Time Will Tell

Chapter Six

"Good morning," Matsuda says as I come down the stairs with a cup of coffee in one hand and L's hand in the other.
"Good morning, Matsuda," Ryuzaki says as we walk over to our computers.
Since we were discovered and confessed, Ryuzaki has become more comfortable with displaying our relationship publicly. He's no longer a blushing mess when we hold hands. He's able to process information quicker when he is in my arms. He's stopped protesting little kisses. He's a fan of running off in the middle of work for some scandalous alone time. He feels safe discussing our plans with others. He's secure in the fact that he knows I'm not leaving him or our future together.
I give his fingers a quick squeeze before kissing his cheek and letting go of his hand so I can turn on my computer and start working. He protests a bit, but I just shake my head and scoot my chair closer to him.
This has become our daily routine.
"Hey, Light, I've got those files for you," Aizawa says as he walks into headquarters and strolls over to me.
"Thank you," I tell him as he hands over the stack of folders.
I begin the process of analyzing all of the data in the folders, spending at least three hours on the first two folders alone. But before I know it, it's 11 A.M. and some of our fellow detectives have already left for lunch.
"Matsuda, what are you doing?" Aizawa asks suddenly, and we all turn around to look at Matsuda.
"I-I'm waiting for something, I mean someone," he says.
He's on his way to the front entrance of the building, and the look on his face is a bit strange. He is clearly excited for something, but he's also clearly trying to hide it. It's weird, even for him.
Aizawa raises an eyebrow, "Really now?"
Matsuda nods quickly, "I am."
"Who is it, Matsuda?" I ask him.
His eyes refuse to meet mine as he says, "Misa."
L reaches over and grabs my hand, speaking lowly so no one else can hear, "I love you."
I smile at him, saying softly, "I love you more, Ryu."
He smiles and moves from his chair to mine, perching himself in my lap protectively as Matsuda goes to let Misa into the building.
"I'm okay, babe," I tell Ryuzaki as I gently rub his back. "No need to stress yourself out."
He relaxes into my arms as he says, "I do believe that you're more likely to be stressed over the current situation than I am, Light-kun."
My dad grins, saying, "I wouldn't be so sure, Ryuzaki. Light is quite smitten with you."
This turns my steel fortress of a lover into a grinning mess. His smile reaches his eyes and lights up his face like a spotlight. It's absolutely adorable.
I kiss his cheek, saying, "Silly L."
He pokes me in the ribs as payback, saying as I laugh, "Silly Light."
We laugh until a set of familiar footsteps enters the room, and I can't stop myself from reaching for L's hand when I make eye contact with the easily recognizable blonde.
"Hi, Light," she says after a moment.
"Uh, yeah, hey, Misa," I reply.
I hope she doesn't threaten to kill me or my boyfriend.
"How are you?" She asks.
Matsuda pulls a chair out for her as I say, "Great. You?"
She nods, saying, "I'm doing well. I've been busy with a few movies and a ton of photoshoots." She looks at Ryuzaki. "I see that you're doing well?"
He nods, "I am."
Careful, Ryuzaki.
"Why are you here, Misa?" I ask after an agonizingly awkward silence.
Matsuda hands Misa a cup of tea as she says, "Matsu is helping me move and I wanted to treat him to lunch to thank him. I also wanted to see how you were doing now that you and Ryuzaki are officially together."
...did she know that we were seeing each other behind her back...?
"Speaking of which, how long have you two been together now?" She asks.
Dammit. She did know.
"Just a few months," L tells her. "We started dating about a month after you and Light broke up."
Thank God for you, L.
My dad sends me a look, and I just ignore it for now. I'll talk to him later on when Misa's out of the building.
"Misa, we should head to the restaurant," Matsuda says. "Our reservation is for 12."
"Just a second, Matsu," she tells him. "Well, um, it was nice seeing you, Light. You too, Ryuzaki."
"Likewise," Ryuzaki says as she gets up and leaves with Matsuda.
After they leave, my father looks over at me, saying, "Hey, Light, could you come look at this report? It looks like some of the data has been scrubbed out of existence, but I want to be sure before I transfer the file to our deletion database."
L gets off of my lap and wanders over to the cart of sweets, leaving me to discuss whatever with my father. To my father, Ryuzaki is out of earshot, but I know he's listening.
"What is it, Dad?" I ask as I take a seat in the chair beside him.
"I wanted to tell you that between everything - the case and your relationship with Ryuzaki - you've been doing very well. I don't want to admit that I am surprised, but I am," he tells me. "You've grown up a lot since you graduated college, and it's showing. You handled Misa's visit well and you haven't let that affect your work or your relationships. I can guess that you and Ryuzaki will talk about her visit later on, but don't let her put any distance between you two. I have never seen two people so happy to be with each other."
"Do you mean that, Dad?" I ask, clearly surprised.
I was sure he'd be fed up with L by now, but I guess I was wrong.
He nods, saying, "I do." He turns his computer toward me as he moves to the next topic of discussion. "Now, what do you make of this?"
I scan the screen carefully, taking note of the random white spaces in the text of the file. It looks as if his theory was correct. Dates, names, and other crucial information has been removed from the document.
Interesting.
"Looks like you're right," I tell him. "You can send it to the deletion database for Watari to take care of."
Unfortunately, we receive files like this daily. It's a headache, but it's something we've gotten used to.
"Light-kun," I hear, and I turn to find Ryuzaki standing right behind my chair. "There's been an accident."
"What do you mean, L?" I ask.
He points to the monitors over our personal computers, saying, "The restaurant that Matsuda and Misa went to was the target of a shooting. Matsuda is confirmed alive, but Misa Amane has not been found by law enforcement officials yet."
"...and this has all happened between the time they left here and the current moment?" I ask.
He nods, "Precisely."
"We don't have jurisdiction," I tell him. "We're still a part of the Japanese police, but we have no reason to go to the scene at the moment. We can't do anything other than wait, Ryuzaki."
"I understand, but I want you to be aware," he tells me.
My mind scatters.
"...aware of what...?" I ask him.
"Misa and Matsuda are dating," he tells me. "If Misa cannot be found, there is a chance that Matsuda will be too distraught to further assist us in finding Kira."
I can't believe Matsuda is willing to put his dick in crazy. What the hell?!
"Dammit, Matsuda!" I shout as I stand up and walk over to my computer desk.
I open one of the desk drawers and take out my government-issued handgun and task force badge. I gear up and adjust my tie as I fire orders at the detectives in headquarters.
"Aizawa, you are to stay here and relay any incoming case information to me. Dad, watch the live news feeds of the scene and update me whenever there's new information on the suspect or victims. Ryuzaki, I need you to follow me in the helicopter," I tell them.
"Understood," they respond, and I go into action.
I head for my car, taking out my cell phone to call Matsuda as I make my way out of the building. Once I get him on the line, I start asking questions.
     God had better be on his side if he doesn't want me to strangle him.