A/N: So here's the next chapter. I've been trying to move the story along because I've been delaying the whole l and Light meeting, but it's not really my fault. Like 3 months go by in the Kira case before L even puts Light under surveillance! It sucks! So next chapter L and Light will finally meet and all the fun can begin ;)

Also feel free to ask me questions about stuff you don't understand.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death or its characters.


Chapter 4

12-09-03

"As per L's request, the time frame for the deaths were Monday through Friday the deaths occurred between 4 pm and 2 am and between 11 am and 12 am on weekends and holidays."

L watched through his computer as various detectives gave their reports. Though he had proven that Kira was in the Kanto region of Japan, he still had to give evidence for his current theories. L listened to the detectives in charge of the general public give their report with only a small amount of interest.

"In the past few days, criminal activity around the world and especially in Japan has decreased."

L blinked at that one and looked at the detective that was currently standing up. L thought for a moment before coming up with the name: Touta Matsuda. L didn't think that he could be a problem, but he still made a note to keep an eye on him. In a case like this, anyone could be a suspect.

"I think that's all. Would you like to add something L?" L looked toward the man speaking. It was the chief, Soichiro Yagami.

"Yes before I leave, I would like the victim's unit, the media unit, and the internet unit to examine the information reported on the victims," L said into the microphone. If his hunch was correct, and it always was, then the police would soon have a reason to doubt Kira's all powerful "gift."


"Oh dad's home," Sayu said as she rushed from her seat next to Light.

"Hey what about these problems?" Light shouted at Sayu's disappearing form, but all he got was a "Sorry Oniisan!"

Light sighed at his sister's hyper attitude. Though Light was also happy to see his dad home, Light first organized the pile of books and papers on his desk, then made his way quietly downstairs where his dad was being greeted by his mother and sister.

"Welcome home dad," Light said, a small smile on his face.

Before his dad could reply, Light's mother called the family over for dinner. When they were all seated and eating, Light could feel the tension coming from his father.

"Is everything alright dad? You look really tired," Light said, trying to speak in a soft tone.

"It's just the case," Soichiro said putting his food down, "the big boss thinks it could be a student."

A student? Now that I think about, I saw the recorded time period in dad's computer. It does seem awfully like the time table of a student. That's really clever. I didn't think a lot about the times of the deaths. Looks like I'll have to work a little harder to try and beat L.

Because of Light's competitive personality he couldn't help feel like he was in a race with L to find out who Kira was. Light knew that it wasn't a really serious competition. L had numerous resources and Light was still a high school student, but he still felt like it would be really good practice for the future.


"So L suspects a student? How predictable," Kira laughed under his breath as he read over Kooji's shoulder. Maeda Kooji had turned out to be very useful. After a few hours he had successfully broken into the police data base.

Kira turned away from the computer and the hacker who sat completely still, a blank look on his face. Kira grimaced as Ryuk laughed.

"Looks like L is getting closer," Ryuk said, hovering near the computer.

"No Ryuk," Kira said, easily keeping his cool, "L is doing exactly what I want him to. Up until now I haven't really been using the Death Note. Sure I've written hundreds of names, but I haven't done anything else."

Kira walked over to the table where the Death Note sat, picking it up and opening it to a new page, "If you write "heart attack" for the cause of death, then you still have 6 minutes and 40 seconds to write any other details. Meaning I can change the time of death. Not only that, when L sees that Kira is disproving the "student" theory, he will have to assume that there could be a leak in the police. What other explanation could there be for Kira changing his killings right after they come up with their new theory."

"Seems awfully complicated," Ryuk said, sounding amused.

"In war one must use every resource," Kira said simply, turning back toward his personal slave. "Now then Kooji, I want you to do one more thing for me…"


12-10-03

Light stared out the window of his Math class, once again, bored out of his mind. Thoughts of the Kira case still swirled in his head. The rate the investigation was going, there was bound to be a road block anytime now. Sure L had proven the killer was in the Kanto region of Japan, and it was looking like Kira was a student, but once the police narrowed it down that far, there wasn't much that someone, even L, could get any closer to Kira's identity. What the investigation needed was a change. A change in pattern of the killings, a change in who was killed, pretty much anything that could be used to find out more about Kira's identity.

Where are you Kira?


