Warning:

Showing a little bit of L's human side.

Happy reading everyone!

A DIFFERENT REFLECTION

SCENE III

L's POV:

Do I still have to introduce myself? Well, okay, I think it is necessary.

I will not reveal my true name but I am known by my alias as L. I am twenty three years old. I am a detective and had solved many, strange cases that is almost impossible to solve around the world that's why I'm given the title 'the greatest detective in the world'.

I'm working with my partner Watari. Even though I ask from the different investigative agencies all over the world for assistance with the operations that I would like to conduct, I do not let my identity ever reveal. I just communicate with them through cell phone or most of the time through Watari's laptop with only my voice being heard; even my voice is tampered when I talk through the speakers. I can't remember when I started working as a detective but they start to let me work as a detective because I have this extraordinary gift for knowledge that is very rare or just happen once in centuries, that's what they say.

How did it happen since I'm still underage? It's a long story but I will just state it as I go but not yet for now since it will just cost me time.

I am an orphan because I have no parents. How? Why? When? I cannot answer that since they say I was still a baby when I entered the orphanage and no one would tell me what happened. I actually don't mind.

Actually… it's not true at all. I have been investigating for years about my parents but I have not harvested any fruit. I know what you're thinking. How did an extraordinary and greatest detective in the world can't solve my own personal case? Well, let's put it this way: this case is already more than two decades old, and my only evidence are the witnesses but… no one will tell anything to me. I can tell my orphanage has forbidden those witnesses to talk and if they do, the cost will be big. But I'm not giving up yet and never will. I'll just find perfect timing.

I don't sit normally. I don't do the sitting etiquette of people. I tend to crouch. Why? My intelligence seems to be dropping by forty percent when I sit normally.

Last bit about me, I love to eat sweets. Any sweets you can name, I eat them. I can imagine that you're now thinking I must be an obese twenty three year old. You're wrong, very wrong. Actually, I'm underweight. The reason? I always use my brain that's why I do not get fat. That's my method of burning all my calories.

Also, I'm a loner. I don't have any friends, except Watari who I could treat as my only family. I didn't say I've never had any friends before. Well, I had one, a girl, when I was just a little kid. I don't know her real name since our orphanage forbids us to reveal it, they say for our own protection. I call her Zen or Z, but I prefer Zen. Well, I don't really see her as my friend because she is my first and only love. It's been a long time since I've ever seen her but I will never forget her face. We've grown up at the same orphanage but she was adopted when we were five. We've promised each other that we would write to keep in touch. The first few months were fine. Every week, I would receive letters from her. She would tell me that she is fine and she is having a fun time outside and telling me that I should also go out and visit her sometime which was quite impossible and I would reply right away. Then, after a year I've lost all communication with her. I continue to write to her though. I was thinking that maybe she's just busy with school, just like me. Months passed and I'd just heard Watari telling me that she'd just, together with her new parents, moved to another country three months ago. I felt angry and cried for months.

Why didn't she write to me? Is it that hard to tell me she's going away and say goodbye? I felt that I've been abandoned by someone that I've shared my love with. After that incident, I've never trusted anyone ever again. Tell me that I'm a coward or immature, I don't care. I just don't want to experience that feeling and despair anymore. I admit I'm still angry with her but… I really want to see her again but at the same time I also don't want to. I don't understand and it's frustrating. It was the very first time that I feel and have been defeated.

Now, I've told you a lot about me. If you still have questions regarding my past and all, I think I might answer them as we go along the way.

I'm currently sitting on the floor, in front of my computer with a speaker, microphone and different kinds of sweets beside it, studying everything I currently have in hand.

I'm currently investigating the murders of the criminals around the world but most known as the Kira case. Police have started their investigation about this and have been suspecting this could be a disease or virus that has spread and is going to submit a report to the World Health Organization for further investigation.

Along with this, people have been concluding someone must be doing this; judging immoral people. They call that person "Kira", that's why I've decided to call this case Kira case.

In my opinion? I can easily guess these killings are murders.

How?

