Author's note: Please don't get mad for the insanely long wait. I would like to thank L Ninja for her work as beta for this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own death note and I do not own the "Rev Theory" lyrics.
Another Detective
Chapter 27
Deeply involved in the predicament and still relatively unsure of her exact location, Sayu's flustered body trudged forward in careful steps then quick jittery movements. Her slapdash pace brought her straight into a collision with another woman in the airport. Delaying briefly to respond to the older blonde woman who had fallen to the floor, Sayu begged her memory to bring back the apology she had learned in English.
"I am sorry," was the heavily accented and slightly unsympathetic statement from Sayu as she helped the women to right herself.
"No problem, are you visiting from Japan?" Halle Bullook, according to the name provided by the eye trade Sayu had undergone, questioned politely. When Halle saw that Sayu was hesitating, she quickly continued to speak but in Japanese rather than English. "Do not act so afraid, not all the stories about people in America are true. Though, the new policy towards Kira the president wants to administer is insane and is encouraging murder."
Unlike Raito, Sayu did not have the ability to read into people's emotions based on their manner of speech, but this woman made her exasperation obvious. It was likely she had some direct involvement in the issue of Kira. Sayu doubted the woman had realized how much she had given away or was too intertwined in her own thoughts to care. "Excuse me, you seem very nice. Can you by chance tell me the exact area I am in?"
"You're at Bradley International Airport, Connecticut," Halle quickly replied. She seemed visibly unaffected by the fact that Sayu had not known her location but the CIA agent's mind quickly changed gears and focused on an analysis of the girl.
It would be difficult, even if the Japanese child was traveling with family, for her to be unaware of her location with many signs boasting of the 'Gateway to New England'-which was the Bradley airport. After a moment of thought, Halle went on to indirectly question her. "Would you like help finding the individuals or place you are visiting?"
"I actually have a friend that is showing me around the area," Sayu continued to speak in Japanese so she could understand the women's responses when she did the same.
"Not to doubt your statement but shouldn't your friend have related the area you're in?"
"My friend, Ryuk, left me stranded in the middle of this airport and I have no idea what to do," the only untruth to the reply was the fact that Ryuk was her friend.
"That is horrible. I could give you a ride to a nice place you could stay; do you have any money to stay at a hotel?"
Money would have been a wise piece of luggage for flight to another country. Unfortunately, Sayu had not been in right mind while making preparations for travel. "No, I don't have any money," Sayu whispered meekly.
"I came to the airport to contact a friend. Once I speak to them we will be able to find a place for you. May I ask what your name is?" From a distance, Halle could see Stephen approaching with word on the Kira supporters activities in Japan.
"Sayu," she stopped before giving her last name. In the future, another Kira could use the name to end Sayu's life and she did not want that to occur. Glancing at the women, Sayu saw that her eyes were focused on something else. A man was walking directly towards them.
Carrying a cell phone alongside him and wearing a wearing an agitated grimace, the dark haired man drew closer but slowed when he saw someone was speaking to Halle. "Halle, I need to speak to you regarding Rester's situation," he began once he arrived in earshot of the women.
"Go ahead, Sayu is not a danger to the situation," Halle addressed his reluctance to immediately relay the information.
"The evidence in Japan that led us here has another lead. Rester was watching a witness of the death at the airport and she spoke of something taking place in England. Takada was the woman's name, and she spoke to a young man named Raito Yagami."
Beside the two, Sayu, subconsciously, edged away from the individuals who were clearly investigating Kira.
Balancing paperwork and coffee in his hands, Matsuda struggled to enter the door of the Kira investigation headquarters. His thoughts wandering to the possible changes after L left. Unimaginative, Matsuda mainly felt the amount of snacks consumed by the group of investigators over the course of a day would be dramatically reduced.
Sound behind him made Matsuda lose the balance he had strived to create between the coffee and paperwork. After the coffee was already dressing his white shirt and the papers spread across the sidewalk and roadway, Matsuda realized the sound was merely footsteps. Salvaging a few sheets of paper from the concrete, Matsuda prepared to be greeted by the walker that had made him lose his balance.
