Ranma ½
Love Note
Usual disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, any resemblance to Ranma ½ or Death Note is purely intentional, and the rest of that jazz.
For the purposes of this story, any text within single quotes like 'this' is considered a thought.
Quick pointer on this chapter: it is a bit of a diversion from normal as I focus completely on the death note character side of things. Bear with me Ranma fans, it's just one chapter.
Interlude
Naomi Misori was having a bad day. No, actually, that wasn't entirely accurate. It was getting closer now to a bad week. However, since she hadn't yet gotten anything seriously resembling sleep in the last 24 hours or more, to her it was simply one long, lousy day.
It had started badly enough. Naomi and her partner had been sent across country to look into a possible sighting of a fugitive in tiny town in California. That turned out to be a glorious dead end, but while there she had a run in with the local sheriff, who, beyond the usual jurisdiction disagreement, apparently decided that it was perfectly fine to come on to her. The whole incident ended with her decking him as he had gotten entirely too close and personal for her liking while they were alone in his office discussing the case. Unfortunately, as bad as that was, it was just the start.
After having just touched down from her trip to California, she had been looking forward to a nice long stay in her own bed to deal with some serious jet lag and to forgetting the whole thing when she was called into headquarters. She had expected such, just not so soon after returning. However, little could be done about that, so after dropping her luggage off at home, she diligently headed in to get the long lecture that was no doubt awaiting her.
Once there, she was quickly told to meet with the director. Unfortunately she was forced to wait outside and listen as the director spoke in great uproar with someone on the phone. She couldn't exactly catch what was being said through most of it, but in her tired mind paranoia was being to win out and by the time ten minutes had past she was convinced that most of his anger was due to her little encounter. Finally though, the talking inside ended prompting the director's secretary to motion for Misori to enter.
"What the hell is he thinking asking that? I have a wife for... oh, Naomi, come in," the director said as he took his seat, having apparently been pacing. Obediently, Misori took the seat in front of the director's desk, as he turned his chair to look out the window, Naomi took the gesture as a sign of shunning, but said nothing. "I trust you know why you're here?"
"Yes sir," she replied evenly.
"Naomi, how long have you been with the FBI?"
Naomi hesitated, not liking the way this was going already. "A month... three weeks sir."
"Three weeks," he repeated. "That must be a new record. Must be. I've never heard of another of my agents being considered for criminal charges in less time."
"What?!" Misori exclaimed, but quickly fell silent as the director spun around to look at her.
"I spoke to the sheriff already, and he is threatening to bring you up on everything from obstruction of justice to assault!"
"That's ludicrous!" Misori countered, jumping to her feet and slapping the desk. "He is the one that should be up on charges for sexual harassment!"
"Sit down!" the director ordered sharply, and after a second of shock, Naomi meekly complied. "So, do you have any witnesses to back you up?"
"Uh... no," Naomi admitted.
"So then, who am I to believe? A three week rookie agent, or a decorated twenty year veteran of the force?" the director asked bluntly, to which Naomi could only answer with silence. "You're just-" he began to say when his phone suddenly rang. "Now what, hello?" he said as grabbed up the phone in annoyance. However, no sooner had he answered than his expression changed to a slightly nervous one, and he once more turned his chair around to be out of view. "I am in the middle... Yes, yes she's here... What?... I see, but... I'll look into that... Are you serious?... Well, I suppose that would be an acceptable compromise. But are you... Okay then, if you're sure?... Okay, I trust this settles the matter then?... Good." The director turned back around, placed the phone of the hook and regarded a slightly confused Naomi for a moment. "You're taking a leave of absence."
"What?! But sir-"
"I can make that a suspension," he cautioned, silencing her. "As I was saying, you'll be taking an indefinite leave of absence. Leave your badge and sidearm here. You're dismissed."
To say Naomi was mad after that would be a gross understatement. She had in fact been telling the truth, and it rubbed her wrong on so many levels that she was the one not only being distrusted, but, worse, being punished as well. She had already endured a lot to get into the FBI, and a lot since becoming an agent. Being female and Japanese in a mostly Caucasian male dominated institute had made things difficult, but this was nearly her limit. It had taken every ounce of her remaining self control to leave FBI headquarters without making a scene.
