"L, I just got word of the deaths of our FBI agents in Japan. I've tried contacting all twelve of our agents in Japan, but I couldn't reach any of them…."

"I think Kira have killed them all...."

Twelve FBI agents have been killed. The Japanese police are panicking, many quitting as they fear for their lives. L decides to reveal himself for the first time, truly putting his life on the line. As L meets the eight remaining brave Japanese police officers,

Something is going on elsewhere...

---

"I can't allow you to do this." Said a bald man in a suit sitting behind the desk frowning at the figure before him.

The atmosphere in the room was tense. The figure in the shadows spoke, "Well, if you aren't going to help me, then I'll do it myself. You can't stop me from doing this. I came to you thinking you'll help me, guess I was mistaken."

The bald man's frown deepened as he spoke with obvious irritation and a trace of something that could be described as sympathy, "You know full well why I can't let you do this. This Kira, he's not someone to be messed with."

"I'm a full fledged FBI agent Mr Webb , I understand perfectly that what I'm dealing with is no walk in the park."

Mr Webb frowned even deeper (if that was possible) and shook his head, as if to say 'the foolishness of youth'.

He spoke "The twelve assigned to this mission, were some of my best men. And this, this Kira, killed all twelve of them, all who had much more experience than you," as he said this, he got up and looked at the figure square in the eye.

Or actually, tried to look because the figure stayed well hidden in the shadows. In fact, the only indication of the figure's presence , was of the sound of the figure's breathing.

"What," he said with great emphasis, "can you say to that?" then decisively, "I will not allow this, and I will not say this again."

The figure before him came out of the shadows, and said clearly but softly, "You, of all people should understand why I need to do this," then in a harsher tone, "I've never thought of you as a coward before, Mr Webb, in fact I respected you. But now I'm inclined to change my mind. I've said this before , you can't stop me from doing this. If you won't help me, fine. I can do this on my own anyway."

And with that the figure turned around and was about to exit from the room, when Mr Webb suddenly exclaimed "Fine! If you want to go over there and lose your life, fine! I will supply the necessary documents to introduce you to the investigation team in Japan, but other than that, I will do no more." Then his frown softened and in a gentler tone he added, "And please, be careful, I do not want to lose anymore of my agents' lives."

Without turning around, the figure uttered a simple "Thank You." Simple as they were, the speaker somehow conveyed a sense of sadness through those two words, which Mr Webb felt acutely.

He sat heavily back down on his chair. As he sat in his now empty room, feeling an almost immediate sense of regret over his recent decision, He frowned again deep in thought, making all the wrinkles in his face even more obvious. Unconsciously he massaged his forehead, while thinking-What did I just do?

---

Back in L's hotel room, L had just finished interviewing all eight of the Japanese officers, after assuring himself that none of them were Kira, He dismissed them. As he contemplated the deaths of the FBI agents, Watari came into the room.

"Ryuuzaki, you have an email." Said Watari as he handed L a cup of ice cream and the laptop.

With the ice cream cup in one hand, L quickly read through the email. Interesting, he looked out of the window, deep in thought, while holding the end of the spoon delicately, he ate the ice cream from the cup.

Finishing the ice cream, he laid the cup on the glass table. And crouched down to type his reply to the email. Stretching up again after typing the email, he motioned to Watari, "Watari, read this email and please prepare the looks like we may have another member on this team" Then adding with a smile, "The ice cream was very delicious."