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.
You'll probably notice I've dropped line breaks. That is because they are SOOOOOO broken in most every editor. I'm sick of hacking around them, I don't know why the F this site recommends them, so they are going away. They are just not worth the frustration.
Chapter 11
Maho entered L's apartment, nearly wincing at every movement. She was well past what could be rightfully called exhaustion, and right now wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed. However, duty demanded she report in.
Walking into the main room, she found L, as usual, in front of a set of monitors. Most were replaying old tapes, or television programs, while several others were locked on long distances shots of the Tendo residence. Without looking away from the screen, he greeted her, "Any news?"
Maho frowned at his lack of concern over her welfare, but had already given up on any desire to complain about such over the past week. Instead she dropped herself onto the couch and simply replied, "Nothing more than last time."
"Not unexpected," L replied. "I've been running an analysis, based on your observed response time to delivery orders, the Nekohanten's phone records and known Cupid activity."
"And?"
"No correlation," L answered.
"So... that's means Shampoo is neither out on deliveries, nor at the restaurant with any pattern in relation to the Cupid incidents."
"Correct."
"We do know Cupid can alter the time of events, however," Maho pointed out.
L nodded. "True, but unlikely. Cupid had little reason to hide the timing of events before I made my broadcast. Even when I restricted the analysis to events before that date, there remained no correlation," he explained. "Of course, we can not fully exclude her, but the chances of her being our Cupid have diminished."
Maho sighed heavily. "You mean I've been going through all this torture for nothing?"
Finally L glanced back. "Not at all. We still have yet to determine why exactly Shan Pu is faking her love for the doctor."
"If I were her, I'd be worried that I'd be the next target on Cupid's list. After all, this is the second time Cupid has affected her. She probably just wants to avoid a repeat of Mousse."
L pondered this for a moment, then returned to the monitors. Grabbing a sugar cube from a nearby dish, he placed it in his mouth and let it dissolve before speaking. "It may just be that simple. One does wonder though, why didn't Cupid just make her fall in love with him."
"Why didn't Cupid make Ukyo love Kodachi back? Who the heck knows!" Maho replied tiredly.
L once more glanced back. "Still working you pretty hard I see."
'Now he takes an interest,' Maho thought in annoyance, but decided to simply nod.
At that moment, from the corner of his eye, L caught sight of his target on the monitor and quickly snapped his attention back to the screen. However, Kasumi's appearance was brief, merely bringing some tea to her father and Mr. Saotome, before leaving view, hidden once more within the building. Undaunted, L grabbed another sugar cube and consumed it before speaking. "Ke Lun is quite a demanding employer. However, you should feel at least some gratitude. I have noticed a significant improvement in your reaction times, and physical capacities since beginning work there."
"What?" Maho asked in surprised.
"Yes. You shouldn't be surprised. She uses the work as a disguised method of training. Unusual, but certainly not unheard of."
Maho suddenly found herself looking herself over, but quickly realized that such an examination would reveal nothing. 'Come to think of it, the first few days were not nearly as difficult as the most recent, yet I feel the same level of pressure trying to do them,' she thought. After a moment, she shook away the thought and turned to other matters. "So now what?"
"For the moment, you will continue your observations. A more direct approach may soon be required, but not just yet. As for me, my observations of Kasumi Tendo have led me to an ideal time to confront her."
"Confront her?" Maho echoed in surprise. "You're really planning to talk to her, face to face?"
"A necessity. I must gauge her reaction. With Cupid inactive, and so little info coming in from our surveillance of their home, it is the most reasonable approach."
"And if she is Cupid? She'll now know your face," she pointed out.
L nodded. "True, but not my name. She does require both. After all, Maho, have you not been revealing yourself this past while? If Cupid is particularly on her guard, she may have already noticed your presence as peculiar. You are taking no less a risk than I."
Maho frowned, but had to accept his reasoning. "Just... be careful. If someone got to me, I don't know your name. Same can't be said in reverse."
"A fact I am all too aware of," L replied. "That is all for the day. You should get some rest."
XXXXX
L was more correct that he was aware. At that very moment, standing next to the Tendo phone, Nabiki was waiting for a call she had every suspicion would not come.
