"How about we put another criminal destined for execution in Misa's place?"
The other man looked at him in disbelief. How could such a plan be effective, let alone realistic? He probably had nothing else useful to say and uttered those words of stupidity.
"Why should we do such nonsense?"
"It's stupid, I know, but there's no other way. Besides, we don't have much time. The trial is on the 28th and today is the 20th. We must take action as soon as possible!"
"You really are a risk taker, aren't you? I thought such kind of behaviour would only be limited to Yotsuba."
L was about to stand up from the couch, but Matsuda yanked him by the arm. His eyes reflected the intense desire that had already begun to develop within him. As if he too wanted to sacrifice himself for her sake.
"It seems you haven't understood the meaning of the conversation. It's our duty to save Misa, no matter if she's a murderer or just following orders! I don't care about me! I'm just a fan after all! But she... She means a lot to you, right? You have dignity and duty above all! There's still time to save her, even short. Why not implement it? Stop playing it tough already!"
The other man looked at him thoughtfully, not so much for his insistence but for the idea that had just been suggested. It would be a great mistake on his part to do such a thing, especially when L himself firmly believes in justice and duty. But... Thinking about it, he had nothing to lose. Besides Misa, he had nothing else to lose. It was of greater importance that the trial would take place drama-less.
"So?"
"It's not that I disagree," L replied. "But it's quite uncertain in terms of losing your job if they find out about the plan."
"That's nothing. If I lose my job, am gonna become a doctor as my parents always wanted."
"Anyhow, Matsuda it's been an hour since you've come. I'd suggest going home and rest. We'll discuss the plan tomorrow."
"We'll do it now! There's no way we're going to wait any longer! I'm pumped up!"
With quick strides, he sat down at one of the computers and searched for files on various criminals, destined too for the death penalty.
"The plan is as follows: If we find a criminal and a make-up artist to paint him exactly Misa, no one will question him because it'll supposedly be Misa herself next to Light. Obviously, the makeup should be so convincing that it completely changes the whole face. We can even get him to work with us. If he doesn't comply, there's also the possibility of drugging him during make-up. If he speaks during the trial, we'll present it with the excuse that the girl smokes regularly."
"Does the choice to have a female criminal seem absurd to you?"
Matsuda turned to look at him. "No. I'm just testing my ideas. It'll be hard to find a woman though."
"Why so?"
"Women rarely commit crimes."
"Crime knows no age or gender. Anyone can become a criminal." L said.
"You're right. From what I see there're quite a lot of women of all ages who have committed crimes. I wonder how many are destined for the death penalty..." Matsuda confirmed L's words by opening a computer file.
"Do you see that yellow box on the top right?"
"Yeah?"
"Press on it and you'll get the dates of the executions." L indicated.
So he did. As soon as the arrow approached the yellow frame below the criminals' photos, the execution dates appeared. For those who had such punishment at least.
"The future dead are only fifteen," the policeman noted. "And it seems most of them were murdered by Kira last year," he added in disappointment.
"I don't think that counts. Kira is a serial killer and the death penalty is a state decision." L murmured.
"Whatever! The result is still the same!"
L didn't realize how much time had passed since he gazed upon the passers-by outside the window. It had already been dark for some time now and the town lights had turned on. For some reason even he couldn't explain, felt a warmth at the sight of the few flakes stuck to the window. Maybe it was because of the conversation he had with Matsuda earlier, or maybe he just was hungry. Sometimes when he had a craving for cake there was a paradoxical poetic mood in him.
All of a sudden, Matsu's voice was heard. And he sounded a bit irritated.
"How long will you be lost in your thoughts?"
"I'm sorry, Matsuda. It's a bad habit I have because of work. It's not intentional."
"Let me guess: You were thinking of Misa's thighs."
"Tell me, what is it?" his voice tone was slightly impatient.
"I think I found the most suitable female criminal to replace her."
"You did?"
"Yes, it took me a while but I finally found her. A high school student was recently arrested for the severe bullying she did to a classmate. I don't know if anything caught your attention about it, but it was also mentioned in the news."
"No, I don't think I've heard anything. Besides, after Kira's arrest am not much interested in reading or watching the news." L answered.
"Anyway, according to the evidence so far, they had a physical fight during the lunch break, thus the victim tripped on the stairs, breaking her elbow and ankle. The culprit is currently being held captive in a juvenile facility, and the victim is in the hospital. She'll too face the death penalty."
