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Cake and Sarcasm

Chapter 10:

The Notebook

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"Calling all firemen in the Kanto region. There is a massive fire in the Yotsuba Group building. The south corner of the structure has caved in. We need all trucks at that location A.S.A.P."

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-

There was an explosion of glass as a bullet came whizzing from outside the Yotsuba skyscraper and through a window on the eleventh floor. The gun in Higuchi's hand was hit by the bullet and ricocheted out of his grasp and into the muddled debris. Aizawa stood shocked for a second trying to register what had happened before looking out the window and over to the neighboring building. Chief Yagami was pointing a gun to Higuchi from the same floor of the office building next door. Beside him stood Matsuda and Wedy, who were smiling with relief at Aizawa's safety. The fire was not far below him, for their images were masked behind lifting black smoke.

"Aizawa!" the Chief called. "Wedy is going to send over a line. You and Hitome Kataki come across now before the building collapses."

Aizawa shouted back, "Hitome isn't with me! We were separated!" He turned to Higuchi, who didn't dare move with Yagami's gun pointing at him, but the man had an evil sneer on his face.

"Hitome Kataki… the Yumi representative, eh?"

Aizawa realized too late what was on the killer's mind. He lunged at him, but Higuchi darted out of the way and down the hall. Chief Yagami didn't have time to react- the two men were out of sight. Just as Higuchi entered the door to the staircase, however, there was a great sound and a violent movement as the entire building seemed to be falling sideways.

Aizawa was flung to the floor and slammed against a wall, which was rapidly becoming more and more horizontal. Just when he thought it was the end, the building stopped moving. It was now a good 35 degrees off than what it was, but it seemed to stay that way rather than collapse altogether. The policeman stood up shakily. He was forced to practically climb over to the staircase, but a great mass of desks and equipment had fallen right in front of the door. Try as he might, there was no way he could get through it.

"Aizawa!" he heard Matsuda call. Aizawa went over to the broken window. When his head appeared, the three people in the neighboring building let out a great sigh of relief.

"Step aside," Wedy said and shot a large grappling hook down to Aizawa's window. The Yotsuba building was no longer parallel to the one Yagami, Matsuda, and Wedy occupied, but the distance created by the shift was not too great. The hook stuck firmly to the window sill, but Aizawa didn't take it.

"I can't leave Hitome behind," he shouted across. "It's more dangerous than we thought."

"You have no other choice!" Yagami shouted back through the smoke. "I know it's hard, but you're no good to this squad dead! And the fire is almost on you!"

Aizawa pondered for a moment, then reluctantly took the rope. He flung both legs over the line connecting the two buildings and began to crawl his way slowly across and over the immense drop. He made a point to avoid looking down into the fiery blaze that continued to rage not far below.

-

Higuchi was thrown off by the sudden violent shift, but held onto the hand rail and continued to climb to the very top of the building. He opened the door and stepped onto the slanted roof, careful not to fall from the blast of wind that met him. He looked at his surroundings. The moon was full at the very top if the sky, and the lights from the city shone in all directions. The scene would have held a romantic ambiance if not for the smothering black smoke creeping its way upward around the edges of the building. The roof itself looked normal, other than the fact that everything inclined at a slight angle.

His piercing eyes searched around. He calmly took out a small black notebook from his pocket and wrote a name in it. As he wrote it, he pictured her face in his mind. When he had finished, he put the notebook away and checked his watch. He did not look up until a full minute had passed. "Well, that about does it," he said. "Now to dump the body…

"Looking for me?" Hitome said from behind. Higuchi swung around and saw the woman, standing perfectly calm on the opposite side of the roof, her hair was no longer blonde as he remembered, but a strong red. This is why she didn't die… he thought. I had her image all wrong.

"Hitome Kataki…" the man started. "You've really fucked up, haven't you? Standing on this roof with me… do you know who I am?"

"You are Kira."

Higuchi was at first taken aback, then annoyed with her calmness. "And you are going to die by Kira's hand on this roof," he said.

Hitome pretended to think for a moment. "Hmm… no, I don't think I will."

Higuchi gritted his teeth. "That's not for you to decide, girl."

"All I'm saying is, if you kill me, then it will confirm you're identity as Kira."

