Ayame stretched lazily as she awoke with a yawn loud enough to disturb the cat at the foot of her bed. True to her daily routine she brushed out her hair, changed and ate a quick breakfast. And before heading out the door she stashed the black book in her schoolbag. Waving goodbye she raced off to school.
At the end of a thoroughly boring day she met up with her latest crush, Harry. Tau tagged along, not really interested in this girls love life and before long the taboo comes up and Ayame found herself talking about the death note again.
Harry's smile faltered for a moment. "Hey…what's up? You look worried."
Clasping her hands together she tried to stop her shaking. She knew she couldn't go it alone…she couldn't hold this secret in. In her heart she knew it could be disastrous to tell anyone – even Harry – about the death note. But…still…she was so lonely being the only one.
"Harry…don't be scared, but I have something I want to tell you."
He nodded, moving close to her. "Of course. You can tell me anything Ayame-chan."
With a smile she looked up into his caring blue eyes. He would understand.
Tau stood to the side. He loved the view…he'd waited long enough for it. He'd told her if she squealed to anyone about the death note that she'd be on her own. So let's see how well she fended for herself.
"It was only a matter of time. Ke. Ke. Ke." He whispered without it reaching Ayame's ears.
Moving back a little, she looked out at the sun as it began to set over the busy harbor. She'd never felt her heart pound so hard, not even when Harry had first told her he loved her. Ayame just had to take a chance.
"Harry…what if I told you that there is a book that can make people die? What if such a thing existed?"
Harry smiled, his eyes growing colder. "A book like that?" Despite his concerned façade he was elated inside. This was the confirmation he'd been waiting for. He couldn't help but think it was about damn time.
From behind a nearby building Samuel whispered into the hidden wire. "She's about to talk. I think this is it."
Tau's face split into a fierce grin. "KE KE KE!"
Ayame nodded to Harry, bracing herself for his reaction. "Yes…a Death Note. I'm sure it's what KIRA used to kill with." For a moment after her show of bravery she paused, then hung her head. "But Harry. I don't know what to do!"
Harry laughed. "You've done more than enough."
A shock raced through Samuel and Ayame as Harry continued to laugh. Tau was nearly shaking with anticipation. At first Ayame moved to Harry before backing away.
"W-what are – Harry? What do you mean?" She whispered, frightened.
With a sudden dash, Harry caught hold of her arm. Wrenching away she gave a startled yelp as she tumbled backwards. When Harry lunged again she rolled out of the way and raced off, her pursuer in tow.
Samuel chased them, calling into his headset as loud as he could without Harry or Ayame hearing him.
"He's trying to take the book!!
"Don't let him get that book Samuel!!"
She felt like she'd been running forever. It had to be a nightmare – she didn't feel like she was getting anywhere. Just running in place while Harry… her Harry gained ground. She trusted him! Was he lying all this time? He had to be. So it was all a trick then, he knew about the death note all along. It made sense now…
As she forced her aching body to move faster she approached a three way intersection, at the far side of which was an outdoor plaza.
Behind her Harry yelled into his phone. "Yeah! Huff! She's running right to you! Huff! You'll see her any minute!"
Samuel raced to keep up. "L! They're going to trap her!!
L drew blood, feeling the warmth of it from his thumb. Despite this he kept his eyes fixed on the window, allowing his mind to drift through all possible solutions. How would they move?
"I thought it might come to this. Use plan B – and whatever you do, do not let her get to that main square!"
Those in the room with him looked up, surprised at his harsh tone.
Glancing around L rose from his seat. "I'm going to need the police to hold a suspect, if we're not too late that is."
Ayame couldn't run anymore. She wanted to stop, it all hurt so much. Suddenly a white blur passed in front of her, blocking off the square. A man jumped out and quickly threw her into the back of the police car which speeded off as soon as its cargo was safely inside. Another wrestled her pursuer into the back, driving off in a separate direction with him. From his seat on a bench several yards away Yukio cursed to himself.
"Damn. What shitty luck. Even these Shinigami's eyes don't do me a damn bit of good!"
