(EDITED) Very minor editions only. Hardly any change except for a few details.
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Disclaimer: I don't own a darn thing! Except for the words I've written (typed?)!
A/N: I made this chapter longer :) Unfortunately, it will have to do until this murderous school stuff gets dealt with. I will be gone for about couple of weeks, so please bear with me. But then, who knows? Reviews please? Make me happy? *^_^*v
Oh and thanks to those who faved my other story 'on the desk'. Whoah! I didn't expect that. THANKS!
~Sunday
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Chapter 1 – Tuning
"L?!" Raito exclaimed.
"Yes. Apparently he just contacted the Director and wants an investigation team assembled with me as the head," Soichiro muttered, still in slight shock. Raito didn't blame him. His father was going to be working with the Greatest Detective in the World, after all. He was in for a lot more pressure.
After a few more moments, Soichiro shook his head and walked towards the front door. "I have to go back to headquarters."
"But you just got here," Raito declared as he watched his father shrug into his coat and put on his shoes.
"Well duty calls, Raito," Soichiro sighed. As he grabbed the handle, he looked back to his son. "Could you come over later today and drop off a change of clothes for me? Knowing the Director, he won't allow any of us to go home for another couple of days."
To kiss L's ass, I'm sure. Raito smirked, "Sure Otou-san. I'll see you later."
"Thanks. See you then, Raito." Soichiro disappeared out the door and the gate was distinctly heard as it opened and closed.
Raito sighed and turned to go upstairs, when he heard a door in the hall open.
"Anata?" A hushed groggy voice called out.
"He went back to work Okaa-san," Raito said, seeing his mother peeking out from the corner.
"Eh? What did he do here?" she asked, walking towards her son.
"He was supposed to rest, but then something came up again."
A frown came upon Yagami Sachiko's face and sighed. "Your poor Otou-san… He works too hard. Sometimes I wish he had one of those desk jobs… But then…"
"He asked me to bring him a change of clothes later," Raito hinted.
Sachiko paused for a second, in thought. "I think I'll make him something special for breakfast. The food they eat there isn't healthy! Would you mind bringing it to him for me too, Raito?"
"Of course not, Okaa-san," Raito smiled. "You should go back to sleep. It won't be dawn for another couple of hours."
"No, no. It's quite alright. I think I'll start cooking now."
"At 3:30 in the morning?!"
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep anyway," smiled Sachiko. She turned towards the door to the living room.
"What are you going to cook that'll take three whole hours?"
Sachiko paused with her hand on the door knob. "I don't know… maybe I'll bake him a cake for dessert?"
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Soichiro glanced around the office and saw his team assembled haphazardly around the room. Apparently, L had requested the director to have a special group of people to work directly under him. The Director of course suggested Soichiro to be one of them, since he was the investigator in-charge of current case. Soichiro then chose five of his most trusted and loyal colleagues to be part of the group namely: Aizawa Shuichi, Ide Hideki, Mogi Kanzo, Ukita Hirokazu and Matsuda Tota. He had spent most of his time calling his chosen people since he came from home. It was especially difficult to rouse the last two, particularly Matsuda, who he had called 17 times before the younger man picked up and groggily called him 'baby' (much to Matsuda's embarrassment obviously.)
L had specified that he wished to address the team when and only when every single person was accounted for lest he waste his time waiting, instead of delving into more research on the case. He had also instructed the chosen team to be ready to be interviewed to see if they were qualified to work with him.
Finally at just about 5am, the entire team was more or less strewn across the room. Aizawa and Ide were conversing in the corner drinking coffee from styrofoam cups; Ukita and Matsuda were sitting on chairs on either side of the office, both asleep and drooling; and Mogi was serious as ever, sitting beside him quietly reading a file. Soichiro reached for his coffee cup and took a sip, wondering how the infamous L was going to meet them. He had already informed the superintendent about fifteen minutes ago that the group was complete, and his superior readily said he would contact L that very moment. He looked towards the wall clock on one side of the room. It said 5:03. Soichiro wondered if it was going to take any longer.
At that instant, a sharp knock was heard. The rest of the team looked towards the door in anticipation as both Matsuda and Ukita ungracefully fell from their chairs.
A man dressed in a black trench coat and hat stepped into the office and nodded to them. The team bowed politely, but with apprehension clear on their faces.
The man then purposely walked to the very front of the room and laid a laptop on the table which he had been carrying in the crook of his arm. He then connected a power cable from his pocket and inserted the plug into a socket as the other six people in the room stared, speechless.
"Uhm, excuse me," Matsuda nervously asked, "are you L?"
The man did not take notice of the question and instead stood with his back to the team as he opened and fumbled a little with the computer and when he finally stepped to the side, the screen glowed with a white background in which a capital old English 'L' was boldly placed at the very center.
