Failure (A Death Note/L Love Story)

Chapter 27

"You look different," Matsuda noticed when I walked out of the hotel on the 22nd. It was the day we were going to Aoyama, and Matsuda had offered to pick me up.

"It's part of Ryuzaki's requirements for me joining you and Light," I explained, looking at a strand of the brown wig I had to wear. It addition to the long wig, I had to wear huge sunglasses outdoors and a fairly large hat at all times. Also, I was given a microphone piece hooked near the front of my shirt, which the fake hair covered, and a speaker in my ear so L could communicate with me. I swear, he was worse than an overprotective parent.

"Oh, I didn't mean you look bad! You could easily pull off the brunette look," he complimented quickly

I laughed, "Yeah, nice save. But thanks." He gave me his goofy grin.

"Don't you two need to be moving?" L said in my ear. I sighed.

"What is it?"

I frowned, "I have a wire on me so L can hear what's going on. He was telling us to get moving." I moved the mic closer to my mouth and told him, "Yeah, yeah, we're going. Relax a bit."

Matsuda drove me to Aoyama, and we arrived in time. When we found Light, I saw he had brought a bunch of friends with him. "Oh, excuse me, Light? So, what's going on here?" Matsuda asked nervously.

"Oh, these are some of my friends from school," Light introduced them.

L commented, "That was smart. You won't stick out so much now." I actually agreed. Light had thought this through. Whether it was for the investigation or for meeting the second Kira, I wasn't sure.

"Nice to meet you."

"Hello," I smiled.

"This is my cousin, Taro, and his girlfriend, Hikari. She's from America but came here to visit him, and he wanted to show her around Aoyama and Roppongi, but it's his first time in Tokyo. I figured the least we could do is show them a good time. I'm counting on you guys!" Light told his friends, and they nodded.

L muttered, annoyed already, "I don't believe we agreed to your relation to Matsuda." I had to hide a smirk. Would that be jealousy? I teased him in my mind.

We started to walk around Aoyama. Everyone was talking and laughing, and Matsuda and I stayed in the back of the group to survey the cafés and stores better. We held hands to make the story of us being together more realistic. All the clothing stores brought up good memories that made me smile. Actually, the whole situation did, and I missed it a bit. I didn't enjoy being cooped up in a room full of only computer screens all the time.

"So, how long have you known Ryuzaki?" Matsuda asked, trying to get a conversation going.

"Since I was five. It's been over fifteen years," I answered.

He seemed surprised, "Wow, really?"

I nodded, "Yep. We've only been traveling together for the last three years, though. Before that, we didn't speak at all for six."

He wondered, "Why didn't you?"

I paused, "I... I don't know. There was no way for me to reach him because of safety reasons, but he used to visit me a lot. He just stopped one day. It was so sudden, you know? It had to be more than him being busy. I don't even know what he was doing or where he was. But then, just as abruptly as he stopped, he contacted me and asked if I wanted to accompany him from then on. He never told me why, though." I knew he was listening in, but I kind of wanted him to hear me talk about that with someone else. For him to know it wasn't just an act.

"That's really weird. It seems like you two have a really strong connection. What were you doing before you started traveling?"

"I was training to become a successor."

Matsuda looked up to the sky and smiled, "You know, that's amazing. Being a successor and all. Your parents must be proud."

I shrugged, "Yeah, I guess. His probably are, too. I mean, if I'm this proud of him, imagine what they would be like!" When he gave me a strange look, I explained, "He's an orphan. We both are, actually. Mine died when I was a baby, and his... I don't know. He might not, either. Watari took him in when he was seven, and a year later I came along."

"I'm so sorry! I didn't know," he apologized immediately.

I brushed off, "It's fine. We have each other, and Watari has always acted as a father-figure." I paused for a moment. "But don't think that my job is the best thing ever or anything."

"Why? I mean, I know working with Ryuzaki must be a pain sometimes, but he seems to give you a lot of breathing room when it comes to you helping him. Plus, helping people all around the world? Being a genius? It sounds like a dream!" Matsuda exclaimed.

"I don't exist, you know."

"Huh?"

I stated, "If I told you my real name, you would never find me anywhere in the world. All of my records have been erased. Even the newspaper articles stating my parents' deaths are gone, all but one, which I have in a safe place. Technically, I'm not a person. I'm like... a ghost of a person. And I know I get to go out like this now, but I can't have outside relations, plus this'll end if I take over for Ryuzaki. When we're done with the case, I'll probably never talk to you or the rest of the Task Force again. It's not easy when you know that the minute your best friend dies, you have to somehow get over it and take his place. I... hate it. I really, really hate it."

"Hikari?" L's voice came through in my ear.

"Wow, I guess I never thought about it like that," Matsuda frowned. "Then, why do you travel with him and everything? Why did you even take the position?"

"Well, first of all, I was chosen for it. I didn't get a choice," I started. "But I enjoy helping people. I like solving mysteries that no one else can because it challenges me. This is what I'm supposed to be doing. Plus, Ryuzaki asked me to. I like being around him, believe it or not. I can't just leave him. He's needs someone to be around to keep him in check."

L tried to cut in, "I don't-"

I ignored him, "He needs me, and I need him. I learned that a while ago, even though I don't think he believes it. I hate my job description, but I really love what I do. It's worth it. It makes me happy, and I can't imagine working in one of these shops after traveling around with him."

He grinned, "Yeah, I get that. That's pretty sweet." I heard L make a noise that he only did when he was really uncomfortable or blushing. When I giggled, he asked, "What?"

"Oh, Ryuzaki's turning red. He can still hear us," I pointed out.

"Be quiet," L muttered.

Matsuda rushed, "Oh, sorry about all those questions!" He continued to apologize for the next few minutes, much to my amusement.

We were walking by a café, and I scanned over all of the customers and employees inside. I grabbed his arm, which finally made him stop talking, and I whispered, "Do you see that girl in there?"

"Which one? It's pretty busy in there."

I watched the girl in a school uniform, glasses, and short hair stand up. "She's stood up close to the window. It looks like she's watching something nearby. Maybe we should go in there to get a better look," I suggested. I was struck with the realization that if that was the second Kira, then the real one was probably within a close proximity.

"No, stay with the group. If that's who we're looking for, then it's better not to approach her. You don't want to make yourselves seem suspicious," L instructed, composed again.

"Ryuzaki said not to. Okay, we'll keep looking, but we'll watch the video when we get back to the hotel," I decided. Matsuda nodded in agreement.

The Note Blue, I reminded myself of the name. There is no such thing as a coincidence. She didn't have a notebook, but that name? It might as well be pointing to their meeting place. I have to watch the footage of the Note Blue. I think that might have been one of our killers.