Chapter 27 - Nightmare before Christmas
"Although Beyond's message is not complete yet, thanks to the list of events Yagami-kun made, we were able to decipher where and when he wants to meet." L started explaining, when he was leading the morning meeting after a few days: "The New Years celebration by Zojo-ji temple. It is the place that fits the unfinished coordinates we have till now, and according to the tempo the dead bodies are appearing now, it is most probable that he will finish his message after Christmas… and then…"
"Then the only possible event going on these coordinates is the New Years countdown." Light finished instead of L.
"Yes. Exactly." L nodded.
"So what's the plan Ryuzaki?" Matsuda asked full of enthusiasm that something is finally going on.
L showed his hands in his pockets: "Right now we have to obtain as much as possible information about the event. Once we know what we are working with I will try to predict Beyond's movements. I know him best after all. Then I will come up with a plan."
Chief Yagami frowned: "It is a big event… there will be thousands of people. It will be extremely hard to guard such an occurrence. We will need cooperation from the police." Chief Yagami told him.
L nodded: "I am aware of that. Watari already contacted the chief of the police. But I believe that together with them and my agents, we will be able to catch Beyond Birthday."
"Yes! And then we will catch Kira together, right Ryuzaki?!" Matsuda asked happily with an expression of a five years old and all the eyes were at him on the instant. Most of the task force had their eyebrows high in their foreheads, but KT was fighting laughter at his genuine expression of thrill. She didn't find it ridiculous but just very funny and refreshing.
L decided to let it go for this time, because he really didn't have the energy to tell Matsuda that he is an idiot: "Right… as for the next few days. It's Christmas. I want everyone to go home, enjoy time with their families and come back to HQs after. I need you all with clear minds."
Light opened and closed his mouth: "Ryuzaki, do you think it is a good idea? Right now we should be preparing…"
L cut him off: "Me and KT will be working on that during Christmas time, Yagami-kun, there is no need to worry."
"I would like to stay too." Matsuda said: "My family is at my sisters place this year and I already told them I won't be coming. So I can help you, Ryuzaki."
L nodded. He wasn't happy about it, because he really needed a break from everyone but he couldn't just kick him out.
Or can I? When did I become this soft? L asked himself.
"In that case, I am staying too." Light said. Just as L was expecting.
"Yagami-kun, you should go home and see your family. You were not home for almost a month, if I count right."
Light crossed his hands on his chest: "It doesn't matter. This is not the right time to have holidays. I will stay and help you."
"Fine… if you wish to stay, then stay. It's not like I can change your mind anyway…"
Light raised an eyebrow. That was not very L like. Normally he would argue and make Light leave anyway. Or try to use his father to persuade him. And it was a little weird itself that his father wasn't saying a thing.
"Ryuzaki and what about the Kira case?" Aizawa asked.
"Yes… the reason we are all here…" L said and sat down into his chair. "...I must admit I am a bit lost. You all know that my prime suspect was Yagami-kun and as there is no evidence against him, I have no other theories. Especially right now, when the Kira killings went back to its original pattern."
"So you are doing what exactly? Giving up?" Aizawa narrowed and his voice got a bit harsher. But it didn't seem to touch L at all. As it never did:
"No Aizawa-san… I can't afford that. I am simply waiting."
"Waiting for what? Kira making a mistake? Giving you a clue? Or to die of age?"
"I think it's not necessary using this tone Aizawa-san…" Matsuda started and wanted to ease the atmosphere but Aizawa cut him off:
"No… I want Ryuzaki to listen… I have no idea what is going on here, but it is clear that Ryuzaki is losing interest in the Kira case." Aizawa said and turned from Matsuda to L: "You are here quarter of the time you used to and you are not giving us any ideas where to lead the investigation next. Now you are giving us holidays? Don't you think we are at least worthy of an explanation?"
L brought his thumb to his mouth and tilted his head: "I do apologize, Aizawa-san I thought you might want to spend some time with your family. If you don't, you are not obligated to leave. But the fact is, that the Kira case is at the standstill now. No matter how hard we try, there is no evidence that might show us the direction to someone else than Yagami-kun and as we all now know, that Yagami-kun is innocent , I simply have no other ideas. That's all. As for my interest… the Kira case is still my highest priority and I intend to find Kira and bring him to justice. But right now I also have a second case, which is closer to its solution so I am about to give it more attention. If it's not to your liking Aizawa-san, I am sorry. But there is hardly something I can do about it."
