Welcome to It Is Finished, the fourth story in the It Is series! I may or may not change the title as the story goes on, but until that happens, that's what it'll be called, so there.
Well, the process of this story has been slow-to-stopped for about 9 months, so I may have to slow the updating later on if I don't get my butt moving and the updates get closer to catching up to the part I'm still writing. So there we are.
I hope you enjoy the first chapter~ (Even though I'm less proud of this story so far, so...)
-Also sorry for the annoying recap, haha.. o3o
"Natsumi!" Matsuda exclaimed, running up to me as I entered the room for my floor at NPA headquarters. He was gasping for air.
"What?" I asked blankly. "What is it?"
"We've got a sighting! We've got a sighting for Mello!" He grinned at me. "Isn't that great?"
I blinked. "Wow, really? That's awesome!"
"Yeah! And now we can prove Near wrong!"
I laughed at his enthusiasm as he led me to Aizawa's office. But… let me explain. My name is not Natsumi, or to be formal, it is not Natsumi Matsuo, either. That is an alias that I took on about six years ago, and got rid of about half a year ago. My real name is Natalie Hester, and I am a girl from the real world. I came here back when I was fifteen; now I was twenty-one. And all because of a weird island called Maxey Island, named after the first kid who disappeared there….
I wasn't the only one who'd arrived here six years ago. I came here with three people who were very close to me. Sam; the often-irritable but filled-with-love girl with long, dark brown, curly hair that she sometimes straightened. Currently nineteen. Sierra; the wearer of masks with medium-length, wavy, mouse brown hair. Also nineteen. Anna; the innocent one with long, wavy hair that was such a light brown some mistook it for blond. Now thirteen.
I myself was the one with short, brown hair that was often thought of as Light hair. Not that that mattered.
Each of us has seemed to pick our own sides these past six months. After the warehouse scene back in late January, Light had, of course, survived, and Kira had come back that March. Me. If you want detail on that, just go and read my second memoir. I'm not re-explaining everything. In fact, I'm just going to get to the point here.
As much as it annoys me to reiterate these points, I have to at the beginning of each new collection of memories here; for the benefit of my readers. If you remember clearly, well, bear with me.
Each person who comes from the real world has a mind sync, or as Beyond Birthday named it, a Bond with someone from this world whom they have some sort of connection with it; most often through their pasts. I, for example, was Bonded to Light. Sam was Bonded to L, Sierra to Mello, Anna to Near…. And over time, I guess each of us drifted to those sides these past six months. I mean, back when we were back in the original story line of Death Note, I had been working against Kira. Now look at me; acting as Kira alongside Light and Mikami. Oh, the irony of my life….
As we left off last, I was in the hospital. Near was thinking up plans, as was Mello, and L was getting ready for returning to the Kira case after a month or so. More than that if you count the worldwide cases he'd worked on a month before the Sinful Murder Cases started. All with BB. In fact, it was B who killed Misa. And supposedly, B had died on June twenty-seventh, ending the case and causing L's first-ever loss on a case. It was rather upsetting for him.
But he was back on the Kira case again, which was great for those on his side, and not-so-great for Light and I.
In any case, I got out of the hospital a month or so ago. I think I remember going in early July…. Yes. Early July. Soon after I was freed from Mello's grasp…. And let me tell you, being kidnapped isn't exactly fun.
On Mikami's front, he was last taken in by Sara Shizu, and was still being taken care of and being well-hidden by the Shizu family.
B, who had lost his Bond Sophia back in the middle of June, had been breaking mentally ever since, last we checked. But he'd faked his death at the end of L's case, and we left off with him ready to pursue his next goal.
The date was August ninth, now. This is where we will begin.
"As it turns out," Matsuda explained animatedly, "Mello was last seen in Shinjuku! You remember Shinjuku, right?"
"Where B's body was found?" I asked blankly. "You know, I wasn't on that case…."
"No, no, I mean, that's where the old task force headquarters used to be! You remember that, right?"
"Oh, yeah…. Of course I remember that skyscraper, are you kidding? I just didn't know it was in Shinjuku at the time." I squinted at the ground as Matsuda pulled me along. "But… Light knew…."
Ah, that's another important matter: Light and I, along with Sam and L and Sierra and Mello, were at the final stage of the Bond. At this stage, what happens to one happens happens to the other, thoughts merge, views and ideologies are shared or balanced out…. It's creepy to just about everyone but the two who have it, actually.
"You think we'll be able to catch him, then?" Matsuda asked hopefully as I was pulled into Aizawa's office. Everyone was there already: Aizawa himself, Light, Mogi, and Ide. I was late today, see.
"It really depends upon how much he's moving around, or how well he's hidden," I answered Matsuda.