In the back of the police car Ayame struggles despite the best attempts of the officer next to her.
"Let me go! Let me out!! Arrgh!" Ayame raged. She knew that this was the end. If she was put in prison they'd find out about the book for sure! They'd know what she'd done! She couldn't let it end like this!
"Tau! Trade me!"
Tau laughed. "Gladly."
With a jolt the officer reached for the book, only receiving a kick to the chest. With her foot on his chest she pushed him back A few scribbles sealed his fate and seconds later he fell away, eyes wide and staring emptily into space. With her eyes she could see everything, even the driver. With her eyes she could see his face in the rearview mirror.
When she had been set free she ran off, not turning around even as she heard the lone gunshot.
L scowled at the report. "Only we know about this, correct?"
Near nodded. "Yes. The mafia will not know she's escaped yet unless they have been following the car."
"This is likely." L sighed, sucking absently on a sugar cube. Inside he was irritated by the polices refusal to heed his advice. Their deaths only proved that they didn't take his warning seriously. "Samuel, are you still in pursuit?"
"Yes. Do you want me to catch her?"
"No. Let's see where she goes." Looking over Nears shoulder he stayed silent for a while. As L seats himself again he continues his nibbling.
"Ayame will no doubt head for a friends house. She'll think the police are waiting for her at home. We'll send a car to sit outside the house – but there's no need for them to go in. The less her parents know right now the safer they will be. Which friend will she visit…Matsuda?
Matsuda jerked up to look at L. "Yes?!"
"Could you send an unmarked car to Suzume Yukishiro's home please? Take the proper precautions. I need you to have a swat team there when she arrives. Once Ayame is captured we'll take the family to a new location for safekeeping."
Nodding, Matsuda took off, leaving the others wondering what they would do.
"Lidner. Gevanni. I want you to review the tapes from the square. We're looking for anyone with a clear line of sight to Ayame who might have reacted suspiciously. Mogi. As for you I'd like you to debrief the returning officers. Find out what they know."
As she rose from her seat Lidner glanced back at L. "You're not going to set up an interrogation for the suspect in custody?"
Near looked over his shoulder at her. "It's unlikely he'll still be alive. The police have been instructed to question him on the way in. That's why we're having Mogi debrief them. As they all moved to their respective position Gevanni cast an admiring look at the two detectives. Without even speaking they had both come up with plans that worked together. Or maybe, he thought, they both had the same plan all along. Either way those two were unique.
Why was it happening like this? It wasn't fair! Wait-
"Suzume?! Oh god! Suzume!!"
The girl across the street looked up, searching for the sound of her name. When she saw Ayame come running toward her she started to wave before noticing the severe look on her friends face.
"Ayame? What are you doing here? You look awful- what happened?"
On the verge of tears Ayame clutched onto her friend. "I'm sorry! I should have told you…he was a fake."
"Who was a fake? You're not making sense!"
Composing herself, Ayame looked up at Suzume. "Can we go to your house? I can't go home now."
After a moment Suzume nodded. "Sure."
It took a few minutes for them to make their way to the nearest train station. Once inside they headed for a bathroom, Ayame making sure to check if she was being followed. Samuel; knowing she was on alert, stayed back. He couldn't afford to be seen. But while watching the bathrooms only exit he noticed a man, a somber looking businessman sitting on a bench facing it. A man whose eyes never truly left the doorway.
Adjusting the wire with a subtle flick he whispered into it.
"L…I think I found the holder of a death note. He's waiting for them to come out of the bathrooms."
"Is there any way you can stop him?"
"I'll try."
From behind a voice rumbled to Samuel. "Try what?" The solid point of a gun pushed into his back. "Move and I'll shoot you."
"Right." Samuel nodded, feeling sweat gathering on the back of his neck. "If you say so I won't move a muscle."
L jerked in his chair. Near gave him a quick glance. "-L."
"I know." The older detective replied. In his mind he ran the information again. The holders of a death note were waiting for Ayame to come out of the bathroom. They'd kill her as soon as she did. Someone was keeping Samuel from moving. "Get me a live feed from Shinjuku station now!"