"Isn't the punishment too harsh for a juvenile?"
"I don't think so. According to the case file, she often brought a knife to school secretly, and her family may be involved in drug dealing, though it isn't proven yet. She'll be executed on December 27th in the same court where Light's judgment will take place. Her name is Tomoko Uehara."
The detective stayed thoughtful for a moment, considering once again Matsuda's risky plan.
"Are you telling me you're thinking of putting another criminal in Misa's role?"
"There's no other effective solution, L. Besides, she looks petite in the photo, and her hair is also long and braided. Just like Misa's. With the right makeup, she'll transform. I'm pretty sure she's the most suitable actress!"
"Good... But remember you'll be responsible for whatever happens, as you're the one who came up with the plan." L reminded him.
"You agreed to its implementation though!"
"Explicitly agreeing to a plan and being forced to do it, due to there's no other solution are two completely different things. We're doing this for Misa, not for you or me."
*
Ever since he was young, if Matsuda set his mind to something, no one could stop him. At least most of the people in his environment said he was an extremely stubborn child. And it was a good thing, but it could also have been a bad thing. He didn't allow himself to think of other solutions than the one that had come to him as a first suggestion. Naturally, as he got older he started to sort of regulate it, although it took over him again in this particular case. Deep down he worried about the outcome, but he really wished for his idol not to be murdered, especially when a colleague of his was in love with her. Besides, his parents had divorced when he was still in elementary school, so he didn't want to believe that love is anything but temporary. He simply didn't want to.
The first thing he did after dawn was to do a better search of the profile of the juvenile delinquent named Tomoko Uehara. He thought of going to the reformatory where she was being held, under the excuse he's a psychologist who came for conferences. But, he rejected this option outright. His plan was already risky, it wasn't beneficial to make it even more difficult. Besides, the possibility of him being figured out was extremely high. In the end, he decided to simply pretend he was a relative of the girl who came to visit. Do reformatories have visiting hours, like in prison? He had to look for the perfect occasion, and maybe Tomoko's delinquent behaviours would help him not get in trouble with the reformatory officers.
The reformatory would be closed for holidays on the 24th and 25th of the month. Fortunately, it was still open. He mustered all his courage while picturing the conversation with the girl in his mind. He certainly would find a way to convince her to take Misa's place. And why wouldn't she agree anyway? Logically, she would have known the goal wasn't to get her saved, but to Misa. Maybe she would the idea romantic after all.
At ten o'clock in the morning, his car parked in front of the building and went straight to the entrance. He figured he didn't wear work clothes, so there was no way he would look suspicious in any way. Behind the entrance stairs was the reception desk. A man smoking sat there. He probably was a policeman. Matsuda approached bashfully and greeted.
"Good morning. What d'you doing in here?"
"Did I... Come at an inappropriate time?"
"No, we're open until eight in the evening. But what are you doing in a reformatory?"
Matsuda swallowed. "I'm Uehara Tomoko's uncle and came to visit her. I heard she's been under supervision here."
"You've been told well, bro. They keep her in here. Fortunately for you, we don't have visiting hours. That only applies to criminals over twenty. She must have woken up unless she has a special education class today."
"So, am I allowed to go?"
"Of course. If you don't mind though, I would like your ID. For security reasons mainly." Although he was a little nervous, he showed it to him and hoped he wouldn't comment on his last name.
"I see... A fellow colleague. Your last name isn't Uehara though."
"She's my niece-in-law. I married her aunt you see."
"That makes sense. Anyway, she's in ward 300 on the fifth floor."
"Thank you very much." He bowed in an Asian way and headed for the fifth floor.
As soon as the elevator door opened, the corridor that stretched out before him seemed to have no end. The doors were all wooden with some having a small window at the top. Something quite different from what he had in mind. He had never been to a reformatory anyway. He imagined metal doors with bars and miserable conditions for the prisoners. At least that's how it is in some countries.
He could see the ward numbers carved into the wooden doors. They started from the number 280. There was a sunbeam of curiosity in him to see how far they got, but there was no time for that. He had to stay focused on his goal.
Once he found the ward 300 he knocked on the door rhythmically. A voice was heard from inside.
"Get lost, Suzuki! Am not in the mood for you to preach to me about morality and humanity again!"
"Excuse me, are you Miss Uehara? I would like to talk to you if you don't mind."
The girl didn't respond immediately. She opened the door after some seconds. Bewildered, she saw the stranger in front of her.
