And, this one's based on my other favorite chapter :)
I love writing for Matsuda. It comes pretty naturally to me, considering I'm nearly that goofy in real life XD
Now then, replyness:
Jillian Jiggs: Nah, Matsuda's too happy-go-lucky to kill himself. It just drives him to want to prove himself which... does end in near-death situations, okay, I suppose that qualifies as well. Poor Matsuda :( And the Imagay joke will live on forever :)
ActionFry: I did enjoy writing that bit :D
Hells Twilight: Thank you :) And no, L's not going to die. It explains why in earlier chapters, which you'll want to check out if you haven't already. In short, Katherine manages to get his name out of him and uses her Death Note to prevent him from being killed by any other. The reason for the name of the story is because she picked up the Shinigami King's notebook, which has powers that the others don't have, such as saving lives.
candourly-unspoken: Thank you :) She definitely won't stop calling him gay, that would just ruin half of my fun in writing this story :P
Madeline Cullen: Inspiration? Sweetness, I didn't know my stories served to inspite XD Thank you :)
Twitch-Lawliet: Thank you much, I'm quite glad it didn't. And I still am having a busy time, I'm just sleeping a lot less now that I'm writing again, haha.
Disclaimer: Same as always
Warnings: Too lazy.
Quick-Sum: Matsuda does some quick thinking and the investigation team has trouble believing it, Hitori and Shimura definitely think this Taro Matsui guy's little sister is freaking psycho, and Katherine ponders over whether or not Matsuda found her secret bottle of Whiskey in the bathroom.
"What are you doing here?!"
Matsuda, who had fallen backwards in surprise at the door opening, could now think only one thought: Oh my God, I'm so dead! It was only natural, considering everything he had just heard, what they probably thought he had heard, and that Kira was probably one of the people in the meeting room to which the doors had just opened. There was no doubt he would be killed if he didn't do some really fast thinking. But it came to him that fast, like someone had snapped their fingers or flicked on a light switch.
Maybe all that time he had spent listening to L and his on the spot plans had finally paid off – it seemed full proof enough for now.
Matsuda managed to wrench his identification out of his pocket, but not anything that would have his real name placed upon it, obviously. He held up a bussiness card. "I finally found someone I can talk to – I'm an agent from the Yoshida Agency, my name is Taro Matsui. I'm here to introduce this highly recommended talent –" and here he held up a picture of Misa, "the star of the film Sweet Eighteen coming this spring, the icon of fashion magazines all over and growing in popularity every day, Misa Amane! Would you be interested in featuring her in your television ads?"
Now unable to think anything except the word Please over and over and over again at insanely fast repeated intervals, he struggled to keep a straight face. One of the men that had just stood up from the rounded table pointed at him and said quite loudly, "Hey, he might have overheard–!"
Another held up a hand to silence him. "Why are you shouting? There wasn't anything to be overheard."
"That's right," said a third, quite calmly. The man that had yelled lowered his arm back to his side. The third that had spoken continued, "Hatori, Shimura, please take this gentleman to the other room and see what he has to offer Yotsuba."
"Uh– yes, I see. Of course," said the man who had opened the door. Matsuda managed to stand up to follow the two men. This was better than sitting on the floor like an idiot. The others would probably be sitting back at the meeting deciding how to kill him, but if Kira didn't have the eyes like the second Kira had, then he should be all right. He had only showed them a fake name, and he had only told them a fake name. He might still be safe if L was willing to help him….
It was nearing ten o'clock now. Katherine was within minutes of strangling Misa, maybe beating her within an inch of her life with a tree limb. Matsuda wasn't back, which could only mean trouble. No one on the investigation team had attempted to call, which could only mean that they didn't have any idea of the situation at hand. It was bad. Matsuda was definitely trapped within the Yotsuba offices, there seemed to be almost no doubt about it at that point.
It was certain that if he lived through this, he was going to get slapped, both for doing something as stupid as going to Yotsuba alone and for doing something as utterly cruel as leaving her alone with Misa!
Katherine's cell phone finally rang at 9:49 at night. It was already dark out, with no light but the bright ones from the camera pointed away from her and the slight glow of the street lights lining the sidewalks. She looked at the front of her cell phone to see the number, and then flipped her phone open.
"Your girlfriend's still shooting," she said. "What do you want?"
