AN: This chapter is subdivided into 4 parts if i get at least 5 comments, i'll continue and update sooner. This is actually a rewritten version of the chapter with regards to the end, sorry about the change... This is dedicated especially to Neo-Kira and nekolover11 enjoy.

Chapter 4: Pride

THE PROTEGEE

"This note shall become the Property of the human world once it touches the ground of and arrives in the human world…"

"…Did you understand what I just reported?" Mr. Aizawa, the new chief conversed once again with Near in the transmitter. Again, he aimed for him to accept the invitation. "Near?"

The silver haired boy of 20's was still residing in the orphanage. His lowly it room which displayed the dance of his shadows was nothing new, of course, there was one thing…

"Wakarimasen… I'll think about it… Dewa…" he ended their talk, still leaving Aizawa in the air.

"What do you think I should do?" He turned to his bedside, where he sat oddly and stacked dices on top of each other.

…He now had a roommate…

He asked the apparition once again, "Can you help me?"

The stacks of dice that formed a tower suddenly fell apart as a cold breeze enveloped the room of Near.

His eyes widened along with his smile in amazement, "Go on…" he jumped off his bed and crouched down the floor as he watched the scattered dice moving on its own and forming letters.

He twirled his hair and brushed his fingers on the message that the figure provided for him with the dice, "if you say so, Mr. ghost…" he grinned.

The door screeched as Roger let himself in, he peered upon Near who was the only thing visible, "N? What are you…?" He turned the lights on and his eyes jolted at the sight of the moving dice.

Thump! He fell on his back.

"What the?!" he switched to look at Near.

"Roger-san, please don't be frightened…" he stretched out a hand as if, he were reaching for something, "He's my friend you see?"

"I don't! What the hell is going on here?" He settled himself up. And drew closer to Near. "What is??"

Beep beep beep! His laptop sounded in alarm.

"Near! It's Aizawa, I'm afraid that this case is no longer a matter of choice for you…"

"Hm?" near turned to the monitor.

Aizawa's face was filled with angst as he massaged his temple, "Just look at the image that we've recovered…"

Roger and Near were momentarily silenced at what they saw… Slowly Near picked up all the dice and tucked them in his arms, he gave out no response to Aizawa yet and instead, he just made eye contact with Roger.

Aizawa gave out a deep sigh, "Please… your answer?"

Roger nodded, shifted gaze, "We accept, we shall gather the SPK regarding this matter…"

"Thank you…"

"Mr. Aizawa…" Near's tone rose.

"Yes?"

"Regarding the issue about the torn page, please do not inform the public and other police staff unaware of the note's existence…"

"Of course…"

"And also, with the exemption of the note that the bandaged Shinigami took back, are the other 2 in your possession?"

"Yes, they are still contained. I've yet to order for its disposal since it is still being thoroughly investigated."

"Well then…" He twirled his hair and etched a serious face. "Roger-san,"

"Yes?"

"Please contact Giovanni and tell him to pick me up. We're flying to Japan."

He sighed in disagreement, "Are you sure that you are needed in this case? Information may have leaked and this could all just be a ruse."

Near took placed 2 dice in his palm and clenched them, he then shook it and positioned his throw towards the 6 toy passengers that he played with 3 days ago, "It doesn't matter, this is merely just a gamble… tell you what if both comes out even, I'll stay, is that fine?"

"Oi! This is not a gam-"

Click!

"As a matter of fact it is..."

"And what exactly are you putting on the line?"

The dice rolled and near walked towards them to look at the results, "Hm?" Roger followed suit. "What is it?"

The gust of wind made force once more. Click! And knocked aside the dice that Near threw.

Near's face grew wide in astonishment, "Hehe, this is what you want me to do, ne ghost-san?"

Roger's brows weaved together and he gave out a snarl, "Ghost-san??"

"1 and 3… 13… that's odd…"

Near chuckled, "Of course…" he tilted his head towards the invisible figure, "You'll join us too right?"

"You didn't answer my question Near." He frowned.

"Simple... My pride..."

THE RUTHLESS JESTER

3 days before Near's approval…

Light's Days left…25…

"Pax?" he said in a calm tone.

"What?"

"Tell me something, how long until the human that I picked will concede to my proposition? It's been 2 days already… What's taking so shitting long?!" he gritted his teeth.

The reaper kept calm, "It depends upon the human, and clearly, this human you chose, Yagami Sayu, doesn't seem likely to give in. "

Light punched the concrete that he sat upon, his face was red in anger, "Damn it! Just when a notebook fell…Hehehehe" he roared in laughter and clasped his head, "The shinigamis must have heard of my return!"

"You truly are the most vile human soul that have ever lived." Pax commented as he lighted his pendulum. "Your second choice, Amane Misa, is no good either. Sorry to say but it is highly unlikely for a former user of the note to become possessed by a Reaper. It's a common rule…"

"Of course you damn reaper didn't tell me that in the first place to increase my burden!" He hissed. Light stood up and reached for the reaper's pendulum.

