Title: Trials of an Analytic Cure

Summary: Imagine that your next breath is your last. Imagine that your next move could save your life, or end another. Don't lose focus. And don't trust anyone. There are no friends here, and allies are only temporary.

Disclaimer: Idea is far from original and I have no ownership ties to DN.

Author's Note: Some interesting stuff here, but the action starts next chapter! (Also, I'm proud to say that this chapter clears 2k words!)

ALSO, let it be known that I am (most likely) the first person to ever describe Mello's eyes as Feywood Blue and Matt's as Golmore Green. (Both are references to my fav RPG. The Feywood is a mist-strewn place known for heavy fog, foul creatures, and distracting mirages. Golmore Jungle is a dimly lit jungle occupied by venomous plants, panthers, fierce hellhounds, and two dinosaurs (There's also an optional boss known as the Elder Wyrm). Both are great locations in the game, and I thought to use their names for adjectives. Feywood Blue and Golmore Green just sound good to me.)

Enjoy.

...


CURE TWO


Realizing that someone was missing, the seven occupants in the living room all looked about with concern; a feeling of dread could only harmonize the ragtag group of individuals. But where emotion compromises, rationality cuts a path of absolution.

"This is statistically unpleasant. If the notes we've received hold any verdict, seven of us will be dispatched within three days, and the remaining person will be free to go. I have no fondness for the position we're in by not yet finding the eighth person." L's words, concise, as expected from the would-be detective.

And then there came the shriek of the up-and-coming model. "Misa's scared!"

As if on cue, a suave brunette male walked in, holding up his own note. "I suppose this is the meeting room?" He smiled charmingly when everyone's gazes met his own. "Light Yagami," he introduced. "Now, before everyone panics or anything gets out of hand, we need to tackle this rationally. Does anyone know how we all got here?"

"Oh, Misa remembers watching a movie like this once! The killer is always the best friend!"

Mello sneered at the blonde female. "This isn't a movie, and no one's dead yet!"

"Calm down, there's no need to fight," reasoned Mikami.

"Of course not," added Takada. "No one needs to die. Now, what about the windows..."

"No good," L said simply. "Every door is barred from the outside, as are the windows. As far as I can see, there are no visible signs of life, no landmarks, nothing of value to be seen."

"I propose we split into teams and prepare for the worst," Near said, getting to his feet and patting his clothes to rid himself of imaginary filth.

Light took on a thoughtful expression. "Anyone know what's going on with these?" He gestured to the contraption on his wrist.

L shrugged. "I've examined it, but it seems fairly difficult to remove."

It was then that the redhead known as Matt timidly spoke. "I think I know what they are... to an extent without proper examination. They appear to be some sort of monitor, but they also emit a pulse of their own. Theoretically, if the frequency was high enough, it could send one of us into shock... or worse. Depending on the intent of our captors, it could either be harmless or really bad."

Glances of various states of emotion were shared as a heavy silence began to loom. The very air they breathed seemed to thicken.

Then L spoke, cutting the tension with an easy expulsion of common sense. "The idea of splitting into teams might not be such a bad idea, but not for the sake of violence. We should do some thorough exploring, see if we can find a phone to call for help. See if anyone else might be present. See if there might be another way out. Or, at the very least, we should look for necessities. Though they're likely to be limited, I'd like to take inventory of what supplies are available."

"I agree with you, L," chimed in Light, who received a reproving look from his fellow occupants.

"How did you know his name was L?" asked Mikami with a skeptic brow raised.

Light shrugged off any implication and answered "I listened in on your little meet-and-greet. Forgive me, but if one of you had been armed and dangerous, I wasn't about to blindly jump in the line of fire. Now... how should we go about picking teams?"

"Like gym class," Mello said instantly. "We vote on team captains, and the team captains take turns selecting their mates."

Near, who'd been mostly silent and rather emotionless, frowned deeply. "I'm afraid I'd be picked last, yet I assure you I am a valuable asset."

"Shut it, pj-boy," Mello said, annoyed of the younger boy's voice, let alone his presence. "I thought of it, so I should be one of the team captains. Any objections?"

Three hands shot in the air, those hands belonging to L, Mikami, and Misa.

"What's the fuckin' deal?!" Mello cursed, clenching his hands into fists, digging his nails into his palms.

Misa waved her arm, hand still raised like a nerdy front-row student determined to get and hold the teacher's attention. "Misa thinks that if anyone blonde gets to be team captain, it should be she!"

Once the blonde concluded, Mikami stepped in, arms folded. "You're a petulant child, Mello. You can't be expected to make well-informed decisions."

And then came L's reasoning. "Because of the numbers."

Hearing this, Takada gasped. "The numbers! I forgot about that! In the infamous HLiS-C murder cases, everyone who was abducted had a note with a number ranging between 1 and 8 left at their homestead! Oh, but we have no way of knowing our numbers..."

L brought a thumb to his mouth and chewed a bit at his nail. "Hn, it was never publicized, but each of the corpses had numbers drawn on their backs with acrylic paint... I'm willing to bet that the numbers correspond with the ones that were left on paper at their homes. If that is indeed the case, we very well may have been marked, possibly for our teams to be decided. After all, the list of Rules we were given does say 'separated into designated teams.' The questions are, what are our numbers, and how are we meant to be split up."