"Do you know where Matsuda-san is, then?"
"I have no early idea," she told Light. "He took off quite a while ago, didn't say where to, but as I can see the sign for the Yotsuba building from the set, I'm going to assume he did something stupid."
"He sent out a distress signal from inside," said Light. "He might have been caught."
"And I'm in charge of…?"
"Calling him. L's already done the same thing. He managed to find out that he has been caught. We don't know anything about the circumstances yet, though. Misa didn't answer her phone, so I'm assuming she's still shooting the movie. So call him now, find out what's going on without revealing anything about your identity or his identity, or about Kira, and get back to the investigation team on it."
"Right."
Katherine hung up her phone and opened it back up. While she wasn't one to take orders from the Nancy-boy, she knew they were actually coming from L and that it probably would be a smart thing to listen to him if he was attempting to come up with a plan to save Matsuda from a horrible, possibly painful, and most definitely humiliating fate. So, after dialing that number, she held the phone to her ear.
Not far away, Matsuda's phone rang a second time. He checked the caller ID on it. Thinking quickly, he said to Hatori and Shimura, "My sister, she was at the shoot with Misa. Should I tell her to bring Misa here immediately, or would you rather take time to think about bringing her in for advertising?"
Hatori and Shimura looked at each other – it was an odd situation, indeed. Matsuda knew that they weren't sure if he had heard anything or not. They probably suspected him, but he was playing his cards right. Then, on the other hand, Matsuda knew for a fact that they were working with Kira. That made the atmosphere at least slightly tense.
"Go ahead," said Hatori.
Matsuda flipped open the phone and held it away from his ear, as he had durring his conversation with L, so the other two would be able to hear. Before he could even get out the word "Hello," he was already being nagged by an extremely angry investigator.
"Onii-chan!" he heard her half-yell – if the atmosphere had been off before, then it was maddeningly edgy now. "You left me alone with Misa Amane, I'll kill you –"
"M – Mizuki –"
"Where the hell are you?"
"I'm at the Yotsuba company's main Tokyo offices, it's not that far from Misa's movie set."
"You were supposed to be dropping me off at the movies when the shoot was over," she said impatiently. "What're you doing there?"
"I think I've almost gotten Misa a job advertising for Yotsuba," he said, "could you bring her here when the shoot's over?"
"Yeah, whatever," said Katherine, sounding extremely irritated. "I'll call you as soon as I've got an answer out of her."
"Thank y –"
But she had already hung up. Matsuda also shut his phone now. "I'm sure Misa will agree to come here," he said, though he was sure the looks he was getting were more on behalf of the idea of his apparently ill-tempered sister coming there with her.
Katherine was already calling Light back, and the shooting for that day was just ending. Misa was coming back over to where Katherine was, having had changed back into her regular clothes.
"Hello?"
"I called him," Katherine said to Light, "and he apparently came up with his own on the spot plan that seems to have worked out pretty well."
There was a momentary silence on the other line. Katherine wondered why until –
"Are you still talking about Matsuda?"
"Yes," she said impatiently. "Apparently, when he was caught, he told them that he was with the Yoshida Agency and that he was promoting Misa, who he was looking to get Yotsuba to use for their television advertisements. Pretty good plan, huh?"
"Uh, yeah," he said, "hold on."
She heard Light telling the rest of the team Matsuda's makeshift plan. After he finished speaking, there was again silence. A moment later, there was static on the other line, then L spoke: "Matsuda came up with a plan?"
"Don't make me kick you through the phone. Now, he says he wants me to bring Misa to the Yotsuba Offices for apparently a further interview. I think it would be a good idea. It's not a very solid plan, but I'm sure that it's… buildable."
A little while later, Katherine called Matsuda back, a fully established plan in mind. She had already told Misa about it, who was off changing clothes now so she could be ready to meet the Yotsuba members. Katherine only had to wait for a few rings.
"Hello?"
"The movie shoot's over," said Katherine miserably, "I'll be bringing Misa to the Yotsuba building…."
"Good," said Matsuda. "Ask for Hatori of the Advertisement Planning division and you'll both be let in."
"All right, be there soon. Misa's coming back from the dressing room now, anyway. I need to have my phone put away so it doesn't break if she tackles me this time. Bye."
