JUSTICE

Welcome to Chapter 2!
I think I'm officially on schedule now with my updates. From now on, I will try to update every Friday. :)

This chapter is like the first in a sense that I'm still setting up the overall story. Here you'll find more background on Mai's past and how she meets L. She's basically my main character, so I need to give her the spotlight. Haha.

I originally planned a 10 year time skip to start off Chapter 3, but I think that's going to have to be put on hold until Chapter 4. That said, Chapter 3 will be the final background chapter of this story. Chapter 4 is where the real fun will begin with all our favorite DN characters. :)

Also, I plan on making future chapters longer than these have been. Like I said, these are basically just for background but they're necessary.

Ages for Chapter 2:

Mai – 8 years old
L – 15 years old

Enjoy!

Oh. And I do not own Death Note. :(

Chapter 2

Mai felt like she was falling.

Her heart was pounding frantically, matching the uneven contraction of her lungs as she gasped for air. Everything around her was turning dark, the only glimmer of light reflecting off the notebook that she grasped tightly in her shaking hands.

She looked down at it, allowing her eyes to linger on the strange words that stared up back at her.

Death Note.

"Do you like it?"

Mai's attention snapped back up to the towering monster that hovered in front of her. She clutched the notebook to her chest and took an uneasy step back, examining its features.

The creature stood hunched but was still extremely tall. Its body was made purely of bone and torn flesh. Enormous black wings came from its back and it had a crooked grin on its face. It sharp teeth glistened in the darkness that surrounded them and it stared directly into Mai's eyes, its own glowing a deep red.

It was the monster from her dreams. And it was standing right in front of her.

Mai forced herself to calm down, taking a deep breath. She flinched back when she saw the monster extend its arm and point at her with a bony finger. It snickered, holding back a laugh when it saw Mai's curious, but obviously terrified expression.

"That notebook used to belong to me."

Struggling to find her voice, Mai took another deep breath and sighed. Her eyes flickered down to the notebook in her hands then back up to the monster's face. She raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean 'used to'?" She asked quietly, letting her curiosity get the better of her.

The monster laughed, cackling wildly. "I mean that the moment you first touched it, you became its owner. You. Mai Takashi. An eight year old girl." The monster laughed again, continuing to point at Mai. "You are the new owner of this Death Note."

Mai wasn't quite sure what the creature was talking about. If what it said were actually true, then what was already written in the notebook had to be true too, right? Shaking her head, she trailed a hand down the notebook's cover, mesmerized by its simplicity.

The monster grinned at Mai's immediate taking to the Death Note. This was going to be fun.

"Mai," The creature began, hovering closer to the young girl and towering over her. "Do you accept the terms of the Death Note?"

Mai slowly looked up to meet the monster's lingering stare. There was no going back now.

Without even bothering to rationalize what was going on, Mai took once last glance at the notebook in her hands before simply nodding her head in agreement with the creature's words.

(*** *** ***)

Mai woke with a start. She gasped, struggling to find herself as she reminded herself it was only a dream. It had to be dream. Monsters only existed in dreams…

She began to calm down, her eyes drooping closed as she relaxed slightly against the soft fabric behind her.

"I think you were having a nightmare, dear."

Mai's eyes snapped open. She flinched when she felt something on her shoulder. She whipped herself around and saw an elderly man sitting next to her in what appeared to be a…car? When did she get in a car?

The man chuckled softly, his expression soft and caring. He extended his hand out, nodding his head.

"Oh, how rude of me. I haven't even introduced myself! My name is Watari," he said, smiling.

Mai remembered her parents telling her never to talk to strangers, but for some reason, she felt as if she could trust the older man sitting next to her. Even at her young age, she was good at reading people and all she felt from this man was kindness.

Trusting her instinct but still being cautious, Mai placed her hand in Watari's and they shook, formally greeting one another. Watari smiled again, releasing Mai's hand and pulling out a piece of paper for her to see.

Mai curiously looked down at the elegant picture sketched onto the thin parchment. It was a house with the biggest yard she had ever seen.

Watari pointed at the house on the paper. "This is where we're heading right now. It's a special orphanage that I hope you'll find yourself comfortable in."

Mai tilted her head. "I'm going to live there?" She asked softly, running her hand over the picture.

"Yes, it would be my honor to have you stay with us, Mai," Watari said. "You see, I was in Japan on business, and when the police brought you back to the station after the fire, I asked them if I could take you back to England with me to stay at the Wammy House."

Mai only nodded, her attention still focused entirely on the picture in her lap. A large house, no, an orphanage, surrounded by trees and blue skies. This was going to be her home now. Such change in such a short period of time. Her life was changing, and there wasn't a single thing she could do about it.

