As soon as you had arrived at your grandmother's house, she had requested to speak with you. Wondering what she could have wanted, you followed her to stand just inside her door. The way she bid farewell to them all, especially Light, made you realise that it must have been about the notebook. 'Oh! That's it! I can't believe I completely forgot! Grandma was going to tell me about what she saw yesterday.'
"Yes?" you asked, impatient with anticipation.
"Yagami Light…I don't trust him, Ren-chan. When he held that book, I swear I saw him smile…I know he's your friend, but you don't know that book. I only know what Higuchi told me about it, but that book has the power to change an ordinary person into a mass murderer," she said, speaking softly and quickly.
Her eyes darted around, as though she was expecting an attack of some kind. "You think…the note will change Light-kun if he holds it for too long?"
She frowned at your question. "Possibly…but it seemed more like it was something returning rather than just arriving…"
"Returning? Wait, what do you mean?" you asked, feeling confused and anxious.
"Ahiru-chan, will you be much longer? The others are restless to return," Watari's voice inquired from just outside the doorway.
You nearly jumped in surprise, and your eyes narrowed as you considered that he had been standing there for the whole time. Turning with a smile on your face, you informed him that you would not be much longer. "Grandma, I'm sorry, but can we finish this talk tomorrow maybe?" you queried, apologetically.
She nodded warily, obviously thinking the same thing about Watari. "Just be careful. You can never know who to trust."
"I know," you said, your voice sounding more serious than you expected.
"Good night, Ahiru-chan," she said, pulling you into a hug which you quickly returned.
"Good night, Grandma," you returned, "Make sure you call me if you're ever in any trouble."
You caught the words 'you too' before the door was closed. Walking back to the car, you saw that Watari and L were speaking through the front window of the vehicle. You sucked in breath through your teeth, knowing exactly what they were talking about. Climbing into your seat, you grinned and announced, "Let's go home."
"Did you have a good day?" Yagami asked as soon as you trudged through the door.
In response, you nodded happily, Light briefly inclined his head, Misa replied that it had been the most fun she ever remembered having, and L didn't even register the words and kept walking. You glanced at L, nervous about what was on his mind. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at you. "Ahiru-chan, would you mind if we had a talk?"
"Sure, it's no problem," you answered, suddenly feeling sick.
'It could just be nothing, or even about that kiss…but I know nothing in this hotel is ever that easy. The way Watari and L were talking before, it's almost certainly about the things my grandma said…'
Mind starting to drift, you barely noticed that you were being led by L to the room where you normally spoke about important things. 'And why did he kiss me anyway? Was it a spur of the moment thing that he regrets now? Or was it planned and thought out?'
You sighed, knowing that even asking him straight out wouldn't guarantee a truthful answer. 'I'll just have to wait and see…'
"Ahiru-chan. I'll start with the information that was given to me by Watari. Your grandmother is clearly suspicious of Light-kun on the basis that his character changed whilst holding the notebook. Do you support this theory?"
'Well…he definitely doesn't have a problem being blunt. Well, two can play that game.'
"I do not have enough information."
"You do not wish to make a decision without sufficient inquiries and research?" he questioned, seemingly intrigued.
"Yes."
He looked as though he was slightly thrown off by your answers, as though he had expected you to give him some miracle theory, but continued nonetheless. "I will not act on this information, but I will take steps to discover the truth on this matter. Now secondly, Ahiru-chan…I must request that you leave the investigation."
You reacted as though you had been physically slapped across the face. "What? Leave? When we're so close? You have got to be kidding me!" you hissed, eyes narrowing to mere slits.
This was definitely not what you expected. You had expected him to ask you about some other theory he had formed in his mind, not ask you to leave your home and your friends. "I no longer believe that your presence is necessary," he said, his face kept carefully blank.
"Necessary? How am I no longer necessary?" you asked, deciding to throw aside your intense rage and act impassively for the purposes of your inquiry.
"I commissioned you for the construction of a wrist computer, you were later asked to aid in the investigation into Kira. I am under the impression that you will finish this computer within a few hours, and this investigation no longer requires your…skills."
Clenching your hands, you barely resisted the urge to punch him square in the face. "So what? Once you've gotten what you want, I'm no longer useful? Fine. I'll leave if that's what you really want," you said, voice becoming dangerously cold.
