Part XI

Jeopardy

Who is this? I punched at the keys quickly.

You'll find out soon enough, the anonymous stalker replied.

Hmmmm… male or female? I decided to start out with simple questions in hopes that the pest would accidentally reveal some information.

Enough of the mind games, L,was the response. It was cake to find your e-mail address, so it should be just as simple if not more so to hack completely into your computer and find your location.

This computer is loaded with virus scans, spam blockers, and fire walls… good luck, I taunted sarcastically.

It's easy for someone like me, they countered. I have a superior education, perhaps even beyond yours.

I doubt that, I shot back. You're probably just some stupid high school kid that's convinced he's a super-genius. Nice try, punk. Case solved.

On the contrary. I'm just the opposite of a high school student. I have several people dead-set on bringing you down, and we're getting closer every day. Conceited much?

What do you hope to bring about by doing that? The downfall of this earth? Pathetic. I will tell you this much, however… I will never fall no matter what. I was certain this would end the mind match.

No, I shall take your life and your title in order to rule this world from behind the scenes as you do now. The world's police forces will be under my control; government agencies will bow before me. The funny thing is… no one will know you have been replaced. I was startled by the stalker's goal and the fact that he or she had revealed it to me.

I should wake Ryuzaki now, I told myself, but decided against it due to his sudden illness. I sighed. I'll just have to handle this for him.

That won't happen, I replied. You still don't know where I am. And, by the time you find me I will already have disappeared.

I waited a few moments after sending the message, and when no replies came, I copied the conversation to a word document and saved it; then, I shut down the computer. Who could be doing this and why? Are there really people out there that want L dead just for that reason? My mind continued to wander aimlessly. I was startled out of my reverie, however, when L suddenly moved slightly on the bed. I spun around on the chair quickly.

Ryuzaki was facing me, but his eyes were closed peacefully. The bruises beneath them had already begun to fade, although the detective hadn't been sleeping for more than an hour.

Out of curiosity, I wheeled the computer chair over to Ryuzaki's bedside. I pressed the back of my left hand to his forehead to find that his body temperature had returned to normal; he muttered something inaudible in his sleep at my touch.

I yawned and checked my watch- 11:45. It is kinda late, I thought as I watched L sleep. At some point, I drifted into unconsciousness.

...

Bright sunshine poked at my eyelids, which I opened without thinking. "Aargh," I groaned as I covered my eyes with my arm.

"Ah, you're awake," a husky voice murmured.

"Hmm?" I opened one eye slightly.

Ryuzaki was crouched at the end of his bed, watching me sternly. He gave me a small smile when I looked up at him. The bags under the detective's eyes had completely vanished, and the onyx jewels sparkled within their sockets. "You fell asleep on my computer chair," Ryuzaki explained mockingly as he leapt gracefully off of his bed with his hands in his pockets. "So, when I awoke this morning I put you on your futon."

"Oh, yeah. Now I remember," I mumbled. It all came flooding back: L's fever, the messages and the threats they contained.

"Is something wrong, Kita?" I jumped. His face was inches from mine.

"Uhm n-no," I stuttered meekly. "It's just that there was someone threatening you… they came over the messenger in your computer and said they were gonna kill you and take your title and…" I rushed over to the computer and opened the document to show it to the flabbergasted detective. I pretended not to notice the free-flowing tears that gushed from my eyes at the thought of my hero's death, no matter how rude he had been.

L shuffled over to the computer. "You shouldn't have responded to them," he growled as he skimmed the page. "Now this location can be traced! We're all in trouble!" Ryuzaki shut the computer down and walked swiftly from the room, slamming the door behind him. I proceeded to lock it, and thought as I changed my clothes.

This is all my fault. I should probably just leave. I decided that was best, so I dried my eyes and grabbed my purse and wallet from my duffel bag. I paused as another thought came to me. No. I'll just find out who's sending the messages. I put everyone here in danger, so it's up to me to get them out… even at the cost of my life.

...

I was driving to the coffee shop downtown to clear my head, when my cell phone rang. It was Brandon. "Hello?"

"Hey, Kita," he replied. "Are you doing anything this afternoon?"

"No, but I was just heading to the coffee shop. Why?"

"I… do you wanna meet there and just call it a date?"

I blushed. "S-sure. I'll be there in about five minutes. See you then." I closed my phone. He is cute, I told myself. I can't deny that. I guess it's okay…

...

I arrived at the coffee shop on time. Brandon sat at the same table we had sat when we first met in Winchester a month ago; we had only talked twice since then.

"So how are things?" I sat down across from him at the booth. "Have you decided to stay?" Brandon's eyes danced eagerly as he waited for me to respond.

"I'm still not sure," I replied with a smile. "This place has its ups and downs and I still have school to finish, so…" My breath caught in my throat after I spoke.

"Where are you schooling at now?" A waitress came over, and Brandon ordered a cappuccino for each of us. She scurried off then, after an unsuccessful attempt at flirting with him.

"I'm going to a private school," I replied, after thinking about his question. It wasn't a lie since I had been receiving classes at Wammy's.

"Where? I could pick you up after school sometime," he offered hopefully.

"That's why its called a private school," I told him with a flirtatious smile.

"Right," he said, returning the smile. "I was wondering… if you wanted to be my girlfriend," Brandon blurted suddenly.

"Of course," I answered as I leaned across the table and kissed him. The waitress came around the corner just then with our cappuccinos.

Her expression fell at the sight of our kiss. "J-just let me know if you need anything else." That said, she walked away stiffly. Brandon and I laughed.

End Part XI