once again jumped on the idea that they were even closer to ending the case having identified Kira. Having calmed her excitement Jenny cast her eyes on L who was intently stacking sugar cubes one on top of the other. What L really needed was to know how Kira killed; stopping the deaths from happening would only prevent this. It was maddening. What was worse was that if they were to go out and catch Higuchi then there was a very high possibility, a ninety-eight percent chance, that Kira's powers would move on as they did with Light, however, when L considered this he knew that Higuchi was on the same level as Light based upon mental personality. As he mulled over these thoughts he took to eating the sugar cubes.
L contacted Wedy and had her concentrate on observing Higuchi and then decided that Misa should no longer be in contact with Higuchi. Following this Light asked him if he had a plan, "it's not like I don't have one but before that, there's one thing that's been bothering me. Light, I'm sorry to return the topic to this but I'm going to ask you frankly…"
Oh sure and he's never asked him frankly before, Jenny knew what L was about to say.
"Do you remember killing them?" by them L meant the criminals. L's frequent questioning of Light was a daily occurrence so they were all used to the outburst that would probably follow from Light.
And there it is, Jenny sighed as Light asked L if he was still saying that. Eventually Light replied that he didn't remember, when the question was put to Misa she said the same thing.
"Light, I want you to seriously reason through and analyse everything I say from now. From this answer, we can take off to capture Kira. Light Yagami was Kira and now that power of Kira has transferred to someone else. Currently, Light Yagami has forgotten that he was Kira. This is an analysis using this as a premise. Are you able to think this way?" he asked Light who responded with an affirmative. "Was this transfer by Light Yagami's own decision? Or was there another entity behind Light Yagami who gave him the power who moved from Light Yagami to another person? Which is it?"
Light sighed heavily and closed his eyes before replying, Jenny felt that she had a good enough judge of character to predict his answer. Her prediction was proved correct as Light announced that it would be his own decision.
"If there was another person who could give the power and move from person to person and didn't want the method of killing to be known, then it would be strange for them to have waited until the last minute to move on. If we were to say that he gave the power and then didn't bother with them, it's highly unlikely that they would move from Light and Misa together at that time," L found that as much as he liked to share his thoughts and ideas with Jenny Light was the better option on this particular occasion. If he offered Jenny the same question he would get a different answer for it was not in her nature to even consider deliberately harming someone outside of forcing carrot cake on L.
It was as if the others weren't there as the two geniuses conversed, "even if it's an entity that can control people from the shadows, unless it was in the headquarters itself it would have to be an entity that could watch the whole story from the heavens and if it can do that, then what we're talking about right now is already known to it." Jenny desperately wanted to disagree with Light but didn't want to interrupt their conversation. How could someone with Light's level of intelligence even consider such a thing as an entity? It was not scientifically possible.
"So it seems that you have reached the same conclusion as me," L confirmed.
Jenny was more outraged when L seemed to be considering the idea of an entity, surely someone of his logical aptitude would dismiss the idea? Frowning Jenny shifted from foot to foot as she tried to keep in her opinion.
"If I were to acknowledge the existence of such a one who can see everything from the heavens, there's no way we can catch that one and I would be dead by now, or else be eternally toyed with in the palm of his hand. No there's no way that such a being could exist," Jenny relaxed slightly as she heard L say this.
L formulated an elaborate planning involving a television station to trap Higuchi. It would be such a trap that he could not pass on his power but would in fact show the task force members his method of killing. Matsuda ended up being their bait and he didn't look too happy about it but eventually with some clever manipulation on L's part he became full of determination.
Three days later the team began to put their plan into action, Light called Namikawa to make him aware of what was going to happen using L's name. Light Yagami was tricked by Namikawa into revealing that Kira definitely was Higuchi. L wasn't impressed and wasted no time in pointing out to Light the mistake he had been well aware of making. As was anticipated the first move Higuchi made was to call Misa who didn't answer, Higuchi then dialled Mogi wanting to know all the details about Matsuda so that he could kill him as Kira.
Jenny kept shooting looks at L; she was trying to keep her excitement in check but couldn't help herself. When L told Light that they should be delighted and not frightened she let out a wide grin. If all went well then once Higuchi was in custody there would be no need to keep Light handcuffed to L and Jenny would have the detective all to herself again. It had been a very long few months meaning she wanted nothing more than to be with L alone. She couldn't allow herself to become too carried away though because Higuchi was not in cuffs just yet.
As L predicted Higuchi was becoming desperate in his search for Matsuda's real name. "Are you sure this will work?" Jenny asked somewhat apprehensively. She didn't mean to doubt L but this whole plan was full of risk. Her apprehension mixed with excitement made Jenny impatient. She would pace about the control room and then flop down into the chair next to L before standing up moment later to begin the whole thing again.