He only nodded, as though he couldn't think of anything else to say. Spinning around to exit the room, you were nearly gone from sight when he told you to stop. Freezing, you looked over your shoulder to see that he hadn't moved. "Ahiru-chan. I would like to formally extend my gratitude for your work on this case. I would also like to request that you no longer have any contact with any members of the investigation. You will be dead to them."
Restraining your anger, you said, "Of course. Anything else, overlord of the universe?"
Glancing at you, he added, "I will continue to fund the charity. I have set it up so that it will continue for 5 years after my death. That should be sufficient time for you to acquire a new sponsor….and one last thing before you leave, if you ever need to contact me…just look."
A tirade of emotions running through you, you nodded once more before leaving the silent detective alone in the room.
Not speaking to anyone, you worked at your desk, impatient to finish the wrist device. You didn't even notice as L entered the room and sat down at his computer, earning a glance from Light. "Light-kun, please give me your wrist," the detective requested, holding out a hand.
Complying, L gently took his wrist and wrapped the beaten metal cuff around, waiting to hear a small click before releasing him. The tense atmosphere swallowed the room and all, excluding you and L, glanced at each other with concerned glances. Time passed and you exhaled wearily. You had spent the whole day excited and happy, only to come back and feel exhausted and defeated. 'I hope you're happy, L…'
Finally setting down the computer, any other day you would have stood up and cheered for joy. Today, you rose, stalked over and set the finished wrist computer on the desk next to L. Deciding that you no longer wanted to be in the room, you walked to the door. Hearing L's voice, you paused. "Everyone, I have an announcement. Ahiru-chan is leaving us."
"What, Ryuuzaki? Leaving when?" Yagami asked, surprise written all over his face.
"Now," L replied, making sure you couldn't answer.
Glaring at the back of his head, you turned to them all and smiled the best you could under the circumstances. "That's right. I'm leaving today, I know it's rather sudden but I only just found out. Goodbye everyone, it's been an honour working with you all. And I'm sure Ryuuzaki will tell you why I'm leaving…"
'When he thinks of it,' you added mentally.
Taking one last look at the room and the investigators, you left to pack before anyone could question you.
"So you're really going?" a worried Matsuda asked, standing in your doorway.
"Yeah, I'm going."
"But why? You're still needed here…"
"Yeah. Well, Ryuuzaki obviously doesn't think so as he's the one who wants me gone…" you said, feeling a pain in your chest as you spoke those hurtful words.
Matsuda frowned, "That's odd…I got the impression that the only person he really wanted to stay here, apart from Light-kun, was you."
"You thought that too, hey?" you whispered, pulling out a suitcase to begin packing.
Silence engulfed the two of you, Matsuda quietly watching as you raided your room to fit everything in your bags. "Well, at least give me your phone number before you go," he said, his comment making you give him a disbelieving stare.
"No! I meant…just as friends. I know the last thing you probably want right now is a relationship," the young policeman explained, rubbing the nape of his neck.
You stared down at your full suitcase. 'The last thing I want…?'
Looking up to see him, you smiled. Through this entire time, Matsuda had supported you and given you advice whenever you needed it. "Sure. I'll give you my number."
Shocked, Matsuda fumbled for a piece of paper and a pen and you wrote it down for him. "Don't be afraid to give me a call," you grinned, feeling closer to him than any other investigator at the moment.
Picking up your bag, you carried it to the door, and quickly glanced around the room to make sure you hadn't forgotten anything. Seeing that you hadn't, you closed the door in an act of closure. Matsuda walked you to the front entrance of the hotel where a taxi was waiting, and you were quickly grasped into his arms as you bid farewell. "It's okay, I'm sure we'll meet again…"
"Yeah…" he said, his voice coarse with emotion, "I'll make sure of it."
Placing your bags in the trunk, you slid into the back seat and looked out the window. You waved at Matsuda as you pulled away from the curb, and gazing up at the empty-looking building, your eyes locked with a man standing at the window on the second floor. The man had pale skin and dark hair, and as the cab drove out of sight, you swear you saw a sad smile on his face as he waved goodbye.