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Chapter Three

Reunion

"M-Miss Misora!"

"Beyond Birthday!"

Naomi Misora gaped at me in surprise. I probably looked the same to her.

"Um, c-care to introduce me?" I heard Ben ask as he stepped into the apartment to stand beside me, but I ignored his request.

What the hell is she doing here? Isn't she supposed to be doing stiff for the FBI? They're not involved are they?

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same to you!" she deflected my question easily. Suddenly, a weird look of understanding flitted across her face.

"The culprit returns to the scene of the crime. I get it. Well you can't fool me Rue Ryuzaki. I know damn well who you are! That trick will not work again." She sure looked pissed.

It seems she hasn't forgotten or let go of the whole Rue Ryuzaki thing. Ah shit.

"Hold up Miss Misora, I know you know my name, but I didn't come here to tell you it was Rue Ryuzaki are any other alias. I came to investigate. Much like yourself I presume."

Ben had caught up with the tension in the air and had the sense to remain quite. Thank the lord.

"Oh, come to 'investigate' your own crime right?" Naomi Misora crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing and shooting me death glares.

I was bewildered.

What was this chick babbling?

"I haven't done this! Why would I investigate my own crime?"

I didn't realise what I had said until Naomi's eyes somehow narrowed more.

Oh...well...yeah. But then it clicked. She actually honestly suspected that I had done this.

"No! Miss Misora, you've gotta believe me, I haven't done anything! I didn't commit this murder! I've only just got out of prison; do you really think I'd want to go back so quickly?"

It didn't look like she believed a word of what I was saying.

Oh great, you kill a few people then every murder is pinned on you? That's bloody brilliant. It was their time! I let them got peacefully... well, painlessly at least. How am I supposed to go about this?

"Woah, woah, I'm B-Ben Baterson, Beyond's pal. I can vouch for this man!" Ben suddenly intervened.

Ah, good ole Ben.

"He was asleep, drooling on my couch that night!"

I resisted the urge to either face palm myself or punch him as Naomi's eyebrows arched in disbelief.

Charming...

"Honestly, I didn't do this." I tried again, hoping to draw her attention away from Ben's previous statement.

"Then what are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes locking on to my now brown ones.

Sheesh, she's not afraid is she? I thought she'd be a little panicked to see a serial killer again. Especially me, the one she put in jail.

"Investigating. Like you."

"But why?"

"Ah-ha, my turn." I raised my eyebrow waiting to see if she'd object. She didn't. Though she did make me feel glad that looks couldn't kill.

"Is there anyone else here?" I tried to glance behind her and into the bedroom, the door wide open.

I couldn't see anybody.

Screw the FBI, I need to see L's pawn!

Naomi looked a little taken aback by my question.

"No." She answered. "Should there be?"

No? But L's pawn would be here by-

Oh no. I felt an awkward prickle on my back as it dawned on me.

Don't tell me it's her! Not again!

"Earth to Beyond Birthday!"

"It's you? You? No, why would... you? Ah shit." I stuttered.

Christ I was starting to sound like Ben.

If Naomi Misora is once again L's pawn... well then I'm screwed. How am I meant to find out about this case with her staring at me and telling little Lawli about me every five damn minutes? He wasn't even supposed to know I was here doing anything about this case yet. Damn it.

Naomi glared at me.

"It's me what? What's me?"

"L..."

The one letter threw her. Naomi's strong facade melted as she paled considerably. That was the only confirmation I needed; she was the pawn.

Great.

But then, as if she was waving a neon flashing sign with the words 'L sent me!' on them, she mumbled something about calling someone and sidled into Greg Walker's bathroom.

Yeah, I wonder who she's calling?

"Oh Lawli, it's awful, meany weany boheeny Beyond Birthday is here. What do I do? Oh save me L you great hunk of a detective!"

Maybe I was clinically insane. Nah.

"Okay, what the hell was all that about?" Ben asked, shutting the front door and proceeding to sprawl over the cream coloured couch.

I quickly sat next to him on the couch, glancing at the door to the bathroom as if I could keep it shut with my eyes.

"Look, you know when I did those murders before? And I said there was L's pawn there? Well... it was her who you just met. Naomi Misora. Miss Misora."

Ben's eyes widened in surprise and alarm. So now he gets the gravity of the situation.