"Yes, now please sit still, it is very distracting," L didn't turn around from the monitor showing surveillance footage of Higuchi. Annoyed at being reprimanded Jenny sat herself down and folded her arms, glaring at the side of L's head.
Jenny didn't say anything but she was also frustrated that all she could do was sit and watch, even Misa had a part to play she was holding her ringing phone as Higuchi persistently called. All she could do was sit and watch.
Wedy went after Higuchi on her bike, the professional thief knew exactly what she was doing and Jenny realised this, however, it did not stop her from worrying for her new friend. This was the first time that Jenny had ever seen a real police chase, when they were younger and playing one of their spy games Watari would let her, L and a few other kids sit in his Bentley so they could pretend to be chasing a criminal. Jenny would always do the driving with L perched on the passenger seat barking instructions, until he decided he was too old to play games and Watari decided that he was fed up of clearing sticky fingerprints from inside the car. Those sticky prints usually belonged to L.
Higuchi started talking about someone called Rem, although it seemed more like he was talking to the person but neither L, Jenny, Light nor Misa could see anyone in the car. L confirmed that there was no radio on the camera and bug they set up. Jenny wondered if the man was slightly crazy and was simply talking to himself but as she looked at L to gauge his reaction she began to think otherwise. He was intently chewing on his thumb as he stared at the screen.
"He will go, I'm certain," L spoke up as Higuchi continued to talk to himself muttering away about killing Misa and others from the Yoshida agency once Matsuda was dead. L reassured everyone that it would not happen and left the conversation to return to who Higuchi was talking to.
"Do you think he has multiple personalities?" Jenny asked. L made a noise but it wasn't a confirmation more like a communication that he had that thought earlier and dismissed it.
"No," Light answered, "he cannot be talking to himself either, who is Rem?" No one could answer that, "who is he having this conversation with?" the questions went unanswered.
"If he is having a conversation there, then he is talking to the Shinigami," L announced adding a quiet 'maybe?' at the end.
Jenny didn't hear his muttered maybe and instead launched into a tirade at L, "I'm sorry but are you seriously entertaining the idea of such a ridiculous being. What scientific proof is there, it is nothing more than the personification of death. A psychopomp."
L had a challenging look in his eye as he replied, "in Jungian psychology psychopomps are seen as mediators between the conscious and unconscious realms. Often symbolic."
"Psychology isn't a real science, show me proof that they are real and I'll think otherwise. For now I cannot except the possibility that they are real, they are nothing more than fiction," Jenny didn't believe anything without scientific proof, oh sure as a child she had believed in the tooth fairy, Easter bunny and Father Christmas but as she lost her childish innocence she would not except anything without proof and had always thought that L had shared these beliefs.
"Jitsumi do not be so narrow minded," L replied and ended the small debate by peeling a banana from the fruit basket close by and waited for Higuchi to reach the Yoshida offices.
Everyone fell silent as Higuchi walked through the empty offices to the draw where the file with Matsuda's supposed 'real' name was located. L didn't blink as he watched the monitors like a hawk, this was it Kira was going to show him how he killed. L was disappointed when Higuchi only wrote the name in a notebook, he would have to wait a while longer to finally discover Kira's secret.
The taskforce were itching to arrest Higuchi but under L's instruction were told to wait. "Damn it, why doesn't die!" the remaining task force members in the control room including L and Jenny heard the shout of Higuchi over the speakers.
"He's already tried to kill Matsuda, but, I didn't see anything?" Jenny was disturbed, all Higuchi had done was write a name in a book but that couldn't kill a person could it? No I absolutely refuse to believe that these so called Shinigami are real. L shot Jenny a look as if to say he was right. At least Matsuda was still alive that was something. It gave them all a little bit of hope, L's hair brained scheme had been successful so far. They just had to determine how Kira killed.
L couldn't give the order to seize Higuchi not when he could not force a confession from Higuchi at this current stage. "Rem it's time for a deal," at the word deal everyone's ears pricked up.
"What is this Rem he's been mentioning? Can the ability of Kira really be a godsend?" Light asked aloud.
"No," Jenny replied with determination.
At the same time much to Jenny's pleasure L replied, "I don't like to think that way."
"Then what is Rem?" Light asked again.
"A Shinigami?" L suggested.
"But you just said…" Jenny was beginning to give up on her point, L was too confusing sometimes.
"Anyway, it's too soon to draw a conclusion. It looks like there are things yet to come and we might get to find out his method to kill," L ignored Jenny. He didn't like to do that but right now this case and apprehending Kira was his main concern.
