Robin's sleep that night was plagued by nightmares, so it came as no surprise that she'd slept in incredibly late; but what was surprising was that the knocking on her bedroom door came not from Whammy as she'd expected, but from L as she discovered upon opening it. "Just tell-" Robin began, but stopped upon seeing the detective standing in her doorway. "Uh, what are you doing here?"
"It's nearly noon" he stated.
"I know, I mean, I just woke up and looked at the clock-I didn't mean to sleep this late… But why are you waking me up? Is Mr.W alright?" she asked, confused.
L strode past her into her room, "He's quite alright. I just needed to discuss something with you privately, hence why I came to rouse you" he stated.
Robin pushed down the annoyance of L inviting himself in and shut her door. "Well, what is it?" she asked, strolling to her dresser and putting on some pajama pants instead of just the oversized shirt and underwear she had been clothed in.
He looked out her window, pretending to be oblivious to her state of undress. "Mr. Frederick contracted me this morning" L stated, and Robin immediately frowned. "He said you've been missing your appointments for weeks now, but he was hesitant to involve me least you loose your trust in him further. You've apparently been refusing to talk about anything important with him" L stated.
"He refuses to listen to me. That's what they're paying him for anyway, but he's always changing the subject" Robin said airily.
L crossed his arms. "We both know that's not what this is. Why are you afraid to talk to him? Outside of the hospital recommendations, you're required to meet with him once every two weeks under your court sentence" he said.
"That was a misunderstanding" Robin grumbled, "and I'm not keen to tell him anything when he parrots it back to you"
He let out a frustrated sigh before turning from the window to face her. "In that instance, it was in a matter of your well being that the two of us communicated to each other. Of course everything you say to him is confidential. Although, that explains why you haven't been saying anything of importance to him" L said.
"Can you blame me for not trusting him now?" Robin asked rhetorically. "And besides, he's woefully under qualified to be a therapist. The man knows nothing of-"
"You can never let people help you, can you?" L asked with an air of indifference. "Do what you will, but you have to keep up your appointments for another two months, lest you be held in contempt of court. And you'd be absolutely useless for this case in a jail cell" he said before crossing the room and leaving quickly through the door.
Robin let out a long frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair before turning on the shower and laying out her clothes for the day. I don't need things to get difficult between me and L right now. I have to find some way to tell him about B without sounding like a crazy. I have to find proof of B, while keeping an eye on Light and the new Kira. I don't have time for stupid appointments, especially now that I know I'm not going insane.
…
"L," A computer screen exclaimed, lighting up to display Whammy's usual communicative W, "A response from the second Kira has just been sent in" he said.
Ignoring the chorus of surprised and anticipated reactions from the others, L spoke, "Please relay it at once on the computer, and bring the entire materials in the package to the suite at once" he said dryly, placing a long leg over the plush chair in front of the laptop in order to climb over it and regain his usual crouch on the seat. Robin sat lightly on the arm of the chair, Aizawa flanking L's other side, and the rest of the team crowding around the chair in order to get a good view of the laptop as the same Kira screen from the second Kira's last message appeared.
"Mr. Kira, thank you for your reply. I will do exactly as you say" Robin couldn't help but smirk at the scrambled voice, it's words only furthering her 'Kira fan girl' suspicions, while Matsuda and Aizawa let out equal cries of satisfaction at the news. "But, I want to meet you. I don't think you have the eyes, but I won't try to kill you"
Robin's jaw dropped, The eyes? Like shinigami eyes? B's eyes? She thought frantically, hurriedly glancing to Light to observe his own reaction on the subject; a face as surprised and slack-jawed as her own. He knows! Light has to know what the second Kira means by 'the eyes'! Robin thought, just as Light masked his reaction and subtly looked around for anyone who had seen his minor slip up-meeting Robin's eyes for a tense two seconds before quickly re-focusing on the computer.
"Did he just say that Kira 'doesn't have the eyes'?" Aizawa questioned aloud, "What on earth could that mean?"
