"L!" Robin said in surprise, mortified but willing her brain to think quickly. "Well, this isn't how I wanted to tell you at all" she said, and once again Robin found herself thankful of her body's lack of blush.
L was stoic, completely unreactive to the situation at hand. "I see" he simply stated, both his voice and his face blank and unreadable to Robin.
"I… Can we talk privately?" Robin asked.
Light looked both shocked and embarrassed at the situation, letting go of her shoulder quickly almost as if she had burnt him. "I'll leave the two of you alo-"
"No, we'll go" Robin said, fearing the possibility of Light listening to their conversation with his ear pressed against the door. "If the chief or anyone comes looking for us, just tell them we'll be back shortly" she said, linking her arm with L's and towing him from the room and down the hall into her own bedroom.
Once inside, she locked the door before turning and interestedly noting L's confused and slightly horrified expression. "I don't intend to deflower you, relax" Robin said with amusement.
L shot her a look between insulted and amused, "I've been-I'm perfectly relaxed" he said, appearing apprehensive all the same.
"Look, I'm sorry, Light's creepy. It was the first thing I could think of to get him off my back," Robin supplied hurriedly, retrieving the supernatural books from her nightstand as she spoke and causing her to miss L's reaction to her words. "But their's something more important I wanted to talk to you about, I've been doing some research" she said. "You're probably not going to like it, but the language that the second Kira used fits so perfectly that I can't ignore this theory anymore"
L joined her on the bed, crouching curiously beside her as she cracked open Shinigami Dissected, "These were the books you were hiding?" he questioned.
"Oh, yeah, I…" Robin trailed off sheepishly, wondering if now was the time to tell him about B as well.
There's no telling how he could react, though. I could just tell him my theory about Kira and the Shinigami, and see how he takes it. That way, if he's willing to give something so strange a chance, it could be likely he'll listen to me about B too. She thought, nodding to herself when she reached her conclusion.
"I didn't want you to think I was being a fool. But, the words that the second Kira used; 'the eyes' and 'shinigami'… Well, I've learned a lot about this legend regarding shinigami eyes and, in context, it really could be what she's talking about" Robin said, her only reply from L being a stare as he interestedly cocked his head to the side. "The people who wrote this book seem to think that a shinigami can make a deal with a human to trade their eyes for half of the human's remaining life. After the human obtains the eyes, they can see the birth name and death date of whomever they look at. Considering that the second Kira can kill people just by seeing their face, it's possible that 'the eyes' are how the second Kira's getting her victim's true names" Robin finished.
L stared at her for a few minutes, increasing her nervousness that the long silence following her words already created. "And you assume that both Kiras have somehow made contact with these shinigami and persuaded them into killing people of their choosing?" he asked.
Robin nodded, "Yes, only the reason that the first Kira has to kill upon seeing a name and a face is because he refused the trade of 'the eyes'. The value of the second Kira's own eyes is enough to stop Light from pushing harder to find her and eliminate her. He's going to try to work with her, and judging by her devotion she'll agree hopelessly, so it's imperative we stop them from actually meeting. There's gotta be some way we can stop them, but realize the signs of the second Kira at the same time…" she trailed off as L held up his hands in a 'slow down' motion.
"Let's backtrack a bit here," L said, "I'm willing to admit that this theory fits, but it leaves a lot of holes. Why would the shinigami agree to help either Light or the second Kira? When we had Light's room under surveillance, how was the shinigami he was no doubt consorting with invisible to us? How do you know any of the myths printed in that book are even accurate?"
"I… Well, why do we do anything? The shinigami surely must have motivations of their own, or they must have made a greater trade with Light and the second Kira. Their's no way to really know any of that yet" Robin said, brow furrowing as she though of the rest of the questions. "The second book there, Shinto, Shamanism, and the way of the gods, said that all supernatural entities are virtually unnoticeable to humans unless they want to make themselves known. If that's true, then the shinigami would probably only want itself to be known to Light. Or, if the shinigami is taking orders from Light on who to kill, it's possible that it could be taking orders on who to be visible to. However, as far as the book goes, I obtained it from a highly reliable shopkeeper in-"
L cut her off with a foreign look marring his features. An emotion that Robin couldn't place. "Listen, while your initiative in this research is admirable, you sound thoroughly insane" he stated.
Robin frowned at him, tossing the thick book in her hand on the bed between them in frustration. "I know! I know I sound like a fucking lunatic, but this fits, L! I mean, you've seen a lot of shocking cases in your time, how is it impossible for you to believe this?" she asked.