"Good morning," Raito stated calmly before offering to help with the mess Matsuda had made on the side walk. Despite his obvious need of the help, Matsuda refused and became overwhelmed with excitement at the opportunity to ask Raito about his upcoming venture with L.
"Raito, are you prepared for your trip with L? He told us he would be leaving with you, but you don't seem to have anything with you."
"Most of my things that were not at headquarters were burned in the fire," was the solemn but not entirely truthful response. A decent portion of his things were stored at the two story building Beyond dwelled in.
"Raito, do you have any pictures of your family left?"
"No Matsuda, although I am sure I can find pictures of Sayu and my parents online," Raito's mood began to grow brisk and harsh.
"I was wondering because I have a picture of them from several years ago; I brought it in case you wanted to keep it," as Matsuda said this he pulled something out of the inner pocket of his jacket and handed it to Raito. Although the upper right-hand edge had a coffee stain, the picture was still intact. Raito began to study the photo, the memory causing his eyes to glaze.
In the image, Soichiro and Sachiko sat on the couch in a slouched and exhausted pose. Beside them in the picture, Raito was turned to the side and telling Sayu about his trip to Europe. His parents were told it was a prize for a history contest he entered, and the trip had been. However, there had also been several cases solved by Smile in each European country Raito had visited.
Smiling at the photograph, Raito remembered Sayu saying that if she did not have their parents to tie her down to Japan she would move to Europe and start a new life. Maybe it was fitting that after his mother, father, and Sayu had died Ratio would once again be visiting the area.
"Thank you Matsuda," Raito softly mutter and then looked towards the door Matsuda had been trying to open when he approached. Opening the door, Raito turned to Matsuda. "Ready to say goodbye to L and me for the next few weeks?"
Without responding, Matsuda followed after Raito as he seemed to complete only a portion of the security features of the building by finding ways around the less convenient security checks. It almost seemed as if Raito was avoiding the view of the building's cameras, as if he was trying to hide from L. Could it have been Raito who caused the loss of the Death Notes? Matsuda contemplated this as they drew closer to the main room.
Admin 325600: His plane should be leaving in a few hours.
User 564791: How lovely to hear. L will be gracing us with his presence; does this mean we will be able to assist in the process of finding Kira?
User 807354: If anyone is going to help him, I am.
Admin 325600: Both of you may be able to help; you need to ask L when he arrives.
User 186532: What about Smile?
Admin 325600: I do not understand what you mean.
User 807354: Matt and I have been going over some information that implies Smile and L had direct contact.
User 564791: Are you referring to the email I sent to Matt with such information?
User 00000B: Smile is coming.
Admin 325600: Beyond! How did you connect to this server?
User 00000B: Roger, inform L that the notebook he has misplaced will be at Whammy's by the time he arrives.
User 00000B signs off.
User 564791: …notebook? Kira-2 mentioned a notebook while trying to lure the first Kira.
Pulling the cool metal door handle of the fridge, L peered into the fridge in order to obtain a cake or some other form of sugar to enrich his deductive abilities. A cake that looked eerily familiar smiled at him from within the fridge. The cake was identical to one he had received from Smile shortly after the second Kira had emerged: fresh white frosting, a mix of chocolate and vanilla cake, together with a blue decorative smiley face.
Lifting the dessert, L stood transfixed by the continents of the refrigerator. Behind the cake, a Death Note was propped up. L observed the notebook for a moment before reaching to take it out. It was obvious that Raito had placed the book of death in this location, but the question of why remained. Raito knew L would be the first to find it in this location, which indirectly meant the younger detective only wanted L to find it.
When this occurrence was added to the fact that Raito continued to hide his identity from the investigators, L could see a pattern of distrust. Either Raito felt a case of paranoia or he thought one of the investigators was siding with Kira.
