Ranma ½
Love Note
Usual disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, well with the exception of Trista and Sira (and a bunch of guys I'll be introducing here). 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.
This chapter could ALMOST be considered an interlude as it concentrates on non Ranma characters for the most part, but bear with it as it is setting things up.
Chapter 18
A taxi came to a stop and a woman got out with a single bag of luggage and a purse, handing the driver a number of bills before he departed. Now alone on the street the woman looked to the sky where a light rain had recently begun. She sighed and looked to the hotel in front of her before shaking her head and opening her purse. Within she briefly fingered a postcard before pulling out a map and opening it.
"Three blocks, then left and two blocks... what a pain," she muttered, returning the map to her purse and looking once more to the sky. "Should have brought an umbrella."
It did not take her long to cover the allotted distance, and there she saw her objective, a nondescript car with a man sitting inside reading a newspaper. She stood on the opposite side of the street for a moment to examine him. Like her, he was of Asian descent and judging from his style of dress was once again like her in that he was likely from the US, not their current location of Japan. A small scar on his cheek gave her particular pause, but was quickly dismissed and she walked across the road and up to his window.
He noticed her and opened his window. "Not interested," he said without looking
She could not help but sneer at the insinuation but quickly reset her cool demeanor at seeing him smirk. "Are you Delta or not?"
"That depends... you would be?"
Once more the woman sighed. "Epsilon."
"Then yep, I would be Delta. Nice to meet ya. Get in."
The woman circled the car as the man set aside his paper and started the engine. Once she secured her luggage in the back and sat next to him, he drove off. "You're the last one to arrive, not that you're late or anything."
"Are all the others going by Greek letters too?"
"Yep," the man answered. "Boss says we are only to refer to each other by those letters from now on, or assumed identities when appropriate."
"This is going to be annoying."
"You get used to it," Delta replied. "Others are, as you probably already guessed, Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Boss is Gamma."
"Right," Epsilon replied, sighed, and looked out the side window. "I take it we're going to one of the more... seedy sides of town."
Delta chuckled. "I've seen worse," he said as the car took a final turn towards a small rundown apartment complex. "Here we are, the Grand Tokyo Hotel, six stars and preferred choice of all the top celebrities."
Epsilon sighed once again as Delta drove into an underground parking garage. "Let me guess, cockroaches and a black light horror show."
"No bugs so far, but not exactly high rent," he replied as he brought the car into a parking spot.
"About what I expected," she said as she exited, followed soon after by Delta.
"The boss and the others are set up in apartment 102. Might as well go introduce yourself. I'll take your luggage to your room," Delta said, tossing Epsilon a set of keys.
Epsilon eyed Delta for a moment but then nodded and once determining her bearings headed off.
From the outside, there was nothing to say the apartment was anything special. The blinds were drawn and it was light inside, just like any apartment. With one last sigh, she opened the door with the keys and stepped in.
Within she found 3 people all in a common area. The first and most obvious was a large Asian man lounging on a sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table, reading a manga. On closer look, Epsilon frowned as she realized it was of the hentai variety. Beyond his size, there was little distinct about him. His hair was simple black in a short cut, similar to Delta's, but otherwise he was not marked in anyway. His only stand out feature was his physique, that being on the heavily muscular side.
The next to catch her eye was a woman at a computer desk, surrounded by 3 monitors, 2 keyboards, and various other devices that Epsilon didn't recognize. She was dressed casually with what appeared to be a track suit of some kind. Her hair was long and brown, and once again she was of Asian descent. She currently had a set of headphones on playing some American pop music from what little Epsilon could hear and was completely unaware it seemed of the new guest.
The last was in the back of the room, sitting on an office chair with his legs curled up in from of him so that he could hug them, and he peered at the TV opposite him through them. His dress was even more casual, looking several days overdue for wash, and his hair looked little better.
Epsilon looked between the three, then set herself on the one in the back and walked over. "I take it you're Gamma," she said, causing the man to turn his eyes to her.
"Yes," he replied. "Epsilon, good to see you made it."
"I wasn't given much choice," she replied flatly.
"No, I suppose you wouldn't," he replied. "The one on the couch is-"
"Alpha, and Beta is on the computer."
Gamma raised an eyebrow. "Good guess or-"
"Process of elimination," Epsilon replied.
Gamma smirked, and just then Delta entered. "Since we're all now present, take a seat."
Epsilon looked back, seeing the only open spots were on either side of Alpha and frowned. Seeing this Delta sat next to Alpha and elbowed him. "Scoot over!" he urged.
"There is plenty of room," Alpha complained, but with another elbow to the side, growled and complied, moving to the edge of the sofa, giving room next to Delta for Epsilon to sit.
Gamma rolled his chair to the end of the coffee table and then eyed Beta who was still working away, unaware of the change in situation. Without further prompting, Alpha tossed his manga at her, hitting her on the head.
"Ow, hey!" Beta complained, spinning her seat to toss back the manga before stopping in surprise at seeing Epsilon. "Oh... Epsilon is here."
"Yeah, so pay attention," Delta said, and Beta removed her earphones and rolled over to the other side of the table to join them.