It had taken her several days, and numerous discrete and indirect inquires, but she had finally learned the name of the new waitress at the Nekohanten. Her appearance on the scene was just too suspicious for Nabiki's liking, and with the recent discovery of surveillance equipment throughout Furinkan High, Nabiki was worried.
About that moment, Kasumi came out from the kitchen and spotted Nabiki. "Waiting for a call?" Kasumi asked, naive to Nabiki true intentions.
"In a manner of speaking. Two more minutes," Nabiki replied.
Kasumi blinked in confusion at the unusual reply, as Trista, the angel like Goddess of Love floated into the hallway and into view, also curiously looking at Nabiki. After a few seconds, the meaning of Nabiki's statement hit her older sister. "Nabiki, what did you do?"
"Not now, Kasumi," Nabiki replied, but Kasumi pressed on, now whispering.
"I thought we agreed not to use the note?"
"This is important, and you're still not mad about Tofu, are you?"
"I am not mad," Kasumi insisted, although a stifled laugh from Trista confirmed for her that she was not very convincing. "It is just..."
"Look, I told you, he stuck out like a sore thumb. Even Akane was getting suspicious. I had to cover it up. If Akane could notice it, you know L could. I had to make it look natural."
Kasumi frowned a little before sighing in acceptance of Nabiki's logic. "Still, now what are you doing?"
"There is a new woman working at the Nekohanten. I want to make sure she is who she says she is."
"Why wouldn't she be?" Kasumi asked, to which Nabiki just shook her head and looked at her watch. The appointed time passed, causing her to frown.
"Damn it," Nabiki finally cursed after another 30 seconds passed with no call. "I knew it! I knew it!"
"Knew what?" Kasumi asked in confusion, as Nabiki grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her upstairs. "Where we going?"
"Just come on," Nabiki said, and pulled Kasumi into her room and closed the door. "That woman is working for L, I'm sure of it. Hell, she might even be L."
"Why would you say that?" Kasumi asked, seemingly unfazed by the information.
"I wrote her name, well, the fake name she is giving everyone, in the note, and commanded her to call me at precisely 6:30 pm. No call."
"And if she did wouldn't that be a bit dangerous?" Trista pointed out, but Nabiki waved off the concern.
"Who cares, she didn't call, and besides she'd just think it was a wrong number anyway."
Trista shrugged. "Just saying, if that was her real name and L was-"
"She didn't call!" Nabiki nearly yelled in frustration. "Look, this is serious. A woman just conveniently starts working at the Nekohanten with a false name, and they just conveniently find all kinds of cameras and mics at Furinkan... L is obviously here looking for us!"
"Maybe you misspelled her name," Kasumi suggested with a calm smile, which Nabiki took anything but calmly.
Frustrated, Nabiki rushed to her own closet, cleared the floor of several bags appropriately placed to conceal a loose floor board, a victim of earlier excitement at the Tendo home. Removing it, Nabiki reached under the floor and retrieved the Love Note from where it had been hidden. Returning to Kasumi, she went to the right page and thrust it into Kasumi's face. "There, see, Maho Nakako, perfectly spelled... And don't even start suggesting I heard it wrong. I had several people confirm it," Nabiki said, cutting off a suggestion she just knew Kasumi would make next.
"I think you need to calm down, Nabiki," Kasumi suggested instead, causing her younger sister to toss up her arms in even further frustration.
After pacing back and forth for several seconds to consider a different approach, Nabiki spoke. "Kasumi, this is serious. L is in Nerima, and he's practically right on top of us. For all we know he could be watching this... house... oh damn..." Nabiki said, a sinking feeling hitting her. Pointing to Trista, she quickly commanded, "You, go look through the walls and ceiling and make sure there is nothing electronic in there!"
"Why should I?" Trista complained, crossing her arms defiantly. "I'm not your servant!"
"If you don't do it, I will make sure you won't get a single cookie for the rest of your stay!" Nabiki threatened, causing Trista to cringe.