"Wait, s-so she's L's eyes again?"

"Yeah Ben, yeah she is. But more to the point, why'd he pick her again?"

This was so unlike him.

"Maybe he l-likes her? Liked her work?"

"No Ben, even if he did like her, heck even if her loved her, he wouldn't use her again. It's never been heard of."

"Well, she did a superb job last t-time by the way you described it."

"I know that! She saved my worthless life. But even so, there must be another reason... some similarity or a link between this case and the last to make him choose her again."

"But B m-mate, if you look at it from their point of view and j-judging from what Naomi was saying earlier about returning to the scene of the crime, f-factor in that L sent her here..."

And then it hit me.

"Bastard! That moronic, paranoid, bastard!" I yelped and jumped up from the couch.

I was the similarity! L suspected me! Me! I've only just gotten out of prison and the prick had the nerve to suspect that I did it!

"I thought he was meant to be smart!" I fumed. Sure, it hadn't seemed so bad when I thought it was only Naomi who blamed me. But now him?

"W-well put it this way Beyond; you're already w-well on your way to beating him." Ben swung his legs up on couch where I had been sat, seeming totally at ease.

How could he though! I thought he'd be able to tell that this is not my style at all. Well, it does seem a bit of a coincidence, as soon as I'm let out, murder strikes? And mine and Ben's flat is only down the road. But L...

If I thought about this logically, L mustn't suspect me that much yet. Two percent at best. There just simply wasn't enough to go on to fully suspect me. I must just be a niggle at the back of his mind...

But this being L, he wouldn't want to take any chances. Thus contacting the only other person who had been there with me during the LABB murder cases to check things out. I bet she had been looking for similarities between both cases damn it. And if there was one and she was currently informing L...

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Are-are you sure?" Naomi whispered into her phone. She was still concealed in Greg Walker's green and blue bathroom. It was as big as her bedroom.

"Yes, please share your information with him. I am sure this shall prove useful, if he agrees to co-operate." The synthetic voice asked her.

"But-"

"My reasoning, Naomi Misora, is because my percentage of suspecting him has dropped to point five percent. He may also share information that he has acquired." The young detective answered Naomi's unspoken question.

"L...I..." Naomi still didn't trust B. No matter how unlikely it seemed that he did it, even in her eyes, she still did not trust him. But L on the other hand...

"I understand. I shall inform him immediately."

"Thank you Naomi Misora."

He was gone.

Naomi sighed and reached for the door handle, half expecting to see B there listening when she opened the door. Like last time. Naomi sighed again, hoping that L was right. Even to Naomi, Beyond seemed innocent of this crime. There just wasn't anything to implicate him.

Apart from the indent.

Which she had to tell Beyond about. And of course he's going to deny anything to do with it. Naomi had to judge for herself whether B was telling the truth or not. Which could be hard.

Well, here I go.

Naomi opened the door to see both Ben and Beyond waiting patiently in silence, Ben on one couch and Beyond on the opposite one, both staring at the coffee table in the middle.

"Um..." Naomi broke the uneasy silence. Both men turned to face her instantly.

Well this isn't awkward...

"Well...have you guys got any information on the case? We can swap." She told them and sat down opposite Beyond, looking at him.

The uneasy atmosphere faded and Beyond gave a slight grin.

"Would you share with us, even if we don't have any to give back?" he asked.

None to...damn it.

Naomi sighed and pulled out the files that she had received from L.

"Okay, a file on the background information of Greg Walker, a photo of the corpse and a report on what had happened to him."

Naomi laid the files out on the table as she read them out, then pushed them towards Beyond who picked them up and began to read.

"Well there are no similarities between this murder and the LABB ones..." Beyond stared at Naomi, eyebrow raised.

Her eyes widened in shock.

He knew L suspected him? Well, he probably figured it out for himself. L probably knew that B knew that we suspected him... complicated. Well, L said to share information, so it'll be okay.

Naomi nodded at Beyond.

"But there is one thing... I'm probably over thinking it though..."

Beyond's eyes narrowed.

"There's a hole in the wall in the bedroom."

"And?"

"It's at waist height."

Beyond's turn for wide eyes.

"Show me." He demanded, handing Naomi back the files.

