Chapter 17

Hi there, ready to begin? *bounces up and down and tries not to laugh because I know what's coming and you don't* Here we go!

January 1st

Ryuzaki questioned the men through the night, it took a few hours seeing as how there were 5 of them, but in the end I could tell that he didn't think any of them were Kira, especially Matsuda.

I didn't do much while he questioned them; I stayed in the same spot on the couch and listened, and thought.

If I was back home I'd be at some work party watching the ball drop… well I would be after recovering from the time difference…not only that but Christmas came and went without me even noticing…not like any of my family called, it you can really call them that.

I don't remember my real parents, from what they told me at the orphanage my parents died in a house fire. No one ever knew how it started either; they thought it might have been an electrical fire. Like I said I don't remember much, I've been to many doctors, they say that, for some reason my brain has blocked and locked away everything from age 5 and under. They attempted to unlock it at one point with hypnosis, but they say I went crazy and picked up a broomstick and began to 'defend myself'. My parents couldn't figure out how I had known how to use it, because I had never received any training, they also couldn't figure out why my subconscious kept calling them heartless. They never really did pay attention; my parents were always gone, I practically raised myself. If you're familiar, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say that I'd be gone for months at a time, off on some adventure in some distant world. I say world and not planet on purpose by the way. Once I hit college I knew that in order to make something of myself in this world, I'd have to ignore the calls of my friends. However, by college time, they had stopped calling.

I know in my heart I can always return and I'll never forget my friends, (Trust me on that, even the castle couldn't make me forget.) but something keeps telling me to stay in this world, almost as if it needs me. If all of this seems out of the blue then you have clearly missed something, so go on and look, you'll find it.

Anyway; my parents, my adoptive parents, were shitty and I never knew my real parents. I was also at some super orphanage for gifted kids for like a week and I can't remember the name of it, but it was like a sound effect or something. Wham or slam; something like that.

"I'm very sorry for questioning you like that, but I felt like I had no choice. I have, however determined that Kira is not among us." Ryuzaki's voice pulls me out of my inner monologue and everyone sighs in relief. Light is beginning to shine through the white curtains so it must be early morning. I look at the empty coffee/tea set in front of us and the small stack of cans from myself.

None of us have slept.

"Ryuzaki; how can you be certain we're all innocent?" The Chief speaks up and I yawn, stretching my arms above my head. Ryuzaki puts his head in his hand and seems more tired than usual because it seems to roll.

"Well, to be completely honest, from the beginning I set a number of traps to reveal is any of you were Kira, but after speaking to you all, I don't feel the need." Everyone seems surprised and all is quiet. You'd think that nothing would surprise these men after what they've been through, but it seems he's an exception.

A phones ring cuts through the silence and it takes me a minute to realize that it's my cellphone, not my personal one, but the one Ryuzaki gave me. I pull it out and apologize the display says Watari.

"Ryuzaki, it says Watari."

"Answer it and tell him we're about finished, he has a key so he can let himself in." I nod and answer my phone.

"Hello?"

"Miss Matsui, is the meeting over yet? I have the things Ryuzaki requested."

"Yeah, he said to tell you that we're nearly finished and to let yourself in."

"Very well. I'm on my way." I make an acknowledgement noise and Watari hangs up on his end. I glance at Ryuzaki who seems to be waiting for me to speak.

"He says he's on his way." Ryuzaki nods and the force seem surprised.

. . .

I'm not sure where Watari was when he called, but like 15 minutes after we hung up there was a knock at the door, followed by a click of it unlocking. Ryuzaki gave me a look as it happened that translated into 'go help him' and I had risen to meet Watari at the door.

"Hello Miss Matsui." He was taking off his shoes by the time I got to him.

"Jeez Watari, can't you call me Suzuki or whatever?" I fold my arms and the old man laughs.

"Are they in the living room?" He ignores my request.

"Yeah, c'mon." I walk with Watari into the room and he removes his hat to address the men. I notice how he stops next to Ryuzaki and is carrying a silver case by his side.

"Gentlemen, it's an honor to meet all of you." Everyone seems confused and it takes me a minute to realize that this is not the Watari they're used to seeing.

"What about your usual outfit?" Matsuda asks as if he read my mind.

"If I dressed like that I'd be announcing to the world that I am Watari. That's all it takes to give away the location of headquarters, and Ryuzaki.

"Oh, I see."

"Ordinarily I would never show my face to any of you, the fact that I'm here is proof that you've won Ryuzaki's trust."

Matsuda scratches the back of his head as I sit back down. "Now that you mention it, I do feel kinda honored." He laughs awkwardly and I roll my eyes.

Watari brings up the silver case and prepares to open it. "Ryuzaki; I've brought those items you've requested, it's all here." Ryuzaki's head turns to Watari.

"Could you please pass them out to everyone?"

"Yes of course," Watari opens the case revealing 5 new police IDs identical to my own. "Everyone, these are your new Police IDs."

"What for?" Aizawa seems confused but they seem to ignore him as Watari hands them out.

"The names and ranks are false…"The Chief stares at his ID; I can only wonder what it says.

"Why did you give us fake IDs?" Matsuda asks.

"As you know Kira needs a name and a face to kill. We will confront him with that in mind. I think it should be obvious why." Watari brings over more coffee for us and a soda for me before he begins to clean up our mess from earlier. I accept the caffeine graciously.

