Disclaimer: I own nothing!
The Reviewers~
bleedingcrimson: Haha. I think my muses like to play jokes on me. That's why they leave as often as they do.
Bree Renee: I thought that you guys might. :3
Nizuna Fujieda: Hi, new reviewer! :D I'm super glad you liked that chapter! I don't think this one will make your day, but, if you liked that last one, you're going to love the next one. *shot for almost giving a spoiler*
Moka-girl: I'm glad to hear you think that. :D Still, some people might disagree.
"Gah-why do I have to go?" A sighed, rolling her eyes. Today, she was glad in a navy blue long sleeved shirt with a white vest over it. Her jeans were a lighter shade of blue, too, and she had white boots on that went over her pants. Her black hair was pulled into another messy bun that was tied with a white band that had a navy flower. "I haven't played tennis in a long time."
"That may be so, but you were the only one who ever presented a challenge to me." L commented with a shrug.
She frowned. "Knowing you, I probably won't play. Besides, I'm not dressed for it…and it's just not going to happen."
"If you don't play, then you'll observe Yagami for me." He smirked. "From the beginning, that was my intention."
"Yeah, I could tell. Especially when you told me I was going to play tennis." She returned his smirk with one twice as cocky. "I may be out of practice, Ryuuga, but I'm still a detective. I can read context clues just fine."
"Ryuzaki, Ryuuga, over here!" Light called.
She sniggered under her breath. "He sure seems like he's ready to give you a run for your money."
"I think Yagami is the type to not like to lose."
"And, that's why you suspect he is Kira, right? Well, that among other things."
He shrugged again, dragging his racket behind him.
"I don't believe you when you say it's a small percentage that he could be Kira." She continued, not letting it bother her in the slightest. "I, too, believe that Yagami is Kira. He's just extremely good at not getting caught on camera."
"Are you going to be playing with us, Ryuzaki-chan?" Light asked, friendly. "You don't seem dressed for the part."
A smiled, easily. "Oh, no. Don't worry about me playing you, Yagami-kun. I'm too out of practice."
"Speaking of which, just a friendly match, Ryuuga? I should warn you that I have some tennis experience."
"No worried, Yagami. I placed first in England's junior tennis championships." L said, though it sounded more like bragging.
"How much of a compliment is that, anyway?" She muttered so that only he would hear. "You only had to beat me for it-and, back then, I had to suck up to you for this stupid position."
"You spent your childhood in England?" Light asked, a bit cautiously.
'That's right. L told you who he was-so you're cautious. You're smart enough to figure out that he's already onto you, if he hasn't told you already.' She laughed and made a mental note to tell Rue about it later.
L turned towards him with a bit of a blank look on his face. "Lived there for about five years. Don't worry. This bit of information is useless as far as the identity of "L" is concerned."
Light's eyes changed direction. She could tell they were on her, but her expression was still the same. She raised a hand and wiggled her fingers-as a hello.
"I'm going to go over there and sit down." She said calmly, taking out her phone. "Hideki, is there anything you would like me to tell Rue?"
"How about 'congratulations'?" He asked, sarcastically.
She deadpanned. "You're hilarious." She turned and moved towards the observation decks, her fingers jumping from button to button.
'Damn it, I hate working for him when he's around Yagami. He's so sarcastic and annoying. He says he has a surprise for us both (because, you know, you were stupid and let him know you were alive.) When he tells me, I'll be sure to let you know, 'kay? – A'
'He's an idiot who pisses me off. Why do you have the constant need to tell me what you're doing? If you hate it so much, switch me places? – B'
"That's because you'll kill him before listening to anything he'll say." She replied softly, her fingers hitting the button.
"Fifteen love." L said, sounding bored.
Light looked shocked, but he covered it up quickly by laughing. "Oi, isn't it a bit early to bare your bangs, Ryuuga?"
L laughed, too, though it sounded as monotone as his regular voice. "Just catching you unaware is all."
