Authors Note: Forgive me for the delay. Finally, here is chapter three. Thank you for all the support and the comments I have been getting. I do hope you all continue to enjoy the story...with an extra twist I added.


Chapter Three - Negotiations

Takuya and the others didn't have to wait long for L to respond to them. Suddenly one of their computer screens flashed multiple times before a large 'L' showed up on the screen. A couple of the guys typed on the computers connecting the feeds. Soon, a scratchy voice could be heard from the other end.

"Hello T, I am L," he introduced. "We have carefully considered your offer and your demands. We will comply."

Takuya smirked as he folded his arms as he looked at the screen with satisfaction.

"Before we make things final," L continued. "I have a couple requests from you that I would like to go over. I want a video on Yagami Light at all times that is connected with my computer to see that he is alive and well; as well as a microphone to be set up so I can hear anything that will go on with where you are keeping him. We will send you a weekly feed of the progress of the Kira case in return of course. We will await your response," he added quickly before the screen went blank once more.

"Sir, what should we reply with?" one of the men at the desk asked as he turned to look at Takuya.

"We'll agree with their terms," Takuya said. "Set up a camera and a one way microphone in the kids' cell," he ordered. "I want them to be able to hear him," he added. He waited and watched as two men stood quickly to get the task he requested finished. "Get ready to hook up the connection again so we can reply to L."

- -- - -- - -- -

His jaw hurt and he knew it was going to bruise. Not even the cold concrete was a comfort to his swollen cheek. He shifted himself around trying to find a more comfortable position then the last. He hated feeling so vulnerable. None of the voiced had sounded familiar out in the room and he knew he needed to figure it out. He sighed softly rolling over onto his side when a familiar chuckle broke the silence.

"You're in deep shit now aren't you Light?" Ryuk asked as he looked down at the other with an amused grin.

"Ryuk," Light called. "Where were you?" he asked as he turned his head to where he assumed Ryuk was sitting.

"I was following some of the humans around," he said as if it was nothing. "They were too boring though so I decided to find you," he added with a chuckle as he looked down at the current state of the boy.

"Where are we?" Light asked in a slightly irritated voice.

"About 3 hours out of the city in some apartment complex," Ryuk answered simply as he bounced around the room. "Once more you are locked up and I am deprived of apples," he added.

Light was silent for a moment. "Three hours out?" Light asked himself as he shifted around a bit finding his position rather uncomfortable. "Which direction I wonder," he pondered. "Ryuk said we were in an apartment complex which doesn't narrow anything down as just about every city has apartment complexes. They wanted to blend in and not make it suspicious. Dammit."

"Forget about the apples Ryuk," Light snapped. "I'll give you all the apples you can ever possibly want if you help me out," he added shifting around again.

Ryuk chuckled before landing on the ground looking down at the male before him. "I suppose this could be entertaining," the Shinigami thought with a large grin, if that was even possible. "Fine," Ryuk finally said. "I'll stick around for a bit," he added as he reclined back in the air.

Light breathed a sigh of relief as the Shinigami complied with his request to help him. Light leaned back against the wall. He had to think things through, in his mind this was just like another game that needed to be played; a game he needed to win before they did.

"The Death Note is in my bag," Light commented. "I assume it is still in the van that they brought me in. I don't think they will be going through it though as they have what they wanted; me."

"What are you going to do about it?" Ryuk asked as he floated around the small room again.

Light shifted his position again trying to shrug off the blindfold with no luck before he finally spoke again. "I have criminals written in it for the next 20 days like I've always done," he explained to the Shinigami. "However Ryuzaki is sure to notice the pattern and see that something is wrong. Usually I write recent criminals down as well during the day to keep a low profile, however without me continuing to kill the recent criminals; he will point me out as a suspect again."

"Does Misa know you are in here?" Ryuk asked as he turned upside down as if walking on the ceiling.

