Unfortunately, C did not seem to share Cassandra's horrid sentiment on the outing with Misa. After making her wear one of her less provocative outfits, the blonde dragged her from shop to shop, chattering endlessly about this and that, completely ignorant about how incredibly ill at ease she was. When they finally returned to HQ a little before dinner, everyone had expected to welcome back Cassandra's alter ego, apparently hoping that spending the day with Misa would trigger something. The disappointment bouncing off the walls upon noting it was 'only her' was palpable.

Cassandra wanted nothing more than to crawl into her warm, safe bed in the little cottage near Wammy's, where she could hide away from all those misunderstanding eyes. Only two people in the entire world comprehended a sliver of what she went through every day, and she'd been ripped away from one of them. The other, it appeared, couldn't be bothered to even glance over his shoulder to see how she was doing, even though he knew perfectly well she was still standing there.
Lawliet... L... They knew each other for so long now, and yet, he felt like a perfect stranger. The times they spent apart were agony, but when they were together, she didn't know what to make of him. He could be so cold, yet so... so... It was difficult to find the right word to describe how the eccentric detective acted toward her. Of one thing Cassandra was certain of, though - he didn't love her. Not like she loved him.

"Was there something you wanted, Cassia?"

His voice, monotone to all yet melodious to her, made Cassandra blink, snapping her back into reality. Why was everyone looking at her like they were expecting her to give a presentation or something? Then she remembered she was supposed to react to the name Cassia when the others were around. Lord, how long had she just been standing there? Too long, probably. She stepped forward, away from the elevator that already carried Misa and about fifteen shopping bags up to the rooms, trying her best to ignore the stares.

"I just... wanted to let you know I'm back," she said. "I'll go up unless... you need me?"

"I don't," said L without looking back. "You can go."

Cassandra spun and fled into the elevator as it dinged open. She pressed the button to the highest floor and entered the code L sent her in a secure text message. When the doors closed, she fell back, leaning against the mirror, nails digging into her palms. Her heart was racing a thousand miles an hour, but she couldn't fall apart. Not yet.
Finally, after what seemed like hours instead of merely a few seconds, the elevator halted. Cassandra pushed herself out, stumbling to the room. The tremors were already threatening to take over as she clumsily entered and locked the heavy door behind her, escaping the cameras that were undoubtedly following her every move. She dropped to the floor, clutching her upper body. Her breathing grew more shallow, and her vision blurred.

Calm down, she told herself. You have to calm down. Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. And, for goodness' sake, breathe!

Rocking back and forth, Cassandra managed to steady herself. Her heart calmed. The terrible shaking gradually stopped. Bit by bit, she gathered herself. Yet L's words still thumped through her like the lingering echo of a drum. Cassandra hung her head, letting the tears fall onto the red carpet. She bit her lip, halting her swaying movements.

He doesn't need me. He doesn't even want me here. What good am I, anyway? I'm nothing to him. Nothing...

With the tears still rolling down her cheeks, Cassandra succumbed to sadness and exhaustion. Yet, in her deep subconscious, a darkness stirred, reveling in this very interesting turn of events.

📓💀📓

When L found Cassandra on the floor later that evening, he didn't wake her. He carefully picked her up, remarking she'd lost weight again, and placed her in bed. His fingers brushed her red hair out of her face. It was only then he noticed the wet trails going down from eye to chin. Ever so softly, he dried her tears with the sleeve of his shirt. She never even stirred.

"I'm sorry for doing this to you, Cassandra," he whispered. "But I have no choice. I hope you'll understand someday."

L walked over to the couch, pulling his laptop to him. He went over the data for the millionth time. Still, he didn't see it. How did Kira do it? What did he use to kill street criminals, major crime syndicates, and even undercover FBI agents by literally stopping their hearts? No one was safe from Kira. Not unless they hid their identity. But even then, the serial killer had a way of finding out the truth.
After Lind L. Taylor, the criminal L had used to track Kira down by making him pose as him, was killed on live TV, the NPA had begged L to reveal his findings to the public so they could protect themselves, but that wouldn't have made any difference. It was clear Kira had access to a police database. And as much as it pained him to admit it, L needed the killings to continue. The answer to this case lay between the victims. He was certain of it.

The raven-haired detective glimpsed back, pondering his options. Despite knowing she was needed, C evidently didn't believe it necessary to be in control right now. She'd rather play hide and seek with him, even if the game was rigged against him from the very start.
The other persona was taunting him to make her come out. Though she usually switched with Cassandra when she slept, there were a few things that trigger her to come out sooner. L didn't want to hurt Cassandra like that again, but if C continued to act this way... he may not have another choice.

"Don't make me do it, C," he said aloud. "Don't force my hand."

Despite his warning, nothing happened. Cassandra slept, and C lurked. Though he felt the sands of time slipping through his fingers, L decided not to do anything just yet. C was bound to appear, eventually. It was only a matter of holding out the right bait.

📓💀📓

July 26, 2007

"Still nothing?"

"I haven't seen her yet."

