Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, xxxHolic or any of their associated characters or fictional locations.
Nathan frowned, the coarse fabric of blindfold making his eyelids itch. Oh come on, you can do better than that, he internally mocked. I didn't build an underground empire of the supernatural by the age of seventeen by being stupid. "How is that relevant to my information?" He snapped.
There was silence for a second before the computer generated voice of L met his ears. "If you have survived Kira then you may hold some key to defeating him, thus it is relevant."
Nathan thought quickly. "Whether or not I am Nathan L. Times or an impostor is irrelevant. I will not confirm or deny either possibility. However I do posses information about Kira and am willing to work with you to lead to his capture. My identity and motives for this are irrelevant."
The computerised voice was silent for another moment. "I believe that it is relevant, after all if you did survive Kira then his powers will not work on everyone. Please tell me how you survived Kira Mr Times."
"No." Said Nathan without hesitation.
"Please be aware that I am willing to do whatever it takes to find out Mr Times." Said the computerised voice without any change of tone, as though they were discussing the weather.
Nathan smirked internally. I win. "But we both know that information gained through... certain means is unreliable at best. I could be telling you anything just to save myself anymore pain. The information would be useless in this context. The only way to benefit from my presence is if I work with you willingly and since you were willing to go to certain measures..." he allowed his voice to trail for a moment. "To find out my information it proves to me that my information, and my aid, is valuable to you, therefore I can place my own terms upon any association we might enter to track down Kira. These terms are that you do not question my motives or how I survived, agreed?" If he threatens to broadcast my name and face as a criminal's again and I survive we'll be be back here again. And if I don't then he will have lost a potential source of knowledge, since he even considered my information that means I must have confirmed something he already knew, thus proving my information was true. Even if I was lying about being Nathan L. Times I may still have vital information. He has nothing to lose by accepting my help and everything to gain.
There was a slight crackle as the future in the other side of the microphone shifted. "... Very well. But if we are to work together you must agree to follow my orders without fail."
Nathan frowned. "...I agree but you agree to inform me of the reasoning behind every order. If I find out that you are attempting to use me as pawn then you can forget about any aid I might give you in the future."
"Agreed." Said the voice. "As show of good faith you may now remove your blindfold Mr Times."
Nathan practically ripped of the the blindfold in his haste, for a second his eyes were useless as they adjusted to the sudden change in lighting. Then the shadows and lights took form and he assessed his surroundings. He was in a concrete room, most likely a cellar. Beside him was a weathered old man in a suit- Watari he guessed. In front of him was a camera with a blinking red light.
"I assume we'll be meeting in person soon?" Asked Nathan warily.
"Of course, Watari will guide you up to my room immediately." The older man to his right stood up from his and started towards the door. "I believe that we have much to talk about Mr Times..."
*****
Ryuk grinned as he flew across the human world. After days of being unable to cross between the worlds the portals had suddenly opened again. Now he could find that Light boy and meet him face to face at last.
His grin widened a few centimetres; he had always loved the expressions humans had put on after seeing him for the first time. It was like their own mothers had just disowned them. Not that Ryuk would know about that.
Little did Ryuk know however was that the reason why he had been able to cross over was due to something that would lead to even more 'entertainment' for him in the very near future...
*****
Nathan gasped as a there was sudden stabbing in the centre of his forehead, he fell to the floor, his senses overwhelmed by sudden inescapable agony.
"Mr Times?" Came L's voice from the behind the hotel bathroom door. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes," Nathan gasped out. The pain in his head resending to a dull ache. He glanced at the ring on his left ring finger, the tiny rotations that had defined the ruby had now ceased. He did what he did best and began thinking, the ruby, symbol of the rings powers, has ceased it's movements. In turn I suffered an intense pain, since I and the ring are most likely bonded through magic to prevent anybody who hasn't paid the price for dimension travelling powers gaining them through stealing the ring the pain and the lack of movement may be linked. He frowned, the ring was rotating because it was unable to move past this dimension due to that note-book. However it still was abel to attempt to... but now that is no longer able to move it can be assumed that it's powers have been completely subdued as opposed to merely blocked by the note-book as before.
He suddenly broke out in a cold sweat as he completed his train of thought, but if one note-book wasn't enough to completely suppress the ring then there must be another force aiding it, since the ring was unable to move it proves that dimension travellers can't be the culprits, they would have been blocked by the note-book as well. Furthermore there are no other signs of any other objects besides the note-book being able to block dimension powers in this universe that means that the only other possibility is that another note-book exists and is completely subduing the power of the ring... and if there is another note-book then... Nathan practically threw himself out of the bathroom, almost falling over twice in his haste to reach the door and get off the floor at the same time.
"Ryuzaki!" He gasped out as he finally threw opened the door.
L's features flickered into a rare display of surprise before returning to it's usual deadpan expression. "Yes Mr Times? You seem... excited."
"Ryuzaki, there... "He gasped for breath, but halted as he was about to speak. Wait… why should I tell him, for all I know this new Kira could be a potential ally, and besides if Ryuzaki is as good as they claim he is then he'll find out soon enough, and if I tell him that there could be another Kira then he'll ask how I know about them, and there's no telling what Ryuzaki will do if he finds out about the ring...
"Yes Mr Times?" Asked L, his tone betraying no trace of curiosity or interest.
"… Never mind," said Nathan. "I realised I've left my umbrella behind, it's an heirloom from the nineteenth centaury, but I just remembered that Watari took it along with me."
"… I would hardly have guessed that you were the type to become hysterical over an umbrella Mr Times." Remarked L, a faint condescending tone to his voice. "Do try to keep your outbursts to a minimum in the future." With that L turned away and started towards his computer, and the tray of sweets next to it. "Now, could you please once again recount how you saw this notebook fall from the sky?"
Author's Note: Argh, sorry about the delay people, I promise there will be a new chapter up soon but I hit a major writer's block with this story so I had to change a few things. I'll try to get the next chapter up by Sunday.