Last time on No Matter What
"I'd like to thank you for your brilliant work in this division. I hope you are able to continue your work; the world needs more police officers like you."
It was a good thing Sunny had not turned around, for now her eyes were wide and brimming with tears. She didn't sob, nor did she make any sort of noise. She stood there, still and silent.
When she spoke at last, she angled her head slightly in the Chief's direction. Her voice wavered as she said, "Thank you, Chief."
She turned the door knob and was out before the Chief could reply, leaving him to wonder about the flash of silver he'd seen on her cheek.
Sunny walked quickly down the street, the lapels of her coat turned up high. She stared at the sidewalk while trying to hide her red-rimmed hazel eyes, so she didn't notice the other person until it was too late.
OOF! Sunny flailed, finally falling to the sidewalk. Her hands scraped the rough pavement, and she hissed at the unexpected jolt of pain.
"Ow..."
"Oh my, are you okay?" Sunny looked up. She squinted against the sunlight as she tried to make out the dark figure towering over her. Her eyes finally focused, and she saw a familiar pale face underneath a head of picture-perfect black hair.
"Naomi?"
Naomi took a step back, almost jostling the crowd around them, and eyed Sunny warily. "How do you know me?"
Sunny stood up slowly, brushing her knees. "Naomi, it's me, Sophie!"
Naomi's dark eyes narrowed, and she assessed Sunny before finally smiling tentatively. "Sophie?"
Sunny smiled back. "Yes, it's me. Nice to see you again, Naomi!"
LOCATION: IN THE CONDO
TIME: 10:00 AM DEC 23, 2003
L clicked to the next file and studied it, worrying his thumb with his teeth. These files were the first of the weekly reports L had asked for from the FBI agents. So far, everything seemed to be in order...
Oh? What's this? L leaned in imperceptibly closer, eyes narrowing as he read the information on the last day in the file.
Apparently, one of the families had a son who went on a date on December 20th. It started off quite normally, until the hijacker showed up. Kiichiro Osoreda, a drug addict, had attempted to take over the bus in which the agent, son, and his date were in. In order to stop the son from trying to save the whole bus, the agent had to pull rank and prove that he was an FBI agent.
L's thumb dropped out of his mouth in shock. He read over the last paragraph again to make sure he hadn't been hallucinating from lack of sugar (in fact, he should probably go get some candy, he'd only had the one lollipop...).
But no, it was still there. L sat back on his heels and mused about the ramifications of such an action. On one hand, it seemed the action had been necessary to save the young man's life; on the other hand, the agent's cover had been blown.
L quickly read the rest of the report, biting harder and harder on his thumb in shock. Apparently the agent had revealed himself to the son of the family he'd been following! L scrolled up to the top of the report to read the agent's name. Raye Penber... hm. He'd have to pull him out as quickly as possible.
L glanced at the family the agent was tailing. He noted the surname with interest.
Yagami... hm.
LOCATION: AT A CAFE
TIME: 10:30 AM DEC 23, 2003
The two ladies selected a table by the window, and they sat down with their drinks and pastries, letting the pale sunlight wash over them. The boy was just finishing up sweeping near their table, and he stopped for a second just to watch them.
They were rather unusual. One of them had raven hair and eyes that went beautifully with her snowy skin. She was the picture of composure, a true Japanese beauty.
In contrast, her friend had blonde hair, creamy skin flushed with the cold, and wide set hazel eyes. She had a more relaxed aura, and her smile was wide and amiable.
In short, the two women were as different as night and day, and yet they seemed to share a comradeship the young student could not understand.
Feeling curious, and just a bit bold, he started sweeping closer to them, trying to make his advance subtle. When he had reached a table two booths from where they were sitting, he could just make out some snatches of conversation.
"...Work with him?"
"Yes... always have. Assistant..."
"Why... me... help?"
"...Need you..."
"...Retired... getting married..."
At this, one of the women, probably the blonde, gasped in surprise. Her voice was definitely higher when she demanded, "Who?"
"...Raye..."
"Raye?!" A disbelieving laugh. "The one who practically worshipped you?"
A defensive "He's sweet!" is given in response.
"Alright! I'm guessing he's the reason you retired?"
Silence.
"He is, isn't he?" came softly, so softly he has to strain his ears to hear it.
"...yes."
"Oh Naomi-"
"It's fine Sophie. I've made my choice."
"That doesn't mean you have to give up who you are. You love your work Naomi!"
"Loved. I loved my work Sophie. I'm done; I'm getting married."
"Naomi, please. We need your help," a rustle of fabric, and the boy looked up to see the blonde (Sophie?) covering her friend's (Naomi?) hand with her own, "I need your help."
