Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything you recognize. They belong to their respective owners, and it SUCKS! (what I wouldn't give to own at least one of the characters...)

AN: Just to let you know, I'm basing some characters, my OCs that is, on actual people I know, friends, family, that sort of thing. Also, one of them has the same first name as myself, and I chose the name (actually used for the majority of my heroines) because, even though I don't like my name, it does make a good name for a character. Plus, there are just so many different nicknames for it, I thought it'd be a good idea!

Balancing Out Justice

by SamiraGranger

Chapter One: The Beginning of Concern and Worry

Crying as she watched the video that was playing on her laptop, Sam felt a few tears run down her cheeks as she, once again, watched her favorite character die. Why did he have to die? He didn't deserve it, she thought as she looked at the screen. Holding one of her stuffed panda bears to her chest as she cried, she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be in the anime she was watching, or even any of them. Yeah right, as if that would happen.

"Sam! Get your butt down here and eat some dinner!"

Groaning at the shrill yell that her mother had made, Sam rolled off her bed and landed on the floor, carefully avoiding her open laptop. "I'm coming, mom!", she yelled through her open doorway, still clutching the red and white panda bear. Sitting up from where she was on the floor, Sam ran a hand through her hair as she set the panda back on the bed with the rest of the pack of stuffed animals she had. "I'll be back up in a few minutes, Gaara," she told the toy as she paused the video.

Turning away from the collection of stuffed animals she had, she hurried out of her bedroom and down the stairs. Sliding over the tiled floor in her socks, she smiled as she saw that her twin brother was already sitting at the table with their parents. "Greetings, mom, dad, bro," she said as she sat down across the table from the black-haired boy. "Look," she said holding out her hands, "no stuffed animals. I told you I could do it." Sticking her tongue out at her twin, she laughed silently as he just shook his head.

"There was no doubt in my mind you could do it, Sam," the boy said as he picked at his food. "I mean, we're both twenty-one now. If you seriously couldn't leave without a stuffed animal in your arms, I'd be visiting you with the Joker."

"Ha, ha, Johnnie," Sam deadpanned as she took a bite of chicken. "At least I don't change boyfriends, or in your case, girlfriends, like they were yesterday's laundry."

"Kids, stop fighting." The twins looked at their father and muttered their compliance. Dinner passed slowly as the four of them ate. "Okay," their father said as he looked at the twins, "we need to have a talk after we clean up the table, Sam. There's something I need you to do for me when you go to Japan in a few weeks."

"Okay, dad." Giving her father a look that showed him that she was slightly annoyed, Sam smiled to herself as she picked up her empty plate. Quickly helping her dad with the clean up, she hummed under her breath as she put her auburn hair, which was just a few shades lighter than that of her only male cousin's hair, up in a ponytail so it wouldn't get in the way as she washed the dishes. Making fast work of the different plates and bowls that had been used, Sam smiled at her dad as she saw that her mom and twin brother had both left the room.

"So, dad," she said as she handed him a now-clean plate to put in the dishwasher, "what was it you wanted to talk to me about? Is it about 'Sakura', or maybe something to do with my apprenticeship?" For the past several years, Sam had been an apprentice under her father for the government agency he worked in. She was finally getting to the point were it was almost time for her 'final exam', so to speak, and she had been getting a bit anxious because she had no clue what it would be. Each Apprentice that was under either a Defender or a Specialist underwent a different final exam that was unique for them, depending on what they were being trained to do, and how they did it.

"Actually, it's partly about your papa, and partly about something... else."

Sam nearly dropped the cup that was in her hand back into the sink. "P-papa?", she said, stuttering slightly. "What about him? Has something happened?" Paling slightly at the idea of her pseudo-grandfather having come to harm somehow, she turned to her dad with wide blue eyes.

Her dad was quick to calm her down. "No, nothing has happened to the old man," he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm just letting you know that there might be a possibility that you might encounter him during your stay in Japan, that's all."

The color that her cheeks had regained left again as she tensed her shoulders, her father's words ringing through her head. What have you gotten yourself into this time, papa? I hope you know what you're doing, she thought as she put her hands against the lip of the sink to keep from falling. She felt the heavy weight of her father's eyes as she tried to calm herself down.