Kira watched his obsession who looked bored as he stared out the window, eyebrows furrowed as if in deep thought. Kira couldn't help but admire how the sun shined on his hair, making it look golden and his cinnamon eyes caught the light, making them sparkle. Yes everything about his obsession screamed "light." Kira smiled as he found amusement in his own pun. Yes, soon the world would be as perfect as his obsession was; soon Light Yagami would be his.


12-11-03

"Another 23 killings?" Soichiro exclaimed.

L sat, watching the various detectives rant about the recent change in killings. It seemed Kira was killing 1 criminal every hour, on the hour and had been doing so for the last 2 days.

"That's not it!" L finally said, after one of the detectives said that the recent change got rid of the student theory. "It's too coincidental! Kira is telling us that he can control when he kills his victims."

L only half listened to the detectives' murmurs; instead he was furiously going over the new development.

Kira wants me to know that he has a way to obtain police information! Is there a spy in the task force?

Finally after consideration, he began to compose an email to the Director of the FBI. In the email he requested that a number of FBI agents be sent to Japan. L would use them to investigate the detectives working on the case and their families.

There is a 40% chance that one of those people is Kira. Let's see shall we?


12-12-03

Light sat silently, eating his lunch. He was eating with his "friends" but he wasn't really listening to what they were saying, he was too busy thinking about the change in killings. Kira was sending a message and Light knew that L would see it. Kira had insider information, and that in itself was disturbing.

"Yagami-kun are you okay?"

Light looked up into the faces of one of his friends. His name was Kiyoshi Nakamura and he was one of Light's more intelligent friends.

"I'm fine Nakamura-kun, just thinking," Light gave him one of his fake smiles. He was very good at those.

Most of Light's friends thought he was just quiet naturally, but the truth was he didn't want to talk to any of them, not even Nakamura. Light could describe Nakamura as…eager. He was always asking Light questions and showering him with compliments. Often times it got annoying, but Nakamura was pretty smart and sometimes he was the only decent conversation around, though he wasn't at all enough for Light.

Light finished eating and told his friends goodbye, meaning to go to the library before lunch ended. As he walked away he felt a shiver go through him and discreetly turned his head enough to see behind him. Nakamura was watching him leave, his eyes intent on Light leaving figure. Light hurried around the corner, just a little creeped out. Light hoped that Nakamura's staring was a onetime thing. The last thing he needed was a stalker.


12-18-03

Kira watched from his usual hiding place as Light walked the familiar path home. Ryuk hovered behind him and Kira frowned as he began to laugh.

"What so funny Ryuk?" Kira asked, annoyed at the distracting shinigami.

"Well it looks like you're not the only one following Light Yagami," Ryuk said, still laughing.

Kira quickly turned back to watch Light and saw that Ryuk was right. About 500 feet back from where Light was walking; a man in a dark coat carefully followed him, keeping out of sight.

Kira narrowed his eyes dangerously, the man didn't seem to be approaching Light, but that didn't mean that he wasn't a threat. Kira had to get rid of this dark stranger, but how? Kira turned around and began to walk briskly down the alley that he had just been standing in. As he walked home, he was furiously thinking of a way to get the man's id or even wallet. Kira paused in his walking, eyes wide as a plan came to him. He would have to use another criminal, this time one with more meager skills. Kira begun to find the flaws in his plan, searching for any weak points.

"I'll have to run some tests, all the while keeping L busy enough to keep him off my trail," Kira muttered to himself, opening the front door to his house.

"Kiyoshi you're home! I was getting worried that you were out so late."

Of course mother," Kiyoshi, otherwise known as Kira, smiled at his mother, "I'll be going to my room now, I have a few things to do."


12-19-03

"L, 6 new criminals have died," Watari's voice came from the laptop, seeming loud in the otherwise empty room, "3 of them acted strangely before they died."

"Acted strangely how?" L asked, sitting down in front of the computer, examining the pictures that appeared on the screen.

"Well one wrote a confusing suicide note, and another one drew a pentagram on the wall will his own blood. The final one ran to the bathroom before dying from a heart attack," Watari said, he voice slightly crackling as it passed through the speakers.

L stared at the pictures a moment longer before addressing the chief, "chief, please do not announce these victims as anything other than "dead of heart attack." I believe that Kira is performing tests."