Robin didn't think to observe L, believing him blind in the knowledge of B's eyes, but L knew very well what B had been capable of. L's eyes blurred as they widened, taking him back to long ago when Whammy's had been fresh and new; before Robin had attended. Before A. When it was just him, and B.
…
"Your number changes a lot," B said from the library doorway, "I want to know how you do it"
L was seated, or rather perched, in a plush chair with his back to the door. "I don't know what you're talking about. You're going to have to be more clear" he stated, turning the page of the book he was currently engrossed in. L had few breaks between cases, and he would rather spend it reading than talking to the strange boy that somehow always managed to put him on edge. B made him feel like he was being dissected. The way B liked to play with people and tweak their buttons; to talk to the strange boy was like opening your own head up and inviting him in. L hated it.
"Your number," B said again. "Your death date, L Lawliet"
He dropped the thick book on the carpet, creating a loud thunk that could no doubt be heard downstairs. "How?" L asked, twisting himself around in the chair in order to look at B. "How did you find out my name?"
B was grinning unnervingly, it was too wide to be considered pleasant. "I've always known your name. I know everyone's. I have the eyes after all" and as he spoke, L could have sworn he saw B's eyes flash a bloody sort of red.
The library door was suddenly thrown open, almost hitting B had the boy not possessed such good reflexes. "L, are you alright?" Whammy asked, surveying the room quickly and letting out a sigh of relief when he spotted L sitting in the chair unscathed. "I heard a loud crash. What on earth happened in here?" he asked, looking from L to B curiously.
"L was being clumsy and dropped a book, is all" B stated. "He must have been distracted, I was asking him about the latest case"
L swallowed heavily, unable to take his eyes from B. "Yes, that's right" L said slowly.
Whammy raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, you know you aren't supposed to share cases with others. You signed a confidentiality agreement. But I suppose I can let it go this time, I'm glad to see the two of you bonding" the old man said. L turned around in his seat, trying to ignore the burning feeling in his back that was B's stare, "Anyway, Cookie's prepared supper, so why don't the two of you wash up and come downstairs?" Whammy said, walking back out into the hall.
L had to wait for B to leave the doorway until he could move.
…
"Please tell me how I can meet you without the police finding out" the second Kira said from the computer screen, jolting L from his memory at the next words spoken, "When we meet, we can confirm out identities by showing our shinigami to one another"
"Shinigami?" three bewildered detective echoed, their voices drowned out by L's frightened shout. At the sound, Robin jumped up in surprise; the shock of the second Kira's statement momentarily leaving her as she turned to look at L. At the same time as she stood, the detective clattered his chair to the floor amid concerned shouts from the other Kira task force members.
Robin crouched in front of him, "L! What-Are you okay?" she asked hurriedly, his eyes swimming past her and glued to the computer screen in horror.
"S-s-shinigami?" He stuttered out, "Am I supposed to believe that? That shinigami actually exist?" L said in disbelief, head cloudy with the horror stories his Japanese grandmother had gifted him at a young age; stories of monster-spirits, ghosts, and of course the terrifying shinigami.
"No, it's impossible" Aizawa stated, "Their's no way they're real" he said as the room stared collectively at the blank screen; the second Kira's message was over.
"That's right, Ryuzaki, their's no such thing as a shinigami" Light spoke up, and Robin's gaze darted to him almost immediately, her eyes narrowing at him as he continued. "It's just impossible" he said with such a straight face that Robin couldn't help but frown at him.
I know he's lying! She thought, Light knows about 'the eyes'-Now he's denying the existence of shinigami? This case… It involves something much bigger than just us. Some secret Light's keeping… What have I gotten myself into?
"The first Kira had those criminals in prison write something about shinigami" L stated, obviously still shaken by the message.
"So, shouldn't we assume that this person is the first Kira then?" the chief spoke up, "They say the same things, they must be the same person"
"No, that can't be, dad" Light said, "If it was the same Kira from before, he wouldn't have replied to our video. Their's no way the real Kira would go through so much trouble to get L on TV, and then not kill him."