"Excellent," Gamma said with a smile and eased his legs to the floor, although he quickly slouched over to be nearly parallel to the floor. "I take it no further introductions are needed?" he asked but no one spoke. "Good. Then let's get started.
"All of you are already aware of our purpose here, but just for the case of being sure... Each of the organizations you come from is looking at potential extinction at the hands of our target, Cupid. Our objective here is to capture or eliminate Cupid as a threat."
"No small order," Delta commented.
"No, not at all. Finding Cupid alone would be an impressive feat, but our objective is made all the more difficult by the competition, namely L. Make no mistake, L will make every effort to eliminate us. As such, we can consider this... a war of a sort."
"So, we're aiming to take him out," Alpha said with a smile.
"If by that you mean kill him, no." Gamma replied to the others confusion. "Just trust me. Any effort to kill L will fail. As such, that is my first order to you all. No attempts are to be made on L's life under any circumstances. He may be hurt. He may be detained. He may be distracted. But, attempting to kill him is a guaranteed failure, likely not only of the attempt, but of our overall objective. And I think you all understand that failing our objective here will not be received well by your respective organizations."
"Right," Delta muttered.
"I have chosen you all to aid me for your particular skills, and your low profiles in your organizations. However, make no mistake, if you become a liability, I will send you home to whatever punishment they can dream up."
The others save Alpha all shifted nervously at this.
"For our protection you will use only your code names given here, or assumed identities I provide. Under no circumstances are you to give out your real identity. We know Cupid has some limitations and knowing your identity is one such limitation."
"What about now?" Epsilon asked. "Don't know if that still holds."
"The Cupid's arrow incident... yes, that could complicate things. Nonetheless we will act with this level of protection in mind." Gamma turned to Beta. "How goes your search?"
"Oh, right," Beta said, suddenly sitting up straight and clearing her throat. "Okay... um... well Gamma here had a hunch and I've been looking into it. Sure enough, I found a firewall like you wouldn't believe in town. We're talking... well... like the mother of all firewalls... like seriously paranoid stuff!"
"Sorta like Fort Knox?" Epsilon asked.
Beta looked at her quizzically. "Fort Knox?! Fort Knox has lousy security. Seriously, it's like ancient. Why would you-"
"I'm sure she means by comparison to Fort Knox's physical security, not its network security," Gamma clarified.
"Oh... OH... right, right, right... of course," Beta said then nervously laughed. "Yeah... uh... yeah, I guess that's about the right analogy. Anyway, I couldn't hope to penetrate that, at least not without getting detected, so I've been tracing it and seeing what else I can find out. I got the physical location. It is a high rise, newly purchased by a shell corporation, which is itself owned by another shell, and another, and another... you get the drift."
"That's L I take it?" Delta asked.
"With little doubt," Gamma answered. "However, don't get cocky. He was making no attempts at being subtle. A high rise... this is a power play, probably for Cupid's benefit... or perhaps ours."
"Wait," Delta said, leaning forward. "You saying he knows about us already?"
"Undoubtedly," Gamma replied. "L's no fool. He would keep solid track of all the major criminal organizations, and the Cupid's Arrow incident would just further focus his attention there. He will also know I'm involved. Do not fear though. While he knows we're involved, he doesn't know any particulars... or we'd all already be in jail."
"Small comfort," Delta said, leaning back.
"This is a high stakes game we are playing, Delta. Remember that. There are only three possible outcomes. We win, L wins or Cupid wins. All three of those outcomes mean the other two groups are eliminated."
"Right," Delta said and groaned.
Gamma looked back to Beta. "Anything else?"
Beta blinked. "Hmm... oh yeah yeah... uh, while I can't penetrate the firewall, I've been able to do a bit of traffic monitoring. He's got some serious bandwidth going in and out of that place and its very active, but all super encrypted. Like... million years using all the computers on the planet encrypted. Most of it leads way out of town, probably mostly overseas."
"No doubt to his other holding and data repositories," Gamma analyzed.
"Yeah, I guess. There was one, though, that sticks out. It's a local one, very close. That one I've had no luck finding the physical location of though. Can't be too far, but they got it good and cloaked from easy tracking. I think they may have patched into some of the main cables directly to get in on the net."
"Interesting," Gamma said, tapping his lips. "Could it be L himself at a secret location... or perhaps an agent of his?" Coming to no conclusion he nodded. "We must find that location. It could be very valuable to us, perhaps even giving us access to L's network."
"I'm on it, but my guess is we may actually have to physical track the wires... and that's a serious pain," Beta replied.
"Might have no choice," Delta replied. "We should probably check out this building. Case it out. Maybe it isn't so much Fort Knox in reality."
"It will be secure," Gamma replied but nodded regardless. "Take Beta with you and get some surveillance. It might be illuminating. Be sure to go unnoticed though. Take the delivery van."
Delta groaned. "Alright boss, I'm on it."
Beta moaned but got up to join him.
XXXXX
A short time later, in the underground parking garage, Epsilon walked up to a parked van and looked into the back. Within, Beta was sitting at a small desk bolted to the side within, numerous cameras and other devices hooked up all around her and to the sides of the vehicle, all concealed from outside observation.