It was probably the most truthful and heartful answer they ever heard from L's mouth. And for once, L really didn't use any game or trick on them. He simply used enough words to leave out why he was not spending so much time in HQs like before. And it worked.
There was silence for a moment before Aizawa said: "I… I… I just want the case to move somewhere. I am tired of this..." he waved his hands in the air at the side of the room where KT, Matsuda, L and Light were standing. "If I wanted to watch a teenage romance, I could as well watch TV with my wife!"
L raised an eyebrow. He was aware that the task force probably noticed something but he wouldn't expect Aizawa to hit on it like this.
"Well in that case I wish you a Merry Christmas Aizawa-san! I am sure you can spend a few pleasant days with your wife watching TV instead of..." L waved his hand in the air: "this."
"Oh come on… not this again!" BB whiled and rubbed his face with both his hands in desperation. He had the Kira case files for a few days already. He got himself a good computer and a few monitors, so he could get through those passwords and then read it all but… the coding wasn't as easy as he thought. When BB heard Mello saying they downloaded the files from KT's computer he was sure he could get through. Because KT's computer security was all written by A. And if someone knew how A thought in his programming, it was B.
But it turned out that these files were compressed by L's security system. Which was obviously rewritten from a scratch and had nothing to do with A's coding anymore. It was not even similar to L's usual coding.
"Shiiit… I can't believe it. I got this far, just to stare at damn passworded files. Great… that's just great." BB said out loud and stood up to take a cigarette break.
He went out on the balcony and looked at the brick wall in front of him. In the district he was hiding in wasn't much of a view. But he didn't really mind. The more out of sight he was, the better.
As he was smoking, his back leaned against the wall and he was listening to the sounds of a night city. Cars, sirens, trains… it all had a calming effect on him, until he heard a rough voice from somewhere beside him:
"Your great plan is not going as good as you wanted?"
B didn't even bother to look at the Shinigami: "It's only a matter of time. I'll break through it."
"Interesting… I thought time was something you are lacking."
The Shinigami king was right about that. He had only over a week until the New Year's eve celebration. And only something over a month to live. If there was something he was seriously lacking it was time. But everything went as he planned so far. Even too well. He even thought about the possibility that the Shinigami king wrote this whole scenario to his Death Note but… he doubted he would take time to do something so complex as this.
B didn't need the information from the Kira case files urgently. But… knowing what's in them would help a lot. B knew L surely had some suspects and that would help him to aim at the right people. But in the end, he was also able to do it by himself.
BB's plan was quite simple. He wanted to lure Kira out of his lair. He knew that Kira was watching L and L was watching Kira. That also meant, they were both watching him. Those murder cases he created, were meant do be thorn in both of their sides and bring them both to one place. Because B was sure that if L would show up there, Kira will be there too. From that point, he only needed a good view at L and anyone who could be coming near him.
"Are you sure about that life-span thing? I really won't be able to see Kira's life span?" B asked the Shinigami king, completely ignoring his previous comment.
"As I said before. The owner of a Death Note has no life-span. You'll only see their name." The king said without an expression.
Beyond smirked. This was an advantage Kira didn't know he had. So once he will see Kira, he will recognize them immediately. And even if Kira saw him, he couldn't kill him. At least not for another month.
"Your blood pressure is low. Are you feeling nauseous today?" Watari asked L when he was making a quick examination in his office.
L nodded: "A little. And the luck of coffee is not helping either."
It was making it much worse actually. It's not that L could drop off his coffee completely from the start. That could cause some serious withdrawal symptoms, but he felt the change anyway. He had a hard time concentrating and felt an urge to take a nap after every meal.
"I think you need a bit of an exercise L. And the sun would also do you good." Watari said as they sat down into chairs in his office.
"Yes… I know. I've been thinking about moving into the highest apartman. It has a glass roof at most parts so I would get a bit of natural light and it also has two smaller rooms beside the master bedroom. Boys could have their own rooms."
Watari nodded: "I think it is a good idea. I wouldn't want you to leave the building unless it's necessary so this and daily a few minutes on a balcony will do you good."
L nodded and put his hand on his flat belly: "Alright."
Watari rubbed his mustache and continued: "About your boys… I am not sure if it's a good idea to separate them."
L raised an eyebrow: "Why do you think so? It makes sense to me… Mello is older and constantly on a video chat with that Matt guy and Near wants peace for his studies so…"
Watari nodded: "Yes, that is true but sometimes they are talking at night. I even saw them sleeping in one bed occasionally. I think they need each other. No matter how hard they protest."