"But there has to be some sort of connection from the first Kira to the second, for them both to use the word 'shinigami' ….Or maybe the second Kira's just trying to scare us" Aizawa spoke up, and Robin stopped listening.
The way Light is trying to steer this away by saying it's anything but supernatural… Robin thought, I don't believe it at all. She looked at L, still crouching before him as she did so, and he met her eyes in a away that made her own widen. He… Doesn't believe Light either, does he? Or maybe he wants to, but… L, I don't buy it either. She said in her head, as if he could read her thoughts. Attempting to convey her agreement with her expression, Robin gave him a short nod which L seemed to not acknowledge.
"That's simply not possible, Aizawa" L said, getting up off the floor and righting the chair he'd tipped over. "It's as Light says, if the two Kira's were connected, they wouldn't stop trying to kill me" he finished, offering Robin a hand which she gratefully took before L returned to his perch in the chair.
The glance that L gave her as their hands met appeared vacant, but had an underlying conviction that echoed in his tone. He wanted her to go along with Light, at least for now. "I agree" Robin spoke, brushing off her jeans, "The Kira's haven't met yet, the second Kira acted too independently for that to be true. The second Kira was acting out with the first message in hopes to catch the attention of the first so that they could meet"
Light nodded at her, "And 'shinigami' probably refers to the killing power the Kiras possess. 'We can confirm our identities by showing our shinigami to each other' probably means ' we can confirm our identities by showing each other our killing power'" he said.
"That's right" L agreed robotically. "The word 'shinigami' holds some sort of significance between the two Kiras. We should try to get the second Kira to tell us what it means"
"So are you going to respond and force the second to be more direct?" The chief asked.
"No," Robin spoke up, "If we do something like that, the second Kira may suspect that the message wasn't from the real Kira. And who knows what sort of bad things can happen then"
L nodded in agreement, "It's best to leave it to the Kiras from here" he said.
"Wait, leave it to them?" Matsuda asked in confusion.
"Yes. The second Kira has received a message from the 'real' Kira, so she's satisfied. She thinks she's gotten Kira's attention, and they've used a word that only the two of them could understand. When we play this reply on the news, the first Kira will no doubt be watching. He might respond on his own this time" L said.
The chief furrowed his brow, "But, what if the first Kira doesn't respond?" The chief asked.
"The second Kira will most likely get annoyed and frustrated, and probably expose more confidential information about the power her and the first Kira share" Robin stated, knowing that the second Kira held a personality type similar to a spoiled child. "If she doesn't get what she wants, the second Kira will throw a tantrum. Either way, it's a win-win for us" she explained.
"Yes, but it would definitely be more interesting if the first Kira's afraid of that, and sends a reply to prevent it. Then we might be able to get more information from him and samples as we did the second Kira" L said with a smirk, staring at Light all the while; creating a tense body posture from the young suspect. "Now then, we should start on analyzing the new package we've received from the second Kira" he stated before delegating various tasks to the men until Robin, Light, and himself were alone in the room.
Light and L were discussing more theories about the possible meaning of 'shinigami' and 'the eyes' as the second Kira had used them, while Robin was simply standing next to the dessert cart and wracking her brain for strategies to enlighten L on her own theory. If the eyes allow someone to see another person's name and death date, then is it possible that the second Kira choose her victims biased on the fact that they would conveniently die at the same time? No, the real Kira definitely has the power to kill; and the second pretty much said that the only difference between them was that Kira#1 doesn't have the eyes. But then the question is, what's giving them the power to kill? Robin wondered, staring at her tea as it slowly grew cold.
If the second made a deal with a shinigami to get the eyes, could she have also made a deal for it to kill for her? Could Light have made a deal with a shinigami like that, but refused the eyes? But, if the eyes are so powerful, why would he…? Robin frowned as she recalled the main points of Kira's criminal profile. He want's to create a new world, and with Kira's power, he would undoubtedly rule that world. But if he gave up half his life for the shinigami eyes, he might not be able to complete his vision. That's why Light didn't want to do it, and that's why he doesn't want to kill the second Kira! Because, with her eyes, he can kill criminals twice as fast! Robin concluded, smiling at her realization before jumping at a hand on her arm.