"Good evening," said a synthesized voice from the laptop, "or rather, good morning."
The team stared at the screen, a little taken aback, as the man in the trench coat stood off the side of the desk on which the laptop was on.
"Special investigation team for the serial musician murders… I am L."
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Raito woke up just as the sky was turning into a grayish blue. The sun hadn't come out yet, but it was light enough to see his surroundings. He sat up and looked at clock he had on the headboard which doubled as shelving space (the norm for Japanese lifestyle in which every tiny space is converted into storage somehow.) It was 5:37am. Raito sighed and swung his feet to the floor.
He pushed his auburn hair off his face and stretched. He looked around the room and found himself to be quite awake despite the late night he had waiting up for his father. After a few moments of idleness, he decided best to get up since it didn't seem like he was going to get back to sleep any time soon. Raito threw back the covers and got up to head for the bathroom to wash his face. When he opened his door, the distinct aroma of baking was coming from down stairs.
When had dressed and combed his hair, he went to the kitchen and found his little sister Sayu fusing over something beside their mother on the kitchen counter.
"Good morning," Raito greeted. "You're up early Sayu."
Sayu turned to look at her older brother and gave him her usual grin. "Ohayou Onii-chan! Look! Okaa-chan made cake!"
"Is that why you're up? You're so greedy."
"Hey! That's not a nice thing to say to your beloved little sister!"
Raito laughed and ruffled her hair. "Gluttonous then."
"That's worse! Okaa-chan!"
Sachiko laughed. "Your brother's just teasing you Sayu. Raito, could you finish the icing for me? I need to get the Tupperware to put your father's breakfast in."
"Sure," Raito replied gathering the pastry bag from his mother's little hands. Then he got a view of the cake. "What the…? Okaa-san, who's going to eat all of this," Raito asked, completely appalled, though keeping a relatively calm expression.
A 14-inch round, 2-layer, moist chocolate cake was sitting innocently on the counter half-covered in equally decadent chocolate icing.
"Oh? Well I thought that since I was going to make a cake, I should make one big enough for your father to share," Sachiko said sweetly.
"Okaa-chan made a smaller one for us too! It's in the refrigerator," Sayu injected, absolutely beaming as if she was a seven year old and she was having her birthday early.
Raito rolled his eyes to his mother and her idiosyncrasies. "I should've forced her to sleep," he mumbled under his breath.
"Hm? Did you say something Onii-chan?"
"No, nothing," and with that Raito focused his attention to his mother's masterpiece.
As Sachiko rummaged in the cupboards, Sayu kept her fervent attention to the cake Raito was putting the icing on. "You know if you keep glaring at it the icing will start to melt," Raito joked.
Sayu pouted at that and puffed her chest up like a robin. "Hey!"
Raito just smiled and focused on what his hands were doing.
"Neh Onii-chan?" Sayu said after a few seconds.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you so good at that?"
"What?"
"Icing."
"It's easy Sayu," Raito said as he demonstrated, "you just have to squeeze the top a little, swirl the end and pull it up quickly to make a peak. Like that." And predictably, a perfect little Hershey's kiss-shaped mound was made. Raito kept repeating the action a few more times as Sayu watched.
"How do you make it all the same size? I keep trying to do it in Home Economics class, but it always turns out lopsided."
"It just takes practice I guess."
"Hmm… Why are you so good at everything?"
"Because whatever talent that was supposed to go to you was allocated to me instead."
Sayu pouted again. "Mou… "
"You wanna try?" Raito gestured.
"Eh?" Sayu blinked.
"Icing."
Sayu looked at the pastry bag being offered to her as if it would suddenly come to life and bite her. "But I might ruin it," she said meekly.
"You won't. Trust your big brother. Now, come on."
Sayu looked at Raito's face. His brows were slightly raised in a question. "But I…"
"Do you want me to teach you how or not?"
Sayu hesitated for another moment, and then her face broke into a grin. "Okay!"
Raito gave her the pastry bag and stepped behind her as he took her hands into his own, guiding them. Sachiko watched her two children from the other side of the kitchen and smiled as small yelps came from her daughter and teasing chides came from her son.
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"Now that we have finished the introductions and interviews, I am relieved to say that Yagami-san has chosen a good group of people," said the voice from the laptop.
"Thank you very much, L" Soichiro said.
"You are quite welcome Yagami-san. So let us now go to business. As I have read the reports, it has already been concluded that the murderer of Eldgar Ivanovich and one Matsuyama Reiji is the same person. Both victims are musicians and were killed in the same manner which is strangled by the strings of their instruments. However, due to last night's down pour and Matsuyama's body being found in Tokyo Bay, neither case has been able to come up with any significant evidence which may lead us to a possible suspect."