L left the detectives to their own devices, instead opting on examining the pictures more closely. Suddenly he saw it! On the note, the first words on each line spelled out: "L, do you know"

'L, do you know?' What could Kira be trying to tell me, or is this some kind of diversion? I'll have to be careful. Kira wouldn't leave something hanging like this, so I'll have to be on the lookout for any more "random" notes.


"Heh," Kiyoshi laughed, looking at his test results, "Such interesting data. With this I can surely get the name of the man following Light."

"You know," Ryuk said, "There is another way to get his name."

"Oh?" Kiyoshi was intrigued "And what might that be?"

"You could always make…the deal," Ryuk replied, chuckling at Kiyoshi's confused expression. "The main difference between a shinigami and a human is their eyes. With a shinigami's eyes, you can see a person's name and lifespan above their head. And owners of a Death Note can make a trade with the shinigami possessing them; half their remaining life span, for the shinigami eyes."

"Half of my remaining life span?" Kiyoshi asked, stunned at the power that the eyes could bring. He tilted his head down, hair covering his eyes as he thought it over.

With the eyes I could be invincible, but half of my remaining lifespan? That seems like a large price to pay, and not only that, I'll have less time to rule with Light at my side. Any way I look at it, the shinigami eyes isn't worth half of my remaining lifespan.

"Sorry Ryuk," Kiyoshi said, finally coming to a decision, "I'll do things my own way."

Ryuk merely shrugged, unconcerned and went back to floating around the room.

Now back to business…Imai Ayaka…he'll do just fine. Light should be going to space land Yuri on Saturday. A crowded place like that would be perfect for what I have in mind.

"Soon Light, soon you will be free of all annoyances," Kiyoshi said, laughing as he looked at the picture of Imai Ayaka.


12-20-03

Imai Ayaka was in an optimistic mood. As a pickpocket, a very good pickpocket, he knew the best places to pick some pockets was in crowed areas. So a place like space land was a perfect spot to rack up some dough.

Pick pocketing had its thrills but when you were as good as Imai was, you got bored with it. So today, Imai was going to do something challenging. Imai looked around scanning the crowd and finally saw a good target, a man in a trench coat, walking just about 100 feet in front of him. His target spotted, Imai went through all his procedures, and finally when the man was right I front of him, he "accidently" bumped into him.

"Sorry," Imai said, keeping his face clear except for an apologetic look. Inwardly he was smiling, clenching his hand around his prize. His goal met for today, Imai headed for the exit, intent on taking his spoils and getting out of here as fast as possible. But just as he was crossing the street, he felt the wallet he had just stolen, fall to the ground. Imai turned to pick it up, but before he could, he heard a loud noise. Lifting his head, planning on searching for the noise, but all he saw was a bright light and then, nothing.


Kiyoshi smiled, picking up the wallet that Imai had dropped and walking away slowly, as to not draw attention. Kiyoshi looked down at the wallet in his hand and opened it, eager to find out who the man stalking Light was.

Raye Penber? Sounds American. I'll have my handy-dandy hacker look him up for me. Your days are numbered Raye Penber.


"FBI?" Kiyoshi stood there, staring at the screen in front of him, curious as to why an FBI agent was trailing his Light.

Why would the FBI be trailing Light? It doesn't make sense…unless! I knew this would happen! Because I have my hacker, L now thinks there's a leak in the police, so he must have called for the FBI to investigate the police members and their families. If I kill Raye Penber now while he's trailing Light, then Light will be implicated, I'll have to come up with some other way to get him out of the way, while also getting rid f the other FBI agents at the same time…

"Get me more information on Raye Penber," Kiyoshi told Kooji, who was still under Kiyoshi's control.

Kiyoshi examined the new information.

Finance? Naomi Misora…worked with L!...retired FBI...

"She could be a problem," Kiyoshi finally said, trying to decide a course of action.


12-27-03

"Farewell, Raye Penber," Kiyoshi said smiling at the struggling FBI agent.

As the train began to leave, Kiyoshi sat down, smiling at the envelope that Raye had just been writing on.

Thank Raye Penber; you did exactly what I needed you to do. You saw the pictures and you wrote the names, I didn't have to lift a finger.


"L, all of the FBI agents I sent to Japan…have been killed by Kira."

"What?" L exclaimed, "Did any of them know the other agents' faces.

"They all requested the file of all the other agents, and in turn, they all received an email from me with the list of names and faces," the director sounded defeated.