"It doesn't matter," he said. "No one is up here but us. I can throw you over the ledge and say you jumped because you didn't want to die by the flames. Who could prove me wrong?"

"Silly rabbit," she smirked. "There is another pair of eyes up here, Higuchi. Actually, there's about two thousand."

Higuchi stumbled. "What? What are you saying?"

Hitome pulled a pair of glasses out of her pocket and held them up. "These glasses hide a camera that is in direct connection with the detective L. Currently, it is being streamed through live broadcast to all the police stations in Japan."

The man's piercing eyes widened. "You're bluffing," he said.

Hitome stared at him, her eyes giving nothing away. "Didn't you think it was odd the way those men just gave away my full name a few minutes ago? Did you think it odd that, though this entire building is on fire it hasn't collapsed completely?"

Higuchi clenched his jaw. Hitome continued. "It wasn't by accident the building caught fire. L set it up that way to prevent you from leaving the building after separating with the other Yotsuba members. Aizawa and the other policemen purposefully gave you my name so you would try to kill me. But I wore a disguise when you met me, so it wouldn't work. This forced you to come up here yourself to look at my face. But now that the fire has spread so much, we are trapped on this roof." She smiled. "L read your actions like a book. And now I can, too."

Higuchi's hands balled into fists; he looked ready to rage at her, but he listened. Hitome continued, "Right now you really want to kill me, but you're unsure of whether or not the policemen gave you my correct name and not another fake one. You know if you try to kill me, the world will see- L will see- and you will rot in jail."

"You bitch," he snarled.

"Now if only you had the power of the second Kira, to be able to kill just by seeing a face."

"So what you're saying is..." Higuchi growled, taking a step towards her. "L planned this entire thing?"

Hitome watched him come closer, a twisted grin spread across his face. A high-pitched cackling erupted from his throat, his eyes ablaze with fury. "Why would he send a little girl to confront me, hmm? Who does he think he's dealing with?"

Higuchi leapt at Hitome, who didn't flinch a muscle. She stepped aside lightly, watching as Higuchi's fist drove past her shoulder. She grabbed his arm, turned, and flipped him over. He landed hard on his back, knocking the wind out of him instantly.

"L sent me," said Hitome as she stood over him. "because he knew of my capabilities in the martial arts."

So there was a reason for that sparring, she thought. He was making sure I was capable of defending myself. Ryuzaki really does think of everything.

Just then the building shook again, the two people felt a rumble underneath their feet and fell sideways. Hitome watched with horror as her glasses slipped out of her hand and to the other side of the building. Higuchi saw this and smiled evilly.

"Ha! Now what, Hitome? Now that L cannot see onto this roof, you will die!" He got up and called over his shoulder, Hitome could tell that he wasn't talking to her anymore.

"Rem," he said. "Let's make the eyeball deal."

Hitome watched as Higuchi turned around, his back to her. She got up slowly, wondering what was going on, but always keeping an eye on what he did with his hands. When he turned back around, his eyes were different. He focused on her, smiled, then looked above her head…

Hitome could feel a change in the air. Higuchi was no longer scared, but alarmingly confident. She saw him reach inside his suit...

"Hitome Kataki… it is your real name." He took out the small black notebook and a pen. Hitome trembled with fear.

This is it…

Higuchi smiled as he spoke. "Now you die…"

Suddenly, there was a blur of motion as a figure leapt down right between them. In a movement too fast for Hitome to register, the figure delivered a violent kick to Higuchi's chest, sending him flying backwards, the notebook slipping out of his hands.

"Ryuzaki!" Hitome exclaimed. The hunched man stood in front of her, his stance and gaze directed to Higuchi, who rubbed his chest and stood up.

"Ryuzaki…" Higuchi murmured, looking above L's head. "No... that's not right…"

"Hitome," Ryuzaki said, continuing to eye Higuchi. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine," she answered. "But listen, Ryuzaki. The notebook-"

Higuchi turned and ran to the notebook, but Ryuzaki was quicker, hitting Higuchi with a flying kick to the head. Both men fell to the ground and began to struggle ferociously.

Hitome ran around them and grabbed the notebook. She was just about to yell to Ryuzaki when she saw something that horrified her.

