Chapter 22: A Week's Plan
"Why are you staring at me? Are you annoyed that I am the only one who has cake?"
-L-
The time had come to deal with Akane and her annoying little new boy toy, Hideki Ryuga. Kira smiled as he looked over the photos that had been taken of the two from afar. She seemed happy. A part of him enjoyed seeing her small and another was jealous that she would smile at an another man like that. It wasn't often that he would regret, but this he did regret. Maybe she would of understood if he had shared everything with her, but maybe not with her suffering the way he knew she was even with this man who seemed to dull the pain.
He flipped another picture to one that seemed she was about to cry. Ryuga was there too. It was a picture from her day at the fair and she had heard of he father's heart attack. It was a unfortunate situation for her and himself, but he pushed the thought from his mind. His human heart was getting in the way again as he flipped to the next picture. It was of her smiling again as she left an exclusive desert restaurant that was invite only. She seemed happy in this and their was a change in those eyes. A softness he had rarely even seen and that smile was amazing. However, it wasn't for him.
He wonder how that smiling face would change once she knew who he was. Everything for her was about to be turned upside down yet again by him. It was more thrilling than anything else he had done thus far. Perhaps he would enjoy it even more if he made her watch as he strangled Ryuga with his own bare hands. What sort of face would she make if she had to watch the light disappear from his eyes? The very thought exited him more than anything else in his life.
….
Summer had arrived and that meant Akane had so much more time on her hands to work with the task force. It had been three months since Miguel had told them about his mother and that father of his. To be perfectly honest she regretted saying what she did. She had been so stressed lately and she took it out on him. It wasn't like her to snap at people like that and she usually kept her tongue under a tight leash.
She had several of her 'followers' cover for her over the summer so she was now officially staying at the headquarters for the most part. It was actually nice to have a small place all to herself. Sure it wasn't exactly hers, but she never stayed anywhere alone like this. However she didn't like the lonely feeling of being all by herself and could be the normal homesickness talking on that front. Though, it was a bit too quiet for her taste as she currently ate her breakfast that morning. It perhaps bothered her because of that emptiness left behind... as if a part of her was missing in this room.
Having enough with the silence, Akane stopped what she was doing and grabbed a remote and turned it on letting the gentle Japanese flute fill the air along with the sound of flowing water and the sweet sounds of a shamisen and biwa that followed. It's soft notes filled the room in a relaxing manner as she placed the remote down and began to eat her breakfast once more. It was rather peaceful now and after her meal she plan to go straight to work. She also knew next week was to be another date with L and sort of a vacation for the two of them. They where planning to go to the beach in Okinawa a popular place to go for ones breaks from school. There would be quiet of few students she knew there and hopefully clues as to who was hunting them.
Kira still had remained silent. As far as anyone knew he had not made a single play against them in a while and yet it worried her the most. The mere thought of his plans sent a shiver down her spine. Akane had never had a reason to be afraid like this before, but she was afraid of this monster. He was like an alpha lion stalking his pray while having his goons push the prey into a corner for him to finish off.
Even after three months and over a thousand work hours later there still was no clue as to who this Kira was. They had gone through ever case at least a dozen times and filtered them through ever possible scenario. There was just to many variables and it was driving them all a bit stir crazy. How where they going to catch him? It nearly seemed impossible or so she thought, but another had other plans.
….
L's face was pale as he sat at his desk in his room and the computer's eerie glow illuminated his face making he look ever more ominous. His face was paler than it had ever been before as he looked over his screen and he look like he was going to be sick or had just seen a ghost. This person had to be Kira. There was no one else... there couldn't be, but how could he of missed this? However he knew he could not share this information. Not until her was absolutely sure. There was so much going on and Akane wasn't at her best lately either. This wouldn't be the best time to tell her something like that.
"Am I right, Donovan?" L asked in a whispered as if someone was listening in and he didn't want to share.
"Yes, you are correct, sir L. I tell you this because I don't want you to tell her. We both know she can't handle this yet. Maybe she never can." Donovan said sadly. It is fortuitousness that we will not have a choice in the future... if things continue on this course.
"I can not share this with the others yet either. It's to likely that one of them would tell her." L said depressed. He had figured out who was Kira and yet he couldn't feel happy about it. In fact he was depressed he had missed it for so long. That one clue that had been plaguing his mind for months finally had been found and he hated the answer.
"No, but you can track him down... in private," Donovan said with a smirk that caused L to give a slight smile himself.
"That is very true, Donovan," L told the creature before him with a steady gaze. Dealing with a both human and mythological creatures had put a strain on him. It make him wonder how many old legends where true now that he knew Shinigami existed, but it was something that's answer could come later for this case was more important.
….
"Tenshi you there?" A knock came to her door.
Akane sighed, So much for the peace and quite, She thought to herself as she stood and quickly placed her, Mask, glasses, and decided to put on a navy hoodie to hide her hair. After zipper up her jacket she opened the door, "What the hell do you want?" She demanded even with her distorted her voice she sounded annoyed.
"What did I ruin the princess's morning?" He asked sarcastically.
"Yes in fact you did, toad. It was such a nice morning too." Akane told him.
"So cold as usual I see. Oh how you wound me."