"All ready back there?" Delta asked as he opened the driver side door and got in.
"I told you give me a minute!" Beta complained.
"You said that two minutes ago," Delta replied in mild annoyance, turning around to look at Beta and catching sight of Epsilon. "Hey, what's up?"
"You got room for a third?" Epsilon asked, prompting Beta to glance at her before returning to typing at her keyboard.
"Sure, hop in," Delta answered before returning his attention to Beta. "Hurry it up, would ya!"
"I am hurrying! Just got this all installed this morning you know. I'm still getting things configured."
"Why weren't you configuring it this morning then?!" Delta shot back.
"Because our boss dragged me off, that's why! Now shut up and let me work!" Beta snapped back.
Epsilon circled the van and entered the passenger side.
"Screw it, I'm leaving. Configure on the way," Delta declared.
Beta growled, but did not argue, instead getting up and closing the back doors and returning to her seat. "Impatient son of a..." she muttered.
As Delta started the engine, Epsilon asked, "What is all this?"
"Vending machine resupply and servicing truck," Delta explained as he started driving out. "So many of the damn things around that these go pretty much unnoticed. We even have legit routes we can use thanks to some connections in the biz, which is where we're headed first. Have to pick up the goods at the main office and then we can head out."
Epsilon nodded. "Low profile."
"Yep. Me and Beta here have been decking this one out since we got here. All the boss's idea."
"I'm sure," Epsilon replied.
"There, done," Beta said at last and spun in her chair to look forward. "You satisfied?"
"Yeah," Delta answered before taking a hard turn and nearly causing the girl to fall over.
Beta rebalanced herself and leaned forward angrily. "Hey, the chair may be bolted down, but it doesn't have seat belts, you know!"
Delta laughed. "Just chill. Just checking if you're paying attention."
"Screw you!"
Epsilon chuckled. "You two get along." Delta echoed the chuckle while Beta just grumbled. "You ever been to Japan before?"
"A couple times, on business. Parents are from here though," Delta answered. "You?"
"Pretty much the same. Parents originally from here. I've only been here once when I was a kid."
"Your Japanese is still good though," Beta praised.
"I keep it up. It's handy. How about you, Beta?"
"I'm from Japan," Beta answered. "Up north, not Tokyo. Think the most I have ever been in Tokyo was the airport, up till now of course."
"Haven't been to the US?" Delta asked in mild surprise.
"Nono, I went to university in the US. Been there pretty much ever since, but all the way through high school I was here."
A moment passed in silence before Delta asked, "So how'd you two get into the... life?"
"How'd you?" Epsilon asked in reply causing Delta to smile and nod.
"Fine... ever seen Point Break?"
"The movie with the surfers?" Beta asked.
"Yeah, that's the one," Delta replied.
Epsilon shook her head and looked out her side window. "I heard of it but never actually seen it, but I know the gist."
"Well, that sums up my story pretty well. Adrenaline junkie turned criminal for the kicks," Delta replied with a laugh.
"Sounds stupid," Beta replied, leaning back in her chair.
"I was stupid," Delta admitted. "First it was street racing. Then a little grand theft auto. Then sticking up corner stores... then banks. Yeah, I was a real addict."
"Was?" Epsilon echoed.
Delta nodded as he drove around a corner. "Yeah. One day, I'm with my crew, and I'm in the car. Simple bank stick up. Credit Union, should be easy. Well, I'm waiting there and pop... pop pop... I'm thinking, is that gun fire? And yep, just seconds later two of my crew come racing out, third nowhere in sight. One is holding his gut, bleedingly like a stuck pig... it was a mess. They dive into the car and yell to gun it. I'm just slamming on the gas when this other fella races out of the place and starts shooting off rounds at us as we take off."
Delta turned slightly to reveal the scar on his left cheek. "That was a close one. Just missed me."
"What happened?" Beta asked.
"Turns out we picked a real bad time. Off duty cop was in there, still armed. Worse, a concealed carry was there too. Turned into a total mess. Our fourth was dead in the bank. The cop is dead too, and an unlucky clerk who died later than night. My other bud who took the stomach shot didn't make it either, bleed out. Royal mess, and they didn't even get anything out of it."
Delta let out a sad chuckle. "And you know how the cops take it when one of their own dies... oh boy. So our boss, only one besides me left standing, is a wreck. Police are circling in on him. One night, gets himself drunk and drives off a cliff. Still don't know if he was just stupid or did it on purpose. Suppose it doesn't matter in the end.
"Me, I got lucky again. Turns out the police thought only 3 people were in on it. Since my bud who was bleeding dove into the back and out of sight, they just figured me and the boss where the two from the bank and never did figure out there was a fourth. So, investigation stopped there and I got off clear... sorta. Did get questioned by one cop and he saw the cut. Sure he was suspicious but nothing was made of it. As soon as I could I split town as it were."
Beta huffed. "You really were dump. You're an accessory to murder."
"Yep," Delta admitted. "You tell yourself the guns are just for show... just to get cooperation, but you go in there with live ammo. If I could go back in time, I'd slug myself, but things are as they are."
Epsilon looked back at him. "You sound like you want out."