"Okay, fine!" Trista replied in defeat and began looking about the room. A minute passed before she returned and shook her head. "Nope, just the usual insulation and wiring and such. Nothing that shouldn't be there."
"You sure?"
"Yes I'm sure!" Trista complained.
"Check the rest of the house!" Nabiki ordered, quickly adding, "NOW!" when Trista opened her mouth to argue. Defeated, the Love Goddess left through the wall.
"Nabiki, I think you're getting too worked up about all this."
Nabiki groaned. "You're not getting worked up enough!" she accused, but relented a little and sat down on her bed. "This is very bad, Kasumi. If this L has followed us this far, he could very well figure out it is us. This 'Maho' is probably investigating Shampoo, but there could be somebody investigating us too. In fact, with all the cameras and such at Furinkan, I would say that is very likely since Shampoo doesn't go to school. We have to be extra careful from now on."
Kasumi smiled reassuringly at Nabiki and asked, "So then, what do we do?"
Nabiki considered but shook her head. "Nothing for now. Stick to the plan. Cupid stays silent. Maybe with some luck we'll be able to get L's name and face, but so far he's been playing it very smart. I doubt he'll be foolish enough to let us get that. Otherwise, we just have to hope he loses interest eventually."
At that moment, Trista returned, but shook her head. "Nothing."
"That's something at least," Nabiki said with some renewed calm.
Finally Kasumi nodded, although she could not fully hide her disappointment. The use of the note had become something of a routine for her, and having been denied it she was coming to miss it. "I guess you can keep the note then," she said reluctantly.
"Yeah, better to keep it here anyway. Much better hidden," Nabiki replied and looked at Kasumi who seemed to be lost in thought. "Something wrong?"
"Uh... no..." Kasumi said, now looking around her. "I think I forgot something."
"Probably dinner actually. I think you were cooking," Nabiki realized, causing Kasumi to start.
"Oh dear," Kasumi said in a start, and rushed from the room, causing Nabiki to shake her head in disbelief.
"She's more worried about dinner than being thrown in jail," Nabiki muttered before noticing Trista looking at her curiously. "What? Aren't you supposed to be following Kasumi?" Nabiki asked.
"I follow the owner of the note," Trista replied. "Since she said you can keep it, you're the new owner."
Nabiki blinked in surprise. "Wait, just like that?"
"Yep, nothing fancy needed to transfer ownership."
"But before-"
"Before she just said you could hold it for her. That's like borrowing, not a transfer of ownership. This time she said you can keep it with no conditions."
Nabiki frowned. 'Great, now she's going to be trying to find my true love. Like I need that...' Nabiki thought as she put the note back in its hiding spot. "Wait, I seem to recall Kasumi mentioning something about giving up the note."
"Yes, the previous owner loses all memory of it, and all benefits of previously owning it, so no Love Goddess eyes, nor the ability to see the Love Goddess that formerly owned it," Trista recited, then noticed Nabiki's annoyance at hearing this. "What? I didn't make the rules."
"You mean, just now, she just forgot everything about the Love Note?"
"Yep, at least until she touches it again," the Love Goddess replied. "Won't be able to see me either."
Nabiki growled in annoyance, holding her head. "Wonderful... wait," Nabiki said, looking up with new optimism. "That might actually be a good thing... Yeah, now she can't mess up. Yeah... yeah, that's good. Out of curiosity, what will she remember instead?"
Trista shrugged. "Heck if I know. Love Notes getting into the hands of humans isn't exactly a common occurrence."
"And even if you did hear, you probably forgot," Nabiki added, to which Trista could only reluctantly nod. "Well, with some luck it is a good clean sweep."
XXXXX
The next day, with the day off from school, Akane found herself doing something that a couple weeks ago she would never have considered, dating Mousse. Of course, Mousse was treating this as little more than a facade to trick Ranma, but for Akane it felt far more significant. 'I still can't believe I'm doing this,' she thought as slowly picked away at her lunch.
The pair were at one of the local restaurants. Nothing overly fancy. In fact, now that she thought about it, Ranma and her had come to this particular restaurant themselves previously. Were one to suggest those were dates, no doubt both parties would have vehemently denied it at the time, but now it gave Akane cause to wonder about it. However, such considerations were of low importance at that moment as her current companion was Mousse.
