XVIII

Plaza Mattei has the same vibe as the rest of the city but when L told her that he would bring her somewhere special to him, she expected that they'll go somewhere a bit more exciting, like a historical landmark perhaps.

"So what's with this place?" Misa inquired, inspecting the fountain in front of them.

L was aware that she was expecting something more but what he really wanted was to let her know a little bit more about him. Aside from him the only person who knows about his story is Watari but since then even when they were little, he always felt like he could somehow share things to Misa who always gladly listens.

"It's Fontane delle Tarturughe designed by Giacomo della Porta." He paused and placed his hands in his pockets. "Before I was brought to England I spent some time in Italy"

"Huh? You weren't originally from England?" she inquired. "So you lived here with your family huh?"

"No. I was alone." He replied.

"Eh?! But you must've been really young back then, how's that possible?" she was getting more curious with L's story. Suddenly she was more interested with the fountain where he brought her.

"Sadly not everyone is deemed needed by some people."

Misa wanted to just hug him and pat his head. "Something really bad must've happened to him back then. I remember how he tried to dodge my questions about his family back then. I wonder what happened but I guess it's better for me to not ask him about it." She glanced at him. "So what's the story with you and this fountain?"

"I was running for my life then. This was where I collapsed and the next thing I knew I was taken in by some immigrant family. It was the dead of the night and I was leaning on the wall feeling half alive in that alley" he pointed at the alley across them. "For some reason, I thought that if I reached the fountain I'd survive. So I half run, half limped towards it, then collapsed right next to it." He started walking away and Misa caught up with him.

"That must've been awful" she frowned. "Why were you running for your life anyway?" she inquired.

"There is a bakeshop known for their pastries just a couple of blocks from here. Let go there" he turned to her with a small excited smile, ignoring her question.

The day turned out unexpectedly good. L didn't look as bored as he did yesterday, probably because they visited a couple of museums and just sat in the park eating pizza and ice cream. His story wasn't brought up again though and Misa didn't dare ask.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

"So you still remember" Watari asked as he refilled L's coffee cup.

"I've forgotten about him but the moment the name Alejandro Caroun appeared on my search, suddenly I remembered once more. He's related to this case, so I believe I wouldn't be going out of track" L took a macaroon and flicked it to the bottom of the macaroon tower, making it collapse upon impact. "Don't get me wrong Watari. I hate living in my past but if he is still alive, walking freely despite everything he's done then someone has to remind him that justice still exist and it will get him"

"He's turned out to be a more dangerous man than before" Watari sat on a couch across L.

"His network in Europe has widened and he's even made a name legally. He's the type you can throw into any situation and somehow he'll always find a way out."

"Men like him are hard to corner."

L rested both his hands on his knees and didn't say a word for a while. "Watari, I want to make his empire crumble. I've been thinking about it since we arrived in Italy. It would be challenging and might even require me to get my hand a bit dirty but it's feasible."

"I see. The auction is tomorrow and I believe that you'd be able to close the case regarding the stolen early 1700 Stradivari harp tomorrow too?" Watari sipped his earl grey tea.

L nodded. "I wonder how much the price for that piece would reach. Anyway I hope that the local forces assigned for its recovery would be smart enough to follow everything I told them. Their lieutenant was quite a blockhead but I believe the head of the operation can pull the plan off."

"So after the case we proceed with Caroun?"

"But he's got flight booked the day after the auction to Russia"

"And we'll follow him"

L reached for a macaroon and finished it before answering. "Not yet. We go back to England first. I'll observe his movements first and learn more about him. Reconnaissance that was one of the lessons he first thought me." L paused "I think I've already forgotten how cold Russia is even at this time of the year" L paused. "Watari, book a flight for one to Japan tomorrow morning."

Watari looked from his cup of tea to L. "For Ms. Amane I believe?"

"Yes" L replied brushing his thumb to his lower lip.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

A little kid sat in a sofa in a grandiose hotel lobby, slowly consuming the chocolate bar in his hand that was left to him by his mother. His dark doe like eyes observed everyone around him. The place was too loud for him, the music playing from the quartet, the high pitched laughter of women as they gossip and the low voices of men as they discuss things to themselves in a circle. The smell of smoke from the cigar and pipes made him feel dizzy but he decided to stay where he was waiting for his mother to finish her job.

A man, nearly bald with green gem like eyes sat next to him with a tired sigh. The man looked down at him and started blabbering in a language he doesn't understand.

"I'm sorry mister. I don't understand" he told the man in his native language to stop him from speaking to him.

The man chuckled and then started talking in Russian. "I see. You must be a tourist then little boy"

He just stared at the man and didn't spoke. The man pushed the raven hair covering his eyes away.

"What is a boy doing in this kind of place alone? Where are your parents?"

"Work" he simply replied.

"But workers aren't allowed to bring their kids…"

His mother then appeared, and pulled him by the wrist. She smiled at the man. "Excuse me. We shall get going" The man beamed at his mother and nodded in reply.