"Kira must have gotten the list from one of the agents and used it to kill the others!" L said, trying to calm down the Director.

"L…I'm pulling out of the investigation. Americans have suffered too much at the hands of Kira," the Director finally said, "The chief of the Japanese Force is calling. I will be informing them of our involvement on your behalf. Goodbye L."


"So what's with the family meeting dad?" Sayu asked.

"Well…" Soichiro began, "12 FBI agents that were sent to Japan, were killed by Kira. I plan to keep working to catch Kira, but my life is at risk."

"You can't work to catch Kira then!" Sayu exclaimed, "I don't want you die!"

Light sat in stunned silence, taking in the words of his father.

FBI agents? Kira has crossed the line this time! Those agents were innocents. Kira is finally showing his true colors.

"I'm proud of you dad." Light said looking at his father, "if it were me I'd do the same thing."

Light stood up, intent on examining the new evidence in his room, "And if you do get killed, I'll make sure Kira is brought to justice!"


12-28-03

L stood in silence, thinking over the new information.

At one point Kira must have known about the FBI. He could have…

Suddenly, he was interrupted by Watari, "L, Kira left another note."

L looked at the note. The first two had spelled out: "L do you know shinigami…"

"Love apples…" L muttered under his breath then stood as anger coursed through his veins.

Damn you Kira! You may have bested me this time, but you've made a mistake. There is no other way you could have found out about the FBI agents unless you came into contact with at least one of them. Once I find that agent, it's only a matter of time before I find you. I will see you executed Kira!


12-30-03

"Now just one more thing to take care of," Kiyoshi said, opening his Death Note.

On it, he wrote the following entry:

Naomi Misora: Cause of Death- Suicide

Distraught over her husband's death, she is unable to go on. She commits suicide in a secret place so as to not trouble anyone.

"Sorry Naomi, you could've been a real pain if I let you be," Kiyoshi said, smiling eerily down at the page, before turning to look out the window, "Oh Light, don't worry. The world will soon be free of filth."


12-31-03

"So this is all that's left? No I shouldn't think like that. I'm glad so many of you decided to stay," Soichiro sighed as he surveyed what was left of the once large Task Force. Only Matsuda, Mogi, Ide, Aizawa, and Ukita remained.

"All you with such a strong conviction, I trust," L's distorted voice came from the back of the room.

"Yeah? Well we don't trust you," Aizawa spoke, turning to look at the computer.


L watched in silence as the detectives spoke against him, laying all their doubts and suspicions n the table. L knew that one day the day would come that he would have to reveal his face, he just hoped it wouldn't be on the this case.

"Earlier I said that I only trust you," L finally spoke as Ide demanded he come to the station and work with them, "Watari, if you would please?"

Watari turned the computer around and L began to type.

What happens from now on must be kept between the eight of us. Very soon I'm thinking of meeting you six, whom I trust. None of you will mention a word of our meetings or the things mentioned in it. This includes, or course, your family, friends, and the rest of the police. Leave and consider whether or not you can promise me the above and put your faith in me. I'll set up the meeting when those who have decided they can trust me and work with return to this room.

As L finished typing, he watched as the detectives filed out of the room, all of them having contemplative looks on their faces. L hoped that most of them would stay but there was a 60% chance that either Ide or Aizawa would leave. They were the two that seemed to distrust L the most.

L looked up when he heard the doors open and counted the heads once more. It seemed Ide couldn't trust him. Oh well, one less person to know the identity of L. L began to type again, telling the detectives that they could find him at the Teito hotel, and that now, the police office would merely be the headquarters in name only. He told them to come to the hotel in groups of 2, before midnight and that they could get the room number from Watari. Finally he was finished, and Watari closed the laptop, sending the room L was in, into darkness, the only light being from his laptop.

L walked over and began to turn on the lights. While he may feel comfortable in darkness, normal people would find it discomforting. L looked around his hotel room, searching for anything that he wouldn't want the task force to see. Satisfied with his examination, L turned to look out the window, watching the city below.

Where are you Kira?

L began to pace, the severity of the situation finally reaching him. For the first time, he was going to show his face to someone other than Watari. He could predict some possible reactions they might have. One reaction is that wouldn't believe that he was actually L. Another reaction might be surprise at L's appearance. The later seemed most likely, as for the former L would have to prove to them with reasoning that he was actually the famous detective L.