It would make sense; whoever set fire to the Yagami residence must have known of Raito and had involvement with Kira. Only members of the investigation team would have been in close enough contact with Rem to know she could want to kill Raito's family. Either that or a member of Raito's family had…L prevented that line of reasoning from entering his mind.
Neither Raito's mother nor his sister was affiliated with Kira prior to her death. If that had been the case there would be evidence, or some sort of text response that had been sent to Raito. A message, possibly, trying to ask for his support despite her activities as Kira, would prove the involvement of either of his family members. However, Raito had not brought up such a message.
Besides, the fire would have occurred following the death of the two women. There could have been a third occupant in the Yagami residence, someone that would have seen the dead bodies of both Raito's mother and sister. And, if this individual supported Kira it might have led them to burn down the house.
Considering this possibility, L pondered the possibility of this probable third person being Kira. If they burned down the house and then fled to another country, then their actions could be seen in the shift of killings from Japan to other parts of the world. Maybe it was in the best interests of the Kira investigation that L was heading to Whammy's.
Pulled away from the initial location of the heart attacks, L would easily be able to relocate to the location where a majority of the killings were occurring without having to give another excuse to the task force. Holding the cake in one hand and the Death Note in the thumb and index finger of the other hand, L turned to face the other occupant of the room.
"I decided you liked the cake, and no one else in the task force would have moved it to be able to see the notebook."
"This will heighten the suspicions of Ukita and Mogi."
"Since I am coming with you to Winchester's L-mill, their suspicions will not make too much of a difference."
"Unless, they continue to investigate you even after we find Kira. Especially, if you plan on giving up the identity of Yagami Raito."
"Unlike you, I prefer to have the one of my identities as a recreational activity. I am not going to give up Raito since my family is gone; Smile is an alias. I am sorry if I belittle your friend, Smile, by making him into a title."
"I am not implying that I had an in-depth friendship with the computerized identity of Smile."
"Then maybe I should quote an old text message of yours: 'I don't want a cookie from Smile, I want a kiss'."
"That was merely a joke exchanged to lighten the situation."
Smiling as if seriously amused by the conversation, Raito let out a brief laugh. "It was quite funny and it still is. Unless, you were honestly requesting that as the celebration for catching Kira."
"Let us catch Kira before discussing celebration plans."
"We caught the original Kira."
"Raito-kun mentions this despite the fact that the original Kira's Death Note is likely the same one the current Kira is using."
Diverting from the subject to avoid the prospect of searching for Kira momentarily, Raito responded with question regarding the upcoming trip. "B has left ahead of me for the trip, so I did not have him look up when your plane is leaving so when will we be going?"
Glancing at a clock on the door of the fridge, L stared for a minute before responding with a quick and clear response: "Now."
Intently, Raito studied the features of the building with eye to memorize the entrances and possible exits for future reference. L had already gone inside and began to speak to an older man by the name of Roger. Most of the residents of the building were asleep or pretending to be asleep because it was an hour after midnight in the area, contrary to Raito's unadjusted watch.
Noticing a figure next to the fence, Raito cautiously approached. A puff of smoke surrounded the figure, and a square shaped glow was coming from the individual's hands.
Raito approached until he could see the features of the person that were exposed by the dim light of what was exposed to be a gaming system. With the features of the person's face came the red letters that exposed Mail's name, and his last day-but Raito tried not to linger on that.
"Do you smoke?" Mail asked after noticing Raito near him; his voice made him seem to be about fourteen years old.
"I don't smoke," Raito stated and paused for a moment before whispering, "Tobacco."
Mail quirked one side of his mouth in a half smile before deciding to question Raito. "Are you new here?"
"Visiting."
"I'm Matt."
"You can call me Light."
I know it's not too late
Even though the innocence is scarred
There's still tomorrow (What if I could see)
I could just escape
Close my eyes and dream about
A sentimental vision
A vision I could feel
This time I won't go softly (I never wanted to be)
Refuse to simply fade away (I never wanted to be)
Still holding on 'cause this is
Far from over