"She's the type of person who doesn't like being mocked, isn't she?" L said out loud, putting his thumb to his lips thoughtfully. Hope and Feather had just left the hotel a few minutes ago, leaving only Watari and L himself alone in the room.
"You're still thinking about it?" Watari smiles, pulling off his hat and hanging it on a coat stand.
"Unfortunately." L mumbles wearily. "I can't seem to decide what to think of her. I really never met anyone quite like her before."
"Aren't you glad you met her now?" Watari asks, the pleased smile still plastered on his face.
"Not exactly." L sighs. "But it was interesting. A most unusual personality. However, she was quite... a pain. But somehow I would still like to get to know her more. I can't put my finger on what to feel about her."
"That's not very common, now is it?" L's assistant said, now fully out of his disguise.
"No... It isn't. I can't say what it'll be like if I were to work with her."
"So why did you give her a chance?"
"She.... somewhat reminds me of myself." L reluctantly admits, scratching his head. "Just a little."
Hearing this, Watari laughs lightly. "Is that so? I'm sorry, but I half expected a more complicated reason."
"Oh, really..." L said in an uninterested mumble, chewing on his lollipop stick thoughtfully. He pulls the plastic stick out from his mouth and puts it onto the table that was next to him.
"You're still thinking about it?" Watari smiles, pulling off his hat and hanging it on a coat stand.
"Unfortunately." L mumbles wearily. "I can't seem to decide what to think of her. I really never met anyone quite like her before."
"Aren't you glad you met her now?" Watari asks, the pleased smile still plastered on his face.
"Not exactly." L sighs. "But it was interesting. A most unusual personality. However, she was quite... a pain. But somehow I would still like to get to know her more. I can't put my finger on what to feel about her."
"That's not very common, now is it?" L's assistant said, now fully out of his disguise.
"No... It isn't. I can't say what it'll be like if I were to work with her."
"So why did you give her a chance?"
"She.... somewhat reminds me of myself." L reluctantly admits, scratching his head. "Just a little."
Hearing this, Watari laughs lightly. "Is that so? I'm sorry, but I half expected a more complicated reason."
"Oh, really..." L said in an uninterested mumble, chewing on his lollipop stick thoughtfully. He pulls the plastic stick out from his mouth and puts it onto the table that was next to him.
"For now, let's just wait and watch what happens."
xXx
I gazed out of the cab window, chin on palm as I leaned against the door. Regret plunged straight through my stomach as the cab bounced up and down the rough road.
What was I doing, wasting my time and working on a small-fry case like this? Shouldn't I be doing more important things?
I asked myself, staring at my black combat boots, as if that would give me an answer.
Why did I give in so easily? It wasn’t like me. Not at all. The worst thing was, I was actually aware that I played right into his stupid little plan. I’ve dealt with all sorts of irritating types before, but this was the first time that I had let myself give in so easily.
Why…?
I knew he might just be using me for his own entertainment. I couldn’t even say for sure if he would even allow me to work with him after all of this.
That aloof attitude... Messy dressing… The way he challenged me... as if he was a whole level above me and that I needed to prove myself to him...
Sickening.
Who was he?
Who does he think he is?
I didn’t know if I was more disappointed, amused or irritated. Was this really L? A part of my mind kept doubting the fact. I knew L could’ve been anyone, for that matter. From a teenage girl to a senior citizen; It wasn’t impossible. But I really didn’t expect it to turn out this way.
But really, to give in to someone like him… that ignorant, shabby boy… I still don't know why I did such a stupid thing.
Although...
There was something about him... He wasn’t like the others. I can’t exactly say why… but.. It irked me. Quite a bit.
“Am I getting soft?” I grumbled to myself.
“Did you say something, Lady Hope?” Feather, who was seated beside me, asked.
"No, nothing." I replied immediately.
"Are you sure? You seemed bothered."
"I'm fine." I looked from her to back out the window.
"How long more til' we get there?" I asked, attempting to drop the topic.
"We should be there any minute now." Feather said, looking out the window too.
I kept silent after that.
Soon, the cab driver pulled up to a gloomy gray building, spiky wire fencing surrounding it to keep intruders out. This was the detention center that the suspect was in.
Her name was Mari Shiritaka.
And it seemed like she's gotten herself into quite a huge mess, apparently... she was accused of murdering her own husband just the day before.
The girl who had phoned Feather earlier happened to be her sister. I had called her back just moments ago to confirm the situation. I could tell that she was probably still young. Most likely just a teenager. She could hardly speak and her voice was muffled, as if she had been crying her eyes out.