L's eyes widened. He didn't know about that. He watched the cameras in their room every day, but he never caught them acting "brotherly". It made him smirk happily.
"I see… so one room in that case. I will make the other my office. Unless you want to move in?"
Watari shook his head: "Oh God no, thank you! I enjoy having my own peace. Watching Mello on cameras is sometimes enough itself."
L laughed: "But you'll be with us on Christmas. That's an order."
"Yes, of course I will. I might be an old loner, but I am not letting my kids alone on Christmas."
L smirked. "I am glad to hear that."
There was a moment of silence when L was sipping on his tea and Watari on his coffee. Then Watari spoke again:
"Were you thinking about inviting Mr. Matsuda?"
L almost choked on his tea: "God no! Why should I?"
"Well...he is not leaving anywhere for Christmas and…" Watari started but L cut him off:
"That's not a reason I should invite him to our family Christmas…"
"Yes but…"
"Seriously Watari, no! No way! I dont want to hear his stupid notes on Christmas because I know KT and you would want me to watch my mouth and I might as well bite my tongue off while doing so I…" L suddenly stopped speaking as he caught a movement on surveillance cameras behind Watari. And it was not just a movement. It was his sister, moving through the corridor in front of her appartement hand in hand with no one else than Touta Matsuda.
L slowly stood up from the chair, his eyes fixed on the screen and his mouth open.
"What is it L?" Watari asked and turned around to see Matsuda pressing KT against the door of her apartment, kissing her and showing a hand under her skirt.
"What the fuck does he think he is doing?" L suddenly yelled and headed to exit, with an intention to beat Matsuda into unconsciousness. Luckily Watari was still fast enough to stop him. He grabbed L by the shoulders and slammed him against the wall. Not enough to hurt him, but enough for him to get the message: "No L. This is not your business. KT is an adult and she can do whatever she wants."
L opened and closed his mouth, trying to process what is going on: "Whatever she wants? Are you kidding me? You want me to believe she is letting him do these... things ?"
Watari gave L a stern look and L looked at the surveillance camera again. It was now KT who was pressing Matsuda into the door frame, kissing him, while fighting the door lock.
Suddenly it all started making sense. Suddenly L knew why KT was distracted back at Osaka. Why she was so protective over Matsuda. Why Aizawa was pointing at the four of them while talking about teenage romance. And why Watari was hitting on him to invite Matsuda to their family Christmas.
Suddenly... L felt like throwing up.
Watari saw L go green and loosened his grip a bit. L watched as KT and Matsuda disappeared inside the appartement.
"Don't do anything stupid L. This is KT's decision and I am fully supportive of her. He is a good man and you know it."
For a moment L didn't know what to say. He was angry at himself that he didn't notice, at KT that she didn't tell him and at the fact that of all people it had to be... Matsuda. L shook his head and he refused to believe it. He couldn't figure out why his beautiful and intelligent sister would want to be with someone like Matsuda. It just didn't make sense. There had to be more behind it. Some strategy or she just needed to let out a steam.
Yes… that will be it. She is alone for a long time. Surely she has needs. We all have needs. L thought as he was trying to make some sense out of this nightmare.
"L… are you listening to me? Leave it be…" Watari insisted as he watched the boy thinking hard.
L put a thumb to his lower lip. He needed to think about this. And talk to KT. Because it surely wasn't anything… serious.
"Yes I just… I will talk to her about this later when they are not… together."
Watari finally stepped away from L: "Very well… but remember it's KT's life. Not yours. And promise me you wont do anything to Mr. Matsuda."
L gave him an innocent look. It was not that he was thinking about anything... yet . But Watari knew him well enough to say that he might get pretty childish.
Watari crossed his hands on his chest: "I mean it. I want you to swear."
"I am not a child Watari." L spat at him.
"I don't care. You just swear L Lawliet!" Watari raised his voice at the boy.
L threw his hands in the air in a desperate gesture: "Alright! I swear!"
"You swear what?!"
"I wont do anything to Matsuda!" L said, but he was incredibly pissed off.
"Good boy." Watari said and that made L even angrier. He turned to the door again.
"Where are you going?"
L turned around and gave Watari a very annoyed look: "Toilet. I need to throw up. That sight seriously messed with my stomach."
