Failure (A Death Note/L Love Story)

Chapter 9

I knew it was a bad idea. Damnit, I told him. Did he bother to listen? Of course not! And while maybe we had some sort of lead from what happened, I wasn't too sure the cost was worth it.

It was a week after the experiments Kira conducted on the three criminals. L convinced the FBI director to keep the agents in Japan another two weeks for the investigation. I couldn't believe he had managed that, but all he said was that one day I might know the power and influence he had. I hated that he reminded me.

I had just finished unpacking my things in the new hotel room. I looked at my watch and sighed. L probably hadn't unpacked anything besides the laptop. I figured I should go ahead and take care of the paper evidence we had.

I locked the door to my room and stepped over to the door next to me. With the second key we were given, I opened the door and called, "It's me."

"You're already set up?" he asked as I walked in. He was drinking tea with probably too much sugar. It seemed I had interrupted him in deep thought by the way he was sitting.

"Of course," I responded. I saw the suitcases still on his bed. "I expected that."

L confirmed my suspicions, "I was thinking about those letters again." Two days before, there was another inmate that left a suicide note. I had been out buying food at the time Watari called. L had quickly deduced that the first word on each line said, "L, do you know Gods of Death...?" We didn't know what it meant or what the last part was. It was ridiculous for him to try to make us believe Gods of Death were real. He was messing with us.

"It's nonsense," I dismissed.

"It's a clue, and whether its message means something or nothing, I don't know. He's trying to communicate with us."

"He's trying to get us off track," I argued.

All he said was, "We'll see." I frowned. I knew better than to argue with L, but I really didn't see much reason to keep fussing about the suicide notes. The only real way they might have meant anything if it was a criminal organization, but since we ruled that out early, it was all rubbish.

My attention turned to the laptop on the desk when there were three beeps. "L, you have a call from the director of the FBI." L stood up and shoved the mug of tea in my hands. He really was rude sometimes. I set it on the table and stood behind him at the computer.

The voice of the FBI director came through, "It's me. I've got a report in front of me right now stating that all of our agents in Japan are dead. All twelve died of heart attacks. I can only assume that Kira is behind this." I had to cover my mouth so my gasp wouldn't be audible. L seemed unfazed. He stood up and walked to the other end of the room, his back turned. "Look, I'm sorry, but it's already decided. We are calling off our investigation." The line went dead. We were both silent

"You should have listened to me this time, L. I knew it was a bad choice to keep them here," I stated, staring at the black screen in front of me.

He replied, "As I said before, sometimes bad choices are necessary. They all knew they could have died; and unfortunately, that fear came true."

"And for what? What did they die for?" I demanded, turning to him. He still wasn't looking at me.

"They died for the investigation. Someone noticed them. Most likely, it would be one of the people they were investigating," he explained.

"We can't be sure about that," I narrowed my eyes. He said nothing.

There was another three beeps. I sat in the chair and accepted the call. "I have Chief Yagami on the line." Oh, no, I groaned internally.

Yagami's face popped up on the screen. He looked angry, and I already knew why. "L, I just got off the line with the director of the FBI. According to him, it seems that you arranged for the FBI to come to Japan and investigate everyone here associated with the Task Force." Did he really have to tell the police? I thought sadly.

I answered, pretending to be L, "Yes, I did."

He interrogated, "So, how do you explain this? Are we now suspects in our own investigation?" I wanted to apologize. I wanted to explain that it wasn't their fault. I felt guilty, and I wanted to set things right. I couldn't; though, because L would never do that.

Instead, I said, "I felt that it was necessary to uncover Kira's identity."

"I cannot accept that! I find it unbelievable that you would spy on us, the very people working with you on this case!" he yelled. I felt like I was a child being scolded.

"Hear that? Well, I knew all along we couldn't trust that guy," a man in the background said. I put my head in my hands. A headache was coming on. How could everything be going so wrong so quickly? I didn't even bother listening to the rest of the conversation. I heard the audio cut off and knew the call was dropped.

I groaned as another three beeps came on. I accepted and groaned, "What, Watari?"

"H, I need to speak with L," he said.

"Doesn't everyone?" I muttered and stood up. We didn't look at each other as we traded spots.

"I'm here," L finally spoke.

"We have another victim. A note was found at the scene," he told him. I sat in a chair and stared at my hands. I heard L click on the file sent to him.

"'L, do you know Gods of Death love apples?'" He thought it over for a minute. "Hm.... 'Love apples?' Damn you, Kira," L cursed.

I smiled bitterly, "I told you it was nothing."

There was an iciness in his voice I had never heard before, "You don't need to remind me." It seemed he was more agitated than he was letting on.

I looked at him and glared, even though he was staring at the laptop still, "Don't get mad at me. If I could control what was going on right now, trust me, it would be a much better outcome."

He sighed and spun in his chair so that he was facing me. He looked stressed and more tired than usual. "I know. I'm sorry," he apologized.

"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have rubbed it in," I sighed. We both gave each other little smiles. I think the best thing about us was that we could come to understanding so quickly. "Anyways, our main problem right now is that we just completely lost the police's trust. I think we need to...." I paused. I didn't know what we could do. "What can we do?"

"Something drastic enough to show them how far I'm willing to go. They're realizing how dangerous this investigation really is. Once we know everyone is completely on board, we'll act," L assured me. I opened my mouth to ask what he meant, but he cut me off, "Don't worry, H. It's going to be fine."