Kiko sat in down cautiously in the chair across the coffee table from L. He was sitting in his peculiar way, hands resting on his knees as he observed her.
"Kioko Ejiri." L spoke, pressing his thumb to his bottom lip. "You really should consider an alias."
"What is the point, it's only us…Lawliet."
"Kioko." His usually dry demeanor had shifted to authoritarian. "This is no laughing matter. Kira only needs a name and a face to kill."
"Do you have a suspect?" She asked, her interest peaked.
"In fact, I do." He nodded. "I'm 95% certain of my prime suspect."
"Any plan to share this suspect?" Kioko raised her brow, a gesture of curiosity. "Or have you summoned my solely for the purpose of lecturing me about the cavalier use of my birthname?"
"Both." L nodded, nibbling on the tip of his thumb. Dark circles lined his eyes, alluding to sleep deprivation. "I'd prefer you look over the details of the case prior to sharing my theories, of course."
"Constantly testing those closest to you." Kioko smirked. "You are insufferable. I possess the utmost respect for Watari."
"It is no test." L explained. "If you come to the same conclusion then I know there is merit in my suspicions; however, should your deductions contradict or differ from my own I know my suspicions are personal rather than justified."
"Ideally I will come to the same conclusion, and we will begin collecting evidence as proof." Kioko nodded, understanding his process. "What if I disagree with your findings?"
"I will most likely continue to investigate my suspect, while considering other possibilities." L shrugged, letting his hand drop back to his knee.
"Will I meet the task force?"
"Not yet." L shook his head. "When you do however, you'll need a name."
"My name is Ki Fujiki." Kioko sighed. "I'm a teacher at a orphanage in England."
"And why are you here?"
"I am visiting an old flame in hopes we can rekindle our passionate love affair." Kioko bit her lower lip, trying to contain her amusement.
"Perhaps your cover should be a little less truthful." L suggested. "The less they know of your background, the better."
"I'll work on it." Kioko promised. "I'm sure I have time."
"Yes of course." L pushed himself out of the chair. Kioko followed suit, moving to his side. L towered over her, but his poor posture made the height difference less noticeable. "I'll show you the case files."
"After you." Kioko gestured. L nodded, moving towards what was likely the bedroom of the hotel suite. He pushed the door open and flipped on the light.
"How are Mello and Near?" He asked as he crossed the room to the bed. On the bed was a single, grey, laptop. The area was tidy and well kept, clearly unused.
"Competitive as always. Fighting over who will become the next you." She watched as he knelt in front of the bed, typing on the laptop. "I wish you'd give them some clarity."
"No, the competition is good, it drives them forward towards success."
"They're top tier. It seems cruel to choose one over the other." Kioko sat down on the floor next to him. L didn't seem to notice as he sifted through the files on the small screen.
"They could never work together." His response was accurate, but he seemed distant from the conversation, no longer engaged. Kioko reached out, wrapping her fingers around his wrist. L looked at her hand through wide eyes, shocked by her brazen touch. "Kio?" He questioned, giving her his undivided attention.
"You will catch him." She assured.
"And if I can't?" He asked. Kioko blinked, not sure how to respond. He had never seemed so unsure of himself before. There wasn't a mystery presented to him that he couldn't solve with confidence and now he was making plans in the event of his failure.
"Then your successors will." She retorted.
"This is like no case before." He warned.
"It goes beyond the realm of logic to be sure." Kioko agreed, letting her hand fall back to her lap. L went back to sifting through the computer files. The two sat in silence for what felt like hours but in reality it was only about 30 minutes. Once he had organized the files in an order which suited him, he tilted the laptop towards her.
"Once you've finished, I'd like to hear your thoughts." L instructed. Kioko nodded. "As always you are not permitted to take notes, given your eidetic memory I don't foresee this being an issue for you."
"Understood."
Kioko meticulously examined all the information L had provided her. She paid special attention to the notes left by prisoners, the dates and times of deaths, as well as the tapes sent to Sakura TV. Watari had brought in treats for them, while Kioko poured her focus into the details. L had strawberry cake and Kioko mindlessly enjoyed a simple bowl of fruit. When she had finally finished combing through the details of the case, she closed the laptop.
"Well?" L asked, biting the tip of his thumb, anxiously awaiting her response.
"Well." She sighed, resting with her back against the bed. She stretched out, rubbing her bare feet against the soft rug under her. "My initial thought is you are dealing with a juvenile, a student. One who is privy to task force intel, most likely someone who is connected in some way to the Japanese police."
"Is that all?" He looked at her, disappointment beginning to overtake his features.
"No, but you already knew that." Kioko leaned her head back, closing her eyes. "I speculate Kira occasionally conducts experiments on his victims, exploring the limits of his power. This indicates he is new to killing, unaware of his own capabilities. I am also certain there is a second. One whose powers go beyond the reach of the original."
"Go on."
"The two have most likely made contact and are now working together."
"Do you have any suspects?" L questioned.
"Assistant Director Yagami's son."
"And the second?"
"If I had to guess, which I hate to do," Kioko remarked. "I'd say it is someone new in Yagami's life, more than likely someone who adores or admires him."
"Interesting." L took a deep breath. "I also came to this conclusion."
"I'd say there is certainly merit to your theory." Kioko folded her legs under her, moving to face L fully. "I just have one question."
"Yes?"
"How?" She ran her hand through her thick dark hair. "How does he kill?"
"I don't know." He admitted. Kioko looked on him surprised. "I intend to find out."