"How about I actually wound you if you don't tell me what you want?" She replied with venom in her voice. She still didn't like this fool. Maybe it was because he reminder her of herself. Always putting up a false front with inside that wasn't you, but you've put up such walls you barely recognized yourself when you looked in the mirror.
"Boss man wants to talk about Okinawa in his room and I see you still hate me, right?" Miguel asked.
"Do I?" Akane asked him.
"Yeah. Thought I don't see why. I'm a charming guy." He informed her.
"Toads aren't charming at all." She said.
"Always so hateful. Anyway said what I had to, see ya." Miguel turned on his heels and walked away without looking back.
Hateful? No, pathetic would have been a better word, Akane thought as she rolled her eyes and shut the door and went straight to her closet and picked out a navy suit, matching tie, leather gloves, and a white shirt. When she dressed as herself she stuck with reds, purples, and black, but as Tenshi she chose blues, browns, and white and always business suits if she could help it. Akane wanted them as different as possible as to hide who she was under the mask. Things would only get more complicated if her peers knew who she really was.
….
Dressed she headed down stairs after a quick one over to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. L was waiting for her in his room. A room she had yet to enter. They always had their little private meetings, but this was a first and she couldn't tell why it made her so nervous, She knocked on the door and waited for s response.
"It's unlocked," L's voice called.
Akane entered to find Naomi, L, and even Watari waiting for her. "Morning, Akane, How did you sleep?"
"Fine, but Miguel ruined my morning," Akane said after taking off her mask as she shut the door.
"Would you like some tea?" L asked a tea cup and tiny plate in his hand as he held it toward her.
"Yes, thank you," She said as she sat down next to him and he placed two sugar cubes in her tea cup. Then he handed her a spoon. Akane smiled as she took the spoon and mixed her tea. Seems I'm not the only one paying attention to the other, She thought to herself. Something about that made her happy to know that. Even with all that she had to face she knew that she could rely on one person and that person was L.
She looked up at him his beautiful dark sliver eyes under that messy black bedhead hair of his. Akane couldn't help but wonder when she had put so much faith in him. She had never placed this much into Satoru, but she felt she could place that in L. Seems all the time they had spent together had made him important to her. She care for him, but yet she yet to know how much she cared about him.
"So what is on the agenda today?" Akane asked before taking a sip of tea. If anything Watari always made the best tea she had ever tasted. Sure she had many types of teas and this green tea was likely the same stocked in her room. He must of brewed it differently. Auntie said it's all in the brewing that changes the taste, whither for the better or the worse. Thought I'm unsure of her exact words. I was very young at the time, Akane thought to herself. Maybe I'll ask how Watari makes the tea later. It's really good.
"I wanted to discuss what we are going to be doing in Okinawa while we are there for the week." L told her a moment later interrupting her thoughts on the tea.
"My friend Hanami Kyoko has an estate on the beach. She has invited us and several others from our College to stay for the week. The beach is usual private, but knowing her their will be a party this weekend likely Saturday." Akane told them. "Miguel will be there, of course, Hanami wants to sleep with him to say it bluntly. Either way it's a good opportunity to appear as a couple."
"Yes, I'm still concerned about that." L informed her. "Kira has yet to act on it. Perhaps he doesn't believe we are a serious couple."
"I'd have to agree. Unless he has already figured out that you are L and that he would never learn your name by any usual methods or of course he thinks you are another investigator like 'Tenshi'. What do you propose we do?"
"I've yet to determine that," L said. "What do you think on that?"
"Hmm..." she mutter thoughtfully, "well according to several of my peers at the school say do not appear 'intimated' like most young couples are. As in hand holding, public affection, and cuddling that sort of thing. I don't see how any of that matters I don't like public affection in the first place."
L merely nodded and seemed rather uncomfortable about the idea of public affection as well.
"I remember Miguel saying something about couples sharing rooms too," Naomi said.
Akane's eyes widen a faction, this was the first time she heard about this. "What? Are you sure about that?"
"Yeah he said he only got the news this morning. Did you get a text?"
"Actually I haven't checked my normal phone yet. Do you mind Ryuzaki?" Akane asked.
"No, go ahead," He told her.
Without a moment's hesitation she flipped open her phone and looked to find several messages from Hanami. They read:
"Hey, Akane just letting you know that you and your weirdly handsome Ryuga will be sharing a room."
"Sorry, but there are more people that I originally plan coming with us. That is okay right? You and Ryuga been going out for months now so you two are at 'that' stage right?"
"Is it going to be a problem? Text me when you get a chance."
Akane couldn't help but to roll her eyes as she read the message. She sound sincere, but Akane knew better. Hanami wanted to know if L and Akane had sex yet. What a nosy women, Akane thought to herself. It's not going to be a bad thing sharing a room right? We are both adults after all. I don't really see a problem with that. Though the idea of sharing a bed did make her nervous even if she pretended that it did not.
"So is it true?" Naomi asked.
"Yes, she invited more than she was planing to. I'll reply to her after this meeting." Akane said closing the phone. Then she gave a mischievous smirk about something, "Oh, and she wants to know if we had sex yet, Ryuzaki."
L spit out his tea in surprise, "What?! Why would she want to know that?"
Yep, that was the reaction she wanted. A flustered L was an adorable L, but she had never seen his face turn that shade of red before. She liked it and it took everything she had not to laugh. "It's a nosy girl thing."
EDITED!