The cab stopped and Hitomi stepped out onto the sidewalk, leaning back in and saying sweetly,
"Raito-kun... could you be a huge sweetheart and pay the man for me?" Without waiting for a reply, she stepped back again and grabbed L by the wrist as soon as he was on his feet. "Come on, Ryuzaki-kun, it'll be fun! You just need to loosen up a little."
The club really was small. There was no line of people waiting, and once the trio passed the door, they were immediately thrust into the crowd of sweating, dancing people. Hitomi pushed through to get to an empty table on the far side of the room with surprising strength considering her size. She sat and motioned for L and Raito to join her, smiling faintly as a waitress approached them.
"Can I get you guys something?" Hitomi said a few quiet words and pointed to something on the single menu that had been on the table. The waitress nodded and left with the menu, bringing back a glass of beer and a shot glass a few minutes later.
"You're drinking?" Raito asked her, eyebrows raised.
"Shh!" she hissed back, leaning across the table toward him. "No one knows I'm not old enough!" Without another word, she dropped the shot into the beer and downed it, letting out a held breath when she set the cup back on the table. "I'm sorry, did you guys want one? They won't ask for your id or anything, I know the waitress."
"What was that, anyway?" Raito asked again. Hitomi started to reply, but L interrupted her with the answer first.
"Sake bomb." Her smile grew and she glanced at L appreciatively.
"Ryuzaki-kun! I knew you had a fun side to you! I'm so glad, I was starting to get bored with your impeccable manners!" She signaled the waitress back over and told the boys to order whatever they wanted, excusing herself to go to the bathroom.
Location change
She slid the latch shut on the stall and leaned her back against the door, pulling a piece of lined paper from her purse. quickly scribbling three names on it, she opened her cell phone and waited for the minute to change twice, then flushed the slip down the toilet and headed back out.
Location change
"So?"
"So what?"
"What do you think of her?"
"She acts strangely. I can't say for sure that she's not the third Kira, but-"
"That's not what I meant, Ryuzaki. You can't possibly think I haven't noticed you flirt with her all of the time."
"I don't flirt Raito-kun."
"Come on... all those lewd comments? The whole ordeal with the cake? And I heard her shouting about some icing when she made that cake at her apartment. You keep trying to embarrass her." L looked unamused, staring out across the dance floor.
"What good would embarrassing her do?"
"You're making me explain this to you? I thought a you were a genius."
"Of course he's a genius!" Hitomi sat back down next to L. "So what are you guys talking about?" L's gaze faltered and he glanced down at the table for a second, picking up his own sake bomb and downing it instead of giving an answer. The waitress returned and brought Hitomi and L another drink each, but Raito refused 'in the name of 'honesty'. Hitomi just rolled her eyes at him and changed the subject.
"Actually, I have a few hours I have to make up at my day job, so I'll be gone for most of the day tomorrow. I usually get off around six though, and I'll have my cell phone with me all day if you guys need something." Raito glanced briefly at L, who looked up from the table and said,
"Would you mind if I accompanied you. I'd like to examine what you do at work." Which of course wasn't a question, and but something she certainly couldn't refuse him.
"Well, I'm sure it won't be a problem, seeing how it's for the sake of the investigation. But what about Raito-kun? What'll he do all day?"
"He'll be monitored by Watari and the task force in Japan, making a progress report and finding out if they have anything new they'd like to report to us in person." She nodded, trying to look fairly interested without looking as petrified as she was.
"A-and my night job?" Hitomi mentally smacked herself for faltering like that, not understanding why she was so nervous when she'd been perfectly calm even when Raito had tried to make her feel guilty about her job.
"Hitomi-chan?" L's voice snapped her from her thoughts.
"Ehh... gomen, Ryuzaki-kun. What did you say?"
"I was just saying that Raito-kun has volunteered to go with you to your night job and report anything suspicious back to me."
"Oh." She looked across the table at Raito, who flashed her a chilly smile that she returned halfheartedly. Suddenly there was a new presence at their table, a girl about Hitomi's age with light brown hair and eyes to match. She looked nervous and her voice was small when she spoke up.
"Um... hi. I was just over there with my friends and I noticed you over here with your friends and I was wondering if you wanted to dance?" Raito smiled her.
"Sure I would." He got to his feet and joined her. "I'm Light Yagami. What's your name?" Flawless english, as expected from him.
"Sarah Evans." Raito turned back to Hitomi and L.
"Sarah and I are going to go dance. I suggest that you two do at least a little of the same. It is why you came, isn't it, Hitomi?" Sarah's eyes lit up as Hitomi's cheeks flushed.
"Oh! You two are a couple?" Hitomi opened her mouth to deny it, but Raito cut in with a smile,
"Aren't they perfect for each other? It's almost sickening how sweet they look together, isn't it, Sarah?" He had led her away in the next instant, leaving Hitomi practically sputtering but unable to say anything. The table fell silent, and she could feel L's gaze on her. He was studying her again, as if she were the most incredible and mysterious thing in the room. Which only made her blush deeper. Sarah nodded, and the couple headed onto the floor, leaving Hitomi and the detective sitting in an awkward silence. She could feel L's eyes on her, studying her as always, and she was so concentrated on her empty glass that she actually jumped when he spoke.
"Why did you decide to bring us to this club, Hitomi-chan?"
"I- I don't know, I just thought you and Raito-kun would like to try something different..."
"Like underage drinking? I can't approve of that, Hitomi-chan, it's very illegal at your age in the US." She finally looked up at him, eyebrows scrunched together.
"You're drinking too!"
"I'm not under the appropriate age." Her seemingly righteous anger deflated.
"Oh... you're twenty one."
"I never said that." She sighed and shook her head, finishing her second drink. "What?"
"Nothing. It's absolutely nothing." She stood. "I'm assuming you don't like dancing?" He simply looked at her, so she turned and started away from the table. "I'm going outside for some fresh air. If you still want something to eat, then go ahead, but I'll be waiting for you and Raito when you're finished." She stormed away, shoving her way past dancers and out the door.
A/N: so. part one of two. of the nightclub scene. enjoy it. please. and review.