Delta smirked. "Maybe, but it isn't happening. I'm in too deep. I've run with all kinds of guys over my... career. Many of them know this same story so they could blab to the cops if they wanted to make my life difficult."
"Perhaps you shouldn't be so eager to tell the tale then," Epsilon chided him, to which he laughed.
"You got a point," he said before looking back. "How about you, Beta?"
"Nothing so interesting," Beta replied. "Got into hacking. Was good at it. Natural even. Then got full of myself and started bragging to all my friends."
Epsilon and Delta both let out muffled laughs. "Yeah," Beta admitted, "stupid, I'll admit it. First you get friends asking you to fix their grades, find those test questions, maybe get them a credit card number. Then you get the friends of friends. Then the acquaintances of friends. Then the guys who just heard your name around... ugh. Before I even know how deep I am I'm in with mobsters and all other sorts, and they don't take no for an answer. Cracking police databases, rigging security systems... I was an idiot!"
"That's an old tale," Delta replied with a nod. "At least you work from behind a computer screen."
"Most the time," Beta replied before turning to Epsilon. "Alright, your turn."
Epsilon sighed but then said simply, "Gambling."
"Ew... I know where this one is going," Delta said with a cringe.
Epsilon let out a single laugh and turned back to her window. "I'm in university and I'm needing money, so I get in with one of those card counting groups. We did a couple runs, nothing too successful, but I always had my eye on the poker tables. I was... REAL good at reading people. I knew who was buffing, what hands they likely had, what kind of stakes they would play... I had these guys pegged. So, I went off on my own.
"I was successful too, but getting decent games in legit surroundings was difficult so I moved to less legit. I kept playing and I kept winning. Like you there, Beta, got real full of myself."
"Since you're here with us, I'm amusing you finally hit a wall?" Beta asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Epsilon admitted sadly. "I hear about this BIG game. Two million buy in, Ten million pot. It's the chance of a lifetime, and I'm pretty much undefeated, so you know I'm in. Only problem, even with all my previous winnings, I'm over a million short of the buy in. My usual backers haven't got that kind of cash, so I went up the chain."
"Big mistake," Delta said.
"Oh yeah," Epsilon admitted once more. "All my previous opponents... nothing compared to these guys. Poker faces like chiseled stone. I stuck it out to the final 3, but..."
"And now they own you," Delta concluded to which Epsilon nodded.
"Can't pay them back?" Beta asked.
"That was... not a realistic option," Epsilon replied as the van turned into a lot. "We here?"
"Yep. If you're going to be riding up front, best you get a company uniform. Come on," Delta said as he exited, followed shortly after by Epsilon.
Beta turned back to her computer and began checking settings and feeds. A few minutes later the back opened up and Delta, now in a company uniform, began loading flats of various vending machine goods.
"Where's Epsilon?"
"Changing," Delta replied.
Beta turned to look at her partner. "So you and I, I understand, but what exactly does Epsilon do for them? I've never heard of them having a big poker presence."
Delta dropped another flat into the back and answered. "She's a high priced call girl."
"Oh... WHAT?" Beta replied in surprise.
"You're right. They have no use for her skill set in poker, but look at her. She's got the looks. Probably used those in her games, but now they make her use them for other purposes," Delta explaining, loading another flat.
"That's... awful!" Beta replied.
"Better than the alternative I'd wager," Delta replied, loading one last flat before closing the door and returning to the driver seat. "Don't get me wrong, she's not out in the streets I'm sure. No, they likely use her for their high rollers. They often use those girls to get info out of them. That seems right up her alley."
"How do you know that?"
"I had to escort more than a few," Delta replied. "Not sure what Gamma wants with her, though. Doesn't seem the sort to be interested in getting laid, although not impossible I suppose."
"Ugh," Beta said before turning back to her computer.
"She probably doesn't want to dwell on it, so I'd suggest just dropping it," Delta cautioned.
"Right," Beta conceded.
Shortly after Epsilon returned, now like Delta dressed in a company uniform and once inside Delta began driving off. "Alright ladies, the place isn't far from here, so get your game faces on. Epsilon, I'll get you to act like a trainee, alright?"
"Sounds fair," Epsilon replied, leaning forward to take a look into the sky. "I think I see it."
"Yeah, it will stand out around here," Beta replied from in back, rubbing her hands together in preparation.
XXXXX
Unknown to Gamma's crew outside, a meeting was just starting in the building in question with all the usual Nerima residents in attendance. While the van appeared on one of the many monitors showing the outside of the building, L paid it no particular mind before moving over to the table to be with the others.
"Thank you for appearing on such short notice," he said as he took a seat in his usual odd way.
"So you've been in contact with Cupid?" Soun asked.
"Yes. Although our exchanges were brief, an unfortunate consequence of our method of communication, we have together come up with a plan of action," L replied
"And what is that?" Ranma asked dubiously.
L smiled slightly before answering, "We're going to provoke this new Cupid. We know our newcomer wishes to take over as Cupid, and has shown hostility to the original. I too am a potential thorn in their side. So, we will respond to Cupid's request, thusly," L said, and turned and clicked a remote in his hand. The monitors at the computer terminal all shifted to a recording and played it with full audio for all to hear. L turned back to them as they watched, examining them all intently as they listened. By the end, several were shifting into various disquieted positions and expressions. "Good enough?"