"I never said I don't believe you" he stated, "but that is precisely the problem. My superstitious nature shouldn't have any effect on this case, and when I look at your theory objectively, it would seem absurd by anyone else's standards. There is not nearly enough proof for me to agree with you, no matter if I believe you or not"
She stared at him, biting her lip in frantic thought, "Well, then give me some time to find some! I can prove it, I know I can. I'm right about this, I can just feel it" Robin stated confidently.
"As it stands now, you've neglected several meetings with Mr. Frederick. Given your theory, I'm afraid that a psych evaluation is required at this time" L said softly.
Robin's eyes widened as she stared at him slack-jawed. "But, you just said that you believed me! My theory is backed by extensive research-I don't think reading is a trait of many budding psych ward patients! I know it sounds odd, but how can you-?" she exclaimed rapidly before pausing to catch her breath, his words leaving her utterly hopeless.
"I think you should leave the case" L said.
Her heart seems to stop beating for a moment; the only thing she could hear was a rushing in her brain, leaving her able to do nothing but gape and stare at the detective. "E-e-excuse me?" Robin finally manages to croak out.
L is still, his unblinking eyes almost feel like they're swallowing her up in scrutiny. "At least for the present. Your mental state is clearly unfit to continue" he said.
"No," she says, standing so quickly she wobbles on her own uncertain feet. "No, you can't just kick me off like that"
"I can," L said. "and I have"
Robin's body wavers, caught between the need to sit and her determination to prove herself as capable. "Be reasonable for once!" she said, "What am I supposed to do now? Where do I go?" she asks, more to herself than the hunched detective.
"Go back to LA, go home" L answers, and she suddenly wants to take a swing at him because doesn't he know LA is that last place on earth I ever want to be again? She thinks in a near-panic.
"I can't go back," Robin said, gasping for breath and fixing him with a pleading look while wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to stop her panicked shaking.
L looks away from her, hides his eyes under his hair, "That's not my concern. Please promptly gather your belongings and make your exit. If I'm forced to, I'll get security to remove you" he said, getting up from the bed and nearly making it halfway across the room before he feels the yanking on his arm.
Robin's clutching him desperately and exerting a look that makes his chest ache. "Please, don't…" she said, before swallowing hard and re-doubling her thoughts. He's noticed her shaking now, she's nearly hyperventilating as well. "I can't go back there. And I can't be alone again. I want…" it's getting harder and harder for her to say it now, "Please don't push me away, you're all I have" His face is stoic, and it's pure fear that gives her enough courage to push on. "I have my doubts about myself. I know I'm walking a thin line here, I know B's screwed me up a lot-and I know it's breaking me, but this case-you. It's all so solid… I finally have something stable…" she struggled to find the right words, and at the same time her hand somehow curls around his. "I need you" she finished, looking up at him desperately with a breathless silence.
His lips on hers, as sudden as the shock it sends down her spine. Robin jolts at his touch, flinches at his hands holding her face, balks at his sugary-sweet taste in her mouth; her whole body rejects him. But by the end, when his eyes slowly open to her own, Robin is struck with a sense that it's all right. With a gasp, Robin realizes she's crying and her fingertips fly to her eyelashes in disbelief. L says nothing, but only accepts her in bewilderment as she curls into his chest, softly stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry" he nearly whispers, and her fingers curl in the fabric of his shirt as the majority of her quick tears dissolved into sniffles. "That was highly inappropriate of me. Please stop crying" L said softly.
Robin almost wanted to laugh. "No. I'm… glad" she said, leaning back in his arms to smile faintly up at him.
"You mean to say, you reciprocate?" L asked, unable to hide his relief from her as it ebbed out of his stoic expression.
She looked down, observing their feet framing each other; her between his, in order to allow them close proximity. It was something they had both done unconsciously. "Yes" Robin finally stated, looking back up at the detective. "It would be less troublesome if I lied, but I can't. If I was completely honest with myself, I've been thrilled to be by your side ever since this case began. Hell, when we pretended to be involved with each other for Light's sake, I was jealous of any other girl's advances towards you. I wrote it off. I didn't want to realize what I was feeling. Even after all these years, and what B did, it still seems like cavorting with the enemy" she finished.
L's expression darkened. "How is it that B could get through to you so thoroughly, but I can't? I'm not your enemy"
"I know," Robin said with a sigh, avoiding his eyes. "I just… You know, it would be easier for you if you favored literally anyone else on this planet except for me"
"No. It wouldn't," L said, with such conviction that her eyes were drawn to him as he spoke. "Their's something about you that's interested me ever since we were children. At this point, it would be torture for anyone else to occupy my thoughts"
She raised her brows in surprise, "That was actually… Quite a cute thing to say…" Robin stated in disbelief.
