Ranma ½

Love Note

Usual disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, well with the exception of Trista and Sira I suppose, but you get the idea. 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.

Chapter 15

It was the weekend, and all around Nerima, people were being presented with special deliveries. In all cases it was a simple letter with nothing but the recipient's name and address on the cover, delivered by various uninterested special delivery men and women.

Upon opening, each recipient found a card emblazoned with a familiar L, and within a date, time, and address, with the simple message, "If you wish to know more about Cupid, come."

Without exception, all recipients made plans to go, although their reasons varied.

XXXXX

At about the same time, elsewhere in Tokyo, Sira was laying in mid air, thumbing through a magazine. Not far away, though, her chosen note user was practically bouncing.

"Aren't you excited, Sira? It's the big day!"

The love goddess did not even turn to look at her companion, instead licking her thumb and turning the page. "Ecstatic," she replied through a yawn.

The note user slumped. "You are a total stick in the mud!"

"If you say so," Sira replied.

With a shake of their head, the note user turned away. "This will be great! It is going to be Cupid's big coming out party! You just wait. Even you will see how awesome this will be."

"Uh huh," Sira said, turning another page, getting little more than an annoyed growl from her partner. Sira looked over and shook her head, unseen. 'At least you're excitable. Still, ultimately, you're just a means to an end. Have you fun while it lasts. I got a job to do.'

XXXXX

Back in Nerima, Maho arrived outside the address she had been given that morning, and stopped to marvel. "Go big or go home I guess," she noted as she looked at the high rise before her. It was at least twenty stories tall, with a full glass exterior. Despite this, nothing of interest could be discerned from the exterior. After taking another minute to simple look at the building, she finally shook herself back into action and entered the lobby.

As she crossed the open space to the security checkpoint, Cologne exited such. She smiled at Maho but said nothing as she passed her, exiting the building. Maho frowned thoughtfully at this but proceeded onto her destination.

Once past the automated security she arrived on the 2nd floor where a large computer bank and monitors were set up along with a conference table. Sitting in his usual manner at the computer was L.

"Maho, good, you arrived," he said with only the briefest of looks back.

"I see you have already met with Cologne," Maho said as she came up next to him.

"Yes, I figured it best to meet with her before the others. It was very interesting. I'll brief you on what she said later. It has a number of potential implications."

Maho nodded and looked over the screens showing various old data. "Was all this really necessary, or is this just a show of force?"

L smiled. "I always appreciate your insight. Watari will be collecting our guests shortly. I aim to put as much pressure onto Cupid as possible."

"Assuming Cupid even remembers they are Cupid."

L nodded. "Indeed." He turned for a moment to the side, grabbed something then turned to Maho. "Watari and myself will be making our home here, naturally, from this point forward. However, for the time being, you will remain undercover. Cologne obviously already knows this, but so far no one else does. I have thus procured you other residence for now," he explained before handing Maho a set of keys with a conspicuous rectangular device attached to the same ring along with a slip of paper. "Your belongings should already be transported there. While it looks modest, it is well equipped, including having the ability to monitor any feed I have access to from here."

Maho examined the device, noting a single button on it, before nodding and looking over the address. "Anything else?"

"Nothing for the moment. You should head there now and be ready to monitor the meeting as it happens. I'd like for you to be a second pair of eyes and ears on the situation," L said, returning to the screens and typing some commands at the computer, putting up several familiar images on the screen. "All our chief suspects should be in attendance," he noted.

Maho looked over the images in turn. "Ranma, Tofu, Nabiki, Akane, Soun, and of course Kasumi. I take it then we have ruled out Shampoo?"

"I believe so. She will be attending, nonetheless, but the probability of her being one of the Cupids is now exceedingly low. Still, keep an eye on her."

"Right," Maho said with a nod. "I guess I'll head out. Just... be careful. You know the old saying about being backed into a corner."

"Quite," L replied.

XXXXX

Toshiki Inoue walked the halls of his television studio, a wide brimming smile firmly locked on his face. As he passed coworkers, they too shared the smile.

Stopping at the control room, Toshiki looked within and asked, "Is everything ready?"

"All is prepared," the studio manager replied.

"Excellent! This marks the beginning of a new age!" Toshiki preached. "All shall know the love of Cupid!"

"All shall know the love of Cupid!" the studio staff echoed enthusiastically.

XXXXX

Elsewhere in Tokyo, Maho had just arrived at her new apartment. From all outside appearances it was a modest place for a single individual. However, with a click of a button on the keys she had been given, a book shelf opened up allowing access to another room. She walked in to see the computers and screens already active and displaying numerous video feeds from inside and around L's new residence.