By the time she had made it home, her emotions were in a wild storm of anger and self pity. She barely noticed the package set in front of her apartment door, practically kicking it inside as she entered, uncaring about its contents. After tossing aside her coat angrily, she threw herself onto her bed and lay staring at the ceiling. "That was probably that ass on the phone with him," she muttered. "And that idiot thinks he's doing me a favor! I can't believe he just ups and trusts the guy... oooo" she continued, unheard by anyone other than herself.
Several minutes passed as she let her anger subside just ever so much when suddenly the silence of her apartment was broken by the sound of a muffled telephone ringing. "What the hell?" she wondered aloud as she sat up and tried to track the sound. After only a few seconds she realized it was coming from the package she had almost forgotten about earlier. Puzzled by this, she got up and picked the box up to confirm that the ringing was coming from within. The box itself was wrapped in simple brown paper with merely her name on it. A moment of paranoia slipped in as Naomi considered the possibility this was a bomb, but that was quickly discarded as an altogether ridiculous notion given that at this time she had no enemies inclined to go so far as to kill her.
Frowning, Naomi removed the paper covering to find a sealed box within, equally nondescript. A quick yank on the flap overcame the tap sealing it to reveal the box contained a cell phone. Despite nearly two minutes having passed, the phone continued to ring insistently. Naomi grabbed it and after a few seconds of fiddling managed to answer. "Hello?"
"Naomi Misori?" an electronic voice replied.
'What is this?' she wondered for a second before answering. "Yes."
"Good. I am L."
"L?" Naomi repeated in momentary confusion. 'What the devil is that supposed to mean?' she thought initially, but quickly remembered a lunch time discussion she had on entering the FBI with one of her fellow agents, Raye Penber. He had talked about a detective named L that the FBI often worked with. "As in the detective L?"
"If you wish. I would like to request your assistance on a case I am currently on."
"A case?" Naomi echoed before shaking her head. "Look, I don't know what this is about, but I'm on-" she began to explain as she headed over to her bed to sit.
"A leave of absence, yes I know. I was the one that told the director to put you on that leave."
"What?!" Naomi exclaimed. "Why would you... and why would he-"
"He did so because I requested it. I did so because your situation happens to be convenient. As well, after looking at your record I believe you are just the type of person I require," L explained, but it hardly soothed Naomi's anger. "I also informed your director of three previous complaints against the sheriff that indirectly corroborate your version of events. Please be assured that your absence is not considered a punishment."
"That's hardly the way I see it," Naomi replied bitterly but L seemed to ignore her.
"If you decide to accept my request, please be on the 12:45 flight to London tomorrow. All arrangements will be made for your arrival. Pack for approximately one week. However, whether you accept or reject the offer, please destroy this phone and do not discuss this call with anyone."
"London?!" Naomi exclaimed. "You can't be serious! You know how expensive a ticket to London is? And how am I supposed to get a ticket now? It is certainly booked solid."
"I have made arrangements for a spot to be open for you on the flight. As for the price, I'm afraid I must ask you to purchase the ticket yourself. I have already inspected your financial situation and you can afford it. You will be reimbursed at a later date. Remember, the 12:45 flight."
Before Naomi could say one word more, the line went dead. 'Is this some sort of a elaborate hazing or something?' she wondered in another bout of paranoia that she could not quite so easily dismiss.
Naomi was no blindly obedient fool. In fact, she was sorely tempted to ignore this L character and simply go to sleep. However, from what Penber had told her, he was not one to be refused. No, Raye had even been a bit nervous when talking about it. If this was the same L, then from what she could remember of the discussion, his requests were basically orders, and one did not disobey them without very good reason. What exactly would happen should one choose to disobey she had never found out, but if it was enough to make Raye nervous, it probably was nothing good. Given that he had apparently gotten the director of the FBI to put her on a leave of absence with a simple phone call, Naomi wasn't liking the prospect of finding out what else this L could do.
