L huffed through his nose as the investigators filed out of the room, leaving only Watari and himself behind. He stared absently at the television before him, which displayed the video feed from Taro's cell. The boy was crouched in the corner with his head in his hands as usual, seemingly deaf to L's questions because he wasn't really in his cell at all.
"They won't be pleased if they discover your deception, but it is your choice," said the elderly gentleman, as soon as everyone was out of earshot.
"I have a reputation to uphold," L monotoned.
"Oh?" said Watari.
"If the team starts doubting my competence, it will be bad for morale," L continued blandly. "I'm supposed to be the world's greatest detective, yet a thirteen-year-old suspect has disappeared from right under my nose so to speak, and the perpetrator is none other than my very own assistant. I'll become a laughing-stock. They'll compare me to Matsuda. Why should they listen to anything I say? They may even stop believing that I'm L."
Watari did not say anything, but his normal poise had taken on an ever so slightly smug quality.
"I'm tired of this."
"You may give it up whenever you wish," Watari said, fully aware that L's pride would never let him.
"I need to keep it up for Light Yagami's sake, at least. If he is Kira, then I can't let him suspect what has happened. I don't like asking Mr. Yagami to keep secrets from his son: it's better this way."
"I doubt Kira will be able to find him."
L laid his hands on his kneecaps and sighed. "It took me about two minutes to find him. You gave him Ukita's belt."
"Yes, I did. But I don't suppose you'll be sending anyone from the team to fetch him, will you?"
Reaching out with one long index finger, L switched the television off. Watari was an invaluable help, but he had a sorry blind spot where children were concerned. L could hardly wait around for Taro to turn sixteen, and he didn't particularly want anyone to find out what Watari had done anyway. He was left with just one option:
"…If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself," he muttered.
Watari raised both eyebrows.
"Don't worry, Watari. I'm sure you won't find it necessary to remove him from my care a second time. You have my word." L needed to avoid any future inconveniences: it wouldn't do if Watari decided to suddenly ship Taro off to England or something.
"Good. Will you be retrieving him soon?"
"No. He's better off where he is for now." Concern for Taro's wellbeing was the best way to placate Watari for now, and it wasn't a good idea for either Taro or himself to be out and about with two Kiras at large. Besides, he didn't feel like dragging a kid halfway across the city by himself.
Once Watari had left the room, he stalked over to the wide windows which offered a panoramic view of the city. He wasn't sure if Watari had noticed, but their current hotel suite had a view of the hotel where Taro was confined. At the right time of day and with the right pair of binoculars, L could probably look straight in through Taro's window - unless it was on the other side of the building. He'd have to find out exactly where the room was. Hm… when the time was right, he might be able to flush Taro out without even leaving his hotel suite.
Three days, Light thought. Three days was all the time it took for Misa Amane to well and truly screw him over.
L had seen Light with Misa at the university, so there was no way to deny their connection. The evidence against him was stacking up more and more: he had to think of a way to shake it off, and fast. He'd been so damn close, too! If only he hadn't hesitated… if only L hadn't taken Misa's phone!
Naturally, Ryuk thought the whole thing was hilarious. His wheezing and cackling was grating on Light's last nerve: even the promise of an apple wouldn't shut him up.
"How are you gonna get out of this one, Light?" he taunted. "We can make the eye deal whenever you're ready!"
"Have you ever seen an apple orchard, Ryuk?"
"What?"
Light threw a sideways look at the shinigami, who was swinging upside-down from the bedroom ceiling. "It's a place where they grow apple trees: hundreds and hundreds of apple trees."
Ryuk stilled from his antics and watched Light with growing interest. "How many apples on each tree?"
"Well, that depends on the type of tree and how well it's been looked after. A good-sized tree would have dozens of apples," Light replied.
Ryuk's wide eyes bulged at the thought. "Heh-heh. Are you bribing me? It might just work," he said, fangs shining wetly. Fortunately for Light's carpet, shinigami didn't drool.
"If you help me achieve my goal of a new world, I'll take you to an apple orchard and you can eat as many apples as you want."
"Ha! I'm not gonna run around after you all the time."
Light wasn't surprised, but it had been worth a shot. "Fine, Ryuk. I'll take you to the apple orchard if you can get Taro to give up his death note and his memories."
"Huh?" The shinigami twisted himself down from the ceiling and perched on the end of Light's bed. "I thought you wanted him to get the shinigami eyes."
"I did, but that was before Misa came and screwed everything up. There's no time for that plan; I have to act as soon as possible. Will you do it?"
Ryuk spent a moment considering. "I'll do it, but I'm taking Taro's death note," he said at last.
Light frowned. Was it worth it? Yes, of course it was. If he gave up his own memories, it would be far too dangerous to leave Taro as the only person who knew Kira's secret. Since Taro would still be alive, it should also cast doubt in Ryuzaki's mind.
"Okay, Ryuk. I still need to work out the details, but I think I know what to do."
"You have to find him!"
"Find him? Since you've been imprisoned, the killings have stopped. There can be no doubt that you, Light, are Kira," said the cold voice of L.
"I'm telling you, he's not here," said Ryuk, who was swaying dangerously on one leg.
"No! You're just not looking properly!"
"You've only been in here for one week, Light. You can keep denying it, but I will carry this on for as long as I need to."
"I've spent a week crawling around in every nook and cranny. He's not here," Ryuk insisted, now upside-down against the wall with his face nearly on the floor.
Light cursed internally. He had been certain that once L imprisoned him, he'd be taken to wherever Taro was being held and Ryuk would be able to talk the boy out of his memories. Sure, it would look strange if Taro started talking to thin air, but if L started thinking that Taro was crazy then so much the better.
This cell was practically identical to the one he'd seen in the video footage of Taro: it had to be in the same place. So why couldn't Ryuk find him? Had L somehow guessed at Light's plan and moved Taro to another location? Or was Ryuk just plain useless? Maybe he should have brought the other shinigami instead: at least Rem wasn't hopelessly addicted to apples… no, that was the crux of his whole plan. Besides, he couldn't afford to waste time thinking about what he could have done.
"Do you remember… what you said you'd do?" he whispered wearily.
"I said I wouldn't let you out until I was sure you weren't Kira." Of course, L's microphones picked everything up perfectly, even if Light whispered. Hopefully, Ryuk would catch on to his real meaning.
"Huh? You talking to me?"
"Yes…"
"You mean about the apple orchard?"
"…Yeah. I hope you really meant that."
The shinigami made a muffled sound which might have been a chuckle. There was a long pause from L.
"…Light? Are you feeling all right?"
Light hated leaving things to chance, but his options had run out. There was no other choice.
"Yeah. I know I must look pretty bad in here, but this useless pride... I suppose I'll have to get rid of it."