You came on your own, that's how you'll leave

[firm_detective]

An L stands in the hallway, absorbed in what he sees on the screen of the small silver digital camera he's holding. His expression is difficult to read.

After a moment, he looks up, cautious, and sees that his surroundings have changed; his look shifts to one of subtle surprise and disbelief as he recognizes them. He thinks, Am I really -- ?

[L

Comments

[chilichoc]

L!

*Mel's several days unshowered, still in Mail's shirt, and looking pretty frayed. She only just manages not to throw her arms around L.*

You're back, thank God.

[firm_detective]

I'm -- back? Yes.

*Mel receives a slight frown, as L hesitates before speaking again.*

You look terrible.

*It's only an observation.*

[chilichoc]

Yeah, I feel terrible. *She waves a hand, jerkily, dismissively.*

How long was it, for you?

[firm_detective]

*His expression is unreadable.*

It has been five months.

That little double of mine -- he told me that you have been with Misa? Is she -- ?

[chilichoc]

Shit. It was five days for us.

*Which means the time-conversion rate was the same for L's trip home and Mail's last one - this is very bad. Her shoulders sag.*

We looked all over. She was... She'll be fine now that you're back.

[firm_detective]

Only five days?

*Some tension goes out of him, and an element of relief enters his expression.*

All over? I hope you did not go anywhere dangerous.

[chilichoc]

Yeah. "Only."

*Her laugh is short and has no real humor in it.*

I didn't let her go anywhere bad. Anyway the rooms that kill people spit them back out, so.

[firm_detective]

*A nod; he tries to remember what Mel's situation was when he left. Ah, yes -- Mail was missing.*

-- How many times were you spit out, Mel?

[chilichoc]

*She shrugs and looks at the floor.*

Five. Or six. I dunno. One room doesn't. Spit you back out, I mean.

[firm_detective]

*He raises his eyebrows, making his eyes widen, and gives Mel a direct look.*

What does it do?

[chilichoc]

It shows you how you die. Like a nightmare, or something. Only, you know, real. Just lets you fall on the floor.

*She scratches her scalp, catches herself, and lets her hand fall.*

You should find Misa.

[firm_detective]

Ah, that one. I never wanted to visit it, it was -- more than I needed to know, yes? I didn't want it to --

*He sighs. -- To forewarn me of my failure, if it was to happen.*

Mel, I know what it would not show, now.

*It's a given that he should find Misa, and although he isn't demonstrating it, he's half-eager to do so -- not as much as might be expected, though.*

[chilichoc]

I didn't mean to go there the first time. I thought it was a lie, but now...

*She shakes her head and tries to drag herself onto a happier topic.*

You won?

[firm_detective]

*His facial expression is strange again, unreadable, faraway.*

Yes. I won. It didn't take long, with the information I had been given here, but some planning was required.

*More hesitation. Discussing the case much means discussing what came after the case, and he isn't sure how much he wants to. He asks again, with a different meaning this time,*

How is she?

[chilichoc]

What did you do with Yagami?

*She's not in much of a state to pick up on hesitations or subtle nuances.*

She was worried out of her mind, of course. But we looked out for each other. I made her eat, and sleep, and all.

[firm_detective]

Yagami is still here, to my knowledge. It was unnecessary to involve him.

Higuchi, on the other hand, has been executed.

*His response to the information about Misa is, for the moment, just another quick nod.*