Chapter 12

Hi everyone, for the next few bits I've included dates that are canon and from book 13 to help with the timeline of the story, feel free to follow along.

. . .

December 19th

People have been dying nonstop; whoever Kira is seems fully intent on riding the world of criminals, regardless of the severity of their crime.

After I had been put to bed that day, Ryuzaki stayed with me for a while. When I woke up Watari told me about how concerned the stoic detective had been. Ryuzaki had stayed until he was certain I was alright, and then returned to work, but he made sure to tell Watari to check on me every hour.

The next day Ryuzaki's Japanese Police Taskforce was ready to begin the fight. The original plan was for me and Watari to meet them and set up the computer for him, but because I was still not feeling well they decided it would be best for me to stay back.

Watari set me up on the couch near Ryuzaki (probably so he could watch me); I had a pillow and a blanket, but every time I closed my eyes I saw Tailors face.

On December 10th 23 criminals were killed, one by one every hour. Prior to that Ryuzaki had concluded that Kira might be a student because of the pattern of which the killings took place. We first thought that maybe our little serial killer got sick and stayed home, but Ryuzaki saw it differently; we had a leak.

On December 11th 23 more criminals were killed. On the 12th Ryuzaki told the task members about his idea with the leak, as you might think, they didn't take it very well. I didn't go to headquarters either of those days. On the 14th as part of a plan to secretly investigate to see where the leak was, Ryuzaki pulled some stings and got 12 FBI agents released into Japan. I never went to task force and I never met the Agents.

"Suzuki come quick!" Ryuzaki sounds almost excited as I hear a 'ping' from his computer signaling an email. Our routine lately was that Watari would go to the taskforce HQ and I would stay back and would supply Ryuzaki with sweets and whatever he needed as we worked through the clues to find our next course of action. It also became routine to change hotels every few days and I could always tell by Ryuzaki's actions the night before when we'd be leaving. Watching the reactions of people as him and I walked through the halls always made me smile, I never knew if they were about me and him as a couple or just him in general. As for my nightmares? Well, a few nights after the first one Ryuzaki showed me a file on the crimes of Lind L Tailor…I no longer felt sorry for him and with that the nightmares disappeared.

As I approach, Ryuzaki scoots over so I can see the screen. On it is a picture of a bloody pentagram and a letter. It's written in Japanese, but since I've had spare time I've become pretty good at the language both written and spoken; I read it to myself silently.

"Lord have mercy,

Do what I can, I'll either be hanged or

You know it, killed by Kira, I

Know about him. He's going to get me."

Hmm…

"Chief, regarding these last few victims, please tell the media that the cause of death was a heart attack, nothing else. If Kira is trying to test something, well, we don't want to let him know whether he has succeeded or not." Ryuzaki speaks into the microphone and a voice from the other side says 'Alright' in Japanese.

I look back to the note and look for anything that might spring out at me or even give me a clue, but the only thing I notice is the weird way it's written.

"You see it don't you?" Ryuzaki turns to me with an excited look. See what? I look at it harder and squint a bit. Oh…see that.

I read out the first words of each line; they form a message. "Lord do you know?" I knew this thing was written weird.

"Well you got it partially right. I believe that 'Lord' is actually just referring to me; 'L' do you know?" Oh, I guess that makes sense. Sounds like something Kira would do.

"Yeah, but what do you know?"

"A lot…" Ryuzaki reaches over and gets a lollipop then puts it in his mouth; I've come to know this action as him thinking.

Recently there had been other murders where the events leading up to their death were strange like the pentagram, but this was the first time a victim had written a 'suicide note'.

"Ryuzaki, if you think this note is addressed to you from Kira…then is it possible that he can control the actions of his victims before they die? Did he make them write this to knock us off the trail?" He spins to face me with a smile on his face.

"That is exactly what I think."

"Okay, but isn't it weird that that one guy escaped his cell just to run and die of a heart attack anyway?" He places his thumb near his mouth. Another sign that he's thinking.

"Yes, you're right…that is rather odd. However, I feel like it might just be a ploy to distract us from the real clues." He spins back to the screen and stares at the note. I look as well and lean slightly over Ryuzaki.

If there is a leak…then whatever we do Kira will know about…no matter what we tell the press. It's not like we can falsify our records either, that would get too confusing, and there are way too many of us to keep paper records…despite all the resignations.

"Suzuki?" I look down to see him staring up at me; I'm so close I can smell the sugar on his breath. My face begins to feel warm and my pulse quickens as I stare at his lips.

"Y-yeah?"

"I do realize that I brought you onto the case to help…" Uh-oh, here it comes… "but could you get me a cup of coffee and something to eat? I imagine that this won't be the only note we'll be seeing. Unless, that is, that the note is also a distraction. I imagine then that we'll be waiting for nothing."

Oh…that's…not what I expected to happen. I look down at him as he turns his head and puts his thumb near his mouth again. I shake my head and step back. "Sure, I'll uh…get us some coffee." I glance at the clock, it's almost lunchtime. "As for the note Ryuzaki, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If Kira left it for you he'll probably tell you what you don't know. He also likes to taunt you it seems so I'm sure he'll send more. Come to think of it, it seems like he just taunts you like the taskforce isn't even there, and it's not like anyone knows about me. He probably assumes you're alone." He turns his head, his eyes are quizzical.

"You have a point. I feel as if we're playing cat and mouse."

I sigh "Well, nothin' we can do right now, we don't have enough to go on. I'll come back with some brain food for you." As I turn I hear a faint thank you and I smile.

Working with Ryuzaki sure is interesting.

Hi everyone, how's it goin'? I see I have one more follower. Thanks Ohimeko-Kou, I hope you like it and are having a great time reading. I still got some more chapters already written so don't worry there is still more. If you have any questions let me know I'll be happy to answer any questions directly or through my authors note. See ya