It was Light, his face a mask of concern. "You've been awfully quiet since the message ended, Robin" he said.
Robin felt a knot of unease grow in her stomach at the feeling of his hand on her, and quickly darted her eyes around the room in search of L. "I've just been thinking. When did L leave?" Robin asked, keeping her voice calm and casual despite of the panic that was starting to bubble up inside her. Something about Light scared her, something in him reminded her of B, and the close contact they were currently involved in was making her nervous.
"Why didn't you share your thoughts with Ryuzaki and me?" Light asked innocently, "He went to the kitchen to get some snacks, since Watari is busy with the rest of the team right now"
Her throat was dry, and Robin hoped that her nervous swallowing went unnoticed by Light. "I've only been coming up with half-baked things. Not really worthy to hear" she said dismissively.
"Oh, come on, I'd love to hear it. I'm not like Ryuzaki, I won't judge you so harshly" he said with a kind smile that made her sick.
"Let's wait for L to come back, then we can all discuss it. No matter how ridiculous" Robin said, trying to shake off the feeling she was like a rabbit caught in a trap; but Light's hand still on her shoulder made the comparison all the more real.
"Speaking of you and Ryuzaki, their's something I've been wondering," Light said. "The two of you aren't really involved with each other are you? That was just an act in order to get close to me, right?"
"Um… yes... We only said that for the investigation" Robin said hesitantly, bewildered at where he was taking the conversation.
The smile that Light put on was exactly the same as the one when they'd first met; when Robin had, quite literally, ran into him. It was his 'charming' smile. "Well, that's good news then" he said.
His words strangely alarmed her, "What do you mean?" Robin asked in confusion.
"There are few girls I've encountered that are on par with my intelligence, and can carry on a conversation easily with me" Light said.
What? But you've been so dismissive of me up until now. Light, you've always directed your questions and comments to L; no matter if I've asked them or not… Robin thought, furrowing her brow. "I was under the impression that you didn't think I was very bright, or valuable to this case in general" she said.
Light chuckled lightly. "That's not it at all, Robin. You're refreshing, but also intimidating. I'm really just working up the guts to talk to you now" he said, something flickering in his expression that told her he was annoyed that she'd pointed his previous behavior out.
Something isn't right about this, Light's only playing nice. But what is he trying to accomplish here? Robin had to admit that she was curious as to where this was going, no matter how confusing it was. "Oh" she stated simply in reply.
"I'm sorry, you're probably wondering what my point is" Light said, glancing away from her and running a hand through his hair in a show of practiced nervousness. "I'd like to take you out" he said finally.
Robin was floored, annoyed, and thoroughly amused all at the same time. This is his idea to get more information out of me? Or, to learn more about me so he can take me down? What, does he think I'm really that stupid? He really thinks he can manipulate women that easily? With a stupid smile and a fake blush? "Wow, I'm sorry Light, but I'm going to have to decline" Robin said.
Light's expression was entirely surprised rather than disappointed. "Oh, I… Why? I'm sorry, are you dating someone else?" he asked, eyebrows raised so much that they were hidden behind his hair.
She wasted no time on thinking, or devising some other answer, or considering the simple statement 'because I don't think of you that way'; and simply blurted the first thing that came to her tongue. "Because I have feelings for L"
"Well, that's certainly interesting" said a voice from the doorway, making the two of them immediately jump and turn to spot none other than the world's first-class detective.
A/N: I've decided to hold a contest! (Inspired by the one I saw going on at NothingsXSorrow's page. Yes I am a creep that checks out the profiles of the people who fav and review.) The 20th reviewer of Fragaria will be awarded with their choice of either a Oneshot, or a fully colored/inked/ect. drawing of whatever character they'd like. (For example, you could request a pic of Matt, or a pic of your OC, or whatever!) So, keep those reviews coming in! If you'd like to see examples of how I draw, feel free to click the homepage link on my profile which'll send you to the photo bucket where I post all my story-related art. -Luv, Cart