She rolled her eyes and looked down to hit the send button, but when she looked up, there were people surrounding her. Most of them were girls that were gushing over Light-and one of them over L, freak…But, then there was a guy who seemed astounded at their ability. When her attention shifted off of her phone and back onto the court, she nearly fell over in shock. It seemed that neither of them were holding back.
'Of course not; L isn't the type that likes to lose…and, if our suspicions are right and Light is Kira, then he won't want to lose to anyone, either. Especially, if the person he would be losing to is L, he'll definitely put everything he has into beating him.'
"Yasunaga-senpai!" A voice called out from near her.
A turned her head slightly, her eyes landing on the pair. They weren't too far from her.
"I thought I'd heard of Yagami before, so I looked his name up. Turns out he placed first in the national junior high championships in 1999 and 2000. In his third year, he quit, saying something about 'playtime being over'. He hasn't competed since." The guy said, completely in awe.
'If your playtime was really over, Light, then why would you agree to play this game? And, the question isn't linked respectively only to tennis…'
"I wonder, though…who exactly is that Ryuuga person? I mean, if he can keep up with the national champion, he must be…" A girl said-the girl who was admiring L.
"Couldn't find anything about him." The guy said, although he had a frightened look on his face.
"It's unbelievable." 'Yasunaga' said, shaking. "They've got the skills to become professionals, and they entered To-Oh with top marks…It's like they're destined to be property of the tennis club."
She couldn't take it anymore. "Yagami-kun is a junior national champion." She said, turning towards them.
"Oh! You're Ryuzaki-san!" The girl, Kyoko, exclaimed. "I heard that, behind Ryuuga and Yagami, you got the highest scores!"
"Hai, that's right." She acknowledged, smiling slightly. "Hideki-kun is also a junior national champion. He hasn't played in a very long time. I'm surprised he came out of retirement."
They surrounded her. "How do you know that?" They asked, quickly and eagerly.
"Hmm? Oh, that's because," she turned back to their game and rested her hand on the fence. "I was the one Hideki-kun had to beat to get that title."
"You must join the tennis team, then!" Yasunaga said quickly, reaching to grab her hand.
She pulled it back and turned, giving him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry-I'm much too busy to join such an injudicious club. Besides, my boyfriend would surely object to it."
He backed off immediately. "I didn't know you had a boyfriend, Ryuzaki."
A grinned. "Please! No need to be formal. All of you can call me Aimi-chan~"
"Six for, Yagami wins." The referee called out.
She whirled around, a bit shocked.
'B, L totally just lost. When I get home, we should celebrate! – A'
'I'll go buy cake and strawberry jam. Also, Diego doesn't believe you. – B'
"Good match, Yagami. I lose." L admitted, somewhat shocked himself.
"I haven't played so hard in a long time, Ryuuga." Light shook his hand. They were both panting and sweating.
"It's over already?" Someone nearby complained.
"Go at it again, guys!" Yasunaga requested.
She sighed and grabbed a pen from the bag of a nearby student. She threw it at him. The back end of it smacked against his forehead.
"Are you kidding me? I don't want to see that again." She complained, fixing a bobby pin in her hair before walking onto the field.
"My throat's parched. I say we treat ourselves to some refreshments. I have something I wish to speak to you about." Light said, only nodding his head at her once in acknowledgement.
"Seeing as how I lost the match, I'll let you lead me around a bit. I have some questions for you as well if you know what I mean." L said, looking completely defeated and sloppy next to Light.
"You're forgetting something, Hideki." She said, pressing her lips together in silent disapproval.
"Ah, a word before we go." He recognized, turning back towards Light.
"What is it?" He asked, a bit hurriedly.
"My suspicions are growing stronger." L said bluntly.
"To tell you the truth, we think you are Kira." She added in, smirking.
"Don't slow down on our account, though. I do want to have our little chat…get my drift?"