Katherine shut her phone and put it in her pocket as Misa approached her. "Is Kat-chan sure she doesn't want to change into something different?" she said hopefully. Katherine looked at Misa's outfit – the cropped tank top, the pleated short skirt, the leggings and the shoes – and flinched.
"Really, I'll be all right, Misa." Misa pouted and crossed her arms. "I'm fine like this."
"Misa's not going to Yotsuba with Kat-chan unless she changes into something nicer! Kat-chan looks like she's in middle school in that uniform…"
"Y… you have to go, there's a life on the line here!" said Katherine, waving her arms.
"Then Kat-chan should probably change clothes," said Misa, setting down her bag and digging in it.
"Why are you so obsessed with trying to get me to dress up?" asked Katherine miserably. "I'm fine in casual wear. And in this," she added, looking down at her regular outfit for her disguise. "You're evil. I swear. You really are. I can't understand how the cross on your necklace hasn't burned your skin after all these years."
"Kat-chan, you're being silly," said Misa, pulling out some clothes and grabbing Katherine's arm. "Kat-chan can use Misa's dressing room."
Katherine pointed at the clothes in Misa's hand. "Isn't that what you're wearing?"
"I had an extra," she said happily. "Now we can be like sisters!" Katherine flinched at the thought of being even distantly related to Misa as she was pushed into the dressing room and handed the clothes. "Katherine shouldn't take too long, since Matsu-san is at Yotsuba and might get into trouble if we don't hurry," said Misa.
"Evil!" Katherine said loudly as Misa shut the door on Katherine, who looked down at the clothes and cursed whatever God had made her and Misa take the same size in nearly all their clothes.
They arrived at the Yotsuba building not much later, maybe around half and hour, with Misa practically skipping in her triumph at getting Katherine to change out of her "raggedy" clothes, and Katherine with her arms crossed and glaring at anyone who so much as glanced at either of them. When they arrived at the reception desk, Katherine decided it would probably be better for her to do the talking than it would Misa.
"Welcome to the Yotsuba Tokyo Main Office, how may I help you?" asked the woman behind the desk kindly.
"Mizuki Matsui, Misa Amane," said Katherine, pointing to herself and then Misa in turn. "We're supposed to be meeting with her manager, Taro Matsui, and Hatori of the Advertisement Planning division to discuss Yoshida and Yotsuba signing some sort of contract on her behalf." Misa waved happily when Katherine pointed at her.
"Yes, you will need to go to the nineteenth floor, where they will be waiting for you in the main meeting room."
"Thank you, ma'am," said Katherine, and Misa followed her to the elevator.
"Kat-chan's acting angry," said Misa, though she still sounded perfectly happy. "Is Kat-chan okay?"
"Kat-chan's just goody gumdrops," said Katherine in a false happy voice, which was apparently enough to convince Misa.
It was evident by the elevator that Yotsuba was fairly empty at this time of night on Friday evenings. When Katherine pressed the button to summon the elevator to the first floor, the doors opened there immediately, revealing no one to be waiting inside. Katherine and Misa got on, and Misa pressed the button for the nineteenth floor. Katherine stood with her back against the back wall of the elevator, keeping her arms crossed still, shooting glares at Misa every few seconds (though Misa was completely oblivious that she was on the business end of these constant death glares). The elevator opened again in what seemed like no time, and they found a set of double doors in no time. When they heard Matsuda's voice, still loudly promoting Misa, they knew that was where they needed to be. Misa hurried forward and knocked on the doors, and Katherine followed reluctantly. The doors opened to reveal a large meeting room, and Misa took the liberty of introducing herself while Katherine continued glaring, particularly at Matsuda.
This was all his fault.
"I'm Misa-Misa!" she said happily to those seated at the table. "I won't strip all the way, but I can do lingerie or swimsuit ads! I'm here to do all I can!"
Katherine did her best to back into the corner of the room, right next to the door.
"Matsu," Misa said to Matsuda, while the eight at the table seemed to make mumbled comments to each other about the eloquent introduction on Misa's part, "the agency has already set up the special reception for Yotsuba!"
At least Misa had saved Katherine the trouble of talking. Matsuda looked confused, but Misa continued happily (and loudly) to the eight men at the table, "I'm inviting you gentlemen to my large flat, where the girls from the agency will be giving you a very warm reception!"
They all appeared shocked… but were at least for the idea.