Aizawa frowned at us as Matsuda closed the door. "…Anyway, from here we'll center our searches throughout the Shinjuku area, particularly around where Mello was sighted. However, as he may be moving around from place to place, we will keep an eye out all through Shinjuku." He eyed all of us carefully. "Is that understood?"
There were responses of confirmation.
"Let me know if you hear of any more sightings, alright?" he said, and we all responded accordingly. Aizawa returned to his desk and sat. "Meeting adjourned."
"Whatchya doin'?" Sierra asked a concentrating Matt, who seemed to be tinkering with some sort of contraption…thing. It was black and somewhat bulky, with lots of wiring. He was sitting on the couch in the main room as he worked.
"Making something," the redhead responded before setting the thing down and looking at her through his orange-tinted goggles. "I've got an idea, and for once I'm acting on it."
"Wow, not feeling as lazy today, then?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Nah, I just thought it would be useful later on…." He seemed to think for a moment. "We ditched the car April thirtieth," he said. "It's been fourteen weeks…. Or… to be more accurate… three months and ten days. 101 days in all. It's probably gone by now."
"Well, we don't need a ride anyway, really."
"Unless we need to make a fast break," Matt pointed out, pulling out a cigarette. He flicked his lighter on, and lit the cig before breathing it in and breathing out a stream of smoke.
"True," Sierra conceded, frowning at the smoke curling in the air.
"If you don't like me smoking, just walk away," he said, looking at her with his eyebrows raised.
"You should quit," she told him bluntly.
He rolled his shoulders in a shrug.
Sierra pursed her lips and looked up to the ceiling. "I just realized… I haven't talked to Anna and the others in a while…."
"If you think about it, you're kinda on opposing sides now, huh?" Matt remarked, leaning back on the couch. "Especially since the whole kidnapping thing in late June."
"Yeah…." Sierra tilted her head to the side. "It's weird. I almost miss the times where we were still all together, you know? It seems like so long ago now, huh? I wonder if it'll ever be like that again…."
Matt looked at her with his cigarette between his lips. "I guess we all miss some things," he spoke around the cancer stick. "And some of those things are hard to get back…." He looked up to the ceiling as he leaned his head back. "…Or even impossible…."
Sierra stared at him.
Mello came down the futuristic-looking stairs and spoke abruptly, without even looking at either of them. "Matt, I agree. We need our ride again."
Matt gazed at him blankly. "Uh… alright."
"You're thinking something up, right Near?" Anna asked, sitting on the ground with her hand cradling her head.
"Of course, Anna," Near responded as he carefully placed his next match on his tower. "I am actually beginning to think something up…. You see, Anna, it has to be perfect."
"Yeah, okay, otherwise we all die, right?"
"Not necessarily, but something like that, yes."
"…Because you can't die by the Death Note anymore ever since Light killed you?"
Near didn't respond for a moment. "Yes. Because that was erased." Yes, just like it was erased when B died, and when I died, and when Light died… all in the In-Between, that place between my world and this world.
"Yeah…." There was a pause. The only sound was of Gevanni and Halle's idle conversation. Rester was silent as he worked. "Hey, Near?"
"Yes, Anna?" Near responded.
"Do you think I'll be able to see Sierra again soon?"
Near glanced at her, not responding for a moment. "Well, Anna, it may be awhile. You are on the side of Near, and she is on the side of Mello, and Near and Mello are inevitably on opposing sides. You may be able to see her… if ever we confront Mello… or if Mello is caught…. However, I don't believe you'll be able to spend any real quality time with your sister until the Kira case is over."
"I hate the Kira case," Anna huffed, flopping onto the ground. "I wish it would just end."
"Wishing doesn't get anyone anywhere."
Anna didn't respond, just stared up into the bright lights of the ceiling. "Near," she said eventually, "why does it seem like everyone's being pulled apart?"
Near didn't respond at first, so Anna went on. "I mean… Sierra I haven't talked to in over a month…. Maybe months, plural. I miss her. And she hasn't talked to anyone else, either, that I know of…. Aunt Natalie is here, yeah, but…. I dunno. Something's different. Sam… Sam is mostly with L, doing some sort of case, whether it's that BB case or the Kira case. And ever since she ran off to America all those years ago, I guess she hasn't been as close somehow…. Even with Aunt Natalie. And Sam and Aunt Natalie are best friends, you know. But now… when I watch them talk… it's almost like there's something hiding in their conversations that I can't see. It isn't the same as it used to be. Why, Near?"
Near was silent for a few beats. "…Well, Anna, it seems the four of you are beginning to go your separate ways. People do that. Relationships; friends and such… those things don't ever last."
"Yes they do," Anna frowned. "What are you talking about?" Near paused in his stacking of matches, then resumed. "It's just… I want it back to normal."
"Well, Anna…" said Near, putting each match onto his structure in almost a rhythmic motion, "…for your sake, I hope one day it does go back."