"Please!" she had pleaded with me. "My sister is innocent! She wouldn't have done such a thing!"
I couldn't reassure her that her sister was innocent... yet. I had to get a view of the whole situation and then decide what would happen later. And in order to do that, I decided to visit the suspect herself first.
Both of us stepped out of the cab and went towards the detention center, only to be stopped by a security guard watching the entrance. He let us through once we flashed him our ID cards and directed us to a room inside.
"You two ladies can take a seat there while I summon the prisoner." he offered, pointing to two plastic chairs in front of a wall that had a glass screen that acted like some sort of window. Behind the screen was another chair, probably for the arrested suspect to sit in order to communicate.
I pulled the chair closer to me and made myself comfortable and Feather followed suit.
I looked around boredly, the gloomy atmosphere clinging onto the air, giving out depressing vibes. Feather started to fidget around, but didn't say a word.
A few minutes passed before we finally heard a loud creaking door opening.
A meek-looking woman was being guided into the other half of the room by another guard. She had long, untidy brown hair that looked as if it hadn't been brushed for days. There were obvious eyebags under her eyes which were glued to the ground. She was pale, drained, miserable and scared out of her mind.
"Poor girl," I heard Feather gasp to herself as soon as she set her eyes on her. "She looks awful..."
I studied the woman carefully as the guard helped seated her properly onto the chair that was placed for her. She kind of slumped down slightly, her eyes were forever on the ground.
"Mari Shiritaka?" I asked loudly, attempting to get her attention.
At first, she didn't respond. Then, she moved her head upwards slowly, and her eyes that were previously on the floor changed their focus to me.
She stared at me. Her eyes looked as if she had been possessed, like her soul had been sucked out from her body. They were bloodshot and tired.
But they were not the eyes of a murderer.
I crossed my legs and rubbed my chin in thought.
"Erm.... Hello, Ms Shiritaka." Feather spoke, trying to sound cheery. "We're the detetives that were hired on your behalf."
She continued to stare on with that souless look.
Feather looked lost for a moment but went on.
"Uh, I know this might be hard for you, but if you could just tell us exactly what happened, we might have a shot at proving your innocence... so if you would please--"
"... did it..." she suddenly mumbled.
"... I'm sorry? What did you say?" Feather asked again, scratching her head.
Suddenly, Mari took hold of the sides of the chair and gripped her fingers so hard onto it that her hands were shaking. She stared downwards, a terrified look on her face.
"I....." she started weakly.
"I did it."
I raised an eyebrow skeptically and Feather widened her eyes.
"W-what!" she stammered, trying to figure out what to say.
Mmm... What an interesting reaction...
"A-are you sure!" Feather asked once more, sounding flabbergasted. "If you say that, Ms Shiritaka, we won't be able to help you!"
"It's impossible..."
"No, it's not!"
"Don't you get it...?" the girl strains on weakly. She was shaking even more now. "I don't need your help. And even if you did help me, it wouldn't matter because I did it. Not anyone else. It was my fault and my fault alone. I'm guilty! I'm guilty, okay?! I killed... killed..."
she stops, shaking her head, refusing to finish her sentence.
...
"Killed who?" I asked, unfazed by her abrupt confession.
"I killed..." she repeated, her voice now as soft as a whisper.
"......." I uncrossed my legs and stood up slowly.
I walked nearer to the screen until I was right in front of the girl, aside from the wall that seperated us. I bent down until I was face to face to her and peered back at her through the glass screen.
"You're so stubborn." I said bluntly.
"Lady Hope!" Feather cried from behind me.
I ignored her and continued to talk to the girl. She was looking up at me now, confusion in her eyes.
"Not to mention you're a horrible liar." I added dryly.
Standing up straight again, I looked down on the puzzled girl.
"Kill?" I scoffed, holding back a chuckle. "Nonsense. Look at you. Would a person like you really be a murderer? I highly doubt so. You're so miserable, so washed out, so afraid just being here. I don't think you'd have the guts to kill somebody. Especially when the victim was your own husband. I don't know what your reasons are for lying, but unless you get over yourself and stop making false accusations to land yourself in a more miserable state, it won't get better."
"....I...."
"Isn't it stupid?" I sneered coldly. "How boring. To blame yourself for something you didn't do? Why take the beating?"
Her eyes were squeezed tightly together now, trying to block out my words.
"You... you don't understand..."
She looked down glumly.
"This... it's not worth it... I'm not worth it... It can't be helped... you just... don't understand..."