Light stopped moving. It was as if every fiber of his being was trying to deny it. "Haha. I'm Kira?" He asked, snickering.
L didn't look amused. His hands hung down at his side, limply. "I'm only slightly suspicious – 1% sure at best." He blinked slowly. "Though, I would rather hope that you aren't Kira so you might aid us on the investigation with your excellent investigative abilities."
She rolled her eyes. 'I'm pretty sure that L wants to kill us or something…Well, maybe just himself? – A'
'All he has to do is tell me. I'd be happy to oblige. – B'
She snickered and continued texting him, despite the fact that they were leading her in the direction of the café.
'I think…I think I know what our surprise is, but I don't know for sure. – A'
'Tell me what you think? – B'
'Not until I'm sure. You'll get mad then we'll really be in trouble. Ah. Gotta go. Don't forget to get the cake. I was being serious! – A'
'Right… - B'
Her nose twitched in aggravation as she sat beside L. He sat in his usual pose-and she had moved to sit criss-cross. Not because it saved any of her IQ points, but because she liked the look on Light's face when she did so.
"I like the coffee here." He started, as if that was why he had chose the café. "If we talk in the corner, we won't have to worry about eavesdroppers."
A had to bite back a sarcastic remark as L actually thanked Yagami.
"Thanks for choosing such a nice place." He thanked, bringing his thumb up to chew on.
She was starting to think that she was spending too much time with Rue. While L normally got on her nerves, she never felt such a need to yell at him or something along those lines. Though she had agreed to come with him, she didn't understand why he felt the need to put them both in danger. They were sitting in a café with a Kira suspect, after all.
"Also, if we sit here, you don't have to worry about how you sit." Light laughed once more, pointing out the odd way that he was sitting.
"Ah…" L said, bluntly. "I am used to sitting like this."
"Yea. He claims it's because it saves his intelligence." She frowned. "In reality, I think it's because he enjoys embarrassing us."
He ignored her, which she expected. "So, Yagami-kun. What do you want to tell me?" L asked, resting both his hands on his knees.
"Oh, that. I think I will wait until you are not suspicious of me being Kira. You go first, Ryuuga."
She rolled her eyes. 'I change my mind. Yagami is boring… - A'
"…Okay. May I test your investigative abilities, Yagami-kun?" L asked. He had given her a disapproving stare for her texting, but she had ignored him for it.
'Ay, you're stupid, L. If he is Kira, and I have no doubts that he is, then he'll be figuring out what you're after. However, Yagami, you're…to suspicious. If you are Kira, you have probably run through this scenario time and time again in an attempt to beat the system. Damn, there are three genius' at this stupid table.' A felt like slamming her head against the table, but…that might get her stared at.
"What can you conclude about me claiming to be L?" He asked.
'Yeah, but you have Kira and L right there. It can't be too boring. – B'
'Eh. L just asked Kira what he thinks about 'him claiming to be L'…Ha. You should be here. You'd provide me with comic relief. – A'
"Hm? For starters…You are very hopeful that I will be of help to you. And, l must have thought that going to Kira claiming to be L would free the investigator from the risk of being killed. If the investigator dies, l will know that the suspect is Kira." Light leaned his head in his hand, closing his eyes. "Using this, one can go even further by considering that news report that says, 'Kira needs to know the victim's face…' The truth should be that Kira needs something more."
'Nah. I'd probably get myself killed. – B'
'Then, we'd know for sure he was Kira and I could give him the death penalty myself~ - A'
"Something more than the face…something like the name."
'B…can't you see people's name and how long they'll live? – A'
'Yeah? – B'
"Why else would you use the name of a famous idol if it weren't to insure that Kira would not be able to use the name to kill you?" L asked very seriously.
'How can we say that Kira doesn't possess this same ability? Then, Kira wouldn't need the person's name. He would only need to see their face to live. – A'
"Correct." L said, chewing on his thumb.