"What! Fashion models from the agency?"
"… I'm going."
"M… me too."
"I suppose we probably should follow Matsui-san to discuss the arrangements in advertising further."
"T… that's right…"
Matsuda had slightly more important things to do than to worry about the reception for Yotsuba. It probably wasn't good that he really had no idea what to do, and he would have rather not died within the next… well, at all, really, even though it was bound to happen eventually – he didn't want to be killed by Kira.
Or anyone else, just especially not by Kira.
So, he discretely headed into the bathroom in the apartment and locked the door behind him. L was obviously watching everything on the cameras, so Matsuda pulled out his cell phone and dialed the first number that came to mind. L answered almost immediately.
"Ryuzaki, are you watching?" Matsuda asked quietly, looking around until he spotted a camera.
"Yes."
"Those eight we brought in – they were holding a meeting, discussing who to kill using Kira. There's no doubt it's them."
"Are you sure? That's big news if it's true. But if you did hear the conversation," L continued, "then they obviously are out to find an opportune chance to kill you."
"I… I know," said Matsuda. "Is there any way at all for me to get out of it alive?"
"You're still alive, so there is a chance."
"Okay."
"What you need to do, is die before they can kill you."
"O – oh… I … see," he said, though he honestly didn't see. At all. Whatsoever.
"Listen carefully," said L. "There's a street on the west side of the building. There's a balcony overlooking it."
"Yeah…"
After a quick run over with the plans with L, Matsuda left the bathroom. Praying that what little acting skills he had wouldn't fail them now, he stumbled out of the door as he opened it. That was the first thing he needed to do: act like a drunken idiot. So, after exclaiming how tipsy he was loud enough for everyone to hear, he stumbled over towards the window doors that opened up to the balcony. He opened them, stating that he could use a little fresh air.
Katherine smelled a rat almost immediately. This wasn't right. Matsuda had been all right when he snuck off into the bathroom earlier, and unless he had discovered her hidden Jack Daniels under the sink, he should have been all right. This was part of L's plan. But what in the world was L's plan at this point?
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please!" Everyone looked over at the call from the balcony. "Welcome to the Taro Matsui show!"
This was followed by general amused laughs, like what most drunken idiots at parties tended to receive when they were about to publically humiliate themselves. However, the amusement ceased to exist when he started climbing onto the edge of the balcony. What was L planning? It seemed to be making less and less sense by the second.
"Hey! Idiot! Get down from there, you're gonna kill yourself!" one of the Yotsuba employees was yelling at him, which was followed by more yells of protest from everyone else.
"Heh, I'm all right, I do this all the time," he said, going into a handstand. He attempted to do a flip back around onto his feet, and – fell?
If this was L's plan, he was either losing his touch, looking for an excuse to kill his greatest annoyance, or had come up with some sort of strange plan that Katherine really didn't get. Everyone was yelling now, Misa told the men from Yotsuba to clear out and that she and the rest of the girls would handle everything. She then sent them out, leaving her and Katherine alone to look down over the balcony. They both squinted at the ambulance and the workers carrying a body towards the vehicle on a stretcher. Katherine looked at Misa.
"Are you confused?"
Misa spent a moment longer looking, then she moved away from the balcony and pointed. "It's Light and Ryuzaki-san!" she said, pointing at the ambulance workers. Katherine squinted a bit more.
"I'll be damned. You're right. That still doesn't explain what just happened."
"Well, it was Ryuzaki-san behind it, and Ryuzaki-san seems pretty smart, right?"
"Yes."
"Then it was probably some kind of plan."
Katherine rolled her eyes. "Misa, I'm not stupid, I gathered it was a plan. I'm just trying to figure out the details…"
She continued looking over the balcony for a few minutes before going back inside to help Misa clean up the mess.
And she concluded that she would rather stay at headquarters and suffer through the constant torment that was Wedy from now on if it meant not getting mixed up in these insanities.
What happened to Matsuda after the fall?
And when the hell did L and Light get side jobs as ambulance workers?
Will Katherine check to make sure her bathroom stash of Jack Daniels is still in tact?
Who shall Misa-Misa have for a new manager?
Will Katherine really kill Matsuda for leaving her alone with Misa if he's still alive?
All this and more, in the next chapter (or the next or the next and ect ect so on and so forth) of The King's Note.