So, after giving the airport a quick call and confirming that a last minute cancellation had occurred opening up a spot on the flight for her, Naomi decided to go along with it. The next day she was on the plane on her way to London. Unfortunately, the previous day's events had made it impossible for her to sleep. Worse still, Naomi never did like air travel. She wasn't exactly afraid of traveling by plane, but it made her nervous nonetheless. Her usual method of calming her nerves was to take a mild sedative, but having no idea what to expect when she touched down, she had opted to avoid the drugs which had turned out to be a bad idea. By the time the plane had landed, she was already well into her forth glass of vodka.
So it was that a slightly more tipsy Naomi Misori stepped off the plane, collected her luggage and set out looking for whatever arrangements had been made. It didn't take long to discover a taxi waiting for her which she obediently entered and attempted to relax from the long trip.
"Hey, where we headed, anyway?" she asked after a moment.
"I was told to drop you off at the London Park Lane, Madam," the taxi driver responded.
"Park Lane huh," she repeated, but the name meant nothing to her. "Nice place?"
"Oh, very nice madam. One of the finest in London."
Naomi nodded and sat back with a sigh. 'Well, so far so good. It will be nice to get a good long sleep in, especial if this is one of the high end hotels.' In fact, Misori was nearly at the point of dozing off when her driver awoke her.
"Here we are, Mam. I'll help you with your baggage."
After going to the front desk and finding a prepaid reservation waiting for her, Naomi headed up to her room and prepared to relax. She had the bellboy drop her bag just inside the front door and looked the place over approvingly. "Man, this place is nearly as big as my apartment," she remarked as she headed into the main bedroom. As she did, however, she took notice of a particularly out of place briefcase on the table situated opposite the bed. Curious, she headed over and opened it to find it contained a computer and screen. Just as she opened it fully, the screen came alive with L's symbol, startling her.
"Hello Naomi Misori. I trust your flight was uneventful."
"Mostly," she replied. "We were a bit delayed-"
"Yes, I am aware. Because of that, unfortunately, we have little time. Please disrobe and place your clothing on the bed," L said calmly through his usual electronic speech, but Naomi took this anything but calmly.
"What?!" she exclaimed in total shock.
"Please undress, and that includes your undergarments. Do be quick," L replied as calmly as before.
Naomi however was stunned and the paranoia index in her mind was peaking by this point. 'This has to be a joke... A set up of... but, sending me all the way to London for a joke?' she puzzled as she nervously scanned the room, fully expecting to find some sign of people ready to jump out and shout GOTCHA at any second, but there was none.
"Is there some problem?" L asked after a moment.
"You can't be serious?"
"I'm always serious," L replied plainly. "I would suggest you hurry. Our window of opportunity is narrow."
Naomi swallowed nervously, debating whether to simply go along with the whole thing, or to call out her suspicions. By this point the paranoia had reached the point that she was beginning to believe that Penber was in on this and had made the whole thing about L up to lead her into this situation. However, despite the sick logic to that, she just could not believe it. Penber had been sincere and honest to her from the moment she entered the FBI. In fact, he had been one of the few agents to take her seriously. And, to go to such lengths as to send her across the globe for a hazing was unthinkable.
Finally, Naomi decided it best to play along. Hesitantly she removed her clothing, placing it as requested on the bed until she was completely naked. She was just about to announce this when the door to the room unexpectedly opened. Naomi nearly jumped out of her skin, thinking the worst, but instead of a crowd of jeering coworkers, only a woman entered wearing a bathrobe. The woman was blond haired, apparently American, or of mixed decent, and she looked Naomi up and down before saying, "she's clean."
"Very good," L replied.
"What's this all about?" Naomi demanded but instead of an answer, the woman removed her robe to reveal that she too was naked. Naomi paled as her imagination went wild but had most her theories as to the reason for this quashed when the woman thrust the bathrobe into Naomi's hands along with a pair of keys.