"I also fear that you will not be able to return this time, Sam." Lifting her head to look into her father's face, Sam felt a shiver run through her at his words. "You know the tasks that I have to do for my... job. Well, one of the higher ups has given me a task to take care of, but I don't fulfill the... job requirements."

"Dad, what are you saying?" Sam asked as she gazed into her father's bright, almost-unnaturally blue eyes as he searched her face for something. Seeing what he was looking for, he sighed, his fear echoing in his breath.

"Sam, I am so sorry to have to ask this of you," he said as he ran a hand through his red hair. Suddenly, he locked eyes with her as he stood up straight, lowering his hands to his sides. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a deep voice that seemed filled with a mystical force. "I, Defender Howard Montgomery, aka Eraldo Coil, aka Nightshade, formally ask Apprentice Samira Montgomery, aka Asphodel, for her help in saving the life of one L Lawliet in Universe 11395, aka the World of Death Note. If you choose to accept this mission, you will be there for the duration of most of the Kira case, and longer, if need be. Upon arrival, you will be put in charge of the mission and will report in to the closest IUSDA contact for any additional information that is not readily available for your perusal. Once you succeed in the mission, you will be offered the choice of whether you want to stay in Universe 11395 or return to Universe 1, aka the World of All Beginnings. However, if you fail, you will be forced to stay in Universe 11395 as punishment for letting the target die and will take over the target's place in the needed events. Do you accept?"

This is serious. That was the first thought to go through Sam's head as her father's... no, her superior's words sunk in. Steeling herself as she came to a decision that she knew she would have come to no matter what the mission was, Sam let the mystic powers deep within her flow through her body just as her Defender had taught her to. Taking a deep breath, she looked her superior in the eye and said, "I, Apprentice Samira Montgomery, aka Asphodel, accept the mission given to me by my Defender and Superior, Defender Howard Montgomery, aka Eraldo Coil, aka Nightshade."

"Then, on behalf of the Inter-Universe Security and Defense Administration," her Defender said, "I thank you for your acceptance of this mission." Suddenly, Sam found herself being almost strangled in a bear hug from the man in front of her. "I'm so proud!", the man said, as the air began to move again. "My little baby is going on her first mission!"

Putting her hands against her father's arms to try and pull them off, she struggled in his grasp. "Ugh... Can't... Breathe," she gasped out as Howard swung her around in his arms. "Dad... Put me... Down... Now!" Howard looked at her face and, seeing how blue it was getting, immediately let go of her.

"Oops." Glaring at her father as she leaned against the kitchen counter to catch her breath, Sam shook her head at him. "But, seriously, as your father and Defender, I'm proud of you, Samira."

"Thanks, dad," she said as she smiled at him. Suddenly, an idea came to her mind. "Hey dad," she said as she looked up at him with a thoughtful expression, "what do you think about me taking my entire Death Note collection? I'm talking about all the manga books, including the extra ones, and all the dvds for the anime and the movies? Having them with me might help me be able to remember just what happens when, and which version of certain events is taking place."

Howard thought over his daughter's idea for a few minutes as they finally continued cleaning up the mess from dinner. "That's not a bad idea, Sam," he said finally. "In fact, I highly recommend you do so. However, I know that you most likely will be taking your... little stuffed animal collection with you, so I suggest that you come up with a different back story for that panda bear that you call 'Lawliet'."