Mello shrugged and grabbed the zipper of his vest between his index finger and thumb before slowly pulling it down, making a sensual reveal of the flesh beneath. "Shirts off, gentlemen." Baring his flesh and turning his back to them, a large blue number 2 greeted the eyes of his onlookers.

Mikami thinned his lips into a firm line to show his distaste before resigning and saying "As much as I dislike the idea, the temporary removal of our shirts is inevitable. Out of courtesy for the fairer sex, I suggest that the females visit another room to-"

And Misa was not only topless, but bra-less as well; her perky breasts bounced as she hopped in place and asked "Oh, what number is Misa? Such a fun and naughty game this is!" A flirtatious giggle followed as she coyly folded her arms over her breasts in faux-shyness and turned her back to them.

"That makes Misa number 4," Light stated matter-of-factually. "Who's next? Or shall we do this without really taking turns? Also, are we pairing numbers 1-4 and 5-8? Or-"

"No," L interjected plainly. "I believe evens and odds will do for this. In the off chance that the numbers coincide with some sort of 'ranking system,' the numbers 1-4 very well may have a significant advantage over 5-8, and if that is the case, pairing evens and odds will level the playing field."

"Misa's mind is blown!"

"Doesn't take much to do that, does it?" Mello whispered in Matt's general direction.

In turn, Matt pursed his lips to keep from commenting, though his body shook as though holding back laughter.

"I suppose I'll reveal my number next," Light said in a tone that suggested he'd rather hurry the event along. He slipped out of his blazer, folded it and neatly sat it aside before unbuttoning his shirt, removing the fine material and draping it precariously over his angled forearm before turning to show off his own back.

"7," Takada announced, her eyes lustfully tracing the brunette's contours; she blushed and turned away as he began to re-dress. "I'll show my number next, but please don't ogle." She feigned innocence but the heated glance she spared Light spoke volumes of poison. Turning away, she bared herself in a manner that she hoped was suggestive and appealing, inwardly hissing when Near spoke before she'd even fully removed her shirt.

And the little albino's words were: "It's a 6, Kiyomi Takada. I'll thank you to trouble us no further with that display."

Takada scowled and fixed her clothes, snubbing her nose and stepping back to show that she was indeed offended.

Mello's brows knitted together as something seemed to register. "If evens are pairing together, and odds are pairing together... then so far, that puts me with Misa and Takada. How is this fair?" He balked, stomach churning and and mind reeling at the obvious incompetence of his team in the making. When no one showed any sign of sympathy for the blonde youth (unless you count a brief apologetic shrug from the redhead), he sighed and grumbled "My last teammate better kick ass."

Mikami was next to reveal his number. Cold and collected, showing no emotional attachment, he treated his clothing removal like a business meeting. He was sure with his movements and confident in his unveiling as the number 5 came into view of his companions. "Number 5 puts me with Light."

Takada glared heatedly at Mikami, as if jealous for whatever reason, though if anyone noticed, they certainly refrained from showing any reaction.

L casually came next, pulling his shirt up over his head and allowing everyone else to see.

"FUCKING 8!" Mello cheered louder than necessary, grinning victoriously. "You fuckin' hoes better watch it. I may be saddled with Misa and Whatsherbitchface, but I've also got L!"

"Why is this a reason to celebrate, Mello?" Near asked with a bored tone. "Does L possess more ability than you? Must you rely on others to overcome the obvious lack of control you have over your emotions?"

"Shut it, cottontail!" Mello snapped enraged by the sheer existence of the younger male. "Maybe I'm just glad that I know my full team; so that means that you're on the other team, and I don't have to see your pale ass torso to know that!"

"Mello, please quiet your temper for a moment," L requested, but his tone accompanied with the look in his eye left no room for disobedience.

In the next awkward few seconds, everyone crossed paths with one another, scooting past and bumping into each other until two split semi-circles were formed around an antique coffee table, and the teams were adequately divided.

Team Even: Mello(2), Misa(4), Takada(6), L(8)
Team Odd: Near(1), Matt(3), Mikami(5) Light(7)

"I want to be civil, but you know what this means, don't you?" Light said with a forlorn expression, hanging his head to suggest further dismal feelings toward his own understanding.

L nodded dutifully and responded in kind. "Now that we've formed teams, we are most likely going to see the opposing team as a threat. At the very least, a line of distrust has been drawn, whether or not that fact has become conscious. Working to get out may very well become a war."

"We can only trust our own team," was Takada's indictment.

"No," Mikami interjected. "Not even our teams. Even if we play as a team, only one person can make it out. War or no war, unless we're in a bedroom or bathroom -which I believe are the Safe Zones- we'll be wise to be on guard and ready to attack or defend as necessary."

"Play as a team? Guard, attack, defend," commented Matt, just barely loud enough to hear, "you make it sound like a game..." His fingers twitched subtly, though whether the slight motion was due to anxiety or excitement, it was unknown.

All eyes seemed to be set in their own glare of situational determination, though no stare was quite as intense as the blonde male's own Feywood blue eyes. His mouth, a soft belt of tissue, released his next words carefully. "Before we split or make any kind of move against one another, we should go over the rules regarding weapons. I recall that someone on each team has to be unarmed at all times. There has to be a fair way to decide this."

"O-M-G, Misa votes Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Mo, haha!"

...


Team Even: Mello(2), Misa(4), Takada(6), L(8)
Team Odd: Near(1), Matt(3), Mikami(5) Light(7)

So, these are our teams. Shit gets real next chapter!