"No," Light said shaking his head. "I want it to stay that way too," he sighed. "If she knew I was here she would be loud and obnoxious about it; as usual. However she does have her own Death Note and as long as she keeps killing off the criminals as well hopefully Ryuzaki won't see the break in the pattern."

He was silent again chewing his lower lip deep in thought. He was about to say something else when he heard the door being unlocked. He looked up at the sound remaining motionless as he heard the footsteps of two men walking inside. He waited for one of them to pick up to his feet, but was surprised when he heard them setting something down off to the side.

The two worked silently on whatever it was they were doing and minutes later Light heard them step back out of the room locking the door once more.

"What is it Ryuk?" he asked softly.

"It looks like a computer monitor with a small camera or something on top of it," the Shinigami explained as he cocked his head to the side moving closer to examine it more.

"Why would they bring a monitor in here?" Light wondered as he shifted again.

- -- - -- - -- -

L sat impatiently by the computer. Minutes ago they had received another message from T saying that he would comply with their request. He mindlessly placed sugar cubes in his tea not realizing that the cup was completely filled with sugar cubes already. Soichiro was pacing back and forth behind L deep in thought. The rest of the investigation team waited patiently for something to happen.

"I can't do this," Soichiro finally spoke up. "This is Light…my son," he choked out as if no one knew about it. "For him to be a ransom…to threaten his life if we don't catch Kira in time…" he stuttered out not able to form sentences. As if exhausted, he sat down in a chair beside L and ran his fingers through his hair.

Matsuda stood up and walked over to the Chief and placed his hand on the others shoulder.

"Don't worry Chief," he said in a soft voice. "We'll find Light and we'll bring him home safely."

"We can tell your wife that Light is going to be working with us instead of going home," Mogi said as he set down some files. "That was she won't worry."

Soichiro sighed and nodded softly. "I will call her tonight," he finally said.

L glanced over at Soichiro for a moment before the screen blipped for a moment. His obsidian eyes looked up at the screen as the video footage of Light in the room appeared on the screen. He typed in several things on his computer and made that footage the main screen while putting the files on the computers on either side of the main screen.

"They work fast," he commented softly as he stared up at Lights unmoving form. His hands still appeared to be bound behind his back. "We can now hear anything that will go on in that room while Light is kept there," he explained. "However I am afraid he won't be able to hear us. All contact with this T may have to be with another computer," he said as he looked back at the investigators for a moment. "We will have to connect them to one of the other computers."

Soichiro stared up at the screen at Light as he lay almost lifeless on the ground. He stood up, his body shaking slightly. "Light," he muttered softly. He looked away from the screen and towards the other detectives. "Let's continue the search for Kira," he instructed. "Before it's too late…"

- -- - -- - -- -

Light looked up again hearing the metal lock click again. The door swung open and several footsteps could be heard entering the room. He looked around blindly before hearing a large metal thud on the ground as something was placed in front of him.

"Well L, I hope this set up is convenient for you," T said as he looked towards the computer monitor.

Light looked around blindly once more. "Was Ryuzaki here? Did they find him already? He waited to hear the monotone voice of the detective but it never came. Soon he was lifted up again and the blindfold was removed.

Light blinked several times adjusting to his vision once more. Now able to see he looked around to what was in front of him and saw a computer monitor with a large T on it much like the 'L' Ryuzaki would use. On top of the monitor was a video camera which was pointing right at him.

He looked up trying to see the faces of those holding onto him but a stronger hand pushed his head down. His honey colored eyes finally stared at what was set down earlier; a giant tub of ice water. The men pushed him back onto his knees, his face hovering just inches from the water.

"Do forgive me, detective," T said finally as he grabbed hold of Light's hair roughly. "I am afraid I did not mention this part in the negotiations, however this is the only way I can ensure that you find Kira quickly before it is too late for poor Light here," he seethed running his free hand down Light's cheek.

Before Light could react or do anything else his head was submerged into the tub of ice water.