Standing in front of her was a monster. It was at least seven feet tall with elongated arms that stretched almost to the ground. It looked almost skeletal except for its face, which was partly covered by thick, light hair. Its uncovered eye stared at her with slitted pupils. Hitome screamed.

Ryuzaki looked up from the fight to see what was wrong when Higuchi grabbed him by the shirt and slammed his head against the roof. Ryuzaki's head spun as a trickle of blood flowed freely down his face. Higuchi turned to Hitome, who clutched the notebook to her chest. "Rem," he said. "Write her name in your notebook!"

The monster, Rem, glared at him. "I will not do your bidding, Kyosuke Higuchi."

Higuchi didn't seem surprised, but Rem's refusal made him even more vehement. He took a step to Hitome, but Ryuzaki jumped on his back and brought him to the ground.

Hitome watched them struggle before becoming aware of the notebook in her arms. This is how Higuchi kills. If you write someone's name in the notebook and picture their face, then they will die.

This was what she read in the file 'DNote.' It had contained a copy of the rules of the notebook, as well as information about the-

"Shinigami," Hitome said. Rem looked down at her, surprised. "If I write Higuchi's name in this notebook, what will happen?"

"He will die of a heart attack in forty seconds."

It was confirmation from the Death God itself. Hitome was silent for a moment, then looked at Ryuzaki and gasped. Higuchi was clearly winning the fight. Ryuzaki lay limp on the ground, his clothes were torn and dirtied, his face looking worn and bruised. Higuchi stood over him with murder in his eyes.

"You're dead, L Lawliet," he said in a dark tone. He grabbed Ryuzaki by the shirt and hoisted him up to his feet. He dragged the detective over to the edge of the building.

"NO!" Hitome screamed. She flung the notebook open and turned to a blank page. She fumbled for the pen on the ground and brought it to the paper.

Kyosuke Higuchi

She looked up to see Higuchi raise Ryuzaki up to the edge of the roof. Ryuzaki struggled weakly against him, but his head was swimming and his body was too beaten. Hitome had started counting the seconds, but lost her count quickly. It was the longest forty seconds of her life.

Higuchi grabbed Ryuzaki's collar in one hand and his pants leg in the other. He lifted the man over his head defiantly. Hitome caught Ryuzaki's eye, and in that moment an emotion passed between them that words could not describe. Hitome jumped to her feet and ran to him, but it was too late. Higuchi swung his arms forward and Ryuzaki disappeared over the edge into the rising black smoke.

Hitome stopped running. Shock and disbelief struck her so fast that for a moment she forgot to breathe. Did that really just happen? Was L, the world's greatest detective, killed by Kira? Was Ryuzaki dead?

Hitome felt tears fill her eyes and blur her vision. She could hardly see Higuchi turn towards her. He stepped forward. The fire was now springing up around the edges of the building. Higuchi's face reflected the light, which made his eyes glow a sinister yellow. He looked like the devil himself. Hitome didn't bother to move as he came forward and reached for her neck…

But his hand had barely touched her skin when he took a sharp intake of breath and clutched his chest. His eyes widened, his pupils dilated, and his knees buckled as he fell backwards onto the roof.

Forty.

Hitome fell to her knees beside his lifeless body. Bright, dancing flames encircled her on the top of the Yotsuba building.

She closed her eyes and hung her head low.

Then she heard the helicopter.

It rose, a great roaring machine, over the side of the skyscraper, shooting up from the flames like a phoenix. A spotlight blinded her and she threw an arm over her eyes. "Hitome- are you okay?" she heard a voice call through a megaphone. Light?

She squinted in the brightness and looked up to the jet black helicopter above her. She saw that it was being piloted by Watari. Light sat beside him in the passenger's seat. And standing in the door of the machine…

"Ryuzaki!"

Hitome stood up shakily as the helicopter landed on the roof of the Yotsuba building. Ryuzaki jumped down from the aircraft, looking as alive as ever. Hitome walked forward disbelievingly. "Ryu... but..."

She stood a foot away from him, as if touching him would break the illusion. Ryuzaki smiled and touched his thumb to his lips. "Hello, Alice-san."

"How did you…?"

"You didn't actually believe Higuchi could beat me that easily? Give me a little credit…"

Suddenly, Hitome sprung into his arms and hugged him tightly around the neck. The force of it forced Ryuzaki back, making him stand up straight. Hitome buried her face in his shirt. "You jerk. I thought you were dead…why didn't you tell me that part of the plan?"