"What's there to understand?" I tossed my hair behind my shoulder. "Nothing. Except that you're running away. That's it isn't it? You're just running from the problem. Like a coward. You're afraid you'll lose. So you're giving up even before it started."
"No!" she half-yelled, opening up her eyes again. "T-that's not true..."
"Then let us help you!" I said firmly and fiercely. "Look, it's either we help you out of this mess, or you suffer for nothing. I already know that you're not the murderer. I don't have solid evidence, but I can tell. If you just stop with your mindless excuses and cooperate with us throughout this whole ordeal, you'll be as good as free. "
"...How... how can you be so sure?" She looked to the side with uncertainty.
"Because... I can't fail this case. I won't. I will not allow you to be punished for something you didn't do. I will bring Justice. I assure you that I will not fail."
I softened my tone just a little.
"So... just trust us, alright?"
"Lady Hope..." I could hear Feather say softly, a smile etched into her voice. She stood up and walked beside me. Then, she gave Mari her brightest smile and reassured her, "Everything will be fine, Ms Shiritaka! If Lady Hope says she won't fail, she won't! Also, I'll be working hard to fight for your innocence too!"
"......."
"Visiting hours are over!" The guard suddenly announces.
"I'll be taking my leave now. I don't know if you still insist on lying or whatever, but I will fight for your case nonetheless. I have my own personal reasons as to why I have to anyway." I turned my back on her. I could feel her stare on my back as I walked away.
"And please... don't say that you're the murderer anymore. It'll be hard for us if the court takes that confession seriously." Feather adds in happily, tagging along behind me. "We'll see you in court, Ms Shiritaka!"
We left the room.
"What a paranoid woman." I commented boredly, watching the cars zoom by, watching out for a cab to flag.
"I thought you were a bit too harsh, Lady Hope."
"I wasn't. She was being paranoid, and I needed to knock back some common sense into her, is all." I snorted, sticking my arm out at an oncoming taxi. "Honestly, acting that way just because her husband died..."
"Lady Hope! That's going too far!!" My assistant chided disapprovingly. "It's natural to be so broken down when a love one dies."
"Mmmm." I mentally rolled my eyes at her. Not another one of her long-winded naggings.
"Well, you'll find out how powerful love is in the future... you're still young and havn't expirienced it yet, have you?"
I pulled open the car door silently and got in. She sat beisde me and continued to talk.
"I wonder what your first boyfriend will be like!" she chattered exictedly, "You're such a pretty young girl, I'm sure you'll find someone equally good-looking!"
"Junya Road, street #95, please." I said to the driver, trying not to get affected by her rantings.
"Ahh, Lady Hope, you're not even listening to me, are you!"
"I'm sorry," I said dully, glancing at her with a dead expression. "Did you say something?"
"Ugh...! Lady Hope!!"
"What." I turned my head lazily to her, uninterested. "It's not as if I'm worried about getting a boyfriend anytime soon. I'm not a widow in her late fourties desperately trying to get married."
"No... but... don't you want to be in love?"
"That depends. Really, I don't care. Can we please drop the subject now?"
"Oh, fine..."
"Thank you." I dropped my head backwards into the leather chair, and rested my eyes.
"I'm starting to wonder if that attitude of yours would scare the boys away...." Feather mumbled to herself.
"Did you say something?"
"Oh, it's nothing~! I'll wake you when we get there!" Feather laughed nervously and I rolled my eyes before closing them again, the only sound being the roaring engine ringing in my ear. I thought about what happened so far. We weren't that far into the case yet.
In other words... The party has only just begun.
What was I doing, wasting my time and working on a small-fry case like this? Shouldn't I be doing more important things?
I asked myself, staring at my black combat boots, as if that would give me an answer.
Why did I give in so easily? It wasn’t like me. Not at all. The worst thing was, I was actually aware that I played right into his stupid little plan. I’ve dealt with all sorts of irritating types before, but this was the first time that I had let myself give in so easily.
Why…?
I knew he might just be using me for his own entertainment. I couldn’t even say for sure if he would even allow me to work with him after all of this.
That aloof attitude... Messy dressing… The way he challenged me... as if he was a whole level above me and that I needed to prove myself to him...
Sickening.
Who was he?
Who does he think he is?
I didn’t know if I was more disappointed, amused or irritated. Was this really L? A part of my mind kept doubting the fact. I knew L could’ve been anyone, for that matter. From a teenage girl to a senior citizen; It wasn’t impossible. But I really didn’t expect it to turn out this way.
But really, to give in to someone like him… that ignorant, shabby boy… I still don't know why I did such a stupid thing.
