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 17
It was early morning in Nerima, although as was usual for him, L had been pulling an all-nighter. On the screens in front of him were a variety of different documents, videos and pictures. His current interest was focused on a report brought to him just last night by Watari.
"The timing is no coincidence," he mumbled, chewing on his thumb, as Watari returned with a tray of coffee for the pair.
"I concur," Watari said as he lay the tray down next to L who, without looking, took his cup up with his usual delicate grip and took a long sip. "Should we inform Maho?"
"Not yet. At this point in time the information would be a useless distraction for her," L replied before dismissing the report from the screen to be replaced with a replay of the recent Cupid's Arrow episode. After about a minute of replay though, as Watari was indulging in his own morning Coffee, L's attention turned to another monitor, one of the Lobby and a smiling individual entering. "What have we here..."
XXXXX
Later that afternoon, L was once more gathered with the various residents of Nerima at the meeting table, an opened envelope on the table in front of him. Around him, the others were in various degrees of surprise at hearing it's origin.
"Cupid?!" Ukyo finally exclaimed.
"To be more precise, one of our original Cupids," L amended.
"Original?" Ukyo questioned, looking to the others but they were equally puzzled.
L nodded. "No doubt our Cupid from Cupid's Arrow wants to claim to be the only Cupid, but I am highly confident we are dealing with yet another Cupid. And further, as I was elaborating on the other night, I already had strong evidence that the Cupid we knew from before was in fact two people. I have not yet dismissed the possibility that this new Cupid is but a pawn of the previous ones, but given all the information I have, I am beyond 90 percent certain this new Cupid, the third, is independent and potentially hostile to the originals."
Ranma shook his head and groaned. "Oh brother. What a mess. Not one, not two, but now three Cupids."
"More if you include the various puppets, but I do not. I count only those that acted of their own free will, which would indeed count as three currently. While I do believe the first and second are working together to some extent, this new one is likely totally independent. Worse, we have little information on them save they are not restricted to needing a name. A face seems to be all that is required for this new one," L explained. "That brings us back to the letter. It arrived this morning via an entranced individual. I've already checked into him, he was likely simply a random victim from the neighborhood with no connection to Cupid, and has already completely forgot how he came into possession of the letter. However, a forensic analysis of the letter and envelop has already lead me to the conclusion that this is not the original letter, if such ever actually existed. All evidence indicates it was a copy, generated by the man in question likely, with any original destroyed. This, on the face of it, seems to mirror our newest Cupid's methods, but this is not a difficult countermeasure to realize so I think that is simply coincidence.
"No, I am quite certain this comes from one of the first two. Hearing the contents, I think you will agree," L said, looked over the table, then stopped on Kasumi. "Kasumi, would you be so kind as to read the letter for the others."
"Of course," Kasumi said with a smile, picking it up and looking it over. "Let's see... To the individual known as L. I am Cupid, but not this new Cupid imposter involved with the Cupid's Arrow program. As I suspect you have already determined, we are separate individuals and I have no allegiance with this new one. However, I also suspect you have realized that this new Cupid has grand designs and they are a threat to not only you, but me and the whole of the world as well. They must be stopped.
"You have probably already realized I am no longer active as Cupid myself. I wish to simply end this situation peaceably. Given the new situation, I'm willing to make a deal. I will offer you my cooperation in hunting down and capturing this newest Cupid. Once their threat has been eliminated, I also will offer you proof of the destruction of the source of my power. In exchange I wish only for you to end your investigation and no longer threaten me.
"Should you wish to agree to this deal, I have given instruction on the next page for how to contact me. Should you reject it, or act to break the conditions of our agreement, I am afraid I may be forced to take a more drastic approach. The Cupid has a power I too can gain access to. I will have little other option but to make use of such myself. I hope you realize it is in our mutual best interests to cooperate."
Kasumi frowned briefly at the end before laying the letter back on the table. "I wonder why this Cupid hasn't used the power till now?"
L nodded. "I question on my mind as well," he said. "The new power must have some downside. Unfortunately, we don't know what that is."
"We can't agree under these conditions!" Mousse finally exclaimed, gaining everyone's attention. "Cupid has to reverse all the damage they have done!"
"Reverse it?" Ranma asked.
"Make all these... false loves go away," Mousse elaborated.
"I don't think Cupid can," L explained refocusing attention on him. "I have seen no evidence to date that Cupid can terminate love, only generate it. I'm afraid you may all have to simply deal with the fallout of what has happened. Dealing with Cupid now is simply a matter of preventing further damage, not reversing damage already done."