Light groaned at L's reply and dragged a hand across his face. His frustration about C grew every day she didn't appear. What good was calling her in if she was as elusive as the ghosts she communicated with? She knew Kira was a menace and had already started her own investigation from the little L revealed about her in the last three days. C could make the difference between catching Kira and letting that murderer walk free. Why wasn't she here with them?

"Is there really nothing you can do to make her come out, Ryuzaki?" Light asked again. "Anything at all?"

"C will come out when she feels like it," answered L, keeping his eyes on the screens in front of him. "Have patience, Light Yagami."

Look who's talking, thought Light, sneering at the man.

Though L talked about having patience, Light was certain the sleuth was as peeved about C as he was. Perhaps even more, since he was the one who brought her in. The few times Cassia came down from her room up in the tower, L threw a quick glance at her but said nothing. The way he kept himself averted from her, his lips pressed together into a thin line, was more than enough to express his displeasure.
Yet Light didn't for one second believe L didn't have some method to bypass Cassia and speak directly to C. How else had they solved their past cases? It made little sense for the detective to waste precious time like this. He didn't want to think about it, but Light once again wondered if he should do something himself. At night, when he wasn't shackled to L and his father was already asleep, he researched all he could about DID, hoping to learn of a way to reach C without harming Cassia. But so far, all he came up with pointed to the same theory — a protector was triggered by danger. And as long as Light wasn't absolutely certain C was Cassia's protector, it was too great a risk to take.

The elevator dinged. Light checked his watch. Ten am on the dot. At least Cassia was punctual. She came down every day at the same time to say hello to everyone, ask if L needed her, and then scurried right back upstairs. He suspected she also stuck to the mornings to avoid Misa. His 'girlfriend' didn't come down before noon. Such a lazy girl.
Preparing to face another day of disappointment, Light slightly turned his desk chair to greet Cassia. As soon as his eyes landed on the young woman stepping out of the elevator, he froze. His heart somersaulted. The shy girl who dressed in oversized shirts was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a confident woman, dressed in a dark-green pencil skirt, a beige blouse, and high heels, walked over to him and L. Her perfume of rich bergamot and orange blossom reached Light before she did as she flicked her loose, neatly brushed hair over her shoulder, and he was almost inclined to pull the young woman to him. She was simply too intoxicating.

"Nice of you to join us, C," said L, as C hopped onto the desk and crossed her legs.

"I was getting bored up there," she said, giving a dismissing wave with her hand. "I'll never understand introverts. What's the fun in staying cooped up between four walls?"

"It's what Cassia prefers."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But she could at least find something to entertain herself with. She just sits there on the couch all day, imagining what to draw or reads those dark novels. You should get her a painting set or at least a sketchbook with some pencils."

"What about her own sketchbook?" L raised an inquisitive brow.

"I didn't pack it."

"C —"

"Don't 'C' me! Now, be a dear and have Watari bring some tea. Earl Grey, milk and lemon, no sugar. I gotta wash away those disgusting sweet things Cassia's been eating. Ugh, honestly, would it kill her to eat some normal food once in a while? Speaking of which, I thought we agreed you would try to do that as well?"

"I am." L obediently rang down to his manservant to pass on the order before continuing. "I ate fruit this morning."

"Banana and pineapple dipped in melted chocolate and topped with tiny marshmallows doesn't count."

"Baby steps."

C pinched the nose of her bridge, groaning at the reply. Light wasn't sure if he should laugh at their interaction or scold them both for all this idle chat. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. All words were stripped from him. Not only that, but it seemed impossible to look away from C. She was so beautiful she nearly took his breath away.

"Light, are you okay?"

L's inquiring voice snapped Light from his trance. He finally tore his eyes from C.

"Yes, perfectly fine." He smiled back at L.

"Can you get those files your father prepared for C, please? They're in the drawer on your side of the desk."

Light searched for the three big folders holding all of Kira's recent victims and handed them to C. Their fingers touched. Their eyes met. Damn it, why were his palms so sweaty? And did Matsuda mess up the thermostat again? It was like a hundred degrees in here.
Whatever it was, it didn't seem to bother C as she muttered a thank you and then directed her attention to the files. She opened the first folder, balancing it on her knee, and read the papers. One by one and impossibly fast, the pages turned from one side of the folder to the other, the unread pile lessening more with every second. Light followed C's movements in amazement, seeing her dual eyes fly from left to right, top to bottom.

Hmm, I wonder...

"How many words a minute do you read?" he asked.

"You noticed, huh?" C grinned but never stopped reading. "Last time Ryuzaki timed me, it was almost ten thousand. Then again, reading Les Misérables before breakfast isn't exactly a challenge now, is it?"

Ten thousand?! That's insane! I can barely manage a third of that, and only if I force myself to the task! She's acting as if it's nothing!

By the time Watari brought up C's tea and some other refreshments for everyone else, the young woman already worked her way through one folder, over a third of the victims. Light glimpsed down at his watch when she shut the last folder with a melodic hum. It took C a little less than an hour to go over the roughly nine hundred confirmed criminals that fell to Kira and Second Kira's killing spree in the last four months, going back to when Second Kira's messages arrived at Sakura TV. He almost gaped in awe at her.