Although...
There was something about him... He wasn’t like the others. I can’t exactly say why… but.. It irked me. Quite a bit.
“Am I getting soft?” I grumbled to myself.
“Did you say something, Lady Hope?” Feather, who was seated beside me, asked.
"No, nothing." I replied immediately.
"Are you sure? You seemed bothered."
"I'm fine." I looked from her to back out the window.
"How long more til' we get there?" I asked, attempting to drop the topic.
"We should be there any minute now." Feather said, looking out the window too.
I kept silent after that.
Soon, the cab driver pulled up to a gloomy gray building, spiky wire fencing surrounding it to keep intruders out. This was the detention center that the suspect was in.
Her name was Mari Shiritaka.
And it seemed like she's gotten herself into quite a huge mess, apparently... she was accused of murdering her own husband just the day before.
The girl who had phoned Feather earlier happened to be her sister. I had called her back just moments ago to confirm the situation. I could tell that she was probably still young. Most likely just a teenager. She could hardly speak and her voice was muffled, as if she had been crying her eyes out.
"Please!" she had pleaded with me. "My sister is innocent! She wouldn't have done such a thing!"
I couldn't reassure her that her sister was innocent... yet. I had to get a view of the whole situation and then decide what would happen later. And in order to do that, I decided to visit the suspect herself first.
Both of us stepped out of the cab and went towards the detention center, only to be stopped by a security guard watching the entrance. He let us through once we flashed him our ID cards and directed us to a room inside.
"You two ladies can take a seat there while I summon the prisoner." he offered, pointing to two plastic chairs in front of a wall that had a glass screen that acted like some sort of window. Behind the screen was another chair, probably for the arrested suspect to sit in order to communicate.
I pulled the chair closer to me and made myself comfortable and Feather followed suit.
I looked around boredly, the gloomy atmosphere clinging onto the air, giving out depressing vibes. Feather started to fidget around, but didn't say a word.
A few minutes passed before we finally heard a loud creaking door opening.
A meek-looking woman was being guided into the other half of the room by another guard. She had long, untidy brown hair that looked as if it hadn't been brushed for days. There were obvious eyebags under her eyes which were glued to the ground. She was pale, drained, miserable and scared out of her mind.
"Poor girl," I heard Feather gasp to herself as soon as she set her eyes on her. "She looks awful..."
I studied the woman carefully as the guard helped seated her properly onto the chair that was placed for her. She kind of slumped down slightly, her eyes were forever on the ground.
"Mari Shiritaka?" I asked loudly, attempting to get her attention.
At first, she didn't respond. Then, she moved her head upwards slowly, and her eyes that were previously on the floor changed their focus to me.
She stared at me. Her eyes looked as if she had been possessed, like her soul had been sucked out from her body. They were bloodshot and tired.
But they were not the eyes of a murderer.
I crossed my legs and rubbed my chin in thought.
"Erm.... Hello, Ms Shiritaka." Feather spoke, trying to sound cheery. "We're the detetives that were hired on your behalf."
She continued to stare on with that souless look.
Feather looked lost for a moment but went on.
"Uh, I know this might be hard for you, but if you could just tell us exactly what happened, we might have a shot at proving your innocence... so if you would please--"
"... did it..." she suddenly mumbled.
"... I'm sorry? What did you say?" Feather asked again, scratching her head.
Suddenly, Mari took hold of the sides of the chair and gripped her fingers so hard onto it that her hands were shaking. She stared downwards, a terrified look on her face.
"I....." she started weakly.
"I did it."
I raised an eyebrow skeptically and Feather widened her eyes.
"W-what!" she stammered, trying to figure out what to say.
Mmm... What an interesting reaction...
"A-are you sure!" Feather asked once more, sounding flabbergasted. "If you say that, Ms Shiritaka, we won't be able to help you!"
"It's impossible..."
"No, it's not!"
"Don't you get it...?" the girl strains on weakly. She was shaking even more now. "I don't need your help. And even if you did help me, it wouldn't matter because I did it. Not anyone else. It was my fault and my fault alone. I'm guilty! I'm guilty, okay?! I killed... killed..."
she stops, shaking her head, refusing to finish her sentence.
...
"Killed who?" I asked, unfazed by her abrupt confession.
"I killed..." she repeated, her voice now as soft as a whisper.
"......." I uncrossed my legs and stood up slowly.
I walked nearer to the screen until I was right in front of the girl, aside from the wall that seperated us. I bent down until I was face to face to her and peered back at her through the glass screen.
"You're so stubborn." I said bluntly.
