DN: Love Me Not

"There is no way I'm going back there to deal with that woman again..."

It would be later on that night. Refusing to stay for the dinner Mimiko's mother had prepared, making an excuse about forgetting to walk his dog. Ryuku, being the dog of course.

"But this isn't enough."

To say the least, L wasn't very happy with Raito's lack of information he managed to obtain from the girl.

"Which is exactly why I told YOU to go instead of me! You know what you want to hear from her, it's you're investigation, and this was you're lead. So why not just go do it yourself?!"

Yes. Raito was a little flustered about the whole thing. First being praised, then having his life threatened all in the same instant. Of course, he wasn't scared of the girl. She was small and obviously weak, he could easily use force on her if he had to. The Death Note could easily take her out as well, but that was out of the question. If she just up and died shortly after he 'investigated' her, L would know immediately. Damn him for setting him up like that.

"Yagami-kun."

"What?"

The detective was sitting, or rather hunched, on his sofa chair as he watched Raito pacing back and forth.

"A 'pretty boy honor roll student of the month piece of crap' ?"

". . ."

"Did I quote that correctly?"

"...Yes."

"Impressive use of vocabulary she has. She's a comedian I see."

"Can you stop with that? I vote that you go talk to her next."

"Regretably, I cannot do that Yagami-kun."

Raito would stop his pacing now. Walking around the sofa as he looked over to witness the detective take another bite of cake.

"And why the heck not?"

"Like I said. I'm no good with girls. And I'd be crushed to find out what she may think of me. Especially after knowing of her reaction towards you."

"You don't strike me as the type to care about other's opinions..."

"Everyone cares about what others think of them, it's natural to want to be accepted into society."

"Even you?"

There was a silence due to another bite of cake before L would continue on the conversation. But changing the topic around this time.

"I guess it's Matsuda-san's turn."

"Seriously? You're going to let him go through with this?"

"Of course, he's the only other one that's young enough and could possibly pass himself off as a student. Hitori-chan's attendance hasn't been long enough to remember all the faces of the other student's. He should do fine."

"You don't know this girl...she has problems."

"I've concluded that Yagami-kun. Her boyfriend and possible love of her life was killed by Kira, she would obviously be in turmoil over her loss."

"Did I tell you she used to be a Kira supporter...?"

That was interesting. He would turn his head to Raito now, still having a fork hanging from his mouth.

"You've failed to mention that Yagami-kun."

"It's true. She told me about how she felt he was like a god."

"Interesting. Go on."

Raito stepped over, now leaning against the arm of the sofa in which L sat in his unusual little position. And nibbling at the end of his fork.

"She explained to me how she did not approve of death, yet approved that there was something being done about the 'demons of the modern age'."

"M'hm..."

"She said she'd actually like to meet Kira, though I think her reasoning for that may have changed greatly since Edo's death."

"Did she mention why she wanted to meet Kira?"

"To pass her own judgement onto him."

Pulling the fork from his mouth, there was a hint of what could be confused as a smile. Raito had to take a double look at that strange phenomenon in order to believe it himself.

"It seems Hitori-chan and I have similar interests."

"Lucky you. Sounds like you have a soul mate."

"Nonsense."

"Hm?"

There was another piece of cake.

"Why not? You said you're similar, and from what I could see she is just as weird as you are."

"Yagami-kun thinks I'm weird?"

"You're saying you're not?"

Raito gave him an unsatisfied look of disbelief. Watching as the young detective would gently place his fork down and turn to look up at him with big dark eyes.

"Is Yagami-kun trying to get me a girl friend?"

"...Would it hurt?"

"Does the fact that I simply have no time for personal pleasures come across to you at all?"

"Are we just going to keep talking to each other in questions, or are you going to answer me eventually?"

". . ."

"I'm just saying, it can't hurt. You stay in this stupid hotel room by yourself all the time, don't you ever get lonely? I mean, even just a little?"

"...fourteen percent."

"Oh what was that for?!"

"I think...Kira too would try to find a way to distract me from my objective to locate him and bring him to justice. And what better form of distraction then a woman, yes?"

"Just. Die. Please."

And what was this? A sigh? A faintly depressing kind of sigh too. Raito know how one of those sounded like. Did he really guess it? Was L actually, lonely? Another score for Kira. Now we'll just work on it a bit.

"Something the matter...?"

"Not at all."

Bringing himself up from his sofa and heading past Raito as he would return to his faithful and most loyal friend, the computer. And as such, Raito would follow along behind him.

"Do you play computer games...?"

"Minesweeper."

"No, I mean online games."

"Sometimes."

"Is that what you do when no one is around?"

"When I get stuck on something during the case...yes. I usually play to get my mind functioning again."

"Oh I see...what's your game called?"

"Happy Farm."

Sounded more like some kid game. Raito wasn't one for that geeky online scene, so he had to at least pretend to be interested.

"Can you show me?"

"I don't see why you're so interested in a game Yagami-kun."

"It'll give me something to do tonight, since I'm not going out or anything I need to find a way to keep myself entertained."

A couple taps and a click here or there, a site was brought up.

"Wow, seven thousand five hundred and eighty two users are online right now?"

"It's a popular game, Yagami-kun. I'm surprised you never heard of it."

"I guess I'm out of the loop when it comes to this stuff. How do you play?"

"It's fairly simple. You register, create a character and then go around and do different things."

"That's it? What do you when you beat the game?"

"You don't really win...it's not that type of game really. You wander around a virtual world, talk to other characters, go on quests and play games to win gold so you can buy stuff for your character. It's simple, but oddly addictive for some reason."

"Oh? Apparently not addictive enough to you, says you're last login was almost five months ago."

"I haven't had time to play lately."

"Maybe I'll sign up...looks interesting."

Another friday night down the drain. Though since the death, Mimiko wasn't her usual outgoing self. She became very hermit like, often keeping to herself confined in her room. Maybe, he was right. She was withdrawn.

"Hm... Oh! I have a Happy Farm message!"

Mimiko sat at her computer desk in front of the glowing monitor. It was the only light in her room at this point. With the night falling outside, there was only a slight gleam from the moon coming in through her blinds.

"Hm? Who is this..."

Reaching one hand over as she grabbed her soda bottle and took a sip. Clicking with the mouse as she opened the window.

/MuffinMan:/ Long time no chat huh?

"That's weird. Says he hasn't been online in like five months...eh, oh well."

/CookieChick:/ Apparently so. Sorry but I think I forget who you are. xD

/MuffinMan:/ Aw, I'm hurt.

/CookieChick:/ Eek! I'm sorry.

/MuffinMan:/ Don't worry about it. I haven't been on in a while.
/MuffinMan:/ It's Ryuuzaki by the way.

/CookieChick:/ Aah! Really?! I haven't talked to you in ages:3

/MuffinMan:/ Ha. I'm surprised my account didn't expire.

CookieChick: So what have you been up to?

/MuffinMan:/ Not much really.

/CookieChick:/What, you did nothing for 5 months? LIES! LoL

/MuffinMan:/ First you forget me, then call me a liar? You're being so mean to me. :(

/CookieChick:/ Apologies. :3 Forgive me?

/MuffinMan:/ Hm, I'll have to think about it.

/CookieChick:/ Aw! D:
/CookieChick:/ Ryuuuuu!
/CookieChick:/ Oh fine, don't answer me.
/CookieChick:/ Be a jerk, and make me cry.

/MuffinMan:/ Well... ok.

/CookieChick:/ Yay!

/MuffinMan:/ So what have you been up to love?

/CookieChick:/ Eh, not good. I think I wanna die.

/MuffinMan:/ That's not good. :(

/CookieChick:/ Hey, random question.

/MuffinMan:/ Shoot.

/CookieChick:/ Are you still out in England visiting family?

/MuffinMan:/ Actually no. I'm in Japan now.

/CookieChick:/ . . . . .

/MuffinMan:/ There a problem?

/CookieChick:/ Go check my profile.

/MuffinMan:/ Hm, alrighty.

