WELCOME

Date: 2/4/10

Time: 1900


The Japanese man paused before entering the room. He knew the professor would naturally still be in his office even if his last class had ended half an hour ago. It had been years since the detective had attended college but he knew most teachers recognized their obligation to at least stay for a while after a class to answer any student questions or at least attend to their paperwork.

Tom Walker, an American emigrant, professor of psychology, he recalled from the file. Lord Kira had chosen him to interview the man due to his suspicion being aroused. He’d asked that the detective look into whomever had organized the rally and most specifically who’d procured the effigy. Finding the culprits had not been difficult. Tom Walker and Jim Jessel, another American emigrant and professor of biology, it may just be a mere coincidence they were both Americans, but the man’s indoctrinated suspicion of foreigners made him especially wary of both. Like many Japanese he didn’t appreciate foreigners who took “Japanese” employment positions. Even if the men were both apparently open Kira supporters.

Of the two he was more inclined to believe Walker was more suspicious given he’d apparently been the one to suggest the effigy at all even if Jessel had set fire to it. Lord Kira had instructed him through Yagami Light that these men were for now to only be questioned, not to be suspected of anything. They were not to be made aware they were being investigated. The detective was honored his god trusted him so.

“Walker Tom-sensei?” the man said as he walked in through the open door with a respectful though slight bow, “I am Tachibana Yayoi, detective for the NPA.”

As he displayed his badge to the professor he took in the young man. He looked far too young for his position, and his casual dress suggested to the Japanese man he was inclined to be disrespectful. He narrowed his eyes slightly as he replaced his badge into his coat pocket.

“I am here to talk to you about yesterday’s rally. I assume you have the time to do so?” at this point Tachibana could not be too demanding without alerting the suspect he was under suspicion. To the American this could look to be nothing more than simple fact finding for another case.

"But although feuds and warfare are relatively rare in band societies, they do consistently threaten and there must be some way of stopping them or of preventing their spread. Often they begin as mere quarrels between individuals, and for this reason it is important to stop them early. Within a given community the adjudication of a quarrel between tow persons will ordinarily be handled by an elder who is a common relative of them both. It would be ideal if this person-..."

Jake very nearly scowled at the interruption, having half a mind to simply ignore the man and continue with his reading, and, in fact, had very nearly convinced himself to wave the man off when he continued.

He barely kept himself from flinching, almost allowing his eyes to give him away. NPA? Does Kira already suspect? But he couldn't know what the rally was about! He couldn't have recognized A! Shit, I probably made him too detailed. Ah, damn it, why couldn't we have just stuck with the glasses? Why'd I have to add eye color and everything!? Fuck, fuck, fuck! He mentally took a breather, and calmed himself.

No, this is a guess. It's a long-shot that Kira's acting on because it has no loss if it fails. I, on the other hand, and utterly screwed if he finds me suspicious. No, I need to make myself look as earnest as possible. I can't deny anything. As well, after this, I need to get in touch with Kandnel; no doubt he'll be investigated too.

This entire thought process took little more than half a second, neither his face nor his stance giving indication to what was happening within the confines of his skull.

"Of course. I always have time to help those that help our world. What do you need to know?" He slipped a sheet of paper into his book, shutting it and stowing it away in a random drawer, while at the same time beckoning to a desk with his other hand.

Whatever I do, I can't break face.

Thankfully, the man had just challenged Q to a match he couldn't win.

“We had reports of insurgents in the crowd,” Tachibana informed the professor, noting a bit distastefully the man did not rise, bow, or even offer him a seat. Did all American have such atrocious manners?

“It was noticed by some the effigy was very life like. It was speculated that perhaps the insurgents were using the dummy for some sort of message,” he explained. Tachibana was an excellent integrator. Using the truth was an excellent way to manipulate a lie out of someone. That way they couldn’t base a lie on an untruth, creating the possibility that their lie could be twisted into a truth of its own. With only the truth deception would be more difficult.


“I was told by other staff members however that while you were apparently in charge of procuring the effigy you support Kira. Do you care to explain then why the face was so exact?” he gave the professor a challenging look.

