Special thanks goes out to Shinigami Reimei, Mail Jeevus, and Bucket On The Head... Even through the tough times, you're able to endure! Let's keep doing our best to make this story successful! And thanks to all the readers and reviewers of course. ;3

(C) Death Note: Takeshi Obata/Tsugumi Ohba (Shonen Jump)

Countdown

Kiri was once again face to face with Mello, who was sitting upon a gas container near a pile of scraps and garbage cans. The foul stench that wafted from the sewage pipe made her nauceous, but she'd get over it in time.

"It looks like we've passed the 10 minute mark," Kiri informed, trying to hold back a sneer.

"You're right," Mello nodded. "We'd better hurry this up before I die, huh?"

"Humph, still talking big, are we? Well, then, if this is what you want," Kiri then pulled out a small remote control-like device, "it's right here."

"So you brought the deactivation switch? Thanks. You're a real life-saver."

Kiri couldn't shake off the irritation that just seemed to dig deeper and squirm underneath her skin. "I absolutely will not press it for you! I'm not afraid to kill! You will die here, Mello!"

The blonde shook his head. "No, I won't."

He tapped the gas tank beside him. "I'll burn up pretty good if I explode, as will this."

Unexpectedly, Mello pulled out a rectangular shaped-box from his pants pocket, waving it back in forth in an almost provacactive way.

Kiri smirked. 'As I thought... He had the real tape all along.'

The blonde then continued his rant. "You won't be satisfied unless you get both my head and the tape. So if you don't use that deactivation switch, you'll die as well... Or at least your pride pride will, anyway."

"You're right," Kiri giggled maliciously. "Assuming that the tank you're sitting on is filled with any flammable liquid."

Mello cringed slightly.

Kiri immediately became amused by his reaction. "I replaced the contents with water from the sewage pipe down there. So now that your ace has been ripped to shreds, the only thing left for you is oblivion. Then, after your head has been cleanly blown off, I'll be taking that tape from your cold, lifeless hands. With that, my complete victory will be ensured."

Mello grinned ever so slightly and tossed the rectangular shaped-box to Kiri's feet. "You can have that, if you want. It's a dummy, too. The real one's still at the apartment complex building. All I had Matt do was show Hara a pre-prepared package. You guys misunderstood us... Niether of us intended to carry the actual tape. By the way, Near is still on the fast express, right?"

Kiri wiped the gaping expression from her face and glared daggers. "Yes, but he won't be making it in time to give you the bomb key..."

Mello refrained from saying anything rash. This game was becoming too easy...

"That's right. So I instructed Near to take a taxi after he unboarded the bus and head back towards the apartment complex. He should get there by 5:40 pm at the latest."

Kiri glowered. "The tape is of no importance now. What matters is that Near won't make it in time to save you. You're the one who has lost."

"Oh, really?"

'This goddamn arrogance...!' Kiri's mind raced. 'Am I being manipulated like a hapless tool?!'

Mello continued to provoke her baffeled disposition. "You didn't realize it? Probably not, but I made rescuing Near my top priority over everything else... You putting him on that fast express line secured his safety. But I guess you failed to sense that. The tape was never a big deal to obtain."

Kiri couldn't believe her ears. She began to tremble in rage. "V-Very well... In regards to the tape, we'll admit defeat. Things will get difficult if the police get it, but that's a risk we're going to have to accept. However, even if you were able to protect Near, you cannot escape the fact that you're going to get your head blown off!"

"You think?" Mello mused, tapping his fingers against the gas container filled with sewage water. "I anticipated that the container's contents would be replaced. I was never planning to really depend on it at all."

"You're all talk!" Kiri bellowed, her face burning up.

"I already told you, I won't die. In the last 3 minutes," the blonde then showed her Matt's analogue watch that he had removed from his wrist, "I'll let you witness a miracle."

"A miracle?! What the hell...?!"

"Here," Mello tossed Matt's watch to Kiri. "You can handle the countdown."

A bead of sweat travelled down her temple and to her chin. 'Mello has no chance left at all! There is no such thing as a miracle!'

Mello clicked his tongue and shook his head. "You're thinking that there's no chance left for me, aren't you? There are still two ways for me to survive."

"Your bluffs are getting lame, y'know," Kiri snapped, looking from Matt's watch to the deactivation switch.

"One is that you use deactivation switch."

"Completely out of the question! I would never do anything that pathetic!"

Mello shrugged. "Then why are you looking after the device so carefully?"

"Huh?!"

"Wouldn't breaking it or getting rid of it be better? You're totally confused... Because you're not sure if it's okay to kill me or not."

"..."

"Right now," the blonde articulated seriously, a brave gleem in his icy-blue eyes, "I have absolute confidence that I will not die. There's no logic behind it... Just simple, unwavering confidence. So let's see it I'm the type of person to die like a dog in a dump like this."

Kiri couldn't take the mental abuse--she was ready to crack. "I'm holding your life in my hands, you stupid bastard! No matter what, I WON'T press the switch! I've made up my mind! Even if the result is the worst possible, I won't do it! I won't bend to something this insignificant!!"

"That leaves only one way left..."

"There is no other way, you damn idiot!"

Mello could concur. "No, there is."

He pointed to the metal brace on his neck. "There's a chance that this thing won't explode."

Kiri stomped her foot in blind fury. "Are you insane?! Stop pissing me off! That would never happen!"

"Are you so sure? Machines and malfunctions go hand-in-hand."

"Yeah, but I'm the one who made this switch! Not in a million years would it..."

"Then in a billion years it might malfunction," Mello sharply interuppted.

"It could never happen," Kiri murmured under her breath.

Mello exhaled. His plan was at its peak...

"How much time is left?"

"We've passed the one minute mark," Kiri informed.

The blonde closed his eyes and cricked his sore neck. "To be honest, I don't know what the hell you guys want or what your goals are... But the one certain thing I do know is that you three hold something against Roger, don't you?"

Kiri didn't respond.

A stifiled laugh escaped Mello's lips. 'As I thought.'

"Well, let us welcome the moment of truth together."

Wiping the trickling sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, Kiri grasped the deactivation switch tightly and spouted, "10 seconds left... Again, I will absolutely NOT press the deactivation switch, Mello!!"

"Just shut up and count."

Kiri gulped nervously. 'Here it goes...'

"7 seconds... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Zero...!"

...

A most fitting cliffhanger, yes? XD Sorry if it really ticks you off, but I guess it'll keep your hopes up for the next chapter. ;p Speaking of which, updates will take place mostly on the weekends now, since school has proven to be a worthy adversary... (It's the Kira reincarnate!)

Hmm, I don't have a Death Note related fun fact this time around, but I do have an interesting one...:

It is impossible to lick your elbow. (75 percent of those who just read this will then try to attempt to lick their elbow.)

Science doesn't lie, my friends. ;3

Next chapter includes a BIG plot twist! Hopefully, it won't end in a (dare I say it?) bang. 3 See you next time, dear readers, and please drop in a review if you like! (Or check out the poll on my profile if you're bored.)