"Lady Hope!" Feather cried from behind me.
I ignored her and continued to talk to the girl. She was looking up at me now, confusion in her eyes.
"Not to mention you're a horrible liar." I added dryly.
Standing up straight again, I looked down on the puzzled girl.
"Kill?" I scoffed, holding back a chuckle. "Nonsense. Look at you. Would a person like you really be a murderer? I highly doubt so. You're so miserable, so washed out, so afraid just being here. I don't think you'd have the guts to kill somebody. Especially when the victim was your own husband. I don't know what your reasons are for lying, but unless you get over yourself and stop making false accusations to land yourself in a more miserable state, it won't get better."
"....I...."
"Isn't it stupid?" I sneered coldly. "How boring. To blame yourself for something you didn't do? Why take the beating?"
Her eyes were squeezed tightly together now, trying to block out my words.
"You... you don't understand..."
She looked down glumly.
"This... it's not worth it... I'm not worth it... It can't be helped... you just... don't understand..."
"What's there to understand?" I tossed my hair behind my shoulder. "Nothing. Except that you're running away. That's it isn't it? You're just running from the problem. Like a coward. You're afraid you'll lose. So you're giving up even before it started."
"No!" she half-yelled, opening up her eyes again. "T-that's not true..."
"Then let us help you!" I said firmly and fiercely. "Look, it's either we help you out of this mess, or you suffer for nothing. I already know that you're not the murderer. I don't have solid evidence, but I can tell. If you just stop with your mindless excuses and cooperate with us throughout this whole ordeal, you'll be as good as free. "
"...How... how can you be so sure?" She looked to the side with uncertainty.
"Because... I can't fail this case. I won't. I will not allow you to be punished for something you didn't do. I will bring Justice. I assure you that I will not fail."
I softened my tone just a little.
"So... just trust us, alright?"
"Lady Hope..." I could hear Feather say softly, a smile etched into her voice. She stood up and walked beside me. Then, she gave Mari her brightest smile and reassured her, "Everything will be fine, Ms Shiritaka! If Lady Hope says she won't fail, she won't! Also, I'll be working hard to fight for your innocence too!"
"......."
"Visiting hours are over!" The guard suddenly announces.
"I'll be taking my leave now. I don't know if you still insist on lying or whatever, but I will fight for your case nonetheless. I have my own personal reasons as to why I have to anyway." I turned my back on her. I could feel her stare on my back as I walked away.
"And please... don't say that you're the murderer anymore. It'll be hard for us if the court takes that confession seriously." Feather adds in happily, tagging along behind me. "We'll see you in court, Ms Shiritaka!"
We left the room.
"What a paranoid woman." I commented boredly, watching the cars zoom by, watching out for a cab to flag.
"I thought you were a bit too harsh, Lady Hope."
"I wasn't. She was being paranoid, and I needed to knock back some common sense into her, is all." I snorted, sticking my arm out at an oncoming taxi. "Honestly, acting that way just because her husband died..."
"Lady Hope! That's going too far!!" My assistant chided disapprovingly. "It's natural to be so broken down when a love one dies."
"Mmmm." I mentally rolled my eyes at her. Not another one of her long-winded naggings.
"Well, you'll find out how powerful love is in the future... you're still young and havn't expirienced it yet, have you?"
I pulled open the car door silently and got in. She sat beisde me and continued to talk.
"I wonder what your first boyfriend will be like!" she chattered exictedly, "You're such a pretty young girl, I'm sure you'll find someone equally good-looking!"
"Junya Road, street #95, please." I said to the driver, trying not to get affected by her rantings.
"Ahh, Lady Hope, you're not even listening to me, are you!"
"I'm sorry," I said dully, glancing at her with a dead expression. "Did you say something?"
"Ugh...! Lady Hope!!"
"What." I turned my head lazily to her, uninterested. "It's not as if I'm worried about getting a boyfriend anytime soon. I'm not a widow in her late fourties desperately trying to get married."
"No... but... don't you want to be in love?"
"That depends. Really, I don't care. Can we please drop the subject now?"
"Oh, fine..."
"Thank you." I dropped my head backwards into the leather chair, and rested my eyes.
"I'm starting to wonder if that attitude of yours would scare the boys away...." Feather mumbled to herself.
"Did you say something?"
"Oh, it's nothing~! I'll wake you when we get there!" Feather laughed nervously and I rolled my eyes before closing them again, the only sound being the roaring engine ringing in my ear. I thought about what happened so far. We weren't that far into the case yet.
In other words... The party has only just begun.
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