"You're not Suzuki."
"My name isn't Suzuki, dear." He took his ID out of his pocket and showed it. "Touta Matsuda. ICPO policeman. I would like your cooperation on a... Particular issue."
"You came to tell me about that idiot at the hospital didn't you?"
"No, I don't... Know about the incident between you two. Just a few basic things. I'm not here to judge or preach to you. That's the job of psychologists, I guess."
"What do you want from me then?"
"May I come in?"
"Yeah..."
The policeman closed the door behind him and observed the prisoner's room. There was only one window with red sheer curtains and sticker stars around the bed and door. There were also stuffed animals next to her pillow. It looked like he had just walked into a teenage girl's room instead of a prison. He sat on the bed and she was on a chair in front of him.
"Well?"
He took a deep breath ready to tell her what was on his mind.
"It's the first time I'm doing something like this, so it'll probably seem extreme to you. A colleague of mine did find it extreme since he didn't agree easily. In the beginning at least. I won't bother you for long. I'll be as brief as possible."
He explained the whole story in every detail. That he worked on the Kira case until he found out a colleague of his is in love with Kira's ex-partner and girlfriend. He didn't mention L's name just in case. He knew that sooner or later she would be executed, that's why he asked her to take Misa's place, since according to his words, they were alike. Even a little bit.
"Interesting... So that's the behind-the-scenes of the Kira case!" Tomoko said.
"Yes, and in fact he'll be murdered on the 28th. One day after your death."
"But, Matsuda, I..."
"It's hard I know, but you have to accept, Tomoko. You're the only criminal I found who looks like Misa! In the hair at least. My sister is a makeup artist in movies and theatre, so I think she can transform you. No one will figure it out!"
"There's no such thing as love, Matsuda. It's only a passing feeling that disappears with marriage. Couldn't your colleague simply accept that his loving person will die? You told me she doesn't feel anything for him."
"That's not possible! He has a high sense of justice, and it really is a difficult decision to choose justice or your heart. You can't have both! I promised him I would save her. How can I go back empty-handed?" He looked at her with eyes showing intense desire but she didn't notice.
"I don't even know if they'll get married for their love to fade. But even if Misa doesn't love him, I can't bleed his heart."
"I see you're a loyal friend," she said sarcastically.
"And why shouldn't I be? If I have the ability to help him, why should I not care? I like him a lot, even though he'd eccentric."
For a while, no one spoke. Tomoko didn't know how to respond to such a request, let alone from a stranger. It was the first time she had been asked something like this.
"Well... Let's say I agree. Who will go in my place? Have you thought about this detail?"
"You're right... I forgot that in my excitement." he giggled.
"On the other hand, though I have no reason not to accept. I'll die anyway. And if I am to die, I'll better do it honourably. Isn't that what heroes say?"
"I imagine so. I was terrible at history in school, don't ask me!"
She sighed. "After all this conversation, what have you decided?"
"Nothing yet. But, well... A good idea would be to do nothing to fill your own gap. The constables will be looking for you thinking you ran away. They'll be looking for you all over Japan, not knowing how you disappeared so easily. Not everything needs to have an answer!" Matsuda suggested.
"In that respect, you may be right. And besides, my parents will have the false hope that am alive and won't die in the end."
"Your parents? Don't you feel guilty for doing this to them? They brought you to this world!"
"I don't care. They're pigs!"
Matsuda preferred not to comment. He knew probably crime ran in this girl's family, so it made sense she didn't love them.
"So... That means you agree.
"Since I've come this far, why not? We only live once after all!"
He shook her hand. "Thank you so much, Tomoko! I'll owe it to you!"
"Don't get so emotional! Besides, you won't be able to owe me anything. I'll probably be a ghost wandering around the earth."
He laughed. "But before you become a ghost, we'll do as we said. I'm wondering though. Will they let you out sooner?"
"What kind of question is that? They won't let me go until I go to court."
"But I'll have to contact my sister to make up you."
"We'll see, Matsuda. For now, am still Tomoko."
As you can see, Matsuda is a loyal friend to L. He deserves to be appreciated and L deserves to have a good friend! I didn't exactly have in mind how to make Tomoko's character. I mean, she'll only appear in two or three chapters anyway, so she's more of a minor character? Or maybe a foil character. I'm not used to these literary terms of the English language :') Though, I believe that within 5 to 6 chapters this fic will finally be over. I kept my word after all!