Chapter 2: Advantage

After two days of preparations, Ryuzaki found himself thinking: this is going well.

"What if you're wrong about my son?" Soichiro asked.

"If no attempt using a Death Note is made on my life, then you will simply be working without me in 23 days. So let's solve this case before that happens. In two weeks we'll have tested the thirteen day rule. I expect news of the arrangement to arrive today or tomorrow."

It had arrived two days before, but Watari was under orders not to let the message through to the task force yet.

"That was foolish, Ryuzaki! You didn't make certain it would work? We could at least ask the Shinigami now."

"I don't trust the Shinigami. It tells us only what it wants us to know. If the current owner of the Death Note we have is Kira, then it's possible it's working directly for that person. I don't want Kira to know what I've done."

Soichiro knew that Ryuzaki was referring to his son, but that would be an old argument to pursue, especially now.

Instead he asked, "You only tore one page out? To write this down?"

"Yes. It would not be good if someone opened the actual Death Note and found my name in it. I took this page yesterday. I hid it at first, to give myself time to think about it. I was hoping to come up with a way not to use it."

"Ryuzaki... I don't like it, but you leave me no choice. I accept your plan."

"Good. If I should happen to die in the next day or two anyway, then Light is definitely Kira. You will be able to find my instructions on how to expose him like I explained yesterday."

Just then, Ryuzaki's phone rang.

"Yes? I'll be right there."

So that is your trump card, Light thought. Too bad for you, "Ryuzaki".

He concealed a smile behind a bored expression. Such a sacrifice, L. So noble. And so useless. You should have been more decisive. You should not have first left that piece of the notebook unattended while you prepared yourself for death.

Light stared at the screen in disbelief. Oh, bless L and his stupid habits, this was even better. The way the detective barely held the piece of paper with his fingers, as if it was going to bite him, in plain view of Soichiro's face, made it visible to Light as well. The camera view was not being recorded, so he'd be unable to review it frame by frame later, when the others weren't around. Still, he was certain he managed to see it right the first time.

He stopped himself from mouthing the name silently. It had to be real; it was too ridiculous to be a lie. With L, it actually kind of fit. Who ever heard of christening a child with a single letter? Was that what made L grow up as the socially challenged creature that he was?

"Everyone!" Matsuda exclaimed from a nearby seat. "Look at this."

Light quickly switched off the camera feed on his screen as others approached the computer stations.

Soichiro joined them just as the commotion started.

Light could only hope his elation wasn't showing. This was perfect.

L's appearance was greeted with nearly unanimous protest.

"What is the meaning of this, Ryuzaki? A permission to use the Death Note in an execution? That's barbarous!"

"That's right, we are not Kira!"

"Chief Yagami, please tell us you won't stand for it."

Soichiro frowned. "Perhaps you would explain, Ryuzaki?"

"We're going to test the notebook." L deftly arranged himself in his chair as usual, pressed a key. "Watari? Excellent work, thank you."

"Not at all, sir."

"Ryuzaki, what are you trying to accomplish by this?" Light asked. That's right. Just a little more rope.

"There's no point in testing it, we know its power is real!" Aizawa was livid.

"Besides, who is going to do it?" Matsuda asked. "Whoever writes in the notebook will have to obey the thirteen day rule, and keep writing names forever."

"That is the point. The person who will write in the notebook is a criminal currently also scheduled for execution. If after thirteen days he is still alive, he will be pardoned, and we will have learned that the thirteen day rule is false."

"Still, I don't think..."

A predatory look replaced Ryuzaki's soft-spoken manner. "We're very close. If we work this out, the entire case will be solved!"

The room was suddenly bathed in red emergency lighting.

"Watari? Watari?"

There was no response.

ALL DATA DELETION ran across the screens.

"What is this?" demanded Aizawa.

"I told Watari to prepare this in case something happened to him", L explained, shaken. "Where's the Shinigami!"

"Good question, I don't see it..."

"It disappeared?"

L tried to warn them. "Everyone, the Shiniga-"

Silence. To Light, who stood to the side of him, L looked surprised.