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 16
"It's been two days since the Cupid broadcast and, as you can see behind me, the crowd outside the Cupid's Arrow studio continues to grow. Current estimates place it as well over ten thousand people in size and some are saying it could grow to over a hundred by week's end. Police officials say they will continue to keep the peace, but have no current plans to get involved beyond that.
"Of course this all leads to the question: where is L and what is he planning? Since the broadcast we have learned that across the globe at least 20 of interpol's most wanted individuals have suddenly surrendered themselves to officials and begun full cooperation with them. Although details are few, most assume these individuals have been similarly affected as those in the studio were, and there is little doubt that this is the mysterious gift that Cupid promised. Yet, as of this time we have had no public reply from L.
"Officials around the world have been similarly tight lipped on the Cupid situation. Few have openly commented, and the few that have generally have said they are simply observing the situation. The public, however, has been much more vocal, at least in anonymous forums. Much like the crowd here today, many have come out in support of Cupid, some even going so far as to claim Cupid is a modern day God. Others have been far more critical... ahem, yeah, let's just move on."
Maho watched the reporter's face grow nervous and shook her head before silencing the television, leaning back and sighing. "This is a disaster," she mumbled.
"It is a scenario I feared would come to pass," L's voice said from Maho's computer.
"Yeah, well, it's here and we have to deal with it," Maho replied before sitting up and turning her attention to the feed from L's computer which displayed him similarly situated at his computers. "Any good news?"
"Little I'm afraid. I've gone over the videos Ranma and the others retrieved thoroughly. Unfortunately, I now have to conclude they were actually made by the studio staff, and whatever original script they had for them has been destroyed. Likewise everything else they found was likewise made at the studio itself, so we have no forensic evidence that leads back to Cupid. This Cupid was smart."
"This Cupid," Maho repeated with a smile which L quickly shared.
"I take it then you too have concluded as I have."
"Yeah, no way this is either of the Cupids we know. The new power... not just needing only a face, but the nature of the love..."
"Yes. Despite so many being effected, not a one knows the identity of Cupid. So it is not the person they love, but the idea."
"That's... troubling. And then of course you have the totally different approach... And even the way they talked at the beginning: I am Cupid, the one true Cupid. That is an awkward statement unless there is an untrue Cupid."
L nodded. "Yes, agreed completely. This new Cupid seems to wish to take the position as Cupid, perhaps even daring the original to act counter to this."
"A very aggressive posture," Maho agreed.
"Indeed," L said before moving on. "We did at least get two things, the pre-recorded responses that the studio had made up for my response," L said. "Have you reviewed them?"
"Haven't had the time. Anything useful?"
L looked next to him where two video tapes were laying on his desk. "Most of what is contained in them is essentially the same, speaking of Cupid's great hopes for the future and wish to better the world and such. Should I reject Cupid's agreement, Cupid vows to make me... see the light."
"Oh joy."
L nodded with a frown. "Yes, not something I particularly relish experiencing. Should I agree, I am instructed to merely broadcast the real face of any individual I wish to have surrender themselves via the Cupid's Arrow program and they will be promptly... enlightened," L finished with a sigh. "What I more worry about, though, is the undertone present in all of it, that any dissent will not be tolerated. I would not put it past this Cupid to work their power on government officials, potentially turning the whole power of the state against us."
"Not a pleasant thought," Maho agreed. "So what is the plan?"
"That we yet have several days to decide on, so let us put that aside. You have reviewed the tapes of my meeting?"
"Yes, thoroughly," Maho said.
"Anything of note?" L asked.
Maho frowned and punched up a particular clip. "Not much, but this bugs me."
L turned his attention to another monitor on his setup displaying the same clip. "Oh?" he asked, watching the seconds after everyone's attention had shifted to the Cupid's Arrow broadcast.
"Right there," Maho said as she paused the scene and pointed at Nabiki. "What is she looking at?"
L examined the frame, and for the first time in a long while Maho felt a bit of satisfaction at having apparently found something he had not. "Interesting..." L commented as he took over the playback and moved it back and forward several seconds. "Yes, it is just an impulse... nothing more than a momentary look, but... to nothing. Odd."
"I checked all your other feeds, nothing picked up anything of note in the room. Even thermal and other cameras picked up nothing there," Maho continued, watching as L nodded lightly. "It could be nothing," she conceded.
"Or something invisible to all forms of normal detection. And the timing is particularly interesting. A look to confirm something is there perhaps," L said, tapping his lip in consideration. "Very good, Maho. I had my doubts that Nabiki would take such protective action of Kasumi to be our second Cupid, but this is interesting. Like you say, it could be nothing, but it could be very telling. It is also interesting that Nabiki was the first to suggest returning home."
"Yeah, probably knew she was under surveillance and wanted to get out from under it," Maho said with a nod. "Although, honestly, who doesn't?"
"Yes. She was also very vocal once the situation began. Hmm, it definitely justifies more attention being given to her. Still, we'll need a lot more. Unfortunately, there is another who was very active."
"Ranma," Maho said with a sigh and a nod. "Yeah. He was even bold enough to go there and seemed to know very quickly what to do to protect himself and the others."
"Certainly not impossible to conclude that head coverings would suffice as protection, but nonetheless curious," L said. "Anything else?"
"Not really... actually, there is one thing..." Maho started but hesitated.
"Go on," L insisted.
"Okay, Kasumi was paying very close attention to you."
"Yes, I noticed. Do you believe-"
"Nono, not that kind of attention," Maho interrupted, puzzling the detective. "I... think she might... kinda like you."
"Like me?" L repeated in some confusion.
"It was the way she was looking at you," she explained.
L puzzled over this for a moment, bringing up a feed of the meeting and concentrated on Kasumi. "I do not... hmm... perhaps you are right. I had thought her attentiveness rather differently, but looking at it dispassionately... Do you believe that she has been affected?"
"I... don't think so," Maho said. "I've looked over a lot of interviews with people that have been affected by Cupid, and this doesn't seem that severe. I could be wrong. This is Kasumi, after all. Everything we know about her says she's very hard to read at times."
"Yes... could it be that is why she isn't reacting as I expected..."
"Or... perhaps she just likes you."
L leaned back slightly as he contemplated this. "Hmmm... that could be useful if true."
"If nothing else, if you watch Tofu and Ranma closely, they both seem to be reacting like they believe that is the case."
"Really?" L asked before once more reviewing the video.
"There is just a hint of it just before everything went wild, but even more particularly when they get back."
L fast forwarded to the return of the martial artists to the building. At that time, Nabiki had taken a seat once more at the table, while Kasumi hovered near L at the computers with Watari. Everyone's attention shifted to the group's return and after the handover of the gathered evidence, Ranma seemed to take notice of the closeness between Kasumi and L and soon interceded himself. Likewise, Tofu, who throughout the rest of the video was either shying away, focusing on Kasumi or Shampoo, now seemed to take particular notice of L as well.
"Yes... yes, I see now what you mean. Ranma is certainly protective, and Tofu... hmm... Very good work, Maho. Very good."
"So now what?"
"Now, I think we wait just a bit longer," L said to Maho's puzzlement.
"Wait?"
"Yes. After all, we're not the only ones who must decide how to proceed."
XXXXX
At the Tendo home, Nabiki had finally found a moment of peace to contemplate her situation. It had been hectic the last few days affording her little opportunity to get away from things and just think with a clear head. Such thinking, though, was not leading her to any pleasant conclusions.
Currently on her bed, she glared at the ceiling with a frown firmly locked on her face. Trista, floating nearby, after nearly ten minutes of silence, finally broke down and spoke. "Isn't this a good thing?"
"How stupid are you?!" Nabiki quietly snapped, sitting up. "Of course this isn't a good thing. There is no resolution of this scenario that works out in my favor."
"How so?" Trista asked.
Nabiki took in a calming breath before responding. "Alright, fine, I'll explain it for you. We essentially have two variables: One, will L believe this new Cupid is the old Cupid. Two, will he capture this new Cupid. Regardless of how you choose these variables, the end result is bad.
"For instance, let's assume that L buys that this is the old Cupid speaking. I seriously doubt that, but let's entertain it anyway. He can either go along with the new Cupid, or try to capture them. Let's assume the former. Well, now this new Cupid is free to continue this little religious uprising of there's, and given what they have already pulled, how do you think that will turn out? Hmm?"
Trista shrunk away, answering, "Not too good."
"To put it mildly," Nabiki replied. "Worse, I don't like the way that statement was phrased. One true Cupid? What is that? Sounds like a challenge to me. If this new Cupid finds me first..." Nabiki shuttered. "Then, let's assume instead he tries to capture the new Cupid and fails, that the same essential result. So, assume he succeeds. Now he has the new Cupid, probably the note they have, and access to their love goddess. That is a ton of new information, and importantly proof the old Cupid is not the same one because none of the names the old Cupid affected will be in that note. Worse, you tell me this other love goddess can see you and since you have to follow me all the time..."
"Right..."
"Right," Nabiki growled, laying back down before continuing. "The results are really no different if he doesn't believe this is the old Cupid. He either lets them run amok, or eventually captures them and that again leads back to me. At the very best it just delays him from finding me." Nabiki sighed.
"You could give up the note."
"Yeah, I could, but ultimately that doesn't ensure I won't be caught, and leaves me pretty much powerless and ignorant in the situation," Nabiki countered before shaking her head. "This is a disaster."
Trista thought for a moment. "You could always-"
"Make the deal for the eyes, yes, I know, and I just might have to, but I don't want to!" Nabiki retorted. "Plus, even if I make that deal, what if that L is a phony. He did have an earpiece in that meeting, and someone was clearly talking with him, I just don't know who. It could be a fake out, or he's a stand in. I can't tell which. It is just too risky at this point." Nabiki let out another sigh while Trista curled up in her floating position, propping her head up on her fists to think.
After another minute of silence Nabiki's frown slowly faded and her eyes drifted down. "There is only one real option at this point."
Trista looked over curiously. "What's that?"
Nabiki silently looked back, but instead of answering, merely replied, "I have to plan this out."
XXXXX
Elsewhere in Tokyo, a teenaged girl arrived at the entrance to her apartment complex with two of her friends.
"See you tomorrow," she said as she started in.
"Right. We still on for practice this weekend, Mariko?" one asked.
Mariko paused and turned back. "Not sure. I'll call you."
"Okay, see you tomorrow!" the friend replied and along with the other girl headed off, chatting all the while.
Mariko nodded, headed up the outer staircase to her apartment and entered, smiling all the while. Once in, she closed the door with her back, clutching her school bag to her chest and let out a sigh. An instant later said bag was tossed into the air, a notebook removed and clenched in Mariko's teeth as she bent it in frustration, letting out a muffled scream all the while.
Just as this was going on, the figure of Sira floated through the wall next to her and into the apartment, paying little mind to the martial arts cheerleader. The love goddess proceeded into the apartment proper and dropped onto a couch in front of a television, quickly taking up the remote to start watching.
Mariko finally exploded with a incoherent yell and tossed the notebook aside, racing into the room to be next to the goddess. "I CAN'T TAKE THIS!"
"I did warn you," Sira calmly replied.
"You never said it would be this bad!" Mariko exclaimed, collapsing to the floor, dropping her head onto the couch cushion. "I don't know if I can take this."
"You'll manage. Besides, you can rebuild your self control with enough time."
Mariko bolted upright at this. "I can?" she asked hopefully.
"Sure... a decade, maybe two, and you'll be fine."
Mariko whimpered and once more buried her face in the couch cushion. After a few seconds she rolled her head over to look at the love goddess. "Did you see that guy outside the school today? The one on the bike? God he was hot!"
"The middle aged balding one with the tattoos?" Sira asked as she channel surfed.
"Yeah..." the cheerleader wistful replied. A second more and Mariko jumped to her feet and started marching off. "I need some me time! You stay here."
"That's what I intended," Sira replied without looking, shortly after hearing a door close.
A half hour passed, Sira passing the time watching an anime, before the door once more opened only to have Mariko transition to the bathroom. Soon after the sound of the shower could be heard, and after another ten minutes this too ended. Five minutes after that, Mariko emerged from the bathroom, now in a bathrobe, her hair bound with a towel, and dropped down onto the couch next to Sira.
"Feeling better now?" Sira asked without even looking at the girl.
"Much," Mariko replied. After leaning back with a satisfied sigh for a moment, the girl straightened up and looked to the television. "Anything about me?"
"Haven't even been looking," Sira replied before having Mariko take the remote from her and switch channels. Sira sighed but did not argue the matter.
"Nothing... seen this already... nothing... argh!" the girl muttered as she switched between broadcasts. "Why hasn't L responded yet?!"
"He'll probably wait till the last day. I told you this," Sira said as Mariko frowned.
"Yeah..." the cheerleader muttered as she placed down the remote and leaned back in thought. "Why was Ranma there? I'm pretty sure Akane and Tatewaki were too... Hmm..."
For the first time during the whole exchange Sira turned her attention to her note owner. "What are you thinking?" the goddess asked.
"I'm thinking the old Cupid is probably in Nerima," Mariko said with a widening grin. "I may have to miss that practice after all and take a little trip to visit some old acquaintances."
Sira's expression remained neutral, but in her mind she was smiling. 'Bout damn time. I picked you because you had relationships with those around Cupid but were far enough out of the loop to not draw direct suspicion. Now maybe I can move on with this little assignment. It would so much easier if I wasn't ordered to keep the reason from my being under wraps.'
"I wonder just who the other Cupid is... hmm..." Mariko pondered with a growing grin.
XXXXX
Across the globe, a nondescript car arrived outside a factory on the shorefront. Two others soon followed, and from each exitted men in suits who scanned the area before waving in a fourth vehicle. From this fourth exited another man, who was quickly surrounded and escorted by those who arrived first.
The group headed up to a second floor meeting room where there were already gathered a number of other similar groups, all sitting around a meeting table.
"Gentlemen," the newest arrival head greeted as he took a seat and his men flanked him, watching the others. "I take it I'm the last to arrive?"
"Yes," another head answered. "Let's get this going."
"Right," a third head said. "We each speak for our respective organizations. Needless to say this Cupid situation is... getting very troublesome."
The second head laughed sadly. "That hardly covers it. Our number two went to the cops and started spilling his guts. We had to blow one of our deepest assets to shut him up. We are already looking at major damage."
"Same here," the last to arrive said. "Overnight an attire crew decimated. The fallout is going to be extreme. We're in total damage control."
"We've all been hit," the third took over. "The question is what are we going to do about it?"
"We got to get to this Cupid!"
"And how do you expect to do that? L's involved. Have to dealt with him? I have! You don't want to mess with him."
The last to arrive slammed his hand down on the table. "We don't have any choice. We're all looking at total extinction in a matter of months if this goes on. We have to pool our resources and do whatever it takes to end this."
"Or take control of it," a voice said, but not one from the table. The group turned in surprise, many padding various hidden weapons in their possession in anticipation. However, what they saw gave them pause. Standing in the rear doorway was a very odd figure of a man. He was dressed simply in a set of old jeans and a over used white t-shirt carrying only a jar, his hair a spiky mess.
"Who are you?"
"Yeah, who invited this guy?"
"I invited myself, Philip," the man responded, to the surprise of the one addressed.
Philip, the last to arrive, eyed the newcomer harshly. "How do you know that name?" he asked as the newcomer walked in and took up an empty seat at the table unopposed.
"One of my many talents," the newcomer said, placing the jar on the table and opening it. "May I?" he asked suddenly, and getting nothing but dirty looks just smiled and dipped his hand into the jar and pulled out a handful of jam. "You'll have to forgive me... it is a vice of mine," he said as he stuffed the jam in his mouth.
"Just what the-"
The man waved down the question before finishing his snack. "You have a problem, a Cupid problem. I... well, I have a problem with L. You have resources I lack, while I have talent you lack."
"Talent?" another head said with a laugh. "And just what talent is that?"
"A talent for investigation, but even more importantly a talent for knowing my enemy. You see, I know who L is," the man said and smiled slightly as that gave all gathered further pause. "So you see, we have a mutual interest in the situation. You provide me with your resources, I solve your little Cupid problem."
"And just why should we trust you?"
"You can't," the man replied plainly. "What you can trust is you have nothing really to lose and so much to potentially gain." The man dug into his jean pocket and pulled out a set of cards and cast them onto the table. "Take one each."
"What the hell is this?" Philip asked as he picked up a card. On it was a name, time and date.
"A bit of proof of my talent. As you can all see, you don't have to wait long. Call me when you're convinced," the man said and stood back up, leaving without further word.
"What the hell was that freak?" One asked, flipping over the card to see a phone number with the initials BB.
End Chapter 16
So yep, Mariko is our newest Cupid, and we have another new player in the mix. I was actually debating for quite a while about a potential original character to add in, but then realized I had just the guy already available and coincidentally the timing works out quite well.
For those that don't know, this fella is a death note character, but not one from the original series, but rather the prequel novel which I mentioned many chapters ago that I have read. We'll explain more on him in the chapters to come, although those familiar with him should have a good clue as to what he has going for him here.