L smiled down at her, his arms drawing her closer, "May I kiss you again?" he asked, his smile growing as she answered with a shy nod.
A knock on the door interrupted them, and the old man was unable to hide the smile in his distinctive voice. "I hate to interrupt you two, but there's something that you need to see right away"
They parted quickly, rushing to the door in embarrassment. "We were comparing theories, you weren't interrupting anything that can't be taken up later" L stated as he opened the door with Robin by his side, both of them wearing equal expressions of nonchalance.
Whammy's eyes seemed to sparkle with the sense of knowing, "Of course" he assured, grinning at them before his expression turned more serious as he said his next words. "However, the second Kira has made a reply. I've connected the transmission to your laptop, and it's ready to play as soon as you return to the living room where the task force is gathered"
Without a word, the two of them hurried down the hall and halted the light chatter of the room as they entered. "Ryuzaki, Watari has intercepted the tape that-"
L cut the chief off as he sat down on the couch before the laptop. "I'm aware. Let's watch, shall we?" he asked rhetorically, pushing the play button as the task force scrambled to get a good view of the screen. Robin quickly sat next to L on the couch, ignoring the stare Light was giving her from L's other side.
"Kira, I asked you to let me know how we can meet, but you've failed to deliver. As such, I'm taking it upon myself. Please broadcast what's enclosed with this video" The scrambled second Kira's voice said before the short message ended.
"A page from a diary-planner was the only other item in the package" Whammy said, placing the sheet in L's fingertips.
Robin leaned over his shoulder, scanning the page along with L. "Last years diary… The 30th stands out straight away. 'We confirmed our shinigami at the Tokyo Bowl'" the detective stated, turning his gaze to observe Light as he gave him the sheet.
Light took a considerable amount of time looking over the paper before he finally spoke, "Well, that's definitely an idiotic thing to do" he said.
"Doesn't the second Kira understand that the police will infiltrate the Tokyo Bowl in order to catch both of them? Stating something so bluntly isn't a very good strategy" Matsuda chimed in.
"To be honest, it's so stupid that I'm not sure how to deal with it" L said exasperatedly, "If we broadcast the diary page, then the game on the 30th will be canceled, and all the surrounding areas will be monitored by the police. On the other hand, if we don't broadcast this, the second Kira could get angry. No matter how stupid they are, the second Kira is definitely dangerous"
Robin frowned in frustration, "So, you're saying that we have no choice either way?" she asked.
L nodded, "Yes. We'll broadcast the diary, and then announce that the game is canceled in order to investigate along the roads and areas around the stadium" he said.
"You don't really think that the second and first Kiras would be dumb enough to meet at the stadium even though we'll announce all that?" the chief asked in surprise.
"The real Kira, no. But the second Kira? I'm not so sure. I can't tell how smart she is" L stated. "And assuming that I'm underestimating her, the note does have other meeting possibilities. There are other locations listed in the diary; the 22nd meeting a friend at Aoyama, the 24th meeting a friend in Shibuya. The two specifically mention a notebook at Aoyama and clothing shopping in Shibuya. The best thing to do would be to place more surveillance cameras at these locations and send undercover officers on those dates"
Robin frowned, tapping her finger to her lips in deep frustrated thought. Their's no mention of the eyes, like before, only of the shinigami. But surely this Kira isn't stupid enough to be so obvious like that? One of the other two locations have to be the real meet-up, but which one? Their's nothing really unusual about either of them, studying with a friend and shopping with a friend are both normal things. Well, if I was studying with someone it wouldn't be in a crowded place like Aoyama… She smiled to herself at the thought, That's it! I wouldn't go there to study at all, but the crowds would be great for diverting suspicion from oneself. 'Notebook' has got to fit in somewhere with the other words only the two Kiras know. It's barely suspicious, but I'm more inclined to believe the real meeting place is Aoyama!
"I volunteer for Aoyama!" Robin declared, interrupting Matsuda's own proposal.
The task force looked surprised, except for Matsuda, who was at best slightly taken aback at her sudden outburst. "Why only Aoyama? You're certainly young enough to fit in at both places, even if you are a foreigner" Matsuda asked, puzzled.
"It's just a hunch" Robin assured before turning her attention to L. "I want to be part of the undercover police in Aoyama, please"
L was staring blankly at her, "Absolutely not. You're not affiliated with the law in any way. Should a situation arise, you'd have to proceed like a civilian" he stated.
