"And I believe, this may call for a proper introduction, and well
Don't you see? I'm the narrator, and this is just the prologue…
Swear to shake it up if you swear to listen
Oh, we're still so young, desperate for attention
I aim to be your eyes."

- Panic! at the Disco, "The Only Difference between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage"

1 - A Trial

A trial is the most useless thing in the world.

Kira had all but eliminated them. Sure, there were still those who needed to be tried for their various misdemeanors: a traffic ticket, perhaps, or a shoplifting charge, petty crimes which did not merit the death penalty by anyone's standards. But when Kira judged the world, anything serious passed in front of his eyes or, occasionally, an extension thereof. The slow, painful, useless judiciary systems had become a thing of the past, not just in Japan, but around the world, and some people thought that the world was better off for it.

And now Light Yagami, Kira, had been put on trial, subjected to the very system he had tried to eliminate, or to purify.

Some, the people that had silently but unwillingly endured his six-year reign, came out to say that he deserved a trial, even though he had denied so many that very right. Others, the ones who had been more vocal during his regime, called for an immediate execution, a criminal's death. He'd sentenced so many to the same fate, they argued. It would only be fair. Still others did not care that Kira had finally been captured—the world had been better off with him around, a safer place, and they wanted him to continue judging without being judged.

Anyone in the world, Kira supporter or Kira hater, would have given anything to be in that courtroom the Kira trials began.

Hardly anyone was present, much to Light Yagami's disappointment. The media was utterly barred from the courtroom. Too much excitement, too much at stake. Kira's true identity had not yet been disclosed to the public, for his safety, and the safety of those close to him, and the officials in charge were certain that admitting the press would completely invalidate this policy. They would receive the verdict, of course, and the courtroom transcripts after the trial, but it would be better for everyone if they kept out for awhile.

Kira's trial was no ordinary trial. The United Nations, after a few weeks of debate, had decided to appoint five judges from five powerful countries (Russia, China, the United States, Japan, and Britain) to preside over the trial. This was a global affair. The chief prosecutor would be Japanese, of course, since Japan had been "hardest hit" by Kira's regime, and since Kira himself was Japanese.

Light insisted on defending himself, much to everyone's surprise. His official career was law enforcement, not law practice, but he was a skilled speaker and, as everyone involved could see, all too confident. The first day of the trial, he sat in the courtroom, poised, neat, and handsome in a tailored suit, looking incredibly calm, and, somehow, bored.

Kira was bored by his own trial.

But of course he was. Light knew very well that his execution was inevitable; it was why he hadn't bothered with a lawyer. Lawyers were slimy, manipulative. A lawyer would have tried to worm Light of the charges, trying to claim that he was innocent, or framed. Exactly the opposite of what Light wanted.

If he had to go, he would argue his ideas to anyone who would listen until he was sent to the electric chair. Better to die a martyr than live, scorned as a coward.

When the other side had the Death Notes, that was.

Light watched the chief prosecutor and his assistants scurry about with very little interest. Whatever they did now didn't mean anything, because they had the notebooks, the key to his conviction. Misa's, too, for that matter, although she was being tried after him. They both had one man to thank for that.

That man sat alone, at the back of the courtroom, curled up in his seat, and Light met his eyes fiercely, fearlessly. He barely even registered that he'd stood as the judges entered the courtroom, he was so focused. His fists clenched and unclenched in his pockets.

L smiled. Damn him.

Light sank back down as the Chief Judge—the American, of course—banged his gavel and opened the trial. Nothing much would happen today: Light's crimes were being read. In the past six years, there were thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of so-called murders that he was at least indirectly responsible for. The reading of the list of names would take at least three days. The prosecution would open, then, begin calling witnesses, presenting evidence, and that's when things would begin to get interesting. But for now, while there was nothing else to do, Light could continue to look stonily ahead, seemingly bored, actually locked in a staring match with L.

L wasn't smiling anymore—Light couldn't be sure of that, after all, as that corner of the courtroom was rather dark, just as L wanted—but he was staring back at Light with the same measured intensity, and Light wondered just what he was thinking about.

"Rem-san?"

L stared blankly as the Shinigami turned toward him, silent as the grave.