"What did I told you about talking to strangers?" his mother scolded as they walked down the freezing cobblestoned sidewalk. He didn't reply and just held tightly into his mother's warm hands. "I've got some extra today. How about I buy you some hot chocolate?" his mother then dragged him into a café. He kept quiet as they ate.

"I know you miss home but I'm afraid we won't be going back." She paused. He looked up at her teary eyes then resumed eating. "You know what someone offered me a job today and also a place to stay. If things go well then we might end up staying here for good. "she reached for his hand and squeezed it. "We're going to be alright" she mumbled with a smile.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

L opened his eyes. "I fell asleep sitting again" he rubbed his eyes and yawned. "I should probably consider getting these memories extracted from my brain. I've got no use for them anyway…just unwanted, unneeded nonsense" he got up and walked towards his laptop and resumed working.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

"Oh god…." Misa groggily sat up upon hearing the knocking on the door .She glanced at the digital alarm on her night stand. "3:30 a.m." She went out of bed and went for the door.

"L!" She was surprised to see the detective standing outside her room.

"Come with me. We have to talk" he turned and made his way to the living room. Misa sat down the couch with a yawn. He sat next to her assuming his usual position.

She placed a hand over his. "Is something wrong?" Misa felt like there would be bad news for her.

L lifted an envelope which lay next to his laptop and handed it to Misa.

"What's this?" Misa took it.

"Your flight back to Japan is in 2 hours. You better get packing" he said in his usual monotone.

Misa's jaw dropped. "What?!" she said knowing that they were supposed to stay for another week. "I should get packing? You mean you're kicking me out already?" she glared at him.

"I've got important things to take care off. I'm sorry" L looked at her.

"I don't understand" she was really upset. "I have to leave right away?"

"Yes. I don't want you to get dragged into another mess."

"Did something happen?" For a while there was no reply but soon enough L spoke.

"I have to take someone down"

"What? You mean like…kill someone?"

"It's none of your business"

Misa grabbed his sleeve and shook him. "You're saying that again!" she exclaimed.

L sighed and removed her hands from his sleeve. He held her cheek and kissed her. He gave her a long passionate kiss knowing that he won't be able to see her for a long time. "Once this is over…I'll probably go look for you….but still you're better off without me in your life" he thought as dug his fingers into her soft blonde hair.

"I'll stay here" Misa said upon parting their lips. "I'll stay with you!" she exclaimed as she embraced him.

L allowed her to hug him for a while then he gently pushed her away. "No Misa" he said with conviction. "You're going to take that flight back home and forget that you ever meet me"

Misa suddenly fumed in anger upon hearing that line she hated the most 'forget about me'. "What's wrong with you?! I told you before I couldn't forget…"

"You have too"

"Tell me" she said wiping away the tear that fell from her eye. "What am I to you? Am I just someone you can dispose whenever you like?"

"No" he didn't want to talk anymore; he knew he has more important things to do. He shall start his research, ring his contacts and make a plan of action. He stood up.

"Wait!" Misa grabbed his hand but he pulled his away.

L sighed. "Misa stop pushing yourself to me." he placed both his hands on his pockets. "If you think I'll ever be able to reciprocate your feelings, you're wrong. Go home." He glanced at her with an unsympathetic look in his eyes. "We'd be checking out in an hour. You shall be on your way to the airport by then."

"I hate you!" she exclaimed. She then stood up and slapped L hard on the cheeks.

L slowly turned his head and looked her in the eyes. "I understand. Consider me dead the moment you step out of this building" he paused "Good bye Misa" he muttered and he left the room.

Misa fell on her knees upon hearing him say good bye. She remembered what he said about saying good bye. "So that's it…..does that mean….. I won't get to see him ever" she started sobbing. "I hate you! I'll forget you if that's what you want!" she screamed on top of her lungs as she kicked the coffee table next to her.

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

"Would Miss Amane be alright?" Watari inquired.

"She will" L replied closing his laptop and finishing his coffee.

"and you?"

"We'd be busy. I don't have any time to not be okay. We'd have to take down not only a man but the empire he built for himself as well"

"I understand" Watari replied understanding completely what L felt.

"Now we better start our cleanup"

"I'm really worried about Miss Amane. I still think that she wouldn't take this lightly. Do you think she really hates you now?"

L bit his thumb. "I'm afraid so. She's better off without me and I'm better off without her"

~~~o~~~o~~~o~~~

Misa's eyes were still puffy and red from crying when she got on the plane. She hated him. She loved him so much it hurts. She looked down at the envelope in her hands. The ticket was inside it but there was a smaller envelope with her name written on it in long hand. She wanted to open it but decided that it would be best to do it once she got home, when she feels a bit better. "Should I really have just left?" she asked herself. She would usually be more persistent but his words crushed her heart. The plane then took off and at that moment she knew that she might never see the eccentric detective ever again.