She nodded again and all three trooped into Greg's bedroom, the sun light still flitting in. Once again Naomi gently guided her finger along the wall and headed for the bed. The she felt it.

"It's here."

Beyond knelt down and examined the hole. It was at waist height like Naomi had said, and it was just the right size for a nail.

Son of a... what bad luck. How can I prove this wasn't me? It's not for any of my wara ningyo distractions... Beyond thought.

"Miss Misora! Check the door!"

"Huh?"

"The lock! On the door!"

"Of course!"

Naomi wondered why she hadn't thought to check it herself when she had entered before as she marched over to the door.

"No... no lock. At all." She reported.

Beyond relaxed.

Yes. Thank you lord.

Naomi was deflated.

I knew I was over thinking things. Now we have no leads. Well, at least Beyond's in the clear for now.

"Ryuzaki, I'm sorry. I guess you have no ties to this murder after all." Naomi told him.

"Who th-the hell is this 'Ryuzaki' bloke you k-keep mentioning?" Ben suddenly commented, not catching on that it was Beyond's old alias.

Beyond clapped his back.

"It's no one now pal."

"Oh? I'm sorry, I just assumed... and old habits die hard."

"It's alright Miss Misora; you may call me Ryuzaki if you wish."

The three then returned to the main room and resumed their seats.

"Well then, now that's cleared up, can we start searching for messages from the real killer?" Beyond asked.

Naomi Misora slumped a little in her seat. They were back to square one. With nothing. Nada. Zero. But... with Beyond and his friend now on the team, would things go smoother? From an ex-killers point of view? She sure hoped so.

"But Ryu- Beyond, what if there isn't one this time? This could be a one off murder." Naomi pointed out. Now that the suspicion of Beyond had all but vanished, she wasn't sure if the motive really was to kill anyone else. Perhaps it was just jealousy as Naomi had thought earlier.

"I-it couldn't hurt to look right? It's still a murder case. M-me and Beyond are still going to look. We need to-to find the killer." Ben in-put.

Hmm, well that was true, there is still a murderer out there.

"Plus you don't want to go back to L empty handed."

For some reason it felt sort of like Beyond was mocking her as he said that. Or at least L.

"Ryuzaki, do you hate L?" Naomi blurted suddenly.

Realising that she was being unkindly nosey, Naomi looked repentant. And was shocked when he answered her.

"Hmm, hate L? I never could. How could you hate the one you idolise?" he answered in a distant voice, as if he were some place far away.

"You idolize L?" Naomi couldn't help but ask, being lost in the moment, her curiosity proving to great. She had always had a feeling that there was a deep connection between B and L. Did B know L? Naomi knew there was a story behind them, and she was truly intrigued.

"In a way yes. I suppose you could say I idolise him. In a way... a way where you almost want to be that person...become them...perhaps be better than them..." Beyond's gaze was to the fireplace, but he was seeing something else entirely.

"Come on then B!" A young boy with sandy blonde hair giggled and beckoned me to the garden where he was now running in.

"I'm coming A, just wait a minute!" I had fallen over in my pursuit of the boy, but I had just looked at the graze and shrugged, then carried on after my friend.

Friend. The word was so alien to me. I had never had a friend before... before I came to this place.

Wammy's House.

Such a sweet name, house, home. I guess you could say I'd never had a 'home' before either.

"You made it! But om! Do you want me to go tell dad about your cut?" A's eyes scanned my face for any signs of pain or panic.

I sighed and sat down next to him on the blanket that Wammy had laid out for us.

"Nah, I'm fine." I told him, rolling down my jeans leg. He didn't know I'd had worse.

'Dad' was Quilish Wammy. To A. But to me, even though he was the best – if not the only – father figure I'd ever had, I could not bring myself to call the kindly old man 'dad'. I knew I had one somewhere. And every day I used to wish he'd come back. But now I had pretty much accepted he wasn't going to return. But I still hoped. Hoped he would be guilty for leaving his four year old son with his mentally unstable mother, and come save me. I guess things weren't that bad now though.

Wammy didn't mind me calling him Mr Wammy, though he insisted that I dropped the 'Mr' part. But I never did. I knew it was a sign of respect and, in a way, the kindly old man had saved me instead. Saved me from my past...

I blocked the memories before they came. I didn't want to think about them now.

