"Damn it,"

The noodle I was spoon-feeding myself laid in a small puddle of its soup, right on the wooden floor. I licked away the bit left on my lower lip, reminding myself that I've never been able to work and eat at the same time and it looked like I still couldn't.

A digital chirp drew my attention back to my screen, seeing an invite for a video call across the file I'd been reading from.

I clicked accept, watching the built-in webcam flash on and a new program opens up.

The image of a stout figure slowly filled the screen that was pointed towards its rounded belly covered in office attire. A worn-out masculine hand pushed the screen back to reveal a familiar face.

"Ah, Assistant Director Manson, you've caught me at a bad time…" I pushed the small container of yakisoba away from my person.

"Now, it's Director."

"Congrats." I made a quick note offscreen to send a card.

"Thanks, but this isn't a pleasure call, I would like to talk about your report on the Kira case."

The sound of paper shuffling around on Mason's wooden desk spilled out of my speakers as I decided to sneak a bite.

"So, how's the wife?'' I asked the rumbling in my stomach made me yearn for a bite of her homemade pie.

"She finally got over her cold, and we missed you at Christmas."

I sighed, work had kept me from coming back to the states in time this year, but I hoped the gift cards I mailed helped just a little.

"You'll have to come by soon, pick up your gifts, and have dinner…."

I smiled at the camera, just realizing it's been a long time since I've been over to Steve and Josephine's.

They weren't blood, but the closest thing I've had all these years.

"Ah, here it is, Violet"

Mason slipped on his reading glasses, really bringing out the roundness of his cheeks with the frames. He begins to skim through as I held my breath, knowing if luck was on my side and any other of my superiors had gotten ahold of my ill-gotten information, they would have just filed it away.

Finally, the short silence is broken.

"Two things. First, how is L doing?"

I felt a pang of pure emotion pump out of me, unsure what to call it but keeping it inside.

Steve Mason was around when I began my working together with L, the thought behind it being a stronger better relationship could be established between the world's greatest detective and the FBI.

To this day I never understood why L agreed to any of it, even at the age of 13.

I was the first child agent, beginning my training at eight when my government agent's parents died in a bombing. With Mason being an old friend of my father's, he and his wife took me in, the cause for why we never had a professional relationship.

During the years I grew around and worked with L, Mason acted as my handler. He tried his hardest to get me to keep my teenage heart to myself, with no success.

And he was there to help me pick back up the pieces.

"L is L, nothing has changed there."

"So, you have been in contact with him."

I explained about being caught in Naomi and Raye's hotel room and ending up kicking the chair from under him.

A good minute of his silence goes by, I already know what he's thinking and about to say.

"Honestly, it was a one-time thing. I needed info, he had said info and helped me out." I puffed out, just saying screw it and picking back up on my cold lunch.

By the end of it, I think he was more offended by my actions of breaking orders for no agent to have any contact with L for any reason than the small chance I might still carry a torch for the detective.

Which I don't, thank you.

"On to the second item of business, your plane ticket will be waiting for you at Haneda airport in Tokyo tomorrow for a ten o'clock departure time, but before then burn everything you have on the case."

I acknowledge the order, writing down the airport time and name to be burned into memory later on when a muffled ding rang out of my handbag.

Normally, I'd just ignore the thing since it was most likely my neighbor who was watching my house for me right now, but something in my stomach said to check it. I excused myself for a minute with no arguments to pick up the bag sitting on the edge of the bed. After digging past a thing or two I pull out the smaller of the two of my phones, unlocking the screen to see an automatic text from my bank account telling me about a deposit just going through.

I crinkle my nose at the amount if I was drinking anything I might have had a hard time swallowing.

Placing the phone close to the camera, I ask if this was his doing.

"Not, personally." Mason cleared his throat before speaking.

Before saying anything, I decided to hear him out as to why my silence was being bought.

"I'm sure you understand, Violet, by accepting it you're agreeing to stay quiet about everything you've learned while in Japan and anything about Naomi and Raye along with the fact that twelve agents died weeks ago…"

"Wait, the public doesn't know about the agents?"

"No, the President's cabinet met late last night and the order coming down is to hide everything."

I started to piece together that maybe that's why Steve Mason got that promotion, a fresh face for a fresh start.

The feeling of displeasure filled me, seeing my three days of work as nothing but wasted time.

"Violet, there's something else."

I looked back at the screen.

"The cabinet also decided that no more agent time or federal money will be spent on the search of Whammy's house or L's heirs."

The muscles in my face released instantly, feeling the displeasure burn off into hurt. The only two who should have even known about the children were myself and Mason, and I only used my own time, skill, and funds to look for them.

I had to swallow the horse pill that was the fact L was right, it might be better if I gave up now.

Mason finished our video call with my next assignment of tracking down a cybercrime ring attacking banks throughout the states. I thank him for the call before hanging up, quickly grabbing one of my phones to make a call.

I shook the chill off my skin, taking to warm up while waiting in the spot I was told to. I found myself nervously tugging at the strap laying across my chest, unsure of why.

Finally, finished with whatever he was pondering in his mind, L peeked over at me and I could have sworn a hint of contentment.

"I'm glad you called."

I only nodded, digging out the files from my satchel to hand over to him. It was more symbolic than anything, but I just couldn't bring myself to burn all my hard work and pretend innocent people died for nothing.

While normally carrying a neutral outlook on Kira, his actions as of late have left a sour milk taste on my tongue.

"Watari informed me you're interested in taking up my offer,"

"I already handed over my phones, Ryuzaki."

I'm sure the reason for my change of heart was written all over my face, or he would've asked.

"Then, I hope Watari explained everything?"

He had, showing me the one-bedroom I would be sharing with L (having it mostly to myself) and the single closet we'd have to share. I had to switch out my phones for just one that had been modified to L's whim, but these were things I'd had to deal with before working alongside him.

"Please go to bed early, I will be needing your assistant in the morning."

The offer of a long peaceful sleep is enough to entice me to listen to him, wishing both men a good night.