For five days straight, starting from Thursday last week until Tuesday this week, the one they call Kira had been most active.

Wednesday came but Kira did not strike. And now, it is Friday and the world has not heard anything from him. People are starting to think he may be hiding from the police and just waiting for another chance to strike.

But I completely doubt it.

Why would Kira need to hide from the police if he can kill criminals without carefully leaving any trace, which is impossible. Or… he can kill without being there in person, an ability to kill behind the shadows: supernaturally. He does not need to hide anymore since in the first place, he can kill them without concerning the risk in revealing his identity. This is just a theory and I even doubt to believe this guess. It's just too impossible but then, I have a plan to confirm this.

I place a hand on my chin.

I can sense Kira is giving me a message to interpret. What he is trying to say is: "I am not doing this to cleanse the world or to judge the criminals. I'm doing this to let myself, my ability be recognized by the world."

I take my cell phone beside my desktop computer with my index finger and thumb only. I want to be delicate in everything I handle with that's why I tend to get things in this manner. I dial a number and place it on my ear. After a few moments, Watari, my partner, answers.

"Watari, how's the meeting going?" I ask.

"Well, it's a bit unruly here. They are reluctant to ask for your help since they think this case would not interest you," he replies at the other line.

"If you find an opportunity, tell them I'm already on the move and please tell them I want to speak with them."

"Wakarimashta." I hang up after that.

After a few moments, I get the signal from Watari and place the microphone near my mouth and start, "Everyone in ICPO. This is L. This case is of unprecedented scope and difficulty. It is an atrocious crime of mass homicide that must be stopped! To solve this case, I would like to confirm the total cooperation of the ICPO at this meeting. No… of all the investigative agencies of the world." I stop as I let them sink in what I have just said. "And I especially request the cooperation of the Japanese Police Department." I suddenly hear someone reacting.

"Eh? Why Japan?"

I smile. Just like what I have expected. "Whether the culprit is a group of people or only one, the likelihood that he is Japanese is extremely high. If not Japanese, then at least he is hiding in Japan."

"What grounds do you have for this conclusion? First, these killings are murders. And second, the culprit is in Japan." I hear the same voice asking quite roughly. I can assume that he does not agree much with my theory. That's why it is called a theory, right?

Anyway, I answer back, "Why Japan? I believe I can soon show you in a direct confrontation with the culprit."

"A direct confrontation?"

"At any rate, I would like to locate the headquarters for the manhunt in Japan. I'll just come back after I prepare my trap for Kira. For now, I would need some of your help."

I just partially tell them my plan. Well, actually, nothing at all. I just tell them the things that they need to do. The reason? I want to surprise them or I just don't want anyone interfering with my plan.

So, we get on to work. We're planning to broadcast our confrontation through television and we might as well do it this afternoon.

It's finally the late afternoon. I turn the television on that is lying beside my desktop computer. I hear the anchor telling everyone that this is aired around the world which is my trap. This is only aired in Japan and in the Kantō region. I'm planning on airing this to every region until I find Kira. Why did I choose to air this in Kantō first? It has the most population.

I watch attentively as a person named Lind L. Taylor announces that he is L. Actually the one who is on screen is an inmate that is ready for execution. Clearly he is not me and the police does not have any idea about this; they really think that person on television is really me. I'm using him to guarantee my theory that Kira is currently in Japan.

How? All I need is for Kira to strike while this is aired, that simple. How sure I am that Kira will strike as soon as I would show on television? Well, this can cause a lot of pressure on Kira. I'm known as the greatest detective in the world and he will surely feel threatened. Or… he has other plans that I can easily foreknow.

He is currently reading the script that I've prepared earlier. I've written that I am the one controlling the police force all over the world and how deeply I oppose everything Kira is doing. I also wrote there that I would definitely catch him since what he is doing is evil.

After a few moments, Lind L. Taylor suddenly grabs his chest since he is feeling great pain there. He struggles and moans in pain. After a few seconds, his head drops on the table in front of him and right at that very moment, he died.

As anticipated.

I lean on the microphone and say, "Please let me in."