"I tried the police, the local news... even tried contacting that ICPO that they talked about, but no luck," Mousse said as he ate.
"No luck?" Akane echoed in confusion, having missed what he had been saying while lost in thought.
"About finding L, remember?" Mousse replied, causing Akane in understanding.
"Oh, right, yes, I remember," Akane replied quickly, then returned to focusing on her food.
"It seems none of them know how to contact him. Best I could get out of any of them was that he usually contacts them."
"Maybe he gave up," Akane suggested, but Mousse shook his head.
"I don't think so. I did some other investigating and everything I could find on him says he's very persistent."
Akane mutely nodded, not truly caring about that topic. 'Why do I feel so torn up inside? All we're doing is eating lunch! Its not like... This is-' Akane thought, but cut herself short when a glance out the window caught sight of something very distinct. Just for an instant, she saw Ranma peering in from a bench on the opposite side of the road. At seeing Akane notice him, he quickly turned around and tried to remain inconspicuous, but it was pointless.
Seeing her fiance was enough to change the direction of her thoughts, and a certain sense of gratification arose in her. 'Guess Mousse was right, that stupid jerk is jealous,' she thought as she looked away. She had actually expected as much earlier when she had announced that she was going to meet Mousse here, but was beginning to have her doubts. Now with him showing up, her earlier confidence was restored. 'Time for some payback.'
XXXXX
Outside the restaurant, Ranma was chiding himself for being so obvious. 'She's just trying to make me jealous is all,' Ranma correctly concluded, but, despite the accuracy of his assumption, he could not will himself to leave. Once more, Ranma took a peek across the way at the couple inside, and saw Akane now seemingly hanging on Mousse's every word. 'Oh, she's just rubbing it in now,' he thought angrily as he turned away.
"Airen!"
'Oh man!' Ranma managed to think just before being bowled over by a leaping hug from Shampoo. As was usual for her, with Ranma pinned below her, Shampoo took full advantage of the moment to enjoy the contact. "Hey Shampoo," Ranma reluctantly greeted.
"Shampoo miss Ranma," the Amazon gushed, but Ranma only sighed.
"Yeah, yeah..." he droned. Unexpectedly, his lack of interest seemed to have an affect, as Shampoo paused, then withdrew to a sitting position, releasing Ranma. Were his current situation different, Ranma might have taken particular notice of this. However, it was as it was, and he paid it little mind, just getting back to his feet.
Returning his attention to Akane, he frowned at seeing her conversing with Mousse. 'Ooo, I sooo want to go in there,' Ranma thought as he continued to stew.
"Akane date Mousse now?" Shampoo asked as she too took notice, but Ranma did not reply. "Shampoo think is good. Think Akane and Mousse deserve each other."
"Aren't you dating Dr. Tofu?" Ranma replied without thinking. Again, were the situation different, he probably would have realized that said comment would probably net him a rather undesirable reaction, but once again he did not think of this, nor concern himself that Shampoo did not react in such a manner. In fact, behind him, Shampoo deflated at the question.
Another minute went by in silence as Shampoo fought a little war with herself. She had been long practicing this moment in her mind, and Ranma in the course of just a few seconds had completely destroyed those plans with his unaccounted for reactions. That, of course, did not change her goal here, but she was debating between strategic retreat, open frustration, or going all in.
'This whole idea of Tofu's is stupid!' she declared in her mind as she nearly submitted to the retreat option, but stopped herself. She looked at Ranma's back for several seconds, gathering herself, and laying out fresh plans. 'I'd sooner face a screaming horde of berserkers than this,' she thought, took in a breath and prepared to speak. "Ranma, Shampoo want-"
"Let's go in," Ranma suddenly cut in to say, grabbing Shampoo by the wrist.
Once more, Shampoo's entire plan of attack was derailed. "Wha-" she started to say, but Ranma once more cut her off as he started to pull Shampoo along behind him.
"Come on," Ranma prompted as he marched ahead. Were Shampoo able to peak into his mind, his plan of action was all too obvious. For the moment, however, she was too mixed up in her own thoughts to piece it together.