Light was dumbfounded. "You're telling me it's correct so easily?" He asked in disbelief.
"Should I be hiding it from you?" L asked.
Yagami chose to ignore the question. " Also, the chance that you are L is extremely low."
'You don't know that. You don't know that my ability isn't some freak chance. I was born with it. I doubt that Kira having it is a possibility. Have you told L? – B'
"How so?" L asked, though it sounded muffled.
"If I were L, I would never go in person to someone who might be Kira. I would tell a subordinate to go claiming to be L instead."
'Which is exactly what he normally does; that's why this entire scene is so weird.' A frowned, pushing her coffee away from her and leaning forward. 'No, of course not. – A'
"The Real L will always work behind the scenes and never on the front lines. He uses the police as his weapons as he controls them from safety."
"That makes sense." L agreed, looking completely convinced.
'He's such a faker…' She thought, miserably.
"True…using the tactic of claiming to be L up front is still risky, and, if L goes in person, it will defeat the purpose. It is hard to imagine that the real L will ever come out of the shadows…"
"Though personally, I believe you really are L." Light claimed, reaching for his coffe.
"Why's that?" She asked, curiously.
"When people think of L, they think of a middle-aged detective…"
"Did you think that it was a possibility that L predicted you would think like that so they chose someone young on purpose?" She countered.
"Yes, L may have thought that far ahead…" Light looked at her, curiously. "But, if we keep thinking in reverse like that, it will never end." He laughed. "Your mind will end up in a mess."
"Not really." A forced a smile on her own. "As a genius, Yagami-kun, you should be able to keep your facts straight. If a simple teaser like that jumbles your thoughts, then perhaps…no, never mind." She purposely didn't finish the insult.
"Fine." L threw a glare her way before pulling folded papers out of his pocket. "Since I asked you to join the investigation, it would be rude to leave you empty handed."
'Until we know for sure, I think we should leave it as something only you and I know. Collin and I are doing some research. I'll let you know what we find. – B'
"Here are some information that I never publicized. Please, tell me what you think of these."
"Here is the order that the twelve FBI agents died and the order in which they received a certain file." L said, handing over the paper to Light. "Secondly, these three are the letters that some victims wrote on the prison walls before they died."
"Can you tell us what you can conclude after looking at the list of the agents?" She asked in a mock cheerful voice. She held up her phone showing L half of the text that B had sent her.
"Hm…Let's see…" Light said, looking at the paper. "Ryuuga, what was in the file that the agents received?" Light asked, shrugging. "How can I do anything with the list if you don't tell me?
"Ah…Sorry." L apologized, in monotone. In her experience, she had never heard him apologize to anyone sincerely. "The agents sent each other their names and pictures. Then, they all died after they received the file."
"I see…so Kira really does need the name and face to kill. A file that contained the name and photo of all the agents…then they all died. It is very likely Kira used a copy of the file to kill them." Light said, very matter-of-factly.
L's face was blank, but he didn't look extremely happy. "And, those three pictures?" He prodded.
Light looked through them, almost gleefully. "These are very interesting pictures." He shuffled them before placing them down. "According to this, it seems that Kira is able to control his victims before they die. It seems Kira predicted that you know of his ability to control the victim's actions and wrote a secret message to taunt you."
"If you put them together and read across, you can see a message. If we put it like this the message is, 'L, do you know that Shinigami only eat apples?'" Light stated, proudly. "However…" Light looked proud, L looked surprised. "If we arrange the photo according to the labels on the back…the message becomes, 'L, do you know the reaper that only eats apples?' That sounds rather strange. I wonder what Kira is trying to say here?"
She hummed, drawing their attention. "If there is such a thing as a Shinigami, which I doubt renouncing the supernatural entirely, it could be that Kira somehow managed to draw one over on his side and that that reaper enjoys apples."
L scoffed and returned to Light, not taking his eye off of her. "Stop." He stopped both of them with a single word.