"He really knows how to do things," Maho said with an approving nod and took a seat. Already she could see Watari guiding the numerous Nerima residents of interest through security.

"This had better be worth my time," Tatewaki Kuno complained.

"Oh, brother dear... do shut up," Kodachi said dryly at his side, before looking abouts. "Given all those gathered, I'm modestly surprised father isn't in attendance."

"L did not deem that such was necessary," Watari calmly explained.

Maho switched her attention to another monitor just slightly up ahead where Ryoga and Ranma were bickering. Not far away from them were the Tendos and Genma. Ukyo was also with them, although her attention seemed to be more on the Kunos. "Probably trying to avoid Kodachi," Maho mused.

Behind the Kunos were those from the Nekohanten. Shampoo, unsurprisingly, was having nothing of Mousse's attentions, and Cologne merely hopped along behind them, an unreadable smile glued to her face. Just behind them was the last party of interest, Tofu, who was sweating profusely.

Maho zoomed in slightly to examine this, but quickly shook her head. "Just Shampoo," she muttered, noticing Tofu look away from the girl in question when she turned. "Oh yeah, and Kasumi is here too. That's going to make him practically unreadable."

"I agree," L said through a speaker causing Maho to start.

"Damn it, L, warn me if you're listening in!"

"My apologies. I will not be able to openly converse with you during the meeting. However, do pay attention to your monitor as I may send text messages your way."

"Right," Maho said with a nod. "You can hear me?"

"Yes, although our guest will we likely be aware of that I have the device. I believe there is little hope of hiding it. But, of course, they will have little notion of what I'm exactly listening to."

"Gotcha. I'll keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

L responded merely with a nod from the meeting room where the first of his guests was now entering.

'I really hope he has an exit strategy if this gets ugly,' Maho thought before settling in to observe, switching her primary feeds to those for the meeting room.

XXXXX

"Welcome," L greeted from a chair at the head of the table. Those first meeting the man paused in some wonderment, particularly noting his odd sitting posture. However, this lasted only a moment before they all began to take seats.

"Same guy?" Nabiki asked Ranma quietly, who nodded.

"Yep," Ranma replied. "No doubt about it."

"Hmh," Nabiki mumbled as she took a seat, the only one in the room aware there was 1 more guest at this little meeting, namely Trista who was examining L intently. 'If only I had her eyes I could probably tell if he's real or not... or maybe not. That would just tell me his name. L might be a completely unrelated moniker he uses,' she thought, displaying no emotion on her face.

With the last of his guests taking seats, L began. "Good, now that we are all gathered, we can begin. For those that have not already met me, I am L, although you may call me Ryuzaki if you prefer."

"Am I to truly believe that you are this great detective?" Kuno challenged. "What is to say you are not yet another imposter?"

"I can only assure you I am. However, even if I am not, I speak for him. Is that not enough?" L replied. Kuno only frowned in response. Getting no further argument L continued on. "Several of you have expressed an interest in aiding my investigation. Others have been affected by Cupid and no doubt wish a resolution to the situation."

"Damn rights," Ranma muttered.

"I have decided that at this point in my investigation that it is indeed time to seek your aid. However, I will not cloak my thoughts from you. There is a third criteria which potentially qualifies you to attend today, that of being a suspect."

'God damn it, I knew it!' Nabiki thought but kept her face neutral.

"Who?!" Kuno demanded, slamming his fist on the table and standing.

L merely glared at the boy, and after several seconds, he finally sat down once more. Returning his attention to the full group, L pressed on. "I cannot reveal my exact suspects at this time, for a variety of reasons. Also realize, I still entertain the possibility that Cupid may yet be undiscovered. So, I would appreciate that you all not act on rash accusations or assumptions. Any disagreements with that?"

Silence greeted L's question.

"Good. Now, I'm sure you're all aware of the basics of the situation. However, I have deduced certain things that have likely gone unnoticed by you all up till now." L eyed each member of the group in turn, pausing particularly on Kasumi who was all smiles and seemed absolutely riveted on the conversation. "My first important observation is that we are in fact dealing with two individuals."

"Two?!" many repeated in surprise. Nabiki in particular could not help but frown at this revelation.

"Yes. It was in fact Kasumi Tendo who clued me into this," L replied causing Kasumi to blink in surprise.

"I did?"

Nabiki cast her sister a glance, thinking, 'Thanks a lot, Kasumi!'

"Yes. You correctly noted that the objects of the love effect are oddly inversely related to the knowledge of their name and face."

"Name and face?" Ukyo echoed.