"You care for Misa-san a lot, don't you?"

Rem seemed surprised, the first time L had seen her face betray any emotion. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, in her low, deep voice, slowly, carefully.

"I saw the way you looked at the monitors when she came to visit Light-kun." L nibbled the edge of a strawberry, ever-alert, watching her for any reaction. "You don't need to deny it. I can't implicate her as the Second Kira through your feelings, whatever they may be."

Rem paused. When her reply came, it was sharp, cold. "It isn't that."

"I see." L paused, thinking. "Do you think I will manipulate you, using her as bait?"

"I don't know what to think," the Shinigami admitted. "I thought all humans were the same, but since I've come down here, seen for myself how you act, all I know now is that humans are unpredictable. You seem to be no exception, L Lawliet."

L didn't outwardly react to hearing his true name spoken aloud; inwardly, though, it chilled him. How very, very easily she could kill him. This was the only way. "Well, I don't know if this will mean anything to you," he said. "But I promise you that I won't kill Misa-san."

"How can you—"

"She isn't the one I want to convict," L said simply.

"Light Yagami?"

"As always."

Rem was not surprised by this at all. "I thought he was innocent."

"I don't think so. My theory: Light Yagami is the first Kira, Misa Amane is the second Kira," he explained. "It fits, except for the thirteen day rule. I suspect that Light-kun's manipulating all of us somehow, that he knows I'm set on catching him, and that I plan to test this rule." Rem did not react to this news either. "And I expect he thinks that, if I find that the rule is fake, it will increase the suspicion on Misa-san, since criminals are still being killed and Light-kun cannot be using the Death Note now. I saw how you reacted to her entrance a few days ago, Rem-san. If you do feel strongly about Misa-san, as I suspect you do, then Light-kun thinks you'll intervene on Misa-san's behalf, and kill me to save her life."

L watched as Rem glanced at the monitor. After the handcuffs had been removed and stored away, L had had Watari secretly install a camera in Light's bedroom, so that L could better monitor him. The boy was most definitely sleeping now, just like everyone else in Headquarters. Almost ironic, how very angelic he looked, snuggled up against that pillow. How very, very young, how innocent Light Yagami looked, with the peaceful rise and fall of his chest, with his expressive eyes closed.

"Is that what he wants?" she murmured.

"If he's Kira," L replied. "But I don't intend to kill Misa-san, so your intervention won't be necessary."

She looked skeptical.

"Light-kun is the one I want to catch. I promised you."

"A promise means very little nowadays." The Shinigami glanced back at Light. "What will you do instead?"

"I will find some other way to get to him," L said. "He's slipping up. If he thought he'd catch me here…I'll wait as long as it takes, Rem-san. As long as it takes."

Light didn't know why, but L shook his head, blinked, and smiled at him again. Fond memories, apparently. Light looked away, disgusted.

He thought he never hated L more than he did at this very moment. Not when L had revealed himself, had humiliated him on his first day of college. Not when L sat across from him in the coffee shop, taunting him, trying to make him slip up. Not when L stole Misa's cell phone and proceeded to capture Misa herself, making Light think that it was game over. That wasn't game over, that was only the beginning. They had fice more years of fighting left after that. Light gripped the arm of his chair, his knuckles white, staring straight ahead. Anyone watching would think it was from hearing the names of all of his victims.

"…the murder of Kurou Otoharada, the murder of Kiichiro Osoreda…"

L was still smirking. Goddamn him. He ruined everything. Light had no idea why his scheme with Rem failed, but the man must have had something to do with it. From there, it had gone so wrong, five years of a downward spiral. L was supposed to have died on November 5th, 2004. He wasn't supposed to have kept investigating Light. He wasn't supposed to have discovered the piece of Death Note that Light kept on him at all times, in his watch. Light was supposed to win. Light was.

And now, L was sitting smugly on the other side of the room, the expression on his face making Light want to do things to him that would probably be very painful and definitely unacceptable in a courtroom.