XXXXX
Inside the restaurant, Akane took a peak outside to see Ranma had disappeared. Before she could wonder about this, she heard the restaurant door open and spotted Ranma enter, towing Shampoo behind him. In an all too obvious gesture, he pulled Shampoo next to him.
Akane's reaction was predictably bad. She tensed and glared at the couple. "Why that..." she could not help to mutter.
This was enough to get Mousse to turn and likewise notice the pair. Making Akane's reaction seem subdued, Mousse jumped to his feet and yelled, "What are you doing with Shampoo, Saotome?"
Ranma smirked. "Oh, Mousse, hardly noticed you there," he taunted and predictably Mousse marched over.
Akane sighed and covered her face with her hand. "That idiot," she mumbled, not sure if she was referring to Ranma or Mousse.
Mousse and Ranma were soon exchanging barbs, and as usual Mousse was taking the worst of it. Akane uncovered her face just in time to see the Amazon male tense for a fight. She debated intervening, but quickly concluded such was already pointless. Sure enough, Mousse took a swing at Ranma.
The ensuing fight was brief. As expected, Ranma laid Mousse out, but not before several tables and chairs became unfortunate victims of the battle. Frowning, Akane got to her feet and stalked over to Ranma.
"You just had to start a fight, didn't you?" Akane accused.
"Oh, don't go playing innocent, Akane," Ranma shot back. "We both know what you were trying to pull here."
"What I was trying to pull?" Akane echoed in outrage.
"Yeah!" Ranma quickly countered.
XXXXX
Unnoticed, Shampoo was already back outside and stomping off. She did not even pause at the outraged yell of Akane saying, "Ranma!" Nor did she stop when it was followed by said martial artist being knocked through the roof and into the stratosphere.
'Stupid...' she thought to herself angrily. 'This is a total waste of time,' she continued, but quickly realized that she was using this simply as an excuse. Her angry march soon slowed as she considered. There were a thousand different reasons she played with to give up on this task, but she kept coming back to, 'What if Tofu is right?' Finally, with a defeated sigh, Shampoo looked back, made a rough computation, and jumped to the nearest rooftop to make her way to Ranma's likely landing spot.
XXXXX
Across town a ways, Kasumi was going about the shopping for the coming days. Having finished her regular store purchases, she was now out checking in with her preferred street vendors.
"Hello Mr. Itsuki," Kasumi greeted as she approached her favored fruit vendor.
"Ah Kasumi, good afternoon," he greeted in kind. "Got some good apples in this morning," he suggested.
Kasumi nodded and smiled before looking over the wares.
Across the street, sitting in his usual peculiar manner on a bench, L watched this intently before popping up to his feet and making his way over. He stopped at Itsuki's stand and mirroring Kasumi, began looking over the goods. After a moment, Kasumi took notice of him and gave him a friendly smile.
Tapping his lips in consideration as he regarded the fruits, L finally looked to Kasumi and asked, "Which would you say is the sweetest?"
"Sweetest?" Kasumi echoed before looking over the fruits. "The watermelon is fairly sweet," she suggested.
L looked to the watermelon, and after a moment examining those available, he picked one up and began examining it more intently. Kasumi watched curiously as he raised it over his head, squeezed, shook, knocked, and smelled the fruit before he finally nodded in approval. "This will do," he said and paid Itsuki. As the fruit salesman took his money, L commented, "I have heard there has been a fair bit of Cupid activity in this area."
"Cupid? Well, I suppose some say that," Itsuki replied.
It was no coincidence that L had chosen this as the moment to meet Kasumi. With his chief suspect in mind, he had analyzed her daily life meticulously, looking for any interesting anomalies. Itsuki soon stood out as someone who had suddenly gained himself a new love interest. It predated all other likely Cupid activity, making L suspicious that it could well be Cupid's very first action. To confront her in such company was ideal. 'Now, how will you react?' L wondered.
"Cupid?" Kasumi echoed in thought before brightening. "Mr. Itsuki met a nice young lady just a while ago," she said with a smile.