"He told us Cupid needs a name and face to affect you," Ranma explained.

"Quite right," L agreed with a nod. "The object of the affection does not require such though, and in fact seems to persist longer in the absence of such."

"Why is that?" Soun asked.

"At this time I only have several possibilities, but regardless of the reason, the pattern exists. Because of this pattern I was able to determine that there is two distinct methodologies to Cupid's attacks. The original was basic in approach, naive if you will. The other was the polar opposite, meticulously calculated. It is highly unlikely that these patterns were created by the same individual. No, it is far more likely that two individuals were involved."

"But you're not sure," Ranma said.

"Beyond all doubt, no," L conceded.

XXXXX

Back with Maho, she looked over the faces of those at the table intently. "Kasumi is dead calm. Tofu is still unreadable. Won't even look at Kasumi... seems to be giving Ranma a bit of the eye actually... suppose I can't blame him. Probably a bit jealous. Ukyo is of course giving Shampoo the eye who looks to be getting rather timid. Of course she does know she was and potential still is a suspect. Don't see anything special from any of the others so far," she noted aloud.

'Nor do I,' a typed reply came.

Maho sighed and leaned back and scanned all the monitors once again for anything. Just then her eye cause on something odd in the background, behind L and on his monitors. She leaned forward and examined it curiously, realizing it was a TV feed he had left on. 'That looks like Cupid's arrow... what's going on?' she wondered and worked her own monitors to bring up the channel directly.

After a few seconds of watching, Maho's sense of alarm grew. "L... watch Cupid's arrow RIGHT NOW!"

XXXXX

L stopped mid sentence of detailing the attack on the police, and quickly spun around to gaze at the monitor in question. After taking in only 1 second of the display he pushed himself off from the table and right up to the computers and began rapidly typing.

This was enough to swing the others attention to the screens and they too quickly took notice of the commotion on screen. A few seconds later the speakers in the room began to give the channel's feed.

"My friends, there is no need for this," the host, Toshiki Inoue, said as the camera was turned to the audience who were rushing for the exits which were apparently barred. As they did though, individual after individual was struck dumb it seemed and soon stopped their attempted escape only to return to their seats with smiles on their faces and dazed expression.

"What the hell is going on?!" Ranma exclaimed as he abandoned his seat to rush up for a closer look. This prompted the others to do likewise.

"All shall know the love of Cupid!" Toshiki preached but the camera remained on the audience and exits.

'What the hell is going on?!' Nabiki echoed Ranma in her mind as she got up to the screen, unable to stop herself from glancing at Trista who only gave her a confused shrug in response.

After another minute, the commotion had died down, with the audience all back in their seats, and with that the camera finally turned back to Toshiki on stage, nothing but calm serenity on his face. "I apologize for this all, but it was necessary as proof of Cupid's presence here today. Up till today, I must admit my show has been little more than a scam. But, Cupid's love has shone upon me, and I have been given the honor and pleasure of bringing Cupid's message to you all here today."

With that, Toshiki gestured to a screen behind him which lit up with the simple scripted word Cupid displayed and Toshiki began a speech espousing Cupid's various virtues.

"I thought-" Ranma started to accuse, but L lifted a finger to silence him.

XXXXX

"Damn it!" Maho said as she jumped to her feet. "We can't let this broadcast go out!"

"There is nothing we can do," L said from the video feed.

"Nothing? I can go-"

"No."

"No? No what?" Ranma asked in annoyance, not previe to the other half of the conversation.

"No, it is simple too dangerous for us to intervene at this moment. The entire audience was affected... and that likely means I have been wrong. Cupid may be able to affect those with only a face. That is why the camera was trained on the audience. No doubt the entire staff of the station has already been effected."

'Damn it, he's right. It is very unlikely they had all the names for the entire audience, especially matched up with each face. This is really not good,'

XXXXX

"Bloody hell!" Ranma cursed as Cupid finally started to speak.

"I am Cupid, the one true Cupid," the recording began, digitally distorted in a manner similar to L's. "I have been absent these last many weeks, and for that I apologize. I understand there are those that fear my gifts of love and wish to stop me, and in that mind I have long considered how we might reach an agreement. So I speak now to the one known as L. We need not be enemies. I understand you are a person of the law, and in that vein I have offered you a gift of my benevolence."

"Gift?" many echoed as L simple remained intent on the screen.

"In the coming days you will fully understand. I give this freely, as a measure of my commitment. However, I understand as well that this gift may be insufficient. Know that I will bring my love to the people and if you insist on opposing me I will use all of my power to stop you. I expect a public response by week's end. If you agree with me, you will show yourself publically as a gesture of your own commitment. If you should not... well, we shall leave that as a surprise.