"I think so," Ranma said with a shake of his head. "You do realize that this is going to tick off Cupid's fan club, right?"
"Oh yes, and it was quite intentional. I will be even providing the various news agencies with this address."
"Are you nuts?!" Ranma asked.
"Not at all. Don't worry, we have made numerous security modifications for exactly this sort of scenario, and the police, while not part of the investigation, will nonetheless serve as crowd control."
"So, what's the end game?" Nabiki asked.
"Assuming the information I have been given is correct, Cupid is of the belief that this new Cupid will be already stressed due to factors involved with this new power. Specifics were unfortunately not given, but together with the provocation I fully expect Cupid to make an appearance in person, although not identifying themselves. As such I will use the equipment here in an effort to find a suspect pool from the gathered crowd."
"Seems like a stretch to me," Nabiki commented. "There is going to be hundreds if not thousands of people."
"Indeed, but I believe this Cupid will stand out, even if they don't intend such. It is a gamble, no doubt, but one I'm willing to take. Beyond that, by issuing such a rebuke of this new Cupid I hope to shake the faith of their followers. After all, they are in love with Cupid as a concept, not this particular version. As such, I hope to divide the movement and stall its progress. If nothing else is accomplished, this alone is worth it."
"If you say so," Ranma replied dubiously.
"It does sound like a bold plan," Kasumi said with a smile.
"Thank you... there is one other matter. You all have come and gone from this place several times. While I feel it is unlikely, you may have been noticed, and it is thus possible you may find yourselves in a measure of danger during the early hours of this incident. As such I would ask that you all join me here, for your own protection."
"And as crowd control should things get out of hand, no doubt," Kodachi said with a smirk.
"That is a fringe benefit, I will concede," L replied. "I believe once things have quieted down the danger should have passed and you will be escorted off the grounds concealed. It is up to you of course. I will not force you to stay."
The various Nerima residents looked at each other in consideration before Cologne took the initiative. "Myself, Shampoo and Mousse will take the offer."
"I... suppose I can stay," Ryoga said.
"You'd probably get lost anyway," Ranma said with a single mocking laugh.
"Shut up, Ranma!"
"What do you think, Saotome?" Soun asked Genma.
Genma crossed his arms and went into thought. "I suppose we don't want to get the dojo caught up in anything, and having everyone together in one secure spot probably would be safer."
"Seriously?" Nabiki complained before sighing. "Even if someone has seen us, who's to say they won't just wreck the house while we're not there."
Soun held his chin. "True... but even if we were there I doubt we could hold off a mob."
"Should any of your residence be damaged due to this incident, I am willing to cover all expenses to have them repaired," L said.
Soun looked to L then nodded. "Then perhaps it is best for us to stay here."
"Just great," Nabiki commented sarcastically. "I'm going to be stuck at ground zero of a riot!"
"It will be fun, Nabiki," Kasumi said with a brimming smile.
"You got a strange idea of fun, Kasumi," Nabiki replied but sighed. "Alright, whatever, not like I got much choice in the matter."
"I too will stay," Kuno declared. "None shall threaten my dear Akane without passing over my fallen body."
Akane rolled her eyes but then shrugged and nodded her agreement.
"Yeah, count me in too," Ranma said.
"What of you, Ukyo darling?" Kodachi asked.
Ukyo, who had been unusually disinterested the whole time simply shrugged. "I guess I should stay too."
"Then so shall I," Kodachi added.
"All of you then?" L asked, getting various positive responses. "Very good. I will have Watari get you some rooms prepared. If you should need anything from your homes, I would fetch them now. The official broadcast will be made tomorrow morning, the day of the deadline. It is best you be here already by that point."
XXXXX
A couple hours later Gamma's crew was on their way back to the apartment complex, their objective complete. Beta remained in back, typing away at her computer to review the images she caught while Epsilon and Delta resumed their places up front, staring out the window and driving respectively.
"This is definitely the place. Cameras on top of cameras covering every angle... multiple times. And look at those shutters! This guy looks ready to repel an army. That's some serious paranoia," Beta said.
"So you're saying we should give the place a wide berth?" Delta said with a smile.
"Very wide," Beta replied.
"Let's hope our little disguise holds up," Delta said before changing topic. "So... what odds do you give us?" he asked quietly.
His shift in tone caused Beta to turn towards the front, confused, but Epsilon was the first to reply. "One in six," she said dispassionately.
"That bad, huh?" Delta replied.
"Odds of what? Getting Cupid?" Beta asked.
"Living through this," Epsilon answered.
Beta went wide eye, staring at Epsilon's back before sharply turning to Delta, but he made no argument. "WHAT?" she finally blurt out. "Waitwaitwait... who is... I don't understand."
Delta sighed. "You are naive, Beta."
"Naive?!" Beta echoed. "Would one of you two explain!"
