! Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note or any of the characters within this story besides the OC's. All credit for Death Note goes to Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, not me.

1: Corruption

Buildings blurred into simple smears of grey as her feet propelled her through the city streets. Colossal baums of glass and concrete ascended to tangled treetops of iron and wire, all of which she scaled with ease. This was her domain, her jungle. This was her urban playground. Japan.

Worn rubber soles beat relentlessly against the cold cement, and lungs ached for air long deprived. Wind whipped at her light blue locks, scattering the unevenly cut tresses about her face. Her chest heaved with heavy breaths, the wind burning her airways as she ran.

And yet she was content with her strenuous jaunt. The excursion was a daily routine, a welcomed escape from the confines of her home. She wouldn't have it any other way.

Her cold grey eyes focused on her destination as it came into view.

A small, dilapidated building hid in shambles among the pristine towers built encircling it. It was a forgotten theatre, wooden boards and recycled garbage replacing once beautiful windows and roofing.

Thankfully, the public had completely forgotten the building, leaving it open for children such as herself to occupy. It wasn't exceptionally large, but the space was more than enough to house a few dozen orphaned broods. It was home.

The girl easily leapt across rooftops, using ledges and stripped beams to make her way to the ragged building lying only a few meters away. She brought two fingers to her mouth. Placing her finger and thumb together, she released a shrill whistle that echoed throughout the city confines. This, apparently, signaled the others waiting inside of her return.

A single slab of plywood, serving as a makeshift shutter, creaked open to reveal a handful of impatient children. They waved and grinned, elated to see her again.

With one last bound, she landed on the theater's shallow windowsill and gracefully dove into the small opening, only to be knocked over from behind.

Her assailant, a small boy around the age of twelve, locked his arms tightly around her waist. He looked up at her anxiously and whispered, "Renni…!"

The other children excitedly called, "Serenity! Serenity!"

They scampered around her, all impatiently fighting for a chance to speak. Their excitement was more intense than usual, and the worried boy clinging to her waist increased her curiosity.

"Jeez, Cid, what's with the sneak-attack?" she asked, turning to face the troubled youth. Serenity ruffled his auburn hair, soothing him in the only way she knew how. "Now, c'mon, what's got you so spooked, Little Man?"

"It's 'prolly got somethin' to do with Xander," one boy piped up, looking at Cid with concern. The other children scowled and chided him for stealing the attention.

"What? But Xander's been gone for weeks," Serenity countered, continuing to pet her captor's head.

"Nuh-uh! Xander came back just a 'lil before you did!" another child, a girl this time, corrected. "Cid must've thought it was you 'cause he ran up an nearly tackled Xander, too."

"But what's wrong with that? You like Xander, right, Cid?" Serenity asked, looking down at the worried boy in her arms. He gripped her shirt and shook his head resolutely. "Well, why not? What brought this sudden change of heart?"

"Xander's lost it, big time," a boy answered, receiving words of disapproval from his peers.

"He's been acting real weird, Serenity. He's all distant-looking and babbling about KIRA," another added.

"But he's always talking about KIRA. We all are," she shot back.

"Not like this. He's talking nonsense! 'KIRA's right. We mustn't go against justice!' He's loony alright," the same impolite boy continued. "You should go see him. Maybe you can knock some sense into him."

Serenity hesitated, thinking over the situation. If Xander really had gone mad, she wasn't sure she knew a solution. Besides, Cid's alarmed state seemed more pressing at the moment. Xander was older than Cid--although only by three years. He could take care of himself for now.

"Maybe later," she replied, standing and pulling Cid up with her. "I need a nap. Cid, you should rest a bit, too."

Cid nodded and, without loosening his grip on her shirt, walked alongside her towards the sleeping quarters.

***

Sleep, unfortunately, was not as easily obtained as Serenity had hoped. She tossed and turned in her small makeshift bed, fighting off the conflicted thoughts that plagued her mind.

Cid, on the other hand, had no difficulties slipping off into a peaceful dreamland, his left hand still clamped onto Serenity's shirt. Her thrashing did not inconvenience him, nor did her constant groans and murmurs. He merely cuddled closer, sighed, and drifted even deeper into his slumber.

Finally, after a few hours of sleepless flailing, Serenity accompanied Cid in a deep slumber, her exhaustion overcoming the torrent of thoughts. It was more of a dark unconsciousness than sleep, but it was restful nonetheless.

***

Serenity awoke to the gentle prodding of Cid's small hands on her shoulder. He held the same worried expression on his face as before, but this time she knew the cause.

Behind him stood the fairly tall, lanky figure of a boy with obsidian-black hair and piercing blue eyes. It was none other than Xander. His face looked exactly as it had a few weeks ago, save the unusual expression it held.

Serenity eyed Xander warily. She obviously knew the boy in front of her and yet something about him seemed alien, foreign.

He smiled a familiar smile, the one he only used for her, but it didn't reach his eyes. They seemed to be somewhere else, dancing about as if he were watching something she couldn't see.