"…the murder of Naomi Misora, the murder of Raye Penber…"

Yes. Penber and Misora, FBI agents from way back when. Those early days, those were the good ones. Light had been in complete control. And then…then Rem hadn't killed L, and L had proved the thirteen day rule. That alone wouldn't convict Light, of course, not by itself. Light expected L to move in on Misa then, but he hadn't. Instead, he spent five years waiting, pursuing other courses of action, constantly confusing Light, keeping him on his toes. After five years…

Light leaned back in his seat and thought about the night that marked the beginning of the end.

"Oh, Light!" Misa squealed, clutching his arm for warmth. "It was so nice of Ryuzaki to let you off for a night. Misa never gets to spend any time with her Light anymore. Dinner was great, wasn't it?"

"Mhm." Light was barely listening. Ryuk and Rem hovered behind them, invisible to most, and his thoughts were focused on them rather than on the girl at his side.

Rem had been very distracted lately, and Light could guess at why. Misa's lifespan had been so severely reduced by her two eye trades that she was bound to run out of time sometime soon. Light had been intentionally spending more time with Misa lately so that Rem would be there when she was supposed to die and find a way to save her. He knew Rem wanted to protect Misa, and if he somehow stopped her from doing that, she would kill him. Well, he wasn't going to stop her. In fact, Light wanted to be there when Rem died, to collect her notebook before anyone else could get their hands on it.

Rem's eyes had been on Misa the entire night. Light knew he was getting close.

"So what do you want to do now?" Misa asked, tugging on his sleeve. "We could go back to my apartment, really get things rolling…I bought the cutest little outfit the other day. I think you'll like it." She winked.

"Hyuk hyuk," Ryuk chuckled from behind them. Rem, as usual, was silent.

The street they walked was practically empty. They were walking by an alleyway—dark, how cliché—when Misa suddenly grabbed Light's arm a little more tightly. "I thought I heard something," she whispered.

"It's nothing," Light said. He saw Rem stiffen out of the corner of his eye, and then looked into the alleyway to notice, too late, a man with a gun, emerging from the shadows.

Misa shrieked.

"Shut up!" the man snapped, clearly nervous. The hand holding the gun shook a little. An amateur crook, then. The worst kind. Most likely to fire the gun by accident. He pointed his weapon at Misa. "Shut up, lady, I'm warning you."

Misa did as she was told. She trembled. Perhaps she remembered the murder of her parents, at gunpoint, by a burglar, so similar to this. Pity she wasn't thinking more clearly. She had the eyes. If she had had the Death Note on her—but she never took it out of the house, for safety.

"Now, hand over your things." He motioned at them.

Light was not going to comply. How could he? It was beneath his dignity. He couldn't bring himself to feel that he was in any real danger. If worse came to worse, he had Misa, and the piece of Death Note in his watch.

Luckily for him, Rem didn't know that. He swore he could hear her writing.

"I wouldn't do this if I were you," Light muttered. "Not with Kira around. Aren't you afraid of judgment?"

"You picked a hell of a time to get ideological on us, Light," Ryuk said, chuckling. "Humans are so fascinating."

"I've got to eat somehow, man," the robber countered. "Hand it over, now, starting with that nice watch on your wrist."

"No," Light said. "I can't do that. I won't."

"Do it!" The man was nearly yelling, now, panicked, confused. His hand trembled even more. "Do it before I shoot your little girlfriend."

Then several things happened at once. Misa shrieked again, but not because she was being threatened. The robber's eyes widened, and he dropped his gun in surprise. It hit the ground and discharged accidentally, the bullet hitting a trashcan. The potential robber's hands clutched at his shirt, at his heart, and he looked up at Light's face, disbelieving. Light smirked, and the other man collapsed on the ground at Misa's feet. She stepped back, appalled. Behind them, Rem dissolved, silently, without protest, into a pile of sand.

"Woah," Ryuk said.

"What—Light, what—" Misa couldn't even get the question out without choking back a sob.

Light looked behind him. Sure enough, Rem's note lay on the ground, free for the taking. Shaking off Misa's hands, he picked it up, ignoring Ryuk's laughter completely. "It's Rem," he said, staring at the notebook. "She did this. She did it for you."

"Oh!" Misa's hands flew to her mouth. "Rem…she's…gone?"