"Put that on and go to my room across the hall. Take the computer with you," the woman instructed and without further speech moved to put on Naomi's clothes. Only then did Naomi notice the woman was also carrying what looked to be a black wig, one matching Naomi's hair color and style.
Confused beyond any words, Naomi could do nothing but obey. She quickly put the robe on, grabbed the suitcase and went back to the hall. A quick scan of the hall revealed it to be empty. Looking at the room number on the keys, Naomi quickly crossed the hall to a room opposite hers and entered. Inside she found a mirror image to the room she had just been in, but on this bed was apparently that woman's clothes, along with a blond wig. She then noticed a small television screen with a video feed displaying the interior of her previous room where the woman was now finishing donning Naomi's clothes.
"There is little time, Naomi Misori. Please put on the clothes and wig you find on the bed," the brief case said, prompting Naomi to set it on the table and open it as before, then moving to put on the clothes as instructed.
"What's this all about?" she asked in a slightly more calmed tone.
"As we speak, the desk clerk who signed you in is on a short break. That break will end in 10 minutes. You must leave while his replacement is on duty so as to not be noticed."
"Not be noticed?" Naomi repeated in confusion, but shook her head as she dressed. "Whatever. I'm guessing you're pulling some switch here, but was it really necessary for me to take off my underwear too?"
"There is every reason to be cautious, not only for my own safety, but your own as well. It is my understanding, however unlikely, that some people do carry identifying information in their undergarments, so a complete change was warranted. Once you have finished dressing, place this briefcase by the door to your old room and knock. My associate will collect it. Then, take the bag by the door here and check out. You should not need to provide a name. Simply hand in the keys and leave as quickly as possible. I have a car waiting to take you to the airport."
"Airport?!" Naomi exclaimed as she finished dressing. "I just got here!"
"Here is not where I need you to be. In my associate's purse you should find a plane ticket and a new set of identification to get you past customs. Board that plane and you will be contacted again when you arrive."
Donning the wig provided, and quickly examining herself in the mirror, Naomi frowned in frustration. "I can't believe this. This won't fool anyone."
"Up close, no, but we are not worried about a close examination of your person. Now, you have but 8 minutes left, please hurry."
Growling slightly, Naomi did as directed and successfully checked out without being noticed. Only once in the taxi to the airport did she look at the new ticket to see she was now headed to Japan. 'This is insanity,' she thought, but had little choice but to play along.
Another long air flight, and several glasses of vodka later, Naomi set down in Tokyo Japan. By this point, Naomi was running only on nervous energy and was absolutely astonished that she was still awake. Not helping matters was that she was now sporting a rather nagging headache, either the first signs of a hang over or simply due to stress. Either way, it mattered little as she was feeling so bad by this point that she wanted nothing more than to sleep. However, no bed was yet available, and despite the close fit her doppelganger had been, her clothes were just a bit too tight on Naomi and that making things just too uncomfortable to truly relax.
Finally, Naomi arrived, passed customs using the identity in the purse and found yet another car waiting for her. Unlike the two previous taxi's, this one was a far more upscale car, complete with tinted windows that obscured all within from view. By this time it was night in Tokyo and all Naomi could make out of the driver was a heavy trench coat and matching hat which blocked all his features from view. No sooner had he called her over than he had retreated inside and out of view. All Naomi could do was enter and go along with it all.
Once inside she noticed the back part of the vehicle was separated from the front by another dark piece of glass, giving her no better a view of her driver than before. Giving up on that, Naomi tried to relax when a built in television in the seat ahead of her came to life, once more with L's moniker.
"Welcome to Japan."
"I'm really not in the mood for this," Naomi mumbled, but apparently L didn't hear her.
"On the seat next to you, you will discover another purse. Please exchange it with the one you are now carrying. It carries a new set of identification. You may remove the wig now. It is no longer necessary."
Growling, Naomi did exactly that, tossing the annoying headpiece against the side of the vehicle before grabbing the new purse.