Epsilon turned from the window and looked back at Beta. "Fine. I figure it like this. Gamma is right, we have three possible outcomes. Cupid wins, L wins, or we win. Let's deal with each of those in turn. If Cupid wins, you can pretty much guarantee we'll be entranced and spilling our guts to the cops, and just like all the others who had that happen to them, our... associates will silence us any way possible. That means certain death."
Beta grew pale at hearing this, but Delta picked up from there. "Then you have L wins, and he might just get Cupid to make us blab too, but even if he doesn't, we're certainly in jail, and very likely to get offed, right?"
"Right," Epsilon agreed.
"But... we can win, right?" Beta asked desperately, looking between the two but got no relief.
Epsilon shook her head, and turned once more to look out the window. "That's probably the most certain path to death. Cupid is far too valuable to our organizations for them to risk. They'll do everything they can to secure that power, and three reluctant members like us... yeah, we're liabilities."
"Yep, they'll find us dead in a ditch within a week, tops," Delta concluded, much to Beta's displeasure.
"Ditch? I figure they'll feed us to pigs," Epsilon retorted.
"Hey, yeah, get rid of the evidence," Delta concurred before Beta nearly exploded in the back.
"Would you two stop joking around! I don't want to be dead in a ditch, or feed to pigs, or anything else!" Beta nearly yelled. She paused a second before switching and asking, her voice shaking. "You... you're joking, right? Right? You're both just playing me."
Delta sighed and pulled over the van before turning around. "I wish I were, but I'm serious."
Epsilon let out a quiet laugh. "So, all these little tales... what do you have in mind, Delta? You didn't bring up the topic just to panic her."
Delta nodded and looked between them before answering. "Look, none of us want to continue this life. We all want out. The way I figure it, we have one serious hope, and that is to get Cupid for ourselves."
"Ourselves?" Beta echoed, calming slightly.
"Yeah. Cupid can erase memories and control people. With that kind of power we can make a real run for it. We use Cupid to clean up everyone who might rat us out or pursue us, and we get off the grid, maybe even bring down those organizations entirely."
Epsilon looked back and nodded. "Might just work."
"Yeah... yeah, yeah!" Beta agreed quickly.
"Good, so you're both on board then?" Delta asked.
Beta eagerly nodded while Epsilon gave a more measured reply, "What have I to lose?"
"Nothing," Delta replied before turning back to the wheel and starting up again. "One thing though. Alpha is right out. I know his type. He's a goon, an enforcer. Wouldn't be surprised if he already had orders to silence us when the time arrives. So, this stays between us three. Got it?"
"Right!" Beta replied.
The rest of the trip to their home base passed in silence, Beta tensely looking at her feet in the back. They parked as usual in the underground parking garage. Delta was the first to get out, pausing to look back in and say, "Remember, between us."
Epsilon and Beta both silently nodded and exited the vehicle. Beta paused at the back and Epsilon joined her. "You okay?" Epsilon asked.
"Not really," Beta replied. "I never-"
"You never should ride in the back like that, gives you motion sickness," Epsilon cut her off to say. Beta blinked then mutely nodded. "Go get a shower and you'll be fine."
"Right, right... yeah, shower," Beta agreed before remembering and handing Epsilon a portable hard drive. "Here, boss will want to see this."
"Got it," Epsilon said, taking the electronic and heading off.
Beta headed off to her room as directed and got a shower to calm her nerves. After about a half hour, she had collected herself and headed into the main apartment to join the others. She found them gathered around the computer save Alpha who was still engaged in a hentai manga. She shook her head at the sight of Alpha before joining the others.
"Good work, Beta," Gamma said as she came over, shoving a handful of jam in his mouth. Epsilon withdrew at the sight, walking off to lean against a wall, but he paid her no mind. "I believe this will be adequate."
"So I take it we won't be storming the joint," Delta said with a smile.
Gamma let himself smile as well. "No, that would be inadvisable. No, a direct confrontation with L on his own terms would net us nothing. I believe... yes, two blocks. Everyone is to consider this building and two blocks around it to be completely off limits unless otherwise directed."
"Gotcha," Delta replied before moving over to the coach and sitting next to Alpha.
Beta eyed Gamma then looked at her keyboard before sighing. "Don't worry, I had Delta do the typing this time," Gamma assured her.
"That is a disgusting habit you have, boss," Delta said plainly.
"I need the energy to think," he replied as he swept the inside of the jam jar he was holding for the remnants and finished it off. Once finished, he lifted the now empty jar to the light with a displeased frown. "And it seems I'm out."
"How much of that stuff do you go through in a day?" Delta complained. "That can't be healthy."
Gamma did not reply, mere looking back at Delta flatly who sighed. "Fine, I'll-"
"No, Alpha, you go fetch some."
"Me?" Alpha asked in surprised, looking up from his manga.
"Yes. Get a whole flat this time."
Alpha growled and dropped his manga to the table. "Fine. I'm taking the car!" he announced as he stood up.
"You do have a driver's license for Japan, right?" Delta asked, but Alpha just huffed. "They drive on the other side over here!" he called out after Alpha as he exited the apartment. Delta laughed and turned to the others. "Bet he gets pulled over."
"He had best not," Gamma said rather darkly as he licked his fingers clean.