"Now, where have you been?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him as she sat up.

"Missed you, too," Xander replied, his smile growing. He took a couple steps forward and looked around the room at the many children running about.

Cid, noticing Xander's close proximity, climbed onto the bed to sit behind Serenity. He watched Xander cautiously from over her shoulder, once again claiming the section of shirt at Serenity's side in his hand.

"Y'know, both Mother and Father have been worrying about you…"Serenity sighed, placing her hand over Cid's. She then looked up at Xander, a soft smile gracing her features as she added, "It's been a real pain. Without you here, my work as a Hunter has doubled…but I have missed you. You have a lot of explaining to do."

Glancing at her with his flickering blue eyes, he replied almost sheepishly, "I have so much to tell you, but it's a bit crowded in here, isn't it?"

Recognizing his proposition, Serenity nodded and moved to stand. Cid hesitantly remained on the bed at first, holding her back by her shirt, but eventually conceded to standing as well. He walked behind her, anxiously glancing back to Xander, as Serenity led them down a corridor and up a couple flights of stairs. The stairs had once led to a door opening to the theatre roof, but it was boarded shut. No one ever bothered to climb the many stairs just to reach a dead end, making this the best--and probably only--spot for privacy.

Taking a seat on the top step, Serenity pulled Cid to sit in front of her and wrapped her arms around his shoulders comfortingly. Xander opted to stand, leaning against the wall as he began, "You know, I did a lot of thinking during my last job…"

"Oh? Did it hurt much?" Serenity teased, resting her chin on the top of Cid's head.

"Ha ha…Anyway, I've been trying to share this with the others, but they just don't seem to understand. They're saying I'm crazy for thinking this. I think they've been in the Clan too long. Their minds have been…corrupted, tainted. But, you…! You'll listen, won't you? You'll understand. I know you will…"

Serenity looked at Xander with concern. He was rambling, babbling to himself, and she had no idea what he was talking about. This must have been what the other children were talking about.

"Wait. Slow down, Xander. What are you talking about?" She asked slowly, watching his eyes dance about the stairwell as his hands nervously fidgeted with the edges of his jacket.

"I think, maybe--no, not maybe--definitely, we're doing the wrong thing here. The more I time I spent with them, the more I agreed with the KIRA worshippers. Watching the news, reading the papers or reports--there are so many crimes in this world, and the police don't do a thing to stop them! And we…! We are even worse than the police! By eliminating criminals, KIRA was bringing true justice to the world, and those who worship him are only trying to continue his work! Don't you see? He is the god who erases the bad people from the world so that we can live happily, Renni. KIRA is justice! If you had his power, wouldn't you do the same thing?" Xander vindicated. His eyes were wide and seeking acceptance from hers. "Instead of hunting down and sabotaging the KIRA worshippers, we should be helping them!"

Unfortunately, Serenity didn't return his enthusiasm. She sat dumbstruck as if she couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.

Slowly, her blank stare narrowed angrily. She spoke slowly and softly as to not attract attention from the children dwelling downstairs. Her tone, although low, rumbled with a threatening undertone as she replied sternly, "No, Xander, I don't 'see'. Did you forget? My father was killed by KIRA eight years ago. He was innocent, and was killed because he was suspected of a crime--suspected! Where's the justice in that?"

Xander looked at her with the same wide eyes, shocked and obviously disappointed by her reply.

"I…I know…but…" he stammered, struggling to find an argument.

Serenity took a deep breath and continued in a calmer tone, "Xander, look…You don't look like you're feeling well. You've been gone for two weeks now, and I know you've been working hard. I'll take over your jobs until you're better, so why don't you rest for a couple of days? I can't have you working when you're like this, anyway."

He looked at her blankly for a moment and then nodded slowly, regaining his composure. His eyes calmed, although they still danced around the room, and a soft smile curved his lips.

Xander casually scratched the back of his head, chuckling softly to himself as he replied, "I guess you're right, Renni…Now that you mention it, I do feel kinda tired."

Noticing that Xander had returned to normal, Serenity's expression softened and she smiled. Releasing her grip on Cid, she stood and followed Xander down the stairs. Cid followed directly behind her, once again clasping her shirt in his hand desperately.

Serenity followed Xander into the sleeping quarters, stopping at the edge of his bed to watch him climb in. Once she felt he was comfortable, Serenity began to leave but was stopped once more by Xander.

"Wait! Renni, I almost forgot. Uh, just before I got back, I got word that Old Man Subaru has another tip for me. Could you go see what it is?"

She smiled and nodded. Grabbing Cid by the hand, she walked over to her bed and grabbed her coat, scarf, and shoes. Quickly, she placed them on and guided Cid into his own coat and shoes.

Before they left the sleeping quarters, Serenity turned to Xander and waved, smiling. He returned the wave, making sure she was out of sight before he allowed the sinister grin to cross his lips.

For someone almost three years older than him, she was way too naïve and trusting.