Blushing at her father's words, Sam thrust the last plate towards him to load into the dishwasher. Nearly running out of the room, she didn't stop until she was back in her bedroom. Back in the kitchen, however, Howard was shaking his head at his daughter's actions. She'll get through this, he thought as he started the dishwasher. Suddenly, he started coughing hard and couldn't stop for about two minutes. I just hope she makes the right choice in the end.

~~~~~~~(^w\)# * #(/w^)~~~~~~~

Rushing around her room, Sam was pulling out everything she would need for her mission. I can't believe it! I actually have my own mission! Dancing around her room in excitement at the thought, she couldn't stop the huge smile that appeared on her face. And I might see papa during it, as well! This is going to be awesome! Stopping mid-stride in the middle of her room, her eyes landed on the shelves that held her entire anime and manga collection. Looking at the volumes that belonged in the Death Note series, she felt her mood drop slightly as she remembered what happened in that particular series.

"L-kun," she whispered under her breath, eyes widening in realization of what she was going to be stepping into. "Kuso, I can't believe I nearly forgot what exactly happens to you and Watari-san." Moving over to her bed, she picked up one of the many stuffed animals that was piled on top of it. Looking at the foot-tall white and black panda bear in her hands, she hugged the toy close to her chest as she sat down on her bed. Gazing around the room that she had turned into a mess with her anxiety and excitement, she felt a tear run down her cheek. "I give you my word that I'll make sure you survive this time, L," she whispered to herself. "That's a promise, isn't it, Lawliet?" Turning her eyes down to the panda in her arms, she chuckled slightly as she held it even tighter.

Gazing unseeingly around her room as she held Lawliet, she found her eyes lingering on the poster that she had taped to the wall. It was one that a friend and co-worker of her father's had given her several years back after she had expressed an interest in following in her dad's footsteps as a Defender. Sitting up as she looked at the image of a set of scales that was part of the crest for the Inter-Universe Security and Defense Administration, or IUSDA for short, an idea began forming in her mind for after she goes to the World of Death Note. It's crazy, she thought as her eyes widened. In fact, it's so crazy that it just might work. I doubt that Dad would approve of it, but I've heard the stories of others doing something like this. If it worked for them, who's to say that it won't for me?

The wheels in her head began turning at a fast pace as she leaped up from the bed and dashed around the room, Lawliet held under one arm. Grabbing all of the items she thought she would need to make her idea work, even some she wouldn't as a just in case, she pulled out a standard issue, non-marked IUSDA bag that her father had given her five years into her apprenticeship. Carefully, so as not to damage anything, she began placing the items in the bag to take with her when she left for Universe 11395 in a few weeks. Deciding to put her entire Death Note collection in the bag as well, she hoped that she would have the guts to go through with her plan when the time came.

"Okay, I feel like I'm forgetting something," she said out loud about two hours later, having packed pretty much all of her things, even her stuffed animal collection, excluding Lawliet and one or two small ones. Tapping her chin as she looked around the room, she tried to remember what it was she was forgetting about. She hit her forehead as she finally realized what it was she was missing. "Sam no baka! I nearly forgot the IDs that dad made me renew just a few months ago!" Shaking her head as she walked over to her dresser, she picked up the small pile of identification cards and a nearby black leather wallet. Putting each ID in it's spot, she made sure that she had all of the ones that she knew, or had a feeling, that she would need. "Okay," she said, "USA, Japan, England, Canada, China, I think that's it as far as countries go. I definitely can't forget my IUSDA license. Thankfully, with the technology they have, the card can change to whatever I need it to be, and all the necessary paperwork to allow for anything will already be registered in each universe thanks to the Defenders and Specialists that are in charge of Archives." Once each card was in it's proper place, along with various credit cards, Sam placed the wallet in the side pocket of her backpack.

Satisfied at the thought that she had everything she thought she would need from her room, Sam grabbed Lawliet and sat back down on her bed. Setting the panda down next to her, she reached across her bed and pulled her electric keyboard up onto her bed. Grabbing a set of headphones she had left out, she slipped them onto her head and plugged them into the headphone jack that was on the piece of equipment. Turning it on, she pressed a few keys to see what settings she had left it on the last time she had played. Frowning slightly at what she heard, she adjusted the keyboard's settings for a few minutes. Once she was happy with them, she played a few notes as warm-up before letting her fingers flow across the keys.

This song always calms me down, she thought as she played the very familiar tune. As she played "L's Theme", she closed her eyes as her fingers instinctively found the correct keys. Losing herself in the music, she couldn't help but feel like something big would happen during her time in Japan, something unexpected. Playing through the song at least three times before finally opening her eyes again, she moved the keyboard off the bed as she got ready to sleep.

Laying in the middle of her bed, Lawliet encased in her arms, she reached over and turned off her bedside lamp. Staring at the ceiling, she smiled slightly as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Not once did she notice her father watching her from her open door. "Dream good dreams, Samira," Howard said as he smiled wearily at the sleeping form of his daughter. "You'll need them in the coming months." With those words, he silently closed the door to Sam's room, leaving her in darkness.