"In the meantime, my people, fear not, for Cupid is here. Those that support me will know nothing but my love and those that do not shall be made to see. Thank you."

As the broadcast came to an end and the host took over, once more singing the praises of Cupid, those in L's meeting room were in shock.

"My goodness. This Cupid does seem to have a bit of... what is it called?" Kasumi asked.

"Megalomania?" Genma suggested.

"Yes, that's it."

"What are we just standing around for?" Ranma asked. "We have to do something!" Getting no response. Growling, Ranma grabbing L's chair and spun it to make the detective face him. "You're the detective, think of something!"

This seemed to shake L free of his stupor. "We can't act rashly," he said and spun back to the computer bank and began typing. In response several of the adjoining screens switched to other networks. He scanned several until finally a news report came up with a news crew outside a building. "Yes, as expected," he muttered as he switched the sound.

"...Yes, there has been no contact from within. All our attempts to reach out to the crew of the station have been unsuccessful. Already, as you can see, people are gathering here, outside the station," the news reporter explained as he looked back at the front entrance. "We've already been questioned by family members of those inside."

"They're outside the station?" Nabiki asked.

"Yes, but if I'm right, Cupid isn't done yet."

"...Wait... it looks like something is happening. Yes, several of the people seem to be trying to batter their way in, and I'm hearing sirens in the distance now."

L's eyes narrowed as he watched. "It is as I thought," he said as those on screen attempting to force the door started to become mesmerized. "Watari, get me in contact with this station's manager immediately, and get all other local stations as well."

"Yes L," Watari replied from the back of the room and headed out.

"Cupid is still affecting them?" Ranma asked, but needed no answer. "Oh man."

"Yes, and unfortunately we can't tell if Cupid is physically nearby, or viewing this as we are. We must cease all broadcasts," L explained.

"L, I have the station manager on the line."

"Good," L said and picked up the phone and began speaking with them.

In the meantime, Ranma turned to the other. "We have to do something!" he said quietly.

"Like what? Do you want to be turned into a Cupid worshipper?" Nabiki replied.

Ranma growled and looked to the floor for a moment before brightening. Looking back up he smiled. "I got an idea. It isn't a sure thing, but I'm sick of this! Whoever is with me, come on! We're going in there!"

A moment of indecision passed through those gathered, but soon Ryoga, Mousse, Akane, and Shampoo stepped nodded their agreement. Ukyo, Kodachi and Tatewaki took a second longer but likewise nodded. Even Soun elbowed Genma and the pair joined in as well.

"Alright, let's-" Ranma directed as he started to run for the exit.

"Wait!" L called out.

"What?" Ranma said in annoyance at the door.

"Be sure to get everything that Cupid provided. Everything."

Ranma frowned. "Right. Come on, let's go!"

"Do be careful!" Kasumi called out after them. Beside her, Nabiki simply crossed her arms, a frown firmly locked on her face.

XXXXXX

Within a nearby building, with a pair of binoculars, the new note user laughed at the whole display. "This is sooooo much fun! Don't you think so, Sira?"

"Hmh? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

The note user growled in annoyance and rolled over to look at the love goddess. "You're... HOPELESS!"

Sira looked over at her companion flatly. "You may find this amusing, I don't. Besides, was all this chaos part of the plan?"

"Of course," the note user replied before noticing a new set commotion outside. "Ooo, what now?" they wondered aloud, rolling back over to take a look. Now entering the building were a group of familiar people, all with various head coverings. One in particular caught her eye. a young man with a set of bandages cover all by his eyes and his conspicuous pigtail. The note user smirked. "Oh, I know you..."

The note user reached over to the nearby love note, but Sira cleared her throat, gaining the note user's attention. "What?" the note user asked.

"Don't be reckless. If you use that on someone covered like that, this L character will figure out quickly it is someone who knows them personally."

"Hmm..." the note user said as they considered. "I suppose you're right. I guess it is time to call it a day," they said reluctantly and got up. "Besides there is sooo much more fun to come."

Sira nodded and followed, giving those going in one last look, frowning herself at the sight of a purple haired member of their group.

"Give me a C! Give me a U! Give me a P! Give me a I! And give me a D! What's that spell? Cupid! Cupid! Hurrah!" the note user quietly cheered as they departed.

End Chapter 15

Long delayed this one. It has been taking me a darn long time to work out things and I'm still having difficulties, but I'm closer. Anyone really familiar with Ranma ½ should have a good guess as to our new note user. Free virtual cookies to anyone who can guess!