"The truth is, there are four photos." L set the picture down. "If you add this, the message becomes, 'L, do you know the Shinigami that only eats apples has red hands"
Light frowned. "But, if there were only three, my analysis is perfect." He pressed, stubbornly.
"Not really." A snickered. "It would only have been pefect if you had predicted the existence of the fourth photo."
"But, Yagami-kun, you were so sure that there were only three photos, so it is inevitable that you didn't consider the possibility of a fourth." L smirked.
"I guess I did completely fail to consider the possibility of a fourth…" He trailed off, laughing slightly and running his hand through his hair. "Though, either way, this message is irrelevant to the case since there is no such thing as a god of death."
"Next question. If Yagami-kun were L, how would you go about finding if a suspect were Kira?"
Light lifted his cup with her right hand. "I would trick him into telling me information that only Kira would know…" He pointed at them. "Like, what you are doing right now."
"I once asked the same question to the investigators and it took them a long time to come up with an answer." L started, looking impressed. "And, the things they came up with were so simplistic, such as showing the suspect the name and face of criminals that nobody else knew about." He didn't glance at her. Honestly, she had never even been asked. She hated how much attention he was putting on Light. Actually, she hated that he was out in public to begin with. "Yet, you only took seconds to put yourself above the investigators and find the best answer. Your skills are definitely amazing."
Light laughed. "I must have made myself more suspicious by coming up with something like that."
L nodded. "Correct. It's now 3%." Light quit laughing. "However, now I want you on the team even more." He moved the labels. "The truth is you were correct earlier, Yagami-kun. I am not the only person who went to a suspect claiming to be L." He trailed off before refocusing his attention. "Personally, I would still want you to join us even if I were positive you were Kira. Do you know why?"
He closed his eyes. "If I were innocent, you would gain a great asset. If I were Kira, you would be able to keep an eye on me for any clues. Having a suspect help you investigate, while the suspect is being investigated…that's a fine idea." Light sipped from his cup before putting it down on it's plate, almost forcibly. "You are missing something, Ryuuga. It is true that I am investigating Kira out of my own curiosity, but…I am not Kira, and I don't want to be killed."
'A! Are you still with L and Yagami? – B'
'Yeah? Why? Did you find anything? – A'
"Rather than working with an untrustworthy stranger, I'd rather work alone. So, do you have any proof that you are not Kira, Ryuuga?" Light accused, leaning back and crossing his arms. "If you don't, then you're in the same situation as I am. Isn't it unfair that you are the only one hammering me with questions?"
'Yeah, okay! Let's all pretend that I'm not here. I'm chopped liver.' She rolled her eyes, knowing that he meant to include them both but was much more frustrated by the fact that he knew he was up against the real L.
"We look like normal college students. Actually, you look more like Kira than I do, Ryuuga." Light pointed out. "Neither of us have any proof that we are not Kira. Though, if Ryuuga is L himself or L's double, that would be proof enough.
"I want someone I can trust. For example, someone from the team who can guarantee to me that Ryuuga is L, or is, at least, on the team. If you refuse to do that because I can't prove that I am not Kira, then the deal is off!" Light demanded.
"You know…I don't ever recall saying that I wouldn't let you mean the people on the team." L threw out, bluntly. Light looked shocked. "Right now, I am working with your father on the investigation. If I brought you to the base, would that be convincing enough of the sincerity in my invitation?"
'Come home, now. Yagami may be distressed. We just received word that his father had a heart-'
L's phone went off. "Excuse me." He said, politely enough for him and answered it "What is it?"
"-attack. – B'
"Light-your father-" She started in a hurry, snapping her phone shut.
"He suffered a-"
"-heart attack." Light finished, looking extremely shocked.
"Could it be Kira?"
Yes. (Japanese!)
AN: Whooo! Sorry it took me so long to get this one out to you. :D The text in the manga almost scared me off.