Knock, knock

L turned to look at the door that was the only thing standing between him and the end of his secret identity. In a few seconds, there would be 6 people who know L's face.

"You can come in, I've been expecting you," L called, standing in his usual slumped position.

Slowly the door opened and in walked the new task force, led by Soichiro Yagami. For a minute they just stood there and L could see their eyes widen as they took in his appearance. L knew he wasn't the best looking person but it still sometimes hurt that people would look at him like he was a freak. L also knew that at first glance, they never saw anything except the way that he looked. This time was no exception.

L watched silently as they finished their examination s and doubt was in their eyes as they began to introduce themselves.

"Bang!" L pointed an invisible gun at the men who had so foolishly given their really names to a complete stranger. "If I was Kira, then you'd all be dead."

They stood stunned and L continued, "As you all may know, Kira needs a name and a face to kill. We are the only ones left pursuing Kira, please be more careful with your names. You must be more cautious. Now let's get right down to business, please put your cell phones and laptops down on the table and come this way please." L said, turning away from the task force as he sat down on a chair in the "living room" area of the hotel.

"Does L think we'll broadcast this meeting or something?" Aizawa asked under his breath.

"No, nothing like that," L said, getting comfortable, "I just can't stand it when cell phones go off when I'm talking. Now please take a seat."

"If Kira needs a face and a name to kill, why don't we just not broadcast the names and faces of the criminals we arrest?" Matsuda asked and L sighed.

"Because Kira is childish and hates to lose. If we do not broadcast criminals, then he will begin to kill innocents. When I challenged Kira, he killed "me" without a moment's thought, and when I revealed he was in Japan, he began to kill in a more concentrated as if to say, 'So what are you going to

about it?'" L said, fidgeting with his tea, adding sugar. "also, one more thing, please do not call me L. for now refer to me as 'Ryuuzaki.'"

The men looked at L with stunned looks and once again, L began to talk, suggesting a course of action that would help the investigation.

"We can't use the media to censor the names or faces of criminals, but let's use them another way. If we broadcast something like this: 'The United States is furious at murders of FBI agents. In retaliation, the United Nations has sent 1500 investigators to Japan to assist in capture of Kira.' That way, Kira begins to suspect everyone as a potential enemy and it will cause Kira plenty of mental distress."

L listened to the men as they complimented his plan and began to plan and theorize about what Kira would do. The task force seemed motivated and ready to begin working. L continued to talk, telling the task force his theories and of course, the most important fact of all, in between the 14th and the 19th, Kira became aware of the FBI agents' presence.

"I've compiled a list of all the people investigated in the first 5 days," L said, handing them a pile of papers.

Again, L silently watched as they became overjoyed with reduced amount of work that had to be done in order to catch Kira.

"Ryuuzaki," Soichiro began and everyone quieted down to hear what he had to say, "You said you're a sore loser. Does this meeting mean that you've lost?"

"Yes this meeting and the deaths of the 12 FBI agents are all loses, but I will win in the end. And justice will prevail." At the end L smiled and he could see the men sit shocked at the expression before chorusing with similar statements."Now, I'll need to double check with each of you individually to make sure Kira is not among us.

L walked over to the window, thinking deeply.

I just need one more clue…just one is enough…


A/N: Alright who didn't see that coming? I mean Light is like the perfect person to be stalked. All of you didn't stand a chance guessing who Kira was. Sorry for the trick. And also sorry about the crappy ending parts, I got tired of writing and when I get tired of writing, it suffers. About Kiyoshi, he is an OC. I had to make a character that had Light's ideals and could come to the same conclusions as Light did when he was Kira. The two criminals: the hacker and the pick pocket are also made up. I just picked random Japanese names. I was getting anxious to get the where L and Light meet so sorry if you think I skipped a lot. Next chapter I'll be sure to get to where L begins to suspect Light and hopefully to where Light meets L. Sorry about killing Naomi early, but I didn't have any other choice. Kiyoshi wouldn't have any reason to go to the police station, so I had to make him paranoid. Please tell me if you don't understand anything. I now a LOT happened in this chapter. Oh and I just noticed, Light isn't really in this chapter, it's mostly L and Kira. He'll be back in the next chapter. I hoped you enjoyed this. PLEASE REVIEW!