After a few seconds, I see the letter L on the screen of my television, not only in mine but this can be seen in every television all over the Kantō region. I take that as my cue and start,

"I just tested this just in case but I- I never thought it would actually happen. Kira, it seems you can kill people without having to be there in person," I say in disbelief which is actually just an act. What I've said earlier was just a lie since I've already anticipated this. I just said this to put more pressure on Kira.

"I wouldn't have believed it if I haven't just witnessed it," I add.

See my point?

"Listen to me, Kira. If you did indeed kill Lind L. Taylor, I should tell you he was an inmate. His execution was scheduled for today. He was not me. The police arrested him in absolute secrecy so you wouldn't have heard about him on TV or through the internet. It's interesting not even you have access for information about these types of criminals. But I assure you, L is real. I do exist.

"Now, try and kill me!" I challenge. It is obvious Kira is someone who would just easily kill people who is a barrier in his way. "What's wrong? Hurry up! Come on, right now!"

I continue to persuade him. After a few moments, I assume a conclusion. "What's the matter? Can't you do it?

"Well, Kira, it seems that you can't kill me after all. So there are some people you can't kill. You've given me a useful hint.

"Let me return the favor. I'll tell you something that I think you'll find interesting. I now know where you are. You are currently in the Kantō region of Japan. I'll be leaving this for you to guess how I've done it. But this I will assure you, it will not be long until I sentence you to death.

"Naturally, I'm very interested on how you are able to commit these murders without being present but I don't mind waiting a little bit longer. You can answer all of my questions when I capture you. Let's meet again soon, Kira." After saying all of these things, I immediately disconnect myself from the media.

I lean and take a plate of sliced vanilla strawberry cake from the table and casually eat the cake. I know in a few moments, Kira will be relaying his own reply and I'll be waiting for it.

XXX A DIFFERENT REFLECTIONXXX

I'm just finished with my cake when I hear a beep in my computer, a video call from Watari. I settle the plate and fork on the table and grab the mouse. I do a few clicks and Watari appears on the screen.

"L, I just recently got a call from the police."

"What is it, Watari?"

"Kira has sent a note for you. He sent it via email to the police since he does not know your email address and… the note is written in English."

English, huh? Hmm… interesting. Even though he is not childish, he does not back out from any challenge. Also written in English. Does he want to mislead everyone that he is not Japanese or… want to make sure that everyone can understand his message? I'm definitely sure it is the latter.

"Please email it to me right away."

"Jutto matte kudasai."

"Domo."

After a few moments, I receive an email and immediately open it, curious what is the content of the note that Kira sent me.

L,

This is Kira. If you resist believing me, it's your own decision. I will not do anything to prove myself. You can consult your instinct to help you in your decision, L. Or on second thought, you already might have expected this.

Anyway, L, I can sense you've already seen through what would happen in the confrontation before it actually happened. You knew that, L, I would do it to notify everyone of my presence and to show my little ability to the whole world, especially to you. But then, it is just sad to know you've just aired the confrontation in the Kantō region. But no matter, it would just easily spread all over the world with all the media we have.

Now that you've confirmed, L, that I can indeed kill without contact, where my current location is, there are some people, L, I can't kill and a lot others that I'm aware of you've already discovered which I've purposely revealed since I've read through your plan when you started to air the confrontation. It is my turn to be interested on how you are going to use this information to hunt me down.

Well then, bring it on.

I'm not going to back out from your challenge, L. Let's see whose identity is going to be revealed first. L, when that day happens, the loser's going to die.

Before I close this note I just want to tell you I'll make sure, L, you will not be able to solve this case. I'm going to make a title for myself for making the greatest detective in the world incompetent to solve this case. I'm going to make sure that I will leave you frustrated, even you are so close in capturing me, you still won't find me. You're not going to win this time and you are the one who is going to be the loser.

I'll be watching you, L.

X Kira X

Watch out for the next scene!

Thank you for reading! Did I portray L properly? Please leave your comments especially constructive criticisms for this chapter! I'm learning and growing with your feedbacks!