The room fell into silence after that, Beta taking up her place at the computer, and Epsilon using Alpha's absence to take a seat at the couch with Delta. However, this didn't last long before Gamma finished the last of his self-cleaning and began to speak. "So... now that he is out of the way for the moment, I think we should clear the air."
"Hmh?" Delta replied.
"After all, I wouldn't want any of you to get the wrong impression and be found... dead in a ditch somewhere."
Beta's typing at the computer sharply stopped, and the blood drained from Delta's face, while Epsilon just looked away.
"You had the van bugged?" Delta asked.
Gamma just smiled. "Don't misunderstand. We have a common interest and need not be enemies," he said as he stood up and began circling the room. "You see, I didn't just choose you for your respective skills, or your low profiles. No. I chose you because of your situations as well. You all have indications of wishing to be free of your current predicaments. I can offer you aid in such."
"Aid?"
Gamma nodded. "I owe your organizations no loyalty. Truly, my only goal here is to defeat L, nothing else. I care not for the money. I care not for the disposition of Cupid. What I care about is victory, and that requires loyalty and cooperation. You all want out, and I can help. You are right, Cupid would be an invaluable asset to making your getaway, and I have no particular inclination to hand Cupid over to your organizations. Give me your loyalty and I can ensure Cupid's power is used appropriately and you all live out your lives as you see fit. I can even offer you some money to make your new lives somewhere, say two million each?"
Epsilon frowned at the amount and turned back. "What about Alpha?"
"I couldn't be too obvious. I had to pick one company man, as it were," Gamma explained. "He can be dealt with."
Delta eyed Gamma with a frown. "Alright, say I'm-"
"I need some proof," Epsilon cut in to say, shifting all attention in the room to her. "Proof of trust. The rumor is you got assigned this little operation because you told them the time a bunch of people were going to die. Is that true?"
"That was real?!" Delta asked in shock, but Gamma ignored him and smiled at Epsilon, stopping his motion around the room and sitting in his chair to look straight at her.
"Yes it is true."
"How?" Epsilon asked with a glare.
Gamma chuckled. "Very well. If it proves trust. I can see it."
"See it?" Beta echoed in confusion.
"As far back as I can remember I can see the names and times of death over every person I see," Gamma explained. "It is strange, I will give you, but true. Your true names are written before me right now. So long as I can see your face clearly I can see your name. As for the time, that I see too although that is encoded. I see a series of odd numbers with your name. Took me years to decipher but they correspond to the exact moment of your death."
"No way!" Delta declared with a shake of his head.
"I believe him," Epsilon countered.
"That's crazy!" Delta replied, looking at Epsilon.
"You heard the rumor too. It's real, I can assure you. How else do you explain it?"
Delta opened his mouth, but came up with nothing and quickly closed it.
"So, you know when people are going to die? But... wouldn't that be constantly changing?" Beta asked.
"No, it is fixed. I have experimented heavily over the years. One particular case I tried nearly everything I could think of to alter the time even by a moment, and nothing. I could not shift it by even a single second," Gamma replied, causing Epsilon to look away.
"Really?" Beta asked. "So when am I going to die?"
"Why would you want to know that?" Epsilon snapped, looking back.
"Think about it. If it can't change at all, you're invulnerable till then."
Gamma laughed. "An interesting thought, but you didn't think it through. It is true you can't die till that moment, but you can do everything short of death."
Beta opened her mouth then hung her head. "Oh right. Yeah, guess that wouldn't be so helpful to know. Forget I asked."
A moment passed in silence before Epsilon asked, "So it is totally unchangeable?"
"Not quite," Gamma admitted. "In fact, that is a bit of an interesting thing about our situation. Till this whole Cupid nonsense started, I was firmly convinced it was fate absolute. Then Cupid came along and rewrote the rules."
"Cupid can change it?" Delta asked to which Gamma nodded.
"Yes. Sometimes by mere seconds, but more often by far longer. It is actually a method I have to detect victim's of Cupid's power, even before they have shown they are affected. It is my hypothesis that Cupid can alter fate itself. Interesting, don't you think?" Gamma asked, looking particularly at Epsilon.
"Quite," Epsilon replied. "You already know though that we'll cooperate. You can see it after all."
Once more Gamma smiled. "I can see when you all will die, yes, and no, those times are not close together. Of course that could mean you still go your own way and succeed, or perhaps I'm lying to you all and I know you'll all die together. Impossible to tell, now, isn't it?"
Delta sighed. "Fine. If you want us to cooperate, I'm in. Don't seem to have much choice."
"Me too," Beta added quickly.
Epsilon merely huffed and gave a slight nod.
"Good, good, good. Then I expect your best efforts."
XXXXX
It was some hours later when Epsilon retired to her room. She was sharing it with Beta, but the computer geek was busying herself with something in the main room leaving the room to Epsilon alone. After a shower she laid back on her bed with a sigh, looking to the ceiling. Just then her cellphone rang.
With a frown she retrieved her purse and pulled out the cellphone and answered, "Gamma, this is Epsilon," she said without prompting.
"So?" came Gamma's voice on the phone.
"We discussed it for a while afterwards but it seems they are on board legitimately. Delta still seems like he's suspicious you're pulling something."
