Key (L x OC)

Seven

Two days later, Kaori's task was complete. She carried two, small SD chips down to the tiled computer room, and when she made sure that Light and Misa weren't around, she slid the chips in front of Ryuuzaki with pride in what she had done.

He picked up each chip with his thumb and index finger, examining each one closely. "Good job, Kaori."

She released a satisfactory sound. "How do you plan on getting those chips into their phones?"

As though it was common sense, he explained, "I will put a chip inside of every person's phone on the team and say it's a 'tracking device' or something of that sort. Of course, it would be a fake for everyone except Light and Misa's phones."

"As long as that's settled, I'm gonna run to the convenience store." She began to casually walk from the room, but Ryuuzaki caught it.

"I'm confident you won't try to flee, but what do you need at the store? I could easily have Watari pick it up."

"Just stuff." Kaori felt like she didn't really need to tell him what she 'needed.' In fact, all she 'needed' was some fresh air and to go on a walk by herself.

"Are you sure that you're not saying you need to go to the convenience store and instead planning on going for a walk?"

Her mouth nearly fell open again. She didn't think she'd ever get used to Ryuuzaki knowing practically everything that crossed her mind.

"I would only mind if you were Kira, which I am one hundred percent sure you are not Kira, or if you planned to flee. But I am also ninety percent sure that you will not flee, and I am willing to bet on those odds. Besides, you look like you need some time to think and haven't been outside of this tower for about five days." He took a sip of his coffee, which he always seemed to have with him, and seemed to deliberately avoid eye contact with the girl.

"I'll be back in a few hours." She muttered as she left through one of the few doors in the room.

Kaori made a mental note of the exact location of the investigation headquarters. Ryuuzaki was right, as he always was. She had no intention of fleeing. A few of the people on the team had grown on her, too. She had become friends with Misa, despite her obnoxious, energetic attitude, as well as Matsuda and Mogi.

She also couldn't believe that Ryuuzaki was growing on her as well as she began to understand his reasons for doing what he does. She still wasn't too fond of him, but she didn't become irritated at just the sight of him.

Kaori didn't have any particular direction in mind as she walked through city, and she lost track of how far she'd gone until she reached where the cement fell off into dark, relentless waters.

Thus, she walked along the shore for a little while. The sound of the waves was soothing to her as it drowned out all of the other noise. But she wasn't focused on all the thoughts in her head. She didn't need to think, she needed to clear her mind.

Kaori felt as though she only closed her eyes for a minute, but when she opened them again, new orange, pink, and yellow colors were already painted on the few clouds in the setting sky.

She took a deep breath and already felt more relaxed. She decided that it was about time to go back to the investigation headquarters.

By just retracing her steps and recognizing specific buildings and streets, she managed to find her way halfway back to the tall tower.  Now, she finally realized just how far she had walked. The sun had already set by the time she reached her current location.  Old lights flickered on in the city and people began to bustle about in a different way.  Night life was completely different than life during the day.  It seemed more exciting, but also a bit mysterious.

She smiled as she watched the neon lights illuminate the streets. Her mind was so at peace that she didn't bother to pay any attention to the annoying whistles and coos from a few stand-byers that leaned against the damp, dark alleyways.

Kaori wasn't even aware of the potential dangers lurking in the shadows...

A rough, painful tug on her wrist nearly lurched her off of her feet.  Just before she screamed, a hand cupped over her mouth to stifle the sound. "Who do you think you are? ... Ignoring us like that." A rugged voice said beside her ear.  The stench of alcohol was prominent on his breath.

Instinctively, she tried to to force her elbow into her captor's stomach, but he caught her. She then attempted to kick him, but he tangled his leg with hers so that she was unable to free herself. 

She wasn't the kind of person who would allow herself to be taken advantage of in this situation, but this man was ridiculously strong.   However, she felt herself being drawn further and further away from the illuminated streets.

She was thrown against the wall, and her breath escaped her with a gasp.  She began to slide to the ground, but her wrists were pinned to the wall with her captor's hands, keeping her standing despite the pain that filled her spine.

Another man approached. "This whore thinks she's too good for us." He spat and roughly gripped onto her chin.  That man, too reeked of alcohol. "Just look at these damn clothes." He said as he tugged on her skirt. 

With bloodshot eyes, one of the despicable, disgusting men glared at Kaori.  She dared to meet his drunken gaze. "Go to Hell." She said bitterly and spat in his face.

She was immediately retorted with a fist to her cheek.  Her knees snapped forward and she fell to the litter-covered, brick ground.  The man who tugged at her skirt ended up tearing the fabric as well.

As she fell, her black cell-phone slipped from her torn outfit.  The dim lighting reflected off of the silver key charm, and she gained a glimmer of hope.

She reached for the phone and brought her body close, tucking her head to her knees as the drunk men began to kick at her pathetic position. But as she protected the most vital parts of her body as she rapidly began to text the one person she could.

To Lawliet:

Save me!

A kick to her back sent a shock throughout her body. She could hear her bones crack as the cell-phone flew from her hands.

But that was the one chance Kaori had of escaping.  She desperately reached for the phone.  She released a guttural scream when one of the men stepped on her hand. Yet, she bit her lip to keep herself from crying out any more.

With her other hand, she managed to reach the phone and press the green 'send' button.

She screamed again when one of the men pulled her up from the ground using the back collar of her shirt. "Sorry sweetheart, but no one's comin' to save ya." His smile was just as disgusting as his stench, with yellow, chipped teeth.

One of his hands clumsily latched onto her thick hair as he drew closer.  Kaori tried to shrink away, but she could only back up so much until her badly bruised back collided with the damp alley wall.

But the pressure holding her upright disappeared.  Her weakened knees buckled as she watched the man practically get thrown down the dark alley while the other watched in horror.

"I may not look like it, but I'm actually quite athletic."

He cracked his knuckles confidently.  Kaori gasped in shock when she recognized the familiar, monotonous voice.

As he kicked the last of her attackers, effectively knocking him out for a long while, the girl whispered to try to convince even herself of what was going on.

"Ryuu...zaki?"