"Ah, yes, the effigy." He stated, as if just now realizing that that was the topic of discussion. "Of course. Here, have a seat." He gestured to one of the chairs students were designated to sit in. That's right, the Japanese were far more formal, so he wouldn't take the initiative on that.

Being the visceral liar that Q was, he began immediately after the detective had made himself comfortable. "When L first appeared roughly six years ago, I formed a fairly visceral mental image of him. Since he refused to show his face or name or even his voice, I determined that he was most likely a reclused shut-in, or as I understand it in Japanese, an otaku. Wanting to mock him as far as I could, I also made him blonde with the understanding that it's to imply stupidity. Let's see, what else did I suggest we put on there..." He put a hand to his chin thoughtfully and glanced above the Japanese's head in thought. Masque had to make it seem as if he weren't making it up on the spot, and, yet, seem as if it weren't rehearsed.

"I believe that was it for my own contributions, other than maybe suggesting how large it should be." He concluded, placing his hands on his desk, folded together, and smiling serenely at the detective.

I can't guess his allegiance, however, I must act under the assumption that he believes Kira to be a God. That is the worst case scenario. If this is the case, there's no way, if Kira suggested to him that I was suspicious, that I can disspell his belief. The best thing I can do is provide no factual basis on which he can legally incriminate me. Kira will be forced, with nothing more than a vague suspicion, to drop it.

“Well Walker-sensei, if you only suggested the hair color and body weight, may I ask who drew the face?” Tachibana pressed, crossing his legs, making it apparent he was making himself comfortable in his seat and that he had no intention of leaving just yet.

Perhaps he did just suggest those two features but his body language, he’s very complacent. He’s not fearful or nervous at all, because he’s innocent and trusts in Kira or because he’s acting? the detective wondered as he gazed at the foreign professor sitting across from him. The man was a psychology professor so Tachibana didn’t put it past him to be an expert on deception. Indeed Walker was apparently something of a genius given his youth. Those who understood human behavior were the best ones at manipulating it.

Tachibana decided to see if he could trap the American in a lie if he could.

"Honestly, I don't have a clue." He faked bemusement, gazing at his desk as if attempting to recall something. "If I had to guess, it would have been one of the students." Again, Q had only subtly pushed the notion to make the face somewhat detailed during the meetings, and had physically contributed nothing to that aspect. If anyone would have been able to pick-up on such a thing, though, it would have been one of his students, which he clearly didn't put much faith in.

"But I have no insight other than that. Any other questions?" It was asked innocently enough, and, for all intents and purposes, it was, but beneath the surface lurked an old Q, and manipulating one that, with the passing years, had yearned to put his prowess into effect. It was as if all these years he'd been operating with his hands tied behind his back, and only now was he able to release them and stretch. A laugh would have escaped his lips were he not in such a dire situation.

As good as it feels to work my mind out of this rut, I can't become complacent, nor can I underestimate this man. If he was chosen by Kira, he's no doubt above the general masses, at least in his occupational skill.

And so his hands folded over themselves and lay still on the table. He gazed at the man and smiled. Your move. There's absolutely no evidence you can back yourself up on, and absolutely nothing physical you can call me out on.

“So you’re saying then other than conceptualizing the effigy, you had no part in its design?” Tachibana asked, narrowing his eyes. This professor was either worthless for information or he was being evasive. Which was it? He was so collected and calm; he was obviously not worried about Kira looking into him at all. Was he a fool, or just confident?

“I understand another professor, Jessel-sensei also helped arrange the rally, would it be possible he was responsible for the effigy’s design?” he pressed, the two men while not necessarily friendly with one another were rumored to be connected. Tachibana expected another evasive maneuver from the American however, the question was more to see if there be a slip in reaction.

Nodding his head to the previous question, Jake replied. "I only encountered him a few times during meetings, but he seeemd to assist about as much as anyone else. I wasn't really observing him all too closely, you see." He made an apologetic shrug and replaced his hands on his desk after pushing his glasses up.

His reaction had been a feigned ignorance, something that would run parallel to his arguments before. The man would be hard-pressed to slip-up a Wammy's orphan that easily. "So, can I safely assume you'll be investigating Jessel-sensei next? If you don't mind my asking, of course."

Don't seem too reserved and only reactionary; it'll look suspicious. I've gotta take initiative somewhere.