"Then he is smart, although incorrect," Gamma replied. "Very good. About Alpha..."
Epsilon closed her eyes. "First, you were telling the truth? About the time?"
"Yes. The complete truth."
Epsilon pondered this in silence for a moment. "Leave Alpha to me. I'll keep him distracted."
"Good," Gamma replied and unceremoniously hung up.
"Asshole!" Epsilon cursed as she returned the phone to her purse, once more looking at the postcard within. After a moment she withdrew it and looked.
On the back were two names, and two matching dates and times. One was an acquaintance, the date just a few days ago. The car crash was most certainly at that very moment. Epsilon clenched her teeth as she looked at the second name and date, about one year from today. "Damn it... so that's how it is. Fine, I'll do whatever it takes to get this damn Cupid," she said quietly and ripped up the postcard.
She laid back to relax, but after only a minute a knock came at the door, followed by Delta speaking. "Hate to interrupt whatever, but we got something."
Epsilon sighed and replied, "Fine, I'll be there in a minute."
XXXXX
A few minutes later Epsilon joined the others in the main apartment and sat down next to Delta on the couch. "What's up?"
Beta was the one to answer, "I had some programs running on the various local news stations computers, and I got buzz that they're receiving a reply from L. I managed to get us a copy, so we get a preview for tomorrow. Download is almost finished."
"His answer is obvious, isn't it," Delta commented. "Something along the lines of 'thanks but no thanks'."
"Most likely," Gamma agreed. "However, it always is to our benefit to know things ahead of time."
"Done," Beta announced and quickly ran up the video without prompting.
As expected by all, the video started with L's usual scripted moniker as the only thing on screen before the detective in question began speaking is his usual electronically distorted voice.
"I make this message to the one posing as Cupid who recently announced their presence on Cupid's Arrow. I will be rejecting your offer of cooperation for I know you are nothing more than a fraud.
"For those others listening to this message confused by this know I am not saying this individual does not possess the same power. No, their power is identical, but it is just a copy. They have sought to take the name of Cupid as a way to satisfy their own ego, forcing their views upon the people and I cannot let that stand. I know this because I have already been in contact with the true Cupid who has proven their power to me. We are in agreement that this new Cupid cannot be accepted, but I shall leave that for Cupid to confirm for them."
After a brief pause in the speech a new emblem showed up, this time reading Cupid.
"Hello, I am Cupid. I have asked L to record this message to broadcast it in response to the one posing as me," a different electronic voice from the broadcast said. "Listen well, imposter, I do not tolerate those who sully my name. I know your power, and I will find you, and it is YOU who will be made to see the light you so laid claim to. Whether it is by L's hand or mine, you will be brought to justice. I call on all those believers in Cupid to deny this opportunist who would abuse the power given them.
"I have never sought worship, nor would I. I am not a God, and nor is this other one laying claim to the name Cupid. Do not fall for their trickery. That is all."
Once more the script changed back to L's. "While the original Cupid and I still have our disagreements, we will be cooperating in this matter. I have set up a special investigation unit within Tokyo and Cupid has agreed to help me track down and detain this individual. Like Cupid, I encourage all those duped by this imposer to reevaluate their loyalties."
There the broadcast ended, giving everyone pause.
"Well... we got the 'no' part right," Delta jokingly commented.
"That's... not just simply throwing the gauntlet down, that slapping them in the face with it first," Alpha commented.
"Indeed," Gamma agreed. "That is far bolder than I gave L credit for. What is he thinking? And two Cupids? Is there anything more?"
"Ah, hold on," Beta said as she typed away. "Actually, yeah, a text note with the video saying any further inquiries can be directed... ah man, that's the building address. I went through all that effort to find it and he just ups and gives it away to the news stations! What a waste of time!"
"He's painting a bullseye on himself," Gamma commented as he chewed on his nail. "This..."
"There will be a huge protest," Epsilon concluded. "All those people worshipping Cupid, they won't take this lying down. It is calling their faith into question. And I didn't hear any proof this Cupid with L is real, just his assertion that this Cupid is real. It could be a bluff. Yeah... this is going to be a mess."
"Oh yeah, I'm thinking riot. Now those shutters make sense. That place is a literal fortress for just this," Delta replied.
"A riot..." Gamma repeated and began to smile in a very disquieting way. "Yes... yes... thank you L. You have given me an invaluable opportunity."
"Hmh?" Beta murmured in confusion.
"Remember when I said this building was off limits and Delta concluded we would not be 'storming the place.' Scratch that. That is exactly what we will be doing!"
"Oh hell!" Delta said with a sigh.
"I sense an all-nighter ahead," Beta said with her own sigh.
End Chapter 18
And we're all set for a bit of a confrontation.
Gamma, who we already know as BB, for those not familiar with him, is from Another Note, the Los Angeles BB murder cases, so he is a semi-canon Death Note character, but just like I mentioned for Naomi, this is set before that book, so he hasn't quite gone off the deep end yet... relatively speaking.
Alpha, Beta, Delta and Epsilon on the other hand are new characters. I have some basis for them in various other movies and shows but these are only loose inspirations.