L took exactly four hours to think about it. And the more he was thinking about it, the more pissed he got. Especially when he finally began to notice those looks that were passing between his sister and that idiot . Even when they just returned from a lunch break and probably had sex instead of a lunch, they were still flirting with each other. Like love-stricken teenagers. Which was disgusting and it made L seriously worried about his sister's mental health.
After those four hours of pure hell in the headquarters, L asked Matsuda to go and buy him something sweet in the bakery at the other side of a city. Which ended up with scolding from KT but it made the desired effect. Matsuda was out of the HQs and KT left the room angrily and headed into her apartment.
Of course L knew she was not going straight there. Instead she followed Matsuda in front of the building where they were eating each others' heads for a damn 15 minutes . L's blood was boiling while he was watching on his phone.
Meanwhile he used the time to move to her apartment and waited until she came. L wanted to talk to her and bring her to senses. But he also wanted to hurt her. Because he was hurting himself by the fact she didn't tell him at all. He told her about everything that happened between him and Light…
Well almost everything. Not about the rape... and the baby…
But she knew things he would never tell anyone else. He felt betrayed. And he wanted her to feel bad as well.
L heard the key in the lock and prepared himself for an attack:
"Care to explain yourself?" he asked straightly and watched as KT almost jumped in shock. She turned around and their eyes met. He obviously managed to startle her.
"Jesus you scared me! What are you doing here?" She asked and moved to take off her jacket.
"Looking after my sister. Now answer my question." L said and he was watched as KT raised an eyebrow.
She was not sure what he was hitting at, but she damn had an idea what this was about. And she was everything but happy about the tone the conversation started with:
"I don't know what I should be explaining…"
L stood up and made a few steps closer towards her. He brought his thumb to his lower lip and tilted his head:
"You don't know… what about the reason, why you are fooling around with the office idiot. It has to be part of your investigation, because other ways I don't really see the reason!"
KT shoot him a murderous look:
"What I am doing in my free time is none of your business." She said and marched away from him, to the kitchen. L followed her and his tone was everything, but pleasant.
"I beg to differ, my dear sister. Because this is my tower, my task force and you are both my employees."
She took a glass of water and turned to face him. She tried to be as cool about it as she could, but she was already raging inside. He had no right to act like this towards her. And he had no right to talk about Matsuda this way.
"I don't remember having a rule forbidding dating a colleague in my contract."
L laughed out loud:
"Dating… So that's what it is? Have you gone completely mad?! This man's intelligence is so much below our own. He can't hold a candle to you!"
KT showed her glass to the mramor desk on the kitchen unit with a loud clunk:
"Relationships are not just about IQ."
"Oh? Enlighten me then! Why would K, legendary double agent, want to be in a relationship with a man who is far from her equal!" L almost yelled at her.
KT felt something breaking inside her and she lost it: "You are in relationship with your equal and what good did it make?! You are constantly in tense, fighting anxiety, your investigation is stuck at a stalemate for months and you put your own family in danger, just so you can play hide and seek with a mass murderer? Let's face it L! Because that's what he is!"
L was surprised. It was not normal for K to lose her face like. But it was not her tone that scared him, but the content of those words. He started shaking.
"I… I… he…" L started but KT cut him off angrily:
"No! I don't care! It's your life… Wanna screw it up? Do it, be my guest! But don't tell me how to live MY life!"
Then there was silence between them. L suddenly felt as he was falling from his high tantrum back to reality. He was shaking and tears were building behind his eyes.
KT was panting hard, full of anger but when she saw that L was on the edge of a break she quickly sobered. She didn't want to hurt him. He was having a hard time and she was supposed to be a supportive big sister. To have patience with him. Not to send him into another wave of anxiety.
"L… I am sorry. I didn't mean it." she started and wanted to place her hand on his shoulder but L made a step back, still looking at the floor.
KT let out a long sigh. She had to make this right. She had to explain herself. She had a right to be happy just like anyone else: "Look I just… It's nice to be with someone normal. Someone who is not constantly trying to beat you and show he is better than you. Someone who actually cares."
But it was like her words didn't even get to him. He gave her a bored, stone cold look, which was probably the worst case scenario:
"You're right, it's not my business. Goodnight." L said and quickly left her apartment.
"No… L!" KT tried to go after him but he slammed the door in front of her face.
KT breathed in and out, hoping its gonna help her calm down but it didn't. So instead she punched the wall with a loud: "FUUUUUUCK!"