"Hey A..." I began.

"That rhymed!" he squealed with joy. A preferred to deal with his orphan status by being childish, seeing things colourful and fun... and who was I to stop him?

"That's great, but A, why... why are we here?"

The sunny, never fading aura that always surrounded A did the impossible. Faded.

"Because nobody wants us." Was his dark answer.

"But, A, there's more to it than that. We're given hard puzzles to solve and riddles to answer. Weird situations which we have to figure out a way to complete with no errors... I've never been to school before, but the books I've read don't say a single thing about things like that."

"You've never been to school? But you can read?" A completely missed the point.

"No A, I taught myself."

It hadn't been easy but-

I blocked the memory.

"That's amazing..." He breathed.

"But what do you think about it though? About why we're here?"

A's thoughtful face was on display as he considered what I had said.

"Well...um..." He started.

"You are here B, because you hold potential." Wammy suddenly appeared and put a hand on both our shoulders.

"What do you mean Mr Wammy?"

"Yeah dad, what are you talking about?"

Wammy smiled at us before continuing.

"You are both very smart boys. The world needs smart boys like you to help it when it needs you to. You both have the potential for that." He began to explain, waiting to see if we understood so far.

"But, Mr Wammy, what happened to Missy?" I asked, confused about the girl – her real name Misty – who had arrived around two weeks ago and had left yesterday. She always asked for my help during puzzle class. I thought I could gain another friend.

Wammy sighed and his smile faltered a little.

"She was a brilliant, funny and lovely girl B, but she had to go to another orphanage. She wasn't as... smart as you two, but she was smart in her own way. But unfortunately she couldn't stay here."

He patted my head soothingly.

"Do you two know what the term 'successor' means?" Wammy asked us and A almost hit the old man in the face as he raised his arm instantly.

"Ooo! A person who follows or takes the place of another." He said eagerly.

"Correct my boy, well done!"

A beamed.

"Well boys, that's what you two are."

We were successors? But to whom?

"Mr Wammy, who will we be succeeding?"

"My dear boy, you know all the news reports about cases that I have been showing you both? And do you remember about that man I talk about who solves them all?"

"You mean that L guy?" A piped up.

"The very same one."

"We'll be succeeding him?" I marveld.

L was a pure genius!

"Yes my boy! Now you two, how about a celebration with cookies and milk?" The kind old man beamed at us.

A squealed and charged for the kitchen happily. I followed after him in a daze.

So did this mean that I was a genius? That one day, I would become the astounding brilliant man known as L? Oh my Lord.

L was to become my idol. I would make him proud. I would show him how I'd be the best successor he will ever live to see. And then... what could be better than being L? Could I... surpass L? That would be ultimate genius... be better than L? Is that even possible? Right now though I must focus on becoming him. And then... maybe I could surpass L and become genius B? The successor surpassing the original...?

Naomi Misora had unknowingly lent forward, drawn in by Beyond's admittance to idolising L. So far in fact that she was on the very edge of her seat. To her it looked like Beyond was someplace else. She didn't want to disturb him, but she wanted to know more about Beyond's past and if he knew L. Naomi didn't know why, but it intrigued her.

Shyly, she tapped the back of Beyond's hand that was resting on his lap. His head jerked slightly and snapped to look at Naomi. Her cheeks flamed in apology.

"Er g-guys? Murder case going on?" Ben waved his arms in the air to re-focus everyone's attention.

"Yeah you're right mate, sorry." Beyond shook his head to clear it, then stood up and clicked his neck.

"Alright, I'm gonna check the kitchen. Miss Misora, the bedroom?"

"Got it." She rose, stretched, then once again went to the bedroom.

"Ben, that leaves you the bathroom mate."

Ben stood up and groaned.

"Great." He exclaimed sarcastically, then headed for the bathroom.

Time to get down to business.

A/N; Yay flash back! Bet you weren't expecting that xP Maybe you picked up on some clues about Beyond's past...? I'd love to hear what you think! :D Please review! I'll love you forever if you do! And thank you so much everyone who has reviewed, you have no idea how you much you made me happy! Thanks so much for the extra specially nice ones, you rock! Oh and btw, Megaphone. Kills. You. (Did it this time! xP) It twas you :D (And I'm happy that you're happy that I'm happy xD!)