"You have been booked under that identity into the Four Seasons Hotel. Do not worry about expenses, it has all been seen to. I've had a computer with a complete record of the investigation..."
By about this point, Naomi really wasn't listening anymore. Over the past several days she had been harassed by a local sheriff which resulted in her slugging him, forced to take a leave of absence over the incident, found out that L was responsible for said leave of absence, thoroughly embarrassed at her previous hotel, and generally lead around like a dog on a leash, Beyond that, she had been on one cross country flight and two intercontinental flights none of which she in the least enjoyed, had no sleep the whole time, was currently pushing a blood alcohol level that would have certainly made it illegal to drive if nothing else, and to top it all off, she was sporting a nasty headache. It was about this moment that all that combined for a sudden explosion.
The car had come to a halt and L was apparently giving some directions, something about keeping her real identity to herself. With all the elements combined against her, she seized on this one thing as particularly insulting as she was more than familiar with the basics of undercover work and she could no longer contain herself. "THAT'S IT! I don't give a damn who you supposedly are! You have dragged me clear across the globe, got me suspended, even made me do a strip show, and now you're patronizing me!" she exploded.
"It was actually just a leave of-" L tried to say, but Naomi was in no mood to hear it.
"Its the same damn thing!" she yelled, cutting him off. "And all for what exactly? You still haven't told me the first thing about what this is all about! And what is with you, acting all shady anyway?! Talking through computers and all this espionage nonsense! Who the hell do you think you are? I guess you think you're better than the rest of us, so superior you can't even show your face to me! Apparently you don't trust me in the slightest, making me jump through all these hoops of yours, and hiding behind that TV screen... I..." Finally, Naomi asserted a tiny measure of control of herself and simply got herself out of the vehicle and slammed the door behind her. She didn't bother looking back, and instead just stomped her way into the hotel.
Back inside the car, the glass separating front from back lowered. "That... could have gone better," Watari said from the front.
"Yes. It is fortunate then that I did not insist on the six point switch out."
After checking in, hunting down a bottle of aspirin, and generally calming herself with a long shower, Naomi had collapsed in bed after her long ordeal, cursing L and everything to do with him. Finally after approximately three days of hell, exhaustion finally won out and she was able to get some sleep.
A full day later, a now rested, and sober Naomi was looking at the computer that was placed in her hotel room, the whole time wondering just what exactly was going to happen to her. Surely chewing out L would not go by without some consequence. She had fully expected to at least get her walking papers, but so far not a peep out of him. That only made her more nervous as time went on as now paranoia was creeping in again and by this point she was half convinced that the computer would explode the moment she turned it on.
Fortunately, sensibility won out, and Naomi decided that she had delayed enough. She turned on the computer to find it did indeed have a full record, or rather what was left of the full record, of the Cupid investigation. Naomi had not really been following the whole affair, but even she was aware of it. After reviewing what had happened to the Japanese Police Force, she began to understand the excessive level of caution used in hiding her true identity. Naomi continued to review the database for the next several hours, becoming more astonished, and unnerved with each new record.
She was just returning from collecting room service for dinner when she noticed the computer screen was now displaying L's mark.
"L?" Naomi asked cautiously, fully expecting a good lacing down from him this time.
"Yes. I trust you are now recovered?" he asked in his usual electronic voice betraying no particular emotion.
"Uh... yes."
"Good, then we should get to work."
"L, about the other night. I hadn't slept, and honestly, I really don't like flying so I was drinking quite a bit, and-"
"There is no need to explain yourself," L quickly interjected. "I am well aware of your condition on that night. I hope you understand that the precautions were necessary. With the Japanese Police Force potentially seriously compromised at this point, I had to ensure that even if they look into you that your real name would not be discovered. Beyond the events you are aware of, Watari and I have seen to it that FBI records regarding yourself, plus all other records, have been altered to leave no connections. As far as official record goes, you are now Maho Nakako. For the safety sake, even when conversing with me, please use that name from now on."
The newly dubbed Maho nodded in understanding and acceptance of this as she took her seat by the computer. "I understand. But, if I may ask, why me?"