Alarmed, the reaper grabbed Light by the neck and elevated him, slowly losing false breath, Light still cursed and made eye contact with the reaper which as suffocating him. "You bastard…"

A red glow under the sheer blindfold of the reaper illuminated, it was a sign of its obvious anger, "Pitiful human!!" The reaper's voice hissed and echoed as he threw Light to the ground. "You've no knowledge of patience and its importance pr maybe you want me to dispose of you right now?"

"Na-uh-uh!" The melodic voice of beyond ascended from the sky; "I want to observe a little more, Pax."

"Yes sire…" Pax turned away from Light. "You'll never succeed…"

Light placed his hand on his neck and tried to straightened up, he ignored Pax and Beyond and stead, focused on the Portal that showed activity on Earth. He crawled towards it and started to eye on each human. "There must," he gasped. "Be… some one…" he raised a finger and pointed towards a boy in his teens: Golden haired, blue-eyed and clever looking. That was his choice or better yet… "Him… Pax…"

Beyond sounded a clap, "My, my… what an interesting choice…"

Pax slid beside Light, "Hm?"

"Didn't you damn hear me?" his eyes grew wide. "Him…" he pointed simultaneously at the boy. "

"Understood." Pax nodded in approval already revealing a scroll containing an agreement.

"Wait, I'm not done yet…"

"Looks like you've got an interesting client this time, right Pax?"

"Hehehe! You never cease to amaze me, Light-kun."

THE GOTHIC LOLITA

"Misa… Can you hear me?"

Amane Misa, was spotted at a shoot for her new show. Yes, she still played the cheery girl she was famous for in front of the camera, but whenever she gets behind the scenes, she's merely just a doll. Never allowing her self to feel what she wants to feel. Her depression brought upon her 'lost' state. She still grieved for Light and a tingling sensation every now and then haunts her memories… Well, at least what was left of it.

She was on her way home when a voice called upon her.

"Who's there?" She glanced upon the crowd less street. "A stalker?" She tilted her head down and moved in a faster pace. "(Don't look back Misa, it'll just provoke them….)"

A chilly breeze halted her walk, "MISA!" the wind whispered louder.

She panicked and ran fast, covering her ears and closing her eyes, she tried her best to ignore the voice, "(Somebody…" She pleaded.

"I can help you…" the voice calmed her. "(Just who are you?)" She asked. "I can help you remember…" "(Remember?)" She withdrew her arms and fell to her knees; she was attacked with a tremendous headache "Yes… everything that the Shinigami took away… or better yet, I'll give you better memories… no more pain… I'll tell you everything…all you have to do is say… Yes." The voice bargained.

She breathed deeply and gave out an uncertain nod.

"I'll take that as a yes, now, open your eyes…"

She gasped.

Her environment turned negative, time was halted.

"What-?? This is…" the person who yielded the voice finally approached her and placed his translucent hand on her shoulder. Surprised she slowly turned her head to face him….

"You are…? Do I know you?"

The person snickered, "You did."

Current time…

The SPK

"It is confirmed. " Halle stated, handing Near a file. "This are all paper work on the mass murder that occurred yesterday. "13 in all were killed through a series of peculiar situations."

"And also…" Anthony added, "Just today, a serial killer wanted in Tokyo was found dead in a park, just a short distance away from the former headquarters. And what's more striking is, the other half of the torn page was found in his possession"

Near toyed with his robot, "Is this true Giovanni?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"Well then, clearly, some one wants to announce his return…"

Everyone inside the room turned heads.

"You don't mean…"

"Yes, Halle… There's a 10 percent possibility that it is so…"

"If that's the case! Then, we should take Amane Misa captive now!" John suggested.

Near intruded, "That's not necessary, there's a rule in the note stating amnesia upon discarding its ownership."

Giovanni sighed, "But we can't be sure if she's just pretending."

"Then…" he assembled the robot, "Do as you please… but while you're at it, please inform Mr. Aizawa about the mobilizing of the 49th rule. He'll know what I mean. Besides, if this IS Kira or another user of the note, we cannot take chances…" His eyes narrowed.

Everyone sighed and just nodded.

"I just wonder…" Near spoke to him self, darting his other toys, "Did the other 4 notes… fall already?"

Realm of the Shinigami.

"Hehehehe… You sure are doing a lot for Kira's soul, Pride. To drop you note upon hearing his awakening… Its interesting."

Shidoh snarled. "Pride?"

"I have my reasons…" the Shinigami, named Pride was a banshee, she wielded wings and claws, though her features were close to a human woman, she was anything but "Besides… It's about time it settled isn't it? " She gave out a treacherous wail.

The 2 other Shinigamis didn't respond and covered their ears.

"Its just sad that he chose such a young boy, then again… This is Kira that we're talking about… I dropped my note and now…" she gazed upon the portal, "It is no longer mine…"

AN: Okay so far, i have not stated anything about L, so if you want me to unveil his place already, comment back Thank you to everyone. For the next chapter, hope you answer the poll posted on my account tnx a bunch! Check out my MattMello fic too :)

-redappleeyes faye/shiori