"But the police shouldn't be using fake IDs." Ukita seems very disappointed as he protests.

"Enough, what choice do we really have given the capabilities of our enemy? As long as we're working on this case I think we're going to need all the protection we can get. It would be foolish not to use them." Chief Yagami shuts everyone down immediately, and like a puppy Matsuda agrees.

Remember anytime you're in a situation where you have to give your name out to a stranger you are to use these IDs. Also be careful not to take them out while in the presence of other police officers. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that that could cause problems." Since the arrival of Watari Ryuzaki has seemed more relaxed, I lean on the arm rest with my head in my hand as I watch him.

I wonder when would be a good time to ask what everyone's IDs say…

Watari comes back from cleaning with another case. "Very well then, I would like to request that everyone wear these at all times." I turn to look and see that it's the same special belt that I'm wearing right now. The task force members stand as Watari begins to explain. "Each one has a built in tracking device hidden within the buckle. This will allow Ryuzaki to monitor your whereabouts, and when you press the buckle twice like this…my cellphone will ring, displaying your name and I will call you back immediately, but you won't see my number displayed. In the morning all of you will go to the police station as usual; then later on during the day we'll use this method to confirm the name and room number of Ryuzaki's hotel. Please use this for emergencies as well." Watari hands out the belts and I have to look away as they all put them on. When I think it's clear I look back to see Matsuda pulling his pants by his belt in some sort of Matsuda pants dance. I place my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.

"This is totally cool I feel like some sort of secret agent going after Kira."

"Quiet Matsuda! This is not the time to be fooling around, knock it off." The Chief snaps at him and Matsuda looks depressed.

"Sorry Sir…"

"So…" Everyone's attention falls on me. "Would now be a good time to ask my new coworkers their new names?"

Out of the corner of my eye I see Ryuzaki smile again, but this time I get a mischievous vibe. Why is he smiling like that?

"It says I'm Captain Shijuro Asahi." Chief Yagami smiles at me as he places his new ID in the internal coat pocket.

"Says; Aihara." Aizawa sits back down next to me.

"Kanichi Moji." I smile at Mogi.

"Mine says Taro Matsui!" Matsuda practically shouts in excitement and my jaw hits the floor.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" I say it in English but they all seem to know what I've said. "Ryuzaki, you bastard! You did this on purpose, that's why you've been smiling like that!"

Ryuzaki's smile stays; he obviously thinks that this is hilarious.

"What's wrong?" Matsuda seems concerned. I pull out my own ID and place it on the table for everyone to see.

"My name is Suzuki Matsui." Everyone gasps as I glare at Ryuzaki.

"What does that mean? Are we supposed to be married?" My head snaps back to Matsuda and I look him up and down.

"No offense Matsuda, but you're not my type." Matsuda shrinks in his seat obviously depressed by my statement.

"I had actually hoped for you to act like siblings." Ryuzaki's smile has faded a little.

"Well if that's the case then we can say that Suzuki got the brains between the two of them." Aizawa nudges me with his elbow and the room erupts into laughter. Yeah, but if that's the case then that means that Matsuda got the looks. So neither of us win…not that Aizawa meant it that way…

"Don't worry Matsuda I'm sure they're just joking. I'm sure you're much better at stuff than me." I reassure him and it seems to make him feel a bit better.

"Yeah, I'll prove it to you and be the best brother you've ever had." I smile at him, glad to see that he's not moping anymore.

"By the way…if you're all here, who's at the police station right now?" Ryuzaki's smile disappears as he asks.

"Actually no one right now." The Chief responds.

"That's not good. We need someone there at times, work in shifts if you have to."

"I understand." The Chief looks to Aizawa. "Aizawa I'll leave you in charge of that for today." He stands slowly and gives me a thumbs up.

"Yes Sir, I'm on my way, won't take me long." I watch as he quickly leaves the room. Then I listen as the door opens, Watari follows him with an umbrella and comes back without it. The door closes and I assume Watari gave it to him. I look up to see that Ryuzaki has returned to his window spot and I stand up and meet him there.

"Ryuzaki, I can't believe you did that to me."

"In the beginning I gave you your name without any intention of connecting you to a task force member. However when I found out Matsuda and you were around the same age, it made sense to set up family. I'm sure at some point it will become useful."

"I guess so…"

"And for the record Suzuki…if you and Matsuda really were family, I believe you'd be the one to get the brains…and the beauty…" Ryuzaki turns and walks back to the task force leaving me stunned. I watch him as he picks up a lollipop and sits in his chair as he listens to them talk.

Ryuzaki…you smooth smooth son of a bitch…

So did you see that coming? No one seemed to pick up on the last name in the comments…Remember, he stands up on the railing in the Yotsuba arc and is like 'It's time for the Taro Matsui show' …yeah…I might be slightly obsessed. Anyway it's like 1:30 and I gotta be up at like 7 so it's time for this Kitty to head to bed…comment your reactions I really wanna hear 'em. Also thanks to Wolfy and Silhouette (I'm gonna think of a nick name for you…) for giving me some encouraging shit, I appreciate it. Well enjoy my chapter imam go pass out. =(u.u)=

Ps: I have 7 cats. Kiki, Ramen, Gizmo, Crow, Shado, Milo, and Tomo…in that age order.