Robin narrowed her eyes at him, "Well, what else would I do? Filing papers and compiling information is helpful, but doesn't utilize the extent of my abilities-which, may I remind you, is why you hired me for this case. Besides, both of us took that Capoeira class. I can defend myself just fine" she pointed out.
"You'll be observing the locations through the surveillance cameras with me in order to assure that neither of us miss anything" L stated.
"No. You know as well as I do that I'm much better at analysis in person, it's easier for me to read-" Robin halted momentarily, giving Light a sideways glance as she remembered that-under no circumstances-would it be good to have him find out about her true skills for the case. "I'll be able to perform better if I'm there in person. I'm only requesting to be allowed to go to Aoyama. Matsuda would be there to help me out with his badge if it's really necessary" she said.
L stared sharply at her for a long time before he spoke, "Do you understand the extent of the risk you're taking? The second Kira can kill with just a name and a face. If you're suspected of being with the police, or in opposition to Kira, you could be killed instantly. Do you understand?" he asked, the deadly seriousness of his voice making her nerves twinge at the prospect of the trip and it's consequences.
"That's not necessarily true, Ryuzaki" Light spoke up suddenly, gathering all attention to him. "Remember that our Kira message ordered the second Kira to stop killing innocent people unless the first told her to. There's really a very little chance of something awful happening, since the second Kira is so heavily devoted to the first"
Light's words were met with a dark glare from the detective. "There is still a 30% chance that both outings could result in death" L stated, ignoring Matsuda's sudden paling at the statement.
"I volunteer to go to both Aoyama and Shibuya, that way Robin can have one more person to protect her" Light said, before continuing in a scolding tone. "Honestly Robin seems like she can take care of herself very well, and to insist on her staying behind is kind of sexist, Ryuzaki"
Robin stared at Light outright, and if it wasn't so easy to keep her emotions in check, she would have laughed in his face then-and-there. Sexist? This coming from the guy that tried to weasel information out of me only hours ago by inviting me out on a date? Light, who thinks he can manipulate apparently any woman with his looks and some bullshit charm, just called L sexist? Robin thought in disbelief, wrenching her stare from him as L spoke.
"Never twist my words in order to add gravity to your argument, Light" L said almost bitterly, his expression clearly stating that he would rather accompany his words with a fist to Light's face.
Robin cleared her throat. "I realize the risks here, but my presence at Aoyama outweighs them. Besides, if I were to be killed in Aoyama, it would give you a great lead to finding the second Kira. During both the Shibuya date and the Stadium date, I will maintain video surveillance as you request. Just, please give me this one" The task force seemed stunned by her level-headed proposition, and judging by her past childish arguments with L, they were in the right to be so shocked.
"You will stay in the company of Matsuda at all times. All three of you will receive updated alert belts to contact Watari, and both Robin and Light will be granted small firearms" L stated finally.
Just as he was about to grin and thank him profusely, Robin was interrupted by the Chief. "Now hold on a minute. Light, I don't know if I agree with you going on such a dangerous outing like this. Especially not with a weapon."
"Please dad, I go to both Shibuya and Aoyama all the time with my friends" Light halted as an idea appeared to dawn on him. "Actually, I could probably get few friends to go with us. That way, it would seem even more natural"
Most of the task force grumbled at this idea, especially the Chief. But in the end it was agreed that Matsuda, Robin, and Light would make the trip to Aoyama-Robin being absent for Shibuya. Shortly after they agreed, the task force began to break up and get ready to return to their respective homes for the night. Once the hotel suite was empty, and Whammy was cleaning the dishes of the day in the kitchen, L approached Robin.
"Aoyama will be dangerous" He said, standing by her side as the two of them gazed out the large window overlooking the Tokyo streets below.
Robin frowned at the glass, "I know. It's not like I haven't been in life-threatening situations before" she stated.
"What B did to you is nothing like this. If Kira were to kill you, it would be instant. Nothing like the torture B put you through" L said, a hard fierceness in his voice that made Robin softly smile at the safe feeling it created.
"I wasn't really talking about that. You forget I've worked with the police before. I've seen the most volatile schizophrenics, people strung-out and babbling insanely on drugs, even listened to the ranting of a sick pedophile for three hours until we found the girl he kidnapped" Robin said quietly. "It's true that I've never done something this covert, but I'm not scared. I won't regret my decision. The reason I became a psychologist was to help people. I want to stop Kira, and this is just the best way for me to help right now"
An arm crept around her waist, pulling her side to his as they stared at the bright city bustling below them. "Just be careful"
"Of course"
"And keep an eye on Light"
"Definitely"