"Given what has happened to the Japanese Police, I have found my normal influence on matters reduced. To be blunt, nearly no agency I currently have contact with wishes to get involved. In fact, your FBI director commented that... his wife would likely kill him. That is surely a overstatement of the matter, but I understand the sentiments and concerns.
"I therefore had to compromise. As I said when we first spoke, your situation was convenient for this. Your absence from the FBI is fully explainable, you are relatively low profile in the agency, and you are Japanese by birth. Your records show that you have particular talent, whether your fellow agents recognize it or not," L explained, although Maho couldn't help but feel it was likely more of the former convenience rather than the latter talent, but she wasn't about to reject the praise. "Beyond that, given the difficulties in securing an individual's identity, it is perhaps better that we stick to a small group. For now, you are my lead in the area. As the situation requires, I will add members."
"I understand."
"Very good. I'd also like to make it clear that only my female associate monitored you while you disrobed. There was no... strip show as you say."
"Ah... yeah, I kinda figured that out afterwards," Maho said sheepishly.
"Good. Likewise, beyond the mic in this computer which you may freely shut off, your room is not being monitored. I trust that you are willing to continue with the case under these arrangements?"
"Oh, yes L. Its fine. I just... overreacted."
"Then I would like to hear your thoughts on the case. You have reviewed the record?"
"Yes, although I'm not sure exactly what thoughts you would like to hear."
"Let us start with the basics. Do you agree with the current assumptions regarding Cupid's likely identity and limitations?"
Maho considered this. "That it is likely a woman with a husband or children seems perfectly reasonable given what we know right now. Of course, as you noted, this isn't certain, but it does seem favored. By all that we know, it does indeed look like Cupid does need both a name and a face to affect someone. Although..."
"Although? Please feel free to speak your mind."
Maho hesitated. She had already made a bad enough impression, and calling his assumptions and reasoning into question did not seem a great way to improve that. However, she decided it best to simply go with the truth. "It's the police force. Sure, they don't exactly hide their names or faces generally, but she hit so many of them. That's a lot of people, many, if I read right, that weren't even in town at the time. To get all those names and faces..."
"So, it is your conclusion that Cupid does not need those elements?"
Maho thought for a second and shook her head. "Actually, no. I had a different thought actually. Although it is possible that the limitation may just be coincidence elsewhere, that's an awfully deliberate coincidence. It's the kind of thing Cupid would have to actively look out for, especially with stage names. Lots of actors have gone by their stage names for so long that it would take some serious effort to even learn that they had one to avoid them. No, I think that limitation is valid."
"Then, what is your proposal?"
She collected her thoughts for a moment before answering. "She's shown she can control her victims now, both by having them destroy the records, and watching the TV program. She could have used that same power on one officer to gain access to the police personnel records. I would suspect those have both names and faces for all the officers."
"Very good... and you would be correct," L responded to Maho's shock. "Not noted in those records is that I had Watari make certain changes to the police computer database. I had anticipated that Cupid might try to gain access to police records at one point, although even I must admit I never expected something on this scale. Nonetheless, from this we were able to track a complete download of the database to one computer in particular."
"Whose?"
"The director's," L answered, once more shocking Maho.
"The director? Woah, she went right to the top," Majo said in amazement.
"Yes. However, there is also a problem with your theory. Although the director did indeed access the personnel records, he did not transmit them to anyone else. His office is monitored by surveillance and even one of my most able associates on the matter could not penetrate it without leaving some trace of which we've found none. Further, the timing of the accesses coincides with times the director is known to be in his office."
"That really makes no sense at all," Maho noted as she leaned back to think. "Or maybe the director is Cupid?"
"Unlikely. The director gave his permission for the alterations to the system and would have known his activities would have easily been discovered. Additionally, his profile is a very poor fit to Cupid's normal activities."
"Yeah..."
" As you know, each affected officer forgot one day between Sunday and Saturday of that week, with the broadcast occurring on Saturday evening. The director forgot Tuesday. His accesses to the database occurred on Wednesday thru Friday, with 5 and 10 seconds between each. Otherwise, his activity on those days seems normal, as does the rest of the officers."