The now official members of the team listen intently as the laptop droned on.
"Other similarities between the two cases include that both Matsuyama and Ivanovich had performed just before they were killed; Matsuyama, in a private invitation only concert and Ivanovich as a guest in his friend Rousseau's concert. We cannot be absolutely sure whether the murderer planned it or it is just circumstantial, but considering how he specifically targets musicians and uses their own instruments to kill them, more or less, this person seems to have a particular agenda and sending some sort of message. What, at this point, I still cannot comprehend."
Soichiro stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Almost.
"… Is anything the matter, Yagami-san?" asked L.
"Ah, it's nothing. It's just…" Soichiro hesitated.
"Just?" L prompted.
"Ah…It's just that my son said something similar when I spoke with him this morning."
"Your son?... Yagami… Raito, correct? Something similar you say?"
Soichiro shifted uncomfortably in his seat, aware of the scrutiny he was subjected to, even though it was only through a web cam. "Uh, yes," he replied looking straight at the lens. "I went home a few hours ago and was able to speak with my son. He has an interest in things like this. He watches the news often, and when I spoke with him, he already guessed that the second victim was killed with piano wire even though that piece of information still hasn't been released to the media and I didn't tell him either."
"I see…" muttered L, as the rest of the investigation team nodded and smiled to each other, familiar with the chief's son's abilities.
"Yes. Aside from that he said just about the same things as you did, that the killer was particular and probably sending out some sort of message."
"Is that so? How interesting… Has he said anything else?"
"Well… no. Our conversation stopped there."
"Hmm… I suppose with the amount of information the media presents, he could only come up with so much…" the voice mumbled more to himself than to anyone. "Any official crime scene or forensic photos were not released, correct?"
"Uh… No. The only pictures of the crime scene the media has would be the blurry ones the press was able to take when we processed the areas."
"Hmm…Tell me, Yagami-san, your son has been helping out in some of your cases ever since he was… fifteen?"
Soichiro, a little shocked at L knowing that piece of information, paused before answering. "…yes. He has helped me a lot especially in some of my difficult cases. Actually, he's been giving good insights since he was around thirteen."
"Is that so? … Interesting…"
A pregnant silence came over the room, the only things heard being the mechanical sounds of the laptop and the seats squeaking as the members changed their sitting positions ever so slightly.
Without warning, the monotonic voice spoke up, "Yagami-san."
"Yes?"
"After this meeting is over, please stay. I have a few more questions to ask you that need not be with an audience. Now, let us go back to the reports. Mogi-san, please read the testimonies given for the Ivanovich case."
"Uh, yes!" Mogi said, shooting up from his chair.
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Raito looked out to the fast passing scenery. He was on a train headed for the police station. Since it was an early Sunday morning, there was hardly anyone on it. He sat near the doors with a plain rectangular canvas bag they usually used for picnics beside him, holding his father's change of clothes and breakfast box. On his lap, safe in his grip in a big white box tied with twine, was the cake his mother had baked.
He made his way to the police station in no hurry, and when he got there the receptionist, who he casually knew, just told him to wait since Chief Yagami was still in a meeting and couldn't be disturbed. Raito sat serenely on one of the better looking sofas in the waiting area, and got an early newspaper to read as he passed the time. About a quarter of an hour had passed before he heard his name called.
"I'm sorry for making you wait so long, Raito," Soichiro apologized.
"That's okay Otou-san," Raito smiled as he folded the newspaper and stood up. He handed his father the canvas bag and held out the white box. Soichiro looked at it in a mix of confusion ad apprehension.
"Okaa-san made cake for you. She said to share it." Raito explained.
Soichiro's let out an 'Ah…' in clear comprehension. He was used to his wife's quirks by now. After all, they've been married for twenty years. "How in the world did she have time to make it?" he asked as he took the box.
"Okaa-san woke up really early and couldn't go back to sleep, so she made this instead."
Soichiro laughed warmly, but Raito noticed that there was an unusual hoarse quality to his voice.
"Otou-san, you should rest. Okaa-san has breakfast for you in the bag. Eat it and sleep for a while. It wouldn't do you any good if you got sick."
"Hmm…" Soichiro nodded and looked down at the white box he was now holding. "Raito," he began.
"Yes?"
"Have you eaten breakfast yet? Would you care to join me? We haven't talked properly in over a week. We should catch up."
Raito noted the slight edge to his voice and his father's tense shoulders, besides the fact that Soichiro wasn't looking at him. His father was hiding something… "Well, we all woke up early today and had breakfast already, but I could have coffee with you if you like?"