Mousse opened his mouth for a moment to argue, but did not get out a word. Instead he cast his eyes to the table in defeat before banging it once in frustration.
"What are you so upset about?" Ranma muttered. "You have the least problems here."
"Shut up!" Mousse countered angrily but quickly resumed his brooding.
"What do you plan to do?" Kasumi asked. "It seems like a sensible enough deal."
"I'm planning to accept," L replied plainly, looking to Kasumi intently, but having his attention diverted to the others by various grumbles. "I know you all wish some measure of justice here, but the situation has... become far more serious. The new Cupid is very close to causing a worldwide shift in power. Already Cupid cults are forming globally, and if we do not stop this quickly, we risk far greater damage than a few broken hearts."
Ranma growled but nodded. "Damn it if you aren't right. So, now what?"
"As noted, Cupid provided some rather elaborate instructions on how to communicate. Fake phone numbers, some subtle television prompting and so forth. I won't bore you with the details. It is designed simply to give me as little info on Cupid as possible, and in that it is quite thorough. It seems also Cupid wishes to limit their victims, and is using a more indirect communication via phone. It is limiting, but it will suffice. I may have need of you all to act in capturing the new Cupid. Given the location of the broadcast, I'm confident our new Cupid is relatively local as well. In the meantime, until I have more precise instructions, I can only advise you all to wait."
"Seems fair enough," Kodachi said. "Myself, I am content with how things are," she said, giving Ukyo a smile who quickly looked away. "I'm sure you all will adapt to your own situations in time."
There was a variety of low key grumbles in response to this, but little else. After a few last words, L dismissed the group, watching them leave both directly, then on the monitors at his desk. After they had all departed, he finally keyed in a special sequence at the keyboard and asked, "So what do you think?"
"Not much to work with I'm afraid. Nabiki was being quiet though," Maho said over the speakers.
"Yes, I noticed that as well," L said, rewinding a recording of the meeting and focusing in on the girl in question. "Unfortunately, far from conclusive."
"Yeah," Maho agreed. "Kasumi is... well, dead calm."
"Yes," L agreed, once more chewing his thumb. "I am increasingly of the belief that if Kasumi was our first Cupid, she doesn't remember, but the question is why? Is that another power Cupid possesses? Till now Cupid needed to make someone fall in love to do such a thing, but there is no indications of this with Kasumi. Or am I simply chasing a bad lead?"
"I wish I could tell you," Maho replied.
L nodded then switched topics. "What's your assessment of all this?"
Maho sighed. "Probably the same as yours, but... I think the letter is genuine and from the second Cupid. It is more the second Cupid's style than the first."
"Agreed."
"And given they have shut down, it is quite possible they want out legitimately," Maho said to which L simply murmured. "You don't think so?"
"I think it is a possibility," L conceded. "There is another thought in this matter. The doctor."
"What about him?"
"If this is indeed from our second Cupid, then our second Cupid did not lose their memory via love," L explained.
"Oh right... so why was the doctor targeted after everyone else? We assumed it may be because he was the second Cupid and wanted to forget, but now..."
"Exactly. This is an interesting anomaly. I want you to concentrate your attentions on him for now. Cupid wants to hid something about the doctor from us, and thus it is in our best interest to find out what."
"So I take it you're not ending your investigation into the original Cupid after all?"
"I cannot," L answered. "The situation is spirally out of control and I'm afraid it has forced my hand. I will play along for now, but our ultimate objectives remain the same."
XXXXX
"Boss, he's here."
Philip sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fine, show him in," he said before righting his seat to look to the doorway. Moments later the man in question came into view, dressed identically to their last encounter in a T-shirt and blue jeans, his hands buried in his pockets. He looked around the room in a half disinterested fashion before, without prompting, walking and taking a seat, kicking his feet up onto Philip's desk without concern.
Philip groaned. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all," the man responded, but did not otherwise respond.
Philip glared at him a moment but after taking in a long breath dropped that matter. "How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Don't act stupid," Philip said with clenched teeth. Quickly he dug out several photos and tossed them onto the desk. "That!"
Curiously the man set his feet to the floor, leaned over the desk and inspected each of the pictures in turn. "My, what a coincidence."
"Coincidence my ass!" Philip exclaimed. "Every name you gave us, dead, within minutes if not the exact moment you specified and the ones that don't match close we just don't know for sure so I'm pretty confident they were accurate to the second as well."
"My, I got lucky with those guesses," the man said, leaning back, but this time keeping his feet on the ground.
"Bullshit! You got some power. Is it like Cupid? Can you... kill people?"
The man smiled and leaned once more over the desk to look at Philip directly in the eyes. "What do you think?"
Philip withdrew, but continued to meet the man's eyes. Finally though, the man leaned back with Philip giving no answer. "What do you want? Really want?"
"I told you before, I have an ax to grind with L. It just so happens this Cupid situation is ideal."
Philip shook his head. "Do you have any idea-"
"More than you," the man interjected. "I'm... intimately familiar with L. I told you, I know who he is."
"You'll forgive me if I don't trust you," Philip retorted. "No one knows who L truly is."
The man shrugged. "I can only assure you I do. However, it is your choice. You are, though, in a difficult position. Your organization and the others are on the countdown to extinction. Cupid will destroy you quickly and effectively. You have no answer for it... save me. You can chose to pass up what I'm offering. So be it, no hard feelings. I'll just move onto the next best party, and THEY will get Cupid. Your choice."
Philip huffed and leaned back. "That... I can't really argue with. What do you need from us?"
The man smiled and pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket and put it on the desk. "Those people, and an unlimited expense account... we'll start with 10 million."
"10 million?!" Philip exclaimed as he reached for the list.
"For starters... I'm going against L. Do you think that is cheap? Besides, think long term, Philip. 10 million, shared between all your organizations, or even yours alone... pocket change compared to the long term potential gains."
Philip hesitated over the list as he considered this, then picked it up. Reading it over he frowned. "These people... oh I see, low profile, could blend..."
"Exactly," the man replied. "Which brings me to my last consideration, you there Philip."
"Me?" Philip asked as he lowered the list.
"Yes, you're high in the organization, but low profile yourself, and you have a fake name on record. Probably the best I am going to get. You'll be my main contact, and you'll keep everything to yourself."
Philip frowned but then nodded. "Fine. It will take a few days to get all these guys together. I assume you need transport to Tokyo."
"Yes, but I'll arrange such. L will be looking out for certain signs. He'll figure things out sooner or later, but I'd rather it be later."
"Fine," Philip said and stood up. "I hope you aren't planning to run off with our money. Power or no power, you'd regret it. And I may not know for sure, but I DON'T think you can kill at will."
The man laughed and got up as well. "You're pretty smart. Don't worry. Money has no real value to me. I could make that kind of money given enough time, I just don't have that sort of time currently. Besides, what I really desire is to defeat L. All the money in the world is nothing to me next to that," he said with such force even Philip was forced to nod in acceptance.
Philip offered his hand to which the man took it and shook, sealing the agreement. "What should I call you?"
"Hmm... good question," the man said as they finished their shake and tapped his lips in consideration before smiling. "Let's go with Gamma."
"Gamma?"
The man turned and started to leave. "Look it up. It'll make sense."
XXXXX
Finally able to get some time to herself, Nabiki retired to her bedroom where she dropped onto the bed and looked to the ceiling. "At least things are going to plan so far," she said.
"This could work out real well. You can capture that other Cupid, and when you destroy the note I can finally go home," Trista noted optimistically, but Nabiki scoffed.
"Trista, don't be naive. L plans to double cross me, just like I plan to double cross him."
Trista did a double take at this, floating over Nabiki to look her in the face. "What?"
"That's been the plan from the start. Give him just enough help to lead me to the new Cupid, then use the new Cupid to get his name and put him out of action for good," Nabiki explained before sitting up. "Of course, he's likely planning something very similar, to work me into a trap. Which means, I need to setup some contingencies right away." Nabiki looked to Trista seriously. "I'm not going to lose to this freak no matters what it takes!"
Trista sighed. "And here I thought we were making progress."
End Chapter 17
Something quick I should deal with here. A couple readers have mentioned another manga story by the name of Love Tyrant, or Renai Boukun. This manga is also inspired by Death Note and also features what they dub the Kiss Note which has similar function to the Love Note of this story. I just want to be clear that this is totally new to me and this story has nothing to do with it other than their shared inspiration of Death Note. My story predates Love Tyrant significantly, Love Tyrant coming out in 2012 while I started this at least in 2008 as that is the publish date here... damn has it really been that long, guess so. Anyway, I also don't see any significant aspects of Love Tyrant that are the same as my story beyond, again, our shared inspiration of Death Note. So yeah, this appears to be completely coincidental, and I have no real plans to expand that as what little I know of Love Tyrant makes it very incompatible with what I've setup here. But, should you be interested in a more harem-ish interpretation of the idea, might be worth checking it out. It has both a manga and anime which you can look into.