"Sounds like something happened on Tuesday," Maho thought aloud.
"I would tend to agree. Just yesterday, after inspecting the director's car, Watari discovered a parking slip for Tuesday of that week. The slip is for a parking facility in Nerima district, somewhere that the director has no reason to be at that time. He neither lives nor works there, and his regular routines do not take him there either."
Maho considered this. "What's in Nerima that he... You're thinking that he may have had contact with Cupid?" Maho concluded with interest.
"Potentially. There seems little other reason for him to be there at that time."
Maho frowned. "But why do that? That seems very reckless, leading the director of the police force right to you... unless she needed to. Wait, I know, you think that Cupid somehow gave her power to the director, don't you?"
"That is a possibility I am strongly considering at this point. We still have no solid idea on exactly how Cupid's power works, so it being transferable is not impossible. However, a complication of this is that the director has shown no further ability to use that power. He also has not returned to Nerima since the incident, or on Friday itself. Since his last datafile accesses were on Saturday, and I have confirmed that they involved officers that were both affected and whose records had not been accessed on a previous day, if the director did have Cupid's powers, he had them till at least that moment. This leaves him with no opportunity to transfer them back."
"Maybe it was only a temporary transfer."
"Another possibility. Further complicating this is that Cupid showed no signs of stopping her regular activity in the time period in question. Even individuals revealed on television only on those days were affected, suggesting Cupid still had her power at the time. This means that if some form of transfer did occur, it was merely a copy of Cupid's power, allowing her to continue on unhindered.
"Another puzzling element which I've only recently discovered, is that despite the director's public position, he in fact has had only two public appearances. One was five years ago, and another was twelve years ago before he was the director."
"Long before Cupid started operating, at least from what we know," Maho concluded for L. "But surely it's not that hard to get his name and face."
"Not too difficult, but not easy either. His name is easily obtained, but his face is not. While a person could monitor headquarters, they could not easily discern which person was the director merely from looking. Beyond that, he operates far outside Nerima. If Cupid got his face from seeing him at work or home, why not simply make a transfer then? Why have him come to Nerima?"
"It could be a ruse to throw us off," Maho suggested.
"I have considered this, but I think the probability of this is less than 20 percent."
"20 percent, huh," Maho repeated, wondering idly just how L had come up with the number, but decided not to make an issue of it. "This is all very strange."
"How so?"
'What isn't strange about this,' Maho thought, but decided not to say that. Instead she decided to just try tossing out ideas. "I mean the whole thing. Up till now Cupid hasn't done anything like this. She's been... well, rather benign. I mean, for instance, Cupid generally avoids married people. This time she seems to have deliberately targeted them. Why the change?"
L seemed to consider this. "It could simply be a matter of necessity. Many members of the task force were married."
"Then why hit the whole police force? That seems massively excessive. If she did have control of the director, surely she could have had him target only the members of the task force."
Once again L seemed to consider. "Very well, but we know that she did target the entire police force. What do you suggest to explain the reasoning for this?"
"Actually... ah, maybe I'm just too attached to my original theory."
"Please elaborate," L prompted.
"Well, originally I was thinking that another officer had been compromised and gave Cupid the police records. To disguise that, she hit the whole force, essentially hiding her true point of origin in a the crowd of officers." Another moment of silence passed when suddenly the screen changed to display the records of several police officers. "What's this?" Maho asked as she scanned the records.
"These are the records of those officers living or working in Nerima at the time, and who forgot Tuesday or earlier," L explained, and Maho realized that he had already apparently considered this line of reasoning.
"So, you think there may be something to it?"
"Consider what I said about the director's identity. Although difficult for Cupid to obtain, any number of police officers have likely met him in person and would know his face. If we are to suppose that Cupid transferred a copy of her power to the director, it seems perfectly logical that she could do so another time."