"Thanks, Near," Anna answered him sincerely, and sighed.
"I found it!" Sam exclaimed, even though L would inevitably know it the moment she did find it. L looked over one last thing on his laptop. He was looking at a database of all of the heart attacks listed throughout the world, seeing how the rates had changed from before Kira's fake fall to now. He needed to know for sure there weren't more than the three Kiras he knew of. He may be able to get a vague notion of whether he was right or wrong by seeing how many heart attacks were had over this expanse of time….
The black-haired detective walked over to Sam from his chair. Sam was on the bed at the moment, so L would peer over to the screen she had up, his eyes wide as ever. He put his index finger to his lips as she turned the computer to face him. To be honest, he saw no point in Sam showing him. He knew what he was looking at before he saw it due to the Bond. But no matter. He looked anyway to the page of what were apparently the perfect rings. He knew Sam's thoughts, so she did not voice them. Nor did L have to voice his intentions as he pulled out his cell phone.
"And you're sure?" he asked Sam, and she nodded, looking at the screen again.
He took note of the number on the screen and dialed the number with one finger, then held up the phone to his ear with his thumb and forefinger. Sam allowed herself to smile ever so slightly as she listened to his conversation.
"You want them by tomorrow?" the man asked.
"Yes, that is correct."
"I'm sorry, sir, but I don't think—"
"I will pay extra, if you like. As much as it takes."
Closing her eyes, Sam leaned back on the bed comfortably and stretched. Somehow, even with the loss they'd made and the perilous task known as the Kira case ahead, she felt rather content about it all. Almost hopeful. Justice would prevail here, and somehow everything would turn out alright. At least, that was how it felt…. Well, Sam, let's see how long that feeling lasts, she thought to herself.
Light returned home to his empty apartment that night, sparing only a glance at the now-uninhabited apartment that he and Misa used to live in before he moved out and she was killed. Over the past month, he and I had sorted out Misa's things at last, and now there was nothing that hadn't been taken care of save for her cross necklace, kept in remembrance of her. Respect. Light walked on to his own apartment to find another note on his doorstep. He frowned slightly and leaned to pick it up as he pulled out his keys.
He'd been getting these notes for a while now. The first time he'd gotten one, in early July, it had simply read, 'I'd like to meet you, Kira.' Light hadn't known what to think at first. He just stared at the note for a bit. It was… a threat? A warning? Who had written it? Were they expecting a response?
But responding would be like confirming I'm Kira…. Unless…. He frowned. But this could be just a work of Near, or Mello, or even L. If it is them, they're just trying for a reaction…. He gave a tch and ripped the note in half before throwing it into the garbage.
However, he received another note the next night.
I know that you think this may be L... or Near... or Mello... But I can assure you that it isn't, Light Yagami. In fact, that's a horrible thought. I don't like L, and I despise Near. I'm not too keen on Mello, either, actually. I understand this isn't nearly enough to prove I'm not you're enemy, however, so it seems we'll have to play a game of trust. I don't necessarily have proof, so you'll have to trust me for your sake. What do you say, Kira?
Light had frowned at the note. Why is he writing in English? No, that's not the question here…. Who is he, if he's not L, Near, or Mello? This doesn't seem like anything they would do…. He crinkled the paper in his hand. He could very well be a threat. We might… we might need to get rid of him.
However, the writer gave no hint as to who it could be over time. He wrote of how he wasn't Kira's enemy and that he simply wanted to meet us, as he had stated in his first note. He hinted that he knew about me, too, and he kept revealing bits and pieces, almost playing with us, until at last he wrote,
I'd like a deal.
Short, blunt, and to the point. Just like his first message. After this note, though, Light hadn't received any more slips of paper.
…Until tonight, that is. It had been a bit less than three weeks now, we thought. Ryuk was cackling behind Light as they entered his apartment and he flipped on the light switch. He dropped his keys into his pocket, and opened the folded paper.
Friday. August 13th. 4 pm. The cafe you like to go to. I'll be waiting at the back table where it's harder for others to hear. Bring your friend if you'd like. We'll be meeting soon.
The note was relatively short and mostly informational, but it made its point. This Friday, Light and I would meet this message-writer in the café Light used to go to so often. How he knew about that café, we weren't sure, however. From there we would decide whether we would protest to being Kira or accept his accusation. It was Monday. Four more days, and the mystery man would be revealed. Curiosity killed the cat, it is said.
Let's just hope that wasn't the case.
And there we are! For now, look forward for a normal update every Wednesday; I'll let you know if there is a change~
Fun Fact: This wasn't originally going to be the final story in the series, but because of my ongoing writers' block, I'm thinking this is the last one. (Also resulting in a slightly different ending than I had originally intended, too.)
Review? For a new story!