/CookieChick:/ Hurry! Go NOW! Eee!
/CookieChick:/ Check The Profile!
/CookieChick:/ See? Did ya see? Huh?!

/MuffinMan:/ I completely forgot that you lived in Japan.
/MuffinMan:/ And in the Kanto region no less.

/CookieChick:/ Yep. And since you're here in Japan, that means I get to stalk you down like the creepy stalker type person I am.

/MuffinMan:/ Sounds fun. But I'd like to see you try it love. :D

/CookieChick:/ You're no fun. I promise I won't bite.

/MuffinMan:/ I was looking forward to the biting...

/CookieChick:/ Oh alright then. Maybe just a nibble.

It was safe to say that this random conversation went on all night. And well into the morning, which turned into the afternoon later.

"Hello?"

"That's weird."

It was time for stage two of the 'date plan' as it was so being called at the moment for the lack of anything else. Raito and Matsuda where the only ones called in that afternoon. It was said that L had gotten onto something and didn't want the other's to disturb him. Which was well enough, the countless hours where starting to take their toll on the task force.

"Are you sure he's here Raito?"

"Well, maybe if you where quite for a minute I could tell you."

A couple times when Raito happened across the hotel and found it 'empty' there was only one way to tell if the elusive detective was there or not. the annoying sound of keys tapping. But today, there was no tapping.

"Huh, maybe he really isn't here...?"

Raito's only conclusion would be that L did actually take him up on the whole 'date' thing and decided to take matters into his own hands. Now wandering through the room, he noticed the laptop was not in it's usual place, but there was certainly a distinct clear spot on the table where it had been. It was clear, because all around it where candy wrappers and other little odds and ends pertaining to sweets.

"Looks like he took his computer with him. You don't think he found Kira do you?"

Matsuda did his best, it wasn't his fault he couldn't spot the obvious.

"No, he didn't find Kira."

Raito just sighed, now sort of waving his hand for Matsuda to come over. Reaching over as he opened the door of the bedroom. Revealing the odd sight of a sleeping L, curled up and cradling his laptop in the most protective fashion. And sucking on his thumb like an infant.

"Aw, isn't that cute?"

"Matsuda..."

"Sorry."

"I'm surrounded by idiots."

"Maybe we should come back? Let him sleep?"

"I guess we could leave a note or something."

Though he didn't sleep often, it didn't necessarily mean that he would be out cold. L was a light sleeper, and as such was easily woken up by the conversation. Reaching a hand over lazily and with one finger clicked the screen off from his previous late night conversation.

"That won't be necessary, I'm awake..."

Sitting up as he covered his yawn with one hand. Looking over to the two which stood in the door way.

"I didn't think you where capable of sleep!"

"I assure you I am human, Matsuda-san."

Before the computer window was closed, Raito managed to catch a quick glance at the screen. Seeing the familiar lay out of that stupid game.

"Up all night gaming?"

"More like talking to an old friend, Yagami-kun. Though I guess I did get a little side tracked..."

"Side tracked? That's a first."

"As I said, I am human."

Crawling out of bed as he dragged the laptop along with him. The bed was still made, he merely slept on top of all blankets. But at least the wrinkles gave proof enough that it was actually used for once.

"So, what's this 'date' thing I've heard about? Raito didn't really explain it to me on the way here..."

"Yagami-kun and I happened upon a a young lady at the university who is linked to one of the sponsors killed by Kira."

"Linked? How so?"

"She was merely the unfortunate girl friend of the innocent victim. All I want is some more information of Kenji Edo, what kind of person he was. If he was truly an innocent or not. If he in fact was a good person, then simply put it reveals to us that Kira does not in fact have god-like powers to tell if someone deserves judgement or not."

"So, it means that Kira will kill just about anyone? For no reason? Not just criminals or those who try to stop him?"

"Im layman's terms, yes Matsuda-san. It shows that Kira is not in fact a true passer of judgement as he so claims to be."

"Alright well... I uh, just have one question then."

"Yes?"

"...Is she at least, good looking?"