Death Note L

The Suitcase and Tennis

Light grinned, throwing and catching the tennis raquette in the air. 'You do know I came second in tennis nationwide?'

L grinned right back. His feet were jammed into his shoes badly with no socks, attracting glares from people walking past. 'Did I tell you I was in first place, Light-kun?' There was a loud SHING as the ball flew past the net and landed at Light's feet.

'One nil!' He called.

Light stared at the ball before gritting his teeth. He then smiled. 'Did you know, Ryuzaki?' Light threw the ball in the air, 'I hate losing.' With a powerful and fast swing of his arm the ball THWACKED and landed - straight at L's raquette. The ball bounced back with amazing swiftness as L swung.

Light gasped and leapt to the side, reaching out, barely hitting the ball. The result was a weak ball which landed just past the net. Light grinned, lifting his raquette again just as the ball flew his way again.

L kept his eyes staring at Light even as he threw the ball for the last time. Light returned the ball, his eyes glittered with determination. The ball was too far to the right. L wouldn't reach in time. But he did, the ball hit back up again, but landed on the net.

Light panted, slinging a towel around his shoulders. 'I've never played such a good game before.'

L looked at him, breathing quite normally. 'Me too. I've never had a worthy opponent before.' 

Light looked at him curiously. 'Should we return to the taskforce?'

'No.' L said, walking towards a bench under a tree. 'Let's sit for a while, Light-kun.'

Light walked to him and sat, sighing. 'My legs are definitely going to ache tomorrow. I don't come out enough.'

L looked over at Light. 'You should. Take Misa out sometimes. I'm sure she hates the atmosphere of the taskforce.'

Light looked thoughtful. 'I thought so, too. I was thinking I'll leave after this case. Not forever, though, just for a break.' 

'Speaking of the case, I'm also leaving after this case.' 

Light whipped his head around and stared at L, who was sitting with his knees at his chin, thumb nibbled gently. 'Why?'

'Too many people have seen my face and identity. I'm going back to the way it was before, when I worked alone, unseen.' 

Light considered this. 'But surely it's better to work together. You've worked with my father before, you trust them.'

'I trust no one.' 

Light was silent. 'I guess it's for the best.'

'Mmm. I'll tell the taskforce later. For now, lets focus on the case.'

Light nodded. 'So, we still get to keep the infamous detective for a bit longer.'

'An hour to be exact. I fly to America in an hour.' 

Light stared. 'But the case!'

'The thief, Hagemi Kwonte has an associate who has being helping him to steal the money. There's an eighty percent probablity that he is Nibaouku Miku. He will be arriving in 5 minutes from now, at this basketball court.'

Light gaped. 'Hagemi? He's the new guy in our taskforce...wait you're right. Since he did book that ticket to Yakusa today at 1pm, just before we found out the money exchange took place at 1pm. I always found that suspicious. But how did you know it was to happen here?'

'The photo was a note to Miku. The taskforce thought the note meant "meet at night by the food courts" . But the shop sign actually said basketball courts, if you go to the shop to check behind the fountain. The shop had a sign, "15 percent off" so everyone thought it meant 3 o'clock. But the shop had a clock that always read 1 o'clock, if you go see it.'

Light digested this quickly. 'I can't believe nobody ever suggested we go see. So that means Hagemi and Miku should be here now. And you have shown who you are to a criminal.' 

'Yes.' L looked at Light. 'I made sure we didn't reveal too much about our taskforce. Look, Light-kun, there they are. It is indeed Miku.'

Two shadows walked closer to them. 'Hagemi will see us.' Light pointed out.

'We're in the shade, while the sun's in their eyes, Light-kun.' L said.

It was true. The two people advanced closer, oblivious to the two people on the seat.

'I have studied Hagemi. He's the type who thinks he is the most important, and can't be beat. Which is why he doesn't check his surroundings.' L said once Hagemi and Miku had past. Miku was twitching wildly, clutching a large suitcase that didn't suit his brown suit. He looked around nervously while Hagemi walked on, staring ahead.

'I even caught him stealing the 1000 yen I dropped on the floor.' L said brightly. 

Light was amazed. 'It's going to be hard to continue on without you.'

L barely glanced at him. 'You would have done fine without me. But your weakness is that you trust too much.' He stood up, brushing off dirt from his back. 'Hagemi!' He called loudly.

The tall and confident guy turned and flinched in shock. 'L?!'

The second guy nearly fainted; he looked so green. 'L? The century's best detective?' Throwing the suitcase, he ran, head first into the fence of the courts. Hagemi straightened and regained his posture. 'Hello, L.' Striding towards them, he stepped over his friend's collapsed body nonchalantly.

'It's Ryuzaki.'

'Ryuzaki.' He corrected himself, a glint in his eyes. Apparently he thought Light too trivial to acknowledge. Though Light's intelligence does surpass Hagemi's.

'Would you like to come back to the taskforce before you leave? I'm sure we can fit another bottle of wine from Matsuda in that big suitcase of yours.'

Hagemi narrowed his eyes. 'No, thank you. I do not care for Matsuda's wine. I have to catch my plane.'

'Tsk. What a shame, since you won't be boarding your plane.' With striking swiftness, L took out handcuffs and slapped them on Hagemi. 'Light-kun?' He tilted his head.

'I've already arrested Miku,' Light replied. 

'Well, I guess we're set to go then.' L grinned widely. 'I win, Hagemi. You lose. I seem to remember you hate losing?'