Soichiro looked up and smiled at his son. "Yes, let's do that." Soichiro turned and headed for the internal offices, motioning his son to follow. Raito heeded and took the cake out of his father's hands as they went inside.
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L watched the little scene of Chief Yagami and his son in conversation at the cafeteria in his room, courtesy of the security cameras he hacked into. He saw the polite exchanges the eighteen-year-old made with the Investigation team, noting that he was acquainted with them all, probably from past cases his father worked on. He also noticed the big white box that Raito was carrying and his mouth watered when it was opened and a big, scrumptious looking chocolate cake was revealed. Of course, he only assumed it was chocolate since it was a dark color and was quite glossy or silky in appearance, even in the low quality black and white feed. After witnessing the rest of the investigation team fuss over it and cut portions for themselves, he immediately called Watari to procure one for him in closest bakery he could find. He expected his own cake to arrive in a few minutes.
He looked at Yagami Raito's file once again, and reread all the itemized facts: birthday, age, height, weight, schools he attended, honors, awards, extra-curricular activities, etc. Everything that could've been written on paper about Yagami Raito was there, even some of the girls he had dated. Quite the popular kid, L thought. Even from the slightly blurry quality of the camera, he could see that Raito was a very attractive person indeed. He was tall, and walked as if he was a prince in a procession. He smiled easily and gave the impression that if you were lucky enough to be acknowledged by him, you were important. From his grades and records, not to mention the fact that he had been helping his father in his investigations for years (most of the time solving them himself) and the information his father told him a while ago, Raito was an extremely intelligent human being.
L raised his fist and bit the tip of his thumb with his teeth.
"Yagami… Raito…" he whispered, making the name roll out of his tongue.
Could it be that this boy was as smart as he was? He looked and acted to be his complete opposite. L had never met a single person who could've arrived at the same conclusions he had with so little available information. Being L, he had all the data he needed, readily obtainable to him. But this… boy. He had come to the same conclusion with the mere media coverage to go on. That was… impressive… much to L's chagrin and amusement.
He smiled… he really wanted to meet this… Yagami Raito.
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Raito watched as his father cleaned up the Tupperware and sighed, contented. For a few seconds, Soichiro looked to be quite at peace. Unfortunately, time doesn't stop and the seconds passed.
"Otou-san," Raito prompted.
"Yes Raito?"
"What's bothering you? Is it about the case?"
Soichiro blinked a couple of times before he sat back and slumped in his chair as if in defeat. He smiled sadly at his son and said, "You always read people so well, Raito."
Raito waited, not looking away from his father's gaze. Finally Soichiro spoke up. "L wants to meet you."
Now it was Raito's turn to blink. "What?"
"L happened to say the exact same thing you said earlier. Remember? About the killer being particular and sending a message?"
"Yes…"
"Well, L came to the same conclusion and somehow I mentioned that you said the same thing and now he wants to meet you."
"Any particular reason why?"
"… He said he wanted to speak with you to see if you had anything else to say about the case. He said you might be a good asset. I think he was… impressed with you."
"I see… why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Soichiro hesitated. "I guess I just wasn't sure how to tell you."
"Well Otou-san, if it means solving this case earlier, I'd be more than happy to help."
Soichiro nodded and looked down at his hands. He was thinking. And a scowl was slowly forming.
"What's the problem Otou-san?" Raito said after a few moments, snapping Soichiro out of his reverie.
Soichiro breathed, preparing himself for a storm. "Raito…" He said, looking straight into his son's golden brown eyes.
"…What is it?"
"He… He knows you used to play the violin."
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A/N: So I have this habit of always ending with someone saying something cliffie… haha! Sorry about that. I wanted to continue it, but then it would ruin the mood… gotta wait for the next chapter folks!
Hmm so! I am sure some of you may think that the putting-the-icing-on-the-cake-scene is a bit OOC of Raito, and perhaps it is considering the usual Raito characterization. But then, as the manga heavily implies, Raito really does care for his family especially before the Death Note came into his life and that he spoiled his sister often. I was just trying to show it here. Do not worry… he will be his self-centered arrogant little bastard self soon (bless him)
Aside from that, yes… there isn't much about the case in this chapter. Patience… all in due time. It's gonna be a long one. I'm not sure how long, but long enough…
Thanks to Amorpheous for all the help! I lack so much knowledge about classical music… Also thanks to all those who reviewed! I try to reply to all your comments, but if somehow I missed one… A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU! Thanks also to all the alerts! I was so surprised that so many alerted. WOW! And even to those who just read… thanks a lot for the hits! More comments? Reviews? Suggestions? :) Pretty please?
And now…Since I have rambled enough, I disappear! See y'all in two weeks!!!
~Sunday: