Rivals? [L. Lawliet]

01

"You're kidding right?"

She wasn't. Jade knew it. She asked the question anyway because her right hand, Inko, had called Miss World Class Detective, K, to inform her that, like it or not, she has a new case. One that was requested she be a part of. She was invited to work on this case. The Kira Case.

A case that detailed hundreds of criminals dying of mysterious heart attacks all over Japan and some other parts of the world these past few weeks. Most people brushed it off as some sort of miracle, some supernatural being bringing justice to our world. A god. A hero.

As Inko continued to explain the case to her, Jade began zoning out, thinking and analyzing the ways someone could make hundreds of people cease to exist and have it look like a simple heart attack. However, more important questions were on her mind at the moment.

Why was I requested? And by who?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Watari was just getting back to the hotel with groceries for the sleep-deprived detective when he got a call. Walking in the door to his monitor room, Watari set his bags of cakes, sweets, and essentials down preparing to answer his phone that was still ringing.

He connected the call to his monitor and voice filter. "This is Watari, how may I help you?"

The voice on the other end answered, "Hello, this UN detective manager, Agent Toole. We're looking for L to help on a serious case revolving around criminal heart attacks," They took a breath, "may I speak with him?" Watari pressed a button on his communicator, signaling to his counterpart.

"L."

The young detective looked up from his cake and pile of papers, "What is it, Watari?"

"A member of the UN detective services would like to speak with you."

L looks back down at his papers and takes a bite of his strawberry cake while saying, "Put them through," A click is heard in the hotel room L was currently staying in, along with another turning on L's voice modifier. Taking another bite of his cake L speaks first.

"Mm, this is L."

The detective on the other end, Toole, started to introduce himself, "Hello, I'm UN detective services manager agent Toole-"

L cut in, "I know. I have a whole file pulled up on your services at the UN. Quite impressive."

Toole hummed in response. "Much appreciated. But, if I could take up a little bit of your time, I would like to ask you if you would work on a troubling case. As of now, at least a hundred criminals have died in the past few weeks. All heart attacks. Supposed accidents. The folks at the UN, however, believe these weren't accidents. They believe they were murders. Committed by who the internet is calling-"

"Kira. I've heard of the incidents," L once again interjects. "The stories. His apparent, "righteous judgment". They also call him justice. Quite intriguing, no?"

The UN member on the other end is starting to sound frustrated, "Hmm, yes but we must-"

"I'll do it."

Toole perks up a bit at this point, "Oh you will?"

L flips through papers, which can be heard on Toole's end of the call, as he nibbles on his strawberry that has been sitting on his fork waiting to be eaten. L felt like it was a waste to leave it sitting there.

"Yes, I was planning to investigate these murders regardless, this just gives me more reason to-" He pauses. Contemplating his next move, L figured, either way, this will be a fun case. "Will K be also on top of this case?"

The agent sounds taken back a bit. "N-No, we haven't asked. The agents and I figured you would be the only one we needed-"

"Put them on the case." L says shortly.

"But-"

"I will not be cooperating with you or the UN on this case if you do not assign K to it as well."

Signing, Toole gives up dealing with the detective who won't stop interrupting the agent at every chance he can get. "Very well. Is that your only request?"

L puts his fork in his mouth, trying his hardest to savor the taste of the strawberry he just finished. "Hmm, as of right now, yes."

"Will you and K be working together?"

L thinks for a moment. "For the time, no. We will be working on solving these murders individually, of course with the exception of the cooperation of the UN and worldwide police force. I shall throw it out to them as an option at some point, though. This I have planned to do on many cases, but per usual, we seem to come to the same conclusion and finish the case before I get a chance to ask."

"Of course. We at the detective services of the UN look forward to working with you and well- now detective K as well."

"Yes, yes, you too," And a press of a button signaled the end of the call as he then calls upon the man who is now putting the groceries away behind L in the kitchen.

"Watari."

The rustling of bags ceases for a moment. "Yes?"

The corner of L's lips slightly turns upwards, the pit of his stomach turning in excitement.

"Please contact K's righthand to inform them of their new case."

"Of course."

As Watari finishes putting away the groceries, L stares at his computer screen, encapsulating the pixels, making his own painting of what is on the screen. The sound of a door closing startles L out of his trance, indicating Watari has left the room to make the call.

The call that would change both L and Jade's life forever.

L hums.

"This gives me even more reason to work on this case. The race is on once again, K."

(982 words)