Itsuki laughed nervously. "Well, yes, but that was before this whole business with Cupid even started."
"Interesting," L commented, examining Kasumi out of the corner of his eye. There was not the slightest hint of nervousness for the girl, just her usual cheerful demeanor. "Have you considered that Cupid may have been using her power before using it on those on television?"
"Uh, well, no, but I suppose..." Itsuki conceded.
"You think so?" Kasumi asked. "That makes a lot of sense. Even poor Ranma and Akane seem to have been affected and that was before the incidents on TV," she thought aloud.
L found it difficult to keep a neutral face hearing this. 'Why would she so easily give up this information? Is she taunting me?' he wondered.
"Are you interested in Cupid, Mr...?" Kasumi asked.
"Ryuzaki," L replied. "And, I am very interested in Cupid. In fact, I am here investigating her."
Itsuki laughed. "Who do you think you are, L?"
Watching Kasumi intently, L replied, "Yes, because I am L."
Itsuki tensed at hearing this, while Kasumi merely blinked in surprise. "What kind of game are you playing?" Itsuki asked after a second. "Someone like you as a world famous super detective, preposterous!" he said with a laugh.
"Actually, he is just as I imagined him," Kasumi said with a bright smile that shocked Itsuki into silence and gave even L pause.
"Just as you imagined me?" L echoed skeptically.
"Why yes. L must be very reclusive and intelligent of course. Such would lead to some very odd personal habits, don't you think?" Kasumi explained.
L nodded. "An interesting observation," he said.
Before the conversation could go any further, Kasumi's attention suddenly shifted, her eyes darting skyward. L followed Kasumi's look, but before he could quite catch what it was, he felt a tug on the fabric of his sleeve. Instinctively sensing a warning in the gesture, reflex took over and he moved with the tug, looking to see it had been Kasumi. Just as he began to ponder this something slammed into the ground where he had been just the moment previous.
"Oh dear, seems Akane and Ranma have been fighting again," Kasumi observed as Ranma staggered from the resulting dust cloud.
"Stupid... uncute... violent..." Ranma muttered before taking in his surroundings. At seeing Kasumi, his angry demeanor quickly shifted to a nervous one. "Uh, Kasumi, what are you doing here?"
"Just shopping," Kasumi answered. "Are you alright?"
"Me? I...I'm fine," Ranma stuttered before noticing L, and the proximity to which he was now standing next to Kasumi. "Who's this guy?" Ranma asked, giving L a challenging look that merely caused the detective to return a look of seeming boredom.
"Oh, this is L," Kasumi said with a smile.
"L?" Ranma echoed skeptically as he looked over the man. "You can't be serious."
XXXXX
Looking through a collection of closely situated windows into the real world, the love goddess Sira thought aloud, "Who to choose..." She had narrowed down her candidates to just a few. 'I have to get this right,' she thought, looking over her shoulder at her slightly droopy wing. 'I want that youth back.'
Although she was eager to work this out and have restored to her that which had been taken in punishment, she knew well this was also a risky affair. The queen would be watching intently. One misstep and she could find herself in a lot worse shape than she already was. 'So not fair for her to change the rules and retroactively punish me,' Sira pouted, although even she had known she was pushing things at the time.
Sighing, Sira dismissed the matter, leaned back and retrieved the new Love Note from a pouch at her side. "Well, playing around here is never going to get this over with. Time to just take my chances," she said to herself and looked through one of the portals at her chosen target. "Hmm... direct approach? Yeah." With that, Sira raised the notebook over her head with one hand then flung it through the window, well aimed.
"OW!" The person on the other end yelled in pain as it connected.
"Perfect," Sira said with a smile.
End Chapter 11
This one has been on a LOOONNNGGGG hiatus. Most of that was due too two thing, me being lazy, and me having trouble figuring out where to go. I got a fair share of bits and pieces of ideas, but I'm finding getting them put into a plot is an usually troublesome task here.
As I noted in chapter one, all input is welcome here. My ideas on this story are pretty sketchy right now meaning most my time is actually spent figuring out what to write rather than actually writing it, which is not the usual hold up for me.