She would probably never see her friends again. And her parents…

Mai closed her eyes, willing the tears not to fall. She let the picture fall to the floor of the car and took a deep breath. Watari frowned, resting a hand on the young girl's shoulder. Mai immediately threw herself forward into Watari's embrace, sobbing softly.

"Shhh," Watari soothed her. "You'll be safe at the orphanage, Mai. Nothing will be able to hurt you anymore."

Mai continued to cry until they reached the Wammy House. Watari gave her his handkerchief before they exited the car so she could wipe her eyes and blow her nose. As they made their way up to the orphanage, Mai looked around curiously at the other children scattered about in the large front yard. She held onto Watari's hand tightly as they approached the front door.

Watari led her through a hallway and up some stairs before stopping in front of a large oak door. He took out his key and turned the lock, holding the door open for Mai to step inside.

She gazed around the room, keeping quiet as she noted all the different pictures and awards hanging on the walls. Some were in Japanese but the majority were in languages she wasn't familiar with. Her eyes traveled nearly every inch of the room before falling on a dark haired boy who was sitting perched on a chair in the corner.

"Oh, L, I didn't realize you would be in here," Watari said, smiling as he shut the door and moved to stand next to Mai.

The boy simply nodded and continued to chew on this thumb, obviously concentrating deeply on something. His eyes were black like his hair and stared past Mai and Watari distantly. It was like he didn't even see them there.

Watari cleared his throat and rested a hand on Mai's shoulder. The boy called L blinked once before finally acknowledging their presence. He sighed, resting the thumb he was just nibbling on against his lips gently.

"Watari, I believe I've figured out who is responsible for the recent serial murders in Germany," L simply stated, staring up at the older man blankly.

Watari nodded, stepping forward with Mai. "That's good news! However, before we embark on another case, I'd like for you to meet the newest addition to the house." He nudged Mai forward gently, encouraging her with a smile when she sent him a weird look over her shoulder.

"L, this is Mai. She's from Japan," Watari announced.

L looked down at the young girl, tilting his head to one side. He hopped from his chair with ease, hunching over slightly as he shuffled up to where Mai and Watari were standing. He squatted down in front of the girl and extended his hand out.

Mai looked up at Watari but he only smiled and nodded. She returned her gaze to the boy in front of her and immediately deduced that from up close he sort of looked like a panda with his wild black hair and dark eyes.

She giggled, eagerly taking L's hand and shaking it up and down. L's eyes widened slightly as Mai moved their hands. She smiled up at him, her eyes full of hope and admiration for the young detective.

L knew what she had been through only a few days prior. Watari had briefed him over the phone on their plane back to England. Curious, he watched Mai intently. She appeared to be happy, or at least content. Could someone who had just lost everything be genuinely happy so suddenly?

L's thoughts were soon interrupted as a loud CRASH echoed throughout the house. Mai jumped, panicking as she lunged behind L who was still crouching close to the floor. She grasped his shirt tightly, shaking from the sudden noise.

Watari sighed, rubbing his temple. "I suppose Mello and Near still haven't solved their differences, have they?" L only shook his head, suppressing a small smile. Watari sighed again, turning to leave and calling over his shoulder, "I'll be right back."

L nodded silently before rotating on the balls of his feet as he turned to face Mai. She was still shaking and her knuckles were turning white from her grip on the detective's shirt. He frowned slightly, wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulders and pulling her in for a quick hug.

Mai immediately felt at ease when L hugged her. She relaxed, sighing deeply before releasing her hold on his shirt, leaving the fabric wrinkled. She slowly looked up to meet his unreadable expression, trying with all her will not to cry again.

She shuddered, flinching away when L brought his hand toward her face. He brushed away a stray tear from under her eye gently before wiping the salty droplet on his shirt. Mai sniffled, averting her gaze to the plush carpet beneath her.

L frowned again, thinking for a moment before unclasping the thin chain that was hanging around his neck. He hooked Mai's chin with his fingers, titling her head up to meet his stare. He held up the necklace with two fingers before gently fitting it around her neck.

Mai stood still for a moment, craning her neck down so she could see the necklace hanging loosely over her shirt. She cradled the charm in her hand, twirling it around her fingers.

L pointed at the small attached symbol. Mai followed his finger back to the charm hanging from her neck. She smiled, placing her hand over it and looking back up towards L. He returned her smile, ruffling her hair as he said one word in Japanese.

"Hope."

And that was Chapter 2!

As always, reviews are always welcome! :)