"I want you to get back home," Light said sharply. "You and Ryuk. I can't…I'm not in the mood to come home with you, Misa, I'm sorry. We all need to leave before anyone asks any questions. I'm going back to Headquarters."

"I…oh, Rem." Misa stepped back from the pile of sand, and from the robber, not quite sure where to go. "Light, can't you…can't you stay?"

"I have to tell Ryuzaki. He'll get suspicious." Light looked around cautiously, then kissed her on the forehead. "Go home. Be careful. Here—" He tore a piece out of Rem's notebook. "In case you need it."

It took him very little time to get back to Headquarters. Light knew the way by heart, now. He breezed through security and made his way to the computer room. Only L was still awake, staring at a blank monitor, unblinking, in that strange way of his. When Light entered, he turned around in his office chair and stared at Light curiously, as if something was missing.

"Where's Rem-san?"

Light looked away. "She's dead."

"How unfortunate," L said coldly, unsympathetically, rising from his seat. "I'm very sorry to hear that. Still, I suppose it's for the best."

"What? How?" Was this another trap? Could it be?

"I have been waiting," L explained. "It's now safe to arrest Misa-san once again."

Light stepped back. "Ryuzaki, what are you talking about? You've been following Misa for years. She should be clear—"

"No one is clear." L's tone was incredibly firm. "Stay where you are, Light-kun. I'm going to need to question you next." He pressed a button on his desk. "And don't try to run away," he said. "Security has been alerted."

"You can't prove anything," Light hissed.

"We'll see." L smiled and walked toward him. "I've been waiting a long time for this day, you know."

"Ryuzaki, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." He grabbed Light's wrist and looked up into his eyes. "Kira."

L was still staring, and Light couldn't bring himself to look away, as if looking away would, somehow, mean that he lost. He wasn't going to lose. Not again, not now. Not at this pointless trial.

He knew how he was going to defend himself. It would be futile to deny the existence of the Death Notes. The prosecution had too much evidence and too many witnesses. Whether people would believe them regardless, was, of course, up to debate, but Light knew better than to press an issue that was already settled.

No, Light was planning to go out defending his righteousness. Not a legal defense, not a technical one, but a moral one. At least one of the judges must sympathize with Kira, even a little—his popularity had exploded worldwide over the past few years. A couple of the countries prosecuting him now had publicly bowed to him, only to retract their statements. Cowards. Even if no one did support him, all of his arguments would focus on the intent of Kira's actions. It wouldn't get him off, but it would satisfy him. If he defended his ideals, if he could make one of these idiot judges see, if he could make the world see, through his testimony, even after his execution, what Kira stood for, what he tried to do—

Why, then, he would be immortal.

That's why Light Yagami smiled as he was escorted from the trial that day, despite everything. That's why he was confident, even as he transported back to his cell for another restless, sleepless night. Insane? Perhaps. Contented? Definitely.

Because Light Yagami had a purpose. He would die on his own terms, and Kira's story wouldn't be over. Not for the rest of the world, not if people still followed him.

The thought was enough to keep the smile on Light's face.

And, elsewhere, something happened which would make Light smile just a little bit more.

That night, someone stole the Death Notes.

A/N: I said it would be up, and, lo and behold, it's up! Thank goodness my internet is holding up.

I'm not really in the habit of doing those song/quote things at the beginning of chapters, but this chapter, quite honestly, would not exist if I hadn't browsed iTunes and spotted that (oddly appropriate) song title, which reminded me that I needed to finish the damn beginning of my story. Maybe I'll start with the quotes. They're sort of fun.

Decided to put the Author's Note at the end, too, so I didn't detract from the beginning of the story. Couple of matters of business:

Potential Pairings: L&Light (but they hate each other!), Matt&Mello (but they haven't been introduced yet!), Matsuda&Sayu (not enough of this exists. There should be more). Potential means potential. Stick around and see.

Also, the person who stole the Death Notes? Not an OC. But you'll have to wait for that too. :(

Ooh, there'll also be lots of (read: 8) POV changes, trying to get everyone involved.

Thanks to my lovely betas, Lena and Amy.

Have fun! Next chapter should be up in about a week, so Saturday? Sunday? Something like that. Maybe sooner, if you review.

Much love,

D