"And get the officer to compromise the director," Maho concluded with a smile. "But still, there are over 20 officers here, and it could be anyone close to them enough to know their names. Even people they met on the street, or a local merchant... it would be practically impossible to track this back to Cupid. And, even this assumes that the meeting took place in the same district as where the original officer was affected and that she didn't just met with him someplace else."
"I agree. Even if I did have access to the full power of the Japanese Police Force, it is unlikely that we could find Cupid from this alone. As to using this as a deliberate deception, I have considered that, but I feel it is unlikely. Firstly, although most of the police records of the investigation of public incidents were destroyed, I was able to retrieve a phone record that showed an unusual concentration of calls coming from the Nerima district of Tokyo. Unfortunately, the details of these calls has been lost, and taken by itself, this could simply be dismissed as an aberration, but together with the director's whereabouts on that day it is suspicious. Secondly, Cupid had little reason to think that we could possibly track her back while she was in control of the director. Her forcing him to forget the day of the meeting was meant to cover this possibility. It was only by pure chance that we discovered the parking slip, and doubtful that Cupid would have planned for that. Lastly, to pull off something like this, Cupid would want as much control as possible in the situation. Although she could have moved out of district, it is more likely she would stick to an area she knew well already rather than trying to learn an entirely new area on short notice. This would bias her toward places close to her. Beyond that, being close to home makes it least likely that those she lives with would notice her absence. I have already presumed she has a husband or children, and either of these might find her leaving the district unusual enough to question."
Maho nodded in agreement. "I guess you're right. It is our best shot for the moment if nothing else... assuming of course we aren't wrong and she went after the director first," Maho replied.
"I must agree. However, as you said, targeting the entire force is quite unlike Cupid unless it was essentially forced by circumstance. If it was meant to hide the officer she initially compromised, then that officer's identity is evidently valuable enough that Cupid feels threatened that we might learn it. So, we should make every effort to do so."
"Okay, so where do we go from here?" Maho asked.
"The time stamps on the director's parking slip give us a time line where he was on foot for 1 hour and 7 minutes, giving him a potential max travel distance on foot of 33.5 minutes, assuming he did not use other transport which I believe is unlikely. Maho, I will have to go to this parking complex and survey the area in person. Take a photograph of the director with you, and make up some appropriate story. Try not to draw suspicion to yourself. It is naturally doubtful that you will encounter Cupid herself, but consider everyone you speak to as potentially compromised. Attempt to discern the director's whereabouts during that time. If he did meet with Cupid, there is a small possibility that a witness may have seen the meeting. As unlikely as that is, we will make the attempt anyway. Any information may be helpful. I'll upload all the necessary information to your computer."
"Right."
"Also, I suggest you take a moment to purchase yourself some more appropriate clothing," L suggested before abruptly signing off. Looking down at the bathrobe she was wearing, and then back at the now well overused clothes she had gotten from her replacement, she couldn't help but agree.
Sighing, Maho prepared to go out, but then stopped as a realization hit her. If it was true that L had already concluded that a second officer was involved, then he hadn't needed her at all. 'So why ask me... unless he was testing me?' she thought with a frown. 'Does that mean I passed?' she wondered, but decided it best not to worry about that right now.
End Interlude
Wow, this went longer than I expected, but sure got written fast.
Well, with Naomi now introduced we can get back to the Ranma crew. For those unfamiliar with Death Note, Naomi is in fact a Death Note character who was unfairly cut short by that SOB Light... you can tell I'm a bit bitter... okay, very bitter (that bastard!). Anyway, I figured L would need some backup here, and since I always thought she got a raw deal, I decided to work her in. Again this is a fair time before Death Note, so this is placed just shortly after Naomi joined the FBI. And, for those who are REALLY familiar with Death Note, this takes place even before 'Another Note, The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases' so she is as yet not together with Raye or deeply familiar with L (yes, I have said book). As a side note, Raye Penber too is a Death Note character. He was originally Naomi's fiancé and he too suffered an unfortunate fate. Unlike Naomi, he won't be playing a role here beyond what has been said.