Silence. The minutes passed as the boy saw the woman, no, Naomi, contemplate. Suddenly, her coal dark eyes ended up on him, and he nearly dropped his broom in shock.
"Huh? Naomi? Who are you-oh." The blonde turned around, and she blinked in surprise. Then she grinned, and said,
"Hello there! Were we talking too loudly?"
The boy gulped. There is something off about her question. Though said sweetly, there is an undertone to it that suggested that whatever he answers will not end up well for him. "Uh, I... I-"
Her grin turned apologetic, but this time he knows it's fake. "I'm so sorry! My friend and I have a tendency of talking really loudly whenever we get excited. Since we seem to be disturbing you, we should probably leave."
The boy's eyes widen. "Um no! It's... it's not necessary-"
"Nonsense! We're keeping you from your work! Besides, we were about to leave anyways. Right, Naomi?"
Naomi keeps her cold and wary gaze straight on the boy's face as she answers, "Yes. I do believe we should be going."
"Alright then! Gochisōsama deshita! We'll be on our way now!"
As the boy stood there, uncertain of what to do, the women efficiently gathered their bags and swiftly walked away with nary a word to say. He stood there in that same spot and watched as they pused the door open and walked out into the cold morning sun.
LOCATION: OUTSIDE THE CAFÉ
TIME: 10:45 AM DEC 23, 2003
"So this is where we part?"
"Yes. Keep in touch, alright?"
"... Alright. I'll tell you if I find anything important."
"... Thank you, Naomi."
"No problem."
LOCATION: IN THE CONDO
TIME: 11:15 AM DEC 23, 2003
L was rummaging around in the kitchen (now where did Watari put his beloved cookies?) when he heard the sound of the door being unlocked. He froze as the door opened, and the person walked in. Judging by the high pitched sigh and the footsteps... well. It had to be Sunny.
What should he do? In his current position (left leg bent at a right angle on the counter, standing on the tiptoes of his right foot on a wobbly stool trying to desperately balance himself) it would be exceedingly difficult to get down and back to his room without alerting Sunny to his presence. And he was pretty sure Sunny didn't want to see him right now, hilarious position or not.
And so it was that Sunny walked in on the ever elusive L trying to balance himself on a shaky stool. For a moment they just stared at each other in silence. That is, until Sunny broke the silence by asking,
"What in the world are you trying to do?"
L's face was blanker than a space, but he groaned internally. There was no good way out of this situation was there? Perhaps if he-
"Well?" Sunny said with a hint of a quiver in her voice.
Oh no. This situation had the potential to be catastrophic. And from the quiver in Sunny's voice (would she cry?), it would turn so really quickly.
He moved his left hand to clear his throat, letting go of the cabinet door...
...And promptly fell on his bum, with the wooden stool clattered at his feet.
There was a moment of dumbfounded silence, as both Sunny and L regarded the situation. And then Sunny lowered her head and her shoulders started to shake. L's eyes widened minutely, and his brain turned into a complete train wreck. Shit, he thought, she's not... please tell me she's not...
And then the tense bubble burst, and Sunny's unrestrained laugh rolled through the kitchen. It bounced off the walls as she doubled over and clutched her stomach, unable to stop. L huffed out a sigh of mixed annoyance and relief and leaned back on his palms with a soft smile on his lips.
Eventually, Sunny stopped laughing with a great sigh. Slowly, she wiped the tears from her eyes and stared down at L with a wide grin on her lips. L stared back with that same soft smile. The silence that enveloped them now was comforting and tentatively hopeful.
Perhaps we can work this out, L thought, perhaps it isn't so difficult after all.
AN: Hey everybody! RaFa-chan here! I am so sorry that this is all I have after nearly a year; I honestly wanted to give you guys a bigger chapter after such a long and unexplained hiatus, but it just would not work. After my last update, life just went crazy. I had a little time where I could write snatches of the chapter, but not a lot of it at once. This sorely impacted the flow of the piece, and I had go back and redo some scenes where the flow felt choppy.
I'm not gonna lie; I don't know when the next update will be. School is going to be crazy next year (more than usual). Please know though that I will not give up on this story until it is finished. I genuinely like where I'm going with this, and I love playing around with different characters and seeing how they would react. I might have to watch some of the anime again (it's been a long time since I've watched it). It might take a year until the next update (dear God and everything that is holy, I hope not!), but I will finish this story.
Bye for now!
RaFa-chan.
P.S. Shoutout to Oito Y for Sunny's character appearance! Thanks Oito Y!