"Are there any more?" C inquired of no one in particular.

"You... don't need to go through it again?" asked Light's father, slightly flabbergasted at her question.

"Yeah, it took all four of us a whole day to go through them all, and none of us went through the entire pile by ourselves," added Matsuda.

"You only had footnotes on a couple hundred of them," replied C. "And I have a photographic memory."

"That's not possible," reacted Light immediately.

He froze as her calculating eyes instantly locked with his. Oh, great, why had he just blurted it out like that?

"It's just... there is no scientific proof of it," he clarified. "The debate of eidetic vs. photographic memory has been going on for years, with no clear results for the latter. Everyone has an eidetic memory because we are all capable of remembering what we see or read for a few seconds, but then it's discarded. It's a lesser form of short-term memory. That we know for certain. With a photographic memory, you basically claim you can recall something from days, even months ago, as if your brain took a picture and stored it in a database."

"There is no scientific proof that ghosts exist either," interjected L. "Yet C can do that as well."

"Touché," mumbled Aizawa.

"Furthermore," L went on. "You yourself are a prime candidate for having a photographic memory, Light Yagami. When your house was under surveillance, I witnessed you studying for math a lot less than for social studies, even though both exams were on the same day."

"That means nothing," rebuffed Light, crossing his arms over his chest. "Formulas just come easy to me."

"Or is it you remember them better, as they are more visually appealing?"

"That's not —"

A sharp whistle interrupted their argument. The high-pitched noise was as disturbing to Light as nails to a chalkboard. Especially since he sat extremely close to the person who made the sound.

"If you two are quite finished?" C threw a scolding look from Light to L before addressing the entire room again. "All right, battle plan; I need to verify all deaths from the past year. August 2006 to right now. Obituaries, death notices, coroner reports, social media posts... Get me everything. Start with the Kanto region, then broaden the search to the whole of Japan, and finally international. Leave no stone unturned."

The inspectors exchanged hesitant looks, but then quickly left to get what they needed to conduct the additional searches. All of them agreed it would not be easy. Something L pointed out as soon as he and Light were the only ones left with C.

"I have already determined when Kira started killing with the team," he said. "Though there is no exact date or victim we can provide, I feel I can safely assume his first was a hostage taker at a pre-school. Going back that far and looking at every single death is a waste of energy and resources."

"You'll forgive me if I prefer to be thorough. Now be a good boy and organize the data the inspectors gather for me whilst I stop by the morgue."

"No, you're not leaving the building."

C narrowed her eyes at L. How he remained so stoic in the face of such an intense glare was a mystery to Light.

"You called me here to investigate the victims," said C. "You called me here to use my gift of communicating with the dead in order to find those who might point us toward Kira or, better yet, tell us who he is. I can do neither from here. I need to go to the morgue to examine the bodies of the two men who died of heart attacks yesterday and see if their spirits are still here."

"You are not leaving the building," repeated L.

"Oh, for the love of... We could have this case wrapped up by evening, Ryuzaki. All the inspectors can be home in time for dinner if the ghosts at the morgue are the ones we need."

"You're making assumptions."

"And my assumptions are usually right, as you perfectly well know."

Finally, L turned in his chair to look at C. The discussion continued silently between them, but eventually, it was the young man who relented with a reluctant sigh.

"Take Watari with you, please."

"I'll take Light."

"What, me?" Light raised a brow in surprise. "Why me?"

"You'll take Watari, or you won't go at all," said L sternly.

C didn't reply to either of them but merely jumped off the desk and pulled L's chair back, making him grab onto the sides so he wouldn't fall off.

"Hey!" he objected. "C, what are you —?"

Her quick fingers disappeared into the front pocket of his jeans to fish out a set of tiny keys. She released the chair, nearly catapulting L out of it, and gave it a hard push so it wheeled away. Then she pulled at the chain connecting L and Light, and the detective landed hard on the floor. Light held his breath as she grabbed his wrist to uncuff him. Deftly, she closed the cuff around a leg of the desk and threw the keys across the room.

"There, that'll give us a head-start. Come on." She grabbed Light's hand and pulled him along.

"C, no!" L yelled and tried to reach her, but was yanked back by his own trap. "Come back right now!"

"C, are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Light as she pushed him into the elevator.

"Light, you have two choices. You go with me on this field trip, or you cuff yourself back to L like an obedient little puppy. Either way, I'm going to the morgue."

The elevator opened into the underground garage. C walked toward one of the three black Rolls Royces and got in the driver's seat. Light watched in shock as she hot-wired the car.

"Last chance, Yagami. What's it gonna be?"

He stared at the brazen young woman, certain that her counterpart would never do anything like this. A voice inside him cautioned him to be extremely careful with her. Yet his curiosity got the better of him. This was his chance to observe C's interactions with ghosts and engage in genuine in-the-field sleuthing. Plus, this was the best opportunity to learn as much as he could from her, starting with her relationship with L. In fact... why was he even debating this?

"All right, let's go."