Higuchi speed off only to be pulled for speeding, Wedy had been tailing him on her bike whilst the other taskforce members including Aiber were following in a car. Higuchi sped off as he reached for his license in his bag, as the unsuspecting officer was calling for back-up he was knocked from his bike and was killed instantly.
Misa squealed. Jenny's reaction wasn't much better; she clapped a hand to her mouth unable to tear her eyes away from the screen. L could not comfort his girlfriend, not when he highly suspected that Higuchi had done something when he reached into his bag. There would be time for comfort later.
Higuchi did place his hand inside his bag; did he do something back then? How did he do it? No more importantly how did he get the name of the cop? If he didn't get it then…just by looking at faces, like the second Kira? No, if he became capable of killing just by looking at faces then his capable of killing Matsuda at any time since he already knows his face…what is going on? But… L's thoughts were going at a mile a minute and surprised everyone with his outburst, "everyone, I've decided that it is now dangerous to let Higuchi move any longer and although we haven't established his method of killing, assuming that he currently possesses sufficient evidence on him, we are taking our next step and will capture Higuchi. However, we are assuming that Higuchi now has the same ability as the second Kira and can kill just by looking at faces. That is our premise."
"I don't understand what is going on?" Jenny sighed.
"Don't worry Jitsumi, Misa Misa doesn't either," that was no surprise.
L requested that Watari connect him to the director general of the police so that he could inform them he had a name for Kira and informed them of the loss of an officer. He then went on to request that all police personal stay away from the Porsche that belonged to Higuchi. With that finished L sprung to his feet to stand on the chair, "Well Light, shall we make our move too?"
"You're move?" Jenny had deliberately been left out of this part of the plan.
"Yes," he removed a pair of handcuffs from his and pocket clipped them on to Misa, "awfully sorry Misa, but I need to leave you here immobilised." Jenny was still trying to process everything as Misa protested a little too loudly for her liking.
"Where are we going?" Jenny asked.
"We are going to apprehend Higuchi, you are staying here," L answered.
"Sorry but I don't think so, you have spent years hiding yourself away moving around your chess pieces, I am not one of those, now where are we going?" Jenny folded her arms as if to prove her point.
L sighed and stepped closer, Jenny didn't notice his hand in his pocket, "you will only be in danger, your help has been very much appreciated but at the moment your lack of experience dealing with criminals will mean you're a liability."
"You want me to stay here but it's perfectly alright for you to go waltzing right into danger," she left out 'I don't want to lose you.' L already knew that.
"Yes, I know the risks," L lowered his voice and took one of her hands in his, luckily Light was still trying to placate a hysterical Misa to take any notice, "I love you, sorry but I must go."
"Sorry but so should I," Jenny's stubborn streak was thriving but it was going up against L's.
Again L sighed, "Please forgive me. I really didn't want to have to do this."
"Do what?" Jenny asked in confusion but realisation hit her as she felt a sharp pain in her arm, "what the hell did you just do!" she shouted as she yanked herself from L's grasp. Both Light and Misa turned to watch the pair. Jenny's eyes fell onto the needle in his hand.
It didn't take long for the sedative to take effect, Jenny instantly felt drowsy but refused to give in, instead she ranted at L, her words becoming slower and slurred with each passing second, "you are unbelievable and Watari he probably supplied you with the drug. I, I," she stuttered, "I can't believe you."
Jenny began to sway slightly but didn't give in, L reached out to steady her and catch her if she should fall but Jenny stepped back from him, "please, just sit down," he pleaded.
"Ryuzaki what did you do?" Light asked but soon took note of the syringe in L's hand.
L didn't answer Light, if these were his last moments with Jenny he was not going to let a Kira suspect get in the way. By going himself to apprehend Kira he was practically handing himself to Kira on a plate if he had made a mistake in his actions so far.
"Thaaaaat was diiirty," Jenny was now past it and gave in to the drug that was taking over her system. She couldn't stay mad at L for fear that it would be the last thing she ever said to him, "aand you, you are an idiot."
"You have said that many times before," she wanted to tell him that this was not the time to be smart but she didn't have the energy. Her head was swimming and her eyes desperate to close. When she woke up she would have a mega headache. Jenny stumbled as she made for the sofa, L was there to catch her, "I love you too," she slurred quietly into his ear before succumbing to unconsciousness.
L lifted her in arms and set her on the sofa, grabbing a blanket that had been draped over the back; it was one that Light used when L insisted on working through the night. With one last fleeting look at Jenny L and Light headed for the lift to the helicopter on the roof of the building where Watari would be waiting.