Samuel glanced behind him. "If you want my money you can have it. I just want to get on my train home."
The mobster looked him over. "So where's your ticket?"
"You got to me before I could buy it. Please, I don't know what this is about but I just want to get on the 6:45. I live east of here and it's quite a trip."
L felt a spike of excitement. He could only think good work Samuel.
In the bathroom the girls stood close together, voices hushed. Tau watched with quiet amusement as Ayame handed the black book to Suzume. At first she seemed to be confused, not taking her eyes off of the book. But when she raised her head her eyes fell on the shinigami, widening in fear.
"Some bad guys are after this Suzume." Ayame whispered, voice shaking. "They'll kill me for it!"
Coming to terms with the monster in front of her and the strange situation in which she found herself Suzume shook her head. "Ayame. You should turn yourself in."
Horrified, Ayame looked at her oldest friend. "What?! How can you say that? You're my friend aren't you?"
"Ayame. I'm not blind. Those girls in class C…it was you wasn't it? How could you? Did you think about their parents?"
Backing away, Ayame gritted her teeth, eyes flashing. "You want me to die…that's it…
Suzume swallowed hard, knowing she was tempting fate. But she couldn't live knowing she didn't try to stop this. "I don't want anything to do with this!"
Turning quickly Suzume ran from the bathroom, fighting back tears.
Yukio's eyes landed on the girl as she stormed out. The misty red numbers and letters flew into his mind and he began to write the name in black ink. Inside the bathroom Ayame shivered with anger.
"If you won't help me then just die already!"
Samuel felt a cold chill as he watched the man write. The girl was going to die, without even knowing what hit her. He was going to watch an innocent person die…
But the seconds ticked away. The girl bought her ticket and stood on the platform, pacing and biting her nails as if she expected to fall over dead at any moment.
And nothing happened.
Quickly rising, Yukio focused on the girl. It couldn't be that she had cheated death.
"It …didn't work!" He hissed to himself.
Ayame turned the corner of the bathroom, skidding to a stop. She'd expected to hear the screams. She'd heard nothing.
"No way!" She exclaimed.
Tau laughed as he hovered over her shoulder. "Oh Sorry…forgot to mention that. Ke Ke Ke."
Running toward Suzume, Ayame called out to her and drawing unwanted attention. It was Yukio who caught sight of her.
That was the right girl. It was her, he confirmed.
"Another girl." The mobster behind Samuel wondered. "But it didn't work."
Looking back at his captor Samuel saw that the man wasn't focused on him at the moment. Moving slightly out of the guns path he quickly threw an elbow into the gangsters neck. As the man grabbed for his throat he dropped his gun, which Samuel quickly snatched before running off in the direction of the death note holder.
Ayame halted mid-stride, just as her friend turned - one hand to her chest. Suzume's eyes grew wide as she saw the man behind her friend, cold eyes now focused on her. Suddenly the man was thrown to the ground by an impact from behind. Samuel rolled twice before climbing onto his knees and lunging for the death note. A well aimed kick sent him sprawling as Yukio rolled over.
"Who the hell are you!!" Yukio snarled, jumping for the book. In the last moment Samuel aimed the gun at the other man. He didn't want to shoot but if it came down to shooting or letting the mafia have a death note his choice was obvious. With an almost feral snarl Yukio raced off, pushing aside bystanders as he made his retreat - leaving both books behind.
When Samuel looked back he could see Suzume clutching her friend, tears running down her cheeks. So he hadn't been able to stop a death after all. The fact that the dead was a former owner of a death note gave him no comfort.
She was no doubt responsible for someones death thought, he reasoned. If she had lived she would have been executed anyway.
Numbly, Samuel took hold of Ayame's death note. He couldn't stop her death – even though he tried. A snicker made him look up, angry. Who would laugh at a time like this? Towering above him, pale and gruesome was a wide eyed face. Samuel jumped, and then looked around. Only he could see it.
As the security guards converged on the scene he watched the shinigami cackle madly.
"Hey, human…not bad at all."