"I'm very much alive, Hitome-san," he replied softly in her ear. "That is really all that matters." He gently pushed her back so that he could see her face. "But I had planned for Watari to incapacitate Higuchi when he thought I had died and was least suspecting..." He looked down at Higuchi's lifeless corpse. "I see you've already taken care of that..."

"Ryuzaki, the notebook- I had to kill him. I thought he would kill you… but he did and-" Ryuzaki shook his head, but Hitome did not stop talking. "The file! There was a file called 'DNote' and the shiniga-"

Ryuzaki leaned forward and covered her mouth with his. She shut up at once, at first shocked, and then wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt a sudden fluttering in her stomach. He pulled her body close, his pale, spidery fingers running through her auburn hair.

When Ryuzaki pulled away, Hitome could not look at him. She smiled and blushed furiously. He stared at her with his wide, dark-rimmed eyes. "Are you embarrassed?" he asked softly.

"No it's just-" she started, but didn't know how to describe what she was feeling. She could only laugh and kiss him gently on the lips. He tastes so sweet! she thought.

There was a cough behind them as Watari stood awkwardly a few feet away. "Master Ryuzaki, the helicopter is waiting."

"Yes, Watari," Ryuzaki said. "Contact the Japanese Police and have them pick up Higuchi's body. I believe they've seen enough to confirm his involvement with Kira." He turned to Light, who was inspecting the dead man's corpse. "Light-kun, please call Aiber, Wedy, and the policemen and tell them that the mission is over," he said, glancing at Higuchi.

"Yes, Ryuzaki," Light said and headed into the helicopter.

Hitome looked to the shinigami, who hadn't moved from where it stood. Hitome couldn't help but notice it cast a knowing look in Light's direction. "I'll be right back," she said to the detective.

She jogged over to where the Death God stood. Hitome had a lot to ask, but didn't quite know what to say. "Um… my name is Hitome," she said stupidly.

"I am Rem," the shinigami replied. "You are now the owner of the Death Note."

"Death Note? You mean the notebook?"

"Yes."

Hitome picked it up. "Am I the only one who can see you?"

"Yes. Whoever touches the Death Note will be able to see me."

"Oh… Are you going to follow me now?"

"I follow the Note wherever it goes."

Hitome nodded and carried the notebook over to Ryuzaki. After explaining to him what she saw in the DNote file and what she saw when she touched the Death Note, Ryuzaki asked to see it. Somewhat reluctantly, she handed it over. Ryuzaki looked through the pages, then over to where Rem stood. He nodded.

"So, finally we know how Kira kills," he mused. Hitome could see his mind working rapidly.

She felt her head begin to swim. It had been a long night. She took a few steps to the helicopter and felt her knees weaken. Then she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist to support her. Ryuzaki helped her into her seat and took the one beside her. She smiled and rested her head on the detective's shoulder. "L…" she murmured.

"Hm?"

"That really is your name."

"Yes, but you may call me whatever you like, Hitome-san."

"Okay," Hitome yawned and drifted to sleep. Soon Watari started the helicopter and the investigation team headed for home, Ryuzaki sat in silence, thinking of the Death Note and Higuchi, as well as the woman asleep on his shoulder.

Behind them, a Death God flew over the city, her mind swimming with thoughts as well.

I feel like I'm writing chapters faster than you can read them :\

My excuse is that summer has just started so I have more time on my hands to write. I never knew writing could be so much fun! I was afraid of starting a fanfic cause I figured I'd lose interest and stop writing right in the middle of a story (don't you HATE when that happens??) but it's actually the opposite.

OKAY YA YA YA I wrote this chapter weeks ago cause I was planning on it being the end but I COULDN'T STOP :D I have a much better ending than this in the works!

Hope you like! R&R makes me happy!

Oh! I just enabled 'Private Messaging' so if you want to contact me privately for whatever reason (??) now I guess you can.

Preview

The Death Note is now in safe hands, but with it comes devastating news. Light's attitude changes and an old friend comes out of hiding. Has Kira's power been vanquished? Or is this only the beginning?

Next time: Ryuk and the Deal